March 11, 2024 • 18 mins
Sarah and NBA senior writer John Schuhmann discuss his new Power Rankings... What the Pelicans are doing to be a threat in the playoffs, how LeBron and the Lakers are starting to put things together at the right time and what happened with the Sixers and Knicks on Sunday night.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcoming into NBA Polster production of Buyheart Radio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahustak, NBA analyst for the S Network, and today
is Monday, March eleventh. From our extraordinary core group of
NBA journalists, We're joined now by NBA dot Com senior
writer John Schuman, and che has got a new set
of power rankings that have dropped. Moving up to that
(00:22):
number one spot or the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics at
number two, the Thunder at number three, Minnesota Timberwolves jump
up to the number four spot, and rounding out the
top five are the Los Angeles Clippers. Shoe, It's great
to see you as always, but we're going to get
into a team that is just outside of that, but
(00:44):
has had an extraordinary month of March so far, as
the New Orleans Pelicans, the only team undefeated throughout the
month of March. They're getting it done on both ends
of the floor, and they are coming off of a
win against Atlanta last night. That Zion had twenty seven,
six and seven. He's got ze a lot z z
(01:05):
coming up.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
This time.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
CJ McCollum with twenty points in a big game off
the bench. Uh for Trey Murphy as he had twenty
eight points. But take us into we've talked so much
about how tightly compact this Western Conference races. You got
those four teams kind of separating up at the top,
and then those vying for the five and six spots
to stay out of the playing game. Who's gonna end
(01:31):
up in the playing game? And the Pelicans are really
making a push here in this month. What have you
seen out of them? And in terms of the numbers,
what's jumped out and impressed you with their play?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, I mean four and zero starts of the month
isn't a lot to write home about, especially like the
competition has been hasn't been great. They beat the Pacers,
the Raptors, the Sixers without Tyrese Maaxy and Joel Embiid
and the Hawks. But you know this past week, you
know a lot of good teams lost games. In fact,
(02:03):
good teams lost two games last past week. The Celtics
lost two, the Cavs lost to the Nuggets, lost the game.
You know, the Clippers lost to the Bucks, lost two
games last week. So the Pelicans have sort of separated
themselves a little bit. And what you really know is
(02:24):
that they're just killing teams like They've won these four
games by an average of twenty two points, and with that,
they are now in the top ten on both ends
of the floor, one of four teams on the top
in the top ten on both the ends of the floor,
joining the Celtics, the Pelicans, and I'm missing one team
(02:47):
and the Nuggets, So there are four teams in the
top four and top ten on both ends of the floor.
Of the Pelicans were one of those four teams. You know,
they have the league's eighth best record, but they have
a fourth best point differential, so this is a team
that may be better than their record. The one weird
thing about it, they just don't play close games like
(03:09):
their last in the league. In regard to games that
have been within five points in the last five minutes,
They've only had twenty three games that have been within
five in the last five They're only ten and thirteen
in those games. But they're just one of these teams
that when it gets rolling, like when they get a
good lead, they hold on to it. And so, you know,
(03:32):
I think the surprise a little bit is that they've
been in the top ten defensively all year round, but
you realize that they're just huge. You know, they have CJ.
McCollum and then four big dudes in their starting lineup,
and then Trey Murphy is another long good defender is
their sixth man. And then offensively, I think they've just
(03:54):
found a good rhythm with Zion Williamson handling the ball.
Most time, they moved the ball really well. They shoot
a lot of corner threes they set. You know, they
had fourteen corner threes and they went over the Raptors
the other day. So they're getting it done on both
ends of the floor. And like I said, they're beating
teams pretty easily, and that is the sign of a
(04:16):
good team. And being in the top ten on both
ends of the floor is the sign of a title contender.
So I think while other teams are looking at the Pelicans,
hey we can catch them for one of the you know,
last two guaranteed playoff spots in the West, I think
the Pelicans might have a chance to climb into the
top four, especially with Minnesota dealing with an injury, with
(04:37):
the Clippers slumping a little bit, I don't think that's
out of the realm of possibility for New Orleans to
move up into the top four.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah, and as you mentioned that, we'll get into that
Minnesota team and their loss against the Lakers just last night.
