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Speaker 1: What is up, fellow sikos.

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Speaker 2: I am Dan fa Valley coming at you with a

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very special NBA regular season debut podcast. While I was

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speaking with a local expert for each team, I asked

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each of them what was the biggest storyline they would

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be following throughout this coming season. I've put all of

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those answers together for the podcast that you were about

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to watch and or listen to. If you've checked out

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all thirty of our look Ahead episodes, most of this

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won't be new for you. Some of it will be new.

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Grant and I specifically had to record the Timberwolves one.

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Kyle Tak's amazing, fantastic, but we recorded our Wolves look

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Ahead before the Karl Anthony Towns, Julius Randall, Dante DiVincenzo trade.

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So bounce around. This will be time stamped. If you

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haven't checked out our look Ahead series yet, where have

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you been? Have you not subscribed yet? Because you should

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hit that subscriber button on YouTube or go to apples

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Spotify and do it, and then I will love you forever,

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especially if you let me know that you're a new subscriber.

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Join our discord as well. The link to that's in

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the podcast and YouTube description. There's still time to enter

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our over under competition. The winner gets a merch item

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of their choice and just as notably, the chance to

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guest host a mailbag episode. As I've said before, that's

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life changing stuff. But this exercise was fun. I hope

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you enjoy the conversations I had with all of these

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guests who are smarter and more better than me at this.

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Had a great time talking to all of them, and

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just once more, each of those individual pause the exception

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of the Timberwolves one and Grant, and I recorded some

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updated thoughts after the trade. They will remain relevant, I

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would think for at least the first twenty something games

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of the season, as teams are kind of figuring things out.

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Trades will mostly date a lot of those thoughts, and

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we're probably not going to see a ton of those

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until December. With that, though, let's get to the biggest

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storyline for every NBA team during the twenty twenty four

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twenty twenty five regular season. Aside from anything we've talked about,

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what is the biggest storyline for this team that you'll

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be monitoring throughout next season.

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Speaker 3: Yeah, I think there are probably not Probably there are

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a lot of storylines with this team. Obviously, it's how

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does Zachary res Chet adjust to the NBA. You know,

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is he able to sort of have the type of

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success that he was able to have at Jailborg in

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the EuroLeague? You know, is he able to kind of

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use his high basketball IQ to make some of the

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cuts to the basket that you know kind of drew

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the attention of a lot of scouts in the pre

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draft process. Is he able to knock shots down from three?

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Can he stretch the floor? Is he able to add

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some strength to him because he is kind of a

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I use the word lanky before. He is very lanky.

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He's definitely gotten eighteen body, and so how he's able

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to do that I'd love to see, you know, the

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rise of Kobe Buffin. He was injured a lot last season,

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missed a lot of his rookie year, So it would

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be interesting to see how he fits into the rotation.

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Because when you look at sort of the projected it's

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Trey Dyson, DeAndre Jalen Clint. As you're starting five, it's

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likely gonna be either Bogie Bogdan Bogdanovic or Onyeko Congo

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as the first off. The bench probably go with Bogie,

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just so that you know, you have that sort of

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minute or so for Trey to kind of sit about

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midway through the first quarter, and then he usually comes

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back toward the end and then the other guard sits down.

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Speaker 4: I kind of.

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Speaker 3: Project Kobe would kind of be the backup point guard

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in that sort of rotation. It's just a matter of

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right because they want to see the ball in his

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hands a bit more. And so that's kind of how

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I anticipate things going. Obviously you have to have Zachary

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orsa che in there.

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Speaker 5: But.

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Speaker 3: I would say he's probably like top eight top nine

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in the rotation. And then the next storyline is, of course,

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you know Clint and he's on the final year of

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his contract. I'm sure again, I'm sure we'll talk about

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it a little bit more, but like, do we finally

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see the rise of Oniko Congu as you know, the

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guy who is the heir apparent for you know, should

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the Hawks decide not to resign Clint, which is very

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hard for me to see them doing, just because again

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we touched on it before. He's on the other side

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of thirty, which is usually not a great thing for

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free agent centers. And so he has sort of been

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a guy that has taken slow starts to the season,

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and then it's like post All Star break, he kind

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of like breaks out a little bit more. And then

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you see the old Clint that a lot of people

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were so used to seeing in Houston, and they're like, Oh, yeah,

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you really should be a starting center. You really earned

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that spot there. So I think those are the three

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big things. Obviously, you know, how does Trey Young adjust

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to the new rotation and if again, like we touched on,

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is he able to move off the ball a little

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bit more? And then of course how does the defense fare,

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because that's just something that's not synonymous with the Hawks.

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It's in fact, it's like usually not the first thing

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you think about when it comes to the Hawks. So

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I think they've gotten better defensively just based on the

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pieces that they've added. But I'd love to see how

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the reality stacks up to what's on paper.

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Speaker 2: Looking at the actual next season. And I'm assuming I

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know the answer to this question, but what is the

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biggest storyline that you're kind of tracking for this team

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as they headed to twenty twenty four twenty five.

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Speaker 1: It's it's the porzingis injury. Obviously, that's a massive one.

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I don't think enough has been made about it.

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Speaker 2: They had until like twenty twenty, like it's just like, oh,

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he'll be reevaluated in six months. When that came out,

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that like puts him back at like the reevaluation like

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late December, right, and it just you're right, it feels

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like it's not. I don't know if it's because their

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record without him last year was so good, but it

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feels like it hasn't been or I mean they did

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win the how many games did he play in during

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their playoff run? He was like or four?

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Speaker 6: Yeah?

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Speaker 1: Right, yeah, So that's a big one. I they have

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the pieces to sustain it. I'd be much more worried

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about it if they didn't keep Tillman, which was the

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surprise of the summer. They were able to get him

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two years at the minimum. So I think he's going

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to be a major piece in how they sustain because

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Cornett I'm the biggest Cornet fan going. But there are

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matchups where he can't play. So that you have a

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Tillman who basically has the opposite skill set of Cornette defensively,

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that's huge and he needs to take some step. I

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think his fit was a little awkward last year. He

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ended up having a big moment in the finals, but

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he's going to be crucial. You have options at that spot.

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I do wish Prissette was back in that mix a

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little bit too. He was a guy who can let

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you play a little smaller. But you got Anton Watson,

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who I actually think has a shot if what we

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saw in some league translates to maybe playing when they're

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super shorthanded. And then you have Horford at that point

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of attack, which is going to be the big one,

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right because I was looking last week he played thirty

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minutes a game when Porzengis was out during the regular season.

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Obviously he's going to play thirty forty minutes in the

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playoffs with Porzengis out. But during this regular season, where

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you're probably trying to scale them back even more, not

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playing back to backs, you're gonna have some situations where porzengis,

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many situations where Porzengis and Horford out both of them.

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So how do you sustain in those situations? Do you

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have enough depth at that spot through some of the

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performances among those centers, The depth centers of surprise. I

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think across the board, even Cato last year was effective

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in his spots. Do those carry into this year? Why

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are you going to take a little bit of a

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step back in the regular season and how much does

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that matter? And that goes to the second story I'm tracking,

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which is the hangover effect. How much of the commitment

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to the roles that we saw last year carries over

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to this year? Is there any relaxing? Is there any fatigue?

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I think that goes hand in hand with the porzingis thing.

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Speaker 2: Because I monopolize so much of what we talk about

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on this podcast, I want to throw it to you first.

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What is the single biggest storyline for this team that

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you're going to be monitoring into and kind of throughout

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this next year.

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Speaker 7: I'll give you one general one, which is just can

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we maintain some good vibes and like positivity over a

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twelve month stretch?

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Speaker 6: Do we think that's impossible?

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Speaker 7: Or do we think whatever ancient burial ground slash affordable

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housing neighborhood Barkley Center was built on top of has

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made that an impossibility for this franchise. So that's number one.

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Speaker 2: The first year of the rebuild is kind of like

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a honeymoon period normally, Yeah, they don't have. I think

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what also would help is they don't I'm thinking on

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the roster right now, Like they don't have anyone that's

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gonna become a malcontent because they're so bad Like Cam Johnson,

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DFS aren't those types of dudes. Ben Simmons doesn't have

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the cash anymore for you to care if that's like

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where he ends up. So I would think that like

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this might be I feel like this is gonna be

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the year of the vibes in Brooklyn. Like I feel

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like the vibes will be good, even though the wins

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will be sparse.

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Speaker 7: Yeah, and it's gonna be like a challenge for guys

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like Camp Thomas and Nick Klaxton to like be like okay,

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like year four, year five, Like you guys are like

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leaders now, you know, like the Vets, you've been here

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for a while, we need you to kind of implement this.

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Speaker 6: Culture under a new coach.

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Speaker 7: So I think it's gonna be cool to see those

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guys try to buy into that role. I mean, Cam

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Johnson and Dorian will talk about it, but they're not

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here for the long haul in all likelihood.

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Speaker 6: And then I said that was kind of general.

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Speaker 7: Specifically, the Thomas contract extension talks are well, I guess

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not extension, but what they're gonna do with him as

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his contract expires. It's gonna become a big story for

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this team. Like for a third year player last year,

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we heard absolutely nothing about a potential extension, Like they

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didn't talk at the end of last year, they didn't

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talk in the summer. You know, they still have a

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couple more months to get it done, but it seems

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like both sides like, no, they're gonna wait until the

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end of next season to negotiate. So I would say specifically,

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that is what is going to emerge as a storyline

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for this team.

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Speaker 2: I have a ton of my own questions and there's

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a chance to answer to this steps on the toes

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of those, which is that's the point that would be

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in lockstep. But what is your aside from the stuff

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you've just mentioned, what is the biggest storyline that you're

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monitoring with this team heading into twenty four to twenty five?

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Speaker 8: How many games does LaMelo Ball play? Like It's it's

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that simple. If LaMelo Ball plays fifty to seventy five games,

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this team is winning at minimum like you can put

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your money on the over, which I believe is twenty

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nine point five right now. So you're telling so at

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this point, if you tell me he's playing fifty to

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seventy five games, then this team is going to win

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thirty games or more. If Mark Williams, who has not

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played more than forty games, play like it's it's all

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about health.

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Speaker 2: This is wild that those two have played. I know

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Mark Owen has been the league for two years. They

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played forty games together. That's not even a half season.

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Speaker 8: That's exactly think about it like this, Mark Williams probably

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hasn't had a full offseason weight training program with the

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Charlotte and like as a pro because last year he

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got hurt because of his thumb, and you know, you

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can't really do any lifting on it with a bad thumb.

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Like that, you're talking about a dude that might be

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slightly underdeveloped. But like, if those two play fifty games,

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I think this team is going to be better than

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people think.

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Speaker 5: I don't.

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Speaker 8: I'm not saying sure playoff thing. I'm not saying they're

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Cleveland from a few years ago. But what I am

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saying is this team has been hindered a lot by health,

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and I do think that if they do get healthy,

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a lot of things are going to fix itself. And

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the vision that Mitch Cupcheck had but didn't have the

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finances to really pull off, I think that will be

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actualized at this point.

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Speaker 2: So where are you kind of at? You mentioned the

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defensive stuff, but where are you kind of at with

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LaMelo Ball? I think before his injury, finishing still not great,

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but like he got to the rim, like the driving

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part of his game had increased. He avers like nineteen

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drives for thirty six minutes last year, which is wild.

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But like, what else are you looking forward to see

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from him? Or just like do you see him maybe

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improving his own shot selection in the ecosystem of a

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team that has more of a direction, more of a

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I guess, like an actual ecosystem or pecking order, a

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hierarchy or talent around him in place.

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Speaker 8: Like basically, the thing is, Charles Lee is not the

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substitute teacher. There were times that you could tell that

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LaMelo Ball and others treated Steve Clifford as the substitute

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teacher in that in that locker room, and he tried

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to get the attention to everybody. He couldn't, and he

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lost the locker room clearly towards the end, because you

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would hear a whole bunch of different things from Steve Clifford.

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I expect LaMelo ball to be better in all facets.

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In all facets, I expect there to be a competent

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defender at some point. I expect the shot selection to

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get better. I expect a whole like I expect the

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drives to get better. Quite honestly, like I think there

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is going to be improvement. The question is how healthy

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is he actually going to be, because if he's not healthy,

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all of this is moot, and this team is probably

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hovering around twenty five, twenty seven, maybe even twenty nine wins.

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Speaker 2: What did you make? And I'm sure you saw it.

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Of there was this national discourse for a while. It

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did kind of peter out that maybe the Hornet should

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consider trading LaMelo so that they can reorient around Brandon Miller.

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And I want to put this Friennie Hornets fans listening

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and saying, oh, here we go to the national NBA podcast,

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bring up Amelo trade stuff that doesn't exist. I did

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not ascribe to that idea. I don't actually even understand

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the genesis of it, because I don't see redundancies in

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these players really at all. I think that they can

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compliment each other quite nicely. So the fact that that

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cropped up, like did you make anything of it? Like

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what I just I found it fascinating that it was

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even a discussion.

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Speaker 8: I guess I'm not surprised it's a discussion. This is

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the same thing that we do. Like Unfortunately, the national

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media does this with a lot of the smaller, smaller

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max level guys. At the same point, I think it's

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maybe a year eighteen months too soon to start entertaining that.

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I think there's got to be a lot more stuff.

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And despite the fact that you do hear rumblings on

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occasion that everyone, like the Hornets, are wanting to get

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out of the LaMelo LaMelo ball business. I put it

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this way, I I wouldn't make any sort of intimations

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that he's done or they're gonna trade him, because it

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doesn't make sense at this point. He is your draw card.

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Speaker 5: Now.

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Speaker 8: Granted, Brandon Miller's come about and made it kind of interesting,

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but at the same point, we're talking about a guy

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when healthy that was a twenty point again, of twenty

301
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point per game score and made things easy for quite

302
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literally everybody on the floor that he was with and.

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Speaker 2: With seven point guard like I just like, those do

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not they do not grow on trees.

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Speaker 8: You don't exactly, you don't trade that unless you absolutely

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have to, or he basically says, yo, I'm not playing

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for you anymore. And by the way, you can't really

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do that anymore because the new CBA basically makes that

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virtually impossible unless you're willing to sacrifice millions and millions

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of dollars. So, unless they're unless both sides really won out,

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I don't see the point in having this discussion unless

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and I put this like, unless they start, unless they

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win fifteen games, they win fifteen to twenty games, again,

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maybe it becomes a conversation. Even then, most likely he's

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hurt and you're trading him for quite literally pennies on

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the dollar.

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Speaker 2: That's the That's the thing is that when you're outlining

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the fifteen win scenario, it's probably because LaMelo isn't playing,

319
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and at that point his trade value is then nuked

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because he was injured again exactly.

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Speaker 8: And remember this is the first year of his extension,

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So that's a forty million dollar contract that someone's gonna

323
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have to eat and be willing to eat and be

324
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willing to rehab a whole lot of stuff. The biggest thing,

325
00:16:36,519 --> 00:16:40,039
like the ankle bracest thing was my biggest complaint about

326
00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:44,600
LaMelo Ball. That's gone now Like he again, it's clear

327
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he's got the ankle bracest. It's clear he trusts this

328
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medical staff. So now there's going to be more of

329
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an attention on being a professional. He does that, He's

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untradable at this point because again, he takes care of

331
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his body, comes a professional. He's wearing the ankle braces,

332
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he's doing all this stuff. He's going like he's gonna

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play fifty games if that at minimum. If he does that,

334
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and if he plays at minimum fifty games, he plays

335
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sixty games, he plays sixty five, we may see the

336
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return of All Star LaMelo Ball if that happens.

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Speaker 2: If he plays, if he hits the games threshold played threshold,

338
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I firmly believe I tend to be higher on him

339
00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:26,680
than consensus. Like we're talking about an All NBA caliber

340
00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:28,920
player here. I wouldn't guarantee it, but if he plays

341
00:17:28,920 --> 00:17:31,559
in sixty five plus games, my guess is he will

342
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be in the conversation, even if it's on the periphery.

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And that is an incredibly difficult player to find.

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Speaker 8: Exactly, Like that's you don't trade those guys unless unless

345
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you're getting quite quite literally the Paul George package, Like

346
00:17:45,599 --> 00:17:48,079
that's what you get, Like that's what you trade him for.

347
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And there's no team that really has that outside of

348
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Utah and maybe okay, okay, see, yeah that really has

349
00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:57,720
it and okay, see doesn't need that guy.

350
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Speaker 2: So you look at this team, then what is the

351
00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:05,799
storyline or whatever that you're going to be following, the

352
00:18:05,799 --> 00:18:08,400
biggest story that you're gonna following most closely throughout the season.

353
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Speaker 9: It's a good question. I mean, I think that people

354
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will be tracking the draft pick. That's gonna be a

355
00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,400
big one. Like if you're like you're you're I mean,

356
00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,880
they're rebuilding. They want to say, oh, they're not like rebuilding, rebuilding,

357
00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,440
You're rebuilding like Damar's gone, You're trying to drade zec Lavine,

358
00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:22,559
You're trying to get rid of the Kolvu switch, even

359
00:18:22,559 --> 00:18:25,000
though they're still here, Like they clearly don't want Zach

360
00:18:25,039 --> 00:18:26,440
doesn't want to be here. He doesn't want it to

361
00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,279
be for a long time. Buch's thirty four, he's on

362
00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:30,880
the decline, Like those guys are gonna be on their

363
00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,799
way out too, like the rebuilding, so like losing the

364
00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,880
pick this year would be really hard to swallow, Like

365
00:18:36,920 --> 00:18:39,759
the only way that that would be good is so

366
00:18:39,799 --> 00:18:41,440
I guess this kind of plays into the other story,

367
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like are there the young guys they do have? Like

368
00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,680
are they gonna take a big leap? Is like Josh

369
00:18:46,759 --> 00:18:48,920
Giddy gonna they're gonna make in the starting point guard?

370
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Like is he gonna find his game again? Is Patrick

371
00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,519
William's gonna take the much awaited leap? Is Kobe White

372
00:18:54,519 --> 00:18:57,759
gonna take another step forward after finishing second and most

373
00:18:57,799 --> 00:19:01,440
Improved Player voting sumo? Another good young player? Like are

374
00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:03,359
those guys gonna step forward? And like can they make

375
00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:05,440
the bulls? Would they make the bulls good enough to

376
00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,759
lose that pig? Like if that happen, like you could

377
00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:10,359
maybe stomach like them if they were good enough to

378
00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:12,359
finish outside the top ten?

379
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Speaker 5: Uh maybe?

380
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Speaker 9: And then I I mean, of course, like the vuchin

381
00:19:16,599 --> 00:19:18,480
Zac stuff will be something to follow all year two.

382
00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:21,240
Zach again, we'll talk about those situations individually in a bit,

383
00:19:21,279 --> 00:19:25,480
But yeah, pick, keeping the pick while developing young guys

384
00:19:25,559 --> 00:19:27,720
is basically story of the season for me.

385
00:19:29,559 --> 00:19:32,240
Speaker 2: Before we get into more of the granular aspects of

386
00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,920
this team its upcoming season, what is the biggest single

387
00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,920
development storyline whatever that you're just looking at or going

388
00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,000
to be monitoring, not just heading into next season, but

389
00:19:41,079 --> 00:19:41,880
over the course of it.

390
00:19:42,799 --> 00:19:45,640
Speaker 10: You know, you bring on someone that covers the calves

391
00:19:45,680 --> 00:19:47,480
all the time so they don't give the same answers

392
00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,319
that the national folks are going to do. But I

393
00:19:49,359 --> 00:19:51,759
think I've got to go default here and say the

394
00:19:51,759 --> 00:19:55,319
growth of Evan Mobley, I flat out think when you

395
00:19:55,319 --> 00:19:58,960
are building an offense around two smaller guards, you need

396
00:19:59,039 --> 00:20:01,240
to have a front court initiator for it to work,

397
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:03,559
right Like we saw that with Toronto when they won

398
00:20:03,599 --> 00:20:06,200
the championship with with Fred Van Vlieta and Kyle Lowry

399
00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,440
playing major minutes together. You had that with Marc Gasol right,

400
00:20:10,599 --> 00:20:12,400
and Kawhi Leonard was able to do some of that.

401
00:20:12,839 --> 00:20:16,000
You need to have a front court initiator to alleviate

402
00:20:16,039 --> 00:20:19,559
the pressure and allow those guards to not have to

403
00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,960
face you know, the traps and the craft that the

404
00:20:22,119 --> 00:20:26,519
defenses can throw at them, So Evan Mobley developing as

405
00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:29,279
a secondary initiator for the offense and being that at

406
00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:33,640
least valve and allowing Donovan and Darius to get easier

407
00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,480
looks off ball at times. I think that is what

408
00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,240
helps make their offense more multifaceted and gives them a

409
00:20:40,319 --> 00:20:44,119
chance to compete against the Boston's, New York, Philly, Milwaukee's

410
00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:47,359
of the world, because you know, the thing about them

411
00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,519
in the playoffs is their defense is held up. Their

412
00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:55,279
defense well, actually their offense and defense was better against

413
00:20:55,319 --> 00:21:00,160
Boston than Dallas's. Was their defense with both guards and

414
00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,000
only one big has been elite in the regular season

415
00:21:03,039 --> 00:21:05,319
in the playoffs, right Like, so often people say you

416
00:21:05,319 --> 00:21:07,599
need to have Jared Allen and Evan Mobley to make

417
00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:11,279
Donovan and Darius work defensively. No, No, it worked really,

418
00:21:11,319 --> 00:21:14,240
really damn well with both guards and just one of

419
00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,359
the bigs. Even in the playoffs. They outscored Boston with

420
00:21:17,519 --> 00:21:21,240
Darius and Donovan and Mobley on the court for the

421
00:21:21,279 --> 00:21:26,480
playoff series. Right Like, the thing that hasn't translated, whether

422
00:21:26,519 --> 00:21:28,640
it's one big, whether it's two bigs, whether it's two guards,

423
00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:31,240
whether it's one guard, the offense has not translated to

424
00:21:31,279 --> 00:21:34,240
the playoffs, And I think getting mobiley to the point

425
00:21:34,279 --> 00:21:37,000
where he can help be that front court initiated of

426
00:21:37,039 --> 00:21:40,400
the offense gives them the best chance to make what's

427
00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:43,920
worked well in the regular season at times to something

428
00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,400
that can be viable in the playoffs and give them

429
00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,240
a chance to compete.

430
00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:52,400
Speaker 2: Now does what needs to be done on Mobley's part?

431
00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,079
And I do think this eventually ties on the question

432
00:21:54,079 --> 00:21:55,960
of where you're at with the dual big setup for

433
00:21:56,079 --> 00:21:58,880
him to reach that level. I think the obvious low

434
00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:00,200
hanging through we saw a little bit of it when

435
00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:02,359
he came back from injury is taking three pointers. He

436
00:22:02,359 --> 00:22:04,359
was almost a two a game from there. Hit on

437
00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:06,839
a nice clip didn't necessarily hold up in the playoffs,

438
00:22:06,839 --> 00:22:09,240
But like to do what you're asking him to do.

439
00:22:09,279 --> 00:22:11,480
It seems like one there needs to be more space

440
00:22:11,559 --> 00:22:13,200
and he's going to be part of generating that space.

441
00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:14,920
But too there's gonna need to be other things like

442
00:22:15,200 --> 00:22:17,119
can he tighten up his handle and not just in

443
00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:19,640
space but in traffic. But if you're looking at that

444
00:22:19,759 --> 00:22:22,759
role or for him to actualize that ceiling, what's the

445
00:22:22,759 --> 00:22:24,839
one thing that you'll be monitoring them most closely? About

446
00:22:24,839 --> 00:22:27,160
his development, like to make that happen to him to

447
00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:28,000
fulfill that role.

448
00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,519
Speaker 10: Yeah, I mean, if I can pick one thing, it's

449
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,400
it would be the handle, Like I want the handle

450
00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:36,440
to improve because I think that would help, you know,

451
00:22:36,799 --> 00:22:39,880
him be a more consistent initiator of the offense. I

452
00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:42,960
think that would help him be a threat and be

453
00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:46,799
able to put rim pressure on. My favorite stat is

454
00:22:46,799 --> 00:22:49,599
Evan Mobley last year, despite missing you know, a good

455
00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,880
chunk of the season with that surgery, he made more

456
00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,559
threes last season than bam Anna Bios made in his

457
00:22:55,640 --> 00:23:00,119
career and Zion Williams Williamson has made in their careers.

458
00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,279
Like they don't get talked about in that way, right,

459
00:23:02,319 --> 00:23:04,440
Like Bam, you know he hit some three with a

460
00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,359
shorter line in feb competition and it's, oh my god,

461
00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:09,799
is this is the year stretch five Bam? Right, And

462
00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:12,839
we're we're putting kelll Way or here to to to

463
00:23:12,839 --> 00:23:15,200
play the five and BAM's moving over to the four, right,

464
00:23:16,039 --> 00:23:20,559
Like he's what four years five years older than Evan

465
00:23:20,559 --> 00:23:23,599
Mobley and Mobiley's made more threes last season than Bam

466
00:23:23,599 --> 00:23:25,640
has in his career. Like I would like to see

467
00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:28,079
the volume go up right, you shot thirty seven percent

468
00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,000
last year. I'd like to see that tick up to

469
00:23:30,039 --> 00:23:32,880
three three attempts per game. I think that's where I

470
00:23:32,920 --> 00:23:34,880
would feel comfortable, But I don't. I don't want to

471
00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,559
see him taking more than that. What I want to

472
00:23:37,559 --> 00:23:39,759
see is him, you know, being able to put that

473
00:23:39,839 --> 00:23:42,279
room pressure on, being able to handle the ball, bringing

474
00:23:42,359 --> 00:23:44,920
it up in transition and helping them up their pace.

475
00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:47,559
Like that's the kind of stuff that can help unstick

476
00:23:47,599 --> 00:23:52,440
the offense. And it like you don't hear Pelicans folks

477
00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:56,839
talk about, well, like we need, you know, a stretch

478
00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:00,200
five to work around Zion, right, because we have Herb

479
00:24:00,279 --> 00:24:02,519
Jones out there who shoots like Isaac O Korro and

480
00:24:02,519 --> 00:24:05,240
gets ignored at the exact same rate. And you know,

481
00:24:05,279 --> 00:24:07,880
we we have Jonis who take one three a game,

482
00:24:08,160 --> 00:24:10,559
although he's gone to Washington, Like you don't hear that.

483
00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:13,160
But you don't hear that because Zion is able to

484
00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:17,119
negate that spacing issue by his ability to create. So

485
00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,079
I think I want to see that from Evan Mobley

486
00:24:19,079 --> 00:24:22,039
more than anything else. And like, if I could, you know,

487
00:24:22,160 --> 00:24:24,599
gift him with the one skill or one thing from

488
00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,119
you know, the summer workout videos to have translated. It's

489
00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:27,720
definitely that.

490
00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,680
Speaker 2: I also wonder too with those two specifically, I actually

491
00:24:31,759 --> 00:24:33,599
do think Pelican's fan well, I guess they want any

492
00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:34,960
sort of five on the team right now. But I

493
00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:36,880
do think that there was kind of a yeah they did.

494
00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:38,720
Speaker 10: There was kind of when well, Carter JUNI you're not

495
00:24:38,759 --> 00:24:39,039
on there.

496
00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,160
Speaker 2: Sorry to get sidetracked, but with Zion and Bam, it's

497
00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:45,839
they can score as a play finisher in such like

498
00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,000
a physical way. That and even Zion on the ball,

499
00:24:49,039 --> 00:24:50,839
like he's not your traditional big And I wonder if

500
00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,240
Evan Mobley I think he's gotten better at that, but

501
00:24:53,279 --> 00:24:55,119
like that was also a concern is about how he's

502
00:24:55,119 --> 00:24:57,400
going to deal with contact and physicality. So even if

503
00:24:57,440 --> 00:24:59,599
he as a play finisher felt like more of a

504
00:24:59,599 --> 00:25:02,720
physical presence, I wonder if the discourse around him would

505
00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,680
be different. I also think he probably just set like

506
00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:08,480
the bar too high for himself where he was my

507
00:25:08,519 --> 00:25:11,119
Defensive Player of the Year pick, not this past season obviously,

508
00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:13,480
but the one before, and then just he sets the

509
00:25:13,519 --> 00:25:16,759
bar so high through his first like year, and then

510
00:25:16,759 --> 00:25:19,559
the Cavs are quote unquote honest accelerated timeline because of

511
00:25:19,599 --> 00:25:22,079
the Donovan Mitchell trade. I do wonder how that's also

512
00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:23,720
impacted how people view him.

513
00:25:23,559 --> 00:25:27,440
Speaker 10: To Yeah, and you know, to give him some credit too.

514
00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,000
I think they're on an accelerated timeline because of Evan Mobley, right,

515
00:25:30,039 --> 00:25:33,480
Like they were a lottery team and drafting Evan Mobley

516
00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,279
immediately made them a elite defense, right And once you

517
00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:39,960
have that end of the floor figured out, you can

518
00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,640
make a move for Donovan Mitchell right like. So, I

519
00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:46,720
think you know, his growth has kind of helped accelerate

520
00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,200
that timeline as well. So, but he's definitely a victim

521
00:25:49,240 --> 00:25:51,720
of that to some extent. But you look at it

522
00:25:51,759 --> 00:25:55,880
from a per thirty six possession kind of standpoint. His

523
00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:58,640
averaging career highs and everything, right, like his minutes came

524
00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:01,160
down just when he was on minute retires, but like points,

525
00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:04,799
field goal percentage, three point percentage, you know, defensive metrics,

526
00:26:04,839 --> 00:26:08,400
all that kind of stuff. Efficiency, It was all career highs.

527
00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:13,079
I just think, you know, he's just got around out

528
00:26:13,079 --> 00:26:16,480
his game and do things that he's already shown at

529
00:26:16,480 --> 00:26:20,200
a higher frequency, right, Like he shot better from mid

530
00:26:20,279 --> 00:26:21,880
range last year. I think that's one of the big

531
00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:24,960
differentiations between he and bam Is. Bam Is that kind

532
00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:27,039
of credible threat to shoot from the free throw line

533
00:26:27,039 --> 00:26:29,359
at all times. You can run an offense and have

534
00:26:29,559 --> 00:26:32,160
him as that hub at, you know, at the nail,

535
00:26:32,839 --> 00:26:35,599
and you have to respect his jumper from that spot.

536
00:26:35,599 --> 00:26:38,000
If Mobiley can do that, I think that opens up

537
00:26:38,240 --> 00:26:40,960
a wide variety of options, and it makes easier to

538
00:26:41,079 --> 00:26:43,680
have Alan in the dunker spot and run some actions

539
00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,920
with the guards and whatnot. So I think what he

540
00:26:48,039 --> 00:26:51,640
needs to do isn't something that he's never shown right,

541
00:26:51,720 --> 00:26:54,440
like he's shown in sports. He'll hit those shots, you know,

542
00:26:55,039 --> 00:26:56,920
I forget which team he hit the game winning mid

543
00:26:57,000 --> 00:26:59,839
range shot against it. He's hit some big threes coming

544
00:26:59,839 --> 00:27:02,039
down in the clutch in the fourth quarter and stuff

545
00:27:02,079 --> 00:27:05,839
like that. He's just got to do it consistently and

546
00:27:05,920 --> 00:27:06,880
at a higher volume.

547
00:27:07,839 --> 00:27:10,400
Speaker 2: The I guess the two concerns I would have though,

548
00:27:10,759 --> 00:27:14,880
is so Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland can play fantastic. They

549
00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:16,920
work off the ball like defense need to respect them.

550
00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:18,839
But we also kind of you know, you've talked about

551
00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:21,039
it a couple of times about the concern about moving

552
00:27:21,119 --> 00:27:22,880
Darius Garland off the ball too much to where it

553
00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:26,160
sort of disinvolves him. And so is the opportunity going

554
00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:30,079
to be there for Evan Mobley to explore like the

555
00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:33,759
depths of like getting to that point with like him

556
00:27:33,799 --> 00:27:36,000
as an individual ceiling of course, but then also if

557
00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,720
you're trying to maximize his time alongside Jared Allen, like

558
00:27:38,759 --> 00:27:40,599
is there going to be sort of enough reps to

559
00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:42,640
go around there to It's not a matter of Donovan.

560
00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:44,279
I want to make clear anyone listening. It's not a

561
00:27:44,359 --> 00:27:46,759
matter of Dominovan Mitchell, Darius Garland can't. It's how much

562
00:27:46,799 --> 00:27:48,640
do you want to invest in moving them away from

563
00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,799
the ball to kind of help facilitate the optimal version

564
00:27:51,839 --> 00:27:52,480
of Evan Mobley.

565
00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,960
Speaker 10: Yeah, I think that's a really good question. And you know,

566
00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:57,720
you also have the factor in the growth that Jared

567
00:27:57,759 --> 00:27:59,640
Allen showed last year, right, like I thought, you know,

568
00:27:59,759 --> 00:28:02,839
it is the best season of his career, and he

569
00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:05,319
was passing like really well the short role and he

570
00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:07,680
was someone that you could initiate offense through at times.

571
00:28:08,039 --> 00:28:10,559
Like you know, it's it's a good problem to have,

572
00:28:10,599 --> 00:28:12,440
but it is a problem to have at times. And

573
00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:16,279
you know, I think what he's going to need to

574
00:28:16,319 --> 00:28:18,880
do within that starting lineup is going to be different

575
00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:20,559
than you know, over the course of the game. Like

576
00:28:20,599 --> 00:28:23,480
I think, if he's taking three threes a game, I

577
00:28:23,559 --> 00:28:25,799
want those threes to occur when Jared Allen is on

578
00:28:25,839 --> 00:28:28,119
the court, right, Like, when Jared Allen is not on

579
00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:30,599
the court, I want to see, you know, let's run

580
00:28:30,599 --> 00:28:34,359
some more offense through him, right Like I think, you know, historically,

581
00:28:34,400 --> 00:28:36,720
the funny thing to look at is when you look

582
00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:40,839
at the two years worth of lineup data, Evan Mobley

583
00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:43,759
and Donovan Mitchell as a pairing without Garland and Allen

584
00:28:44,039 --> 00:28:47,680
does not work. Their net rating is you know, about

585
00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:50,200
where the Brooklyn nets were last season. But him and

586
00:28:50,279 --> 00:28:55,359
Darius work incredibly well. Donovan and Jared work incredibly well.

587
00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:59,359
Darius and Jared did not work really well. So I

588
00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:03,720
think that's a really interesting dynamic. But ultimately, like those

589
00:29:03,759 --> 00:29:07,079
guys will play eighteen minutes together per game, that's typically

590
00:29:07,079 --> 00:29:09,319
where you're at. You do still have kind of thirty

591
00:29:09,319 --> 00:29:11,240
minutes to explore the space where it's going to be

592
00:29:11,279 --> 00:29:14,599
one garden, it's going to be one big out there.

593
00:29:16,160 --> 00:29:18,880
It will be interesting to see though, what happens in

594
00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,200
in closing minutes, right And you know, maybe this is

595
00:29:22,200 --> 00:29:25,119
one of the benefits of having Jared on a value contract, right,

596
00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,839
Like that deal apparently is supposed to be like fifteen

597
00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:31,720
sixteen percent of the cap once those cap numbers come in,

598
00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,480
like fifteen sixteen percent, Like we're talking about max drus

599
00:29:34,559 --> 00:29:37,319
money like R in terms of you know, percentage of

600
00:29:37,359 --> 00:29:39,519
the cap. If you need to play them twenty eight

601
00:29:39,519 --> 00:29:41,839
minutes in a game rather than you know, thirty four,

602
00:29:42,759 --> 00:29:46,359
that is something that you can do and like you're

603
00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,400
not kind of handcuffed to make those decisions. But I

604
00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:52,680
think if we want to look at the best version

605
00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,559
of what this CA's roster can be, it's maximizing those

606
00:29:55,599 --> 00:29:57,559
minutes when you know all four of them are out

607
00:29:57,559 --> 00:29:59,559
there together twenty two to twenty three.

608
00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:00,440
Speaker 4: They did that.

609
00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:03,680
Speaker 10: They were tremendous. You look at the last forty one

610
00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,160
games of that season and Darius was getting twenty two

611
00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,880
and eight, Mobiley was getting his eighteen and ten, Jared

612
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:11,279
was getting his fifteen and ten, Donovan was getting his

613
00:30:11,519 --> 00:30:14,240
like twenty eight and four whatever he was getting. Right, Like,

614
00:30:14,599 --> 00:30:16,359
all four of them were eating and they were playing

615
00:30:16,359 --> 00:30:20,160
well alongside in one another. But I think making it

616
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:23,079
so that there's the buy into the system that the

617
00:30:23,559 --> 00:30:27,079
minutes together are maximized, the minutes of hard are maximized

618
00:30:27,359 --> 00:30:30,640
where it's not, as you know Stark of Okay, well,

619
00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:33,119
what are these pairings like figuring out how to make

620
00:30:33,160 --> 00:30:36,039
Donovan and MOBILEI work, figuring out how to get you know,

621
00:30:36,160 --> 00:30:39,400
Darius and j back on the same page like they

622
00:30:39,599 --> 00:30:42,359
were in the All Star season. Like, I think all

623
00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:44,960
of that stuff is going to be kind of one

624
00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:47,319
of those interesting things to track with his coaching staff.

625
00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,680
Speaker 2: My final concern with it would be that there's a

626
00:30:50,799 --> 00:30:53,079
chance Evan Mobley does all these things and the Cavs

627
00:30:53,079 --> 00:30:56,519
play it perfectly to some extent, may not matter because

628
00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:58,799
I'm not comparing him to this player, but we saw

629
00:30:58,799 --> 00:31:01,480
it in Okasee and Josh Giddy was actually taking and

630
00:31:01,559 --> 00:31:04,599
hitting threes, and defenses still didn't care because it was

631
00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:06,640
never enough at a clip, so it was still a

632
00:31:06,759 --> 00:31:08,960
It still made okayc thunder when he was on the

633
00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:11,200
floor with some of these other guys a lot easier

634
00:31:11,200 --> 00:31:13,279
to defend, and so I'm gonna be very interested to

635
00:31:13,319 --> 00:31:16,359
track that dynamic. But my own answer to my own

636
00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,000
concern has been you mentioned that first season they had

637
00:31:19,079 --> 00:31:21,400
they were in the ninety six percentile of offensive efficiency

638
00:31:21,400 --> 00:31:23,039
with all four of those guys on the court, and

639
00:31:23,079 --> 00:31:25,920
I think three of their most their three top used

640
00:31:25,960 --> 00:31:28,480
lineups all included a fifth member of the rotation that

641
00:31:28,559 --> 00:31:30,799
was a below average shooter you would call them. It

642
00:31:30,799 --> 00:31:33,480
was Icho Kuro at the time, Carris Lavert. I think

643
00:31:33,640 --> 00:31:35,680
that might have been the Lamar steven Gie. I can't remember.

644
00:31:35,799 --> 00:31:37,799
Speaker 10: Yeah, So that Lamar was the only one that it

645
00:31:37,799 --> 00:31:38,400
didn't work, I.

646
00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:41,359
Speaker 2: Believe, And so like that's what I continue to let

647
00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:43,640
Johntres like, Okay, well, even if it's like like if

648
00:31:43,640 --> 00:31:46,039
Evan Mobley, if that version Ember Mobley's hitting threes and defenses,

649
00:31:46,079 --> 00:31:47,720
they're gonna have to respect him a little bit more

650
00:31:47,720 --> 00:31:48,880
so they can play off and say, you know what,

651
00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:50,839
we're fine with his three attempts per game and he

652
00:31:50,880 --> 00:31:52,200
can make two of them and we're just not going

653
00:31:52,279 --> 00:31:54,599
to care every time. But I point back to that

654
00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:57,480
season where we just had this extended sample, I would

655
00:31:57,559 --> 00:32:01,079
call it at full strength. It was worse circumstances when

656
00:32:01,119 --> 00:32:03,799
you look at the supporting cast. So I almost don't

657
00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:07,200
understand how this isn't going to work now if everybody's healthy.

658
00:32:07,319 --> 00:32:09,680
So it's like I'm concerned, Like I have concerns, but

659
00:32:09,720 --> 00:32:11,839
I'm like, well, just let's go look at the first season,

660
00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:14,359
they had less experience and less talent like together, I

661
00:32:14,440 --> 00:32:16,000
just so that's that's where I'm at.

662
00:32:16,519 --> 00:32:18,960
Speaker 10: And that goes back to what I said before about

663
00:32:19,119 --> 00:32:22,160
if you're wanting to build a contending team without a

664
00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,519
consensus top ten player, where it's just inarguable that you

665
00:32:25,599 --> 00:32:30,359
had this superstar Lebron James level talent, you don't bridge

666
00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:34,160
that gap by trading all star level talent for role

667
00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:36,799
players that just you know, fit an archetype, you know,

668
00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:39,039
like a big wing. Like let's move Jared Allen for

669
00:32:39,160 --> 00:32:42,519
Cam Johnson. Okay, well, like now you have a big wing,

670
00:32:42,599 --> 00:32:45,359
but like you're getting worse from a talent perspective, right

671
00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:48,680
Like or you know, as much as I love Brian Windhors,

672
00:32:48,799 --> 00:32:51,000
like the fact that he is so adamant that Donn

673
00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:52,960
and Mitchell can be the only ball handler on the

674
00:32:53,000 --> 00:32:55,359
team and we got to run a helio centric offense

675
00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:58,000
with spot up guys and one big around Donald Mitchell.

676
00:32:58,039 --> 00:33:01,440
Like that never works. Like Dallas learned that lesson and

677
00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:05,519
got Kyrie for Luca, right, Like you know, like that

678
00:33:05,839 --> 00:33:09,279
like Donovan Mitchell playing Russell Westbrook Martyr ball is not

679
00:33:09,319 --> 00:33:11,920
going to bridge the gap, right, like this is not

680
00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:14,680
what needs to be done here, or like we have

681
00:33:14,759 --> 00:33:17,079
to get all star level talent. We need to maximize

682
00:33:17,079 --> 00:33:19,079
all of this talent. I don't think Donovan's as good

683
00:33:19,079 --> 00:33:21,240
of a playmaker as Russ was, and it didn't work

684
00:33:21,279 --> 00:33:25,559
with Russ, right, Like U, I share some of your concerns.

685
00:33:25,559 --> 00:33:28,119
For for sure, I think if Mobley is, you know,

686
00:33:28,279 --> 00:33:30,400
taking three threes a game at the same percent you

687
00:33:30,440 --> 00:33:32,799
did last year, you know, thirty seven percent, I agree

688
00:33:32,799 --> 00:33:35,079
with you. I don't think people are like sprinting out

689
00:33:35,079 --> 00:33:37,680
to the three point line to go guard him, But

690
00:33:38,359 --> 00:33:40,759
I think him being a viable threat there is at

691
00:33:40,839 --> 00:33:43,599
least important because if he's out there and he gets

692
00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:46,680
the ball and you're completely sagging off of him, all right,

693
00:33:46,759 --> 00:33:48,720
I'm just going to do a little dribble hand off

694
00:33:48,759 --> 00:33:51,119
to to you know, Garland or Mitchell. I'm going to

695
00:33:51,160 --> 00:33:53,400
take this shot myself and I'll convert some of these.

696
00:33:54,039 --> 00:33:56,480
But I think that the handle, that's where it becomes

697
00:33:56,519 --> 00:34:00,000
so important, because if you're giving a seven foot or

698
00:34:00,039 --> 00:34:03,720
or that's you know, added strength that finishes well historically

699
00:34:03,759 --> 00:34:06,839
around the rim, that has a good floater, good touch

700
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:10,039
from you know, that mid range. If you're giving him

701
00:34:10,079 --> 00:34:13,199
a head start and you're flat footed at defender sitting

702
00:34:13,199 --> 00:34:15,480
in the paint, you are going to get exposed.

703
00:34:15,519 --> 00:34:15,920
Speaker 11: You are not.

704
00:34:16,239 --> 00:34:18,760
Speaker 10: You know, that's why people come out at Yannest. They

705
00:34:18,760 --> 00:34:21,079
don't want to give him that running start, even though

706
00:34:21,119 --> 00:34:23,599
he can't shoot from three right. So that's why I

707
00:34:23,639 --> 00:34:26,719
think that that is so important. And you know, I

708
00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:31,920
think guys that shoot well but at a low volume,

709
00:34:32,119 --> 00:34:34,599
I think that's more of a concern at the perimeter

710
00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:38,440
than it is for a power forward or a center right. Like,

711
00:34:38,639 --> 00:34:40,960
I think that's just a different equation, and that's where

712
00:34:41,000 --> 00:34:43,039
we run into someone like Isaac o Koro, who shot

713
00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:46,599
thirty nine percent from three, but because the volume isn't there,

714
00:34:46,920 --> 00:34:49,079
guys are going to leave him wide open. I think

715
00:34:49,280 --> 00:34:52,400
he took two threes with the defender within six feet

716
00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:54,519
last year. And you know, to go back to the

717
00:34:54,519 --> 00:34:57,159
Pelicans example, exact same thing happened to Herb Jones. I

718
00:34:57,159 --> 00:34:59,719
think he shot forty percent but did not have a

719
00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:03,239
sing contested three in the playoffs because people are like, well,

720
00:35:03,559 --> 00:35:05,639
if you're going to shoot forty percent but you're taking three,

721
00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:07,920
three is like worst case scenario hit one or two

722
00:35:07,960 --> 00:35:10,800
here like we can live with that in order to

723
00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:14,639
pack the pain and take away you know, more consistent

724
00:35:14,760 --> 00:35:16,480
threats like a Zion Williamson.

725
00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:19,360
Speaker 2: I think it's interesting, I would say definitely when he's

726
00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:20,800
at the five like, I don't think it matters. I

727
00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:22,679
still think we're at the point where with it's from

728
00:35:22,719 --> 00:35:24,440
the four spot. I still think you could see some

729
00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:25,639
of the like similar ill.

730
00:35:25,559 --> 00:35:28,039
Speaker 10: Effects there of that, Oh for sure, for sure. I

731
00:35:28,400 --> 00:35:30,920
just think you know, you can mitigate some of that

732
00:35:31,079 --> 00:35:33,599
by by improving the handle. It would be my argument.

733
00:35:33,719 --> 00:35:37,320
Speaker 2: But when you look at someone like Klay Thompson, what

734
00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:38,880
do you make of his overall fit, Like do you

735
00:35:38,880 --> 00:35:40,599
think this signals maybe a shift of what some of

736
00:35:40,639 --> 00:35:42,880
the stuff the MAVs are going to do offensively? Do

737
00:35:42,920 --> 00:35:44,760
you even do at least trust that he'll buy into

738
00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:46,880
a more limited role, Because if you go back to

739
00:35:46,920 --> 00:35:48,360
what was happening in Golden State, like he had a

740
00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:51,000
pretty shitty shot selection towards the end of his time there.

741
00:35:51,039 --> 00:35:53,360
I felt like he was struggling to just adapt to

742
00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:55,320
his new role, the role they wanted him to play.

743
00:35:55,519 --> 00:35:57,719
Is that just easier by virtue of the ball dominance

744
00:35:57,760 --> 00:35:59,400
in Dallas from Luka and Kyrie or just to being

745
00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,400
a new environ Just what do you sort of make

746
00:36:01,440 --> 00:36:03,719
of that fit specifically.

747
00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:06,119
Speaker 12: Well, I think that the Mavericks needed another guy who

748
00:36:06,159 --> 00:36:10,199
could actively dribble. Dante Exum filled the role for parts

749
00:36:10,199 --> 00:36:12,199
of the year, but I just get the sense that

750
00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:15,800
Jason Kidd doesn't trust him. Clay Thompson can handle the

751
00:36:15,800 --> 00:36:18,840
ball and can pass the ball, and you know, there's

752
00:36:19,280 --> 00:36:23,119
Jared Duban of last Night in Basketball put together a

753
00:36:23,119 --> 00:36:26,440
really good compilation of Clay's passing to Golden State bigs.

