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Coors Brewing Company, Golden Colorado. What it do Hardwoodnox 11 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,359 listeners. I am Dampa Valley. It's been a while, probably over a 12 00:00:52,439 --> 00:00:56,119 year and a half since I came in with that intro. So you're welcome. 13 00:00:56,719 --> 00:01:00,320 Welcome to another episode of the Hardwoodknox Podcast. We have our Monday mailbag 14 00:01:00,399 --> 00:01:03,120 for you, Adam and I. Before we get into it, reminder, 15 00:01:03,239 --> 00:01:07,000 come on join us on locker Room Sundays four pm. We had a couple 16 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,319 of regular listeners in there, in addition to the few locker room stragglers we 17 00:01:11,359 --> 00:01:12,959 get, or maybe they're loyal locker room listeners that don't just listen to the 18 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:15,879 podcast, but listeners that we actually not over interact with on Twitter came to 19 00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:19,719 locker room join them. You get to ask live questions. You can also 20 00:01:19,799 --> 00:01:23,439 respond to the tweets that we're sending out. Make sure at the very least 21 00:01:23,439 --> 00:01:26,079 that you are downloading every episode of this podcast, listening to it, and 22 00:01:26,159 --> 00:01:30,519 also fully subscribed. Please and word of mouth. If you've done all those 23 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,120 things, tell your friends, family, frenemies, co workers, random people 24 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,840 on social media about us. That helps out it out too, and definitely 25 00:01:37,879 --> 00:01:40,719 don't forget to go go to iTunes search Hardwoo Knox. Doesn't matter if you 26 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:42,359 use iTunes or not go there anyway, give us that five star rating, 27 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,159 write a review. Those help us a ton as well. Follow us on 28 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:51,599 Twitter at Hardwood Knox, follow us on YouTube, YouTube dot com search hardwood 29 00:01:51,640 --> 00:01:53,920 Knox. We will come up subscribe like our videos. Juice that algorithm for 30 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,959 us so we get more views and would have proven to be weird sometimes awkward 31 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:00,519 comments on YouTube, but hey, we're here, we're rolling with it, 32 00:02:00,959 --> 00:02:07,319 and finally, follow the Sports Math Network on Twitter at the underscore Sports Underscore 33 00:02:07,639 --> 00:02:12,759 Math spelled exactly as it sounds, without further delay. We'll make this a 34 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,240 sub eighty second intro or excuse me, a sub one hundred and twenty second 35 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:17,719 intro. Let's get to our met back. We cover a bunch. It's 36 00:02:17,719 --> 00:02:21,879 a lot of fun. Talk to you guys in a couple of milliseconds. 37 00:02:22,199 --> 00:02:24,800 Hello everyone, and welcome to the latest episode of Hardwood Knox. This is 38 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:29,680 Adam Frommel here with my good friend and co host Stan for Valley. Today 39 00:02:29,719 --> 00:02:34,280 we're going to be focusing on the Eastern Conference playoff race, which is just 40 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:38,879 this fascinating amalgamation of teams right now. Whether it seems like the number one 41 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:40,960 seed is up for grabs, a bunch of teams are fighting for the number 42 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,960 four spot. Even more teams are fighting to stay out of the play in 43 00:02:45,039 --> 00:02:47,560 tournament, and just as many are trying to get into that tenth and final 44 00:02:47,599 --> 00:02:53,360 spot for the inaugural play in tournament. I guess is it really inaugural this 45 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,400 season because of last year? Even though the format's different. What are we 46 00:02:57,439 --> 00:03:00,919 calling that? Dan? I don't know. If it's inaugural. They just 47 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:02,840 tweaked the rules to it a little bit, and I don't actually know why 48 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:07,199 they tweaked the rules, because I think the having to be within four games 49 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,199 makes sense just so that there's not this huge distance between you know, if 50 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:15,719 Dallas is seven and is like a twelve games in front of eighth, ninth, 51 00:03:15,719 --> 00:03:16,639 and tenth, which is going to happen. But I do think there 52 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:21,680 needs to be that needs to be an adjustment they bring back. I'm with 53 00:03:21,719 --> 00:03:23,400 you. I think that it's going to continue to be tweaked as we move 54 00:03:23,439 --> 00:03:27,120 forward, especially because like Mark Cuban came out and was like, maybe this 55 00:03:27,159 --> 00:03:30,000 wasn't the greatest idea, even though he was in favor of it in the 56 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,360 first place. But that's neither here nor there, because most importantly, we 57 00:03:32,599 --> 00:03:38,560 have to ask how you're doing today? Dan. I am all right currently 58 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,000 about to post a gift with the link on Twitter. I'm excited to talk 59 00:03:40,039 --> 00:03:45,479 about the East and get to our mail bad questions as usual. Shout out 60 00:03:45,479 --> 00:03:47,400 to the two people listening to us live at the moment, it's like I 61 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:51,560 hope I get stage fight with all these live years just hearing my voice. 62 00:03:51,719 --> 00:03:54,280 Ay it's a good start. We appreciate everyone here, But yeah, I'm 63 00:03:54,319 --> 00:04:00,560 doing well. I just finished watching the fantastic Sunday afternoon game between through New 64 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,479 Orleans Pelicans and New York Knicks, and it makes me want to ask about 65 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:08,520 Julius Randall right off the bat, because he's just been on an absolute tear 66 00:04:08,599 --> 00:04:12,039 lately. The ten games going into Sunday, he was averaging twenty six point 67 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,879 one points, nine point eight rebounds, seven point zero assists. Then Sunday 68 00:04:15,919 --> 00:04:19,240 he has just another fantastic do everything game thirty three points, ten assists, 69 00:04:19,319 --> 00:04:25,759 five steals, five rebounds, a workhorse on the offensive end, trying to 70 00:04:25,759 --> 00:04:28,759 play better defense on a nightly basis, it seems, and keys at ten 71 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,759 point over time victory against the Pelicans as the Knicks continue to play above five 72 00:04:31,879 --> 00:04:35,399 hundred basketball. He's only twenty six, He's under contract for one more year 73 00:04:35,439 --> 00:04:40,519 at nineteen point eight million dollars. And I'm just curious how you're thinking has 74 00:04:40,639 --> 00:04:44,959 changed, especially given the Knicks fandom, however diminished it may have become in 75 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:49,399 recent years, Like do you view him as way more of a building block 76 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:54,560 now or do you still think this is like just a temporary thing that is 77 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,720 very much worthy of celebration, but doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be a 78 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:02,519 core part of the next cha papionship caliber Knicks team. I honestly think I 79 00:05:02,639 --> 00:05:09,720 lean towards the ladder because you're going to have to decide whether he can be 80 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,040 the best player or I guess second best player. If you assume RJ. 81 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,639 Barrett or someone else you acquire is will be can be the second best player 82 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,079 at bet him on a championship team. Maybe he gets there. I don't 83 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:24,439 know if his timeline and the knickses are going to be in lockstep. You 84 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:28,120 can extend him this summer like four let's say one hundred. It was probably 85 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,399 the number they would land at, which seems fair. I don't know what 86 00:05:30,439 --> 00:05:33,639 that it makes you. I think it puts a cap on your ceiling, 87 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:35,800 is what I'm getting at. And this year has been fun because the Knicks 88 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:39,439 have been competent again, and I don't want to diminish everything he's doing. 89 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:44,120 He Lebron James and who's the other player? Yokis are the only players in 90 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:46,879 the league leading their teams and points and assist this year. His offense, 91 00:05:46,879 --> 00:05:49,519 the Knicks offense is not great, but you know he has a step back 92 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:53,279 now like he's hitting these tough aaides and we've seen him do it from three 93 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,279 two to where. I don't think the three point shooting is an anomaly or 94 00:05:56,319 --> 00:05:59,240 just a product of easy opportunity. So I want to make it clear. 95 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,600 I don't think he's all ONBA this year is because of how deep the forward 96 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:06,000 pool is. But he has been probably you know, top twenty five, 97 00:06:06,079 --> 00:06:10,600 top thirty guy this year. He's been spectacular. I just don't know where 98 00:06:10,639 --> 00:06:13,040 that gets you. Looking at the rest of the roster, and you have 99 00:06:13,079 --> 00:06:16,160 decisions to make this year around the rest of the roster Mitchell Robinson team option. 100 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,920 Do you resign him, decline it, make him a restricted free ation 101 00:06:18,959 --> 00:06:23,439 and pay him now, or do you pick it up and punt on paying 102 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:26,360 him until later. But no, he's going to enter unrestricted free agency next 103 00:06:26,439 --> 00:06:30,240 year where there will probably be more suitors. Alec Burks, Reggie Bullock. 104 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,160 I'm not even gonna throw out for Peyton in there. But you know, 105 00:06:32,639 --> 00:06:38,279 Netherlands, Noel, these are guys that are going to pay, don't They're 106 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:40,360 not gonna pay him, and I'm going to be so upset if they don't. 107 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:42,240 First of all, I want him for the record, if they don't 108 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:46,279 extend Frankie Lakina a qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agency, this 109 00:06:46,399 --> 00:06:49,600 podcast is going to riot collectively, not just me, but Adam by extension 110 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:54,759 as well. So unless the Knicks can figure out a way to get that, 111 00:06:54,959 --> 00:06:58,079 I think they're probably a player and a half short of being a contender 112 00:06:58,199 --> 00:07:00,199 or like a superstar short. And unless they find a way to get that 113 00:07:00,279 --> 00:07:03,639 while keeping Randall and RJ Barrett, I'm not saying you don't keep Randall. 114 00:07:03,759 --> 00:07:08,519 I just don't think he's on the iteration of this next title contender. And 115 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:13,319 I'm not just saying that they can't get a star via trade, but or 116 00:07:13,519 --> 00:07:15,240 you know, is Obi Toppin gonna pops that Maggie Well quickly gonna pop? 117 00:07:15,279 --> 00:07:18,079 Probably not, RJ Barrett, your best chance at getting to that level of 118 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:21,120 player, And I think you still need another one after that. And I 119 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,839 buy I buy into Julius Randall. I feel like I'm denigrating him right now. 120 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:28,279 If he signed a four year, one hundred million dollar extension, I 121 00:07:28,319 --> 00:07:30,879 would say that's that's fair value for what where he's done from a team perspective. 122 00:07:31,399 --> 00:07:34,439 He's just it's pretty clear that there's a cap on what you're going to 123 00:07:34,439 --> 00:07:40,160 be if he's your best or second best player right now, and considering he's 124 00:07:40,199 --> 00:07:44,199 just their best player, you know that cap exists. It's also just such 125 00:07:44,279 --> 00:07:49,199 funky typical Nick's timing, isn't it. Like this team has been an absolute 126 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:54,920 joy to watch. Tom Thiboeau has it playing remarkably hard on the defensive end. 127 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,560 Everyone plays with passion and exuberance and really seems to revel in each and 128 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:01,680 every vie, which is so important. Like this, this team knows that 129 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:07,120 it's on the rise and it's enjoying that process. But like, of course 130 00:08:07,839 --> 00:08:11,920 the Knicks unearthed Julius Randall as like a legitimate star and knock themselves down the 131 00:08:11,959 --> 00:08:18,519 draft standings like they currently sit eighteenth in the pecking order in mock drafts during 132 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,319 the year that the draft is absolutely loaded with top end talent and any spot 133 00:08:22,319 --> 00:08:26,120 in the lottery seams beneficial. Look now is when the Knicks are going to 134 00:08:26,199 --> 00:08:28,839 make the playoffs and not have access to one of those top talents. It's 135 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:35,200 it's just it's a little it's just a little too nixxy isn't it that they 136 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,840 do all of this at the worst possible time and might cap their ceiling a 137 00:08:39,919 --> 00:08:45,159 little bit just because of that bad timing. Yeah, and there's I guess 138 00:08:45,159 --> 00:08:48,960 the two pushbacks against that would be they've they've been very poor and in the 139 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,799 past and they've not gotten those top picks and so they've been spurned by that. 140 00:08:52,919 --> 00:08:58,200 And also if they finish above five hundred after going through I think it 141 00:08:58,279 --> 00:09:00,559 was after the All Star Break the league's toughest guy, Joel