1 00:00:15,279 --> 00:00:20,640 What is up, fellas, I'm clear a efforts. I am Dan Valley, 2 00:00:20,679 --> 00:00:25,679 coming at you with my certified finn As, always dripping with fantabulous miss 3 00:00:25,879 --> 00:00:32,439 co host of the number one podcast. We've transcended the number one NBA podcast. 4 00:00:32,439 --> 00:00:36,159 We moved into the number one sports podcast of all time. Co host 5 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,159 of the HARDWOODKNOCKX podcast, which, like I said, the number one sports 6 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:44,439 podcast of all time. Mister Grant Hughes, mister Hughes, how the heck 7 00:00:44,479 --> 00:00:47,280 are you doing? I'm just looking at my you can't see it. It's 8 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,560 off screen. It's over here. My list, my hit list of podcasts 9 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:54,960 we need to take down because we've transcended sports. And it's like I had 10 00:00:55,079 --> 00:00:58,880 started the line through SmartLess. I feel like we're gonna get them, and 11 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,880 then like armschare Eck's is probably next, I think, And so I'm really 12 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:07,120 excited about this. We're gonna need bigger fish eventually. Like just we can 13 00:01:07,159 --> 00:01:11,079 be the number one media property. We don't need to be confined to podcasts 14 00:01:11,159 --> 00:01:12,640 like people are like I listened to you, and you know the Bill Simmons 15 00:01:12,719 --> 00:01:18,200 podcast is like that's really cute, but like, who is Bill Simmons that's 16 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:19,879 just like, I hope he makes it good, you know, I hope 17 00:01:19,879 --> 00:01:27,040 he keeps trying. I can feel I just imagine how intimidated I would be 18 00:01:27,519 --> 00:01:32,480 if I were looking up at us all the time and just thinking, like, 19 00:01:32,519 --> 00:01:34,239 what do I have to do? You know, I'm out of ideas. 20 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:40,159 I've actually read with I have anyone watch on YouTube. My face red 21 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:45,560 with laughter. That's incredible. We have gotten a lot of really positive support 22 00:01:45,599 --> 00:01:48,959 outside of our discord, which is always a billboard of positive well most of 23 00:01:48,959 --> 00:01:53,280 the time, of billboard for positivity. So thank you everyone for your support. 24 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,519 As always, we really do appreciate it. Even the number one sports 25 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,519 podcast trying to become the number one media property in the world. We see 26 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,840 all of you saying the things, and we very much appreciate all the support 27 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:08,080 there. I do feel like there's gonna be at least one fan base that 28 00:02:08,319 --> 00:02:14,960 is irate with me after we because I want to start with I don't actually 29 00:02:15,039 --> 00:02:19,000 want to start I don't even want to give them the our time of Look, 30 00:02:19,000 --> 00:02:23,080 our time is valuable, right, you have to start here though, 31 00:02:23,159 --> 00:02:27,520 like you're compelled to the Denver Nuggets and they're there are and I told you 32 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:29,840 that I was going to hijack the start of this. So if you need 33 00:02:29,879 --> 00:02:31,360 to go grab like if you go to the gym, you go to the 34 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:36,280 gym. Yet you got to I'm just ready. I'm I'm ready to be 35 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:42,840 exercised by your passion and great points that are forthcoming. I want to make 36 00:02:42,879 --> 00:02:46,039 one thing clear that this series, when we come out of it and when 37 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:47,400 we talk about them, it needs to be more about the Wolves. Their 38 00:02:47,479 --> 00:02:51,479 defense is, and I don't say this lightly, it is one of the 39 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:54,439 most effectively aggressive defenses I've ever seen in my entire life, to where it's 40 00:02:54,479 --> 00:02:59,120 just like the amount of pressure they put on you without fucking up or providing 41 00:02:59,159 --> 00:03:04,080 an opening is honestly incredible. And it's they've they were the best defense in 42 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:07,159 the regular season. This is not like the like just what and again they're 43 00:03:07,159 --> 00:03:12,280 playing. They tried playing Jaden McDaniels and your guy Nikile Alexander Walker together more. 44 00:03:12,439 --> 00:03:15,960 That's not something that they generally did a ton like relative to their other 45 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:19,919 lineups during the regular season. They're hell fire and they did it in Game 46 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:23,960 two without Rudy Gobert, who I was ready for terrible discourse if they lost 47 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,039 that game and he they were the birth of his child, and why would 48 00:03:27,039 --> 00:03:30,960 you miss that game. It's the playoffs and so turns out doesn't matter and 49 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,199 it shouldn't have. That should take precedents, real life should take precedence over 50 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,479 a fucking game. So this is more about the Wolves, and we will 51 00:03:37,479 --> 00:03:42,439 talk about the Wolves and how they have broken the Nuggets. There's also the 52 00:03:42,479 --> 00:03:46,319 caveat of KCP bum ankle. You could tell it. Jamal Murray Castrain you 53 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:52,960 could actually tell also doesn't like heat packs. Apparently that is a That was 54 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:57,400 a sorry ass effort. They looked like a bunch of punks the Nuggets did 55 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:04,400 in Game two. And I appreciate Nikola Jokic's equilibrium to where I don't need 56 00:04:04,479 --> 00:04:09,879 him to be this source of rage afterwards. I saw people getting mad at 57 00:04:09,879 --> 00:04:14,560 his lack of incense, like in the media quotes afterwards. I'm fine with 58 00:04:14,599 --> 00:04:17,720 that as long as you play like you give a fuck. He did not 59 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:21,600 play in game two like he gave a fuck. I'm not questioning whether he 60 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,480 likes basketball or not. I think he's one of the greatest players of all 61 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,639 time, which is why if you're mad about the discourse surrounding Nikola Jokic. 62 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,120 Take it as a compliment, not because I'm the one saying it, but 63 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,800 because that's the bar to which he needs to be held, is that of 64 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:40,079 an all time great who understands how to adapt his game to be more aggressive 65 00:04:40,399 --> 00:04:44,839 when the dynamic of your team is shifting, which it is shifting because Jamal 66 00:04:44,879 --> 00:04:48,279 Murray's injured and they don't have the room for him to do less, or 67 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:53,279 he doesn't know how to adjust to do less, so he's taken bad shots 68 00:04:53,319 --> 00:04:56,439 or missing trying to create separation and can't do it. You look at the 69 00:04:56,439 --> 00:05:00,160 way they played and it was disgusting, especially in the third quarter. And 70 00:05:00,199 --> 00:05:03,279 there's been hints of this all playoffs. They've started terribly in these playoffs. 71 00:05:03,319 --> 00:05:08,160 They're starting lineup right now. Through two games against Minnesota, one of which 72 00:05:08,199 --> 00:05:11,199 Rudy Gobert was not a part of, their starting line has been out scored 73 00:05:11,199 --> 00:05:15,240 by forty two points in thirty nine minutes. That is a fucking shit show. 74 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:17,399 And you're out there, you have Nicole Jokic only taking twelve shots. 75 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,360 You can credit the Wolves defense all you want, like you can't catch the 76 00:05:21,399 --> 00:05:25,639 ball in traffic or you're just putting it on the floor. Trying to dribble 77 00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:30,360 through like eight dudes, like with this loosey, goosey nonchalance, and then 78 00:05:30,399 --> 00:05:33,439 some of the passes that everybody's throwing. What are you doing like you're supposed 79 00:05:33,439 --> 00:05:38,959 to be this you're the title favorite, Like you're supposed to be the title 80 00:05:38,959 --> 00:05:42,360 favorite. Then Wolves are doing this great job. This is the first time 81 00:05:42,639 --> 00:05:46,439 that I've really watched Nicola Jokic and it was I felt like they need something 82 00:05:46,519 --> 00:05:50,120 different long term or in this series from him to where it's what is this 83 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:54,319 dude doing here? I understand this team is going through the motions, and 84 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:57,160 if you told me they came back and won the series, it wouldn't you 85 00:05:57,199 --> 00:05:59,360 know what, It would shock me because it was just one of the sorry 86 00:05:59,399 --> 00:06:02,319 as efforts I've ever seen from them. Even when you're baking in the caveats 87 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:06,399 of the Wolves are fantasket, It's fantastic. The Nuggets are clearly dealing with 88 00:06:06,439 --> 00:06:12,040 injuries, and you're watching that game. It was like by the midway through 89 00:06:12,079 --> 00:06:15,000 the third quarter and it was just clear like they're not moving, They're not 90 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,160 even trying to move or be in the right position on defense, like contagious 91 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,240 Calbo Pope was probably the guy that felt like he was giving an Aaron Gordon, 92 00:06:20,319 --> 00:06:24,480 especially in the first half. Those were the dudes that were like still 93 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:29,040 giving it for the most part. I'm watching Nicole Jokic and it was not 94 00:06:29,160 --> 00:06:31,639 do I think that he's good or And you even mentioned this that you think 95 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:35,439 that Nicole and Jokic discourse could turn after the series in the Macro. I 96 00:06:35,439 --> 00:06:40,399 don't think it should, but like, you need to show something more than 97 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:42,959 you did in Game two. And this is I guess this boils down to 98 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,279 Radio Dan where I was saying, just give more, give, give more 99 00:06:46,319 --> 00:06:47,959 fucks, and I don't like to boil it down to that, but give 100 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:53,160 more fucks. You're on your home court and you're just getting absolutely punked there, 101 00:06:53,439 --> 00:06:56,000 and I really think it comes down to the way they defended. For 102 00:06:56,079 --> 00:06:59,519 me too, It's like this they were unraveling on offense, but the way 103 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,160 they're defend, Like again, by the third quarter, it felt like KCP, 104 00:07:02,319 --> 00:07:05,000 even though he was kind of getting beat at points, I felt like 105 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:08,720 it was really the only one that was like giving any sort of damn there, 106 00:07:08,759 --> 00:07:12,839 and that's just inexcusable at this level, especially when you're at home and 107 00:07:12,879 --> 00:07:16,240 you're going against a team that has had offensive issues all year, and they've 108 00:07:16,399 --> 00:07:18,879 they've shown up in these playoffs. We know what Anthony Edwards could do, 109 00:07:18,959 --> 00:07:23,120 and Wolves are of all the credit in the world. I don't know how 110 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:27,920 you come away from that game thinking that the Nuggets have a chance in hell 111 00:07:27,959 --> 00:07:32,000 of winning this series. I did not come away from the game thinking the 112 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,879 Nuggets have a chance to win the series. I think I'm just like, 113 00:07:36,199 --> 00:07:43,000 it's hard for me to pile on the Nuggets, which which is justifiable without 114 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,240 like just flipping it to how good the Wolves have been. And I think 115 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,839 what's among the many things that should concern Denver is just the idea that like 116 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:58,399 it almost feels like they've been surprised by how effective this Wolves defense has been. 117 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,839 And like you know, you've heard I think Aaron Gordon had comments about 118 00:08:01,839 --> 00:08:05,160 it, how Yokic is getting hacked you know all the time, and yeah, 119 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,319 that's the reason you lost by eighty. My guys, well that's the 120 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:11,959 thing. It's like if I was gonna ask you, like, and it's 121 00:08:11,959 --> 00:08:15,199 almost rhetorical because we talk about this all the time. It's like the way 122 00:08:15,199 --> 00:08:18,120 the series is being officiated, I guess favors the more physical like longer, 123 00:08:18,279 --> 00:08:22,279 more active defense, but like when does the longer, more active, more 124 00:08:22,319 --> 00:08:28,079 physical defense not have advantages like that unless the referees come out and like there's 125 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:33,039 whistles on the first ten defensive possessions to like signal to Minnesota, you can't 126 00:08:33,039 --> 00:08:37,000 play this way, Like it's never gonna be the wrong move to come out 127 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:39,919 and just be like we will hack on every play, not saying they're doing 128 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,960 that, but if if you want to go that route and complain about that, 129 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,200 like aspect of the series, Like it's never the wrong decision to come 130 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,799 out that way because like maybe the refs are gonna cut quote unquote let them 131 00:08:48,799 --> 00:08:52,919 play, and then you just the ball starts rolling and you can't you know, 132 00:08:52,159 --> 00:08:56,320 nuggets have no answer. I think maybe for me because I agree with 133 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,879 what you said, I think it's it's it feels like we're not doing a 134 00:09:00,879 --> 00:09:05,159 deep enough dive or being thorough enough in our analysis to say like Denver needs 135 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:09,279 to play harder, care more whatever, like come out with more intensity. 136 00:09:09,799 --> 00:09:13,039 But it's just like what else do you say, So like let's so let's 137 00:09:13,039 --> 00:09:16,879 put that aside. We agree on that. Well, there's the the other 138 00:09:16,919 --> 00:09:20,080 thing too, is if they want to deep dive for the series, the 139 00:09:20,159 --> 00:09:24,559 Nuggets are minus nine in points off turnovers, they are minus nine in second 140 00:09:24,639 --> 00:09:28,440 chance points, they are minus seven in fast break points, and they are 141 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:33,120 minus twenty eight in points in the paint. And so it's just like, 142 00:09:33,559 --> 00:09:37,360 you have to win something and they haven't. And it's not just because they 143 00:09:37,399 --> 00:09:41,919 got there the shit kicked out of them in Game two, Like this is 144 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:46,440 stuff that's dating back to Game one, and there's the lack of you're not 145 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,279 gonna win the series anyway if Tamal Maury's like this, and that would be 146 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:52,759 fair. But if you saw that the intensity or the ability to like Nicole 147 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,000 Joki can bring the ball up the floor more, that is something he can 148 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,519 do, right, And it's just not something like you could talk. I 149 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:01,559 know, I saw some people about, well, you need to like rely 150 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:03,279 on MPJ Moore as a creator, and the answer is no, because he 151 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,440 hasn't done that all season. And I think it's they've gotten away from some 152 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:11,159 of their principles where if you want to do this dual timeline stuff and Peyton 153 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:13,320 Watson's playing under ten minutes in a blowout and you clearly didn't trust him in 154 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:18,799 Game one I get the offensive concerns there, but maybe someone who will move 155 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:22,919 on the defensive end. Here's your keep die sorry, no, no, 156 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,039 And all those things like are good illustrations of like how Denver is losing the 157 00:10:28,159 --> 00:10:31,679 like whatever you want, the intensity of the athleticism, the give a shit 158 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,960 like battles, because all those numbers are like at least are closely and in 159 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:41,679 some cases loosely related to like those aspects of the competition. But it's like 160 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:46,039 I kept thinking during Game two in addition to like, oh my god, 161 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,320 the Wolves are just like their lineups are so big, and they're so physical 162 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,879 and they're so relentless, Like this is overwhelming for anyone, but it just 163 00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:56,799 makes me think, like, because you know, I always come back to 164 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:01,360 this for the playoffs, the teams that succeed are the ones that don't have 165 00:11:01,639 --> 00:11:09,039 exploitable weak links. And it's it's amazing to me that the Wolves defense has 166 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,279 exposed weak links that you just and you know, put I guess the injury. 