April 16, 2024 • 40 mins
Draymond Green gives his take on the Allen Iverson statue controversy before giving his NBA playoff preview including Steph Curry and the Warriors play-in against De'Aaron Fox and the Kings, LeBron James and the Lakers vs. Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, why Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be defensive x-factors in their respective series, how the Mavericks can win behind Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, the exciting matchup between Jimmy Butler's Heat and Joel Embiid's 76ers, why nobody wants to face Jayson Tatum and the Celtics, and much more.
0:00 Start
5:00 Play-in rules
11:00 Warriors vs Kings
18:00 Lakers vs Pelicans
20:00 Heat vs. 76ers
25:00 West preview
32:00 East preview
Produced by: Jackson Safon
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
All right.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
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Speaker 1 (01:39):
What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show.
The postseason is here, playing is here, and obviously the
Dubs are in the play in which I hate. We
will talk about that we got the Kings tomorrow. I
am here in beautiful Sacramento in my hotel room as
I prepare, as we prepare to take on the Kings.
(02:03):
Before we get into the playing games and also the playoffs,
I just need to discuss.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Something that happened in basketball.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
It's let's see, it's Monday, so it's last week, the
end of last week, which I haven't talked to you
all since. But Ai the answer Alan Iverson, who I'm
a big fan of. I first got to meet Ai
at Coacho's Hall of Fame induction, and.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
That for me was like crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I got a picture of Ai in his orange jacket,
absolutely insane, huge AI fan growing up.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I remember when the answers came.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Out, I wanted a pair and I got in trouble
school and I didn't get any. Those also happened with
the Gary Payton and gloves too, by the way, But
now that I look back on it, I don't really
think I got him much trouble. I think my mom
just didn't have the money and she told me I
got in trouble in school so I couldn't get to shoes.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
But that's neither here nor there.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I'm a big Alan iris A fan, and I must
say I was a little dis I was very disappointed
when I saw the size of the statue because that's Ai, Like,
it's Ai, Like, what are we talking about? However, and
most people who watch sports should take a page out
(03:28):
of my book here.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
I continue to do further research.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Because I wanted to be knowledgeable on the subject, and
a lot of times people talk in this industry and
they're not very knowledgeable on the subject. I've even seen
some of these things where like some of these so
called experts are talking. And when I say some of
these so called experts, like some of them are my colleagues,
(03:52):
and some of the things that's been said on TV
this year, it just be so wrong, like not factual
at all. That's a common thing in sports talk.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
And so.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
As I saw the statue, I was a little very disappointed,
like come.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
On, man, like this is Ai.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
And after the Kobe statue was just revealed, and the
many statues that's been revealed, like how are we doing
this to Ai? Like this is crazy? And like I said,
I did more research. And if you look at if
you do your research, you what you will find is
a that statue is going outside the practice facility, the
(04:32):
Philadelphia seventy six practice facility. B. There's a row of
them same size as Ais. There's a row of statues,
so AIS will go in that row of statues that
are all of similar size. So AI was not slighted.
(04:54):
He was not slighted at all. That is the size
of the statues. What I will say is Alan Iris
in need life size statue, larger than life size statue
outside of Wells Fargo Arena.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
If that's still the name of the arena.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I think that's still the name of the arena, however,
the basketball arena, because all of these names rites change
every day because there's worth so much money these days.
The basketball arena where the Philadelphia seventy six ers play
in Philly. If there isn't already an Allen Iverson lifestyle statue,
which I haven't seen, there should be one outside the
(05:34):
basketball arena. I do understand that he went up in
a row with the star, you know, with all the
legends that are already out there. That's great and no
disrespect to those legends, but Alan Irison should have a
statue outside of the arena, and it should be life
size like the ones, because the reality is, like how
(05:57):
many people are going to see the practice facility. Not
many people are going to see the Philadelphia seventy sixth
practice facility, just not doing it.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Where you are.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Going is you're going to go to the game, and
Alan Iverson statue should be in front of that arena.
So to everybody that was upset about the statue, don't
be so upset about the size of the statue because
it is standard practice outside their practice facility when you
go to that arena.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That's what everybody should be upset about.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
There is no Alan Irison statue there, and if there is,
then I am just I am just like the rest
of you that don't make themselves knowledgeable in certain topics. However,
I don't think so and so no Alan Iverson statue
outside the arena. Let's get that done. That's what the
(06:49):
uproar should be. I'm a little more knowledgeable on the
small statues. Now back to your regular schedule programming. Let's
talk to these playing games. Number one, the Doves finished
forty six and thirty six and finished a ten seed.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
My first year when we made the playoffs, we finished
a sixth seed at forty four and thirty eight. I'll
never forget that we had a water champagne shower in
the locker room at the end of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Last game of the regular.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Season, Coach Jackson was coaching us, and we had a
water shower because coach Jackson don't do alcohol, not his thing,
ain't doing it, ain't coming around, keep it over there,
and so there was no champagne shower. There was a
water shower and splash water everywhere. You know, the first
time Doves have made the playoffs, since we believe season
(07:45):
and second time in twenty three years the Doves have
made we was everybody was happy, and that was forty
four and thirty eight. We're forty six and thirty six.
Sure what most was saying was an awful year for
the Doves, and I agree it was a bad year
(08:06):
for US forty six and thirty six. Ten games above
five hundred, which last year would have been good for
fourth in the West. However, it's good for tenth in
the West these days. And it's also the first time
ever that ten teams has finished above ten games above
five hundred in one conference.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Absolutely crazy.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Needless to say, we are in ten spot in the
playing game, which means for those of you out there
that are still confused with the play in situation. And
I know there's a lot of people out there confused
with the play in situation. I'll tell you why because
my mother in law. I had a conversation with her
that almost made me lay for practice today for about
ten seven to ten minutes explaining the play in her
(08:54):
and my mother in law loves sports. She loves basketball,
loves football. She watches every game. If she ain't at
the game, she's into it, and she was so confused
by the play in situation. So I explained it to
her forwards and she didn't really get it. So then
(09:14):
I explained it backwards and she really didn't get it then,
and I explained it forward again and backwards again, and
then finally like the fifth time, like yeah, nanha, So
you know we're ten, they're nine, Sack is nine. We
gotta go to Sack. She's like, well, what happens if
you win? If you lose, you're done. And I'm like, yeah,
you know, the re Pelicans and the Lakers are in
(09:36):
seven and eight, and she's like, if they lose, they're
done to them. I'm like, no, no, no, Actually, if
they lose, whoever lose that game, they're going to play
against the winner of our game, and then whoever lose
that game is gone, but the loser of our game
and nine and ten.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
They're out of here if they lose.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
So like, I could be seeing you tomorrow night now
and our season is over, or I could be seeing
you and we're not done, but we're not.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Still going.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
We still gotta win one more, like we gotta So
for those of you who don't understand seven to eight plays.
That is the New Orleans Pelicans at the seventh seed.
That is the Los Angeles Lakers at the eight seed,
nine ten plays, that is the Sacramento Kings at the
nine seed. That is the Golden State Warriors as the Tennessee.
