East + West Playoff check-in

Summary

The Athletic NBA Daily – "East + West Playoff Check-In"

Date: March 2, 2026
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Kada, Esfandiar Baraheni (Esfandiar)

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Overview

This episode offers a fast-moving, insightful check-in on the NBA playoff races as teams enter the home stretch of the 2025-26 regular season. The hosts break down big games from the weekend, discuss shifting standings and key injuries, and debate the legitimacy and flaws of the season’s top contenders in both conferences. The conversation features sharp analysis, data-driven observations, and the show’s trademark banter.

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Western Conference Check-In

Thunder Steady at the Top, Spurs Hit a Snag

[04:30 – 07:27]

• Thunder – Remain a steady #1 in the West; have been in first place all year.
• Spurs – 11-game win streak snapped by the Knicks; Knicks seem to have the Spurs' number.
  • Zena Kada (05:18): “It just feels like the Knicks turn up the physicality when they go up against the Spurs…”
  • Knicks scored in the paint against Wembanyama—something most teams can’t do (Esfandiar, 05:41).
  • Spurs’ 3-point shooting carried them in February (7th in 3P%), but against NYK they shot just 26%.
  • Turnovers killed Spurs: 22 turnovers for 24 Knicks points.
  • Spurs let Knicks go on major runs (e.g., 19 straight at end of 1Q).
• Schedule/Context Factors – Early MSG Sunday start, 4th game in 5-game Spurs road trip.

Wolves and Rockets: The Race for No. 3

[07:27 – 10:49]

• Rockets – Lost to Heat as Wolves surge, putting Houston at risk of dropping from the 3-seed.

• Wolves – 6-1 in last 7, look dangerous; particularly strong against the Nuggets.

  • "The Timberwolves have the Nuggets’ number... They just know how to play against Nikola Jokic." — Esfandiar (08:15)
  • Jokic was held to 5 turnovers.
  • Lack of Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson hurts Denver’s defense; Nuggets are -5 without AG (vs. +13.8 with).
  • Wolves dominated in fast break points (30 to 6).
  • Esfandiar points out huge net rating differentials for Denver with/without Gordon (09:40). "That’s an All-Star-level player swing—20 points!"

• Nuggets Playoff Skepticism

  • "I’m holding onto my Nugget stock... This is a senior investor’s stock." — Dave (11:11)
  • Both Dave and Zena see health as the “stock market” variable; trust Denver if healthy.

Suns, Lakers, and Play-In Watch

[12:05 – 15:58]

• Lakers – Flashes of brilliance matched by equal stretches of “unserious” play.
  • “Their losses are so embarrassingly weird… I just don’t know how to take them outside of not seriously.” — Dave (12:05)
  • Roster fit remains unclear; no major moves (13:12).
  • The trio of Luka, Austin, and LeBron loses minutes; Capela/Ayton have been disappointments.
  • “When you’re trusting Jared Vanderbilt and Marcus Smart to make shots for you, I just don’t know how far you’ll go, especially in this Western Conference.” — Esfandiar (14:02).
  • Lack of defensive focus highlighted by Gary Payton II’s effectiveness against them (15:27).
• Warriors – Not much discussed, but referenced as struggling with injuries and inconsistency.
• Suns – Need health; Booker/Future of the Play-In Race in flux.

Thunder vs. Nuggets Rivalry Heats Up

[15:58 – 18:37]

• Friday’s OKC vs. Denver game called “absurdly physical.”
  • "We got OKC Denver on Friday night. This was an absurd game that was physical from the jump." — Dave (16:01)
  • Lou Dort’s trip on Jokic was “a dirty play” (Dave, 16:53).
  • OKC pulled out the OT win without SGA in OT, relying on Kayson Wallace, Alex Caruso, and Chet Holmgren.
  • "The combination of those two guys at the point of attack is an embarrassment of riches for OKC." — Esfandiar (17:42)
  • Nuggets remain 29th in clutch defense (Esfandiar, 18:16).
  • “That’s an Aaron Gordon thing, but it’s something you have to flag moving into April.” — Esfandiar (18:27).

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Eastern Conference Check-In

Are the Pistons the Class of the East?

[21:15 – 22:00]

• Dave declares the Pistons the best in the East, citing their 11-3 run and weekend wins.
  • “We’re not going to do this thing where we don’t act like the Pistons are the best team in the East.” — Dave (21:32)
• Zena and Esfandiar concur: “It’s boring to even debate at this point.”

