The volume. No, no, oh my god, how could he do that?

The volume. No, no, oh my god, how could he do that?

Don't want what Charles Darwin.

Don't want what Charles Darwin.

The nerves is where it's at.

The nerves is where it's at.

Welcome everybody back into Nerds Sesh. As always, I'm Garson Bradbert alongside and he is Logan Camden and you already know what the deal is. We are going to be breaking down all of the NBA playoff action that we saw today, and we're gonna start with the marquee matchup of the day Logan Lakers Timberwolves LA. Obviously, coming off of a twenty two point defeat in Game one, they get their revenge here in game two. What did you take away from this performance and what changed for LA to get this win?

Welcome everybody back into Nerds Sesh. As always, I'm Garson Bradbert alongside and he is Logan Camden and you already know what the deal is. We are going to be breaking down all of the NBA playoff action that we saw today, and we're gonna start with the marquee matchup of the day Logan Lakers Timberwolves LA. Obviously, coming off of a twenty two point defeat in Game one, they get their revenge here in game two. What did you take away from this performance and what changed for LA to get this win?

I mean, first, dude, this is just an ugly Nay, it's the putrid, disgusting basketball game, like real. The Lakers shoot six to twenty nine from behind the arc. Minnesota shoots five of twenty five. I honestly think we can start there. I think one of the biggest differences in this game from Game one in this series was Minnesota's supporting cast and their ability to really pull their weight into make shots. I mean, nas Reed had an amazing Game one. Jade McDaniels had an amazing Game one, and both of those guys came back down crashing to earth. Along with that, I think I have to give the Lakers credit just for really bringing the energy tonight. I thought they were swarming. I thought they brought the fight to Minnesota and they played really really physical. I thought this was a really physical game just in general. Two, I thought the refs let both of these teams play really hard, and honestly, in general, Carson, I've kind of been really pleased with a level of intensity that the refs and all of these games across every series. Really the intensity they've let these guys play with, Like it's a big difference to me. I don't know if you've felt the difference, but like even last year, I thought that they were way more like less, they were way less lenient. I feel like they're really letting the guys play this year.

I mean, first, dude, this is just an ugly Nay, it's the putrid, disgusting basketball game, like real. The Lakers shoot six to twenty nine from behind the arc. Minnesota shoots five of twenty five. I honestly think we can start there. I think one of the biggest differences in this game from Game one in this series was Minnesota's supporting cast and their ability to really pull their weight into make shots. I mean, nas Reed had an amazing Game one. Jade McDaniels had an amazing Game one, and both of those guys came back down crashing to earth. Along with that, I think I have to give the Lakers credit just for really bringing the energy tonight. I thought they were swarming. I thought they brought the fight to Minnesota and they played really really physical. I thought this was a really physical game just in general. Two, I thought the refs let both of these teams play really hard, and honestly, in general, Carson, I've kind of been really pleased with a level of intensity that the refs and all of these games across every series. Really the intensity they've let these guys play with, Like it's a big difference to me. I don't know if you've felt the difference, but like even last year, I thought that they were way more like less, they were way less lenient. I feel like they're really letting the guys play this year.

Well, they're calling fouls at the lowest rate that we have ever seen in the playoffs. Like I've actually seen that number put out there, so that is one hundred percent true, And you just feel how different playoff basketball is.

Well, they're calling fouls at the lowest rate that we have ever seen in the playoffs. Like I've actually seen that number put out there, so that is one hundred percent true, And you just feel how different playoff basketball is.

Man.

Man.

Like I tweeted out some numbers the other day, but points per game are down by like nine compared to the regular season. Pace has gone down from like ninety nine on it, I get other ninety three.

Like I tweeted out some numbers the other day, but points per game are down by like nine compared to the regular season. Pace has gone down from like ninety nine on it, I get other ninety three.

What do you think about it?

What do you think about it?

I love it, bro I love it. Let's get a little more physical, let's make buckets a little bit harder to come by. But at the end of the day, this is still the best offense that we've seen in the NBA, and that does come through, but it's very balanced. I like that there's eension on every possession when the pace is slower, I think it's great. I love playoff basketball and I think it's fun that it's different from the regular season, and like the last two years we have really really seen that because it was basically the same drop off last year. Pace gets a lot slower, offenses get a bit less efficient, and more physicality is absolutely allowed.

I love it, bro I love it. Let's get a little more physical, let's make buckets a little bit harder to come by. But at the end of the day, this is still the best offense that we've seen in the NBA, and that does come through, but it's very balanced. I like that there's eension on every possession when the pace is slower, I think it's great. I love playoff basketball and I think it's fun that it's different from the regular season, and like the last two years we have really really seen that because it was basically the same drop off last year. Pace gets a lot slower, offenses get a bit less efficient, and more physicality is absolutely allowed.

I think it's good for the environment of the game. But I like that it doesn't it doesn't interrupt the flow of the game, you know what I mean. Like, I never feel like it's ever. That's when I feel like the refs really make me mad is when they mess up the flow of the game. But I've I've really enjoyed I've really enjoyed it. That aside, you got to give credit to the Lakers defense, I thought, for their physicality night and what they were able to do on the glass in comparison to Game one. But also Luca, to me, was the best player on the basketball court in this game, and that's a huge key. In these grimy, rock fight type of environments, those kind of games, sometimes the best player on the court is going to just drag you through, and that's the way I felt about Luca in this one. Fourteen points in the first quarter, just came out blistering hot, comes out and ends this game with thirty one points, nine assists, and he was able to consistently generate the best offense for either of these teams. And even that, I feel like some of these don't show up in the stat sheet, even though he does finish the game with thirty one points and nine assists. There's some plays in this game where he creates the initial advantage and then you get a swing swing into a shot for the Lakers. But those are the real differences. To me, I thought that the Lakers were the more physical team. I thought they bullied and beat up on Minnesota. They were better defensively and on the glass. And I thought Luca was the best player on the basketball court in this game. Credit to the Wolves for that hillatious comeback in the fourth quarter to get it to single digits. You know, they hold LA scoreless in the fourth quarter for three minutes. But I expected the series to kind of balance out this Carson, I think we're in for a six to seven game series between both of these teams. I think it's interesting that we can kind of get both sides of the coin, a little more offensive oriented basketball game in Game one and more defensive oriented one in this one. But I think this is a really balanced series. I still expect the Lakers to pull it out, but those are the big defense differences, Man, the Lakers defense, and Luca was the best player on the court.

I think it's good for the environment of the game. But I like that it doesn't it doesn't interrupt the flow of the game, you know what I mean. Like, I never feel like it's ever. That's when I feel like the refs really make me mad is when they mess up the flow of the game. But I've I've really enjoyed I've really enjoyed it. That aside, you got to give credit to the Lakers defense, I thought, for their physicality night and what they were able to do on the glass in comparison to Game one. But also Luca, to me, was the best player on the basketball court in this game, and that's a huge key. In these grimy, rock fight type of environments, those kind of games, sometimes the best player on the court is going to just drag you through, and that's the way I felt about Luca in this one. Fourteen points in the first quarter, just came out blistering hot, comes out and ends this game with thirty one points, nine assists, and he was able to consistently generate the best offense for either of these teams. And even that, I feel like some of these don't show up in the stat sheet, even though he does finish the game with thirty one points and nine assists. There's some plays in this game where he creates the initial advantage and then you get a swing swing into a shot for the Lakers. But those are the real differences. To me, I thought that the Lakers were the more physical team. I thought they bullied and beat up on Minnesota. They were better defensively and on the glass. And I thought Luca was the best player on the basketball court in this game. Credit to the Wolves for that hillatious comeback in the fourth quarter to get it to single digits. You know, they hold LA scoreless in the fourth quarter for three minutes. But I expected the series to kind of balance out this Carson, I think we're in for a six to seven game series between both of these teams. I think it's interesting that we can kind of get both sides of the coin, a little more offensive oriented basketball game in Game one and more defensive oriented one in this one. But I think this is a really balanced series. I still expect the Lakers to pull it out, but those are the big defense differences, Man, the Lakers defense, and Luca was the best player on the court.