167 00:11:13,320 --> 00:11:16,799 We can't just pretend like Murray is one hundred percent and kcp's one hundred 168 00:11:16,799 --> 00:11:22,519 percent and like that their injuries don't matter. But independent of that, Minnesota 169 00:11:22,639 --> 00:11:28,120 is showing that Denver. If Yokic cannot facilitate, like the offense doesn't succeed, 170 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:33,440 Like that's just like Murray isn't good at Murray's not an all star level, 171 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:39,200 like I'm gonna run this offense and independently like he even at one hundred 172 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:41,559 percent, Like that's an iffy proposition and so hobbled. It's just like, 173 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:46,919 well, Okayn, where does Denver go to create good shots against the defense? 174 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:50,320 This good if Yokic isn't gonna be able to do that because you have 175 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:52,840 length on him, You're doubling, you're forcing him to take threes, you're 176 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:56,559 forcing him to be more. They're forcing he just refused to take them. 177 00:11:56,639 --> 00:12:01,399 This is the thing. So that's one thing. And just the depth issue, 178 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,960 like I don't I feel like when you there were lineups with like Justin 179 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,200 Holiday and Christian Brown and Reggie Jackson on the floor together and it's just like 180 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,320 this this is not going to work at all, Like there's just no So 181 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:16,080 the depth is another thing. The lack of secondary creation is is probably the 182 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:20,679 main thing I'm looking at, but like it's okay, so if and on 183 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:24,799 the other side, Minnesota has weaknesses too, and Denver's defense, to your 184 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:28,639 point, is not and is just not exposing them like, oh, Jane 185 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:33,200 McDaniel's going after Murray repeatedly at the start of especially in the third quarter. 186 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:37,120 Yeah, just like there are so like if you're looking for hope on the 187 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:43,120 Nuggets side, it's like Minnesota hasn't just morphed into a team that's different from 188 00:12:43,159 --> 00:12:46,919 the regular season one that just sometimes could not score. It's like those those 189 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:50,759 things are out there for Denver to attack, and you know, leave Jade 190 00:12:50,799 --> 00:12:54,200 McDaniels alone, like, you know, attack cat so he gets in foul 191 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:56,720 trouble, get him out in space, like do what. There's just ways 192 00:12:56,759 --> 00:13:03,279 to go. Denver doesn't seem tactically or like motivationally like inclined to like go 193 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:07,759 after that sort of stuff in the same predatory way that that like Minnesota is 194 00:13:07,799 --> 00:13:13,240 just like it's the timberwolf is like the correct mascot for this team right now. 195 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,159 They're just like it's a pack and it's swarming and it's just like they're 196 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:20,360 vicious and it's it's such a perfect thing if you're the Nuggets, let's like 197 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:26,759 spin it forward a little bit, like doesn't it just need to be now 198 00:13:26,759 --> 00:13:28,639 go Bear coming back might change this, but doesn't it need to be. 199 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:33,840 If Yokic isn't gonna shoot threes and Cat's gonna guard him, you just have 200 00:13:33,919 --> 00:13:37,159 to basically change your offense or at least early in the game, to where 201 00:13:37,240 --> 00:13:41,240 Yokic is like getting the ball at the elbows or on the block and he's 202 00:13:41,279 --> 00:13:43,360 gonna try to score on Cat. And if you send a second defender, 203 00:13:43,519 --> 00:13:48,200 that's almost always what the Nuggets want anyway, because then he can use his 204 00:13:48,279 --> 00:13:50,919 greatest skill, which is setting up other guys to score. Like is it 205 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:56,600 as simple as just do that until Minnesota proves that you know, Cat's not 206 00:13:56,639 --> 00:14:00,200 gonna foul out? Or it can it can rotate quickly enough, like what 207 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:03,039 are this? What are the solves? Or like if we get away from 208 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:05,600 well, they need to be healthier and they need to try harder, like 209 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:09,039 what what is the fix against the defense? Like this? And all this 210 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:13,600 momentum now that Minnesota has built up, I don't think that they have one, 211 00:14:13,759 --> 00:14:15,679 and so that would be more. You know, these were two close 212 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:18,279 games that they lost that I feel like that would be the discussion that we're 213 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,240 having. I think what they could do is do you sell out on offense 214 00:14:22,279 --> 00:14:24,879 a little bit to you know what, like it's time to go pull the 215 00:14:24,919 --> 00:14:28,000 Peyton Watson and Christian Brown at the same time lever, because we need to 216 00:14:28,039 --> 00:14:31,440 at least try and make sure that we're not getting caught caught off card by 217 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:35,840 Minnesota's offense, which has been They've been able to it. They've been good 218 00:14:35,919 --> 00:14:39,639 and smart about it, seemed, attacking weak points in Denver's defense and repeatedly 219 00:14:39,679 --> 00:14:43,159 going after me. Of course, it helps that you have Anthony Edwards, 220 00:14:43,159 --> 00:14:48,519 who's just once again like having a transcendent series here. But karl anthy Towns, 221 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:52,039 he's been really good. This has been a very like productive nas read 222 00:14:52,399 --> 00:14:56,080 series and they're getting Look, I mean, you have we've talked about like 223 00:14:56,159 --> 00:14:58,559 Nikailexander Roker has become a dependable three point shooter, is basically what I'm stammering 224 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,879 through my work, Like that's just the thing that's happening. You have the 225 00:15:01,919 --> 00:15:05,279 smarts of Mike Conley, and so the Wolve's offense has been really really good 226 00:15:05,799 --> 00:15:09,279 and it's not a matter of on that into the floor. Yeah. Game 227 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,120 two, it felt like they really just sort of imploded at both ends of 228 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:13,639 the court. When you look at the Nuggets, but it was the Wolves 229 00:15:13,679 --> 00:15:16,480 that led them to the implosion. And when you're looking at how they've been 230 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:20,960 able to poke in prod like if so, My point being, it feels 231 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,600 like Denver actually has more control, can have more control over what the Wolves 232 00:15:24,639 --> 00:15:28,080 are doing on offense, then they can have control over their own over their 233 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:31,240 own offense at this point, if that makes sense, because as you can 234 00:15:31,279 --> 00:15:33,120 do whatever you want with Jokic, I know his game is not he's gonna 235 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,200 have knights where he doesn't take all those shots, but like part of being 236 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:41,399 this three time MVP that he's about to be is yeah, and he's always 237 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:45,240 I thought he's always done a really good job of toggling between existences. I 238 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:46,440 think he's done a really poor job. He did a poor job of that 239 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,559 in game two. In game one, like he took shots, he took 240 00:15:48,559 --> 00:15:52,639 more threes. I don't think if Murray's going to be like this, you 241 00:15:52,759 --> 00:15:56,159 just don't have I agree with, yeah, go ahead do that, Like 242 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,159 it's just try to make Yokic's score and make them send two or three to 243 00:15:58,159 --> 00:16:02,360 the ball and try to cape from there. I'm almost at the point like 244 00:16:02,799 --> 00:16:04,919 if this is gonna be what you look like on offense or if you could 245 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:07,200 only be a little bit better, is it? I'm not They're not gonna 246 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,759 yank Jamal Murray out of these lineups, so though maybe the NBA will do 247 00:16:10,759 --> 00:16:14,200 it for them for Game three. After throwing the heat pat by the way, 248 00:16:14,559 --> 00:16:17,720 I like in our discord, I said, like it fits me, 249 00:16:17,799 --> 00:16:21,159 I'm suspending his ass for Game three because, like I don't know, if 250 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:22,480 I don't know. Part of it was like we were talking off air like 251 00:16:22,519 --> 00:16:26,759 I'm frustrated and annoyed because I thought Denver was gonna win and they're getting their 252 00:16:26,759 --> 00:16:27,600 asses kicked, and I'm like, oh, you're making me look like a 253 00:16:27,639 --> 00:16:32,720 fool. So I'm mad at Denver just subjectively, No, he should be. 254 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:34,799 You can't throw shit on the floor during play, like it's just like 255 00:16:34,960 --> 00:16:38,320 one, it's just like it's bush league, and two it's super dangerous, 256 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:41,759 Like, guys, we're jumping up and down near that he Now you're gonna 257 00:16:41,799 --> 00:16:44,919 leave without talking to the media for the second straight night. Yeah, I 258 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:48,600 have no bones about I don't really like saying this about people who are so 259 00:16:48,679 --> 00:16:51,919 much younger than me specifically, and so we're talking about it. He's a 260 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:55,080 twenty seven year old. He's adult. That's that's powered. Shit. Go 261 00:16:55,159 --> 00:16:56,799 talk to the media after you through something. He should be suspended like he 262 00:16:56,799 --> 00:17:00,440 should. I don't want to see the first of all, the sea isn't 263 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:03,879 gonna be packed up impacted either way because at this, at this rate, 264 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:07,279 the way how injured he is. I honestly don't have a sol for the 265 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,759 Nuggets, but he You don't want to see a playoff series impacted by an 266 00:17:10,759 --> 00:17:14,519 absence. But you know what the Wolves in let Rudy Gobert's absence impact them. 267 00:17:14,519 --> 00:17:15,359 I get their healthier, I get there longer, I get that they 268 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,119 were kind of built and look, I saw someone tweet this, if Tim 269 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:23,759 Connolly is both the person to build the Nuggets and then their kryptonite shout out 270 00:17:23,799 --> 00:17:29,599 to whatever that on Twitter, that's fucking crazy. Yeah. So but he 271 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,440 should be suspended and it shouldn't be. I don't want to see a playoff 272 00:17:32,519 --> 00:17:34,839 well if you get swept or down, if like look that Jamal Murray didn't 273 00:17:34,839 --> 00:17:38,119 play. Game three is a completely different series. I don't know what they're 274 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,440 gonna do. But that's that's dangerous stuff. And what were you thinking? 275 00:17:41,839 --> 00:17:44,599 I know, I was trying to watch the video and I was like, 276 00:17:44,599 --> 00:17:47,160 does it look like it slipped like he was just waiting. No, it 277 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:52,759 doesn't, so it it to me it signals like so we what we want 278 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:55,960 is, oh, Denver's got to like, you know, get more serious 279 00:17:56,039 --> 00:17:59,000 and fit, like you know, physical and intense and all that stuff. 280 00:17:59,039 --> 00:18:04,359 But like the way that Denver because they're frustrated, the way that Denver collectively 281 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:10,880 operated in response to the frustration of Minnesota, just like eating its lunch was 282 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:14,000 like all the wrong ways. Like throwing the heat pack is obviously the most 283 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:18,960 egregious thing, but like Mike Mike Malone in the first quarter, like sprinting 284 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:22,920 onto the floor and just getting into Mark Davis's shit over like a block charge 285 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,680 call on the other end that like was okay, sure that could be a 286 00:18:26,759 --> 00:18:30,880 charge. I guess kat On Murray. But then like by the way Edwards 287 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,839 also just like kicked KCP in the nuts making a layup right before that too, 288 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:37,039 So it was like I get it, but like that was a sign 289 00:18:37,079 --> 00:18:41,359 of like and the heat pack, the Malone outburst, the Aaron Gordon tech 290 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:47,799 later during stoppage was just like it felt like an expression of like helplessness, 291 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:52,960 Like we can't. We can't like manifest any kind of like response on the 292 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:56,680 floor and we don't know what to do. So we're gonna we're gonna let 293 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,599 all this out some way. And it was just all the wrong ways. 294 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,519 It really does like point to me. It highlights to me like Denver does 295 00:19:03,559 --> 00:19:07,880 not feel like it has answers and it's just like acting out, you know, 296 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:11,519 uh, in all the wrong ways. I had another point to make, 297 00:19:11,559 --> 00:19:14,920 but I lost track of it in the in the Murray suspension discussion because 298 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:19,079 I was gonna bring that up to oh, so what I think that it's 299 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:25,720 like the reason we liked Denver so much for and and just believe like you 300 00:19:25,759 --> 00:19:30,400 can't beat them is like the way they beat teams and Jokic specifically, it 301 00:19:30,519 --> 00:19:33,839 like feels surgical, like they're diagnosing. They're saying, oh, you you're 302 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,720 gonna do A, so we do B and you don't, like you don't 303 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:40,920 have a C, so like we win, like Jokic can just pick things 304 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:44,680 apart, operate. It's and it's like the way the Wolves are playing. 305 00:19:45,279 --> 00:19:49,039 It's like Denver is trying to operate, like imagine like they're a surgeon or 306 00:19:49,039 --> 00:19:51,960 something, and it's like Okay, we do. We cut here and here 307 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,400 and here, but it's like there's an earthquake going on, and it's just 308 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:57,200 like you can't you can't focus enough, like you're being spent. Denver's being 309 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:02,240 sped up, Like how do did you ever imagine that Denver could be sped 310 00:20:02,319 --> 00:20:06,039 up and like forced into like panic mode. That that is a new experience 311 00:20:06,079 --> 00:20:07,559 for this version of the Nuggets. You could even see it what their defense 312 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:11,480 is doing to like the point of like Jokics trying to like not even I 313 00:20:11,519 --> 00:20:14,160 can't even call it, like he's trying to re screen. They like don't 314 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,519 even let him set the initial screen. Everything's work, They're making everything's hard, 315 00:20:18,599 --> 00:20:22,079 everything's like messy. They just aren't letting Denver get comfortable. And I 316 00:20:22,079 --> 00:20:25,599 feel like I need to shout out Jayden mcde Anthony Edwards shout out Jayden Daniels. 317 00:20:25,640 --> 00:20:29,640 We talk about for what is he twenty two? There's I know we 318 00:20:29,759 --> 00:20:34,160 underrate leadership qualities, but every single interview he does is just I come away 319 00:20:34,319 --> 00:20:38,160 like, wow, this he gets it, Like he just he gets it 320 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:41,519 in a way that we don't even get it type deal where he can bring 321 00:20:41,559 --> 00:20:45,559 it back to He's always shouting out his teammates, which one, okay, 322 00:20:45,599 --> 00:20:48,079 you get, but it's like he's called him out specifically for something. It 323 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:49,599 was Jade McDaniels, which so I want to shout Jay McDonalds. It was 324 00:20:49,599 --> 00:20:52,680 pretty hard on him because of his offense during the regular season and at points 325 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:57,519 justifiably though, like that's that was fair. The Nuggets are scoring when he 326 00:20:57,559 --> 00:21:03,599 guards Jamal Murray in this series zero point six two points per possession. When 327 00:21:03,599 --> 00:21:07,640 he guard on a possession in which he guards to Murray, that's fucking bonkers. 328 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:11,880 Yeah, that's crazy, Like that's like I don't even by Jaden mcdaniels's 329 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:15,960 standards, even by the standard of Jamal Murray being injured, that is that 330 00:21:15,079 --> 00:21:21,480 is absurd. He had been like just he's been smothering, suffocating, and 331 00:21:21,559 --> 00:21:23,480 Kile Alexander Walker has been good too, So it was Anton. I mean, 332 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,920 I think you could have made a case during the regular season at Mikhail 333 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:30,839 Alexander Walker and this is you know, smaller minutes, maybe not facing him 334 00:21:30,839 --> 00:21:33,640 a start of he was like might have been better defensively than Jade McDaniels. 