Welcome to the State of the Lakers podcast. This is another special edition recording of our locker room chat from after the Mavericks Lakers game on Thursday night. We had kind of almost two hours that we went on that locker room chat, and so I split it into two and this is the second half where we allowed all of you guys the listeners to come in and uh and to talk some hoops with us for a little while.
We had a bunch of you guys. We still had Jason Maples, and we also had our friend Rouge from UM from Houston Rockets Twitter who came to hang out. We talked about a bunch of basketball for almost an hour. I wanted to make sure that you guys had access to that for those of you who weren't able to be with us in the room on the Thursday night. So I hope you guys enjoy it. As always, I really appreciate you guys support and I hope you have a good rest of your weekend. What do you think
of a d today? Would you do you think it is? So? Yeah? I mean I knew he was gonna struggle, especially on the offensive, and the one thing I wanted to look forward today is just see how mobile he was and you look pretty look pretty spry out there, which is really good to see. Um, I mean, and I wanted to see, like I knew he was gonna fall. He just loves falling down to the ground, so I wanted to see how he'd react any time you would fall
or whatever. And you look fine. I think one time you fell, you like immediately got out before anyone can come help him, which is probably he's probably thinking, oh, I don't want the fans to think I'm hurt or whatever. But but what I wanted to ask you guys, is that, obviously, with a D slowly ramping up, what are some of the things that we should be looking out for as
he slowly open up. Some things I'm looking out for is I want to see more pick and roll between Dennis and a D because I think they'll be importnt come playoffs toime when Lebron gets his rest. But what about what about you guys, Jason, We've got you Maple's
we've got you back awesome. Sorry yeah, yeah no. So basically I wanted to make sure we could get other people in the room to join us, and I tried to reset the room, and of course I closed it, but I have the ability to basically just cut and paste this onto the end of the other the other one for the podcast form, but I wanted to make sure that we actually took advantage of what the platform
does and give other people a chance to talk. Absolutely all good, Yeah, So all my Amar question was what else should we look out for as a D starts to ramp up here? He said, more shrewter, adi pick and rolls. What else should we look for here, Maples, as a D starts to start to ramp up his minutes? Uh, just hipical to the basket man. It's just what I'm
looking for. It's gonna be tough to take the roles with him and dentist with a D because this is not any spacing, so the role option is not going to be as as a fluid as would be what he's after five. So I don't know about that, but just I think health man, he'd being just the burst that we're used to seeing. The Anthony Davis is its longest, that's there. I think the skill of the resident will
catch up eventually because he's just uber talented. Do you guys feel like his release is different than it was back in the bubble. Uh. I don't know. I got to pay more attention. I'm just more so, how's gonna been his paying attention to how he was moving. He looked a little slimmer, which is the big plus. I noticed that too, man, Yeah, he looks in ship earlier this season. Right, Yeah, it's jump He looked a little bit more slower on his jump shot. But I think
that will come with you. Watch if you watch the video of him in the bubble, man, that thing is like coming out hot and confident and all all this year. For like a couple of months, he's looked a little bit different. It seems like, Yeah, it looked like a set shot tonight, right, a little bit more definitely, Yeah, I think so maybe I'll come with conditioning. I think it was probably the first time you've running up and down the floor. He looked like he hasn't played in
ten months. You got a nice he got a nice offseason. Let's see here, let's bring someone that that that I've missed thirty games. Uh that that graphic they put out at the start of the game, Like thirty games is a long time, Like that sounds like a suspension you get for punching a fan. All right, let's see George. Are you there? Yeah? Can you guys hear me? Yeah? I can. What's up, George? What's up? Guys? Um A question I have? We haven't seen any minutes of Tre's
and Mark. Do you guys think you could see that maybe the postseason? I know Maple's team sa I want to see it. I think it could work out well, you know, Mark spaces the floor and Trust can go to work inside. And we haven't seen it, and I'm kind of disappointed by it. Man, I've been praying for it, to be honest, but it's been like they've had zero minutes together this season. It might. I mean, Bogel is the only reason I pushed for is because Bogel said
he would do it, and he just never did. I thought I thought the other game, he's the other game that they had. I think a dye was out and they had Gasol and Treads, but then Treads got I think Gasol got her, Treads got thrown out. It was the Wizards an out wizard. I forgot who was Toronto? Was the Sixers? Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, with Tread's got thrown out in the in the first quarter, so I would like to see it. What do you guys think you'd like to see some Gasol and treads
minutes together? Yes, yes, the team gasol. He's to me, he's still the best center on the roster. I understand a D, but I think the Saw is gonna play in a big series just to keep it forth faced. So that's where you know, when it happens, I'll be waving my T shirt. Baby. Also, why not try it now? Now is the time to try it. You're you're roughly a five slightly below five hundred team without LEBRONI a D.
