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

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

Charles Darwin?

Charles Darwin?

The nerves is where it's at.

The nerves is where it's at.

We welcome everybody back in nerd Sesshon As always, I'm Carson Breber and alongside me is Logan Camden, and we've got a bunch to discuss today. We're going to be focused on the NBA, but at the end, Logan, we will deliver a eulogy for your good friend Daniel Jones, who has officially been cut by the Giants today. But we're starting with basketball, and unfortunately, we're starting with a negative storyline that has been persistent throughout the NBA season so far and really just reached an absolute low point a couple of days ago, and that is what has been going on with Tyree's Alton, who has been struggling, to say the least, had a brutal performance against Houston the other day where he made just one shot. Logan, how worried are you about Hollie?

We welcome everybody back in nerd Sesshon As always, I'm Carson Breber and alongside me is Logan Camden, and we've got a bunch to discuss today. We're going to be focused on the NBA, but at the end, Logan, we will deliver a eulogy for your good friend Daniel Jones, who has officially been cut by the Giants today. But we're starting with basketball, and unfortunately, we're starting with a negative storyline that has been persistent throughout the NBA season so far and really just reached an absolute low point a couple of days ago, and that is what has been going on with Tyree's Alton, who has been struggling, to say the least, had a brutal performance against Houston the other day where he made just one shot. Logan, how worried are you about Hollie?

I am pretty worried. I'm really wondering if he's injured. I mean, I don't know if it would have happened in the Olympics or something. You know, obviously, we had that stretch last year where torrential pull up shooting. You know, he's twenty five points, twelve assists. He's playing like one of the best point guards in all of basketball. Hurts his hamstring comes back down to earth in the second stretch, and then you know, redeemed himself in the playoffs by going to the Eastern Conference Finals and really being a key part of that. You know, a part of it was the PACER's identity as a whole and the great depth that they have and all the offensive weapons that they have, but it was, you know, largely on the back of Tyreese. The Pacers have claimed he's not injured, but he just looks like he's moving really labored on the court, especially against Houston. Like I thought Toronto, he looked really smooth. He didn't have a great game, he met a really bad game, but he looked a lot smoother against Houston. I don't know, man, he was moving like a like a crab, I thought, man, Like, if I had to guess, and granted I'm not a doctor, but I would guess it's a lower back injury just from the way that he's moving. But not only do I think it's there's potential that he's injured. I also think that it's affecting his confidence, and I think we saw that with the hamstring injury last year, and it's just created this, you know, cacophony of issues. You know, it's not just one thing. I think it has really bled into affecting his confidence. Right now, He's fifteen points, four and a half boards, eight and a half assists on thirty eight percent from the field, twenty eight percent from deep, on fifty percent true shooting. He's got the third worst true shooting percentage of any fifteen point per game score in the league. The one thing I will say about this, outside of just speculating on potential injuries and his performance, is I do think the discourse surrounding him has gotten a little ridiculous after this stretch. And what I'll ask you, because I think at best, he's dealing with an injury that's being hidden, and worst, he's in the worst slump of all time. Has this changed how you view Halliburton as a player fundamentally?

I am pretty worried. I'm really wondering if he's injured. I mean, I don't know if it would have happened in the Olympics or something. You know, obviously, we had that stretch last year where torrential pull up shooting. You know, he's twenty five points, twelve assists. He's playing like one of the best point guards in all of basketball. Hurts his hamstring comes back down to earth in the second stretch, and then you know, redeemed himself in the playoffs by going to the Eastern Conference Finals and really being a key part of that. You know, a part of it was the PACER's identity as a whole and the great depth that they have and all the offensive weapons that they have, but it was, you know, largely on the back of Tyreese. The Pacers have claimed he's not injured, but he just looks like he's moving really labored on the court, especially against Houston. Like I thought Toronto, he looked really smooth. He didn't have a great game, he met a really bad game, but he looked a lot smoother against Houston. I don't know, man, he was moving like a like a crab, I thought, man, Like, if I had to guess, and granted I'm not a doctor, but I would guess it's a lower back injury just from the way that he's moving. But not only do I think it's there's potential that he's injured. I also think that it's affecting his confidence, and I think we saw that with the hamstring injury last year, and it's just created this, you know, cacophony of issues. You know, it's not just one thing. I think it has really bled into affecting his confidence. Right now, He's fifteen points, four and a half boards, eight and a half assists on thirty eight percent from the field, twenty eight percent from deep, on fifty percent true shooting. He's got the third worst true shooting percentage of any fifteen point per game score in the league. The one thing I will say about this, outside of just speculating on potential injuries and his performance, is I do think the discourse surrounding him has gotten a little ridiculous after this stretch. And what I'll ask you, because I think at best, he's dealing with an injury that's being hidden, and worst, he's in the worst slump of all time. Has this changed how you view Halliburton as a player fundamentally?

Kind of? I do think that he's hurt, but I also can't write this off as the worst slump of all time if he is healthy. I mean, this is something beyond that this is more than a slump. Like I would go as far as to say that if he is healthy, this is the most shocking regression that I've ever seen from a healthy basketball player in their prime. I have been a big believer in Hollie's over the last year, and obviously he was absurd for the first thirty something games of last year, as you mentioned. But it really annoys me when people refer to that as like a insanity run, because he had an awesome season before that, and then, as you mentioned, he was really really good in the playoffs last year. I do think Halle is a guy whose total impact can be underestimated if you're just looking at the raw box score, because so much of what he does is creating an initial advantage, right, and then getting the defense in rotation making a skip pass, and maybe that sets off a trajectory, a sequence of events where it's like okay, then they rotate out to the corner in the weakside shooter, and then it's another swing pass, and then that's what leads to open three.

Kind of? I do think that he's hurt, but I also can't write this off as the worst slump of all time if he is healthy. I mean, this is something beyond that this is more than a slump. Like I would go as far as to say that if he is healthy, this is the most shocking regression that I've ever seen from a healthy basketball player in their prime. I have been a big believer in Hollie's over the last year, and obviously he was absurd for the first thirty something games of last year, as you mentioned. But it really annoys me when people refer to that as like a insanity run, because he had an awesome season before that, and then, as you mentioned, he was really really good in the playoffs last year. I do think Halle is a guy whose total impact can be underestimated if you're just looking at the raw box score, because so much of what he does is creating an initial advantage, right, and then getting the defense in rotation making a skip pass, and maybe that sets off a trajectory, a sequence of events where it's like okay, then they rotate out to the corner in the weakside shooter, and then it's another swing pass, and then that's what leads to open three.

Right.

Right.

