An Initial Preview Of Wolves-Nuggets w// Jace Frederick

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This is the Dane Moore PERSON MBA podcast.

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Brought you by prize picks. We're going on a Tuesday afternoon. It's April 30th. And round two is set with Denver winning on Monday night. Wolves Nuggets will begin Saturday, May 4th in Denver for game one. So we got a few days to sort of dig into this series.We're going to take our first. poke at it today with Wolves ORG D-fighter. Second, yeah, because we did it last year. We did our first one last week.

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It didn't age poorly, Chase. That's Chase Frederick from the Pioneer Press.

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We were texting on a little bit during the game, during the Lakers Nuggets game last night. And I think we were both at a point maybe before the fourth quarter where we were like, is this like the Nuggets the Nuggets game last night. And I think we were both at a point maybe before the fourth quarter where we were like, is this like the Nuggets ORG, the Nuggets? Kind of before the game got there, obviously, Jamal Murray PERSON's been dealing with the calf and a lot of other different injury things. KCP got hurt a little bit.I mean, I hate to even say this when Yokic had like a 20 and 20 game. But like, right, kind of early on in the game, you're like, huh, that's not just like a perfect fix all the time. End of the game, they looked like the Nuggets ORG Nuggets. But I'm just kind of curious where your head is at in terms of like the quality of the nuggets within their very high standard context. If that makes sense.

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Yeah, if you want our initial preview of Nuggets Wolves ORG, you'll have to go back to the podcast after Game 1 of Suns Wolves ORG. But yeah, I mean, I felt the same way. And I think it was like as the, I watched a lot of that Lakers Nuggets ORG series. And I think like the first two games, you're like, okay,like the Nuggets ORG just kind of know when they need to turn it on and then that's what they're doing. And maybe there was something to that. But it is hard to watch a whole series and see like the Lakers maybe out playing Denver for like 65% of it. You know, like and looking like the better team for like 65, 70%. And don't get me wrong, like the last five minutes are the most important minutes in a lot of NBA ORG basketball games. And the last quarter is the most important quarter.And Denver is maybe the best clutch team in the NBA ORG. They just get a good shot every single time. And that will always hold true. Even if they lose a game, it won't be because they didn't get good looks at the end offensively. They're incredible on that end. That was again true last night.But, like, you know, like, the bench is not good. They don't even trust the bench. They don't even play the bench, frankly. Like, you can say this guy and this guy is bad. Okay, they're going to play five minutes. Like, they treated last night like a game seven.You can tell because Christian Braun didn't play in the second half. Payne Watson played five minutes for the game. Holiday played five minutes. Like, basically Reggie Jackson played because KCP ORG rolled his ankle. And that was it. I mean,they just like, I think you could expect a lot of that in this series. Like it's going to be like Michael Porter Jr. last night played 46. Aaron Gordon played 46. Like I think you're going to see a lot of that in this series too because I thinkthey know that this is going to be super competitive and you can't be punting games away because your bench unit wasn't good. And when you can go game one, game two in Denver in a two-day stretch, and then you can get three days off.

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Like you can attack these games like that. You really can. So we can talk about the depth. And like that does matter to some degree. Like foul trouble happens. Guys have tweaks and whatnot in their bodies.But like I think it's going to be Minnesota's team versus Denver ORG starters. I really do think that'll kind of be serious.

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No, that's well put. And, like, and we'll talk a little bit about the Yokic PERSON, non-yokish minutes. But even last night, I was, you know, thinking about that and seeing how just, like, having the box score up where I'm like, okay, so Porter, if he plays the rest of this, he's going to get up to 46 here or Gordon PERSON. Like, that felt like a probably bigger subplot in the regular season, the Yokic non-yokic minutes TIME than it was, will be during the playoffs probably particularly in this series.Because also they'll go Gordon PERSON at the five more. Like, it's just, it's not the opportunity that it maybe normally presents. Unless, I guess Yokich might get in foul trouble in one of these games. I do think, though, like, with the fourth quarter bit or, like, kind of the late gameexecution thing, like, that's kind of their style, right? Like, yeah, that wasn't a limited to the Lakers ORG series sort of thing. They keep you around, you know, that's, they keep you around and then,or maybe they never leave the game.

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That's probably what Devin PERSON does. And then if they're close enough with that execution, with the starters out there in the fourth quarter, with Yolkits and Murray PERSON leveling up there, that's kind of what they do. And we can also talk about that in contrast to the wolves who late game execution,

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and that's been an on and off question for this team. But I was ready to be like, if we were going to record this this morning and if the Nuggets didn't close that out the way they did last night, being like, maybe this isn't the best version of the Nuggets ORG, but given the way that they close that game down, I thought, I thought, okay. Yeah.No, they're still here.

Speaker 2382.52s - 391.8s

Yeah, I think in terms of like best version of the Nuggets ORG, I don't think it's, I don't think it's wrong to say that they would probably feel more comfortable with last year's roster than this year's.

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I mean, in terms of like best version,

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like last year's version was probably better.

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Like you can't, you can't put in like guys like, and Peyton Watson PERSON is ascending, you know, like he's early in his career still, but Payton Watson didn't play last year. Reggie Jackson didn't play last year.

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So now when you take out like rotational NBA pieces, like, you know, mostly Bruce Brown PERSON, but also like Jeff Green PERSON, guy who they really trusted too. And you bring in guys who were on the end of the bench last year. It's okay to say the roster probably worse.

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Like, yeah, I mean, we can picture that in a wolves context too, right?

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Of like if you removed Kyle Anderson and Nikkeel Alexander Walker PERSON.

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Yeah, yeah.

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And put in like a Wendell Moore PERSON. You know, nationally people would be like, same team.

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You know, but following from Minnesota ORG, you'd be like, no, it's not, you know, like.

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And like that, that team would still be good.

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The wolves would still be good.

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But, you know, there are a certain matchments where you might be like, wow,

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we wish we really still had those guys, you know. Right. I do want to start with the matchups. I think that's the place to kind of start unraveling this puzzle. But I quickly wanted to announce to listeners that we are going to be doing a live show at Falling Knife the day before game three. So that's going to be Friday, May 9th DATE, which is just not enough time to do one before this series starts with us goingout to Denver ORG. But mark that down. That's a Friday, the 9th DATE. We'll do kind of the same thing. A happy hour at 6 o'clock, do the show at 7 o'clock. Hopefully we'll have like some better weather.So whether it's worse set up outside, the patio will be open and it's not going to be like raining in 36 like it was a couple of weeks ago. So just put that on your schedule. We'll keep telling you more about that in the lead up to that. That's our following night TIME. Jace ORG, okay, matchups.I think you and I know this. I think, you know, listeners know this too, that the way in which that the wolves match up with Yokic and Denver ORG specifically is they like to put the cat or the four on Yokic and have Gobert, Rome, and roam off of Aaron Gordon to double team him there. That's, you know, just kind of listening to like T&T ORG and stuff after the game last night. That's not immediately on people's radars who haven't been watching this matchup over the course of time. I think that's only like one wrinkle of the whole matchup.But like if you haven't watched the Wolves and Nuggets play this year, like, no, that's where it starts. I know the wolves are actually pretty good at that. It feels, it feels good and it feels comfortable to them to have Kat PERSON be the body to kind of take the body blows. And then I think Gobert has, over the two years, increasingly got better at kind of navigating that in between showing help, showing doubles, and being able to recover out to Gordon PERSON. It's a weapon the wolves have, though in theory,a weapon that the Nuggets can break by really activating Gordon PERSON or Gordon randomly hitting three or four threes in the first quarter like we saw. Josh Giddy do that one time when they matched up with the Thunder ORG a similar way, ignoring the shooting threat. I guess I'll let you talk on that first, but then I'm kind of interested to go down the rest of the way the Wolves ORG matchup being maybe a little bit more important.Just the Yokic PERSON matchups, your thought on that.

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Yeah, I mean, we've seen it every, this year, last year in the playoffs. Like, they really do whatever they can to take away the Yokch PERSON playmaker kind of aspect of his game.

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And like, not to say he won't still have, you know, a highlight level pass here or there.

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But it really is like they put one guy on him and like, yeah, Rudy PERSON's helping, but like the only real pass that they try to give him is like that Aaron

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Gordon and that's it.

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And they really do have everybody else focus pretty intently on their specific matchup and

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stay home and don't free up any shooters and no kickouts to Michael Porter Jr.

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And no coming out of screen action or whatever to KCP or MPJ and then even Jamal Murray PERSON. Like it is very much like, okay, you score 40 against Kat giving his best effort with Rudy PERSON helping. So like the buckets, Yokic PERSON gets them. Yokic can get 40. He's an incredible offensive player with the touching spots for your like good defense and Yokic PERSON just floats it in. And it's like, how did that happen?

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God, he had some of those last night, man.

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Yeah.

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What?

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He and Zion like, and with some of those last night, man. Yeah. What? He and Zion, like, in the way they're finishing, it's just like,

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that looks like a stupid shot. And then it just goes and it goes again and it goes again. Like some of these guys, the touch is incredible.

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But yeah,

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but that's what they do. They very much are like, Denver ORG's at their best when, you know, the ball's popping and Yoko PERSON just kind of orchestrating. And they really have, to this point in this matchup in recent these last couple of years done a really good job of limiting and kind of cutting that off.

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Yeah, like taking out that pop. I like that. Like the ball, you know, when just we're watching a random Nuggets Pistons ORG game, the ball pops all the time, right? And against the wolves, sometimes they stymie a little bit of the movement, a little bit of the movement, maybe at the sacrifice of Yolkich PERSON being able to get his a little bit more. I mean, the thing is, we've just seen this a ton, right? So it would have had eight regular season games of Gobert versus the Nuggets ORG,then the five last year, and they kind of have got to this look through it. Like we kind of know when it works, what it looks like. And then there's been games where Aaron Gordon has heard them too. Maybe it's not from three. Like I think what they're going to try and do,just judging by that Lakers ORG series, because they, at times, it's a similar thing. Like Gordon PERSON's going to try to get him on the offensive glass, right? Like he's just going to crash. It's like Jaden in the beginning of the Sun ORG series.I think they'll try to weaponize it in that way. And, you know, you're just going to have to navigate that. It's like, it's a physicality needs to be 10 out of 10 if you're the world of the series because this team is way bigger, way stronger, you know, than Phoenix ORG is. And maybe if they lack other things. But it starts there.It starts with the physicality and matching up with it. I think the spot that I'm looking at from matchups is from the wolf's side. It's Michael Porter, Jr. Yeah.

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I think, you know, and had a tremendous series against the Lakers ORG was spectacular.

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And we were even saying that, though, like, where the wolves played the nuggets,

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had played the nuggets three times in the last six weeks, you know.

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And it was becoming more apparent in that. That one, Porter PERSON's just leveled up clearly as a player.

