Shocking Upsets Change Playoff Seeding + An Interesting Message From Giannis

Summary

Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective

Episode: Shocking Upsets Change Playoff Seeding + An Interesting Message From Giannis

Date: April 13, 2026
Host: Brian Windhorst (with Tim Bontemps, Tim McMahon, Wayne Ellington)
Podcast Focus: In-depth NBA reporting, playoff implications, lottery odds, and a candid sit-down with Giannis Antetokounmpo

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the wild final day of the NBA regular season, where surprising upsets and strategic maneuvering dramatically altered the playoff seeding and upcoming play-in matchups. The hosts dissect controversial coaching decisions, the knock-on effects in both Eastern and Western Conference playoff pictures, and what various outcomes mean for contenders and fringe teams. They also unpack the lottery landscape post-tanking season and break significant news from Milwaukee following the Bucks' elimination—including Giannis's ambiguous offseason messaging.

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Key Topics and Insights

1. The Game of Ducking Seeds: Denver, San Antonio, and the West Shuffle

- Denver Nuggets' Approach to Final Games

• The Nuggets rested key players (Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson, Christian Braun) under the official line of "health," though the hosts agree this was likely strategic to avoid Minnesota in the first round (02:54).
  • Quote [03:08, Tim McMahon]: "Let's call a spade a spade. That's what they were trying to do."
  • The Nuggets did play Jokic enough to hit his 65-game milestone for All-NBA qualification.

- The Twist: Did Denver Succeed?

• Despite their strategy, results out of their control meant Denver did NOT avoid Minnesota; instead, they ended up with a more challenging path (04:13).
  • Spurs (without Wembanyama, who sat with a "rib contusion" after dropping 40 on Friday) failed in a must-win scenario, despite going all out with available healthy players (05:17).

- Consequences for San Antonio and OKC

• Significant implications: Now the Spurs must likely beat Denver AND Oklahoma City to reach the Finals, a much harder road than anticipated.
  • Quote [07:23, Tim McMahon]: "That doesn't mean their season's over... But it unquestionably made their path through the playoffs dramatically harder by not being able to get this win."
• OKC Thunder become major winners; their bracket now avoids both Denver and San Antonio until later rounds, making their path much easier (07:59).

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2. Wild Eastern Conference: The Magic Collapse & Play-In Chaos

- Orlando's Meltdown Against the Celtics' C-Team

• Orlando needed a win in Boston to secure home-court advantage in the play-in. Boston, resting its top 8, gave the Magic what should have been a “gimme” [09:39].
• Desmond Bane started just to notch his 82nd start then sat for most until a disastrous third quarter forced the coaching staff to panic and sub him back (12:12).
  • Quote [10:47, Wayne Ellington]: "That's wild. Honestly. That's crazy."
  • Boston's bench, led by Baylor Scheireman (37 pts, 7 reb) and Luka Garza (27 pts, 12 reb), stormed back on a 30-8 run, flipping the game and crowd (11:26).

- Final Moments & Aftermath

• Orlando staged a late rally but lost on a wild Luka Garza turnaround three (13:37).
  • Stat Note [14:04, Tim McMahon]: "First game in NBA history where three guys had their career high in the same game, all of at least 27 points."
• Result: Philly now hosts the 7-8 play-in game, a significant advantage especially with Embiid’s injury woes (15:34).

- Embiid Update

• Tim Bontemps shares from the arena: No clear timeline for Embiid post-appendectomy, but Philly now must win at least one game to extend their season (15:34-16:39).
  • Quote [15:39, Tim McMahon]: "They haven't officially set any kind of timeline... this is obviously not a sprained ankle."

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3. Play-In and Playoff Schedule Analysis

• The hosts break down the full play-in slate, including Miami at Charlotte, Orlando at Philly, Portland's climb to the 8-seed out West, and marquee matchups like Warriors-Clippers (18:07–24:05).
• Deep dive into times/dates for Game 1s, with analysis about key advantages and “soft spots” for teams (24:05–35:19).
• Notable mention: Portland's home game and the Nike Employee Store lore (36:22), plus McMahon's playoff wardrobe and shoe strategy—lighter banter, but insight into NBA reporting culture.

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4. Lottery Landscape and Tank Standings

• Rapid-fire breakdown of tanking outcomes:
  • Washington, Indiana, Brooklyn own the 3 worst records (14% No. 1 odds each).
  • Utah and Sacramento tied for fourth. Memphis, Dallas, and others occupy key low spots (46:53–53:01).
  • Clips’ pick to OKC could become a lottery gem—a “fitting irony” in a year of dramatic tanking (55:06, Tim McMahon).
• Notable Quote [52:06, Wayne Ellington]: "Talk about a franchise that does not have a clue in the world of what they're trying to do. What a... epic run of front office malpractice by the Pelicans this year."

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5. Giannis Exit Interview & Bucks Uncertainty

- Doc Rivers Era Likely Over

• Doc Rivers refuses to use “retirement”—hosts speculate this is to secure contractual payout (58:04).

- Giannis’s Messaging: Stay or Go?

• Giannis's end-of-season interview is the usual mixture of ambiguity and pointed frustration (58:50–62:13):
  • When asked if he’s played his last game as a Buck: “I don’t know. It’s not up to me.”
  • On a possible extension if he’s on the team in October: refuses to rule it out.
  • Quote [61:22, Tim McMahon]: "He did, in a way, to not answer the question. When I asked him about the extension, he said, how long have you been around the league? ... What would you do if you were me?"

- Panel’s Prescription: It’s Over

• The hosts are united in believing it’s time for Milwaukee and Giannis to move on (62:26):
  • Wayne Ellington: "Get the hell out of Milwaukee. Like, it's time."
  • Tim McMahon draws Kevin Garnett-Minnesota parallels; says the Bucks must begin a rebuild.
• Myles Turner’s disastrous season as a cautionary tale for expensive mediocrity (64:31).

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6. Memorable Quotes & Standout Moments

• On NBA Playoff Gamesmanship:
  "Actions over words, and Occam's Razor as the two things to do on this podcast. Both of them point toward they wanted to avoid playing Minnesota in the first round." – Tim McMahon (03:59)

• On the Magic’s Collapse:
  "Orlando… it's not the Orlando Magic, it's the Orlando misery." – Wayne Ellington (41:54)

• On Play-in Pressure:
  "Whoever loses Wednesday, I think will lose Friday… Miami is going to get another 83. We're all bus city killers." – Tim McMahon & Wayne Ellington (42:01–42:18)

• On Management Malpractice:
  "The Pelicans… just epic run of front office malpractice by the Pelicans this year." – Wayne Ellington (51:52)

• On Giannis/Bucks Divorce: "...Should be celebrated whenever he comes back, but it's time for a fresh start… This reminds me some of the end of Kevin Garnett in Minnesota. Feels very similar. That was another one that dragged out for a couple years and it just… it got messy at the end." – Tim McMahon (64:25)

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Important Timestamps

• [02:54] Nuggets’ strategic DNPs and playoff seeding drama
• [05:40] Spurs’ Wimby benching and lost opportunity
• [09:39] Orlando’s play-in path and Desmond Bane “ceremonial” start
• [11:56] Joe Mazzulla going full tilt for Boston’s bench win
• [13:37] Luka Garza’s dagger and wild Magic/Celtics ending
• [15:34] Impact: Sixers’ advantage for play-in, Embiid update
• [18:07–24:05] Play-in matchups and playoff Game 1 schedule
• [46:53] Deep dive on lottery standings and tanking consequences
• [58:04] Doc Rivers/Bucks’ limbo after elimination
• [58:50] Giannis’s ambiguous future, panel interpretation

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Conclusion & Final Thoughts

This Hoop Collective episode paints a vivid picture of how intentional (and sometimes “accidentally” disastrous) gamesmanship can upend NBA playoff paths—narratives forged as much by front office strategy as by on-court execution.

Notably:

• The Nuggets’ storyline as "unintended victims of their own maneuvering"
• The Magic as the night’s biggest face-plant
• The Thunder and Raptors as silent winners in the race to the postseason

The show concludes by hammering home the Bucks’ existential offseason and Giannis’s “will-he-or-won’t-he” act—leaving listeners ready for intense play-in action and a summer of high-stakes rumors.

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Further Listening

• Stay tuned for ongoing Hoop Collective playoff coverage, especially as Giannis’s story develops and the unpredictable play-in round produces its first heroes (or more heartbreak).

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For fans wanting playoff context and the inside scoop on NBA locker rooms, management motives, and player moods—this episode delivers.

Transcript

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[Brian Windhorst]

Hello and welcome to the Hoop Collective podcast. We talk about the NBA which we're doing on Sunday evening. Joining me from the Xfinity Arena, Xfinity

[Tim McMahon]

Mobile arena, we got it.