Hornets’ Rapid Rise & Play-In Picture

[22:00 – 25:01]

• Hornets (30-31, 10-seed) are “maybe good”—could make the 6-seed, especially with Embiid’s injury.
• “They do better on the road than at home; they have momentum. In the last 20 games—they’re top 5 in net rating… it’s an avalanche going into the playoffs.” — Zena (22:26)
• Hornets’ starting five (Diabate, Bridges, Ball, Miller, Kon Knipple) is 18-2 when healthy (Esfandiar, 23:06).
  • “Charles Lee is such a great coach… If not this year, then top-six next. This is the start of something.” — Esfandiar (23:47)
• If the play-in features Hornets vs. Magic, Heat, or Hawks, the hosts trust Charlotte’s scoring and “hug you” defense (Dave, 24:13; Zena, 24:45).
• Dave roots for a Pistons-Hornets playoff matchup.

Toronto Overachieves

[25:13 – 28:11]

• Raptors, currently 5th, are much better than expected; hosts credit Esfandiar for his preseason call.
• Yakuba Pertl’s improved health is making an impact, but playoff experience is key for Barnes, Barrett, and Quickley (Esfandiar, 26:03).
• Raptors still “a guy away,” best to play with “house money” this spring.

Top-Tier East Contender Rankings: Boston, Cleveland, New York

[28:11 – 33:11]

• Asked to rank East contenders (outside Detroit): unanimous

  1. Boston
  2. Cleveland
  3. New York

• “Boston’s easily my number one outside Detroit. I trust them more. I even trust them a little more than Detroit if we’re being real.” — Zena (28:23)

• Concern about the Knicks’ lack of consistent offense and over-reliance on Brunson.

• Pistons’ Achilles heel: What happens when Cade Cunningham gets into foul trouble?

  • “This is a new concern… What happens when Cade keeps getting in foul trouble? He’s so aggressive on both sides of the ball.” — Zena (30:47)

• Boston’s outlook could dramatically improve if Jayson Tatum returns:

  • “If Tatum comes back, I’m picking the Celtics to win the East.” — Esfandiar (32:20)
  • “The thing about Tatum, regardless of however he comes back, he takes up mental space… We have to allocate a bit of our energy to him. That’s the value.” — Zena (32:43)

Playoff X-Factors and Final Thoughts

• Pistons, Celtics, Cavs, Knicks seen as the four true Eastern contenders, but health and peaking at the right time are the biggest factors.
• For Toronto and Charlotte, the second half of 2026 may be a “pre-leap” for higher aspirations next year.

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Notable Quotes

• "The Timberwolves have the Nuggets’ number... They just know how to play against Nikola Jokic."
  — Esfandiar Baraheni (08:15)

• "I'm holding onto my Nugget stock. This is a senior investor’s stock."
  — Dave DuFour (11:11)

• "The Lakers unserious. That’s the top six in the West."
  — Dave DuFour (12:05)

• "That’s an embarrassment of riches for OKC at the point of attack."
  — Esfandiar Baraheni (17:42)

• "We’re not going to do this thing where we don’t act like the Pistons are the best team in the East."
  — Dave DuFour (21:32)

• "If Tatum comes back, I'm picking the Celtics to win the East."
  — Esfandiar Baraheni (32:20)

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Key Timestamps

• 03:06: Show start, hosts return, playoff focus set
• 04:30: Thunder, Spurs, and Knicks matchup analysis
• 07:27: Wolves’ rise, Nuggets woes without Gordon/Watson
• 12:05: Lakers skepticism/critique
• 15:58: OKC vs. Denver: rivalry and physical play
• 21:15: Cavs-Pistons, East favorites discussion
• 22:00: Hornets as a play-in and playoff dark horse
• 25:13: Raptors as overachievers, playoff hopes
• 28:11: Ranking Boston, Cleveland, New York; Celtics’ Tatum factor
• 30:47: Pistons’ potential issues, Cade’s foul trouble

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Conclusion

The playoff races are tightening with six weeks remaining. The West is a battle at the top (Thunder, Spurs, Wolves) and a jumble from 3 to 10, with the Lakers and Suns’ seriousness in question. Denver’s health and ability to lock in defensively are crucial. In the East, the Pistons get their due, the Hornets and Raptors are perhaps a year ahead of schedule, while Boston, if Tatum returns, may still be the team to beat. The show closes with optimism for young risers and uncertainty for inconsistent veterans, making for a dynamic NBA home stretch.

Transcript

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Foreign.

[Dave DeFore]

And welcome to the NBA Daily presented by Amazon prime for March 2, 2026. I'm Dave DeFore here with Zena Kada and Esperaheni. Coming up, six weeks left in the regular season. We're going to check in on the playoff races in the Western Conference in the Eastern Conference after a weekend of big games. Good morning, everybody. What's up, guys? I'm happy to be back. How are you guys?

