No Jokic, No Problem? The Nuggets’ Challenges Without Their Star & Northern Division Rundown

[00:00:12] It's Monday, you know what time it is. Front Runner Podcast Collective is back on the air. I am your humble host Vince and we have a really big show for you today.

[00:00:28] Now, first and foremost, Saraya, car accident, a couple days after, what is the fallout from this? She's okay. Everything's great.

[00:00:46] So, shout out to our producer, Still Playing Hurt. We love it.

[00:00:51] We have to get to the Western Conference. And we were off schedule last week and we're trying to get back on schedule this week.

[00:00:58] You can expect today is the North, the Southwest will be done Wednesday, and then Friday will be the illustrious Pacific Division.

[00:01:10] So that's what's on tap for this week. So we all know what time it is. So let's get to it.

[00:01:17] First and foremost, the socials. X, Twitter, whatever you want to call it. It's at Front Runner PC and also hit the producer up is at Raya underscore Funch FRPC.

[00:01:34] Then the YouTube page is at Front Runner, it's the Front Runner Podcast Collective.

[00:01:40] We're going to have some polls up on there. The reason why the videos aren't up on there is because we're trying to allow the producer a couple days of convalescing.

[00:01:53] Plus, she got some other personal things that she got to do. We'll get them up.

[00:01:58] But sometimes life gets in the way, unfortunately.

[00:02:03] Then the other thing is be a friend, tell a friend about the podcast.

[00:02:07] Make sure that we're reaching as many basketball fans as we possibly can.

[00:02:13] Also, check us out on Blue Sky.

[00:02:20] So it's at Front Runner PC.

[00:02:23] And for producer Soraya, it's actually it's actually FRPC dot producer dot Soraya.

[00:02:33] On Blue Sky.

[00:02:35] So we're there, too.

[00:02:37] We're trying to be prominent in all social media platforms except for tick tock.

[00:02:44] That's a long story.

[00:02:46] We'll have to get to it at a later date.

[00:02:48] But as far as being a friend and tell a friend, we got to continue this momentum.

[00:02:57] This is our task.

[00:02:59] This is our charge.

[00:03:01] So I leave it to the Front Runner podcast collective audience to help us out with that.

[00:03:08] Now, with that being said, what we're going to talk about today, it is the north.

[00:03:13] So we're going to talk about the Timberwolves.

[00:03:16] We're obviously going to talk about Julius Randall and his buzzer beater.

[00:03:19] We're going to talk about the Denver Nuggets and their struggles without Nikola Jokic.

[00:03:25] We're also going to hit the other teams in that division, Portland.

[00:03:30] We have some things on Utah, obviously, and OKC.

[00:03:37] And for our baseline buzz, we're going to get into some Carl Anthony towns, some good and some bad.

[00:03:45] And then we call the draft.

[00:03:49] I feel a draft in here.

[00:03:51] Can you feel a draft?

[00:03:53] Yes.

[00:03:54] We'll be talking about the NBA draft a little bit.

[00:03:57] So we'll be hitting on all these, but let's get to the podcast, shall we?

[00:04:06] Now, we're going to start off with some advanced analytics for some of these teams.

[00:04:14] The Thunder are 11 and 3.

[00:04:17] They're league best defensive rating of 102.8 and that's powered by Jalen Williams.

[00:04:23] And we will get into that when we get to their section of this north roundup, if you want to call it that.

[00:04:32] And then the Nuggets are 75.

[00:04:35] They're plummeting offensive rating of 91.3 without Jokic tells you all you need to know how much depth they have.

[00:04:47] And how much trouble.

[00:04:50] They're in.

[00:04:54] We're also going to pay a little visit to the Timberwolves.

[00:04:57] Julius Randle doing Julius Randle things.

[00:05:02] Playing his bully ball style of offense.

[00:05:06] We knew that was going to work there.

[00:05:10] My question was, how was his interaction?

[00:05:14] How was his offensive flow going to work with Anthony Edwards?

[00:05:19] So far, there's been some cluckiness to it.

[00:05:22] 8 and 6.

[00:05:23] I knew this was going to be a process.

[00:05:27] But there are signs of hope.

[00:05:29] And we'll get into those.

[00:05:31] Now, the Trailblazers are 6 and 8.

[00:05:35] And we're going to get into, with the Trailblazers, the veteran conundrum that they have that's impeding the progress of the young guys that need development.

[00:05:49] So we're going to get into that.

[00:05:51] And then Utah, the tanking narrative, positioning for Cougar Flagg or Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey or whomever is going to be number one.

[00:06:04] The Jazz are doing an incredible job.

[00:06:06] And we'll get into that.

[00:06:10] You know how we do it here.

[00:06:12] We got analytics for you.

[00:06:14] We got cool little numbers.

[00:06:17] I want to thank Soraya for digging these up for me.

[00:06:20] Thank you, Soraya.

[00:06:22] She's like a true patriot, I tell you.

[00:06:28] Your podcast is as good as it can be with the production.

[00:06:35] And if you have a good producer, they're worth their weight in gold, I tell you.

[00:06:44] Now, Randall in Minnesota, he has a positive 12.7 net rating when he's on the court.

[00:06:50] But the defensive rating is still 113.6.

[00:06:54] Now, here's the thing.

[00:06:56] You are going to lose something.

[00:06:59] Anytime you go from seven feet to six foot seven.

[00:07:05] There was going to be a change there.

[00:07:09] There was never going to be the rim protector, the weak side rim protector that Carl Anthony Towns was for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

[00:07:18] Now, the whole thing was is that you are going to be able to splice up these minutes and get our guy Nas Reid on the court.

[00:07:28] And some of these defensive blemishes work themselves out.

[00:07:34] Now, I still think that's the case.

[00:07:37] I don't think this is something that you need to give up on.

[00:07:41] The offense does look clunky.

[00:07:44] Mike Conley Jr.

[00:07:46] Mike Conley Jr. has been, in a sense, relegated to a point of we're trying to preserve him as much as possible to have him ready for the playoffs.

[00:07:56] You're seeing Anthony Edwards be more of the on-ball facilitator.

[00:08:03] You're also trying to see where Dante DiVincenzo and his role fits in.

[00:08:08] These are all things that were going to happen when you take out the secondary scorer on a team that has championship aspirations.

[00:08:22] To replace that, to see how it works, that big of a cog, it takes some time.

[00:08:31] And I think Minnesota is in that situation.

[00:08:34] And we're going to have games where it looks great and we're going to have games where it doesn't.

[00:08:41] And that is just the way it is.

[00:08:43] Now, here's an interesting little nugget about the Nuggets.

[00:08:49] The assist percentage drops from 65% to 50% without Jokic.

[00:08:56] Now, he did everything for them.

[00:09:00] He was the de facto point guard.

[00:09:03] He was the best point producer that they had.

[00:09:10] Obviously, he was the best rebounder.

[00:09:12] And he just facilitated the offense.

[00:09:15] With Jokic being gone, the others are going to have to step up.

[00:09:24] The problem is that the maestro is not there.

[00:09:28] Those pieces were perfectly symphonized because of Jokic.

[00:09:36] Now, you're asking these guys to do more than what they have been asked to do.

[00:09:44] Now, Jamal Murray has that in his bag.

[00:09:48] I don't think Michael Porter Jr. has that in his bag.

[00:09:53] We'll see if Christian Brown has it in his bag.

[00:09:58] Julian Strother, who will, there's a comment from him, we'll get to him in a second.

[00:10:06] But he's going to have to do something.

[00:10:08] And they're going to have to get some production from the young guys that Calvin Booth has been talking these last couple of years.

[00:10:18] It's time.

[00:10:20] And if these guys don't step up, we're going to look at the veteran exodus that happened in the last couple of years in Denver.

[00:10:30] And we're going to look directly at Calvin Booth and his system that he's trying to run.

[00:10:37] And we're going to have questions.

[00:10:41] That's just the nature of the beast.

[00:10:44] I have I had questions about Rob Palenka in the offseason.

[00:10:49] I still have questions about the roster.

[00:10:52] They're nine and four.

[00:10:54] Can't really argue with that right now.

[00:10:57] But when I see a team like.

[00:11:00] The Denver Nuggets, who.

[00:11:02] In a sense of the last couple years by attrition.

[00:11:07] The Denver Nuggets, who.

[00:11:08] In a sense of the last couple years by running.

[00:11:09] And I've lost a couple of their key pieces to a championship team.

[00:11:16] And when you have somebody who is like Jokic.

[00:11:19] It's really hard for me to watch.

[00:11:22] Vital pieces just being taken away.

[00:11:26] I understand the salary cap.

[00:11:29] I understand how punitive it is.

[00:11:31] I understand you have to be imaginative when it comes to that.

[00:11:36] You have to be.

[00:11:39] Fearless when it comes to your moves.

[00:11:41] You have to know the ins and outs of your team.

[00:11:44] And how it works.

[00:11:45] And if you take this piece away.

[00:11:48] What is it going to take to replace that piece?

[00:11:51] Can you do it with a couple young guys.

[00:11:53] And maybe like a.

[00:11:54] Mid-level vet.

[00:11:56] I don't know.

[00:11:58] But.

[00:11:58] These are all the things that.

[00:12:01] These executives have to come up with.

[00:12:04] Every single year.

[00:12:05] Is how to put this puzzle.

[00:12:07] Back together again.

[00:12:09] To get it to a championship.

[00:12:11] Or get it to whatever level.

[00:12:13] They're trying to get it to that year.

[00:12:15] But we shall see.

[00:12:18] Now.

[00:12:19] The Thunder.

[00:12:21] The Thunder.

[00:12:23] Who we think.

[00:12:25] Are getting Isaiah Hartenstein.

[00:12:27] Back very shortly.

[00:12:28] Probably.

[00:12:28] They're still playing with a small roster.

[00:12:31] But.

[00:12:32] The Thunder's defensive excellence.

[00:12:34] Is still there.

[00:12:36] Their second in net rating.

[00:12:38] With 11.8.

[00:12:40] Despite all the injuries to their bigs.

[00:12:42] You know how they're doing it.

[00:12:45] They're getting out rebounded.

[00:12:48] Crazy.

[00:12:48] Crazy.

[00:12:49] But.

[00:12:50] We got some stuff for you.

[00:12:52] When we get to the OKC Thunder.

[00:12:55] They doing some big things.

[00:12:56] And we'll get to it.

[00:12:59] Now.

[00:12:59] Let's get to Carl Anthony Towns.

[00:13:01] Shall we.

[00:13:01] He had a big game.

[00:13:03] In the last week or so.

[00:13:05] He scored 46 points.

[00:13:07] Now.

[00:13:08] It was never a question of Cat's offensive game.