was one of 142 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,919 the three toughest. If you finish above five hundred after that, maybe there's 143 00:09:03,919 --> 00:09:07,720 more to plumb with this team. I'm just I'm still curious as that RJ. 144 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,360 Barrett's really the because Mitchell Robinson's out, like he's the only young player 145 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:16,480 on this team getting consistent heavy minutes just with the sporadic usage of Obi Toppin 146 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:22,440 or Emmanuel Quickly. So those are questions. And I know Noah Odage just 147 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:26,960 said Julius Randall greater than Christops porzingis in the chat on mocker Room. He's 148 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,480 been better than I don't know how you argue otherwise. Right now, right 149 00:09:31,799 --> 00:09:37,720 like, the idea is still still intriguing. But like the idea is only 150 00:09:37,799 --> 00:09:43,919 intriguing if it's possible to be realized, and increasingly that looks unlikely. Right, 151 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:45,840 So, even if you're going long term, it gets tough to pick 152 00:09:45,879 --> 00:09:50,120 Chris Stops there and with Randall, even if Chris Stops just does become the 153 00:09:50,159 --> 00:09:54,120 guy who can be close to all defense and while spacing the Florign offense, 154 00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,440 and he's been hitting a fair amount of his post ups looks this year, 155 00:09:56,440 --> 00:10:01,759 even though they don't necessarily look pretty. Even if he becomes that his influence 156 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:03,600 over the offense is going to be capped because he's not a primary ballhand or 157 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:07,559 like Julius Randall is. And I do think for me specifically, I default 158 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:11,600 to the playmakers in that situation, especially if they're going to have that much 159 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:16,000 responsibility like Julius Randall does. What does get interesting is to before really diving 160 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:20,279 into the playoff predictions in the east or structure. However, whatever you want 161 00:10:20,279 --> 00:10:24,639 to say revisiting that Chris Stops porzingis trade, because I think everyone has said 162 00:10:24,639 --> 00:10:28,799 the Knicks won that trade. Julius Randall was a part of that because they 163 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:31,679 use the cap space they got from the trade to get Julius Randall. I'm 164 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:37,759 not saying that's faulty logic. There's still an element of Look, Chris stops 165 00:10:37,840 --> 00:10:41,960 Porzingis could be better long term Tim Hardaway juniors in Dallas. They might keep 166 00:10:41,039 --> 00:10:45,840 him and he's been very useful. What did those Mavericks picks turn into? 167 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,759 Is Julius Randall in New York beyond next season? So there's still is much 168 00:10:50,039 --> 00:10:54,480 TBD here for me. But I do the argument, which I had made 169 00:10:54,519 --> 00:10:58,159 in the past that the Knicks really fucked up because they did that move for 170 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,320 cap space. Isn't those Mavericks picks. It was for cap space, and 171 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:05,120 they whiffed on all their major signings. They still whipped on their first first 172 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,519 choice options. But Julius Randall looks like he could be a mainstay and has 173 00:11:09,519 --> 00:11:13,919 been so good this year, so it probably is fair as of right now. 174 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,519 If we were to just end the trade right now, it looks like 175 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,679 the Knicks got the better end of it. But this is still one of 176 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:22,480 those moves where I think you have to let it play out a little bit 177 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,200 longer before you make that final verdict. It's also going to be such a 178 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,879 tough trade to relitigate. I can already see like retroactive gradings of it five 179 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:35,039 years from now. That just overlook the context because ultimately, like the trade 180 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:37,879 goes in the books as the Knicks trading Christops porzingis Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway 181 00:11:37,919 --> 00:11:41,639 Junior and Courtney Lee to the Dallas Mavericks for DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, 182 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:46,639 Dennis Smith Junior and two top ten protected first round picks in twenty twenty one 183 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:50,960 and twenty twenty three. But what that doesn't say is how it unfolded. 184 00:11:52,039 --> 00:11:54,279 I think is the first pick is unprotected, so that adds value to the 185 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:58,679 two right here, right, Yeah, just the latter is top ten protected, 186 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:01,080 but it's not like that protect was gonna matter this year anyway. But 187 00:12:01,080 --> 00:12:05,639 but either way, like the way the trade unfolded, was that happened on 188 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,399 January thirty first, twenty nineteen, and we learned that Christops porzingis wanted out, 189 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:13,480 Like was it January thirtieth or was it the morning of January thirty first? 190 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:18,240 Like that process happened so fast that the big criticism of the Knicks wasn't 191 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:22,600 just that they were making this move for cap space, it was how quickly 192 00:12:22,639 --> 00:12:26,840 it unfolded because if you shopped him around, you're probably getting a lot more 193 00:12:26,919 --> 00:12:31,679 for him, right, And I feel confident in saying that they did not 194 00:12:31,759 --> 00:12:35,279 adequately canvass the league for a package. And I think it's mostly because they 195 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:39,080 needed a team that was willing to take on the bad money and they weren't 196 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,120 trading Christops Porzingis for value back. It was the flexibility in free agency, 197 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:50,480 and that isn't so rushed. Yeah, but to their credit or to I 198 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,000 think this is more Julius Randall's credit, To be honest with you, he 199 00:12:52,159 --> 00:12:56,919 is. He is the best player to come out of that deal so far, 200 00:12:56,039 --> 00:13:01,039 pretty decidedly. I don't you know Christops Perzincas has number two? Maybe? 201 00:13:01,039 --> 00:13:01,720 Man? I mean, is it Tim hartaway? Jan? It might 202 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,799 be Ji right now, Yeah, especially given the price point at which you're 203 00:13:05,799 --> 00:13:11,960 still having Chris Stops on the roster. So if you're this to wrap it 204 00:13:11,039 --> 00:13:15,399 up here, if you're the Knicks, are you keeping Julius Randall long term? 205 00:13:15,399 --> 00:13:18,639 And by that I mean are you signing him to an extension this summer 206 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,440 or are you waiting playing it out, letting it seeing where you are in 207 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:26,279 twenty twenty two and evaluating his actual free agency, then I think I'd sign 208 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:31,600 him to an extension right away. Like having him It might not produce a 209 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:35,679 championship caliber ceiling, but the only way that's going to happen is by hitting 210 00:13:35,679 --> 00:13:37,919 on a later pick in the draft now anyway, or r J. Barrett 211 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,759 just blossom into an absolute superstar who makes the previous debate abou him and John 212 00:13:41,759 --> 00:13:46,279 Morant look ridiculous because he's that much better. It's like, I don't know 213 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:48,919 why you would let him go. Oh, I'm with you. I would. 214 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,159 I'd probably try and get him to an extension at this point, and 215 00:13:52,159 --> 00:13:54,639 there's a chance that he only costs you more if you're if you let him 216 00:13:54,639 --> 00:13:58,200 go to twenty twenty two free agency. Just yeah, I mean especially yeah, 217 00:13:58,399 --> 00:14:03,279 right now, there's still this air of uncertainty about like how legitimate and 218 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,440 sustainable this level of play is. If he produces like this for another year 219 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,399 and you're looking at a guy who's led the Knicks to back to back playoff 220 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:18,200 appearances after decades of futility, that price point is skyrocketing. Yeah, I'm 221 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:22,120 probably near max money at that point. Yeah, I feel pretty confident in 222 00:14:22,200 --> 00:14:24,399 saying looking at the Eastern Conference playoff structure. We had a few questions in 223 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:28,360 our mailbag solicitation about this, and I'll throw those in there as they pertained. 224 00:14:28,399 --> 00:14:30,559 We did not have any at the top. I think that would be 225 00:14:30,559 --> 00:14:33,159 the place to start, because there are three teams, and I feel like, 226 00:14:33,159 --> 00:14:35,799 really only two that have a possibility of winding up in the first spot. 227 00:14:35,840 --> 00:14:41,080 But how would your tip? I think there's still three four times. 228 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,000 It's just it's only three teams a max of three teams computing for number one. 229 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,519 I think it's the order that it currently is, with the seventy six 230 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,600 ers and the number one seed Brooklyn that's at number two, and the Milwaukee 231 00:14:50,639 --> 00:14:54,240 Bucks at number three. I still think the Bucks could be the best of 232 00:14:54,279 --> 00:14:58,960 those three teams at full strength, but they've learned from the past few years 233 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,759 that there's no need to chase that number one seed. I mean, it's 234 00:15:01,840 --> 00:15:07,240 useful, but if you're doing that at the expense of health and long term 235 00:15:07,279 --> 00:15:11,080 ability in the postseason, why bother so I think they're taking the right approach 236 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:16,120 by being so cautious, holding Janisanda Kumpo out for longer than might be necessary 237 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:20,799 and making sure he's fully recovered before stepping back on the floor, maybe unlike 238 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:24,000 what the Nets are doing, because we just saw Kevin Durant return and leave 239 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:28,519 after a few minutes with a left thigh contusion, and it's just another injury 240 00:15:28,679 --> 00:15:33,639 in the long and troubling line for him. I'm not sure that the Nets 241 00:15:33,639 --> 00:15:37,720 are going to be healthy enough to keep pace with a seventy six ers squad 242 00:15:37,759 --> 00:15:43,200 that's getting all the pieces back. I still don't really know how I think 243 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:48,080 those three stack up if we're talking about playoff series, because they all have 244 00:15:48,159 --> 00:15:54,120 such disparate strengths and weaknesses, and all of them are just legitimately capable of 245 00:15:54,399 --> 00:15:56,960 advancing all the way through the Eastern Conference playoffs and representing the conference in the 246 00:15:58,039 --> 00:16:02,120 NBA Finals. But I do think the way the standings currently stack up, 247 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:04,039 where the seventy six Ers have a one game lead over the Nets, who 248 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:10,840 are three games ahead of the Bucks, looks about right. Yeah, I'm 249 00:16:10,879 --> 00:16:14,480 mostly with you. I might just take the put the Bucks into and the 250 00:16:14,519 --> 00:16:17,600 Nets at three because of all the injuries that they've suffered, and now if 251 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:21,919 you're gonna miss, they've treated every Kevin Durant issue, you know, putting 252 00:16:22,000 --> 00:16:23,600 him in basically bubble wrap. And I think I mean, that's the move 253 00:16:23,679 --> 00:16:26,120 right now. It doesn't really matter for seeding, and you're locked into me 254 00:16:26,679 --> 00:16:30,159 for top three. And so you look at the Bucks. They've been experimenting 255 00:16:30,159 --> 00:16:34,360 a lot this regular season, and I think they have the tougher schedule moving 256 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,000 forward. As I double checked this very quickly, No, the Nets actually 257 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:42,919 have the fourth toughest schedule remaining in the league per positive residual. So I'll 258 00:16:44,559 --> 00:16:48,799 go six Ers one. I'll go Milwaukee Bucks two, and the Nets three, 259 00:16:48,919 --> 00:16:52,080 and I don't really have much to add from that. I not convinced, 260 00:16:52,080 --> 00:16:55,320 though. I think a lot of people have defaulted to the Nets coming 261 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:57,600 out of the East, and even just independent of injuries, though that's certainly 262 00:16:57,600 --> 00:17:02,200 an issue. I'm not I'm not convinced. I think Milwaukee and Philly both 263 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:03,359 have a shot. And if I had to pick two day, who's coming 264 00:17:03,359 --> 00:17:07,759 out of the East, I'm picking the Philadelphia seventy six ers. I think 265 00:17:07,799 --> 00:17:12,000 I'm still picking the Bucks, but it's with a lot of hesitance. Any 266 00:17:12,039 --> 00:17:15,680 of those three, you know, it wouldn't be even remotely surprising to me. 267 00:17:17,039 --> 00:17:19,440 I do agree that the conversation has been a little bit weird, where 268 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:25,720 the Nets are treated as like this foregone conclusion the offense might be good enough 269 00:17:25,799 --> 00:17:29,599 for them to just steam roll their way through, but I'm just I'm not 270 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:33,400 