The volume. No, Oh my god, how could he do that? Don't want what Charles Darwin. The nerves is where it's at.

The volume. No, Oh my god, how could he do that? Don't want what Charles Darwin. The nerves is where it's at.

Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sesshon As always, I'm Carson Braver. Alongside me is Logan Camden, and the NBA Playoffs are here.

Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sesshon As always, I'm Carson Braver. Alongside me is Logan Camden, and the NBA Playoffs are here.

Man.

Man.

We just got a really, really fun opening day of the postseason. Four highly anticipated series and a couple of really good games. And I want to start Logan with what I think has probably been the most discussed first round matchup, largely because it features the Los Angeles Lakers. But that was our closing game for the night, and it was a convincing victory for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They led this one wired to wire and we're comfortably ahead for a majority of it. What did you take away from the key Wolves really dominating game one?

We just got a really, really fun opening day of the postseason. Four highly anticipated series and a couple of really good games. And I want to start Logan with what I think has probably been the most discussed first round matchup, largely because it features the Los Angeles Lakers. But that was our closing game for the night, and it was a convincing victory for the Minnesota Timberwolves. They led this one wired to wire and we're comfortably ahead for a majority of it. What did you take away from the key Wolves really dominating game one?

Well, I was really impressed with the Timberwolves supporting cast, their defense, their shooting, and their rebounding. Specifically, what we got out of Jaden McDaniels and nas Reed. You know McDaniels has been nos Reed. Hey, we're back NBA Playoffs. Nas Reed made his name well known last year. He's adding to it this year. Jaden McDaniels had a career year this year, and we were, you know, waiting to see if it was going to translate into the playoffs, and he had a huge game twenty five points, nas reed gives you twenty three. And the Timberwolves as a whole outshoot the Lakers, which is something that I don't know if I expected to happen in any single game in this series, considering the spacing issues that we've seen from Minnesota. But Julius Randall shot the ball well from behind the arc as well. He goes four of six orn deep. Overall, they outshoot LA by eighteen points from behind the arc tent one to LA's fifteen, and they hold LA to ninety five points total all day. And I was really really impressed with Anthony Edwards and how he was able to play make in this game. Carson, you know we've been talking about that's the next step to you know, him really realizing his full potential as an offensive player. And I think there are other things on the margins that he can do, but that's the really big thing for him, right And I thought he really dealt with double teams well in this game. I thought he played really composed and in control. He didn't try to do too much. He let the game come to him, and he you know, picked his spots pretty well. He hit a couple of big threes, he got down hill at some moments. I wish he would have finished a little bit better in this game. That's the only ripe I would have. But I thought he play made really well. And I thought Julius Randall played okay. Seven turnovers. I think he needs to protect the ball a little bit better, but he shot well from deep and there were moments in this game where I thought he play made pretty well. But you know, he didn't have a lot of his black hole tendencies today. He was playing pretty unselfish sharing the ball. And it's a really good team victory for Minnesota. I'm not gonna count LA out because I don't think anybody can hold Luca in this series. I think that Luca is gonna get his and I think that is a huge advantage for LA. And I don't expect Minnesota to shoot as well as they did in this game, but I didn't expect LA to just roll over this Minnesota team. I think it's gonna go the distance, and I think this is gonna be a battle the whole way through. I think Minnesota just was the better team in this one.

Well, I was really impressed with the Timberwolves supporting cast, their defense, their shooting, and their rebounding. Specifically, what we got out of Jaden McDaniels and nas Reed. You know McDaniels has been nos Reed. Hey, we're back NBA Playoffs. Nas Reed made his name well known last year. He's adding to it this year. Jaden McDaniels had a career year this year, and we were, you know, waiting to see if it was going to translate into the playoffs, and he had a huge game twenty five points, nas reed gives you twenty three. And the Timberwolves as a whole outshoot the Lakers, which is something that I don't know if I expected to happen in any single game in this series, considering the spacing issues that we've seen from Minnesota. But Julius Randall shot the ball well from behind the arc as well. He goes four of six orn deep. Overall, they outshoot LA by eighteen points from behind the arc tent one to LA's fifteen, and they hold LA to ninety five points total all day. And I was really really impressed with Anthony Edwards and how he was able to play make in this game. Carson, you know we've been talking about that's the next step to you know, him really realizing his full potential as an offensive player. And I think there are other things on the margins that he can do, but that's the really big thing for him, right And I thought he really dealt with double teams well in this game. I thought he played really composed and in control. He didn't try to do too much. He let the game come to him, and he you know, picked his spots pretty well. He hit a couple of big threes, he got down hill at some moments. I wish he would have finished a little bit better in this game. That's the only ripe I would have. But I thought he play made really well. And I thought Julius Randall played okay. Seven turnovers. I think he needs to protect the ball a little bit better, but he shot well from deep and there were moments in this game where I thought he play made pretty well. But you know, he didn't have a lot of his black hole tendencies today. He was playing pretty unselfish sharing the ball. And it's a really good team victory for Minnesota. I'm not gonna count LA out because I don't think anybody can hold Luca in this series. I think that Luca is gonna get his and I think that is a huge advantage for LA. And I don't expect Minnesota to shoot as well as they did in this game, but I didn't expect LA to just roll over this Minnesota team. I think it's gonna go the distance, and I think this is gonna be a battle the whole way through. I think Minnesota just was the better team in this one.

Yeah, And I would say, even as somebody who picked the Lakers to win this series, I thought that we were in for a war, and I thought that this was gonna be a really really close battle. And I know that because it's the Lakers and because they have Luca and Lebron, there are some people who can be so so confident that they're just gonna walk through anybody who they face, right, And I think if you came into this series with that view, then this was a real wake up call. And like, there is no denying that Minnesota can one hundred percent win this series. Now, I think the Lakers are capable of playing much better basketball than they did today, but they really cannot contain dribble penetration for Anthony Edwards in this matchup. And we knew this coming in. We know that they can't contain any super athletic guard at the point of attack. They just don't have that sort of quickness on the perimeter. And at the same time, we know that they lack conventional rim protection, So what do they have to do against any really elite downhill guard like that they have to be super aggressive with their gap help. They have to try to basically clutter up the paint and muck up drives, and that means that you are going to be aggressive sending multiple bodies at that downhill guard. And if he makes the right reads and if he makes the kickout passes and the dudes around him make a lot of open catch and shoot threes, well, then there's really just not much you can do. Like, their entire strategy has to be predicated upon keeping Anthony Edwards away from the rim, because if he gets to the rim, they can't stop him. They don't have that rimp protection. But if the Wolves are gonna shoot fifty plus percent from three and ant has nine assists to one turnover, like he looks comfortable taking what they're giving him, the Lakers aren't gonna win the series. If the Wolves shoot this well. Do I think that they will shoot this well going forward fifty percent from three? No, it was a phenomenal sort of magnet ball performance. But at the same time, they're getting a lot of really good looks, And I think you have to give a ton of credit to the supporting cast for Minnesota for making these shots Nas red Man, the quickness of his release at his size, his ability to just spray off the catch with just a sliver of a window is so impressive. He really is such a sick offensive player. And then Jane McDaniels, as you mentioned, really came into his own in the second half of the season as an offensive player, and he knocked down all of his triples in this one. But I thought what was honestly more impressive was his ability to attack close outs to get into the lane to make some of the those touch shots. He was also really active on the offensive glass. So those guys did their jobs taking advantage of the opportunities that Ant is creating for them. And so even though I think the Lakers have like obvious personnel limitations that forced them to adhere to this one defensive scheme which is going to allow open catch and shoot threes to some of these guys, they're just gonna have to dare them to make shots. I think they can do a better job of flying around and closing out better, but like, those shots are going to be there overall. But the Lakers also just like didn't feel like they approached this game with the necessary intensity for Game one of a really tough playoff series. I thought their transition defense was bad. Minnesota outscored them like twenty six to five or something in terms of fast break points, and I thought their physicality wasn't there. Again, I thought that their activity on closeouts wasn't what it needed to be. You also saw after the first quarter Minnesota just crush on the glass. It was really surprising. First quarter, the Lakers have five offensive rebounds, they had eleven second chance points. Given how much size they're conceding, you did not expect that. But then from that point forward, Minnesota really was able to capitalize on their size advantage on the glass. And they're just the bigger, more athletic team and that's going to be a challenge for LA in this matchup. And that's why when they're really knocking down their perimeter shots, they can just kind of crack you in the jaw, and LA just did not have the response needed. Minnesota came out ready to kick ass, they made their shots, and they cruised to a win. Accordingly that being said, I do think LA can improve in a number of ways from their performance in Game one. What are you expecting to see from them in terms of improvement, and where did you think that things really went wrong for them in this one?

