← The Athletic NBA Daily
The Athletic NBA Daily
Is Kawhi the Best Player in the NBA? + The Pistons are here | Slam N Jam
01:07:21
Loading summary
Transcript310 lines
- [00:00]
Alex Spears
This message is brought to you by Apple Card.
- [00:03]
Andrew Schlecht
If you're like us on the show.
- [00:04]
Kofi
You'Re always on Triple Double Watch.
- [00:06]
Andrew Schlecht
That's why we were impressed when we.
- [00:08]
Kofi
Learned that Apple Card was posting numbers of their own.
- [00:10]
Andrew Schlecht
That's right, with Apple card, you can earn 3% daily cash back at Apple and 2% back on everything you buy using Apple Pay, not to mention 1% back on everything else. That's a stat line that any fan can appreciate. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone today and start using it right away with Apple Pay.
- [00:30]
Alex Spears
Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and more at applecard.com as we head into.
- [00:41]
Law Murray
The playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept? Discover. Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get discovered. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com creditcard as you've probably heard by now, we've teamed up with BetMGM. This season we'll be using BetMGM lines to make all of our picks and we'll have special offers for our listeners each week. If you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, use bonus code TheAthletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager with BetMGM. Here's how it works. Download the BetMGM app and sign up using bonus code TheAth. Make your first deposit of at least ten dollars. Place your first bet on any game and claim your voucher for a one year subscription to the Athletic. See betmgm.com for terms. U.S. promotional offers not available in D.C. mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario or Puerto Rico. Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler available in the U.S. call 877-8-HOPE NY or text hopeny 467-369 In New York, call 1-800- NEXT STEP in Arizona, 1-800-327-5050 Massachusetts 1-800-bets off in Iowa, 1-800-270-7717 for confidential help in Michigan, 1-800-981-0023 in Puerto Rico. FirstBet offer for New customers only in partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Don't forget if you haven't signed up for BETMGM yet. Use bonus code theathletic and you'll get a one year subscription to the Athletic plus up to a fifteen hundred dollar first bet offer on your first wager.
- [02:30]
Alex Spears
Welcome to the Saturday Slam and Jam here on the Athletic NBA Daily. On today's show we're talking to Law Murray about the Red hot Clippers. Kofi joins us to discuss his beloved Pistons and then we will do some trivia. With me, as always, is my good friend Alex Spears. And Al, we're going to talk Clippers first, but let's get to our BET MGM Line of the Week brought to you by BETMGM. The Clippers are currently minus 400 to win the series against the Nuggets who are a +3.10. I thought this would be a little bit better matchup than it has so far, but the Clippers seem to have the advantage. And to talk about the team that has the advantage, it's my good friend Law Murray from the Athletic. Law, what's up?
- [03:14]
David Harbour
You know, the blowouts are harder than the close games. I'm just gonna say that without context. Good morning guys.
- [03:26]
Alex Spears
Glad you're here. So Thursday night was the first playoff game at the Intuit Dome. As someone who is. Yeah, someone who's covered this team for several seasons, how did the playoff atmosphere add into it compare to past seasons?
- [03:39]
David Harbour
I mean, shout out to David Ottoman. I guess he warmed the crowd up and I'm not sure they needed it. Yeah, but when you get called out in any way, shape, form or fashion by the opposition, you know, the onus is on you to back it up. Come through. And I thought the fans were great. Both high profile fans, great visibility fans, as well as the people who had to take an elevator to get to their seats, you know. Yeah, I thought that building was locked in and then their basketball team was locked in as well. This was the second game in a row where it looked like the Nuggets had the advantage with both team starters out on the floor. And I'm telling you, man, I mean, it was a quick Turnaround from up 7, down 7. That's where Denver found themselves in the second half of the first quarter. And it was a route from there like the Clippers, you know, I think the Clippers are actually just above average offensively. But to hold that Denver team under 90. Yeah, that they did. I mean, again, the Clippers were no slashes defensively, they were top five defense all year. But the Nuggets were a top five offense and they have Nicole Jokic, who you know is playing with a playoff riser in. In Jamal Murray, they just took every bit of breathing room away. They made everything hard. They. Honestly, they. They made the Nuggets look like the worst version of themselves you could possibly ask for. They already don't take threes. You know, they attempt a fews in the league. They held them. The seven threes made for the game. They kept them off the line. They turned them over. Even when the Nuggets got offensive rebounds, they didn't automatically the points. I think the Clippers outscored the most second chance points. It was a thorough beat down, and you just got to see if any of that rolls over to Saturday.
- [05:57]
Kofi
Yeah, so the, the three point shooting was like the big difference with LA shooting 46, Denver shooting 27. You kind of mentioned the defense. Like, why did game three look so different from games one and two? Is it just the shooting variants, or did you feel like they were doing something different defensively is making it even tougher on Denver than we saw in games one or two?
- [06:17]
David Harbour
Honestly, they made shots. And if the Clippers make shots, they're so much more difficult to deal with. Again, they're already good defensively. What will fuel Denver is if you turn the ball over against them and miss shots. And here's what's funny. Denver's not really good at either one of those things. They're not very good at forcing you to miss, and they're not very good at forcing you to give the ball away. The Clippers donated game one. I mean, they were up 15, and then they wound up with 20 turnovers. All of them which mattered, you know. Yeah, their 20th turnover was when Russell Westbrook jumped around in overtime while the Clippers are trying to inbound down three. You know, so the Clippers cleaning that up, it just takes away what Denver wants to do as a running team if the games are going to be relatively slow. Even as much as Toronto might want his team to pick up the pace, the reality is Denver thrives on fast pace. But if you don't give them a reason to run, those guys aren't really running. Nicola's a give me the ball, ref, so I can inbound it. That's his version of pace. You know, he gets the ball up and advances it and outlets it when he has the opportunity to do so. Jamal Murray is not one of the faster point guards in the league. You know, Russell Westbrook is, but Russell didn't play. I don't think Russ even reached 10 minutes because his foot was Bothering him. So it's a style of play thing, you know, what are you going to do to put Denver in situations where they have to play a different style of basketball? And Devon wasn't up running the floor last night. Denver was trying to figure out how the heck to get the ball to Nicola Jokic, who put up the numbers that you'd want a guy to put up. 23, 13, 13. Only two turnovers. 60. Better than six in the field. But that's why it's a five man game. And the rest of them dudes weren't really helping them, especially once Aaron Gordon cooled off after his great start to game. Game three.
- [08:25]
Alex Spears
Yeah, you mentioned Jokic. Have you felt like they've defended him? Like, what does that look like to you?
- [08:31]
David Harbour
It looks like if it's a Zubots, damn it, that dude is a. He. He was my pick for defense player of the year. Like, and when I say my pick, like, I actually got the vote this year. You know what I'm saying? Like, beautiful. And, and that. And, and I just felt like, you know, shout out to Evan Mobley. He won and you know, he's. He, he absolutely deserves it. One of the youngest ever to win that award. I was just looking at it from the aspect of. Look at who Vince Zubas for most of this season was playing with. Look at what made the Clippers as good defensively as they were and just the fact that he plays so many minutes without getting in foul trouble. He's a fairly decent rim protector and he's not asked to just be a drop big. He's asked to actually guard guys, you know, and, and he, he does that. He communicates effectively. I thought the Clippers were just not on the same page in game one. And if Nicole is going to score efficiently and find his teammates and pick you apart, that's usually a bad thing. Again, that's usually a bad thing in game three. But Nicole's volume has been compromised in this series. He's not running these dudes over because, you know, this isn't one of those bony little teams.
