Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective - Final MVP Straw Poll Of The Season

Episode Date: April 2, 2025

Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to talk Bontemps’ final MVP Straw Poll of the season including the state of the historic race between SGA and Jokic. Plus, some surprise entrants into the Top 6 of the poll, a DPOY discussion, the possibility of the Thunder winning 70 games and everyone’s favorite segment the Cojones Factor Player of the Month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network and service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional calls. Visit activate.esPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now. Hello, welcome to the Hooke Collective podcast. We talk about the NBA, which we're doing on Tuesday afternoon, joining us from New York City, Tim Botaps.

Hello, everybody. Big one tonight in the garden. I don't know if you're going to, 76ers, Knicks. I will be at Sixers' Knicks. Huge back-to-back victories for the Nets for the top Sixers. The Sixers look like they're certainly going to be in fifth. And speaking of Philly, Philly native Dan Jero, new coach at Iona College, up in Westchester.

was up there at the intro presser today. A long-time friend of mine. Shout out to a buddy Big Dan. He has been on the New Orleans Pelican staff this season and previously was on the Cleveland Cavalier staff for a long time. I don't know how many years, many years. Nine.

Nine years. That's good. That's a long time. Including the championship year. He was there. Joining us from Dallas, Texas. The author of the Wonderboy, Luca Donchich and The Curse of Greatness.

You can pick up at all fine retailers, even some average retailers. It's Timothy. band McMahon. Whatie partners. It is a pleasure to be here. We're here to talk about North Texas in that NIT Final Four.

Hey, did St. Bonnys make it? Not this year. Huh? Yeah. Not this year. Every time North Texas gets the NIT Final Four, they lose our coach. That's okay.

Go Ming Green. It's a good problem to have. I thought we might have some action there, McMahon, because Kent State beat St. Bonaventure in the first round. I did not talk trash because I respect Bon Tems. They beat Stanford in the second round.

I did not talk trash to Shelburne because Ramona, you know, I respect her. They did have then go up against Loyola Chicago. And I did attempt to talk some trash to Shams, Charania, which is, that's his alma mater. But Shams was unaware that they were even in the NLT, which made a little difficult. Yeah, Shams was also like Duggy Houser where he was like 12 when he was in college. So anyway, they got, but I was prepared to just run the gauntlet against all of my colleagues. I was prepared to knock Shams out and then put my, my sights on North Texas. but the flashes didn't make it.

All right. This is a big day. One of our favorite days of the year. The final, Bontemps straw poll. What do you call it, McMahon? The BS poll. Where he has surveyed the MVP voters.

The ballot notifications just went out on Monday. McMahon? Oh, I'm still banned. Damn. Can't get one of those official ballots. Got to get our guy at the office. I thought that was. I hear they're having a tough time finding the qualified folks.

but hey, I guess they've lost my number. Must have been, you know what? There's some tall fellows at that league office, but I bet there's some wee little fellows that are mad about my minimum height requirement for male referees rule. That must be why I don't have a ballot. Well, anyway, the Bon Tems poll,

especially the third one, 3.0, has been historically extremely accurate, not only predicting the winner, but predicting the spread of votes. Because the methodology, I will let you say, at Bontem's real quickly. Sometimes you talk a little too fast when you go through this. But it, Bontem's, the key thing is, is that he talks to people in all the markets. He doesn't just talk to people New York or L.A., including international and all the platforms, you know,

digital, television, radio, et cetera. So Mr. Bonsam, without further ado, you will, I'm not saying you're predicting what will happen, but you will give us a readout on where the voters are with what? The ballots are due in 12 days, I think? A couple weeks, yeah. Yeah. The ballots are due, I believe, in 13 days from when we're recording this podcast. The floor is yours. Yeah, I mean, so like you said, we try to mimic what the actual voting pool will look

like at the end of the year, at least as close as possible. It's not exactly the same 100 voters, but it's supposed to give us a representative sample of what it'll be. And, you know, going into this, I think you guys would not be surprised to know that there's two guys who are separated from the field, the same two guys that have been separated from the field all season. Nicole Yokit, and Chico's Alexander. Josh, did he didn't catch him?

Did not. It been a great month for the Bulls. Kobe White just got named Easter Conference Player of the Month. Josh Giddy hit the crazy half-court shot last week. Been a long streak and no Bulls to get a vote in the straw poll. That streak has continued for another poll. Why are you giving away the goods right off the top? I know.

The Bulls fans were hanging on. I'm actually not sure if a Bulls has ever gotten a, straw poll vote and all the years I've been doing it since 2017. I actually might have to check that at some point today. But those two guys have been atop the ballot all year. If you'll remember back when we did the second one, back in February, mid-February, about six weeks ago, Shagiel's Alexander had 70 first place votes. Nicole Yolich had 30. And they had all but one second place vote between them, which was the widest separation we'd ever seen in the straw poll. So before I give these two guys, where do you guys think this landed with the two of them before I gave the results?