[Zena Kada]

After you just did that intro. I'm happy you're back too. My God.

[Esperaheni]

I agree.

[Dave DeFore]

Hey, I just gotta say, first off the top, thank you guys for doing such a great job piloting the ship last week. I didn't watch any basketball games. It was great. But I still know what was happening in the league because I listen to the show every morning. I had to do it, you know, it's part of the job. But also. And you guys were great. It was a lot of fun. Little Murray talking about power rankings. Oh yeah, Accompanied me on, on a very nice hike and I was like very intrigued by his entire process. So if you're listening or if you're watching on YouTube, great time to like subscribe, leave a five star review. Because it was on my mind. I don't think I'm allowed to do it ethically. It's kind of like voting for yourself. It's a little bit lame. So, you know, if a few hundred people were to do that, that'd be fantastic. There you go.

[Esperaheni]

Anyway, guys, casually.

[Dave DeFore]

So my first weekend back and we get marquee matchups. Incredible weekend long. I mean, it started Friday where we had shorthanded Cavs. Sure got a great game with Cabs and Pistons. I mean, the Rockets losing to the Heat is going to come up. But I thought that after all these big games and looking ahead at the schedule, we only have six weeks left until we get to the playoffs. It's all about the playoffs right now. So thought it was a good time to check in on where we're at. And as we're recording, look, the Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting exactly where they've been in the Western Conference. They're at number one. They've been there all year. And you know, the spurs just had this 11 game win streak. So they were hot on their heels. And until they ran into the Knicks, which seems like the Knicks are the one team that's giving the spurs some trouble right now this season, guys, which

[Zena Kada]

is so strange just considering the matchup and what the Knicks have allowed all season in terms of paint points. And the spurs are really good at getting into the paint. Now. Do we think that when Minyama could probably do more scoring in the paint? Absolutely, we always believe that. But yeah, it just feels like the Knicks turn up the physicality when they go up against the Spurs. Would you say that as.

[Esperaheni]

Yeah, I think so. And I also thought like the Knicks did a really good job of scoring in the paint against the spurs, which is something a lot of teams have struggled to do against Victor Weyama in the Spurs. One of it is like the spurs have such a great point of attack defense with their kind of three headed monster, if you will. But at the same time they have that backline defense of Victor Wamanyama that just cleans up everything that they do. So the fact that the Knicks were able to score on the paint to your point, shows a level of physicality. And also I think, you know, the spurs played really good basketball in February and a lot of that was I think in part because their three point shooting was awesome.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Esperaheni]

In February they were seventh and three point percentage all month and tonight they shot well against the knicks they shot 26% like the three point shot wasn't falling. And I think that that really hurt their offensive scheme against the Knicks team that obviously can shoot the ball well.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, they only put 89 points, 41 points in the first half and they

[Zena Kada]

had 22 turnovers which provided New York 24 points. I mean that run at the end of the first quarter, they went 19 straight points. I believe it.

[GNC Sponsor]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

I mean this is. These were crazy runs that New York was allowed to go on and that is unheard of typically that the spurs were aren't able to respond. That's actually kind of been like their calling card all season. So the Knicks were just able to capitalize on the fact that the spurs kind of after leading early, were not able to bounce back from the punches.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, they had a 12 point lead to start and I thought we were going to be talking about a blowout the other way.

[Zena Kada]

Right.

[Dave DeFore]

But I also think, look, it was like a 1 o' clock eastern start at MSG.

[Esperaheni]

That's a.

[Dave DeFore]

That's a trap for all road. Yeah. On a Sunday. And these, I don't know if they

[Zena Kada]

were out, but fourth game in a five game spurs road trip.

[Esperaheni]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

So.

[Dave DeFore]

So they were going to have a dud at some point. I Mean, every team does on the road, but it's something to watch that the Knicks have kind of figured some stuff out there and we'll talk about them in the, in the second half of the show when we get to the East. I mentioned the Rockets blowing this game to the Heat. Well, it was a bad time to do it because the Wolves have been playing so well. They're six and one in their last seven. They're now basically a dead tie with the Rockets kind of having the win percentage advantage in the, in the playoff race. So right now the Rockets are the three seed, but the Wolves are ascending. I mean, you know, we talked about this a little bit before I was went on vacation, that the Wolves are the team to me that they just need to get serious. They seem like they just want to fast forward to the playoffs and then we watch them play these big games like they played against the Nuggets on Sunday and, and they just, they come out swinging.