The Pelicans currently sitting two games behind or just right
back of the Los Angeles Clippers. You look at New Orleans,
I feel like for the early part of the season
and then kind of trying to figure things out, so
much was predicated on injuries and dealing with injuries, who
(05:07):
was in, who was out, And it feels like they've
hit their stride in Willie Green being able to figure
out how he wants these guys to play with the
rotation looks like things of that nature because, knock on wood,
they have been now healthy for a stretch.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
When you look at the playoffs, look at the postseason.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I know we can't kind of look at the Western
Conference as it always comes down to matchups and what
the matchups looks like, and that will be yet to
be determined. But what do you think the odds are
of true playoff success or postseason success or run for
this New Orleans Pelicans team given how they've been playing lately.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, I mean, it depends on matchups and like I said,
if they stay in the five or six spot. Then
they're obviously going to have a tough matchup and start
in the beginning of the playoffs on the road. But
you know, I think they've played well. I mean they
have They have a winning record against other teams with
winning records, so they've had success against good teams, and
(06:09):
so I like their chances. I do think that they
do have. I mean a lot depends. I hate to
say it, but on Herb Jones making shooting three pointers. Now,
he's shooting a career best from three point range. He's
near the top of the league in total corner threes.
But that's a guy that you might see teams still ignore,
(06:32):
like in the in the playoffs when it comes down
to it, just to protect the pain against Zion Williamson,
uh to to sort of hedge towards brandon Ingram when
he's trying to get to his to his shot. And
I think a lot is gonna come down to Herb
jones ability to make shots. Try Murphy's ability to make shots.
I'll be curious to see how teams guard Herb Jones
(06:54):
when it comes to the first round of the playoffs.
Are they going to believe in this improved three point shooting.
Are they gonna can prove it? You know in a
playoff series.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Speaking of belief, do you believe in the Los Angeles
Lakers shoe currently sitting thirteenth in your power rankings, and
they've they've had some nice wins. They've won three of
their last four. Uh, they lost to Sacramento, but beat
the Oklahoma City Thunder, beat the Milwaukee Bucks, as I
had mentioned just last night, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves by
(07:26):
eleven points. And Lebron James has been absolutely extraordinary this
whole season. But the way that D'Angelo Russell has now
been playing Anthony Davis, you know, it feels like they're
they're putting things together potentially at the right time. They're
in that ninth spot in the Western Conference, but trying
(07:50):
to continue to inch their way up. Given where things
sit with Phoenix, Sacramento, Dallas, Dallas in Big Week as well,
what are the odds of the Los Angeles Lakers not
just being in this playing spot, but can they keep
moving themselves potentially out of it and get to that
sixth seed.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I mean, the potential is there for sure. As we talk,
they're still in ninth place, like it's kind of amazing.
They have really good wins. If you go back another week,
they have a win over the Clippers. Also, you know, recently,
so they've beaten three of the top four teams in
the West, you know, in the last twelve days. Basically
(08:31):
it's there, you know, And what's amazing. What's interesting is
that it's been a little bit more offense than defense recently.
I thought, you know, we'd go back to when they
won the in season tournament. We saw the formula was
defense right in size, beating teams up inside. I think
the size factor is still there obviously, and you could
just look at what Anthony Davis did against the Wolves
(08:54):
who were without Rudy Gobert in addition to Karl Anthony
Towns on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
But they're much better, I mean, that's.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, they're They've shot better than forty percent from three
point range in each of their last five games. Like
that's not what the Lakers do, but it's it's or
at least what we don't think they do. But you know,
they're winning with offense. I'm curious to see how long
it can last. But obviously, like they have to get
(09:24):
out of the nine to ten spot. I mean, it's
just a I mean, it's the genius of the play
in right, where seven is better than eight because you
host that first game. Eight is better than nine because
you only have to win one game. Nine is better
than ten because you host the you host the nine
to ten game. We have seen teams come out of
the nine or ten spot to make the playoffs, but
(09:45):
it's still not you know, you still need to be
would certainly like to be higher than they are, and
then certainly wouldn't want to be, you know, having to
beat like three of those top four teams in the
West to make it to the finals.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, that'd be a tough stretch. And I think the
big part of it. You talk about the offense improving
looking better. You mentioned some of the numbers that Anthony
Davis has had Lebron James. A big part of this
has been D'Angelo Russell. He had that monster game against