[00:13:11] We knew that as a stretch five.

[00:13:13] He was going to provide.

[00:13:15] He was going to provide a.

[00:13:16] A spacing mechanism.

[00:13:18] To the New York Knicks.

[00:13:19] That they had not had.

[00:13:21] The question now is.

[00:13:24] Which Mikael Bridges are you going to get?

[00:13:26] It.

[00:13:27] His defense seems to have slipped.

[00:13:30] Somehow.

[00:13:31] And his shooting is absolutely woeful.

[00:13:35] Shoot like 31.7% from three.

[00:13:38] Which is terrible.

[00:13:40] He's got to get that back.

[00:13:42] If the Knicks are going to have any chance of being.

[00:13:45] A really competitive team.

[00:13:48] Against the likes of Cleveland.

[00:13:50] And the likes of Boston.

[00:13:52] OK.

[00:13:53] Now.

[00:13:54] Back to Cat.

[00:13:56] 125.1 offensive rating.

[00:14:00] He's in the 94th percentile.

[00:14:03] But opponents are shooting 70.8.

[00:14:06] At the rim.

[00:14:07] With him.

[00:14:08] Meaning Carl Anthony Towns defending.

[00:14:12] There are plus 13.1%.

[00:14:16] At the rim.

[00:14:18] Higher than everybody else.

[00:14:19] So.

[00:14:20] Carl Anthony Towns.

[00:14:21] As a.

[00:14:24] Primary.

[00:14:25] Rim protector.

[00:14:26] Is not great.

[00:14:28] Is not great.

[00:14:29] One of the reasons.

[00:14:30] Why Minnesota.

[00:14:31] Went out and got a Rudy Gobert.

[00:14:34] Is because they knew this fact as well.

[00:14:37] Now.

[00:14:38] If the Knicks are waiting on Mitchell Robinson.

[00:14:41] They're waiting on him.

[00:14:43] Now I'm not saying that.

[00:14:45] He's never going to come back.

[00:14:47] I'm not saying that.

[00:14:49] But he has a.

[00:14:50] Injury.

[00:14:51] Marred.

[00:14:52] Career so far.

[00:14:54] I like Mitchell Robinson.

[00:14:56] I like the energy.

[00:14:58] I love his shot blocking potential.

[00:15:01] I love the way he.

[00:15:02] He rebounds to basketball.

[00:15:04] He rebounds to basketball.

[00:15:04] With a lot of.

[00:15:06] Ferocity.

[00:15:07] These are all things.

[00:15:08] The Knicks need.

[00:15:09] When he does come back.

[00:15:11] My question is.

[00:15:13] How long will he stay?

[00:15:15] That's the question.

[00:15:16] And now do you answer that question.

[00:15:19] By getting ahead of it.

[00:15:22] And maybe.

[00:15:23] Shoring up.

[00:15:24] The center position.

[00:15:26] That's going to be vital for you.

[00:15:29] Because you see.

[00:15:30] What's going on with Carl Anthony Towns.

[00:15:32] On the defensive side of the ball.

[00:15:35] These are all just questions.

[00:15:36] That's floating out there.

[00:15:38] Not just by me.

[00:15:40] Let's get into the Minnesota Timberwolves.

[00:15:42] And let's get into this.

[00:15:44] Topsy-turvy.

[00:15:47] Northern Division.

[00:15:49] And Julius Randle.

[00:15:50] And how his impact on the Wolves.

[00:15:52] And how it's going so far.

[00:15:55] We all know about the game.

[00:15:57] On Sunday.

[00:15:58] Julius Randle.

[00:16:00] Being Julius Randle.

[00:16:01] He had 35 points against the Phoenix Suns.

[00:16:04] He had 7 assists.

[00:16:06] And then he hit that clutch.

[00:16:07] Step back 3.

[00:16:08] And said ice cold baby.

[00:16:10] You know how I do it.

[00:16:12] I just do these things.

[00:16:14] Now.

[00:16:14] This is what Chris Finch.

[00:16:16] Head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

[00:16:19] Said about Randle.

[00:16:21] Randle's a proven closer.

[00:16:23] And he sets the tone.

[00:16:25] Late in games.

[00:16:27] Now.

[00:16:28] Defensive struggles.

[00:16:29] Remain.

[00:16:31] A post cap trade.

[00:16:33] Conundrum.

[00:16:35] When they're allowing.

[00:16:36] 45% from 3.

[00:16:39] This season.

[00:16:39] Again.

[00:16:41] You are looking at.

[00:16:43] Two things.

[00:16:44] This is a young team.

[00:16:45] That made.

[00:16:46] A serious playoff run.

[00:16:47] Albeit.

[00:16:49] It was only to the Western Conference.

[00:16:52] Finals.

[00:16:53] It wasn't to the promised land.

[00:16:55] Of the NBA finals.

[00:16:56] But.

[00:16:56] It was a long.

[00:16:58] Playoff run.

[00:17:00] No.

[00:17:01] None the same.

[00:17:01] Here's the other thing.

[00:17:04] You're.

[00:17:05] Preserving.

[00:17:06] Michael Conley Jr.

[00:17:07] Which I've already said.

[00:17:09] You're working in this new.

[00:17:11] Piece.

[00:17:12] Which is Julius Randle.

[00:17:13] Who you lost.

[00:17:15] Four to five inches of height.

[00:17:17] And also.

[00:17:18] The ability.

[00:17:20] To have a really.

[00:17:22] I would say.

[00:17:23] I would say.

[00:17:23] Efficient.

[00:17:24] I would say.

[00:17:25] What's the word I'm looking for.

[00:17:26] He was an effective.

[00:17:28] Weak side.

[00:17:29] Rim protector.

[00:17:30] Carl Anthony Towns.

[00:17:31] You don't have that now.

[00:17:33] Not in the starting lineup.

[00:17:35] McDaniels has taken a step back this year.

[00:17:37] They need to get him back.

[00:17:39] Because he unlocks that defense.

[00:17:42] And he takes a little more pressure.

[00:17:44] Off of Julius Randle.

[00:17:45] Wouldn't look this bad on defense.

[00:17:47] If.

[00:17:48] Jaden McDaniels.

[00:17:50] Was.

[00:17:50] The Jaden McDaniels.

[00:17:52] We saw in the playoffs.

[00:17:53] Against the Denver Nuggets.

[00:17:55] If they can get that guy back.

[00:17:59] Playing that style of basketball.

[00:18:03] This team looks a lot different.

[00:18:05] And we're probably not worried.

[00:18:07] As much about.

[00:18:09] Minnesota's defensive woes.

[00:18:12] And how they need to fix it.

[00:18:14] If Jaden McDaniels.

[00:18:16] Is the guy.

[00:18:17] That they didn't want to trade.

[00:18:19] Or put in the trade.

[00:18:20] For Rudy Gobert.

[00:18:21] Remember.

[00:18:22] That was the one guy.

[00:18:24] They traded everything else away.

[00:18:26] To get Rudy Gobert.

[00:18:28] But they were so hyped.

[00:18:30] That they kept Jaden McDaniels.

[00:18:32] And now he needs to show and prove.

[00:18:35] And get to the point.

[00:18:37] Where he can be an asset.

[00:18:38] To this team.

[00:18:39] And right now.

[00:18:41] He's not doing that.

[00:18:44] Now a light moment.

[00:18:46] Randall's son's Jace.

[00:18:47] Witnessing his dad.

[00:18:49] A first buzzer beater.

[00:18:51] He hates games.

[00:18:52] Joke.

[00:18:52] Joke Randall.

[00:18:54] Hold on.

[00:18:55] So wait.

[00:18:56] Jace hates the games.

[00:18:58] We got Deuce over here in Boston.

[00:19:01] He want to be on the court.

[00:19:02] Or I think.

[00:19:03] Deuce thinks that he is.

[00:19:05] Part of the Boston bench.

[00:19:07] And Jace is over here.

[00:19:09] Oh.

[00:19:10] My dad hit a buzzer beater.

[00:19:12] Okay.

[00:19:13] I guess like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

[00:19:16] So what?

[00:19:17] I don't care.

[00:19:18] I don't care.

[00:19:19] Give me.

[00:19:19] Somebody give me a chicken sandwich.

[00:19:21] Or give me some nuggets.

[00:19:23] You know what I'm saying?

[00:19:24] Hook this up.

[00:19:25] Let's go.

[00:19:26] Shout out to Jace.

[00:19:28] He is not.

[00:19:29] He is not.

[00:19:30] He is not a.

[00:19:31] Bewildered by what his dad does at all.

[00:19:34] All right.

[00:19:35] Let's get to the nuggets.

[00:19:36] And this is.

[00:19:37] All right.

[00:19:38] So obviously.

[00:19:39] Yoke is just out.

[00:19:40] Now here's the thing.

[00:19:41] We talked about this.

[00:19:43] In the off season.

[00:19:44] And I'm going to bring this up again.

[00:19:47] There was a huge rift.

[00:19:49] Between Michael Malone.

[00:19:50] The head coach of the Denver Nuggets.

[00:19:52] And Calvin Booth.

[00:19:54] The philosophy.

[00:19:56] Of the young players.

[00:19:57] Which strictly.

[00:19:59] Calvin Booth.

[00:20:00] And also.

[00:20:01] The ownership group.

[00:20:02] Which is the Cronkies.

[00:20:04] They do not like to be.

[00:20:06] In the luxury tax.

[00:20:08] And.

[00:20:10] As.

[00:20:11] Even though.

[00:20:12] You had a championship roster.

[00:20:15] You started to see.

[00:20:17] Them.

[00:20:17] Peel back.

[00:20:18] A little bit.

[00:20:19] On the financial.

[00:20:21] Investments.

[00:20:22] That they made.

[00:20:23] The first one was.

[00:20:25] Bruce Brown.

[00:20:26] Oh.

[00:20:27] He had to leave.

[00:20:28] Now.

[00:20:28] That one.

[00:20:29] We always talk about.

[00:20:30] It's understandable.

[00:20:31] Now.

[00:20:32] Okay.

[00:20:33] Then KCP.

[00:20:35] Okay.

[00:20:36] Now.

[00:20:37] When they lost.

[00:20:38] KCP.

[00:20:39] In the offseason.

[00:20:41] We.

[00:20:42] Raised the eyebrow.

[00:20:43] Going.

[00:20:43] Hold on.

[00:20:44] Now.

[00:20:44] This is real.

[00:20:47] Delicate type situation.

[00:20:50] Calvin Booth.

[00:20:51] Has been praising.

[00:20:52] For the last couple years.

[00:20:53] He's been.

[00:20:54] Using the same rhetoric.

[00:20:56] We have to.

[00:20:58] Invest in the young talent.

