Thunder Are Built to Dominate, Wemby Is a Superstar, and the Knicks Are Suddenly Unstoppable

Untitled project from SquadCast === Jose: ​[00:00:00] All right, it's time to talk basketball. I'm Jose Salviati, editor at thePeachBasket.net. He is Steve Purciello, longtime educator, vice principal, high school basketball coach, athletic director, and also the host of Celtic Chalk Talk. Celtic Chalk Talk is a pod dedicated to the latest news and opinions surrounding the Boston Celtics from a lifelong fan, Steve. That pod drops new episodes every Monday, but this is the Shot Clock Pod, the best 24 minutes of random NBA thoughts online anywhere. This podcast was born out of the content in Steve's 13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts articles, which he publishes weekly. Steve and I have exactly 24 minutes to discuss what's on his mind around the NBA. Today, we'll discuss his latest 13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts article, where he shares his random thoughts after the third week of the 2025-26 NBA playoffs, and the cream is rising to the top. We'll talk about it. Now, if you're listening to this, thank you. You're listening to one of the independent fan-driven shows on the Peach Basket Podcast Network of [00:01:00] shows. We're not owned by a big media company, which means what you hear comes straight from real fans like Steve and I, who live the game every day. If you believe voices like this should be heard, the best way to support us is simple. Keep listening, keep watching, tell a friend comment, and when an episode ends, head over to the PeachBasketPodcastNetwork.com. Head over to thePeachBasket.net. Check out more fan-run podcasts, and help this independent network grow the way it started, organically, one hoops fan at a time. We're glad you're here. Thank you. Steve, are you ready? Steve: Ready. Let's do it. Jose: All right. I am not. So happens from time to time. So I'm gonna start the timer now, and we're off and running. We're gonna do the same thing that we've been doing the last couple weeks, and I think it worked pretty well. We're gonna take a look at each series, and I'm gonna talk about what you wrote about them. Let's start in the West with the Oklahoma City Thunder [00:02:00] and the Lakers. Not much of a matchup. Now you wrote, and we talked about it just before we started the show, that things could be different if the Lakers had Luka Dončić. But you said the only difference is instead of being swept, which is very likely now, they might've won two games. So even at full capacity, you don't think the Lakers had a chance? Steve: No, not at all. There's just-- After Reeves and LeBron, if you were picking sides, the next 10 guys would be from Oklahoma. It just-- it, there's just too much. There's too many of them, they're really good. What else could you say? And naturally, your first pick would be-- first two picks Would be Oklahoma. Then the third, maybe the third or fourth. So even the best two guys on the court aren't Lakers, so they're really in trouble. And you knew it. You kind-- Once Dončić got hurt during the season it was, they had a puncher's... I don't even know if they had a puncher's chance, but they [00:03:00] had a puncher's chance with Dončić. But now it's happening. I think the Lakers might be, as Charles Barkley saying, says, "One, two, three, Cancun," meaning thinking about, let's get this over with. Jose: Yeah. Now let's give credit where it's due, right? The Thunder are an incredibly good basketball team, and w- what impresses me about them is everybody talks about next man up and that next man up mentality, but the Thunder live it, man. They lose their third-- I think Darnell Williams is their third leading scorer, and all of a sudden you get somebody else who comes in and he's dropping 20. So I'm asking you as a coach, is their credit due to the, the franchise for developing that guy and building that mentality, always be ready, or is that just a player who's just, he's just got that mindset and he's always ready, or is it a little bit of both? Steve: I think Sam Presti is he's done a tremendous job. He still has a bunch of draft picks that he doesn't really need. [00:04:00] so he's laid the players out. I think D'Antoni... Jose: [00:05:00] sure. Yeah. Yeah. Steve: they are-- this could be set up for a long time, Jose: yeah. Steve: being in the finals Jose: No Steve: a long time or close Jose: doubt. Yeah. Steve: Stops it. Jose: I read today, and I was surprised to see that the Lakers are getting a lot of credit for stopping Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who's an MVP candidate. He's averaging 21 points a game, which is well below [00:06:00] his season average. But a Jay Mitchell is averaging 20 and that is-- That's it right there in a nutshell. Steve: Yeah. Jose: How they got this guy, who's a second-round draft pick, who wasn't even in the playoff roster last season, all of a sudden he's a star or he's playing like a star. It's unbelievable. Steve: That, that's what... And just, like I said, get used to it 'cause they got a bunch of number one picks coming. Jose: Yeah. Steve: keep getting players, and they're pretty good at drafting people, and it's not gonna stop. Jose: And I don't mean to go too deep down this rabbit hole, but again, a lot of credit to a very good team. They draft well, but then they develop well, and that's something that a lot of teams don't do. But if you're Oklahoma City, no offense to that small market team, you've got to develop well, right? 