13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts - March 30, 2024

100:00:00,000-->00:00:02,240It'stimetotalkbasketball.200:00:02,240-->00:00:04,920I'mJoseSalvianieditoratthebeachbasket.net.300:00:04,920-->00:00:06,080He'sStevePrasiello,400:00:06,080-->00:00:07,280alongtimeeducator,500:00:07,280-->00:00:09,760viceprincipalandathleticdirector,600:00:09,760-->00:00:14,160andthisisthe13RulesRandomMBAThoughtspodcast.700:00:14,160-->00:00:18,000Undeniably,thebest15minutesofrandomthoughtsonline.800:00:18,000-->00:00:19,480Ifthisisyourfirsttimelistening,900:00:19,480-->00:00:20,320asalways,thankyou.1000:00:20,320-->00:00:23,360Wearesogratefulandthankfulthatyoufoundus.1100:00:23,360-->00:00:27,040ThispodcastisbornoutofSteve'sarticles1200:00:27,040-->00:00:31,920thathecreatesweeklycalledNBARandomThoughts.1300:00:31,920-->00:00:33,80013RulesNBARandomThoughts.1400:00:33,800-->00:00:36,040SteveandIhaveexactly15minutestodiscuss1500:00:36,040-->00:00:38,160what'sonhismindaroundtheNBA.1600:00:38,160-->00:00:44,040Today,we'lldiscusshislatest13RulesRandomMBAThoughtsarticle.1700:00:44,040-->00:00:45,240Steve,areyouready?1800:00:45,240 --> 00:00:46,160Ready.1900:00:46,160 --> 00:00:46,920Let's do this.2000:00:46,920 --> 00:00:50,720I'm going to start the timer now.2100:00:50,720 --> 00:00:55,680All right, the focus this week was on coaches on the hot seat,2200:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,680as well as some random thoughts mixed in.2300:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,640So we're going to talk a little bit about some coaches2400:00:59,640 --> 00:01:01,320that might be in trouble,2500:01:01,320 --> 00:01:02,920and then a little random thought at the end.2600:01:02,920 --> 00:01:03,920We're going to start.2700:01:03,920 --> 00:01:05,640We'll start, rather, with a team2800:01:05,640 --> 00:01:07,760that we don't talk a lot about, really.2900:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,800And that's the Charlotte Hornets.3000:01:09,800 --> 00:01:12,880Their coach Steve Clifford is on the hot seat,3100:01:12,880 --> 00:01:16,640despite being well respected in the coaching industry.3200:01:16,640 --> 00:01:18,160So I got to ask,3300:01:18,160 --> 00:01:20,280what went wrong in Charlotte3400:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,760if a coach is well respected3500:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,760as Steve Clifford can't get things done there?3600:01:25,760 --> 00:01:30,440No talent and new ownership.3700:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,040Those two things you put them together,3800:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,160and they're going to want their own person.3900:01:34,160 --> 00:01:37,080I believe they just hired a new GM4000:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,560or a new president of the operation.4100:01:39,560 --> 00:01:42,880I'm sure he's going to want to clean the house,4200:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,240and that leaves Clifford out of work.4300:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,480Don't forget, Clifford was hired4400:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,480after Kenny Ackinson turned the job down a couple years ago.4500:01:52,480 --> 00:01:54,320So he was not their first choice.4600:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,360This is the second go-around with him.4700:01:57,360 --> 00:01:58,560He does a great job.4800:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,640I think the players like playing for him,4900:02:00,640 --> 00:02:02,440but at this point,5000:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,960it's just natural when a new owner5100:02:04,960 --> 00:02:07,840in a new situation turned in their people.5200:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,760And I don't think Clifford is their people,5300:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,920but Charlotte has a major problem.5400:02:14,920 --> 00:02:15,880They don't have good players.5500:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,440They have a few, but not enough to compete5600:02:18,440 --> 00:02:19,920with the good teams.5700:02:19,920 --> 00:02:24,240So I don't know where it's going to go.5800:02:24,240 --> 00:02:25,560It's going to take a while.5900:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,360And whoever they hire is going to need