1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:04,120 What's up, y'all is Drewski and I've teamed up with Mountain Dew to produce 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,640 a hilarious new basketball podcast called The due Zone with Drewski. Learn the backstories 3 00:00:08,679 --> 00:00:11,839 of your favorite balls and celebrities like Jamal Murray. Did you have like a 4 00:00:11,919 --> 00:00:14,720 favorite team? Was it the Raptors at the time or no, was the 5 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:17,199 Raptors even started on the topic? Come on, bro, I had that 6 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,559 old tell you like I'm fifty, Taylor Rogues, Asian Wilson and any more. 7 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,359 You won't want to miss this. Listen to The Due Zone with Drewski 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:43,840 on Apple Podcast, Spotify and wherever you listen to podcasts. Heyllo Hardwood, 9 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,960 noocks listeners. I am Dappa Valley coming at you without my co host Andrew 10 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,719 d Belly this time. Have a mail bag for you guys. As we 11 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:58,799 lean into our coronavirus content during this NBA work stoppage, we are going to 12 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,920 try and cover this he as per usual, look at some long term stuff. 13 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:04,400 There's going to be more on that in a minute. We'll give you 14 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,040 some updates when whenever it's necessary, But we don't want this to just become 15 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:12,760 a constant reflection of what's happening in the league right now. If there's anything 16 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:17,680 new that we hear in the news, will of course excuse me using my 17 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:21,040 half Boston accent there for some reason, and no I'm not from Boston. 18 00:01:21,239 --> 00:01:26,239 We will of course talk about it though, And to that point, seven 19 00:01:26,359 --> 00:01:30,959 NBA players have tested positive for COVID nineteen. We know of four of them 20 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,439 because there were just four nets that reportedly tested positive. Kevin Durant told Sham 21 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,719 Sharania that he was one of them. Respect to him for coming out and 22 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:42,599 saying that, I know there's a bunch of weird things going around with the 23 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:47,319 hippo laws. Should NBA players have those test results be made public? Should 24 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:49,000 they not? I don't really know how I feel about that, but they 25 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:53,359 come into contact with so many people that I do think it's important for the 26 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:57,799 public to know. But you could also say that about any average joe if 27 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,439 they are just going about their daily law for a week before they were in 28 00:02:00,519 --> 00:02:06,120 self quarantine or anything like that, they can come into contact with hundreds of 29 00:02:06,159 --> 00:02:08,080 people and if not more, whereas with NBA players, of course, or 30 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:13,240 professional athletes and celebrities, perhaps it's in the thousand. Kevin Grant joins of 31 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,240 course, Christian Wood, Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert, who was the 32 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:20,319 first player to test positive. Again. That brings the total to seven NBA 33 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,039 players from three different teams, the Jazz, Pistons and Nets as of right 34 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:29,680 now. I'm sure there will be more cases that prop up from now before 35 00:02:29,680 --> 00:02:31,360 we get started. Just the usual housekeeping notes. We'll try and make them 36 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:36,960 quicker. Just want to continue reminding, imploring, begging, pleading with everyone, 37 00:02:37,159 --> 00:02:39,280 rate review, subscribe to us on iTunes. The numbers have been a 38 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:43,719 little bit stagnant during this work stoppage. We are here, we are going 39 00:02:43,719 --> 00:02:46,840 to be pumping out content for you. It would meet a lot if you 40 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,560 can take the time to throw a step five star rating, ride or review, 41 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:52,159 if you have any constructive criticism, maybe some ideas for the pods. 42 00:02:52,159 --> 00:02:54,680 They're just want to get your comments thrown out. Subscribing is the single best 43 00:02:54,680 --> 00:03:00,159 way to help us. Doesn't matter whether you're using iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, 44 00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:04,000 any place like that. iTunes though, it at least helps us the 45 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,120 most, and so make sure you're subscribing, downloading all of our episodes. 46 00:03:07,159 --> 00:03:09,639 If you've done all that, make sure you're giving us shout outs on Twitter, 47 00:03:09,719 --> 00:03:13,599 retweeting the promos that Andy and I will will throw out there, telling 48 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,960 your friends, family members, enemies, strenemies, co workers, random people 49 00:03:17,319 --> 00:03:21,319 who you should not be meeting on the street because hopefully you're all in self 50 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,879 isolation and taking this whole coronavirus thing seriously. We of course hope you're safe 51 00:03:25,039 --> 00:03:30,319 too. That is our everyday wish here at the Hardwood Knox podcast. Follow 52 00:03:30,319 --> 00:03:32,719 our YouTube channel. Just go to YouTube dot com search Hardwood Knox and you 53 00:03:32,759 --> 00:03:36,680 will find most of our episodes on there. Our mailbags we tend not to 54 00:03:36,719 --> 00:03:39,360 put on YouTube, but our full length podcast where we have guests and ourselves 55 00:03:39,439 --> 00:03:43,319 going back and forth, they will be up there. Follow Hardwoo Knocks on 56 00:03:43,319 --> 00:03:46,800 Twitter at Hardwood Knox. I am at Dan Favalley, Fava Lle, Andy 57 00:03:46,919 --> 00:03:51,599 is at Andrew E. Bailey, and last, but certainly not least, 58 00:03:51,599 --> 00:03:53,680 please follow the Blue Wire podcast network. A ton of great content being put 59 00:03:53,719 --> 00:03:57,400 out there daily. I do run the Twitter account, so if you follow 60 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,719 at Blueire Pods, you're you're doing me a solid as well. We finish 61 00:04:01,759 --> 00:04:04,639 always in the intro with the shout out to our sponsor this week, bet 62 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:09,560 Online dot ag. They are awesome. Promo code blue wire all one word, 63 00:04:09,599 --> 00:04:14,199 We'll get you a fifty percent deposit to ponus there the positive bonus there, 64 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,000 excuse me, so be sure to use that. That helps out the 65 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,360 podcast as well. All those different things you can do to helpbout the podcast, 66 00:04:19,439 --> 00:04:23,680 please do as many as you possibly can. With that, we'll get 67 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:27,199 into this mailbag. The first question, of which sort of touches on our 68 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:31,560 future plans, it comes from Twitter user What's Next? They ask what have 69 00:04:31,639 --> 00:04:35,560 you guys been spending time working on during the season layoff. This was tweeted 70 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:40,519 to the at MBA math account as well at MBA Underscore Math. Follow them 71 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:46,360 too, Adam from All, the founder and editor in chief at MBA Math. 72 00:04:46,439 --> 00:04:48,800 I know he's working on some stuff where there'll be a lot of historical 73 00:04:48,959 --> 00:04:54,600 comparisons, maybe a rolling rating MVP throughout history. He's just working on a 74 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,759 bunch of different things. Will be on the lookout there on the Twitter account. 75 00:04:57,879 --> 00:05:00,120 As for Hardwood Knox, our plan is still deliver at least two to 76 00:05:00,199 --> 00:05:04,839 three episodes per week. We'll probably be heavier on guests. I already have 77 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:10,199 some lined up. Those episodes are probably going to start rolling out next week, 78 00:05:10,519 --> 00:05:14,439 though we don't know what we're necessarily going to do. We might target 79 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,199 more national people to come on. I'm intrigued by the idea of going into 80 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,759 singular team deep dives, but we're trying to weigh the trade off where we 81 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,000 do give up a lot of listens when we do those pods, but it's 82 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:28,040 fun to do deep dives into every team. Also, though you run into 83 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,319 the problem, do you treat it as if this season's happening or not. 84 00:05:30,399 --> 00:05:31,519 We'll figure that out as we go along, but we will be here. 85 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:36,279 We will be producing content, some big picture stuff, and again bringing on 86 00:05:36,519 --> 00:05:40,439 guests as we see fit, So be on the lookout for that. Thank 87 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:46,319 you for that question. Hopefully everyone appreciates that little update from here. Peter 88 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,839 Nielsen asked, you lead by four with one minute remaining, what's the best 89 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:56,759 estimated value game wise a fifty percent two pointer or a forty percent three pointer. 