Yeah, And I would say, even as somebody who picked the Lakers to win this series, I thought that we were in for a war, and I thought that this was gonna be a really really close battle. And I know that because it's the Lakers and because they have Luca and Lebron, there are some people who can be so so confident that they're just gonna walk through anybody who they face, right, And I think if you came into this series with that view, then this was a real wake up call. And like, there is no denying that Minnesota can one hundred percent win this series. Now, I think the Lakers are capable of playing much better basketball than they did today, but they really cannot contain dribble penetration for Anthony Edwards in this matchup. And we knew this coming in. We know that they can't contain any super athletic guard at the point of attack. They just don't have that sort of quickness on the perimeter. And at the same time, we know that they lack conventional rim protection, So what do they have to do against any really elite downhill guard like that they have to be super aggressive with their gap help. They have to try to basically clutter up the paint and muck up drives, and that means that you are going to be aggressive sending multiple bodies at that downhill guard. And if he makes the right reads and if he makes the kickout passes and the dudes around him make a lot of open catch and shoot threes, well, then there's really just not much you can do. Like, their entire strategy has to be predicated upon keeping Anthony Edwards away from the rim, because if he gets to the rim, they can't stop him. They don't have that rimp protection. But if the Wolves are gonna shoot fifty plus percent from three and ant has nine assists to one turnover, like he looks comfortable taking what they're giving him, the Lakers aren't gonna win the series. If the Wolves shoot this well. Do I think that they will shoot this well going forward fifty percent from three? No, it was a phenomenal sort of magnet ball performance. But at the same time, they're getting a lot of really good looks, And I think you have to give a ton of credit to the supporting cast for Minnesota for making these shots Nas red Man, the quickness of his release at his size, his ability to just spray off the catch with just a sliver of a window is so impressive. He really is such a sick offensive player. And then Jane McDaniels, as you mentioned, really came into his own in the second half of the season as an offensive player, and he knocked down all of his triples in this one. But I thought what was honestly more impressive was his ability to attack close outs to get into the lane to make some of the those touch shots. He was also really active on the offensive glass. So those guys did their jobs taking advantage of the opportunities that Ant is creating for them. And so even though I think the Lakers have like obvious personnel limitations that forced them to adhere to this one defensive scheme which is going to allow open catch and shoot threes to some of these guys, they're just gonna have to dare them to make shots. I think they can do a better job of flying around and closing out better, but like, those shots are going to be there overall. But the Lakers also just like didn't feel like they approached this game with the necessary intensity for Game one of a really tough playoff series. I thought their transition defense was bad. Minnesota outscored them like twenty six to five or something in terms of fast break points, and I thought their physicality wasn't there. Again, I thought that their activity on closeouts wasn't what it needed to be. You also saw after the first quarter Minnesota just crush on the glass. It was really surprising. First quarter, the Lakers have five offensive rebounds, they had eleven second chance points. Given how much size they're conceding, you did not expect that. But then from that point forward, Minnesota really was able to capitalize on their size advantage on the glass. And they're just the bigger, more athletic team and that's going to be a challenge for LA in this matchup. And that's why when they're really knocking down their perimeter shots, they can just kind of crack you in the jaw, and LA just did not have the response needed. Minnesota came out ready to kick ass, they made their shots, and they cruised to a win. Accordingly that being said, I do think LA can improve in a number of ways from their performance in Game one. What are you expecting to see from them in terms of improvement, and where did you think that things really went wrong for them in this one?

Yeah, I don't think they're far away at all. I thought one of the worst stretches was in that second quarter that you're talking about. We see a twenty three to six run for Minnesota in the second quarter, and that's the uncharacteristic part for LA, Right, you never expect this offense to stall out. And I think it's important that you mentioned that Minnesota's blistering hot shooting. It just gives them every component of the game. Right. This is a big team that's good on the glass, and that's good defensively, and so if they're hitting their shots too, they check every box and so they're a really complete team when they've got everything clicking. In that second quarter, they also go thirty eight to twenty, and so I thought they were worse today in the mostly offensive minutes from Austin Reeves. I thought Reeves was a little bit off. I think he's got to play a little bit better. I think it's a tough matchup for him because of all the really good perimeter defenders in the athleticism and size that he's playing against in Minnesota, so it's not going to be an easy series for him. But I think Reeves can play better. I think Lebron can play a lot better. And honestly, I was disappointed in the Lakers offensive, supporting cast as a whole Hotchi Mura DF like, I'm just expecting more from everybody except Luca. Luca, I thought it played as well as you can expect. I mean, he had sixteen first quarter points. Like, I think he's gonna get whatever he wants in this series, and I don't think you can ask him for anything else. But I think some things are gonna balance out in this series. Like I thought Minnesota played really well. I don't expect them to shoot this hot every night. I expect the Lakers to shoot a lot better, and I expect Reeves and Lebron to play a little bit better. So honestly, I don't know what they can do defensively, Carson, I don't know what they do with Minnesota because I just don't think they have the personnel. I think the only area that we can really expect them to change from Game one is just they're gonna play better offensively. Defensively, I think you just gotta kind of gotta throw your hands up.

Yeah, I don't think they're far away at all. I thought one of the worst stretches was in that second quarter that you're talking about. We see a twenty three to six run for Minnesota in the second quarter, and that's the uncharacteristic part for LA, Right, you never expect this offense to stall out. And I think it's important that you mentioned that Minnesota's blistering hot shooting. It just gives them every component of the game. Right. This is a big team that's good on the glass, and that's good defensively, and so if they're hitting their shots too, they check every box and so they're a really complete team when they've got everything clicking. In that second quarter, they also go thirty eight to twenty, and so I thought they were worse today in the mostly offensive minutes from Austin Reeves. I thought Reeves was a little bit off. I think he's got to play a little bit better. I think it's a tough matchup for him because of all the really good perimeter defenders in the athleticism and size that he's playing against in Minnesota, so it's not going to be an easy series for him. But I think Reeves can play better. I think Lebron can play a lot better. And honestly, I was disappointed in the Lakers offensive, supporting cast as a whole Hotchi Mura DF like, I'm just expecting more from everybody except Luca. Luca, I thought it played as well as you can expect. I mean, he had sixteen first quarter points. Like, I think he's gonna get whatever he wants in this series, and I don't think you can ask him for anything else. But I think some things are gonna balance out in this series. Like I thought Minnesota played really well. I don't expect them to shoot this hot every night. I expect the Lakers to shoot a lot better, and I expect Reeves and Lebron to play a little bit better. So honestly, I don't know what they can do defensively, Carson, I don't know what they do with Minnesota because I just don't think they have the personnel. I think the only area that we can really expect them to change from Game one is just they're gonna play better offensively. Defensively, I think you just gotta kind of gotta throw your hands up.