You're struggling with offensive creation. You know, Roger and I talked about this a lot last week, like at this point, you gotta be throwing stuff at the wall to see what sticks, you know what I mean, right, And I mean I know he's been he has that hammy injury now, but I just felt like, especially with the fin front court we had, you know, Keith was missing games, a D was obviously out, it just felt smart to use him, and then he almost m Pete and in that one game,
I thought I thought they were been like five out. So I'm I was freaking out. Now they were never going to buy out the Saw. I don't think that was ever coming close it, but I feel like it's it was pretty clear that like he was going to get drum in a bunch of minutes right now. I think Microsol came in late into one of the games and it was because they were playing so terrible. I
forgot which game it was that he came into. Yeah, he did, but it seems like it was pretty clear that them two had a conversation and he told Mark, Look, you're probably not gonna play for for these next few games. We're gonna get a big look at Drummond, and then Traid is going to get the minutes. And I think as we get closer to the playoffs, as Lebron gets back,
he gets back to his self. I think you'll see Gasol back in the rotation and then the playoffs will will be kind of pick and choose who he plays like he did last year. I look at the first Nuggets game when when a d didn't get hurt. Man, look watch how gas defend. It just doesn't get any better than that. Man. That guy's gotta play with what the chips are doing I think a good job on
and beat as well. Exactly. I think in that first game and what I'm saying, yeah, yeah, yeah, And I mean it looks like we're on track to play them in the first round. I'd rather have Gasol guarding him over Drummond and Spurts. I mean, he could be used as like you know that some fouls if someone gets in foul trouble, But I'd rather have Mark in that
first one. Magical, I agree, but I expect Frank to Frey's not going to keep that in the whole strup Yeah, Like like Frank is gonna throw throw us all at at Yoka if he's going off for surely. I cannot overstate how much, uh you know, I talked with Roger about this a lot in our last podcast. Like Denver becomes so I don't want to say they're easy to guard, because they're not, but Denver becomes so much easier to
guard without the Murray problem. And uh and like they become like I legitimately think Denver was the second best team in the West before he went down. I thought they were. I thought they were bona fide better than the Clippers. Like and if they would have matched up against the Clippers, I would have picked the Nuggets and
it would have been like one of my most confident picks. Ever, I thought they were clearly and definitively better than the Clippers, and I and that that that that Murray lost just completely threw off the map of the way their offense works. Now the Lakers are gonna be able to load up on yoga in a way that's going to make inferior basketball players make play. Yeah, I don't. I don't know. Maybe in a couple of years, but I don't see him p J covering the slack yet, even though I
think he's on that track eventually. He's playing out of his mind lately, so maybe one day, but not that. Now they're calling him like six ten Clay. Even your fans. You see how he's shooting the ball is crazy, Mason, what's up here? Are you here? What's up? Guys? I can hear you, guys. How's it going? Good man? Thanks for hopping in with this. Of course, I am so terrified about Drummond, like his commination of a low bass. Like you, he still thinks he's a Max contract guy.
He's super slow and out of shape. Like, I guess he rebounds well, but his rain protection is not even great. I mean, I just think that because Soul's way better fit next day. You know, he's a high bass like you could pick up the energy in the playoffs, you could start rebounding defending better. I just really think he made a mistake and jump the gun. This I'm in signing and promise in the world. So I think he's the one thing that's you know, stands away for must
in championship, believe it or not, his Drummond. So what do you think about that. I'm not gonna go that far as far as getting the way of the championship. You got They got him for nothing, right, so why do I have to get a center who was somewhat athletic. They got him for nothing. There was a buyout, so I think it's a good gamble. The issue is like for always me, I was never an anti Drummond because the cost was nothing and said, hey, just see what happens.
But if for me, it should not have taken Mark out of the rotation, especially with no Lebron. Now without Lebron, he's the best passing of the team. So it's like you gotta find at least, you know, champion hip team minutes the game for him as long as Lebron and A D you know aren't there. So that was my concern, But now I'm not gonna say derail championship. He has tools that he brings to the table, Like tonight he
rebounded really well, he was real fee. He got us a whole bunch of possessions that led out to some a CP kick out threes. So like he got he got good Lakers extra points and possessions. It's just the finishing is a legitimate issue. The picking all defense is legitimate issue. But you know, we'll see what happens. Crosses
vengas Man Mark's gonna play with. I think I think Jeroman has the worst hand eye coordination I've ever seen on a human being, because I swear like he does work on that stuff, like you see him going with Bill Handy in doing all the moves and stuff. Like he's the opposite of Steph Curry in the sense that like they're legitimate, like like physiological things in him that stop him from being able to make shots and moves. I swear if he puts the ball on the floor,
it's an automatic like fumble. Yeah, I feel like we should look at Drummond moras like we look at him as a Dwight replacement, But he reminds me more of like Javail right, I think we have short memories to forget that and forget that we forget that javl started every game last year, and how frustrating some of his like faked the handoff drive from three point line, like throw the ball up and like there's nothing really there like he and and Drummond has a lot of that.