'Cause you're not gonna crack the free agent. Steve: I, y- you... I guess the best thing to do is look at how the team, the staff is. And when I think about that, and I'm not positive on all of it, but with Oklahoma City, I am sure you've [00:07:00] got younger people who are teachers or whatever they are. Not teachers in the profession as much as they've done this. They're trainers of athletes and they are able to develop develop this talent. And I think that- that's part of it. A lot of teams, a lot of teams will load up with guys who played in the NBA, but are they going to be the guys that are able to develop that talent and do it? Or is it better to get these guys who can develop talent, and understand, a little bit because they've worked out people before and have understood the development proc- the developmental process? Jose: Yeah, and that's where I wanna give, a team like the Thunder credit, right? 'Cause they understand their limitations, they understand what they've gotta do, and they're executing it to perfection. And so far, 7-0 in the playoffs, and we probably got 8-0 coming. We'll see how that ends up. Let's jump to the East. We'll talk about the Cavs and the Pistons. Now you wrote about James Harden [00:08:00] and, this isn't exactly what you said, but you alluded to the fact that he's the key, right? He's a big key to the Cavs' success. He played pretty well, shot a big shot, made a big shot in the last game to kinda keep the Cavs' heads above water, right? Turning point for Harden or are we gonna see the same old Harden and the same old outcome? Steve: I think Detroit will win it in six, and I think that Cleveland probably will come back and get the next game, but it'll be a tough game. It'll be a, close game. I just... I don't think Harden has never shown that he can put together a couple good playoff games in a row, and that's one of the key things. I was amazed in game two down the stretch when Mitchell's carrying him, Harden's trying to go through two guys and turn-- as I wrote, and turn the ball... what are we doing? Get the ball to Mitchell and get the heck out of his way. And maybe you g- you have a chance. And Donovan Mitchell, when he gets on a roll he's great. Jose: Yeah. Steve: it made no sense to me. It made absolutely no [00:09:00] sense to what they were doing. My s- my sense with Cleveland, that's gonna be an organization if they go out, and I think they will, they've got a lot of decisions to make in the off-season because, are we gonna do the same old? And they took Harden figuring that'd get them over the top, and the only thing gonna get out of Harden, he's gonna be a year older next year. I don't know if he can go on this forever but that's, Are you gonna get there, or are you gonna have to make a deal like Giannis? And then you have to be willing to give up Mobley. But I'm going too far here but, that's my point. Jose: Yeah. Yeah, you wrote specifically i-i-in that game too Harden shot three for 13, oh for four from three only three assists. And you ended y- th-that particular segment with, "Unless Harden quickly figures it out, Cleveland is in trouble." Now he heard you, 'cause he played pretty i-i-in Steve: what? Jose: three, but now the key is does he got two games in him in a row and that's where we've seen Harden kind of falter. But you also give a lot of credit to [00:10:00] the Pistons. Their defense has been incredible. Steve: it's Jose: Cunningham has been outstanding. And a player I like is Tobias Harris, who really... It's the first thing that comes to mind. I don't like the terminology here, but, he's kinda left for dead. He was a guy who nobody thought had a lot left in the tank, but he's played really well. Steve: I I... and I've thought about that too. Why, down, down the stretch he's been getting the ball and posting and beating people. But I... and I just think that being the fourth player on the Philadelphia 76ers when he was there means you don't see the ball Means just, play. So maybe it was there and it didn't come out, 'cause earlier in his career he was good. And don't forget, he was making good money with Philadelphia, so obviously he must have shown something in his years to get that money. So but he's really-- he's surpassed what you'd expect from him o- on any night. Jose: Yeah. And personally good to see, 'cause that's a player I like. Former LA [00:11:00] Clipper, had some good years here in LA. And he just, he seems like a good guy. But Steve: I think the biggest... if you-- we're talking about Harden for Cleveland. I think the weathervane for the