a couple of years.6000:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,040It's not something you would judge6100:02:31,040 --> 00:02:33,200whose work after the next year.6200:02:33,200 --> 00:02:34,600Yeah.6300:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,120This show is called Random Thoughts.6400:02:36,120 --> 00:02:37,400Your article is called Random Thoughts.6500:02:37,400 --> 00:02:38,440I got a random thought for you.6600:02:38,440 --> 00:02:39,920It just came up.6700:02:39,920 --> 00:02:41,520I got two situations for you.6800:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,360You got a team with phenomenal players, a great team.6900:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,280Let's say the Denver Nutties.7000:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,880And then you got a team that's kind of floundering7100:02:49,880 --> 00:02:51,240not a good team, not great players.7200:02:51,240 --> 00:02:52,920Let's say the Charlotte Hornets.7300:02:52,920 --> 00:02:56,800You take the best coach in the NBA, historically.7400:02:56,800 --> 00:03:02,280Any great coach, give that coach to the Charlotte Hornets.7500:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,240And then you take me and you put me in charge7600:03:05,240 --> 00:03:06,920of the Denver Nutties.7700:03:06,920 --> 00:03:07,880What's going to happen?7800:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,960Are the Denver Nutties going to tank?7900:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,000Or are the Charlotte Hornets going to all of a sudden8000:03:14,000 --> 00:03:14,920be really, really good?8100:03:14,920 --> 00:03:16,840Who's going to have the greater impact?8200:03:16,840 --> 00:03:21,960Me and with the Nuggets or Red R back with the Hornets?8300:03:21,960 --> 00:03:24,840Well, first of all, before we make that crazy analogy,8400:03:24,840 --> 00:03:26,960you'd be fired in the first week.8500:03:26,960 --> 00:03:34,480But there used to be an old thing where they said,8600:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,560he can-- that coach is so good.8700:03:37,560 --> 00:03:42,600He can beat you with his or yours.8800:03:42,600 --> 00:03:45,080I think obviously, Denver is always8900:03:45,080 --> 00:03:46,440going to win more games.9000:03:46,440 --> 00:03:47,920They've got so much more talent.9100:03:47,920 --> 00:03:53,120But I think every team's got an area where, before a season,9200:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,440you sit there and say, OK, bad year there9300:03:55,440 --> 00:03:59,200will win this, good year there will win that.9400:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,520First, Charlotte, you'd probably say something like bad year,9500:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,68015, good year, 25 to 30.9600:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,640So you can, again, measure your coach accordingly.9700:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,000The other factor that you've got to bring into it is injuries.9800:04:13,000 --> 00:04:14,880Charlotte's been killed by injuries.9900:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,320Well, Mel O'Bolves has been out most of the season10000:04:17,320 --> 00:04:18,920for the second year of that.10100:04:18,920 --> 00:04:24,000So that doesn't help in the qualifying.10200:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,680So you've got to look at what you have and then figure it out.10300:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,760But I think in this case, it's just complicated10400:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,400because it's new orders.10500:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,560And they're not going to want to present the same old mess10600:04:36,560 --> 00:04:37,560that they have.10700:04:37,560 --> 00:04:41,120So it's got to put a little paint on the building.10800:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,920And by putting a paint, that means getting a new coach.10900:04:44,920 --> 00:04:46,160Yep.11000:04:46,160 --> 00:04:46,840Agreed.11100:04:46,840 --> 00:04:50,320Yeah, I think at the end of the day, it comes down to players.11200:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,360Coach has certainly had an impact, but you've got to have the players.11300:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,520You've