I'm going to say it's probably even a little bit more leaning toward SGA simply because Joker did miss a stretch of games and SGA's continued putting up insane numbers and the thunder are cruising to the best record in the league and perhaps one of the best records in NBA history. Yolkich has been so amazingly good. You can create the, you can create the, you You could create a case that this has been his best season. He would. He has. Yeah.

Yeah. And because I think he knows it's going to be hard for him to win it, he's, you know, leaned into it, even a smidge. Can I just say, though, that today is April 1st as we're recording this. No fooling? The thunder have not yet had their 13th loss, which means 70 wins is still in play. We've only had two 70 win teams in history. I'm not sure how many times 70 wins have still been in play with less than two weeks in the season.

There's been a couple of teams that have won. You know, the Lakers in 71, 72, 169, I assume that they, I don't know, I shouldn't assume I should look it up. But it's probably less than five times, is my guess. By the way, this is their schedule just to run it through before we get to the results. They got seven games left, as you said, they're 63 and 12. Tonight, Wednesday night, they're on ESPN. They're playing the Pistons. Pistons obviously missing a couple of guys, play games at the results.

home. Thunder should win the game. Probably their toughest game left is Friday in Houston. Tough game. I would say if they win against Detroit and then they win in Houston on Friday, I declare a four alarm fire on the 70 win. Okay. Well, here's the rest. Here's the rest of schedule. They then have two home games in a row against the Lakers on Sunday and Tuesday. Home games. So certainly can win. Don't be easy games. They then have a back-to-back on Wednesday. in Phoenix. Probably no Kevin Durant playing. Sons obviously are tire fire at the moment. Then their final two games are on the road in Utah and in New Orleans. Two teams are too interested in winning basketball games late in this season.

So this is like it's really in play. They got a real shot at it. And I really hope that they try to do it. Don't take their foot off the gas at all. Let's just be real blow. want, they can rest guys in the last two games of the season and still do both. You know, if they get through this thing, the, yes. They win the next five. They should win the last two. Two things I'm going to say. One, the Thunder have occasionally this year arrested players and still won.

Well, that's when Jay, if they did that all the time, Jaylon Williams, Arkansas, Jay Will would be an MVP can it because all he takes triple doubles in those two days. That's right. Okay. So that's one thing. The second thing is this. those three games at the end. It is the three-game road trip. But my God, all of the, by that time, Phoenix could be done.

They probably won't be because Dallas and the Kings keep losing. But it's possible those teams could have zero to play for it. Now, I know I have listened and paid attention to what the Thunder players have said about, about this chasing 70. They say they don't care about it. They say that it's, you know, you're not remember with how many wins you have in the regular season. And all that is true. Yeah, the Boy Scout.

Thunder said boring things, breaking news. I know, but their actions indicate they like winning. Yeah. They're only 26 and 3 in their last 29 games. I'm sorry, dude. Competitive NBA players when they have a chance to make history, that's a nice little carry. And they're going to get a whole week off after.

Look, we don't need to get it. I just really hope they go for it because I think it'd be awesome if they're able to somehow pull this off and win their final 17 in a row. By the way, I think they are, before I let you go. Yeah. I think they are incentivized to push the Lakers back. I don't think, I would think they would rather have Memphis move up if Memphis even holds on.

But I think they will be highly incentivized to push the Lakers back to five or six. Yeah, I don't think they're that worried about that part, but we'll see. So after all, I mean, they shouldn't be worried about anything. I mean, it should just be out there playing their games. They've got the best net rating of all time and they might win 70 games. Like, they should feel like they could beat everybody. That being said, McMahon almost nailed it on the head. So Shegelzavzander, 77 out of 100 first place votes,

23 second place votes, obviously on every ballot. Nicole Yokic, 23 first place votes, 77 second place votes, 100 votes on every ballot. Certainly what it should be, but the only two guys in the top two spots, the only guys to be on every ballot, they both had historic seasons. I would tend to agree with you, McMahon. I would say the combination of Yokic missing these late games and the Thunder potentially winning 70 games, I think is probably ultimately going to tip this thing in the other direction. However, I will say we have a couple weeks left in the season. And,

you know, if Yokic has a couple more 40, 20, 20 type games, I do think it's enough of a binary choice that there is some world where it potentially shifts the other way. But I certainly think as we sit here right now going into April 2nd, 10 days ago in the regular, 12 days to go in the regular season. It certainly looks like Shaggill's Alexander's going to be the next MVP and Joker's going to become, which I think is actually pretty cool stat, even if he doesn't become the third guy to win four to five. Here's a whiz of the quiz for you. And now to present today's trivia question, the whiz of the quiz, Tim Bonteps. It'll be the first guy to be in the top two in MVP balloting, assuming the actual results go

this way, five consecutive years. First guy ever? No, first guy since blank. Oh, oh. LeBron. LeBron. Not LeBron. Hardin was third in 2011. Hardin was third in one of the years. Wasn't him either. Wasn't Jordan.