I completely agree. And the Lakers won this game in the first quarter, man, because honestly, for the last three quarters, the Timberwolves were mostly the better team. It's just LA was so utterly dominant in that first quarter. They built themselves such a cushion that they were able to hold on. And they built themselves that cushion in the exact two areas that you just laid out. This was a phenomenal defensive effort, and Luca was clearly the best player on the floor, especially in that first quarter. The defensive effort was so impressive, and I talked about how after Game one I didn't want to see a radical shift in scheme from the Lakers. I just wanted to see them execute it better, with more intensity, with more physicality, be more aggressive on your closeouts, running shooters off the line, And they did all of those things in this game. The physicality from them was super impressive. Their willingness to sacrifice their bodies was unbelievable. I don't know if I've ever seen that many offensive fouls drawn in a game by one team.

I completely agree. And the Lakers won this game in the first quarter, man, because honestly, for the last three quarters, the Timberwolves were mostly the better team. It's just LA was so utterly dominant in that first quarter. They built themselves such a cushion that they were able to hold on. And they built themselves that cushion in the exact two areas that you just laid out. This was a phenomenal defensive effort, and Luca was clearly the best player on the floor, especially in that first quarter. The defensive effort was so impressive, and I talked about how after Game one I didn't want to see a radical shift in scheme from the Lakers. I just wanted to see them execute it better, with more intensity, with more physicality, be more aggressive on your closeouts, running shooters off the line, And they did all of those things in this game. The physicality from them was super impressive. Their willingness to sacrifice their bodies was unbelievable. I don't know if I've ever seen that many offensive fouls drawn in a game by one team.

Man.

Man.

I mean, they must have drawn seven or eight, and that's everybody. Austin Reeves draws multiple, Luca draws multiple. So they were very connected, they were very engaged, they were very physical. They were running shooters off the line more and funneling them into help instead of allowing more of those open catch and shoot looks from three. But at the end of the day, they stuck to their principles and they did what they do best. They shrunk the floor. They loaded up on Anthony Edwards. They had aggressive gap help, and they dared to beat them as a passer again, and they dared the Timberwolve shooters to beat them again. And this was just a complete reversal from Game one in those respects. Like I thought the Lakers were much much better defensively executing their scheme. I also thought Anthony Edwards was way worse as a decision maker, where I thought that he was super willing as a passer in Game one and was making all the reads. He has zero assists in this game, so he's forcing more of those looks that the Lakers want to bait him into. If they can get him to settle for a tough mid range jumper, that's a win every day of the week. He shoots thirty seven percent on those shots that compared to him getting all the way to the rim or him creating three for a teammate and open three off the kickout pass, like, They'll take those mid range jumpers every day, and they got a couple of those from him in this one. So he has to be better. He has to be a playmaker first for the Timberwolves to win this series, and the shooters around him have to be way better, right They were flame throwers. In Game one, they shot twenty percent from deep. In this one they got a lot fewer looks from deep. And I put a lot of that on Ant in his playmaking. And I give some credit to the Lakers defense as well, but they were terrible when they did have the shots. So this is the thing with the Ant's playmaking, Logan, I know that you are a massive, massive Ant fan. The playmaking is inconsistent. Man. There are the games where you feel like he's coming into it with the right approach and he's pretty surgical and he's diagnosing things quickly, and then you have the games where you feel like he doesn't trust his teammates, he doesn't want to pass the ball, he wants to try to assert himself as a scorer and sometimes force it. And it felt like it was one of those games. So Ant has to be better as a pass with the Timberwolves have to shoot better from deep to win this series. They didn't do either of those things. The Lakers were significantly better defensively, and Luka Doncics is playing at a really, really high level right now. Man. I've expressed some concerns throughout this season for him with the Lakers, about him not being the same as a score compared to the standard that we're used to, and that was true for a long while. His first twenty three games with the Lakers, he was averaging twenty six point eight points per game on fifty six and a half percent true shooting. That's not Luka doncc's production. That's not Luca doncrich efficiency. His last seven games logan thirty four point three points per game on sixty nine percent true shooting. The three ball is on fire right now, but he looks so comfortable attacking and beating switches. I think he's getting by people more. I think he's getting to the line more. Still not at peak Luca level of a couple years ago, but improvement from where he was at a month ago. And that is massive because if the Lakers want to win this series, if they want to win multiple series, so much offensive responsibility rests on Luca's shoulders. He has to be the guy that we have known him to be over the years, and he's looking like that guy again. So that's really big.

I mean, they must have drawn seven or eight, and that's everybody. Austin Reeves draws multiple, Luca draws multiple. So they were very connected, they were very engaged, they were very physical. They were running shooters off the line more and funneling them into help instead of allowing more of those open catch and shoot looks from three. But at the end of the day, they stuck to their principles and they did what they do best. They shrunk the floor. They loaded up on Anthony Edwards. They had aggressive gap help, and they dared to beat them as a passer again, and they dared the Timberwolve shooters to beat them again. And this was just a complete reversal from Game one in those respects. Like I thought the Lakers were much much better defensively executing their scheme. I also thought Anthony Edwards was way worse as a decision maker, where I thought that he was super willing as a passer in Game one and was making all the reads. He has zero assists in this game, so he's forcing more of those looks that the Lakers want to bait him into. If they can get him to settle for a tough mid range jumper, that's a win every day of the week. He shoots thirty seven percent on those shots that compared to him getting all the way to the rim or him creating three for a teammate and open three off the kickout pass, like, They'll take those mid range jumpers every day, and they got a couple of those from him in this one. So he has to be better. He has to be a playmaker first for the Timberwolves to win this series, and the shooters around him have to be way better, right They were flame throwers. In Game one, they shot twenty percent from deep. In this one they got a lot fewer looks from deep. And I put a lot of that on Ant in his playmaking. And I give some credit to the Lakers defense as well, but they were terrible when they did have the shots. So this is the thing with the Ant's playmaking, Logan, I know that you are a massive, massive Ant fan. The playmaking is inconsistent. Man. There are the games where you feel like he's coming into it with the right approach and he's pretty surgical and he's diagnosing things quickly, and then you have the games where you feel like he doesn't trust his teammates, he doesn't want to pass the ball, he wants to try to assert himself as a scorer and sometimes force it. And it felt like it was one of those games. So Ant has to be better as a pass with the Timberwolves have to shoot better from deep to win this series. They didn't do either of those things. The Lakers were significantly better defensively, and Luka Doncics is playing at a really, really high level right now. Man. I've expressed some concerns throughout this season for him with the Lakers, about him not being the same as a score compared to the standard that we're used to, and that was true for a long while. His first twenty three games with the Lakers, he was averaging twenty six point eight points per game on fifty six and a half percent true shooting. That's not Luka doncc's production. That's not Luca doncrich efficiency. His last seven games logan thirty four point three points per game on sixty nine percent true shooting. The three ball is on fire right now, but he looks so comfortable attacking and beating switches. I think he's getting by people more. I think he's getting to the line more. Still not at peak Luca level of a couple years ago, but improvement from where he was at a month ago. And that is massive because if the Lakers want to win this series, if they want to win multiple series, so much offensive responsibility rests on Luca's shoulders. He has to be the guy that we have known him to be over the years, and he's looking like that guy again. So that's really big.

