March 15, 2024 • 21 mins
Sarah and NBA senior writer Steve Aschburner discuss Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren battling for Rookie of the Year and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander challenging Nikola Jokic for the MVP and the #1 seed in the West.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome in into NBA Pulster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahkustak, NBA analyst for the Yes Network, and today
is Friday, March fifteenth. From our extraordinary core group of
NBA journalists, we're joined now by NBA dot Com Senior
writer Steve Ashberner and Ash. Among all the many things
you do, the Rookie Ladder is one of them, and
(00:22):
it's not been quite as much of a race. We
got a front runner here as of late's Victor Wembinyama
in that number one spot, followed by Chet Holmgren number
two spot. Brennan Miller has been playing really well for
Charlotte number three, Haimi Hakkas of the Heat number four,
and Derek Lively rounding out the top five for the MAVs.
(00:42):
And we had a tremendous game last night between the
Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Thunder did
end up winning one twenty six to one nineteen. There
was no Luka Doncic playing Kyrie Irving a big knight
for Dallas with thirty six points, Hi Re Irving with.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
That floater, Uncle Drew doing what he does best.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Twelve assists, Daniel Gafford nineteen points fifteen rebounds, which we
will get into because I want to hear a little
bit more about Derek Lively an article you wrote about him.
He's been coming off the bench for Jason Kidd and
that MAVs team four points two rebounds for him. They've
kind of been splitting some of those minutes. But you
look at Chet Holmgren, what he has been doing, how
(01:25):
Shake Gildess Alexander has been playing, definitely getting a lot
of buzz in terms of the MVP discussion. When you
first let's look at chettholmgrin the season he's had early
on of the season, I think, you know, everyone kind
of expected Victor Webbyama to be the guy for Rookie
of the Year, and Chet was given him quite a run.
They've had some tremendous battles back and forth between one another,
(01:48):
But what have you seen out of Chet the way
he's been playing in the totality of how successful Oklahoma
City has been. That win has them up top there
in the Western Conference, both them and the Nugget tied
for that first spot. They've all kind of been jostling
about what have you seen out of Chet Holmgren that's
impressed you most at this point in the season.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah, hi, uh, Sarah, I I think that not that
not that Chet has conceded the Rookie of the Year
award to uh to victor Woman Yama, But I do
get a sense that he has fully embraced the the
notion of Oklahoma City's team success over that particular individual award. Now,
(02:35):
you know, you can say maybe early on he had
some flashier games and maybe he thought, you know, that
he could do that. I don't know how how conscious
of a mindset that was for him, But to me,
what it looks like now is fully absorbed into his
role of helping that team whatever it takes. Even that
(02:57):
if that means that less from him is more for
the team because other teammates are allowed to shine. You know,
Jalen Williams, he was out, he comes back, he has
you know, a big night. You know, there are a
lot of weapons on that team, and there's a lot
of ways that they can win, and so for Chet
to put up you know, big numbers across the board
(03:19):
that might not be the you know, the best means
to the end that they're focused on now Joss.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Alexander got Jones on him again. Now he fakes that
jumper Williams finds Holgren resets for the three, got the
feet behind the line, Chet Holgren creating threes here the
last three possessions.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I don't think that the top two are going to
change in the Rookie of the Year balloting at this
point when those votes are cast. It's possible Brandon Miller
could come on enough with some flashy numbers in an
otherwise lost season that he moves up from three to
two and Chet slips down. No biggie, because Holmgren's going
(04:01):
to be playing games after both of the other guys
have shut things down for this season. So I think
Homergren is doing what his team needs for him, and
that's been his number one case for Rookie of the
Year anyway, is that he's been a perfect fit.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Actually trying to turn a corner and Holgrid with a
steal another Dallas turnover, excellent Oklahoma City defense, Holmgren left
open and he reigns one in pick set.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And it's been a seamless transition more or less, and
you know, good for him. It's been hard to deny
when Binyama's prodigy aspect in terms of the things he
can do that are both you know, unusual for someone
his age and extraordinary for someone his size, And those
(04:54):
individual numbers and accomplishments and highlights probably are going to
win him this award.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
And you mentioned that with chet Holmgrum and it really
is so impressive the way everyone within, in particular the
starting unit, but really the depth of OKC, his fit
in Jalen Williams twenty seven points. Last night you mentioned
the big night Holmgren did have eleven points, eight rebounds.