754
00:36:27,079 --> 00:36:29,360
And with all due respect to Golden State bigs, they're

755
00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:32,280
not Derek c. Lively. So I can't wait to see

756
00:36:32,360 --> 00:36:34,920
him in some pick and roll action and doing some

757
00:36:35,039 --> 00:36:38,039
different things. I think, you know, I think the Mavericks

758
00:36:38,079 --> 00:36:40,239
are trying to do things that will get the ball

759
00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:44,039
out of Luca's hands in different playmaker's hands to where

760
00:36:44,079 --> 00:36:47,000
he just doesn't need to have a thirty six percent

761
00:36:47,079 --> 00:36:48,880
usage rate, to where he can have a thirty two

762
00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:52,559
percent usage rate. And like we're talking like three possessions

763
00:36:52,559 --> 00:36:55,360
a game, We're not talking about that much stuff. But

764
00:36:55,920 --> 00:36:58,800
I think that Clay will find a way to get

765
00:36:58,840 --> 00:37:03,400
his shots. One of the things that is woefully misunderstood

766
00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:06,519
about Luca from people who think he is a ballhog,

767
00:37:07,159 --> 00:37:10,000
don't They don't get that he wants to make the pass.

768
00:37:10,280 --> 00:37:14,920
He loves the highlight pass way more than the circus shot.

769
00:37:15,119 --> 00:37:17,840
And right now, if you're just talking about the Mavericks

770
00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:21,760
in a broad situation of Clay's starting with Kyrie Irving,

771
00:37:22,719 --> 00:37:27,440
PJ Washington, Luka, Doncic, Derek Lively, the guy you have

772
00:37:27,519 --> 00:37:30,519
to sag off on right now is PJ. Washington, who

773
00:37:30,599 --> 00:37:37,719
ended up punishing the Lahoma City Thunder. And so it's

774
00:37:37,760 --> 00:37:40,199
like that's and then they've only added more shooting here.

775
00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:42,519
So it's like on paper, and particularly in a regular

776
00:37:42,639 --> 00:37:45,920
season game where teams aren't really scouting things to the nails,

777
00:37:46,360 --> 00:37:48,639
the Mavericks are gonna have the ability to score the

778
00:37:48,679 --> 00:37:51,239
ball a lot of different ways. And so I think

779
00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,199
Clay's shots will be there. It wouldn't shock me if

780
00:37:54,199 --> 00:37:56,400
he waxes and wanes. I mean, he's played a lot

781
00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:59,400
the last two years. I think the average fan doesn't

782
00:37:59,400 --> 00:38:01,480
really understand that he came back from that two year

783
00:38:01,519 --> 00:38:05,760
break injury break. It ended up playing quite a lot

784
00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:07,920
of basketball. So he'll still play a lot this year.

785
00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:11,239
He'll have his opportunities. I'm a little I'm a little

786
00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:14,000
worried about role stuff, but not because he's going to

787
00:38:14,039 --> 00:38:15,599
be a fourth banana, because I think he kind of

788
00:38:15,599 --> 00:38:19,199
already was. It's more of a how his kid work

789
00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:21,960
with him, because I don't think he responded Klay Thompson

790
00:38:22,079 --> 00:38:25,280
was responding to Kerr anymore, and I'm curious to see

791
00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:26,440
how that will work out.

792
00:38:26,719 --> 00:38:29,519
Speaker 2: I also do think that just being in like a

793
00:38:29,519 --> 00:38:31,320
new environment and having to be the new guy probably

794
00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:33,679
helps him where I've mentioned this before on this podcast anyway,

795
00:38:33,719 --> 00:38:36,400
that seeing Draymond Green and Steph Curry not really shrinking

796
00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:38,760
importance in Golden State. When you came up with those

797
00:38:38,760 --> 00:38:41,039
guys won four titles with those guys, it was probably

798
00:38:41,079 --> 00:38:44,199
just like tougher to stomach and reconcile. So I feel

799
00:38:44,239 --> 00:38:46,079
like it'll be smoother. The one thing I would be

800
00:38:46,119 --> 00:38:48,920
curious though, and this isn't an insult to him. He's older,

801
00:38:49,000 --> 00:38:51,320
he's had those two major injuries. He's just not even

802
00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:53,159
close to what he was defensively, and so if we

803
00:38:53,199 --> 00:38:55,400
assume that he's going to start and at least play

804
00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:58,280
like starter level minutes or close to it, do you

805
00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:00,440
think when he's playing with Kyrie and Luca that maps

806
00:39:00,440 --> 00:39:04,280
have enough defensively to to insulate him and to optimize

807
00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:04,679
that line.

808
00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:09,960
Speaker 12: No, no, okay, And that's where the kind of mad

809
00:39:10,039 --> 00:39:13,079
scientist element of a regular season comes into play, where

810
00:39:13,119 --> 00:39:16,880
we see what kid tries. I think if you you

811
00:39:17,320 --> 00:39:20,159
bank in for both Luca and Kyrie, both of them

812
00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:23,599
missing fifteen games each, I think we'll see a lot

813
00:39:23,639 --> 00:39:26,599
of lineups where Klay Thompson is like the second best

814
00:39:26,599 --> 00:39:30,039
scorer on the floor, which does allow Dallas to play

815
00:39:30,480 --> 00:39:34,199
a Naji Marshall, a Clinton Grimes and really try to

816
00:39:35,320 --> 00:39:40,039
basically patchworks the defense together. I do think they're gonna

817
00:39:40,079 --> 00:39:42,119
have to, you know, they're just gonna have to ask

818
00:39:42,159 --> 00:39:45,880
Clay to guard more. And I'm gonna be curious to

819
00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:49,840
see how you know, he really hasn't shown it the

820
00:39:49,960 --> 00:39:52,679
last two years, but I'm the words rose not very

821
00:39:52,679 --> 00:39:57,800
good and there's elements of for me if the situation

822
00:39:58,000 --> 00:40:01,119
is different, and are the and are the Mavericks able

823
00:40:01,199 --> 00:40:04,719
to cover different things with him schematically? I'm I'm curious,

824
00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,519
Like he's not the he's not the defender that made

825
00:40:07,599 --> 00:40:09,760
him one of the seventy five best players ever, Like

826
00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,599
that's that's something that Mavericks fans are gonna have to

827
00:40:12,599 --> 00:40:14,639
come with. But one thing is true. He's still six

828
00:40:14,679 --> 00:40:17,719
to seven. And if you're putting out a line where

829
00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:20,280
Kyrie is the smallest guy, or even like say you

830
00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:24,559
exchange Kyrie with you know, Grimes for periods like the

831
00:40:24,639 --> 00:40:25,880
Max have a big.

832
00:40:25,599 --> 00:40:27,480
Speaker 2: Team, they're huge.

833
00:40:27,559 --> 00:40:32,039
Speaker 12: There's something to be said just for guys taking up space. Yeah,

834
00:40:32,079 --> 00:40:35,000
you know, it's it's that's not obviously the NBA level defense,

835
00:40:35,039 --> 00:40:38,559
but against you know, the twenty of the thirty NBA teams.

836
00:40:38,599 --> 00:40:40,480
You can sometimes get away with things like that.

837
00:40:40,559 --> 00:40:43,639
Speaker 2: But asking everyone what their biggest storyline is that they're

838
00:40:43,679 --> 00:40:46,239
tracking for the specific team but for the Nuggets. And

839
00:40:46,280 --> 00:40:47,800
I would love it if you have a different like

840
00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:49,559
opinion on this, but we're gonna talk about either way.

841
00:40:49,719 --> 00:40:52,079
Is it just like the development of the three core

842
00:40:52,159 --> 00:40:55,159
youngsters at this point is particularly viewed against the backdrop

843
00:40:55,199 --> 00:40:56,119
of KCP leaving.

844
00:40:56,840 --> 00:40:59,760
Speaker 13: So I actually think that might be third for me.

845
00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:02,320
So so it's really important and I understand and this

846
00:41:02,360 --> 00:41:04,320
is probably a semantic answer, but Number one.

847
00:41:04,239 --> 00:41:05,840
Speaker 14: To me is Jamal Murray.

848
00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:09,039
Speaker 13: Even last year Denver had was winning at a sixty

849
00:41:09,079 --> 00:41:12,199
two win pace when Yokichen Murray played. The truth is,

850
00:41:12,239 --> 00:41:13,920
we just don't know how many games he's going to miss.

851
00:41:13,960 --> 00:41:16,639
He missed twenty three last year, no matter, Denver won

852
00:41:16,679 --> 00:41:19,639
fifty seven games, a franchise record, and their second best

853
00:41:19,639 --> 00:41:21,880
player missed twenty three games. So I look at this

854
00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:24,159
and I go, I think Denver is actually better than

855
00:41:25,199 --> 00:41:27,239
what we all were very high on him.

856
00:41:27,239 --> 00:41:29,480
Speaker 5: I think we were appropriately high on them last year.

857
00:41:29,599 --> 00:41:31,199
Speaker 13: You get an injury to your second best player, he

858
00:41:31,239 --> 00:41:32,719
misses a ton of time and the team runs out

859
00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:34,519
of gas and they end up coming up short in

860
00:41:34,559 --> 00:41:38,280
the playoffs. But I think that on March tenth, out

861
00:41:38,320 --> 00:41:40,039
of the All Star break, they're on a big win streak.

862
00:41:40,079 --> 00:41:42,519
I was like, they are the favorite to win the title,

863
00:41:42,679 --> 00:41:44,639
and they might have another sixteen and four run in them.

864
00:41:44,639 --> 00:41:47,440
They were playing at that level. To me, all these

865
00:41:47,480 --> 00:41:50,119
other things are important margins and kind of big margins.

866
00:41:50,119 --> 00:41:56,559
But Jamal Murray's health, motivation, conditioning, and you know, consistency,

867
00:41:56,599 --> 00:41:59,239
to me, are by far more important than all the

868
00:41:59,280 --> 00:42:02,239
other variables for Denver. So to me, that's number one.

869
00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:03,880
And to be honest with you, I have no idea

870
00:42:03,920 --> 00:42:06,239
what to expect from Jamal. Is he going to play.

871
00:42:06,639 --> 00:42:08,880
He's always been bad in October and November? Is he

872
00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:11,039
going to be good this year in ways that are meaningful?

873
00:42:11,079 --> 00:42:13,760
And this is like, look, his stock is at an

874
00:42:13,760 --> 00:42:15,360
all time low, and I have to think that he

875
00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:18,079
hears all the noise. He also ended last year, if

876
00:42:18,079 --> 00:42:20,159
you recall, by throwing a heat pack onto the floor.

877
00:42:20,400 --> 00:42:24,119
I think his reputation not only in how he plays,

878
00:42:24,119 --> 00:42:27,440
but I think also to some extent, his character is

879
00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:30,000
in question in ways that I hope and I would

880
00:42:30,000 --> 00:42:33,159
expect him to say, Okay, I need to remind people

881
00:42:33,199 --> 00:42:36,360
this year because at the moment, there's valid arguments that

882
00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:38,119
I am the guy the haters think I am and

883
00:42:38,119 --> 00:42:39,039
not who I think I am.

884
00:42:39,679 --> 00:42:42,239
Speaker 2: He's like might be just one of the players that

885
00:42:42,280 --> 00:42:44,840
have explored the most extreme peaks and valleys and this

886
00:42:44,960 --> 00:42:46,519
past like year, eighteen months, whatever.

887
00:42:46,519 --> 00:42:47,519
Speaker 6: It might be a perfect example.

888
00:42:47,519 --> 00:42:50,000
Speaker 2: Where I was being asked to go on podcasts radio

889
00:42:50,039 --> 00:42:52,360
shows last year after they won the title. Is Jamal

890
00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:53,920
Murray a top fifteen player?

891
00:42:54,039 --> 00:42:54,559
Speaker 4: Was the question?

892
00:42:55,039 --> 00:42:57,199
Speaker 2: And now it's like, oh, man, like, should the Nuggets

893
00:42:57,239 --> 00:42:58,039
even pain his guy?

894
00:42:58,119 --> 00:43:01,920
Speaker 13: It's like I think had him seventeenth last year in

895
00:43:01,960 --> 00:43:05,039
the player rink, like really really high all, you know,

896
00:43:05,320 --> 00:43:07,800
coming off of that incredible Finals, I'm so curious to

897
00:43:07,840 --> 00:43:10,119
see where ESPN has them this year. I'm guessing it's

898
00:43:10,159 --> 00:43:13,760
like fortieth somewhere somewhere around there. And it's crazy, right,

899
00:43:13,840 --> 00:43:16,920
like that you should he should be ascending as a player,

900
00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:18,119
not dropping that far.

901
00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:20,440
Speaker 2: So looking at this actual team and what may play

902
00:43:20,440 --> 00:43:22,440
out on the court and this fourthcoming season, what is

903
00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:25,119
just the biggest storyline that you personally are going to

904
00:43:25,159 --> 00:43:26,320
be monitoring throughout the year.

905
00:43:26,719 --> 00:43:30,519
Speaker 15: Yeah, so this one's pretty obvious. It's Kaid. How how

906
00:43:30,559 --> 00:43:34,199
good does Caid look with the roster more suited to

907
00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:37,800
his talents? Right, because we again we've complained about it,

908
00:43:38,320 --> 00:43:40,800
and even through all the complaining, he was a lot

909
00:43:40,840 --> 00:43:42,559
better last year. He was a twenty four to five

910
00:43:42,599 --> 00:43:45,559
and seven and a half guy. He shot forty thirty nine,

911
00:43:45,800 --> 00:43:47,719
like and a half percent from three after the All

912
00:43:47,719 --> 00:43:48,840
Star break, Like.

913
00:43:48,760 --> 00:43:51,199
Speaker 2: Those are extra faun you'd love to see it.

914
00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:55,239
Speaker 15: Those were very good numbers and they coincided with just

915
00:43:55,280 --> 00:43:58,960
like adding Simone Fantechio and not much else and like,

916
00:43:59,639 --> 00:44:04,280
uh getting rid of the Killian Hayeses and Isaiah Livers's

917
00:44:04,559 --> 00:44:08,400
of the team who were just like not real NBA players, right,

918
00:44:08,880 --> 00:44:13,119
And so with less of a phone booth, with better

919
00:44:13,159 --> 00:44:15,239
talent around him, with other guys who might be able

920
00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:17,360
to make some shots around him, could he be like

921
00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:21,280
a twenty six, five and nine guy like that, that's

922
00:44:21,400 --> 00:44:23,519
kind of an All Star Like Tyrese Maxey was an

923
00:44:23,519 --> 00:44:25,519
All Star last year and he was a twenty six,

924
00:44:25,639 --> 00:44:28,599
four and six guy, right, And so's like, you know,

925
00:44:29,360 --> 00:44:32,360
if kid can get to that level of production and

926
00:44:32,440 --> 00:44:37,280
the team can find some level of success on the court,

927
00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:42,360
some amount of wins, not lose twenty five plus games

928
00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:45,400
in a row, it's like you have a narrative around

929
00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:48,119
like the team building something Kad being a large part

930
00:44:48,159 --> 00:44:51,880
of that, and him being acknowledged kind of in the media,

931
00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:54,519
in the national media and like bya his peers as

932
00:44:54,559 --> 00:44:56,880
like a guy who's like willing, who's been able to

933
00:44:56,920 --> 00:44:58,039
do like the things for them.

934
00:44:58,960 --> 00:45:01,119
Speaker 2: Why do you think and you just said something made

935
00:45:01,119 --> 00:45:02,599
me think of it. Why do you think that there

936
00:45:02,599 --> 00:45:04,719
seems to be so much division over him?

937
00:45:04,760 --> 00:45:04,920
Speaker 4: Is it?

938
00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:05,199
Speaker 5: Because?

939
00:45:05,239 --> 00:45:07,320
Speaker 2: Okay, so we have this track record of injuries and

940
00:45:07,360 --> 00:45:10,599
then last year everyone kind of latched on to the

941
00:45:10,599 --> 00:45:14,719
turnover issue, which got better. And but like if you

942
00:45:14,760 --> 00:45:17,400
weren't watching, And I guess this amounts to me being

943
00:45:17,400 --> 00:45:19,280
condescending if you weren't, I hate playing if you weren't

944
00:45:19,280 --> 00:45:21,440
watching the Pistons car But it seems like even with

945
00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:24,519
players who are more established, something might happen in the

946
00:45:24,559 --> 00:45:27,079
first like ten to fifteen games quarter of the season,

947
00:45:27,159 --> 00:45:29,679
and like that's the storyline that defines the rest of

948
00:45:29,719 --> 00:45:33,159
their year, almost regardless of what is actually happening. What

949
00:45:33,199 --> 00:45:35,159
do you think makes him such a divisive figure in

950
00:45:35,199 --> 00:45:37,440
the I guess it's the would you build around this

951
00:45:37,480 --> 00:45:39,920
player discourse? Basically, Yeah.

952
00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:44,199
Speaker 15: I think it's the fact that nothing about him is

953
00:45:45,199 --> 00:45:49,199
really like he doesn't stand out in any like one

954
00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:53,920
area of the game, right, He's not. He's a really

955
00:45:53,920 --> 00:45:57,000
good passer, he's he made he's made himself more of

956
00:45:57,000 --> 00:45:59,599
a shooter over the last season, but before that he

957
00:45:59,679 --> 00:46:02,760
was inefficient and he turned the bowl over a lot,

958
00:46:03,119 --> 00:46:06,039
didn't really get to the rim, never shot any free throws,

959
00:46:06,360 --> 00:46:09,239
and so again, like if you were only turning the

960
00:46:09,239 --> 00:46:12,480
Pistons on, like during the twenty eight game losing streak,

961
00:46:12,519 --> 00:46:16,679
which I think was still like before Christmas, it's like, okay,

962
00:46:16,719 --> 00:46:19,960
like this team's going nowhere. This guy's like not able

963
00:46:20,000 --> 00:46:22,280
to elevate them, and so it's like we can kind

964
00:46:22,280 --> 00:46:27,119
of write them off. But I think the team was

965
00:46:27,239 --> 00:46:30,559
so bad last year. There were just so many non

966
00:46:30,559 --> 00:46:34,760
functional NBA players around him, and the skill set that

967
00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:38,079
he has was just like not because he's not a

968
00:46:38,079 --> 00:46:40,239
guy who's going to go out and score forty, it's

969
00:46:40,280 --> 00:46:41,559
like because he's a guy who wants to kind of

970
00:46:41,599 --> 00:46:45,559
play slower and kind of dissect defenses. I think that

971
00:46:45,639 --> 00:46:47,920
like he just he wasn't able to leave the team

972
00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:50,519
to wins, and people just kind of took that in

973
00:46:50,639 --> 00:46:54,119
a poor way as a poor reflection of himself. Like

974
00:46:54,159 --> 00:46:58,079
you look at like Paul Benchero was like equally as

975
00:46:58,119 --> 00:47:00,960
inefficient but like slightly more product but his team was

976
00:47:01,000 --> 00:47:04,400
winning and he got a lot of credit for that.

977
00:47:04,440 --> 00:47:08,199
He gets a lot of kudos for that. I don't,

978
00:47:08,320 --> 00:47:11,039
And I think I think team's success will lead to

979
00:47:11,360 --> 00:47:14,519
people viewing kid in a more favorable light, if that

980
00:47:14,559 --> 00:47:15,079
makes sense.

981
00:47:15,719 --> 00:47:19,079
Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure, what does the next frontier for him look?

982
00:47:19,159 --> 00:47:21,119
Like you mentioned sort of the rim stuff and I'd

983
00:47:21,119 --> 00:47:23,280
mentioned in the notes, and sometimes feel like he might

984
00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:25,280
have that extra gear, like let's flip the dial and

985
00:47:25,320 --> 00:47:28,159
get a little bit faster rather than you know, relying

986
00:47:28,199 --> 00:47:31,599
on I don't know, hesitations are like bailing out too

987
00:47:31,599 --> 00:47:33,920
early on his drives, and he does still maybe the

988
00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:36,159
lower body injuries have impacted it, but like you've seen

989
00:47:36,199 --> 00:47:38,760
him turn corner sometimes and like get by people, and

990
00:47:38,800 --> 00:47:41,159
if he did that more consistently, is that a spacing thing,

991
00:47:41,199 --> 00:47:43,000
maybe now it'll be better around him he could get

992
00:47:43,000 --> 00:47:45,360
there or is it just something else entirely that you're

993
00:47:45,360 --> 00:47:46,800
looking at for his development.

994
00:47:47,239 --> 00:47:49,800
Speaker 15: Now I'm looking at rim finishing, but I'm looking at

995
00:47:50,119 --> 00:47:51,199
him adding strength.

996
00:47:51,719 --> 00:47:51,920
Speaker 5: Right.

997
00:47:52,039 --> 00:47:55,280
Speaker 15: The thing that really stood out to me last season

998
00:47:55,559 --> 00:47:58,159
was as he as he got stronger and as he

999
00:47:58,159 --> 00:48:01,440
got better using his making, using his body to carve

1000
00:48:01,440 --> 00:48:03,719
out space, you could really see that. There were times

1001
00:48:03,719 --> 00:48:05,719
where you were reminded like, oh, yeah, he's sixty six

1002
00:48:06,280 --> 00:48:09,039
and like he can extension finish around Biggs or if

1003
00:48:09,079 --> 00:48:13,119
he if he gets into the paint with with with

1004
00:48:13,159 --> 00:48:15,880
no help, like he can finish over and around guys.

1005
00:48:15,920 --> 00:48:18,840
It's still below the rim, right, but he can still

1006
00:48:18,880 --> 00:48:23,400
do that. Like stylistically, he does still love those mid

1007
00:48:23,519 --> 00:48:26,719
range jumpers and he's he's very good at them, but

1008
00:48:26,920 --> 00:48:29,440
you do wish some of those were like paint touches

1009
00:48:29,440 --> 00:48:31,559
and kickouts. I wish some of those were like ten

1010
00:48:31,599 --> 00:48:34,639
foot floaters instead of fifteen foot like pump fake pump,

1011
00:48:34,639 --> 00:48:39,480
fake pump, fake shot. But I do think that he

1012
00:48:39,559 --> 00:48:41,400
will always kind of be who he is. He'll always

1013
00:48:41,400 --> 00:48:44,559
be a change of pace operator. That's how he wants

1014
00:48:44,599 --> 00:48:47,000
to play. But like Dan, you watch Jalen Brunson, right,

1015
00:48:47,000 --> 00:48:49,360
Like Jalen Brunson would just like pick people apart from

1016
00:48:49,360 --> 00:48:52,559
like inside twelve feet and like, as long as you

1017
00:48:52,599 --> 00:48:55,800
get into the paint and pressure the defense, like you

1018
00:48:55,840 --> 00:48:58,119
can figure stuff out from there. I think kid like

1019
00:48:58,159 --> 00:49:00,639
absolutely has the potential to do that, and that will

1020
00:49:00,679 --> 00:49:02,639
be the thing I'm looking for him to do this season.

1021
00:49:04,000 --> 00:49:07,079
Speaker 2: You imagine someone with his size and Jalen Brunson's like footwork,

1022
00:49:07,119 --> 00:49:09,119
that's a nasty basketball player.

1023
00:49:09,639 --> 00:49:10,000
Speaker 5: Yeah.

1024
00:49:10,039 --> 00:49:12,199
Speaker 15: Well the other thing is too, Like as the roster

1025
00:49:12,280 --> 00:49:17,639
gets better, Like we talk about the spacing being something

1026
00:49:17,639 --> 00:49:21,519
good for him, obviously, but with the spacing being better

1027
00:49:21,559 --> 00:49:23,280
and with his teammates being able to hit more shots,

1028
00:49:23,599 --> 00:49:25,880
he'll he'll be able to distribute a lot more. And

1029
00:49:25,920 --> 00:49:30,360
I think his distribution is something that doesn't get enough

1030
00:49:30,360 --> 00:49:32,480
play because his teammates like don't hit enough shots.

1031
00:49:32,599 --> 00:49:36,000
Speaker 2: Right, He's a guy, he's a really really good passer,

1032
00:49:36,119 --> 00:49:40,360
and maybe something like he just the ability to see things.

1033
00:49:40,400 --> 00:49:43,239
And so I am very anxious to see not anxious,

1034
00:49:43,280 --> 00:49:45,280
excited to see what he could do with what I

1035
00:49:45,320 --> 00:49:47,840
assume will be better spacing. But Brant, what's the single

1036
00:49:47,840 --> 00:49:49,960
biggest storyline you're going to be tracking for the team

1037
00:49:50,000 --> 00:49:50,480
this season?

1038
00:49:50,960 --> 00:49:52,559
Speaker 10: I mean, isn't that a hard question?

1039
00:49:52,599 --> 00:49:52,800
Speaker 5: Though?

1040
00:49:52,880 --> 00:49:56,079
Speaker 11: Like so my the one I've kind of trotted out

1041
00:49:56,079 --> 00:49:58,760
a lot and we've talked about is the emergence of

1042
00:49:59,280 --> 00:50:04,599
or lack of, like a second star guy to lighten

1043
00:50:04,599 --> 00:50:07,400
the load on Steph as Ganners his age thirty six season,

1044
00:50:07,639 --> 00:50:10,639
and just looking at the roster, actually I should I

1045
00:50:10,639 --> 00:50:14,239
should couch this in having watched the preseason, there are

1046
00:50:14,280 --> 00:50:16,360
a lot of takeaways I think that are interesting and

1047
00:50:16,480 --> 00:50:18,480
kind of change a lot of what I thought prior

1048
00:50:18,519 --> 00:50:21,039
to the preseason. That's a stupid position to take because

1049
00:50:21,079 --> 00:50:23,639
the preseason doesn't matter, but the team is pretty different.

1050
00:50:24,039 --> 00:50:27,239
I still think though, sort of the you can't not

1051
00:50:27,480 --> 00:50:31,480
say it's this angle is who's going to be that guy?

1052
00:50:31,519 --> 00:50:33,880
And it's like, well, because Clay, no, Clay really wasn't

1053
00:50:34,039 --> 00:50:37,119
last year and he's gone obviously, but it's like, you know,

1054
00:50:37,119 --> 00:50:39,320
and you're never going to get a Durant caliber second

1055
00:50:39,320 --> 00:50:42,239
guy again, because that's just, you know, just a total

1056
00:50:43,039 --> 00:50:46,320
you know, all the planets aligned for that one. But

1057
00:50:46,960 --> 00:50:50,400
someone to someone who emerges, whether that's a young guy

1058
00:50:50,440 --> 00:50:52,400
that takes a step forward or someone that they may

1059
00:50:52,440 --> 00:50:54,320
try to trade for, And we can talk about how

1060
00:50:54,360 --> 00:50:56,599
close or not close some of those efforts were.

1061
00:50:56,800 --> 00:50:57,880
Speaker 10: But I think that's it.

1062
00:50:58,000 --> 00:50:58,800
Speaker 4: I think that's it.

1063
00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:03,599
Speaker 11: And it does that that angle does kind of bleed

1064
00:51:03,639 --> 00:51:05,719
into some other ones that are interesting to me that

1065
00:51:05,760 --> 00:51:07,960
we can discuss. But I just feel like you can't

1066
00:51:08,079 --> 00:51:10,559
pretend like it's something other than that. You could say

1067
00:51:10,599 --> 00:51:12,800
like Steph Curry's health, but it's like, well, then that's

1068
00:51:12,800 --> 00:51:14,840
true of the best player on every team you're going

1069
00:51:14,920 --> 00:51:15,840
to do a lookhead for.

1070
00:51:16,119 --> 00:51:18,760
Speaker 2: And he's not on the Jowell and Bead level anymore.

1071
00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:21,280
Where it's that's the day to day storyline. So it's

1072
00:51:21,320 --> 00:51:22,000
no different.

1073
00:51:22,440 --> 00:51:24,519
Speaker 11: It's more like, I mean, there is, it is a

1074
00:51:24,559 --> 00:51:27,360
little different, I guess in that like age thirty six

1075
00:51:27,440 --> 00:51:30,519
season for a guard is like the expectations should be

1076
00:51:30,559 --> 00:51:31,639
like massive drop off.

1077
00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:33,159
Speaker 4: The fact that it's been.

1078
00:51:33,239 --> 00:51:36,039
Speaker 11: Really gradual over the last three to five years. Is

1079
00:51:36,760 --> 00:51:40,239
you know that can't be the like the focal point.

1080
00:51:40,239 --> 00:51:42,159
And if it is, it's like a short conversation because

1081
00:51:42,199 --> 00:51:43,920
it's like, well, he'll either get a little bit worse

1082
00:51:44,000 --> 00:51:46,679
or a lot worse and then that's okay. So then

1083
00:51:46,719 --> 00:51:49,480
what like that's not really you know that that I

1084
00:51:49,480 --> 00:51:52,559
guess underscores the importance of somebody else emerging as like

1085
00:51:52,639 --> 00:51:56,719
a high usage you know, shot creator, playmaker score.

1086
00:51:57,199 --> 00:51:59,960
Speaker 2: I don't know if this would be like the actual

1087
00:52:00,079 --> 00:52:02,840
biggest storyline, but this player does feel like he will

1088
00:52:03,039 --> 00:52:06,440
shape what is going to be the biggest storyline or

1089
00:52:06,440 --> 00:52:09,400
how they approach the season. That is Jonathan Kaminga and

1090
00:52:09,880 --> 00:52:12,280
much of the preseason, the lead like trading camp in

1091
00:52:12,280 --> 00:52:13,840
the lead up to the regular season, has been spent

1092
00:52:14,719 --> 00:52:18,760
just everyone openly wondering or opplying about which position he

1093
00:52:18,840 --> 00:52:20,960
needs to play? Is it the three or the four?

1094
00:52:21,039 --> 00:52:23,960
Can he play the three on this team? Should they

1095
00:52:23,960 --> 00:52:25,960
have had a stretch big on this team if they

1096
00:52:26,000 --> 00:52:28,639
wanted him to play the three? Where do you sort

1097
00:52:28,639 --> 00:52:32,199
of land on that entire overarching discussion.

1098
00:52:32,480 --> 00:52:34,760
Speaker 11: Specifically like what position he should play?

1099
00:52:36,480 --> 00:52:36,719
Speaker 5: Yeah?

1100
00:52:36,800 --> 00:52:40,159
Speaker 2: Well, well, I mean, or what position I mean, in event,

1101
00:52:40,199 --> 00:52:43,000
let's say there is a stretch big on this team,

1102
00:52:43,280 --> 00:52:45,360
do you think that he can then play the three

1103
00:52:45,480 --> 00:52:47,920
or do you view him more strictly as a four.

1104
00:52:49,679 --> 00:52:53,880
Speaker 11: So personally, I don't, I know that that distinction has

1105
00:52:53,920 --> 00:52:56,880
been drawn really clearly. Like Kaminga thinks he's a three,

1106
00:52:56,920 --> 00:52:59,800
I think he's basically said that explicitly.

1107
00:52:59,840 --> 00:53:02,039
Speaker 10: Made the Warriors think he's a four.

1108
00:53:02,199 --> 00:53:04,960
Speaker 11: That has definitely been said explicitly, And the lineup, the

1109
00:53:05,039 --> 00:53:07,840
data from last year, it's like over ninety percent of

1110
00:53:07,880 --> 00:53:10,880
his minutes where he was designated as the four, So

1111
00:53:10,920 --> 00:53:13,679
there is a disconnect there. In my opinion, I don't

1112
00:53:13,679 --> 00:53:15,960
think it matters that much. I think the three in

1113
00:53:16,000 --> 00:53:18,760
the four are kind of like whatever. Now it's different

1114
00:53:18,800 --> 00:53:21,760
on this team because whether Draymond Green is the four

1115
00:53:21,840 --> 00:53:23,639
or the five makes a huge difference and sort of

1116
00:53:23,639 --> 00:53:26,360
how the lineups look. So if Draymond is the four

1117
00:53:26,400 --> 00:53:28,280
and you're playing him with a center, then yah, Kuminga

1118
00:53:28,320 --> 00:53:31,800
is a three. I just think like his his skill

1119
00:53:31,880 --> 00:53:34,920
set kind of works either way, and like the things

1120
00:53:34,920 --> 00:53:38,079
he's good at and not good at don't really change

1121
00:53:38,119 --> 00:53:41,480
depending on which of the forward positions he's occupying. To me,

1122
00:53:42,119 --> 00:53:45,400
I think the reason that question is interesting and kind

1123
00:53:45,440 --> 00:53:47,880
of tricky to figure out is what it means for

1124
00:53:47,920 --> 00:53:49,880
the rest of the lineup, which is kind of what

1125
00:53:49,920 --> 00:53:53,360
you're getting at, I think, so, like, I guess my

1126
00:53:53,400 --> 00:53:56,360
answer would be if if Kuminga is going to shoot

1127
00:53:56,519 --> 00:54:00,559
as with as little hesitation from three as he has

1128
00:54:00,559 --> 00:54:03,079
in the preseason, especially on just catch and shoot stuff,

1129
00:54:03,639 --> 00:54:05,599
then I think you get a you can It's a

1130
00:54:05,639 --> 00:54:08,400
lot easier for me to imagine getting away with him

1131
00:54:08,440 --> 00:54:13,400
as a three without a stretch center, just because that,

1132
00:54:13,840 --> 00:54:16,400
you know, it's like, oh, we need to accommodate him

1133
00:54:16,440 --> 00:54:18,840
with spacing at other positions to make that work. It's like, well,

1134
00:54:18,840 --> 00:54:21,800
if he's providing the spacing by being like a pretty

1135
00:54:21,840 --> 00:54:25,119
high volume threat on the catch, then I think that

1136
00:54:25,199 --> 00:54:25,960
mitigates some.

1137
00:54:25,880 --> 00:54:26,519
Speaker 4: Of that issue.

1138
00:54:26,559 --> 00:54:31,320
Speaker 11: So, like, I know, it's almost too hard to talk

1139
00:54:31,360 --> 00:54:33,559
about it in terms of just like what position is

1140
00:54:33,639 --> 00:54:36,360
he or what should he play, because you have to

1141
00:54:36,480 --> 00:54:38,960
just rejigger so many different things in the rest of

1142
00:54:38,960 --> 00:54:42,519
the lineup potentially, and then ultimately again it may not

1143
00:54:42,639 --> 00:54:44,519
matter because if he's going to shoot a bunch of threes,

1144
00:54:44,519 --> 00:54:46,480
then I think that just opens up your options a

1145
00:54:46,519 --> 00:54:48,519
little bit more which I think, as we'll talk about

1146
00:54:49,000 --> 00:54:51,480
that is almost a problem with this roster because there

1147
00:54:51,480 --> 00:54:53,800
are too many options. There's too many guys that need

1148
00:54:53,840 --> 00:54:56,039
to play or that should play, and it just makes

1149
00:54:56,079 --> 00:54:57,360
all the lineup decisions hard.

1150
00:54:58,760 --> 00:55:00,519
Speaker 2: And I know he's been getting him up in preseason,

1151
00:55:00,519 --> 00:55:02,599
he's been hitting them. I'd just be curious if he's

1152
00:55:02,639 --> 00:55:05,840
taking them, how long does it take for defenses to

1153
00:55:05,920 --> 00:55:07,760
change the way that they're gonna guard him, Because even

1154
00:55:07,800 --> 00:55:10,760
if he's shooting let's say forty five percent on three

1155
00:55:10,800 --> 00:55:14,239
to four catch and shoot three point attempts per game, Okay,

1156
00:55:14,280 --> 00:55:16,599
if that's not getting defenses to come out to him,

1157
00:55:16,599 --> 00:55:19,480
that makes life harder on everybody else, which I guess

1158
00:55:19,480 --> 00:55:22,320
gets into the Draymond Green and are they playing him

1159
00:55:22,320 --> 00:55:25,079
with tjd or Kavan Luniar It doesn't really matter. And

1160
00:55:25,159 --> 00:55:27,199
to me as of right now, I guess I'll phrase

1161
00:55:27,239 --> 00:55:28,639
it this way. When I look at this roster, it

1162
00:55:28,679 --> 00:55:31,960
feels like the best way to optimize it in general

1163
00:55:32,440 --> 00:55:36,320
with what KAMINGA does and doesn't do versus the personnel

1164
00:55:36,360 --> 00:55:38,239
that they have, would be that Draymond at the five

1165
00:55:38,320 --> 00:55:40,239
has to become more of a staple, which is something

1166
00:55:40,559 --> 00:55:42,800
I know Draymond doesn't like I know the Warriors haven't

1167
00:55:42,880 --> 00:55:44,880
liked it, and I understand especially now as he gets

1168
00:55:44,920 --> 00:55:47,599
older and kind of the riggers that are associated with it.

1169
00:55:49,079 --> 00:55:52,400
So I'm just curious as like, is that is that

1170
00:55:52,440 --> 00:55:55,119
what's gonna become a potential default? Or we saw them

1171
00:55:55,280 --> 00:55:57,599
I think it was on was it Wednesday night? They

1172
00:55:57,679 --> 00:55:59,760
rolled out the jumbo lineup? Didn't they have Wiggins was

1173
00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:02,960
based the two with Kminga starting at the three. Uh,

1174
00:56:03,440 --> 00:56:06,000
It's like, you see, I guess you see a pathway

1175
00:56:06,039 --> 00:56:08,320
to this setup working where I don't need to get

1176
00:56:08,320 --> 00:56:09,760
caught up in the positions of it all, but you

1177
00:56:09,800 --> 00:56:12,400
see a pathway to them being able to play Kaminga,

1178
00:56:12,960 --> 00:56:15,760
Draymond and a big. And then if you do see that,

1179
00:56:15,800 --> 00:56:18,199
do you actually see Okay, can you also add Andrew

1180
00:56:18,199 --> 00:56:20,280
Wiggins plausibly into that fold?

1181
00:56:20,679 --> 00:56:20,880
Speaker 5: Yeah?

1182
00:56:20,920 --> 00:56:23,519
Speaker 11: I think that's the reason they tried that. Look the

1183
00:56:23,559 --> 00:56:26,000
other night, you know they've done there have been different

1184
00:56:26,000 --> 00:56:29,320
starting lineups and different rotations in each preseason game so far,

1185
00:56:29,360 --> 00:56:31,719
and that is just because the coaches have is trying

1186
00:56:31,719 --> 00:56:33,800
to figure out, like what do we do with all

1187
00:56:33,840 --> 00:56:35,039
these guys that need to saw?

1188
00:56:35,199 --> 00:56:38,400
Speaker 2: Do you get mad at all about that where they're changed.

1189
00:56:38,440 --> 00:56:40,639
I've seen a lot of fans get annoyed by like

1190
00:56:40,679 --> 00:56:42,800
the lineups that are being run out there. And I

1191
00:56:42,840 --> 00:56:45,719
guess if this spills into the season and it's not working, okay, sure,

1192
00:56:45,800 --> 00:56:48,039
but if you're not gonna try it now, would you

1193
00:56:48,039 --> 00:56:50,119
prefer that they try it when the games matter?

1194
00:56:50,320 --> 00:56:51,360
Speaker 6: I will not mad at all.

1195
00:56:52,039 --> 00:56:55,360
Speaker 11: I think I think it's the only way. It's the

1196
00:56:55,360 --> 00:56:59,280
most logical way to approach the preseason because like they

1197
00:56:59,320 --> 00:57:00,599
just don't know, they can't know.

1198
00:57:00,719 --> 00:57:02,360
Speaker 10: They added three guys.

1199
00:57:02,679 --> 00:57:06,599
Speaker 11: That are theoretically rotation players. They've got all these young guys,

1200
00:57:06,679 --> 00:57:09,119
not all, they've got several young guys that you know,

1201
00:57:09,360 --> 00:57:12,159
need to get looks. And so it's just like it

1202
00:57:12,199 --> 00:57:14,400
would be weirder to me if they had gone with

1203
00:57:14,440 --> 00:57:16,760
the starting five for all of the same one for

1204
00:57:16,800 --> 00:57:19,599
all the preseason games and just like decided that that

1205
00:57:19,719 --> 00:57:20,599
was the look, because.

1206
00:57:20,360 --> 00:57:22,480
Speaker 6: I don't think they know that yet.

1207
00:57:22,679 --> 00:57:26,519
Speaker 11: So the small ball thing with Draymond at center, you know,

1208
00:57:26,599 --> 00:57:29,000
if you'd ask me a month ago, and I wrote

1209
00:57:29,000 --> 00:57:30,760
about this, and I think we probably talked about it,

1210
00:57:30,800 --> 00:57:33,599
like that makes the most sense to me. Whether he

1211
00:57:33,719 --> 00:57:36,039
likes it or not, Whether the Warriors are comfortable using

1212
00:57:36,119 --> 00:57:39,119
it as like a first option as opposed to a,

1213
00:57:39,440 --> 00:57:41,800
oh shit, we're down two to one in a playoff series.

1214
00:57:41,880 --> 00:57:43,239
Speaker 10: We got to, you know, go to.

1215
00:57:43,199 --> 00:57:46,840
Speaker 11: The death lineup or whatever, just because that's how you

1216
00:57:46,880 --> 00:57:49,639
get Kaminga and Wiggins on the floor together. That's how

1217
00:57:49,639 --> 00:57:52,599
you get more athletic. That and their best two best

1218
00:57:52,639 --> 00:57:55,559
high usage lineups last year were involving Green at center

1219
00:57:55,639 --> 00:57:58,840
and Kaminga and Wiggins. The difference was is that Pajemski

1220
00:57:58,920 --> 00:58:01,480
or Klay Thompson at the two and Steph obviously is

1221
00:58:01,519 --> 00:58:03,639
the one. So like, those were their best lineups in

1222
00:58:03,719 --> 00:58:06,360
terms of units that played over three hundred possessions, which

1223
00:58:06,440 --> 00:58:08,679
like that's not a lot, but that's the biggest samples

1224
00:58:08,679 --> 00:58:11,719
they had of any five man units. So I was

1225
00:58:11,760 --> 00:58:13,880
on board with That's that's the way you go. You

1226
00:58:13,920 --> 00:58:16,239
got to start the season that way because your margin

1227
00:58:16,280 --> 00:58:19,679
for aerra is smaller, your superstar talent is diminished. You

1228
00:58:19,719 --> 00:58:22,880
can't like hold it in reserve. You you know, if

1229
00:58:22,880 --> 00:58:24,480
you want to make the playoffs, you're gonna need to

1230
00:58:24,519 --> 00:58:28,760
start with your best weapons. Now though, because of the

1231
00:58:28,840 --> 00:58:31,400
style they're apparently going to play, which is shoot a

1232
00:58:31,480 --> 00:58:34,760
billion threes and move the ball a ton. I think

1233
00:58:34,800 --> 00:58:37,679
you could get away with more quote unquote conventional looks

1234
00:58:37,679 --> 00:58:41,199
where Draymond is a four and it's probably Jackson Davis

1235
00:58:41,239 --> 00:58:44,559
at the five, I would guess over Cavon Looney just

1236
00:58:44,599 --> 00:58:49,239
because I just think Jackson Davis brings more athleticism, shop

1237
00:58:49,239 --> 00:58:52,599
blocking like that kind of stuff, more dynamic play, and

1238
00:58:52,679 --> 00:58:54,920
Looney can handle being benched, I think more so than

1239
00:58:54,960 --> 00:58:58,480
a lot of the other guys. But I'm more open to, Okay,

1240
00:58:58,519 --> 00:59:00,960
maybe we do have like a real center out there

1241
00:59:01,639 --> 00:59:04,719
and just see if we get enough shooting from guys

1242
00:59:04,719 --> 00:59:07,000
that we probably in the past would not have counted

1243
00:59:07,039 --> 00:59:08,800
on getting enough shooting from.

1244
00:59:09,719 --> 00:59:11,360
Speaker 2: I do think most people are going to focus on

1245
00:59:11,360 --> 00:59:14,039
coming to shooting as kind of the arena where they

1246
00:59:14,079 --> 00:59:15,800
want to see him improve the most or will track

1247
00:59:15,880 --> 00:59:18,800
most closely with another area of his development, though that

1248
00:59:18,840 --> 00:59:20,280
you're going to be monitoring this season.

1249
00:59:20,599 --> 00:59:25,079
Speaker 11: Defensive awareness. That that has stood out immediately to me

1250
00:59:25,239 --> 00:59:28,199
in the preseason. It's been an issue all along where

1251
00:59:29,039 --> 00:59:31,599
you know he'll lose It's all the basics, like he'll

1252
00:59:31,599 --> 00:59:33,960
lose track of his guy, he'll give up open threes

1253
00:59:34,599 --> 00:59:38,079
at the wrong times, he won't rotate over. There are

1254
00:59:38,119 --> 00:59:40,920
just long stretches where he's not mentally engaged to the

1255
00:59:41,159 --> 00:59:43,159
level that he would need to be on defense, And

1256
00:59:43,159 --> 00:59:45,320
I think that's why they like to use him against

1257
00:59:46,039 --> 00:59:48,800
more dangerous on ball threats, because it allows him to

1258
00:59:48,880 --> 00:59:51,639
just be focused on more of a singular task as

1259
00:59:51,679 --> 00:59:53,840
opposed to processing all the other stuff that's going on.

1260
00:59:53,920 --> 00:59:54,840
Speaker 6: We're're in help position.

1261
00:59:55,320 --> 00:59:58,719
Speaker 11: But that's a big one because with a guy like him,

1262
00:59:58,760 --> 01:00:00,920
who can just the way he moves is you know,

1263
01:00:01,000 --> 01:00:03,840
he's an a plus athlete even among NBA players. I've said,

1264
01:00:03,920 --> 01:00:07,039
you know, it's it's obvious for him to be a

1265
01:00:07,079 --> 01:00:09,159
liability a lot of the time. On defense is kind

1266
01:00:09,159 --> 01:00:12,960
of inexcusable because it is focus. It is like just

1267
01:00:13,079 --> 01:00:15,280
understanding what the scheme is and like who you can

1268
01:00:15,360 --> 01:00:18,119
and can't leave, and like that kind of stuff. So

1269
01:00:18,559 --> 01:00:21,639
the shooting, honestly, as a catch and shoot guy, I

1270
01:00:21,639 --> 01:00:23,639
think he's gonna be fine. Like it's I don't know

1271
01:00:23,679 --> 01:00:25,239
if you're going to get a lot of pull up threes,

1272
01:00:25,800 --> 01:00:28,800
but I don't know that you need those. It's really

1273
01:00:28,840 --> 01:00:31,199
now to me, the defense is the biggest part of

1274
01:00:31,239 --> 01:00:34,320
it because it's just not as good as it should be,

1275
01:00:34,440 --> 01:00:37,000
I think, in my opinion, I think I'm.

1276
01:00:36,880 --> 01:00:40,719
Speaker 2: Curious to see what if his driving game can evolve

1277
01:00:40,760 --> 01:00:43,159
to maybe include more facilitation out of it to where

1278
01:00:43,199 --> 01:00:45,880
we know he's not the most adept passer, but when

1279
01:00:45,880 --> 01:00:49,159
you're talking about kind of kicking or like just these

1280
01:00:49,239 --> 01:00:51,480
dump offs when you're on the move, yeah they could

1281
01:00:51,480 --> 01:00:54,440
be harder. But the way that he handled the ball

1282
01:00:54,480 --> 01:00:55,920
on draws for a lot of last year I thought

1283
01:00:56,000 --> 01:00:57,559
was a lot better. When you go back to like

1284
01:00:57,679 --> 01:01:01,400
even the previous seasons, the handlefelt tighter or crisper. Do

1285
01:01:01,440 --> 01:01:03,519
you see that level of decision making in him? And

1286
01:01:03,519 --> 01:01:06,400
then also how much is that then potentially impacted by

1287
01:01:06,440 --> 01:01:08,360
this base thing that's that's around him in the front

1288
01:01:08,360 --> 01:01:09,119
court you're running.

