Overview of Boston Does L.A., Honeymoon Harden, a Denver Hiccup, and a Kawhi Deep Dive With Zach Lowe
This episode of The Ringer’s Bill Simmons Podcast features Zach Lowe breaking down the biggest NBA storylines after Celtics–Lakers, plus broader league trends: MVP / All‑NBA debates, why the Lakers still look rocky, Cleveland’s James Harden honeymoon, Denver’s recent struggles, the Spurs/Thunder/West landscape, and an extended deep dive on Kawhi Leonard’s unusually strange, brilliant and injury‑marred career.
Key topics covered
- Celtics 1) how their roster and spirit contrast with the Lakers’ dysfunction, and 2) Jalen Brown’s MVP / All‑NBA candidacy and where he fits among elite wings.
- Lakers’ struggles: inconsistent offense, defensive lapses, questionable fit with Deandre Ayton and the starter lineup (LeBron / Davis / Reaves).
- MVP and All‑NBA swirl: SGA, Jokic, Wembanyama, Cade Cunningham, Giannis, Anthony Edwards, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brown and the durability/availability factor.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Harden’s “honeymoon” facilitator role, Mitchell/Mobley/Allen fit and why Cleveland’s ceiling is scary.
- Denver Nuggets: recent slide, missing pieces (Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson), Jokic’s availability and Denver’s defensive issues.
- Rockets, Knicks, Warriors, Clippers, Spurs — notes on usage, fit, and in‑season tweaks (e.g., Reed Sheppard for Houston, Alvarado/Brunson combos for Knicks).
- Kawhi Leonard deep dive: career arc, peak, injuries, “what‑ifs” and where he ranks historically.
Main takeaways
- Celtics look like the most cohesive top team — not just talent but system, depth and consistent two‑way effort. Jalen Brown’s season is a legit case for All‑NBA and a strong MVP contender (Lowe leans second‑team All‑NBA).
- Lakers are still uneven. Their wins often feel lucky; losses are sometimes blowouts. Defensive cohesion and role clarity (especially on pick‑and‑roll/boxing out) are major issues.
- MVP / All‑NBA is messy because of availability: SGA is odds‑on when he stays healthy; Jokic remains near the top; Wembanyama, Cade and others create a crowded, volatile pack.
- Cleveland’s Harden addition changed the team’s identity: he’s facilitating, opening lanes for Allen/Mobley and raising the Cavs’ ceiling even if chemistry questions remain.
- Denver is not as impervious as early season suggested — injuries (Gordon, Watson) and defensive miscues have produced a .500ish stretch. They still have championship pieces, but they need health and cohesion.
- Young Spurs (Wembanyama) could make a deep postseason run — they’re real threats — but experience and playoff grind could still be limiting factors.
- Kawhi’s career is uniquely strange: two Finals MVPs and elite playoff production, but inconsistent availability and long stretches of absence. His peak is top‑tier; his full career narrative is unpredictable.
Notable stats & data points mentioned
- Jalen Brown of Celtics: extremely consistent 27–33 point games; example night ~32/8/7 and 3 steals.
- Cade Cunningham clutch (last 5 minutes of close games): 49% FG on 75 shots, only 7 turnovers, 18 assists; Pistons +49 in those minutes. Only Tyrese Maxey took more clutch shots (44/92).
- Luka Doncic’s surprisingly few clutch attempts: 7 of 16 in last‑5 minutes close games (comparable to Chris Middleton).
- Nuggets recent form: roughly .500 over last 32 games — issues amplified by missing Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson (and some Jokic absences).
- Playoff playoff‑minutes/PER/PPG stat: Among players with ≥5,000 playoff minutes, only nine have playoff PPG ≥21 and playoff PER ≥23 — a list that includes Kawhi alongside legends (LeBron, Jordan, Kareem, Shaq, Jerry West, KD, Dirk, Hakeem).
Kawhi Leonard deep dive — highlights
- Career overview: elite two‑way star, two Finals MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year, extraordinary playoff performer, but strikingly low game total for his era (roughly ~770 regular season games over 15 years as discussed).
