BONUS: Cade Cunningham HURT, What Does That Mean For Boston Celtics, Playoff Push

Summary

Locked On Celtics - BONUS: Cade Cunningham HURT, What Does That Mean For Boston Celtics, Playoff Push

Host: John Karalis
Guest: Tom Westerholm
Date: March 19, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This bonus episode reacts in real time to the breaking news of Cade Cunningham’s collapsed lung injury, discussing its wide-ranging implications for the Boston Celtics’ late-season push, Eastern Conference seeding, and the broader playoff picture. John Karalis and guest Tom Westerholm break down how Cunningham’s absence could affect the Detroit Pistons, whether it opens the door for the Celtics to chase the number one seed, which matchups might be most worrisome, and the importance of seeding for the postseason. The episode maintains a respectful tone toward the severity of Cunningham’s injury, while candidly analyzing the basketball ramifications.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Cunningham’s Injury and Its Impact

• Severity and Human Aspect

  • Both John and Tom emphasize their concern for Cade Cunningham’s health, noting how a "collapsed lung," even if termed “mild,” is a serious and painful injury.
    • "You can say it's mild. There's nothing mild about a collapsed lung. That sounds painful." — John Karalis (02:03)
  • They agree that nobody wants to exploit such situations, but injuries are an unfortunate, unavoidable aspect of sports that must be discussed for competitive context.

• MVP Season at Risk

  • Cunningham’s near-MVP-level play is highlighted, with Tom lamenting the timing for both Cunningham and the Pistons:
    • “I think it's a travesty that Cade Cunningham will probably not be eligible for All-NBA... You cannot tell the story of this regular season without Cade Cunningham. So, like, to leave him off [these awards] is stupid. So stupid. I hate it.” — Tom Westerholm (04:12)

Door Open for the Celtics’ Top Seed Push?

• Feasibility of Celtics Catching the Pistons

  • The Pistons currently lead the Celtics by 3.5 games (effectively 4.5 due to tiebreakers) with 13 games remaining.
  • Celtics have the 7th toughest remaining schedule; Pistons’ is 15th. Both teams face a mix of above- and below-.500 opponents.
  • John crunches scenarios: If the Pistons finish 5–9, Celtics need to go 9–4 to snag the top seed — doable, but with little margin for error.
    • "Nine and four over 13 games is very doable. But now every game above that, the Pistons go... So if they go six and eight, the Celtics have to go 10 and 3." — John (09:03)
  • Both acknowledge that even if Cunningham misses only two weeks, the Pistons' offense may suffer, creating the possibility of a Celtics surge.

• Pistons Without Cade

  • Tom points out Detroit’s offensive rating drops significantly without Cunningham, casting doubt on whether the Pistons can hold up against strong, defensive-minded opponents.
    • “He’s the engine. He’s what makes everything work at a high level. He’s the superstar. I don’t really see anybody else on that team... that can take that mantle from him.” — Tom (05:20)

Remaining Schedules & Head-to-Head

• Celtics face tough games against the Thunder, Knicks, Wolves, Heat, Bucks, and Pelicans, but catch a break against Minnesota missing Anthony Edwards.
• The Pistons’ remaining big tests: Thunder, Lakers, Timberwolves (twice), Raptors, Magic, etc. Both teams share several common opponents down the stretch.

The Importance of the #1 Seed

• John and Tom debate the value of securing the top spot in the East:
  • John leans toward the psychological and competitive advantages of having home court, especially facing a Pistons team in the conference finals.
    • "Just getting to the top seed, having those first couple of games at home feels just better... I wouldn't mind that." — John (19:16)
  • Tom is less invested, stressing focus on playing Boston’s best basketball instead of obsessively watching the standings.
    • “I lean more toward the F, whatever... Just be trying to play your best basketball at the time when you need to be.” — Tom (21:02)

Eastern Conference Playoff Matchups

• Knicks vs. Cavs Debate

  • Tom doubts the Knicks due to their defensive holes, suggesting the Celtics can exploit them, but is more wary of Cleveland because of Donovan Mitchell’s playoff dynamism.
    • “I might be, outside of Cleveland, the biggest Donovan Mitchell guy out there. That guy is a monster... You go into a fourth quarter against Cleveland up 20 and still nervous.” — Tom (17:24, 18:06)
  • John is also nervous about Mitchell but notes the Knicks’ physicality and the challenge of keeping them off the offensive glass if Mitchell Robinson is healthy.
    • “A Knicks series would be a hell of a time for the Celtics to... revert back to, 'Oh, by the way, we can't keep anybody off the offensive glass.'” — John (15:48)
  • Both agree the matchup won’t be a cakewalk and recognize the increased parity in the East.

