The Athletic NBA Daily — March 11, 2026

Episode: NBA Dark Horse Rankings | Morning Shoot Around

Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and “Bam” (& guest appearances)

Overview

This episode dives deeply into two primary topics:

• Bam Adebayo’s shocking 83-point game and the broader meaning and history of massive scoring nights in the NBA
• The state of ‘dark horse’ playoff contenders — in both the Eastern and Western Conferences, with a thorough ranking of teams capable of surprising in the playoffs, including lively discussion of their merits and shortcomings

The tone is lively, irreverent, and full of both basketball analysis and offbeat humor, characteristic of The Athletic’s style.

Episode Highlights and Key Segments

1. Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game & Massive Scoring Nights

[03:00–23:30]

Key Discussion Points

• The Context of Bam’s Performance

  • The group is in awe but also finds humor in Bam, viewed as a defensive big with limited scoring, exploding for 83 points.
  • “Even if you were the biggest, most staunch Bam Adebayo fan, you could not in a thousand years picture him scoring more than 50. Forget 83!” — Dave [07:31]
  • The Wizards’ dreadful defense and the nature of “tanking teams” are discussed as contributing factors:
    • “How about the fact that the Wizards are bad enough that you can take a random Tuesday night in March, and Bam Adebayo could be like, hey, I'm gonna score 83 points on these dudes because they can't stop me.” — Bam [06:50]

• Comparisons to Wilt, Kobe, and Others

  • They joke about the way such huge scoring nights now exist in the internet and 4K video era and how the reaction is very different compared to the mythic quality of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100.
  • “Now that it is in 4K HD, all the clips in the world, people are gonna be like, well, obviously this can happen again.” — Xena [13:05]

• The Role of Modern NBA Circumstances

  • Examination of “intentional fouling” and defensive indifference in games with tanking teams.
  • Laughs about how low-tanking games could become shows or American Gladiators/Harlem Globetrotter spectacles to keep them entertaining.
  • “If you're not going to give me the competition, at least put on a spectacle.” — Bam [10:43]

• Debate: Did Bam’s 83 Actually ‘Count’ the Same?

  • Some fans nitpick the achievement; the hosts reject that:
  • “I just don't...this nitpicking like...like, we have to run everything through so many purity tests to whether it's good or fun. And that's kind of annoying me today. But other than that, I actually think it was great.”— Bam [06:01]
  • “Just have fun. Just enjoy yourselves.” — Dave [08:05]

• His Place in NBA History and the Hall of Fame

  • “He could retire right now and he’s forever in the history book.” — Xena [15:58]
  • Playful debate if one colossal game moves a player’s Hall of Fame case.
  • “In my hall of Fame, there’s like seven guys.” — Bam, mocking the easy NBA Hall entry [17:52]

• Bam’s Mindset and Growth

  • NBC halftime interview revealed how a trainer’s trash talk sparked Bam’s aggression. “It was actually funny… the trainer was actually talking trash to him… and that got him mad. So he channeled it into the game. I thought that was really interesting…” — Dave [11:57]

Memorable Moments

• Jokes about “simulation theory” when discussing jazzed-up stat lines.
• Side comments about Lisa Leslie’s 101-point half (WNBA history) and cross-league scoring feats.

2. NBA Hall of Fame Bar & Player Legacies

[16:02–18:59]

• In-depth debate whether Bam Adebayo is a Hall of Famer — based on All-Star nods, All-Defense, Olympic gold, and now the scoring record.
• “To me, you have to make all-NBA to get into the hall of fame. Like, you had to have been one of the 15 best players in a given year. And if you're not, then you're probably not a Hall of Famer.” — Andrew [18:08]
• “Derrick Rose will be interesting” — Bam, pointing out injury and MVP impact [18:24]

3. NBA ‘Dark Horse’ Rankings & Playoff Tier Debates

[25:55–51:15]

How “Dark Horse” Candidates are Defined

• “The teams that we feel like could sneak up and do some damage... can you see these teams getting to the conference finals?” — Andrew [26:45]

Tier Definitions

• Dark Horse: Possible to make conference finals, real upset value
• Medium Horse: Could win a round, less likely but not impossible for further run
• Light Horse: Playoff teams unlikely to advance
• Contenders: Serious favorites for Finals
• Tankers: Out of the picture

Western Conference

• Contenders: Thunder, Knicks, Cavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, Spurs; Minnesota added: “They’ve made a conference finals two years in a row. I feel like they're… playoff proven.” — Bam [27:25]
• Dark Horse/Medium Horse Candidates Discussed:
  • Rockets (Dark Horse): “They have Kevin Durant, playoff experience now because of last year... defense can win you a couple of rounds.” — Dave [28:40]
  • Lakers (Dark Horse): “Luka can just do stuff.” — Andrew [36:53]. LeBron’s old, pieces don’t fit, but talent/experience remains.
  • Clippers (Medium Horse): Size, Kawhi, Matherin, and Garland boost. Could be a threat, but probably a step back from true dark horses.
  • Suns (Light-to-Medium): Too many injuries. “I just don’t think they’re gonna beat anybody.” — Andrew [36:21]
  • Warriors (Light Horse): Too many health and chemistry issues for a serious run.
  • Hornets (Medium Horse): “Charlotte is very capable… of being one of those teams that pushes you to seven and you were trying to get out in four.” — Xena [41:02]