I kind of agree. I think they can just execute their scheme better. Defensively, I think they can be more consistent with their effort. But I see what you're saying, and the reality is Minnesota is going to have a good offensive series, like especially if they shoot the ball well. Now, there are certain guys who you're going to have to dare to make those shots consistently. If it is Julius Randall from beyond the arc, if it is Jade McDaniels from beyond the arc. But if they are going to make them, yeah, then the Lakers don't really have a good answer on the defensive end. Where I do expect to see them improve significantly is on the offensive end, because I thought a number of players were below their level in this one, like specifically Lebron and Austin Reeves. Those are two guys who they just need to be better. This is an offensive big three, and it was really only Luca who was amazing offensively. Like you said, I thought that he was phenomenal cooking Rudy off switches. I thought he was really impressive bullying some of the smaller perimeter defenders like a Jade McDaniels or Niki Alexander Walker and just working his way to some of those touch shots that he loved so much. I thought his shot making was really impressive. The one thing that the Timberwolves did keep in check with Luca was his playmaking. He has one assist in this game, and I was surprised by their willingness to switch Gobart and nas Reed out onto the perimeter and just dare these dudes to beat them one on one. It's interesting, but what I've consistently said about Luca is like his greatest superpower, especially at this point when he hasn't been as consistent as a scorer this season, is his passing. And this is something that we saw from Boston, right You dare Luca to beat you one on one more often and limit his playmaking impact. That was a successful strategy for Boston. I think that they have the better defensive personnel for this matchup, though, Like I think Luca is gonna be able to get what he wants as a score, and I think he will be more impactful as a playmaker. I think that Lebron just did like his signature game. One thing. Man, it was quintessential Game one Lebron where he's just like feeling things out, was settling a ton, very reliant on the jumper in this game. Didn't assert himself whatsoever in the first did not have a point or an assist in that period. So they need a lot more out of him. They need him to be more aggressive, They need him to leverage his physical advantages more. And Austin Reeves like had a nice third quarter, but he was doing nothing in the first half offensively all the while he is getting hunted defensively like he and Luca both Man, they just don't have a prayer of staying in front of.

I kind of agree. I think they can just execute their scheme better. Defensively, I think they can be more consistent with their effort. But I see what you're saying, and the reality is Minnesota is going to have a good offensive series, like especially if they shoot the ball well. Now, there are certain guys who you're going to have to dare to make those shots consistently. If it is Julius Randall from beyond the arc, if it is Jade McDaniels from beyond the arc. But if they are going to make them, yeah, then the Lakers don't really have a good answer on the defensive end. Where I do expect to see them improve significantly is on the offensive end, because I thought a number of players were below their level in this one, like specifically Lebron and Austin Reeves. Those are two guys who they just need to be better. This is an offensive big three, and it was really only Luca who was amazing offensively. Like you said, I thought that he was phenomenal cooking Rudy off switches. I thought he was really impressive bullying some of the smaller perimeter defenders like a Jade McDaniels or Niki Alexander Walker and just working his way to some of those touch shots that he loved so much. I thought his shot making was really impressive. The one thing that the Timberwolves did keep in check with Luca was his playmaking. He has one assist in this game, and I was surprised by their willingness to switch Gobart and nas Reed out onto the perimeter and just dare these dudes to beat them one on one. It's interesting, but what I've consistently said about Luca is like his greatest superpower, especially at this point when he hasn't been as consistent as a scorer this season, is his passing. And this is something that we saw from Boston, right You dare Luca to beat you one on one more often and limit his playmaking impact. That was a successful strategy for Boston. I think that they have the better defensive personnel for this matchup, though, Like I think Luca is gonna be able to get what he wants as a score, and I think he will be more impactful as a playmaker. I think that Lebron just did like his signature game. One thing. Man, it was quintessential Game one Lebron where he's just like feeling things out, was settling a ton, very reliant on the jumper in this game. Didn't assert himself whatsoever in the first did not have a point or an assist in that period. So they need a lot more out of him. They need him to be more aggressive, They need him to leverage his physical advantages more. And Austin Reeves like had a nice third quarter, but he was doing nothing in the first half offensively all the while he is getting hunted defensively like he and Luca both Man, they just don't have a prayer of staying in front of.

Him, specifically specifically the Timberwols two best offensive players too, because Ant versus Luca, there's just a quickness advantage that he's gonna exploit every time. And if Randall gets that switch on Reeves, it's like he can back down and move Reeves wherever he wants, or I mean, fill in the blank for whoever you want. If it's Nas Reed, you know, if it's if it's Ant, like Reeves is just the guy that sticks out as the weak point significantly on that defense.

Him, specifically specifically the Timberwols two best offensive players too, because Ant versus Luca, there's just a quickness advantage that he's gonna exploit every time. And if Randall gets that switch on Reeves, it's like he can back down and move Reeves wherever he wants, or I mean, fill in the blank for whoever you want. If it's Nas Reed, you know, if it's if it's Ant, like Reeves is just the guy that sticks out as the weak point significantly on that defense.

I agree, But I think offensively he and the entirety of this big three should be like relatively comfortable in this matchup because I think that Jaden McDaniels is just not big and strong enough to deal with Luca. I would make the switch and go ant on Luca just to have a better strength counter, but he was really getting whatever he wanted as a scorer in this game. The one thing that I thought Minnesota did really well defensively beyond just again some subpar performances from Lebron in Reeves, I thought they did a phenomenal job of keeping the Lakers away from the rim. And Gobar is such a special deterrent and they have so much size on the interior, but especially he is just such an overwhelming presence there that you can really be aggressive with your closeouts running some of the Lakers spot up shooters off the line because ruy dfs those guys are excellent catching shooters right forty plus percent from deep this year, but they are not due to want to be attacking closeouts. They're not as comfortable handling, they're not super quick attacking those closeouts off the catch, and so you saw a few possessions where they hit you with the fake and then they begin to drive, but then Rudy Gobert is sitting there in the pain and like they just don't want to deal with that. Ruy had one take at Gobert that was just a disaster, like ball just came flying out of his hands. So I think that that is a strength of Minnesota's defensively in this matchup. For sure, their rim defense, but obviously the Lakers counter that is going to be spacing them out, having so much skill, having so much shooting, and just needing their superstars to play better manufacture shots for their supporting cast guys, and those guys are gonna have to make more shots. It really is the offensive end where I think LA has to improve and is going to improve. They were never gonna win this series with their defense. They just have to be good enough on that end. The one thing I did think LA did relatively well defensively was deal with Julius Randall. Like I thought that Lebron was good in that matchup, I thought they were able to counter his strength decently well and obviously force some Minison turnovers as you mentioned, But Minnesota was a lot better in this game, and it felt like a lot of it. It came down to shooting and fight, and I thought that Minnesota just came out and they smacked them in the face, and the Lakers showed a little bit of fight, but it was like way too little, way too late. You know, they have that ten to oh run late in the third, but you already let the lead get to twenty seven at that point. So the Lakers can play a lot better. But like, do not get it twisted, man, The Timberwolves can absolutely win this series. And if they shoot close to this well from deep, they will win this series.

I agree, But I think offensively he and the entirety of this big three should be like relatively comfortable in this matchup because I think that Jaden McDaniels is just not big and strong enough to deal with Luca. I would make the switch and go ant on Luca just to have a better strength counter, but he was really getting whatever he wanted as a scorer in this game. The one thing that I thought Minnesota did really well defensively beyond just again some subpar performances from Lebron in Reeves, I thought they did a phenomenal job of keeping the Lakers away from the rim. And Gobar is such a special deterrent and they have so much size on the interior, but especially he is just such an overwhelming presence there that you can really be aggressive with your closeouts running some of the Lakers spot up shooters off the line because ruy dfs those guys are excellent catching shooters right forty plus percent from deep this year, but they are not due to want to be attacking closeouts. They're not as comfortable handling, they're not super quick attacking those closeouts off the catch, and so you saw a few possessions where they hit you with the fake and then they begin to drive, but then Rudy Gobert is sitting there in the pain and like they just don't want to deal with that. Ruy had one take at Gobert that was just a disaster, like ball just came flying out of his hands. So I think that that is a strength of Minnesota's defensively in this matchup. For sure, their rim defense, but obviously the Lakers counter that is going to be spacing them out, having so much skill, having so much shooting, and just needing their superstars to play better manufacture shots for their supporting cast guys, and those guys are gonna have to make more shots. It really is the offensive end where I think LA has to improve and is going to improve. They were never gonna win this series with their defense. They just have to be good enough on that end. The one thing I did think LA did relatively well defensively was deal with Julius Randall. Like I thought that Lebron was good in that matchup, I thought they were able to counter his strength decently well and obviously force some Minison turnovers as you mentioned, But Minnesota was a lot better in this game, and it felt like a lot of it. It came down to shooting and fight, and I thought that Minnesota just came out and they smacked them in the face, and the Lakers showed a little bit of fight, but it was like way too little, way too late. You know, they have that ten to oh run late in the third, but you already let the lead get to twenty seven at that point. So the Lakers can play a lot better. But like, do not get it twisted, man, The Timberwolves can absolutely win this series. And if they shoot close to this well from deep, they will win this series.

