Denver A Threat To Boston? Cavs Are For Real

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Denver A Threat To Boston? Cavs Are For Real"

Podcast Information:

• Title: Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
• Host/Authors: Brian Windhorst, Marc Stein, Tim Bontemps (ESPN Insiders)
• Episode Title: Denver A Threat To Boston? Cavs Are For Real
• Release Date: March 3, 2025

In this episode of The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Marc Stein, and Tim Bontemps engage in a comprehensive discussion about the evolving dynamics of the NBA. The conversation primarily centers around the Boston Celtics' performance, the Cleveland Cavaliers' resurgence, and the Denver Nuggets' resilience, along with notable player performances and team strategies heading into the playoffs.

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1. Introduction and High School Anecdotes

The episode kicks off with light-hearted banter as Tim Bontemps shares stories from his high school basketball days, highlighting camaraderie and past experiences with teammates. This segment sets a relaxed tone before delving into serious NBA analysis.

Tim Bontemps [01:08]: "I was a pretty good high school basketball player in my area team."

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2. Celtics vs. Nuggets: Three-Point Showdown

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on a recent game where the Boston Celtics defeated the Denver Nuggets. Contrary to expectations, both teams ended up attempting the same number of three-point shots—34 each—despite the Celtics typically leading the league in three-point attempts.

Tim Bontemps [04:17]: "The Celtics shot 34 and Denver essentially shot 34... That was definitely not anticipatig when the game started."

The hosts analyze whether this parity was an anomaly or indicative of strategic shifts, especially considering the Celtics were missing key players. They also highlight the Nuggets' impressive record on back-to-back game nights, standing at 11-1.

Marc Stein [08:46]: "Jokic is incredibly durable and can play heavy minutes, but his production in the 11-1 back-to-back is impressive."

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3. Cavaliers' Resurgence and Donovan Mitchell's Impact

The Cleveland Cavaliers' remarkable comeback against the Celtics, overcoming a 25-point deficit, is a focal point. Donovan Mitchell's stellar performance is credited with revitalizing the Cavs, positioning them as legitimate playoff contenders.

Tim Bontemps [14:08]: "Donovan Mitchell has dominated the Celtics defense this year... he has obliterated them all four times they've played."

The discussion emphasizes Mitchell's ability to carry the team in high-pressure situations, reinforcing the Cavs' status as serious threats in the playoff race.

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4. Denver Nuggets: Resilience Amidst Injuries

The Denver Nuggets' consistency is lauded, particularly their excellent record in back-to-back games. However, concerns are raised about Nikola Jokic's recurring injuries, which could impact their playoff performance.

Brian Windhorst [08:46]: "Jokic is incredibly durable and can play heavy minutes, but his production in the 11-1 back-to-back is impressive."

The return of Jamal Murray from injury is highlighted as a crucial factor that could bolster the Nuggets' already strong performance.

Tim Bontemps [27:06]: "If Jamal Murray sticks around through the end of the playoffs, Denver is going to be able to hang with anybody."

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5. Jalen Suggs' Surgery and the Magic's Struggles

The Orlando Magic face significant challenges with Jalen Suggs requiring arthroscopic knee surgery. His absence has severely impacted the team's performance, dropping their record from 20-15 to 29-32.

Tim Bontemps [30:57]: "The impact of Jalen Suggs has been significant on the Magic's offense and defense."

The hosts discuss the broader implications of Suggs' injury, questioning why the Magic haven't sought additional support during the trade deadline to mitigate his absence.

Marc Stein [34:22]: "I remain surprised that they didn't try to at least get some help for their offense."

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6. Technical Fouls and Anthony Edwards' Discipline Issues

Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves is under scrutiny for accumulating technical fouls, reaching 16. The hosts debate whether Edwards' behavior stems from frustration with the team's performance or reflects deeper issues within his leadership.

Tim Bontemps [37:49]: "Anthony Edwards is a phenomenal player, but his technical fouls are costing the Timberwolves valuable games."

They discuss the potential repercussions of Edwards' actions on the Timberwolves' playoff prospects and team chemistry.

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7. Player Spotlights: Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson

Donovan Mitchell's ongoing excellence is a recurring theme, with the hosts praising his ability to perform under pressure and lead the Cavaliers to victories. Similarly, Jalen Brunson of the Brooklyn Nets receives accolades for his clutch performances and overall efficiency, positioning him as a viable MVP candidate.

Marc Stein [52:50]: "Jalen Brunson led his team with clutch shots and efficient scoring, making him a top contender for MVP ballots."

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8. Playoff Implications and Finals Speculations

The conversation culminates with speculative analysis on potential playoff matchups, particularly the feasibility of a Finals showdown between the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are acknowledged as favorites but are noted for their inconsistency, which could be exploited by resilient teams like the Nuggets and Cavaliers.

Marc Stein [24:08]: "If the Celtics make a deep playoff run, their inconsistency could be a liability against teams like the Nuggets and Cavs."

The hosts weigh the strengths and vulnerabilities of these teams, providing listeners with a nuanced perspective on the upcoming postseason.

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9. Conclusion

Wrapping up, the hosts summarize the key takeaways, reinforcing the Cavaliers' emergence as serious contenders, the Nuggets' resilience despite injuries, and the Celtics' strategic plays and inconsistencies. They leave listeners with thoughts on the potential playoff landscape, encouraging further engagement and anticipation for the postseason.

Brian Windhorst [35:49]: "We have covered it. Yeah."

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This episode of The Hoop Collective offers rich insights into the current NBA season, blending expert analysis with engaging discussions on player performances, team strategies, and playoff prospects. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual follower, the thoughtful breakdowns and lively banter make it a valuable listen for understanding the complexities of the league as it heads toward the playoffs.

Transcript

[Brian Windhorst]

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[Marc Stein]

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[Marc Stein]

Foreign welcome to the Hoop Collective podcast. We talk about the NBA which we're doing on Sunday afternoon slash evening I guess. Joining us from Boston, Massachusetts at the TD Garden where he watched the Celtics beat the Nuggets today by seven points and watch the Cavs win there on Friday nights, Tim Bunteps hello everybody.

[Tim Bontemps]

A couple of my high school teammates were here today. It was great to see them. Who slot brothers David what team was here in high school? Randolph High school teammates their dad's 70th birthday present. They all came to see the game which was great. Watch the game from start to finish.

[Marc Stein]

As one as one would do when.

[Tim Bontemps]

They come Denizen of Cavs corner who fair weather is to fair weather fans showed up in the fourth quarter for okay big on Friday.

[Marc Stein]

That's yeah, that's exactly what happened. Joining us from Phoenix, Arizona.

[Tim Bontemps]

I have receipts. Receipts.

[Marc Stein]

He's there going to go to the Suns Wolves game which has not taken place yet. The return of Van Edwards from his suspension is Ban McMahon.

[Brian Windhorst]

Howdy Partners bond Tims, did you get those teammates some water? Just like old times.

[Marc Stein]

What about towel over there? A towel.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's right.

[Tim Bontemps]

Me and me and Chris were co captains on a very good team or senior year.

[Marc Stein]

Define very good. I did actually play Skip bayless.

[Tim Bontemps]

We were 20 and 20 and that was a. That was a low blow. We were 20 and 3 oh lost in the section final and both made the all remember which team it is all area team all farm boy team.

[Marc Stein]

Let me just say I've never heard about your high school basketball exploits. This is the first time I've even heard of it.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, let me just say I've seen his current basketball exploits in high school either a long time ago or the competition one realized.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's definitely a long time ago though. I played better than McMahon last time we played.

[Brian Windhorst]

That is false. I won MVP baby.

[Tim Bontemps]

Self appointed self appointed just like the just like the self just like the self appointed watcher of the game on Friday. I was a. I was a pretty good high school basketball Player in my.

[Brian Windhorst]

Area, I would say his area is known for like milking cows.

