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

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

Watch what Charles Darwin?

Watch what Charles Darwin?

The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into nerd Sash. As always, I'm Carson Bravern. Alongside me is Logan Camden, and as you guys can see, we're back in our normal setup. We have returned from our trip to New York, which was a ton of fun. We did the BDG Combine, as we discussed, We played seven on seven football with those guys. We did their trivia tournament. But now Logan, it's time to really lock in for the playoff grind. You and I are both going to be chained to our respective radiators in our cages for the next two plus months, as it should be, because nothing else matters. We did preview half of the first round playoff series on our last show. Today, we are going to talk about the two matchups that have been set in stone since then, that being the two seed versus seventh seed in both conferences. We're going to talk about the fact that Damian Lillard is now expected to return for the first round series between the Bucks and Pacers. At some point, we're going to talk about what we just saw in the play in and we are going to preview the remaining play in game. So that's all coming. But we're going to start logan by previewing these full series that are set, and I want to talk first about the one that I think is significantly more interesting and compelling than the other, that being the Houston Rockets taking on the Golden State Warriors. And even though the Rockets are the two seed, they're the higher seed here. I feel like both you and I would view it as an upset if Houston were to win. I don't want to speak for you, a'll at least say that's been my view on this matchup. So what key components have to go right for Houston if they are going to win this series.

The nerves is where it's at. Welcome everybody back into nerd Sash. As always, I'm Carson Bravern. Alongside me is Logan Camden, and as you guys can see, we're back in our normal setup. We have returned from our trip to New York, which was a ton of fun. We did the BDG Combine, as we discussed, We played seven on seven football with those guys. We did their trivia tournament. But now Logan, it's time to really lock in for the playoff grind. You and I are both going to be chained to our respective radiators in our cages for the next two plus months, as it should be, because nothing else matters. We did preview half of the first round playoff series on our last show. Today, we are going to talk about the two matchups that have been set in stone since then, that being the two seed versus seventh seed in both conferences. We're going to talk about the fact that Damian Lillard is now expected to return for the first round series between the Bucks and Pacers. At some point, we're going to talk about what we just saw in the play in and we are going to preview the remaining play in game. So that's all coming. But we're going to start logan by previewing these full series that are set, and I want to talk first about the one that I think is significantly more interesting and compelling than the other, that being the Houston Rockets taking on the Golden State Warriors. And even though the Rockets are the two seed, they're the higher seed here. I feel like both you and I would view it as an upset if Houston were to win. I don't want to speak for you, a'll at least say that's been my view on this matchup. So what key components have to go right for Houston if they are going to win this series.

I do view the Rockets in the underdog a little bit because of the experience factor here for Houston. You know, Golden State's got three guys who are tried and truin the playoffs, have cut their teeth a lot on the biggest stages, that being Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Raymond Green, three legends of the game. But more importantly, it's Houston's inability to consistently turn out good offensive results This is the twenty second ranked half court offense in basketball, and that's my biggest concern about this team. But I do think they have real advantages against teams in this playoff field and against the Golden State Warriors in this first round matchup.

I do view the Rockets in the underdog a little bit because of the experience factor here for Houston. You know, Golden State's got three guys who are tried and truin the playoffs, have cut their teeth a lot on the biggest stages, that being Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Raymond Green, three legends of the game. But more importantly, it's Houston's inability to consistently turn out good offensive results This is the twenty second ranked half court offense in basketball, and that's my biggest concern about this team. But I do think they have real advantages against teams in this playoff field and against the Golden State Warriors in this first round matchup.

First, I think you have to start.

First, I think you have to start.

With just the overwhelming size and athleticism advantage that Houston has basically against everybody this year. This is one of the best rebounding teams in basketball. They ranked number one in rebounds per game and rebound rate, and they ranked number one in offensive rebounds per game and offensive rebound rate.

With just the overwhelming size and athleticism advantage that Houston has basically against everybody this year. This is one of the best rebounding teams in basketball. They ranked number one in rebounds per game and rebound rate, and they ranked number one in offensive rebounds per game and offensive rebound rate.

And what does that do.

And what does that do.

It means that Houston is just better at generating extra possessions than any other team in basketball. They're also number one one in field goal attempts per game. That's a real advantage. Like, I don't want to undersell that aspect of Houston. That's been the reason that they're the two seed. Like, this is an elite defense, and this is an elite group at generating extra possessions. Along with that, I think the other key to this series is how much is Houston going to really be able to disrupt Steph Curry. They were fourth and defensive rating in the regular season, and if you harken back to this last matchup that we saw between these two teams, they really stifled Steph. Steph had three points on one of ten from the field in one of eight from deep and I would say that I think Houston probably has the best perimeter personnel of anybody to guard Steph. Curry, Amen Thompson, Dylan Brooks, and Fred Van Vliet.

It means that Houston is just better at generating extra possessions than any other team in basketball. They're also number one one in field goal attempts per game. That's a real advantage. Like, I don't want to undersell that aspect of Houston. That's been the reason that they're the two seed. Like, this is an elite defense, and this is an elite group at generating extra possessions. Along with that, I think the other key to this series is how much is Houston going to really be able to disrupt Steph Curry. They were fourth and defensive rating in the regular season, and if you harken back to this last matchup that we saw between these two teams, they really stifled Steph. Steph had three points on one of ten from the field in one of eight from deep and I would say that I think Houston probably has the best perimeter personnel of anybody to guard Steph. Curry, Amen Thompson, Dylan Brooks, and Fred Van Vliet.

They're all Hounds.

They're all Hounds.

I mean, if you're looking even further, like Tarry Eason, some of the big double big lineups that this team is gonna be able to try it out with Steven Adams or Alpern Sengon. I think it's vitally important that they shut down Steph and limit his impact as much as possible. And if they check both of those boxes, Carson, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Houston has a really good chance at winning this series. Like if you can hold step in check and you can stick to your identity really strong defense, dominate the glass, like Houston really isn't that far away from being able to win this series. I think it's going to be really close. I do worry about this team generating offense. But those are two strengths that I think Houston really has going into this playoff series.

I mean, if you're looking even further, like Tarry Eason, some of the big double big lineups that this team is gonna be able to try it out with Steven Adams or Alpern Sengon. I think it's vitally important that they shut down Steph and limit his impact as much as possible. And if they check both of those boxes, Carson, I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Houston has a really good chance at winning this series. Like if you can hold step in check and you can stick to your identity really strong defense, dominate the glass, like Houston really isn't that far away from being able to win this series. I think it's going to be really close. I do worry about this team generating offense. But those are two strengths that I think Houston really has going into this playoff series.

I think that those are the exact two things that you have to highlight because they're a super unconventional playoff team, but especially they're a super unconventional two seed because you mentioned the half court offensive issues they have, the lack of that, like one really high end offensive creator, and really just the lack of high end aggregate offensive skill that they have. Those have been things that have concerned me about this team all year long. But where are they excellent? They are excellent on the glass. They are a legitimately historic offensive rebounding team, and they are an excellent defensive team, and specifically against the Warriors, a team that is going to play a ton of small ball, you can see that differential on the glass being hugely in Houston's favor. The Warriors are also a team that plays small and so they're pretty quick, but they're not a super athletic team, and they are very, very dependent on the offensive creation, specifically of Steph Curry, who was going to be facing overwhelming defensive attention from a team that has a bunch of insane athletes who play with their heads on fire every minute that they're out there on the floor. So first key for Houston to win this is how much can they dominate the glass, because we know that they are going to win that battle. In the three games that steph played against Houston this year, the Dubs were only minus ten on the glass in total. That's really not too bad when you think about the potential gap between these teams on the glass in this series. But interestingly, I think in the Warriors' most recent game, their play and went over the Grizzlies, you saw something that's relevant for their potential matchup against Houston. A team that is so great on the glass that could deploy some of those double big lineups as you mentioned, because when Zach Edy was on the floor for the Grizzlies against the Warriors, I saw this courtesy of Databaller, which is a phenomenal website phenomenal follow on Twitter. In those minutes, the Grizzlies grabbed forty five percent of their own misses and they grabbed seventy nine percent of the Warriors missus. The Grizzlies actually rebounded really poorly when Edie was off the floor, but when the Grizzlies went mostly double big, or when they just had their one massive center on the floor, Memphis really dominated the rebounding differential. And just speaking specifically to that game and the edy discourse after, there were a bunch of people who were clowning on him and saying he sucks, I think people can underestimate just how valuable it is to be absolutely massive.