Wasn't Jordan either. Wilt? Not, might be wilt, but somebody more recent than him. Corrine. More recent than him. Well, how do you handle Jordan? Because Jordan missed the years. I mean, do you?

I mean, he didn't finish in the top two in five consecutive years. It doesn't matter if he was hurt. It just didn't do it. Part of it's being awesome and available all the time. Wasn't Kobe, was it? wasn't Kobe. Older. Think about guys

who won a lot of MVP. This isn't a trick question. Kareem. We did, Kareem. We did Jordan. I won a lot of NDPs. Only a handful of guys

won a lot of VPs. Not Moses Malone. This guy finished second to Moses Malone, no. At least one of the years. So how is that more recent? Gordon.

No, he said more recent than Kareem. At the same time frame is magic. We're getting closer. You had Larry Bird. There you go. Larry Bird finished second from 81 to 83 and first from 84 to 86.

I think he's a, Jordan. I blame you for our wild bird chase. Or our wild bird chase, I should say. So, so yeah, they, you know, that would be, that's a heck of an accomplishment, regardless of whether he finished his first or second. But. Well, and look, man, nobody in Denver wants to hear this. Michael Malone definitely does want to hear this. But the fact that Joe Crass 3 and Shea doesn't have any, it's really close. You throw that as also one of the tiebreakers along with the record. The game's played and also what about she's defense i'm not saying yokic is a negative but like well

i have a story coming out soon about joker actually being a defensive analytics darling and as much of a darling is shegildos alexander analytically like defensive box plus minus and stuff more so but yeah but when you watch him well i'm not gonna i don't want to i i i have this we don't need to get into i'm not going to exactly i'm not i don't need to exactly i I just say this about the thunder, though, by the way, because I've started having my discussions with coaches and executives about the defensive, all defensive teams and defensive player the year. I got to tell you something. I am considering voting Lou Doard for defensive player of the year. Well, gee whiz, what a what a outwire statement that would be.

Well, he's never made an all defensive team. Which is ridiculous. And it's embarrassing. And that is a result of, you're saying it's ridiculous, buddy. I don't think he'll, I don't think, well, I don't know. I'm just going to say this. This was a great day today for Kobe White, who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month, which is a great accomplishment. He's been smoking hot.

Kobe White played in Oklahoma City on Monday night, and Dort was on him. Oh. And he went two of five. Five. He took five shots. Our former colleague Royce Young, whose official title now is Thunder Chief of Propaganda. He put out a, there was a graphic last night on the broadcast. and it's a list of some of the best scores in the league and their season averages against Oklahoma City.

Luca Donchich, 16 points per game. Now it's one game, but still. Cade Cunningham, 11. Again, one game, but still. Devin Booker, 15 and a half. That's almost 10 less than a season average. LeBron, 12. That's less than half his season average.

Donovan Mitchell, 9.5. That's way less than half of his season average. So Lou Dort is definitely like the guy As a star you least want to see as you're opposed I'm considering putting five Thunder players on the all defensive team I can't put Chet on there because he's not going to qualify I'm considering it now I also I also have I would say that's going to be slightly aggressive

But they're the number one defense league They are they're great But if you're going to have Shay on an all defense about then you have to have five Thunder players. Yeah. And he'll tell you that. Jalen Williams, Lou Dort. And I was going to say a Hardinstein, I assume.

Hardinstein or Caruso. Well, Hartnstein, I don't know if Hartnstein don't qualify. I don't think Hartnstein. Maybe I got to look at it. Or Caruso wouldn't. Grosos isn't going to qualify either. All right. Anyway, I don't want to turn this into a defensive player in your discussion.

I've also got people telling me I should vote for Evan Mobley too. And I've also got people who, to tell me I should vote for Jaron Jackson. So I've got a, it's not that, I'm just telling you, I'm seriously considering during voting for Doort. Last year, I almost voted. He's going to be one of them. He's going to be first team all defense guard, I think. I mean, I know there's not guards anymore, but I do two guards and three front court guys. I'm going to do Dyson and Dorton as now. I got to look at it more. The fact Dort hasn't been means that people don't know what they're doing when they're

doing all Dief. Yeah, for sure. And because he doesn't have the stocks numbers. He doesn't have the steals and the blocks. Now, he is a master of getting offensive foul calls on screens. I believe he leads to league in that category. And he's as good, if not the best, locked down perimeter defender in the league. You know, there's nothing against Rudy. I would never say anything against Rudy, okay? I regretted not voting Victor or defensive player of the year last year. So I'm thinking I'm going to take the regret that I had last year.

I'm thinking about channeling it into this year. I haven't decided yet. I'm going to wait until I talk to one. I don't really understand what that what has to do with the other on that, but okay. Well, I've regretted not voting with what I just mean. What are you going to channel it into? What are we? I'm channeled into voting for Dort.