I mean, I think it's really simple. If you don't get more out of the Lakers Big three collectively, they don't have a chance at winning this series. It's like that's their strength, that's their superpower. It's the collective of Luca Lebron and Austin Reeves, and if they don't get more output from those guys, they're not gonna win this series. So need to tighten up. And I don't know, I don't think you can be surprised by the inconsistency with la either. You know, this is a team that's been together for a very short period of time in Minnesota. I know that you know they acquire Julius Randall, They've had longer to figure this thing out, and they for the most part, looked way better in the second half of this season. In LA's still working out the cakes a little bit. I'm not going to count out in LA just yet. Again, I think we're due for a little bit of balance in between these things. But Minnesota was way better to night man. But absolutely I expect LA to adjust. I think this is why you have JJ Reddick, They've got Lebron. Like, if there's any team I expect to game plan and pivot and to make some big time adjustments that make a difference, it's the Lakers.

I mean, I think it's really simple. If you don't get more out of the Lakers Big three collectively, they don't have a chance at winning this series. It's like that's their strength, that's their superpower. It's the collective of Luca Lebron and Austin Reeves, and if they don't get more output from those guys, they're not gonna win this series. So need to tighten up. And I don't know, I don't think you can be surprised by the inconsistency with la either. You know, this is a team that's been together for a very short period of time in Minnesota. I know that you know they acquire Julius Randall, They've had longer to figure this thing out, and they for the most part, looked way better in the second half of this season. In LA's still working out the cakes a little bit. I'm not going to count out in LA just yet. Again, I think we're due for a little bit of balance in between these things. But Minnesota was way better to night man. But absolutely I expect LA to adjust. I think this is why you have JJ Reddick, They've got Lebron. Like, if there's any team I expect to game plan and pivot and to make some big time adjustments that make a difference, it's the Lakers.

I don't know to what extent they can adjust defensively just because of their personnel limitations, but again, I think they can execute better. I think that they can play significantly better. I want to give props Anthony Edwards though, man, because like, this isn't going to be a crazy box score from him. I just don't think this is going to be a crazy scoring series from him, And I said that in our preview. I just don't think the Lakers are going to let him beat them as a score. I think they are going to make him beat them as a passer, but that's what he did in the shooters around him beat the Lakers. So they're not gonna let him just drive all the way downhill and get a bunch of good looks at the rim. But he's creating an advantage on so many of these possessions just getting a step and then making the right decisions. Man. So really really impressive Game one from the Timberwolves. Very very good basketball team, and they showed it in this one. That's a big win. I'm not gonna overreact to a game one. I'm not gonna change my predictions for this series or anything. But we're in for a battle. I will tell you that right now. And speaking of battles, Logan, we had a hell of a Game one between the other LA team, the Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. Another one of the most anticipated playoff series, at least to me. The Nuggets come away with this one in overtime. What did you take away from this, Logan?

I don't know to what extent they can adjust defensively just because of their personnel limitations, but again, I think they can execute better. I think that they can play significantly better. I want to give props Anthony Edwards though, man, because like, this isn't going to be a crazy box score from him. I just don't think this is going to be a crazy scoring series from him, And I said that in our preview. I just don't think the Lakers are going to let him beat them as a score. I think they are going to make him beat them as a passer, but that's what he did in the shooters around him beat the Lakers. So they're not gonna let him just drive all the way downhill and get a bunch of good looks at the rim. But he's creating an advantage on so many of these possessions just getting a step and then making the right decisions. Man. So really really impressive Game one from the Timberwolves. Very very good basketball team, and they showed it in this one. That's a big win. I'm not gonna overreact to a game one. I'm not gonna change my predictions for this series or anything. But we're in for a battle. I will tell you that right now. And speaking of battles, Logan, we had a hell of a Game one between the other LA team, the Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. Another one of the most anticipated playoff series, at least to me. The Nuggets come away with this one in overtime. What did you take away from this, Logan?

This was an absolutely crazy game peak NBA playoff basketball. I mean, chaos ensued. I have a lot of thoughts. I'm not super confident even though Denver wins this game in overtime in my Denver pick in this series, just because I don't know how the hell Denver is gonna guard James Harden or Kawhi Leonard, Like, I don't know what they do. Harden got whatever he wanted. Kawhi I feel like is gonna be able to bully guys with his strength. I thought that the Clippers. I'll get more into that in a minute. I thought the Clippers gave this game away a little bit with twenty turnovers. I thought they kind of crumbled down the stretch. I didn't like their late game execution, and I thought the Nuggets just out hustled them, Like Russell Westbrook had some really ugly moments down the stretch, but also earned them a ton of extra possessions that really mattered at the end. Hits a big corner three in this game. Like I thought Denver was just better executing late. And I don't think we can be surprised at this. They flashed this up at the end of the broadcast. They trailed by fifteen points in this game. Eight fifteen points were more comeback since twenty nineteen. It's the most by any team in the playoffs in that time span.

This was an absolutely crazy game peak NBA playoff basketball. I mean, chaos ensued. I have a lot of thoughts. I'm not super confident even though Denver wins this game in overtime in my Denver pick in this series, just because I don't know how the hell Denver is gonna guard James Harden or Kawhi Leonard, Like, I don't know what they do. Harden got whatever he wanted. Kawhi I feel like is gonna be able to bully guys with his strength. I thought that the Clippers. I'll get more into that in a minute. I thought the Clippers gave this game away a little bit with twenty turnovers. I thought they kind of crumbled down the stretch. I didn't like their late game execution, and I thought the Nuggets just out hustled them, Like Russell Westbrook had some really ugly moments down the stretch, but also earned them a ton of extra possessions that really mattered at the end. Hits a big corner three in this game. Like I thought Denver was just better executing late. And I don't think we can be surprised at this. They flashed this up at the end of the broadcast. They trailed by fifteen points in this game. Eight fifteen points were more comeback since twenty nineteen. It's the most by any team in the playoffs in that time span.

Like this is what Denver seven all coming against the Lakers.

Like this is what Denver seven all coming against the Lakers.

Uh probably actually damn near, But this is what Denver does, man. I mean, they do have this special ability, especially when Jokic and Murray are going, they can kill you. And Yokic is that kind of guy. I mean, he dissected this Clippers team. Yokicic was the best player in this game. But I thought the Clippers kind of gave this game away too. Man. I was really disappointed with their late game execution. I thought they should have kept going to the hard and zoo pick and roll. I thought we saw some bad turnovers. I just thought, in my opinion, I thought the Clippers lost this one a little bit more than the Nuggets wanted. You know, I think it's a little bit of both. But I thought the Clippers kind of let this one slip away. Man. I thought they controlled this game for the most part and the Nuggets had to battle back. I've got more thoughts, but that's an initially what I thought. And I'm just nervous, man. The Denver defense did not instill any confidence in me in this game. And I'm I'm just nervous about Harden and Kawhi.

