January 11, 2024 • 16 mins
Sarah talks with NBA senior writer Michael C. Wright about his latest MVP Ladder. After his 45-point display against the T-Wolves, what can Jayson Tatum do to get his name into the Top-5 of the MVP race. Anthony Edwards is having a breakout year, how long until he wins an MVP in this league, and should Sixers fans be worried about Joel Embiid's MVP chances if he continues to miss time.
NBA Pulse is a production of iHeartPodcasts and the NBA
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
For Texas Steel Holiday, Kadam Kass It down too Stool,
yer Go Seal Wow, and the strength continuous.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
It is wild.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Welcome into NBA poster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahustak, NBA analysts for the Yes Network, and today
is Thursday, January eleventh. From our fantastic core group of
NBA journalists. We're joined now by NBA dot Com senior
writer Michael c Ryde.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
And Michael, we had a.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Good one last night between the top team and the
Eastern Conference, top team in the Western Conference. Boston Celtics
end up outlasting the Timberwolves one twenty seven, one twenty
in overtime. And we begin with this Celtics team that
has been rolling. UH starting lineup has been just tremendously
dominant about the course of the year. And it was
(01:02):
another big night for the two Jays. Jason Tatum forty
five points. I went six of eleven from the three
point line, thirteen of fourteen from the free throw line.
Jalen Brown perfect from the line. They were on the attack.
He was thirteen to thirteen. He had thirty five points,
eleven rebounds. He was four or seven from the three
(01:22):
point line. This is obviously a high volume shooting Boston
Celtics team. Jam Anthony Edwards with a big one, but
we'll get to him, Karl Anthony Towns and the timber
Wolves in just a second. But I want to talk
about the Celtics how well they've been playing, in more
(01:44):
specifically with Jason Tatum. In the conversation of the MVP
Derek White making a case to be an All Star.
Kristapsporzingis has been healthy and he has been such an
important part of how this team functions. Where do you
frame Tatum's place in the discussion and how it's impacted
with just the overall performance of his teammates and in
(02:09):
the combination of having that amount of support on the floor.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Well, Sarah, let's first give the man props. Last night
it was a gym. He had a great game, forty
five points, fourteen points in the fourth quarter, and then
he had twelve more in that overtime period. So he
did what he needed to do when he needed to
do it. So, you know, I think that's sort of
the mark of an MVP type player. But as you mentioned,
(02:35):
you look at his team, they are loaded. I mean,
they are absolutely loaded, you've probably got the best. Like
I would argue with anybody that Derek White and Drew
Holliday are the best two defensive guards in the NBA.
So you've got that. Those guys can get you steals,
you can get out in transition and cook. Then you've
(02:56):
got Christaph Porzingis. I mean, he's missed ten games this season,
but for the most part, he's been pretty healthy and
he's been a regular, consistent contributor. And you know, I
was having this conversation with somebody the other day and
we were talking about like two MVP candidates being on
the same team, and their argument to me was, well,
if you got two MVP candidates on the same team,
(03:18):
then you don't have any And I was like, well, yeah,
I guess you're right, you know what I mean, there
is something to that, because you've got a guy like
Jalen Brown that can I mean, he's had thirty points
in his last four games. So when you've got that
kind of support, I mean, it does make it really hard.
And I think that's why I've got him a little lower.
He's kind of like on that second tier of MVP candidates.
(03:40):
You know, if he didn't have the support and he
had to do more, I think he'd probably be up
there in the top five. But that's just what it
is right now with him. And you know, I mean
great team eighteen to know at home. I mean, you
can't there's nothing bad you can say about the Boston
Celtics at this point. I think they are the best
team in the NBA right now.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. And that's when you
say nothing bad to say. That's that's the tough part
of looking. Okay, what what are their potential weaknesses? I
know I've seen Boston quite a bit throughout the course
of the season, and in many cases you talk to
folks that are around the team all the time, covering
the team, and they always talk about having more of
a backup big or what do they do when they're
(04:23):
facing some of those really hefty, strong frames on the inside.
