The volume. Oh my god, how could he do that?

The volume. Oh my god, how could he do that?

What Charles Darwin? The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sesh as always, I'm Carson Bradburn. Alongside me is Logan Camden and you already know the drill. We have some amazing playoff basketball to talk about today, and I really truly do mean that. The chaos, the mayhem just continues, and we got another incredible down to the wire finish in Game three of Nuggets Thunder. For the second time in three games in this series. Logan Denver comes out with a win in the most dramatic fashion possible. Once again, it is Aaron Gordon hitting a big shot, not a game winner, but a tire this time in regulation to send things to overtime where Denver pulls away and wins this game. And they did this in spite of the worst Nikola Jokic game we've seen in the playoffs since he reached an MVP level as a basketball player.

What Charles Darwin? The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into Nerd Sesh as always, I'm Carson Bradburn. Alongside me is Logan Camden and you already know the drill. We have some amazing playoff basketball to talk about today, and I really truly do mean that. The chaos, the mayhem just continues, and we got another incredible down to the wire finish in Game three of Nuggets Thunder. For the second time in three games in this series. Logan Denver comes out with a win in the most dramatic fashion possible. Once again, it is Aaron Gordon hitting a big shot, not a game winner, but a tire this time in regulation to send things to overtime where Denver pulls away and wins this game. And they did this in spite of the worst Nikola Jokic game we've seen in the playoffs since he reached an MVP level as a basketball player.

I would see I think this was worse than the one earlier in these playoffs, because I know you had the same take about like.

I would see I think this was worse than the one earlier in these playoffs, because I know you had the same take about like.

No, no, no, no no. What I said in that game was that was the least impactful he'd been in a win. But he didn't really do anything that was hurting the Nuggets in that game. He just wasn't super efficient. Then he just wasn't super involved down the Stretchcas, I think Jamal really took over. He was horrible in this game. He had eight turnovers, He was eight of twenty five from the field, He was oh of ten from deep. How did Denver manage to win this game?

No, no, no, no no. What I said in that game was that was the least impactful he'd been in a win. But he didn't really do anything that was hurting the Nuggets in that game. He just wasn't super efficient. Then he just wasn't super involved down the Stretchcas, I think Jamal really took over. He was horrible in this game. He had eight turnovers, He was eight of twenty five from the field, He was oh of ten from deep. How did Denver manage to win this game?

Down the last logan, It's honestly a little bit of both sides. I think this is in part a little bit of an Oklahoma City choke. But you got to give credit for Denver staying around in this game. And this is what I said about Denver coming into this series and after they eked out a close win earlier in this series. The Denver Nuggets are like a radio active cockroach. You can't kill them like you have got to slam the door when the opportunity presents itself on this team, because I'll tell you, Carson, they're one of the if I was the opposing team, they would be like they strike the most fear in me in terms of the opposing team's clutch offense. They are the last offense that includes like great offenses like Indiana and Cleveland, who were Number one and very high up there this season. Denver, to me, is still the scariest late game offense in basketball and the team you least want lingering around late in an important basketball game. And it's because of the gravity that like Jokic and Jamal can still garner even when Jokic is having an off game. But that's a component of it. But it's really the supporting cast in this game. First, guy, I want to give props to Michael Porter Junior. All of the Denver supporting cast pulled their weight tonight. But I have been very critical of MPJ throughout these playoffs in this series. One, I want to direct a apology first and foremost MPJ for how we were talking about him earlier in this series, because I didn't know his shoulder injury was this severe. Like I knew it was bad, I didn't know it was to the extent that the broadcasters were talking about tonight.

Down the last logan, It's honestly a little bit of both sides. I think this is in part a little bit of an Oklahoma City choke. But you got to give credit for Denver staying around in this game. And this is what I said about Denver coming into this series and after they eked out a close win earlier in this series. The Denver Nuggets are like a radio active cockroach. You can't kill them like you have got to slam the door when the opportunity presents itself on this team, because I'll tell you, Carson, they're one of the if I was the opposing team, they would be like they strike the most fear in me in terms of the opposing team's clutch offense. They are the last offense that includes like great offenses like Indiana and Cleveland, who were Number one and very high up there this season. Denver, to me, is still the scariest late game offense in basketball and the team you least want lingering around late in an important basketball game. And it's because of the gravity that like Jokic and Jamal can still garner even when Jokic is having an off game. But that's a component of it. But it's really the supporting cast in this game. First, guy, I want to give props to Michael Porter Junior. All of the Denver supporting cast pulled their weight tonight. But I have been very critical of MPJ throughout these playoffs in this series. One, I want to direct a apology first and foremost MPJ for how we were talking about him earlier in this series, because I didn't know his shoulder injury was this severe. Like I knew it was bad, I didn't know it was to the extent that the broadcasters were talking about tonight.

Like okay, speak for yourself on that one, because I didn't.

Like okay, speak for yourself on that one, because I didn't.

I didn't know it was this ridiculous, like they were really gassing it up earlier in this game. I didn't know we.

I didn't know it was this ridiculous, like they were really gassing it up earlier in this game. I didn't know we.

Mentioned that it's an ac sprain, you're supposed to sit out. I think it's normally like four weeks.

Mentioned that it's an ac sprain, you're supposed to sit out. I think it's normally like four weeks.

That being said, I don't think it excuses the effort that we've gotten out of MPJ over these last couple of games. But to play through to pain, I think is one thing, But to produce while you're dealing with that pain is truly remarkable.

That being said, I don't think it excuses the effort that we've gotten out of MPJ over these last couple of games. But to play through to pain, I think is one thing, But to produce while you're dealing with that pain is truly remarkable.

Hit.

Hit.

A bunch of big shots was hustling. We're having a bunch of boards super imperative to this victory. The next guy, Aaron Gordon, I think you got to give props to You mentioned the late shot, but I mean he does everything for his team, and AG is one of those guys I want on my team in a big spot, Dude, he does not fear the moment. AG stays ready. I mean he's doing like Robert horri shit in these playoffs, Carson, any big spot, he is delivering. And then you gotta give proft to Jamal Murray. Who dude, when Jamal enters that flow state, I'm gonna just get out the way.

A bunch of big shots was hustling. We're having a bunch of boards super imperative to this victory. The next guy, Aaron Gordon, I think you got to give props to You mentioned the late shot, but I mean he does everything for his team, and AG is one of those guys I want on my team in a big spot, Dude, he does not fear the moment. AG stays ready. I mean he's doing like Robert horri shit in these playoffs, Carson, any big spot, he is delivering. And then you gotta give proft to Jamal Murray. Who dude, when Jamal enters that flow state, I'm gonna just get out the way.

Dude.

Dude.

It was like he was moving in slow motion in this game. The way it felt like he controlled it. Man to finishes at the basket. The defensive stopped late in this game on JADUB, like to see that happening like that was such a big play. That turnover into the bucket was huge tonight. And to with stand a Yokich game like this is super, super impressive, the collective shooting, the defense. What a win for Denver, man, and what a collapse for Okay See. I just think this is an excusable loss on their end, and I think that lays mostly at the feet of Sga. But this is why I said the series is gonna go game seven.

It was like he was moving in slow motion in this game. The way it felt like he controlled it. Man to finishes at the basket. The defensive stopped late in this game on JADUB, like to see that happening like that was such a big play. That turnover into the bucket was huge tonight. And to with stand a Yokich game like this is super, super impressive, the collective shooting, the defense. What a win for Denver, man, and what a collapse for Okay See. I just think this is an excusable loss on their end, and I think that lays mostly at the feet of Sga. But this is why I said the series is gonna go game seven.

Man.

Man.

I thought the Nuggets were gonna eke out some of these close games, and they really have. Okay s He's got to do a better job of slam than the door man. I mean, this clutch offense is one of the scariest I've ever seen.