got to have a good, good, good team of players.11400:04:56,520 --> 00:05:05,200And a coach that can kind of maneuver that and manage those egos.11500:05:05,200 --> 00:05:06,640But it all starts with good players.11600:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,680One of the first things you learn when I coached,11700:05:09,680 --> 00:05:13,080one of the first things I learned was if we're going to win,11800:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,160I've got to get better horses.11900:05:15,160 --> 00:05:16,520I can coach all night.12000:05:16,520 --> 00:05:19,400And know all this stuff.12100:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,160But when you lose in my 30, you're going to draw a nice plate.12200:05:22,160 --> 00:05:23,240Doesn't work.12300:05:23,240 --> 00:05:27,680So it's all about the half.12400:05:27,680 --> 00:05:31,000Well, speaking of good players, the Cleveland Cavaliers12500:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,440have got good players.12600:05:32,440 --> 00:05:33,560They're a good team.12700:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,880They're a 45-win team.12800:05:35,880 --> 00:05:37,880Currently, or at least as of yesterday,12900:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,440third in the very top Eastern conference,13000:05:41,440 --> 00:05:47,680they were undeniably the hottest team in the NBA just about a month back.13100:05:47,680 --> 00:05:51,240But you wrote that their coach, JB Bigger Staff, should be worried.13200:05:51,240 --> 00:05:52,840Why?13300:05:52,840 --> 00:05:57,400Because I think for a while now, they're13400:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,040looking to make incremental progress.13500:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,680If they get knocked out in the first round, that's not an incremental progress.13600:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,400They went out and they got in strut.13700:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,800They were in struse, and they were in the air again.13800:06:09,800 --> 00:06:13,520The problem was they felt they didn't have a bench and against the mix in the playoffs.13900:06:13,520 --> 00:06:16,720They didn't shoot well as well as didn't rebound well.14000:06:16,720 --> 00:06:22,520So they figured these two guys would take here and help them shoot as a shooting team.14100:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,520So they did make these steps to improve themselves.14200:06:25,520 --> 00:06:26,960They've been beat up with injuries.14300:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,440Nobody's going to argue that.14400:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,680But now they're starting to get healthy, Mitchell played last night,14500:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,280and all the other good things.14600:06:33,280 --> 00:06:42,960But if they don't get better, you got to think that Bigger Staff is going to be gone.14700:06:42,960 --> 00:06:44,400Dan Gilbert just had a stroke.14800:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,240He's the owner a couple of years ago.14900:06:47,240 --> 00:06:48,480He's not real healthy.15000:06:48,480 --> 00:06:52,720And I think he'd like to be around the finals at some point.15100:06:52,720 --> 00:06:58,480And if he doesn't see progress, you just have to do something.15200:06:58,480 --> 00:06:59,520Yeah.15300:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,600So you're saying specifically they're in trouble if they don't get out of the first round.15400:07:03,600 --> 00:07:08,720Yeah, I think they'll be okay, but next year will be again.15500:07:08,720 --> 00:07:11,120They'll be out of the high, you know, in a situation.15600:07:11,120 --> 00:07:15,920And you know what, the other day Miami beat them big.15700:07:15,920 --> 00:07:18,280It shouldn't happen this time of year.15800:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,800And I know again, Mitchell didn't play and they're injured.15900:07:21,800 --> 00:07:26,880I and Struse has been out, but still you don't get beat by 30.16000:07:26,880 --> 00:07:33,920You don't get blown out of a game at this point in the year if you have dreams of going far.16100:07:33,920 --> 00:07:36,080And I'm sure that didn't go over good.16200:07:36,080 --> 00:07:41,040And it's going to become a point where Kobe Altman is the