there yet, no, And it looks the availability he's a part of it. 271 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:34,480 Just looking at how much time KAD has missed. And you know, 272 00:17:34,559 --> 00:17:37,839 I'm not too worried about the James harden write cash strain whatever he's dealing with 273 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,400 right now, and Irving will be fine, even KD just might be fine. 274 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:45,680 I just sometimes these things take a little time to come together in the 275 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:48,599 first place, when you're dealing with superstar formations of this magnitude, and that 276 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:52,640 could be an adjustment period for them. They have played seven times together this 277 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:56,680 season, the three of them, So, like I've said from the start 278 00:17:56,680 --> 00:18:00,200 here that like I view this as a type of team constructuction that has a 279 00:18:00,279 --> 00:18:06,279 remarkably high ceiling, but also a lower floor because when you are that reliant 280 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:10,880 on one end of the court, you don't have the defensive ability to make 281 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,119 up for off shooting nights. And yeah, it's great that you have three 282 00:18:14,240 --> 00:18:18,519 legitimate offensive superstars, but they can all have off nights at the same time. 283 00:18:18,880 --> 00:18:22,279 And if you go through a stretch where the offense gets cold, like 284 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:27,960 that's a death knell. They I would be shocked if these three players had 285 00:18:29,000 --> 00:18:30,000 off nights on the same time. I think I would be. I would 286 00:18:30,039 --> 00:18:34,160 be too, I would be two for sure, but still like it's easier 287 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:40,839 to lose games when you are that reliant on one side of the court and 288 00:18:40,920 --> 00:18:45,319 don't have the ability to counteract it with the other. I think the more 289 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:49,039 interesting discussion to me is four or five and six in the East out of 290 00:18:49,039 --> 00:18:52,240 the play in firmly in the playoffs. The teams that are in those spots 291 00:18:52,319 --> 00:18:56,599 right now. Atlanta is fourth, Boston is fifth, the nixt or sixth, 292 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,200 winners of six in a row. By the way, the Knicks, 293 00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:03,759 how do you see that shaking out? Do you see another team? I 294 00:19:03,759 --> 00:19:07,079 think really just looking at not just the distance between them, but I would 295 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:10,920 throw Miami as the only other team that could finish with one of these three 296 00:19:10,960 --> 00:19:12,920 spots. It feels like between the heat Nick, Celtics, and Hawks for 297 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:18,759 these final three guaranteed playoff slots. Yeah, I mean the Hornets are three 298 00:19:18,799 --> 00:19:25,359 games back of the Hawks. The Pacers are, Yeah, but neither of 299 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:29,440 those really feels like it's trending in the right direction. I mean, as 300 00:19:29,599 --> 00:19:32,279 as you mentioned the Knicks of one six and a row. The Celtics have 301 00:19:32,319 --> 00:19:33,720 also won six in a row. The Hawks have been playing a lot better 302 00:19:33,839 --> 00:19:40,240 lately. I think I'm gonna go with Atlanta getting the four spot. It 303 00:19:40,279 --> 00:19:44,640 feels like this is the team, maybe so, but it feels like this 304 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:48,880 is the team that has the most upside, just based on all the prominent 305 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:52,920 offseason acquisitions that are finally starting to coalesce together. Like boy On Bogdanovich has 306 00:19:53,279 --> 00:19:59,839 been our sorry Bogdon Bogdanovitch has been fantastic lately, just shooting career high numbers 307 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:03,680 from three point range, on hitting pull up shots, hitting spot up shots. 308 00:20:03,759 --> 00:20:07,440 Kevin Herder is playing this versatile, all around brand of basketball that constantly 309 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:11,720 flies below the radar and is probably going to get him paid this offseason. 310 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:17,519 Trey Young is driving, Clint Capella has been unbelievable in keying everything that Atlanta 311 00:20:17,559 --> 00:20:21,559 does on the defensive end, cleaning the glass remarkably well. It feels like 312 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,960 all those pieces are coming together as expected earlier in the season, where we 313 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:30,440 were talking about them as like a playoff lock potentially, and it's just seems 314 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:37,160 to be clicking under Nate McMillan. So what I would say here is I 315 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,200 actually think it ends up being the three teams that are already in the spots. 316 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:41,920 Looking at the Hawks, Celtics and Knicks, the Heat are just I 317 00:20:41,920 --> 00:20:45,680 don't trust them on a night tonight basis. And there maybe I'm just breeding 318 00:20:45,680 --> 00:20:48,720 too much into the three game losing streak, but you're dealing with the Oladipo 319 00:20:48,799 --> 00:20:51,039 injury, and not that he was mission critical to what you're doing, but 320 00:20:51,079 --> 00:20:53,039 that was your swing piece for the rest of this year. Jimmy Butler just 321 00:20:53,039 --> 00:20:57,480 said they're playing so off Their offense has been wildly inconsistent, putting in constant 322 00:20:57,519 --> 00:21:03,400 pressure on the rim outside of Jimmy Butler obviously, So I think I would 323 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:07,160 put the Celtics here just because I think they are the better team than the 324 00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:11,119 Hawks. Still at the top, you have Trey Young in Atlanta, and 325 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:12,400 I think one of the things that Alan has done a great job doing, 326 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,319 by the way under Nate McMillan, and I'm not Nate McMillen deserve a lot 327 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:18,519 of credit for this, but I also think they got healthier, which was 328 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:22,759 a big factor at least in terms of their other ball handlers like Bogdanovich and 329 00:21:22,839 --> 00:21:26,519 Gallo, they've been able to navigate like the non Trey Young minutes there was 330 00:21:26,519 --> 00:21:29,920 I can't remember what was the win? Was it last week without Trey Young? 331 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,000 Where they went in overtime? I think in one. I can't remember 332 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:33,519 the team. That's not something they seem to equip to do previously. But 333 00:21:33,559 --> 00:21:38,759 the Celtics just having Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum is absolutely huge. In that 334 00:21:38,759 --> 00:21:44,920 conversation, both these teams have some of the league's easiest schedules remaining, Boston 335 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:47,640 as the third easiest in the league, the Hawks of the fifth easiest, 336 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,680 and so maybe there's a level of interchangeability there. I just to fall to 337 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,839 the Celtics, even though I'm not sure I trust them as much. They're 338 00:21:52,839 --> 00:21:56,319 not as deep, but their top end talent is probably better. I think 339 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,240 the Knicks wind up staying in sixth, and that's by I might actually the 340 00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:03,359 Knicks a little bit better than the Hawks overall, just because of their defense. 341 00:22:04,119 --> 00:22:07,920 Their schedule is just still it's normalized a little bit the difficulty of it 342 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:11,319 because they've played so many difficult games, but they still have one of the 343 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:17,400 twelve hardest schedules remaining and that's after having a play through like what they've just 344 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:18,359 played through. And look, the other thing we got to keep an eye 345 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:22,839 on is that Julius Randall and RJ. Barrett have played a crap ton of 346 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:26,359 minutes this year. That was RJ. Barrett playing forty six in regulation the 347 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:30,519 other night. It's really a deviation from the norm. For Thibadeau, I 348 00:22:30,599 --> 00:22:34,680 just shocked by this. Yeah, he's normally so good at limiting his players 349 00:22:34,759 --> 00:22:37,279 minutes. He does a good drop of it with a supporting cast, to 350 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:41,880 be fair. So that's because there's only so many minutes to go around, 351 00:22:44,079 --> 00:22:48,200 right. But I think if I had to pick, I think the Knicks 352 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,039 would leap drop with the Hawks before the Celtics. At this point, I'm 353 00:22:51,079 --> 00:22:52,960 just gonna slap them into sixth because I could see them hitting a wall or 354 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,200 just the schedule, you know, getting to them a little bit. And 355 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:59,640 they're already just throughout the bottom of this three team tier. So I have 356 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:03,440 Boss fourth, Atlanta fifth, and the Knicks six. I do not think 357 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:07,000 that tier changes at all, though. Yeah, I think Atlanta narrowly edges 358 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:11,680 out Boston for four, and I'll have the Knicks in sixth, and I 359 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,920 don't think the heat will be particularly close, But we just we have to 360 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,359 give some respect to Jason Tatum right now because he's just been on a tear 361 00:23:18,599 --> 00:23:22,880 there. I mean, during this six game winning streak twenty five, ten 362 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,720 and five, fifty three, ten and four, twenty eight and ten, 363 00:23:25,839 --> 00:23:27,599 thirty two and nine, fourteen, five and five, and then forty four 364 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:33,440 and ten when he went toe to toe with Steph Curry. He's been unbelievable. 365 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:37,599 This is the level we were expecting him to play at early in the 366 00:23:37,599 --> 00:23:41,519 season when we knew that Kemba Walker was going to be missing time, and 367 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,559 I think both of us were kind of on board with the idea that he 368 00:23:44,599 --> 00:23:48,119 was going to get off to such a strong start that he'd begin the season 369 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:52,359 firmly in the MVP mix. Didn't really happen, but had he played like 370 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:53,920 this, he would be. He's getting to the line, he's hitting three 371 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:59,240 pointers from all over, all over the arc, he's involved as a playmaker, 372 00:23:59,319 --> 00:24:02,160 he's still pay some of the best off ball defense you'll find in the 373 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:07,079 NBA. Just everything is clicking for him right now. Yeah, then the 374 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,599 level of difficulty on some of his shots, My god, that warrior Celtics 375 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,799 game. He just hit some really tough ones down the stretch, so he 376 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:17,680 is spectacular. The next sector of teams, we have a question from Meyer 377 00:24:17,759 --> 00:24:19,920 Rothbomb of who gets the ten seed. And it's interesting because I think we 378 00:24:19,960 --> 00:24:22,440 can also break this up into a group of three. I think seven, 379 00:24:22,519 --> 00:24:26,160 eight and nine are going to be between the Heat, Hornets, and Pacers. 380 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,640 I don't see anyone bridging any of the gaps to stink there. How 381 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:33,079 do you see seven, eight and nine shaking out? And then we can 382 00:24:33,079 --> 00:24:34,079 get to who we think is. You know, the race for the ten 383 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,920 spot is actually probably another three team race, So that's kind of funny too. 384 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:41,759 Yeah. I think the Heat stick at seven. They just they're the 385 00:24:41,799 --> 00:24:45,759 best healthiest team. They have the most top end talent that's actually available. 