Controversial & Chaotic Play-In Games - The Full LaMelo Experience

Summary

Episode Summary: "Controversial & Chaotic Play-In Games – The Full LaMelo Experience"

Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective | April 15, 2026

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Overview

In this episode, Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon (“McMahon”) recap a dramatic NBA Play-In opening night filled with controversy, chaos, and historic performances. The panel dives into the Charlotte Hornets’ wild overtime win over the Miami Heat, dissecting the unforgettable “LaMelo Ball Experience”—complete with big shots, messy turnovers, a potentially dirty play, and looming suspension chatter. They also break down Deni Avdija’s monster game in Portland’s win over Phoenix and preview the playoff implications for several teams. Notably, the discussion is shaped by the unique atmosphere of play-in games: heightened stakes, questionable calls, and players put to the ultimate pressure test.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hornets 116, Heat 114 (OT): Madness in Charlotte

Timestamps: 00:46–19:09; resumes at 18:54

• Biggest Hornets Win in a Decade

  • The hosts call this arguably the most memorable Hornets game since the franchise’s restart, with wild lead swings, clutch shots, and controversial moments.
    • "It’s probably, arguably the most memorable Charlotte Hornets game, which is a perfect way to sum up a game that doesn’t exist in the record books."
      —Tim Bontemps (02:59)

• Clutch Kobe White

  • Kobe White’s late-game heroics, scoring 17 of 19 points in the second half/overtime, included a jaw-dropping, game-tying three.
    • "Kobe White hits this shot, which is a jaw dropping shot... He had a huge second half in this game. Hit a whole bunch of shots to help the Hornets come back."
      —Brian Windhorst (04:31)
  • Debate over White's acquisition and the winding Bulls trade web.

• Coaching Decisions & Con Knippel’s Funk

  • Rookie sharpshooter Con Knippel is benched in crunch time after a rough outing (0-6 from three), sparking analysis of Coach Charles Lee’s boldness.
    • "It takes some guts to sit Con in the whole fourth quarter and overtime... but Charles Lee went to Kobe White. Kobe White delivered."
      —Tim Bontemps (07:11)
  • Discussion of how this impacts Knippel’s Rookie of the Year candidacy.

• Hornets’ Defensive Chaos and The LaMelo Ball Rollercoaster

  • Multiple admissions that Charlotte’s chaotic energy stems from how LaMelo Ball plays and leads.
    • "This game was the entire LaMelo Ball experience, good and bad."
      —Tim Bontemps (11:10)
  • Windhorst details a critical sequence: LaMelo turnover, defensive sub-out, then (due to a scramble) a disastrous foul on a Tyler Herro three.

• Critical Endgame Sequences

  • Review of non-calls, a controversial Lamelo turnover, Herro’s clutch free throws, and an Amazon broadcast outage that missed a potentially missed travel.
  • Hornets nearly collapse, but LaMelo hits the eventual game-winner on a tough drive; Heat’s final play blocked by Miles Bridges.

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2. LaMelo Ball’s Controversial Trip on Bam Adebayo

Timestamps: 19:09–29:06

• The Incident

  • LaMelo, after missing a shot and getting hit in the head, appears to trip Bam Adebayo as Bam tries to save the ball, sending him hard to the floor and out of the game. Play was not reviewed—leading to confusion and outrage.

• Aftermath & Fallout

  • Erik Spoelstra (Heat Coach) quote:
    "I didn't see the play, but I don't think it’s cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play... That's a shame. You should be penalized for it. I don't think that belongs in the game. Tripping guys. Shenanigans... He should have been thrown out of the game for that. There’s no place in the game for that." (21:15)
  • LaMelo Ball quote:
    "I apologize on that one. I mean, I got hit in the head. I didn't really know where I was. But I'm going to check on him and see if he’s OK and everything." (22:12)
  • Panel debates if LaMelo’s play warrants suspension, with outside GMs texting that he should be.
  • Comparison to a past Joel Embiid–Mitchell Robinson incident for league precedent (25:21).

• Issue with NBA Replay Mechanics

  • Explains why the play couldn’t be reviewed: once play continues, the opportunity for review is gone.
    • "Once play continues, you can't go back 30 seconds, say, hey, we're going to check this play out..."
      —Tim Bontemps (27:19)

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3. Miami Heat’s Collapse & Season Reflection

Timestamps: 30:02–31:58

• Heat Defensive Meltdown
  • A grim stretch: After Bam’s 83-point game, Miami’s defense slides to historic lows.
    • "They became a historically horrible defensive team... their defensive rating was 123.3. That would be the worst in NBA history."
      —Shay M (30:26)
  • Outlook: The same core for five years, “something significant needs to shift.”
    • "If they come back with basically the same team again in the fall... something significant needs to shift around, I think."
      —Tim Bontemps (31:37)

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4. Portland Trail Blazers Earn 7-Seed – Deni Avdija’s Statement Game

Timestamps: 35:14–44:49

• Deni Avdija’s Superstar Performance

  • "This has been the breakout season. He had a good year last year... Here’s Denny’s line in this game: 41 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists, and 2 blocks."
    —Tim Bontemps (35:55/36:12)
  • "He’s so dominant getting to his right hand—and then his, you know, what’s strong on his left is his shoulder and his elbow. He’s a brick wall."
    —Brian Windhorst (36:42)
  • All hosts marvel at how Avdija dominates even though "everybody in the building knows what’s coming."

• Suns’ Struggles and Coaching Decisions

  • Phoenix's big run erased by Portland’s resilience. Suns' lack of shot-blocking and rim protection exposed.
  • Praise for Coach Tiago Splitter for going small at the end and for Portland’s collective defensive effort.
    • "Portland has all these big wings... they could throw them all at these guys."
      —Tim Bontemps (41:29)
  • Kamara and other role players highlighted for key moments and depth.

• Playoff Implications

  • Portland’s win secures Chicago’s first-round pick (via previous trade).
  • Preview of a potential tough matchup with San Antonio; debate over whether Spurs would have preferred to face Phoenix due to Victor Wembanyama’s specific struggles with the Suns.

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5. Around the NBA: Previewing Upcoming Play-In and Playoff Scenarios

Timestamps: 47:31–52:39

• Eastern Conference Play-In Preview

  • Magic vs. 76ers: Magic praised for defensive ceiling but questioned for mental resilience after late-season collapse.
  • Charlotte likely favored on the road if Embiid remains out or if Magic falter.

• Warriors vs. Clippers

  • Skepticism over either team making a true playoff run but acknowledgment that both could beat Phoenix.
  • "I don't think either of these teams is ultimately going anywhere."
    —Brian Windhorst (49:45)
  • Warriors discussed as potentially better off with a lottery pick than a doomed playoff spot—odds of moving up cited.

• Draft & Pick Swaps

  • Intrigue as OKC eyes potential lottery outcomes with their control of Clippers and Sixers picks.

