Pistons Not Satisfied Yet + KD On Team USA’s Future & Jokic Is Looking Human??

Summary

Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective

Episode: "Pistons Not Satisfied Yet + KD On Team USA’s Future & Jokic Is Looking Human??"
Date: February 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

This week on The Hoop Collective, Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN insiders Vincent Goodwill (Detroit), and Anthony Slater (Sacramento) for a wide-ranging discussion around the NBA. The crew digs into the surging but restless Detroit Pistons, the significance of the Cavaliers matchup, fan expectations, and roster decisions. They pivot into U.S. Olympic team intrigue, highlighted by a revealing Kevin Durant interview. Finally, the panel discusses Nikola Jokic’s recent struggles with injury and the broader Western Conference playoff picture. The show is laced with insider anecdotes, statistical deep-dives, and classic banter.

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1. Detroit Pistons: Emerging, But Not Satisfied

Pistons' State of Play

• Detroit is enjoying rare relevance, beating the undermanned Thunder and prepping for a key ESPN All Access game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
  • Windhorst: “Cade [Cunningham] was terrible in the second half of that Spurs game, and I could just see in his eyes...he wanted to get that taste out of his mouth.” (01:31)
  • The Pistons are viewed as one of the Eastern Conference’s top four teams but remain unproven, especially in playoff intensity contests.

Cleveland Matchup Preview

• The Cavs, recently rested, come in as a test for Detroit’s physical front line, especially with James Harden’s acquisition and the ongoing suspension of Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart.
• Goodwill: “I am fascinated, Wendy. The James Harden thing takes a little bit of sting out of [the game]... But this is going to be a heavyweight matchup.” (04:17, 08:38)
• The crew agrees it could serve as a playoff preview, signaling Detroit’s arrival.

Local Fan Perspective (09:55 – 13:05)

• Two fan camps:
  • One is thrilled simply to be relevant again.
  • Another laments the missed opportunity to add talent at the trade deadline, worried the window could close fast.
• Goodwill: “There’s a battered fan sort of element to it… Don’t break our hearts. Don't bring us to the precipice again only to have something…” (10:21)
• Windhorst: Recalls Jalen Duren’s heartbreak over last year’s playoff exit, underscoring the emotional scars still felt by young Pistons.

Should Detroit Have Been More Aggressive?

• The panel shares historical perspective—rarely does a team go from no playoff series wins to the Finals in a single year, with the 1995 Magic as the exception.
  • Goodwill: “You gotta have some real playoff pain.” (17:31)

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2. Cavs, Jared Allen & Harden’s Health

On Jared Allen's Leap (18:49 – 20:40)

• Windhorst details how Allen’s stats have soared since Harden’s arrival, citing upticks in usage and field goal percentage.
  • Windhorst: “If this Jared Allen thing is real, you better show it to me against Jalen Duren. And Jalen Duren’s gonna know about this.” (20:35)

Harden and Mitchell Injury News (20:50 – 23:13)

• Harden is pushing to play through a fractured thumb.
  • Slater: “Shouldn’t Harden just rest right now?...If he can just rest—don’t you want this not lingering?” (21:51)
  • Goodwill: “The one thing you can’t really say is that [Harden] doesn’t play... he plays.” (23:13)
• Breaking news: Donovan Mitchell is out with a groin strain, potentially shifting Cavs expectations for the matchup.

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3. Team USA Spotlight: Kevin Durant’s Future & Roster Challenges

Durant: Not Done Yet (26:23 – 31:05)

• Goodwill shares insights from his recent interview with KD, who expressed strong intent to play in the 2028 Olympics and discussed the shifting culture and international narratives in basketball.
  • Goodwill: "The thing that struck me…was the passion in which he said, ‘Of course I want to play. Why wouldn’t I want to play?’ ” (26:40)
• The panel speculates that Durant may become the bridge for a much younger Team USA in 2028, joining possible holdovers like Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker.

International vs. American Basketball Debate

• Durant defends AAU and American basketball development culture, pushing back against narratives of European superiority.
  • Goodwill: “France is coming for us. We smack them boys. That was exactly the phrase.” (31:05)
• Windhorst: "The way Team USA structures their team...they want athletes who defend. You got to have defenders, athletic defenders." (34:34)

Roster Construction, Politics, and the Talent Pipeline

• The challenge for USA Basketball is carefully constructing a roster to contend with global bigs—especially Victor Wembanyama.
• The influence of Nike and shoe deals on selection is pointed out, with rising stars like Cooper Flagg possibly earning a 2028 spot despite sponsorship status.
• The upcoming World Cup in Qatar (2027) may offer the proving ground for next-generation players like Jalen Duren and Chet Holmgren.
  • Windhorst: “If you want to prove yourself...you're gonna go to Qatar and say, all right, I’ll go where it's 115 degrees.” (41:41)

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4. Nikola Jokic: Looking Human?

Post-Injury Dip (43:37 – 45:15)

• The show pivots to the defending champion Denver Nuggets and their superstar.
• Jokic is hampered by a wrist injury—his numbers are slightly down, turnovers are up, and he’s missing more shots and free throws.
  • Windhorst: "Jokic just doesn’t look right to me. He missed 17 shots in that game. He doesn’t miss 17 shots in five games sometimes." (43:37)

Is It Concerning? Should Jokic Rest?

• Slater: Defensive impact is also declining, as teams are exposing Jokic more, citing a stretch against the Warriors (46:31).
• The panel debates whether Jokic should sit to get fully healthy, given the impact on his MVP eligibility and looming playoffs.
  • Goodwill: "Maybe this month off is good for him so that he's not worn down by [elimination games]..." (47:21)

Denver’s Injury Issues

• The Nuggets’ core five have played only 10 games together all season.
  • Windhorst: “They’re eight and two [with their core], but since January...they just haven’t played together.” (48:51)

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5. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Goodwill on Detroit fans: “Don’t bring us to the precipice again only to have something... last year, [fans] were despondent after losing to the Knicks. They felt like the Knicks were frauds.” (10:21)
• Windhorst on KD’s international record: “Kevin Durant is the greatest Olympian in the history of the sport, and he has a red carpet to play however long he wants to.” (30:00)
• Goodwill quoting KD on France: “France is coming for us, we smack them boys. That was exactly the phrase.” (31:05)
• Windhorst on USA/Europe basketball cultures: “What are you gonna do when you go up against a guy who's just better than you? Your technique can be better, but the other dude's gonna bust you.” (34:14)
• Slater on Jokic: “It was third in four nights and…he was a defensive problem.” (45:15)
• Goodwill on Harden: “The one thing you can’t really say is that [Harden] doesn’t play…he plays.” (23:13)