[Esperaheni]

I, I think, man, like the Timberwolves have the Nuggets number. Like it's, there is so much overwhelming evidence over the last few seasons that this Timberwolves team, no matter the situation, no matter the context of the game, just knows how to play against Nikola Jokic.

[Dave DeFore]

Sure.

[Esperaheni]

Like Jokic tonight had five turnovers and that's, that's like a rarity for a guy who passes as well. He does obviously an all time playmaker in Nikola Jokic who can create basically everything now for what it's worth, four

[Dave DeFore]

in the game too, by the way.

[Esperaheni]

Plus four. Yeah, exactly.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, but they're winning the Jokic minutes. It's when he's not out there. And Xena, look. Yeah, they need health, this team. They need health and a fast forward to the playoffs. I will say that I think Jokic probably will maybe at least attempt to play some defense. But no Gordon, no Peyton Watson. That's their problem.

[Zena Kada]

And when you're having, when those two are out, you have Jokic basically playing without defense around him. You don't have this like infrastructure to kind of protect and insulate him. And that hurts, especially when you have a team like Minnesota who can run the ball. I mean Minnesota I think had 30 fast break points tonight to Denver 6. Like it was a game where pace and transition and whoever was leading that and owning that won this game outright. And Minnesota completely broke. Ooh, I don't know if I want to say that. I was going to say broke their back, but that's what happened.

[Esperaheni]

I mean it felt like it. And look, transition defense is something that Nuggets have struggled with. I mean we can, we'll talk about it with that OKC game in fourth quarter execution because defensively they struggle to guard in clutch time too. But I want to bring up a stat when it comes to Aaron Gordon because I think you guys are right on the money. So in the 640 minutes that Aaron Gordon has played this season for the Nuggets, The Nuggets are plus 13.8. They have a plus 13.8 net rating. In the 500 minutes he hasn't played, they are minus 5. So it's basically the difference. It's a 20 point swing, right? That's like. That's an all star level player, right? That's Nicola Jokic on many, many years for the Nuggets was a 20 plus point swing for them. So I just think he's, he's massive for this team as is Peyton Watson. It's their two best wing defenders without those two guys who also provide a level of three point shooting. By the way, I was going to

[Dave DeFore]

say that was their big problem in the game and they were 6 of 22. And both of those numbers are problems for them. The 6 and the 22. You just can't do that against a team like Minnesota that you know is just going to. I mean Dante DiVincenzo had a run there where he's just bombing away and

[Zena Kada]

I think that he felt comfortable enough to put up a three. Okay, come on now.

[Dave DeFore]

All right, now I know it was

[Zena Kada]

at the end of the shock.

[Dave DeFore]

Wait, just take it.

[Zena Kada]

Just, just take the shot.

[Esperaheni]

Guys, a question here. So there's been a lot of like Nugget skepticism recently and I think that's valid just because they've struggled. But do you guys feel any skepticism heading into the playoffs for them?

[Dave DeFore]

Look, I know that this might counter indicate some of the stuff I've said in the group chat. I'm holding on to my Nugget stock. Like I think that this is like to quote my buddy John, John Wilmus who writes for Real gm, he texted me this is a sort of a more senior investor's stock. You have to ignore what you're watching right now. You just for the next few weeks until they're healthy and start rolling. I just think that we have to maybe look the other way, but I don't know.

[Zena Kada]

I'm with you actually, Dave. I like that the senior investment stock, it's like one. You've seen it perform over the course of time.

[Esperaheni]

Right?

[Zena Kada]

And you also know that there are Factors beyond its control that's impacting the legitimacy or, excuse me, the consistency of the stock's number. So just like, until things settle down, the market eases out, health comes back, like, things will be fine.

[Esperaheni]

Too much stock market talk, guys. No way. None of this, man.

[Bill Sponsor]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

Oh, okay. And let's see. The Lakers unserious. That. That's the top six in the West. Lakers just continue to sort of. I would say their losses are so embarrassingly weird. Right? Like, there's an effort issue sometimes, there's an execution issue sometimes. And when they win, you. You're just like, wow, okay, so you see, oh, this does work. When all these guys are trying hard, I just don't know how to take them outside of not seriously. I don't. I don't think that they could beat. I mean, you look right now, it would be six. Three would be Houston and the Lakers. Okay, I got my questions.

[Esperaheni]

Right. That's an interesting one.

