Podcast Summary: The Athletic NBA Daily – "Early NBA Season True or False | Morning Shoot Around"

Date: November 19, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, Esfandiar Baraheni

Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily’s “Morning Shoot Around” focused on rapid-fire “true or false” debates about the NBA’s early season trends. The hosts dig into which teams are truly the league’s best, conference strength, the pitfalls of tanking culture, and which struggling franchises most desperately need to win the upcoming draft lottery. On top of that, the episode delivers lively banter, in-depth stats discussion, and a lighter final segment with food hot takes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Are the Early NBA Season's Top 5 Teams Legit?

(Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Pistons, Knicks – by net rating)

• Debated List: Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Pistons, Knicks as the top five by net rating.
• Panel Response:
  • Most agreed: The list is close, but not quite the actual “best 5”.
  • Cavs vs. Pistons:
    • Esfandiar: “I think the Cavs should be here… over the Pistons at this point.” (05:01)
    • Injuries to Garland and experimentation with Mobley have weighed on the Cavs, but most still view them as a top squad when healthy.
    • Pistons are “rolling” despite injuries, showing a strong identity, but panel consensus leans toward Cavaliers being a more playoff-ready core.
• Notable Quote:
  • “I think the Pistons are a very good team. They’re obviously incredibly young, but I would still have the Cavs over them as the top dog.” – Host 2 (07:43)

2. East vs. West – Which is Deeper?

• Initial Response:
  • Dave DuFour: “False.” (10:14)
  • Zena: Briefly played contrarian, but ultimately, most hosts leaned West.
• Breakdown:
  • East: Top has the Bucks, Bulls, Heat, Raptors, Magic, Celtics. Bottom is “hellfire” – Pacers, Wizards, Nets, Hornets.
  • West: Even struggling teams like the Jazz, Kings, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Clippers have competitive rosters.
  • Competitive Games: West’s bottom teams play many close games; East’s bottom is mostly “blowouts.”
• Notable Quotes:
  • “The east right now because of those saddlebags… that automatically erases the entire argument for the East.” – Host 1 (12:00)
  • “Those aren’t even basketball teams at this point.” – Host 3, on the bottom of the East (16:24)
  • “All five of those teams in the bottom of the west are there accidentally. None of them want to be there.” – Host 3 (20:21)

3. Tanking Culture and the NBA Lottery System

• Discussion:
  • Tanking is still incentivized despite flattened odds; teams like Brooklyn are “being ignored” because they aren’t trying to win.
  • Andrew draws parallels to the Nets’ failed roster-building attempts and how that leaves franchises gutted for years.
  • Alternative Lottery Suggestions:
    • “Reverse” lottery—reward teams that just miss the playoffs with better odds.
    • Wild suggestions: “all 30 teams in the lottery,” adding competitive physical challenges, etc.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “They incentivize losing and tanking, and... that’s really bad for the league.” – Host 3 (16:44)
  • “Why not try?” – Host 3 (32:33)

4. If Conferences Were Abolished: How Many Eastern Teams Are True Title Contenders?

• Andrew’s Provocation:
  • “How many of these Eastern Conference teams would even be contenders to win the whole thing?” (22:04)
• Host Rankings:
  • Dave: “I would say one, actually… I have the Cavs as that team and nobody else.” (22:36 – 22:41)
  • Zena & Host 1: Include Cavs and Knicks; no real faith in the Pistons without playoff proof.
  • Skepticism about Knicks’ defensive ceiling, questions about Celtics’ health and big-man depth.
  • Cavs considered perhaps “sixth or seventh” best even in a league-wide bracket, behind OKC, Denver, Houston, Lakers, Spurs, Wolves. (23:40)

5. Injury Talk: Celtics and Tatum’s Achilles Comeback

• Should Boston Be Counted Out?
  • Zena: “I’m not ready to count the Celtics out. If Tatum comes back healthy, you just never know.” (25:05)
  • Pushback: Medical science, severity of Achilles injuries—Tatum returning isn’t realistic this year.
  • General: Boston has “monotony,” “continuity,” but lacks the top-end talent healthy. (26:41)

6. Who Needs This Year’s Draft Lottery the Most?

• Central Question: “The team most desperate to win the lottery… is it the Brooklyn Nets?” (38:00)
• Host Arguments:
  • Zena: “I think it’s the Kings.” (38:54)
  • Kings’ loss of identity post-beam era; no young talent on horizon.
  • Es: Nets also in huge trouble—they have a pick swap coming and failed star projects behind them. “The Nets have to get a good pick because 2027, they’re not getting a good pick.” (42:25)
  • Mavericks (brief mention): have their pick this year, little future capital.
• Tankathon Lottery Spin:
  • Simulated live. Kings win, causing joking celebrations. (44:10)

7. Trade Candidates & Difficult Contracts

• Kings’ Asset Pool:
  • Little trade value on the roster, possibly Keon Ellis, but otherwise, “no future in Sacramento right now.” — Host 1 (43:53)
  • Zach LaVine’s unappealing contract: $47.5M this year and a $48.9M player option. (49:09)

8. Food Takes & Lighthearted Closing Segment

• Monk Fruit Debates:
  • “Monk fruit is delicious. It does not belong as a sweetener in food.” – Host 3 (50:52)
• Other Food Takes:
  • Golden kiwis > green kiwis.
  • Potato chip flavors in other countries outclass the U.S.
  • Steak-flavored Lays potato chips exist (and taste like beef). (54:17)
  • Cereal nostalgia and allergies.
• Show Banter:
  • Ongoing jokes about NBA-themed cereals and future sponsorships.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cavs over Pistons:
  “The Cavs push come to shove, are the better team.” – Host 2 (07:43)
• On East’s bottom teams:
  “Those aren’t even basketball teams at this point.” – Host 3 (16:24)
• On Kings as a franchise:
  “There’s no future in Sacramento right now.” – Host 1 (43:53)
• Lottery Simulation Excitement:
  “Sacramento Kings got the first pick. There we go.” – Andrew (44:52)
• On Monk Fruit:
  “Monk fruit is delicious. It does not belong as a sweetener in food.” – Host 3 (50:52)
• On the Kings’ roster building:
  “They see one thing they like and they’re like, you know what? Hey, Zach Levine, he can score points per game, baby.” – Host 3 (41:12)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• True/False: Top 5 Teams Debate: 03:27 – 09:49
• East vs. West Depth Debate: 09:58 – 21:10
• Tanking & NBA Lottery Riffs: 16:28 – 33:14
• Conference Abolition & Title Contenders: 22:01 – 29:28
• Celtics Injury Future: 25:05 – 28:25
• Who Deserves/Wants Lottery Luck Most: 38:00 – 45:13
• Tankathon Lottery Simulation: 44:10 – 45:13
• NBA Food Takes & Final Banter: 50:52 – 56:19

Recap/Tone

The episode was lively, playful, and freewheeling but always NBA-obsessed, blending advanced stats with a healthy dose of skepticism about early-season data, conference narratives, and the future of precarious franchises. The regulars maintained their slightly irreverent, knowledgeable banter, punctuated with memorable one-liners and a running thread of tangential fun.

For fans wanting a witty, stat-laced, and speculative NBA discussion—with a touch of foodie nonsense—this “Morning Shoot Around” hits the mark.