90 00:05:57,399 --> 00:06:00,800 There are so many factors that are going to come in to play here. 91 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,639 Aside from the math. You have to worry about how many timeouts your 92 00:06:03,639 --> 00:06:09,199 team has remaining. If you're the squad that's trailing, what personnel is on 93 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,879 the court around this person, Are you more likely to grab that rebound if 94 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,639 if there's a long miss, or can you trust that maybe you can get 95 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,879 a second chance opportunity should that three pointer miss. All that said, I 96 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,160 go with the three pointer. If you're dealing with a forty percent shooter, 97 00:06:21,439 --> 00:06:25,639 he's going to return you one point two points per shot, whereas a fifty 98 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,519 percent two point shooter is going to give you one point per look. And 99 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,480 just the math tends to work out there. Also, if you hit that 100 00:06:31,639 --> 00:06:35,399 three, it puts a little bit less pressure on the defense because you can 101 00:06:35,439 --> 00:06:39,959 still give up a score at the other end, as long as it's not 102 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:43,480 a three pointer, of course, and it will end up being a one 103 00:06:43,519 --> 00:06:46,399 possession game. Still, However, with so much time left on the shot 104 00:06:46,439 --> 00:06:50,120 cock, the context of what the two pointer is matters, because if we're 105 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:53,480 talking about a dunk or a layup, those are still going to be the 106 00:06:53,519 --> 00:06:57,560 most efficient shots in basketball. And so if that's if that's available to you, 107 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,519 then you course go with it. But if we're talking about a two 108 00:07:00,519 --> 00:07:03,240 point jump shot versus a three point shooter who's hit forty percent of his trays 109 00:07:03,279 --> 00:07:06,560 on the year, I'm gonna go with the three pointer. In that scenario. 110 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,519 It's really a circumstantial question just as much as a math question. I 111 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,480 think it just unless the context really skews towards you're getting a gimme at the 112 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:19,560 rim in that situation as opposed to a post up mid range jumper. I 113 00:07:19,639 --> 00:07:25,199 really think that the three pointer is probably the best move there. Interesting question 114 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:30,800 though. This question comes from Twitter user NBA discussion. They ask what do 115 00:07:30,839 --> 00:07:34,319 you think of Julius Randall. I don't think he should be in the NBA. 116 00:07:34,519 --> 00:07:39,040 Holy how, I am pretty low on Julius Randall. Wasn't a big 117 00:07:39,079 --> 00:07:42,000 fan of that signing for the Knicks last summer. But I don't know that 118 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,319 we could say he doesn't belong in the NBA. Where you run into severe 119 00:07:46,399 --> 00:07:48,639 problems with him is he's not a good enough shooter these days to play the 120 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:54,079 four twenty nine percent this season. Last year that was closer to being to 121 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,000 the league average around thirty four percent, And so if he was even there, 122 00:07:57,079 --> 00:07:59,680 you can get away with a lot more when he's on the court, 123 00:08:00,079 --> 00:08:03,000 but he still can be a mismatch with the ball in his hands, regardless 124 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:07,480 of what front court spot he's playing. He's like this barreling bowling ball when 125 00:08:07,519 --> 00:08:09,240 he's getting up the floor, and he can even beat some guys off the 126 00:08:09,319 --> 00:08:13,319 dribble in one on one situations in the half court. He's a pretty good 127 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:18,199 facilitator. Six point eight potential assists per game. That's right around a Paul 128 00:08:18,279 --> 00:08:22,040 George or a shake Gilgist Alexander. If you're getting that out of your four 129 00:08:22,079 --> 00:08:28,040 man's that's a pretty good harbinger. All that being said, though he's so 130 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:33,120 bad defensively, just so bad in basically any situation. He can hold his 131 00:08:33,159 --> 00:08:35,200 own in some just straight one on ones, and maybe if he's going against 132 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:39,159 a low percentage post player who's not going to have a ton of counters, 133 00:08:39,159 --> 00:08:41,600 he might be fine. And he does really have that size to him, 134 00:08:41,639 --> 00:08:46,399 that that girth where he shouldn't be overpowered too much. But he's just not 135 00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:48,480 going to be able to stick with guys off the dribble, not the most 136 00:08:48,519 --> 00:08:52,440 aware guy off the ball, and where he's really going to start to hurt 137 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:54,879 you as if you put him at center. The solution here is really surround 138 00:08:54,919 --> 00:08:58,919 him with shooters, four shooters and let him handle the ball, get up 139 00:08:58,919 --> 00:09:01,639 and down the court. That a perfect situation for him. That being said, 140 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:05,159 you're going to give up a ton of looks at the rim when he 141 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:09,240 is your five man. This season, thirty seven percent of opponent shots are 142 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:13,159 coming at the rim when he's on the court. In general for the Knicks, 143 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:16,919 that's in the thirty first percentile, and opponents are shooting sixty seven point 144 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:18,679 three percent at the rim when he's on the floor. That's in the twelve 145 00:09:18,759 --> 00:09:22,840 percent tile. That's not great. The numbers don't improve much, if at 146 00:09:22,879 --> 00:09:26,360 all, when you're looking at him at the five this year. How The 147 00:09:26,399 --> 00:09:30,159 thing there, though, is the Knicks really haven't played him at the five 148 00:09:30,159 --> 00:09:33,720 two hundred and twelve possessions this year, and they've had a one twelve point 149 00:09:33,759 --> 00:09:37,840 six defensive rating with him at center. That could most certainly be worse, 150 00:09:37,919 --> 00:09:41,559 but it seems like more small, small sample shenanigans there. The Pelicans could 151 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:45,679 not survive defensively when he was at the five last year, and it really 152 00:09:45,679 --> 00:09:48,480 showed. They allowed parades to the rim, it didn't matter how good they 153 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,360 were offensively. If he's at the five, you're going to give back almost 154 00:09:52,399 --> 00:09:56,639 as much, if not more, defensively. In a different situation, though 155 00:09:56,120 --> 00:10:00,440 I do think that he can work, it's just a matter of what team 156 00:10:00,480 --> 00:10:01,840 is that right now. If you put him on the Boston Celtics and you 157 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:05,679 made him a center, I think that he'd be just fine because they have 158 00:10:05,720 --> 00:10:07,639 so many good defenders. When you look at Jason Tatum, Jalen Brown, 159 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:13,480 Mark is Smart, even Gordon Hayward that they can throw on the wings and 160 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:16,440 really help him out. And you also have a Brown and smart and sometimes 161 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:20,000 Tatum who can handle some of the bigger assignments, so that might make his 162 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:22,840 job easier. He's not the type of player though, that you go to 163 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:26,279 such an extent to build around. If he can just fit in seamlessly into 164 00:10:26,279 --> 00:10:30,120 that If he was a free agent and he was looking at tax player mid 165 00:10:30,159 --> 00:10:33,720 level money or maybe even non tax player mid level money, that's something you 166 00:10:33,799 --> 00:10:37,240 roll the dice on. But when you're dealing with him in that sixteen to 167 00:10:37,279 --> 00:10:41,639 twenty million dollar price range, you can't view him as a building block. 168 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:46,600 I think that ship has definitively sailed for him. Next question comes from Twitter 169 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:52,399 user Jonathan Kelly. Would Draymond Green be good on any other team? Kind 170 00:10:52,399 --> 00:10:58,159 of another loaded question there. Draymond Green has not been good this season, 171 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:03,679 and his effort has Waxed and Waned mostly Waned, I think because he understands 172 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:05,840 there's really nothing to play for in Golden State this year, and you've really 173 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:11,279 seen him not just on offense, not really look for his shop, but 174 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:15,320 just not be the same type of defensive anchor. He's still one of the 175 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:18,080 best defensive players of this era though, and maybe one of the best defensive 176 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:22,000 players ever if you watch him in the previous seasons. Just all the talking 177 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,279 he does on defense, the way that he can defend multiple players in a 178 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:33,120 single half court possession, it's really just absurd. And have his IQ on 179 00:11:33,159 --> 00:11:35,639 the defensive end, where he can just kill you from anywhere, whether it's 180 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:41,000 as this help defender, whether it's as a secondary helper around the rim, 181 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:46,440 whether it's as the five man, whether it's just switching onto ball handlers who 182 00:11:46,519 --> 00:11:48,840 should, in theory be quicker than him because they're smaller and maybe more explosive. 