I think that's really big. But also the other area that we mentioned that the Lakers are great and I think is going to be key to a long playoff run, and that was their defense. And the thing about the Lakers defense that I think is so encouraging isn't necessar arely that they're you know, super matchup proof, because I do think that like against teams with jumbo size lineups or really big guys, like they could get beat on the boards, you know, like they're not fully matchup proof. But when they are winning defensively, this is a team that can kill you and just put up a lot of points in bunches with their transition play because they get out on the break so quickly and they've got so many skilled players. But also the fact that they are a really big lineup across the board where they can gang rebound, but they're also really really quick and their rotations are really solid and so everything's clicking, Like this really is a complete team. But specifically, how they can turn defense into offense is really what I think makes this LA team deadly. When Luca and Lebron get it going like this, I'm I'm excited about the prospect of a of an LA run, but I am disappointed in Minnesota too. Man, I'm really disappointed in Aunt Carson, and I get it's like growing pains with a young player. Man, It's just gonna take time. Dude. I'm just disappointed because, like I can see it, you know what I mean, Like I can see that Ant. I know that Ant's gonna be one of the best players on the planet one day. It's just gonna take getting to that level of consistency. And I just wanted to be here right now. Man. It's like, uh, I remember when my baby cousin was born, Dude, I was so excited to have another boy in the family. And uh I remember Kenny had just been born, Dude, he was probably like an hour old, and the first thing that I asked my uncle and aunt was when can I play with him? And they all just like busted out laughing because I mean, he's literally a newborn. Like that's how I feel with Ant, man, Like I know that I'm gonna get you.

I think that's really big. But also the other area that we mentioned that the Lakers are great and I think is going to be key to a long playoff run, and that was their defense. And the thing about the Lakers defense that I think is so encouraging isn't necessar arely that they're you know, super matchup proof, because I do think that like against teams with jumbo size lineups or really big guys, like they could get beat on the boards, you know, like they're not fully matchup proof. But when they are winning defensively, this is a team that can kill you and just put up a lot of points in bunches with their transition play because they get out on the break so quickly and they've got so many skilled players. But also the fact that they are a really big lineup across the board where they can gang rebound, but they're also really really quick and their rotations are really solid and so everything's clicking, Like this really is a complete team. But specifically, how they can turn defense into offense is really what I think makes this LA team deadly. When Luca and Lebron get it going like this, I'm I'm excited about the prospect of a of an LA run, but I am disappointed in Minnesota too. Man, I'm really disappointed in Aunt Carson, and I get it's like growing pains with a young player. Man, It's just gonna take time. Dude. I'm just disappointed because, like I can see it, you know what I mean, Like I can see that Ant. I know that Ant's gonna be one of the best players on the planet one day. It's just gonna take getting to that level of consistency. And I just wanted to be here right now. Man. It's like, uh, I remember when my baby cousin was born, Dude, I was so excited to have another boy in the family. And uh I remember Kenny had just been born, Dude, he was probably like an hour old, and the first thing that I asked my uncle and aunt was when can I play with him? And they all just like busted out laughing because I mean, he's literally a newborn. Like that's how I feel with Ant, man, Like I know that I'm gonna get you.

Want to play with him?

Want to play with him?

I I know that we're gonna get there, man, And I know that Ann is gonna be there. But it's just frustrating when you have a performance like this after such an encouraging game, one where it feels like he's so poised and he knows what's expected of him and what he needs to do execute, and then you just get a game like this where he kind of crashes back down to earth. Especially too, when I thought Julius Randall played a pretty good game by Julius Randall standards man.

I I know that we're gonna get there, man, And I know that Ann is gonna be there. But it's just frustrating when you have a performance like this after such an encouraging game, one where it feels like he's so poised and he knows what's expected of him and what he needs to do execute, and then you just get a game like this where he kind of crashes back down to earth. Especially too, when I thought Julius Randall played a pretty good game by Julius Randall standards man.

And considering just how grimy this game was, I agree. I thought that he was efficient attacking mismatches. I thought that he was pretty good overall. He was definitely their best player in this one. So it is a rough performance from ant. I do want to give credit to the Lakers in a couple areas in which I thought they showed big improvement, And you mentioned one of them on the glass, the fact that they were able to hang even on the offensive glass and end up plus seven on the boards overall, just because they missed fewer shots, they had less opportunities at offensive rebounds. I thought that that was really big. And their ability to get out and transition a bit more than in Game one, and more importantly, their ability to keep Minnesota out of transition, because it's hard for these teams to score in the half court, man, and in Game one, Minnesota was plus thirteen in terms of transition points in this game, the Lakers are plus seven. They hold Minnesota to just ten transition points, and they score more transition points in their own right compared to Game one. You really saw that in the first quarter where they're turning defense into offense, and then after that, I'm gonna be honest, I didn't love the Lakers' offense and I didn't love their offensive process. I thought that they got a little bit too obsessed with trying to attack Rudy on switches and Luca was cooking him early. But Rudy held up pretty well. Man. He defended nine isolations. The Lakers only scored seven points on those isolations. So I feel like there's this offensive ceiling that we can all see with the Lakers when they're big three is clicking on all cylinders, and like the spot up shooting is there. But at the same time, a lot of the POSSESSI in this game are just them sort of freelancing playing isoball trying to force it against matchups that I don't think are as advantageous for them as maybe they do. And so they really didn't produce good offense for the last three quarters. And like since Luca joined the team, man they were fourteenth in offensive raiding down the stretch of the regular season. So he was great in this game, absolutely, but felt like some of these possessions were stagnant, not a lot of organized offense, and I think you still need more out of Lebron and Austin Reeves going forward. I thought that Lebron honestly had a pretty similar approach to Game one, where he's settling for a lot of jumpers, where he's trying to target the bigs off of switches a bit too much for my liking, where he's more inclined to settle for one of those jumpers as opposed to going after a smaller wing off a switch who he can play bullyball against. So he ends up not having a super productive or efficient day. And then Austin Reeves was okay in this one. I thought he did a better job of beating switches than he did in Game one. He blows by Rudy for a big bucket, he blows by nas Reed for a bucket, and at the end of the day like his three ball just wasn't really on. But still, man, I mean, thirty seven combined points from those guys. It's not the production that I want.

And considering just how grimy this game was, I agree. I thought that he was efficient attacking mismatches. I thought that he was pretty good overall. He was definitely their best player in this one. So it is a rough performance from ant. I do want to give credit to the Lakers in a couple areas in which I thought they showed big improvement, And you mentioned one of them on the glass, the fact that they were able to hang even on the offensive glass and end up plus seven on the boards overall, just because they missed fewer shots, they had less opportunities at offensive rebounds. I thought that that was really big. And their ability to get out and transition a bit more than in Game one, and more importantly, their ability to keep Minnesota out of transition, because it's hard for these teams to score in the half court, man, and in Game one, Minnesota was plus thirteen in terms of transition points in this game, the Lakers are plus seven. They hold Minnesota to just ten transition points, and they score more transition points in their own right compared to Game one. You really saw that in the first quarter where they're turning defense into offense, and then after that, I'm gonna be honest, I didn't love the Lakers' offense and I didn't love their offensive process. I thought that they got a little bit too obsessed with trying to attack Rudy on switches and Luca was cooking him early. But Rudy held up pretty well. Man. He defended nine isolations. The Lakers only scored seven points on those isolations. So I feel like there's this offensive ceiling that we can all see with the Lakers when they're big three is clicking on all cylinders, and like the spot up shooting is there. But at the same time, a lot of the POSSESSI in this game are just them sort of freelancing playing isoball trying to force it against matchups that I don't think are as advantageous for them as maybe they do. And so they really didn't produce good offense for the last three quarters. And like since Luca joined the team, man they were fourteenth in offensive raiding down the stretch of the regular season. So he was great in this game, absolutely, but felt like some of these possessions were stagnant, not a lot of organized offense, and I think you still need more out of Lebron and Austin Reeves going forward. I thought that Lebron honestly had a pretty similar approach to Game one, where he's settling for a lot of jumpers, where he's trying to target the bigs off of switches a bit too much for my liking, where he's more inclined to settle for one of those jumpers as opposed to going after a smaller wing off a switch who he can play bullyball against. So he ends up not having a super productive or efficient day. And then Austin Reeves was okay in this one. I thought he did a better job of beating switches than he did in Game one. He blows by Rudy for a big bucket, he blows by nas Reed for a bucket, and at the end of the day like his three ball just wasn't really on. But still, man, I mean, thirty seven combined points from those guys. It's not the production that I want.