Drummond tries to do like Kyrie handles and get to the room and finished, when like, dude, you're a big dude, just go right through them. So like he reminds me of that. And again, these will get even less with a d here, and those suggestions will get even less with Lebron there. So um, again, he was four for like seven tonight. I know those misses are loud, like he was a plus he was he was. It was like he was a plus fifteen before the game ended,
which was a Laker high. So it's just like sometimes the eyes don't really match because his game, his misses are so loud and his mess ups are so loud, but like he is being productive. I feel like so I would look at him more in the Javail kind of role, where Market is like the Dwight, really veteran guy who's been a defensive Player of the year kind
of guy. Right, you put Mark into the Dwight role in the playoffs, that's the guy will get minutes my opinion, Mason, I appreciate you, uh coming on and talking to get someone else up here. Yeah, thanks, man, appreciate. Let's see here, Ryan, what's up? What's are you doing? My question is, say all hell breaks loose in the East, right, and the seventies sixers somehow beat the nuts. How do you guys think the Lakers match up with the seventy six ers.
It will happen. It will happen. I actually like that matchup for the Lakers. I think I think the Laker defense. I've talked about this a lot over the last two years. I've done it with in pods, with Jason Maples and with Raj and I think I think the Lakers have one of the best defenses of all time. And I think ironically they kind of build up with reputation as a team that can their effort can fade in and out.
But I think they're one of the best defenses of all time, and I think that teams like the Sixers that have some weaknesses offensively with their decision making and their uh and and beads. Biggest weakness is his ability to pass out of double teams. Is like he ever want assist the game in his last playoff series, he is. He's the player that the Lakers are gonna find a way to make him make adjustments in a playoff series,
and I don't think he'd be able to. If you watch that fourth quarter when the Lakers almost one in Philly, uh and be killed them all night. But late in the game there was a lot of digging from Schroeder and digging from KCP that made him feel uncomfortable, and then a lot of times flat out doubles and then really tight rotations on the back end, and a D even an individual defense when he actually gave him a little bit of space instead of getting attached to his
body which is actually playing directly into Mbat's hands. A D did a really nice shot on him down the stretch of that game too, and I just and then throwing the frank adjustments that he's gonna be able to make. Like I I think, I think the Lakers are are built for that type of matchup. Personally, Yeah, I got the Lakers is six if that happens. Uh, Like I said, I just I think, yeah, you know, I picked Philly
to come out the East. But Frank does a good great job of, you know, make in your weakest points, you know, stick out. I think he's just really gonna make Ben a score. You know, I don't know if he's gonna be able to do that. Yeah, yeah, for sure. And Philly is a team that can kind of one of the few teams in the league that can kind of match the Lakers physicality, right, and Beads are really physical dude. Ben Simmons is a super physical dude, especially
at the guard position. Um, he's he They really hunted. They really hunted like Shrewder with Ben Simmons in that first matchup, that's gonna be in trouble. They're gonna do the same thing like k CP. So that's my struggle with Philly. I think they're really good. I agree with you, I think the Lakers probably win. That's also a tough matchup to me. I just think I beat is a tough guy. Even the Lakers are probably trapped and make him try to create out of double teams more. Um,
that's still that's still a really fun matchup. Um, are you guys worried at all that the ability that Philly you can just throw two special defenders at the Lakers two best players like debility, throw Simmons on Lebron and m ideas. I'm not wor I'm not worried about Lebron being stopped in the playoff series. Just yeah, it hasn't happened so long. I think the last the last series he was legitimately bad was two thousand left in the NBA Finals. Like after that, like if he got beat,
the team was just better. He was still special. So that doesn't concern Like Lebron James would not be the reason the Lakers losing my opinion, if if they do lose,
that's That's what I'm saying. Yeah, and not only that, Like since basically two thousand and fifteen and the Finals when his efficiency tanked, there hasn't even been a team that's made him like uncomfortable, Like you you can put him down for plus from the field thirty five plus percent from three right around twenty eight to thirty points and you know nine and nine or whatever. Uh that like I agree, like in in a d has legitimate
advantages over and beat. He's he's got quick he's got a quickness advantage and uh uh and beat uh you have the ability to pull and beat out of the pain. This is another thing where Dennis is such a huge advantage because you know, Dennis legitimately is a great matchup attacker. And if you have a situation where Ben Simmons is giving Lebron some problems and a d s not attacking him bid, but he's pulling him out of the paint.
That gives That gives Dennis a chance. You know, maybe it's Seth Curry whoever it is that he's on, but I dentist just gives you a little bit more versatility to attack them as well. Yeah, for sure, Ryan, appreciate you get thanks Ran okay, And then I think we have one more ruge? Ruge? What's going on? What's the deal? Baby? I was listening having some fun because uh, I come in peace from Rockets Twitter and we suck. So what's up? Man? I figured I'd check in and see what the Lakers
are up to. Man up chilling, Um. I just wanted to drop in man and say two things. I think Jason and Jason and Jason actually both of you nailed it. Um. Number One, the defense is too good. So all of this, all this stuff we're talking about, you that you're talking about, how does Drummond fit all this other stuff? If and when Lebron James comes back, none of none of that
ship is gonna matter. First of all, offensively, like I mean, like you're just talking about, he hasn't even been slowed down in what half a decade maybe more, um, And I think people forget that. And obviously you have the pieces around him that you all know, a guy like Schroeder, if like, in order to slow Lebron down, it requires a tremendous amount of attention, and a guy like Schroeder is gonna eat off of, you know, being on an
island against whoever is guarding him. Um. And in addition to that, man, even if things don't click on offense, the defense is just too damn good, you know. I think a guy like Gassoul is gonna slide right back into place with Lebron's return, and if he doesn't. I think Drummond's overrated defensively to some extent, but he's still gonna plug in like it's it's just gonna click. I don't.