[Brian Windhorst]

Where the 76ers closed out the regular season with a victory over the Bucks on Sunday evening is Tim Bonteps.

[Tim McMahon]

I came down here today, fellas, because I knew it was going to be an interesting game or an interesting night here at the arena. And it was for all host of reasons.

[Brian Windhorst]

We'll talk about it. Joining us from Dallas, Texas, where he attended the Bulls playing against the Mavericks in their season finales. I think The Mavericks scored 150 points is Ben McMahon.

[Wayne Ellington]

Howdy. Partners are relocated quickly to get home. I didn't feel like I needed to stick around for all that tankathon, but it's good to see you boys ready for the playoffs. Wait, we got to get playing first.

[Brian Windhorst]

True or false. When Cooper Flag tweaked his ankle and exited the game, you did the same.

[Wayne Ellington]

I waited 10 minutes and 11 seconds later.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay.

[Wayne Ellington]

And by the way, so did a lot of fans join me in exiting at halftime.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, well, there's a couple of. Okay, there were, there were 15 games on Sunday. Most of them were meaningless, but a couple of them were fascinating and meaningful with the, with the seating and specifically two games. Two games where one team really wasn't trying to win for different reasons and one team was highly incentivized to win. And we've seen this type of situation unfortunately play out repeatedly in the NBA over the last few months. But specifically some strategy decisions that absolutely, I don't wanna say blew up on their faces. And I mean, they can deny that they were trying to do it, but let's just start in San Antonio where the Denver Nuggets spent this weekend. I guess they could say that they were worried about health and that they could look at you in the face and say we didn't want any of our players to get hurt. And so therefore Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, who's had injury problems all year and Cam Johnson has injury problems and Christian Brown, like they could swear to you that they were trying to keep them healthy. They did play Nikola Jokic enough minutes to get his 65th game.

[Wayne Ellington]

Correct.

[Brian Windhorst]

But I guess in theory they could say that they were doing it for health reasons.

[Wayne Ellington]

I think the health reasons would be they were concerned about illness because they're sick of seeing the Timberwolves in the playoffs.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, so that.

[Tim McMahon]

Let's call a spade a spade. That's what they were trying to do.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right? I'm just trying to get. I'm just trying to give a disclaimer at the start. But on Friday against Oklahoma City and against Sunday against the spurs, two of the teams that are. That are ahead of them in the Western Conference, the Nuggets pretty much spiked the games and won them both.

[Wayne Ellington]

Well, now, okc, they knew the Thunder had clinched and knew the Thunder, they knew they were playing the OKC Blue. I get that one. This is one where you win, you get the three seed. They decided they didn't really want that three seed. And the only possible explanation would be that they didn't want to see the Timberwolves in the first round because that puts them on sinking A four would have put them on the same side of the bracket as a Thunder.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, again, their explanation could be health, but the logical explanation is that they.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah, we like to do actions over words and Occam's Razor as the two things to do on this podcast. And both of them point toward they wanted to avoid playing Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs. So are they avoiding Minnesota, fellas?

[Wayne Ellington]

Are they.

[Brian Windhorst]

They are not.

[Tim McMahon]

They are not.

[Brian Windhorst]

Now, the Spurs, I would have thought, had tremendous incentive to assist the Nuggets in their mission on Sunday because if the spurs win the game, they push the Nuggets to four, which is what the Nuggets were apparently willing to not resist too much.

[Wayne Ellington]

Is that.

[Brian Windhorst]

Is that fair to say, Wayne?

[Wayne Ellington]

Say it. That is very polite, yes.

[Brian Windhorst]

And that would knock the Lakers into three. And instead of having the spurs, who. Yes, the Nugget a couple of Sorry. Instead of having the Nuggets. And yes, they were one in three against the Nuggets this year. Not everybody played in every game. However, the Nuggets give the spurs problems and the spurs were highly incentivized to win the game. Now, they did not play Victor Wembanyama in the game, it must be said. I suppose if it really, really mattered to them, they would have played Victor at least some.

[Tim McMahon]

I mean, they Played all their guys. They played everybody who was healthy. They played like crap and they lost.

[Brian Windhorst]

Not only that, finish the game with all their guys and they were playing down the stretch of this game like it was. I don't know if I'd say a playoff game, but like it was something

[Tim McMahon]

that the spurs were trying to win the game and couldn't do it.

[Brian Windhorst]

They were picking up full court in the fourth quarter trying to cause turnovers.

[Tim McMahon]

They were trying to. They were trying to win the game and could not do it. And as a result their playoff path is a lot harder than it would have been.

[Wayne Ellington]

I wonder if they regret not playing Wimy. I understand he's got the. The rib contusion, but he played 40 fine on Friday.

[Brian Windhorst]

At 40 points.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, at 40 points in 26 minutes. Granted it was against the Mavericks. My point is the rib wasn't hurting him too bad and he's going to have obviously from now until Saturday or Sunday, whatever it is now until the weekend off. I wonder if they regret not playing Wimby in this one because this is a, this is. It's not a fatal blow, but it's a very damaging blow loss for the spurs because the simple way to put

[Brian Windhorst]

it is I would say potentially damaging. We don't know potentially damaging.

[Tim McMahon]

No, it is. It is damaging their, their playoff path. They had a chance to. Now look, I'm not sure they would have beat. I, I think it would have been likely they would have played Minnesota who was matchup with the Lakers. Minnesota is going would have been favored to beat the Lakers in the for in the first round with all the Lakers injuries. I, I'm not sure they would beat Minnesota in a series but I can promise you that the they would either be. They'd be a significant favorite to beat Minnesota in a series. They might not be favorites to beat Denver at all in a series and Denver's just a way harder opponent. And now they have to not only beat Denver, they still probably have to beat Oklahoma City as well. And the fact of the matter is like yes, they might beat both teams, they might make the finals but the fact of the matter is their path is much harder because they wouldn't. They could not win this game against basically Denver's C team and Nicole Jokic for a half. And I also think this does highlight something I've talked about a lot that this team has not been in pressure situations before and has some real flaws going into this playoff run which I think showed up in this play.

[Brian Windhorst]

If Wembanyama is going to be out, then they're not going to go that far.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes, I understand that, but de' Aaron Fox had a bad game. Stefan Castle had a bad shooting game. Dylan Harper hurt his thumb. I don't think it's a big deal, but he didn't have a great game. Like, this is. This is not. This is a team that's had an unbelievable season, but it's not a perfect team yet.

[Brian Windhorst]

That.

[Tim McMahon]

That's all. And the fact that they played this poorly in this game, like, yeah, it doesn't mean their season's over. They've had an unbelievable season. That doesn't change that. But like Tim said, it is. I definitely would call it a fatal blow, but it unquestionably made their path through the playoffs dramatically harder by not being able to get this win.

[Wayne Ellington]

The Thunder lost by 32 points tonight and were the biggest winner of the night because now the Thunder gets to sit there in the second round and play either a very flawed Rockets team or a wounded Lakers team and kick their feet up on. On their off nights and watch the spurs and Nuggets go at it. So instead of a path that looked like, you know, they look like they're going to have to beat the Nuggets in round two, the spurs in round three, now they only have to deal with one of those teams, and whichever one they get is going to be fresh off what's probably going to be a really tough series. So this was a huge break for. For okc. Not that the Thunder necessarily need it, but it does make their path a lot easier. And for the Spurs. And you know what, though, I'll say this. If you're going to skip the line like the spurs are doing, it's only right that you got to have a tough path. And now they're going to have to beat two championship. Two proven championship teams.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay.

[Wayne Ellington]

And maybe three if it's the Celtics in the Finals.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, we will. There will be a lot to discuss about that in the coming weeks and there'll be many weeks of playoffs. As you guys know, the other game the Orlando Magic came into Sunday, regardless of everything that had happened this season, regardless of their frustrations in the second half where if they won and some things fell their way, they could avoid the play in altogether. They could end up.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, no, no, no, no, no. Let's just move that to the side. The Raptors had to lose to the Nets for that to happen. The Raptors are never losing to the

[Brian Windhorst]

Nets, but that's fine. The point is, they came into Today, not eliminated from the. From the playoffs.

[Tim McMahon]

The point is, they came into today playing the Celtics C team, and if they won the game, they got to host two games to make the playoffs. That. That was what's at stake.

[Brian Windhorst]

They. They started Desmond. The game was in Boston, Okay? The Celtics were benching pretty much all of their principals, including Peyton Pritchard, as

[Tim McMahon]

they sat there at their top eight players.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay? Desmond Bain started this game because it was his 82nd start of the season. He played seven minutes, checked out of the game, and that was it for the first half. He did not start the second half. It was Desmond. Congratulations. In this era where nobody seems to be able to stay healthy, you started all 82. Mikhail Bridges for the second straight year, played a handful of seconds in his 82nd game, you know, to check that box. Fouled, I think 23 seconds into the game. Last year, he fouled six seconds into the game, got the 82nd game. Desmond Bate, you know, the. The Magic were confident enough to win this game that they were not going to play one of their most important players other than a ceremonial few minutes.

