WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.759 Another Clippers Talk live on a Clippers media Day. We 2 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:06.879 got two specials for you here at Clippers Talk on 3 00:00:06.879 --> 00:00:09.679 the Clippers Talk YouTube side and if you're picking up 4 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:12.839 a podcast somewhere on Spotify or iTunes or iHeart I'm 5 00:00:12.839 --> 00:00:15.160 at a Maslam welcome back in. If you missed the 6 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:22.239 immediate show post media Day, I had Grant Mona on 7 00:00:22.399 --> 00:00:24.839 with me live from into a Dome. I left a 8 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:26.879 little bit early so I could get on the stream 9 00:00:26.920 --> 00:00:29.280 and just start to analyze some of the colts that 10 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:31.679 we're coming out now. I'm lucky enough to be joined 11 00:00:31.719 --> 00:00:34.399 by one of our friends. He's at fly by Night. 12 00:00:34.520 --> 00:00:37.079 Can it s where you finds him on X It 13 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:40.719 is the great Justin BRUSSEO, Justin, my friend. Thanks for 14 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:42.439 doing this today, no problem. 15 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:44.000 It's been a long day. Ready to make it a 16 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:45.719 little bit longer, but it's for a good cause. 17 00:00:47.520 --> 00:00:49.840 Let's make sure we get some promotion out. Have you 18 00:00:49.960 --> 00:00:54.039 already written piece or two or three or four today 19 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:55.479 that you've dropped on media Day? 20 00:00:56.439 --> 00:00:57.560 I wrote none about Kawai. 21 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:02.399 I'm gonna have one tomorrow, kind of detailing just some 22 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:05.560 of the comments that guys made about you know, players 23 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:06.920 who just aren't here anymore. 24 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:11.120 And then going from there, I you know, kind of 25 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:13.280 plan stuff out for about three or four days since 26 00:01:13.640 --> 00:01:15.319 I'm not gonna be in Hawaii some as well. 27 00:01:15.200 --> 00:01:18.359 Plan stuff out just you know, from today onward. 28 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:23.000 Where can people find this necessary content so they're up 29 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.159 to date when it comes to Clippers news and information. 30 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:29.159 You can find me on Justin Russo dot substack dot com. 31 00:01:29.280 --> 00:01:31.439 You can find me, you know, as you said on 32 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:34.840 Twitter at fly by Night k N I t E. 33 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:37.239 So people want to do it. I appreciate it. 34 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:44.239 I am starting to charge tomorrow October first, so just 35 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:47.239 letting people know if you subscribe, I will write a 36 00:01:47.239 --> 00:01:50.280 bunch of stuff. It's behind the paywall. I apologize, it's 37 00:01:50.319 --> 00:01:51.200 the nature of the business. 38 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:54.680 Now charge me double. It's such good content. I will 39 00:01:54.680 --> 00:01:57.000 pay double. It is that good. I've been along for 40 00:01:57.079 --> 00:01:59.319 the ride for some time now. So I appreciate your work. 41 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:02.280 Appreciates you you and all this today and coming now 42 00:02:02.359 --> 00:02:04.239 here on Clippers Top to talk a little bit more 43 00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:06.280 about media Day, and I guess we could start with 44 00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:09.639 what Norman Pale said initially, is he was the first 45 00:02:09.639 --> 00:02:12.280 guy up at the podium. Did you take what he 46 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:16.639 said as a disk towards Paul George saying addition by 47 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:19.719 subtraction or was that taken out of context where he 48 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:22.479 was mostly just talking about how he has wonted more 49 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:24.400 minutes and a bigger opportunity for some time. 50 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:28.080 I took it both in and out of context. 51 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:31.199 As weird as that sounds like, I don't think it 52 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:37.280 was meant to be a shot against Paul specifically, as like, 53 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:39.479 you know, Paul was this problem. I think it's it 54 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:43.319 was more of a Okay, well, we lost this guy 55 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:46.560 who had a really you know, high share of the workload, 56 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:50.479 so naturally other guys are going to get more opportunities. 57 00:02:50.759 --> 00:02:52.800 So I think that's kind of where what he meant 58 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:57.759 by the addition by subscription subtraction. But also I get 59 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:02.080 if people read that as a shot, because it kind 60 00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:04.840 of comes across as one when you just look at 61 00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:05.759 the quote by itself. 62 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:09.879 Yeah, it's definitely interesting and it was an interesting way 63 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:12.199 to start off the press. Or it was the last 64 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:15.400 question he was asked. He answered it right at the end. 65 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.159 What else did you make of normOn Palell just being 66 00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:20.840 in this position finally where he probably has the best 67 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:23.919 shot to be the starting two guard, which has been 68 00:03:24.039 --> 00:03:25.919 a goal and motivation of his for some time. 69 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:29.960 Yeah, I mean he talked about how he's going into 70 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:35.400 the into camp trying to compete for the starting two 71 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:39.879 guard spot, which should be his thought process going into it. 72 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:43.000 Nor is an interesting guy because he is a veteran. 