No Dunks – The Drop | "Playoff Picture Remains Murky, Embiid's Appendicitis & Final NBA Awards Watch"

Date: April 10, 2026
Hosts: J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas, JD

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This episode dives into the unpredictable NBA playoff picture with only two nights remaining in the regular season, spotlights Joel Embiid’s shocking appendicitis and its impact on the Philadelphia 76ers’ playoff hopes, and presents a final, comprehensive look at each major NBA award race—with spirited debates, odds, and personal ballots. The guys also riff on key games, wild NBA stats, and rapid-fire lifestyle shenanigans in classic No Dunks fashion.

1. Joel Embiid’s Appendicitis: Sixers’ Worst Luck Strikes Again

[04:54 — 15:22]

• Breaking News: Joel Embiid underwent emergency appendectomy in Houston after being diagnosed with appendicitis a few hours before a loss to the Rockets. Recovery timeframe is typically 3 weeks (“23 days” per Jeff Stotts) – a massive blow for the 76ers just before play-in/playoffs.

• Embiid’s Injury History: The hosts recount a laundry list of Embiid’s random, sometimes freak injuries:

  • Bell’s palsy in the playoffs (2024)
  • Playoff thumb tear (2022), multiple orbital fractures
  • Knee sprain, torn meniscus, and more

“Joel Embiid is a real-life Cavity Sam from the Operation board game.”
— Skeets (09:32)

• Impact on Sixers’ Playoff Chances:

  • Unlikely Embiid plays in the play-in or first round. Skeets bluntly states:

  “There’s no chance... they’re going to win a playoff series [without Embiid].” (08:08)

  • Paul George, back after suspension, has to shoulder much more; the belief is the team might squeak into the playoffs because “in a one-game scenario, who knows?” but expectations are bleak.

• Comps & Recovery Speculation:

  • F1 drivers Carlos Sainz (2024) & Alex Albon returned quickly after the same surgery, but the hosts note racing ≠ NBA-level physicality.
  • Guest stories: recovery can range from “no activity for a month” (14:28) to rare rapid returns—still, NBA timeline seen as daunting.

2. Key Games & Playoff Chaos

[15:22 — 28:41]

• Knicks vs. Celtics Recap:

  • Playoff-level intensity: Knicks beat Celtics in Tatum’s return to MSG, without Jaylen Brown.
  • Josh Hart shines: 15 points in the 4th, two clutch threes in the final 40 seconds to close it out.

  “Camera cut to Ben Stiller in the front row. Wow.” — Tas (16:00)

  • Celtics encouraged despite loss; bench and depth looked strong, Tatum rusty but gearing up for postseason.

• Eastern Conference Standings:

  • Only #1 seeds locked; “something like 14 seeds are still up for grabs” heading into the final weekend.
  • Knicks still alive for #2, but Celtics “in the driver’s seat.”

• Other Results:

  • Raptors edge closer to playoffs, beat Miami (Raptors “just own the Heat”).
  • LeBron leads Lakers over Warriors—big for Western seeding.
  • Rockets win 8th straight, beating the hobbled Sixers.

• Playoff Matchup Scenarios:

  • West: Lakers currently face Rockets in 4 vs. 5, Nuggets clinging to the #3 seed (“Thunder want to keep them there—so sitting everyone vs. Denver” [22:19])
  • Raptors’ streaky dominance: 26-0 vs. bottom/mid-tier teams, 0-20 vs. top-tier.
  • Potential 1st round: Raptors/Cavs (Toronto won season series), Hawks still in mix.

Notable Stat (25:59)

“Raptors are 26-0 versus [lower teams]... 0-20 against the Celtics, Knicks, Rockets, Nuggets, Clippers, Lakers, Spurs, and Wolves.”
— Skeets

[Tim Reynolds tweet cited around 25:59]

3. NBA Awards Watch: Final Odds, Picks & Debates

[33:36 — 68:20]

The hosts break down each major award, reading the odds, mulling criteria, and making their picks with characteristic humor and candor.

MVP

[33:36 — 43:03]

• Odds:

  • SGA (Shea Gilgeous-Alexander): -7000, runaway favorite
  • Wemby: +3300
  • Jokic: +7500

• Arguments for SGA:

  • “Mr. Consistency” — best SRS impact, most games played, led OKC to league’s top record and possibly back-to-back MVPs (and maybe titles).
  • “Doubled as much as anyone else... barely turns the ball over... ranks 96th percentile in turnover rate” (37:57)
  • Defensive contributions underappreciated.

“He’s going to cement himself as the greatest Canadian basketball player of all time. … He’s just better [than Nash].”
— Skeets (36:57)

• Runner-Ups:
  • Jokic and Wemby praised but SGA’s “games played” and team standing matter most.
  • Jokic’s “third-place” finish bittersweet.

Defensive Player of the Year

[43:03 — 45:41]

• Odds: Wembanyama (-4,000)
• Qualification Drama: Needs one more 20+ min game to hit 65 required. The pod details all the possible exceptions.
• “Will it be unanimous?” Both predict yes, barring a last-minute injury holdout.

Rookie of the Year

[45:41 — 53:25]

• Odds:

  • Con Knueppel (Hornets): -120
  • Cooper Flagg (Mavs): +100

• Debate:

  • Skeets: “Cooper is the more well-rounded player… but the Hornets’ success tips me towards Knueppel.”
  • Tas: More impressed by Knueppel’s consistency, games played, impact on winning than Flagg’s counting stats (“He was their best player... I still think he’s their best player.” [50:37])
  • Off-court color: Lamelo Ball doused Knueppel with a mop bucket after setting rookie 3s record (51:55).