(10:25):
We are here in Sacramento. If I open my window
up of the sun will blind you butt the arenas
right here. We play tomorrow and the Lakers and Pelicans
play tomorrow before us. Winner of that game becomes the
seventh seed. That winner takes on Denver. So there's a
(10:46):
lot of talk around do you bomb that game and
try to stay away from Denver.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Let me tell you, you don't.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Bomb a game to get in the playoffs and leave
yourself for one game to get in. So any loser
who came up with the idea, you're crazy. That makes
no sense. You don't leave yourself in a game where
the Pelicans can.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Shoot the lights out and send you home.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Although you can do a lot to win that game,
but they can shoot the lights out, like we've seen
it happen far too recent We've seen I mean way
too recent. We've seen that happen. So we know that
can't happen. So you just don't blow a game to
blow a game. So winner of that game takes on
the Denver Nuggets as a seventh seed. The loser of
(11:30):
that game plays against the winner of the Kings versus Warriors.
The loser of the Kings versus Warriors tomorrow night goes home.
Winner faces either the Lakers in LA or the Pelicans
in New Orleans. Winner of that game on Friday will
(11:52):
then move on to face ok Se in OKAC on
Sunday as the AC.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Play in. That's where we're at. Let's get to the game, same.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Sacramento Kings team that we played last year and sent
them home in the first round of the playoffs. I
was telling the guys earlier today, if I knew we'd
spent so much time in Sacramento since last year, I
probably would have bought a home here.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
That's how much we've been here.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
That's how familiar I am with the area, which means
that's how familiar they are with us and we are
with them. This is very much soa a game that
I know you, you know me. Game seven. You know
everything I do. I know everything you do. Who's going
to make the necessary plays that it takes to win
the game. That's what it's gonna come down to. They're
(12:48):
not going to run any sets. I mean, yeah, Mike
Brown may drop one two, but they're not going to
run any sets that we don't know they're gonna run.
Are you going to follow your game plan, give up
what you're willing to give up, take away what you
want to take away to win the game. Are you
(13:11):
gonna do that over and over and over again. Offensively?
Are you going to execute your offense and you're gonna
do that over and over again to win the game.
Because there ain't one downscreen, one pin in we're gonna
run for clay, one downscreen or ball screen. We're gonna
set for stuff that they're not expecting. They're expecting everything
(13:34):
we do. We're gonna be expecting everything they do. Now,
a little different of a team. We're facing. No Malik Monk,
no Kevin Herder. So it's a different team. You got
different guys. Number one, different personalities they're playing. Kean ellis
a lot. He's starting two way, winging, shooting the ball
(13:57):
pretty well forty forty from three, and he picking up
full He's bringing that energy to the defensive end. So
that's a different look than what Kevin Herder gives you.
Kevin Herder is shooting. Kean Ellis will slash a little bit,
but you're not quite overreacting to him as much defensively
(14:18):
as you would to Kevin Herder. Be that how they
use Kevin Herder. But Kean Ellis brings a totally different thing,
averaging like ten points, and he's been really good for them,
so we gotta be aware of him. He's bringing a
different flair to the game. And then obviously not having
Elik Monk off the bench changes thing. That changes things
(14:41):
a lot because Malik Monk plays with a lot of force.
Malik Monk is a primary ball handler when Fox isn't
in the game, and even when Fox is in the game,
Malik Monk is one of their primary ball handlers, so
puts a lot of pressure on your defense, so that
that changes things a bit. However, I think how they've
supplemented that is you're just getting a much heavier dose
(15:03):
of Darren Fox. Daron Fox has the ball in his
hands a lot more with Monk being out, and then
obviously they're running their offense through subonents. You know, when
you look at the game, you kind of go into
the games with like, oh man, who do you take away?
Do you take suponents away? Do you try to take
Fox away? And the reality is, I don't think the
(15:28):
mindset will be to take either one of them away,
because they're great players, they're All star players. You're never
going to take an all star player away. What you're
trying to do is you're trying to limit in these
situations what a player loves to do. You know, so
if you know Fox loves to do this, if you
know Sabonus loves to do that, you're trying to limit
(15:51):
those things. You're trying to make them play left handed.
Bad term because both of those guys are left handed.
But in theory, if you think about it more, most
people aren't left handed. Most people are right handed. And
so there's this term in basketball that you want to
that text Winner used to say text winner because Steve
curR always shares this with us. It's like, you want
(16:12):
to make them play left handed, meaning you want to
make them uncomfortable. You want to make them do what
they don't want to do, and that's kind of the
goal when you're going into these situations. We had great
film sessions today on them. It's a game I'm extremely
excited about and a game that you know, I think
(16:33):
we're more than capable of winning. You know, every time
we play these guys, it goes down to the wire.
So we're expecting a very physical game, intense game, and
we just got to come out and get it done.
I think for us to win very young, fast team,
one of the most important things for us to win
this game would be we really need to take care
(16:55):
of the ball. We take care of the ball, we
get good shots up, We're then able to play great defense,
not being transition all game. You play you know, he
played great, you know, get get your defense set. So
it'll be really important for us to take care of
the basketball. That will be the number one key in
the game for us. Take care of the ball, get
(17:17):
looks at the rim. Think if we're getting looks at
the rim, I like the odds that will make. Then
we have great shooters, we have great scores. I think
that'll be big for us. And if there's one player
that I would say is very important for us to
win this game, Obviously Andrew Wiggins is important on both
sides of the ball, but I think our X factor
(17:40):
is extremely important in this game and Jonathan Minga, Jonathan
Kaminga brings a different flare to our team. He brings
something that not many people in the NBA bring to
a team.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Great getting downhill, great finisher at the rim.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
So I think Kaminga is going to be very important
to our success tomorrow with his athleticism. This being a
young athletic group, you know, he makes us more athletic.
So I think Kaminga cominga plays well, we win, and
I have no doubt in my mind that Kaminga's gonna
be ready for the moment and play well.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
He's taking that next step.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And this is the moments where when you're taking those
next steps, you gotta go. And I expect nothing less
from the young fella Kaminga. In other news, you got
the Dubs, you got the Pelicans, I mean, excuse me, Lakers,
Pelicans and the winner of that team that game. As
I said, take on Denver I that game number one.
(18:43):
Don't look at the last game and be like, that's
what's going to happen. Like the New Orleans Pelicans came
off of two very emotional back to back wins VERSUS
SAT on Thursday at US on Friday, and then fly
home on Saturday for an early game on Sunday. Lakers
(19:06):
are coming from Memphis, and actually, you know they get
to New Orleans, their travel is a lot easier than
the Pelicans, ironically, and so I definitely think that plays
into account. Repelicans now being at home a few days,
they'll be backsettled in going back home for a game.
(19:29):
It's always tough when you return home for one game
or the first game returning home on from a trip,
and that's what the Pelicans are going through. So I
don't think the Pelicans that you saw in Sunday's game
is the Pelicans that you're going to see in tomorrow's game.
I think that'll be a totally different matchup. You know
that that's two teams that's playing extremely well. Now what
(19:52):
does it come down to? What does it come down to?
I think I think I got the Lakers winning that
game within healthy Ad. Obviously Ad needs to play, hurt,
he's questionable. I expect Ad to play, But I think
they win that game. And the reason I say they
win that game, what New Orleans would have to do
(20:13):
in order to win that game would be essentially what
they did versus US, which has hit a bunch of threes.
