Biggest Statements Of Opening Playoff Weekend – Lakers & Rockets In Trouble?

Summary

Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective: Episode Summary

Title: Biggest Statements Of Opening Playoff Weekend – Lakers & Rockets In Trouble?

Release Date: April 21, 2025

Hosts:

• Brian Windhorst – ESPN’s NBA insider
• Tim Bontemps – ESPN’s NBA insider
• Dan McMahon – ESPN’s NBA insider

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst and his fellow ESPN insiders, Tim Bontemps and Dan McMahon, dive deep into the opening weekend of the NBA playoffs. The discussion centers around pivotal game outcomes, standout player performances, historical comparisons, and the implications for series trajectories, particularly focusing on the Lakers and Rockets.

---

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies: A Historic Blowout

One of the standout moments discussed is the Oklahoma City Thunder's monumental 51-point victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, making them one of six teams in NBA history to achieve such a margin in a playoff game.

• Tim Bontemps highlights:

  "The Thunder flirted with the postseason record which is 58 points in terms of margin of victory. Ended up winning by 51, becoming one of six teams in NBA history to win a playoff game by 51.50 or more points." [04:05]

• Dan McMahon draws parallels to historical teams:

  "The St. Louis Hawks won that best of three series with an overall point differential of minus 56." [04:30]

The hosts delve into the significance of this blowout, comparing it to past NBA records and emphasizing the dominance displayed by the Thunder.

---

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets: Struggles and Strategies

The series between the Warriors and Rockets is dissected, with particular attention to offensive and defensive performances.

• Brian Windhorst remarks on Steph Curry's performance:

  "He had 31 on 12, 19 shooting and some of those... [07:32]"

• Dan McMahon emphasizes the Warriors' reliance on their stars:

  "They have the two best players in the series and the Rockets aren't a good offensive team." [07:10]

The conversation highlights the Warriors' strategic advantages, such as Curry's scoring prowess and Jimmy Butler's defensive contributions, contrasting them with the Rockets' offensive inefficiencies. The hosts discuss the Rockets' reliance on big lineups and offensive rebounding, questioning the sustainability of their strategies over the course of a seven-game series.

---

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers: Russell Westbrook's Impact

The tight game between the Nuggets and Clippers is analyzed, focusing on Russell Westbrook's unpredictable gameplay.

• Tim Bontemps provides a vivid comparison:

  "Russell Westbrook is a Mario Kart item box... you hit the item box and it went around and it gave you something and every time it was something different." [18:41]

• Dan McMahon praises the Warriors' defensive setup:

  "They got all the loose balls. There was a bunch." [08:00]

The discussion centers on Westbrook's ability to change the game's dynamics unpredictably, making it challenging for the Nuggets to contain him. The Clippers' defensive strategies, particularly their focus on ball control and minimizing turnovers, are also examined.

---

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Minnesota Timberwolves: Evaluating the Battle

The Lakers' matchup against the Timberwolves is a focal point, with insights into both teams' strategies and key player performances.

• Tim Bontemps assesses Ant Edwards' disciplined play:

  "He had an extraordinarily disciplined game, which was the most important thing about it." [32:19]

• Brian Windhorst comments on Luka Doncic's performance:

  "Luka only had one assist. The Lakers were not moving the ball a ton." [37:30]

The hosts discuss the Lakers' offensive struggles outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, highlighting the Timberwolves' effectiveness from the three-point line and their ability to capitalize on defensive mismatches. The conversation also touches on Ant Edwards' role in controlling the game pace and Luka Doncic's one-dimensional play against tight defensive strategies.

---

New York Knicks vs. Detroit Pistons: Jalen Brunson's Emergence

The Knicks' victory over the Pistons is celebrated, with special attention to Jalen Brunson's clutch performance.

• Dan McMahon lauds Brunson's playoff composure:

  "JM Brunson delivers in the playoffs." [43:07]

• Tim Bontemps describes the Pistons' late-game collapse:

  "In the fourth quarter it was like Detroit looked around and said, holy crap, we're in the playoffs. Everything fell apart." [41:19]

Brunson's pivotal role in turning the game around during the critical moments is highlighted, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure. The Pistons' inability to maintain their earlier performance levels in the final quarter is analyzed, suggesting a trend that could impact their series prospects.

---

Milwaukee Bucks vs. Indiana Pacers: Defensive Challenges

The Bucks' struggle against the Pacers is examined, focusing on Milwaukee's defensive shortcomings.

• Tim Bontemps points out the matchup issues:

  "The Bucks can't guard the Pacers, and therefore they have to outscore them." [51:10]

• Brian Windhorst discusses Pascal Siakam's impact:

  "Siakam is a problem for Milwaukee." [49:24]

The discussion emphasizes the Bucks' difficulty in containing key Pacers players, particularly due to defensive mismatches and lack of athleticism outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The potential return of Damian Lillard and its implications for the Bucks-Pacers series is also speculated upon.

---

Player Spotlights and Strategic Insights

Throughout the episode, the hosts provide in-depth analyses of individual player performances and team strategies:

• Steph Curry: Exceptional scoring ability, even in low-scoring games.
• Jimmy Butler: Strong defensive presence and clutch scoring.
• Russell Westbrook: Unpredictable playstyle likened to a "Mario Kart item box."
• Ant Edwards: High discipline and low turnover rate.
• Jalen Brunson: Reliable clutch performer for the Knicks.
• Pascal Siakam: Key offensive weapon against the Bucks.

The hosts also touch on broader strategic elements such as offensive rebounding rates, three-point shooting efficiencies, and the impact of player rotations on game outcomes.

---

Conclusions and Predictions

As the opening weekend sets the tone for the playoffs, the hosts offer their predictions:

• Dan McMahon anticipates the Thunder sweeping the Grizzlies:

  "I think OKC is going to sweep Memphis." [24:24]

• Tim Bontemps expresses skepticism about Milwaukee's defense against the Pacers:

  "I do not come away from that game super encouraged from a buck standpoint." [53:06]

• Brian Windhorst remains cautiously optimistic about the series outcomes, noting the unpredictability that the playoffs inherently bring.

The episode concludes with the hosts expressing enthusiasm for the unfolding playoff action and teasing future discussions on upcoming series and player developments.

---

Notable Quotes

• Tim Bontemps on Westbrook:

  "Russell Westbrook is a Mario Kart item box... you hit the item box and it gave you something and every time it was something different." [18:41]

• Dan McMahon on Thunder's Dominance:

  "The team got handed a 51 point loss... they didn't keep rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, none of those things." [04:30]

• Brian Windhorst on Ant Edwards:

  "He had an extraordinarily disciplined game, which was the most important thing about it." [32:19]

• Tim Bontemps on Knicks vs. Pistons:

  "In the fourth quarter it was like Detroit looked around and said, holy crap, we're in the playoffs. Everything fell apart." [41:19]

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of The Hoop Collective provides a comprehensive analysis of the NBA playoffs' opening weekend, blending statistical insights with colorful commentary. Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Dan McMahon offer listeners a nuanced understanding of team dynamics, player performances, and strategic maneuvers that will shape the playoff landscape.

For fans seeking in-depth NBA coverage that balances factual analysis with engaging discussion, this episode is an invaluable resource.