• A Hopeful Postseason Outlook

  • Windhorst closes with excitement: the slog of tanking is over; chaos can now lead to greatness.
    • "We are in for two months of routine games like we saw on the opening play-in night… the best of times."
      —Brian Windhorst (52:12)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "This game was the entire LaMelo Ball experience, good and bad."
  —Tim Bontemps (11:10)
• "Arsonist and firefighter—that was LaMelo Ball tonight."
  —Shay M (14:06)
• "There’s no way you look at that and say it's anything but a dirty play."
  —Shay M (23:16) (re: LaMelo’s trip on Bam)
• "He’s so dominant getting to his right hand… He's a bulldozer."
  —Brian Windhorst (36:42)
• "Once play continues, you can't go back 30 seconds, say, hey, we're going to check this play out from 30 seconds ago."
  —Tim Bontemps (27:19)

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Episode Timestamps Quick Reference

| Segment | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Hornets–Heat Recap & LaMelo Rollercoaster | 00:46 – 19:09 | | Kobe White Trade Web & Impact | 03:22 – 05:26 | | Con Knippel’s Benching | 06:09 – 08:46 | | End of Regulation/OT Mayhem | 09:40 – 16:37 | | LaMelo’s Trip on Bam Adebayo & Fallout | 19:09 – 29:06 | | Heat Defensive Collapse/Postseason Future | 30:02 – 31:58 | | Portland–Phoenix Play-In Recap | 35:14 – 44:49 | | Magic/76ers & Warriors/Clippers Previews | 47:31 – 52:39 |

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Tone and Style

• The hosts stay true to their typical blend of candor, irreverence, and deep basketball expertise—ribbing each other, referencing GMs, league trends, and emphasizing the emotional gusts of postseason chaos.
• The LaMelo situation is dissected with a fair amount of humor but sharp criticism; player development, coaching choices, and league policy are all put under a microscope.

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For listeners who missed it:

This episode is a must-hear for any NBA fan wanting a sense of the fevered, unpredictable world of the play-in tournament: heart-stopping comebacks, controversial non-calls, LaMelo Ball at his most maddening and sublime, and a new playoff star in Deni Avdija. The episode deftly explains not just the “what,” but the “why”—and what it means for the rest of the postseason.

Transcript

[Thrivent Announcer]

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[Brian Windhorst]

It's a way to care for the

[Thrivent Announcer]

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[Brian Windhorst]

Hello and welcome to the HOOPP Collective Podcast. We talk about the NBA, which you're doing after midnight on Wednesday morning in the wake of two highly entertaining and mildly controversial play in games to kick off the NBA post season asterisks. These games don't count for history.

[Shay M]

You can't find them.

[Brian Windhorst]

You want to find out about these games, you got to be going through the corners of the Internet. All right, guess we'll start in Charlotte where the Hornets won their biggest game in doing introspro.

[Shay M]

Nobody gets introduced. It's a winning pod and people chime in.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I guess it's not even really that late. I don't even have a really good excuse.

[Tim Bontemps]

Playing stats don't count. The pod doesn't count.

[Brian Windhorst]

Joining us that right there from New York City, Tim Bontemps.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hello everybody. What a fun start to the postseason.

[Brian Windhorst]

And joining us from Los Angeles, California is bad. McMahon.

[Shay M]

Howdy partners. No TNT, but we love drama and we got plenty of it tonight on Amazon.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, so biggest Hornets win in a decade. Bon temps.

[Shay M]

Yes.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean Brian and I are on a text chain with a couple of Hornets fans who were at the game and Brian asked if it was the biggest win and the this iteration of the franchise's history. I mean they did win three playoff games in 2016. So with Kemba Walker who's now on the bench with the Hornets. So I think you at least have to have it in discussion with them. But when you combine the way the Hornets played over the back half of the year and all the excitement that there's been around the team with just this absolutely bonkers game that had crazy comebacks and collapses and drama and non calls and just all the crazy and controversy and. Well, that's what I mean. That's what I mean. Right? So yeah, yeah, we got McMahon doing puns at 1am It's. The game had everything you could ask for. So. Yeah, I mean, it's certainly. I would say it's already the most memorable. It's probably, probably arguably the most memorable Charlotte Hornets game, which is a perfect way to sum up a game that doesn't exist in the record books.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. So look, I think we should start with the way the game ended before we get into the controversy, because I don't think that should be wiped out. First off, Kobe White with an absolutely

[Tim Bontemps]

new Arturis, by the way.

[Brian Windhorst]

Like, I don't want to this Bulls trade deadline.

[Thrivent Announcer]

Holy.

[Shay M]

Dance on the grave. Dance on the grave a little bit,

[Thrivent Announcer]

let me just say.

[Brian Windhorst]

So you guys realize that the Bulls ended up with Jaden Ivy, which was a disaster. We don't have to do.

[Tim Bontemps]

We do realize that.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay.

[Tim Bontemps]

We do.

[Brian Windhorst]

They traded Kobe White. They got Mike Conley. They traded IO Dosamu. I always screw up his last name. IO Just IO they traded IO for Mike Conley. Okay. There might have been.

[Shay M]

And IO's been hooping in Minnesota, by the way.

[Brian Windhorst]

Absolutely. IO has been. Really.

[Tim Bontemps]

They got second. They got seconds in deal.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay. Then they take Conley, put him with Kobe White, and they trade him for Usman Zhang and Colin Sexton. Okay. There were two second round picks, I think in that deal, but.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, there were three. And then it went down to two after there was three second round picks.

[Brian Windhorst]

The Bulls did not know that Kobe White was injured. They also apparently didn't know Jaden Ivey was injured because they said a, okay on that trade and then realized he was actually hurt.

[Shay M]

Well, and the knee was the least of the concerns, but.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right.

[Tim Bontemps]

We shouldn't spend this much time on the Bulls. Right?

[Brian Windhorst]

You're right. Anyway, Bulls stink. They ended up releasing Usman Jang and Usman Jang went on and lecture was pretty good for the Bucks. Okay, forget about all that. Kobe White hits this shot, which is a jaw dropping shot. There were less than 10 seconds left. There was a decent chance the Heat were going to foul because they were up by three at the end of regulation. And Kobe White gets to his spot and gets squared up. And by the way, it was. He had a huge second half in this game. Hit a whole bunch of shots to help the Hornets come back.

[Shay M]

The Heat, he comes off the bench in Charlotte. Why was he in the game? Oh, we'll get to that later. We'll get to that later.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

Anyway, Mr. Dallas Pom Poms over here.

[Shay M]

It was a. I forgot briefly.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm questioning, you know, just questioning and meanwhile. So what did he finish with? He finished with 19. Boy, it felt like more. He would five of eight.