New Orleans does a lot around the rim. They like
to get to the rim. Zion's great at getting to
the rim, and a d at the rim is just
a different animal, a totally different animal at the rim
protecting the rim with Ad there, and so I think
(20:36):
me personally, I got the Lakers winning that game for
that reason. I know the Lakers are towards the bottom
of the league from in a statistical standpoint in defending
the three. So if New Orleans can hit threes like
they did versus us, they can win. However, you're going
(20:57):
to get a heavy Dosa's Zion. Their offense is built
around Zion and Zion at the rim.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
I think Ad can make a lot tough.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
If Ad can make those shots tough at the rim
on Zion, I think the Lakers gets out in transition.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
They're running, they're hitting threes, they're dunking the ball.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I think they move on to face the Denver Nuggets,
and we're facing New Orleans and New Orleans on Friday.
That's just my take, that's what I got. I don't know,
you beat a judge, you let me know what you think.
But that's what I got. We'll see what happens in
other playing games. You got the heat at the seventy
six ers with a healthy Joe ellenb back, Tyrese Maxi.
(21:37):
Who do you got? Jimmy Butler said, y'all took Tobias
Harris over me. Y'all kept Tobias Harris over me, and
Jimmy Butler is going to go into that game feeling
that way, y'all took Tobias Harris over me.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
One thing you should understand about Jimmy is Jimmy is.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Going to hold on to whatever chip on the shoulder
that he can when he needs it, and he will
very much so be holding on to that one again.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
If they win the game.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
He'll probably walk off the court again and say, y'all
took Tobias Harris over me, because that is how Jimmy
Butler is. And so that's the matchup. That's what we got.
You got Ben versus Joel, you got Jimmy versus Tobias.
You got Maxie versus Terry Rosier. To win one game,
(22:26):
it's hard to pick against Joel and b very tough
to pick against Joel and Bid. Both of those teams
want to avoid Boston in the first round. So if
you win that game, you get in the Knicks, which
I think both of those things teams think they can
beat the Knicks. So with both of those teams believe
(22:48):
in that, it's going to be a blood buy. This
is two teams battling not to face the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I am going to go with Miami.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
The reason I'm going with Miami is because you learn.
If you haven't learned over the last few years, you
just don't bet.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Against Miami at this time of the year. Don't do it.
You're usually wrong.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Jimmy's gonna try to get every shot that they want
if he got to walk the ball up the court
the whole game. Although I think their advantage is playing
in transition and trying to make Joelle run because if
Joe has been back for six games, second games, if
you can make him run and tire him out, you
got a better chance. And so I think that has
(23:36):
to be their game plan. Although Jimmy likes to get
to his spots when he won, I think the pace
needs to be go, go going. I expect Miami Heat
to do that, and so I'm taking Miami in that game.
And then I got Boston facing the seventy six ers
in the first round of their series, and I actually
think that's gonna be a tough match. Like, if you're Boston,
(23:58):
you're not really happy about either one or those these
teams you're facing the first round match up. We know
the history that they've had with the Miami Heat and
Jimmy Butler, and we know Joel and them are always
in the battle.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Now they've been taking the wins and they've won each time.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
But it's a battle, and so you're not really happy
about facing either one of those teams in the first round.
But I hate the play in just so you all.
I absolutely hate it. It's the best thing ever created.
When you look at the play in and what is
done for basketball, it's the best thing ever created. Like,
(24:35):
I don't know who came up with it. I know
Bron said they need to be fired. If they were
fired when Bron said that, they need to get their
job back because the play in is insane. Like since
the NBA has added the play in, it's taken the
last month and a half of the season to a
totally different level, like totally different. And so I hate
(24:55):
the play in. I especially hate being a Tennessee. But
as much as I hated as a basketball player, as
a basketball fan, this playing is nuts and you gotta
love it. But that's my take on that. That's what
I got. Moving on to these playoffs, you got the
(25:16):
West Oksee Young Oksee becomes them youngest team ever to
solidify number one seed, the Denmer Nugget after losing the
play in last year, Denmer Nuggets number two, Timberwolves number three,
Clippers at four, Maveris at five, Phoenix at six. Speaking
(25:39):
of the player, like Phoenix come down to the last
day they needed to get to get six, it doesn't
really shape out like that. That fight don't happen if
you're not trying to avoid the play in. Everybody start
picking like, oh, we want to be seven. We're gonna
lose this game. We want to be eight with the
playing on the line, you couldn't do that, right. So
those are your Western Conference team. Are the matchups that
(26:01):
we know are set already? Are the Timberwolves at three
and Phoenix at six, the Clippers at four and the
Mavericks at five. Those are the matchups that we know
are set. And as those matchups go, the Timberwolves and
(26:23):
Phoenix will be a very interesting matchup Phoenix. You know,
Phoenix is playing four out one end. They got Nurkic
at the five, KD at the four. The Timberwolves play
two bigs and Rudy Gobert Carl Anthony Towns just back
from injury.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Now that could get interesting.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Because you'd say, like, oh, well, their size could kind
of make Phoenix pay. But no one really plays that
style of basketball anymore, Like you're not you're not gonna
post Rudy Gobert and you're not gonna post call Anthony
Towns a ton with Rudy Gobert in the game because
the painting just get too tight. No one plays that
(27:02):
style of basketball. Meanwhile, Finish is pushing the ball back
the other way with Grayson Allen shooting a career high
from three and just getting paid. Kevin Durant, we know
how k shoot the ball. Book, we know how Books
shoot the ball. Brad, we know how Brad.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Shoot the ball.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
So if they want to slow it down and like
throw it in the post when you miss, they're running
back and their shooting threes.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
They're hitting threes.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
No one plays to throw the ball in the post,
and so you don't necessarily get to take advantage of
the size much. From that standpoint, also got the best
big off the bench in the league in my opinion,
nas Reed, how much does the size affect Phoenix, I'm
(27:47):
not sure the game is going to allow it to
affect them that much more than it will affect the
Timberwills having to guard them. And so obviously you got
young Edwards looking forward to the opportunity. I'm also looking
forward to seeing on this stage me personally, myself going
up against these these all start this all star.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Trio that Phoenix got.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Uh. One thing that I think is going to be
important is who is going to guard Anthony Edwards. I'm
assuming Brad Bill will, but I'm gonna tell you at
some point in this series, and I got Phoenix winning,
(28:31):
I think Phoenix will win the series. I think they
got too much firepower offensively, and that's what it'll come
down to for me. But Harris, what will have to
happen for Phoenix to win the series. At some point
throughout this series, Kevin Durant is going to go have
to guard Anthony Edwards if Phoenix is going to have
(28:53):
a chance at winning this series. At some point may
not be Game one, may not be Game two or three,
but at some point in this series, Kevin Durant is
going to have to say, all right, I'm going and
Brad build is a good defender, Brad competes not saying,
but at some point Kevin is going to have to
(29:15):
take his lane, his defensive tenacity when he wants to
turn that up, and he's gonna have to go guard
and Edwards if they're going to move forward in this series.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
That's my take. That's what I'm thinking.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
However, I do have Phoenix winning, but that's gonna need
to happen, and then you got a heavyweight battle with
the Clippers and the Mavericks. Mavericks has played the best
basketball that we've seen them play since.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Luca Duncheons has been a Dallas Maverick.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Him and Kyrie what they're doing offensively, with the additions
of gafferd PJ. Washington, then boys playing some beautiful basketball,
I think those are great additions to them. I think
those editions at the trade deadline, Nico Harrison don't get
enough credit for Daniel Gaffer edition was a steal. We've
(30:07):
all been watching Daniel Gafford in Washington ridden away for
the last three four years or so. Like, man, if
that guy can get on a good team, if you
had him on a good team, it takes your team
to another level.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Dallas did it. It's done that. PJ. Washington's playing really
good basketball. And so with.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
That, the Clippers have not been playing good basketball. They've
been struggling a bit. I am taking Dallas in that series.
