The volume.

The volume.

No, no, oh my god, how could he do that? Watch what Charles Darwin? The nerves is where it's at.

No, no, oh my god, how could he do that? Watch what Charles Darwin? The nerves is where it's at.

Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sash as always, I'm Carson Breber, and alongside me is Logan Camden, and you already know the drill. We've got two game twos to talk about today. They were both phenomenal, but one Logan stood above the other, and that was the Los Angeles Clippers getting a huge win over the Denver Nuggets to even up that series, a series which I'm gonna say at this point is on like a best first round series of all time kind of trajectory, just like unbelievably wired to wire competitive basketball in both these games, so high quality stuff, and it ends up being Kawhi Leonard Logan who carries the Clippers through thirty nine points with four missed shots from the field. It is the seventh most efficient thirty five point playoff game ever in terms of true shooting percentage, and of course he hits the dagger to put the Clippers up one oh five one oh two and hold on to win this game. As somebody Logan who has been a Clippers doubter and who has denied that Kawhi would even be healthy for this playoff run. What do you have to say for yourself?

Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sash as always, I'm Carson Breber, and alongside me is Logan Camden, and you already know the drill. We've got two game twos to talk about today. They were both phenomenal, but one Logan stood above the other, and that was the Los Angeles Clippers getting a huge win over the Denver Nuggets to even up that series, a series which I'm gonna say at this point is on like a best first round series of all time kind of trajectory, just like unbelievably wired to wire competitive basketball in both these games, so high quality stuff, and it ends up being Kawhi Leonard Logan who carries the Clippers through thirty nine points with four missed shots from the field. It is the seventh most efficient thirty five point playoff game ever in terms of true shooting percentage, and of course he hits the dagger to put the Clippers up one oh five one oh two and hold on to win this game. As somebody Logan who has been a Clippers doubter and who has denied that Kawhi would even be healthy for this playoff run. What do you have to say for yourself?

Yeah, of course you had to be on some hater shit to start us out.

Yeah, of course you had to be on some hater shit to start us out.

I know. Yeah, you are the one who's been on hater shit with the Clippers all year.

I know. Yeah, you are the one who's been on hater shit with the Clippers all year.

Yeah, but you gotta bring it up, dude.

Yeah, but you gotta bring it up, dude.

This is one of the best basketball games I've ever seen a person play in the playoffs. Kawhi was unstoppable tonight. I ain't got nothing bad to say, bro, Like we're here. I never doubted that Kawhi could play it this good. I doubted that it was gonna be here. Like I'm I'm in disbelief. This guy looks unstoppable. He was the basketball terminator tonight, and he was the best player on the court. That was the difference to me. The Nuggets could have won this game. I thought that the way the supporting piece is played, with what you got out of MPJ tonight, what you got out of Westbrook, how they collectively rebounded and hustled, how Jamal played, I thought the Nuggets very well could have won this game, and in.

This is one of the best basketball games I've ever seen a person play in the playoffs. Kawhi was unstoppable tonight. I ain't got nothing bad to say, bro, Like we're here. I never doubted that Kawhi could play it this good. I doubted that it was gonna be here. Like I'm I'm in disbelief. This guy looks unstoppable. He was the basketball terminator tonight, and he was the best player on the court. That was the difference to me. The Nuggets could have won this game. I thought that the way the supporting piece is played, with what you got out of MPJ tonight, what you got out of Westbrook, how they collectively rebounded and hustled, how Jamal played, I thought the Nuggets very well could have won this game, and in.

My opinion, needed to.

My opinion, needed to.

I just think all these games in this series are going to be super crucial, and to lose this one in crunch time like this, I thought it was a very uncharacteristically poor Yokic performance. Yes, in the clutch man seven turnovers, I thought he just had some really bad uncharacteristics the right word man, just like careless turnovers and careless moments in this game where I was scratching my head. He struggled from the free throw line, and I thought Harden played below his expectations. I thought you got an incomplete game out of Norman Powell in so Oh. I just thought this was a very winnable game, and I'm kind of disappointed at Yokichen what we got out of him. Down to stretch man, I thought the Nuggets had this one in their hands and in their grasp, but Kawhi put them over to finish line man. Kawhi was not going to be denied tonight. Kawhi was the best player on the court in like No Lie. Like that is one of the best playoff performances I've ever seen by any player ever.

I just think all these games in this series are going to be super crucial, and to lose this one in crunch time like this, I thought it was a very uncharacteristically poor Yokic performance. Yes, in the clutch man seven turnovers, I thought he just had some really bad uncharacteristics the right word man, just like careless turnovers and careless moments in this game where I was scratching my head. He struggled from the free throw line, and I thought Harden played below his expectations. I thought you got an incomplete game out of Norman Powell in so Oh. I just thought this was a very winnable game, and I'm kind of disappointed at Yokichen what we got out of him. Down to stretch man, I thought the Nuggets had this one in their hands and in their grasp, but Kawhi put them over to finish line man. Kawhi was not going to be denied tonight. Kawhi was the best player on the court in like No Lie. Like that is one of the best playoff performances I've ever seen by any player ever.

It's one of the best scoring performances, especially like this. Dude shot fifteen of nineteen from the field, and I believe he had a one field goal attempt that was not a jump shot. He had one attempt at the rim, so he was fourteen of eighteen on jumpers. That is so stupid. Actually, I think he might have been fourteen to seventeen because he missed a layup, So, like, what do you even do with that? Man? He is cooking Jamal Murray early in this game, but he's destroying everybody in single coverage, like it really doesn't matter. There is nobody who is physical enough on the planet, nobody who is strong enough to knock him off his spots, nobody who can speed him up in single coverage, and then he's just gonna rise up and shoot over top of you and Logan. I don't know how many times I've given this spiel about Kawhi Leonard over the years, but he's one of the greatest playoff scorers that we have ever seen. I recited these numbers so many times, but from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty three in the playoffs, Kawhi gave you thirty points per game on almost sixty four percent true shooting. That is counting numerous deep playoff runs, and the consistency year to year is honestly unmatched among all playoff scorers in that time period. I would say that Jokic is the guy who makes the best case in terms of a scoring resume up against that. But when you can't speed a guy up, when he is always going to be stronger than you, and in a playoff environment, that is such an advantage, when they allow more physicality, when he is so precise with his handle, and when he is that big and that insane as a jump shooter, like there's just nothing you can do.

It's one of the best scoring performances, especially like this. Dude shot fifteen of nineteen from the field, and I believe he had a one field goal attempt that was not a jump shot. He had one attempt at the rim, so he was fourteen of eighteen on jumpers. That is so stupid. Actually, I think he might have been fourteen to seventeen because he missed a layup, So, like, what do you even do with that? Man? He is cooking Jamal Murray early in this game, but he's destroying everybody in single coverage, like it really doesn't matter. There is nobody who is physical enough on the planet, nobody who is strong enough to knock him off his spots, nobody who can speed him up in single coverage, and then he's just gonna rise up and shoot over top of you and Logan. I don't know how many times I've given this spiel about Kawhi Leonard over the years, but he's one of the greatest playoff scorers that we have ever seen. I recited these numbers so many times, but from twenty seventeen to twenty twenty three in the playoffs, Kawhi gave you thirty points per game on almost sixty four percent true shooting. That is counting numerous deep playoff runs, and the consistency year to year is honestly unmatched among all playoff scorers in that time period. I would say that Jokic is the guy who makes the best case in terms of a scoring resume up against that. But when you can't speed a guy up, when he is always going to be stronger than you, and in a playoff environment, that is such an advantage, when they allow more physicality, when he is so precise with his handle, and when he is that big and that insane as a jump shooter, like there's just nothing you can do.

