The volume.

The volume.

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

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

Don't want.

Don't want.

What Charles Darwin.

What Charles Darwin.

The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into nerd Sash As always, I'm Carson Breber. Alongside me is Logan Camden and you already know the drill. We've got a Game seven to talk about today and Logan, as has been the case in a few Game sevens as of late, this one is a blowout. There is no dramatic finish. It is the Oklahoma City thunder Show. They demolish the Denver Nuggets and advance to the Western Conference Finals as they continue their effort to become the youngest NBA champion in almost fifty years. How did they get it done in this one? And what do you take away from this performance from OKC Logan?

The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into nerd Sash As always, I'm Carson Breber. Alongside me is Logan Camden and you already know the drill. We've got a Game seven to talk about today and Logan, as has been the case in a few Game sevens as of late, this one is a blowout. There is no dramatic finish. It is the Oklahoma City thunder Show. They demolish the Denver Nuggets and advance to the Western Conference Finals as they continue their effort to become the youngest NBA champion in almost fifty years. How did they get it done in this one? And what do you take away from this performance from OKC Logan?

It was the defense stepping up.

It was the defense stepping up.

I mean that's the biggest thing about this game, more than anything else. You know, I could be critical of Denver. I do think they were careless and reckless with the ball, Like I think there are a lot of really ugly and just uncoordinated turnovers. But you got to give the OKAC defense a ton of credit for just how physical they were. The ball pressure through at this game, the ability to limit just easy passes inside to Jokic, where I think you got to give a shout out to a guy like Alex Caruso, who was just phenomenal in this game. But it's just a collective defense and then their ability really easily to turn that defense into offense. And I saw a lot of people early on in this game talking about, oh, you know, Oklahoma City is really lucky to be only down this in this game, and.

I mean that's the biggest thing about this game, more than anything else. You know, I could be critical of Denver. I do think they were careless and reckless with the ball, Like I think there are a lot of really ugly and just uncoordinated turnovers. But you got to give the OKAC defense a ton of credit for just how physical they were. The ball pressure through at this game, the ability to limit just easy passes inside to Jokic, where I think you got to give a shout out to a guy like Alex Caruso, who was just phenomenal in this game. But it's just a collective defense and then their ability really easily to turn that defense into offense. And I saw a lot of people early on in this game talking about, oh, you know, Oklahoma City is really lucky to be only down this in this game, and.

I didn't feel that way at all.

I didn't feel that way at all.

Like I thought that the Nuggets were kind of lucky that Oklahoma City was missing so many open threes, you know, because they were giving credit to the Denver zone early in this game, and I thought, yeah, you know, Denver doing a pretty good job. But you know, I more so thought okay See was just missing open shots that they should have been hitting. And at a point in this game in the second quarter, Oklahoma City.

Like I thought that the Nuggets were kind of lucky that Oklahoma City was missing so many open threes, you know, because they were giving credit to the Denver zone early in this game, and I thought, yeah, you know, Denver doing a pretty good job. But you know, I more so thought okay See was just missing open shots that they should have been hitting. And at a point in this game in the second quarter, Oklahoma City.

Just flips this switch.

Just flips this switch.

Defensively where they're applying immense ball pressure, they are getting out on fast breaks and getting easy points and they just didn't let up.

Defensively where they're applying immense ball pressure, they are getting out on fast breaks and getting easy points and they just didn't let up.

It was like.

It was like.

It was like this pressure was just building in this pipe, and eventually Oklahoma City just busted through with their defense and Denver just couldn't hang. I mean, that was the difference to me. I thought Sga played a really good game as well, and I think he has steadily improved throughout this season. I thought he was the best player in this series end to end, more than Yokic, even though Jokic had some really great performances. I thought Jokic had the higher peak, but I thought Sga was more consistent down the stretch. I thought Jokic played below his best in the world standard in this series. Now, granted it is in some pretty extreme circumstances with the defense that Oklahom the city was throwing at them, but I thought Sga overall was the best player in this series. And it's a big backup excuse me, it's a big bounce back game for Jadub two. I got to give him credit.

It was like this pressure was just building in this pipe, and eventually Oklahoma City just busted through with their defense and Denver just couldn't hang. I mean, that was the difference to me. I thought Sga played a really good game as well, and I think he has steadily improved throughout this season. I thought he was the best player in this series end to end, more than Yokic, even though Jokic had some really great performances. I thought Jokic had the higher peak, but I thought Sga was more consistent down the stretch. I thought Jokic played below his best in the world standard in this series. Now, granted it is in some pretty extreme circumstances with the defense that Oklahom the city was throwing at them, but I thought Sga overall was the best player in this series. And it's a big backup excuse me, it's a big bounce back game for Jadub two. I got to give him credit.

Coming into this game.

Coming into this game.

Jadub was giving you seventeen points per game on forty five percent true shooting. That's down five points in twelve percent from the regular season, and the numbers were kind of staggering. In this game where he had struggled Carson, he was down twenty five percent in the restricted area in this series. In the regular season, he was down nineteen percent in the mid range from the regular season in this series, and he was down fifteen percent from behind the arc in this series from the regular season. But he did a really good job of and I want to give him credit in this series too. The scoring was off, but I thought you got really high impact from Jadub in other areas, but in this game, you kind of get everything, and a lot of it was in transition where I thought he did a really good job of just getting out on the break and getting easy points. I mean, I think he scored seventeen points in the second quarter, and so shout out to him for bouncing back. Shout out to the OKC supporting cast finally finding their stroke in this one. I thought a lot of the areas where they struggled bounced back in a big way. And I feel a little foolish, Carson. I mean, the one thing that I had the most confidence, I feel like coming into this series was this defense.

Jadub was giving you seventeen points per game on forty five percent true shooting. That's down five points in twelve percent from the regular season, and the numbers were kind of staggering. In this game where he had struggled Carson, he was down twenty five percent in the restricted area in this series. In the regular season, he was down nineteen percent in the mid range from the regular season in this series, and he was down fifteen percent from behind the arc in this series from the regular season. But he did a really good job of and I want to give him credit in this series too. The scoring was off, but I thought you got really high impact from Jadub in other areas, but in this game, you kind of get everything, and a lot of it was in transition where I thought he did a really good job of just getting out on the break and getting easy points. I mean, I think he scored seventeen points in the second quarter, and so shout out to him for bouncing back. Shout out to the OKC supporting cast finally finding their stroke in this one. I thought a lot of the areas where they struggled bounced back in a big way. And I feel a little foolish, Carson. I mean, the one thing that I had the most confidence, I feel like coming into this series was this defense.

And I bet against them in this game seven.

And I bet against them in this game seven.

Net I thought was the biggest component to this dominant Oklahoma City win.

Net I thought was the biggest component to this dominant Oklahoma City win.

