March 25, 2024 • 23 mins
Sarah talks to NBA senior writer John Schuhmann about the surprising rise of the Houston Rockets, if they can catch the Warriors for the 10th seed, and how Jalen Green has stepped up his play. the also get into why the Clipper have been struggling, and the very difficult schedule that the Suns have coming down the stretch of the season.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome into NBA Fulse production Buyheart Radio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahkustak, NBA analyst for the y S Network, and
today is Monday, March twenty fifth. From our extraordinary core
group of NBA journalists were joined now by NBA dot
Com senior writer John Schuman Shoe. You got a fresh
set of power rankings on I know we always go
through the top five teams, but you kind of go
(00:26):
through all of this. You've got the best nuggets about
all thirty teams, what's happening, how they're playing throughout the
course of the season. And it's been really interesting because
this time of the year. I know a lot of
us have focused on March madness, what's happening with the
NCAA tournaments, but the men's and the women's. But this
is an important stretch in the NBA now for a
lot of teams, especially how crazy it is in the West,
(00:47):
buying to get out of the play in tournament, trying
to stay in the playing tournament. Currently, the top five
have pretty much remained the same here in the power
rankings of Denver and Boston being the one two spots.
Milwaukee and OKSE just split plot from three to four,
as you got the Bucks at three, Thunder at four.
Minnesota rounds out that top five. But in terms of
(01:11):
the play in there's a team that we kind of
thought may have solidified themselves and we're pushing to get
in to the top six. But that's the Golden State
Warriors currently sitting in tenth. But the Houston Rockets have
made a run in March ten and one. They're on
an eight game win streak. I think, for I'll put
myself in this bucket. But when elp Rinsching Goon went down,
(01:34):
I think they thought maybe that was the end of
what Houston would be doing and putting together a nice
season with a young group in how Ima Udoka has
made his impact, But right now sitting in a game
back of the Golden State Warriors. They will meet again
next week in Houston. Houston tonight is hosting Portland, but
they got a little bit of a tough week coming up.
(01:54):
What is your take on how Houston has been playing,
the way the Warriors have been playing, and what your
projecting projection is of who will eventually find themselves in
that ten spot.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
That's a good question, I think with Houston, like like,
thank goodness for the Rockets, right because like, there are
what do we have sixteen teams left in the NCAA tournament,
twenty four left in the women's tournament, and we got
some second big second.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Big day today, Big day today and tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There are twenty one teams left in the NBA, right,
Like the other nine teams have basically shut it not
shut it down, but they have basically they're done. Like
there's not all of them are completely eliminated.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
But do not take away the Yes Network viewers locked
in to the Brooklyn Nets in Toronto. Here in Toronto.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I'll just say that the Nets are kind of far
from from the Hawks in tenth place and not exactly
showing like they're a much of a threat.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I shouldn't have derailed. I shouldn't have derailed.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
But thank goodness for the Rockets who have made things interesting.
So we have twenty one teams left. Like if you
looked at this time last year, there was actually like,
you know, the twelfth place team in the East and
the twelfth place team in the West were both like
within two games in the lost column of tenth place,
So there was still a little bit of interest in
the East I think, you know, I mean there's still
(03:21):
interest right from one to ten or actually like one
to eight, but like beyond the ten line, like we
know what teams are going to be in the play
in or the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. So the Rockets, yes,
like they were in bad in February, but they're now
what do we say, ten and one in March, eighth
(03:41):
straight wins, six of those without Sengoon, like you said,
and it's mostly been like a big offensive boost. You know,
they ranked second offensively in the in the month of March.
And this is a team that you know as like
basically the most improved team in league from last season
just because of how bad they were. But that provement
(04:03):
improvement was largely just about defense. Like they they went
from being the worst transition defense in the league to
basically being the best transition defense in the league. And
that obviously cuts down on opponent layups. It makes them
a just a much better team just by focusing on
that one thing. And they did that. But now they're
starting to come around offensively, and it's really been you know,
(04:24):
Jalen Green, I'll give you this little stat. They're of
players who've averaged at least twenty five points in the
month of March. Three guys have a higher chee shooting
percentage than Jalen Green. Those guys are Jannisnttkunpo, Lebron James,
and Nikola Jokic. Jalen Green averaging twenty seven point eight
(04:47):
on a true shooting percentage of sixty three point nine
percent this month. So that's some pretty good company. And yeah,
so's it's mostly offense. The other kind of key is
that they're actually winning some road games. Through the month
of February, the Rockets were five and twenty four on
the road, which is, you know, pretty brutal. In March
(05:09):
they're five and oh, so they're actually like winning some
rogrind that. Like, as far as the opponents, it hasn't
been a strong schedule. They have, you know, wins over
the Blazers, the Spurs, I think, the Wizards, but you
can only play you know, the teams in front of you,
and they are beating those teams, you know, fairly easily,
(05:33):
so that they're comfortable wins, right, So it's they're taking
care of business. They're a much better team. I don't know,
like how long this is gonna last. The drail and
Green aspect of it is always a little bit like,
all right, is this real or is this just a
hot streak? But I do think he is playing better,
making maybe some better decisions with the ball. Just just
(05:53):
seems like he's in a nice rhythm offensively. So yeah,
it's fun, it's good. It's like to have now, you know.
