Does Harden Make The Cavs Contenders? How Wide Open Is The East? | The Hoop Collective
Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss James Harden’s debut with the Cavaliers, including how much better Cleveland can be after replacing Garland. Next, the guys talk some tanking issues around the NBA, before breaking down the historic winning streak for the Charlotte Hornets and a very unique weekend set of games for the New York Knicks. Plus, how wide open is the Eastern Conference this season? Finally, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ up-and-down season continues with some drama around the team.
0:00 Intro
1:47 Our Super Bowl memories
3:34 Harden’s debut with the Cavs
13:44 How much better are the Cavs with Harden?
17:46 Tanking issues popping up around the NBA
24:50 Hornets’ historic winning streak continues
39:34 Interesting weekend for the Knicks
47:12 Wolves up-and-down season continues
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45 Comments
To stop nba teams from tanking (intentionally losing) you need to end the special treatment in the draft. Or relegate the bottom 4 teams to the G league. And promote the top 4 teams from the G league to the nba.
Knicks VS Spurs NBA finals BOOK IT!…Knicks in 6 rematch 26 years in the making
darius just needs that toe sucked on a little bit slrrrrrp
have you seen the movie Buffalo 66?
How in hell did Booker make the 3pt competition?
Stats don’t fully show how much Lamelo is contributing to this hornets streak. Everyone always give credit to Brandon Miller and Kon, but don’t realize how much our offense drops off when just Lamelo isnt on the floor. Obviously this is a full team effort but Lamelo is a huge pet of this and he keeps getting written off
Why are we not calling the hornets the buzzsaw
Too many clerical errors in their segment on the Wolves, good Lord..
Winehorst will die if he goes a day without talking about tanking. Its like a cocaine habit for that old man
It’s Ka-Nipple not Ka-Nupple. Get the man’s name right. 😂
Why are the CADAVERS constantly getting TOO MUCH TIME????? How about talking about the BEAST OF THE EAST……Detroit and DPOY Ausar Thompson!!!! Take a vacation Windhorst!!!! Go hang out at the Winking Lizard and drink some more whiskey!!! Geeeeeesh! Swish222222222222222
Yes Kings took out their starters but Russ and DeRozan were playing atrocious against Cleveland and the Rookies were playing well. We then we put them back in with 4xmins left and they shot us out of the game lol…. Masterful tank job 👏🏻
comment to increase engagement
Despite the win the Cavs did not look good with Harden. Does not look like a good fit and to me their are worse going into the playoffs
These guys will try to find any reason to be negative about certain players. They know better than most trades take time to go through it doesn't happen instantly and teams have to wait. Yes the Cavs did not have a practice with harden before the game but they did have a film session then normal shoot around, as most teams at this point in the season they aren't practicing much. Logic would say they only have 2 games left before the all-star break so they are just going to do normal film sessions then they will take the time before all-star break ends to have a couple practices. This isn't hard to figure out. Also windy says something along the lines of he had to get his life situated then macmahon laughs and says maybe like it isn't the reality. He has to find a place to live in Cleveland, figure out what's going with him to Cleveland. And he has 2 children and a long term girlfriend, so yes there are things to be figured out. I promise you it took maybe a hour or 2 if not less to film him walking out of a house and getting into a car for the short adidas ad and they had that done long before the trade even went through.
Jalen Brunson just missed a lot of shots he normally hits. And missing OG and McBride was huge against a physical team like the Pistons. If healthy, The Knicks will beat them in the playoffs again.
Drug test Kawhi
i dont get the "the east is wide open". Last year wasn't wide open? I imagine the first or second seed went to de ECF, no?
“Better season than LeBron” shut up dude who cares. He’s LeBron, he’s gonna be in the all star game. Who cares about kawahi
Hell, I'm older than all you mother effers – Steelers/Cowboys
Jesus christ that same line up is -21 without lamelo…. These guys are fing idiots
3:30 – nah f that, you guys are older than me but it’s like listening to the older brothers I always wanted. I live super deep in the mountains so it’s hard to find people to talk basketball or sports in general with. Thanks for filling that void.
This video is like your sports. Constant adverts with occasional content. Unwatchable.
My first super bowl memory is the vikings getting hosed by the Chiefs. . . . I'M OLD!
the hornets dont need another lottery pick, they have everything they need n just got coby white a 20-5 guy. They can upgrade center in offseason if needed.
My most vivid football memory was when Joe Theisman (who by the way resembles Bontemps) broke his leg in half on live national TV. To date the only other comparable one was Paul George breaking his leg running into the basket stanchion, but I don't remember if that was live. Obviously skiers can also break all kinds of body parts in their wipeouts, but you can't SEE those with all the clothing and gear. I just remembering thinking how much it must've hurt for Theisman (good thing there wasn't accompanying audio) at the time.
Cavs eating the Harden diet
Omg Detroit was awesome , but when are the experts gonna talk about the fact the Knicks came off of a double overtime victory against Denver. They had no energy. Any other team this caveat would be mentioned. The narrative against the Knicks is always over negative. Props to Wendy ; he seemed like ok I saw the Knicks beat a Celtics team handedly which swept them during the regular season. Detroit is legit but caveats there’s nuance here. That and then let’s not talk about no KAT, no OG, no McBride , no new acquisition stud Alvarado
Nothing wrong with tanking
Harden can still play at this level for another couple of years, that's why they trade DG for him.
Wemby had a right knee hypertension… he came back after missing 2 games… the league is definitely having a tanking issue
The Adidas boys about to turn up in Cleveland
If you take "BALL". off the team…… They'll fall apart 4 sure. He's the glue
2:29 Go Niners ⛏️⛏️⛏️
Yes and Harden hate is overplayed and a gimmick at this point
Chess not checker’s, Bill’s up 2-0 this year
A better term than 'flip' effect would be 'yo-yo', for teams bottoming out and bouncing straight back, or some economist/ politicians/ management call it a 'j curve'. Usually when begging patience or hope for their flagging management.😅
Bontemps is fairly young, but he’ll be WAY better as an old guy.
Pay close attention to the s Bontemps talks. He's one of those low key racists that works for @espn . Talks about Black athletes like they're the help when he makes a living off of their work.
Wolves have a couple big problems IMO. 1) Gobert's contact is one of the worst. He is probably a $10M a year guy right, not a $35+M guy (and was never worth what they paid him). When you are a team that is trying to pinch pennies, having a terrible contract makes it tough to maneuver the roster. And 2) Edwards and Randle, their two best players, are not leaders. They need a leader. Edwards is an elite player on both ends when he is energized and interested. But too often, he is neither. Conley was their leader for a couple years, but then his play just wasn't good enough anymore to fulfill that role. Coach's nightmare right now.
“You might’ve just killed me” – Bontemps 😂😂😂
Why do we have mention Daryl Morey every other podcast like he did something in this league… Has zero Finals appearances in 20 years
No
hornets are AT BEST first round loss of a playoff team – they look good but lets relax they are getting swept in the first round IF they even make it (they prob will lose in the play in)
Great podcast! Perhaps Pacers management should try to get a second round pick from the Clippers for Zubac’s “devastating “ ankle injury 😳😝