The Zach Lowe Show
Lakers' Statement Win Over OKC? Plus, Awards Talk With Howard Beck and a Warriors Check-In With Anthony Slater.
Mon, 07 Apr 2025
Zach is back! And he's making up for lost time by talking about the wild Western Conference playoff race, the showdown between the Lakers and the Thunder, and NBA awards with Howard Beck. Plus, a look at the roller-coaster season for the Golden State Warriors with Anthony Slater (01:18:08). The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What are the highlights of the Lakers vs. Thunder game?
Chapter 2: How is the Western Conference playoff race shaping up?
But Draymond Green fits those parameters, too, for Defensive Player of the Year. The Warriors are 7th in defensive rating, 3rd since the All-Star break. Unejectable, Draymond Green. And by the way...
It's not his fault. It's not his fault. This part is not his fault. And this helps his case as a defensive player. I do think because of his reputation, whatever, he gets more leeway physically than almost anybody else in the league. Like he can play ultra, ultra physical defense and get away with it.
Okay. The flip side of that is, I don't know how people are going to react to this one. I have not heard any discussion of this. I think he's probably one of the only guys who gets called for the flagrant for that elbow. Like that, that, that was a normal, like driving, shooting layup motion. Like what? Let's, let's, let's be honest.
You got called for that flagrant. Cause he hadn't shut the hell up in like 20 straight minutes. That's why he got called for it.
Cause I agree with you. The crap out of Shingun every other way, the whole game. And so at that point you've lost the benefit of the doubt, but like, I don't know how many other players are getting called for a flagrant for driving to the hoop against a defender who has jumped into you as well. So I don't know. That one was weird. I don't want to be the Draymond Green apologist.
All right, go, go, go. Give me your all-defensive.
All right, so the all-defensive team. Draymond, Mobley, Dort are all first team for sure. I think Amin Thompson is first team for sure. I had penciled in Ibika Zubac. Um, the Clippers are number two in defensive rating.
And again, going back to the defensive player of the year framework where it's, it's, you know, if you are the, the primary reason, overwhelming reason for your team being a dominant defensive team, um, I'm going to give that a lot of weight. So at the moment, Zubach fifth. But that bumps guys who, you know, you discussed.
Who gets bumped to your second team? Dyson Daniels for one.
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Chapter 3: What is going on with the Golden State Warriors?
deteriorated the Miami situation but I think Dunleavy knew that version of Jimmy Butler was going to lift everybody's spirit on court ability and and and like that's what saved the season I mean Steve Kerr's been pretty open about that like in a lot of ways Mike Dunleavy kind of saved their season the matchups are going to be very interesting but if I'm the Warriors and I could just get out of the play-in and definitely get out of eighth maybe get to fourth who knows
I feel like I can compete with anybody in a playoff series.
Yeah, and Wes is so interesting, though, because it's like... I think going into last night, you're like, man, if you get that kind of... You don't want the 7-8, but if you somehow got the Rockets and then you leave last night, you're like, I'm not sure you want that matchup.
I wouldn't want any of these teams. They're all... But the one that the Warriors... I think there was some like if we could just avoid Jokic in the first round, that would be great. Like they have so much respect for Jokic. Jokic is the best player in the NBA. The way Denver is just all over the place right now, defensively, health wise, all of it.
You know, that's I don't think that quite has the same fear factor.
I'll tell you the one, and it's, man, it's crazy to say, but they felt really good going into that Thursday night Lakers game. That was the 14th day of a 14-day road trip, a time you would expect them to kind of be woozy heading into that game.
And just talking to people even prior to the game was like they were looking at the chessboard, they were looking at their schemes and how they were going to attack the Lakers, and certainly they targeted Luka at times. And, you know, they're switching defense. And that's you mentioned it. That was a Kaminga game. I think they don't hate that matchup.
And obviously, you know, you make the Luka for 80 trade 100 times out of 100. But in the particular Warriors matchup with Anthony Davis no longer looming in the paint, bothering all the Warriors shots. They just felt a lot freer to attack offensively in that Lakers matchup. And, you know, with not a great group of targets to say, I want that matchup, I want that matchup.
I'm not sure they would, you know, I think they wouldn't mind the Lakers, you know, in a 3-6 type matchup.
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Chapter 6: Who are the standout players in the Western Conference?
I don't know that I could get there with him. But he does deserve credit again for playing every game and keeping them afloat. And he's surging now with Kawhi next to him. Jalen Brown I don't think can get there. And by the way, have you seen Jalen Brown's recent comments about the state of his knee? No, I did not. He's like been talking about how he's playing through some pain.
I think it's a bone bruise or something. I can't remember what it is. It's like not great, not great comments. And you could make Trey young. So bonus, I don't, I can't quite get there with him. It's undecided, but Durant is in pencil. But he might not even be eligible. So give me your third team.
LeBron and Halliburton, right? That's two. LeBron and Halliburton are two. Same as you, I put Brunson if he qualifies. And if he doesn't... I'm assuming his comeback is being timed to qualify.
Yeah.
It seems so. Right. But who knows? I mean, you know, things happen. You know, he may, you know, bang knees with somebody and like, you know, miss one one of the one last critical game down the stretch. Who knows? Or maybe they decide to rest him because they think it's more important. I don't know. Actually, you've got the whole the whole week off with the plane. Now you guys have time to rest up.
Cade Cade has been awesome. And I've seriously considered him. But I also I've been weighing whether or not Darius Garland is getting overlooked in all this. He's been outstanding. And obviously, this is Donovan Mitchell's team. And we've already got Mobley on there as well. Or the Cavs good enough for three all NBA players. That feels maybe excessive. But I think Garland's been really good.
he's not had a great finish finishing kick to the season or the calves. No, but he was, look, I love Terry Scarlet. The guy's one of my favorite players to watch 20 a game, six and a half assists, 47%, 40% from three could make the case. I just, I can't quite, can't quite get there.
And, and just like with Donovan Mitchell, like Garland's numbers would be higher if not for the fact that both of them have done a phenomenal job of just meshing their games and neither of them needing to dominate. Um, but it does suppress his, his, his raw stats a little bit, I guess. Um, I've kicked around Siakam. I'm not sure. I'm glad you mentioned him. He deserves mention.
I think he's had a really strong season. And for a team that's like, like the paces are really good, but this is not like some offensive juggernaut in terms of individual talent. You don't look across the board and go like, Ooh, look at all these guys who could just kill you or put up 25, 30 night.
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