335 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,599 J McDaniel's had the harder workload though for sure. Uh, he's been. 336 00:21:37,799 --> 00:21:42,079 McDaniel's been spectacular in this series, but Andy Edwards also shout out Jan McDaniels 337 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:47,039 and the way that he's just been able to make you sort of where maybe 338 00:21:47,039 --> 00:21:51,640 internally make Karl Anthony Towns feel like he is still like a one one B 339 00:21:51,799 --> 00:21:53,319 or one A when it's just like no, that's not and we don't need 340 00:21:53,319 --> 00:21:57,759 to get him. That's fine, but like he's still deferential to Karl Anthony 341 00:21:57,839 --> 00:22:03,440 Towns and he's just we talk about toggling between existences. I felt it more 342 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,799 in this series than ever. We're like he kind of like he can flip 343 00:22:06,799 --> 00:22:11,559 a switch between like now recognizing when he needs to force something or when it's 344 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:15,200 he need they need him as a score, when he needs to actually defer. 345 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:18,440 And Game one, do you remember point I felt like he was by 346 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,680 the second quarter or something, he winded and then like all of a sudden, 347 00:22:21,720 --> 00:22:23,440 it's just like no, like he's gonna set up maybe defer a little 348 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:26,720 bit more, But then he's back and he's closing strong. He has been. 349 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:33,200 I don't know that you can speak in hyperbole about Anthony Edwards at the 350 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:37,119 moment on that topic. I think it was in game one where Reggie Miller 351 00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:41,359 was saying, like, you know, show me a better two way player 352 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:45,880 in the league than Anthony Edwards, And my, my, my immediate reaction 353 00:22:45,039 --> 00:22:48,079 is just like ah, cringe, Like I just come on, man, 354 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,640 Like, first of all, what does that mean is we've started with face 355 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:53,880 of the league and now we're now we're talking about two way player, which 356 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,039 is like this term that gets thrown out like when a guy is good at 357 00:22:57,079 --> 00:23:00,200 both sides, but it's like, well, it's he. It was just 358 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:06,160 like I don't know that participation trophy where it's you wanted to call him the 359 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:10,119 best player in the NBA but you couldn't because of Lebron at the time, 360 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:15,319 the totally totally apt comparison. The thing is, though, like the longer 361 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:18,039 this goes on, again, like I'm so resistant to like, let's crown 362 00:23:18,079 --> 00:23:22,200 this guy because he had a like an All NBA season, but I don't 363 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:25,920 think anybody serious had him as a first teamer and like, you know, 364 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,279 he's just statistically like he's not on the level of a lot of those guys 365 00:23:30,279 --> 00:23:33,519 on the first team and in that neighborhood, wasn't a serious MVP candidate. 366 00:23:33,039 --> 00:23:37,240 And I'm I'm so resistant to like it's too early, like what are we 367 00:23:37,319 --> 00:23:41,640 doing? But like to this point in the postseason, given his age, 368 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,759 like what else do we need to see, like I other than like keep 369 00:23:44,799 --> 00:23:48,039 doing it right, Like it's not like there's this glaring and to your point 370 00:23:48,039 --> 00:23:53,119 about the leadership thing, the Michael Jordan comparison falls apart there because Jordan broke 371 00:23:53,279 --> 00:23:56,279 guys down and like if you survived it, you were better for it. 372 00:23:56,319 --> 00:24:00,400 But it just like lifts guys up. Like he's he's completely different type of 373 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:06,519 leader where it's like he like somehow he's getting away with and not getting away 374 00:24:06,519 --> 00:24:11,119 like it's a bad thing, but like he's marrying just like the killer instinct, 375 00:24:11,240 --> 00:24:15,599 like just a monster on the floor with Also like he like we love 376 00:24:15,599 --> 00:24:18,759 it when he talks his shit and like Kat said after the game, like 377 00:24:18,759 --> 00:24:21,599 when he's talking shit, talking to shit, like we know, like good 378 00:24:21,599 --> 00:24:23,680 things are gonna happen, and he's like pointing out guys when they fall down 379 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:26,039 and like we're cool with it, whereas a lot of other guys would be 380 00:24:26,079 --> 00:24:30,079 like that's an unserious basketball person out there. We don't like that. In 381 00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:33,200 our alphas, it's like he gets to do it his way and it's as 382 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:37,759 long as he's just gonna keep like kicking everybody's ass. It's like he's just 383 00:24:37,799 --> 00:24:40,759 like a new he's a very it feels like a new brand, like a 384 00:24:40,839 --> 00:24:44,359 younger brand of like this is what the best player in the league can look 385 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,039 like in twenty twenty four, where he's just like he's having a great time 386 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:51,480 and he's lifting guys up, but he's also just murdering everything in front of 387 00:24:51,559 --> 00:24:55,079 him. It's a weird hybrid that like, I maybe that's why I'm uncomfortable 388 00:24:55,079 --> 00:24:56,920 with all the like let's crown him already. Is like I don't feel like 389 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,240 I've seen this before and I don't know what to do with it. Yeah, 390 00:25:00,279 --> 00:25:04,839 there's been Like it's weird too because he's already had some bigger called postseason 391 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:10,400 moments like where it's been you have this regular season sample, but then he's 392 00:25:10,599 --> 00:25:15,400 just this like freak in these like higher stakes games and the other It kind 393 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:18,680 of led me to believe because we talk a lot about other players in Jabal 394 00:25:18,759 --> 00:25:22,279 Murrady one where it's all right, in the regular season, it's okay, 395 00:25:22,599 --> 00:25:26,680 he's really good, but then he had two game winners in the last series. 396 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,039 He has these epic playoff performances. Does that you get that vibe from 397 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:33,359 the Wolves collectively? I know they were dominant on defense, but is this 398 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:38,279 everyone was worried about can they hold up in the postseason Crucible? And it's 399 00:25:38,599 --> 00:25:44,160 weirdly, now, are they better built for the postseason crucible than the regular 400 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:48,519 season slog? That's a great point, I think. I think I was 401 00:25:48,519 --> 00:25:51,359 certainly guilty of this, and I think a lot of people were that didn't 402 00:25:51,359 --> 00:25:55,759 buy the Wolves of like, well, the offensive weaknesses are just too pronounced 403 00:25:55,799 --> 00:25:59,680 and so the defense doesn't matter, and everybody plays harder in the postseason so 404 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,359 that it vantage dissipates. It's like, maybe we should have just focused on 405 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:04,960 the strengths and the things that like might actually matter more in the playoffs, 406 00:26:04,960 --> 00:26:08,519 which are all the things we've lauded them for in the last twenty five minutes. 407 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,160 I think that there might be something to that, because like youth, 408 00:26:14,200 --> 00:26:19,000 physicality, aggression, commitment to just like we're gonna be the toughest team on 409 00:26:19,079 --> 00:26:22,680 the floor, Like that's a strength of theirs, and I think that does 410 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:26,000 matter more in the playoffs. I guess. I mean, don't the Knicks 411 00:26:26,039 --> 00:26:29,000 kind of fit into that to a lesser degree to where it's just like we're 412 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,400 gonna play our asses off and like good luck. Keeping up is kind of 413 00:26:32,599 --> 00:26:34,960 you know, not the same defensively, not the same makeup. But I 414 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:40,359 don't know. I guess you feel like you learn something new every postseason, 415 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:45,119 and maybe this year's lesson is like just I don't know, the team that 416 00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:48,880 just brings it defensively is the one that is gonna win now, I mean, 417 00:26:48,519 --> 00:26:52,359 this will We'll see how Boston does and if we get a Boston Minnesota 418 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:56,279 finals, like, holy shit, that's gonna be. I'm already you want 419 00:26:56,279 --> 00:27:00,039 to start a thunder Wolve's preview for the conference finals. I have started thinking 420 00:27:00,039 --> 00:27:03,680 about how interesting that series might be. But yeah, you talk about a 421 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:07,880 contrast in styles, that would be a big one. Just line up structure 422 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,720 alone, right, just the size? I mean this, well we can't, 423 00:27:11,799 --> 00:27:14,200 right, Dann, We get the map, like you can't do it? 424 00:27:14,720 --> 00:27:17,000 The is there any other thing else that you have? Like? From 425 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:21,559 is there? Like? What is there? I don't I don't even know 426 00:27:21,559 --> 00:27:23,319 how to say anything. I'm not trying to say anything negative, but like, 427 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,240 is there anything you look at with the Wolves and it's we just need 428 00:27:26,279 --> 00:27:30,680 to monitor that one. It's like this could go this could go wrong a 429 00:27:30,759 --> 00:27:34,880 couple things. I think there was a really telling run in Game two where 430 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:40,279 the Wolves were generating turnovers and like just still the through line of that that 431 00:27:40,319 --> 00:27:45,039 game was Minnesota continuing to just like physically dominate Denver defensively. But it seemed 432 00:27:45,079 --> 00:27:48,039 like I guess it was probably the second quarter, I can't remember now. 433 00:27:48,079 --> 00:27:51,640 It all kind of runs together in a blowout like that, but where the 434 00:27:51,680 --> 00:27:55,440 Wolves would generate a turnover and then like Nasried would hit a three, generate 435 00:27:55,519 --> 00:27:59,759 another turnover, and like Nikhil alex is Na hits a three, and it's 436 00:27:59,759 --> 00:28:03,759 so like, I don't know if I believe that, like they can continue 437 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:11,200 like the back to backing of ridiculous defensive play and like backbreaking three on the 438 00:28:11,240 --> 00:28:15,359 other end. So it's just it's just circling back to like can they really 439 00:28:15,400 --> 00:28:19,640 continue to score effectively enough, especially if Denver get serious about like let's make 440 00:28:19,759 --> 00:28:25,720 Jaden McDaniels shoot eight or nine threes to try to beat us, Like I 441 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:29,480 don't know if Denver has the ability to control like anything at this point in 442 00:28:29,519 --> 00:28:33,599 the series, but the offense would be one thing. The like the the 443 00:28:33,319 --> 00:28:38,480 stretches where they're just like hitting threes and getting stops. I feel like Minnesota 444 00:28:38,680 --> 00:28:44,279 all season did not string those together really in a sustained way. So I 445 00:28:44,279 --> 00:28:45,759 guess it's just that, Like I guess, I go back to my priors 446 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:49,359 before Game one of like what am I concerned about with Minnesota? Can you 447 00:28:51,039 --> 00:28:55,599 force someone besides Anthony Edwards soonitiate offense? Can you make Rudy Gobert have to 448 00:28:56,039 --> 00:28:57,640 decide what to do with the ball in space on offense? Like? Can 449 00:28:57,680 --> 00:29:02,319 you do all that stuff? It's the way these first two games have gone. 450 00:29:02,359 --> 00:29:06,519 It's kind of like, I just I don't know how Denver can force 451 00:29:06,559 --> 00:29:10,160 the Wolves to do anything. But but I would just focus on those things, 452 00:29:10,160 --> 00:29:11,759 I guess. But it feels like grasping at straws at this point. 453 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:15,160 Yeah, the one thing that would be a concern, And I think he's 454 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:18,160 been I want to be clear, I think he's actually been really good defensively 455 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:22,400 in this series specifically, but he's had like what but Anthy Edwards, Anthey 456 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:26,319 Wards, Conthley Towns and the foul trouble aspect of if you do try and 457 00:29:26,359 --> 00:29:29,559 target him a little bit more, because he had a five in Game one 458 00:29:29,599 --> 00:29:32,079 and four. First of all, he can't take them with you, so 459 00:29:32,119 --> 00:29:34,000 I'm all for him to I'm all for using them below six. That's totally 460 00:29:34,039 --> 00:29:37,920 foling with me. And he's also I was looking at this too. The 461 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:42,680 Nuggets have scored and this team defense on possessions and with Connley Towns is guarding 462 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:47,440 Nicole Jokich for at least part of it. One point zero one points per 463 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:51,519 possession for the Nuggets. That's like acceptable, but so far like you would 464 00:29:51,559 --> 00:29:53,559 yeah, that's that's the exact point, and he actually hasn't. He's only 465 00:29:53,599 --> 00:29:57,559 committed one shooting foul on Jokic, and so I think the problem would come 466 00:29:57,599 --> 00:30:00,519 though, is one, if you're gonna see Yokic attack him when they when 467 00:30:00,519 --> 00:30:03,799 he is the primary defender more. But could it come where if you're putting 468 00:30:04,119 --> 00:30:07,640 I mean, which is really hard to do, but if you're putting Minnesota 469 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:11,599 in rotation at all, or is he gonna be fouling elsewhere? So that 470 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,559 would be something to just monitor, But I don't. This is like sort 471 00:30:14,559 --> 00:30:18,640 of a no notes performance from the Wolves over the past two games, because 472 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,039 they eked out a win in Game one like that was a very hard for 473 00:30:22,119 --> 00:30:25,759 a game, and it was that Denver's best shot already and you just withstood 474 00:30:25,759 --> 00:30:29,240 it. Is the like sort of the takeaway there, So I'm not ready. 475 00:30:29,400 --> 00:30:32,039 I'll never declare the series over because part of the reason I was so, 476 00:30:32,799 --> 00:30:34,319 I don't really care about being wrong. I picked the Nuggets in six. 477 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:38,400 I do not spoiler alert. My confidence level in that pick is terrible. 478 00:30:38,519 --> 00:30:41,720 Right now, you're still alive. It's possible. I have expectations for 479 00:30:41,759 --> 00:30:45,000 the Nuggets, but I don't come away from this game. And I think 480 00:30:45,000 --> 00:30:48,119 that's the danger of making it. It's weird because I think it's the Wolves 481 00:30:48,119 --> 00:30:52,519 that have led them here. I just can't think of anything that Denver can 482 00:30:52,559 --> 00:30:59,839 do meaningfully enough to change when now feels like inevitable, and I'm I'm not 483 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:03,440 it would not, you know, I'm open to the idea that the Nuggets 484 00:31:03,480 --> 00:31:06,759 could just win four straight. They're the raigning champs. Maybe CACP gets a 485 00:31:06,759 --> 00:31:11,079 little healthier, Maybe they uncore Peyton Watson more and he kind of disrupts Minnesota's 486 00:31:11,079 --> 00:31:14,880 offense. Maybe Nicole Jokic starts chucking more threes, bringing the ball up the 487 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:18,200 floor, really trying to make Murray move, not off the ball in screening 488 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:22,559 actions, but like away from the primary actions, is that something you could 489 00:31:22,599 --> 00:31:26,240 try. But the Wolves have just been and I know we probably spent like 490 00:31:26,440 --> 00:31:30,839 we're thirty minutes in this, we probably spent more time talking about like the 491 00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,400 Nuggets is some but it's the Wolves. I want to make that clear. 492 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:37,039 Anyone who's mad about the way that this was split, this is it feels 493 00:31:37,079 --> 00:31:42,720 like the Wolves have led the Nuggets to this breaking point and maybe we'll come 494 00:31:42,759 --> 00:31:48,119 and appreciate that. Nikole Jokic's lack of just palpable emotion is a good thing. 495 00:31:48,559 --> 00:31:51,000 I think in postgame pressers to not come out and say, I mean 496 00:31:51,039 --> 00:31:52,960 if he wanted to, yeah, I sometimes do find myself wishing. I 497 00:31:52,960 --> 00:31:56,640 don't know if you're the same way. And it's not just specific to Jokic, 498 00:31:56,680 --> 00:32:00,200 where that players were more like Anthony Edwards in sense of go ahead and 499 00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,319 say the outrageous thing, like Ampiy Edwards. Would he be the guy if 500 00:32:04,359 --> 00:32:06,799 they're down three to one, you know we're gonna come back and win this 501 00:32:06,839 --> 00:32:10,000 series where it's a little deranged, but you appreciate the optimism, the show 502 00:32:10,039 --> 00:32:13,759 of emotion, and I would have liked to have seen something like that from 503 00:32:13,839 --> 00:32:16,440 Jokic, where it's like this was a this was an excusable loss, and 504 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:19,559 we're just gonna come back and we're gonna fix it, because then even if 505 00:32:19,599 --> 00:32:22,400 you don't. But that's so, that's not what I expect from Yokic, 506 00:32:22,480 --> 00:32:25,200 and I think it's okay. I expect him to play I don't even say 507 00:32:25,240 --> 00:32:30,960 better. I would say more aggressively and smart. Yeah, I was shocked 508 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:35,039 that he wasn't flat out great, he wasn't close to great. I thought 509 00:32:35,119 --> 00:32:38,000 game two, here here comes the MVP, Like I don't know what form 510 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:42,079 it's gonna take. He's not gonna let them go down oh two at home. 511 00:32:42,519 --> 00:32:44,519 And it's like, yeah, okay, we can't just put it all 512 00:32:44,559 --> 00:32:46,400 on him. I know, you get an outside share of credit and blame 513 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:50,079 when you're as good as he is. But it's like, you know, 514 00:32:50,319 --> 00:32:53,680 two of the other four starters with him just aren't healthy and not help and 515 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:59,200 are not helpful. But like Game three, we just gotta I mean, 516 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:02,079 we got to see something spectacular. I think, like, because we can 517 00:33:02,119 --> 00:33:06,519 talk about all this other stuff, what can the Nuggets do? Granted we 518 00:33:06,519 --> 00:33:08,319 didn't come up with much, but like the number one thing just needs to 519 00:33:08,359 --> 00:33:12,559 be like the best play the guy we think is the best player on planet 520 00:33:12,599 --> 00:33:15,920 Earth has to like remind us that that's what he is, and like the 521 00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:20,359 circumstances are what they are, like he just he just that has to be 522 00:33:20,440 --> 00:33:22,559 the fix, right, It's not like you got to be a little better. 