[00:21:00] We have to develop.

[00:21:01] The young talent.

[00:21:02] We have to get the young talent.

[00:21:04] On the court.

[00:21:05] So then.

[00:21:06] They.

[00:21:06] Can start taking over.

[00:21:08] For some of the aging.

[00:21:11] More expensive.

[00:21:13] Part of the roster.

[00:21:15] Now.

[00:21:16] A lot of people will say.

[00:21:18] You could have.

[00:21:19] Rejiggered.

[00:21:20] Some of this stuff.

[00:21:21] And found a way to keep KCP.

[00:21:23] I've talked to a lot of people.

[00:21:25] They told me.

[00:21:26] I've.

[00:21:27] 80% have said.

[00:21:28] Yes.

[00:21:29] This can be done.

[00:21:30] They could have kept KCP.

[00:21:31] They decided not to.

[00:21:34] They wanted to go with.

[00:21:36] Christian Brown.

[00:21:37] They wanted to go with.

[00:21:39] Julian Strother.

[00:21:40] They want to see what they have in.

[00:21:42] Peyton Watson.

[00:21:44] And now here we are.

[00:21:46] And this is what Julian Strother had to say.

[00:21:48] Without Jokic.

[00:21:49] He said.

[00:21:51] We've had a helpless.

[00:21:52] A helpless energy out there.

[00:21:54] Oh no.

[00:21:55] You can't have a helpless energy.

[00:21:57] Calvin Booth.

[00:21:58] As the executive.

[00:22:00] Is counting on you.

[00:22:01] To go out there.

[00:22:03] And get buckets.

[00:22:05] Also.

[00:22:05] Play some defense.

[00:22:07] Does this mean that my guy.

[00:22:09] Zeke.

[00:22:09] Nagy.

[00:22:10] Is going to actually play some.

[00:22:11] Actual minutes.

[00:22:13] I hope.

[00:22:13] Like to see that.

[00:22:14] He's been in.

[00:22:15] Michael Malone.

[00:22:16] Purgatory.

[00:22:17] Since he got there.

[00:22:19] Yes.

[00:22:19] It's going to be a long season.

[00:22:21] If.

[00:22:21] If he's going to be.

[00:22:24] If he's going to be out for a while.

[00:22:25] Here's the other thing.

[00:22:26] He was playing a lot of minutes.

[00:22:27] And this gets back to the whole conundrum again.

[00:22:31] Michael Malone.

[00:22:32] Did not trust the young players.

[00:22:34] Zeke Nagy.

[00:22:35] Who I just talked to.

[00:22:36] Who's the other big.

[00:22:37] On the team.

[00:22:39] And I'll be remiss.

[00:22:41] To not say that.

[00:22:42] There was a thought.

[00:22:44] That their first round pick.

[00:22:47] Deron Holmes the second.

[00:22:49] Out of Dayton.

[00:22:50] They thought he would probably play major minutes.

[00:22:53] But he had an Achilles injury.

[00:22:55] Before the season.

[00:22:57] He's out for the year.

[00:22:59] Now.

[00:23:01] If we follow Michael Malone's pattern.

[00:23:04] Of how he uses rookies.

[00:23:06] I don't know that to be true.

[00:23:09] But.

[00:23:10] The good thing about Deron Holmes.

[00:23:13] Is that he was an older rookie.

[00:23:16] He had played multiple years in college.

[00:23:19] So I think he had a better chance.

[00:23:21] Of playing.

[00:23:22] Early.

[00:23:24] Then maybe.

[00:23:24] Let's say.

[00:23:25] Peyton Watson.

[00:23:26] A Drew Liam Strother.

[00:23:28] Jalen Pickett.

[00:23:29] And so on.

[00:23:31] But.

[00:23:32] Now we're here.

[00:23:33] The depth is a question.

[00:23:35] These young players are going to have to play.

[00:23:38] The other reason for that is this.

[00:23:41] Jamal Murray.

[00:23:43] His struggles continue.

[00:23:44] He's shooting under 40 percent.

[00:23:47] Field goal percentage.

[00:23:50] And also.

[00:23:51] With a 5 percent increase.

[00:23:53] In his turnover rate.

[00:23:55] He's going to have to be the facilitator.

[00:23:58] Without Jokic.

[00:24:00] And he's going to have to utilize.

[00:24:02] Michael Porter Jr.

[00:24:04] And he's going to have to get something out of these kids.

[00:24:07] To keep Denver afloat.

[00:24:09] Until.

[00:24:10] Jokic can return.

[00:24:13] And hopefully.

[00:24:14] By the time he returns.

[00:24:16] We got a little.

[00:24:17] Confidence.

[00:24:18] And we got a little continuities.

[00:24:19] With these young guys.

[00:24:21] And then.

[00:24:22] Michael Malone will start playing them.

[00:24:25] That's what it's going to come down to.

[00:24:28] I wonder which one goes.

[00:24:31] Will it be Michael Malone who won the title?

[00:24:34] Or would it be Calvin Booth.

[00:24:36] Who's being.

[00:24:38] Fiscally.

[00:24:40] More responsible.

[00:24:41] And thinking about the long term vision.

[00:24:44] Of.

[00:24:45] The Denver Nuggets.

[00:24:47] You know what?

[00:24:48] Hit me up on Twitter.

[00:24:50] At Frontrunner PC.

[00:24:52] Or.

[00:24:53] Hit the producer.

[00:24:54] At Rare.

[00:24:55] Underscore.

[00:24:55] Fudge.

[00:24:57] Let me know what your thoughts.

[00:24:59] Is that.

[00:24:59] Who would win.

[00:25:00] In a power struggle.

[00:25:02] Between Michael Malone.

[00:25:04] And Calvin Booth.

[00:25:06] Hit me up on Twitter.

[00:25:08] Let me know.

[00:25:09] John Hollinger.

[00:25:10] Had this insight.

[00:25:11] He says Denver's bench death.

[00:25:12] Is too thin.

[00:25:13] To manage.

[00:25:15] Even short term.

[00:25:16] Absences of Jokic.

[00:25:18] I agree.

[00:25:21] And losses.

[00:25:23] Become key.

[00:25:25] Down the stretch.

[00:25:26] Especially in a West.

[00:25:28] That's going to be real tight.

[00:25:30] And you're going to have a bunch of teams.

[00:25:32] Teams.

[00:25:32] That are going to be tied up.

[00:25:33] Between probably.

[00:25:35] Four and twelve.

[00:25:36] And there's going to be like.

[00:25:37] Four or five games.

[00:25:39] Separating all these teams.

[00:25:40] And we're going to have tie breakers.

[00:25:42] And nonsense.

[00:25:43] And it's going to be.

[00:25:44] Crazy.

[00:25:45] So buckle up.

[00:25:46] For a real crazy season.

[00:25:48] In the West.

[00:25:49] And it looks like Denver.

[00:25:51] Is going to see the roller coaster ride.

[00:25:54] That so many other teams.

[00:25:57] Have seen over the years.

[00:25:59] When some of the continuity goes away.

[00:26:02] Milwaukee Bucks.

[00:26:05] What other.

[00:26:06] You want other.

[00:26:07] For instances.

[00:26:09] There's a lot of them out there.

[00:26:13] We can talk about the.

[00:26:15] Continuity.

[00:26:16] Of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

[00:26:19] And then we can talk about.

[00:26:20] The lack of continuity.

[00:26:22] That the New York Knicks.

[00:26:23] Per se have.

[00:26:24] At this point in time.

[00:26:26] With their brand new whole roster.

[00:26:27] Thunder.

[00:26:29] So.

[00:26:30] There's something to be said for that.

[00:26:33] Now.

[00:26:35] We're going to talk about.

[00:26:36] The Oklahoma City Thunder.

[00:26:38] And I want to get into their defense.

[00:26:40] A little bit.

[00:26:42] And the reason why.

[00:26:43] I want to get into their defense.

[00:26:44] Is because of this.

[00:26:47] We talked about their.

[00:26:49] Defensive rating.

[00:26:50] And how they're second.

[00:26:51] In the league.

[00:26:51] And we've been talking about.

[00:26:52] How they've.

[00:26:54] Had these lineups.

[00:26:56] That have.

[00:26:57] Had no one over.

[00:26:58] Six seven.

[00:27:01] Now.

[00:27:02] Usman Jang.

[00:27:03] Plays a little bit.

[00:27:04] He's six ten.

[00:27:06] But he's slender.

[00:27:08] So it's not like.

[00:27:09] You got this physical presence.

[00:27:11] In the middle.

[00:27:13] Lou door.

[00:27:14] Is logging minutes.

[00:27:17] At center.

[00:27:19] And miss the industry.

[00:27:20] In injury woes.

[00:27:21] Of the.

[00:27:22] Of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[00:27:24] So we got Lou door out here.

[00:27:26] Playing center.

[00:27:28] At what.

[00:27:29] Six foot four.

[00:27:30] Six foot five.

[00:27:32] This team is a monstrous team.

[00:27:34] They have.

[00:27:35] There's not.

[00:27:37] Anything.

[00:27:39] That this league.

[00:27:40] Has thrown at them.

[00:27:42] That they don't have an answer for.

[00:27:44] At least for a short term.

[00:27:46] Credit to.

[00:27:48] Just Sam Prestes.

[00:27:49] Credit to Mark Dagnall.

[00:27:51] Credit to.

[00:27:52] Just the player development.

[00:27:54] We talked about.

[00:27:55] Andrew.

[00:27:56] We talked about.

[00:27:57] Aaron Wiggins.

[00:27:58] In a previous pod.

[00:27:59] In regards to.

[00:28:00] Player development.

[00:28:01] But.

[00:28:02] Lou Dort.

[00:28:03] Is another.

[00:28:04] Is just another.

[00:28:05] Shining.

[00:28:06] Jewel.

[00:28:07] In the.

[00:28:08] OKC.

[00:28:09] Developmental train.

[00:28:10] Here's a couple other.

[00:28:12] Little nuggets.

[00:28:13] For you.

[00:28:14] Jalen Williams.

[00:28:15] Is shooting.

[00:28:16] 40.

[00:28:16] 40.

[00:28:17] Point six.

[00:28:17] Percent.

[00:28:18] From three.

[00:28:18] He's also averaging.

[00:28:20] Two steals a game.

[00:28:21] And a block.

[00:28:22] Per game.

[00:28:24] Now also.

[00:28:25] With that.

[00:28:25] 40.

[00:28:26] Point six.

[00:28:26] Percent.

[00:28:27] From three.

[00:28:27] He's also.

[00:28:29] Raised.

[00:28:29] His attempts.

[00:28:31] By.

[00:28:32] 1.

[00:28:32] 4.

