The volume.

The volume.

No, Oh my god, how could he do that?

No, Oh my god, how could he do that?

Bye?

Bye?

Go on, don't watch.

Go on, don't watch.

What Charles Darwin.

What Charles Darwin.

The nerves is where it's at.

The nerves is where it's at.

Welcome everybody back, you too, Nerd Set As always, I'm Carson Breben. Alongside me is Logan Camden, and today we are going to be continuing our journey to rank the top thirty players in the NBA. If you missed part one that we did on Monday, I recommend you go check that out. We ranked players number thirty to number twenty one. Today we're gonna knock out the next ten and take you through our numbers twenty to eleven. But before we get into that, Logan, will you recap our last episode and read out the rankings that you had four numbers thirty to twenty one for the people my pleasure.

Welcome everybody back, you too, Nerd Set As always, I'm Carson Breben. Alongside me is Logan Camden, and today we are going to be continuing our journey to rank the top thirty players in the NBA. If you missed part one that we did on Monday, I recommend you go check that out. We ranked players number thirty to number twenty one. Today we're gonna knock out the next ten and take you through our numbers twenty to eleven. But before we get into that, Logan, will you recap our last episode and read out the rankings that you had four numbers thirty to twenty one for the people my pleasure.

This could also be known is our journey to infuriate and piss off every basketball fan on the planet, because yes, man seemed to be very divisive. But at number thirty, I had John Morant. At number twenty nine, I had Deetern Fox. At twenty eight, I had Jaylen Brown. At twenty seven, I had Trey Young. At twenty six, I had Kate Cunningham at twenty five, I had Darius Garland twenty four, I had Jaron Jackson Junior, twenty three, Tyrese Haliburton, twenty two, Karl Anthony Towns and at twenty one, Chet Holmgren.

This could also be known is our journey to infuriate and piss off every basketball fan on the planet, because yes, man seemed to be very divisive. But at number thirty, I had John Morant. At number twenty nine, I had Deetern Fox. At twenty eight, I had Jaylen Brown. At twenty seven, I had Trey Young. At twenty six, I had Kate Cunningham at twenty five, I had Darius Garland twenty four, I had Jaron Jackson Junior, twenty three, Tyrese Haliburton, twenty two, Karl Anthony Towns and at twenty one, Chet Holmgren.

At number thirty, I had Jalen Williams At twenty nine, I had DeMont De Sabonis twenty eight, Trey Young twenty seven, Kate Cunningham twenty six, Jimmy Butler twenty five, Cat twenty four, Chet Holmgren twenty three, Kyrie twenty two, Darius Garland, and twenty one Chris Topsperzingis. So, as you can see, injured players are eligible for this list. We both made the decision to omit Joe l Embiid because his injury problems have just transcended to a different level, and we talked about that on last episode. Logan said some truly hateful things about Joel Embiid towards the end. So again, if you want all of our explanations for the rankings that we've already knocked out, check that last episode. But with that, Logan, let's get in to your number twenty. Who do you have?

At number thirty, I had Jalen Williams At twenty nine, I had DeMont De Sabonis twenty eight, Trey Young twenty seven, Kate Cunningham twenty six, Jimmy Butler twenty five, Cat twenty four, Chet Holmgren twenty three, Kyrie twenty two, Darius Garland, and twenty one Chris Topsperzingis. So, as you can see, injured players are eligible for this list. We both made the decision to omit Joe l Embiid because his injury problems have just transcended to a different level, and we talked about that on last episode. Logan said some truly hateful things about Joel Embiid towards the end. So again, if you want all of our explanations for the rankings that we've already knocked out, check that last episode. But with that, Logan, let's get in to your number twenty. Who do you have?

They could be described as hateful where they could just be the son is my truth, my truth.

They could be described as hateful where they could just be the son is my truth, my truth.

I don't think that there was much truth being said.

I don't think that there was much truth being said.

I was speaking truth to power cars, and that's what we're about in twenty twenty five.

I was speaking truth to power cars, and that's what we're about in twenty twenty five.

Man, that was not.

Man, that was not.

Truth in all seriousness. I do hope that Joel Embiid makes a full recovery, and I hope that he's I hope we haven't seen the last days of Joel Embiid playing basketball.

Truth in all seriousness. I do hope that Joel Embiid makes a full recovery, and I hope that he's I hope we haven't seen the last days of Joel Embiid playing basketball.

I don't know if I can even believe you that being said.

I don't know if I can even believe you that being said.

I'm never gonna like it, Guys, like I'm story, I'm not gonna wish.

I'm never gonna like it, Guys, like I'm story, I'm not gonna wish.

I'm not trying to get us back on Embiid. I was not trying to get us back on Embiid.

I'm not trying to get us back on Embiid. I was not trying to get us back on Embiid.

All right, all right, all right, we are going to go and revisit a player that was discussed on our last pod and was in your thirty to twenty one spots, and actually my first two plays we actually discussed, so we won't score too long on them. But at number twenty I have Kyrie Irving. I still think Kyrie is one of the best pure scorers in basketball, and that is why he ranks so highly for me twenty five, five and five this year on forty seven forty ninety two to fifty nine splits. Good defensive player at this point in his career. I think he's improved as a playmaker, but it is his bucket getting that gets him on this list. He was the number eight isolation scorer in basketball this season, he was the number eight pick and roll ball handler scorer, and he was the number six spot up scorer in the league. If you need a bucket, Kyrie Irving can get you one. He's just such a such a damn damn.

All right, all right, all right, we are going to go and revisit a player that was discussed on our last pod and was in your thirty to twenty one spots, and actually my first two plays we actually discussed, so we won't score too long on them. But at number twenty I have Kyrie Irving. I still think Kyrie is one of the best pure scorers in basketball, and that is why he ranks so highly for me twenty five, five and five this year on forty seven forty ninety two to fifty nine splits. Good defensive player at this point in his career. I think he's improved as a playmaker, but it is his bucket getting that gets him on this list. He was the number eight isolation scorer in basketball this season, he was the number eight pick and roll ball handler scorer, and he was the number six spot up scorer in the league. If you need a bucket, Kyrie Irving can get you one. He's just such a such a damn damn.

Yeah, there's more, such a gives more, such a.

Yeah, there's more, such a gives more, such a.

He's such a special scorer man sixty eight percent in the restricted area, good touch all around the court. He's shooting fifty percent from corner threes this season. He's a forty four percent catching shooter on threes. Kyrie. The debate that we had last time was over a point guard, Tyrese Halliburton. I just prefer Kyrie's ability as a scorer to Tyrese's overall impact on offense. We had that debate last episode, if you really want to dive into that one. So Kyrie is at number twenty on my list.

He's such a special scorer man sixty eight percent in the restricted area, good touch all around the court. He's shooting fifty percent from corner threes this season. He's a forty four percent catching shooter on threes. Kyrie. The debate that we had last time was over a point guard, Tyrese Halliburton. I just prefer Kyrie's ability as a scorer to Tyrese's overall impact on offense. We had that debate last episode, if you really want to dive into that one. So Kyrie is at number twenty on my list.