[Dave DeFore]

That. But that's the only one in the top six. And I don't think that the Rockets are going to be the three seed when we get playoff time. I just don't think the Lakers are going to luck into that. And, you know, this is. If the Suns don't get healthy, I know, you know, Dylan Brooks being hurt, that's going to be a big blow for them. But, you know, if Booker comes back and can play at all, I mean, they still have a chance to get out of the play. And so. Yeah, I just don't know. I don't know that the Lakers should be taken seriously at this point.

[Esperaheni]

I don't know if the Lakers take themselves seriously at this point. You know, like, I don't think the front office made any sort of massive move at the deadline to say we believe in this Lakers team. You know, Luke Canard wasn't walking in that door and changing everything for them. They kind of are who they are. And I. Ultimately, my biggest question is, like, how are they going to find a way for the Luca Austin LeBron trio to work? Because they've been losing their minutes. Right. And like, ultimately, the deandre Ayton situation has not worked.

[Dave DeFore]

No, so.

[Zena Kada]

Or the Clint Capella situation.

[Esperaheni]

Yeah, they wish it was.

[Zena Kada]

Exactly.

[Esperaheni]

Hey, listen, this is a funny conversation, but who has had a better career? Clint Capella or DeAndre?

[Dave DeFore]

Oh, by. By far, Clint Capella.

[Esperaheni]

Okay. All right, thank you. We're all on the same page, okay?

[Zena Kada]

Oh, absolutely.

[Esperaheni]

No, but that's. The bar is on the floor at this point for what they require from some of Their role players. Like, when you're. When you're trusting Jared Ban, Vanderbilt and Marcus Smart to take and make shots for you, I just don't know how far you're gonna go as a team, especially in this Western Conference.

[Zena Kada]

Yeah, I mean, the. I agree. And my issue with the Lakers is they are. And there's a few teams like this in the. In the west where it's like, you've got some talent. You don't consistently show it, right? Like, you're, You're. You're a team that as a whole, as a collective group, are probably more talented than some of the teams in the Eastern Conference, but you're just not consistent in the way that you utilize and tap into that talent. And I think if there's any team in the Western Conference that is so loud about it, it is the Lakers. The warriors are like that, but they also have some health issues that kind of deplete some of that collective talent stock, if you would want to put it. But the Lakers have all of the talent and they have all the capacity. It's just a matter of, like, being able to utilize it. I look at the warriors game that they had. They blow out the Warriors. Awesome. Great. You show up for the marquee game in the way that you did not against the Boston Celtics the other day, right? But the warriors are scoring on you because you're falling asleep on defense. Like, that's when they find little holes. They couldn't do anything, but they could. Back door cut. Gary Payton the second can get into the middle of your zone. What?

[Dave DeFore]

Okay, that is a guy that you're not that worried about, to be fair.

[Zena Kada]

But I'm just saying, like, he's. But that is the. That is the mark. Like, that is the sky.

[Esperaheni]

That's the issue.

[Zena Kada]

That is the issue. Like Gary Payton ii, all he does is lurk in the back line of zones. That's all he does. And you've got massive people back there not able to stop him from ducking in getting a pass. All of these things have to conspire, right? A pass, he has to get to the right spot on the floor. A pass has to get through the length of the Lakers and then he has to finish at the basket.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

And all of that is happening with the Lakers wide awake.

[Dave DeFore]

It's an average. Reddick sent this rant to Xena and was like, hey, throw this. Throw this on the show. Hey, look, before. Before we go to break. Don't think I don't want to talk about Lou Dort And Nicola Jokic. Okay, look, we got OKC Denver on Friday night. This was an absurd game that was physical from the jump. I mean, yeah, I don't know how many times I've seen Shay react the

[Esperaheni]

way that he did and Jokic react to Shay in those moments too.

[Dave DeFore]

Feels like there's some, some bad blood maybe left over from that seven game series. But also I think the Thunder, if you play a seven game series against a team that is this physical, there is no way you're going to like them at the end of it. And I think that this. Man, we got to get this in the conference finals.

[Esperaheni]

I am rooting so hard for this. By the way, can we all agree Ludor absolutely tripped him?

[GNC Sponsor]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

It was a dirty play.

[Esperaheni]

Dirty play.

[Dave DeFore]

I don't, I don't think there was any doubt. Yeah, yeah. Now whether it should have been a flagrant too. I don't know. I think if you do something that's not a basketball move, to unintentionally do anything, you know, to intentionally trip someone, get out. Yeah, especially look, it's Lou Dort. It's not like Shay did it. Maybe there's shades of gray if you're a really good, fun player, but sorry, man, you're just not to the level. Yeah, Shea coming back in that game I think added another level of competitiveness from the Nuggets, you know what I mean? Not that the Nuggets weren't going to take this game seriously. I do think that they get up at this point. Four teams like, you know, they get up for the Timberwolves, they get up for the, for the Thunder. But the Shea return added an extra amount of juice for these guys. I don't know. This was, I don't know, felt old school.