386 00:24:47,359 --> 00:24:49,640 Jimmy Butler and bam Onto Bio give you a chance to win any game on 387 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:53,799 any given night, and they have the advantage of already being in the seventh 388 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:57,359 spot in the standings. So I don't I don't see that changing. I 389 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:02,400 do think that the Pace are going to leap frog the Hornets. Now. 390 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,559 The Miles Turner is back. He played in this most recent game against the 391 00:25:06,559 --> 00:25:11,279 Hawks. They they are getting healthier, they still have a good foundation on 392 00:25:11,319 --> 00:25:15,400 both ends of the floor, and the Hornets the injuries are just a little 393 00:25:15,400 --> 00:25:18,319 bit too much to overcome unless they start giving Grant Ruler thirty minutes tonight, 394 00:25:18,319 --> 00:25:22,759 and then who knows what's going to happen. I think Grant Ruler injured at 395 00:25:22,799 --> 00:25:26,000 the moment or no. I should probably know that, shouldn't I, But 396 00:25:26,039 --> 00:25:27,559 I don't. Yeah, if you're if you're gonna cape for him at least, 397 00:25:27,599 --> 00:25:32,480 no he's not, he's not all right, Well, then maybe I'm 398 00:25:32,519 --> 00:25:33,480 not caping for him, So I don't feel bad. I could have sworn 399 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:37,359 there was something there. I'm gonna be in lockstep with you here too. 400 00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,920 I'm nervous to say that, like the Pacers will get leap frogged, but 401 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,519 that they will leap frogg the Hornets though they've been I know injuries have been 402 00:25:45,559 --> 00:25:48,519 part of it, but they've just been an acid trip all year where they've 403 00:25:48,519 --> 00:25:52,000 had offensive breakdowns where it feels like they need more playmaking, but then they've 404 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:59,319 had defensive breakdowns there. I might want to keep him in ninth. I'm 405 00:25:59,319 --> 00:26:02,000 not gonna lie if it's been so unimpressed with them, but having Miles Turner 406 00:26:02,000 --> 00:26:07,279 back is going to be so absolutely huge for them if they ever get There's 407 00:26:07,279 --> 00:26:10,599 no timeline, it seems, but like when t. J. Warren comes 408 00:26:10,599 --> 00:26:14,880 back after having his surgery on his foot, that would be huge for them, 409 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,400 and they yeah, I'll leave them. This is a stream of conscious 410 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:19,920 thought here, I'll put them in eighth and have the Hornets ninth. There 411 00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:22,680 just by virtue of missing Heyward in Mamelo Ball, you think they fall off 412 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:27,160 a little bit, And when you look at just the strength of schedules moving 413 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,359 forward, there's not like this huge difference. The Pacers actually have the fourth 414 00:26:30,359 --> 00:26:36,960 easiest in the league compared to the Hornets are seventh, So that's how that'll 415 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:38,200 shake out. I do think the race for the ten spot is probably more 416 00:26:38,279 --> 00:26:42,119 interesting. It is between the Bulls and the Wizards have identical records right now. 417 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:45,920 The Bulls actually hold the tiebreaker though, so they are in tenth, 418 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,440 and then the Raptors are in eleventh, a half game behind the two of 419 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:52,240 them. Who do you have there? This is a tough one, but 420 00:26:52,559 --> 00:26:57,559 I think I'm gonna go with the Wizards very hesitantly. They have the fifth 421 00:26:57,599 --> 00:27:03,480 easiest remaining schedule, which is easier than any of the others. They have 422 00:27:03,519 --> 00:27:07,920 health working in their advantage more than the other teams do. As Zach Lavine 423 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,240 is set to miss a good bit of time, and the Raptors just kind 424 00:27:11,279 --> 00:27:15,519 of like seemed to be in tanking mode. I don't think a team that 425 00:27:15,640 --> 00:27:18,880 really wants to end up in the tenth seed is going to have rest days 426 00:27:19,039 --> 00:27:23,000 like they did on Friday. I believe where they sat Pascal Siakam and o 427 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:27,920 g Nnobi and Kyle Lowry and everyone, and that's like they're giving themselves a 428 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:32,880 schedule loss, which you can't afford to do if you really want to be 429 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:37,240 making a push for that ten seed. The Wizards are playing hard. They 430 00:27:37,359 --> 00:27:44,400 really seem to be letting Russell Westbrook's mentality affect everyone on the team in a 431 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:48,039 positive way. It seems like Bradley Beale has bought into Russell Westbrook's role. 432 00:27:48,039 --> 00:27:53,759 It seems like all of the role players have embraced the toughest nails personality with 433 00:27:53,799 --> 00:27:57,160 which he plays and it's paying off. You know, they've won four games 434 00:27:57,160 --> 00:28:02,880 in a row. It doesn't feel that because this team does have a good 435 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:06,519 bit of talent, it just hasn't come together until later in the season. 436 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,640 I think I would go as far as saying that if the Wizards are the 437 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,079 team that does make the play in game like, they might have a legitimate 438 00:28:14,279 --> 00:28:19,960 shot to advance beyond that play in tournament. Oh, I oh, beyond 439 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:22,599 the play And yeah, I thought you were gonna say, to'm win a 440 00:28:22,599 --> 00:28:26,000 playoff series. I have the Raptors there. I know that they're going through 441 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:27,319 the I don't know if this is a stealth tank at this point. I 442 00:28:27,319 --> 00:28:33,000 don't know what they're doing, but I think it's over. I don't know 443 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:37,359 that they're giving themselves scheduled losses. I do think they're deeper than advertised, 444 00:28:37,599 --> 00:28:40,839 and I still kind of believe that they haven't defaulted to tank mode just yet, 445 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:42,319 and so we're going to see more time with their four and five best 446 00:28:42,319 --> 00:28:47,079 players together, which they just haven't gotten a ton of this season, and 447 00:28:47,119 --> 00:28:49,839 they clearly have the highest ceiling. I would argue of any of the teams 448 00:28:49,839 --> 00:28:53,599 behind the Miami Heat in the standings at this point, you might I might 449 00:28:53,599 --> 00:28:56,119 even be able to incline to pick them against the Heat. They're a team 450 00:28:56,160 --> 00:29:00,640 that I love to see make the play in because I think they could really 451 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:03,200 mess up the Eastern Conference playoffs in that regard where I would probably pick them 452 00:29:03,279 --> 00:29:07,200 to win the play in I think if they make it, so I guess 453 00:29:07,200 --> 00:29:08,839 I'm writing off the heat there, which might be a little unfair. And 454 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,240 if they do win, you know, if they do win, the well 455 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,400 there would be too sponsible. I would predict that they make the playoffs then, 456 00:29:15,599 --> 00:29:19,759 and I could see them against any team other than Brooklyn, a healthy 457 00:29:19,759 --> 00:29:25,839 Brooklyn really putting up like a huge fight, and that could totally just fuck 458 00:29:25,920 --> 00:29:27,440 with the Eastern Conference playoff pitcher in the first round. And so I will 459 00:29:27,480 --> 00:29:32,440 be rooting for them to make the playoffs and finish with a seven or eight 460 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:34,559 seed, but also have to play someone who is not a healthy net squad. 461 00:29:36,480 --> 00:29:40,920 Yeah, I think the difference for me is just the availability of the 462 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:45,759 stars, and also there are young There are more young players in Washington who 463 00:29:45,799 --> 00:29:51,720 are starting to discover their talents a bit more, looking specifically at Denny Ava 464 00:29:51,799 --> 00:29:56,519 who's putting together flashes a bit more consistently, and Ruby Haschimura who seems to 465 00:29:56,559 --> 00:30:00,880 be coming around nicely later in this saw more season for him, Like we 466 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:06,920 can talk about Chris Buche and Giananobi and Fred van Bleet. But they they've 467 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,519 been playing it. We can for sure they've they've been playing at a higher 468 00:30:10,599 --> 00:30:14,359 level. There's not like I don't think there's another layer for them to plumb 469 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:18,400 at this late stretch run, quite like there is for some of these rotation 470 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:22,359 players in Washington who are starting to figure out their roles around Beale and Westbrook. 471 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:29,480 Here's the thing is the level that the Raptors can get to is their 472 00:30:29,519 --> 00:30:32,920 players are playing together, their best players are playing together. That's their next 473 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:36,400 level, which I don't like to be understold. And yeah, which five 474 00:30:36,759 --> 00:30:40,799 if they want it, which I'm just not convinced they do yet. It's 475 00:30:40,839 --> 00:30:44,559 and it's it's so strange because like they kept Lowry at the trade deadline, 476 00:30:44,599 --> 00:30:48,960 like you would think that that ushers in a very explicit we're going for this 477 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:56,559 season mentality that has not been maintained past the trade deadline, right, And 478 00:30:56,599 --> 00:31:02,440 maybe they're trying to do the whole one year tank and re signed Lowry, 479 00:31:02,519 --> 00:31:04,440 have the high draft pick and we move forward and they'll be really good. 480 00:31:04,880 --> 00:31:08,119 But even the new five man unit where you have Siakam, Trent Lowry, 481 00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:12,400 o Gianna Nobi, and Fred van Fleet, they're destroying opponents when they're on 482 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:18,400 the court together. Flip some of that to include Chris Bruche as like another 483 00:31:18,440 --> 00:31:22,680 big in there that's been destroying opponents since the trade deadline. So I think 484 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:25,880 they have I guess you're right to frame it that way. Is if they 485 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:29,880 play their guys, that's their next level, which is they just haven't. 486 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:32,559 Their best players have not been on the court together this season, and so 487 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:36,000 maybe I'm the fool who's buying into them. It's just tough looking at the 488 00:31:36,039 --> 00:31:40,319 Pacers have completely disenchanted me this season. Charlotte is dealing with so many, 489 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:45,079 so many important injuries right now. Vernon Carrey played really well the other night 490 00:31:45,119 --> 00:31:45,839 though, by the way, that was a pick that the Knicks tried to 491 00:31:45,839 --> 00:31:48,559 pick up that I really wanted them too, but that did not work out. 492 00:31:49,079 --> 00:31:52,160 And you know the other team involved in this, like, I'm not 493 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:56,160 going to trust the Wizards, the Bulls or you have Zach Lavine is going 494 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:59,440 to miss a little bit of time, which has been fine there. It's 495 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:04,039 just like they're losing it without Levine. Yeah, yeah, Like that's just 496 00:32:04,119 --> 00:32:07,319 and they're the lineups. I think their best five man lineup is winning the 497 00:32:07,359 --> 00:32:09,039 minutes that it's on the court for. But it's been the other times that 498 00:32:09,039 --> 00:32:12,759 that's been most difficult, even though Daniel Tis has done some really nice things 499 00:32:12,799 --> 00:32:15,720 for them since the trade deadline. So I don't trust Chicago or Washington. 500 00:32:15,839 --> 00:32:20,839 The Pacers have just disenchanted me. So I'm just gonna roll with the Raptors 501 00:32:20,839 --> 00:32:22,839 here, and I'm content to be wrong. I'm not only gonna roll with 502 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:24,359 the Raptors to be in the play in I think they're gonna get one of 503 00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:29,720 those final two playoff spots in the East. I wouldn't be surprised at all. 504 00:32:30,119 --> 00:32:32,200 Do you think we've we've basically written off the Bulls, which I think 505 00:32:32,279 --> 00:32:37,319 is valid. And the only other team to mention, I suppose is the 506 00:32:37,359 --> 00:32:39,920 Cavaliers, who are three games back of number ten and would have to leap 507 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:45,240 frog three teams to get there. I can't see that happening. No, 508 00:32:45,759 --> 00:32:47,960 just because there are too many of those teams in front of them are still 509 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:51,880 trying. Even if you want to play that they'll catch the Raptors just I 510 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:54,039 mean, they're they're only three bet yeah, they're three back in the lost 511 00:32:54,039 --> 00:32:59,079 colum of the Bulls, but that's like, that's for ten if like you're 512 00:32:59,119 --> 00:33:00,640 trying to get that's what, Yeah, it would be. I'd be shocked 513 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:05,279 if they were able to do that. Yeah, kudos to them. I 514 00:33:05,279 --> 00:33:07,960 guess we're remaining it in this one. They were like they were like bad 515 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:12,039 bad for a while and things that Isaaca Coros looked good for them more lately, 516 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,119 I'm still a big context and guy for them. Love and Larry and 517 00:33:15,119 --> 00:33:16,480 ANNs Jr. Are both playing, but I think it's just too little, 518 00:33:16,519 --> 00:33:22,240 too late. That's like an anomaly having both of them available at the moment. 519 00:33:22,319 --> 00:33:24,559 Right. So if you want to dive into this this mail bag, 520 00:33:24,599 --> 00:33:28,079 if we have people listening who want to ask questions or speak, you can 521 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:32,640 ask us anything about the NBA during this during this segment currently, but we 522 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:36,559 do have a ton of questions. I'll start with one of them. Let's 523 00:33:36,599 --> 00:33:40,920 go recent events here. Fred asked how significant is Dwayne Wade becoming a stakeholder 524 00:33:42,599 --> 00:33:49,160 in the Utah Jazz It's so hard to know that the answer that without like 525 00:33:49,279 --> 00:33:52,960 any insight into the process. You know, we heard from from pat Riley 526 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:57,319 and the immediate aftermath of that that when Wade retired they tried to get him 527 00:33:57,359 --> 00:34:00,720 involved in the ownership group and it didn't work. How much do we trust 528 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:06,480 that? Like, what did that conversation look like? So my answer here 529 00:34:06,559 --> 00:34:08,840 just I think it has to be a non answer because I am not informed 530 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:15,400 enough to give any semblance of certainty. Here do you do you have like 531 00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:20,559 more legitimate insight into this than I do. He's going to apparently be an 532 00:34:20,599 --> 00:34:23,599 active stakeholder, which I think matters because just looking at if you want to 533 00:34:23,639 --> 00:34:27,760 be a free agency destination or keep your own free agents, if there's just 534 00:34:27,840 --> 00:34:32,079 a marquee guy there that players might be drawn through, like a Donovan Mitchell 535 00:34:32,199 --> 00:34:37,000 and Dwayne Wade, does that help you keep Donovan Mitchell happy long terms? 