73 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:46.960 He is a big time scoring option, especially off the bench. 74 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:53.960 Had a very efficient year last year, so you know there. 75 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.240 I think there is a level that Norm can achieve. 76 00:03:57.159 --> 00:04:02.919 And I think with PG Levy mean he views himself 77 00:04:03.599 --> 00:04:06.039 as that guy who could fill into that role. 78 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:09.919 I think it makes sense scoring wise, with how efficient 79 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.360 he's been over the years, that Norman Powe would try 80 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:14.400 to take it upon himself and the coaching staff would 81 00:04:14.400 --> 00:04:17.199 look at him as a really good option to supplement 82 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:19.800 some of the scoring loss. With now Paul George being 83 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:24.199 in Philadelphia, do you think there's an even better chance 84 00:04:24.199 --> 00:04:26.959 of him getting into the starting lineup if Kawhi Leonard, 85 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:28.600 who will talk about in just a little bit, is 86 00:04:28.680 --> 00:04:31.560 not available for opening night, But that really could open 87 00:04:31.639 --> 00:04:33.839 up the door from Norman Powell because they just need 88 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:35.600 more scoring, they need more shots up. 89 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:39.040 Yeah, that makes complete sense if CLI's not there. 90 00:04:39.079 --> 00:04:42.199 I think Norman is the kind of easiest plug and 91 00:04:42.240 --> 00:04:45.000 play type option for them. 92 00:04:45.639 --> 00:04:48.720 Noran Powell has been a plug and play guy. He 93 00:04:48.759 --> 00:04:50.600 has made it known he's wanted to be an All 94 00:04:50.600 --> 00:04:52.959 Star for a while. He has made it known he's 95 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:55.480 wanted to be a starting two guard and believes that 96 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.959 he can be a starting two guard. So the downside 97 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:01.959 to that is d and then lacking it at the 98 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.560 point of attack if he's playing next to James Harden 99 00:05:04.879 --> 00:05:07.839 to start off ballgames. But Norm kind of alluded to 100 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:09.839 the fact that he wanted to change to the narrative 101 00:05:10.079 --> 00:05:12.040 about him. He wanted to get in the best shape 102 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:14.759 of his life. He believes he's there that he can 103 00:05:14.759 --> 00:05:17.199 play forty minutes on both ends of the court. Now 104 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:19.720 are you buying into him being a better defender and 105 00:05:19.759 --> 00:05:21.879 also playmaker and a guy who can run pick and 106 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:24.000 roll because those were boys that he made today at 107 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:24.879 the presser. 108 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:32.199 He could I could envision that, you know, quite possibly happening. 109 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:38.560 I'm interested in Norm as a downhill guy, especially as 110 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:42.879 a playmaker and rim finisher, where they're not going to 111 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:47.639 have to incorporate another guy amongst that group, because you know, 112 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.199 we talked about it last year. You know, the Powell 113 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:54.120 Rangers lineup with him and James and PG and Kawhi 114 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.920 and Zoo. That's a lot of mouths to feed and 115 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:59.319 with one less mouth defeat in that in that scenario, 116 00:06:00.319 --> 00:06:04.639 you know, Norm has a chance to do more things 117 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:10.639 with the ball, especially going downhill to the rim. It 118 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:16.079 was kind of interesting because I asked Norm about shooting 119 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:18.639 more three how Ty said that he wants them to 120 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:22.639 shoot more threes and get out in transition run a 121 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:25.040 little bit more. And I said, you know, how does 122 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.519 that suit you? And how does that suit the team? 123 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:28.759 And he, you know, he kind of joked back, he goes, 124 00:06:28.759 --> 00:06:31.000 how do you think that suits me? So I think 125 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:32.879 it suits you very well, just because of the fact 126 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:35.240 that you know, he does get out and transition hating 127 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:38.160 been such a good three point shooter. So there are 128 00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:40.360 things that the Clippers are trying to do to I 129 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:46.319 think kind of alleviate the burden of PG leaving, especially 130 00:06:46.360 --> 00:06:48.759 on the offensive end, by trying to get some of 131 00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:52.800 these guys to maybe maybe not take like another stuff forward, 132 00:06:52.879 --> 00:06:55.120 but show a little bit more than they were able 133 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:57.040 to last year, just because of the constraints of the 134 00:06:57.079 --> 00:06:58.199 people around them. 135 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:01.279 If you have questions for justin so he's joining us 136 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:03.360 for about the next forty five minutes or so. If 137 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:05.319 you got him pertain to something you've heard today at 138 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:08.519 media day, Justin was there. I was there for most 139 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:12.040 of it before I dipped out. But these are two 140 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.279 guys that I didn't see there at all today, And 141 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:16.879 you tell me if I'm wrong. PJ Tucker in Bolones 142 00:07:16.920 --> 00:07:20.240 Highland anywhere to be seen. Anyone mentioned them. Do you 143 00:07:20.279 --> 00:07:22.160 still expect them to show up for training camp? 144 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:26.560 So, I have no idea about the training camp. I'm 145 00:07:26.600 --> 00:07:29.920 assuming they'll be a training camp the first part though. 