It absolutely was the defense. They showed up at such a special level in this game and they're capable of doing that because this is one of the greatest defenses that we've ever seen. I've been saying for a while I think it's the best defense since the four Pistons, and they have the resume to support that. Man. This was a top ten relative defense by defensive rating in modern league history this regular season, and that was without their best defender, Chet Holmgren, for most of the year. But I've consistently said this is the best group of perimeter defenders in terms of their death that I have ever seen. They have four flat out all defense, no ifs ands or Butts caliber guards and wings with Alex Caruso, who's the best defensive guard on the planet, lou Dort, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, and then they also have one of the best pure rim protectors of this century in Chet Holmgren. The ability that they have to pressure the ball, to fly around and force teams into mistakes on the perimeter, to rotate with such overwhelming speed, and that you have this insane back line defense in rim protection from an individual like Chet and from their collective speed and length and athleticism on the interior, it just makes them one of the greatest defenses that we've ever seen. They averaged the most steals per game this season that we had seen by any defense since the nineties, and they also held opposing offenses to the worst efficiency inside of ten feet by far. So it's the fastest defense I've ever seen. It's the best defense I've ever seen at forcing opponent mistakes, and they have this top tier rim protection and their versatility is just unbelievable as well. We have seen them throw so many different looks at Yokics. We know they can go double big and be dominant. They can go Chet at the five and be dominant. They can go iHeart the five without Chet and be dominant. But for a sizeable stretch of this game, in the second quarter, when both iHeart and Chat have two fouls, they went up against, in my opinion, the best offensive player ever who was a two hundred and eighty pounds center with a small ball lineup with Alex Caruso as his primary defender, and they gave him a lot of trouble with that look. And you can criticize Denver's ability to throw entry passes where I thought they made a lot of poor passes, and they were a little sloppy, but Okse just did such a great job of challenging every pass, pressuring the ball, challenging every catch, blindsiding Jokic off the catch, and they just generated so many steals in this game. They're averaging the most steals per game in these playoffs now of any team to play at least ten games in the postseason since the nineteen seventies. Man, it is just chaos at a level that we have not seen in decades.

It absolutely was the defense. They showed up at such a special level in this game and they're capable of doing that because this is one of the greatest defenses that we've ever seen. I've been saying for a while I think it's the best defense since the four Pistons, and they have the resume to support that. Man. This was a top ten relative defense by defensive rating in modern league history this regular season, and that was without their best defender, Chet Holmgren, for most of the year. But I've consistently said this is the best group of perimeter defenders in terms of their death that I have ever seen. They have four flat out all defense, no ifs ands or Butts caliber guards and wings with Alex Caruso, who's the best defensive guard on the planet, lou Dort, Cason Wallace, Jalen Williams, and then they also have one of the best pure rim protectors of this century in Chet Holmgren. The ability that they have to pressure the ball, to fly around and force teams into mistakes on the perimeter, to rotate with such overwhelming speed, and that you have this insane back line defense in rim protection from an individual like Chet and from their collective speed and length and athleticism on the interior, it just makes them one of the greatest defenses that we've ever seen. They averaged the most steals per game this season that we had seen by any defense since the nineties, and they also held opposing offenses to the worst efficiency inside of ten feet by far. So it's the fastest defense I've ever seen. It's the best defense I've ever seen at forcing opponent mistakes, and they have this top tier rim protection and their versatility is just unbelievable as well. We have seen them throw so many different looks at Yokics. We know they can go double big and be dominant. They can go Chet at the five and be dominant. They can go iHeart the five without Chet and be dominant. But for a sizeable stretch of this game, in the second quarter, when both iHeart and Chat have two fouls, they went up against, in my opinion, the best offensive player ever who was a two hundred and eighty pounds center with a small ball lineup with Alex Caruso as his primary defender, and they gave him a lot of trouble with that look. And you can criticize Denver's ability to throw entry passes where I thought they made a lot of poor passes, and they were a little sloppy, but Okse just did such a great job of challenging every pass, pressuring the ball, challenging every catch, blindsiding Jokic off the catch, and they just generated so many steals in this game. They're averaging the most steals per game in these playoffs now of any team to play at least ten games in the postseason since the nineteen seventies. Man, it is just chaos at a level that we have not seen in decades.

Y is pace related? Is that interrelated with pace?

Y is pace related? Is that interrelated with pace?

Like the reason that it's been that long?

Like the reason that it's been that long?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Absolutely well. Seventies pace was high, and also teams were just worse at taking care of the basketball. I talked about this in the video I did where I watched a game from every decade but the seventy five finals. It was turnover central. So to do it in this era, when teams are actually better at limiting turnovers than ever before, makes that number even more impressive and makes me comfortable saying in terms of their ability to force turnovers considering competition, they're the best that we've seen. So they gave Jokic fits in this series in a way I have never seen before. They did it in so many different ways, but in this game, a lot of it started with Alex Caruso, who's just a one of a kind defender, and I do think in a lot of ways is the hero of this game. Oksee, obviously dominated, they win by more than thirty, so there were a lot of dudes who stepped up and played at a really high level. But I did say, Logan, I tweeted this out. I said that when our friend's over at thunder Chets asked for our pregame predictions, I said, I think we're going to get a Cruso masterclass. He is just the ultimate big game championship kind of player, and he showed up in such a big way. His ability to front Jokic, harass him, pressure him, and then blow things up all over the floor and just wreak havoc is so special. There's no other guard who does it at that level in the NBA today. I do think that he is not just the best guard defender alive, he is having one of the best individual postseasons I can think of, And so he was empowering them to pull away on the defensive end, and that's where they really did separate themselves. In this game with their ability to turn defense into offense, get out in transition, and dominate in the paint. A lot of that did come out in the full court, but if you just look at the few categories slogan where Okac was on a totally different level. They go plus thirteen in the turnover margin. They go plus thirty in terms of points off of turnovers. I can't think of a time I've seen a number that big. They go double denver in fast break points, and they have twenty two more points in the paint. So, as you said early in this game, it felt like, man, once you're midway through the second quarter, like Oka see probably should have built a more sizeable lead than they had. And then they really pull away at the end of the second quarter with that eighteen to five run to close out the half. A lot of that is forcing three turnovers in the last two minutes. They're just one of a kind in their ability to score off of those turnovers. We talked about it time and again. That's what sets them apart even from other great defenses, that ability to turn defense into offense. But then the offense also started going in its own right in that stretch jadeb steps into big three versus the zone and hits it. Shaye nails a pull up three, and all of a sudden, it was just like the floodgates open. Because they had been doing a lot right. They had been dominating in the paint and doing a great job of cutting versus the zone. They'd been defending well, they'd been really active on the offensive glass. They actually had more offensive rebound than Denver in the first half. They had just been missing lots of open threes, which was disappointing from okay see, but not shocking, just because we've seen inconsistencies there from them this series, and there are just so many nerves in a moment like this for a young team. How do you mitigate nerves? You bludgeon the opposing team. You set the tone with your physicality and your activity on the defensive end, and you get yourself easy offense off of it around the rim where it doesn't matter if you're nervous. You're just getting great, very high percentage shots.