The Warriors, like you said, we're thinking, hey, maybe we
can move up to seven or eight and get out
of this nine ten And now they're like, uh oh,
we're a game ahead of the Rockets.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Just need to stay in And yeah, and I think
with Jalen and Jalen Green's another guy, and I think
there's always question. He's twenty two years old, So what
jumps are players going to make? When are they going
to figure that out? I think the presence of Fred
van Vliet and just the stability that he provides has
been helpful real briefly though. On the side of the Warriors,
they've lost six of nine. They're trying to again cling
(06:33):
on to this last spot. How do you see things
playing out for that? Do you think this is more
I guess I should frame the question, do you think
this is more about Houston maintaining the level of play.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
That they are.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
We mentioned this week they they host Portland tonight, but
they also are going to see Okay see, they're going
to see Dallas. They're going to see the Warriors next week.
Do you think this is more about how Houston maintains
their play or the Warriors putting things together down the stretch?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
You know what, I just don't think the Warriors. I
think the Warriors are who they are, which is just
like barely above five hundred team. They're going to have
some good nights, some not so good nights. I don't think.
You know, they seem to have found something with a
starting lineup, but that starting lineup hasn't been all that
great over the last five games. You know, they've been healthy,
(07:19):
they've been like they've had everybody available for the last
five games. That stretch started with their really good win
over the Lakers, and then you know they're one and
three since with the only win coming against the Grizzlies.
They do have the easier schedule between the two, so
that's a positive. You know, six of their twelve remaining
(07:42):
games or against teams over five hundred, they have a
head to head obviously with Houston, Houston eight of their
twelve are against teams that are currently over five hundred.
So I would still give the edge to the Warriors.
One because they have the easier schedule, they have the
game advantage. I think they also have the tiebreaker, and
(08:04):
also because Houston like maybe this is just a hot
streak and they you know, it'll be tough to maintain
for another three weeks.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Speaking of another veteran team, the Los Angeles Clippers, currently
ranked ninth in your Power rankings, there was a stretch
that they were looking like world beaters. Everyone was healthy.
We were talking about them if if everyone stays healthy
and available title contention. This is the team that we
had been waiting on and since the El Star break
(08:34):
eight and nine. Obviously, as of late, Russell Westbrook to
hit has missed a stretch of games, and we will
get to that. Could he potentially come back? And the
thing we're looking at how the Western Conference shakes out,
I mean, even real quick on the on the Warriors
with that trying to get into the ten spot. That
would mean they would likely play the Lakers for that
first playing game, and then you have to beat one
(08:56):
of you know, these teams kind of the mix of
Phoenix Sacramento. Doubt it's it's all a mess, well kind of.
You know, where the Lakers or the Clippers looked like
they were pretty solidified. They're in that four spot. They're
now just a half game ahead of the Pelicans. And granted,
the Pelicans are playing right now without Brandon Ingram who's
been out with a knee injury. Though better news than
(09:17):
what it initially looked like when he got hurt, but
the Pelicans having a really nice march as well. What's
your take on where the Clippers sit, how they've been
playing as of lately. In how much do you think
Westbrook's return, whether he does come back here tonight is
the Clippers are hosting Pandana Pacers, but his impending return,
(09:41):
how much do you think that may impact the way
that they have been playing lately?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Well, first of all, I'll start with the good news,
like we've done, like lots lots of us have done,
like studies myself included in the past, where you looked
at how a team performed early in the season and
how a team performed eight in the season, and which
one of those correlated best with postseason success. Like we
think we kind of think, oh, a team wants to
(10:08):
be playing well going into the postseason. But if you
looked at it, like how a team played late in
the season didn't really correlate with how they played in
the postseason. Actually, early season success was correlated a little
bit more, and in general, overall success correlated a little
bit more. I haven't looked at it in a while,
(10:29):
but I think that's pretty much still truth. So like
a sort of a late season swoon isn't necessarily a
big deal. In fact, we saw Denver like right, like
sort of take their foot off the gas for the
last couple of weeks a few weeks last season and
then go on to win the championship. So yeah, so
that's one one piece of good news. The second piece
(10:50):
of good news is that the three teams that are
behind the Clippers, New Orleans, Sacramento, Phoenix, they have like
three of the four toughest remaining schedules in the league.
So that's another piece of good news for the Clippers.
