13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts - May 11, 2024

[00:00:00] Alright, it's time to talk basketball. I'm Jose Saviati, editor of thepeachbasket.net. He's Steve Perciello, a longtime high school basketball coach, educator, vice principal, and athletic director.

[00:00:11] And this is the 13 Rules Random NBA Thoughts podcast, the best 15 minutes of random NBA thoughts online.

[00:00:18] If this is your first time listening, as always thank you. We're so grateful that you found us.

[00:00:22] This podcast was born out of the confidence of Steve's Random NBA Thoughts articles, which he publishes weekly.

[00:00:28] Steve and I have exactly 15 minutes to discuss what's on his mind around the NBA.

[00:00:33] Today we'll discuss his latest 13 Rules Random NBA Thoughts article with a focus on defense in the playoffs.

[00:00:40] Steve, are you ready? Ready.

[00:00:42] Alright, I'm gonna start the timer and let's go.

[00:00:50] We'll start with the team you know a little something about, the Boston Celtics.

[00:00:55] Now they lost a game in round one due in part to a hot shooting game by the Miami Heat.

[00:01:01] That seemed to upset the Celtics because they didn't lose another game in that series.

[00:01:05] It was the only game they lost in that series, in fact.

[00:01:09] In the recent Celtics loss to the Cavs in round two, where the Cavs shot 46.4% from three,

[00:01:16] is that more likely a repeat of round one where now the Celtics, you know, they lost to a hot shooting team and they're not gonna lose again?

[00:01:24] Or is there a legitimate concern for the Celtics?

[00:01:28] I think the biggest concern is, are the Celtics ready to play?

[00:01:31] And when I say that, are they defending?

[00:01:35] They had no ball pressure as I mentioned.

[00:01:38] And if you watch the first half, Cleveland repeatedly went to the basket, broke somebody down, particularly from the right side.

[00:01:45] And then they were kicking it to Mobley and he was getting little three footers or five footers that were easy or they were getting layups off of that.

[00:01:53] But they were giving up that dribble drive.

[00:01:56] Boston doesn't have the big man that can block shots.

[00:01:59] So it's kind of changed a lot of the game.

[00:02:02] In the second half, Boston's defense was a little bit more relaxed, meaning they were trying to take away the dribble drive.

[00:02:09] And you saw Mitchell and Garland getting wide open threes and they were just punishing the Celtics.

[00:02:15] They're good shooters and they're going to score if they're making it.

[00:02:19] I think the biggest thing you watch, if you watch the game tonight or any other game, is Boston taking away that dribble drive.

[00:02:27] If they are, they probably are there to play defense and if they're pressuring, meaning they're forcing the offense to set up about 10 or 15 feet outside the three point line.

[00:02:38] If they're giving up everything where things are setting up closer, Boston's in trouble and they're not defending.

[00:02:45] This team has done this all year.

[00:02:47] They play great and then they go out and they don't defend and they'll play.

[00:02:50] And this is what happens.

[00:02:52] A championship team shouldn't be doing that.

[00:02:55] So that's why I have a little doubts, I guess, about them winning the whole thing.

[00:03:01] Wow.

[00:03:02] So, and I don't want to put words in your mouth, but let me tell you, tell me if I'm paraphrasing this correctly.

[00:03:08] I asked if there was a legitimate concern about the Celtics.

[00:03:11] It doesn't sound like there's a legitimate concern, but there is some concern.

[00:03:16] Is that fair?

[00:03:17] Yeah, there is. There is concern.

[00:03:19] You just can't go out.

[00:03:21] Don't forget, and Boston scored 90 something points the other day and they shot terribly.

[00:03:28] So they're going to get their points if they shoot decently.

[00:03:32] I think there were 22%, was it from three?

[00:03:36] Exactly right. 22.5 from deep.

[00:03:39] Which is just terrible.

[00:03:40] So they're going to get their points, but you've got to go out and stop these people.

[00:03:46] And they didn't.

[00:03:47] Defense wins games.

[00:03:49] And at the end there, they were just getting whatever they wanted and Boston more or less quit.

[00:03:54] And that's another characteristic that's not a champion.

[00:03:57] You don't quit. You don't quit.

[00:03:59] So those characteristics are not characteristics we would take of championship teams.

[00:04:06] How much is this attributed to Noporzingis?

[00:04:11] You mentioned no rim protection. There's your rim protection, right?