- [09:50]
Kofi
This is.
- [09:51]
David Harbour
The LA Clippers are a big team. And it starts with Zoo. Like, Zoo has played Nicole Jokic well for years. He absolutely should have played more in the bubble in 2020. That's one reason why Toronto Lou is the head coach of the team now. You know, I mean, this is just an opportunity for, for that dude of his Zubots to show everybody that he's capable of playing some of the best basketball in his position in the league. Everyone knows how good Nicole Jokic is. Not everybody understands and appreciates how good Zoo is.
- [10:22]
Kofi
I want to ask you about their offense because for. For a lot of this season the offense was pretty middling. I think on cleaning the glass, they ranked 22nd through March 3rd. But then from March 4th on they had the number one offense in the league. Is a story of their offense as simple as well? Kawhi came back and he gradually got better and better. Or is there more to the story?
- [10:42]
David Harbour
I think a lot of it is that former Alex Yeah, I'm trying to. I'm trying to like mentally think about the these dates and March 4th May of Marine not have been James Harden dropping 50 points on the Pistons on the second night of back to back with Kawhi out of the lineup. That's what started their great stretch to end the season, you know, because they lost six out of seven coming out of all Star break. That's what put them in a spot where they had to play playoff basketball from the first week of March on. And yeah, it turns out that Kawhi Leonard playing like the best version of himself is going to greatly help your offense. And the reason why it helps your offense. Kawhi is a high floor player as well as a high ceiling player. So we see the high ceiling, right? He can get to his spots and score at will, but when I say high floor, he doesn't make mistakes while being a first option kind of player. A player who's got the ball in his hands a lot and that helps a guy like James, like James. Still, I believe James turned the ball over more than any player in the league after the All Star break. However, if he's the only dude turning the ball over at a high rate, you, you'll live with it. And that was the biggest difference between the Clippers that were bottom 10 in the league offensively through most of the first 70% of the season to the Clippers being one of the very best offenses in the league. You know, James isn't turning the ball over as much as he was. And he's the only guy who has probably a poorest turnover ratio. You got guys like Zoo, he's improved. You know, Zoo used to be a fairly unreliable player when it came to catching passes, short roll decision making, all making passes out of the post. He's gotten so much better at that, you know, and James gets a lot of credit. But Zoo, you gotta credit the actual player making the improvements as well. Chris Dunn as a starter next to James Harden. I mean it just fits because now James doesn't have to worry about over handling the basketball. Chris Dunn, he can, you know, kind of caretake and get the ball over half court. James can come off a screen or post himself, situate himself at the elbow or something like that and direct the offense that way. It's just they have complementary pieces that fit. They always had guys who can put the ball in the basket. The Clippers don't shoot a lot of threes either. Like the Nuggets, the second fewest in the league. And the Clippers shoot the fewest catch and shoot threes in the league. The issue with that is if those dudes are catching and shooting, they're making those shots. They have complementary pieces around stars. And Kawhi is going to play like a star. I mean, it's just different. And I think teams have had to reconcile with that over most of the last few months.
- [13:42]
Alex Spears
You've been around this Denver team a little bit. There's been rumors about there being beef players between teammates in the locker room. They are struggling to kind of find their footing against the Clippers. What have you noticed just about the vibes around the Nuggets through these first few games.
- [14:01]
David Harbour
They're, you know, they're a championship team, but they're thin. I think this is what happens when you got guys who know how to win and know why they're not winning. They don't have enough guys. It's really as simple as that. Like, DeAndre Jordan is your backup. Center Julian Strother and Jalen Pickett are the last guys in your rotation. Peyton Watson is your most reliable backup. Big Russell Westbrook is in year 17 and he's your sixth man.
- [14:33]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [14:34]
David Harbour
And none of those guys that I mentioned are the kind of pieces that were playing when they won the title just two years ago. Bruce Brown watched the game in Denver.
- [14:47]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [14:47]
David Harbour
You know, earlier this week. Says after the game, man, I missed playoff basketball. I bet you Bruce Brown don't miss that bag that he got as a result of playing playoff basketball. None of the dudes playing in Bruce Brown's stead are getting that bag.
- [15:04]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [15:04]
David Harbour
Okay. Like maybe Christian Brown. And you know, again, Christian was my MIP pick because it wasn't just volume, you know, it was efficiency. Got better across the board. Now, most improved player does not mean most valuable player. Doesn't mean you are all of us. I just did. Tears. Right. I spent a whole week rolling that out. Yep. You can see where I put Christian Brown. That dude, when I say improved, he went from not being on the list to, okay, you're on the list. Not, you know, in the last tier of this election. Particular selection. Like, they don't have enough dudes. You know, you get five guys. The starters, I don't think are playing poorly. When they break them starters up, that's when it goes bad. And, you know, everyone understands that things are great when you know you're winning, when you're scoring, when guys are finding it easy. This is hard, you know, and now you're traveling and losing and the losses. You already saw your GM get replaced. You already saw your head coach get let go at a time no one lets their head coach go, especially going into the playoffs. Like, it just means more when you feel the end of an era coming. You know, Michael Malone was out here last year talking about they want to be like, the spurs win every other year and Michael not even there anymore. You know, so it just hits different when your mortality as a unit is. Is showing itself. And. And I think the Nuggets are just trying to deal with that.
- [16:51]
Kofi
So I. The Clippers feel like a legit title contender now. They're peaking at the right time now that the offense is clicking. What are the weaknesses to target at this point? Like, what would you consider to be the weaknesses of this Clippers team?
- [17:06]
David Harbour
You still gotta play them hard. I feel like this is an old team and this is a team that, you know, when it comes to Kawhi, everyone's gonna hold their breath until that dude keeps getting up and, you know, keeps. Keeps putting the uniform on. Like, we just. We've. That's what you've seen in the. In the Surround Lou era. You've seen these guys not finish playoff series with their best team. I think that there are still plenty of guys who just not playing their best right now or haven't quite found their rhythm. Bodan Boganvich hasn't had a good game in a couple weeks now, you know, and he's their sixth man. Ben Simmons is a guy who. I literally wrote a story earlier this week. It's like, that dude has one bucket. And that one bucket was like, yeah, that that bucket mattered. You know, I mean, when you're talking about if this series is going to be close, you know, they need guys to hit those shots. Derek Jones year hit shots last night. That was a big difference. Derek Jones Jr. Outscored the entire Denver bench by himself. You know, if. If Derek is going to score, then that's a big thing. But Derek isn't going to score every game. Chris Dunn, he's another one where it's like you're going to play some exotic defenses almost predicated on leaving Chris Dunn open or being okay if. Even if he makes a shot or two. And that's a gamble, but it's like that's. That's where you're playing. And I think the final piece is Norm. Like, again, if Norm's going to be inefficient, that gives you a chance to win. Denver won game one. They had a chance to win game two. Norm just complete. Norm, I think, was woken up by Jamal Murray picking him up like he was a child at the playground. Time to go home now. Norman Pal's locked in like the champion that he is. You know, Norman Powell is the kind of player who's understand sacrifice. He understands that, hey, like, you might not be in the role that you were in before Kawhi got going. You know, Norm got hurt. Norm just missed an all Star, you know, selection. Everyone was questioning if he was going to make the right plays and understand that you got to do different things. You can't just shoot every shot. Well, Norm is cutting. Norm is defending. Norm is getting his hands in in the passing lanes. He's finishing in transition like Norman. Meow. Playing well is the difference between a close game and a blowout. I think Denver saw that there are weaknesses, and I think it's always a weakness when you're like, man, this guy playing well is the difference between winning and losing. The Clippers have a lot of those guys, and you just have to keep playing them hard. And I'm very interested to see how Saturday goes because the Clippers are not always sharp in afternoon games. They made it a point not to have afternoon games on their schedule at home in the first year of Intuit Dome. So we're going to see if those guys have the same energy comes come Saturday. It's a quick turnaround.