• Playoff Parity

  • “I don’t think... this is gonna be like a Mickey Mouse walk to the finals. There’s gonna be a challenge in your way one way or the other, whether that’s the Donovan Mitchell tornado or... the ghosts of last year.” — Tom (21:22)

Potential All-NBA Implications

• Tom notes that Cunningham’s absence could clear the way for Jalen Brown to secure a First Team All-NBA spot, which could be significant for his legacy and contractual bonuses.
  • “If you’re a Celtics fan, if you’re a Jalen Brown fan, I do think this pretty much guarantees that he will be All-NBA First Team.” — Tom (25:11)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Not Exploiting Injuries:
  "We're not out here being like, oh, it's an opportunity... It’s a travesty that Cade Cunningham will probably not be eligible for All-NBA." — Tom Westerholm (03:49, 04:12)

• On Knicks Playoff Deficits:
  "I just really struggle to take seriously teams that have defensive holes in the playoffs. And the Knicks have those." — Tom Westerholm (14:51)

• On Donovan Mitchell:
  "That guy is a monster... In the postseason, he is not scared of the Celtics, he is not scared of the playoffs, he is not scared of the big shot. In fact, he relishes all of that." — Tom Westerholm (17:24)

• On the Pressure of Home Court:
  "If it’s Celtics–Pistons in the conference finals… Why not just have that first game at home? It’d be a huge moment for the Pistons. I’d rather not. The Pistons start a conference finals at home where they feel comfortable." — John Karalis (22:30)

• On Joe Mazzulla’s Mentality:
  "This team will never lose again... that's very much Joe Mazzulla." — Tom Westerholm (24:32)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pistons’ and Cade Cunningham’s Injury Context: 01:12–04:33
• Award Eligibility and MVP Narrative: 04:33–05:20
• Celtics’ and Pistons’ Remaining Schedules: 05:55–09:21
• Celtics’ Path to the Number One Seed: 09:21–10:00
• Importance of Playoff Seeding: 14:11–16:00
• Knicks vs. Cavs as Playoff Matchups: 16:00–19:30
• Emotional Pressure, Parity in the East: 21:00–22:31
• Cade’s Return in Playoff Context: 22:31–24:21
• Jalen Brown’s All-NBA Prospects: 25:11–25:43

---

Conclusion

John and Tom provide a nuanced, basketball-first analysis of Cade Cunningham’s injury news and its ripple effects on the Celtics’ push for the number one seed. While they acknowledge no one wants to see anyone hurt, they break down how the standings, schedules, matchups, and even postseason awards could shift dramatically in the season’s final stretch. The episode serves as an insightful guide for Celtics fans eager to understand all angles of the playoff picture, blending sharp analysis, frank opinions, and a dose of Celtics fan anxiety.

---

Transcript

[A]

Foreign podcast network your team every day. This is Nick Gangstead of the Lockdown Mavericks podcast. This message is a paid partnership with Apple Card. I love that I can earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase with my Apple Card, which can be automatically sent to my High Yield Savings account through Apple Card right in the Wallet app with my iPhone. I can use Apple Card with Apple Pay basically everywhere I go. You can apply for Apple Card too, right in the Wallet app on your iPhone. Subject to credit approval. Savings is available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility. Savings in Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch Member FDIC terms and [e-mail] youm're juggling a

[B]

lot, but you can still squeeze in a financial plan with the Northwestern Mutual Financial advisor as your partner. It's not only possible, it's personalized. So if you're tying the knot, closing on a house, or welcoming a little one, you'll be ready for whatever life tosses your day. It's the right time to feel less stressed and more certain. That's a better way to money. Let's get [e-mail] the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[A]

Cade Cunningham out for at least a couple of weeks. Is this an opportunity for the Celtics to snag the number one seed bonus content here on the Locked on Celtics podcast. Thanks for making this show your first listen every day. I'm John Corrales. Today's show is brought to you by 5 Hour Energy. Have your cake and drink it too. Birthday cake flavor is back. No fork needed. It's vanilla cake flavor. Caffeinated kick, no sugar. It's party time. Order now 5hourenergy.com or on Amazon. We're doing the bonus podcast right now because Cade Cunningham out with a collapsed lung. Huh? That's surprising. Tom Westerholm is here to talk about it.