523 00:33:22,599 --> 00:33:24,599 He's like, no, yoga has to be the best guy in the 524 00:33:24,640 --> 00:33:28,400 gym. That's just what has to happen. And at the end of the 525 00:33:28,480 --> 00:33:30,839 day too, it just might not be enough because I don't think they win 526 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,279 this series if Murray is is like this and like he needs to take better 527 00:33:34,319 --> 00:33:37,200 shots. But I don't actually know what they're short of saying. And they 528 00:33:37,240 --> 00:33:39,519 went to this lineup for a little bit, but it's okay, So what 529 00:33:39,599 --> 00:33:44,440 if you just put in Reggie Jackson for Jamal Murray and you're just hoping having 530 00:33:44,440 --> 00:33:46,759 the healthy it's not gonna help you defensively, Like maybe just having the healthier 531 00:33:46,759 --> 00:33:50,680 body and someone who's a little bit more reserved on offense, does that help 532 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,480 it. It's just they're not gonna win this series if Murray doesn't have it 533 00:33:53,519 --> 00:33:57,359 doesn't even have to. He didn't put together these complete games against the Lakers, 534 00:33:57,519 --> 00:33:59,640 and he's not healthy. I want to recognize that. But you also 535 00:33:59,720 --> 00:34:01,680 you're out there, you're throwing heat packs, taking bad shots, leaving before 536 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:07,680 speaking to the media. If you're not gonna get trademark moments or stretches from 537 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:10,519 Murry, you're not gonna win anyway. But Joki still needs to take ownership 538 00:34:10,559 --> 00:34:15,119 more of the offense. And it's again, the Wolves are doing so much 539 00:34:15,159 --> 00:34:19,159 to fuck up the Nuggets, but like his ability to make better decisions in 540 00:34:19,159 --> 00:34:22,320 traffic or when catching the ball or when just looking for his own offense is 541 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:27,639 not like that is the Wolves can impact the outcome of what's going on there, 542 00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,119 but they shouldn't be impacting like the actual And I it's probably a mind 543 00:34:30,159 --> 00:34:36,280 fuck though, because they're the Wolves are at once this like collective erasure but 544 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,800 also the turrent because there it's not even just about stopping what you're doing or 545 00:34:40,599 --> 00:34:45,360 like the making it more inefficient. It's not even letting you get into it 546 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:49,840 or making you second guess yourself to not do what you want to do. 547 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:52,119 And so I underlook the Wolves a great basketball team that we may have all 548 00:34:52,159 --> 00:34:55,719 underestimated. And there's gonna be time for bigger picture discussions about Nuggets if they 549 00:34:55,719 --> 00:35:00,280 lose this series. I just hope we get as basketball fans too, like 550 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:04,119 you deserve, We deserve a better effort than what we saw from Denver in 551 00:35:04,159 --> 00:35:07,039 Game two. Quite frankly, there's the Wolves have been great. That's a 552 00:35:07,039 --> 00:35:12,239 great story to tackle the Nuggets. I think made it easier on them in 553 00:35:12,280 --> 00:35:15,199 Game two than it ever should have been. I think it's all it's all 554 00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:17,960 a feedback loop. Like the Wolves being this good are feeding into the Nuggets 555 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:21,800 looking this bad, and Denver's got to break out of it or this is 556 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:23,920 going to be a four or five game series. I think that's that's sufficient 557 00:35:24,000 --> 00:35:29,239 on a on a but like, it's just shocking. I'm shocked. I'm 558 00:35:29,320 --> 00:35:31,320 stunned that the series has gone this way. I did not think that that 559 00:35:31,440 --> 00:35:34,639 Minnesota had this in them, and I didn't think Denver, in a very 560 00:35:34,639 --> 00:35:38,800 different way, had this in them either. Pacers Nicks. Uh. Look, 561 00:35:39,039 --> 00:35:43,679 I'm not a fan. I was talking about officiating either. There are 562 00:35:43,719 --> 00:35:46,559 some pretty bad calls down the stretch of that game. But I really appreciated 563 00:35:46,679 --> 00:35:50,239 and goes shocker, this is this will surprise absolutely no one. I really 564 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:52,840 appreciate what Kaitlin Cooper wrote in the aftermath of it at basketball, she wrote, 565 00:35:52,880 --> 00:35:57,840 go check it out, go subscribe to her her Patreon where, yes, 566 00:35:58,119 --> 00:36:00,800 those calls, the kickball that wasn't the I think it was actually more 567 00:36:00,840 --> 00:36:06,840 egregious. The moving screen that was called a Miles turner when Dante Devincenzo basically 568 00:36:06,840 --> 00:36:09,360 flopped. Look Devincenzo, you can't be mad at him, because that's just 569 00:36:09,599 --> 00:36:14,239 the level of gamesmanship we're dealing with right now. To call that, then 570 00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:17,239 I understand. And then they they did confirm that it was the right call, 571 00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:21,519 but relative to how the game was officiated and the moment, no, 572 00:36:21,840 --> 00:36:28,119 it wasn't the right call. But but this is I actually came away feeling 573 00:36:28,559 --> 00:36:31,199 not worse about both teams. But the two things that stood out is every 574 00:36:31,199 --> 00:36:35,280 time the Knicks win like this, I feel like it emboldens them to be 575 00:36:35,320 --> 00:36:38,119 a little bit less creative to where I'm wondering down the stretch of that game, 576 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:42,960 why are they not, like they just won't even send ball screens to 577 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:45,320 Jalen Brunson to try and get Tyre's Haliburton and like just having him go up 578 00:36:45,360 --> 00:36:49,880 against Nemhard and it's well, are they thinking they're just gonna bring more bodies 579 00:36:49,920 --> 00:36:52,119 into the lane. Man if Tyre's Halburton is involved, and that's so but 580 00:36:52,239 --> 00:36:55,519 like to not even I felt like never go to it. So that was 581 00:36:55,559 --> 00:37:00,239 something that stood out and then but would set up more for me for the 582 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:04,519 Pacers. Is Tyres Haliburton kind of just like there was a lot of Andrew 583 00:37:04,559 --> 00:37:07,199 demhard in like offense when it came when it mattered most, And it's what 584 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:12,039 is going on here with is it a health thing? He looks very stiff 585 00:37:12,079 --> 00:37:16,760 on defense at points, like what is going on there? That was just 586 00:37:17,039 --> 00:37:22,119 the most bizarre thing for me. Yeah, it's I feel like, you 587 00:37:22,119 --> 00:37:27,800 know, there have been a handful of these and certainly more post hamstring injury 588 00:37:29,079 --> 00:37:32,079 going back several months now. But I just wonder if, like I just 589 00:37:32,079 --> 00:37:38,320 think Haliburton's wiring is not takeover mode, like it's just like not in his 590 00:37:38,440 --> 00:37:42,719 normal programming, like you know, or like I'm going to force X Y, 591 00:37:42,760 --> 00:37:45,599 I'm gonna force something to happen. I really do feel like one of 592 00:37:45,639 --> 00:37:50,599 his greatest strengths and maybe in this scenario one of his greatest weaknesses is like 593 00:37:51,000 --> 00:37:52,960 if it's the right decision to get off the ball, I'm getting off the 594 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:54,480 ball. And it's just like that's how you end up with two made field 595 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:59,760 goals in a play in a playoff game, So like that, you know, 596 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:07,199 that just has to change because then the Pacers aren't gonna get enough from 597 00:38:07,239 --> 00:38:10,480 everybody else. Like when it's still it's still sometimes a forced shot, I 598 00:38:10,519 --> 00:38:14,639 guess, or like I don't know, just a more determined effort to get 599 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:17,280 your own. While like yeah, that's you know, in the spirit of 600 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:21,159 like team basketball, we don't love it, sometimes that's still just the right 601 00:38:21,159 --> 00:38:24,920 decision. When you just aren't gonna get you're not gonna affect the defense in 602 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:30,480 the same way if they know they can get you off the ball by you 603 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:34,880 know that consistently. I mean, like I just don't know what else to 604 00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:38,000 say about it, because it is like you can't that like can't happen again 605 00:38:38,039 --> 00:38:42,480 in the series, because like I mean, this was a close game too, 606 00:38:42,519 --> 00:38:45,239 Like what if he has four field goals like five, Like it's it's 607 00:38:45,239 --> 00:38:49,000 not like you needed him to get you forty points. It's just like, 608 00:38:49,079 --> 00:38:52,440 well you get twenty five and this is a totally different game. That's what 609 00:38:52,480 --> 00:38:55,760 makes me think this is less about him trying to adapt to the circumstances of 610 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:59,800 the roster, and this is like a is he injured, he doesn't have 611 00:38:59,840 --> 00:39:02,199 it is the hamstring? Is something else wrong on someone with his back just 612 00:39:02,239 --> 00:39:06,360 looking at the way he's moving. And also, just to the PACER's credit, 613 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:08,000 though they limited the Knicks on the offensive glass in the first half, 614 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:09,960 and you can look at well, like look at what happened in the second 615 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:13,440 half, and it's if you do that to the Knicks in the first like 616 00:39:13,480 --> 00:39:15,800 that's part of the first half still matters, Like it's you're not allowing them 617 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:20,079 to kill you on the offensive glass for three out of four quarters, it's 618 00:39:20,079 --> 00:39:22,519 two out of four. That's a dub there. They also the Knicks were 619 00:39:22,719 --> 00:39:25,920 very much for most of, if not all, of this game. They're 620 00:39:27,000 --> 00:39:30,239 not used to and who is but like they're not used to defending a team 621 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:32,360 that's gonna get out and run after a may shot like that, and like 622 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:37,119 the Pacers did have them off kilter there, and there's a very and that 623 00:39:37,119 --> 00:39:38,199 I didn't think the Knicks were gonna win that game. It was like they 624 00:39:38,360 --> 00:39:42,000 kept getting closer, even grab a league and then the pacer sees it back 625 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,559 like that variability in like the Knick or not that variability, but like the 626 00:39:46,599 --> 00:39:51,639 warp speed at which the pacers operate whenever, wherever, however, with whoever, 627 00:39:52,239 --> 00:39:54,360 that something I think is going to continue to give the Knicks problems, 628 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:59,119 especially when no one likes to say it. It's low hanging fruit. The 629 00:39:59,159 --> 00:40:01,199 minute's got to matter at some point, it's are they ever gonna dust off 630 00:40:01,199 --> 00:40:05,119 precious to you again? After the stint that he had in this game, 631 00:40:05,159 --> 00:40:08,000 Mitchell Robinson does not look right, which is at one point not surprising and 632 00:40:08,000 --> 00:40:12,599 then shockingly troubling because Okay, well, what are we just gonna be down 633 00:40:12,599 --> 00:40:15,719 to? Like Deuce McBride didn't have a good stretch. But I am also 634 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:17,639 just kind of wondering, like, do you need to give him more runway 635 00:40:19,119 --> 00:40:21,679 so that he can get into a rhythm if you need him to provide any 636 00:40:21,719 --> 00:40:23,400 sort of offense. Is this gonna all of a sudden become an Alec Birk 637 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:29,360 series because they're so down bad when it comes to requisite shock creation. Look, 638 00:40:29,400 --> 00:40:32,719 I think there's been a benefit to having o g Ananobe operate off the 639 00:40:32,800 --> 00:40:37,599 dribble of just someone who will attack and go inside the arc. It is 640 00:40:37,719 --> 00:40:39,880 such an anxiety written experience to watch him put the ball on the floor, 641 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:43,519 spin or try and make a decision with it, pick up his dribble too 642 00:40:43,559 --> 00:40:45,679 soon, so he may get four siss in game one, So good for 643 00:40:45,760 --> 00:40:50,559 him. But like that feels like in my mind it was gonna catch up 644 00:40:50,599 --> 00:40:52,320 to the Knicks if they got to the conference finals against the Calves or the 645 00:40:52,360 --> 00:40:57,599 Celtics specifically, And now it's just like it might catch up to them against 646 00:40:57,719 --> 00:41:02,360 Indy because you're investing so much in winning. What is have they had a 647 00:41:02,440 --> 00:41:08,119 stress free game this playoffs? I mean, it felt like every game against 648 00:41:08,280 --> 00:41:13,159 the Sixers was like you thought they were gonna lose it at some point, 649 00:41:13,199 --> 00:41:16,480 So likeeah, I don't I you know, you mentioned the minutes for New 650 00:41:16,559 --> 00:41:22,599 York and how like maybe that is just gonna be an increasingly significant factor in 651 00:41:22,679 --> 00:41:28,599 terms of specifically matched up against Indy, who like really in the first half 652 00:41:28,599 --> 00:41:30,920 two, especially for stretches, was just like I just don't know how you 653 00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:35,719 slow them down, Like they just keep that they're throwing the ball seventy feet 654 00:41:35,760 --> 00:41:38,840 down the floor like every other possession for layups or for transition chances. Like 655 00:41:39,519 --> 00:41:44,920 I think the fact that you said I had low hanging fruit in my mind 656 00:41:45,000 --> 00:41:47,480 about something else of just like if you're the Knicks and you can keep Indy 657 00:41:47,559 --> 00:41:52,199 out of transition for I don't know, like twenty percent more of the game 658 00:41:52,280 --> 00:41:55,440 than you did, like then, I don't know how the Pacers are going 659 00:41:55,519 --> 00:42:00,280 to score as consistently. I really my sense looking back now out the next 660 00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:04,079 day is like, I think Indy kind of needed this one. It's you 661 00:42:04,079 --> 00:42:06,760 know, it's one of those ones where it's like, ooh, that was 662 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:09,320 right there. Because Halliburton had a shit game, they got what they wanted 663 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:13,519 in transition. I think that might dry up a little bit. They lose 664 00:42:14,639 --> 00:42:19,280 and like Isaiah Jackson dominated the game for like eight straight minutes, it's just 665 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:21,800 like, you're not getting that again. I don't think maybe you will. 666 00:42:21,840 --> 00:42:23,519 But there were a few things that Indy is going to look back, I 667 00:42:23,519 --> 00:42:28,559 think and say, yeah, that was that was maybe one we needed for 668 00:42:28,599 --> 00:42:31,039 that split look and look just as much as the officiating matter, sort of 669 00:42:31,039 --> 00:42:35,760 that dead ball foul towards the end of the game where they give the Knicks 670 00:42:35,800 --> 00:42:38,000 the free thrown and the ball back right. But what's interesting, so the 671 00:42:38,079 --> 00:42:42,599 Knicks actually outscore them in transition, and I'm only doing this to cover our 672 00:42:42,599 --> 00:42:45,920 bases. When you're talking about like Indy's offense, it's the semi transition or 673 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:50,039 like operating in the half court before the other team has a chance to really 674 00:42:50,039 --> 00:42:52,960 get set. Here the Knicks we're a plus two and fast break points. 