[00:04:14] Is he that important to the Celtics?

[00:04:17] Of course he is. They're better with him.

[00:04:20] But if they take away the dribble drive, if they can defend better,

[00:04:25] they wouldn't have to worry about a rim protector.

[00:04:28] So it all works.

[00:04:30] I mean, if you're getting at the halftime, I'm sure the Celtics talked about adjusting.

[00:04:36] How do we take away the dribble drive?

[00:04:39] We have to rotate. By the way, the guards did not rotate from the weak side.

[00:04:44] So that gave Mobley a wide open lane to get the ball and score.

[00:04:49] So if they took care of that though at halftime, they took away the dribble drive.

[00:04:54] But now you're giving up something and Mitchell just heated up.

[00:04:58] And he just killed him in the third quarter.

[00:05:01] It's interesting. At half, that game was tied.

[00:05:03] And then it all imploded in the second half.

[00:05:07] And it was 63-62 Cleveland.

[00:05:10] And Garland and Boston was making a little run.

[00:05:14] And Garland hit a three from about three or four feet behind the three point line on the left wing.

[00:05:19] And that's when the dam broke. And then they just went off.

[00:05:24] All right. Well, game three is always or often the most important game in a series.

[00:05:30] So we'll see how this plays out tonight. I'm excited to see it.

[00:05:33] Moving on, Bear Bryant. We're talking football now.

[00:05:36] Alabama coach and great said that defense win championships.

[00:05:40] At least that's attributed to him. You called it out today so far, Steve.

[00:05:44] The Pacers, we know, do not play defense. At least that's not what they're known for.

[00:05:50] Are the Pacers doomed despite only being down 2-1 in their series against the Knicks?

[00:05:55] Or can an offensive dominated team advance further than the second round in the NBA playoffs?

[00:06:03] Normally, I'd say no. But there's a couple exceptions here.

[00:06:07] First of all, the Knicks are not as constituted of the real good team.

[00:06:13] Jalen Brunson is great. I mean, he's the best.

[00:06:16] But look at what's around him. You know, they lost Ananobe who, you know, he helps them because he's got size.

[00:06:22] They lost Mitchell Robinson who helps them because he's got size.

[00:06:26] Randall's been out for a long time.

[00:06:29] They're getting by on Hart and Josh Hart and a lot of Hart and never say die attitude next man up all that good stuff.

[00:06:39] Don't forget Indianapolis or Indiana was sixth seed, the sixth seed.

[00:06:46] That means they're not that good. They're good, but not great.

[00:06:50] OK, the Knicks were the second seed, but they're missing people right now.

[00:06:54] I think the talent level is somewhat more towards Indiana.

[00:06:59] But I think the Knicks obviously just don't quit and they play.

[00:07:05] And by the way, even Brunson's hurt. So he didn't play as well as I give Neesmith credit for the defense.

[00:07:13] But I think his foot is a problem. So the Knicks are not what they should be.

[00:07:18] So Indianapolis has got to have a good shot to if they can win the fourth game, they go back to New York and anything goes.

[00:07:25] And and I pointed this out. If you continue to play these guys 45 minutes a night, things are going to break.

[00:07:34] And that's what happened the other night. It just you know, it's just a lot of strain on the body for these guys.

[00:07:41] Yeah. What kind of what option does Tim's have, though?

[00:07:45] I mean, you got to run these guys 45 minutes, don't you?

[00:07:47] Well, if you if you think about it, he used Burke and McBride off the bench.

[00:07:55] And what you could do, and I know hard to small, he played the four.

[00:07:59] What you could do, you can work something out where each half you can get each guy on the court.

[00:08:05] The start is five, four or five minutes each half or five minutes, you know, just by getting these guys and letting them play.

[00:08:13] So I think, you know, in that way, it might work.

[00:08:16] Burke shot the ball real well, and he's always shot well. Yeah.

[00:08:19] Oh, and McBride has been shooting well. He hasn't played well in this series in the first series he did.

[00:08:24] But to me, you know, they even took out Josh Hart the other night, last night.

[00:08:29] And he's been going 48 minutes. That must tell you something about, you know, and they took Brunson out early in the game.

[00:08:37] So it tells you that these guys are, you know, wearing down.

[00:08:41] So Indiana's got that's why Indiana, by the way, is picking them up full court and making them just and it's a token pressure,

[00:08:49] but making them bring the ball up and have more wear them down, wear them down.