Still one of the best scorers on the planet. I had him at number twenty three because I do think he is one of the best shot makers ever, so effective both on and off ball, so he's really a dream offensive number two. The reason I don't have him higher, I do think that there are guards with significantly more elite playmaking impacts, and then there are some other players in totally different archetypes, so I think surpass Kyrie in terms of two way impact. It's just that lack of real high end playmaking and then the fact that Kyrie still doesn't get that much of the easy stuff, doesn't get a lot of shots at the rim, doesn't get many free throws, and so he is so dependent on his shot making where he is incredible, but there can be a little bit of inconsistency and you can't reach the real upper echelon efficiency when you do have that shot diet. I still think the guy is a phenomenal scorer and offensive player, so I do have him just a few spots lower than you. In my number twenty spot. I have a guy who you had at number twenty five, and we talked about that some last episode, but that's Jaron Jackson Junior, who obviously is an elite defender, has been for years one of the best rim protectors in basketball. Holds opposing players almost fourteen percent below their average field goal percentage at the rim. That is an elite, elite number. Can really guard in space as well, very switchable. So one of the best defensive bigs, specifically as a power forward in basketball. Is he perfect defensively, No, he's not. He fouls too much. He's not a good drop defender. He's not a great post defender. He's not a good rebounder. So that is why I do specifically say he's at his best defensively as your power forward. You want to pair him with a center who can pick up the slack in some of those big body, true five man categories. Defensively where TRIPLEJ isn't at his best, but he is so great protecting the rim. He does have such unique athleticism and versatility that he is a top ten defender to me for sure. But he's not one of those absolute top tier, top three to five kind of guys. But where he has taken a significant leap is as a scorer. Jaren Jackson Junior, who for years was a pretty frustrating offensive player in my opinion, because he had so much ability, but he was so inconsistent. He has become an elite scorer of the basketball. Per thirty six minutes, he gives you twenty eight points on sixty percent through shooting. He has been one of the premier walking mismatches as a scorer in basketball this year. Super efficient on post ups, super efficient in isolations. He's big, he's strong, bruising, physical guy, handles really well for his size, and his superpower. To pair with that is his elite touch and also his one of one ambidexterity as a finisher. This is the guy with the best combination of finishing with the right and the left equally effectively basically in basketball. He shoots fifty nine percent on runners, fifty one percent on hooks, so the touch shot making with that size and strength and skill, it's overwhelming. And he gets to the line at a really high rate as well. So there are very very few players in basketball who can do anything with triple j in single coverage. And he's shooting better than thirty six percent from deep. He's an effective spot up player. So as a scorer, one of the best bigs in basketball, and he's grown into the offensive player that I always hoped he could be, but I didn't expect him to get this good offensively like. This has really been a phenomenal season from him as a scorer. And you look at the results that he's led Memphis offense to when he's on the floor without Jaw, they have a one to twenty offensive rating and they're a plus seven net team, and he has led them to be well above five hundred in games that John misses entirely like. He has clearly been the Grizzlies' most valuable player this season. He should be All NBA. He's having a spectacular regular season with that scoring and defensive value both being so elite. I do have one major concern for Triple J complayoffs, and that is his passing. I mentioned this number last episode, but Triple J is a super efficient score out of the post. But when you send a hard double his way, he creates zero. With percentile offense, the Grizzlies average aboutzero point four to three points per possession when you send a hard double at Triple J out of the post. He turns the ball over way too much. His passing vision is bad, his passing accuracy is bad, and That's what is going to be tested in the playoffs. Teams are going to send doubles at him, and I just worry that he could be overwhelmed and less effective in that situation. Still, the reason that I have him above christophs porzingis Chet, Holgrid, a couple of bigs who I haveolutely love, but who you had higher than Triple J is that I actually think he's a better scorer than KP, just because he has so much more ability to self create offense. KP is so efficient at the touches that he gets within the flow of the game, if that's as a popper, as a spot up player, or selectively attacking mismatches out of the post. But Triple J can really initiate for himself and still be super efficient. And I do think he's a better defender than KP. Chet's a better defender than Triple J. But Triple J right now is a significantly better scorer with his physical imposition, with that reliable touch in the lane, just totally different tiers as mismatch attackers, and he's drawing a totally different level of defensive attention with his scoring threat. Like Chet, may end up being more efficient in a playoff series, but Triple J might be the opposing defense's number one priority that they're trying to stop and take away offensively, that will never be the case for CHET. So I do think that score bing ability combined with that elite defense makes him a top twenty guy, But I can't have him higher than this because I do still have that red flag with his passing, and I do think there's always the dilemma of you want him to be your four defensively but your five offensively, and there's a little bit of clunkiness there in terms of team building that I do think has to be considered. There are other guys who it's a little bit more seamless to put the ideal team around them.

Still one of the best scorers on the planet. I had him at number twenty three because I do think he is one of the best shot makers ever, so effective both on and off ball, so he's really a dream offensive number two. The reason I don't have him higher, I do think that there are guards with significantly more elite playmaking impacts, and then there are some other players in totally different archetypes, so I think surpass Kyrie in terms of two way impact. It's just that lack of real high end playmaking and then the fact that Kyrie still doesn't get that much of the easy stuff, doesn't get a lot of shots at the rim, doesn't get many free throws, and so he is so dependent on his shot making where he is incredible, but there can be a little bit of inconsistency and you can't reach the real upper echelon efficiency when you do have that shot diet. I still think the guy is a phenomenal scorer and offensive player, so I do have him just a few spots lower than you. In my number twenty spot. I have a guy who you had at number twenty five, and we talked about that some last episode, but that's Jaron Jackson Junior, who obviously is an elite defender, has been for years one of the best rim protectors in basketball. Holds opposing players almost fourteen percent below their average field goal percentage at the rim. That is an elite, elite number. Can really guard in space as well, very switchable. So one of the best defensive bigs, specifically as a power forward in basketball. Is he perfect defensively, No, he's not. He fouls too much. He's not a good drop defender. He's not a great post defender. He's not a good rebounder. So that is why I do specifically say he's at his best defensively as your power forward. You want to pair him with a center who can pick up the slack in some of those big body, true five man categories. Defensively where TRIPLEJ isn't at his best, but he is so great protecting the rim. He does have such unique athleticism and versatility that he is a top ten defender to me for sure. But he's not one of those absolute top tier, top three to five kind of guys. But where he has taken a significant leap is as a scorer. Jaren Jackson Junior, who for years was a pretty frustrating offensive player in my opinion, because he had so much ability, but he was so inconsistent. He has become an elite scorer of the basketball. Per thirty six minutes, he gives you twenty eight points on sixty percent through shooting. He has been one of the premier walking mismatches as a scorer in basketball this year. Super efficient on post ups, super efficient in isolations. He's big, he's strong, bruising, physical guy, handles really well for his size, and his superpower. To pair with that is his elite touch and also his one of one ambidexterity as a finisher. This is the guy with the best combination of finishing with the right and the left equally effectively basically in basketball. He shoots fifty nine percent on runners, fifty one percent on hooks, so the touch shot making with that size and strength and skill, it's overwhelming. And he gets to the line at a really high rate as well. So there are very very few players in basketball who can do anything with triple j in single coverage. And he's shooting better than thirty six percent from deep. He's an effective spot up player. So as a scorer, one of the best bigs in basketball, and he's grown into the offensive player that I always hoped he could be, but I didn't expect him to get this good offensively like. This has really been a phenomenal season from him as a scorer. And you look at the results that he's led Memphis offense to when he's on the floor without Jaw, they have a one to twenty offensive rating and they're a plus seven net team, and he has led them to be well above five hundred in games that John misses entirely like. He has clearly been the Grizzlies' most valuable player this season. He should be All NBA. He's having a spectacular regular season with that scoring and defensive value both being so elite. I do have one major concern for Triple J complayoffs, and that is his passing. I mentioned this number last episode, but Triple J is a super efficient score out of the post. But when you send a hard double his way, he creates zero. With percentile offense, the Grizzlies average aboutzero point four to three points per possession when you send a hard double at Triple J out of the post. He turns the ball over way too much. His passing vision is bad, his passing accuracy is bad, and That's what is going to be tested in the playoffs. Teams are going to send doubles at him, and I just worry that he could be overwhelmed and less effective in that situation. Still, the reason that I have him above christophs porzingis Chet, Holgrid, a couple of bigs who I haveolutely love, but who you had higher than Triple J is that I actually think he's a better scorer than KP, just because he has so much more ability to self create offense. KP is so efficient at the touches that he gets within the flow of the game, if that's as a popper, as a spot up player, or selectively attacking mismatches out of the post. But Triple J can really initiate for himself and still be super efficient. And I do think he's a better defender than KP. Chet's a better defender than Triple J. But Triple J right now is a significantly better scorer with his physical imposition, with that reliable touch in the lane, just totally different tiers as mismatch attackers, and he's drawing a totally different level of defensive attention with his scoring threat. Like Chet, may end up being more efficient in a playoff series, but Triple J might be the opposing defense's number one priority that they're trying to stop and take away offensively, that will never be the case for CHET. So I do think that score bing ability combined with that elite defense makes him a top twenty guy, But I can't have him higher than this because I do still have that red flag with his passing, and I do think there's always the dilemma of you want him to be your four defensively but your five offensively, and there's a little bit of clunkiness there in terms of team building that I do think has to be considered. There are other guys who it's a little bit more seamless to put the ideal team around them.