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But he's, that shooting weapon guy is always kind of a thing for the wolves

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and who's going to be the chaser, right? They prefer to put Mike Conley in that role, right, guarding Grayson Allen PERSON in the previous series. You just kind of know all the time, like, Mike is the best at navigating off all screens, getting there to put contests. The problem with Michael Porter Jr. is, you know, he's 10, 11 inch dollar than Mike Conley PERSON. Yeah, yeah. So you got to go with somebody else on him. Jaden McDaniels is going to guard Jamal Murray PERSON.So that's left Anthony Edwards to guard Michael Porter Jr. And that's not what Ant PERSON is best at defensively. Ant is best at guarding 101 without screens. It's going to kind of be in ways like the light, light version of when he was guarding KD. I think in those Suns ORG games at the end where end of the regular season, which they eventually obviously got away from Ant on KD in that matchup and put Kat PERSON on him. But they're,they're going to try and make Ant Chase and be there in Michael Porter Jr.'s PERSON space. And that's the place where I'm thinking about it from the wolves of like, much like the KD and Kat PERSON thing of like, this is the matchup that doesn't work best in quote, unquote, our favor to navigate this year. But again, going off the Phoenix ORG series, you realize it's not only Cat Garden ORG,Katie, right? Like the lineups mix and the wolves are going to continue to lean into their bench. So even if Michael Porter Jr. is playing 45 minutes a game in this, a lot of that time is going to be against different looks of the wolves lineup. Maybe Nikiel PERSON's on him for pieces of time. Kyle Anderson, whoever it might be. But I think Michael Porter Jr. is the X-factor or whatever in terms of the matchup game from the wolf standpoint.

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Yeah, this is always like where, this is always true. But I think that this will be something where maybe we see it a little bit more depending on like how the offense survives without him and just defensively, like, how bad it looks, or maybe if they have troubles with, like, Porter Jr. PERSON when he's out there. But this could be a series where Mike Connolly's maybe drop to, like, 25, I think.

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And, like, McKeel plays more because then if you can just put a Nekeel or even Jaden PERSON,

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like, and put one of them on my quarter to.

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Put McKeel on Murray and then Jaden PERSON on MP.

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Yeah, yeah, exactly.

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Like, Jaden PERSON would be fine, you know, running around with MPJ. And we've seen McKeel can certainly give Murray PERSON problems as well. Like, that is where you line up best.

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And because, like, aunt on KCP is the easiest thing to do. But it's really the only guy in the starting five where, like, not that Mike Conno PERSON would get, like, roasted by Jamal Murray PERSON. I don't think he would.But Jamal Murray PERSON would just be more comfortable in that matchup.

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So like, yeah, the Wolves playing with their five,

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their four best defenders in Kat PERSON is probably the best way they line out.

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And I don't think that start like that ever. But I do think that we'll see Mike probably dip. I would assume maybe closer to like playing half the game.

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It's a lever to pull.

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Right. But it doesn lever to pull. Right.

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But it doesn't have to be pulled.

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No, no.

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And in game one is probably a time when you would be less likely to see that.

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But at the same time, you are like, I think right now looking at it as like, well, Nikiel PERSON is one of our best players.

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So how do we, we can't have his minutes. It was easy to drop Katz minutes for those first three games, you know, of that series. And in this one, it doesn't seem likely, especially with the way they like to guard yokech and their most effective way to guard yokech. So, like, you got to be pulling minutes from elsewhere because

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you can't have Nikiel go down to playing 20 minutes. That's just not an answer either. Right. I also think, like, if, you know, if you do want to play Mike Conley for 35 minutes as 30-something TIME, like, would be their normal goal. I do think you can go Conley PERSON on MPJ sometimes.

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Like that like, you know,

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and just chase to be there for the shots.

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Like he's not, what is he going to do? Like they're not going to spam MPJ like on anything really.

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Yeah. I mean, there might be some situations where he can get and just shoot over him. But like,

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he's got much better shooting off the bounce.

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Yeah, but it's even like off the bounce,

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he comes into like 15 and pulls. Yeah, it is very similar. Like he is better running off ball and off like in different actions, coming around screens and all that stuff. But in actual terms of shot selection, it is very similar to KD.

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Exactly. And so to that end, like, if you need, you don't need to go all the time, go there

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on Gordon, Kat on Yokich, McDaniels on Murray, Edwards PERSON on MPJ, Conley on KCP. I actually think there's an

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advantage to just having Edwards PERSON on KCP from a, like, not getting cross-matched standpoint, which is

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also we should probably talk about this, like, is it going to be KCP on Ant? You know, we always kind of start with the grounds of what they've done against them during the regular season, which was Yolkichung-Ga-Guardin on Kat or Reed PERSON when during the

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regular season, MPJ on McDaniels, KCP on Ant, Marie on Conley. My opinion, and I was saying this to the Denver ORG guys when we did shows out there at the end of the regular season, I would be putting Gordon PERSON on Ant. I would, much like Phoenix was made the priority to load up on Ant PERSON and give Ant the best defensive look, they can start there and figure it out down the rest of the way. In my opinion, that would be Gordon PERSON, would be the way to do that. Though, then you do open yourself up for Cap PERSON being guarded by Michael Porter Jr.If Gordon's not on him or maybe that's even Peyton Watson PERSON as you get into some different, you know different lineups there. But it's like there, there's a way where I think Denver can dare the wolves to make Kat be the one more so that that beats them in this matchup by just prioritizing Ant more and putting Gordon on him where rather than what they did last playoffs, which was Gordon on Kat and, you know, kind of living with KCP ORG doing his best against Ant Thayer. Do you, I mean, I guess do you assume it'll be KCP? Do you agree with that?

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I definitely think it'll be KCP, mostly because like that less, I mean, that would require a definite adjustment. And they just won that game in Denver. And I know, like, if Aaron Gordon is covering Nas PERSON, then Aaron Gordon's definitely going to cover cap. To me, like that, that was a big game in Denver at the end of the regular season. That was, at the moment, it seemed like it was for the one scene. And it ended up being four home court in this series. And they went with Aaron Gordon on Nas Reed PERSON. You know, like, I think if they thought in their minds that Aaron Gordon covering Anthony Edwards is the best thing,they would have done it in that game. So I do not see them having a philosophical shift from that. And by the way, they won that game. So I really, like, if Inc. goes off and they can and don't have any answers through game one, then maybe they do pull that lever. But I don't think they will do it coming out of the gates.

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Can I just do a double devil's advocate of like another scenario?

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No, I actually, I agree that they probably will start with that.

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But the wolves did this exact thing with Phoenix ORG.

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So, yes, in game 80, that was, you know, I mean,

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I would just say, I would just say game 82, like Minnesota ORG had just come off of its best defensive game,

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a really good defensive game against Phoenix ORG in Phoenix.

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And I know that was with Kat PERSON not on the court.

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But I think they were like, well, let's just put Kat in the matchup that we just had Nas have a lot of success with on Grayson PERSON.

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Like they played well defensively in the game prior.

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So I think it was in their minds.

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They're like, well, just have Kat do what Nas PERSON did.

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And it didn't work out. And that's when they knew they had to adjust. But I don't think there was a ton of evidence to say that heading into game 82, like, that won't work because it just had worked two weeks prior as far as, like, defensively, the approach.

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No, you're right. That's the pushback there. I mean, at the end of the day, what we're saying is this is an interesting one, right?

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Yeah, yep. How are they going to do cat versus and from a matchup standpoint? I definitely think, like, they will start with KCP with help, like with help defense. But I would not be surprised at all if they take the Aaron Gordon approach, like the second it looks like it might not work.

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And like what about unlike the minutes where I know it's not going to be a lot.

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So like it's tough with all of these guys like, you know, what are they going to do when this guy's off the court? It's like, yeah, for those six minutes, I don't know. But like if KCP's not out there, then maybe Aaron Gordon, they do decide, nope, he's got to be on ant. But I do think it's pretty advantageous sometimes, especially when you don't have a ton of versatility defensively with different guys you canthrow to be like, this is your matchup. You know exactly what he does. You know him.

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Front back, you know, all this stuff. Like, Darren Gordon PERSON, you just worry about Coronth

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any towns and what he does. We're not going to have you study up a ton on ant. You know, just be singularly focused.

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Let's go up our first break here. Today's show is brought to you by Autograph, and we would love it if you would download the free Autograph app in the App Store or Google Play Store ORG. And if you do, you can use the referral code Dane Moore PERSON. There's a QR code up here on the screen on YouTube ORG.Again, that's referral code Dane Moore PERSON. And what the Autograph app is is a place for you to consume all of your wolves content in one place, one app for die hired fans to access all the sports content, fan challenge and exclusive rewards. How it kind of works is like as you consume content through the app there, you get rewards that can be used to get memorabilia for significantly discounted. Discounted tickets. They have giveaways. And if you do have the app and you like turn on the push notifications for it, there's just going to be a lot of giveaways throughout the playoffs. They're wanting to, you know, reward fans for making autograph be the place that they'reconsuming their wolves content. So go check out the wolves community by downloading the autograph app in the App Store or Google Play Store ORG. Again, code Dane Moore PERSON for your referral code there. And then also today's show is brought to you by prize picks. Obviously, no wolves game yet. There's not numbers up for wolves nuggets, but there it is a Taco Tuesday. So there's athere's a Jared Allen promotion going on. There's a James Hardin PERSON one up there too. I think that's for the for the Wednesday game. You know, if you're watching Nick Sixers ORG, Joelle and Bede PERSON in a elimination game, his number is more or less than 32 and a half points. So we just these are kind of, I think, honestly, themost fun days to put together a daily fantasy lineup, even when it's not a Wolves ORG game, just to have something that you have going on while you are watching those games. So pricepix.com,price picks app, promo code Dane PERSON for a $100 sign-up.

Speaker 21424.46s - 1434.06s

How about Malik Beasley over 11 and a half points TIME? You like that one? I just like, he scored 20 last game. I know Portis PERSON was ejected, but they just don't have any options.

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And Malik Beasley, you know, he's going to take enough shots to score 12 points.

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Will he do it?

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I don't know.

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But he will take enough shots.

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And he's one of those guys, you know, role players shoot better at home, that kind of stuff.

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I feel like that's a series that...

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Like, quick scan.

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Yeah, right.

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I just feel like I just have not...

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I have not watched a full Bucks Pacers ORG game of this.

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I feel like they've always been like right around...

Speaker 41457.1s - 1463.24s

We watched a lot of Bucs Pacers ORG game too or whatever in your hotel room.

Speaker 51464.6s - 1465.04s

Oh, yeah.

Speaker 41465.58s - 1469.12s

That was like the fourth quarter before we went to, before I went to the game.

Speaker 21469.22s - 1469.96s

So it wasn't a full game.

Speaker 31470.1s - 1470.56s

Wasn't a full game.

Speaker 21470.64s - 1472.78s

We actually didn't watch overtime.

Speaker 31473.16s - 1474.2s

That was what we didn't watch.

Speaker 21474.22s - 1474.8s

Oh, yeah, that's true.

Speaker 31474.88s - 1475.14s

That's true.

Speaker 41475.14s - 1478.1s

So I did watch it. So I agree with Chase. Yeah, there you go.