[C]

Thank you.

[A]

Thank you. But also injuries. Injuries, collapsed lung, that is. You can say it's mild. There's nothing mild about a collapsed lung. That sounds painful, but, but listen, we don't want injuries to happen, but they happen. And because they happen, we have to talk about them. In terms of basketball. Cade Cunningham reevaluated in two weeks. I don't know if he's going to be back in two weeks. Sean Sharania, when he reported this, saying they're hopefully he's going to be back for the playoffs. So the initial reaction, Tom, is, you know, aside from please get well, Cade, we do not want you to be hurt. We want you to feel Better. He's having an MVP type season. The. The Pistons have been. If the Celtics didn't exist the way they did, the Pistons would probably be getting more love for how surprising a season that they're having. And their guy being like, he's. He is the engine for that team scoring points and him being out does raise the question of will the Pistons be able to score enough points to. To win some of these games and hold on to that top seed? There's a chance here, Tom. Or do you think there is a chance that the Celtics, three and a half games out with 13 games to play, that they can go on a little bit of a run here, coupled with a piston slide and snag that top seat?

[C]

I mean, it's. It's definitely possible. I think the. You know, I think, you know, I'm always hesitant about, like, it always feels. I'm always hesitant about jumping right into it with this kind of stuff, right? Because it's like, I don't know, man. Kate Cunningham's got a collapse long. Like, that's messed up.

[A]

It is.

[C]

I really do not want to be out here, like, making it sound like. And. And we're not. Obviously. You're not. I'm not. We're not. We're not out here being like, oh, it's an opportunity. Like, it's like, no, man, this stinks. Like, I. I think it's. I think it's a. I think it's a travesty that Cade Cunningham will probably not be eligible for all NBA. Like, and, like, you know, MVP stuff. Like, that's especially given the games he's missing are in this part of the season. Like, dog. Like, can we get. Can we. Can we make it? If he gets past a certain point, can he be exempt from this? Because, like, who cares about games from March 19 to April 12, like, I don't know.

[A]

He's played how many games. He's only missed seven games, so he's played at this point, 61.

[C]

I was gonna say. I believe he's. I believe he's four off and, like, if he's out till the playoffs, yeah, he's not gonna make it. You know, like, brutal. Brutal like K. Cunningham. And I think, you know, one of the things I always. I've always thought Bill Simmons got right about, like, awards and stuff like that is it's like, can you tell the story of the season without this guy? You cannot tell the story of this regular season without Cade Cunningham. So, like, to leave him off of this stuff is. Is stupid. So Stupid. I. I hate it. Anyway, you know, so to answer your question, I think. I do think that the Celtics could make a run based on this. Right? I think, you know, Cade, the. The. The Pistons with, with Kate on the floor, you know, their offense is plus 8.4 with him on the floor. Like, they're, they're like he, he. Yeah, like you said, he. He's the engine. He. He's what makes everything work at a high level. He's the superstar. I don't really see anybody else on that team that I'm like, oh, well, you know, I mean, maybe like, you know, maybe that guy can take a big step forward as a, you know, as a playmaker, as an offensive. Like there's not. There's nobody on that team that can. Can. I don't think, can take that mantle from him.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So I would expect the Pistons to. To lose quite a bit. I mean, look this. The Celtics have. The Celtics do not have a particularly easy schedule the rest of the way. I haven't looked at like Tankathons. Okay, what do we got?

[A]

Celtics are their seventh, seventh toughest remaining schedule. They have. Oh, wait, no, I just lost it. They. They have, they have, John. They have.

[C]

What if I can beat you to it? What if I can beat you to it? Seventh.

[A]

I said seventh.

[C]

You were right. Seventh artist.

[A]

I'm trying, but all of a sudden I can't get there.

[C]

So they have, they have the Thunder, the Knicks, the Wolves. But. But then, I mean, you know, it's like the Raptors, like, okay, you know,

[A]

the Magic, that's the above. The above 500. So tankathon lists above 500 teams and below 500 teams. So the Celtics there are tough games on. Although they are catching a break. They got Minnesota with no Anthony Edwards. Right.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So up next for the. It's Memphis also.

[C]

They get two days off before the Thunder. Like.

