Podcast Summary: The Athletic NBA Daily - "Ja Morant and Westbrook Blunders + Nets Need Lottery Luck | Slam N Jam"

Release Date: April 5, 2025

Hosts: Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears
Guest: Mike Smelts
Segments Covered: Western Conference Race, Player Performances, Awards Discussion, Favorites Segment, Wheel of Fandom

1. Western Conference Race

Alex Spears kicks off the discussion by highlighting the intense race in the Western Conference, where the fourth seed through eighth seed are separated by just two games.

Minnesota Timberwolves' Dominant Week

• Performance Highlights:

  • The Timberwolves secured four consecutive wins, including a notable victory over the Pistons.
  • A heated altercation in the Pistons game resulted in five players and two coaches being ejected. Notably, Marcus Sasser received a suspension, and Beef Stew was handed an additional game suspension due to his history of on-court disputes.
  • In their subsequent game, the Timberwolves achieved a double-overtime win against the Nuggets in Denver. Anthony Edwards scored 24 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, while Maxwell Killian Walker contributed 26 points, including five three-pointers and game-winning free throws.

  "Anthony Edwards who scored 24 of his 34 in the fourth quarter in overtime..." [03:41]

• Nuggets' Struggles:

  • Nikola Jokić set a new NBA record with a 61-point triple-double (61 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), the highest single-season points total for any player.
  • Despite Jokić's performance, the Nuggets fell to the Spurs in their next game as coach Michael Malone rested Jokić after he played 53 minutes the previous night.
  • The Nuggets remain third in the West, half a game ahead of the Lakers.

Golden State Warriors' Resurgence

• Key Performances:

  • The Warriors also swept four games this week, including crucial wins against the Grizzlies and Lakers.
  • Stephen Curry showcased his shooting prowess with 52 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists against the Grizzlies, hitting 12 three-pointers.

  "Steph had 52, 10 and eight including 12 three pointers..." [03:41]

  • In the game against the Lakers, Brandon Pajemski emerged as the X-factor, scoring 28 points with eight three-pointers, signaling his importance to the team post the Jimmy Butler trade.

  "It was Steph's fourth career game with 12 plus three pointers..." [03:41]

• Standings Impact:

  • The Warriors have climbed to the fifth spot in the standings, just a game behind the Lakers and 1.5 games back of Denver.
  • An upcoming matchup against Denver is anticipated to have significant playoff implications.

Oklahoma City Thunder's Streak

• Current Form:

  • The Thunder continue their impressive run with 11 straight wins, averaging a 21.5-point margin per game.
  • With a record of 64-12, they are now 14.5 games ahead of the Rockets, who they will face on Friday night.

  "The Thunder are now 64, 12, 14 and a half games up on the second seed Rockets..." [03:41]

Cleveland Cavaliers' Milestone

• Historic Achievement:

  • The Cavs surpassed the 60-win mark with back-to-back victories over the Clippers and Knicks, marking the first time in franchise history they achieved this without LeBron James.
  • At 61-15, the Cavs are on pace to potentially set a franchise record with 67 wins if they win their final six games.

  "This is the first time in franchise history the Cavs have won 60 games without LeBron James..." [03:41]

Brooklyn Nets' Lottery Position

• Performance Review:

  • The Nets finished the week with a 2-2 record, placing them likely in the sixth spot for the upcoming draft lottery.
  • Despite their current struggles, Colin Helwig from Nets Daily pointed out that the Nets are 8-7 on the road against Western Conference teams, a statistic shared by only a few Eastern teams like Boston and Cleveland.

  "The Brooklyn nets are currently 8 and 7 on the road against Western Conference teams..." [15:54]

2. Player Performances and Highlights

Giannis Antetokounmpo's Historic Game

• Triple-Double Record:

  • Giannis Antetokounmpo achieved a rare 35-point, 15-rebound, 20-assist game, marking the first instance of such a performance in NBA history.

  "He had a 35, 15, 20 game against the Sixers, which is insane..." [20:02]

Denny Avdia's Breakout with the Portland Trail Blazers

• Season Improvement:

  • Denny Avdia has shown significant improvement, now averaging 22.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 51% from the field.
  • His performance has been pivotal in the Blazers' improved record post All-Star break.

  "Denny had his best week of the season this week. In three games he put up 30 and 12 with almost seven assists per game." [18:02]

Ja Morant's Game-Winners

• Key Moments:

  • Ja Morant delivered crucial game-winning shots, notably a step-back three against the Heat and an overtime game-winner that provided relief to Grizzlies fans amid a challenging season.

  "My favorite moment this week was the Ja Morant game winner against the Heat on Thursday night..." [22:15]

Westbrook's Overzealous Play

• Playoff Implications:

  • Russell Westbrook's aggressive play led to crucial turnovers and fouls in the Nuggets-Wolves game, highlighting his tendency to make loud plays that can sometimes backfire.

  "Just like watching that game and seeing how it played out, it couldn't have been any other player than Westbrook..." [22:15]

3. Awards and Player Improvement Discussion

Most Improved Player Debate

• Candidates Discussed:

  • JJ Redick and PODC proposed renaming the award to recognize high draft picks on max contracts who have become All-Stars.
  • Alex Spears and Andrew Schlecht debated potential candidates like Dyson Daniels, Christian Brown, Evan Mobley, and Tyrese Maxey.