- [20:18]
Kofi
Before you go, we did ask you some questions. I would love to play a quick game. It's not trivia. I'm not going to make you play trivia. This is a championship draft. Okay. This is just like a temperature check to see how we're feeling about the teams at this point. So you can see, if you're watching us on YouTube, you can see the results of last week, and I can tell you that that was probably already going to change dramatically.
- [20:51]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [20:52]
Kofi
The fourth pick was the Golden State Warriors. So how this works a lot. We're just going to do a snake draft, and I'm going to let you pick what position you draft from. So if you feel really confident about like the number one team, you could take the number one slot or you could go two or you could go three. And if you pick three, you get the three and fourth pick. So where would you like to start from?
- [21:12]
David Harbour
Oh, man, give me number one. Shoot.
- [21:14]
Kofi
Okay. I like that.
- [21:17]
David Harbour
You talking to the MC of the power rank. You know what I'm saying?
- [21:20]
Alex Spears
That's right.
- [21:21]
David Harbour
Shout out to my editors for not having me do that during the playoffs, by the way.
- [21:27]
Kofi
And Andrew, since last week he did two. I'll put you at three this week.
- [21:30]
David Harbour
Okay.
- [21:31]
Kofi
So, luck, who is your pick, your favorite for the title as of right now?
- [21:38]
David Harbour
Oklahoma City Thunder. That's been the case since October.
- [21:41]
Kofi
Wow. Even. Even after that game against Memphis. I know they won, but what a disgusting game.
- [21:48]
David Harbour
They won. That. That was my. That was a impressive win. Like you o u20 on the road, you can say we'll take the 31 lead later. I mean, I mean, look, that. That was. That was impressive to me. So, yeah, going down 29 is concerned. Making all that up in the same game is. Yeah. I think that that team has not given me a reason to think that they're not going to win the title yet again. I'm very loyal to what I say in October. It's April now. I have no reason to change up.
- [22:27]
Kofi
Well, I have no reason to change it from last week when I took the Boston Celtics number one. So I'll continue to take them. I was especially impressed with their win without Jason Tatum over the Magic. So, Andrew, I have a feeling I know who you're taking at three, but who are you going to take it for? Andrew.
- [22:45]
Alex Spears
You have a feeling you know I'm taking a three? Do ya? Okay, I will.
- [22:50]
Kofi
Off the board.
- [22:53]
Alex Spears
Give me the Cleveland Cavaliers.
- [22:55]
Kofi
Okay. Okay.
- [22:57]
Alex Spears
And then I will take. I want to take somebody on the opposite side of the Thunder bracket, but I don't know who to feel best about today. Yeah, like when I'm like taking. Taking a temper, even a temperature check here because like Golden State's got the Jimmy thing that is very, very concerning. The Lakers and Wolves have looked a little bit blah and Houston just doesn't seem like they're ready to win multiple rounds. But I guess get. I guess give me the Lakers again. I took the Lakers in the last draft. I'll take the Lakers again. Like if they. If they can get in close games. I believe in the execution down the stretch, but I'll take the Lakers.
- [23:43]
Kofi
I'm glad you took them because I Did not have to decide between the Lakers and the Wolves because instead I'm taking the Clippers. Yeah, as a Thunder fan, I'm terrified of the Clippers. They. I feel like they are such a scary matchup for okc. Just the number of defenders they can throw at them compared to what we're seeing right now with the Grizzlies. Like, the Grizzlies just don't have the bodies right now, but there are so many good defenders on the Clippers that I really do think that is going to be a tight series if. If we go there, if we get there. So, Law, who would you like to take with your second pick? You took OKC in the first round, man.
- [24:23]
David Harbour
It's slim pickings at this point as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to. I'm going to split the difference here. I'm gonna go with Golden State.
- [24:34]
Kofi
Okay.
- [24:36]
David Harbour
And I'm gonna go with Minnesota.
- [24:41]
Kofi
All right. So cleaning up the. Some of the rest of the Western Conference there. Oh, this is exciting for me. Leaves me with the Indiana Pacers who were drafted last last time, and now they up to the second to last.
- [24:56]
Alex Spears
Wow. Moving on up, Pacers.
- [24:58]
Kofi
Hey, by next week, if they sweep the Bucks, I feel like we're going to be taking them second round. We'll see.
- [25:03]
Alex Spears
Yep.
- [25:03]
Kofi
So, Andrew, you have your choice of a variety of teams.
- [25:08]
Alex Spears
Look at Miami. Look at this. I guess I can. I'll still. I'll still put Denver in this group even though they have not looked inspiring there. That's a bunch of uninspiring teams I'm looking at right now. So I'll take. I'll take Denver. They still have Nikola Jokic and the series is not over. Although last night it kind of felt like it was like this series not. Is not over yet. So I'll go with the Nuggets.
- [25:39]
Kofi
All right. So at the end of our week two draft, Law took okc, Golden State and Minnesota. I got Boston, the Clippers and Pacers, and Andrew has Cleveland, Lakers and Denver. If you look, compare it to week one, all the same teams drafted in the same round, except for Minnesota versus Milwaukee last week. So we still feel relatively the same about all these teams, but we'll see.
- [26:01]
Alex Spears
That's good. We should have some stability within this. There should be at least a little bit of stability in this.
- [26:07]
Kofi
Law.
- [26:07]
Alex Spears
Murray, thanks so much for joining the show.
- [26:09]
David Harbour
If you.
- [26:09]
Alex Spears
If you're watching on YouTube, I feel so bad because I had to call and wake Law up. This is like the life of a beat writer during the playoffs. He's yawning so much on this podcast and I feel like with every yawn, like a little bit of me dies as like this as a host and producer of the show. So I'm very grateful to Law for joining this podcast.
- [26:28]
David Harbour
What's funny is I'm the type where it's like, you get me going. It's like I'm probably going to be like this the rest of the day. So shout out to you, Andrew, you are a responsible host. Alex, thank you again for having me. And I hope you all enjoy this time that we have because we're about to start eliminating teams at this point.
