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- [00:01]
Host
Coming up on this episode of Mind the Game.
- [00:03]
Co-host
Who are some of the teams that league Pass. We just. We were sitting on our couch and we're like, oh, let's watch this team. Watch this guy.
- [00:09]
Host
Denver. This is a team that won seven games.
- [00:11]
Co-host
Yeah. With the champions. With the champs per 36. When it comes to Stephen Adams, I don't know the exact number, but he's gonna be up there a lot.
- [00:18]
Host
That one's under a little pressure this year, I think.
- [00:20]
Co-host
Oh, that holds.
- [00:22]
Host
They're great. They're gonna be great.
- [00:23]
Co-host
I think they're under the most pressure of any team. Orlando.
- [00:26]
Host
Orlando. Let's talk about Desmond Bang.
- [00:29]
Co-host
Desmond Banger. Yeah. The one Achilles heel last year in the postseason for Orlando and throughout the course of the regular season was their shot making.
- [00:34]
Host
I was actually kind of posing the question more on an X's, and it was like, what are the action scenarios that are getting us from? Not that Alex doesn't bring that too, but I think what Alex brought was just enough you.
- [00:46]
Co-host
He was guarding Joker in the playoff.
- [01:03]
Host
Starting the season off, you know, I think it's always a little bit important to look back. What did we learn last year in the league? What's top of mind to you? What did we learn? Obviously, you know, like, it's funny this time of year, you remember the last two teams more than anyone else.
- [01:17]
Co-host
No.
- [01:17]
Host
Yeah.
- [01:17]
Co-host
No question at all.
- [01:18]
Host
They make a big influence on where the game netted out. What's your takeaways in general and also with those two teams?
- [01:23]
Co-host
Well, I mean, like you just mentioned, you think okc, you think Indiana, you think their style of play, you know, both. Both teams, you know, and obviously you think of the victor, obviously. And okc, you know, congratulations to them once again. Just think about the speed, you know, and the defensive, you know, cohesiveness of okc. You think about the randomness, but we talked. It's not random, but it looks random. And the pace and the depth of Indiana and those teams. So, you know, it was. That was great basketball, you know, and obviously, you know, seeing Tyrese go down, none of us wanted to see that. That. That put a little damp on it. But for the full landscape and the full, you know. You know, of the whole Finals, I thought it was just great basketball. And if you're a basketball fan, you really enjoyed the way both teams both.
- [02:12]
Host
Styled the play and some great series. I mean, starting with Denver, Clippers could have gone either way. Then Denver, you know, as a team, we're going to have to talk about at some point. Here taking OKC seven games, amazing series.
- [02:24]
Co-host
Added so much depth.
- [02:25]
Host
Added depth. And then you got, you know, OKC and Indy taking seven games and having their best player go down in game seven after he's probably made two, three, four threes in the first quarter. You know, it's crazy how things like that happen, right? You look back, you think, well deserved okc, phenomenal team. But how close it was from Denver, AG got hurt, played hurt in game seven. You know, they scraped by. They scraped by with Tyrese getting hurt. I mean, phenomenal team. They also. Jalen Williams was hurt for four months, apparently, and they hid that from us. So phenomenal. But when we talk about styles of play, I think you mentioned it's like OKC is special because we talk about this new era is getting more into teams with depth. You see it with Indy, OKC has the depth and they kind of have three stars or three burgeoning stars. Let's talk about a few things. Depth. One I'd love to hear your thoughts on again, getting back to more guys that can make plays and more guys that can guard. And then size. Some people are thinking about going big. We talked about Houston going with the double big and how that works, why that works. You know, OKC did some of that. Let's start there. Like, what are your takeaways on, like, big trends you saw last year that you think will continue?
- [03:39]
Co-host
Well, like you said, we saw Houston go with the double big in the postseason with Sam Goon and Stephen Adams, and we may see them go to that again. I mean, when you have. They added Capella and they added Capella as well. And they added a seven foot Kevin Durant as well, who continues to say he's not 7 foot. But so I think to have the ability to do that one. It starts with obviously here, you know, having iq and those guys are smart enough to know how to play off one another. Cause it's such a. Such a dying breed in our game of having two bigs out on the floor. But those guys compliment one another. So I think we will see that with certain teams, you know, if they have the right personnel to be able to do that.
