The Ringer NBA Show – Group Chat

Episode: Tatum’s East-altering Return, the Spurs’ Warp-speed Come-up, and a Trail Blazers Bonanza

Date: March 10, 2026
Host: Justin Verrier
Guests: Jared Weiss (The Athletic), Tom Haberstroh (Blazers broadcast, Yahoo)

Episode Overview

This episode of Group Chat features deep-dives into three of the NBA’s most fascinating storylines: Jason Tatum’s stunning comeback and its consequences for Boston and the Eastern Conference; Victor Wembanyama’s rapid evolution and the resurgent Spurs; and the Portland Trail Blazers’ intriguing rebuild, young core, and playoff hopes. Justin Verrier is joined separately by Jared Weiss and Tom Haberstroh, both offering on-the-ground insights, anecdotes, and tactical breakdowns specific to the teams they cover. The discussion weaves basketball analysis with behind-the-scenes color, memorable moments, and forward-looking projections.

Key Segments & Timestamps

• [07:10] – Tatum’s Return & Celtics Outlook (with Jared Weiss)
• [25:07] – Wemby’s Leap & Spurs’ Team Culture (Weiss)
• [39:45] – The Jackals: Wemby’s Fan Section (Weiss)
• [45:22] – Spurs’ Backcourt & Rotation Dynamics (Weiss)
• [60:00] – Blazers’ Young Core, Rotation, and Outlook (with Tom Haberstroh)
• [73:55] – Blazers’ First-Round Picks & Long-Term Hierarchy (Haberstroh)

Main Discussions & Insights

Jason Tatum’s Return: A Shifting Eastern Conference

[07:10 - 25:08]

The Atmosphere in Boston

• Jared Weiss: “I didn't realize the NBA Finals could happen in March… Everyone is giddy, and there's this intense energy…there was a surrealness seeing a guy I had just seen 10 months earlier writhing in pain…to see it all coming back together this quickly, and not only is he back, but…he looks good.” [07:41]
• The emotional stakes and catharsis for Celtics fans after Tatum’s Achilles injury; the energy reminiscent of the Finals.

Tatum’s Relationship With Boston

• Weiss: “Your friends never find you as corny as your enemies…in Boston, he was everything they hoped he would be… the foundation of one of the most successful franchise runs that we’ve had in the last 25 years.” [09:25]
• Tatum as both an archetype (well-rounded, “boring” star) and a marvel for local fans.

Impact and Recovery

• Weiss: “He was a mess defensively [in the first half]; couldn’t get off the ground… he just needed halftime to figure that out… I think the thing that’s surprising is the Celtics have put him back in his playmaking role straight away.” [14:15]
• Verrier: “The size was just apparent…the type of versatility that sparked them on runs in previous years… if you’re looking at the East, who can match that shooting/size combo?” [12:41]
• The team’s plan to balance Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s usage and playmaking, with early growing pains but enormous upside.

The “Whose Team?” Question

• Weiss: “Jalen’s going to have less shots, right? … the sacrifice probably won’t be that big…He’s been a much better playmaker…they’re a really good team, we can overthink this a lot.” [18:02]
• Celtics have multiple “solvers” for playoff challenges (Brown as a game-breaker, Tatum as the offensive anchor), but their depth and shooting are unmatched in the East.

Playoff Readiness & Defensive Questions

• Weiss: “Tatum is probably going to struggle early in whatever their first round series is, because the point of attack defense is going to be so much more physical on him… But just the fact that we’re seeing his skill set is present…they should be the best team in the East by the time the playoffs come around.” [22:03]
• Conversations around lineups, matchups (Cavs, Knicks, Pistons), and how Tatum’s health and role will need to adjust for playoff intensity.

Spurs: Wembanyama’s Rapid Growth and a Unique Team Culture

[25:08 - 55:41]

Wemby’s Season-Within-a-Season Leap

• Jared Weiss: “I’m having trouble remembering a top-5 player improving this much during a season…he was making mistakes, but now he’s more methodical…he’s not rushing, things are slowing down for him.” [26:12]
• “His usage does not get properly counted… every possession on both ends runs through him. His usage is really as high as Jokic and Shai.” [26:12]
• The team’s tempo can change “warp-speed” with Wemby, and his presence is felt on every play.

MVP-Type Impact

• Weiss: “You pick up that stench [of MVP]. The pheromones are wafting up into your brain cavity…when he takes over, it happens so fast you cannot catch up.” [30:35]
• The “aura of greatness”—building to those MVP moments of taking over in rapid-fire bursts (ex: comeback vs the Clippers).

Wemby’s Character, Passion, and Fan Connection

• Weiss: “He has found this interesting balance where he composes himself with introversion or quietness…but then lets out those moments of passion where you see the Kobe within him…he channels that energy so he can be a ruthless competitor.” [33:51]
• On the Jackals, Wemby’s handpicked supporters’ section:
  • “He literally went and did film study on all the auditions, selected his captains himself…he did the first PowerPoint presentation of his life for them.” [40:56]
  • The Jackals blend European and local San Antonio culture, go beyond the arena (community events), and changed the vibe of Spurs games.

The Spurs’ Backcourt: Harmony for Now

• Weiss: “[Dylan] Harper’s just not ready to be a main player yet…Fox’s control of the offense is really, really crucial…Steph Castle is clearly a star…He arguably could've been the All-Star pick over Fox.” [45:58]
• “Fox has been very vocal from the beginning: I am here to help channel the Wemby revolution. Not a lot of other All-Stars that comfortable with not being the superstar.” [45:58]
• Spurs’ blend of youth (Harper, Castle), a selfless star (Fox), and humility has created a “sum greater than parts” environment.

Spurs’ Rise: From Play-in to (Maybe) Contender?