Uh probably actually damn near, But this is what Denver does, man. I mean, they do have this special ability, especially when Jokic and Murray are going, they can kill you. And Yokic is that kind of guy. I mean, he dissected this Clippers team. Yokicic was the best player in this game. But I thought the Clippers kind of gave this game away too. Man. I was really disappointed with their late game execution. I thought they should have kept going to the hard and zoo pick and roll. I thought we saw some bad turnovers. I just thought, in my opinion, I thought the Clippers lost this one a little bit more than the Nuggets wanted. You know, I think it's a little bit of both. But I thought the Clippers kind of let this one slip away. Man. I thought they controlled this game for the most part and the Nuggets had to battle back. I've got more thoughts, but that's an initially what I thought. And I'm just nervous, man. The Denver defense did not instill any confidence in me in this game. And I'm I'm just nervous about Harden and Kawhi.

Wow. I am really surprised that that's your takeaway. The second half of this game was the most impressed I've been with this Denver defense, as somebody who's watched almost every one of their games this year in a long time.

Wow. I am really surprised that that's your takeaway. The second half of this game was the most impressed I've been with this Denver defense, as somebody who's watched almost every one of their games this year in a long time.

Man.

Man.

Now, to start, I thought that they were helpless, which is honestly basically what I was expecting coming into this Ye James Harden.

Now, to start, I thought that they were helpless, which is honestly basically what I was expecting coming into this Ye James Harden.

My thing is if they keep Jamal on. Jamal's defensive performance was still apathetic to me in this game, Like, I don't know, man, I think that Harden was cooking him whenever he wanted.

My thing is if they keep Jamal on. Jamal's defensive performance was still apathetic to me in this game, Like, I don't know, man, I think that Harden was cooking him whenever he wanted.

That's not apathy, man. They don't have anybody who can stay in front of James Harden one on one, so that's a problem. They don't have a solution for guarding Harden in isolation. He's just too shifty. He's gonna get a step, he's gonna.

That's not apathy, man. They don't have anybody who can stay in front of James Harden one on one, so that's a problem. They don't have a solution for guarding Harden in isolation. He's just too shifty. He's gonna get a step, he's gonna.

He's gonna get that float. He's gonna get that floater every single time.

He's gonna get that float. He's gonna get that floater every single time.

But there was a dramatic, dramatic shift in Denver's defensive intensity about halfway through the second quarter when they went on that initial run and started forcing some turnover and they maintained that through the rest of the game.

But there was a dramatic, dramatic shift in Denver's defensive intensity about halfway through the second quarter when they went on that initial run and started forcing some turnover and they maintained that through the rest of the game.

I liked that they moved off of MPJA for Westbrook too. I thought they needed his energy and his skill set in this game.

I liked that they moved off of MPJA for Westbrook too. I thought they needed his energy and his skill set in this game.

Yeah, he made some big plays. I thought that this game was just like the ultimate full service Russell Westbrook experience, all the highs and all the lows. But I was really impressed by Denver's defensive turnaround in this one, because I thought they were going to have major problems guarding the Clippers, doing anything to make them uncomfortable. And I thought that specifically James Harden just being such a prom and isolation and I don't have faith in Denver's perimeter personnel to guard him one on one. I still don't after this game, but I was even more concerned about them guarding hardened Zoo pick and roll, and I thought that you saw all the reasons why at the start of this game where they're bringing two up to the level. But Harden is such a good playmaker. He's making the read every time, and then Zoo is picking them apart off the short rule where he's a very solid passer and Chris Dunn is perfectly timing his cuts from the corner, so they're just getting a bunch of easy offense when they bring to you up to the level, and then when they try Yokitchen more of a drop like Harden is just getting downhill easily. The Nuggets don't have the screen navigators to apply any sort of back pressure, and Yokicic is offering no resistance at the rim. So like for the first quarter and a half of this game, well, I thought that Harden was incredible in the first quarter. He was barbecuing them, and it really just felt like the Clippers were in warm ups, like they were getting whatever they wanted offensively. Then I thought that things really really change for the better for Denver Defensively, I thought that they picked up their level of physicality. I thought that they picked up their level of activity using their hands, forcing some turnovers, and they ended up having a number of excellent moments on the defensive end in the home stretch of this game. I don't disagree with you that I thought the Clippers should have been hammering hard and Zubot's pick and roll even more than they did throughout this game and down the stretch. I just thought it was their best offense, but I thought the Nuggets were defending it so much better. In the fourth quarter and overtime, because if you're gonna play where you put two on the ball in pick and roll, there's a few things you have to do. First of all, you have to actually pressure the ball, and that's something that the Nuggets this year have not done all that much. There's been a lot of yokic sort of playing half heartedly up at the level, and now you're kind of putting two on the ball without even reaping the benefits of really pressuring the ball handler. But you have to pressure the ball handler, and then you have to swarm the big off the catch. You have to tag the roller, get up and be physical with him right make his catches difficult. And you have to just fly around on the back end and be ready to cover up any sort of cuts and be ready to fly out and contest shooters. And the Nuggets were finally doing that stuff towards the home stretch of this game, and I thought that they had some of their best defensive possessions of the year putting two on the ball, and that was really encouraging to me.

Yeah, he made some big plays. I thought that this game was just like the ultimate full service Russell Westbrook experience, all the highs and all the lows. But I was really impressed by Denver's defensive turnaround in this one, because I thought they were going to have major problems guarding the Clippers, doing anything to make them uncomfortable. And I thought that specifically James Harden just being such a prom and isolation and I don't have faith in Denver's perimeter personnel to guard him one on one. I still don't after this game, but I was even more concerned about them guarding hardened Zoo pick and roll, and I thought that you saw all the reasons why at the start of this game where they're bringing two up to the level. But Harden is such a good playmaker. He's making the read every time, and then Zoo is picking them apart off the short rule where he's a very solid passer and Chris Dunn is perfectly timing his cuts from the corner, so they're just getting a bunch of easy offense when they bring to you up to the level, and then when they try Yokitchen more of a drop like Harden is just getting downhill easily. The Nuggets don't have the screen navigators to apply any sort of back pressure, and Yokicic is offering no resistance at the rim. So like for the first quarter and a half of this game, well, I thought that Harden was incredible in the first quarter. He was barbecuing them, and it really just felt like the Clippers were in warm ups, like they were getting whatever they wanted offensively. Then I thought that things really really change for the better for Denver Defensively, I thought that they picked up their level of physicality. I thought that they picked up their level of activity using their hands, forcing some turnovers, and they ended up having a number of excellent moments on the defensive end in the home stretch of this game. I don't disagree with you that I thought the Clippers should have been hammering hard and Zubot's pick and roll even more than they did throughout this game and down the stretch. I just thought it was their best offense, but I thought the Nuggets were defending it so much better. In the fourth quarter and overtime, because if you're gonna play where you put two on the ball in pick and roll, there's a few things you have to do. First of all, you have to actually pressure the ball, and that's something that the Nuggets this year have not done all that much. There's been a lot of yokic sort of playing half heartedly up at the level, and now you're kind of putting two on the ball without even reaping the benefits of really pressuring the ball handler. But you have to pressure the ball handler, and then you have to swarm the big off the catch. You have to tag the roller, get up and be physical with him right make his catches difficult. And you have to just fly around on the back end and be ready to cover up any sort of cuts and be ready to fly out and contest shooters. And the Nuggets were finally doing that stuff towards the home stretch of this game, and I thought that they had some of their best defensive possessions of the year putting two on the ball, and that was really encouraging to me.

Yeah, I mean, I thought they were better but still late in this game, and like I thought, they had some really big moments to some big plays for turnovers. But there's a play late in this game where they actually do go to harden Zoo pick and roll and Jokic blitz blitzes it at the level Gordon gets the goaltend right because they don't have anybody back.

Yeah, I mean, I thought they were better but still late in this game, and like I thought, they had some really big moments to some big plays for turnovers. But there's a play late in this game where they actually do go to harden Zoo pick and roll and Jokic blitz blitzes it at the level Gordon gets the goaltend right because they don't have anybody back.

Yeah, they're not gonna be perfect, but I thought that it was mostly positive results like harden Zoo picking in this game and down the stretch it was not.