Speaker 31480.1s - 1485.62s

I think the, the thing I'm interested to see is

Speaker 41485.62s - 1562.22s

the late game element of this. And it's just going to be a cool test for the wolves, right? You know you are getting as good of a fourth quarter matchupas you can get in Denver ORG. Once it gets to that point and the games are close, which they likely will be, you know, going into fourth quarters.We didn't see a ton of like that, obviously in the Phoenix ORG series. There were some other times where things got like kind of close, like late third quarter, late first half, situationally that felt like those higher stress, higher we need to execute situations. I think the wolves did a pretty good job of that in round one. But really those, okay, it's the last five minutes.This game is within five points. The nuggets who have a strong, strong track record of being great there versus the wolves who in the last two years have been extremely up and down from a clutch standpoint, particularly on the offensive side of the floor. I'm really interested to see how that kind of, if we get one or two of those in the first two or three games of this series,how do you kind of, I don't know, how do you kind of factor that factor into this whole deal?

Speaker 21562.88s - 1570.98s

Yeah, I really do think at this point, like, it was in, in like, the fourth quarter in Phoenix ORG, like Minnesota played some of its best clutch time offense of the year.

Speaker 41571.28s - 1575.62s

I do think a lot of that kind of trickles back to the fact that Phoenix ORG just didn't have anybody to throw an ant.

Speaker 01575.62s - 1579.66s

Like, Brad Beale should not be guarding the other team's best player, but like, it's like Milwaukee ORG.

Speaker 21579.84s - 1580.94s

It's like, what else do we have?

Speaker 01581s - 1581.3s

Nothing.

Speaker 51582.02s - 1584.5s

So here's the best of our worst options. Yep.

Speaker 21585.32s - 1602.66s

So, like, that's why they were all game, like having to throw, all series having to throw numerous bodies at Ant PERSON. And Ante PERSON has gotten to the point where it's like, okay, I know what to do out of this, you know, and like, he makes the right play a million times. And then eventually they were just like, well, just got to go just Brad Beal PERSON on Ants. And it's like, well, I can score on Brad Beal PERSON.

Speaker 31603.18s - 1605.52s

Just Brad Beal PERSON when they stop bringing the doubles.

Speaker 21605.86s - 1606.7s

Yeah, yes.

Speaker 31606.82s - 1608.18s

No, wait, at 31 in the second half?

Speaker 21608.36s - 1609.18s

I know, I know.

Speaker 31609.3s - 1609.96s

I know. I know.

Speaker 21609.96s - 1613.48s

I don't, not the way I would have coach said series about Phoenix ORG.

Speaker 51613.72s - 1616.68s

But, like, that's just it.

Speaker 21616.72s - 1622.66s

If you have no matchup for Ant PERSON, like, Ant is going to make you pay. And he's going to do it even with, like, right decisions if you're throwing a bunch of guys at him.

Speaker 41622.96s - 1628.8s

What'll be interesting. I'm saying with the Gordon PERSON thing. It's like, it's setting yourself up to get beat to then have to play that card.

Speaker 31628.98s - 1629.92s

I will play that card first.

Speaker 21630.18s - 1630.62s

It is.

Speaker 31630.98s - 1632.42s

I understand what you're saying.

Speaker 41632.94s - 1633.68s

And I don't.

Speaker 21634.42s - 1635.66s

Are you sure that would work?

Speaker 41636.06s - 1641.46s

Like, are you sure that Aaron Gordon has it has like has the foot speed to let's be in front of hand?

Speaker 31641.76s - 1645.1s

Dude, I think KCP ORG is a really good perimeter defender.

Speaker 41646.1s - 1648.18s

Like, I think it's a size problem.

Speaker 21648.56s - 1649.76s

I agree with that as well.

Speaker 41650.3s - 1653.7s

I just wonder, like, and I think Aaron Gordon would have success with Ant PERSON,

Speaker 21654.06s - 1663.62s

depending on how it was officiated. Like, I really do think there's, like, certain whistles where he'd be like, well, Aaron Gordon just got two thousand four minutes TIME because they didn't try to drive by him twice and got too hansy and got a couple foul calls.

Speaker 01663.7s - 1665.66s

And now, like, they can't afford that, you know?

Speaker 51665.82s - 1665.92s

Yeah.

Speaker 01667.04s - 1673.4s

So, but, like, KCP is still better than anything Phoenix ORG has, but KCP is oftentimes just like a really sound defender.

Speaker 21674.1s - 1682.44s

So to where, like, I don't, he's not going to, like, bother Ant PERSON. It's not like Lou Dwart PERSON out there. It's not the same thing at all. And I think Denver ORG probably will have to shift their coverage a little bit, too.

Speaker 51682.82s - 1686.96s

But the level to which they have to do it is where, like, that matters.

Speaker 21687.3s - 1689.58s

If Ant PERSON's reads are easy or not, basically.

Speaker 51690.02s - 1692.64s

But that's where, like, last five minutes of a game,

Speaker 21693.62s - 1695.02s

then I would put Aaron Gordon on.

Speaker 51695.18s - 1700s

I think Ants are going to be a really aggressive here in a one-on-one matchup.

Speaker 21700s - 1701.96s

And we think Aaron Gordon can actually make it tough.

Speaker 01702.22s - 1705.96s

And we think then maybe Ant PERSON will take some bad 18- footers, you know, like that kind of thing.

Speaker 51706.32s - 1706.56s

Yeah.

Speaker 01706.96s - 1707.42s

Yeah.

Speaker 21707.54s - 1719.14s

And then, and I guess, like, matching up is a little bit different than, like, effectively executing, you know, down the stretch that becomes a switches from a one-on-one thing to a five-on-five sort of thing.

Speaker 41719.14s - 1760.62s

And that's, you know, that's, from a defensive standpoint of the wolves, it's, you know, what do you have to be able to, to limit the things you know that Denver ORG's going to want to go to in those places? They're not shy about the idea that if it's close, we're spamming Yokich Murray two-man game over and over again. And what makes that so difficult is you kind of got to guard that with two. Otherwise, they're going to find Yokic, and if you ring that third guy in too much, And what makes that so difficult is you kind of got to guard that with two.Otherwise, they're going to find Yokic PERSON. And if you ring that third guy in too much, it is going to be Michael Porter Jr. You know, in the weak side corner. It's like, I mean, just, I think Phoenix ORG did things like situationally of like, wow, really good action.

Speaker 21761.84s - 1763.2s

Wolestone ORG have a lot of answers for that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're like, okay.

Speaker 41763.54s - 1770.1s

It would be like an ATO. It would be, or to start the game or like like an ATO. And it's just as simple as like put Booker PERSON in the opposite corner, run

Speaker 31770.1s - 1772.16s

pick a roll to the strong side. Now Jaden

Speaker 21772.16s - 1777.46s

has to choose between am I coming in to rotate over as the low man or and leaving Denver Booker PERSON in the corner like

Speaker 41777.46s - 1783.9s

they should have ran that way more. And Phoenix ORG did it and Denver ORG will. That's the point.

Speaker 31784.06s - 1785.26s

Denver ORG's done to do that.

Speaker 41785.68s - 1793.94s

And they're going to know that you probably got to have bring a third guy in here to somewhat take away. Yokic PERSON on the role here.

Speaker 21794.74s - 1797.8s

Especially in the last five minutes when he know he's just going to like be aggressive or whatever.

Speaker 01797.96s - 1799.18s

Like he's going to do like, I got to score here.

Speaker 41799.26s - 1800.12s

Okay. This is here.

Speaker 51800.44s - 1801.74s

That's when you've got to take it away.

Speaker 41801.74s - 1804.96s

Like you're not like at that point it's done being like just make him beat us.

Speaker 51807.4s - 1810.74s

The last five minutes you're like, well, we can't let anybody score. But that's kind of what it comes down to.

Speaker 21810.74s - 1812.36s

And then you're put in more compromising positions.

Speaker 51812.9s - 1822.56s

But I agree with you. They were multiple times, like, in Phoenix I sat next to Chris Hine PERSON. And I just every time they'd run something, I'd be like, they actually have good offense when they run plays. Like, and then it would always.

Speaker 31822.56s - 1823.96s

It reminds me so much of the wolves last year.

Speaker 21824.24s - 1824.4s

Yeah.

Speaker 31824.42s - 1828.12s

So much of the wolves last year where you're like, I've literally sitting here like structure,

Speaker 21828.58s - 1830.92s

you know, like they didn't, they didn't do that.

Speaker 41831.3s - 1832.42s

That's what the nuggets are.

Speaker 21832.42s - 1836.56s

It's like they have a structure because of Nicola Yochage PERSON, even when they're playing

Speaker 31836.56s - 1837s

in the flow.

Speaker 41837.4s - 1841.94s

Like, and that is, that is what makes him the weapon that, that he is.

Speaker 31842.02s - 1846.2s

It allows for those like finding something quick that isn't scripted, but also with

Speaker 41846.2s - 1848.94s

the same effectiveness of a script.

Speaker 31849.14s - 1853.1s

And so then the defense just has to be extremely on point.

Speaker 41853.1s - 1856s

It's the needing to stay attached at all at all times.

Speaker 31856.14s - 1863.52s

It's the needing to be, you know, like, you got to manage your foul trouble a little bit here,

Speaker 41863.64s - 1891.96s

too, if you're Jaden on Jamal or Kat PERSON on, you know, tough, difficult matchups, but like, can we stay attached? Can you stay impactful defensively without fouling? Because that's what's, like, required to slow that, particularly at the end of games. And then on the other side of the floor, obviously, the ants just got to kind of be the playmaker that he showed that he could be in that first round and pick apart whatever the way in which they match up with him is.

Speaker 21892.4s - 1909.82s

And the best part about like Nicola Yolkich is that if you shut everything else down, he could pop out and like take an open three where it's like, what is he like 30? Seems like he seems like like 36% three point shoot or something in that realm i haven't like gordon no yokech oh yeah i'm just saying

Speaker 41909.82s - 1913.68s

like a pick and pop three is always like last resort like ah this is what we have to set up for like an

Speaker 21913.68s - 1920.66s

open pick and i don't know man in the playoffs i like i think he said 40% of i mean like sure yeah sure

Speaker 41920.66s - 1923.98s

that's what i'm saying though like there's just like you count for everything else and then he's just

Speaker 21923.98s - 1925.04s

like fine yeah pick and pop three you And then he'd just like, fine.

Speaker 41929.06s - 1929.18s

You know, like, and it's like, that's the worst look they can get.

Speaker 21931.4s - 1931.52s

And I think it's going in every time.

Speaker 41931.68s - 1931.88s

Yeah.

Speaker 21936.34s - 1939.54s

The numbers from like, they won that series obviously because of clutch time against the Lakers. Like I saw, I think Adam Mayers like quote tweet this from DNVR ORG.

Speaker 41939.92s - 1940.62s

Somebody else tweeted it.

Speaker 21940.64s - 1941.36s

He quote tweeted it.

Speaker 41941.64s - 1944.1s

But the Lakers ORG offensive rating clutch time.

Speaker 21944.34s - 1945.82s

They had three clutch time games, was

Speaker 41945.82s - 1946.78s

121.

Speaker 21947.12s - 1951.14s

And they lost every game because Denver's was 163.