• Weiss: “I thought I was going to be here for the transition—lose in the first round—and now I’m wondering: Are we going to be in a parade?” [51:27]
• Their leap from a humble “play-in hopes” team to top of power rankings—a testament to both Wemby’s meteoric rise and the coherence of the roster.

Portland Trail Blazers: Young Talent, Rebuild Progress, and Rotational Questions

[60:00 – End]

Scoot Henderson’s Breakout

• Tom Haberstroh: “The stat that jumps out to me, JV, is the zero turnovers…28 points, great, 6 assists, but mistake-free basketball…He never really seemed all that comfortable this season…[but on Sunday] everything was decisive.” [63:29]
• Scoot’s confidence is tied to his three-point shot—when it’s falling, everything else (“the skeleton key”) unlocks.

Developmental Expectations & Long-term Comp

• Haberstroh: “Scoot has all the tools to be [an NBA starter]…It might be the case that he just needed more reps. I just hope he’s engineering that energy into shooting and confidence.” [70:01]
• Verrier: “I’ve been thinking about him more in the Mike Conley mold…he has to be more of a technician who adds the athletic stuff on the side.” [68:33]

Blazers’ Recent First-Round Picks: Ranking & Development

• Haberstroh: “If we’re power ranking, it’s Clingan [#1] far and away…I think Donovan Clingan not only is the best of that group now, but also has the highest ceiling.” [74:33]
• On Clingan: “He wants it so badly…has since February 1st, he and Wemby have led the league in forced misses at the rim…He’s rugged too. You need those guys in your hole, right? You need them in the trenches.” [74:33]
• OG UConn energy: “He just grew a beard, and just the badass came out…he was always meant to be.” [79:09]

The Enigma of Shaden Sharpe

• Haberstroh: “His finishing ability is elite…but he hasn’t been able to get to the free throw line…if he can just get that three-point shot, the Blazers go from a mid-tier to a top-10 team.” [85:11]
• Verrier: “I just don’t see a ‘bust’ with him…he does get things, but very slowly—it’s always concentrated into that lane, and stacking layers is hard.” [88:21]

Denny Avdija: The Real Deal, But Questions Remain

• Haberstroh: “He’s the guy. Big believer in Denny…when he’s right, I think he’s an All-NBA player…and at his age, with his contract, he’s the best value contract in the NBA, bar none.” [93:07]
• On potential: “He’s leading the league in drive assists by a mile…We haven’t seen what he looks like surrounded by elite shooters. With Dame and Krejci coming back, Denny’s got another level.” [94:17]
• Verrier: “I think he is primed to almost work like a Giannis type to Dame, where he is the battering ram and Dame is the flowing shooter…But there are a lot of question marks.” [95:54]

Coach Thiago Splitter and the Playoff Push

• Haberstroh: “Blazers had the second-most games lost to injury…Splitter wants to win the possession game, run up tempo, super conditioned, fire up threes…Now Portland is a game out of 9 and two games out of the eight spot…I wouldn’t be surprised if they take that 8 seed.” [102:06]
• Blazers’ identity in flux, but abundance of talent and possibilities. How will Dame’s return shape style and leadership?

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jared Weiss on Tatum’s Return:
  “To see it all coming back together this quickly, and then not only is it just like that he's back, but… he looks good, and the team looks like they're ready to be one of these championship front runners.” [07:41]

• Weiss on Wemby’s Aura:
  “On the MVP smell test, you pick up that stench. The pheromones are just wafting up into your brain cavity.” [30:35]

• Weiss on Wemby's Fan Engagement:
  “He literally went and did film study on all the auditions, selected his captains himself…he did a three-hour orientation…the first PowerPoint presentation of his life for them.” [40:56]

• Haberstroh on Scoot’s Turnaround:
  “There were a couple plays, I was like, 'Who is that guy?' He did this little step-back three—it swished, and I was like, I don’t think I’ve seen him shoot it like that since last year. Maybe it just takes a while.” [67:34]

• Haberstroh on Denny Avdija:
  “He’s the best value contract in the NBA, bar none. He’s an all-NBA player when healthy…Once you surround him with the right players, Denny becomes even more unguardable.” [93:07]

• Verrier on Clingan:
  “He looks foundational to everything that they’re doing…I think they're developing this mindset down from Tu and some of these other guys. Dame as well…they’re going to have to dig games out of the mud.” [79:18]

Episode Takeaways

• Celtics: Tatum’s return doesn’t just steady the ship—it vaults Boston to the top tier of contenders, with his steady evolution as a playmaker and the team’s multidimensional skillset boding well for the postseason. Small frictions (with Brown) are likely overstated.

• Spurs: Wembanyama’s progression is nothing short of historic; from his rapid skill growth to his cultural impact (The Jackals), he’s changing San Antonio’s trajectory on and off the court. The harmony of the Fox/Castle/Harper guard rotation and selfless culture are keys to their rise.

• Blazers: Scoot’s flashes, Clingan’s reliability, Shaden’s untapped upside, and Denny’s all-around game combine to yield a rare “abundance of options” problem for a young team. Fit, shooting improvement, and health will determine if they can actualize playoff potential. Coach Splitter’s up-tempo ambitions align with the personnel, but Dame’s reintegration and a still-fluid hierarchy make for compelling theater the rest of the season.

For Further Listening

• [34:00–55:00]: The Jackals, Wemby’s passion, player empowerment, and Spurs’ next moves
• [60:00+]: Full Blazers breakdown, youth development, and roundtable philosophical debates on coaching, roles, and what makes a contender

Compiled by The Ringer NBA Show Team
Listening to this recap can prime you for the current NBA landscape—whether you’re a Boston diehard, a Wemby stan, or a fan of the league’s most promising rebuild in Portland.