Yeah, they're not gonna be perfect, but I thought that it was mostly positive results like harden Zoo picking in this game and down the stretch it was not.

I think Chris Dunn was ruining a lot of advantages for the Clippers, and I would play him a lot less because I think he hurts.

I think Chris Dunn was ruining a lot of advantages for the Clippers, and I would play him a lot less because I think he hurts.

But are you playing Derek Jones Junior.

But are you playing Derek Jones Junior.

No, I'm not. I'm just gonna go full offense. I think in those late moments, I think I'm either gonna go batoom or I think I'm gonna go Norman Powell, or some combination of that, because I think that there were just a lot moments in this game where I thought that if somebody else other than Done is either finishing the play and shooting the ball, or they're gonna make something connective happen, where he would get the ball and either hesitate or wait a minute, or he didn't want he wasn't comfortable with shooting the ball, I think he I think he can hurt them a little bit offensively, and he made some defensive plays. Like he's not a like a complete zero out there. He's a really good defensive player. But I think I prefer having five really skilled players out there in those situations more.

No, I'm not. I'm just gonna go full offense. I think in those late moments, I think I'm either gonna go batoom or I think I'm gonna go Norman Powell, or some combination of that, because I think that there were just a lot moments in this game where I thought that if somebody else other than Done is either finishing the play and shooting the ball, or they're gonna make something connective happen, where he would get the ball and either hesitate or wait a minute, or he didn't want he wasn't comfortable with shooting the ball, I think he I think he can hurt them a little bit offensively, and he made some defensive plays. Like he's not a like a complete zero out there. He's a really good defensive player. But I think I prefer having five really skilled players out there in those situations more.

I don't know. I think that Chris Dunn is an excellent defensive player, but I understand your perspective. And like, in the first half, like I said, he was actually great as a cutter, and he knocked down a corner three, and like, if he's gonna make those shots, well then you feel really really good about having him on the floor. But I would agree. I thought that he struggled down the stretch offensively, and obviously he's just the one guy who the Nuggets are going to be comfortable leaving, which they're kind of gonna have to do if they're gonna put two on the ball. But that's been their scheme all year. They've been bad at it all year, and they were actually quite good at it down the stretch of this game, so I thought that was really encouraging. I thought that their defense was huge to them winning this game, and I thought they were rebounding. Was also massive securing extra possessions on the offensive glass, and that's where you really get the Russell Westbrook experience in this game.

I don't know. I think that Chris Dunn is an excellent defensive player, but I understand your perspective. And like, in the first half, like I said, he was actually great as a cutter, and he knocked down a corner three, and like, if he's gonna make those shots, well then you feel really really good about having him on the floor. But I would agree. I thought that he struggled down the stretch offensively, and obviously he's just the one guy who the Nuggets are going to be comfortable leaving, which they're kind of gonna have to do if they're gonna put two on the ball. But that's been their scheme all year. They've been bad at it all year, and they were actually quite good at it down the stretch of this game, so I thought that was really encouraging. I thought that their defense was huge to them winning this game, and I thought they were rebounding. Was also massive securing extra possessions on the offensive glass, and that's where you really get the Russell Westbrook experience in this game.

Matt I just wanted to add in the fourth quarter in overtime, Denver out rebounded them seven to two on the offensive glass. Aaron Gordon, Westbrook Brown, they were all hustling.

Matt I just wanted to add in the fourth quarter in overtime, Denver out rebounded them seven to two on the offensive glass. Aaron Gordon, Westbrook Brown, they were all hustling.

I'll do you one better logan. In the last nine minutes, so that's the last four minutes of regulation and then the five minutes of overtime, they actually had nine offensive rebounds, including two team offensive rebounds, so they were generating extra possessions at a crazy rate. Russ was a big part of that. Aaron Gordon was a huge part of that. And them closing with Russ is just such a bipolar experience because in the last few minutes of the fourth he has seven points, He has a couple of smart cuts off of Jokic doubles, he hits a wide open three where they just completely leave him right. I think that they put two on the ball with Murray and then Done rotates over to deal with Yokic off the pop and they just dare them to get the ball to Russ and dare him to make an open corner three, which he does and that's a huge bucket. But then from that point forward and for the entirety of overtime, like he's just not getting guarded. And there's a few possessions where that's super damaging to the Nuggets offense. Like you have the last possession of regulation where they just hit Yokic with the surprise double. He finds Russ wide open, but Russ doesn't want to take that initial jumper, and then Russ kind of just dribbles out the clock and they don't even get a shot up. There's another possession in overtime where Chris Dunn just like totally left Russell Westbrook to immediately blitz Yokic off the catch and he forces a turnover. And then there are the possessions where they get Russ the ball, he's wide open, he takes a shit, but like that's the exact shot the defense wants him to take, or.

I'll do you one better logan. In the last nine minutes, so that's the last four minutes of regulation and then the five minutes of overtime, they actually had nine offensive rebounds, including two team offensive rebounds, so they were generating extra possessions at a crazy rate. Russ was a big part of that. Aaron Gordon was a huge part of that. And them closing with Russ is just such a bipolar experience because in the last few minutes of the fourth he has seven points, He has a couple of smart cuts off of Jokic doubles, he hits a wide open three where they just completely leave him right. I think that they put two on the ball with Murray and then Done rotates over to deal with Yokic off the pop and they just dare them to get the ball to Russ and dare him to make an open corner three, which he does and that's a huge bucket. But then from that point forward and for the entirety of overtime, like he's just not getting guarded. And there's a few possessions where that's super damaging to the Nuggets offense. Like you have the last possession of regulation where they just hit Yokic with the surprise double. He finds Russ wide open, but Russ doesn't want to take that initial jumper, and then Russ kind of just dribbles out the clock and they don't even get a shot up. There's another possession in overtime where Chris Dunn just like totally left Russell Westbrook to immediately blitz Yokic off the catch and he forces a turnover. And then there are the possessions where they get Russ the ball, he's wide open, he takes a shit, but like that's the exact shot the defense wants him to take, or.

I mean he also hit two on one where he drives.

I mean he also hit two on one where he drives.

Right at the rim and misses well.

Right at the rim and misses well.

He also has one where he hits Aaron Gordon off the short roll when they double team him. He has a play where he knocks the ball off of Harden that forces a turnover. Like to me, it's the perfect yin Yang moment of Russell Westbrook, Like you couldn't get a more perfect encapsulation of Russell Westbrook's value and impact on a basketball game more than this one, because with the good, you got the bad, and with the bad you got the good. Like it perfectly balanced itself out on the Westbrook scale.

He also has one where he hits Aaron Gordon off the short roll when they double team him. He has a play where he knocks the ball off of Harden that forces a turnover. Like to me, it's the perfect yin Yang moment of Russell Westbrook, Like you couldn't get a more perfect encapsulation of Russell Westbrook's value and impact on a basketball game more than this one, because with the good, you got the bad, and with the bad you got the good. Like it perfectly balanced itself out on the Westbrook scale.

I totally agree, and I do want to give him full credit for all the positive plays that he made because there were a bunch of them, like so many high effort plays. I thought that he was a clear plus defensively. You mentioned that final play on Harden off the inbound, but like the offensive rebounding was absolutely massive. So you have this weird dichotomy where it's like, okay, offensively in overtime, so many of our possessions are turning into Russ shooting these open looks that we don't want him taking as the Nuggets, and he's missing them. Russo's five of seventeen in this game. But then he's also winning you possessions, and that's like the difference in this game is your ability to control the glass and your ability to turn things around defensively, which he's a big part of, because the alternative MPG like obviously change with the dynamics offensively with his shooting, but defensively not engaged, not gonna bring the same athleticism, not gonna bring the same effort. So I was nervous about them closing with Russ. It ended up working out. It ended up being that he made just enough positive plays to offset the negatives that come from his lack of shooting and defense's willingness to try to dare him into taking some of these shots. And props to him for making that impact going forward, though, I think you look at MPG and you have to say, like, dude, really you need to lock in. Yeah, man, he's Michael Porter Junior. I mean, just the offensive game playing alongside Yokichen Murray is I think so massive, so massive. The Nuggets were having to play four on five basically in overtime with a hell of an offensive rebounder out there. But that's not an ideal lineup to finish games with.