I really do think Jared's grown as a scorer this year, and I'm excited to see him in the playoffs again because the big difference from the last time we saw him in the playoffs against the Lakers, I think is just his aggressiveness and confidence as a scorer. Like Triple J against the Lakers will and it wasn't the entirety of the series, and that's what would be so frustrating about Triple J is there'd be these moments where he picks his spots and he might be the best player on the floor and he's killing everybody, and then he just completely disappears. I don't think we're gonna see a disappearing act like that ever again from Triple J. But there are a few more areas where I'm looking for him to to really stamp himself as as this caliber of player one. As you mentioned, I think driving in the lane sometimes he does have a really good handle for a big I think he can get pickpocketed a little bit. He's gotten better there. I think he's got elite touch. I think he's an elite mismatch attacker. But I do worry about him in certain defensive matchups. Now, I don't know if he's gonna run into anybody specifically, but like that Caz game we saw against him and Alan and Mobley, that's a unique challenge where I think he struggles against that. He struggled a little bit against Demonta Sebonis the other night, So I think if Triple J can't, he's got phenomenal finesse. And that's where I think that he really is hard to stop. But if you have a guy that can physically match up with him and not let him get to those mismatches. I think he can struggle a little bit more, but he's grown significantly in that area. He's not a perfect offensive player, but I think in totality, this is about the right. I do disagree. I'd rather have KP at this point, and I think that it's strange and maybe I didn't rank this in the most logically consistent way, but I think I would rather have KP is like my number two. But I think I'd rather have Triple J as my number one. But I prefer KP's how elite KP is at his number two traits in comparison to where Triple J is is a number one, If that makes sense.

I really do think Jared's grown as a scorer this year, and I'm excited to see him in the playoffs again because the big difference from the last time we saw him in the playoffs against the Lakers, I think is just his aggressiveness and confidence as a scorer. Like Triple J against the Lakers will and it wasn't the entirety of the series, and that's what would be so frustrating about Triple J is there'd be these moments where he picks his spots and he might be the best player on the floor and he's killing everybody, and then he just completely disappears. I don't think we're gonna see a disappearing act like that ever again from Triple J. But there are a few more areas where I'm looking for him to to really stamp himself as as this caliber of player one. As you mentioned, I think driving in the lane sometimes he does have a really good handle for a big I think he can get pickpocketed a little bit. He's gotten better there. I think he's got elite touch. I think he's an elite mismatch attacker. But I do worry about him in certain defensive matchups. Now, I don't know if he's gonna run into anybody specifically, but like that Caz game we saw against him and Alan and Mobley, that's a unique challenge where I think he struggles against that. He struggled a little bit against Demonta Sebonis the other night, So I think if Triple J can't, he's got phenomenal finesse. And that's where I think that he really is hard to stop. But if you have a guy that can physically match up with him and not let him get to those mismatches. I think he can struggle a little bit more, but he's grown significantly in that area. He's not a perfect offensive player, but I think in totality, this is about the right. I do disagree. I'd rather have KP at this point, and I think that it's strange and maybe I didn't rank this in the most logically consistent way, but I think I would rather have KP is like my number two. But I think I'd rather have Triple J as my number one. But I prefer KP's how elite KP is at his number two traits in comparison to where Triple J is is a number one, If that makes sense.

I think Triple J is pretty elite at the same play finishing stuff that you're getting out of KP. Triple J is just being asked to do a lot more offensively because of his situation, and he's capable of doing more because of his ball handling, because of his ability and isolation.

I think Triple J is pretty elite at the same play finishing stuff that you're getting out of KP. Triple J is just being asked to do a lot more offensively because of his situation, and he's capable of doing more because of his ball handling, because of his ability and isolation.

I agree with that. I just think KP is a better post scorer. I think he's a much better and more reliable shooter of the basketball and I really I see what you're saying the floor spacing, Like, I think there's a little bit more volatility in Triple J's still, but I think that does come with the fact that he is being asked to do more, so there is a little bit of a balancing act going on there. But I think I marginally prefer KP right now. But it's super close between these guys. Speaking of which, I'm gonna get this out of the way because we already talked about him as well. I have Forzingis in my number nineteen spot and we've talked about him in great lengths won this season over the past couple of years, but also in last episode another great mismatch attack or another monster scorer out of the post, a great rim protector, and like I just mentioned, he does so many just connective things that I really like out of my number two guy, a lead rim protection. You did a video to you guys can check it out and abbreviated cut of what we talked about last episode on what makes KP So Special on our Socials, which you guys can check out. But it basically comes that back to that between him and Triple JS. I just prefer KP's skill set as a number two to Triple J's as a number one. But these guys are really really close, and honestly, I could see I could say, a good playoff run or a really good playoff series some Triple J that may meaningfully move him for me maybe above a guy like KP. And Triple J is dealt with some injuries, but they're nowhere near as a concern as it is with KP. And if you want to give Triple J that the edge over KP for that, I would understand that as well.

I agree with that. I just think KP is a better post scorer. I think he's a much better and more reliable shooter of the basketball and I really I see what you're saying the floor spacing, Like, I think there's a little bit more volatility in Triple J's still, but I think that does come with the fact that he is being asked to do more, so there is a little bit of a balancing act going on there. But I think I marginally prefer KP right now. But it's super close between these guys. Speaking of which, I'm gonna get this out of the way because we already talked about him as well. I have Forzingis in my number nineteen spot and we've talked about him in great lengths won this season over the past couple of years, but also in last episode another great mismatch attack or another monster scorer out of the post, a great rim protector, and like I just mentioned, he does so many just connective things that I really like out of my number two guy, a lead rim protection. You did a video to you guys can check it out and abbreviated cut of what we talked about last episode on what makes KP So Special on our Socials, which you guys can check out. But it basically comes that back to that between him and Triple JS. I just prefer KP's skill set as a number two to Triple J's as a number one. But these guys are really really close, and honestly, I could see I could say, a good playoff run or a really good playoff series some Triple J that may meaningfully move him for me maybe above a guy like KP. And Triple J is dealt with some injuries, but they're nowhere near as a concern as it is with KP. And if you want to give Triple J that the edge over KP for that, I would understand that as well.