146 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:35.000 I did not see PJ and Bones. However, I did 147 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.560 see a video of Bones from media day today where 148 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:41.519 he was there. I saw someone post it. I didn't 149 00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:43.279 see PJ. I don't know if there was a video 150 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:45.879 of PJ. I have no idea. I'm not gonna sit 151 00:07:45.879 --> 00:07:48.720 there and say he wasn't there. I will just say 152 00:07:48.879 --> 00:07:51.480 I didn't see him. But I also didn't see Bones 153 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.399 and Bones was there. You know this, Adam. It was 154 00:07:54.439 --> 00:07:57.399 completely different this year as opposed to the past years 155 00:07:57.399 --> 00:08:00.319 in terms of the setup, where in past years, because 156 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:02.480 of the training center, we were kind of able to 157 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.319 look out and see everybody as they would come out 158 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:08.600 do their photos and everything. This was different. The press 159 00:08:08.639 --> 00:08:13.240 conference room at the arena was separate from by a hallway, 160 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:15.959 and then everyone else was on the court and it 161 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.439 was kind of blocked off in certain few sites and 162 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:22.040 a few lines and stuff. So guys might have been 163 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:24.600 there that we just didn't see. But I did see 164 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:27.680 pretty much everyone else except for those two. But as 165 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:30.199 I said, there was a video of Bone, so you know, 166 00:08:30.199 --> 00:08:31.879 I don't know the PJ could have been there. I 167 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:32.840 just don't know for sure. 168 00:08:33.360 --> 00:08:35.279 There's a lot of places guys could be at the 169 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.279 end to a DOL, it's not all on one floor 170 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:40.360 like it used to be on a Planet del Vista. 171 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:43.480 Jonathan Ing wants to ask if Norm's defense was already 172 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:46.080 pretty bad given how he played last year, If he 173 00:08:46.200 --> 00:08:49.480 has more playmaking responsibilities and can do more creation as 174 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:52.639 a secondary ball handler, his defense may not be as good. 175 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.960 I'm guessing he's saying that's taxing him and taking some 176 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.840 of his energy away. I would say last year was 177 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:00.799 his best year defensively as a Clipperdge, would you agree 178 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:01.039 with that? 179 00:09:02.519 --> 00:09:07.080 I wouldn't disagree. I mean, it's hard to put into 180 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:10.799 context like his defense because I don't mean this in 181 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:13.360 a negative way. He's not a positive defender, so like 182 00:09:13.399 --> 00:09:15.480 there are lineups where they have to insulate him to 183 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:20.159 where he's not being taken advantage of quite a bit 184 00:09:20.200 --> 00:09:25.080 as much as other teams would like. I'm not sure 185 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:30.519 if having more playmaking responsibilities would make his defense worse, 186 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:35.080 only because I think he's surrounded by more defensive personnel 187 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:38.399 on this team as opposed to last year's team with 188 00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:42.320 a Derek Jones, with a Chris Dunn, with guys with 189 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:45.000 a Nico Batum, with guys like that that can at 190 00:09:45.080 --> 00:09:47.840 least take some of that burden away in those lineups. 191 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:53.279 Good answer, and we have something from Shanina Shakes saying 192 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:55.919 I was there both to pictures today. I saw him 193 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:58.480 and he had great energy, so we double source it 194 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:03.639 now moving along, James Harden was next up at the podium. 195 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:06.639 He mentioned being more aggressive as he was asked about 196 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:09.240 his role this season without Paul George. I don't think 197 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:12.320 that's going to be a problem for him. He talked 198 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:15.519 about how being home and leaving a legacy here is 199 00:10:15.559 --> 00:10:17.399 a big deal to him. He wants to play here 200 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:20.279 the rest of his career and also make people believe 201 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.960 in this team because he's been on other teams before 202 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:26.159 that were doubted and he got them believing because he 203 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:29.759 is a system and he can raise the floor and 204 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:33.039 during a regular season, there is no doubt about that. 205 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:36.639 But he was asked about style of play and how 206 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.559 much you know, he has to have the ball in 207 00:10:38.600 --> 00:10:42.240 his hands versus other guys for them to really achieve 208 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:45.159 the best version of this Clippers offense. He did say, 209 00:10:45.159 --> 00:10:46.320 it's going to involve. 