[Wayne Ellington]

That's wild. Honestly. That's crazy.

[Tim McMahon]

And then the fourth quarter started.

[Brian Windhorst]

But. But then the Celtics go on a. I think they. I think. Let me see what the. What the third quarter was. Here it is. Then McMahon. I know you were. You were at your game, so you probably don't even know. But when totally went down this game. Boston went on a 30 to 8 run. So in the first half, Orlando was up 9. You know, like, it wasn't. Like they weren't dominant.

[Tim McMahon]

It was a competitive game, but they were leading.

[Brian Windhorst]

Celtics were just hoisting threes. Well, in the third quarter, the three started going in, especially Baylor Scheireman, who had. Who's coming off of Omaha's own, baby. Oh, yeah. Terrific. They love Baylor Shireman and Omaha.

[Wayne Ellington]

Trust me, I thought Baylor was a Waco.

[Tim McMahon]

37. Seven tonight. 37 and seven.

[Brian Windhorst]

What did he have against the Knicks the other night? 25.

[Tim McMahon]

I think he had a ton. He was great in that game, too.

[Brian Windhorst]

So he had six threes in this game. Anyway, McMahon. It's a 30 to eight run. And the Celtics outscore the Magic 42 to 20 in the third quarter. The fans at TD Garden are now 100% engaged in this game. And I want to tell you, so was the Celtics bench. And of course, Joe Missoula is over there eating glass.

[Tim McMahon]

Joe Missoula was coaching this game, like game seven of the finals, when they didn't give him a There was a ch. He tried to call timeout. The challenge, a play with a minute and a half to go, and they didn't give him the timeout. And he was cursing out the refs the entire TV timeout until they came back afterward and showed him back on TV again. It was awesome.

[Brian Windhorst]

And okay. And then guess What? Guess what, McMahon. Dez bane. Go stretch. You didn't get back in here, buddy.

[Tim McMahon]

Listen, I had people texting me. I'm obviously in Philly. I had people texting me because there's a lot of interested people in the Eastern Conference in this game. Is Desmond Bain hurt? Why is he only playing six minutes? What's going on? And I was like, oh, au contraire. Here he comes to start the fourth quarter. And by the way, our guy, Jason Beatty from the Orlando Sentinel, I checked with him. I was like, hey, just to be clear, was. Was this just about the 82 game thing? He confirmed to me, talked to Desmond Bain and to Jamal Mosley after the game. Yep, that was the plan. He was going to play a few minutes and then they had to change things to try to win the game.

[Wayne Ellington]

Sorry, that's awful. With as much as they had at stake. That's. That's embarrassing.

[Brian Windhorst]

McMahon. Paolo is bricking every shot. He's turning the ball over left and right.

[Tim McMahon]

Franz Wagner also checked out of the game with like six minutes to go. He looked miserable. He's coming back from.

[Brian Windhorst]

He.

[Tim McMahon]

I didn't think he was going to come back in the game. He had his head in his hands on the bench. Then he checks back in with a couple minutes to go. I mean, it was. It was unbelievable. The craziest part of this game. So obviously Orlando goes on to blow this game, which made people here very happy. We'll get to that in a second. Orlando makes this crazy comeback from down, like 15. They tie the game with 35 seconds to go. And the game turns on a Luca Garza turnaround three on the wing with 30 seconds to go.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, he was, I think bontemps. Was he. I haven't read any post game coverage, so I'm a little bit in the dark. Was he trying to get a two for one there?

[Tim McMahon]

Yes. They called timeout with like 35 seconds ago and they were very clearly trying to get a shot up because there was like a 8 second differential.

[Brian Windhorst]

It was like McMahon. It was like Luca Garza at Iowa just hoisting, hoisting shots like as the eighth seed in the Big Ten tournament and them just going in.

[Wayne Ellington]

Luca Magic, baby. Luca Magic I believe this was the

[Tim McMahon]

first game in NBA history where three guys had their career high in the same game, all of at least 27 points, which I know is a wild stat. But I say that because Baylor Scheireman had this. I saw it on our air late in the game. Baylor Scheiman had 37 and 7, Luka Garza had 27 and 12 and Ron Harper Jr. Had 27 and 7 in this game. Recently signed to a full deal, ESPN

[Brian Windhorst]

picked up a double header today. We picked up Orlando, Boston and Spurs, Spurs, Nuggets.

[Tim McMahon]

We got the right two games.

[Brian Windhorst]

We certainly did. People were like mocking. I saw people mocking us. And look, I'm not trying to say we always make the right decisions, but if you just watched ESPN after the Masters ended, you had a wonderful evening of entertainment and a great night. So anyway, and with that loss, the

[Tim McMahon]

reason people here were happy so showing up here today, the overwhelming likelihood was that Orlando was going to be the seventh seed, hosting Philly as the eight seed. As long as Philly beat the tanking bucks. Philly did. Philly did beat the tanking Bucks. But because Orlando lost, now the Sixers are hosting the play in game. Though, weirdly, because the Flyers have a game here Tuesday. The 910 game is now on Tuesday and the 78 game is on Wednesday with then the 89 game on Friday. So whoever loses this game on Wednesday is ironically going to be at a disadvantage. But for a Sixers team that obviously has had a rough few days of Joel Embiid not being available for a while after this appendectomy, they got a lot of good news today.

[Brian Windhorst]

What is the outlook for Joel? What mean real quick as quick aside, what. What are people saying there?

[Tim McMahon]

I mean, the outlook is. I mean, you know, he had this surgery. It sounds like everything's going well so far, and I think it's just a question of how long it's going to be before he could be back. I mean, they haven't officially set any kind of timeline. You know, obviously the Sixers have to win one of these two games this week. I think their season comes down to Wednesday night against Orlando. I'm assuming Charlotte is going to win their home game against Miami. And I don't like Phillies chances on a short turnaround against the Buzz City Killers. Even if it's it here in Philadelphia, it's going to be a tough game for them to win. So, you know, they get two days off to get a home game against this just absolutely reeling Orlando team. Like that's a game that Philly can win. And I think if they're going to make the playoffs, that's the game they need to win. And then if they do, the first round takes a long time. There's a lot of gaps in the first round. So I think their hope is that they can get Joel Embiid out there at some point. But you know, this is obviously not a sprained ankle. Like it's, it's just impossible to know what happened.

[Brian Windhorst]

His body was cut open, right?

[Tim McMahon]

It's just, I mean he had abdominal surgery, right? So it's, it's just very hard to know what the timeframe is. Like just nobody really knows right now. Right now they're just trying to extend their season as long as they can and see how they see how they do.

[Wayne Ellington]

I just feel bad for the Magic that they have to play at least two more games because that's a season that just needs to end.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, let's go over the the playoff, the full play in schedule real quick now that those it's all done.

[Wayne Ellington]

More Hoop Collective podcast after this Amazon

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[Brian Windhorst]

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[Tim McMahon]

That's side two things real quick. One, because of the quirk in the bouting this year, because of what we very are all but certainly expect will be a grievance filed by Luka Doncic and his agents over the 65 game rule, we're not going to get the ballots until I think Friday. So Con Canopol is going to get a chance in this 910 game on national TV to have a final.

[Brian Windhorst]

Very very good.

[Tim McMahon]

Have a final, have a final sales pitch to voters on Rookie of the Year even if it doesn't count.

[Brian Windhorst]

Bontemps A rare good point from Bon Temps. Rare insight.

[Wayne Ellington]

Technically though it's not supposed to count.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well technically the game is not doesn't get recorded in the stats.

[Tim McMahon]

The game doesn't count for anything at all. I'm just saying it's going to be a chance for him to leave a last impression with the voters whether that's fair or not. The other thing is I just wanted,

[Brian Windhorst]

I just wanted to hear it just to just to poke the Dallas fans.

[Tim McMahon]

Oh, there's also one other thing that we didn't mention. So Atlanta today played in Miami. Miami had to win the game to have any shot of being the nine seed. If they had won and Charlotte had lost, Miami to be in the nine seed. So Atlanta with nothing to really play for and with probably a 95% chance of being the 5 seed sat all their players in Miami didn't risk any injury. If Toronto, Toronto was going to beat Brooklyn, which they did. If Orlando had won and been the seventh seed, there would have been a three way tie for fifth and it would have been Atlanta, Toronto, Orlando, in that order. But because Atlanta lost or because Orlando lost and it was just a two way tie with Atlanta and Toronto, Toronto swept Atlanta in the season series. So Toronto is now the five seed, Atlanta's now the sixth seed. And I actually think for the Easter Conference playoffs, it sets up for two more interesting series than it would have been with the Knicks playing the Hawks and the Cats playing the Raptors. That was also the other out outcome of the Magic losing.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, yeah, this is sort of down the list, but the Knicks, I believe were 5 and oh against the Raptors this year.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes, they stomped the Raptors every time they played them.