It's not always an assist. He's not inherently a high volume scorer, but what he is is an impeccable decision maker, unimpeccable offensive mind who whenever he does create an advantage, is going to maintain and build upon that advantage very effectively. And this is out of pick and roll, where he's been unbelievably efficient for years. This is in transition or I think he's the best hit ahead passer in basketball. Right he is just constantly incentivizing good basketball, good offense, extremely efficient offense, by making great decisions. And I think that that's something that we can often underestimate the importance of in favor of some more gaudy scoring numbers. That's talking about Halle big picture. Halle right now is playing at an inexcusably bad level. I honestly think that even if he is injured, which I'm with you, I don't think he's moving like a healthy basketball player, because it's not just the lack of burst on ball. And I completely agree with you that his lack of faith in his athleticism is bleeding into everything right now. He doesn't look comfortable doing anything. He doesn't look confident doing anything. It's also in transition defensively right just to complete inability to change direction guarding in space. I mean he's moving like he's in quicksand he's moving like he's in pain. Frankly, I can't understand, though, why Indiana would deny that he's hurt when he would have gotten hurt because in the Olympics he had this leg thing. This certainly seems like a back thing. Why are you trotting your best player out there for the first fifteen games of the season. If he's playing horribly, it's actually hurting your team. They're thirteen points per one hundred possessions worse with him out there. It's only making things worse for him in terms of his confidence, in terms of if this is an injury, his health right, the injury is only going to get slightly worse if you just keep making him play through it when he's struggling this much. And you don't need to be like all in trying to win these games early in the season and you're not. You're not winning these games. You're six and nine. So there's just so much about this situation that is so so weird to me. But he can't create an advantage out there right now, and he looks like he shouldn't be on the floor because he's not helping them win basketball games, So you ask, does it change my perspective on him? If he's healthy, then this shatters my perspective of him. And look, I definitely think that he'll play better, right, he'll shoot better, but he doesn't look like a healthy basketball player. And if this is what he looks like when he is healthy, then I literally have no explanation for it other than maybe the previous injuries weighing on him and just making him a worse athlete. But still, we saw the level that he got to in the playoffs, So I'm definitely not as out on him as some people, right because I believe that his style of offense, his greatest strengths, lead to great team offense, and that is something that is extremely valuable when things are clicking. It's not about him scoring twenty four points per game. Okay, we always knew that he wasn't going to maintain those heights. Now, did I think that he would be somewhere between there and the post hamstring injury version of Halliburton that we saw. Absolutely, I was optimistic that he would be somewhere in the stratosphere of the dude that we saw early last year. And he hasn't been that but he's just a really, really good offensive engine when he's right. And listen, the Pacers are going to have to this thing out. Okay, they don't have options. They traded for Siakam with the understanding that Halle was their guy, that he was a top teny top twenty five player in basketball, that he was a phenomenal offensive engine. He is the reason they felt confident going more all in saying let's raise our ceiling, and all of their subsequent moves right the things that we've talked about, getting more athletic defensively on the perimeter. I really like Andrew and Mhart, but just in this role alongside Halle, I think you need a bigger, more defensive minded athlete in that spot. All those upgrades that they could be looking to make that would make them a more serious playoff team, because we know that this defense is unserious and that's always going to handicap this team's ability to replicate last year's run, which they did in a weaker Eastern Conference and injury ravaged Eastern Conference. All of that stuff is contingent upon Tyres Halliburton being the guy that we have known him to be, and if he's not well, then they're just screwed.

It's not always an assist. He's not inherently a high volume scorer, but what he is is an impeccable decision maker, unimpeccable offensive mind who whenever he does create an advantage, is going to maintain and build upon that advantage very effectively. And this is out of pick and roll, where he's been unbelievably efficient for years. This is in transition or I think he's the best hit ahead passer in basketball. Right he is just constantly incentivizing good basketball, good offense, extremely efficient offense, by making great decisions. And I think that that's something that we can often underestimate the importance of in favor of some more gaudy scoring numbers. That's talking about Halle big picture. Halle right now is playing at an inexcusably bad level. I honestly think that even if he is injured, which I'm with you, I don't think he's moving like a healthy basketball player, because it's not just the lack of burst on ball. And I completely agree with you that his lack of faith in his athleticism is bleeding into everything right now. He doesn't look comfortable doing anything. He doesn't look confident doing anything. It's also in transition defensively right just to complete inability to change direction guarding in space. I mean he's moving like he's in quicksand he's moving like he's in pain. Frankly, I can't understand, though, why Indiana would deny that he's hurt when he would have gotten hurt because in the Olympics he had this leg thing. This certainly seems like a back thing. Why are you trotting your best player out there for the first fifteen games of the season. If he's playing horribly, it's actually hurting your team. They're thirteen points per one hundred possessions worse with him out there. It's only making things worse for him in terms of his confidence, in terms of if this is an injury, his health right, the injury is only going to get slightly worse if you just keep making him play through it when he's struggling this much. And you don't need to be like all in trying to win these games early in the season and you're not. You're not winning these games. You're six and nine. So there's just so much about this situation that is so so weird to me. But he can't create an advantage out there right now, and he looks like he shouldn't be on the floor because he's not helping them win basketball games, So you ask, does it change my perspective on him? If he's healthy, then this shatters my perspective of him. And look, I definitely think that he'll play better, right, he'll shoot better, but he doesn't look like a healthy basketball player. And if this is what he looks like when he is healthy, then I literally have no explanation for it other than maybe the previous injuries weighing on him and just making him a worse athlete. But still, we saw the level that he got to in the playoffs, So I'm definitely not as out on him as some people, right because I believe that his style of offense, his greatest strengths, lead to great team offense, and that is something that is extremely valuable when things are clicking. It's not about him scoring twenty four points per game. Okay, we always knew that he wasn't going to maintain those heights. Now, did I think that he would be somewhere between there and the post hamstring injury version of Halliburton that we saw. Absolutely, I was optimistic that he would be somewhere in the stratosphere of the dude that we saw early last year. And he hasn't been that but he's just a really, really good offensive engine when he's right. And listen, the Pacers are going to have to this thing out. Okay, they don't have options. They traded for Siakam with the understanding that Halle was their guy, that he was a top teny top twenty five player in basketball, that he was a phenomenal offensive engine. He is the reason they felt confident going more all in saying let's raise our ceiling, and all of their subsequent moves right the things that we've talked about, getting more athletic defensively on the perimeter. I really like Andrew and Mhart, but just in this role alongside Halle, I think you need a bigger, more defensive minded athlete in that spot. All those upgrades that they could be looking to make that would make them a more serious playoff team, because we know that this defense is unserious and that's always going to handicap this team's ability to replicate last year's run, which they did in a weaker Eastern Conference and injury ravaged Eastern Conference. All of that stuff is contingent upon Tyres Halliburton being the guy that we have known him to be, and if he's not well, then they're just screwed.

I completely agree. The one thing on the Pacers side that really confuses me, Carson, is I know that Andrew Nemhart has been dealing with a knee injury, so it's harder to replace Halliburton's minutes. But if he is seriously injured, what better team is equipped to deal with an injury to their point guard than the Indiana Pacers.

I completely agree. The one thing on the Pacers side that really confuses me, Carson, is I know that Andrew Nemhart has been dealing with a knee injury, so it's harder to replace Halliburton's minutes. But if he is seriously injured, what better team is equipped to deal with an injury to their point guard than the Indiana Pacers.

I mean, yeah, TJ.

I mean, yeah, TJ.

I would just concede and say, hey, TJ, you're gonna go from playing, you know, twenty some minutes a night to hey, we're going to burn you up. But TJ is really well conditioned. He's one of the most well conditioned point guards in all of basketball. He's a great spot starter, and a lot of other teams he might be starting, like TJ. McConnell's very very good, and I've seen some people say that TJ McConnell's better than him. I mean, well, with the way that TJ. McConnell's and Halliburton are playing right now, it's not that hot of a take, but ohheartedly, I'd obviously rather have Tyrese Halliburton. Yeah, it's confusing, Carson, because if he is hurt, he shouldn't be playing. You should not be running your star player into the ground. You should wait until he's one hundred percent and ready to go. I understand not wanting to get behind the sticks, right. You don't want to get behind and lose a bunch of games early in the schedule and dig yourself a hole that you're gonna have to get out of. But you also have to realize the context of the Eastern Conference. Like even the Philadelphia seventy six ers, who have dug themselves a massive, massive hole to begin this season, I still feel have a great chance to make the playoffs because of how weak the bottom of the conference is. And so even though Indiana has dug themselves a whole, if Halliburton were to come back one hundred percent, then I would expect them to waltz into the playoffs. So it is confusing to me. And if he has hurt, I think this is a fundamental missed up on the Pacers. But like you said, dude, if he's not.