[Tim Bontemps]

I think he had Wells in the

[Shay M]

second because it was basically all in the second half. Had a huge third quarter plus plus

[Brian Windhorst]

21 in the game. So Kobe White plays a huge role. The Heat had built a pretty, you know, a lead and Davion Mitchell was playing an absolutely terrific game for them. Andrew Wiggins playing one of his best games, most consequential games in a Heat uniform. Again, making very big baskets, big three pointers. You know the Heat was, you know, Tyler Herro didn't have his best shooting night, but he made some couple of hugely clutch plays in overtime.

[Shay M]

Three clutch free throws. I know that.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, so con Knipple is. He had been. He had been struggling. He had, you know the Hornets had lost a series of, you know, big games down the stretch of the season and Knipple struggled in those games, particularly his shooting. And you know he came into this game and he was just not effective. I think he went 0 of 5 on threes just in the first half and then the second half he really didn't even shoot that much.

[Shay M]

He was trigger shy. Let like listen, I looked it up. He is Khan Knippel the second. He does not have a middle name. It certainly is not. That's a chance because the guy is lacking confidence.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, he, he on that one.

[Shay M]

It's true though. He doesn't have a middle name.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's not got off. He's got all sorts.

[Brian Windhorst]

I will just say, you know, ultimately the Hornets won this game but Charles Lee, their head coaching in his first postseason game as a head coach he was a little bit. There was a lot of stuff coming in and out of the game. He was, you know it was a lot of emotions in the look, he's

[Tim Bontemps]

got a chaotic team which obviously you're going to have a chaotic team with the both the way they play and when Lamello ball is your. Your lead ball handler. And I thought look, it takes, it takes some guts to sit con in the whole second half or the whole fourth quarter in overtime of this game. Guys leading the league in three point shooting this year. He had a dreadful game. I would have maybe had him out there instead of set aside on James to some of these late game situations. But Charles Lee went to Kobe White. Kobe White delivered Kobe White. The Hornets have not been in the playing game. You know who's been in the playing games? Kobe White with the Bulls. Love the play in all roads lead

[Shay M]

to 39 until this year. Kobe White's got some playing experience.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's right. And he's got playing experience playing against the Heat and he.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's true.

[Tim Bontemps]

You know, he looked like a guy who had been in that situation and was comfortable and like, you know that that's why they won the game. He had 17 of his. Like McMahon said he had 17 of his 19 points in the second half in overtime and like. But it's still for as good as Kobe White is, he's a really good player. It's not an easy thing to sit con in that spot.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. So he's.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was the right call by Charles Lee.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. Khan's off. You know, normally you would want, you know, we'll talk about lamelo in a minute. Normally you would want Khan to take the shot because the guy led the league and you need three points inside.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, they got a lot of good three point shooters. I mean Brandon Miller's a great shooter.

[Shay M]

But in the regulation they're down three. They need a three and Khan's on the bench. Kobe gets it. But like Khan is in a funk right now.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. He was too into the 12 oh of 6.

[Shay M]

Yeah. And it's not like, listen, Con Canipple has had a hell of a rookie year. He's going to have one hell of a career. He will probably be a multi time all star. If you have an NBA awards ballot, this game is not supposed to count. Having said that, if you got that ballot and you can't vote yet because you're waiting on the extenuating circumstances appeals. If your argument for rookie of the year was this guy impacts winning and Cooper flag didn't tonight didn't exactly back that argument.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, we talked on Sunday even though

[Brian Windhorst]

it shouldn't count in your.

[Tim Bontemps]

It wasn't supposed to count but like we talked about on Sunday night for. For the Monday pod, this was an opportunity for Khan to, you know, be on a big stage and if he showed out, it could maybe help him. I certainly don't think today helped him.

[Brian Windhorst]

Agree. And the ballots haven't even gone out yet.

[Shay M]

That's what I'm saying.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean it's not supposed to count but like Friday.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right, but I'm just saying it's one thing that the ballots. It's one thing that the ballots had gone out and you're not supposed to vote until you hear back from Luca. We don't even have the ballots yet. Okay. So get into overtime. Hornets build a lead. Heat make a tremendous comeback. Tyler hero hits a huge clutch Shot from the corner. And then the Hornets are on the verge of absolute catastrophe when they are up by three with the ball and there's only 18 seconds left. And I'm saying, well, Miami's got a foul. Got a foul. Miami doesn't foul.

[Shay M]

Lamelo had just made a nice play. Get a bucket. And then what happens?

[Brian Windhorst]

Lamelo turns the ball over.

[Tim Bontemps]

Miami very smartly said, the Hornets are a bunch of chaos agents. So let's try to speed them up and see what happens.

[Brian Windhorst]

And now at the end of games, in defensive situations, Charles Lee takes Lamelo out of the game. This has been happening for years.

[Tim Bontemps]

As he should, by the way.

[Shay M]

Davion Mitchell had a big game being guarded by Lamelo tonight.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's true.

[Brian Windhorst]

And there was one play in overtime.

[Tim Bontemps]

They were going after Lamelo the whole game.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's right. Well, there's one play in overtime where Lamelo literally fell asleep on defense and got beat for a back cut. And like, that's just hard to do in, you know, in an elimination overtime situation.

[Shay M]

But the concerns about Lamelo and he ended up having like counting stats of big night. The concerns about Lamelo reared their heads night. And then he still somehow was the hero.

[Brian Windhorst]

So I haven't even got to him yet, really.

[Tim Bontemps]

Right, right, exactly. I mean, this was, this game was the entire Lamelo ball experience, good and bad.

[Brian Windhorst]

So, all right, so Lamelo is now all of a sudden, because of the turnover, he is now in on defense on a critical possession, which is what you do not want. And granted it was a transition, you know, scramble situation. It wasn't like everybody was calm. But there's a reason why they take him out of. And that reason reared its head because he fouled Tyler hero on a three. Now, I got to tell you, hands

[Shay M]

smacked the sides of the head at that point.

[Brian Windhorst]

He must have thought he actually fouled them. I didn't get. I didn't think that. There was great reviews on that play. It was a little bit unclear. But his reaction, including in the post game interview where he said, I effed up on that play.

[Tim Bontemps]

He didn't say effed.

[Shay M]

He effed up on the turnover. And then he effed up on the foul. He clipped them. No question.

[Brian Windhorst]

Kiro's a 90% free throw shirt. He hits all three. They have. They have handed. They rescue themselves from, you know, the jaws of defeat in regulation and then they hand the game back to the heat. Now this is kind of what happens between frankly, two non elite teams, although you can see this happen with elite teams. But you can. The, the errors and the imperfections with these two teams. While it was great, theater did show up. And including the fact that Lamelo was at this point two of 16 from three point range in the game and 30 questionable. Well, he has shots in almost every game.

[Shay M]

Correct. There were heat checks.

[Brian Windhorst]

He did have 10 assists. He was, you know.

[Tim Bontemps]

But the other, the other thing, the other thing that would. That should be mentioned when the Amazon feed, I guess cut out. It didn't cut out for me, but when it cut out for everybody, one of the critical plays of the game, he pretty clearly traveled, made a crazy shot, but like never.