1289
01:01:09,480 --> 01:01:12,920
Speaker 11: Yeah, I don't know that he's I would be really

1290
01:01:12,920 --> 01:01:16,559
surprised if he was ever, you know, the doing a

1291
01:01:16,599 --> 01:01:18,880
guy that in running a pick and roll on the

1292
01:01:18,880 --> 01:01:21,639
strong side would make the like one arm sling pass

1293
01:01:21,679 --> 01:01:23,880
to the weak side corner, like the Luca pass. Like

1294
01:01:23,920 --> 01:01:26,239
that's just I don't see that for him. I do

1295
01:01:26,320 --> 01:01:29,440
think he's sort of gonna be and has shown signs

1296
01:01:29,440 --> 01:01:32,480
that he already is like more of a serviceable single

1297
01:01:32,559 --> 01:01:35,760
read passer where it's like he gets downhill, the help comes,

1298
01:01:35,800 --> 01:01:37,960
he don't, he lays it down or he dumps it

1299
01:01:38,000 --> 01:01:40,400
off to the center for a dunk, like he can

1300
01:01:40,440 --> 01:01:43,119
make that pass, and he can, I think, make like

1301
01:01:43,159 --> 01:01:45,199
the one read to the strong side corner if the

1302
01:01:45,239 --> 01:01:48,639
help comes off of there. Beyond that, I think I

1303
01:01:48,679 --> 01:01:51,079
think he's I'd be surprised if he became like a

1304
01:01:51,159 --> 01:01:53,360
high level passer. And I think part of that too

1305
01:01:53,440 --> 01:01:55,840
is just like the guy can just finish everything, So

1306
01:01:56,000 --> 01:01:58,639
I think he's more wired to just be like I

1307
01:01:58,639 --> 01:02:00,480
would just love to get some contact here and try

1308
01:02:00,480 --> 01:02:01,960
to finish or I want to try to dunk this

1309
01:02:02,159 --> 01:02:04,880
like that, which is probably okay because that plays much

1310
01:02:04,920 --> 01:02:07,599
more to his strengths. I think he should be hyper aggressive,

1311
01:02:07,679 --> 01:02:09,800
like trying to seek contact when he's driving.

1312
01:02:09,880 --> 01:02:13,039
Speaker 2: Aside from the Alpern, Shangoun and Jail and Green just futures.

1313
01:02:13,400 --> 01:02:15,599
What is the You know, I dictate too much of

1314
01:02:15,639 --> 01:02:18,000
how these podcasts go. So what's the biggest storyline that

1315
01:02:18,039 --> 01:02:21,679
you're looking at following tracking as we head into this season?

1316
01:02:22,079 --> 01:02:25,800
Speaker 16: So I was gonna say Jalen, but but I guess

1317
01:02:25,840 --> 01:02:27,840
if I can't pick Jalen, I want to see a

1318
01:02:27,920 --> 01:02:30,679
man like, I really like a man.

1319
01:02:30,519 --> 01:02:32,440
Speaker 4: Is like sneaky like.

1320
01:02:32,679 --> 01:02:35,800
Speaker 16: I have him tied with Shangun as most intriguing prospect

1321
01:02:35,800 --> 01:02:38,960
on this team right like he might he may have

1322
01:02:39,000 --> 01:02:41,719
the highest upside in this team alongside Shangun.

1323
01:02:42,440 --> 01:02:42,519
Speaker 1: Like.

1324
01:02:42,639 --> 01:02:47,039
Speaker 16: He is just so unique and so multi dimensional and like,

1325
01:02:47,599 --> 01:02:52,000
obviously the weaknesses are there, but because the strengths are

1326
01:02:52,119 --> 01:02:55,480
so strong. He is a great finisher, He's an uber athlete.

1327
01:02:55,519 --> 01:03:01,280
He is uh already very strong to defensive player. I

1328
01:03:01,320 --> 01:03:04,039
could see him Dan. I know this is crazy. I

1329
01:03:04,079 --> 01:03:06,440
know this is like a serious NBA podcast. I could

1330
01:03:06,480 --> 01:03:08,960
see him challenging for All defensive second team next year.

1331
01:03:09,719 --> 01:03:10,599
That's how good he is.

1332
01:03:11,239 --> 01:03:12,920
Speaker 2: If he is the playing time under his belt. I

1333
01:03:12,920 --> 01:03:14,800
don't think that's wild at all, just based off what

1334
01:03:14,840 --> 01:03:15,920
we've seen from him.

1335
01:03:16,159 --> 01:03:19,679
Speaker 16: Yeah, he's he's crazy. I've never seen a rookie. I mean,

1336
01:03:19,679 --> 01:03:22,960
obviously I cover the Rockets, my scope is a little

1337
01:03:22,960 --> 01:03:26,280
bit limited, but like, I've never seen a rookie that

1338
01:03:26,320 --> 01:03:28,519
good defensively, but particularly a wing.

1339
01:03:29,079 --> 01:03:32,639
Speaker 2: Yeah, Wemby is probably the best defensive rookie I've ever

1340
01:03:32,679 --> 01:03:34,920
seen since Tim Duncan at least. And I wasn't really

1341
01:03:35,000 --> 01:03:36,440
I was too young when he was a rookie, but

1342
01:03:36,880 --> 01:03:38,599
as a wing. Yeah, I mean even if you look

1343
01:03:38,599 --> 01:03:39,079
at some of the.

1344
01:03:39,000 --> 01:03:41,559
Speaker 16: Players Simmons, right, like Ben Simmons like that, that's like

1345
01:03:41,599 --> 01:03:42,800
the last one I could think of.

1346
01:03:43,760 --> 01:03:45,880
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, that's a good point. So I mean i'd

1347
01:03:45,920 --> 01:03:48,920
be curious. I think I don't think voters would give

1348
01:03:48,920 --> 01:03:51,079
it to a sophomore who is at Wemby, But I

1349
01:03:51,119 --> 01:03:52,800
do think that he could be on the level of

1350
01:03:52,840 --> 01:03:54,840
just like he will be in the conversation, because he's

1351
01:03:54,840 --> 01:03:57,559
that dominant defensively and the tools that he has, like

1352
01:03:57,920 --> 01:04:00,280
it's the counting stats, it'll be the advance met and

1353
01:04:00,320 --> 01:04:02,400
then just like you watched the eye test, and he

1354
01:04:02,519 --> 01:04:04,559
is dominant on the defensive end.

1355
01:04:05,280 --> 01:04:08,599
Speaker 16: Right, and so like that, that's that's who I want

1356
01:04:08,599 --> 01:04:11,920
to watch because you know what, Funny enough, he's the

1357
01:04:12,000 --> 01:04:15,880
exact same age as these guys as Jalen and shanng Goon.

1358
01:04:16,639 --> 01:04:19,840
Like he was drafted last year. He was just an

1359
01:04:19,840 --> 01:04:23,159
older rookie. That's why it sneaks up on you. But

1360
01:04:24,519 --> 01:04:27,960
he's kind of in that age twenty two season too, right,

1361
01:04:28,320 --> 01:04:32,360
So if you're gonna see a leap naturally, like you

1362
01:04:32,440 --> 01:04:36,079
may see one from him too, So I kind of

1363
01:04:36,119 --> 01:04:39,760
group all those three guys together in terms of like hmm,

1364
01:04:39,800 --> 01:04:42,599
like like let's see what what what level can they

1365
01:04:42,639 --> 01:04:43,039
take it to?

1366
01:04:43,599 --> 01:04:43,760
Speaker 5: Right?

1367
01:04:43,960 --> 01:04:46,960
Speaker 16: What's their next logical extension? And obviously everyone's gonna be

1368
01:04:47,000 --> 01:04:48,920
looking at the jump shot. I think the jump shot

1369
01:04:49,039 --> 01:04:54,679
just okay, Like this sounds bad, I'm I tend to believe,

1370
01:04:54,760 --> 01:04:56,679
like my gut instinct put a gun to my head,

1371
01:04:57,280 --> 01:05:00,480
that just may be broken, right like that, that just

1372
01:05:00,519 --> 01:05:02,599
may be like one of the like the base that

1373
01:05:02,639 --> 01:05:05,119
you're starting from such a low baseline that you just

1374
01:05:05,199 --> 01:05:09,360
make you shouldn't bank developmentally on that becoming a thing, right.

1375
01:05:09,719 --> 01:05:13,119
I think what I'm more interested in seeing is can

1376
01:05:13,159 --> 01:05:16,840
he become like his ceiling as a player, is that

1377
01:05:16,920 --> 01:05:19,239
higher than Alpera and shan Guns And if it is, okay,

1378
01:05:19,239 --> 01:05:22,000
now I gotta make a decision, right because I don't

1379
01:05:22,000 --> 01:05:24,920
think those two can co exist because of the limited

1380
01:05:24,960 --> 01:05:25,440
jump shot.

1381
01:05:25,679 --> 01:05:28,559
Speaker 2: So yeah, and that's I mean, let's let's get into

1382
01:05:28,599 --> 01:05:30,440
that because that's been a big topic. And we saw

1383
01:05:30,559 --> 01:05:33,920
men Thompson like kind of hit his sweet spot offensively

1384
01:05:33,920 --> 01:05:36,920
without Alpa and Shangun, and because he's doing a lot

1385
01:05:36,960 --> 01:05:39,280
of the off ball work and so in theory, you

1386
01:05:39,360 --> 01:05:42,400
look at you know, Alman Thompson, not if he doesn't

1387
01:05:42,400 --> 01:05:44,480
have the ball as much, like okay, then why can't

1388
01:05:44,480 --> 01:05:46,559
if it with Alprin Shangun you mentioned the jumper stuff,

1389
01:05:46,599 --> 01:05:49,639
And so that's where it does get super awkward because

1390
01:05:49,679 --> 01:05:52,480
with Alman Thompson's development, if you need to find out

1391
01:05:52,480 --> 01:05:55,000
if he's more important to you than Shangun, don't you

1392
01:05:55,039 --> 01:05:57,079
need to get to a point where he has more

1393
01:05:57,119 --> 01:05:59,760
on ball reps. And I know this isn't like, let

1394
01:05:59,760 --> 01:06:01,280
me be clear, I know the Rockets weren't a heavy

1395
01:06:01,280 --> 01:06:03,519
pick and roll team, but he's averaging under three pick

1396
01:06:03,519 --> 01:06:05,480
and rolls per thirty six minutes last year. That's like

1397
01:06:05,480 --> 01:06:07,800
you need to see more. And even just like the drives,

1398
01:06:08,079 --> 01:06:10,639
those were pretty low per thirty six minutes. So how

1399
01:06:10,679 --> 01:06:12,840
do you because you have Shangun and also some of

1400
01:06:12,840 --> 01:06:16,920
these other guys, like how do you go about like

1401
01:06:17,159 --> 01:06:18,760
something like is are you just gonna have to make

1402
01:06:18,800 --> 01:06:20,239
some tough calls or there are gonna be things that

1403
01:06:20,280 --> 01:06:22,239
fall by the wayside? Does it really is some of

1404
01:06:22,239 --> 01:06:24,840
this like Alpern Shang Gun might have to adapt or

1405
01:06:24,920 --> 01:06:26,400
you just get to a point where you're like really

1406
01:06:26,480 --> 01:06:29,360
rigidly staggering them, because I do think if you need

1407
01:06:29,360 --> 01:06:30,880
to figure out how good a man is gonna be,

1408
01:06:31,400 --> 01:06:33,400
and like if you also want him to develop, I'm

1409
01:06:33,440 --> 01:06:35,320
with you on the jumper, Like, it'd be nice if

1410
01:06:35,320 --> 01:06:37,079
he gets it. But it's almost like, well, if he

1411
01:06:37,079 --> 01:06:39,119
could start hitting more of those floaters like that, we

1412
01:06:39,360 --> 01:06:40,800
saw some of those from him, with those going at

1413
01:06:40,800 --> 01:06:42,960
a higher clip, and he's taking them at a higher frequency.

1414
01:06:43,159 --> 01:06:45,639
That's at least a different level to his offensive game.

1415
01:06:45,880 --> 01:06:48,559
But he needs the reps to have that, and you're

1416
01:06:48,559 --> 01:06:50,199
not I would assume you're not gonna have that in

1417
01:06:50,239 --> 01:06:52,599
the core core lineups because of Alpern, Shangun and some

1418
01:06:52,639 --> 01:06:54,719
of these other guys, And so can you get to that,

1419
01:06:55,280 --> 01:06:57,159
like enough of that with the secondary units?

1420
01:06:57,639 --> 01:06:59,480
Speaker 16: Yeah, I mean it's almost a credit to him that

1421
01:06:59,519 --> 01:07:02,119
he was he was sufficient as he was playing that

1422
01:07:02,320 --> 01:07:04,960
it wasn't even a secondary he was playing a tertiary where.

1423
01:07:04,760 --> 01:07:08,000
Speaker 4: He's playing off the ball. He was playing like andre

1424
01:07:08,039 --> 01:07:09,519
I Guodala like yeah, or.

1425
01:07:09,480 --> 01:07:12,000
Speaker 2: Like even Aaron Gordon esque at points, like kind of

1426
01:07:12,000 --> 01:07:13,320
floating around the dunker spot.

1427
01:07:13,440 --> 01:07:16,199
Speaker 16: Are right, Well, it was like and he he was

1428
01:07:16,199 --> 01:07:20,559
still effective, which is like that that's why he's so impressive, right, Like,

1429
01:07:20,559 --> 01:07:24,119
like the role he was cast in, you didn't expect

1430
01:07:24,159 --> 01:07:26,679
anything from him, and he was still what the hell?

1431
01:07:27,280 --> 01:07:28,000
Speaker 4: Like what is this?

1432
01:07:28,599 --> 01:07:29,199
Speaker 5: Right like?

1433
01:07:29,480 --> 01:07:32,159
Speaker 16: And like it's not that no one didn't think he

1434
01:07:32,239 --> 01:07:35,880
was talented, it's that we we thought the Jumper was

1435
01:07:35,880 --> 01:07:39,599
gonna be such a big thing, right, it was gonna

1436
01:07:39,599 --> 01:07:42,079
be such a like he's a guard who can't shoot, right,

1437
01:07:42,119 --> 01:07:45,039
so you like that's really hard to adapt to in

1438
01:07:45,079 --> 01:07:48,320
the NBA. But he was still effective. He was still positive.

1439
01:07:48,519 --> 01:07:52,480
As a rookie guard who can't shoot threes, that's really impressive.

1440
01:07:52,639 --> 01:07:55,079
So yeah, I mean, I don't know how you do it.

1441
01:07:55,119 --> 01:07:56,639
I'm not I'm not gonna lie. I don't have an

1442
01:07:56,639 --> 01:07:59,440
answer for you, because that guard, that guard rotation is

1443
01:07:59,559 --> 01:08:03,199
really really I mean, you got Van Vliet, you got Green,

1444
01:08:03,440 --> 01:08:05,000
you got Whitmore.

1445
01:08:06,039 --> 01:08:07,320
Speaker 2: Read shepperd, you.

1446
01:08:07,320 --> 01:08:09,159
Speaker 16: Got Sheppard now, and Sheppard's not even gonna be able

1447
01:08:09,199 --> 01:08:12,960
to play, to be honest, Like, he's probably not gonna

1448
01:08:12,960 --> 01:08:15,559
be able to play this first year and maybe unless

1449
01:08:15,599 --> 01:08:18,199
guys get hurt. I see him being a G league

1450
01:08:18,199 --> 01:08:19,800
guy and that's not a big that's not really a

1451
01:08:19,800 --> 01:08:22,640
big deal. Like More was the League guy until guys

1452
01:08:22,680 --> 01:08:27,000
got hurt, right, But that's just the state of play

1453
01:08:27,000 --> 01:08:28,640
when you look at like, like, how how do you

1454
01:08:28,399 --> 01:08:31,239
can You're gonna have a fifteen man rotation? You can't

1455
01:08:31,239 --> 01:08:32,319
do that right?

1456
01:08:33,720 --> 01:08:37,960
Speaker 2: Right? That is so? I mean I would say with

1457
01:08:38,039 --> 01:08:41,159
Amen specifically devotes on him, like to wrap it up.

1458
01:08:41,279 --> 01:08:43,239
I wonder if they can just I feel like not

1459
01:08:43,319 --> 01:08:45,439
if they can, they can I think the best way

1460
01:08:45,439 --> 01:08:48,520
he might be okay, like the Jabbari minutes without Shangun

1461
01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:50,479
where he's your five, and like that's when a men

1462
01:08:50,520 --> 01:08:52,000
needs to be playing most and you get him the

1463
01:08:52,079 --> 01:08:54,039
on ball reps because you don't have to deal with

1464
01:08:54,479 --> 01:08:56,720
not occupying the same space, but some of the floor

1465
01:08:56,760 --> 01:08:59,560
spacing issues. You could surround those two with shooters. I mean,

1466
01:08:59,720 --> 01:09:02,119
can more qualify that would? Honestly, I was gonna float,

1467
01:09:02,159 --> 01:09:04,319
like make sure Reed shepherds in those lineups because of

1468
01:09:04,359 --> 01:09:06,720
his threat level off the ball. But you're talking about

1469
01:09:06,720 --> 01:09:09,520
whether he would struggle to get minutes six years into

1470
01:09:09,560 --> 01:09:12,319
these look aheads. It's clear that I dictate too much

1471
01:09:12,319 --> 01:09:14,760
of how these podcasts go. So I've been asking everyone

1472
01:09:15,159 --> 01:09:18,039
what is the biggest storyline for this team? The Pacers

1473
01:09:18,039 --> 01:09:20,000
in this case, that you will either that you'll be

1474
01:09:20,079 --> 01:09:23,800
tracking either entering the season or throughout the entire season.

1475
01:09:25,399 --> 01:09:27,079
Speaker 17: I mean, I think to an extent, it's the same

1476
01:09:27,159 --> 01:09:30,039
storyline that's been the storyline at training camp for them

1477
01:09:30,079 --> 01:09:35,760
the last two years. I remember talked about like that's

1478
01:09:35,800 --> 01:09:38,560
that's the tale as all as time, Dan Now, I

1479
01:09:38,600 --> 01:09:41,119
think they talked about two years ago, like we need

1480
01:09:41,119 --> 01:09:44,000
to address defense and togetherness. They talked about last year,

1481
01:09:44,439 --> 01:09:47,279
you know, some of their requisites for people earning playing

1482
01:09:47,319 --> 01:09:49,359
time because they had so much competition at camp, was

1483
01:09:49,399 --> 01:09:52,119
going to be, you know, defense and unselfishness. It's gonna

1484
01:09:52,159 --> 01:09:53,960
be what's it going to take for them to improve

1485
01:09:54,000 --> 01:09:56,680
on the defensive end, and what's a realistic expectation. I

1486
01:09:56,720 --> 01:09:59,560
think that's gonna be the overarching thing this year, because,

1487
01:09:59,600 --> 01:10:01,960
like we said, I think that they showed enough proof

1488
01:10:01,960 --> 01:10:05,000
of concept, regardless of what the injuries were in the playoffs,

1489
01:10:05,039 --> 01:10:07,279
to think that they can still be a very good

1490
01:10:07,319 --> 01:10:10,199
regular season team. The offensive rating held up in the playoffs.

1491
01:10:10,840 --> 01:10:13,520
A outscore opponents in each round of the playoffs when

1492
01:10:13,520 --> 01:10:16,399
pascalen Tyres were on the floor, including against Boston who

1493
01:10:16,399 --> 01:10:18,720
were not nearly as banged up obviously as the Bucks

1494
01:10:19,119 --> 01:10:20,960
and the Knicks were There's lots of little things that

1495
01:10:21,000 --> 01:10:24,439
you can point to there, But if they're gonna maintain

1496
01:10:24,520 --> 01:10:26,199
the success that they had last year, I do think

1497
01:10:26,199 --> 01:10:28,000
that they need to have a little bit more reliable

1498
01:10:28,000 --> 01:10:30,039
of a defense, because that's what stood out in games.

1499
01:10:30,319 --> 01:10:32,560
You know, the losses that they had to Boston. Obviously,

1500
01:10:32,760 --> 01:10:34,800
you know those were somewhat the witching hour of things

1501
01:10:34,800 --> 01:10:37,520
that you can't really completely explain that went wrong. But

1502
01:10:37,600 --> 01:10:40,920
also one team had a defensive foundation they could rely on.

1503
01:10:40,920 --> 01:10:43,760
One team was more defensively versatile, and it wasn't the

1504
01:10:43,800 --> 01:10:46,119
Pacers in those games. So that's the main thing that

1505
01:10:46,159 --> 01:10:47,600
they need to address. And I think that's going to

1506
01:10:47,640 --> 01:10:49,359
be the main storyline they were going to be watching

1507
01:10:49,359 --> 01:10:49,880
all season.

1508
01:10:50,640 --> 01:10:53,560
Speaker 2: What are sort of the one or two elements that

1509
01:10:53,600 --> 01:10:56,399
would go into this team sustaining a league average or

1510
01:10:56,439 --> 01:11:01,399
better defense? Then yeah, I.

1511
01:11:01,399 --> 01:11:03,239
Speaker 17: Mean I think I had this tagline last year where

1512
01:11:03,279 --> 01:11:05,279
I said, the defense doesn't need to be good, it

1513
01:11:05,279 --> 01:11:07,560
doesn't even need to be mediocre. It merely needs to

1514
01:11:07,560 --> 01:11:09,680
be bad, and it's too often terrible. And that took

1515
01:11:09,680 --> 01:11:11,720
place in a game when they had one of their

1516
01:11:11,800 --> 01:11:14,680
one one fifty one fifty You know duels with the

1517
01:11:14,680 --> 01:11:17,199
Atlanta Hawks, and I later issued a retraction because they

1518
01:11:17,199 --> 01:11:19,840
did show some progress and they did make some adjustments

1519
01:11:19,880 --> 01:11:22,439
to the scheme as the year went on. And that's

1520
01:11:22,439 --> 01:11:24,000
why I told people. I just recently got asked the

1521
01:11:24,000 --> 01:11:25,840
mail back question by somebody said, you know, what would

1522
01:11:25,840 --> 01:11:27,079
it take to make this defense great?

1523
01:11:27,079 --> 01:11:27,720
Speaker 18: That's too ofty.

1524
01:11:27,800 --> 01:11:28,520
Speaker 19: Have an expectation.

1525
01:11:29,159 --> 01:11:31,039
Speaker 17: You need to get in the range of like bad

1526
01:11:31,199 --> 01:11:33,840
ranging to men, because I will say that I think

1527
01:11:33,840 --> 01:11:35,600
that this coaching staff, like when you look at it,

1528
01:11:35,640 --> 01:11:37,159
I mean, I'll ask you if you looked at this

1529
01:11:37,279 --> 01:11:39,560
the personnel on the roster, do you think that the

1530
01:11:39,560 --> 01:11:44,359
Pacers have top ten offensive talent just based on take

1531
01:11:44,479 --> 01:11:45,039
the personnel.

1532
01:11:45,840 --> 01:11:49,279
Speaker 2: I mean, I might just be colored by what I

1533
01:11:49,319 --> 01:11:51,520
know Tyre's Haliburton is, but I guess in a vacuum

1534
01:11:51,560 --> 01:11:54,439
you probably wouldn't look at especially heading into last season

1535
01:11:54,439 --> 01:11:57,239
and being like oh nemhard no siakam So yeah, I

1536
01:11:57,239 --> 01:11:58,720
don't think you look at the roster like, oh, that's

1537
01:11:58,760 --> 01:12:00,399
for sure top ten offense team.

1538
01:12:00,960 --> 01:12:02,239
Speaker 17: Yeah, you want to think that that's going to be

1539
01:12:02,279 --> 01:12:04,680
the number one offense in the playoffs. I out and again,

1540
01:12:04,760 --> 01:12:06,199
like some of that had to do with injuries, but

1541
01:12:06,239 --> 01:12:08,319
not completely because let's face it, like Giannis is a

1542
01:12:08,359 --> 01:12:10,840
big deal defensively, but Dame being out kind of helped

1543
01:12:10,840 --> 01:12:13,039
the Bucks defense then make them a better team. But

1544
01:12:13,079 --> 01:12:15,840
defensively they were better when when Dame wasn't playing. So

1545
01:12:16,319 --> 01:12:18,439
I think that they over you know, they get more

1546
01:12:18,479 --> 01:12:20,720
out of their personnel offensively, and I've told people this

1547
01:12:20,760 --> 01:12:22,720
many times. I think they're getting about what should be

1548
01:12:22,760 --> 01:12:26,079
expected defensively unless you look at a few specific things.

1549
01:12:26,079 --> 01:12:29,279
So I think last year they ranked thirtieth and closeouts

1550
01:12:29,279 --> 01:12:31,199
for one hundred posessions. And in part that's because they

1551
01:12:31,199 --> 01:12:34,920
started the year really being somewhat dogmatic with the guard

1552
01:12:34,960 --> 01:12:36,840
your yard scheme. They were going to do all pick

1553
01:12:36,880 --> 01:12:39,159
and rolls two versus two. As the year went on,

1554
01:12:39,239 --> 01:12:41,239
they were willing to relax that they weren't trying to,

1555
01:12:41,319 --> 01:12:44,560
you know, use body as a primary against Giannis ante Tokunpo.

1556
01:12:44,600 --> 01:12:46,720
They were building a three player wall. Some of what

1557
01:12:46,760 --> 01:12:48,479
you saw the Lakers in the finals of the nd

1558
01:12:48,479 --> 01:12:50,600
season tournament, where they scored eighty six points in the

1559
01:12:50,600 --> 01:12:53,199
paint while the Pacers you know, quote unquote held them

1560
01:12:53,239 --> 01:12:56,239
to two of thirteen shooting from three. There were changes

1561
01:12:56,279 --> 01:12:58,399
to that specifically in the playoffs where it's like, okay,

1562
01:12:58,479 --> 01:13:01,079
now we're seeing Siakam, you know, even helping off of

1563
01:13:01,079 --> 01:13:03,439
the ball side corner. He's flooding clear strong side, off

1564
01:13:03,439 --> 01:13:05,840
of Achua, off of Josh Hart in ways that they

1565
01:13:05,880 --> 01:13:08,640
weren't necessarily as adaptable with earlier in the season. So

1566
01:13:08,640 --> 01:13:11,000
I would expect some changes there, but I don't think

1567
01:13:11,000 --> 01:13:13,840
that the like, no matter what this coaching staff does

1568
01:13:13,840 --> 01:13:15,840
with the scheme, I don't think that's necessarily going to

1569
01:13:15,960 --> 01:13:19,600
significantly move the needle because, to be honest, while it

1570
01:13:19,680 --> 01:13:21,479
probably wasn't what I would have done at the beginning

1571
01:13:21,520 --> 01:13:23,800
of the season, they try to pull our opposite scheme

1572
01:13:23,880 --> 01:13:26,239
the prior year. In both years they resulted in a

1573
01:13:26,279 --> 01:13:29,840
bottom ten defensive outcome, including after they acquired Siakham. They

1574
01:13:29,880 --> 01:13:32,640
still ranked around twenty second after that. So I would

1575
01:13:32,680 --> 01:13:34,600
look at, you know, can Tyres come back and be

1576
01:13:35,760 --> 01:13:38,199
a little bit more physical. Can he take a bump

1577
01:13:38,239 --> 01:13:40,359
and still potentially get over a screen, because he did

1578
01:13:40,359 --> 01:13:42,520
show that a little bit. You know, they don't want

1579
01:13:42,520 --> 01:13:44,199
to give up switches with him, so they use a

1580
01:13:44,199 --> 01:13:45,640
lot of show coverage and he got a little bit

1581
01:13:45,680 --> 01:13:48,039
better at holding the line on that maybe even you know,

1582
01:13:48,439 --> 01:13:50,880
diverting the ball handler a little bit. So can he

1583
01:13:50,960 --> 01:13:53,640
show a little bit more physicality and not get overpowered?

1584
01:13:54,159 --> 01:13:56,479
Is there ways that you could potentially use Miles as

1585
01:13:56,560 --> 01:13:59,439
more of, you know, a weak side rim protector rather

1586
01:13:59,520 --> 01:14:03,239
than a ball side anchor just dialing up their overall attentiveness.

1587
01:14:03,319 --> 01:14:05,079
That's something that I like to point out with regard

1588
01:14:05,119 --> 01:14:08,239
to Benedict Matheren, because you can dial up energy and effort,

1589
01:14:08,239 --> 01:14:11,800
I'm not always sure you can how to project you know, awareness,

1590
01:14:12,000 --> 01:14:13,479
some it might all click for him.

1591
01:14:13,520 --> 01:14:13,840
Speaker 12: I don't.

1592
01:14:13,880 --> 01:14:15,920
Speaker 17: I don't completely know, but that's something there. And then

1593
01:14:15,960 --> 01:14:18,399
the biggest thing they need to address the hole that

1594
01:14:18,399 --> 01:14:21,119
they have at the wing, like they still have it,

1595
01:14:21,199 --> 01:14:23,800
like they acquired Pascal Siakam. In a very telling thing,

1596
01:14:23,840 --> 01:14:26,159
the night before they acquired Pascal Siakam, they played the

1597
01:14:26,279 --> 01:14:29,960
Utah Jazz and Andrew Nemhard was guarding Laurie Markinen. They

1598
01:14:29,960 --> 01:14:32,720
acquired Pascal, they really toyed around with his role in

1599
01:14:32,800 --> 01:14:35,600
the first you know, however many games that he was there.

1600
01:14:35,640 --> 01:14:37,199
By the time you get in the playoffs, it's game

1601
01:14:37,239 --> 01:14:40,039
four and when Tyresee is out and Ben Shepherd's a

1602
01:14:40,039 --> 01:14:42,319
starter and they can put Ben Shephard at the point

1603
01:14:42,319 --> 01:14:46,039
of attack, Pascal has put Onrew Holliday and they had

1604
01:14:46,079 --> 01:14:49,760
Andrew Nemhart and Aaron Nee Smith back on Tatum and Brown.

1605
01:14:49,800 --> 01:14:53,239
It was not Pascal Siakam doing that. So what type

1606
01:14:53,279 --> 01:14:54,880
of role they think that they want him to have?

1607
01:14:55,000 --> 01:14:57,279
And then just can Matheren or Walker become that guy?

1608
01:14:57,520 --> 01:15:00,079
Can Venanic Mathern or Jaris Walker be a person that

1609
01:15:00,119 --> 01:15:03,399
you could eventually see ending up being in a starting

1610
01:15:03,439 --> 01:15:05,920
lineup and having some impact given that they are more

1611
01:15:06,439 --> 01:15:08,439
wing size wings. And I'm sure we'll get into each

1612
01:15:08,479 --> 01:15:11,079
of their games more specifically later, but I think that

1613
01:15:11,119 --> 01:15:13,159
the solutions more so are going to have to come

1614
01:15:13,159 --> 01:15:15,960
from little incremental steps from various players on the roster

1615
01:15:16,359 --> 01:15:19,680
or eventually seeking an outside solution with the consolidation trade

1616
01:15:19,680 --> 01:15:21,039
that we kind of alluded to before.

1617
01:15:21,279 --> 01:15:23,239
Speaker 2: I'll have to circle back later to that comment you

1618
01:15:23,279 --> 01:15:25,520
made about if they're struggling, if they would consider like

1619
01:15:25,600 --> 01:15:26,439
anything nuclear.

1620
01:15:26,479 --> 01:15:28,039
Speaker 4: But I want to ask you this.

1621
01:15:28,239 --> 01:15:31,720
Speaker 2: Aside from the fallout from whatever happened with Paul George

1622
01:15:31,800 --> 01:15:34,680
him not being there, what is the biggest storyline that

1623
01:15:34,760 --> 01:15:37,560
you will be tracking for this team, not just heading

1624
01:15:37,600 --> 01:15:39,359
into next season, but throughout next season.

1625
01:15:40,039 --> 01:15:43,399
Speaker 18: Is James Harden the James Harden that he was in Philadelphia.

1626
01:15:43,720 --> 01:15:45,680
He was very good last year, and so I don't

1627
01:15:45,680 --> 01:15:47,760
want to sit here and say he was better in Philadelphia.

1628
01:15:47,840 --> 01:15:50,439
His numbers were better in Philadelphia. But I think he

1629
01:15:50,520 --> 01:15:54,000
played really well last year. I think he was very efficient.

1630
01:15:54,079 --> 01:15:56,520
I think he never really went outside of himself to

1631
01:15:57,199 --> 01:16:00,079
handle the responsibilities. But they're going to need him a

1632
01:16:00,119 --> 01:16:03,039
lot more this year, obviously with no PG in Japan

1633
01:16:03,760 --> 01:16:06,159
Cohi's health status not just to start the season but

1634
01:16:06,239 --> 01:16:09,000
during the season, so I kind of look at him.

1635
01:16:09,279 --> 01:16:13,199
That's the biggest storyline for the season is what James

1636
01:16:13,239 --> 01:16:15,760
Harden do they get? Do they get the James Harden

1637
01:16:16,119 --> 01:16:19,600
of last year who averaged almost seventeen and almost nine assists,

1638
01:16:19,720 --> 01:16:21,479
or do they get the James Harden from Philly who

1639
01:16:21,520 --> 01:16:25,760
was twenty one and eleven, who's shooting more often. Tylo

1640
01:16:25,840 --> 01:16:29,039
said on Tuesday when he talked that they're gonna use

1641
01:16:29,119 --> 01:16:30,960
James and more picking roles. They want him to do

1642
01:16:31,000 --> 01:16:33,199
more things. They need him to shoot more, they need

1643
01:16:33,239 --> 01:16:34,840
him to take more shots. They aimed to score more,

1644
01:16:34,840 --> 01:16:37,439
they aimed to do everything. If there's one thing we've

1645
01:16:37,479 --> 01:16:40,279
learned about James Harden. He's one of the greatest offensive

1646
01:16:40,279 --> 01:16:43,880
engines in the history of basketball, and when he wants

1647
01:16:43,920 --> 01:16:47,479
to shoot, there's probably not five better offensive players in

1648
01:16:47,479 --> 01:16:50,039
the game right now than him. The problem comes down

1649
01:16:50,119 --> 01:16:51,880
to whether or not he will shoot, because at times

1650
01:16:51,920 --> 01:16:54,560
he would, you know, he dealt with injuries at times

1651
01:16:55,359 --> 01:16:57,800
the latter half of last season. And then it also

1652
01:16:57,880 --> 01:17:00,880
comes down to whether or not he's actually to the rim.

1653
01:17:01,439 --> 01:17:03,079
He didn't get to the rim a lot last year.

1654
01:17:03,479 --> 01:17:06,159
Last year, I believe he only got only twenty five

1655
01:17:06,199 --> 01:17:08,439
percent of his shots last year were inside of eight feet.

1656
01:17:08,840 --> 01:17:11,039
It was thirty three percent the year before in Philly.

1657
01:17:11,319 --> 01:17:13,000
I want to say it was forty two and a

1658
01:17:13,039 --> 01:17:15,520
half two years ago, and three years ago I think

1659
01:17:15,520 --> 01:17:19,159
it was forty five percent. Like he's he's drastically gone down.

1660
01:17:19,199 --> 01:17:22,840
He's become a heavy jump shooter, which in his defense,

1661
01:17:23,680 --> 01:17:28,239
great three point shooter, especially off the dribble. Obviously, I

1662
01:17:28,359 --> 01:17:30,199
just think he needs to needs to get to the

1663
01:17:30,239 --> 01:17:33,039
rim a lot more. And I'm I'm really interested to

1664
01:17:33,039 --> 01:17:36,000
see that process because Ty talked about because I asked

1665
01:17:36,039 --> 01:17:41,199
Ty specifically on Tuesday, do you think with no PG

1666
01:17:41,279 --> 01:17:43,319
And obviously I know I keep saying this, but losing

1667
01:17:43,359 --> 01:17:47,560
pg's obviously a big deal. But does losing PG allow

1668
01:17:47,640 --> 01:17:50,880
them to streamline their offense more where you're not trying

1669
01:17:51,399 --> 01:17:54,560
where you're not trying to get three main guys involved.

1670
01:17:54,640 --> 01:17:59,800
It's one main ball handler, another guy like Kawhi who

1671
01:18:00,159 --> 01:18:02,119
is the best offensive player on the team but won't

1672
01:18:02,119 --> 01:18:05,399
handle the ball as much as Kawhi, and then everyone

1673
01:18:05,479 --> 01:18:07,840
fits in around them, rather than trying to fit PG

1674
01:18:08,000 --> 01:18:10,800
into that as a puzzle piece as well. And he

1675
01:18:10,920 --> 01:18:13,960
said he does think that to some degree, there's gonna

1676
01:18:13,960 --> 01:18:17,520
be a level of streamlining that's gonna that's gonna take

1677
01:18:18,800 --> 01:18:21,279
hold here. He said, that's the idea. He said, it's

1678
01:18:21,279 --> 01:18:24,960
always tough to replace that kind of player. James and

1679
01:18:25,039 --> 01:18:28,039
Kawhi are their focus offensively, but obviously norm is gonna

1680
01:18:28,079 --> 01:18:30,239
be a focus and they argue, and he did say

1681
01:18:30,279 --> 01:18:32,359
they're gonna post if it's a Zubots a lot more.

1682
01:18:32,920 --> 01:18:36,359
And he said it's on him to find the right

1683
01:18:36,479 --> 01:18:40,319
spacing around those guys, which is gonna be the biggest

1684
01:18:40,640 --> 01:18:43,680
non James question of the season is how they non

1685
01:18:43,800 --> 01:18:46,600
James and Kawhi questioned the season, which is, how do

1686
01:18:46,680 --> 01:18:50,840
they figure out spacing because they lost like PG, say

1687
01:18:50,840 --> 01:18:54,000
what you want about him, all time, great shooter, especially

1688
01:18:54,000 --> 01:18:57,000
for a size, you know, floor spacer and all this.

1689
01:18:57,680 --> 01:19:00,680
They lost that guy and they have to i'd shooting

1690
01:19:00,680 --> 01:19:04,439
out of guys who not really had a great track

1691
01:19:04,479 --> 01:19:07,520
record of being great shooters. Derek Jones Junior obviously chief

1692
01:19:07,560 --> 01:19:11,640
among them, Chris Dunn also among them. They get Nico

1693
01:19:11,680 --> 01:19:15,399
Batum back, very good shooter, but Nico doesn't shoot a lot,

1694
01:19:15,439 --> 01:19:17,359
so that like he helps with the spacing, but not

1695
01:19:17,439 --> 01:19:20,279
as much as a guy like PG would. The big

1696
01:19:20,319 --> 01:19:22,920
wildcard and all this, I'm sure we'll get into this

1697
01:19:23,039 --> 01:19:24,840
later as well, is what do you get out of

1698
01:19:24,880 --> 01:19:27,640
Kevin Porter Junior. We don't know if there's gonna be

1699
01:19:27,640 --> 01:19:31,079
a suspension from the league office. There probably will be,

1700
01:19:31,199 --> 01:19:34,159
just based on things that have gone around and been said,

1701
01:19:35,000 --> 01:19:36,800
but we don't know yet. We don't know what that

1702
01:19:37,039 --> 01:19:39,760
suspension length would be if there is one, and we

1703
01:19:39,800 --> 01:19:41,399
don't know what kind of player he is right now.

1704
01:19:41,760 --> 01:19:43,560
He went, he missed a year of NBA basketball. He

1705
01:19:43,600 --> 01:19:45,199
went to Greece. He only played five or six games

1706
01:19:45,239 --> 01:19:47,359
in Greece and then he came back. That's a lot

1707
01:19:47,359 --> 01:19:50,039
of downtime for not playing NBA high level basketball. So

1708
01:19:51,079 --> 01:19:52,880
that's the big wildcard and all this and what they

1709
01:19:52,880 --> 01:19:54,119
can expect out of their offense.

1710
01:19:55,199 --> 01:19:59,279
Speaker 2: So with James Harden, though, I guess we're gonna streamline

1711
01:19:59,279 --> 01:20:02,039
the offense. That looks more like James Harden is kind

1712
01:20:02,079 --> 01:20:04,479
of the center of everything, which I thought he did

1713
01:20:05,000 --> 01:20:06,479
a good I mean, we saw this in Philly too,

1714
01:20:06,479 --> 01:20:08,640
where he was kind of toggled between two existences. But

1715
01:20:08,720 --> 01:20:10,640
like he goes to LA and almost half of his

1716
01:20:10,720 --> 01:20:12,640
made threes came off assists, which is just unheard of

1717
01:20:12,720 --> 01:20:14,640
for Harden. So if you're gonna put the ball in

1718
01:20:14,680 --> 01:20:16,359
his hands, I think that's mostly fine if you're looking

1719
01:20:16,359 --> 01:20:18,159
to stream on your offense, But if you're looking for

1720
01:20:18,279 --> 01:20:20,920
more variability and maybe hardened shot selection, you've kind of

1721
01:20:21,319 --> 01:20:23,399
already mentioned this, but how do you get him to

1722
01:20:23,520 --> 01:20:25,640
the rim if he's on the ball, because like that

1723
01:20:25,720 --> 01:20:27,479
seems more like at this stage of his career would

1724
01:20:27,520 --> 01:20:29,520
have to be an off ball thing because he's not

1725
01:20:29,640 --> 01:20:32,239
going to get by a ton of guys. And so

1726
01:20:32,319 --> 01:20:34,800
I think his rim frequency you mentioned like inside eight feet,

1727
01:20:34,800 --> 01:20:37,119
he was below twenty percent of shots coming from like

1728
01:20:37,239 --> 01:20:39,359
actually at the rim last year, which was a career low,

1729
01:20:39,840 --> 01:20:42,279
I believe, and so if you have I mean, like

1730
01:20:42,399 --> 01:20:44,439
Kawhi is even kind of that type of player now too.

1731
01:20:44,640 --> 01:20:47,039
This is you've added some maybe complimentary rim pressure and

1732
01:20:47,079 --> 01:20:49,800
Derek Jones Junior, so Terrence Man floating around out there,

1733
01:20:49,880 --> 01:20:53,239
Chris Dunn as well. But I just like, what a

1734
01:20:53,359 --> 01:20:55,520
streamline in the offense then, look like? Is it just

1735
01:20:55,640 --> 01:20:58,600
running it through James Harden running a lot you mentioned

1736
01:20:58,640 --> 01:21:00,479
posting up zoobox more what is it is a lot

1737
01:21:00,560 --> 01:21:02,720
more picking roles featuring James Finn Like, I'm just curious

1738
01:21:02,760 --> 01:21:04,159
as to what that winds up looking like.

1739
01:21:04,720 --> 01:21:06,199
Speaker 18: I think there's be a lot more pick and roles.

1740
01:21:06,199 --> 01:21:08,399
I think they're gonna just to lean they might end

1741
01:21:08,479 --> 01:21:09,880
up having to be one of the highest pick and

1742
01:21:10,000 --> 01:21:13,920
roll frequency teams in the league to have a sustainable offense.

1743
01:21:13,960 --> 01:21:16,199
I mean, Ty did talk about, you know, since he's

1744
01:21:16,239 --> 01:21:18,520
been there, they've been basically a top five offense every year,

1745
01:21:19,119 --> 01:21:21,880
and obviously Kawhi helped with that, and so does PG

1746
01:21:22,079 --> 01:21:24,920
and obviously getting James last year. Like, of course, if

1747
01:21:24,960 --> 01:21:26,439
you have star players, odds are you're gonna have a

1748
01:21:26,439 --> 01:21:31,039
great offense. Like that makes sense. But Ty did work

1749
01:21:31,079 --> 01:21:32,960
a lot of magic in the year. I want to

1750
01:21:33,000 --> 01:21:36,359
say twenty one to twenty two. Kawi missed the entire year,

1751
01:21:37,000 --> 01:21:38,880
PG only played thirty games, and they were still a

1752
01:21:38,960 --> 01:21:41,560
winning team. I think that's what they're gonna lean their

1753
01:21:41,600 --> 01:21:43,680
hat on, is, Look, we're not gonna be as great

1754
01:21:43,720 --> 01:21:46,760
offensively as we were last year, but we have to

1755
01:21:46,800 --> 01:21:48,560
be better defensively. They went out and got all these

1756
01:21:48,640 --> 01:21:52,560
defensive guys, you know, Derek Jones, Chris dun Niko Batoum.

1757
01:21:52,600 --> 01:21:56,560
They get these defensive first guys to hopefully boost them

1758
01:21:56,640 --> 01:21:59,760
on that end to where they're not always playing against

1759
01:21:59,760 --> 01:22:04,199
the defense on the other end. And I think when

1760
01:22:04,239 --> 01:22:06,600
they do play against that defense is they're just gonna

1761
01:22:06,640 --> 01:22:08,439
have to hope that they run enough pick and rolls

1762
01:22:08,840 --> 01:22:11,560
and have enough floor spacing to where on the off

1763
01:22:11,680 --> 01:22:15,479
chance James does get downhill, he has ample runway to

1764
01:22:15,680 --> 01:22:17,199
get to the rim and do what he needs to do.

1765
01:22:17,760 --> 01:22:22,279
I remember there was a game very soon after he arrived.

1766
01:22:22,319 --> 01:22:24,760
It was in La I want to say it had

1767
01:22:24,760 --> 01:22:27,359
to be Memphis because he was being guarded by Santi Aldama.

1768
01:22:27,680 --> 01:22:31,840
And I remember in the fourth quarter and I sat

1769
01:22:32,159 --> 01:22:34,399
where my old because they changed the media seats for

1770
01:22:34,479 --> 01:22:36,239
into a dome from where it was at Staples. But

1771
01:22:36,680 --> 01:22:40,279
at Staples, my media seat was basically center court up

1772
01:22:40,279 --> 01:22:43,119
where the broadcasters are, so I got to actually kind

1773
01:22:43,159 --> 01:22:45,439
of sit next to a lot of cool people in

1774
01:22:45,560 --> 01:22:48,119
my years covering them from that position. And I had

1775
01:22:48,199 --> 01:22:51,600
someone next to me, and James tries to take Santi

1776
01:22:51,640 --> 01:22:54,880
al Dama off the dribble, and it just it didn't happen,

1777
01:22:55,000 --> 01:22:58,520
like two or three straight possessions, and I remember this

1778
01:22:58,920 --> 01:23:02,079
person next to me, and I just going, Oh, this

1779
01:23:02,279 --> 01:23:06,960
might be bad. And yet throughout the year, I will

1780
01:23:07,039 --> 01:23:09,640
say this, he dig it into better shape. He was

1781
01:23:09,680 --> 01:23:13,199
able to start getting past people at at a higher rate.

1782
01:23:13,319 --> 01:23:15,720
Obviously not to the rate that prime James Harden, because

1783
01:23:15,720 --> 01:23:19,119
he's not prime James Harden anymore. But I think they're

1784
01:23:19,159 --> 01:23:23,079
hoping that he comes in, you know, knock on wood,

1785
01:23:23,119 --> 01:23:25,720
he comes in in shape. Everything I've seen seems that

1786
01:23:25,760 --> 01:23:27,640
he is in shape and in great shape in the fact,

1787
01:23:28,319 --> 01:23:32,479
and hoping that he's able to maybe not just get

1788
01:23:32,520 --> 01:23:35,199
the burst back, but get the wheel back to This

1789
01:23:35,399 --> 01:23:37,960
is your team right now, the balls in your hands

1790
01:23:38,039 --> 01:23:39,920
all the time. Go do whatever you need to do,

1791
01:23:40,079 --> 01:23:42,720
and we'll live with it. And they're gonna have to

1792
01:23:42,720 --> 01:23:45,960
spam a lot of pick and rolls with Zoo. Maybe

1793
01:23:46,039 --> 01:23:48,439
they try to play small and just try to get

1794
01:23:48,520 --> 01:23:52,520
spacing that way, where Nico plays the five and you

1795
01:23:52,720 --> 01:23:55,479
run pick and pop with Nico, because Nico is also

1796
01:23:55,520 --> 01:23:59,119
a great facilitator and connector out of those that maybe

1797
01:23:59,199 --> 01:24:01,600
that's another way, maybe you incorporate some of that to

1798
01:24:01,800 --> 01:24:04,720
get James a little bit more wiggle room. They have

1799
01:24:04,840 --> 01:24:07,560
a lot of questions they need to answer, but we

1800
01:24:07,680 --> 01:24:09,479
also don't know what the answer is gonna be until

1801
01:24:10,079 --> 01:24:12,600
probably ten to fifteen games into the season with him.

1802
01:24:12,840 --> 01:24:13,560
Speaker 5: Especially.

1803
01:24:15,000 --> 01:24:16,680
Speaker 2: Playing, by that point, we might have to wait longer

1804
01:24:16,760 --> 01:24:17,960
for what the full strength answer is.

1805
01:24:18,039 --> 01:24:21,399
Speaker 18: And I mean, going off of what they've said, they

1806
01:24:21,479 --> 01:24:23,600
haven't ruled out Opening night because they're not going to

1807
01:24:23,680 --> 01:24:26,359
rule out Opening night until they absolutely have to, because

1808
01:24:26,399 --> 01:24:28,520
opening night is the opening of the new arena.

