Podcast Summary: "Celtics & 76ers Major Contenders in East? + Surprising Suns & OKC’s Quest For 70"

Podcast: Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
Date: January 5, 2026
Host: Brian Windhorst
Guests: Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon

Overview

In this rich NBA episode, Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon explore the current state and outlook of Eastern Conference contenders—the Celtics and the 76ers—while also spotlighting the surprising Phoenix Suns, the thunderous performance of Devin Booker, and Oklahoma City’s flirtation with a historic 70-win season. The crew unpacks recent games, standout player performances, coaching impacts, and the wild, always-evolving narratives in the league.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Phoenix Suns: More Than a Feel-Good Story

• Suns’ Win Over OKC:

  • Devin Booker hit a clutch three over tough defense, marking his ninth go-ahead shot in the final five seconds of regulation/OT—second only to DeMar DeRozan since Booker's rookie year. ([03:10])
  • The Suns came back from an 18-point deficit, thanks to standout performances: Dylan Brooks (22 pts), Jordan Goodwin (26 pts, career-high, 8 threes), and stifling defense.

• Exceeding Expectations:

  • "You're in a hell of a lot better shape than I thought you'd be." —MacMahon to Suns management ([06:38])
  • The Suns were written off as lottery-bound but now sit 21-14, with margin wins and strong team identity.
  • Dylan Brooks credited as the new defensive identity, while Colin Gillespie, Ryan Dunn, and Jordan Goodwin represent savvy "wins on the margins" by the front office. ([12:24])

• Booker’s Clutch Mentality:

  • When asked about comfort taking tough shots:
    • "Pretty comfortable." —Devin Booker ([03:16])

• Depth & Coaching:

  • Jordan Ott drawing Coach of the Year buzz for maximizing a non-superstar, defensive-minded roster.
  • Team effort, rather than solo superstardom—Booker is shooting just 29% from three but the wins keep coming. ([10:23])

2. Oklahoma City Thunder—Suspending, Not Retiring, the 70-Win Watch

• The 70-Win Hype:

  • Recent losses push their projected pace to ~68 wins; panel "suspends" rather than retires the 70-win watch, pending another big run. ([05:09])

• Key to Beating OKC:

  • Limit Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and keep the Thunder from running (only 2 fast break pts vs PHX). ([08:05])
  • "If you hold Shai to under 30 points, it's an accomplishment." —Windhorst ([07:18])

3. Celtics’ Dominance & Jaylen Brown’s Rise

• Impressive Road Trip:

  • Boston finishes a Western swing 4-1 and ends the Clippers’ win streak, with Jaylen Brown’s 50-point outburst and dogged defense on Kawhi Leonard. ([19:55])

• The “Snub” Motivation:

  • Jaylen Brown fueled by not winning Eastern Conference Player of the Month.
    • "I believe I'm the best two way player in the world. I just wanted to go out and show it." —Jaylen Brown ([21:40])
  • Panel skewers the idea that Player of the Month awards actually matter, but admires Brown’s ability to turn slights into fuel. ([22:21])

• Best "Two-Way" Case:

  • Brown’s December: 31.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 5.4 APG, 54/43/79 splits, and elite defense—opponents shoot just 39.37% when guarded by him, second best in the league. ([25:28])
  • "Have at it, man—because he talked his talk and then he backed it up." —MacMahon ([24:19])

• Celtics Outlook:

  • With Derek White, Peyton Pritchard stepping up, and Brown carrying added load amid Jason Tatum’s injury, Boston's group defense and grit impress.
  • If Tatum returns at full strength, Bontemps: “Celtics are a real threat… going to be really hard to beat in the playoffs.” ([25:43])

• Efficiency Oddities:

  • Brown is hitting a career-high 57% on “long twos” (16-23 ft), far above league average.
  • Nikola Jokic shooting 64% from the same range—a statistical marvel. ([30:13])

4. 76ers—Healthy and Believing Again

• Recent Wins & Embiid’s Return to Form:

  • Philly is beating teams like New York and Dallas, with Embiid dunking for the first time all season—symbolic of getting his physical confidence back. ([34:13], [34:54])

• Locker Room Vibes:

  • Embiid is “acting like himself again,” engaging in playful banter, talking trash—contrasting last year’s depressed tone. ([37:57])

• Ceiling as Title Contender:

  • "If this Sixers team is healthy on April 15, they have the highest ceiling… in the East." —Bontemps ([38:37])
  • Tyrese Maxey emerging as a superstar leading the team.
    • "Tyrese Maxey is a superstar and it’s his team. Embiid compliments him, not the other way around." —MacMahon ([42:11])

• Strong Rookie Impact:

  • VJ Edgecombe, rewarded through strategic tanking, is giving Philly much-needed athleticism and shooting. ([40:28])

5. Other Notable Player & Team Storylines

• Dylan Brooks’ Technicals:

  • Has already racked up 11 techs, more than Draymond Green, foreshadowing suspensions. ([13:44])

• Draymond Green Behaviors and Ejections:

  • Another ejection; Windhorst details a recent incident and the pattern of veteran officials backing up their less experienced colleagues against star tirades. ([15:28])

6. Monthly "Cojones Factor" and Clutch Performer Awards

• Explaining the Award:
  • The "Cojones Factor" is awarded (with shifting, cheeky criteria) to the NBA player with the most clutch and swag-factor in a given month.
  • This month: Nikola Jokic (Brass Balls): 51 points in 30 clutch minutes, including a historic 18-point overtime Christmas Day outburst. ([49:00])
  • Anthony Edwards (Silver), Keonte George (Gold) for their game-winning feats.
  • Ongoing inside-jokes about how the award's criteria “change every month” and how nobody remembers prior winners… much like Player of the Month honors. ([55:26])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Suns:

  • “You're in a hell of a lot better shape than I thought you'd be.” —MacMahon ([06:38])
  • “I don't want to say you're overachieving, but you're definitely exceeding expectations.” —MacMahon ([06:38])

• On Jaylen Brown:

  • “I believe I'm the best two way player in the world. I just wanted to go out and show it.” —Jaylen Brown ([21:40])
  • “He talked his talk and then he backed it up with an absolutely dominant performance.” —MacMahon ([24:19])

• On Tyrese Maxey & the Sixers:

  • “Tyrese Maxey is a superstar and it’s his team. Embiid compliments him, not the other way around.” —MacMahon ([42:11])
  • “If the Sixers team is healthy on April 15, they have the highest ceiling...in the East.” —Bontemps ([38:37])

• On the "Cojones Factor":

  • “Who had the best combination of clutch and swag in that month? ...That’s why I watch you.” —MacMahon/Joking with Bontemps ([55:31])

• On the Importance of Petty Motivation:

  • “[Jaylen Brown’s] motivation for putting up 50…was that he didn’t win Eastern Conference Player of the Month.” —Windhorst ([21:48])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Suns Thunder Recap, Booker's Clutch Shot: 02:05 – 04:22
• Thunder 70-win watch: 04:45 – 05:57
• Suns’ Team Build, Overachievement: 06:05 – 07:18, 10:20 – 10:23
• Dylan Brooks’ impact, Sun’s Identity: 12:24 – 14:00
• Booker’s Clutch Stats, Postgame Interview: 03:35 – 04:22
• Celtics, Jaylen Brown Motivation & Dominance: 19:55 – 26:54
• Jaylen Brown’s Efficiency Stats: 27:17 – 30:13
• Jokic Distance Shooting, Comparison with Brown: 30:13 – 31:02
• 76ers, Embiid’s Return to Form, Team Chemistry: 34:13 – 38:01
• Sixers’ Ceiling, Maxey’s Rise: 38:37 – 42:12
• Cojones Factor Segment: 44:49 – 56:06

Tone and Format Observations

• Lighthearted, banter-heavy but full of sharp insights and deep analytics.
• Regular inside jokes (especially about changing award criteria and the meaninglessness of monthly honors).
• Personalized, direct player/team criticism and praise; not shy about calling out front offices or own “incorrect” preseason predictions.

Conclusion

This episode is a deep dive into the evolving NBA landscape, showing the importance of team identity, healthy competition, player motivation (however petty), and how difference-makers can emerge in surprising ways. The Celtics and 76ers are finding ways to separate from the pack, the Suns are outpacing dire predictions, and as always, there’s never a shortage of weird and wonderful storylines in the Association.

For further listening:

• [03:35] – Booker's clutch DNA
• [21:40] – Jaylen Brown's postgame quote
• [38:37] – Bontemps on the 76ers' ceiling
• [49:00] – Jokic’s clutch performance breakdown