Milwaukee Bucks with forty four points on twenty six and
that went against Oklahoma City. And I think that's always
(10:22):
been a question with him. I mean, he was a
guy that was speculated to be traded, potentially be moved,
and then the way that he looked as he was
heading into that trade deadline of how well he's been playing,
and I think sometimes there is there's the highs and
lows with him, and a lot of it comes from
the efficiency from the field, how he's able to operate
on the offensive side. So as always, there's a lot
(10:43):
of question marks with what the complimentary players look like
around Lebron James, and then include Anthony Davis in that
because those two have been playing so well and so
consistently all year. But I feel like Dangelo Russell has
a potential to be a big part of which direction
this team goes. We got a good one here, shoe
(11:06):
in our neck of the woods or I don't know
if it's good bad. It's taking us back to the eighties,
the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia seventy six ers
setting some records and getting after it on.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
The defensive end. We'll get to that.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Right after the break. Welcome back to NBA pul SARAHI
Stock going by the great John Schumann, who's got a
new set of power rankings that just dropped today, not
only the top five as we go through, but nuggets
on every one of the thirty teams in the Association
(11:41):
and great stuff given how they've been playing as of late.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
And last night, Shoe, we had a barn burner. I
don't know what you call it, what term you would use.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Seventy nine to seventy three was the Philadelphia seventy six
ers win against the New York Knicks. I think at
times I have seen that score most it feels like
potentially the halftime of some games these days. We talked
so much about the league now and the high scoring
nature of it. But yeah, they turned the clocks back.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
What's supposed to spring forward? Yeah, we were supposed to
forward on Sunday and six and next turn back.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
They're like, we're gonna We're gonna show you some some
clocks here at the garden.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
What did you make of this game?
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Obviously, uh, you got Tom Thibodeaux predicated on defense. Philadelphia
seventy six is still trying to get things together playing
without Joel Embiid and Tyres Maxey did not play in
that one as well.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
What did you make of that game?
Speaker 1 (12:39):
And maybe some of the numbers that you saw set
that you hadn't seen in some time.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, the six Ers were previously zero and seven without
both MAXI and EMBIID, so I'm sure they were super
happy to get this win by any means necessary, and
that was basically how they got that win. The lowest
scoring game I too since twenty sixteen. Both teams scored
(13:04):
less than ninety It was a slow, pace paced game,
so that was part of the low scoring, like it
was one of the next slowest. The Knicks rank last
in pace and it was one of their slowest paced
games of the season, so I'll say that, but both scored.
Both teams scored less than ninety points per one hundred possession,
so it was both low, both slow and inefficient and.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Low like that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Before that game, teams had lost the last two hundred
and thirty four regular season games in which they scored
less than ninety points per one hundred possessions. So the
Sixers ended that two hundred and thirty four game losing
streak with their victory. That that losing streak goes back
to twenty nineteen. So yeah, I mean, and these are
(13:54):
two teams that are battling for our playoff position. Like
we look at, you know, the Eastern Conference, and there
are five teams currently sitting forth through eighth that have
twenty seven, twenty eight or twenty nine losses. So that
was a big one, you know, as ugly as it was,
it was an important one. And they'll play again on Tuesday, hopefully.
I plan on being there on Tuesday. Hopefully, hopefully one
(14:17):
of them will at least one of those two teams
will will will eclipse ninety points. But you know, the
Knicks I think are happy that, you know, they they
played some good defense. They you know, they got a
really good defensive win over the Magic just two nights earlier.
They just obviously couldn't put it together offensively. But I
(14:37):
think the hope maybe is that og An Andobi will
return this week. He got it, they got a good
update on him and that he's basically been a full
go in practice the last few days. I think Julius
Randall's a little bit further away, but you know, they're
you know, they're eight and ten since they've been without
both of those guys, you know, ranking in the bottom
ten offensively, So I'm sure I don't be happy to
(15:00):
get one of them back. I think with them, there's
also a big you know, we looked at their trade
with Detroit at the trade deadline and thought it was
a big win where they got Boyon Bogdanovich and Alec Burks.
But the numbers are really bad with those guys on
the floor, whether it's both of them or just one
of them, they've basically been destroyed when in like about
(15:24):
three hundred total minutes with one or both on the floor.