1809
01:24:29,199 --> 01:24:30,960
Speaker 2: I will I don't even mean to interrupt you, but

1810
01:24:31,159 --> 01:24:33,960
like that would be surreal in a negative way of

1811
01:24:34,600 --> 01:24:36,399
look at what they gave up the pukawai and I'm

1812
01:24:36,439 --> 01:24:38,640
not relitigating the trade like those two were the face

1813
01:24:38,680 --> 01:24:40,880
of this different era. The whole point was kind of

1814
01:24:40,920 --> 01:24:42,399
like we're going to open the Intuit Dome with these

1815
01:24:42,439 --> 01:24:44,560
three stars, and imagine if I'm the opening night of

1816
01:24:44,600 --> 01:24:47,279
the Intuit Dome, they have one of one star and

1817
01:24:47,359 --> 01:24:48,880
it's neither PG nor Kawahi.

1818
01:24:48,960 --> 01:24:49,479
Speaker 4: I'm the court.

1819
01:24:49,600 --> 01:24:52,319
Speaker 2: That's just like, yes, you could believe it because of

1820
01:24:52,399 --> 01:24:54,279
everything that we've seen over the years, but it's also

1821
01:24:54,359 --> 01:24:55,199
kind of mind melding.

1822
01:24:56,119 --> 01:24:59,760
Speaker 18: Yeah, it's uh as. I would say it's very Clippers

1823
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:03,000
a lot of ways that they've had thirteen straight winning

1824
01:25:03,079 --> 01:25:05,319
seasons and the one season they go into the new arena,

1825
01:25:05,399 --> 01:25:08,119
basically they it looks like the same old thing has

1826
01:25:08,199 --> 01:25:13,359
been happening for them, whether karma or curses or just

1827
01:25:13,760 --> 01:25:15,359
playing sheer dumb luck, they've had all.

1828
01:25:15,319 --> 01:25:16,960
Speaker 2: Of it, and this is I think there's a number

1829
01:25:16,960 --> 01:25:18,319
of different ways that you could go with this one,

1830
01:25:18,359 --> 01:25:20,399
including a couple of things you just talked about. But so,

1831
01:25:20,520 --> 01:25:23,720
what is the biggest storyline for the Lakers this season?

1832
01:25:23,960 --> 01:25:26,560
Is it how JJ Redick fairs? Is it whether do

1833
01:25:26,680 --> 01:25:29,039
they have the gall to make some I don't want

1834
01:25:29,039 --> 01:25:32,279
to call it seismic, but like significant roster upgrades, or

1835
01:25:32,359 --> 01:25:34,079
is it something else that's happening on the court, Like

1836
01:25:34,119 --> 01:25:36,600
if they believe in this product, is will Ken his

1837
01:25:36,720 --> 01:25:39,920
team level up? Internally at all there What does Lebron

1838
01:25:40,039 --> 01:25:42,159
look like at age forty? How many games do Lebron

1839
01:25:42,199 --> 01:25:44,560
and ad play? And they played sixty six games together

1840
01:25:44,960 --> 01:25:48,199
last year and the Lakers still just weren't considered a contender.

1841
01:25:48,640 --> 01:25:50,279
That's the thing that blows my mind when I see

1842
01:25:50,319 --> 01:25:52,800
fans like saying, oh, well, don't connect an upgrade over

1843
01:25:52,880 --> 01:25:55,279
Torrian prints and one you don't get to just say

1844
01:25:55,359 --> 01:25:59,399
that about Torrian Prince was miscast, probably relied too much

1845
01:25:59,439 --> 01:26:02,159
upon by Dark but it wasn't like they don't have wings.

1846
01:26:02,279 --> 01:26:03,279
They still don't have wings.

1847
01:26:03,399 --> 01:26:04,560
Speaker 6: Still didn't do anything about that.

1848
01:26:06,239 --> 01:26:08,720
Speaker 2: What is the biggest storyline for you for this team?

1849
01:26:09,279 --> 01:26:11,159
Speaker 20: I think we've kind of gone over it. It is

1850
01:26:11,479 --> 01:26:14,720
like it's it's there are several things, and you know,

1851
01:26:14,800 --> 01:26:17,039
none of them are sexy. Sorry Lakers fans, but it

1852
01:26:17,199 --> 01:26:19,760
is going to be how JJ and his crew handle

1853
01:26:19,840 --> 01:26:22,399
this staff. It is going to be how they instance

1854
01:26:22,439 --> 01:26:25,159
you know, what type of defensive mindset they instill. Because

1855
01:26:25,159 --> 01:26:27,000
at the same time as I'm saying like, yeah, it's

1856
01:26:27,039 --> 01:26:30,239
about the you know, the philosophy and getting everybody, every

1857
01:26:30,439 --> 01:26:33,560
everybody to buy in, it's very difficult to make chicken

1858
01:26:33,600 --> 01:26:37,520
salad out of chicken shit. Okay, I'm sorry. If you

1859
01:26:37,720 --> 01:26:41,399
don't have the defensive personnel, it's very difficult to you know,

1860
01:26:41,479 --> 01:26:45,000
put a defensive lineup out there. What you can't you know,

1861
01:26:45,119 --> 01:26:47,439
you can perfect it and get the most out of

1862
01:26:47,560 --> 01:26:50,279
and maximize guys by putting them in better positions and

1863
01:26:50,520 --> 01:26:52,640
you know, like shifting them, you know, shifting the philosophy

1864
01:26:52,880 --> 01:26:55,520
in terms of crossing the boards, and shifting the philosophy

1865
01:26:55,520 --> 01:26:57,560
in terms of like, you know, whether you're gonna have

1866
01:26:57,560 --> 01:26:59,880
a D and drop coverage or you know, or whatever.

1867
01:26:59,680 --> 01:27:00,279
Speaker 14: The case may be.

1868
01:27:00,640 --> 01:27:04,760
Speaker 20: Yes, things can be shifted, but ultimately it's also a

1869
01:27:04,840 --> 01:27:08,920
matter of the roster. Again, you can't have three non

1870
01:27:09,000 --> 01:27:14,159
defenders in your starting five every single night. You're not

1871
01:27:14,319 --> 01:27:17,319
going to be successful in the NBA on a for

1872
01:27:17,520 --> 01:27:21,319
a you know, in any real or significant manner if

1873
01:27:21,399 --> 01:27:24,239
you have that scenario. I think, and this is the thing,

1874
01:27:24,479 --> 01:27:26,640
this is the port of contingtion. Some people think BAM

1875
01:27:26,800 --> 01:27:29,359
is the most you know, versutile defender and you know,

1876
01:27:29,399 --> 01:27:31,640
big defender in league. Some people, you know, whoever you

1877
01:27:31,760 --> 01:27:34,880
think it is, I personally have watched a D up close.

1878
01:27:35,159 --> 01:27:37,840
I've seen what he can do. I've seen what he's

1879
01:27:37,920 --> 01:27:40,880
been asked to cover for And I still say, even

1880
01:27:41,039 --> 01:27:43,840
right now, I'll take a d as the anchor of

1881
01:27:43,920 --> 01:27:46,960
my defense. But you can't expect him. You can't expect

1882
01:27:47,039 --> 01:27:48,479
him to you know what I'm saying, Like, you know,

1883
01:27:48,600 --> 01:27:52,359
make miracles happen when you have just total sieves and

1884
01:27:52,479 --> 01:27:55,800
you have individuals that are being permitted to not really

1885
01:27:55,960 --> 01:27:58,960
give much of an effort on that end. No disrespect

1886
01:27:59,000 --> 01:28:01,880
to the legends, but we all know who I'm talking about. Uh,

1887
01:28:02,000 --> 01:28:04,560
you know, for long stretches of the regular season, of course,

1888
01:28:04,960 --> 01:28:06,920
you can't have that and expect them to be good.

1889
01:28:07,000 --> 01:28:09,319
So really, what are you gonna do with this roster?

1890
01:28:09,840 --> 01:28:13,079
How are you how are you going to implement your philosophies?

1891
01:28:13,319 --> 01:28:15,840
And then really truly, how are you going to place

1892
01:28:16,039 --> 01:28:18,479
your players that you do ultimately have? How are you

1893
01:28:18,479 --> 01:28:19,880
gonna put them in the best position to win.

1894
01:28:20,039 --> 01:28:22,399
Speaker 2: I've been asking people to open things up. What's their

1895
01:28:22,439 --> 01:28:25,199
biggest storyline that they're tracking for their team leading into

1896
01:28:25,239 --> 01:28:27,680
next season? And I pride myself on kind of knowing

1897
01:28:27,720 --> 01:28:29,640
what the answer is going to be for most of

1898
01:28:29,680 --> 01:28:32,800
these teams. From my guests, I have zero idea what

1899
01:28:32,840 --> 01:28:35,279
you're about to tell me when I feel like I

1900
01:28:35,319 --> 01:28:38,079
could maybe guess, but there's like three to five things

1901
01:28:38,159 --> 01:28:39,680
that I could if I was to just ask this,

1902
01:28:39,960 --> 01:28:42,880
like answer it myself. So what is your biggest storyline

1903
01:28:42,880 --> 01:28:45,439
that you're monitoring for this team entering uh next year?

1904
01:28:45,479 --> 01:28:45,800
Speaker 15: Like could it?

1905
01:28:45,840 --> 01:28:47,199
Speaker 2: It could be just the health, it could be the

1906
01:28:47,399 --> 01:28:49,359
fit of Zach EATI. We really haven't seen the fit

1907
01:28:49,399 --> 01:28:51,479
of Marcus Smart with everyone, there's just so many different

1908
01:28:51,479 --> 01:28:52,119
directions to go.

1909
01:28:53,159 --> 01:28:56,079
Speaker 21: I think the biggest storyline is pretty simple. This is

1910
01:28:56,119 --> 01:28:58,359
a keep the main thing, the main thing. The biggest

1911
01:28:58,359 --> 01:29:03,000
storyline is is Jamarant back? Like if Joam Moran is

1912
01:29:03,039 --> 01:29:05,640
just that guy we briefly saw it last year. I

1913
01:29:05,720 --> 01:29:09,640
mean it was almost a storybook last year when he

1914
01:29:09,720 --> 01:29:12,039
first came back, he missed the first twenty five games

1915
01:29:12,359 --> 01:29:15,600
that Grizzlies were six and nineteen. In his first game back,

1916
01:29:15,720 --> 01:29:19,319
the first game Joamrant played last year, he hit a

1917
01:29:19,439 --> 01:29:23,680
buzzer beater to beat the Pelicans. He had thirty four

1918
01:29:23,760 --> 01:29:25,760
points that they rallied from twenty four down. He's a

1919
01:29:25,800 --> 01:29:27,760
shot at the buzzer to win. They win their first

1920
01:29:27,800 --> 01:29:30,520
four games with Jah Morant and it's like WHOA, We're back.

1921
01:29:30,840 --> 01:29:33,640
But then after nine games he gets injured out for

1922
01:29:33,720 --> 01:29:34,239
the season.

1923
01:29:35,239 --> 01:29:37,239
Speaker 2: He won Western.

1924
01:29:36,920 --> 01:29:39,199
Speaker 21: Conference Player of the Week the first week he played

1925
01:29:39,239 --> 01:29:41,199
last year, so it looked like Joah Morant was back

1926
01:29:41,279 --> 01:29:42,239
last season, but we only.

1927
01:29:42,119 --> 01:29:42,760
Speaker 2: Got nine games.

1928
01:29:42,960 --> 01:29:46,439
Speaker 21: So the main issue for the Grizzlies is ja Morant

1929
01:29:46,520 --> 01:29:50,279
gonna come back and be the all NBA caliber player

1930
01:29:50,359 --> 01:29:51,399
that he was beforehand.

1931
01:29:51,399 --> 01:29:52,680
Speaker 2: There's no reason he shouldn't be.

1932
01:29:53,600 --> 01:29:56,159
Speaker 21: Still very very young, still very very good, but it

1933
01:29:56,239 --> 01:29:59,560
seems like the whole league has forgotten about Ja Morant.

1934
01:30:00,199 --> 01:30:05,000
Speaker 10: And I listen to a lot of preview podcasts.

1935
01:30:05,119 --> 01:30:08,720
Speaker 21: I read stuff I see like the player rankings, and

1936
01:30:08,840 --> 01:30:11,000
I never get upset about a player ranking. I know

1937
01:30:11,079 --> 01:30:15,279
they're for entertainment, but my eyebrow did go up very

1938
01:30:15,399 --> 01:30:17,960
very high when it's like John Ris the thirtieth best

1939
01:30:18,000 --> 01:30:21,239
player in the NBA, like based on what I've seen

1940
01:30:21,279 --> 01:30:23,840
that multiple like like like that ballpark where I'm like,

1941
01:30:24,600 --> 01:30:27,279
the guy is a thirty point per game scorer, the

1942
01:30:27,359 --> 01:30:29,600
guy can't be guarded, the guy's a great passer, and

1943
01:30:29,680 --> 01:30:30,119
the guy.

1944
01:30:30,039 --> 01:30:32,800
Speaker 10: Has won, He's won consistently.

1945
01:30:33,199 --> 01:30:35,439
Speaker 21: It's weird where people draw in the off the court

1946
01:30:35,479 --> 01:30:39,159
stuff talking about jaw and they I don't know what

1947
01:30:39,319 --> 01:30:41,520
it is, and they say things about him. They describe

1948
01:30:41,560 --> 01:30:44,319
his game as like, doesn't play a winning style, and

1949
01:30:44,600 --> 01:30:46,439
I don't think I'm fighting a straw man here, Like

1950
01:30:46,640 --> 01:30:49,079
I see people saying stuff, and I'm like, he's won.

1951
01:30:49,640 --> 01:30:51,279
Speaker 22: He's won his entire career.

1952
01:30:51,399 --> 01:30:53,359
Speaker 21: They were supposed to be awful his rookie season, and

1953
01:30:53,399 --> 01:30:55,439
they were competitive and good. They would have made the

1954
01:30:55,479 --> 01:30:58,239
playoffs if they hadn't come up with the fictitious bubble

1955
01:30:59,439 --> 01:31:02,640
tournament thing where you had to qualify for the playoffs in.

1956
01:31:02,720 --> 01:31:03,840
Speaker 4: The middle of the season.

1957
01:31:03,960 --> 01:31:06,039
Speaker 2: Dan they changed the rules for the playoffs.

1958
01:31:06,439 --> 01:31:06,800
Speaker 4: They did it.

1959
01:31:07,239 --> 01:31:08,600
Speaker 2: They did it to him, p John Moran.

1960
01:31:08,840 --> 01:31:11,600
Speaker 21: They did it to give Zion Williamson a chance of

1961
01:31:11,680 --> 01:31:15,520
making the playoffs. I can't believe the league presidents or

1962
01:31:15,560 --> 01:31:18,800
the whoever's involved signed off on it. If I was

1963
01:31:18,840 --> 01:31:21,159
in a fantasy league and you change the rules halfway

1964
01:31:21,239 --> 01:31:24,199
through to keep my team out, No, JOm Moran's one.

1965
01:31:24,920 --> 01:31:26,880
Speaker 10: John Moran and the playoffs has been amazing.

1966
01:31:26,960 --> 01:31:29,039
Speaker 21: He's even stepped up his level of play in the playoffs.

1967
01:31:29,279 --> 01:31:32,800
So the biggest storyline for the Grizzlies is basically is

1968
01:31:32,880 --> 01:31:37,119
John Murant gonna play seventy games and reclaim I think

1969
01:31:37,159 --> 01:31:39,239
his rightful place as being one of the top fifteen

1970
01:31:39,279 --> 01:31:41,199
players in the league is there, like a.

1971
01:31:41,239 --> 01:31:44,479
Speaker 2: Because he's still only twenty five, he's super young. Is

1972
01:31:44,520 --> 01:31:46,359
the next step for him still? Just like, hey, he

1973
01:31:46,439 --> 01:31:49,399
hasn't shot thirty five percent on spot up three since

1974
01:31:49,439 --> 01:31:52,159
his rookie year. Let's just have that happen because the

1975
01:31:52,279 --> 01:31:54,159
volume is like kind of there. I mean, I know

1976
01:31:54,279 --> 01:31:55,640
last year he didn't play it tip Like when you

1977
01:31:55,680 --> 01:31:58,039
look at kind of the trajectory of the three point attempts,

1978
01:31:58,039 --> 01:32:00,560
like okay, I'm okay with the volume, those things could

1979
01:32:00,600 --> 01:32:02,800
fall at and I'm not asking him to hit all

1980
01:32:02,840 --> 01:32:04,880
these like complicated step backs, but that just kind of

1981
01:32:04,920 --> 01:32:07,880
feels like offensively the last frontier for him.

1982
01:32:08,479 --> 01:32:11,880
Speaker 21: Yeah, there's some formula for how good the Grizzlies are

1983
01:32:11,920 --> 01:32:15,359
going to win next year. There's some like fake formula

1984
01:32:15,439 --> 01:32:18,880
that I'm gonna make up. It's some combination of Jamarant

1985
01:32:19,039 --> 01:32:24,560
games played times, Jamarant three point percentage, Like if Ja Morant,

1986
01:32:25,039 --> 01:32:28,399
maybe include Gg Jackson in there too, Like if John

1987
01:32:28,479 --> 01:32:31,960
and Gigi can make like thirty four percent of their

1988
01:32:32,000 --> 01:32:36,439
three pointers and also be healthy in play, the Grizzlies

1989
01:32:36,439 --> 01:32:38,239
are gonna win a lot of games in the regular season,

1990
01:32:38,520 --> 01:32:41,039
if joshoot's thirty two percent for three, it's gonna be

1991
01:32:41,039 --> 01:32:43,039
a little bit a little bit harder. So yeah, I

1992
01:32:43,119 --> 01:32:47,600
think still that jump shot, if he could add that,

1993
01:32:48,359 --> 01:32:51,880
just get to the Dearn Fox level of knocking down

1994
01:32:51,920 --> 01:32:54,840
a few more jumpers, that's gonna help his game, I

1995
01:32:55,119 --> 01:32:58,439
think tremendously. Maybe the other thing you always ask about

1996
01:32:58,439 --> 01:33:02,640
his defense, Although John He's been a part of really

1997
01:33:02,720 --> 01:33:06,760
good defensive teams, so I think he can do enough

1998
01:33:06,880 --> 01:33:10,079
there to not be a total.

1999
01:33:10,279 --> 01:33:15,920
Speaker 22: Just uh SIV and allow everyone to penetrate past him.

2000
01:33:16,119 --> 01:33:19,119
Speaker 21: I do think, yeah, maybe the final level for Jomran's

2001
01:33:19,159 --> 01:33:22,760
game is just consistently being able to hit three pointers.

2002
01:33:22,960 --> 01:33:26,199
We're not asking for the world thirty four would be great.

2003
01:33:27,079 --> 01:33:30,239
Speaker 2: But when you're looking at this season, what is the

2004
01:33:30,319 --> 01:33:32,920
biggest storyline to you that you will be tracking as

2005
01:33:32,960 --> 01:33:34,560
we get into it and over the course of it.

2006
01:33:34,680 --> 01:33:36,760
I feel like I could guess where you're gonna say

2007
01:33:36,760 --> 01:33:38,199
if I had to, But I'm very interested to hear

2008
01:33:38,199 --> 01:33:38,640
your answer.

2009
01:33:38,800 --> 01:33:40,239
Speaker 23: Well, now you're gonna have to tell me your guests

2010
01:33:40,319 --> 01:33:43,920
after Obviously, I mean health aside, because I think that's

2011
01:33:43,960 --> 01:33:47,800
an obvious one. I'm super curious if BAM is gonna

2012
01:33:48,079 --> 01:33:50,680
continue to be the BAM that we saw.

2013
01:33:51,760 --> 01:33:53,319
Speaker 2: I did not think you were gonna say that, and

2014
01:33:53,439 --> 01:33:55,760
I love it because that's real sick. Oh shit, So

2015
01:33:56,199 --> 01:33:56,680
please wait?

2016
01:33:56,760 --> 01:33:58,159
Speaker 23: What did you think I was gonna say?

2017
01:33:58,439 --> 01:34:01,800
Speaker 2: Con track to you here, Jimmy Butler, No, I'm that

2018
01:34:02,000 --> 01:34:03,560
is I I.

2019
01:34:03,560 --> 01:34:05,880
Speaker 23: Don't know if it's just me. I am not concerned

2020
01:34:05,920 --> 01:34:07,920
about that at all. This man is not going anywhere.

2021
01:34:08,239 --> 01:34:11,800
I honestly, I almost feel like both him and the

2022
01:34:11,920 --> 01:34:14,880
front office, primarily Pat Riley, are like playing with people

2023
01:34:15,520 --> 01:34:17,760
at this point. When I saw that quote from Pat

2024
01:34:17,840 --> 01:34:20,279
come out, like honestly, I was just like, oh, this

2025
01:34:20,439 --> 01:34:23,720
is totally orchestrated by him and Jimmy together to kind

2026
01:34:23,760 --> 01:34:27,119
of feed into the whole heat twitter mania that was

2027
01:34:27,199 --> 01:34:29,920
going on at that time. I don't know, maybe I'm

2028
01:34:29,960 --> 01:34:32,159
going to eat my words. I'm just I'm not concerned.

2029
01:34:32,279 --> 01:34:36,840
I'm really curious how BAM is going to progress and less.

2030
01:34:37,000 --> 01:34:40,840
So honestly, I don't necessarily even I mean, more is

2031
01:34:40,880 --> 01:34:44,039
always better, but I don't necessarily expect more. I just

2032
01:34:44,520 --> 01:34:48,079
want him to stay consistently this aggressive on both ends

2033
01:34:48,079 --> 01:34:48,479
of the floor.

2034
01:34:50,000 --> 01:34:51,960
Speaker 2: Let's stick with the Jimmy thing for a second. So

2035
01:34:52,039 --> 01:34:54,640
you say you're not concerned. I think you could probably

2036
01:34:54,680 --> 01:34:56,760
argue that contract to your Jimmy Butler might be terrifying

2037
01:34:56,800 --> 01:34:58,720
for the rest of the league, But it also does

2038
01:34:58,840 --> 01:35:01,640
create a storyline because there's the report. Don't I don't

2039
01:35:01,680 --> 01:35:03,760
care about the Brooklyn report. I dare you to go

2040
01:35:03,840 --> 01:35:05,439
sign with the Nets at this point, and what I

2041
01:35:05,439 --> 01:35:08,439
would say, but the whole he wants to the report

2042
01:35:08,479 --> 01:35:10,600
that he wants to get to free agency. You are

2043
01:35:10,800 --> 01:35:12,720
this is someone who is the thirty five years old,

2044
01:35:12,800 --> 01:35:15,279
like your timeline, and team is very much still built

2045
01:35:15,720 --> 01:35:17,960
around him. He is headed into a contract year. He

2046
01:35:18,079 --> 01:35:20,039
will have a market if he gets the free agency

2047
01:35:20,119 --> 01:35:22,520
because he's one of the players who can actually shift

2048
01:35:22,600 --> 01:35:25,319
things that might actually get the free agency. Now, you

2049
01:35:25,399 --> 01:35:27,439
don't think that that kind of has the potential to

2050
01:35:27,479 --> 01:35:29,119
become a distraction for this.

2051
01:35:29,239 --> 01:35:34,920
Speaker 23: Team, No, j Jimy's just built different. I feel like

2052
01:35:36,159 --> 01:35:41,159
I've never seen a player so I don't even know

2053
01:35:41,239 --> 01:35:43,920
how to put this. I just feel like he's preparing

2054
01:35:44,079 --> 01:35:48,960
himself for what comes next already and has been doing

2055
01:35:49,039 --> 01:35:50,600
so for so long. And that's not to say that

2056
01:35:50,680 --> 01:35:54,039
he's near retirement anytime soon or that he isn't like

2057
01:35:54,720 --> 01:35:57,319
completely giving is all on the court, But I feel

2058
01:35:57,359 --> 01:36:00,439
like between big Face and the Alo yoga st I

2059
01:36:01,359 --> 01:36:03,600
don't know. To me, he's not the type of player

2060
01:36:03,680 --> 01:36:07,239
that I'm concerned is kind of scrambling because he's nearing

2061
01:36:07,279 --> 01:36:10,479
the end and wants this big payout. I think at

2062
01:36:10,560 --> 01:36:13,479
this point he wants to win as much as possible

2063
01:36:14,479 --> 01:36:18,279
and as badly as anyone. But I don't think he's

2064
01:36:18,439 --> 01:36:22,000
necessarily gonna bring down the team or completely shift his

2065
01:36:22,239 --> 01:36:25,880
entire life because of that. Again, I don't know if

2066
01:36:25,920 --> 01:36:29,560
I just have a different read on him or a

2067
01:36:29,640 --> 01:36:33,039
wrong read on both him and Riley, but just from

2068
01:36:33,119 --> 01:36:35,760
things that I've noticed, especially last season, but even the

2069
01:36:36,079 --> 01:36:38,920
two or three seasons prior, there's a lot of leaning

2070
01:36:39,119 --> 01:36:43,239
in to everything, all the noise that's happening outside of

2071
01:36:43,479 --> 01:36:46,880
the team, whether that's media or fans, and I don't know,

2072
01:36:47,039 --> 01:36:49,159
to me, it's all just them like leaning.

2073
01:36:48,960 --> 01:36:49,760
Speaker 19: Into this narrative.

2074
01:36:50,640 --> 01:36:54,199
Speaker 2: That's interesting. I would be very concerned if you hit

2075
01:36:54,239 --> 01:36:56,079
a rough patcher if this team is not as good

2076
01:36:56,119 --> 01:36:59,720
as fans or internally they want to be that. I

2077
01:36:59,760 --> 01:37:02,439
don't think he's gonna like destroy them from within. But

2078
01:37:02,600 --> 01:37:05,359
that's when it becomes gut check time of like if

2079
01:37:05,399 --> 01:37:07,560
we're like eighth, Like what does that mean? Like he's

2080
01:37:07,600 --> 01:37:10,239
only gonna get older. And so that's the perspective I'm

2081
01:37:10,279 --> 01:37:13,039
coming at it from. And also I think Jimmy Butler

2082
01:37:13,079 --> 01:37:14,239
and the Heat in general have lost some of their

2083
01:37:14,319 --> 01:37:16,520
mystique about like kind of fuck the regular season when

2084
01:37:16,560 --> 01:37:18,640
you just weren't healthy to even once you got to

2085
01:37:18,680 --> 01:37:21,319
the playoffs, and like there's only so many times you

2086
01:37:21,399 --> 01:37:23,520
can get to the postseason while being like a fringe

2087
01:37:23,520 --> 01:37:27,600
playoff team anyway, And so I think, again it might

2088
01:37:27,680 --> 01:37:29,520
not be I think Jimmy Butler plays well. I think

2089
01:37:29,600 --> 01:37:31,359
his agent curve has been fine. He put up like

2090
01:37:31,520 --> 01:37:34,600
all star caliber numbers last year. The two point efficiency

2091
01:37:34,680 --> 01:37:36,399
dropped a little bit, but he did take more threes.

2092
01:37:36,479 --> 01:37:38,880
He made more threes. I still am very curious see

2093
01:37:38,880 --> 01:37:41,520
how he specifically does age. Have you made anything of

2094
01:37:41,600 --> 01:37:43,920
that about just like the trajectory of how his game

2095
01:37:44,319 --> 01:37:46,279
that's not only just leading into this season, but like

2096
01:37:46,439 --> 01:37:48,640
if they're gonna resign him, it's gonna be years beyond

2097
01:37:48,720 --> 01:37:49,000
that too.

2098
01:37:49,399 --> 01:37:51,159
Speaker 23: Yeah, I mean, I do think his game is gonna

2099
01:37:51,159 --> 01:37:53,279
have to change a little bit. I do think he's

2100
01:37:53,319 --> 01:37:56,720
smart enough to do so in a way that it

2101
01:37:56,800 --> 01:37:59,039
doesn't take God forbid, like a major injury to have

2102
01:37:59,239 --> 01:38:02,640
him had to that moment. You know, whether that is

2103
01:38:03,279 --> 01:38:05,279
I don't know if it's taking more threes or honestly

2104
01:38:05,399 --> 01:38:08,600
just become a becoming more of a facilitator. I think

2105
01:38:08,680 --> 01:38:12,560
that he would rather protect his health than go full

2106
01:38:12,680 --> 01:38:15,239
fledge into you know, the way that he's been playing

2107
01:38:15,680 --> 01:38:20,239
I don't know, maybe two three seasons ago and risk that. However,

2108
01:38:20,399 --> 01:38:23,479
with that said, I mean, the man's conditioning is a plus.

2109
01:38:23,640 --> 01:38:24,079
Speaker 14: You see.

2110
01:38:24,760 --> 01:38:27,640
Speaker 23: I know you can't necessarily judge everything based on social media,

2111
01:38:27,720 --> 01:38:29,680
but you see all the work that he puts in.

2112
01:38:30,319 --> 01:38:31,600
Speaker 5: You know, pumps.

2113
01:38:32,199 --> 01:38:34,720
Speaker 2: I judge everything by shoulder pumps, and Jimmy gets one

2114
01:38:34,720 --> 01:38:36,119
of the best shoulder pumps in the NBA.

2115
01:38:36,279 --> 01:38:38,239
Speaker 23: So I don't know why, but that just made me

2116
01:38:38,319 --> 01:38:41,720
think of Zion, who is an entire different caliber of player,

2117
01:38:41,720 --> 01:38:43,880
if you can even call him a player at this point.

2118
01:38:44,840 --> 01:38:46,720
Speaker 4: But no, I don't know.

2119
01:38:46,840 --> 01:38:49,560
Speaker 23: I think he's he's gonna be smart about it. The

2120
01:38:49,640 --> 01:38:53,399
other thing, too, is Jimmy doesn't do anything anyone else's way,

2121
01:38:53,520 --> 01:38:55,600
and I feel like that also gives me a little

2122
01:38:55,640 --> 01:38:59,079
bit more confidence in his future with the heat. I

2123
01:38:59,159 --> 01:39:01,479
think if we were talking about most other players, and yes,

2124
01:39:01,560 --> 01:39:03,840
it would be a concern, But to me, Jimmy is

2125
01:39:03,920 --> 01:39:04,399
just Jimmy.

2126
01:39:05,159 --> 01:39:06,199
Speaker 5: So I don't know.

2127
01:39:06,439 --> 01:39:09,560
Speaker 23: I hope I'm not wrong, but I'm not really concerned

2128
01:39:09,600 --> 01:39:09,920
about that.

2129
01:39:10,479 --> 01:39:13,039
Speaker 2: I get to dictate so much of how these episodes

2130
01:39:13,119 --> 01:39:15,560
go that I wanted to include this question to start

2131
01:39:15,600 --> 01:39:18,840
things off this year. What is the biggest storyline you'll

2132
01:39:18,880 --> 01:39:21,479
be monitoring for this team throughout this coming season?

2133
01:39:22,760 --> 01:39:23,359
Speaker 14: Health first?

2134
01:39:23,479 --> 01:39:25,039
Speaker 24: But I'm not even gonna talk about it because it's

2135
01:39:25,079 --> 01:39:27,600
not fun. But obviously that's gonna be the number one,

2136
01:39:28,279 --> 01:39:31,000
the most fun one, and the one that was worth

2137
01:39:31,079 --> 01:39:35,079
talking about. It's probably just like Dame Chris and the

2138
01:39:35,159 --> 01:39:38,319
Honest together, and you mentioned the Bucks were really good

2139
01:39:38,439 --> 01:39:41,399
when those three played together, and like, are really good

2140
01:39:41,520 --> 01:39:43,720
to the point of you'd think, like, okay, they're probably

2141
01:39:43,800 --> 01:39:44,840
a contender anyway.

2142
01:39:45,319 --> 01:39:47,600
Speaker 14: But some of the buzz is like it should be better,

2143
01:39:47,760 --> 01:39:48,800
and I think it can be better.

2144
01:39:48,840 --> 01:39:49,960
Speaker 24: I mean, I think if you watch it, I think

2145
01:39:49,960 --> 01:39:51,720
you would agree, And a lot of people have like

2146
01:39:51,800 --> 01:39:55,800
they weren't all that cohesive at all, especially the fabled

2147
01:39:55,880 --> 01:39:56,920
Damianis pick and roll.

2148
01:39:57,000 --> 01:39:58,279
Speaker 14: They didn't really get good at it.

2149
01:39:58,439 --> 01:40:01,119
Speaker 24: That the Dame Brooke pick and roll was better and

2150
01:40:01,359 --> 01:40:03,800
Chris Gianni's actions were better because they've been doing it

2151
01:40:03,880 --> 01:40:06,640
for a decade. No, no real surprise there, But all

2152
01:40:06,680 --> 01:40:09,279
of the focus since Doc really came in was we

2153
01:40:09,399 --> 01:40:12,199
need to get this played down, like that's that's their thing.

2154
01:40:12,279 --> 01:40:14,680
I think that can separate them from every other team

2155
01:40:14,720 --> 01:40:18,279
in the league is you could look at other teams

2156
01:40:18,319 --> 01:40:21,199
are deeper, certainly Boston. Maybe you can say other teams

2157
01:40:21,239 --> 01:40:24,399
have more top end talent. I don't think there is

2158
01:40:24,640 --> 01:40:28,680
another action maybe outside of Denver, that you could be

2159
01:40:28,800 --> 01:40:31,600
as devastating singularly as a Damianis pick and roll.

2160
01:40:31,680 --> 01:40:32,199
Speaker 14: Like, I think it.

2161
01:40:32,239 --> 01:40:36,119
Speaker 24: Should be as unguardable as anything that exists, especially given

2162
01:40:36,359 --> 01:40:38,640
they have the personnel around it, right Gary Trent on

2163
01:40:38,760 --> 01:40:41,199
one wing, Chris Middleton on the other, whether you have

2164
01:40:41,239 --> 01:40:43,640
another guard, a big whoever, someone in the dunker spot,

2165
01:40:44,359 --> 01:40:47,319
it's pretty unguardable. It should be totally impossible to stop.

2166
01:40:47,359 --> 01:40:50,840
I mean, their gravity totally shifted to teams doubling Dame

2167
01:40:50,920 --> 01:40:53,479
around half court, which Giannis has never seen anything like

2168
01:40:53,560 --> 01:40:57,479
this before. The floor totally shifted. So really those two

2169
01:40:57,600 --> 01:40:59,039
but I'll throw on Chris as well. I think they're

2170
01:40:59,039 --> 01:41:00,680
gonna do something because he's not it's just gonna be

2171
01:41:00,680 --> 01:41:02,840
spacing right. It's a really good player. But like those

2172
01:41:02,920 --> 01:41:06,079
three being even better together, I think, because I think

2173
01:41:06,119 --> 01:41:08,199
that's what whether the regular season numbers are the same,

2174
01:41:08,319 --> 01:41:10,640
better a little worse in terms of their on court efficiency,

2175
01:41:11,000 --> 01:41:13,720
if they're gonna win a title, it's because a close

2176
01:41:13,840 --> 01:41:15,840
game in the last five minutes, they can just say

2177
01:41:16,319 --> 01:41:18,399
we're gonna get a really good look every single time,

2178
01:41:18,560 --> 01:41:21,199
Like we're gonna score every time, We'll make the stops.

2179
01:41:21,319 --> 01:41:24,159
Brook and Giannis and Trent and whoever will figure that out,

2180
01:41:24,600 --> 01:41:26,920
but we can just be totally unguardable and get a

2181
01:41:26,960 --> 01:41:29,520
great shot every time and just win. So that's what

2182
01:41:29,640 --> 01:41:31,640
I think their biggest storyline is is can those two

2183
01:41:31,720 --> 01:41:34,520
go from we made it work because we're so good

2184
01:41:34,600 --> 01:41:39,039
to okay, we're actually on all cylinders and no one

2185
01:41:39,159 --> 01:41:40,840
can guard this action at all anymore.

2186
01:41:40,840 --> 01:41:42,319
Speaker 14: I think that's gonna be number one for me.

2187
01:41:42,520 --> 01:41:44,960
Speaker 11: Dan, We're gonna talk about the Minnesota Timberwolves real quick

2188
01:41:45,000 --> 01:41:47,119
here ahead of the twenty four to twenty five season.

2189
01:41:47,279 --> 01:41:50,960
As you look at this remade Wolves team post big trade.

2190
01:41:51,239 --> 01:41:53,880
What do you think the main storyline is for them

2191
01:41:53,960 --> 01:41:56,319
that you'll be watching for paying attention to this season?

2192
01:41:57,119 --> 01:41:57,239
Speaker 5: Now?

2193
01:41:57,359 --> 01:42:00,479
Speaker 2: How do we covered this before a couple month ago,

2194
01:42:00,520 --> 01:42:03,399
which we did with Kyle Taigee of the Dane Moore

2195
01:42:03,520 --> 01:42:06,279
NBA Show. I think it would have been Rob Dillingham

2196
01:42:06,359 --> 01:42:08,800
and how they integrate him. But now it's just going

2197
01:42:08,840 --> 01:42:11,520
from Karl Anthony Towns and Julius Randall Dante DiVincenzo and

2198
01:42:11,600 --> 01:42:15,720
what that fit looks like. I've got I understand the

2199
01:42:15,800 --> 01:42:17,800
logic of what they did, and I think I've kind

2200
01:42:17,800 --> 01:42:19,920
of come out of it that the deal almost seems

2201
01:42:20,000 --> 01:42:22,159
safer for them than it does the Knicks. But I

2202
01:42:22,319 --> 01:42:25,319
understand it for both teams. But there is real risk there,

2203
01:42:25,439 --> 01:42:27,800
I think, especially once you get to the playoffs, because

2204
01:42:28,000 --> 01:42:30,920
I do think the theory, aside from the financial benefits

2205
01:42:30,960 --> 01:42:33,800
you get of Julius Randall potentially being an expiring contract,

2206
01:42:34,359 --> 01:42:36,319
is you've now added someone who's just has more on

2207
01:42:36,520 --> 01:42:39,880
ball gravity as a shot creator. That is not translated

2208
01:42:39,920 --> 01:42:42,199
to the playoffs. Now, maybe it's different on a team

2209
01:42:42,239 --> 01:42:44,680
that has Anthony Edwards as the number one option as

2210
01:42:44,680 --> 01:42:47,800
opposed to Okay, yeah, they had Jallen Brunson for one year,

2211
01:42:47,840 --> 01:42:50,600
but the other year Julius Randall was the number one option,

2212
01:42:50,800 --> 01:42:52,600
and so like, that's not a situation you want to

2213
01:42:52,640 --> 01:42:55,880
be in. Doesn't harm your defense at all, it could.

2214
01:42:55,920 --> 01:42:57,920
I think it makes Rudy Gobert's job harder because of

2215
01:42:58,000 --> 01:43:00,960
how well Karl Anthony Town's played at that end. I

2216
01:43:01,039 --> 01:43:05,039
do find myself more optimistic though, because Devincenzo fills what

2217
01:43:05,199 --> 01:43:07,399
was arguably their biggest weakness last year. I think we

2218
01:43:07,520 --> 01:43:11,520
still default to secondary creation ball handling, passing, whatever, but

2219
01:43:11,640 --> 01:43:13,760
like their wing shooting was not a strong suit, and

2220
01:43:13,840 --> 01:43:17,840
now it's absolutely a potential strength because in two ways,

2221
01:43:17,880 --> 01:43:20,439
because Julius Randall's gonna allow Anthony Edwards to play off

2222
01:43:20,479 --> 01:43:22,479
the ball a little bit more, but then just Dante

2223
01:43:22,520 --> 01:43:24,800
Divincenzo's gonna come in and light it up. And I

2224
01:43:24,840 --> 01:43:28,279
think your bench overall during the non Edwards minutes, you

2225
01:43:28,359 --> 01:43:32,079
could do something like if you're using Randall, Devincenzo and

2226
01:43:32,199 --> 01:43:35,439
Nikhil Alexander Walker is kind of your like bass, and

2227
01:43:35,479 --> 01:43:37,760
then nas Reed is sort of like your base second

2228
01:43:37,880 --> 01:43:40,680
unit heavy mob. Oh my god. Like there's a lot

2229
01:43:40,680 --> 01:43:44,079
of two way potential there and enough I think Julius

2230
01:43:44,119 --> 01:43:46,520
Randad gives you enough creation you could sprinkle Rob Dillingham

2231
01:43:46,600 --> 01:43:49,239
in there. Dante Evincenzo can do a little bit off

2232
01:43:49,279 --> 01:43:50,800
the ball. You don't want him to do too much.

2233
01:43:51,359 --> 01:43:53,159
I'm just fascinated to see how it all comes together.

2234
01:43:53,319 --> 01:43:55,800
And finally, before I throw it to you, I think

2235
01:43:55,800 --> 01:43:57,880
people have talked a lot about how Chris Finch hasn't

2236
01:43:57,880 --> 01:44:00,760
been inventive enough on the offensive end. I think he

2237
01:44:00,840 --> 01:44:02,800
hasn't really had the personnel to do so. And now

2238
01:44:02,840 --> 01:44:05,920
you add someone like Julius Randall and Donte DiVincenzo, I

2239
01:44:05,960 --> 01:44:09,520
think we'll see that part of his coaching really flourish

2240
01:44:09,640 --> 01:44:12,319
or like get super experimental, or you'll be able to

2241
01:44:12,520 --> 01:44:15,760
more identify, like something stand out from that the Wolves

2242
01:44:15,800 --> 01:44:16,119
are doing.

2243
01:44:16,520 --> 01:44:20,359
Speaker 11: Yeah, I definitely agree that the new angle to cover

2244
01:44:20,600 --> 01:44:22,479
is just like, and this is one of our first

2245
01:44:22,560 --> 01:44:24,960
questions when the deal went down, is like, how much

2246
01:44:25,039 --> 01:44:27,760
of this move is a basketball move versus a financial move?

2247
01:44:28,079 --> 01:44:29,960
Because the risk that you alluded to is you just

2248
01:44:30,039 --> 01:44:33,279
took a team that you know had every chance of

2249
01:44:33,880 --> 01:44:36,399
advancing to the finals potentially like looking at this year

2250
01:44:36,439 --> 01:44:38,520
based on how last year went and maybe made it

2251
01:44:38,640 --> 01:44:41,800
worse on the floor for financial reasons maybe, but with

2252
01:44:41,960 --> 01:44:44,279
some distance from it, the piece is kind of fit.

2253
01:44:44,439 --> 01:44:46,439
And a lot of that's Stevencenzo, as you alluded to,

2254
01:44:46,880 --> 01:44:49,479
because his ability to shoot on the move at volume

2255
01:44:49,600 --> 01:44:51,960
and playmate as a secondary guy is just like, we

2256
01:44:52,079 --> 01:44:55,319
got new dimensions now so that it's different and that's

2257
01:44:55,399 --> 01:44:58,039
risky because the Wolves were already established is really good.

2258
01:44:58,520 --> 01:45:03,439
But I do think monitoring how much different and maybe

2259
01:45:03,520 --> 01:45:06,039
more effective the offense is is just like, that's what

2260
01:45:06,079 --> 01:45:07,760
we got to focus on with these new pieces. How

2261
01:45:08,039 --> 01:45:10,399
does Randall fit in? What's the best use of him?

2262
01:45:10,600 --> 01:45:13,279
Is it as a backup creator? Maybe on second units?

2263
01:45:13,560 --> 01:45:15,840
I don't know the other thing I throw out there

2264
01:45:15,960 --> 01:45:18,359
and you you said, I think you're right, as like, well,

2265
01:45:19,159 --> 01:45:21,159
a month ago or before the trade, we would have

2266
01:45:21,159 --> 01:45:24,760
been asking about Dillingham, before the draft, the storyline would

2267
01:45:24,760 --> 01:45:27,039
have been, well, how much how much bigger of a

2268
01:45:27,119 --> 01:45:28,279
leap can Anthony Edwards make?

2269
01:45:28,600 --> 01:45:28,920
Speaker 18: Like that?

2270
01:45:29,159 --> 01:45:32,319
Speaker 11: That's like that, really we can talk about everything else

2271
01:45:32,359 --> 01:45:33,600
we want, and there are a lot of things to

2272
01:45:33,680 --> 01:45:36,640
discuss with the Wolves, but like the question of is

2273
01:45:36,760 --> 01:45:41,239
this guy now just a top five MVP level player

2274
01:45:41,439 --> 01:45:44,520
for the next five to seven years like, is that

2275
01:45:44,880 --> 01:45:47,000
what we are going to get? Because there were certainly

2276
01:45:47,079 --> 01:45:49,960
signs of that, you know, down the stretch last season.

2277
01:45:50,279 --> 01:45:52,119
All the face of the league stuff is overblown. The

2278
01:45:52,199 --> 01:45:56,239
next Jordan stuff is unfair and ridiculous. But like Edward's

2279
01:45:56,279 --> 01:46:00,439
taking that leap, I arguably might matter more than anything

2280
01:46:00,479 --> 01:46:03,119
else we're talking about. And it's just gonna be fascinating

2281
01:46:03,199 --> 01:46:05,840
for me to watch. Like, I don't know, is the

2282
01:46:05,880 --> 01:46:08,680
playmaking gonna take a huge jump. Is he gonna cut

2283
01:46:08,720 --> 01:46:10,520
out some of the pull up twos and replace those

2284
01:46:10,560 --> 01:46:12,239
with fouls drawn for free throws?

2285
01:46:12,279 --> 01:46:14,920
Speaker 2: Like we're catching you threes threes?

2286
01:46:15,000 --> 01:46:16,479
Speaker 4: Like there's a lot of ways to go.

2287
01:46:16,760 --> 01:46:19,359
Speaker 11: And I do think the trade and and like the

2288
01:46:19,439 --> 01:46:22,159
eventful draft for the Wolves definitely is like pushed that

2289
01:46:22,319 --> 01:46:24,079
to the back, and I think maybe as the year

2290
01:46:24,119 --> 01:46:26,159
goes on, that's something that might matter.

2291
01:46:26,000 --> 01:46:26,640
Speaker 10: More than anything.

2292
01:46:27,239 --> 01:46:30,960
Speaker 2: And also the Dillingham subplot is still there because you

2293
01:46:31,079 --> 01:46:33,760
did You could say it's a future focused move, but

2294
01:46:34,479 --> 01:46:37,640
I honestly wonder had the order of events flipped. Let's

2295
01:46:37,640 --> 01:46:41,359
say that Julius Randall Dante DiVincenzo trade happens first. Do

2296
01:46:41,439 --> 01:46:43,359
you think they're still making that Draft day trade? For

2297
01:46:43,439 --> 01:46:43,920
dilling Camp.

2298
01:46:44,880 --> 01:46:45,920
Speaker 10: That's a great question.

2299
01:46:46,079 --> 01:46:47,840
Speaker 11: You would like to think that they had all this

2300
01:46:48,079 --> 01:46:50,520
like sort of on the big board as like, well,

2301
01:46:50,560 --> 01:46:53,640
if this then that, But I don't know because because

2302
01:46:53,920 --> 01:46:56,600
then if you just have Devincenzo there, do you feel

2303
01:46:56,680 --> 01:47:00,399
like your second unit is got enough offensive initial and

2304
01:47:00,439 --> 01:47:01,960
playmaking and shooting like maybe you do?

2305
01:47:02,479 --> 01:47:04,720
Speaker 2: And do you view and if you're even taking the

2306
01:47:04,840 --> 01:47:07,079
longer term approach there as well, do you view Rob

2307
01:47:07,159 --> 01:47:10,159
Dillingham as can't miss enough to let's play our last

2308
01:47:10,239 --> 01:47:11,760
best trade chips here?

2309
01:47:11,880 --> 01:47:16,600
Speaker 11: Well maybe maybe if the events were reversed they still

2310
01:47:16,640 --> 01:47:18,600
pull off a trade like that, but it's not for

2311
01:47:18,800 --> 01:47:21,319
a player type like Dillingham. They're just like, we're gonna

2312
01:47:21,359 --> 01:47:23,880
shoot the shot and try to turn it into someone

2313
01:47:23,960 --> 01:47:27,000
that can help in theory. Like now, because I like,

2314
01:47:27,079 --> 01:47:30,000
what's Dillingham's long term upside? Do you think they view

2315
01:47:30,119 --> 01:47:32,840
him as like he's our I guess at the time

2316
01:47:32,880 --> 01:47:34,279
it was like he's going to be next to ant

2317
01:47:34,359 --> 01:47:35,199
for ten years.