So he's just marching guys down to his spots and yet rising above him like it's it's actually unstoppable.

So he's just marching guys down to his spots and yet rising above him like it's it's actually unstoppable.

Zero wasted movement and one of the most efficient scores that we've ever seen, one of the most unaffectable scores that we have ever seen in this game. So when he gets in that mode, like you literally just have to double every possession. I'm not just talking blitz him out of pick and roll, that's obvious. I'm saying, if he is looking at a dude in isolation, you double, and you force him to make a decision, and you leave Chris done and you force the Clippers to beat you with a four on three because like, I'm just not letting a dude who is shooting eighty percent from the field continue to get whatever he wants against me. And honestly, if I'm the Clippers, like I don't think you need to have Kawhi running much pick and roll because you just make it easier for Denver to bring that second defender into the action and pressure him and send two at him, like let him cook an isolation because he's getting whatever he wants every time down. But I gotta say, man, the fact that they let him get a one on one look, even though it's against Aaron Gordon on that possession where he doesn't ice this game, but he scores the final bucket of the game, I just would have done anything to force the ball out of his hands. I'm sending two defenders at him, like you cannot let him be the one to put you away as a score. Because he struggled again with the double teams and the blitzes in this game. It maybe wasn't as bad in the first game when he had seven turnovers, but still he's uncomfortable at times against those looks, and I thought that it was a mistake to let him put them away and that's exactly what he did. Man. It's truly one of the great scoring performances that we've seen in the playoffs. And I agree with what you said about Jokic. This just was one of the sloppiest games that I've seen from him in a high stakes moment like this in the postseason. The three ball was money for him, and that was huge. We've talked about how key that's gonna be in this series for him, right pulling Zoo out into space, not feeling like he has the sort of normal advantage that he does out of the post, because Zoo was the best Jokic defender there is, so he's inclined to play more from the perimeter. They're gonna give him some of those pick and pop looks, and like he was hitting those, but honestly, that was the only thing that was really going at peak Jokic level. I thought his decision making was bad. There are a number of turnovers of which he had seven that are just like really inexcusable decisions, and you just have a couple of mental errors, like after he got the offensive rebound, forcing that shot up, not understanding the shot clock, like that's so uncharacteristic for Jokic that was costly.

Zero wasted movement and one of the most efficient scores that we've ever seen, one of the most unaffectable scores that we have ever seen in this game. So when he gets in that mode, like you literally just have to double every possession. I'm not just talking blitz him out of pick and roll, that's obvious. I'm saying, if he is looking at a dude in isolation, you double, and you force him to make a decision, and you leave Chris done and you force the Clippers to beat you with a four on three because like, I'm just not letting a dude who is shooting eighty percent from the field continue to get whatever he wants against me. And honestly, if I'm the Clippers, like I don't think you need to have Kawhi running much pick and roll because you just make it easier for Denver to bring that second defender into the action and pressure him and send two at him, like let him cook an isolation because he's getting whatever he wants every time down. But I gotta say, man, the fact that they let him get a one on one look, even though it's against Aaron Gordon on that possession where he doesn't ice this game, but he scores the final bucket of the game, I just would have done anything to force the ball out of his hands. I'm sending two defenders at him, like you cannot let him be the one to put you away as a score. Because he struggled again with the double teams and the blitzes in this game. It maybe wasn't as bad in the first game when he had seven turnovers, but still he's uncomfortable at times against those looks, and I thought that it was a mistake to let him put them away and that's exactly what he did. Man. It's truly one of the great scoring performances that we've seen in the playoffs. And I agree with what you said about Jokic. This just was one of the sloppiest games that I've seen from him in a high stakes moment like this in the postseason. The three ball was money for him, and that was huge. We've talked about how key that's gonna be in this series for him, right pulling Zoo out into space, not feeling like he has the sort of normal advantage that he does out of the post, because Zoo was the best Jokic defender there is, so he's inclined to play more from the perimeter. They're gonna give him some of those pick and pop looks, and like he was hitting those, but honestly, that was the only thing that was really going at peak Jokic level. I thought his decision making was bad. There are a number of turnovers of which he had seven that are just like really inexcusable decisions, and you just have a couple of mental errors, like after he got the offensive rebound, forcing that shot up, not understanding the shot clock, like that's so uncharacteristic for Jokic that was costly.

Though.

Though.

I just didn't like a lot of Denver's late game execution in this one. I mean MPJ coughing up the rock in transition and then that leads to a three ball that they give up, and Yeah, before I forget, I just wanted to say, dude, on the final possession, I don't know how you felt. The fact that the Nuggets got up two shots and Jamal Murray didn't take either of them really just didn't sit well with me. Man Like, to me, he has earned the respect and he has the I think Jamal Murray is just one of those clutch guys that in the in the big spots of games, I want him. I don't think Brown should have shot the ball, man Like, I get that it's open and it's in rhythm, but I just would have rather Yeah, he got.

I just didn't like a lot of Denver's late game execution in this one. I mean MPJ coughing up the rock in transition and then that leads to a three ball that they give up, and Yeah, before I forget, I just wanted to say, dude, on the final possession, I don't know how you felt. The fact that the Nuggets got up two shots and Jamal Murray didn't take either of them really just didn't sit well with me. Man Like, to me, he has earned the respect and he has the I think Jamal Murray is just one of those clutch guys that in the in the big spots of games, I want him. I don't think Brown should have shot the ball, man Like, I get that it's open and it's in rhythm, but I just would have rather Yeah, he got.

The rhythm, I mean he passed up the initial open it. This was kind of fake.

The rhythm, I mean he passed up the initial open it. This was kind of fake.

He was off balance at the top of the key.

He was off balance at the top of the key.

I just didn't and they end up getting it back and Jokic has an attempt, But I just wanted Jamal to get one of those shots. Man. I think it was a lot of Again, Man, I think Denver just had a lot of mistakes, man, that just weren't liked them in this game.

I just didn't and they end up getting it back and Jokic has an attempt, But I just wanted Jamal to get one of those shots. Man. I think it was a lot of Again, Man, I think Denver just had a lot of mistakes, man, that just weren't liked them in this game.