That's what I'm thinking of doing. Okay, sure. All right. Sorry. I don't want to get into that. That'll be for later. We already got into it. It's all good. More Hoop Collective podcast after this. People are going to be in their feelings about this MVP vote, as always, but particularly, because Yokic is so strong. Are they going to be, though? I feel like this has been the first sane discussion of the award in a long time. Serbians are angry. I don't know what you call Denver people, those mile high, you know, I mean, they

They ain't got enough of that good stuff up there, apparently, because they ain't chill. They're fired up, too. Yeah. It's been like a national discussion the past several years. It feels like this year it's been fairly docile. Oh, Michael Malone's, he's feisty. You know, he's always ficed. He doesn't know who you are, Bond him, so he might not be aware of this poll, but he'll be feisty.

Not at all. All right. So we usually go backwards, but because this show is on TV, which everybody knows I love. Hey, I move it around a little bit. Yeah. So now we're going to go upwards, upwards and onwards. So in the same fashion, since we start at the top, we'll go to the next couple of spots. And it was similar breakdown.

There was massive separation with first and second, massive separation with third and fourth. Yastin de Kupo finished third, 53 third place votes, 37 fourth place votes, five fifth place votes, 95 ballots, finished 18 points ahead of Jason Tatum, who was. on third place on 41 ballots, fourth place on 51 ballots, fifth place on five, 97 total votes, 363 points behind Janus's three. I got to say, I know it's a small thing, but it's just it's annoying to me that, you know, nothing against Tatum. It's annoying to me that Tatum is on more ballots than Janus. Like, how could you not have Janus on your ballot? I mean, honestly, I think it's hard not to have either one of those guys on any, like, they're 404 on mine. I don't, I don't

see. Yeah. I mean, look, whatever. I, for a different reason, you know, I think the fact that the bucks have tailed off some obviously some of that has nothing to do with yonis you know they've had a bunch of injuries dames now out you know they're i think sixth in the east right now i think a couple people might have docked them for that but i mean look those guys those four guys have been very clearly head and shoulders above everybody else the whole time so i was not surprised that went that way can i read you yannis's stats yes they are crazy yonis is shooting 60% from the field he shot slightly better last year, but I respect the way he's going about it this year. Far and away, shooting the most two-pointers of his career. Thank God, hallelujah, that he's stopped messing around and going to the

basket. 30.3, 30.2 points per game, 12 rebounds a game, six assists a game. One, point two blocks per game. Awesome. Not bad. Well, and the funny thing is, it's, it's funny you lay that out, right? Because those stats are out of control, right? Last year, I think it was the first player ever to score over 30 points a game and shoot over 60% from the field. And I think he's on pace to do it again this year, right? Like, his numbers are out of control. He's also been metronomically consistent as the third guy in the poll. Metronomically, McMahon. Like five years in a row. So Janus is, since I started doing this poll in 2017, Yonis is the only player that's been on all 19 straw polls, at least getting at least a single vote. And he's been in the top five in the last 13 in a row. And he's,

Wow. He was second once. He was fourth once. And he was third, the other 11 times. So whether it was Yolkich and LeBron, whether it was Yolka Chan and Bede, whether it was, I think, at one point, hardening somebody, whoever it's been throughout that whole stretch, Yadis has basically always been in the top three and always been third. Despite crazy numbers all the time. Here's his official finishes in the MVP, okay? 2017, so 1617, I'm just going to say the year.

2017, 7th, 2018, 6th, 2019, first. Ooh, that's when the Harden Yonisbe started really taken off. Go on. Yeah. 2012, first.

Also, defensive player of the year. First. 2012, third. 23. Third. 24. Fourth. Trending towards the third.

Yeah, third or fourth. Maybe it finishes behind Tatum. I mean, they're basically tied. But yeah, he's he's very consistently been like the other guy, despite having incredible numbers every year. And, you know, Tatum has very consistently been, like the last three years, he's been somewhere between fourth and sixth. He's all but certainly going to be fourth. And, you know, feels like that's probably the range he's always going to be in. It'll probably be in it for a long time.

Yeah, right at the top of the second tier. That's bait. This will be Janus's seventh consecutive all NBA first team as well, because he's. he's going to make Olympia first team. Yeah, there was some doubt about him being eligible for any of these awards because of injuries, as we talked about back. Well, he's not, he's not there yet. He does need four more games, in fact. But he's been in basically the same place for six weeks. He had that calf injury we did it the last time, and it wasn't clear if he was going to be able to stay over the 65 game limit. Now, you know, knock on wood, as long as he doesn't have any

setbacks over the next couple days, he should clear that pretty easily and get himself eligible to be on all these ballots again. And then in fifth place, also comfortably by himself. Certain denizen of Cavs Corner. Do you. Donovan Mitchell. Three third place votes. Nine fourth place votes. 51 fifth place votes.

63 total. 93 points. No other player was on more than 13 ballots. Well, this is exactly how my ballot win in that order. Me too. Oh, I would say everybody was right. I had Jaylen Brunson fifth on the last straw poll. Obviously, Jalen's hurt.