[00:28:33] Plus.

[00:28:34] Attempts.

[00:28:34] This year.

[00:28:35] He was a.

[00:28:37] 4.

[00:28:37] Point seven.

[00:28:38] Attempt.

[00:28:38] Guy.

[00:28:39] Last year.

[00:28:40] And he's a.

[00:28:41] 6.

[00:28:41] 1.

[00:28:42] Percent.

[00:28:42] A 6.

[00:28:43] Point one.

[00:28:43] Attempt.

[00:28:43] Guy.

[00:28:44] This year.

[00:28:45] So.

[00:28:45] Basically.

[00:28:46] One and a half.

[00:28:47] More.

[00:28:47] Threes a game.

[00:28:48] And he's still.

[00:28:49] Shooting in at a.

[00:28:50] Forty percent.

[00:28:51] Clip.

[00:28:51] He also has a.

[00:28:53] Positive.

[00:28:54] 8.

[00:28:54] Point seven.

[00:28:55] On off net.

[00:28:56] Rating impact.

[00:28:57] And this is what.

[00:28:58] Zach Lowe had to say.

[00:29:00] Williams.

[00:29:01] Is the kind of.

[00:29:02] Two-way player.

[00:29:02] That every team.

[00:29:04] Needs to contend.

[00:29:05] Because he's doing it.

[00:29:07] On both ends of the court.

[00:29:09] This team.

[00:29:10] Gets deflections.

[00:29:11] This team.

[00:29:12] Is.

[00:29:12] A pest.

[00:29:13] When.

[00:29:14] A big.

[00:29:15] Gets the ball.

[00:29:15] In the paint.

[00:29:16] They all.

[00:29:18] Collapse.

[00:29:19] They're all.

[00:29:19] Trying to.

[00:29:20] Strip.

[00:29:20] They're.

[00:29:22] They're all.

[00:29:23] Trying to.

[00:29:23] Strip the ball.

[00:29:24] Away from.

[00:29:24] The big.

[00:29:26] They remind me.

[00:29:27] Of almost.

[00:29:28] Like a football team.

[00:29:29] When.

[00:29:29] The foot.

[00:29:30] Like.

[00:29:30] When you see it now.

[00:29:32] Instead of tackling a guy.

[00:29:34] They try to grab the guy.

[00:29:35] And punch the ball out.

[00:29:36] You see a lot of.

[00:29:38] Digging for the ball.

[00:29:40] With the Oklahoma City Thunder.

[00:29:42] Now.

[00:29:43] They foul a little bit.

[00:29:44] But.

[00:29:45] This is.

[00:29:45] The yin and yang.

[00:29:47] Of.

[00:29:48] Of.

[00:29:48] Being in a situation.

[00:29:49] Where you're so small.

[00:29:51] Well.

[00:29:52] Shots out to the physicality.

[00:29:53] Of Jalen Williams.

[00:29:55] Shots out to the physicality.

[00:29:57] Of Lou Dort.

[00:29:58] Holding it down.

[00:29:59] While Chet.

[00:30:01] Recovers from this injury.

[00:30:03] And.

[00:30:03] They're awaiting.

[00:30:05] Their free agent.

[00:30:06] To beat.

[00:30:07] Their free agent.

[00:30:08] Isaiah Hartenstein.

[00:30:09] Who they picked up.

[00:30:11] Over the summer.

[00:30:12] But.

[00:30:12] He had the hand injury.

[00:30:14] We're still waiting on his return.

[00:30:15] All good news for OKC's.

[00:30:17] They're still hanging in there.

[00:30:18] Doing their thing.

[00:30:19] But Jalen Williams.

[00:30:21] Ascent.

[00:30:22] Again.

[00:30:23] And we thought.

[00:30:24] At the start of the year.

[00:30:26] That Jalen Williams.

[00:30:28] Was going to take a leap.

[00:30:29] And boy.

[00:30:32] We like being right.

[00:30:34] Good on Jalen Williams.

[00:30:35] Just.

[00:30:36] Doing it big.

[00:30:37] On both ends of the court.

[00:30:38] Providing so much production.

[00:30:40] And leadership.

[00:30:41] And here's the other thing.

[00:30:43] That he's doing.

[00:30:44] That we didn't get to.

[00:30:45] And this was a stat.

[00:30:47] That was not in there.

[00:30:48] He's also averaging.

[00:30:49] Five assists a game.

[00:30:51] He's also become.

[00:30:53] A.

[00:30:54] A reliable playmaker.

[00:30:56] So.

[00:30:57] You don't have to put the stress.

[00:30:58] On Shea Gilgis Alexander.

[00:31:00] All the time.

[00:31:01] And also.

[00:31:02] With the added.

[00:31:04] Benefit.

[00:31:04] Of having Alex Caruso.

[00:31:06] Who's just a connector.

[00:31:08] Albeit.

[00:31:09] He's not shooting well.

[00:31:10] Right now.

[00:31:11] I don't.

[00:31:12] Have an issue.

[00:31:13] With that at all.

[00:31:15] He's still added.

[00:31:16] On the defensive end.

[00:31:17] And as a connector.

[00:31:19] And.

[00:31:19] Just the flow of the offense.

[00:31:21] Dagnos.

[00:31:22] Has those guys playing hard.

[00:31:24] And I think.

[00:31:25] They're going to be able to weather.

[00:31:27] The storm.

[00:31:30] All right.

[00:31:30] Let's move on to Portland.

[00:31:32] Now Portland.

[00:31:34] I got some questions.

[00:31:36] This starts off with Jeremy Grant.

[00:31:38] Jeremy Grant.

[00:31:40] Is currently playing.

[00:31:41] 33 minutes a game.

[00:31:44] You say.

[00:31:46] He makes.

[00:31:47] 30 some odd million dollars a year.

[00:31:49] So he should be.

[00:31:51] Playing.

[00:31:53] 33 minutes a game.

[00:31:55] Okay.

[00:31:56] I don't agree with you.

[00:31:58] But.

[00:31:59] I can.

[00:32:00] See the argument.

[00:32:02] Here's my question though.

[00:32:04] Okay.

[00:32:05] The developmental focus.

[00:32:08] Is missing.

[00:32:09] For Shaden Sharp.

[00:32:11] And to Monty Kamara.

[00:32:13] And Donovan.

[00:32:14] Donovan Klingon.

[00:32:16] I asked this question.

[00:32:17] Before the season.

[00:32:18] Asked the question.

[00:32:20] At the start of the season.

[00:32:21] I'll ask the question now.

[00:32:24] Jeremy Grant.

[00:32:25] Is averaging.

[00:32:25] 16.9.

[00:32:27] Points.

[00:32:28] Per game.

[00:32:29] You say.

[00:32:29] Okay.

[00:32:30] That's cool.

[00:32:31] Here's the thing.

[00:32:31] He's shooting.

[00:32:33] 38.

[00:32:34] 38.5 percent.

[00:32:35] From the field.

[00:32:36] He has an effective.

[00:32:38] Field goal percentage.

[00:32:39] Of.

[00:32:40] 0.463.

[00:32:43] Mike Schmitz.

[00:32:45] Who was at ESPN.

[00:32:46] Who.

[00:32:47] Was going.

[00:32:48] All over the world.

[00:32:49] And.

[00:32:50] Getting into all these draft picks.

[00:32:52] And.

[00:32:53] Talking to the guys.

[00:32:54] He was doing a wonderful job.

[00:32:55] At ESPN.

[00:32:57] And.

[00:32:58] He.

[00:32:59] Came over.

[00:33:00] And.

[00:33:00] Joined.

[00:33:00] Joe Cronin.

[00:33:01] Who is the executive.

[00:33:03] Of the Portland Trailblazers.

[00:33:05] And I thought.

[00:33:05] Oh.

[00:33:06] This would be a wonderful marriage.

[00:33:07] They'll unearth young players.

[00:33:10] Develop them.

[00:33:11] And.

[00:33:12] Off and running.

[00:33:13] Jeremy Grant.

[00:33:14] Is one culprit.

[00:33:15] How.

[00:33:15] They have all this young talent.

[00:33:18] But you have.

[00:33:19] DeAndre Ayton.

[00:33:20] And we'll get to him in a second.

[00:33:22] You got Robert Williams.

[00:33:24] The third.

[00:33:25] You have.

[00:33:26] Scoot Henderson.

[00:33:27] Who needs time.

[00:33:28] We still don't know.

[00:33:30] What's going on.

[00:33:30] With Anthony Simons.

[00:33:31] What he is.

[00:33:33] What he ends up being.

[00:33:35] To the future.

[00:33:37] Of the Trailblazers.

[00:33:38] And.

[00:33:39] I just.

[00:33:40] Don't understand.

[00:33:42] Where the development.

[00:33:43] Lies.

[00:33:45] With this team.

[00:33:46] And.

[00:33:46] If you told me.

[00:33:48] That Jeremy Grant.

[00:33:48] Was averaging.

[00:33:49] 17 points a game.

[00:33:51] And he was shooting.

[00:33:52] Like 45 percent.

[00:33:53] From the field.

[00:33:54] And like 37 percent.

[00:33:56] From three.

[00:33:58] This would not be an issue.

[00:34:00] Because I still think.

[00:34:01] You need vets.

[00:34:02] On the team.

[00:34:04] The problem is that.

[00:34:05] When the vet.

[00:34:06] Is so inefficient.

[00:34:08] I want to see the young guys.

[00:34:10] And I'd rather see them.

[00:34:11] Make the mistakes.

[00:34:14] And have the.

[00:34:15] Vets play.

[00:34:16] A lesser role.

[00:34:18] Lesser opportunities.

[00:34:20] And give these kids a shot.

[00:34:23] You never know.

[00:34:25] What you're going to have.

[00:34:26] Until what these kids.

[00:34:27] Are able to do.

[00:34:29] Note from Hollinger.

[00:34:31] He says.

[00:34:32] Portland's young talent.

[00:34:33] Needs to.

[00:34:34] Needs more deliberate.

[00:34:36] Integration.

[00:34:37] Into their system.

[00:34:38] I agree.

[00:34:40] No said.

[00:34:41] Hollinger said it.

[00:34:42] I said it.

[00:34:44] Got to get.

[00:34:45] Some of these vets.

[00:34:46] Either.

[00:34:47] To play less.

[00:34:49] And understand.

[00:34:50] They have to take.

[00:34:50] A more secondary role.

[00:34:53] Or we have to get them.

[00:34:54] Off the team.

[00:34:55] Simple as that.

[00:34:57] So let's move on.

[00:34:58] To Utah.

[00:34:59] Now Utah.

[00:35:00] They have a.

[00:35:01] Negative.

[00:35:02] Eleven.