- [26:51]
Alex Spears
Yep, yep, Go read the tears on the athletic that Law wrote. It's a very fun exercise. And then go read everything he writes about the Clippers. Thank you, Law.
- [27:01]
David Harbour
Thank you guys.
- [27:02]
Alex Spears
This message is brought to you by Apple Card.
- [27:05]
Andrew Schlecht
If you're like us on the show.
- [27:06]
Kofi
You'Re always on Triple Double Watch.
- [27:08]
Andrew Schlecht
That's why we were impressed when we.
- [27:09]
Kofi
Learned that Apple Card was posting numbers of their own.
- [27:12]
Andrew Schlecht
That's right, with Apple Card, you can earn 3% daily cash back at Apple and 2% back on everything you buy using Apple Pay, not to mention 1% back on everything else. That's a stat line that any fan can appreciate. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on your iPhone today and start using it right away with Apple Pay.
- [27:32]
Alex Spears
Subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and.
- [27:38]
Law Murray
More@Applecard.Com as we head into the playoffs, it's safe to assume there will be a few calls made by the refs that will be hard to accept. But you know what isn't hard to accept? Discover. Believe it or not, Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. You heard that right, 99%. So make a good call for your wallet and get Discover. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discover.com creditcard this episode.
- [28:08]
Andrew Schlecht
Is brought to you by the Nissan Armada Pro 4X. With a twin turbo V6 engine, ready to propel your adventures. Up to 8500 pounds of towing capacity to haul all your favorite toys in space. For eight passengers, Nissan's most powerful car.
- [28:22]
Law Murray
Yet will chew up and spit out.
- [28:24]
Andrew Schlecht
Anything you throw at it. Learn more about the all new 2025 Nissan Armada at nissanusa.com Towing capacity varies by configuration.
- [28:33]
Law Murray
See Nissan Towing Guide and Owner's Manual for additional information.
- [28:35]
Andrew Schlecht
Always Secure Cargo Pro Ball or Lonzo.
- [28:38]
Alex Spears
Ball for Buzzballs Ready to go cocktails. Take 12.
- [28:41]
Kofi
Buzz balls just dropped their biggest blue balls.
- [28:44]
Alex Spears
Script says biggie's blue balls.
- [28:45]
Kofi
Lonzo.
- [28:46]
Andrew Schlecht
Take 13.
- [28:47]
David Harbour
Blue balls just dropped their biggest buzz.
- [28:49]
Alex Spears
Uh, let's try a vocal exercise.
- [28:52]
Kofi
Buzz balls, Biggies. Blue balls.
- [28:54]
David Harbour
Buzz balls.
- [28:54]
Kofi
Biggies.
- [28:55]
David Harbour
Blue balls.
- [28:55]
Kofi
Big balls. Just drop. Get blue balls this season with buzz balls. Please read responsibly. Buzz balls.
- [29:03]
Law Murray
Available in spirit, wine and malt, 15% alcohol by volume.
- [29:05]
Alex Spears
Buzzballs, LLC, Carrollton, Texas.
- [29:07]
Andrew Schlecht
Right now, the Home Depot has spring deals under $20. So no matter what you're working on, the deals are blooming at the Home Depot with savings on plants, flowers, soil and more. Then light up your outdoor space with.
- [29:20]
Law Murray
Hampton Bay string lights.
- [29:21]
Andrew Schlecht
Was $34.97, now only $19.99. And get the grill going with two 16 pound bags of Kingsford charcoal. Was $19.98, now only $17.88. Don't miss spring deals under $20 now through May 7 at the home Depot.
- [29:35]
Law Murray
Subject to availability. Valid on select items only.
- [29:37]
Andrew Schlecht
Hey there.
- [29:38]
David Harbour
I'm David Harbour from Marvel Studios Thunderbolts.
- [29:40]
Alex Spears
I don't mean to interrupt your favorite podcast.
- [29:42]
Andrew Schlecht
Well, actually, maybe I do just a.
- [29:44]
David Harbour
Little bit, but I have a good reason.
- [29:45]
Alex Spears
My new film hits theaters Friday, May 2, and it's got everything. Action, suspense, humor, heart, and Bob.
- [29:53]
David Harbour
Who's Bob?
- [29:54]
Alex Spears
Find out by getting tickets now.
- [29:56]
Andrew Schlecht
Okay, now back to the show or.
- [29:58]
Alex Spears
Onto the next AD.
- [30:13]
Kofi
All right, Andrew, our next guest is NBA content creator. You can find him on YouTube @kofi y k o F I E W H Y where he is currently closing in on 100,000 subscribers. More importantly, he is a Detroit Pistons fan. Welcome to Slamming Jam. Kofi, thank you for being here.
- [30:36]
Andrew Schlecht
Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate it.
- [30:39]
Alex Spears
Yeah, I've been excited about this all week and I wanted. I want to hear your response about this. Specifically, rewinding to game two. What was it like watching the Pistons get their first playoff win?
- [30:51]
Andrew Schlecht
George Bush was in office, man.
- [30:55]
Alex Spears
That's what.
- [30:55]
Andrew Schlecht
That's what. That's what we've been saying. We were like. I was like, oh, it's. No, it's the. It was the George Bush era. Like, George Bush era hoops, bro.
- [31:03]
Alex Spears
That just doesn't even make sense.
- [31:04]
Andrew Schlecht
Like, TV wasn't 480p. I was about to go to high school. I think a lot has happened since that.
- [31:13]
Alex Spears
Right?
- [31:14]
Andrew Schlecht
And the thing is that we had made the playoffs since, but then we just. We just got swept, you know, the Bucks or we weren't getting a game off of the LeBron Cavs. Like, we. It was those things where it's like, we're happy to make the playoffs, but like, what are we doing here? So yesterday it was so cool. I mean, sorry, Game two is so awesome because it was seeing this team, like, grow up. This is what the entire season has been about. This team has grown up, they've developed great habits unlike the year before. And seeing it all culminate into stealing a game on the road in that environment was just an absolute scene. And it was a long time coming for Pistons fans because there are some Pistons fans that are new to. They weren't around for the 2004 finals, you know, that some business fans, you know, get into basketball. You come a Pistons fan, you, you. You can hear about the history, but you've never really experienced it. So I think that it was just a big moment for generation of Pistons fans, old and new, for sure.
- [32:18]
Kofi
So looking back at the first three games of the series, is there anything that surprised you compared to how you thought the series might play out?
- [32:26]
Andrew Schlecht
I think for me, I think the thing is that we played the. We played the Knicks very well in the regular season, but that's not something that I can just like, say. It translates over and be like, okay, yeah, we looked very good against the Knicks in the regular season. But the thing is that for the first two games, I was very. I was like, oh, okay, we not only look like we belong here, we actually have looked like the better team for, I think, a majority of the quarters. Right? Then you have The Cameron Payne 210 run that I could not believe. But that's just the game of basketball in terms of fact, where, like, it is a game of runs. And now they learned from it in game two. Game three, I think, is the first game in the series where Detroit did not look like the better team for the entire game. And they tried. Then they had to play catch up because the Knicks made some very, very good adjustments. So I think with this series is that it's actually a series, which is cool, you know, because the last time we made the playoffs, it wasn't a series at all. Like, so this is a really. Been a really fun environment to just witness, watch and be like, I remember this is Detroit playoff basketball and LCA was super loud. And that is something that, you know, I haven't heard that amount of noise in that arena for a while, so it was good to get back to that.