Shake Gildes Alexander again thirty one points, nine rebounds, five assist,
(05:21):
two steals. The efficiency that he's shown from the field,
the command he has on everything. We will later get
into that wemby nicolea Jokic Denver Nuggets matchup a little
bit later in the show. But in terms of MVP conversation,
what do you think Shake Gildess Alexander's odds are of
(05:43):
potentially winning the MVP this season depending on how Oklahoma
City does, or if you think he will at some
point in his career be an MVP.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, that second question, it's intriguing because you have to project,
not only his performances, but his teammates with the Thunder
And one of the things that occasionally can work against
an MVP candidate is the excellence of the supporting cast,
if you if you put it that way, I think
that's one of the things that will probably cost Jason
(06:14):
Tatum some votes. It's a five spot ballot for MVP.
I think people look at Boston and say, they are
so loaded, they have such great depth, They have multiple
players who can be the leading scorer on any night
that you know, maybe Jason Tatum won't sort of rise
up from within that that group of Celtics and and
(06:37):
get the votes like a clear number one best guy
on the team, you know, like Giannis in the past,
like Jokic in the past, and again this year, like
Luka Doncic. You know, certain guys will get votes because
without the team, they'd be lucky to be playing and
maybe worse. So, you know, I think that for Gildas,
(07:00):
Alexander As, some of those teammates developed, If Chet gets better,
if Jalen Williams gets better, if you know, some of
the other players, I mean, if Josh Giddy, you know,
establishes his role more. I mean, it's just if they
add a piece with the assets that they have and
that happens to be a star or co star, you know,
that could actually maybe counteract with Gildas Alexander. His his
(07:24):
heavy lifting might never get greater than it is this season,
and so I think he's going to finish high. I
think that after Nikola Jokic, I would probably have him
number two on my ballot right now. It's about five
weeks to go or whatever, so you know that could change.
But pretty impressive. Scores thirty one points all the time.
(07:47):
He's set a record for the most games scoring exactly
thirty one points.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Gildas Alexander signs down.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
My goodness, just running the highlight reels all night long.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
At least two.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
This is two the that's guards in the game. But
he's got what did I see forty nine games of
thirty or more. I mean that, you know, that is remarkable.
And the fact that he has done this in a
context that doesn't hurt the Thunder, it has helped the Thunder.
So him being the go to guy, it still has
(08:20):
enabled the young supporting cast to flourish. And that's not
I don't think an easy feat. I think when you
see guys score big numbers themselves, sometimes it's well, somebody's
got to score on a bad team. Well, in this case,
he's got to score on a good team, and that's
a little bit different for the MVP equation. I think
he'll do pretty well.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, no doubt on that. On the other side of things,
I had meant to know Luka dontch for Dallas. Kyrie
Irving had a big game with thirty six points, twelve
six twelve assists. But Daniel Gafford has been came over
from Washington now has played about fifteen games with this
Dallas team. Jason Kiddy opted to have him started starting,
(09:02):
having Derek Lively come off the bench in his rookie season,
and Lively, I think there's so much growth, so much
potential that you do see in him just four points
and two rebounds last night. But tell us a little
bit more about the article that you wrote about him,
what you've seen out of his play in just the
trajectory at this point that you see that he could
have here in his young career.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Well, I saw Dallas on Monday night in Chicago when
they blew out the Bulls, and I mean it was
you know, Dallas a snapshot of when they're at their best.
I mean, Luca had another triple double and you look
at Lively was tremendous. He and gafferd they're splitting time
(09:44):
in the middle for Dallas, they're essentially the same player.
One has a little more experience. You know, you can
you can find other distinctions, but offensively they fit with
dncits perfectly in terms of being able to get behind
the defense and go up and snag pretty much anything
he puts up there as an lu pass, as a
(10:05):
offensive rebound, and and they both are shooting incredibly percentages,
making seventy five percent or more of their shots. You know,
that's that's a great weapon. That's where you tailor your
your teammates to fit the guy you have in mind.
If they had a low post score, if they had
a three point shooter in the middle, it really wouldn't
(10:26):
compliment and and Donchinson's game and benefit the team overall.