I thought the Nuggets were gonna eke out some of these close games, and they really have. Okay s He's got to do a better job of slam than the door man. I mean, this clutch offense is one of the scariest I've ever seen.

This is how Denver wins this series. They have to be flawless in these clutch games because, as we talked about after Game two, like OKAC is the team with the potential to run the other out of the gym when everything is working for them, just because they play so hard, they're so athletic, they can force so many turnovers and then if they're also locked in offensively and they're shooting the ball really well, they can just pull away from you and separate at a rate that nobody else can. Denver can't do that to Okay. See, but what Denver can do is out execute them in the clutch, And so far they're two of two executing that formula in those clutch games, and it's given them a two to one series lead. But Denver right now is showing an ability to do something that they never have before, and that is when when Nikole Jokic is bad or completely unremarkable in the playoffs, like this is not a one off. Now, this was exceptional because Okac is so good and Jokic was so bad. But Game seven against the Clippers, the Nuggets were dominant in a well below average Jokich performance. Well below average Game five against the Clippers, the Nuggets were dominant in a well below average Jokis performance. And now in this one, Okase executed their game plan against him to perfection. They were super physical, they were aggressive with the doubles, they were so feisty and pestering with their hands, and they had him in hell. He had eight turnovers in this game logan, he has more turnovers than assists in this series. Nikol Jokic is averaging seven turnovers per game. And then what happens is he's getting so flustered and frustrated with all of this pressure on the interior, all these extra bodies coming at him and all these hands swiping at the ball and all this physicality, that they start getting him to settle and he starts living behind the three point line. Yogics had an amazing three point shooting season, but he's not as consistently great from beyond the arc as he is in the of course, and he was way off in this one. He was zero of ten from deep. So every single box that they could have wanted to check they checked perfectly in terms of guarding Jokic. And guess what overcame that, Jamal Murray giving you an efficient twenty seven points and eight assists in so many clutch buckets down the stretch of this game, a lot of them difficult, man, A tough step back over, iHeart off, a switch, so much difficult shot making with lou Dort attached to him, pretty well, a couple of really tough finishes. Aaron Gordon twenty two points on eleven shots. He continues to show that he has taken maybe the most dramatic single season jump shooting leap I've ever seen from a player of his age. Man, Like, the only comparisons I can really even draw would be like an Al Horford or a Brook Lopez, who became volume three point shooters late into their career because the game had changed, but those guys always had shooting touch, like in every way. As a jump shooter, Aaron Gordon an entirely different player. He was under thirty percent from mid range last year. He was a fifty percent mid range shooter this year. He was twenty nine percent from deep last year. He is forty three percent from deep this season. He was sixty five percent from the line last year. He's eighty one percent from the line this year. And time and again it has been that jump shooting that has come through the game one game winner, and you just see it, like in a multitude of different ways. He's comfortable pulling in transition. He just walks in to a pull up three against drop late in this game, and then obviously he hits the big one, And I don't know how you could possibly lose Gordon in a semi transition spot like that, Like he is one of the most lethal dudes on the floor.

This is how Denver wins this series. They have to be flawless in these clutch games because, as we talked about after Game two, like OKAC is the team with the potential to run the other out of the gym when everything is working for them, just because they play so hard, they're so athletic, they can force so many turnovers and then if they're also locked in offensively and they're shooting the ball really well, they can just pull away from you and separate at a rate that nobody else can. Denver can't do that to Okay. See, but what Denver can do is out execute them in the clutch, And so far they're two of two executing that formula in those clutch games, and it's given them a two to one series lead. But Denver right now is showing an ability to do something that they never have before, and that is when when Nikole Jokic is bad or completely unremarkable in the playoffs, like this is not a one off. Now, this was exceptional because Okac is so good and Jokic was so bad. But Game seven against the Clippers, the Nuggets were dominant in a well below average Jokich performance. Well below average Game five against the Clippers, the Nuggets were dominant in a well below average Jokis performance. And now in this one, Okase executed their game plan against him to perfection. They were super physical, they were aggressive with the doubles, they were so feisty and pestering with their hands, and they had him in hell. He had eight turnovers in this game logan, he has more turnovers than assists in this series. Nikol Jokic is averaging seven turnovers per game. And then what happens is he's getting so flustered and frustrated with all of this pressure on the interior, all these extra bodies coming at him and all these hands swiping at the ball and all this physicality, that they start getting him to settle and he starts living behind the three point line. Yogics had an amazing three point shooting season, but he's not as consistently great from beyond the arc as he is in the of course, and he was way off in this one. He was zero of ten from deep. So every single box that they could have wanted to check they checked perfectly in terms of guarding Jokic. And guess what overcame that, Jamal Murray giving you an efficient twenty seven points and eight assists in so many clutch buckets down the stretch of this game, a lot of them difficult, man, A tough step back over, iHeart off, a switch, so much difficult shot making with lou Dort attached to him, pretty well, a couple of really tough finishes. Aaron Gordon twenty two points on eleven shots. He continues to show that he has taken maybe the most dramatic single season jump shooting leap I've ever seen from a player of his age. Man, Like, the only comparisons I can really even draw would be like an Al Horford or a Brook Lopez, who became volume three point shooters late into their career because the game had changed, but those guys always had shooting touch, like in every way. As a jump shooter, Aaron Gordon an entirely different player. He was under thirty percent from mid range last year. He was a fifty percent mid range shooter this year. He was twenty nine percent from deep last year. He is forty three percent from deep this season. He was sixty five percent from the line last year. He's eighty one percent from the line this year. And time and again it has been that jump shooting that has come through the game one game winner, and you just see it, like in a multitude of different ways. He's comfortable pulling in transition. He just walks in to a pull up three against drop late in this game, and then obviously he hits the big one, And I don't know how you could possibly lose Gordon in a semi transition spot like that, Like he is one of the most lethal dudes on the floor.

I think the dude in the Coroner whoever his garden and was trying to play off the Murray yoke pick and roll. Yeah, I think he just gambled too much. And Gordon Gordon can't say that. Man, Gordon stays ready.

I think the dude in the Coroner whoever his garden and was trying to play off the Murray yoke pick and roll. Yeah, I think he just gambled too much. And Gordon Gordon can't say that. Man, Gordon stays ready.

Can't do that. It's incredible how fluid his release is, how good his touch is. Now, Like Aaron Gordon has been an elite shooter of the basketball and to end this year, and that's not going to change at this point. Like that's who he is now. So that makes him a different level of basketball player. And he already was so damn good.

Can't do that. It's incredible how fluid his release is, how good his touch is. Now, Like Aaron Gordon has been an elite shooter of the basketball and to end this year, and that's not going to change at this point. Like that's who he is now. So that makes him a different level of basketball player. And he already was so damn good.

One of the best role players in basketball. Like, if you were asking me to draft a role player, like you know, we exclude stars, Gordon would be one of the first names off the board for me. Man.

One of the best role players in basketball. Like, if you were asking me to draft a role player, like you know, we exclude stars, Gordon would be one of the first names off the board for me. Man.

Yeah, he's a top fifty player in the league. So he's extremely impactful and like role player, it's such a weird term because a guy like Gordon is still.

Yeah, he's a top fifty player in the league. So he's extremely impactful and like role player, it's such a weird term because a guy like Gordon is still.

He's an elite defender, an elite connector, like now that he's an elite shooter, like it's he's he's a perfect man.

He's an elite defender, an elite connector, like now that he's an elite shooter, like it's he's he's a perfect man.

He's just incredible. And then MPJ, I thought, really kept them in this game in the first half just with that sort of ridiculous contested shot making from beyond the arc that he's capable of. And he's just one of the most special pure jump shooting talents we've seen in this league, and to do that in spite of the energy is so impressive. And to do it while he's being engaged in this game.

He's just incredible. And then MPJ, I thought, really kept them in this game in the first half just with that sort of ridiculous contested shot making from beyond the arc that he's capable of. And he's just one of the most special pure jump shooting talents we've seen in this league, and to do that in spite of the energy is so impressive. And to do it while he's being engaged in this game.