536 00:34:37,000 --> 00:34:40,039 But he's the guy who's game. Mitchell has been compared to the most and 537 00:34:40,039 --> 00:34:43,719 so I think that gives the Jazz a little bit extra, you know, 538 00:34:43,920 --> 00:34:46,400 market appeal. The other thing I will say that it might be more noteworthy 539 00:34:46,440 --> 00:34:51,719 for is that he discussed having an ownership stake in the heat and I guess 540 00:34:51,760 --> 00:34:53,599 they just never came to terms there, and then Mickey Harrison felt inclined to 541 00:34:53,639 --> 00:34:55,679 like come out and make a statement about it, which I thought was so 542 00:34:55,719 --> 00:35:00,880 stupid. It was just very awkward so I do find more noteworthy that he 543 00:35:00,039 --> 00:35:07,480 ended up becoming a stakeholder with Utah over Miami. I think the only thing 544 00:35:07,559 --> 00:35:09,519 I would add there is, like, does it matter that much? Like 545 00:35:10,199 --> 00:35:15,159 I guess it's nice, But like Shaquille O'Neill was involved with the Sacramento Kings, 546 00:35:15,159 --> 00:35:17,320 who have landed all of the Marquis free agents, right, Like Michael 547 00:35:17,360 --> 00:35:21,639 Jordan has managed to land all of the Marquis free agents in Charlotte. So 548 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:25,000 like, clearly these big name Hall of Fame players have just this immense impact 549 00:35:25,039 --> 00:35:30,800 when they're involved in ownership groups. I would yeah, the Shack front is 550 00:35:30,800 --> 00:35:37,119 that we might just need to reevaluate how Shack is about about yeah in general, 551 00:35:37,280 --> 00:35:40,679 So yes, yes, agreed, But yeah, I just I don't 552 00:35:40,719 --> 00:35:44,599 know, Like I don't know that Dwayne Wade being involved is going to do 553 00:35:44,599 --> 00:35:47,000 anything to sway Donovan Mitchell. Like if you think if Donovan Mitchell wants to 554 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:50,320 stay in Utah, he's gonna stay in Utah. If he thinks they can 555 00:35:50,320 --> 00:35:52,880 win a title there, he's gonna stay there. I don't think it. 556 00:35:53,119 --> 00:35:55,920 It can only help them, is my point. I don't see the downside 557 00:35:55,920 --> 00:36:00,920 of having Wade involved and it's like they're raptors touting Drake as a brand ambassador 558 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,960 or whatever. He was right, I think it's something that's fun to talk 559 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:08,440 about and has almost no bearing. Here's a question that I guess more so 560 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:13,480 about actual basketball. To Saint Miles, ask how much better has MPJ been 561 00:36:13,519 --> 00:36:19,440 this year than last year? So much better? Just the consistency. The 562 00:36:19,519 --> 00:36:22,079 growth in consistency is astounding. The fact that you could count on him to 563 00:36:22,119 --> 00:36:25,599 get fifteen plus points and shoot better than fifty percent from the field on a 564 00:36:25,719 --> 00:36:30,320 nightly basis is just such a boon for the Nuggets. The fact that he 565 00:36:30,679 --> 00:36:35,079 looks like he's more engaged on defense, even if he isn't always making the 566 00:36:35,119 --> 00:36:38,719 right rotations, like he has been markedly improved on that end. He's been 567 00:36:39,239 --> 00:36:44,960 a tenacious rebounder, He's been a more willing passer. It doesn't look like 568 00:36:45,079 --> 00:36:50,320 he feels the need to hoist up this contested shot every time he touches the 569 00:36:50,320 --> 00:36:53,199 ball, because he knows his touches are limited. He knows that he is 570 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:58,519 a key part of this rotation and this offensive scheme in particular, and has 571 00:36:58,559 --> 00:37:04,199 acted accordingly done wonders for the Nuggets. Yeah, I'm with you. The 572 00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,360 two things that I've noticed is he's done a lot a much better job of 573 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:10,679 playing within the flow of the offense this season, and I think that's also 574 00:37:10,800 --> 00:37:14,599 where he could stand to expand now. And we'll see if he does get 575 00:37:14,599 --> 00:37:15,760 the chance to do that with Jamal Murray out, And we actually have a 576 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:21,039 question about that we should probably get to next. Can he do more off 577 00:37:21,039 --> 00:37:22,679 the dribble? And I think he can. He's not like this super quick 578 00:37:22,679 --> 00:37:25,639 guy off the dribble, but he has the size and the handle to do 579 00:37:25,679 --> 00:37:30,400 it. We're probably gonna see him play more two man actions with Nicole Yokich 580 00:37:30,480 --> 00:37:34,840 now that Jamal Murray is gone, So that's something that could help him. 581 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:37,320 There's a higher offensive ceiling here than we've seen. He's so deadly accurate because 582 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:40,400 his role is just, I don't want to say easy, but they've streamlined 583 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:44,039 it a little bit. That has been his concession though, because I do 584 00:37:44,039 --> 00:37:46,159 think he's fully capable more. The defense has been most impressive to me. 585 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:51,119 I still when you look at the Yoki Porter junior numbers, before Aaron Gordon 586 00:37:51,199 --> 00:37:53,880 came along on defense, they were suspiciously stingy. But you watch Michael Porter 587 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:58,679 Jr. Probably for the you know, a good chunk of this season. 588 00:37:59,039 --> 00:38:00,480 His help side defense has been a lot better. It feels like he's making 589 00:38:00,480 --> 00:38:02,559 a ton of progress away from the ball, and if you're gonna apply a 590 00:38:02,599 --> 00:38:06,320 lot of power forward, that's going to be huge for them. And so 591 00:38:06,440 --> 00:38:08,239 this is someone who I think it's pretty clear. I don't know if you'll 592 00:38:08,239 --> 00:38:12,519 ever call him a two way player. He might be a two way player 593 00:38:12,559 --> 00:38:15,880 in the sense that Yokich is a two way player where he doesn't destroy your 594 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:19,519 defense, but he's also not going to make it. He clearly still has 595 00:38:19,599 --> 00:38:22,440 an All Star sealing it. He might have something higher than that. Just 596 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,039 Jamal Murray is clearly the better player. But if there's more that Michael Porter 597 00:38:25,119 --> 00:38:29,679 Junior can do off the dribble and as maybe a playmaker, if there's that 598 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:32,079 next gear for him, he might be the one that's more likely to make 599 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:37,000 All NBA. I don't I wouldn't buy into that. I would need to 600 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:38,440 see more from Porter Junior in a different type of role because I feel like 601 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:43,440 I'm just crediting the body of work Murray has done. But that's just that's 602 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:45,960 a wild get for the Nuggets to have. They got it at the end 603 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:50,760 of the lottery, and it's I think it's huge too because Jamal Murray. 604 00:38:50,840 --> 00:38:54,239 And I'll scroll through and find that question the thing about his injury, and 605 00:38:54,239 --> 00:38:59,320 this is from Kim asked, what should what should Denver hope for this offseason? 606 00:38:59,360 --> 00:39:01,039 How far can they go without Jamal Murray. We can talk about the 607 00:39:01,039 --> 00:39:06,519 impact jam losing Jamal Murray has on this season, but I assume the timeline 608 00:39:06,519 --> 00:39:07,599 for next year, they haven't released it. I think he gets pushed back 609 00:39:07,639 --> 00:39:12,119 a little bit. So you should still get Jamal Murray back. But if 610 00:39:12,159 --> 00:39:15,280 you're operating on or close to schedule, if it takes him a full twelve 611 00:39:15,320 --> 00:39:19,679 months to come back, April's the end of the year, like that's playoff 612 00:39:19,679 --> 00:39:22,320 time on a normal schedule, towards the middle end of that month, So 613 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:25,280 you're going through basically all year without him. I've seen people predict just based 614 00:39:25,320 --> 00:39:29,639 off the way that Jamal Murray is that maybe he comes back by March first. 615 00:39:29,679 --> 00:39:34,800 That's still just a huge chunk of the season to miss. Michael Porter 616 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:38,079 Junior is so mission critical to that because I've already said that they're not going 617 00:39:38,119 --> 00:39:44,039 to replace or even find a fact simile of Jamal Murray in one player, 618 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:46,440 They're gonna have to use a bunch of different players. Michael Porter Junior is 619 00:39:46,480 --> 00:39:50,400 the closest that comes. You need a shot creator, someone who can keep 620 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:52,920 the ball moving, someone who can hit difficult looks down the stretch, who 621 00:39:52,960 --> 00:39:58,119 can manipulate defenses, have great chemistry with Yokich. They don't defend the same 622 00:39:58,159 --> 00:40:01,000 position, so that's not going to matter as much. Michael Porter Junior comes 623 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:04,639 closer than anyone else on this roster, more so than Will Barton, more 624 00:40:04,679 --> 00:40:07,880 so than even Aaron Gordon, who's a great playmaker. But when you look 625 00:40:07,920 --> 00:40:09,760 at like his footage from Orlando, he made that lead by doing stuff in 626 00:40:09,760 --> 00:40:15,159 the post, and you could run that in Denver like they're set up to 627 00:40:15,199 --> 00:40:17,760 do that. My thing would just be Jamal Murray was that downhill prober, 628 00:40:19,239 --> 00:40:22,320 and Michael Porter Junior is going to be more maybe even not more likely to 629 00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:24,840 do that. I would still say more likely, but he's definitely has the 630 00:40:24,840 --> 00:40:29,639 better chance of thriving in such a role there, And so I would say 631 00:40:29,679 --> 00:40:34,360 Denver ceiling without Jamal Murray this year. You put them in that five player 632 00:40:34,559 --> 00:40:37,719 that five team race in the West with Utah the two LA teams Phoenix and 633 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:42,079 Denver. They're probably fifth in that at this point, but they're still fifth. 634 00:40:42,159 --> 00:40:44,519 I don't think they're worse than any of the other teams behind them. 635 00:40:44,559 --> 00:40:47,320 Next year without Jamal Murray, I think they have a chance to still be 636 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:52,480 an actual contender, maybe not on the same level as Tier one, but 637 00:40:52,679 --> 00:40:57,719 still a Tier two contender without Murray because of what you can still plumb with 638 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:01,639 Michael Porter Junior, I'm in lockstep with everything you just said there. I'm 639 00:41:01,679 --> 00:41:05,639 a little disappointed you didn't mention Austin Rivers, who, as we know, 640 00:41:05,800 --> 00:41:08,519 is just going to totally take over that Jamal Murray roll right, Did they 641 00:41:08,559 --> 00:41:12,079 officially even sign him? There's been like two rumors that say they're close, 642 00:41:12,119 --> 00:41:15,639 and I haven't seen anything efficient official. I'm not sure, but it seems 643 00:41:15,679 --> 00:41:17,840 like it's at least trending in that direction. Maybe by the time this is 644 00:41:17,880 --> 00:41:22,000 like actually released and not just the live version, it will be. But 645 00:41:22,079 --> 00:41:23,679 no, I mean, like, obviously that's not going to be this game 646 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:28,519 changing move. I do. I do think that the guard rotation that they 647 00:41:28,519 --> 00:41:35,800 have behind Jamal Murray is good enough that the Nuggets could still sit in that 648 00:41:35,960 --> 00:41:38,800 top five tier. As you mentioned, like Monte Morris has been one of 649 00:41:38,800 --> 00:41:42,679 the better backup point guards in the NBA, and he's capable of taking on 650 00:41:42,719 --> 00:41:47,360 a longer roll. Facunda Compozzo has been a fantastic defensive presence at the point 651 00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:52,559 of attack, which is hugely beneficial to the Nuggets. Will Barton Michael Porter 652 00:41:52,679 --> 00:41:58,280 Jr. Can take and create more shots, so they do have the pieces 653 00:41:58,280 --> 00:42:04,320 to work together and show some ability to replace what was lost with Murray. 654 00:42:04,400 --> 00:42:07,960 But obviously, you know, getting that from five different sources isn't the same 655 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:10,480 as getting it from one source who has shown the kind of upside that he 656 00:42:10,480 --> 00:42:16,199 has in playoff games. So I don't know that I'm like too concerned about 657 00:42:16,239 --> 00:42:22,880 the Nuggets this season, especially just given how well Yokich has continued to play 658 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:27,199 and how devastatingly effective they've been with both him and Aaron Gordon on the court, 659 00:42:27,719 --> 00:42:30,239 and given the growth that we've seen from Michael Porter Jr. But yeah, 660 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:35,159 I think it. I think it matters more next season because being able 661 00:42:35,199 --> 00:42:42,880 to replace him with so many different rotation members is more taxing for the long 662 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:49,440 haul. Yeah, that's a good point. I'm also wondering if Aaron Gordon 663 00:42:49,519 --> 00:42:52,599 is intrigued enough with the long term potential of Denver that he kind of signs 664 00:42:52,639 --> 00:42:54,760 an extension or defaults to signing a new contract after next year. That's one 665 00:42:54,800 --> 00:42:59,280 plus one because you're not going to have the full The whole thought process here 666 00:42:59,400 --> 00:43:04,320 was, oh, we get two postseasons with the Yoki Murray MPJ Gordon corps 667 00:43:04,320 --> 00:43:07,039 before we have to start making wholesale decisions whether, yeah, they might extend 668 00:43:07,079 --> 00:43:09,559 Michael Porter Junior this offseason. But Michael Porter Junior has a lot of leverage 669 00:43:09,639 --> 00:43:13,239 now, especially with the Jamal Murray and Jeanne argue. He has a good 670 00:43:13,239 --> 00:43:16,760 postseason, his market is the max and it might just be the max anyway. 