[00:35:03] Point three.

[00:35:04] Net rating.

[00:35:05] Among.

[00:35:06] The worst in the league.

[00:35:08] Now they had a horrific.

[00:35:10] Injury.

[00:35:11] To Taylor Hendricks.

[00:35:12] If you saw it.

[00:35:13] It was gross.

[00:35:15] We just feel.

[00:35:16] We feel bad for him.

[00:35:17] He was one of our favorites.

[00:35:19] That came out.

[00:35:20] In that draft.

[00:35:21] I thought his.

[00:35:21] Defensive tracking.

[00:35:23] Was one of the best.

[00:35:24] I've seen.

[00:35:24] In quite some time.

[00:35:26] And then he just.

[00:35:27] Didn't get the opportunity.

[00:35:28] To play.

[00:35:29] But everyone.

[00:35:30] I talked to.

[00:35:33] Before the season.

[00:35:34] They said.

[00:35:34] Hey.

[00:35:36] This kid is going to take.

[00:35:36] A leap this year.

[00:35:37] He gets it.

[00:35:39] He's going to play.

[00:35:40] He's going to get minutes.

[00:35:41] And his role.

[00:35:42] Is going to grow.

[00:35:42] And grow.

[00:35:44] And we were starting.

[00:35:45] To see the fruits.

[00:35:46] Of that labor.

[00:35:47] He was gaining minutes.

[00:35:49] He was up to 20.

[00:35:50] 22 a game.

[00:35:51] And then.

[00:35:52] The injury happened.

[00:35:53] That was a big blow.

[00:35:55] And then.

[00:35:55] You got.

[00:35:56] Really inefficient.

[00:35:58] Guard play.

[00:35:58] From Keontae George.

[00:36:00] Right now.

[00:36:00] Which.

[00:36:01] I don't mind.

[00:36:03] Because.

[00:36:04] He had.

[00:36:05] On again.

[00:36:05] Off again.

[00:36:06] Situation last year.

[00:36:08] And he's getting.

[00:36:09] A lot more.

[00:36:10] Opportunities.

[00:36:10] This year.

[00:36:11] Allowing the.

[00:36:12] Growing pains.

[00:36:12] To happen.

[00:36:14] I'm fine with that.

[00:36:15] And he's still young.

[00:36:16] He's like 21.

[00:36:17] So.

[00:36:18] Go ahead.

[00:36:18] And do your thing.

[00:36:19] And then.

[00:36:20] You got.

[00:36:20] Walker Kessler.

[00:36:21] Who finally got.

[00:36:22] His starting job back.

[00:36:23] Which is great.

[00:36:24] And he's playing pretty well.

[00:36:26] The thing about this.

[00:36:27] Is that.

[00:36:29] You know.

[00:36:29] When you're young.

[00:36:30] And they are.

[00:36:31] Using the young players.

[00:36:33] You're going to have.

[00:36:34] Years like this.

[00:36:34] Where it's not.

[00:36:35] Going to be great.

[00:36:36] But this is the only way.

[00:36:38] These kids are going to develop.

[00:36:40] And they do have.

[00:36:42] Some vets.

[00:36:43] On that roster.

[00:36:44] Jordan Clarkson.

[00:36:45] Is on that roster.

[00:36:47] Now.

[00:36:47] I don't think.

[00:36:48] Jordan Clarkson.

[00:36:49] Will be on that roster.

[00:36:50] Come February.

[00:36:52] But he is on that roster.

[00:36:54] Now.

[00:36:55] Colin Sexton.

[00:36:57] Has been in the league.

[00:36:57] For a while now.

[00:36:59] May or may not stay.

[00:37:02] John Collins.

[00:37:03] Has seen some stuff.

[00:37:05] In the league.

[00:37:06] They got some vets.

[00:37:08] But.

[00:37:08] It's not going great.

[00:37:10] Not great.

[00:37:11] Bob.

[00:37:11] Not great.

[00:37:12] Bob.

[00:37:13] At all.

[00:37:13] Here's what Michael Pina.

[00:37:15] The ringer said.

[00:37:16] About the jazz.

[00:37:16] He said jazz.

[00:37:17] Are positioning.

[00:37:18] Themselves.

[00:37:19] Perfectly.

[00:37:20] For Cooper flag.

[00:37:21] Or.

[00:37:22] Dylan Harper.

[00:37:25] Yeah.

[00:37:25] I agree.

[00:37:26] With all of these things.

[00:37:29] I agree.

[00:37:31] If you're new.

[00:37:33] To.

[00:37:33] The.

[00:37:34] Podcast.

[00:37:35] Welcome.

[00:37:36] Welcome to.

[00:37:37] Frontrunner.

[00:37:37] Podcast.

[00:37:38] Collective.

[00:37:38] We are glad to have you.

[00:37:39] Now.

[00:37:40] The other thing is this.

[00:37:43] We do this.

[00:37:45] We go through.

[00:37:46] The divisions.

[00:37:48] Weekly.

[00:37:50] So.

[00:37:50] This week.

[00:37:51] We are on the western conference.

[00:37:54] So.

[00:37:55] We.

[00:37:55] Just got done with the north.

[00:37:57] We will transition.

[00:38:00] Into the southwest.

[00:38:02] And then Friday.

[00:38:04] We will complete.

[00:38:05] Our journey of the west.

[00:38:07] With the pacific division.

[00:38:10] And then we will start.

[00:38:12] Back in the east.

[00:38:13] The following week.

[00:38:15] We hit.

[00:38:16] Every single team.

[00:38:18] We touch them.

[00:38:20] If you are.

[00:38:21] Eastern conference.

[00:38:22] Fan.

[00:38:23] Mostly.

[00:38:24] Your teams will come up.

[00:38:27] Next week.

[00:38:28] If you're a western conference.

[00:38:31] Fan.

[00:38:31] Fan.

[00:38:32] Fan.

[00:38:33] You.

[00:38:33] Have more.

[00:38:34] Intrigue.

[00:38:35] With the west.

[00:38:35] This year.

[00:38:36] Because a lot of the good teams.

[00:38:37] Are in the west.

[00:38:39] Welcome.

[00:38:40] We are in it.

[00:38:41] This is what we do.

[00:38:42] So we just got done.

[00:38:44] With the north.

[00:38:45] I hope everybody enjoyed it.

[00:38:47] We will be seeing them.

[00:38:49] Again.

[00:38:50] In two weeks.

[00:38:52] On Monday.

[00:38:53] Monday.

[00:38:53] But that's how it's going to go.

[00:38:55] So I hope everybody enjoyed it.

[00:38:57] If you have any questions about it.

[00:38:59] Or.

[00:39:00] If you have any like.

[00:39:01] Tweaks.

[00:39:02] Or anything.

[00:39:03] You want to.

[00:39:04] Us to add.

[00:39:06] Hit me up.

[00:39:07] At.

[00:39:09] Frontrunner.

[00:39:10] PC.

[00:39:11] Gmail.

[00:39:12] Dot com.

[00:39:13] Hit me up on email.

[00:39:14] Because then you have more characters.

[00:39:15] To work with.

[00:39:17] Or.

[00:39:18] You want to draw me a diagram.

[00:39:20] I don't care.

[00:39:20] We'll see.

[00:39:21] Now.

[00:39:22] We're going to get to a segment called.

[00:39:24] Baseline Bus.

[00:39:26] And you know how much I love it.

[00:39:27] We need to get a theme song for this.

[00:39:29] Alright.

[00:39:30] We're going to talk Wildcat.

[00:39:31] Now.

[00:39:32] And we're going to talk about.

[00:39:34] Cats duality.

[00:39:35] And the reason why we're going to do this.

[00:39:36] Is because a lot of people.

[00:39:39] Are up on cat.

[00:39:40] About.

[00:39:41] About the defense.

[00:39:42] They're like.

[00:39:43] Historically bad numbers.

[00:39:45] At the rim.

[00:39:47] Which we already talked about.

[00:39:48] With the 70.8.

[00:39:50] Field goal percentage.

[00:39:52] At the rim.

[00:39:53] When he defends it.

[00:39:54] It's terrible.

[00:39:56] But here's the thing that.

[00:39:57] A lot of people are missing.

[00:40:01] 26.4 points again.

[00:40:04] 12.4 rebounds again.

[00:40:07] And my man is shooting 50% from three.

[00:40:11] So he is.

[00:40:12] Everything.

[00:40:14] We could have imagined.

[00:40:16] In a Nick uniform.

[00:40:18] And more.

[00:40:19] On the offensive end of the ball.

[00:40:22] Now.

[00:40:23] If you thought you were going to see.

[00:40:25] Patrick Ewing.

[00:40:27] Bill Cartwright.

[00:40:30] Willis Reed.

[00:40:32] Whomever else.

[00:40:34] Other center.

[00:40:35] That you think.

[00:40:37] Have played like.

[00:40:38] Great defense.

[00:40:40] For the historic.

[00:40:41] New York.

[00:40:42] Knickerbockers.

[00:40:44] Cat is not your guy.

[00:40:47] This is not his.

[00:40:49] That's not his bag.

[00:40:50] His bag.

[00:40:51] Is.

[00:40:52] Shooting threes.

[00:40:54] His bag.

[00:40:55] Is scoring.

[00:40:55] 40 plus points.

[00:40:56] Every once in a while.

[00:40:58] His bag.

[00:40:59] Is to get rebounds.

[00:41:01] Mostly.

[00:41:02] On.

[00:41:03] On the defensive end.

[00:41:05] Not really.

[00:41:06] Offensive rebounder.

[00:41:07] But.

[00:41:09] Provides a value.

[00:41:10] On the defensive side of the ball.

[00:41:12] With that.

[00:41:14] Rim protection.

[00:41:15] Was never going to be.

[00:41:17] A strength.

[00:41:18] Of Carl Anthony Towns.

[00:41:20] Not a.

[00:41:21] Primary.

[00:41:22] Rim protector.

[00:41:24] A weak side.

[00:41:25] Where he could come and help.

[00:41:27] Where he's not taking on the physicality.

[00:41:31] 100%.

[00:41:33] He.

[00:41:35] Doesn't have the body type for it.

[00:41:37] He's not built for it.

[00:41:39] But he is built.

[00:41:40] To switch on.

[00:41:42] To.

[00:41:43] Guards and wings.

[00:41:44] And things of that nature.

[00:41:46] He can.

[00:41:47] Definitely help.

[00:41:48] If you have a center.

[00:41:49] And then provide.

[00:41:51] The weak side help.

[00:41:52] Like we talked about.

[00:41:53] But.

[00:41:53] Yeah.

[00:41:54] You really miscast him.

[00:41:56] If you thought.

[00:41:56] That he was going to be this.

