The Athletic NBA Daily — November 20, 2025

Episode: Bulls Buzzer Beater + Zion returns for Pelicans

Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guest: Will Guillory
Summary by: [Expert Podcast Summarizer]
Skip to regular content at [02:20]

Overview

This episode recaps a night of surprising NBA action, focusing on the Houston Rockets' statement win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the surging Toronto Raptors, the Chicago Bulls' buzzer-beater thriller, and a big-picture look at the New Orleans Pelicans following Zion Williamson's return and the firing of head coach Willie Green. Insights on team dynamics, rookie development, and organizational turmoil weave throughout the discussion.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Rockets Big Win Over Cavaliers: Lineups, Offense, and Sustainability

[02:20 – 08:19]

• Houston's Experimentation with Size:

  • Rockets began with a “double big” lineup to counter Cleveland’s established dual-big system, leading to Houston controlling the early game. Cleveland, severely short-handed (missing Ty Jerome, Caris LeVert, Max Strus, and Darius Garland), had its 9th different starting lineup and their lowest-scoring first quarter this season (Dave, 02:53).
  • “The Rockets got a big boost out of the gate thanks to the double big lineup, but also a little bit because the Cavs are down and scuffling.” — Dave DuFour [03:30]

• Cleveland's Struggles Without Playmaking:

  • With Donovan Mitchell cold early (1-7 shooting through three quarters), scoring stagnated. Without Garland and other creators, the Cavs’ offense became predictable.

• Houston's Offensive Identity Crisis:

  • Heavy reliance on individual creation and isolations for Alperen Sengun and Kevin Durant, with offensive rebounding (notably by Steven Adams) as a key component but not a sustainable long-term plan.
  • Houston ranks 30th in 3-point rate, hurting offensive spacing, especially against quality defenses. Amen Thompson’s role was highlighted, but Houston’s offensive system drew skepticism from both hosts.
  • “I couldn’t tell you what kind of sets they’re out there running. … It’s a lot of beat your man, make a play.” — Dave DuFour [05:52]
  • “It’s not sustainable. Especially when defenses start to pick up on the fact you can only score inside the arc.” — Zena Keita [07:16]

• Cleveland’s Late Comeback:

  • Aaron Holiday’s timely shooting helped Houston respond to a late Cavs push, despite their offensive drought.

2. Raptors on the Rise: Chemistry, Defense, and “Surprise” Success

[08:18 – 11:15]

• Unexpected Surge:

  • Toronto is now 10-5, riding a five-game win streak. The Brandon Ingram addition is paying off on both ends, especially his defensive effort, with the synergy on that end highlighted.
  • “Honestly, like Brandon Ingram … it has worked out for them. Especially I’ve seen more of him on the defensive end and it fits because this group defensively can just cause so much chaos.” — Dave DuFour [08:18]

• Athleticism & Youth:

  • Credit to development of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and the boost from young players like Grady Dick and Ochai Agbaji.
  • Despite poor 3-point shooting (bottom three in the league), top-10 offense and defense, fueled by transition play and versatile scoring.
  • “They just needed a little more finesse to their game. Bring in Brandon Ingram, one of the best finessers to his offensive game.” — Zena Keita [09:39]

• Forecasts & Fun:

  • Joking about S (Esfandiar Baraheni) soon predicting 50 Raptor wins.
  • “S is going to be claiming 50 wins next week. I’m calling it right now.” — Dave DuFour [11:11]

3. Bulls Edge Blazers in Buzzer-Beater; Kobe White’s Electric Return

[11:15 – 14:11]

• Game Recap:

  • Bulls defeat Trail Blazers on a Nikola Vucevic buzzer-beating three.
    “Nikola Vucevic goes off, he hits the game-winning three as the buzzer goes off.” — Dave DuFour [11:36]
  • Kobe White’s rapid impact since return (27 points first game, 25 in this one, high assists) praised as the missing ingredient in the Bulls’ offense.
  • Emphasis on “thunder and lightning” dynamic between White and new acquisition Josh Giddey.

• Team Dynamics:

  • Chicago’s offensive efficiency stands out: 36 assists this game, part of a three-game stretch with 31+ assists nightly.
  • Portland outshot, out-rebounded, and outran the Bulls, but Chicago’s offense was simply more effective.