[Brian Windhorst]

The Cavs were 0 and 3 or the Raptors were 3 and oh against the Cavs. Now all of those games were before Thanksgiving, so I'm not really inclined to pay much attention to them. However, the Raptors were looking at either playing the Cavs or the Knicks, we know who they would have chosen. They would have chosen the Cavs. And so the Raptors come out of today as a winner as well.

[Tim McMahon]

And it's probably a better. I mean, I don't think it was a huge difference for Atlanta. They played competitive games against both the Knicks and the Cavs this week, but you can make an argument it's a better matchup for Atlanta to play at the Knicks also.

[Brian Windhorst]

So yeah, I think it's maybe not, it's negligible, but certainly I think it's

[Tim McMahon]

a much bigger deal for Toronto. Toronto is a big win. I was at the game on Friday night. I don't think it would have been a very competitive series between the Knicks and the Raptors. So.

[Wayne Ellington]

See, give him a call.

[Tim McMahon]

I think they've got a chance to make it competitive against.

[Wayne Ellington]

He's got to, he's got to practice getting those buzzer beaters off in time.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, so Miami plays in Charlotte. It will be a terrific environment. The first postseason action that the Hornets have had in years.

[Wayne Ellington]

Oh, and you know what's at stake there?

[Tim McMahon]

Making a decade.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, then, the late game on Tuesday night. Portland wins a couple of home games this weekend. The big one was Friday against the Clippers, pushing the Clippers back to the nine. So Portland gets the, gets the eight. They go and will play in Phoenix and have two chances to win their way in to their first postseason and I think three years or at least their playoffs, but it'll be a tough stretch. But they did get the eighth and they're going to, they're guaranteed a home game. So that'll be a, that'll be a big moment for, for Portland. Then on Wednesday as Bontemps laid out, that's when Philadelphia gets to fight home because the Flyers have the arena booked on Tuesday. Orlando, here's a question. I got to look. Does or does Orlando, Orlando goes back home, right? Like, and then they got to fly back up to Philly. Like, man, that's just. Anyway, Orlando at Philly on Wednesday and then the late game, Golden State is at the Clippers. Not too bad of a. You know, if you're looking for a 9, 10 playoff game, you get Kawhi versus Step. It's not the end of the world.

[Wayne Ellington]

There's some star power there.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah.

[Tim McMahon]

Do you, do you guys want the, the, the game one times and dates? They're out.

[Brian Windhorst]

They put those out.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, I like game one times and dates.

[Tim McMahon]

Okay, so first game, Cavs corner Raptors at Cavs 1:00pm that's an insult.

[Wayne Ellington]

That's basically saying that's a low profile series.

[Brian Windhorst]

For years the Raptors used to bitch about having to play the 1 o' clock game on Saturday. And here they do again. Although it's in Cleveland.

[Tim McMahon]

I am going to say I sent Tim Frank a guess on what this is going to look like and I was very nearly 8 for 8.

[Brian Windhorst]

Tim Frank is the head of NBA media relations.

[Wayne Ellington]

You know what I really enjoy? I love when Bon Temps tells us how smart he is.

[Tim McMahon]

I just, I, I love when he

[Brian Windhorst]

talks about people who the average audience have no idea.

[Tim McMahon]

You want to know the inside. You want to know the inside baseball of why I'm excited about this? So I'll get to it in a second because it won't be relevant. All right.

[Brian Windhorst]

Do you remember story time? Story time?

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, story time. I love it. We'll do time.

[Tim McMahon]

We'll do story time.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, story time. This is the Toronto afternoon game is where, you know, Masai Ujiri.

[Tim McMahon]

I was at this game.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, well, I was too. You tell the story then.

[Tim McMahon]

So first, the first game, was there

[Brian Windhorst]

shenanigans at the end of the game?

[Wayne Ellington]

You guys just finished each other's sentences.

[Tim McMahon]

There were shenanigans the entire series.

[Brian Windhorst]

But, but I'm sorry, were there shenanigans at the end of the season so that the Raptors could play Brooklyn? Okay.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes. So in the last game of the season. I think we talked about this the other day on the pod. The Nets tanked out of playing the Chicago Bulls and Joe Kim Noah on one leg in the first round to play Toronto, put themselves on the side of the bracket with not only the Raptors, but the Miami Heat. It was the inverse of what the, of what the, the Nuggets did tonight. And in doing so, they set up the series with the Raptors. While the Raptors hadn't hosted a first round series in years, I think they had, there's like the beginning of Jurassic Park. They had this whole outdoor plaza and they had this big stage. And early in his tenure in Toronto, he jumps up, he jumps up on the stage and gives this speech, shouts, bleep Brooklyn. On the stage.

[Brian Windhorst]

How did Paul Pierce like run his mouth about.

[Tim McMahon]

I mean, Paul Pierce is always saying stuff about everything, but Messiah gets up on this stage, shouts, bleep Brooklyn. This crowd goes crazy. Jim labombard, longtime PR guy, then comes around in the third court, says, hey, we're gonna, we're gonna have a little get together with Messiah here in a minute. Get together with Messiah beside be like, yeah, I just kind of got carried away. Didn't mean to get that wound up about saying that out there on national TV or out there on the stage front of everybody. It's just, yeah, that was an epic. That was an all time series all the way right down to Paul.

[Brian Windhorst]

Fine. 25 grand.

[Tim McMahon]

I was going to say.

[Wayne Ellington]

I remember there was some kind of fine.

[Brian Windhorst]

All I remember about that was Jim Le Bombard, the Raptors, 35 grand. 25 grand. I thought it was 25, 35.

[Wayne Ellington]

I just looked it up.

[Brian Windhorst]

I think he got fined twice.

[Wayne Ellington]

Oh, I think, okay.

[Brian Windhorst]

I think it happened in back to back years. Oh, Bontemps, we remembered this wrong. They played him in back to back years, he got fined. He said, F Brooklyn. The one year.

[Wayne Ellington]

Oh, I'm sorry, 35 was the next year. Oh, here's what it was for Paul Pierce when addressing the fans before the team's playoff opener.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, that's what happened. Bontemps. He said F Brooklyn. The one year in Jurassic park got fined 25 grand. And then it was a whole thing. And then he came back the next year and they were playing Brooklyn again and.

[Wayne Ellington]

No, they're playing Washington again.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh, Washington.

[Wayne Ellington]

People want me to say something about Paul Pierce, but we don't give a weep about it.

[Brian Windhorst]

I lost track of who Paul Pierce was playing for. I'm sorry. And then he got fined 35,000.

[Wayne Ellington]

So you're right, it was.

[Brian Windhorst]

And what I remember is 25 for

[Wayne Ellington]

this one, then 35. Yes.

[Brian Windhorst]

Raptors PR came over to the media and they said Drizzy will be speaking before the game. That's literally what they said.

[Tim McMahon]

Drizzy.

[Brian Windhorst]

Because Drake would sometimes give press conferences. And Drake announced he was going to give a press conference before the game. God knows what he would have said. And then when Messiah like went off again and there was another thing that they had a problem. They canceled the. They canceled the Drake press conference. Can you imagine what Drake might have said? And then Washington won that series. 4 0. I know, I covered it. All right, where. Where was we?

[Wayne Ellington]

Four zero. You covered it. And at the end of that final game, you were like, yes, I get to go home for a few days.

[Brian Windhorst]

Can I, can I tell you behind

[Wayne Ellington]

the curtain when this 30 go on and sweep it.

[Brian Windhorst]

I totally screwed over our guy Olm Young Masuk in that series because this is talk about. So OM was covering the series with me. I was supposed to be covering the Wizards and almost supposed to be covering the Raptors. Why we had two people on that series, God knows. And I found out it was such a long distance in between, like games one and two, I found out that the Wizards were going to go home between games one and two and then go back to Toronto. And it was such a pain in the ass to get in and out of Canada and Olm is like from the D.C. area. So I totally was like, hey, Ohm, wouldn't you like to cover the Wizards in this series? Like, I totally did this with the knowledge because, you know, if you were covering the Wizards, you had to go down to D.C. with them for their practice because God knows what Paul Pierce might say. You couldn't miss an opportunity. You know, what if Paul Pierce said something crazy again and I didn't want to have to go in and out of Canada back and forth, back and forth. So I totally like came to home. Like, hey, wouldn't you.

[Wayne Ellington]

Wow.