I would just concede and say, hey, TJ, you're gonna go from playing, you know, twenty some minutes a night to hey, we're going to burn you up. But TJ is really well conditioned. He's one of the most well conditioned point guards in all of basketball. He's a great spot starter, and a lot of other teams he might be starting, like TJ. McConnell's very very good, and I've seen some people say that TJ McConnell's better than him. I mean, well, with the way that TJ. McConnell's and Halliburton are playing right now, it's not that hot of a take, but ohheartedly, I'd obviously rather have Tyrese Halliburton. Yeah, it's confusing, Carson, because if he is hurt, he shouldn't be playing. You should not be running your star player into the ground. You should wait until he's one hundred percent and ready to go. I understand not wanting to get behind the sticks, right. You don't want to get behind and lose a bunch of games early in the schedule and dig yourself a hole that you're gonna have to get out of. But you also have to realize the context of the Eastern Conference. Like even the Philadelphia seventy six ers, who have dug themselves a massive, massive hole to begin this season, I still feel have a great chance to make the playoffs because of how weak the bottom of the conference is. And so even though Indiana has dug themselves a whole, if Halliburton were to come back one hundred percent, then I would expect them to waltz into the playoffs. So it is confusing to me. And if he has hurt, I think this is a fundamental missed up on the Pacers. But like you said, dude, if he's not.

Hurt, never see anything like this. If he's not hurt literally.

Hurt, never see anything like this. If he's not hurt literally.

Legitimately, legitimately, it is the most confusing thing I've ever seen.

Legitimately, legitimately, it is the most confusing thing I've ever seen.

Because it's not just like you're talking about some sort of and torrid scoring run. Right, you're talking about All Star two years ago. Okay, extremely efficient, twenty ten guy, really good offensive engine. Then last year, okay, twenty four and ten, you can twenty four and twelve, you can say that wasn't sustainable, But he was doing that on a lite efficiency, leading the number one offense in basketball, and then again even in the playoffs last year led a dominant playoff offense. Himself was giving you like nineteen to eight on great efficiency, like sixty three percent true shooting. And yeah, there were spots where you wanted him to be more aggressive, you wanted him to be more assertive as a scorer. Sure he wasn't perfect, but overall, all of his great strengths came through and they were the driving factor in that Indiana offense being what it was. And the fact that right now he can't churn out good offense individually or for the team, and at times he's just not involved. He doesn't look like he wants to be involved. Like, what explanation is there for that other than health, I don't know. This whole thing is just confounding to me. And even if he is hurt, which I do think he is. That doesn't excuse playing this poorly at some point, like the burden is just on you to not even be out there. I don't know, because this is just a broken basketball player that we're watching right now, and it really sucks. It really sucks to.

Because it's not just like you're talking about some sort of and torrid scoring run. Right, you're talking about All Star two years ago. Okay, extremely efficient, twenty ten guy, really good offensive engine. Then last year, okay, twenty four and ten, you can twenty four and twelve, you can say that wasn't sustainable, But he was doing that on a lite efficiency, leading the number one offense in basketball, and then again even in the playoffs last year led a dominant playoff offense. Himself was giving you like nineteen to eight on great efficiency, like sixty three percent true shooting. And yeah, there were spots where you wanted him to be more aggressive, you wanted him to be more assertive as a scorer. Sure he wasn't perfect, but overall, all of his great strengths came through and they were the driving factor in that Indiana offense being what it was. And the fact that right now he can't churn out good offense individually or for the team, and at times he's just not involved. He doesn't look like he wants to be involved. Like, what explanation is there for that other than health, I don't know. This whole thing is just confounding to me. And even if he is hurt, which I do think he is. That doesn't excuse playing this poorly at some point, like the burden is just on you to not even be out there. I don't know, because this is just a broken basketball player that we're watching right now, and it really sucks. It really sucks to.

Watch it, does. I mean, Ala Burton's been one of my favorite players since he entered the league when he was drafted by Sacramento. He's always had this fundamentally unselfish style of play that I felt leads to great offense. The last thing I'll say on this is that it's it's just weird how bad he is too, like and it's not even just like not even past the box score real like, how he is missing these three point shots. It's like, look, man, I'm not a great NBA player, right, but I'm a good shooter when I when when I miss threes, right, I'm good up. You know I'm hitting inside the rim. I'm gonna be barely off, dude. Halliburton like is missing these with like reight, like not even close precision. Dude, he is missing these threes. It's ridiculous, man, And the shots that he's getting to, like these ugly ass contested floaters in the mid range where he looks like, I don't it's so strange. I just I don't get it. I don't get it. What like he has been, Yeah, he's been comically bad. He has been common bad, dude.

Watch it, does. I mean, Ala Burton's been one of my favorite players since he entered the league when he was drafted by Sacramento. He's always had this fundamentally unselfish style of play that I felt leads to great offense. The last thing I'll say on this is that it's it's just weird how bad he is too, like and it's not even just like not even past the box score real like, how he is missing these three point shots. It's like, look, man, I'm not a great NBA player, right, but I'm a good shooter when I when when I miss threes, right, I'm good up. You know I'm hitting inside the rim. I'm gonna be barely off, dude. Halliburton like is missing these with like reight, like not even close precision. Dude, he is missing these threes. It's ridiculous, man, And the shots that he's getting to, like these ugly ass contested floaters in the mid range where he looks like, I don't it's so strange. I just I don't get it. I don't get it. What like he has been, Yeah, he's been comically bad. He has been common bad, dude.

Some more evidence just for him not being right in his ability to get by people at all. Two years ago, twenty one percent of his shots came inside three feet. Last year that number was sixteen, this year eight point seven percent. He's all one of the most efficient finishes around the rim because right he doesn't force his way all the way to the rim. But I mean he's been capable of getting there, he's not capable of getting there right now.

Some more evidence just for him not being right in his ability to get by people at all. Two years ago, twenty one percent of his shots came inside three feet. Last year that number was sixteen, this year eight point seven percent. He's all one of the most efficient finishes around the rim because right he doesn't force his way all the way to the rim. But I mean he's been capable of getting there, he's not capable of getting there right now.

No, I mean every shot he's taking is a long mid range floater where or three that he's missing, Yeah, exactly. And Doue teams are content right now to just leave Halliburton on an island. They're not picking him up in transition, They're leaving him alone in rotations and it's working. What do you make of the I don't know. I guess we can make any big declarations. But like I've seen people, you know, saying they want LaMelo over the guy that like it's a it's a done story that it's done.

No, I mean every shot he's taking is a long mid range floater where or three that he's missing, Yeah, exactly. And Doue teams are content right now to just leave Halliburton on an island. They're not picking him up in transition, They're leaving him alone in rotations and it's working. What do you make of the I don't know. I guess we can make any big declarations. But like I've seen people, you know, saying they want LaMelo over the guy that like it's a it's a done story that it's done.

I'm not saying it's done. I think it's too weird. I think that absolutely he has to take accountability health or not for playing this poorly, and we can't cover up how ugly it's been. I just don't think he's right. And that's my fundamental take. And the fact that after the hamstring injury, which obviously impacted him last year, we saw him get to the level that he did in the playoffs tells me like, obviously he wasn't permanently altered at that point. He wasn't ruined as a basketball player, he wasn't cooked as a basketball player. What could have happened? Because some people are acting like it's a full year of how he struggling, it's not. He was really good in the playoffs. So now we're talking about fifteen games where he's just been horrible and he doesn't look like he's moving right. To me, that's the biggest factor. But obviously it's concerning. It's very concerning.

I'm not saying it's done. I think it's too weird. I think that absolutely he has to take accountability health or not for playing this poorly, and we can't cover up how ugly it's been. I just don't think he's right. And that's my fundamental take. And the fact that after the hamstring injury, which obviously impacted him last year, we saw him get to the level that he did in the playoffs tells me like, obviously he wasn't permanently altered at that point. He wasn't ruined as a basketball player, he wasn't cooked as a basketball player. What could have happened? Because some people are acting like it's a full year of how he struggling, it's not. He was really good in the playoffs. So now we're talking about fifteen games where he's just been horrible and he doesn't look like he's moving right. To me, that's the biggest factor. But obviously it's concerning. It's very concerning.

And again, if I had to guess, I set a back injury from what we've seen from him in the league, but he also he had an MRI during Team USA's Olympic run. So I don't know if he re injured himself in the Olympics and that's why he didn't play, or if he had something else.

And again, if I had to guess, I set a back injury from what we've seen from him in the league, but he also he had an MRI during Team USA's Olympic run. So I don't know if he re injured himself in the Olympics and that's why he didn't play, or if he had something else.