[00:41:58] With Tibbs.

[00:41:59] We can turn him into some.

[00:42:01] Defensive stalwart.

[00:42:02] That is not him.

[00:42:03] I know the goodwill that he has.

[00:42:05] Because of the fact that.

[00:42:07] He's the Villanova Nick.

[00:42:08] And all this type of thing.

[00:42:10] But he's going to have to.

[00:42:11] Step it up defensively.

[00:42:12] Because.

[00:42:13] It is not the same guy.

[00:42:15] That was in Phoenix.

[00:42:17] One of the things that we always see.

[00:42:18] And we talked about this with.

[00:42:20] DeJounte Murray.

[00:42:21] When he left.

[00:42:22] San Antonio.

[00:42:24] Every time.

[00:42:25] One of these guys.

[00:42:26] Gets.

[00:42:27] Like more opportunities.

[00:42:28] On the offensive side of the ball.

[00:42:30] Then they think.

[00:42:32] In their head.

[00:42:34] Oh.

[00:42:34] I'm a primary scorer.

[00:42:36] Now.

[00:42:38] No player.

[00:42:39] That's not your role.

[00:42:40] Your role.

[00:42:41] Is to be a 3nd guy.

[00:42:44] We would like for you.

[00:42:46] To use some of that.

[00:42:47] Offensive creativity.

[00:42:48] That you have.

[00:42:49] In spurts.

[00:42:51] To spice up the offense.

[00:42:55] To diversify.

[00:42:57] Our offensive tech.

[00:42:59] But you.

[00:43:00] On ball.

[00:43:02] And have a usage rate.

[00:43:04] 26.

[00:43:04] 27%.

[00:43:05] That was never.

[00:43:07] In the cards.

[00:43:08] For you.

[00:43:08] My man.

[00:43:10] Just like.

[00:43:11] DeJounte Murray.

[00:43:12] He needs to go find.

[00:43:13] His defensive spirit.

[00:43:14] Animal.

[00:43:16] And he needs to get back down.

[00:43:18] To play him.

[00:43:19] Really good defense.

[00:43:21] And helping.

[00:43:22] OG.

[00:43:22] And Anogi.

[00:43:23] Be this.

[00:43:25] Like.

[00:43:25] Combo.

[00:43:27] Wing.

[00:43:28] Defensive.

[00:43:29] Answer.

[00:43:30] To what the Boston Celtics are.

[00:43:32] We need to pray to God.

[00:43:34] That Mitchell Robinson.

[00:43:36] Comes back.

[00:43:38] And he has.

[00:43:39] No other health issues.

[00:43:41] Whatsoever.

[00:43:43] And.

[00:43:44] By the way.

[00:43:45] Whatever.

[00:43:46] Hitch.

[00:43:47] You picked up.

[00:43:48] From Jason Tatum.

[00:43:50] You need to.

[00:43:51] Pass that along.

[00:43:53] To somebody else.

[00:43:54] This.

[00:43:55] Hitch.

[00:43:56] Situation.

[00:43:56] Is becoming.

[00:43:57] Some sort of.

[00:43:58] Epidemic.

[00:44:00] So Jason Tatum.

[00:44:01] Had it last year.

[00:44:02] He also had it.

[00:44:03] All the way up.

[00:44:04] Into the Olympics.

[00:44:06] Then all of a sudden.

[00:44:08] It's gone.

[00:44:10] We get to the regular season.

[00:44:12] The hitch.

[00:44:13] For Jason Tatum.

[00:44:14] Gone.

[00:44:16] It then.

[00:44:17] Finds.

[00:44:18] Another body.

[00:44:19] To possess.

[00:44:21] In Michael.

[00:44:22] In Mikel.

[00:44:23] Gridges.

[00:44:24] Okay.

[00:44:26] I don't like this.

[00:44:28] This reminds me.

[00:44:29] Of that.

[00:44:29] That.

[00:44:30] Horror movie.

[00:44:31] Smile.

[00:44:33] Listen.

[00:44:34] Yo.

[00:44:35] I don't.

[00:44:35] Do we need a priest?

[00:44:37] Do we need to have.

[00:44:39] Some sort of.

[00:44:39] Exorcism.

[00:44:41] I want the hitch.

[00:44:43] Out of.

[00:44:43] Mikel.

[00:44:44] Gridges.

[00:44:44] Shot.

[00:44:45] Because that.

[00:44:46] 31.7%.

[00:44:47] From three.

[00:44:48] That has to come.

[00:44:50] That has to.

[00:44:51] Go way up.

[00:44:53] For the Knicks.

[00:44:54] To be good.

[00:44:55] And also.

[00:44:56] Stop shitting on.

[00:44:57] Our guy.

[00:44:57] Carl Anthony Towns.

[00:45:00] I shit on him.

[00:45:01] Enough.

[00:45:02] For you.

[00:45:04] With the dumb fouls.

[00:45:06] And stuff like that.

[00:45:08] So.

[00:45:09] You can't shit on.

[00:45:10] All right.

[00:45:11] We are going to.

[00:45:13] Turn our attention.

[00:45:14] To the NBA draft.

[00:45:16] That is coming up.

[00:45:18] In June.

[00:45:19] And.

[00:45:20] We're going to talk about.

[00:45:22] Little quick.

[00:45:23] Like.

[00:45:24] Quick little.

[00:45:25] Run around.

[00:45:25] Through.

[00:45:26] Like the top five or six.

[00:45:28] We're going to start off.

[00:45:29] With Cooper Flag.

[00:45:31] Hey.

[00:45:32] I know where.

[00:45:33] I know my.

[00:45:34] Where my bread is buttered.

[00:45:36] I talk Cooper Flag.

[00:45:37] Numbers go up.

[00:45:39] So.

[00:45:39] Here we go.

[00:45:40] Now.

[00:45:41] This is something.

[00:45:42] That the scouts.

[00:45:43] Have been saying.

[00:45:44] They love.

[00:45:45] His all around talent.

[00:45:47] And they say.

[00:45:48] He has.

[00:45:48] Pippin.

[00:45:49] Like.

[00:45:50] Versatility.

[00:45:51] And defensive dominance.

[00:45:54] Yeah.

[00:45:54] This kid can slide his feet.

[00:45:57] His.

[00:45:58] Offensive creation.

[00:45:59] Has come.

[00:46:00] Alive.

[00:46:01] A little bit.

[00:46:01] Now.

[00:46:02] He did have.

[00:46:02] A hiccup.

[00:46:03] Against North Carolina.

[00:46:04] Was it?

[00:46:04] Not North Kentucky.

[00:46:06] Didn't go so well.

[00:46:08] We want to see.

[00:46:09] More of it though.

[00:46:10] He's going to have to get more.

[00:46:12] More on ball.

[00:46:13] Reps.

[00:46:14] But.

[00:46:15] I do.

[00:46:16] What I see so far.

[00:46:17] I love the defense.

[00:46:19] Of Doug.

[00:46:20] I love the.

[00:46:20] Just the.

[00:46:21] Instincts.

[00:46:22] Of the defense.

[00:46:23] And he cares.

[00:46:24] A lot.

[00:46:26] About it.

[00:46:27] That's the thing.

[00:46:28] He's like a Dyson Daniels.

[00:46:30] A little bit.

[00:46:31] He really is meticulous.

[00:46:32] About his.

[00:46:33] Film study.

[00:46:34] When it comes to.

[00:46:35] Defense.

[00:46:36] Side of the wall.

[00:46:37] He has natural instincts.

[00:46:39] He moves his feet.

[00:46:40] Very well.

[00:46:41] And then.

[00:46:42] On the offensive side.

[00:46:44] The game has come around.

[00:46:45] The shot is better.

[00:46:47] Is better than.

[00:46:49] I expected it to be.

[00:46:51] And he just does.

[00:46:52] Little things.

[00:46:53] In games that.

[00:46:56] It's hard to.

[00:46:59] Articulate.

[00:47:01] But.

[00:47:01] When he.

[00:47:03] I'll.

[00:47:04] Okay.

[00:47:05] I know how to explain this.

[00:47:07] Everything he does.

[00:47:09] Is super efficient.

[00:47:11] How he gets in.

[00:47:13] He doesn't do the.

[00:47:14] 12 dribble situation.

[00:47:16] To get into a shot.

[00:47:17] He's trying to find.

[00:47:18] The most efficient way.

[00:47:20] To get to point A.

[00:47:21] To point B.

[00:47:22] To get a shot up.

[00:47:24] That's all he's trying to do.

[00:47:26] And.

[00:47:27] That's what I'm talking about.

[00:47:28] When you.

[00:47:29] Get to the league.

[00:47:32] All that dribble stuff.

[00:47:33] That you were doing.

[00:47:34] And.

[00:47:35] Being like a sorcerer.

[00:47:37] With the basketball.

[00:47:39] It's great.

[00:47:41] For the TikTok.

[00:47:42] Video.

[00:47:43] It's not so great.

[00:47:45] For the NBA game.

[00:47:48] And.

[00:47:49] Cougar Flag.

[00:47:50] Is one of these kids.

[00:47:51] That doesn't have it.

[00:47:52] He has a lot of.

[00:47:54] Efficiency in his games.

[00:47:55] Real.

[00:47:56] Okay.

[00:47:57] Jab step.

[00:47:58] Boom.

[00:47:58] Okay.

[00:47:58] I'm gonna give you a head.

[00:47:59] Take.

[00:48:00] And then.

[00:48:00] I'm gonna.

[00:48:01] Take it with my left hand.

[00:48:02] Put it behind my back.

[00:48:04] Get to my right hand.

[00:48:05] Go up for the shot.

[00:48:06] Boom.

[00:48:07] Gone.

[00:48:09] That's it.

[00:48:11] So.

[00:48:12] A lot of people love him.

[00:48:13] I wanted to give you.

[00:48:14] A little background.

[00:48:14] Of what I've seen so far.

[00:48:16] Now.

[00:48:16] Let's get to.

[00:48:17] Dylan Harper.

[00:48:18] And Ace Bailey.

[00:48:19] Who play for Rutgers.

[00:48:22] This is what.

[00:48:23] One scout said.

[00:48:24] He's.

[00:48:25] About Dylan Harper.

[00:48:27] He's dynamic.

[00:48:29] He reminds him of.

[00:48:31] Like a taller.

[00:48:33] Brunson.

[00:48:33] Brunson.

[00:48:35] So.

[00:48:35] He's a six foot five.

[00:48:37] Jalen Brunson.

[00:48:39] Brunson.

[00:48:39] And then.

[00:48:40] What he said.

[00:48:41] Ace Bailey.

[00:48:41] Is that.

[00:48:42] He said that his scoring.