[Brian Windhorst]

Wouldn't you like to just go back home and. And like, you know, because like the. The bosses assigned. Assigned me Washington. And I totally like was just please. And I remember my penalty was I had to go to the Lou Williams six Man of the year press conference. I'm just kidding. I love Lou. All right, where were we the first round.

[Tim McMahon]

So we got through one game after all.

[Brian Windhorst]

Saturday Messiah is no longer with the Raptors.

[Tim McMahon]

Corner Raptors at Cavs.

[Wayne Ellington]

I'd forgotten about the Messiah stuff. That was good story time.

[Tim McMahon]

No, it was great. I mean, that whole series was epic. I remember watching at a bar after Game 6 of Nets Raptors in Brooklyn, waiting to see if we would get a game at noon on. It was either going to be a noon game on Saturday or an 8pm

[Brian Windhorst]

game on NBA TV.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, no, it was either going to be an afternoon game or like a late night game, which would have been terrible for deadlines and newspaper days. And that was the day that Dame Lillard hit the crazy shot against Houston and ended that series. And so because of that, game seven was at like noon or one o' clock in the afternoon, which was a huge win.

[Wayne Ellington]

Also, Chandler Parks and his last moment in a Rockets uniform getting a series walk off, buzzer beater splashing his face.

[Tim McMahon]

That's right.

[Brian Windhorst]

One of the Great stories Tim McMahon has ever written, which is about the Chandler Parsons leaving Dallas, the bromance breakup

[Wayne Ellington]

with Parsons in Cuban.

[Tim McMahon]

It was an incredible story.

[Wayne Ellington]

Parsons. Parsons was a hell of a source,

[Tim McMahon]

I ain't gonna lie. He sure. He sure was.

[Brian Windhorst]

Listen, we got that. That. What's that show on FanDuel. Like Lou Williams and Chandler Parsons are on it. We can go. We're practically doing.

[Tim McMahon]

Promoting them. All right. Okay. We're still on one game. All right, so second game. First game on. On Amazon Prime. Cavs, Raptors at Cavs, 1pm Saturday, 3:30pm Saturday. Wolves at Nuggets.

[Wayne Ellington]

Ooh, fun game. Can't wait for that one.

[Tim McMahon]

That'd be great.

[Brian Windhorst]

Neither apparently can the Wolves because they've now been informed by the actions of the Nuggets that the Denver. You know. You know, I hate when people are like. One of the things that irritates me so much is like when a player is out or something happens, people are like, oh, they're scared. They're scared. Like that irritates me so much. But if I was a Wolves fan, I'd be like, denver's scared. Denver's scared of us. That's what I would be saying.

[Wayne Ellington]

I mean, that's. They. That's what they indicated. They didn't have to say it. Their actions indicated that.

[Tim McMahon]

And actions over words, baby. It's a rubber series.

[Wayne Ellington]

We've seen each other twice in the playoffs and it's a split. The last one was that crazy Wolves comeback in Game 7 to knock off the fitting champ at the time.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah, I think Anthony Edwards will be ready to go for that one. That'll be a fun series. Next up, 6pm Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. Hawks at Knicks. Should be an awesome atmosphere at MSG games. Also on prime and then the final game of the night on abc. Rockets at Lakers, Durant against James, maybe for the final time.

[Brian Windhorst]

You know, ESPN was tasty. Was tasty.

[Tim McMahon]

That was a lead pipe lock to be the 8:30pm game of Saturday Night on our air as ABC. Durant against LeBron. That was a no brainer. Or LeBron against Ant. If it had been Lakers, Wolves, that was always going to be that game. Now Sunday afternoon, 1pm playing winner against the Celtics. This is the reason I was pumped up because I can go up first thing in the morning and come back at night and be around to see the cinder block. So big win for the Bontemps household that I can go up and back.

[Brian Windhorst]

Cinder block is what. Is what Bontemps calls his, his son because his son is built like a cinder block.

[Tim McMahon]

He's built like a cinder block.

[Brian Windhorst]

About as heavy as always. You know, he always makes these references. Tim Frank the cinder block McMahon. People don't know what he's talking about.

[Wayne Ellington]

People know the IT department. I feel like the cinder blocks become a recurring character.

[Tim McMahon]

People know what the cinder block is.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. But anyway, the kid is a unit.

[Tim McMahon]

He is a dude. He is, he is a unit.

[Wayne Ellington]

Hey, granddad. Granddad was an offensive tackle and I, I like this kid's eye.

[Tim McMahon]

That right. His grandfather has called him. His grandfather has said he has linebacker shoulders since he was about six days old. So he's ready to go the next game up 3:30pm Also on ABC. Both games on ABC. Tim McMahon will be in OKC for whoever they are playing.

[Wayne Ellington]

Great, great time slot, great times. I don't have to get up early, get a little brunch, get to the arena.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah, two. Not a noon local game. I thought you were going to get to noon local.

[Brian Windhorst]

We should, we should just refer to 3:30 as the McMahon. Oh, it's actually, it's actually 2:30 central. Which is even better for you.

[Wayne Ellington]

Honestly, I couldn't. I'm happy because here's the deal. Covering those Western Conference Central time zone teams, you do get a steady diet of those 8:30 local starts.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, just wait, buddy.

[Wayne Ellington]

I know. I'll take my 2:30 while I naturally

[Brian Windhorst]

it being a 2:30 Sunday afternoon game, McMahon will drive up from Dallas on Sunday morning. Just kidding.

[Tim McMahon]

He'll fly. Maybe he'll even fly Sunday morning like me.

[Brian Windhorst]

No, no, he'll fly on Saturday afternoon. What are you crazy?

[Tim McMahon]

100%.

[Wayne Ellington]

Oh, that's false. Last flight out Saturday night.

[Brian Windhorst]

That's right. All right.

[Tim McMahon]

Well, yeah, he can't get up Too early on Saturday either. He's gotta. Gotta have plenty of time to be restless.

[Wayne Ellington]

I gotta no on Sunday morning gotta get up and get to church.

[Tim McMahon]

Go on.

[Brian Windhorst]

He did drive me last year. He did drive me one.

[Tim McMahon]

Trust me.

[Wayne Ellington]

I remember from Dallas to many times little family situation. Had to come home and calm things and then scoop up all week.

[Brian Windhorst]

Let's hope for that event that. Let's hope for none of that.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, I agree.

[Brian Windhorst]

Everybody ended up fighting everybody.

[Tim McMahon]

So then the third game of the day first of doubleheader Sunday night on NBC. Whoever the eight seed is in the east playing Detroit. And that means that in the final game of the night our guy Corleone Wright will be in San Antonio for either the Suns or the Blazers at The spurs at 8pm Central in the late tips. I like that.

[Brian Windhorst]

What would be best for McMahon Bontems should we secretly without telling him hope that Portland gets their wonderful an amazing run to get the eighth seed. You know, gets a win so that he has to travel between Oklahoma City and Portland.

[Wayne Ellington]

Okay, now listen, that would be the toughest travel and just frankly on the McMahon Convenience Scale ranks last. However, I was reminded of the glory of the Nike employee store. So there is at least one perk to a portal trip.

[Brian Windhorst]

Oh my God. So let me ask you this. So by the way, just to refresh your memory, McMahon has this thing. And by the way, let me just say before I bring this up, and I think bontemps would agree, McMahon very well dressed. He's a very well dressed man.

[Wayne Ellington]

Improved over the last six years, I would say.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, he, he's.

[Tim McMahon]

He dresses well on the, on the tv.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yes, it's fine.

[Wayne Ellington]

I mean my.

[Tim McMahon]

We got to clarify. We got to clarify.

[Brian Windhorst]

He dresses well on the team where. When he covers a playoff series and when he's leaving for a playoff series that doesn't involve the Mavericks. He's. I guess you can. You'll be able to sneak home a little bit.

[Wayne Ellington]

It depends. Sometimes I guess sometimes I can sneak home on a travel day.

[Brian Windhorst]

But the point is he not only does he travel with a different suit for every game, but he brings a different pair of shoes for every game and he will not repeat them. Each suit will have a different pair of Jordans. Are they all Jordans?

[Wayne Ellington]

They're not all Jordans. The majority are.

[Brian Windhorst]

And then he will not. He refuses to repeat them. And then he's got to have off day shoes and travel shoes. So this is a man who routinely

[Wayne Ellington]

travels and off day shoes can be repeated.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, thank God. So this is a man who travels routinely in the playoffs with eight plus pairs of shoes and up to seven suits. Is that correct?

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, listen, ask. Ask old Vincent Goodwill Esq. As he wants us to refer to him now. He like, he's the same way like as Mike Asshole Corleone. Michael C. Wright. Like dude, this thing of like they

[Brian Windhorst]

are not bringing up a different pair of shoes for every.