Joel Embiid being one of those who will get to
a little bit later in the show. But Jason Tatum
did the fluidity, the smoothness his reads on the offensive side.
Obviously the length and presidency brings defensively, but it's it's
been fun to watch how every year he seems to
(04:44):
improve add more to his game, kind of take.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
More of a.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Just really mature approach to how he's able to pick
apart some defenses. But I do think that certainly helps
when you have the compliments of so many others around you.
I do think just the fact he's shooting over thirty
seven percent from three. Obviously we know the player works
the mid range, takes a lot of you know, long
two point shots, has been working on that, but his
(05:11):
efficiency from three has helped. As I mentioned with the
Boston team that wants to put up a lot of
three point shots. On the other side of things, mentioned Minnesota.
Tough loss for them, but they have been fantastic this year,
obviously tops in the Western Conference. Their defense has been
at the forefront of all of that. In Anthony Edwards
(05:33):
a big part last night Karl Anthony Towns with twenty
five points, thirteen rebound, six assists.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
For Edwards it was twenty nine, six and three defecting
kicked off the two and out of by Anderson. He
gets you've hit to Edwards night moves two.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
As the league.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Where do you see Anthony Edwards?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
And again we're looking at your second tier of those
MVP candidates We've had a lot of the same ones
towards the time in that top five, But where do
you see Anthony Edwards in his progression to potentially get
to that point, considering the fact that Minnesota is a
team that has been at the top or towards the
top of the West throughout pretty much the duration of
(06:15):
this whole season.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Well, Sarah, it is Thursday. It's Thursday, and he's coming
off a good game, and.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
So did a little influence no, no influence here before tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
What I'm saying is with him, it just depends on
the days. It's really weird. I mean, he is, he
is this rising superstar, and you know, throughout FEBA and
stuff over the summer, it was sort of okay, we
knew that this was the year that Anthony Edwards was
going to take that next step, and he has like
(06:49):
let's not, you know, get it twisted for a second.
But I mean, okay, So, like I said, okay, we're
talking about it's Thursday, and we're looking at what he
did on Wednesday. But on Monday he was two of
seven for six points. And that's sort of what you
get from him, or what we've gotten from him all season.
I mean he's been he shot shot the ball fifty
percent from the field. I think he shot he shot
(07:11):
it below fifty percent in three of the last five games,
and so he's been really inconsistent as a shooter. But
I love what he does as an own ball defender,
his decision making. I think that that's gonna get better
as he gets a little more mature. But you know,
I think that without him, they're not number one in
the West, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
So I like what he does.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I'm a fan, but too inconsistent to really get him
up in the higher tiers. So he'll fluctuate anywhere between
six ten and then sometimes he ends up in the
honorable mention stack, and so you know, we need more
of him, you know, at one place instead of just
kind of going all over the board.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah, and totally agree with that.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I think you look at him and a reminder despite
the facts he's in his fourth year, twenty two years old.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yeah, all Star last year, so still yeah, I think
that's a part of it.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
And just figuring out I mean, he jumped right in
the scene and you look at where Minnesota was at
the last few seasons being the guy, but the uptick.
As you have mentioned, field goal percentage uptacking three point percentage,
the fact that he's you know, almost thirty nine percent
from three and that fluctuates as well. But I think
his decision making on when he's taking threes to me
through the eye test has improved, and also assists have
(08:28):
gone up, you know, best in his career a nearly
five assists per game.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Those type of things I think even too.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Defensively, of course, helps to have a guy like Rudy
Gobert back there and those that are around him and
just what this defense is comprised of, so it allows
him to gamble a little bit more, take risks, you know,
some of his off ball play that that helps fourtify.