I'm not factoring health into my list, So I do think the Triple J is just better than KP. Straight up. I think that KP has some A plus traits. You mentioned the post scoring, you mentioned the ability to shoot the three, particularly as a popper but also as a spot up guy, the rim protection. Like he's a plus in all those areas. I think that Triple J is an excellent score of the basketball. And if you put him in Boston in a situation where he was dealing with the same level of defensive attention the KP is where you're that worried about the shooting all around him, where he is your second or third option as opposed to your leading scorer throughout the year, as Triple J has been, I do think he'd be more efficient. And twenty eight points per thirty six minutes, man like, that is no joke. That is rare stuff to see from anybody, especially from a big and Triple J's a monster. I have in my number nineteen spot Damian Lillard, who I had a real debate over against Tyrese Halliburton. Because that's why I have in my number eighteen spot spoiler. And we were talking with Mars who had on our show just a few weeks ago about the best point guards in the Central Division, and I had Dame one, Hallie two. Then I flipped since then, and there are some real pros and cons you flipped in the other direction. This is as close as any ranking was for me between these two guys. Dame is still an elite offensive player. He gives you twenty five, five and seven on sixty two percent through shooting. He's a ninety first percentile pick and roll score. He's an official isolation score, he's an efficient spot up player, and obviously his A plus god teer trait is his three point shooting ability. Particularly his range. Just the fact that you can set a screen for this guy forty feet out and he is a legitimate threat to pull from thirty three feet and be efficient from there. It's just so hard to guard that much space. When a guy is stretching you that far out. Makes it easier for him to get to the rim, it makes it easier for him to create for others. And he still does get to the rim at a decent rate, not what it was a couple of years ago, but gets to the line a ton at this point. And what's difficult for me is I'm reaching the point where I actually think the Dame would just look better in another situation, Like when he and Jannis got paired up. I thought this is going to be the best duo in basketball. This team could win a title with these two as the foundation, and the fit has just never gelled as I would have hoped. The Dame Jannis pick and roll that I envisioned, never he realized They've never been able to capitalize on each other's a plus trait. Janis with his rim pressure, Dame, with his ability to stretch defense is so far out with his shooting as I hope they could now there's still a dominant duo, but not as much so as I expected. And if you look at the minutes when Dame is on the floor without Yannis, he is still giving you superstar production. Per seventy five possessions. Without Yanis on the floor, Dame gives you thirty one points eight and a half assists on sixty four percent tru shooting. That's a major scoring leap compared to the minutes that he shares with Yannis. More assists, more efficient as a scorer. And that's the struggle here. I think part of it is that Janis just has the ball in his hands so much that Dame isn't going to have as many opportunities on ball to create, which is where he's at his best. But again, I don't think that they've ever really figured out how to compliment each other as well as I would have hoped, And that's arguably a knock on the flexibility and the versatility of both of these players. Like these are two guys who have so much ability, who have these skill sets that in theory could have been very complimentary, and that just never materialized. Dame still scares the shit out of me if I'm an opposing defense, though, and I know that he can walk into a playoff series and he can give me thirty plus efficiently because he was doing it last year, Like he could give me thirty five points eight assists a game and just has that sort of special scoring ceiling. I compared him to Haliburton, though, and when we talked a few weeks ago, I said, I think that I'm going to give Dame the edge because of that elite scoring ability. With some more thought, I actually think that Hallie is just an easier guy to build an elite offense around at this stage. I just think he amplifies everybody around him so much. He's so great at pushing the pace in transition and getting easy offense. He's a significantly better passer. He's so efficient himself as a scorer, although he's not the scorer that Dame is. And I just feel like I have a little bit more flexibility with Halle, Like I think if I were to pair him with Giannis, they would be more complimentary because of how effective Halle is without the ball, because of his ability to push pace. There's just so many traits with him that work with absolutely anybody. I do feel like if you gave Dame the keys to his own team, he could still be a really good offensive number one. But Halle just flat out is a great offensive number one and maybe doesn't have eye popping rass scoring numbers. But I'll get into his case in a minute. He is one of the best offensive players alive, and honestly, maybe the tiebreaker, Halle is a neutral defender. Dame is a bad defender, and I do think that that is worth noting, even though these guys obviously are getting most of their value on the offensive ends. So it's really really close. I love the way Hallie plays basketball. The efficiency, the team results that he leads to are just absolutely phenomenal. So I ended up giving him the slide edge. I flipped.

I'm not factoring health into my list, So I do think the Triple J is just better than KP. Straight up. I think that KP has some A plus traits. You mentioned the post scoring, you mentioned the ability to shoot the three, particularly as a popper but also as a spot up guy, the rim protection. Like he's a plus in all those areas. I think that Triple J is an excellent score of the basketball. And if you put him in Boston in a situation where he was dealing with the same level of defensive attention the KP is where you're that worried about the shooting all around him, where he is your second or third option as opposed to your leading scorer throughout the year, as Triple J has been, I do think he'd be more efficient. And twenty eight points per thirty six minutes, man like, that is no joke. That is rare stuff to see from anybody, especially from a big and Triple J's a monster. I have in my number nineteen spot Damian Lillard, who I had a real debate over against Tyrese Halliburton. Because that's why I have in my number eighteen spot spoiler. And we were talking with Mars who had on our show just a few weeks ago about the best point guards in the Central Division, and I had Dame one, Hallie two. Then I flipped since then, and there are some real pros and cons you flipped in the other direction. This is as close as any ranking was for me between these two guys. Dame is still an elite offensive player. He gives you twenty five, five and seven on sixty two percent through shooting. He's a ninety first percentile pick and roll score. He's an official isolation score, he's an efficient spot up player, and obviously his A plus god teer trait is his three point shooting ability. Particularly his range. Just the fact that you can set a screen for this guy forty feet out and he is a legitimate threat to pull from thirty three feet and be efficient from there. It's just so hard to guard that much space. When a guy is stretching you that far out. Makes it easier for him to get to the rim, it makes it easier for him to create for others. And he still does get to the rim at a decent rate, not what it was a couple of years ago, but gets to the line a ton at this point. And what's difficult for me is I'm reaching the point where I actually think the Dame would just look better in another situation, Like when he and Jannis got paired up. I thought this is going to be the best duo in basketball. This team could win a title with these two as the foundation, and the fit has just never gelled as I would have hoped. The Dame Jannis pick and roll that I envisioned, never he realized They've never been able to capitalize on each other's a plus trait. Janis with his rim pressure, Dame, with his ability to stretch defense is so far out with his shooting as I hope they could now there's still a dominant duo, but not as much so as I expected. And if you look at the minutes when Dame is on the floor without Yannis, he is still giving you superstar production. Per seventy five possessions. Without Yanis on the floor, Dame gives you thirty one points eight and a half assists on sixty four percent tru shooting. That's a major scoring leap compared to the minutes that he shares with Yannis. More assists, more efficient as a scorer. And that's the struggle here. I think part of it is that Janis just has the ball in his hands so much that Dame isn't going to have as many opportunities on ball to create, which is where he's at his best. But again, I don't think that they've ever really figured out how to compliment each other as well as I would have hoped, And that's arguably a knock on the flexibility and the versatility of both of these players. Like these are two guys who have so much ability, who have these skill sets that in theory could have been very complimentary, and that just never materialized. Dame still scares the shit out of me if I'm an opposing defense, though, and I know that he can walk into a playoff series and he can give me thirty plus efficiently because he was doing it last year, Like he could give me thirty five points eight assists a game and just has that sort of special scoring ceiling. I compared him to Haliburton, though, and when we talked a few weeks ago, I said, I think that I'm going to give Dame the edge because of that elite scoring ability. With some more thought, I actually think that Hallie is just an easier guy to build an elite offense around at this stage. I just think he amplifies everybody around him so much. He's so great at pushing the pace in transition and getting easy offense. He's a significantly better passer. He's so efficient himself as a scorer, although he's not the scorer that Dame is. And I just feel like I have a little bit more flexibility with Halle, Like I think if I were to pair him with Giannis, they would be more complimentary because of how effective Halle is without the ball, because of his ability to push pace. There's just so many traits with him that work with absolutely anybody. I do feel like if you gave Dame the keys to his own team, he could still be a really good offensive number one. But Halle just flat out is a great offensive number one and maybe doesn't have eye popping rass scoring numbers. But I'll get into his case in a minute. He is one of the best offensive players alive, and honestly, maybe the tiebreaker, Halle is a neutral defender. Dame is a bad defender, and I do think that that is worth noting, even though these guys obviously are getting most of their value on the offensive ends. So it's really really close. I love the way Hallie plays basketball. The efficiency, the team results that he leads to are just absolutely phenomenal. So I ended up giving him the slide edge. I flipped.

I flipped too. I went with Damian Lillard, and it is that elite scoring.

I flipped too. I went with Damian Lillard, and it is that elite scoring.

Would you have Dame att number nineteen?

Would you have Dame att number nineteen?

