Transcript

10 GOOD MINUTES: Pistons-Hornets (Brawl!), Harden-Mitchell Combo, Tanking & Darryn Peterson

From The Ryen Russillo Show · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

February 10, 2026 · 38 min · 8,207 words · 71 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "10 GOOD MINUTES: Pistons-Hornets (Brawl!), Harden-Mitchell Combo, Tanking & Darryn Peterson", an episode of The Ryen Russillo Show published February 10, 2026 (38 min, about 8,207 words). It mentions 102 people, works and ideas, including Ryan Rillo Show, NBA, Pistons, NBA, Cade Cunningham.

What this episode is about

The discussion centers on a recent NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, highlighting a dramatic showdown that included a significant player altercation and showcased Detroit's impressive performance, which ended Charlotte's nine-game winning streak. Key points include Detroit's rising status in the Eastern Conference and the standout play of their key players, despite some concerns about their scoring options.

Key takeaways

Detroit's defensive ferocity proves to be their calling card; opposing offenses might need a GPS to escape.
Forget playoff seeding—Detroit’s physical play suggests they’re ready to bully their way into the postseason.
Charlotte's streak snapped, reminding us: nothing's guaranteed in the NBA—even a nine-game winning streak.
Fights in the NBA? Just another reminder that passion can turn the hardwood into a boxing ring!
The Pistons' foul-prone reputation is deceptive; it's intensity, not incompetence, driving those stats.

Who speaks in this episode?

Ryen Russillo (Host) · 34 min speaking
Siruti (Guest) · 4 min speaking

What is discussed, and when

0:00 – 5:00: Detroit, Pistons, NBA, Detroit Pistons
5:00 – 10:00: Detroit, Charlotte Hornets, Hornets, LaMelo Ball
10:00 – 15:00: LaMelo Ball, Cade Cunningham, Detroit, James Harden
15:00 – 20:00: Nikola Jokic, Cavs, Cleveland, Cleveland Cavaliers
20:00 – 25:00: Scoot Henderson, Brandon Miller, Franz Wagner, NBA
25:00 – 30:00: NBA, Jazz, Will Hardy, Bulls
30:00 – 35:00: Darren Peterson, Kansas, Fog Allen, Pistons
35:00 – 38:14: Bill Self, Arizona, Ryan Rillo Show, NBA

Notable quotes from "10 GOOD MINUTES: Pistons-Hornets (Brawl!), Harden-Mitchell Combo, Tanking & Darryn Peterson"

Pistons ended up winning this one 110 of 104. snaps Charlotte's nineame winning streak. Just a reminder, this team was 4-4 to 25 and 28.
about Pistons · at 0:19
Because it was a real fight. It didn't go into the stands, but the courtside seats. You never know what you're going to get at an NBA game. So, there was a stretch there where…
about NBA · at 2:34
This one out, once Charlotte fought back in this game, credit to the Hornets here, the Hornets did a better job on going, we can't just kind of get into our pick and roll and…
about Charlotte Hornets · at 7:28
Valve option. And so you keep two with the ball handler to cut off LaMelo. But LaMelo, the beauty of him is that he's so tall. And again, he's a great passer, he can just throw…
about LaMelo Ball · at 8:16
Credit to Detroit and Bernie Bickerstaff and his crew for how creative they are on getting Cade Cunningham the ball back. I love what they do and it's why it's so important for…
about Cade Cunningham · at 12:01
Cleveland at Denver. Harden's second game with the Cavs. He's been 238-2 last night. 2210 and 7. 5 minutes in, I'm immediately looking at the staggering of Mitchell and Harden. And it's a real.
about James Harden · at 14:09
Anthony Simons, Aoro, Yabu until they replaced Yaboo with Nick Richards. I did not expect to watch an NBA game where those were the five guys closing a game that they lost to…
about NBA · at 28:24
Good 10 minutes. Again, our NBA mailbag is NBA mailbagrgmail.com and check out the full podcast, the Ryan Rillo Show, Arsenal Sports.
about Ryan Rillo Show · at 37:53

