Podcast Summary: Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
Episode: More NBA Chaos + Embiid Return & Panic for Cavs?
Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Brian Windhorst, with Tim Bontemps, Tim MacMahon, Jackson
Main Theme / Purpose
This episode dives into a wild night of NBA action, focusing on a double-overtime thriller between the 76ers and Hawks featuring the return of Joel Embiid and Paul George, rising chaos in Cleveland with Cavs' recent struggles, sweeping implications of major NBA draft pick trades, and in-depth analysis of teams on the rise or in trouble—sprinkled with signature banter and storytelling among ESPN insiders.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Sixers vs. Hawks: Double Overtime Drama & Embiid’s Return
- Embiid’s Comeback (First game back after three weeks)
- Looked offensively solid but still limited defensively due to mobility issues.
- Stats: 18 points on 14 shots, -11 in 30 minutes—struggled to impact game on defense and rebounding.
- Tim Bontemps: “He’s been compromised with his mobility on defense. Until that changes... it’s going to be a struggle.” [06:50]
- Paul George also returns, but his back tightens up again postgame.
- Hawks’ Jalen Johnson shoots into All-Star contention:
- 41 points, clutch free throws in overtime. “Jalen Johnson is just putting together an All-Star season.” – Brian Windhorst [02:22]
- Wild ending with clock management confusion:
- Misunderstanding over a coach’s challenge led to time on the clock being changed back and forth, effectively icing the shooter (Jalen Johnson), who still calmly hit game-tying free throws. [03:14-05:24]
2. Atlanta Hawks: A Trial Run Without Trae Young
- Hawks are building around length and athleticism, finding defensive success without Trae.
- Tim MacMahon: “They put a roster together to protect Trae on the defensive end, and now they're getting a trial run to see what team looks like without Trae..." [09:02]
- Defensive Rating with Trae: 123.2; without: 111.6.
- Future Outlook:
- Jalen Johnson emerging as possible franchise cornerstone.
- Big question: Can they find a new creator, perhaps with the incoming Pelicans draft pick in a strong 2026 class?
- Bontemps: "You could see, the Hawks are building towards a future where Jalen Johnson is their guy..." [09:57]
3. Thunder/Clippers/Jazz Picks: League-Wide Anxiety
- Thunder project to have potentially three lottery picks due to trades.
- As of recording, OKC would own 6th (Clippers), 9th (Jazz), and 14th (Sixers), all in a loaded draft. [17:07]
- MacMahon: “I mean the league is in a panic about the Thunder having the Clippers pick. I'm serious, I'm serious about that as..." [13:58]
- Bon Temps: "By our projection system, they are favored to win every single game for the rest of the season. Home or road. Every opponent. Doesn’t matter." [21:18]
- Thunder’s Unprecedented Dominance and Depth:
- 20-1 start, projected 68 wins.
- Shea Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 33 points in 33 minutes. [20:00]
- MacMahon jokes: "75 [wins]. I'm not joking. 75." [21:04]
- Impact of incoming picks—possibility of adding another star to a dominant roster.
- Historical context: Comparison to LeBron’s 2003 draft and Jerry West's lingering anger over missing out on LeBron due to pick protections. [22:22–28:16]
4. Memphis Grizzlies: Surging with Zach Edey
- Edey’s monster stats over recent games: 32 pts, 17 reb, 5 blk [15:29]
- Return of key players makes Memphis clear of other bottom West teams.
- Strategic question: Push with the core or think longer-term after Bain trade? [16:17]
- MacMahon: "If they play their guys...they're probably going to get to 8th or 9th in the West." [16:17]
5. Cleveland Cavaliers: Panic Setting In?
- Losses, injuries, and accountability crisis:
- Lost third straight, blown out by Celtics.
- Donovan Mitchell, usually a team spokesman, skipped media after loss—a telling sign. [30:11]
- Jaylon Tyson, a second-year, was left to address postgame issues.
- Key players Larry Nance, Jared Allen, Darius Garland dealing with injuries/out of form.
- Garland's athleticism looks compromised; team struggles with athletic teams like Atlanta.
- Bontemps: "League is trending away from small guards like Garland." [32:14]
- Concern about Cavs’ ceiling: Even with Mitchell playing at All-NBA level (30pts, career-high efficiency), Cavs can barely tread water.
- Evan Mobley Debate:
- Still a defensive monster, but hasn’t developed into a dominant offensive star.
- Bontemps: "If that's not who he is [offensive star], then he's probably not a guy who should be getting a 30% max." [38:02]
- Mobley likened to Jaren Jackson Jr.—great defender, questionable offensive max player.