I think that those are the exact two things that you have to highlight because they're a super unconventional playoff team, but especially they're a super unconventional two seed because you mentioned the half court offensive issues they have, the lack of that, like one really high end offensive creator, and really just the lack of high end aggregate offensive skill that they have. Those have been things that have concerned me about this team all year long. But where are they excellent? They are excellent on the glass. They are a legitimately historic offensive rebounding team, and they are an excellent defensive team, and specifically against the Warriors, a team that is going to play a ton of small ball, you can see that differential on the glass being hugely in Houston's favor. The Warriors are also a team that plays small and so they're pretty quick, but they're not a super athletic team, and they are very, very dependent on the offensive creation, specifically of Steph Curry, who was going to be facing overwhelming defensive attention from a team that has a bunch of insane athletes who play with their heads on fire every minute that they're out there on the floor. So first key for Houston to win this is how much can they dominate the glass, because we know that they are going to win that battle. In the three games that steph played against Houston this year, the Dubs were only minus ten on the glass in total. That's really not too bad when you think about the potential gap between these teams on the glass in this series. But interestingly, I think in the Warriors' most recent game, their play and went over the Grizzlies, you saw something that's relevant for their potential matchup against Houston. A team that is so great on the glass that could deploy some of those double big lineups as you mentioned, because when Zach Edy was on the floor for the Grizzlies against the Warriors, I saw this courtesy of Databaller, which is a phenomenal website phenomenal follow on Twitter. In those minutes, the Grizzlies grabbed forty five percent of their own misses and they grabbed seventy nine percent of the Warriors missus. The Grizzlies actually rebounded really poorly when Edie was off the floor, but when the Grizzlies went mostly double big, or when they just had their one massive center on the floor, Memphis really dominated the rebounding differential. And just speaking specifically to that game and the edy discourse after, there were a bunch of people who were clowning on him and saying he sucks, I think people can underestimate just how valuable it is to be absolutely massive.

Shit doesn't that shit doesn't pop up in the box score. And if you go to one of these websites like Carson's talking about, like data ball that it'll give you the specifically if you're looking for it, if you go offense or defense, it will tell you how much better that team rebounds the ball. I don't have it off the top of my head. I can pull it up here in a minute, but I believe it's ridiculous. The Grizzlies rebound rate offensively and in total is like ten percent higher with Edie on the floor.

Shit doesn't that shit doesn't pop up in the box score. And if you go to one of these websites like Carson's talking about, like data ball that it'll give you the specifically if you're looking for it, if you go offense or defense, it will tell you how much better that team rebounds the ball. I don't have it off the top of my head. I can pull it up here in a minute, but I believe it's ridiculous. The Grizzlies rebound rate offensively and in total is like ten percent higher with Edie on the floor.

And so while his raw.

And so while his raw.

Rebounding numbers may not reflect his complete impact on the game, well.

Rebounding numbers may not reflect his complete impact on the game, well.

He did also have seventeen rebounds in that game, and it was eighteen points. It was just ugly, right, I mean, there were some bad moments with his hands. His finishing was bad in that specific game, but when you can completely dominate the glass single handedly, that's a really valuable thing. And the Rockets as a team are better at that than anybody else. And they have the best individual rebounder in the sport in my opinion, in Steven Adams, who is effectively just a specialist at this point in his career, being so excellent at that one trade. And I think that we'll get to some more of the specifics with his minutes. How do they deploy him later? But that's a big key for Houston. How convincingly do they win on the glass, and then how much can they slow down the Warriors offense and specifically how much can they make life hell on Steph Curry. I saw a phenomenal stat tweeted out by Ben Pfeiffer the other day shout out to him in the forty one possessions that Steph Curry was defended by a men Thompson. This season, he averaged nine point one points per seventy five possessions, nine assists, and he had a true shooting percentage of thirty one. So I do think that you use a men as the primary defender on Steph in this series. Fred van Vliet has also done a very good job, but a men is just a different level of overwhelming athlete his size and so insane. He's one of the best point of attack defenders on the planet. He has a non stop motor. He is going to constantly be hounding Steph off ball and then he is going to be incredibly difficult for Steph to separate from it all difficult to shoot over top of him. Like, he is just their best defensive player, and I think that he should be stuck to Steph like glue for the most part. Although obviously the Rockets are going to switch a lot as well, and that's another advantage that they have. They can switch one through four against Steph, and you're getting Van Vliet on him, You're getting Dylan Brooks on him. When those guys come on the floor, you're gonna get some Tarry Easton possessions, and like, that's a lot of really good defensive players on the wings. So Steph has really struggled against the Rockets this year. You mentioned the three point game obviously is the one that stands out first, but over their three meetings, he's averaged sixteen points per game on fifty one percent true shooting, and the Warriors had a one to zero one offensive rating in those games. So you know the Rockets are going to harass him. They are going to be super physical off ball, and guess what, they're probably gonna get away with that because that's just the reality of how Steph is officiated. It's not fair, but that's the way that it is. And this is a team that is super athletic, that is super physical. They are going to do their best to really punish him, beat him up physically, and then like I said, they can switch one through four and when you bring the center into the action, they're just gonna blitz the shit out of him. That's what we saw in the last game, and it's force the ball out of Steph's hands, try to force them into some turnovers, and just make anybody else beat you. So, considering how difficult his matchup is and considering how singularly I expect the Rockets to be focused on stopping Steph as a scorer and making his other teammates make shots and make decisions. I don't see this as a super big scoring series for Steph. I think he'll give you twenty three to twenty five points per game, but I'm not anticipating the twenty eight points per game on sixty six percent true shooting guy that he's been since Jimmy joined the team. I think he's going to be a playmaker first in this matchup, and that's why the performance of his teammates offensively taking advantage of four on threes, capitalizing on steph drawing so much attention and stepping up is going to be absolutely massive. That's a collective thing. But there's one guy who I look at specifically for the Warriors logan and I think he has to be phenomenal, and that's Jimmy Butler.