183 00:11:50,039 --> 00:11:52,320 He can hold his own and basically any situation. We've seen that a 184 00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,600 little bit this year too. When he's on the Warriors have a one to 185 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:01,879 eleven point one defensive rating with him the court that's in the forty nine percentile, 186 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,600 which when you look at their defensive personnel, it's not that bad. 187 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,200 They're still giving up a really bad effective a field goal percentage to opponents. 188 00:12:09,399 --> 00:12:13,200 It would be in the thirtieth percentile. But they do a good job limiting 189 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:18,000 opportunities when he's around the rim, especially when he's not the loan quote unquote 190 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,000 big there, because he can if you're gonna have a you know when they 191 00:12:22,039 --> 00:12:24,960 had Willie Calli Stein there, If you had him floating around the rim and 192 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:26,919 you knew you also dreaming on the court, it makes it much harder to 193 00:12:26,919 --> 00:12:31,159 score there. But he's also a great five man on his own and to 194 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:35,320 help to be that deterrent, that's going to be a huge value to your 195 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,200 defense. By default. What really kills them when he's on the court, 196 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,879 though, and there might be more personnel this season, is that opponents are 197 00:12:43,879 --> 00:12:46,639 shooting a ridiculous clip from mid range there. There's definitely got to be a 198 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:50,519 little bit of luck there, and you know they're gonna get a ton of 199 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:52,679 three point shots up. When you look at the Warriors as perimeter personnel, 200 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:56,399 they're not shooting especially high percentages against the Warriors from three when he's on the 201 00:12:56,399 --> 00:13:01,159 court. But when you add the volume in they can hurt you there. 202 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,879 And then also, once Green is really at the rim, if he's your 203 00:13:03,919 --> 00:13:07,840 primary line of defense there, he's not going to be great just because he's 204 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:13,519 six six baby with shoes on. And so the Warriors are giving up a 205 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:18,960 pretty high percentage at the rim when opponents actually get there and are shooting. 206 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:22,519 That's problematic. That being said, well, they really haven't gone to this 207 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:26,240 during the season this year, probably because they want to conserve him for next 208 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:31,720 season when they have Clay Thompson healthy Stephen Curry will be more available. Still, 209 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:37,159 they've allowed a really absurdly low defensive rating when he's at the five this 210 00:13:37,159 --> 00:13:41,159 season, it's only been one hundred and nine possessions. But that that's really 211 00:13:41,519 --> 00:13:45,919 a big deal where I think his value becomes more complicated. As on the 212 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:50,399 offensive end, he's shooting close to career worse from three this year, if 213 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:54,879 not a career worse. He's under thirty percent from deep since that twenty fifteen 214 00:13:54,919 --> 00:13:56,879 twenty sixteen season where he was at thirty eight point eight percent. That was 215 00:13:56,960 --> 00:14:03,559 clearly an outlier. But if you surround him with shooting, he can still 216 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,759 be a great passer and he's maybe more someone that you'd be willing to cater 217 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,039 to when you look at the type of passing he can get you. He's 218 00:14:09,080 --> 00:14:11,720 averaging over six assists for the Warriors as it is, and a lot of 219 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:13,799 that has to do with usage, and he's not someone who's going to look 220 00:14:13,799 --> 00:14:16,600 for his own shot too often. But if you just put him in a 221 00:14:16,639 --> 00:14:20,879 more reliable situation and the Warriors have not been a great three point shooting team 222 00:14:20,919 --> 00:14:26,639 this year, I think that he does then have supreme offensive value. Let's 223 00:14:26,679 --> 00:14:30,720 swap him out in Houston for Russell Westbrook and what do you think happens? 224 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,120 I think a lot of the same results. Maybe you feel more comfortable putting 225 00:14:33,159 --> 00:14:37,000 your center on Draymond Green because he's not going to assault you at the rim 226 00:14:37,039 --> 00:14:39,720 the way Russell Westbrook does. But the way that he can pass the ball 227 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:45,159 coming off screens, maybe that incentivizes the Rockets to use more thick and roll 228 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,759 and just high ball screens. And in general, that's probably the model though, 229 00:14:48,799 --> 00:14:52,639 that you need to have around Draymond Greens, that your centeries to be 230 00:14:52,679 --> 00:14:54,679 able to shoot, or he needs to be the center surrounded by by four 231 00:14:54,679 --> 00:14:58,799 shooters, and that might be something that Golden State struggles to do next year. 232 00:14:58,799 --> 00:15:01,639 A lot of it will be predicated not just having Klay Thompson and Stephen 233 00:15:01,679 --> 00:15:05,840 Curry healthy, but how well is Andrew Wiggins shooting from the floor. How 234 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:09,200 many of their players this season proved to be mainstays. Can you get away 235 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,639 with the front court of Eric Kashcal and Draymond Green and then Andrew Wiggins? 236 00:15:11,639 --> 00:15:16,080 What does that look like offensively for you? Still? I think you can 237 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,879 put him in different situations, and as long as you give him, let's 238 00:15:18,879 --> 00:15:20,799 say, three shooters, three above average shooters on the court, I think 239 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:26,919 he can still have some pretty high offensive value. March sadness is rolling on 240 00:15:28,159 --> 00:15:31,600 and on and on or what Knox listeners, We know this has been the 241 00:15:31,639 --> 00:15:35,000 longest decade of our lives, and it's it's somehow only March bizarre, right, 242 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:39,879 But you don't have to indulge in March sadness all the time thanks to 243 00:15:39,919 --> 00:15:43,799 bet online dot ag. 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Be sure 252 00:16:15,559 --> 00:16:18,679 to use promo code blue wire all one word to receive your fifty percent welcome 253 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:23,120 bonus on your first deposit. Again, that's promo code blue Wire all one 254 00:16:23,159 --> 00:16:27,879 word. You will receive a fifty percent welcome illness by using it at online 255 00:16:29,080 --> 00:16:34,519 your new ticket online action. Next question comes from good friend of the pod, 256 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:40,480 Adam Spinella. He asked, would you rather have Prime healthy, Grant 257 00:16:40,559 --> 00:16:45,639 Hill or Clay Thompson. Holy shit, this was a really tough question for 258 00:16:45,639 --> 00:16:48,960 me. I am in the camp of Clay Thompson being supremely underrated and the 259 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:52,679 sacrifices he's made on both offense and defense. When you look at the assignments 260 00:16:52,679 --> 00:16:56,840 that he has to cover, they're astronomical, and I think they've not only 261 00:16:56,919 --> 00:17:00,639 dragged his numbers down when you're looking at the office vent, but what they 262 00:17:00,639 --> 00:17:03,960 asked him to do on defense, you're never really going to see the impact 263 00:17:03,079 --> 00:17:06,759 that he really has. He's not going to get a ton of the defensive 264 00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:11,240 counting stats, and sometimes the defensive splits aren't going to reflect as soundly on 265 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:14,559 him. But when you look at what he's going up against so many number 266 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:18,119 one options, that threat is going to be there when you are effectively the 267 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:22,640 anchor of an entire perimeter defense, and just having him in the court by 268 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:26,200 extension makes Stephen Curry's job easier. The extent twitch you need to go to 269 00:17:26,319 --> 00:17:30,000 hide. Stephen Curry put that in air quotes as well. That's always been 270 00:17:30,039 --> 00:17:33,720 a little bit overblown. He has pretty good size for a point guard, 271 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,680 and he's fought over screens during his prime. But to not have to put 272 00:17:37,759 --> 00:17:41,759 him on point guards primary ball handlers as often as you would usually need to 273 00:17:41,799 --> 00:17:47,799 without a Clay Thompson there, that's a huge deal. Now, I would 274 00:17:47,799 --> 00:17:51,160 still go with peak Grant Hill. I don't know if a ton of people 275 00:17:51,200 --> 00:17:55,759 remember how good he was, And I didn't really get to see peak Grant 276 00:17:55,839 --> 00:17:57,319 Hill. I was still so young. You know, when you're looking at 277 00:17:57,319 --> 00:18:02,200 the ninety five ninety six season. I think that was his second year in 278 00:18:02,240 --> 00:18:04,759 the league. I was I think six years old then six six, maybe 279 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,319 maybe seven. I was born in eighty nine. Anyway, So his five 280 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:12,359 year peak, his age twenty three to twenty seven seasons, he averaged twenty 281 00:18:12,079 --> 00:18:15,680 nine twenty one point nine points, six point five assists, and one point 282 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:21,759 six steals per game. No one who appeared in at least three hundred games 283 00:18:21,799 --> 00:18:26,599 during that span matched his steal percentage, block percentage, and defensive rebounding percentage. 