general manager.16300:07:41,040 --> 00:07:45,760It's going to become a point where for Altman's might have to save his neck.16400:07:45,760 --> 00:07:48,120That means Bigger Staff goes.16500:07:48,120 --> 00:07:51,960You know, Altman's done a decent job getting them better.16600:07:51,960 --> 00:07:53,880So that's my sense.16700:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,040You know, I could be wrong again.16800:07:56,040 --> 00:08:02,080Well, yeah, honestly, after talking to you now for years, right?16900:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,640You lean, you lean more on right than wrong.17000:08:05,640 --> 00:08:07,120I'll give you that for sure.17100:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,120We're still waiting.17200:08:09,120 --> 00:08:13,320Well, Houston Rockets are charging for that play in spot.17300:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,120We're still waiting on that one.17400:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,120And believe me, I'm watching you see.17500:08:17,120 --> 00:08:18,120That one mine.17600:08:18,120 --> 00:08:19,120It's so close.17700:08:19,120 --> 00:08:22,120And Jaylen Green is become a big time player.17800:08:22,120 --> 00:08:24,720Yeah, yeah, no, it's fun to watch.17900:08:24,720 --> 00:08:26,760And certainly keeping keeping an eye on that.18000:08:26,760 --> 00:08:31,480I do think that Cleveland Cavalier's job should have become available would be by far the18100:08:31,480 --> 00:08:33,680most attractive job for any coach.18200:08:33,680 --> 00:08:38,840Because this is a very, very good team, assuming they keep their core in place.18300:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,880It'll be an interesting thing if it does come open.18400:08:41,880 --> 00:08:48,040What the GM does, I have to sit and think about who the experienced coaches are out there.18500:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,320Yeah, bring an experienced coach in.18600:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,840The GM is going to be in trouble if he doesn't do well.18700:08:54,840 --> 00:09:00,560If they don't bring an experienced coach in, you know, that he might be able to skate through18800:09:00,560 --> 00:09:01,560that.18900:09:01,560 --> 00:09:04,640But usually you can't fire two or three coaches, you know, GM.19000:09:04,640 --> 00:09:05,880You got one.19100:09:05,880 --> 00:09:08,280And then after that, it better work.19200:09:08,280 --> 00:09:09,280Yeah.19300:09:09,280 --> 00:09:15,400So they'll keep an eye on Cleveland, another high profile team that we talk a lot about here.19400:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,520Because cover the NBA.19500:09:17,520 --> 00:09:21,280And then the NBA is about, you know, let's say.19600:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,440You know, globally two teams, right?19700:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,760Yeah, Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers.19800:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,840I thought it was one, but God.19900:09:28,840 --> 00:09:32,160It's two.20000:09:32,160 --> 00:09:33,760It's two.20100:09:33,760 --> 00:09:38,600Their coach, Darvin Hamm, has been in the hot seat really since the week after he started.20200:09:38,600 --> 00:09:43,120And LA is a tough place to play because they demand greatness.20300:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,120Their fans do.20400:09:45,120 --> 00:09:47,120I think their ownership does.20500:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,520And the Lakers really haven't been great.20600:09:49,520 --> 00:09:51,400They've been mediocre.20700:09:51,400 --> 00:09:53,600They did win in 2020.20800:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,400That wasn't, you know, beforehand.20900:09:56,400 --> 00:10:01,040And with him, they've been, you know, they won in sense of, you know, they won the in-season21000:10:01,040 --> 00:10:02,040tournament.21100:10:02,040 --> 00:10:07,280They made it to the Western Conference Finals, which was not what was expected of them.21200:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,600But this is a chip or skip town, right?21300:10:10,600 --> 00:10:12,080You win the chip or you skip town.21400:10:12,080 --> 00:10:13,640You get out of here.21500:10:13,640 --> 00:10:18,760Is that a fair way to assess coaches in