But they're perfect for him. It's a it's sort of
a Clint Capella thing, you know, rim running and and
you know Lively just turned twenty. You know, he's he's
been tremendous and and he's he's risen up my rookie
(10:47):
ladder because you know that latter attempts to capture not
only what somebody does, you know, statistically individually, but sort
of the long term prospect how they're going to fare
as a as a rookie launched into sophomore season and
beyond all NBA consideration. I think Lively has been great.
He'll have off nights. Well, the off night last night,
I guess what happened for the Dallas Mavericks. No Luka Doncic.
(11:10):
He was out with some hamstring tightness. So Lively has
an off game. Daniel Gafford, who had been perfect for
five games thirty three or thirty three, he was two
made field goals away from Will Chamberlain's streak of consecutive
makes of thirty five. He goes out Dante exem Luca's
replacement misses a shot. Gafferd tries to put back and
(11:34):
he misses it. So Wilt's record is safe. As a
big Chamberlain fan, that's fine with me. I think Chamberlain
holding that kind of a unique record is a good
thing as opposed to Daniel Gafford. But Gafford's second place
he's got the second longest streak of consecutive made field goals.
So he misses a shot the first situation he has
(11:56):
an opportunity because Luka Doncic is out. I mean, it's
just it's funny how things work. I mean, Luca is
he's an MVP candidate as well. Dallas has a decent record.
It's just it in the West. It doesn't get them
very much in terms of position in the standings. But
one of those filters we use for MVP candidates is
(12:16):
what happens to the team when he's not there. Well,
the Mavericks are three and six when he's not there
when he doesn't play, and they're thirty what they are
thirty eight and twenty nine overall, So you know, you
can see they're a much different team. And that's not
rocket science. But the fact that it has played out
they have not picked up the slack without him sort
(12:37):
of makes the argument that's what helped Giannis get a
couple MVPs in Milwaukee, imagining and even gauging what the
records were when he was there and wasn't there, so
you know, we'll see. But it's lively as a grade piece.
He's going to play in this league for a long time.
I think he's going to get stronger. He's got a
great head on his shoulders. He's had a rough upbringing
(12:59):
in terms of his passing away young when Derek was young,
and then his mother has had this ongoing battle with
cancer since twenty fourteen and it's been the two of them.
It's just, you know, it's amazing that he's been able
to develop and position himself, you know, right through that
ear at Duke and now in the NBA and basketball
(13:22):
has sort of been a rock for him and for them,
and the team embraces him. He had a night off
for personal reasons a week ago, and you know it's
not clear, but it could have been related to his mother.
I mean, it's just a great inspiring story. So I
have to admit that I kind of root a little
(13:42):
bit extra for Derek Lively.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Well, we certainly appreciate that. And a great read and
just twenty years old. As you said, it's an impressive
individual on the floor. Off the floor is that Dallas
team is try and steal with some hopes to get
out of the place into the sixth spot. There are
just a game back of Sacramento in six, two back
of New Orleans Pelicans currently sitting in fifth, but they
(14:08):
do have Phoenix ahead of them. We got a big
game ahead of us tonight between the Denver Nuggets and
the San Antonio Spurs Jokics wenby all the goods. We'll
get to that after the break up. Welcome back to
NBA Paul Sarahustak joined by the great Steve Ashburner, and
(14:28):
we got a good one here tonight eight thirty pm Eastern,
the Denver Nuggets visiting the San Antonio Spurs. These two
teams have not met since November, and they're going to
see each other three more times here down this final run,
final stretch. Denver currently sitting on a four game win streak,
a streak that began with that nice one against the
(14:49):
Boston Celtics there on the second of a four of
a four game road trip in San Antonio Spurs. We
know the big show in what will be looking at
as that matchup between Victor Wembinyama and Nicola Jokic. But
overall important for the Nuggets is I had mentioned earlier them,
along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, currently tied for that
(15:11):
top spot in the Western Conference. What peaks your interests
most about. We've seen the development of Victor Wembanyama throughout
the course of this season, and it's amazing to see
just his sustainability, his level of play, how it seems
like he continues to improve and just get more and
more comfortable as the season goes on. Your top spot
(15:35):
in your rookie ladder. But what do you look for
in matchups like this when he's playing against a former
two time MVP and a player like Jokic.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
You know, they have different agendas right now. I mean
early in the season, Victor wasn't the Victor Wembanyama we've
been seeing lately. I mean, he's got nearly his full
season underneath him. He wasn't fase by any proverbial rookie wall.