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

Cade Cunningham — Person · Referenced player (Detroit Pistons) · 2 mentions · first at 12:05
A focal point of Detroit’s offensive game plan—especially their creative actions to get him downhill and specifically attack LaMelo defensively.
LaMelo Ball — Person · Referenced player (Charlotte Hornets) · 5 mentions · first at 3:02
Central to the Pistons–Hornets breakdown: Detroit’s defense targets him, and he’s involved in key late-game actions and a turnover forced by Paul Reed.
James Harden — Person · Referenced player (Cleveland Cavaliers, per episode context) · 3 mentions · first at 14:09
Discussed extensively in the Cleveland–Denver segment: his staggering with Donovan Mitchell, playmaking pace, and late-game impact in a closing run.
Scoot Henderson — Person · Referenced player (Portland Trail Blazers) · 3 mentions · first at 19:27
A dedicated segment evaluates his early-career trajectory, emphasizing his pace, quick decision-making, passing, and concerns about shooting/finishing.
Harden, he's going to play and he's going to produce the rest of the regular season. How come it's taken you 20 minutes to get to Scoo Henderson? I wanted to lead with it.…
Darren Peterson — Person · Referenced college player/prospect (Kansas Jayhawks, per episode context) · 3 mentions · first at 31:18
Discussed as a potential #1 draft pick whose extended absence is unusual; the segment focuses on uncertainty around injuries/availability and Bill Self’s limited public detail.
Darren Peterson maybe the number one pick in the draft. Sits out again. I think it's his 11th game. Nine with a hamstring, one with the flu, which was last night, and an ankle.
Elvis Duran — Person · Referenced player (Detroit Pistons; likely Jalen Duren) · 2 mentions · first at 1:20
Described as the catalyst for the third-quarter fight due to dominant physical play; his confrontation with Musa Diabate escalates into ejections.
Know that I'd call it a friendly headbutt, but it was just one of those headbutts. And then Duran just puts his hand right up in a Moose's face and mushes him and pushes him…
Donovan Mitchell — Person · Referenced player (Cleveland Cavaliers) · 3 mentions · first at 14:19
Used to frame Cleveland’s guard usage: detailed substitution staggering with Harden and how defenses load up when Mitchell is the focal point.
Other side when he was in there with Mitchell, something I'll continue to look at is when Harden's off the ball and he's like swinging it back to Mitchell's side, you're…
Nikola Jokic — Person · Referenced player (Denver Nuggets) · 3 mentions · first at 15:50
Key to the Cleveland–Denver analysis: rotation timing (late re-entry), and matchup notes on how he controls possessions against Jarrett Allen.
But also more importantly in the playoffs. So, again, just something to think about here. Since Joic has come back for the Nuggets, they're two and four. The schedule's been…
Bill Self — Person · Referenced coach · 3 mentions · first at 31:36
Appears in the college hoops segment as the Kansas head coach managing (and being questioned about) Darren Peterson’s ongoing absences.
Future on this, but it is odd. He's like kind of like a kawaii of college, but he's very quiet about it. Bill Self doesn't say much about it. And yet, I think right now he'd go…
Musa Diabate — Person · Referenced player (Charlotte Hornets) · 2 mentions · first at 1:22
Involved in the on-court fight sequence with Duren; described as frustrated and persistently angry after the altercation.
A real fight, so go check it out. Duran's just going off in the third quarter. I think the frustration by Musa Diabate against him was what precipitated this whole thing cuz…
Dennis Jenkins — Person · Referenced expert · 2 mentions · first at 4:06
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Sort of set that you're trying to run because at that point, it's all been blown up and they're so long. Dennis Jenkins is the only small player in their rotation. Everybody else is huge and it's it's just a lot to deal with.
Brandon Miller — Person · Referenced player (Charlotte Hornets) · 2 mentions · first at 20:47
Used as a comparison point in the Scoot Henderson evaluation and draft-take accountability—stated as clearly the better player so far.
Definitely wrong. I would like to say, speaking of scoot, like I do get things right. I did Brandon Miller had a scoot in that draft. so we get things right, we get things wrong. It happens. It's okay. not going to not going to bat a.
Franz Wagner — Person · Referenced expert · 2 mentions · first at 22:03
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
This is from John. It goes, A few years ago, Serudi mentioned Lori Markin, being ranked above France Vagner, and immediately afterwards, Markin had a career year. That is true.
Will Hardy — Person · Referenced expert · 2 mentions · first at 27:22
NBA coach discussed for his strategy in games.
Don't be honest, where we feel better about it. And it's why would Austin Age, Justin Xanic, Will Hardy, why would anyone with the Jazz give a [ __ ] how gross it is?
Big Stew — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 2:15
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
As this whole thing's happening, not surprising. Probably shocking it even took this long. Big Stew, third man in the ring, he runs right at Bridges.
Paul Reed — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 12:30
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Charles Lee who then was thrown out and I agreed with him being thrown out because it was a ridiculous flop by I think it was Paul Reed on that play with Grant Williams where…
Grant Williams — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 12:33
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Because it was a ridiculous flop by I think it was Paul Reed on that play with Grant Williams where they're setting up their offense. There's a slight collision. Reed flops.…
Tobias Harris — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 14:01
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Especially with some of the lineups that Charlotte had to go with because of the Dio ejection. 104 101 Tobias Harris ISO jumper. I hadn't noticed him in an hour. Essentially was the game winner.
Cooper Flagg — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 22:28
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
But yes, I was in fact wrong in that instance. then he also says and then Seri picks a man Thompson over Cooper Flag. Cooper Flag then goes on an epic stretch and now is like…
