Why Kevin Durant will carry Suns to deep NBA Playoffs run | Hoops Tonight
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So you guys don’t miss any of our content over the course of this season all right let’s talk some basketball who is more likely to win the Western Conference Luca donic or Kevin Durant I’m gonna say Kevin Durant and I really like the Dallas Mavericks guys the Dallas Mavericks are one of my
Favorite teams to watch simply because they have Luca donic and Kyrie Irving they are awesome when they are on but wow are they ugly when they are bad man the the the mths frustrate me beyond belief in their bad games When It’s the Grant Williams Show when it’s
The role players suck on both of these teams is what I’m getting at both the role players just completely blow and I don’t have any confidence in them to do anything like Phoenix just has more top star power and I can IM imagine KD and Beal and book going crazy they just have
More top guys like that really is the sole difference for me I can imagine luuka and Kyrie getting hot but I cannot imagine the role players playing beyond their means the Mavs are just too far away like if you’re giving Grant Williams big minutes man I’m sorry dude
Your team’s not doing anything you’re relying on Josh green and the boys and there’s just there’s not enough there you need Dante exom you need Derrik Jones I’m sorry and the Suns role players aren’t that great either because the Suns still have their fatal flaws the Reliance on pullup jump shooting I
Think nurkic man Carson you were right dude I was so wrong dude I tried to go to battle for nerk bro I tried to go to battle for nerk and I can’t do it anymore dude he gets his he flips his hips and that man is running in cement
Back To The Hoop he is just IM mobile so like I’m not confident either of these teams but to me the Mavs just don’t have that third guy and the Suns do I again that feels like a copout answer because the suns are very flawed like I can see them
Getting smoked defensively because of nurkic I can see them being way too relying on pullup jumpers and notching 95 to 100 points in a couple of games because they just go cold from there they don’t get enough pressure on the rim but they got dbook and KD and they
Got be they can rely on in certain games and they got Grayson Allen who’s been great as a spot up guy and I think he could swing a series and there’s just a few more rooll guys in Phoenix that I trust uh so marginally would go with uh
With the Suns but I don’t have a ton of faith in either of these teams I’m with you the one argument for the Mavs would be that Luca’s very likely G to be the best player on the floor in a theoretical matchup between these two or he’s just the best player
Between these two teams and in playoff settings has been monumentally great has taken his unbelievable regular season level and then gone up up another level part of that maybe just from insane pull-up shooting runs but but there is the physical imposition he gets where he
Wants on the floor he’s one of the three best Playmakers in the league and so single-handedly he can carry you to some pretty special stuff but it is different when you’re talking about a team that has two top 10 players in my opinion in KD and book both of whom can absolutely
Light you on fire Kyrie is still an unbelievable offensive player but I think that there’s a level of separation between those guys and him and then it is the third Dynamic Creator off the dribble the third big time shot maker the third guy who can pressure a defense
And also playmake in Bradley Beal who doesn’t exist for the Mavs the Suns just have more overwhelming offensive strengths they do have issues Logan you mentioned the lack of Rim pressure settling for mid-range jumpers but they have just the Personnel advantages and the spot up shooting with Grayson Allen
And Eric Gordon guys who have had really really good peer shooting seasons and then if you look at the other side of the ball it’s not exactly a beauty pageant like the suns are going to be okay defensively though and the Mavs have just been bad the Mavs
Are an awful rebounding team the Suns have been quite a good rebounding team I I just think they are the better all-around basketball team but I don’t think it’s likely that either of these teams make a deep run because primarily of my concerns on the defensive side of
The ball and then because of some little things offensively yeah it’s funny if you look at the stats it’s pretty clearly Phoenix just B on the stats and I I want to dive into this a little bit since Dallas started 8-2 they’re 18- 20 in their last 38
Games in that span that’s been the 19th best record in the league 17th in offense 23rd in defense 26th in defensive rebounding uh they’ve had a lot of injuries I want to make sure that that’s clear they’ve had 14 different players start games for them this season
But when Luca and Kyrie both play they’re 12- 10 which is pretty mediocre on the Suns front Bradley Beal has played in 18 straight games the suns are 13 and five in those 18 games which is the fourth best record in the league they have the third best
Offense in the league over that span 14th in defense 21st in defensive rebounding not good but better than Dallas has been so the standings and some of the numbers very clearly point the Mavs in Suns as very different teams but it does get complicated when you start to look at the playoff setting
Because because I agree I put it in my notes I think Luca is the best player on either team I think he’s a devastating playoff player with the unique capability to strangle the pace to make opposing Stars lose confidence to he has uniquely different from Devin Booker and
Kevin Durant he has the ability to really physically impose his will on an NBA playoff game I think all of that is vitally important and so this is where I get into the kind of playoff setting and and I want to pitch this this back to
You guys for a second so if we agree that the core five for Phoenix is going to be matchup dependent but it’s going to probably be Bradley Beal Kevin Durant Devon Booker Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon with probably nurkic in for Eric Gordon against teams that have bigger