I have Dame at number seventeen, so I all a few spots higher, and I think there's a very large gap between my seventeenth and eighteenth guys, So I do think there's a bit of a drop off after I go through there. Why I also already spoiled it too. I don't have Kawhi. So there's definitely gonna be one that I think we're making up. Yes, But that being said, I do agree with you that I don't think Yiannis and Dame enhance each other to the best of their abilities. That being said, I don't know how much that speaks about Dames games it does Gianni's, like, I feel like it equally speaks about them both. Giannis doesn't roll and send as many screens as I'd like for him and Dame. And while they while they could tap into that more, and while I don't think Dame necessarily enhances Jannis to a new level or Giannis enhance his name to a new level, I do think they still enhance everybody around them to another level. That doesn't, you know, show up in the stat sheet. If it's Giannis creating an initial initial penetration, he kicks out the Dame and then they close out on Dame and Dame kicks it to another guy. You know, that's not going to reflect that the Giannis and Dame two man game manufactured that shot. But it did. Right, It'll pop up as an assist for Dame, but it's not going to be you know, it's not like scoring with a pick and roll with both of these two words as obvious. But I still think Dame is a special, special score and I think those numbers you're talking about with Giannis off the floor just encourage me more about Dame as a player right now in his career. I was really scared last season that we were about to see a really ugly downward spiral for Dame. He had a lot of life stuff going on, health, moving to a new city, family drama. Like Dame had a lot on his plate last season. I think he settled more into Milwaukee. I think he's settled more into this team. And I still think a game's an offensive number one. And I'm not saying that Halliburton is it. I wholeheartedly think Halliburton is as well. But the same dynamic that I mentioned with Kyrie about the scoring to an even more drastic extent with Dame, I still think Dame is that guy. I really highly value that elite shooting and floor spacing that he gives me and the veteran poise. I still think Dame could be your number one in a playoff series offensively, and I really value that highly. So I've got Dame at seventeen, and like I said, I think there's a decent sized gap between eighteen and seventeen for me.

I have Dame at number seventeen, so I all a few spots higher, and I think there's a very large gap between my seventeenth and eighteenth guys, So I do think there's a bit of a drop off after I go through there. Why I also already spoiled it too. I don't have Kawhi. So there's definitely gonna be one that I think we're making up. Yes, But that being said, I do agree with you that I don't think Yiannis and Dame enhance each other to the best of their abilities. That being said, I don't know how much that speaks about Dames games it does Gianni's, like, I feel like it equally speaks about them both. Giannis doesn't roll and send as many screens as I'd like for him and Dame. And while they while they could tap into that more, and while I don't think Dame necessarily enhances Jannis to a new level or Giannis enhance his name to a new level, I do think they still enhance everybody around them to another level. That doesn't, you know, show up in the stat sheet. If it's Giannis creating an initial initial penetration, he kicks out the Dame and then they close out on Dame and Dame kicks it to another guy. You know, that's not going to reflect that the Giannis and Dame two man game manufactured that shot. But it did. Right, It'll pop up as an assist for Dame, but it's not going to be you know, it's not like scoring with a pick and roll with both of these two words as obvious. But I still think Dame is a special, special score and I think those numbers you're talking about with Giannis off the floor just encourage me more about Dame as a player right now in his career. I was really scared last season that we were about to see a really ugly downward spiral for Dame. He had a lot of life stuff going on, health, moving to a new city, family drama. Like Dame had a lot on his plate last season. I think he settled more into Milwaukee. I think he's settled more into this team. And I still think a game's an offensive number one. And I'm not saying that Halliburton is it. I wholeheartedly think Halliburton is as well. But the same dynamic that I mentioned with Kyrie about the scoring to an even more drastic extent with Dame, I still think Dame is that guy. I really highly value that elite shooting and floor spacing that he gives me and the veteran poise. I still think Dame could be your number one in a playoff series offensively, and I really value that highly. So I've got Dame at seventeen, and like I said, I think there's a decent sized gap between eighteen and seventeen for me.

Interesting. So we had the Kyrie versus Halle debate last episode where you talked about preferring Kyrie's scoring, and I said, that just is not equivalent to the playmaking gap. In my opinion, it's different with Dame because Dame is a level up from Kyrie as a scorer just because he gets more of the easy stuff. He gets to the line so much more. For example, he does get to the rim more. Also, he is a better playmaker like Dame. Absolutely is more capable of being that offensive number one who you put out there on the floor with shooters and a role man and he can make you a really good offense. That's not what Kyrie is meant to do. He's meant to be again like the elite, elite number two. But you talk about the fit with Dame and Yannis, I just think like Halle makes it work with anybody man. And I know that we're now getting into hypotheticals, but if they were to be paired up like he'd be getting off the ball quicker, he'd be relocating so much Like I do think that he would enhance Jannis more and he would be more efficient alongside Jannis, and I don't think that he would have that sort of difference in production where it's like Dame has to try to figure out, how can I, as a ball on the player thrive alongside another ball or.

Interesting. So we had the Kyrie versus Halle debate last episode where you talked about preferring Kyrie's scoring, and I said, that just is not equivalent to the playmaking gap. In my opinion, it's different with Dame because Dame is a level up from Kyrie as a scorer just because he gets more of the easy stuff. He gets to the line so much more. For example, he does get to the rim more. Also, he is a better playmaker like Dame. Absolutely is more capable of being that offensive number one who you put out there on the floor with shooters and a role man and he can make you a really good offense. That's not what Kyrie is meant to do. He's meant to be again like the elite, elite number two. But you talk about the fit with Dame and Yannis, I just think like Halle makes it work with anybody man. And I know that we're now getting into hypotheticals, but if they were to be paired up like he'd be getting off the ball quicker, he'd be relocating so much Like I do think that he would enhance Jannis more and he would be more efficient alongside Jannis, and I don't think that he would have that sort of difference in production where it's like Dame has to try to figure out, how can I, as a ball on the player thrive alongside another ball or.

At their best with the ball in their hands, and Hallie not the most seamless fit, and Halle can thrive doing whatever. He's a genius.

At their best with the ball in their hands, and Hallie not the most seamless fit, and Halle can thrive doing whatever. He's a genius.

Yeah, that's the thing. I mean. Hollie is also at his best with the ball in his hands, but he's also one of the best off ball players in basketball. And he's just a brilliant, brilliant offensive player. He had his slump early in the year when he was clearly hurt. His back was fucking with him. Since those first fifteen games when he was struggling, so almost the last fifty games now he's giving you nineteen and a half points nine point two assists per game on sixty five percent true shooting. He's a ninety third percentile pick and roll creator, he's an eighty first percentile isolation creator, he's an eighty fifth percentile spot up player, and his elite shot making traits are so valuable, like, this isn't a guy who gets a ton of rim pressure. This isn't a guy who gets very many free throws at all. But he's able to get into the lane a good bit, and when he's there, he shoots over fifty four percent in the paint outside the restricted area, one of the best floaters in basketball, forty seven percent for mid range, one of the better midrange in basketball, thirty nine percent from three. Elite both as a pull up shooter and off the catch. In fact, he's the most efficient pull up shooter in basketball out of the twenty guys who attempt the most pull up jumpers per game. And of course, all of his elite scoring efficiency and elite scoring traits is very much used to amplify his teammates, because his passing is his best trait, and he is always going to leverage any attention that he draws as a scorer to create great shots for teammates. He's averaging nine assists per game this year, and he does that while limiting mistakes better than anybody else. He only averages one point seven turnovers per game. It's the fewest turnovers per game ever by a player averaging at least nine assists per game. He is the best decision maker in basketball. He makes the right read every single time. He is always going to take what the defense gives him and make the most out of every advantage that he creates. So he is giving you at the lead efficiency on ball for himself and for his teammates. Doesn't take bad shots, doesn't turn the ball over, but still creates those really high value shots. And he's phenomenal off ball. He's the best hit a head passer in basketball, the best transition passer in basketball. So you're always going to get those easy transition opportunities with him as your point guard, and he's led to elit offensive results no matter who's out there with him on the floor. Right, there are other guys where you question, Okay, can they fit with everybody? Can they work with everybody? Tyre Salliburn. Over the last two years, when he's on the floor without Pascal Siakam, they have a one twenty three offensive rating. When he's on the floor without Miles Turner, they have a one twenty offensive rating. When he's on the floor without Andrew Nemhart, they have a one twenty three offensive rating. But you put him with any of those guys, and he and Siakam have complimentary skill sets. He and Turner have one of the most dynamic pick and pop games in basketball. Together. He can thrive with another dude who wants to have the ball in his hands, some like Nemhard. He and TJ McConnell can play together and the Pacers have a one twenty four offensive rating in those minutes. That's a non shooting ball dominant point guard in TJ. McConnell and Hollie is still able to make such quick decisions, to do so much off ball, to do so much in transition that they lead to elite team offense together. That's just a very very rare ability that he has. He is one of the best offensive engines basketball and he does it in a way that enhances everybody, that makes any situation better, and that the box score sells so short. In my opinion, he was leading a historic offense before they even traded for Siakam last year. He led the number one playoff offense last season, Indiana had a one twenty offensive rating in the playoffs. And people continue to downplay him because he doesn't have the crazy box score production or because they don't like whatever aspect of his personality. I think he's just amazing, and I totally see a case for Dame over him. I literally made the case a few weeks ago where I was talking about Dame's elite scoring trait, the fact that at times you can limit Halle's scoring volume, but even when you do limit his scoring volume, like he's usually having an elite offensive impact because of all the passing and little things that he's doing and how he controls the game. Phenomenal, phenomenal offensive player and like I said, more respectable defender than Dame. So I think he's a top twenty guy. I have him at number eighteen.