He did also have seventeen rebounds in that game, and it was eighteen points. It was just ugly, right, I mean, there were some bad moments with his hands. His finishing was bad in that specific game, but when you can completely dominate the glass single handedly, that's a really valuable thing. And the Rockets as a team are better at that than anybody else. And they have the best individual rebounder in the sport in my opinion, in Steven Adams, who is effectively just a specialist at this point in his career, being so excellent at that one trade. And I think that we'll get to some more of the specifics with his minutes. How do they deploy him later? But that's a big key for Houston. How convincingly do they win on the glass, and then how much can they slow down the Warriors offense and specifically how much can they make life hell on Steph Curry. I saw a phenomenal stat tweeted out by Ben Pfeiffer the other day shout out to him in the forty one possessions that Steph Curry was defended by a men Thompson. This season, he averaged nine point one points per seventy five possessions, nine assists, and he had a true shooting percentage of thirty one. So I do think that you use a men as the primary defender on Steph in this series. Fred van Vliet has also done a very good job, but a men is just a different level of overwhelming athlete his size and so insane. He's one of the best point of attack defenders on the planet. He has a non stop motor. He is going to constantly be hounding Steph off ball and then he is going to be incredibly difficult for Steph to separate from it all difficult to shoot over top of him. Like, he is just their best defensive player, and I think that he should be stuck to Steph like glue for the most part. Although obviously the Rockets are going to switch a lot as well, and that's another advantage that they have. They can switch one through four against Steph, and you're getting Van Vliet on him, You're getting Dylan Brooks on him. When those guys come on the floor, you're gonna get some Tarry Easton possessions, and like, that's a lot of really good defensive players on the wings. So Steph has really struggled against the Rockets this year. You mentioned the three point game obviously is the one that stands out first, but over their three meetings, he's averaged sixteen points per game on fifty one percent true shooting, and the Warriors had a one to zero one offensive rating in those games. So you know the Rockets are going to harass him. They are going to be super physical off ball, and guess what, they're probably gonna get away with that because that's just the reality of how Steph is officiated. It's not fair, but that's the way that it is. And this is a team that is super athletic, that is super physical. They are going to do their best to really punish him, beat him up physically, and then like I said, they can switch one through four and when you bring the center into the action, they're just gonna blitz the shit out of him. That's what we saw in the last game, and it's force the ball out of Steph's hands, try to force them into some turnovers, and just make anybody else beat you. So, considering how difficult his matchup is and considering how singularly I expect the Rockets to be focused on stopping Steph as a scorer and making his other teammates make shots and make decisions. I don't see this as a super big scoring series for Steph. I think he'll give you twenty three to twenty five points per game, but I'm not anticipating the twenty eight points per game on sixty six percent true shooting guy that he's been since Jimmy joined the team. I think he's going to be a playmaker first in this matchup, and that's why the performance of his teammates offensively taking advantage of four on threes, capitalizing on steph drawing so much attention and stepping up is going to be absolutely massive. That's a collective thing. But there's one guy who I look at specifically for the Warriors logan and I think he has to be phenomenal, and that's Jimmy Butler.

Yeah, before we get.

Yeah, before we get.

Into Jimmy real quick, I want to talk about this rebounding thing, because I do I completely agree with you with the offensive points. How are you gonna stagger these minutes? What are you gonna do with the four and five spot with dre post in looney?

Into Jimmy real quick, I want to talk about this rebounding thing, because I do I completely agree with you with the offensive points. How are you gonna stagger these minutes? What are you gonna do with the four and five spot with dre post in looney?

Like, how do you strike that balance?

Like, how do you strike that balance?

And what are you looking for like adjustment wise, like depending on the results that you get for the rest of the series.

And what are you looking for like adjustment wise, like depending on the results that you get for the rest of the series.

I think there are a bunch of interesting decisions that the Warriors have to make with their rotations. Specifically when it comes to how do they hang in there physically and on the glass, I think Looney has to match Steven Adams minutes like otherwise I just think the Warriors are getting absolutely decimated on the glass. Steven Adams, as I mentioned, is having a historic offensive rebounding season. When he is on the floor without Shngoon, the Rockets grab forty two percent of their own misses. He alone grabs seven offfensive rebounds per thirty six minutes, I think, but his impact goes so far beyond that because he just eats up so much space with box outs. He's just a one of a kind weapon on the offensive glass. I don't think that you can even be competitive on the glass in his minutes without having another big guy. Looney, right, isn't as big, he isn't as strong as Steven Adams, but he's another guy who They're both pretty groundbound, but they just have phenomenal instincts for the ball. They know where to be, they use their strength really well. They're very good in terms of positioning themselves on the glass. So I think that they're gonna match Adams minutes with Looney and then the really interesting thing is how much do we see the Rockets double big lineups in how do the Warriors try to counter that? Because in the double big minutes that Shengun Adams out there together, the Rockets grab forty seven percent of their own misses. Those double big lineups have a plus thirty three net rating. That's only in one hundred and fifty minutes. But they have just been completely dominant on both sides the ball. The challenge at that point is when you have two bigs on the floor, two true bigs. I don't know how much you can go to that when Steph Curry is on the floor, just because having two guys who are slower footed obviously to different extents, right, Shengun is quicker on his feet than Steven Adams, but still is not somebody who you're comfortable switching. Is not somebody who you want guarding in space. A lot like just with the level of shooting that you get from Steph, the ability of this offense to quickly attack the advantages that he creates, I think that at that point, the speed advantage for the Warriors and the shooting and just specifically Steph probably makes it difficult for the Rockets to play those double big lineups. What I would really try to do if I'm Houston is squeeze a lot of those double big minutes in when Steph is off the floor. And that's what they did in the last meeting between these two teams, because then I'm not nearly as worried about it defensively. I actually think it's a really good look defensively against the lineup that has less creation, that has less shooting, and that doesn't have that one of a kind weapon who just makes you guard so much space like Steph Curry. And I think they'll probably try the double big looks for maybe even more minutes than that, Like maybe they will try it when Steph is on the floor, just because it's been so effective for them. But I would be more inclined to say, pick your spots with it, try to take advantage of some of those less offensively skilled lineups when you feel like you're not worried about the limitations of going double big. And that could be a real strength of Houston's in this series.

I think there are a bunch of interesting decisions that the Warriors have to make with their rotations. Specifically when it comes to how do they hang in there physically and on the glass, I think Looney has to match Steven Adams minutes like otherwise I just think the Warriors are getting absolutely decimated on the glass. Steven Adams, as I mentioned, is having a historic offensive rebounding season. When he is on the floor without Shngoon, the Rockets grab forty two percent of their own misses. He alone grabs seven offfensive rebounds per thirty six minutes, I think, but his impact goes so far beyond that because he just eats up so much space with box outs. He's just a one of a kind weapon on the offensive glass. I don't think that you can even be competitive on the glass in his minutes without having another big guy. Looney, right, isn't as big, he isn't as strong as Steven Adams, but he's another guy who They're both pretty groundbound, but they just have phenomenal instincts for the ball. They know where to be, they use their strength really well. They're very good in terms of positioning themselves on the glass. So I think that they're gonna match Adams minutes with Looney and then the really interesting thing is how much do we see the Rockets double big lineups in how do the Warriors try to counter that? Because in the double big minutes that Shengun Adams out there together, the Rockets grab forty seven percent of their own misses. Those double big lineups have a plus thirty three net rating. That's only in one hundred and fifty minutes. But they have just been completely dominant on both sides the ball. The challenge at that point is when you have two bigs on the floor, two true bigs. I don't know how much you can go to that when Steph Curry is on the floor, just because having two guys who are slower footed obviously to different extents, right, Shengun is quicker on his feet than Steven Adams, but still is not somebody who you're comfortable switching. Is not somebody who you want guarding in space. A lot like just with the level of shooting that you get from Steph, the ability of this offense to quickly attack the advantages that he creates, I think that at that point, the speed advantage for the Warriors and the shooting and just specifically Steph probably makes it difficult for the Rockets to play those double big lineups. What I would really try to do if I'm Houston is squeeze a lot of those double big minutes in when Steph is off the floor. And that's what they did in the last meeting between these two teams, because then I'm not nearly as worried about it defensively. I actually think it's a really good look defensively against the lineup that has less creation, that has less shooting, and that doesn't have that one of a kind weapon who just makes you guard so much space like Steph Curry. And I think they'll probably try the double big looks for maybe even more minutes than that, Like maybe they will try it when Steph is on the floor, just because it's been so effective for them. But I would be more inclined to say, pick your spots with it, try to take advantage of some of those less offensively skilled lineups when you feel like you're not worried about the limitations of going double big. And that could be a real strength of Houston's in this series.