[Brian Windhorst]

I never saw it live and I saw it on replay, but I saw

[Shay M]

a replay and I did, did that. He definitely slow stepped and it looked awkward that last foot come down.

[Tim Bontemps]

He was on his foot and then he like hopped as he turned and then, I mean, it was a crazy shot. I mean, Stan Van Gotti over it on the broadcast.

[Shay M]

Technical difficulties.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, so did, so did most of the country.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, Stan Van Gotti went on the broad over on the broadcast for you, Bon Temps. You were using some illegal stream. So the official streams went out. But anyway, so he did make that basket to give him the three point lead before the hero or where maybe

[Shay M]

it was even Tyler Hero tied it up. And what happens? Yeah, they called timeout.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was before the. It was, it was. That was when Lamelo. It was before the first Tyler Hero shot in the corner.

[Shay M]

Remember when I told you somebody within the Mavericks orbit referred to Mark Cuban as an arsonist and a firefighter? That was Lamel ball tonight. He was an arsonist.

[Tim Bontemps]

He was a firefighter.

[Brian Windhorst]

So Lamelo, they, they called timeout. Their last time out set up a play for Lamelo in a tie game, he gets isolated on Jaime Hawkes. I watched the replay about four times. I don't think he commits a foul. He creates a little bit of separation, but I do not think he commits a foul. I do think Jaime Haquez hacked him on the arm, which was not called. But the bottom line is Lamelo gets the corner turned, makes a tough basket in traffic. The referees let it play. It's a terrific play while he's getting fouled. Regardless of whatever you want to say about anything else in the game, Hawkes hit him square on the arm. It was not called. And he was still able to finish in a very, very clutch moment.

[Shay M]

I think he fans felt a lot of sympathy that Lamelo didn't get a whistle there.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's true. Which we'll talk about in a minute. And so the Heat, despite it, saying on the Amazon broadcast ahead of timeout, they did not have a timeout, which Dan Van Gundy said during the broadcast. The inbound Davion Mitchell goes length to the court. Miles Bridges makes a great defensive play

[Shay M]

to block it and he got like, he got in. He got to the bucket and it was blocked.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, it was a pretty rough shot, but I, I thought they had a timeout because I was watching and it was on there. So I feel better that that was the shot they got when they didn't have a timeout. I was wondering why they got called.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're, you're right, McMahon. He gets all the way to the basket and gets the shot off. And, and he had also made a couple of very hard shots in traffic. And you know, he's not a big guy. He has a lot of expertise.

[Shay M]

He's not a tall guy.

[Brian Windhorst]

Correct. I want to clarify. He's a very strong guy and you know, he's much bigger than me, but he's not tall by NBA standards. He has a lot of experience finishing.

[Tim Bontemps]

He had a good game.

[Brian Windhorst]

He has a lot of experience finishing below the rim. So like the shot that goes up is at a weird angle, but you know what? It might have gone in and it

[Shay M]

was like that was a great hustle, athletic defensive play to swat that away

[Brian Windhorst]

by and clean, clean block, totally clean. Mitchell was not fouled.

[Shay M]

Bridges is an incredible athlete and made an incredibly athletic play there. More Hoop Collective Podcast after this Thrivent

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[Brian Windhorst]

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[Brian Windhorst]

Before I get into this absolutely strong play by the Hornets who came back in the fourth quarter, got ahead and played ahead in the whole overtime. Wendy dealt with adversity.

[Shay M]

All right, stop packing this thing with

[Brian Windhorst]

cotton in the first half. LaMelo Ball tripped Bam Adebayo out of frustration I believe.

[Shay M]

Oh, his head got hit and he didn't know where he was.

[Brian Windhorst]

This was an all time quote.

[Tim Bontemps]

Do you want me to read the quotes?

[Brian Windhorst]

Yes. So hold on in case people didn't see it because they're getting up this morning, right? I'm sure if you're watching on ESPN too you've seen it. But Lamelo misses a layup. He feels like he got fouled on his way down. He got hit in the head. I think he might have got hit in head by his own player Ryan Kallbrenner, but it wasn't like egregious. And as Bam Adebaya was turning to go back up the court, he grabbed.

[Shay M]

No, no. His band was turning to save the ball and bound. Okay, so he was on one foot to save the ball and bound.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, that's right. He puts his hand on Bam's heel and pushes taking Bam's feet out after him.

[Tim Bontemps]

He swiped that thing, swiped his legs out from under him and he landed

[Brian Windhorst]

hard on his back and Bam you could very clearly was swiped because Bam was completely off balance. If Bam was not had his leg taken out, he probably would have been more on balance and instead lands very hard on his tailbone. Has to leave the game. The Bam saves the ball. If the ball had gone out of bounds by the way, they probably can review it, but, oh, they.

[Tim Bontemps]

They would have reviewed it because the

[Brian Windhorst]

play continues for the fast break. They don't call a foul on the play and it's not reviewable. After the game, the referees made a statement. Zach Sarber, the crew chief, makes a statement that it's not a reviewable play because the review window had closed because the game had gone on. Spoelstra is incensed after the game. Says, basically, there's no place that calls it Shenanigans. Hat tip, Jackie Mack. There's no there. He said there's no place in the game for it. Repeatedly. Said he did not think that was why they lost the game. However, they lost their best player.

[Shay M]

Well, and he said Lamelo should have been kicked out of the game.

[Brian Windhorst]

He should have been kicked out. And he said he should have been out.

[Tim Bontemps]

Read that quote.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, so. Well, first off, read what Lamelo said as his explanation for what happened there.

[Tim Bontemps]

Okay, let me read the sponsor thing first. Just because we just talked about it. So sponsor said, I didn't see the play, but I don't think it's cute. I don't think it's funny. I think it's a stupid play. It's a dangerous play. Obviously, our best player was out. I'm not making an excuse. The Hornets played great, made those plays down the stretch. We had opportunities to win, but that's a shame. You should be penalized for it. I don't think that belongs in the game. Tripping guys. Shenanigans. Curtis Blair is the one. Referee. Curtis Blair was there. It's his responsibility to see that. If it's not his responsibility, then Zack Sarbo you just mentioned, then Zach's got to see it. Somebody has got to see that. And he should have been thrown out of the game for that. There's no place in the game for that. So then later, Lamelo ball gets asked about what happened. Let me scroll down to this point. Okay. Lamello's asked for an explanation of what happened on the play. Quote, oh, yeah, I apologize on that one. I mean, I got hit in the head. I didn't really know where I was. But I'm going to check on him and see if he's okay and everything.

[Shay M]

He didn't know where he was, but he knew where bam. Adebayo's ankle was.

[Tim Bontemps]

So then, so then there's a clarification of this. And he said, quote, I haven't even seen. Like I said, I got hit in the head. I didn't even know where I was, but, yeah, just playing basketball. But like I said, sorry and I'm going to check on it. So then he got asked, well, did you get evaluated for a concussion? Yeah, I mean, I don't think I ever had a concussion or I might have. I don't know. I don't even know how them concussions work.