675 00:42:52,960 --> 00:42:55,280 But it's like Indy just gets into its offense so quickly that it's the line 676 00:42:55,320 --> 00:42:59,519 because you look at it, it says, I think eighty percent of their 677 00:42:59,519 --> 00:43:01,519 possessions game in the half court in Game one, and that just feels high 678 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:06,880 to where and it's not why, but right, and but it just watching 679 00:43:06,920 --> 00:43:12,079 it, it feels high, and so I it's weird that so you you 680 00:43:12,159 --> 00:43:14,280 come away thinking this is a game that and he needed And I'm looking at 681 00:43:14,320 --> 00:43:16,079 it as like this is a game that the Knicks needed to not be so 682 00:43:16,239 --> 00:43:22,159 hard. And so I came feeling almost worse about the Knicks. But I 683 00:43:22,159 --> 00:43:27,440 shouldn't because Jalen Brunson has another just transcendent performance, which is at the eighth 684 00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:30,920 time I use this word on this podcast. That's just terrible variability by me. 685 00:43:30,519 --> 00:43:34,880 Uh. But like now Tyre's Halburton, who's supposed to be your best 686 00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:37,480 player doesn't and I'm not as apt to like it. Didn't feel like he 687 00:43:37,599 --> 00:43:40,840 wasn't You looked at him and it wasn't, Oh, this dude doesn't care, 688 00:43:42,559 --> 00:43:45,000 and and the Knicks didn't necessarily do anything specifically to like throw him off, 689 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:50,039 but it felt like it's something just it's not right when you're watching him. 690 00:43:50,039 --> 00:43:51,719 He was like, No, you shouldn't be away from the ball this 691 00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:54,840 much. Is the Pacers really trying to run their offense this way? Is 692 00:43:54,880 --> 00:44:00,159 this a mindset thing from him? Is it like the state of him physically 693 00:44:00,360 --> 00:44:02,400 does that have anything to do with Is it a combination of everything a little 694 00:44:02,400 --> 00:44:06,679 bit? So? I guess that technically should be the bigger red flag for 695 00:44:06,760 --> 00:44:09,719 Indy is not that Tyres Halbert only took six shots, but if Tyre's Halbert 696 00:44:09,840 --> 00:44:15,760 is to this extreme, not Tyre's haliburt and physically functionally whatever. I don't 697 00:44:15,800 --> 00:44:20,639 know how you win any series, right, Yeah. I think I think, 698 00:44:20,719 --> 00:44:22,920 like, well, the series you win is the one where like the 699 00:44:22,960 --> 00:44:27,679 other team has even more players out. He was putting more pressure on the 700 00:44:27,679 --> 00:44:30,880 Bucks defense by like getting shots up and being on the ball a little bit 701 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:32,639 more. Yeah, No, I just yeah, no, I still do 702 00:44:32,719 --> 00:44:37,559 skew towards like I think we're kind of saying the same thing, Like you 703 00:44:37,639 --> 00:44:40,320 know, you're saying the Nick shouldn't have made it that hard. I'm saying 704 00:44:40,440 --> 00:44:44,880 that Indy like probably needed. I think it's just both like Indy had Indy 705 00:44:44,920 --> 00:44:47,960 had a shot, like really probably had that game. To be clear, 706 00:44:49,000 --> 00:44:52,159 I do think that Indy like what New York was in, Like, Indy 707 00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:55,039 just did a really good job against them, and they made it very difficult 708 00:44:55,159 --> 00:45:00,280 on them. So I kind of understand it wasn't like I think that the 709 00:45:00,480 --> 00:45:04,320 like the that the Knicks like could have created more separation, and like you 710 00:45:04,360 --> 00:45:06,800 go back and look and it's like, what did you want them? Let's 711 00:45:06,800 --> 00:45:08,559 say this, use the first half as an example, Like I thought they 712 00:45:08,599 --> 00:45:13,280 looked gassed at there, and then Isaaya Hartst hits that forty six foot or 713 00:45:13,320 --> 00:45:15,360 whatever it ends up. I forgot about that, so like, and that 714 00:45:15,559 --> 00:45:17,960 was like turns out to be huge by the way when you look at the 715 00:45:17,960 --> 00:45:22,440 final score. So I do like I like the fact that Indy has a 716 00:45:22,480 --> 00:45:25,920 gear to where they can throw the Knicks sort of out of their element as 717 00:45:25,960 --> 00:45:29,360 much as they did in that first half and even for parts of the third 718 00:45:29,440 --> 00:45:31,679 quarter. So I don't actually think that I think what worries me about the 719 00:45:31,719 --> 00:45:36,719 Knicks is I look at this game and I actually don't see where they had 720 00:45:36,760 --> 00:45:42,679 the ability to create more separation from an indie team that got like i'll phrase 721 00:45:42,719 --> 00:45:45,760 it, that's, right, a very very very less than ideal performance from 722 00:45:45,800 --> 00:45:47,679 Tyres Alibert. Right. Yeah, that's that's the diplomatic way to say. 723 00:45:47,719 --> 00:45:52,039 Yeah. I mean at this point, it's by far the more interesting series 724 00:45:52,079 --> 00:45:54,760 in certain ways, like because you know, at least at least one of 725 00:45:54,800 --> 00:45:59,599 the games was in doubt and it wasn't that it wasn't Game two for Minnesota 726 00:45:59,639 --> 00:46:01,920 Denver. Yeah, I think ye. I don't know where else to go 727 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:07,800 really other than like I kept going back to when I was watching it the 728 00:46:07,400 --> 00:46:13,360 turner screen, I audibly said out loud, that's a foul. You can't 729 00:46:13,360 --> 00:46:15,119 call that. I said that to nobody. I was by myself watching the 730 00:46:15,159 --> 00:46:17,840 game. But like that, like we should just circle back to that, 731 00:46:17,840 --> 00:46:21,559 because I feel like that's kind of been from what I've read and heard. 732 00:46:21,599 --> 00:46:25,280 It's like that's getting fixated on like a little too much. It's just because 733 00:46:25,440 --> 00:46:29,880 like we always say, like there's forty in this case, like forty seven 734 00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:35,280 other minutes to decide this game. I was stunned that that was called a 735 00:46:35,280 --> 00:46:38,000 foul even though it was absolutely a foul. I just and like, I 736 00:46:38,039 --> 00:46:43,639 don't like to talk about in that moment and can't you can't call it like 737 00:46:43,679 --> 00:46:46,679 that just cannot be called. And that's also I understand where people get frustrated 738 00:46:46,719 --> 00:46:50,719 by the officiating. I don't need I was tagged multiple times and like game 739 00:46:50,800 --> 00:46:55,119 is rigged, Like I'm not like miss me with that right, so my 740 00:46:55,199 --> 00:47:00,039 whole thing, I just I don't know what to make of a game in 741 00:47:00,079 --> 00:47:05,159 which Tyre's Haliburton plays like that. And I know I'm talking in circles now 742 00:47:05,800 --> 00:47:08,519 and the Knicks still win, but it was so stress It was so stressful 743 00:47:08,559 --> 00:47:12,960 for them and taxing, and yet I can't point to, well, how 744 00:47:13,000 --> 00:47:15,519 would they have created You could say some of these guys could have hit more 745 00:47:15,519 --> 00:47:17,440 shots, but like that's just like Indie even they brought them out that it 746 00:47:17,480 --> 00:47:21,400 comes from not on the offensive glass. I'd be curious to see the data 747 00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:23,480 on this. They had at least in the first half, like the Knicks 748 00:47:23,519 --> 00:47:27,880 had to switch more than I think maybe like ever, because that's not something 749 00:47:27,920 --> 00:47:30,440 Tom Tipbodow necessarily likes. To do, and so I think the Knicks could 750 00:47:30,440 --> 00:47:34,320 probably stand to be a little bit more aggressive on the defensive end. But 751 00:47:34,480 --> 00:47:37,519 like it's so, it's sort of like something has to give to where it's 752 00:47:38,000 --> 00:47:44,679 does New York get to play their game or is Tyre's Haliburton going to be 753 00:47:45,199 --> 00:47:46,920 Tyre's Haliburton at some point? Because how did the Knicks grapple with that? 754 00:47:47,679 --> 00:47:52,159 Then? Yeah, I don't know. I don't have a lot I keep 755 00:47:52,559 --> 00:47:55,800 we should move on. That's the problem too. It's like it's one game 756 00:47:57,199 --> 00:48:00,320 and it was just a host of caveats in there, so we can only 757 00:48:00,320 --> 00:48:04,920 move on. Uh, let's talk about the team that was just eliminated, 758 00:48:05,079 --> 00:48:10,480 The Orlando Magic are Why are you laughing? I said, Denver Nuggets. 759 00:48:10,480 --> 00:48:15,840 Oh sorry they I hear that. That's cold. So Orlando gets to a 760 00:48:15,880 --> 00:48:19,320 game seven against Cleveland. It looked like they were in a win game seven. 761 00:48:19,360 --> 00:48:22,840 Where were they up by like eighty at one point in that game. 762 00:48:23,280 --> 00:48:28,920 I think what's interesting about this team is everything. I don't know that I 763 00:48:28,960 --> 00:48:30,960 need to adjust my prior as much because everything that I think they need they 764 00:48:30,960 --> 00:48:35,199 still need. But what I will say is I flip flopped on kind of 765 00:48:35,199 --> 00:48:37,760 at the beginning of the playoffs, I thought they don't necessarily need a floor 766 00:48:37,840 --> 00:48:40,039 general as much as they just need functional shooting. And now I've kind of 767 00:48:40,039 --> 00:48:43,800 flip flopped back where it's like, no, you can't have your floor general 768 00:48:43,840 --> 00:48:49,119 be a non shooter, but you do need the offensive organizer because Palo Bancaro 769 00:48:49,760 --> 00:48:52,320 is just that dude. I came away from that definitely thinking and he is 770 00:48:52,440 --> 00:48:54,960 just the stuff he could do with the ball. Like I know people like 771 00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:58,559 to use Blake Griffin as an analog. I just don't think we've ever seen 772 00:48:58,559 --> 00:49:02,760 someone with his like build and the stuff so light, lightfooted and artsy like 773 00:49:02,760 --> 00:49:06,480 with the ball in his hand. I don't know that I have a good 774 00:49:06,480 --> 00:49:08,559 analog for well, I do know I don't have a good analog. But 775 00:49:08,679 --> 00:49:12,559 what he does, don't you think? I know this isn't the whole point 776 00:49:12,559 --> 00:49:15,320 of what we're gonna talk about, but like, I get the Blake Griffin 777 00:49:15,360 --> 00:49:20,119 thing, but there's almost like there's more like Carmelo. There's a little there's 778 00:49:20,119 --> 00:49:23,079 like shades of mellow in there, like the good the good shades and like, 779 00:49:23,480 --> 00:49:28,400 but yeah, there's not even that doesn't feel quite right, just because 780 00:49:28,440 --> 00:49:31,480 the physical size and the power that he plays with with, like the good 781 00:49:31,480 --> 00:49:36,920 footwork and the the ability to like he's not just he does not hunt the 782 00:49:36,960 --> 00:49:40,719 mellow like face up jab jab jab long two like he does the like the 783 00:49:40,760 --> 00:49:45,559 younger mellow of like face up, I'm maybe gonna shoot a turn around, 784 00:49:45,599 --> 00:49:47,360 I'm maybe gonna put you in the basket like that. It is. I 785 00:49:47,360 --> 00:49:51,599 don't. I struggle for the comparison too, but the Blake Griffin one is 786 00:49:51,639 --> 00:49:53,280 not enough, Like on its own, it's not it's not quite right. 787 00:49:53,840 --> 00:50:00,840 You talked about the guard thing. So I think, ironically I come away 788 00:50:00,840 --> 00:50:04,480 from that series the only the only real change really over the course of the 789 00:50:04,559 --> 00:50:08,400 year and especially this series is like I think Jalen Suggs now is like one 790 00:50:08,480 --> 00:50:12,360 of the easier guards to build around. Whereas before I was like, you 791 00:50:12,400 --> 00:50:14,599 can't shoot, he can't pass, Like what do you do with this guy? 792 00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:16,480 And now it's like it could be a two, right, you could. 793 00:50:16,519 --> 00:50:20,639 You could he could maybe get better as a playmaker. You could put 794 00:50:20,639 --> 00:50:22,679 a two next to him. You could put a one next like if they 795 00:50:22,679 --> 00:50:24,599 go get Tias Jones or whatever, Like I would kind of leave that being 796 00:50:24,639 --> 00:50:28,199 like all right, that that might work. I don't have a problem with 797 00:50:28,280 --> 00:50:30,840 Jalen Suggs spotting up more so. The way I would phrase this though, 798 00:50:31,280 --> 00:50:35,480 is so and one thing. So just looking at the tools the Magic have 799 00:50:35,599 --> 00:50:39,679 this offseason, I'm curiously won the urgency at which they operate, and I 800 00:50:39,719 --> 00:50:44,639 think there needs to be not we need to give up everything like right now. 801 00:50:44,679 --> 00:50:47,159 But Franz and Jalen Szugs are extension eligible, and well, we probably 802 00:50:47,199 --> 00:50:52,920 have a discussion about Franz Wagner where I feel less confident that he can be 803 00:50:53,079 --> 00:50:57,079 like the number two. Maybe it was just like sort of an off year 804 00:50:57,199 --> 00:51:00,320 for him, but they need someone who's gonna be at least more dynamic on 805 00:51:00,360 --> 00:51:01,719 the ball, not a battery year for Franz. So he still think he's 806 00:51:01,719 --> 00:51:06,119 a very good player. His extension talks are suddenly fascinating, though, because 807 00:51:06,239 --> 00:51:08,079 he's not where I would have thought this time last year, or he's just 808 00:51:08,119 --> 00:51:12,360 gonna get the max I maybe he still does. No, you're just saying 809 00:51:12,360 --> 00:51:15,920 no way. I don't know, I'm already say that, but you do 810 00:51:15,039 --> 00:51:20,119 have him and Suggs are extension eligible. Palla Bangkarro will be extension eligible next 811 00:51:20,199 --> 00:51:22,920 year, and so these deals aren't kicking in. You know they're a year 812 00:51:22,960 --> 00:51:27,079 behind, but when you're looking at twenty twenty five twenty twenty six, you 813 00:51:27,119 --> 00:51:30,199 are going to have Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner on substantially higher numbers. So 814 00:51:30,280 --> 00:51:34,920 this offseason they can get up to This is not what I project them to 815 00:51:34,920 --> 00:51:37,039 have. Yeah, we gotta talk about that. Go ahead. They can 816 00:51:37,039 --> 00:51:40,400 get up to sixty five point seven million in cap space, about almost sixty 817 00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:45,880 six. That is though, that's everybody is basically gone. That's John Isaac, 818 00:51:45,960 --> 00:51:50,480 that's no Mo Wagner, that's no Joe Ingles. Those are the three 819 00:51:50,480 --> 00:51:52,800 big ones that just would have to be gone if you want to get to 820 00:51:52,840 --> 00:51:55,360 the sixty plus, right, it's gonna be more like thirty five. I 821 00:51:55,360 --> 00:51:59,960 think yeah, and I because I think you keep one. I think there's 822 00:52:00,159 --> 00:52:02,719 value because teams want players. It's not just there's very rarely if you're taking 823 00:52:02,760 --> 00:52:07,159 back a bad contract. If you were to go out and get maybe Brogden 824 00:52:07,360 --> 00:52:08,199 from Portland, where it's like, oh, you could just take him into 825 00:52:08,239 --> 00:52:10,559 cap space and give us a pick. Yeah, there's a team that'll be 826 00:52:10,559 --> 00:52:14,519 interested in that. But like you, contracts they have value just so they 827 00:52:14,559 --> 00:52:17,199 could be moved, and so my guest would be, okay, like, 828 00:52:17,280 --> 00:52:20,800 do they bring Gary Harris back? Like he's sort of important. But I 829 00:52:20,840 --> 00:52:23,079 think when you're looking at I think fault is gone or at least he's just 830 00:52:23,360 --> 00:52:27,159 like his market creators, and maybe they bring him back that way. But 831 00:52:27,199 --> 00:52:30,119 I think Isaac and I almost feel like I don't know what they're gonna do 832 00:52:30,119 --> 00:52:31,719 with Joe Ingles. He did provide some like shooting and ball handling for them 833 00:52:31,760 --> 00:52:35,920 and might be a valuable locker room presence. I think Mo Wogner's back, 834 00:52:36,199 --> 00:52:39,400 I think Ji is back, and I want to say Gary Harris is back. 835 00:52:39,519 --> 00:52:43,920 I don't know if it's at the same number, but like they're working 836 00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:46,519 with probably thirty to thirty five million in cap space is what I do think, 837 00:52:46,559 --> 00:52:50,119 at least when you look at it, I would say, of that 838 00:52:50,239 --> 00:52:52,920 sixty five, like at least Jonathan Isaac salary's gone right off the bat. 839 00:52:52,960 --> 00:52:57,480 They guarantee the seventeen point four million number, so that's that's gone. You're 840 00:52:57,480 --> 00:53:00,960 working with let's just estimate forty eight million from there. Then I'm gonna sy 841 00:53:00,960 --> 00:53:04,320 wouldn't even shock me if they're working with like twenty five million in CASA says, 842 00:53:04,320 --> 00:53:06,599 what does it take to keep Gary Harris? And or do you just 843 00:53:06,639 --> 00:53:07,920 bring back Mo Wagner? So you're gonna bring back more Vagner? Okay, 844 00:53:08,079 --> 00:53:10,840 Boom, we're down to forty million in cap space? What does it cost 845 00:53:10,880 --> 00:53:14,079 to keep Gary Harris from there? If it's the same number, Boom, 846 00:53:14,119 --> 00:53:15,800 you're down to twenty five to twenty seven to twenty eight million in cap space. 847 00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:21,239 So this isn't the market to have that much cap space anyway. I 848 00:53:21,280 --> 00:53:22,960 think those three guys are back, though, would be my prediction. Maybe 849 00:53:23,039 --> 00:53:27,199 Harris leaves, but he was pretty important to them. Now, this is 850 00:53:27,239 --> 00:53:30,000 my roundabout way of phrasing this to you. I would have said this like 851 00:53:30,159 --> 00:53:35,679 kind of at the start of the playoff series that if they just went out 852 00:53:35,679 --> 00:53:38,920 and traded for Anthony Simons, I would declare them not done. They're gonna 853 00:53:38,960 --> 00:53:42,559 win the title. But like that's enough. I think Simon's is proved enough 854 00:53:42,599 --> 00:53:45,159 as a passer, gives them the exact type of shot making they need both 855 00:53:45,239 --> 00:53:50,320 on the ball and away from the ball. You mentioned the name Hyas Jones, 856 00:53:50,880 --> 00:53:52,519 that is someone that they could afford to sign, and then you would 857 00:53:52,519 --> 00:53:55,079 still have the flexibility go out and trade Anthony Simons. You have all your 858 00:53:55,079 --> 00:53:59,440 own first round picks and plus you have that Denver twenty twenty five first round 859 00:53:59,440 --> 00:54:01,760 pick, which makes did that increase in value? What we were talking I 860 00:54:01,840 --> 00:54:07,079 forget you ahead of ourselves, So you have the assets to do both. 861 00:54:07,559 --> 00:54:10,519 And I do think now because of the contracts of everybody else that are coming 862 00:54:10,599 --> 00:54:15,679 to bear, and specifically it's it's not so much a Bancaro thing because like 863 00:54:15,719 --> 00:54:19,559 that's not gonna kick in until twenty twenty six, but it's definitely a Fronds 864 00:54:19,960 --> 00:54:22,920 and Jail and Suggs thing because without knowing their numbers, but like they're gonna 865 00:54:22,960 --> 00:54:25,639 be at higher numbers even if you let them reach restricted free agency, their 866 00:54:25,679 --> 00:54:30,239 tab holes are gonna be pretty sizable. So I think it's a paramount that 867 00:54:30,360 --> 00:54:32,400 you do make moves this year. And I'm thinking on the level of like 868 00:54:34,719 --> 00:54:37,559 it's not I don't think Simon's is enough for me to be satisfied with their 869 00:54:37,599 --> 00:54:38,320 off season. That's where I'm at now. I think it needs to be 870 00:54:38,360 --> 00:54:43,079 can you sign Tighes Malcolm Brog gonna be a great fit for this roster if 871 00:54:43,119 --> 00:54:46,039 you're willing to actually add shooting. I think Dejontay Murray's a really good fit 872 00:54:46,199 --> 00:54:49,559 for this roster. Actually, I think he's improved enough as a shooter. 