- Weirdness of the career: early offensive modesty (low PPG first 4 years), later evolution into a deadly scorer with a refined perimeter game, all while injuries and long absences punctuate his timeline.
- Peak (2019–21): one of the most dominant 3‑year playoff stretches of modern forwards; a case to see him as top‑30 all‑time depending on how many more high‑level seasons he can piece together.
- Big what‑ifs:
- 2017 Game 1 vs Warriors (stepped on Zaza’s foot) — a pivoting injury moment.
- Clippers era: the Paul George trade & “what if” Kawhi had stayed or the Clippers had packaged differently.
- 2020 bubble / 2021 injuries — altered potential playoff runs dramatically.
- Unique playoff status: Kawhi belongs to a tiny group of all‑time playoff elites in efficiency and scoring (the nine‑player list noted above).
- Projection: Lowe’s baseline bet — Kawhi stays with Clippers, remains an ultra‑valuable star when available, but the franchise never quite breaks through with sustained deep runs unless circumstances (health, roster moves) change.
Team‑by‑team quick notes (selected)
- Celtics: Deep, balanced, defensive commitment; Pritchard/White bench scoring; Vucevic (“Vooch”) experiment seen as worth trying but up/down so far; Tatum’s return will shuffle minutes.
- Lakers: Too many blowout losses; role confusion; poor box‑out/effort on some possessions; trade deadline moves (e.g., Kennard vs. Alvarado) still debated.
- Cavaliers: Harden’s facilitator role (24/10/5 and high 3‑point% in stretch) is real — opens shots and lobs for Mobley/Allen. Highest ceiling in East in Lowe’s view, if healthy.
- Nuggets: Defensive communication breakdowns, thin without Gordon/Watson; Cam Johnson’s presence hasn’t felt consistent; Jokic dependence remains key.
- Rockets: Chaos on offense at times; Reed Sheppard considered a potential playoff x‑factor who should be played more; with VanVleet or without him, offensive identity swings wildly.
- Spurs: San Antonio’s surge (Wembanyama) makes them a genuine threat; youth vs playoff grind remains a question.
- Warriors/Clippers: Warriors coaching/leadership questions (Kerr), Clippers’ roster construction (injury management, Kawhi/PG fit) under scrutiny but still dangerous if healthy.
Notable quotes / lines
- “It’s a tale of two teams — Celtics built around a consistent 3‑man core plus fighters; Lakers look like a group of islands.” — on Celtics vs Lakers.
- “Honeymoon Harden” — describing James Harden’s facilitator/revival effect in Cleveland.
- “Kawhi’s career is the weirdest of anyone in my top‑40” — on Kawhi’s mix of transcendent peak and chronic absences.
What to watch next / implications
- MVP race: availability matters. If SGA reaches 65 games he’s the heavy favorite; Jokic, Wembanyama and Cade still in the mix depending on games played and season finish.
- Celtics’ seeding / home‑court implications: home court still matters but matchups increasingly important in the modern 3‑point era.
- Nuggets health: Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson timelines are pivotal for Denver’s true title chances.
- Cavs chemistry: track Harden’s minutes/usage pattern and whether Mobley/Allen/Harden clicks in playoff matchups.
- Kawhi’s future: contract/aspiration saga and availability remain storyline(s) to monitor; Clippers’ ability to monetize Kawhi’s prime stretches into a title run will define his late‑career legacy.
Quick recommended clips to listen for (timestamps not available in transcript)
- Celtics–Lakers recap & body‑language observations (opening segment).
- MVP / All‑NBA conversation (mid‑pod, deep dive into tiers and clutch numbers).
- Cleveland and Harden assessment (following MVP talk).
- Denver struggles & Nuggets scouting (middle of pod).
- Kawhi Leonard deep dive (final ~30 minutes) — essential if you want a compact player profile and the “what‑ifs”/historical placement discussion.
If you want a distilled one‑sentence summary: Celtics look like the most complete, Cleveland’s upside got scarier with Harden, Denver’s health is the big gating factor, the Lakers remain inconsistent and Kawhi is a generational two‑way peak with one of the strifest, most baffling career arcs in modern NBA history.