Definitely. They wanted to go fast, obviously, and Brown felt like he had a shot, but you see the hesitation with him that has been a thing in his entire career with his three point shot, and he ends up taking a tougher look than the one that he could have had initially. But I do put a lot of this on Jokic, man, because I think a lot of the dudes around him did their jobs to win this game. I thought that Jamal didn't have it going in the fourth quarter, but still had a really productive scoring game overall and was nails as a pull up shooter. Michael Porter Junior did a complete one point eighty from his Game one performance where his effort was apathetic. They closed with him off the floor. He has fifteen rebounds. I bet you that's a playoff career high for Michael Porter Junior. He had six offensive rebounds, so he goes from being the lowest effort guy on the floor to the guy who's attacking the glass most aggressively, and that's a huge advantage for Denver in this matchup. We obviously saw that really decide Game one down the stretch, and then they again cleaned up on the offensive last they were plus eight there. So he did his job. He was efficient as a shooter as well. Russell Westbrook, God bless him. Dude knocks down those two huge corner threes. That's all he has to do, man Like, if he doesn't hit those shots, the Nuggets are literally playing four on five offensively, because they will send two to the ball on every pick and roll. They'll send to you at Jamal, they'll surprise double Jokic like, they will just attack the Nuggets' best players to leave Russell Westbrook wide open in the corner. But he made both of those shots and then he attacks the clothes out on the next possession. So like he did his job in those minutes. It's just some of the decision making from Jokic, some of the turnovers, like he forced a lob to Peyton Watson when he had a mismatch that was just way off target. There were a couple times where he spun into a surprise double and he turned it over. Then there were a number of times where I just wanted him to be more aggressive as a scorer, like I think when Iviza zubats is not on the floor, Jokic has to be a killer as a scorer. Man, Because I thought that the Clippers were gonna play a backup center. I thought they played Drew Eubanks in this series, and I'm very glad for their sake that they haven't, because Ben Simmons is a way better basketball player and like Jokic isn't trying to attack their lack of size. Not that Drew Banks would really make a difference, Like, I think they're right to play Simmons no matter what. It's just in the regular season they consistently played a backup center in the non zoom minutes. But Jokic walked Ben Simmons to the rim on one possession and did not look to score other than that, except he got one mismatch on a post up and basically flopped and drew a foul. But like he has to go. He has to really punish them for being small in those minutes. But it's the last possession too, man. I mean, there's just a few spots where you feel like he doesn't really have a great sense of the spacing around him. Just a little bit chaotic, just a little out of control and basically throws the ball away and then he's also bad from the line as you mentioned. So if Yokic plays his best game, if Yokic plays a normal game of his, Denver wins because the dudes around him all played pretty darn well and he was just uncharacteristically sloppy.

Definitely. They wanted to go fast, obviously, and Brown felt like he had a shot, but you see the hesitation with him that has been a thing in his entire career with his three point shot, and he ends up taking a tougher look than the one that he could have had initially. But I do put a lot of this on Jokic, man, because I think a lot of the dudes around him did their jobs to win this game. I thought that Jamal didn't have it going in the fourth quarter, but still had a really productive scoring game overall and was nails as a pull up shooter. Michael Porter Junior did a complete one point eighty from his Game one performance where his effort was apathetic. They closed with him off the floor. He has fifteen rebounds. I bet you that's a playoff career high for Michael Porter Junior. He had six offensive rebounds, so he goes from being the lowest effort guy on the floor to the guy who's attacking the glass most aggressively, and that's a huge advantage for Denver in this matchup. We obviously saw that really decide Game one down the stretch, and then they again cleaned up on the offensive last they were plus eight there. So he did his job. He was efficient as a shooter as well. Russell Westbrook, God bless him. Dude knocks down those two huge corner threes. That's all he has to do, man Like, if he doesn't hit those shots, the Nuggets are literally playing four on five offensively, because they will send two to the ball on every pick and roll. They'll send to you at Jamal, they'll surprise double Jokic like, they will just attack the Nuggets' best players to leave Russell Westbrook wide open in the corner. But he made both of those shots and then he attacks the clothes out on the next possession. So like he did his job in those minutes. It's just some of the decision making from Jokic, some of the turnovers, like he forced a lob to Peyton Watson when he had a mismatch that was just way off target. There were a couple times where he spun into a surprise double and he turned it over. Then there were a number of times where I just wanted him to be more aggressive as a scorer, like I think when Iviza zubats is not on the floor, Jokic has to be a killer as a scorer. Man, Because I thought that the Clippers were gonna play a backup center. I thought they played Drew Eubanks in this series, and I'm very glad for their sake that they haven't, because Ben Simmons is a way better basketball player and like Jokic isn't trying to attack their lack of size. Not that Drew Banks would really make a difference, Like, I think they're right to play Simmons no matter what. It's just in the regular season they consistently played a backup center in the non zoom minutes. But Jokic walked Ben Simmons to the rim on one possession and did not look to score other than that, except he got one mismatch on a post up and basically flopped and drew a foul. But like he has to go. He has to really punish them for being small in those minutes. But it's the last possession too, man. I mean, there's just a few spots where you feel like he doesn't really have a great sense of the spacing around him. Just a little bit chaotic, just a little out of control and basically throws the ball away and then he's also bad from the line as you mentioned. So if Yokic plays his best game, if Yokic plays a normal game of his, Denver wins because the dudes around him all played pretty darn well and he was just uncharacteristically sloppy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, that's the exact point that I was going to get to. Man, Is it like that's what makes this Denver loss so disappointed? I think is every other factor I feel like for Denver went right in this game. I felt like Jamal Murray pulled his weight, MPJ, as you said, did his job. Aaron Gordon could have played a little bit better offensively, admittedly, but God's yeah.

I mean, that's the exact point that I was going to get to. Man, Is it like that's what makes this Denver loss so disappointed? I think is every other factor I feel like for Denver went right in this game. I felt like Jamal Murray pulled his weight, MPJ, as you said, did his job. Aaron Gordon could have played a little bit better offensively, admittedly, but God's yeah.

I thought did his job tonight.

I thought did his job tonight.

And like some of the other role players, like I thought this was a good game from Peyton Watson and we got some good Jalen Picket minutes like Westbrook was good. Jokich is the reason, uh, I feel like Denver didn't get this one done. Man. Like you know, obviously Jokic has a great game by like normal standards, but by Jokic standards, if we're holding him to his standard, I felt like this was a pretty bad Yokic game and I didn't feel like the Clippers do their best punch either. I'm still waiting for the Clippers to have a really good shooting night, Like Norman Powell has yet to really put a game together end to end. Bogdanovich has yet to really shoot well.

And like some of the other role players, like I thought this was a good game from Peyton Watson and we got some good Jalen Picket minutes like Westbrook was good. Jokich is the reason, uh, I feel like Denver didn't get this one done. Man. Like you know, obviously Jokic has a great game by like normal standards, but by Jokic standards, if we're holding him to his standard, I felt like this was a pretty bad Yokic game and I didn't feel like the Clippers do their best punch either. I'm still waiting for the Clippers to have a really good shooting night, Like Norman Powell has yet to really put a game together end to end. Bogdanovich has yet to really shoot well.

In this series.

In this series.

Like, I feel like I'm waiting for the Clippers to play better too, and the Nuggets leave this one in the balance. I think this one's gonna go seven. Man, this is my favorite series so far, Dude, I think that and I gotta admit it too. We got a super check Carson talking about Kawhi be and one of the best in the world. Look, I'm not gonna lie, Like the level the Kawhi has been at is a top ten level, Like I can't deny that. Like, it's only the health with Kawhi that's only been the thing. And the level that he's at is he's there. I don't have to question that, man, And it's got to be scary. Like the Clippers are a real deal contender.

Like, I feel like I'm waiting for the Clippers to play better too, and the Nuggets leave this one in the balance. I think this one's gonna go seven. Man, this is my favorite series so far, Dude, I think that and I gotta admit it too. We got a super check Carson talking about Kawhi be and one of the best in the world. Look, I'm not gonna lie, Like the level the Kawhi has been at is a top ten level, Like I can't deny that. Like, it's only the health with Kawhi that's only been the thing. And the level that he's at is he's there. I don't have to question that, man, And it's got to be scary. Like the Clippers are a real deal contender.