Absolutely well. Seventies pace was high, and also teams were just worse at taking care of the basketball. I talked about this in the video I did where I watched a game from every decade but the seventy five finals. It was turnover central. So to do it in this era, when teams are actually better at limiting turnovers than ever before, makes that number even more impressive and makes me comfortable saying in terms of their ability to force turnovers considering competition, they're the best that we've seen. So they gave Jokic fits in this series in a way I have never seen before. They did it in so many different ways, but in this game, a lot of it started with Alex Caruso, who's just a one of a kind defender, and I do think in a lot of ways is the hero of this game. Oksee, obviously dominated, they win by more than thirty, so there were a lot of dudes who stepped up and played at a really high level. But I did say, Logan, I tweeted this out. I said that when our friend's over at thunder Chets asked for our pregame predictions, I said, I think we're going to get a Cruso masterclass. He is just the ultimate big game championship kind of player, and he showed up in such a big way. His ability to front Jokic, harass him, pressure him, and then blow things up all over the floor and just wreak havoc is so special. There's no other guard who does it at that level in the NBA today. I do think that he is not just the best guard defender alive, he is having one of the best individual postseasons I can think of, And so he was empowering them to pull away on the defensive end, and that's where they really did separate themselves. In this game with their ability to turn defense into offense, get out in transition, and dominate in the paint. A lot of that did come out in the full court, but if you just look at the few categories slogan where Okac was on a totally different level. They go plus thirteen in the turnover margin. They go plus thirty in terms of points off of turnovers. I can't think of a time I've seen a number that big. They go double denver in fast break points, and they have twenty two more points in the paint. So, as you said early in this game, it felt like, man, once you're midway through the second quarter, like Oka see probably should have built a more sizeable lead than they had. And then they really pull away at the end of the second quarter with that eighteen to five run to close out the half. A lot of that is forcing three turnovers in the last two minutes. They're just one of a kind in their ability to score off of those turnovers. We talked about it time and again. That's what sets them apart even from other great defenses, that ability to turn defense into offense. But then the offense also started going in its own right in that stretch jadeb steps into big three versus the zone and hits it. Shaye nails a pull up three, and all of a sudden, it was just like the floodgates open. Because they had been doing a lot right. They had been dominating in the paint and doing a great job of cutting versus the zone. They'd been defending well, they'd been really active on the offensive glass. They actually had more offensive rebound than Denver in the first half. They had just been missing lots of open threes, which was disappointing from okay see, but not shocking, just because we've seen inconsistencies there from them this series, and there are just so many nerves in a moment like this for a young team. How do you mitigate nerves? You bludgeon the opposing team. You set the tone with your physicality and your activity on the defensive end, and you get yourself easy offense off of it around the rim where it doesn't matter if you're nervous. You're just getting great, very high percentage shots.

Mm hm.

Mm hm.

They just hit Denver with a punch that they couldn't handle, and honestly, I don't think anybody in the league could handle and they really pulled away decisively. It does start with the defense. I do want to rain praise upon the Stars, but it's one of the best defenses we've ever seen Logan and this is their masterpiece, man.

They just hit Denver with a punch that they couldn't handle, and honestly, I don't think anybody in the league could handle and they really pulled away decisively. It does start with the defense. I do want to rain praise upon the Stars, but it's one of the best defenses we've ever seen Logan and this is their masterpiece, man.

And I thought Denver did a really good job of that in the first quarter. That's always so surprising about this game because I thought Denver zone was really stifling. I thought Denver did a good job of being the aggressive team getting downhill, getting to the free throw line, and I thought that was going to be a big difference.

And I thought Denver did a really good job of that in the first quarter. That's always so surprising about this game because I thought Denver zone was really stifling. I thought Denver did a good job of being the aggressive team getting downhill, getting to the free throw line, and I thought that was going to be a big difference.

And then immediately the tide really swung.

And then immediately the tide really swung.

When Jokic came off the floor at the top of the second quarter. I mean, I really felt like the momentum just flipped on its head, like Denver was rolling. They had something good going. And then I didn't like that decision from Adlelman to not have Murray or Jokic out there at the beginning of the second quarter, because I just thought, in a moment like this, and I get it, you want both of these guys to get a little bit of a rest before they.

When Jokic came off the floor at the top of the second quarter. I mean, I really felt like the momentum just flipped on its head, like Denver was rolling. They had something good going. And then I didn't like that decision from Adlelman to not have Murray or Jokic out there at the beginning of the second quarter, because I just thought, in a moment like this, and I get it, you want both of these guys to get a little bit of a rest before they.

Locked back in.

Locked back in.

In a minute, in two seconds of game time, with no Murray and Jokic, they rattle off six six points straight to take the lead, and then Jada misses a free throw, Strawthorp immediately gives the ball away on a bad turnover to Russell Westbrook, and Jadab gets another layup. So that's an eight to zero run without Jokic, where I just felt like you needed a stabilizer. And obviously that's not like the most important I thought the most important.

In a minute, in two seconds of game time, with no Murray and Jokic, they rattle off six six points straight to take the lead, and then Jada misses a free throw, Strawthorp immediately gives the ball away on a bad turnover to Russell Westbrook, and Jadab gets another layup. So that's an eight to zero run without Jokic, where I just felt like you needed a stabilizer. And obviously that's not like the most important I thought the most important.

Stretch of this game was at the end of the second.

Stretch of this game was at the end of the second.

Quarter, But that felt like a really big part of the game where Denver had control in a meeting, it just flipped on its head.

Quarter, But that felt like a really big part of the game where Denver had control in a meeting, it just flipped on its head.

You look at a thirty two point game and the lead was even bigger than that at some points, and you think you can't really focus on a stretch like that too much. But at the same time, Logan, I agree. I think that that was one of the most pivotal parts of this game. Oka. See, they just were so comfortable and in rhythm late in that second quarter and in that third quarter, maybe they were gonna open this game up. No matter what, They're just the better team. They have been the better team throughout this years. They've always had the more margin, they've always had the more talent. But like you said, that Okayse offense was looking tight, and when you take both Murray and Yolkic off the floor, you give them an incredible opportunity to find a rhythm to start turning defense and offense. Because Julian Strath just is not ready to replicate what he did in Game six, obviously, and he looks overwhelmed. I thought that that was an important stretch to build Okac's confidence, and I also thought it was just a disastrous decision from Adaman. I truly don't know what he's thinking. Like the groups that Denver trotted out with both Murray and Yolkic off this regular season had a negative twenty four net rating. Because we talk about the Nuggets are amazing in the Yokch minutes. They're off in the non Yolkic minutes, and that is true, but in the Murray on Yokich off minutes, they're just like regular below average. They're not a disaster. It's when they play with both of them off the floor that they are a completely incompetent basketball team. They had only played four minutes in the entire postseason with those guys off the floor. I think it was one stretch against the Clippers, and when he did it, then I was like, what are you doing? I didn't think we'd see a single minute of this in the playoffs. To do it in game seven when you're thinking both of our stars are going to play forty four to forty five minutes anyways, I just couldn't wrap my head around that decision. So, no, it's not the difference in this game. But it gave Okasee an opportunity to get some momentum and then from there they were just a freight train that couldn't be slowed down.

You look at a thirty two point game and the lead was even bigger than that at some points, and you think you can't really focus on a stretch like that too much. But at the same time, Logan, I agree. I think that that was one of the most pivotal parts of this game. Oka. See, they just were so comfortable and in rhythm late in that second quarter and in that third quarter, maybe they were gonna open this game up. No matter what, They're just the better team. They have been the better team throughout this years. They've always had the more margin, they've always had the more talent. But like you said, that Okayse offense was looking tight, and when you take both Murray and Yolkic off the floor, you give them an incredible opportunity to find a rhythm to start turning defense and offense. Because Julian Strath just is not ready to replicate what he did in Game six, obviously, and he looks overwhelmed. I thought that that was an important stretch to build Okac's confidence, and I also thought it was just a disastrous decision from Adaman. I truly don't know what he's thinking. Like the groups that Denver trotted out with both Murray and Yolkic off this regular season had a negative twenty four net rating. Because we talk about the Nuggets are amazing in the Yokch minutes. They're off in the non Yolkic minutes, and that is true, but in the Murray on Yokich off minutes, they're just like regular below average. They're not a disaster. It's when they play with both of them off the floor that they are a completely incompetent basketball team. They had only played four minutes in the entire postseason with those guys off the floor. I think it was one stretch against the Clippers, and when he did it, then I was like, what are you doing? I didn't think we'd see a single minute of this in the playoffs. To do it in game seven when you're thinking both of our stars are going to play forty four to forty five minutes anyways, I just couldn't wrap my head around that decision. So, no, it's not the difference in this game. But it gave Okasee an opportunity to get some momentum and then from there they were just a freight train that couldn't be slowed down.