So yeah, it may seem like they're about to fall
out of the top four, but they still have an
easier schedule going forward. But yeah, I just they just
(11:14):
haven't put it together like they you know, I watched
them play the Sixers on Sunday and it's just like
they never got in gear. Like they made one little run,
but the Sixers just put their footback, you know, on
the gas and the Clippers that was it. They were done.
And I think on it's it's they have issues on
(11:36):
both ends of the floor where they just sort of
haven't been able to put it together for multiple games
in a row. You know, they did get two games,
two wins in Portland last week, but like as I said,
like those bottom nine teams in the league are are
just not competitive right now. The one thing with Westbrook,
(11:57):
so I'll say this, like he should be able to
get them some shots in transition. Right They play at
a much much faster pace when he's on the floor
than when he's not, and that's a good thing. This
is a team that can be a little bit too
methodical in the half court, and he gives them maybe
some transition opportunities that they wouldn't get otherwise. But if
(12:21):
you look at the numbers, like over his he's missed
the last twelve games and Westbrook is basically James Harden's
backup like before Westbrook's injury, like he was on the
floor for only about a third of Harden's minutes, so
like a low percentage of hard So he's basically they
don't play together that much. And if you look at
(12:42):
over like the twelve last twelve games, they've actually been
better with Harden off off the floor than they were
prior to that. And like the big drop off has
been more in Harden's minutes on the floor than his
minutes off the floor. So if you're looking at like, oh,
what's been bad recently, it's not really the oh, we
(13:02):
need we need Westbrook back to to boost up those
Harden off the floor and it's it's more like, yeah,
we need like the whole group to get back together
and and and start playing together, playing better, you know,
with the best players on the floor.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yeah, Because even to your point about the game last night,
seventy six ers beating the Clippers one twenty one to
one oh seven, I think at some point there Philly
went on like a twenty two to four run. But
the team that or the group that was starting to
get them back at the end of the game, if
you would call that cut in the definsite someone was
that was a lot of their bench players, nor Powell
having a big night. So you look at what Kawhi did,
what Paul George did hard and obviously double double with
(13:42):
a good amount of assists. But yeah, just just all
the pieces coming together. So I'm curious to see. I
also think that it's a team filled with a lot
of players that play for the postseason. And so despite
how they're playing, what they look like, I steal again
if healthy with Tyl running the show in those guys,
(14:04):
if they do maintain that four spot, given where things
are at, they are a team that I would think
could be a very dangerous playoff team.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, I mean Kawhi Leonard has basically been the best
I mean, maybe other than Jokic, has basically been the
best postseason player of the last what is it five
or six years, like going back to exactly. It's just
he's been hurt, you know, like he's been incredible in
the postseason. Now, I mean he's obviously older and that
(14:31):
may slow down. But yeah, this is a team that, like,
just get us there and we can figure out who
we're matched up. They have a great coach, they have
great individual defenders, and they have great and they have
a you know, three guys that they can turn to
on any given offensive possession to get them a bucket.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, what makes it makes it all fun? Fun to
try and figure out at this time of the year.
Rich speaking of one of those teams that we're talking
about that is right there in the mix of the
Western Conference, the Phoenix Song. They are getting set for
a gauntlet. We will get to them right after the
great welcome back to NBA. Paul Sarakhusak joined by the
(15:13):
great John Schumann out with a fresh set of power rankings,
Nuggets stats information of how all of your favorite teams
and all thirty teams in the league are doing at
this current point right now of the season. Currently, the
Phoenix Suns sitting eighth shoe in your power rankings. They
(15:33):
have won three straight and they will once again. Who
do they have? Who the Spurs here tonight, so they
little stay here in San Antonio. They're going to close
out there Philly Atlanta Spurs now for a second game
here on Monday. But it gets tougher, It gets tougher
for this Phoenix Suns team that is currently sitting just
(15:54):
outside the play in in that sixth spot. But they
are only a half game ahead of both Sacramento in
a Dallas team and those teams that have been playing
really well. The Stars have been playing for Phoenix recently.
But what's your expectation for the Suns now that they
are set in terms of strength of schedule for one
(16:15):
of the toughest of the season.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Yeah, I mean, I don't you know, it's another It's
just they just haven't put it all together right like
and now, like the one good thing is this, these
last ten games are going to prepare them for the
postseason because they're basically going to face teams that they
could possibly face in the playoffs and or the play
(16:40):
in So, like you said, they have one more game
in San Antonio. Kevin Durant got to go to Austin.
Did you see Yeah? Check out singer in the in
the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Matting booker Aliah Moore. He's following in my footsteps of
when I was in Austin. I got to I got
to see them a call to Texas with basketball game
earlier of the season, and so set in there, I
got to hang with with Yeah, Maddie and Aliah the
Big Twelve. Big Twelve Player of the year, National Player
of the Year or Player of the Year I should
say in Rookie of the Year. But yeah, anyway, carry on.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
All right. So after San Antonio they continue their road trip.