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6. Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pistons’ evolution & fan perspective: 01:31 – 13:05
• Should Detroit accelerate their build? NBA history context: 16:56 – 17:44
• Jared Allen/Harden injuries & Cavs-Pistons preview: 18:49 – 23:13
• Kevin Durant on Team USA 2028, Olympic preview: 26:23 – 36:16
• US vs International basketball, roster politics: 31:05 – 35:58
• Jokic’s struggles & Nuggets’ lineup issues: 43:37 – 49:16

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7. Tone & Style

• The episode blends serious basketball analysis with wry storytelling and recognizable ESPN-insider rapport.
• The hosts are frank, pulling “back the curtain” on media plans and team constructions, while not shying from contentious topics (fan frustration, athlete health, sneaker politics).
• Occasional light-hearted asides (like Detroit’s “French” heritage and the Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City Night) keep things colloquial.

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Summary Takeaway

A must-listen for fans of NBA story arcs, this episode covers the stakes for rising teams (Detroit), the challenges of building a winner in a deep Eastern Conference, and the nuances of international basketball as U.S. dominance is tested. Insightful interviews, timely injury news, and pointed questions about player development and the “right way” to win make this an episode that transcends the box score.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Hello, and welcome to the Hoop Collective podcast. We talk about the NBA, which we are doing on Thursday afternoon. Joining me from Detroit, Michigan, I think I saw the other day, you're senior, senior writer Vince Goodwill.

[C]

Yeah, that's one of those things. I'm junior in real life, I guess, a senior at ESPN. I'm moving up in the world.

[B]

Vincent Goodwill, Jr. That's earned, by the way.

[D]

I mean, you two are talking about, you know, some of these. We're about to talk Calves, Pistons, y' all can go back to, like.

[B]

Excuse me, sir. You've not been introduced yet.

[D]

Okay.

[B]

Joining us from Sacramento, California, senior writer Anthony Slater.

[D]

I would question my tag more than Vinnie's.

[B]

Well, you're. Are you Anthony Slater, Senior?

[C]

No.

[B]

Do you go.

[C]

Yes.

[D]

It's funny. Yes, I guess I am. I don't know. Something I've been thinking about much, but yes, that is actually correct.

[B]

AJ Junior. And so you're a senior, right? Yeah. All right, Vince, you're back home in Detroit because there's a big game on Friday night. Let's be honest. We're in February. It's not like it's nothing. But the Pistons are going to want to send a little message because I know they beat the Thunder on Wednesday night, but the Thunder were missing all their guys, and I could tell they felt a certain way. Cade was terrible in the second half of that spurs game, and I could just see in his eyes in the first quarter last night, he wanted to get that taste out of his mouth. He and jalen duran went 23 of 33 or something combined in the game against the Thunder. Of course, it's one thing, with all due respect to Jalen Williams, AR. Jalen Williams, who had, like, one of the best offensive games in his career when. When Jalen Dern is rolling downhill on the pick and roll and it's Jalen Williams down there and it's not Victor Wembanyama. It's not quite the same, but still, the points count the same.

[D]

Yeah, well, air quotes. Thunder, too. I mean.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[D]

I think six of their top eight

[C]

were out, so that felt like the sound Presti special.

[B]

Yeah. Having said that, the Thunder played till the last minute of the game and they got a big game for themselves on Friday. But first, Vince, I want to talk about this. It's an ESPN All Access game. There was a. While I mentioned this on the pod a few months ago, there was a time at which I thought I was going to be at this game, Vince. And I had actually not been to Little Caesars Arena. Well, I better known as lca. I thought this was going to be the time. But just be honest, like, the ace card came out from inside the NBA. And inside the NBA, Charles, Shaq, Kenny Ernie, they got that gig. And Countdown's relegated to the bench. So I won't be coming to Detroit.

[C]

Wow.

[D]

Is inside going live from Detroit?

[B]

No, I don't think they're going to Detroit. We were going to go to Detroit. I mean, this is probably pulling back the curtain too much. I probably shouldn't be saying this and I'll give my hand slaps, but it actually isn't like that. There's just a schedule change. It wasn't like they pulled rank on us. But there was. There was a time and I just, I just mentioned it because I mentioned it a few months ago, like, I'm going to Detroit soon and then I'm not going to Detroit. But maybe in the playoffs, Vince.

[C]

But anyway, you'll be there in May.

[B]

Yeah, listen. So anyway, big game for the Pistons. Cavs coming in. They just rested a bunch of guys in Milwaukee on Wednesday night. So those should be rested. So, hey, this is Eastern Conference showdown here.

[C]

Is this like 2006 all over again? Wendy? Like just.

[B]

It is now.

[C]

We're not back to those days.

[B]

Well, this is Cleveland versus Detroit. Like, you know, this is, you know,

[D]

you guys are always kind of in those days also still. So, I mean, you can watch it with that nostalgia.

[C]

It's a long time ago. I had a much different haircut, I didn't have a beard. And in 2006, I was a tender 21 years old. So this is a much different ball game than this. I am fascinated, Wendy. The James Harden thing takes a little bit of sting out of the game. Just because you want to see him at 100%. No. Isaiah Stewart, who's serving game six of the seven game suspension. Like, that's the thing. I want to see how Detroit's bigs who function in power deal with Cleveland's bigs who function differently. And Cleveland's bigs were masterful against the Knicks on. What was that Tuesday Night. And in Cleveland.

[B]

Yes, yes.

[C]

They were masterful. And one of my big doubts about Cleveland as a whole was, can Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley hold up through the rigors in the physicality of the playoffs? Detroit majors in physicality.

[B]

It's a fair question, as any Cavs fan will tell you.

[C]

So I'm fascinated by tomorrow's game as a whole. I don't know if this is a Eastern Conference finals preview, but it could be a second round preview. Like, if you look at the top four teams in the East, Detroit, Boston, New York and Cleveland, any iteration could wind up being the case in the second round if, especially if Philadelphia doesn't get their act together. So I am, I'm kind of excited for this game.

[B]

Wendy, can you hear those birds tweeting those. It's like the spring has already sprung there in Northern California. I'm just.

[D]

Oh, man, it is grayed out today. What is All Access? What is, what is. That's going to entail? What does the viewer have to look forward to?