So I'm curious to see, you know, when they are healthy,
whether those guys are in the rotation or whether you know,
Tom Thibodeaux keeps a shorter rotation and xcizes one or
both of those guys. Because so far it has not
been good.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
It's gonna be interesting to continue to monitor. Shoot, my
favorite part of talking with you, I know you always
got a fun set of the week for us.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yes, So the Portland Trailblazers, I don't think we've talked
about them at all this and on this podcast this year.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Good reason to have either.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
So they have the fit the league's fifth worst record
eighteen and forty five, but the Blazers are now eight
if they got a win overtime win over the Raptors
last week, in which they were playing the second game
of a back to back, they are now eight and
three with four straight wins in the second games of
(16:24):
back to backs this season, so they're eighteen and forty
five overall, but eight and three in the second games
of back to backs. Only the Celtics have been better
in the second games of back to back to Boston
eight and two, which is just kind of amazing. So
that's my one, you know, fun stat of the week.
(16:45):
The Blazers have been more efficient offensively in the second
games of back to backs eight and three in the
second games of back to back ten and forty two otherwise.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So next season we're just requesting that all all Portland
Trail Blazers.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Games be back to backs. I'm sure I guess bullets
Well would would love that. I got a stab for you.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I got a stab for you, but I can't take
credit because it's our great, great producer. Peter Cowder had
the stat because you know he loves the Lakers Anthony Davis.
Last night we were talking about his performance. He had
twenty seven points, twenty five rebound, seven steals, and five assists.
He's the first player ever with twenty five, twenty five,
(17:26):
five steals, and five assists, so big numbers.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I think it's the rebounds that that do it on that.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yes, it's it's not easy to have twenty twenty five
points twenty five rebounds, so look at some look at
some Shack numbers for that. Sorry about your hokies, Shoe.
Hopefully Elizabeth Kiley UH can get can get healthy and
get back. I don't know where things sit, guys. Tough loss,
tough loss in those acc semis.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
But until next time, Shoe.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
As always, we appreciate chatting with you, your tie in
all your great stuff in your power rankings for this week,
and be appulse with Sarahustacks, the production of the NBA
and iHeartRadio. Please rate, review, and subscribe on the iHeart
Radio app or wherever you get your podcasts
Welcoming into NBA Polster production of Buyheart Radio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahustak, NBA analyst for the S Network, and today
is Monday, March eleventh. From our extraordinary core group of
NBA journalists, We're joined now by NBA dot Com senior
writer John Schuman, and che has got a new set
of power rankings that have dropped. Moving up to that
(00:22):
number one spot or the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics at
number two, the Thunder at number three, Minnesota Timberwolves jump
up to the number four spot, and rounding out the
top five are the Los Angeles Clippers. Shoe, It's great
to see you as always, but we're going to get
into a team that is just outside of that, but
(00:44):
has had an extraordinary month of March so far, as
the New Orleans Pelicans, the only team undefeated throughout the
month of March. They're getting it done on both ends
of the floor, and they are coming off of a
win against Atlanta last night. That Zion had twenty seven,
six and seven. He's got ze a lot z z
(01:05):
coming up.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
This time.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
CJ McCollum with twenty points in a big game off
the bench. Uh for Trey Murphy as he had twenty
eight points. But take us into we've talked so much
about how tightly compact this Western Conference races. You got
those four teams kind of separating up at the top,
and then those vying for the five and six spots
to stay out of the playing game. Who's gonna end
(01:31):
up in the playing game? And the Pelicans are really
making a push here in this month. What have you
seen out of them? And in terms of the numbers,
what's jumped out and impressed you with their play?
Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah, I mean four and zero starts of the month
isn't a lot to write home about, especially like the
competition has been hasn't been great. They beat the Pacers,
the Raptors, the Sixers without Tyrese Maaxy and Joel Embiid
and the Hawks. But you know this past week, you
know a lot of good teams lost games. In fact,
(02:03):
good teams lost two games last past week. The Celtics
lost two, the Cavs lost to the Nuggets, lost the game.
You know, the Clippers lost to the Bucks, lost two
games last week. So the Pelicans have sort of separated
themselves a little bit. And what you really know is
(02:24):
that they're just killing teams like They've won these four
games by an average of twenty two points, and with that,
they are now in the top ten on both ends
of the floor, one of four teams on the top
in the top ten on both the ends of the floor,
joining the Celtics, the Pelicans, and I'm missing one team
(02:47):
and the Nuggets, So there are four teams in the
top four and top ten on both ends of the floor.