- [04:23]
Host
I think that's the key. Yeah, right. Personnel. Like, it's just not having two big guys to take up space. Like when you think about okc, you know, check can space the floor, he can play, make. He also protects the ring.
- [04:36]
Co-host
Exactly.
- [04:36]
Host
Hartenstein's so good. His motor, the floaters, the passing.
- [04:40]
Co-host
Right. You think about like, you know, Milwaukee now, where they can play with Giannis and Miles now.
- [04:45]
Host
That's right.
- [04:45]
Co-host
You know, they just added Miles Turner. You think about Cleveland, you know, with Ashley Allen and Mobley, you know, they have to be able to, you know, complement one another.
- [04:55]
Host
So that one's under a little pressure this year. I think at the end, they're going to be great. They're going to be great.
- [05:01]
Co-host
I think they're under the most pressure of any team coming to the season.
- [05:04]
Host
And I think they can find a way. But that is one that I think has been a little bit clunky here when it gets down to the end of games. But another example of. And that's skill, right? You got Ja was a great rim protector, rim roller, and then you got Mobley, who can make plays. Could be a matchup nightmare on both ends of the floor. Houston, you know, I think you think of it as these two bigs, but you got one who's one of the most skilled bigs in the game, maybe ever in Shangun. And Stephen Adams has a skill. He has an offensive rebounding machine.
- [05:32]
Co-host
Brings physicality. Yeah, and that was the. That was the Houston, they understood that last year their problem was shot making, you know, and shooting the three and whatever the case may be. So, you know, them being able to create extra possessions was something that they knew they benefited from. So. And you look at per 36 when it comes to Steven Adams, I don't know the exact number, but he's going to be up there a lot as far as offensive rebounds, and that works for them. So I think that, you know, they kind of shred that up a little bit, obviously, with KD's ability to shoot the ball. Dorian Finney Smith can shoot the ball, you know, so they've added some space as far as the shooting, but that is something that is a tactic that they know they can go to, you know, if need be sure.
- [06:18]
Host
The Freddy situation makes it really interesting with them, the shooting, you know, they need shooting. They lose a shooter. The leader, the organizer opportunity for Reed shepherd, also an opportunity. IME's already mentioned them to go extremely big, you know, with, you know, Thompson is.
- [06:33]
Co-host
Thompson's the point, land on the ball.
- [06:35]
Host
KD and all that length on the perimeter, and then you got the two bigs inside. Fascinating to see how they make that work. I get it, you know, now it's a matter of them being practical. How can we create offense for ourselves? I think defensively they'll be able to figure it out with all that length. But it's interesting because, you know, there's Two things. Some teams are going big. I think that's trickier. Harder said than done, but still a facet. But this depth thing is, I don't think is going away. One like we spoke about in previous episodes, the ability to play Blender, more guys that can make a play, the space to floor and can make a play on a closeout, but also just people are starting to pick up full court. We're not going to see as much of it in the regular season, but it's becoming a facet of teams in the regular season, at least in patches, but in the playoffs.
- [07:18]
Co-host
Yeah. So you need that depth. You have to. You have to have that depth to be able to. If there's something that we want to do for 48 minutes, we have to have that depth. So when we bring guys in, boom, we keep it going. You know, Detroit, Detroit the same way. Detroit will do the same thing. So you have to have those players that it doesn't tail off, you know, when you make a substitution, whatever the case may be. Because this is how we want to play. So, you know, if this is our team, this is how we want to play. When you guys come into the game, you check into the game, keep the pressure up.
- [07:46]
Host
Yeah. I'm fascinated to see what tweaks we have this year, but there's a lot of teams that have made slight changes. You know, you go down. It'd be good to talk about some of these teams. I mean, you know, I mean, some teams by. Not by design, you know, when you talk about Tyrese going down, you talk about certain players, you know, but they're going to have to play slightly different. Then there's other teams that have made moves. You know, let's talk about Denver. This is a team that won seven games.
- [08:13]
Co-host
Yeah. With the champions, with the champs.
- [08:16]
Host
Even had AG, I think with a hammy in game seven. You know, they add some pieces. They had a shooter and Tim Hardaway. They had, I think a two way player in Cam Johnson. They had, you know, one of my favorite players to coach, Bruce Brown. Great competitor, Swiss army knife. Really improved three point shooter and just a great, great competitor. How do you see them as far as revamping the season?