Yeah, that's the thing. I mean. Hollie is also at his best with the ball in his hands, but he's also one of the best off ball players in basketball. And he's just a brilliant, brilliant offensive player. He had his slump early in the year when he was clearly hurt. His back was fucking with him. Since those first fifteen games when he was struggling, so almost the last fifty games now he's giving you nineteen and a half points nine point two assists per game on sixty five percent true shooting. He's a ninety third percentile pick and roll creator, he's an eighty first percentile isolation creator, he's an eighty fifth percentile spot up player, and his elite shot making traits are so valuable, like, this isn't a guy who gets a ton of rim pressure. This isn't a guy who gets very many free throws at all. But he's able to get into the lane a good bit, and when he's there, he shoots over fifty four percent in the paint outside the restricted area, one of the best floaters in basketball, forty seven percent for mid range, one of the better midrange in basketball, thirty nine percent from three. Elite both as a pull up shooter and off the catch. In fact, he's the most efficient pull up shooter in basketball out of the twenty guys who attempt the most pull up jumpers per game. And of course, all of his elite scoring efficiency and elite scoring traits is very much used to amplify his teammates, because his passing is his best trait, and he is always going to leverage any attention that he draws as a scorer to create great shots for teammates. He's averaging nine assists per game this year, and he does that while limiting mistakes better than anybody else. He only averages one point seven turnovers per game. It's the fewest turnovers per game ever by a player averaging at least nine assists per game. He is the best decision maker in basketball. He makes the right read every single time. He is always going to take what the defense gives him and make the most out of every advantage that he creates. So he is giving you at the lead efficiency on ball for himself and for his teammates. Doesn't take bad shots, doesn't turn the ball over, but still creates those really high value shots. And he's phenomenal off ball. He's the best hit a head passer in basketball, the best transition passer in basketball. So you're always going to get those easy transition opportunities with him as your point guard, and he's led to elit offensive results no matter who's out there with him on the floor. Right, there are other guys where you question, Okay, can they fit with everybody? Can they work with everybody? Tyre Salliburn. Over the last two years, when he's on the floor without Pascal Siakam, they have a one twenty three offensive rating. When he's on the floor without Miles Turner, they have a one twenty offensive rating. When he's on the floor without Andrew Nemhart, they have a one twenty three offensive rating. But you put him with any of those guys, and he and Siakam have complimentary skill sets. He and Turner have one of the most dynamic pick and pop games in basketball. Together. He can thrive with another dude who wants to have the ball in his hands, some like Nemhard. He and TJ McConnell can play together and the Pacers have a one twenty four offensive rating in those minutes. That's a non shooting ball dominant point guard in TJ. McConnell and Hollie is still able to make such quick decisions, to do so much off ball, to do so much in transition that they lead to elite team offense together. That's just a very very rare ability that he has. He is one of the best offensive engines basketball and he does it in a way that enhances everybody, that makes any situation better, and that the box score sells so short. In my opinion, he was leading a historic offense before they even traded for Siakam last year. He led the number one playoff offense last season, Indiana had a one twenty offensive rating in the playoffs. And people continue to downplay him because he doesn't have the crazy box score production or because they don't like whatever aspect of his personality. I think he's just amazing, and I totally see a case for Dame over him. I literally made the case a few weeks ago where I was talking about Dame's elite scoring trait, the fact that at times you can limit Halle's scoring volume, but even when you do limit his scoring volume, like he's usually having an elite offensive impact because of all the passing and little things that he's doing and how he controls the game. Phenomenal, phenomenal offensive player and like I said, more respectable defender than Dame. So I think he's a top twenty guy. I have him at number eighteen.

I mean, he's one of the great the game's great amplifiers. And I've always said that about Halle, and that's why I love him. It's a really rare skill set that you see in the modern NBA to be that unselfish, to make that many guys that much better. So we've already actually talked about all of my twenty through seventeen. At twenty, I had Kyrie at nineteen, I hit KP at eighteen, I have Jimmy Butler at seventeen, I have Damian Lillard, So to revisit Jimmy real quick, because I think this is probably going to be my most contentious ranking when the graphic comes out, because a lot of people that watch the NBA like to go off box scores, and this isn't a box score argument. I mean, I literally think if we did all the counting numbers for everybody in my top twenty five, Jimmy Butler may have the most underwhelming.

I mean, he's one of the great the game's great amplifiers. And I've always said that about Halle, and that's why I love him. It's a really rare skill set that you see in the modern NBA to be that unselfish, to make that many guys that much better. So we've already actually talked about all of my twenty through seventeen. At twenty, I had Kyrie at nineteen, I hit KP at eighteen, I have Jimmy Butler at seventeen, I have Damian Lillard, So to revisit Jimmy real quick, because I think this is probably going to be my most contentious ranking when the graphic comes out, because a lot of people that watch the NBA like to go off box scores, and this isn't a box score argument. I mean, I literally think if we did all the counting numbers for everybody in my top twenty five, Jimmy Butler may have the most underwhelming.

The fewest points rebounds. Is this total or the one to the bottom for sure?

The fewest points rebounds. Is this total or the one to the bottom for sure?