I totally agree, and I do want to give him full credit for all the positive plays that he made because there were a bunch of them, like so many high effort plays. I thought that he was a clear plus defensively. You mentioned that final play on Harden off the inbound, but like the offensive rebounding was absolutely massive. So you have this weird dichotomy where it's like, okay, offensively in overtime, so many of our possessions are turning into Russ shooting these open looks that we don't want him taking as the Nuggets, and he's missing them. Russo's five of seventeen in this game. But then he's also winning you possessions, and that's like the difference in this game is your ability to control the glass and your ability to turn things around defensively, which he's a big part of, because the alternative MPG like obviously change with the dynamics offensively with his shooting, but defensively not engaged, not gonna bring the same athleticism, not gonna bring the same effort. So I was nervous about them closing with Russ. It ended up working out. It ended up being that he made just enough positive plays to offset the negatives that come from his lack of shooting and defense's willingness to try to dare him into taking some of these shots. And props to him for making that impact going forward, though, I think you look at MPG and you have to say, like, dude, really you need to lock in. Yeah, man, he's Michael Porter Junior. I mean, just the offensive game playing alongside Yokichen Murray is I think so massive, so massive. The Nuggets were having to play four on five basically in overtime with a hell of an offensive rebounder out there. But that's not an ideal lineup to finish games with.

You know, I tend to agree, and I think that the Clippers have those That's why I think that I don't know, the Clippers could maybe kill them with those more skilled lineups if they just have all that shooting out there and can outshoot them by such a wide margin. Because I think that's what you're sacrificing. If you're taking MPG off the floor, you know you're conceding wide open looks, but you're assuming they're probably going to hit them at a lower rate because you've got a Russell Westbrook and a Brown out there, and you're you're way more comfortable with those guys shooting the ball.

You know, I tend to agree, and I think that the Clippers have those That's why I think that I don't know, the Clippers could maybe kill them with those more skilled lineups if they just have all that shooting out there and can outshoot them by such a wide margin. Because I think that's what you're sacrificing. If you're taking MPG off the floor, you know you're conceding wide open looks, but you're assuming they're probably going to hit them at a lower rate because you've got a Russell Westbrook and a Brown out there, and you're you're way more comfortable with those guys shooting the ball.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I just think they need a guy like Russ out there. Man, I don't know. I I think he was a positive at the end of the game today. Like you know, I know that he shot like shit, Like it's so funny to say that a guy who shot five to seventeen, But he.

I just think they need a guy like Russ out there. Man, I don't know. I I think he was a positive at the end of the game today. Like you know, I know that he shot like shit, Like it's so funny to say that a guy who shot five to seventeen, But he.

Embodied everything that went right for them in this game. I've really been with all the misshots, defense and activity on the offensive glasses where they won this game. Russ was a big part of that. I don't disagree for this game. I don't. What I'm saying is MPG like, you need to be active defensively, you need to be active on the glass, Yeah, because your offensive ability is just so much greater than Russ's. And I don't want to be counting on Russ playing these big minutes having to fill all these.

Embodied everything that went right for them in this game. I've really been with all the misshots, defense and activity on the offensive glasses where they won this game. Russ was a big part of that. I don't disagree for this game. I don't. What I'm saying is MPG like, you need to be active defensively, you need to be active on the glass, Yeah, because your offensive ability is just so much greater than Russ's. And I don't want to be counting on Russ playing these big minutes having to fill all these.

Rules either, But I just wonder neither do I. But I just wonder if his skill set is more what they need in this series, Like I thought they benefited from having that secondary play making off of Jamal, like being able to have another guy that could take, you know, and handle the rock. And I don't know, it's strange, man, MPJ helps their spacing and Russ hurts it. But you're always gonna get wide open threes from you know, how much value is that? Actually? You know that shot? Actually, if they're gonna let Russ open, is that a bad shot? Carson? Like genuinely is that a bad shot?

Rules either, But I just wonder neither do I. But I just wonder if his skill set is more what they need in this series, Like I thought they benefited from having that secondary play making off of Jamal, like being able to have another guy that could take, you know, and handle the rock. And I don't know, it's strange, man, MPJ helps their spacing and Russ hurts it. But you're always gonna get wide open threes from you know, how much value is that? Actually? You know that shot? Actually, if they're gonna let Russ open, is that a bad shot? Carson? Like genuinely is that a bad shot?

I don't want the defense to be able to dictate where I'm going with the ball offensively when I have Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic and say your offense is going to devolve into Russ shots period, Because like, okay, the wide open catching two threes are okay, But what happens when you are doubling Yokic right, or you're putting two on the ball with Murray, or you're ignoring Russ in whatever way, and instead of catching it in the corner for a wide open three, he catches it inside of fifteen feet And now maybe he's got a two on one, but it's not really a two on one because they're gonna ignore him and they're either gonna dare him to shoot a little mid range jumper or he's gonna have sort of an out of control take, and he's not super good finishing in those situations.

I don't want the defense to be able to dictate where I'm going with the ball offensively when I have Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic and say your offense is going to devolve into Russ shots period, Because like, okay, the wide open catching two threes are okay, But what happens when you are doubling Yokic right, or you're putting two on the ball with Murray, or you're ignoring Russ in whatever way, and instead of catching it in the corner for a wide open three, he catches it inside of fifteen feet And now maybe he's got a two on one, but it's not really a two on one because they're gonna ignore him and they're either gonna dare him to shoot a little mid range jumper or he's gonna have sort of an out of control take, and he's not super good finishing in those situations.

Like, well, I did think that's one thing that that's the one thing that I really didn't like from Russ in this game was I thought he was a little two bit too aggressive going to the rim where I thought maybe he should have dribbled back out or kicked it, or he was taking a lot of contested, really hard layups that maybe he would have made ten years ago, you know, but this Russ just isn't making these shots. So my final question for you on this, then, who's a bigger X factor for you for the Nuggets in this series? Is an MPJ or is it Russ?

Like, well, I did think that's one thing that that's the one thing that I really didn't like from Russ in this game was I thought he was a little two bit too aggressive going to the rim where I thought maybe he should have dribbled back out or kicked it, or he was taking a lot of contested, really hard layups that maybe he would have made ten years ago, you know, but this Russ just isn't making these shots. So my final question for you on this, then, who's a bigger X factor for you for the Nuggets in this series? Is an MPJ or is it Russ?

It's MPJ man. MPJ has to be out there, he has to be an engaged two way player and he has to be making shots I just think that he is a much more sustainable, reliable contributor when he is doing those things. But it's a frustrating performance from him. It's not a good performance from him, and Russ deserved to close. I mean, Russ earned that with the impact that he made with the heart that he played with in this game that MPJ had none of.

It's MPJ man. MPJ has to be out there, he has to be an engaged two way player and he has to be making shots I just think that he is a much more sustainable, reliable contributor when he is doing those things. But it's a frustrating performance from him. It's not a good performance from him, and Russ deserved to close. I mean, Russ earned that with the impact that he made with the heart that he played with in this game that MPJ had none of.

So my follow up for you, then, are you more confident in the Nuggets of the Clippers moving forward after this game? Because I'm actually I'm encouraged by the Clippers after this game, man, like with how tight it was. Again, with how easy it looked like James Harden was walking into Bucks and manufacturing offense. I just don't think the Nuggets have the defensive personnel they need to really slow down the Clippers. And it's like, again, I want to be clear about this when I say this, I'm not switching my prediction. I'm still gonna go with the Nuggets in seven. I am basing this, and this is in my faith in Jokic, in Murray and their ability to generate offense. It's such an elite level that they're just gonna that's how they're gonna win this series. But yeah, I don't think the Nuggets have a prayer guarding anybody. If that's Big Zoo, if that's Kawhi, or if that's Hard And I think all three of those guys are gonna get everything that they want in this series. Man, they just made it look really easy in this game.