- [08:39]
Co-host
I think they had a hell of a summer. You know, they've added a lot of complimentary players and a lot of guys. That's battle tested. I think Bruce Brown was actually on that championship team. He was, you know, the last time they won it, they also added some more, you know, you know, they lost, you know, obviously Russ and Michael Porter Jr. And DeAndre and Jordan. But they added Valanchunas, who's a big body who's been battle tested as well.
- [09:02]
Host
Because they've been reluctant to play a backup center.
- [09:04]
Co-host
They have, they have, they have. They have been reluctant to play a backup center. I don't think they will have that problem now with Valanchunas.
- [09:10]
Host
So that. Is that a double big opportunity, you know, with Jokic's ability to stretch the floor, be the fulcrum, play five out.
- [09:17]
Co-host
That is an opportunity. That is an opportunity. We kind of missed that one because.
- [09:22]
Host
If he's got that ball in that kind of elbow, extended elbow area, you know, Valenciunas, he can find him. And so the ability to roam as the second big is tough. And if you leave his body, he's a great offensive rebounder, too. That's a fascinating double dig.
- [09:38]
Co-host
They've had a great summer, and obviously Houston, they had a great summer just adding kd. But as far as the amount of players I think that Denver has added, the complimentary guys they added, I think they had a great summer.
- [09:49]
Host
Right? Minnesota, you guys played them in the playoffs. This is two years in a row they went to the conference finals. They're kind of going under the radar.
- [09:56]
Producer Jason
A little bit right now.
- [09:57]
Co-host
Yeah, they are, they are and they shouldn't, but they are. But I think they will still be there. I think they'll still be there.
- [10:03]
Host
They're going to need young guys to step up, I think, to improve, to develop.
- [10:07]
Co-host
They will. I mean, I think, you know, losing to Keough is a big piece of their team, you know, but they have another ant, has another year under his belt. I think what juju did last year surprised a lot of people in our league, you know, just how well he competed, especially defensively, you know, but he was. He was great throughout the. Obviously, he was great throughout the whole season, you know, and they're going to just have guys have to step up, you know, Nas is going to, I think, just take another step, divincenzo, another year under his belt with those guys. But like you said, you know, will Rob Dillingham, the kid that they drafted last year in the first round, will he make a step forward to help out, take some pressure, maybe off if Mike, you know, Conley doesn't play a lot of games, you know, at his later stage in our career. So like you said, a lot of young guys are going to have to step up for him.
- [10:57]
Host
I think Dilliam's got to be a rotation guy for them. 1, 1 I think to give them another look in the playoffs, but also just to get through the regular season that depth. You know, some fascinating teams in the East. Detroit, you know, they've lost Beasley, they lost Tim Hardaway, they brought in Duncan Robinson, you know. But I think Detroit's one of those teams where they're looking to improve within. Yeah, you know they. Will Duran take another step?
- [11:21]
Co-host
Yeah, they kind of kept their Nuke Thompson. Yeah, yeah. And another year.
- [11:26]
Host
Ivey.
- [11:26]
Co-host
Yeah. Hybe's coming back off injury and how.
- [11:30]
Host
Good and effective can he be? So although they lost two key pieces, two shooters, two spacers from last year that were important to them, can they improve them within? That's important. I think a little bit like okc, they don't make any moves. Right. They don't need to make any moves. But where's Check going? Where's Jalen Williams going? Where are some of these role players off the bench going? I think Detroit's a fascinating team.
- [11:52]
Co-host
Yeah, me too.
- [11:54]
Host
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- [12:47]
Co-host
But.
- [12:47]
Host
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- [13:20]
Co-host
Orlando.
- [13:21]
Host
Orlando. Let's talk about Desmond Bain.
- [13:23]
Co-host
Desmond Bain. Yeah. And the one Achilles heel last year in the postseason for Orlando throughout the course of the regular season was their shot making. They just could not make shots outside the three point line for, you know, consistently all year, you know, and you know, obviously we know how dynamic Paolo is, we know how dynamic France is and those guys. But three point shooting is very, you know, it means A lot in our league today, you know, and adding Desmond Bain, who, you know, throughout his career is a knockdown shooter, also can also get into the lane as well, make plays. I think that adds a dynamic. We'll see how. We'll see how it all comes together. But they're another sleeper as well. I think they're. I think they can make another step forward. We'll see how far.