Yeah, one of the fewest counting numbers in totality. You're talking about the box score doing Halliburt in the disservice, I think it does Jimmy Butler at this stage in his career a great disservice. Jimmy Butler can have a pronounced winning impact in basketball games where he scores two points. You know, I don't like that. I don't like the fact that the guy's gonna put up a game where he puts up two points. Don't get me wrong, that's a negative. But Jimmy's always picked his spots. And I already know the negative arguments, right, like, oh, he's tailed off, he's thirty five now, he's not getting any younger. I understand that. I think when Jimmy needs to, this is a guy that is always going to crank up in scale better right. And it's a cliche and we do that as a blanket statement for a lot of guys in the NBA. I think for a lot of sports players in general, we just give them the moniker of playoff riser. But with Jimmy Butler, I do feel it's different. And I feel a year off where he was injured, let a lot of people forget about Jimmy, and I'm not gonna do it. I've always been a Jimmy defender. I'm going to be a Jimmy defender until the day I die. I love Jimmy. I love the ferocity and the heart and soul that he plays with. This guy plays with a chip on his shoulder. You know, he's never been the most talented, he's never been the most skilled, but he's a cerebral basketball player that impacts the game and winning in every single way. Defensively, he's one of the smartest guys on the planet. Him and Draymond are a formidable defensive duo. Offensively, he does a bunch of little stuff that doesn't get in the box score. If he's setting screens, if he's cutting, if he's just playing within the flow of the offense. I think Jimmy is a plug and play guy, where at this point in his career he's not an ideal number one, and I have said that in the past. I don't know if he's a number one, but he is a bomb ass number two. I mean, probably to goat, I don't know how many better number two is that you could come up with, and he so seamlessly fits in with Stephen Dre I thought for the longest time that marketing was the best guy they could have got. I really do feel like Jimmy is the perfect connecting blue guy. He's still a really good isolation scorer when he needs to be. He's still a good post scorer when he needs to be. He's still a good transition scorer when he needs to be. It's all about picking the spots, and so I'm not gonna make a box score argument for Jimmy. This is I think the respect that he has earned over this last decade of basketball that he's played. I think he has earned this reputation, and I think he's gonna prove a lot of people wrong in the playoffs, whether the Warriors get bounced in the first round, whether the Warriors go on a little bit of a run. I think Jimmy is gonna elevate his game the way he always does, and play better than he does in the regular season and impact the game in every facet as a scorer, as a rebounder, as a playmaker, and as a defender. It's like when we talk about, you know, baseball, that cliche he's a five tool player. Jimmy Butler is a five tool guy. The guy impacts the game and every single way. I really value that really highly, but I do prefer other guys. Everybody above him is a way more polished offensive player, just a more impactful player on both ends of the floor in totality, and so that's where I draw the line. That's why I prefer game. I just would rather have that offensive number one at this point. But I still have such an immense amount of respect for Jimmy, and like I said, I think he is going to and he's gonna make a lot of people eat their words. Jimmy Butler is in no way washed.

Yeah, one of the fewest counting numbers in totality. You're talking about the box score doing Halliburt in the disservice, I think it does Jimmy Butler at this stage in his career a great disservice. Jimmy Butler can have a pronounced winning impact in basketball games where he scores two points. You know, I don't like that. I don't like the fact that the guy's gonna put up a game where he puts up two points. Don't get me wrong, that's a negative. But Jimmy's always picked his spots. And I already know the negative arguments, right, like, oh, he's tailed off, he's thirty five now, he's not getting any younger. I understand that. I think when Jimmy needs to, this is a guy that is always going to crank up in scale better right. And it's a cliche and we do that as a blanket statement for a lot of guys in the NBA. I think for a lot of sports players in general, we just give them the moniker of playoff riser. But with Jimmy Butler, I do feel it's different. And I feel a year off where he was injured, let a lot of people forget about Jimmy, and I'm not gonna do it. I've always been a Jimmy defender. I'm going to be a Jimmy defender until the day I die. I love Jimmy. I love the ferocity and the heart and soul that he plays with. This guy plays with a chip on his shoulder. You know, he's never been the most talented, he's never been the most skilled, but he's a cerebral basketball player that impacts the game and winning in every single way. Defensively, he's one of the smartest guys on the planet. Him and Draymond are a formidable defensive duo. Offensively, he does a bunch of little stuff that doesn't get in the box score. If he's setting screens, if he's cutting, if he's just playing within the flow of the offense. I think Jimmy is a plug and play guy, where at this point in his career he's not an ideal number one, and I have said that in the past. I don't know if he's a number one, but he is a bomb ass number two. I mean, probably to goat, I don't know how many better number two is that you could come up with, and he so seamlessly fits in with Stephen Dre I thought for the longest time that marketing was the best guy they could have got. I really do feel like Jimmy is the perfect connecting blue guy. He's still a really good isolation scorer when he needs to be. He's still a good post scorer when he needs to be. He's still a good transition scorer when he needs to be. It's all about picking the spots, and so I'm not gonna make a box score argument for Jimmy. This is I think the respect that he has earned over this last decade of basketball that he's played. I think he has earned this reputation, and I think he's gonna prove a lot of people wrong in the playoffs, whether the Warriors get bounced in the first round, whether the Warriors go on a little bit of a run. I think Jimmy is gonna elevate his game the way he always does, and play better than he does in the regular season and impact the game in every facet as a scorer, as a rebounder, as a playmaker, and as a defender. It's like when we talk about, you know, baseball, that cliche he's a five tool player. Jimmy Butler is a five tool guy. The guy impacts the game and every single way. I really value that really highly, but I do prefer other guys. Everybody above him is a way more polished offensive player, just a more impactful player on both ends of the floor in totality, and so that's where I draw the line. That's why I prefer game. I just would rather have that offensive number one at this point. But I still have such an immense amount of respect for Jimmy, and like I said, I think he is going to and he's gonna make a lot of people eat their words. Jimmy Butler is in no way washed.

He is absolutely not. I love Jimmy. He has been a home run for the Warriors. He's completely changed their season. They went from a mediocre team before they added him to one of the best teams in basketball, which is what they've been since they got him. They've lost twice in the seventeen games that he's played for them. He is a winner through and through. He is the ideal, connective star guy who's going to do all the little things screen, be an elite offensive, rebounding wing, make decisions off the short rule for you, just consistently make the extra pass to find the open man, defend at a high level, and he's gonna pick his spots. He's not going to give you a ton of volume as a score, but he'll be efficient as a scorer. Gets to line a ton. I love the guy. We talked about this already. Item at number twenty six. You have him up here. Your ranking, to me is just an indication that you're more bullish on his ability to turn back the clock and really ramp up his volume as a scorer come playoffs. Because I think that we agree on all of the winning things that he does. I am just trying to find the balance between appreciating all of that, valuing all of that, and then also acknowledging there are Knights where he does have six points, like that's happened three times already with the Warriors. There are Knights where he is a no show as a scorer, and yes, he still has an impact on those games, but it is not to the level of these guys who are E leite elite offensive players, offensive number ones, or who are just absolutely dominant defensive players. With some of these bigs and then are also really high end offensive players, Jimmy has a little bit more of that potential to fade, and so that's where I land a little bit lower. But I do think that he's phenomenal in I mean, if he does get to the place where he's giving you twenty two to twenty three points per game in the playoffs, then he has to be this high. I just think it's probably gonna be more like eighteen at nineteen. And I still want that guy on my team every single day of the week. He is doing so much good stuff. But there are guys who just have more A plus insane traits. At this point, Fade.

He is absolutely not. I love Jimmy. He has been a home run for the Warriors. He's completely changed their season. They went from a mediocre team before they added him to one of the best teams in basketball, which is what they've been since they got him. They've lost twice in the seventeen games that he's played for them. He is a winner through and through. He is the ideal, connective star guy who's going to do all the little things screen, be an elite offensive, rebounding wing, make decisions off the short rule for you, just consistently make the extra pass to find the open man, defend at a high level, and he's gonna pick his spots. He's not going to give you a ton of volume as a score, but he'll be efficient as a scorer. Gets to line a ton. I love the guy. We talked about this already. Item at number twenty six. You have him up here. Your ranking, to me is just an indication that you're more bullish on his ability to turn back the clock and really ramp up his volume as a scorer come playoffs. Because I think that we agree on all of the winning things that he does. I am just trying to find the balance between appreciating all of that, valuing all of that, and then also acknowledging there are Knights where he does have six points, like that's happened three times already with the Warriors. There are Knights where he is a no show as a scorer, and yes, he still has an impact on those games, but it is not to the level of these guys who are E leite elite offensive players, offensive number ones, or who are just absolutely dominant defensive players. With some of these bigs and then are also really high end offensive players, Jimmy has a little bit more of that potential to fade, and so that's where I land a little bit lower. But I do think that he's phenomenal in I mean, if he does get to the place where he's giving you twenty two to twenty three points per game in the playoffs, then he has to be this high. I just think it's probably gonna be more like eighteen at nineteen. And I still want that guy on my team every single day of the week. He is doing so much good stuff. But there are guys who just have more A plus insane traits. At this point, Fade.

Is not a word I would use with Jimmy Butler.

Is not a word I would use with Jimmy Butler.