I think the Lakers offense can be better too, And honestly, I would just get back to basics. I don't think they have to do a bunch of complicated stuff with this Minnesota defense. I'm putting the ball in Lebron or Lucas hands every possession. We are going to spread you out, five out, and we're gonna let those guys attack in space and then when the double comes will kick back out or I don't get why they don't get back to just like handoffs and simple shit like that. Man. Like I think back to when these teams played earlier in the season before the playoffs, Like that's what was really working for the Lakers there. And I think they have such a such a large shooting gap between these two teams. The Lakers have such an advantage there that I think that if they just out shooting men soda and volume, it'll balance itself out. Like they'll just outshoot them from behind the arc so much in this series, they should be able to win. Yeah, I didn't get it, man. They got out to such a hot start and they just kind of stalled out late here in this game. Like I mentioned, there's a stretch in the fourth quarter where they're scoreless for three minutes. That allows Minnesota to really get back in this game. But I mean, I think some of it definitely does get chalked up to the physicality of this game and how just the environment of the playoffs here. But I fundamentally I agree with you, and I think maybe this can be enough against Minnesota. When we start looking past Minnesota is when I really think that we're gonna need LA's offense to really be clicking for them to survive.

I think the Lakers offense can be better too, And honestly, I would just get back to basics. I don't think they have to do a bunch of complicated stuff with this Minnesota defense. I'm putting the ball in Lebron or Lucas hands every possession. We are going to spread you out, five out, and we're gonna let those guys attack in space and then when the double comes will kick back out or I don't get why they don't get back to just like handoffs and simple shit like that. Man. Like I think back to when these teams played earlier in the season before the playoffs, Like that's what was really working for the Lakers there. And I think they have such a such a large shooting gap between these two teams. The Lakers have such an advantage there that I think that if they just out shooting men soda and volume, it'll balance itself out. Like they'll just outshoot them from behind the arc so much in this series, they should be able to win. Yeah, I didn't get it, man. They got out to such a hot start and they just kind of stalled out late here in this game. Like I mentioned, there's a stretch in the fourth quarter where they're scoreless for three minutes. That allows Minnesota to really get back in this game. But I mean, I think some of it definitely does get chalked up to the physicality of this game and how just the environment of the playoffs here. But I fundamentally I agree with you, and I think maybe this can be enough against Minnesota. When we start looking past Minnesota is when I really think that we're gonna need LA's offense to really be clicking for them to survive.

I think part of it is Jackson Hayes playing so few minutes, the fact that they don't have any sort of vertical spacer. They basically don't have a functional role man in these lineups. They're not running actually pick and roll. They're literally just calling somebody up to screen to get the switch on Rudy, on Nas on whoever they think that they have an advantage against. And I just think pick and roll is efficient offense. I think that Luke is an absolute master of it. And the fact that they're not able to go to that they only ran twenty pick and rolls in this game. According to Synergy, that is a very very low number for a team to run in an NBA game in twenty twenty five. Normally that number is like in the mid high thirties, so it's a lot of isoball, and it wasn't the most effective in this one, but hey, they were more effective than the team opposite them. I just think more pick and roll would be to their benefit, and maybe Jackson Hayes not getting into such quick foul trouble is to their benefit there because the five out offense, like I love in theory, but I think you feel the lack of a play finishing big to some extent, and I mean in the shooting benefits don't all offset that.

I think part of it is Jackson Hayes playing so few minutes, the fact that they don't have any sort of vertical spacer. They basically don't have a functional role man in these lineups. They're not running actually pick and roll. They're literally just calling somebody up to screen to get the switch on Rudy, on Nas on whoever they think that they have an advantage against. And I just think pick and roll is efficient offense. I think that Luke is an absolute master of it. And the fact that they're not able to go to that they only ran twenty pick and rolls in this game. According to Synergy, that is a very very low number for a team to run in an NBA game in twenty twenty five. Normally that number is like in the mid high thirties, so it's a lot of isoball, and it wasn't the most effective in this one, but hey, they were more effective than the team opposite them. I just think more pick and roll would be to their benefit, and maybe Jackson Hayes not getting into such quick foul trouble is to their benefit there because the five out offense, like I love in theory, but I think you feel the lack of a play finishing big to some extent, and I mean in the shooting benefits don't all offset that.

It just really sucks not having any guy in that kind of archetype when you know how successful any player in that archetype is alongside of Luka Doncic and how much better he makes them, Like, it's not that hard of a piece to acquire, and if they had one, it could take them up a notch already.

It just really sucks not having any guy in that kind of archetype when you know how successful any player in that archetype is alongside of Luka Doncic and how much better he makes them, Like, it's not that hard of a piece to acquire, and if they had one, it could take them up a notch already.

I agree, but I think that Hayes has been decent in his minutes. It's just to yeah, I mean, he got in a foul trouble super quick and this one, and the big thing is they were able to stay positive on the glass without him. That's a huge achievement for them, and that's also a problem for the Timberwolves, like you have to be able to assert your size advantage there. But the Lakers came with a totally different level of intensity in this one, and I thought that that was a huge part of the difference physicality, engagement. Defensively, they just got smacked in the mouth in Game one and they were kind of left slack John and they were like, huh, we weren't really prepared for that this one again, they did. The offense never really got going to its peak potential in this one, but they won the game on the back of their defense. That is an accomplishment and really really impressive stuff from them. I think that we're in for a hell of a series here. I'm gonna stick to my guns and think that the Lakers have a formula that I trust a little bit more, especially when they execute like this defensively. But I do think that we are in for a grind. I think we are in for some more tough offensive games like this, and Timberwolves have to execute a lot better. Lakers can continue to execute better offensively. Both of these teams can be sharper on that end. But Ant has to be much better as a decision maker. Timberwles shooters have to be a lot better. Is there anything else you want to touch on from this one?

I agree, but I think that Hayes has been decent in his minutes. It's just to yeah, I mean, he got in a foul trouble super quick and this one, and the big thing is they were able to stay positive on the glass without him. That's a huge achievement for them, and that's also a problem for the Timberwolves, like you have to be able to assert your size advantage there. But the Lakers came with a totally different level of intensity in this one, and I thought that that was a huge part of the difference physicality, engagement. Defensively, they just got smacked in the mouth in Game one and they were kind of left slack John and they were like, huh, we weren't really prepared for that this one again, they did. The offense never really got going to its peak potential in this one, but they won the game on the back of their defense. That is an accomplishment and really really impressive stuff from them. I think that we're in for a hell of a series here. I'm gonna stick to my guns and think that the Lakers have a formula that I trust a little bit more, especially when they execute like this defensively. But I do think that we are in for a grind. I think we are in for some more tough offensive games like this, and Timberwolves have to execute a lot better. Lakers can continue to execute better offensively. Both of these teams can be sharper on that end. But Ant has to be much better as a decision maker. Timberwles shooters have to be a lot better. Is there anything else you want to touch on from this one?