Man.

Man.

I feel like whoever comes out of this series is gonna be hell to deal with, man, because they are gonna be battle tested.

I feel like whoever comes out of this series is gonna be hell to deal with, man, because they are gonna be battle tested.

I agree, dude. I mean, Denver looking like a more serious defensive team. That's obviously been the battle that they have been fighting all year. Well, they haven't really been trying that hard, but now these last couple of games, they've picked up their level to where they're at least a respectable defense. And then I've just been really high on the healthy Clippers, and I think we got to start talking about Kawhi and James Harden as a top five duo in basketball logan. I mean, we did that list a few months ago. I'm just happy that I had them on there because at the time, I mean, Kawhi had just come back, and it was kind of a bet on him reaching the level that he has now because I'm a huge Kawhi believer. I just think he's so so special, especially in these playoff environments. But James Harden's been playing like a top twenty ish player for several months. Even though this was he didn't have his best game, but he still was very solid, exactly still creating good offense out of pick and roll. I still think him and Zoo such a potent duo, and like, you got to give props to Zoo for his play making off the short role. I thought the Nuggets did a nice job of blowing up a couple plays, making a couple of catches difficult for Zoo, intercepting a pacc that he tried to make off the short role. But like, overall, he's so dependable. He is and some really impressive hook touch shot making in this one where he's just so actual. He really is a phenomenal third player for them. But it's that duo man, Like, if I were to ask you right now, do you want Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown to start your team from scratch? Or do you want Kawhi and Harden? Likes it for a game? You're saying for a playoff, Yeah, I would hear.

I agree, dude. I mean, Denver looking like a more serious defensive team. That's obviously been the battle that they have been fighting all year. Well, they haven't really been trying that hard, but now these last couple of games, they've picked up their level to where they're at least a respectable defense. And then I've just been really high on the healthy Clippers, and I think we got to start talking about Kawhi and James Harden as a top five duo in basketball logan. I mean, we did that list a few months ago. I'm just happy that I had them on there because at the time, I mean, Kawhi had just come back, and it was kind of a bet on him reaching the level that he has now because I'm a huge Kawhi believer. I just think he's so so special, especially in these playoff environments. But James Harden's been playing like a top twenty ish player for several months. Even though this was he didn't have his best game, but he still was very solid, exactly still creating good offense out of pick and roll. I still think him and Zoo such a potent duo, and like, you got to give props to Zoo for his play making off the short role. I thought the Nuggets did a nice job of blowing up a couple plays, making a couple of catches difficult for Zoo, intercepting a pacc that he tried to make off the short role. But like, overall, he's so dependable. He is and some really impressive hook touch shot making in this one where he's just so actual. He really is a phenomenal third player for them. But it's that duo man, Like, if I were to ask you right now, do you want Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown to start your team from scratch? Or do you want Kawhi and Harden? Likes it for a game? You're saying for a playoff, Yeah, I would hear.

I would hear you for Kawhi and Harden.

I would hear you for Kawhi and Harden.

I think the level of consistency that you get from Kawhi is just so different, manwhy's.

I think the level of consistency that you get from Kawhi is just so different, manwhy's.

Dude you said it earlier?

Dude you said it earlier?

Bro, He's so efficient, Like he doesn't waste time, he doesn't waste if he's got the ball in his hands, Like he's just decisive and he's unstoppable. It's crazy, bro, Like he's so damn good when available.

Bro, He's so efficient, Like he doesn't waste time, he doesn't waste if he's got the ball in his hands, Like he's just decisive and he's unstoppable. It's crazy, bro, Like he's so damn good when available.

He is one of the greatest players, would.

He is one of the greatest players, would.

Like top six, top seven.

Like top six, top seven.

Like to me, it's like him and Lebron is what I'm debating between or like him in a steff, I think is like the line where I'm drawing with Kawhi.

Like to me, it's like him and Lebron is what I'm debating between or like him in a steff, I think is like the line where I'm drawing with Kawhi.

Like Pete, you're saying in the right now, Yeah.

Like Pete, you're saying in the right now, Yeah.

I'm saying that's about the line that I'm drawing.

I'm saying that's about the line that I'm drawing.

I still think I'm I still think I'm probably taking both of those guys, though.

I still think I'm I still think I'm probably taking both of those guys, though.

Yeah, it's tricky because, like I do think that Kawhi is not the player that he was a couple of years ago, right. I think he still has his really high moments defensively, and he's certainly a plus there overall, but not a dominant defensive player, not getting to the rim or the line at the same rate. So for those reasons, I would say that, like he's in that top twelve group that is locked, right, because I just think that there's twelve dudes who are playing at a top ten level. I would say that top six or seven that's probably a little bit high, like the level STEP's been playing at. The level I think Anthony Davis is at as a two way force one fully healthy. I guess see in him close back on that it's close. It is close. I mean he's in all those conversations, and like when it comes to just playoff scoring outside of Jokic, Shay, I don't know if I can take anybody over Kawhi Leonard just as a pure playoff score like Luka is obviously going to make his case, but he hasn't been consistently at his best as a scorer this year. The dude is just an absolute machine. He is so dependably productive and so dependably efficient. So he's the hero of this game. Obviously, he's the leading man for the Clippers. The other dude who I need to shout out as Chris Dunman because what a fucking defensive game he played. He is so phenomenal, not just as a point of attack guy, but where I thought you really felt his impact in this game is as a free safety, I mean, just blowing shit up on the back end, surprise doubles on yo Kic, making plays as the low man when Yokic is trying to spot cutters, like just shrinking the floor and being destructive and being unpredictable as a defensive weapon. He's really really good And I know that you were talking about the offensive issues in game one, and you saw them again in this one, right. I mean, he is a guy who the Nugget should be very very comfortable roaming off of. And I still think he's worth having on the floor. I'd hear the case for Nick Patum closing over him because Batum is so good. But I thought Chris Dunn was a clear positive in this game even with his major offensive issues, because he made so many huge defensive plays.

Yeah, it's tricky because, like I do think that Kawhi is not the player that he was a couple of years ago, right. I think he still has his really high moments defensively, and he's certainly a plus there overall, but not a dominant defensive player, not getting to the rim or the line at the same rate. So for those reasons, I would say that, like he's in that top twelve group that is locked, right, because I just think that there's twelve dudes who are playing at a top ten level. I would say that top six or seven that's probably a little bit high, like the level STEP's been playing at. The level I think Anthony Davis is at as a two way force one fully healthy. I guess see in him close back on that it's close. It is close. I mean he's in all those conversations, and like when it comes to just playoff scoring outside of Jokic, Shay, I don't know if I can take anybody over Kawhi Leonard just as a pure playoff score like Luka is obviously going to make his case, but he hasn't been consistently at his best as a scorer this year. The dude is just an absolute machine. He is so dependably productive and so dependably efficient. So he's the hero of this game. Obviously, he's the leading man for the Clippers. The other dude who I need to shout out as Chris Dunman because what a fucking defensive game he played. He is so phenomenal, not just as a point of attack guy, but where I thought you really felt his impact in this game is as a free safety, I mean, just blowing shit up on the back end, surprise doubles on yo Kic, making plays as the low man when Yokic is trying to spot cutters, like just shrinking the floor and being destructive and being unpredictable as a defensive weapon. He's really really good And I know that you were talking about the offensive issues in game one, and you saw them again in this one, right. I mean, he is a guy who the Nugget should be very very comfortable roaming off of. And I still think he's worth having on the floor. I'd hear the case for Nick Patum closing over him because Batum is so good. But I thought Chris Dunn was a clear positive in this game even with his major offensive issues, because he made so many huge defensive plays.