[Esperaheni]

It was also wildly impressive that OKC still pulled out the win when Shay didn't play in overtime. And it was Casey and Alex Crusoe and Chet Holmgren, those three that led the way in the, in overtime. And like I think that goes to, you know, Andrew and I spoke about it last week, but the growth of Kayson Wallace, right. The ability of Alex Crusoe to come in and make multiple game winning defensive plays and game winning shots, like it's just the combination of those two guys at the point of attack is an embarrassment of riches for OKC that just. It make. They. Makes the. It makes them elite, man. And on the other side, like Denver's defense in the clutch is terrible. Like they're 29th in defense in clutch situations. 29th in defense in fourth quarter situations. I feel like that's an Aaron Gordon thing, but at the same time it's something you have to flag moving into April, you know?

[Zena Kada]

Yeah, 1,000%.

[Dave DeFore]

All right, guys, stick around after the break. We'll go to the Eastern Conference and figure out if the Hornets are going to make the playoffs.

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[Esperaheni]

BetterHelp did I talk too much? Can I just let it go? I was thinking so much.

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[Dave DeFore]

Yeah. I spent a lot of Cavs Pistons Friday night thinking that the Pistons were about to lose to the Cavs without Donovan Mitchell and James Harden I was going to say, oh, guys, gotta watch out. Maybe the Pistons aren't who we thought they were.

[Pura Sponsor]

Okay.

[Zena Kada]

Wow.

[Dave DeFore]

Don't do that.

[Zena Kada]

They beat.

[Dave DeFore]

They beat the Cavs. Even though Kate Cunningham fouled out. They beat the Cavs. That was an excellent game on Friday. Again, great games all weekend. It was a lot of fun. Then they beat the Magic pretty handily on Sunday. They're 11 and three in their last 14. We're not going to do this thing where we don't act like the Pistons are the best team in the East. Not even going to do it. I actually think it's boring to even debate that at this point. It's all, what are they going to do when we get to playoffs with the Pistons for me? Right?

[Esperaheni]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

Okay. The Charlotte Hornets, on the other hand, might be good. They're 30 and 31. They're the 10 seed, and I want to start with them because I think that they've got a shot to make the sixth seed, as we're speaking. Joel Embiid is going to miss a few games with a strained oblique. So you got to start to worry about the Sixers sitting in that six seed. Look, any of the teams that are in the east play in right now could pop out into the six seed.

[Zena Kada]

Absolutely. And what I love about the idea of the Charlotte Hornets being even if they end up in the eighth seed, any of these, you know, the bottom four, they do well. They do better on the road than they do at home. They have a winning record on the road, which they. They show up regardless of where they're at. Of course, we know that they have fun at home, but in the last 20 games, their top five net rating, so we kind of almost have to look at like the first part of the season is like getting acclimated and now they're rolling. And the teams that are rolling in March.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

Who is just. It's an avalanche going into the playoffs, and that's what I feel like. The momentum is definitely on the hornet side.

[Esperaheni]

It's one of those things, by the way, that they're starting five of Moussa Diabate, Miles Bridges, Lamelo Ball, Brandon Miller, con canipple. They're 18 and 2 when they're fully healthy this season. 18 and 2, that's just. It's an absurd number to consider. And on top of the fact that they are one of the best offenses in the NBA when those five play together. So the offense is clicking in an incredible way. They have an identity where it's like we are Going to screen with these guards, they're going to pop out into empty space. They'll make decisions and from that we create everything. And I think that's helped Brandon Miller, who's an elite shooter, Lamelo Ball, who's an elite shooter and Con caniple who's having one of the greatest shooting seasons like ever. Really?

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Esperaheni]

And so it just. The formula works so well and Charles Lee is such a great coach that finds like exactly what this team needs. Even if they don't get to that six seed this year, they are going to be a top six seed next year. This is very clearly a team that's ready for like that pre leap, right. Finish off the year strong, start next year even stronger. It's just. Look, this is the start of something for the Hornets, right?

[Dave DeFore]

Look at the play in matchups. Okay, let's say we wind up with a game between, I don't know, worst case scenario for Charlotte is Orlando. Right. I think they're the best team in that group. Between it's Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte. Who do you trust more in one game? I mean frankly like Charlotte, I know that they can score. Whether or not they're going to stop the Magic every single time, you never know. But the Magic stop themselves so often on offense that they just aren't a threat in a single game. To me.