[A]

Yeah, you know, Memphis on Friday. They're at. At Memphis. Minnesota at home. No ant. Two days off before okc. We'll see how that goes. Then Atlanta. Okay, Atlanta's hot, but yeah, yeah, still. Still beatable. Then Charlotte in Atlanta. Three games and four nights. Tough back to back Charlotte and Atlanta. That's not.

[C]

Charlotte might be unbeatable. Like, like there a way to beat that team.

[A]

Right? Miami on the road, Milwaukee on the road. Winnable games. Home for Toronto, home for Charlotte. On the road in New York. Back to back, back home. New Orleans and then Orlando on the final day of the season. That it's. It's a tough schedule.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

As Far as some of these opponents, but also it's. It's not. It's not something that. That's not doable. So here, here's the breakdown. The Celtics are three and a half games back, but really kind of four and a half because the Pistons still own the tiebreaker. The Pistons have a remaining strength of schedule at 15th in the NBA. But Thunder, Lakers, Timberwolves, twice Raptors, Magic, Hornets, Sixers and Hawks, those are all the above. 500 teams that they face. Below 500 teams. Pacer, Pacers, Wizards, Pelicans, Bucks and Warriors. Warriors will be. Before they get Steph back. So that's going to be the same warriors team the Celtics just beat. That should be. Should be a win. But yeah, maybe, you know, all of these.

[C]

Also kind of funny how many, how much crossover there is there. At least a lot of. Yeah, a lot of the same teams that these guys are facing.

[A]

So if the Celtics, if, if the Pistons just lose to the 500 over 500 teams and beat the under 500 teams, they'll go 5 and 9 the rest of the season and finish at 54 and 28. The Celtics would have to go 9 and 4.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So that's still a lot. It's not a lot of leeway. They, it's. It's a, you know, nine, four over 13 games is very doable. But. But now every game above that, the, the Pistons go. So if they go 6 and 8, the Celtics have to go 10 and 3.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

You know, so. So that's, that's where it gets like, do the Celtics run out of time to snag a top seed? And especially now Cade is coming back. I'm sorry, Kate is being reevaluated in two weeks. He's not necessarily done for the season. Right. So we'll see if they put him out there. Especially if they put him out there for four games to, to get him on the, on the thing. Like, I, I hope they don't risk it just so he can get on there.

[C]

Yeah, because don't you have to play like 20 minutes? So you can't like, you could like

[A]

just come back and be like a

[C]

couple possessions and then.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, it's. It's possible. What I'm saying here is it's possible that the Celtics can make their run and the Pistons can struggle because those, those game, like the Thunder can play some defense. The Lakers when they want to. The Timberwolves can for sure. Raptors, Magic, you know, these, these are teams that can go out there and play some defense. And without Cade, without that scoring punch, without somebody setting them up to score, I'm not going to rule out and they've already gone through a little bit of a lull anyway, so I'm not going to rule it out. I'm not going to rule out that the Celtics could get a top seat. Now here's the question. Is it important for the Celtics to get a top seed? Is it? If the Celtics get the top seed versus staying in second, how much does that improve their chances, if at all? Today's show is brought to you by Wayfair. It's springtime. It's a great time to refresh your home. Whether you're updating a room where you whether you're getting some outdoor furniture or finally organizing that cluttered corner, that's me. That's where Wayfair comes in. From furniture to decor to organization solutions, outdoor essentials. Wayfair makes it super easy to find pieces that match your style and your budget. That's the important thing. I've bought plenty from Wayfair already. I know about it. I know how easy it is and how fast it gets here and how easy it is to put things together. And there are thousands of reviews that when my wife shares a link with me or I share something with with her, she can see what people are saying. I can say what people are saying. We can be like, yes, that's the piece that we want. So whether it's a new desk for a home office, some storage solutions, outdoor pieces for spring, it's easy to find something that fits both your style and your daily routine. Find furniture, decor essentials that fit your unique style and budget. Head to wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. That's wayfair.com wayfair every style, every Home. Today's show also brought to you by zocdoc. Finding the right doctor can feel like finding a diamond in the rough. Let's see, you want somebody who's in network, somebody who's nearby, who has availability, that listens to you, that makes you feel comfortable and explains things clearly. Who does that? Well, the doctors that you find on zocdoc do. It's a free app and website to help you find and book high quality in network doctors so you can find somebody that you love without all the hassle. We're talking about booking in network appointments with more than 150,000 providers across all 50 states covering 200 specialties and more, from primary care to dentistry to dermatology and Eye care. You know, I've put off doctor's visits, but zocdoc makes finding that doctor very easy. You can search by specialty symptoms and actually build a care team that works for you. There's real time availability you can book instantly. So whether you want to do in person or a video visit, there's verified patient reviews to help you make your decision. Stop putting off doctor appointments and go to ZocDoc.com lockdown MBA to find and instantly book a doctor that you love today. That's ZocDoc. Z O C doc. Thank you to ZocDoc for sponsoring this message. Today's show also brought to you by five Hour Energy. We're doing the five Hour Energy flavor draft and I'm going opposite day. Today. I'm normally in on the fruit flavors. Today I'm going sweet. But the best part about going sweet, no sugar. So you're not getting that sugar crash. You're just getting that energy shot that 5 hour energy is known for. How about cotton candy? How about a delicious swirl of sugary clouds, a fruity twist and a hint of vanilla. The sweet side of tasty caffeine. And I love my caffeine. And this is going to give me that boost that I like with a little bit of that sweet tooth that I need to satisfy every once in a while. From start to finish, it's that sweet tooth fix without that sugar guilt. But if you want to do something like fruity rainbow or simple cherry grape berry, it's all available at 5hourenergy.com the number 5ourenergy.com or you can pick some up at Amazon.