---

Transcript

[Marvel Studios]

Marvel Studios Thunderbolts will take the world by storm.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yes.

[Tim Bontemps]

There's some big threat out there and.

[Dan McMahon]

You'Re gonna help me stop it.

[Wendy]

Us.

[Brian Windhorst]

Why?

[Dan McMahon]

You got someplace to be on May 2nd?

[Brian Windhorst]

Avengers are gone. No one's coming to save the day their time. I think we could be the people.

[Marvel Studios]

That are coming has come ain't shero.

[Brian Windhorst]

There is no higher calling.

[Wendy]

Let's do this.

[Marvel Studios]

Marvel Studios Thunderbolts only in theaters May 2nd.

[Dan McMahon]

Get tickets now.

[Brian Windhorst]

Rated PG13.

[Dan McMahon]

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

[Brian Windhorst]

Hello and welcome to the Hoop Collective podcast. We talk about the NBA which you're doing slightly after midnight on Monday morning. Joining me from New York City where he attended the Knickerbockers victory over the Detroit Pistons in game one on Saturday. Not the best fourth quarter for the Pistons, but we're always happy to see him. Tim Bontemps.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hello everybody.

[Brian Windhorst]

Joining us from Oklahoma City where the Thunder game against the Grizzlies today was a competition for about 15 seconds is Dan McMahon.

[Dan McMahon]

Howdy partners. Listen, man, had some travel issues. No, you did too, Wendy, but couldn't get in last night. Had to take that. You know I don't like them single digit AM flights. Had to take one of those this morning. Bags got here. I got here in time. Still waiting on the Grizzlies to arrive in Oklahoma City.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's really hard to get from Dallas to Oklahoma City, Brian. You know, it's just extraordinarily difficult.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

Place to get to you. Not. Not a lot of ways to get.

[Dan McMahon]

There as you, as you serve your travel ban. I would shut your flapping gums.

[Brian Windhorst]

I met Rocket arena in Cleveland. I had to think about it for a second. It's had four names since I've started coming here.

[Tim Bontemps]

I feel like it's had four names this season.

[Brian Windhorst]

I considered. I'm sitting in the heats press area right now. This is where Eric Spoelstra gave a dower post game press conference. I considered going down the hall a couple of spots to the Nico Harrison. The site of the Nico Harrison press conference conference.

[Tim Bontemps]

Maris Memorial press room.

[Brian Windhorst]

But I. But I decided that would be in poor taste and maybe not the best karmic.

[Dan McMahon]

Well, listen fellas, as this pod comes out, people will be preparing for Nico's first real press conference. Since then he is doing exit interviews Monday afternoon in Dallas. I will not be there. I'm in the playoffs.

[Tim Bontemps]

I. I sure will be very upset.

[Dan McMahon]

I expected to meet the maths. You're an okc. They didn't make it. I Finally did you know the. The little closed door, you know, no cameras had to the audio recording thing. That's a media availability wasn't a press conference. I got. I got a lot of mileage out of that. Speaking of which out by the time this comes out. I have. Hold on. Let me. Let me find.

[Tim Bontemps]

We go just promotional. Just. Let's just. Let's just sit back and have man do a five minute promotion.

[Dan McMahon]

Let me find my own hornitude.

[Tim Bontemps]

What are we doing here? First weekend of the playoffs. It's just fan promotional time.

[Dan McMahon]

I got a Whopper on ESPN.com right now, fellas. Also the wonder boy. Available at all book retailers.

[Marvel Studios]

Oh God.

[Tim Bontemps]

You good. We get out of the playoff games now.

[Dan McMahon]

I thought I wrote a solid news or two. John Moran said we will never play this bat again.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, I hope not. In a grand gesture of showing respect to the Thunder when they won by 50. McMahon wrote about the Grizzlies.

[Tim Bontemps]

Dude, I'm sorry by the way, a.

[Dan McMahon]

Little Thunder stuff but the story was that team got handed a 51 point loss.

[Tim Bontemps]

It would be. We'd be remiss on our podcast to not talk about this. A brief for a brief moment. So the Grizzlies as we know back in 2021, set the NBA regular season record when they smashed the Thunder won by 73. Today the Thunder flirted with the postseason record which is 58 points in terms of margin of victory. Ended up winning by 51, becoming one of six teams in NBA history to win a playoff game by 51. 50 or more points. And I assume. I know that McMahon saw this because he immediately retweeted it because he was covering the game. But the record holders for the biggest margin of victory in a playoff game are the Denver Nuggets led by Carmelo Anthony in 2009, beating Chris Paul in the New Orleans Hornets. And the Minneapolis Lakers in 1956 beating the St. Louis Hawks. Oh, I know Pettit.

[Brian Windhorst]

Bob.

[Dan McMahon]

Oh, hold on, Bob.

[Tim Bontemps]

We got a Bob Pettit reference. As always on the pod.

[Dan McMahon]

I knew you're gonna do this. And me the biggest Bob Pettit backer and ooh, you know, modern day media. I'm gonna stick up for my guy, Bullet. Bob, let me just tell you this. St. Louis Hawks won that best of three series with an overall point differential of minus 56.

[Tim Bontemps]

They won the other two games by a point, brother.

[Dan McMahon]

They won the other two. The score of the other two games was 116, 115 in boat on both occasions blended in with a 58 point loss in the middle sandwiched by that We.

[Brian Windhorst]

We gotta get Bob.

[Dan McMahon]

Hold on.

[Brian Windhorst]

We gotta get Bob on the pod.

[Dan McMahon]

We got to. Because we gotta.

[Tim Bontemps]

That is one of the craziest things I've ever heard.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, that is. That is an amazing.

[Dan McMahon]

We have to discuss this Bullet Bob. They didn't keep rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, none of those things. But in game three, the deciding game three, right off of fresh off a stinker in that 58 point loss bullet Bob bounced back with a 41 point performance.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh my God.

[Dan McMahon]

George Mikin and those Bob.

[Tim Bontemps]

McMahon is denigrated in the past tense. Our listen commentaries.

[Dan McMahon]

I'm just going to tell you this in all seriousness. By the opening second of the second quarter the Thunder had played 11 players today. Bob Pettit wouldn't have gotten on the floor for him.

[Tim Bontemps]

We don't need to be one maybe savaging hall of Famer Bob Pettit for no reason. Let's start talking about the playoffs now.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Nikola Jokic passed. Bob Petted an all time playoff scoring.

[Tim Bontemps]

He did this week.

[Brian Windhorst]

We love you Bob. We should have him on the pod.

[Tim Bontemps]

We should.

[Dan McMahon]

You've been saying that.

[Brian Windhorst]

I know I have his number actually.

[Dan McMahon]

Call him.

[Brian Windhorst]

I know I should.

[Tim Bontemps]

I should probably not right now though.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, no, it's late.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, a little late.

[Brian Windhorst]

Anyway, I think we should start with the warriors going into Houston and winning. Boy, that was a lowest scoring game for the Rockets this season. Which I guess is not that surprising considering the way but this series is going to be hand fighting. I didn't see this entire game because I was working the Cavs Heat postgame. The Cavs were victorious by 20 over the heat in game one here in Cleveland tonight. But the the end of this game I did watch the most of the fourth quarter. The Rockets were in position to win this game, but they can't. They don't score great on an average day. But they had some possessions at the end of this game in position to.