That well during the Olympics. But you know that was four months ago. Now a thing.

That well during the Olympics. But you know that was four months ago. Now a thing.

I'm just saying, I don't know if it could have compounded itself, right, the hamstring injury, he aggravates it during the Olympics, and then maybe something happened during preseason. I don't know. Like you said, though, dude, I have to think that I have to think he's injured. I just can't imagine that the dis regression would just be from a healthy basketball player. And I think the tape back set up. I feel for the guy, but you're right, I mean, we have to hold him accountable, dude, and if he's not fully healthy, bro, go to the staff, tell him you can't play, like, sit out, wait until you're right, wait until you're confident. You're a detriment to your team.

I'm just saying, I don't know if it could have compounded itself, right, the hamstring injury, he aggravates it during the Olympics, and then maybe something happened during preseason. I don't know. Like you said, though, dude, I have to think that I have to think he's injured. I just can't imagine that the dis regression would just be from a healthy basketball player. And I think the tape back set up. I feel for the guy, but you're right, I mean, we have to hold him accountable, dude, and if he's not fully healthy, bro, go to the staff, tell him you can't play, like, sit out, wait until you're right, wait until you're confident. You're a detriment to your team.

Right now, it's those hotel beds. Man, You've seen the home away splits. He's averaging like twelve points per game on I don't even know what, like twenty eight percent shooting or something on the road. It's absolutely abysmal. But I'm with you, dude. We'll see how this continues to play out, and I'm very hopeful that things get better because if not, if this isn't a health thing, I've literally never seen anything like it. Let's talk about something more positive, Logan, because we've been talking about the health questions with Hallie. Isaiah Hartenstein. Logan just got back. He just got healthy again and had a beautiful debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a win. They finally have a center again, obviously in the absence of Chet. How impressed were you by Hartenstein? How scary do you think he makes? Okay? See, oh my.

Right now, it's those hotel beds. Man, You've seen the home away splits. He's averaging like twelve points per game on I don't even know what, like twenty eight percent shooting or something on the road. It's absolutely abysmal. But I'm with you, dude. We'll see how this continues to play out, and I'm very hopeful that things get better because if not, if this isn't a health thing, I've literally never seen anything like it. Let's talk about something more positive, Logan, because we've been talking about the health questions with Hallie. Isaiah Hartenstein. Logan just got back. He just got healthy again and had a beautiful debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a win. They finally have a center again, obviously in the absence of Chet. How impressed were you by Hartenstein? How scary do you think he makes? Okay? See, oh my.

I mean the Thunder is still gonna be the favorite out West, but Hartenstein takes him up a notch. We're about to have I hope I'm not speaking prematurely. I think we're about to have a Isaiah Hartenstein Clays Fest cars and I love it.

I mean the Thunder is still gonna be the favorite out West, but Hartenstein takes him up a notch. We're about to have I hope I'm not speaking prematurely. I think we're about to have a Isaiah Hartenstein Clays Fest cars and I love it.

Let's do it.

Let's do it.

He's such a winning basketball player. Like I don't know what, because I know you always do the this team has x top one hundred players or this team has actual top seventy five players. But like when we're just talking about winners, like dudes I would want on my basketball team. Isaiah Hartenstein's one of those guys. I just I think he went. He wins you games. Like everything about him. The rebounding. He gives you fourteen boards in this game. He gives you five boards on the offensive glass defense. He racks up four blocks against Portland. Towards the end of this game, he blows up a backdoor lob to Robert Williams, great reaction. He has this huge rejection of delano'banton at the rim. Playmaking from your big man, masterful short role playmaking. He's a beast there. He also has He had these ridiculous two back behind the back passes in this game that don't even end up being assists, but he breaks them out. Those were insane and he's exactly what okayc needs right now. Man Home runs out with a pelvis injury. Jay will Is out with a hamstring injury, like Isaiah Hartenstein is a problem. I know some people said, oh my go in Oklahoma City overpaid this guy. No they didn't. I think this is a great deal of a contract. I think Isaiah Hardenstein is a winner, through and through and after seeing this game, I'm even more confident that not just the talent, I think this is going to be a seamless fit with Cheded Holmgren. I am so excited about how great this defense is going to be. When ched Holgren is back out there. Teams should be very, very afraid of the idea of a Hartenstein Holmgren front court and how dangerous they are going to be at protecting the rim. I think that. I think it's gonna be perfect. Carson. I love Isaiah Hartenstein. I think he is a winner, and he's a guy I won on my team. I'm so excited for Oklahoma City at full strength.

He's such a winning basketball player. Like I don't know what, because I know you always do the this team has x top one hundred players or this team has actual top seventy five players. But like when we're just talking about winners, like dudes I would want on my basketball team. Isaiah Hartenstein's one of those guys. I just I think he went. He wins you games. Like everything about him. The rebounding. He gives you fourteen boards in this game. He gives you five boards on the offensive glass defense. He racks up four blocks against Portland. Towards the end of this game, he blows up a backdoor lob to Robert Williams, great reaction. He has this huge rejection of delano'banton at the rim. Playmaking from your big man, masterful short role playmaking. He's a beast there. He also has He had these ridiculous two back behind the back passes in this game that don't even end up being assists, but he breaks them out. Those were insane and he's exactly what okayc needs right now. Man Home runs out with a pelvis injury. Jay will Is out with a hamstring injury, like Isaiah Hartenstein is a problem. I know some people said, oh my go in Oklahoma City overpaid this guy. No they didn't. I think this is a great deal of a contract. I think Isaiah Hardenstein is a winner, through and through and after seeing this game, I'm even more confident that not just the talent, I think this is going to be a seamless fit with Cheded Holmgren. I am so excited about how great this defense is going to be. When ched Holgren is back out there. Teams should be very, very afraid of the idea of a Hartenstein Holmgren front court and how dangerous they are going to be at protecting the rim. I think that. I think it's gonna be perfect. Carson. I love Isaiah Hartenstein. I think he is a winner, and he's a guy I won on my team. I'm so excited for Oklahoma City at full strength.

I agree. I love Hartenstein and he is exactly what they need and in this game did everything that you would have hoped for. He is the sort of veteran glue guy who yes, brings specifically what they need in terms of size, physicality, his ability to compete on the glass, his ability to have another big hue can play alongside Chet with Chet at the four or non Chet minutes. He brings all of that, but also just like the sort of hustle right, some of the intangible stuff, some of the effort stuff. This game dude. Five deflections from Hartenstein, three loose balls recovered, fourteen rebounds, five of them offensive. He's one of the best offensive rebounders in basketball, and four blocks, and he's involved as a passer right spotting cutters, initiating some actions from the top of the key gives you three assists, and he gets a couple of his push shots to go, and he's active and involved as a cutter around the rim. Offensively, He's just such a do it all impact player. And that is exactly what the OKC thunder prioritized when they went out and they made their moves this offseason. They said, we want a Heartenstein, we want an Alex Caruso, who also I think had a really good game and has been overly criticized this year. Maybe not overly criticized because he's been really bad offensively, but people have big picture taking it way too far where kind of predictably just because of box score watching, people are like, well, actually the won the trade because they got Josh Giddy and he gives you whatever ridiculous meaningless raw numbers he does. And then Caruso has been struggling offensively, but he's gonna play better offensively, right, he was forty one percent from deep on five attempts a night last year, and I'm not saying he's consistently that level shooter, but he's a thirty seven percent career guy. He's a you leave him open, he can knock down enough of them to keep you honest kind of guy usually, and he's just been brutal twenty percent from deep on the year, But he was really good last game offensively. He's gonna keep getting better offensively, and he's still having his winning impact. He's third in deflections per game, that's playing under twenty minutes a night. He's fifth in charge is taken. Players are shooting thirty three percent when guarded by him. That's what you get with these guys. You get versatility, you get defensive impact, you get playmaking, savvy, high IQ offense, you get veteran dudes who make winning impacts in multiple facets. And that's what takes this team up a notch. That along with the natural progression of a JDub, the natural progression of a CHET, this team is just chock full of impact basketball players who compliment each other, and I'm just so excited to see it in full force, and I think that Hartenstein and Chet really are gonna work together.