Pistons is Jalen Duren. When he plays well, they do well, and when he Jose: yeah. Steve: struggle. Jose: Yeah. And he hasn't been playing well consistently. Steve: No. But the last ye- yesterday he didn't have a great game if I belie- I believe. That, that's my point. And if he comes and goes off, that changes the whole situation. Jose: Yeah. Yeah. And there's actually some rumblings here in LA that probably did not come, g- get anywhere outside of Los Angeles market, but a lot of people are looking at Jaylen Duren's struggles as possible positive for the Clippers, who might be able to trade for him if the Cavs are willing to let him go. If he didn't, doesn't do well. That would be a great get for the Clippers, because this is an all-star, right? Who- Maybe. Nobody thinks things through. They just throw out rumors. Matter of fact, i- in the co- in the article I read, nobody [00:12:00] s- they didn't guess anything. They didn't provide any options. They just said, "Hey, it'd be great to, to pull him in." Steve: it would be, but you gotta... they made the trade for Zubac, they got rid of him and, they've got nobody to blame if-- especially if they don't get the draft pick they want. So yeah. So I don't quite understand that, but, what could I say? Jose: Yeah. That's rumors, and we'll save those for rumor season. Right now, playoff season. All right, let's go back to the West, and we'll talk about the Wolves and the Nuggets. Now, you called out the conversation you and I had a couple weeks ago. Analytically speaking, the odds-on favorite to win it all were the Minnesota Timberwolves, because they checked every box that every champion has had. Steve: Ugh. Jose: Every NBA champion has had over the last 20, 30 years, 95% of champions have checked every box that only the Minnesota Timberwolves checked this year. So they were the odds-on favorite to win. They looked pretty good. Now you called out that right now, they're down two-one to the Spurs, and you [00:13:00] said next game at home, it's a must-win game. And you said they'd be lucky to get out of this round, much less win it all. Now, I see it a little different, all right? And I'll tell you why. Because in game three They needed an over-the-top, otherworldly game from Victor Wembanyama to win it. Now, the thing about it is Victor can do that any given night, right? But that's what they need, and so far in the series, Gobert has been... I don't think there's anybody else that can guard him as well as Gobert can, and he can't do a great job. But he can do better than anybody else 'cause he matches him with the height. Nobody else can do that. He knows him. He knows his game. They're both from, the same country. They play on the same international team. So if anybody's gonna have a chance of stopping him or not, let's not say stop, 'cause you're not gonna stop him. If anybody has a chance of slowing him down, I think it's gonna be Gobert and the Timberwolves. And they were doing a pretty good job until Rudy just went otherworldly. So I still think the Wolves are in it. Steve: Who's the after Wemby, who's the [00:14:00] second-best player on the court? And we know Edwards is hurt, and he's only playing 80%, 70%. Right now, who's the second-best player on the court? Jose: I'd still go with Ant. I think he's been playing pretty well. Steve: Okay. Jose: he has. Steve: I might pick Fox or somebody, but Who's third? Jose: Yeah, after that, then I think it's predomi- you can make the argument for not third, but top five would be Julius Randle, who certainly belongs there. Steve: Okay. Jose: then yeah, I think the rest of them, it's probably three to two in the top five Spurs players right here. Steve: you're forgetting Kelvin Johnson off the bench. Jose: Yeah. Hey, they're stacked. Th- there's no denying it. Steve: and the only thing, the only way I think Minnesota has its chance is first time in the playoffs for San Antonio, and they don't meet Jose: Yeah. Yeah. Steve: do. Jose: Yeah. Yeah. Steve: you've heard me before about Wemby. He's just-- It's a different world. Jose: Yeah. Steve: We're all [00:15:00] playing in it, but he's just... He, he can... There's nothing on the court he cannot do. That's the best way to put it. And how many people... Porziņģis is the only other big man that can shoot as well as he from three. Porziņģis just probably doesn't get on the court that often but, outside of that, I don't know. You could be, you could be but I just think if he a decent night, it's a good night, Jose: so y- let's dive into that just a little bit 'cause I, obviously I agree with you, and I think w- Wemby, again, like I said, he can go off at any moment, any time. And it's exciting, right? F- for me, because I remember when Magic Johnson came into the league and you knew when you were watching him, you were watching a transformative player. I did. I was young, but you could tell this guy just does the game differently. Larry Bird, same way And every now and again, you see these generational studs that come along and we're seeing that with Wemby. We're