2318
01:47:35,079 --> 01:47:37,079
Speaker 2: Like that's that's what I do think. That's what they

2319
01:47:37,119 --> 01:47:38,800
probably still view him as is someone who can get

2320
01:47:38,800 --> 01:47:41,000
off the ball quickly, play off the ball, but generate

2321
01:47:41,159 --> 01:47:43,720
looks for himself. And others. I do think we've seen

2322
01:47:43,800 --> 01:47:46,880
him struggle a bunch already though, And I'm I think

2323
01:47:46,920 --> 01:47:48,720
you can go to two different schools of thought here

2324
01:47:49,439 --> 01:47:50,720
is we're not gonna know if the trade was a

2325
01:47:50,760 --> 01:47:52,600
mistake or how it pans out for years, Like, that's

2326
01:47:52,600 --> 01:47:56,199
still gonna be something that plays out. What does he like?

2327
01:47:56,640 --> 01:47:58,800
I understand it's a future focus to move, but like,

2328
01:47:59,199 --> 01:48:01,359
does it get harder to get reps in for him now?

2329
01:48:01,520 --> 01:48:04,079
With Randal Devincenzo there is it a little bit easier

2330
01:48:04,119 --> 01:48:05,760
in the sense that, well, if you play him with

2331
01:48:06,359 --> 01:48:08,960
one or both of those guys in staggered units from Ant,

2332
01:48:09,279 --> 01:48:11,560
that his job gets a lot easier to wear. I

2333
01:48:11,600 --> 01:48:13,399
think we both could agree, no matter how high you

2334
01:48:13,439 --> 01:48:15,159
are and Rob Dillingham, the odds of him coming in

2335
01:48:15,239 --> 01:48:18,479
and just being a net plus as the playmaker with

2336
01:48:18,600 --> 01:48:20,840
Ant or the primary ball handler with Ant off the

2337
01:48:20,880 --> 01:48:23,640
floor might not have worked out as well. Now he

2338
01:48:23,640 --> 01:48:26,760
doesn't necessarily need to do that. But at the same time,

2339
01:48:26,840 --> 01:48:29,680
you also give Chris fincher reason not to play him.

2340
01:48:29,880 --> 01:48:31,119
Speaker 4: Right, Yeah, it does.

2341
01:48:31,479 --> 01:48:34,319
Speaker 11: It cuts both ways for sure, Like you could just

2342
01:48:34,399 --> 01:48:36,520
make the case that well, now the lift will be lighter.

2343
01:48:36,720 --> 01:48:38,640
He won't have to take as many lumps. That's good

2344
01:48:38,800 --> 01:48:40,960
for his long term development. Or the flip is like, no,

2345
01:48:41,159 --> 01:48:43,279
you should just sink or swim with this guy and

2346
01:48:43,399 --> 01:48:45,600
see because you what you invested to get him.

2347
01:48:45,600 --> 01:48:47,199
Speaker 2: I do think as we're talking.

2348
01:48:47,000 --> 01:48:51,319
Speaker 11: About it, overall, the Wolves moves do sort of events

2349
01:48:51,520 --> 01:48:55,239
like that they are thinking about like near term, mid term,

2350
01:48:55,359 --> 01:48:59,039
long term, because even just getting Randall, who might come

2351
01:48:59,079 --> 01:49:01,479
off the books, is like, that's kind of a mid

2352
01:49:01,600 --> 01:49:04,239
and long term play, and maybe you think it's also

2353
01:49:04,279 --> 01:49:06,079
a short term play because he just makes you better

2354
01:49:06,159 --> 01:49:08,760
than Cat, especially if you factor in evincenza. Like they're

2355
01:49:08,840 --> 01:49:11,680
kind of We've definitely criticized some teams for operating on

2356
01:49:11,760 --> 01:49:13,279
multiple timelines and it.

2357
01:49:13,319 --> 01:49:14,920
Speaker 4: Hasn't typically gone very well.

2358
01:49:14,960 --> 01:49:17,439
Speaker 11: But the Wolves kind of seem to be like they've

2359
01:49:17,479 --> 01:49:20,279
added a third timeline because it's like it's now later

2360
01:49:20,399 --> 01:49:22,840
and much later that they're pretty clearly thinking about both

2361
01:49:22,920 --> 01:49:26,680
financially and just like what this team looks like, you know, say,

2362
01:49:26,720 --> 01:49:29,399
as Rudy gobert Age is out right, and then like, yeah,

2363
01:49:30,359 --> 01:49:33,800
there's just there's a lot of different factors to be

2364
01:49:33,920 --> 01:49:35,000
considered here, and.

2365
01:49:35,079 --> 01:49:38,239
Speaker 2: That would be the the medium term one would actually

2366
01:49:38,279 --> 01:49:40,680
be the argument that I think props up because if

2367
01:49:40,680 --> 01:49:42,520
you're using this as just, oh, this is way off

2368
01:49:42,560 --> 01:49:44,680
into the future, that's why they made this. There's very

2369
01:49:44,760 --> 01:49:46,520
much domin Well, you could have figured that out as

2370
01:49:46,560 --> 01:49:48,319
you went along and more picks opened up and you

2371
01:49:48,399 --> 01:49:51,119
understood what was around. And the medium term argument I

2372
01:49:51,199 --> 01:49:56,039
find more intriguing, especially now, because it's if this was

2373
01:49:56,079 --> 01:49:58,960
a financial move, it was more about Julius Randold being

2374
01:49:59,000 --> 01:50:01,880
technically an expiring contract while having that player option, So

2375
01:50:01,960 --> 01:50:03,920
you could look at it from the perspective of, well,

2376
01:50:03,960 --> 01:50:06,439
if Randall's only gonna be here for a year or two, Max,

2377
01:50:06,520 --> 01:50:08,920
we know my comedy's gonna age out very soon, they

2378
01:50:09,000 --> 01:50:11,159
still want dialing him in their program so that when

2379
01:50:11,239 --> 01:50:13,840
those guys leave, he is ready to just take the

2380
01:50:13,880 --> 01:50:16,880
reins beside it and be in the starting lineup. I

2381
01:50:17,119 --> 01:50:18,640
just and I'm not I don't think that was the

2382
01:50:18,720 --> 01:50:21,079
wrong I think it's a fascinating call. I don't know

2383
01:50:21,199 --> 01:50:23,399
what the right move is. I do think though, that

2384
01:50:23,439 --> 01:50:26,760
it's very difficult to juggle what the wolves are doing

2385
01:50:26,840 --> 01:50:28,439
then to where it's well, how do you balance do

2386
01:50:28,520 --> 01:50:31,840
you have the cushion, like are you good enough to

2387
01:50:32,000 --> 01:50:34,600
get Dillingham reps that potentially come at the expense of

2388
01:50:34,680 --> 01:50:37,520
positive minutes. What if he's just rookies have learning curves,

2389
01:50:37,520 --> 01:50:39,520
I think, especially if you're gonna view them as like

2390
01:50:39,640 --> 01:50:42,640
point guard types. And so do you have enough of

2391
01:50:42,680 --> 01:50:44,399
the cushion or do you have the stomach enough to like, well,

2392
01:50:44,399 --> 01:50:46,239
we're still gonna figure out ways to sprinkle him in

2393
01:50:46,560 --> 01:50:48,159
once you get to the playoffs. Whatever, if he can't

2394
01:50:48,199 --> 01:50:50,399
be part of the rotation, not a big deal. I'm

2395
01:50:50,560 --> 01:50:54,600
very interested to see though, how heavily they prioritize his development,

2396
01:50:55,000 --> 01:50:56,880
like now that they've made this move, because I think

2397
01:50:56,920 --> 01:50:59,640
it was they almost needed him to They didn't need

2398
01:50:59,720 --> 01:51:02,119
him to play before. Now I don't think that they.

2399
01:51:02,119 --> 01:51:06,039
Speaker 11: Do, right, Yeah, and and and that's again that's probably good,

2400
01:51:06,640 --> 01:51:09,800
but also like it sort of adds more risk slash

2401
01:51:09,920 --> 01:51:12,800
devalues the decision to give up a future first, like

2402
01:51:12,880 --> 01:51:14,439
the last the last bullet you.

2403
01:51:14,520 --> 01:51:18,119
Speaker 2: Had, the Pelicans have like ninety different things to choose problem,

2404
01:51:18,159 --> 01:51:20,359
And so, what is your biggest storyline as we're sitting

2405
01:51:20,399 --> 01:51:22,079
here that you'll be monitoring with this team.

2406
01:51:22,760 --> 01:51:25,199
Speaker 25: Yeah, look, so just continuing right off that one, it's

2407
01:51:25,760 --> 01:51:28,920
is Brandon Inger going to get traded, and when is

2408
01:51:28,960 --> 01:51:32,000
that going to happen? I think, excuse me, they would

2409
01:51:32,000 --> 01:51:34,760
have liked to have done it around the draft or

2410
01:51:34,800 --> 01:51:38,439
around when free agency first started. I don't think they

2411
01:51:38,640 --> 01:51:42,359
necessarily read the market correctly, or I guess I don't

2412
01:51:42,359 --> 01:51:43,880
even know if that's fair to say it is because

2413
01:51:43,880 --> 01:51:46,359
I feel like they anticipated they'd be suitors, and I

2414
01:51:46,399 --> 01:51:49,720
think that's the reasonable anticipation to have, and it just

2415
01:51:49,800 --> 01:51:53,000
turns out that like no one was interested, and now

2416
01:51:53,079 --> 01:51:57,039
they're here and it's it's September. Basically, there's a chance

2417
01:51:57,239 --> 01:51:59,319
maybe Utah wakes up in two weeks from.

2418
01:51:59,199 --> 01:52:00,479
Speaker 8: Now and they're like, you know what, we're not going

2419
01:52:00,520 --> 01:52:00,800
to tank.

2420
01:52:00,840 --> 01:52:04,079
Speaker 25: We have lowry market and Bill Hardy, and you know,

2421
01:52:04,199 --> 01:52:06,479
we're just gonna go for it, and maybe they get

2422
01:52:06,479 --> 01:52:07,039
a deal done.

2423
01:52:07,119 --> 01:52:09,199
Speaker 8: But I would say that chance is very slim.

2424
01:52:09,279 --> 01:52:11,079
Speaker 25: So what you're looking at is Brandon going into the

2425
01:52:11,159 --> 01:52:16,239
season and without an extension, and at what point is

2426
01:52:16,319 --> 01:52:18,640
some team gonna come around and be like, hey, like,

2427
01:52:19,079 --> 01:52:21,640
let's move in on Brandon like the Indiana Pacers did

2428
01:52:21,680 --> 01:52:23,920
with but Pascal Siakam in the middle of the year.

2429
01:52:23,960 --> 01:52:26,720
So it's not stuff that hasn't happened before. But it's like,

2430
01:52:27,239 --> 01:52:29,079
who's going to be the team, what's that deal going

2431
01:52:29,159 --> 01:52:32,479
to look like? And there's other stuff around that deal

2432
01:52:32,560 --> 01:52:36,560
that needs to happen, particularly from a financial standpoint, just

2433
01:52:36,640 --> 01:52:39,119
where the Pelicans are at with their finances. So it's

2434
01:52:39,159 --> 01:52:42,920
just like, man, now you have a pretty fine needle

2435
01:52:42,960 --> 01:52:45,880
to thread, and it's kind of like you're running out

2436
01:52:45,920 --> 01:52:46,479
of time to do it.

2437
01:52:48,000 --> 01:52:50,279
Speaker 2: What is like, do you have any theories as to

2438
01:52:50,439 --> 01:52:53,199
why the I understand brandan are gonna be a difficult

2439
01:52:53,239 --> 01:52:55,479
player to fit into the larger context of a team.

2440
01:52:55,840 --> 01:52:58,600
He's still a good player and he's not old, Like,

2441
01:52:58,800 --> 01:53:00,920
what do you make of just the tech trademarkt Is

2442
01:53:00,960 --> 01:53:02,920
this more about like teams still trying to really wrap

2443
01:53:03,000 --> 01:53:05,880
their head around the new CBA? Is it doesn't speak

2444
01:53:05,880 --> 01:53:08,119
to the level of not desperation, but like, Okay, he

2445
01:53:08,199 --> 01:53:09,680
said it into his final year and now we're gonna

2446
01:53:09,680 --> 01:53:11,720
have to pay him, and so that's on their mind.

2447
01:53:11,840 --> 01:53:13,720
Is it just well, the Pelicans might be asking for

2448
01:53:13,760 --> 01:53:16,399
too much and they don't They have leverage in negotiations

2449
01:53:16,439 --> 01:53:17,800
with him, but maybe not a ton of leverage in

2450
01:53:17,840 --> 01:53:21,000
trade negotiations. It's such a bizarre dynamic when looking at

2451
01:53:21,039 --> 01:53:23,680
his trade value specifically, for sure.

2452
01:53:23,840 --> 01:53:28,359
Speaker 25: I think it is almost entirely related to his contract demands.

2453
01:53:28,920 --> 01:53:32,039
You know, from my understanding, him and his agent are

2454
01:53:32,159 --> 01:53:36,720
seeking the maximum four year extension that he's eligible for

2455
01:53:36,960 --> 01:53:40,520
that put him around two hundred and eight million dollars

2456
01:53:40,600 --> 01:53:44,359
in new money, which is a lot of money.

2457
01:53:44,840 --> 01:53:45,640
Speaker 8: It's a lot of money.

2458
01:53:45,640 --> 01:53:50,920
Speaker 25: It's thirty percent of the cat and so that's where

2459
01:53:51,199 --> 01:53:53,399
the Pelicans have a pause. That's where I think a

2460
01:53:53,439 --> 01:53:56,079
lot of teams have paused. So it's like, we're going

2461
01:53:56,119 --> 01:53:59,279
to spend assets to trade for this guy, and then

2462
01:53:59,359 --> 01:54:02,319
we got to pay him like a top fifteen player.

2463
01:54:02,560 --> 01:54:05,560
Last year, there was fourteen players in the league that

2464
01:54:05,600 --> 01:54:09,199
made thirty percent or above the salary cap. So you're

2465
01:54:09,399 --> 01:54:13,560
paying like a top fifteen player. The return has to

2466
01:54:13,640 --> 01:54:16,239
be a lot more than what Brandon's provided. On the

2467
01:54:16,279 --> 01:54:20,000
basketball court, he's a very good player. He's had availability issues.

2468
01:54:20,119 --> 01:54:23,159
You know, he's played somewhere around like forty five fifty

2469
01:54:23,239 --> 01:54:25,439
and then like sixty ish games in the last three seasons,

2470
01:54:25,479 --> 01:54:28,000
so he's missed, you know, twenty twenty plus games each

2471
01:54:28,039 --> 01:54:31,560
of the last three season, and then as a player,

2472
01:54:31,640 --> 01:54:34,960
I think he's topped out. He hasn't quite broken into

2473
01:54:35,039 --> 01:54:39,119
that absolutely surefire All Star or All NBA range. Yet

2474
01:54:39,159 --> 01:54:42,000
you know, he's kind of had spurts where he's looked

2475
01:54:42,079 --> 01:54:44,800
like that guy in certainly stretches where he's looked like

2476
01:54:44,880 --> 01:54:47,039
that guy. But teams are just like, man, I don't know,

2477
01:54:47,159 --> 01:54:49,039
that's not a sure thing, So how can we commit

2478
01:54:49,119 --> 01:54:49,520
money to that?

2479
01:54:50,680 --> 01:54:52,720
Speaker 2: So if they're going to go into the season with him,

2480
01:54:53,239 --> 01:54:55,960
I guess the one like easy question is there is that,

2481
01:54:56,399 --> 01:54:58,800
like there's a chance that just becomes a major distraction

2482
01:54:58,920 --> 01:55:00,960
that's hanging over the team right because it's constantly being

2483
01:55:01,000 --> 01:55:02,800
speculated about and talked about and reported on.

2484
01:55:03,920 --> 01:55:05,640
Speaker 8: I am really worried about that.

2485
01:55:05,840 --> 01:55:09,600
Speaker 25: Because the other component of this is the pending Trey

2486
01:55:09,680 --> 01:55:15,000
Murphy extension. So Trey Murphy is finished three years of play,

2487
01:55:15,079 --> 01:55:19,840
he's eligible for the rookie extension. My understanding is something's

2488
01:55:19,880 --> 01:55:23,479
gonna get done. Therefore before the season starts. I think

2489
01:55:23,760 --> 01:55:28,399
both sides have a good working relationship. But if you,

2490
01:55:28,880 --> 01:55:31,319
let's say something gets done, I think it's gonna be

2491
01:55:31,359 --> 01:55:33,640
a lot of money. So let's say Trey Murphy is

2492
01:55:33,680 --> 01:55:36,840
making somewhere in the thirty million dollar range per year

2493
01:55:38,079 --> 01:55:40,000
or in the high twenties, just but it's still a

2494
01:55:40,159 --> 01:55:42,600
large amount of money. And then you have Brandon Ingram

2495
01:55:42,600 --> 01:55:45,439
who's in expiring, who doesn't have a deal done. Does

2496
01:55:45,479 --> 01:55:48,119
he feel some type of way that they prioritize Trey right?

2497
01:55:48,520 --> 01:55:52,920
And then what happens if Willie Green decides one game, Hey,

2498
01:55:53,920 --> 01:55:56,399
he's not having Brandson having a great game, We're gonna

2499
01:55:56,399 --> 01:55:58,000
close this one out with Trey, you know, or we're

2500
01:55:58,039 --> 01:56:02,479
gonna just some of these decisions without that contract in

2501
01:56:02,560 --> 01:56:04,560
hand make me a little bit nervous. And then I'm

2502
01:56:04,560 --> 01:56:07,479
also a little bit nervous how Brandon's gonna approach it personally?

2503
01:56:08,239 --> 01:56:10,239
How is he gonna play knowing there's a contract on

2504
01:56:10,359 --> 01:56:13,560
the line, if he feels jilted that he wasn't given

2505
01:56:13,600 --> 01:56:15,119
a MAX, is he gonna go out there and prove

2506
01:56:15,199 --> 01:56:15,920
he's a MAX player?

2507
01:56:15,960 --> 01:56:16,640
Speaker 2: And what does that look like?

2508
01:56:16,840 --> 01:56:18,680
Speaker 25: I mean, he's just taking a lot of shots and

2509
01:56:19,119 --> 01:56:22,640
not necessarily playing within the system. I don't think any

2510
01:56:22,680 --> 01:56:26,800
of these things are impossibilities, And I just think you've

2511
01:56:26,840 --> 01:56:30,640
got to have a healthy fear of things going wrong,

2512
01:56:30,960 --> 01:56:32,399
and there's a lot of things that can go wrong.

2513
01:56:33,640 --> 01:56:35,560
Speaker 2: Now you've already said that you're kind of just out

2514
01:56:35,640 --> 01:56:37,800
of the fit with Zion, and I think de Jontay

2515
01:56:37,880 --> 01:56:40,960
Murray coming in super complicates that. But like, if there's

2516
01:56:42,119 --> 01:56:45,079
a way for Brandon Ingram to fit in the larger

2517
01:56:45,119 --> 01:56:46,720
context of the team, what does that look like? Is

2518
01:56:46,800 --> 01:56:49,079
it kind of winding back the clock to that when

2519
01:56:49,119 --> 01:56:50,960
you look at a shot profile the first season in

2520
01:56:51,520 --> 01:56:54,600
New Orleans night and day basically compared to what it like?

2521
01:56:54,800 --> 01:56:57,520
Just is that what it looks like to him like

2522
01:56:57,600 --> 01:57:00,279
that type of like offensive role or is it is

2523
01:57:00,319 --> 01:57:02,479
there other things that you're monitoring there, like what is

2524
01:57:02,560 --> 01:57:05,119
the pathway? Because it sounds sounds like he's gonna be

2525
01:57:05,159 --> 01:57:08,079
on this team on opening night. It's like, what is

2526
01:57:08,199 --> 01:57:11,319
the best way for him to actually optimize himself or

2527
01:57:11,359 --> 01:57:12,920
help optimize him this team.

2528
01:57:13,159 --> 01:57:13,840
Speaker 8: One hundred percent?

2529
01:57:13,920 --> 01:57:15,039
Speaker 15: It's it's the shot profile.

2530
01:57:15,479 --> 01:57:18,479
Speaker 25: With the Johntay Murray coming in, rad is gonna be

2531
01:57:18,479 --> 01:57:21,920
off the ball a lot more than he's used to being. Uh,

2532
01:57:22,319 --> 01:57:25,800
there's gonna be touches split between him, de Jonte's, Zion,

2533
01:57:26,199 --> 01:57:28,720
all these guys would like playing on the ball. Somebody's

2534
01:57:28,760 --> 01:57:31,079
gonna have to get those threes up now. The Jonte

2535
01:57:31,199 --> 01:57:33,560
hasn't been shy in getting those threes off, but he

2536
01:57:33,600 --> 01:57:35,479
took a fair amount off the dribble threes as well.

2537
01:57:36,079 --> 01:57:38,640
I don't know if Ba is comfortable taking off the

2538
01:57:38,720 --> 01:57:41,039
dribble threes, and if he doesn't have the ball in

2539
01:57:41,079 --> 01:57:42,520
his hands, he might not even have the opportunity to

2540
01:57:42,560 --> 01:57:44,680
take a lot of off the dribble threes. There's going

2541
01:57:44,800 --> 01:57:46,920
to be a lot of kickouts. Zion's gonna get to

2542
01:57:46,920 --> 01:57:49,359
the paint kickout. De Jontay is gonna get to the

2543
01:57:49,399 --> 01:57:52,520
paint kickout. They're gonna play up tempo and transition. He's

2544
01:57:52,600 --> 01:57:57,159
gonna have to take those threes. Defensively, he's trended upwards

2545
01:57:58,319 --> 01:58:01,039
since you know the Alvin Gentry standing gun to years

2546
01:58:01,159 --> 01:58:04,079
every single year under Willy Green, I think Brandon's been

2547
01:58:05,000 --> 01:58:07,680
solid and he's had moments of good defense. You know

2548
01:58:07,720 --> 01:58:10,880
where I think previously he could have been called a liability.

2549
01:58:11,920 --> 01:58:14,159
Now I think he holds his own and can be disruptive.

2550
01:58:15,119 --> 01:58:15,840
Speaker 2: He's gonna have to.

2551
01:58:15,880 --> 01:58:18,479
Speaker 25: Maintain that level of defensive intensity and I'm just a

2552
01:58:18,520 --> 01:58:22,199
little bit concerned where, Okay, you're gonna be a player

2553
01:58:22,239 --> 01:58:23,960
that has to get threes up, and then you're gonna

2554
01:58:24,000 --> 01:58:26,359
have to play defense, and then you're gonna have the rebound,

2555
01:58:26,399 --> 01:58:29,159
then you're gonna have to facilitate. You're gonna be super

2556
01:58:29,279 --> 01:58:32,760
Nick Batomb, which is a very very good player, right,

2557
01:58:33,039 --> 01:58:36,279
But is that the player he wants to be. Is

2558
01:58:36,359 --> 01:58:39,760
that the player that he thinks is gonna get a max? Ironically,

2559
01:58:39,880 --> 01:58:41,359
that player would get a ton of money. I mean

2560
01:58:41,399 --> 01:58:43,680
we just saw we just saw Ognob get a monster

2561
01:58:44,000 --> 01:58:44,800
but got like.

2562
01:58:44,960 --> 01:58:47,359
Speaker 2: One got nine figures back when it was a big

2563
01:58:47,399 --> 01:58:48,079
deal to get nine.

2564
01:58:48,680 --> 01:58:51,720
Speaker 25: Exactly what he got he actually got I think a

2565
01:58:51,760 --> 01:58:53,399
twenty five percent max. I think at the thirty, but

2566
01:58:53,560 --> 01:58:56,800
he got twenty five percent max that Ptom did. But yeah,

2567
01:58:56,840 --> 01:58:58,680
og Ojina knew we got a monster deal.

2568
01:58:59,039 --> 01:59:00,800
Speaker 8: And and Brandon's I don't think.

2569
01:59:00,920 --> 01:59:02,840
Speaker 25: I don't think it's a stretch to say by any means,

2570
01:59:02,880 --> 01:59:06,279
the brand is a far better offensive player and the Nananobi.

2571
01:59:05,960 --> 01:59:06,960
Speaker 8: Just in terms of capability.

2572
01:59:07,319 --> 01:59:13,199
Speaker 25: So can you become this versatile glue guy? And does

2573
01:59:13,319 --> 01:59:15,199
that goal against your own self image?

2574
01:59:15,319 --> 01:59:15,439
Speaker 14: Right?

2575
01:59:15,520 --> 01:59:17,279
Speaker 25: I think that's kind of the battle here. It's like,

2576
01:59:17,359 --> 01:59:19,680
we need you to plug in these holes. But he

2577
01:59:19,840 --> 01:59:23,079
sees himself as the go to person, like the you know,

2578
01:59:23,199 --> 01:59:23,880
like a Carmelo.

2579
01:59:25,479 --> 01:59:27,119
Speaker 2: So if I had to force you to make a

2580
01:59:27,199 --> 01:59:30,520
prediction on how this ends, whether it's he gets traded

2581
01:59:30,520 --> 01:59:33,439
before the season, mid season, we take this to free agency,

2582
01:59:33,439 --> 01:59:35,640
maybe we see an extension, maybe we see him resign.

2583
01:59:36,119 --> 01:59:38,359
It's August the thirty first, and this is probably gonna

2584
01:59:38,359 --> 01:59:39,800
go up like very soon, because this is a team

2585
01:59:39,840 --> 01:59:42,520
that could blow up like everything that we talk about.

2586
01:59:42,760 --> 01:59:44,880
If you had to predict how this ends, what would

2587
01:59:44,880 --> 01:59:45,159
you go with.

2588
01:59:46,199 --> 01:59:48,800
Speaker 25: I believe he would get traded mid season, closer to

2589
01:59:49,239 --> 01:59:52,079
the trade deadline. I think the Pelicans would kick tires

2590
01:59:52,199 --> 01:59:55,399
around Jared Allen once again. You know there's gonna be

2591
01:59:55,479 --> 02:00:00,359
five days of trade eligibility there for Allan, who signed

2592
02:00:00,399 --> 02:00:04,439
his extension earlier this summer. If that fit is going

2593
02:00:04,600 --> 02:00:08,199
south for Cleveland, Pelicans will one hundred percent be knocking

2594
02:00:08,279 --> 02:00:12,880
on that door. Barring that, I think the Pelicans would

2595
02:00:12,960 --> 02:00:16,319
accept just any kind of general Hey, let's just get

2596
02:00:16,399 --> 02:00:19,880
some salary back that's maybe expiring, maybe a week pick

2597
02:00:20,000 --> 02:00:22,439
or maybe some weirdly interesting young prospect.

2598
02:00:22,520 --> 02:00:24,680
Speaker 2: Well I'm looking at I'm looking at.

2599
02:00:24,640 --> 02:00:27,359
Speaker 25: Houston for for example, right, what are they gonna do

2600
02:00:27,399 --> 02:00:30,319
with Jailing Green upper in Shangoon? And if we get

2601
02:00:30,359 --> 02:00:32,960
to the deadline and Houston's just out of this playing

2602
02:00:33,079 --> 02:00:36,760
chase and not even like in playing contention. Are they

2603
02:00:36,840 --> 02:00:39,840
willing to do Jalen Green? Maybe one of those future

2604
02:00:39,880 --> 02:00:43,359
picks and and something, you know, some weird salary that

2605
02:00:43,399 --> 02:00:46,840
they got. It's gonna be an unappetizing trait.

2606
02:00:47,319 --> 02:00:48,680
Speaker 8: The Pacers got three.

2607
02:00:50,560 --> 02:00:54,960
Speaker 25: Picks, yeah, man, picks and then you know, uh was

2608
02:00:55,039 --> 02:00:58,840
it the sorry, Yeah, they got three three picks, That's.

2609
02:00:58,680 --> 02:00:59,000
Speaker 12: What it was.

2610
02:00:59,439 --> 02:01:01,840
Speaker 2: There's the twin. I guess the Indy's twenty twenty six

2611
02:01:01,920 --> 02:01:04,680
pick is somewhat intriguing. But like if they have Seeacaman,

2612
02:01:04,720 --> 02:01:06,399
Halburn and m Hard they I don't know what, like,

2613
02:01:06,439 --> 02:01:07,119
they're gonna be good.

2614
02:01:07,279 --> 02:01:10,039
Speaker 25: So yeah, sorry, yeah, I keep saying the Pacers gone,

2615
02:01:10,079 --> 02:01:11,520
But the Raptors did and they got the Bruce Brown

2616
02:01:11,640 --> 02:01:16,079
contract and that was essentially it. So yeah, who's gonna

2617
02:01:16,119 --> 02:01:17,800
be like the Bruce Brown thing that comes back in

2618
02:01:17,880 --> 02:01:19,560
this steal? That's kind of like what I'm looking at,

2619
02:01:19,720 --> 02:01:22,000
like the guy that's playable salary that you're hoping to

2620
02:01:22,039 --> 02:01:24,640
flip later, you know, for for something I don't know.

2621
02:01:25,039 --> 02:01:29,640
And and I think if that deal doesn't net a

2622
02:01:29,760 --> 02:01:34,159
center for them, I could see the Pelicans taking some

2623
02:01:34,319 --> 02:01:36,319
of if there's any draft capital that comes from that,

2624
02:01:36,880 --> 02:01:39,479
or taking some of their own draft capital and attaching

2625
02:01:39,520 --> 02:01:40,640
it to CJ and.

2626
02:01:40,720 --> 02:01:42,239
Speaker 8: Going after a center with that regard.

2627
02:01:42,319 --> 02:01:46,079
Speaker 25: You know, I'm looking at Nick Claxon in Brooklyn, who

2628
02:01:46,119 --> 02:01:48,279
I think the Nets are going to be open for

2629
02:01:48,399 --> 02:01:51,479
business for any of their players at this point, as

2630
02:01:51,520 --> 02:01:52,920
long as you're willing to meet their price.

2631
02:01:53,560 --> 02:01:56,479
Speaker 2: Yeah, he would be so good on this team. He

2632
02:01:56,479 --> 02:01:58,119
probably likes to like do stuff with the ball a

2633
02:01:58,159 --> 02:01:59,640
little too much than what they're looking for, but he

2634
02:01:59,760 --> 02:02:02,239
is so good. I love Nick Claxton. Big Nick Claxton

2635
02:02:02,319 --> 02:02:05,159
fan over here. Is that when you're looking because we're

2636
02:02:05,159 --> 02:02:06,840
gonna get into more Carl Anthony town stuff. But I'm

2637
02:02:06,840 --> 02:02:09,880
asking everyone for a promotional episode that will go up,

2638
02:02:09,960 --> 02:02:12,960
like right when the season starts. What is the biggest

2639
02:02:13,000 --> 02:02:15,439
storyline that you're tracking for this team? Is it the

2640
02:02:15,520 --> 02:02:18,520
overarching expectations now because they've made all these moves, Is

2641
02:02:18,560 --> 02:02:21,239
that maybe one of the new additions, Like what is it?

2642
02:02:22,439 --> 02:02:26,720
Speaker 26: I mean, just far storylines are concerned, it's it's it

2643
02:02:26,880 --> 02:02:29,600
has to be like what Carl Anthony Towns looks like

2644
02:02:29,800 --> 02:02:30,920
in Well in New York.

2645
02:02:31,079 --> 02:02:34,000
Speaker 2: I think is the biggest and that you troun and

2646
02:02:34,039 --> 02:02:36,039
I'm even sorry up with that to you would trounce like,

2647
02:02:36,560 --> 02:02:39,439
what is Michael Bridges. We're just it's so I would

2648
02:02:39,439 --> 02:02:41,600
agree with you, I think just because Michael Bridges is

2649
02:02:41,680 --> 02:02:44,359
just universally like he just fits anywhere and does anything.

2650
02:02:44,439 --> 02:02:46,960
So yeah, which is interesting that they gave up so

2651
02:02:47,159 --> 02:02:49,880
much for this guy. But the biggest storyline is, oh,

2652
02:02:50,000 --> 02:02:51,920
this other center that they brought in and they detected.

2653
02:02:52,079 --> 02:02:54,039
They didn't give nearly as much draft equity up. They

2654
02:02:54,039 --> 02:02:54,880
gave up real stuff.

2655
02:02:55,000 --> 02:02:57,039
Speaker 4: But so that's the funny thing.

2656
02:02:57,159 --> 02:03:00,600
Speaker 26: And again you alluded to to again my colleague, mister

2657
02:03:00,680 --> 02:03:04,880
mccre like, when the Knicks went all in for Michal Bridges,

2658
02:03:05,000 --> 02:03:06,960
I don't know anybody that said that was a bad

2659
02:03:07,079 --> 02:03:08,159
trade by the Knicks.

2660
02:03:08,199 --> 02:03:09,239
Speaker 4: Like they gave up a lot.

2661
02:03:09,680 --> 02:03:14,640
Speaker 26: They definitely probably overpaid for Mchal Bridges, like five picks,

2662
02:03:14,760 --> 02:03:19,279
one heavily protected Milwaukee pick and some salary filler like

2663
02:03:19,760 --> 02:03:24,159
and all the swaps right, But everybody's immediate thought was, man,

2664
02:03:24,720 --> 02:03:28,359
they have anenobium Bridges, like two of the best role

2665
02:03:28,439 --> 02:03:31,399
players potentially in the NBA, the one of the best

2666
02:03:31,479 --> 02:03:35,880
wing combos. That you've now created something that is contender

2667
02:03:36,159 --> 02:03:39,640
worthy and if they could figure out the right lineup

2668
02:03:39,720 --> 02:03:43,279
combinations as a chance to be deadly and with Towns,

2669
02:03:44,000 --> 02:03:48,600
because there's so much concerned with Towns, the person, the personality,

2670
02:03:50,800 --> 02:03:53,920
the match with the market, and what he's just flat

2671
02:03:53,960 --> 02:03:57,479
out been over the course of his career. The Knicks

2672
02:03:57,520 --> 02:04:00,439
gave up just flat out less than what they gave

2673
02:04:00,560 --> 02:04:02,920
up for Bridges. But there's so many questions for one

2674
02:04:03,039 --> 02:04:07,159
trade over the other, so like it's it's I just

2675
02:04:07,199 --> 02:04:09,199
have no questions about mcl bridge. I think he's gonna

2676
02:04:09,239 --> 02:04:12,119
fit perfectly in New York. And the guy never misses

2677
02:04:12,199 --> 02:04:14,039
games and is playing for Tom Thibodau. It's gonna be

2678
02:04:14,079 --> 02:04:18,199
a match made in heaven, you know. Although I had

2679
02:04:18,319 --> 02:04:21,239
one of my again another Claudia casino bet, how many

2680
02:04:21,319 --> 02:04:22,920
games will what cal Bridges missed this year?

2681
02:04:22,960 --> 02:04:23,479
Speaker 6: Point five?

2682
02:04:24,079 --> 02:04:26,600
Speaker 26: I dare somebody to take the over under TIBs, Like

2683
02:04:26,800 --> 02:04:29,920
did you see it the day that the mccal bridges

2684
02:04:29,920 --> 02:04:33,079
misses his first game and it's like, oh, TIBs up

2685
02:04:33,119 --> 02:04:35,720
to his old of course he misses his first game

2686
02:04:35,800 --> 02:04:39,119
under top Thibodeaux. It has to be the concerns about

2687
02:04:39,159 --> 02:04:42,439
Karl Anthony Towns And here's the thing. I think they're

2688
02:04:42,439 --> 02:04:44,800
gonna be an outstanding regular season team. I think they're

2689
02:04:44,800 --> 02:04:47,600
gonna finish top three or four in offense, top twelve

2690
02:04:47,720 --> 02:04:50,880
or thirteen in defense. They're gonna win close to fifty

2691
02:04:51,000 --> 02:04:55,880
five games. But the expectation's changed now. This isn't the

2692
02:04:56,239 --> 02:04:58,279
let's just win a bunch of games and hopefully make

2693
02:04:58,439 --> 02:05:02,119
the second round any more. There's a Conference Finals expectations

2694
02:05:02,960 --> 02:05:05,600
on this team and this roster, and especially when you've

2695
02:05:05,640 --> 02:05:09,760
gone this all in that you know, for the first

2696
02:05:09,840 --> 02:05:12,159
time in a long time, I can say it will

2697
02:05:12,199 --> 02:05:14,760
be a disappointment for me if the Knicks don't make it.

2698
02:05:15,000 --> 02:05:19,079
And I welcome the challenge of that storyline and who's

2699
02:05:19,359 --> 02:05:21,680
who it's gonna fall on, which part of it might

2700
02:05:21,760 --> 02:05:24,560
fall on tips, But back to the original point, Karl

2701
02:05:24,600 --> 02:05:27,359
Anthony Towns and going all in on him as your

2702
02:05:27,399 --> 02:05:29,960
second best guy will have a lot to say about

2703
02:05:30,000 --> 02:05:31,199
whether they accomplish it or not.

2704
02:05:31,399 --> 02:05:32,800
Speaker 2: I want to ask you, though I've been told there've

2705
02:05:32,800 --> 02:05:35,039
been complaints that I dictate too many of the terms

2706
02:05:35,079 --> 02:05:37,000
of these podcasts. They've all come from Grant, so it

2707
02:05:37,000 --> 02:05:39,840
really shouldn't matter. But I've decided so I'm gonna throw

2708
02:05:39,880 --> 02:05:42,199
this to you, Jacob, what is that? It'll be interesting

2709
02:05:42,199 --> 02:05:43,760
if you guys have different answers here. But what is

2710
02:05:43,800 --> 02:05:47,520
the biggest storyline you are tracking for this team next season?

2711
02:05:48,039 --> 02:05:52,640
Speaker 11: Oh gosh, that's a heavy and loaded question. There's so

2712
02:05:52,680 --> 02:05:55,359
many good answers here right, Like do they play a

2713
02:05:55,399 --> 02:05:59,520
two big lineup? How do guys progress? What is the

2714
02:05:59,600 --> 02:06:05,199
closing lineup? Look like, I'm gonna go with my biggest storyline,

2715
02:06:05,199 --> 02:06:09,399
biggest development thing I'm watching next season is the year

2716
02:06:09,520 --> 02:06:14,960
one to year two chet holmgun jump, because I think

2717
02:06:15,880 --> 02:06:19,520
that jump will be substantial. I wish I had the

2718
02:06:19,640 --> 02:06:23,359
article up. I do not, But the day that they

2719
02:06:23,479 --> 02:06:28,920
traded Josh Getty for Alex Caruso, Woja's ESPN article included

2720
02:06:28,960 --> 02:06:33,439
a line that talked about how opening up more playmaking

2721
02:06:33,640 --> 02:06:37,520
and ball handling opportunities on the team by trading away

2722
02:06:37,640 --> 02:06:41,920
Josh was something that appealed to the Thunder, especially with

2723
02:06:42,159 --> 02:06:44,760
chet Holgren. And I mentioned earlier that I think Chet

2724
02:06:44,800 --> 02:06:49,119
at the five is the future of this team, and

2725
02:06:49,439 --> 02:06:51,720
I don't want the listeners to get this twisted. I

2726
02:06:51,840 --> 02:06:54,359
am not saying Chet will be this player. I'm not

2727
02:06:54,439 --> 02:07:00,960
saying Chet will be this good stylistically, I think stylistically

2728
02:07:01,039 --> 02:07:03,640
on offense, I think Chet Holmgren and Kevin Durant are

2729
02:07:03,680 --> 02:07:06,920
going to be very, very similar, and I think that

2730
02:07:07,119 --> 02:07:09,239
is the start of the jump. You will see this

2731
02:07:09,399 --> 02:07:12,680
year Chet with the ball in his hands, more check playmaking,

2732
02:07:14,039 --> 02:07:16,960
handling out on the perimeter and attacking off the bounce,

2733
02:07:18,079 --> 02:07:19,920
check being the ball handler in a four or five

2734
02:07:20,000 --> 02:07:22,720
pick and roll with Isaiah Hartenstein. I see a lot

2735
02:07:22,840 --> 02:07:28,399
of CAD's style of game offensively in Chet Holmgren, and

2736
02:07:28,479 --> 02:07:30,039
I think you're going to start to see that leap

2737
02:07:30,199 --> 02:07:32,920
in year two. I think the brother just ran out

2738
02:07:32,920 --> 02:07:40,600
of gas in year one. Honestly, what the podcast Yeah

2739
02:07:40,840 --> 02:07:42,760
said he was shooting laser beams at the front of

2740
02:07:42,800 --> 02:07:44,319
the rim, and if you go back and you watch

2741
02:07:44,920 --> 02:07:47,760
any film from the second half of the season, it

2742
02:07:47,880 --> 02:07:48,640
definitely looks like that.

2743
02:07:48,800 --> 02:07:51,279
Speaker 2: I think we don't watch games around here, so that's

2744
02:07:51,319 --> 02:07:52,319
not gonna happy.

2745
02:07:52,560 --> 02:07:53,680
Speaker 4: Narratives only I'm into it.

2746
02:07:53,760 --> 02:07:57,359
Speaker 11: So you've been told, right, my my biggest thing I'm

2747
02:07:57,359 --> 02:07:59,319
watching for next season it is the year one to

2748
02:07:59,439 --> 02:08:03,119
year two Chet Holmgren leap, because if you told me

2749
02:08:03,560 --> 02:08:07,680
two maybe three seasons from now, that this team stays intact.

2750
02:08:07,760 --> 02:08:09,760
But Chet Holmgren is the best player on the team

2751
02:08:10,119 --> 02:08:12,720
with shake Gojess Alexander, I wouldn't be shocked at all.

2752
02:08:13,039 --> 02:08:15,039
Speaker 2: Holy All right, well let's get into that a little

2753
02:08:15,039 --> 02:08:17,680
bit then, So what you kind of mentioned what that

2754
02:08:17,840 --> 02:08:20,920
could look like, but and not to if you're gonna

2755
02:08:21,000 --> 02:08:24,359
use Kevin Durant as the analog, if you're trying to

2756
02:08:24,439 --> 02:08:26,359
like sort of zero in on the type of usage

2757
02:08:26,399 --> 02:08:28,399
that we think will change from Chet Holmgren, Like if

2758
02:08:28,399 --> 02:08:30,560
it's just like a shot type incorporates or a play

2759
02:08:30,600 --> 02:08:33,000
type you mentioned four or five pick and rolls. I

2760
02:08:33,039 --> 02:08:34,800
guess actually my first question, but do you actually think

2761
02:08:34,840 --> 02:08:37,600
that he has the handle or the ability to develop

2762
02:08:37,640 --> 02:08:40,760
the handle that would empower him to do all of

2763
02:08:40,800 --> 02:08:42,439
this stuff where it's like the stuff that Kevin Durant

2764
02:08:42,479 --> 02:08:43,840
can do with the ball in his hands. He's not like, no,

2765
02:08:43,960 --> 02:08:46,359
he's not Kyrie Irving or Steph Curry with the ball,

2766
02:08:46,399 --> 02:08:48,760
but like he can navigate traffic, I would say better

2767
02:08:48,840 --> 02:08:51,239
than we've seen from Chet. Maybe that's a matter of opportunity,

2768
02:08:51,279 --> 02:08:53,479
But do you believe in the handle to that degree

2769
02:08:53,520 --> 02:08:55,000
where it's not just a matter of creating for himself.

2770
02:08:55,039 --> 02:08:57,239
You're talking about initiating offense or others at that point.

2771
02:08:59,760 --> 02:09:00,439
Speaker 4: Is there now?

2772
02:09:00,800 --> 02:09:00,840
Speaker 19: No?

2773
02:09:01,359 --> 02:09:05,159
Speaker 4: Will he be there year two? Probably not? Can he

2774
02:09:05,359 --> 02:09:07,600
get there over the course of the next three to

2775
02:09:07,680 --> 02:09:11,560
four years? I think so. I think back to the

2776
02:09:11,640 --> 02:09:12,600
playoff series.

2777
02:09:12,399 --> 02:09:15,680
Speaker 11: Where the Thunder played the Los Angeles Clippers, and the

2778
02:09:15,720 --> 02:09:18,880
Clippers game plan was let Chris Paul guard Kevin Durant.

2779
02:09:18,920 --> 02:09:21,720
Doesn't matter that there's an eight inch height difference there.

2780
02:09:22,159 --> 02:09:24,520
Chris was able to get under the handle because Katie's

2781
02:09:24,560 --> 02:09:28,840
handle was so long from hand to floor and a

2782
02:09:28,920 --> 02:09:31,600
little bit looser, and Katie's really tightened that handle up.

2783
02:09:32,079 --> 02:09:34,560
I think it will be a process for chet. I

2784
02:09:34,680 --> 02:09:36,279
think he can get there, and I think that's the

2785
02:09:36,319 --> 02:09:38,319
style of play he wants to play and that the

2786
02:09:38,399 --> 02:09:41,720
Thunder want him to do offensively. So I think it'll

2787
02:09:41,720 --> 02:09:44,840
be a work in progress for sure, but I think

2788
02:09:44,880 --> 02:09:46,000
it'll get there now.

2789
02:09:46,119 --> 02:09:48,039
Speaker 4: Again, not saying he's going to be Kevin Durant. I

2790
02:09:48,079 --> 02:09:49,600
want to make that clear.

2791
02:09:50,479 --> 02:09:54,800
Speaker 2: Aggregators. Jacob digs that Dan's going to clip this and

2792
02:09:57,920 --> 02:09:59,239
see it is going to be a clip for a

2793
02:09:59,359 --> 02:10:03,000
larger project, but it'll be out there. So is there then?

2794
02:10:03,119 --> 02:10:05,039
What is something then? Specific? Like if you're looking at

2795
02:10:05,079 --> 02:10:06,800
kind of like if you look at his shot diet

2796
02:10:07,039 --> 02:10:08,600
this year and then if you had to compare it

2797
02:10:08,640 --> 02:10:10,399
to next year, like, what's one area that you would

2798
02:10:10,439 --> 02:10:12,039
like to see more of them?

2799
02:10:12,119 --> 02:10:12,439
Speaker 14: Jacob?

2800
02:10:12,600 --> 02:10:14,520
Speaker 2: Is it kind of like you mentioned, you know, the

2801
02:10:14,600 --> 02:10:15,039
pull ups?

2802
02:10:15,119 --> 02:10:15,239
Speaker 5: Is it?

2803
02:10:15,319 --> 02:10:17,000
Speaker 2: Maybe he had like kind of a at points like

2804
02:10:17,079 --> 02:10:18,640
he shot really want floaters last year?

2805
02:10:18,720 --> 02:10:18,840
Speaker 5: Is it?

2806
02:10:19,159 --> 02:10:21,159
Speaker 2: I'm not a fan of, you know, let's give the

2807
02:10:21,239 --> 02:10:23,239
ball to him in the post, but maybe developing a

2808
02:10:23,279 --> 02:10:25,560
turnaround or being able to have more face up opportunities

2809
02:10:25,600 --> 02:10:28,560
inside the arc, and not to compare him to Christops,

2810
02:10:28,600 --> 02:10:30,920
but like the ability to just like turn touch the ball,

2811
02:10:31,000 --> 02:10:32,680
turn around, face up and be like, oh fuck, I'm

2812
02:10:32,720 --> 02:10:34,319
taller than everybody. I'm just gonna shoot this.

2813
02:10:36,039 --> 02:10:40,760
Speaker 4: Yeah. So the one, the one biggest spot is three

2814
02:10:40,840 --> 02:10:41,680
point attempts.

2815
02:10:41,840 --> 02:10:42,880
Speaker 22: That's what I take them.

2816
02:10:43,439 --> 02:10:47,800
Speaker 11: He took four point three last year. I'm gonna be

2817
02:10:47,840 --> 02:10:49,960
real honest with you. If he takes like seven this year,

2818
02:10:50,119 --> 02:10:51,239
I think that's a really good sign.

2819
02:10:51,439 --> 02:10:53,840
Speaker 2: Well, they could use someone who takes that many for

2820
02:10:53,960 --> 02:10:56,720
teams the floor so well they don't would didn't you

2821
02:10:56,840 --> 02:10:58,359
guys were the ones that I know this from. I'm

2822
02:10:58,399 --> 02:11:00,760
only one player took five three point in times per

2823
02:11:00,800 --> 02:11:01,680
game last year.