Of the Pelicans were one of those four teams. You know,
they have the league's eighth best record, but they have
a fourth best point differential, so this is a team
that may be better than their record. The one weird
thing about it, they just don't play close games like
(03:09):
their last in the league. In regard to games that
have been within five points in the last five minutes,
They've only had twenty three games that have been within
five in the last five They're only ten and thirteen
in those games. But they're just one of these teams
that when it gets rolling, like when they get a
good lead, they hold on to it. And so, you know,
(03:32):
I think the surprise a little bit is that they've
been in the top ten defensively all year round, but
you realize that they're just huge. You know, they have CJ.
McCollum and then four big dudes in their starting lineup,
and then Trey Murphy is another long good defender is
their sixth man. And then offensively, I think they've just
(03:54):
found a good rhythm with Zion Williamson handling the ball.
Most time, they moved the ball really well. They shoot
a lot of corner threes they set. You know, they
had fourteen corner threes and they went over the Raptors
the other day. So they're getting it done on both
ends of the floor. And like I said, they're beating
teams pretty easily, and that is the sign of a
(04:16):
good team. And being in the top ten on both
ends of the floor is the sign of a title contender.
So I think while other teams are looking at the Pelicans,
hey we can catch them for one of the you know,
last two guaranteed playoff spots in the West, I think
the Pelicans might have a chance to climb into the
top four, especially with Minnesota dealing with an injury, with
(04:37):
the Clippers slumping a little bit, I don't think that's
out of the realm of possibility for New Orleans to
move up into the top four.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah, and as you mentioned that, we'll get into that
Minnesota team and their loss against the Lakers just last night.
The Pelicans currently sitting two games behind or just right
back of the Los Angeles Clippers. You look at New Orleans,
I feel like for the early part of the season
and then kind of trying to figure things out, so
much was predicated on injuries and dealing with injuries, who
(05:07):
was in, who was out, And it feels like they've
hit their stride in Willie Green being able to figure
out how he wants these guys to play with the
rotation looks like things of that nature because, knock on wood,
they have been now healthy for a stretch.
Speaker 3 (05:22):
When you look at the playoffs, look at the postseason.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I know we can't kind of look at the Western
Conference as it always comes down to matchups and what
the matchups looks like, and that will be yet to
be determined. But what do you think the odds are
of true playoff success or postseason success or run for
this New Orleans Pelicans team given how they've been playing lately.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, I mean, it depends on matchups and like I said,
if they stay in the five or six spot. Then
they're obviously going to have a tough matchup and start
in the beginning of the playoffs on the road. But
you know, I think they've played well. I mean they
have They have a winning record against other teams with
winning records, so they've had success against good teams, and
(06:09):
so I like their chances. I do think that they
do have. I mean a lot depends. I hate to
say it, but on Herb Jones making shooting three pointers. Now,
he's shooting a career best from three point range. He's
near the top of the league in total corner threes.
But that's a guy that you might see teams still ignore,
(06:32):
like in the in the playoffs when it comes down
to it, just to protect the pain against Zion Williamson,
uh to to sort of hedge towards brandon Ingram when
he's trying to get to his to his shot. And
I think a lot is gonna come down to Herb
jones ability to make shots. Try Murphy's ability to make shots.
I'll be curious to see how teams guard Herb Jones
(06:54):
when it comes to the first round of the playoffs.
Are they going to believe in this improved three point shooting.
Are they gonna can prove it? You know in a
playoff series.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Speaking of belief, do you believe in the Los Angeles
Lakers shoe currently sitting thirteenth in your power rankings, and
they've they've had some nice wins. They've won three of
their last four. Uh, they lost to Sacramento, but beat
the Oklahoma City Thunder, beat the Milwaukee Bucks, as I
had mentioned just last night, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves by
(07:26):
eleven points. And Lebron James has been absolutely extraordinary this
whole season. But the way that D'Angelo Russell has now
been playing Anthony Davis, you know, it feels like they're
they're putting things together potentially at the right time. They're
in that ninth spot in the Western Conference, but trying
(07:50):
to continue to inch their way up. Given where things
sit with Phoenix, Sacramento, Dallas, Dallas in Big Week as well,
what are the odds of the Los Angeles Lakers not
just being in this playing spot, but can they keep
moving themselves potentially out of it and get to that
sixth seed.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I mean, the potential is there for sure. As we talk,
they're still in ninth place, like it's kind of amazing.