284 00:18:26,599 --> 00:18:30,559 He could really be this understated weapon on the defensive end, and even 285 00:18:30,599 --> 00:18:34,200 as he got older. I'll never forget when I I don't want to say 286 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,240 when I first started paying attention to the NBA, but when I really started 287 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,160 to take things in and just dive deeper into it. It was around, 288 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,480 you know, two thousand and nine, like Lebron's last year in Cleveland. 289 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:51,160 Lebron's last years in Cleveland. But I do remember the twenty ten Sons Blazer 290 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,880 series in the playoffs where Grant Hill age thirty seven, which is an absolute 291 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:59,559 defensive monster. That doesn't factor in to this discussion because we're looking at prime 292 00:18:59,680 --> 00:19:04,240 Grant Hill versus prime Clay Thompson. But when you add his shot creation into 293 00:19:04,279 --> 00:19:07,880 the fold, with just the help defense that he really showed, and he 294 00:19:07,880 --> 00:19:11,319 could be this understated room protector to really go up against guys at the rim, 295 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:15,480 he might be. I would have to watch more of his prime games, 296 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:18,200 but seeing what I did see from him later in his career, there's 297 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,519 a chance that he might just be one of the smartest help defenders in NBA 298 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,319 history. And Adam Spinella, who coaches a college basketball team in addition to 299 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,480 writing for the basketball writers, might be able to speak to that or definitely 300 00:19:29,559 --> 00:19:32,519 could be able to speak to that better than I could. But he was 301 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:37,119 really good, and so give me the prime healthy Grant Hill. Even again, 302 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,319 I'm not even sure that we understand when he was available how well he 303 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:45,400 really aged gracefully, And it really bums me out that we look back on 304 00:19:45,759 --> 00:19:51,519 how much prime basketball was lost due to his battles with injuries in the middle 305 00:19:51,680 --> 00:19:56,920 of his career. Next question comes from Twitter user Tara Pillar. They ask 306 00:19:56,119 --> 00:20:00,559 what's going on between Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. This is actually a question 307 00:20:00,559 --> 00:20:04,440 that I wanted to tackle in the wake of the COVID nineteen stuff I and 308 00:20:04,599 --> 00:20:10,799 Adam Framwo talked about how the criticism of Rudy Gobert reached probably the point where 309 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:14,799 it was too much. You absolutely need to drag drag him for touching all 310 00:20:14,839 --> 00:20:18,480 those microphones, just to reiterate what we said. But there's no way of 311 00:20:18,519 --> 00:20:21,079 knowing who he passed it on too, and he had to catch it from 312 00:20:21,079 --> 00:20:23,039 someone, and it could have been Donovan Mitchell himself. We can't detect the 313 00:20:23,039 --> 00:20:27,000 point of origin, at least as far as I know, on this coronavirus. 314 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:30,640 So to say that he is the one that blew up the NBA, 315 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,880 it's just patently false. That said, and apparently I'm gonna say that said 316 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,680 a ton this podcast. There's always a podcast where I overuse one phrase. 317 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:41,480 That's going to be it today, Donovan Mitchell's clearly pissed. Tony Jones of 318 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,039 The Athletic wrote a fantastic piece. I'm recording this on a Tuesday night, 319 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:48,960 and I believe it came out this morning about Mitchell's feelings. He did an 320 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:52,440 interview on Good Morning America, I believe, where it's clear that he's still 321 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,720 a little heated with Gobert and hasn't talked with him. This is something that 322 00:20:56,759 --> 00:21:00,079 Jazz were just going to have to address. And I understand Donovan Mitchell's frustrations 323 00:21:00,119 --> 00:21:03,759 because at least the optics now or that Rudy Gobert didn't take it seriously, 324 00:21:03,799 --> 00:21:06,960 and if for some reason he did pass it on to Donovan Mitchell, He's 325 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:08,839 of course going to be angry. It's something that he has to get over 326 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,839 too, as well, though, because Golbert didn't give him the coronavirus intentionally, 327 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:17,039 and to that point, we don't even know if Gobert had at first 328 00:21:17,039 --> 00:21:21,039 it could have been Donovan Mitchell. We really just don't know. What I 329 00:21:21,079 --> 00:21:25,799 will say is a little bit ridiculous is the Jazz fans who are really killing 330 00:21:25,839 --> 00:21:29,720 Woes for the way he phrased his tweet about how players in the Jazz locker 331 00:21:29,799 --> 00:21:33,039 room were frustrated with the way that Rudy Gobert was acting before he was diagnosed 332 00:21:33,079 --> 00:21:38,200 with COVID nineteen. He heard that from players on the team. I don't 333 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:44,079 understand why that's on WOG if that was offered up to him, and maybe 334 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:48,119 it's not something that you want passed along, but that's on Rudy Gobert's teammates 335 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:51,240 just as much as it is on WOG and so we don't need to look 336 00:21:51,279 --> 00:21:55,720 at this as some bias against bias reporting against Rudy Gobert. In my opinion, 337 00:21:55,799 --> 00:21:59,079 perhaps that's not the way that you should have gone about reporting the news. 338 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,640 But if he's hearing it from players on the Jazz, you should be 339 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:04,599 more mad at them if you want them to protect their own if you're going 340 00:22:04,599 --> 00:22:08,839 to be that upset with Borznarowski. And that's that's where I land on that. 341 00:22:10,079 --> 00:22:12,680 I do ultimately think that Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell will be fine. 342 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:18,720 I can't imagine this gets too in either or scenario where they have to have 343 00:22:18,759 --> 00:22:21,279 to choose one. But it is going to be critical that you address this 344 00:22:21,319 --> 00:22:25,039 whenever the NBA resumes business, if not before, then you have to try 345 00:22:25,079 --> 00:22:27,759 and get them to talk to each other via Skype or text messager or something. 346 00:22:27,839 --> 00:22:32,039 This is all going to last awhile longer, and it's going to be 347 00:22:32,079 --> 00:22:36,279 all we think about. But you can't blame Rudy Gobert for giving Donovan Mitchell 348 00:22:37,079 --> 00:22:41,039 COVID nineteen and he didn't. It doesn't seem like Rudy Gobert or that any 349 00:22:41,079 --> 00:22:45,160 of the reporters around the Jazz were infected by COVID nineteen either, And so 350 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:48,359 him touching the microphones and that'sence didn't really do anything. And if he was 351 00:22:48,400 --> 00:22:52,880 touching things excessively in the locker room more than he does, that's only one 352 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,160 player, Donov Mitchell was infected in his lockers next to Gobert. It would 353 00:22:56,200 --> 00:23:03,160 be more of a happenstance thing than a deliberate Rudy Gobert really fucked up there. 354 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,359 And just to reiterate, we don't know that Rudy Gobert gave it to 355 00:23:06,359 --> 00:23:10,200 Donovan Mitchell. So I've I've played both sides of the fence here and I 356 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:14,559 think that's really the only way to do this in my mind. Though Gobert 357 00:23:14,599 --> 00:23:18,079 and Donovan Mitchell that that probably won't be a long term issue with the Jazz. 358 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,559 I think time will heal everything in this sense, particularly as we see 359 00:23:21,559 --> 00:23:23,720 and Donovan Mitchell sees and everyone else around the league sees that this was just 360 00:23:23,759 --> 00:23:27,720 an inevitable stoppage for the NBA. Regardless of what happens. You have more 361 00:23:27,720 --> 00:23:33,559 players who have been tested positive for COVID nineteen already, and so This isn't 362 00:23:33,599 --> 00:23:37,519 something that Rudy Gobert or anybody on the Jazz started. They're just that that 363 00:23:37,599 --> 00:23:44,279 first case that that triggered the effects of COVID nineteen. In general, the 364 00:23:44,359 --> 00:23:49,000 NBA was just always speeding towards this sabbatical. Next question comes from Steve Ahearn. 