[Esperaheni]

Yeah, the answer is the Hornets for me.

[Zena Kada]

Yeah, they've got way more weapons and you know the Hornets have that hug you type of defense.

[Esperaheni]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

They can just annoy you enough to get you to feel like you're discombobulated on offense. And I think that just their energy that they would get up for that one game, I would trust them.

[Dave DeFore]

And also, I mean there look there is a real basketball sort of, you know, the way basketball works. Maybe they wind up the eight seed and they play the Pistons and we get that whole thing and now we've got.

[Esperaheni]

That would be beautiful.

[Dave DeFore]

It would be great. It would be f fantastic. So that's really what we're rooting for. But I would like to see, I mean it would be very interesting to see them push and make the six seed Toronto S look man, unserious, but way better than I thought they were going to be this season. I gotta, I gotta say you kind of hit on this in the preseason. You. You felt like they were a better than 500 team. Yeah, clearly they're that but.

[Zena Kada]

And we all look at you crazy. So we did remember that I heard

[Esperaheni]

not gloating as, as much as I should right now. But I'll just, I'll let it cook. It's all good.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. But they will say, I think they'll stay the five seed. I, I think that that's about where they ought to be. They're, they're just on the cusp and maybe they're a guy away this summer from being a, a home court advantage team next year.

[Esperaheni]

Yeah, look, I will say Yaka Pertle has played over the last week or so, and he's actually played pretty well. So if that back issue is kind of in the rear view and, and he can finally play for them and play consistently, I think their complexion as a playoff team change now. Does that mean they're going to win a first round series? I don't know. I don't think so. I wouldn't pick them against any of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference, but at the same time, I think it's invaluable experience for a guy like Scotty Barnes who doesn't have a ton of playoff experience. And we haven't seen RJ Barrett or Mano Quickley that much in postseason either in these new roles. So I just think for them to your point, it's, you've exceeded expectations. You're playing with house money. They've already beat their over under win total for whatever that's worth. Go out, get some postseason basketball in your system and see what you need to add in the summer to, to go and take that next step.

[Zena Kada]

I like, I, I like the idea of, you know, we talked about the Charlotte Hornets kind of setting up for next year, Toronto setting up for next year, but I do feel like Toronto's more advanced. Like the move to get by.

[Esperaheni]

Oh, yeah, right.

[Zena Kada]

The move to get bi was the next leap. So you're thinking that not winning a first round series would be acceptable for the Raptors?

[Esperaheni]

I think so, yeah. Because I think, I mean, like, just based on, you know, what we were talking about in preseason, I think most people assume that this team wouldn't make it to a top six.

[Dave DeFore]

Right.

[GNC Sponsor]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

Okay.

[Esperaheni]

And so them being top six, them maybe vying for home court advantage. I don't know if they'll do that because the Cavs obviously are surging right now.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Esperaheni]

But like being in the position that they're at has exceeded expectations. I think from now it's just this front office has to make a lot of smart moves, not maybe be aggressive in certain areas. We've talked about, like Sabonis before. Make the right next move, whatever that next move. Is it has to be the right one, so.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah. Well, if everybody always was aggressive in the right way when they're making moves, you know, we wouldn't have all these.

[Esperaheni]

We wouldn't have a job.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, the Kings wouldn't exist.

[GNC Sponsor]

Right.

[Bill Sponsor]

There you go.

[Esperaheni]

Okay.

[Earnin Sponsor]

All right.

[Dave DeFore]

We're saying the Pistons are the best in the East.

[Esperaheni]

Yeah.

[Dave DeFore]

Rank. Rank the three other contenders that are in the East. Boston, Cleveland, and New York. Rank them for me, guys.

[Esperaheni]

Zena, you want to go first?

[Zena Kada]

Yeah. Boston, Cleveland, and New York. I mean, Boston's easily my number one. If we're talking about outside of Detroit. I trust them more. I even trust them a little bit more than Detroit. Let's just be real. It's the. It's the east sucks. I. In terms of, like, making. Having to make this decision.

[Dave DeFore]

It's hard.

[Zena Kada]

New York. There are nights where I'm like, oh, you're better than Detroit. Like, I mean, it.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, not Detroit. That's the one team that I never feel that way about the Right.

[Esperaheni]

I mean, especially since they've played each other.

[Zena Kada]

Exactly. They haven't performed well against the Detroit. But in the sense of how they beat teams.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah.

[Zena Kada]

Yeah. I'm gonna go. You guys are gonna get upset. Boston, Cleveland, New York.

[Dave DeFore]

Whoa. All right. Not. Not necessarily upset, but I see it.