[Wayne Ellington]

Ask them.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, I will. Let me ask you this. Let's say it is Portland. Let's say by the grace of the NBA gods, the Blazers get a win in the, in the second game and they advance and Modus center is going to get host a playoff series. Are how. What are you doing? Like how. What's your shoe situation if you're going to go to the Nike store, how many pairs of shoes you're going to be traveling with?

[Wayne Ellington]

I, well, I can't, I can't plan what I'm going to get there because I don't know what will be in stock. So I got to just travel regular and I might also. Here's the other thing. I can't just like, if I come back empty handed for others in the

[Tim McMahon]

household that's going to be an issue.

[Wayne Ellington]

So I'm probably, if I, if there's a Nike employee store trip, you can ship from there. I'll probably just have to ship home.

[Brian Windhorst]

Should we just, I mean, I don't mean to like, you know, should we tell what the Nike employee store is like? Should we say that?

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

So first off, you kind of have to get invited, which you know, you're a man of many connections.

[Wayne Ellington]

I've already secured a limitation.

[Tim McMahon]

Should that arrive, you have to be

[Brian Windhorst]

invited and you go there and I mean I've only been there twice. So you tell the story of what happens there.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, basically you go there and it's a huge like warehouse type of place where they've got a ton of stuff. You know, you don't know what necessarily is going to be in stock, but it's 40% off. And so like every time an NBA team goes to Portland, there's a steady stream of like their staffers, even players.

[Brian Windhorst]

So the way it works, I mean I haven't covered it to you in Portland in a few years, but the way it used to work when I was going to Portland was there was, there was two buses. Right. So a lot of teams practice at Nike on off days. And so there'll be a bus that'll go to the employee because the employee store isn't actually on Nike Campus proper, it's like down the road. Not far, but it's down the road. And there would be a one bus to go back to the hotel for the non Nike guys because you know, there's guys with Adidas, New Balance, you know, what have you. And then the Nike guys and all the employees all go in the other bus and go to the Nike store. And sometimes the guys who you know are with other brands will say hey, can you. And then the players will. A lot of times the players who are Nike guys who have Nike contracts will get like a, like a, an allowance.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, they don't have to stipend, but it's great like, like this, like the staffers, like the people on the broadcast or the people in the PR department, they all, they all go and.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right.

[Wayne Ellington]

And then load up. So yeah, that, that's. But now storyline wise, listen, Shea versus the Clippers, the team that traded him, you know, Kawhi, who wasn't officially traded by the Thunder but essentially his rights were. That that's a pretty good storyline. You know, Thunder Suns, Dylan Brooks against his Canadian pals. You know, we'll see, we'll see if that Canadian friendly stuff is, is a factor in that.

[Brian Windhorst]

I'm sure Dylan qualifies in that. Canadian.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah. And then obviously, listen, the warriors against the Thunder, like there won't be a lack of interest in that should it happens. The dynasty that has faded versus the dynasty that might be blossoming. I don't think that one will last very long if it happens.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right.

[Tim McMahon]

I'll be pretty surprised if Golden State can get two wins this week.

[Wayne Ellington]

I would do.

[Brian Windhorst]

Is Orlando winning a game this week? They need one win.

[Wayne Ellington]

I don't think so. I mean honestly, Orlando. It's not the Orlando Magic. It's the Orlando misery.

[Tim McMahon]

It's.

[Wayne Ellington]

It's like it's a. Vibes are not immaculate.

[Tim McMahon]

Whoever. Whoever loses Wednesday, I think will. Will lose. We'll lose Friday. There's one Charlotte wins.

[Wayne Ellington]

That's Miami is going to get another 83. We're all bus city killers.

[Tim McMahon]

Hey listen, Miami's got a lot of experience in the playing. They got anybody in the league.

[Wayne Ellington]

Well, and you know, before my mouth cash is too many checks here. The Hornets playing experience is not Glori.

[Tim McMahon]

No, it is not. No, it is not.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, I will just say that one of the big things we're going into this week and we just don't know the answer. So Bontemps earlier talked about the uncertainty with Embiid. There's uncertainty with the Lakers, man, Like, I don't know about Luka Lucas feels

[Tim McMahon]

like we got more certainty than uncertainty, though, don't we?

[Wayne Ellington]

I was going to say there's a certain level of certainty, and that is like, let's just be honest, if either of them comes back at any point during the.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, Luca's still in Europe, is he not? As of.

[Wayne Ellington]

I'm not sure if he's. I don't know where his feet are as we speak.

[Brian Windhorst]

Right. But he was as of like yesterday still in Europe.

[Wayne Ellington]

I believe so.

[Tim McMahon]

But there are two several weak muscle injuries.

[Wayne Ellington]

The Lakers were bracing not to have either for the first round. Now, maybe, maybe if they get to a game six do or die thing, they won or both rush back, but it would be a rush.

[Tim McMahon]

It's a similar situation to Embiid with Philly. Right. The longer you can extend your season, the better your chances are if at some point having one or both of those guys come back. So that was why it was important for the Lakers to get home court, which they did. And it's going to be important for them to get every game they can early in the series as it's spread out a lot. And there's time for LeBron to load up for the next game because, I mean, we'll talk more about the series next week, but Amen Thompson going up against LeBron James as the only ball handler really on the team is going to be a tough ask for the oldest guy in the league. It's just going to be a long

[Wayne Ellington]

series or a short one?

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, yeah, let me just say that there are potential opponents. How do I want to. I want to cover this appropriately. There are potential Laker playoff opponents who felt that it was a better chance based on their analysis of the situation, that there was a better chance that Austin Reaves could play sooner rather than later, and that as this team was preparing to potentially see the Lakers, that they were preparing for Austin Reaves potentially to play in that first round series at some point.

[Tim McMahon]

So, I mean, the timeline has both of them where they could in theory come back by the end of it. It's just, it's. It's hard to know with a muscle. With a muscle injury.

[Brian Windhorst]

I agree. I'm just, I'm. I'm acknowledging the situation More Hoop Collective podcast after this.

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[Tim McMahon]

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[Brian Windhorst]

I do think at this point it may be worth very quickly talking about before we talk about your interaction with Giannis today. Von Thames, real quick, and I mean real quick, go over where everybody fell in the lottery odds. Ah, so Washington ended up with the worst record in the league. God bless them, they lost their last 10 games. Indiana, by virtue of some good losing down the stretch ended up with the number two worst record. That is relevant. They had the number two worst record. One more loss than Brooklyn. That is relevant because as you know, their pick transfers to the Clippers if it falls between five and 10. And so if they're in second they would need to get passed by three team or two teams still 48% to keep it 52.

[Wayne Ellington]

9.

[Tim McMahon]

It's either going to be a top four pick or the Clippers are getting the fifth or sixth pick. That's all it means.

[Wayne Ellington]

Right, but it doesn't impact the odds at all.

[Tim McMahon]

No.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah, but they're sitting there. Well, I guess you're right.

[Wayne Ellington]

I'm not right.

[Tim McMahon]

It was big for the Clippers because if the Clippers get the pick there, it's a top, it's a fifth, it's the fifth or sixth pick in the draft.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay. Washington, Indiana and Brooklyn end up with the top three top three worst records. Each of them will have a 52% chance of getting a top four pick. Each of them have a 14% chance of number one overall. Utah and Sacramento tied with the fourth worst record by virtue of Utah beating Memphis on Friday night in the tank of thon of all tankathon games which Utah ended up winning by 40. But I don't want to go over it. Just look it up.

[Wayne Ellington]

I just want to ask something. Did you notice any overt behavior by the Grizzlies in that game? Because I know Adam Silver's been on the lookout for that overt behavior.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, what about starting four 10 day guys and a two way guy? Is that considered overtake?

[Tim McMahon]

Is that overt?

[Brian Windhorst]

I don't know.

[Wayne Ellington]

Is it?

[Tim McMahon]

How about Tariq Whitehead scored 16 points in the first quarter and then being disappeared till they were down 50 and not making a single sub. Otherwise.

[Brian Windhorst]

How about Bryce Senzibon Sunday against the Lakers for the Jazz? How about he scored 15 points in 13 minutes. No sir. Sit down. See in September. Okay, as I said, they tied with, they tied with Sacramento. They needed to lose both of them. Yes, Sacramento and Utah will have 45% chance of getting in the top four. 11 and a half percent chance of the top pick. Memphis. I don't even really want to talk about Memphis, but I will denote that they finished sixth. Sixth worst record.

[Tim McMahon]

I told Zach Kleiman when I saw him in Chicago or in Kansas City at the Big 12 tournament that I was confident he would, he would, the Grizzlies would wind up finishing in sixth and texted him today and said, reminded him that I said that back in, back in the beginning of March.

[Brian Windhorst]

They lost their last eight games.

[Tim McMahon]

They I think ended the season going 2 and 22, something like that.

[Brian Windhorst]

Washington's pick by the way was, is, was top. It was top eight protected. So they will obviously not give it up. Utah's pick was top eight protected. They. Are they safe?