2824
02:11:01,800 --> 02:11:03,560
Speaker 4: My god, and that was Lougan's dort.

2825
02:11:04,600 --> 02:11:06,319
Speaker 2: Notice a Joe noted sniper.

2826
02:11:07,600 --> 02:11:09,760
Speaker 11: I think you're gonna see those attempts start to climb

2827
02:11:10,000 --> 02:11:12,680
for a handful of those guys, but for Chet specifically,

2828
02:11:13,720 --> 02:11:18,319
I think off the dribble threes, trail transition threes, I

2829
02:11:18,359 --> 02:11:21,000
could see them running some like pinned down type of

2830
02:11:21,079 --> 02:11:25,760
actions and like coming up from the corner type of actions.

2831
02:11:26,319 --> 02:11:28,600
And then he also has you kind of mentioned the

2832
02:11:28,680 --> 02:11:31,039
idea of like not posting him up, but when he

2833
02:11:31,159 --> 02:11:34,439
catches in that high post area, he actually has a

2834
02:11:34,479 --> 02:11:38,399
really nice, like little turnaround MIDI fade away. He almost

2835
02:11:38,479 --> 02:11:41,359
goes to like the dirt like high knee fade away.

2836
02:11:42,239 --> 02:11:44,159
And I think you could see that a lot more

2837
02:11:44,159 --> 02:11:47,199
as well. He's got really really good touch, and like

2838
02:11:47,319 --> 02:11:49,960
I said, I think last year he ran out of gas.

2839
02:11:50,520 --> 02:11:52,640
You could just tell the legs were dead. He wasn't

2840
02:11:52,680 --> 02:11:55,319
getting any arc in his shot at all. I think

2841
02:11:55,359 --> 02:11:58,039
another offseason, having the full season under his belt, really

2842
02:11:58,119 --> 02:12:00,640
starts to fix some of that up. And hey, maybe

2843
02:12:00,680 --> 02:12:03,319
he takes Paul George's advice and shoots with like a

2844
02:12:03,760 --> 02:12:06,399
what Paul say, like a bound basketball or something like that.

2845
02:12:06,720 --> 02:12:07,800
Speaker 27: The way they did basketball.

2846
02:12:08,000 --> 02:12:08,399
Speaker 5: I like it.

2847
02:12:09,800 --> 02:12:11,880
Speaker 2: Poultris had like a ship ton of shoulder issues, So

2848
02:12:11,960 --> 02:12:12,520
I hope.

2849
02:12:13,640 --> 02:12:15,000
Speaker 4: That's kind of where mine mind went.

2850
02:12:15,159 --> 02:12:17,000
Speaker 27: And that was Chet's response to him too, which I

2851
02:12:17,039 --> 02:12:22,159
found pretty He was not specifically, but he alluded to it.

2852
02:12:22,239 --> 02:12:24,119
He was like, dude, like, what does that do to

2853
02:12:24,199 --> 02:12:27,039
your shoulders? And I was like, that was pretty good.

2854
02:12:28,760 --> 02:12:29,359
Speaker 6: Yeah, that's right.

2855
02:12:29,439 --> 02:12:32,479
Speaker 27: I don't find out real quick, Jacob, your your first

2856
02:12:32,520 --> 02:12:35,319
two questions or your first two answers to to Dan's questions.

2857
02:12:35,319 --> 02:12:37,319
I think we're pretty spot on. He touched on a

2858
02:12:37,399 --> 02:12:39,319
lot that I have like more specifics on. I think

2859
02:12:39,319 --> 02:12:42,039
it would go later on through the outline that Dan

2860
02:12:42,119 --> 02:12:43,760
gave us and some really fun things to talk on.

2861
02:12:44,359 --> 02:12:44,439
Speaker 5: Uh.

2862
02:12:44,600 --> 02:12:47,319
Speaker 27: Dan, I apologize, I'm like kind of taking over hosts here,

2863
02:12:47,479 --> 02:12:50,039
and as Jacob knows from our podcast, I do that

2864
02:12:50,119 --> 02:12:54,720
way too often. But I will just say, yeah, just

2865
02:12:54,840 --> 02:12:57,920
back to like the big takeaway you had, Jacob. I

2866
02:12:58,000 --> 02:12:59,640
love that you mentioned that because I kind of want

2867
02:12:59,640 --> 02:13:01,520
to take it a step further. And I had two

2868
02:13:01,720 --> 02:13:04,560
two quick ones, but my main one, and I kind

2869
02:13:04,600 --> 02:13:05,960
of call it the little hanging fruit. But it's not

2870
02:13:06,079 --> 02:13:07,880
just check for me and his improvement, it's the big

2871
02:13:07,960 --> 02:13:11,680
three and OKAC in general, Dan, Shay, dub Chet, I

2872
02:13:11,800 --> 02:13:14,600
know Shay, you know was second MVP voting. Seems like

2873
02:13:14,680 --> 02:13:17,439
he's a top five player in the league consensus if

2874
02:13:17,479 --> 02:13:21,079
you ask around, look to all these national national media

2875
02:13:21,159 --> 02:13:23,880
podcasts and articles that they have out there. But he

2876
02:13:24,119 --> 02:13:25,600
has a lot of growth as well as a player.

2877
02:13:25,920 --> 02:13:28,319
And so how did these players continue to work on

2878
02:13:28,359 --> 02:13:30,439
their own games and improve, Like, obviously we want to

2879
02:13:30,439 --> 02:13:34,199
see Jeb take a big leap. Jacob just crushed talking

2880
02:13:34,239 --> 02:13:36,239
about Chet in the league. We want to see from him.

2881
02:13:36,760 --> 02:13:39,760
How do they do that is still play alongside one

2882
02:13:39,800 --> 02:13:43,039
another and also within the construct of the team. Let's

2883
02:13:43,079 --> 02:13:45,239
make it very clear, none of us here in OKAC

2884
02:13:45,760 --> 02:13:49,079
are worried about personalities or then these players not wanting

2885
02:13:49,119 --> 02:13:50,840
to do so, that's not them at all. They want

2886
02:13:50,880 --> 02:13:53,560
to play within the construct of But Mark Degnall and

2887
02:13:53,560 --> 02:13:56,000
sat Press they have a visioned for this team more

2888
02:13:56,039 --> 02:13:58,319
so just them being also incredibly talented and still have

2889
02:13:58,399 --> 02:13:59,239
so much room for growth.

2890
02:14:00,079 --> 02:14:01,800
Speaker 2: Are they all able to do that together?

2891
02:14:02,640 --> 02:14:03,880
Speaker 27: And that just kind of leads like to my I

2892
02:14:03,920 --> 02:14:06,800
think my final big, big takeaway for the season is

2893
02:14:06,880 --> 02:14:09,359
like you have these new big additions like we're about

2894
02:14:09,359 --> 02:14:11,520
to get into without Scruso as a heart and sign,

2895
02:14:11,800 --> 02:14:14,880
plus playoff experience now under the same team's belt, plus

2896
02:14:14,960 --> 02:14:17,760
the Superstar and Shay and the rising stars that we

2897
02:14:17,880 --> 02:14:20,520
just mentioned. That equals new expectations.

2898
02:14:21,119 --> 02:14:22,159
Speaker 15: And look, let's be very clear.

2899
02:14:22,239 --> 02:14:24,319
Speaker 27: The Thunder preach about not listening to the outside noise,

2900
02:14:24,359 --> 02:14:28,279
but just know that it's impossible not to hear those things.

2901
02:14:28,319 --> 02:14:31,039
And so how does this Thunder team, this young Thunder team,

2902
02:14:32,479 --> 02:14:35,800
you know, how do they perform in comparison to those

2903
02:14:35,840 --> 02:14:37,159
those external expectations.

2904
02:14:37,720 --> 02:14:40,279
Speaker 2: It does seem though that because one of my questions

2905
02:14:40,359 --> 02:14:41,880
that doesn't need to be a question anymore based on

2906
02:14:41,960 --> 02:14:43,439
how you guys think that they're going to use Chet,

2907
02:14:43,600 --> 02:14:45,800
is do they miss the Josh Getty check connection all

2908
02:14:45,840 --> 02:14:47,600
just because Giddy did a good job of actively looking

2909
02:14:47,640 --> 02:14:49,039
for him, especially when you look at the share of

2910
02:14:49,079 --> 02:14:51,119
the passes he threw. Now you take Giddy out of

2911
02:14:51,119 --> 02:14:52,920
the equation, that's one less person who needs the ball

2912
02:14:52,960 --> 02:14:54,800
in their hands. Doesn't it kind of just make it?

2913
02:14:55,800 --> 02:14:58,680
I would say a non concern about j Dubb and

2914
02:14:58,840 --> 02:15:00,920
Chet and Shake Goildzugg's in are all being able to

2915
02:15:01,000 --> 02:15:03,600
play like kind of a starring Like teams just have

2916
02:15:03,800 --> 02:15:07,039
three guys normally that can or I'm sorry, super teams

2917
02:15:07,119 --> 02:15:09,520
have three guys that can normally operate on ball and

2918
02:15:09,560 --> 02:15:12,279
a lot of the times things tend to work themselves out.

2919
02:15:12,439 --> 02:15:15,319
And so is that like even an at like if

2920
02:15:15,359 --> 02:15:17,399
they're I guess if there's a player of the three

2921
02:15:17,439 --> 02:15:18,960
that you would be concerned about like sort of I

2922
02:15:19,000 --> 02:15:20,640
don't want to say lost in the shuffle, but seeing

2923
02:15:20,680 --> 02:15:23,800
their skills being tamped down, is it naturally just Chet

2924
02:15:24,199 --> 02:15:27,359
because of the like the position that he technically places,

2925
02:15:27,399 --> 02:15:29,359
or Maybeven just the defensive workload that he's shouldering, so

2926
02:15:29,399 --> 02:15:31,560
you don't want to overtax him too much on offense,

2927
02:15:31,760 --> 02:15:33,920
like Jacob is there, Like it seems to me from

2928
02:15:33,960 --> 02:15:35,880
that perspective, like getting rid of Josh Getty just takes

2929
02:15:35,880 --> 02:15:37,680
care a lot of any of the concern when it

2930
02:15:37,720 --> 02:15:39,800
comes to the collective development of those three.

2931
02:15:40,239 --> 02:15:42,079
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think you're totally right.

2932
02:15:42,239 --> 02:15:45,680
Speaker 11: And you mentioned like the number of passes Josh Getty

2933
02:15:45,720 --> 02:15:47,199
made and how many of those are going to Chet,

2934
02:15:48,119 --> 02:15:51,479
And Josh was great at getting guys to their spots

2935
02:15:52,439 --> 02:15:56,920
and I think a lot of folks have this idea

2936
02:15:56,960 --> 02:15:59,199
that like, Josh Getty's a really bad player, and I

2937
02:15:59,359 --> 02:16:03,880
just think with the rapid development of the Thunder, the

2938
02:16:04,039 --> 02:16:07,239
fit just wasn't clean at all. I don't have the

2939
02:16:07,279 --> 02:16:09,279
stats to back this up, Dan, this is just a

2940
02:16:10,079 --> 02:16:15,279
he no ball quote. But I think the better connection

2941
02:16:15,359 --> 02:16:18,720
on the team is Dub and Chet. They developed like

2942
02:16:18,800 --> 02:16:20,479
Double is the only guy who could complete a lob

2943
02:16:20,640 --> 02:16:23,800
to chet Holmgrin, but they developed a really, really nice

2944
02:16:23,880 --> 02:16:27,079
two man game, especially with one of them attacking and

2945
02:16:27,119 --> 02:16:29,359
the other one cutting and being able to find each other.

2946
02:16:30,239 --> 02:16:35,479
And I think the absence of Josh Getty opens up shots, touches,

2947
02:16:35,600 --> 02:16:40,239
passes opportunities specifically for those three, and I would say

2948
02:16:40,280 --> 02:16:44,440
even more specifically for Dub and Chet, Shay's usage I

2949
02:16:44,559 --> 02:16:46,440
imagine would stayed the same. I don't think it's going

2950
02:16:46,600 --> 02:16:49,120
up because of the absence of Josh, so I think

2951
02:16:49,159 --> 02:16:53,159
those other two get even more of an opportunity. And

2952
02:16:53,719 --> 02:16:57,680
I think putting the ball in Jalen Williams's hand with

2953
02:16:57,879 --> 02:16:59,920
Josh Gunn, I think Jadab might be the best passer

2954
02:17:00,159 --> 02:17:02,799
on the team. And I think you'll see a lot

2955
02:17:02,879 --> 02:17:07,959
more offensive initiation with him as well, So I think

2956
02:17:08,040 --> 02:17:10,879
the absence of Josh just opens up opportunities for those

2957
02:17:10,959 --> 02:17:16,319
other two to really grow more naturally into what they

2958
02:17:16,399 --> 02:17:20,280
want to do. Where Again, I don't think Josh is

2959
02:17:20,280 --> 02:17:24,000
a bad player, but Josh absolutely needed the ball in

2960
02:17:24,079 --> 02:17:27,280
his hand to succeed on this team, I think, just

2961
02:17:27,399 --> 02:17:30,840
to succeed in the NBA, and those opportunities were rapidly

2962
02:17:30,959 --> 02:17:34,600
dwindling in Oka. See, but you also still wanted to

2963
02:17:34,639 --> 02:17:36,799
play him. But if you play him playing him off ball,

2964
02:17:36,920 --> 02:17:39,440
we saw how that went right and it wasn't good,

2965
02:17:40,159 --> 02:17:43,639
So I think it was just a very natural transition.

2966
02:17:43,920 --> 02:17:45,719
I actually mentioned this on our show the other day.

2967
02:17:47,520 --> 02:17:51,000
The trading of Josh Giddy and that opening up more

2968
02:17:51,079 --> 02:17:56,040
opportunities for Chet and for Jada is very similar to

2969
02:17:56,159 --> 02:18:01,399
me ten plus years ago when they traded Jeff Green

2970
02:18:01,520 --> 02:18:04,879
to open up the opportunities for Serge Ibaka Okay.

2971
02:18:05,479 --> 02:18:06,120
Speaker 4: Serge was a.

2972
02:18:06,120 --> 02:18:08,639
Speaker 11: Little more unknown at the time than these two obviously are,

2973
02:18:10,079 --> 02:18:11,840
but they got rid of one guy to open up

2974
02:18:11,879 --> 02:18:16,040
opportunities for another, and I see something very similar happening

2975
02:18:16,479 --> 02:18:17,799
here with the absence of Josh.

2976
02:18:17,959 --> 02:18:20,639
Speaker 28: One of the biggest storylines I guess I'm following this

2977
02:18:20,760 --> 02:18:24,200
season is Anthony Black's assertion as a lead facilitator in

2978
02:18:24,280 --> 02:18:27,280
that eventual and Jim Suggs in that starter role.

2979
02:18:27,920 --> 02:18:29,000
Speaker 19: I'll start with AB.

2980
02:18:29,200 --> 02:18:31,239
Speaker 28: I think with the loss of Joe Engles, who assumed

2981
02:18:31,239 --> 02:18:35,360
that role last season as the offensive hub between him

2982
02:18:35,399 --> 02:18:39,000
and Movagner's two man game, I want to see if

2983
02:18:39,040 --> 02:18:42,040
AB can inherit that responsibility off the bench in a

2984
02:18:42,120 --> 02:18:45,440
lead creator role, and the idea of having a surefire

2985
02:18:45,479 --> 02:18:49,639
point guard around to set the table has become the default.

2986
02:18:49,399 --> 02:18:50,399
Speaker 19: I think around the league.

2987
02:18:50,440 --> 02:18:54,559
Speaker 28: But I think one of the most common misconceptions is

2988
02:18:54,799 --> 02:18:57,239
making plays isn't the same thing as running a team.

2989
02:18:57,879 --> 02:19:01,479
I know that's been an emphasis for AB, and through

2990
02:19:01,520 --> 02:19:03,600
a pair of summer league games this past season, I

2991
02:19:03,719 --> 02:19:05,600
thought he did a much better.

2992
02:19:05,479 --> 02:19:07,280
Speaker 19: Job of manipulating the defense.

2993
02:19:07,639 --> 02:19:10,319
Speaker 28: He's reading the help side defenders a lot better than

2994
02:19:10,360 --> 02:19:13,879
he was a season ago, and he's finding players a

2995
02:19:13,920 --> 02:19:15,760
step late or step two slow.

2996
02:19:15,879 --> 02:19:17,799
Speaker 19: Before he's making those high level reads.

2997
02:19:17,879 --> 02:19:21,600
Speaker 28: So I think all that, combined with the fact that

2998
02:19:21,719 --> 02:19:25,760
both he and Jen Suggs saw pretty much near non

2999
02:19:25,879 --> 02:19:28,319
existent usage from within their offensive playbook.

3000
02:19:29,879 --> 02:19:31,079
Speaker 19: Specifically AB, I.

3001
02:19:31,079 --> 02:19:34,200
Speaker 28: Mean Jamal Moseley did less than the bare minimum and

3002
02:19:34,319 --> 02:19:38,280
helping create offensive pathways for him, even his big Dallas

3003
02:19:38,520 --> 02:19:41,959
out offensive outburst. Most of ab scoring in that game

3004
02:19:42,079 --> 02:19:45,399
came from having defend for himself versus having his number

3005
02:19:45,520 --> 02:19:48,399
called within set plays. So I think adapting to the

3006
02:19:48,479 --> 02:19:51,040
speed of the pro game is already a major struggle

3007
02:19:51,079 --> 02:19:54,200
at first, and then you add seeing limited playing time,

3008
02:19:54,680 --> 02:19:57,840
being thrust into the starting role and then being primarily

3009
02:19:57,920 --> 02:20:01,840
utilized to defend the opponent, opposing team's best guard and

3010
02:20:01,959 --> 02:20:04,760
then just not be rewarded within set plays, within the

3011
02:20:04,840 --> 02:20:08,719
flow of an already like we mentioned, pretty barren offensive playbook.

3012
02:20:08,799 --> 02:20:12,040
It's rough, and I know on paper he played sixty

3013
02:20:12,159 --> 02:20:14,959
nine games in his rookie season, but he only.

3014
02:20:14,840 --> 02:20:17,440
Speaker 19: Saw double digit in fifty fifty of.

3015
02:20:17,440 --> 02:20:20,719
Speaker 28: Those games, I believe, and what a point guard needs

3016
02:20:20,840 --> 02:20:24,799
most is time, patience, the water and sunlight of chances

3017
02:20:24,879 --> 02:20:27,360
to fail, and then the structure and the opportunity to grow.

3018
02:20:27,440 --> 02:20:30,280
Because if we go back in time, gild Suggs didn't

3019
02:20:30,319 --> 02:20:32,280
have the greatest rookie season of all time, and now

3020
02:20:33,399 --> 02:20:38,120
you can see that Orlando's presenting confidence and sugs to

3021
02:20:38,239 --> 02:20:40,239
take over that league guard role. And then I want

3022
02:20:40,280 --> 02:20:42,239
to see if AB can be able to do that

3023
02:20:42,360 --> 02:20:43,239
off the bench as well.

3024
02:20:44,719 --> 02:20:47,799
Speaker 2: Do you think that they're going to have the time

3025
02:20:47,879 --> 02:20:51,040
and space for Anthony Black to do that? Though, when

3026
02:20:51,040 --> 02:20:54,559
you look at a team that it's a very interesting

3027
02:20:54,600 --> 02:20:57,559
storyline to focus on just because they have immediate aspirations,

3028
02:20:57,600 --> 02:21:00,639
like they have time just because not on his next

3029
02:21:00,680 --> 02:21:02,799
contract yet even for end size his extension, but that

3030
02:21:02,879 --> 02:21:05,840
doesn't kick in. This team is young, but like you

3031
02:21:05,920 --> 02:21:08,680
made it to the playoffs, and progress of course isn't linear,

3032
02:21:08,760 --> 02:21:12,000
but like the idea is, it's not win more games

3033
02:21:12,079 --> 02:21:13,520
or make it further in the playoffs and last season,

3034
02:21:13,520 --> 02:21:15,399
but it's have a better product at the end of everything.

3035
02:21:15,680 --> 02:21:18,040
And there's a tug of war there where it's giving

3036
02:21:18,040 --> 02:21:21,200
Anthony blackmore runway to run things on the offensive end

3037
02:21:21,239 --> 02:21:22,719
that will go a long way and maybe they have

3038
02:21:22,959 --> 02:21:24,799
enough spacing around him now where they might even feel

3039
02:21:24,799 --> 02:21:27,079
more comfortable with him doing it. When you also are

3040
02:21:27,159 --> 02:21:29,159
a team that's like you're supposed to be in the

3041
02:21:29,200 --> 02:21:32,200
playoff conversation in the East, and I think some people

3042
02:21:32,239 --> 02:21:33,920
even probably have them penciled in like the top five

3043
02:21:34,040 --> 02:21:36,639
or top four just based off their defensive ceiling alone.

3044
02:21:37,040 --> 02:21:39,479
How hard is it to juggle this idea that, oh,

3045
02:21:39,520 --> 02:21:42,399
we want this sophomore to continue to develop like at

3046
02:21:42,479 --> 02:21:45,920
one of the most important, like functional positions in the league.

3047
02:21:45,959 --> 02:21:48,600
But hey, we also don't necessarily have the stomach for

3048
02:21:49,079 --> 02:21:50,760
the growing pains to just like, oh, if he's out

3049
02:21:50,760 --> 02:21:52,399
there and has a really bad game, can can we

3050
02:21:52,680 --> 02:21:54,760
you know, are we built to overcome that and let

3051
02:21:54,799 --> 02:21:55,200
that ride?

3052
02:21:56,440 --> 02:21:59,680
Speaker 28: I don't think it necessarily is It doesn't necessarily have

3053
02:21:59,760 --> 02:22:01,639
to be Anthony Black at the one and then give

3054
02:22:01,719 --> 02:22:03,079
him the ball and everyone just get out of the

3055
02:22:03,120 --> 02:22:05,120
way and let him create. There's a lot he's a

3056
02:22:05,239 --> 02:22:07,879
six seven, six ' eight guard. He's a big guard,

3057
02:22:07,959 --> 02:22:09,639
and there's a lot of things that he can do

3058
02:22:09,760 --> 02:22:13,159
on the floor that doesn't necessarily equate to him.

3059
02:22:13,079 --> 02:22:14,079
Speaker 19: Having the ball in his hands.

3060
02:22:14,120 --> 02:22:19,159
Speaker 28: I mean, in that Cleveland matchup in the playoffs, Orlando

3061
02:22:19,319 --> 02:22:22,360
ran inverted screens for Palo Bank Caro nine times and

3062
02:22:22,399 --> 02:22:25,360
didn't score a single point in Game one through their

3063
02:22:25,399 --> 02:22:28,959
inverted screen set. I mean, you put Anthony Black, and

3064
02:22:29,079 --> 02:22:32,319
Anthony Black did a really good job of pairing with

3065
02:22:32,479 --> 02:22:36,440
Palo Bank Carro and weaponizing his ability as a screener

3066
02:22:36,799 --> 02:22:40,520
in those inverted screen sets. In specific, that game against

3067
02:22:40,600 --> 02:22:46,680
New York at home in Orlando, and no guard on

3068
02:22:46,760 --> 02:22:49,959
the Magic came close to sniffing more than one hundred

3069
02:22:50,000 --> 02:22:52,760
screen assists. So if you want to put Anthony Black

3070
02:22:53,360 --> 02:22:58,200
as a primary screener for Palo using his size, I

3071
02:22:58,319 --> 02:22:59,239
think that in.

3072
02:22:59,319 --> 02:23:01,600
Speaker 19: Itself freeze up a lot for Polo.

3073
02:23:02,360 --> 02:23:04,639
Speaker 28: And one of the most common ways that he was

3074
02:23:04,680 --> 02:23:06,559
able to do that this season, which we didn't really

3075
02:23:06,600 --> 02:23:10,159
see a lot of because of his staggering minutes whether

3076
02:23:10,200 --> 02:23:13,520
he was playing or not playing, was the Magic were

3077
02:23:13,639 --> 02:23:16,680
very successful when ad was screening for Polo via wed

3078
02:23:16,719 --> 02:23:20,520
screens or pin in screens. So he's gonna, I believe

3079
02:23:20,600 --> 02:23:22,920
he's going to be a critical He's going to be

3080
02:23:22,959 --> 02:23:25,760
critical for their potential playoff success if they want to

3081
02:23:25,840 --> 02:23:28,479
advance and compete in the second round this season, whether

3082
02:23:28,600 --> 02:23:33,200
that be the ball in his hands or other variations

3083
02:23:33,239 --> 02:23:35,280
of him being involved in the offense and not just

3084
02:23:35,399 --> 02:23:38,040
being thrust in the corner like he was last season,

3085
02:23:38,120 --> 02:23:39,799
saying hey, if you get the ball, just shoot it.

3086
02:23:40,920 --> 02:23:42,840
Speaker 2: Do you trust though, because that will be part of

3087
02:23:42,920 --> 02:23:45,440
his role in certain sets, Do you trust like the

3088
02:23:45,520 --> 02:23:47,959
jumper to come along enough to where he's not I

3089
02:23:48,040 --> 02:23:51,159
think people sometimes confuse shooting and floor spacing to where

3090
02:23:51,200 --> 02:23:52,760
like floor spacing is you could be like a not

3091
02:23:52,879 --> 02:23:55,600
so great shooter, but defenses respect you. And I think

3092
02:23:55,600 --> 02:23:57,360
when you go back and look at him, Anvy blackshot

3093
02:23:57,399 --> 02:23:59,120
well from three last year, but it was on a

3094
02:23:59,200 --> 02:24:01,079
negligible number of attempts, and you look at the way

3095
02:24:01,159 --> 02:24:03,000
a lot of those were defended or the situations they

3096
02:24:03,079 --> 02:24:06,360
came in, I wouldn't call it necessarily like capslock for

3097
02:24:06,479 --> 02:24:08,760
SPA saying how do you feel about sort of development

3098
02:24:08,840 --> 02:24:10,479
of his because that's going to be whether he's on

3099
02:24:10,520 --> 02:24:11,879
the ball off the ball, like the jumper is going

3100
02:24:11,920 --> 02:24:15,159
to be something that needs to be a trustworthy weapon

3101
02:24:15,200 --> 02:24:15,840
and is arsenal.

3102
02:24:17,079 --> 02:24:19,879
Speaker 28: I yeah, I expect the three point attempts not only

3103
02:24:19,959 --> 02:24:22,760
for Anthony Black but for everyone else to increase. But

3104
02:24:23,520 --> 02:24:26,000
I know that the I know that, so I know

3105
02:24:26,079 --> 02:24:28,680
the magic. I believe there there were twenty seventh to

3106
02:24:28,799 --> 02:24:32,600
three point attempts. But when people talk about three point attempts,

3107
02:24:32,600 --> 02:24:34,360
I don't want you to just chuck up shots for

3108
02:24:34,479 --> 02:24:36,440
the sole purpose of increasing those attempts.

3109
02:24:36,520 --> 02:24:36,639
Speaker 1: Right.

3110
02:24:36,959 --> 02:24:40,479
Speaker 28: One of my biggest coaching x is coaches refusals to

3111
02:24:40,600 --> 02:24:43,600
draw plays for certain players. I know we haven't touched

3112
02:24:43,639 --> 02:24:46,520
on Gary Harris today yet, but throughout the playoffs as

3113
02:24:46,520 --> 02:24:49,520
a veteran, he shot seven for twenty two, seven for

3114
02:24:49,639 --> 02:24:52,879
twenty two. As a starter whose sole purpose for being

3115
02:24:52,959 --> 02:24:55,600
on the Magic was to provide three and D.

3116
02:24:56,360 --> 02:24:57,520
Speaker 19: He provided the D and No.

3117
02:24:57,680 --> 02:25:01,360
Speaker 28: Three and not one of those plays was a drawn

3118
02:25:01,399 --> 02:25:04,399
to play for him. In those twenty two attempts, I mean,

3119
02:25:04,479 --> 02:25:07,239
he's not coming off of veer screen. He's not coming

3120
02:25:07,280 --> 02:25:11,040
off a twist, a punch, strong curl, Oklahoma, Finland double drag.

3121
02:25:11,559 --> 02:25:14,239
All his attempts, every single one of them were a

3122
02:25:14,319 --> 02:25:18,079
result of kickouts. And so going back to your point,

3123
02:25:18,239 --> 02:25:20,799
not only for Anthony Black, for the entire team. I

3124
02:25:20,840 --> 02:25:24,440
want the attempts to increase, but I want more of

3125
02:25:24,479 --> 02:25:27,920
an emphasis to be drawn on drawing a plays to

3126
02:25:28,040 --> 02:25:31,799
create advantages and space for shooters, not just stashing them

3127
02:25:31,840 --> 02:25:34,280
in the corner and then having them receive the ball

3128
02:25:34,360 --> 02:25:37,440
off kickouts. It's just not It just hasn't worked, and

3129
02:25:37,479 --> 02:25:39,799
I don't believe it's gonna work the more you do it.

3130
02:25:40,559 --> 02:25:42,719
Speaker 2: Do you think that could maybe be a function of

3131
02:25:43,719 --> 02:25:48,040
their lack of trust in the actual like offensive accessories

3132
02:25:48,079 --> 02:25:49,879
on this team to where it's the way to generate

3133
02:25:50,840 --> 02:25:53,200
good spacing around. And I'm just gonna use this guy

3134
02:25:53,200 --> 02:25:54,680
as an example because he's the most mort player on

3135
02:25:54,719 --> 02:25:56,239
the team. But like when you go back and look

3136
02:25:56,239 --> 02:25:58,840
at just like Palo bang Herro drives and how much

3137
02:25:58,879 --> 02:26:00,239
spit were like when he's in, Like how how much

3138
02:26:00,280 --> 02:26:03,040
space this dude does not have to operate? You do

3139
02:26:03,239 --> 02:26:06,680
organically kind of stretch defenses by having guys in the corners,

3140
02:26:06,680 --> 02:26:09,479
and if you don't trust players to either run or

3141
02:26:09,639 --> 02:26:12,200
execute the more complicated stuff, and look, they're dealing with

3142
02:26:12,280 --> 02:26:13,840
a young team. You know, we're talking about Anthony Black,

3143
02:26:13,879 --> 02:26:17,239
Balon Suggs just finished up year three. So if you're

3144
02:26:17,280 --> 02:26:22,319
not necessarily trusting those guys in those actions that you're outlining, it, Like,

3145
02:26:22,520 --> 02:26:23,559
do you think that that had to do with a

3146
02:26:23,639 --> 02:26:26,040
level of concern And we're not even concerned, but like

3147
02:26:26,239 --> 02:26:28,040
we're still trying to feel out like what these young

3148
02:26:28,079 --> 02:26:30,159
guys are going to be able to do? Or do

3149
02:26:30,200 --> 02:26:31,479
you really think that it was just kind of like

3150
02:26:31,559 --> 02:26:33,879
this functional cop out a little bit that there should

3151
02:26:33,879 --> 02:26:38,760
have been more complicated stuff being run. Yeah, I think it's.

3152
02:26:38,680 --> 02:26:41,440
Speaker 28: More of a functional cop out than the alternative. And

3153
02:26:41,680 --> 02:26:43,520
some of it, like from a half court perspective is

3154
02:26:43,600 --> 02:26:45,600
that the team just wasn't like you said, They just

3155
02:26:45,600 --> 02:26:48,639
weren't running many complex plays to alter the defensive structure.

3156
02:26:49,000 --> 02:26:52,680
Opposing teams are basing because everyone coming into the night

3157
02:26:52,799 --> 02:26:55,840
new we're gonna switch to Blitz, Pilo and Fronds and

3158
02:26:55,959 --> 02:26:58,360
everyone else on the corners. If they're gonna beat us,

3159
02:26:58,360 --> 02:27:00,879
they're gonna beat us. We're gonna live with that. But

3160
02:27:01,319 --> 02:27:06,040
I think in a bird's eye view, I mean the

3161
02:27:06,200 --> 02:27:10,760
loss of their primary offensive play color Nativots came just

3162
02:27:10,840 --> 02:27:13,920
a few weeks before the season that started, and he

3163
02:27:14,040 --> 02:27:17,120
accepted a head coaching gig for the Phoenix Mercury with

3164
02:27:17,399 --> 02:27:21,360
not a lot of time to replace. To replace him,

3165
02:27:21,360 --> 02:27:24,520
and Jesse Murmis took over the play calling duties and

3166
02:27:24,600 --> 02:27:28,280
it didn't necessarily bore with leading and it led to

3167
02:27:28,319 --> 02:27:30,360
a lot of clunk. I mean, they don't have many

3168
02:27:30,479 --> 02:27:34,159
secondary ball handlers either, so someone who can create their

3169
02:27:34,200 --> 02:27:36,760
shot off the dribble, aside from Cole Palo Franz and

3170
02:27:36,840 --> 02:27:40,360
to a degree Jailen. So if and when their primary

3171
02:27:40,479 --> 02:27:42,799
action didn't work, you were just left with like you

3172
02:27:42,879 --> 02:27:47,799
mentioned at Palo Bank, hero Iso, which was another direct

3173
02:27:47,840 --> 02:27:52,479
result of his poor efficiency and then I think ab

3174
02:27:52,760 --> 02:27:56,079
Jet and the addition of KPS KCP helps in that

3175
02:27:56,200 --> 02:27:59,159
regard as because I believe all three of those guys

3176
02:27:59,200 --> 02:28:02,399
are connective power and having more guys on the floor

3177
02:28:02,440 --> 02:28:05,719
who can create advantages and provide relief options is just

3178
02:28:05,799 --> 02:28:07,920
good for an offense that has been non existent for

3179
02:28:09,079 --> 02:28:10,600
We're going on about two seasons of now.

3180
02:28:11,200 --> 02:28:13,280
Speaker 2: I feel like I've been asking everyone who comes on

3181
02:28:13,639 --> 02:28:15,879
what the biggest storyline is for this team? Did we

3182
02:28:16,120 --> 02:28:18,040
just tackle it? Because I feel like the East for

3183
02:28:18,120 --> 02:28:19,879
people like how does the big three fit together? But

3184
02:28:20,000 --> 02:28:23,479
Joel Embiide is still such so critical to what they're doing.

3185
02:28:24,360 --> 02:28:25,959
Is that the answer? Is it a different answer? Like

3186
02:28:26,000 --> 02:28:28,159
what are you kind of tracking most closely this year

3187
02:28:28,200 --> 02:28:29,000
for this team?

3188
02:28:29,479 --> 02:28:29,680
Speaker 5: Yeah?

3189
02:28:29,760 --> 02:28:32,440
Speaker 29: So it is the health, right, because if they don't

3190
02:28:32,559 --> 02:28:37,399
get to mid April early May with both Joel and

3191
02:28:37,600 --> 02:28:40,600
PG healthy, then kind of we could just throw it

3192
02:28:40,639 --> 02:28:43,040
out right now, right Like, I think both of us

3193
02:28:43,079 --> 02:28:46,440
are pretty high on Tyrese Maxi in the league landscape,

3194
02:28:46,479 --> 02:28:50,399
But if you're asking him to take Andre Drummond and

3195
02:28:50,799 --> 02:28:53,959
Kelly Ubra and Caleb Martin past the second round, like

3196
02:28:54,040 --> 02:28:57,239
that's just that's not a reasonable ask for anyone. So

3197
02:28:57,600 --> 02:29:00,120
the health is number one, but I do think the

3198
02:29:00,239 --> 02:29:03,799
offshoots of how they manage Joel are probably the most

3199
02:29:03,879 --> 02:29:06,479
fascinating thing to me. Right, Like you can split it

3200
02:29:06,600 --> 02:29:08,959
up into a bunch of different categories. One of the

3201
02:29:09,040 --> 02:29:12,479
ones that is most interesting to me is like, what

3202
02:29:12,719 --> 02:29:17,360
are the consequences on the court. For one, you're taking

3203
02:29:17,399 --> 02:29:19,479
all the back to backs off the table allegedly, so

3204
02:29:19,559 --> 02:29:21,360
that's fifteen games off the top.

3205
02:29:21,600 --> 02:29:22,120
Speaker 5: No Joel.

3206
02:29:22,639 --> 02:29:25,920
Speaker 29: They've said they'll probably build some other minimal rest in

3207
02:29:26,120 --> 02:29:29,239
at some point for him. Let's call that another five

3208
02:29:29,319 --> 02:29:32,079
to ten games, So you're in the lower sixties. Let's

3209
02:29:32,079 --> 02:29:34,799
say he even if he gets through with like fairly

3210
02:29:34,920 --> 02:29:37,520
clean bill health, he misses another five to ten. So

3211
02:29:37,600 --> 02:29:40,319
you're talking about, you know, mid fifties, maybe mid to

3212
02:29:40,399 --> 02:29:44,120
high fifties in a fair not best case scenario, but

3213
02:29:44,239 --> 02:29:48,879
a very good scenario. And with Maxi ascending and Paul

3214
02:29:48,959 --> 02:29:51,159
George is probably going to get some time off himself,

3215
02:29:51,639 --> 02:29:54,399
you know, what is the identity of this team? And

3216
02:29:54,840 --> 02:29:58,479
does Maxi become the guy for long stretches of the season,

3217
02:29:58,680 --> 02:30:01,799
and so more importantly to me, when you get to

3218
02:30:01,920 --> 02:30:05,159
the playoffs, what is your identity? Because I think we

3219
02:30:05,239 --> 02:30:08,639
see every year most of the teams that are playoff

3220
02:30:08,719 --> 02:30:12,120
resilient that make it to you know, conference finals finals

3221
02:30:12,600 --> 02:30:16,479
have had the supporting cast and the stars mostly if

3222
02:30:16,559 --> 02:30:19,959
not all healthy the whole year. They figure out that

3223
02:30:20,879 --> 02:30:23,120
they run through their plays and their stuff and they're

3224
02:30:23,159 --> 02:30:26,719
not even thinking anymore, right, it's just react. Like if

3225
02:30:26,760 --> 02:30:29,399
it's Jokich, it's he knows this guy will make this

3226
02:30:29,600 --> 02:30:31,639
cut at this time. He doesn't have to look on

3227
02:30:31,719 --> 02:30:34,040
the pass. Anthony Edwards is running a.

3228
02:30:34,040 --> 02:30:34,559
Speaker 6: Pick and roll.

3229
02:30:34,639 --> 02:30:37,000
Speaker 29: He knows what his reeds are where, and you just

3230
02:30:37,079 --> 02:30:39,760
go down the list like Luca, same thing last year.

3231
02:30:39,799 --> 02:30:42,639
He's got complete command of that offense. And it's just

3232
02:30:42,840 --> 02:30:46,159
hard when Joel has said, like ty Resee is going

3233
02:30:46,239 --> 02:30:47,479
to be the guy this year and I'm going to

3234
02:30:47,520 --> 02:30:49,000
help him with that, and it's like it's easy to

3235
02:30:49,040 --> 02:30:51,959
say that, and I believe that he trusts him and

3236
02:30:52,040 --> 02:30:55,159
wants to empower him in that way. But once Joel

3237
02:30:55,280 --> 02:30:57,440
is on the floor, it's like the guy's getting the

3238
02:30:57,520 --> 02:31:00,079
ball and the offense is running through him. And so

3239
02:31:00,239 --> 02:31:02,840
how do you balance that idea of like he's the

3240
02:31:02,920 --> 02:31:05,319
guy when he's available, but he's also not going to

3241
02:31:05,360 --> 02:31:08,879
be available for let's call it twenty five to thirty

3242
02:31:08,920 --> 02:31:12,879
five percent of the season pretty much guaranteed. And is

3243
02:31:13,040 --> 02:31:16,559
that a way to win at a high level in

3244
02:31:16,639 --> 02:31:19,559
the playoffs. I don't know the Raptors did it in

3245
02:31:20,360 --> 02:31:25,879
twenty nineteen, but they got absolute Apex Kawhi and they

3246
02:31:26,000 --> 02:31:29,799
had a ton of high level, intelligent role players. I

3247
02:31:29,879 --> 02:31:32,879
mean even they got Marc Gasol at the deadline. He was,

3248
02:31:33,000 --> 02:31:36,280
you know, high basketball IQ. Kyle Lowry, high basketball IQ,

3249
02:31:36,840 --> 02:31:39,159
Danny Green has won in a million places, Like it's

3250
02:31:39,639 --> 02:31:42,920
not easy to replicate that. And they were also fortunate

3251
02:31:42,959 --> 02:31:45,319
in the finals that the Warriors fell apart as well.

3252
02:31:45,840 --> 02:31:49,760
Speaker 2: Does that come down to Embiid making more of an

3253
02:31:49,799 --> 02:31:52,000
adjustment than Maxie at this point? Because I think one

3254
02:31:52,040 --> 02:31:54,959
of the things that's impressed me most about Tyrese Maxi

3255
02:31:55,319 --> 02:31:58,319
through the first you know leg of his career, he's

3256
02:31:58,600 --> 02:32:00,680
played so many different types of rolls on like, he's

3257
02:32:00,680 --> 02:32:02,680
seen so many different iterations for the Sixers, and he's

3258
02:32:02,680 --> 02:32:05,520
only going into year five that we know that he

3259
02:32:05,600 --> 02:32:08,399
can adjust and shape shift kind of on a game basis,

3260
02:32:08,440 --> 02:32:11,520
a lineup basis, and so like, what is the challenge then,

3261
02:32:11,639 --> 02:32:13,799
for like, is there a way for Joel Embiid to

3262
02:32:13,920 --> 02:32:16,799
be again, He's going to be central to the offense,

3263
02:32:16,840 --> 02:32:18,639
but like, what is the path to him being more

3264
02:32:19,280 --> 02:32:22,840
offensive compliment for stretches or coming in maybe not disrupting

3265
02:32:23,239 --> 02:32:25,760
some of the other elements that the Sixers have going

3266
02:32:25,799 --> 02:32:26,520
on without him.

3267
02:32:27,239 --> 02:32:29,840
Speaker 29: Well, I think the good news is that Tyresee is

3268
02:32:29,920 --> 02:32:32,639
the most hand in glove fit of a star that

3269
02:32:32,719 --> 02:32:35,799
he's ever played with offensively. Like, if you go back

3270
02:32:35,920 --> 02:32:39,360
through you know, the start of Joel's career, he's succeeded

3271
02:32:39,479 --> 02:32:42,000
with guys that are high level shooters that can shoot

3272
02:32:42,040 --> 02:32:44,399
on the move, that are successful out of these like

3273
02:32:44,479 --> 02:32:48,120
dribble handoff looks right, So go back to JJ Reddick,

3274
02:32:48,319 --> 02:32:51,440
he was great at it. Seth Curry, who has you know,

3275
02:32:51,799 --> 02:32:54,399
has not always had a home everywhere. He's been a

3276
02:32:54,399 --> 02:32:57,600
great shooter, but kind of like Journeyman a little bit.

3277
02:32:58,000 --> 02:33:01,559
He was awesome in Philly in part because Joel created

3278
02:33:01,639 --> 02:33:05,079
space for him and they figured out that two man game. Well,

3279
02:33:05,159 --> 02:33:09,360
MAXI no disrespect to those two, a far more advanced

3280
02:33:09,399 --> 02:33:11,920
player in a ton of different ways, way more dangerous

3281
02:33:12,360 --> 02:33:15,159
off the dribble. And though Joel and ty Resee have

3282
02:33:15,280 --> 02:33:17,600
figured out you know, all the nuances of the two

3283
02:33:17,680 --> 02:33:21,440
man game out of those handoffs and just Tyrese using

3284
02:33:21,520 --> 02:33:24,719
his big body as a screener. Tyre's turning the corner

3285
02:33:24,799 --> 02:33:28,280
and making the reads. Are they trapping, are they you know, dropping?

3286
02:33:28,440 --> 02:33:28,760
Speaker 5: Whatever?

3287
02:33:29,479 --> 02:33:32,079
Speaker 29: And I think the most important thing is Joel trusts

3288
02:33:32,360 --> 02:33:36,639
ty Rese just blindly, right, I guess not blindly because

3289
02:33:37,319 --> 02:33:40,879
incredible worker, like the high character guy has put the

3290
02:33:40,959 --> 02:33:43,399
results on paper every single year gets better, gets better,

3291
02:33:43,479 --> 02:33:45,440
gets better. And I think you saw in that Knick

3292
02:33:45,600 --> 02:33:48,719
series the what was a game five in the Garden

3293
02:33:48,760 --> 02:33:51,319
where Maxie went for like forty seven. That was a

3294
02:33:51,399 --> 02:33:54,319
game where Joel struggled for a lot of that game,

3295
02:33:54,879 --> 02:33:56,719
and there was a very clear point in the fourth

3296
02:33:56,799 --> 02:34:01,719
quarter where Maxy was like, it's like I'm playing better,

3297
02:34:01,959 --> 02:34:05,399
and Joelle happily was just like gave him the runway

3298
02:34:05,479 --> 02:34:06,760
and said it's your show.

3299
02:34:07,079 --> 02:34:07,360
Speaker 2: Do that.

3300
02:34:07,920 --> 02:34:10,040
Speaker 29: And we saw that throughout last season, at least when

3301
02:34:10,079 --> 02:34:13,520
Joel was healthy. So I think he wants to do

3302
02:34:13,879 --> 02:34:16,920
whatever is it's going to take to win. There will

3303
02:34:16,959 --> 02:34:20,319
certainly be moments where Joel thinks like I have the matchup,

3304
02:34:20,479 --> 02:34:23,440
I'm the guy, whatever, But I do think they are

3305
02:34:23,680 --> 02:34:26,440
so tight. Both on and off the floor, that it

3306
02:34:26,559 --> 02:34:29,120
should help make that process of figuring out, you know,

3307
02:34:29,200 --> 02:34:31,920
whose night is it, who shot is it all that

3308
02:34:32,479 --> 02:34:34,200
easier than it probably would be otherwise.

3309
02:34:34,399 --> 02:34:36,440
Speaker 2: Mike, and I'll want answers from both of you, assuming

3310
02:34:36,440 --> 02:34:38,879
they're different here, But aside from Buttonholzer and whatever he's

3311
02:34:38,879 --> 02:34:41,479
going to implement, what is the biggest storyline for this

3312
02:34:41,559 --> 02:34:43,879
team that you're going to be monitoring entering next season

3313
02:34:43,959 --> 02:34:44,879
or throughout next season.

3314
02:34:45,559 --> 02:34:48,959
Speaker 30: I mean, it has to be the addition of multiple

3315
02:34:49,079 --> 02:34:51,879
point guards to this team, because this was a team

3316
02:34:51,959 --> 02:34:56,280
that I think it was justifiable to not have to

3317
02:34:56,440 --> 02:34:58,719
not start a point guard if you start with two

3318
02:34:58,799 --> 02:35:01,280
guards in Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, and the idea

3319
02:35:01,399 --> 02:35:04,319
being that you can have both of these guys, along

3320
02:35:04,360 --> 02:35:07,280
with Kevin Durant, handling the ball enough and creating enough

3321
02:35:07,360 --> 02:35:10,680
for others to sort of be okay without one. But

3322
02:35:10,760 --> 02:35:12,920
the fact that they pulled off an offseason where they

3323
02:35:12,959 --> 02:35:15,799
added I think competent point guards at both the starting

3324
02:35:15,879 --> 02:35:19,120
and backup position, I think changes things for how this

3325
02:35:19,280 --> 02:35:25,000
team can play offensively and even maybe has an impact defensively,

3326
02:35:25,440 --> 02:35:26,760
if not just because of.

3327
02:35:28,520 --> 02:35:29,600
Speaker 6: The ability to.

3328
02:35:30,120 --> 02:35:33,639
Speaker 30: Not turn it over constantly, because that's really what was

3329
02:35:33,719 --> 02:35:36,239
the biggest problem, but maybe to have other players out

3330
02:35:36,239 --> 02:35:37,879
there that are good at getting in the passing lanes

3331
02:35:37,879 --> 02:35:41,079
and actually turning the other team over a little bit.