It's almost as if the minutes restriction that Popovich and
the Spurs had him on of, you know, playing less
(16:09):
than thirty minutes might have spared him that that sense
of fatigue or you know, somehow splatting against the wall.
So that that's intriguing about this matchup and even the
two in April. He's he's a more accomplished player. He
probably has greater confidence and more mastery of his his
(16:33):
capabilities in this league. Meanwhile, with Jokic, you know, yeah,
they were defending champions back in November, but right now
in March, they're looking totally out the windshield, not at
all in the review mirror. And so you know, we've
heard that Jokich has rallied his teammates to drive toward
the number one seed as many games as they can
(16:54):
have in the postseason in Denver with that altitude advantage
that they believe in. That's a great thing. It's worked.
So I think the it could be the kind of
game tonight where Jokic wants to win. Wem mi Yama
wants to win, but he wants to show out well
against a two time MVP and potentially a third time MVP.
(17:18):
I saw where wem Yama was asked about Defensive Player
of the Year, an award for which he will get votes,
and Rudy Gobert in Minnesota is probably considered the favorite.
I think Vegas has him a favorite for sure to
win yet again in that category, and wemen Yama, who
is close with Gobert, felt comfortable enough to say to
(17:41):
the reporters, well, it's fine with him if Gobert wins
this year, because it won't be his turn after this,
and women Yama has designs on that award. I think
probably it hasn't been vocalized yet, but I would sense
that he would approach the MVP the same way. Okay,
it's fine Jokic or someone else wins that award this year,
(18:03):
but coming soon enough, webin Yama figures to win, you know,
not one, not two, not three. Let's go into the
Miami Rally PEP rally thing. He'll probably win multiple MVP awards,
and so I think this is a neat meeting of
a past and current MVP against a future MVP. I
(18:26):
don't think it's outrageous to say that, and to watch
sort of a battle within the battle. Denver wants to
win the game. They'll probably be, you know, heavy favorites,
even though it's in San Antonio. That obviously the game
means more to them in their fight for top seat
in the West with Oklahoma City and Minnesota. But when Minyama,
(18:47):
I would imagine is going to want to, you know,
have fire a few shots across Jokich's bow and should
be fun. They do play more. It's weird they go
from November all the way to now without playing a
second time, and then they play three times starting tonight.
By the end of I think April fourteenth is the
last of their remaining meetings, and so who knows. By
(19:09):
April fourteenth, Jokic could be shut down, when min Yama
could be shut down totally different reasons, But this is
the one. This is the one to catch tonight if possible.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Yeah, And what I love most and you've laid it
out with Victor wembin Yama a variety reason. It's so
fun to watch him. He gets up for these matchups.
He gets up for in a lot of it. We've
had focus when he and chet Holmgren have met one another.
But you see, and I say this in the best
way possible, the nastiness of his competitive spirit, in what
(19:43):
he wants to do, the way he's pushing the timeline
of the Spurs, and how he wants to win, how
he wants to compete, and I think that often brings
out you know, does anyway? It brings out the best
in them when he understands all eyes around these type
of matchups.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Well, and by the way, I just want to add,
you know, he got a lot of got a lot
of mileage. This past week that against Golden State, Trace
Jackson Davis dunked on whom Minyama and everybody, Oh, look
at he put him on a poster. But you know
what I mean, the very best centers, they don't care
if they get posterized. They're going to hang in there.
They're going to try to block those attempts. I think
(20:23):
soon enough that when min Yama will payback Trace Jackson
Davis several times over by either stopping those attempts making
them look foolish or dunking on him. So you know, yeah,
you're right. It is that that little bit of nastiness
to his competitiveness and that he would hang in there
like that is just another example of it.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah. Absolutely, And the game Denver wants to win, Denver
wants at number one spot. Denver, you know this, This
this game matters to them. So for all those reasons's
going to be fun one again eight thirty pm Eastern
on League Pass. You can catch it and ashes. Always
we appreciate your time and will continue to be locked
into all your stuff on NBA dot com.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Always enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Sarah NBA post with Sarahu stacks the production of the
NBA and iHeart Radio. Please rate with you and subscribe
on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Welcome in into NBA Pulster production of iHeartRadio in the NBA.