So my follow up for you, then, are you more confident in the Nuggets of the Clippers moving forward after this game? Because I'm actually I'm encouraged by the Clippers after this game, man, like with how tight it was. Again, with how easy it looked like James Harden was walking into Bucks and manufacturing offense. I just don't think the Nuggets have the defensive personnel they need to really slow down the Clippers. And it's like, again, I want to be clear about this when I say this, I'm not switching my prediction. I'm still gonna go with the Nuggets in seven. I am basing this, and this is in my faith in Jokic, in Murray and their ability to generate offense. It's such an elite level that they're just gonna that's how they're gonna win this series. But yeah, I don't think the Nuggets have a prayer guarding anybody. If that's Big Zoo, if that's Kawhi, or if that's Hard And I think all three of those guys are gonna get everything that they want in this series. Man, they just made it look really easy in this game.

This is so interesting because I picked the Clippers to win this series. You picked the Nuggets.

This is so interesting because I picked the Clippers to win this series. You picked the Nuggets.

Mm hmm.

Mm hmm.

If you're just asking me, who am I more encouraged by relative to my expectations for them by this game, it is one hundred percent the Nuggets. I'm not changing my pick for this series, not gonna overreact to one game, but like, the most signif eificant thing that they could have done to move me was win a basketball game on the back of their defense, in their effort, when all year they have been bit by those two categories. They've been a bad defensive team, twentieth in defensive rating, they've been a super inconsistent effort team. To see them just lock in and defended a serious level and reach the sort of playoff level that like early in the year, I was like, they're gonna get there eventually. They're gonna get there eventually, and then they didn't get there. Just like seeing them do that was encouraging. It doesn't change their personnel limitations that they have. But I actually thought they did a good job on Kawhi. They can't guard him in single coverage. We knew that coming in, but I thought they did a really good job sending a bunch of doubles at him, testing him as a passer. He has seven turnovers in this game. James Harden is a problem, like he's a handful. Zoo is a problem. He's a handful, no question. But I picked the Clippers to win this series, so that's not a surprise.

If you're just asking me, who am I more encouraged by relative to my expectations for them by this game, it is one hundred percent the Nuggets. I'm not changing my pick for this series, not gonna overreact to one game, but like, the most signif eificant thing that they could have done to move me was win a basketball game on the back of their defense, in their effort, when all year they have been bit by those two categories. They've been a bad defensive team, twentieth in defensive rating, they've been a super inconsistent effort team. To see them just lock in and defended a serious level and reach the sort of playoff level that like early in the year, I was like, they're gonna get there eventually. They're gonna get there eventually, and then they didn't get there. Just like seeing them do that was encouraging. It doesn't change their personnel limitations that they have. But I actually thought they did a good job on Kawhi. They can't guard him in single coverage. We knew that coming in, but I thought they did a really good job sending a bunch of doubles at him, testing him as a passer. He has seven turnovers in this game. James Harden is a problem, like he's a handful. Zoo is a problem. He's a handful, no question. But I picked the Clippers to win this series, so that's not a surprise.

I don't know people are tripping about. I think the Clippers went away from was working earlier in this game. I thought they had a bad fourth quarter in overtime in terms of offensive execution. I thought they had some bone headed turnovers. And I would not play Chris Dunn in closing time. If I'm the Clippers, I'm rocking. I think with a closing lineup of I'm gonna go Harden, I'm gonna go Kawhi, I'm gonna go Big Zoo, and I think I'm gonna go Batoum and Powell or Bogdanovich. I don't want done out there closing. I think he I know, he made a defensive play that ended up getting them I think a hard and three late in this game, but I would rather have the offensive skill. I think he ruined some of the advantages that this Clippers offense creates. And I think you were put on Jamal Murray then down the stretch, I presume defensively. Yeah, yeah, we saw the Clippers do that, and I thought that that was actually a really good approach to dealing with the Nuggets two man game, just because like Kawhi when he needs to be man, he can still deal with the Jamal Murray out in space and he's so big and still so long, and then if you have to switch when Jokic pops, you feel a lot better about Kawhi's ability to switch on to Yolkic than Chris Donner really than anybody else on the team. So I see what you're saying. I thought that Dunn still made a number of positive plays in this game.

I don't know people are tripping about. I think the Clippers went away from was working earlier in this game. I thought they had a bad fourth quarter in overtime in terms of offensive execution. I thought they had some bone headed turnovers. And I would not play Chris Dunn in closing time. If I'm the Clippers, I'm rocking. I think with a closing lineup of I'm gonna go Harden, I'm gonna go Kawhi, I'm gonna go Big Zoo, and I think I'm gonna go Batoum and Powell or Bogdanovich. I don't want done out there closing. I think he I know, he made a defensive play that ended up getting them I think a hard and three late in this game, but I would rather have the offensive skill. I think he ruined some of the advantages that this Clippers offense creates. And I think you were put on Jamal Murray then down the stretch, I presume defensively. Yeah, yeah, we saw the Clippers do that, and I thought that that was actually a really good approach to dealing with the Nuggets two man game, just because like Kawhi when he needs to be man, he can still deal with the Jamal Murray out in space and he's so big and still so long, and then if you have to switch when Jokic pops, you feel a lot better about Kawhi's ability to switch on to Yolkic than Chris Donner really than anybody else on the team. So I see what you're saying. I thought that Dunn still made a number of positive plays in this game.

I can see the argument. I mean, but Toom also is still making winning plays at this age, and.

I can see the argument. I mean, but Toom also is still making winning plays at this age, and.

Like he doesn't, that's what I love him at. Some of these veteran guys and that they don't fear the moment. Man. They've played in so many big games at this point in their career that it's just second nature to him. But Tom's so clutch man.

Like he doesn't, that's what I love him at. Some of these veteran guys and that they don't fear the moment. Man. They've played in so many big games at this point in their career that it's just second nature to him. But Tom's so clutch man.

Yeah, dude, and he's ridiculous the no dip threes, Like his release is just so high and so quick. But the was six eleven on the broadcast. That cracked me up. Height inflation has gone too far. We're calling Nick batoomb down near a seven footer. That was crazy, But he's really good still.

Yeah, dude, and he's ridiculous the no dip threes, Like his release is just so high and so quick. But the was six eleven on the broadcast. That cracked me up. Height inflation has gone too far. We're calling Nick batoomb down near a seven footer. That was crazy, But he's really good still.

That three he hit that grenade was like in one hundred percent contested three.

That three he hit that grenade was like in one hundred percent contested three.

It was I do think you're talking about liking the offense that the Clippers manufactured. Again, I thought that life got a lot harder for them in the second half of this game on that side of the ball. I also would say I think the Nuggets can play better offensively than they did in this one. Part of that is having MPJ on the floor more. If he's engaged defensively, that's just where he has to buy in. But offensively, like, he is still a weapon as a shooter and is capable of making some big time jumpers raining threes down on you. Jamal I thought, didn't have his most efficient game and was kind of off as a scorer for most of the night. But I really really did like the Murray Jokic two man game overall and the shots that they were able to generate. I thought that most of Jamal's good looks in this game came versus Zoo in drop coverage, and then because Zoo is so rigidly playing drop like, they're getting Yokic a number of good looks off the pop. One thing that I really liked from Jamal was he was very intentional about getting into the paint versus Zoo on drop. So at that point, because Jokicic is popping like, they'll initially leave Yokic off the pop, but you can't just abandon him there. So at that point you pass off the responsibility to Chris Dunn. He's got to go out there and deal with Jokic off the pop, and then Murray's gonna drag Zu back out to the perimeter, so he's forcing a switch and then you can get Jokic some post position, give him the ball. He goes to work on Chris Dunn and he got a couple of really easy buckets like that. So I thought that Murray got some pretty solid looks. He's just got to get into his rhythm, like and that's the question obviously for him coming on.