Speaker 41952.06s - 1954.88s

One point six, three points per every possession.

Speaker 51955.1s - 1960.06s

You are scoring three out of four possessions, essentially, is that the math comes out to there?

Speaker 21960.44s - 1962.2s

That's Luca Garza PERSON efficiency, right?

Speaker 41962.28s - 1962.92s

Yeah, I mean.

Speaker 21964.66s - 1998.2s

Yeah, I mean, it's, to do that when the game is on the line every time is unbelievable. I will say the wolves are better equipped to, I don't know if they're better equipped to score, maybe, but they are better equipped to slow Denver down because like the one thing watching the Lakers ORG is like, you see how hard defense is when he don't have a wing stopper. Because Jamal Murray PERSON was never uncomfortable like like, in those pick and roll situations. He was always operating in space. Like, the one he made last night is a great shot. But he got, like, into space with relative ease.Yeah. You know, and, like, got to take a very comfortable, kind of that little mid-ranged shot there.

Speaker 31998.2s - 1999s

The Lakers ORG defense was terrible.

Speaker 21999.32s - 2001.82s

They just, it's so hard when he don't have an on-ball defender,

Speaker 32001.92s - 2006.08s

when he don't have somebody where it's like, yeah, he can make the best scoring guards player,

Speaker 22006.76s - 2022.14s

like his life top. They don't have that. So it's just like, you're just always playing team defense. And when you can't make the other team's best best perimeter player uncomfortable,like it's going to be a lot of long nights. They actually did well on Murray PERSON for the series in general, but like when the, for what they had,

Speaker 02022.42s - 2030.3s

but when it was like go-todered, they just, yeah, they just didn't have anything for them because them because like he can get to whatever spot he wanted to get to and

Speaker 22030.3s - 2039.94s

if you allow Denver to do that and Minnesota ORG does not allow teams to do that in general but if you do allow Denver ORG to do that then Denver's going to make you pay a good way to avoid like game

Speaker 42039.94s - 2048.6s

offense and needing to execute down the stretch just to be up as to be up you know, 10 or more or whatever by the time you get there.

Speaker 22049.26s - 2057.86s

And a way to do that in this series is to, one, continue to do what the wolves have done in the

Speaker 52057.86s - 2060.04s

Yolkich minutes, which is win them.

Speaker 42061.06s - 2070.94s

In 143 minutes with Yolkich on the floor against the wolves this season. The wolves won those minutes by 14. Most of that came from the first time they played them.

Speaker 02071.48s - 2071.88s

Oh, okay.

Speaker 52072.34s - 2076.38s

Yeah, it was, yeah, that first game on November 11th,

Speaker 02076.38s - 2078.52s

a lot of it came there where it drove it down.

Speaker 42078.72s - 2083.88s

But, I mean, in the four games, Yokic was minus 19 plus 8, minus 9 plus 6.

Speaker 22084.28s - 2088.26s

Yeah, the other minus 9 was a Reggie Jackson PERSON game, which is different, obviously.

Speaker 42088.42s - 2093.42s

The one that the wolves looked awesome in Denver on the 29th, yes.

Speaker 22095.1s - 2102.66s

But an area that the wolves have not been awesome is in the non-yokic minutes, which is an area

Speaker 42102.66s - 2182.3s

the nuggets usually are terrible. They, again, minus 14 and 143 minutes with Yokic PERSON on. And then they are minus eight in 49 minutes with Yokic PERSON off the floor in the regular season matchups. They, in many ways, won that last game because the Nuggets won the non-yokish minutes by three and ten minutes in that game on April 11th. They're like two, again, two get to the point at which you don't need to play them in late game offense.You need to do what you've done in the Yokish minutes TIME, which is play them close to even and then take advantage of those non-yokish minutes if and when they come. I think just the tricky part of the non-yokish minutes is it is the small ball look. It is they're going to switch five against them there. And while the wolves should still be able to take advantage of that, it is that style of play of sometimes going small against the wolves and small pockets kind of works.Or, you know, a team can go on a run there for a little bit. Or the wolves feel a little confused for the first two or three possessions of how to go at it. But I guess take either side of it, Yokage minutes or non-yokage minutes. Let's get into that for a little bit.

Speaker 22182.76s - 2204.32s

I think it's easiest to look at the non-yokage minutes, but I would say, like, and I know 49 minutes is like a game, so like not the smallest sample size, but like, that does feel like that could switch on a dime and you'd be like, yeah, and what would more traditionally be Denver's results without Yokch all season would come to fruition. Like that is more likely than Minnesota being like, they struggled all year with the non-yokage

Speaker 42204.32s - 2205.98s

minutes. So that's definitely going to happen again.

Speaker 32206.18s - 2210.4s

Like more likely is that the non-yokish minutes will be not good for Denver ORG.

Speaker 22210.82s - 2211.06s

Yeah.

Speaker 42211.4s - 2212.44s

We will say, though,

Speaker 22212.5s - 2232.7s

it's going to be the best version of the non-yokish minutes in the playoffs, which is Gordon at the five. None of those minutes where it's like, Zeke Najee PERSON, Christian Brown PERSON, Peyton Watson PERSON,Reggie Jackson PERSON, and just Jamal Murray PERSON. Like, they're not going to throw that out there. Yeah, correct. Yeah, it'll be probably like, it'll belike Porter PERSON, probably out there. I don't, I haven't looked at the rotation.

Speaker 32232.7s - 2235.96s

Who started like the fourth quarter last night?

Speaker 22236s - 2236.38s

I don't know.

Speaker 32237.52s - 2239.42s

I was pretty tired by the fourth,

Speaker 22239.54s - 2243.76s

by the fourth quarter last night. But you probably are looking like Murray and even Porter PERSON out there.

Speaker 42243.76s - 2244.92s

At least two of them.

Speaker 32245.1s - 2245.34s

At least. Watson PERSON them. At least.

Speaker 42245.34s - 2246.16s

Watson PERSON and.

Speaker 22246.28s - 2247.18s

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 42247.18s - 2250.42s

They can present something pretty decent there.

Speaker 22250.72s - 2268.8s

The question I think is, if you're the wolves, do you try and weaponize your rotation to take advantage of the non-yokish minutes? And one way of, like,I remember in that last game when Denver lost the nine Yokish minutes TIME. I was like, couldn't have we done something?

Speaker 42268.9s - 2295.46s

Some aunt was out here. Like how it works is Aunt Yokch play the whole first quarter, right? And then they sit those four or five minutes to start the next quarter. And I get it. And that's been Ant PERSON's thing the whole time. But as the wolves lost the first half minutes when Ant and Yokic PERSON were off off the floor.And then again in the second half, I was just, I remember thinking they're being, you got to have something more for these minutes. Can Ant PERSON shift his a little bit?

Speaker 22295.76s - 2297.8s

Well, that's where at least Carl PERSON's probably playing. Exactly.

Speaker 42297.8s - 2302.46s

Can easily play in that start of the fourth quarter where obviously they didn't happen. Such a big Carl PERSON series, man.

Speaker 02302.52s - 2304.44s

In that Denver ORG game. Yeah, no, it's huge.

Speaker 42304.94s - 2310.24s

Has to, has to, if Denver has to allocate multiple resources to aunt PERSON which i think if case he's on

Speaker 02310.24s - 2313.8s

and they probably do um at least a fair amount of help like i don't know how many straight doubles

Speaker 52313.8s - 2318.38s

we'll see but like at least shifted um to where like the help is pretty specifically set up

Speaker 02318.38s - 2324.52s

stuff and uh cat has to take advantage like if cat has just played one-on-one with erin gordon

Speaker 22324.52s - 2331.16s

he has to find ways to score and not get frustrated, like Aaron Gordon did to him for the bulk of last series.

Speaker 42331.28s - 2332.8s

Oh, and that's going to be the plan, right?

Speaker 22332.92s - 2333.52s

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 42333.76s - 2334.72s

Hit, hit, hit.

Speaker 22334.82s - 2335.82s

I'm trying to frustrate.

Speaker 42335.98s - 2336.6s

He's going to do that.

Speaker 22336.96s - 2345s

Yep. And then I think it was, but I would say, like, Denver let Ant Run Wild in the first four games of that series for the most part. And then in like the second half of that series for the most part.

Speaker 02348.32s - 2348.62s

And then in like the second half of Game 5 EVENT, they were like, nope, we're going to take,

Speaker 22350.7s - 2356.62s

we're going to like Blitz, Ant PERSON, everything. And then that is when Carl found a lot of space to operate and had a really nice second half of game five.

Speaker 02359.22s - 2365.28s

And really was a big reason why Minnesota had a shot at the end there. So a lot of it is like can Ant play well enough to where he forces Denver to sell out. Like Phoenix ORG had to sell out.

Speaker 22365.46s - 2368.78s

And then like, and then when that moment comes, like Carl PERSON's got to be ready to strike.

Speaker 02369.06s - 2372.9s

And then defensively, obviously with Carl, it's, you know, it's defending Yokch PERSON.

Speaker 22372.9s - 2375.7s

But it really is also like don't get yourself in foul trouble while doing it.

Speaker 42375.96s - 2383.38s

Right. I mean, the bigger part of the Yokic minutes versus the non-yokish minutes is the Yokish minutes TIME.

Speaker 22383.74s - 2385.12s

That's what matters more. How you play when Yokish is on the courtish minutes TIME, right? Yeah, that's what matters more.

Speaker 42385.24s - 2387.3s

How you play when yokees is on the court? Right, right, right.

Speaker 02387.4s - 2393.12s

Especially in the playoffs, no, when he's going to play, we're talking about six minutes, you know, where he's not on the court.

Speaker 52393.12s - 2396.84s

I know those matter, but like, and there can be a lot of, like,

Speaker 02397.84s - 2399.72s

it's six minutes, you've got to win these six minutes.

Speaker 52399.78s - 2401.8s

You've got to win these two, three-minute subsets.

Speaker 22401.8s - 2406.24s

You can just shoot poorly for six minutes of basketball and be like, okay, like, there's just

Speaker 52406.24s - 2409.58s

going to be some variance in a six-minute stretch of basketball. Absolutely.

Speaker 42410.04s - 2417.08s

I think it's, I don't know how much to take from the idea that the wolves have been really

Speaker 22417.08s - 2418.66s

good in the Yokic minutes.

Speaker 42419.12s - 2422.86s

And what we should say is this goes back to, I didn't pull them, but like, this was kind

Speaker 22422.86s - 2425.38s

of a theme in last year's playoffs too right

Speaker 42425.38s - 2474.68s

where they survived pretty well in the non-yokic minutes and the wolves you know against yokic did a pretty good job in the playoffs against them too it wasn't daunting i'll pull those for another episode when the time comes but i am kind of part of me just and maybe this is the most recent thing is like yokic in that game on apr April 11th when it felt like it was for the one seed. And he just did everything. Yeah, he just took over in that second half and, you know, completely changed the games.The wolves didn't have anything for him there. The wolves also didn't have Carl Anthony Towns PERSON in that game. And what ended up happening in that one was they tried to do Kyle Anderson or Nas PERSON on Yokage and then Rudy PERSON lurking. And then by the second half, they were just like, Rudy,

Speaker 22474.68s - 2476.66s

you, you just go take him one-on-on.

