The Zach Lowe Show – March 5, 2026

Episode: "Jayson Tatum is Back! Plus, the Players We Love to Watch and a Raptors Check-In."

Host: Zach Lowe
Guests: Chris Ryan (The Ringer), Jack Armstrong (TSN)
Main Themes: Tatum’s return and Celtics’ implications, Marc Gasol All-Stars (favorite NBA players to watch), Western Conference stories, “anti All-Star” hate-watch picks, Raptors’ state-of-the-franchise deep dive

Overview

This episode of The Zach Lowe Show is a basketball lover’s feast, blending high-level NBA analysis and classic hoophead banter. Zach Lowe welcomes Chris Ryan to celebrate “CR Month,” digging into Jayson Tatum’s surprising return for the Celtics and what it means for their title hopes. The pair then revive the beloved “Marc Gasol All-Stars”—their personal lists of favorite players to watch this season (not just superstars, but role players and cult heroes too). The conversation seamlessly branches out, covering key storylines around the league (Knicks, Thunder, Wolves, Rockets, Spurs), before pivoting to their “anti All-Stars”—the players they, well, do not love watching. The episode wraps with longtime Raptors broadcaster Jack Armstrong for an in-depth Toronto check-in—framing the Raptors’ current identity and long-term direction.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Jayson Tatum’s Return: Celtics Conversation

(03:40 – 10:00)

• Tatum’s Comeback from Achilles: News breaks just before recording—Jayson Tatum’s return is imminent after missing most of the season with an Achilles injury.
• Celtics Team Dynamics: Zach and Chris debate how Tatum fits into Boston’s surprisingly successful system, emphasizing the challenge of reintegrating a star on a high-performing, chemistry-rich team.

  “If there’s any chance that Jayson Tatum can help raise your ceiling, I see like no harm, no foul in this. If it’s not working, you gotta pivot." - Zach (05:51)

• Role Player (at First): Expect Tatum to have a minutes cap and play a more off-ball, “role-ish” role before ramping up.
• Modern Achilles Recovery: Chris muses on how NBA Achilles injuries now have “Tommy John energy,” and both agree modern medicine has changed expectations.

  "If you told me in five years that Achilles are going to be like the NBA version of Tommy John where they're just like, yeah, we're going to do the Achilles so that his calf stops bothering him. I don't know. Is that where we're going?" - Chris (06:46)

• Celtics Ceiling: Zach reiterates—Boston, despite great vibes, aren’t true title favorites without Tatum at (or near) full strength.

2. Marc Gasol All-Stars: Players We Love to Watch

(10:00 – 43:53)

• Concept: Originating from Zach’s Grantland days, the “Marc Gasol All-Stars” are personal picks for the most enjoyable NBA players to watch, regardless of stardom or statistics.

Chris Ryan’s Five:

• Brandon Miller (Hornets):

  “Brandon Miller is a sicko and I love watching him play offense...the shoulder thing is so cyborg-y—like I have come to save you, Sarah Connor.” (12:00)

• Ayo Dosunmu (now Timberwolves): Brought pace, two-way play, and revitalized the Wolves bench.
• Stephon Castle (Spurs): Shared pick with Zach; lauded for athleticism, lobs, and defensive motor.
• VJ Edgecombe (Sixers): Rookie energy, relentless competitiveness.
• Derrick Queen: “Cajun Jokic” momentarily, love for his vision and quirky old-man game, even if he’s hit a rookie wall.

Zach’s Five (excluding prior TV segment picks):

• Derrick White (Celtics):

  "He’s just a fucking awesome basketball player. He does everything well. He is relentless...super duper smart." (32:53)

• Josh Hart (Knicks): Energizer, transition, smart passing—a delight to play with and watch.
• Nas Reid (Timberwolves): “Big jelly” with balletic moves for a large man; pure fun.
• Stephon Castle (Spurs): See above.
• Reed Sheppard (Rockets): Oxygen for Houston offense, audacious shooter and passer.

