MOST Surprising Starts To The Season + NBA Cup Preview | The Hoop Collective
Brian Windhorst is joined by Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to talk the start of the NBA Cup before diving into some of the most surprising starts to the NBA season. The guys tackle the Bucks’ incredible start, the Hawks and Magic struggling, the best backcourt in basketball, Austin Reaves’ incredible run and much more.
0:00 Intro
1:34 Surprise Edition: “Where Is Windy?”
4:29 NBA Cup Preview
5:26 Bulls impressing early this season
14:58 Disjointed Hawks struggling early
19:19 Disappointing start to Magic’s season
21:55 76ers’ backcourt continues to amaze
25:42 Austin Reaves dominating early
36:39 Sale of Lakers officially complete
37:53 Clutch Ja propelling Memphis
38:52 A unique start to OKC’s season
41:24 An impressive rookie in Memphis
44:32 Nothing going right in New Orleans
50:43 Other quality starts to the season
51:45 Denver’s use of Jokic working early
☑️ Subscribe to ESPN+: https://plus.espn.com/
📱Get the ESPN App: http://www.espn.com/espn/apps/espn
🏀 Subscribe to NBA on ESPN on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2yxs3Og
☑️Subscribe to ESPN on YouTube: http://es.pn/SUBSCRIBEtoYOUTUBE
☑️Watch ESPN on YouTube TV: http://es.pn/YouTubeTV
49 Comments
Remember everyone. It's in Brian's best interest to not talk about the Bucks when they are good because he makes a living "defending" reports about Giannis leaving
"white hot starts" I see what y'all did there
no spurs? smh
The Turkey-eh reference is clutch
Howdie Tim
the amount of disregard for the bucks is crazy i know this was recorded different day but regardless its the same everytime. cant stand most these broadcasters anymore
It’s a young Season, let’s talk about it on February
I'm just sayin, if Laravia keeps shooting like that, Brian Windhorst deserves an apology from those 2 😂. They laughed at him in a pod over the summer when he suggested Laravia was a 3&D. I won't forget…
And I'm no Lakers fan (Go Knicks), I just find that hilarious.
Sorry Bontemps, AR ain’t going anywhere. You could make real hay if you just get with the program.
Pacers got thier own pick back so with all these injuries might as well play thier young guys get that lottery pick next year
Bontemps just can't give the Lakers any credit
Bontemps is gonna say how yes.. but the Wolves were missing Ant… That's 25% of their camp. Almost 70% of the Lakers cap is out
You said he wouldn't be able 2 maintain a 35pts &10ast-6reb average over the next few weeks Bontemps😂😂
He's trying to split the Lakers up .. AR had a bad toe injury in playoffs Bontemps
Bontemps continually talking over everyone is so grating
Bontemps can't stand it
AR is bigger than all Brunson & Kyrie
AR can be a 2 guard also
Bontemps crys over Dallas not getting AR
Other than Caruso, is there any other white player that's not a liability on defense?
Gonna keep listening weekly until Bontemps finally compliments Josh Giddey's game. Think I'll be listening all season.
These guys are Bulls haters!!
ESPN force feeding Windy with ozempic and he spits it out like Braveheart with the numbing agent before his execution
Can this bulls team mirror the Pacers roster of last year ??? That's the question
I can't remember what podcast you last discussed how to stop tanking.
But here is my suggestion for determining the draft lottery.
1) Get rid of the in season cup, tournament, whatever they call it
2) Instead have a one and done tournament to determine the draft order before the playoffs begin.
3) This, also gives a little break for playoff teams before the playoffs begin
4) Here is how it would work
You have 14 teams that don't make the playoffs
The tournament starts off with two brackets.
1st brackets
14th seed vs 13th seed ( loser gets 14th pick )
12th seed vs 11th seed ( loser gets 13th pick )
10th seed vs 9th seed ( loser gets 12th pick )
8th seed vs 7th seed (loser gets 11th pck )
2nd Bracket
6th seed vs 5th seed (Loser gets 10th pick)
4th seed vs 3rd seed (loser gets 9th pick)
2nd seed vs 1st seed )loser gets 8th pick)
Second rounds….
1st bracket
winner of 14th and 13th vs winner of 12 and 11th ( Loser gets 7th pick )
winnner of 10th and 9th vs winner of 8th and 7th seed ( Loser gets 6th pick)
2nd bracket
winner of 6th and 5th seed vs 4th and 3rd seed ( Loser gets 5th pick )
winner of 2nd vs 1st seed get a by
3rd round
1st bracket
winner from 14th,13th, 12th or 11th vs winner from 10th, 9th, 8th or 7th (loser gets 4th pick )
2nd bracket
winner from 6th, 5th, 4th or 3rd seed vs winner from 2nd or 1st seed ( loser gets 3rd pick)
Final match
winner from 14th,13th,12th,11th,10th,9th,8th or 7th vs winner from 6th ,5th ,4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st ( loser gets 2nd pick )
Winner of tournament gets 1st pick
A little confusing to try to discribe it without the bracket.
But you have four rounds that could happen over 8 days. Very quick, lots of excitment. A week off for playoff teams to get healthy.
It creates parody. While offering fair match ups. THe last place team wants to be able to beat the 2nd last place team and vice versa. It gives everyone a shot while making sure lower seeded teams get better picks if they loose.
Bontempts = Sick Laker Hater! He will NEVER be a credible commentator.
Reeves is the next Brunson. He'll find his own team and be the man and great.
As a Bulls fan I hate that the Bulls are winning because as great as it is that our young guys are starting to look really good, you still need a guy and 2026 is a great draft year and we might end up as the 6 seed
bulls 5-0, giddy 22/8.8/8.0 all star form
3 turds
Those stats about Austin Reeves are way too specific!
You guys spurs can swap picks with the hawks 😂
Risacher will be good one day… he’s still very young and skinny it’s gonna take some patience might not happen this year
6:13 I remember when EVERYONE was saying that the Bulls made a stupid deal and that they should have gotten a pick back in the trade. NOW the Thunder should have gotten a pick back in the deal? Lol
7:58 the bulls won 46 games 4 years ago….
Blazers are the real deal. Beat the Warriors by 20(their only loss), beat the 4-2 Lakers, beat the Nuggets, led the T Wolves the entire game and lost in the last minute on some clutch shots from Ant. They are going to be a nightmare to play this year.
Lakers fans really are massive whiners. Victim mentality overload.
Bulls are 5-0 now. Lol.
Maybe we can have an all white vs all black game in all star week. Maybe a bit more pride to play for😅 The real question is who wins.
I remember bulls fan seriously upset that they traded AC for giddy. 😅😂😅😂😅😂 seriously AC. Not even in the same statasphire
I can tell yall dont watch the bulls enough and didn't watch them toward the end of last year ending 15-5. This didnt surprise me. Giddey is an improved shooter and it is sustainable as well as others. They have all taken a step
Im not gonna overreact to anything week 1 other than wemby and him looking like he could be the future goat. Outside of that i know its a long season and im just enjoying the great basketball league wide 🙂
"nba cup"
Brothers ive grown to love this show. That is, i literally listen to it while practicing my shots. Thanks for showing Basketball so much love
Giddey is actually a solid defender 10:47
Haha, thinking Orlando is gonna end in the top 4-5 in the East is like thinking AD will stay healthy a whole year.
Bontemps is loud wrong and is going in about an irrelevant issue right now.
Windy was right on the money on Laravia before the season even started and no one paid attention
Bontemps has no clue, when it comes to a player's motivations….its not only about the money. But I do enjoy him to being wrong every week