I don't know if he's going to get to 65 games. Donovan is not statistically. played that well since the All-Star break. He has struggled with his shot, especially. He's also been bothered by a little bit of a groin injury. But I'm giving him credit for his leadership that he's shown. Also, he is going to play, the Cavs play on Wednesday. I don't think he's on the injury report. So that'll be a 69th game that he plays on Wednesday. That'll be the most games he's played since 2018-19. He has been routinely available and a big part of their, of their run, which is headed towards. They're obviously eliminated from from 70, but they could still get,

I believe, to 67, which is, which would set the all-time franchise record. I don't know if they'll get there. I don't know how hard they're going to go. They do have to get four more wins. Their magic number is four to clinch the number one seed. And if you look at the Celtics schedule, I think they have the second easiest schedule in the league coming in. The cast might have to win four more games to clinch that number one seed. I don't care what the Celtic schedule is. The cast might have to to win four more. You can't assume the Celtics lost to anybody right now. That's what I'm saying. Exactly. So I don't know how you guys felt about Donovan here, but I felt he, you know, it's a little bit unclear where you could go here, but I feel like he should be rewarded for the

leadership he's had on that team this year. That's the decision that I made. Look, a team that very likely ends up with the best record in the Eastern Conference, he's the best player on that team. His stats being down a little bit, you know, we've discussed this before. I think that actually adds to his case because he was willing. His minutes are down too. Right. He was willing to let go a little bit. He was willing to empower Darius Garland, who's having arguably his best season, to empower Evan Mowbly, who's having without a question his best season. So I do think Donovan gets, I think he gets a big boost for the overall success of the Cavaliers and for his role as a leader in making that happen. Yeah. And there's a bunch of guys who had cases for fifth, which we'll get into in a bit. But

like you said, between the record, his leadership standpoint, the fact that they've been way above expectations, the fact he's played great throughout the year. He, I think, by, for a variety of reasons, this is going to sound negative, but became the default option. Like, well, if it's sort of a tie, the tie should go to the guy who's led the team that's wired a wire been the best team in the East and has been one of the, you know, most impressive teams in the league all season. We've gone over the top five of the Bon Temp poll. We've gone over the top five of the Bon Temps poll. And let's hear the rest on the ballot here before we move on, uh, Bon Temps. So in sixth place, interesting name, one third place vote, two fourth place votes,

10 fifth place votes, 13 total votes. Only other player to get into double digit votes. You guys have any guesses on who that might be? Cade Cunningham. I considered him from fifth on my ballot. LeBron James. So Cade is seventh. We'll get to Cade in the second, easily his best showing yet in the straw poll. LeBron James. And once again, sixth in the poll. First time LeBron has been this high in the poll since the end of the 2021 season when he finished fifth. And he's basically gotten one or two votes the other times he has been in it. And it's been sort of like a guy at the very bottom of it.

So the first time he's had any meaningful support since then, obviously a nod to the way he both has played and the way the Lakers have played over the last couple months. It's interesting you say that he's in a pretty serious. significant offensive slump right now. Well, at least a three-point shooting slump. I think he's shooting since he came back from the groin injury. I think he's shooting like as of right this moment. He's shooting 19% like his last nine games on threes. He's definitely playing harder on defense. I mean, they had all these injuries. They had all these injuries and they played great and LeBron was active on defense and sort of was leading to charge as they were not without Anthony Davis working in Luca Donchitz, everything else that's going on. Like, I'm not surprised he's gotten credit. Well, why isn't

Luca. He's not eligible. He's not close to eligible. Oh, that's right. Okay. And then LeBron, LeBron rounding down is averaging 24, 8, and 8, shooting 51 from the floor, 37 and change from three point range. And I think some of his friends in the media probably gave him a belated 40th birthday gift and put him in the straw poll, you know, some of his good friends in the media. Yeah. Well, I did not consider him at fifth. So I'm a little bit surprised. I guess you don't get in that category then. the guy who's next up, as you said, Brian, Cade Cunningham, one third place vote, seven, fifth place votes, eight total. Cade's obviously having a great year. Pistons having a great year. Had an eventful

night the other night after we did the pod, a bit of a fracas down in Detroit and found out suspension lengths for everybody today. That was the melee in Minnesota, Minneapolis. Oh, sorry, yes, playing Minnesota in Minnesota. But Cade having a great year in sort of of was the only other guy to get over five votes in the poll. And will be a no-brainer all-MBA selection. Sounds like very likely a second team, all-M-A. Which means... More money, baby.

Yeah. I mean, I haven't done my all-N-B-A yet, but I'm going to tell you, you know, I have this rule. I have this rule where if a guy is close, I put him on. Cades getting paid. Yeah, so... Max money because he's all-N-A-no-brain. With their season, the way he's played, he, he 100% deserves it.

And I will say this. I haven't done it yet either, but like, I have never considered this when it comes to defensive player of the year. If Evan Mobley wins defensive player of the year, he gets the bonus. Or if he makes an all-N-V-A team, he gets the bonus. Now, I haven't worked out where Evan would be on the all-MBA team. But, like, if I am sticking to my personal rule that if it's close, I give it to the guy, because I'm not going to be the guy that keeps him from getting paid.