I'm Sarahkustak, NBA analyst for the Yes Network, and today
is Friday, March fifteenth. From our extraordinary core group of
NBA journalists, we're joined now by NBA dot Com Senior
writer Steve Ashberner and Ash. Among all the many things
you do, the Rookie Ladder is one of them, and
(00:22):
it's not been quite as much of a race. We
got a front runner here as of late's Victor Wembinyama
in that number one spot, followed by Chet Holmgren number
two spot. Brennan Miller has been playing really well for
Charlotte number three, Haimi Hakkas of the Heat number four,
and Derek Lively rounding out the top five for the MAVs.
(00:42):
And we had a tremendous game last night between the
Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder, and the Thunder did
end up winning one twenty six to one nineteen. There
was no Luka Doncic playing Kyrie Irving a big knight
for Dallas with thirty six points, Hi Re Irving with.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
That floater, Uncle Drew doing what he does best.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
Twelve assists, Daniel Gafford nineteen points fifteen rebounds, which we
will get into because I want to hear a little
bit more about Derek Lively an article you wrote about him.
He's been coming off the bench for Jason Kidd and
that MAVs team four points two rebounds for him. They've
kind of been splitting some of those minutes. But you
look at Chet Holmgren, what he has been doing, how
(01:25):
Shake Gildess Alexander has been playing, definitely getting a lot
of buzz in terms of the MVP discussion. When you
first let's look at chettholmgrin the season he's had early
on of the season, I think, you know, everyone kind
of expected Victor Webbyama to be the guy for Rookie
of the Year, and Chet was given him quite a run.
They've had some tremendous battles back and forth between one another,
(01:48):
But what have you seen out of Chet the way
he's been playing in the totality of how successful Oklahoma
City has been. That win has them up top there
in the Western Conference, both them and the Nugget tied
for that first spot. They've all kind of been jostling
about what have you seen out of Chet Holmgren that's
impressed you most at this point in the season.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Yeah, hi, uh, Sarah, I I think that not that
not that Chet has conceded the Rookie of the Year
award to uh to victor Woman Yama, But I do
get a sense that he has fully embraced the the
notion of Oklahoma City's team success over that particular individual award. Now,
(02:35):
you know, you can say maybe early on he had
some flashier games and maybe he thought, you know, that
he could do that. I don't know how how conscious
of a mindset that was for him, But to me,
what it looks like now is fully absorbed into his
role of helping that team whatever it takes. Even that
(02:57):
if that means that less from him is more for
the team because other teammates are allowed to shine. You know,
Jalen Williams, he was out, he comes back, he has
you know, a big night. You know, there are a
lot of weapons on that team, and there's a lot
of ways that they can win, and so for Chet
to put up you know, big numbers across the board
(03:19):
that might not be the you know, the best means
to the end that they're focused on now Joss.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Alexander got Jones on him again. Now he fakes that
jumper Williams finds Holgren resets for the three, got the
feet behind the line, Chet Holgren creating threes here the
last three possessions.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I don't think that the top two are going to
change in the Rookie of the Year balloting at this
point when those votes are cast. It's possible Brandon Miller
could come on enough with some flashy numbers in an
otherwise lost season that he moves up from three to
two and Chet slips down. No biggie, because Holmgren's going
(04:01):
to be playing games after both of the other guys
have shut things down for this season. So I think
Homergren is doing what his team needs for him, and
that's been his number one case for Rookie of the
Year anyway, is that he's been a perfect fit.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Actually trying to turn a corner and Holgrid with a
steal another Dallas turnover, excellent Oklahoma City defense, Holmgren left
open and he reigns one in pick set.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
And it's been a seamless transition more or less, and
you know, good for him. It's been hard to deny
when Binyama's prodigy aspect in terms of the things he
can do that are both you know, unusual for someone
his age and extraordinary for someone his size, And those
(04:54):
individual numbers and accomplishments and highlights probably are going to
win him this award.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
And you mentioned that with chet Holmgrum and it really
is so impressive the way everyone within, in particular the
starting unit, but really the depth of OKC, his fit
in Jalen Williams twenty seven points. Last night you mentioned
the big night Holmgren did have eleven points, eight rebounds.