210 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:46.360 Me a lot. 211 00:10:46.440 --> 00:10:49.480 It was funny because he can create shots for himself 212 00:10:49.480 --> 00:10:52.080 and get others involved. And he mentioned how Luka Doncic 213 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:55.279 plays the same way and just got his team to 214 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:58.679 the NBA finals. Are you under the belief that the 215 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:02.120 heliocentric style or play with James Harden can be a 216 00:11:02.159 --> 00:11:05.840 winning formula at the ultimate level in the NBA? 217 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:11.519 Still probably not to the degree that the Clippers would 218 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:15.759 hope because of his you know, he is what thirty 219 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:16.799 five now thirty six? 220 00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:19.679 He's thirty five, now, that's a lot. In the workloads 221 00:11:19.720 --> 00:11:24.480 he had in Houston in basketball years, he might be 222 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.080 closer to thirty eight thirty nine just because of how 223 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:30.519 much was on his plate on an every night basis 224 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:34.120 and the amount of minutes that he had and the 225 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:36.679 amount of games he was playing. But what I will 226 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:39.519 say is he's not wrong. You know, for as much 227 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:42.840 as we you know, kind of poo poo on the 228 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:47.399 Helio centric Syle offenses, for better or worse, they are 229 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.639 very successful, if not just in the regular season, but 230 00:11:50.679 --> 00:11:53.200 also in the postseason. I think we sometimes forget the 231 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:59.039 James Harden Rockets really only lost to the Dynasty Warriors and. 232 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:01.480 The best team maybe of all time. 233 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:05.279 Yeah, like there is that context. They took them to 234 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:09.039 seven games and had a real chance of winning that 235 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:12.519 game seven if one of the worst three point shooting 236 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:16.240 performances of all time never takes place. So twenty seven 237 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:20.720 straight misses, I don't think he's wrong, But I also 238 00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.720 excuse me. I also acknowledge he's not the player he 239 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:26.279 used to be. I think he kind of acknowledges that too, 240 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.919 where at times he can't uptick the offense like he 241 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:34.799 would like to from the past to now. So I 242 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:36.480 think there is going to be a I have to 243 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:39.159 be a little bit of a marriage between the player 244 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:42.440 that he was the player that he is now and 245 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:44.879 the players that the Clipper. The player that the Clippers 246 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:48.000 need on a night to night basis, especially when kawhi' 247 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:51.360 is not there to help share the workload. 248 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:54.799 I like what you said about coming out of the season, 249 00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:59.279 getting out of the starting gates fast strong. He said, quote, 250 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.399 don't get time for patients, Gotta get to it now. 251 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.840 Got to get off to a good start, make our 252 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:08.120 name and presence fell from the beginning, and also mentioned 253 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.960 how we have to hang our hats on our defense, 254 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.759 and then mentioned Jeff van Gundy and how much he's 255 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:17.200 meant to him already putting notes in his locker of 256 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.120 goals and what he's looking for from James Harden and 257 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:23.000 he just really liked the way he's already challenging guys 258 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:25.840 and how detail oriented he is. I thought that was 259 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.519 really interesting. 260 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:29.320 Yeah, I asked him specifically about Jeff because I have 261 00:13:29.399 --> 00:13:31.480 been working on a larger form piece and so I've 262 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:35.679 been asking some guys you know, about him. The hardened 263 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:39.039 answer about JBG really surprised me. I would never have 264 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:42.200 guessed that that was something that was already taking place, 265 00:13:42.600 --> 00:13:45.480 And I found it very interesting how even something as 266 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:47.320 simple as Zach can kind of get James to buy 267 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:50.120 back in on the defensive end even more to where 268 00:13:50.679 --> 00:13:52.840 Jeff is able to kind of get through to him 269 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:58.000 with these little notes, and James said that that's something 270 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.759 that hadn't happened for him in a long time in 271 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:03.000 