The word I would use is it gave them an edge. Like I just think that at that point, Denver had.

The word I would use is it gave them an edge. Like I just think that at that point, Denver had.

Control of the game.

Control of the game.

They were working late into the shot clock, their defense was working on the other end, and they were kind of forcing Okac to shoot early shot clock threes. They were getting out on the break a little bit. I just thought their process was really good. And I get that you need to give Yokic a rest. I get that you want Murray and them to be fresh, but like you said, confidence, I think it gave them the all right.

They were working late into the shot clock, their defense was working on the other end, and they were kind of forcing Okac to shoot early shot clock threes. They were getting out on the break a little bit. I just thought their process was really good. And I get that you need to give Yokic a rest. I get that you want Murray and them to be fresh, but like you said, confidence, I think it gave them the all right.

We'll finally we're going a little bit of a run.

We'll finally we're going a little bit of a run.

And after that they just didn't look back like like you said the floodgates opened up and they just kept coming and then it was just like an avalanche where you just feel like Denver doesn't have control of this game and they are scrambling, clawing, trying to get back in.

And after that they just didn't look back like like you said the floodgates opened up and they just kept coming and then it was just like an avalanche where you just feel like Denver doesn't have control of this game and they are scrambling, clawing, trying to get back in.

And it's over.

And it's over.

They are, you know, effectively in that quicksand where they just keep getting dragged further and further down and they can't get back into it. And I do want to give okay See more credit to because I thought their game plan was really really excellent how they executed it against Nicola Yokish. And what I mean by that is one the having Caruso on ball one props to him and how disruptive he was individually on Yokic. You can't stress that enough. He's not letting them get those immediate entry passes into them. And then even if they are getting those entry passes on the second pass, where I thought Christian Brown did a really good job of noticing opportunities where they did have that mismatch and Yokic had position on the post. When they do get the ball into Yokic on the post, Oklahoma City did a really good job of collapsing and having three guys in there just you know, punching at the ball and making it hard. And even if they're sending him to the line, they're not letting Jokic get those easy layups or easy opportunities without having to deal with all that physical contact under the rim. And the reason I think that is so important is because Oklahoma City wasn't afraid of the supporting pieces. The reason that Oklahoma City is able to implement that strategy and not get burnt for it is because they don't fear the shooting around Denver, You're okay. Even though Christian Brown did a really good job cutting and making threes, you're not afraid of him. The level that MPJ and Murray have been at, you're not afraid of them. The level that Aaron Gordon is at with his hamstring injury, and Russell Westbrook. It's like the guys around Jokic just couldn't make them pay for that overly aggressive tactic. And that's really the correct strategy to implement. And I thought they did a phenomenal job all game. Because Gruso's gonna get the praise and I think rightfully so, and Jade's gonna get a lot of credit. But specifically that team effort. If it's doored, if it's Gruso, if it's Hartenstein, those back line guys I thought did a really phenomenal job of collapsing and selling out on Jokic, and I just thought their strategy and their plan was executed to perfection in this one.

They are, you know, effectively in that quicksand where they just keep getting dragged further and further down and they can't get back into it. And I do want to give okay See more credit to because I thought their game plan was really really excellent how they executed it against Nicola Yokish. And what I mean by that is one the having Caruso on ball one props to him and how disruptive he was individually on Yokic. You can't stress that enough. He's not letting them get those immediate entry passes into them. And then even if they are getting those entry passes on the second pass, where I thought Christian Brown did a really good job of noticing opportunities where they did have that mismatch and Yokic had position on the post. When they do get the ball into Yokic on the post, Oklahoma City did a really good job of collapsing and having three guys in there just you know, punching at the ball and making it hard. And even if they're sending him to the line, they're not letting Jokic get those easy layups or easy opportunities without having to deal with all that physical contact under the rim. And the reason I think that is so important is because Oklahoma City wasn't afraid of the supporting pieces. The reason that Oklahoma City is able to implement that strategy and not get burnt for it is because they don't fear the shooting around Denver, You're okay. Even though Christian Brown did a really good job cutting and making threes, you're not afraid of him. The level that MPJ and Murray have been at, you're not afraid of them. The level that Aaron Gordon is at with his hamstring injury, and Russell Westbrook. It's like the guys around Jokic just couldn't make them pay for that overly aggressive tactic. And that's really the correct strategy to implement. And I thought they did a phenomenal job all game. Because Gruso's gonna get the praise and I think rightfully so, and Jade's gonna get a lot of credit. But specifically that team effort. If it's doored, if it's Gruso, if it's Hartenstein, those back line guys I thought did a really phenomenal job of collapsing and selling out on Jokic, and I just thought their strategy and their plan was executed to perfection in this one.

Absolutely all series long. I mean, regardless of who Jokic's primary defender was, they were almost never gonna let him get a one on one look, because when he did have those opportunities, he was very successful. They don't have anybody who can actually guard him one on one, but they have dudes who can make it really difficult for him to complete his catch. They have dudes who can really pester him, and then they're gonna double the shit out of him. I mean, we saw them bring so many baseline doubles throughout this series. We saw them so many times over and over again, bring that extreme physicality and involve a second defender with active hands and load up on Jokic so aggressively, and as you said, the guys around him just were not able to punish them for that strategy consistently enough, so they did really frustrate Jokic the last couple games Games five and six, I thought Jokic was really excellent, but this one was closer to what we saw from him in games two through four. I didn't think that Jokic was bad in this game, honestly, I thought it was more so a failure of the guys around him. But Jokic was not able to overcome this defense and deliver the sort of performance that Denver would have needed if they wanted any chance to win this one. And on the flip side, shake Gilgess Alexander was excellent and in the last three games of this series, I was just wildly impressed by how in control of every game he was, how comfortable he was against a defense that earlier in the series gave him some trouble with the zone, and they were able to force him into some questionable shots, and he wasn't consistently making the right decisions and anticipating the coverages and moving off the ball quickly to create for teammates. Last three games, I mean, he just did everything right. He gives you thirty three points and six assists per game on seventy one percent true shooting, extremely efficient as a scorer, obviously effortlessly getting to the mid range in this game, and those shots truly do feel like layups for him. Man, he was so so nails from those elbows twelve to fifteen footers from the base line in the second half of this series. And then he also found the step back three and that was a weapon that he got going that also was offer him earlier in this playoff run. The scoring numbers are dazzling and outstanding, but also I thought that his playmaking was better than the stats would show, like he created great shot after great shot for his teammates in the last three games, and really especially in this one, even though he doesn't have the big assist numbers, like he's getting into the teeth of the defense and he's kicking out and even if OKC didn't make every one of them, he's getting you so many good looks from three. He did a much better job spotting cutters as the series went along. I just thought he was outstanding in these last three games. It is so encouraging because I saw a lot of discourse about oh, SGA is a playoff drop or SGA's not holding up in the same way, And then I thought this was clearly the best postseason stretch of his young career. This is the SGI I expected from the regular season. One of the best guards we've ever seen, a guy who I have called a top three guard peak in this century. That's what you got out of him in games five through seven of this series, and it's exactly what Okac needed. It's an interesting point you said about him being the best player in the series.