I think it could too, And it's not just limited to those guys either, Right. The thing that I think makes Houston so special is is like a man is an elite positional rebounder. Jabari Smith Junior, you know, is a solid rebounder too. Like there's just like throughout the lineup if it's Tory Eason. However, many deep like Houston's always with, you know, ninety percent of their lineups in this series, are going to have that athletic and size.

I think it could too, And it's not just limited to those guys either, Right. The thing that I think makes Houston so special is is like a man is an elite positional rebounder. Jabari Smith Junior, you know, is a solid rebounder too. Like there's just like throughout the lineup if it's Tory Eason. However, many deep like Houston's always with, you know, ninety percent of their lineups in this series, are going to have that athletic and size.

Advantage on the floor.

Advantage on the floor.

But I do think the Warriors offensive supporting cast is gonna have to pull their weight, and I think guys are gonna have to shoot well in non Steph minutes. I think guys are gonna have to shoot the lights out period when Steph's on the floor, because you're mentioning him drawing all these double teams.

But I do think the Warriors offensive supporting cast is gonna have to pull their weight, and I think guys are gonna have to shoot well in non Steph minutes. I think guys are gonna have to shoot the lights out period when Steph's on the floor, because you're mentioning him drawing all these double teams.

I don't think that's something that's just gonna.

I don't think that's something that's just gonna.

Stop in this series, which means Pods has got to be butter from Deep. Moody has got to be butter from deep. Buddy healed good in transition, has got to be hitting his shots and has to play smart basketball. But the guy that it's gonna lay on the shoulders the largest, as you mentioned, it's Jimmy Butler, and I believe in playoff Jimmy, I.

Stop in this series, which means Pods has got to be butter from Deep. Moody has got to be butter from deep. Buddy healed good in transition, has got to be hitting his shots and has to play smart basketball. But the guy that it's gonna lay on the shoulders the largest, as you mentioned, it's Jimmy Butler, and I believe in playoff Jimmy, I.

Ranked Jimmy in my top twenty.

Ranked Jimmy in my top twenty.

Of NBA players for the playoffs before we started, and I'm very, very encouraged by what we've seen in the two most important Warriors games recently against the Clippers and against Memphis. Against Memphis, Jimmy went for thirty eight points. He had eighteen free throw attempts. And this is gonna sound crazy right now, I'm about to say, Jimmy has to be even more aggressive because even now, late in that game and throughout passing up shots at the rim, I'm gonna I'm going to throw my remote through the TV if I see Jimmy do that during this series, Like that's gonna drive me crazy. Jimmy's got to be even more aggressive, Like I need this take over Jimmy. He's got to feel the moment and he's got to take over the thing that I'm worried about, though, Carson, I don't. It's not gonna be easy against Houston because they have such elite perimeter personnel and the start difference. I thought Memphis defended him really, really poorly in the play in and what I mean by that is one a lot of minutes they were putting Edie on Jimmy and they were sagging off. And I know that Jimmy traditionally is not a guy you're okay with letting him take a few three pointers, right, because that's not his bread and butter. I don't think Houston should give Jimmy any cushion at all. I'm not saying defend him like Steph Curry, but don't give him a lane because I think guy like Jimmy, if you give him that cushion off ball, I think he's gonna cook you. You give him a little bit of space to work with, that's just advantage Jimmy. And I think Houston has got really really good personnel.

Of NBA players for the playoffs before we started, and I'm very, very encouraged by what we've seen in the two most important Warriors games recently against the Clippers and against Memphis. Against Memphis, Jimmy went for thirty eight points. He had eighteen free throw attempts. And this is gonna sound crazy right now, I'm about to say, Jimmy has to be even more aggressive because even now, late in that game and throughout passing up shots at the rim, I'm gonna I'm going to throw my remote through the TV if I see Jimmy do that during this series, Like that's gonna drive me crazy. Jimmy's got to be even more aggressive, Like I need this take over Jimmy. He's got to feel the moment and he's got to take over the thing that I'm worried about, though, Carson, I don't. It's not gonna be easy against Houston because they have such elite perimeter personnel and the start difference. I thought Memphis defended him really, really poorly in the play in and what I mean by that is one a lot of minutes they were putting Edie on Jimmy and they were sagging off. And I know that Jimmy traditionally is not a guy you're okay with letting him take a few three pointers, right, because that's not his bread and butter. I don't think Houston should give Jimmy any cushion at all. I'm not saying defend him like Steph Curry, but don't give him a lane because I think guy like Jimmy, if you give him that cushion off ball, I think he's gonna cook you. You give him a little bit of space to work with, that's just advantage Jimmy. And I think Houston has got really really good personnel.

He was right.

He was right.

Even if you have a men on Steph most of the series, Jabari Smith is still gonna be out there, right, Dylan Brooks is still gonna be out there. It's not gonna be easy, but Jimmy's got to be aggressive.

Even if you have a men on Steph most of the series, Jabari Smith is still gonna be out there, right, Dylan Brooks is still gonna be out there. It's not gonna be easy, but Jimmy's got to be aggressive.

Man.

Man.

Like the last game that I was talking about in the regular season against Houston, Jimmy had seven shots. That can't happen in a single game in this series. I need Jimmy shooting fifteen to twenty times at a minimum of night. And like I said, I need him to feel the gravity of the moments. If Steph's having an off night, he can't be afraid to take over. Like I know Jimmy's quote and it was awesome, and I'm so glad that Jimmy appreciates his situation. He said after the thirty eight piece, I got my Batman. I can play Robin. There are going to be games in this Sea series where Jimmy's gotta be Batman. He can't take that back seat. And it's vitally important that they got Jimmy at the deadline because I would not have given the Dubs a prayer in this series if they didn't have him. But now that they've got him on the roster, it's time for playoff Jimmy to show up and pull his weight. If that doesn't happen, Carson, I'd say this is an easy Houston victory. But I believe in playoff Jimmy, and I think we're gonna get a good series out of him.

Like the last game that I was talking about in the regular season against Houston, Jimmy had seven shots. That can't happen in a single game in this series. I need Jimmy shooting fifteen to twenty times at a minimum of night. And like I said, I need him to feel the gravity of the moments. If Steph's having an off night, he can't be afraid to take over. Like I know Jimmy's quote and it was awesome, and I'm so glad that Jimmy appreciates his situation. He said after the thirty eight piece, I got my Batman. I can play Robin. There are going to be games in this Sea series where Jimmy's gotta be Batman. He can't take that back seat. And it's vitally important that they got Jimmy at the deadline because I would not have given the Dubs a prayer in this series if they didn't have him. But now that they've got him on the roster, it's time for playoff Jimmy to show up and pull his weight. If that doesn't happen, Carson, I'd say this is an easy Houston victory. But I believe in playoff Jimmy, and I think we're gonna get a good series out of him.