671 00:43:16,840 --> 00:43:20,960 Yeah, I was coming playing the tax for that. I also think, 672 00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:22,880 just circling back to the Porter discussion, that we have to give some 673 00:43:22,920 --> 00:43:28,400 credit to Mike Maloneire because the way that he handled him has really worked. 674 00:43:28,719 --> 00:43:31,679 You know. I know that there was some frustration that he was being treated 675 00:43:31,719 --> 00:43:37,000 with the training wheels on for much of his rookie season and wasn't really allowed 676 00:43:37,039 --> 00:43:43,159 to blossom until midway through this season. But blossom he has because he's been 677 00:43:43,199 --> 00:43:46,800 empowered to play the kind of basketball that he wants to play and to gradually 678 00:43:46,800 --> 00:43:50,599 fill this bigger role. And I think that the buy in that you see 679 00:43:50,639 --> 00:43:54,639 on defense and the quality of the help rotations and everything on that end of 680 00:43:54,679 --> 00:44:00,280 the floor is a testament to how empowered he feels on offense because he doesn't 681 00:44:00,320 --> 00:44:04,920 have to work for those touches. He doesn't have to try to immediately make 682 00:44:05,000 --> 00:44:07,840 something happen when he receives a rare touch which lands him in the doghouse and 683 00:44:08,320 --> 00:44:12,840 gets him back on the bench like it all goes together. And I think 684 00:44:12,880 --> 00:44:16,280 that the job that Malone and the rest of that staff has done in terms 685 00:44:16,280 --> 00:44:22,559 of player development has really shown itself there. We actually have a few questions 686 00:44:22,559 --> 00:44:28,360 about crunch time play that I think would be smart to leap together Damian Lillard. 687 00:44:28,360 --> 00:44:30,639 That's my answer. Yeah, he's Damion. We do not have a 688 00:44:30,719 --> 00:44:35,480 question about Damian Lillard and crunch time. But the answer in crunch time is 689 00:44:35,559 --> 00:44:38,199 just it's always Damian Lillard. So this comes from mid season p which is 690 00:44:38,199 --> 00:44:43,519 actually a funny there's actually a funny name. Wants to know that the clutch 691 00:44:43,519 --> 00:44:45,880 stats for all of the Clippers players. I don't really want to drone on 692 00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:50,599 about that because I think it would be incredibly boring. Some things I'll note 693 00:44:50,599 --> 00:44:54,039 no One and I found this fascinating. Nicholas Beatum leads the Clippers in total 694 00:44:54,079 --> 00:44:58,239 minutes played this year just overall. That is nothing to do with crunch time. 695 00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:00,719 And I know that's block machine. Nick Patoon to you, by the 696 00:45:00,719 --> 00:45:07,519 way, and I know I know why, like we understand the factors. 697 00:45:07,559 --> 00:45:09,639 But considering where he was in Charlotte the past few seasons, how they just 698 00:45:09,719 --> 00:45:15,039 got him, you know, him being a starter is like was objectively hysterical. 699 00:45:15,159 --> 00:45:19,039 This is just mind blowing if you look at the key players for the 700 00:45:19,039 --> 00:45:22,679 Clippers though, so in crunch time this year and the Clippers overall in the 701 00:45:22,719 --> 00:45:24,719 clutch that's been one of the things that people have hard on. They're twelve 702 00:45:24,760 --> 00:45:30,639 and fourteen, when they play any crunch time games, that record was actually 703 00:45:30,719 --> 00:45:34,079 worse for a lot of the time. You're looking at Kauai in these minutes 704 00:45:34,239 --> 00:45:37,280 is slashing thirty one and twenty and then he get shoots a ninety percent at 705 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:39,079 the foul line, but he's not getting there. And that's been just one 706 00:45:39,079 --> 00:45:43,199 of the clippers biggest issues is that they don't get to the foul line enough. 707 00:45:43,599 --> 00:45:45,880 Actually don't know how much that hurts them. If you want to criticize 708 00:45:45,880 --> 00:45:49,320 their rim pressure, I think that's fair. Paul George in the clutch twenty 709 00:45:49,320 --> 00:45:52,360 six point one percent shooting overall, twenty one point four percent from three, 710 00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:54,480 shooting one hundred percent from the foul line, but only because he doesn't really 711 00:45:54,519 --> 00:46:00,000 get there. So those are the two guys that you look at and see, 712 00:46:00,239 --> 00:46:04,280 like who's played the or averaging the most minutes. Marcus Morris there shooting 713 00:46:04,480 --> 00:46:07,519 just not shooting a ton and he's only played in fifteen of their crunch games, 714 00:46:07,559 --> 00:46:09,760 but he's you know, sixty seven percent overall, seventy five percent from 715 00:46:09,760 --> 00:46:13,800 three, just not a ton of volume there. That is probably a you 716 00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:16,639 know, a bigger issue is that you have this scattershot sample size with a 717 00:46:16,679 --> 00:46:20,360 ton of these guys. Where Patrick Beverley has only played in twelve of your 718 00:46:20,400 --> 00:46:24,239 twenty six crunch time games. Rondo is shooting zero percent in his three clutch 719 00:46:24,239 --> 00:46:28,119 appearances for the Clippers. In case anyone's wondering, but he's been good for 720 00:46:28,159 --> 00:46:30,039 them. I was as of right now. I still think I don't understand 721 00:46:30,039 --> 00:46:32,039 why they needed to give up as muchs they did to get him, but 722 00:46:32,079 --> 00:46:37,480 it does not look like such an egregious move for both sides. So far, 723 00:46:37,760 --> 00:46:42,440 Serge Ibaka is shooting twenty percent from overall and has missed all his three 724 00:46:42,480 --> 00:46:45,519 point attempts. But again, it's two three point attempts. I just want 725 00:46:45,559 --> 00:46:49,599 to reiterate how small in the sample size is. Can you guess who is 726 00:46:49,679 --> 00:46:55,679 third on the Clippers in crunch time field goals made this season? I'm gonna 727 00:46:55,719 --> 00:47:01,159 go with Luke Kennard almost solely because of one game against the Hawks. No, 728 00:47:01,239 --> 00:47:05,960 it's Reggie Jackson and Terrence Man being tied in crunch time. That was 729 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:10,400 my next guess. Nicholas Batum leads the team in crunch time three pointers made. 730 00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:15,119 Like that's that's just all of that's just weird, and maybe that's very 731 00:47:15,159 --> 00:47:19,239 weird. It's very weird. And to translate a lot of those numbers, 732 00:47:19,280 --> 00:47:22,079 you know, because we're affiliated with NBA math and we have to explain the 733 00:47:22,079 --> 00:47:28,000 context behind the numbers. Those are bad. Those cats are bad. Are 734 00:47:28,000 --> 00:47:31,159 you sure you're positive this is very positive? I'm positive that those are negative. 735 00:47:32,840 --> 00:47:38,239 The other the other crunch time question we have, how this is from 736 00:47:38,360 --> 00:47:43,039 Ryan Fitzpatrick. I don't think it's the NFL player. If anyone cares, 737 00:47:43,079 --> 00:47:45,360 I'm gonna pretend that maybe he went to Harvard. I'm gonna just pretend that 738 00:47:45,360 --> 00:47:49,000 this Ryan Fitzpatrick went to Harvard. It doesn't matter whether he was an NFL 739 00:47:49,039 --> 00:47:52,159 player. How much better is RJ. Barrett in the clutch than John'sion? 740 00:47:52,199 --> 00:47:57,800 I'm going to assume that they're asking just about this season. I don't think 741 00:47:57,840 --> 00:48:01,599 that RJ. Barrett has necessary early been better than Zion in crunch time. 742 00:48:02,519 --> 00:48:06,519 Zion is slashing, he doesn't take threes, but he' shooting fifty eight point 743 00:48:06,559 --> 00:48:08,559 one percent on his twos and crunch time eighty four point eight percent from the 744 00:48:08,599 --> 00:48:13,199 foul line the Pelicans this season when he's on the floor, and this is 745 00:48:13,199 --> 00:48:15,519 such a small sample size we're dealing with for Zion eighty nine minutes, the 746 00:48:15,519 --> 00:48:20,280 Pelicans have out scored opponents by twenty seven points. In eighty nine minutes of 747 00:48:20,280 --> 00:48:23,519 crunch time play with Zion on the court, RJ. Barrett is shooting fifty 748 00:48:23,559 --> 00:48:27,880 one point one percent overall seven of twelve on threes in the clutch. That's 749 00:48:27,920 --> 00:48:30,320 fifty eight point three percent, eleven of fifteen at the line, seventy three 750 00:48:30,360 --> 00:48:34,800 point three percent. The Knicks in one hundred and eight minutes with RJ. 751 00:48:34,880 --> 00:48:37,119 Barrett on the flour in crunch time have out scored opponents by forty six points, 752 00:48:37,679 --> 00:48:43,719 which is pretty good. John Moran has not been doing as well as 753 00:48:43,800 --> 00:48:47,400 his draft class brethren. He is thirteen of forty one from the floor in 754 00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:51,360 crunch time, including oh of eight from three. That's thirty one point seven 755 00:48:51,360 --> 00:48:53,719 percent overall from the floor, nineteen of twenty seven at the foul eze seventy 756 00:48:53,719 --> 00:48:58,199 point four percent. He is dealing with the smallest sample size here, sixty 757 00:48:58,239 --> 00:49:00,800 eight minutes. That's a fall of him missing time, I think is one 758 00:49:00,800 --> 00:49:06,239 of the biggest things. And the Grizzlies have been outscored by twenty one points 759 00:49:06,320 --> 00:49:09,599 in those sixteen minutes with him on the court. I don't ascribe responsibility to 760 00:49:09,679 --> 00:49:14,880 him for that, but when you're looking at these three roles, you might 761 00:49:14,880 --> 00:49:17,320 be able to say that his performance has been the most troubling relative to expectations. 762 00:49:17,360 --> 00:49:21,599 Zion Williamson has just started being more of a primary playmaker and has been 763 00:49:21,639 --> 00:49:24,119 fantastic, you know, in the clutch for the Pelicans buy and buy. 764 00:49:24,199 --> 00:49:27,719 RJ. Barrett shooting has been reliable in the clutch, even if he's not 765 00:49:27,760 --> 00:49:31,639 playmaking a ton John Morant, like, it's been fine as a passer in 766 00:49:31,639 --> 00:49:36,719 those situations. Fourteen assists but to seven turnovers, not you know, for 767 00:49:36,760 --> 00:49:40,199 the clutch, Like, that's perfectly fine. His perimeter shot this year is 768 00:49:40,239 --> 00:49:43,719 just so. I don't trust as much of his game as I did, 769 00:49:43,719 --> 00:49:46,159 but what he can do off the dribble is passing his vision. This might 770 00:49:46,199 --> 00:49:50,119 just be an anomaly. Even though the Grizzli has been better than expected. 771 00:49:50,719 --> 00:49:52,960 I still am just not prepared to say that RJ. Barrett is better than 772 00:49:53,679 --> 00:49:58,119 John Morant, which I think some people have come around on long term, 773 00:49:58,119 --> 00:50:02,039 though this does feel increasingly like a a fifty fifty proposition. Yeah, I 774 00:50:02,119 --> 00:50:07,599 think so. My initial reaction when I heard the question was that it might 775 00:50:07,639 --> 00:50:12,480 be like that classic case of overvalueing clutch performance because of a few shots that 776 00:50:12,519 --> 00:50:15,519 stick out of the mind, specifically with regards to r J. Barrett, 777 00:50:15,679 --> 00:50:20,239 because to me, it has felt like Zion in particular just gets even more 778 00:50:20,360 --> 00:50:23,119 involved in those late game situations now that he's been empowered to do so, 779 00:50:23,440 --> 00:50:28,119 Like we saw early, very early in the season that he wasn't even on 780 00:50:28,159 --> 00:50:31,119 the floor for some of those crunch time moments or that he wouldn't touch the 781 00:50:31,159 --> 00:50:36,239 ball, but now that he is so involved as the primary ball handler and 782 00:50:36,280 --> 00:50:40,159 facilitator and playmaker, that he's just doing even more in those situations. So 783 00:50:40,400 --> 00:50:45,039 I'm glad the numbers kind of backed that up too. Do you want to 784 00:50:45,079 --> 00:50:47,559 read Ellis Cohen's question? Yeah, So we have a question from locker room 785 00:50:47,559 --> 00:50:52,199 from Ellis Cohen who says, has Mitch Cupcheck rehabbed his image? Hornets drafted 786 00:50:52,239 --> 00:50:55,599 mellow Bridges, PJ Graham, Riller, McDaniels, and Kerry They made the 787 00:50:55,800 --> 00:51:00,920 Rosier and Hayward moves and we're a top four seed when healthy. Randall, 788 00:51:01,760 --> 00:51:08,639 Delo ingram Zoobots Clarkson Nance were also cup Check picks playing well. I'm guessing 789 00:51:08,719 --> 00:51:14,079 that the idea that cup Check needs to rehab his image comes from the last 790 00:51:14,079 --> 00:51:17,480 few years of his Lakers tenure, which did not go very well post Kobe 791 00:51:17,480 --> 00:51:22,760 Bryant retirement and the team really struggling to get anything going. But I don't 792 00:51:22,800 --> 00:51:27,960 know that like there was that much of a need to rehab the image because 793 00:51:28,000 --> 00:51:31,679 he was generally perceived as one of the top basketball minds regardless, And yeah, 794 00:51:31,719 --> 00:51:36,199 I mean, like the moves that he's made have been fantastic, Like 795 00:51:36,400 --> 00:51:40,039 there's a reason that Charlotte has been able to exceed expectations so much that we 796 00:51:40,039 --> 00:51:44,920 were talking about them in the Play and Tournament conversation earlier in this podcast, 797 00:51:45,360 --> 00:51:49,199 even though they've dealt with all the injuries, like it has been good move 798 00:51:49,239 --> 00:51:52,639 after good move. And I would agree that you know, Julius Randall and 799 00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:57,920 gid Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram thriving in other locations is still a testament to 800 00:51:57,960 --> 00:52:04,039 his ability to unearthed talent even if they weren't maximized on his teams. Yeah, 801 00:52:04,119 --> 00:52:07,800 I look, I think a majority of the criticism about cup tract was 802 00:52:07,840 --> 00:52:10,639 sort of how his Laker's tenure ended, where putting yourself on that timeline I've 803 00:52:10,639 --> 00:52:15,440 won, won a championship and then spending all that money on masgov and and 804 00:52:15,599 --> 00:52:20,360 Dang I will say though it probably wasn't talked about. And also by the 805 00:52:20,360 --> 00:52:28,920 way to shout out to Ellis for listening Riller first just on the appreciate So 806 00:52:29,119 --> 00:52:31,559 I if there was doubt that he could still do this, I think he 807 00:52:31,599 --> 00:52:35,119 has rehabed as him as a bit and what's worked out for them too. 808 00:52:35,239 --> 00:52:37,400 Is the Hayward signing just no longer seems as bad even with this injury. 