- [14:10]
Host
But no, no, I think it's a great call. I mean, they're a great defensive. Very good defensive team. Physical defend, you know. I do think though, Desmond Bain is going to be a huge asset, not just the shooting. I like him in ball screens. I know maybe he may not rate as a high defender, but I think he's a capable physical. I think the key for Orlando in many ways is going to be how can they incorporate those three guys together. I like you guys. You know, Paolo and Franz are going to draw the toughest assignments. Bringing Desmond in like ar, who's a terrific offensive player, maybe bringing in the third defender. How can they get really effective and efficient using all three of those guys in action? And then beyond that, I think Wendell Carter just having a great season, you know, being able to stretch the floor, being able to rebound, being able to orchestrate that back line. I'd be excited if I was Orlando.
- [15:01]
Co-host
Yeah, for sure.
- [15:02]
Host
But a lot to work on, a lot to feel.
- [15:03]
Co-host
Yeah, a lot of work on. But you know, and I love moles too. Coach. Coach Moles is great. So yeah, he's done a great job since he got there and I love him. So I think they'll, I think they'll figure it out. And the one thing about like when you ride for your ride for your head coach, I think you, you were able to make things happen.
- [15:20]
Host
And the biggest thing for coaches is health.
- [15:22]
Co-host
Yeah. Oh, for sure.
- [15:24]
Host
They had a stop start year in every way last year, so giving him a full season with as many guys as healthiest possible. As with everyone in this scene, thugs will be back.
- [15:32]
Co-host
Yeah, for sure.
- [15:33]
Host
Suggs actually shot the ball really well, I think two years ago.
- [15:35]
Co-host
Yeah, he did.
- [15:36]
Host
You know, without the injuries. If he can be that dog on defense, space the floor, still make some plays with his athleticism, competitiveness. I agree. You know, they got a lot of guys.
- [15:45]
Co-host
I agree.
- [15:46]
Host
I want to get your take on Atlanta. It's kind of sleepy over there.
- [15:50]
Co-host
I spoke about them a little bit and the first half of this, it's very sneaky, man. Like, you know, adding like you said, Alexander Walker from Minnesota, Jalen Johnson Got hurt last year, so now he's coming back. Porzingis had a great summer. You know, if you watch any Euro basket, he had a great summer Latvia, you know, and obviously another year for Trey. You know, Dyson Daniels was, was up there defensive player of the year last year. And I thought, you know, Richard Shay started off the season like, oh, you know, but then he picked it up. He came on a Kongwu Luke Canard. They added a shooter. So that, that definitely helps. Yeah, that helps. So yeah, man, I mean, you, it is. You, you have, you have Cleveland, you have Orlando, you have Detroit, the Knicks. You have the Knicks and you have Giannis in Milwaukee. Obviously, you know, we don't know what's happening in Philly, but we don't know what's going to happen in Philly. Obviously that's health. You know, if they're all healthy, then okay, we got something. You know, obviously Boston may be a little down year for them. You know, losing JT and you know, losing Drew, losing Porzingis, you know, so they still have championship DNA, but we'll see what happens with them. Atlanta has an opportunity is what I'm basically saying. Atlanta has an opportunity to not be in a play in. I think that's their main goal. Let's not how can we get out of the play in and give ourselves a chance to be in that top six.
- [17:17]
Host
And I think it's starting to give the right elements around Trae. You know, you got, like you said, Rod and Kennard, you got guys that are improving his shoes. I think there's a lot of upside to Daniels offensively still. You know, obviously a world class defender, which helps Trey Rich sashay length, you know, Jalen Johnson length, athleticism, playmaking, a lot of length. Porzingis length shooting, creating more space for Trey. You go to Nikhil Alexander Walker gives you defense a little bit of length at the guard position, depth. So you're ticking a lot of the boxes here, right? Taking a lot of boxes. One needs two improving from within and three, just where's the game going with having multiple guys to be able to play physical defense switch to be able to make that play in Blender is going to help Trey as well.