Lauri Markkanen — Person · Referenced player (Utah Jazz) · 1 mention · first at 26:47
Appears in the mailbag/tanking discussion as an example of a past evaluation debate and as part of the Jazz’s minutes-management/tanking context.
This is from John. It goes, A few years ago, Serudi mentioned Lori Markin, being ranked above France Vagner, and immediately afterwards, Markin had a career year. That is true.
Heather Ace — Person · Referenced expert · 3 mentions
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Yeah. So they closed with Collier, Sensaba, Ace, Philipski, Cody Williams, and Lowry and Jiren Jackson and Nerkach all played 25 minutes. So they're all on a 25minute minute restriction. I will.
Steph — Person · Referenced expert · 3 mentions
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Wait. invite the two, get it to Caniple, now we're playing four. It used to be the old stuff that Steph and Draymond used to do when Steph would just get doubled. He would…
Jiren Jackson — Person · Referenced expert · 2 mentions · first at 26:45
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Yeah. So they closed with Collier, Sensaba, Ace, Philipski, Cody Williams, and Lowry and Jiren Jackson and Nerkach all played 25 minutes. So they're all on a 25minute minute…
Tyrese Maxi — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 4:38
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Foul, like there's always that Maxi foul that drives me crazy. and when I saw it live, I'm did he just dribble into Denny against Portland? I have some thoughts on Scoot, don't…
Reginald Denny — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 4:45
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Foul, like there's always that Maxi foul that drives me crazy. and when I saw it live, I'm did he just dribble into Denny against Portland? I have some thoughts on Scoot, don't…
Dick Harter — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 5:12
NBA coach discussed for his strategy in games.
You're just kind of stupid. in Detroit's case, they're so physical. And again, back to the old Dick Harter thing of they can't call all of them. So, you're better off if you're…
Draymond — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 8:44
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Wait. invite the two, get it to Caniple, now we're playing four. It used to be the old stuff that Steph and Draymond used to do when Steph would just get doubled. He would…
Bernie Bickerstaff — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 12:01
NBA coach discussed for his strategy in games.
Corner. three-point line, hits the three. Remarkable stuff. Also, a lot of credit to Detroit and Bernie Bickerstaff and his crew for how creative they are on getting Cade…
Cochr Brener — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 12:25
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Cochr Brener had some moments, but Charles Lee who then was thrown out and I agreed with him being thrown out because it was a ridiculous flop by I think it was Paul Reed on that play with.
Charles Lee — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 12:27
NBA coach discussed for his strategy in games.
Cochr Brener had some moments, but Charles Lee who then was thrown out and I agreed with him being thrown out because it was a ridiculous flop by I think it was Paul Reed on that play with Grant Williams where they're setting up.
Joic — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 15:50
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
All right this is starting to get away from you a little bit on some of these offensive possessions. Allen Jared Allen against Joic. Joic is always calm, but he must love…
Aaron Gordon — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 16:25
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Write that one down. because I would say to Allen and there was no Mobly last night. Again, Aaron Gordon's still out.
Cam Johnson — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 17:01
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
In a little bit more instead of trying to get body on him and then worrying about the free throws. And he had one against Cam Johnson that was terrible, but it wasn't like it…
Scottie Barnes — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 22:53
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
I guess he's saying like I should just publicly be like you know what Scotty Barnes is better than Paulo and Fron or I'd rather have this guy pick some random guy just to do…
Cody Williams — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 27:28
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Yeah. So they closed with Collier, Sensaba, Ace, Philipski, Cody Williams, and Lowry and Jiren Jackson and Nerkach all played 25 minutes. So they're all on a 25minute minute restriction. I will.
Ron Philipski — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 27:28
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Yeah. So they closed with Collier, Sensaba, Ace, Philipski, Cody Williams, and Lowry and Jiren Jackson and Nerkach all played 25 minutes. So they're all on a 25minute minute restriction. I will.
Sensaba — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 27:28
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Yeah. So they closed with Collier, Sensaba, Ace, Philipski, Cody Williams, and Lowry and Jiren Jackson and Nerkach all played 25 minutes. So they're all on a 25minute minute restriction. I will.
Nerkach — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 27:32
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Yeah. So they closed with Collier, Sensaba, Ace, Philipski, Cody Williams, and Lowry and Jiren Jackson and Nerkach all played 25 minutes. So they're all on a 25minute minute…
Anthony Simons — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 28:20
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Modus, Sexton, Anthony Simons, Aoro, Yabu until they replaced Yaboo with Nick Richards. I did not expect to watch an NBA game where those were the five guys closing a game.
Nick Richards — Person · Referenced expert · 1 mention · first at 28:24
NBA player discussed for his performance and strategy in games.
Modus, Sexton, Anthony Simons, Aoro, Yabu until they replaced Yaboo with Nick Richards. I did not expect to watch an NBA game where those were the five guys closing a game that they lost to the Nets to on top.