I think Dallas ultimately gets it done. However, if the
Clippers are going to win that series, at what point
(30:46):
do you take Kawhi Leonard and you say, all right, now, Kawhi,
you go Gard Luka doncis HER's the key, though, Harri's
where it gets interested when you do that. The X
factor in that series is going to be Russ Westbrook
because Russell's gonna have.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
To guard Kyrie v And.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
When you got Luke on the floor, Kyrie don't get
much attention from the defense. You tend to forget. Let
me tell you, Kyrie Irving is a monster. And so
if you decide to forget Kyrie, gonna go off. Tyl
Loue know that they won a championship together. But Russell
Westbrook is the X factor in that series. Russell Westbrook
(31:27):
is the X factor for that team. No surprise, they've
struggled as much as they've struggled over the last month
and a half because Russell missed most of the time,
and so russ On, Kyrie Kawhi gonna have to go
guard Luca at some point throughout this series. I also
think at some point throughout this series, Tyler gonna have
(31:48):
to scrap Russell Westbrook off the bench and move Russell
Westbrook into the starting lineup in order to win this series. Again,
that's just my take. Your take is your take. That's
my take. That's what we got in the West and
moving to the East before we get out of here.
The matchups that we do know. We got the Bucks
(32:10):
at three, we got the Pacers at six. Uncertain on
the status of Yiannis. We do know Yiannis likes to
come back like he man in these situations. We watched
Janni's hyper extend his knee a couple of years ago
and the NBA Finals and came back and won the
NBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
We all thought that he was done.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
We know he come back like he man, so I
do expect him at some point in this series to
come back calves can be tricky, especially when you you know,
when you thought you know he was playing around with
an injury around the achilles, The calves can be a
little tricky. And so how much how much emphasis? If
you're the Milwaukee Bucks front office, ownership group, coaching staff,
(32:52):
how much are you fighting Giannis and saying we need
to be one hundred and fifty percent short that you're
ready to go? Because although it's not certain that Kevin
Durant tore his achilles because of the calf injury had before,
but so also not exactly certain or uncertain that was
(33:14):
the case, could have been, could have affected it, or
could not have. But if I'm looking at it through
a lens and I'm the Milwaukee Bucks, the lens I'm
looking through is that it did affect it. And so
now that we have this, how much are we pressing
Giannis to not play unless we're one hundred and fifty
(33:34):
percent sure, because let's face it, they've struggled, they've struggled
bad all year. They've won games because when you got
Damian Lillard, when you got Chris Middleton, when you got
Giannis onto the compo, you're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
Some games in the East, it's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
But that team has not been very good all year
to the standard and level that everyone thought they would be.
And so are you forcing Yanni's back to try to
revive that and go how far? Or are you making
sure he's one hundred and fifty percent ready to play
and then saying okay, now, okay, you're at a place
(34:10):
where you can go play.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
No, you're one hundred and fifty percent ready to play. Now.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
They've struggled with the Pacers this year. If I'm not mistaken,
the Pacers beat them five times because of the play
in Final four and so this is a different game though.
This is a different game because this is playoff time
and the Pacers has not played much defense all year.
(34:39):
Not just gonna outscore a team in the playoffs, Gotta defend,
got to defend in the playoffs, and the Pacers has
made a living this year off outscoring teams. The game
slows down a bit in the playoffs. It's not just run, run, run, run, run.
It slows down. You gotta play in the half court.
(34:59):
You gotta defend in the half court. Got to get
back in transition so that you can defend the half court.
But it's not just to track meet once you get
to the playoffs, and all year it's been a track
meet for Indiana, It's gonna be a little different than
these playoffs. Gianna's being out definitely affects the series. However, well,
(35:20):
Yanna's out or not. I got the Milwaukee Bucks. However,
I've given you the X factor for everybody, the X
factor for Indiana, and the one person they got that's
gonna slow you down in the half court and just
grind you out and get a bucket.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
It's Pascal Siakam.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
The addition of Pascal, Pascal has been in these situations.
Pascal is an NBA champion. He knows what it takes
in these situations. Pascal is an NBA champion. As the
number two option, Pascal is the number two options on Indiana. However,
in order for them to win this series, he will
have to be the number one option. He will have
(36:06):
to be the number one option because Milwaukee's going to
put Patrick Beverley on Tyre's Halliburton. He's going to do
all he can and rough them up to get under
his skin. And although I think Holle is ready for that,
I think Halle plays a good brand of basketball. It's
gonna get a little tough playoffs. You know, it's a
(36:27):
different physicality and he'll play well, but I just don't
think he'll score it at the level to be the
number one option in this series for Indiana. And that's
why I think Pascal needs to be the number one
option in order for them to have a chance to win.
And the other series, we got the Cavs at the
four Magic at the five Young Magic team making their
(36:51):
first playoff appearance. It's exciting to see with them young boys,
Paolo Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, young fellas, my young spartan
dog who the old head on that team?
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Gee, Gary Harris.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
Excited to see Jamal Tinsley has taken that team to
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Excited to see that matchup. The Calves has.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Been there, Donovan Mitchell has been there, Darius Garland has
been there. Jared Allen's been there. Although he said, man,
we did not expect them lives.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
To be that bright.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
When we didn't expect it, they've been there. A lot
of what Orlando does is at the realm. Don't shoot
a ton of threes. That's not their strong suit. A
lot of what they do is at the rim, Paulo
(37:47):
getting downhill, Franz getting down here. How much are you
getting down here with Jared Allen and Evan Mobley at
the realm. It's my question for that series and for
that alone. Obviously, Donovan's going to score the ball. The
PG gonna do what he do. I got the cast
taking this now. What's been interesting is Donovan has played
(38:10):
well when Darius haven't played. Darius has played extremely well
when Donovan haven't played.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
You got both of them.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
Now, in order to win at a high level, you
need both of them to play well, but that the
team has played better when one or the other has
been out, which I think has been interesting because it
probably leads Cleveland with a decision to make in the
summer possibly possibly. Nonetheless, they need to figure the chemistry
(38:37):
of that team out when everybody's on the floor together.
In spite of that, because Orlando needs to get to
the rim. I got the Cleveland Cavaliers taking that series
moving on to the second round. So those are the
series that we know. Those are my takes. The playoff
(38:58):
series that I am most excited about. Obviously we're not
in the playoffs yet, so I can't be too excited
about our playoff series that's to come. With the playoff series,
I'm most excited about his Dallas and the Clippers. That series,
to me, I have no I would be surprised if
it didn't go seven.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
I do think it's going to go seven.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
I do think you know, it's gonna come down to
those big time guys that both of those teams got
making big time plays in order to take it. But
that's my series that I'm looking forward to as a
basketball fan of watching the most.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
I think that series has legs.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Four or five matchups are always great and they're right
there in that spot two teams that got history. Now
these teams have met in the playoffs before, you know,
so those are always fun when you got teams with
histories meeting against meeting each other because though you start
to see it ball over and that's playoff basketball, man,
that's fun.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
So that's the series.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
That I'm most excited it about looking forward to these playoffs.
We will tap back in as they get going and
also as the Dubs do what we gotta do to
move for in this play in that I hate, but
we got to do it. It's our route, it is
what it is. Looking forward to the challenge until next time.