seeing him do things that really no player has ever done before. To me, the [00:16:00] closest similarity is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, but it's it's predominantly because of their size. He is n- Kareem he's a different player than Kareem. He's Kevin Durant, he's Kareem he's d- defensively, I don't even know. Hakeem, right? With the shot blocking, Dikembe Mutombo. He's like the best of all of these incredible players rolled into one. It's pretty amazing what this guy's ceiling is. Steve: one of the things if you're like, if you really start thinking about development of players and all that, Wemby was hurt for his first two years on and off, Jose: Yeah. Steve: have enough games. if you're a first-year player an all-star, you will become one of the greats of all time. If you're a first-year player and you're good, to being, in the top 50 in the league, you're gonna be a real good one or a great, probably a Hall of Famer. So [00:17:00] th- that's a way to look at the measuring for different players. you talked about Magic and Bird. Bird came in, his team improved for 40 games or so. They won Jose: Yeah. Steve: games. Magic came in, he won a title, and he played center in, in the clinching game. Jose: Yeah. Steve: will be not one of the all-time greats. And I'm just-- I'm gauging that off of this year is what I'm gauging, and he's good, real good already. But Wemby, he's in the Bird, excuse me, Bird and Magic realm where it's just oh my God. If Jose: Yeah. Steve: both years, he would've been an all-star. He would've been the other good things that go with it. So you don't see that. How many guys can you think of in the last 10 years that came into the NBA in their first year and changed the games? I don't think of many. It's why I have to [00:18:00] go back 40 years to, to get to Magic and Bird. Jose: Yeah, LeBron had an immediate impact, but he, he didn't change the game. He was he was a phenomenal transformative player, remains so, right? At his age. Steve: his second year, they got to the finals. Jose: Yeah. Which, again, incredible. But what Wemby's doing is different because he does everything. Steve: Yep. Jose: And he just does things that players his size shouldn't be doing. They just shouldn't be doing that. Steve: players his age shouldn't be Jose: Yeah. Very good. Yeah, good point. Steve: that's even... now, like if he stays healthy, how good would he be in seven, eight years? Jose: Yeah Steve: to Jose: Scary. It's scary. Steve: it's a whole different world. In San Antonio, the only thing they have to do is keep him happy and make sure he gets paid. That's all they have to do, and he'll Jose: Yeah. Steve: And they're gonna be in, in contention every year, he gets hurt. Jose: Yeah. Steve: But, so Jose: Yeah Steve: I'm in awe by him. Jose: Yeah. No it, it is unbelievable, and I think [00:19:00] he landed in the right place 'cause the Spurs are gonna do right by him. They've proven that they will do that for their franchise players. All right, let's leave the t-time we have left, as this shot clock is winding down for us, with the only series we haven't touched on which is the Knicks versus the Philadelphia 76ers. I thought this would be a little bit more of a battle, and it's turning out to be. Now, you called the Knicks, and I wanna get the wording exactly right. You said that they're playing the best basketball they have played this season. And about the Philadelphia 76ers, you said that the key is Tyrese Maxey. The only game they came close to winning so far, as we tape this, they're down 0-3 was in game two when they lost by only six points. Spoiler alert for those who are watching the game now as they're listening to us or at least, if you're watching, it's not a spoiler alert. But if you are-- If you don't wanna know go ahead and mute us. But right now, Tyrese Maxey is 0 for 3 from deep, 4 from 10 overall with 10 points, and at halftime, the Knicks are [00:20:00] leading 81 to 57. So this series is over. Steve: yeah. Yeah, that was over the other night. The Knicks are playing as well as possible. What's really interesting about it, if you follow a team that's gonna win it or whatever, generally during the year little things where they don't have bad streaks. The Knicks lost, what, nine out of 12 or something. They don't have those streaks. also-- they'll pull some games that they have no right winning. I don't see many of them for the Knicks during the regular se- so all of a sudden, has become figured out for them. And that's rare. Generally you watch a team and you can see that, oh, this team's, The Knicks aren't. all of a sudden they are un- unbeatable and it's really an interesting thing to watch. A- and the other thing too is and all of a sudden now Karl-Anthony Towns two months ago was complaining, not complaining, not happy with the situation. Now he's embraced it. He plays up on top there, and he gets the ball. He can shoot a three, so you have to guard him. He can go [00:21:00] to the basket, usually right-handed, but goes to the basket. But