My question to you is, do you think, I said,
twenty two years old, fourth year in the league, but
projecting out, do you think before his career is over
(08:55):
he will be an MVP in this league?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah? I do think he'll be an MVP. And you know,
you mentioned like just some of the health he has
on the defensive end, but some of the same people
you mentioned are also I think gonna be key for
him in his maturation throughout this league because you've got
a Rudy Gobert, You've got Karl Anthony Towns who's been
in the league for a while. You've got slow Mo
(09:18):
Kyle Anderson. People don't give that man his credit, but
he is a leader. He's the type of guy that
when you get him on the floor, he makes everybody
around him better. That's just the way Kyle Anderson has
been since he's been out here in San Antonio. And
so when you've got some veterans, like they have a
nice mix of young talent and sort of veteran guys
(09:40):
that they're all gonna help Anthony Edwards moving forward. And
I think Anthony is gonna be a star. I mean
a star. I think like one of the two or
three people you talk about when you talk about the NBA,
like his name is gonna be the one, you know
how like we talk about the NBA and we say
Steph Curry. I think Anthony is gonna be one of
those guys.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Fact I am with you on that.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I also think he has the disposition, character, you know,
just all of those things to go into it. Minnesota, though,
looking where they're at with the salary caps, some contracts,
they will have some decisions to make though in what
they continue to do with this roster.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
We are going to take a quick break and we
are going to get back.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
To one of your candidates that has been in that
top tier, towards the top the entirety of this year,
Joel Embiid. Right after the break, welcome back to m
me a Polster a Kustaik joined by Michael C. Wright
and all right, where we're going, we're taking the elevator
up to the top.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Joel Embiid.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
He's been fantastic this year, Michael, and you can see
it in the numbers, you can see it how he's played.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
He's the reigning MVP.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
However, he has missed six of the last eight games,
so now you know, getting to that point for those
awards need to play in sixty five of eighty two games.
And for the most part, it's felt like he's been healthy,
it's felt like he's been available. But when you look
at what Embid's done throughout the course of the season,
(11:14):
and I had mentioned the numbers, thirty five points a game,
nearly almost twelve rebounds, six assists, his playmaking and the
improvement of his playmaking has been that one big factor
that you've seen the elevation. How do you kind of
frame where your head is starting to be at at
this point of the season with some of the games
(11:34):
being missed, and how that factors in given the other
candidates here in this top five.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Well, with the elevator being stuck right now, apparently apparently
you know, it's to the point now where we're starting
to count games, and you know that's never a good thing.
You know, Like in December, the guy average forty points,
twelve and a half rebounds, but he missed five games,
(12:01):
and you know, you start to look at that, and
I think a big part of the reason why he's
he's so banged up all the time is his usage rate.
He said that like forty one point six percent. That
is okay. If you compare that to a guy like
Nikola Jokic, he's somewhere in the high twenties. And so,
you know, I think when you when you have such
a high usage rate, you have to do so much
(12:23):
for your team, that's going to lend itself to injury.
And so, yeah, he's missed nine games. Yeah that's cool.
But at the same time, I see what he does
on a night to night basis, and I see in
some of those games he's struggling physically, but he's just
cutting it out. And so like I really Joe Ellenbiid
(12:47):
is one of those guys that where say he missed
too many games to be eligible to win the award.
That's one of those guys I might make an exception for.
And we can't, you know, because of the rules or whatever.