Absolutely all series long. I mean, regardless of who Jokic's primary defender was, they were almost never gonna let him get a one on one look, because when he did have those opportunities, he was very successful. They don't have anybody who can actually guard him one on one, but they have dudes who can make it really difficult for him to complete his catch. They have dudes who can really pester him, and then they're gonna double the shit out of him. I mean, we saw them bring so many baseline doubles throughout this series. We saw them so many times over and over again, bring that extreme physicality and involve a second defender with active hands and load up on Jokic so aggressively, and as you said, the guys around him just were not able to punish them for that strategy consistently enough, so they did really frustrate Jokic the last couple games Games five and six, I thought Jokic was really excellent, but this one was closer to what we saw from him in games two through four. I didn't think that Jokic was bad in this game, honestly, I thought it was more so a failure of the guys around him. But Jokic was not able to overcome this defense and deliver the sort of performance that Denver would have needed if they wanted any chance to win this one. And on the flip side, shake Gilgess Alexander was excellent and in the last three games of this series, I was just wildly impressed by how in control of every game he was, how comfortable he was against a defense that earlier in the series gave him some trouble with the zone, and they were able to force him into some questionable shots, and he wasn't consistently making the right decisions and anticipating the coverages and moving off the ball quickly to create for teammates. Last three games, I mean, he just did everything right. He gives you thirty three points and six assists per game on seventy one percent true shooting, extremely efficient as a scorer, obviously effortlessly getting to the mid range in this game, and those shots truly do feel like layups for him. Man, he was so so nails from those elbows twelve to fifteen footers from the base line in the second half of this series. And then he also found the step back three and that was a weapon that he got going that also was offer him earlier in this playoff run. The scoring numbers are dazzling and outstanding, but also I thought that his playmaking was better than the stats would show, like he created great shot after great shot for his teammates in the last three games, and really especially in this one, even though he doesn't have the big assist numbers, like he's getting into the teeth of the defense and he's kicking out and even if OKC didn't make every one of them, he's getting you so many good looks from three. He did a much better job spotting cutters as the series went along. I just thought he was outstanding in these last three games. It is so encouraging because I saw a lot of discourse about oh, SGA is a playoff drop or SGA's not holding up in the same way, And then I thought this was clearly the best postseason stretch of his young career. This is the SGI I expected from the regular season. One of the best guards we've ever seen, a guy who I have called a top three guard peak in this century. That's what you got out of him in games five through seven of this series, and it's exactly what Okac needed. It's an interesting point you said about him being the best player in the series.

The reason that I say that is, I mean, I just think we got four games in this series from Jokic where I thought he was below his best in the world standard. But I would say we had three bad games by Jokic standards. You know, Game one I thought was his down game, But I mean he still gives you a forty piece, so I'm not as much concerned about that. You know, he has more turnovers than assists in that one. It wasn't a right a great Yokic game, but he does give you forty.

The reason that I say that is, I mean, I just think we got four games in this series from Jokic where I thought he was below his best in the world standard. But I would say we had three bad games by Jokic standards. You know, Game one I thought was his down game, But I mean he still gives you a forty piece, so I'm not as much concerned about that. You know, he has more turnovers than assists in that one. It wasn't a right a great Yokic game, but he does give you forty.

But I thought it was a pretty awesome game. I mean, eighteen points in the fourth quarter, forty one, twenty two and six.

But I thought it was a pretty awesome game. I mean, eighteen points in the fourth quarter, forty one, twenty two and six.

Look, I'm not as I'm a great game semantics.

Look, I'm not as I'm a great game semantics.

I'm not as worried I already said, I'm not as worried about that one as much as the other ones that I want to talk about.

I'm not as worried I already said, I'm not as worried about that one as much as the other ones that I want to talk about.

Two through four were.

Two through four were.

Bad Yokic games, and I thought, specifically in game four or a Game five, I thought they had to step up a little bit more.

Bad Yokic games, and I thought, specifically in game four or a Game five, I thought they had to step up a little bit more.

The supporting cast. Excuse me.

The supporting cast. Excuse me.

I thought Game five had to step up more because I thought Yokic was good in that one, but Game four I thought they had I thought Jokic had to be better. He goes seven to twenty two from the field two of eight from deep. Game three, he goes eight turnovers to ten from Deep, eight to twenty five from the field. In Game two six turnovers six to sixteen from the field. The supporting cast, I thought, in from Denver's perspective in Game three, stepped up and did their job, but it just wasn't fully all there.

I thought Game five had to step up more because I thought Yokic was good in that one, but Game four I thought they had I thought Jokic had to be better. He goes seven to twenty two from the field two of eight from deep. Game three, he goes eight turnovers to ten from Deep, eight to twenty five from the field. In Game two six turnovers six to sixteen from the field. The supporting cast, I thought, in from Denver's perspective in Game three, stepped up and did their job, but it just wasn't fully all there.

I do want to give credit to Aaron Gordon.

I do want to give credit to Aaron Gordon.

I thought Aaron Gordon was an absolute superhero in these playoffs.

I thought Aaron Gordon was an absolute superhero in these playoffs.

Can we have this conversation, I want to talk about who is the best player? Well, I thought, I think it's very interesting. Do you think it's clear SGA.

Can we have this conversation, I want to talk about who is the best player? Well, I thought, I think it's very interesting. Do you think it's clear SGA.

I think in the last four games, I thought SGA was better, and I thought that was more important.

I think in the last four games, I thought SGA was better, and I thought that was more important.

So let's break it down, I think that I agree. I think that SGA was by a slight margin, the best player in this series. He gives you four I don't awesome games.

So let's break it down, I think that I agree. I think that SGA was by a slight margin, the best player in this series. He gives you four I don't awesome games.

Can I be clear about something though I don't necessarily know, I still wouldn't be comfortable calling SGA the best player in the world. I still think Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world, and I don't necessarily think that the results reflect that SGA is better, but I do think he was better in this series.

Can I be clear about something though I don't necessarily know, I still wouldn't be comfortable calling SGA the best player in the world. I still think Nikola Jokic is the best player in the world, and I don't necessarily think that the results reflect that SGA is better, but I do think he was better in this series.

The reason that I say that is.

The reason that I say that is.

Again, Oklahoma City had the right strategy and game plan selling out on Nikola Jokic, and I think that's why he struggled, and we have to give them credit and their defense credit for what they did did. But it's specifically that coverage and all the attention that he got in the Denver supporting cast and their failure to capitalize off that I think is a huge component. Like I just think most defenses aren't gonna be able to do this to Jokic, Oklahoma Cities can, and so like if we're starting from scratch, I still think I would take Jokic, but I do have to give credit to SGA for also adapting through at this series, like he got better as the series went along. You know, after three games I was disappointed, but the last four I thought were phenomenal. And so that's just the distinction that I still want to make. I still think Jokic is top dog to me, but Sga, I do think was the best player in this series.

Again, Oklahoma City had the right strategy and game plan selling out on Nikola Jokic, and I think that's why he struggled, and we have to give them credit and their defense credit for what they did did. But it's specifically that coverage and all the attention that he got in the Denver supporting cast and their failure to capitalize off that I think is a huge component. Like I just think most defenses aren't gonna be able to do this to Jokic, Oklahoma Cities can, and so like if we're starting from scratch, I still think I would take Jokic, but I do have to give credit to SGA for also adapting through at this series, like he got better as the series went along. You know, after three games I was disappointed, but the last four I thought were phenomenal. And so that's just the distinction that I still want to make. I still think Jokic is top dog to me, but Sga, I do think was the best player in this series.