general?21600:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,320I think you've answered that question actually earlier, but I want to ask it straight up.21700:10:22,320 --> 00:10:25,280In LA, Darvin Hamm's in trouble.21800:10:25,280 --> 00:10:26,280Is that fair?21900:10:26,280 --> 00:10:27,280Let me ask you this.22000:10:27,280 --> 00:10:32,600If they don't get out of the play and round, who gets the heat, polink or ham?22100:10:32,600 --> 00:10:33,600Yeah, ham.22200:10:33,600 --> 00:10:34,600Ham.22300:10:34,600 --> 00:10:35,600He's gone undeniably.22400:10:35,600 --> 00:10:36,600Okay.22500:10:36,600 --> 00:10:38,320There's your answer.22600:10:38,320 --> 00:10:46,040If they get into the playoffs and they lose the first round, what happens?22700:10:46,040 --> 00:10:47,440That's tough, right?22800:10:47,440 --> 00:10:48,800You made the point earlier, right?22900:10:48,800 --> 00:10:54,600You said you've got to gauge the team based on, you know, what their top ceiling is, right?23000:10:54,600 --> 00:10:58,800And that's where I think the Lakers and Laker fans get a little unrealistic, right?23100:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,680They think their ceiling is always the finalists.23200:11:01,680 --> 00:11:03,520It's not necessarily their ceiling.23300:11:03,520 --> 00:11:05,960That's what you aspire to.23400:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,440And that's fine.23500:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,000But this team is constructed.23600:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,800I don't think, especially when you look at the other teams in the West and even a lot of23700:11:12,800 --> 00:11:17,400teams in the East, the finals is, I mean, you've got to get lucky to get there.23800:11:17,400 --> 00:11:20,360This team's ceiling is not quite there.23900:11:20,360 --> 00:11:24,160I would say second round, Western conference final, that's it.24000:11:24,160 --> 00:11:29,400So if they're out in the first, I think that is below expectations, for sure.24100:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,600And then you got to have a conversation.24200:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,360But you get to the second round and you're out, then I think Derby and him is bottom self24300:11:36,360 --> 00:11:37,360some time.24400:11:37,360 --> 00:11:38,360Oh, yeah.24500:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,200First of all, you got to win two games to get into the playoffs.24600:11:41,200 --> 00:11:42,200Yeah.24700:11:42,200 --> 00:11:46,120So, you know, you got to, you can't put, you know, the card ahead of the horse.24800:11:46,120 --> 00:11:50,400And again, Bill Parcell is your, what your record says you are.24900:11:50,400 --> 00:11:51,640Their record isn't real good.25000:11:51,640 --> 00:11:55,000And think about this for a minute.25100:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,160Anthony Davis having a great year.25200:11:57,160 --> 00:12:02,880But your best player, your best player is day to day.25300:12:02,880 --> 00:12:04,880And he's 38 or so.25400:12:04,880 --> 00:12:05,88039.25500:12:05,880 --> 00:12:06,88039.25600:12:06,880 --> 00:12:07,880Think about that.25700:12:07,880 --> 00:12:14,200So you're asking for a 39 year old man to carry you when he's got a bad ankle and he's25800:12:14,200 --> 00:12:18,400having trouble, you know, playing a couple of days, a couple of games in a row.25900:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,080So is that unrealistic?26000:12:21,080 --> 00:12:24,600And then you've got two Austin Reves is a nice player.26100:12:24,600 --> 00:12:25,600How does that?26200:12:25,600 --> 00:12:30,480And the actual, but Russell is the best guy in the court tonight and tomorrow night.26300:12:30,480 --> 00:12:32,320He has to be in the jail.26400:12:32,320 --> 00:12:36,960So if you don't have any consistency, where are you going?26500:12:36,960 --> 00:12:37,960Where are you going?26600:12:37,960 --> 00:12:43,480And the rest of those guys are just complimentary pieces or supplemental, you know, they're26700:12:43,480 --> 00:12:44,480not real good.26800:12:44,480 --> 00:12:50,080I mean, they're getting more out of Jackson Hayes than I think he knew he had.26900:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,200You know, so it's those are role players.27000:12:53,200 --> 00:12:58,480So the fans are a little bit crazy about what they are.27100:12:58,480 --> 00:12:59,480He said that.27200:12:59,480 --> 00:13:00,480Take your fans.27300:13:00,480 --> 00:13:01,480Not me.27400:13:01,480 --> 00:13:02,480He said that.27500:13:02,480 --> 00:13:03,480Yeah.27600:13:03,480 --> 00:13:04,880Yeah, I did just being clear.27700:13:04,880 --> 00:13:11,240Being real is to, you know, when a team, if the Cavalier started talking about the title,27800:13:11,240 --> 00:13:12,240right?27900:13:12,240 --> 00:13:14,240You'd say you're crazy.28000:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,240Now I'll put the question to you.28100:13:16,240 --> 00:13:17,240Who's got more talent?28200:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,240The Cavaliers or the Lakers?28300:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,400Yeah, that's your mic drop moment.28400:13:21,400 --> 00:13:22,400Yeah, the Cavs.28500:13:22,400 --> 00:13:23,400Yeah.28600:13:23,400 --> 00:13:24,400Great point.28700:13:24,400 --> 00:13:25,400Yeah.28800:13:25,400 --> 00:13:26,400Great point.28900:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,720You know, I feel for Darvin Ham.29000:13:28,720 --> 00:13:30,440I think he's done an okay job.29100:13:30,440 --> 00:13:34,880He had him in perfect, but you know, perfect coaches don't exist.29200:13:34,880 --> 00:13:38,120You know, he makes a few arguments, but not many.29300:13:38,120 --> 00:13:39,640I think he's done okay.29400:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,440We think the Lakers.29500:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,120I think it all in the middle of the year when a couple of players returning on him doesn't29600:13:46,120 --> 00:13:50,680say how he's, it doesn't tell you how well that he's regarded well in the last.29700:13:50,680 --> 00:13:51,680Yeah, yeah, yeah.29800:13:51,680 --> 00:13:52,680Yeah, yeah.29900:13:52,680 --> 00:13:59,600And so if they do go down, I think fingers from every side are going to be pointed at30000:13:59,600 --> 00:14:00,600him.30100:14:00,600 --> 00:14:04,640The one thing I'll say, the Lakers don't spend a lot.30200:14:04,640 --> 00:14:08,520I don't know how many years this contract is and how much.30300:14:08,520 --> 00:14:12,360I don't know if Genie Busch really likes to fire people.30400:14:12,360 --> 00:14:17,760So that might be to his, uh, yep, might be to his benefit.30500:14:17,760 --> 00:14:18,760Let's see.30600:14:18,760 --> 00:14:23,000I made the point earlier that the NBA globally was kind of about two teams.30700:14:23,000 --> 00:14:24,320We talked about one.30800:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,800Let's talk about the other team.30900:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,160The boss is Celtics.31000:14:28,160 --> 00:14:31,240I think it's a team Steve knows a little bit about.31100:14:31,240 --> 00:14:35,200They were meant the best team in the association, record wise, but they had their first losing31200:14:35,200 --> 00:14:38,280week of the season in week 23, right?31300:14:38,280 --> 00:14:42,000So the right now they're row into, I know they've got a game tonight, but the best they're going31400:14:42,000 --> 00:14:47,160to be one and two this week, first losing week, all season long.31500:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,440And they lost after being up 30.31600:14:49,440 --> 00:14:55,760So I got to ask you, you know, as a Boston fans, are other teams figuring out the Celtics?31700:14:55,760 --> 00:14:57,680Is there a problem here?31800:14:57,680 --> 00:15:01,360Other teams are heating up as the playoffs are starting.31900:15:01,360 --> 00:15:03,680Are the Celtics cooling off?32000:15:03,680 --> 00:15:04,680Are they in trouble?32100:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,360I think they stopped playing defense.32200:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,320I think it's been a major problem the other night.32300:15:12,320 --> 00:15:18,080And even with holiday and white playing, Mary took 44 shots.32400:15:18,080 --> 00:15:20,960So you take that many shots, you can score some points.32500:15:20,960 --> 00:15:25,880But the dog, Donovitch as well, we're getting wide open off the dribble and that tells me the32600:15:25,880 --> 00:15:27,520defense wasn't there.32700:15:27,520 --> 00:15:32,040The other interesting thing in that game and Mizzoula tried to cover it after the game, but32800:15:32,040 --> 00:15:38,560in the overtime, they