The only trouble I see potentially for the Lakers in the Western Conference is if you're not at full hell and you slide to the six and you face the Clippers in the first round while you're not at full health. Um, and even then, I still would put my money on Lebron James. Yeah, I agree. I guess I have a question because if you watched the Lakers, I guess up close right when you played they played the Rockets last
year and then Guy's one. You guys won Game one, At what point like in that series, did you kind of realize like, hey, this is not going to happen, Like there was a point right where the Lakers kind of figured out Houston, I guess. And do you say, like game three, I guess is when you kind of saw that just from the Lakes prospected that was my perspective. Did you feel that same way as a Houston fan
kind of like in like Game three? Yeah, I mean, look, I remember previewing that series with Sku Smith's rest in peace, and we talked about you know, I was, I was all in on Okay, look, man, the small ball works. We spread the Lakers out, like, you know, once we're able to take advantage of those individual matchups, we can really give them trouble. And after game one, now the
caveat is I never bet against Lebron James. Lebron James terrifies me when I'm playing again when your team is playing against him, right, obviously, Um, but after game one, man, I felt good, and then after game two I started getting shaky. And then once you go down to one to Lebron, like, it's trouble. Right. Part of that, though, had to do with the fact that, uh, you know, I was extremely critical of Mike D'Antoni and I still think.
I don't think the Rockets would have won, but I think they could have competed a little better had they adjusted better. Um, but he doesn't adjust, you know, he just kind of runs like the base offense that he runs and and leaves it up to like read and react place. And part of that is Frank Vogel is pretty damn good. I don't know, I'm sure Lakers fans
love him. I don't know what he's how he's thought of at large, but um in terms of adjustments, in terms of like pushing the right buttons, I would put a lot of faith in Frank vogel Um. You know, especially you know Jamal Murray's out the one team I think, like I said, I think you could run in some trouble with the Clippers in the first round. I would
also I'm also really really interested to see Phoenix. I think Phoenix might be interesting, but I don't think there's anyone good enough to take the Lakers down, not even Utah. You know, Utah is going to be one of those teams that, like, they look good and crisp right now, when they're moving the ball, all that stuff looks great.
But when a defense schemes specifically to put I think Jason timp earlier, you were saying, you know, in a series, once you force inferior players to Joel Embiid make plays similar right in Utah, once you force their like they're lesser players to make those big plays and hit those big shots, I don't think it's gonna happen personally, so, but I mean to answer your question, Yeah, game three, once we went down to one. You know, once we went down to one, I was like, all right, it's
a rap. And then House was out and I was like, Okay, that's definitely a rap. He is he is an adjustment, a type of player, and that that is something that I think is is a weapon. We always like make holes and I did a pod last year. And remember we used to talk this was during that playoff roun. We used to joke that when the role players played well,
the Lakers would beat the ship out of you. And then when they put when when they played okay, they went by fifteen, and when they played bad, they'd barely win. And it was because and it was because like they they they won with their defense and whatever they got out of everybody. It was just kind of like, how bad are we beating you tonight? And there towards the end,
I thought they hadn't figured out so well. I was the guy who got in trouble for this because people thought I was, you know, shooting on Jimmy Butler, which is not what I was trying to do. I was just talking about the Lakers. But I'd be like yelling from I'm I'm yelling from the mountain top I'm like, they're not trying to I guys, They're like, no, Jimmy's going for forty. I'm like, no, no no, no, they're literally
not trying. I could tell. I could see it, you know, And then uh, Pete a Pete from Lake a Field Room saved us all by putting out a thread showing what I was talking about. But like, literally, like the Lakers, they were so dumb in it there at the end defensively that they would have nights where they wouldn't bring it and they would end up in these dog fights
and they'd lose a couple of them. But I thought, you know, people attributed it to fatigue, but what they did to Miami in game one in Game six of that series should like literally should be illegal, like as they absolutely and completely shut them off in the first half of both of those games, like to the point where they like, you know, what it reminded me of is like when you watch a one seed play a sixteen seed in the n C Double A tournament and
their guards just aren't getting any separation and all of those, like all the things they were able to do in their little conference play just isn't working anymore. And then it's like in the deficit is like thirteen to two, but it feels like it's a forty point game like that. That's that's what it feel felt like for me to watch that Laker defense, like and then then they get a big lead, and then they let their foot off the gas and you know, the game would end however
it would end. But I think they're I think that it's literally that good. And it all is on the strength Anthony Davis being you know, the transcended defensive player that he is, uh, and then Lebron being his versatile battle like Lebron's kind of turn transition to being like kind of a back line communicator, got the type of guy saying yeah, exactly and and and which where it
can use his brain to blow up plays. Um. And then they just have these ridiculous ball pressure guards all over the place that they can rotate in and out. They got like six of them now, so they can rotate him in and out. And it's just like this incessant line of crazy ball pressure funneling you into the craziest defensive back line in the league. And I think
I think that makes him really tough to be. I mean, look on the other hand, so you know, when the Rockets were relevant, a lot of Rockets fans would talk offense, offense, offense. You know, if we can do X y Z on offense, how does Russell Westbrook fit on offense? But at the end of the day, they couldn't defend, you know, and we we always focus on offense because we love offense and whatever the funk. But at the end of the day, like I said, the Lakers defense is gonna be too good.