Companies & orgs

NBA — Company · Core topic · 6 mentions · first at 2:38
Central theme of the episode, discussing the National Basketball Association and its teams.
Pistons — Company · Business focus · 4 mentions · first at 0:15
NBA team based in Detroit, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Hornets — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 0:15
NBA team based in Charlotte, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Course Cleveland and Denver. So, this is a great game in Charlotte between the Pistons and the Hornets. It felt like a playoff game. then you had a fight.
Detroit Pistons — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 0:19
NBA team based in Detroit, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Pistons ended up winning this one 110 of 104. snaps Charlotte's nineame winning streak. Just a reminder, this team was 4-4 to 25 and 28.
Charlotte Hornets — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 7:33
NBA team based in Charlotte, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Cavs — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at 14:09
Nickname for the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Cleveland at Denver. Harden's second game with the Cavs. He's been 238-2 last night. 2210 and 7. 5 minutes in, I'm immediately looking at the staggering of Mitchell and Harden. And it's a real.
Cleveland Cavaliers — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at 14:09
NBA team based in Cleveland, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Cleveland at Denver. Harden's second game with the Cavs. He's been 238-2 last night. 2210 and 7. 5 minutes in, I'm immediately looking at the staggering of Mitchell and Harden. And it's a real.
Nuggets — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at 14:09
NBA team based in Denver, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
But also more importantly in the playoffs. So, again, just something to think about here. Since Joic has come back for the Nuggets, they're two and four. The schedule's been…
Denver Nuggets — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 14:09
NBA team based in Denver, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Cleveland at Denver. Harden's second game with the Cavs. He's been 238-2 last night. 2210 and 7. 5 minutes in, I'm immediately looking at the staggering of Mitchell and Harden. And it's a real.
Jazz — Company · Business focus · 3 mentions · first at 24:39
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Basically just sat Kiate George got hurt earlier in the game, so he was out already, but they basically sat their starters in the fourth quarter. Magic came back and it was…
General Magic — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 24:39
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Earlier in the game, so he was out already, but they basically sat their starters in the fourth quarter. Magic came back and it was like an incredibly disgusting tanking job by the Jazz. and I was happy Magic won.
YouTube — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 0:01
Platform where the podcast is available.
It's a 10 good minutes for our YouTube audience. A couple games that I really want to focus on last night and that's Detroit at Charlotte. So, almost a little tales from the couch and then of.
OKC — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 3:35
Nickname for the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team, discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
And I'm telling you right now, if you waste time, it's a lot like the OKC thing where if you dick around with the ball, they're just going to swarm to you and then you're not looking to get a basket. You're looking to just get away.
Trailblazers — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at 19:38
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Wanted to lead with it. Others thought maybe that wasn't the best deal. So, Scoot, my guy, has been back with the Trailblazers for two games.
Thunder — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at 30:02
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Top three teams in the sport right now, if you just go by record, Thunder, Pistons, and Spurs all did some version of tanking at some point.
Spurs — Company · Business focus · 4 mentions
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
SiriusXM — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 21:36
Mentioned as a platform where the podcast might be available.
We bring in Siruti for a couple questions.
Bulls — Company · Business focus · 2 mentions · first at 28:10
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Because Trey and AD apparently aren't going to play? what the [ __ ] is that? Do you know what the closing unit was for the Bulls last night? Nobody does.
Knicks — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at 18:20
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
They're a game and a half behind New York and Boston, who are tied for the two seed. So, the Cavs are a game and a half behind the two seed right now.
Pelicans — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at 30:11
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Yeah. I the craziest thing the Pelicans are like winning some games here two in a row three and three in their last but.
Kings — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at 30:30
NBA team discussed for their performance and strategy in games.
Just like imagine if they still had their pick what it would look like. The funny thing with the Sacramento Kings who've lost what 13 in a row. Sabona sat out. Murray's had…
Arsenal Sports — Company · Business focus · 1 mention · first at 37:59
Mentioned as a platform where the podcast might be available.
Good 10 minutes. Again, our NBA mailbag is NBA mailbagrgmail.com and check out the full podcast, the Ryan Rillo Show, Arsenal Sports.