873 00:54:49,880 --> 00:54:53,119 And then if you're gonna sign or get another form of shooting here because they 874 00:54:53,159 --> 00:54:55,639 are shooters on the market, or you could trade for other like Buddy Healed 875 00:54:55,679 --> 00:54:59,760 could be an interesting fit for this team. I think it needs to be 876 00:55:00,159 --> 00:55:01,920 guys, like two guys that are gonna fit into the top seven of your 877 00:55:02,000 --> 00:55:07,199 rotation. And that's if I didn't have that prior before. That's what I 878 00:55:07,280 --> 00:55:10,920 came away from this Cavs series really thinking about, is my my priorities have 879 00:55:10,960 --> 00:55:14,440 flip flopped a bunch, and now they flip flopped again to where I think 880 00:55:14,920 --> 00:55:19,679 they can't have an offensive organizer who doesn't shoot, but like the offensive organizer 881 00:55:19,719 --> 00:55:22,800 needs to be the priority over we just we can go and get pure shooting 882 00:55:22,840 --> 00:55:27,320 and we'll be fine. Yeah, I I think I think I would just 883 00:55:27,400 --> 00:55:30,239 echo what you said, like they It doesn't need to be like you don't 884 00:55:30,320 --> 00:55:36,840 go crazy and you know Sham's reported the other day like oh the war Klay 885 00:55:36,920 --> 00:55:39,440 Thompson and the Magic have mutual interest, Like I just don't that that doesn't 886 00:55:39,440 --> 00:55:43,320 Paul George too, right, which is kind of it just doesn't Yeah, 887 00:55:43,360 --> 00:55:46,159 it doesn't make sense to me, where like I said, Tyas Jones for 888 00:55:46,239 --> 00:55:49,320 a reason. I just you know, watching the game, it's like, 889 00:55:49,400 --> 00:55:51,519 man, he would make things a lot easier. And he's like a forty 890 00:55:52,079 --> 00:55:54,280 three point shooter or two, So like nice bonus there. I think it's 891 00:55:54,280 --> 00:55:59,280 got to be a trade and assigning. Uh And and then like I wonder 892 00:55:59,400 --> 00:56:02,280 though the like the trickle down effects of that are are you looking to move 893 00:56:02,360 --> 00:56:06,760 Cole Anthony? Now? Who's like suddenly like what's he really at? Is 894 00:56:06,840 --> 00:56:08,880 he your is your eighth guy, your ninth guy now? Because that's twelve 895 00:56:08,960 --> 00:56:13,320 million that that you could you could turn into something else. Maybe he's a 896 00:56:13,360 --> 00:56:16,119 trade ship. And then like where's it? Where is Anthony black shakeout in 897 00:56:16,199 --> 00:56:21,159 all of this because like the types of players we're describing as Orlando's needs, 898 00:56:21,239 --> 00:56:24,000 like that's not him, So like what like is he is he part of 899 00:56:24,079 --> 00:56:28,039 a trade package? Is he someone that like you just bury on the bench 900 00:56:28,159 --> 00:56:30,599 now, because like he just doesn't bring the offense that you want from those 901 00:56:30,639 --> 00:56:34,679 positions, Like I it's a it's a good problem to have. There's no 902 00:56:34,800 --> 00:56:37,719 urgency. You just finished his rookie year, like you could mess around for 903 00:56:37,760 --> 00:56:40,280 two more years developing him if you want, but like he doesn't fit the 904 00:56:40,360 --> 00:56:44,159 conception of this team that we're kind of putting together. Now, would you? 905 00:56:44,559 --> 00:56:46,800 And I want you to put on like your most conservative hat here. 906 00:56:46,880 --> 00:56:52,119 I'm not saying campaign for my MAGA hat that there's no more conservative, no, 907 00:56:52,320 --> 00:56:54,639 not not just Santis level conservative, or I don't have one of those. 908 00:56:55,480 --> 00:56:58,960 If anyone that's listened to us for five seconds knows, I don't know. 909 00:56:59,039 --> 00:57:00,239 Yeah, I mean, and also that's not so much conservative is just 910 00:57:00,320 --> 00:57:07,000 a moral so got it? Uh? Would you give up Anthony Black for 911 00:57:07,079 --> 00:57:12,880 these players via trade? Malcolm Brockton, No good, I'm glad around the 912 00:57:12,920 --> 00:57:14,599 same. But I thought you were gonna say yes, and now I'm just 913 00:57:14,639 --> 00:57:17,199 gonna stop there. But yeah, no, Anthony Simons, I think I 914 00:57:17,239 --> 00:57:22,760 would. I think I would too. De Jontay Murray. Weirdly, I 915 00:57:22,840 --> 00:57:27,079 don't like the Murray fit as much as the Simons fit, even though I 916 00:57:27,159 --> 00:57:30,880 think I probably would. I probably would, but like I would have the 917 00:57:31,000 --> 00:57:35,599 Simons one is no hesitation because the fit is just like that's you said, 918 00:57:35,599 --> 00:57:38,519 I think exactly what they need. Murray. I would think I would probably 919 00:57:38,599 --> 00:57:44,559 do it, but I I don't like I'm not jumping on that as immediately 920 00:57:44,559 --> 00:57:47,239 as I would for Simons. I also what I think is interesting when we 921 00:57:47,280 --> 00:57:52,159 talk about an offensive organizer and why Tias Jones or even a even to Jontay 922 00:57:52,199 --> 00:57:54,400 Murray makes sense. I don't think it needs to be like this heliocentric organizer 923 00:57:54,480 --> 00:57:58,239 where there will be a team. And I probably advocated for this at some 924 00:57:58,320 --> 00:58:00,760 point. So part one of the things that we get the most compliments for 925 00:58:00,800 --> 00:58:02,800 which I don't know if I feel a good or bad about, we talk 926 00:58:02,840 --> 00:58:07,280 about when we're wrong. So I'm pretty sure at one point I said Trey 927 00:58:07,360 --> 00:58:09,519 Young should be on the list of like this might have been like a year 928 00:58:09,599 --> 00:58:13,920 or two ago. That's not you don't want Trey Young here, Like I'm 929 00:58:14,360 --> 00:58:15,239 past that. I don't know how long. I don't know when I said 930 00:58:15,239 --> 00:58:20,199 it. I definitely said it at one point, but like is there like 931 00:58:20,280 --> 00:58:23,679 another they need that player to be able to coexist with the idea of pala. 932 00:58:23,719 --> 00:58:27,719 Ben Carroll's our best player and he needs to be on the ball a 933 00:58:27,800 --> 00:58:30,480 shit ton. You could run more screening actions with him if you get like 934 00:58:30,559 --> 00:58:34,440 a better ball handler at the one, but you need this, Like, 935 00:58:34,559 --> 00:58:37,000 is de jenttey Murray? I guess the question will be plug and play enough. 936 00:58:37,039 --> 00:58:38,440 I think he is. I think it's fair if you differ on that. 937 00:58:38,559 --> 00:58:42,239 And then so we've talked about I think the most common targets to where 938 00:58:42,280 --> 00:58:44,840 they're not. I guess de jentare Murray semi original. I haven't seen him 939 00:58:44,840 --> 00:58:49,519 linked. They're a ton, but like, is there even whether it's have 940 00:58:49,559 --> 00:58:52,159 you thought about anybody else? Even if it's a mega wattage name. I 941 00:58:52,239 --> 00:58:57,440 mean, I don't like getting the huge expensive name just because I feel like 942 00:58:58,159 --> 00:59:00,199 I don't know, like you said it at the at the top of this 943 00:59:00,280 --> 00:59:02,360 where it's like, Okay, we know what Orlando needs, they gotta go 944 00:59:02,480 --> 00:59:06,000 do it. But it doesn't need to be like this desperate, like we 945 00:59:06,119 --> 00:59:10,760 need a Paul George level player and not you don't need that as an offensive 946 00:59:10,880 --> 00:59:15,639 Like that's not solving what I think is there. I have a lot of 947 00:59:15,719 --> 00:59:17,159 questions, by the way, about Paul George in general and what that guy's 948 00:59:17,199 --> 00:59:21,280 worth because he's thirty four and like it's just not quite the same thing that 949 00:59:21,320 --> 00:59:24,760 he was. Honestly, Brian friend of the podcast and our colleague Brian to 950 00:59:24,800 --> 00:59:29,440 Borrick and I we're gonna we want to record a podcast about whether it even 951 00:59:29,480 --> 00:59:32,199 makes sense to have not just a third Max guy, but players in their 952 00:59:32,280 --> 00:59:36,199 mid thirties making maxes anymore. So you should pencil it in your mind. 953 00:59:36,280 --> 00:59:38,519 Maybe you could make that because that's like, that's an entirely different team. 954 00:59:39,920 --> 00:59:45,440 Like, so, I don't think someone like D'Angel russell is is the type. 955 00:59:45,519 --> 00:59:47,440 I mean, he checked some boxes. Judge, yeah, Jamal when 956 00:59:47,440 --> 00:59:52,639 the Nuggets got to be about someone like Austin Reeves, Like, I don't 957 00:59:52,679 --> 00:59:57,119 know what the Lakers want, but like someone Austin Reeves like was a point 958 00:59:57,119 --> 01:00:00,599 guard in college, can't facilitate a little, is proved himself to be a 959 01:00:00,639 --> 01:00:05,039 good three point shooter, is weirdly like a comboie type that you just throw 960 01:00:05,119 --> 01:00:07,960 him next to Suggs And if you get Tias Jones two, then like, 961 01:00:07,400 --> 01:00:10,480 like, I think it needs to be better than him, because I think 962 01:00:10,559 --> 01:00:14,800 Simons is probably on the same level as a passer, if not better at 963 01:00:14,800 --> 01:00:16,679 this point. I honestly, I don't think Simons receives enough credit for how 964 01:00:16,719 --> 01:00:21,320 he's incrementally improved every year as a passer. I think it's like if that's 965 01:00:21,440 --> 01:00:23,639 the like, if you're only looking at making one move this summer rather than 966 01:00:24,039 --> 01:00:30,039 we're gonna sign like two, we're gonna acquire two Top seven guys for a 967 01:00:30,119 --> 01:00:34,559 rotation. It can't be Reeves or Simons. Then that's where That's where I'm 968 01:00:34,559 --> 01:00:37,800 at with their offense. Simons comes very very close for me, but I 969 01:00:37,840 --> 01:00:40,599 think I'm being too seduced by the show. Like if you're telling me they 970 01:00:40,679 --> 01:00:45,400 get to make one move, like one biggish type move, I'm gonna pick 971 01:00:45,440 --> 01:00:47,599 de Jente Murray over Simons, even if you think the offensive fit is cleaner, 972 01:00:47,639 --> 01:00:52,320 because I think Murray checks a more critical box for that. I think 973 01:00:52,400 --> 01:00:57,079 Murray's a better player just overall, well better. He's not the cleaner fit 974 01:00:57,159 --> 01:01:00,800 though, all helas not. That's why I like Simon and Jones, Like 975 01:01:00,960 --> 01:01:02,199 just bang bang, just throw those guys in there. I'm good. I 976 01:01:02,400 --> 01:01:05,960 like that, I know, but I don't like. I don't want to 977 01:01:06,000 --> 01:01:08,320 go one. I want to like. The offense was not good, right, 978 01:01:08,400 --> 01:01:10,639 it was? It was. It was a deeply fun a way. 979 01:01:10,679 --> 01:01:15,000 Thinking that Palo Bank CAO is probably going to be like mb MVP discourse at 980 01:01:15,039 --> 01:01:21,679 some point, interest that the really swayed it for me that dude doesn't receive 981 01:01:21,760 --> 01:01:23,519 enough credit for what he does on the defensive end. Remember that was supposed 982 01:01:23,519 --> 01:01:27,360 to be like his Achilles heel, and I know he has like a good 983 01:01:27,480 --> 01:01:31,159 environment around him, but I'm just like, that is still the most well 984 01:01:31,239 --> 01:01:35,320 rounded player they have to where if you're looking at someone who might be elite 985 01:01:35,360 --> 01:01:37,559 at both ends of the court, he's going to be closer SUGS is always 986 01:01:37,559 --> 01:01:40,400 going to have the offense of just warts. And I'm not saying Palovin Carroll 987 01:01:40,440 --> 01:01:44,760 is an elite defender, but like as someone who can move take on some 988 01:01:44,800 --> 01:01:47,920 of the bigger primary assignments. I I was impressed with him as a rookie 989 01:01:47,920 --> 01:01:51,280 and I'm even more impressed with him now. So that doesn't really have anything 990 01:01:51,320 --> 01:01:52,360 to do with what we were just talking about, but I threw it out 991 01:01:52,360 --> 01:01:57,960 there anyway. Well, it doesn't form like and it does because it informs 992 01:01:58,039 --> 01:02:02,320 like how serious are you going to go after like a quote unquote star you 993 01:02:02,400 --> 01:02:06,679 know that offensively or whatever. It's like if you think Bankaro is going to 994 01:02:06,760 --> 01:02:09,119 be an All NBA guy or an MVP candidate at some point and the in 995 01:02:09,199 --> 01:02:14,719 your future, it's like then we are just talking about filling in around that 996 01:02:15,039 --> 01:02:17,119 because like you can add in all the like, you're not going to get 997 01:02:17,159 --> 01:02:22,440 a guy if he is that type of player, You're not going to get 998 01:02:22,480 --> 01:02:25,719 anyone this offseason that is like above him in the pecking order. So you're 999 01:02:25,880 --> 01:02:30,920 you're just looking for people that that fit in around him and and can make 1000 01:02:30,960 --> 01:02:35,239 open shots. It's in a way like we're not really discussing anything different, 1001 01:02:35,360 --> 01:02:39,239 Like Orlando has needed guards that can make shots and pass since you know, 1002 01:02:39,679 --> 01:02:45,199 this team came together and and the fact that ban Caro like appears to have 1003 01:02:45,239 --> 01:02:47,800 an even higher ceiling certainly than I thought. Uh, and that most people 1004 01:02:47,880 --> 01:02:52,039 maybe thought is just like, well, that doesn't change the need. It 1005 01:02:52,119 --> 01:02:57,239 maybe just lessens the the the quality of player you need to address it. 1006 01:02:57,599 --> 01:03:00,360 If that makes sense. That makes that makes a ton of sense. But 1007 01:03:00,679 --> 01:03:04,480 at your point about sort of the col Anthony Anthony black stuff, it will 1008 01:03:04,519 --> 01:03:07,599 become a decision because it does feel like you're not gonna get what you need 1009 01:03:07,639 --> 01:03:09,719 from the center position, and you have Wendell Carter Junior. This was not 1010 01:03:09,920 --> 01:03:13,559 enough to be like, well, would we be willing to acquire a wing 1011 01:03:13,639 --> 01:03:16,159 who might eat into some minutes for Franz Wagner, and the answer is no, 1012 01:03:16,280 --> 01:03:19,079 Like that's why I don't want Paul George here, because you have been 1013 01:03:19,119 --> 01:03:22,199 Tearyn, you have Franz Wagner, and there's like you're three and your four 1014 01:03:22,800 --> 01:03:27,159 and so these everything we're talking about, even though it's not necessarily positioned specific, 1015 01:03:27,760 --> 01:03:30,159 that's where there's room to get it. And so you're gonna nudge, 1016 01:03:30,440 --> 01:03:34,800 especially if you get two guys, you're nudging Cole Anthony Anthony Black down the 1017 01:03:34,800 --> 01:03:37,119 pecking order, and that's of course you that's why you would look to move 1018 01:03:37,199 --> 01:03:39,000 one of them. In said deals, I do have a name for them, 1019 01:03:39,320 --> 01:03:43,039 but I'm gonna save it for a podcast that we're hoping to record immediately 1020 01:03:43,079 --> 01:03:46,039 after this one, so you already know who it is. Anything else though, 1021 01:03:46,079 --> 01:03:47,840 on the on the match, I think, by the way, this 1022 01:03:47,920 --> 01:03:52,360 season's an absolute win for them, the massive success, wildly encouraged, and 1023 01:03:52,480 --> 01:03:55,800 like we went into that first round series against Cleveland thinking like I did, 1024 01:03:55,880 --> 01:04:00,440 any way of like if they losing five or gets up, I just really 1025 01:04:00,519 --> 01:04:04,519 am not going to be that deterred from thinking Orlando is just in a sweet 1026 01:04:04,599 --> 01:04:09,280 spot going forward, because like we just they know what they need, they 1027 01:04:09,360 --> 01:04:12,400 have the resources to get it, they have all the hardest things. The 1028 01:04:12,480 --> 01:04:15,480 hardest work is done, you have like your cornerstone star, and after that 1029 01:04:15,599 --> 01:04:18,039 it's just like, Okay, well they weren't supposed to do anything this year 1030 01:04:18,039 --> 01:04:21,360 anyway. So next year I think it is going to be interesting because expectations 1031 01:04:21,760 --> 01:04:25,639 well and are going to be there. That's the summer for me, though, 1032 01:04:25,760 --> 01:04:28,079 is like, Okay, the burden of expectations is here, and you 1033 01:04:28,199 --> 01:04:31,400 know you now have with this group who full season's worth of evidence, like 1034 01:04:31,519 --> 01:04:35,519 this is what we need now you've mentioned it. The flexibility of the assets 1035 01:04:35,559 --> 01:04:39,559 to go out and get it, go out and get it, because if 1036 01:04:39,559 --> 01:04:44,079 you come back and you decide to do placeholder stuff again, whereas one plus 1037 01:04:44,159 --> 01:04:47,039 ones or just guys on a bunch of regular one year deals unacceptable. I 1038 01:04:47,079 --> 01:04:50,360 mean, in fact, the guys Tigat Jones, sure, but Tigas Jones 1039 01:04:50,440 --> 01:04:54,639 is just I might say he feels a bigger need. But it's like that, 1040 01:04:54,840 --> 01:04:57,280 not that it's uninspiring, but like it can't just be. We'll run 1041 01:04:57,360 --> 01:05:00,400 this back plush Tias Jones, Like that can't be. That's not what I 1042 01:05:00,480 --> 01:05:01,960 want to say. In a lot of ways, this is like the most 1043 01:05:02,039 --> 01:05:06,800 important step towards building a sustainable winner, because it's not You're not like skipping 1044 01:05:06,880 --> 01:05:12,199 ahead by going and getting like in prime guys right now, but it's just 1045 01:05:12,239 --> 01:05:15,440 like you gotta you kind of got to get these right because like it just 1046 01:05:15,559 --> 01:05:19,199 get all the way back, like the money's gonna be gone because you're gonna 1047 01:05:19,239 --> 01:05:25,119 have to give significant raises to like now too. It's like these are this 1048 01:05:25,239 --> 01:05:28,320 is why you it's weird because these teams don't stay together nearly as long. 1049 01:05:28,400 --> 01:05:31,039 I'm not talking about the magistisically but in general, but like the planning also 1050 01:05:31,159 --> 01:05:34,639 needs to start two years away from when they're starting needing your flexibility, and 1051 01:05:34,880 --> 01:05:40,519 they're one year away from their flexibility being cannibalized by paying players who they need 1052 01:05:40,599 --> 01:05:43,679 to keep around, right right. Good problems, all good problems, like 1053 01:05:43,800 --> 01:05:46,199 they and they have the ability to solve them. So just hard to be 1054 01:05:46,480 --> 01:05:50,239 hard to be in a better spot than Orlando right now. Game ones between 1055 01:05:50,360 --> 01:05:55,079 the MAVs and the Thunder and the Celtics and Cavs will have played been we 1056 01:05:55,199 --> 01:05:58,719 are recording this beforehand. They will be played by the time that we've put 1057 01:05:58,760 --> 01:06:00,199 this out. But I didn't want to quickly. I don't want to overlook 1058 01:06:00,239 --> 01:06:05,039 them. Are there any let's start with cav Celtics. Is there an one 1059 01:06:05,119 --> 01:06:09,360 thing, one question you have or what you'll be monitoring about this series? 1060 01:06:10,440 --> 01:06:15,039 One thing I guess is just is Darius Garland gonna be able to have an 1061 01:06:15,079 --> 01:06:20,000 impact against the Celtics defensive just like ridiculous number of guys that can put on 1062 01:06:20,119 --> 01:06:24,800 him, because like he just felt too small, too slow, ineffective throughout 1063 01:06:24,840 --> 01:06:28,480 that Orlando series and like then you're just back to Ken Donovan Mitchell, get 1064 01:06:28,519 --> 01:06:30,480 you fifty and keep you in a game. And so I think, like 1065 01:06:30,559 --> 01:06:33,199 there's a lot of things. I'm sure you have something different, but Garland 1066 01:06:33,239 --> 01:06:38,679 has to be doesn't need to be the rim isn't okay? That's you're right, 1067 01:06:38,760 --> 01:06:41,000 you might want to up that just to touch Like I think he's the 1068 01:06:41,039 --> 01:06:43,880 guy I'll be looking at cause and like, really he might be someone I 1069 01:06:44,000 --> 01:06:45,960 significantly changed my opinion about because I've been really high on him for a long 1070 01:06:46,039 --> 01:06:49,119 time. But it's kind of let's see, this is a tough opponent. 