[Shay M]

Well, I'll say this. If you had a concussion, that definitely explains the turnover and foul in the last minute of overtime. But that smells like manure from Lamelo. It was like, there's no way to look at that and say it's anything but a dirty play. Kicked out of the game because Bam was hurt. I don't know if there was a review, if that would have been considered. It was a. To me, if I'm. If I'm reviewing that, it's a flagrant one. I don't know if it's getting kicked out of the game, but it was

[Tim Bontemps]

a flag and foul.

[Shay M]

It was a non basketball play to swipe at a guy's ankle who's off balance.

[Brian Windhorst]

The only reason it would be considered potentially a flagrant, too is because Bam got hurt on the play badly.

[Shay M]

But, like, there's no question it was a. It was a. Like, there's no way you look at that and say it's anything but a dirty play.

[Tim Bontemps]

I think there's going to be real debate over the next 48 hours about whether Lamella ball suspended for Friday's game.

[Brian Windhorst]

There's going to be debate in the media. I don't know if there's going to be much debate.

[Tim Bontemps]

I had a GM text me tonight and not related to any of this and asked because they saw the play later and said, this guy's got to get suspended. Right? I said, I don't.

[Shay M]

I think that's a reaction to the result and not the play. But I don't know, man. Like, it's. It. It's a tough one to swallow because you did knock out the Heat's best player. And you boys know I've been talking about the curse of 83 and kind of making fun of the Heat, but there's nothing funny about this like that. It was a dirty play that caused

[Tim Bontemps]

so dirty and dangerous.

[Shay M]

Missed the most important game of the Heat season. He played. What was it, like six minutes? It doesn't. Nothing about it sits right.

[Brian Windhorst]

So, yeah, so I will say Heat fans unearthed a play from a couple of years ago where a similar thing happened where Lamelo felt that he got fouled against the Heat. I believe the game was in Miami. And it was on Heat Twitter tonight and. Or Heat X, whatever you want to call it. And he did a similar thing where after he felt like he got fouled, he reached out and tripped Bam. Now, in this play, Bam was much more on balance. And there, you know, it just sort of was a nuisance, but it was a, you know, it was when you saw those two plays side by side, you're like, this is. This has happened before. This is what he does. So I don't know. That doesn't really matter to the league, but that should be considered.

[Shay M]

And here's the thing. I, I do not believe at all that Lamelo intended to injure Bam Adebayo, but what he did was reckless, was a dirty play.

[Brian Windhorst]

And so the other thing I can. Dangerous, the only thing I can compare it to in recent times and Bontemps, you have a good memory for this. You probably covered this game was the play in the playoffs two years ago.

[Tim Bontemps]

Mitchell Robinson and Joel Embiid.

[Brian Windhorst]

Mitchell Robinson and Joel Embiid. Where? Embiid. Where Mitchell Robinson, like Embiid, sort of takes him out in a similar play. They call that one and they upgrade it to a flagrant one. This, that recalling that play will get the Knicks fans bloods boiling because that hit on Robinson's foot essentially took him out for the rest of the playoffs. He played a couple more games after that, but it was a reinforcement.

[Tim Bontemps]

He wasn't right the rest of the time. That's not factor, basically.

[Brian Windhorst]

So I will, I will just say in a similar situation, that was a flagrant one. And by the way, Zack Zarba was on that crew. Zack Zarba reviewed that part.

[Tim Bontemps]

I forgot about that part that Zach was doing the game.

[Brian Windhorst]

Like, I don't want to put words into Zach's mouth. I'm not. I'm just saying that in a somewhat similar situation, Zach Zarba looked at it and ruled flagrant one.

[Tim Bontemps]

And Zach is part of the pool report. Just, just because you said that. So we have all the schedules here, so we have to scroll down. So he got asked, I believe, by Rod Boone. Yeah. From the Charlotte observer, should the, should the play have risen to a level of a flag or foul? If it was reviewed that at this point, that goes to league operations and they'll make a determination on that in the coming days. So they will make that determination and go from there.

[Shay M]

I mean, I think it's clearly a New York foul, but like, yeah, in defense of the refs, the play was Bam on one foot, so he didn't go out of bounds on the baseline, saving the ball on its transition the other way and Lamelo on his back reaching out and swiping with his right hand. So like I, I can understand how they didn't see it because the play was going the other way.

[Tim Bontemps]

I don't even know if they necessarily didn't see it. But like the way this stuff works just so people like, so fans understand, like basically so Curtis Blair is there looking at the play, right? Bam throws the ball ahead and the Heat have a fast break. So essentially you decide you're either going to stop the play right then and call a foul and review it or if you're, if you're not sure, you let the play go and the Heat have a fast break going the other way. But when the Heat have the fast break and go the other way, once play continues, you can't go back 30 seconds, say, hey, we're going to check this play out from 30 seconds ago. Now you could argue why is that the case. It was a dirty play. You should be able to do that. As someone who has said I would like replay to be abolished, I am certainly not going to sit here and say let's have more reasons to stop games for reviews. But that is like the mechanics of why they couldn't go back and do it. And like you said McMahon, it's a split second thing. Play goes the other way. If the ball had gone out of bounds, they probably do review it.

[Shay M]

But it didn't because then Miami can challenge an ultimate insult to injury. The Heat don't score, it ends up transition back the other way for Charlotte and Lamelo gets a dunk because it's a five on four with Bam and agony laid out on the baseline, right?

[Brian Windhorst]

So I predict it being the middle of a news cycle week Wednesday morning, NFL draft stuff hasn't started yet. I predict this will be a major talking point, no question.

[Tim Bontemps]

And talking point especially because of it. I mean it's Lamelo and it's Bam and it impacted the game and all, all these things, all of it.

[Shay M]

And Lamello's getting fine. Lamello's getting fined for f bombing on the walk off interview.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yes, but it will be an expensive. Yeah, it will be an expensive.

[Brian Windhorst]

In his post game. Yeah, he was not right.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's going to be an expensive 48 hours no matter what for Lamelo because there's going to be some, at minimum, some sort of upgrade and he's going to get a hefty fine for the post game comments or their pal Cassidy. My guess is he ends up getting, I mean I wouldn't be stunned if they give him a flagrant 2 and don't suspend them, which would sort of be a way to middle middle it and give him two flag foul points which, you know, as we've seen in the past with Draymond Green and others. I don't know how long Sean will be in the playoffs, but I'm asking,

[Shay M]

seriously, do those count toward a playoff total?

[Brian Windhorst]

Great question.

[Shay M]

I really don't know. Like playing stats.

[Tim Bontemps]

I will double check. I will, I assume, I assume MVPR is not awake, but I will ask that now and see if we can get an answer.

[Shay M]

The other thing I just want to point out, while I really like, I'm going to lay off the whole 83 years angle because this was bad circumstances with Bam going out. The Heat absolutely stunk down the stretch of the season. You know, they, they came to play tonight.