Products & tech

NBA Mailbag — Product · Recurring audience segment / call-in-by-email feature · 2 mentions · first at 21:29
Used as a transition into listener questions; includes a direct email call-to-action and introduces the Q&A portion with Ceruti.
Hey, we made it under 40 minutes for a good 10 minutes. Again, our NBA mailbag is NBA mailbagrgmail.com and check out the full podcast, the Ryan Rillo Show, Arsenal Sports.

Concepts & topics

NBA — Concept · Core topic · 4 mentions · first at 2:39
Central theme of the episode, discussing the National Basketball Association and its teams.
Antifragility — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Cognitive Biases — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Cold Exposure — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a health concept in the podcast.
Compound Interest — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Deep Work — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a productivity concept in the podcast.
First Principles Thinking — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Incentive Design — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Intermittent Fasting — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a health concept in the podcast.
Lindy Effect — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Moore's Law — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Network Effects — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Pareto Principle — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Power Law — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Second-Order Thinking — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a concept in the podcast.
Stoicism — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a philosophy in the podcast.
Zone 2 Training — Concept · Core topic · 2 mentions
Mentioned as a training concept in the podcast.

Places & events

Detroit — Place · Setting · 12 mentions · first at 0:08
Mentioned as the location of the Pistons NBA team and as a setting for a game discussed in the podcast.
Audience. A couple games that I really want to focus on last night and that's Detroit at Charlotte. So, almost a little tales from the couch and then of course Cleveland and…
Charlotte — Place · Setting · 6 mentions · first at 0:08
Mentioned as the location of the Hornets NBA team and as a setting for a game discussed in the podcast.
Pistons ended up winning this one 110 of 104. snaps Charlotte's nineame winning streak. Just a reminder, this team was 4-4 to 25 and 28.
Cleveland — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at 0:11
Mentioned as the location of the Cavaliers NBA team and as a setting for a game discussed in the podcast.
Detroit at Charlotte. So, almost a little tales from the couch and then of course Cleveland and Denver. So, this is a great game in Charlotte between the Pistons and the Hornets. It felt like a playoff game. then you had a fight.
Denver — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at 0:11
Mentioned as the location of the Nuggets NBA team and as a setting for a game discussed in the podcast.
Could have been an and one three that was just a massive part of their run when they closed this one out. A 15-6 run in Denver to close this game out.
Kansas — Place · Setting · 4 mentions · first at 31:13
Mentioned as the location of a college basketball game discussed in the podcast.
Darren Peterson maybe the number one pick in the draft. Sits out again. I think it's his 11th game. Nine with a hamstring, one with the flu, which was last night, and an ankle.
Arizona — Place · Setting · 3 mentions · first at 31:13
Mentioned as the location of a college basketball game discussed in the podcast.
All right. Well, speaking of tanking and load management, I guess, is a good segue. Arizona upset by Kansas last night at Fog Allen. Pretty awesome game.
Boston — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at 18:20
Mentioned as the location of the Celtics NBA team and as a setting for a game discussed in the podcast.
They're a game and a half behind New York and Boston, who are tied for the two seed. So, the Cavs are a game and a half behind the two seed right now.
Fog Allen — Place · Setting · 2 mentions · first at 31:13
Mentioned as the location of a college basketball game discussed in the podcast.
Games where you just go, why don't you just look at the schedule a couple weeks out and show up to Fog Allen and go to one of these games, especially now with the lighter schedule. and I say it every year and then the year goes by.
New York, New York — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 18:08
Mentioned as the location of the Knicks NBA team and as a setting for a game discussed in the podcast.
They're a game and a half behind New York and Boston, who are tied for the two seed. So, the Cavs are a game and a half behind the two seed right now.
Washington — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 28:02
Mentioned as the location of a college basketball game discussed in the podcast.
Do it in a way that's more digestible for me. There are no rules in this. Is Washington more ethical because Trey and AD apparently aren't going to play? what the [ __ ] is…
Kentucky — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 32:10
Mentioned as the location of a college basketball game discussed in the podcast.
Same thing with Kentucky. Like I want to go to a Kentucky game at some point, but I've always kind of wanted to line it up with a football game, which I know doesn't make any sense, but I still have.
BYU — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 36:29
Mentioned as the location of a college basketball game discussed in the podcast.
Oh, poor self. I think if anything, maybe it's that BYU game that's in my head here, but there's like there's a lot of guys in this team that I like.
Orlando — Place · Setting · 1 mention · first at 18:54
Mentioned as the location of the Magic NBA team and as a setting for a game discussed in the podcast.
Harder time thinking hey, I think that's a top four seed team. The Boston thing still shocks me. I still hold out hope for Orlando. I don't really think much about Miami at…

Media & podcasts

Ryan Rillo Show — Media · Host · 1 mention · first at 37:59
The podcast where the discussion is taking place.