Did you see that loose ball he grab two.

Did you see that loose ball he grab two.

With the lock man he was fighting, He was fighting in this one, and that was absolutely massive. So I don't think there's any question that Denver supporting cast is the story of the playoffs for them, because this is overall, if we look at the ten playoff games that we've gotten from Yokic, very easily the worst that he has played in the playoffs since he reached that MVP level. Like, there have been a number of clunkers. Game two obviously was one. He's faced a couple of really difficult defensive matchups, but Minnesota was an extremely difficult defensive matchup, and like he always found a way to still put up monster production against them, and solve them in some really big moments like Games four and five last year, or to the best offensive games back to back I've ever seen from a player. This year, he has not been nearly at that level of consistency that we're accustomed to. And here the Nuggets are. Man, They're up to one on the Thunder. I just think you have to give so much credit to that. For so much of the year you felt was holding Jokic back or was limiting this team in various ways, and now it's like they're the ones who are stepping up and they're the heroes of this journey.

With the lock man he was fighting, He was fighting in this one, and that was absolutely massive. So I don't think there's any question that Denver supporting cast is the story of the playoffs for them, because this is overall, if we look at the ten playoff games that we've gotten from Yokic, very easily the worst that he has played in the playoffs since he reached that MVP level. Like, there have been a number of clunkers. Game two obviously was one. He's faced a couple of really difficult defensive matchups, but Minnesota was an extremely difficult defensive matchup, and like he always found a way to still put up monster production against them, and solve them in some really big moments like Games four and five last year, or to the best offensive games back to back I've ever seen from a player. This year, he has not been nearly at that level of consistency that we're accustomed to. And here the Nuggets are. Man, They're up to one on the Thunder. I just think you have to give so much credit to that. For so much of the year you felt was holding Jokic back or was limiting this team in various ways, and now it's like they're the ones who are stepping up and they're the heroes of this journey.

Do you think OKC defends Jokic better than anybody else in the league.

Do you think OKC defends Jokic better than anybody else in the league.

I think that they are just flat out, by far, the best defense in the league. So I think they have incredible versatility. I think that they certainly force him into turnovers at a rate that nobody else can match. I think that they frustrate him with their raw activity and their speed certainly more than anybody else. Zoo was certainly the guy who guards him best on an island, but the Thunder don't even try to do that. So I think that Jokic has faced the two most difficult defenses that he could have, Like I think the Clippers in the Thunder, in very different ways defend him better than anybody else. But that still doesn't excuse this performance. And yet the Nuggets won this game. And I just would not have believed you if you told me coming into this series that they won a game where Jokic was eight of twenty five with eight turnovers. Now, part of this is Shay being so bad on the other end, both superstars really really struggled, but I still wouldn't have believed you.

I think that they are just flat out, by far, the best defense in the league. So I think they have incredible versatility. I think that they certainly force him into turnovers at a rate that nobody else can match. I think that they frustrate him with their raw activity and their speed certainly more than anybody else. Zoo was certainly the guy who guards him best on an island, but the Thunder don't even try to do that. So I think that Jokic has faced the two most difficult defenses that he could have, Like I think the Clippers in the Thunder, in very different ways defend him better than anybody else. But that still doesn't excuse this performance. And yet the Nuggets won this game. And I just would not have believed you if you told me coming into this series that they won a game where Jokic was eight of twenty five with eight turnovers. Now, part of this is Shay being so bad on the other end, both superstars really really struggled, but I still wouldn't have believed you.

I mean, I think that a part of it is that championship composure from Denver Oklahoma City. This is still the final prove it test to me with Oklahoma City that they have to get over. It's closing games out confidently, and really it's something that they didn't deal with a lot in the regular season, and that's why I think it's posing such a big challenge for this team now that they're going up against it. Not that they didn't have close games or close finishes in the regular season, but a lot of their victories were blowouts, were by really large margins where they're just running the other team off the floor, and so you can just coast and go on cruise control. Denver is one of these teams that is battle tested and then already did it and got to their championship. And the way they did it was the way they won this game. It's late game offense and just better execution in the most important stretch of games, and that's where Oklahoma City I think leaves the most to be desired. I thought SGA was pretty bad start to finish in this game. This is one of the worst games I've seen him play this year, bar none. SGA looked really rattled, even down to late in this game into overtime. I thought their late game execution was horrible in the overtime period. Now, I don't want to give them a pass for that, I do think their confidence was rattled. I think when Denver put this thing into OT I think all of Oklahoma City's confidence just evaporated instantly. It was like a punch to the gut that takes the air out of your system, Like damn, we let that slip through the fingers and you just kind of felt like all the momentum it shifted in this game was wraps. But even down to their process I thought was bad. It was a lot of attacking and isolation one v one. That's not how this team generates good looks. And damn man, they waste a great Jada game. Dude, Jada firing me up in this one. But that's what it came down to. And I think this is the final test that Oklahoma City's got to prove man, and it's really rough on Sga. Man, this is the worst game I've seen him play, and I think he's probably the biggest okase. He didn't shoot well either from behind the arc in this game. The shooting discrepancy was really large, and I think that was definitely a component. But the guy that I'm gonna lay this at defeat the most is definitely Sga. This is again one of the worst games I've seen him play this year, and he's my MVP.

I mean, I think that a part of it is that championship composure from Denver Oklahoma City. This is still the final prove it test to me with Oklahoma City that they have to get over. It's closing games out confidently, and really it's something that they didn't deal with a lot in the regular season, and that's why I think it's posing such a big challenge for this team now that they're going up against it. Not that they didn't have close games or close finishes in the regular season, but a lot of their victories were blowouts, were by really large margins where they're just running the other team off the floor, and so you can just coast and go on cruise control. Denver is one of these teams that is battle tested and then already did it and got to their championship. And the way they did it was the way they won this game. It's late game offense and just better execution in the most important stretch of games, and that's where Oklahoma City I think leaves the most to be desired. I thought SGA was pretty bad start to finish in this game. This is one of the worst games I've seen him play this year, bar none. SGA looked really rattled, even down to late in this game into overtime. I thought their late game execution was horrible in the overtime period. Now, I don't want to give them a pass for that, I do think their confidence was rattled. I think when Denver put this thing into OT I think all of Oklahoma City's confidence just evaporated instantly. It was like a punch to the gut that takes the air out of your system, Like damn, we let that slip through the fingers and you just kind of felt like all the momentum it shifted in this game was wraps. But even down to their process I thought was bad. It was a lot of attacking and isolation one v one. That's not how this team generates good looks. And damn man, they waste a great Jada game. Dude, Jada firing me up in this one. But that's what it came down to. And I think this is the final test that Oklahoma City's got to prove man, and it's really rough on Sga. Man, this is the worst game I've seen him play, and I think he's probably the biggest okase. He didn't shoot well either from behind the arc in this game. The shooting discrepancy was really large, and I think that was definitely a component. But the guy that I'm gonna lay this at defeat the most is definitely Sga. This is again one of the worst games I've seen him play this year, and he's my MVP.

Yeah, he was really bad, and especially down the stretch. This entire offense was out of sorts. But Shay is supposed to be the guy who can stabilize, who can cover all that up, and who can consistently get you a great shot in the half court, and instead I just thought there were stretches of this game throughout the first three quarters where he was playmaking really well, even though he had a bad scoring first half, I thought that he was creating some good shots for teammates, and he was penetrating the zone, getting into the middle and finding other guys for open looks. And then in the third quarter, I thought that he got going as a scorer, but down the stretch time and again, I just thought that he settled for some really tough pull up looks when the defense loaded up on him, instead of swinging the ball and just getting things moving right, like if there's two on you, if your side is loaded up, then you have an advantage elsewhere. And he just did not do a good job of diagnosing that. He also specifically really relied on the step back threes in isolation because he didn't want to deal with all the traffic it was in those paintspecially late.