That's a wrap from this episode of The Draymond Green Show.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Your playoff preview, Peace
The volume.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
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Speaker 3 (00:05):
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Speaker 1 (01:39):
What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show.
The postseason is here, playing is here, and obviously the
Dubs are in the play in which I hate. We
will talk about that we got the Kings tomorrow. I
am here in beautiful Sacramento in my hotel room as
I prepare, as we prepare to take on the Kings.
(02:03):
Before we get into the playing games and also the playoffs,
I just need to discuss.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Something that happened in basketball.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
It's let's see, it's Monday, so it's last week, the
end of last week, which I haven't talked to you
all since. But Ai the answer Alan Iverson, who I'm
a big fan of. I first got to meet Ai
at Coacho's Hall of Fame induction, and.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
That for me was like crazy.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
I got a picture of Ai in his orange jacket,
absolutely insane, huge AI fan growing up.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I remember when the answers came.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Out, I wanted a pair and I got in trouble
school and I didn't get any. Those also happened with
the Gary Payton and gloves too, by the way, But
now that I look back on it, I don't really
think I got him much trouble. I think my mom
just didn't have the money and she told me I
got in trouble in school so I couldn't get to shoes.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
But that's neither here nor there.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
I'm a big Alan iris A fan, and I must
say I was a little dis I was very disappointed
when I saw the size of the statue because that's Ai, Like,
it's Ai, Like, what are we talking about? However, and
most people who watch sports should take a page out
(03:28):
of my book here.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
I continue to do further research.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Because I wanted to be knowledgeable on the subject, and
a lot of times people talk in this industry and
they're not very knowledgeable on the subject. I've even seen
some of these things where like some of these so
called experts are talking. And when I say some of
these so called experts, like some of them are my colleagues,
(03:52):
and some of the things that's been said on TV
this year, it just be so wrong, like not factual
at all. That's a common thing in sports talk.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
And so.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
As I saw the statue, I was a little very disappointed,
like come.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
On, man, like this is Ai.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
And after the Kobe statue was just revealed, and the
many statues that's been revealed, like how are we doing
this to Ai? Like this is crazy? And like I said,
I did more research. And if you look at if
you do your research, you what you will find is
a that statue is going outside the practice facility, the
(04:32):
Philadelphia seventy six practice facility. B. There's a row of
them same size as Ais. There's a row of statues,
so AIS will go in that row of statues that
are all of similar size. So AI was not slighted.
(04:54):
He was not slighted at all. That is the size
of the statues. What I will say is Alan Iris
in need life size statue, larger than life size statue
outside of Wells Fargo Arena.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
If that's still the name of the arena.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
I think that's still the name of the arena, however,
the basketball arena, because all of these names rites change
every day because there's worth so much money these days.
The basketball arena where the Philadelphia seventy six ers play
in Philly. If there isn't already an Allen Iverson lifestyle statue,
which I haven't seen, there should be one outside the
(05:34):
basketball arena. I do understand that he went up in
a row with the star, you know, with all the
legends that are already out there. That's great and no
disrespect to those legends, but Alan Irison should have a
statue outside of the arena, and it should be life
size like the ones, because the reality is, like how
(05:57):
many people are going to see the practice facility. Not
many people are going to see the Philadelphia seventy sixth
practice facility, just not doing it.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
Where you are.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
Going is you're going to go to the game, and
Alan Iverson statue should be in front of that arena.
So to everybody that was upset about the statue, don't
be so upset about the size of the statue because
it is standard practice outside their practice facility when you
go to that arena.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
That's what everybody should be upset about.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
There is no Alan Irison statue there, and if there is,
then I am just I am just like the rest
of you that don't make themselves knowledgeable in certain topics. However,
I don't think so and so no Alan Iverson statue
outside the arena. Let's get that done. That's what the
(06:49):
uproar should be. I'm a little more knowledgeable on the
small statues. Now back to your regular schedule programming. Let's
talk to these playing games. Number one, the Doves finished
forty six and thirty six and finished a ten seed.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Crazy.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
My first year when we made the playoffs, we finished
a sixth seed at forty four and thirty eight. I'll
never forget that we had a water champagne shower in
the locker room at the end of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Last game of the regular.
Speaker 1 (07:24):
Season, Coach Jackson was coaching us, and we had a
water shower because coach Jackson don't do alcohol, not his thing,
ain't doing it, ain't coming around, keep it over there,
and so there was no champagne shower. There was a
water shower and splash water everywhere. You know, the first
time Doves have made the playoffs, since we believe season
(07:45):
and second time in twenty three years the Doves have
made we was everybody was happy, and that was forty
four and thirty eight. We're forty six and thirty six.
Sure what most was saying was an awful year for
the Doves, and I agree it was a bad year
(08:06):
for US forty six and thirty six. Ten games above
five hundred, which last year would have been good for
fourth in the West. However, it's good for tenth in
the West these days. And it's also the first time
ever that ten teams has finished above ten games above
five hundred in one conference.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Absolutely crazy.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Needless to say, we are in ten spot in the
playing game, which means for those of you out there
that are still confused with the play in situation. And
I know there's a lot of people out there confused
with the play in situation. I'll tell you why because
my mother in law. I had a conversation with her
that almost made me lay for practice today for about
ten seven to ten minutes explaining the play in her
(08:54):
and my mother in law loves sports. She loves basketball,
loves football. She watches every game. If she ain't at
the game, she's into it, and she was so confused
by the play in situation. So I explained it to
her forwards and she didn't really get it. So then
(09:14):
I explained it backwards and she really didn't get it then,
and I explained it forward again and backwards again, and
then finally like the fifth time, like yeah, nanha, So
you know we're ten, they're nine, Sack is nine. We
gotta go to Sack. She's like, well, what happens if
you win? If you lose, you're done. And I'm like, yeah,
you know, the re Pelicans and the Lakers are in
(09:36):
seven and eight, and she's like, if they lose, they're
done to them. I'm like, no, no, no, Actually, if
they lose, whoever lose that game, they're going to play
against the winner of our game, and then whoever lose
that game is gone, but the loser of our game
and nine and ten.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
They're out of here if they lose.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
So like, I could be seeing you tomorrow night now
and our season is over, or I could be seeing
you and we're not done, but we're not.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
Still going.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
We still gotta win one more, like we gotta So
for those of you who don't understand seven to eight plays.
That is the New Orleans Pelicans at the seventh seed.
That is the Los Angeles Lakers at the eight seed,
nine ten plays, that is the Sacramento Kings at the
nine seed. That is the Golden State Warriors as the Tennessee.
(10:25):
We are here in Sacramento. If I open my window
up of the sun will blind you butt the arenas
right here. We play tomorrow and the Lakers and Pelicans
play tomorrow before us. Winner of that game becomes the
seventh seed. That winner takes on Denver. So there's a
(10:46):
lot of talk around do you bomb that game and
try to stay away from Denver.
Speaker 2 (10:51):
Let me tell you, you don't.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Bomb a game to get in the playoffs and leave
yourself for one game to get in. So any loser
who came up with the idea, you're crazy. That makes
no sense. You don't leave yourself in a game where
the Pelicans can.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Shoot the lights out and send you home.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
Although you can do a lot to win that game,
but they can shoot the lights out, like we've seen
it happen far too recent We've seen I mean way
too recent. We've seen that happen. So we know that
can't happen. So you just don't blow a game to
blow a game. So winner of that game takes on
the Denver Nuggets as a seventh seed. The loser of
(11:30):
that game plays against the winner of the Kings versus Warriors.