I tend to agree.

I tend to agree.

I mean, he's still a liability offensively, but you got crazy, stupendous defensive play.

I mean, he's still a liability offensively, but you got crazy, stupendous defensive play.

Making from Done in this game. And what I like too, man.

Making from Done in this game. And what I like too, man.

Is like little stuff like the timing of when he's blitzing Jokic at the free throw line and stuff like that, Like.

Is like little stuff like the timing of when he's blitzing Jokic at the free throw line and stuff like that, Like.

He's just so smart.

He's just so smart.

It's hard that you can't teach defensive instincts like Dunn has, and the Clippers have a lot of good defenders. Man.

It's hard that you can't teach defensive instincts like Dunn has, and the Clippers have a lot of good defenders. Man.

That's what I like about all the Clippers role players.

That's what I like about all the Clippers role players.

You know, there are distinct archetypes, but they're all really really valuable.

You know, there are distinct archetypes, but they're all really really valuable.

You know, even if it is Ben Simmons or Chris Dunn, And.

You know, even if it is Ben Simmons or Chris Dunn, And.

While their liabilities offensively, they still have decent playmaking instincts offensively even though their tendency isn't to shoot, and then they're really impactful defensively. And then you know the shooters that they have, Norman Powell and bogged On Bogdanovich. Like again, I'm still waiting on those guys to really shoot consistently.

While their liabilities offensively, they still have decent playmaking instincts offensively even though their tendency isn't to shoot, and then they're really impactful defensively. And then you know the shooters that they have, Norman Powell and bogged On Bogdanovich. Like again, I'm still waiting on those guys to really shoot consistently.

Well.

Well.

I get Powell gets it going late, I still think he can play way better.

I get Powell gets it going late, I still think he can play way better.

Both of these teams are really.

Both of these teams are really.

Terrifying at full health. Man, I'm I'm really impressed. I'm really impressed at.

Terrifying at full health. Man, I'm I'm really impressed. I'm really impressed at.

The level that both of these teams are at in this series.

The level that both of these teams are at in this series.

Man, And it's never Yeah.

Man, And it's never Yeah.

I can't get a read on it, man, on what I think the rest of this series is going to play out like, Because it's so neck and neck, it's so close between both of these teams.

I can't get a read on it, man, on what I think the rest of this series is going to play out like, Because it's so neck and neck, it's so close between both of these teams.

I would bet that this goes seven. I think that Jokic can be better in all of the areas that we laid out, more aggressive, especially when Zoo is off the floor. Just has to make better decisions, take better care of the basketball. Twenty turnovers for the Nugget in this one just absolutely killed them, as it did for the Clippers in Game one, and a lot of that was on Kawhi. He had seven turnovers in that game. I think you feel good about the fact that MPJ is engaged again. If you're the Nuggets, I think you feel really good about the level that Aaron Gordon has been at because he was so great in Game one and was still really solid in this one. I think both teams honestly should just be feeling good about the basketball that they're playing. I think that James Harden is capable of having more big performances that are closer to Game one than Game two, because I truly do not think the Nuggets can stay in front of him greed and so I just think his scoring ceiling is a lot higher than what he showed in this one, and his finishing was great in Game one. He misses a layup in this one, but the floaters going the three ball is mostly.

I would bet that this goes seven. I think that Jokic can be better in all of the areas that we laid out, more aggressive, especially when Zoo is off the floor. Just has to make better decisions, take better care of the basketball. Twenty turnovers for the Nugget in this one just absolutely killed them, as it did for the Clippers in Game one, and a lot of that was on Kawhi. He had seven turnovers in that game. I think you feel good about the fact that MPJ is engaged again. If you're the Nuggets, I think you feel really good about the level that Aaron Gordon has been at because he was so great in Game one and was still really solid in this one. I think both teams honestly should just be feeling good about the basketball that they're playing. I think that James Harden is capable of having more big performances that are closer to Game one than Game two, because I truly do not think the Nuggets can stay in front of him greed and so I just think his scoring ceiling is a lot higher than what he showed in this one, and his finishing was great in Game one. He misses a layup in this one, but the floaters going the three ball is mostly.

Going to stay aggressive man like in attack mode because when he is like he's he's hard to stop. I don't think the Nuggets have a good answer for him on ball.

Going to stay aggressive man like in attack mode because when he is like he's he's hard to stop. I don't think the Nuggets have a good answer for him on ball.

They do not.

They do not.

The one guy for the Clippers who really hasn't played up to his potential is Norman Powell, who made a couple big shots in the fourth quarter of this one, but just his decision making has been pretty suspect. I thought it was worse in Game one. But he has some really dynamic offensive potential as an off ball scorer that I don't think we've really seen fully unlocked. But they've just got a nice rotation.

The one guy for the Clippers who really hasn't played up to his potential is Norman Powell, who made a couple big shots in the fourth quarter of this one, but just his decision making has been pretty suspect. I thought it was worse in Game one. But he has some really dynamic offensive potential as an off ball scorer that I don't think we've really seen fully unlocked. But they've just got a nice rotation.

Man.

Man.

I mean, Batouma is still giving you phenomenal minutes good defensive performance in this one, he hits another no dip three. Bogie's the other guy who really hasn't played very well, Like he's not making shots and he's a target defensively. But I feel the same way that I did coming into this series, which is that it's just a little bit harder for the Nuggets to slow down the Clippers than vice versa. That margin has shrunk even a little from where it was before the series to me, because the Nuggets have just been more engaged. I think this has been some of the better defense that we've seen from them. But I still think that the Clippers have the higher two way ceiling and that's gonna be the reason that I think they narrowly get through this series. But I say it's on a best first round trajectory that we've seen, like it's there, man, they keep this up. You think Nick Sixers last year. You think MAVs Clippers in twenty twenty one that was absolutely electric. You think, of course, Bulls Celtics in two thousand and nine, You think clip Spurs in twenty fifteen. Those are like the first handful that come to mind for me. But just the quality of basketball and how tight these first two games have been, and just the stars on the floor, man, Kawhi and Hardin and Jokic all playing at such a high level. It's really really phenomenal stuff to watch. We've got another super chat, this one from Stringer flopping in the NBA is hiring first Brunson now yoke. I think we'll get to the Brunson talk. This was a nasty shelling from him. Jokic also just throwing his body around in this one. I mean, definitely trying to elicit calls. I wouldn't put them in the same category because what I would say is Jokic is just emphasizing contact. He is dramatizing contact so that officials see it. Brunson is going out of his way to create contact that is illegitimate, that is unnatural in terms of being a actual shot attempt a natural basketball motion that to me is more problematic. Both of them are flopping. One of them is really really foul grifting, though, and that's Bronson.