There have been some really good indicators as of late for Jimmy still being able to flip that switch man and take his game up a level when it comes to the playoffs. He has been so committed to doing whatever he can to fit in with the Warriors right to not step on any toes, to be just like the ultimate team guy fitting into this motion system. But we've been saying like, at some point, Jimmy, you have to dial up that aggression. This team is gonna need it. They are especially going to need it in this matchup when you're expecting Steph to be blitzed so much out of pick and roll and you know that you're gonna have those four on threes, Your next best offensive player has to be a guy who can capitalize on that. Your next best offensive player has to be able to carry the load in the non Steph minutes and really step up and be aggressive there. Because there's just a lot of offensively limited players on this team, and there's a lot of guys who tend to be passive, and that's why they need Jimmy to step up it be that consistent second scoring presence you mentioned just how great he's been in the last couple of games. Also in the minutes he's on the floor without Steph Curry. This season, per seventy five possessions, he averages over twenty five points, seven and a half assists on sixty four percent true shooting with a very low turnover rate, gets to the line at an obscene rate in those minutes, and the Warriors have actually been really good with Jimmy on the floor and Steph off, So I'm super encouraged by seeing him feel that sort of playoff atmosphere, feel that these have been two games that the Warriors desperately needed to win against the Clippers and the Grizzlies, and show you that he can get to that level as a score. That I think is a huge reason why I am confident in the Warriors in this series. But it's obviously not just Jimmy, like you said, like Moody and Pods both really have to make shots. Pods has been shooting the shit out of the ball for half the year now. He's been a forty plus percent guy from deep, so that is really good. But they have to be smart about attacking these four on threes and they have to take care of the basketball. That was a big problem for the Warriors in their last meeting against the Rockets. They had twenty turnovers in that game, and obviously that then kick starts the Rockets transition offense where they're more effective than they are in the half court. They're this really young, athletic, energetic team. You don't want to give them those chances. All this being said, I think it's a really interesting challenge for the Warriors on the offensive end what the Rockets present. I also think the Warriors defense can really slow down that Rockets offense. Like, I think this is pretty clearly the series that is going to be the nastiest, the most defense, probably the lowest scoring, which you don't often think of when you have a Steph Curry led team. But the Rockets have some real offensive limitations, right you mentioned how low they rank as a half court offense. They're one of the worst shooting teams in basketball bottom ten and both three pointers made and three point percentage, and they're very efficient inside the arc. Like they really really specifically rely on their ability to dominate defensively and then offensively to produce decent efficiency by just giving themselves so many second chances on any one possession. But the spacing for them is gonna be a bit rough, and basically all of their key offensive players have really struggled in this matchup. Like I mentioned how rough steps numbers have been against the Rockets. You look at all the key Rockets. Jalen Green versus the Warriors this year averaged twelve point six points per game on thirty nine percent true shooting. He's been playing some pretty good basketball as of late, but when it comes to him having to take on this sort of offensive role, I have very little confidence in him versus a Warriors defense. With this sort of speed, with this sort of activity, with this sort of collective defensive IQ, he's really struggled. Shngoon versus the Warriors seventeen point four points per game on fifty one percent true shooting. Not very good scoring production, really bad efficiency. Dre does a phenomenal job on him as such an excellent post defender with his strength. Now, Shangun can bring you a lot of value if you can't keep him off the glass. But I think this is going to be a difficult matchup for him to create one on one scoring opportunities for himself. My beloved Amen Thompson has been okay against the Warriors. Gives you twelve eight and four on fifty percent true shooting. You know that on ball they are going to give him cushion and they are going to try to force him into taking some more of those floater range shots and short mid range shots, which he's actually been quite solid on this year, but obviously is at his best to get to the rim, and he's incredibly difficult to keep away from the rim even if you do play off him, because he's just a one of one kind of athlete. So I actually think he'll probably do better compared to his own standard offensively than a couple of the other guys off ball. You know that they're going to roam off of him, and I don't want to see him try to punish them for that with shooting. I want to see him if he can draw a close out attacking them, But realistically, they probably won't be closing out on him much. They're gonna dare him to shoot, and so he's gonna have to find a way to still get to the rim on ball, to be excellent in transition, and to still find those opportunities as a cutter and as an offensive rebounder to be a productive offensive player. And Fred van Vliet has just been terrible versus the Warriors, under nine points per game on thirty three percent true shooting and just a super erratic score of the basketball at this point very inefficient. So that's the thing. The Rockets have a great defense, and the Warriors are very specifically reliant on a couple of offensive players to really bring jewice for them. At the same time, the Rockets are just a very limited offense, and the Warriors have been number one in defensive ratings since Jimmy Butler joined the team. They are number one, I believe in opponent turnovers forced since Jimmy Butler joined the team, and I do think that their personnel is very well set up to keep the Rockets from putting the ball in the basket efficiently. Really, the challenge is when they go small, can they keep them off the glass? And that's going to be really hard, But I think in totality they can slow down the Rockets offense more than vice versa.

There have been some really good indicators as of late for Jimmy still being able to flip that switch man and take his game up a level when it comes to the playoffs. He has been so committed to doing whatever he can to fit in with the Warriors right to not step on any toes, to be just like the ultimate team guy fitting into this motion system. But we've been saying like, at some point, Jimmy, you have to dial up that aggression. This team is gonna need it. They are especially going to need it in this matchup when you're expecting Steph to be blitzed so much out of pick and roll and you know that you're gonna have those four on threes, Your next best offensive player has to be a guy who can capitalize on that. Your next best offensive player has to be able to carry the load in the non Steph minutes and really step up and be aggressive there. Because there's just a lot of offensively limited players on this team, and there's a lot of guys who tend to be passive, and that's why they need Jimmy to step up it be that consistent second scoring presence you mentioned just how great he's been in the last couple of games. Also in the minutes he's on the floor without Steph Curry. This season, per seventy five possessions, he averages over twenty five points, seven and a half assists on sixty four percent true shooting with a very low turnover rate, gets to the line at an obscene rate in those minutes, and the Warriors have actually been really good with Jimmy on the floor and Steph off, So I'm super encouraged by seeing him feel that sort of playoff atmosphere, feel that these have been two games that the Warriors desperately needed to win against the Clippers and the Grizzlies, and show you that he can get to that level as a score. That I think is a huge reason why I am confident in the Warriors in this series. But it's obviously not just Jimmy, like you said, like Moody and Pods both really have to make shots. Pods has been shooting the shit out of the ball for half the year now. He's been a forty plus percent guy from deep, so that is really good. But they have to be smart about attacking these four on threes and they have to take care of the basketball. That was a big problem for the Warriors in their last meeting against the Rockets. They had twenty turnovers in that game, and obviously that then kick starts the Rockets transition offense where they're more effective than they are in the half court. They're this really young, athletic, energetic team. You don't want to give them those chances. All this being said, I think it's a really interesting challenge for the Warriors on the offensive end what the Rockets present. I also think the Warriors defense can really slow down that Rockets offense. Like, I think this is pretty clearly the series that is going to be the nastiest, the most defense, probably the lowest scoring, which you don't often think of when you have a Steph Curry led team. But the Rockets have some real offensive limitations, right you mentioned how low they rank as a half court offense. They're one of the worst shooting teams in basketball bottom ten and both three pointers made and three point percentage, and they're very efficient inside the arc. Like they really really specifically rely on their ability to dominate defensively and then offensively to produce decent efficiency by just giving themselves so many second chances on any one possession. But the spacing for them is gonna be a bit rough, and basically all of their key offensive players have really struggled in this matchup. Like I mentioned how rough steps numbers have been against the Rockets. You look at all the key Rockets. Jalen Green versus the Warriors this year averaged twelve point six points per game on thirty nine percent true shooting. He's been playing some pretty good basketball as of late, but when it comes to him having to take on this sort of offensive role, I have very little confidence in him versus a Warriors defense. With this sort of speed, with this sort of activity, with this sort of collective defensive IQ, he's really struggled. Shngoon versus the Warriors seventeen point four points per game on fifty one percent true shooting. Not very good scoring production, really bad efficiency. Dre does a phenomenal job on him as such an excellent post defender with his strength. Now, Shangun can bring you a lot of value if you can't keep him off the glass. But I think this is going to be a difficult matchup for him to create one on one scoring opportunities for himself. My beloved Amen Thompson has been okay against the Warriors. Gives you twelve eight and four on fifty percent true shooting. You know that on ball they are going to give him cushion and they are going to try to force him into taking some more of those floater range shots and short mid range shots, which he's actually been quite solid on this year, but obviously is at his best to get to the rim, and he's incredibly difficult to keep away from the rim even if you do play off him, because he's just a one of one kind of athlete. So I actually think he'll probably do better compared to his own standard offensively than a couple of the other guys off ball. You know that they're going to roam off of him, and I don't want to see him try to punish them for that with shooting. I want to see him if he can draw a close out attacking them, But realistically, they probably won't be closing out on him much. They're gonna dare him to shoot, and so he's gonna have to find a way to still get to the rim on ball, to be excellent in transition, and to still find those opportunities as a cutter and as an offensive rebounder to be a productive offensive player. And Fred van Vliet has just been terrible versus the Warriors, under nine points per game on thirty three percent true shooting and just a super erratic score of the basketball at this point very inefficient. So that's the thing. The Rockets have a great defense, and the Warriors are very specifically reliant on a couple of offensive players to really bring jewice for them. At the same time, the Rockets are just a very limited offense, and the Warriors have been number one in defensive ratings since Jimmy Butler joined the team. They are number one, I believe in opponent turnovers forced since Jimmy Butler joined the team, and I do think that their personnel is very well set up to keep the Rockets from putting the ball in the basket efficiently. Really, the challenge is when they go small, can they keep them off the glass? And that's going to be really hard, But I think in totality they can slow down the Rockets offense more than vice versa.