[B]

I shouldn't really be pulling the curtain back, but okay. I mean, you know, allegedly we. Allegedly, we get a little bit more footage behind the scenes footage. But let's just say some years the All Access game has more behind the scene footage than others. I did the All Access game last year, which happened to be in Paris. So I get to go to Paris. Vince. I didn't get to go to Detroit. Got to go to Paris. Didn't get to go to Detroit.

[C]

Well, you know, they say Detroit is like Paris of the United States. And I mean that for real.

[B]

Paris is southeast Michigan. That's what. That's.

[C]

No, because, like, a lot of Detroit names are French. Detroit is a French city. Like Detroit, like, a lot of names are said with a French sort of accent to it.

[B]

So there's a whole bunch of cities and places in, like, western Ohio and in Michigan that have French names, where long ago they quit pronouncing it with the French names, such as. Or just in the Midwest in general, such as Illinois, for example. There's a city in Ohio that if a French person saw it, they would call it Bella Fountain. But if you're from there, you call it Bellefontaine.

[C]

I'll give you one, Wendy. I'll give you one. There's a street in Detroit that if you say it, it goes from Detroit to the suburbs. If you see it, it looks like gradient. It's pronounced Gratiot.

[B]

I don't. I would spell, but I would say maybe would be pronounced Grady.

[C]

A T I o T I o

[B]

T I o T okay. All right. Hey, listen, man, you can't force the culture on the people.

[C]

People will do what they want, Wendy. It's going to be fun. Like, you know, the Oklahoma City game took. Had some sting out of it because so many guys were missing. I wasn't here for Monday's game against San Antonio, but you could hear through the TV like the crowd was into it until Big Slim decided to send everybody home. But I, I think there's these sort of like, there's these few games that happens on the calendar. Like, we all say that 82 games is 82 games, but there's a few games. And Slater, you used to it covering the warriors, where coming in gets up, the team that's at home gets up and there's a little extra, you know, whether it's an ESPN game or a TNT game back when they had it, like, where you can feel like it's worth more than that. And I'm sure the Cavs want to send a message that, hey, with James Harden here and Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt, we're a different team than the team that you guys saw a month or so ago. Detroit laid a whooping on Cleveland in Cleveland, J.B. bickerstaff's old team. Like, there's always something extra there. Now you add the James Harden element to it and like, this is going to be a heavyweight matchup. And the last time I thought it was going to be a heavyweight matchup, Wendy, it was going to be in Madison Square Garden last week and Detroit came in and dismantled the New York Knicks. I don't think that the same thing is going to happen. I think this is going to be a competitive ball game.

[D]

What, what's the, what's the local belief in these Pistons? I feel like it is, it's, it's, it's a good time to be a Detroit fan, right? With the. What the Lions have done the last couple of years, the Tigers have had some runs. Like where. Because I, I agree with you, but I don't know what you. Wendy, why. But I watched that spurs game and I was like, man, it's a really good crowd. It felt a little playoffy early. You could, you know, it's those first quarter crowds, right? I mean, a lot of these NBA crowds can get into the game if it's close late. There's some big plays by stars, but it was one of Those, like it's 13 to 9 in the first quarter and the Piston didn't. The Pistons went down early and then. Or. And they made like a little, like, 8, 0 run to make it 1410. And it was explosive in the arena.

[B]

I was like, wow, Lindsey Hunter.

[D]

Yeah, there you go.

[C]

John Mason was still on the mic.

[D]

Yeah. What's the vibe there?

[C]

You know what's funny? There's two segments of fans. There's the fan that is legitimately happy. Man, we ain't been relevant in damn near 20 years. We can actually participate in NBA conversations. Like, we got a guy. You know, we got stability. All this other stuff, right? Like, happy to be here, fan. Then there's the other fan. The other fan is, why didn't we do nothing at the trade deadline? Boston's coming, New York's coming. Cleveland's coming. We know what winners look like. This is such an incomplete team. This team isn't as good as their record. We need to get a guy that can help Cade Cunningham. We may never get a chance to get to the finals again. We're blowing and squandering an opportunity. It's literally those two camps, believe it or not. And because the Lions have blown opportunities. Cause the Lions are the Lions, and they blow every damn thing. Like, there's a battered fan sort of element to it where from the outside looking in, it's like, oh, man, this team is relevant again. But on the inside, it's like, man, not again. Don't break our hearts. You know, Don't. Don't bring us to the precipice again only to have something. Cause a lot of people last year, Slater, were despondent that the Pistons lost to the Knicks in the first round. They felt like the Knicks were frauds, you know?

[B]

Thank you very much for saying that. Okay, let me just say something there. So Mark Spears Manscape has a story coming out tomorrow. He was telling me about it today, and he was with Jalen Duran. And Duran was talking about how he, like, still wakes up at night, like, upset about losing that series. And I was just saying, like, okay, they lose in the first round, 4, 2. They don't have beef stew, which everybody knows would have made a big difference. I mean, he got hurt during the series, but they didn't have him at the end.

[C]

No. Jaden Ivy.

[B]

Jaden Ivy. And like. Like, he's acting like it left, like, this scar. I mean, I respect it. I was just kind of surprised.

[D]

Well, don't you remember over the course of that series, there was multiple times it felt like the Pistons were gaining control? Like, I think it's harder for a team, especially A young team to absorb a series loss when there was some legitimate moments where they thought they could win it. And, and, and the, the national audience did, too. Right?

[B]

How about that? That Barry Sanders pivot. Is that a fair assessment, Vince? The Barry Sanders pivot that Jalen Brunson put in to get that?

[C]

Not just that. The worst thing was the Tim Hardaway non foul call in game four where Josh Hart filed them. The ref submitted it afterwards after they saw the replay. They won two games at Madison Square Garden. And when you take two games on the road, you're feeling like, okay, you feel like you're the better team and you don't win a game at home. When you don't win a game at home in the series, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, especially if you felt like you gave one away. They gave away game six.

[B]

All right. With respect to the Pistons fans, I didn't compute that I forgot it. I know they were probably like, how could you forget that? It was a degree that was not good. That was not good.

[D]

It was a scarring series within, clearly.

[B]

Well, I'm saying, like, it's not up to me. If Jalen says that, he means it.

[D]

Can I also go back to one of Vinnie's earlier points? I think the second fan has a point. The second type of Detroit fan. The, you know, sure, it's fun. And, you know, let's say the Pistons just go to the second or, you know, round or the conference finals this year. Okay. It's just a stepladder. I think the Lions comparison is apt. Didn't Dan Campbell have some, like, famous quote after that?