[Tim Bontemps]

Hey listen, I didn't try to, I, I am not trying to say that I was like all world but I was a, I was a good player and we had a really good team. So.

[Brian Windhorst]

I mean.

[Marc Stein]

Well, you guys are tall.

[Brian Windhorst]

Utterly.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, we had, we had a, we had a bunch of big tall farm kids and then my buddy who was here was our shooter. He was the one person who was allowed to shoot threes on the team.

[Marc Stein]

Well, my senior year my high school team went 3 and 17.

[Brian Windhorst]

I know we met the star of that team during the live show at Old St. Vincent St. Mary's and a.

[Marc Stein]

Few years later they won the mythical national championship.

[Brian Windhorst]

What happened in the time between? How did they get so good so quickly?

[Marc Stein]

Much better recruiting. You want the honest answer? Much better recruiting. A guy got in there and let's, let's see if we can go down and recruit some guys like who we don't have to, they don't have to go to pay to go to high school here. Let's start with this kid. James Lebron, number 32.

[Brian Windhorst]

Not a bad plan.

[Tim Bontemps]

Maybe. I've maybe talked about this on the pod before but I, I never was. I, I was made so aware of the changes in the sport when I went back like a few years ago to watch a game. It was like 15 years after I graduated or so. And like I said when I was on the team there was one kid who was allowed to shoot threes and anybody else is basically not allowed to shoot outside the paint. And there the. The offense that my coach who's still there now runs going to the hall of Fame this month in the area is like the Dantoni. Four guys out, two guys run to the corners, pick and rolls at the top of the key. Everybody shoots threes. The game I went to, they got three shot clock violations for not shooting mid range jumpers. Going back to try to shoot threes, it's just like it was crazy to see that compared to when I was in school and like how much even at that level things have totally shifted towards the three point line.

[Marc Stein]

Anyway. They know how to shoot threes in Boston.

[Tim Bontemps]

Sure do.

[Marc Stein]

Although I got to tell you something about this Nuggets game today. The Nuggets attempted more three pointers. I should have looked this up before I meant to look about this. The Nuggets attempted more three pointers than the Celtics. That's a stunning development considering the Nuggets is a three point shooting team. And the Celtics as a three point shooting, neat shooting team. Now granted the Celtics were missing a couple of guys, but is that just a one off anomaly? Bond temps like it didn't really three point shooting didn't really define the game.

[Brian Windhorst]

But yeah it did. Yeah did I think who were shooting those threes in in part defines.

[Marc Stein]

Well it wasn't like the Celtics shot, you know, 86% or 18% and it wasn't like the Nuggets shot the same.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, well to your point, just for, just for the, just for listeners at home. So most everybody knows that Boston shoots a lot of threes and Denver doesn't. So the Celtics lead the league with 48 three point attempts per game. Denver is dead last with 31. And in this game the, the Celtics shot 34 and Denver essentially shot 34. They shot a 35th one at the buzzer to go up by to have one extra one. But they essentially shot the same number in the game which I certainly was not anticipating when the game started. To McMahon's point cell, 16 of those threes were attempted by Russell Westbrook and Christian Brown who each went two for eight.

[Brian Windhorst]

And then look, first of all, Russ and Brown aren't going to start together. Often it's been either or. And it was Russ for a little bit, it was Brown to start, then it was Russ for a little bit and then they went back to Brown recently, Aaron Gordon was out today. So they're both in the starting lineup. Aaron Gordon's actually having a very good three point shooting season, although he's still a guy that teams are willing to live with. But not only are the Celtics willing to live with Brown and Russ shooting threes, but like that's what they were hoping to happen. You know, that's what they were kind of scheming defensively to happen. And you know, you'd much rather those guys combining to take 16 threes, which is one more shot than Joker had overall then, you know, living with Joker going one on one against your backup big man.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, and the one thing I will say too is we, we had that debate not too long ago about whether they should keep Russ in the starting lineup. They should go with Christian Brown going forward. Russ getting hurt got Christian Brown back in the starting lineup. All I'm going to say about today's game, yes, Christian Brown went 2 for 8 for 3. He also had 24 points and played very well. Most important stat though was he played over 46 minutes in the game, which I, I'm not saying that as a commentary on minutes for him playing that many. I would say it's a recognition from Michael Malone that going forward, if there were any questions about whether he's going to lose that starting spot again, I don't think that's going to be in the cards and he's going to be starting one way or the other going forward.

[Brian Windhorst]

I didn't realize that until you just mentioned it. He rested for a total of 72 seconds a day. 72 seconds. He wasn't on the floor. And by the way, another Sombor double, as they call it, for Joker, where he ends up in this case, one assist shy of a triple double.

[Marc Stein]

He also, he might have needed some stitches because. Well, yeah, he had no free throws in this game. I don't know. I didn't see whether Malone talked about it afterwards.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, Malone, Malone made a comment. I asked Malone about the two guys shooting in the corners and he made a comment about how in the first month or two of the season they were top five in free throw attempt rate.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

And it's gone down to the bottom of the league since then. But he didn't do it in a like any kind of combative way. Nor was he, he seemingly was just like making the point because I even followed up to say like, hey, do you have any idea why that's the case? And he, he wasn't like, we need to get more fouls called. He basically said we just have to be more aggressive in trying to attack the paint. So I didn't even realize that had been the case. I thought it was interesting, but it didn't. Unless I missed what his argument was. He wasn't really trying to make a we're not getting fouled enough argument.

[Marc Stein]

So Jokic took no free throws in this game Friday night in Denver. I'm sorry. In Dallas, in Detroit, where the Nuggets had a pretty nice win actually. They beat the Pistons and won eight in a row. The Nuggets were on the second night of a back to back the Nuggets and I, I've asked some people in Denver if they can explain this and other than saying, well, it's nice to have Jokic and Murray. The Nuggets are 11 and 1 on the second nights of back to backs this year, which considering how thin they.

[Tim Bontemps]

Are, that's an incredible stat.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah, I can't even really explain it other than they're good and I have to go look and see if, if some of those are at home where, you know, they have some advantage a.

[Tim Bontemps]

Little bit like either way it just helps, it helps that the big guy is always available.

[Brian Windhorst]

I was gonna say I'd be curious to see Joker stats and, and Joker, while he doesn't look like a marathon runner or anything like that, is incredibly durable. I mean, as he told you today, Von Tims, he's always limping.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, he, this was actually a funny thing. So he, he landed funny. It was a weird jump ball and he landed funny and he, he was pretty clearly limping in the first quarter. I even went and asked the Nuggets play by play team. Katie Wingy and Chris Marlee and Scott Hastings were not doing the game today. So they were sitting behind me and I said, look, I know this guy like sort of shuffles around all the time, but he is limping, right? Well, he definitely looked like he was favoring it. So Bennett Durando, the beat writer for the Denver Post, tried to get some sort of acknowledgment of what happened after the game. And when he said you look like you were limping more often than normal today or you know, something like that, Yogic said, yeah, I've been limping for 14 years, which was a pretty good.

[Brian Windhorst]

My point is he always looks like, as you said, Wendy, he's lumbering. But the guy can play heavy minutes and is incredibly durable. And I would bet you that his production in the, in that 11:1 back to back record is pretty pretty.

[Marc Stein]

His production every game is pretty good. Although he only had 20 points today. Only. Well anyway, so on Friday they're playing in Detroit and Malone was not, was trying to set the tone. He got a technical after two Nuggets possessions. Angry that Jokic didn't get foul calls. Two inside one minute. I think Popovich holds the record for the fastest Tech. I think this got to be second. It was less than one minute into.

[Brian Windhorst]

The game by a coach or a player.

[Marc Stein]

Like a coach. I mean there's been, there were some times where Rasheed Wallace got text coming out of the pregame.

[Brian Windhorst]

I saw Bear once get one like seconds into the game. He had a foul on the, on the opening tip, got a foul in the first possession. Then he slammed the water bottle off the scores table when he checked out.