So in those games where the role players aren't on and if Anthony Davis isn't being Anthony Davis there, like you said, they're still gonna be in the game. When the role players are on and a d is on fire, they're gonna thump people. Assuming Lebron is back. I see people talking on Twitter like, oh, this is the most wide open, you know, playoff race in a long time. And I'm just like, how do y'all do this every year?
Every year? How do we forget? Like it's like it's Lebron man and he's known tim f you uh, you alluded to this. He's known for flipping the switch, man. I mean, he's like he's put the blueprint in the template forward, like when it's time to play, they flipped a switch, and they might not even do it from the beginning of the game. They might wait till the third quarter, they might wait till the fourth quarter. But
when they flipped the switch, it's on. And the other thing is this year, like last year, you know, there were players that you could call unproven as far as like a postseason run goes right. I didn't think Mark Keip Morris was going to do with Mark Kiep Morris did, but he did k c P like earned his worth certified stamps Caruso, you know. And then now you have a guy like Schroeder, who I think will sufficiently replace Rondo, super super potent in the in the playoffs. I mean
he killed the rockets. Um you have I mean there's trust in th h T. And then you gott I got like Montrese Harrold. I know he's kind of been up and down, but like all you need is, you know, a four minute spur from those types of guys to like save a either make a run or to you know, buy some time when Lebron's on the bench, and then the rest is gravy. So you know, I think the Lakers are winning it all unless someone's hurt um And
I just think it's funny to see. It's kind of like what we did with the Spurs, right every year they're too old, This is the year they're too old, you know. And then no, that was not the case. They would go and win at all, you know what I mean. So, yeah, there was another game this year. I don't know if you guys remember this, Maple's raj h. It was the last time they played Denver when Lebron
and ay b were both healthy. And then it was kind of close and competitive until about the middle of the third quarter, and then the Lakers kind of clipped the switch and Denver suddenly could Denver suddenly couldn't score, you know, was the game was putting clamps. Yeah, like Denver, Denver could not score, They could not score the basketball. Yeah like yeah. And then the same thing happened in the playoffs. If you guys remember the game they lost again.
They blew the one that Jamal Murray did the Jimmy dance down the court. Uh, the one Rondo just was like, I'm gonna take the ball away from Javal Murray every time he crosses that court. Now like like it was. It was. It was pretty ridiculous like that. They're just they have these defensive ceiling moments that I don't think any other team can hit. And then I think that's they're one of their many calls and one of their
many calling cards. And they're just so versatile, dude, Like they like gasol will help you match up with literally the top four seeds in the West got eighten Zubots. If you run into Nurkics, he can cover you there too, you know, and like you got Drummond, you got We already talked about the Wings like they're just so versatile, you know. Let me ask you this, Maples, let me ask you this. How do you think you match up with the Nets? Are you afraid of the Nets? Assuming
that they're healthy? No, I don't think. I said this several times. The Nets are not my favorite until next I only think they're coming out of the East. I just think seven games together, that's just too much to overcome. You got new coach injuries. I think somebody said something Katie hasn't played six games in a row like four years or something like that. It was like crazy, So there's there's serious health considerations. You got a rookie coach,
you know, j Anthony isn't known for adjusting. I just I don't see it. But next year, when they retool, they'll be my prohibitive favor to win it all. But this year, I just I can't see it. With seven games played with your three man guys hardening Katie are going to be dealing with some type of helping all the way through. I just I don't see him going
to the finals. But if they do get there, then that's the lakers toughest assignment defensively, But they are the NBA team best equips to defend the nets in my opinion,
So can you elaborate on that. I just think the Lakers they're they're switchable one or one through four pretty much, and even like if you put a d at the five, he can blow up pretty much any pick and roll because he's able to switch on anybody that the nets half, maybe except for Kyrie, but I don't mind that because if Kyrie has a ball, that's less James Harden, and
James Harden is our best decision maker. So I'm not, you know, tripping off that, but I just think they're the best team as far as defending the Nets skills, but I'd like feeling to come out to the East this year. This is the year. I think people are also sleeping on Milwaukee. By the way, I agree with what I said, what that's a good point. What I said was you got us is different this year and Drew how upgrading blessings you holiday? Oh my god, that's
I can't even. I also think they're gonna get some I think they're gonna get some big play out of some random bench guys bring forward shooting off the bench. I think Bobby Porters might have a big game or two in the playoffs. People kind of sleeping on that he makes and bigger. I mean, he can make some terrible decisions and play some bad basketball, but he's the kind of guy that I think he's going to be
a gamer. So I think people are I think the fatigue of like Janice, you know right, they're basically the fatigue has settled in. And it's funny because I spent a lot of time trashing honest because obviously I'm a Rockets fan. Um, but I think ironically enough people are sleeping on him this year because of the fatigue. I think that's good for them, though I would rather be coming from their position. They can't play. They play Lopez