[C]

Yeah, I, I'm not sure. I, I don't know that if I'm the Celtics. It's funny, right? Because I mean, the Knicks are like one of the things to remember about last year's Knicks series, right? Is that the Celtics were probably going to lose that series even if Tatum didn't get injured, right? Like, I know there was like a chance that they could have rallied in that game and that game was getting away from them when Tatum got injured. And that would have put them down 3. 1. That would have been a really tough hole to dig themselves out of. Maybe they could have done it. They, they swept the Knicks in the regular season. All that said, I just don't really think that highly of the Knicks. I don't know. Like, I know that's, I'm not that, not that they're not a good team. They're, they're, they're a really good team. It's just, again, I, you know, we just talked about this on the last, on the, the, the Normal podcast that we recorded. I, I just really struggle to take seriously teams that have defensive holes in the playoffs. And the Knicks have those. And you know, if you look at the other teams, I mean, Cleveland is, Cleveland's kind of a wild card. Right. Like, I don't know what to think of them. Obviously, they've been a lot better. You know, I guess it comes down to would you rather face a team with defensive holes knowing that the Celtics are good at exploiting that? Right. Or would you rather face playoff James Harden?

[A]

Like, I don't know. I, I would rather face playoff James Harden.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I think. And so it's, it's tough. The thing with the Knicks is the Mitchell Robinson kind of conundrum.

[C]

Sure.

[A]

If he plays, if he's healthy, he changes things. And a Knicks series would be a hell of a time for the Celtics to be, you know, to revert back to, oh, by the way, we can't keep anybody off the offensive glass. Yeah, that would be a problem. And you hope that that doesn't kind of return, but it could return and you just don't want to deal with that. So I think I'd rather go with the disappointing team with the deep. Like the Cavs have plenty of defensive holes as well.

[C]

Sure.

[A]

I don't trust Evan Mobley necessarily in a playoff, extended playoff series. I just, I just don't see him being a killer over a seven game series. And you got James Harden. He's, he is what he is. Yeah, there's, there's a weird Dennis Schroeder element to this where he's one of those guys that for some reason in the NBA, he's nowhere near as good as he is internationally. But clutch time, he's never afraid of the clutch. He, he has hit big shots in his career. And there's just a little part of me that says, boy, Dennis Schroeder kind of screwing this whole thing up is the weird kind of thing that makes stupid sense. And he, he can weirdly win you a playoff game, maybe two, with his just fearlessness and annoyance.

[C]

And I mean, look, you want to talk about fearlessness, I, I, I've, I am, I might be outside of Cleveland, I might be the biggest Donovan Mitchell guy out there. Like, that guy is a monster. And you know, in the postseat, like, he is not scared of the Celtics, he is not scared of the playoffs, he is not scared of the big shot in Fact, he relishes all of that. I, I, I, I, I don't know, man. I, I think I might be. I think I might be too pro. Donovan Mitchell.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

To where? I would rather see the Knicks if I were the Celtics than, Than see Donovan Mitchell. I just think that guys see that, that guy's a monster.

