Confusing Teams and the In-Season Tournament with JJ Redick
Dec 5, 2023
01:24:04
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JJ Redick and Zach discuss the confusing teams in the league. They analyze the Pacers' defensive performance, the importance of size and vertical threat in the paint, and evaluate the recent performance of the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings. They also talk about team defense and hierarchy, the struggles of the Kings, and share opinions on various basketball events.
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Quick takeaways
The Dallas Mavericks have been struggling defensively this season, ranking in the bottom half of the league in opponent field goal percentage.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown promise this season, but their inconsistency has hindered their progress, highlighting the need for a more consistent playing style.
Despite having a respectable record, both the Mavericks and the Cavaliers have negative point differentials, indicating underperformance against opponents.
Deep dives
Dallas Mavericks struggling to find consistency
The Dallas Mavericks have been struggling to find consistency this season. Despite having their full roster available, they have been unable to string together wins and establish a strong foothold in the Western Conference. Their point differential for the season is in the negative range, indicating that they have been underperforming in relation to their opponents. The team's defense has been a particular concern, as they have been allowing their opponents to score from all areas of the floor. The Mavericks will need to address their defensive issues and find a way to establish a more consistent and cohesive playing style if they want to make a significant impact this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers showing promise but still inconsistent
The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown promise this season, but they have also been inconsistent. The team is currently sitting at a respectable 11-8 record, but their point differential is in the negative range. This indicates that although they have had some strong performances, they have also had their fair share of struggles. Injuries have played a role in their inconsistency, with key players missing time. The Cavaliers will need to find a way to maintain their high-level play and develop a more consistent style of play if they want to make a significant impact in the Eastern Conference.
Dallas Mavericks defense a major concern
The Dallas Mavericks have been struggling on the defensive end of the court this season. They currently rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of opponent field goal percentage, allowing their opponents to score from all areas of the floor. This defensive inefficiency has been a major factor in their inconsistency and inability to establish a strong foothold in the competitive Western Conference. The Mavericks will need to address their defensive issues and find a way to improve their overall team defense if they want to have a successful season.
Cleveland Cavaliers need to find consistency to continue progressing
The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown promise this season, but their inconsistency has hindered their progress. With a respectable 11-8 record, the Cavaliers have demonstrated their ability to compete, but they have also experienced stretches of underwhelming performances. Injuries have played a role in their inconsistency, but they will need to find a way to maintain a higher level of play in order to continue their development and climb up the standings in the Eastern Conference.
Dallas Mavericks' inconsistent performance and defensive concerns
The Dallas Mavericks have shown inconsistency in their performance this season. Starting with a strong 6-0 record, they have now fallen back to a sub-.500 record. While Luca Doncic and Kyrie Irving have been impressive individually, the team has struggled to find its rhythm and determine roles. The lack of continuity in their rotation and questionable lineup choices have contributed to their defensive struggles, ranking 25th in defense. Despite some positive contributions from players like Derrick Jones Jr., the Mavs have not been able to establish a strong defensive presence, resulting in mixed performances and uncertainties about their overall potential as an upper-tier Western Conference team.
Cleveland Cavaliers' potential and the dynamic between Garland and Mitchell
The Cleveland Cavaliers have shown promise this season with their strong offensive numbers and solid defensive performances. The addition of players like Max Strus has improved their playmaking and overall team chemistry. However, the dynamic between Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell has not fully clicked yet. Both guards have similar playing styles and tend to be ball-dominant, creating some inconsistencies and questions about their fit. Despite the notable contributions from Evan Mobley and Jared Allen, the Cavs have not been able to translate their potential into consistent success. Addressing the Garland-Mitchell dynamic could be crucial for their long-term growth and aspirations as a top-tier team.
Zach and JJ Redick discuss the first two quarterfinal games of the In-Season Tournament and then explain why they are confused by an assortment of teams in the league.
Pacers advance to Vegas (1:44)
Haliburton is a star (8:03)
Indiana needs to improve defensively (13:04)
Celtics takeaways from loss to Indiana (17:54)
Are the Pelicans a sleeping giant in the West? (31:31)
Kings (40:39)
Mavs (53:41)
Cavs (1:04:29)
How do we feel about point differential as a tiebreaker in the IST? (1:10:17)