too much in Marquee matchups. Yeah, he's been bad this year. Yeah, he played too much the five. Yeah, they're running a lot more of that. They go to Drew Holiday nice picking roll at the end of games now, which is really nice. I feel like it really gets them, gets them going. Devincenzo. I feel like took a step up. But yeah, like they ran to the East before. Right there, they're kind of in the Paul George room to me, right and the like they might run PJ. They remember
on PJ, Tucker is five. Yeah, anybody anybody but Lopez. Yeah, there was the Bill Simmons and his most recent podcast was joking that when he watched that Janice possession from the top of the key against the Sun's, he was like,
this has an eighteen percent chance of working. It was funny because I was like, I thought the same thing as it was happening, Like they just have to get away from trying to make you honest into something he's not, because that's going to be the thing that could get him be Like he just like when he's in that position, where he's attacking in isolation. It gets a good set up defense. I just don't like their chances. That's the
one thing they got to avoid. Yeah, I mean, when your best player can't shoot very it's very simple, you know, it's just hard to trust it in the crunch, especially when people are targeting you. Yeah, he's gotta be a big man in the clich right, Like he's got to become like a roller and all that once you get him the crunch time, it feels like, but this is true,
Holiday man, just Blesso has been born aline unplayable. In the playoffs, you playing thirty minutes a game of nothing, and I think they upgraded that with a with a high level two way guard. I think that might be the difference. As far as sailing Maples, let me ask you this, assuming it's got to be a veteran minimum contract, what does your fourth and fifth man look alike? If you're Brooklyn next year and all your like your your key lineup that you go to Kadie Party and Kyrie,
you've had an offseason. You're signing dudes that are veteran minimum level players. What are you putting around them that makes them the like you know the bona fide title favorite. Well I'll say this before I A, uh, guys are gonna take pay cuts to play for the Nets that they do with the Lakers because it's a championship opportunity. I think those would be the two teams that scoop up all those you know, lower level or high level free agents looking for a wrinkle take a pay cut
to go somewhere else. Like I think the Nets will find a like Bill get a surge about the tech, you know what I'm saying, Like they'll they'll get a Wesley Matthews who could probably get money elsewhere will come play with them. So just those type of guys I'm thinking. I'm sorry, I don't know these a lot of these guys contract situations, but I'm trying to think who would ship.
We'll just think like an the archetype of player, Like what what do you think they need in order to be Like my biggest thing concerned with them would be any lineup that has hardened Kyrie and k D is not a physical lineup like I amble to think it would have to be p J. Tucker type of players like that, or like an Egual Dollar like who's made
his money. He's a free agent, you know what I'm saying, Like they're like, I think they'll be in a help for a guy like you doll will play with him for the minium That was scare the hell out of me. If they got a good dollar like guys like that who have already made hundreds of millions and looking for like another championship opportunity, like, I think that will be
a great gift for him. That's my that's my biggest question with them this year, because like even when they had le broncos Aldred, like they're they're big man rotation is basically, are they comfortable playing Jeff k d at the five or they have are they have twenty one year old you know, uh Nick Laxton and then or they can go to thirty year old DeAndre Jordan's or you know, Blake Griffin whatever it remains of him. So it's kind of like a really weird big man rotation
that they have to go to. That's my question with them. Can those bigs hang on against like d mbiads and the uh you know and and the other players that they have to go, all the bigs that they have to go through uh, not even getting to the Lakers, even though I still have them coming out of the East. But still, like I feel like that's their biggest question to mean that they'll probably shore up in the off season. Um, if it doesn't work out. I mean, just like I said,
it's all these m Harvard, all these teams have flaws. Yeah, it's just as no matter who the coach's adjustments, which primetime players, they're gonna step up when it matters, hey, you know timely shot making. Hey, but that's exactly why the Lakers are gonna win it, because all these teams have flaws. And you if there's any chink in your armor and you're going against Lebron James, it's a rap.
I mean, I know that's like shallow analysis, but but like it's just facts, you know what I mean, Like you look back as like Maple said it, right, last time he played like a bad series was straight up over a decade ago Obama first term. So I mean, I don't know, man, any team has a weakness, he
is going to destroy it. Um yeah, by my only, but my by just had to be unbiased picking team that could Probably it would probably be the the Clippers, because that's the team that there's me man, they have, they have the closest, Like I think last year was outlier for Kauai. He's usually money in the playoffs, so
I'm I'm I'm chalking that up for him. Paul George, I don't know what I'm gonna get, but Kauai is probably the closest thing to probably match somewhat a percentage of what Lebrown does, and if they get the shooting that they've been getting all year, the series could go longer. But aside from that, out West, I just I don't see much. I think I think the reason they'll play different in the playoffs this year is because of Rondo.