Centers and then they’ll probably go small against other teams the core five for Dallas we’re probably getting Derek Lively and Grant Williams in that four five spot right then it’s probably going to be one of either Tim Hardway Jr Josh green or or Derrick Jones Jr in that
Three spot depending on again once what the matchup is this year they’ve leaned a lot on Tim Hardway Jr in clutch time which leads me to believe that they probably go that direction I’d probably go with uh with Josh green or Derrick Jones Jr if it was my decision but it’s
Gonna be one of those guys and then it’s Kyrie and Luca and when you really get down to it you scale minutes up and you lean heavily on those groups and we acknowledge that there’s a diminishing return with a third star on the floor that’s a that’s a ball handler and kind
Of like a heavy ball handling type of system let’s pitch it back to you guys we’ll start with you uh with you Carson when you really dig into those Five Guys which of those two lineup groupings do you think has more capability of beating one of the higher
Level playoff teams in the Western Conference it’s an interesting question because uh in some ways that Mavs lineup checks more different boxes and that you still have your two shot creators but then on the wings you have a bit more physicality at the very least you have
Your hyper athletic big who can impact the game more defensively and as a rim finisher than old nerk who oftentimes looked like he’s stuck in cement as Logan mentions so from that perspective it’s interesting because you think if the suns are G to get kind of bullied no matter how good they are
Offensively can they get enough stops against another great team and maybe the formula is and again both these teams are are flawed defensively but it does feel like in terms of the physicality Arena the Mavs match up a little bit better maybe that’s their advantage and
Then Luca goes nuclear but to me the principle is the same I just think that’s a more skilled offensive lineup for the Suns there’s more ball handling there’s more Dynamic shooting overall neither of these teams are going to win a series on the back of their defense so
I would take the team that I think has the better path to to Elite offense I would take Phoenix for two reasons one if the Mavericks are forced to play the Michelin Man Grant Williams they are doomed just they’re done for two it’s Batman bro put some respect on bman dud
Logan Logan has just been just just straight slander in this episode he hates Grant Williams Grant Williams is such a bozo man all right the second reason I know that in theory Dallas has the Personnel to be a good deal I get what you guys are saying with Grant’s a
Little bit of a stockier four should be able to match up physically well drick Jones J has bounced Derrick Lively is a great athlete I’ve seen two really bad games and I don’t know if there were injuries in these games but there’s two games to me from Dallas that stick out
Like sore thumbs the one where Luca went crazy against Atlanta and Atlanta kept pace that entire game and then the other game that I point to is when Dallas played Phoenix man I was talking trash to all of my friends who were Phoenix fans I was like oh dude Luca owns your
Poverty franchise you guys stink and then the Sun literally just came back and blew the Mavericks out like you can have your qualms about the Suns defense I don’t think Dallas’s defense is in a different enough tier I don’t think their athletic advantages are enough to really make a meaningful difference to
Me I think they’re you know uh they’re wet paper bag defenses man you know they just you tear right through them and they’re slower on the perimeter Dallas they they may be stronger but they’re slower they are I’m gonna I’m going to take Luca and the Mavs I think let’s use
This as example I don’t think either team has really any chance to beat Denver but let’s look at like a Clippers matchup like the Clippers would just play Suns basketball and do it better and beat him the I I could see Luca strangling the pace playing them into their worst
Tendencies physically imposing his will on the game picking on matchups like I I don’t think either of these teams are that good or that either of them really have that type of you know uh I should say not they they both have Championship potential but like I mean like real like
You know uh like substantial Championship potential but if I had to pick one guy to notch an upset in a later round and maybe just sneak his way in I’m gonna take Luca in that group I I I think I think a lot of people are off
Of his scent after last year’s uh Missing the playoffs and I I just I think I’m on the fence between the two and given that circumstance I’m going to lean towards Luca A
Jason Timpf breaks down why Kevin Durant has a better chance to lead the Phoenix Suns on a deep playoff run than Luka Doncic does for the Dallas Mavericks.
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37 Comments
He said Luka is better than KD….Both ends KD is better this is ridiculous
Kd definitely still the best player especially when you add his defense
Imagine What KD would average if he was as ball dominant as Luka
The Suns role players have been very good these past couple of games
I’m going to be honest without being disrespectful, when I see the other 2 guys I just click off, I toughed it out to hear their takes and I just feel dirty after listening to them talk, to say those role players suck on both teams is just atrocious, he needs to rinse his mouth out. At the end of the day if the suns wanted to they can run a lineup of KD at center, DBook, and Beal 1-2, Allen and Gordon, and literally run through the east and west except the Celtics and Denver, because of the highly skilled 7 footers. This death lineup is uncheckable for every team except the Nuggets and the Celtics… Put Gordon and Allen in the corners, and run high screen and rolls/ Pops/ DHO’s with KD as the short roll/ Center, and let DBook and Beal get downhill, to middy pull up/ floater and if it gets switched KD has a smaller player on him, easy shot over top, if the blitz/ double KD is playing Draymond Green ball, except it’s KD with the ball and if you leave the corners it’s legit snipers in those spots, it’s unstoppable. Run that after halftime, and in the 4th with 7mins left, 2024 Champions.