[Marc Stein]

But anyways, well, anyway, Jokic at one point today got his, his, his arm. He, he always has scabs on his arms because he's forever getting cut on his arms just because of the nature of the way he plays. Like he's always swinging him around and people are always poking at the ball. But he had like a, a, a nasty cut today was blood like pouring down his arm. And you know that will now be the In a game where he had no free throw, it's not saying that he got hit on a shot, I'm just saying that he gives the Nuggets ammunition to talk about how he doesn't get enough fouls, but the Cavs had as many three pointers as Boston on Friday. You know, I didn't sort of notice that until I saw today's number could just be an anomaly. Bond temps. I mean, Porzingis has been out the last couple games and Drew Holiday has been out. So I don't know. I'm just, I'm not saying it means anything. I'm just remarking on it.

[Brian Windhorst]

More Hoop Collective podcast after this if.

[Marc Stein]

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[Brian Windhorst]

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[Marc Stein]

It's winter and you can now get almost anything you need for the coldest months of the year delivered with Uber Eats. What do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a ski slope delivered, but you can get dish soap delivered. Sunshine.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's a no.

[Marc Stein]

But a bottle of wine, that's a yes. A snow angel. Sorry, no. But angel hair pasta. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol and select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See out for details. But in both games, the Celtics got up hu on. And in the CL the Cavs game, they blew it. In this game, they allowed Denver to get back into it a little bit, but it. It still supports as good as the Cavs were in their comeback on Friday, and Donovan Mitchell with one of his best games of the season, if not the best game of the season, he had 41. He was awesome, you know, just huge carrying the Cavs back. And then Evan Mobley had a big fourth quarter. I have a hard time, you know, seeing as Boston was up big in both games, you know, like, well, and.

[Tim Bontemps]

They'Re missing poor Zangis and they're missing Drew Holiday.

[Marc Stein]

Right. I have a hard time walking away from this weekend, which is, you know, a good test weekend for Boston with the two big home games. I have a. I have a hard time walking away from this, changing my opinion. Even though the Cavs got that win on Friday, that the. That the Celtics remain the favorites.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, I mean, it's the same thing they did a week ago today. They had a 1:00 ABC game against the Knicks. They did the exact same thing. They were up by 20 some in the first half and then the game was down to four at the end of the third quarter. And they went on to win that game too. But I mean, this is what the Celtics do, right? The Celtics do this all the time. They. They play around in games and when they're locked in and engaged, they look incredible. And then they'll turn off for a while and let teams back into it. And the Cavs got away with it and were able to come back and win on Friday. But yeah, I mean, the Celtics still clearly are the best team in the east, I think, you know, maybe, you know, I, I certainly pick them to beat the Cavs. I'd probably pick him to beat both the Thunder and the Nuggets. I think both those teams could beat him in a series. But yeah, I, you know, coming out of that Cavs game, that was a fantastic win for the Cavs. Donovan was unbelievable in the game. Darius Garland, he only went 9 for 23, but showed me a lot in the game.

[Brian Windhorst]

Still a couple big ends late.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, it's a big ones late. He was aggressive the whole time. You know, really, it's true. Might be a certain it's the end of the month, Brian, so we know. We know what's coming later in the pod.

[Marc Stein]

Yes. Also, first off, it's right at the end of the the Cavs are in the Trailblazers are locked in a very tight game the last two minutes and Garland's been horrible today. But I should point out that some one of us three has a story coming out on Garland and it's not me or you, Bontemps.

[Brian Windhorst]

So oh.

[Marc Stein]

Oh, it already went out.

[Brian Windhorst]

Thanks. It ran on Friday as part of.

[Tim Bontemps]

As part of his not paying attention to Cavs on Friday. I also didn't read the On Friday.

[Brian Windhorst]

Listen, I'll say this. Wendy was on one of these runs where he was on get up through NBA Countdown. So I don't blame him for not doing a whole lot of yeah, Bon.

[Marc Stein]

Temps was angry at me that I wasn't able to watch a game while I was flying on an airline that doesn't have streaming WI fi.

[Tim Bontemps]

All. All I got to say there's an.

[Brian Windhorst]

Airline that doesn't have WI fi.

[Marc Stein]

I'm not Streaming doesn't work. Streaming doesn't work.

[Tim Bontemps]

Here's what I'm going to say. People at home there was a lot of commentary about the Akron Kent State game right up until about the nine minute mark of the fourth quarter. All right, then, then we came flying in with all sorts of analysis.

[Brian Windhorst]

Leave Wendy alone. Leave, leave the Cavs.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was a huge night for Cavs core.

[Marc Stein]

I was flying during the first half, during the third half or during the third quarter I was unavailable. And the fourth quarter I watched. What do you want me to say?

[Brian Windhorst]

Listen, let's get back to talking Cav Celtics here.

[Tim Bontemps]

I will say at the five minute mark of the game, the Celtics call timeout. They're up 25 to three. Or the the Cavs call timeout. Celtics are up 25 to three. The place is exploding. I turned to Sam Coombs, the the PR guy for the Cavs, who was sitting next to me and I said, I don't know if you're going to win the game, but you're going to be back in the game pretty soon. Because I've seen this before and they were back. I'm not listen old Nostra dumbass here after no, hey, listen, I'm just saying this is what the Celtics do. The Celtics play around. We've talked about this now for years. This has been a years long thing where the Celtics look better than every team in the league for stretches of Games and then they get into isolation, heavy offense and they get out of sync and they mess around and then all of a sudden it's a game again.

[Brian Windhorst]

You know, it is. That is classic vintage USWB analysis where he managed to. He insults both teams at once.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's got nothing to do with insulting the Cavs. This is what the Celtics do all the time.

[Marc Stein]

Well, I guess. I guess. Well, here's the point. So, like, what am I supposed to take out of a team that gets way ahead and then loses focus? Is that. Is that a sign of a team that's bored or a time a sign of a team that's flawed? So, I mean, I don't have an answer for that.

[Brian Windhorst]

I think it's probably more bored than flawed. Also, like, no Porzingis, no Holiday. I mean, these are two of their top six players. Arguably top. I mean, we could debate four or five, whatever, two of their key guys, but like, hey, we all watched the Celtics cruise to a championship last year. Like there, nobody challenged Boston during a playoff run when, by the way, Porzingis missed the vast majority of the run. Now, he had that game one moment in the finals and you know, I'm not saying he didn't contribute, but my point is they were without him most of that running still weren't ever challenged. The Cavaliers have proven that they are going to be a legitimate challenger and this was a huge win. And Wendy, we kind of argued last week about how big this game was for the Cavs. Bond, Timps and I both agreed just for a, you know, a feeling standpoint, a confidence standpoint of like we are we're real type of standpoint. Especially after they got down 25 to 3. If they'd have gotten just rolled and.

[Tim Bontemps]

Those two guys were out.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, if they'd have gotten rolled, I understand rallied, they came back. But of course, Boston's the favorites, despite the fact the Cavaliers are going to win like 67, 68 games.

[Tim Bontemps]

This goes to your question, Brian. I would say the answer is if you say is it a flawed team or a board team? We've been having the same discussion about the Celtics going back to at least the 2022 run where they got to the finals and the way they play and the amount of three pointers they shoot, they're going to be a team that's going to experience swings back and forth in games. They're also, if you look at their home and road record, the road record of the playoffs has been incredible.

[Marc Stein]

I think because this season is incredible. They're the number one road team in.

[Tim Bontemps]

The NBA because when they go on the road, I think they're more focused and disciplined and stay committed to the way they need to play. And when they play at home, their attention at times tends to drift, especially when they get these leads and they let teams back in. So I, I think it's a sign that at their peak, the Celtics, I think, are the best team in the league. But their peaks come in brief flashes where they go way up and then they come back down and there's not a consistency that allows them to stay at that high level. And we'll see if that is something that's going to be a problem in the playoffs. But I guarantee you we're going to be talking about this in the spring where they're playing in high level playoff games and they're out to big leads and they blow it again and we're going to be sitting here going, how did the Celtics do this again? It's probably going to happen more than once.