[Tim Bontemps]

Win the game feels slightly strong.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, it was a three point game with six minutes to go. Is that not in position?

[Dan McMahon]

Look, I picked the warriors to win the series and there are two reasons there. Number one, they've got the two best players in the series and that damn sure was the case tonight. Remember when Steph Curry got held to three points by the Rockets late in the regular season. Well he had 31 on 12, 19 shooting and some of those. What was the phrase Bond temps.

[Tim Bontemps]

Kevin Harland's line that on the one when he was falling into the. Into the seats on the side of the court and threw it in. That quote geometrically that should not have happened was an all time great call.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah. And remember I told you Steph Curry's been haunting the Rockets in the playoffs for it's a generation now. It's a general. And like he, he denied James Harden, that group a chance to go to the finals and he's haunting them still. Jimmy BUTLER Also great tonight. 25, 7, 6 and 5 steals, 10 and 19 from the floor. They've got the two best players in the series and the Rockets aren't a good offensive team. They managed to be mediocre in terms of offensive rating just because they bullied people on the, on the glass so much. But today, you know Fred Van Vliet, proven champion, critical to the Rockets, great leader. He was 4 of 19 and 2 of 13 from 3. Jalen Green, their leading score. Up and down, up and down. Can he be a star? That's a big TBD. Stunk it up tonight. 3 of 15. Only had 7 points.

[Tim Bontemps]

Amin Thompson and some truly horrific possessions in the fourth quarter when they got back in the game.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's right. They, they had, they had several chances and they had awful, awful possessions, including I remember one where Jalen Green just went, went into the lane. I don't know what he was trying to do.

[Tim Bontemps]

I was surprised that threw the ball.

[Brian Windhorst]

He just threw the ball at the basket.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was, it was very, it was very rough. Those two guys, I mean, it's McGregor just laid out. Those two guys were combined seven for 34 from the field and two for 17 from three. And for a team that's. That really needs to get out and run in transition, probably the most important stat of the game. They did have a bunch of points off turnovers, but fast break points, 16 to 4.

[Dan McMahon]

Oh, by the way, that reminds me of a great stat. The Grizzlies did not have a fast break point until Marvin Bagley III hit a half court heave that at the end of the third quarter. That counted as a fast break.

[Tim Bontemps]

That was, that was, that was a great, that was a great stat.

[Brian Windhorst]

Fast break points are a flawed stat. And that's okay, whatever.

[Dan McMahon]

If the Grizzlies can't run, they're going to be on a fast break.

[Tim Bontemps]

They are a flawed stat. But coming into this series, everybody, we talked about it too, right? Houston was going to have to try to manufacture enough offense to win this series against a Golden State team that since they traded for Jimmy Butler has been the best defensive team in the League. And for the vast majority of this game, Houston looked completely lost on offense. Couldn't get clean looks, couldn't get anything going. The only reason the game was competitive in the first half was Steph missed a bunch of open threes early. The warriors missed a bunch of open shots early. They then start to build up a bit of a cushion. And the other thing we talked about coming in the series was could Houston play the big lineups with Stephen Adams and Al Parin, Shangun and even Jabari Smith? They ran out all three of them together at times. Absolutely. Mash on the offensive glass, which they did. Rockets had a 42% offensive rebound rate in this game, which is crazy high. Those two big lineups worked. That helped get them back in the game. But if that's the only way they're going to be able to generate offense, still going 2 for 3 against Steph Curry, that's not going to work. Over the course of seven games, the.

[Dan McMahon]

Rockets are an offensive engine away from being a real deal contender. I say that their ownership says that, their GM says that their head coach says that. Hold on. I'm going to have a story coming out later on in the series about.

[Tim Bontemps]

Good grief.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah, yeah. Some of us actually work. Some of us actually work. Bon Tim. Some of us sit at home and some of us work.

[Tim Bontemps]

Okay.

[Dan McMahon]

Okay. But like, their hope is it's homegrown. Their hope is it can be Amin Thompson, Jaylen Green, Shin Goon, even Reed Shepherd. Right. Even a Reed shepherd who you know, DMP tonight. But they're going to have to consider the options in the trade market this summer, especially if the. The playoffs are on a valuation period for them. If this is Tom a sign of things to come, there's going to be some serious pressure to make a a swing in the trade market. And by the way, we'll get to who those possibilities are down the road. There's a chance there's some big names in the trade market this summer.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, and we should say, because we've talked a lot of negative stuff about Houston, understand that their offensive game, the only reason the game was even remotely close was because Shangun was awesome. He kept them in the game for the first three quarters. He was the only guy getting them any sort of production offensively for most of the game. He was really, really good throughout the game and just got basically no help for most of it. So he's got to keep playing like that. And you know, the warriors got enough shots from their others. Jemski hit three threes, Moses Booty had a huge three late. Like they got enough from the other guys to win. But you know, Changun certainly going to need some help because Sengun in offensive rebounding is not going to be enough to beat Jimmy Butler and Steph Curry now four out of six times if the Rockets want to advance.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, two things about this. First off, the warriors had lost. According to Jackson here, they had lost six straight playoff games where they scored under 100 points. And the last time they won one was 2018. And you know, you talk about Curry having 31. This is an old school 31, 31 on 95. That's like, that's how LeBron and Allen Iverson used to roll. Like it's. He scored a third of their points.

[Dan McMahon]

And some of the shots, you know, you mentioned the geometrically not supposed to happen one, but like that was one of like three or four. Just like, are you kidding me? Type of shot. I mean, it's, he's freaking Steph Curry. You know, this was a, a, a Steph, like vintage Steph type performance.

[Tim Bontemps]

And he and he and Jimmy basically scored all their points. Those two guys had 56 points. The rest of the team had 39. The rest of the team was 14 for 38 from the field. You know, the rest of the team was 6 for 26 for what? 6 for 21 from 3. Like, and Pajeski went 3 for 8. Rest team outside of that was 3 for 13. Like, you know, they didn't get a lot else, but they traded for Jimmy Butler like we talked about after the playing game to show up in games like this. And those two guys got it done.

[Dan McMahon]

How many did Kaminga have?

[Tim Bontemps]

Kaminga had zero along with his minutes plate.

[Dan McMahon]

Oh, that's an again development in the fourth.

[Tim Bontemps]

I don't think it's a development. It's been a trend at this point.

[Dan McMahon]

Okay, it's an interesting recent trend.

[Tim Bontemps]

Sure.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. In the fourth quarter of this game, which was obviously a rock fight, the warriors still managed to go 11 to 22 and Jimmy Butler three of five. Steph two of five. But both, they were both threes and that was pretty much the difference in the game.

[Dan McMahon]

And they were both threes. That made you laugh out loud.

[Brian Windhorst]

Jalen.

[Tim Bontemps]

They sure, they sure were. And Pajemski, by the way, was the only other guy in double figures and had multiple really big plays late too. He was the one other consistent guy for Gold State time.

[Brian Windhorst]

You, you mentioned how, you know, Green and Van Vliet struggled shooting. But just to underline it in the fourth quarter to a 10, so it's tough. It's a tough one.