But that's something you know. I'm not criticizing the league here,
but I think they need to make exceptions. Start thinking about,
(13:07):
like some of the other metrics that might come into
play for a guy like MB Like I just mentioned
his usage rate, but look at minutes things like that
when you're making a determination. I mean, a guy can't
help it if he's hurt. And sometimes a guy needs
to rest.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Yeah, And as you mentioned just that, like the judgment calls,
I think for all of you as voters, there there's
a trust and a respect for why you have earned
and have those votes, and I think all of you
have decisions to make in term of judgment. And so
for a player like Joel Embiid, one sometimes it's injury,
but two it's it's injury management.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
It truly is.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
It's injury management. It's not playing, you know, potentially a
second of a back to back. You look at the
fact that he's played over thirty four minutes per game,
and as you mentioned, the usage and how much that
goes through him and what he's dealt with. It's also
a you know, the frame of his body is very
different and some others. So the type of the type
of usage that that goes along with that. When you
(14:06):
look at Philadelphia sitting third now in the Eastern Conference, Boston,
We've already talked about Milwaukee despite sitting in that second seed. Uh,
it's kind of a two sidedness to the perspective on
the Bucks given the fact they just don't look good
and the wins that they have, it still feels like
there's a lot of issues. It's Philadelphia contender for you
(14:27):
in the event that you look at this framework and
Joel Embiid healthy playing in what he's done in certain
cases throughout the course of the postseason.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Absolutely a contender with Joel and Beid healthy. But they've
lost three in a row and Joel has missed some time.
I don't know the exact exact number, was it something
like six the last Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, So
they're definitely a contender with him on the floor. But
(14:57):
you know there's the question of okay, how often do
you get him on the floor. But at the same time,
I think Joel Embiid is the type of guy, just
based off what I've seen over these last few years,
if they need him, even if he's hurt, he's gonna
try to play if he's hurt. And so you know,
I think, like, right now, these are the games you're
(15:18):
supposed to miss. We haven't even gotten an All Star
break yet. You know, you can miss some games. You
can rest here here and there, and then once you
get past All Star Break and everybody starts this all
out spread, you know, to the finish line, that's when
you need him available for games. And I think he's
going to be there when his number is called, He's
going to be there.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
All right.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Well, we will see near and as you mentioned, all
Star break, nearing trade deadline. A lot of things to
keep eyes on here as we continue on throughout the
course of your season, including you on NBA TV, NBA
dot Com. You're MVP Ladder that will be out once
again on Friday. So it's always Michael. We appreciate your
Time You Got It Sarah. NBA Pulse was Sara Acoustack
(16:01):
as a production of the NBA and iHeart Radio. Please rate, review,
and subscribe on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get
your podcasts.
For Texas Steel Holiday, Kadam Kass It down too Stool,
yer Go Seal Wow, and the strength continuous.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
It is wild.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
Welcome into NBA poster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahustak, NBA analysts for the Yes Network, and today
is Thursday, January eleventh. From our fantastic core group of
NBA journalists. We're joined now by NBA dot Com senior
writer Michael c Ryde.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
And Michael, we had a.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Good one last night between the top team and the
Eastern Conference, top team in the Western Conference. Boston Celtics
end up outlasting the Timberwolves one twenty seven, one twenty
in overtime. And we begin with this Celtics team that
has been rolling. UH starting lineup has been just tremendously
dominant about the course of the year. And it was
(01:02):
another big night for the two Jays. Jason Tatum forty
five points. I went six of eleven from the three
point line, thirteen of fourteen from the free throw line.
Jalen Brown perfect from the line. They were on the attack.
He was thirteen to thirteen. He had thirty five points,
eleven rebounds. He was four or seven from the three
(01:22):
point line. This is obviously a high volume shooting Boston
Celtics team. Jam Anthony Edwards with a big one, but
we'll get to him, Karl Anthony Towns and the timber
Wolves in just a second. But I want to talk
about the Celtics how well they've been playing, in more
(01:44):
specifically with Jason Tatum. In the conversation of the MVP
Derek White making a case to be an All Star.
Kristapsporzingis has been healthy and he has been such an
important part of how this team functions. Where do you
frame Tatum's place in the discussion and how it's impacted
with just the overall performance of his teammates and in
(02:09):
the combination of having that amount of support on the floor.
Speaker 2 (02:13):
Well, Sarah, let's first give the man props. Last night
it was a gym. He had a great game, forty
five points, fourteen points in the fourth quarter, and then
he had twelve more in that overtime period. So he
did what he needed to do when he needed to
do it. So, you know, I think that's sort of
the mark of an MVP type player. But as you mentioned,
(02:35):
you look at his team, they are loaded. I mean,
they are absolutely loaded, you've probably got the best. Like
I would argue with anybody that Derek White and Drew
Holliday are the best two defensive guards in the NBA.