I mean, Batouma is still giving you phenomenal minutes good defensive performance in this one, he hits another no dip three. Bogie's the other guy who really hasn't played very well, Like he's not making shots and he's a target defensively. But I feel the same way that I did coming into this series, which is that it's just a little bit harder for the Nuggets to slow down the Clippers than vice versa. That margin has shrunk even a little from where it was before the series to me, because the Nuggets have just been more engaged. I think this has been some of the better defense that we've seen from them. But I still think that the Clippers have the higher two way ceiling and that's gonna be the reason that I think they narrowly get through this series. But I say it's on a best first round trajectory that we've seen, like it's there, man, they keep this up. You think Nick Sixers last year. You think MAVs Clippers in twenty twenty one that was absolutely electric. You think, of course, Bulls Celtics in two thousand and nine, You think clip Spurs in twenty fifteen. Those are like the first handful that come to mind for me. But just the quality of basketball and how tight these first two games have been, and just the stars on the floor, man, Kawhi and Hardin and Jokic all playing at such a high level. It's really really phenomenal stuff to watch. We've got another super chat, this one from Stringer flopping in the NBA is hiring first Brunson now yoke. I think we'll get to the Brunson talk. This was a nasty shelling from him. Jokic also just throwing his body around in this one. I mean, definitely trying to elicit calls. I wouldn't put them in the same category because what I would say is Jokic is just emphasizing contact. He is dramatizing contact so that officials see it. Brunson is going out of his way to create contact that is illegitimate, that is unnatural in terms of being a actual shot attempt a natural basketball motion that to me is more problematic. Both of them are flopping. One of them is really really foul grifting, though, and that's Bronson.

I'm okay with it.

I'm okay with it.

Like when a guy pump fakes and gets a dude off his feet or something like that, and if he gets into where he was going to jump into, I know, I don't like.

Like when a guy pump fakes and gets a dude off his feet or something like that, and if he gets into where he was going to jump into, I know, I don't like.

I don't ever like when a guy is just jumping into someone or.

I don't ever like when a guy is just jumping into someone or.

Like one hundred percent.

Like one hundred percent.

The difference is like when it's super deliberate.

The difference is like when it's super deliberate.

Honestly, the worst offender to me that come to mind is like Reeves.

Honestly, the worst offender to me that come to mind is like Reeves.

Austin Reeves is the first.

Austin Reeves is the first.

Guy that I always think of about doing it, and.

Guy that I always think of about doing it, and.

Then Trey Young, And my argument is always.

Then Trey Young, And my argument is always.

If he's in that top tier man he is.

If he's in that top tier man he is.

If you want them to stop doing it, then the ref just have to stop awarding the players for playing like that. Then guys will stop doing it. Like then you just let them turn the ball over and then they can complain about it, but they'll learn. Like I just don't think you should reward that style of play.

If you want them to stop doing it, then the ref just have to stop awarding the players for playing like that. Then guys will stop doing it. Like then you just let them turn the ball over and then they can complain about it, but they'll learn. Like I just don't think you should reward that style of play.

I completely agree. The official said years ago that they were gonna stop rewarding those sort of unnatural launch angles by offensive players and they haven't done that obviously, So I just thought that sucked. I couldn't agree with you more man Like, if you pump fake a dude and he jumps into your landing space, that is obviously a foul. That's good crafty basketball. When you pump fake a dude and then you lean and jump forward into his space, that is not a defensive foul, and we have to stop calling that a defensive foul. And Brunson got two big ones of those in the fourth quarter. So sometimes I think like the foul baiting narrative is overplayed when people complain about it, But listen, it's certainly more prevalent in today's NBA than it ever has been before. And Brunson is like truly one of the nastiest grifters that there is, and this was a really nasty performance from him on that front. And we'll talk about that after some quick words from Draftkicks. The NBA eighty two game grind is done, and now the real fun begins. The NBA Playoffs are here and it's time for all the high stakes drama, clutch moments and jaw dropping plays. I can't wait If you're looking to make the playoffs even more exciting, DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered as an official sports betting partner of the NBA from the play in games all the way through to the finals. Now's the time to back your favorite players and teams as they chase glory.

I completely agree. The official said years ago that they were gonna stop rewarding those sort of unnatural launch angles by offensive players and they haven't done that obviously, So I just thought that sucked. I couldn't agree with you more man Like, if you pump fake a dude and he jumps into your landing space, that is obviously a foul. That's good crafty basketball. When you pump fake a dude and then you lean and jump forward into his space, that is not a defensive foul, and we have to stop calling that a defensive foul. And Brunson got two big ones of those in the fourth quarter. So sometimes I think like the foul baiting narrative is overplayed when people complain about it, But listen, it's certainly more prevalent in today's NBA than it ever has been before. And Brunson is like truly one of the nastiest grifters that there is, and this was a really nasty performance from him on that front. And we'll talk about that after some quick words from Draftkicks. The NBA eighty two game grind is done, and now the real fun begins. The NBA Playoffs are here and it's time for all the high stakes drama, clutch moments and jaw dropping plays. I can't wait If you're looking to make the playoffs even more exciting, DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered as an official sports betting partner of the NBA from the play in games all the way through to the finals. Now's the time to back your favorite players and teams as they chase glory.

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Nick's Pistons logan. This is another series that has a vibe to it that I'm really enjoying. It's nasty, it's gritty, it's tough, and the Detroit Pistons went out there and they even things up, just like the Clippers. So we got both these series sitting at a game a piece. This was a bounce back performance from Caid Cunningham. Logan struggled in game one, comes out in this one, puts up thirty three points, goes eleven of twenty one from the field. What did you think made the difference for him, and how huge was that for Detroit in this one and potentially going forward.

Nick's Pistons logan. This is another series that has a vibe to it that I'm really enjoying. It's nasty, it's gritty, it's tough, and the Detroit Pistons went out there and they even things up, just like the Clippers. So we got both these series sitting at a game a piece. This was a bounce back performance from Caid Cunningham. Logan struggled in game one, comes out in this one, puts up thirty three points, goes eleven of twenty one from the field. What did you think made the difference for him, and how huge was that for Detroit in this one and potentially going forward.

I mean, I thought Cade was the difference in this game. I thought he was the best player on the court. And I feel bad for doubting if Caid's game was gonna scale to the playoffs. I mean Caid was clanging and banging in this game. I mean just going through the chest repeatedly of bridges of heart, attacking downhill, dominating in transition, consistently staying aggressive. And I really thought he weaponized his strength well and then he was killing him with his pull up shooting in his intermediate game. I liked how he adjusted to Ojan Andobi guarding him on ball as well. I thought he was trying to beat him more with deception and quickness and speed in this game, and he did beat him with his strength as well too.

I mean, I thought Cade was the difference in this game. I thought he was the best player on the court. And I feel bad for doubting if Caid's game was gonna scale to the playoffs. I mean Caid was clanging and banging in this game. I mean just going through the chest repeatedly of bridges of heart, attacking downhill, dominating in transition, consistently staying aggressive. And I really thought he weaponized his strength well and then he was killing him with his pull up shooting in his intermediate game. I liked how he adjusted to Ojan Andobi guarding him on ball as well. I thought he was trying to beat him more with deception and quickness and speed in this game, and he did beat him with his strength as well too.

And that's why Cad is just one.

And that's why Cad is just one.

Of the premier building blocks in the NFL, in the NFL, in the NBA.

Of the premier building blocks in the NFL, in the NFL, in the NBA.

Man in the league Lab could be man six to seven, big dude.

Man in the league Lab could be man six to seven, big dude.