I agree with all of that. I just think that we've gotten such a consistency from Jokic over the last five years, honestly, of unparalleled offensive brilliance and dominance in the regular season and postseason. And this year was the best that he's been. This was not his best postseason, but I still think that he definitely has that title as best in the world. His offensive floor is so obscenely high, our expectations for him are so obscenely high. So I'm not starting that conversation. I don't think Sga has played at a level where he's earned that because in the Memphis series he was really inconsistent. Early in this series, he was inconsistent, Like he hasn't had that sort of signature, dominant playoff series end to end. I think you'd need multiple of those for me to really start a serious conversation with him up against Yokic, just because Jokic's resume is so outstanding. We're just talking about this series, and yeah, Jokic has a way more difficult matchup in this series because even though I thought Denver came with a good scheme, I thought they defended much better in the playoffs than they did in the regular season, much better. Yokic is going up against one of the greatest defenses of all time, and they are overwhelmingly concerned with what do we do with him, how do we give him hell? And if anybody else beats us, so be it. You have to understand all that context. But when we're just talking about this series, I do think that I would give Shay a slight edge. Here are the bottom line numbers for Shay thirty points, six and a half boards, six and a half assists per game on sixty three percent through shooting, very impressive efficiency. For Yokich, it's twenty eight, fourteen and six on fifty nine percent through shooting. Of course, he does have the four and a half turnovers per game, which is a very high number. Sga was incredible taking care of the basketball, just two turnovers per game, so although I definitely thought that he had the easier task offensively, he was much more efficient scored with a little bit more volume. The playmaking impact for Yokic wasn't quite the same as we normally expect, although I also think if his teammates had shot better, he definitely could have averaged a seven assists a game in this series instead of six. But if we break it down game by game, like you were saying, SGA gives you four great games in this one, Game six and seven were outstanding end to end from him. Game five, the fourth quarter was just so great that I think you grade that as an overall great game. And then Game two it was obviously total blowout, but I mean, he was perfect in that game. In Game one, he was pretty good, but I would have liked to see him be a little better as a decision maker in that one. Now, he really was off in both games three and four like Jokic, and Yokic was also off in game two, and Yokic also didn't have his best tonight, So I think overall, Jokic did have the highest highs like SGA, did not do anything that compares to what Yokic did. In Game five, that was one of the best individual performances in a loss that you'll see, and what Yokic did in the fourth quarter of Game one was really really incredible as well. But overall, I think that SGA gave you a little bit more consistency in this series.

I agree with all of that. I just think that we've gotten such a consistency from Jokic over the last five years, honestly, of unparalleled offensive brilliance and dominance in the regular season and postseason. And this year was the best that he's been. This was not his best postseason, but I still think that he definitely has that title as best in the world. His offensive floor is so obscenely high, our expectations for him are so obscenely high. So I'm not starting that conversation. I don't think Sga has played at a level where he's earned that because in the Memphis series he was really inconsistent. Early in this series, he was inconsistent, Like he hasn't had that sort of signature, dominant playoff series end to end. I think you'd need multiple of those for me to really start a serious conversation with him up against Yokic, just because Jokic's resume is so outstanding. We're just talking about this series, and yeah, Jokic has a way more difficult matchup in this series because even though I thought Denver came with a good scheme, I thought they defended much better in the playoffs than they did in the regular season, much better. Yokic is going up against one of the greatest defenses of all time, and they are overwhelmingly concerned with what do we do with him, how do we give him hell? And if anybody else beats us, so be it. You have to understand all that context. But when we're just talking about this series, I do think that I would give Shay a slight edge. Here are the bottom line numbers for Shay thirty points, six and a half boards, six and a half assists per game on sixty three percent through shooting, very impressive efficiency. For Yokich, it's twenty eight, fourteen and six on fifty nine percent through shooting. Of course, he does have the four and a half turnovers per game, which is a very high number. Sga was incredible taking care of the basketball, just two turnovers per game, so although I definitely thought that he had the easier task offensively, he was much more efficient scored with a little bit more volume. The playmaking impact for Yokic wasn't quite the same as we normally expect, although I also think if his teammates had shot better, he definitely could have averaged a seven assists a game in this series instead of six. But if we break it down game by game, like you were saying, SGA gives you four great games in this one, Game six and seven were outstanding end to end from him. Game five, the fourth quarter was just so great that I think you grade that as an overall great game. And then Game two it was obviously total blowout, but I mean, he was perfect in that game. In Game one, he was pretty good, but I would have liked to see him be a little better as a decision maker in that one. Now, he really was off in both games three and four like Jokic, and Yokic was also off in game two, and Yokic also didn't have his best tonight, So I think overall, Jokic did have the highest highs like SGA, did not do anything that compares to what Yokic did. In Game five, that was one of the best individual performances in a loss that you'll see, and what Yokic did in the fourth quarter of Game one was really really incredible as well. But overall, I think that SGA gave you a little bit more consistency in this series.

And I think this is such a huge moment for this Thunder team and for SGA two, just in terms of the narrative that has been building about this team and what people think, Like, I think there would have been a lot of negative conversations coming out about the Thunder if they had lost this game, and I think it's really one I'm just excited for the fan base because I think the Thunder deserved this with how long they were down in the depths rebuilding, you know, post Westbrook all that, and they did a phenomenal job rebuilding. So I'm just excited for this young team and just what a big moment this. I mean, this is a huge moment for this young guy, like to go to the Western Conference finals, but specifically the way they won this game. They dominated the best player in the world with an elite defense in Carson. You mentioned this, you know, during this series, but like young teams aren't supposed to win big moments like this. They're not supposed to win convincingly like this, Like this is such a dominant win for such a young team on a big stage, and I just think that hopefully some of the doubters and some of the.

And I think this is such a huge moment for this Thunder team and for SGA two, just in terms of the narrative that has been building about this team and what people think, Like, I think there would have been a lot of negative conversations coming out about the Thunder if they had lost this game, and I think it's really one I'm just excited for the fan base because I think the Thunder deserved this with how long they were down in the depths rebuilding, you know, post Westbrook all that, and they did a phenomenal job rebuilding. So I'm just excited for this young team and just what a big moment this. I mean, this is a huge moment for this young guy, like to go to the Western Conference finals, but specifically the way they won this game. They dominated the best player in the world with an elite defense in Carson. You mentioned this, you know, during this series, but like young teams aren't supposed to win big moments like this. They're not supposed to win convincingly like this, Like this is such a dominant win for such a young team on a big stage, and I just think that hopefully some of the doubters and some of the.

Skeptics can take this medicine.

Skeptics can take this medicine.

Man, I did pick against them, but I'm a static for them, and this is a this is a big response for them, you know, just in terms of to the doubters again, man, like, they didn't crumble. This young team answered the call. J doub was much much better in this game. The shooting was way better in this game. My man, Cason Wallace had big moments in this game, had.

Man, I did pick against them, but I'm a static for them, and this is a this is a big response for them, you know, just in terms of to the doubters again, man, like, they didn't crumble. This young team answered the call. J doub was much much better in this game. The shooting was way better in this game. My man, Cason Wallace had big moments in this game, had.

Big moments you had this series.

Big moments you had this series.

Man, I thought Kyson was really really good off the bench for this group, and they just answered the call. Man, this is a huge win for this young group and this young team, and yep, it's just massive. I'm really excited for OKAC. They're just to be so I would say ahead of schedule, but that doesn't even seem right.