[B]

Yeah, infamous. I would say it's an infamous quote from this quote.

[D]

Yeah, there you go.

[B]

This we may never get back again, right?

[D]

Jason Tatum and Tyrese Halliburton will be back next year. And again, I'm not saying the Pistons won't have more opportunities, but this is a prime one. And Kevin Herder was their big deadline acquisition. I think I saw him enter the game in like, the fourth quarter for the first time.

[B]

Well, he was a deadline acquisition. I wouldn't say he was a big deadline.

[D]

Well, I'm saying, wasn't he their biggest one?

[C]

He was there all the time. I think. Yeah, I, I think I'm with you, Slater. Not on this year being the only opportunity, but you need to make moves to keep up with what everybody has coming back. Don't forget the Pacers are going to have a lottery pick. Who knows if that lottery pick is going to play early, but it's a very good draft. It could be a top five pick like Boston's going to be back. The Knicks aren't necessarily going anywhere. I think the Eastern Conference as a whole is a force to be reckoned with. So you don't make a move necessarily now just to try to get to the finals. But maybe you make a move because you realize what's on the Horiz and you have to make sure that, you know, with Assar Thompson and Ron Holland and all these guys who are developing that you have another guy that. So that K. Cunningham is not by himself as the only guy that can create or make a shot.

[B]

Well, look, I have been saying on TV this week because the Pistons obviously had a couple of big games already and they, by the way, they go on a road trip where they go to San Antonio and to Cleveland next week. So we're going to be talking about him a bit here. But I've been saying on TV this week that they remind me of the finish your breakfast thunder from two years ago. So that was a team won 57 games. You know, there was calls during the year to upgrade their roster. They didn't do it. They. They ended up trading for Gordon Hayward. But that was sort of a cap move. It didn't work out. But they obviously, they didn't get out the second round. They, they lost to Denver in the second round. They.

[D]

No, Dallas. Dallas. I covered that series. I covered that series. Another series that really could have flipped either way. They went up 3, 2 in it. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Well, they, they, they had, they, they laid an egg in, in that one home game. Was that game five.

[D]

They just played game five. They had a chance. They were favoriting game five. And then game six is Shay. Remember the foul? Shay in the corner. He fouls P.J. washington. It was like this. He was despondent about the foul post game. Anyway, that was a scarring series.

[C]

Young teams have to learn.

[B]

So. But then they went out and they got, they traded for Alex Caruso and they signed Isaiah Hardenstein and they pulled up the trophy and like, it doesn't, it's not a guarantee. But the Thunder had their reasons for finishing their breakfast, as it were. I don't, you know, I don't know. The Piston I get. I made a joke that they were maybe on brunch, but, you know, it sounds to me like those dudes are ready for dinner. So I just don't know if organizationally they are.

[D]

Let me ask you. And I don't know if this trade would have been available at the deadline. But let's say instead of flipping Josh Giddy for Alex Caruso that summer, instead you rewind a few months and they flip Josh Giddy for Alex Caruso at the deadline. And you had Alex Caruso in that playoff series where Josh Giddey for, for all of, you know, bonuses, positives that he's, you know, added to the Bulls in that Dallas Maverick series. Go look at the plus minus. I mean, like by the end they have.

[B]

That's why they call hindsight 20 20.

[D]

Well, I guess my point is as we go back to these Pistons, like,

[B]

right, you're saying if they had done it then maybe they won the championship two years ago.

[D]

Maybe they win that series and to the point of like, maybe the, you know, you can speed up your, you can attempt to speed up your timeline. I don't even know if I'm arguing for it. I don't know what was available to the Pistons. You could make a rash, bad move also.

[C]

But here's my belief, guys, and I want to see where you stand with me on this. And I'm a big history guy, so let me go into crates for a second. Slater, I know you know I'm old even though black don't crack, right?

[D]

Senior writer.

[C]

There we go.

[B]

That's right.

[C]

There has never been, unless you add LeBron James or Kevin Garnett, there has never been a team. And Wendy, correct me if I'm wrong, that goes from not winning a playoff series from the year before to going all the way to the NBA Finals, short of the Orlando Magic in 1995.

[B]

That's it, that's it.

[D]

That's it.

[C]

You gotta have some real playoff pain.

[B]

Which is why I think it's, you know, I can't remember if it was McMahon or Bontemps. They said, yeah, they had Shaq and maybe the spurs. Maybe that's Wemby and that's, you know, maybe that's, you know, maybe that's the outlier.

[D]

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[B]

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[E]

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[B]

But I will say this. So I think what you're talking about with the bigs is I think the battle of the bigs will be huge in this game and in this series. You know, you mentioned Jared Allen. Let me give you Jared Allen's January numbers and his February numbers because they sort of. Not that the month matters, but in this particular case, it does make a difference. So in January, Jared Allen played 30 minutes a game. So I just want to be clear that the numbers are going to be same because he also played 29 minutes a game in February, averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, good numbers, shot 60% from the field. He's always shot that high. 15% usage rate, good. You know, fine. In February, two things happened. One, Evan Mobley got hurt. He missed a couple of weeks. And two, James Harden got traded there. Now, Harden's only played in seven of these 10 games, but they'll affect it. So in the 10 games in February, 22 points again, 12 to 22, 12 rebounds. So same same minutes, 22 points, 12 rebounds up from 12 and 8, 73% from the field because Harden is getting him the ball at the rim. And the usage rate from 15 to 23. So this is a big topic of conversation in Cleveland. Every time I do Cleveland stuff, Vince, they're like, jared Allen, Jared Allen, Jared Allen, Jared Allen. And I have to say, like, I have to admit, like, this is a pretty significant, you know, move here. I just say, listen, don't talk to me about Jared Allen and Evan Mobley until we get to the playoffs, because Evan Mobley's value in matchups, defensively in the. In the playoffs is going to be magnified. So don't. Don't pull up the spreadsheet and start talking to me about what Evan's shooting from.3. Having said that, like, you know, if this Jared Allen thing is real, you better show it to me against Jalen Duran. And Jalen Duran's going to know about this.

[D]

How about his numbers lately?

[B]

Well, Jalen Durham's numbers last night were pretty Damn good.

[D]

What, 29, 16, something like that?

[C]

Incredible. Incredible.

[B]

29, 13 assists.

[D]

Yeah, I mean, we're skipping over Harden a little bit. That's one of probably the major storyline going into tomorrow. If he does attempt to play, he's Going to play.