Shake Gildes Alexander again thirty one points, nine rebounds, five assist,
(05:21):
two steals. The efficiency that he's shown from the field,
the command he has on everything. We will later get
into that wemby nicolea Jokic Denver Nuggets matchup a little
bit later in the show. But in terms of MVP conversation,
what do you think Shake Gildess Alexander's odds are of
(05:43):
potentially winning the MVP this season depending on how Oklahoma
City does, or if you think he will at some
point in his career be an MVP.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
Yeah, that second question, it's intriguing because you have to project,
not only his performances, but his teammates with the Thunder
And one of the things that occasionally can work against
an MVP candidate is the excellence of the supporting cast,
if you if you put it that way, I think
that's one of the things that will probably cost Jason
(06:14):
Tatum some votes. It's a five spot ballot for MVP.
I think people look at Boston and say, they are
so loaded, they have such great depth, They have multiple
players who can be the leading scorer on any night
that you know, maybe Jason Tatum won't sort of rise
up from within that that group of Celtics and and
(06:37):
get the votes like a clear number one best guy
on the team, you know, like Giannis in the past,
like Jokic in the past, and again this year, like
Luka Doncic. You know, certain guys will get votes because
without the team, they'd be lucky to be playing and
maybe worse. So, you know, I think that for Gildas,
(07:00):
Alexander As, some of those teammates developed, If Chet gets better,
if Jalen Williams gets better, if you know, some of
the other players, I mean, if Josh Giddy, you know,
establishes his role more. I mean, it's just if they
add a piece with the assets that they have and
that happens to be a star or co star, you know,
that could actually maybe counteract with Gildas Alexander. His his
(07:24):
heavy lifting might never get greater than it is this season,
and so I think he's going to finish high. I
think that after Nikola Jokic, I would probably have him
number two on my ballot right now. It's about five
weeks to go or whatever, so you know that could change.
But pretty impressive. Scores thirty one points all the time.
(07:47):
He's set a record for the most games scoring exactly
thirty one points.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
Gildas Alexander signs down.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
My goodness, just running the highlight reels all night long.
Speaker 4 (07:57):
At least two.
Speaker 3 (07:59):
This is two the that's guards in the game. But
he's got what did I see forty nine games of
thirty or more. I mean that, you know, that is remarkable.
And the fact that he has done this in a
context that doesn't hurt the Thunder, it has helped the Thunder.
So him being the go to guy, it still has
(08:20):
enabled the young supporting cast to flourish. And that's not
I don't think an easy feat. I think when you
see guys score big numbers themselves, sometimes it's well, somebody's
got to score on a bad team. Well, in this case,
he's got to score on a good team, and that's
a little bit different for the MVP equation. I think
he'll do pretty well.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Yeah, no doubt on that. On the other side of things,
I had meant to know Luka dontch for Dallas. Kyrie
Irving had a big game with thirty six points, twelve
six twelve assists. But Daniel Gafford has been came over
from Washington now has played about fifteen games with this
Dallas team. Jason Kiddy opted to have him started starting,
(09:02):
having Derek Lively come off the bench in his rookie season,
and Lively, I think there's so much growth, so much
potential that you do see in him just four points
and two rebounds last night. But tell us a little
bit more about the article that you wrote about him,
what you've seen out of his play in just the
trajectory at this point that you see that he could
have here in his young career.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
Well, I saw Dallas on Monday night in Chicago when
they blew out the Bulls, and I mean it was
you know, Dallas a snapshot of when they're at their best.
I mean, Luca had another triple double and you look
at Lively was tremendous. He and gafferd they're splitting time
(09:44):
in the middle for Dallas, they're essentially the same player.
One has a little more experience. You know, you can
you can find other distinctions, but offensively they fit with
dncits perfectly in terms of being able to get behind
the defense and go up and snag pretty much anything
he puts up there as an lu pass, as a
(10:05):
offensive rebound, and and they both are shooting incredibly percentages,
making seventy five percent or more of their shots. You know,
that's that's a great weapon. That's where you tailor your
your teammates to fit the guy you have in mind.
If they had a low post score, if they had
a three point shooter in the middle, it really wouldn't
(10:26):
compliment and and Donchinson's game and benefit the team overall.