• Key Moment:

  • Defensive lapse by Portland’s Tamanu Kamara opened the door for Vucevic’s game-winner after over-helping on Kobe White.
  • “All the people that love defense – they’re the antonym to that. They’re like, no, no, offense wins games, okay?” — Zena Keita [14:11]

4. Pelicans’ New Era: Zion Returns, Derrick Queen’s Breakout, & Coaching Chaos

[17:45 – 35:23]

Zion’s Return & Derrick Queen’s Breakout

[17:45 – 23:09]

• Zion’s Limited Yet Promising Comeback:

  • Zion Williamson, in uniform with Trey Murphy, Derrick Queen, and Jeremiah Fears, drew defensive attention and flashed chemistry in half-court sets.
  • “Whenever he’s on the court, he just gets so much attention. … you saw certain flashes with him in particular, him, [Derrick] Queen and Trey Murphy out there… This might actually be a thing.” — Will Guillory [18:08]

• Derrick Queen Impresses Against Jokic:

  • Queen notched 30 points, showing surprising skill and confidence against Nikola Jokic—including isolation face-ups, inside-out moves, and directing teammates on the court.
  • “There are certain moments where we’ve heard from some of his veteran teammates … Queen is telling us where to go … I’ll find you. That’s stuff you don’t hear from rookie, especially rookie big men.” — Will Guillory [19:57]
  • Noted basketball IQ, confidence, and playmaking; compared loosely to Jokic and Draymond Green as development benchmarks.

• Growth Mentality:

  • Queen soaking up advice from veterans like Draymond Green; both Queen and Fears framed as “sponges” vital to the Pelicans’ future.
  • “He was on the line learning from this guy, like taking it in, absorbing it. … That was really cool to see.” — Zena Keita [21:57]

Coaching Turmoil & Organizational Fallout

[25:27 – 35:23]

• Willie Green’s Firing—A Dysfunctional Saga:

  • Ownership repeatedly delayed the firing, undermining Green’s authority and causing a “dead man walking” effect in the locker room.
  • “Frankly, the entire locker room was kind of just done with Willie. … There was no authority in his voice.” — Will Guillory [26:51]
  • Lax effort and accountability plagued the team as players and staff waited for the inevitable, setting a poor example for rookies and derailing early development.

• Impact on Rookies and Franchise:

  • “It was malpractice by everybody involved to allow it to get to this point. … Now they’re starting from scratch, 15 games in, with a new coach.” — Will Guillory [26:51]
  • Hosts lament the precedent set for young players about tuning out coaches.

• James Borrego Era Begins:

  • Borrego, described as eloquent and media-friendly, inherits a 70-game “runway” to set a new tone and system.
  • Potential candidates for next head coach include Darvin Ham, Kevin Ollie, Taylor Jenkins; skepticism that star coaches would want the job due to current roster/situation.
  • “They blocked him [Borrego] from interviewing for other jobs, which probably means they had eyed him for this job anyway. And he’s got 70 games to figure out if he can create some sort of an identity.” — Dave DuFour [34:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Rockets’ Offense:
  “Their offense stalls out. They don’t have much of an offense, per se … everything being predicated off beat your man … it just can’t be your only offense.” — Dave DuFour [05:52]

• On Raptors’ Defensive Turnaround:
  “They’re just playing phenomenally. … In the last five games that they’ve won in a row, they are top 10 in almost every statistical category.” — Zena Keita [10:53]

• On Derrick Queen’s Poise:
  “He just went directly into Jokic’s chest and scored several times … this kid is 15 games into his career, and he’s doing this against the best player in the world.” — Will Guillory [19:57]

• On the Pelicans’ Coaching Debacle:
  “Once the players kind of see ‘Dead Man Walking’ written on the coach’s forehead, your authority in the locker room is gone.” — Will Guillory [26:51]

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment/Theme | Timestamps | |------------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Rockets vs. Cavaliers recap & analysis | 02:20 – 08:19 | | Raptors’ win streak & team maturation | 08:18 – 11:15 | | Bulls’ buzzer-beater win & Kobe White’s return | 11:15 – 14:11 | | Pelicans: Zion’s return & Derrick Queen | 17:45 – 23:09 | | Pelicans: Willie Green firing & fallout | 25:27 – 35:23 |

Tone and Style

• Conversational, insightful, and occasionally irreverent, the discussion blends smart basketball analysis with humor and directness, especially when addressing organizational dysfunction or player trends.
• Notable asides and jokes include running gags about hosts’ preseason predictions and tongue-in-cheek references to fan optimism (“claiming 50 wins next week”).

Summary Takeaways

• Rockets are tough and big, but their offensive system and lack of shooting are long-term concerns.
• The Raptors have transformed into a high-energy, cohesive squad—one of this young season’s true surprises.
• The Bulls’ recent run and last-second heroics may mark a turning point, with Kobe White’s return catalyzing electric team play.
• The Pelicans’ organizational mishandling of their coaching situation set back rookie development and sets a cautionary tale, but there’s promise in rookie standouts and a (potentially) stabilizing presence in James Borrego.

For NBA fans and podcast listeners, this episode offers a detailed look into several teams’ crossroads and emerging narratives, peppered with both hard-hitting analysis and lively banter.