Full transcript with timestamps

0:01 It's a 10 good minutes for our YouTube audience. A couple games that I really want to focus on last night and that's Detroit at Charlotte. So, almost a little tales from the couch and then of course Cleveland and Denver. So, this is a great game in Charlotte between the Pistons and the Hornets. It felt like a playoff game. Uh then you had a fight. Pistons ended up winning this one 110 of 104. Uh snaps Charlotte's nineame winning streak. Just a reminder, this team was 4-4 to 25 and 28. Um, so just an incredible turnaround and a thing that feels very real when we start talking about that group like I wanted part of my take this week and they were like give me your top three in the East and and like really the more we started kind of talking it out I was like it's Detroit and then it's everybody else and that everybody else group is a large group uh depending on the jocking and whatever we think right

0:50 now may seem foolish in 30 games for how the rest of the season closes out on the seedings in the East, but Detroit's just at another level and I think the record not only proves that, but when you watch them play, even with some of the deficiencies that you think about what they're shooting and some of the scoring options that they may not have that you'd like to see somebody else be a little dependable when you start projecting out a playoff team here, but this was a really nice response for a bunch of different reasons. So, if we jump into the third quarter when the fight happens, and I'm sure you've seen the clips by down if you haven't, it was a real fight, so go check it out. Uh Duran's just going off in the third quarter. I think the frustration by Musa Diabate against him was what precipitated this whole thing cuz Dur has seven points in two minutes in this stretch in the third quarter. He beasts

1:35 Diiamat who I like. He's a nice player, but Dur's just different level physically. He beasts him in the paint, gets the end one, and then they do kind of a headbutt. It wasn't nasty. I don't know that I'd call it a friendly headbutt, but it was just one of those headbutts. And then Duran just puts his hand right up in a Moose's face and mushes him and pushes him away. Diabodyi goes nuts. Diabodyi was angry the longest I think I've seen a player in a game continuously be angry after everything that happened. Duran gets pushed to the left corner. Bridges comes over, throws a punch. Duran gets his hands up. Looks like a southpaw perhaps and starts kind of backpedaling a little bit. Debody tries to get at him again.

2:10 And then Bridges tries to get at him and as this whole thing's happening, not surprising. Probably shocking it even took this long. Big Stew, third man in the ring, he runs right at Bridges. There's a melee over there. I would have liked to see more on the replay, but the one that I saw, he gets him in a headlock and he's like throwing punches down on him and just trying to mash him. So, those four players get ejected. I imagine significant suspensions coming because it was a real fight. It didn't go into the stands, but the courtside seats. You never know what you're going to get at an NBA game. So, there was a stretch there where it was kind of um kind of just a lot of chaos. So remember now with these ejections that means the Pistons are out. Both centers enter Bball Paul who decided to just come in and completely wreck this game. Um both the centers are out. He has eight points, three rebounds in seven minutes.

3:02 He dives on the ground, forces a turnover against LaMelo. Has another ball that he jumps where he ties it up. You get a jump ball. The way he would blitz the ball handler, just his energy was was incredible. And it's like Detroit responded to all of this. Um, during the stretch, there was like a 24/7 run going before the fight, after the fight, and it's not necessarily even like the Pistons are just cooking offensively. There was a level of defensive intensity in this game from Detroit that is the kind of stuff that like everybody should be watching and going, "We need to be like these guys."

3:33 And I'm telling you right now, if you waste time, it's a lot like the OKC thing where if you dick around with the ball, they're just going to swarm to you and then you're not looking to get a basket. You're looking to just get away from everybody to try to start some other version of your offense. And so if you're running this high pick and roll again, which everybody does, and you're running it to the side especially, and they just blitz you and trap you and you know, they get their hands on you, it's just hard to even get out of that to get back to anything that resembles some sort of set that you're trying to run because at that point, it's all been blown up and they're so long. Dennis Jenkins is the only small player in their rotation. Everybody else is huge and it's it's just a lot to deal with.