They play at Denver, at Oklahoma City, at New Orleans,
and they come home Cleveland, Minnesota, New Orleans Clippers, and then
back out on the road for the Clippers, Kings, and Wolves.
So that's their final ten games of the season, and
the worst team they face on that stretch is the
(17:36):
Sacramento Kings for twenty nine. So all ten games are
against teams that are at least twelve games over five hundred.
Six of the ten are against the top four teams
in the West. Now, the Suns currently are two and seven,
(17:58):
now excuse me, two and five against the top four
teams in the West, and their defense has been bad
in those seven games. Now, I'll say this, only one
of those seven games have they had Bradley Beal, Devin Booker,
and Kevin Durant all in the lineup. But that one
(18:20):
was a twenty seven point loss to the Clippers. So
you know they're you know, they've had for their their
last seven they've had all three guys. They're five and
two in that stretch, and they rank third offensively, which
is good, but five and two is not like, Yeah,
(18:42):
the Suns are really you know, making their run right
now and so and now they're just going to face
a tougher competition. It's going to be near impossible for
them to go to really make a strong run unless
some kind of switches is flipped.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
And you mentioned that in other like give credit some
of these wins and games. A lot of it Grace
and Allen has been extraordinary for how this team. So
there's a lot of games that he has either kept
them in the game or a big part of it.
For as much as we're talking about being a booker
in Durant, being there and available, that's also been a
(19:21):
big aspect of it. When you look back and you
mentioned it was it that Clippers game, was that the
Sunday afternoon No, the Milwaukee game, the Sunday afternoon game
against Milwaukee, they get down big. How much do you
you mentioned the Clippers game. How much stocked you put
into the wins that they've had or how they've performed
(19:45):
or maybe have have underperformed against some teams and in
some games that you would have bigger expectations and kind
of have more of a scrutiny on what those matchups
look like.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I don't know if this team has like a sign
win where it's like, oh, yeah, that's the sun.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
They really showed you.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
You know, they got all three stars. They you know,
they played really well. They defended to to the degree
that they need to defend to win a playoff series
against a good team. I don't know that it's it's
been there and that's and then maybe there's a chance
in these you know, last ten games, but there also
(20:25):
may be opportunities where or you know, I don't know
how seriously their opponents will take all of those games. Right,
although there is no sort of margin for error from
basically one to ten in the Western Conference at this point,
right because the top it's not like the Nuggets last year,
and now you have you know, the top three teams
(20:45):
are separated by one game in the lost column, and
then you have the Clippers and Pelicans separated by one game,
and then you have the Suns and Kings and Mavericks
all tied in the lost column, and then you have
the Lakers and the Warriors. Right, so there's no no
team could afford to say, hey, we can take this
game off unless they're playing one of these bottom nine teams,
Like we saw the Nuggets, you know the other night.
(21:08):
I think it was Portland where Yokichen and Murray both
had the night off and they still got to win.
They play the Grizzlies, I believe on Monday we might
see the same type of thing. But I think once
when they face real competition, they are going to be
healthy and playing hard. So yeah, it's gonna be a
great tast Like I can't wait to watch it. Like
I'm very fascinated by the Sun Still, I still think
(21:31):
like they're gonna be a fun matchup no matter who
they match up with. I would love to see them
at like against Minnesota where you get these like pull
up mid range shooters. Against Rudy Gobert, I'd love to
see him against any of these teams. Oklahoma City would
be fun. But I, like we said, like they are,
they have eleven games left in the season and they
haven't really put it together. They don't have like a
(21:55):
signature win or at least multiple signature wins at this point.
And this is one of the teams that we thought
was a championship contender. Right. I go back to our
GM survey and there was five There are five teams
that had votes to win the championship in the GM survey,
Boston and Milwaukee in the East, and then Denver, Phoenix
and the Clippers in the West. The Clippers had one vote,
(22:17):
like they were a fifth place. And so like we
go back and it's like, all right, Boston has dominated
the whole season, Milwaukee has turned it up of late,
and they've got some good, really good signature wins. The
Nuggets or the Nuggets and the Clippers have had that
run and I think we can still believe in them
(22:38):
to a certain degree. The Suns just haven't had that
say yep, that's that thing where you say, oh, yeah,
they're they're definitely a contender. They can win four series
or even they can win three series and get to
the finals.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Yeah, And that's the one thing I've been waiting for.
And I feel like in some of those matchups it's
been a bit underwhelming into that point of you have guys,
you have closers in the fourth quarter that that has
not been the case. They played out like you would think.