his career. You mentioned it happened before for him, which 272 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:05.919 I'm kind of curious what other coach had done this 273 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:11.879 for him, and probably not, Yeah, probably not D'Antoni. So 274 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.960 I'm curious what other coach had done it for him. 275 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:18.960 And I'm kind of curious, like if from talking to 276 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.559 players and talking to personnel, a lot of people are 277 00:14:21.639 --> 00:14:25.840 very excited internally about the Van Gundy higher. They They've 278 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:29.639 to a person talked about the energy, they've talked about 279 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:34.080 the different schemes that they're talking about and trying to implement, 280 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:38.840 and a different way of doing defense, uh with Jeff's ideas. 281 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:42.600 So I'm very interested to see how they go about 282 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:45.759 doing all of this. But I can say that James 283 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:49.000 is not the only one excited about the JVG hire, 284 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.600 and with the way that Jeff has been able to 285 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:55.080 get through to some guys, which is I guess on 286 00:14:55.159 --> 00:14:58.480 the whole, is really fascinating to me that Van Gundy's 287 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:01.720 already assessed and found different ways to get through to 288 00:15:01.799 --> 00:15:06.559 different people and know that, Okay, this guy needs this this, 289 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:08.519 but this guy over here, this is how I need 290 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.639 to approach talking through defense with him. It's a very 291 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:16.080 fascinating concept and kind of shows, you know, even though 292 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:19.120 he's been out of the NBA coaching sphere, so to speak, 293 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:21.799 for about twenty years, Jeff Van Gunny still has it 294 00:15:21.799 --> 00:15:25.279 at least, you know, before the season gets underway, and. 295 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:29.039 He's like customizing his messaging right now to each unique 296 00:15:29.559 --> 00:15:32.799 individual player out there. As we move into talking about 297 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:36.440 Kawhi Leonard and get the injury update straight from the 298 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:39.480 horse's mouth with him speaking about it today, did you 299 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.120 think there was anything to the way James Harden was 300 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:44.759 talking about it when he said, quote, Kawhi just needs 301 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:47.440 to take his time. We need Kawhi later in the 302 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:51.759 year and healthy. Whenever he's ready and available, he can 303 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:54.559 just take his time and join in. Did you read 304 00:15:54.679 --> 00:15:59.360 anything into maybe him giving away where Kawhi could be at. 305 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.759 I guess I could see that. I could also just 306 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:04.519 see it as like the kind of speak that someone 307 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.240 does where it's like, hey, whenever so and so is ready, 308 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:10.799 we're we're gonna be here. So you know, it could 309 00:16:10.840 --> 00:16:12.639 just be something as simple as that. It couldn't be. 310 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.080 I mean he could have given it away, but also 311 00:16:15.159 --> 00:16:18.039 could just be the simple hey when you know there's 312 00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:20.639 I took it more as like there's no pressure on him. 313 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:23.159 We don't want him to put pressure to get back 314 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:26.240 right away if he doesn't feel that he's ready right away. 315 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:29.720 Did you take it as I got this? This is 316 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:31.039 kind of my now. 317 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:36.320 Yeah, So what I will say is I think there's 318 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:41.080 been a slow changing of the guard, so to speak, 319 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:48.039 in this is still Kawai's team an organization, Actually, this 320 00:16:48.120 --> 00:16:51.799 is still Kawai's organization. I think it's James's team where 321 00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:57.519 he's gonna be the guy who, basically on a night in, 322 00:16:57.639 --> 00:17:00.679 night out basis, he's the driving force there to take 323 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:02.639 his queue on things. 324 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:07.240 Yeah, I've disagreed with Chuck and Will on clips and 325 00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:10.200 dip regarding who's going to average more points per game. 326 00:17:10.359 --> 00:17:12.839 I still think it's going to be Kawhi when they're 327 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:15.759 both playing, He's going to get up more shots, but 328 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:19.599 James Harden is likely to be the much more available 329 00:17:19.640 --> 00:17:22.559 player out there. So you can say when you're the 330 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.039 catalyst for the offense, when you're setting the table out 331 00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:28.240 there you have a bigger impact of what's going on, 332 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:30.400 and you're going to be playing more minutes and that 333 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:33.960 is a huge deal for this team that has lacked 334 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.680 availability for years. But James Harden for the most part, 335 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:40.480 knock On Wood has been a healthy player in this league, 336 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.559 but is at the age of thirty five now. So 337 00:17:42.640 --> 00:17:46.720 let's move on to Kawhi, who talked about how everything 338 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:50.599 has been going great, you know, the past month, but quote, 339 00:17:50.599 --> 00:17:52.920 they are being very cautious, you know, for reasons in 340 00:17:52.920 --> 00:17:55.319 the past, I haven't been able to finish some playoff runs, 341 00:17:55.359 --> 00:17:59.599 making sure to stay healthy for those important moments. Unquote. 