3332
02:35:42,559 --> 02:35:45,760
Speaker 2: Sam, how much of an impact do you see like

3333
02:35:45,879 --> 02:35:49,040
Tias Jones having on this offense, even just aside from okay,

3334
02:35:49,079 --> 02:35:52,920
we know the assistant turnover ratios generational, but like, is

3335
02:35:52,959 --> 02:35:55,959
there like another area or just like is it general organization?

3336
02:35:56,159 --> 02:35:58,200
Like what type of impact you envision him having on

3337
02:35:58,319 --> 02:36:01,440
a team that is so loaded with again, three guys

3338
02:36:01,479 --> 02:36:03,520
who in theory can do a bunch of stuff on

3339
02:36:03,600 --> 02:36:03,840
the ball.

3340
02:36:04,120 --> 02:36:06,559
Speaker 31: Yeah, it really is just general organization, because let's be

3341
02:36:06,600 --> 02:36:09,360
honest in terms of both who Tias and Monte are.

3342
02:36:10,280 --> 02:36:13,200
They have this generational skill and their other skills are

3343
02:36:13,280 --> 02:36:15,879
just average. These guys are average at everything else. Right, Tias,

3344
02:36:16,079 --> 02:36:18,559
he comes with a little bit of a floater game

3345
02:36:18,639 --> 02:36:20,840
that's pretty good. Monte has a midrange game as well.

3346
02:36:20,879 --> 02:36:22,959
I'll be curious to see how much they're sort of

3347
02:36:23,000 --> 02:36:25,680
pushing him to just fire away from threes when he

3348
02:36:25,760 --> 02:36:27,959
comes off the bench and maybe get away from some

3349
02:36:28,079 --> 02:36:29,799
of the stuff that he's done in the past. But

3350
02:36:30,360 --> 02:36:33,280
we need them for their point guard skills. Because again,

3351
02:36:33,719 --> 02:36:36,680
this was the ninth best offense in the NBA last year,

3352
02:36:36,920 --> 02:36:38,959
and not because they shot the ball poorly from any

3353
02:36:38,959 --> 02:36:41,840
particular spot on the floor. They had lots of loads

3354
02:36:41,879 --> 02:36:43,879
of good three point shooters. Just look at the season

3355
02:36:43,920 --> 02:36:45,639
that Grace and Allen had being the best three point

3356
02:36:45,680 --> 02:36:48,360
shooter in the NBA at a certain volume. They had

3357
02:36:48,600 --> 02:36:51,479
terrific mid range shooters, terrific finishers at the rim, with

3358
02:36:51,559 --> 02:36:53,760
the exception of use of Nurkic, who's the worst finisher

3359
02:36:53,799 --> 02:36:56,959
you've ever seen and is the most use of Nurkich,

3360
02:36:57,000 --> 02:37:00,079
who I would describe as the most frustrating net post

3361
02:37:00,200 --> 02:37:03,079
player I think I've ever watched, is probably what he

3362
02:37:03,239 --> 02:37:07,399
was for the Suns last year. So yeah, we just

3363
02:37:07,639 --> 02:37:11,639
like ninth best offense, one of the worst turnover teams

3364
02:37:11,680 --> 02:37:15,520
in the NBA. If you just add Tyas and Monte

3365
02:37:15,680 --> 02:37:18,639
and turn them into a top ten team in terms

3366
02:37:18,680 --> 02:37:21,040
of taking care of the ball, how many points right there?

3367
02:37:21,280 --> 02:37:23,319
If we consider it like a math formula, how many

3368
02:37:23,360 --> 02:37:24,799
points can you add to your offensive rating?

3369
02:37:24,920 --> 02:37:25,040
Speaker 5: Two?

3370
02:37:25,200 --> 02:37:25,680
Speaker 4: Three, four?

3371
02:37:26,120 --> 02:37:28,639
Speaker 31: Like, it feels like there's a real pathway there for

3372
02:37:28,799 --> 02:37:31,719
them to get into the top five as an offensive team,

3373
02:37:31,760 --> 02:37:33,079
which is what they need to be if they want

3374
02:37:33,079 --> 02:37:35,079
to hit their ceiling. Now what's it going to do

3375
02:37:35,159 --> 02:37:38,920
for their defense and their defensive versatility and their rebounding

3376
02:37:39,000 --> 02:37:41,120
and all of these other things. You know, we can

3377
02:37:41,719 --> 02:37:44,520
quibble about that, but yeah, these guys are going to

3378
02:37:44,559 --> 02:37:45,760
be huge for the organization.

3379
02:37:46,040 --> 02:37:49,280
Speaker 2: I think what helps though, is that by not turning

3380
02:37:49,319 --> 02:37:53,000
the ball over and not giving you know, teams extra

3381
02:37:53,079 --> 02:37:55,879
opportunities or opportunities in transition. I think they were bottom

3382
02:37:55,959 --> 02:37:59,159
ten defensively after committing a turnover, and so that could

3383
02:37:59,159 --> 02:38:02,680
help your defense by extension. But my question to you, Mike,

3384
02:38:03,559 --> 02:38:05,799
what does this do by having Tias Jones in there?

3385
02:38:06,000 --> 02:38:07,719
And we're looking at the core lineups of it all

3386
02:38:07,719 --> 02:38:10,479
where you have Bial and Booker and Kevin Durant. Those

3387
02:38:10,520 --> 02:38:12,559
are you could stretch it if you want to with

3388
02:38:12,639 --> 02:38:14,760
the definition of wing and use Devin Booker and do

3389
02:38:14,840 --> 02:38:17,600
or Kevin Durant. We're talking about four non wings who

3390
02:38:17,639 --> 02:38:20,200
could be a part of their core lineup without getting

3391
02:38:20,239 --> 02:38:22,959
to a big man first. Like, does does it have

3392
02:38:23,079 --> 02:38:25,559
a sort of trickle down effect with one? Maybe there's

3393
02:38:25,559 --> 02:38:27,760
a concern from you guys about what their core lineups

3394
02:38:27,799 --> 02:38:30,200
look like. Does it portend some type of unique or

3395
02:38:30,280 --> 02:38:34,000
heavy staggering. Could we see one of those guys and

3396
02:38:34,079 --> 02:38:36,120
probably Tias, or could we see like a Bradley Beal

3397
02:38:36,200 --> 02:38:38,879
maybe not on the floor during certain crunch times, Like

3398
02:38:38,920 --> 02:38:40,600
what is just the trickle down effect of having so

3399
02:38:40,719 --> 02:38:43,239
many important non wings on this team.

3400
02:38:44,280 --> 02:38:48,040
Speaker 30: It's interesting the crunch time thing is is a conversation

3401
02:38:48,200 --> 02:38:50,600
that we just had recently on the podcast in that

3402
02:38:51,520 --> 02:38:54,879
you could see a scenario where Tias doesn't play in

3403
02:38:54,959 --> 02:38:57,000
the last few minutes of a game, right, and then

3404
02:38:57,040 --> 02:38:59,040
you have the big three on there, maybe with Grayson

3405
02:38:59,760 --> 02:39:02,559
and Nurkic or or some version of somebody off the bench,

3406
02:39:02,600 --> 02:39:05,360
maybe it's Royce O'Neil even for a little extra defense,

3407
02:39:06,200 --> 02:39:08,719
or maybe bowl Bull who knows Sam's favorite player.

3408
02:39:09,520 --> 02:39:11,840
Speaker 4: We'll get there, coming in and playing with size.

3409
02:39:11,879 --> 02:39:16,239
Speaker 30: But they were, and they repeated this a lot anytime

3410
02:39:16,280 --> 02:39:18,079
the Sun's played on ESPN or T and T. They

3411
02:39:18,120 --> 02:39:20,559
were the worst team plus minus wise in the last

3412
02:39:20,559 --> 02:39:23,600
five minutes of close games in the entire NBA last season,

3413
02:39:23,680 --> 02:39:25,559
and a big part of that was due to turnovers.

3414
02:39:25,959 --> 02:39:29,440
It's hard to say that they brought a point guard

3415
02:39:29,479 --> 02:39:32,159
that doesn't turn it over to this team and they're

3416
02:39:32,200 --> 02:39:35,840
going to sit him right when the game is very important.

3417
02:39:37,479 --> 02:39:41,280
So little too sorry, but like no, absolutely, it's it's

3418
02:39:41,440 --> 02:39:45,159
it's just true. So so it does have somewhat of

3419
02:39:45,319 --> 02:39:47,840
a trickle down effect. We even had the conversation of

3420
02:39:48,319 --> 02:39:51,479
would this team be better? And look, don't get me wrong,

3421
02:39:51,600 --> 02:39:53,159
it's the middle of the summer, so we needed to

3422
02:39:53,200 --> 02:39:55,879
come up with podcast topics. But we did have the

3423
02:39:56,000 --> 02:39:59,440
conversation on our podcast of does Bradley Beal need to

3424
02:39:59,479 --> 02:40:01,559
come off the b Now there's no way that that's

3425
02:40:01,600 --> 02:40:05,000
going to happen. There's no way, but just coming up

3426
02:40:05,079 --> 02:40:07,799
with ideas or thoughts on how this could potentially work.

3427
02:40:07,879 --> 02:40:09,520
That is something that has to pop in your head

3428
02:40:09,520 --> 02:40:12,639
at some point in thinking about this team, because in

3429
02:40:12,760 --> 02:40:15,120
some ways it's Tiat Jones and you have two shooting

3430
02:40:15,159 --> 02:40:16,840
guards and then you have Kevin Durant who plays like

3431
02:40:16,879 --> 02:40:19,280
a seven foot shooting guard. So it's like three shooting

3432
02:40:19,319 --> 02:40:21,920
guards and and a big on the floor, and I

3433
02:40:22,000 --> 02:40:24,840
think that's gonna it's gonna be troubling. It's hard to

3434
02:40:24,879 --> 02:40:27,840
picture a team that's this small or plays this way

3435
02:40:28,719 --> 02:40:31,680
being a contender. I mean not to jump to any

3436
02:40:32,440 --> 02:40:34,479
future topic here, but it's hard to picture that.

3437
02:40:34,959 --> 02:40:38,200
Speaker 31: If egos and contract considerations and all that didn't exist,

3438
02:40:38,280 --> 02:40:41,120
and we could just arrange this like a two K rotation.

3439
02:40:41,719 --> 02:40:44,680
It certainly feels like Tias Jones and maybe Grayson Allen

3440
02:40:44,799 --> 02:40:46,399
in the back court, and then you've got Booker and

3441
02:40:46,479 --> 02:40:50,520
Katie and Nurkic fits together as a bunch of puzzle

3442
02:40:50,559 --> 02:40:52,360
pieces who play the right roles. And then you use

3443
02:40:52,399 --> 02:40:54,600
Bradley Beal as he gets his thirty minutes per game,

3444
02:40:54,639 --> 02:40:56,440
but it's off the benches of micro grave score and

3445
02:40:56,559 --> 02:41:00,600
doesn't necessarily have to close games. Again, is that gonna happened? No,

3446
02:41:01,239 --> 02:41:04,200
we're just posing that if all of this other stuff

3447
02:41:04,239 --> 02:41:08,719
didn't exist, if Botenholzer didn't have to consider feelings, doesn't

3448
02:41:08,719 --> 02:41:10,520
it feel like Dan and you can disagree, but doesn't

3449
02:41:10,559 --> 02:41:12,520
it feel like maybe that would just fit a little

3450
02:41:12,520 --> 02:41:12,879
bit better.

3451
02:41:13,520 --> 02:41:15,639
Speaker 2: No, it absolutely fit better if this was if there

3452
02:41:15,719 --> 02:41:18,360
wasn't any like politicism involved here, like with what Mike

3453
02:41:18,399 --> 02:41:21,879
Boonholder has to do. I think that that's completely logical

3454
02:41:21,920 --> 02:41:23,399
that you would think that that's their best setup, and

3455
02:41:23,440 --> 02:41:25,879
if it's not, or if they feel beholding, so we

3456
02:41:26,040 --> 02:41:29,000
have to play all three of our stars, our highest

3457
02:41:29,000 --> 02:41:31,399
paid players, then we want tie us out there. Could

3458
02:41:31,520 --> 02:41:34,319
they find themselves like relying more than you know, I think,

3459
02:41:34,399 --> 02:41:36,239
Mike or we both you just mentioned they don't want

3460
02:41:36,280 --> 02:41:38,799
to lean on Kevin Durant or no big lineups let's

3461
02:41:38,840 --> 02:41:40,920
call them. But do you become more dependent on those

3462
02:41:40,959 --> 02:41:42,680
lineups because you have to have a way to fit

3463
02:41:43,079 --> 02:41:44,959
all of those guys into the fold. While then also

3464
02:41:45,040 --> 02:41:47,159
like we we want like someone who's considered sort of

3465
02:41:47,159 --> 02:41:48,399
a wing checker out there.

3466
02:41:48,760 --> 02:41:50,600
Speaker 30: And you know what it does more than anything else,

3467
02:41:50,719 --> 02:41:56,040
it makes the trade deadline. And Grayson Allen really interesting

3468
02:41:56,200 --> 02:41:58,360
for this team because Grayson Allen I love him, and

3469
02:41:58,440 --> 02:42:00,840
he was really good on the Suns last year. And

3470
02:42:00,879 --> 02:42:03,399
they know there's a lot of negative publicity out there

3471
02:42:03,440 --> 02:42:05,719
for Grayson Allen and some of it deserved, but he

3472
02:42:05,840 --> 02:42:08,200
was really great on the Suns last year. But he

3473
02:42:08,280 --> 02:42:10,879
also plays the same position as Devin Booker and Bradley

3474
02:42:10,920 --> 02:42:14,319
Beal and they need some sort of positional versatility on

3475
02:42:14,399 --> 02:42:16,319
this team. He signed a contract he can't be traded

3476
02:42:16,360 --> 02:42:19,040
for another few weeks, but he can be traded throughout

3477
02:42:19,079 --> 02:42:21,520
the season, and if the Sons can find a trade

3478
02:42:21,559 --> 02:42:24,840
that makes sense where they can add real wings depth

3479
02:42:25,040 --> 02:42:28,159
to this team, or even someone worthy of starting as

3480
02:42:28,200 --> 02:42:30,680
a wing player. It'd be hard to turn that down

3481
02:42:30,799 --> 02:42:32,920
if it makes sense for this team this year. It

3482
02:42:33,040 --> 02:42:34,440
has to make sense this year.

3483
02:42:34,760 --> 02:42:37,120
Speaker 31: They do also have just to remind people because I

3484
02:42:37,200 --> 02:42:38,920
know you know this stand, but maybe others don't. They

3485
02:42:38,959 --> 02:42:41,399
have an open roster spot now right, so it feels

3486
02:42:41,479 --> 02:42:43,959
like they're going into the season. I think the likelihood

3487
02:42:44,000 --> 02:42:45,479
that they make a trade in the next few weeks

3488
02:42:45,600 --> 02:42:48,639
is very unlikely. But going into the season, there's a

3489
02:42:48,680 --> 02:42:50,680
reason that the Suns have an open roster spot. They're

3490
02:42:50,719 --> 02:42:53,600
thinking about February already and maybe some of the some

3491
02:42:53,719 --> 02:42:54,639
of the moves that they commit.

3492
02:42:54,799 --> 02:42:58,399
Speaker 2: What is your biggest storyline that you'll be kind of

3493
02:42:58,559 --> 02:43:00,639
tracking throughout this season for the team?

3494
02:43:03,959 --> 02:43:04,079
Speaker 20: Uh?

3495
02:43:05,159 --> 02:43:06,440
Speaker 2: Dunks? The number of dunks?

3496
02:43:06,479 --> 02:43:06,639
Speaker 22: Is that?

3497
02:43:06,719 --> 02:43:07,040
Speaker 24: What? No?

3498
02:43:10,319 --> 02:43:14,799
Speaker 32: So it all kind of leads like there's the tracking

3499
02:43:14,920 --> 02:43:19,600
the player improvement. What is you know what Scoots potential,

3500
02:43:20,120 --> 02:43:26,760
what's Shaden's potential? You know what combos work the best?

3501
02:43:27,239 --> 02:43:30,079
Like I said earlier, when do the Vets get traded?

3502
02:43:31,680 --> 02:43:34,319
I'm still wondering.

3503
02:43:35,319 --> 02:43:37,040
Speaker 22: If they have a good coach and.

3504
02:43:37,079 --> 02:43:39,799
Speaker 32: I'm continuing to look at and I want to know

3505
02:43:40,000 --> 02:43:41,440
who's going to be the coach at the end of

3506
02:43:41,479 --> 02:43:46,479
the season. This is the coach's fourth year. At the

3507
02:43:46,600 --> 02:43:51,360
end of this year, there's a uh player, a team option,

3508
02:43:52,200 --> 02:43:56,120
but he's got to be miserable. John Z Phillips was

3509
02:43:56,239 --> 02:44:00,920
hired to coach Damian Lillard and he's thrown into this

3510
02:44:01,079 --> 02:44:07,360
completely different position. He's now like, what's his record?

3511
02:44:07,520 --> 02:44:07,879
Speaker 22: It's like.

3512
02:44:09,920 --> 02:44:15,959
Speaker 32: Eighty one in one hundred and sixty five, and does

3513
02:44:16,079 --> 02:44:20,520
he I just I can't imagine that he's happy having

3514
02:44:20,719 --> 02:44:23,959
to do this, And so I just I'm watching to like,

3515
02:44:24,879 --> 02:44:28,120
are they getting better because it's just natural growth in

3516
02:44:28,159 --> 02:44:32,000
they're a year older, or are they getting better because

3517
02:44:32,079 --> 02:44:38,239
they're being put into situations where they're learning the game

3518
02:44:38,319 --> 02:44:40,920
and they're applying it on the field and they're running

3519
02:44:41,000 --> 02:44:45,959
plays that are recognizable And so yeah, one of the

3520
02:44:46,000 --> 02:44:47,399
big things I'm tracking is is who's going to be

3521
02:44:47,399 --> 02:44:48,879
the coach at the end of the season.

3522
02:44:50,479 --> 02:44:54,200
Speaker 2: That's a honestly, that's really thought provoking because I'm trying

3523
02:44:54,239 --> 02:44:56,520
to think of the last coach who, even if they

3524
02:44:56,559 --> 02:44:59,000
were a first time, had a job for three seasons

3525
02:44:59,159 --> 02:45:01,079
and we were kind of less asking like, well, what

3526
02:45:01,280 --> 02:45:04,159
is his calling card or what is his guiding principle,

3527
02:45:04,760 --> 02:45:07,159
And you have that question with Chauncey. I guess the

3528
02:45:07,200 --> 02:45:09,719
pushback would be how much of that is on him?

3529
02:45:09,840 --> 02:45:11,760
Because while we view this as year two of the

3530
02:45:11,840 --> 02:45:14,799
post Dame rebuild, like you kind of had two years

3531
02:45:14,840 --> 02:45:18,600
beforehand of just you know, wandering through the wilderness as

3532
02:45:18,959 --> 02:45:19,760
everyone calls it.

3533
02:45:20,559 --> 02:45:23,319
Speaker 32: Well, and they haven't been trying. They've been trying for

3534
02:45:23,399 --> 02:45:27,479
three years to get lottery picks. Yeah, so it's like,

3535
02:45:28,479 --> 02:45:30,239
what are they gonna do if they get rid of him?

3536
02:45:30,280 --> 02:45:30,559
Speaker 28: Lose?

3537
02:45:31,319 --> 02:45:34,280
Speaker 32: I mean it's like it's kind of a like no

3538
02:45:34,639 --> 02:45:37,559
lose situation, you know, on the one hand, but it's

3539
02:45:37,639 --> 02:45:42,000
like how good is it for? Everybody's like, okay, So

3540
02:45:42,120 --> 02:45:44,559
here's here's the thing I think about a lot. Donovan

3541
02:45:44,600 --> 02:45:46,959
Klington just went two national championships with one of the

3542
02:45:47,079 --> 02:45:52,319
best coaches in college ball, and here it comes to Portland,

3543
02:45:52,440 --> 02:45:56,559
a team that is not trying to win games. They're

3544
02:45:56,559 --> 02:46:00,399
trying to win in other ways. And Donovan Kling's coming

3545
02:46:00,440 --> 02:46:05,079
off of two national championships and excellent coaching into this situation.

3546
02:46:05,559 --> 02:46:08,559
And I know that high draft picks often go into

3547
02:46:08,959 --> 02:46:11,479
a situation like this, but often it's like with a

3548
02:46:11,559 --> 02:46:14,040
team that still like has an identity in a way

3549
02:46:14,040 --> 02:46:16,799
they're going and I really worry, Like I don't. I

3550
02:46:16,840 --> 02:46:19,680
think I'm super excited about Donovan Klingen and I don't

3551
02:46:19,719 --> 02:46:23,479
want him to get discouraged having come off of I mean,

3552
02:46:23,600 --> 02:46:26,760
back to back national championships. Like he's a winner, he's

3553
02:46:26,879 --> 02:46:30,760
used to winning, and he's coming to a team. I'm sorry,

3554
02:46:30,799 --> 02:46:33,040
I'm going off on my thing that I is good

3555
02:46:33,920 --> 02:46:38,879
that the three players who I love, these guys, love

3556
02:46:39,079 --> 02:46:41,600
these guys, but the three players who the Blazers are

3557
02:46:41,639 --> 02:46:45,879
looking hardest at building around. So let's start with Anthony

3558
02:46:45,959 --> 02:46:48,760
Simons didn't play college ball. He did a year at IMG,

3559
02:46:49,360 --> 02:46:52,559
and then he came in to Portland and had a

3560
02:46:52,600 --> 02:46:54,479
couple of years where they were trying to win. And

3561
02:46:54,639 --> 02:46:57,200
now the last three years has gone, you know, two season,

3562
02:46:57,239 --> 02:47:01,120
three seasons has gone through what he's been through. Scoot

3563
02:47:01,520 --> 02:47:03,959
played for two not just one year on the Ignite,

3564
02:47:04,040 --> 02:47:07,319
two years on the Ignite, starting when he was seventeen,

3565
02:47:08,000 --> 02:47:11,280
a team that does not have a winning record. No,

3566
02:47:12,719 --> 02:47:17,360
Shayden didn't play in college. He attended practice, but he

3567
02:47:17,520 --> 02:47:21,159
didn't play. And now here comes donnov and clinging into

3568
02:47:21,239 --> 02:47:24,319
this situation and I just I worry about that a lot,

3569
02:47:24,399 --> 02:47:26,639
and people assure me that that is not something to

3570
02:47:26,719 --> 02:47:29,959
worry about, but I I just I want to make

3571
02:47:29,959 --> 02:47:33,600
sure Donovan Klingon gets the coaching that he is used

3572
02:47:33,600 --> 02:47:36,200
to and I want all the other guys to benefit

3573
02:47:36,239 --> 02:47:38,360
from it too, And I'm just waiting to see that.

3574
02:47:39,959 --> 02:47:42,319
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I don't think people think about that

3575
02:47:42,719 --> 02:47:46,559
enough because everyone's so invested in I guess, like the

3576
02:47:46,680 --> 02:47:50,920
quantifiable and that the culture and like that impact that

3577
02:47:51,040 --> 02:47:54,000
you're kind of just laying out. You can't really quantify that,

3578
02:47:54,399 --> 02:47:57,159
and so but it's important, like it is. That's why

3579
02:47:57,239 --> 02:47:59,120
these teams. I'm not necessarily in favor of it, Like

3580
02:47:59,159 --> 02:48:00,719
you don't need to keep you on his HASLM for

3581
02:48:00,799 --> 02:48:02,959
twelve years to take up like one of your last

3582
02:48:03,040 --> 02:48:05,600
roster spots. But that's why these teams have these kind

3583
02:48:05,600 --> 02:48:07,600
of veteran guys that are actually on the roster spots

3584
02:48:07,639 --> 02:48:10,360
because they want to set like an important tone. And

3585
02:48:10,399 --> 02:48:14,079
I'm also wondering if that I'm this is all stream

3586
02:48:14,079 --> 02:48:16,479
of conscious because you thought about this, which is just

3587
02:48:16,520 --> 02:48:18,639
a great point, and I haven't. I'm guilty of it.

3588
02:48:18,680 --> 02:48:20,680
I'm not giving it much thought. But where we might

3589
02:48:20,760 --> 02:48:22,680
be criticizing, and I'm sure I have. It's like, well,

3590
02:48:22,719 --> 02:48:24,840
like why are some of these guys still on this team?

3591
02:48:25,200 --> 02:48:27,239
Why did they keep Malcolm Brogden for a full year?

3592
02:48:27,319 --> 02:48:29,479
It's like, well, that might be why so that these

3593
02:48:29,799 --> 02:48:33,120
these young players can come up in like the right environment.

3594
02:48:33,200 --> 02:48:35,639
And there are people who I do wonder how to square,

3595
02:48:35,719 --> 02:48:38,319
Like Jeremy Grant's actually a really good example because when

3596
02:48:38,319 --> 02:48:40,920
you look at Malcolm Brogden, he was traded to Portland

3597
02:48:41,000 --> 02:48:42,680
and he's not necessarily at a point in his career

3598
02:48:42,760 --> 02:48:45,559
where he might want to play that role, like Jeremy

3599
02:48:45,600 --> 02:48:48,040
Grant chose to stay. And I know Dame was technically

3600
02:48:48,040 --> 02:48:49,680
still on the team at the time, but like he

3601
02:48:49,799 --> 02:48:52,600
had to be eyes fairly wide open, and so having

3602
02:48:52,719 --> 02:48:55,319
him there and just like kind of understand, like just

3603
02:48:55,399 --> 02:48:57,719
to have high character guys around you while you're losing,

3604
02:48:57,760 --> 02:49:01,000
I would think that's super important, especially if, as you note,

3605
02:49:01,120 --> 02:49:03,360
like we don't really know how valuable the coach is

3606
02:49:03,399 --> 02:49:04,440
from that perspective too.

3607
02:49:06,360 --> 02:49:09,399
Speaker 32: Yeah, And I think all these guys can be great players,

3608
02:49:09,440 --> 02:49:10,879
and I don't want to say that they're not like

3609
02:49:11,159 --> 02:49:15,799
skilled and you know, coachable, and they've all like shown

3610
02:49:16,200 --> 02:49:19,920
some improvement over their last years, but that experience of

3611
02:49:20,040 --> 02:49:24,159
either playing overseas or with a college team where you're

3612
02:49:24,280 --> 02:49:28,840
playing for something, and then they come here somewhere where

3613
02:49:28,879 --> 02:49:31,280
they're still not trying to win, and it's like, that's

3614
02:49:31,280 --> 02:49:34,159
why I'm like, Okay, win the N Season Tournament.

3615
02:49:35,000 --> 02:49:37,360
Speaker 22: Play all of that's four game.

3616
02:49:37,399 --> 02:49:39,799
Speaker 32: What is it going to cost them? Possibly four wins? Okay,

3617
02:49:40,000 --> 02:49:43,319
Like I can live with four wins. Play them just

3618
02:49:43,440 --> 02:49:46,959
so that they can be in that hype scenario like

3619
02:49:47,399 --> 02:49:50,639
last seasons. In one Incison tournament game that the Blazers won,

3620
02:49:50,799 --> 02:49:53,399
they won the first N Season Tournament game, and it

3621
02:49:53,559 --> 02:49:56,719
was so fun for the fans because it was like

3622
02:49:58,239 --> 02:50:01,639
the stakes were not high, but it to mean something.

3623
02:50:02,120 --> 02:50:03,200
Speaker 5: So let these.

3624
02:50:03,079 --> 02:50:08,159
Speaker 32: Players who haven't necessarily been lately on teams that were

3625
02:50:08,159 --> 02:50:09,879
playing something, let him at least play for the N

3626
02:50:09,959 --> 02:50:10,719
Season Tournament.

3627
02:50:12,280 --> 02:50:15,200
Speaker 2: Honestly, I hope a team like the Blazers, Like I

3628
02:50:15,239 --> 02:50:17,319
would just love a random team to win the N

3629
02:50:17,399 --> 02:50:19,440
Season Tournament because that would just be really cool. Whether

3630
02:50:19,440 --> 02:50:22,360
it's the Blazers are like the Pistons or something, it

3631
02:50:22,360 --> 02:50:24,280
would just be I think that'd be a great story.

3632
02:50:24,479 --> 02:50:26,760
So when you look at moving into this season, I've

3633
02:50:26,760 --> 02:50:28,879
been asking everyone said they can take wherever they want,

3634
02:50:28,920 --> 02:50:30,959
what their biggest storyline is that they're tracking. But I

3635
02:50:31,000 --> 02:50:32,840
feel like you can correct me if I'm wrong. I'd

3636
02:50:32,879 --> 02:50:34,959
be interested on a pitch that's not this answer. But

3637
02:50:35,040 --> 02:50:38,000
it's clearly just what is the Marta Rosen's fit going

3638
02:50:38,079 --> 02:50:39,840
to be or how does it look with this team?

3639
02:50:39,920 --> 02:50:40,040
Speaker 14: Right?

3640
02:50:40,719 --> 02:50:43,000
Speaker 2: And so where you sawt of at on all that?

3641
02:50:43,079 --> 02:50:44,920
So just the move itself, Like, what was your reaction

3642
02:50:45,040 --> 02:50:45,239
to that?

3643
02:50:46,959 --> 02:50:48,799
Speaker 33: I was thrilled with the move. I mean, I think

3644
02:50:48,840 --> 02:50:51,719
it's a great move overall, especially when you look at

3645
02:50:51,760 --> 02:50:54,319
the cost of you know, what the Kings give up

3646
02:50:54,440 --> 02:50:57,760
to get to Marta Rosen. I mean, he is still

3647
02:50:57,799 --> 02:51:01,399
an excellent player even at is a. He's really good,

3648
02:51:01,520 --> 02:51:03,399
and he brings to the table a lot of the

3649
02:51:03,479 --> 02:51:06,239
things that the Kings were missing last year, some of

3650
02:51:06,280 --> 02:51:09,239
the things that caused the offense to stall out, you know.

3651
02:51:09,639 --> 02:51:12,600
So he really solves a lot of their issues as

3652
02:51:12,639 --> 02:51:15,840
far as needing another creator, needing someone else who can

3653
02:51:15,879 --> 02:51:18,399
find another shot, giving them another option in the clutch,

3654
02:51:18,520 --> 02:51:22,040
Like it just makes them so much harder to scheme against.

3655
02:51:22,159 --> 02:51:24,840
In just one way, it gives them a lot more. Look,

3656
02:51:24,879 --> 02:51:28,799
so I'm really excited about it, and I don't feel

3657
02:51:28,840 --> 02:51:31,319
like giving up Harrison Barnes and Chris Tuart is really

3658
02:51:31,520 --> 02:51:34,639
very much to give up. And I think how people

3659
02:51:34,719 --> 02:51:37,200
evaluated the loss of Harrison Barnes told me a lot

3660
02:51:37,360 --> 02:51:39,840
this summer about who was watching the Kings and who

3661
02:51:40,000 --> 02:51:43,159
wasn't because there was some interesting takes flying around there.

3662
02:51:43,239 --> 02:51:47,360
But for what it cost, and the Kings still have,

3663
02:51:48,399 --> 02:51:51,239
you know, they they didn't give up any first round picks.

3664
02:51:51,639 --> 02:51:56,440
They still have Kevin Hurder. Yeah, so good job Bulls.

3665
02:51:56,920 --> 02:51:59,159
So I mean they still have the tools to make

3666
02:51:59,239 --> 02:52:02,000
another move. I was hoping they would do another move

3667
02:52:02,079 --> 02:52:04,440
this summer, but you know, even if it's at the

3668
02:52:04,479 --> 02:52:06,799
deadline or whenever it might be, the Kings still have

3669
02:52:06,920 --> 02:52:09,879
the ammunition to do another move. They didn't spend every

3670
02:52:09,959 --> 02:52:12,520
trade asset under the sun just to get to Marto Rosen.

3671
02:52:12,559 --> 02:52:14,079
If they had done that, I would have been a

3672
02:52:14,120 --> 02:52:16,760
little bit more down on it. But for what it

3673
02:52:16,879 --> 02:52:19,440
costs the team, I think it's a fantastic move. Now,

3674
02:52:19,600 --> 02:52:22,079
there are obviously questions with it, and I think some

3675
02:52:22,200 --> 02:52:24,159
of those questions are vowed. You know, what's the defense

3676
02:52:24,239 --> 02:52:24,760
going to look like?

3677
02:52:25,360 --> 02:52:25,479
Speaker 11: Uh?

3678
02:52:25,719 --> 02:52:28,840
Speaker 33: You know who's how does the ball get distributed? Because

3679
02:52:28,879 --> 02:52:30,239
now you've got a lot of guys who like the

3680
02:52:30,280 --> 02:52:32,479
ball in their hand. I think those are good problems

3681
02:52:32,520 --> 02:52:35,239
to have. They are things that I'm curious to see

3682
02:52:35,239 --> 02:52:38,360
how they'll work out. But overall, I think it's a

3683
02:52:38,399 --> 02:52:38,760
good move.

3684
02:52:39,280 --> 02:52:40,760
Speaker 2: We look at the positive. Is there what you mentioned

3685
02:52:40,760 --> 02:52:42,559
already does? Is there one thing though, that like you

3686
02:52:42,559 --> 02:52:44,399
think will end up being the most impactful, even if

3687
02:52:44,399 --> 02:52:48,040
it's just like their free throw attempts very plummeted last year,

3688
02:52:48,200 --> 02:52:49,239
and like if you're not going to get to the

3689
02:52:49,319 --> 02:52:51,000
rim and they weren't getting the rim is often either

3690
02:52:51,280 --> 02:52:52,840
to get home from de ros who, yeah he's gonna

3691
02:52:52,840 --> 02:52:54,200
get to the basket of a time, but still just

3692
02:52:54,280 --> 02:52:54,840
draws fouls.

3693
02:52:54,879 --> 02:52:58,520
Speaker 33: That's the man, and that's huge. I mean the Kings

3694
02:52:59,079 --> 02:53:03,000
last year, they're leading free throw attempts for Gammas Darren

3695
02:53:03,040 --> 02:53:07,479
Fox at five point seven, and the Rosan gets last

3696
02:53:07,559 --> 02:53:09,680
year was like eight point seven. I think eight point

3697
02:53:09,719 --> 02:53:11,399
two is something like that it was in the eights.

3698
02:53:11,840 --> 02:53:14,280
It's like he is far and away their best at

3699
02:53:14,360 --> 02:53:18,399
getting to the line drawing fouls. Uh, you know, which

3700
02:53:18,760 --> 02:53:21,200
helps you with then getting your opponent in foul trouble,

3701
02:53:21,360 --> 02:53:23,879
and he actually makes his free throws, which the Kings

3702
02:53:23,879 --> 02:53:24,920
also really struggled with.

3703
02:53:26,079 --> 02:53:28,719
Speaker 4: So you know, he not only will get to the line,

3704
02:53:28,760 --> 02:53:29,440
but actually make.

3705
02:53:29,399 --> 02:53:29,840
Speaker 34: Some of those.

3706
02:53:30,680 --> 02:53:35,360
Speaker 33: That plus just the that ability to create his own

3707
02:53:35,360 --> 02:53:38,440
shot in isolation. The Kings didn't have a lot of that.

3708
02:53:38,639 --> 02:53:43,200
I mean, Monk sometimes, Fox sometimes that was about it.

3709
02:53:43,360 --> 02:53:45,079
No one else on that team was creating their own

3710
02:53:45,079 --> 02:53:47,840
shot in isolation, like and not to the level that

3711
02:53:48,000 --> 02:53:48,639
DeRozan can.

3712
02:53:50,079 --> 02:53:53,479
Speaker 2: Is there are we gonna see like dribble handoffs run

3713
02:53:53,520 --> 02:53:55,600
between de Rosen and the bonus and the paint. I

3714
02:53:55,719 --> 02:53:57,559
just feel like they're gonna be that low when they

3715
02:53:57,600 --> 02:53:57,840
run it.

3716
02:53:57,920 --> 02:53:59,520
Speaker 4: I just I see it.

3717
02:53:59,840 --> 02:54:01,799
Speaker 2: I hope so too. That's what I'm I don't know

3718
02:54:01,840 --> 02:54:03,360
if that'll be the biggest impact. That's the thing I

3719
02:54:03,399 --> 02:54:05,479
want to see the most. What is if you have

3720
02:54:05,680 --> 02:54:07,280
like what would be your biggest concern if you had

3721
02:54:07,280 --> 02:54:09,719
isolaid it down about the fit, Like what would be

3722
02:54:09,760 --> 02:54:10,959
the potential biggest.

3723
02:54:10,639 --> 02:54:11,079
Speaker 5: Warp for you?

3724
02:54:12,920 --> 02:54:13,040
Speaker 1: Uh?

3725
02:54:14,120 --> 02:54:16,079
Speaker 33: I would probably go with the defense. I mean, I

3726
02:54:16,159 --> 02:54:21,760
do think that the defense of criticism against Derozen is

3727
02:54:21,840 --> 02:54:25,200
maybe a little overblown because when you look at like

3728
02:54:25,360 --> 02:54:27,639
defensive ratings and stuff like that, which obviously has a

3729
02:54:27,680 --> 02:54:29,760
lot of team noise in there as well. But like

3730
02:54:30,000 --> 02:54:32,600
Derozen had a better defensive rating than Harrison Barns last year.

3731
02:54:33,000 --> 02:54:36,120
Like again, Harrison Barnes was not in any way a

3732
02:54:36,159 --> 02:54:40,079
plus defender, And so I don't know that, you know,

3733
02:54:40,239 --> 02:54:43,559
swapping DeRozan for Barnes, I don't know how much that

3734
02:54:43,639 --> 02:54:46,920
hurts the defense. I do think that it can cause

3735
02:54:46,959 --> 02:54:51,600
issues depending on certain matchups. So I'm curious to see

3736
02:54:51,639 --> 02:54:55,000
what that impact is. But I'm also kind of excited because, like,

3737
02:54:55,040 --> 02:54:57,399
if the Kings go back to being an elite offense

3738
02:54:57,639 --> 02:55:02,120
and can stay a middle of the pack like defense

3739
02:55:02,120 --> 02:55:04,559
as opposed to a bottom of the pack defense, that's

3740
02:55:04,559 --> 02:55:06,559
a pretty exciting team and I'll be excited to root

3741
02:55:06,600 --> 02:55:06,760
for that.

3742
02:55:07,479 --> 02:55:09,920
Speaker 2: I guess was that the take where people I'm just

3743
02:55:10,000 --> 02:55:12,079
so far removed from that stilo. I guess that they

3744
02:55:12,159 --> 02:55:15,079
thought the Kings were losing an elite defender in Harrison

3745
02:55:15,079 --> 02:55:17,200
Barnes or something of that, like what the perception was.

3746
02:55:17,719 --> 02:55:19,719
Speaker 33: There were some pundits that we're talking about how much

3747
02:55:19,719 --> 02:55:21,639
the Kings were gonna miss Harrison Barnes defense.

3748
02:55:24,239 --> 02:55:27,639
Speaker 2: So I actually think the Rosen is worse defensively than

3749
02:55:27,719 --> 02:55:31,639
last year's version of Harrison Barnes, just because you have

3750
02:55:31,760 --> 02:55:33,760
to go to greater lengths to and I don't you

3751
02:55:33,879 --> 02:55:35,799
have to instantly Harrison Barnes too. But the stuff that

3752
02:55:35,920 --> 02:55:38,079
he they asked him to do was just like, oh,

3753
02:55:38,600 --> 02:55:40,239
you shouldn't be doing that where it's like with the

3754
02:55:40,360 --> 02:55:43,440
Rosen like no, no, he can't, Like I just don't know.

3755
02:55:43,799 --> 02:55:46,239
And in Chicago, to his point was defensive rating, like

3756
02:55:46,280 --> 02:55:48,479
he got to share the floor with Alex Caruso at

3757
02:55:48,520 --> 02:55:52,120
points there. So but I don't think it's like when

3758
02:55:52,159 --> 02:55:54,120
you look at the I looked at it as I

3759
02:55:54,159 --> 02:55:56,079
don't know if it's a perfect offensive fit. But Demarcinus

3760
02:55:56,120 --> 02:55:59,239
is an elite offensive player, which Harrison Barnes if he

3761
02:55:59,319 --> 02:56:01,399
ever was one, like that's just not him, and so

3762
02:56:01,760 --> 02:56:04,040
it's a in talent. Like to me, it was a

3763
02:56:04,200 --> 02:56:08,319
very clear upgrade. And I think I over romanticize swaps.

3764
02:56:08,360 --> 02:56:09,719
That was the thing that gave me pause, Like that

3765
02:56:09,840 --> 02:56:12,520
swap is really far away, and it's like we want

3766
02:56:12,559 --> 02:56:14,360
teams that are good to go for it now and

3767
02:56:14,479 --> 02:56:16,639
to give up a swap for Demarto Rosen who's still

3768
02:56:17,120 --> 02:56:18,920
All Star caliber. You want to throw them in that

3769
02:56:19,040 --> 02:56:21,360
vein like it is a perfectly reasonable.

3770
02:56:21,000 --> 02:56:21,520
Speaker 5: Cost, so.

3771
02:56:23,000 --> 02:56:26,360
Speaker 2: That I'm like, I'm totally on board with the move.

3772
02:56:27,040 --> 02:56:29,920
Who do you think will benefit most on this team

3773
02:56:30,000 --> 02:56:31,399
though from him being here?

3774
02:56:34,079 --> 02:56:37,319
Speaker 33: That is a good question, Like as far as who

3775
02:56:37,440 --> 02:56:38,879
he compliments the most.

3776
02:56:39,040 --> 02:56:41,520
Speaker 2: Either compliments or makes their job easier when it's like, oh,

3777
02:56:41,559 --> 02:56:43,639
it's like Darren FOXXK gonna take more like catch and

3778
02:56:43,680 --> 02:56:45,520
shoot open threes or something rather than having to work

3779
02:56:45,559 --> 02:56:47,479
so hard for his own shot. Could be something like that.

3780
02:56:48,120 --> 02:56:52,680
Speaker 33: I definitely think it helps Fox the most because it's

3781
02:56:52,760 --> 02:56:55,840
going to do two things. Like one, you know, DeRozan

3782
02:56:55,959 --> 02:56:57,840
is still a willing passer and can find Fox for

3783
02:56:58,559 --> 02:57:00,760
kickouts or whatever else. But I think more than anything,

3784
02:57:01,280 --> 02:57:04,600
it gives you another option that the defense absolutely has

3785
02:57:04,680 --> 02:57:07,399
to respect and pay attention to. I think there are

3786
02:57:07,479 --> 02:57:10,799
some concerns about the spacing because Rezen's not a deep threat,

3787
02:57:10,959 --> 02:57:16,360
but I do think that, like especially we saw in

3788
02:57:16,559 --> 02:57:19,520
late game situations, teams would just like zero in on

3789
02:57:19,639 --> 02:57:21,760
Fox knowing that like that's where the ball's going, it's

3790
02:57:21,799 --> 02:57:23,680
Fox or mone Can you don't really have to guard

3791
02:57:23,719 --> 02:57:27,760
anyone else too close, And just one more especially late

3792
02:57:27,879 --> 02:57:31,920
game close situation option who is deadly efficient like that,

3793
02:57:32,159 --> 02:57:34,799
I think opens up a lot of possibilities in the

3794
02:57:34,879 --> 02:57:37,479
close game. I think that taking some of that pressure

3795
02:57:37,520 --> 02:57:39,239
off of Fox as being the guy who has to

3796
02:57:39,319 --> 02:57:42,159
save the team if they're down to like, that's a

3797
02:57:42,280 --> 02:57:42,760
huge help.

3798
02:57:42,799 --> 02:57:43,079
Speaker 6: I think.

3799
02:57:43,840 --> 02:57:46,600
Speaker 2: Do you think this totally anecdotal? De Martinson probably has

3800
02:57:46,680 --> 02:57:50,120
the prettiest jumper of anyone who sucks it hitting threes.

3801
02:57:50,799 --> 02:57:53,319
I'm just trying, like, who has like the esthetics on

3802
02:57:53,399 --> 02:57:55,159
their jumper like he does. That's not been a good

3803
02:57:55,200 --> 02:57:55,920
three point shooter.

3804
02:57:56,559 --> 02:58:00,399
Speaker 33: Ben Mackmore the most beautiful release I have ever and

3805
02:58:00,920 --> 02:58:02,799
he betrayed us. I mean, I've got that one off

3806
02:58:02,840 --> 02:58:03,200
the dome.

3807
02:58:03,319 --> 02:58:08,840
Speaker 2: But yeah, So when you look at though, the like

3808
02:58:09,239 --> 02:58:11,639
the the Big three trio, whatever you want to call it,

3809
02:58:11,920 --> 02:58:13,159
who do you think ends up having to make the

3810
02:58:13,280 --> 02:58:16,159
most adjustments? Though, because Derosen's in town, these ends are

3811
02:58:16,200 --> 02:58:18,200
might just be Derozane himself because he's the one joining

3812
02:58:18,239 --> 02:58:20,399
a new team. But whose game do you see being

3813
02:58:21,680 --> 02:58:23,840
having to adapt the most? Because of the way the

3814
02:58:23,920 --> 02:58:24,920
Kings are set up right now?

3815
02:58:26,200 --> 02:58:28,000
Speaker 33: I think it's gonna be interesting. I think it's actually

3816
02:58:28,040 --> 02:58:31,920
going to be fairly spread across all of them. I

3817
02:58:32,000 --> 02:58:35,079
think I think you're gonna see like Sabonas will probably

3818
02:58:35,079 --> 02:58:37,639
take fewer shots. Fox will probably take fear shots like

3819
02:58:37,879 --> 02:58:40,000
one can hurt her probably, you know, like if everyone's

3820
02:58:40,040 --> 02:58:42,719
taking a shot or two less per game, that gives

3821
02:58:42,760 --> 02:58:44,879
you the rozen shots, and he might be taking a

3822
02:58:44,920 --> 02:58:46,760
shot or too less than he did before as well.

3823
02:58:47,159 --> 02:58:49,600
I think it's gonna be kind of an impact across

3824
02:58:49,639 --> 02:58:52,520
the board, which could impact some of the counting stats,

3825
02:58:52,559 --> 02:58:54,280
and then people will be like, oh, look it's worse,

3826
02:58:54,440 --> 02:58:58,200
you know, but or it hurt this guy. But if

3827
02:58:58,239 --> 02:59:00,399
I had to focus on on one guy that I

3828
02:59:00,440 --> 02:59:02,719
think is kind of the obvious candidate who would be

3829
02:59:03,760 --> 02:59:06,479
negatively impacted at least in his role on offense, is

3830
02:59:06,479 --> 02:59:08,959
gonna be Kay Murray. Uh yeah. He kind of goes

3831
02:59:09,000 --> 02:59:11,760
from being you know, like the third or fourth option

3832
02:59:11,879 --> 02:59:15,319
to being the fourth or fifth option offensively, which I

3833
02:59:15,360 --> 02:59:18,079
think is a fair concern. But I also think that

3834
02:59:18,200 --> 02:59:20,879
it allows him to be opportunistic, and you know, that's

3835
02:59:20,879 --> 02:59:22,559
how they used him in his rookie year and he

3836
02:59:23,200 --> 02:59:25,040
was fantastic. Is just like all right, I can just

3837
02:59:25,079 --> 02:59:27,479
sit here and hit open threes when the defense forgets.

3838
02:59:27,200 --> 02:59:28,600
Speaker 4: About me, Like that's cool.

3839
02:59:29,200 --> 02:59:31,559
Speaker 33: Uh, and he obviously showed a lot of development in

3840
02:59:31,680 --> 02:59:33,879
his offense last year in ability to, you know, kind

3841
02:59:33,920 --> 02:59:36,200
of create his own shot. And I think long term,

3842
02:59:36,840 --> 02:59:39,799
getting to like learn from DeRozan and practice with him

3843
02:59:39,799 --> 02:59:41,319
every day and kind of see how he creates shots,

3844
02:59:41,360 --> 02:59:43,760
I think that would be beneficial long term. But I

3845
02:59:43,840 --> 02:59:46,079
think this season probably see a little step back at

3846
02:59:46,159 --> 02:59:50,120
least offensively from Katy Murray if you.