- [18:03]
Co-host
Yeah. And they should be able to play with a lot of patience space too. You know, anytime you got a guy like Porzingis who his defender is, one is afraid to load as much on the ball and trade because Porzingis shoots it from 30 plus, you know, so how much loading are you going to if you're not there early, then don't be there at all. And then if you're not there at all now, you're allowing Trey to now work his magic. So, you know, I think it adds another dynamic man for them, and I think Trey is going to. Obviously, the number one thing in our league is health. Obviously, we know that. But I think Trey's going to realize how much of a complimentary and a dynamic piece it is for his game. Having Prozegas out there on the floor.
- [18:43]
Host
Cleveland, you know, I think they're. They had a phenomenal season last year, and I think it's really easy to sweep away their success with their playoff loss, but there was circumstances. You know, they had injuries in that series. Now, Indy was phenomenal, deserved everything they got. But that series could have gone either way if maybe they were healthy.
- [19:01]
Co-host
Yeah.
- [19:02]
Host
How much pressure do you think is on them to kind of figure this out? Like, I'm not saying pressure on any one individual, but like to figure out the chemistry, the fit of their roster versus trying to make a move?
- [19:13]
Co-host
Yeah, I think it's pressure from within. You know, I think they saw the success they had last year and how. Well, they play a great style of basketball, man. They play a great style of basketball. You know, that ball is popping, it's moving. They getting dribble drives, like you say, working the blender. They shoot it well.
- [19:31]
Host
They pass well, baseline cut and strips.
- [19:34]
Co-host
But I feel like if I was someone from the outside looking in, I feel like they're putting pressure on themselves to make the next jump. You know, they're probably looking at, you know, it could have been US vs. OKC in the finals. So we are to see if guys have made the next step, you know. You know, Evan had a great year last year. Does he make another step forward? You know, obviously dg, you know, was hurt a lot last year, so, you know, does he come back, you know, playing well? How much. How much are they going to get out of Lonzo ball? You know, and I thought that was a great pickup, you know, great point guard, great mind, big, long, you know, defends at a high level space. So I thought he played well. I thought he played well. Yeah, absolutely.
- [20:14]
Host
I was happy for him.
- [20:15]
Co-host
Absolutely. So that was a. That was a hell of a pickup for them. So, you know, and then, you know, obviously Donovan, we know we're going to get out of Donovan. He's. He's battle test. He's been in postseason either with Cleveland, when he was in Utah. He kind of knows the rim of things. So how's it going to come together again, you know, and it's at this point, it's not about the regular season. For them, the regular season is about building habits, playing championship basketball, playing the right way. But we want to gear up towards the playoffs. Not saying that we shortcut the regular season, never want to do that. But it's not about if we can win 60 games, that is not their goal anymore. It's not. If we can win 70 games, that doesn't matter anymore. You know, it's about making the next turn.
- [20:58]
Host
It's an interesting thing maybe for, like, the average fan out there, you know, team like that, right. They can go and win a ton of games in the regular season, but for them, it's really about, like you said, like, what is it going to be that's going to determine our success in the playoffs? And how much time, effort, energy, focus do we need to put on that so that once we get to the playoffs, like, we can win 60. We can win 60 games, but when we get to the playoffs, we're going to face this scenario. They're going to put us in these positions. How much time, effort, energy it takes and commitment.
- [21:29]
Co-host
Right.
- [21:29]
Host
To accomplish that and maybe win 55 games in the regular season, but be ready for the playoffs.
- [21:34]
Co-host
Yeah, that's going to be the most challenging thing. Because who on the roster has actually been there, you know, they've been to the postseason. I'm trying to think of the roster. Has any one of those guys made a finals appearance Besides Larry Nance Jr. That they signed? He was on the team with me and 18 back in Cleveland. He knows how he was a part of that team and saw how we was able to get there. So, like, you know, you have guys been to the postseason, won in the first round, won in the second round. It's like, okay, but what. Who is that guy that's gonna keep them like, okay, this is the mission. This is the mission. It's the goal, you know, and you can have the coaches who've been there, you can have the GMs, and then you can look at the trophies around or the trophy, you know, and the names. But who is that one who was gonna be that person that's gonna get them there? So. And that's not saying that I thought, you know, last year, you know, with okc, Alex Caruso.
- [22:32]
Host
Yeah.
- [22:33]
Co-host
You know, we can look at how great Shay was with, obviously, J Dub, obviously Chet, obviously. I think Alex Caruso, he was.
- [22:42]
Host
That guy brought an element.
