Thinking Basketball #366: Top Scoring games, Kawhi's renaissance, Awards Anarchy & Villains
7 snips
Mar 18, 2026 Big takes on Bam Adebayo's 83-point outburst and how it stacks up with historic scoring nights. A deep dive into Kawhi Leonard's surprising offensive rebirth and why he looks elite again. Debate over a controversial 65-game eligibility rule and its perverse incentives. Breakdown of the Clippers as a sneaky threat and how Marcus Smart reshapes the Lakers' defense. Plus a fun detour into favorite movie villains.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Seeing Wembanyama Live Shows His Uncanny Length
- Ben describes seeing Victor Wembanyama live and how his length breaks opponents' internal calibration, even blocking threes from 11 feet away.
- He recounts Summer League seats and moments where Wembanyama catches or blocks shots with fingertip reach.
Context Turns Huge Scoring Nights Into Gimmicks
- Bam Adebayo's 83-point game was largely gimmicky because Washington abandoned defense, producing 43 free throws and intentional fouling to feed Bam.
- Ben compares it to Wilt's 100-point game and stresses context: many historic outlier scoring nights arise from contrived situations.
65 Game Rule Creates Awards Anarchy Risk
- The NBA's 65-game eligibility rule for awards is increasingly strained late in the season since many stars risk falling under the threshold with minor injuries.
- Cody and Ben think widespread misses could force the league to reconsider or scrap the rule.