I don't know, man, if you throw him out there wide out, but he's he's just gonna keep getting stronger.

I don't know, man, if you throw him out there wide out, but he's he's just gonna keep getting stronger.

Man and He's brilliant.

Man and He's brilliant.

He's got such great feel, he's a plus defender, and he was so impactful on the glass in this game. But he was way more poised in this game than Game one, and he's only going to get more comfortable. He's got such a promising future. I'm so excited for Detroit.

He's got such great feel, he's a plus defender, and he was so impactful on the glass in this game. But he was way more poised in this game than Game one, and he's only going to get more comfortable. He's got such a promising future. I'm so excited for Detroit.

That they got their guy. But I've got more points to talk about.

That they got their guy. But I've got more points to talk about.

But Caid was the best player on the court in this game, man, And I'm just so impressed, dude. I couldn't be happier with the level that we've gotten out of Caid and the level that we've gotten at a polo early in these Man, I'm so impressed with these young guys.

But Caid was the best player on the court in this game, man, And I'm just so impressed, dude. I couldn't be happier with the level that we've gotten out of Caid and the level that we've gotten at a polo early in these Man, I'm so impressed with these young guys.

It was a much improved performance from Cade, and that wasn't a coincidence. I thought that he and the Pistons made a number of adjustments that made life easier on him offensively, because in game one, where did he really struggle Kat consistently coming up to the level him seeing two defenders these aggressive pick and roll coverages out of a lot of stagnant pick and rolls. He was turning the ball over. He looked uncomfortable, he looked out of his element. And then he was struggling to really beat Og one on one because Og is an excellent man defender and Kate doesn't have the strength advantage against Og that he's used to. So it was those couple of areas in which he really struggled. And I thought that the Pistons and Cad approached this game in a way that minimized how much he had to deal with those couple of things, and like just created easy opportunities for him elsewhere. Like you especially saw this in the first half. They have a number of handoffs that flow into pick and roll, so you can get Kad a running start versus Og. So now he's already headed downhill and you have an advantage, just easier for him to create separation to get a step when you give him that head start. Also, so many guards setting screens for him, especially Jalen Brunson's man, which is just good process. Man involved Jalen Brunson in the action because they can't switch that or they don't want to a vast majority of the time at least because that's barbecue chicken for KD. So Brunson is like showing, but he's not really getting a body on cade, right, he's just like showing so briefly and then he's running out to make sure that the guard who screen doesn't get an open three off the pot. But like nobody's really in front of Cad initially after the screen, so he's able to get a pretty good runway into some pull up jumpers. That was easier offense for him if he had a guard screen for him, and then he got the Josh Hart or the mckel bridges switch. He was aggressive working in isolation against those guys who he does have a size and strength advantage against, and he was successful in doing so. And maybe the biggest thing man playing fast. He had ten transition points in this game. That's his most in a game in the last month and a half. So you're not facing a set defense that is fully engineered to stop you, that is more worried about you than anybody else. You're getting those opportunities in the full court, clean spacing with the head of steam. And so I just thought he was able to hunt much easier offense. It's not like he suddenly just was able to cook og one on one. You mentioned the deception stuff. I did think he did a nice job of setting him up a couple of times, rejecting screens like it was a really crafty game from kid. But for the most part, like it's just finding the easier opportunities.

It was a much improved performance from Cade, and that wasn't a coincidence. I thought that he and the Pistons made a number of adjustments that made life easier on him offensively, because in game one, where did he really struggle Kat consistently coming up to the level him seeing two defenders these aggressive pick and roll coverages out of a lot of stagnant pick and rolls. He was turning the ball over. He looked uncomfortable, he looked out of his element. And then he was struggling to really beat Og one on one because Og is an excellent man defender and Kate doesn't have the strength advantage against Og that he's used to. So it was those couple of areas in which he really struggled. And I thought that the Pistons and Cad approached this game in a way that minimized how much he had to deal with those couple of things, and like just created easy opportunities for him elsewhere. Like you especially saw this in the first half. They have a number of handoffs that flow into pick and roll, so you can get Kad a running start versus Og. So now he's already headed downhill and you have an advantage, just easier for him to create separation to get a step when you give him that head start. Also, so many guards setting screens for him, especially Jalen Brunson's man, which is just good process. Man involved Jalen Brunson in the action because they can't switch that or they don't want to a vast majority of the time at least because that's barbecue chicken for KD. So Brunson is like showing, but he's not really getting a body on cade, right, he's just like showing so briefly and then he's running out to make sure that the guard who screen doesn't get an open three off the pot. But like nobody's really in front of Cad initially after the screen, so he's able to get a pretty good runway into some pull up jumpers. That was easier offense for him if he had a guard screen for him, and then he got the Josh Hart or the mckel bridges switch. He was aggressive working in isolation against those guys who he does have a size and strength advantage against, and he was successful in doing so. And maybe the biggest thing man playing fast. He had ten transition points in this game. That's his most in a game in the last month and a half. So you're not facing a set defense that is fully engineered to stop you, that is more worried about you than anybody else. You're getting those opportunities in the full court, clean spacing with the head of steam. And so I just thought he was able to hunt much easier offense. It's not like he suddenly just was able to cook og one on one. You mentioned the deception stuff. I did think he did a nice job of setting him up a couple of times, rejecting screens like it was a really crafty game from kid. But for the most part, like it's just finding the easier opportunities.

Man.

Man.

What I always say is you don't get style points, the tough ones don't count for more like find easy offense where you can in the NBA, and I thought, Man, I think did a significantly better job of that in this one.

What I always say is you don't get style points, the tough ones don't count for more like find easy offense where you can in the NBA, and I thought, Man, I think did a significantly better job of that in this one.

I think long term, I'm just I'm excited, like he's so strong already, and I just don't think there are gonna be many guys in the NBA that are gonna be able to deal with Cade one on one specifically, what I like, not to the level of Paolo, And that's why I prefer I think building around Paolo long term, because he's even more of a physical freak, but very much so in the fact that he's gonna be stronger than a lot of guys garden him, even those like good defensive wings that are thinner like a macal Bridges, but he's gonna be faster than a lot of guys on ball too. And a lot of these lineups though, like you're talking about with Jaylen Brunson, if you've got a small guard and that's the matchup that Cage's drawing, or if you can get that switch like it's just something he can attack every time, and he's not a weak point on defense.

I think long term, I'm just I'm excited, like he's so strong already, and I just don't think there are gonna be many guys in the NBA that are gonna be able to deal with Cade one on one specifically, what I like, not to the level of Paolo, And that's why I prefer I think building around Paolo long term, because he's even more of a physical freak, but very much so in the fact that he's gonna be stronger than a lot of guys garden him, even those like good defensive wings that are thinner like a macal Bridges, but he's gonna be faster than a lot of guys on ball too. And a lot of these lineups though, like you're talking about with Jaylen Brunson, if you've got a small guard and that's the matchup that Cage's drawing, or if you can get that switch like it's just something he can attack every time, and he's not a weak point on defense.

Like I just I'm so excited about Kate long term. Man.

Like I just I'm so excited about Kate long term. Man.

I'm I'm so excited the trajectory that he's on and how far along he already is, and how impactful he is in winning basketball games at such a young age man, and the fact that Detroit has just put good basketball players around him and the difference that it really has made. I also do want to give credit to Detroit's defense in this game, though I think the Caid played a really great game.