4:17 and it was really really impressive. On the physicality, Detroit is number one in the NBA in personal fouls called against them per game. It's 22.4. Uh it's not an outrageous number. The Pacers are right behind them. Sometimes you foul a lot because you're physical. Sometimes you foul a lot because you're terrible defensively. Uh there are just guys that reach constantly. Like I saw a maxi foul, like there's always that Maxi foul that drives me crazy. Uh, and when I saw it live, I'm like, did he just dribble into Denny against Portland? I have some thoughts on Scoot, don't worry. Uh, and then you watch the rebound or the replay and you just go, why is why is Denny trying to reach in and strip the ball away from Maxi as Maxi's going full speed? Like, of all the people that you're like, hey, that's probably not going to work against him. So, some of these fouls that are called, it doesn't

5:07 mean you're physical at all. It means you're just kind of stupid. Uh, in Detroit's case, they're so physical. And again, back to the old Dick Harter thing of they can't call all of them. So, you're better off if you're a smart team of fouling in a way, especially fouling off the ball right now and they're just they're just not going to call it all that much. I was looking historically at some of the personal foul numbers that are called here because even that 22.4 this season for Detroit, there's other teams in the last 10 years that have had more fouls called against him. So, that might not be the best indicator. I looked at the 80s and 90s. If you look at those decades, average number of fouls that are called per team per game, it's somewhere between 25 and 22. In 26, we're league average 20 fouls called against a team for each game. I don't know that that number means, and I don't want to turn this into an

5:58 era thing necessarily, but you could argue or more fouls are being called back then that meant it was a more physical game. Or you could argue, hey, less fouls are being called now. Does that mean it's more physical because you have lesser reward on some of these plays? Now, I think it has more to do with just the clogging of the way the court was set up with the players back then. Again, anytime I bring this up and you you just watch it and you kind of just it's an amazing reminder of like, god, everybody has like a foot in the paint. This is outrageous. So, I think a lot of that just collisions and stuff.

6:32 Probably why you'd have a little bit more fouls, maybe less fouls now because of the spacing and stuff is more out in the open. But I will say it all season long. The stuff that I see on the ball that is called that I think can be a gift to the offensive player who just by any contact whether he initiates it or not, he gets the call. The stuff off the ball, that's what I would be doing if I'm an NBA coach. I'm like, we are going to push the limits of what is even possible here. No one gets a free release off a screen. Nobody goes to run baseline without getting grabbed. Uh if somebody comes off of a curl, we're hanging on to them. It's a lot like watching uh an NFL game where the corners and receivers are just battling on a throw. And more often than not, you can't just call PI every time somebody touches somebody else because you'd have a ridiculous game and quarterbacks should just throw it in the air every

7:19 single time to get the PI. But when you're watching it, you're like, "Okay, cool. They're letting them play." I think off the ball right now, the league is letting these guys play. So to close this one out, once Charlotte fought back in this game, credit to the Hornets here, the Hornets did a better job on going, we can't just kind of get into our pick and roll and then reset and see if we have the mismatch versus the ball handler because again, there's not many mismatches to hunt here with this Detroit team at all. So if it's just a size thing and like Danis Jenkins isn't out there, you're kind of like, "All right, well, who do we actually want to attack? Do we want to attack Cade because his footwork might not be all right? Whatever. Um, offensively, I thought they did some cool things with this Canipple LaMelo pick and roll where Canipple is the screener, but he's he's already releasing to kind of

8:15 this I always call it like this escape valve option. And so you keep two with the ball handler to cut off LaMelo. But LaMelo, the beauty of him is that he's so tall. And again, he's a great passer, he can just throw it over the top of the pressure. Then you have Canipple playing four on three and then Canipple's decision-m is spectacular on top of everything else that he does almost perfectly. It's it's something they were better at. Like, hey, we can't just wait. Like, invite the two, get it to Caniple, now we're playing four. It used to be the old stuff that Steph and Draymond used to do when Steph would just get doubled. He would invite the double, Steph would pass it, and Draymond was such a great playmaker.

8:50 again he's playing four on three behind the pressure. Um just a couple plays that I love from this game. So Canipple gets a cooking a little bit from three. And I'm telling the kids, the kids that are listening, the parents still let them listen. Uh Canipple finds the slots on the three-point line off of the drives like he's been playing this game for 20 years. Well, I guess he has had a ball in his hand probably for 20 years, but you get the point. It's a really simple thing, but if he's off and he like starts in the corner or he's closer to the top of the key, he will watch where the defense is aligned. It's not like he's the only one that does this, but the fact that he's already doing this is just so impressive. He just slots himself as a much easier outlet. And now some ball handlers hate that. Uh the great Luca passes into the corner.