[Dan McMahon]

More Hoopp Collective podcast after this.

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[Brian Windhorst]

The NBA, WNBA and USA Basketball Foreign let's Take a look at the games that are going to be played on Monday night the day this pod comes out tonight. I should say Clippers Nuggets was in my view, the most enjoyable game of the weekend. I didn't get to see everything because I was traveling and had travel problems both Friday and Saturday. I don't want to get into it.

[Dan McMahon]

Can we get a WTU when you travel update?

[Brian Windhorst]

No, I'm not going to do that. But I'll just know that the last two nights I slept in hotels in my, my, my suitcase. Wasn't with me.

[Tim Bontemps]

Wait, we did get a sleep update though. Playoffs have started, folks.

[Dan McMahon]

I don't think we want a Winnie underwear update.

[Brian Windhorst]

I will just say the toiletries that I bought to get me through one night came in handy the night later.

[Dan McMahon]

Were you going back to. Back to back with some bridges?

[Brian Windhorst]

No, no, I. I stopped at home. I was at home for six hours. Anyway, my point is I didn't see chapter and verse of every game. However, I did watch a lot of the Nuggets Clippers game, which was as tight as I expected it to be, went to overtime and was the full Russell Westbrook experience.

[Dan McMahon]

It was a lot of Russ, in all senses of the phrase you can't.

[Brian Windhorst]

Trust Russ, but you can always trust Russ to be Russ. That's my saying with Westbrook.

[Tim Bontemps]

I want to give credit to a tweet from over the weekend from Kofi who said and for this is going to be for listeners who are a little bit older because I don't know how many people are playing Mario Kart in our Bob. Bob Pettit, probably not a Mario Kart player, but this tweet was the most perfect encapsulation of Russell Westbrook, which is Russell Westbrook truly is the item box for Mario Kart, which for anybody who played Mario Kart, you hit the item box and it went around and it gave you something and every time it was something different. And from possession to possession, Russell Westbrook is a Mario Kart item box, let alone game to game. You just have absolutely no idea what he's going to do. I think over the long run that's going to end up being a huge problem for the. For the Nuggets, just like it's been for every team he's played for, frankly. But in game one, he did just enough to get him over the line.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. So I think my takeaways from this game are that the Clippers really did not get much from Kawhi Leonard offensively down the stretch of the game, they got nothing. You know, if it's a Zubots. Yes.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah, it was pretty good, I think. Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

For all the accolades that he was all over the ballot for, he was named a finalist for most improved today. He'll probably be on a good chance to be on the all defensive teams. He was not a factor in the game. This game. Going down the stretch sheet, they just.

[Tim Bontemps]

Weirdly went away from him.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah, the game and then it was.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, there was in the fourth quarter in overtime. It was just. They kept running all these pick and roll guys and he just was standing in the corner.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's really weird. That's fine. But the Nuggets got all the loose balls. There was a bunch. He got one.

[Tim Bontemps]

They got those in part because he was out on the perimeter and they, Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon were flying in there against smaller guys and getting the ball. I, I think an adjustment they have to think about in Game 2, the the Clippers is to have Visa Zubac on Aaron Gordon in those spots and have Derrick Jones or Nick Batum or somebody on Jokic on the perimeter and then have Zubots down there to get some of these rebounds because that, that was the biggest problem. They had all these small guys and they were just getting bullied.

[Brian Windhorst]

Aaron Gordon was, was bullying James Harden on the.

[Dan McMahon]

For the Nuggets to win this game. When Porter hit a shot one.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, he didn't play him. He played Russell Westbrook over him.

[Dan McMahon]

Okay, well, he played 26 minutes and hit a shot well.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right. I know.

[Dan McMahon]

But for the Nuggets to win when Porter's a complete non factor like that, that's a.

[Tim Bontemps]

That was a tough loss for the road team to play that well in that game and have it, you know, come down to it and not get a win like. And it's especially in a series that's this tight. Clippers obviously still have a great chance to win the series. Are really good team. But that one really hurts to be on the road to be that close and not get it done.

[Dan McMahon]

But down the stretch like Russ is making stuff happen. He's grabbing off into rebounds. He's getting loose balls. You know, like the guy was 5 of 17. It wasn't the most efficient, efficient performance in the world.

[Tim Bontemps]

He also tried to replicate the Minnesota game all over again with another completely insane shot. Less than 10 seconds to go. And somehow Aaron Gordon just had it ricochet to him. It's like, what are you doing?

[Dan McMahon]

By the way? You know who I was chatting with a little bit today in. Okc at the Arena. Barry Trammell, he's at the Tulsa World at the Oklahoma anymore. But legendary Oklahoman column.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah.

[Dan McMahon]

Friend of the pod Oklahoma columnist and the guy who Russ would next question. Every single time I said, hey man, we. You might see your boy Russ next round. And oh, he's ready. He's ready. He's old pro. He ain't scared.

[Tim Bontemps]

He sure is not.

[Brian Windhorst]

James Harden had some really big plays offensively down the stretch of this game, but he was the only Clipper who was really making the clutch plays. They had several really rough turnovers. Kawhi had several of them as well.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, Harden had seven in the game. I'm telling you, you never see Kawhi.

[Brian Windhorst]

Have seven turnovers, but a couple of them were just, just really inexcusable.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah, well. And they wasted a big time Harden performance. Harden had 32 and 11 with only two turnovers. Like, dude, Harden, if Harden's putting up those numbers, you got to pull out that win.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, the interesting thing about this series, right, I think we talked about a little bit before it started, but the, the Nuggets don't really have anybody to guard James Harden. Like, they, if they're running that pick and roll with Zubots is part of the reason why I was surprised they stopped running. It was because they were getting whatever they wanted in it. Like, Jamal Murray can't really handle him. Christian Brown can't really handle him. They can maybe try Aaron Gordon on him, but like, they don't have. They don't have a good option to put on James. Like, obviously we've seen James go up and down a lot recently in the playoffs, have two or three good games and three or four awful ones. But I think this is a series where he's got a chance to eat and be pretty consistently good.

[Dan McMahon]

I think I hear Michael Malone bitching about letting KCP go. Oh, wait, they're all gone.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, well, Christian Brown had some moments in this game too.

[Tim Bontemps]

He had a. Christian Brown's really good. I just don't know if he's a great option to slow down James Harden. They just don't have the kind of guy with the size to really give him problems.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's got seven games written all over it, doesn't it? I mean, that, that, that series got seven games.

[Tim Bontemps]

We'll see. I mean, we'll see what happened. We'll see what happens Monday night. Like, I would have said that if the Clippers got that Game one, but.

[Dan McMahon]

I think it's going to be a hell of A series.

[Tim Bontemps]

It should be a hell of a series for sure.

[Dan McMahon]

I think OKC is going to sweep Memphis. I think I'm going to spend about a week at home resting, relaxing, refresh.

[Brian Windhorst]

I think he might need to rotate over to assist.

[Dan McMahon]

Nope, nope, nope. I think I'm going to just be resting, relaxing. Yeah, vases and snuggling up the old IT department. It's gonna be a good week.

[Tim Bontemps]

This guy goes from saying he's working around the clock to already planning out vacations.

[Dan McMahon]

Listen, I'm trying to get a little siest here.