Speaker 42477.14s - 2484.68s

Because Yolk is too big for Nas PERSON. Like, you know, Nas PERSON is trimmed down to where he's literally like almost a small forward body. Like, it's Yoko PERSON just too big.

Speaker 52484.76s - 2489.06s

It's like, it is why like Hachimura doesn't work against Yokich. Yokch PERSON is too big for that.

Speaker 42489.78s - 2495.7s

So that's what I'm curious about the Yokic minutes where cat is not on the floor.

Speaker 52496.5s - 2497.92s

That makes sense, right?

Speaker 22497.92s - 2498.54s

So it's.

Speaker 42499.14s - 2499.3s

Yeah,

Speaker 22499.3s - 2502.86s

because now you're looking at like 10, cat's probably not out there for like 10 minutes of the game.

Speaker 42503.18s - 2503.48s

Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 52503.6s - 2507.7s

And I understand more than like, he's not 40 would be like a ceiling of minutes most likely.

Speaker 42508.54s - 2511.64s

And and then what are the wolves doing there, right?

Speaker 22511.88s - 2517.88s

Do you go with Nas PERSON, who to your point is just not, I mean, he's, what is he got 50 pounds

Speaker 42517.88s - 2522.14s

less than Yokish, 40? Like at least. Yeah. Yeah.

Speaker 52522.32s - 2527.74s

So I mean, that's that it's not what it was before because Nas PERSON got in better shape.

Speaker 42528.66s - 2602.44s

I think Kyle Anderson is a better option on Yokic within that look than that Nas PERSON might be. But another option is to just go Rudy one-on-one defending him and defensive player of the year, all that sort of stuff. Like you go, yeah, he should be able to do that. That hasn't worked. And, like, yeah, he should be able to do that. That hasn't worked. And, and, like, reminder, didn't work for Anthony Davis PERSON last round either. Like, it's just very few, if any, with Bam last year in the finals.Like, it's just, it's not, he is at the point where even Rudy Gobert, Bam PERSON, at a bio, whatever, that's still a problem defensively for you in a one-on-one situation. So I'm interested by those minutes, that's maybe, yeah, for splitting it into the Yokic minutes, but then splitting those in half to Carl PERSON-on versus Carl off. There's just, the wolves have to have answers for every one of them.You know, every sort of configuration for how this Denver ORG team does, to be able to stay team does to be able to stay competitive and to be able to stay defensively competent because the wolves, while their offense is looking better, it's not an elite, elite offense that can just necessarily carry you through a stretch where you're disadvantaged on the defensive side of the floor. So, I don't know,

Speaker 22602.5s - 2667.36s

a lot there. Yeah, I agree. And but we talk about, you know, like all that stuff like Yokic now, Yokishman PERSON, it's like the real barometer for Denver ORG often, especially against like another really good team is like Jamal Murray PERSON. I mean, like that is it. Like Yolkid PERSON isn't going to beat you by himself. And then like Minnesota ORG is not going to allow the other guys to do it.So then it really does come down to like how effective can Jamal Murray PERSON be. Can he be like that second score? Can he be the guy who's going on his own little personal eight point run that feels like that knockout punch to you? And then like does he just have like confidence in space to operate in clutch time? And like how has he scored before that to keep you in the game?I really feel like Jamal Murray PERSON is, he was looking like the guy who would always kind of deliver the knockout punches last year in that series. And he does that for Denver ORG all the time. Like they always call him like Murray Flores there in Denver ORG. And that is, as much as like Michael Porter Jr. PERSON has been great,I really do feel like Jamal Murray PERSON and how I'm going to start a defense him and how effective Murray PERSON can be. Like I feel like that is what will determine the series is how Jamal Murray PERSON plays offensively. I think that is what will determine whether the wolves move on to the West Finals or the Nuggets ORG do.

Speaker 42668.08s - 2753.32s

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Speaker 02754.12s - 2820.86s

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Speaker 42888.46s - 2898.02s

Well, that's what I say in the outline, right, was how much better can Murray be than Booker PERSON? Yeah, sure. That's the way to look at because it's the same. But Devin Booker PERSON's not bad.

Speaker 22898.64s - 2910.52s

Devin Booker is really good. If Devin Booker got to run picking rolls with Nicole Yolk PERSON, Devin Booker PERSON would be really good too. Like, that's a very easy, like, that makes life a lot easier for you as a basketball player.

Speaker 52910.52s - 2912.8s

Where Devin Booker PERSON was like, put your head down and go.

Speaker 22913.56s - 2918.88s

No, that's a good way to peel back of like, yeah, worry's going to struggle one-on-one.

Speaker 42919.04s - 2919.68s

Yeah, yes.

Speaker 32919.84s - 2937.48s

It's because there's made 48 minutes of Jaden or Nikiel PERSON on it. Yep. Right? And as it was for Booker in that series, there's me 48 minutes of jaden or nekeel PERSON on it yep right and as it was for for booker in in that series there's some things to loosen that up to force a couple more switches to get the wolves in rotation a little bit more by using yokitch as a screener rather than nurkich who just

Speaker 42937.48s - 2946.56s

wasn't used as that there i mean at the same time though it is mcdaniels and to kill alexander walker like it is

Speaker 32946.56s - 2955.56s

as good of a option as any team in the NBA can put up against jamal murray in in this

Speaker 42955.56s - 2964.52s

i mean maybe then i mean sorry maybe boston two can probably do that i mean that's that's the way i'm kind of thinking about this is like i don't think anybody in the league i would probably

Speaker 32964.52s - 2965.42s

think minnesota's even but those would be the only two right and that's the way I'm kind of thinking about this is like, I don't think anybody in the league has any chance at Denver ORG.

Speaker 22965.42s - 2968.02s

But those would be the only two, right?

Speaker 32968.2s - 2972.46s

And that's the reason is because they have guys who can,

Speaker 42973.3s - 3018.66s

not even theoretically, they have guys who can and will limit Jamal Murray PERSON at times in this series. And then if you have been able to survive Yokic PERSON, not just game breaking it, like, that's your path, right? That's your path to beating Denver ORG in this. So, yeah, the question is, can Nikiel and Jaden have a similar impact on Murray as they had Booker PERSON?The Booker PERSON numbers were so bad that the answer to that is no. But like, can it not be that much better? Like, if Booker shot 25% when guarded by those guys, you know, can you keep Murray under 45 or something, whatever that might be? It can be a little bit better. But how much better can it be, I think, is what shifts it. Yeah.

Speaker 23018.72s - 3039.76s

And I do think, like, I wish I watched one of the playoff games from last year before I did this. I'll probably do that sometime this week. But, like, if I recall, like, does Minnesota kind of on like a screen and roll, the kind of blitz? I wish I watched one of the playoff games from last year before we did this. I'll probably do that sometime this week. But if I recall, like, does Minnesota ORG kind of on like a screen and roll the kind of blitzmurryand then just really put Yokic in a position where he is just the obvious pass and is up top on the perimeter by himself for a second there. But like, Gaubert PERSON's still standing in the lane.Well,

Speaker 33039.84s - 3043.5s

that's the thing. If I remember that happens, Gordon PERSON is on. Right?

Speaker 43043.7s - 3043.96s

Like,

Speaker 23044.36s - 3045.22s

if Gordon PERSON's on the court.

Speaker 43045.82s - 3046.04s

Yeah.

Speaker 23046.76s - 3049.14s

I'll watch this too and we'll clear this up.

Speaker 43049.14s - 3050.76s

But I think if it's Yokic PERSON in the screen,

Speaker 33050.76s - 3051.68s

and cats on them,

Speaker 23052.14s - 3054.42s

cats up and I think they blitz a lot of screens.

Speaker 33054.78s - 3056.04s

Yeah, I think they blitz a lot of screens.

Speaker 43056.24s - 3056.4s

I do.

Speaker 33056.66s - 3058.36s

That's what I remember Minnesota ORG doing,

Speaker 43058.76s - 3060.94s

which makes it even harder for Murray PERSON to get any space.

Speaker 23061.02s - 3063.16s

They really kind of take the ball out of his hands in those situations.

Speaker 43063.58s - 3064.56s

And so then it was like, okay,

Speaker 23064.62s - 3066.72s

if we want Murray PERSON to just get the ball here,

Speaker 43066.76s - 3068.96s

he has to just kind of go one-on-one, which is really hard to do.

Speaker 23069.04s - 3069.24s

Right.

Speaker 03070.8s - 3073.4s

And then we'll see, like, Denver ORG probably will plan for that, I'm guessing,

Speaker 23073.52s - 3075.08s

and we'll see whatever their counter is.

Speaker 33075.54s - 3079.44s

The counter will be Gordon PERSON initiating the offense at the top.

Speaker 23080s - 3081.84s

And then as, like, the point guard.

Speaker 43082.14s - 3084.02s

I mean, they do that just in the same way.

Speaker 23084.08s - 3086.66s

Like, the wolves will put Kyle Anderson at point guard.

Speaker 43086.66s - 3089.36s

And Jamal PERSON kind of comes up in downs.

Speaker 23089.74s - 3089.78s

Yeah.

Speaker 43090.08s - 3095.06s

Like he's the two, you know, like when Mike Conley is the two next to J. Mack or Montemort PERSON.

Speaker 23095.06s - 3098.62s

Or Kyle Anderson in that sort of thing.

Speaker 43098.76s - 3107.84s

Like that's a way to do it to get Jamal the ball without the wolves necessarily being able to put two on the ball there.

Speaker 23108.1s - 3117.78s

But at a lot of times, they're going to want to run him as the point too. So you got to have, again, you got to have answers for a handful different looks here. And those are the breaks then for Jamal PERSON when he doesn't have to bring the ball up the court.

Speaker 43118.02s - 3120.2s

You know, like get a little mini breaks, stuff like that.

Speaker 53120.3s - 3123.28s

Like, yeah, if Aaron Gordon, who Rudy PERSON's on him, can just dribble the ball up the floor.

Speaker 43123.46s - 3126.06s

And it wouldn't make sense for Rudy PERSON to press up.

Speaker 53126.26s - 3127.9s

They definitely did that in the playoffs last year.

Speaker 23127.94s - 3129.5s

Yes. Definitely definitely remember that.

Speaker 43129.66s - 3129.78s

Yeah.

Speaker 23130.42s - 3133.06s

So it's like, yeah, based on how Gordon PERSON plays.

Speaker 43133.36s - 3136.2s

Like that's how they will kind of react

Speaker 23136.2s - 3138.44s

to how they initiate because they're going to keep

Speaker 43138.44s - 3140.04s

they're going to keep Gordon PERSON on the floor.

Speaker 23140.1s - 3141.32s

It's the same thing as the Rudy PERSON thing.

Speaker 43141.46s - 3143.14s

Like he's not going to get played off the floor.

Speaker 53143.26s - 3143.82s

No, no.

Speaker 03143.82s - 3153.1s

He's not hitting. They will find other ways in which to weaponize Michael, or sorry, to weaponize Aaron Gordon, even if he starts O for five from three or whatever.