That's that's the one thing that would be a strength
of theirs, and as we've continued to talk about, there's
(23:12):
also some monsters and there is some star power when
you look at the teams that are currently sitting in
the play in and could potentially end up in the
play win so playing. So for all of it, it
is going to be a ton of fun. She was
always We appreciate you, we appreciate your time, we love
the power rankings, and we look forward to talking with
you again.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
All right, Sarah. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
NBA Post with Sarahusetack is a production of the NBA
and iHeart Radio. Please rate, review, and subscribe on the
iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome into NBA Fulse production Buyheart Radio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahkustak, NBA analyst for the y S Network, and
today is Monday, March twenty fifth. From our extraordinary core
group of NBA journalists were joined now by NBA dot
Com senior writer John Schuman Shoe. You got a fresh
set of power rankings on I know we always go
through the top five teams, but you kind of go
(00:26):
through all of this. You've got the best nuggets about
all thirty teams, what's happening, how they're playing throughout the
course of the season. And it's been really interesting because
this time of the year. I know a lot of
us have focused on March madness, what's happening with the
NCAA tournaments, but the men's and the women's. But this
is an important stretch in the NBA now for a
lot of teams, especially how crazy it is in the West,
(00:47):
buying to get out of the play in tournament, trying
to stay in the playing tournament. Currently, the top five
have pretty much remained the same here in the power
rankings of Denver and Boston being the one two spots.
Milwaukee and OKSE just split plot from three to four,
as you got the Bucks at three, Thunder at four.
Minnesota rounds out that top five. But in terms of
(01:11):
the play in there's a team that we kind of
thought may have solidified themselves and we're pushing to get
in to the top six. But that's the Golden State
Warriors currently sitting in tenth. But the Houston Rockets have
made a run in March ten and one. They're on
an eight game win streak. I think, for I'll put
myself in this bucket. But when elp Rinsching Goon went down,
(01:34):
I think they thought maybe that was the end of
what Houston would be doing and putting together a nice
season with a young group in how Ima Udoka has
made his impact, But right now sitting in a game
back of the Golden State Warriors. They will meet again
next week in Houston. Houston tonight is hosting Portland, but
they got a little bit of a tough week coming up.
(01:54):
What is your take on how Houston has been playing,
the way the Warriors have been playing, and what your
projecting projection is of who will eventually find themselves in
that ten spot.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
That's a good question, I think with Houston, like like,
thank goodness for the Rockets, right because like, there are
what do we have sixteen teams left in the NCAA tournament,
twenty four left in the women's tournament, and we got
some second big second.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Big day today, Big day today and tonight.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
There are twenty one teams left in the NBA, right,
Like the other nine teams have basically shut it not
shut it down, but they have basically they're done. Like
there's not all of them are completely eliminated.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
But do not take away the Yes Network viewers locked
in to the Brooklyn Nets in Toronto. Here in Toronto.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I'll just say that the Nets are kind of far
from from the Hawks in tenth place and not exactly
showing like they're a much of a threat.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I shouldn't have derailed. I shouldn't have derailed.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
But thank goodness for the Rockets who have made things interesting.
So we have twenty one teams left. Like if you
looked at this time last year, there was actually like,
you know, the twelfth place team in the East and
the twelfth place team in the West were both like
within two games in the lost column of tenth place,
So there was still a little bit of interest in
the East I think, you know, I mean there's still
(03:21):
interest right from one to ten or actually like one
to eight, but like beyond the ten line, like we
know what teams are going to be in the play
in or the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. So the Rockets, yes,
like they were in bad in February, but they're now
what do we say, ten and one in March, eighth
(03:41):
straight wins, six of those without Sengoon, like you said,
and it's mostly been like a big offensive boost. You know,
they ranked second offensively in the in the month of March.
And this is a team that you know as like
basically the most improved team in league from last season
just because of how bad they were. But that provement
(04:03):
improvement was largely just about defense. Like they they went
from being the worst transition defense in the league to
basically being the best transition defense in the league. And
that obviously cuts down on opponent layups. It makes them
a just a much better team just by focusing on
that one thing. And they did that. But now they're
starting to come around offensively, and it's really been you know,
(04:24):
Jalen Green, I'll give you this little stat. They're of
players who've averaged at least twenty five points in the
month of March. Three guys have a higher chee shooting
percentage than Jalen Green. Those guys are Jannisnttkunpo, Lebron James,
and Nikola Jokic. Jalen Green averaging twenty seven point eight
(04:47):
on a true shooting percentage of sixty three point nine
percent this month. So that's some pretty good company. And yeah,
so's it's mostly offense. The other kind of key is
that they're actually winning some road games. Through the month
of February, the Rockets were five and twenty four on
the road, which is, you know, pretty brutal. In March
(05:09):
they're five and oh, so they're actually like winning some
rogrind that. Like, as far as the opponents, it hasn't
been a strong schedule. They have, you know, wins over
the Blazers, the Spurs, I think, the Wizards, but you
can only play you know, the teams in front of you,
and they are beating those teams, you know, fairly easily,
(05:33):
so that they're comfortable wins, right, So it's they're taking
care of business. They're a much better team. I don't know,
like how long this is gonna last. The drail and
Green aspect of it is always a little bit like,
all right, is this real or is this just a
hot streak? But I do think he is playing better,
making maybe some better decisions with the ball. Just just
(05:53):
seems like he's in a nice rhythm offensively. So yeah,
it's fun, it's good. It's like to have now, you know.