NOTEWORTHY QUOTES & MOMENTS:

• "Castle will do something so wonderful on a basketball court and just look like the guy on the other team just kicked his sister’s shin." – Zach (26:37)
• “Derrick Queen...for those brief, glorious weeks, he was basically playing YMCA pickup basketball against NBA players and winning.” – Chris (28:38)

Honorable Mentions:

• Shout-outs to Amen Thompson, Shaden Sharpe, Moussa Diabate, Kelly Oubre Jr. (for pure hustle), plus thoughtful tangents about team chemistry and archetypes.

3. Sizing Up the Conference Races: Wolves, Rockets, Thunder

(43:54 – 47:00)

• Wolves Vibes: Zach is bullish—loves Anthony Edwards, Wolves play both Denver and OKC tough, and their two-way identity is “rounding into shape.”
• Rockets Status: Slight stabilization after midseason turmoil; still skepticism about their playoff oomph.
• Thunder Rising (and Resented):
  • Knicks-Thunder drama; growing coach complaints about Thunder’s defense and officiating (“Shay gets all the calls, you can’t touch them…”).
  • Zach/Chris discuss the “villain” narrative developing around OKC—contrasting perceptions of the team’s efficient but “robotic” offense and their physical, switch-heavy defense.

  “This is really reminding me of what's happening with Arsenal right now in the Premier League…they’re corner-kicking their way to a Premier League title right now.” – Chris (38:24)

4. Anti-Gasol All-Stars: Hate-watch Picks

(49:12 – 57:37)

• Chris’s Pick:
  • Luka Doncic: “I just can’t watch it...the style of play is not my favorite, but it’s also the vibe. I just don't like guys screaming at refs all the time.” (49:12)
• Zach’s Picks:
  • Paolo Banchero: Critique is more about Magic’s bland offense, tension with Coach Mosley.
  • DeMar DeRozan (Kings): Going through the motions, declining impact.
  • Other mentions: Russell Westbrook, Jakob Poeltl (“What are you doing out there?”), Patrick Williams, Thanasis Antetokounmpo (“Just sit down, man.”), Miles Turner, Julius Randle ("eye of the beholder" guy), Deni Avdija, Jalen Brunson (for some fans), Joel Embiid (again, taste-dependent), Paul George, Jordan Poole (“flopping”).
  • Fun, self-aware aside: Zach notes it’s “mean” and skips being too harsh (54:34)

5. Hot Button: Magic City Night vs. Luke Kornet

(57:37 – 61:16)

• Controversy Recap: The Hawks plan Magic City Night honoring the legendary ATL strip club—serve their wings, etc. Luke Kornet writes a blog against it on religious/moral grounds.
• Chris’s Take: Finds humor and context, noting Kornet’s blog is “very spiritually guided” and this episode is probably overhyped due to a slow news week (59:11).

  "I wish it was a Supreme Court case. Yeah, it’s a basketball Supreme Court." – Chris (60:26)

6. Raptors State-of-the-Union w/ Jack Armstrong

(66:20 – 103:32)

Raptors’ Post-Title Journey

• Historical Recap: Toronto’s resilience post-2019 title: the COVID-complicated Tampa season, playoff exits, gradual breakup (Lowry, VanVleet out; Siakam, Anunoby trades for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, Ingram deal).
• Draft, Roster Turnover: Hits and misses (Scotty Barnes a win, Grady Dick/Malachi Flynn less so). Prudent but sometimes “confusing” decisions (Jakob Poeltl’s extension, missed on Norm Powell swap).
• Franchise Philosophy: Striving for “middle build” instead of bottoming out; ambition to remain relevant and competitive.