[Brian Windhorst]

They couldn't get defensive stops at the end of this game. And that's the thing said if they could just get a couple of stops, they would have won.

[Shay M]

But fellas, they became a historically horrible defensive team and I, I'm timing it to Bam's 83 point performance. They actually beat the Bucs the next game. It'd be even worse if I waited a game after the 83 point performance. They played 16 games about 20% of a season. Their defensive rating was 123.3. That would be the worst in NBA history. Now there were two teams that were worse during that stretch. Those were the Lizards and the Grizzlies. Yeah, the two tankiest of all tank teams that did not commit any overt behavior because they were not fined. So clearly it wasn't overturned. But I'm just guessing they were tanking. But I'm saying like the Heat absolutely fell apart defensively down the stretch of the season. And again, this one, their best defensive player is gone. They're whatever, but them not being able to get stops is not like a, oh my gosh, Bam's out. They can't get stops. They were awful defensively down the stretch of the season.

[Tim Bontemps]

And Justin, no, I was going to say was the Heat have a lot of questions to answer this summer. Just in general, they've had the same

[Shay M]

can they get a star?

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, well, they've just had the same basic group for five years now and they've been treading water over and over again and I, I, something has to change there. It feels like I don't know what's going to but if they come back with basically the same team again in the fall. It's. I don't know. I just. Something significant needs to shift around, I think.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, well, before we move on, I just want to say a couple things. First off, Musa Diabate, who had a important production tonight at 14 rebounds. He hurt his hip in this game or his side, and he was holding it the entire second half, basically. So I don't know what his health status is going to be for when they play again on Thursday. I believe they play on Thursday.

[Shay M]

And by the way, his insertion in the starting lineup definitely coincides with their massive midseason turnover.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's one thing. The second thing is there's going to be some pressure on Con Knippel to play well in, in the, in the game. You know, for, for the eighth seed.

[Shay M]

I mean, there was a lot of. He got a lot of camera time while he was standing, right?

[Brian Windhorst]

And then he has gotten a lot of attention positively throughout the season for playing well. This is what comes with it.

[Shay M]

You earn the right profile player.

[Tim Bontemps]

This is all part of, this is all part of the learning experience. 100% serious comment. It's. It's all part of the learning experience for him and for the Hornets. All this stuff like, this is why this situation is awesome for them. Like, it's important to go through this stuff and it, like I said, it's not a coincidence. The guy that saved them in the second half of this game, I'm not making a joke about it. Like, Kobe White has been in the playoffs, has played in the play in a lot. The Heat have played a ton of play in games. Like it is a kind of a, it's a totally different thing than anything else that we really have in the NBA. Like, I mean, I guess the NBA cup is like it too, but like this one off, one off NCAA tournament kind of setup, it's just a different environment. And like, you know, it's, it's, it's not a coincidence that the Heat looked like a team that had been there plenty and the Hornets were the more talented team that had a kind of a chaotic path to a win.

[Shay M]

More Hoop Collective podcast after this These

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[Brian Windhorst]

So in the other play in game, the one that guaranteed you a spot, the number seven seed in the west, the right to play the spurs, was won by the Portland Trailblazers, who've had a hell of a week. Won their way into the eighth seed primarily with a big win over the LA Clippers on Friday. You know, cemented it with the victory on Sunday and then come back with probably the best performance of Denny Advia's career. He's had really. I wouldn't say his breakout season was this year. His breakout season was really last year. But he had a whale of a season this year, maybe an all NBA season.

[Tim Bontemps]

Dude, I was going to say this has been the breakout season. He had a good year last year.

[Shay M]

He's he rounding up. He's averaging 24, 7 and 7. The only guys in the league who averaged as many points, rebounds and assists as him. There's two guys, Nikola Jokic. Yeah, and Luka Doncic.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey listen, here's pretty good. Here's Denny's. Including the game winning bucket in this game. Here's Denny's line in this game. 41 points, 38 minutes, 41 points, 15 for 22 from the field, 12 for 14 on twos in the game. Got the line 13 times, only went 8 for 13, 7 rebounds, 12 assists and 2 blocks.

[Shay M]

You could cut his left hand off and it wouldn't affect his game. He is so dominant getting to his right hand.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, he's so dominant getting to his right hand and then his, you know what's strong on his left is his shoulder and his elbow. He's a brick wall. He flings that, that, that, that, that those appendages and just clears out the way like not a coincidence.

[Shay M]

Dylan Brooks fouled out Shay.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, Shay is an expert at using the clearance arm, but Denny is a bulldozer.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean it's, it's unbelievable to watch him and, and look, I remember when he signed his extension with Washington, I was talking to a GM and I was like, man, I don't know, like, not sure about that deal. And they were like, hey, Denny's got a chance to be pretty good. And I, I was like, I don't know. Really. Like, I don't know. And it, it's, it's been unbelievable. And I, I like the trade at the time. Like I wasn't sure about the value Portland gave up in the trade to get him from Washington. And like his development.

[Brian Windhorst]

Unbelievable. Wasn't a lottery pick.

[Tim Bontemps]

They gave up the 14th. It was Bob Carrington who was the 14th pick. And they gave up a future first. There's just two picks and Denny, I mean he's obviously vastly outperformed that. And you watch him play and like you guys both said, the crazy thing about it is it's like, it's like one of those things where everybody in the building knows exactly what he's doing. He's putting his head down, he's going to his right hand, he's going to the rim and nobody could stop him. And he gets fouled all the time. And he's finishing in the paint all the time. Like he's finishing in the spring.

[Shay M]

He's spraying it out to shooters.

[Tim Bontemps]

Like, dude, yeah, I love watching him play. It's awesome.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, one thing that happened there is

[Shay M]

complaining about the whistle he gets, but,

[Brian Windhorst]

well, he's getting back. He made a basket. So first off, what happened? Phoenix was behind for much of the first half. All the first half, basically it felt

[Tim Bontemps]

like there were 10 different 10, zero or more runs in this game. It felt like it was the whole game was just each team going. Phoenix game makers.

[Brian Windhorst]

Phoenix went on a 24 to 4 run in the second half, which looked like was going to give them separation and they were playing at home. Dylan Brooks was having a good shooting game. Jalen Green, I wouldn't say it was having a good shooting game, but he threw in some shots. And Booker, you don't think 14 shots is throwing in some shots?

[Shay M]

No, I was going to say I think he had a pretty good shooting game.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, he was 14 to 29.

[Tim Bontemps]

He 35 points on 29 shots on

[Brian Windhorst]

the last Sun's possession. I Felt like he tried to get fouled on a three instead of actually trying to make the three.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was a lot of foul hunting by the Suns late, mostly unsuccessful.