365 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:55,440 His question is, can you visualize or compare Jason Tatum's rise in the 366 00:23:55,519 --> 00:23:59,480 NBA to other historic comps. Thanks. I'm not going to visualize it because 367 00:23:59,480 --> 00:24:03,680 it's a pod cast and I don't really know how to compare the rise itself. 368 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,079 When you look at his uptick in production across history. You could certainly 369 00:24:07,079 --> 00:24:10,599 look at his usage jump if you have a little bit more time, but 370 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:15,480 that's not something that I allocated time for before this podcast. However, when 371 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:18,880 you really look at the workload he's shouldering this year, the number of off 372 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,720 the dribble threes that he's taken, his usage rate has spiked by six point 373 00:24:22,759 --> 00:24:27,559 five percentage points compared to last season. His true shooting percentage is up from 374 00:24:27,599 --> 00:24:30,400 last year despite that uptick in volume, getting to the free throw line a 375 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:34,000 little bit more often. More of his shots, particularly since the middle of 376 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:38,599 December, are coming in the restricted area. He's just improved basically every facet 377 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:44,160 of the game. His pick and roll volume as the initiator has nearly doubled 378 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,079 when looking at the possessions that he's finished. Still needs to improve as a 379 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,359 facilitator. Get to line more consistently. There are games where it feels like 380 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,119 he can get there ten to fourteen times, but then there are other nights 381 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:56,440 where he still bails out too early on his drives. Probably needs to give 382 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,799 the ball up on those plays more often anyway, But this is someone who 383 00:24:59,839 --> 00:25:03,359 is in all NBA territory, not just overall, but on defense too. 384 00:25:03,359 --> 00:25:07,519 I haven't done my All defense teams or all NBA teams, but there's a 385 00:25:07,559 --> 00:25:11,920 really good chance that Tatum ends up on my second team All Defense. I'm 386 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:14,640 not sure. I don't think he'll make first, just doing this in my 387 00:25:14,680 --> 00:25:17,519 mind at the at the moment, But to make an All NBA and All 388 00:25:17,559 --> 00:25:19,759 Defensive team the same season, your age twenty one season, no less, 389 00:25:19,799 --> 00:25:25,680 that's a huge deal. And what I did look at though, is for 390 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,519 this season, specifically, just looking at a shot difficulty, twenty five players 391 00:25:29,559 --> 00:25:33,200 are attempting at least three pull up triples per game. Tatum's thirty nine point 392 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,039 nine percent clip on those looks is third, behind only Tarris Lavert and Damian 393 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:41,000 Lillard. That's just that's really just a wild number to me. And then 394 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:47,119 when you look through throughout history of players who buy their third season or earlier 395 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:52,440 are matching Tatum's current usage rate twenty eight point six, true shooting percentage fifty 396 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:57,279 six point two and scoring at least twenty four point five points per seventy five 397 00:25:57,319 --> 00:26:02,559 possessions, which is basically what he's averaging. There are only fourteen other players 398 00:26:02,559 --> 00:26:07,920 throughout MBA history who have done that in their third season or earlier. Two 399 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:11,720 of them are happening this year. Luka Doncic, a sophomore, and Trey 400 00:26:11,799 --> 00:26:15,000 Young, also a sophomore. Those guys are incredible too. Looking at the 401 00:26:15,039 --> 00:26:18,640 pass players who have done it, we'll go on Honor Walter Davis, Mark 402 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:23,240 Aguire, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Shaquille O'Neill, Paul Pierce, Dwyane 403 00:26:23,279 --> 00:26:27,279 Wade, Lebron, James Carmelo, Anthony, Ben Gordon. Nice little reminder 404 00:26:27,319 --> 00:26:30,519 of how good Ben Gordon was once upon a time. He did it in 405 00:26:30,559 --> 00:26:34,039 two thousand and seven. Fyi, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and that, 406 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:38,440 as I already mentioned, Trey Young and Luka Doni. That's spectacular company. 407 00:26:38,559 --> 00:26:42,480 The only red flag here would be Ben Gordon, where his career are just 408 00:26:42,559 --> 00:26:45,279 sort of fell off a cliff. But for Tatum to be at this point 409 00:26:45,559 --> 00:26:48,720 where I think you look at him and say he can be one of the 410 00:26:48,720 --> 00:26:52,160 ten best players in the league, that's the most important thing because that puts 411 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:56,319 the Celtics back in the opiate open ended title window. We thought that they 412 00:26:56,599 --> 00:27:00,000 had initially established and they really sort of of didn't. They look good in 413 00:27:00,039 --> 00:27:03,200 the future because he's so young. Jalen Brown still pretty young, but they 414 00:27:03,200 --> 00:27:08,519 can compete now because he's already all MBA good. Have another Celtics question here. 415 00:27:08,559 --> 00:27:11,880 It's also semi nets related because it involves Kyrie. This comes from a 416 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:17,720 Twitter user seth What is Kembo's plus minus versus what Kyrie's was in Boston. 417 00:27:18,000 --> 00:27:19,640 I'm not a big fan of raw plus minus when looking at entire season, 418 00:27:19,640 --> 00:27:22,759 so I'm going to use net rating. I'm also not a big fan of 419 00:27:22,799 --> 00:27:26,960 just cross comparing years. The teams are different, their roles are different, 420 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:30,599 but let's just look at these numbers. The Celtics were outscoring opponents by plus 421 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:36,599 point four points prone hundred possessions with Kyrie on the floor last year Kemba Walker. 422 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:40,559 This season, they're outscoring oponents by one point five points per one hundred 423 00:27:40,559 --> 00:27:44,200 possessions more than when he's off the court. Excuse me. These are the 424 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:48,000 swings. The Celtics were point four possession point four point prone hundre possessions better 425 00:27:48,039 --> 00:27:52,400 with Kyrie last year. They're one point five points prone hundred possessions better this 426 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:57,160 year. That's that's in some it includes the offense and defense. Kemba Walker, 427 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:02,440 of course, has this huge offensive net rating swing the Celtics or seven 428 00:28:02,480 --> 00:28:06,480 point six points per one hundred possessions better with him on the court. There. 429 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:10,319 What I ultimately do think, though, if you throw these out the 430 00:28:10,359 --> 00:28:12,440 window, is that Kemba Walker is just by far and away the better fit 431 00:28:12,599 --> 00:28:17,799 because of what he allows other players on the team to do. And so 432 00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:22,559 Kyrie's offensive rating swings were similar plus six point four last year with the plus 433 00:28:22,559 --> 00:28:26,039 seven point one with the Celtics last year, excuse me, and plus eight 434 00:28:26,079 --> 00:28:30,200 point five in twenty seven ten twenty eighteen. That was a year where he 435 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,400 was really an MVP candidate and an outside MVP candidate. You looked at him 436 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:37,519 as one of the ten best players in the game. So that's not to 437 00:28:37,599 --> 00:28:41,240 understate what he could do with the Celtics when he was healthy and engaged. 438 00:28:41,519 --> 00:28:47,279 But when you look at what Kemba Walker is able to do, he's just 439 00:28:47,759 --> 00:28:52,480 someone who doesn't need the ball in his hands as much. He can take 440 00:28:52,519 --> 00:28:56,039 the same type of shots as Kyrie Irving, but he maybe doesn't have such 441 00:28:56,079 --> 00:28:59,119 an inclination too, and probably doesn't want to after all those years in Charlotte 442 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:02,480 going it alone. He's just what I would call a comfy your fit because 443 00:29:02,519 --> 00:29:04,400 Jalen Brown, Jason Tatum, and even Gordon Hayward are going to have more 444 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:10,119 opportunities to work on the ball Kemba Walker is. The number of baskets that 445 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:14,200 are coming off assists this season are a career high for him, and that's 446 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,720 a measurable increase from where Irving was at last year at thirty seven points three 447 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:21,920 percent of his baskets came off assists. Their average touch time is actually the 448 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,720 same, and Walker controls the ball for longer when he has it and uses 449 00:29:25,759 --> 00:29:30,000 more dribbles per possession than Kyrie Irving last season, but he's also Kemba's also 450 00:29:30,079 --> 00:29:33,960 burning through fewer front court touches overall, so that displays him from the ball 451 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:38,319 more. And he's also finishing off screens more frequently even Kyrie Irving did, 452 00:29:38,359 --> 00:29:41,160 and operating in isolation less, and so all of that is going to have 453 00:29:41,319 --> 00:29:45,279 this waterfall effect where it makes it easier on the rest of the team. 454 00:29:45,319 --> 00:29:49,039 I also don't think that we can over state the fact that it wasn't just 455 00:29:49,119 --> 00:29:52,160 Kyrie that the Celtics laws Al Horford. I don't think he's as big of 456 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:56,480 a deal because he was someone who could play off the ball and did elevate 457 00:29:56,519 --> 00:29:59,240 the players around him with his passing. But you look at him, Marcus 458 00:29:59,279 --> 00:30:03,119 Morris and and a Terry Rosier, it's just you smashed so many guys who 459 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:08,799 preferred to operate on the ball together that it made this just awkward chemical mix, 460 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,440 and we saw it. And to now lose a few of those guys 461 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,000 who replace him with with Kemba Walker, who's going to do more stuff off 462 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:18,279 the ball, at the very least more than just Irving, and maybe even 463 00:30:18,319 --> 00:30:22,200 a little bit more than a Terry Rosier than he did in Boston. He's 464 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:25,559 doing a lot of it in Charlotte now though, and perhaps Marcus Morris in 465 00:30:25,839 --> 00:30:30,880 certain instances. I think that's huge and what's ultimately the biggest difference for Boston 466 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:37,720 by swapping out Kyrie for Kema Walker. Next question comes from Oscar Martel Pontigo. 