But they're perfect for him. It's a it's sort of
a Clint Capella thing, you know, rim running and and
you know Lively just turned twenty. You know, he's he's
been tremendous and and he's he's risen up my rookie
(10:47):
ladder because you know that latter attempts to capture not
only what somebody does, you know, statistically individually, but sort
of the long term prospect how they're going to fare
as a as a rookie launched into sophomore season and
beyond all NBA consideration. I think Lively has been great.
He'll have off nights. Well, the off night last night,
I guess what happened for the Dallas Mavericks. No Luka Doncic.
(11:10):
He was out with some hamstring tightness. So Lively has
an off game. Daniel Gafford, who had been perfect for
five games thirty three or thirty three, he was two
made field goals away from Will Chamberlain's streak of consecutive
makes of thirty five. He goes out Dante exem Luca's
replacement misses a shot. Gafferd tries to put back and
(11:34):
he misses it. So Wilt's record is safe. As a
big Chamberlain fan, that's fine with me. I think Chamberlain
holding that kind of a unique record is a good
thing as opposed to Daniel Gafford. But Gafford's second place
he's got the second longest streak of consecutive made field goals.
So he misses a shot the first situation he has
(11:56):
an opportunity because Luka Doncic is out. I mean, it's
just it's funny how things work. I mean, Luca is
he's an MVP candidate as well. Dallas has a decent record.
It's just it in the West. It doesn't get them
very much in terms of position in the standings. But
one of those filters we use for MVP candidates is
(12:16):
what happens to the team when he's not there. Well,
the Mavericks are three and six when he's not there
when he doesn't play, and they're thirty what they are
thirty eight and twenty nine overall, So you know, you
can see they're a much different team. And that's not
rocket science. But the fact that it has played out
they have not picked up the slack without him sort
(12:37):
of makes the argument that's what helped Giannis get a
couple MVPs in Milwaukee, imagining and even gauging what the
records were when he was there and wasn't there, so
you know, we'll see. But it's lively as a grade piece.
He's going to play in this league for a long time.
I think he's going to get stronger. He's got a
great head on his shoulders. He's had a rough upbringing
(12:59):
in terms of his passing away young when Derek was young,
and then his mother has had this ongoing battle with
cancer since twenty fourteen and it's been the two of them.
It's just, you know, it's amazing that he's been able
to develop and position himself, you know, right through that
ear at Duke and now in the NBA and basketball
(13:22):
has sort of been a rock for him and for them,
and the team embraces him. He had a night off
for personal reasons a week ago, and you know it's
not clear, but it could have been related to his mother.
I mean, it's just a great inspiring story. So I
have to admit that I kind of root a little
(13:42):
bit extra for Derek Lively.
Speaker 1 (13:46):
Well, we certainly appreciate that. And a great read and
just twenty years old. As you said, it's an impressive
individual on the floor. Off the floor is that Dallas
team is try and steal with some hopes to get
out of the place into the sixth spot. There are
just a game back of Sacramento in six, two back
of New Orleans Pelicans currently sitting in fifth, but they
(14:08):
do have Phoenix ahead of them. We got a big
game ahead of us tonight between the Denver Nuggets and
the San Antonio Spurs Jokics wenby all the goods. We'll
get to that after the break up. Welcome back to
NBA Paul Sarahustak joined by the great Steve Ashburner, and
(14:28):
we got a good one here tonight eight thirty pm Eastern,
the Denver Nuggets visiting the San Antonio Spurs. These two
teams have not met since November, and they're going to
see each other three more times here down this final run,
final stretch. Denver currently sitting on a four game win streak,
a streak that began with that nice one against the
(14:49):
Boston Celtics there on the second of a four of
a four game road trip in San Antonio Spurs. We
know the big show in what will be looking at
as that matchup between Victor Wembinyama and Nicola Jokic. But
overall important for the Nuggets is I had mentioned earlier them,
along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, currently tied for that
(15:11):
top spot in the Western Conference. What peaks your interests
most about. We've seen the development of Victor Wembanyama throughout
the course of this season, and it's amazing to see
just his sustainability, his level of play, how it seems
like he continues to improve and just get more and
more comfortable as the season goes on. Your top spot
(15:35):
in your rookie ladder. But what do you look for
in matchups like this when he's playing against a former
two time MVP and a player like Jokic.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
You know, they have different agendas right now. I mean
early in the season, Victor wasn't the Victor Wembanyama we've
been seeing lately. I mean, he's got nearly his full
season underneath him. He wasn't fase by any proverbial rookie wall.