Eastern Conference

• Dark Horse Candidates:
  • Magic: “They're getting more reps, they’ve become healthier and they’re back on their defensive grind.” — Xena [42:27]
  • Heat: “They’re going to have a coaching advantage against a lot of teams.” — Bam [48:33]
  • Sixers: Health of Embiid and Maxey is everything. “The Sixers need every… they need Maxey to come back healthy, they need Embiid to come back healthy…” — Bam [45:55]
• Discussion of Other East Teams:
  • Raptors and Bucks: “They wouldn't even be a light horse. They would just be a horse to me... I do not think this team has even a little bit of a chance to win a first round series.” — Dave, on Toronto [32:13]
  • “Just leave them actually a good place for them and they’re just in purgatory right now.” — Andrew, on the Bucks [32:44]
  • Cavaliers: Debate if they're true contenders or simply a dark horse — “They have the pressure of having a contending level roster.” — Andrew [44:39]

The Case for Miami

• “If you were to tell me that they somehow with a healthy Tyler Hero and Norm Powell and 83 point Bam... beat the Cavs... then played a Pistons team... and they're in the Eastern Conference Finals, that wouldn't surprise me.” — Dave [48:02]
• “They're scrappy.” — Xena [49:34]
• “What if they're the seventh seed and they go against Boston, who we all agree is a better team, but there's still those Miami Heat demons with the Celtics.” — Bam [48:38]

4. Who’s Next for an 80+ Point Game?

[51:42–56:47]

• A roundtable on plausible names who might have the next 80+ point outburst, excluding usual superstars like Luka, Ant, Wemby, Cade.
  • OG Anunoby, Aaron Gordon, Derrick White, Jalen Johnson, Jalen Green, Devin Booker are mentioned, with tongue-in-cheek logic.
  • “Jalen Johnson feels like a good time. He might pass too much though.” — Bam [54:26]
  • Reflection that 80-point nights are probably a quirk of circumstance: “It takes, we've seen, like—it takes a special set of circumstances. Yeah. Like, you have to be playing a team that, like, you basically ended the game in the first quarter and now it's like, okay, now let's play a new game. It’s called I Score all the Points.” — Andrew [55:05]
  • “People have been saying that for years — Bam’s not a scorer, Bam can’t score. It’s like, I don’t think that anyone can fully comprehend how good these guys are at this game.” — Andrew [55:30]

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

• On Bam’s Unlikely Scoring Record:

  • “You could not in a thousand years picture him scoring more than 50. Forget 83.” — Dave [07:31]

• On the Nature of NBA ‘Fun’:

  • “We have to run everything through so many purity tests to whether it's good or fun. And that's kind of annoying me today... I actually think it was great.” — Bam [06:01]

• On Hall of Fame Standards:

  • “The bar for hall of Fame in the NBA, it's hall of the decent in the gutter. So yeah, Bam. Out of bio is absolutely…” — Dave [16:14]

• On Tanking and Entertainment:

  • “If you're not going to give me the competition, at least put on a spectacle.” — Bam [10:43]

• On the Heat as a Playoff Threat:

  • “They're going to have a coaching advantage against a lot of teams.” — Bam [48:33]

Podcast 'Dark Horse' Rankings Summary

(as recapped at the end):
Dark Horses: Rockets, Lakers, Magic, Sixers, Heat
Medium Horses: Clippers, Hornets
Light Horses: Warriors, Raptors, Suns, Blazers, Hawks
Contenders: Thunder, Knicks, Cavs, Nuggets, Pistons, Celtics, Spurs, Timberwolves
Tankers: Bucks, others not mentioned

Final Segment: Perspective on Greatness

[55:24–56:47]

• Appreciation for NBA players’ absurd skill level, regardless of public perception:
  • “People have been saying that for years — Bam’s not a scorer, Bam can’t score. It’s like, I don’t think that anyone can fully comprehend how good these guys are at this game.” — Andrew [55:30]

Summary Chart — Timestamps of Major Segments

| Segment | Start – End | |-----------------------------------------------|-----------------| | Bam’s 83-Point Game, Hall-of-Fame Debate | 03:00 – 23:59 | | Dark Horse Tier Introduction, Rankings | 25:55 – 51:00 | | “Next 80-Point Guy” and Skill Reflections | 51:42 – 56:47 |

Takeaways

• Bam’s 83 was stunning and historic, sparking both celebration and skepticism, and raising fun what-if scenarios about the future of scoring in the NBA.
• The NBA’s ‘dark horse’ middle is full of intrigue, especially with health and matchup quirks. The group has confidence in Miami, Houston, and possibly Orlando, but skepticism toward teams like the Bucks and Raptors.
• The show blends sharp basketball talk with humor and a critical look at sports media reflexes, offering big takeaways for hoop heads and casual fans alike.

For the full Dark Horse charts and ongoing debates, catch the show live on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.