- [22:44]
Co-host
He knew how to get there. He knew what it took to get there. He knew how to stay even keel if there was any adversity. You know, you gotta kind of have that one guy, you know, that, that just makes it, that makes it all, that makes it all work.
- [22:58]
Host
You know, it's interesting at that point because, you know, I was actually kind of posing the question more on an X's and nos, like, what are the action scenarios that are getting his problem? Not that Alex doesn't bring that too, but I think what Alex brought was just enough, fuck you, he was guarding.
- [23:14]
Co-host
Joker in the playoffs.
- [23:15]
Host
It's not working. I'm crashing, I'm running the floor. I'm setting a screen. I'm slipping. I'm making the next play because I will. We're not, we're not, we're not gon, you know, we're not going to have a little mini slump.
- [23:25]
Co-host
He literally was guarding Joker on the elbow, like getting elbowed in the head like that's. Who's going to be that guy for Cleveland. We have to. I think that's the number one thing. Who's going to be that guy?
- [23:37]
Host
I think Lonzo will help in that capacity in that, you know, he's at a stage in his career now where I think he's still a very, very good player.
- [23:42]
Co-host
Yeah, for sure.
- [23:43]
Host
But he also is willing to do the dirty work. That's a big pickup for them. And now over to our producer Jason for a word from one of our partners.
- [24:01]
Producer Jason
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- [25:09]
Host
Dallas. Interesting. Interesting in that obviously you know the whole context. Like they lose a generational player like Luka, they bring in AD and A pick that ends up somehow in the lottery getting Cooper flag, to everyone's astonishment.
- [25:28]
Co-host
Yeah, yeah.
- [25:30]
Host
And that. So there's a lot going on here. One Kyrie.
- [25:34]
Co-host
Yes. The help. I think the help to Kyrie is most important.
- [25:37]
Host
I don't know. I think they got a really interesting team even without Kyrie, But Kyrie's Kyrie, and, you know, at the end of the day, you need players with talent. They can go get buckets in tricky situations. So, one, I think it depends on Kyrie's health when he comes back. But two, it's interesting because usually the number one pick doesn't go to a good team.
- [25:56]
Co-host
Yeah. I can't remember what was the last one. The last number one pick going to a Timmy.
- [26:02]
Host
It was. Yeah. I mean, I was going to say Timmy, but that would have made me feel really old because everyone be like, what about A, B and C Timmy?
- [26:08]
Co-host
I would say Timmy, right? Yeah, probably to me.
- [26:10]
Host
So it's interesting because, you know, I think when we think of number one picks and it doesn't always work this way, we think of a guy that is a primary creator. What's interesting is I don't think Cooper's necessarily that yet. I think he's a Swiss army knife. I think he brings a lot to the table. I think he's an NBA player at 18, but he doesn't have to go out there on a bad team and become that in front of our eyes, making mistakes, shooting bad shots.
- [26:33]
Co-host
And he doesn't have to have bad habits. That's the great thing for him. He can. He can almost take the Kawhi route.
- [26:40]
Host
Right? Great, great, great analogy.
- [26:42]
Co-host
He could take the Kawhi route where, you know, we never saw Kawhi in any bad positions out of his first couple years where he looked like, oh, why did they pick him? Like, it was like he learned at his own pace. He's there with multiple hall of Famers. You know, it's the same with Cooper. AD hall of famer Kyrie, hall of famer Clay, hall of Famer J. Kid. Hall of Famer. Yeah, he can. He can learn at his own pace. And when the mistakes happen, it won't be so microscopic because he has so many buffers around.
- [27:15]
Host
Yes.
- [27:15]
Co-host
So when that. When he. When he finally blossoms, we're going to be like, wow. Like, that's what it's. And that's. That's the beauty of it. That's the beauty for him, you know, And Dallas is super intriguing in that sense. Obviously, we know 1a, 1b, 1c is the health of Kyrie, because he's that dynamic. And if, when we get to the postseason, having those guys that can make dynamic plays, 80 is going to be 80, you know, Clay's going to shoot the piss out the ball, you know, and the rest of those complimentary guys. Max Christie. Love Max Christie. Najee Marshall's tough as nails. You know, PJ Washington, Derrick Lively, Gafford, all those guys, you know, deep.
- [27:53]
Host
There's some depth there.
- [27:54]
Co-host
There's some depth there. There's some. You know, that coach staff has a lot to work with.