467 00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,759 He asked, what is the Blazers plus minus with Nurkicch and Zach Collins 468 00:30:42,759 --> 00:30:45,920 sharing the floor? So, again, not a fan of year long plus 469 00:30:45,920 --> 00:30:49,799 minus, I'm going to use net rating. Also, they haven't shared the 470 00:30:49,799 --> 00:30:52,839 floor this season. Nurkis has been out all year, Collins has only appeared 471 00:30:52,839 --> 00:30:57,079 in three games because of a shoulder injury. What's also interesting is that Collins 472 00:30:57,119 --> 00:31:02,759 is in his third season and these two have now only played a sub two 473 00:31:02,839 --> 00:31:07,160 hundred and forty possessions together. That speaks to the amount of time that the 474 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:11,279 Blazers used them together. Last year, it was only for one hundred and 475 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:15,359 thirty one possessions according to Cleaning the Glass. During that time, the Blazers 476 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:19,599 had a net rating of six point one. Their offensive rating no was in 477 00:31:19,599 --> 00:31:22,880 the eighteenth percent tile It was really the defense that carried them. They allowed 478 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:26,480 just ninety nine point two points per one hundred possessions in that sample size, 479 00:31:26,519 --> 00:31:30,359 that's insanely good. They held opponents to a ridiculously low effective a field goal 480 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,440 percentage forty six point six, and they were just monsters on the glass. 481 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:37,720 That's what you're gonna get if you have Collins and Nurkics at the four and 482 00:31:37,799 --> 00:31:41,039 the five. You have questions about their future fit together, But I think 483 00:31:41,039 --> 00:31:45,200 you look at the progression from twenty seventeen to twenty eighteen into last year as 484 00:31:45,240 --> 00:31:49,680 a positive sign. Because the Blazers again only used Nurkicch and Collins for one 485 00:31:49,759 --> 00:31:53,880 hundred and one possessions together in twenty seventeen twenty eighteen. Their offensive rating was 486 00:31:53,920 --> 00:31:56,920 in the first percentile on ninety four point one, and they gave up a 487 00:31:56,960 --> 00:32:01,640 one twenty six defensive rating. What really improved for them defensively is Collins wasn't 488 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:06,720 a rookie and he seemed more apps to defend both the four and five positions 489 00:32:06,759 --> 00:32:08,839 as a sophomore, and that's something they're still going to get from him when 490 00:32:08,839 --> 00:32:12,599 he's fully healthy. What this really comes down to is what can you do 491 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:15,319 with these two offensively? McCollum and Lillard can get you buckets even in the 492 00:32:15,319 --> 00:32:20,119 tightest of spaces, and Nurkics does have a little bit of picking pop to 493 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:22,319 his game. He was a fantastic passer in two eighteen nineteen. But you 494 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:28,079 need more space if you're going to run with those dual big combinations, and 495 00:32:28,640 --> 00:32:31,559 that's gonna really come down to ken Zach Collins hit his threes. He has 496 00:32:31,599 --> 00:32:36,839 not been a lee average shooter from beyond the arc to this point, and 497 00:32:36,880 --> 00:32:39,920 so if you can run him beyond the three point line and defenses actually have 498 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:44,079 to go out and defend him, it makes everyone's jobs more easier. You 499 00:32:44,119 --> 00:32:46,160 have Nurkics with more room to operate, not just in the post, but 500 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:50,480 on his short rolls to the basket, more room for CJ. McCollum and 501 00:32:50,519 --> 00:32:53,519 Damian Lillard. It does seem like maybe Collins was tracking in that direction this 502 00:32:53,599 --> 00:32:58,240 season forty two point nine percent from three. Of course, that's only over 503 00:32:58,440 --> 00:33:02,960 three games. What's probably not as encouraging is three point at tempt rate. 504 00:33:05,079 --> 00:33:07,160 Excuse me? Is encouraging. More encouraging is three point at temph rate. 505 00:33:07,200 --> 00:33:13,640 It was around thirty seven compared to thirty thirty last year. He probably needs 506 00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:16,200 to get to the forty percent fifty percent three point a temph rate, if 507 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:19,799 not more, because you're not asking him to do a ton of stuff in 508 00:33:19,839 --> 00:33:22,680 the post or really on the ball, and so maybe you're going to want 509 00:33:22,720 --> 00:33:25,400 that to be even higher. And that's going to be key for this pairing 510 00:33:25,400 --> 00:33:30,440 if the Blazers do end up keeping it moving forward, interesting offseason for them 511 00:33:30,480 --> 00:33:32,240 if we don't have a regular season, of course, because they won't have 512 00:33:32,240 --> 00:33:36,319 seen nurkicch Collins will missed the entire year. Their sample size, as I 513 00:33:36,359 --> 00:33:39,680 said, is about two hundred and thirty one possessions over the past three seasons. 514 00:33:39,720 --> 00:33:43,839 Because of all this, are you going to look at moving Collins in 515 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:49,000 a bigger package to bring in just a more defined, high impact player. 516 00:33:49,039 --> 00:33:52,200 I would say you're not going to get a star with him as the main 517 00:33:52,240 --> 00:33:54,359 attraction. Maybe if you're also training Anthony Simons. But we also know that 518 00:33:54,480 --> 00:33:58,559 the Blazers like to get high on their own supply of young players and tend 519 00:33:58,559 --> 00:34:01,799 to value them more than other across the league. I do there are a 520 00:34:01,799 --> 00:34:05,480 ton of reasons I want the regular season to come back, but seeing Nurkics 521 00:34:05,599 --> 00:34:08,719 healthy and then what the Blazers could potentially look like when you have him, 522 00:34:08,880 --> 00:34:13,039 McCullum, Lillard, and Collins together, maybe a little bit mellow. You 523 00:34:13,079 --> 00:34:15,119 have a reason there too, things to monitor. I just want to see 524 00:34:15,159 --> 00:34:17,480 what this team looks like closer to full strength, because they've had a hard 525 00:34:17,519 --> 00:34:22,039 year after not having the most impressive pressive offseason. I'm going to get to 526 00:34:22,079 --> 00:34:27,239 a couple more questions right here. Robbie polinks as other than the Nets, 527 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,679 which sneaky NBA team might super benefit from this extended spring break due to players 528 00:34:30,679 --> 00:34:35,079 coming back from injury. Let's assume the season comes back for the playoffs in 529 00:34:35,199 --> 00:34:37,440 mid June. Mid June might be a little bit ambitious at this point. 530 00:34:37,599 --> 00:34:42,519 I believe it's probably going to be more likely July if the season comes back 531 00:34:42,559 --> 00:34:47,000 at all, but things can change. It's a very fluid situation. I 532 00:34:47,639 --> 00:34:52,039 looking at just injuries, so we know the Nets with Kevin Durant, Kyrie 533 00:34:52,039 --> 00:34:53,639 Irving, I don't think they would come back anyway, just because Brooklyn has 534 00:34:53,679 --> 00:34:57,679 to play the longer game there, particularly with Kevin Durant because he's coming back 535 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:00,000 from an achilles injury and wasn't prepared to play this season at all. I 536 00:35:00,079 --> 00:35:04,280 don't believe just based out of all the reporting we've seen him there. The 537 00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:07,000 Sixers are of course on this list. You had Ben Simmons who's been banged 538 00:35:07,039 --> 00:35:09,559 up, dealing with a lower back injury, and so if you can get 539 00:35:09,639 --> 00:35:14,039 him healthy and then play a couple of regular season games before the playoffs, 540 00:35:14,039 --> 00:35:15,880 that ends up being huge for you. There are a lot of questions about 541 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:20,599 the Sixers. There's still defensive monsters with their five best players on the floor, 542 00:35:20,599 --> 00:35:22,159 and they've all been collectively banged up. Joe el Embie just came back 543 00:35:22,199 --> 00:35:25,000 from his injury. Al Horford has been dealing with knee problems and apparently playing 544 00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:30,159 through achilles issues. Maybe giving him this rest really helps him clean up. 545 00:35:30,360 --> 00:35:34,960 If you're looking at let's move the scope beyond injuries though, and just seeing 546 00:35:35,119 --> 00:35:37,400 what breaks could benefit a team and throw the Plazers on there