The Warriors, like you said, we're thinking, hey, maybe we
can move up to seven or eight and get out
of this nine ten And now they're like, uh oh,
we're a game ahead of the Rockets.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Just need to stay in And yeah, and I think
with Jalen and Jalen Green's another guy, and I think
there's always question. He's twenty two years old, So what
jumps are players going to make? When are they going
to figure that out? I think the presence of Fred
van Vliet and just the stability that he provides has
been helpful real briefly though. On the side of the Warriors,
they've lost six of nine. They're trying to again cling
(06:33):
on to this last spot. How do you see things
playing out for that? Do you think this is more
I guess I should frame the question, do you think
this is more about Houston maintaining the level of play.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
That they are.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
We mentioned this week they they host Portland tonight, but
they also are going to see Okay see, they're going
to see Dallas. They're going to see the Warriors next week.
Do you think this is more about how Houston maintains
their play or the Warriors putting things together down the stretch?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
You know what, I just don't think the Warriors. I
think the Warriors are who they are, which is just
like barely above five hundred team. They're going to have
some good nights, some not so good nights. I don't think.
You know, they seem to have found something with a
starting lineup, but that starting lineup hasn't been all that
great over the last five games. You know, they've been healthy,
(07:19):
they've been like they've had everybody available for the last
five games. That stretch started with their really good win
over the Lakers, and then you know they're one and
three since with the only win coming against the Grizzlies.
They do have the easier schedule between the two, so
that's a positive. You know, six of their twelve remaining
(07:42):
games or against teams over five hundred, they have a
head to head obviously with Houston, Houston eight of their
twelve are against teams that are currently over five hundred.
So I would still give the edge to the Warriors.
One because they have the easier schedule, they have the
game advantage. I think they also have the tiebreaker, and
(08:04):
also because Houston like maybe this is just a hot
streak and they you know, it'll be tough to maintain
for another three weeks.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Speaking of another veteran team, the Los Angeles Clippers, currently
ranked ninth in your Power rankings, there was a stretch
that they were looking like world beaters. Everyone was healthy.
We were talking about them if if everyone stays healthy
and available title contention. This is the team that we
had been waiting on and since the El Star break
(08:34):
eight and nine. Obviously, as of late, Russell Westbrook to
hit has missed a stretch of games, and we will
get to that. Could he potentially come back? And the
thing we're looking at how the Western Conference shakes out,
I mean, even real quick on the on the Warriors
with that trying to get into the ten spot. That
would mean they would likely play the Lakers for that
first playing game, and then you have to beat one
(08:56):
of you know, these teams kind of the mix of
Phoenix Sacramento. Doubt it's it's all a mess, well kind of.
You know, where the Lakers or the Clippers looked like
they were pretty solidified. They're in that four spot. They're
now just a half game ahead of the Pelicans. And granted,
the Pelicans are playing right now without Brandon Ingram who's
been out with a knee injury. Though better news than
(09:17):
what it initially looked like when he got hurt, but
the Pelicans having a really nice march as well. What's
your take on where the Clippers sit, how they've been
playing as of lately. In how much do you think
Westbrook's return, whether he does come back here tonight is
the Clippers are hosting Pandana Pacers, but his impending return,
(09:41):
how much do you think that may impact the way
that they have been playing lately?
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Well, first of all, I'll start with the good news,
like we've done, like lots lots of us have done,
like studies myself included in the past, where you looked
at how a team performed early in the season and
how a team performed eight in the season, and which
one of those correlated best with postseason success. Like we
think we kind of think, oh, a team wants to
(10:08):
be playing well going into the postseason. But if you
looked at it, like how a team played late in
the season didn't really correlate with how they played in
the postseason. Actually, early season success was correlated a little
bit more, and in general, overall success correlated a little
bit more. I haven't looked at it in a while,
(10:29):
but I think that's pretty much still truth. So like
a sort of a late season swoon isn't necessarily a
big deal. In fact, we saw Denver like right, like
sort of take their foot off the gas for the
last couple of weeks a few weeks last season and
then go on to win the championship. So yeah, so
that's one one piece of good news. The second piece
(10:50):
of good news is that the three teams that are
behind the Clippers, New Orleans, Sacramento, Phoenix, they have like
three of the four toughest remaining schedules in the league.
So that's another piece of good news for the Clippers.
So yeah, it may seem like they're about to fall
out of the top four, but they still have an
easier schedule going forward. But yeah, I just they just
(11:14):
haven't put it together like they you know, I watched
them play the Sixers on Sunday and it's just like
they never got in gear. Like they made one little run,
but the Sixers just put their footback, you know, on
the gas and the Clippers that was it. They were done.