- [33:45]
Alex Spears
So I want to know about what you think about Jalen Duran, because last season it felt like, some fan bases were starting to. Some of the fan bases were starting to turn on him and like, league wide, people were just kind of turning on him as well and just kind of worried about his long term outlook. But he's been a lot better this season. Has some nice moments. You know, he put up 16, 8 and 3 in game three. Where are you at with Jalen Dern right now?
- [34:11]
Andrew Schlecht
I think it's been a delightful surprise, um, compared to last year. Last year, I know he had the ankle injury, so I know that protecting the rim was kind of also, the rim wasn't really worth protecting when we were down, like, by 10 or 20 points, like every game. You know what I'm saying? So I feel like it's one of those things where this year there's more motivation to play harder, if that makes sense. I don't know, maybe. Maybe it's like, oh, we're in more games. I. I have the number one alley oop duo in the league. Like, I get the ball on offense, maybe, Like, I, you know that if I help protect the rim and run the floor, I get more opportunities on the offensive end. So it's one of those things where I feel like he seems more motivated this season, and I feel like that is definitely, probably in part to J.B. bickerstaff and his just overriding the entire culture. And I think that also probably is just the vets that we've gotten, whether it's Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, and then even Schroeder in the offseason, sorry, shooter, midseason. In terms of the fact that these are players that have embraced being in Detroit and want to actually train and mentor these young guys, which is not something that I got a read off of last year. Last year, it felt like all the vets were being like, okay, I can't wait to get traded to a playoff contender. You know, that that's what the vibe kind of felt like, where it was just like, yeah, I'm putting up these stats, but I won't be here by the trade deadline. But this year it's totally flipped, and I feel like Jalen Duran and all the young guys have really benefited from that for sure.
- [35:44]
Kofi
So, looking ahead to game four, you know, Game three, another close, competitive game, they come up just a little bit short at the end. 118, 116. You mentioned that Nixon made some adjustments. Like, what would you like to see as a Pistons fan? Is there anything specific you'd like to see from the Pistons going into game four?
- [35:59]
Andrew Schlecht
I feel like it just hinges on Isaiah Stewart being back. I know that a lot of the I feel like this, these couple of games have shown how important Isaiah Stewart is and what he brings to the table. I think he's one of the best rim protecting bigs in the league, especially among the backup centers. And I feel like he is our best hope in guarding Carl Anthony Towns because again, Karl Anthony Towns when he's on, he's on. But when. So Jalen Duran does have a. I think he does struggle guarding stretch bigs in terms of the fact where if he's too far away from the basket, he doesn't want to over contest and get in foul trouble because he knows how important he is. But Isaiah Stewart is probably our best Carl Anthony Towns defender and Tobias Harris has done the best that he's he can against Karl Anthony Towns. But the foul trouble that happened yesterday, the foul trouble that happened in game two, you kind of, it's kind of hard to because we don't have that many bodies we can throw at Towns and the Knicks played more balanced basketball yesterday. I know that Game two was a lot of Brunson ball, which I think for the Pistons it kind of not threw us for a loop. I feel like we were probably prepared for the adjustment. But the Knicks do have a lot of offensive weapons, so it does get tougher and tougher when they play like this as a cohesive unit for sure.
- [37:26]
Alex Spears
So regardless of what happens the rest of the series, the Pistons will head into the summer with some flexibility, being open, being able to open up some cap space and also having access to all their first round picks after the draft. What do you think the Pistons biggest needs are moving forward?
- [37:43]
Andrew Schlecht
I think the Pistons biggest need they already got this midseason because we were watching the first half of the season being like, oh, we're playing very well. Need a backup point guard. The backup point guard thing was kind of interesting because we would stagger Kaden, Ivy and then Ivy, as good as Ivy is, is not like a full time backup like point guard role. So getting shooter there was super important. I really am excited to see what happens next year when Ivy does come back and we have Ivy, Schroeder, Cade and having three people that can handle the ball at that level. I think that, you know, there's been like rumors, you know we photoshopped Devin Booker and Pistons jerseys and stuff. We have that we, we hang on to that one photo of him taking media availability like the Devin Booker draft kind of thing.
- [38:35]
Alex Spears
Yeah, it's one of those things where.
- [38:36]
Andrew Schlecht
You, where you, like, look over there and you're just like, that would be like a wild, like, it'd be a wild thing to see, honestly, in terms of like where we were last year being like, oh, we even have. But I think for us is that the fact that we won 44 games this year, we're playing in this playoffs just like really ahead of schedule, I feel like. And I'm curious to see about the development of Asar Ron Holland. I feel like there's so much upside on this team that there aren't that many changes that I think personally need to be made at this juncture. You know, I think we got everything that we wanted out of this year and more in terms of the fact where it's like, yes, we up, we upped our win total. We found an identity. We're playing with heart. We finally get to show the national. We get to show the national landscape how good Cade Cunningham really is at basketball. We even saw Jaden Ivey have like a real good improvement when he was playing in terms of just like upping his three point percentage. And there's just so much positive about this season that I feel like I'm just ready to run it back next year and see what this team does with a nice little off season as well. No matter if we win this playoff series or not.
- [39:53]
Kofi
How satisfying has it been to watch Shaq be forced to talk about the Pistons on a playoff broadcast?
- [40:00]
Andrew Schlecht
This is, this is kind of where it's like, it feels like sometimes I'm like, my, my team has accidentally become important in the NBA landscape and it's kind of also ruining my, you know, where it's like, it's like accidentally became important and it was just like, what was it? K. Dillingham. That was funny stuff like that where I was just like, okay, you're. We are. We are forcing the national media to have to talk about us. But I sometimes still have someone that will like, actually talk about like, like Carmel Anthony's podcast. He'd like talked about like Isaiah Stewart and all the other. But then you'll have people that just like, talk about Kate because that's the only, like, that's the only thing that they're paying attention to. Right. So I feel like for us, it's really easy to tell who has been tapped in to this season. And I totally understand if people aren't right. I totally get it. We got every, like most of our national TV games this year. We got flexed into in terms of whether it was playing the Bucks on espn or we forget who we were playing against, but we got flexed into an ESPN game, and then Cade was hurt. So then the national. The national stage of Sarah Thompson ball was. Was pretty awesome to see, but last year, we were getting flexed off of NBA TV games, so, I mean, it's a huge difference. So last year, you didn't have to pay attention to us. This year, you. You do a little bit, at least. You know, and then you see this kind of. Not an overcorrect, but a lot of people being like, oh, the Knicks could be in trouble. I got the Pistons. I'm like, I was not expecting this. I was not expecting this in people's predictions. And, you know, but, yeah, it's been kind of. It's been really nice to see. And nice to see us earn our respect because I feel like, even though I am a Pistons fan, I do feel like the league is better when the Pistons are good. I don't know. And people can. People disagree. I'm not going to argue with them, but I feel like just what we bring to the National League landscape when we are good is a special brand of basketball. I think, honestly.