No, I just AT's got to be better, man, and it's got to be better. I was. I was really disappointed with him in this one, man.

No, I just AT's got to be better, man, and it's got to be better. I was. I was really disappointed with him in this one, man.

But also everybody outside of Julius Good in this game. Conley couldn't make a shot, Jade McDaniels couldn't make a shot. Nas had a couple but wasn't as productive. Nobody could make a shot for the all of.

But also everybody outside of Julius Good in this game. Conley couldn't make a shot, Jade McDaniels couldn't make a shot. Nas had a couple but wasn't as productive. Nobody could make a shot for the all of.

It comes together. Man, it's so bad for Minnesota.

It comes together. Man, it's so bad for Minnesota.

And that's been my concern with the Timberwolves.

And that's been my concern with the Timberwolves.

Man.

Man.

They are a really good basketball team. I would never deny that they They're an excellent defensive team. That clutch offense and that offense overall just concerns me a bit. And they were phenomenal in Game one. They were doing everything right, getting out in transition, ants making the right decisions, They're knocking down all their catch and shoot threes. But I think it's good process to test ants decision making and test the consistency of their shooting. I think It's much better process, certainly than like playing Ant one on one, which I saw some people suggesting they should do, because there were a couple possessions where they didn't help aggressively on Ant, they didn't show aggressive help and like he's getting right to the rim. There were a couple that he didn't finish that I thought he got fouled on, and that was just kind of the way that this game was, like a lot of physicality allowed on both ends. Lakers end up being the one who step up to the challenge and get a much needed big win. We're gonna take a quick break for some words from DraftKings, and then on the other half we will talk about the two remaining games of the day. 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.

They are a really good basketball team. I would never deny that they They're an excellent defensive team. That clutch offense and that offense overall just concerns me a bit. And they were phenomenal in Game one. They were doing everything right, getting out in transition, ants making the right decisions, They're knocking down all their catch and shoot threes. But I think it's good process to test ants decision making and test the consistency of their shooting. I think It's much better process, certainly than like playing Ant one on one, which I saw some people suggesting they should do, because there were a couple possessions where they didn't help aggressively on Ant, they didn't show aggressive help and like he's getting right to the rim. There were a couple that he didn't finish that I thought he got fouled on, and that was just kind of the way that this game was, like a lot of physicality allowed on both ends. Lakers end up being the one who step up to the challenge and get a much needed big win. We're gonna take a quick break for some words from DraftKings, and then on the other half we will talk about the two remaining games of the day. 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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Logan Tyrese Halliburton came into the game today with most overrated player in the league, allegations that came out of some bullshit poll of the NBA put out. He came into this game with Damian Lillard talking shit to him the game prior. And what did he do? He delivered the Indiana Pacers a win. And it's another very nice collective performance from Indiana as they go up to oh in spite of Damian Lillard's return to action. What did you take away from this performance by the Pacers?

Logan Tyrese Halliburton came into the game today with most overrated player in the league, allegations that came out of some bullshit poll of the NBA put out. He came into this game with Damian Lillard talking shit to him the game prior. And what did he do? He delivered the Indiana Pacers a win. And it's another very nice collective performance from Indiana as they go up to oh in spite of Damian Lillard's return to action. What did you take away from this performance by the Pacers?

Why are they hating on our boy like that? Man?

Why are they hating on our boy like that? Man?

Everybody hates whimsy, everybody hates merriment, like everybody hates selfless team basketball? God forbid again, get an opportunity for somebody else.

Everybody hates whimsy, everybody hates merriment, like everybody hates selfless team basketball? God forbid again, get an opportunity for somebody else.

Oh, oh God, I don't get how you can hate Tyrese Halliburton anymore. Man, I love how he plays basketball. Like I don't know, man, I'm that's so baffling to me. Like, so NBA players don't appreciate Tyrese Haliburton either, Come on, man.

Oh, oh God, I don't get how you can hate Tyrese Halliburton anymore. Man, I love how he plays basketball. Like I don't know, man, I'm that's so baffling to me. Like, so NBA players don't appreciate Tyrese Haliburton either, Come on, man.

Well, it's only whatever, like a small percenter of them. Because you could vote for anybody in the league. He just got the highest percenter of the vote. It's still probably like ten percent or something. So yeah, you got ten percent of NBA players who unfortunately don't know ball. It's sad.

Well, it's only whatever, like a small percenter of them. Because you could vote for anybody in the league. He just got the highest percenter of the vote. It's still probably like ten percent or something. So yeah, you got ten percent of NBA players who unfortunately don't know ball. It's sad.

It is sad. I mean I was gonna say, like, I feel bad for him, the guy I do feel bad for as the guy that you mentioned in a tweet. I feel bad for Giannis bro don't. I don't think the Bucks have the horses in this race, man, I just really don't. I don't think they've got the dogs. I don't think they've got what they need to beat Indiana in this series. Like, there is such a large creation and skill gap from these two teams. It is staggering. If it's Tyrese Halliburton every possession, if it's Andrew Nemhart who made huge shot after a huge shot in the fourth quarter. If it's TJ McConnell, who on any given night can come in and give you the spark you need off the bench. There is just such a massive skill and shooting gap between both of these teams. And credit to Milwaukee for coming back in the fourth quarter. That was awesome. They go on a thirteen oh run to cut a fifteen point lead to a two point lead at the end. Bobby Portis had an awesome game, was balling in the fourth quarter. But I just don't know what can go in their favor and what can really change enough to I don't even get them a win. That's at the point I'm at with in Milwaukee. I don't they can get a game. You know, I'm not even at like a series thing with them. They need more from Damian Lillard. They certainly need more from Kyle Kuzma. I think especially look man, I don't want to close the book on him just two games into his playoff career with Milwaukee. I think they have to have buyers or morse with Kuzma, and wish they had held on to Middleton, like just what Middleton can give you in the playoffs as a playmaker, as a high IQ basketball player, because frankly, I don't think there's anything the Bucks can do in this series against Indiana to make them uncomfortable on offense. They just don't have the defensive personnel. And so you think about the trade with Kuzma, that was the idea, and sure Kuzma might get you a few extra boards a game, I would much rather have the offensive player that I believe in more because they still have the biggest defensive liability on the court in Brook Lopez. And as long as you're playing brook Lopez in this series, you're cooked. The Pacers offense is gonna eat. And so now what the Bucks are forced to do is play lineups to maximize their skills. So I think they need to run a ton of lineups with Portis, a ton of lineups with Kevin Porter Junior, with Gary Trench Junior, obviously with Dame and like with AJ Green, they're just playing from a deficit. Man, And uh, that's where I'm adding this series, I don't know if the Bucks are gonna steal a game even with his dominant as Giannis is and has been and is going to be, I don't know how they stop the Pacers. Like I'm one like, do you just stop playing brook Lopez? Do we abandon that completely? Do we just go Yannis and Bobby is our front court? Like that's what's so damning. Brook Lopez is one of their five best players and he's like completely unplayable in this series. And uh, I just think the Bucks are cooked man. And it's not even dude, you know what, I wish all my hater shit. I wish this could be like some Doc Rivers shit, but it's not. It's a Bucks don't The Bucks don't have the dogs. They just don't have the dogs in this race.