[Brian Windhorst]

But I will say that, you know, as Portland was coming back, you know, Denny makes this basket to tie the game at 110 and thought he got fouled, thought he got fouled and probably could have gotten teched there but Nick Buchert, the veteran referee didn't tech him. And then Jeremy Grove, Grant and Drew Holiday. And by the way, let me just say there's been. There wasn't a lot of understanding as to why this the Blazers made the Drew Holiday trade and then Holiday had a season was injury plagued because you know, they were sort of in the middle. Holiday has been extremely helpful to them down the stretch since he got healthy. He the fourth quarter was Denny Advies quarter. He had 14 points and three assists like he won them the game. But Drew Holiday had several big plays at both ends of the court, including keeping Denny from getting attack there in a tie game.

[Tim Bontemps]

Drew had a really good year. Just to be clear. Drew did a good job.

[Brian Windhorst]

I don't know how many games he

[Tim Bontemps]

played, but yeah, I mean he missed some time with injuries, but some odd.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, and also Jeremy Grant, a guy who I didn't like the contract the day they gave it to him and he's been in and out of trade rooms ever since. Jeremy Grant played a very key role, including stripping. I believe it was Royce o'. Neill. I think it was Royce o' Neal right at the end of the game when after Jalen Green missed Rice, o' Neill got the rebound and Jeremy Grant stripped him to secure the win.

[Shay M]

Well, and you mentioned Jalen Green taking 29 shots. Devin Booker took 17. They'd like to flip that.

[Brian Windhorst]

I know I didn't love Jalen Green's game, but here's the thing.

[Shay M]

Devin Booker was being defended for most of the game by Tamoni Kamara and by Drew Holliday. I mean they had a. They had elite defenders on him and Tamoni Kamara is the guy that the Suns threw in with Deandre Ayton. They attached him to Ayton as a sweetener so they could dump Ayton, you know, to get off him as part of the Dame deal. And Kamara, he didn't have a great shooting night, but he's become the prototypical 3 and D player. A guy who played all 82 for Portland this year and is a big reason why the Blazers are now moving on as the seventh seed in the

[Tim Bontemps]

playoffs on two things. Jeremy Grant hadn't played since March 27th. He'd only played a couple games since March 20th. He'd been out with a calf strain. So he came back and played in this game and obviously, like you said, had an impact. And Portland is a pretty tough matchup in particular for Phoenix because they've got all these big wings. And you saw that, as you guys both just pointed out in this game where between Kamara and Drew Holiday and you know, Denny's a solid defender. Like, they've got a bunch of big, long. Matisse Thibel is back and playing. They got a bunch of big, long, physical wing defenders and they could throw them all at these guys. And yeah, like, Jalen Green had a lot of points, but it wasn't super efficient, as you pointed out, Brian and Devin Booker just did not have a great game. And that, you know, that's a credit to all the really good defenders that the Blazers have.

[Brian Windhorst]

Two things I want to point out about the end of the game. One, you mentioned Kamara, you know, elite defensive player. The last play for the Suns, when they were down by two, was designed for Booker. And Booker drove in and was trying, I think, to generate a foul, although not terribly. But Kamara, who had five fouls, stayed down, didn't bite on the pump fake, played excellent defense. On the last play, he forced the kick out to Jalen Green, which Jalen tried to get fouled. Whatever. Then I want to say on the possession where Denny scored to get the lead, the Suns don't have a shot blocker on the court in that spot. They're playing small. And, you know, the Suns have spent a lot of assets on getting bigs, you know, getting a shot blocker. And Jordan, not obviously in that spot, didn't feel confident having. I mean, they traded multiple firsts for Mark Williams. And I mean, I'm not saying that you'd have, you know, Molly watch in the game there. No.

[Shay M]

And Listen, Williams played 22 minutes a night. Iguidaro played 23 minutes a night. Mallowak was DNPCD. You know, he's a project big.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, I didn't think he would play. And Iguidar wasn't really a rim protector, to be clear.

[Tim Bontemps]

And Mark Williams, I mean, Mark Williams is big. I mean, he had three blocks today. So it's weird to say this, but he's not a great defensive player. Like, he's an offensive big. Like, that's who he is.

[Brian Windhorst]

Denny looked at the alignment out there. I mean, he was going to Go anyway. But he looked at the alignment out there, the Suns were super small and

[Tim Bontemps]

he just, it's part of why it's a tough matchup for, for, for Phoenix. The combination of they don't have great rim protection and they've got. Portland has all these big wings that they could throw at him. And look, Donovan Clingan had six offensive rebounds. A couple, there were a couple huge offensive rebounds he had in the fourth quarter. Kicked out to Denny for 1 3. Think he might have kicked Drew Holiday for another one. And they just couldn't keep him off the glass, you know, by the way, again like that's the same way it goes.

[Shay M]

Portland also went small down the stretch. Cling was off the floor. Thought it was a good job coaching by Tiago Splitter. I know that, you know, maybe the guy who owns the team doesn't think that he's worth anything close to market value to coach the team, but he's

[Tim Bontemps]

had a great job this year, man.

[Shay M]

Yeah, maybe the Blazers can find a coach at like the NAIA level who will take what they're offering.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I just say Portland has, they, they earned their way into this with some big time wins under pressure down the stretch.

[Tim Bontemps]

And by the way, you know what them getting in the playoffs means? Chicago Bulls.

[Brian Windhorst]

Chicago gets the pick.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's an ak Got a first round pick.

[Shay M]

He just keeps on helping the Bulls out, baby. The benefits will keep coming long after he's gone.

[Brian Windhorst]

I guess the Bulls could declare victory on Tuesday night, but I would be very careful about waving that.

[Shay M]

I'll say this, I think the spurs are probably happy that the Suns did not win this game and not that the Suns were going to beat them, but Victors had a little bit of trouble with the Suns. You know, specifically there was one game before Darren Fox got healthy this year that he had a lot of trouble as he has a tender rib. I'm not sure they really wanted Dylan Brooks anywhere close.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey, listen, I, I, so I can, I strongly disagree with that. I, I think Portland's a lot more talented team. They've got a lot of size.

[Brian Windhorst]

I think Portland's size makes, Let me tell you something.

[Shay M]

Donovan Mcclingan ain't built to defend Victor Wimanyama. He's going to get an early foul trouble trying to guard him on the grip.

[Tim Bontemps]

I, I'm not talking, I'm not saying Donovan Clingan is going to stop him. He's not going to stop him. But when you talk about physicality like the, all the, all that the, the Blazers have are Just big physical wing players and they've got in Donovan Clingan and Robert Williams. Two legit seven footers to have out there all the time. Like I just don't think. I just think Victor's going to get banged around playing against a really physical.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I promise you this. I will say that Denny will have to deal with the rim protection.

[Tim Bontemps]

Of course there will be much difference with him out there. Little question.

[Shay M]

Michael Corleone Wright will get to the Nike employee store between games three and four because there ain't gonna be no sick.

[Tim Bontemps]

Nobody is happier that it's Blazers spurs than our guy Corleone, that's for sure. And me.