Speaker 23153.4s - 3155.8s

They're not going to take a B plus player off the court.

Speaker 43155.86s - 3156.38s

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 23156.94s - 3158.3s

Who probably also can't shoot.

Speaker 43158.9s - 3162.52s

You know, it's not like, it's like Peyton shoots the three like Aaron Gordon does,

Speaker 23162.56s - 3165.04s

get out there because maybe you'll make a couple. You know, like that won't happen.

Speaker 43165.42s - 3166.92s

But I would say like last year,

Speaker 23167.48s - 3194.28s

and Nikiel did a great job on Jamal PERSON, but it did feel like Murray PERSON, if anything at the ends of games, was pretty successful. And you could see in those games, like Jamal Murray PERSON,if he ran five miles in those games, Nikiel Walker PERSON, Alexander Walker ran 10. You know, like he just like so gas by the end of those games. Like Murray PERSON was huffing and puffin and puffin.You know Nikiel PERSON was too. I really do just think, like, their ability to have two guys share that role. And I bet it goes 75% Jaden, 25% Nikiel or whatever, 70, 30.

Speaker 03194.44s - 3204.94s

But I just think that will keep both of them fresh enough to where there's a very good chance that whoever is covering Murray in the last five minutes of the game is not as tired as Jamal Murray PERSON is at that point. And that'll be a pretty big advantage from Minnesota ORG as well.

Speaker 43206.14s - 3209.5s

You know what I think is another advantage in this?

Speaker 23209.56s - 3215.24s

And maybe this is just kind of going off of it being like a series for Nas read in round one.

Speaker 53215.24s - 3224.72s

It's I think Nas is a guy particularly against mixed lineups of Denver ORG that can really cook for an extended period of time.

Speaker 43225.22s - 3228.72s

I remember just watching every time I watched one of the Phoenix ORG games back,

Speaker 33228.8s - 3230.66s

I was like, man, this sucks for Nas PERSON.

Speaker 53231.02s - 3233.62s

Like, it's just like, all right, here are your,

Speaker 43234.42s - 3239.14s

you got to guard KD and like Royce O'Neill is on you defensively.

Speaker 53239.26s - 3243.34s

It's just, it's like it's putting the stress on the points of Nas PERSON' game that aren't the

Speaker 33243.34s - 3253.88s

best part of it and somewhat neutralizing the, you know, some of his offensive stuff, like the off the bounce game. Like, whenever Nas scored off the bounce in the Phoenix ORG series,

Speaker 43254.2s - 3261.6s

it was like one of those cat drives where it's like, I am, this is full speed. I'm not stopping because if I slowed on at all, you're going to catch me.

Speaker 13261.86s - 3266.46s

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I think Nas PERSON, like, I don't think Nas had, like, a terrible series or anything like that.

Speaker 43266.58s - 3317.12s

But much like it was a tricky matchup series for Kat, it was for Nas PERSON too. I just remember talking to, like, some Denver people afterwards last year. And that's what they all, a lot of people brought that up. They're like, yeah, they would have Nas PERSON read in the series like that. But it really helped. And I was like, you know, this Nasaried 12 months ago, I'm like, kind of'm like kind of you know but I guess I can see that too of just another offensive threat that you'renot going to be guarding with one of your good defenders right you're going to be just trying to survive those minutes a little bit I think that's the he has the chance to be the nekeal in this where you look at it you're wow, we are three games in, and the wolves are down to one, but they're plus 19 in the Nas PERSON read minutes. I can totally,I can totally see that sort of playing out much like I can did with the keel in round one.

Speaker 23317.68s - 3333.56s

It was funny, like, Nas PERSON, at the end of the Phoenix ORG series, Kyle asked Jaden PERSON, because Nas PERSON is sitting right next to him, and he's like,was it cool to win a series now, like you and Nas PERSON after you guys didn't get to play last year. And Nas PERSON just goes, don't look at me. I didn't do anything. Nas PERSON was on one in the locker.

Speaker 03334s - 3335.28s

Yeah, yeah, he was.

Speaker 53335.4s - 3338.96s

But in general, like, you know, throughout the series, even, Nas PERSON would be like, I didn't do anything tonight.

Speaker 23339.1s - 3358.14s

That's cool. Like, whatever, you know, like, so I definitely think it was a series where he just kind of like, yeah, not for him. But it will be interesting. Like, I don't know when he's out there like who who is defending him how aware are they of his three point ability that kind of stuff like at this point it is like you press up on naz and then if he drives you know you can just be physical more physical

Speaker 43358.14s - 3363.2s

with drivers in the playoffs too to slow him down a little bit phoenix did that there was just

Speaker 23363.2s - 3372.3s

kd was just rioted him. Yeah, the whole time and fast enough. And they're just not calling those bumps as much. Which helps the wolves on the other side too. Yes. Yeah.This is different now.

Speaker 43372.48s - 3372.96s

It is different.

Speaker 23372.96s - 3374.02s

It is like,

Speaker 43374.5s - 3379.5s

it's why everybody's playoff plan to me should be like we stay home and we don't

Speaker 23379.5s - 3380.96s

give up open shots to anybody.

Speaker 43381.36s - 3381.4s

Like,

Speaker 23381.78s - 3392.3s

because like when you can push and pull and grab defensively, like all of a sudden like those best players, their efficiency and their volume is going to go down. Like, to me, it just seems like it looks more.

Speaker 53392.3s - 3396.78s

How about that Anthony Davis PERSON challenge that where he did get the ball up top of it blocked?

Speaker 23396.88s - 3398.32s

It was just a yank in the jersey.

Speaker 33398.56s - 3399.58s

I agree with it.

Speaker 53399.58s - 3401.02s

That's going to follow the playoffs, you know?

Speaker 33401.32s - 3407.18s

And it did seem like, you know, like, it was like, okay, but that's not really part of this play that we're challenging here.

Speaker 43407.28s - 3408.66s

Like what happens to dribbles prior.

Speaker 23409.02s - 3411.66s

Definitely like, and Yokic and Rudy PERSON does this too.

Speaker 43411.82s - 3415.94s

Like you will see like Minnesota will be super physical with Yokic PERSON, you know,

Speaker 23415.98s - 3417.46s

like there'll be a lot of jersey grabbing and stuff.

Speaker 43417.52s - 3421.32s

And you'll see Yokic PERSON, you know, showing his arms and like showing like they're grabbing

Speaker 33421.32s - 3421.78s

my jersey.

Speaker 23421.92s - 3422.9s

Like they will do that.

Speaker 33423.06s - 3425.5s

And you're allowed to do that. And that's

Speaker 23425.5s - 3484.34s

and that's why in the playoffs like you should guard best players one-on-one because you can lower their efficiency by fouling basically like fouls that aren't called and then you stay home and it's just like the best playoff defense is one that doesn't give up any open shots make everything can test it every time even like with anthony androids goes up if I'm down for it, I'm pushing them in the hip, you know, like because it's probably not getting called. Make the star players life tough and don't let anybody else get going because of open shots. Like that's how I think every team should defend. Minnesota ORG did a really good job with that.It was a perfect example, like with KD. Like every time KD would come around on a screen, Carl PERSON, be grabbing them. Like, yes, do it. Take advantage of the rules that you were playing under in the playoffs. You know, like that's, and so I will see if Denver ORG does kind of the same thing.I don't know. But like that's what made Minnesota ORG so good. I think in that first series is that Phoenix ORG didn't even feel like they could do that with Ant PERSON, so they had to supply a lot of help. So Minnesota ORG got way more open shots than you often see in a playoff game. So we'll see, I think if Minnesota does that against Denver ORG, like that's their best bet.Don't give up any open shots.

Speaker 33484.98s - 3486.92s

No, I'm with that.

Speaker 43486.92s - 3491.02s

And that's probably part of the answer for Nas PERSON too defensively in this series.

Speaker 23491.2s - 3494.04s

If he does get some on Yokic PERSON minutes, too.

Speaker 43494.58s - 3495s

Be physical.

Speaker 23495.26s - 3495.46s

Foul.

Speaker 43495.62s - 3498.06s

If you follow, oh, well, like, you know, like, you're not playing.

Speaker 23498.24s - 3499.34s

You play 22 minutes in this.

Speaker 43499.34s - 3503.32s

Yeah, you're not playing enough minutes where you're having five fouls is going to matter.

Speaker 23503.54s - 3505.38s

Foul on the floor.

Speaker 43505.74s - 3507.4s

Fowl when he's getting positioned on you.

Speaker 23507.7s - 3511.06s

Yes, do your work early, and if they call foul there, you can live with it.

Speaker 43511.24s - 3514.8s

You know, like, not, just stop with the verticality stuff.

Speaker 23515.4s - 3516.18s

You're not, it doesn't work.

Speaker 43516.68s - 3518.32s

It's just their timing, time is not right there.

Speaker 23518.42s - 3520.24s

There's going to be Yokic PERSON and ones every time.

Speaker 43521.1s - 3522.38s

You don't got to meet them at the top.

Speaker 23522.68s - 3523.02s

He does.

Speaker 33523.98s - 3525.98s

Nas PERSON is one to buy pump bakes and whatnot

Speaker 43525.98s - 3530.78s

more often than not too so and when you're in a vertical and you're coming down and landing on

Speaker 33530.78s - 3534.66s

somebody doesn't matter that's where you're vertical and you're jumping two feet sideways and

Speaker 43534.66s - 3538.56s

that doesn't matter and those are the ones that even in the playoffs they're just too easy for us like

Speaker 33538.56s - 3542.46s

they're conditioned to call those you know like they'll let more grabbing and stuff get away but

Speaker 43542.46s - 3545.34s

you jumping two feet into somebody more likely to get called.

Speaker 33545.94s - 3546.62s

I agree.

Speaker 43546.9s - 3550.86s

That's the biggest thing if he does end up with Yokic PERSON at all is like just Yokic is tact,

Speaker 23551.16s - 3553.34s

you know, and Nas PERSON not falling for any of the tricks.

Speaker 33554.7s - 3560.26s

I just, Naz PERSON is the type of player where even I look at the size disadvantage or I look at

Speaker 43560.26s - 3564.44s

the things that could be working against him, much like Nikiel PERSON from like a size standpoint.

Speaker 23564.44s - 3566.14s

I'm just like, I don't know, that dude's

Speaker 43566.14s - 3568.08s

competitive. Like, he might

Speaker 33568.08s - 3570.02s

just figure out some things here just because

Speaker 43570.02s - 3572.1s

he's more competitive than... Either way,

Speaker 23572.18s - 3574.06s

he'll give you a burst if it's probably at some

Speaker 43574.06s - 3576.14s

point, you know. He just in game one.

Speaker 23576.26s - 3578.1s

Get that in game one against Phoenix ORG. He just give you

Speaker 43578.1s - 3580.08s

a burst, a couple big plays where you're like, the game

Speaker 23580.08s - 3581.82s

has shifted. And, and

Speaker 43581.82s - 3583.84s

like, and that can matter

Speaker 23583.84s - 3586.44s

like an eight point run, even if you finish

Speaker 43586.44s - 3592.9s

the night shooting, you know, five for 12, but that when you made four buckets and four minutes,

Speaker 23593.1s - 3598.56s

that was Carl PERSON. That was Carl. That was Carl. Yeah. And it made it for that was. Exactly. And you

Speaker 03598.56s - 3602.14s

would leave the game being like, I don't know, but that thing, what he did in the third was huge.