[00:08:54] Sure. 43 minutes for Josh Hart, 44 minutes for Dante DiVincenzo.

[00:09:00] And just to call it out, right, 21 and 14 points, 21 minutes, 14 points for Alec Burke and 29 and 10 for Miles McBride.

[00:09:09] OK, interesting. Yeah, it's the Knicks look like a mass unit.

[00:09:14] Move to the West, Jamal Murray. He was a dumpster fire in game two, eight points on zero percent from three and a tossed heating pad,

[00:09:22] which you called out is not particularly classy. And I agree.

[00:09:26] Then he was on fire, though, in game three to start the game and led the Nuggets to a win that they had to have.

[00:09:32] No teams ever come back from down 3-0. So how will this odd series?

[00:09:37] It's odd because the home team hasn't won a game yet. Play out.

[00:09:43] Understanding that nobody has won on their home court yet.

[00:09:46] What do you think about this series now that we're three games in?

[00:09:50] Initially, you said the Wolves have a chance.

[00:09:54] Do you still feel that way or do you think the Nuggets are back?

[00:09:59] Before you do that, I want to just want to make a comment.

[00:10:02] Yeah, Jamal Murray is a great winner when he's winning.

[00:10:07] He's he's flexing for the crowd and doing all the things he's supposed to do when he's hot.

[00:10:10] Yeah, I've seen a few times he's done that over the years.

[00:10:14] When he's losing, he's not a nice guy.

[00:10:17] Yeah, and I'm just making comparison because it's in this series.

[00:10:20] If you looked at Anthony Edwards last night after the game, his quotes.

[00:10:25] He doesn't use the word.

[00:10:27] He uses the word we when he does something well, and he compliments his teammates.

[00:10:34] He doesn't bow.

[00:10:35] He doesn't take all that.

[00:10:37] And when they lose, he talks about we not them.

[00:10:42] Now it's a complete opposite, completely opposite take on a situation.

[00:10:49] Jamal Murray's got a lot.

[00:10:51] He's a good player, but he's got a lot of growing up to do.

[00:10:54] Now, when we talk about the game, we talk about something that's very interesting.

[00:11:00] Well, teams losing and so on and so forth on the home court.

[00:11:03] Of course, that's a point I think I think Minnesota's got a shot.

[00:11:08] But those three days off or four days in between, Jamal Murray's calf got a little better.

[00:11:15] And if Jamal Murray is healthy, it gets interesting.

[00:11:20] I think it's going seven.

[00:11:22] But and I think I think the other thing three games now have been kind of runaways each way.

[00:11:29] Usually you get your few blowouts in the series, then all of a sudden they become one and two point games.

[00:11:36] And that's what I kind of see happening in the future.

[00:11:40] Ask me to pick a team to win.

[00:11:42] I have no idea.

[00:11:43] I guess I'd favor Minnesota because they won the two games in Denver.

[00:11:47] But if they lose the second one, they lose their home court advantage and that second one at home.

[00:11:53] Yeah. What a fascinating series.

[00:11:56] I do think that and I agree with you, right?

[00:11:58] I think the first three games kind of an aberration, just really weird.

[00:12:02] Nobody won on their home turf and they were all blowouts.

[00:12:05] The game is going to slow down.

[00:12:07] We're going to see a one or two point game coming up.

[00:12:11] And in that scenario, you got to give the advantage of the Nuggets.

[00:12:15] They're a championship team.

[00:12:17] They're a veteran team.

[00:12:18] They should know better.

[00:12:20] But again, you've got this oddity in Anthony Edwards, who's 22 year old and acts like he's 27.

[00:12:25] And Jamal Murray's 27 act and maybe like he's 22.

[00:12:29] It's a little weird.

[00:12:30] But yeah, fascinating series.

[00:12:32] Let's see how it plays out.

[00:12:33] We want to finish again in the West.

[00:12:36] Are we talking Lakers now?

[00:12:38] I was going to go.

[00:12:40] I had it all set.

[00:12:41] I was going to go to the very end and call out the fact that we did our first show without mentioning Lakers.

[00:12:46] Then you wouldn't let it happen.

[00:12:49] I was honestly I was ready.

[00:12:52] I didn't write it down, but I was ready to mention it.

[00:12:54] No Laker talk today, although their coach, their next coach, there's a lot to talk about there, but we're not going to go down that rabbit hole.

[00:13:02] You and I instead, we're going to talk about something you've written about before and something you and I have talked about before.