I think the most important thing is, like you mentioned earlier, not letting these guys get ahead of steam and be able to get out on the break and transition. If you can keep it in the half court, I'm pretty confident. In Golden State, Carson, there are there's one Houston Rocket that shot over thirty six percent from deep Dylan Brooks on three or more attempts a game. Your best shooter's Dylan Brooks, and so look, I know Dylan Brooks has had a really good year, but it's not just a Men Thompson. To me. There's a lot of guys that I would be comfortable with helping off of. And that's kind of what I would try to do if I have Golden State swarm their ball handlers, try to force turnovers, try to trap guys. And I'm not saying let Houston just shoot open threes, but I'm okay with conceding a lot of looks to a lot of players here. If it's a Men Thompson, if it's Seng Goon, if it's Steven Adams, there's just an there's not a lot of floor spacers here. And hell, even Dylan Brooks, man, Dylan Brooks, doesn't scare me.

I think the most important thing is, like you mentioned earlier, not letting these guys get ahead of steam and be able to get out on the break and transition. If you can keep it in the half court, I'm pretty confident. In Golden State, Carson, there are there's one Houston Rocket that shot over thirty six percent from deep Dylan Brooks on three or more attempts a game. Your best shooter's Dylan Brooks, and so look, I know Dylan Brooks has had a really good year, but it's not just a Men Thompson. To me. There's a lot of guys that I would be comfortable with helping off of. And that's kind of what I would try to do if I have Golden State swarm their ball handlers, try to force turnovers, try to trap guys. And I'm not saying let Houston just shoot open threes, but I'm okay with conceding a lot of looks to a lot of players here. If it's a Men Thompson, if it's Seng Goon, if it's Steven Adams, there's just an there's not a lot of floor spacers here. And hell, even Dylan Brooks, man, Dylan Brooks, doesn't scare me.

Look br if Dylan.

Look br if Dylan.

If Dylan shoots thirty eight percent in this series, like, shout out Dylan Brooks. But I know his track record, and I'm kind of expecting a little bit of a meltdown here in this series because that's what he's shown us in the playoffs.

If Dylan shoots thirty eight percent in this series, like, shout out Dylan Brooks. But I know his track record, and I'm kind of expecting a little bit of a meltdown here in this series because that's what he's shown us in the playoffs.

But by and large, I'd.

But by and large, I'd.

Be comfortable leaving these shooters and gambling a little, but more if I was Golden State on defense like they just Houston doesn't scare me with their spacing, and I think that when you have two genius defenders like Dray and Jimmy, they can exploit that and use that to their advantage better than most teams. But like you mentioned, I think the biggest challenge is just going to be limiting those extra possessions, because that's how Houston has been able to mitigate a lot of their skill issues this season.

Be comfortable leaving these shooters and gambling a little, but more if I was Golden State on defense like they just Houston doesn't scare me with their spacing, and I think that when you have two genius defenders like Dray and Jimmy, they can exploit that and use that to their advantage better than most teams. But like you mentioned, I think the biggest challenge is just going to be limiting those extra possessions, because that's how Houston has been able to mitigate a lot of their skill issues this season.

It's their biggest strength offensively by far. What do you think the Warriors do with their rotations in this series? Because we talked about how do you have to try to deal with the Steven Adams problem matching Loony's minutes with his, But there are a lot of other questions besides that, Like Jonathan Kaminga has fallen out of the rotation for this team in the last couple of games. Does he come back into the mix? Who do you think should be playing outside of the core guys who obviously are going to get their big minutes for the Warriors.

It's their biggest strength offensively by far. What do you think the Warriors do with their rotations in this series? Because we talked about how do you have to try to deal with the Steven Adams problem matching Loony's minutes with his, But there are a lot of other questions besides that, Like Jonathan Kaminga has fallen out of the rotation for this team in the last couple of games. Does he come back into the mix? Who do you think should be playing outside of the core guys who obviously are going to get their big minutes for the Warriors.

I don't know about Kaminga, So that's why Curry, Dre, Jimmy right, those guys are gonna get all the burn pods. Moody per after that, Like you mentioned, I'm giving Looney it's on a burn with Steven Adams. Maybe I don't even play Looney outside of Steven Adams minutes, but I'm matching those.

I don't know about Kaminga, So that's why Curry, Dre, Jimmy right, those guys are gonna get all the burn pods. Moody per after that, Like you mentioned, I'm giving Looney it's on a burn with Steven Adams. Maybe I don't even play Looney outside of Steven Adams minutes, but I'm matching those.

I'm giving Quinton Post some burn. I just want to see what he can give me.

I'm giving Quinton Post some burn. I just want to see what he can give me.

And the reason I say that is I think the Post could have a big series in the sense that if he's matched up with an Adams or a Sengoon, Post just changes the geometry of the Warriors offense a little bit where you actually have that legitimate spacer and he's not just a spacer in.

And the reason I say that is I think the Post could have a big series in the sense that if he's matched up with an Adams or a Sengoon, Post just changes the geometry of the Warriors offense a little bit where you actually have that legitimate spacer and he's not just a spacer in.

The half court.

The half court.

I really like Quinton Post is a shooter as a trailer in transition as well, and so I would just kind of feel Posts minutes out. And what I mean by that is I give him some burn in the early second quarter if he hits two threes, if he hits three threes and he's having a good night, I'll leave him out there and I'll give him some more burn. If he's not, maybe I play him less. And I looked to Dre at small ball, or I look to Looney, But I think Post could have a really good series just in how he contrasts the other bigs. For Houston, those guys don't really want to get out of the pain a ton, and I think that could be a really interesting calenter, especially if he's hitting threes. More importantly, Canty battle on the glass, because if he's getting beat there, I just don't think you can play him.