So you've got that. Those guys can get you steals,
you can get out in transition and cook. Then you've
(02:56):
got Christaph Porzingis. I mean, he's missed ten games this season,
but for the most part, he's been pretty healthy and
he's been a regular, consistent contributor. And you know, I
was having this conversation with somebody the other day and
we were talking about like two MVP candidates being on
the same team, and their argument to me was, well,
if you got two MVP candidates on the same team,
(03:18):
then you don't have any And I was like, well, yeah,
I guess you're right, you know what I mean, there
is something to that, because you've got a guy like
Jalen Brown that can I mean, he's had thirty points
in his last four games. So when you've got that
kind of support, I mean, it does make it really hard.
And I think that's why I've got him a little lower.
He's kind of like on that second tier of MVP candidates.
(03:40):
You know, if he didn't have the support and he
had to do more, I think he'd probably be up
there in the top five. But that's just what it
is right now with him. And you know, I mean
great team eighteen to know at home. I mean, you
can't there's nothing bad you can say about the Boston
Celtics at this point. I think they are the best
team in the NBA right now.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. And that's when you
say nothing bad to say. That's that's the tough part
of looking. Okay, what what are their potential weaknesses? I
know I've seen Boston quite a bit throughout the course
of the season, and in many cases you talk to
folks that are around the team all the time, covering
the team, and they always talk about having more of
a backup big or what do they do when they're
(04:23):
facing some of those really hefty, strong frames on the inside.
Joel Embiid being one of those who will get to
a little bit later in the show. But Jason Tatum
did the fluidity, the smoothness his reads on the offensive side.
Obviously the length and presidency brings defensively, but it's it's
been fun to watch how every year he seems to
(04:44):
improve add more to his game, kind of take.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
More of a.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Just really mature approach to how he's able to pick
apart some defenses. But I do think that certainly helps
when you have the compliments of so many others around you.
I do think just the fact he's shooting over thirty
seven percent from three. Obviously we know the player works
the mid range, takes a lot of you know, long
two point shots, has been working on that, but his
(05:11):
efficiency from three has helped. As I mentioned with the
Boston team that wants to put up a lot of
three point shots. On the other side of things, mentioned Minnesota.
Tough loss for them, but they have been fantastic this year,
obviously tops in the Western Conference. Their defense has been
at the forefront of all of that. In Anthony Edwards
(05:33):
a big part last night Karl Anthony Towns with twenty
five points, thirteen rebound, six assists.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
For Edwards it was twenty nine, six and three defecting
kicked off the two and out of by Anderson. He
gets you've hit to Edwards night moves two.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
As the league.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Where do you see Anthony Edwards?
Speaker 3 (05:53):
And again we're looking at your second tier of those
MVP candidates We've had a lot of the same ones
towards the time in that top five, But where do
you see Anthony Edwards in his progression to potentially get
to that point, considering the fact that Minnesota is a
team that has been at the top or towards the
top of the West throughout pretty much the duration of
(06:15):
this whole season.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Well, Sarah, it is Thursday. It's Thursday, and he's coming
off a good game, and.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
So did a little influence no, no influence here before tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
What I'm saying is with him, it just depends on
the days. It's really weird. I mean, he is, he
is this rising superstar, and you know, throughout FEBA and
stuff over the summer, it was sort of okay, we
knew that this was the year that Anthony Edwards was
going to take that next step, and he has like
(06:49):
let's not, you know, get it twisted for a second.
But I mean, okay, So, like I said, okay, we're
talking about it's Thursday, and we're looking at what he
did on Wednesday. But on Monday he was two of
seven for six points. And that's sort of what you
get from him, or what we've gotten from him all season.