too, because 547 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:40,920 if you get just give Nurkics more time off and it just makes him healthier 548 00:35:40,960 --> 00:35:44,719 for when he does come back, and perhaps he doesn't need his long to 549 00:35:44,800 --> 00:35:47,760 find his game legs. That's probably not necessarily the case, but it could 550 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:51,719 be. Through the Hawks in there as well, Does this increase the likelihood 551 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:53,239 that they get a look at Clint Capella, who is still yet to make 552 00:35:53,320 --> 00:35:58,639 his debut for them. We really don't know. But again, let's branch 553 00:35:58,679 --> 00:36:05,000 out aside from the injuries and what teams could technically benefit from this. I 554 00:36:05,039 --> 00:36:07,360 think a squad like the Lakers just to give Anthony Davis a breather. He's 555 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:10,480 been relatively healthy compared to his other seasons, and just Lebron, we've seen 556 00:36:10,480 --> 00:36:14,119 how dangerous he can be on rest, and so you give Lebron rest, 557 00:36:14,159 --> 00:36:15,840 you know he's going to take care of his body, ends up being a 558 00:36:15,880 --> 00:36:20,920 couple of months off. It's like, it's like, just as long as 559 00:36:20,960 --> 00:36:22,800 his off seasons in the past have essentially been when he was making the finals 560 00:36:22,840 --> 00:36:28,559 every single year, that could end up being mega scary for the rest of 561 00:36:28,559 --> 00:36:30,159 the league if you're looking at a fresh Lebron, and of course there are 562 00:36:30,199 --> 00:36:35,400 other players who can say the same. You know, Janni's attenta coupo hasn't 563 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:37,960 even averaged thirty one minutes per game this season, and now you're just gonna 564 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,760 give him more rest. What is he going to look like? There might 565 00:36:39,760 --> 00:36:43,360 have been some concern could you really up his minutes in the playoffs when he's 566 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:45,599 not used to playing them? Now that he's going to have all this time 567 00:36:45,599 --> 00:36:46,840 off, Does that make it easier harder? I don't know. With Lebron, 568 00:36:46,920 --> 00:36:52,199 you just know we've seen it before that rest really helps him. I 569 00:36:52,360 --> 00:36:55,000 of course think the Clippers, who have just been perpetually banged up this season 570 00:36:55,079 --> 00:36:59,480 Kawhi Leonards, but more of their healthier players. Paul George's back in the 571 00:36:59,519 --> 00:37:01,000 lineup, and so maybe this just makes it easier to keep him there if 572 00:37:01,039 --> 00:37:06,679 the regular season returns. The Pacers are dealing with a I don't want to 573 00:37:06,679 --> 00:37:08,760 say a smortgage board of injuries, but you have Malcolm Brogden and Jeremy Lamb 574 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:12,480 on the shelf. We know Lamb is going to be out for this year 575 00:37:12,519 --> 00:37:15,760 and probably miss parts of next year. But does this help Malcolm Brogden come 576 00:37:15,800 --> 00:37:20,360 back at all or is he just going to be out for the year now? 577 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:22,360 So those are awesome things to monitor. I'm trying to think of some 578 00:37:22,519 --> 00:37:27,880 other teams that might benefit from this. The Grizzlies, I think, again, 579 00:37:27,880 --> 00:37:30,880 we're not looking at injuries though Justice Winslow perhaps this makes it easier for 580 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:34,679 him to come back from his back issues, and Dylan Brooks was banged up 581 00:37:34,679 --> 00:37:37,920 at the time you also had Brandon Clark and Jaren Jackson Junior missing games. 582 00:37:37,159 --> 00:37:40,800 This absolutely helps the Grizzlies. Also, if you shorten the regular season, 583 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:44,679 it makes it more likely that they're just going to make the playoffs by default. 584 00:37:44,679 --> 00:37:45,880 And if they just go right into the playoffs and there's no play in 585 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:50,079 tournament or anything and they just end up with the eight seed, that ends 586 00:37:50,159 --> 00:37:52,679 up benefiting them in a big way. For the Timberwolves down the stretch, 587 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:57,840 you're not going to make the playoffs, but maybe you can get more of 588 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:02,159 an extensive look at D'Angelo Russell and Colin Anthony Towns because you don't have a 589 00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:06,519 sample size with them to work with right now. Towns has been missing games. 590 00:38:07,199 --> 00:38:10,639 He's dealing with a wrist injury, and he was at the time when 591 00:38:10,679 --> 00:38:14,920 the NBA it was a March sixth I think it was announced that he was 592 00:38:14,960 --> 00:38:16,599 going to be out at least two more weeks, and so that takes us 593 00:38:16,599 --> 00:38:20,480 to, you know, the end of March, and now he's going to 594 00:38:20,519 --> 00:38:22,480 get who knows if he had been ready to come back from there, but 595 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:24,719 he's going to get even extra time off. That's a team that just trying 596 00:38:24,719 --> 00:38:29,719 to look at and figure out the big picture that really helps them them there, 597 00:38:30,719 --> 00:38:34,320 we'll move on to this last question. This comes from Jared Levitt. 598 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:37,920 Will the Knicks ever not suck again? I don't know, that's the that's 599 00:38:37,920 --> 00:38:42,480 the short answer. What could really do them a favor as if they start 600 00:38:42,599 --> 00:38:45,920 acting like a rebuilding team where they're going to just not have young players on 601 00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:52,760 the roster but prioritize their development. Let's get past those games where Taj Gibson, 602 00:38:52,880 --> 00:38:57,119 Alfred Peyton, Bobby Portis or average logging more minutes than even Dennis Smith 603 00:38:57,199 --> 00:39:00,159 junior. At this point, Kevin Knox are Jay Barrett's been a pretty steady 604 00:39:00,159 --> 00:39:04,239 staple in the lineup, But why don't you have Mitchell Robinson starting in the 605 00:39:04,239 --> 00:39:07,760 front court right now? Will Leon Rose change the culture or is he going 606 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:15,159 to look for those slapdash solutions where the Knicks really chased those one season overnight 607 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:19,719 free agency coups and look to become this instant playoff contender. That's probably the 608 00:39:19,719 --> 00:39:23,320 most toxic thing about New York aside from James Dolan existing in general. And 609 00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:29,199 so if you can get to a point where you're prioritizing youth their development while 610 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:32,320 not really trying to fuck with the roster and add a ton of veterans who 611 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:39,280 are going to need touches and really overlap or just be counterintuitive relative to the 612 00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:43,039 skill sets of the youngsters. That ends up being a huge deal. And 613 00:39:43,079 --> 00:39:45,400 I'll point to RJ. Barrett this year. Imagine him on a team where 614 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:49,960 they just surrounded him with at least three shooters. The Knicks struggled us around 615 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:52,000 him with one. But just imagine if he didn't have, you know, 616 00:39:52,039 --> 00:39:55,360 a Julius Randall and Mitchell Robinson in the front court at the same time. 617 00:39:55,559 --> 00:39:59,039 If you had if one of those guys was an actual shooter and you had 618 00:39:59,039 --> 00:40:04,440 another to shoot on the wings. It's just that's the point that they need 619 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:07,039 to get to, is is smarter roster building. There was no problem with 620 00:40:07,039 --> 00:40:08,599 the length of the contracts they gave out last summer. When they struck out 621 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:13,000 on their star free agents. They did go to big man heavy. That's 622 00:40:13,039 --> 00:40:15,960 just the powerful ard joke has been out there. You can get away with 623 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:19,159 some of those guys playing five Gibson portis even Randall if you're looking to sup 624 00:40:19,199 --> 00:40:22,119 up the offense, but they haven't always indulged those scenarios. You have to 625 00:40:22,159 --> 00:40:27,159 be smarter about roster construction, and RJ. Barrett I think is good enough 626 00:40:27,199 --> 00:40:30,039 to really try to reformat the team around him. At this point, he's 627 00:40:30,239 --> 00:40:34,599 the closest thing you have to a blue chip prospect. I don't think that 628 00:40:34,639 --> 00:40:37,039 your Mitchell Robinson is there too, Don't get me wrong, but RJ. 629 00:40:37,119 --> 00:40:42,599 Barrett's gonna have inherently more influenced over the game because he's a primary ball handler 630 00:40:42,639 --> 00:40:45,719 and facilitator. Over the past two weeks a little bit more than that before 631 00:40:45,760 --> 00:40:49,519 the break, he looked a lot more decisive in the half court. He 632 00:40:49,599 --> 00:40:52,559 was more efficient. Over his past eight games. He's averaging eighteen point three 633 00:40:52,639 --> 00:40:59,280 points three point five assists, slashing forty eight point two thirty seven point five 634 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:00,960 percent from three on four attempts per game. That that's a big deal, 635 00:41:01,039 --> 00:41:05,920 and inching closer to seventy percent at the free throw line sixty eight point three 636 00:41:06,119 --> 00:41:09,039 and was getting there at a pretty good clip. He's done some things defensively 637 00:41:09,119 --> 00:41:12,719 too, where he makes me think that he might be able to hang on 638 00:41:12,840 --> 00:41:15,239 some two and three. He's not the primary scores, but not need someone, 639 00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:19,400 not be someone who's really just going to get