I agree. I love Hartenstein and he is exactly what they need and in this game did everything that you would have hoped for. He is the sort of veteran glue guy who yes, brings specifically what they need in terms of size, physicality, his ability to compete on the glass, his ability to have another big hue can play alongside Chet with Chet at the four or non Chet minutes. He brings all of that, but also just like the sort of hustle right, some of the intangible stuff, some of the effort stuff. This game dude. Five deflections from Hartenstein, three loose balls recovered, fourteen rebounds, five of them offensive. He's one of the best offensive rebounders in basketball, and four blocks, and he's involved as a passer right spotting cutters, initiating some actions from the top of the key gives you three assists, and he gets a couple of his push shots to go, and he's active and involved as a cutter around the rim. Offensively, He's just such a do it all impact player. And that is exactly what the OKC thunder prioritized when they went out and they made their moves this offseason. They said, we want a Heartenstein, we want an Alex Caruso, who also I think had a really good game and has been overly criticized this year. Maybe not overly criticized because he's been really bad offensively, but people have big picture taking it way too far where kind of predictably just because of box score watching, people are like, well, actually the won the trade because they got Josh Giddy and he gives you whatever ridiculous meaningless raw numbers he does. And then Caruso has been struggling offensively, but he's gonna play better offensively, right, he was forty one percent from deep on five attempts a night last year, and I'm not saying he's consistently that level shooter, but he's a thirty seven percent career guy. He's a you leave him open, he can knock down enough of them to keep you honest kind of guy usually, and he's just been brutal twenty percent from deep on the year, But he was really good last game offensively. He's gonna keep getting better offensively, and he's still having his winning impact. He's third in deflections per game, that's playing under twenty minutes a night. He's fifth in charge is taken. Players are shooting thirty three percent when guarded by him. That's what you get with these guys. You get versatility, you get defensive impact, you get playmaking, savvy, high IQ offense, you get veteran dudes who make winning impacts in multiple facets. And that's what takes this team up a notch. That along with the natural progression of a JDub, the natural progression of a CHET, this team is just chock full of impact basketball players who compliment each other, and I'm just so excited to see it in full force, and I think that Hartenstein and Chet really are gonna work together.

Dude.

Dude.

I think defensively, it's going to be unbelievable having that dual rim protector look with all of the speed and fights they have on the perimeter, all the length they have on the perimeter, both these guys being able to guard relatively well in space, especially Chet, letting Chet rome more and offensively, I think that it'll work. I don't think that it's maybe as potent as like some of their five outlooks with Chet at the five, but I still think Hartenstein is a good offensive player who makes a positive impact, and just having one of those dudes on the floor for forty eight minutes it's massive.

I think defensively, it's going to be unbelievable having that dual rim protector look with all of the speed and fights they have on the perimeter, all the length they have on the perimeter, both these guys being able to guard relatively well in space, especially Chet, letting Chet rome more and offensively, I think that it'll work. I don't think that it's maybe as potent as like some of their five outlooks with Chet at the five, but I still think Hartenstein is a good offensive player who makes a positive impact, and just having one of those dudes on the floor for forty eight minutes it's massive.

Yeah, it is huge. The thing that makes me so mad about people when they talk about like Alex Caruso man, or guys like that, is just defense is never going to fully show up in the box score man, and it is ever literally half of the game, Like Caruso is just never gonna give you back the and I mean he's playing a role. I hate that lack of context. Yes, I would rather have Josh Giddy be a complete liability on defense and not just.

Yeah, it is huge. The thing that makes me so mad about people when they talk about like Alex Caruso man, or guys like that, is just defense is never going to fully show up in the box score man, and it is ever literally half of the game, Like Caruso is just never gonna give you back the and I mean he's playing a role. I hate that lack of context. Yes, I would rather have Josh Giddy be a complete liability on defense and not just.

That Logan he's giving you under twelve points per game, six and six on under fifty percent true shooting. Like, in what world is he even a decent offensive player?

That Logan he's giving you under twelve points per game, six and six on under fifty percent true shooting. Like, in what world is he even a decent offensive player?

Again, it's just bad.

Again, it's just bad.

He just gets more touching.

He just gets more touching.

Caruso is a winner. Caruso is a winner, man, He's gonna do winning stuff. I think the thunder loaded frankly and they are. I'm gonna wait until we see Chet at full strength. But like the the Boston dynamic, the Boston OKC dynamic. Man, it's it's really fascinating. I think they're obviously the two most talented teams in basketball, but I wonder if Hartenstein and Caruso could put this team over the top. They're still young, but they're so freaking talented. Those guys are their full values never gonna show up fully in the box score. Those guys are just home run winners man. The perfect additions that team could have made in the offseason.

Caruso is a winner. Caruso is a winner, man, He's gonna do winning stuff. I think the thunder loaded frankly and they are. I'm gonna wait until we see Chet at full strength. But like the the Boston dynamic, the Boston OKC dynamic. Man, it's it's really fascinating. I think they're obviously the two most talented teams in basketball, but I wonder if Hartenstein and Caruso could put this team over the top. They're still young, but they're so freaking talented. Those guys are their full values never gonna show up fully in the box score. Those guys are just home run winners man. The perfect additions that team could have made in the offseason.

Absolutely, And I should have mentioned the screening that you get from Hertenstein, right, that's something that you've never had from Chet. Chet's always been a slip the screen kind of big. Hartenstein is a grown man, physical, two hundred and fifty pounds, set some real screens for you that frees up ball handlers. I mean, they're just a wonderful contrast to each other as your two big options. And again he's filling in some of those gaps that you do get with Chet as amazing as he is. So okay, see to me, just continues to climb the hierarchy in terms of how clearly they're the best team in the West. Maybe not climb, maybe just maintained. But it's great seeing Hartenstein out there, seeing how good he looked in his debut logan. The twenty twenty one NBA draft class has been making some noise as of late. We have, of course, my beloved Evan Mobley, who has taken elite this season. We have Kate Cunningham, the number one pick, who has taken a bit of a leap in terms of production for a Detroit team that has been much more competitive. We have Franz Wagner stepping up in recent weeks with Paolo out. He just had an unbelievable performance against the Lakers put them away last night, just continuing a hot streak for him. So I thought it'd be fun to look back at that class and do a little redraft if you were redrafting the twenty twenty one class, who would you take number one?

Absolutely, And I should have mentioned the screening that you get from Hertenstein, right, that's something that you've never had from Chet. Chet's always been a slip the screen kind of big. Hartenstein is a grown man, physical, two hundred and fifty pounds, set some real screens for you that frees up ball handlers. I mean, they're just a wonderful contrast to each other as your two big options. And again he's filling in some of those gaps that you do get with Chet as amazing as he is. So okay, see to me, just continues to climb the hierarchy in terms of how clearly they're the best team in the West. Maybe not climb, maybe just maintained. But it's great seeing Hartenstein out there, seeing how good he looked in his debut logan. The twenty twenty one NBA draft class has been making some noise as of late. We have, of course, my beloved Evan Mobley, who has taken elite this season. We have Kate Cunningham, the number one pick, who has taken a bit of a leap in terms of production for a Detroit team that has been much more competitive. We have Franz Wagner stepping up in recent weeks with Paolo out. He just had an unbelievable performance against the Lakers put them away last night, just continuing a hot streak for him. So I thought it'd be fun to look back at that class and do a little redraft if you were redrafting the twenty twenty one class, who would you take number one?

Overall?

Overall?

I'd take Evan Mobley number one.

I'd take Evan Mobley number one.

Goddamn right.

Goddamn right.