[A]

You go into a fourth quarter against Cleveland, up 20 and still nervous.

[C]

Still nervous, right, because you know he's

[A]

gonna score 25 in that quarter. You know, it's like, okay, just when.

[C]

All right, we're up by 20. I hope we win this one by seven.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, right, right. You just. I hope you can hold off Donovan Mitchell long enough where. Or, or I hope you can hit enough shots to counteract what Donovan Mitchell is about to do to you.

[C]

You're up by 22. I hope that your basement is strong enough to withstand the tornado that's coming.

[A]

Like. Yeah, right, right. And so I acknowledge that completely. I guess I'm, I'm looking at the Knicks more in that I've seen what they can do. I've seen it. I've seen. But at the same time, the Celtics really kind of like, soiled themselves in games one and two of that series. The Celtics had monster leads in both of those games.

[C]

Right.

[A]

Like, yes, they were. I, I believe that they were going to lose that game if Tatum didn't get hurt. I still believe that they were going to lose that game. Nothing about that moment, I remember being there and being like, oh, my God, I can't believe they're losing this game is so important. But they did have huge leads in games one and two, and it, it felt like this. The Celtics were very complicit in their own demise. So.

[C]

Right. That is true.

[A]

I should, I should be more okay with facing the Knicks. But also, the Knicks have beaten the Celtics this season and have looked better against the Celtics this season. And that matchup on was April 9th. If the Knicks win that, they own the tiebreaker against the Celtics. So for all of where the Celtics are facing the Knicks in, in the second round of the playoffs, again, that's, that's not a, that's not a guarantee. There's no gimme there. And it puts a lot of pressure on the Mishkeda to box out and puts a lot of pressure on Nicola Vuchovic and Luca Garza to go out there and keep Mitchell Robinson and all those guys off the boards, and more than that, to keep guys like Josh Hart off the boards. And it just puts a different kind of pressure on the Celtics. So getting to the top seed, I'm not saying like I want to avoid the Knicks, but just getting to the top seed, having those first couple of games at home feels just better. And however the rest of it plays out, I, I, I wouldn't mind. I wouldn't mind that. I just wouldn't mind that. Yeah. And look good.

[C]

You get that. You get the number one seed. You don't fight against that. You know, I think.

[A]

Right, right. But I'm saying, I'm saying it matters a little bit more than the, ah, whatever.

[C]

Sure. Okay. I got, I got what you're saying. Yeah, I mean, I think I lean more toward the F, Whatever. Like, you know, just be trying to play your best basketball at the time when you need to be, you know, like, like Joe Missoula kind of talked about yesterday when you think Wash asked him about, like, do you watch the standings and all? He's kind of like, I mean, this is kind of control what you can control and, and kind of go from there. So. Yeah, I mean, either way, I, I think like, either way, I think the second round series, I do think that this year's team, I think that this year's team could come out of the East. I think that they could challenge in the finals for a title. I also don't think that a second round series is going to be guaranteed this year. Like, I, I do think that there is a level of parody here that, where it's like, you know, so a really good basketball team. The Celtics are a really good basketball team. But I, I don't think that it's, I don't think that no matter what, this is not going to be like a Mickey Mouse walk to the finals. Right? This is, there's gonna be, there's gonna, there's some, there's, there's gonna be a challenge in your way one way or the other, whether that's, whether that's the, the Donovan Mitchell tornado or whether that's the, you know, the Mitchell Robinson and the, you know, the ghosts of last year. Right. Because I do think there's something to that too. Right. Like, you know, if the Celtics play the Knicks, that's going to be an emotional series for the Celtics for a lot of reasons. So, yeah, I, I could see it either way

[A]

if this happens. Look, the, the one thing I feel, I think good about is that even if Kate is out for a while and it costs them the top seed, one of the reasons why I beat, I kind of want that top seed is Cade will be Back and assuming that the Pistons can get through the first round or two, whatever it is, Cade Cunningham will be. If. If it's Celtics Pistons in the conference finals. Cade will be there. Yeah, Cade will be there. Presumably, I presume everybody be there and just. Why not just have that first game at home? It'd be a huge moment for the Pistons. I'd rather not. The Pistons start a conference finals at home where they feel comfortable. I'd rather have them in that huge moment with the NBA Finals staring them in the face. And I don't want to say they're totally improving because they were in the playoffs last year, and that means something. But they haven't played for the NBA. This team hasn't played that deep. I'd rather have them face like a. A hostile crowd, hostile environment, looking around, being, oh, my God, Boston in the conference finals is just a different animal. I'd rather see them kind of. I don't know if they'd shake in their boots, but I'd rather see them face that than have. Have that comfort at home. So there's a little added

[C]

look.