[00:13:08] That's the Kyrie experience.

[00:13:10] He has left teams in kind of worse state than he arrived, but it looks like he may have found a home in Dallas.

[00:13:19] He's playing really well.

[00:13:21] That team is playing well.

[00:13:22] They're playing.

[00:13:23] They're defending really well.

[00:13:24] Kyrie and Luke are hugging it out.

[00:13:26] Has Kyrie found his home?

[00:13:28] Is this it for Kyrie Irving?

[00:13:30] First of all, Kyrie is not a dumb man.

[00:13:33] And I think he kind of realized his act was getting to a lot of people.

[00:13:40] He probably got a taste when before he was a free agent, usually players know if somebody's interested.

[00:13:50] And I wonder if he didn't get a lot of interest.

[00:13:52] So a lot of messages were delivered to him.

[00:13:56] And I think so he's realized this is his place and do and play the best and do well.

[00:14:02] So I think I think he grew up a lot.

[00:14:04] We'll see over the next year or two.

[00:14:07] But but I just think, you know, he plays a different game now and he's a lot more humble, he seems.

[00:14:12] And he seems to be getting it took a while.

[00:14:15] And a lot of teams he's left behind that are not happy with his act.

[00:14:20] But I'm glad to see him finally get going because he is one of the most talented point guards I've ever seen with his ball handling as well as he's a great shooter.

[00:14:32] Yeah.

[00:14:33] Now, despite all of that, if I remember right, you pick the thunder over the Mavericks, right?

[00:14:39] Yeah.

[00:14:40] Do you still see that happening right now?

[00:14:43] You know, they're tied 1-1.

[00:14:45] And again, Dallas looked pretty good in that victory in Oklahoma City.

[00:14:49] I kind of do.

[00:14:50] But that's another one that's going seven.

[00:14:52] OK.

[00:14:53] You know, the interesting thing, I guess the Nick series is that so darn physical that you expect bodies, you know, just getting beat up.

[00:15:05] The Celtic series isn't nearly as physical and nor is the West series.

[00:15:11] Right.

[00:15:12] Both series in the West.

[00:15:13] So, yeah, I think it will.

[00:15:16] And the only thing won't be for these teams that won't get a lot of rest between series because I think they're both going seven.

[00:15:22] Yeah.

[00:15:24] Yeah.

[00:15:25] It's tough because the West is so competitive and the East is too.

[00:15:30] But I do think the weaker team might be in the East because the Knicks are just so hurt.

[00:15:39] And the Pacers don't particularly play defense.

[00:15:42] So the West, both series might very well go seven.

[00:15:46] And whoever survives the West is going to limp to the finals, whereas maybe you might see something in the Eastern Conference finals between the Celtics and whoever else makes it.

[00:15:58] But that might be intriguing.

[00:16:01] If they get there, yeah.

[00:16:03] Right.

[00:16:04] Yeah.

[00:16:05] I think whoever comes out of the East might be a little fresher while the West is beaten up on each other.

[00:16:13] Be interesting to see.

[00:16:14] All right.

[00:16:15] If you have to go through the Knicks, you're going to get beat up.

[00:16:19] Yeah.

[00:16:20] They play.

[00:16:21] They're physical and it's just the way it is.

[00:16:24] Throwback to the 1990s Pat Riley Knicks.

[00:16:30] I'm actually this is the first time we've ever done it.

[00:16:33] So I'm kind of lengthening out my words.

[00:16:38] We actually beat the shot clock.

[00:16:40] I think this is a first in the history of the Random NBA Thoughts podcast.

[00:16:45] We have never stopped talking before the clock went off.

[00:16:49] So congratulations.

[00:16:50] No technical today.

[00:16:52] That's it.

[00:16:53] I appreciate the time.

[00:16:54] Thank you always for listening.

[00:16:56] Thank you.

[00:16:57] Make sure to read Steve's entire article linked below to get all his thoughts on the playoffs.

[00:17:01] We don't talk about everything he wrote about, just some select things.

[00:17:05] Make sure to read his entire article.

[00:17:07] Thank you again for listening.

[00:17:08] Please consider subscribing and join us next week on the 13 rules Random NBA Thoughts podcast.

[00:17:13] The best 15 minutes of NBA Random Thoughts online.

[00:17:16] We'll see you next week.

[00:17:17] Thanks, Steve.

[00:17:18] Thank you.