And I think on it's it's they have issues on
(11:36):
both ends of the floor where they just sort of
haven't been able to put it together for multiple games
in a row. You know, they did get two games,
two wins in Portland last week, but like as I said,
like those bottom nine teams in the league are are
just not competitive right now. The one thing with Westbrook,
(11:57):
so I'll say this, like he should be able to
get them some shots in transition. Right They play at
a much much faster pace when he's on the floor
than when he's not, and that's a good thing. This
is a team that can be a little bit too
methodical in the half court, and he gives them maybe
some transition opportunities that they wouldn't get otherwise. But if
(12:21):
you look at the numbers, like over his he's missed
the last twelve games and Westbrook is basically James Harden's
backup like before Westbrook's injury, like he was on the
floor for only about a third of Harden's minutes, so
like a low percentage of hard So he's basically they
don't play together that much. And if you look at
(12:42):
over like the twelve last twelve games, they've actually been
better with Harden off off the floor than they were
prior to that. And like the big drop off has
been more in Harden's minutes on the floor than his
minutes off the floor. So if you're looking at like, oh,
what's been bad recently, it's not really the oh, we
(13:02):
need we need Westbrook back to to boost up those
Harden off the floor and it's it's more like, yeah,
we need like the whole group to get back together
and and and start playing together, playing better, you know,
with the best players on the floor.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Yeah, Because even to your point about the game last night,
seventy six ers beating the Clippers one twenty one to
one oh seven, I think at some point there Philly
went on like a twenty two to four run. But
the team that or the group that was starting to
get them back at the end of the game, if
you would call that cut in the definsite someone was
that was a lot of their bench players, nor Powell
having a big night. So you look at what Kawhi did,
what Paul George did hard and obviously double double with
(13:42):
a good amount of assists. But yeah, just just all
the pieces coming together. So I'm curious to see. I
also think that it's a team filled with a lot
of players that play for the postseason. And so despite
how they're playing, what they look like, I steal again
if healthy with Tyl running the show in those guys,
(14:04):
if they do maintain that four spot, given where things
are at, they are a team that I would think
could be a very dangerous playoff team.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
Yeah, I mean Kawhi Leonard has basically been the best
I mean, maybe other than Jokic, has basically been the
best postseason player of the last what is it five
or six years, like going back to exactly. It's just
he's been hurt, you know, like he's been incredible in
the postseason. Now, I mean he's obviously older and that
(14:31):
may slow down. But yeah, this is a team that, like,
just get us there and we can figure out who
we're matched up. They have a great coach, they have
great individual defenders, and they have great and they have
a you know, three guys that they can turn to
on any given offensive possession to get them a bucket.
Speaker 1 (14:50):
Yeah, what makes it makes it all fun? Fun to
try and figure out at this time of the year.
Rich speaking of one of those teams that we're talking
about that is right there in the mix of the
Western Conference, the Phoenix Song. They are getting set for
a gauntlet. We will get to them right after the
great welcome back to NBA. Paul Sarakhusak joined by the
(15:13):
great John Schumann out with a fresh set of power rankings,
Nuggets stats information of how all of your favorite teams
and all thirty teams in the league are doing at
this current point right now of the season. Currently, the
Phoenix Suns sitting eighth shoe in your power rankings. They
(15:33):
have won three straight and they will once again. Who
do they have? Who the Spurs here tonight, so they
little stay here in San Antonio. They're going to close
out there Philly Atlanta Spurs now for a second game
here on Monday. But it gets tougher, It gets tougher
for this Phoenix Suns team that is currently sitting just
(15:54):
outside the play in in that sixth spot. But they
are only a half game ahead of both Sacramento in
a Dallas team and those teams that have been playing
really well. The Stars have been playing for Phoenix recently.
But what's your expectation for the Suns now that they
are set in terms of strength of schedule for one
(16:15):
of the toughest of the season.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Yeah, I mean, I don't you know, it's another It's
just they just haven't put it all together right like
and now, like the one good thing is this, these
last ten games are going to prepare them for the
postseason because they're basically going to face teams that they
could possibly face in the playoffs and or the play
(16:40):
in So, like you said, they have one more game
in San Antonio. Kevin Durant got to go to Austin.
Did you see Yeah? Check out singer in the in
the Longhorns.
Speaker 1 (16:53):
Matting booker Aliah Moore. He's following in my footsteps of
when I was in Austin. I got to I got
to see them a call to Texas with basketball game
earlier of the season, and so set in there, I
got to hang with with Yeah, Maddie and Aliah the
Big Twelve. Big Twelve Player of the year, National Player
of the Year or Player of the Year I should
say in Rookie of the Year. But yeah, anyway, carry on.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
All right. So after San Antonio they continue their road trip.
They play at Denver, at Oklahoma City, at New Orleans,
and they come home Cleveland, Minnesota, New Orleans Clippers, and then
back out on the road for the Clippers, Kings, and Wolves.
