What is the main reason that the Lakers have gotten this thing back on track?

Well, Matt, when it comes to mind set and execution, the Lakers team that stepped on the floor verse the Warriors was the team that won a title a few months ago.

What was missing?

Dennis Schroder?

Dennis is a ball of energy.

That has been the X factor this season.

Which mind you for the Lakers?

It's pretty much two seasons wrapped in one.

So you really need that energy now.

Dennis Shooter.

He's been instant offense, that energy and ease.

And, uh, you know, the frame of mind will do a lot for you because you know, whether it is knocking down threes, his ability to attack the rib.

The Lakers.

They shot 64% on uncontested threes, and when the second best mark since LeBron joined the team in that category, you know for him that frame of mind that is that energy it translates to because, you know, as a secondary ball handler, he gives LeBron a break, helping facilitate which really translated to six players in double figures.

So the difference is Dennis Shooter.

He's been the X factor, and getting him back has been the next best thing to 80 for the time being.

Yeah, and today we had talked about it, perhaps a blessing and a curse with the A D injury, because now the Lakers really get a sense of that death they brought in this offseason.

Shrewder one of those guys.

That is certainly stepped up to the challenge today.

I want you to sit tight.

Stage.

Has the other l A team to talk about?

Yes.

How about those Clippers there in Milwaukee being hosted by Yannis and Company, who is feeling good vibes before the game?

Both of these teams sitting in third in their respective conferences coming in?

Oh, hello, that was a big block.

Yanis on the Big Man.

If it's Zuba shots at the rim.

Remember Janice so good on defense, but you're two time reigning M V P for plays like that on the other end.

The Bucks.

That's Chris Middleton.

The lob to Yannis and then 6.5 to go.

It's a six point game, so it's pretty close to Yannis in the corner.

He eventually gets it.

They're gonna He's like, Okay, you give me that much space, I can shoot guys.

So bucks are back down.

Three clippers up just to now.

Kawai Midrange J.

They'll take it.

He had 25 9 as the Clippers go back up by four.

Janice, eventually he gets it right there.

Nice pass inside.

Down low and one.

So bucks are within one after the made free throw after two more clippers now down one and Yannis, he contest co is three.

And oh, yeah, he misses long.

So 40 seconds to go.

Same score.

Middleton contesting.

Paul George is three and he misses short.

So the good defense by the Bucks and it was paying off.

Kawai and Paul shot over six in clutch time with the honest and Middleton as primary defenders.

Don't forget that Bucks.

Good ball movement here ends up with the man who should have in his hands.

That's the honest going down the lane for a monster.

Duncan.

Nobody is defending him here and and again, there are sometimes that might be a smart decision.

Janice.

Outgoing the entire Clippers team 17 to 10 in the final 8.5 minutes.

That's why he had that big smile.

Clippers.

They need a three to tie we've seen, So I let her do this on many occasions.

Not last night.

The Bucks get the rebound and they're gonna win this 11 of 5 to 100 Yannis another big night.

36 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks to help Milwaukee get the win and, once again, Yana showing how he impacts the game in more ways than one.

In many ways, Sunday was his 61st career game with 30 points, 10 boards and five assists, tying Michael Jordan for the sixth most over the last 40 seasons.

Also, the six time he did it this season, but the first five all came in losses by the Bucks.

Let's bring Jacqui Mackay back in today, so the Bucks go from five straight losses to five straight wins for Jonathan Company in your mind.

What's the biggest difference in the turnaround that you're seeing with Milwaukee?

Sage?

I love this version of Milwaukee.

They are perfectly imperfect, perfectly imperfect right now.

Yes, a lot of people.

You're right.

We're ready to sound the alarms when they lost five straight.

But what I love that they did.

They experimented.

They got comfortable being uncomfortable and showed their vulnerabilities, and that has brought them together on the floor.

And that is how Yannis onto the Campo has led.

You know this team this year?

You saw that down the stretch verse.

The Clippers.

He is not a perfect player.

He's a great player, not perfect.

But he showed verse the Clippers that he will do anything to win, and that mindset is contagious.

He outscored the Clippers by himself in the final few minutes of the game, knocking down a three, which a lot of people have said.

You need to do that more of and defensively, blocking shots guarding Kawai and Paul George, holding them scoreless and clutch time towards the end.

And then the nail in the coffin, The Skip to my honest, you know, dunk.

That was amazing.

That airplane runway dunk, you know, Watch out now, Janice.

That's his fourth straight game with at least 35 points in their fifth straight when Luca and the Mavs obviously struggled for much of the first half of this season, but eight and three since February 3rd.

How has Luke had taken his game to yet another level over the past month?

Yeah, well, you know, James Harden said it best right there.

Luca really is a master of control.

He has a cadence to his game and a style to his game that keeps you guessing until, like the last minute, and then the damage is done.

He hits a step back three, or he hits someone that's cruising to the room with the passing ability, and that person gets an uncontested, you know, lay up in the pick and roll.

It's all about tempo.

You are not going to rush.

Luca, Don Chick, you are not gonna bully him either.

He's got tremendous size and strength at the point guard position.

It's almost like that song.

You know, when I move, you move just like that.

You know, like when he moves, you move.

But you're just a second too late.

He dictates movement in a way that teams can't get a handle of, especially with his dribbling with his passing.

And that's why he leads his team in points and rebounds and assists 28 8 and nine, which is remarkable for a 22 year old.

So the Dallas Mavericks, they're poised to really surge as they continue to get everyone back from the Covid protocol.

As you mentioned Sage and especially injury because now they have Kristaps Porzingis back as well.

And so, Luca, you know, he does what he does best and he plays with tempo.

That's the scary part.

If everybody can stay healthy and Porzingis is back healthy, then who knows what this maps team can continue to build on again?

22 years old yesterday, his 32 triple doubles before his 22nd birthday, twice as many as any other player in NBA history.

At that age, Magic only had 13, so he really we really are witnessing greatness here.

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