[A]

The Celtics are trying to win every game. So I don't want to sound like, stupid by saying, you got to go for it. Of course they want to win every game, but I would.

[C]

Joe Missoula. They're. They're gonna go for it. They're gonna.

[A]

Right. They're going for it. When you. If you ask Joe Missoula, hey, you're going for the top seed. Like, I'm always going for the top seat.

[C]

Right?

[A]

I want to go 82 and 0.

[C]

Have you seen. Have you seen Shorzy the show?

[A]

No.

[C]

There's a. He's. He's on a hockey team, and it's like he's got this very famous. Like, this team will never lose again. It was like, that's, like, that's very much Joe Missoula. It's just like his, like, you know, cross his arms. This team will never lose again. That's just the impression I get from him all the time.

[A]

Yeah. So. But I would like to see it if. If it's there, if it's possible. Again, stressing, no one wants Kade Cunningham hurt. No one is celebrating Cade Cunningham being hurt. But the basketball thing keeps moving on. We have to talk about in basketball terms, and if there's an opportunity to sneak into that top seed, I would. I would love to see them do it, because I think for a variety of reasons, it would be helpful. Tom doesn't give a damn, so whatever.

[C]

Yeah. Who cares. I do think from a basketball perspective, you know, one thing to keep an eye on, right, is that if you're a, if you're a Celtics fan, if you're a Jalen Brown fan, I, I do think that this pretty much guarantees that he will be, you know, all NBA first team, which I, I think is, you know, he, I think he should have been anyway. But it like does seem like that that, you know, was kind of the last domino to fall in front of him. Being all NBA first team, which you know will be if he gets that will be very well deserved.

[A]

Sure. Absolutely. All right, well, we're wrapping up there. Tom, Appreciate you man. Thank you for hopping on this podcast and I always appreciate all of you listening, watching bonus content here all the time. This is, this is our what, third bonus podcast this week. So you're getting eight podcasts this week plus bonus podcast after the Friday night game nine. The only way to get them all is to subscribe. Make sure you're doing that whatever podcasting app you use. It's on YouTube as well. Thank you for joining me on a regular basis, being an everydayer. And now please share the podcast. Tell everybody they should be listening to and watching the Lockdown Celtics podcast here on the Lockdown Podcast Network. It's your team every day. 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, wonderful

[D]

and

[A]

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.

[D]

Let's Texas Snoring, Gasping during sleep? Feeling fatigued? Wake up to zepbound Tirzepatide, the first and only FDA approved prescription medicine for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and adults with obesity. Zeb Bound is an injectable prescription medicine that may help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity to improve their osa. Zebound should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. Zebbound is Approved as a 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 or 15mg injection. Zetbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used with other Tirzepatide containing products or any GLP1 receptor agonist medicine. It is not known if Zepbound is safe and effective for use in children. Do not share needles or pins or reuse needles. Don't take Zepbound if allergic to it or if you or someone in your family had medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia Syndrome Type 2. Tell your doctor if you get a lump or swelling in your neck. Stop Zepbound and call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain or a serious allergic reaction. Severe side effects may include inflamed pancreas or gallbladder problems. Tell your doctor if you experience vision changes, depression or or suicidal thoughts before scheduled procedures with anesthesia. If you're nursing pregnant, plan to be or taking birth control pills. Taking Zepbound with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems. Talk to your doctor. Call 1-800-545-5979 or visit zepbound.lilly.com Zepbound and its delivery device, Base and QuickPen are registered trademarks owned or licensed by eli Lilly Co. Its subsidiaries or affiliates.

[B]

You're juggling a lot, but you can still squeeze in a financial plan with the Northwestern Mutual Financial advisor as your partner. It's not only possible, it's personalized. So if you're tying the knot, closing on a house, or welcoming a little one, you'll be ready for whatever life tosses your way. It's the right time to feel less stressed and more certain. That's about better way to money let's get started at nm. Com the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company Milwaukee, Wisconsin.