I think they've needed like a facilitator. Yeah, you know, like a high i Q basketball player from the guard position that can also handle the ball. It's not Patrick Beverley, what it wasn't je Williams um so you know, I
think the Clippers could do. They also got size, a little more size with Ibaka and the Tomb, but you could argue those are like a little softer than maybe not Ibaka, but the Tomb is a little I feel like a little softer um when going up against someone like Lebron and a d but Clippers and then I'm really really interested to see Phoenix, really interested to see Phoenix. My only my only thing with Phoenix is the guy
they're gonna lean on has never done it before. Like when it comes down to it, like I've seen Chris book or Chris Paul actually, like it's gonna be tough for him. His whole career, he's been great. He's a Jesus floor Razor four a team, but it's hard to go to him at the end of big game. Is because of his size. That's always been the issue with where he was with it was with the Clippers or New Orleans. It's whatever he laid those playoffs, it's hard for him to get shops off. So it's gonna be
Booker and he's never done it before. That's everything you need to win the championship. I got sized, they got switchable wings, I got the shooting, they got the floor general, they got the guy. He's never done it before, and it's hard for me to see a guy in his first year doing it pushing it all the way to the finest unless you get like a d Way type. This kid just you know, just lightning in the lightning in the you know pop this year, you know what
I'm saying. So I agree, I agree with you, But I do think that while he's not gonna be enough to push him over the hump, Chris paul Um, he's gonna he's gonna scare the hell out of you. I think I agree that. I agree like that Second Friends,
that second World Series. But if we get if we get Clippers seven second, like it looks like right now, like that's that's that's a six or seven game or in my opinion, yeah, yeah, and Devin Booker is a killer and that it is legit score, Like I feel like that's going to translate really nicely into the playoffs. They have two dudes who can just create a shot. I feel like that's really tough to cover good like that, which which Jake Crowder are you getting you getting the
are you getting exactly? You get getting the blind? He's he's a versatile guy for them though, like the shooting, he's either Clay Thompson with Dreds or he's blind. Their their roster just makes sense to me, like that, you know, you got a big, big physical wing like Jay, You've got like kind of more slender, but the wings that that lean on length like mcil bridges and Cam Johnson. Everybody can shoot, you've got size inside, and you've got a two alpha dogs and so all of those things
to me just like makes sense. Like I always talking about with playoff teams like can you defend? Do you have alpha dogs and can go toe to toe with the Stars and the other teams? Do you have versatility? And the Suns have all of those things. I don't think they're gonna win, but I mean the roster makes sense to me. It's just that there are other teams like the Lakers that makes sense to me more. But I do there if I was GM of the Sons, that's what I would have shot for, if that makes sense.
So just the last thing I'll say before I get out of here, just to make sure no one's scared of Utah, right. Uh, It's it's man. I'm trying to be saying that as respectfully as possible. Just Gobert is an all time for being an all time defender, he just doesn't strike fear to anybody, Like if you watch, like nobody's scared of go there, like of all the all times defenders in NBA history. Jason, I don't think he's an all time defender quite frankly, I don't. I
just don't. I mean, looks like I said, like despite all the stats putting out there and say otherwise, you you're even saying he's not all for that. Like that's that's the lack of fear he puts into opposing you know, fans and players like you. Just I kind of proved my play right there, like right beyond that. Man. I mean, I've rooted for a team that went toe to toe with those guys twice in a row, and we just
exactly we disposed of them. There were nothing. I mean, there were times where you know, he made shots difficult or you know, Harden had to hit the float or whatever, but like we whooped their ass, you know what I mean. So I don't know. I mean, they're obviously I guess Devil's added kids Like that's James, Harden and Chris Paul, you know what I mean. Like that's not every not every team has that. Like to me, I'm hired on YouTube,
you got you got Lebron James, my boy. Yeah, I'm not saying like for us, but to me, like because I saw people do this with the Lakers last year, Like the Lakers were winning at a ridiculous place last year, you know, people still saying, oh, they might lose to Portland or you know, even even the Rocket Series, which I feel like it was closer than it seemed. Like Utah's winning at a ridiculous place pace, Like you have to kind of respect that at what it is you
do you do? Yeah, Like that's why I'm hired on them, and I think I'm higher on Mitchell of the most. Like I don't think he's a superstar, but like I can see him winning a series with this scoring. Bitch have to prob Mitch is gonna show up. He's gonna get Don't you worry about his decision making? I worry about his decision making. I mean he's he's twenty three. You know what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying is
that he's gotten way better out. I think he's awesome, but I think he has Russell Westbrook ruined the game with port No, No, he doesn't. He's just inefficient. He's got Russell Westbrook's inefficiency at times and when you're when you're playing against somebody with no margin for air like Lebron James. You just can't do that, you know. I I hope I'm wrong for the sake of him and
what will happen to him. But he, to me, is the kind of guy that in the Pivotal Game five will randomly shoot forty shots even though it kind of takes the offense out of rhythm. Yeah, like he's got That's that's what the Lakers are going to force from Utah,
because Utah that heavy pick and roll. The Lakers are gonna switch everything and the ball is gonna be with Mitchell sayings with seven seconds at one o'clock and then you and Clarkson are going to just have to be he rolls individually, so that that's what it's gonna That's what's gonna happen to Utah. I guess the Lakers in my opinion, Yeah, that's what I was saying. I was saying earlier, like they're what they do right now is they moved the ball beautifully and they get the open shot.