342 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:04.359 Do you think this is more about them just exercising 343 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:08.200 an extreme amount of caution right now because the knees 344 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:10.359 in a good place and they just don't want to 345 00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:13.279 do anything to disrupt that, and therefore even drills and 346 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:14.279 training camp are out. 347 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:20.920 Yes, I also view it as an organizational mantra internally 348 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:23.160 for them. I'm not saying this is how they view it, 349 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:25.720 but like this is how I look at it from 350 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.880 their perspective. I think they've realized they can't win a 351 00:18:28.920 --> 00:18:35.039 title in October, but they sure can lose one if 352 00:18:35.079 --> 00:18:37.680 he's not ready to go, and they rush him to 353 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:42.079 get on the court early, and then something more catastrophic 354 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:44.559 transpires and then he's just lost for the year. And 355 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.039 I think they've had no qualms about what kind of 356 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:51.160 roster this is. They know it's a roster in flux 357 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:53.680 and in transition, and that there are holes that they're 358 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:57.039 trying to patch. But I think they believe that this 359 00:18:57.079 --> 00:18:59.400 is a team that can have a winning record. Tie 360 00:18:59.480 --> 00:19:02.880 and Frank talked about it last week. They take great pride, 361 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:04.319 you know, you and I talked about it. They take 362 00:19:04.319 --> 00:19:09.039 great pride in thirteen straight winning seasons, and I don't 363 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:11.519 think they want to jeopardize that by Russian Kawhi out 364 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:13.920 there and he's not ready. I think they want to 365 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:16.680 make sure that he's good to go before they even 366 00:19:17.279 --> 00:19:21.279 think about risking him with anything serious. 367 00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:24.119 I think it's wise to err on the side of 368 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:27.599 caution and extreme caution when it comes to Kawhi. Leonard 369 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:30.160 who was asked a question by Ohm Young Masuk of 370 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:33.680 ESPN regarding on if this is something you're going to 371 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:35.880 have to manage for the rest of your career, and 372 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:38.759 he said something to the effect, Actually i'll quote the 373 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:41.880 first part because after that the microphone cut off, but 374 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:45.400 he said, uh, yeah, it can get that way, but 375 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:49.519 there's not really my cuts out. I don't know everything 376 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:52.400 else that was said. It was kind of paraphrase by Oh, 377 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:55.640 but the gist of it was, it sounds like this 378 00:19:55.680 --> 00:20:00.680 could be something these flare ups that are needed to 379 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:03.319 be taken into account the rest of his career and 380 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:05.759 the way they go about Is that how you interpreted it. 381 00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:11.240 Yeah, So the rest of that quote was him basically 382 00:20:11.319 --> 00:20:13.680 saying they got a sense of how it got to 383 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:19.759 that point. So I, in total, I took his presser 384 00:20:20.039 --> 00:20:22.079 and I understand why some people took it in like 385 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:26.079 a doom and gloom way of Oh, he's heard again 386 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:29.480 and he's going through all this stuff. I kind of 387 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:33.559 interpreted the opposite way, which was I think he finally 388 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:37.400 found some clarity to what the issue was and the 389 00:20:37.480 --> 00:20:40.160 ways to manage it to get him on the floor 390 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:43.799 and have him be effective more than he has in 391 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.039 the past when something like this is crept up. I 392 00:20:47.400 --> 00:20:51.839 do think they've kind of found you know, they've made 393 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:54.160 They've made their way through the wilderness, so to speak, 394 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:56.440 of this injury, and I think they're coming out the 395 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:01.680 other side and try and finally understand the everything into 396 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:04.920 taking care of this injury and managing it for as 397 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:09.720 long as they can. So it's a really delicate balance 398 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:13.599 because obviously we know him he wants to play. If 399 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:16.440 he's even eighty percent, he wants to play. Like there's 400 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:18.279 not a guy who likes to I think there's this 401 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:21.759