[00:48:44] And his size.

[00:48:46] And his shot making.

[00:48:47] Are elite.

[00:48:48] For his size.

[00:48:51] Now.

[00:48:51] I don't want to throw around.

[00:48:53] Comparisons.

[00:48:55] That are.

[00:48:57] Unfair.

[00:48:58] To Ace Bailey.

[00:49:00] Here's what I will say though.

[00:49:04] He's six ten.

[00:49:05] Might be a little bit taller.

[00:49:06] Maybe.

[00:49:07] Maybe.

[00:49:07] About six eleven.

[00:49:10] The outside shot.

[00:49:11] Is really nice.

[00:49:13] How he gets into his.

[00:49:15] Shot.

[00:49:16] Is really good.

[00:49:17] It's really quick.

[00:49:21] But.

[00:49:21] There is a lot of.

[00:49:23] On ball potential.

[00:49:24] With Ace Bailey.

[00:49:25] There is a lot of.

[00:49:27] Facilitation.

[00:49:28] To others.

[00:49:29] But he can get into his shot.

[00:49:31] And he can get his shot.

[00:49:33] On his own.

[00:49:34] That's what I will say.

[00:49:37] Now let's move along.

[00:49:38] To Trey Johnson.

[00:49:39] Of Texas.

[00:49:40] So this has been like.

[00:49:41] The quick little thing.

[00:49:42] On him.

[00:49:43] He's an offensive dynamo.

[00:49:46] He's getting comparisons.

[00:49:47] To Jalen Green.

[00:49:49] Which is the Houston guard.

[00:49:51] Okay.

[00:49:51] You see what we're talking about.

[00:49:52] Right here.

[00:49:53] This is a dude.

[00:49:54] That likes to get shots.

[00:49:57] But.

[00:49:58] He is.

[00:49:59] He's not scared.

[00:50:00] At all.

[00:50:01] There is no.

[00:50:02] Fear.

[00:50:03] And my guy.

[00:50:04] Trey Johnson.

[00:50:05] He likes to get him up.

[00:50:07] Likes to get him up.

[00:50:08] He ain't seen a shot.

[00:50:09] That he ain't liked.

[00:50:11] But there is some creation.

[00:50:13] With him.

[00:50:13] And there's.

[00:50:14] Often.

[00:50:14] Some on ball initiation.

[00:50:15] That you do see.

[00:50:17] The defense.

[00:50:18] Is something.

[00:50:18] That I think.

[00:50:19] That if he.

[00:50:21] Focuses in.

[00:50:22] On.

[00:50:22] On that side of the ball.

[00:50:23] And he becomes.

[00:50:24] More of a.

[00:50:26] Less of a primary scorer.

[00:50:28] And more kind of a secondary scorer.

[00:50:30] And he can show that.

[00:50:31] That.

[00:50:31] That side of the ball.

[00:50:33] I think it'll be.

[00:50:33] Play.

[00:50:34] Pay dividends for him.

[00:50:35] In the future.

[00:50:36] I don't know if he'll be able to do that.

[00:50:38] At Texas.

[00:50:39] I think they will rely on him.

[00:50:41] For offensive production.

[00:50:43] So I think.

[00:50:44] You'll see flashes of defense.

[00:50:46] I think in March.

[00:50:47] We will see.

[00:50:48] Defense.

[00:50:48] If they get.

[00:50:49] Like a nice little run.

[00:50:51] In.

[00:50:51] In the tournament.

[00:50:53] But.

[00:50:53] I don't know.

[00:50:54] If we'll see.

[00:50:55] The actual.

[00:50:57] Full.

[00:50:59] Defensive.

[00:51:00] Potential.

[00:51:00] Of Trey Johnson.

[00:51:02] Until he probably gets into the league.

[00:51:05] The last guy that I want to talk about.

[00:51:07] Is this.

[00:51:08] Is Igor Demin.

[00:51:10] Now.

[00:51:10] If you have not seen this kid.

[00:51:12] He is six foot eight.

[00:51:15] He is.

[00:51:17] Absolutely.

[00:51:18] A sorcerer.

[00:51:20] With the basketball.

[00:51:22] There is nothing more.

[00:51:23] I can say about that.

[00:51:26] There is not a spot.

[00:51:27] That he can't get to.

[00:51:28] On the court.

[00:51:30] The college defenses.

[00:51:32] Seem to bore him.

[00:51:33] He wants to make things.

[00:51:35] More difficult.

[00:51:36] To give himself.

[00:51:37] More of a challenge.

[00:51:40] I don't think it's going.

[00:51:41] I don't think he's going to have a problem.

[00:51:42] In the league.

[00:51:44] When it comes to the offensive side.

[00:51:45] Of the ball.

[00:51:47] His question.

[00:51:48] Will be on the defensive side.

[00:51:50] Of the ball.

[00:51:51] Or.

[00:51:51] Will he be.

[00:51:53] So damn special.

[00:51:55] On offense.

[00:51:57] That.

[00:51:58] We kind of.

[00:51:59] Go.

[00:52:00] Hey man.

[00:52:01] You six foot eight.

[00:52:02] Just be big.

[00:52:03] Try to stay in front of the guy.

[00:52:06] But all that.

[00:52:07] Good stuff.

[00:52:08] On offense.

[00:52:09] Let that flow.

[00:52:10] My guy.

[00:52:10] Just let it do it.

[00:52:11] A la.

[00:52:13] Luka Doncic.

[00:52:14] Now I'm not comparing him.

[00:52:15] To Luka Doncic.

[00:52:17] But what I will say is this.

[00:52:19] The shot is.

[00:52:21] Really nice.

[00:52:22] He has.

[00:52:23] He has.

[00:52:25] Offensive concepts.

[00:52:26] Down to a tee.

[00:52:28] If you want to play.

[00:52:29] Pick and roll.

[00:52:30] Fine.

[00:52:31] I can play.

[00:52:31] Pick and roll.

[00:52:32] You want to play.

[00:52:33] Five out.

[00:52:34] Cool.

[00:52:35] We can play.

[00:52:36] Five out.

[00:52:36] We can get cutters.

[00:52:38] And.

[00:52:38] Get off the ball.

[00:52:39] And move.

[00:52:40] And.

[00:52:41] Set a screen.

[00:52:42] And then.

[00:52:45] Re.

[00:52:46] Resettle.

[00:52:47] Into another spot.

[00:52:48] And find a shot.

[00:52:49] Or get some sort of.

[00:52:51] Second side creation thing.

[00:52:52] Going on.

[00:52:53] Where you go to the paint.

[00:52:54] And then.

[00:52:55] Pass it out.

[00:52:57] To an open shooter.

[00:52:58] These are all things.

[00:52:59] That he can do.

[00:53:02] He is.

[00:53:04] Very much.

[00:53:05] Beyond his years.

[00:53:06] When it comes to.

[00:53:07] Offensive creation.

[00:53:09] For himself.

[00:53:09] And others.

[00:53:11] And he's six foot eight.

[00:53:13] So.

[00:53:14] I know.

[00:53:15] I know that.

[00:53:15] Kansas is.

[00:53:16] One of those teams.

[00:53:17] That is.

[00:53:18] At the top of the rankings.

[00:53:19] I know.

[00:53:20] UConn.

[00:53:21] Is at the top of the rankings.

[00:53:22] And I don't.

[00:53:23] Know.

[00:53:24] What else.

[00:53:25] Igor.

[00:53:26] Denim.

[00:53:27] Has around him.

[00:53:27] Right now.

[00:53:29] Because I haven't really.

[00:53:30] Checked in.

[00:53:31] On all of the.

[00:53:32] BYU Cougars.

[00:53:33] Basketball team.

[00:53:35] But.

[00:53:36] The stuff.

[00:53:37] That I've seen.

[00:53:37] Off this kid.

[00:53:39] How he sets up.

[00:53:40] Pick and roll.

[00:53:41] How he.

[00:53:42] Gets his team.

[00:53:44] Into actions.

[00:53:45] And things of that nature.

[00:53:46] You would think.

[00:53:47] There was a 25 year old man.

[00:53:49] Out there.

[00:53:49] Playing basketball.

[00:53:50] With these kids.

[00:53:52] And again.

[00:53:53] He is.

[00:53:54] All of six foot eight.

[00:53:55] He's like.

[00:53:56] 215 pounds.

[00:53:58] So.

[00:53:58] He's going to walk.

[00:53:59] Into the NBA.

[00:54:01] And as far as.

[00:54:02] Physicality.

[00:54:03] Is concerned.

[00:54:04] You're not going to be able.

[00:54:05] To move him.

[00:54:06] Off his spot.

[00:54:07] Who does that sound like?

[00:54:10] I know what you're thinking.

[00:54:12] Oh that sounds like Luka.

[00:54:14] That sounds like Luka.

[00:54:17] Yes.

[00:54:17] It does sound like Luka.

[00:54:19] But there's a couple others.

[00:54:20] There's some.

[00:54:22] He has better.

[00:54:23] Offense.

[00:54:24] When it.

[00:54:25] Some Draymond Green.

[00:54:26] A little bit.

[00:54:28] Maybe a little.

[00:54:29] Paulo Bencaro.

[00:54:29] A little Franz Wagner.

[00:54:31] A little bit of that.

[00:54:33] Maybe not as athletically.

[00:54:35] Gifted as Paulo.

[00:54:36] But as far as.

[00:54:37] Stout.

[00:54:38] As far as.

[00:54:39] Getting a guy.

[00:54:40] On his hip.

[00:54:41] And then keeping him there.

[00:54:42] Locking him in.

[00:54:44] And then being able to.

[00:54:47] Dictate.

[00:54:48] The rest of the possession.

[00:54:50] Knowing that.

[00:54:51] If he goes up for a shot.

[00:54:52] He's either going to get fouled.

[00:54:55] And then also.

[00:54:56] Get the and one continuation.

[00:54:58] Or just get fouled.

[00:54:59] And go to the.

[00:55:00] Free throw line.

[00:55:00] Which he is.

[00:55:01] Very adept at doing.

[00:55:02] So if you have not seen.

[00:55:04] Igor Denim.

[00:55:06] For BYU.

[00:55:08] Check him out.

[00:55:10] It is worth.

[00:55:11] The watch.

[00:55:13] Find some Big 12 basketball.

[00:55:15] Get yourself some.

[00:55:16] Igor Denim.

[00:55:18] And I'm just going to say.

[00:55:19] Preemptively.

[00:55:20] You're welcome.

[00:55:22] Because it's beautiful.

[00:55:24] To watch.

[00:55:25] So.

[00:55:26] Can't wait to see that.

[00:55:28] Now.

[00:55:28] So.

[00:55:29] That.

[00:55:30] For.