They have really good wins. If you go back another week,
they have a win over the Clippers. Also, you know, recently,
so they've beaten three of the top four teams in
the West, you know, in the last twelve days. Basically
(08:31):
it's there, you know, And what's amazing. What's interesting is
that it's been a little bit more offense than defense recently.
I thought, you know, we'd go back to when they
won the in season tournament. We saw the formula was
defense right in size, beating teams up inside. I think
the size factor is still there obviously, and you could
just look at what Anthony Davis did against the Wolves
(08:54):
who were without Rudy Gobert in addition to Karl Anthony
Towns on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
But they're much better, I mean, that's.
Speaker 2 (09:03):
Yeah, they're They've shot better than forty percent from three
point range in each of their last five games. Like
that's not what the Lakers do, but it's it's or
at least what we don't think they do. But you know,
they're winning with offense. I'm curious to see how long
it can last. But obviously, like they have to get
(09:24):
out of the nine to ten spot. I mean, it's
just a I mean, it's the genius of the play
in right, where seven is better than eight because you
host that first game. Eight is better than nine because
you only have to win one game. Nine is better
than ten because you host the you host the nine
to ten game. We have seen teams come out of
the nine or ten spot to make the playoffs, but
(09:45):
it's still not you know, you still need to be
would certainly like to be higher than they are, and
then certainly wouldn't want to be, you know, having to
beat like three of those top four teams in the
West to make it to the finals.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, that'd be a tough stretch. And I think the
big part of it. You talk about the offense improving
looking better. You mentioned some of the numbers that Anthony
Davis has had Lebron James. A big part of this
has been D'Angelo Russell. He had that monster game against
Milwaukee Bucks with forty four points on twenty six and
that went against Oklahoma City. And I think that's always
(10:22):
been a question with him. I mean, he was a
guy that was speculated to be traded, potentially be moved,
and then the way that he looked as he was
heading into that trade deadline of how well he's been playing,
and I think sometimes there is there's the highs and
lows with him, and a lot of it comes from
the efficiency from the field, how he's able to operate
on the offensive side. So as always, there's a lot
(10:43):
of question marks with what the complimentary players look like
around Lebron James, and then include Anthony Davis in that
because those two have been playing so well and so
consistently all year. But I feel like Dangelo Russell has
a potential to be a big part of which direction
this team goes. We got a good one here, shoe
(11:06):
in our neck of the woods or I don't know
if it's good bad. It's taking us back to the eighties,
the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia seventy six ers
setting some records and getting after it on.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
The defensive end. We'll get to that.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
Right after the break. Welcome back to NBA pul SARAHI
Stock going by the great John Schumann, who's got a
new set of power rankings that just dropped today, not
only the top five as we go through, but nuggets
on every one of the thirty teams in the Association
(11:41):
and great stuff given how they've been playing as of late.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
And last night, Shoe, we had a barn burner. I
don't know what you call it, what term you would use.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
Seventy nine to seventy three was the Philadelphia seventy six
ers win against the New York Knicks. I think at
times I have seen that score most it feels like
potentially the halftime of some games these days. We talked
so much about the league now and the high scoring
nature of it. But yeah, they turned the clocks back.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
What's supposed to spring forward? Yeah, we were supposed to
forward on Sunday and six and next turn back.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
They're like, we're gonna We're gonna show you some some
clocks here at the garden.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
What did you make of this game?
Speaker 1 (12:23):
Obviously, uh, you got Tom Thibodeaux predicated on defense. Philadelphia
seventy six is still trying to get things together playing
without Joel Embiid and Tyres Maxey did not play in
that one as well.
Speaker 3 (12:37):
What did you make of that game?