Luka guards who again? KD is the best defender on the court in the series and also happens to be the best offensive player. So the Luka being the better player in the series is quite the take.
Luka is a better player and I don’t think it’s close. Biggest difference between the two is you can gameplan and be physical with KD in the playoffs and he won’t be efficient. Much harder to do that with Luka bcos of his passing. KDs defense is not enough to put him over Luka.
Because they beat an awful Wizards team? Timpf losing it man.
It’s safe to say sixers fans this is not your pod… Embiid out for the season. just a week back we were convinced that he ducked Jocker for seating out coz he could not jump. Gatta say when it was all about basketball this was one of the most informative pod… when feelings gat in the way of the facts.. well some will love this pod for that, but the purists who come here to learn about hoops, nah this don’t offer much no more. Nice pod though keep doing u.
How is Luka the best player? The dude has not won anything. Can someone tell me what Luka has done that Book has not
Nurkic looks like he lost TWO steps after that leg injury.
Still believe in the suns and Kevin Durant, huh? Okay. Good luck.
Kevin Durant will always be better then Luka. Kd just defers too much. Kd with lukas usage percentage is averaging 40
KD barley is in top 20 all time not even close to Larry Bird.
Luka
Giannis
Jokic
Embid
Are best players KD not that close to any of them
The Suns have a weak bench and lack of leadership!! Defense is also an issue. I don't see the Suns getting past the 2nd round. Oklahoma and Denver in the Finals. Denver comes out on top. Denver vs Boston or Milwaukee. Denver wins again. I'm ok with that. I wish the Warrior's would win again, but Steven Kerr doesn't know what he's doing with the rotations!!
What is the point of this question. Neither team is going to win a tite.
KD doesn’t affect winning. Great player, but he doesn’t winning.
Luka is not better than Kd your not aloud to talk basketball anymore bro
God these 2 are bad at this
Jason alone is 10x better
The Hate on this Channel on the Suns is hilarious
KD at 35 is still better than Luka both offensively and defensively
He’s absolutely right about Grant Williams. 100% bozo
I'm starting to not understand your thought process here… your claiming the suns are on fire but they're 7-3 with 29 wins this year and then you slam the celtics about how you don't like there chance because of there last few games… they're 7-3 in they're last 10 and have 38 wins on the season!!!! I trust the celts more than the 1st round suns smh
Luka is not better than KD, let’s not do that. KD can guard Luka and give him 50 if he wants.
As a Suns fan, I don’t care what either teams’ stats are or how much better the Suns could be as a team, I want no part of Luka and the Mavs in a playoff series. I haven’t missed one game in years, I watch every single one and also go to many games. There is no team in the league who my Suns will roll over to and fall apart against like the Mavs. There is some intangible factor at play that I can’t quite put my thumb on, I don’t know if it’s a mental dynamic or what, but it’s very real and it only happens vs Dallas.
13 new players on the roster and a new coach? You’d think that would change it, but my brother and I each spent over $1600 on our tickets to go spend our Christmas night watching Luka absolutely raw dawg them giving us Game 7 PTSD. There is nothing else like it, and as much as I hate it, watching it in live action sitting up close to it was quite something. Luka and his arrogant smile out there having a blast dropping 50 as Booker lays in the fetal position getting clapped by him… Book is a fierce, trash talking cold blooded competitor who turns into a total assassin. Seeing him roll over vs Luka is always hard for my mind to even process.
So yes no Mavs in the playoffs please. Get cute late in the season and lose games or win games to duck them in the standings. That’s what it’s come to
Go suns
the suns are frauds 😂
F the Pelicans uh? 😂
This dude hates KD but tried to act like he loves him
Mavs have no chance
The suns takes on this channel are starting to become laughable 😂😂😂
Luka will get picked on defense in the playoffs he’s a liability there, in any playoff series suns will have 3 of the best players on the floor at once
Suns don’t settle very often you need to have some actual suns podcasters on your show if you want some legitimacy as of now this is literally just a suns hater running a podcast
Lol these make-a-wish zoom conferences are just the worst
I think nurkic needs some more love, yeah he's slow footed on the perimeter but his impact offensively is huge. The passing has been critical, and he's just a big dude that knows how to play big. The suns exploit his matchup in the paint frequently if he has an advantage, something they weren't able to do with ayton
Luka and the mavs are overrated.. they might not even make the playoffs again for how bad they've been playing
The suns are fourth in the league in free throw attempts and yet these "nerds" call them a finesse jump shooting team… Seems to me like they're casuals..