[Marc Stein]

Yes. Well, this is, that was sort of the thing last year. They were so much better than everybody that they're, that their, their, their tendency to, you know, be their own worst enemy just wasn't as applicable. It just wasn't as applicable.

[Brian Windhorst]

And they're not so much better than the Cavaliers.

[Marc Stein]

Right. Well, I think if you're, if you're a Cavs fan, which you're yelling at Bontemps about right now, I'll just do it for you. DeAndre Hunter did have an impact in that game, including getting a block shot on Jayson Tatum in the last 30 seconds or so that, you know, where his size and length made a huge difference. If that was Caris Lavert guarding him, not that that's who it would have been, or Isaac Okoro probably doesn't get that block. Donovan Mitchell has dominated the Celtics defense this year. No matter what anybody wants to say, no matter how you want to qualify it, he has obliterated them all four times they've played, he's averaged. It was like, I'm trying to remember the stat, the number of guys who have averaged over 30 points in the regular season.

[Tim Bontemps]

There's two. Donovan Mitchell and Michael Jordan.

[Marc Stein]

Michael Jordan.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, okay.

[Marc Stein]

So, you know, you're looking number one up on Friday.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was before Friday's game when he had 41.

[Marc Stein]

And while Tatum was awesome, what was Tatum's final number? 40, I believe.

[Brian Windhorst]

46. Right.

[Tim Bontemps]

6, 16 and 9. Right.

[Marc Stein]

But his second half, when they, they turned the screws a little bit, he was, they Were able to. I think he was wallet 6, 7 of 18 in the second half or something.

[Tim Bontemps]

Cavs. The Cavs played their normal rotation because they had all of their guys healthy for a rare time this year. And Joe Missoula went for the game. He played essentially seven guys. Peyton Pritchard was minus 33. Luke Cornett was minus 24. They were horrendous. The bench got outscored 33, 6. And I think the Celtics starters, in particular Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown, got a little tired as the game went on, in part because they were playing a lot more minutes than the Cavs.

[Brian Windhorst]

Tatum also got tired because he got up 37 shots. I mean, that. That in and of itself is impressive.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, I mean, it was. It was very slanted towards him and Jalen doing most of. The. Most of the shooting in the game, which is not the way they typically want to play either.

[Brian Windhorst]

But Donovan Mitchell put in so much work, he needed a rest day today. But you know, Wendy, you talked about the gears of Donovan Mitchell, the different gears he can get to, and this was one where it was like, hey, they needed the very best of Donovan Mitchell and he responded to that challenge. And look, Donovan, in his career has not had a breakthrough deep playoff run, but he is absolutely dominated playoff series. He has multiple 50 point games in the playoffs. He is 100% capable. Taking over a playoff series on.

[Tim Bontemps]

The most interesting thing about that game was what the Cavs did down the stretch, which was they had DeAndre Hunter in the game, like you said, Brian, and they didn't have Jared Allen in the game, and he was rooted to the bench down the stretch. They were playing Evan Mobley at the 5. And the addition, like you said of Hunter, his defense is a little overrated. He's not, you know, he's a bigger wing. He's not a guy who you could throw out there and expect to slow down, you know, those elite players for the Cavs, but. Or for the Celtics, I should say. But he does give them another big wing who can play the four when you go small, and it gives them more ability to go with just one of the bigs. And presumably that's going to be Evan Mobley at the 5. And that was obviously a very interesting wrinkle to see them go to down the stretch of that game and certainly help play a part in them coming back and winning that game.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah. So I would just say this. If the Celtics get to a position where they have to win a game in Boston, which could happen against the Cavs, Cleveland will enter that type of game with confidence because they believe they might be able to have the best player in the game. Whether or not that is ends up being actually true or not. But I think that's one of the takeaways you can.

[Tim Bontemps]

Donovan Mitchell's good enough to win you a playoff game at home or on the road against just about any team. Any team. Not just. And not just about any team, by.

[Marc Stein]

The way, McMahon, Darius Garland, Mr. Free Throw it with a few seconds left that contributed the game going to overtime.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm watching. I thought I. I just rewound always.

[Tim Bontemps]

About Cav's corner here on the pod.

[Marc Stein]

Always.

[Brian Windhorst]

I thought it was live updates.

[Marc Stein]

Giving you a live update.

[Brian Windhorst]

Giving you a live update at this point, probably 24 hours after that.

[Marc Stein]

That's true. All right, so Bon Temps today. The Nuggets fell behind by 12 points in the first quarter. Boston with a typical game. I. This was the. This is what I thought was going to be the finals. Last year, Boston was the only team in the league. Only team in the league that Boston didn't beat last year was Denver. They were.

[Tim Bontemps]

And I don't think they would have beat Denver in the finals either.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah, I just know that we would have had a better finals. No offense to them, to the Mavericks.

[Tim Bontemps]

They were. They were the team. They were the team I expected to be there the whole time.

[Marc Stein]

And so I'm. I'm not sure what I learned from today, but again, last year Denver went into Boston and won, and today they didn't. And this very well could be a finals matchup. This year Denver had been red hot and now they think they've lost three out of four going on.

[Tim Bontemps]

They were two and two this week on their trip.

[Marc Stein]

Okay, so they've won today. Yeah, they lost in Milwaukee, lost in Boston, you know, one in Detroit, which I deem a good win. So I don't know what you take away from today. I think we have a pretty good feel that, you know, if it was Cavs, Celtics, I'd pick the Celtics, but.

[Brian Windhorst]

I would probably pick anybody.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah, that's true. The other day when. The other day I was doing first take with Stephen A. Smith and Gilbert Arenas and Stephen A. Is. Has decided the. The. His. The Cavs are. He's big on. In the Cavs corner. He's. He's got a.

[Brian Windhorst]

We know why.

[Tim Bontemps]

We know why that is. He ain't. He ain't picking a Boston team and his. And his team ain't beat in Boston, so.

[Marc Stein]

Well, he's got kind of Somewhere to go. It's a little bit of subversion because he's really sort of jabbing the Knicks because he believes Donovan Mitchell would have been of course the man in, in New York, even though they did fine with Jalen Brunson.

[Brian Windhorst]

But yeah, they've been okay there.

[Marc Stein]

Anyway, he goes on this, he goes on this long, you know, adulation and phrases the calves up and down Donovan Mitchell and he's like, you know, he's like, I think they could beat the Celtics. And, and Gil or Gilbert just goes for two. He just, he just totally dismissed. He goes for two. And so anyway, I, looking at today's game, you know, I don't feel as strongly about Denver against Boston as I did last year.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, look, Aaron Gordon not playing is a very significant thing today. It's the end of a week long road trip. They were clearly pretty tired. You know, they played Thursday and Friday, you know, and then they play Sunday afternoon. But I will say to me, the only thing that matters with Denver right now is that Jamal Murray is back. And I don't know what happened from. I mean, I know he had the calf injury in the spring. I don't know if that lingered through the summer. I don't know if he was dealing with something else. He then struggled to start the year. I don't know what happened. But since December 1st, the guy's averaging coming into today, 22 and a half a game on 49% shooting and 43 and a half from three and six assists a game. That's the Jamal Murray that was the co star with Nikola jokic in the 2023 run to the title. And if that Jamal Murray sticks around through the end of the playoffs this year, Denver is going to be able to hang with anybody if the rest of their guys are ready to go. And that one, two punch with him. And Jokic is going to be a bear to deal with for Oklahoma City or Boston or you know, any other team they got to play. And he was great in the second half. Today was a big part of them coming back in the game. But that, that's really the whole takeaway with them. If those two guys are cooking, then, you know, yeah, Christian Brown and Russ have to hit some threes and you know, Aaron Gordon will, he's had some injuries throughout the year. We'll see if he could stay healthy. But like if their team is healthy and those two guys are good, I don't want to play Denver to playoff series.