[Brian Windhorst]

My.

[Dan McMahon]

I gave, I gave, I gave a pep talk. Thunder pregame day. Look what they did. 51 point win.

[Tim Bontemps]

You gave the Thunder a pep talk. Really?

[Dan McMahon]

Listen, I said, hey, man, give me a damn week off.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, Listen, obviously the. The Grizzlies were fatigued and I think the Heat were a little bit too. They. On the stretch of the game I was at here tonight, which was the Ty Jerome showcase.

[Tim Bontemps]

Oh, baby, by the way, sure was tied your own free agent this summer.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yes. Everybody in Cleveland's well aware of it. Ty had 28 points in his first ever playoff game. And the Cavs, and this isn't. This is not a novel strategy, but they really attacked Tyler hero aggressively. Really went after him pretty much anytime. Well, not anytime, but a lot of times he got isoed whether it was Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell. But Jerome went at him several times. And then after he scored on him, he flexed at least twice. Somebody told me he flexed three times. I saw him flex twice on when he scored on Tyler and they really aimed to slow Tyler down. Tyler had 38 in the first playing game in Chicago and 30 Friday night in Atlanta. And then he put up 17 in the first half of this game. And then the Cavs just face guarded him and like stuck him on the weak side. And it was a rough night for Tyler with Ty Jerome. And that's what the Cavs players were saying. They were like, this guy comes in the summer, like he's barely hanging on to the NBA and he's just. I mean, Darius Carlin's like. He was flapping his gums, talking his bleep. And I was like, hold on, buddy, slow down, you know, but he's done it all year and he got named finalist for six man of the sixth man of the year award. By the way, Evan Mobley, who was on the pod last week, bam. Adebay. I was really trying to go at him today, but Evan saw him after the game and he said he enjoyed his Time on the pod and the early. Some of the people who are doing polling, not like to the bontem standard, but there's some polling being done that shows that Evan's in decent shape based on some people.

[Dan McMahon]

I tell you what, there's some anger here in the, in the plains. Lou Dort not a finalist. I've heard from good sources, 6 foot 9, 260 pound sources who own bars in the area, that Bond Timps is to blame.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh yeah, Is that right?

[Dan McMahon]

That's what I hear. I heard Bond temps in the finals. His scholarship has been revoked.

[Tim Bontemps]

We'll see about that.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, Lou Dort was on my ballot. That's all I got to say.

[Dan McMahon]

Well, you can, you can drink and you know, just throw them down. Wendy. By the way, I will say in defense of the poor little Grizzlies, a late Friday tip to a noon Sunday tip, traveling between, like, totally not fair. Also, you know, listen, they can't compete with the Thunder. They got swept in the regular season series by an average of damn near 19 points.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right.

[Dan McMahon]

But like the NBA did them no favors with the schedule in here.

[Brian Windhorst]

So my favorite moment of the weekend though, I think was Jeff Van Gundy trying to prevent Nikola Jokic from fast inbounding. So there was.

[Dan McMahon]

Well, and you know what? No, no, no. Bull, Bull. Because Van Gundy held his ground, kept his position. No flopping, good old toughness there.

[Brian Windhorst]

So what happened there? I can't remember if it was in the fourth quarter overtime, but high value possession late in the game, the ball gets knocked out of bounds, the referee calls it for Denver. The Clippers bench was protesting and I, they were mulling whether they wanted to challenge it. And Jokic, who can move as fast as he wants or as slow as he wants to get something done on.

[Dan McMahon]

Especially on inbounds there, he's either full speed or slowing down.

[Brian Windhorst]

Did you tell us it was it you.

[Dan McMahon]

McMahon was a permanent sub in. In. In Oklahoma City.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yes, right.

[Dan McMahon]

They put Dylan Jones's scores table.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yes, but who told me, I don't know who to give the credit, that at one point this, this year, like Jokic was able to milk 20 seconds out of.

[Dan McMahon]

No, that was last year. And he was 25 to be precise. He quotes that. Proud of. And then it was like a point of emphasis this year. These are like the fourth quarter, you got the lead, the other team scores milk the clock thing. And it was a point of emphasis for the league this year. So they have like the ref meetings, all the teams. It was an Abu Dhabi. I Think it was Monty McCutchen, but it was an Abu Dhabi with the Nuggets, and they said. They said joker, pelt him, like four or five questions. Okay, what about this scenario? That scenario, yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Anyway, so Van Gundy gets the ball and Jokic wants to get it to inbound it real quick before the Clippers can consider a review. And Van Gundy is like, no, you're not. You can't have it.

[Dan McMahon]

He held on like it was Alonzo.

[Brian Windhorst]

Morning's ankle, which I saw Zoe today. And so who's recovering from prostate cancer. Looks fantastic. Looks like he could. I'm gonna tell you something. I spent this week with you, Donna's Aslam, who still sometimes practices with the Heat and spent some time with Alonzo Morning before this game here in Cleveland. Those gentlemen are doing well.

[Dan McMahon]

They are very physically, those Heat lifers.

[Tim Bontemps]

Morning looks like he's still playing.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, so UD is still playing? Kinda, yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, sure. Goddess has got like. He's got like an extra 15 years on Udonis.

[Brian Windhorst]

Anyway, Van Gundy held on to the ball, didn't let Jokic have it, and.

[Dan McMahon]

Well, there was another assistant who had at least a hand in there, too.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, I didn't see that. But.

[Dan McMahon]

But it was two on one.

[Brian Windhorst]

Was it Jamal Murray who said after the game that yoke, or was it Christian Brown?

[Dan McMahon]

I think it was Christian Brown said, joker's in the weight room.

[Tim Bontemps]

That was a good line.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right.

[Dan McMahon]

That wasn't the best line, though. Tibs had a good line today.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I was going to go to the Lakers yesterday. We'll come back to tips. All right, Lakers, Wolves. As I pointed out on television this week, I don't pick the series, and if I did, I would have seriously considered picking the Lakers. However, I thought it was worth waffles. It's.

[Tim Bontemps]

God. What. What are we doing here, McMahon? What did you pick in the series since you actually picked series?

[Dan McMahon]

I picked. I picked Lakers, I think in six, maybe seven.

[Tim Bontemps]

Okay, Wilson, six.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay. I'm just gonna. What I said on TV is what I'm not. What I'm. What I'm not trying to be accused of is, you know, quote unquote, discovering the Wolves. What I said on TV is that the Wolves went 17 and four down the stretch of the season, and one of the losses was an absolute shoot yourself in the foot. Bonehead, 25 point, fourth quarter, blown lead, loss in Milwaukee.

[Tim Bontemps]

Milwaukee.

[Dan McMahon]

Which is why you stayed tuned in in the fourth quarter.

[Brian Windhorst]

I agree.

[Dan McMahon]

Wolves had a big lead last, by the way, because they do that.

[Brian Windhorst]

I agree. And actually one of the things that should be pointed out from that game is that they didn't, you know, the lead got down to like 12 and they pushed back and took care of business. That shouldn't be disregarded. The point is, and, and, and, and Bontemps, I think you pointed out incorrectly that the, some of those victories in that stretch were against a favorable schedule. I mean, when they had 10, oh.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was a lollipop schedule for the most part.