3847
02:59:50,120 --> 02:59:51,760
Speaker 2: Can't tell him still thinking a lot about this move

3848
02:59:51,840 --> 02:59:55,120
months later, What like the type of staggering patterns between

3849
02:59:55,159 --> 02:59:57,520
the top players would you anticipate to have, whereas I

3850
02:59:57,639 --> 02:59:59,600
I've even in terms of I initially thought, oh, well,

3851
02:59:59,680 --> 03:00:03,360
Fox might spend the most time independent of Sabonis and Derosen,

3852
03:00:03,440 --> 03:00:05,600
But then I'm like, eh, like you have the bonus

3853
03:00:05,680 --> 03:00:07,920
like monk chemistry, it will really be It'll really be

3854
03:00:07,959 --> 03:00:10,200
some bonus maybe independent too, Like what do you I'm

3855
03:00:10,239 --> 03:00:11,959
assuming there'll be some trial and error that they'll try

3856
03:00:12,000 --> 03:00:14,760
different stuff out, But if if you had to anticipate

3857
03:00:14,840 --> 03:00:16,079
anything on that front, what would it be?

3858
03:00:17,360 --> 03:00:19,879
Speaker 33: Yeah, that's gonna be the big question. I don't know

3859
03:00:19,959 --> 03:00:22,760
what that's gonna look like. Uh, you know, Mike Brown

3860
03:00:22,879 --> 03:00:26,559
was pretty rigid with his rotations last season, but the

3861
03:00:26,600 --> 03:00:30,360
Frozen's a pretty big piece to then work into those

3862
03:00:30,959 --> 03:00:35,360
and so I'm really curious to see how that staggering works.

3863
03:00:35,479 --> 03:00:37,719
I would not be surprised at all if we do

3864
03:00:37,920 --> 03:00:42,360
see kind of a stagger where when Fox is coming off,

3865
03:00:42,479 --> 03:00:45,879
Monk is going in especially earlier in games, because you know,

3866
03:00:45,959 --> 03:00:49,239
Monk can still move the ball around good good distributor,

3867
03:00:49,680 --> 03:00:51,840
but also a scoring through it. So I think that

3868
03:00:52,680 --> 03:00:55,959
those I think Fox and Monk will play sparingly together

3869
03:00:56,079 --> 03:01:02,200
throughout games, but will likely be in their late games. Still, yeah,

3870
03:01:02,719 --> 03:01:04,920
I'm very curious to see. I mean, I think the

3871
03:01:05,000 --> 03:01:08,120
tricky part is that right now you're kind of penciling

3872
03:01:08,200 --> 03:01:12,600
in Derozen as basically the small forward you know, in

3873
03:01:12,840 --> 03:01:15,600
the lineups, and they've got a lot of options that

3874
03:01:16,120 --> 03:01:17,719
can play one or two, and not a lot of

3875
03:01:17,799 --> 03:01:21,280
options at the three. So I don't know how much

3876
03:01:21,399 --> 03:01:25,760
the guard staggering is gonna impact or be tied to Deroze.

3877
03:01:26,120 --> 03:01:27,799
Speaker 2: But I wanted to ask you this because I dictate

3878
03:01:27,879 --> 03:01:29,959
too much of how the order of events goes on

3879
03:01:30,040 --> 03:01:33,959
these podcasts. What is the single biggest storyline development whatever

3880
03:01:34,120 --> 03:01:37,000
that you will be monitoring with this team into next

3881
03:01:37,040 --> 03:01:39,000
season yeah.

3882
03:01:39,040 --> 03:01:41,399
Speaker 34: And I hate to do this because I think Spurs

3883
03:01:41,479 --> 03:01:44,000
fans are probably tired of me talking about Devin Vessel

3884
03:01:44,000 --> 03:01:47,239
a little bit. But I really want to see does

3885
03:01:47,319 --> 03:01:50,760
Devin Vessel have that next little bit in the tank

3886
03:01:50,920 --> 03:01:55,559
to make a jump to be something like a Chris

3887
03:01:55,639 --> 03:01:59,440
Middleton to Janna Santetokombo, right, Like, does he have that

3888
03:01:59,600 --> 03:02:01,520
in him to be that caliber of player?

3889
03:02:01,879 --> 03:02:02,000
Speaker 35: Right?

3890
03:02:02,079 --> 03:02:04,159
Speaker 34: Obviously the Spurs would have to have a lot better

3891
03:02:04,200 --> 03:02:06,440
players around them to win a championship. But can he

3892
03:02:06,639 --> 03:02:10,799
be the equivalent of what Chris Middleton has been for Giannis,

3893
03:02:11,040 --> 03:02:13,440
especially when they were competing and when they ultimately and

3894
03:02:13,559 --> 03:02:16,719
it won that twenty twenty one titles at the right year?

3895
03:02:16,799 --> 03:02:18,920
Speaker 22: Sometimes, I you know, forget the years off the top

3896
03:02:18,920 --> 03:02:20,000
of my head, but can he do that?

3897
03:02:20,159 --> 03:02:24,040
Speaker 34: Like, does he have the you know, I guess, the skill,

3898
03:02:24,319 --> 03:02:26,879
the bandwidth to be able to make that next jump?

3899
03:02:27,280 --> 03:02:29,600
And I think he does. I think he might, but

3900
03:02:30,280 --> 03:02:32,360
it's yet to be seen, right, It's it's yet to

3901
03:02:32,399 --> 03:02:33,680
be seen. But I think he showed a lot of

3902
03:02:33,719 --> 03:02:35,879
promising signs last season. I think he's somebody we're going

3903
03:02:35,959 --> 03:02:38,200
to talk about. But for me, that's what I'm monitoring

3904
03:02:38,319 --> 03:02:41,559
because I think, aside from Chris Paul really benefiting when

3905
03:02:41,600 --> 03:02:43,799
Binyama and a lot of the other shooters on this team,

3906
03:02:44,399 --> 03:02:47,079
he's probably gonna benefit, you know, Devin Vessel long term

3907
03:02:47,120 --> 03:02:48,760
as well, Like I think he can learn a lot

3908
03:02:48,799 --> 03:02:49,479
from Chris Paul.

3909
03:02:50,319 --> 03:02:52,000
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, let's talk about you know, I love

3910
03:02:52,079 --> 03:02:55,840
Devin Vessel. I thought he improved incrementally basically across the

3911
03:02:55,879 --> 03:02:58,360
board last year. And because it wasn't a monster leap

3912
03:02:58,440 --> 03:03:01,319
in any one area under the radar, I thought the

3913
03:03:01,360 --> 03:03:03,879
handle was better. We've talked about his defense in the past.

3914
03:03:03,959 --> 03:03:05,440
I thought that was better. I think a part of

3915
03:03:05,479 --> 03:03:07,840
that is Victor Wambayama exists, so that just makes things

3916
03:03:08,399 --> 03:03:11,479
yeah on everybody. And then just like even if the

3917
03:03:11,520 --> 03:03:14,319
efficiency was down in some areas, the level of shots

3918
03:03:14,399 --> 03:03:16,520
that he is capable of taking and making now, like

3919
03:03:16,559 --> 03:03:18,799
if you rewind back to his rookie season, I don't

3920
03:03:18,799 --> 03:03:20,879
know if I ever would have predicted that he got

3921
03:03:20,959 --> 03:03:23,719
to this point. And so I have two main questions

3922
03:03:23,760 --> 03:03:24,959
on this, But I guess the first one is, so

3923
03:03:25,120 --> 03:03:29,120
if he's going to make that leap too, we call

3924
03:03:29,120 --> 03:03:31,520
it the Chris Middleton like status. But just like, oh

3925
03:03:31,760 --> 03:03:35,200
number two guy on a contender. What is it that

3926
03:03:35,280 --> 03:03:37,879
you're looking to see him improve upon or or develop

3927
03:03:37,959 --> 03:03:38,719
what area most?

3928
03:03:39,760 --> 03:03:41,360
Speaker 22: Yeah, I think he's got to continue to get to

3929
03:03:41,399 --> 03:03:42,239
the rim more often.

3930
03:03:42,399 --> 03:03:45,079
Speaker 34: Like he upped his rim volume last season, and he

3931
03:03:45,200 --> 03:03:49,239
also significantly raised his filgal percentage inside the paint and

3932
03:03:49,319 --> 03:03:52,319
inside the restricted area, Like that was huge, but the

3933
03:03:52,479 --> 03:03:55,239
volume wasn't raised that much, right, Like, he was getting

3934
03:03:55,280 --> 03:03:57,799
there a little bit more and he was way more efficient.

3935
03:03:57,920 --> 03:03:59,879
Now can he get there a lot more and main

3936
03:04:00,319 --> 03:04:02,440
that efficiency and then can he get to the line

3937
03:04:02,440 --> 03:04:04,159
a little bit more? Like can he get to the

3938
03:04:04,239 --> 03:04:06,559
line a little bit more? Can he leverage now getting

3939
03:04:06,600 --> 03:04:09,159
to the rim more often to create for his teammates

3940
03:04:09,239 --> 03:04:11,319
a little bit more? Because he did what I think

3941
03:04:11,319 --> 03:04:13,079
he had like about three three and a half assists

3942
03:04:13,079 --> 03:04:16,239
per game last season. Most of those were pretty rudimentary reads.

3943
03:04:16,280 --> 03:04:19,040
It wasn't anything, you know, too advanced.

3944
03:04:19,079 --> 03:04:21,440
Speaker 22: It was like he was hitting guys who were you know,

3945
03:04:21,879 --> 03:04:25,840
a man away, or he's hitting the roller with you know.

3946
03:04:26,360 --> 03:04:29,319
Speaker 34: A pocket pass occasionally. It wasn't anything that you're like, Wow,

3947
03:04:29,399 --> 03:04:32,280
this guy's really like capable of carrying an offense for

3948
03:04:32,319 --> 03:04:34,079
a long time. It was more like, yeah, he can

3949
03:04:34,159 --> 03:04:36,520
make the right pass when that presents itself, and I

3950
03:04:36,559 --> 03:04:39,280
think all of those things kind of culminating together.

3951
03:04:39,840 --> 03:04:42,399
Speaker 22: Can that happen? That's I think that's my big question.

3952
03:04:42,600 --> 03:04:43,120
Can that happen?

3953
03:04:43,200 --> 03:04:45,040
Speaker 34: Because I think that's what needs to happen for him

3954
03:04:45,079 --> 03:04:48,200
to take that next step in his progression to becoming

3955
03:04:48,280 --> 03:04:50,319
that All star caliber player who can be maybe a

3956
03:04:50,440 --> 03:04:51,520
number two to winm bin Yama.

3957
03:04:52,479 --> 03:04:55,719
Speaker 2: And I'm wondering if just bi organically proving the space

3958
03:04:55,719 --> 03:04:58,600
same because Victor Wimanyama is better, you have Harrison Barnes

3959
03:04:58,600 --> 03:05:00,399
who's at least more of a threat from beyond the arc,

3960
03:05:01,120 --> 03:05:03,159
if that allows him to get to the rim more

3961
03:05:03,200 --> 03:05:04,879
because it feels like sometimes I just feel like he

3962
03:05:04,959 --> 03:05:07,600
bails out on his drives and might prefer the mid

3963
03:05:07,719 --> 03:05:10,000
range look, but other times it's just kind of like, well,

3964
03:05:10,040 --> 03:05:11,920
you look at the way the defenses are guarding the

3965
03:05:11,959 --> 03:05:13,760
spurs and that's why he gets rid of the ball.

3966
03:05:13,840 --> 03:05:15,879
Like his I think his past percentage on drives was

3967
03:05:15,920 --> 03:05:18,319
absurd last year. It's like forty percent or something ridiculous

3968
03:05:18,399 --> 03:05:20,840
like that. And so I'm just wondering if the floor

3969
03:05:20,959 --> 03:05:23,680
being more open, if that helps him get to the basket.

3970
03:05:23,760 --> 03:05:25,239
But he has always had that element of his game

3971
03:05:25,239 --> 03:05:27,520
where it does feel like his drives or just you know,

3972
03:05:27,559 --> 03:05:29,360
when he's on the ball, like it might stall out

3973
03:05:29,760 --> 03:05:31,840
before it has to, like he might settle before he

3974
03:05:31,959 --> 03:05:32,239
needs to.

3975
03:05:33,159 --> 03:05:35,680
Speaker 34: Yeah, and I definitely think that he's limited in some way.

3976
03:05:35,799 --> 03:05:37,799
And I like the Chris Middleton compareson that I threw

3977
03:05:37,799 --> 03:05:39,280
out there. I'm not saying that's like a one for one.

3978
03:05:39,280 --> 03:05:41,719
They're definitely not the same player. But as far as

3979
03:05:41,760 --> 03:05:45,200
like biomechanically, they don't have a ton of wiggle, right,

3980
03:05:45,280 --> 03:05:47,639
they don't have a ton of bursts. They rely on pace,

3981
03:05:47,879 --> 03:05:50,879
change of pace. You know, a lot of their you know,

3982
03:05:51,000 --> 03:05:53,000
pull ups are like those one two dribble pull ups.

3983
03:05:53,000 --> 03:05:56,239
They're not really like East and West guys. They're north south.

3984
03:05:56,319 --> 03:05:59,840
And even in being north south, they're not truly like blowby.

3985
03:06:01,000 --> 03:06:02,600
That's not who they are. They're going to beat you

3986
03:06:02,680 --> 03:06:04,360
being patient, They're going to get to their spot, They're

3987
03:06:04,360 --> 03:06:06,760
going to create space with a couple dribbles, and then

3988
03:06:06,760 --> 03:06:09,200
they're going to rise. So like, I think that's definitely

3989
03:06:09,239 --> 03:06:11,840
a limiting factor for him, like that he's never i think,

3990
03:06:11,879 --> 03:06:13,559
going to be a better athlete than he is right now.

3991
03:06:13,639 --> 03:06:15,479
I mean, he's not getting younger. Nobody else in the

3992
03:06:15,559 --> 03:06:18,399
league is getting younger, right like, so I think that's

3993
03:06:18,399 --> 03:06:20,319
a limiting factor for him, But I still don't think

3994
03:06:20,360 --> 03:06:21,719
that it is such a limiting.

3995
03:06:21,479 --> 03:06:23,879
Speaker 22: Factor that he can't take another step.

3996
03:06:24,120 --> 03:06:26,440
Speaker 34: Like we've seen players who are not necessarily the best

3997
03:06:26,719 --> 03:06:30,120
athletes adjust, whether it's you know, adding a little bit

3998
03:06:30,159 --> 03:06:33,079
of muscle to their frame, you know, being a little

3999
03:06:33,120 --> 03:06:35,239
bit more patient, using a change.

4000
03:06:35,040 --> 03:06:38,239
Speaker 22: Of pace, you know, ball fakes like I just want

4001
03:06:38,280 --> 03:06:39,239
to see can he do that.

4002
03:06:39,360 --> 03:06:41,239
Speaker 34: I'm not one hundred percent sure I think he can,

4003
03:06:41,479 --> 03:06:43,639
but again, it's yet to be seen and we'll just

4004
03:06:43,719 --> 03:06:45,280
have to wait till next season when he's out on

4005
03:06:45,319 --> 03:06:47,920
the court and potentially having better spacing.

4006
03:06:48,040 --> 03:06:48,760
Speaker 22: Could that help him?

4007
03:06:48,799 --> 03:06:50,159
Speaker 34: Yeah, I think it could help him, But in the

4008
03:06:50,200 --> 03:06:53,040
same breath, I don't know that it's going to be

4009
03:06:53,200 --> 03:06:55,239
that much better. I think it really depends on who's

4010
03:06:55,319 --> 03:06:57,680
around him, who ends up being the starters.

4011
03:06:58,440 --> 03:07:01,079
Speaker 2: And how do you think role if at all, And

4012
03:07:01,120 --> 03:07:04,959
I'm assuming it will will change with Chris Paul in

4013
03:07:05,079 --> 03:07:08,479
San Antonio now because I think the burden on him

4014
03:07:08,799 --> 03:07:11,840
gets less and I think Chris Paul like did a

4015
03:07:11,879 --> 03:07:14,920
better job last year. Maybe getting off the ball like

4016
03:07:15,040 --> 03:07:17,120
more quickly than we're used to, but like relative to

4017
03:07:17,200 --> 03:07:19,760
Trey Jones and theory, if Chris Paul's running your offense,

4018
03:07:19,799 --> 03:07:21,360
he's a lot of times not gonna get off the

4019
03:07:21,399 --> 03:07:23,440
ball as quickly as a trade Jones. And so what

4020
03:07:23,479 --> 03:07:25,879
does that maybe do to I don't want to say

4021
03:07:26,000 --> 03:07:28,159
like necessarily his usage rape, but the type of usage

4022
03:07:28,159 --> 03:07:30,239
we're gonna see from Devin Vasselle next season.

4023
03:07:30,719 --> 03:07:32,520
Speaker 34: Yeah, I think maybe we'll see a lot more catch

4024
03:07:32,559 --> 03:07:35,280
and shoot opportunities for a guy like Devin vessel I

4025
03:07:35,360 --> 03:07:37,520
know they gave him a lot of freedom, like a

4026
03:07:37,639 --> 03:07:40,120
longer leash to be this guy who can create off

4027
03:07:40,159 --> 03:07:42,040
the dribble a little bit. And so even though I said,

4028
03:07:42,040 --> 03:07:43,440
you know, he's not really an East to West guy,

4029
03:07:43,479 --> 03:07:46,639
they definitely let him occasionally pound the air out of

4030
03:07:46,680 --> 03:07:48,520
the rock. I don't think we're gonna see that next

4031
03:07:48,559 --> 03:07:50,040
season so much. I think it is gonna be a

4032
03:07:50,079 --> 03:07:52,840
lot more of those okay catch if a guy's closing

4033
03:07:52,879 --> 03:07:54,879
out too hard, one to dribble pull up, like, I

4034
03:07:55,000 --> 03:07:56,760
think we're gonna see a lot more of that out

4035
03:07:56,799 --> 03:07:59,920
of Devin vassell than like, hey, Dev, like when Vic

4036
03:08:00,239 --> 03:08:02,159
is not the game with you, we're gonna ask you

4037
03:08:02,239 --> 03:08:03,680
to do a lot more like I don't think he's

4038
03:08:03,719 --> 03:08:04,319
going to be asked to.

4039
03:08:04,319 --> 03:08:06,920
Speaker 22: Do quite as much on ball creation as he was

4040
03:08:06,959 --> 03:08:07,479
a year ago.

4041
03:08:08,000 --> 03:08:10,319
Speaker 34: So I'm not one hundred percent sure that's going to

4042
03:08:10,360 --> 03:08:12,239
be a case, but that certainly feels like that's what's

4043
03:08:12,360 --> 03:08:13,440
going to end up happening.

4044
03:08:13,559 --> 03:08:16,159
Speaker 22: Especially you would have to assume Chris Paul's starting.

4045
03:08:16,239 --> 03:08:18,239
Speaker 34: He already said like, I'm I didn't come to San

4046
03:08:18,239 --> 03:08:20,879
Antonio to just be a mentor and come off the bench,

4047
03:08:21,040 --> 03:08:23,159
like we know he's probably gonna be starting from day one.

4048
03:08:23,440 --> 03:08:25,479
Speaker 2: Look, he's already putting more pressure on them than Wemby

4049
03:08:25,639 --> 03:08:29,879
ever has this question because I know this is actually

4050
03:08:29,920 --> 03:08:31,879
your first look ahead that you've done with us, But

4051
03:08:31,959 --> 03:08:33,639
I dictate too much of the terms of this podcast.

4052
03:08:33,680 --> 03:08:36,159
So I've been asking everyone, and this team fascinates me

4053
03:08:36,200 --> 03:08:38,760
from this professor perspective, because I don't know what your

4054
03:08:38,760 --> 03:08:40,440
answer is going to be, and I pride myself from

4055
03:08:40,520 --> 03:08:42,680
kind of like being able to telegraph the answer is

4056
03:08:42,719 --> 03:08:45,559
going to be. What is the Raptor's biggest storyline that

4057
03:08:45,600 --> 03:08:47,760
you're going to be tracking throughout this season?

4058
03:08:48,840 --> 03:08:49,159
Speaker 5: Hmmm.

4059
03:08:50,920 --> 03:08:54,040
Speaker 35: So I think initially when I'm gonna cheat, I'm gonna

4060
03:08:54,040 --> 03:08:56,520
talk myself into the answer, and I'll give small answers

4061
03:08:56,600 --> 03:08:59,719
until I figure it out. So I think the initial

4062
03:08:59,799 --> 03:09:04,479
for one is like the fifth starter because they pay

4063
03:09:04,559 --> 03:09:08,680
a lot for their starting lineup. Yakapertle has a full contract,

4064
03:09:08,760 --> 03:09:12,520
a full fat contract. Emmanuel Quickly full fat contract, Argibert

4065
03:09:12,719 --> 03:09:15,840
full fat contract, Scottie Barnes not yet, it's like ten

4066
03:09:15,879 --> 03:09:18,440
point five this year, but it becomes full fat contract.

4067
03:09:18,520 --> 03:09:20,879
Speaker 14: It's fined, you sealed deliver.

4068
03:09:21,879 --> 03:09:24,520
Speaker 6: Grady Deveon o Chai.

4069
03:09:25,600 --> 03:09:28,559
Speaker 35: It leans one way if you're you want to be

4070
03:09:28,680 --> 03:09:32,319
future facing. But Grady and I've watched camp. I was

4071
03:09:32,399 --> 03:09:35,079
in Montreal with them. I watched the preseason game. There's

4072
03:09:35,079 --> 03:09:37,639
a lot of things that have been going well for him,

4073
03:09:38,120 --> 03:09:42,200
and his teammates are allotting his effort, but he's the

4074
03:09:42,280 --> 03:09:45,600
defense is not really there yet, so there's things you

4075
03:09:45,719 --> 03:09:49,799
could go another way. That's the first thing. But the

4076
03:09:49,959 --> 03:09:54,079
overall storyline is I think similar to what a lot.

4077
03:09:53,959 --> 03:09:57,920
Speaker 15: Of superstars, not stars superstars.

4078
03:09:57,319 --> 03:09:59,719
Speaker 14: Go through is year three, year four.

4079
03:10:00,239 --> 03:10:03,840
Speaker 35: You start seeing how far cisfis can push the boulder

4080
03:10:04,000 --> 03:10:06,639
up the hill, and that's kind of what I'm focusing

4081
03:10:06,680 --> 03:10:08,120
on because I think Scotty.

4082
03:10:07,920 --> 03:10:10,600
Speaker 2: Determines the ceiling of this team right, because.

4083
03:10:11,000 --> 03:10:12,040
Speaker 14: You look at it like RJ.

4084
03:10:12,280 --> 03:10:16,120
Speaker 35: Emmanuel, you'll get Grady. The guys who are considered have

4085
03:10:16,239 --> 03:10:20,120
higher potential on this team. Which of those guys could

4086
03:10:20,239 --> 03:10:23,559
take the number one spot? None really and I hate

4087
03:10:23,639 --> 03:10:25,600
doing the number one, number two, number three thing, but

4088
03:10:26,159 --> 03:10:28,040
which of them could take the number two spot?

4089
03:10:29,000 --> 03:10:30,280
Speaker 14: That's also pretty murky.

4090
03:10:30,879 --> 03:10:35,600
Speaker 35: So Scotty solidifying that ceiling is like, Okay, we have

4091
03:10:35,680 --> 03:10:37,639
a one, where we have a two, and then we

4092
03:10:37,680 --> 03:10:40,639
can build out from there, easy pasy. That has to

4093
03:10:40,719 --> 03:10:43,360
be determined. That helps set the ceiling and the flour

4094
03:10:43,399 --> 03:10:45,680
of this team, and it's by far the most important

4095
03:10:45,680 --> 03:10:48,280
thing that can keep happening because stars are important in

4096
03:10:48,360 --> 03:10:48,760
the NBA.

4097
03:10:48,920 --> 03:10:50,520
Speaker 6: As it turns out, you know.

4098
03:10:50,680 --> 03:10:53,079
Speaker 2: I haven't given that much thought because I just assume

4099
03:10:53,239 --> 03:10:55,200
I try to find first, I try to find synonyms

4100
03:10:55,200 --> 03:10:56,680
so I don't have to use the best player on

4101
03:10:56,719 --> 03:10:58,760
the best team, like the guiding light for this rebuild

4102
03:10:58,760 --> 03:11:02,360
fields Like it's clearly Scotty, I haven't really thought about, well,

4103
03:11:02,399 --> 03:11:04,479
do they have the number two in place? And so

4104
03:11:05,200 --> 03:11:08,639
if I'm forcing you to choose, do you one think

4105
03:11:08,719 --> 03:11:10,840
that they do potentially have the second best player on

4106
03:11:10,879 --> 03:11:13,440
the next really good iteration of the Raptors. And if

4107
03:11:13,479 --> 03:11:16,600
they do, is it more likely to be RJ Barrett

4108
03:11:16,639 --> 03:11:18,440
or Manuel quickly? Is they're a dark horse in there.

4109
03:11:18,440 --> 03:11:20,319
We're not talking Jamal Sheed is coming in hot.

4110
03:11:21,600 --> 03:11:24,200
Speaker 35: Jamal shed is coming in hot, but not for the

4111
03:11:24,440 --> 03:11:26,639
not for the second best player on the team. Actually,

4112
03:11:26,920 --> 03:11:30,840
I think I go against the grain here because everybody

4113
03:11:31,520 --> 03:11:34,840
was really excited for IQ right after the trade, and

4114
03:11:34,959 --> 03:11:37,479
I held on to the like the RJ thing and

4115
03:11:37,600 --> 03:11:41,760
it went really well, and IQ the defense didn't really

4116
03:11:41,799 --> 03:11:43,879
come out in the wash that everyone ooh, he's clever

4117
03:11:44,000 --> 03:11:47,559
off ball. I've completely I don't care if anybody ever

4118
03:11:47,639 --> 03:11:50,239
tells me again that a guard is like a clever

4119
03:11:50,440 --> 03:11:54,600
off ball guy, I don't care anymore. Like it doesn't

4120
03:11:54,920 --> 03:11:57,639
I feel like that people just say that hoping that

4121
03:11:57,760 --> 03:12:00,920
you haven't watched the guard and that you know.

4122
03:12:01,360 --> 03:12:04,079
Speaker 2: Are you anti shake Gilich is Alexander? Is this like

4123
03:12:04,200 --> 03:12:05,159
are well?

4124
03:12:05,799 --> 03:12:08,639
Speaker 35: Because Shay does a lot of other things. He scores

4125
03:12:08,680 --> 03:12:11,360
thirty points per game. You know he can be overrated

4126
03:12:11,440 --> 03:12:14,959
on defense. That's fine or underrated, it isn't It doesn't

4127
03:12:15,000 --> 03:12:18,159
matter but IQ the defense didn't come out in the wash,

4128
03:12:18,760 --> 03:12:22,680
the lower pickup point on the jumper, the slower release,

4129
03:12:22,920 --> 03:12:26,200
the want to always go right into a jumper.

4130
03:12:26,680 --> 03:12:29,120
Speaker 6: I think that kind of stuff limited.

4131
03:12:28,760 --> 03:12:29,840
Speaker 14: His ability to scale.

4132
03:12:30,959 --> 03:12:33,000
Speaker 35: We'll see if he's able to overcome that stuff. But

4133
03:12:33,200 --> 03:12:37,239
RJ just started scaling, like he climbed the wall. He

4134
03:12:37,600 --> 03:12:40,280
was like, yep, I'm first man over boom. He went

4135
03:12:40,360 --> 03:12:42,440
for it, and rjie. I think there's a lot of

4136
03:12:42,479 --> 03:12:45,280
stuff that he can clean up, and I think there's

4137
03:12:45,280 --> 03:12:47,239
still a lot of stuff he can add to his game.

4138
03:12:48,200 --> 03:12:50,200
And he has a willingness, you know. I wrote this

4139
03:12:50,280 --> 03:12:52,520
in the piece where I talked about his cutting, you know,

4140
03:12:52,719 --> 03:12:55,719
to punch the a gap like a full back. And

4141
03:12:56,040 --> 03:12:59,200
I love his willingness to get in there. And it's

4142
03:12:59,280 --> 03:13:01,280
kind of like that that power forward thing where so

4143
03:13:01,360 --> 03:13:04,680
many power forwards of the past who used to chip

4144
03:13:04,760 --> 03:13:07,520
in like twelve or fourteen points a game just by

4145
03:13:07,959 --> 03:13:10,479
being gritty, being in the right spot, and being comfortable

4146
03:13:10,479 --> 03:13:12,840
with physicality. ARJ kind of does that from the two

4147
03:13:12,959 --> 03:13:15,280
or the three. So he finds his way to impact

4148
03:13:15,600 --> 03:13:17,120
and they have to figure out how to make it

4149
03:13:17,239 --> 03:13:18,840
easier on the other side of the four for him,

4150
03:13:19,040 --> 03:13:22,760
but Emmanuel wasn't good either, So I think very long answer.

4151
03:13:23,440 --> 03:13:27,280
I think RJ is more likely to be the two. However,

4152
03:13:28,079 --> 03:13:29,840
I think it's more likely that RJ is a three.

4153
03:13:31,000 --> 03:13:32,959
Speaker 2: So then your asumption would be, like, this team probablys

4154
03:13:33,000 --> 03:13:35,200
to go out and find at some point.

4155
03:13:35,520 --> 03:13:39,079
Speaker 35: Yeah, at some point. So if guiding light is one,

4156
03:13:39,159 --> 03:13:41,959
what is the synonym for two? Supplementary light?

4157
03:13:42,959 --> 03:13:47,200
Speaker 2: You light the backdrop. I have no idea we're really

4158
03:13:47,280 --> 03:13:49,719
to sit in them for the number two. I've been

4159
03:13:49,760 --> 03:13:52,079
asking everyone this, but from what you kind of said

4160
03:13:52,079 --> 03:13:53,600
at the top, it makes you think that the answer

4161
03:13:53,799 --> 03:13:57,000
could be sort of a default. Is the biggest storyline

4162
03:13:57,040 --> 03:13:59,040
you're tracking for this team, Like how does it get

4163
03:13:59,319 --> 03:14:01,840
to the bottom spot that it wants when you look

4164
03:14:01,879 --> 03:14:03,280
at the coach that they have, and then even some

4165
03:14:03,399 --> 03:14:06,280
of just the talent that I would say is outsized

4166
03:14:06,319 --> 03:14:09,319
relative to those like Halvy Marketing and Clarkston and Sexton

4167
03:14:09,319 --> 03:14:12,639
and even someone like Kessler, and potentially if Taylor Hendrix

4168
03:14:12,719 --> 03:14:14,799
gets even better from last year, or is there something

4169
03:14:14,879 --> 03:14:17,040
else that's like kind of the biggest storyline you'll be

4170
03:14:17,120 --> 03:14:17,520
looking at.

4171
03:14:18,520 --> 03:14:21,920
Speaker 36: Yeah, So that's a great question, and I mean the

4172
03:14:22,000 --> 03:14:26,879
obvious answer is, yes, right, Like I think that that's fascinating,

4173
03:14:27,440 --> 03:14:30,920
you know, because and I'll tell you why. I watched

4174
03:14:30,959 --> 03:14:34,559
the Jazz on Tuesday night against the Sacramento Kings, and

4175
03:14:34,840 --> 03:14:39,520
both of those teams play a regular NBA game. They played,

4176
03:14:40,319 --> 03:14:43,879
you know, their regular rotation all forty eight minutes, both

4177
03:14:43,920 --> 03:14:44,159
of them.

4178
03:14:44,559 --> 03:14:47,000
Speaker 5: They both played hard. You know, they weren't. It wasn't

4179
03:14:47,079 --> 03:14:51,879
like Denver last night on Thursday night. I'm sure you.

4180
03:14:51,920 --> 03:14:55,040
Speaker 36: Watched the game, but you know, we love Nicola Yokis,

4181
03:14:55,079 --> 03:14:57,479
but he was doing cardio out there. He was just

4182
03:14:57,559 --> 03:15:00,639
on a treadmill out there. And it wasn't that between

4183
03:15:00,680 --> 03:15:02,680
the Jazz and Kings on Tuesday. That was a real

4184
03:15:03,639 --> 03:15:08,360
NBA game. And you know that forty eight minutes that

4185
03:15:08,360 --> 03:15:10,280
I was watching the Jazz, the only thought I had

4186
03:15:10,440 --> 03:15:12,440
was on my god, this team can win thirty eight games.

4187
03:15:14,440 --> 03:15:17,920
That was literally the only you know. I mean, I

4188
03:15:18,000 --> 03:15:20,280
tweeted it. I'm sure you saw the tweet, but I like,

4189
03:15:20,399 --> 03:15:22,959
I tweeted it, and I was just like, yeah, this

4190
03:15:23,079 --> 03:15:25,840
team can win thirty five to thirty eight games as is,

4191
03:15:26,879 --> 03:15:32,760
and you know that's probably twelve to fifteen games too many, right, So.

4192
03:15:35,200 --> 03:15:39,479
Speaker 5: You know, I think one of the things that you

4193
03:15:39,520 --> 03:15:40,959
know you could count on is that this.

4194
03:15:41,280 --> 03:15:43,680
Speaker 36: Version of the Western Conference that we're about to walk

4195
03:15:43,719 --> 03:15:47,479
into this year is really deep and really good. So

4196
03:15:48,040 --> 03:15:52,559
somebody has to lose games, and you know, paper dictates

4197
03:15:52,600 --> 03:15:55,120
that it's probably the Jazz and the Portland Trailblazers.

4198
03:15:56,799 --> 03:16:00,639
Speaker 5: But man, you know, when you have Mark and you

4199
03:16:00,760 --> 03:16:03,399
have Sexton and you.

4200
03:16:03,520 --> 03:16:06,440
Speaker 36: Have Kiante George, I think Kyante George looks a lot better,

4201
03:16:08,520 --> 03:16:10,639
and you have Taylor Hendrix at the four and Walker

4202
03:16:10,719 --> 03:16:13,559
Kessler at the five, like, there's a lot of size

4203
03:16:13,600 --> 03:16:16,719
and there's a lot of length, and you know there's

4204
03:16:17,280 --> 03:16:18,520
you know, dynamic ball.

4205
03:16:18,319 --> 03:16:25,479
Speaker 5: In handling in in Colin Sexton, and there's just there's

4206
03:16:25,520 --> 03:16:26,920
just a lot to work with there.

4207
03:16:27,280 --> 03:16:30,760
Speaker 36: And the Jocks are gonna lose games, you know, because

4208
03:16:30,920 --> 03:16:34,879
they're not on paper as good on paper it is

4209
03:16:34,879 --> 03:16:38,479
about probably around at least ten to eleven other teams

4210
03:16:38,520 --> 03:16:41,959
in the Western Conference. But you know the fact that

4211
03:16:42,040 --> 03:16:43,719
they play hard from that to night, the fact that

4212
03:16:43,799 --> 03:16:47,200
they're not going to be a pushover, it leads me

4213
03:16:47,319 --> 03:16:50,159
to believe, you know, how does this team get to

4214
03:16:50,239 --> 03:16:54,440
twenty five wins? You know, it's like, so you know,

4215
03:16:54,680 --> 03:17:00,360
if I'm dubbing the Utah Jazz this season, and how

4216
03:17:00,399 --> 03:17:03,440
do you hustle in reverse? Right, Like, how do you

4217
03:17:04,280 --> 03:17:07,200
how do you take a team that's probably too talented

4218
03:17:07,239 --> 03:17:09,399
for twenty five wins and get it to twenty five wins?

4219
03:17:09,959 --> 03:17:13,399
Speaker 5: And I think that that's probably a fascinating thing to watch.

4220
03:17:15,360 --> 03:17:18,079
Speaker 2: It seems like if they end up being not even

4221
03:17:18,120 --> 03:17:20,399
better than expected but on pace for too many wins

4222
03:17:20,520 --> 03:17:23,399
or like I think the biggest mistake some teams make

4223
03:17:23,479 --> 03:17:25,639
or maybe it's not a mistake, but they're they're hesitant

4224
03:17:26,120 --> 03:17:28,680
to do something substantial earlier in the season, whether it's

4225
03:17:28,719 --> 03:17:32,079
beginning kind of the minutes, management for veterans or making trades.

4226
03:17:33,000 --> 03:17:35,520
Does this do you think this front office is committed

4227
03:17:35,559 --> 03:17:37,280
to the point that, Okay, I like the Jazz come

4228
03:17:37,360 --> 03:17:40,639
out like absolutely on fire again or something that they'll

4229
03:17:40,680 --> 03:17:44,159
start making some decisions we would normally see in December, January,

4230
03:17:44,239 --> 03:17:45,440
February before then.

4231
03:17:47,200 --> 03:17:50,600
Speaker 36: Yeah, that'll be interesting to see because you know, this

4232
03:17:50,719 --> 03:17:56,200
front office typically doesn't make decisions, drastic roster decisions until February.

4233
03:17:58,239 --> 03:17:59,959
Speaker 5: You know, there are some exceptions.

4234
03:18:00,559 --> 03:18:02,879
Speaker 36: In twenty nineteen, there was the Jordan Clarkson trade for

4235
03:18:02,959 --> 03:18:05,719
Dante ExHAM and that changed the jazz quite a bit.

4236
03:18:06,639 --> 03:18:10,799
Also in twenty nineteen, they cut Jeff Green pretty much

4237
03:18:11,200 --> 03:18:14,719
in the middle of a road trip, so you know,

4238
03:18:14,840 --> 03:18:19,239
that was that was an exception. But you know, on

4239
03:18:19,360 --> 03:18:23,319
a norm, mostly on the norm, you know, they take

4240
03:18:23,399 --> 03:18:26,200
the first few months and then they assess and then

4241
03:18:26,239 --> 03:18:31,159
they kind of go from there, you know, in you know,

4242
03:18:31,280 --> 03:18:34,920
the last two the last two seasons, you know, they

4243
03:18:35,000 --> 03:18:37,840
kind of pulled the plug around the All Star break

4244
03:18:37,959 --> 03:18:41,440
and you know that was it. March was you know,

4245
03:18:41,719 --> 03:18:44,680
just kind of, hey, we're just gonna lose as much

4246
03:18:44,719 --> 03:18:48,760
as possible, and you know so, but I mean the

4247
03:18:49,200 --> 03:18:52,959
thing that stands out to me is that, you know,

4248
03:18:53,159 --> 03:18:55,479
even deep into their roster, I mean, there are a

4249
03:18:55,559 --> 03:18:59,200
lot of guys that this team wants to develop, and

4250
03:18:59,280 --> 03:19:02,520
I think that that's atypical from where we were last year,

4251
03:19:03,239 --> 03:19:04,399
in the in the year before.

4252
03:19:04,719 --> 03:19:07,959
Speaker 5: Right. So let's say you're sitting your regulars.

4253
03:19:07,600 --> 03:19:12,639
Speaker 36: Right in you know, even at the end of the roster,

4254
03:19:13,639 --> 03:19:16,840
you know, you want to develop Kyle Philipowski, or you

4255
03:19:17,000 --> 03:19:21,000
want to develop or you want to see you know,

4256
03:19:21,399 --> 03:19:25,760
how Bright sense the ball, you know, handles thirty five minutes,

4257
03:19:26,120 --> 03:19:28,680
or you want to see how Cody Williams handled thirty

4258
03:19:28,719 --> 03:19:29,200
five minutes.

4259
03:19:30,760 --> 03:19:35,040
Speaker 5: I think one of the things that will helped the

4260
03:19:35,120 --> 03:19:36,680
Jazz hustle and reverse.

4261
03:19:38,719 --> 03:19:41,639
Speaker 36: Is, you know, you play Cody Williams a lot of minutes,

4262
03:19:41,799 --> 03:19:46,959
even with the regular rotation. You know, you play Isaiah

4263
03:19:47,040 --> 03:19:50,399
Collier a lot of minutes. And I think Isaiah Callier

4264
03:19:50,559 --> 03:19:54,319
right now if the season started today, and it won't

4265
03:19:54,360 --> 03:19:55,399
start today, but it will.

4266
03:19:55,280 --> 03:19:56,799
Speaker 5: Start in ninety six hours.

4267
03:19:58,479 --> 03:20:01,159
Speaker 36: That or one hundred and twenty hours that you know,

4268
03:20:01,280 --> 03:20:05,120
he would be the primary backup point guard. So you

4269
03:20:05,200 --> 03:20:09,079
know it will be it's gonna be really interesting to see,

4270
03:20:09,920 --> 03:20:18,799
you know, how the Jazz mesh their veterans versus how

4271
03:20:18,879 --> 03:20:21,680
they bring along and develop their young guys. You know,

4272
03:20:21,760 --> 03:20:24,280
how many minutes does Jordan Clarkson play from night to night?

4273
03:20:25,040 --> 03:20:28,799
How many minutes does John Collins play from night to

4274
03:20:28,959 --> 03:20:33,319
night even though he's probably not gonna start to at

4275
03:20:33,440 --> 03:20:34,440
least to begin the season.

4276
03:20:35,200 --> 03:20:37,440
Speaker 5: You know, So how does all of that stuff work?

4277
03:20:37,520 --> 03:20:40,479
Speaker 2: What is the biggest Wizard storyline that you were going

4278
03:20:40,520 --> 03:20:43,959
to be tracking most closely into this season and throughout it?

4279
03:20:44,040 --> 03:20:48,079
Speaker 37: Of course hashtag capture the Flag, Like that's what we

4280
03:20:48,159 --> 03:20:49,840
got to do this year? Here, we got to beat

4281
03:20:49,840 --> 03:20:52,079
out Brooklyn or whoever else wants to be real bad.

4282
03:20:52,280 --> 03:20:53,760
Speaker 14: Like, that's what this.

4283
03:20:54,040 --> 03:20:57,360
Speaker 37: Entire season is about for the Wizards, is they've got

4284
03:20:57,440 --> 03:21:00,479
some nice developmental pieces. Like I'm higher than lit bally

4285
03:21:00,879 --> 03:21:02,639
higher on him than most I would say probably at

4286
03:21:02,680 --> 03:21:04,959
this point, and so are like, you know, whatever you

4287
03:21:05,040 --> 03:21:07,239
take from Summer League, let's say you take nothing from it.

4288
03:21:07,559 --> 03:21:09,559
He's still like is the guy you look at as like, oh,

4289
03:21:09,639 --> 03:21:14,040
this is a future, like you know, star of the franchise.

4290
03:21:14,159 --> 03:21:15,799
Like I don't know, I think he's the ceiling. Is

4291
03:21:15,840 --> 03:21:18,200
probably a pretty good starter and versatile guy that every

4292
03:21:18,200 --> 03:21:18,959
winning team needs.

4293
03:21:19,040 --> 03:21:19,639
Speaker 6: Like that's great.

4294
03:21:20,239 --> 03:21:23,159
Speaker 37: Is bub you know, the next Baron Davis or somebody

4295
03:21:23,280 --> 03:21:25,200
like you know, I don't know what the ceiling is

4296
03:21:25,280 --> 03:21:27,680
for someone like him, but probably not to me. I

4297
03:21:27,719 --> 03:21:29,840
think he's like another really nice piece. So I think

4298
03:21:29,879 --> 03:21:32,799
this upcoming draft is like the one you have to

4299
03:21:32,879 --> 03:21:35,879
star hunt in, like whoever you can get wherever you

4300
03:21:35,959 --> 03:21:37,840
can get it in the draft, whoever has like the

4301
03:21:38,079 --> 03:21:41,040
most star potential of any of them, swing as big

4302
03:21:41,040 --> 03:21:43,520
as you can because they don't have that guy yet.

4303
03:21:43,559 --> 03:21:45,760
To me, uh so that's what I'd be using this

4304
03:21:45,920 --> 03:21:47,760
draft for. So you just can't afford to have like

4305
03:21:47,840 --> 03:21:50,200
twenty five wins this year and end up with a

4306
03:21:50,280 --> 03:21:51,319
seventh pick or something like that.

4307
03:21:52,280 --> 03:21:53,840
Speaker 2: How do you you would throw through the lens of

4308
03:21:53,920 --> 03:21:55,719
we're now in year what I feels like, I don't know.

4309
03:21:55,840 --> 03:21:58,159
At least you're five right of the flatt and lottery odds.

4310
03:21:58,479 --> 03:22:01,079
Now that impact your like view it all of the

4311
03:22:01,239 --> 03:22:03,760
value of being like, Okay, you can be a bottom

4312
03:22:03,799 --> 03:22:07,440
four team, sure, and there's pretty clear pathway to do

4313
03:22:07,520 --> 03:22:09,319
that because fourteen of the teams in the West aren't

4314
03:22:09,319 --> 03:22:12,879
currently trying to lose, But like there feels like there's

4315
03:22:12,879 --> 03:22:14,840
almost a trade off where it's like, well, what cost

4316
03:22:14,920 --> 03:22:16,920
do you need to do that? Because a fourteen percent

4317
03:22:17,040 --> 03:22:18,440
chance isn't all that much, and then you have at

4318
03:22:18,559 --> 03:22:20,639
least you have three other teams that have the same

4319
03:22:20,719 --> 03:22:23,040
chance of getting it. So it was always you're always

4320
03:22:23,079 --> 03:22:25,239
more likely not to get the first the number one

4321
03:22:25,239 --> 03:22:27,840
overall pick, which was true beforehand, but those odds have

4322
03:22:27,920 --> 03:22:30,920
been substantially shortened over the past half decade or whatever

4323
03:22:30,959 --> 03:22:31,200
it is.

4324
03:22:31,799 --> 03:22:33,479
Speaker 37: Like, I think Cooper Flagg will be a really good

4325
03:22:33,479 --> 03:22:35,559
player just from what I've seen, but I think there's

4326
03:22:35,600 --> 03:22:37,639
some other good pieces in this so it's just lock

4327
03:22:37,719 --> 03:22:39,239
yourself into like a top five pick.

4328
03:22:39,600 --> 03:22:41,040
Speaker 10: That's that's the move.

4329
03:22:41,159 --> 03:22:43,040
Speaker 37: You know, if you can get the number one pick up, great,

4330
03:22:43,239 --> 03:22:46,719
but can you get VJ. Edgecomb at five or one

4331
03:22:46,760 --> 03:22:49,159
of those kind of guys, like that might be enough

4332
03:22:49,200 --> 03:22:51,680
for Ace Bailey or whoever you decide, Dylan Harper, like

4333
03:22:51,719 --> 03:22:54,120
whoever the next couple guys are for you come draft night,

4334
03:22:54,239 --> 03:22:56,920
Like they've just got to do that one right and

4335
03:22:57,200 --> 03:22:58,959
kind of hit big on it, I think, regardless of

4336
03:22:59,040 --> 03:23:00,959
position or fit or of those kinds of things. And

4337
03:23:02,079 --> 03:23:04,920
like I get, like from the odds perspective, like it's

4338
03:23:04,959 --> 03:23:07,680
not as important to be the absolute worst team anymore,

4339
03:23:07,760 --> 03:23:10,319
but you've just got to ensure that you're in that

4340
03:23:10,799 --> 03:23:13,559
like tier of bottom couple of teams no matter what.

4341
03:23:14,120 --> 03:23:16,639
Speaker 2: And I think what you just said is that it's

4342
03:23:16,680 --> 03:23:19,000
not even just a perfect way. It was perfect, but

4343
03:23:19,079 --> 03:23:20,440
it's the only way to look at it if you're

4344
03:23:20,479 --> 03:23:22,200
going to go that route, is it's not just yeah,

4345
03:23:22,200 --> 03:23:23,799
it'd be great to get the number one pick, but

4346
03:23:23,879 --> 03:23:26,120
it's we want to lock ourselves into the top five

4347
03:23:26,280 --> 03:23:28,719
or whatever it is. And that makes more sense than

4348
03:23:28,719 --> 03:23:31,239
because it's what we're prepared to not have the number one,

4349
03:23:31,280 --> 03:23:32,719
the number two. Pick when it happens.

4350
03:23:33,239 --> 03:23:35,239
Speaker 37: Yeah, like your chances of getting up to number one,

4351
03:23:35,799 --> 03:23:38,360
you know, they are what they are, But like I'd

4352
03:23:38,479 --> 03:23:42,120
much rather be you know, two and fall to four

4353
03:23:42,440 --> 03:23:44,440
than seven and hope I can get up to one

4354
03:23:44,600 --> 03:23:45,159
or something like that.