[B]

He broke his. The tip of his right thumb. It's not displaced. They showed it to a hand specialist. I, you know, I was told he would have played last night if the Cavs weren't in punt formation because it's a fifth game in seven nights. He wants to play now. I don't know how it's going to feel when he's, you know, it's his right hand on his left.

[D]

Let me just tell you right now, he is officially listed as questionable because it is now 5pm Eastern on the East Coast. So.

[B]

Okay.

[D]

Injury reports come out, he's questionable.

[B]

Okay. I don't know. Maybe he won't play. I think he's going to play, but I don't know.

[D]

Mitchell out right. Groin strain.

[B]

Oh, really?

[D]

Oh, that's what I'm reading right now.

[B]

That's breaking news.

[D]

So Womp, Womp, cut this whole part

[B]

of the podcast out.

[D]

Yeah, well, they play again in two. Two games.

[B]

Yeah.

[D]

And I bet. I mean, if Donovan Mitchell's not playing, I guess my general point on the. Because at least we're having bigger picture conversations about these teams, not just what's going to happen tomorrow night, but shouldn't Harden just rest right now? Like, I understand that the Cavaliers want to gain a rhythm and there's still some standings jostling, but if he can just rest. And from what I gather, it's only like a two, three week type injury. Like, don't you want this not lingering?

[B]

So Jeff Stott. So Jeff Stott's in street clothes. He came out with. He said that the average missed games for players with this, you know, fingertip injury. Although I would have to assume that it would really depend on the finger. Right. Like, if you. If you break your pinky finger and the thumb would seem like the most important finger. Right. Um, maybe if you're shooting your middle finger. If it was your shooting hand, your middle finger would be an issue. But he said it's an average of six games that his. That's what his database shows. So this is not like just necessarily. Just tape it up for everybody.

[D]

Well, that's. I guess my point is, I understand he, like, wants to probably show toughness to his new team. Right. And, you know, get some wins, get some rhythm under their belt, but they're not in some dire situation. Like, they could go into the playoffs with the four, whatever. And you'd probably feel comfortable. Like, I, I don't know if pushing it risks either lingering or re. Injury or whatever, but I'm just surprised how Quickly. He is trying to get back, from

[C]

what I've heard, he's going to see a specialist to see if playing on it will be. Will make it worse. And that to me says, I want to play. I just need to make sure that I'm not doing further damage to it, which means he's going to play. Like, there's a lot of things that people can say about James Harden and a lot of things will be true. The one thing that you can't really say is that he doesn't play. Like, you can wonder if he shows up, but he plays like, remember that series Wendy and Slater, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucs. And he had, what was it? A hamstring that was really bad.

[B]

Second degree, supposedly. Yeah.

[C]

And Kyrie was already out with the ankle that he sprained in game three, I want to say when Giannis got him a little bit. And as opposed to leaving Kevin Durant all by himself, Harden strapped it up and went out there. Now, granted, different situation, it's the playoffs, it was a dire situation. But Harden shows that he plays and even when he ain't in shape, he plays. So he probably feels like Donovan's out. I'm not going to maybe I'm not going to leave these guys out. I'm left handed. This is a right hand injury. He can rationalize this whole thing.

[B]

And that's one of the things that Kevin Durant said. I mean, I talked about this before, but, you know, obviously that was the toe series where Durant's toes on the line. So it's a two, so they go to overtime, not a three, and they win the series. And a lot of people felt that, you know, if the Nets, if he had been a step back and he'd hit the three, that the Nets could have won the title that year because the Bucs, you know, won the title. But. And Durant was like, you guys know that like Harden could barely run, right? Like, he's like, you give us eight more playoff games.

[C]

The Atlanta Hawks would have won the title that year. That's how Legit or Chris Paul would have got his title.

[D]

Phoenix Suns. The Phoenix Suns and dominating deandre Ayton, probably.

[C]

There we go. There we go.

[B]

Phoenix was on the way.

[D]

I covered that series.

[B]

How about that feature that our boy Dave McMenamin wrote about DeAndre Ayton that came out today. There's a lot of interesting stuff in there, but I like that they, that the training staff puts DA's crunk juice. They write that on the side of his. His water Bottle.

[D]

Do y' all remember, like, that was a really good playoff run by deandre Ayton? He, like, played Jokic really well.

[B]

I was convinced that that Suns team was going to win the title that year. The next year, convinced they were going to win the title. I thought that team had. I was in Phoenix so often, like, well, the first year was a Covid year, but I was in Phoenix so often the next year that I had to. I've said I had to file taxes in Arizona, and I felt that that team had everything that you needed to

[D]

win the whole thing, including a dominant rising center. He really was that after that playoff run, you felt. I mean, look, go look at his numbers.

[B]

Supposedly the word. You know, the, the. The lore is that the whole team caught Covid, and I think they caught Luka, but, you know, the whole team cut. That's what people say. Anyway, speaking of Durant to pivot here, Vince, you had an interesting story that came out last week. I've been sort of saving it to. For you to come out here. You did an interview with Durant talking about Team USA in 28, where he declared he'd like to play number one. He declared some other things, but wonder if you'd tell us about that interview.

[C]

Well, it's funny because the timing of it, and for those who don't know, we pulled behind the curtain. These features are planned to be released weeks, if not months in advance. So someone put in my mentions. Kevin Durant's only saying this because he's got the burner controversy. Hey, y'.

[D]

All.

[C]

Kevin Durant did this interview with me in January in Detroit, like, literally, like maybe the second to last week in January, where he talked about wanting to play, and he talked about the disparity and the narratives between the American players and international players, all that type of stuff. So let's get that out the way. The thing that struck me, though, Wendy, was the passion in which he said, of course I want to play. Like, why wouldn't I want to play? I don't get this last dance stuff that you guys are talking about. I never said I wasn't going to play. And I think there's a part of him that a wants to be around these young guys and sort of be the bridge, because this is going to look like a completely different ball club in 28. He could wind up being one of maybe three holdovers. Wendy, should you say, like, Jayson Tatum will be there, Ant will be there. Maybe Devin Booker will be there. Maybe like four or five guys.

[B]

Devin Booker Played a brilliant role. I would say that. I mean, we'll talk about the roster in a minute. I want you to.

[D]

Was like glowing about Devin Booker.

[B]

I'll talk to you about the interview. After you talk about the interview, I'll talk.

[D]

Can I say one more other thing? Because Kevin Durant mentioned it. Like Steph Curry, I would be stunned if he plays. He's already said he's highly doubtful. He's just. I think he checked that resume box and he's not feeling quite the way that Katie is, but go ahead.

