Part 2: Cleveland Survives, Knicks-Sixers, and Whaddya Do for Denver, Houston, and Atlanta With Zach Lowe
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In this double-length episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast, Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe dissect the aftermath of two underwhelming Game 7s—Cleveland’s hard-fought win over Toronto and the Knicks’ dominant sweep of the Celtics—while turning their focus to the upcoming second-round matchups. They analyze Cleveland’s resilience against a physically imposing Raptors team, questioning whether the Cavs’ victory was a sign of strength or a testament to Toronto’s roster limitations. The conversation dives deep into roster construction, trade possibilities, and team-building strategies for franchises like Toronto, Houston, Denver, and Atlanta, with Lowe offering bold hypothetical trades like Brandon Ingram for Kevin Durant. They also reflect on playoff narratives, including LeBron James’ aging legacy, the emotional toll of missed opportunities for teams like the Knicks, and the surprising rise of Minnesota’s Wolves. The episode closes with a lighthearted segment on Lowe’s cameo in the Apple TV+ series *Your Friends and Neighbors*, and a deep dive into statistical oddities from NBA history, including Greg Kite’s record 295 zero-point games.
Cleveland’s Game 7 win over Toronto was more about physicality and resilience than offensive brilliance, highlighting the Cavs’ ability to survive tough matchups.
Toronto’s roster is hamstrung by expensive, non-tradable contracts (Ingram, Pirtle), making major trades nearly impossible without sacrificing future assets.
Denver should avoid panic after a first-round exit; re-signing Peyton Watson and retaining core players like Gordon and Jokic is the smarter long-term move.
The Knicks’ path to the Finals is clearer now, but their series against the Sixers will be defined by animosity, defensive schemes, and potential flopping controversies.
Hypothetical trades like Ingram for Durant are entertaining but unlikely—teams like Houston are more likely to reset with expiring contracts and draft picks.
…and 1 more takeaway available in PodZeus
Game 7 Aftermath: Cleveland vs. Toronto
Simmons and Lowe react to the Cleveland-Cleveland Game 7, praising Cleveland’s physicality and resilience against a tough, switchy Raptors team. They discuss the limitations of Toronto’s roster, particularly the absence of key players and the burden of expensive contracts.
Toronto’s Roster Dilemma and Trade Possibilities
“Brandon Ingram for Kevin Durant. Okay, so if I'm the Rockets, why am I doing that? I'm getting off of Kevin Durant. Wow. Just... I'm just moving on.”
Denver’s Post-Exit Strategy and Jokic’s Legacy
“I'm doing nothing. I just had bad luck in a playoff scenario. I had a weird year. I had Joker playing the best basketball of his entire career, getting hurt, and then Gordon getting hurt twice.”
The Knicks vs. Sixers Series: Storylines and Strategy
“The more painful series loss is definitely the Knicks as painful as it would be for Philly and their fans to get a taste of this and then have the rug pulled out in the same round where the rug is always pulled out for them.”
Atlanta, Houston, and Portland: Roster Construction and Cap Strategy
Lowe outlines potential moves for Atlanta and Houston, including trading for franchise players or resetting with expiring contracts. Portland’s cap situation and ownership controversies are also discussed, with skepticism about their long-term competitiveness.
“One point games. Somebody had 61 one point games and it's somebody that played in the last 25 years. And you won't guess it because this is impossible. Reggie Evans.”
“I'm doing nothing. I just had bad luck in a playoff scenario. I had a weird year. I had Joker playing the best basketball of his entire career, getting hurt, and then Gordon getting hurt twice.”
“The more painful series loss is definitely the Knicks as painful as it would be for Philly and their fans to get a taste of this and then have the rug pulled out in the same round where the rug is always pulled out for them.”
Host
Guest
Zach Lowe
person
Bill Simmons
person
Cleveland Cavaliers
other
Toronto Raptors
other
New York Knicks
other
Denver Nuggets
other
Philadelphia 76ers
other
LeBron James
person
Minnesota Timberwolves
other
Kevin Durant
person
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