Speaker 43602.38s - 3607.26s

You know, yeah, right. And it was. You know, like, it's not always just looking at the stats.

Speaker 23607.36s - 3609.12s

A lot of times it's like, when do you do things?

Speaker 43609.38s - 3610.34s

Particularly in the playoffs.

Speaker 23610.56s - 3610.72s

Yeah.

Speaker 43611.28s - 3615.12s

Less so the aggregate of what your combined result was and more of like,

Speaker 53616.12s - 3618.36s

were you costly in the most costly times?

Speaker 33618.8s - 3620.94s

Or were you impactful at the most impactful times?

Speaker 43621.06s - 3622.98s

To Carl PERSON's credit, you know, he was more of that.

Speaker 23622.98s - 3626.1s

I remember after game one, I was like, wow, this was amazing tonight.

Speaker 43626.1s - 3627.18s

And it was like, 12 points.

Speaker 23627.52s - 3627.78s

I know.

Speaker 43627.78s - 3633.86s

You know, but it was like, oh, I don't know, each one of them felt like, you know, like, just like, just like.

Speaker 23634s - 3636.6s

That was, we did the segment.

Speaker 43636.7s - 3638.06s

It was like that was like to feel.

Speaker 23638.32s - 3638.44s

Yeah.

Speaker 43638.44s - 3638.56s

Yeah.

Speaker 53639.36s - 3639.4s

Yeah.

Speaker 43640.32s - 3641.18s

That was impactful.

Speaker 53641.76s - 3645.72s

I mean, we're both going to spend more time digging into this.

Speaker 23645.78s - 3646.94s

You're going to write about it at length.

Speaker 53647.32s - 3648.4s

More time they would like to probably.

Speaker 23648.56s - 3649.42s

Yeah, right, right.

Speaker 43649.9s - 3652.08s

Anything else, any final note?

Speaker 53652.12s - 3653.86s

Or is that a good place for us to start this?

Speaker 23654.28s - 3655.74s

No, I think it's in a good spot.

Speaker 53655.8s - 3661.06s

I'm interested to see just like how Denver ORG talks about themselves over these next few days

Speaker 43661.06s - 3661.86s

just in terms of health.

Speaker 23661.86s - 3674.04s

Like, everybody's going to play. I've already played a bunch of minutes last night. But like Denver ORG's probably going to have to be, I think Denver ORG, both teams will have to be at their best to win this series. But I think like Denver ORG will have to too.I don't think Denver ORG will get away with as many lulls stretches

Speaker 03674.04s - 3695.64s

because if you're not good in the second, the wolves will probably be good in the second. If you're not good in the third, the wolves will probably be good in the third. And like, I know Denver ORG can probably outclose anybody, including Minnesota, but like you don't want to be down 15 to Minnesotabecause I don't see them giving up that type of run. The only time when I saw Denver ORG in that Lakers really looked dominant was the second half of that game two against the Lakers ORG. They were down, like, 17, and then they just,

Speaker 23696.72s - 3714.96s

they outplayed the Lakers ORG to a level that I've not seen, you know? And that, to me, the whole question is, was that a switch that Denver ORG flipped? To be like, well, that was the only time they needed it and then they did it. Or like, was that just that was the one good stretch they could muster, you know?

Speaker 43721.58s - 3739.54s

That's what I was getting at the top, man, where I was like the status thing or what I was thinking in the third quarter last night watching it. And like, they deserve the benefit of the doubt. I agree agree with that but i'm ignore we are acknowledging the doubt exists exists yes that that that i want to know and you know if somehow we're like wow wolves are up 3-1 yeah like it that will match something

Speaker 23739.54s - 3745.28s

will have grown out of that doubt you know what i'm saying that will match that will match kind of what is in the back of your mind is the eye test, right?

Speaker 03745.4s - 3748.98s

Like that will match what, like when you watch these games and maybe the Lakers ORG are just

Speaker 43748.98s - 3750s

better than Phoenix ORG too.

Speaker 03750.14s - 3751.38s

I don't, you know, that's possible.

Speaker 33752.3s - 3755.62s

But that will match what you saw so far in the playoffs.

Speaker 53755.62s - 3758.24s

If the wolves go up three water, they're like, yeah, the wolves were playing better

Speaker 23758.24s - 3769.56s

coming into the series. The wolves for large chunks, even when they got blown out at the end of the fourth regular season matchup, through like two and a half quarters, I was like, well, just have better players than Denver ORG does, you know?

Speaker 33770.02s - 3775.24s

And then I feel like they just got totally frazzled and not executed down the stretch

Speaker 23775.24s - 3789.06s

of that game. But there are many times, and it probably happened in this series where the Lakers ORG feel the same way, probably where they're like, wow, we outplayed them a lot. Minnesota ORG, I feel like if they lose the series, it will go down as that. They will walk away being like, wow, we outplayed them a lot yeah Minnesota I feel like if they lose the series it will go down as that they will walk away being like wow we outplayed them a lot

Speaker 53789.06s - 3793.32s

and just stubbed our toe a few too many times down stretches of games and lost games we should

Speaker 23793.32s - 3802.96s

have won much like they did in 2022 against memphis where you were like well the wolves outplayed memphis a lot and lost that series like if Minnesota ORG loses the series that is how i would expect

Speaker 33802.96s - 3805.94s

they will feel at the end of it.

Speaker 43815.68s - 3815.84s

I just want to, for listeners, like, maybe this is a little like inside baseball, but like what happens to the playoffs is we get a lot more like access, right?

Speaker 03823.92s - 3826.96s

We talk to more players after games. There's like the press conferences that happened that, you know, you saw everyone, you saw Ant and Cat PERSON do that sort of thing. But we end up, we also get to talk to a bunch of players in the locker room.

Speaker 43827.72s - 3908.68s

And, you know, Jace ORG and myself and the other reporters are like on the road at practices and stuff like that. And I think, like, I thought you did a great job of this in the Phoenix series. Like, Jace ORG is really good at, like, taking quotes, combining them into a theme and having a lot of different thematic articles in that sort of way. And I say that to me, like, you're going to see the postgame press conferences, but there's a lot more stuff out there.And I know everybody, just like the numbers of our stuff and everything. Like, people want to consume and get as much, not just like from us, but like word from the players and team. And I think like, Jason is doing a really good job of like putting that all together at the Pioneer press. I mean, I'm sure all of you already follow him on Twitter at at Jace Frederick. I know I'm just like, because I'm doing pods like after the game, I'm spending less time just liketweeting out quotes. And I think like a lot of the best quotes ended up only surfacing in some of like your stories like the Nikiel and Mike one was awesome you know and that so I would just just for listeners is you're going to care about this and you're going to there's going to be a lot of off days in between the games here coming up with this like I just think jace PERSON is a really really good place to to get high quality and a high volume of the content there so I don't know if you have anything that you want to plug for the playoffs. So then just subscribe and read.

Speaker 23909.2s - 3914.56s

No, I've got ideas for this week. But so often with this, like it is like seeing how it plays out.

Speaker 03915.32s - 3916.06s

So I don't know.

Speaker 23916.14s - 3935.24s

But yeah, like the Nekiel Mike PERSON thing, like it was actually like it was somebody asked last before the playoffs started or something like, hey, Nikiel PERSON, like how's your playoff mindset shifted? And immediately he just went to playing on the ball and he just started talking about mike PERSON and how much he learned about mike and so then that after that game three where like we talk to mike we talk in keel PERSON and there's just more quotes and i was like i had that one really

Speaker 43935.24s - 3945.62s

good quote from like that i can like well that's what happens is like stuff just like falls back right there's another game or another practice the next day and And you're like, oh, no, now these quotes.

Speaker 23945.86s - 3959s

Yeah. And sometimes you're like, maybe I'll use that. But then it doesn't play out the right way. Like basketball doesn't align with the story, you know. But when it does, it comes together. And it's like, yeah, this works.You know, like stuff about Carl PERSON and how the offense kind of clicked without him.

Speaker 03959.54s - 3960.66s

You know, to recall with that.

Speaker 23960.74s - 3970.78s

And like, it's sustaining so well. Kind of does come together you know like and but often it is based on the basketball but yeah we just we do talk to so many more people and like

Speaker 03970.78s - 3973.98s

obviously like I'm on the road more now for playoffs when I'm just not in regular season so like

Speaker 23973.98s - 3978.68s

there's more access there and same with you you know like right we talked to a lot of people and

Speaker 03978.68s - 3984.98s

there's just like there's the demand for content both from like my boss and readers and whatnot and so

Speaker 23984.98s - 3988.28s

like there only has a lot more thought but there there's also like, it's fun to like sink

Speaker 53988.28s - 3991.7s

your teeth in and like think of different things to write and there's so much more to analyze.

Speaker 23991.94s - 3993.38s

Like it's enjoyable for us.

Speaker 43993.38s - 4003.5s

So it's nice that everybody else like enjoys it too. No, totally. I mean, it's just, yeah, it's worthwhile stuff to sink your teeth into as a writer or as a, you know, a consumer of it.

Speaker 24003.5s - 4006.28s

And when you know somebody's going to read it and watch it, like,

Speaker 44006.36s - 4009.34s

you probably do like, you know, like as your numbers go up, it's like, oh,

Speaker 24009.54s - 4010.68s

this is a good time to burn this.

Speaker 44010.84s - 4012.38s

You know, people are actually reading it.

Speaker 24012.58s - 4015.74s

That's why when I woke up this morning, I was like, oh, definitely thought I was

Speaker 44015.74s - 4021.74s

going to have like maybe at least watch one of these wolves nuggets games before doing

Speaker 34021.74s - 4022.74s

a podcast on it.

Speaker 44022.74s - 4026.8s

But we are still catching up on sleep mode from

Speaker 04026.8s - 4031.8s

from last weekend but we're going to dig in this is going to be really fun i'm just i'm so excited

Speaker 44031.8s - 4043.88s

for this series just from a basketball standpoint like this is this is the type of series that if it isn't the wolves i would be like not missing a minute of you know just the love of the

Speaker 24043.88s - 4069.54s

basketball person. Yeah. And I'm not like, and I think that it's going to get more eyes because of Anthony Edwards now. Like I think had Ant not really just dominated and like kind of taking center stage for like the NBA in that Phoenix series, I think people might have been like, eh, Denver Wolves, nine o'clock game. I'm not watching that. But now like it does be like, oh, aunt versus the defending champs. Like, I think it'll get more national recognition in that way versus just like, yeah, these two teams are really good.

Speaker 54069.78s - 4072.64s

But, you know, like, the only thing I'll contend with,

Speaker 24073.14s - 4076.42s

I don't think this is like an automatic west finance. Like, it's going to be framed.