I think I might have to apply that to defensive player the year, too, if I'm having difficulty, maybe I have to give it to Moby. I'm thinking out loud here. Well, there's multiple guys that will apply to, so you might be able to throw it out. So because Jaron Jackson Jr. is in the same boat. And his is, this is even more money if you're trying to do it that way. So this is why. For the, uh, the super.

Yes. This is why I don't worry about it. And I just vote for whoever I think I should. I'm not saying your approach is wrong. I just, well, I don't worry about it either. But when I'm, you know, the two things that I consider when I'm trying to decide on, on an award. One, I consider that. And two,

the lift, what the, what the player is asked to do on a nightly basis, what he has got to do for his team. Like, for example, Yokic's lift is enormous. Right. You could, you could argue that Yokic's lift is bigger than Shea's, although Shea's a better defensive player, in my opinion, although I guess I've got to read this story from Chris Herring and McMahon. This is a, this is an odd couple of I've ever heard one doing a story together. I, frankly, I cannot believe the two of you even have each other's numbers, but okay. We didn't until we started work on this story. I didn't. I'm surprised. I'm going to wait for this story. Hey, my guy, Chris Hey, no York Times bestseller has a blurb on the back cover of The Wonder Boy,

Luca Dontich and the Curtis Greatness available. Who wrote that book? Who wrote that book? Oh, I think this guy did. Anyway, I'll beat you to see the story, which is going to maybe make the case for Yokic's defensive player of the year. Go ahead, Bontas. So an eighth, a little bit of a surprise to me, one fourth place vote, four, fifth place

votes, five total. Anthony Edwards did not really, did not really have. on the ballot for me in terms of consideration. By the way, tonight, we're not going to know what happens in tonight's game is Tuesday night. The wolves are in Denver. The wolves are coming on strong.

They have the easiest schedule remaining in the Western Conference. If they pass Memphis, okay, and they get the sixth seed, they could play Denver in the first round. Ooh, Denver doesn't want that. They're 0- and 3 against them this year.

Now that we've said this, they'll probably be in by 30 tonight because they're at home in Denver. Yeah. They're only 3 against them this year, and obviously lost them in the playoffs last year. Yeah, but Anne has had an all-MBA type of season, second and a third team. He's not an MVP, can't it?

Yeah, I was surprised he got that many votes. So tied with him for eighth, one third-place vote, two fifth-place votes, three total, seven points. Jaylon Brunson, I think very clearly his case was- Fly too far down. That's too far. Well, but again, he sprained his ankle and has been out for the last month. And if he plays 65, it might end up being like on the nose. Yeah.

So, I mean, he'll make all-n-b-a. He probably would have been right there with Dought of a Mitchell for fifth. Well, yes, I'm assuming he's going to come back in the next week and play a couple games and get to the number. He's close to getting it. Yes, four. Four total. Behind them in 10th, six fifth place votes, Carl Anthony Towns, his teammate. I remain, Carl's had a great year.

I remain to be a little surprise that people would vote for a Nick and not vote for Janele Brunson. I think he's very clearly the most viable player. Carl's had a great year, though. Certainly he's going to be another guy in all-in-a consideration. In 11th with four fifth place votes, another denizen of Cavs Corner, Evan Motley, getting a little more love. He got one fifth place vote. First time he'd ever gotten in the poll last time. Gets a couple more for the way he's closed the season.

As you said, he's going to be a guy certainly in consideration for the back end of the All-MBA and defensive player the year about. So see where that lands. In 12th with three fifth place votes, Stefan Curry, who has obviously been part of this Warriors resurgence. He's missed a little time with injury or I think he may have potentially been a little higher. and then in 13th and 14th with two and one fifth place votes a couple of point guards Tyrese Halliburton with the Pacers who has been out of heater lately as we've talked about he's been averaging double digit assists with one turnover game basically for the past several weeks and has been awesome and James Hardin got one fifth place all right 14th place I respect it

Hardin is looking great the Clippers have been terrific friend of the pod I made home for a Vika Zubots for defensive player he he uh he is the the clippers have a couple of guys who could maybe consider for words. But Hardin's been great. Maybe all-star team could maybe get some OMBA consideration. But, you know, it's had an awesome year for the clips. And as we've talked about, Kauai Leonard, now back healthy, they're going to be an interesting out in the playoffs.

James Hardin has become an underrated player in an unexpected turn in his career. Well, he is a great regular season player. We are going to find out in the playoffs this year if he could still be, if he can still raise it up to be a big time player in the playoffs. Like you saw a couple years ago, and he was with three years ago. and he was with Philly. He had the two amazing games in that series against Boston, and then he had five duds. He had two great games against the Mavericks last year. The Clippers won two games. It was a six games. So that's the question in this year.