[Brian Windhorst]

I mean, I'll tell you what happened. Jamal Murray, he Played his way into shape. You know, he showed up to camp and early in the season, you know, talking to their people, he was a little bit puffy. The body fat percentage was higher than they wanted to be, all those kind of things. He played his way into shape, and he's been the guy since then that we've seen for most of his time with the Nuggets when he's been healthy, you know, obviously. Rough playoffs last year, rough Olympics. I certainly questioned the. The Max deal. Whatever. Ownership wanted it done, it got done. And right now he's, you know, there's no beef with it because he's playing at that championship caliber, co star level. You know, never been an all star, but he's been a champion. And he was. He was. You know, he's been a playoff superstar, that's for sure.

[Marc Stein]

I'll put it this way. There were two late summer maximum extensions done from guys who play in the Olympics. One was Jamal Murray. One was Joel Embiid.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'll take the Murray one.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah. So. As well frame it like that. Indeed. Who. Out for the year, which is not a surprise. Nothing really to say there, but.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right. We. We. We.

[Tim Bontemps]

We've covered it.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah.

[Marc Stein]

All right. Well, if it's Denver, Boston in the finals, and Denver's got their full complement.

[Tim Bontemps]

Of players, you know, Jokic has always.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

Destroyed the Celtics.

[Brian Windhorst]

Here comes Wendy just disrespecting the Thunder again.

[Marc Stein]

I didn't disrespect the Thunder. You know, the Thunder are my favorite to win the west, so.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, you just said Denver versus Boston in the finals. And. And breakdown if. No, you said. You said. You said Bricktown's just a little speck on the map. Not worth your time.

[Marc Stein]

Okay.

[Brian Windhorst]

No. No free drinks for you at the Goat.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah, well, that's fine. All right. So we had some unfortunate injury news on Sunday. Jalen Suggs, I think. I don't know if the team announcer. I know Sean's reported it. I don't know who to give credit for. I'll just give credit to Shams. I'm not trying to.

[Brian Windhorst]

Sean scored it first, and then the team announced it.

[Marc Stein]

Okay. Jalen Suggs needs to have arthroscopic knee surgery, which is a huge bummer. The Magic have been arguably the most disappointing team of the second half. I mean, obviously the Suns and the. And this in the Sixers have been extremely disappointing, but I would argue that's been the whole season long. When Jalen Suggs got injured in the first week of January, The Magic were 20 and 15 they are now 29 and 32, five games over with them.

[Brian Windhorst]

Eight games under without them.

[Marc Stein]

Now they played the next two games against the Raptors, so I don't know that may. Including tonight, so I don't know what's going to happen.

[Tim Bontemps]

We've, we've seen the impact of Jalen Suggs the last couple months and him not being there, the, the impact it's had on this team and frankly like the impact it's had on Palo Banchero because he has been bad since he came back from this oblique injury.

[Marc Stein]

Well, he had a 40, he had a 40 point game earlier this week.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, but he, it's been a. And look, Paulo, to ask a 6 foot 10, 250 pound, young developing star to be a primary facilitator, a primary initiator. It's a lot. It's a lot. And just to put that 2015 in perspective, remember, Paulo missed most of those games. Franz missed a bunch of those games. I'm not saying Suggs is their best player or even their most important player, but we are seeing just how much he matters to the Magic. And he matters. You know, offensively he's become like a, he, he's become a, he's a three and D guy who can initiate the offense and then defensively, he's, he's on the very short list of the best, you know, on ball defenders in the league.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah. Depending. I mean, he can definitely guard 1, 2 or 3. I'd see there's certain circumstances where you'd say, all right, let him guard a four, but he's so strong that he can guard bigger than his size.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah.

[Marc Stein]

So that's why it's a big factor.

[Brian Windhorst]

I, again, could you imagine being a high school team playing against Suggs and Holmgren in Minnesota? Like, did anybody ever score on that team?

[Marc Stein]

I don't know, but I, I know that Gonzaga benefited greatly from Suggs going there because Holmgren went there because Suggs went there.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right.

[Marc Stein]

So. And, and Suggs had that. Didn't he, didn't he have that one magical NCAA tournament game?

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, they got to. Well, they got to the national championship game after he hit the shot against UCLA to win the game, the buzzer. And, and yeah, Paolo. I mean, since, since, since he came back from injury in 22 games, shooting 41 overall, shooting 29 from three, shooting 69 from the line and seven attempts a game. Not nice when they, when he's on the court, I mean, they're getting outscored heavily and you know, there's several points better when he's not on the court. I'm not saying they're better off. And they're getting outscored by almost 10 points per 100 possessions over the last two months with him on the court. And their offensive rating is 100.9, which is abysmal. So, you know, I mean, look, obviously Powell is a great player and he's got a bright future, but you know, we've talked a lot about Jalen. Jalen Green's efficiency and like those are like Jalen Green efficiency or worse numbers when Jalen Green has been bad. So, I mean, that's a pretty concerning stretch for a guy that's supposed to be, you know, the anchor of this team going forward offensively.

[Marc Stein]

Well, they're 28th in offense as a team and it's very hard to overcome that. I mean, if you look at the teams that are down there with them as far as the worst offenses, this is the teams around them. Washington, Charlotte, Brooklyn, Toronto, New Orleans, Portland, Philadelphia, Utah, Atlanta. I don't see a winning team yet. No, Clippers are the only the first winning team. If you're in the bottom 10 on offense, you're a losing team and bottom.

[Brian Windhorst]

Three, you're in the Cooper flag. Except for the Magic, which again is.

[Marc Stein]

Why I will say I remain a little bit mystified that the Magic wouldn't try to get some help at the trade deadline. I'm not saying they had to trade for Brandon Ingram and give him $120 million contract. They have all these expiring contracts. They have all these draft picks. I remain surprised that they didn't try to at least get some help for their offense. You know, just get somebody who could put the ball in the basket. So you're not 28 regardless of Suggs health?

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah. I mean, it's not even certain they're gonna make the playoffs.

[Marc Stein]

Well, if they make the playoffs, if you're 28th in offense, how can you. How can you win four out of seven in a might see Magic cavs.

[Tim Bontemps]

Part due in the first round? I don't think it'll go seven.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, I don't think it'll go 7. I don't think. Yeah. God, that series last year, not with.

[Marc Stein]

The number one offense in the league going against them.

[Brian Windhorst]

Series last year was ugly.

[Tim Bontemps]

Sure was.

[Brian Windhorst]

More Hoop Collective podcast after this.

[Marc Stein]

Get the Angel REEF special at McDonald's. Now, let's break it down. My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions and a sesame seed bun, of course. And don't forget the fries and a drink.

[Brian Windhorst]

Sound good.

[Tim Bontemps]

I participate in restaurants for a limited time. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big Wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month.

[Marc Stein]

Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, one judgment anyway.

[Tim Bontemps]

Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent.

[Marc Stein]

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[Tim Bontemps]

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[Marc Stein]

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[Tim Bontemps]

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[Marc Stein]

Anthony Simon just hit a 3 to put the the Blazers.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, you just waited.

[Tim Bontemps]

Brian's really focused on the podcast.

[Brian Windhorst]

Just wait a couple seconds, buddy. The new hero, Cleveland.

[Tim Bontemps]

The guy the guy's corner color blazer.

[Brian Windhorst]

On today, the guy who's about to be added to that big old sign on the Sherwin Williams building just responded.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah, DeAndre Hunter just hit a three. You're a little ahead of me, McMahon.

[Brian Windhorst]

The future 24 hours after it happens.

[Marc Stein]

Well, that was a potentially big three that DeAndre Hunter just hit, but you know, giving him an early, an early nod in the cajones factor standings for March. What about the cajones factor?

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, we want to do this now or do we not want to. Do we not want to have any discussion on ant fresh office suspension?