- Winds: “They want that same dominance on offense [from Mobley]. Well, that just may not be who he is.” [37:51]
- Deep dive on Cavs' lack of boxing out and how Miami Heat excel at this basic skill. [43:00-44:07]
- Still a defensive monster, but hasn’t developed into a dominant offensive star.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves: Point Guard Problems
- Impressive wins, but concerns at PG as Mike Conley ages.
- Anthony Edwards taking on more lead guard duties—mixed results.
- Team seen as likely buyers ahead of trade deadline, but with limited trade capital. [47:54]
- MacMahon: “The Wolves have a point guard problem and you know Ant is a lead guard, he's not a point guard." [46:47]
- Ant's Free Throw Routine Changed Due to Mark Cuban: Fun anecdote about Cuban pointing out Ant's lane violation on a podcast, leading the league to warn him. [49:31-51:12]
7. San Antonio Spurs & The NBA Cup
- Spurs thriving despite Victor Wembanyama being sidelined—5-2 run.
- Depth contributions from Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie, and others.
- Spurs’ impressive comeback at Denver boosts their Cup position; possible juicy Cup quarterfinal vs. Lakers if Victor returns.
- Noted that Cup experience is valuable for young teams, with parallels to Thunder and Pacers’ recent playoff-like advancement. [54:06–55:27]
- Fun around Suns and Raptors as Cup X-factors.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Windhorst on Sixers:
- “There’s always something with the Sixers.” [05:36]
- Bontemps on Embiid:
- “He’s drawn people to him. They can run dribble handoffs... But the question’s going to be: Can the defensive mobility and the trust in his knees get to the point where he can move around more fluidly?” [07:22]
- Windhorst on Hawks
- “They just keep inserting guys that big. It’s really… You can see the thought process.” [08:21]
- MacMahon on Thunder Picks:
- “The league is...They're looking at this going, oh, actually, what is happening? They can't believe the Thunder are going to get a mid or…” [22:12]
- On Evan Mobley/Cavs:
- “If that's not who he is, then he's probably not a guy who should be getting a 30% max.” – Bontemps [38:02]
- Panel on Wolves’ Point Guard Issue
- “Point guard Anthony Edwards, according to Chris Finch.” – Windhorst [45:43]
- “Well, because not having a point guard tends to lower the IQ of your whole team, right?” – Windhorst [46:47]
- Ant Edwards on Cuban:
- “Some famous guy, went on a podcast or Instagram or whatever... I think he used to own the Mavericks.” [50:48]
- Windhorst on NBA Cup:
- “Every year the Cup’s only three years old, but we’ve seen teams go into the Cup and that experience has helped them.” [54:06]
Important Segment Timestamps
- 00:35 – Panel introductions; Sixers-Hawks double-OT game setup
- 02:06 – Hawks’ weekend, Jalen Johnson’s big game
- 03:14 – Free throw and clock confusion at end of OT1
- 06:11 – Embiid’s return: analysis of performance and mobility
- 09:02 – Atlanta’s new look without Trae Young
- 13:58 – Thunder picks panic across the league
- 17:07 – Real-time lottery pick update (Thunder, Hawks, etc)
- 21:18 – OKC projected favored for all remaining games
- 29:22 – Cavs lose again; Mitchell’s telling post-game silence
- 34:21 – Injuries continue to ravage Cleveland
- 37:51 – Evan Mobley’s value and development debate
- 45:43 – Wolves’ recent struggles; point guard problem
- 49:31 – Ant Edwards changes FT routine due to Mark Cuban
- 52:44 – Spurs’ depth and Cup rebound without Victor
- 54:06 – Cup experience helps young teams
Tone & Style
Upbeat, analytical, often tongue-in-cheek. The trio blend in-depth basketball breakdowns with friendly arguments and humorous storytelling, keeping the show lively even during deep statistical discussions or tales about media life.
Summary Takeaways
- The Sixers’ and Cavs’ injury troubles continue to shape their inconsistent seasons.
- Atlanta and Oklahoma City both look like well-positioned franchises—Atlanta for its flexibility and upcoming draft assets, OKC for its historic youth-dominated dominance and potential three lottery picks.
- The league is increasingly wary of old pick swaps maturing with surprisingly dire consequences, especially as the Thunder’s picks come due in a loaded draft.
- Several teams—including Minnesota and San Antonio—are searching for solutions at key positions or riding new depth, as the NBA's competitive balance keeps shifting.
- The NBA Cup is subtly developing into a valuable postseason primer for young and rebuilding squads.
This episode is a must-listen for fans tracking the NBA’s shifting power dynamics, player health, quietly emerging stars, and long-term franchise strategy. The panel’s easy rapport and deep, timely insight make it accessible and engaging even for listeners catching up after missing the games.