But look, like when he turns it up, he can still turn it off. There are people who believe two years ago if Embed does not come back in that series. James Hardin might be one of them who believes that. I'm not going to speak for him. But if Embed does not come back in that series, that they win that series. That was a series they lost in seven. Hardin had 40 in game one in Boston, they win. Embed comes back for game two. Boston wins. And then they're ahead three, two and ahead in the fourth quarter.

They were up, I was going to say. They were up with six minutes to go in game six. And the Mbid was out there too. And so, you know, that's just, that's one of those great what-if moments. But how it goes. I was, I remember sitting next to you in the center or whatever they call it then. And I was like, because we thought, I was like, this is it. Like they could beat Boston.

And I remember, um, looking at you and saying, uh, the MVP's got to to carry him home. Carry him home, big boy. And he didn't. More Hoop Collective podcast after this. This has been one of our most exciting episodes of the season, if you ask me. No, no, you know, verbal punches thrown yet. We've still time. Yeah, you know, why? Because Brian did do no prep, man. I did all the, I did all the work on the straw. I love it. You're doing the Cody's fact. I love it. I love it. Oh, my God. I love it. Hey, he submitted a ballot. That would, it took That's true. 22 seconds approved for that.

I have, by the way, I resolved this year. I used to be one of the last filers of the ballot. I resolved this year to get you my ballot ASAP, and I feel like I followed through on that resolution. You have. It's been awesome. It's been a great thing. I didn't have to ask you.

Both you and McMahon, I text you guys within two minutes. You send me the ballot. It's great. Thank you. What it's supposed to be? Off the cuff. What are people thinking in the moment? So it's great.

But it's now our man McMahon's time to shine. That's right. A new month, which means an old month is over, which means the Cajone is about. We have a new set of rules for what the Cohenes Factor will be. We do. Let's wait to see what the criteria will be. This is the first time. The Kohenis Factor is always, always, always a combination of clutch and swag.

Two things that you fellas are not familiar with. I just always enjoy the rationale for the order every month. It's great. So here we go. Let me educate you as I do, you know, once a month. All right. We are going to give a shout out to Jordan Poole. We didn't make one of the top three.

but the man did have a 30-foot-foot or 30-some-odd-foot game winner in Denver, you know, the little splash cousin from years past, knocked one down there. It wasn't a buzzer-beater, but it was a, you know, last few seconds game winner. Now, we're going to go to the New York Knicks, and this wasn't one of their two guys who popped up in the straw pole, but this was a man who was concerned about some minutes and said as much on the record challenging Tibbs. Oh,

the minutes police in his own locker room for Tibbs. We got a problem here, Macau Bridges. Now listen, if you're going to minutes police Tibbs, boy, boy, you better come with it. And Bridges did it that very night. It was amazing. In Portland. In overtime, was it not?

Yeah, played 41 minutes. It was overtime, but he played 41 minutes that night, for those who are counting, including Mr. Bridges, scored 33 points and capped it off with a buzzer beater. And so, listen, it takes Cajonis just to call out Tibs about minutes, period. You know, especially... Well, you know, he's not a guy who's known for his swag, but, you know, you gave him some extra points. Oh, no, he's got the, you know, he's got the, kind of the signature three-point celebration.

You know, he's got a little something, something. All right. I take it back. But hit that little, hit that little pull-up jumper, buzzer beater in Portland. when the talk of the day around the Nix was, oh my gosh, can you believe Bridges called out Tibbs? So, yeah, that got the man, the brass balls, third place in the March Cajonis Factor Player of the month. Well, as I mentioned to you, I didn't know exactly. I had to check with the committee, which is me.

And I pondered this for a little while. Could a team be eligible for this award? And I came to the conclusion that had to be. I'm just going to remind everybody what I said. two minutes ago about how every month there's a new there's a new set of rules covering who wins this is great the freaking indiana pacers though come back in the final uh you know however many seconds to beat the minnesota timber wolves they're down i think seven in the final minute came back to beat what was left over of the dallas mavericks came back in the

final minute to beat the brooklynettes two straight games that's four straight games where the pacer's came from behind to pull off these victories. They almost got the Lakers if it hadn't a bill for LeBron's tip-in with, who made the driving play? Lucas Flotter Miss and LeBron got a tip. Oh, I forgot what the Pacer put them up. But yeah, but yeah, you know, and then cap the month,

fittingly, by beating the Sacramento Kings by a bucket. So the Indiana Pacers as a team are going to be silver medalists. I wouldn't say Rick Carlisle as a coach with an extraordinary amount of swag, but as a team, I mean, and the signature moment of all this was Tyrese Halliborne's four-point play to beat the Minnesota Timor. That was amazing. And by the way, Obie Topping the very next game. He beat the wolves and Top, Tyrese beat the box, right? Oh, is it the bucks?

Okay, you're right. Tyrese beat the box and then Obie beat the wolves. That's right. Obie beat the game ball. So even, boy. So even before that little stretch, even before that little stretch, that's right, it was the Bucks that was earlier in the month. So I didn't even mention that. So the four straight final minute comebacks, you know, a little bit earlier in the month, Tyreys Halliburton's four point play, I just had to give it to the Pacers as of the silver medalist.