The loser of the Kings versus Warriors tomorrow night goes home.
Winner faces either the Lakers in LA or the Pelicans
in New Orleans. Winner of that game on Friday will
(11:52):
then move on to face ok Se in OKAC on
Sunday as the AC.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
Play in. That's where we're at. Let's get to the game, same.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Sacramento Kings team that we played last year and sent
them home in the first round of the playoffs. I
was telling the guys earlier today, if I knew we'd
spent so much time in Sacramento since last year, I
probably would have bought a home here.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
That's how much we've been here.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
That's how familiar I am with the area, which means
that's how familiar they are with us and we are
with them. This is very much soa a game that
I know you, you know me. Game seven. You know
everything I do. I know everything you do. Who's going
to make the necessary plays that it takes to win
the game. That's what it's gonna come down to. They're
(12:48):
not going to run any sets. I mean, yeah, Mike
Brown may drop one two, but they're not going to
run any sets that we don't know they're gonna run.
Are you going to follow your game plan, give up
what you're willing to give up, take away what you
want to take away to win the game. Are you
(13:11):
gonna do that over and over and over again. Offensively?
Are you going to execute your offense and you're gonna
do that over and over again to win the game.
Because there ain't one downscreen, one pin in we're gonna
run for clay, one downscreen or ball screen. We're gonna
set for stuff that they're not expecting. They're expecting everything
(13:34):
we do. We're gonna be expecting everything they do. Now,
a little different of a team. We're facing. No Malik Monk,
no Kevin Herder. So it's a different team. You got
different guys. Number one, different personalities they're playing. Kean ellis
a lot. He's starting two way, winging, shooting the ball
(13:57):
pretty well forty forty from three, and he picking up
full He's bringing that energy to the defensive end. So
that's a different look than what Kevin Herder gives you.
Kevin Herder is shooting. Kean Ellis will slash a little bit,
but you're not quite overreacting to him as much defensively
(14:18):
as you would to Kevin Herder. Be that how they
use Kevin Herder. But Kean Ellis brings a totally different thing,
averaging like ten points, and he's been really good for them,
so we gotta be aware of him. He's bringing a
different flair to the game. And then obviously not having
Elik Monk off the bench changes thing. That changes things
(14:41):
a lot because Malik Monk plays with a lot of force.
Malik Monk is a primary ball handler when Fox isn't
in the game, and even when Fox is in the game,
Malik Monk is one of their primary ball handlers, so
puts a lot of pressure on your defense, so that
that changes things a bit. However, I think how they've
supplemented that is you're just getting a much heavier dose
(15:03):
of Darren Fox. Daron Fox has the ball in his
hands a lot more with Monk being out, and then
obviously they're running their offense through subonents. You know, when
you look at the game, you kind of go into
the games with like, oh man, who do you take away?
Do you take suponents away? Do you try to take
Fox away? And the reality is, I don't think the
(15:28):
mindset will be to take either one of them away,
because they're great players, they're All star players. You're never
going to take an all star player away. What you're
trying to do is you're trying to limit in these
situations what a player loves to do. You know, so
if you know Fox loves to do this, if you
know Sabonus loves to do that, you're trying to limit
(15:51):
those things. You're trying to make them play left handed.
Bad term because both of those guys are left handed.
But in theory, if you think about it more, most
people aren't left handed. Most people are right handed. And
so there's this term in basketball that you want to
that text Winner used to say text winner because Steve
curR always shares this with us. It's like, you want
(16:12):
to make them play left handed, meaning you want to
make them uncomfortable. You want to make them do what
they don't want to do, and that's kind of the
goal when you're going into these situations. We had great
film sessions today on them. It's a game I'm extremely
excited about and a game that you know, I think
(16:33):
we're more than capable of winning. You know, every time
we play these guys, it goes down to the wire.
So we're expecting a very physical game, intense game, and
we just got to come out and get it done.
I think for us to win very young, fast team,
one of the most important things for us to win
this game would be we really need to take care
(16:55):
of the ball. We take care of the ball, we
get good shots up, We're then able to play great defense,
not being transition all game. You play you know, he
played great, you know, get get your defense set. So
it'll be really important for us to take care of
the basketball. That will be the number one key in
the game for us. Take care of the ball, get
(17:17):
looks at the rim. Think if we're getting looks at
the rim, I like the odds that will make. Then
we have great shooters, we have great scores. I think
that'll be big for us. And if there's one player
that I would say is very important for us to
win this game, Obviously Andrew Wiggins is important on both
sides of the ball, but I think our X factor
(17:40):
is extremely important in this game and Jonathan Minga, Jonathan
Kaminga brings a different flare to our team. He brings
something that not many people in the NBA bring to
a team.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Great getting downhill, great finisher at the rim.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
So I think Kaminga is going to be very important
to our success tomorrow with his athleticism. This being a
young athletic group, you know, he makes us more athletic.
So I think Kaminga cominga plays well, we win, and
I have no doubt in my mind that Kaminga's gonna
be ready for the moment and play well.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
He's taking that next step.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
And this is the moments where when you're taking those
next steps, you gotta go. And I expect nothing less
from the young fella Kaminga. In other news, you got
the Dubs, you got the Pelicans, I mean, excuse me, Lakers,
Pelicans and the winner of that team that game. As
I said, take on Denver I that game number one.
(18:43):
Don't look at the last game and be like, that's
what's going to happen. Like the New Orleans Pelicans came
off of two very emotional back to back wins VERSUS
SAT on Thursday at US on Friday, and then fly
home on Saturday for an early game on Sunday. Lakers
(19:06):
are coming from Memphis, and actually, you know they get
to New Orleans, their travel is a lot easier than
the Pelicans, ironically, and so I definitely think that plays
into account. Repelicans now being at home a few days,
they'll be backsettled in going back home for a game.
(19:29):
It's always tough when you return home for one game
or the first game returning home on from a trip,
and that's what the Pelicans are going through. So I
don't think the Pelicans that you saw in Sunday's game
is the Pelicans that you're going to see in tomorrow's game.
I think that'll be a totally different matchup. You know
that that's two teams that's playing extremely well. Now what
(19:52):
does it come down to? What does it come down to?
I think I think I got the Lakers winning that
game within healthy Ad. Obviously Ad needs to play, hurt,
he's questionable. I expect Ad to play, But I think
they win that game. And the reason I say they
win that game, what New Orleans would have to do
(20:13):
in order to win that game would be essentially what
they did versus US, which has hit a bunch of threes.
New Orleans does a lot around the rim. They like
to get to the rim. Zion's great at getting to
the rim, and a d at the rim is just
a different animal, a totally different animal at the rim
protecting the rim with Ad there, and so I think
(20:36):
me personally, I got the Lakers winning that game for
that reason. I know the Lakers are towards the bottom
of the league from in a statistical standpoint in defending
the three. So if New Orleans can hit threes like
they did versus us, they can win. However, you're going
(20:57):
to get a heavy Dosa's Zion. Their offense is built
around Zion and Zion at the rim.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
I think Ad can make a lot tough.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
If Ad can make those shots tough at the rim
on Zion, I think the Lakers gets out in transition.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
They're running, they're hitting threes, they're dunking the ball.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
I think they move on to face the Denver Nuggets,
and we're facing New Orleans and New Orleans on Friday.
That's just my take, that's what I got. I don't know,
you beat a judge, you let me know what you think.