[Brian Windhorst]

You know, we, we kept, we kept saying when there was, you know, 10 games, eight games, six games left, you know that the Wolf schedule is so favorable, they're going to, they're going to be in position anyway. They did, they got to six. They avoided the play in, they avoided the Thunder in the first round. And, but I'm just saying, like they came in 17 and 4. Like that's not nothing.

[Tim Bontemps]

They also had the fourth best net rating in the league this season.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, and you know, my thing on this game is that they won by 22, I think it was. And Ant Edwards, you know, he had some assists because his team was hot shooting the ball, but Ant Edwards did not have a good quote, unquote, good game. You know, if you're going to lose at home to the Wolves, you'd like it to be when Ant puts up like 37, when, when, you know, when he does something that's not necessarily repeatable.

[Dan McMahon]

And not when Luca puts up 37.

[Tim Bontemps]

You know, you know what Ant had. Ant had an extraordinarily disciplined game, which was the most important thing about it. He had one turnover. Yeah, he shot 8 for 22, but he didn't force anything. He got in the lane repeatedly and move the ball. Obviously we talked since the trade that the Lakers do not have hardly anybody that can really stop anybody point of attack wise defensively. That's why JJ Redick deserves a lot of credit for having this team punch above its weight for a while defensively. But you watch this game and Ant was able to get into the paint and I think we even talked about it when we talked about the pod the other day. If Ant is able to get to the rim consistently, that's going to be a huge thing for Minnesota if he's not just going to sit at the three point line and not be in attack mode. And being in attack mode like that and moving the ball, only having one turnover. Yes, the Wolves were hot from three. They also were getting wide open shot after wide open shot after wide open shot from three. So yeah, they Hit. I think they hit an extra six threes than their field goal. By expected they shot 50%. They should have shot 36.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, Jaden McDaniels went 11 of 13. That's not something that's going to. Sure, sure.

[Tim Bontemps]

But you know, and Nazareth obviously hit six threes, but those guys are getting wide open corner threes almost every trip.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, I don't necessarily.

[Dan McMahon]

Hold on. The Jack Daniels thing is interesting because when you game plan to give a guy a wide open looks and they knock him down, that can have a carryover effect. We saw it with Ruyu Hachimura against the Grizzes. You remember when Hachimura came out on fire in game one, Desmond Bain basically said the. That was the game plan. Let's see him do it again. He did it the rest of the series.

[Tim Bontemps]

Saw it last year with your series too.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah. The game plan for the Thunder was hey, let PJ Washington get looks. We're going to take the ball out of Luka and Kyrie's hands as much as possible.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah.

[Dan McMahon]

So I'm just saying don't say Jaden McDaniels can't say. The numbers indicate that it's the proper game plan and then we'll see if he makes them change it.

[Tim Bontemps]

They were this season the fifth highest volume three point shooting team, Minnesota and fourth highest in percentage. So for a team in the Lakers that has tried to get by by packing the paint and allowing teams to shoot threes, it's not a great matchup from that standpoint.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I will say, I'm not saying this is always an indicator of your level of defense. The Lakers played 20 minutes in this game before they were called for a foul. 20 minutes. That is not an indication of a team that is using playoff intensity typically. So it was a, it was a great shooting game. And the thing that happens with the Lakers is like, you know, you ask yourself a couple of questions like in terms of their performance and one of the questions you ask is did Dorian Finney Smith and Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura hit their threes? Because that's a huge variance for them and in this game they didn't. But.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, here are the numbers for the Lakers. So Luca obviously was great. 37 points, 12 for 22 from the field, 5 for 10 from three. Non Luca Lakers, all of them were 21 from 61 from the field, 10 for 31 from three and I think much more importantly 11 for 30 from two. So wow. They, they were. Rudy Gobert didn't have only took Two shots. But when he was out there, he's able to wall off the rim.

[Dan McMahon]

Mm.

[Tim Bontemps]

LeBron James did not look great in this game. You know, Stats Williams, I was talking to him during the game last night and he pointed something out I hadn't really considered, which was I saw LeBron got upgraded to or was listed as probable for this game on Saturday. Now you say, well, probable, no big deal, right? Well, he's dealing with this hip flexor thing and they basically hadn't had anything going on for 10 days. It's notable that he's even on the injury report at all. Even if it's on the probable.

[Brian Windhorst]

He's on the injury report every game pretty much.

[Tim Bontemps]

I understand that, but I'm just saying come after a 10 game. I didn't thought about it until Stats said it, but I was like, huh, that is an interesting point. And then you watch him come out and look pretty lethargic and you got to wonder where he's going to be at going forward.

[Brian Windhorst]

He did tweak that. It did look like that last Friday night that they played. I can't remember who they played to.

[Tim Bontemps]

To Houston.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. To clinch the three seed. It did look like. So that's been 10 days. It did look like he might have tweaked that groin at that time. Now, I don't know. And you know, they're not given updates because they're not playing. He didn't go to Portland for the last game. But you know, it's worth pointing out, look, he might come out on Monday and. Or I guess on Tuesday they're playing and he might add a 30 point triple double. I'm just saying, like, you know, it's worth monitoring.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, the one other stat I thought was interesting, looking up stuff from this game too, was Luca only had one assist.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

The second time he's ever had one assist in a playoff game. You know the other one, McMahon. That's the Luca guy.

[Dan McMahon]

It was last year. Was it against the Clippers?

[Tim Bontemps]

It was not against the Clippers. It was last year. It was game one of the NBA.

[Dan McMahon]

Oh, that's right. Game one of the NBA Finals. Yep.

[Tim Bontemps]

So and his. No, go ahead.

[Dan McMahon]

I was gonna say on the flip side of that. And had nine assists and only one turnover.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yes.

[Dan McMahon]

Man had at least seven assists this year. The wolves were 12 and three. Make it 13 three.

[Tim Bontemps]

Now to go back to how disciplined he was. Right. And now there have been eight games in Lucas career when he's had less than five assists in the playoffs. His team's one in seven.

[Dan McMahon]

Do you know what the opportunities were like, how many potential assists he had?

[Tim Bontemps]

I didn't look that up and obviously they did miss some shots. But the Wolves also were sort of have happy to have him sit in ISO and look he hit the step back, he was hitting shots but they were not. The Lakers were not moving the ball a ton. They you know, the Wolves and look the other guy too. We've talked a ton about how Austin Reeds has been Austin Reeves is 5 for 13 in this game and Minnesota is one of the few teams that's got enough capable defenders to have a good defender on Luka and LeBron and Austin Reaves all the time and that showed up in this game.

[Dan McMahon]

And making Luca one dimensional has been a game plan for a lot of teams over the years. And there's a couple factors there. One, like will he have gas left in the tank if he's, you know, having to try to create every single possession? Two, will any of his teammates have any sort of rhythm if their offense is just okay, Luca Cook and the ball is not moving?

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, that will have a huge.

[Tim Bontemps]

It'S a huge game Tuesday.

[Dan McMahon]

Also without saying for the Lakers also, defense wins championships. Lakers got to step it up. I heard that More Hoop Collective podcast after this.

[G]

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[Brian Windhorst]

All right, Monday night you're going to be back at the Garden, I assume. Buntemps.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yep.