[Esperaheni]

Honestly. I have the exact same list.

[Dave DeFore]

I feel the same way Knicks beat the spurs on Sunday. I mean, I just. Because I don't see how they can consistently work around Brunson and Cat on defense. I just don't know what the fix is there for that. Mitchell Robinson is fantastic, but he can't play 35 minutes a night.

[Esperaheni]

And he's also very important for them. Like, how are you going to rely on a guy that plays 15 to 20 minutes a night in a playoff series consistently? I just. I don't know the answer to that. Right.

[Zena Kada]

So what I. What I talk about, like, looking at New York, like, on some nights, they look better than Detroit is they have Jalen Brunson. Right. Absolutely right.

[Dave DeFore]

They can score.

[Zena Kada]

They have a team that can score. They have a guy that can put you on a 19 straight point run. Right. 11 points in a quarter. Like, and when Kate is not available, we don't know who that is in Detroit. Right, Right. And yeah, Jalen could put up some points, but not consistently get him the ball on ball, move, like, unassisted buckets. And so that's the only reason why I'm like, ah, New York, whatever. But then beyond just being able to score, if they can't score what else they got, and that's where I struggle.

[Dave DeFore]

Well, that's going to be the thing. The, the one thing we're got to worry about with the Pistons. What happens on the games that they don't shoot? I mean, just again, in the Cavs game the other night, they were 22% from 3, 6 of 27. All right, you mentioned, what do they do when Kate Cunningham isn't out there? Well, he fouled out in that game, and they had to figure it out on the fly. Right.

[Zena Kada]

This is a new concern that's starting to pop up. What happens when Kate keeps getting in foul trouble? Yeah, because he's so aggressive on both sides of the ball. Like, they've got to find a way to protect him a little bit on that.

[Esperaheni]

No, that's a great point.

[Dave DeFore]

Tatum did not come back on Sunday. Okay.

[Esperaheni]

That's the big question.

[Dave DeFore]

Is he coming?

[Esperaheni]

Question.

[Dave DeFore]

They keep saying that he looks good. Look, we're gonna have Jay King on the show tomorrow, and I'm gonna ask him about this. I don't know what the. The expectations should be. Does, does Tatum coming back, does that factor in for you guys with having them second?

[Esperaheni]

Absolutely. You know, Xena kind of hinted at this of like, trusting Boston even more than Detroit. I think part of that is the Tatum equation. Like knowing in the back of your head that there's this guy whose first team, all NBA, was fifth in MVP voting last year. That could come. Is he going to be that version? I doubt would shock me if he's that version. But if you can get even 60% of something like that, you've added a wildly talented player on your team. If he assimilates to kind of like a role player, maybe higher than a role player type of role, you're just like getting a very, very talented player who's also an excellent rebounder, who's also an excellent defender, and he can bring all these ancillary aspects that the Celtics really need. I don't know. I think for me, if I had to answer this question, and it's funny because we started this segment saying the Pistons are the best team in the East. I agree with you. But if Tatum comes back, I'm picking the Celtics to win it in the East.

[Zena Kada]

The thing about Tatum, regardless of however he comes back, he takes up mental space. And it's funny because you saw this against yesterday, watching the Nuggets game against the Timberwolves, of that on off with Jokic. When Jokic comes back on the floor, Jamal Murray goes off for a few quick buckets. Yeah, right. It's the mental space within the defensive's mind to know, oh, Jason Tatum's on the floor.

[Esperaheni]

That's a great point.

[Zena Kada]

He might not be Jason Tatum from whenever, but Jayson Tatum is on the floor. We have to.

[Dave DeFore]

It's got him on the jersey.

[Zena Kada]

Exactly. So we have to allocate a bit of our energy, some level of our energy to him. And what does that do? Open up Derrick White, open ups Jalen Brown, open ups Peyton Pritchard, open ups whoever. And that is more than anything, I think the value that I always trust because it's equity built in. Yeah, the equity. And Jason Tatum being Jason Tatum gets an equity.

[Esperaheni]

Look at this, look at this.

[Dave DeFore]

Yeah, get your, get your finances here. Get your daily. Thanks for doing everything, guys. All right, that's gonna do it for the show. Thank you guys for listening. Don't forget, give us a five star review. Go and subscribe to the YouTube. Don't forget we do the morning shoot around on Wednesdays, the live show where we take Q A. We, you know, have a pretty good time over there. For Zena, Keda and Sbarhenney, I'm Dave Dufour and this has been the NBA Daily. Thanks for hanging out with us.

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[Adam Grant]

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[Adam Grant]

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