beat. He can muck 640 00:41:19,480 --> 00:41:22,760 up and contest, some some shot attempts when he's on the ball, and 641 00:41:22,800 --> 00:41:24,760 so there might be a higher ceiling for him than people are crediting right now 642 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:28,880 because there have been so many rookers, rookies who have been better throughout the 643 00:41:28,960 --> 00:41:31,159 course of the year. I think he at this point is at least worth 644 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:36,000 building your team around in the intern because we don't know what you're going to 645 00:41:36,079 --> 00:41:39,440 get in this year's draft. Everyone's very low on the level of talent within 646 00:41:39,519 --> 00:41:43,079 it. You also don't know where you're going to end up in the lottery 647 00:41:43,400 --> 00:41:45,159 at this point. So he's the guy that I think you need to look 648 00:41:45,199 --> 00:41:49,119 towards and just assume that he's going to play a tournaments with Mitchell Robinson, 649 00:41:49,199 --> 00:41:52,159 and yes, I want to see Frankie Latina and Kevin Knox run with them 650 00:41:52,199 --> 00:41:53,480 too, But when you're looking at signing free agents, because they are one 651 00:41:53,480 --> 00:41:59,039 of the few teams even with the projected salary cap dip, I think we 652 00:41:59,119 --> 00:42:00,679 can call it projected at this point, giving how much revenue the NBA is 653 00:42:00,719 --> 00:42:06,239 gonna lose no matter what the scenario ends up being for this year. If 654 00:42:06,280 --> 00:42:09,840 they declined Bobby Ports's team option wave, the non guaranteed salaries of a lot 655 00:42:09,880 --> 00:42:15,599 of these guys, specifically at TOAJ Gibson, They're they're going to open up 656 00:42:15,920 --> 00:42:19,440 a ton of money. And so you know, Reggie Bullock is a guy 657 00:42:19,519 --> 00:42:22,760 maybe you keep for that. I would probably still wave Wayne Ellington and pay 658 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:24,800 his one million partial guarantee. He hasn't been shooting too well in New York. 659 00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:28,360 But those are the types of players you should probably be giving more run 660 00:42:28,480 --> 00:42:32,159 next to Robinson and Barrett, just so that you give them both space to 661 00:42:32,239 --> 00:42:37,360 operate. And can you throw out lineups that are four out and maybe five 662 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:38,480 out if you want to include RJ. Barrett, teams are going to leave 663 00:42:38,480 --> 00:42:40,719 them open. And if you can shoot around Lee Gaverage from three, that 664 00:42:40,840 --> 00:42:45,079 ends up being a huge deal. That's the direction to me that I think 665 00:42:45,079 --> 00:42:47,719 they need to go immediately. Not I'm not saying this will work four or 666 00:42:47,800 --> 00:42:51,639 five years down the line, but right now is you're still trying to figure 667 00:42:51,639 --> 00:42:54,239 out what you have in Kevin Knox, even frank Nie Lakina future Hall of 668 00:42:54,280 --> 00:43:00,760 Famer Frankniel Keena. Excuse me. That's the direction, and that's the path 669 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:02,519 that you should be traveling down. And so if that's what we see from 670 00:43:02,559 --> 00:43:07,719 them this summer. That is the most encouraging signed this new front office regime 671 00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:10,840 under Leon Rose can really do this year, and that that's just going to 672 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:14,760 be something to watch. If it's the same old Nix or maybe they're giving 673 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:17,239 out long term contracts to players who don't necessarily fit the timeline or fit the 674 00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:21,360 roster, that's when the red flags go up. There really isn't a free 675 00:43:21,400 --> 00:43:24,159 agent outside of Anthony Davis that's worth overpaying this year. I think you can 676 00:43:24,239 --> 00:43:29,679 be okay with going to throw money at a Fred van Fleet if it's three 677 00:43:29,800 --> 00:43:34,119 years and sixty million or around there, just because he's only twenty six. 678 00:43:34,599 --> 00:43:37,880 He's played alongside other ball dominant players before, and he's like a mini Kyle 679 00:43:37,960 --> 00:43:39,760 Lowry on defense. He could be so physical there. He's not going to 680 00:43:39,840 --> 00:43:45,199 take as many charges or go to such great length to the flop and all 681 00:43:45,280 --> 00:43:47,239 that. But just looking at his shooting, secondary playmaking, he's led bench 682 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:51,480 shoot. It's on his own before. He's a starting level player in today's 683 00:43:51,559 --> 00:43:53,760 MBA, And so that's someone that you're at least comfortable with. You don't 684 00:43:53,800 --> 00:43:55,880 want to look at it as we're signing him, and so we're going to 685 00:43:55,920 --> 00:43:59,599 sign other players so that we can try and make the playoff push next year. 686 00:44:00,119 --> 00:44:01,800 That's not something that they should be going after. And so if they 687 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:06,840 do whatever over the offseason to show that they're going to prioritize their youth and 688 00:44:07,039 --> 00:44:12,079 build the roster in that vein with talent that actually compliments RJ. Barrett, 689 00:44:12,159 --> 00:44:16,920 Mitchell Robinson first and foremost, but also isn't going to overshadow the developments of 690 00:44:17,159 --> 00:44:21,880 a Kevin Knox. Will they still have Dennis Smith Jr. Or Frank Nielikina 691 00:44:22,239 --> 00:44:23,960 at this point, I think you can justify moving any one of those three. 692 00:44:24,199 --> 00:44:28,000 I don't want to see the move. Frank Nielikina just a monster defensively, 693 00:44:28,039 --> 00:44:30,440 and when he's aggressive on offense, there's this smoothness to his game. 694 00:44:30,679 --> 00:44:34,920 Don't know if he will ella read decisive enough to be that type of player, 695 00:44:35,000 --> 00:44:37,079 though, if you can sell high on a Knox or Frank Nielikina, 696 00:44:37,199 --> 00:44:40,119 I think Dennis Smith Junior is probably not the best fit for this team in 697 00:44:40,199 --> 00:44:43,599 general, and if you can get anything for him, you might have to 698 00:44:43,639 --> 00:44:45,119 write him off as a Sun cost. If you're going to keep them, 699 00:44:45,159 --> 00:44:49,719 though, have them on the floor and sign guys that are going to compliment 700 00:44:49,800 --> 00:44:53,320 them, and who don't cannibalize their minutes because that's what the Knicks have done. 701 00:44:53,360 --> 00:44:55,559 And I know a lot of people say Elford Payton has played well enough 702 00:44:55,559 --> 00:44:59,800 to come back next year. Looking at this roster and what it needs to 703 00:44:59,840 --> 00:45:01,800 do, I think you can be perfectly fine if they decide to let him 704 00:45:01,880 --> 00:45:07,280 hit her agency. It's it's fine to have that one veteran point guard there, 705 00:45:07,320 --> 00:45:09,079 but then don't go and pay Fred Van Fleet as well. Don't keep 706 00:45:09,119 --> 00:45:12,920 Dennis Smith junior. You need to give R. J. Barrett a lot 707 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:15,239 of those on ball reps. And so that's when you need to start looking 708 00:45:15,280 --> 00:45:19,280 at at moving guys. I hope that answers your question, Jarrett, but 709 00:45:19,440 --> 00:45:21,559 honestly, we don't. We don't know if the Knicks are going to be 710 00:45:21,599 --> 00:45:24,840 good again so long as Doolan is in charge of that team. Thank you 711 00:45:24,880 --> 00:45:28,840 all for listening. I hope you enjoyed this. As we get more into 712 00:45:28,920 --> 00:45:31,880 this NBA hiatus, it's going to it's going to get dreary. Things are 713 00:45:31,920 --> 00:45:35,519 gonna get worse before they get better. That's talking about life in general. 714 00:45:35,639 --> 00:45:38,760 We're hoping here at Hardware Knox that everyone remains safe. We encourage you to 715 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:43,559 ask us more questions throughout this time. Tag me on Twitter at dan fa 716 00:45:43,639 --> 00:45:45,840 Valley. You can tag Hardwood Knox at hardware Knox. We're not as great 717 00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:52,280 about checking those mentions. Hashtag Hardwoo Knox. That's something I've been refreshing lately 718 00:45:52,320 --> 00:45:54,320 too. We'll always send out the solicitation thing, but ask us more questions, 719 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:57,559 we'll answer them on the pod. There'll be plenty of time for these 720 00:45:57,920 --> 00:46:02,320 mailbag type episodes. We hope you appreciate them. And on that final note, 721 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:06,639 aside from hoping that you all remain safe, still just going to keep 722 00:46:06,639 --> 00:46:10,039 reiterating that over this time. As the COVID nineteen pandemic gets worse and worse, 723 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:15,639 keep downloading all of our episodes. If you haven't subscribed to us, 724 00:46:15,639 --> 00:46:17,079 if this is your first episode, I hope you enjoyed it and consider giving 725 00:46:17,199 --> 00:46:20,880 us extra chances even if you did like it. We put a lot of 726 00:46:20,920 --> 00:46:23,480 work into this year. We enjoy delivering you this content. Maybe help us 727 00:46:23,480 --> 00:46:27,320 get the word of mouth out if you have rated, reviewed, and subscribe 728 00:46:27,360 --> 00:46:30,280 to us. Anything you can do helps, and it contributes to building what 729 00:46:30,719 --> 00:46:35,400 is already a pretty sizeable community and We appreciate every single one of you. 730 00:46:35,800 --> 00:46:38,440 Until next time, I leave you with the shout out too, the one 731 00:46:38,480 --> 00:46:42,519 and only Kyle Anderson. And because I'm in a generous mood the past few 732 00:46:42,559 --> 00:46:51,119 weeks, I'm gonna shout out Andy Bailey's guy, Beto Woudrey as well Sugar 733 00:46:51,199 --> 00:46:54,519 Ray, Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvelous, Marvin Hagler, and Thomas Hearns. 734 00:46:55,559 --> 00:47:00,639 Legends whose four way rivalry define one of the greatest era is in boxing 735 00:47:00,760 --> 00:47:06,239 history, relive their decade of dominance in the new Showtime Sports documentary The Kings, 736 00:47:06,599 --> 00:47:09,320 a four part series premiering Sunday, June sixth, only on Showtime