Yeah, he was really bad, and especially down the stretch. This entire offense was out of sorts. But Shay is supposed to be the guy who can stabilize, who can cover all that up, and who can consistently get you a great shot in the half court, and instead I just thought there were stretches of this game throughout the first three quarters where he was playmaking really well, even though he had a bad scoring first half, I thought that he was creating some good shots for teammates, and he was penetrating the zone, getting into the middle and finding other guys for open looks. And then in the third quarter, I thought that he got going as a scorer, but down the stretch time and again, I just thought that he settled for some really tough pull up looks when the defense loaded up on him, instead of swinging the ball and just getting things moving right, like if there's two on you, if your side is loaded up, then you have an advantage elsewhere. And he just did not do a good job of diagnosing that. He also specifically really relied on the step back threes in isolation because he didn't want to deal with all the traffic it was in those paintspecially late.

That was one of the last shots that he went to, and it just confused me because that's the that's the shot that I want to give you if I'm the defense, Like I'm happy with that.

That was one of the last shots that he went to, and it just confused me because that's the that's the shot that I want to give you if I'm the defense, Like I'm happy with that.

Well, especially right now, I mean, Shay has not shot the three well in these playoffs. He's at like twenty seven percent. So there was a time in this game where it was like, Okay, he's under control, and he's getting consistently into the paint, and he's finishing well, and the short shot making is pretty good and the playmaking is pretty good, and that just all fell apart in the home stretch when his team needed him most.

Well, especially right now, I mean, Shay has not shot the three well in these playoffs. He's at like twenty seven percent. So there was a time in this game where it was like, Okay, he's under control, and he's getting consistently into the paint, and he's finishing well, and the short shot making is pretty good and the playmaking is pretty good, and that just all fell apart in the home stretch when his team needed him most.

He looked rattled.

He looked rattled.

Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. I think that the entire OKC team outside of Jadab looked rattled. And that's why we can talk about the dudes for Denver stepping up and they deserve so much credit. But Jadab was really phenomenal in this game. I thought that he was so good getting down hill consistently, but he also saw just like some of his bad work bag work, his herky jerkiness. He hits such a nasty up and under, and then last couple possessions like Shaye is bleeding the shot clock and like he knows that that double is coming eventually and he's kind of either jacking up a pretty tough shot or in overtime, you see him a couple of times try to get the ball to iHeart, whose pushot was off late in this one, but Jadub hits a three off the catch when Shae finds him off a double as the shot clock is winding down. That was huge. Next possession, Jadub draws a foul attacking off the catch off of a Shade double. So like he did his job throughout this entire game and on those last couple possessions of regulation to win this team the game in spite of Shay's really bad performance. But then in overtime, nobody was good for Okay. See, I thought their entire process was bad. I thought that Jadob started forcing a couple of very questionable drives into packed paints. I heart just looked super tight, man. I mean, he was missing those push shots there badly. When early in this game, first quarter he was automatic. I mean, obviously he's like sixty percent on those shots. So their entire offense was very stagnant. It was very ice so heavy, and obviously, like Shay is a special isolationist, but he wasn't in this game. He was really really struggling in this game. And they're loading up and they're packing paints, and I just think the thunder have to do a better job of getting the ball moving. Shooters have to be more comfortable off the catch, Like lou Dort looked like he didn't want to take a look late this game. The last three he did take he bricked so badly. Chet stopped wanting to take looks off the catch like this really felt like an experienced thing, which I've been someone who has downplayed. I'm like, okay SE's just so great, but in these clutch moments, Denver has been here so many times. Their process is so automatic, and even when Jokic is off, Jamal is just one of the best difficult shot makers the two man game is going to get great shots. He can make something special happens. Man, they know what they're going to they know their bread and butter, and Okayse just did not have that at all. And it was the stars and the role players alike. They all were just totally out of sorts.

Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. I think that the entire OKC team outside of Jadab looked rattled. And that's why we can talk about the dudes for Denver stepping up and they deserve so much credit. But Jadab was really phenomenal in this game. I thought that he was so good getting down hill consistently, but he also saw just like some of his bad work bag work, his herky jerkiness. He hits such a nasty up and under, and then last couple possessions like Shaye is bleeding the shot clock and like he knows that that double is coming eventually and he's kind of either jacking up a pretty tough shot or in overtime, you see him a couple of times try to get the ball to iHeart, whose pushot was off late in this one, but Jadub hits a three off the catch when Shae finds him off a double as the shot clock is winding down. That was huge. Next possession, Jadub draws a foul attacking off the catch off of a Shade double. So like he did his job throughout this entire game and on those last couple possessions of regulation to win this team the game in spite of Shay's really bad performance. But then in overtime, nobody was good for Okay. See, I thought their entire process was bad. I thought that Jadob started forcing a couple of very questionable drives into packed paints. I heart just looked super tight, man. I mean, he was missing those push shots there badly. When early in this game, first quarter he was automatic. I mean, obviously he's like sixty percent on those shots. So their entire offense was very stagnant. It was very ice so heavy, and obviously, like Shay is a special isolationist, but he wasn't in this game. He was really really struggling in this game. And they're loading up and they're packing paints, and I just think the thunder have to do a better job of getting the ball moving. Shooters have to be more comfortable off the catch, Like lou Dort looked like he didn't want to take a look late this game. The last three he did take he bricked so badly. Chet stopped wanting to take looks off the catch like this really felt like an experienced thing, which I've been someone who has downplayed. I'm like, okay SE's just so great, but in these clutch moments, Denver has been here so many times. Their process is so automatic, and even when Jokic is off, Jamal is just one of the best difficult shot makers the two man game is going to get great shots. He can make something special happens. Man, they know what they're going to they know their bread and butter, and Okayse just did not have that at all. And it was the stars and the role players alike. They all were just totally out of sorts.

And what really didn't make sense to me about Oklahoma City is one again, I think this is an excusable loss with what you got out of Jokic, and but more importantly, the strangest thing to me was how the momentum completely flipped like one eighty in this game, because I'd say for the first three quarters into the beginning of the fourth, I thought Oklahoma City was dictating. I thought they were kind of bullying and moving Denver around like they were playing physical with them.

And what really didn't make sense to me about Oklahoma City is one again, I think this is an excusable loss with what you got out of Jokic, and but more importantly, the strangest thing to me was how the momentum completely flipped like one eighty in this game, because I'd say for the first three quarters into the beginning of the fourth, I thought Oklahoma City was dictating. I thought they were kind of bullying and moving Denver around like they were playing physical with them.

I mean, they were getting great shots. The only thing that kept them from pulling away by Moore was the outside shooting. They were missing good looks from three.

I mean, they were getting great shots. The only thing that kept them from pulling away by Moore was the outside shooting. They were missing good looks from three.

I mean they were manufacturing. And that is where I want to also be critical of Yokic, because it was a really bad Yokic offensive game. I thought it was a really bad Jokic defensive game in the beginning too, just a lot of easy straight line drives and again, these guys aren't easy to guard. It's not easy guarding a jade ub, but it was just too easy, and I felt like Okase was really winning the physicality battle. And then in the fourth all of that went away, like they just they crumbled. I don't know a better word for it.

I mean they were manufacturing. And that is where I want to also be critical of Yokic, because it was a really bad Yokic offensive game. I thought it was a really bad Jokic defensive game in the beginning too, just a lot of easy straight line drives and again, these guys aren't easy to guard. It's not easy guarding a jade ub, but it was just too easy, and I felt like Okase was really winning the physicality battle. And then in the fourth all of that went away, like they just they crumbled. I don't know a better word for it.