I just think I just think with what how Evan Mobley can single handedly transform your defense? I think that's the most valuable thing that you can get out of this bunch. And I know people are going to look at Kid's offensive numbers, and they're gonna look at Franz's offensive numbers, and real quick, before I go deeper into mobiley pause, whoa lucky guy?

I just think I just think with what how Evan Mobley can single handedly transform your defense? I think that's the most valuable thing that you can get out of this bunch. And I know people are going to look at Kid's offensive numbers, and they're gonna look at Franz's offensive numbers, and real quick, before I go deeper into mobiley pause, whoa lucky guy?

Oh my god, where do I sign up?

Oh my god, where do I sign up?

WHOA? Am I crazy for thinking that Jalen Johnson should be top three? That I would maybe take him over Franz? Am I crazy for that?

WHOA? Am I crazy for thinking that Jalen Johnson should be top three? That I would maybe take him over Franz? Am I crazy for that?

These are two of my loves logan, Yeah, guys, and really really high on I think that that's a little bit o d as say. I just think Franz still has a good bit more juice as an on ball score. That's really the difference. And then it's like, yeah, they're both good playmakers, and they're both good versatile defenders, and Jalen Johnson still gets you his nineteen a night, but it's not particularly efficient, right, It's not the sort of on ball creation, especially as a score that you get from Franz. Although Jalen is doing more and more with the ball in his hands, doing more and more as a pick and roll ball handler. I love Jalen Johnson. I still think that Franz is much more capable of doing what he's being asked to do. Right now, Rich is, Hey, we need you to give us twenty five six and six float our offense. Can you do that? Yes, that's very impressive.

These are two of my loves logan, Yeah, guys, and really really high on I think that that's a little bit o d as say. I just think Franz still has a good bit more juice as an on ball score. That's really the difference. And then it's like, yeah, they're both good playmakers, and they're both good versatile defenders, and Jalen Johnson still gets you his nineteen a night, but it's not particularly efficient, right, It's not the sort of on ball creation, especially as a score that you get from Franz. Although Jalen is doing more and more with the ball in his hands, doing more and more as a pick and roll ball handler. I love Jalen Johnson. I still think that Franz is much more capable of doing what he's being asked to do. Right now, Rich is, Hey, we need you to give us twenty five six and six float our offense. Can you do that? Yes, that's very impressive.

Follow up question? Then, okay, justified having Jalen Green below all of those guys.

Follow up question? Then, okay, justified having Jalen Green below all of those guys.

Absolutely. Oh, I don't think it's a conversation.

Absolutely. Oh, I don't think it's a conversation.

Am I crazy for thinking that I would still maybe want Suggs over him just because of the defensive value?

Am I crazy for thinking that I would still maybe want Suggs over him just because of the defensive value?

Not crazy at all, Not crazy at all.

Not crazy at all, Not crazy at all.

I really like I really like Sugs a lot, and I think with how he's been shooting the ball, I think that you know, there's he's not. He doesn't have as many holes, He's not what I thought he was going to be. Draft night, I think I compared Suggs to freaking Derrick Rose.

I really like I really like Sugs a lot, and I think with how he's been shooting the ball, I think that you know, there's he's not. He doesn't have as many holes, He's not what I thought he was going to be. Draft night, I think I compared Suggs to freaking Derrick Rose.

But yeah, I.

But yeah, I.

Really did like Suggs and he's a monster defensive Again, I'm just thinking about in terms of winning impact. That's why Green would fall for me.

Really did like Suggs and he's a monster defensive Again, I'm just thinking about in terms of winning impact. That's why Green would fall for me.

No, I agree, Jalen Green is so talented. We talked about this a little bit and then I had a tweet saying that I was out on him in Houston, and some people got really mad about that. But the dude has so much ability. He was one of the most gifted scoring prospects I've ever evaluated. You watch him and at times you think, Okay, nobody can stay in front of this guy, right, he just shoots past people, and then you watch the shot making off the dribble, the ability that he has, and it is incredible when he's on one, but there's still just a lack of understanding. There is still shot selection that is brutal. The efficiency is brutal, and when everybody around him in Houston is so committed to the defensive end, and Jalen Green's gotten better defensively, right, He's gotten more engaged there, but with his limitations as a playmaker, where he's still well below average, there's just a lot of times around like they're better with him off the floor. I mean, statistically, they're way better with him off the floor this year, and I think that that matches the eye tests when you have a bunch of athletes and dudes who are playing mature connected basketball on both ends, and then you have a dude who is the most talented scorer on the floor but is also making the worst decisions on the floor and is having the lowest level of impact defensively. Because Shnggun also was taking a step up defensively this year. It's just tough man. So yeah, I would rather just have like a bona fide winner, like a Jalen Sucks. I'd rather have Shnggun his teammate over him, who was also in this twenty twelve one. There's some dudes in this draft. There are some dudes. We ever, some Scottie Scott.

No, I agree, Jalen Green is so talented. We talked about this a little bit and then I had a tweet saying that I was out on him in Houston, and some people got really mad about that. But the dude has so much ability. He was one of the most gifted scoring prospects I've ever evaluated. You watch him and at times you think, Okay, nobody can stay in front of this guy, right, he just shoots past people, and then you watch the shot making off the dribble, the ability that he has, and it is incredible when he's on one, but there's still just a lack of understanding. There is still shot selection that is brutal. The efficiency is brutal, and when everybody around him in Houston is so committed to the defensive end, and Jalen Green's gotten better defensively, right, He's gotten more engaged there, but with his limitations as a playmaker, where he's still well below average, there's just a lot of times around like they're better with him off the floor. I mean, statistically, they're way better with him off the floor this year, and I think that that matches the eye tests when you have a bunch of athletes and dudes who are playing mature connected basketball on both ends, and then you have a dude who is the most talented scorer on the floor but is also making the worst decisions on the floor and is having the lowest level of impact defensively. Because Shnggun also was taking a step up defensively this year. It's just tough man. So yeah, I would rather just have like a bona fide winner, like a Jalen Sucks. I'd rather have Shnggun his teammate over him, who was also in this twenty twelve one. There's some dudes in this draft. There are some dudes. We ever, some Scottie Scott.

Scotty's interesting. Scotty I have a love hate relationship with he. He might he would probably be over Jayalen Green too. I do like Scotty's game just well rounded.

Scotty's interesting. Scotty I have a love hate relationship with he. He might he would probably be over Jayalen Green too. I do like Scotty's game just well rounded.

I'm not the biggest fan, but I definitely think he's above Jalen Green. For men.

I'm not the biggest fan, but I definitely think he's above Jalen Green. For men.

The mobiley debate, I just think that I said this last show, I think we're just scratching the surface of what Evan Mobley can do offensively, Like we saw flashes of it. In the playoffs right last year against Boston, when he's taking and confidently shooting threes, and when he's the only big on the floor, he's you know, taking on mismatches and smaller defenders and going up strong with the rock. And now we're seeing him initiate from the perimeter and bring the ball up in transition and being weaponized as a screener and a role man more. And he's doing stuff out of the short role, and he's doing everything everything at a higher level offensively this year, and he looks more confident than every but he gives you such a high baseline defensively, and I think that's one of the most valuable things that you can have. It's like, I don't have to worry about him on that end. He can guard in space almost as great as anybody in the league, and he can defend the rim almost as great as anybody in the league. That's a winning skill set right there in Caid. I think Caid has gotten a little overrated, maybe just because of his raw numbers. And I don't mean that to hate on Caid Cunningham, because what he's been doing this year is very impressive, and I think that Caid has engaged on the defensive end as well, which is impressive, right, That's I think he's got some stuff that he could tap into there. But I think people look at the raw numbers and they go, oh, you know, twenty four points, seven rebounds, nine assists, and then you dive in and it's not that efficient. And he's averaging four and a half turnovers a game, and he's got the ball in his hands a lot, And I don't want to be overly critical. This is a very impressive year from Caid. But when we're getting into the nitty gritty of who would I want more in this draft class, I just think Evan Mobiley impacts winning at a higher level, and that's why I would want him, and I think Caid can reach a higher level. But you've always said this about Cad, and I agree. I don't know if he's ever going to manufacture really good looks at a high level for himself, like great looks, the easy stuff, the easy yeah, the Breton, you know, wide open threes, wide open stuff at the basket. Kid's not a super explosive athlete, so a lot of his is a really tough shot diet, and so I think that's a big component in it. And a lot of this too is just how much I believe in Evan Mobley and how great he is as a basketball player. This isn't shade at Cade. It's just Evan Mobley is that great as a basketball player. And so this has kind of been a time old debate since this draft class started, you know, people have been kind of revisiting this periodically year after year, and for the most part, I have stayed with Cad would be my number one pick, but I would take Mobiley and I wouldn't think twice about it.