[00:55:32] The baseline buzz.

[00:55:34] Is over.

[00:55:37] We did have a couple.

[00:55:39] Fan questions that.

[00:55:40] Soria pulled.

[00:55:41] For.

[00:55:42] And this is from.

[00:55:44] This is.

[00:55:45] NYK.

[00:55:46] Fanatic.

[00:55:47] At gmail.

[00:55:49] Dot com.

[00:55:50] Says.

[00:55:51] Hmm.

[00:55:52] Are the Knicks.

[00:55:53] Defensive issues.

[00:55:55] Entirely on.

[00:55:56] Cat.

[00:55:57] No.

[00:55:58] Not.

[00:55:58] It's not on cat.

[00:56:00] Not totally.

[00:56:01] I would say.

[00:56:03] It is.

[00:56:04] Somewhat on cat.

[00:56:05] But.

[00:56:07] What is it said.

[00:56:08] If you thought that cat.

[00:56:09] Was this defensive guy.

[00:56:11] You needed to have all.

[00:56:13] Of the ingredients around him.

[00:56:14] To make it work.

[00:56:15] Now.

[00:56:16] If Mitchell Rogerson.

[00:56:18] Is that last ingredient.

[00:56:20] That you're missing.

[00:56:21] So be it.

[00:56:22] My problem with Mitchell Rogerson.

[00:56:24] Is that.

[00:56:25] He is.

[00:56:27] Infrequently.

[00:56:29] Available.

[00:56:31] You know.

[00:56:32] I'm saying.

[00:56:32] I need my guy.

[00:56:33] To play a lot of games.

[00:56:36] Especially.

[00:56:36] With cats.

[00:56:38] Deficiencies.

[00:56:39] On the.

[00:56:39] Defensive side.

[00:56:40] Of the ball.

[00:56:43] We have not seen that.

[00:56:44] From Mitchell Rogerson.

[00:56:45] And that.

[00:56:46] Is the thing.

[00:56:47] That scares me.

[00:56:48] On.

[00:56:49] What I think.

[00:56:50] The level.

[00:56:51] Of what.

[00:56:52] The New York Knicks.

[00:56:53] Could be this year.

[00:56:55] Because it's all.

[00:56:56] Really dependent.

[00:56:56] On Mitchell Rogerson.

[00:56:57] And how healthy.

[00:56:58] He can be.

[00:57:00] It also.

[00:57:01] Would help.

[00:57:01] If his.

[00:57:02] Perimeter defense.

[00:57:03] Would help him out.

[00:57:04] Like.

[00:57:05] Mikel Gridges.

[00:57:06] Become like.

[00:57:07] The all.

[00:57:07] NBA.

[00:57:08] Defensive player.

[00:57:09] That he could be.

[00:57:11] At least.

[00:57:11] Like.

[00:57:12] Second team.

[00:57:13] Long armed.

[00:57:15] Very active.

[00:57:16] Defensively.

[00:57:17] That guy.

[00:57:18] At Phoenix.

[00:57:19] If he becomes that.

[00:57:21] Their defense.

[00:57:22] Gets better.

[00:57:23] Automatically.

[00:57:24] Exactly.

[00:57:26] And then.

[00:57:27] This question comes.

[00:57:28] And this is for.

[00:57:29] Minnesota.

[00:57:30] Which is great.

[00:57:34] For real.

[00:57:35] Okay.

[00:57:36] So this is.

[00:57:37] Hoops.

[00:57:38] Hoopshead.

[00:57:39] 92.

[00:57:40] At iCloud.

[00:57:41] Dot com.

[00:57:41] All right.

[00:57:42] Cool.

[00:57:43] So the question is.

[00:57:44] Can the Timberwolves.

[00:57:45] Sustain success.

[00:57:47] With their.

[00:57:47] Defensive.

[00:57:48] Offentencies.

[00:57:51] I think.

[00:57:52] What is it said.

[00:57:52] It's just going to take time.

[00:57:54] Chris Finch.

[00:57:55] Is an excellent coach.

[00:57:56] We saw.

[00:57:56] What kind of defense.

[00:57:58] He created.

[00:58:00] Through.

[00:58:02] Carl Anthony Towns.

[00:58:03] And Rudy Goguerre.

[00:58:05] Remember.

[00:58:06] The first year.

[00:58:06] Was clunky.

[00:58:08] Remember.

[00:58:09] There was a lot of.

[00:58:10] Acrimony.

[00:58:11] After that first year.

[00:58:12] And then.

[00:58:13] The second year happened.

[00:58:15] And where.

[00:58:16] What happened.

[00:58:17] A Western Conference.

[00:58:19] Finals.

[00:58:20] Appearance.

[00:58:21] Now.

[00:58:22] I'm not going to say.

[00:58:22] This is going to take.

[00:58:23] Two years.

[00:58:24] To get this right.

[00:58:26] I'm not going to even say.

[00:58:27] Necessarily.

[00:58:28] You have all the pieces.

[00:58:29] To get yourself back.

[00:58:31] To the Western Conference.

[00:58:32] What I will say.

[00:58:34] Is that.

[00:58:35] I think.

[00:58:37] With the.

[00:58:39] With the triumvirate.

[00:58:41] Of.

[00:58:42] Najri.

[00:58:43] Rudy Gobert.

[00:58:45] And Julius Randle.

[00:58:47] You have enough.

[00:58:48] Rebounding.

[00:58:49] You have enough.

[00:58:50] Offense.

[00:58:51] And you have enough.

[00:58:52] Defense.

[00:58:53] With those.

[00:58:54] Three.

[00:58:54] Three.

[00:58:55] Now.

[00:58:56] I wonder.

[00:58:56] What crunch time.

[00:58:57] Is going to look like.

[00:58:58] I wonder.

[00:58:58] If certain lineups.

[00:59:00] Dictate.

[00:59:01] Are dictated.

[00:59:02] To them.

[00:59:03] Or they dictate.

[00:59:04] To others.

[00:59:05] That work out more.

[00:59:07] On a more defensively.

[00:59:09] Plus side.

[00:59:10] For them.

[00:59:11] But now.

[00:59:12] Here's the other thing.

[00:59:14] And we talked about it.

[00:59:15] When we were talking about Minnesota.

[00:59:17] Is McDaniels.

[00:59:18] Going to get back.

[00:59:19] To the form.

[00:59:20] That he played at.

[00:59:21] Against Denver.

[00:59:22] Because.

[00:59:22] That is the sustained success.

[00:59:24] That's the defensive.

[00:59:26] Inefficiency.

[00:59:27] That you also see.

[00:59:28] Is that.

[00:59:30] Julius Randle.

[00:59:31] Wouldn't be nearly as bad.

[00:59:34] If.

[00:59:35] If.

[00:59:35] McDaniels.

[00:59:36] Was as good.

[00:59:37] As he.

[00:59:37] Was.

[00:59:38] When he was against Denver.

[00:59:40] So.

[00:59:41] I hope that answers your question.

[00:59:43] Keep them coming.

[00:59:45] You can.

[00:59:46] Email us.

[00:59:47] At.

[00:59:48] Frontrunner.

[00:59:50] PC.

[00:59:51] At.

[00:59:52] Gmail.

[00:59:52] Dot com.

[00:59:54] And then we will go ahead.

[00:59:55] And get those questions.

[00:59:57] Answered.

[00:59:58] So.

[00:59:58] We thank everybody for.

[01:00:00] Submitting a question.

[01:00:01] Continue to do so.

[01:00:03] We love to do it.

[01:00:04] So.

[01:00:05] What's coming up.

[01:00:06] On Wednesday.

[01:00:07] Is we're going to be doing.

[01:00:08] The Southwest Division.

[01:00:09] So.

[01:00:10] That will be.

[01:00:10] If you have questions.

[01:00:11] About Houston.

[01:00:12] New Orleans.

[01:00:14] San Antonio.

[01:00:16] Dallas.

[01:00:17] Memphis.

[01:00:18] Submit them.

[01:00:19] To us.

[01:00:20] At.

[01:00:22] Frontrunner.

[01:00:22] PC.

[01:00:23] At gmail.

[01:00:24] Dot com.

[01:00:26] And we'll go ahead.

[01:00:27] And answer those questions.

[01:00:29] Now.

[01:00:29] With that being said.

[01:00:31] I think we can get up.

[01:00:32] Out of here.

[01:00:33] I want to thank.

[01:00:34] Soraya.

[01:00:35] For her.

[01:00:36] Yeoman's.

[01:00:36] Work.

[01:00:37] Again.

[01:00:38] Today.

[01:00:39] I want to thank her.

[01:00:40] For the tremendous.

[01:00:41] Stats.

[01:00:41] That she was able.

[01:00:42] To pull up.

[01:00:43] For us.

[01:00:45] And.

[01:00:45] I'm glad.

[01:00:46] That we were.

[01:00:47] Able to get some.

[01:00:47] Baseline buzz.

[01:00:48] And sneak.

[01:00:49] Some draft.

[01:00:50] In there.

[01:00:51] And again.

[01:00:53] Hit us up.

[01:00:54] On Twitter.

[01:00:55] At.

[01:00:56] Frontrunner.

[01:00:56] PC.

[01:00:57] Or at.

[01:00:58] Raya.

[01:00:59] Underscore.

[01:01:00] Funch.

[01:01:00] FRPC.

[01:01:02] And let us know.

[01:01:03] What other.

[01:01:04] Draft.

[01:01:05] Prospects.

[01:01:05] Y'all want to hear about.

[01:01:08] That's how easy.

[01:01:09] It is.

[01:01:09] For y'all.

[01:01:10] To dictate.

[01:01:10] Some of the show.

[01:01:11] Can't dictate.

[01:01:12] The whole thing.

[01:01:13] But if there's somebody.

[01:01:14] You want to hear about.

[01:01:15] Or you want to shout out.

[01:01:17] On the pod.

[01:01:18] Who's doing some good things.

[01:01:20] In the hoop.

[01:01:21] World.

[01:01:22] Let us know.

[01:01:23] And we'll do it for you.

[01:01:25] That's what kind of.

[01:01:27] Interactive podcast.

[01:01:28] We are.

[01:01:29] All right.

[01:01:30] So with that being said.

[01:01:31] The best part of you.

[01:01:32] Is you.

[01:01:33] Make sure that.

[01:01:34] You are surrounded.

[01:01:35] By people.

[01:01:36] That just want to.

[01:01:38] Accentuate.

[01:01:38] The light.

[01:01:39] That you have.

[01:01:40] Do some good.

[01:01:41] With that light.

[01:01:42] And we'll see you back.

[01:01:43] On this podcast.

[01:01:44] On Wednesday.

[01:01:46] Deuce.