It is sad. I mean I was gonna say, like, I feel bad for him, the guy I do feel bad for as the guy that you mentioned in a tweet. I feel bad for Giannis bro don't. I don't think the Bucks have the horses in this race, man, I just really don't. I don't think they've got the dogs. I don't think they've got what they need to beat Indiana in this series. Like, there is such a large creation and skill gap from these two teams. It is staggering. If it's Tyrese Halliburton every possession, if it's Andrew Nemhart who made huge shot after a huge shot in the fourth quarter. If it's TJ McConnell, who on any given night can come in and give you the spark you need off the bench. There is just such a massive skill and shooting gap between both of these teams. And credit to Milwaukee for coming back in the fourth quarter. That was awesome. They go on a thirteen oh run to cut a fifteen point lead to a two point lead at the end. Bobby Portis had an awesome game, was balling in the fourth quarter. But I just don't know what can go in their favor and what can really change enough to I don't even get them a win. That's at the point I'm at with in Milwaukee. I don't they can get a game. You know, I'm not even at like a series thing with them. They need more from Damian Lillard. They certainly need more from Kyle Kuzma. I think especially look man, I don't want to close the book on him just two games into his playoff career with Milwaukee. I think they have to have buyers or morse with Kuzma, and wish they had held on to Middleton, like just what Middleton can give you in the playoffs as a playmaker, as a high IQ basketball player, because frankly, I don't think there's anything the Bucks can do in this series against Indiana to make them uncomfortable on offense. They just don't have the defensive personnel. And so you think about the trade with Kuzma, that was the idea, and sure Kuzma might get you a few extra boards a game, I would much rather have the offensive player that I believe in more because they still have the biggest defensive liability on the court in Brook Lopez. And as long as you're playing brook Lopez in this series, you're cooked. The Pacers offense is gonna eat. And so now what the Bucks are forced to do is play lineups to maximize their skills. So I think they need to run a ton of lineups with Portis, a ton of lineups with Kevin Porter Junior, with Gary Trench Junior, obviously with Dame and like with AJ Green, they're just playing from a deficit. Man, And uh, that's where I'm adding this series, I don't know if the Bucks are gonna steal a game even with his dominant as Giannis is and has been and is going to be, I don't know how they stop the Pacers. Like I'm one like, do you just stop playing brook Lopez? Do we abandon that completely? Do we just go Yannis and Bobby is our front court? Like that's what's so damning. Brook Lopez is one of their five best players and he's like completely unplayable in this series. And uh, I just think the Bucks are cooked man. And it's not even dude, you know what, I wish all my hater shit. I wish this could be like some Doc Rivers shit, but it's not. It's a Bucks don't The Bucks don't have the dogs. They just don't have the dogs in this race.

I will say, Old Doc is definitely not doing them any favors. Like his big plan. His big plan isn't, hey, let's start this game with Bobby at the five, because he was actually pretty effective last game. He was able to switch and that was a much more functional defensive lineup and Brooke was getting torch on every single possession. We should just change our starting lineup. His idea is, what if I take four hundred thousand year old brook Lopez and we have him switch everything. How's that gonna work? Like, dude, you've got a pure drop big trying to play against a Tyrese Haliburt and Miles Turner pick and pop attack. He can't do it. But the answer is not, Let's put him on an island with Halle and see what happens, because he's getting blown by every time. So they only played Brook sixteen minutes in this game. That's a good number, but they did dig themselves a bit of a hole early because he was just getting absolutely exploited defensively. Again, I thought he was better in game one because when they put him in the middle of the zone, at least least he was able to protect the rim at a pretty high level. He has four blocks in this game in his sixteen minutes, but still just way too many instances of him getting brought out into space and exposed against a team that moves the ball too fast, it has too many perimeter threats, that has too many shooting threats. All of their bigs are shooting threats. This just is not the series for brook Lope as I said that coming in, and I just feel more strongly about that each game, each minute, So I will put that on Doc to some extent. Also, I would like to see a Yannis at the five lineup at some point. Now the Yiannis and Bobby frontcourt is really working by their standards, Indiana's just a better team. But I'm saying, compared to the alternative, which is Brook being on the floor, that's been a really good look because Bobby's held up pretty well on those switches. I do wonder if you could get a little bit more speed and defensive versatility out there, and even more shooting around Yannis with him at the five. But also I understand you don't want to have too many smaller guards on the floor, say tech, Yeah, like, if Bobby's gonna play like this, fucking play him thirty plus minutes because he was so good in this game. But still not enough. Man, the Bobby portous game is not enough, and Yannis just walking his way into a light thirty four is not enough. I really do feel so bad for Yannis man because he has strolled his way in to thirty five, fifteen and four on sixty five percent true shooting through two games of this series, and like it's not remotely surprising he gets whatever he wants against the Pacers. I don't think twenty field goal attempts is enough for him in this game. I still think he should have the ball in his hands. Even more, there's one possession where he's calling for the ball coming down the court and KPJ ignores him and just runs a pick and roll and misses, And it's like KPJ, man, what are we doing? Understand the hierarchy, understand that Jannis is unstoppable, especially in this matchup. Get him the ball. It just feels like any possession that has run through anybody else is basically a waste, with the exception of Dame. But I still think that this team should be playing Yannis ball more than they're leaning into Dane pick and roll. Like Yannis is the dude who is the offensive engine in this matchup, and still it's not enough, and like he just doesn't deserve this man, He doesn't deserve to be playing at this level and have a team that is this far away, And it's been apparent all regular season, and it was apparent last season, and they haven't addressed their needs for multiple years. They haven't gotten quicker, they haven't gotten more athletic, they haven't just gotten better role players that they desperately need. They haven't really gotten the personnel to play that Yannis at the five look a lot that I think could be so effective and so here you are. You're in this spot. They really can't slow Indiana down, and nobody other than Yannis has been reliable offensively. Just a shame because he's the best player on the floor by so far, and Game one was the epitome of it. Man, he has nineteen in the first half and they're down twenty four. Now that you have Dame back, you think you're gonna be more competitive, and they were in this game. And I think the big benefit that you should get from having Dame on the floor is that he can help carry the non y honest minutes. But this was a rough return to action for him. Couple of turnovers where he's bothered by having two up at the level, little bit sloppy. I thought Andrew Nemhar did a pretty darn good job on him, just like being an irritant and being quick, and Dame shot was off in this one. So he has the one big deep three. But this was not the performance they needed out of him. Fourteen points four of thirteen from the field. I get that he's just coming back, obviously, thank God that he's good to play after the blood clots, but they need him to be a lot better if they want to have a chance, because this series to Milwaukee is going to come down to them putting up a ton of points and just slowing Indiana down the tiniest bit because they're not getting a lot of stops in this matchup. When they play Brooke, they're helpless defensively. When they have the Yannie Bobby frontcourt, they're significantly better, but they're still struggling to consistently generate stops because the Indian offense is really, really good.