[C]

No, I think Stephen Curry is going to retire after next year. That's a whole. That's a story for another day.

[D]

That's a take. I'm not quite there, but I don't think he'll be in the 2028 side.

[B]

I always pull these off to the side here. I saw. I went with my son's basketball team to see the Goat movie last weekend. Steph Curry's movie. I don't know. He's a zicked producer. I don't know if it's his movie,

[D]

but he's heavily involved.

[B]

Awesome.

[D]

Yeah, that's what I've heard. Although Wendy loves all of Steph's side projects. The DeChambeau. That is like one of the top five sporting events.

[B]

Listen, like, with all due respect to Space Jam 2,

[D]

wow.

[B]

Goat is the goat. That's all I'm gonna say.

[C]

Blue.

[B]

Blue.

[C]

No, back to kd, he was. It's funny, he told me that he plays GM sometimes with the roster and says who he wants to play with. Not like I'm picking the players, but just who's going to be on his roster. And he said, hey, you know, I've called Grant Hill and made suggestions and stuff like that. So I think it's going to be like, when you look at the pool, it's probably easily. Wendy, a pool about 20 guys that have a real case to go. And this is just the younger guys, like the Jalen Williams, the Chet Holmgren, the Evan Mobley's. Like, you have to. And for once, I think the US Is in this position where they have to carefully construct their roster based on the competition. And I don't just mean getting Joel Embiid to guard Nikola Jokic. I mean, you legitimately have to compile a roster that has to contend with what France is going to do or more or less contend with what Big Slim is going to do. And that's a position that for all iterations of USA Basketball. Wendy, since. Since USA Basketball has become to be the thing that we know it as post 1992. They've never been in this position where we can't just trot out the best nine and then three or maybe the best 12 altogether. We have to carefully construct the roster because we have to contend with a player for which there is no answer.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, so a few things. So first off, Kevin Durant is the greatest Olympian in the history of the sport, and he has a red carpet to play however long he wants to play. He, you know, that is, you know, obviously, he has to state his intention to want to play, but that is not an issue. He absolutely, you know, it's only memory, you know, the Tokyo Olympic Games, nobody seems to ever talk about them. I agree. It didn't have the drama of the Paris Games. Durant was still kind of getting back from the Achilles and was absolutely a killer, brought the US that gold medal, period. So I just want to say that. So the thing about the way that the Team USA structures their team and Durant was funny on this. I can't remember if he said this in the documentary or if he gave another interview, but Durant, you know, he talked about the Europeans to you, Vince, what did he say to you? I don't want to misremember. I want to know.

[C]

No, no, no. He basically just talked about. He was, like, defending AAU culture. And his whole thing is, I don't like the narrative that says everything that Europeans do is right, everything the Americans do is wrong. AAU culture, this. Da, da, da, da, da. He said, France is coming for us. We smack them, boys. That was exactly the phrase. And as I'm holding my recorder, I'm like, jesus, this is gold. I don't mean gold medal. This is gold. And it's took a turn, Wendy. It took a turn into racial convers. Not racial conversation in terms of weird, but it took a turn. That. That pool quote has been a linchpin for conversation about, well, what did he mean by this? And it's black Americans, and it's an All Star Game. And it's been a bunch of different. Different stuff that's happened since the story is dropped a couple days ago.

[B]

It ain't an All Star Game. They got to play hard to win. But that's not here nor there. I love Durant's trash talk during the Olympic stuff because so often it's great. And like I said, he's got an untouchable resume. Like, people can, like, criticize or talk about the warriors years or whatever. That gets my back up but forget about all that. Durant's resume in Olympic basketball is pristine, but he has great smack talk. So this was happening before, as is an old trope, The Europeans, they talk about how they've got all this culture together because they've played since they were kids, blah, blah, blah. And that's all true. That's real stuff. And Durant was like, how that could. I don't know. This is an exact quote. But before the. The Olympics last year, he's like, that's all great. How is it going to help you guard Steph? How's culture? How's camaraderie going to help you guard Steph? And that's. That is like, what the Europeans are saying is right, but what he said is right, too. And, you know, at the end of the day, Steph is throwing shots in from all over the freaking arena in Paris. And what are they going to do? Like, the French are just. What are they going to do? So. And what was the thing that he said when they. I think it was when they won the semifinals, somebody said it was at the end that NBA basketball, I think it was Schroeder, right, said it was about entertainment. And I don't remember, man, I wish I'm botching this, but he. Schroeder said something about, like, NBA players or about entertainment. And then Durant, like, put something on. IG said, you know, entertaining, great. I don't. I botched it. But, like, Durant talked smack to Schroeder about that. And. And the thing about it is, like, I go to these European press conferences, and, you know, like, what they say is true, like, when they talk about the European style of basketball and, like, the way they play, like, in a vacuum, like, it is correct. Like, they play sort of a more correct, cohesive style of basketball than the Americans do. And, like, it's like, the thing. Like, what are you going to do? Like, you know, what are you going to do when you go up against a guy who's just better than you? Like, your technique can be better, but the other dude's going to bust you. And, like, Durant, like, believes in that. He's a baller, and he does it, and he's done it over and over. And it's true, and I think it's funny. But the way the Americans play in the Olympics, this is their strategy. I know I'm not breaking any ground, but sometimes it's helpful to make it reductive. They can't replicate the European teams, specifically. They can't replicate their Precision and the way they play within a system, that they've played within a system for years, and that they can just fall into that. They can't replicate that chemistry. But what Americans can do, quite frankly, that no other team in the world has demonstrated they can do is they can defend. Nobody has the athleticism that the Americans have where they can defend with that athleticism. And so it is Team USA's strategy and has been for decades. To have 10 or 11 guys that you play the 12th is a little bit hard. With apologies to Mr. Tatum in 24. Tatum was an important member in 21, will probably be a vital member in 28. But, you know, with 10 or 11 guys and you play to exhaustion on defense. And then when those five hall of Famers get whistled out, here comes five more hall of Famers who will play to their, to their exhaustion on defense. And you've got Anthony Davis coming off the bench swatting four or five shots like he did in the gold medal game. That's basically the U.S. strategy. And so they want athletes who defend. Yes, you need to have big guards. That was the thing that the US Learned before that, you know, there's a lot of big guards in Europe. They're not always fast, but they're usually bigger. Yes, you got to have three point shooting because the three point line is a little bit closer. And you know, the Europeans are going to, you know, try to play the mathematics game with you. That's all true. But the system that the US has developed is you got to have defenders, athletic defenders.