kept running high screen and roll trying to get Porzingus on Mary.32900:15:38,560 --> 00:15:43,640And every time he did, Mary just beat him off with a junk shot.33000:15:43,640 --> 00:15:49,320I'm sitting there and Mizzoula said he was doing it because he's practicing situations,33100:15:49,320 --> 00:15:50,320which sounds great.33200:15:50,320 --> 00:15:52,840But you know what?33300:15:52,840 --> 00:15:59,720I'm sitting there saying to myself, if he's doing this, A, if you take Porzingus out of33400:15:59,720 --> 00:16:06,440the game, or B, you got to get that player guarding Mary through the screen.33500:16:06,440 --> 00:16:09,880But you can't let Porzingus stay out on him and he didn't.33600:16:09,880 --> 00:16:16,320So if he didn't make the adjustment and it wasn't what he was saying that he was just practicing33700:16:16,320 --> 00:16:18,680something, that's a problem.33800:16:18,680 --> 00:16:21,680And you've got to have the adjustments made.33900:16:21,680 --> 00:16:26,960And Porzingus defensively in the last couple of weeks has not been nearly as good as he34000:16:26,960 --> 00:16:28,480was earlier in the year.34100:16:28,480 --> 00:16:33,680Now, Tatum, because it's a one point game at the end, Tatum's getting a lot of heat.34200:16:33,680 --> 00:16:35,760He's really getting beat up about it.34300:16:35,760 --> 00:16:36,760But you know what?34400:16:36,760 --> 00:16:41,200When you think about it, if you defended all games and played, I want to offer one more34500:16:41,200 --> 00:16:44,360on that, you wouldn't have Tatum having to worry about that.34600:16:44,360 --> 00:16:49,080And by the way, in the last five or six games, Boston is number two defensive rating in34700:16:49,080 --> 00:16:50,080the league.34800:16:50,080 --> 00:16:54,720Now, in the last five or six games, they are, I think, number 20.34900:16:54,720 --> 00:16:59,920That tells me that they think it's over and they're just playing it out and figure they're35000:16:59,920 --> 00:17:05,040going to win when they throw their, their, their, you know, the proverbial play.35100:17:05,040 --> 00:17:07,320Yeah, and it's not happening.35200:17:07,320 --> 00:17:08,320Tonight will be interesting.35300:17:08,320 --> 00:17:12,360They play Houston about a half hour from when we're doing this.35400:17:12,360 --> 00:17:15,520If they don't defend, I think there's going to be a little bit of fear and they're going35500:17:15,520 --> 00:17:16,840to play again.35600:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,640But I don't know how you stop, sorry.35700:17:20,640 --> 00:17:22,240That's a rough thing to do.35800:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,960You know, I don't know if they're physical enough to do that.35900:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,840I'm a score for a king guard, but they're going to have a problem there.36000:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,920They're probably used to do holiday on them, but, but they're going to have a problem.36100:17:32,920 --> 00:17:34,960So that, that's my thought.36200:17:34,960 --> 00:17:38,080And if they lose today, I think I'll say there's a problem.36300:17:38,080 --> 00:17:39,080Okay.36400:17:39,080 --> 00:17:40,080Okay.36500:17:40,080 --> 00:17:41,080So let me ask you this and we'll end on that.36600:17:41,080 --> 00:17:45,160No, you heard the, the buzzer go off on a scale of one to 10, 10 being.36700:17:45,160 --> 00:17:48,480I am ridiculously worried about this team.36800:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,640One being no way, Jose, no problems at all, which year concern level with the South.36900:17:52,640 --> 00:17:53,640Five or six.37000:17:53,640 --> 00:17:55,320Wow, it's pretty high.37100:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,320Well, no, it's not that high.37200:17:57,320 --> 00:17:58,320It's middle.37300:17:58,320 --> 00:18:06,200Yeah, again, again, you know, during the game the other night, Boston put pressure in.37400:18:06,200 --> 00:18:07,200Pritchard pressured.37500:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,320I guess, Murray up the court, full court.37600:18:10,320 --> 00:18:14,760And when he got across, he threw a pass, somebody defiled it, it was and picked it off.37700:18:14,760 --> 00:18:22,760Some in sense to me said that you needed to do that and take out man out of comfort and37800:18:22,760 --> 00:18:25,560to continue to bother them.37900:18:25,560 --> 00:18:27,480That was the only time they did it the whole game.38000:18:27,480 --> 00:18:32,200And that was one of the few times that little stretch, Boston played better, better defense.38100:18:32,200 --> 00:18:33,520That was it.38200:18:33,520 --> 00:18:35,320That was it in the whole game.38300:18:35,320 --> 00:18:40,040Last thing I'll say on the game, by Donovan, hit the three at the last couple of seconds38400:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,600in regulation to tie it.38500:18:42,600 --> 00:18:43,880Now.38600:18:43,880 --> 00:18:44,880They missed a shot.38700:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,200They got the rebound.38800:18:48,200 --> 00:18:56,480Somewhere a player who's guarding by Donovan is got to say, I'm not going to leave him until38900:18:56,480 --> 00:18:59,320we have the ball.39000:18:59,320 --> 00:19:00,320What happened?39100:19:00,320 --> 00:19:03,840Kepel who had a great game rebounded and kicked it out to him.39200:19:03,840 --> 00:19:06,440He was wide open and he's a good shooter.39300:19:06,440 --> 00:19:12,880So the mental breakdowns really start becoming, you know, huge.39400:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,040And that was what I saw when that happened.39500:19:16,040 --> 00:19:17,040All right.39600:19:17,040 --> 00:19:18,040All right.39700:19:18,040 --> 00:19:23,000I honestly thought that you would be less concerned than a five or six, but let's see how39800:19:23,000 --> 00:19:24,440things play out.39900:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,680To me, they're still the scariest team.40000:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,200Them and Denver.40100:19:29,200 --> 00:19:34,320And you know, being an LA guy, it pains me to say it, but I think a nugget Celtics final would40200:19:34,320 --> 00:19:35,320be epic.40300:19:35,320 --> 00:19:36,320Great series.40400:19:36,320 --> 00:19:41,320Don't forget, and one more piece to the Celtics thing.40500:19:41,320 --> 00:19:46,480And they're shooting over 40% from three day ball, everybody out the last two games they40600:19:46,480 --> 00:19:47,480haven't done that.40700:19:47,480 --> 00:19:48,480OK.40800:19:48,480 --> 00:19:52,680So that's another factor involved in this whole thing to watch.40900:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,560Any time a team banks two or three, three is in a row.41000:19:55,560 --> 00:19:56,560That's nine points.41100:19:56,560 --> 00:20:02,640I mean, a game goes from close to right in margin, and they're not shooting real well right41200:20:02,640 --> 00:20:03,640now.41300:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,000Well, tonight could be the very hot.41400:20:06,000 --> 00:20:07,880They still need the ball.41500:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,720No, they're playing the, they're playing the pelicans.41600:20:10,720 --> 00:20:12,200Not a team, but it's also really hot.41700:20:12,200 --> 00:20:13,800I think it'll be a fun game to watch.41800:20:13,800 --> 00:20:14,800It's good.41900:20:14,800 --> 00:20:15,800All right.42000:20:15,800 --> 00:20:16,800Well, that's it.42100:20:16,800 --> 00:20:18,800You heard the buzz and go off and you heard us continue to talk over.42200:20:18,800 --> 00:20:20,080It's kind of what we do.42300:20:20,080 --> 00:20:22,280But please make sure to read these entire article.42400:20:22,280 --> 00:20:28,320It'll be linked below to get his thoughts on other teams tanking and a few other coaches42500:20:28,320 --> 00:20:30,120who should be worried.42600:20:30,120 --> 00:20:31,120That's it.42700:20:31,120 --> 00:20:32,120Times up.42800:20:32,120 --> 00:20:33,120Thanks as always for listening.42900:20:33,120 --> 00:20:38,000Please consider subscribing and join us next week on the 13 rules NBA Random Thoughts podcast.43000:20:38,000 --> 00:20:41,120It's the best 50 minutes of NBA Random Thoughts online.43100:20:41,120 --> 00:20:42,120We'll talk next week.43200:20:42,120 --> 00:20:43,120Steve, thanks.43300:20:43,120 --> 00:20:43,440Thank you.Steve and Jose discuss Steve's latest 13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts article focusing on coaches in the hot seat!Steve Clifford Charlotte HornetsJ.B. Bickerstaff Cleveland CavaliersDarvin Ham Los Angeles LakersAre the Boston Celtics in trouble heading into the playoffs?Read the full article here: https://thepeachbasket.net/13-rules-nba-random-thoughts-5/