The mobiley debate, I just think that I said this last show, I think we're just scratching the surface of what Evan Mobley can do offensively, Like we saw flashes of it. In the playoffs right last year against Boston, when he's taking and confidently shooting threes, and when he's the only big on the floor, he's you know, taking on mismatches and smaller defenders and going up strong with the rock. And now we're seeing him initiate from the perimeter and bring the ball up in transition and being weaponized as a screener and a role man more. And he's doing stuff out of the short role, and he's doing everything everything at a higher level offensively this year, and he looks more confident than every but he gives you such a high baseline defensively, and I think that's one of the most valuable things that you can have. It's like, I don't have to worry about him on that end. He can guard in space almost as great as anybody in the league, and he can defend the rim almost as great as anybody in the league. That's a winning skill set right there in Caid. I think Caid has gotten a little overrated, maybe just because of his raw numbers. And I don't mean that to hate on Caid Cunningham, because what he's been doing this year is very impressive, and I think that Caid has engaged on the defensive end as well, which is impressive, right, That's I think he's got some stuff that he could tap into there. But I think people look at the raw numbers and they go, oh, you know, twenty four points, seven rebounds, nine assists, and then you dive in and it's not that efficient. And he's averaging four and a half turnovers a game, and he's got the ball in his hands a lot, And I don't want to be overly critical. This is a very impressive year from Caid. But when we're getting into the nitty gritty of who would I want more in this draft class, I just think Evan Mobiley impacts winning at a higher level, and that's why I would want him, and I think Caid can reach a higher level. But you've always said this about Cad, and I agree. I don't know if he's ever going to manufacture really good looks at a high level for himself, like great looks, the easy stuff, the easy yeah, the Breton, you know, wide open threes, wide open stuff at the basket. Kid's not a super explosive athlete, so a lot of his is a really tough shot diet, and so I think that's a big component in it. And a lot of this too is just how much I believe in Evan Mobley and how great he is as a basketball player. This isn't shade at Cade. It's just Evan Mobley is that great as a basketball player. And so this has kind of been a time old debate since this draft class started, you know, people have been kind of revisiting this periodically year after year, and for the most part, I have stayed with Cad would be my number one pick, but I would take Mobiley and I wouldn't think twice about it.

I was a Mobiley was the number one prospect in the draft guy. I mean, we've always been as high on Evan Mobley as anybody. And I loved Kid too, by the way, and I really like Jalen Green as a prospect. It was just an awesome draft class at the top up. But I always thought that Mobi just had that superstar skill set within him. And I'm not saying he's a superstar, but I'm saying that he is like a top thirty kind of player right now. And I just think it's kind of like what we were talking about with Caruso, right we underrate defensive players a lot. I don't know if everybody's fully grasped what Evan Mobley is When you're talking about a top five defender on the planet, right, I say, the best combination of pure switchability and rim protection in basketball, where he's elite at both. He's an elite rimp protector and he can really really guard damn good wings as their primary matchup in a way you don't see from any of these other elite rim protecting bigs. Who offensively is giving you eighteen nine and three on sixty four percent through shooting, and is so involved offensively, showing more as a ball handler, showing more as a driver, showing more as a shooter, showing more as a facilitator, showing more in transition. The floor from him is so high because of his defensive impact, and the ceiling is so high with his continued offensive growth. Think about the way that we talk about a bam Autabaio logan right, who's having a brutal offensive season this year, but is a guy who regularly top five defender on the planet, and then offensively, he has his inconsistencies, he has his issues. He might only give you eighteen ten and three and do it with kind of efficiency sometimes, but we still talk about him as a top twenty sort of player, because when you're that level defensively and you're just a good offensive player as a big, I mean, that is such a significant all around impact on winning. And that's the skill set that Evan Mobley has. I mean, I think he has the ability to be a better offensive player than Bam. I legitimately do, but I'm just saying already he's doing that sort of all around star impact stuff. So yes, I would take him. I do really like Cade, but he does have his issues, as you mentioned right, and a lot of it is creating the easy stuff. I mean, he lacks the speed, he does have the strength. He does have the big frame for a six to six guard and he uses that to advantage. And he's really expanded his post game. He's been impressive there. He's improved defensively, which I've always been optimistic about with him. He's always had the tools. Now that we see him on a more serious team defense, he's doing his job. Their players are shooting seven percent below their average when guarded by CAD and he's at least able to get into the paint. He's third in drives per game, and out of that he's able to manufacture some looks for his teammates and he's a really, really good playmaker. Still struggles with the turnovers four point six per game. Got to get that down, and again it's like he's getting into the paint. But then when he's there, he's shooting under fifty three percent in the restricted area. That's a horrible number because a lot of those are tough layups.

I was a Mobiley was the number one prospect in the draft guy. I mean, we've always been as high on Evan Mobley as anybody. And I loved Kid too, by the way, and I really like Jalen Green as a prospect. It was just an awesome draft class at the top up. But I always thought that Mobi just had that superstar skill set within him. And I'm not saying he's a superstar, but I'm saying that he is like a top thirty kind of player right now. And I just think it's kind of like what we were talking about with Caruso, right we underrate defensive players a lot. I don't know if everybody's fully grasped what Evan Mobley is When you're talking about a top five defender on the planet, right, I say, the best combination of pure switchability and rim protection in basketball, where he's elite at both. He's an elite rimp protector and he can really really guard damn good wings as their primary matchup in a way you don't see from any of these other elite rim protecting bigs. Who offensively is giving you eighteen nine and three on sixty four percent through shooting, and is so involved offensively, showing more as a ball handler, showing more as a driver, showing more as a shooter, showing more as a facilitator, showing more in transition. The floor from him is so high because of his defensive impact, and the ceiling is so high with his continued offensive growth. Think about the way that we talk about a bam Autabaio logan right, who's having a brutal offensive season this year, but is a guy who regularly top five defender on the planet, and then offensively, he has his inconsistencies, he has his issues. He might only give you eighteen ten and three and do it with kind of efficiency sometimes, but we still talk about him as a top twenty sort of player, because when you're that level defensively and you're just a good offensive player as a big, I mean, that is such a significant all around impact on winning. And that's the skill set that Evan Mobley has. I mean, I think he has the ability to be a better offensive player than Bam. I legitimately do, but I'm just saying already he's doing that sort of all around star impact stuff. So yes, I would take him. I do really like Cade, but he does have his issues, as you mentioned right, and a lot of it is creating the easy stuff. I mean, he lacks the speed, he does have the strength. He does have the big frame for a six to six guard and he uses that to advantage. And he's really expanded his post game. He's been impressive there. He's improved defensively, which I've always been optimistic about with him. He's always had the tools. Now that we see him on a more serious team defense, he's doing his job. Their players are shooting seven percent below their average when guarded by CAD and he's at least able to get into the paint. He's third in drives per game, and out of that he's able to manufacture some looks for his teammates and he's a really, really good playmaker. Still struggles with the turnovers four point six per game. Got to get that down, and again it's like he's getting into the paint. But then when he's there, he's shooting under fifty three percent in the restricted area. That's a horrible number because a lot of those are tough layups.

Right.

Right.