Speaker 54076.52s - 4083.82s

Like, I really do think, like, Oklahoma City GPE is playing really good basketball. And I would expect the winner of this series to be the favorite. But, like, I would always just be like,

Speaker 24083.84s - 4086.08s

remember Oklahoma City GPE is up there? And they are also a good team.

Speaker 44087.42s - 4090.9s

So it's minus 230 for the series price, which for people don't know what that means.

Speaker 24091.4s - 4105.14s

It's down to minus 210 MONEY. It's down to minus 210 already. And there is usually 64% or something like that for Denver ORG. Somebody else got one of those emails that told me the person. Exactly. 210 divided by 310.What is that? Yeah, that's about 65%.

Speaker 44105.14s - 4108.46s

Is that how you do that math? That's how they calculate that number? Wow.

Speaker 24111.52s - 4112.52s

Yeah, that's 65.

Speaker 44112.52s - 4113.7s

Okay, so this is a different.

Speaker 24113.82s - 4117.68s

This is a different site now.

Speaker 54120.02s - 4121.64s

And so I looked at Draft Kings.

Speaker 34121.72s - 4122.44s

This is bad online.

Speaker 24122.44s - 4129.88s

That's where the email came from. Wolzer plus 170, which is more where I expected it to open. And Denver minus 195. So go ahead and, Dane PERSON. Give me that percentage before I read it.

Speaker 44130.04s - 4137.52s

Well, that's two thirds. It's 66%. So it's like 64. No, 66.1.

Speaker 34137.58s - 4138.46s

You should have went with you right there.

Speaker 44139.82s - 4146.76s

So my question was, if it were that in the next round and they were playing Oklahoma City GPE,

Speaker 24146.96s - 4148.74s

what would that percentage be?

Speaker 34149.34s - 4150.44s

Oh, I think the wolves.

Speaker 44150.78s - 4152.54s

Do you think the wolves would be favored in that?

Speaker 34152.54s - 4152.82s

Yes.

Speaker 44153.12s - 4154.96s

And Oklahoma City GPE would be the home team.

Speaker 24155.26s - 4159.18s

Yes, I do think it would be like wolves minus 130.

Speaker 44159.64s - 4159.86s

Yeah.

Speaker 24160.82s - 4164.56s

So that's a big, that's a big swing from what this is.

Speaker 44164.68s - 4165.78s

Yes, but that would that would say

Speaker 24165.78s - 4171.04s

the wolves have like a 54% whatever 10% chance of victory i do think that is you know like i just

Speaker 44171.04s - 4174.48s

don't think it's like uh no that's what you're right to say the reason i brought it up was you're

Speaker 24174.48s - 4179.04s

like this is not you're not guaranteed like you win and same for the nuggets beat the wolves it's

Speaker 44179.04s - 4185.78s

not like here you go yes yes 100% right no i i i get that i've just I'm not even getting there in my head.

Speaker 24185.9s - 4186.96s

No, I just see a lot of that.

Speaker 44187.02s - 4188.34s

I think we'll see a lot of it even nationally.

Speaker 24188.34s - 4194.28s

Like, oh, this is the West Finals EVENT. And I agree that team will be the favorite to do so, but like, there's a lot of basketball to go.

Speaker 44194.44s - 4195.46s

A lot of basketball to go.

Speaker 24195.98s - 4196.4s

Yeah.

Speaker 44196.66s - 4200.4s

So a lot of stuff to come here on the pod, too.

Speaker 24200.4s - 4204.6s

It is, I guess we've got a little bit of time here until Saturday.

Speaker 44204.9s - 4235.58s

Game one. I'll definitely do at least one show, get with some Denver ORG perspective, whether that's with the DNVR guys or Ryan Blackburn PERSON's done this with me as well. We'll hit that and then probably have Chris and Britt on somewhere here in the coming days, too. But I think next up is to just kind of be like, okay, the series is happening. This was our first dive into it.And whether it's Jace Writing PERSON or me here on the pod, we'll have plenty of stuff to dig into.

Speaker 24235.58s - 4241.72s

I just want to like, if anybody has questions about like Finch PERSON, I mean, I do think like,

Speaker 54242.14s - 4243.28s

so is surgery tomorrow.

Speaker 24243.64s - 4247.18s

So like I am sure today they just and even like last

Speaker 54247.18s - 4252.32s

night and stuff they ran through like practice plans and stuff because finch can't really even like execute it

Speaker 24252.32s - 4256.04s

like he's not gonna be a practice tomorrow obviously yeah i kind of figure first day out of surgery

Speaker 44256.04s - 4260.72s

probably not at practice thursday even if he wants to be um so i think like it'll be like micha norri ORG kind

Speaker 24260.72s - 4273.82s

of running the ship but you know but like these guys are working their departments and they know what to do but like i'm sure like practice plans and, game plan stuff and all that stuff, like that was hammered out of the day because, like, Finch will be out of commission tomorrow. You know, like on pain pills and all this stuff.

Speaker 04273.82s - 4279.78s

Like, and even probably to some degree Thursday before Woach tweeted that the plan is if there's no setbacks that he'll fly with the team Friday.

Speaker 54280.12s - 4283.02s

It's not like he's going to be first row coaching Friday, I mean, Saturday.

Speaker 44283.68s - 4285.42s

But, but, but yeah, like, this will be an interesting.

Speaker 54285.58s - 4289.04s

I've heard second row something so you can't keep bumping.

Speaker 44289.04s - 4296.66s

I agree with that, but I do think like, and I just keep saying like one of my decent friends, like, had this exact blue out his knee.

Speaker 24296.78s - 4301.66s

And like, I don't know, three days later, I don't know if he would have been sitting second row. Five days later, yeah, I think he would have been.

Speaker 54302.26s - 4311.76s

But we'll see like game one. I don't know what his setup will be. Game two, it might be different two days later. I think it would be much better shape there. But like, just one thing in your head, like, I think he would have been. But we'll see, like, game one, I don't know what his setup will be. Game two, it might be different two days later. I think it would be much better shape there. But, like, just one thing in your head, like, you're not going to be at practice these next couple days.

Speaker 44312.66s - 4321.5s

And that's just like one of the, I always say, like, the element of basketball, I feel like I understand the least is just how coaching works.

Speaker 24321.62s - 4322.72s

Everyone, everyone does.

Speaker 44322.86s - 4327.42s

All of us played basketball to some extent in our lives, right?

Speaker 34327.42s - 4332.3s

I know nothing about the mechanics and all of that of how it works.

Speaker 44332.56s - 4335.88s

Obviously, it's a disadvantage to not have your head coach to some extent.

Speaker 34336.02s - 4341.8s

But like to the degree to which it changes the game planning and all of that.

Speaker 24341.92s - 4343.76s

I think the message is the same.

Speaker 44343.9s - 4345.5s

It's the delivering of the message, right?

Speaker 24345.56s - 4346.96s

Like they put together the plan.

Speaker 44347.06s - 4356.76s

They know what needs to be better. At halftime, they know what we have to do better. Finch PERSON is very good at delivering that message. And I think Mike Nore PERSON can be as well, but it is a different person delivering it in a different tone.

Speaker 54356.76s - 4357.1s

Yeah.

Speaker 24357.34s - 4362.3s

So that matters. Like how much things sink in probably depends on the way it is, the way in which it

Speaker 54362.3s - 4389.48s

is delivered. And I think all through the last few years, we've learned that Finch PERSON is very good at getting his message across of you need to do this. We need to do this. We're not going to win unless we do this, all that stuff.And so like not having him at practice yelling at you saying like, you're not doing this right. And if we don't do this, you know, we're scored or whatever pulling guys to the side. That's a little bit of a detriment. I mean, like, it's just not the same guy who's been doing it all year.So, like, there's at least a disruption of rhythm. Yeah.

Speaker 44390.24s - 4401.36s

It's just, like, interesting from a, like, a storytelling standpoint or whatever, of like, or, like, researching it, reporting on it sort of thing. Like, this is, we don't have a lot of, like, previous context to go off of in that.

Speaker 34401.42s - 4413.66s

Like, so I'm just, I'm interested to see, like, what they say about it, how it works, what we just feel like watching it. If there's like a time, we're like, oh, man, what if they would have,you know, like, I don't know. Like, I'm just, that's why I did put it on the outlinebecause it's like,

Speaker 24413.96s - 4420.06s

this black box of like, that's what I'm saying, I don't know for coaching at all. I'm just saying, like, I don't think he's going to be a practice tomorrow

Speaker 34420.06s - 4429.92s

unless the surgery is really late in the day. Right. And then I don't, I would be really stunning if he's I practice Thursday one day after that surgery, which I know you are like, you're sore after that surgery.

Speaker 04430.48s - 4434.46s

So like, and on painkillers generally, maybe, maybe you'll go without it.

Speaker 54434.46s - 4437.48s

But, you know, I'd be surprised.

Speaker 24437.64s - 4441.58s

But anyway, that's, that's just the only thing that I kind of think of, basically.

Speaker 44441.88s - 4442.14s

Yeah.

Speaker 24442.38s - 4444.1s

Because people are probably wondering how it impacts it.

Speaker 44444.14s - 4445.66s

And that's the only thing we really have to go off.

Speaker 24445.68s - 4447.32s

Yeah, we just, that's what I'm saying.

Speaker 44447.4s - 4449.68s

It's like, we don't, we don't.

Speaker 24450.12s - 4456.1s

Like, well, we will. Best guess for me is practice. I would be surprised to be there this week. Maybe he would just like somehow get there Thursday.

Speaker 44456.26s - 4456.42s

Yeah.

Speaker 54456.42s - 4459.3s

Not have nearly the same like, right.

Speaker 44459.68s - 4462.16s

Well, we will have practice tomorrow.

Speaker 54462.56s - 4464s

I'm assuming with media availability,

Speaker 24464.22s - 4466.76s

that'll be a lot of the questions to Micah

Speaker 44466.76s - 4477.6s

and to the other players of how this is all working. I think we'll probably do a pod afterwards too, and the writers will all be beyond that. But yeah, it's another another subplot.

Speaker 34477.86s - 4487.36s

Yeah, it's a big one. So we'll keep digging into this thing. Again, I really just like, for just daily wolf stuff,

Speaker 44487.98s - 4524.64s

check out all of Jason's stuff. If you're not already a subscriber, like it's, no better time to sort of dig in there. And then just be following them on Twitter at Jace Frederick PERSON. Like I said, we'll kind of figure out the schedule here going forward. You can follow me on Twitter at Danemore MBA, the pod on YouTube at DainmoreNBA ORG, YouTube.com slash Danemore MBA underscore podcast for TikTok and Instagram ORG.All that stuff. We're going to try to be firing off as much as we can as we can. Yeah, until probably Wednesday afternoon after practice. And that's when we'll do the next episode. Until then, he's Jason.

Speaker 54524.74s - 4536.72s

I'm Dane. Peace. afternoon after practice and that's when we'll do the next episode until then he's jason i'm dain peace i'm d'alli PERSON how i'm feeling man i hope and never stop yeah green and hard so you can find me in the crowd yeah yeah don't let's send those ever i'll bring you down yeah hope you dancing