  "I think Dyson Daniels win, who's the favorite right now? I think that's a, that's a great story..." [10:44]

• Insight:

  • The traditional view of the Most Improved Player award is evolving, with a focus on contract status and overall team impact.

4. Favorites Segment

Favorite Quote

• Hawks Fan Incident:

  • Alex Spears recounts a situation where two Hawks fans were playing tic-tac-toe during a timeout. When one fan, James, injured his knee, the opposing fan continued the game. Shamia Morton, the in-game host, intervened to check on James, emphasizing sportsmanship.

  "She said, 'Can you just be kind and come over here with me and check on James?'..." [12:18]

Favorite Stat

• Brooklyn Nets' Road Performance:

  • The Nets are 8-7 on the road against Western Conference teams, a noteworthy statistic given their overall standing.

  "The Brooklyn nets are currently 8 and 7 on the road against Western Conference teams..." [15:54]

Favorite Player

• Denny Avdia:

  • Alex Spears praises Denny Avdia for his significant improvement and pivotal role in the Blazers' turnaround.

  "He is one of those guys that's bigger in person than you realize..." [18:02]

Favorite Moment

• Ja Morant's Game-Winning Shot:

  • Andrew Schlecht highlights Ja Morant's step-back three-pointer against the Heat as a standout moment of the week.

  "My favorite moment this week was the Ja Morant game winner against the Heat on Thursday night..." [22:15]

5. Wheel of Fandom Segment

Focus on the Brooklyn Nets

• Guest Segment:

  • Mike Smelts joins the show to discuss the Nets' challenging season, reflecting on the team's decisions and future prospects.

  "It's been a pretty unique year for the Nets. It's the first time that they've been bad and haven't traded away their draft picks since 2010." [32:35]

• Team Analysis:

  • Mike Smelts expresses frustration with the Nets' lack of promising young talent and points out the team's reliance on aging players like Noah Clowney.

  "Noah Clowney is the poster boy for that. They are making him shoot like five threes a game..." [37:15]

• Draft and Rebuilding:

  • The discussion touches on the Nets' multiple first-round picks and the challenges of rebuilding a competitive roster.

  "The Nets are going to have four first-round picks this year and just an insane amount of salary cap space." [36:45]

Nets Trivia Game:

• Interactive Quiz:

  • Alex Spears engages Mike Smelts in a trivia game about Nets history, covering topics like total assists, three-point attempts, leading scorers, and regular-season awards.

  "Andrew, who leads the Brooklyn Nets in total assists?" [59:28]

• Notable Moments:

  • Mike Smelts correctly identifies Ben Simmons as the Nets' leader in total assists for the season.
  • The game highlights the Nets' historical lack of regular-season award winners, with Derek Coleman being the last to win Rookie of the Year in the 1990-91 season.

  "The last time a Brooklyn Net won one of those awards, which award was it? It was Rookie of the Year and it was Derek Coleman." [65:26]

6. Conclusion and Upcoming Wheel of Fandom

• Next Week's Focus:

  • The Wheel of Fandom will spotlight the Portland Trail Blazers, with anticipations around Denny Avdia's continued performance.

  "This week's Wheel of Phantom team will be the Portland Trailblazers." [77:42]

• Call to Action:

  • Listeners are encouraged to leave five-star reviews on Apple Podcasts and participate in The Athletic's survey for a chance to win Amazon vouchers.

  "Please leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. We'll read it on the show." [77:55]

Notable Quotes:

• "Anthony Edwards who scored 24 of his 34 in the fourth quarter in overtime..."
  — Alex Spears [03:41]

• "He might be the best basketball player I've ever seen close up. Besides myself."
  — Anthony Edwards [14:52]

• "I think Dyson Daniels win, who's the favorite right now? I think that's, that's a great story."
  — Alex Spears [10:44]

• "He commands a room. He's amazing."
  — Andrew Schlecht [09:01]

• "James's opponent continued playing the game while Shamia Morton became increasingly concerned for James."
  — Alex Spears [12:18]

Key Insights:

• The Western Conference remains highly competitive, with several teams jockeying for playoff positions.
• Individual performances, especially by players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Denny Avdia, are spotlighting the evolving dynamics of their respective teams.
• The Brooklyn Nets are in a rebuilding phase, grappling with a lack of promising young talent and relying on veterans, leading to mixed sentiments among fans.
• The discussion on awards indicates a shift in how player improvements and achievements are being recognized within the NBA framework.
• Interactive segments like trivia engage listeners and provide a deeper dive into team histories and player contributions.

Conclusion: This episode of "Slam N Jam" offers a comprehensive overview of the current NBA landscape, highlighting pivotal games, standout player performances, team strategies, and engaging fan interactions. Whether it's the Timberwolves' resilience, the Warriors' shooting excellence, or the Nets' rebuilding challenges, listeners receive an in-depth analysis enriched with insightful discussions and memorable moments.