No, that is what happened. And I agree okay See was getting what they wanted in the paint. Jokis just obviously has his limitations as a rimp protector, not being a vertical athlete. Like I thought he made some plays with his hands. I thought that he was fine defensively in this game. I thought they were really struggling to contain the ball for most of this game early on, so okay See was getting great shots until they weren't, and down the stretch they really really weren't. They also were busting Denver's ass on the glass, which like should not happen. The Nuggets have the size advantage, they are the better rebounding team, but okay See was just so much quicker to the ball. They were so much more active. So they go plus thirteen. They're getting great shots and they just couldn't make enough of them. And then there couldn't have been a more drastic difference in terms of the comfort between these two teams down the stretch, special stuff from Jamal Murray, Like I think he mpj Aaron Gordon, they all need their credit, but it really is Jamal who just shines down the stretch and playoff Jamal Murray, Man, we're seeing him right now.

No, that is what happened. And I agree okay See was getting what they wanted in the paint. Jokis just obviously has his limitations as a rimp protector, not being a vertical athlete. Like I thought he made some plays with his hands. I thought that he was fine defensively in this game. I thought they were really struggling to contain the ball for most of this game early on, so okay See was getting great shots until they weren't, and down the stretch they really really weren't. They also were busting Denver's ass on the glass, which like should not happen. The Nuggets have the size advantage, they are the better rebounding team, but okay See was just so much quicker to the ball. They were so much more active. So they go plus thirteen. They're getting great shots and they just couldn't make enough of them. And then there couldn't have been a more drastic difference in terms of the comfort between these two teams down the stretch, special stuff from Jamal Murray, Like I think he mpj Aaron Gordon, they all need their credit, but it really is Jamal who just shines down the stretch and playoff Jamal Murray, Man, we're seeing him right now.

It's awesome. Jortin they got clutch on ninety nine. Man.

It's awesome. Jortin they got clutch on ninety nine. Man.

They do also huge. The Nuggets won the non Jokic minus today. Man, they were plus four and the non Yoksmiths. A lot of that was MPG shooting the shit out of the ball in those minutes, so like they checked every box around Jokic at such an incredibly high level that they were still able to pull this one out even though he could not have played worse in this basketball game. And he makes a couple of shots in ot but they had to get there, man, in spite of him being as bad as he was.

They do also huge. The Nuggets won the non Jokic minus today. Man, they were plus four and the non Yoksmiths. A lot of that was MPG shooting the shit out of the ball in those minutes, so like they checked every box around Jokic at such an incredibly high level that they were still able to pull this one out even though he could not have played worse in this basketball game. And he makes a couple of shots in ot but they had to get there, man, in spite of him being as bad as he was.

Jokic play made well and stuff. But like it's the standard, it's the standard of the Yokas.

Jokic play made well and stuff. But like it's the standard, it's the standard of the Yokas.

Come on, man, Yeah, let's be real, we're as big of Yokis glazers as they come. He played horribly. Yeah, the best player in the world. We want to talk about him as the best player in the world. Like there's no if sands or butts. You have to hold him to a standard, and this is so so so far below his standard.

Come on, man, Yeah, let's be real, we're as big of Yokis glazers as they come. He played horribly. Yeah, the best player in the world. We want to talk about him as the best player in the world. Like there's no if sands or butts. You have to hold him to a standard, and this is so so so far below his standard.

Yeah, I'm not cutting him slack. I'm just saying he did play make a right, but he and he had won layup. I think at the end it was a pretty big like they needed a bucket. But yeah, this is to the rim, really easy to It's one of the worst Yokic games I've seen though, man, And for Denver to survive it, it's it's ridiculous.

Yeah, I'm not cutting him slack. I'm just saying he did play make a right, but he and he had won layup. I think at the end it was a pretty big like they needed a bucket. But yeah, this is to the rim, really easy to It's one of the worst Yokic games I've seen though, man, And for Denver to survive it, it's it's ridiculous.

Man.

Man.

I I if you had told me, like you said, Man, if you had told me coming into this series, that the Nuggets would be up two to one, I would have said, all right, Denver's nice, they got Yokic, I can buy it. Two to one like this, no shot, no shot. I'm so I'm really disappointed in Oklahoma City. And now ironically the pressures on them. Man, you gotta steal a game because they stole the game on your floor. You got to get that lick back. And if they don't, I'm really nervous. Like, obviously, three to one, it's a really hard hole to dig out, you know, dig out of anyway. But yeah, I'm I'm nervous for Oklahoma City. Man, I am, like, I don't. It feels like they're reeling and on the ropes right now.

I I if you had told me, like you said, Man, if you had told me coming into this series, that the Nuggets would be up two to one, I would have said, all right, Denver's nice, they got Yokic, I can buy it. Two to one like this, no shot, no shot. I'm so I'm really disappointed in Oklahoma City. And now ironically the pressures on them. Man, you gotta steal a game because they stole the game on your floor. You got to get that lick back. And if they don't, I'm really nervous. Like, obviously, three to one, it's a really hard hole to dig out, you know, dig out of anyway. But yeah, I'm I'm nervous for Oklahoma City. Man, I am, like, I don't. It feels like they're reeling and on the ropes right now.

I do think there's a lot of positive indicators for OKC in a sense, and what I mean by that is they are doing an unbelievable job on Jokic, and outside of the fourth quarter of Game one, that has been consistent throughout this entire series. Like, he put up big numbers in the first three quarters in Game one, but he was turning the ball over a lot. He wasn't efficient. Game two, he was really bad. At Game three, he was really bad. That's huge to be able to give him as much trouble as they have. There are certain areas where out in transition they are consistently winning. The fact that they were able to win on the glass in a game like this, like TJ McConnell had a quote that I really liked recently, playing hard is a skill, and Denver's been playing hard in this game. Obviously, Game two they didn't play hard whatsoever. They didn't even show up to that game mentally. But nobody plays harder than OKC, so that is consistent. I still trust their depth more. I think for the most part they will win the non superstar minutes. And again they got a lot of good shots, but they didn't make those shots, and so you feel like they have to create a lot of separation to feel confident in them winning the game because if they don't, if it comes down to another spot like this in game four, game five, game six, game seven, like I'm gonna be more confident in Denver in that spot. They showed the stat Okay sees average margin to victory in this matchup is twenty seven points and Denver's is five point seven. Like that's very fitting, and you know that that's how Denver has to win these games, and you think that's hard to do four times, but the gap in those spots has been big. So I still think okay See is clearly the better basketball team. But the better basketball team doesn't always win, like okay See will have the higher point differential in this series. That's not the objective though. We're not measuring net rating here. We're measuring who can win four out of seven games, And whether you win by thirty or you win by three, it counts the same. That's Denver's advantage, man, Like you trust them to win by three. So I still think okay See is probably gonna win this series, but I wouldn't be surprised if Denver did.

I do think there's a lot of positive indicators for OKC in a sense, and what I mean by that is they are doing an unbelievable job on Jokic, and outside of the fourth quarter of Game one, that has been consistent throughout this entire series. Like, he put up big numbers in the first three quarters in Game one, but he was turning the ball over a lot. He wasn't efficient. Game two, he was really bad. At Game three, he was really bad. That's huge to be able to give him as much trouble as they have. There are certain areas where out in transition they are consistently winning. The fact that they were able to win on the glass in a game like this, like TJ McConnell had a quote that I really liked recently, playing hard is a skill, and Denver's been playing hard in this game. Obviously, Game two they didn't play hard whatsoever. They didn't even show up to that game mentally. But nobody plays harder than OKC, so that is consistent. I still trust their depth more. I think for the most part they will win the non superstar minutes. And again they got a lot of good shots, but they didn't make those shots, and so you feel like they have to create a lot of separation to feel confident in them winning the game because if they don't, if it comes down to another spot like this in game four, game five, game six, game seven, like I'm gonna be more confident in Denver in that spot. They showed the stat Okay sees average margin to victory in this matchup is twenty seven points and Denver's is five point seven. Like that's very fitting, and you know that that's how Denver has to win these games, and you think that's hard to do four times, but the gap in those spots has been big. So I still think okay See is clearly the better basketball team. But the better basketball team doesn't always win, like okay See will have the higher point differential in this series. That's not the objective though. We're not measuring net rating here. We're measuring who can win four out of seven games, And whether you win by thirty or you win by three, it counts the same. That's Denver's advantage, man, Like you trust them to win by three. So I still think okay See is probably gonna win this series, but I wouldn't be surprised if Denver did.