[C]

So, Wendy, two things. The Kevin Durant, Dennis Schroeder quote. Dennis Schroeder said it's no entertainment, straight IQ basketball, straight coaching. He's saying that's what European basketball is. KD tweeted. KD got on Twitter, of course, his favorite pastime and said entertainment and iq.

[B]

And iq, Right. They just don't have. The European teams got seven footers who can shoot threes and will come in there and put their backside in your, in your face and shove you out of the way. But they can't. They don't got Aunt Edwards. They don't got Aunt Edwards is, you know, running around out there. They just don't have them, obviously, like

[D]

the top five in the mvp. You know, the last couple years has been all international, right? Shea, Yokich, Giannis, Luca, and then Wimby's rising into it. So I think there's too much of this fear that it's like all these international superstars rising and where is America? Looking like. Look at these last two drafts, the one that just happened where. Who are the top three rookies this year? Cooper, Flag, Concord, Apple, and Harper. You'd say all American. And then this. This draft that everybody's glowing about coming up, it's like, go look at, like, the mocks of the lottery. I think, like, the top 10, basically, are all USA.

[B]

All right, well, so let's talk about. Let's talk about the 28 Olympics real quick here.

[D]

So that's probably more of a 2032 thing, but I'm just saying there's a. There is a talent pipeline that is still happening in America.

[C]

Maybe not more hoop collective podcast after this.

[B]

So here's the thing. The way you qualify for the Olympics, it is. It is hard to qualify for the Olympics. Only 12 teams make it. Like 32 or 36 teams make the World Cup. 12 teams make the Olympics. Only two teams from the Americas typically make the Olympics. Okay, there's a way to get wild cards, but, you know, like, trying to think who got in with wild cards last time. But anyway, it's not easy. And the way. The way that you do that is through the World cup, you have to be one of the top two finishers from the Americas in the World Cup. Now, in the past, you know, you've been fighting with Argentina and Brazil, they're down a little bit. But now, you know, Canada, you know, Canada's right there, you know, and Puerto Rico has made the Olympics before and stuff like that. So the World cup, you got to have a good team, typically for the World Cup. And the US Quite frankly, has gotten into the last two Olympics by the skin of their teeth at the World cup because they haven't meddled, Neither of them. Okay? And so what I will just say is that a big factor in this cycle is that the US does not have to qualify, because as the host nation, they're in. In fact, France did not qualify at the World cup in 23. In the Philippines, they got in. I mean, they could have gotten in through a wild card, but they got in because their host status, it was Serbia and Germany that got the European bids. Now, so that is a factor. And so what is going to be interesting is the World cup in 27. It's next year. Do you know where it is, Vince?

[C]

I do not.

[D]

Qatar.

[B]

Do you know where it is, Slater?

[C]

Oh, it's Qatar. It is Qatar.

[B]

It's in Doha. Now, the World cup is in August in Doha, and like I said, the Americans do not have to qualify. Okay? And Grant Hill has said he's not going to make playing for the World cup team a prerequisite to play for the Olympic team. So it's going to be a bit of a call to arms for the US Guys, like, you know, Grant Hill is going to say, who wants to come with us to the World cup, which the Americans haven't won since 2014 and have not meddled the last two times. And, you know, by the way, it's going to be in the Middle east in the summer, and it doesn't matter whether we win or not or, you know, get in or, you know, it doesn't matter whether we finish dead last. We're in the Olympics. That's going to be a call to arms of who really wants to play. And if you're a young guy. So, like, you know, there's certain guys who have legacy, obviously, Durant, you know, Anne Edwards, Jason Tatum. Booker was so good playing the role that he needed to play in Tokyo or in Paris, that I would. If he's healthy, there's no. If he wants to play, there's no way I see him not being on the roster. Bam Adebayo has been on the last two teams and is so valuable because he can defend multiple positions.

[D]

Eric Spoilsher is the head coach, obviously.

[B]

That's true. You know, he jumped me, Vince, in. In. In Paris.

[C]

Really?

[B]

I was. I was talking on tv, and I've done stuff with Bam in the past, but I've talked about this before, but I was. I was talking, you know, Tatum was obviously not playing. I was trying to figure out. I was explaining on tv, you know, like, if, you know, I don't see how Tatum is going to play unless, like, somebody else doesn't play. And I was like, you know, maybe like, Bam at a bio. So I said that on American tv, and. And the next day we were in Paris, or actually we were in Lille, France, and Bam was like, really? I'm not gonna play. I defend one through five, bro. I was like, hey, you're right. And guess what? He played.

[C]

Tatum didn't count me among the people that do not believe that Steve Kerr handled that wrong.

[B]

Well, that's another story for another day, and I'm not going to get into that today. So, you know, there's some guys who have, you know, cornerstone spots. But look, there's two things I'm going to say. One, if you want to prove yourself to Grant Hill and Eric Spoelstra, you're gonna go to Qatar next summer and say, all right, I'll Go to where it's 115 degrees and I'll try to win the medal. And so you got young guys, Jalen Duran, Chet Holmgren, you know, those are guys who, you know are going to be needed against the bigs from Europe, Victor et al. And I'll throw, you guys know, I talk up Khan Knoppel, like, I'm not saying he'd be on the 28 team.

[C]

He could be.

[B]

His three point shooting could be very valuable. And Cooper Flag, Cooper flag could make 28 because.

[C]

Oh, I definitely think he's going to be on 28 definitely too.

[B]

Especially you got to have defense. Yes.

[D]

Also just like, you know, he's name recognition and all and he's in the past, he was on the select team. Right. And that was like his coming out.

[C]

That's when he opened eyes. Yeah.

[B]

Like, I wish I could tell you that the stories about Nike, you know, Nike guys, like if it's 50, 50 Nike or it's. Even if it's 60, 40 Nike guys getting it. There's just a lot of evidence that if you're with Nike, because Nike is one of Team USA's main sponsors and has been for decades. Cooper Flag's not Nike.

[D]

New Balance. Is that right?

[B]

Yeah. But, you know, that doesn't mean he won't earn his way on the team. But I'm just saying, like, if you're a young guy and you want to, you know, make sure that you get on the team, especially if you're not with Nike, playing in guitar will be a factor. But yeah, they're going to need people to deal with Victor because with all due respect to what Durant says, and like, here's the thing, when Durant talks smack about, like, the Europeans when it comes to international basketball, he is on solid ground because, you know, his, his resume is just, you know, is just amazing. Having said that, he was on the team that lost to the French in Tokyo. He fell out of that game, which was a big factor, but, you know, not when it mattered. When it mattered. He delivered. So that'll be interesting. All right, one more big game that we have on Friday. God, I'm afraid about the injury report on this one is the. The Nuggets are playing at the Thunder. The Denver got a much needed win over the Celtics at home on Wednesday night. Guys, Jokic just doesn't look right to me. He missed 17 shots in that game. He doesn't miss 17 shots in five games sometimes.