[Tim Bontemps]

I just got to give McMahon credit because nobody covers technical fouls like Tim McMahon. And now that Luca's gone and away from Dallas, we now got McMahon bombing in to give updates on Anthony Edwards technical foul tracker. And I'm just glad to know your technical foul expertise is not going anywhere.

[Brian Windhorst]

Luca got a tee like three minutes into the game against the Mavericks and I didn't, I didn't have so much of a tweet on it. But yes, Anthony Edwards.

[Marc Stein]

Also, you did not get any, any passive aggressive statements from the Mavericks to ask for a pool report that night.

[Brian Windhorst]

Cuban was there wearing his Luca one's courtside though, by the way. Some strong Jordan Brand performance with the. The advertising stuff. But no. Yeah. When Ant goes into the game with 14 technical fouls, gets just a silly tea at the end of the first quarter where him and Jared Vanderbilt are like trading shoves as they're walking to the bench. It's like, okay, there's 15 and then honestly, 16. I did some research. Brent Barneke, play ball at Flagler College, was listed at 6 foot 1. I'm going to guess that was with shoes on.

[Marc Stein]

Oh, my God.

[Tim Bontemps]

Can we. Can we actually talk about Ant? Can we just. No, skip this.

[Brian Windhorst]

It was a sub. It was a sub 6 foot tee. Ant got. Ant got fouled. I'm sure he let out a, you know, some variate. Probably a MF or something along those lines.

[Tim Bontemps]

You know what, though? I was going to say.

[Marc Stein]

All right, fine. Let's just agree that the 16th without. Without speaking on the referee.

[Tim Bontemps]

But it didn't get rescinded.

[Brian Windhorst]

It didn't get rescinded. And. And I'll say this, Finch didn't. Finch didn't complain about it. He complained about the no call. He didn't complain about the tea.

[Tim Bontemps]

And by the way, this guy walks off the court, throws the ball, stands, gets himself fined more.

[Brian Windhorst]

More Sprite money gone. He's about to start dipping into the Adidas money.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, he has. He has had multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars of fines this year. Fines?

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Tim Bontemps]

Like that is crazy, buddy. It.

[Marc Stein]

It went over $300,000. He got fined 35,000 for throwing the ball in the stands. That he was at 285. So that goes over 300,000 in fines. Then his game check was 300,000 or something like that. So he's. Whatever it is, he's over half a million. So. But look, let's just agree that the 16th tech was soft. Let's just agree.

[Brian Windhorst]

But whatever.

[Marc Stein]

What about the other 15? Yeah, and he did have one receipt over.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yet he's the. I think this is a Stats Williams special. If not, it's from our ESPN research group. The last guy to have 16 tees before March was boogie cousins in 2016. 17, when boogie was like in his heyday of being a royal pain in the butt for rest.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

And you know the thing like Chris Finch, I don't know if you guys have the quote from Utah, pregame from Finchy, but basically he said like, Ant's got to get this under control, but he doesn't want him to be unfairly labeled. Like, Ant is not his point was Ant's not like an angry guy. He's not one of these guys who's just rating referees from the get go. And like, we've all been around Ant, everybody who's been around Ant typically enjoys the experience, but for whatever reason, and I think a lot of it is because he's been so frustrated with just the season as a whole. Coming off last year's Western Conference finals trip, Ant has, as Finch calls them, these outbursts. And it's, it's 16 now and it's. And it cost them a game that like, dude, you're fighting for playing, positioning maybe to get out of the plan. Right now you're tied for ninth. You have the tiebreaker on the Mavericks, but you're ninth in the west because you just lost a game against the tanking Utah Jazz.

[Marc Stein]

Tank, buddy. They lost that game on Thursday. Close. It was a five point game with three or four minutes left. He, Gobert and Julius Randle are out. Given Chenzo was going to be out the second night of a back to back. So I don't know. I'm. He severely damaged their chance to win Thursday because he's in the game. Who knows? Then Friday they lose because they're missing basically their whole starting lineup and he's suspended and they're in a game you.

[Brian Windhorst]

Can'T, you can't lose in Utah right now in the position that you're. And here's the thing now going forward, they have 21 games left in the season. Every other technical foul is another game suspended.

[Marc Stein]

I'm looking, I'm looking just to be.

[Tim Bontemps]

Clear so people understand that it's not literally everyone. So like, okay, and then 18, right? I was just, just saying 18, 20, etc.

[Marc Stein]

Tonight I can see Ant getting his 17th tech and, and somebody in the Wolves designation asking for a full report for McMahon.

[Brian Windhorst]

When it comes to this level of text, you ain't gotta ask. I'm asking for a pool report. I'm sorry, like, look, just like with Luca, when you start getting, when a superstar starts getting toward that suspension territory, every Tech is a story. It just is what it is.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's the Jordan. He's the Jordan of tech reporting. He loves to talk to the ref. So he wants the pool reports. I.

[Brian Windhorst]

It was a. Gucci Mane was the crew chief and certainly, certainly Gucci Mane, you know, he needed help to get to those pedals on that Jazz mobile.

[Marc Stein]

That's a deep cut.

[Tim Bontemps]

He's also, he's also first, I believe in the league in text over the Last five years. Owen Phillips, who does a very good sub stack, went and broke down all the referee stats over the last few years. What's that?

[Marc Stein]

Bernanke not only threw him out, he gave him the, he gave him the heave ho.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yes.

[Marc Stein]

Oh, yeah, by the way, let me.

[Brian Windhorst]

Just say I'm 11 and 3 quarters.

[Tim Bontemps]

Enough, enough. Hold on.

[Marc Stein]

I'm getting control. I'm getting control.

[Tim Bontemps]

Okay. I'm gonna try to make it ant.

[Marc Stein]

Point is the crew chief tonight, McMahon.

[Brian Windhorst]

Ooh.

[Marc Stein]

Do not meth with Zach Zarba.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, listen, good hair, good hair. I know that's why you like Zarba.

[Tim Bontemps]

And I got a windy like quaff.

[Marc Stein]

Zach Zarba and I both were came in the league in the same year. We have a kinship from that. Do not mess with I, I, I chit.

[Brian Windhorst]

Chatted with Zarb and some other refs before game two of the west finals last year in a hotel lobby. Just ran into them.

[Marc Stein]

All right, go ahead.

[Brian Windhorst]

Introduced himself and I said, hey, you're good with me. You're over six feet tall.

[Tim Bontemps]

Enough, enough rough talking, McMahon.

[Brian Windhorst]

Who puts you?

[Tim Bontemps]

We know the rest.

[Brian Windhorst]

We know the rest.

[Tim Bontemps]

Like to listen to our podcast.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're a distant third. Like the Bulls in a three way trade.

[Tim Bontemps]

Okay, no argument there on that. Look, we are a very pro ant pod. We have been a very pro ant pod for a while. However, the immaturity he has just showed throughout the year has not been good. And it's been a part of the frustrations there. I mean, remember, go back to earlier in the year when he was talking about, you know, I got to make sure I get my points in games. I'm not here to pass the ball. I remember the exact quote, but it was not exactly the thing you want to be hearing.

[Brian Windhorst]

He said, getting doubled and passing out ain't any fun.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, yeah. I want to get pockets. Yes. So, like, you know, look, he is a phenomenal player. He's super fun. As you said, being around him is fun. He's a great quote. He's fun to watch, all of it. But yeah, for this Minnesota team to get where it needs to go, he's got to get it under control on a variety of fronts, including these technical fouls, because, like, you can't, you just can't be getting like we want. Like you said, Brian, it was before February was over and we're talking about him getting suspended from games. McMahon is usually with Luca. The past couple years, he'd be like, at 15 on April 5, he'd be like, oh, is he going to miss a game.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, that Luca would also miss 10 or 12 games. And Ant plays almost every night.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's fair.

[Marc Stein]

Has LeBron, like, ankles where he will roll his ankle, and you're like, oh, my God, he might be out a week and he's back. He'll be back in three minutes.