You know what just reminds me of Carson?

You know what just reminds me of Carson?

What does it remind you of? Man?

What does it remind you of? Man?

Dude? The nineteen sixty World Series between the Yankees and the Pirates.

Dude? The nineteen sixty World Series between the Yankees and the Pirates.

Man, tell me more such sharp.

Man, tell me more such sharp.

The Pirates end up winning this series, yeah, four to three and seven. All the games the Yankees wins are all blowouts, ten to nothing, sixteen to three. They're kicking the Pirates ass, but the Pirates eke out and they win all of the close games. And so to point differential in then Yankees won, but the Pirates got four. It's similar.

The Pirates end up winning this series, yeah, four to three and seven. All the games the Yankees wins are all blowouts, ten to nothing, sixteen to three. They're kicking the Pirates ass, but the Pirates eke out and they win all of the close games. And so to point differential in then Yankees won, but the Pirates got four. It's similar.

I had a question, so are you saying that you think Denver is gonna win this series? Is that what you're saying with that comparison.

I had a question, so are you saying that you think Denver is gonna win this series? Is that what you're saying with that comparison.

No, my take originally was thunder and seven, and I think we're building up to thunder and seven. I think that, like you said, this is a really bad OKC game, But holy shit, has everything had to go right for Denver? And I don't want to take any This is not me taking anything away from Denver in Game three or one, but they defended Jokics really well. They shot like ass. SGA had a whole game, no points, no buckets in the fourth or overtime. To me, the shooting, this is the best shooting team in the regular season. SGA was the one of the best offensive players in basketball. I don't expect them to crumble like that. I expect the basketball pendulum to swing back into their favor. Here's what I'm saying. I'm gonna stick to my guns, and I'm will say thunder and seven, but I would not at all be surprised if the Nuggets win this series. I'm I'll put some respect on them. Man, I'm I'm thoroughly impressed. I didn't want to ask you though. We haven't gotten there yet. But if we do, if the Nuggets win this thing, they get to the Western Conference Finals. Using that big old brainy Ords Carson. Is there any team that you can remember in basketball history that has fired their coach mid season and went to the conference finals or further midseason?

No, my take originally was thunder and seven, and I think we're building up to thunder and seven. I think that, like you said, this is a really bad OKC game, But holy shit, has everything had to go right for Denver? And I don't want to take any This is not me taking anything away from Denver in Game three or one, but they defended Jokics really well. They shot like ass. SGA had a whole game, no points, no buckets in the fourth or overtime. To me, the shooting, this is the best shooting team in the regular season. SGA was the one of the best offensive players in basketball. I don't expect them to crumble like that. I expect the basketball pendulum to swing back into their favor. Here's what I'm saying. I'm gonna stick to my guns, and I'm will say thunder and seven, but I would not at all be surprised if the Nuggets win this series. I'm I'll put some respect on them. Man, I'm I'm thoroughly impressed. I didn't want to ask you though. We haven't gotten there yet. But if we do, if the Nuggets win this thing, they get to the Western Conference Finals. Using that big old brainy Ords Carson. Is there any team that you can remember in basketball history that has fired their coach mid season and went to the conference finals or further midseason?

Yeah, I mean there's a number of examples. Actually, you have the six heat did it. You have the twenty sixteen Cavs fired David Blatten they brought and Tylu. You have the Lakers with Paul west Head in nineteen eighty two. Those are all teams who went on to win the title. Was there ever a team to do it with three games remaining in the season.

Yeah, I mean there's a number of examples. Actually, you have the six heat did it. You have the twenty sixteen Cavs fired David Blatten they brought and Tylu. You have the Lakers with Paul west Head in nineteen eighty two. Those are all teams who went on to win the title. Was there ever a team to do it with three games remaining in the season.

No.

No.

And that's why you can't overstate how impressive it is that Denver has rallied and they have found their defensive identity in big moments, and they are getting like such phenomenal performances out of Aaron Gordon, out of Jamal Murray. It's such a collective achievement and it is historically unprecedented. When it comes down to where this series is headed, from here, I would tend to agree and think that the Thunders still gut it out and seven, and the reason is what we've talked about. I do think they have so much more margin and if they get one clutch game, they'll win the series. Like Denver has to be perfect in those spots, because Okase, he's gonna win another game by fifteen to twenty. Like they can just bludgeon you in a way that is so rare on both sides of the ball, and that will happen again. But shake Gilgess, Alexander Logan, this is unexcusable man. And Jokic it was also unexcusable. Again, it just comes down to, like, whose teammates were able to make enough plays down the stretch. But at least Jokic made a couple of plays in overtime. Sga was one of eight in the fourth quarter. Can't do that, Man, just absolutely cannot excuse that. And in the fourth quarter of Game one, it's Yoki who comes in with eighteen. It's Yoki who has a superhuman performance in that one. And Shay was not bad down the stretch. But Shay was not great down the stretch of that game. He definitely wasn't great. So he has got to play at the level that he is capable of. And I think a lot of it just comes down to playmaking, to getting off the ball more quickly, to trusting his teammates, to trying to get downhill and get the driving kick games started. And then guys around him have to be able to knock down shots, which again, like you haven't felt great about them doing down the stretch. It really is so mental. It feels so mental right now between these two teams. That's Denver's big advantage. Anything else do you want to say about this game? Logan, No, I.

And that's why you can't overstate how impressive it is that Denver has rallied and they have found their defensive identity in big moments, and they are getting like such phenomenal performances out of Aaron Gordon, out of Jamal Murray. It's such a collective achievement and it is historically unprecedented. When it comes down to where this series is headed, from here, I would tend to agree and think that the Thunders still gut it out and seven, and the reason is what we've talked about. I do think they have so much more margin and if they get one clutch game, they'll win the series. Like Denver has to be perfect in those spots, because Okase, he's gonna win another game by fifteen to twenty. Like they can just bludgeon you in a way that is so rare on both sides of the ball, and that will happen again. But shake Gilgess, Alexander Logan, this is unexcusable man. And Jokic it was also unexcusable. Again, it just comes down to, like, whose teammates were able to make enough plays down the stretch. But at least Jokic made a couple of plays in overtime. Sga was one of eight in the fourth quarter. Can't do that, Man, just absolutely cannot excuse that. And in the fourth quarter of Game one, it's Yoki who comes in with eighteen. It's Yoki who has a superhuman performance in that one. And Shay was not bad down the stretch. But Shay was not great down the stretch of that game. He definitely wasn't great. So he has got to play at the level that he is capable of. And I think a lot of it just comes down to playmaking, to getting off the ball more quickly, to trusting his teammates, to trying to get downhill and get the driving kick games started. And then guys around him have to be able to knock down shots, which again, like you haven't felt great about them doing down the stretch. It really is so mental. It feels so mental right now between these two teams. That's Denver's big advantage. Anything else do you want to say about this game? Logan, No, I.

Think I think we hit on it. I mean, the only thing, yeah, that I emphasize is just how bad Oklahoma City shot from behind the three point line. Like I think that Chet could have shot better. I think Sga obviously Caruso. But yeah, I think it's gonna balance out. Man. I think I said it when we came in, I thought we were getting seven. I thought this is gonna be an absolute war. And uh, this has been such an awesome series, even with these collapses, like these two games have been. I think the two best in the playoffs.

Think I think we hit on it. I mean, the only thing, yeah, that I emphasize is just how bad Oklahoma City shot from behind the three point line. Like I think that Chet could have shot better. I think Sga obviously Caruso. But yeah, I think it's gonna balance out. Man. I think I said it when we came in, I thought we were getting seven. I thought this is gonna be an absolute war. And uh, this has been such an awesome series, even with these collapses, like these two games have been. I think the two best in the playoffs.