[D]

What are they saying about this wrist? I know you've talked about it A couple times.

[B]

It's just, you know, it's not bad enough to keep him out, but, you know, his. He. He did only have one turnover in that game. His previous, like nine games, he was

[D]

averaging five turnovers, which is very rare for him.

[B]

So let me give you Jokic's splits. So he missed all of January. I'm going to give you Jokic his numbers.

[D]

Shooting, splits or points, rebounds.

[B]

I'm going to give you just like I did with Jared Allen. Okay? So in December, before he got hurt, played 34 minutes. He's played 34 minutes this month, too. So it's flat. Just so you know, 31 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 57% overall, 41% on threes, 85% at the line. And let's see, he had 45 turnovers in 13 games. Let me do the math on that.

[C]

That's a little over three three.

[B]

A little over three a game. All right. In February, which is since he's come back, he's played 10 games, 34 minutes, like I said, 26 points. So scoring six points less at five points less still. Rebounds are still great. 14 rebounds, assists, two less a game, nine assists. So his numbers are crazy, right? 2612 and 2614 and nine. So still great. Field goal percentage from 57 to 48. Three point percentage from 41 to 33. Okay. Free throw percentage from 85 to 78, obviously 78, still good. But he's missing free throws. He's missing free throws more than. He has turnovers from three a game to almost five a game.

[D]

I had an odd viewing experience with him the Sunday afternoon that went. They played the Warriors. Nobody on the Warriors. You know, the warriors four man guys were all out, including Draymond Green, like at tip off, was scratched with a back issue. And it, you know, and I get that. That's con. You know, David Adelman says post game is confusing when suddenly Draymond Green in the starting lineup becomes Al Horford, who's a stretch center. They stretch him out. But the warriors picked on Jokic in the first quarter. And I. It was third and four nights and it was an afternoon game, so I can understand some level of fatigue. But like, he was a defensive problem. I mean, you're mentioning the numbers. I just think defensively he's looked a little slower and a little bit more disengaged lately. And Al Horford hit like three first quarter threes, hit six threes overall just because, like Jokic kept straying too far off of him. And then. So that was bad in the first quarter. And then in the fourth quarter when he comes back in with six minutes left, he's like a minus 11. The rest of the game does very little. So post game, the conversation is about, you know, the risk that you're mentioning, his struggle with reintegrating and some of this rhythm stuff. But then you look at the box score, 35, 20 and 12, and you're like, you know, again, I agree with you. I'm like, it doesn't seem like a good Jokic game. And it felt like he, you know, he was at times a negative impact for them. But also like, I don't. What the guy had 35, 20 and 12 dominated the middle quarters.

[B]

Yeah, I'm not saying he stinks. I'm just saying, like, you know, he's. I just think this injury is still bothering him.

[D]

I agree with you. And I. What I would ask because, you know, having actually watched it and he has, he can only miss one more game to qualify. Like, he can't miss two games or else he'll. He'll be disqualified for MVP and all, NBA and all that. I mean, do you think there's anything to do with that? Like, would it. Would it be wise if he maybe sat for a week or two? But, you know, and how much is that factoring in?

[B]

I don't know, now that I've said this. He'll probably have 56, 19, and 12 in the next three games.

[C]

No, it's. But, but you. But you said it. He's human.

[D]

He does that anyways. And it's just about. Is he impacting the game Anyway, so go ahead.

[C]

My general thing with him is not necessarily right now. I think of the last two times I've seen him around elimination games in the second round in a Game seven, you know, against the team that's sort of geared to stop him. You know, the year before it was Rudy Gobert and Carl Townsend. Carl Townsend did a remarkable job on him in game seven on the road. Denver being up 20 to the Nuggets, running out of gas in Minnesota, catching them last year. Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City. Putting Alex Caruso on him and just junking up the defense and everything else. My general thing is maybe this month off is good for him so that he's not worn down by then, because remember the Nuggets? I forgot what year it was. They pushed themselves to the limit to get to the finish line, to get to the top seed in the west, and it wound up biting them. Maybe that was two years ago when they lost to Minnesota. So I wonder with all the injuries that they've had and maybe it's something to it. Slater, where, you know, MVP is coming up and he, he wants to be considered and everything else and the in the numbers and the win shares say that he's still the best player in the game. But I wonder if playing through this is a positive as much as, okay, he missed a month, he missed 10 or 12 games or whatever it is, and he still needs to be fresh down the stretch. In addition to Gordon and Peyton Watson and Christian Brown and all those guys. Those guys haven't played together at all, I think since December1. Wendy. I don't think their starting five has played tog one game together.

[B]

They've played 10 games the whole season and they're eight and two. They're starting their opening night. I don't even know if they started an opening night. But their, their core five has played

[C]

10 games and I don't think they played a game together either since December or January as a whole.

[B]

That sounds right. Well, it wasn't January because Jokic didn't play in January. He played one game in January. So yeah, I think right as Jokic came back, Watson like went out. Gordon and Watson went out like the next two games.

[D]

Yeah, they did. He'll hold the Celtics to 82 points and beat them in Denver yesterday. So that's worth mentioning.

[B]

Before we go, are you guys excited about the Atlanta Hawks newest promotion?

[C]

I feel like I'm the only person either either I'm the only person qualified to talk about this or I'm the one person who's unique qualified to not talk about this.

[B]

The people from the people that brought you swipe right night. Atlanta Hawks bring you Magic City Night, which they're playing the magic on.

[D]

It accomplished what it was intended to. It got people talking. I'm sure it's going to generate more money for them that night. So.

[B]

Sure, you're right.

[D]

Probably.

[C]

Bring your singles.

[D]

The entire city of Atlanta and all their employees across Atlanta and the arena workers and players and yes, correct.

[C]

Come with your clear heels and you get in for half off.

[B]

These are rejected taglines that, that, that Vince is bringing up. All right, thanks, boys. Thank you to Jackson, Mark and Devon, our producers. Thank you to Vince and Slater. Thanks for watching and listening to who Collective for another week of glorious content here on the Internet. So we'll talk to you next week.