So that's their final ten games of the season, and
the worst team they face on that stretch is the
(17:36):
Sacramento Kings for twenty nine. So all ten games are
against teams that are at least twelve games over five hundred.
Six of the ten are against the top four teams
in the West. Now, the Suns currently are two and seven,
(17:58):
now excuse me, two and five against the top four
teams in the West, and their defense has been bad
in those seven games. Now, I'll say this, only one
of those seven games have they had Bradley Beal, Devin Booker,
and Kevin Durant all in the lineup. But that one
(18:20):
was a twenty seven point loss to the Clippers. So
you know they're you know, they've had for their their
last seven they've had all three guys. They're five and
two in that stretch, and they rank third offensively, which
is good, but five and two is not like, Yeah,
(18:42):
the Suns are really you know, making their run right
now and so and now they're just going to face
a tougher competition. It's going to be near impossible for
them to go to really make a strong run unless
some kind of switches is flipped.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
And you mentioned that in other like give credit some
of these wins and games. A lot of it Grace
and Allen has been extraordinary for how this team. So
there's a lot of games that he has either kept
them in the game or a big part of it.
For as much as we're talking about being a booker
in Durant, being there and available, that's also been a
(19:21):
big aspect of it. When you look back and you
mentioned it was it that Clippers game, was that the
Sunday afternoon No, the Milwaukee game, the Sunday afternoon game
against Milwaukee, they get down big. How much do you
you mentioned the Clippers game. How much stocked you put
into the wins that they've had or how they've performed
(19:45):
or maybe have have underperformed against some teams and in
some games that you would have bigger expectations and kind
of have more of a scrutiny on what those matchups
look like.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
I don't know if this team has like a sign
win where it's like, oh, yeah, that's the sun.
Speaker 1 (20:03):
They really showed you.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
You know, they got all three stars. They you know,
they played really well. They defended to to the degree
that they need to defend to win a playoff series
against a good team. I don't know that it's it's
been there and that's and then maybe there's a chance
in these you know, last ten games, but there also
(20:25):
may be opportunities where or you know, I don't know
how seriously their opponents will take all of those games. Right,
although there is no sort of margin for error from
basically one to ten in the Western Conference at this point,
right because the top it's not like the Nuggets last year,
and now you have you know, the top three teams
(20:45):
are separated by one game in the lost column, and
then you have the Clippers and Pelicans separated by one game,
and then you have the Suns and Kings and Mavericks
all tied in the lost column, and then you have
the Lakers and the Warriors. Right, so there's no no
team could afford to say, hey, we can take this
game off unless they're playing one of these bottom nine teams,
Like we saw the Nuggets, you know the other night.
(21:08):
I think it was Portland where Yokichen and Murray both
had the night off and they still got to win.
They play the Grizzlies, I believe on Monday we might
see the same type of thing. But I think once
when they face real competition, they are going to be
healthy and playing hard. So yeah, it's gonna be a
great tast Like I can't wait to watch it. Like
I'm very fascinated by the Sun Still, I still think
(21:31):
like they're gonna be a fun matchup no matter who
they match up with. I would love to see them
at like against Minnesota where you get these like pull
up mid range shooters. Against Rudy Gobert, I'd love to
see him against any of these teams. Oklahoma City would
be fun. But I, like we said, like they are,
they have eleven games left in the season and they
haven't really put it together. They don't have like a
(21:55):
signature win or at least multiple signature wins at this point.
And this is one of the teams that we thought
was a championship contender. Right. I go back to our
GM survey and there was five There are five teams
that had votes to win the championship in the GM survey,
Boston and Milwaukee in the East, and then Denver, Phoenix
and the Clippers in the West. The Clippers had one vote,
(22:17):
like they were a fifth place. And so like we
go back and it's like, all right, Boston has dominated
the whole season, Milwaukee has turned it up of late,
and they've got some good, really good signature wins. The
Nuggets or the Nuggets and the Clippers have had that
run and I think we can still believe in them
(22:38):
to a certain degree. The Suns just haven't had that
say yep, that's that thing where you say, oh, yeah,
they're they're definitely a contender. They can win four series
or even they can win three series and get to
the finals.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Yeah, And that's the one thing I've been waiting for.
And I feel like in some of those matchups it's
been a bit underwhelming into that point of you have guys,
you have closers in the fourth quarter that that has
not been the case. They played out like you would think.
That's that's the one thing that would be a strength
of theirs, and as we've continued to talk about, there's
(23:12):
also some monsters and there is some star power when
you look at the teams that are currently sitting in
the play in and could potentially end up in the
play win so playing. So for all of it, it
is going to be a ton of fun. She was
always We appreciate you, we appreciate your time, we love
the power rankings, and we look forward to talking with
you again.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
All right, Sarah. Thanks.
Speaker 1 (23:31):
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