I will say, Old Doc is definitely not doing them any favors. Like his big plan. His big plan isn't, hey, let's start this game with Bobby at the five, because he was actually pretty effective last game. He was able to switch and that was a much more functional defensive lineup and Brooke was getting torch on every single possession. We should just change our starting lineup. His idea is, what if I take four hundred thousand year old brook Lopez and we have him switch everything. How's that gonna work? Like, dude, you've got a pure drop big trying to play against a Tyrese Haliburt and Miles Turner pick and pop attack. He can't do it. But the answer is not, Let's put him on an island with Halle and see what happens, because he's getting blown by every time. So they only played Brook sixteen minutes in this game. That's a good number, but they did dig themselves a bit of a hole early because he was just getting absolutely exploited defensively. Again, I thought he was better in game one because when they put him in the middle of the zone, at least least he was able to protect the rim at a pretty high level. He has four blocks in this game in his sixteen minutes, but still just way too many instances of him getting brought out into space and exposed against a team that moves the ball too fast, it has too many perimeter threats, that has too many shooting threats. All of their bigs are shooting threats. This just is not the series for brook Lope as I said that coming in, and I just feel more strongly about that each game, each minute, So I will put that on Doc to some extent. Also, I would like to see a Yannis at the five lineup at some point. Now the Yiannis and Bobby frontcourt is really working by their standards, Indiana's just a better team. But I'm saying, compared to the alternative, which is Brook being on the floor, that's been a really good look because Bobby's held up pretty well on those switches. I do wonder if you could get a little bit more speed and defensive versatility out there, and even more shooting around Yannis with him at the five. But also I understand you don't want to have too many smaller guards on the floor, say tech, Yeah, like, if Bobby's gonna play like this, fucking play him thirty plus minutes because he was so good in this game. But still not enough. Man, the Bobby portous game is not enough, and Yannis just walking his way into a light thirty four is not enough. I really do feel so bad for Yannis man because he has strolled his way in to thirty five, fifteen and four on sixty five percent true shooting through two games of this series, and like it's not remotely surprising he gets whatever he wants against the Pacers. I don't think twenty field goal attempts is enough for him in this game. I still think he should have the ball in his hands. Even more, there's one possession where he's calling for the ball coming down the court and KPJ ignores him and just runs a pick and roll and misses, And it's like KPJ, man, what are we doing? Understand the hierarchy, understand that Jannis is unstoppable, especially in this matchup. Get him the ball. It just feels like any possession that has run through anybody else is basically a waste, with the exception of Dame. But I still think that this team should be playing Yannis ball more than they're leaning into Dane pick and roll. Like Yannis is the dude who is the offensive engine in this matchup, and still it's not enough, and like he just doesn't deserve this man, He doesn't deserve to be playing at this level and have a team that is this far away, And it's been apparent all regular season, and it was apparent last season, and they haven't addressed their needs for multiple years. They haven't gotten quicker, they haven't gotten more athletic, they haven't just gotten better role players that they desperately need. They haven't really gotten the personnel to play that Yannis at the five look a lot that I think could be so effective and so here you are. You're in this spot. They really can't slow Indiana down, and nobody other than Yannis has been reliable offensively. Just a shame because he's the best player on the floor by so far, and Game one was the epitome of it. Man, he has nineteen in the first half and they're down twenty four. Now that you have Dame back, you think you're gonna be more competitive, and they were in this game. And I think the big benefit that you should get from having Dame on the floor is that he can help carry the non y honest minutes. But this was a rough return to action for him. Couple of turnovers where he's bothered by having two up at the level, little bit sloppy. I thought Andrew Nemhar did a pretty darn good job on him, just like being an irritant and being quick, and Dame shot was off in this one. So he has the one big deep three. But this was not the performance they needed out of him. Fourteen points four of thirteen from the field. I get that he's just coming back, obviously, thank God that he's good to play after the blood clots, but they need him to be a lot better if they want to have a chance, because this series to Milwaukee is going to come down to them putting up a ton of points and just slowing Indiana down the tiniest bit because they're not getting a lot of stops in this matchup. When they play Brooke, they're helpless defensively. When they have the Yannie Bobby frontcourt, they're significantly better, but they're still struggling to consistently generate stops because the Indian offense is really, really good.

So is Brook a DNP the rest of the way, He's.

So is Brook a DNP the rest of the way, He's.

Not a DNP. He's a DNP if Miles Turner is on the floor, and he's a DNP for the most part of Hallie is on the floor, I would say, because it's just the specific two man game with those two that exploits him so much. But realistically, his slow footedness is a problem at all minutes against this Indiana team. I just think you have to play him some like just they don't have that much talent. So if you can get him on the floe.

Not a DNP. He's a DNP if Miles Turner is on the floor, and he's a DNP for the most part of Hallie is on the floor, I would say, because it's just the specific two man game with those two that exploits him so much. But realistically, his slow footedness is a problem at all minutes against this Indiana team. I just think you have to play him some like just they don't have that much talent. So if you can get him on the floe.

Match him with Thomas Bryant minutes, bro.

Match him with Thomas Bryant minutes, bro.

Match him with Thomas Brian minutes. Even though Thomas Bryant can shoot the pill, no disrespect. I'm not nearly as afraid of him as I am Miles Turner. But it's got to be a series where Brook just doesn't play very much. I want to get props Indiana, though, because this offense is a machine, and it's not just exploiting Brook. They're just a really hard offense to slow down. Hallie is the engine behind it, and he was phenomenal in the first half in this game. He had sixteen point seven assists, was blowing by everybody. He was killing Brooke off of switches. But they tried Kyle Kuzma as his matchup for a few possessions, he was blowing by him. He was just getting into the lane over and over again, and he's either scoring or he's creating a great shot for a teammate. Basically every time down and the three ball was falling. So his first half was like perfect outside of a couple turnovers. The second half the shot just wasn't falling. I thought that he forced a couple more. But that's the beauty of the Indiana Pacers experience. Man. You always have dudes who can pick up the slack. Siakham was excellent throughout this game, especially attacking mismatches. He gives you twenty four and eleven. He's bullying some of the slighter wings, the smaller guys like aj Green and Torrian Prince, and then he's too quick for Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. Like Pascal Siakam is sneaky. One of the hardest dudes to guard on an island in the NBA. He is just an ISO in post up and inverted pick and roll machine because he's got such a unique combination of size, speed, skill, physicality, really really tough cover. And I thought that you saw that in this one. And then, like you said, Andrew Nemhart closes that shit out, man. I tweeted, like right before he hit that dagger shot, like these pacers guards, man, they gotta stop trying to go at Yannis off of switches, because he and Hollie both were like trying to force some shots over Jannis and I'm like, that's not the matchup for you. And then of course Nemhart bangs a three in his mouth because playoff Andrew Nemhart is just liked that man. In the playoffs, This dude average is fifteen points five and a half assists per game on sixty six percent true shooting. Like from the regular season.

Match him with Thomas Brian minutes. Even though Thomas Bryant can shoot the pill, no disrespect. I'm not nearly as afraid of him as I am Miles Turner. But it's got to be a series where Brook just doesn't play very much. I want to get props Indiana, though, because this offense is a machine, and it's not just exploiting Brook. They're just a really hard offense to slow down. Hallie is the engine behind it, and he was phenomenal in the first half in this game. He had sixteen point seven assists, was blowing by everybody. He was killing Brooke off of switches. But they tried Kyle Kuzma as his matchup for a few possessions, he was blowing by him. He was just getting into the lane over and over again, and he's either scoring or he's creating a great shot for a teammate. Basically every time down and the three ball was falling. So his first half was like perfect outside of a couple turnovers. The second half the shot just wasn't falling. I thought that he forced a couple more. But that's the beauty of the Indiana Pacers experience. Man. You always have dudes who can pick up the slack. Siakham was excellent throughout this game, especially attacking mismatches. He gives you twenty four and eleven. He's bullying some of the slighter wings, the smaller guys like aj Green and Torrian Prince, and then he's too quick for Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. Like Pascal Siakam is sneaky. One of the hardest dudes to guard on an island in the NBA. He is just an ISO in post up and inverted pick and roll machine because he's got such a unique combination of size, speed, skill, physicality, really really tough cover. And I thought that you saw that in this one. And then, like you said, Andrew Nemhart closes that shit out, man. I tweeted, like right before he hit that dagger shot, like these pacers guards, man, they gotta stop trying to go at Yannis off of switches, because he and Hollie both were like trying to force some shots over Jannis and I'm like, that's not the matchup for you. And then of course Nemhart bangs a three in his mouth because playoff Andrew Nemhart is just liked that man. In the playoffs, This dude average is fifteen points five and a half assists per game on sixty six percent true shooting. Like from the regular season.