- [27:59]
Host
Size.
- [27:59]
Co-host
Yes. And a lot of size, a lot of length. So it's gonna be very intriguing. I think that's a very intriguing team.
- [28:04]
Host
The nice thing for Cooper is that I think, like, his special gift right now is his versatility, so he can affect the game in a lot of ways without having to put the ball on the floor.
- [28:13]
Co-host
And he plays hard, too, man plays hard.
- [28:16]
Host
He plays hard, plays with pace, his speed, his length, defending multiple positions, being able to finish on the break, being able to make the extra pass, like. And he's not going to have to say, I got to get into a three dribble move and take a turnaround because our team needs it. He can do that, and he'll grow at that. But right now, like you said, the microscope won't be on him every time he takes one of those, because he just got three offensive rebounds in a corner. He just locked somebody up. He was able to switch onto the best player. He's rebounding, so very interesting to see him be able to go at his own pace, like you said, and affect the game in a number of ways. So they're fascinating.
- [28:52]
Co-host
Yeah. And then we just go down the line, like, okay, who are some of the. Who are some of the teams that league passed? We just. We were sitting on our couch and we're like, oh, let's go. Let's go watch this team. We'll watch this guy. I mean, obviously, Wemby is one of those guys. I mean. Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know, you look at Wimby, you want to see what he's going to do every night. You know, he's just a special talent. And see if they can kind of make a little jump, you know, in their franchise. Obviously, Giannis. You want to see what Giannis can do. You know, you love watching Giannis, love watching Joker. You know, you just. There's certain guys I love watching Book as well. I'm a big Devin Booker fan. Obviously, we won a gold medal Together. He's one of my favorite people in the league, so I want to watch him as well. So there's going to be some opportunities for us to sit back and just watch and see how this whole thing plays out.
- [29:44]
Host
Yeah, I'm. I'm definitely gonna be a Phoenix Suns. League pass.
- [29:49]
Co-host
Do you even need league pass where you. There's not like a local channel down there. You can just watch it.
- [29:53]
Host
You know, they have free. It's free for everyone, like 3 million people in the valley to watch the games. Unfortunately, I don't have linear TV anymore, so I need to leave fast.
- [30:03]
Co-host
Yeah, you leave fast.
- [30:04]
Host
I'm blocked because there's a blackout.
- [30:05]
Co-host
Oh, you blocked. Oh my goodness.
- [30:07]
Host
Which will get dialed. But definitely Phoenix, I think. Interesting. You know, obviously he lost some top end talent, but bunch of competitive guys. I think some guys that'll surprise you. But to your point, Wemby and I think he could take another lead.
- [30:19]
Co-host
Yeah, for sure.
- [30:20]
Host
You know, and the way with his set profile dimensions, that could be scary. I'm very interested in this Atlanta team to see, you know, what Quinn does with them.
- [30:30]
Co-host
Yeah, me too, me too.
- [30:31]
Host
You know, we talked about Baines addition in Atlanta. That's fascinating.
- [30:34]
Co-host
Me too.
- [30:35]
Host
There's a lot of teams, A lot of teams.
- [30:37]
Co-host
We have like even, like we even mentioned Portland. They ended, they ended the year at a high last year, you know, when people were saying they should be tanking a little bit to get a better draft pick. You know, Chauncey had those guys playing at a high level. So. And they added Drew Holiday as well. So like what does that look like? You know, what does Utah look like? I remember they started off the year last year at so high and then they obviously tailed off, but Laurie had an unbelievable summer, you know, so what does Utah look like? You know, what is. I don't know. It's gonna be just another intriguing year. I'm like up here sitting here like I'm not gonna be playing.
- [31:09]
Host
Yeah, yeah. You're just gonna be watching league pass every day.
- [31:11]
Co-host
Like I'm just gonna be watching league pass on one channel and then like the. The Golf Channel. The Golf Channel the other one. The Golf Station.
- [31:17]
Host
Make no mistakes. Lakers will be a league pass team. Lakers will be a league pass team.
- [31:21]
Co-host
Yeah, the Lakers would definitely be for sure.
- [31:25]
Host
It'll be a fun year.
- [31:26]
Co-host
Absolutely.
- [31:34]
Host
Thanks for watching Mind the Game. New episodes drop every other Tuesday. Remember to like subscribe or follow wherever you're watching.