[Tim Bontemps]

They just. They need him to be out there playing for them, under control and fully, fully involved.

[Marc Stein]

Let me take it a step further. All this discussion about amp being the, you know, future or current or whatever face of the NBA, it's all cool. He's got to do better as a leader for his own team.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's true.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's right.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's true. Although I will say, talking to aunt like, the man's obviously got a colorful vocabulary that's costing.

[Marc Stein]

I don't care about. I'm just saying.

[Brian Windhorst]

But that. That gets him a lot of the tease. And. And quite frankly, I think there's a term of endearment to him. Listen, the referees need to understand it's a compliment.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, I know. I know we're doing another ref jag, but that's not the. The. The point is he's got to be more locked in. He has to be for them to be the team that. That they want to be and to get back to where they were last year or get beyond that. Like, he can't. He can't be this out of control.

[Marc Stein]

Agreed. All right. They'll now have. He'll now have 30, 38 tonight and hit the three. Hit the.

[Tim Bontemps]

Probably. Probably will. And we'll have 37 different explanations of how the. How these choices for Cohen is factor of the month were.

[Marc Stein]

He'll look at. He'll. He'll. When he does the postgame interview, he'll, like, hold his hands like the kids and sound the music and, you know, be very pretty.

[Tim Bontemps]

He may, but I suspect he will not.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Hey. Hey.

[Tim Bontemps]

All right, McMahon, what do we got?

[Brian Windhorst]

Two things that I know. Technical fouls and cajones. All right, all right.

[Marc Stein]

And we'll start off with the.

[Brian Windhorst]

With a shout out. Nick Claxton had that put back buzzer beater against the. The 76ers. He's. There was three buzzer beaters last night.

[Tim Bontemps]

Then he.

[Marc Stein]

Then he got suspended. Speaking of guys who get suspended, Nick Claxton is. Six flagrant fouls this year. You don't look at that guy and think, that guy's an enforcer.

[Tim Bontemps]

I was also stunned by that because I feel like he's missed a ton of games.

[Marc Stein]

Like, I don't know. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. His flagrant foul per game percentage is wild. Honestly, I don't. I don't remember the last 52 games.

[Tim Bontemps]

That's more than. That's more than I would have guessed.

[Marc Stein]

Well, if we're going to get on and for getting suspended for Tex in February, we ought to make a mention that Nick Claxton got a flagrant suspension for February. I don't think I've ever remembered that happening.

[Brian Windhorst]

Except for nobody gives a crap about the Brooklyn Nets. Let's go.

[Marc Stein]

Nonetheless, that was when I got.

[Tim Bontemps]

When I saw the email that popped up. It said Nick Claxton suspended. I didn't think it was going to be for flag and foul.

[Brian Windhorst]

I just wanted to give the man a shout out because he had a buzzer beater there. Three buzzer beaters last month. He didn't get in. You know, he didn't get a. An award here. It's just a shadow. We don't need to get in a whole flag and foul discussion of a team that nobody watches. My God.

[Marc Stein]

Well, they do play in a very big market. And he has six flagrant fouls by the end. By February 25, he had six flagrants. I just think that's remarkable. Go on.

[Brian Windhorst]

If Cooper flags there next year, we'll all pay close attention.

[Marc Stein]

Bontel will be heading over the river. All right. Go on.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, yeah. All right.

[Marc Stein]

That was. That was the brass one or. That was.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, that was just a shout out. You guys are really prolonging this. I was just.

[Tim Bontemps]

It was a. Yeah, we're prolonging it.

[Brian Windhorst]

It's a few seconds shout out and then we went off talking about. Well, and then there was a wind up and there, you know, this and that's just.

[Tim Bontemps]

Go, move along.

[Brian Windhorst]

Move along. You move along. Don't you have a flight to catch? We can do this without you. It's not like you ever. You never contributed to cajones in your entire life.

[Tim Bontemps]

No.

[Marc Stein]

He was 20 and three as a senior at.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's true. Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Brass ball. Brass balls. Bam. Adebayo started the month off with a buzzer beater. Little mid ranger in San Antonio at the time.

[Marc Stein]

I believe he's hit two buzzer beaters this year.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, at the time I was worried he might be costing me a dinner. But then Wimby didn't hit the minimum plays games played requirement. But bam. Nice little clutch month. 22 points, 10 rebounds.

[Marc Stein]

He's just instagating you left and right. Bon Temps.

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean, I The number of comments I got this week absolutely obliterated McMahon for his running away from the.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, first of all, no, nobody. You don't have enough friends to make those kind of comments. So stop. All right? And then we're going. Cav's corner. I know the man. It's March. He missed a clutch free throw today. Cav still pulled it out. Don't worry, Wendy. I don't know if, if you're caught up, little screen man, but the cast.

[Marc Stein]

I don't know if you heard, but the Cavs haven't lost in a month. McMahon.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, I'll tell you what, a lot of that's because of Darius Garland's clutch performance. Now, the Cavs only had three clutch games last month, right? And only a total of 8 clutch minutes. But one of those games, Darius Garland, cool as could be, pulled up on the Pistons logo and hit a 31 foot buzzer beater. It was pretty.

[Marc Stein]

And winning in Little Caesars is not to be taken for granted.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, it's not. And a 31 foot buzzer beater, like, come on, now that that's doing something. And then the last clutch game they had, he didn't have a great game against the Celtics, but he had a huge three when things were tight. Just under five minutes. And then he hit that little step back long two, little dagger there in the final minute. So Darius Garland getting the silver.

[Tim Bontemps]

He's getting it for hitting a shot with a minute to go against the Celtics when they were waiting.

[Brian Windhorst]

31 foot buzzer beater, you dork. Like if you combine Bond timps. If you combine the length of every bucket you made in high school, you're not getting 31ft. All right, but add up all like seven of your buckets in high school.

[Tim Bontemps]

I'm just always.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, you're done.

[Tim Bontemps]

Just always. Enjoy the explanations as to some of our friends in the league.

[Marc Stein]

By the way, did you see the other night when Steph had 56 in Orlando?

[Tim Bontemps]

I sure did.

[Marc Stein]

That he made 391ft of shots in that game.

[Brian Windhorst]

See that? That is incredible.

[Tim Bontemps]

And the last. And. And then they made the last dunk of his career on Saturday they have week.

[Brian Windhorst]

Was that the most like distance of shots in his career?

[Marc Stein]

Well, no, it was most of his career. Yes, but it wasn't the most on record.

[Brian Windhorst]

Who?

[Marc Stein]

Lillard had a 400 foot game a couple years ago. Me either. But he must have had a bunch of logo shots that night.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, logo Lillard. Yeah, that is what that is.

[Tim Bontemps]

That is crazy. 400ft of shots in a game.

[Marc Stein]

I mean and see the steps he.

[Brian Windhorst]

Made a 50 foot scoring games.

[Marc Stein]

Well, Steph threw in a 50 footer which kind of, you know, padded the stats. I mean, I don't mean to take anything away from.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right.

[Marc Stein]

But he had one in there that sort of, you know, you know, ballooned it a little bit. I mean I got to go back and see this Lillard game. I mean he must have. I know that Lillard back when he was in Portland, I know he had some hot nights when he had, he.

[Brian Windhorst]

Had a 70 point game. Right.

[Marc Stein]

Maybe that was the night I got to go back and look. I just remember seeing that it wasn't the farthest on record and I, I mean we've only been able to track the distance of shots for so long.

[Tim Bontemps]

Few years. Yeah.

[Marc Stein]

I don't know if you know, Bob Pettit had a game where he had 420.

[Brian Windhorst]

Gotta get those little Bob Pettit reference in there. I don't think old bullet Bob was. Was strange paint back in the day. All right, all right. The gold medalist for the February coones factor. It's a good thing that Jalen Brunson had such a great clutch month because boy, there were some games that weren't exactly clutched down the stretch, let's just say for the Knicks. But they did go 60 in games that were within 5 points.