[Tim McMahon]

In theory they could, they could. I think in theory. No. Cause it can only go down four spots. I think so. I think they're, I think they're safe. I guess if they lose the coin flip, go to five and four teams pass them.

[Brian Windhorst]

Okay, but they're like 99% safe.

[Tim McMahon]

It'd be very hard to lose the pick all right.

[Brian Windhorst]

Memphis had the sixth worth record. Memphis will have 37% to get in the top four. 9% to win the lottery. The Dallas Mavericks finish with the seventh worst record with a inexcusable win on Sunday over the Bulls that could have gotten them tied with Memphis. So tough one there. And they will have a 32% chance of the top four. Seven and a half percent chance of the top one. Way higher than they had last year.

[Tim McMahon]

That is not correct. That is not correct. So because, because they won that. Well, no, hold on. Because they won that game. They are not seventh by themselves. They are tied for seventh with the New Orleans Pelicans. Oh, you are correct for inexplicable reasons. Really like many other things with the Pelicans just stop playing their players for the last week while they have nothing to play for and they don't have their pick. And allowed. They almost got caught up. Back up to Dallas and Memphis, but caught back up to Dallas and as a result boosted the odds for the Hawks that they're for their pick. So now both the Mavs. Both the Mavs and the Pelicans have a 29% chance now of being up there.

[Brian Windhorst]

You're right. I didn't refresh. The Pelicans game wasn't quite over. The Pelicans lost nine of 10 to finish the season when they didn't have control of their draft pick.

[Wayne Ellington]

Honestly, the Pelicans or you talk about a franchise that does not have a clue in the world of what they're trying to do. What a. What a just epic run of front office malpractice by the Pelicans this year.

[Tim McMahon]

That game tonight, the Dallas Chicago game. Either Atlanta was either going to gain odds from a Chicago win because they would have been or Chicago loss because they would have been tied with Milwaukee for the ninth pick or they would have gained odds obviously from New Orleans if Dallas moved back into a tie in seventh. So the Hawks are going to be a winner either way in terms of the numbers and bigger winner with the Pelicans moving up into a tie with Dallas.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, the Bulls who lost the last game but had one more loss than Milwaukee, they will get the ninth highest odds, 20% to get top four, four and a half percent to get the number one pick.

[Wayne Ellington]

By the way, Billy Donovan's pregame was about 10 minutes of non committal saying nothing.

[Tim McMahon]

Billy Donovan made it very clear he was going to meet with ownership after the season and decide what he wants to do and we'll see what he decides to do.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, the question is whether Billy Donovan is deciding between coaching the Bulls and not coaching or coaching the Bulls or coaching another team that he may be waiting to see whether the job opens up.

[Wayne Ellington]

Well, I, and I asked him if it has anything to do if his decision would be influenced by what other jobs might open up and he said no, that, you know, he said that's not it. Yeah. He wasn't under oath. He was not under oath.

[Tim McMahon]

Also, I think the first choice is does he want to coach next year for sure after what's been a really rough couple of months for him personally. And then I think, then I think the next question after that is does he want to coach the Bulls or does he potentially want to coach somebody else?

[Brian Windhorst]

Right. It does potentially improve his menu if he waits a few days, though, I think is that fair to say?

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah. And I. And I don't think he's going to make his decision in the next. He did say that he's not meeting with management tomorrow. He's going to meet with players tomorrow.

[Brian Windhorst]

That makes sense. Fair enough. All right. 10th worst record Milwaukee Bucks. We'll talk about them in a second. 14% chance in the top four. 3% chance of number one overall. They really need that 14% to come home. That's all I'm going to say. Number 11.

[Wayne Ellington]

Even if that 14% comes home though, they still might not end up with a top four pick. Remember, they if their picks higher than New Orleans, they get New Orleans.

[Tim McMahon]

They need both picks to jump up.

[Brian Windhorst]

That is correct. Then we're into. That's the teams that are done. Then you got the play in teams. Golden State ended up with 11th worst record. They have a 9% chance of top four. 2%. Chop one. Clippers. It's not actually the Clippers, though. The pick is unprotected to Oklahoma City. If the Clippers. Clippers. Boy. Clippers. Oh boy. I don't even. You talk about flattening the odds, boys.

[Wayne Ellington]

Listen, last time that they gave him a lottery pick didn't move up. But the Thunder still got an all NBA player. They got Jalen Williams.

[Brian Windhorst]

I just want to say that of all these potential swaps and picks that the Thunder have had over this last three or four years, they have not gotten lucky on any of them.

[Wayne Ellington]

Getting a lottery pick that early out of the Clippers was some pretty good force.

[Tim McMahon]

It would be pretty fitting in this

[Brian Windhorst]

year, but I'm saying in the lottery.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, you're right about that.

[Tim McMahon]

It'd be pretty fitting in this year of absolutely epic tanking if some combination of the Clippers jumping up or I guess if the Sixers don't make the playoffs and them jumping up but the Clippers in like the 12th spot. It's like a realistic jump up but like the Clippers jumping up and this Hawks trade turning into a win and the Pelicans giving up a top four pick in the year of all these other teams desperately trying to tank would be pretty amusing irony for the league.

[Brian Windhorst]

What was the Mavericks chances of winning the top pick last year?

[Wayne Ellington]

1.8% all part of the plan, baby.

[Brian Windhorst]

The Thunder's chances of getting to the top is 1.5%.

[Wayne Ellington]

Hope you're starting to see Nicole Harrison's vision.

[Brian Windhorst]

Miami 13th 4% 5% to get in the top four. 1% number one overall 14th Charlotte 2.4% move to the top 4.5% 5th Portland will have the 15th pick unless. Well they're.

[Wayne Ellington]

They're assuming no take a thon just

[Tim McMahon]

has the picks in order of record. So if Portland if Port the interesting thing. There's a couple interesting things to watch from the playing teams. One is if Portland makes the playoffs, the pick that was traded from Portland to Chicago in the lottery marketing deal to the Cavs years ago saw Larry Nance go to Portland and a lottery protected first go to the Bulls would finally convey. Bulls would get somewhere between the 15th and 17th pick in the draft. I guess it would be the 15th, probably be the 67th pick anyway. They'd have a. They'd get a. A high lottery pick or a high. Just outside the lottery pick mid first rounder. Yeah. Or just outside the first. Frank. A first round pick just outside the lottery. It's late Philadelphia like I mentioned before, as a top four protected pick that the Thunder have. So there's some chance that Thunder wouldn't get it if Philly misses the playoffs. But it's extremely unlikely. Charlotte gets Phoenix's pick and Orlando gets Memphis's pick. So there's a bunch of shenanigans that could go on there with all those

[Wayne Ellington]

teams that make the playoffs pending pending lottery results though. Potential lottery results because there's that. That one's. There's a whole bunch of. I'd have to look up the exact swaps but I just. I just know that I think the higher of those goes to Memphis.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah, that's right.

[Wayne Ellington]

When Memphis made the Bain trade, they thought the best asset they were getting was. Was the Sun's pick this year.

[Tim McMahon]

Right.

[Brian Windhorst]

Well, Suns pick this year right now is 17th. 16th.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. So Bon Temps following today's game, where you watched the last game of. Is it the. Do you think. We think it's the last game of Doc River's coaching career. I thought that a couple years ago, and then he got the Bucks job, so.

[Tim McMahon]

I do think so. He did not. He refused, both before and after the game to use the word retirement. I guess you never can say never with these things, but I think I

[Brian Windhorst]

know why he's not saying.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, for one reason. If he says retirement, they might try to say, well, he retired, we don't have to pay.

[Brian Windhorst]

Correct.

[Tim McMahon]

Correct. But I think I. I think it's. I think it's likely the final game of what is now officially a Hall of Fame career for Doc Rivers.

[Wayne Ellington]

Well, here's the thing, Unless somebody offers him a bag, and let's just be honest, the way this tenure went with the Bucks, I don't know that anyone's going to be lining up to offer. Docker bag.

[Brian Windhorst]

Yeah. All right. And then you also spoke to Giannis at Tenokumpo, who did his exit interview. He did in the locker room after the game. So now the floor is yours.

[Tim McMahon]

I mean, there's not that much to say, really, other than that. It was just the same, I would say, combination of contradictory messaging from Giannis, where at one point Eric Naim asked him, if you've played your last game as a buck, and he said, I don't know. It's not up to me. And he then got asked by me later, if you're still on the team in October, would you sign a contract extension? And after a lot of going around.

[Brian Windhorst]

Good question.

[Tim McMahon]

Going after. A lot of going around in circles. He did not shut the door on signing a contract extension in October. So I. We're in the same place that we've been with this story for months and months and months and months and months.