Man, I guess that's great game.

Man, I guess that's great game.

I guess if you're an Okay, I guess if you're an OKC fan, maybe you don't feel that well. The other Nuggets buzzer beater, I think the Nuggets and who are your two favorite watches? I think the Nuggets, Nuggets, and Pacers might beat there.

I guess if you're an Okay, I guess if you're an OKC fan, maybe you don't feel that well. The other Nuggets buzzer beater, I think the Nuggets and who are your two favorite watches? I think the Nuggets, Nuggets, and Pacers might beat there.

They might Nugets, Thunder, Pacers, Calves, who ironically they're all playing each other. Those are probably my four favorite teams to watch. Off the top of my head. I couldn't put this game up there, even though the ending was so insane, just because like Shaye and it were both so bad.

They might Nugets, Thunder, Pacers, Calves, who ironically they're all playing each other. Those are probably my four favorite teams to watch. Off the top of my head. I couldn't put this game up there, even though the ending was so insane, just because like Shaye and it were both so bad.

Did you want to talk about the dumbass challenge it, Dan, that's a good point, yeah, the hartensteinfol the dagnaal one, Yeah.

Did you want to talk about the dumbass challenge it, Dan, that's a good point, yeah, the hartensteinfol the dagnaal one, Yeah.

Yeah, yeah. I mean that was a terrible challenge cost him a timeout. But I don't know was there another play that they would have wanted to use that challenge for later? I can't think of one like chat Gott Murray's arm on that contest. That's the only other call that comes to mind that was like contested where they would have been able to use it. So I didn't think that cost them, but I did think that that was a terrible challenge. Would you have a couple of super chats. Mawi says, can't believe you guys ranked Chet above Jadab.

Yeah, yeah. I mean that was a terrible challenge cost him a timeout. But I don't know was there another play that they would have wanted to use that challenge for later? I can't think of one like chat Gott Murray's arm on that contest. That's the only other call that comes to mind that was like contested where they would have been able to use it. So I didn't think that cost them, but I did think that that was a terrible challenge. Would you have a couple of super chats. Mawi says, can't believe you guys ranked Chet above Jadab.

I have Chet above Jadob. I mean, look, yeah, one, I say this about every sport. Every play with one good game does not a player make. And I think Jado's really great. Like, if there's one thing I might adjust, I might slide Jada up in there and move like I know, I won't say maybe I'm not gonna have no cavat. I would slide Jada ub in there over some of the guys I had in my top thirty, I'd have him above Jaw. I think i'd probably have him above Fox. I'm trying to think about that. I'm really considering him over Jaylen Brown the way you did in our list. So I think Jadob's top thirty. I think I was too low on Jadab. I will say that hand up the total impact that you're getting from Jadab, defense, rebounding, and scoring. I think he is a top thirty player. So I was too low on Jadab. That being said, I would still have Chet above him. And despite chet struggles in game one, the collapse, despite him not shooting the ball well, in this one. I thought it was a really impressive check game for the most part, especially defensively in what you got from him on the glass, So it might be closer between him and I would have Jadob in my top thirty shoutout Jada, but I would still have Chet above him.

I have Chet above Jadob. I mean, look, yeah, one, I say this about every sport. Every play with one good game does not a player make. And I think Jado's really great. Like, if there's one thing I might adjust, I might slide Jada up in there and move like I know, I won't say maybe I'm not gonna have no cavat. I would slide Jada ub in there over some of the guys I had in my top thirty, I'd have him above Jaw. I think i'd probably have him above Fox. I'm trying to think about that. I'm really considering him over Jaylen Brown the way you did in our list. So I think Jadob's top thirty. I think I was too low on Jadab. I will say that hand up the total impact that you're getting from Jadab, defense, rebounding, and scoring. I think he is a top thirty player. So I was too low on Jadab. That being said, I would still have Chet above him. And despite chet struggles in game one, the collapse, despite him not shooting the ball well, in this one. I thought it was a really impressive check game for the most part, especially defensively in what you got from him on the glass, So it might be closer between him and I would have Jadob in my top thirty shoutout Jada, but I would still have Chet above him.

I do think it gets more interesting in a playoff environment where that ability to create becomes so valuable. I think that Chet is pretty clearly the more valuable regular season player, but Jadub does have an ability to take over again game like this down the stretch that Chet does not. He doesn't have that level of offensive comfort. That being said, so much of what Chet does that is so insanely impactful isn't like super sexy necessarily. It's being a top five defensive player on the planet protecting the rim at an unfathomable level, which he did in this game. You mentioned he was phenomenal on the boards sixteen rebounds in total, and he was playing really well offensively in the first half. He was getting out in transition, he was using his speed to get past Jokic in the half court, he was finishing a couple of lobs, and then he really shot poorly down the stretch, so I wouldn't be mad at all by a Jadab over Chet take. I do think that Jadab has been the better player in the playoffs overall, although they were very close in Round one. They were both exceptional, but Jada was really bad in Game one of this series, but then he was good last game and he was great in this one, so I wouldn't be mad at it. I would say Chet's consistent top five defensive impact, with his offensive versatility, with his normally offensive efficiency, that gives him the slight edge. But the three point shot has to hold up for him, and I do have some hesitations with it at this point in the playoffs. There are times where you feel like he's a little bit nervous or maybe he doesn't fully have his legs and he starts sort of shooting those line drives and Jadab I do feel more confident in just offensively being comfortable in those spots. We have another donation from Gabriel, thank you very much. Between Gordon Healed and Nemhard, McDaniel, Struse, etc. Is this the most impactful role players have ever been in the postseason.

I do think it gets more interesting in a playoff environment where that ability to create becomes so valuable. I think that Chet is pretty clearly the more valuable regular season player, but Jadub does have an ability to take over again game like this down the stretch that Chet does not. He doesn't have that level of offensive comfort. That being said, so much of what Chet does that is so insanely impactful isn't like super sexy necessarily. It's being a top five defensive player on the planet protecting the rim at an unfathomable level, which he did in this game. You mentioned he was phenomenal on the boards sixteen rebounds in total, and he was playing really well offensively in the first half. He was getting out in transition, he was using his speed to get past Jokic in the half court, he was finishing a couple of lobs, and then he really shot poorly down the stretch, so I wouldn't be mad at all by a Jadab over Chet take. I do think that Jadab has been the better player in the playoffs overall, although they were very close in Round one. They were both exceptional, but Jada was really bad in Game one of this series, but then he was good last game and he was great in this one, so I wouldn't be mad at it. I would say Chet's consistent top five defensive impact, with his offensive versatility, with his normally offensive efficiency, that gives him the slight edge. But the three point shot has to hold up for him, and I do have some hesitations with it at this point in the playoffs. There are times where you feel like he's a little bit nervous or maybe he doesn't fully have his legs and he starts sort of shooting those line drives and Jadab I do feel more confident in just offensively being comfortable in those spots. We have another donation from Gabriel, thank you very much. Between Gordon Healed and Nemhard, McDaniel, Struse, etc. Is this the most impactful role players have ever been in the postseason.

It's a good question. I think role players always swing games every single postseason, no matter the team, I think there's always gonna be guys to step up and pick up this leg. But I think you should. I'm going to turn it over to you, Carson, And I think it goes into the part that you've been talking about just with depth and everything and how that works in I do think the league's more talented now. But uh hey, I think teams are just deeper. I think depth is just better.

It's a good question. I think role players always swing games every single postseason, no matter the team, I think there's always gonna be guys to step up and pick up this leg. But I think you should. I'm going to turn it over to you, Carson, And I think it goes into the part that you've been talking about just with depth and everything and how that works in I do think the league's more talented now. But uh hey, I think teams are just deeper. I think depth is just better.