Man, I thought Kyson was really really good off the bench for this group, and they just answered the call. Man, this is a huge win for this young group and this young team, and yep, it's just massive. I'm really excited for OKAC. They're just to be so I would say ahead of schedule, but that doesn't even seem right.

It seems like this team is right on time.

It seems like this team is right on time.

Yep, they're on schedule. The expectations are just that insanely high. Because they won sixty eight games, and what I've consistently said, this is a team that is the best position to start a dynasty and to win a title this young since the twenty fifteen Warriors. I truly think that their talent is that special, their foundation is that special, and we can talk about this being the era of parody and no team repeating, in fact, no champion in the twenty twenties going past the second round that as season after they win the title, and I think that there is very good reason to think that it is more difficult to build dynasties and replicate championships than ever before. Depth is so important in today's NBA, and yet it's so hard to maintain with the new CBA. But this is a core that has the MVP of the league at twenty six years old now in Shay. They have in my opinion, a future top ten, maybe future top five player in chet Holngren. They have a guy who is already an All Star in Jalen Williams, who I do think is only going to continue to progress. And then they also have so many great young role players who are on really good contracts like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, their ability to extend those guys. They have Isaiah Hartenstein under control, They have Alex Caruso under control for some time. Those guys are just the ultimate winning players, and they have so many assets to maneuver and continue to add talent. If anybody's going to dominate the league for the next half decade or maybe even longer, it's going to be the Oklahoma City Thunder. And I feel more confident saying that about them than any other team that we've seen since the Peak Warriors. This is the biggest win that we've seen from them, obviously in this iteration of the Thunder. It's so significant to get it done in a Game seven against the best player in the world, against a team that has won the title before, and it really did take all hands on deck. Well, they won the game by thirty two, so maybe not everybody needed a ball out, but everybody did ball out. I've already talked about Shay Jadub was excellent in this game, and his last three performances before this one, well were inexcusable. I don't know, but you don't know about excellent.

Yep, they're on schedule. The expectations are just that insanely high. Because they won sixty eight games, and what I've consistently said, this is a team that is the best position to start a dynasty and to win a title this young since the twenty fifteen Warriors. I truly think that their talent is that special, their foundation is that special, and we can talk about this being the era of parody and no team repeating, in fact, no champion in the twenty twenties going past the second round that as season after they win the title, and I think that there is very good reason to think that it is more difficult to build dynasties and replicate championships than ever before. Depth is so important in today's NBA, and yet it's so hard to maintain with the new CBA. But this is a core that has the MVP of the league at twenty six years old now in Shay. They have in my opinion, a future top ten, maybe future top five player in chet Holngren. They have a guy who is already an All Star in Jalen Williams, who I do think is only going to continue to progress. And then they also have so many great young role players who are on really good contracts like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins, their ability to extend those guys. They have Isaiah Hartenstein under control, They have Alex Caruso under control for some time. Those guys are just the ultimate winning players, and they have so many assets to maneuver and continue to add talent. If anybody's going to dominate the league for the next half decade or maybe even longer, it's going to be the Oklahoma City Thunder. And I feel more confident saying that about them than any other team that we've seen since the Peak Warriors. This is the biggest win that we've seen from them, obviously in this iteration of the Thunder. It's so significant to get it done in a Game seven against the best player in the world, against a team that has won the title before, and it really did take all hands on deck. Well, they won the game by thirty two, so maybe not everybody needed a ball out, but everybody did ball out. I've already talked about Shay Jadub was excellent in this game, and his last three performances before this one, well were inexcusable. I don't know, but you don't know about excellent.

I thought, I thought excellent good.

I thought, I thought excellent good.

I mean, Jadubb got bailed out of a lot in the early possessions where he's still missing. I wasn't happy with his finishing through like some contested lanes. I thought he got bailed out by some putbacks a little bit. Best game that he's played, I think their second best game he's played in this series. I thought the thirty two piece was probably his best game in this series. But I mean, I don't want to take anything away from Jadub because he was excellent in transition. He was excellent defensively, but I still I was just a li litle bit disappointed with some of his finishing again in this game. He's got to figure that out. But this was This was a great Jada up game.

I mean, Jadubb got bailed out of a lot in the early possessions where he's still missing. I wasn't happy with his finishing through like some contested lanes. I thought he got bailed out by some putbacks a little bit. Best game that he's played, I think their second best game he's played in this series. I thought the thirty two piece was probably his best game in this series. But I mean, I don't want to take anything away from Jadub because he was excellent in transition. He was excellent defensively, but I still I was just a li litle bit disappointed with some of his finishing again in this game. He's got to figure that out. But this was This was a great Jada up game.

The finishing was a lot better, though the driving was a lot better. He knocks down a couple of threes off the catch, which is so significant he had struggled so much as a jump shooter. He knocks down a couple of his signature mid range pull ups. Like everything that wasn't going for him in games four through six of this series was going for him in this one. And like I said, the last three games for him were embarrassing, and they put okc in a perilous spot, just with how bad he was in game six, specifically where they had to come out and close this out in game seven. But I did think some of the discourse with him went too far. He does have his limitations in terms of his ability to create easy offense in a playoff environment, specifically against a really good defense, but he's still a really, really good basketball player. And there were a lot of people who were saying, basically he's a fraud. I saw tweets like Jadob is the most obvious the dynasty starts after you player that there is, and I just really didn't like that. Like I am a Jada believer at my core, I'm not gonna say that he's not flawed. There are times where I really don't like his shot selection. There are times where, again you feel like he's struggling to get anything easy. But he's a very good playmaker for his age. He is a three level scorer who when the jumper is going, can give you a really good production. Did a nice job floating the offense without SGA in the second half of this year, And when I think sometime gets lost, it's like this dude is a way better defensive player. Than offensive player. We always look at second options and we're looking at, oh, what's your offensive production. He should have been first team All Defense this year. He's one of the five best defensive players this regular season on the planet.

The finishing was a lot better, though the driving was a lot better. He knocks down a couple of threes off the catch, which is so significant he had struggled so much as a jump shooter. He knocks down a couple of his signature mid range pull ups. Like everything that wasn't going for him in games four through six of this series was going for him in this one. And like I said, the last three games for him were embarrassing, and they put okc in a perilous spot, just with how bad he was in game six, specifically where they had to come out and close this out in game seven. But I did think some of the discourse with him went too far. He does have his limitations in terms of his ability to create easy offense in a playoff environment, specifically against a really good defense, but he's still a really, really good basketball player. And there were a lot of people who were saying, basically he's a fraud. I saw tweets like Jadob is the most obvious the dynasty starts after you player that there is, and I just really didn't like that. Like I am a Jada believer at my core, I'm not gonna say that he's not flawed. There are times where I really don't like his shot selection. There are times where, again you feel like he's struggling to get anything easy. But he's a very good playmaker for his age. He is a three level scorer who when the jumper is going, can give you a really good production. Did a nice job floating the offense without SGA in the second half of this year, And when I think sometime gets lost, it's like this dude is a way better defensive player. Than offensive player. We always look at second options and we're looking at, oh, what's your offensive production. He should have been first team All Defense this year. He's one of the five best defensive players this regular season on the planet.

Also, I mean, I Jacob is still so young.

Also, I mean, I Jacob is still so young.

Yeah, absolutely, man still so young. And I thought he was also great cutting against the zone in this one. He was great in transitioning, Like just a really nice all around performance from him, which Oka see desperately needed. He delivered it. I also thought chet was good in this one. It's not a stat sheet that's going to wow you, but he was great cutting against the zone, making himself eventually for Lobs.

