The Ringer NBA Show Can Denver Get on OKC’s Level? Plus, Two Amuse-Bouche Trades, and the Most Intriguing Teams at the Deadline. | Group Chat
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Feb 2, 2026 They break down OKC’s big win over Denver and what it exposes about Denver’s rotation and Jokic’s minutes. Peyton Watson’s breakout and defensive matchups versus the Thunder get highlighted. They recap two small deadline swaps and debate the most intriguing teams — Golden State, Detroit, and Minnesota — and what each might do before the deadline.
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Hartenstein Is A Tactical Matchup Piece
- Isaiah Hartenstein functions as a matchup-specific 'net' to slow Nikola Jokić and provide critical size in series.
- Rob Mahoney and J. Kyle Mann argue keeping Hartenstein matters even beyond box-score stats.
Kings Quickly Reverse Offseason Choices
- Rob Mahoney calls the recent Cavs-Kings swap for De'Andre Hunter an "amuse-bouche" style move and criticizes Sacramento's roster decisions.
- Justin Verrier highlights the Kings quickly reversing offseason moves and washing their hands of past decisions.
Hunter Stayed Hypothetical, Not Fulfilling
- De'Andre Hunter never fully graduated from 'hypothetical' potential into a consistent two-way role.
- Hosts trace Hunter back to Atlanta's era and call him an underwhelming fit for Cleveland's defensive needs.