Yeah, role players are just capable of a lot more. Like when we talk about Aaron Gordon. First of all, I do think he's like a top fifty player in basketball, and we're calling him a role player just because he doesn't have like the offensive volume of a conventional star, but all the things that he can do at a high level. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions at a high level. He is a really effective mismatch attacker. He is now an elite shooter of the basketball. He's a really good offensive rebounder. He is excellent as a cutter. He's excellent in the duncker spot. He's a good connective passer. Like his skill set is so multifaceted, and that is why we are seeing more highly impactful role player performances because there are more dudes like that and Alex Caruso, who is such a freakish versatile defensive talent and then also a good versatile offensive player who can shoot, who can pass, who can attack close outs, who's fast in the full court. There are just more of those awesome role players on rosters because that's where talent in the NBA has improved. The most superstars have gotten better, but the biggest improvement has been among the role players because so much more is expected of you now to be able to play big playoff minutes because the game has changed so much. Shooting is such an important barrier to entry. If you want to not hamstring your offense. It's so important that you are not a defensive liability because switching is so common in today's NBA, and if you are a defensive liability, the other team will attack you so relentlessly. So we've just prioritized versatility on both sides of the ball so much, and that just results in better, more complete role players who are more capable of swinging games and especially just three point shooting on its own, you can have such a massive impact. Like Buddy Heel is not a great all around basket. He can give you thirty something if he catches fire.

Yeah, role players are just capable of a lot more. Like when we talk about Aaron Gordon. First of all, I do think he's like a top fifty player in basketball, and we're calling him a role player just because he doesn't have like the offensive volume of a conventional star, but all the things that he can do at a high level. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions at a high level. He is a really effective mismatch attacker. He is now an elite shooter of the basketball. He's a really good offensive rebounder. He is excellent as a cutter. He's excellent in the duncker spot. He's a good connective passer. Like his skill set is so multifaceted, and that is why we are seeing more highly impactful role player performances because there are more dudes like that and Alex Caruso, who is such a freakish versatile defensive talent and then also a good versatile offensive player who can shoot, who can pass, who can attack close outs, who's fast in the full court. There are just more of those awesome role players on rosters because that's where talent in the NBA has improved. The most superstars have gotten better, but the biggest improvement has been among the role players because so much more is expected of you now to be able to play big playoff minutes because the game has changed so much. Shooting is such an important barrier to entry. If you want to not hamstring your offense. It's so important that you are not a defensive liability because switching is so common in today's NBA, and if you are a defensive liability, the other team will attack you so relentlessly. So we've just prioritized versatility on both sides of the ball so much, and that just results in better, more complete role players who are more capable of swinging games and especially just three point shooting on its own, you can have such a massive impact. Like Buddy Heel is not a great all around basket. He can give you thirty something if he catches fire.

We talk about this all the time, like throughout the regular season, but I'm so excited for where the league's going to be man in ten years, and just like I can't even imagine it right now. Man, Like I think, yeah, I know everybody. Everybody's gonna be jump both sized, everybody's gonna be able to put the ball on the floor. It gets at a rim, shoot, defend. Like, I just think basketball is in such that's a good space right now.

We talk about this all the time, like throughout the regular season, but I'm so excited for where the league's going to be man in ten years, and just like I can't even imagine it right now. Man, Like I think, yeah, I know everybody. Everybody's gonna be jump both sized, everybody's gonna be able to put the ball on the floor. It gets at a rim, shoot, defend. Like, I just think basketball is in such that's a good space right now.

The worst thing is going to be when they try to tell us that Lebron wasn't remarkable because.

The worst thing is going to be when they try to tell us that Lebron wasn't remarkable because.

He was playing against podcasters. Bro, he's playing as podcasters.

He was playing against podcasters. Bro, he's playing as podcasters.

Okay, But to be fairs, everybody's gonna be a podcaster in ten years, so actually that won't work. Everybody's gonna be a podcaster or TikTok or whatever the next version is. We got one more great question from Gabriel. If y'all had to pick one contender to not come back from the deficit, are you picking the Celtics or the Thunder.

Okay, But to be fairs, everybody's gonna be a podcaster in ten years, so actually that won't work. Everybody's gonna be a podcaster or TikTok or whatever the next version is. We got one more great question from Gabriel. If y'all had to pick one contender to not come back from the deficit, are you picking the Celtics or the Thunder.

Your word to Gabriel, I'm definitely taking the Thunder. The only reason I'm gonna I would take okay, see, just because that's how much faith I have in Denver. Dead ass. I'm being real with y'all. If the Celtics do not beat the Knicks is one of the most shocking results of my lifetime. And that's not me not respecting the Knicks. That's just how good I think Boston is and I will be stunned if they don't win this series, Like this is gut check time for him. They're in a bad spot down oh two with two of the worst collapses ever. But I just got too much respet for Boston. Like literally, that will be a to me like a twenty eleven MAVs or like a seven like we Believe like Dubs kind of win, Like it will be bigger shocking. It may be bigger than both.

Your word to Gabriel, I'm definitely taking the Thunder. The only reason I'm gonna I would take okay, see, just because that's how much faith I have in Denver. Dead ass. I'm being real with y'all. If the Celtics do not beat the Knicks is one of the most shocking results of my lifetime. And that's not me not respecting the Knicks. That's just how good I think Boston is and I will be stunned if they don't win this series, Like this is gut check time for him. They're in a bad spot down oh two with two of the worst collapses ever. But I just got too much respet for Boston. Like literally, that will be a to me like a twenty eleven MAVs or like a seven like we Believe like Dubs kind of win, Like it will be bigger shocking. It may be bigger than both.

It would be the most shocking, Like even when I look at the best of seven one seed upsets, like do we believe Warriors two thousand and seven, one of the best teams in the league down the stretch, they won like I want to say, twenty one of their last twenty five games or something. They had owned the MAVs. They beat them in all of their regular season meetings like that was a team that was red hot and it was a really good matchup for them. You think about the Grizzlies getting the Spurs. That was a really, really, really good two way Grizzlies team, and that was a more fallible Spurs team. The Celtics are supposed to have some of the biggest margins we have ever seen, because of their insane depth, because of their insane two way talent, because of their insane shooting. The KNICKXAR team that I've viewed as very flawed coming into this matchup, so it would be the most shocking series result of my life watching the NBA. And for that reason, I do think it's less likely that the Celtics do not come back. Basically, I trust the Thunder more than Boston, like with what Boston's offense is doing right now, because they are struggling at a very very concerning level. The Thunder had major issues in the clutch tonight, but I think Boston's issues have been more inexcusable and more persistent over the first two games. But I just think Denver is a much better team than New York. I think the Denver has the Yokic factor. I think that Jamal is playing at a really really high level. I think Aaron Gordon is playing at a really really high level. I just view them as more of a threat to knock off any top dog, and like maybe if they caught fire actually push for the title. I can't see the Nixt doing that. So I would be so disappointed in the Celtics that they couldn't come back, and I would still be disappointed in the Thunder, But like if it ends up being that in game six, Game seven, Yolkic throws best punch, Murray plays out of his mind, I think that you can live with that more than losing to the Knicks, no disrespect to the Knicks. It's more just like the Nuggets are former champs. Man, they won a title two years ago, and now Aaron Gordon is playing better than he was even in that run, and like this team is still very talented at the top end of their roster. We've just been waiting for things to click into place throughout this year, and now they're really clicking, and it's scary. It is scary for everybody. I do think both teams will come back, but even though they're down two to oh, I feel more confident saying that Boston will come back, but I'm not sure about either one, that's for sure. I definitely could see an upset going down in either one of those series, but more so with Denver upsetting. Okay, see, we're gonna take a quick break to get into words and draftings. Then we will talk about another team that found themselves in a very difficult position to be upset down two. Oh, the Cleveland Cavaliers who responded with a big win today. We will talk about that after the break. 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.