But that's what I got. We'll see what happens in
other playing games. You got the heat at the seventy
six ers with a healthy Joe ellenb back, Tyrese Maxi.
(21:37):
Who do you got? Jimmy Butler said, y'all took Tobias
Harris over me. Y'all kept Tobias Harris over me, and
Jimmy Butler is going to go into that game feeling
that way, y'all took Tobias Harris over me.
Speaker 2 (21:49):
One thing you should understand about Jimmy is Jimmy is.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
Going to hold on to whatever chip on the shoulder
that he can when he needs it, and he will
very much so be holding on to that one again.
Speaker 2 (22:01):
If they win the game.
Speaker 1 (22:02):
He'll probably walk off the court again and say, y'all
took Tobias Harris over me, because that is how Jimmy
Butler is. And so that's the matchup. That's what we got.
You got Ben versus Joel, you got Jimmy versus Tobias.
You got Maxie versus Terry Rosier. To win one game,
(22:26):
it's hard to pick against Joel and b very tough
to pick against Joel and Bid. Both of those teams
want to avoid Boston in the first round. So if
you win that game, you get in the Knicks, which
I think both of those things teams think they can
beat the Knicks. So with both of those teams believe
(22:48):
in that, it's going to be a blood buy. This
is two teams battling not to face the Boston Celtics.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I am going to go with Miami.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
The reason I'm going with Miami is because you learn.
If you haven't learned over the last few years, you
just don't bet.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
Against Miami at this time of the year. Don't do it.
You're usually wrong.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Jimmy's gonna try to get every shot that they want
if he got to walk the ball up the court
the whole game. Although I think their advantage is playing
in transition and trying to make Joelle run because if
Joe has been back for six games, second games, if
you can make him run and tire him out, you
got a better chance. And so I think that has
(23:36):
to be their game plan. Although Jimmy likes to get
to his spots when he won, I think the pace
needs to be go, go going. I expect Miami Heat
to do that, and so I'm taking Miami in that game.
And then I got Boston facing the seventy six ers
in the first round of their series, and I actually
think that's gonna be a tough match. Like, if you're Boston,
(23:58):
you're not really happy about either one or those these
teams you're facing the first round match up. We know
the history that they've had with the Miami Heat and
Jimmy Butler, and we know Joel and them are always
in the battle.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Now they've been taking the wins and they've won each time.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
But it's a battle, and so you're not really happy
about facing either one of those teams in the first round.
But I hate the play in just so you all.
I absolutely hate it. It's the best thing ever created.
When you look at the play in and what is
done for basketball, it's the best thing ever created. Like,
(24:35):
I don't know who came up with it. I know
Bron said they need to be fired. If they were
fired when Bron said that, they need to get their
job back because the play in is insane. Like since
the NBA has added the play in, it's taken the
last month and a half of the season to a
totally different level, like totally different. And so I hate
(24:55):
the play in. I especially hate being a Tennessee. But
as much as I hated as a basketball player, as
a basketball fan, this playing is nuts and you gotta
love it. But that's my take on that. That's what
I got. Moving on to these playoffs, you got the
(25:16):
West Oksee Young Oksee becomes them youngest team ever to
solidify number one seed, the Denmer Nugget after losing the
play in last year, Denmer Nuggets number two, Timberwolves number three,
Clippers at four, Maveris at five, Phoenix at six. Speaking
(25:39):
of the player, like Phoenix come down to the last
day they needed to get to get six, it doesn't
really shape out like that. That fight don't happen if
you're not trying to avoid the play in. Everybody start
picking like, oh, we want to be seven. We're gonna
lose this game. We want to be eight with the
playing on the line, you couldn't do that, right. So
those are your Western Conference team. Are the matchups that
(26:01):
we know are set already? Are the Timberwolves at three
and Phoenix at six, the Clippers at four and the
Mavericks at five. Those are the matchups that we know
are set. And as those matchups go, the Timberwolves and
(26:23):
Phoenix will be a very interesting matchup Phoenix. You know,
Phoenix is playing four out one end. They got Nurkic
at the five, KD at the four. The Timberwolves play
two bigs and Rudy Gobert Carl Anthony Towns just back
from injury.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Now that could get interesting.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
Because you'd say, like, oh, well, their size could kind
of make Phoenix pay. But no one really plays that
style of basketball anymore, Like you're not you're not gonna
post Rudy Gobert and you're not gonna post call Anthony
Towns a ton with Rudy Gobert in the game because
the painting just get too tight. No one plays that
(27:02):
style of basketball. Meanwhile, Finish is pushing the ball back
the other way with Grayson Allen shooting a career high
from three and just getting paid. Kevin Durant, we know
how k shoot the ball. Book, we know how Books
shoot the ball. Brad, we know how Brad.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
Shoot the ball.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
So if they want to slow it down and like
throw it in the post when you miss, they're running
back and their shooting threes.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
They're hitting threes.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
No one plays to throw the ball in the post,
and so you don't necessarily get to take advantage of
the size much. From that standpoint, also got the best
big off the bench in the league in my opinion,
nas Reed, how much does the size affect Phoenix, I'm
(27:47):
not sure the game is going to allow it to
affect them that much more than it will affect the
Timberwills having to guard them. And so obviously you got
young Edwards looking forward to the opportunity. I'm also looking
forward to seeing on this stage me personally, myself going
up against these these all start this all star.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
Trio that Phoenix got.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Uh. One thing that I think is going to be
important is who is going to guard Anthony Edwards. I'm
assuming Brad Bill will, but I'm gonna tell you at
some point in this series, and I got Phoenix winning,
(28:31):
I think Phoenix will win the series. I think they
got too much firepower offensively, and that's what it'll come
down to for me. But Harris, what will have to
happen for Phoenix to win the series. At some point
throughout this series, Kevin Durant is going to go have
to guard Anthony Edwards if Phoenix is going to have
(28:53):
a chance at winning this series. At some point may
not be Game one, may not be Game two or three,
but at some point in this series, Kevin Durant is
going to have to say, all right, I'm going and
Brad build is a good defender, Brad competes not saying,
but at some point Kevin is going to have to
(29:15):
take his lane, his defensive tenacity when he wants to
turn that up, and he's gonna have to go guard
and Edwards if they're going to move forward in this series.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
That's my take. That's what I'm thinking.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
However, I do have Phoenix winning, but that's gonna need
to happen, and then you got a heavyweight battle with
the Clippers and the Mavericks. Mavericks has played the best
basketball that we've seen them play since.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
Luca Duncheons has been a Dallas Maverick.
Speaker 1 (29:45):
Him and Kyrie what they're doing offensively, with the additions
of gafferd PJ. Washington, then boys playing some beautiful basketball,
I think those are great additions to them. I think
those editions at the trade deadline, Nico Harrison don't get
enough credit for Daniel Gaffer edition was a steal. We've
(30:07):
all been watching Daniel Gafford in Washington ridden away for
the last three four years or so. Like, man, if
that guy can get on a good team, if you
had him on a good team, it takes your team
to another level.
Speaker 2 (30:17):
Dallas did it. It's done that. PJ. Washington's playing really
good basketball. And so with.
Speaker 1 (30:23):
That, the Clippers have not been playing good basketball. They've
been struggling a bit. I am taking Dallas in that series.
I think Dallas ultimately gets it done. However, if the
Clippers are going to win that series, at what point
(30:46):
do you take Kawhi Leonard and you say, all right, now, Kawhi,
you go Gard Luka doncis HER's the key, though, Harri's
where it gets interested when you do that. The X
factor in that series is going to be Russ Westbrook
because Russell's gonna have.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
To guard Kyrie v And.