- [42:13]
Kofi
Yeah, it's just so awesome to see them kind of carry over that, like, tough as nails mentality that you remember about those old Pistons teams. I mean, even last night, like, seeing Paul Reed, like, get into it with Michelle Robinson, it's like, yeah, this is what the Pistons are supposed to be. This is great. And they don't even have beef stew out there. Like, this is awesome.
- [42:31]
Andrew Schlecht
There's still someone I loved when. I loved when that happened. The camera immediately pan to beef stew in the suit, and I was like, yeah, okay, well, that's the rep. Like, I get it.
- [42:45]
Alex Spears
It's. It's cool because, like, it's like this identity that they've had for, what, like, 50 years or something? Like, it's. It's been a long time that they've had this, like, same identity, and it's been dormant for a little while, but it's back now, and it is very cool.
- [43:01]
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, I, like. I appreciate. I mean, it's. The thing is that it's what we're. It's what we're used to when the team is good, you know?
- [43:10]
Kofi
Last question. Now, this is kind of Pistons adjacent, but the Pelicans announced their new front office this week, which includes Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver. How freaking pumped should Pelicans fans be right now?
- [43:24]
Andrew Schlecht
Dude, I'm so sorry. Like, I. I just don't. I woke up to that and was just like, how, How. That's a great question, because the. The. The Pistons fans, we have a list of just like the Troy Weaver miscues, right? Where it's like, yes, he did draft the people that are doing well now, but that's only like a percentage of the job, right? He. He sent out an apology letter to Pistons fans before we won 14 games. And then the apology letter was like, I'm going to do better. And then that off season, the only free agent gets, I think we got, were Monty Morris and Joe Harris. And Monty Morris played like six games because he was super hurt. And then Joe Harris was also hurt, and then I think retired like this after the season or something. It was something where I was like, okay, this is a guy that I feel like he. He takes. I feel like in his head, he takes these big swings, but then they're just not right. And then we have so many other deals where it's like the Wiseman trade, but just so many other aspects of that. That. That era where it was just like, yes, we. You drafted Cade. It felt like. But that's a layup, right? You know, it's felt. It feels like often a lot of these things were like, the good is just like, yeah, I felt that. That feels pretty simple stuff. But then the. The stuff that separates the bad GMs from the good GMs, it just. Just never clicked over here. So I. I don't know what Pelicans. I don't know what Pelicans fans are in for, bro, but I'm gonna be. I'm gonna be tuned in because it's very fascinating. You know, it's like the fascinating thing where it was like, yes, Troy Weaver just loves centers. Like, it's like, okay, we figured that out and we're just like, that's cool. And then, yeah, man, I don't know. There's just a lot hard to do. It's hard to document, man.
- [45:22]
Kofi
I've been thinking about Troy lately because, you know, we're Thunder fans watching the Grizzlies and just every game remembering that Marvin Bagley is on that team and is getting first quarter minutes.
- [45:33]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [45:33]
Kofi
Playoff game in 20, 25.
- [45:36]
Andrew Schlecht
His. His buy. His buy low strategy. I totally understood, like, I totally understood, like, being like, oh, hey, you were. You were a top five. You were a top five potential prospect. That didn't work out here. We can try it out here. And then I think he just, like, kept doing that over and over again to a point where, like, nobody was helping like it was Wiseman and Bagley on the bench. Yeah, right. And it just felt like there's. Felt like there were too many. What's the word? Too many passion projects on those Pistons teams, honestly. So.
- [46:10]
Kofi
Yeah. Well, Kofi, thank you for answering all of our Pistons questions. But it is now time to play Andrew versus the Beat, our weekly trivia show where Andrew goes head to head against an NBA beat writer, or in this case, Kofi. So, Kofi, how this works? I've come up with eight questions about the Pistons. You're gonna give me a number between 1 and 8. It'll correspond to a question. If you get it right, you'll get at least two points. If you get it wrong, Andrew will have a chance to steal for one. And they'll go back and forth until all the questions have been asked and answered. So to start us off, I just need a number between one and eight.
- [46:47]
Andrew Schlecht
Okay, give me seven.
- [46:49]
Kofi
Question number seven. The Pistons took 36.1% of their shots from three this season. The only time they've taken a higher percentage of their shots from three was the 2018-19 season when 36.6% of their attempts were from deep. Who led the pistons in total three pointers made that season. So 2018, 2019 season.
- [47:16]
Alex Spears
Welcome to slamming jam. Kofi.
- [47:18]
Kofi
Welcome.
- [47:20]
Andrew Schlecht
Holy crap. Oh my goodness. Oh my God. That's. This is some dark stuff.
- [47:27]
Alex Spears
Some dark stuff.
- [47:29]
Kofi
1819.
- [47:30]
Andrew Schlecht
I think it's Tobias. Maybe Reggie. Was there some. Some doldrums hoops right there?
- [47:39]
Kofi
Laughs Stop.
- [47:43]
Andrew Schlecht
Could be Blake. That's crazy. I'm gonna go with Reggie Jackson. I forget if he was on the team or not.
- [47:51]
Kofi
He was on the team. Unfortunately, that is not the correct answer. Andrew, give me guesses.
- [48:00]
Alex Spears
I will go with Blake. Blake Griffin.
- [48:03]
Kofi
Andrew, that is correct. It was.
- [48:07]
Alex Spears
Kofi. Kofi. You cannot hand deliver me answers. OK. Gotta learn from that one. All right, Andrew, number one.
- [48:18]
Kofi
Question number one. There were 14 two man lineups that played at least 900 minutes together for the Pistons this season. Who were the two players in the best of those two man lineups? With a plus 8.1 net rating. Now you get one point per correct name. So you don't have to get them both. But if you answer the first name you give me, if it's wrong, we're going to Kofi. So this is the best two man lineup on the Pistons playing a good amount of minutes. Who was on. Who's in that lineup?
- [48:51]
Alex Spears
Give you a very uncomplicated answer and just say Kate and Duran.
- [48:56]
Kofi
Andrew, that Is incorrect. Kofi have a chance to steal here.
- [49:01]
Andrew Schlecht
I'm gonna go. I feel like, because our defense is so good when he's in the line, I'm gonna go. Kaden Asar.
- [49:08]
Kofi
That is also incorrect. Neither of you got either of the names in the best two man lineup. The best two man lineup for the Pistons this season was Malik Beasley and Tobias Harris.
- [49:21]
Alex Spears
Shout out.
- [49:22]
Kofi
Oh, shout out.
- [49:24]
Alex Spears
Shout out.
- [49:25]
Kofi
All right, Kofi, the board is yours.
- [49:27]
Andrew Schlecht
All right, I'm gonna go with two.
- [49:29]
Kofi
Question number two, Kate Cunningham.
- [49:32]
Andrew Schlecht
Crazy questions. I love this.
- [49:34]
Kofi
Kate Cunningham had nine triple doubles this season, which increases his career total to 11. He's second all time in Detroit history. Already prior to Cade arriving in Detroit, who were the last two Detroit Pistons to record a triple double? And you do get one point per correct answer.
- [49:52]
Alex Spears
Oh, my gosh.
- [49:53]
Andrew Schlecht
Okay, I'm gonna miss. I'm gonna go with Blake.
