The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Hoops Tonight – Spurs-Pistons Reaction

Episode date: February 25, 2026
Host: Hoops Tonight Host (The Volume Network)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Hoops Tonight, the host delivers an in-depth reaction and analysis of a marquee matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons—two of the NBA’s most exciting, up-and-coming teams. The episode dives deep into the dominant performances of San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (“Wemby”) and Steph Castle, the lessons learned by Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, and broader takeaways for both teams as potential playoff contenders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The League's Top Young Teams Face Off

• [02:41] The matchup is described as a "measuring stick" between San Antonio, entering with an 8-game win streak and holding the West's 2-seed, and Detroit, who owns the league’s best record and is excelling against tough opponents.
• The game is set up as a potential preview of future deep playoff matchups.

2. Wemby’s Defensive Dominance Breaks Detroit’s Offense

• [03:00–07:50]
• Wembanyama shut down Detroit’s half-court offense "on basically every kind of attack," especially in rim protection and pick-and-roll coverage.
  • "There are just so many different ways that Wemby can break an offense."
• Specific example: Even when Jalen Duran received a perfectly-executed post-up, Wemby “recovers and then reaches over the top, pokes it away and it leads to a turnover.”
  • "You literally ran a play to perfection...and Wemby, just because he's got arms that go on for days, just poked it away anyway." (Host, 05:31)
• Detroit finished with just a 67 offensive rating in the half court—even after grabbing 20+ points just from putbacks.

3. Steph Castle’s Huge Night: Offense, Defense, and Disruption

• [06:10–07:40, 22:55–28:15]
• On-ball defense: Castle’s size, motor, and lateral movement made life difficult for Cade Cunningham, “turning him into a jump shooter.”
• Offense: Castle was "phenomenal in so many facets," posting a game-high 11 assists, excelling at reading defenses, and playmaking in pick-and-roll.
• "His passing feel in terms of touch on lobs...the accuracy of his skips is off the charts. He plays at his own pace, he knows all of the reads." (Host, 23:20)

4. Cade Cunningham’s Struggles, Learning Curve, and Detroit’s Roster Issues

• [07:40–17:00]
• Cade: Shot 5-for-26, blocked six times, forced tough shots, and committed several turnovers.
• Context: This was “his very first time trying to solve the Wemby problem”—a unique challenge in the league.
• "Cade isn't the first guy to run into Victor Women Yama and have an oh shit kind of moment where he realizes that this is very different than everything else that he's dealt with." (Host, 10:51)
• Offense "nightmare" matchup due to Detroit's lack of shooting—constant poor spacing led to clogged lanes and limited options for Cade.
• When Detroit tried to go small/shooting lineups, their defense got picked apart.
• "It was a predicament. You could try to space the floor a little bit better, but those guys weren't even making threes anyway." (Host, 14:56)
• Host argues not to overreact to Cade’s struggles—sees this as "a very new challenge" and expects improvement as Cade studies the film and adjusts.
• Cade compared to elite guards like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Needs to become more surgical/efficient as a mid-range and tight-space scorer.

5. San Antonio’s Offensive Execution – Spacing and Shooting

• [18:37–23:00]
• Spurs managed a 90 offensive rating in the half-court against a tough Detroit defense by leveraging shooters Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie, who combined for 12/19 from three—many of them contested.
• "There is a level of aggressiveness off of contested catch and shoot looks with Julian Champagne and Devin V that bring an insane amount of value to this particular team." (Host, 19:51)
• Willingness to shoot even when contested is highlighted as more valuable than high shooting percentages on only open looks.
• Spurs’ “offensive organization and execution” lauded for their clever off-ball actions (especially guard screens for Wemby).
  • "When you run those actions with a guard and a big...it creates that indecision, that marginal indecision where the players don't necessarily want to switch because it creates a mismatch and that creates these little bits of openings." (Host, 21:07)

6. Wemby’s Offensive Impact: Vertical Threat and Unfair Advantage

• [27:10–28:40]
• Wemby had 21 points (15 of them from vertical athleticism—lobs, putbacks, drawing fouls), 17 rebounds, 6 blocks, and a key steal.
• Even in a game where he was “shoved around” and had what the host calls a “mediocre offensive game,” he was “the best player on the floor by a country mile.”
• "If in a game like this where a lot of Wemby's weaknesses were on display...he's still the best player on the floor by a country mile because he can get to 20 points just by being big and because he's the most gifted defensive player ever in the history of the league by a wide margin." (Host, 29:55)

7. Spurs’ Contender Status: Rethinking History?

• [29:40–30:55]
• Host admits he previously saw San Antonio as a “second tier” contender due to lack of precedent for a young team winning the title—but Wemby is already breaking the mold.
• The host muses that he might have to “recalibrate” expectations of how far the Spurs can go, because “we've never seen a young player like Wemby.”

8. Final Pistons Notes

• [30:56–31:40]
• Jalen Duren: “Fantastic,” with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and some “big highlights at Wemby’s expense” (including dunking on him in the 4th).
• Duncan Robinson: 3-for-11 from three—host expresses concern about Robinson’s ability to get lift and make shots when physically challenged.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Wemby’s defensive ability:
  "You literally ran a play to perfection...and Wemby, just because he's got arms that go on for days, just poked it away anyway." (Host, 05:31)

• On Cade’s challenge facing Wemby for the first time:
  "Cade isn't the first guy to run into Victor Women Yama and have an oh shit kind of moment..." (Host, 10:51)

• On contested shooting and floor spacing:
  "There is a level of aggressiveness off of contested catch and shoot looks with Julian Champagne and Devin V that bring an insane amount of value to this particular team." (Host, 19:51)

• On Wemby's unique dominance:
  "...he's still the best player on the floor by a country mile because he can get to 20 points just by being big and because he's the most gifted defensive player ever in the history of the league by a wide margin." (Host, 29:55)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:41 | Episode content begins: introduction and context | | 03:00 | Breakdown of Wemby’s rim protection and Detroit’s struggles | | 06:10 | Steph Castle’s defensive and offensive impact | | 10:51 | Host explains Cade Cunningham’s struggles and new challenges | | 14:56 | Detroit’s lack of shooting and lineup dilemmas | | 18:37 | Spurs’ offensive rating and shooting strategy | | 19:51 | Importance of contested threes and floor spacing | | 22:55 | Spurs’ offensive execution, off-ball actions, Wemby’s fit | | 23:20 | Steph Castle’s passing and playmaking | | 27:10 | Wemby’s easy points via size and athleticism | | 29:40 | Host discusses Spurs’ contender status, Wemby’s historic role | | 30:56 | Final Pistons notes: Duren’s standout performance | | 31:40 | Episode wrap-up |

Episode Flow and Tone

The episode is packed with analytical detail, blending data and in-game observations with bigger-picture team-building and roster notes. The host’s tone is passionate, thoughtful, and willing to challenge knee-jerk narratives—especially in defense of a struggling Cade Cunningham while unapologetically praising the freakish impact of Victor Wembanyama and the well-oiled Spurs machine.

Summary

If you missed the episode, you’ll have learned:

• Just how much Wembanyama and Castle disrupted the Pistons on both ends
• How roster construction and shooting woes can doom good teams in tough matchups
• Why Cade’s struggles were as much about the “Wemby problem” and roster context as individual failure
• A detailed argument for why the Spurs’ shooting mentality and offensive execution is so effective
• That Wembanyama’s dominance may challenge everything we know about young teams contending in the NBA