I really like Quinton Post is a shooter as a trailer in transition as well, and so I would just kind of feel Posts minutes out. And what I mean by that is I give him some burn in the early second quarter if he hits two threes, if he hits three threes and he's having a good night, I'll leave him out there and I'll give him some more burn. If he's not, maybe I play him less. And I looked to Dre at small ball, or I look to Looney, But I think Post could have a really good series just in how he contrasts the other bigs. For Houston, those guys don't really want to get out of the pain a ton, and I think that could be a really interesting calenter, especially if he's hitting threes. More importantly, Canty battle on the glass, because if he's getting beat there, I just don't think you can play him.

But I like what I've.

But I like what I've.

Seen from Post just in terms of positioning defensive Fiel. He's not like a really high end rim protector or anything like that. He's not a good rim protector, but he's normally in the right position where he can at least contest shots. So I'm giving Post some burn. I think you have to play Buddy just because of offensive skill. Like Buddy's frustrating, but I think you need his shooting. I don't know what to do with Kamena Man. Kaminga can have his games, but if I'm Houston, he's the guy that I'm leaving alone and like I'm daring to shoot and I'm playing off of.

Seen from Post just in terms of positioning defensive Fiel. He's not like a really high end rim protector or anything like that. He's not a good rim protector, but he's normally in the right position where he can at least contest shots. So I'm giving Post some burn. I think you have to play Buddy just because of offensive skill. Like Buddy's frustrating, but I think you need his shooting. I don't know what to do with Kamena Man. Kaminga can have his games, but if I'm Houston, he's the guy that I'm leaving alone and like I'm daring to shoot and I'm playing off of.

I don't know what to do with Kamena Man. I honestly, I would.

I don't know what to do with Kamena Man. I honestly, I would.

Put him more in the Post category where I give him a little bit of burn and just like feel his minutes out and see what he's giving me. But Kaminga, he's not really a big factor in this series. I don't think they need him as much as they need the other role players.

Put him more in the Post category where I give him a little bit of burn and just like feel his minutes out and see what he's giving me. But Kaminga, he's not really a big factor in this series. I don't think they need him as much as they need the other role players.

It's a tricky decision. I think you have to at least try Kaminga in this series for ten to fifteen minutes a night in the early games and see how it goes. Because I have no problem with him not playing at all in certain matchups. I've been good with him getting these a couple of dnps playing the boy.

It's a tricky decision. I think you have to at least try Kaminga in this series for ten to fifteen minutes a night in the early games and see how it goes. Because I have no problem with him not playing at all in certain matchups. I've been good with him getting these a couple of dnps playing the boy.

Gi Santo's over Kamingo.

Gi Santo's over Kamingo.

Bro.

Bro.

Listen, brother, Hey are you looking at my notes over here? I love Gi Santos. I think that he should play a decent amount in this series. I do think it's important to note, though, that Kaminga has been really good versus Houston. It's been his best matchup this year. He's given him twenty one points and seven rebounds a game on fifty nine percent true shooting. And it is valuable to have somebody against such an elite defense who can give the bench a little bit of juice offensively, someone who can match Houston's youth and athleticism out there. The challenge is does he have the feel to play effectively in those minutes where Steph is going to be drawing so much defensive attention and it's about making good quick decisions with an advantage like he hasn't consistently shown an ability to do that. And then you think, Okay, he brings the juice in the bench minutes, but really it's Jimmy. You're expecting to carry those loads in the non step minutes and step up and Kaminga and Jimmy just do not compliment each other on the basketball court. So if he ends up being a DNP, I'm fine with it, I really am. But I do think that I would give him a shot because there are some other guys who have been playing more who, like I also have my issues with. Like the thing with Kaminga is expectations for some people are so high and he's consistently failed to live up to them that then you think, oh, I'm so frustrated he shouldn't play. But then there are other guys like Gary Payton the second who I just don't love playing twenty minutes a game. And this is a specific matchup where I just think you need offensive juice where you can get it. And GP two played pretty well against Houston the last game, and like is somebody who has really good instincts as a cutter, but he can be so limited offensively. He can be so tentative, and rightfully so, because the shooting obviously is a big limitation. He's a good finisher, but he's still a small guard. He's not a comfortable ball handler. Like those are the sort of minutes where I would say, Okay, I get it if you trust GP two, because you know that he's gonna mostly make the right decisions, play hard, play smarter than Kaminga. But maybe just because of the ability at least give Kaminga a shot and you can have a short leash man. I'm not a Kaminga guy. I've been very open about that for years. I thought they should have traded him a long long time ago. And I just don't think that he is a good fit for the Warriors. I don't think that in terms of scheme, in terms of his readiness to really play winning basketball, but especially in a system that is so much about motion, making quick decisions, et cetera. It's just not a good fit and he should be gone after this year. But I don't know if he should start out the series getting dnps like he has been.

Listen, brother, Hey are you looking at my notes over here? I love Gi Santos. I think that he should play a decent amount in this series. I do think it's important to note, though, that Kaminga has been really good versus Houston. It's been his best matchup this year. He's given him twenty one points and seven rebounds a game on fifty nine percent true shooting. And it is valuable to have somebody against such an elite defense who can give the bench a little bit of juice offensively, someone who can match Houston's youth and athleticism out there. The challenge is does he have the feel to play effectively in those minutes where Steph is going to be drawing so much defensive attention and it's about making good quick decisions with an advantage like he hasn't consistently shown an ability to do that. And then you think, Okay, he brings the juice in the bench minutes, but really it's Jimmy. You're expecting to carry those loads in the non step minutes and step up and Kaminga and Jimmy just do not compliment each other on the basketball court. So if he ends up being a DNP, I'm fine with it, I really am. But I do think that I would give him a shot because there are some other guys who have been playing more who, like I also have my issues with. Like the thing with Kaminga is expectations for some people are so high and he's consistently failed to live up to them that then you think, oh, I'm so frustrated he shouldn't play. But then there are other guys like Gary Payton the second who I just don't love playing twenty minutes a game. And this is a specific matchup where I just think you need offensive juice where you can get it. And GP two played pretty well against Houston the last game, and like is somebody who has really good instincts as a cutter, but he can be so limited offensively. He can be so tentative, and rightfully so, because the shooting obviously is a big limitation. He's a good finisher, but he's still a small guard. He's not a comfortable ball handler. Like those are the sort of minutes where I would say, Okay, I get it if you trust GP two, because you know that he's gonna mostly make the right decisions, play hard, play smarter than Kaminga. But maybe just because of the ability at least give Kaminga a shot and you can have a short leash man. I'm not a Kaminga guy. I've been very open about that for years. I thought they should have traded him a long long time ago. And I just don't think that he is a good fit for the Warriors. I don't think that in terms of scheme, in terms of his readiness to really play winning basketball, but especially in a system that is so much about motion, making quick decisions, et cetera. It's just not a good fit and he should be gone after this year. But I don't know if he should start out the series getting dnps like he has been.

I think those are the three guys battling for or maybe four if you want to throw Buddy into the mix, battling for those last wing minutes. If it's GP, Buddy, Santos, and Kaminga ride the guy who's playing the best.

I think those are the three guys battling for or maybe four if you want to throw Buddy into the mix, battling for those last wing minutes. If it's GP, Buddy, Santos, and Kaminga ride the guy who's playing the best.

But the rest of the guys I'm comfortable with playing. You know, I don't mind GPGP normally.

But the rest of the guys I'm comfortable with playing. You know, I don't mind GPGP normally.