809 00:52:37,400 --> 00:52:40,239 I think it still brings the question up about what does the back end of 810 00:52:40,239 --> 00:52:45,159 this deal look like? But if anything, he's really helped make life easier 811 00:52:45,159 --> 00:52:46,639 for LaMelo Ball when they played together, and I think that's made for a 812 00:52:46,639 --> 00:52:51,880 better learning curve for him. And I think it's interesting that he brings up 813 00:52:51,920 --> 00:52:55,519 the Lakers draft track record because the Lakers have drafted fairly well. It's just 814 00:52:55,639 --> 00:52:59,800 they've given away like a lot of those players for nothing or use them as 815 00:53:00,239 --> 00:53:06,480 a salary dumps. So I guess would would it be fair to say that 816 00:53:06,559 --> 00:53:09,599 cup Check has become underrated as an executive? Is that the way to look 817 00:53:09,599 --> 00:53:13,719 at this? If he was considered bad in the first place, I think 818 00:53:13,719 --> 00:53:15,679 I'm good with that. I don't think he ever should have been. I 819 00:53:15,679 --> 00:53:21,559 mean, every general manager goes through rough periods. I mean we've we've seen 820 00:53:21,559 --> 00:53:24,239 it with with Sam Presty, We've seen Messiah Jerry occasionally miss fire. Like 821 00:53:24,320 --> 00:53:28,039 you named the general manager and you could find a bad signing or a bad 822 00:53:28,079 --> 00:53:32,480 draft pick. It was ultimately always going to be a tough situation to figure 823 00:53:32,519 --> 00:53:37,280 out, because you have to remember that, like they were still trying to 824 00:53:37,320 --> 00:53:43,400 maximize a roster with Kobe Bryant that did not have any right to be maximized, 825 00:53:43,679 --> 00:53:45,679 and in doing so, you create a pickle for yourself and it was 826 00:53:45,679 --> 00:53:50,440 hard to escape. And they made swing for the fences moves like the Moskov 827 00:53:50,519 --> 00:53:54,119 contract that definitively did not work out. But it happens. You don't. 828 00:53:54,159 --> 00:53:58,920 I don't think that should supersed Like an executive who I believe has won seven 829 00:53:59,000 --> 00:54:04,159 championships over the year, but really it's seven. I didn't know is that 830 00:54:04,239 --> 00:54:07,480 high. I think he's been around long enough for it to be because he 831 00:54:07,519 --> 00:54:13,199 was affiliated with the Lakers dating back to yeah, nineteen eighty one. Yeah, 832 00:54:13,239 --> 00:54:17,000 seven time NBA champion. Let's get to this one question from Keith and 833 00:54:17,000 --> 00:54:20,840 then we have a question the chat from Noah. Other than Ben Simmons, 834 00:54:21,280 --> 00:54:24,079 witch guard in NBA history who played as many minutes has taken the fewest three 835 00:54:24,119 --> 00:54:29,119 point attempts? And how many did he take? So I did look this 836 00:54:29,199 --> 00:54:31,239 up. The criteria I used is the first four seasons of their career. 837 00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:34,960 Yes, I know this is year five for Ben Simmons, but he has 838 00:54:35,320 --> 00:54:40,880 only played in four and then they needed to play at least nine thousand minutes 839 00:54:40,920 --> 00:54:45,519 through their first four seasons, and I obviously did it by the three point 840 00:54:45,639 --> 00:54:46,920 era. Otherwise you get a bunch of zeros. I was gonna say, 841 00:54:46,920 --> 00:54:55,559 Bob Kuzy thirty thousand minutes, no three point attempts. Verne Fleming is number 842 00:54:55,599 --> 00:55:00,840 one with the fewest he's taken thirty three. Sidney Montcreef and Ben Simmons are 843 00:55:00,840 --> 00:55:05,800 tied for second at thirty four. Rolando Blackman at fifty is four, and 844 00:55:05,880 --> 00:55:09,639 Joe Dumars is fifth with eighty six. Fat Lever is sixth at ninety two, 845 00:55:10,119 --> 00:55:14,639 and Magic Johnson is eighth. Seventh was Jay Humphreys. Magic Johnson is 846 00:55:14,679 --> 00:55:16,400 eighth with ninety eight, Jim Paxson ninth at one hundred and twelve, and 847 00:55:16,440 --> 00:55:20,800 then Gary Payton is ten. I also sorted this just by three point makes 848 00:55:20,840 --> 00:55:23,679 to see what would come up. Vern Fleming first place again in the fewest 849 00:55:23,760 --> 00:55:29,039 with three three point makes, Sidney montcrief with four, and then Ben Simmons 850 00:55:29,119 --> 00:55:32,719 is third with five. Rolando Blackman is fourth, Packson fifth, Humphrey six, 851 00:55:32,800 --> 00:55:37,159 Magic Johnson is seventh, Kevin Johnson eighth. Ninth is fat lever. 852 00:55:37,239 --> 00:55:39,800 Gary Payton is tenth again here Jordan is twelfth on this if anyone cares about 853 00:55:39,840 --> 00:55:45,679 that. So there's only three players that have made single digit three pointers in 854 00:55:45,719 --> 00:55:49,519 the three point error as a guard while playing as many minutes as Ben Simmons 855 00:55:49,559 --> 00:55:53,519 through their first four seasons. That is Verne Fleming and Sidney Moncrief. Fleming 856 00:55:53,599 --> 00:55:57,760 is the one that stands out to me, especially because his career overlapped a 857 00:55:57,760 --> 00:56:01,880 bit with the shortening at the three point arc and just didn't matter. Pacers 858 00:56:01,960 --> 00:56:07,559 legend. Noah in the chat says the Blazers can't contend with his current core. 859 00:56:07,880 --> 00:56:13,440 I would probably agree who gets who would get? Who gets? Dealt 860 00:56:13,519 --> 00:56:16,320 leaves in free agency first, Nurkic or CJ. McCollum. I mean, 861 00:56:16,400 --> 00:56:19,960 is it? Is it the cob out answer to say that it's Nurkics just 862 00:56:20,039 --> 00:56:23,599 because of how their contracts are structured. McCollum is ultimately on a deal that 863 00:56:23,639 --> 00:56:29,000 extends through the twenty twenty three twenty four season. Nurkics only through next year. 864 00:56:29,480 --> 00:56:31,639 It's not guaranteed, but come on, we know that it's not going 865 00:56:31,679 --> 00:56:37,119 to be declined. Nurki chits free agency two years two years earlier. I 866 00:56:37,159 --> 00:56:43,039 think it's as simple as that, like Portland can still convince itself that if 867 00:56:43,079 --> 00:56:46,079 all of the pieces are healthy, it can try. Because Nurkis hasn't been 868 00:56:46,119 --> 00:56:52,440 available for portions of this season, McCollum has missed time, so I can 869 00:56:52,519 --> 00:56:57,119 see the desire from the Blazer's end to run it back one more time and 870 00:56:57,159 --> 00:57:01,199 then Nurkic hits free agency. So I think that that's the more likely scenario 871 00:57:01,320 --> 00:57:07,400 than them pulling the plug on it by dealing CJ. McCollum. I think 872 00:57:07,400 --> 00:57:10,400 I'm with you too. I don't know. It feels like they'll bet that 873 00:57:10,400 --> 00:57:14,559 they are married to CJ. McCollum and Dame, And so unless Dame changes 874 00:57:14,559 --> 00:57:17,079 that by dynamic by saying he wants out, or they have the opportunity to 875 00:57:17,119 --> 00:57:22,679 acquire and which does not feel likely. No, and that look, it's 876 00:57:22,719 --> 00:57:25,800 fine if we probably criticize that the Rings culture is just annoying to begin with. 877 00:57:25,920 --> 00:57:29,760 But if he just wants to stay there and it's win or bust in 878 00:57:29,800 --> 00:57:31,079 Portland, more power to him. And if Bradley Beale wants to do that 879 00:57:31,159 --> 00:57:35,960 in Washington, we've all collectively decided on his behalf that he's going to Lee 880 00:57:36,039 --> 00:57:38,440 Washington. I think it's just because his free agency is still in the purview 881 00:57:38,440 --> 00:57:42,119 like Dame signs a long term extension, and I do think it's fair to 882 00:57:42,159 --> 00:57:45,079 be like Bradley Beale is clearly equivocating on some level because he went the short 883 00:57:45,159 --> 00:57:47,440 term route, and yes he could have gotten more money by waiting, but 884 00:57:47,440 --> 00:57:51,199 then why not just wait and hit free agency sooner? So I do feel 885 00:57:51,199 --> 00:57:53,519 like there will be equivocation there. But if Dames still wants to stay in 886 00:57:53,519 --> 00:57:57,199 Portland, I don't think they break up the McCullum horn. It's not even 887 00:57:57,280 --> 00:58:00,320 like I agree with you on the contract stuff. And then centers are easier 888 00:58:00,320 --> 00:58:04,039 to approximate. If you have to replace someone with CJ, what are you 889 00:58:04,519 --> 00:58:07,639 doing to get an upgrade from him? I don't know that he's a decided 890 00:58:07,679 --> 00:58:12,159 top twenty five player, but his offense is eminently valuable to you, especially 891 00:58:12,239 --> 00:58:15,199 in the playoffs. He's shown time and again that it translates to the playoffs. 892 00:58:15,559 --> 00:58:17,800 Who are you getting? You have to get and you're if you're get 893 00:58:17,840 --> 00:58:21,719 it, you have to get a top what fifteen guy to pair with Dame 894 00:58:21,760 --> 00:58:24,320 if you're giving him up for it to really be worth it because you're going 895 00:58:24,360 --> 00:58:29,679 to attach someone else or send other things to him to make that move. 896 00:58:29,679 --> 00:58:30,920 And that's why I have long thought, you know, we got to stop 897 00:58:30,960 --> 00:58:35,639 looking at like Portland moving CJ McComb as the move because I don't know even 898 00:58:35,639 --> 00:58:37,159 if they were willing to do it, I just don't know what the move 899 00:58:37,239 --> 00:58:42,039 is that makes you so much better that you're a title contender, which is 900 00:58:42,039 --> 00:58:45,480 why I almost respect I didn't necessarily understand it at the time. After watching 901 00:58:45,480 --> 00:58:50,599 Norm Powell in Portland giving them that really downhill another downhill element to their offense, 902 00:58:50,880 --> 00:58:52,400 I kind of understand them leaning into like, look, we've tried with 903 00:58:52,480 --> 00:58:57,840 Roco and Nurkicsch, even bringing Derrick Jones junior. The defense is fine for 904 00:58:57,880 --> 00:59:00,800 stretches, but long term, we feel destined to be this bottom ten to 905 00:59:00,880 --> 00:59:06,000 five defensive team. We're going to lead into diversifying our offense, and I 906 00:59:06,079 --> 00:59:09,440 totally get that. I think Norman Powell over Trent in that regard might give 907 00:59:09,480 --> 00:59:12,960 them a slightly higher ceiling. I still think it's like, oh, they 908 00:59:13,039 --> 00:59:16,400 won a playoff series. Maybe if things break right too. I don't view 909 00:59:16,440 --> 00:59:20,840 them as a candidate to come out of the West but I don't know what 910 00:59:20,880 --> 00:59:24,159 else they can do, And so even moving Nurkics or letting him walk is 911 00:59:24,199 --> 00:59:28,920 like, Okay, well where do you go from there? It's still and 912 00:59:28,920 --> 00:59:32,599 I'll say the thing that feels like they need they're that star wing short that 913 00:59:32,679 --> 00:59:36,039 still just feels like what it is for them, which is pretty tough to 914 00:59:36,079 --> 00:59:39,239 find given the current situation. But I guess, like as we were talking 915 00:59:39,280 --> 00:59:43,960 through this, I'm wondering if I want to push back a little on the 916 00:59:44,000 --> 00:59:47,840 Blazers can't contend with his current core. Yeah, they're not going to be 917 00:59:49,079 --> 00:59:52,039 the number one seed in the West, They're not going to be the favorite 918 00:59:52,039 --> 00:59:54,760 to come out of the West. But how do we how are we defining 919 00:59:54,840 --> 01:00:00,679 contention? Because to me, like this current core with Lillard, McCollum, 920 01:00:00,800 --> 01:00:05,320 and Nurkics, if the pieces are healthy and if the supporting cast is healthy 921 01:00:05,360 --> 01:00:10,360 around them, I think that Damian Lillard is good enough to single handedly carry 922 01:00:10,400 --> 01:00:15,639 them to a series win against any team in the West. Do you disagree 923 01:00:17,280 --> 01:00:21,360 any team in the West. Yeah, I would disagree with their makeup right 924 01:00:21,360 --> 01:00:22,920 now. I would disagree. I see, I think he can get on 925 01:00:23,159 --> 01:00:28,239 enough of a heater that they can sweak out a series win. Whether they 926 01:00:28,239 --> 01:00:31,639 could do that three times in a row is a different question. But like, 927 01:00:32,000 --> 01:00:37,119 to me, the ability to have a roster where like you still had 928 01:00:37,159 --> 01:00:42,119 the pause before you answered that question, to me, that's contention, Like 929 01:00:42,360 --> 01:00:47,880 it's not like true top level championship contention, but it means that you've constructed 930 01:00:47,920 --> 01:00:53,719 a good enough team that you're giving yourself a chance, right, I think 931 01:00:53,760 --> 01:01:00,159 that's fair. And to clarify, if they would have traded, so here's 932 01:01:00,159 --> 01:01:02,199 how I look at it. If they would have traded for Aaron Gordon instead 933 01:01:02,239 --> 01:01:07,199 of Norman Powell, I would probably be more inclined to call them a contender. 934 01:01:07,239 --> 01:01:12,760 And they're that type of player away, and I think I think the 935 01:01:12,840 --> 01:01:16,159 Norman Powell move is probably again maybe hires their thing a little bit because he 936 01:01:16,199 --> 01:01:22,039 has just more offensive than Gary Trent Jr. Overall, I think they're that, 937 01:01:22,159 --> 01:01:25,199 let's say it, a fringe star away from being a legit title contender. 938 01:01:25,199 --> 01:01:28,800 And that's sort of how I'm viewing this lens where I think you need 939 01:01:28,840 --> 01:01:30,920 to be in the West. I think you need to be top four, 940 01:01:30,000 --> 01:01:34,000 top five right now to be considered in that discussion. But yeah, I 941 01:01:34,000 --> 01:01:40,920 think that the differentiation between legit contender and contender is significant. Yeah, I 942 01:01:40,920 --> 01:01:45,639 mean that's fair. If anyone in the room has some final questions, let's 943 01:01:45,639 --> 01:01:49,400 get to a final one from our actual mail bag. But if anyone else 944 01:01:49,440 --> 01:01:52,039 has any final questions, feel free to ask them in the room and we'll 945 01:01:52,079 --> 01:01:58,159 try and tackle those very quickly. But the players, here's one that's interesting. 946 01:01:58,199 --> 01:01:59,599 I don't know if we could do off the cuff. I think it 947 01:01:59,639 --> 01:02:05,800 just came in and like super recently players, lou Dort statistically resembles. That's 948 01:02:05,880 --> 01:02:07,360 lou Dort the scorer. Now, by the way, who's all of this? 949 01:02:07,480 --> 01:02:13,480 I'm turned into a good shooter. He is shooting thirty four point three 950 01:02:13,480 --> 01:02:16,760 percent from three on the season. I look up his splits more recently, 951 01:02:16,920 --> 01:02:21,679 but they've like sort of bestowed more and he missed some time to everyone in 952 01:02:21,679 --> 01:02:25,800 Oklahoma City's miss time by design at this point though, since late February, 953 01:02:25,840 --> 01:02:30,480 he's shooting thirty nine point one percent from from three on six point six attempts 954 01:02:30,519 --> 01:02:35,480 per game. His actual averages this season or thirteen point six points, three 955 01:02:35,519 --> 01:02:38,480 point six rebounds, one point six assists, one point zero steals, and 956 01:02:38,559 --> 01:02:42,920 Mike I said he is shooting thirty four point three percent from three forty five 957 01:02:42,960 --> 01:02:45,320 point seven percent from two doesn't get the foun line a ton about seventy three 958 01:02:45,360 --> 01:02:51,360 percent from there? Is there is there like a lou Dort type fighter that 959 01:02:51,400 --> 01:02:53,159 comes to mind, not even looking at his numbers, but when you consider 960 01:02:53,239 --> 01:03:01,400 lou Dort, not really he feels pretty unique where I'm not sure I'm willing 961 01:03:01,440 --> 01:03:06,039 to call him a three in D guy because I don't know, like how 962 01:03:06,159 --> 01:03:09,239 much I buy into that three point shot. And he's also just such a 963 01:03:09,239 --> 01:03:16,519 tenacious and versatile and aggressive defender that he doesn't necessarily just fill that wing defense 964 01:03:16,679 --> 01:03:21,599 role that you typically expect from a three in D guy. Like my first 965 01:03:21,679 --> 01:03:24,239 thought was like Tony Allen, but that doesn't really make sense because Tony Allen 966 01:03:24,360 --> 01:03:29,239 was even more of an offensive liability to the point that guys would just entirely 967 01:03:29,280 --> 01:03:31,760 neglect him on the perimeter. And then my head went to like Robert Covington, 968 01:03:31,920 --> 01:03:37,960 but they don't necessarily guard the same type of players. So I'm I'm 969 01:03:37,000 --> 01:03:42,719 just kind of struggling with this one. What about Marcus Smart? I see 970 01:03:42,760 --> 01:03:45,440 how pass another name who came to mind, But then the playmaking just isn't 971 01:03:45,440 --> 01:03:52,159 there. Yeah, that's but the fact that he has no like that was 972 01:03:52,199 --> 01:03:55,719 the third name in my head. Sure, sure, it was way to 973 01:03:55,760 --> 01:04:00,599 just piggyback off everything I say, Adam, that's my out of there. 