[Brian Windhorst]

Again, he also expressed frustration, disappointment, disillusionment, whatever. About. About. Not. About not playing.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes. He hit every beat that has gone on, on all sides of it. He said he didn't know if he's done playing with the Bucks or not.

[Brian Windhorst]

But, I mean, not playing at the end of the season, like he.

[Tim McMahon]

No, I'm saying he didn't know if he's done. Yes. I'm saying he hit all the. He hit everything that's come up. Am I going to be a buck in the future? I don't know. Are you ruling out signing an extension with the Bucks? No. Are you still mad? Are you mad about how the season went? Yes. Like, you know, like it was all the same stuff that he said. And, you know, yes, Doc Rivers is out, but I don't know. I don't know one way or the other for sure, I guess, if they're doing anything with the front office or not. So I guess the first question is, is John Horse going to remain in charge of basketball operations? The answer to that is yes. Then the question is, okay, who's the coach going to be? A and is Giannis finally going to get traded? B. And if the answer to that is no, Horse is out, then it's okay. They gotta run a coach, run a front office search, and then run a coaching search and then answer the question of what are they going to do with Giannis.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah, and. And Giannis used the fact that they wouldn't let him play down the stretch this season, which, you know, I get it. He wanted to play with his brothers. I also get it from the Bucks side. You cannot have that guy coming back and suffering a major injury and just completely disintegrating his value. Anyways, he used that as proof that he doesn't have control, which, you know, Giannis is great with the media. I believe he's been a Magic Johnson Award winner, but he is chronically disingenuous, and that is disingenuous.

[Brian Windhorst]

Did he or did he not ask you Bon Temps, what he should do?

[Tim McMahon]

He did, in a way, to not answer the question. When I asked him, when I asked him about the extension, he said, how long have you been around the league? I said, about as long as you. He goes, oh, 15 years. Okay, so what would you do if you were me? I said, well, I could use $350 million. I'll take the money. He told me. And I told him, sorry, if you

[Wayne Ellington]

want my advice, it's a 4% commission. I can use that.

[Tim McMahon]

Yeah, I'm sure he wouldn't pay the 4%. I. They said, all right, take the money out of it. What would you do? I said, well, that's an interesting question. I don't know if you exactly want to have that conversation on camera, but we can if you want. He goes, oh, you know, that's what we're going to do this summer. We're not going to talk about it on camera. And I said, okay, but you're not ruling out exciting with the box? And he said, no. So I said, okay.

[Wayne Ellington]

Like, when you're. When you're reporting on a story, like, you don't want to be in a position where you're, like, giving the guy advice on a Podcast. I'll give you advice, Jonas, and this is free. No commission required.

[Tim McMahon]

Get the hell out of Milwaukee. Like, it's time.

[Brian Windhorst]

Dude, you should have done that last summer. Last summer, yeah.

[Wayne Ellington]

The team's not good. You're going to have never again any shred of a chance to contend in Milwaukee.

[Tim McMahon]

If Giannis is on the team in October, he will extend as my belief so well, and then I don't want

[Wayne Ellington]

to hear any whining about this.

[Brian Windhorst]

This.

[Tim McMahon]

This comes down to, in my opinion, the Bucks needing to make a trade. For everybody's sake here, but especially their own. The Bucks have to move on from Giannis now. They. The Miles Turner stretch. The Dame Willard stretch wave. Miles Turner signing was an absolute disaster. They've got all this money on their books for years. The roster is devoid pretty much of young talent. Ryan Rollins is one of the few bright spots on the roster. He's signed to a contract that they can't extend him on. They gave him a player option on the last year of the deal. So I almost think they have to trade him this summer, despite him being a bright spot, because they're really in a bind about what to do with him going forward and they could potentially get some real value for him. And they're going to have, you know, at worst, probably the 10th pick in the draft. Maybe they get really lucky and they get a top four pick out of these picks moving up, but they have to, I think, cut ties and move forward and start fresh for everybody's sake. And, you know, the Doc Rivers thing was the beginning of that. They. I just think, you know, you look at where the franchise is at, they've had an unbelievable run, great run with Giannis. He's going to have a statue going to his jersey. Retired. Unbelievable career in Milwaukee. There should be no hard feelings about it. Like, should be celebrated whenever he comes back, but it's time for a fresh start for him. It's time for a fresh start for the Bucks. Obviously, he won a title, but this reminds me some of the end of Kevin Garnett in Minnesota. Feels very similar. That was another one that dragged out for a couple years, and it just. It got messy at the end and now it's good.

[Wayne Ellington]

But, like, this has gotten progressive.

[Tim McMahon]

Yes, this needs to end.

[Brian Windhorst]

By the way, Myles Turner averaged the fewest points since his rookie season. Worst shooting of his career. God, he only averaged five rebounds a

[Tim McMahon]

game, and he's never rebounded.

[Brian Windhorst]

I mean, that's contract. 100 million he had. You know, this is a guy who's

[Wayne Ellington]

led the league in blocks per year for how long?

[Tim McMahon]

He's got two more years and a player option. I believe he also is trade kicker thing.

[Brian Windhorst]

He's, he's let. This guy's led the league in blocks multiple times. Fewest blocks per game since his rookie year.

[Tim McMahon]

I mean, look, I, I, it's not really worth reading off stats like, I mean their season have been a disaster for months.

[Brian Windhorst]

Just telling you, I'm talking.

[Tim McMahon]

I know it's, look it up while we were talking. Yeah, it's, it's, it's a mess.

[Wayne Ellington]

Well, and look, man, Giannis on a supermax makes zero sense for Milwaukee. If you're going to be mediocre, don't be expensive. I'm sorry. You can't be a crappy small market team with a massive payroll. None of that makes any sense for in the Bucks best interest. They need to trade Giannis now if they want to work with him off his preferred list of destinations if they feel like they have to. Okay. That's all stuff to figure out. But Giannis back on their roster on a supermax extension would be ridiculous.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. And I'm now going to call get your last shot in Bontemps not shot. Get your last comment in. And then I'm going to call a moratorium on all Giannis talk for the foreseeable future.

[Tim McMahon]

Oh, we're good. We're good. We're good on that. Move along.

[Brian Windhorst]

And the seal is put onto it.

[Wayne Ellington]

Why didn't I get have a last say?

[Brian Windhorst]

You just did.

[Wayne Ellington]

Oh, okay. Good. Yeah, thanks.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. With that, the play in begins in 48 hours or less. And then the playoffs will follow and we will be here, not sleeping, working late nights, Jackson working through the night. Our other producers, Mark and Tucker and Devon working through the night to deliver you the highest quality content possible. Fresh into your feeds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

[Wayne Ellington]

That was a. What's the word I'm looking for when you do something in advance? An advanced windy sleep update. Hey, you forgot something, though.

[Tim McMahon]

Oh, the winds pool box.

[Wayne Ellington]

Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

Can you do it real quick? Because we're pretty far into the spot.

[Tim McMahon]

I could be very quick.

[Brian Windhorst]

I was pretty close at the beginning of the season. Way back in October, we went through and drafted all the teams and whoever had the most wins is the winner. I think we've done this as our fourth year and the first three years, all of us won each year each for one once. Is that accurate?

[Tim McMahon]

Yep, I believe so. And I finished third. I finished third. Brian was second. I had 396 wins. Windhorse had 408 wins. McBan had 423 wins.

[Brian Windhorst]

So I know that I was foiled by the all roads lead to 39 bulls deciding like three quarters of the way through the season that they were rebuilding.

[Wayne Ellington]

They found an exit ramp finally.

[Brian Windhorst]

And I was also foiled by the Dallas Mavericks.

[Tim McMahon]

Inexplicably decided, yeah, you were foiled by the Mavericks. That's what cost you.

[Wayne Ellington]

Well, I warned you about the Mavericks. You thought they were like a playoff.

[Tim McMahon]

McMahon won by getting Portland.

[Brian Windhorst]

There were people at this company who thought they were going to the final.

[Tim McMahon]

And McMahon won by getting Portland and Phoenix late in the draft. Well, second and third, second last pick. Yeah.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right. Well, there were no stakes on this. Just incredible

[Wayne Ellington]

that we were supposed to put a thousand bucks in.

[Brian Windhorst]

All right, Jackson, please review those those tapes. All right. Thank you very much to Mark Jackson and our producers. Thank you to Bontemps and McMahon. Bontemps has a late trip back to the city. Thank you for watching and listening to the HOOPP Collective. We'll talk to you later this week.

[Wayne Ellington]

Adios, amigos. Calling all daydreamers and date nighters. Come immerse yourself in the rich culture of Texas and dig into our mouth watering barbecue. Trailblazers can explore our natural wonders and beach lovers will wonder why they've never felt so relaxed before. You're invited to discover experiences you can only find in Texas. Visit traveltexas.com and plan your trip today. Let's Texas.