- [49:56]
Kofi
That is incorrect. Andrew, you have a chance to steal.
- [50:04]
Alex Spears
How can that be true? How in the world can that be true?
- [50:12]
Kofi
Two Pistons who recorded triple double most recently other than.
- [50:17]
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, okay.
- [50:21]
Kofi
Kofi may have just remembered one of the names.
- [50:24]
Alex Spears
Seems like he has.
- [50:27]
Kofi
Andrew, you have any ideas?
- [50:31]
Alex Spears
What about Reggie?
- [50:33]
Kofi
That is also incorrect. Kofi, who was the name that.
- [50:35]
Andrew Schlecht
That suddenly popped in? I was just like, dude, we've. We had such a. We've had such a revolving door of players.
- [50:43]
Kofi
All right, now, one of these players, as a. He got two triple doubles once upon a time. Once upon a time, he was on a team. There was an article written in the preseason. How many triple doubles is this guy going to get? It is, of course, Mason Plumlee. Mason Plumlee. And the other Name, Dennis Smith Jr. Okay, moving on. Next question.
- [51:11]
Alex Spears
Dude, we would have been here all day.
- [51:14]
Kofi
Really? I thought you might have gotten Mason Plumlee. Dude, I would have.
- [51:20]
Alex Spears
I would have. I would have passed away not knowing the answer to that.
- [51:23]
Andrew Schlecht
Okay, Pistons trivia is so tough.
- [51:25]
Alex Spears
Oh, my gosh. All right, number three.
- [51:30]
Kofi
Question number three. Okay, you guys are going to get this one. This is a great one. Dennis Schroeder, he's been a spark off the bench in the series. Scored 20 in game two, 18 in game three. In honor of Schroeder playing well for Detroit, we're going to name all of the other eight NBA franchises that he has played for. So how this works, Andrew, you'll give me a name, then Kofi will give me a name. We'll go back and forth till one of you stumbles. And if you get all of them, Andrew, you would get the points since it Is your question. So where would you like to start, Andrew? You just can't say. Detroit. Any other team?
- [51:59]
Alex Spears
Atlanta.
- [52:00]
Kofi
Atlanta. All right, Kofi.
- [52:04]
Andrew Schlecht
I'm gonna go with Golden State.
- [52:06]
Kofi
Golden State. Andrew.
- [52:09]
Alex Spears
Oklahoma City.
- [52:10]
Kofi
Oklahoma City. Back to Kofi.
- [52:14]
Andrew Schlecht
I go with the Lakers.
- [52:16]
Kofi
The Lakers. That is correct. Four teams left, Andrew.
- [52:20]
Alex Spears
Celtics.
- [52:22]
Kofi
The Celtics. Kofi. Three names left. Three teams.
- [52:28]
Andrew Schlecht
Three teams. Three names.
- [52:30]
Kofi
Need another Dennis Schroeder team?
- [52:35]
Alex Spears
I can only think of two.
- [52:39]
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah. Jeez. Jesus.
- [52:41]
Alex Spears
I have no idea who the third is.
- [52:48]
Andrew Schlecht
Nets.
- [52:49]
Kofi
The Nets. That is correct.
- [52:51]
Andrew Schlecht
Okay. Okay.
- [52:53]
Kofi
All right. Andrew, Two teams left.
- [52:57]
Alex Spears
Raptors.
- [52:59]
Kofi
That is correct. Kofi, can you get the last name? I realize if Kofi does get this, he should get a point since it is the. The last.
- [53:06]
Alex Spears
That's not what you said. That's not what you said. That's not what you said.
- [53:08]
Andrew Schlecht
I know, but.
- [53:09]
Kofi
Yeah, now that I'm realizing it's an odd or an even number. Kofi, do you know what the last team is?
- [53:14]
Andrew Schlecht
The last team. God, I just did a. There's no way. No, I'm trying to imagine these.
- [53:27]
Kofi
Doing all the Photoshops in your head.
- [53:28]
Andrew Schlecht
Yeah, I actually am. Yeah. Oh, there's no way. No, I'm gonna say. I'm gonna be wrong and say Pacers.
- [53:46]
Kofi
Okay. That was wrong. The. The other team. Andrew, did you remember it at any point? No, I. I did not remember this one. The Houston Rockets.
- [53:55]
Alex Spears
What.
- [53:56]
Andrew Schlecht
What. When did that happen?
- [53:57]
Alex Spears
I have no recollection of him playing for Houston.
- [54:00]
Kofi
All right, all right. Let me make sure that's right. And I did. Houston, he played 15 games for them in 21, 22. It was actually the same season he played for Boston.
- [54:12]
Alex Spears
So when they were bad.
- [54:15]
Kofi
Yes.
- [54:15]
Andrew Schlecht
He was all over the place.
- [54:19]
Alex Spears
That is wild to me. Wow.
- [54:21]
Kofi
Congratulations, Andrew, on getting that question correct. Kofi, board is yours.
- [54:26]
Andrew Schlecht
Let's go. Number four.
- [54:28]
David Harbour
Number four. This is a.
- [54:29]
Kofi
This is a great question, if I may say so myself. Malik Beasley played in all 82 games this season. In how many of those games did he not hit a three pointer? Now, before you answer, you get to choose who answers first. You can make Andrew answer first, and then you go higher or lower. Or you can answer first, and then Andrew would go higher, lower. If either of you got it exactly correct, you would get a bonus point. So there's some risk if you let Andrew answer. So the number of games this season where Beasley did not hit a three pointer.
- [55:02]
Andrew Schlecht
Pass. Andrew, actually.
- [55:03]
Kofi
All right, Andrew, you get to set the bar. How many games do you think Malik Beasley did not hit a three pointer. And he did play all 82.
- [55:14]
David Harbour
4.
- [55:17]
Alex Spears
I have no idea. I mean, it feels like a trick question, honestly.
- [55:21]
Kofi
All right, Andrew, set the bar at 4. Kofi, would you like to go higher or lower than 4?
- [55:27]
Andrew Schlecht
I feel like percentage wise, higher is the more likely, right? So I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go higher off percentage.
- [55:35]
Kofi
Andrew, you were within one game in 82 games. Malik Beasley did not hit a three in five games, which means Kofi gets.
- [55:49]
Andrew Schlecht
The points I love. Probability.
- [55:54]
David Harbour
Shout out.
- [55:55]
Alex Spears
Probability.
- [55:56]
Kofi
Shout out. Probability. All right, Andrew, it's now three to two. Control of the board.
- [56:04]
Alex Spears
Five.
- [56:05]
Kofi
Question number five. While the Pistons leading block getter Isaiah Stewart only average 1.4 blocks per game, the Pistons were one of only three teams in the NBA who had four different players total 50 plus blocks this season. Four different guys do that. Who were the other two teams? Now you get one point per correct answer. So this has to be an NBA team who had four players.
- [56:30]
Alex Spears
Four players with 50 plus blocks. 50 plus blocks. I know, like, the Thunder have the guys to do it. I just don't know that their guys played enough.
- [56:48]
Kofi
And I will say there were several teams with three, which makes this question even more unfair.
- [56:54]
Alex Spears
Yeah, I. I don't like this question at all.