It's not just oh my god, I've blown by you. I have a clear advantage. Those are contested finishes. That's the thing with Caid. He can raise your floor. It's always a bit labored for him, though. So if I can get a guy who's giving me top five defensive impact in the production and the versaility and efficiency that Mobley is, I take him. And I also think that Franz is close with Kid because Franz is another dude who's plus defender and is a versatile offensive player, and he brings the playmaking and is showing us the on ball juice that we wanted to see from him, and his shot has come back. I think that those two are close. I just think the burden that Kate is able to carry for an offense right, and the playmaking with him is on another level where he can give you nine assists a night. He can be that sort of primary decision maker. I slightly lean on that with him, but it's close between those two. It is Franz oop and Fronz is really good.

It's not just oh my god, I've blown by you. I have a clear advantage. Those are contested finishes. That's the thing with Caid. He can raise your floor. It's always a bit labored for him, though. So if I can get a guy who's giving me top five defensive impact in the production and the versaility and efficiency that Mobley is, I take him. And I also think that Franz is close with Kid because Franz is another dude who's plus defender and is a versatile offensive player, and he brings the playmaking and is showing us the on ball juice that we wanted to see from him, and his shot has come back. I think that those two are close. I just think the burden that Kate is able to carry for an offense right, and the playmaking with him is on another level where he can give you nine assists a night. He can be that sort of primary decision maker. I slightly lean on that with him, but it's close between those two. It is Franz oop and Fronz is really good.

This is in a side. But I just thought about this. Kaminga was also really highly touted in this class too, right, Yeah, do you think in a redraft would you take Kaminga over a guy like Trey Murphy? No?

This is in a side. But I just thought about this. Kaminga was also really highly touted in this class too, right, Yeah, do you think in a redraft would you take Kaminga over a guy like Trey Murphy? No?

Do you know what's crazy? My friend Carvillho you know, texted me that question several weeks ago. Or he was just like, who would you rather have on your team? Trey Murph? You or Kaminga. And at first I was kind of thinking, what depends on the situation. If I'm really like in a rebuilding spot and I've got time to really develop the talent, then maybe I would take Kaminga because of the athletic ceiling. But then I thought about it some more and I'm like, no, I think I'd just rather take elite elite shooting and plus defense with Trey than Kaminga, who still has so much to figure out that. I'm not sure that he's going to because he's not trending in the right direction with the defense and the playmaking and the shooting and all that stuff. So I would take Trey. I really like Trey though.

Do you know what's crazy? My friend Carvillho you know, texted me that question several weeks ago. Or he was just like, who would you rather have on your team? Trey Murph? You or Kaminga. And at first I was kind of thinking, what depends on the situation. If I'm really like in a rebuilding spot and I've got time to really develop the talent, then maybe I would take Kaminga because of the athletic ceiling. But then I thought about it some more and I'm like, no, I think I'd just rather take elite elite shooting and plus defense with Trey than Kaminga, who still has so much to figure out that. I'm not sure that he's going to because he's not trending in the right direction with the defense and the playmaking and the shooting and all that stuff. So I would take Trey. I really like Trey though.

Would you rather have Herb Jones or Jonathan Kamena.

Would you rather have Herb Jones or Jonathan Kamena.

We're just doing the Pelicans both in this draft. I'd rather have Herb. I'd rather have all world defense. I think capable offense.

We're just doing the Pelicans both in this draft. I'd rather have Herb. I'd rather have all world defense. I think capable offense.

I think I agree.

I think I agree.

Yeah, it's a good draft, dude. There's some dudes in this draft, dude, for you. Yep, Duke gets in there. Would Shangoon, would it be Scottie?

Yeah, it's a good draft, dude. There's some dudes in this draft, dude, for you. Yep, Duke gets in there. Would Shangoon, would it be Scottie?

I would go MOBILEI Kade Franz, and I really like Jayalen Johnson. Man, I'm debating Johnson. I'm debating Jalen, Scottie, and Sengoon right now. I think I'd take I think i'd take Scotti and then Jalen Johnson, and then I might I might take Suggs over Sengoon, And that might seem crazy just because of Sengoon's offensive game, but I really like Suggs as a defender. Man, He's a He's a really good defensive playmaker.

I would go MOBILEI Kade Franz, and I really like Jayalen Johnson. Man, I'm debating Johnson. I'm debating Jalen, Scottie, and Sengoon right now. I think I'd take I think i'd take Scotti and then Jalen Johnson, and then I might I might take Suggs over Sengoon, And that might seem crazy just because of Sengoon's offensive game, but I really like Suggs as a defender. Man, He's a He's a really good defensive playmaker.

I would take Shangun has impressed me this year.

I would take Shangun has impressed me this year.

I just wish he'd shave his head.

I just wish he'd shave his head.

Real Shangun is taking a step up defensively though, and I don't think we can ignore that because with his argument, and that's.

Real Shangun is taking a step up defensively though, and I don't think we can ignore that because with his argument, and that's.

What we always said about Sengoon is like he was never a bad rim protectory in theory, could jump out of the gym right head, you know, relative to to most bigs that play like him, but good vertical, you know, strong guy. I always thought that he could be a better rim protector, but he is realizing it this year. Now that he is a cape. You know, he's always been a capable offensive guy, he does have more value.

What we always said about Sengoon is like he was never a bad rim protectory in theory, could jump out of the gym right head, you know, relative to to most bigs that play like him, but good vertical, you know, strong guy. I always thought that he could be a better rim protector, but he is realizing it this year. Now that he is a cape. You know, he's always been a capable offensive guy, he does have more value.

I wasn't as optimistic about his defense. I thought he'd be like maybe a Sabonus level defender. You're right, he's a better athlete, but we just hadn't seen it like we have this year. He's solid too, absolutely. I mean he's in the culture. He's in the culture, and I think he's gotten smarter defensively, so when he can be the center on an elite defense, right and he's certainly not the best defensive player in Houston, but he's also certainly not holding them back. And then even though I think there are some people who are higher on his offense than me, because his offense can be so fun, right with the post footwork and with the playmaking. That stuff is so fun. But you know, he's never really been a very efficient scorer, which I think might surprise some people. And he does lack the floor spacing right, and he does lack the high end athleticism. Like I haven't been as high on him as an offensive hub as some people, but he's a really skilled offensive player and if he can be a solid, very solid defender to pair with that, it's just a really really good basketball player. That's not a guy where I'm as concerned with, like, Okay, do I want to orient my team around him? And I think this season he's he's moved me there because of the improvement that we've seen defensively.

I wasn't as optimistic about his defense. I thought he'd be like maybe a Sabonus level defender. You're right, he's a better athlete, but we just hadn't seen it like we have this year. He's solid too, absolutely. I mean he's in the culture. He's in the culture, and I think he's gotten smarter defensively, so when he can be the center on an elite defense, right and he's certainly not the best defensive player in Houston, but he's also certainly not holding them back. And then even though I think there are some people who are higher on his offense than me, because his offense can be so fun, right with the post footwork and with the playmaking. That stuff is so fun. But you know, he's never really been a very efficient scorer, which I think might surprise some people. And he does lack the floor spacing right, and he does lack the high end athleticism. Like I haven't been as high on him as an offensive hub as some people, but he's a really skilled offensive player and if he can be a solid, very solid defender to pair with that, it's just a really really good basketball player. That's not a guy where I'm as concerned with, like, Okay, do I want to orient my team around him? And I think this season he's he's moved me there because of the improvement that we've seen defensively.

Yeah, Sengune's rising for me. His teammate Jayleen Green just just frustrated to me, though, man, and that's why he's not in this team.

Yeah, Sengune's rising for me. His teammate Jayleen Green just just frustrated to me, though, man, and that's why he's not in this team.

I agree, But I want to say real quick, sometimes I've lumped them together just in terms of saying, like, those guys are the faces of this team. Earlier this year, I said this a handful of games into the season and I was like, well, really, it's what they're doing defensively, it's what their athletes are doing. And I still think that's true to some extent. But I also think that some of the questions I had about Shngoon have been answered, whereas the questions that have always had about Jayen Green have not. They haven't gotten better at all.