Just has such good instincts in basketball field. But you wonder about in this matchup specifically, just having a guy who's you know more Ah, yeah, if it's more worthwhile having a guy like Kaminga out there just because he matches the physical profile. But I don't know, Man, I throw each of those guys, all the four guys that I mentioned some some wing minutes in play who's playing the best?

Just has such good instincts in basketball field. But you wonder about in this matchup specifically, just having a guy who's you know more Ah, yeah, if it's more worthwhile having a guy like Kaminga out there just because he matches the physical profile. But I don't know, Man, I throw each of those guys, all the four guys that I mentioned some some wing minutes in play who's playing the best?

Yeah, I don't really have a problem with that philosophy, because like, I have mixed feelings about Buddy minutes too, because it's like, you want his shooting on the floor so badly in this matchup, but also he makes bad decisions at a level that's like arguably comparable to Kaminga, Like, those are two guys who are just basketball players. Like, yeah, that's why I'm just thinking, Man, give me more Gui Santos, because Gee is big, He's athletic, he's a pretty good rebounder. We're talking about how timidle it Is plays his ass off like just a limitless ball of energy and shoots the ball decently well. Is a pretty solid pass or smart basketball player, Like I think that he checks the most boxes of what they need from just like that sort of multifaceted big forward contributor in this matchup. So I'd like to see him play more than GP two. I have super mixed feelings about the kaminga minutes. I think you give him a shot with a tight leash, And like to be clear, when I say a shot, I'm not talking about twenty plus min minutes. You just can't trust him to do that in a playoff run. He's not ready, and I just don't think is part of the equation for the Warriors at this point, like a significant part of it. But yeah, ten fifteen minutes, I think you give him a shot. So what's your official prediction here, Logan.

Yeah, I don't really have a problem with that philosophy, because like, I have mixed feelings about Buddy minutes too, because it's like, you want his shooting on the floor so badly in this matchup, but also he makes bad decisions at a level that's like arguably comparable to Kaminga, Like, those are two guys who are just basketball players. Like, yeah, that's why I'm just thinking, Man, give me more Gui Santos, because Gee is big, He's athletic, he's a pretty good rebounder. We're talking about how timidle it Is plays his ass off like just a limitless ball of energy and shoots the ball decently well. Is a pretty solid pass or smart basketball player, Like I think that he checks the most boxes of what they need from just like that sort of multifaceted big forward contributor in this matchup. So I'd like to see him play more than GP two. I have super mixed feelings about the kaminga minutes. I think you give him a shot with a tight leash, And like to be clear, when I say a shot, I'm not talking about twenty plus min minutes. You just can't trust him to do that in a playoff run. He's not ready, and I just don't think is part of the equation for the Warriors at this point, like a significant part of it. But yeah, ten fifteen minutes, I think you give him a shot. So what's your official prediction here, Logan.

I can definitely see this series going the distance. That being said, I'm gonna bet on the more experienced team, the team with the better offense, and frankly the team with the two best offensive players I think in this series. So I'm gonna take the Warriors in six.

I can definitely see this series going the distance. That being said, I'm gonna bet on the more experienced team, the team with the better offense, and frankly the team with the two best offensive players I think in this series. So I'm gonna take the Warriors in six.

But like I said, I could definitely see this going the distance.

But like I said, I could definitely see this going the distance.

And look, if Houston can swallow up Steph Curry, I mean that gives them a real chance at winning this series. I'm not gonna say that they don't, so I think they have an opportunity here.

And look, if Houston can swallow up Steph Curry, I mean that gives them a real chance at winning this series. I'm not gonna say that they don't, so I think they have an opportunity here.

But I'm gonna take the Dubs in six and say that they issh it on their home floor.

But I'm gonna take the Dubs in six and say that they issh it on their home floor.

I do think the Rockets have a chance to win this series, Like if they can just bludgeon the Warriors physically and dominate that battle on the glass, and like you said, really keep Steph in check and if guys around him just aren't making enough shots, like you can see that path. But what really gives me the confidence to pick the Warriors to win this series, like what puts me over the top because I would have picked them either way. But I was debating picking this to go seven because it feels kind of weird to not have any of these series out West going seven, because I think a number of them are so close. But it's this version of Jimmy that we've seen over the last couple of games, Like I'm in, I do think that he still is a playoff riser Logan. I know you've been very adamant about him really being able to scale up that scoring volume. I've seen enough over these last couple of games when he's needed to do it to be more confident in his ability to do that. And I just think the Rockets offense is going to look really ugly against a really good Warriors defense. So I do think that we are in for a fight. I think we're in for a war. I think there's gonna be beef in this series. We've got Dylan Brooks and we've got Dre on the floor. We've got a man A man was a violent child, Logan. I don't know if you've heard have you seen any of those edits of a men just hitting people and doing awesome shit. It's pretty funny. Some of them start with us are being asked like did a men ever get into trouble as a kid? And he goes, A man was an aggressive child. I love him man, that's my guy. So it's gonna be personal. Man, It's gonna be a hell of a first round series. I think.

I do think the Rockets have a chance to win this series, Like if they can just bludgeon the Warriors physically and dominate that battle on the glass, and like you said, really keep Steph in check and if guys around him just aren't making enough shots, like you can see that path. But what really gives me the confidence to pick the Warriors to win this series, like what puts me over the top because I would have picked them either way. But I was debating picking this to go seven because it feels kind of weird to not have any of these series out West going seven, because I think a number of them are so close. But it's this version of Jimmy that we've seen over the last couple of games, Like I'm in, I do think that he still is a playoff riser Logan. I know you've been very adamant about him really being able to scale up that scoring volume. I've seen enough over these last couple of games when he's needed to do it to be more confident in his ability to do that. And I just think the Rockets offense is going to look really ugly against a really good Warriors defense. So I do think that we are in for a fight. I think we're in for a war. I think there's gonna be beef in this series. We've got Dylan Brooks and we've got Dre on the floor. We've got a man A man was a violent child, Logan. I don't know if you've heard have you seen any of those edits of a men just hitting people and doing awesome shit. It's pretty funny. Some of them start with us are being asked like did a men ever get into trouble as a kid? And he goes, A man was an aggressive child. I love him man, that's my guy. So it's gonna be personal. Man, It's gonna be a hell of a first round series. I think.

Who gets ejected the most in this series?

Who gets ejected the most in this series?

I hope nobody gets ejected multiple times, But if I.

I hope nobody gets ejected multiple times, But if I.

Had to Dylan Brooks over one and a half games, who, I don't.

Had to Dylan Brooks over one and a half games, who, I don't.

Know if I can go there. My honest opinion, there's one game in this series or both Dylan Brooks and Raymond get ejected. I think it's a mutual escalation. I think they're both John and I think that they both get thrown out. I would not expect to see anything more than that. But like, if you were to set the line for which series is most likely to have an ejection, this has got to be number one. Like maybe you look at Nick Pistons because the Pistons have that kind of nasty vibe to him as well Timberwolves Lakers. Maybe I could see a Rudy Luca incident. But this feels like the one where you have a number of characters and you're just expecting that style of basketball. Man, Because I'm telling you, Steph is gonna get roughed up. I think that he pulls through enough as one of the greatest offensive players we've ever seen, who is just so unbelievably good, and I think the offense around him and especially Jimmy do enough to win this series. The NBA eighty two game grind is done, and now the real fun begins. The NBA Playoffs are here and it's time for all the high stakes drama, clutch moments, and jaw dropping plays. I can't wait. If you're looking to make the playoffs even more exciting, DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered as an official sports betting partner of the NBA from the play in games all the way through to the finals. Now's the time to back your favorite players and teams as they chase glory.