Breaking Down the 2026 Raptors

(Highlights from 76:31 – 103:32)

• Defensive Identity:
  • Length, switchability, effort—opponents have longest halfcourt possessions vs. Toronto.
  • Issues persist at center—Poeltl isn’t the same post-back injury.
• Offensive Challenges:
  • Ranked 16th in offense, which is “a hair better than expected” given shooting/spacing issues (79:12).
  • Rely heavily on transition, forcing turnovers, mixing up who screens and who handles.
  • Lack of a true “alpha” scorer; Quickley is a combo guard, Ingram is a “mid-post” guy, Barnes is a connector.
• Scotty Barnes Evolution:
  • Usage as pick-and-roll ball handler down from 20 to 9 per 100 possessions as role shifts (“jack-of-all-trades,” not a traditional #1).
  • Versatile, emerging as an All-Defensive Team candidate, but “needs to evolve” as a scorer/passer for Toronto to reach the next level (92:13).
• RJ Barrett’s Value:
  • “Connector” who makes smart plays, not just a salary matcher.

  “He knows how to play. You go in the schoolyard and you say, I want that guy on my team.” - Jack (91:15)

• Roster Questions, Ceiling:
  • Toronto is solid (#5, nine games over .500) but lacks a clear path to real contention.
  • Major question: Can internal development (Barnes, Grady Dick, Jacoby Walter) or future deals (all picks intact, flexibility) get them over the hump?
  • Offense remains their playoff limiting factor; halfcourt execution and spacing woes highlighted.

  “Are you going to play your five best or your best five? And I still think they haven't come to that connection yet.” - Jack (78:41)

Analytical Nuggets

• Turnover Margin, Transition Rate: Raptors are elite in both—they need the chaos to spark offense due to halfcourt clunkiness.
• Record vs. Top Teams: 4–14 vs. top 10; reinforces skepticism about playoff ceiling (80:47).
• Game Script: Excellent on the road (19–10), oddly middling at home.
• Bottom Line: Jack and Zach agree—remaining flexible, letting things “marinate,” then making bold moves in the offseason is the best path for Toronto.

Classic Jack Armstrong Quote:

“The thing that I’ve always learned is—don’t rush and build on a foundation that maybe isn’t the right foundation…find out what you have, then make the move.” (85:56)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On player enjoyment:

  “It’s aesthetics, it’s competitive fire, it’s two-way play…it’s just the dudes I love to watch.” – Chris, on his All-Star criteria (11:03)

• On the Thunder’s evolving rep:

  “There’s this bubbling sensation around the league that other teams are rooting against the Thunder for like 10, 12 different reasons.” – Zach (37:07)

• On the Raptors’ offense:

  “I just kind of still don’t really know what this team is, particularly offensively. When I watch them, I focus on the offense…because their defense to me is legit.” – Zach (76:31)

• On the challenge ahead for the Raptors:

  “Ultimately…if you actually want to become a great team, Scotty has to evolve into a little bit more of a reliable score passer, traditional number one option type...if he doesn’t, they need to get someone who’s just better than Brandon Ingram.” – Zach (93:03)

Episode Timestamps – Major Sections

• 03:40 – Jayson Tatum’s injury return and Celtics impact
• 10:00 – Marc Gasol All-Stars (players we love to watch)
• 43:54 – Wolves, Rockets, Thunder: Conference trends
• 49:12 – Anti-Gasol All-Stars (hate-watch picks)
• 57:37 – Luke Kornet vs Magic City Night
• 66:20 – Raptors franchise check-in with Jack Armstrong
• 103:32 – Wrap-up and outro

Tone & Style

Zach and guests blend analytical rigor with an irreverent, conversational style—goofy tangents (Magic City, movie recs), self-deprecating humor, inside-basketball depth, and genuine affection for their favorite teams/players. Jack Armstrong’s segment is informed, upbeat, and loaded with wisdom, as always.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Stands Out

• Comprehensive, playful breakdowns of both league-wide and niche storylines
• Rich “eye test” insights, not just stats
• Honest frustration and joy with the modern NBA viewing experience
• Raptors fans get a thoughtful, honest, but optimistic state-of-the-team
• Classic “Zach Lowe Show” blend: big topics, lovable nerddom, and references for hardcore fans

Recommended for: NBA fans hungry for big-picture strategic talk plus the micro-details that reveal why hoops are so fun to watch. Raptors faithful will especially want the second hour—insightful, fair, no-nonsense.