But when you get into the playoffs and you don't care about that, or you like decide, hey, when the ball hits ex person, we don't care you disrupted, you know, and then then they're gonna, like you said, they're gonna be forcing to put the ball in someone's hands to go when I wanted to create, it's gonna be Mitchell's gonna be Clarkson, and it's not gonna be enough against the Layers. Yeah. I see people compare them to the
Rockets a lot, and I feel like differences. They have a lot more of emotion offense, right, I feel like Houston with a lot more isolations on hardened, and then they're they're all predicated on screen roll and then they take advantage of that when you switched a little tougher. But man, do they chucked like they just chucked the three. You don't even have to it's not even like open. I swear like Ingles has like two ft two inches
of space and he just flings it up. And then get has like the that that can really be like you can really be hot or cold. Ran the playoffs with that, especially if the shooting is not going. But that's right. I think Mitchell comes in and I'm interested to see if really if the Clippers in jazz shooting stage the level this is a stork be It's like almost what they're doing from three. So I'm that's what I mainly stayed in the playoffs like it's no way,
it won't. It won't. Roger, You're right, they just get it up. Rocks playing in the other day, I was watching they just get it up from anywhere, and right, like,
that's that, that's that, you know. I hate to be cliche, but it's not because it's the regular season, but it's because it's like we talked about in the postseason, when they make it, when the defense is going to make a concerted effort or a conscious decision to give shots up to some someone specific or to give specific types of shots of like adjusting to that on the fly if you if you've been doing it for seventy two games,
is very difficult, you know. So as soon as some of those shots stopped falling, I think they're gonna stall out. Now I think I think they're gonna be good. But I think the Lakers will stall them out for sure, just Devil's advocate. But the Utah they have four guys that could really not get down those I'm like, they have a guys non shooting four. They keep my four guys who can legitimately shoot at a time. So that's that's the only kind of can It's like, who do
you want to shoot? They're all going to be able to take them, and they can make them like decently, that's true. Do you remember do you remember when we watched the Knicks play the other night, we were talking about how they defend like the Lakers, and how there
just doesn't seem to be an opening. Um, that's kind of That's kind of where I worry about with them, is like the Jazz right now in the regular season take advantage of the fact that defenses are just a little more sloppy and openings are more likely to appear. And so while I agree with you that like their design makes sense, like they do not play non shooters,
which is why they're high volume hasn't led to lower efficiency. However, in a playoff series, like a team like the Lakers who is extremely dialed in with their rotations are going to take are going to massively lower their shot quality. And I think that that and then like in teams that do that to the Lakers, it's like, okay, well, I'm literally going to use this these two physical beemits to get to the rim, you know, and then how that can kind of contort the defense generated wide open three.
I mean, what did you do? What did the Lakers do to the Rockets? The Rockets were jack and fifty a game, and the Lakers dictated the pace to where the Rockets in the in the post season against them in the series, they were shooting like thirty five game, thirty game, and like it just got to a point where mathematically, as a fan, I was like, all right, well, if we're gonna go thirteen and thirty six, we're gonna lose. Um, you know what I mean. And that's what happened. That's
exactly what happened. So I think something similar will happen against you. So it's different, like you said, because they're more motion and the Rockets were just like ISO. But it's kind of the inverse of the Like the Rockets problem was they didn't trust the ball to go to other people. I think the the Jazz problem against the Lakers will be do they trust whoever is creating to create? Like is Donovan Mitchell go on one on one against k CP or Caruso Lebron being funneled into Anthony Davis?
Is that gonna get it done. I don't know, that's funny. You talk, you talk having the best season ever and they might get Curry and Lebron back to back series. Man, But but YO, appreciate your man. Uh. I gotta get I gotta get out of here. But it was fun talking. So go Rockets. Good luck to the Lakers. I got my money on l A as long as Lebron's playing. Thanks for hopping in, my guy, I appreciate it. I gotta go to guys. I am pushing almost five hours
to sleep. Everybody you hopped in. Thank you guys so much, and I'm glad we were finally able to get get some people to hop in and shot with us in Maple's. You know how much I appreciate you, man, and I thank you for taking a couple of hours to hang out with us tonight. And I was love BRONC man. Yeah, thank you A long time coming in. I have you on be smooth. Sorry everybody, good night. Thanks