I mean he's been he shot shot the ball fifty
percent from the field. I think he shot he shot
(07:11):
it below fifty percent in three of the last five games,
and so he's been really inconsistent as a shooter. But
I love what he does as an own ball defender,
his decision making. I think that that's gonna get better
as he gets a little more mature. But you know,
I think that without him, they're not number one in
the West, that's for sure.
Speaker 3 (07:32):
So I like what he does.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
I'm a fan, but too inconsistent to really get him
up in the higher tiers. So he'll fluctuate anywhere between
six ten and then sometimes he ends up in the
honorable mention stack, and so you know, we need more
of him, you know, at one place instead of just
kind of going all over the board.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah, and totally agree with that.
Speaker 3 (07:56):
I think you look at him and a reminder despite
the facts he's in his fourth year, twenty two years old.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Yeah, all Star last year, so still yeah, I think
that's a part of it.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
And just figuring out I mean, he jumped right in
the scene and you look at where Minnesota was at
the last few seasons being the guy, but the uptick.
As you have mentioned, field goal percentage uptacking three point percentage,
the fact that he's you know, almost thirty nine percent
from three and that fluctuates as well. But I think
his decision making on when he's taking threes to me
through the eye test has improved, and also assists have
(08:28):
gone up, you know, best in his career a nearly
five assists per game.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
Those type of things I think even too.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Defensively, of course, helps to have a guy like Rudy
Gobert back there and those that are around him and
just what this defense is comprised of, so it allows
him to gamble a little bit more, take risks, you know,
some of his off ball play that that helps fourtify.
My question to you is, do you think, I said,
twenty two years old, fourth year in the league, but
projecting out, do you think before his career is over
(08:55):
he will be an MVP in this league?
Speaker 2 (08:57):
Yeah? I do think he'll be an MVP. And you know,
you mentioned like just some of the health he has
on the defensive end, but some of the same people
you mentioned are also I think gonna be key for
him in his maturation throughout this league because you've got
a Rudy Gobert, You've got Karl Anthony Towns who's been
in the league for a while. You've got slow Mo
(09:18):
Kyle Anderson. People don't give that man his credit, but
he is a leader. He's the type of guy that
when you get him on the floor, he makes everybody
around him better. That's just the way Kyle Anderson has
been since he's been out here in San Antonio. And
so when you've got some veterans, like they have a
nice mix of young talent and sort of veteran guys
(09:40):
that they're all gonna help Anthony Edwards moving forward. And
I think Anthony is gonna be a star. I mean
a star. I think like one of the two or
three people you talk about when you talk about the NBA,
like his name is gonna be the one, you know
how like we talk about the NBA and we say
Steph Curry. I think Anthony is gonna be one of
those guys.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Fact I am with you on that.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I also think he has the disposition, character, you know,
just all of those things to go into it. Minnesota, though,
looking where they're at with the salary caps, some contracts,
they will have some decisions to make though in what
they continue to do with this roster.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
We are going to take a quick break and we
are going to get back.
Speaker 3 (10:23):
To one of your candidates that has been in that
top tier, towards the top the entirety of this year,
Joel Embiid. Right after the break, welcome back to m
me a Polster a Kustaik joined by Michael C. Wright
and all right, where we're going, we're taking the elevator
up to the top.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Joel Embiid.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
He's been fantastic this year, Michael, and you can see
it in the numbers, you can see it how he's played.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
He's the reigning MVP.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
However, he has missed six of the last eight games,
so now you know, getting to that point for those
awards need to play in sixty five of eighty two games.
And for the most part, it's felt like he's been healthy,
it's felt like he's been available. But when you look
at what Embid's done throughout the course of the season,
(11:14):
and I had mentioned the numbers, thirty five points a game,
nearly almost twelve rebounds, six assists, his playmaking and the
improvement of his playmaking has been that one big factor
that you've seen the elevation. How do you kind of
frame where your head is starting to be at at
this point of the season with some of the games
(11:34):
being missed, and how that factors in given the other
candidates here in this top five.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Well, with the elevator being stuck right now, apparently apparently
you know, it's to the point now where we're starting
to count games, and you know that's never a good thing.