more importantly, Knicks are now cutting, and he's getting the ball to people and he's getting assists. The other piece to that would be while all this activity's going on, what the Knicks are doing is, okay if Towns kicks it to the wing or whatever, somebody's wide open somewhere the cutting or through the things. And that guy's ma- and the thing about it is he's getting the ball, which means the Knicks are playing selfless ball. But more importantly, he's making the damn shot. And they're shooting very well. so everything's 54% from the floor in, in three games. Probably today, who knows? But think about that. Teams don't go over 50, real consistently. And what did they do in the last two games against Atlanta? They just, the last game they shot lights out. Jose: Yeah. Steve: E- everything's going right defensively. They seem to be everywhere. It's all working Jose: Yeah.[00:22:00] Steve: i- it's incredible. It's an incredible turnaround that no one expected. Jose: Yeah. Yep. Steve: of my friends who's a Knick fan, his son told him, he's a-- they're both Knick fans. His son told him near the end of the year, win the first round, get knocked out in the second." Same old Knicks. And Jose: Yeah. Steve: That's crazy. Jose: Wow. Peaking at the right time, which is exactly what every NBA team wants. On the other side of that, the 76ers are hitting a wall at the wrong time. Now, I gotta give a shout-out to Joel Embiid because he's playing hurt, but he's still playing. But it is, y- you talked about the Cavs and their tough offseason should they lose. Sixers have got a tough offseason, right? Y- you got Embiid, you got Paul George. These are old guys who y- are clearly hurt. A lot of money invested in both of them. W- what's the way out for the Sixers? I think the process for this team is over. Steve: don't think there is a way out. I think the only hope [00:23:00] they have each year is to win enough to get in the playoffs, let Embiid play his 30, 40 games, then hope in the in the playoffs it comes together. But, Paul George, he shot 54% from three against Boston. Shooting well in this series. He's getting the same open shots, but he's not shooting well. I don't, I wouldn't expect him to do it. Their biggest hope is that VJ Edgecombe becomes a real Jose: Right Steve: a star and he can make up for it. But the other thing too when you watch the Sixers, you can almost see, and it's not a problem, but th- Maxie not taking many shots in those games, took more shots in game two, one reason. Who didn't play in game two? Embiid. you almost see like Maxie is like backing away and letting Embiid, and you know what? It's Tyrese's turn. Embiid's [00:24:00] great when he's healthy and c- and he's hard to stop. But it should be Maxie taking care of everybody, not Embiid and everybody playing around Embiid. And that's gotta change for them to realize or get better. And I don't know if that'll happen. Jose: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If you're the Philadelphia 76ers, do you entertain trade offers? I I don't know who'd take them. Steve: Who's gonna offer anything for that? Jose: I knew you were gonna say it. I knew it. But y- do you at least make them available Steve: Of Jose: and see what happens? Yeah. Steve: you do. Who's gonna-- Why would, anybody take a guy that can play 40 games? And hope he's healthy in the playoffs. And, and even when he's healthy, he p- he was healthy against Boston, played well. But now, he got kicked or something in the leg and he's been hobbling up and down the court. It's just an accident waiting to happen. And for Paul George, he'll be another year older. Still a good player, but is he worth the money he's making? What is he making, 40 or 50 million? [00:25:00] come on. There's better places to spend 40 or 50 million. Jose: Yeah. Staggering amount of money. He is due, guaranteed rather, almost 300 million through 2029. That last year is a player option. Steve: Embiid. Jose: yeah. Steve: Yeah. Jose: So yeah, that, that's tough to move. That is, that, that is, that's tough to Move. Steve: gotta be-- Any general manager who does that today will be on the unemployment line tomorrow because y- you're wishing on a star Jose: Yeah. Yeah. Steve: Yeah. Jose: tough break to see, the process coming to an end. But it looks like that might be the case. It- it's halftime of the Knicks and Sixers. That means that the ping pong balls are dropping. I'm gonna go take a look. I know Steve's gonna go take a look, but that is it. You saw-- You heard rather, the shot clock go off. We have another shot clock violation. It's what we do. Our time is up. Thanks as always for listening. Thank you for watching. Make sure to read Steve's entire 13 Rules Random NBA Thoughts article. We will link it wherever you are listening or watching to this today.[00:26:00] And make sure to join us next week for more NBA Random Thoughts as we recap the fourth week of the NBA playoffs. We'll find out very likely who is in the conference finals, and we'll talk about it then. Thanks, Steve. Steve: Take care