- [57:00]
David Harbour
This is.
- [57:02]
Alex Spears
This is not a fun question. Goodness. Who else has blocks? I want to say Thunder, but I just don't think that they got enough. I'll go ahead and say Thunder, but I. I feel like I don't know if they got four. I feel like maybe they got three.
- [57:27]
Kofi
Andrew, that is incorrect. Kofi, have a chance to steal. You get two points here. If you could pull these names out of a hat.
- [57:34]
Andrew Schlecht
A chance to.
- [57:35]
Alex Spears
Okay, I just thought of one. I'm so mad.
- [57:40]
Andrew Schlecht
50 blocks.
- [57:42]
Kofi
Four different players with 50 plus blocks.
- [57:47]
Andrew Schlecht
Kind of want to say Boston.
- [57:49]
Kofi
That is correct for one point.
- [57:51]
Andrew Schlecht
Okay. Yeah, like the Derek White.
- [57:54]
Kofi
Yeah.
- [57:57]
Andrew Schlecht
The Derek. Those things are like shop locking guards, you know?
- [58:01]
Alex Spears
Yeah.
- [58:01]
Kofi
So we now have a tie game. Kofi, you could pull ahead here if you could get the other team.
- [58:06]
Andrew Schlecht
One more team. Part of me wants to say Houston. Thinking like the Thompson Twins.
- [58:21]
David Harbour
I'm gonna.
- [58:21]
Andrew Schlecht
I'm gonna say Houston here.
- [58:24]
Kofi
That is incorrect. The other team, Andrea.
- [58:27]
Alex Spears
Minnesota. Minnesota.
- [58:28]
Kofi
It was Minnesota. It was Minnesota.
- [58:30]
Andrew Schlecht
That's a good.
- [58:36]
David Harbour
All right.
- [58:36]
Kofi
It is a tie game. Two questions remaining. Kofi have control the board. Would you like six or eight?
- [58:42]
Andrew Schlecht
Let's go with number six. I feel like eight's like a final boss question.
- [58:45]
Kofi
Ooh, interesting. Okay, we'll see. Kate Cunningham averaged 26.1 points per game this season. Who was the last Piston to average at least that many points?
- [59:13]
Andrew Schlecht
Can I go with Jerry Stackhouse?
- [59:16]
Kofi
GoFi. That is correct for two points. Kofi has taken the commanding lead going into the final question. But Andrew, you have first dibs on this question. And it is a question where three points are available. So if you got all three, you could win.
- [59:33]
Andrew Schlecht
It was a final boss question.
- [59:34]
Alex Spears
It was a final boss question.
- [59:36]
Kofi
All right, here we go. Ready?
- [59:38]
Alex Spears
Okay.
- [59:38]
Kofi
The last time the Pistons were in the playoffs was a five game series against the Bucks in 2019. Three Pistons took more than 23 pointers in that series. How many can you name game? You get one point per correct answer. So we're talking 2019 playoffs against the Bucks. Over the course of the five games, three Pistons took 20 plus threes total. Who were they?
- [60:04]
Alex Spears
Oh my God.
- [60:07]
Kofi
I'm sure you were locked into that series.
- [60:12]
Alex Spears
Yeah, I mean I. I just. I could not just from. From the. From the tv. Reggie Jackson.
- [60:21]
Kofi
That is correct for one point. Can you get another name to tie the game and at least send it into overtime? Andrew.
- [60:35]
Alex Spears
I guess if I answer this guy early on in the game, I'll say him again. Blake Griffin.
- [60:40]
Kofi
Andrew. That is incorrect. Which means Kofi wins the week. Andrew versus the Beat. Kofi have any other guesses?
- [60:50]
Andrew Schlecht
I want to say KCP and Luke Canard.
- [60:53]
Kofi
Both of those names. Wrong. Other names.
- [60:58]
Andrew Schlecht
Thought maker was in there like starting. He started one game, bro.
- [61:02]
Kofi
I tried to come up with a Thon Maker question because he was second in the team in free throw attempts in that series.
- [61:09]
David Harbour
Wow.
- [61:09]
Kofi
Even though he barely played took. They must have like hacked him or something. Langston Galloway and Wayne Ellington.
- [61:20]
Andrew Schlecht
Wayne Ellington.
- [61:20]
Kofi
Okay, so final score. Kofi 5. Andrew 4. Congrats on winning. Andrew versus the beat.
- [61:28]
Alex Spears
God. Minnesota Timberwolves. Please go Check out Kofi's YouTube channel at. Kofi Y K O F I E W H Y Very fun content at his channel. So go check it out. Let's get him over 100k this weekend, people.
- [61:42]
Kofi
Let's do it. Yeah.
- [61:44]
Alex Spears
Thank you, Kofi.
- [61:45]
Andrew Schlecht
I appreciate it. Thank you guys for having me. Pistons trivia is always tough, man.
- [61:52]
Alex Spears
Huge thanks to La Marie and to Kofi for joining us on today's show. If you leave us a five star review, we will read it on the podcast at the very end. And so if you do that, we'll do it. And this one we have comes from SF Slim. He says slam dunk. Five star slam and jam continues to dunk over the competition. Despite miscalculating the number of surprise teams this season. Didn't. Didn't you guys forget the Clippers? Look it up. Nonetheless.
- [62:21]
Kofi
No, hold on. They do not count because you have to have a preseason over under below 36 and a half.
- [62:27]
Alex Spears
Below 36.
- [62:28]
David Harbour
Yeah.
- [62:28]
Alex Spears
Yeah. Nonetheless, Alex and Andrew rule the NBA podcast world. Keep it up. Thank you so much for that review. This next one comes from Yay Playoffs. Five stars. Says wonderful, entertaining and interesting. Thank you so much for that review. And our final one comes from Joel Law or Joe. Joe law or Joel. AW426 slam and jam. Slams and Jams. My favorite hour of podcast listening each week. Alex's review of the week is writing gold and the funniest NBA content out there. Totally agree with that. The pod does deep dives but keeps it light. And I play along with the trivia each week and I'm excited when I know one that also serves as a reminder that I should probably consume less mba, spend more time with my wife and kid. Thank you so much for review.
- [63:26]
Kofi
Yes, I have a correction. Oh, there were four surprise teams this year because I just went. I don't know how I missed them. Initially. They were. I went back. They were not on my initial list, but I just went to their basketball reference page, which is what I use for preseason over under and the Clippers preseason over under was 35 and a half, which means they were eligible.
- [63:49]
Alex Spears
Wow.
- [63:50]
Kofi
And they are a surprise team. So shout out to that listener.
- [63:53]
Alex Spears
Wow.
- [63:54]
Kofi
Because that might have been lost to history.
- [63:56]
Alex Spears
If they did, it really would have been. It would have been.
- [63:59]
Kofi
Oh my gosh. I apologize.
- [64:01]
Alex Spears
Huge shout out. And he's shout out to us with our overconfidence thinking that it was not.
- [64:06]
Kofi
That means that this could be the first surprise team to win a title. If that happened, would that be amazing?
- [64:15]
Alex Spears
I don't even know what to say. I don't know what to say. Enjoy the basketball this weekend. We'll talk to you guys again next week.