Speaker 1 (31:06):
When you got Luke on the floor, Kyrie don't get
much attention from the defense. You tend to forget. Let
me tell you, Kyrie Irving is a monster. And so
if you decide to forget Kyrie, gonna go off. Tyl
Loue know that they won a championship together. But Russell
Westbrook is the X factor in that series. Russell Westbrook
(31:27):
is the X factor for that team. No surprise, they've
struggled as much as they've struggled over the last month
and a half because Russell missed most of the time,
and so russ On, Kyrie Kawhi gonna have to go
guard Luca at some point throughout this series. I also
think at some point throughout this series, Tyler gonna have
(31:48):
to scrap Russell Westbrook off the bench and move Russell
Westbrook into the starting lineup in order to win this series. Again,
that's just my take. Your take is your take. That's
my take. That's what we got in the West and
moving to the East before we get out of here.
The matchups that we do know. We got the Bucks
(32:10):
at three, we got the Pacers at six. Uncertain on
the status of Yiannis. We do know Yiannis likes to
come back like he man in these situations. We watched
Janni's hyper extend his knee a couple of years ago
and the NBA Finals and came back and won the
NBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (32:27):
We all thought that he was done.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
We know he come back like he man, so I
do expect him at some point in this series to
come back calves can be tricky, especially when you you know,
when you thought you know he was playing around with
an injury around the achilles, The calves can be a
little tricky. And so how much how much emphasis? If
you're the Milwaukee Bucks front office, ownership group, coaching staff,
(32:52):
how much are you fighting Giannis and saying we need
to be one hundred and fifty percent short that you're
ready to go? Because although it's not certain that Kevin
Durant tore his achilles because of the calf injury had before,
but so also not exactly certain or uncertain that was
(33:14):
the case, could have been, could have affected it, or
could not have. But if I'm looking at it through
a lens and I'm the Milwaukee Bucks, the lens I'm
looking through is that it did affect it. And so
now that we have this, how much are we pressing
Giannis to not play unless we're one hundred and fifty
(33:34):
percent sure, because let's face it, they've struggled, they've struggled
bad all year. They've won games because when you got
Damian Lillard, when you got Chris Middleton, when you got
Giannis onto the compo, you're gonna win.
Speaker 2 (33:46):
Some games in the East, it's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
But that team has not been very good all year
to the standard and level that everyone thought they would be.
And so are you forcing Yanni's back to try to
revive that and go how far? Or are you making
sure he's one hundred and fifty percent ready to play
and then saying okay, now, okay, you're at a place
(34:10):
where you can go play.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
No, you're one hundred and fifty percent ready to play. Now.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
They've struggled with the Pacers this year. If I'm not mistaken,
the Pacers beat them five times because of the play
in Final four and so this is a different game though.
This is a different game because this is playoff time
and the Pacers has not played much defense all year.
(34:39):
Not just gonna outscore a team in the playoffs, Gotta defend,
got to defend in the playoffs, and the Pacers has
made a living this year off outscoring teams. The game
slows down a bit in the playoffs. It's not just run, run, run, run, run.
It slows down. You gotta play in the half court.
(34:59):
You gotta defend in the half court. Got to get
back in transition so that you can defend the half court.
But it's not just to track meet once you get
to the playoffs, and all year it's been a track
meet for Indiana, It's gonna be a little different than
these playoffs. Gianna's being out definitely affects the series. However, well,
(35:20):
Yanna's out or not. I got the Milwaukee Bucks. However,
I've given you the X factor for everybody, the X
factor for Indiana, and the one person they got that's
gonna slow you down in the half court and just
grind you out and get a bucket.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
It's Pascal Siakam.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
The addition of Pascal, Pascal has been in these situations.
Pascal is an NBA champion. He knows what it takes
in these situations. Pascal is an NBA champion. As the
number two option, Pascal is the number two options on Indiana. However,
in order for them to win this series, he will
have to be the number one option. He will have
(36:06):
to be the number one option because Milwaukee's going to
put Patrick Beverley on Tyre's Halliburton. He's going to do
all he can and rough them up to get under
his skin. And although I think Holle is ready for that,
I think Halle plays a good brand of basketball. It's
gonna get a little tough playoffs. You know, it's a
(36:27):
different physicality and he'll play well, but I just don't
think he'll score it at the level to be the
number one option in this series for Indiana. And that's
why I think Pascal needs to be the number one
option in order for them to have a chance to win.
And the other series, we got the Cavs at the
four Magic at the five Young Magic team making their
(36:51):
first playoff appearance. It's exciting to see with them young boys,
Paolo Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, young fellas, my young spartan
dog who the old head on that team?
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Gee, Gary Harris.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
Excited to see Jamal Tinsley has taken that team to
the playoffs.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
Excited to see that matchup. The Calves has.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
Been there, Donovan Mitchell has been there, Darius Garland has
been there. Jared Allen's been there. Although he said, man,
we did not expect them lives.
Speaker 2 (37:24):
To be that bright.
Speaker 1 (37:26):
When we didn't expect it, they've been there. A lot
of what Orlando does is at the realm. Don't shoot
a ton of threes. That's not their strong suit. A
lot of what they do is at the rim, Paulo
(37:47):
getting downhill, Franz getting down here. How much are you
getting down here with Jared Allen and Evan Mobley at
the realm. It's my question for that series and for
that alone. Obviously, Donovan's going to score the ball. The
PG gonna do what he do. I got the cast
taking this now. What's been interesting is Donovan has played
(38:10):
well when Darius haven't played. Darius has played extremely well
when Donovan haven't played.
Speaker 2 (38:15):
You got both of them.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
Now, in order to win at a high level, you
need both of them to play well, but that the
team has played better when one or the other has
been out, which I think has been interesting because it
probably leads Cleveland with a decision to make in the
summer possibly possibly. Nonetheless, they need to figure the chemistry
(38:37):
of that team out when everybody's on the floor together.
In spite of that, because Orlando needs to get to
the rim. I got the Cleveland Cavaliers taking that series
moving on to the second round. So those are the
series that we know. Those are my takes. The playoff
(38:58):
series that I am most excited about. Obviously we're not
in the playoffs yet, so I can't be too excited
about our playoff series that's to come. With the playoff series,
I'm most excited about his Dallas and the Clippers. That series,
to me, I have no I would be surprised if
it didn't go seven.
Speaker 2 (39:18):
I do think it's going to go seven.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
I do think you know, it's gonna come down to
those big time guys that both of those teams got
making big time plays in order to take it. But
that's my series that I'm looking forward to as a
basketball fan of watching the most.
Speaker 2 (39:33):
I think that series has legs.
Speaker 1 (39:36):
Four or five matchups are always great and they're right
there in that spot two teams that got history. Now
these teams have met in the playoffs before, you know,
so those are always fun when you got teams with
histories meeting against meeting each other because though you start
to see it ball over and that's playoff basketball, man,
that's fun.
Speaker 2 (39:56):
So that's the series.
Speaker 1 (39:59):
That I'm most excited it about looking forward to these playoffs.
We will tap back in as they get going and
also as the Dubs do what we gotta do to
move for in this play in that I hate, but
we got to do it. It's our route, it is
what it is. Looking forward to the challenge until next time.
That's a wrap from this episode of The Draymond Green Show.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Your playoff preview, Peace
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