[Brian Windhorst]

By the way, there was a group chat after the pod the other night where McMahon was trying to verify that our two co workers Vinnie Goodwill and Michael Wright packed as many shoes as he did. And I will just say they do pack a lot of shoes but neither

[Tim Bontemps]

of them go packs as many Vinny.

[Shay M]

So does Vinny.

[Tim Bontemps]

Vinny's a good amount.

[Thrivent Announcer]

Step back.

[Brian Windhorst]

They did not verify that nobody packs

[Tim Bontemps]

as many though as are om. Who is back.

[Shay M]

Yes, exactly. Ohm this. I'm dead serious about this. Ohm has not repeated a pair of kicks for a game in three seasons. Three seasons.

[Tim Bontemps]

He's got a PJ Tucker level shoe collection. It's insane.

[Brian Windhorst]

Two playing games on Wednesday Night Magic at 76ers which I think Bontemps will be at.

[Tim Bontemps]

I will be.

[Brian Windhorst]

And warriors in LA against the Clippers. McMahon, are you deigning to go over there or will you just not do that?

[Shay M]

I gotta get up. I gotta get it.

[Brian Windhorst]

Will you be lazy?

[Shay M]

No.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yes.

[Brian Windhorst]

I've gotta get.

[Shay M]

I have no time out. I got a 3:15am alarm set for Thursday morning. I will not be at the intuitome.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay. I respect it. I guess anyway to me, give me

[Shay M]

a view of all people.

[Brian Windhorst]

This thing to me is whether the Magic can pick up the emotional pieces and just whatever chemistry issues that exist following that really let down during the entire last part of the season. But certainly on Sunday in Boston where they completely fell apart. And so I know the 76ers are wounded, but they are playing at home. And the Magic have not covered themselves in glory.

[Tim Bontemps]

Sixers will have more talent on the court than the Boston Celtics did on Sunday when the Magic.

[Brian Windhorst]

I don't even think. It's not even hot take.

[Shay M]

It's not a hot take but it's

[Tim Bontemps]

a hell of a point. Yeah, I mean so I mean look, that was a pretty desultory performance by Orlando we talked about it on Sunday night and yeah, I. This is a gut check moment for I would say the entire Magic franchise. Like, because the Hornets. We'll see what happens with Lamello ball. But the Hornets are going to have an extra day of rest. They're going to be on the road, but because of this weird quirk where the Flyers had a game Tuesday night. That's why the 78 game in the east was Wednesday instead of Tuesday. So in a weird quirk, the they're going to be the less rested team whoever loses this game. And the Hornets are going to be favored on Friday against either team either.

[Brian Windhorst]

Interesting. You think so on the road 100%.

[Tim Bontemps]

With Philip Philly without Joel Embiid, Charlotte's going to be favored to win. And if Orlando loses to Philly without Embiid after losing to Boston, there's no chance Charlotte is going to be favored.

[Shay M]

Hold on, Wendy. Orlando has dunk it up for a while now.

[Brian Windhorst]

I know, but it's like home. Single elimination game.

[Shay M]

Oh, home for Orlando. Wow, that intimidating atmosphere.

[Tim Bontemps]

All right.

[Brian Windhorst]

In la, you know, we have Kawhi and Steph. It's a headliner game. I'm going to be honest with you. I don't think either of these teams is ultimately going anywhere. It's very hard for me.

[Shay M]

What a controversial take.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I just.

[Shay M]

Nine, ten teams probably aren't going to win the title. I don't, I don't think they will.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right. Well, one of them, one of them's horizon is Oklahoma City or at least a chance at Oklahoma City.

[Shay M]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

So I would just say that they

[Tim Bontemps]

can both beat Phoenix though.

[Brian Windhorst]

What's that?

[Tim Bontemps]

They can both beat Phoenix.

[Brian Windhorst]

They can. Yes. I agree. Yeah. I mean Kawhi is playing really well. I expect Kawhi. You know, it's almost a guarantee that. I mean the guys have been on a really a tear of one of the best tears of his career for the last two, three months.

[Tim Bontemps]

And. And the warriors lost to the Kings on Friday in their dress rehearsal for the playoffs.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, not only that, but the warriors are openly. Steve Kerr is openly saying that, you know, there's going to be minutes caps. I don't know about restriction, but there's going to be minutes caps on Steph and, and, and Porzingis and like, you know, I get it, but it's a single elimination game.

[Shay M]

Also, I'm going to whisper here it might be better for the warriors to

[Brian Windhorst]

lose because the warriors lose.

[Tim Bontemps]

Where will they pick in the lottery?

[Shay M]

And we'll see.

[Tim Bontemps]

Oh no. Where will they pick. Pick 11th. What happened last year the 11th team,

[Shay M]

they wouldn't pick 11. They'll go to the lottery 11.

[Tim Bontemps]

No but that's what I'm saying. They're in the lottery. They'll be at 11. That's my point. Sorry. They won't pick at 11. Sorry. They'll be in the lottery at 11. Last year the team that was in the lottery at 11 lost to the play in Dallas Mavericks went up to number one. The Los Angeles Lakers in 2019 jumped up from 11 to number four. Helped them get Anthony Davis. Like yes, it's not a, it's not an awful outcome for an injury decimated warriors team to lose this game or lose Friday to Phoenix if they don't make the playoffs and give themselves a real shot in this system at getting into the top.

[Shay M]

Now having said that okc those folks they'll be at the tipsy tiki just root root rooting for the Warriors. They want to see the Clippers lose because why they'd like a chance to that lottery. They've got that unprotected Clippers pick.

[Tim Bontemps]

They get two lottery picks and obviously the Sixers pick is top four protected but right.

[Shay M]

So no chance to move up but

[Tim Bontemps]

yeah but could have two lottery picks.

[Brian Windhorst]

I just want to say that after weeks of trying to hold our nose with the tanking teams that it is refreshing and I know that not every play in game will be as good as the first two and certainly not every playoff game will be. But we are in for two months of routine games like we saw on the opening play in night and so we've got through the worst of times and hopefully now the best of times.

[Tim Bontemps]

Should be a great postseason with a bunch of storylines, some new blood. Victor Wembanyama in the playoffs for the first time. Thunder trying to break the record long streak of a lack of defending champ in the league. Just a ton of exciting stuff. Should be, should be awesome. This was a great kickoff to it.

[Shay M]

Well also we are in prime and I mean prime Wendy Sleep update territory. This is what we live for.

[Tim Bontemps]

Says the guy who's bailing on a playoff game to it's not a playoff game.

[Shay M]

It's a playing game. You can't even find it on the Internet.

[Brian Windhorst]

Jackson is the one who's going to stay up all night to put this together. So thank you to Jackson.

[Tim Bontemps]

He's the real hero.

[Brian Windhorst]

McMahon and Bontemps, thank you for listening and watching the HOOPP Collective. We'll talk to you later this week.

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