[Brian Windhorst]

So Knicks Pistons was sort of living up to the Knicks fans fears. And then down the stretch of that game, while I was in the air, I missed this. This fourth quarter. The Knicks.

[Tim Bontemps]

Here's all you got to know about the the entire Pistons Knicks game. Okay, start of the fourth quarter. Dennis Schroeder, veteran player inbounding the ball, gets a five second call to open the fourth quarter of the game. I texted a couple coaches, I was like, have you ever seen this ever? I can't find anybody who's ever seen a team have a five second call to open any quarter. Thought it was incredible. And it summed up the way everything went after that because for three quarters Detroit looked like a very sound team. They were settled into the game. Tobias Harris had 22 points in the first half last time he played at the MSG. Before that he didn't have a point. Malik Beasley and Tobias and Tim Hardaway Jr. Were hitting shots. Those three guys were 12 for 19 from three. And then in the fourth quarter it was like Detroit looked around and said, holy crap, we're in the playoffs. And everything fell apart. Eight turnovers. Knicks are flying out and running. Jalen Brunson's scoring all over the place. Garden's going crazy. Game immediately falls apart.

[Dan McMahon]

Well, I'm getting back to the tips quote. Give them, give them the Tibs money line. Come on. When tips has a good one, we got to give it to him.

[Brian Windhorst]

Go for it.

[Dan McMahon]

So when did Brunson go back to the, to the back?

[Brian Windhorst]

I.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was either late, it was in the second half, it was either late in the third quarter, early in the fourth. I think it was late in the third.

[Dan McMahon]

And why did he go back there? According to Tibbs, read the line. I don't have the actual line from me, but it was something like. To put on his cape.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, he said, I think he went and got his cape.

[Dan McMahon]

Which was good. I think he went and got his cape and that's kind of the way things rolled down the stretch. Jalen Brunson, a finalist for the knockoff cojones factor. Player of the year, the one that the NBA gives out, not the official one. He had one.

[Tim Bontemps]

He got my vote.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah, he had one of those type of nights which, you know, listen, man, the guy does this in the playoffs. We've seen it. He's, he's proven when Rick Carlisle doesn't bench him for a Game 7 against the Clippers for Trey Burke. JM Brunson delivers in the playoffs.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, here, here's the thing for the Pistons, Detroit played well in this game. If the Pistons aren't winning a game at MSG, when they shoot 15 for 32 from three and Tobias Harris has 22 and a half, they're not winning the series. And I think there's a chance. It's not that competitive. Like, I understand if people come away from this game feel like, oh, maybe Detroit's got a chance, maybe they'll make this interesting. I had the other take on it. Jalen did not look good early in the game. They, the Knicks couldn't hit a shot. Minnesota, Detroit was throwing stuff in from everywhere. They let a lot of the game and then they gave it away at the end. I could be wrong. I don't expect this game to be that close on Monday night.

[Dan McMahon]

Maybe Jalen Brunson, second half, 23 points, 5 assists, 12 and 3 in the fourth quarter.

[Tim Bontemps]

Pretty good.

[Brian Windhorst]

Let me ask you one, one quick thing about temps.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

I didn't, I didn't watch the fourth quarter, so I don't know if they were rolling. But Mikhail Bridges only played 29 minutes this game.

[Tim Bontemps]

So I can just tell you exactly what happened. So campaign who has the ability at times to just go off in games is not obviously a super high level player, but he can get really hot. He had 14 points, he went 5 for 7 from the field. 3 for 5 from 3 was plus 23 in the game. And Tibbs rode him for most of the fourth quarter because he was knocking knocked down two or three huge shots and they had him out there as part of the big run. Kale Bridges didn't come back in until there was like 145 or two minutes to go.

[Dan McMahon]

Listen good, coach by McAl Bridges, he told Tibbs, play those reserves a little bit more. He did, yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

So I don't know. I mean he averaged 37 minutes this year was most of his career, so. But you know, he didn't always play great down the stretch, so he's also.

[Tim Bontemps]

Not great on Cade Cunningham and that the moments he was on Kate in this game were some of the few moments Kate got going. OG Anunoby did a really good job on Cade. I suspect that'll be the primary matchup.

[Dan McMahon]

You think Cage is too strong for him?

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, for sure.

[Dan McMahon]

Honestly, that's why struggles with Luca because like, Luca just takes him where he wants to go.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

OG is one of the few guys that if you look at him like he, you know, Cade against just about. Well, he's a big guy. But Kate against just about anybody guarding him is either going to have a size or strength or length advantage or some form or fashion or all the above. And OG is one of the few guys that he doesn't. And so you know that that showed up whenever they match up this season. And Mikhail did not do well against Cade really at any point. But yeah, that was the main reason why he wasn't playing, especially in the fourth quarter when Campaign was making shots and the Garden crowd was very happy.

[Dan McMahon]

Well, yeah, and like, yeah, that's why maybe he came off the floor. But then Campaign hit shots and you weren't going to take him out when he keeps hitting big shots. One of those little. He's got the weirdest, like his toes are pointed way over here. The basket's there. But sometimes that thing goes in and gets hot.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. So I would think that Detroit. Well, I'm not going to say that.

[Dan McMahon]

Oh, say it. We got a windy prediction coming.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I just think that a young team, it's hard to believe they could come back from two down. So I would think that they, you know, they would need to split at the Garden. But you know, I, I stopped. I wanted to stop myself a little bit from that, but. All right. Anything else, you guys? I don't know if there wasn't much to focus on in that OKC situation today.

[Dan McMahon]

No, like I said, that was a combination of a major mismatch and a scheduling situation and it blew up.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, the other game worth touching on, I think is Bucs Pacers. So gianna Saidokounmpo is 14 for 23 in this game. The rest of the Bucks were 21 for 61. They were 9 for 35 from 3. The non Giannis starters were 5 for 20 overall, 1 for 9 from 3, 14 total points. Kyle Kuzma came the sixth player in the history of the league to have at least a 20 trillion in a playoff game, which means playing at least 20 minutes and having no points, rebounds, assists, steals, or blocks.

[Brian Windhorst]

You did have two files.

[Tim Bontemps]

You want the list of the players? By the way, it's actually a pretty good list of players.

[Dan McMahon]

Okay, let's hear it.

[Tim Bontemps]

So the last guy to do it before this year was almost 10 years ago to the day now, general manager of the Warriors, Mike Dunleavy Jr. Oh, no. In a game.

[Brian Windhorst]

You brought that up.

[Tim Bontemps]

I'm sure he's thrilled. In a Bucs. In a Bucks. In a Bucks Bulls game when he was playing.

[Dan McMahon]

Wait, was that when they lost by 58?

[Tim Bontemps]

No, no, that was that. It was a different. Because the Bucks. The Bucks. The bucks lost by 58 in that game, but Dunleavy actually had a great plow. So you shot almost 50 from three, but he did not make any shots in that game. The other four guys, Bruce Bowen in 2008, Brent Barry in 2005, Michael Cage in 1993, and Maurice Lucas in 1986. So pretty good. Pretty good company. I was gonna say pretty good company for Kyle Kuzma.