Yeah, absolutely, man still so young. And I thought he was also great cutting against the zone in this one. He was great in transitioning, Like just a really nice all around performance from him, which Oka see desperately needed. He delivered it. I also thought chet was good in this one. It's not a stat sheet that's going to wow you, but he was great cutting against the zone, making himself eventually for Lobs.

Especially out of the baseline.

Especially out of the baseline.

I completely agree because in that stretch that we were talking about early in this game, when the offense was stalled out, that was the easy way that Yep, they were getting some buckets if it was Kason cutting into middle of the zone. And I think Hartenstein and Holmgern are so smart. They just know exactly when to cut when those back line guys step up.

I completely agree because in that stretch that we were talking about early in this game, when the offense was stalled out, that was the easy way that Yep, they were getting some buckets if it was Kason cutting into middle of the zone. And I think Hartenstein and Holmgern are so smart. They just know exactly when to cut when those back line guys step up.

And can kill them.

And can kill them.

And because you know Denver's a little bit limited defensively, they don't have a rim protector on the floor. You know, because it's Jokich and Gordon. They can't blow up those lobs. Those are going to be there all game long.

And because you know Denver's a little bit limited defensively, they don't have a rim protector on the floor. You know, because it's Jokich and Gordon. They can't blow up those lobs. Those are going to be there all game long.

And I thought that that was one of the biggest things that Okac figured out in the back half of the series, those baseline cuts against the zone. They just got so much more consistent with those, and they were super effective. I also thought Chet was great on the glass. I thought, as always he was great defensively. So the big three all came through for okay See, and when that happens, they're unbeatable because obviously Denver was never as deep or as talented a team top to bottom as okay See for them to win, for them to somehow pull this thing out, like you needed Jadeubklunkers, you needed Chet to look a little bit shaky offensively, and that just wasn't the case in this one. I do want to do a little bit more praising of the collective Thunder team because I just think you see some of the absolute winners they have coming through in a big way in this one. Isaiah Hartenstein, what an addition he was in the offseason for offensive rebounds, man, I mean, how many of those did he finished with putbacks at least two of them. So he comes in and gives you some really big minutes on the offensive glass. We know what a complete player he is with his touch, shot making, with his passing, with his defensive impact caseon Wallace, as you mentioned, just phenomenal. I mean, truly a uniquely winning player for being as young as he is. This guy is in year two and yet he's doing all the right things out there in terms of his defensive versatility, making plays, forcing mistakes, getting out in transition, making the reads as a passer, confidently stepping into threes. He was so big. And then Caruso we've already talked about, but he could be the X factor man. He could be the difference between OKC winning the title this year and not winning it. Well, he's also because do they get out of this series without him? I don't know.

And I thought that that was one of the biggest things that Okac figured out in the back half of the series, those baseline cuts against the zone. They just got so much more consistent with those, and they were super effective. I also thought Chet was great on the glass. I thought, as always he was great defensively. So the big three all came through for okay See, and when that happens, they're unbeatable because obviously Denver was never as deep or as talented a team top to bottom as okay See for them to win, for them to somehow pull this thing out, like you needed Jadeubklunkers, you needed Chet to look a little bit shaky offensively, and that just wasn't the case in this one. I do want to do a little bit more praising of the collective Thunder team because I just think you see some of the absolute winners they have coming through in a big way in this one. Isaiah Hartenstein, what an addition he was in the offseason for offensive rebounds, man, I mean, how many of those did he finished with putbacks at least two of them. So he comes in and gives you some really big minutes on the offensive glass. We know what a complete player he is with his touch, shot making, with his passing, with his defensive impact caseon Wallace, as you mentioned, just phenomenal. I mean, truly a uniquely winning player for being as young as he is. This guy is in year two and yet he's doing all the right things out there in terms of his defensive versatility, making plays, forcing mistakes, getting out in transition, making the reads as a passer, confidently stepping into threes. He was so big. And then Caruso we've already talked about, but he could be the X factor man. He could be the difference between OKC winning the title this year and not winning it. Well, he's also because do they get out of this series without him? I don't know.

We didn't mention and I hate bringing up the first half again, but I really think it's important just because it was the most competitive part of his game. I mean, Caruso wasn't only just awesome defensively in his minutes too. I thought he was huge when they got Dort off the floor, just because Dort was clanging a bunch of threes early, and Caruso is the guy that breaks that barrier. They were zero to six at the beginning of this game before Caruso makes their first three, like he's Caruso settles this team down, and I think he really gives them that veteran presence that they need. He is a stabilizing, calming force. He's got that presence about him, him and Hertenstein both, but even more so for Caruso. He's got that championship pedigree. He has played in big games, in big moments, and I think it can get overstated sometimes, but I do think that's an important aspect of the value that he brings to this young basketball team.

We didn't mention and I hate bringing up the first half again, but I really think it's important just because it was the most competitive part of his game. I mean, Caruso wasn't only just awesome defensively in his minutes too. I thought he was huge when they got Dort off the floor, just because Dort was clanging a bunch of threes early, and Caruso is the guy that breaks that barrier. They were zero to six at the beginning of this game before Caruso makes their first three, like he's Caruso settles this team down, and I think he really gives them that veteran presence that they need. He is a stabilizing, calming force. He's got that presence about him, him and Hertenstein both, but even more so for Caruso. He's got that championship pedigree. He has played in big games, in big moments, and I think it can get overstated sometimes, but I do think that's an important aspect of the value that he brings to this young basketball team.

Yeah, he just knows what it takes to win on both sides of the ball. I mean, he's a defensive genius. His anticipation is one of a kind. His fight, his dog is one of a kind. And then offensively, he knows where to be against the zone. He knows when a time his cuts, he knows how to find the open man. He's comfortable stepping into those threes off the catch. He's great in transition offense. He's great driving and finishing those are the kind of players who win you championships, man, and Okase has more of those guys than anybody, and Denver is really lacking them. And I did think that that was very apparent in this game. It's a uniquely great performance by okay See legitimately to step up and to be this dominant in game seven, but earlier in the series, to respond after they fumbled away games won in game three and really struggled in the clutch, and then to come out with clutch wins like they gave you in games four in five. I've said it before with them, I'll say it a million times. More. Teams this young do not do this. They don't come out and win games this big, they don't go this deep in the playoffs. It's very special.

Yeah, he just knows what it takes to win on both sides of the ball. I mean, he's a defensive genius. His anticipation is one of a kind. His fight, his dog is one of a kind. And then offensively, he knows where to be against the zone. He knows when a time his cuts, he knows how to find the open man. He's comfortable stepping into those threes off the catch. He's great in transition offense. He's great driving and finishing those are the kind of players who win you championships, man, and Okase has more of those guys than anybody, and Denver is really lacking them. And I did think that that was very apparent in this game. It's a uniquely great performance by okay See legitimately to step up and to be this dominant in game seven, but earlier in the series, to respond after they fumbled away games won in game three and really struggled in the clutch, and then to come out with clutch wins like they gave you in games four in five. I've said it before with them, I'll say it a million times. More. Teams this young do not do this. They don't come out and win games this big, they don't go this deep in the playoffs. It's very special.

I think we've seen growth within this year.

I think we've seen growth within this year.

I agree. Let's talk about Denver side of this logan, because as I said, I do think that one of the things that was most apparent in this game is just okay See has so many guys who you trust, who you know are going to bring that high level impact on both sides of the ball. Denver didn't have those guys.