You know, Like in December, the guy average forty points,
twelve and a half rebounds, but he missed five games,
(12:01):
and you know, you start to look at that, and
I think a big part of the reason why he's
he's so banged up all the time is his usage rate.
He said that like forty one point six percent. That
is okay. If you compare that to a guy like
Nikola Jokic, he's somewhere in the high twenties. And so,
you know, I think when you when you have such
a high usage rate, you have to do so much
(12:23):
for your team, that's going to lend itself to injury.
And so, yeah, he's missed nine games. Yeah that's cool.
But at the same time, I see what he does
on a night to night basis, and I see in
some of those games he's struggling physically, but he's just
cutting it out. And so like I really Joe Ellenbiid
(12:47):
is one of those guys that where say he missed
too many games to be eligible to win the award.
That's one of those guys I might make an exception for.
And we can't, you know, because of the rules or whatever.
But that's something you know. I'm not criticizing the league here,
but I think they need to make exceptions. Start thinking about,
(13:07):
like some of the other metrics that might come into
play for a guy like MB Like I just mentioned
his usage rate, but look at minutes things like that
when you're making a determination. I mean, a guy can't
help it if he's hurt. And sometimes a guy needs
to rest.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Yeah, And as you mentioned just that, like the judgment calls,
I think for all of you as voters, there there's
a trust and a respect for why you have earned
and have those votes, and I think all of you
have decisions to make in term of judgment. And so
for a player like Joel Embiid, one sometimes it's injury,
but two it's it's injury management.
Speaker 1 (13:43):
It truly is.
Speaker 3 (13:44):
It's injury management. It's not playing, you know, potentially a
second of a back to back. You look at the
fact that he's played over thirty four minutes per game,
and as you mentioned, the usage and how much that
goes through him and what he's dealt with. It's also
a you know, the frame of his body is very
different and some others. So the type of the type
of usage that that goes along with that. When you
(14:06):
look at Philadelphia sitting third now in the Eastern Conference, Boston,
We've already talked about Milwaukee despite sitting in that second seed. Uh,
it's kind of a two sidedness to the perspective on
the Bucks given the fact they just don't look good
and the wins that they have, it still feels like
there's a lot of issues. It's Philadelphia contender for you
(14:27):
in the event that you look at this framework and
Joel Embiid healthy playing in what he's done in certain
cases throughout the course of the postseason.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Absolutely a contender with Joel and Beid healthy. But they've
lost three in a row and Joel has missed some time.
I don't know the exact exact number, was it something
like six the last Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, So
they're definitely a contender with him on the floor. But
(14:57):
you know there's the question of okay, how often do
you get him on the floor. But at the same time,
I think Joel Embiid is the type of guy, just
based off what I've seen over these last few years,
if they need him, even if he's hurt, he's gonna
try to play if he's hurt. And so you know,
I think, like, right now, these are the games you're
(15:18):
supposed to miss. We haven't even gotten an All Star
break yet. You know, you can miss some games. You
can rest here here and there, and then once you
get past All Star Break and everybody starts this all
out spread, you know, to the finish line, that's when
you need him available for games. And I think he's
going to be there when his number is called, He's
going to be there.
Speaker 1 (15:38):
All right.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Well, we will see near and as you mentioned, all
Star break, nearing trade deadline. A lot of things to
keep eyes on here as we continue on throughout the
course of your season, including you on NBA TV, NBA
dot Com. You're MVP Ladder that will be out once
again on Friday. So it's always Michael. We appreciate your
Time You Got It Sarah. NBA Pulse was Sara Acoustack
(16:01):
as a production of the NBA and iHeart Radio. Please rate, review,
and subscribe on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get
your podcasts.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations.
The Nikki Glaser Podcast
Every week comedian and infamous roaster Nikki Glaser provides a fun, fast-paced, and brutally honest look into current pop-culture and her own personal life.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.