[Marc Stein]

Wow.

[Brian Windhorst]

In the final 5 minutes. Get this, listen to these numbers. 6, 0. In those games Brunson played 37 minutes, was plus 30, had 49 points, 54, 63, 88 shooting splits and 8 assists. Had the most clutch assists including by the way Memphis. I think it was the last day of the month. One of the last couple days. Just the other day.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah, they won by one when he.

[Brian Windhorst]

Had a clutch three pointer. Memphis takes the lead. Then he drives and dishes to OG Anunoby.

[Marc Stein]

Yes.

[Brian Windhorst]

For the, for the game winner. So there were six and own clutch games. They were three zero when they were tied or trailed by a one possession margin in the last 30 seconds. And Brunson had seven points on three or four shooting and that assist for the OG game winning three in those situation.

[Marc Stein]

He also led him all the way home against Philly last Wednesday. They were in some trouble. They got behind and he scored like the last nine points of the game.

[Brian Windhorst]

Dude nut cutting one possession margin. Final three minutes 35 points plus 34 four and 20 minutes on crazy efficiency 13 and 19.

[Marc Stein]

You know I was just, I was just wondering, you know, I think the, the first four on the MVP Ballot are probably pretty set with the order. We'll see that. You know, not that I would spend that much time. Who'd be fifth? You know, I put Brunson fifth in my last Bontemps poll submission and I was thinking, you know, Friday night, I was like, you know, Donovan Mitchell's got to get some credit. I mean this, if this cavs team wins 67, 68 games and he's doing this, how does he not get credit? But how do I demote when I hear these stats, how do I, how do I demote?

[Tim Bontemps]

I mean either one of those guys is a, is a viable, is a viable fifth MVP option for sure. And if, and if Giannis has an injury, then they'll, they'll probably be fourth and fifth.

[Brian Windhorst]

I want to throw one other name into that mix because you mentioned this the other day, Wendy, and I was thinking about it. A 40 year old gentleman by the name of LeBron James is putting together an MVP ballot kind of case as. I don't know, we'll see what happens tonight. But the lakers could be the 2 seed in the west by the time this pod comes out.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's true.

[Marc Stein]

So LeBron's stats since actually turning 40. Hold on, I'll get him for you. I mean it's, and I'll just add.

[Brian Windhorst]

While you're looking these up, you know, JJ Redick has made it clear LeBron is playing at an all defensive type of level.

[Tim Bontemps]

Yeah, I got him right here since, since December, since January 1st, which is basically it.

[Marc Stein]

That's fine.

[Tim Bontemps]

It's the start of the new year. 26.6 points, eight and a half rebounds, 8.2 assists on 54.8% shooting, 43% from three on six attempts per game.

[Brian Windhorst]

And what's the Lakers record in that span like the record.

[Tim Bontemps]

The record is in the games he's played in. 25 games. They are 18 and 7.

[Brian Windhorst]

I mean LeBron is having a hell.

[Tim Bontemps]

Of a season, hell of a year for sure. Certainly, certainly putting himself in the mix. No question.

[Marc Stein]

The Lakers have a little bit of a challenge here. They're playing the Clippers tonight. We'll see what happens. But we have an injury, we have an injury to Rihachimura and now an injury to Austin Reeves.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, and, and look, the Lakers, they've been the number one defense in the league since mid January. There is certainly some opponent shooting luck slash like they're getting the guys that they want to shoot threes on the opponent on the opposing team shooting them. We'll see how that holds Up. However, Luca's scoring numbers and efficiency since he's been in la, you know, coming off of the longest injury absence of his career, new team, blah, blah, blah. Luca's not going to be averaging in the teens on mid-30s shooting for much longer.

[Marc Stein]

So look, you said this earlier, you know, 10 days ago. Just go look at Luca's first 10 games this year coming off that calf injury. He's scoring. He was scoring more points then because the Mavericks needed him more offensively, but his shooting percentages were crap.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, he was doing the thing where he was. He'd put up 28, 8 and 8 and not play well.

[Marc Stein]

Right.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right now he's actually playing well, except for he's having a hard time putting the ball in the hole.

[Marc Stein]

Yeah. By the way, I feel good about his, about him putting the ball in the hole. That's one thing I'm not concerned.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, he tends to figure that out once, you know, as his legs get under him. He's. You don't worry about that part of his game.

[Tim Bontemps]

I went and found the Damen Lillard game was the 71 point game when he had 400.

[Marc Stein]

Okay.

[Tim Bontemps]

Worth of shots. Just as, just as a quick aside because it's the, I guess 63rd anniversary of the Will Chamberlain game today, the 100 point game. Dame's line in this game hit 71 points on 22 for 38, shooting 13 for 22 from 3 and 14 for 14 at the line in 39 minutes. And he had 71 points.

[Brian Windhorst]

So how hard it is to get up 22 threes when you are the focal point of the other teams.

[Marc Stein]

How about 22 threes in 39 minutes?

[Tim Bontemps]

Like to me saying, like, I just you like, obviously everybody talks about like, can another person ever score 100 in a game in the NBA again, like Wilt did. I like you look at this box score. I don't know how anybody's going to score more points than that in a game. Like going 13 for 22 from 3 is crazy alone, let alone the rest of it. And he got to the line over 10 times and he still was 29 points short.

[Brian Windhorst]

By the way, I just saw the Bucks come through Dallas and look, the Mavericks, you know, still have almost every front court player out. PJ Washington left that game with an ankle injuries. He's going to miss Monday, which is actually a key game against the Kings. But that Dame Giannis combo, you know, and the Bucs now sitting nine games above.500, they're, you know, not bad for a team that was 2 and 12, I believe, at one point.

[Marc Stein]

Look, the Bucks have their. What if you're. If you're a Bucks fan, what you're saying is if we can get to four, we'd have home court in the first round and be on the opposite side of the bracket as the Celtics. Not that beating the Cavs is going to be easy, but you're saying we'd have the best player in the series.

[Tim Bontemps]

And they'll take their chances with that.

[Marc Stein]

Yes.

[Brian Windhorst]

And they're sitting in four as we speak at the. You know. Right.

[Marc Stein]

I think they've won five of six or something like that. And they. They've been keeping their head above water since Portis went down. Brook Lopez has had some good games. His minutes are pretty up there, but he's put up some good games without Portis. Kuzma's been okay. He's kind of been up and die. I know he left the game the other night with an injury. I don't have an update on that, but. But yeah, there. Since the All Star break, the Bucks have been doing some things, so. Yeah, we'll see. You know, I think, you know, they have played that. They've got one more game left with the Cavs. I think it's coming up. The Cavs are 30 against them, but the games were close, and I think Giannis missed at least one of them. And, you know, Middleton missed probably all of them. I don't know, but. All right, point taken. All right, beautiful cojones factor there by. By our guy, McMahon. Jalen Brunson put it on the shelf. All right, thank you to Jackson, our producer. Thank you.

[Brian Windhorst]

Shout out to our fellow podcaster, Jalen Brunson.

[Marc Stein]

That's right, we can no longer say that about Podcast P. He's retired. Thank you to all the Podcast P listeners who have come over to join us on the pod. Now the Podcast P is.

[Tim Bontemps]

Well, it's on hiatus.

[Marc Stein]

On hiatus. Thank you to Bon Thompson. McMahon. Thank you for watching and listening the Hoop Collective. We will talk to you early next week, which, by the way, McMahon. I'm going to New York. Me and Bontemps are going to. Last week, I hung out with you in la. This week, hanging out with Bontemps in New York. I'll report back on who was the better date.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, I'm. I promise you I'm gonna have a lot more fun than Bontems. Have fun with the uswb.

[Marc Stein]

All right, we'll talk to you guys then.

[Brian Windhorst]

Adios, amigos.

[Tim Bontemps]

Foreign.

[Marc Stein]

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