1071 01:06:49,480 --> 01:06:53,400 He's not set up to succeed. I think he has to be really good 1072 01:06:53,480 --> 01:06:57,800 for Cleveland to even make this a series. The obvious I agree with that. 1073 01:06:58,000 --> 01:07:00,880 The obvious question is what's going on with Jared Allen's as we record this. 1074 01:07:00,000 --> 01:07:02,519 He's questionable for Game one. I've been checking to see if we get 1075 01:07:02,559 --> 01:07:06,440 news on that. We haven't as we're recording this. That'll be semi big 1076 01:07:06,519 --> 01:07:09,960 because in a way, yes, you want Cleveland to have the option of 1077 01:07:10,039 --> 01:07:13,840 going to the one big stuff, but like you want Jared Allen at your 1078 01:07:13,880 --> 01:07:17,119 disposal too. I'm going to be what I'm really going to be monitoring is 1079 01:07:17,639 --> 01:07:21,360 because of how much the Celtics shoot threes, and if you're looking at like 1080 01:07:21,360 --> 01:07:26,239 a per one hundred posession basis, the Cabs are making about nine threes in 1081 01:07:26,280 --> 01:07:29,559 the first round series per hunder persessions. Boston's at sixteen, and so if 1082 01:07:29,599 --> 01:07:32,320 you break that down per game though for like lessen it you're starting off almost 1083 01:07:32,320 --> 01:07:35,960 a minus eighteen from beyond the arc every game is there gonna be room. 1084 01:07:36,039 --> 01:07:39,800 Part of that is Candarius Garland make his threes at a higher e clip, 1085 01:07:40,039 --> 01:07:43,159 maybe fewer peaks of valleys from Donnald. Mitchell's clearly just banged up, but 1086 01:07:43,199 --> 01:07:45,840 he's been I've come away from I just continue to be impressed by Donald Mitchell 1087 01:07:46,079 --> 01:07:49,199 and also worried about how dependent they are on that. Is there gonna be 1088 01:07:49,280 --> 01:07:54,079 room then to squeeze a Sam Merrill more into this series, Like they kind 1089 01:07:54,079 --> 01:07:57,199 of push that button in Game seven, but it wasn't for a crap Ton 1090 01:07:57,840 --> 01:08:00,599 but to the degree too. Look, it was nice to see Calvert get 1091 01:08:00,639 --> 01:08:04,199 going a little bit inside the arc. Boston's defense is in a weird way, 1092 01:08:04,400 --> 01:08:08,639 like they're smaller, especially without Christops Porzingis that's someone else who I don't 1093 01:08:08,679 --> 01:08:11,360 think anyone really expects to play, at least in the beginning of this series, 1094 01:08:12,079 --> 01:08:15,840 but like you need to, they're gonna be. It almost feels tougher 1095 01:08:15,439 --> 01:08:17,720 to go up against inside the arc and the in fact they just have it 1096 01:08:17,800 --> 01:08:20,800 doesn't matter, you know, Drew Holiday, Derek White and Jalen Brown. 1097 01:08:20,880 --> 01:08:24,000 Jason, Like, who are you gonna throw on any of your two primary 1098 01:08:24,039 --> 01:08:27,159 guards Darius Garlander, not Mitchell, me, Derek White and Drew Holliday. 1099 01:08:27,239 --> 01:08:30,640 But just there's not like good options after that to where like if you they 1100 01:08:30,680 --> 01:08:32,840 could do whatever they want and not whatever they want, but their defense, 1101 01:08:32,960 --> 01:08:36,840 my point is gonna be harder like Orlando's events fantastic, and Boston's is going 1102 01:08:36,920 --> 01:08:40,960 to be. I think, even without Christops a tougher match for this team, 1103 01:08:41,399 --> 01:08:45,159 specifically because they have weak points where Boston can be like Evan Mobley shooting 1104 01:08:45,199 --> 01:08:48,520 twenty percent basically on jumpers in these playoffs. That's not his game. I'm 1105 01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:51,000 wondering if you're gonna go with the one big stuff, can we see more 1106 01:08:51,079 --> 01:08:55,119 to create better room for him? Which might come back to Sam Meryl as 1107 01:08:55,159 --> 01:08:57,920 well. Can we see I'd like to see more Evan Mobley drives, like 1108 01:08:58,000 --> 01:09:00,600 I need more than one or two a game, which we're getting now. 1109 01:09:00,880 --> 01:09:02,680 Can you create the space necessary to get Kaslovert going inside the arc? Which 1110 01:09:02,680 --> 01:09:06,439 something I just alluded to before. I'm fascinated by what the Cavs are going 1111 01:09:06,479 --> 01:09:10,920 to be able to do offensively against this group, and are they going to 1112 01:09:11,000 --> 01:09:14,359 have to concede get in to a point where actually think jam Bickerstaff has done 1113 01:09:14,399 --> 01:09:17,479 a pretty good job coaching during these playoffs and trying out different things, But 1114 01:09:17,560 --> 01:09:19,640 are they going to be willing to get like, let's say, if Jared 1115 01:09:19,680 --> 01:09:24,920 Allen is healthy, they want to deviate enough from their i'll say core principles 1116 01:09:24,920 --> 01:09:27,560 even though we've seen the best version of the Cavs might look something different too. 1117 01:09:28,479 --> 01:09:30,439 You've got to win some type of possession battle, whether it's keep up 1118 01:09:30,479 --> 01:09:33,880 with them in terms of three pointers, not keep up. But you can't 1119 01:09:33,960 --> 01:09:38,079 lose the three point battle by you know, minus six, seven, eight, 1120 01:09:38,800 --> 01:09:42,279 may to three pointers per game. Can you play faster to We've seen 1121 01:09:42,319 --> 01:09:44,359 them up the speed when they need to, but like, can you do 1122 01:09:44,479 --> 01:09:47,479 that more often to maybe win the possession battle or just create more scoring opportunities 1123 01:09:47,520 --> 01:09:50,439 in general? I think that's kind of my one overarching I don't really have 1124 01:09:50,640 --> 01:09:55,600 questions about Boston specifically late game offense, surprise prize, what's up with Chris 1125 01:09:55,640 --> 01:09:59,319 Stock. I'm just very curious to how the Cavs run their their offense and 1126 01:09:59,359 --> 01:10:02,720 their lineup to try and optimize that offense against this team. Yeah, I'm 1127 01:10:02,960 --> 01:10:08,199 I am very excited to see some MOBILEI Tatum back and forth. That's a 1128 01:10:08,399 --> 01:10:11,840 that's a fascinating matchup. To me, it's like you're gonna get Mobile out 1129 01:10:11,840 --> 01:10:15,800 in space a lot. He's really fun to watch there, and I maybe 1130 01:10:15,920 --> 01:10:18,760 MOBILEI like has a bigger offensive role if you're gonna have him try to attack 1131 01:10:18,800 --> 01:10:21,359 Tatum like that's that's kind of that's gonna be fun. I don't know how 1132 01:10:21,399 --> 01:10:26,199 I think that's gonna shake out. I probably in favor of Boston, Like 1133 01:10:26,239 --> 01:10:29,399 I think most things will go in this series, but I'm I'm here for 1134 01:10:29,520 --> 01:10:32,239 some Evan Mobley like pretty good first round series in parts other than the jump 1135 01:10:32,279 --> 01:10:39,199 shooting, Like I would like to see maybe a little step forward MAVs Thunder 1136 01:10:39,279 --> 01:10:43,039 and he we did previe that with BT, but anything from you. I 1137 01:10:43,239 --> 01:10:49,399 think the Thunder are such a different defensive challenge for a MAVs defense that has 1138 01:10:49,479 --> 01:10:57,119 like exceeded expectations to me so consistently. Where Like you know, Zubats was 1139 01:10:57,159 --> 01:10:59,079 a key in the first round I thought, and he kind of was. 1140 01:10:59,159 --> 01:11:01,319 He was, he had really good stretches, but like that's something Lively and 1141 01:11:01,359 --> 01:11:04,560 Gafford can handle. And Chet is just such a different animal. And the 1142 01:11:04,640 --> 01:11:10,880 way that the Thunder move bodies and move the ball and just relentlessly attack the 1143 01:11:10,960 --> 01:11:14,399 basket, I think has a chance to kind of kind of get the MAVs 1144 01:11:14,479 --> 01:11:18,000 defensive head spinning a little bit. It's almost this will be like if if 1145 01:11:18,119 --> 01:11:24,760 Dallas defends really well against this type of offense, I just won't have any 1146 01:11:24,800 --> 01:11:28,880 more questions about you talk about adjusting our priors. Yeah, right, I 1147 01:11:29,039 --> 01:11:33,399 just I'm really interested to see that I haven't actually have you made an official 1148 01:11:33,439 --> 01:11:38,880 pick in this series? I went with a thunder in was it six or 1149 01:11:38,960 --> 01:11:42,039 seven? It was one of those two and the honestly, I know that 1150 01:11:42,199 --> 01:11:45,279 he hasn't always had the same impact like the Maxi Kliba shoulder injury. Knowing 1151 01:11:45,319 --> 01:11:47,720 that he's probably not gonna play this and if he does, it's coming off 1152 01:11:47,760 --> 01:11:54,680 a dis shoulder dislocated. How is that even possible? Yeah, I've it's 1153 01:11:54,720 --> 01:11:58,119 interesting. I had thunder and seven. I don't think I've officially made that 1154 01:11:58,159 --> 01:12:00,199 pick, but that's what my gut says. But like it's official now, 1155 01:12:00,800 --> 01:12:03,720 isn't there? I mean, this is, of course there is, But 1156 01:12:03,880 --> 01:12:10,039 like what if Luca's just like not kind of shitty like he was for a 1157 01:12:10,119 --> 01:12:13,000 lot of that first round series, And like you're gonna have lou Dort, 1158 01:12:13,039 --> 01:12:15,920 You're gonna have Jillen Williams, You're gonna have lots of options to throw at 1159 01:12:15,960 --> 01:12:19,640 him. But like, I like he might just be more than a young 1160 01:12:19,720 --> 01:12:24,319 thunder team is ready to handle if he's healthy and if he kind of can 1161 01:12:24,399 --> 01:12:27,680 get to the spots. Yeah, I mean, the hell things because he 1162 01:12:27,760 --> 01:12:30,039 shot so poorly from three, and like that would be something I would assume 1163 01:12:30,520 --> 01:12:33,760 would correlate to, Okay, if that me is fucked up, that kind 1164 01:12:33,800 --> 01:12:38,399 of makes sense, I think, And based off how that first series played 1165 01:12:38,439 --> 01:12:42,159 out, I am wondering if, like what it comes down to for the 1166 01:12:42,199 --> 01:12:44,279 MAVs, And that's probably the thing I've been thinking about most. I have 1167 01:12:44,399 --> 01:12:48,159 less questions about the Thunder just because they're dealing with fewer injuries, and I 1168 01:12:48,279 --> 01:12:53,560 do think they are the more well rounded team. But can the mav get 1169 01:12:53,600 --> 01:12:57,119 to those half court four on three situations like sort of either in the short 1170 01:12:57,159 --> 01:12:59,560 roll or Luca's gonna be in the middle of the floor, And can you 1171 01:12:59,600 --> 01:13:01,880 get to an enough of those where like the Thunder defense is kind of built 1172 01:13:02,239 --> 01:13:04,279 to prevent a lot of those. So that's like kind of the thing I'm 1173 01:13:04,279 --> 01:13:06,720 going to be watching. And also can you vary your pace enough? I 1174 01:13:06,800 --> 01:13:11,800 saw that the benefit of listening to this number one sports podcast, by the 1175 01:13:11,800 --> 01:13:14,800 way, is I was listening to a few where everyone's talking about how slow 1176 01:13:15,399 --> 01:13:17,479 that the Mavericks play and that they only have one gear. The Mavericks may 1177 01:13:17,600 --> 01:13:21,239 not be looking to play at warp speed all the time. They have done 1178 01:13:21,279 --> 01:13:26,319 a great job of sort of varying up or rationing up their pace at different 1179 01:13:26,319 --> 01:13:29,119 points, and we saw a lot of it in the like Luca can play 1180 01:13:29,840 --> 01:13:30,600 despite what I think is me you say, he can play at more than 1181 01:13:30,640 --> 01:13:34,680 one cadence and he's proven that this year, and so can you continue to 1182 01:13:34,680 --> 01:13:36,920 play because the Thunder are going to do that to you? And so does 1183 01:13:36,960 --> 01:13:41,760 that become a more important element of And it's almost one of those is this 1184 01:13:41,920 --> 01:13:44,560 every team against the Thunder? It feels like where it's who kind of wins 1185 01:13:44,600 --> 01:13:48,159 the battle of does one team conform to the other vice versa. It feels 1186 01:13:48,199 --> 01:13:51,279 like that could be something that not in terms of even lineup structure, but 1187 01:13:51,399 --> 01:13:56,239 just the way, the speed, the cadence at which they're playing that's gonna 1188 01:13:56,239 --> 01:13:58,720 be I think that might just be a question I have of every Thunder opponent 1189 01:13:58,800 --> 01:14:02,119 because of their prime very lineup bases. Yeah, I do think the last 1190 01:14:02,159 --> 01:14:06,520 thing I'm really interested to see because I do I think Luca's gonna be able 1191 01:14:06,560 --> 01:14:11,960 to get to his spots? Can you can okay see put chet on? 1192 01:14:12,119 --> 01:14:14,359 I guess I don't know, Like, is he gonna be on Derek Jones 1193 01:14:15,079 --> 01:14:17,600 or maybe PJ. Washington where he can just leave those guys and kind of 1194 01:14:17,640 --> 01:14:23,560 get in there and muck up Luca getting looks closer to the basket or around 1195 01:14:23,600 --> 01:14:26,880 the elbows and stuff. And then is Luca gonna just pick that apart and 1196 01:14:27,000 --> 01:14:29,239 spray the ball out? And maybe this just comes down to, like, 1197 01:14:29,520 --> 01:14:31,800 are Derek Jones and PJ. Washington gonna make enough threes to punish Chet for 1198 01:14:31,880 --> 01:14:38,560 overhelping? Like that's okay, Se has the supplemental size, though behind home 1199 01:14:38,640 --> 01:14:40,760 Grin to be like what do you doing? Because you know lou Dort's gonna 1200 01:14:40,760 --> 01:14:43,800 get the Dodgers assignment just because he's kind of fly built for it. It's 1201 01:14:43,840 --> 01:14:46,560 like, what are you doing on the MAVs is center in that situation? 1202 01:14:46,600 --> 01:14:49,720 If you want home Grin to be sort of more like the guy playing off 1203 01:14:49,760 --> 01:14:54,199 of I think it's I think it's Jalen. I think I think you might 1204 01:14:54,239 --> 01:14:57,920 see a lot of stretchers on Kyrie, is what I guess. Yeah, 1205 01:14:58,039 --> 01:15:00,720 Like I mean that all the matt are interesting because if you do put Chet 1206 01:15:01,000 --> 01:15:05,159 on the center and like that's just a more conventional way to go. I 1207 01:15:05,319 --> 01:15:09,960 don't love Luca being able to like maybe get a switch and go at chet 1208 01:15:10,039 --> 01:15:12,760 and get him in foul trouble and then if that happens, then the Thunder 1209 01:15:12,880 --> 01:15:15,039 just got like you can just we love, we love big Jal and Williams, 1210 01:15:15,079 --> 01:15:17,880 but like you don't want to be leaning on him, uh in the 1211 01:15:18,039 --> 01:15:21,439 in a second round series. Well it does almost feel like though, if 1212 01:15:21,479 --> 01:15:27,359 you want to do what you're saying when it may be too big in this 1213 01:15:27,479 --> 01:15:30,000 series a bunch yeah, Like is that something I mean? And also because 1214 01:15:30,239 --> 01:15:32,680 even without Kleba, the MAVs are they're sneaky huge, which is like, 1215 01:15:32,720 --> 01:15:36,279 Okay, Derek Jones Junior good size when he's technically your three or PJ. 1216 01:15:36,479 --> 01:15:41,319 Washington plus Stafford or Lively and those are that's your primary front court and then 1217 01:15:41,399 --> 01:15:44,760 Luca's just for a point guard at six' eight, Like that's monstrous. 1218 01:15:45,560 --> 01:15:48,199 Kudos to us for going like eight to ten minutes into a Thunder preview, 1219 01:15:48,479 --> 01:15:54,279 uh without mentioning Josh Giddy and and what what happened? That's the first round 1220 01:15:54,359 --> 01:15:57,600 series? You did? You did, But you better believe he's gonna get 1221 01:15:57,640 --> 01:16:00,399 left open again and attacked again, like that that's that's gonna happen. That 1222 01:16:00,520 --> 01:16:03,479 might be the move too, is just rather than have Chet be responsible for 1223 01:16:03,560 --> 01:16:06,520 doing that is Who's Ever like? Is it's Shae on Giddy, And then 1224 01:16:06,520 --> 01:16:10,840 you're gonna have Shay just roam and that's how you're gonna force your turnovers too. 1225 01:16:10,880 --> 01:16:15,199 So j Doub is gonna be on Kyrie Blud'ort's chain to Luga Dancic and 1226 01:16:15,239 --> 01:16:16,920 then you have Chet still doing like the big man stuff, and then your 1227 01:16:16,960 --> 01:16:20,199 help is coming from who's ever on Giddy, which at that point I assume 1228 01:16:20,279 --> 01:16:24,319 is going to be I don't know why. I just say you're gonna have 1229 01:16:24,800 --> 01:16:28,199 I think the Thunder have Shay on Giddy for much of the game. Your 1230 01:16:28,279 --> 01:16:31,680 problem, I'm tired they aroke andythin ss to guard his own team. But 1231 01:16:31,840 --> 01:16:35,279 that was my point, so like do you have like you know? So 1232 01:16:38,640 --> 01:16:41,920 it's just well no, it's if you're Dallas, who do you get to 1233 01:16:42,039 --> 01:16:44,760 hide on Giddy? Like you almost want to put Kyrie there just to be 1234 01:16:44,880 --> 01:16:47,439 like, okay, well Gid like he can cause you're not gonna want to 1235 01:16:47,479 --> 01:16:51,279 put I mean, I guess the thought process would be put Doncic on him 1236 01:16:51,279 --> 01:16:56,680 because they're less likely to try and attack Ye back up actively, but had 1237 01:16:56,720 --> 01:16:59,760 some he had some good defensive moments in the right. I think in isolation, 1238 01:17:00,119 --> 01:17:03,000 you almost hmm, it's gonna be fascinating because I think and I think, 1239 01:17:04,119 --> 01:17:09,079 I think that's the I think, you know what, Dallas will never 1240 01:17:09,159 --> 01:17:14,159 see that one coming, just they will not know what to do. Uh 1241 01:17:14,319 --> 01:17:16,760 yeah, I do. I'm by the way, all these series are fun 1242 01:17:16,840 --> 01:17:20,000 now, they're they're all great, like there's there's not any more, Oh, 1243 01:17:20,039 --> 01:17:23,920 come on. The one that I was looking most forward to is let 1244 01:17:24,000 --> 01:17:27,239 us Down. Well yeah, but I mean it's been exciting in a totally 1245 01:17:27,319 --> 01:17:30,199 different way with I mean just because the Nuggets are apparently terrible. Now we're 1246 01:17:30,199 --> 01:17:33,359 gonna get a new champion apparently that I guess. Well, but it's just 1247 01:17:33,439 --> 01:17:36,479 like there's no more or there's so many fewer, like well, Jimmy Butler's 1248 01:17:36,520 --> 01:17:40,439 out. I don't need this series is obviously that was a different one, 1249 01:17:40,640 --> 01:17:43,840 like Joannie is hurt, like there's all we're done with these now. It's 1250 01:17:43,920 --> 01:17:45,720 like, I don't know, there's like exciting matchups to discuss, and it 1251 01:17:45,760 --> 01:17:48,399 doesn't just evolve into like, well they don't have other guys, so what's 1252 01:17:48,439 --> 01:17:58,720 the point. You know. That's fair. I like that we have stat 1253 01:17:58,800 --> 01:18:01,399 padding and we have have we'll have maybe we do like get to a guest 1254 01:18:01,439 --> 01:18:04,960 a player each since everybody loves that. But we also have a we have 1255 01:18:05,119 --> 01:18:09,159 traditional stat padding as well. Grant does that? Does that excite you at 1256 01:18:09,199 --> 01:18:13,239 all? I am and my interest is peaked. Ooh it's a great phrasing 1257 01:18:13,279 --> 01:18:16,119 there. Okay, So a little bit of a theme here. Who is 1258 01:18:16,199 --> 01:18:24,159 the NBA Playoffs all time leader in total points Kareem abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, 1259 01:18:24,600 --> 01:18:30,760 Lebron James, or Michael Jordan Lebron James. That is correct? Eighty 1260 01:18:30,239 --> 01:18:32,760 and sixty two. It's not It's not even close to anybody else. I 1261 01:18:32,840 --> 01:18:38,359 got scared there. Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader in total assists? 1262 01:18:39,239 --> 01:18:45,199 Lebron James, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd or John Stockton? Oh you 1263 01:18:45,279 --> 01:18:50,880 through Stockton in there. I'll say Magic. That is correct three hundred and 1264 01:18:50,920 --> 01:18:54,880 forty six assists and it's really not even that close. Lebron's in second, 1265 01:18:55,000 --> 01:18:59,960 by the way. Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader in total rebounds? 1266 01:19:00,840 --> 01:19:06,359 Wilt Chamberlain, Tim Duncan, Lebron James or Bill Russell. All those 1267 01:19:06,520 --> 01:19:10,439 the old timer guys like are they even counting all those back then. I'll 1268 01:19:12,479 --> 01:19:15,520 I'm gonna say Wilt just because he probably averaged like twenty five a game for 1269 01:19:15,720 --> 01:19:17,960 the few series he was in. That would be incorrect. Bill Russell four 1270 01:19:18,760 --> 01:19:21,720 for it is close within one hundred of Wilt though, Okay, feel better. 1271 01:19:23,479 --> 01:19:27,880 Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader in total steals Lebron James, 1272 01:19:28,359 --> 01:19:33,239 Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan or Scottie Pippen. You had to throw Scotty in 1273 01:19:33,279 --> 01:19:36,479 there. I'll say Jordan. That is incorrect. It's Lebron James with four 1274 01:19:36,560 --> 01:19:42,119 hundred and eighty three. Okay. Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader 1275 01:19:42,159 --> 01:19:47,520 in total blocks? Kareem abdul Jabbar, Tim Duncan, Keem Olajuan or Shaquille 1276 01:19:47,520 --> 01:19:54,279 O'Neal. I'll say Hikeem. That is incorrect. It's Tim Duncan with five 1277 01:19:54,359 --> 01:19:58,560 hundred and sixty eight. I hate not honoring Tim Duncan at every opportunity. 1278 01:19:58,640 --> 01:20:02,439 What a mistake. Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader in made threes? 1279 01:20:03,880 --> 01:20:11,159 Steph Curry, James Harden, Lebron James, or Klay Thompson. I'm 1280 01:20:11,159 --> 01:20:15,239 gonna say Steph that is correct. It's not even relatively one thousand, five 1281 01:20:15,319 --> 01:20:19,359 hundred and fifty seven. Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader in total 1282 01:20:19,399 --> 01:20:26,279 turnovers? Ooh, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson or Shaquille O'Neill. 1283 01:20:26,800 --> 01:20:30,039 I'll say Lebron. That is correct, one thousand and thirty four, 1284 01:20:30,079 --> 01:20:32,119 and it's a lot more than anybody else. It's a lot of playoff games. 1285 01:20:33,560 --> 01:20:40,680 Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader in total personal fouls Kareem abdul 1286 01:20:40,720 --> 01:20:47,039 Jabbar, Robert or Lebron James or Shaquille O'Neill, Kareem Ory Lebron Shack. 1287 01:20:47,720 --> 01:20:53,960 I would say Lebron, that is incorrect. It's Kareem abdul Jabbar with seven 1288 01:20:54,039 --> 01:20:57,920 hundred and ninety seven. By the way, every time you pause after telling 1289 01:20:58,000 --> 01:21:00,840 me the category, part of me is like, oh, he wants me 1290 01:21:00,960 --> 01:21:03,239 to guess cold, and then I get really scared because I have no idea 1291 01:21:03,439 --> 01:21:10,159 appreciate the options. Final one. Who is the NBA Playoffs all time leader 1292 01:21:10,319 --> 01:21:16,600 in total shot attempts Kareem abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, or 1293 01:21:16,720 --> 01:21:27,039 Michael Jordan. Jordan incorrect, it's Lebron James ninety six. Okay, I 1294 01:21:27,079 --> 01:21:29,960 don't know. I don't know if I got fifty percent. There you were. 1295 01:21:30,039 --> 01:21:32,840 You started off pretty hot and really strong. Sorry fell off? Should 1296 01:21:32,920 --> 01:21:35,399 What if I had said Lebron for every answer, would have got half of 1297 01:21:35,439 --> 01:21:39,479 them? Right, probably the leader in four categories, so you would have 1298 01:21:39,479 --> 01:21:43,720 gotten at least forty percent. So he led shot attempts points, he had 1299 01:21:43,760 --> 01:21:47,439 assists, steal no, Magic had assists. Lebron had steals though, steals, 1300 01:21:47,439 --> 01:21:51,279 turnovers, shots points, so he got four of them if I just 1301 01:21:51,319 --> 01:21:57,560 said Lebron the next time. Uh, he was second in made threes by 1302 01:21:57,600 --> 01:22:02,960 the way. Oh Jesus, hashtag longevity. Okay, final one here, 1303 01:22:03,279 --> 01:22:08,520 But this is gonna be this is gonna be tough for you. Ready ready, 1304 01:22:09,680 --> 01:22:16,199 so great? Ten NBA players have won three or more MVP Awards. 1305 01:22:17,159 --> 01:22:20,359 How many of them can you name? I will give you three strikes? 1306 01:22:21,800 --> 01:22:27,840 Oh? Hell, okay, well, Kareem correct, that's why. Jordan 1307 01:22:28,960 --> 01:22:34,399 that's two, Lebron that is three. This is terrifying. Oh, Larry 1308 01:22:34,439 --> 01:22:41,840 Bird, that is four. Kareem Jordan, Lebron Bird Magic get three? 1309 01:22:42,720 --> 01:22:46,279 He did. That's fine. I feel good. I gottaay there, got 1310 01:22:46,359 --> 01:22:51,720 half of them. Uh, this is I don't like this because there's so 1311 01:22:51,800 --> 01:22:57,760 many. All of the names I won't get will be really obvious. And 1312 01:22:57,920 --> 01:23:04,199 we're not counting Yokic because he doesn't have it yet. All right, Yo, 1313 01:23:04,279 --> 01:23:10,560 Kitch is the freebie. That's six. Gotta have that. Did I 1314 01:23:10,600 --> 01:23:13,920 say wilt you? Did I feel like I should give you a strike? 1315 01:23:14,000 --> 01:23:16,199 Oh? No, you didn't, But hey, you get a strike? 1316 01:23:18,840 --> 01:23:21,600 I get it? Fourth one? Now? Uh? Three? More? 1317 01:23:23,319 --> 01:23:28,960 Who's got three? Other three? MVPs? Uh, I'm not gonna get 1318 01:23:28,960 --> 01:23:31,600 it now, Shack? Did Shaq have three? Probably not? Strike one? 1319 01:23:33,279 --> 01:23:39,960 Nationally has two, Curry has two, Kobe has like one. Uh, 1320 01:23:42,199 --> 01:23:44,359 that's what I should know. I'm not gonna say. I'm not gonna 1321 01:23:44,359 --> 01:23:48,439 say Kobe. God, I don't know. I'm out of like off the 1322 01:23:48,520 --> 01:23:53,720 top of mind, missing one. Obvious one one? Like ok, yeah, 1323 01:23:53,920 --> 01:23:59,680 like you're gonna be like, oh doesn't It doesn't feel very obvious to 1324 01:23:59,760 --> 01:24:02,560 me right now, partly because I can't remember who I've said so far. 1325 01:24:05,399 --> 01:24:10,960 Obvious one. I don't know. Does Oscar Robertson have three? Strike two? 1326 01:24:11,359 --> 01:24:14,439 Does Bill Russell have three? There you go? That's eight. That 1327 01:24:14,560 --> 01:24:15,960 was the obvious one. That was the obvious one. So two more, 1328 01:24:17,439 --> 01:24:26,439 uh shit, Jerry West strike three. The final two were Julius Irving with 1329 01:24:26,520 --> 01:24:30,880 three, and I didn't expect you to guess one Moses Malone with three. 1330 01:24:30,199 --> 01:24:34,920 Oh no, I don't think if you've given me like ten strikes, I 1331 01:24:35,000 --> 01:24:40,199 was gonna get either of those two. I'll take it. I'll take eighty 1332 01:24:40,239 --> 01:24:44,439 percent. Anytime's not bad. Yeah, I'll take it. Do you have 1333 01:24:44,680 --> 01:24:46,359 a guess a player that you want to give me? As a matter of 1334 01:24:46,399 --> 01:24:49,199 fact, I do. This is from Bill here. Let me pull it 1335 01:24:49,319 --> 01:24:53,359 up. So you need to get into the mind of a psycho bath. 1336 01:24:53,880 --> 01:24:59,279 Just hop in, look around, see what you think in there? All 1337 01:24:59,399 --> 01:25:02,720 right, let me make sure this is the right one. Okay, Clue 1338 01:25:02,800 --> 01:25:05,920 number one. Not a ton of clues here, uh clue number one. 1339 01:25:05,960 --> 01:25:11,960 I was a top ten first round pick in two thousand and five, top 1340 01:25:12,079 --> 01:25:17,359 ten first round pick in two thousand and five. I don't even remember that 1341 01:25:17,479 --> 01:25:20,239 draft at all. You got to shooting drafts. He tried to, did 1342 01:25:20,239 --> 01:25:23,000 you hear me say? Michael Sweet and he had the last puts. I 1343 01:25:23,079 --> 01:25:28,479 was you gotta take a shot. Just the glory of a one shot kill 1344 01:25:28,600 --> 01:25:32,560 is worth a bad guess I still have nothing. That was my guess. 1345 01:25:32,840 --> 01:25:35,560 Nothing. Okay, no, it is, in fact not Michael Sweety. 1346 01:25:36,039 --> 01:25:41,479 In my second year, I finished third and most improved player voting. A 1347 01:25:41,600 --> 01:25:44,960 young Dan Favalley must have been furious. I was even in the conversation. 1348 01:25:45,760 --> 01:25:47,119 I bet you I don't even remember who it was because I didn't even consider 1349 01:25:47,239 --> 01:25:53,239 him to be part of the conversation. You weren't thinking about most improved in 1350 01:25:53,279 --> 01:25:56,119 two thousand and five? What were you thinking about in two thousand and five 1351 01:25:56,720 --> 01:26:00,560 turning twelve years old? Wow? That's bad math turning fifteen sixteen years old? 1352 01:26:02,039 --> 01:26:08,800 Next clue my five. My five most similar players according to Basketball Reference, 1353 01:26:08,880 --> 01:26:13,239 you could just tune out are Kyle Lowry, Dick van Harsdale, DeMar 1354 01:26:13,319 --> 01:26:17,640 DeRozan, Stefan Marberry, and Tim Hardaway. Dick van Arsdale was famously on 1355 01:26:17,720 --> 01:26:21,439 the nineteen sixty five sixty six All Rookie team and nicknamed the Flying Dutchman. 1356 01:26:24,079 --> 01:26:27,960 You're just at all, like just blatant efforts to distract you. I feel 1357 01:26:28,000 --> 01:26:32,840 like some of those are actually the top pen pick most improved player, a 1358 01:26:32,960 --> 01:26:39,239 third and most Improved as a sophomore, and then the most Similars are not 1359 01:26:39,319 --> 01:26:41,520 going to help you. Yeah, give me the d all right. In 1360 01:26:41,640 --> 01:26:45,319 my third season, I was second team All NBA, but not an All 1361 01:26:45,399 --> 01:26:51,199 Star. How about that? I made my first All Star team in my 1362 01:26:51,359 --> 01:26:56,960 fifth season, the first of three in a row, spanning both conferences. 1363 01:26:58,920 --> 01:27:01,520 So he made it his fifth season. So we're in two thousand and nine, 1364 01:27:01,960 --> 01:27:04,880 twenty ten, and twenty eleven, they were an All Star. Yeah, 1365 01:27:05,239 --> 01:27:11,119 spanning both conferences, so it goes from one to the other at some 1366 01:27:11,239 --> 01:27:15,359 point in that three year run of consecutive All Star games. Assume me one 1367 01:27:15,399 --> 01:27:20,439 of those names I'm gonna be taking myselfself over that I didn't get. Two 1368 01:27:20,439 --> 01:27:25,479 thousand and five was the Chris Paul draft, So I know it's not Chris 1369 01:27:25,520 --> 01:27:29,520 Paul or Marvin Williams. I've ruled it out. Was two thousand and four 1370 01:27:29,520 --> 01:27:31,279 the Chris Paul draft. No, you're you're right? Ye? Two thousand 1371 01:27:31,279 --> 01:27:36,640 and five was the Chris Paul draft. I can I can feel you getting 1372 01:27:36,680 --> 01:27:43,000 closer right now. I can see it. Ah, That timeline is so 1373 01:27:43,239 --> 01:27:49,159 weird. Both conferences in the early twenty tens, and was an All Star. 1374 01:27:49,640 --> 01:27:58,600 Good know that, But I don't. All right, next clue, 1375 01:27:59,840 --> 01:28:03,199 I have to be the only NBA player to win two Olympic gold medals and 1376 01:28:03,319 --> 01:28:09,720 in between playing the Turkish Basketball League, once dropping fifty against the fearsome German 1377 01:28:09,800 --> 01:28:15,439 club Gottingen. I made five million dollars for playing fifteen games abroad during the 1378 01:28:15,479 --> 01:28:18,680 twenty eleven lockout, and my number eight jersey was retired by my Turkish club. 1379 01:28:20,560 --> 01:28:32,960 Oh wow, this is where I got it. No, oh no, 1380 01:28:33,199 --> 01:28:40,239 this is gonna bug the ever living shit out of me. The mark 1381 01:28:40,279 --> 01:28:44,520 of a good guess a player? Oh my three All Star appearances in a 1382 01:28:44,680 --> 01:28:47,079 row both conferences and then was one of the players that played abroad during the 1383 01:28:47,159 --> 01:28:54,119 lockout, but also two Olympic gold medals. That actually doesn't help me. 1384 01:28:54,520 --> 01:28:58,079 No, I mean just basketball has never been like my bag. But now 1385 01:28:58,119 --> 01:29:00,600 you know you're dealing with someone that was like, Okay, this guy was 1386 01:29:00,680 --> 01:29:02,920 on the short list there for a minute because your ma was on the Turkish 1387 01:29:03,039 --> 01:29:08,680 national team. Uh no, he was not on the Turkish national team. 1388 01:29:08,720 --> 01:29:15,760 He played in the Turkish Basketball League. Okay, Ah, who win or 1389 01:29:15,760 --> 01:29:18,000 pretend that that helps me? And it really well, I don't feel like 1390 01:29:18,079 --> 01:29:27,600 it's a giveaway to say the Olympic golds are with Team USA. I'm gonna 1391 01:29:27,640 --> 01:29:29,880 hate myself for this again. Is there another clue? Or is that it? 1392 01:29:30,359 --> 01:29:33,800 There's one more which I think will probably help uh My last season, 1393 01:29:34,119 --> 01:29:39,399 I was waived by the Mavericks due to recurring injuries that plagued the second half 1394 01:29:39,479 --> 01:29:43,600 of my career. Four days later, I signed with the Calves, became 1395 01:29:43,720 --> 01:29:46,520 Kyrie's backup, and ultimately lost in the finals to one of the best teams 1396 01:29:46,560 --> 01:29:56,079 in NBA history. Well, why would I know this one? So? 1397 01:29:56,239 --> 01:30:03,199 Who is the washed up guard that used to be really good on the Cavs 1398 01:30:03,279 --> 01:30:08,880 team that lost to I don't know it. I'm gonna hate myself for it, 1399 01:30:09,079 --> 01:30:12,119 and I'm I'm just not gonna know it. What other clues could I 1400 01:30:12,199 --> 01:30:15,920 give you? I think so? I told Bill if he had given the 1401 01:30:15,039 --> 01:30:20,039 teams from the East the two conferences, you would just get it. So 1402 01:30:20,159 --> 01:30:25,880 if I tell you that this this player went from the Jazz to the net 1403 01:30:26,039 --> 01:30:31,199 Aaron Williams, damn it. For some reason, It's interesting that you like 1404 01:30:31,359 --> 01:30:35,319 the Turkish League. Thing like like hit a switch in your brain, because 1405 01:30:35,359 --> 01:30:39,000 it did to me too. I don't know why, but it's just like 1406 01:30:39,640 --> 01:30:43,319 that's where it came to me, and it's clear that it was like trying 1407 01:30:43,359 --> 01:30:46,039 to bust through your skull. Are on that one? Are you ready for 1408 01:30:46,119 --> 01:30:51,079 one? I'm as ready as I'm gonna get. This. One's from Austin 1409 01:30:53,520 --> 01:30:57,960 dud. Number one. I was a former first round pick, never recorded 1410 01:30:58,000 --> 01:31:00,520 a single nc double A stat and later I went on to become an NBA 1411 01:31:00,640 --> 01:31:10,520 champion, formers first round pick with no NCAA stats and became an NBA champion 1412 01:31:12,199 --> 01:31:16,720 j R. Smith incorrect Clue two. I played against many NBA legends over 1413 01:31:16,800 --> 01:31:19,880 my career, such as Reggie Biller, Chris Weber, and Gary Payton. 1414 01:31:23,840 --> 01:31:30,439 So my guess was a little too current. So we're talking like nineties but 1415 01:31:30,800 --> 01:31:39,720 no NCAA stats. So an international player, so he played against Peyton and 1416 01:31:40,199 --> 01:31:49,439 who else? Weber and Reggie Miller. Uh, this is the more I'm 1417 01:31:49,439 --> 01:31:53,000 reading this, the more this is built for you not to get it on 1418 01:31:53,119 --> 01:31:59,199 purpose. Okay, great, I love it. Vlati divots no Clue three. 1419 01:31:59,239 --> 01:32:08,239 I've appeared in several theater movies. I almost almost wanted to go back 1420 01:32:08,279 --> 01:32:11,359 to Rick Fox, but I know, we know he went to college. 1421 01:32:11,800 --> 01:32:17,159 You need to think more current. But he played against Peyton, and I 1422 01:32:17,279 --> 01:32:19,920 keep I can't I remember the other names Chris you said, Chris Weber and 1423 01:32:19,960 --> 01:32:24,399 Reggie Miller. Reggie Miller, Chris Weber and Gary Payton. What an odd 1424 01:32:24,560 --> 01:32:28,960 collection of players? Uh? Played against those guys? Been in movies? 1425 01:32:29,119 --> 01:32:31,840 Been in why? Why have movie theater movies? Are there other kinds of 1426 01:32:31,920 --> 01:32:38,359 movies? I'm unaware of? Uh? He's not for streaming, dreaming, 1427 01:32:38,439 --> 01:32:44,359 he's not he's not a red box all star. Uh more current that's so 1428 01:32:44,920 --> 01:32:55,199 bizarre. Uh? Well more current wouldn't be Dennis Rodman. Uh, I 1429 01:32:55,479 --> 01:32:59,800 don't. I don't know who for my career high at sixty one points came 1430 01:32:59,840 --> 01:33:05,279 out. It's a team that has since been rebranded the name slash mascot sixty 1431 01:33:05,319 --> 01:33:09,760 one. I never remember who. Like, I'd assume that's like the Bobcats 1432 01:33:09,960 --> 01:33:16,159 they did it against or something. So who's got sixty one should get me 1433 01:33:16,239 --> 01:33:25,760 there in movies? But I don't know. I'm like completely spun out here. 1434 01:33:26,560 --> 01:33:30,279 Clue five. I've gone back and forth between two different numbers my entire 1435 01:33:30,399 --> 01:33:41,319 NBA career. I mean Kobe Bryant incorrect, Who's six? I've in the 1436 01:33:41,399 --> 01:33:46,000 top fifty in all time scoring totals and I'm not number fifty. Okay, 1437 01:33:47,079 --> 01:33:55,520 so anything but those more current is I'm all completely how many more clues do 1438 01:33:55,600 --> 01:33:59,920 I have? That was clue six? You have five more? Okay, 1439 01:34:00,000 --> 01:34:01,840 we'll just give me the next one then, please Clue seven. Like many 1440 01:34:01,880 --> 01:34:11,720 athletes, I have a lucrative sponsorship deal with Nike. Am I making a 1441 01:34:11,800 --> 01:34:16,279 mistake being hung up on the movie thing? I don't know. I don't 1442 01:34:16,319 --> 01:34:21,279 know to what degree that's impacting well. I feel like he said multiple theater 1443 01:34:21,399 --> 01:34:26,760 movies, Like, so this person's been in lots of movies. I don't 1444 01:34:26,760 --> 01:34:36,319 really know he's been in He's yes, he's been in multiple movies. I 1445 01:34:36,359 --> 01:34:43,600 feel like that should just be the easiest way to get there. H and 1446 01:34:43,720 --> 01:34:47,920 it's more current. Just one will become much more fair by clue number nine. 1447 01:34:48,319 --> 01:34:51,079 Okay, let's keep going. Then Clue eight, though is I've had 1448 01:34:51,279 --> 01:34:55,479 many nicknames over the years, but my most notable nickname would imply that I 1449 01:34:55,560 --> 01:35:03,119 am Royalty lebron correct clueline was I have a love for books. It would 1450 01:35:03,119 --> 01:35:06,079 appear, although as a running joke that I never seem to make it past 1451 01:35:06,119 --> 01:35:11,800 the first page. Ten. I've won a championship with three different NBA teams. 1452 01:35:12,439 --> 01:35:14,640 Clue eleven if you haven't guessed by now, Oh boy, I have 1453 01:35:14,720 --> 01:35:17,039 his son entering the twenty twenty four NBA draft have expressed I hope to play 1454 01:35:17,079 --> 01:35:21,399 alongside him next year. I really feel like the one that threw me off 1455 01:35:21,520 --> 01:35:26,840 was the I'm top fifty in all time and not number fifty. Yeah. 1456 01:35:27,359 --> 01:35:30,920 The well, I mean, if you're gonna use Lebron, though, you 1457 01:35:30,039 --> 01:35:35,520 gotta be like deliberately making it difficult. You got to mislead a little bit. 1458 01:35:35,560 --> 01:35:39,720 I think I respect it. I respect the nature of the clues. 1459 01:35:40,039 --> 01:35:43,760 So wait, what was the first clue was that the players he played against? 1460 01:35:44,439 --> 01:35:46,239 No? Clue two was the ones he played against klu One was I 1461 01:35:46,279 --> 01:35:49,920 was a former first round pick, never recorded a single NCAA stat, and 1462 01:35:50,039 --> 01:35:54,399 later I went on to become an NBA champion. You know what, I'm 1463 01:35:54,439 --> 01:35:57,560 happy with that. I think that's I think, if you're gonna use Lebron, 1464 01:35:58,079 --> 01:36:00,960 you gotta make it as tricky as possible. So all right, good 1465 01:36:00,039 --> 01:36:03,720 job, Austin. Do you want to take us out of here? I 1466 01:36:03,800 --> 01:36:06,039 guess so, I guess we better do that. Everybody. Thanks for listening, 1467 01:36:06,079 --> 01:36:12,199 thanks for contributing, Thanks for just bearing with us as we evaluate our 1468 01:36:12,239 --> 01:36:15,720 whole outlook on the world with Denver falling apart, It's gonna be a process 1469 01:36:15,880 --> 01:36:19,079 and thanks Thanks for going on that journey with us. Please remember to rate, 1470 01:36:19,159 --> 01:36:24,520 review, subscribe, tell your friends about the podcast, and if you're 1471 01:36:24,520 --> 01:36:28,720 interested in further contributing or getting more involved, join our discord check out our 1472 01:36:28,760 --> 01:36:31,319 merch links for both. Those things are in YouTube with podcast description. That's 1473 01:36:31,359 --> 01:36:33,279 going to do it. Enjoy the rest of the playoffs. We'll be back 1474 01:36:33,319 --> 01:36:36,760 with you soon, shouts Frank Lakina. Apologies, Jared Allen