[Dan McMahon]

By the way, when Nico did his little closed doors, no cameras. Okay, fine. You can record on your own. Just don't release to the public media availability. Well, he did take a. A victory lap on his great trade record. People didn't like those trades and look how great they worked at. Didn't mention Grant Williams, sign a trade, deliver the spurs a 2030 unprotected swap rights. He also didn't mention while he was taking the victory lap on the Daniel Gafford PJ Washington deals, that they had the. They had two picks headed to the Wizards for Kyle Kuzma before Kuzma invoked his mythical no trade clause. So just saying.

[Brian Windhorst]

The. Pascal Siakam was awesome this year in the games against Milwaukee.

[Advertiser]

Not cheap.

[Brian Windhorst]

Sure, exactly why I'd have to ask somebody who would analyze it, but they have trouble with him. He shot like 55% and average like 25.

[Tim Bontemps]

And I mean, they've just got no. They have no athleticism. I mean, you could just see it in this. You could see it in this game. Like, yes, they have Giannis, obviously. Giannis is very athletic, but like, you look at the rest of this buck steam. They. They can't guard the Pacers. They just can't guard them.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, he had another great game. He had 25 and seven, and he was 10 of 15 shot made three out of five threes. You know, Siakam is a problem for Milwaukee. So obviously, if you're a Bucks fan.

[Dan McMahon]

You'Re saying Problem for Milwaukee.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, the Pacers are a problem in general. I mean, again, I am not. I'm just saying Dad's corner is very.

[Tim Bontemps]

Nervous for the Pacers. That has been. That has been stated for weeks now.

[Brian Windhorst]

That is not a new saying. It is not a. Oh.

[Dan McMahon]

Oh, no. Wendy's. Oh, you froze up. When he got all scared and you tightened up. You froze up. You okay?

[Brian Windhorst]

Maybe the. Maybe the Cavs shut down my feet here.

[Tim Bontemps]

They didn't want me to say. Cavs are really nervous.

[Dan McMahon]

Hey, where's BJ Evans right now? He.

[Tim Bontemps]

He's at home. Make your point on the Pacers again, because it. When you started, you went away.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm just saying that the Pacers, that's. It's not. It's not. It's about respect for them. After watching them play in the playoffs last year and how they can wear a team out in a series, that's. That's what it's about.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, I mean, it's. The Bucks are. I picked the Pacers in this series in large part because if you look at it, the Bucks can't guard the Pacers, and therefore they have to outscore them. And I didn't know if Dame was going to play at all. And even if Dame was out there, Dame's not helping the defense part. So I do think it's an extraordinarily tough matchup for them. Now we'll see when Dame is going to be able to come into the series. Seems like there's some chance it could be as soon as game two. We'll see. He was obviously at game one, thought it was interesting he decided to start John at Tyrese Halliburton while they were down by a pretty healthy amount late in the game.

[Brian Windhorst]

Hey, those two are not. Those two are not fans of each other.

[Dan McMahon]

No.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, he's Halberton, I believe, wears his number because of Dame, and I believe he's been a fan of him, but.

[Advertiser]

All right.

[Tim Bontemps]

Their moments over the past couple years, for sure.

[Brian Windhorst]

Let me walk that back. Back.

[Dan McMahon]

A little tap, tap on that wrist.

[Brian Windhorst]

I don't think. Yeah, I don't think not fans is too strong of a word.

[Tim Bontemps]

No, they've just. They had their issues.

[Dan McMahon]

They have a healthy rivalry. A healthy rivalry.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yes, they do. Okay, so it's gonna. I mean, look, the Bucks. I laid out those numbers for the non Giannis starters and the Bucks in general. Obviously, if Damian Lillard can give them real minutes and real production, that would be a huge benefit. I also think we have to be pretty Realistic that if Dame is able to come back as soon as game two or really at any point in the series, it's hard to imagine he's going to walk in and meet immediately be playing 35 minutes and being Dame like, you have to. I don't know, maybe you guys disagree. I would have to think you'd be limited in some form.

[Dan McMahon]

So, I mean, I think it's a very difficult situation to just jump into the playoffs when you've been out for.

[Tim Bontemps]

That long and especially against this team.

[Dan McMahon]

Yeah, well.

[Brian Windhorst]

But I've also seen Dame do some remarkable, awesome games.

[Tim Bontemps]

Great. Dame's great. But they, they. I mean, they need something because you watch that, watching that game, it was not. The answers were not really evident for what they were going to do. I mean, it was interesting. They got back in the game a little bit by going to this all shooter lineup, which they've had success with. You have a DJ Green out there, Gary Trent hit a bunch of threes. I mean, maybe they try to pivot more that way. Maybe have Kuzma come off the bench and try to have him have the ball when Giannis is out there and maybe try to get him going. I don't know. But even still, those lineups aren't going to be able to stop Pacers either. So I don't know. I did not come away from that game super encouraged from a buck standpoint, even beyond the obvious scoreline.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, well, the playoffs have started and we're off and.

[Dan McMahon]

Wait, hold on. What? Oh, yeah, okay. There's been at least one road team that, that won because the playoffs don't start till the road team wins.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, the warriors won in. The Wolves won.

[Dan McMahon]

Okay, good, too. So we got the playoffs started and. Yeah, yeah, we got. We're on. All right. That's an accurate statement and.

[Brian Windhorst]

Sorry, we're already doing pods well into the night, so.

[Tim Bontemps]

There we go. Multiple sleep updates.

[Dan McMahon]

Randy.

[Tim Bontemps]

Playoffs have truly started.

[Dan McMahon]

Boom.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm. I'm okay right now because it's NFL draft week and there's not a lot of demand for morning tv, so. It'll be fine.

[Dan McMahon]

Hold on. I'm trying to think if there's anything else I need to promote.

[Tim Bontemps]

I'm sure you'll come up with something.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'll tell you something. We could put a sizzle reel together of McMahon the 24 hours after he covered that press conference contract here.

[Dan McMahon]

I'd encourage you to do just that.

[Brian Windhorst]

I mean, he was firing off some missiles.

[Dan McMahon]

He sure was, man.

[Tim Bontemps]

Sure was.

[Dan McMahon]

Listen, fellas, some of us thrive in chaos. Well, speak.

[Tim Bontemps]

You thrive with attention.

[Dan McMahon]

I think here's the Jim. But the quote, the only person who knows what's coming out of the organized chaos is the one creating it. Jimmy Butler on band. Oh, wait, that's on Steph Curry. My bad.

[Brian Windhorst]

I like Jimmy. In the Walk off interview tonight was, you know, they were talking about youth versus experience. He's like, you know, we're pretty young. I mean, I'm only 37. And, you know, Steph's like 36. And actually, he maybe said, Steph is 37. I don't think Jimmy Butler's 37. Well, maybe he is. Anyway, he was making a joke, so he likes to troll. I don't know if you heard that Steph is 37. Anyway, I botched that, but it's after.

[Advertiser]

1 in the morning.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Thank you to Bontemps. Thank you to McMahon. Thank you to the Cavs. We're in the corner here. They're hosting me things. Things are happy in Cleveland. Thank you to the Cavs for letting me use this room very late. Thank you to Jackson, our producer. Thank you for watching and listening to Hoop Collective. We'll talk to you later this week.

[Dan McMahon]

Adios, amigos.