Most Improved Player

[56:58 — 60:58]

• Odds:

  • N. Alexander-Walker (Hawks): -1500 (from 8.5 → 21 PPG!)
  • Duren, Avdija, Jalen Johnson trail far behind

• Hosts agree: NAW’s jump is historic, compared to CJ McCollum’s leap; timing may have played a role (“if it was the first 6 weeks...” [60:08]).

Sixth Man of the Year

[61:52 — 65:27]

• Top two candidates: Keldon Johnson (Spurs) -900, Jaime Jaquez Jr (Heat) +650

• Debate:

  • Tas prefers Jaquez (“He has gotten the best out of what he can do.” [62:52]), citing huge leap and core role.
  • Skeets admits Keldon’s “leadership” and success as a bench leader but expects a close vote.

Coach of the Year

[65:31 — 68:20]

• Odds:

  • J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons): -260 (team smashed preseason o/u)
  • Joe Mazzulla (Celtics): +220
  • Mitch Johnson (Spurs)

• Hosts’ take:

  • Both OK with Bickerstaff winning (“beating the over by 10 wins is huge”); surprised Suns’ Jordan Ott isn’t even on the board.

4. Notable Moments, Quotes & Sidebars

• Cavity Sam/Operation Embiid bit (09:32)
• Josh Hart’s “series winner” vs Celtics & Ben Stiller cameo (16:00)
• Wild Raptors stat line [25:59]
• F1 appendicitis comps for Embiid recovery (13:39)
• Lamelo’s “mop bucket” celebration for Knueppel (51:55)
• Tas’ “Sexiest Player of the Year” joke (36:38-36:49)
• Dylan Brooks trash talks KD... then gets dropped [73:12]
• Best Baseball Play: Joe Adell robs three HRs in one game—hosts marvel at sports randomness [71:00]

5. Playoff Picture: Seeds Up for Grabs & Smart Tanking

[20:20 — 28:41]

• With only two games left, “14 of 20 playoff spots are still up in the air” (20:52), sowing chaos for fans and teams alike
• Thunder’s “strategic resting” to avoid early Denver matchup (22:19)
• Raptors—huge momentum after beating Miami, culture turnaround cited (24:04)
• Raptors’ preferred matchup: Cavs, who they swept in regular season; Hawks schedule tougher (27:10)

6. Rapid Fire: Lifestyle, Laughs & Listener Questions

[88:33 — end]

• If someone impersonated you, what feature would they need?
  • Hosts riff on their hair, shoes (“I’ve never gotten more compliments... in Atlanta, it’s weird!” — Skeets [90:21])
• Weirdest “toilet animal” you’d design?
  • Hippo urinal (Skeets), AI-generated dragon commode (JD), penguin-inspired tank (Tas) [95:42 — 98:29]
• What event could you skip the pageantry for?
  • New Year’s Eve, grade-school graduations, milestone birthdays (“every year’s a birthday!” — Tas [104:06])

7. Best/Worst of the Week

[69:47 — 81:55]

• Best: Joe Adell’s triple home run robbery (MLB)
• Worst:
  1. Dylan Brooks trash-talks KD... and gets hilariously crossed (73:12)
  2. Cooper Flagg blocked by old Duke buddy Malawatch (74:06)
  3. Thanasis-to-Alex Antetokounmpo mishap pass in Bucks’ garbage time (75:22)
  4. Viral clip: Pacers couple mid-argument in the stands (“that’s you, what the are you talking about”) [76:56]
  5. Nets/Pacers ref confusion: wrong team given ball to start the 4th (“just restart the quarter” [78:04])

8. Lullaby of the Night, Stat Nuggets & Show Wrap

• Lullaby Sponsor: Shoutout to No Dunks fans Ishaan and Toby from Melbourne; praise for “guiding NBA adult friendship.” (85:54)
• Stat Nugget: Brandon Ingram now holds the Raptors’ record for most points in a first season with the team—edging out guys like Kawhi and Mike James (87:29, 107:43)
• Next Episode: Full crew returns Monday to recap the final regular season weekend, set up play-in and playoff previews.

Memorable Quotes

• “It is Operation. The board game wants one more time with Joel.”
  — Tas on Embiid’s endless stream of ailments (12:37)

• “They’re 26-0 versus the Hawks, Heat, Pacers, Bulls, Cavs... and 0-20 against the Celtics, Knicks, Rockets, Nuggets, Clippers, Lakers, Spurs, and Wolves...”
  — Skeets, marveling at the Raptors’ all-or-nothing record splits (25:59)

• “SGA... is going to cement himself as the greatest Canadian basketball player of all time.”
  — Skeets (36:57)

• “Do you want a rock or do you want a diamond?”
  — Skeets, on the Con Knueppel vs Cooper Flagg Rookie of the Year debate (51:06)

• “If someone was to impersonate you, what feature would they add?”
  — Rapid fire, leading to a tangent about shoes and the weirdest AI-generated animal toilets (88:33–98:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 04:54 – Breaking: Embiid’s Appendix Surgery & Playoff Impact
• 15:22 – Knicks vs Celtics, Playoff Seed Watch
• 25:59 – Insane Raptors +/- Stat
• 33:36 – Awards Watch (MVP, ROY, DPOY, etc.)
• 56:58 – Most Improved Player Odds
• 61:52 – Sixth Man Race
• 65:31 – Coach of the Year
• 69:47 – Worst of the Week Nominees
• 88:33 – Rapid Fire: Impersonations / Pageantry / Animal Toilets
• 107:03 – Show Wrap: Play-in Outlook & Next Week’s Coverage

In classic No Dunks style, this jam-packed episode balances high-level hoops analysis with locker room humor, obscure stats, and genuine camaraderie—just as much a must-listen for NBA nuts as for anyone craving great banter and season-end clarity.