Yeah, well, we talked about this already, but there have just been moments and there have been games where you just wonder if he has that gear. But he's been super efficient as an on ball scorer. I think the guy's great.

Yeah, well, we talked about this already, but there have just been moments and there have been games where you just wonder if he has that gear. But he's been super efficient as an on ball scorer. I think the guy's great.

I do, I mean, and I still I might be the highest on Jimmy Butler of anybody in basketball. I've always been a Jimmy defender. Jimmy's been my guy, and I'm gonna go to bad for him. And it's ironic too, because you're mentioning the scoring performances. Steph has been so damn good and so much better since Jimmy got there. He may not even need to do all that, you know, like it could just be like garnish, It could be a cherry on top, you know, if he is scoring at that level, so they might not even need it in the playoffs. That being said, I think he's a playoff riser. I think this is a guy that's gonna get back not to two years ago, not to you know, a finals kind of Jimmy run, but I think he's gonna get to a higher level.

I do, I mean, and I still I might be the highest on Jimmy Butler of anybody in basketball. I've always been a Jimmy defender. Jimmy's been my guy, and I'm gonna go to bad for him. And it's ironic too, because you're mentioning the scoring performances. Steph has been so damn good and so much better since Jimmy got there. He may not even need to do all that, you know, like it could just be like garnish, It could be a cherry on top, you know, if he is scoring at that level, so they might not even need it in the playoffs. That being said, I think he's a playoff riser. I think this is a guy that's gonna get back not to two years ago, not to you know, a finals kind of Jimmy run, but I think he's gonna get to a higher level.

I do think there are a couple areas in which he will become more assertive in the playoffs. Like I think right now, he is really focusing on like being the most selfless team player that he can be, like at times passing up shots that he just should take to try to get somebody else a shot. I think that that balance will shift a bit in the playoffs and he'll take the ball into it his own hands a bit more, and he'll say, yeah, I'm still gonna do all the connective stuff, but also like I'm gonna be Jimmy Butler. I'm gonna go and try to be a more consistent, legit number two scorer for us. So I love Jimmy. I think you are very very high on him. But like, I don't think that this is crazy. I think that he definitely could justify this. We'll see. To me, it comes down to what level of score he is in the playoffs. Basically, in my number seventeen spot, I have Devin Booker. I've always been a book guy. It's a little bit of a bummer to see him a few spots lower. But I think there are some people who might try to put him lower than this, which to me would be unfair because the Suns are not a good basketball team. But the reason for that is everything other than Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, Like, are they an ideal fit as a duo? No, But are they still absolutely two guys who are playing one at a top ten level, one at arguably a top fifteen level, undeniably a top twenty level in Devin Booker. Yeah, they've actually been a good team. When those two play together, they're like well above five hundred in games the Kadian Book both play. They've just put a catastrophic supporting cast on both sides of the ball alongside them. But Book is still giving you Devin Booker production this year, averaging twenty six four and seven on over fifty nine percent true shooting. He is one of the best shot makers on the planet. He hasn't had his best three point shooting season, and he was on a bit of a slump there earlier in the year, but he's fifty one percent from mid range. That is just so absurdly valuable. And you look at his efficiency in all of the on ball play types. He's a seventy seventh percentile pick and roll creator, he's a ninety eighth percentile isolation creator, He's a ninety fourth percentile post scorer has always been one of the best post scoring guards in basketball. Such a good shot maker uses his size there such a deep bag the footwork, it's incredible, and he's one of the best off ball scorers in basketball. So he has this just like elite, top tier shot making from everywhere on the floor. Then he also gets to the line seven times a game, even though he doesn't get to the rim much. Very crafty as a foul drawer. He's a low turnover guy as a score as a guy who can fit alongside another offensive star, I do think the book is one of the best in basketball. The challenge with him is offensively, is he a real number one? He's not a high end advantage creator. His rim pressure is minimal at this point, like that's never been his strength, but it's just continued to go down and down, and now we're at the point where he's well outside the top fifty in restricted area makes among guards.

I do think there are a couple areas in which he will become more assertive in the playoffs. Like I think right now, he is really focusing on like being the most selfless team player that he can be, like at times passing up shots that he just should take to try to get somebody else a shot. I think that that balance will shift a bit in the playoffs and he'll take the ball into it his own hands a bit more, and he'll say, yeah, I'm still gonna do all the connective stuff, but also like I'm gonna be Jimmy Butler. I'm gonna go and try to be a more consistent, legit number two scorer for us. So I love Jimmy. I think you are very very high on him. But like, I don't think that this is crazy. I think that he definitely could justify this. We'll see. To me, it comes down to what level of score he is in the playoffs. Basically, in my number seventeen spot, I have Devin Booker. I've always been a book guy. It's a little bit of a bummer to see him a few spots lower. But I think there are some people who might try to put him lower than this, which to me would be unfair because the Suns are not a good basketball team. But the reason for that is everything other than Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, Like, are they an ideal fit as a duo? No, But are they still absolutely two guys who are playing one at a top ten level, one at arguably a top fifteen level, undeniably a top twenty level in Devin Booker. Yeah, they've actually been a good team. When those two play together, they're like well above five hundred in games the Kadian Book both play. They've just put a catastrophic supporting cast on both sides of the ball alongside them. But Book is still giving you Devin Booker production this year, averaging twenty six four and seven on over fifty nine percent true shooting. He is one of the best shot makers on the planet. He hasn't had his best three point shooting season, and he was on a bit of a slump there earlier in the year, but he's fifty one percent from mid range. That is just so absurdly valuable. And you look at his efficiency in all of the on ball play types. He's a seventy seventh percentile pick and roll creator, he's a ninety eighth percentile isolation creator, He's a ninety fourth percentile post scorer has always been one of the best post scoring guards in basketball. Such a good shot maker uses his size there such a deep bag the footwork, it's incredible, and he's one of the best off ball scorers in basketball. So he has this just like elite, top tier shot making from everywhere on the floor. Then he also gets to the line seven times a game, even though he doesn't get to the rim much. Very crafty as a foul drawer. He's a low turnover guy as a score as a guy who can fit alongside another offensive star, I do think the book is one of the best in basketball. The challenge with him is offensively, is he a real number one? He's not a high end advantage creator. His rim pressure is minimal at this point, like that's never been his strength, but it's just continued to go down and down, and now we're at the point where he's well outside the top fifty in restricted area makes among guards.

I agree with that fundamentally. The one thing I will still give Book props for is he still does get to the line of.

I agree with that fundamentally. The one thing I will still give Book props for is he still does get to the line of.

He absolutely does, But I'm just talking about that ability to athletically pressure the rim both for yourself and to create opportunities for teammates.

He absolutely does, But I'm just talking about that ability to athletically pressure the rim both for yourself and to create opportunities for teammates.

Just eighteen percent of his shots come at the room.

Just eighteen percent of his shots come at the room.

Very very low, and that does make him susceptible to some of the little slumps in terms of efficiency like he did have earlier in the year. I do think that because he gets to the line so much, and because he is such an insane shot maker, he is normally still pretty consistent. He does tend to have a relatively high floor as a score. But you saw that slump. You do see the disadvantage that it is to not get that super easy stuff consistently. And this year he's been bad defensively, which I don't think is characteristic of who he is as a defender. I think he's fine. This year, he's been bad. I don't blame him. He's in fucking Guantanamo Bay. He is in basketball hell right now. So this feels right for Book, Like I love his scoring, I love his offensive fit. Basically anywhere the dudes above him basically just have more superpowers, Like they a are truer offensive number ones who can create easy offense for teammates, who get to the rim more, or who just control the game more than Book, or they're like elite elite two way Dudes book to me, hasn't gotten any worse. It's more just the guys around him have gotten better, is what I would say. So this is why I have him at number seventeen. When it comes to college basketball in March Mania, one thing is for sure. Nothing's for sure. Upsets, buzzer beaters, Cinderella is advancing top seeds, going home early. It's all gonna happen. Bet the unexpected, every upset, every day with Draft Kings Sportsbook.