I'm I'm so excited the trajectory that he's on and how far along he already is, and how impactful he is in winning basketball games at such a young age man, and the fact that Detroit has just put good basketball players around him and the difference that it really has made. I also do want to give credit to Detroit's defense in this game, though I think the Caid played a really great game.

I think that he was the best player on the floor.

I think that he was the best player on the floor.

But I thought the Pistons really made life difficult on New York in this game, and specifically dominated the glass.

But I thought the Pistons really made life difficult on New York in this game, and specifically dominated the glass.

They win the defensive they win the.

They win the defensive they win the.

Rebounding battle forty eight to thirty four total. But during Cad Tobias Harris, all of them I thought put in work. They were winning the hustle and energy plays, and I was a little bit confused.

Rebounding battle forty eight to thirty four total. But during Cad Tobias Harris, all of them I thought put in work. They were winning the hustle and energy plays, and I was a little bit confused.

Carson.

Carson.

I thought the Knicks should have played more Mitchell Robinson, man, I didn't really get that you only get twenty minutes. I don't know when they're beating you so physically, and this is a game where Detroit does don't even have Isaiah Stewart out there, So I just thought that, I don't know, man play more Mitchell Robinson, move Kat.

I thought the Knicks should have played more Mitchell Robinson, man, I didn't really get that you only get twenty minutes. I don't know when they're beating you so physically, and this is a game where Detroit does don't even have Isaiah Stewart out there, So I just thought that, I don't know, man play more Mitchell Robinson, move Kat.

To the four.

To the four.

Like, I just thought they could have used a more physical presence, a guy that can set the tone and be a little a little bit more physical down there. And I was disappointed with the Knicks offensively too, but I think you got to give credit to Detroit and how hard they played.

Like, I just thought they could have used a more physical presence, a guy that can set the tone and be a little a little bit more physical down there. And I was disappointed with the Knicks offensively too, but I think you got to give credit to Detroit and how hard they played.

On that end.

On that end.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Also, the one complaint I have for Detroit and the the one maybe it's an X factor for Detroit, and I think it is. It's probably the biggest difference maker is just going to be their ability to close out these games. New York goes on a twelve to two run in the fourth quarter for four minutes and the Pistons offense just out last New York. We touched on this briefly last episode about this game. But I think the guy that's gonna make this difference is Dennis Schroeder. I think he is probably gonna be the difference maker. He has nine fourth quarter points. He has two fourth quarter three and he's got a super clutch three in this one, And the Knicks could have very easily won this game as well. Bridges and Brunton missed some open clutch threes.

Also, the one complaint I have for Detroit and the the one maybe it's an X factor for Detroit, and I think it is. It's probably the biggest difference maker is just going to be their ability to close out these games. New York goes on a twelve to two run in the fourth quarter for four minutes and the Pistons offense just out last New York. We touched on this briefly last episode about this game. But I think the guy that's gonna make this difference is Dennis Schroeder. I think he is probably gonna be the difference maker. He has nine fourth quarter points. He has two fourth quarter three and he's got a super clutch three in this one, And the Knicks could have very easily won this game as well. Bridges and Brunton missed some open clutch threes.

But while I.

But while I.

Mentioned that too, Malie Beasley also misses an open corner three. But the Pistons played better ball, you know, through three quarters, and I thought they did last game too. I mean the scoreboard said so as well. It's just gonna be who can execute more in these higher leverage moments. I thought the Knicks let him off the hook in this one. I thought Brunson could have been a little bit better. I was disappointed with kat. Kat does not attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter. He gives you ten points. Bridges goes oh four in the fourth quarter, So I thought the Knicks could have executed better. Brunson has six turnovers on the game. I thought he could have protected the ball a little bit better. But who's gonna be able to execute better offensively in these clutch moments. I'm looking to Dennis Schroeder if I'm Detroit, and I think there's a lot to I think there's a lot to look better in the rest of the series.

Mentioned that too, Malie Beasley also misses an open corner three. But the Pistons played better ball, you know, through three quarters, and I thought they did last game too. I mean the scoreboard said so as well. It's just gonna be who can execute more in these higher leverage moments. I thought the Knicks let him off the hook in this one. I thought Brunson could have been a little bit better. I was disappointed with kat. Kat does not attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter. He gives you ten points. Bridges goes oh four in the fourth quarter, So I thought the Knicks could have executed better. Brunson has six turnovers on the game. I thought he could have protected the ball a little bit better. But who's gonna be able to execute better offensively in these clutch moments. I'm looking to Dennis Schroeder if I'm Detroit, and I think there's a lot to I think there's a lot to look better in the rest of the series.

For the Knicks offense, I'm kind of just like, why am I not looking to Kid Cunningham. I thought Detroit's clutch offensive process was super weird, man, Like, especially once it gets back to being a really close game in the last couple minutes, the two possessions before Shrewder hits that big three, why is the ball not in Kate's hands, Like og is denying him off ball. But if Kid really wants to, he can go get that ball. Like, I just think those are his plays. Man, That's where you need your best player to go out there and be dictating, and he didn't really seem to want to. And then on the possession that led to there's the Shrewder possession, and then you have the possession where Cad draws two, makes the right play fine Shrewder, and then he finds Beasley for a wide open three, which Beasley missed. But like, that was a good kid possession. He made the right decision, he had the ball in his hands. But I just want him to be aggressive in those spots, and like, I'm a little bit nervous when the ball is out of his hands and Shrewder is definitely the most capable guy to step up, but I still would just rather that be Kate Cunningham. So that was kind of my nitpick of this kid performance. Also, still five turnovers, didn't take great care of the basketball in the first half, but like, just step up, man, this is your moment. There's a reason that you're entrusted with so much offensive responsibility, and I felt like he kind of shoed away from that and the Pistons got away with it. Shrewder made a big shot, but it was very dicey there.

For the Knicks offense, I'm kind of just like, why am I not looking to Kid Cunningham. I thought Detroit's clutch offensive process was super weird, man, Like, especially once it gets back to being a really close game in the last couple minutes, the two possessions before Shrewder hits that big three, why is the ball not in Kate's hands, Like og is denying him off ball. But if Kid really wants to, he can go get that ball. Like, I just think those are his plays. Man, That's where you need your best player to go out there and be dictating, and he didn't really seem to want to. And then on the possession that led to there's the Shrewder possession, and then you have the possession where Cad draws two, makes the right play fine Shrewder, and then he finds Beasley for a wide open three, which Beasley missed. But like, that was a good kid possession. He made the right decision, he had the ball in his hands. But I just want him to be aggressive in those spots, and like, I'm a little bit nervous when the ball is out of his hands and Shrewder is definitely the most capable guy to step up, but I still would just rather that be Kate Cunningham. So that was kind of my nitpick of this kid performance. Also, still five turnovers, didn't take great care of the basketball in the first half, but like, just step up, man, this is your moment. There's a reason that you're entrusted with so much offensive responsibility, and I felt like he kind of shoed away from that and the Pistons got away with it. Shrewder made a big shot, but it was very dicey there.

Well, I mean, in you know, Kate is the reason that they were in the spot that they were in. But I agree with you, he's got to step up and take him across the finish line and not.

Well, I mean, in you know, Kate is the reason that they were in the spot that they were in. But I agree with you, he's got to step up and take him across the finish line and not.