974 01:04:01,280 --> 01:04:04,320 Is it would it be like I don't even know, like if Marcus Smart 975 01:04:04,400 --> 01:04:08,679 and Tony Allen had a baby, maybe that type deal. Right, Yeah, 976 01:04:08,760 --> 01:04:13,239 exactly, that's perfect, that's perfect. I don't know if that's I 977 01:04:13,280 --> 01:04:15,280 don't know if that's the best way to frame it. If he's gonna have 978 01:04:15,360 --> 01:04:17,519 a next level I would wonder if it's does he finish better at the rim 979 01:04:17,599 --> 01:04:21,039 or is there more of that playmaking element just because he's still he's a really 980 01:04:21,039 --> 01:04:25,039 good player, but there's a chance of the postseason he's still kind of a 981 01:04:25,280 --> 01:04:27,519 you know, teams are guarding him from the three point line now, but 982 01:04:27,519 --> 01:04:30,119 how does that hold up in the postseason. We're definitely not going to find 983 01:04:30,119 --> 01:04:32,880 out this year. Ellis has another question, if you want to read it. 984 01:04:33,079 --> 01:04:35,519 Yeah, so he asked, would you rather give up assets for Miles 985 01:04:35,559 --> 01:04:40,519 Turner or overpay Rashaun Holmes in free agency? Particularly if you're the Hornets? 986 01:04:41,079 --> 01:04:45,079 And I think the only issue I have with this question elis is that it 987 01:04:45,119 --> 01:04:47,599 presumes that you can over pay Rashaun Holmes, which I think might be. 988 01:04:51,039 --> 01:04:57,880 But I think for this, for if we're thinking of this as a Hornet's 989 01:04:57,920 --> 01:05:02,480 centric question, I think the I still want Myles Turner because you have enough 990 01:05:02,599 --> 01:05:09,320 offensive ability already on this roster, where I just I want that defensive menace 991 01:05:09,840 --> 01:05:15,360 who can capably protect the ram and is going to erase mistakes behind LaMelo Ball 992 01:05:15,400 --> 01:05:17,800 and Terry Rogier and Grant Riller and all the other awesome cards they have. 993 01:05:19,679 --> 01:05:25,079 I would say Reshaun Holmes because you can't overpay him. Here's my thing, 994 01:05:25,280 --> 01:05:28,280 what does it take to getting Miles Turner? And I don't know what he's 995 01:05:28,280 --> 01:05:30,880 going to do to kind of solidify your rebounding and Rashaun Holmes is going to 996 01:05:30,920 --> 01:05:32,639 do more than that for you. The fact that he's spaces the floor is 997 01:05:32,639 --> 01:05:35,079 great, but it's three point clips are all over the place. Maybe she's 998 01:05:35,079 --> 01:05:42,079 better in Charlotte. My main advocacy, or my main argument in support of 999 01:05:42,159 --> 01:05:45,920 Reshaun Holmes is he costs you cap space. Miles Turner is going to cost 1000 01:05:45,920 --> 01:05:48,320 you draft equity, and I think you can talk to yourself into all right, 1001 01:05:48,360 --> 01:05:54,280 whatever players it cost you for Miles Turner of the non LaMelo ball category, 1002 01:05:54,280 --> 01:05:56,840 You'll be fine. Are you giving up your pick this year? Are 1003 01:05:56,840 --> 01:06:01,199 you giving up? But what you are? I'm what would you use to 1004 01:06:01,239 --> 01:06:05,519 pick on that would be better than having Miles Turner on that roster. Here's 1005 01:06:05,519 --> 01:06:08,960 my problem though, is that if you're a Hornets team where you feel one 1006 01:06:08,960 --> 01:06:12,480 Miles Turner away from something special, I don't know that he nudges your ceiling 1007 01:06:13,039 --> 01:06:16,920 more enough. He doesn't nudge it high enough, more so than Rashaun Holmes 1008 01:06:17,199 --> 01:06:20,519 to be like, hey, if it costs you, what does it cost 1009 01:06:20,559 --> 01:06:24,079 to get Miles Turner? If it costs you two future first round picks? 1010 01:06:24,119 --> 01:06:27,239 Which I think it might, because what young players are you giving up in 1011 01:06:27,280 --> 01:06:30,400 there? I mean, you have Monk and DeVante Graham are going into restricted 1012 01:06:30,400 --> 01:06:33,840 free agency. They're just not entities. Maybe Indiana Ston wants Gordon Hayward, 1013 01:06:33,880 --> 01:06:36,079 But are you giving up Gordon Hayward for Miles Turner? That's it. I 1014 01:06:36,079 --> 01:06:42,719 don't think you would either, So I would rather if I'm gonna have to 1015 01:06:42,719 --> 01:06:45,480 give two first round picks, I mean, or PJ Washington and a first 1016 01:06:45,559 --> 01:06:50,119 round pick, you're as the Hornet. It's you're not. You're look in 1017 01:06:50,159 --> 01:06:54,000 a vacuum. You're doing it. But if you have the option of paying 1018 01:06:54,079 --> 01:06:58,599 Rashaun Holmes or giving up two first round picks or Miles Turner, let's just 1019 01:06:58,639 --> 01:07:01,039 frame it that way. I'm picking Rashaun Holmes because one he's really good, 1020 01:07:01,400 --> 01:07:05,119 and two the Turner stuff is maybe you like the fact that his contract will 1021 01:07:05,159 --> 01:07:09,039 be shorter at that point. Who knows. Maybe Rashaun Holmes on these signs 1022 01:07:09,039 --> 01:07:11,280 the two year deal or three year deal anyway, so it's not going to 1023 01:07:11,360 --> 01:07:15,199 be that much different to begin with. But I just don't what is the 1024 01:07:15,400 --> 01:07:17,559 Miles Turner you have. I guess he trampsformed your defense, but does he 1025 01:07:18,159 --> 01:07:21,840 and does he do it enough? He does? Yeah, that's unfair to 1026 01:07:21,880 --> 01:07:26,199 Miles Turner. I just the equity. You're not Charlotte Charlotte with Miles Turner 1027 01:07:26,519 --> 01:07:30,840 a similar core with Miles Turner. I don't know that they're guaranteed to be 1028 01:07:30,280 --> 01:07:32,639 good enough that that draft pick doesn't matter, is my point. I know 1029 01:07:32,639 --> 01:07:36,800 we romanticized draft picks, and I'm a Miles Turner is a great NBA player, 1030 01:07:38,039 --> 01:07:41,679 But if the alternative is getting Rashawn Holmes, I'm taking Rashawn Holmes that 1031 01:07:41,679 --> 01:07:44,679 scenario. Now, if the alternative is if you said, would you trade 1032 01:07:44,719 --> 01:07:47,239 for Miles Turner if it costs you two first round picks and a young player 1033 01:07:47,280 --> 01:07:49,880 that's not LaMelo Ball at all, Yes, I'm doing that. If that 1034 01:07:50,000 --> 01:07:54,159 is the scenario on the table, I'm doing that. When Rashaun Holmes is 1035 01:07:54,159 --> 01:07:59,480 the alternative, I'm rolling with rashawnee. I Just my only qualm with that 1036 01:08:00,159 --> 01:08:03,119 is that I don't know that Rashaun Holmes, as good as he is and 1037 01:08:03,159 --> 01:08:08,639 will be, is a transformative player. Because if you are signing him, 1038 01:08:08,639 --> 01:08:12,559 and we're talking about overpaying here him here, which I assume is to guarantee 1039 01:08:12,599 --> 01:08:15,479 his arrival in Charlotte, if you're going down that route, you have so 1040 01:08:15,560 --> 01:08:19,960 much money locked up in him and Gordon Hayward that I don't think you can 1041 01:08:20,000 --> 01:08:27,039 make the ancillary moves necessary to become a contender, like I think you're doing 1042 01:08:27,079 --> 01:08:29,840 yourself. Like sure, like it would be great that you're going to be 1043 01:08:29,880 --> 01:08:32,279 like a four or five seed in the East year after year with Rishawn Holmes, 1044 01:08:32,840 --> 01:08:36,640 but I don't think that you have upside beyond that. And I think 1045 01:08:36,880 --> 01:08:42,079 if you're making that move for Miles Turner again, Like, whether it's two 1046 01:08:42,119 --> 01:08:45,199 first round picks or PJ Washington in a first round pick, or whatever the 1047 01:08:45,239 --> 01:08:50,479 deal may be, you are creating the ceiling as well. My thing with 1048 01:08:50,520 --> 01:08:54,359 that is, Miles Turner costs eighteen million to begin with. I think if 1049 01:08:54,359 --> 01:08:57,800 you're overpaying Rashaun Holmes, like that's gonna be like I was thinking, like 1050 01:08:57,840 --> 01:09:00,560 it's gonna be twenty to twenty two. No, it's it's not just with 1051 01:09:00,600 --> 01:09:02,680 the big met Well, I don't want to dismiss you, because I do 1052 01:09:02,760 --> 01:09:05,079 think he is at least the name. He's the best center on the market 1053 01:09:05,119 --> 01:09:09,520 this summer. So maybe there's a chance that he's well, he's the best 1054 01:09:09,520 --> 01:09:13,920 center in a market that's going to have a surplus of money without enough available 1055 01:09:13,960 --> 01:09:17,960 players. But if it's if you pay him twenty I don't you know, 1056 01:09:18,039 --> 01:09:21,239 that's only a two million dollars difference. It doesn't hamstring you. I think 1057 01:09:21,279 --> 01:09:24,600 it would hamstring you more to give up two first and a young player than 1058 01:09:24,640 --> 01:09:28,920 losing that extra two million dollars. And all the other thing is I would 1059 01:09:28,920 --> 01:09:32,479 need to check this. I'd be willing to guess that Rashaun Holds is averaging 1060 01:09:32,520 --> 01:09:36,560 more points per shot on his floaters than Miles Turner's averaging from three, and 1061 01:09:36,560 --> 01:09:41,560 so that like floors basing element. I don't know how like huge that is 1062 01:09:41,920 --> 01:09:44,760 for. I mean, the volume is there, so like having someone who 1063 01:09:44,840 --> 01:09:45,439 does that. But first of all, ver Shaun Holmes might be able to 1064 01:09:45,439 --> 01:09:48,520 shoot threes. We saw it. I can't remember it was Filly or Phoenix, 1065 01:09:48,560 --> 01:09:51,960 but it happened. He experimented. So I like that we disagree there. 1066 01:09:53,439 --> 01:09:55,920 Uh, you'd be interesting if and maybe I'm just saying this to piss 1067 01:09:55,960 --> 01:09:58,520 off Noah who's still in the chat, shout out to him. It'd be 1068 01:09:58,520 --> 01:10:00,800 interesting if the Knicks just decided, like we need to hire end five Mitchell 1069 01:10:00,840 --> 01:10:03,039 Robinson's not the answer, and we're going to be the team that trades a 1070 01:10:03,119 --> 01:10:08,239 Miles Turner. That would be like a very that would fit the motif of 1071 01:10:08,239 --> 01:10:11,000 what this team is trying to do. It feels like, but that's why 1072 01:10:11,039 --> 01:10:14,439 I would I like that we disagree there. I just don't know that there's 1073 01:10:14,560 --> 01:10:16,920 enough of a difference. But you would have to tell, like I, 1074 01:10:16,960 --> 01:10:19,279 if ra Shown Holmes is gonna cost twenty three million, then maybe it will 1075 01:10:19,319 --> 01:10:25,279 come. But if he's gonna be within two millions. I still just I 1076 01:10:25,319 --> 01:10:29,680 wonder if Rashaun Holmes as good as he is, and I'm not trying to 1077 01:10:29,720 --> 01:10:33,760 diminish how good he is, does he make players better around him, like 1078 01:10:33,840 --> 01:10:38,439 I think the Turner can. I think he can in the right situation. 1079 01:10:38,680 --> 01:10:44,600 Like I'm thinking about how much easier life is on LaMelo ball if he doesn't 1080 01:10:44,640 --> 01:10:47,840 have to worry about his defensive assignments quite as much because he has one of 1081 01:10:47,880 --> 01:10:51,399 the league's best erasers behind him, Like that matters for a young guard, 1082 01:10:51,479 --> 01:10:55,800 Like think about what we've seen from the Atlanta Hawks with Trey Young and Clint 1083 01:10:55,800 --> 01:10:59,239 Capella on the floor together, Like as soon as you have that transformative piece 1084 01:10:59,279 --> 01:11:01,199 of the defensive end, everything starts to click on the other end as well 1085 01:11:01,479 --> 01:11:05,359 for those young guards. I just don't know if Holmes elevates the rest of 1086 01:11:05,359 --> 01:11:11,079 the team quite like having a presence like Turner would, so he has real 1087 01:11:11,159 --> 01:11:14,520 role gravity, which Miles Turner just a lot of times he's picking him popping 1088 01:11:14,520 --> 01:11:16,520 too, So like that's just not so. I do think he makes his 1089 01:11:16,520 --> 01:11:20,640 team better by those extensions, you're the defensive difference is big because Shaun Holmes 1090 01:11:20,680 --> 01:11:24,880 is a perfectly confident Ram protector and he can move in space, but Turner's 1091 01:11:24,920 --> 01:11:30,239 just a different Yeah, he's top three, top four in that depending on 1092 01:11:30,319 --> 01:11:33,439 how you view his mistime this year. He's clearly there. So it's certainly 1093 01:11:33,479 --> 01:11:36,960 a discussion. I still think unless Rashaun Holmes is costing you twenty plus, 1094 01:11:38,439 --> 01:11:41,960 I'm probably default thing to him. But Noah did say the jokes on me. 1095 01:11:42,000 --> 01:11:45,479 He loves Miles Turner, so that would I'm not even necessarily against that 1096 01:11:45,520 --> 01:11:47,239 move. It's just something I've considered. This also assumes that the Pacers want 1097 01:11:47,239 --> 01:11:50,319 to get rid of Miles Turner this season, which, if you're the Pacers, 1098 01:11:51,199 --> 01:11:55,720 are you do you want the future assets that the Hornets are touting just 1099 01:11:55,760 --> 01:12:00,119 because are you at that point where you're valuing picks? I think so, 1100 01:12:00,359 --> 01:12:01,800 but I'm not sure. I mean, they're not rebuilding, so they would 1101 01:12:01,840 --> 01:12:06,039 I feel is there a third team involved? But and you need to tell 1102 01:12:06,039 --> 01:12:09,239 me. I think the two things we need to know here, and this 1103 01:12:09,359 --> 01:12:12,760 was a great question, apparently ellis just because we're still debating it, is 1104 01:12:12,800 --> 01:12:15,920 what is Rashaun Holmes actually costing if you're overpaying him? And then what does 1105 01:12:15,920 --> 01:12:18,560 it cost to get Miles Turner? And so if my assumptions were if Rashaun 1106 01:12:18,600 --> 01:12:24,039 Holmes cost you twenty million between sixteen and twenty million, and then to trade 1107 01:12:24,039 --> 01:12:28,399 for Turner costs you two first, and I think something else. It's obviously 1108 01:12:28,760 --> 01:12:31,279 might not need to be salary filler, but you know something, you know? 1109 01:12:32,119 --> 01:12:36,479 Is it just another player. I'm probably defaulting to Holmes in that scenario, 1110 01:12:36,680 --> 01:12:40,399 but I do think it's a discussion. It's a good one, for 1111 01:12:40,439 --> 01:12:43,640 sure. I think that's a good time to get us out if you're on. 1112 01:12:43,680 --> 01:12:45,199 Thank you for everyone who who joined us. This was great. We 1113 01:12:45,199 --> 01:12:49,600 will be back here next week at four pm on Sunday unless we change the 1114 01:12:49,640 --> 01:12:53,359 time, in which case will let everyone know. But thank you all for 1115 01:12:53,439 --> 01:12:57,000 listening. Until next time. We leave you all with the shout out to 1116 01:12:57,079 --> 01:13:00,159 the one, the only, the uninjured, Brant Riller and I did that 1117 01:13:00,199 --> 01:13:08,439 for you, Dad. I appreciate it. MHM.