The first time that an entire team has gotten this kind of honor. All right. And then this is for the gold medalist, a man who has Wendy's full respect, a man who's getting love letters written to him in the Oklahoma this week, despite the fact that he no longer plays for the Thunder. Oh, man with good hair and one hell of a closing kick against the Los Angeles Lakers. I believe this was an ESPN game with the world watching right after LeBron's tip in the night before against the Pacers.

And again, that final stretch, LeBron's not going to include that on those mind the game podcast with Steve Nash. No, no, no. But yeah, no, LeBron's little defensive bust and then an inbound pass where he was outsmarted by Josh Giddy, got the steel, woof, got the dish to old Kobe White. And then, well, they're down. They're down in the final seconds. The Lakers go back up.

Boston Reeves, a little drive, a little finish. What happens? Kobe White from the left eye, I'm sorry. Sorry, Josh Kitty. I got to give you full credit. Josh Giddy, hair flowing. The left eye of the Bulls logo and it's bull's eye, baby. And that goose neck was hanging the whole time the balls in the game.

You loved that. We did an NBA today the next day. You loved that he left that hang out here. He left that thing go. He was like Wesley Snipes and White Man Catchup. He left that thing go. And he just, he left that followed through hanging. It was looking pretty, just like.

his hair and just strutting his way toward the hoop swish Josh giddy absolutely positively for that moment for that finish he earned the Cajonis factor player the month the longest buzzer beater in Chicago Bulls history and the first guy i can get Jordan didn't need buzzer beaters he hit a few but not for seven feet first guy to get a steal an assist and a bucket in the final seconds of a game since all the smoke. Matt Barnes in 2017. That was a Reggie Miller type display. He had those steals and stuff. I guess no assist though for Reggie. He got those steals and he just took it himself. Yeah, no, Reggie wasn't one to rack up too many assists. But yeah, Josh, a kiddie man, probably the biggest honor of his career. Certainly something they'll

use in contract negotiations this summer would be that hard negotiating Chicago Bulls front office. He probably got the Royce Young Player of the week a few times, though. I tell you what, there's no question about that. Royce probably hand-wrote some certificates for him too, like little cute pictures and stuff. We love Royce. All right. Beautiful job, as usual, McMahon. We look forward to, well, there be one for April just for two weeks or we, you include the playoffs.

Yeah, April will go, we'll include the first round. Then we'll cap it after that because it's all, I only once you get the second round. It's all going. You know what, though? I do have a little bit of reporting here. there is a Royce Young player of the month that's given out to the best Oklahoma City player each month and instead of a trophy, it's just a milk bottle.

They give a milk bottle is the honor here because, you know, that's a milk drinking team if they've ever seen one. Nobody epitomizes that like the chief of propaganda or Royce Young. Oh, my God. McMahon is such, it's a good thing you're a big guy because you'd get your face punched in if you weren't.

All right. McMahon. How about Monday night in Dallas, the Mavericks losing to the Nets at home in a sad state of affairs that nobody seems to want the nine or ten seed in the Western Conference and gives the top sixers a two-game cushion on the fifth seed, which should get some sort of award. I don't know, but the- Might as well be 20 games. Might as well be 20 games for the top sixers.

You're saying they will not win again? I don't think they're winning twice more. They play the Wizards again. I don't think they're winning two more games. Does anybody want the ninth? and Ted's seed. Anybody. As messy as things have been for the Mavs,

they've moved up a couple of spots in the Western Conference standings recently. They're sitting in the nine seed. Things are falling apart on the Sacramento Kings and old Phoenix Suns. Motivational Matt, it couldn't quite stick. And unfortunately,

Ed did look like a pretty nasty ankle sprained for Kevin Durant. I think the question now is, has Kevin Durant played his last game in a son's uniform? Well, he had a sprained to the same ankle on the warm, up. Remember when he got to the Sons two years ago, it was a similar looking play, actually, and he missed 10 games. Now, that wasn't at the end of the season. The thing about it is, the Sun's next five games are against teams in the playoffs with winning records.

I can't see him coming back for any of those. I mean, just to run through this, just to run through this for people. They're in Milwaukee, Tuesday night. So by the time you hear this, you'll know how they did. They're in Boston Friday. They're in New York Sunday. They then fly home. to play Golden State on Tuesday, the thunder on Wednesday, and the second night of a back-to-back. Then they have the Spurs on Friday in a game against the Kings on Sunday the 13th. I anticipate there will be some flights to Cancun after that game. From either the Kings or the Sons.

I anticipate that the Kings will be making their way there. All right. Beautiful job, gentlemen. Great work. Just carrying windy like usual. Didn't even crack a sweat this one. Thank you to Jackson, our producer. Thank you for watching, listening to The Collective.

We'll talk to you later this week. Adios amigos.