What I like about everybody in the Pacers rotation is one nobody is overtasked, but everybody also has such a distinct valuable archetype. Right if it's any of their guards, they're all really high IQ good playmakers, decision makers, and really skilled and can shoot from basically everywhere on the floor. Their wings are really athletic and really good defensively, and they're either good shooters or they're really you know, high end play finishers. If it's like an Obie topping and then they're bigs. You know, they may not be like super plus is defensively like a Siakam or a Turner, but they're all really skilled offensively and compliment He's have such a complimentary roster, man. Everybody fits together. Obviously. Halliburton is the spoon, right, He's the thing that stirs the drink for everybody and gets this thing going. But Pacers are deep, and they're so damn talented. Me and you know, my boy Jaris Walker is getting some minutes too. Now, man, I.

What I like about everybody in the Pacers rotation is one nobody is overtasked, but everybody also has such a distinct valuable archetype. Right if it's any of their guards, they're all really high IQ good playmakers, decision makers, and really skilled and can shoot from basically everywhere on the floor. Their wings are really athletic and really good defensively, and they're either good shooters or they're really you know, high end play finishers. If it's like an Obie topping and then they're bigs. You know, they may not be like super plus is defensively like a Siakam or a Turner, but they're all really skilled offensively and compliment He's have such a complimentary roster, man. Everybody fits together. Obviously. Halliburton is the spoon, right, He's the thing that stirs the drink for everybody and gets this thing going. But Pacers are deep, and they're so damn talented. Me and you know, my boy Jaris Walker is getting some minutes too. Now, man, I.

Just you had three in this game.

Just you had three in this game.

Pacers are solid. Man. The Pacers are so solid, and I just think the Bucks are outmatched.

Pacers are solid. Man. The Pacers are so solid, and I just think the Bucks are outmatched.

Yeah, I mean it's just a team that has a bunch of good basketball players against a team that has one superstar and very few reliable good basketball players around him. Nemhart steps up. I just like he's shiftiness man. He's a tough shot maker, he's a good passer, and he's fearless. Dude. He lives for those clutch moments. And you talk about the depth, man, That's what makes this team special, right. They're just so complete. They have so many positive contributors. Offensively, all of your starters go for fifteen plus in this game. They're all efficient, they're all involved. That's Pacers basketball. Everybody who sees the floor is a good basketball player. You play with pace, you move the ball, you attack defensive weak points, you create and capitalize on advantages. I truly logan have no idea why I had the Knicks over them when we did our contender rankings with Jason like the week before the playoffs, and to my credit, I get I flipped on it before the playoffs even started. I backed off. I said, I don't know what I was thinking, but I think maybe i'd been drugged. Man. I've been advocating for the Pacers ever since they turned it around. They've been so so good for three quarters of the year, and that was a mistake into the state of Indiana. I apologize. I think they're very clearly the third best team in the East. I like their offense more. I think they're more versatile. Their depth is a hell of a lot better.

Yeah, I mean it's just a team that has a bunch of good basketball players against a team that has one superstar and very few reliable good basketball players around him. Nemhart steps up. I just like he's shiftiness man. He's a tough shot maker, he's a good passer, and he's fearless. Dude. He lives for those clutch moments. And you talk about the depth, man, That's what makes this team special, right. They're just so complete. They have so many positive contributors. Offensively, all of your starters go for fifteen plus in this game. They're all efficient, they're all involved. That's Pacers basketball. Everybody who sees the floor is a good basketball player. You play with pace, you move the ball, you attack defensive weak points, you create and capitalize on advantages. I truly logan have no idea why I had the Knicks over them when we did our contender rankings with Jason like the week before the playoffs, and to my credit, I get I flipped on it before the playoffs even started. I backed off. I said, I don't know what I was thinking, but I think maybe i'd been drugged. Man. I've been advocating for the Pacers ever since they turned it around. They've been so so good for three quarters of the year, and that was a mistake into the state of Indiana. I apologize. I think they're very clearly the third best team in the East. I like their offense more. I think they're more versatile. Their depth is a hell of a lot better.

I was gonna say, Man, they probably have the most Unpeople want to say that Halliburton's overrated. I think they have the most underrated duo in basketball, probably in Halle and Siagam.

I was gonna say, Man, they probably have the most Unpeople want to say that Halliburton's overrated. I think they have the most underrated duo in basketball, probably in Halle and Siagam.

That's a good shout. I will say. I think that James Harden and Kawhi give them a run for their money. Now they're getting their hype and now. But everybody literally did a one eighty on Kawhi in one day.

That's a good shout. I will say. I think that James Harden and Kawhi give them a run for their money. Now they're getting their hype and now. But everybody literally did a one eighty on Kawhi in one day.

Bro.

Bro.

That was literally raziest shit ever.

That was literally raziest shit ever.

I mean, I wasn't surprised by the performance, but I'm still kind of reeling. That was literally one of the greatest playoff games I've ever seen played by anybody ever.

I mean, I wasn't surprised by the performance, but I'm still kind of reeling. That was literally one of the greatest playoff games I've ever seen played by anybody ever.

It was dude going back in one watching it, like the number of times the Nuggets were showing help and he just shot Anyways, against a contest with a second defender in the vicinity and he shot fifteen nineteen from the field.

It was dude going back in one watching it, like the number of times the Nuggets were showing help and he just shot Anyways, against a contest with a second defender in the vicinity and he shot fifteen nineteen from the field.

I'm surprised when Kawhi misses man.

I'm surprised when Kawhi misses man.

I am too. I will say, yesterday we were talking on the show, how high does he rank as a playoff scorer? I said, The only dudes I can for sure take above him are Yokichen Shay. I'm gonna give some props to Yannis. I would take Jiannis as well. I just think right now, or of course, he is so high right now as a playoff scorer, like you see it, there are just matchups in which Giannis is completely unguardable and he walks his way to the room ever he wants. Well, I would take Luke over Kawhi as well. I think that Luca, when he's getting by people at a decent rate, gets to the line so much more than Kawhi, and the three point shooting volume is just such an advantage. And then ka d is the one who I think is like right there neck and neck with Kawhi. That's tough because they're both god tier shot makers. Kawhi's strength is something I love so much in the playoffs, but Katie just like is gonna be insanely efficient as a shot maker no matter what, and he gets to the line a good bit more. And I do think he's a better off ball scorer than Kawhi marginally so so I think there's probably five dudes at the end of the day, but Kawhi is right in that range where if you put him anywhere in that top seven, because like shout out to Steph as well, I think that he belongs in these conversations. That's where he is. But I wanted to give Jannis his respect because like, you can't take for granted when you expect a dude to score an efficient thirty five points every single game in a matchup, and that's literally what I expect from Janis in this series, and it's still not gonna be enough. Now, I do think they'll get a game. I think they might get two games. Like he's just so good and Dame you would think is gonna have one performance where he really goes off and hopefully some of the Bucks supporting cast members make some shots and it's not gonna be about them slowing down Indiana. It's just gonna be they have a dynamic offensive performance of their own, like they're capable of that, especially when the ball is in Giannis's hands for a vast majority of the game. But that's not what you want to hear if you're Giannis and you're thirty and you're playing at this level and things have just gotten worse and worse around you for several years now, and your team has no assets to improve it like saying this man, but I think out of there. He's got to be out of there. Just as a basketball fan, I don't want to see him, always want to see him in Milwaukee anymore.