Speaker 1 (12:39):
And maybe some of the numbers that you saw set
that you hadn't seen in some time.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, the six Ers were previously zero and seven without
both MAXI and EMBIID, so I'm sure they were super
happy to get this win by any means necessary, and
that was basically how they got that win. The lowest
scoring game I too since twenty sixteen. Both teams scored
(13:04):
less than ninety It was a slow, pace paced game,
so that was part of the low scoring, like it
was one of the next slowest. The Knicks rank last
in pace and it was one of their slowest paced
games of the season, so I'll say that, but both scored.
Both teams scored less than ninety points per one hundred possession,
so it was both low, both slow and inefficient and.
Speaker 3 (13:27):
Low like that.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Before that game, teams had lost the last two hundred
and thirty four regular season games in which they scored
less than ninety points per one hundred possessions. So the
Sixers ended that two hundred and thirty four game losing
streak with their victory. That that losing streak goes back
to twenty nineteen. So yeah, I mean, and these are
(13:54):
two teams that are battling for our playoff position. Like
we look at, you know, the Eastern Conference, and there
are five teams currently sitting forth through eighth that have
twenty seven, twenty eight or twenty nine losses. So that
was a big one, you know, as ugly as it was,
it was an important one. And they'll play again on Tuesday, hopefully.
I plan on being there on Tuesday. Hopefully, hopefully one
(14:17):
of them will at least one of those two teams
will will will eclipse ninety points. But you know, the
Knicks I think are happy that, you know, they they
played some good defense. They you know, they got a
really good defensive win over the Magic just two nights earlier.
They just obviously couldn't put it together offensively. But I
(14:37):
think the hope maybe is that og An Andobi will
return this week. He got it, they got a good
update on him and that he's basically been a full
go in practice the last few days. I think Julius
Randall's a little bit further away, but you know, they're
you know, they're eight and ten since they've been without
both of those guys, you know, ranking in the bottom
ten offensively, So I'm sure I don't be happy to
(15:00):
get one of them back. I think with them, there's
also a big you know, we looked at their trade
with Detroit at the trade deadline and thought it was
a big win where they got Boyon Bogdanovich and Alec Burks.
But the numbers are really bad with those guys on
the floor, whether it's both of them or just one
of them, they've basically been destroyed when in like about
(15:24):
three hundred total minutes with one or both on the floor.
So I'm curious to see, you know, when they are healthy,
whether those guys are in the rotation or whether you know,
Tom Thibodeaux keeps a shorter rotation and xcizes one or
both of those guys. Because so far it has not
been good.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
It's gonna be interesting to continue to monitor. Shoot, my
favorite part of talking with you, I know you always
got a fun set of the week for us.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yes, So the Portland Trailblazers, I don't think we've talked
about them at all this and on this podcast this year.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Good reason to have either.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
So they have the fit the league's fifth worst record
eighteen and forty five, but the Blazers are now eight
if they got a win overtime win over the Raptors
last week, in which they were playing the second game
of a back to back, they are now eight and
three with four straight wins in the second games of
(16:24):
back to backs this season, so they're eighteen and forty
five overall, but eight and three in the second games
of back to backs. Only the Celtics have been better
in the second games of back to back to Boston
eight and two, which is just kind of amazing. So
that's my one, you know, fun stat of the week.
(16:45):
The Blazers have been more efficient offensively in the second
games of back to backs eight and three in the
second games of back to back ten and forty two otherwise.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
So next season we're just requesting that all all Portland
Trail Blazers.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Games be back to backs. I'm sure I guess bullets
Well would would love that. I got a stab for you.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I got a stab for you, but I can't take
credit because it's our great, great producer. Peter Cowder had
the stat because you know he loves the Lakers Anthony Davis.
Last night we were talking about his performance. He had
twenty seven points, twenty five rebound, seven steals, and five assists.
He's the first player ever with twenty five, twenty five,
(17:26):
five steals, and five assists, so big numbers.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
I think it's the rebounds that that do it on that.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yes, it's it's not easy to have twenty twenty five
points twenty five rebounds, so look at some look at
some Shack numbers for that. Sorry about your hokies, Shoe.
Hopefully Elizabeth Kiley UH can get can get healthy and
get back. I don't know where things sit, guys. Tough loss,
tough loss in those acc semis.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
But until next time, Shoe.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
As always, we appreciate chatting with you, your tie in
all your great stuff in your power rankings for this week,
and be appulse with Sarahustacks, the production of the NBA
and iHeartRadio. Please rate, review, and subscribe on the iHeart
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