It's almost as if the minutes restriction that Popovich and
the Spurs had him on of, you know, playing less
(16:09):
than thirty minutes might have spared him that that sense
of fatigue or you know, somehow splatting against the wall.
So that that's intriguing about this matchup and even the
two in April. He's he's a more accomplished player. He
probably has greater confidence and more mastery of his his
(16:33):
capabilities in this league. Meanwhile, with Jokic, you know, yeah,
they were defending champions back in November, but right now
in March, they're looking totally out the windshield, not at
all in the review mirror. And so you know, we've
heard that Jokich has rallied his teammates to drive toward
the number one seed as many games as they can
(16:54):
have in the postseason in Denver with that altitude advantage
that they believe in. That's a great thing. It's worked.
So I think the it could be the kind of
game tonight where Jokic wants to win. Wem mi Yama
wants to win, but he wants to show out well
against a two time MVP and potentially a third time MVP.
(17:18):
I saw where wem Yama was asked about Defensive Player
of the Year, an award for which he will get votes,
and Rudy Gobert in Minnesota is probably considered the favorite.
I think Vegas has him a favorite for sure to
win yet again in that category, and wemen Yama, who
is close with Gobert, felt comfortable enough to say to
(17:41):
the reporters, well, it's fine with him if Gobert wins
this year, because it won't be his turn after this,
and women Yama has designs on that award. I think
probably it hasn't been vocalized yet, but I would sense
that he would approach the MVP the same way. Okay,
it's fine Jokic or someone else wins that award this year,
(18:03):
but coming soon enough, webin Yama figures to win, you know,
not one, not two, not three. Let's go into the
Miami Rally PEP rally thing. He'll probably win multiple MVP awards,
and so I think this is a neat meeting of
a past and current MVP against a future MVP. I
(18:26):
don't think it's outrageous to say that, and to watch
sort of a battle within the battle. Denver wants to
win the game. They'll probably be, you know, heavy favorites,
even though it's in San Antonio. That obviously the game
means more to them in their fight for top seat
in the West with Oklahoma City and Minnesota. But when Minyama,
(18:47):
I would imagine is going to want to, you know,
have fire a few shots across Jokich's bow and should
be fun. They do play more. It's weird they go
from November all the way to now without playing a
second time, and then they play three times starting tonight.
By the end of I think April fourteenth is the
last of their remaining meetings, and so who knows. By
(19:09):
April fourteenth, Jokic could be shut down, when min Yama
could be shut down totally different reasons, But this is
the one. This is the one to catch tonight if possible.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Yeah, And what I love most and you've laid it
out with Victor wembin Yama a variety reason. It's so
fun to watch him. He gets up for these matchups.
He gets up for in a lot of it. We've
had focus when he and chet Holmgren have met one another.
But you see, and I say this in the best
way possible, the nastiness of his competitive spirit, in what
(19:43):
he wants to do, the way he's pushing the timeline
of the Spurs, and how he wants to win, how
he wants to compete, and I think that often brings
out you know, does anyway? It brings out the best
in them when he understands all eyes around these type
of matchups.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Well, and by the way, I just want to add,
you know, he got a lot of got a lot
of mileage. This past week that against Golden State, Trace
Jackson Davis dunked on whom Minyama and everybody, Oh, look
at he put him on a poster. But you know
what I mean, the very best centers, they don't care
if they get posterized. They're going to hang in there.
They're going to try to block those attempts. I think
(20:23):
soon enough that when min Yama will payback Trace Jackson
Davis several times over by either stopping those attempts making
them look foolish or dunking on him. So you know, yeah,
you're right. It is that that little bit of nastiness
to his competitiveness and that he would hang in there
like that is just another example of it.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah. Absolutely, And the game Denver wants to win, Denver
wants at number one spot. Denver, you know this, This
this game matters to them. So for all those reasons's
going to be fun one again eight thirty pm Eastern
on League Pass. You can catch it and ashes. Always
we appreciate your time and will continue to be locked
into all your stuff on NBA dot com.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
Always enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Sarah NBA post with Sarahu stacks the production of the
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