9:44 It's one part Luca and two he always knows that that player is supposed to be there. It's the same thing with Joic. Like if you're not in the corner and then it ends up being a turnover. Luca or Jokic aren't like, "Hey, bad pass by me." They're like, "Why are you moving at all?" And I I know that it's a little different, but there's some of these spectacular corner passes where sometimes the reaction is like, "I can't believe you saw him." It's like, well, because he knows that he's always going to be there. And again, some of the passes are still ridiculous, but if you know that the person's never necessarily moving. So you'll see some guys that move or kind of come up from the corner to try to find necessarily a bit better angle and then the ball handler gets really mad at them because they're like, "You're never supposed to move."

10:24 Whatever it is with Canipple, it's probably also LaMelo's vision. Canipple can he's not going to stay glued to one spot if he thinks a defender is going to cut off that pass. And once you start to understand that with your teammates, it's just something else that you're thinking about. This one play with Canipple, as I said, he's coming off of this curl. He's going to get it right at the three-point line with momentum, and he just does a great job on these slight delays. It also speaks to like the athletes that I freak out about before the draft. And then there's these athletes where it's a little harder to find, but their athleticism is just as impactful as maybe the guy that's hitting his head on the rim. But Canipple's athleticism is a catch and a slight delay, a look and total balance and then attack off of that or get the shot if he has any space. On this one play that I'm thinking about last night.

11:16 He gets it at the top of the key on this curl. He's heading to the right side of the three-point line and Detroit freaks with two defenders being like, "We got to get out on him. We got to contest the three." Right? That's a credit to them being locked in on what he's doing and the effort that they're playing with. Caniple slight delay, but he knows I'm not going to get this shot off. Let me keep the dribble alive off this kind of like slight little head raise as if I'm going to get ready to take a shot. And now he's driving. Detroit kind of recovers because there's two defenders on him. So he drives, but there's not enough room for him to get the shot off.

11:53 And then he finds LaMelo in that left corner. three-point line, hits the three. Remarkable stuff. Also, a lot of credit to Detroit and Bernie Bickerstaff and his crew for how creative they are on getting Cade Cunningham the ball back. I love what they do and it's why it's so important for them to feel really good about a secondary ball handler, what they've tried with a couple different people in the past, but they wanted Kade against LaMelo. Um, you're also looking in the minutes where obviously Dio's ejected from the game.

12:25 Cochr Brener had some moments, but Charles Lee who then was thrown out and I agreed with him being thrown out because it was a ridiculous flop by I think it was Paul Reed on that play with Grant Williams where they're setting up their offense. There's a slight collision. Reed flops. They call the foul on Grant. Was an awful call. Lee gets ejected which again I understood as frustration, but Charlotte wanted to close small. The problem is if you're getting Cade going downhill and the help defenders Grant Williams at the rim and Grant was really good last night. It's just you're not going to have the same thing. obviously is a diabate or a cockbrunner who they didn't want to close with. Uh more and more teams are closing small. Uh I notice it constantly where they're just going, you know what, I I think I'm going to go back this this fascination because it was new like hey small ball the Warrior stuff and

13:09 whatever and then the shift kind of back to bigs and the league got big again. I just felt like this year or I feel like this year so far I'm seeing teams choose to go or at least close with the smaller lineups. But on the Cade stuff, they'll say, "All right, we want to talk. We want to attack LaMelo with Cade. We're not just going to bring LaMelo's guy up, and now let's start the whole thing over again and be super predictable where everybody knows where the play is starting from." They will run like two offball screens, somebody else has the ball, and then that player is on LaMelo somehow, and then it's a handoff curl thing to Cade. Cade now has momentum going downhill, and now LaMelo has to go back to him. So, it's not just straight hunting. It's really creative movement, multiple screens, multiple things going on, and then Kay is just going to be able to finish basically over anybody.

13:58 Uh, especially with some of the lineups that Charlotte had to go with because of the Dio ejection. 104 101 Tobias Harris ISO jumper. I hadn't noticed him in an hour. Essentially was the game winner. Cleveland at Denver. Harden's second game with the Cavs. He's been 238-2 last night. 2210 and 7. 5 minutes in, I'm immediately looking at the staggering of Mitchell and Harden. And it's a real thing. This may be incredibly boring for some of you. I wrote it down, so you have to listen to it. Mitchell out 5 minutes in to the first quarter. Um, then Harden's out at 3:34. Mitchell comes in.

14:42 Harden in at 9:06 of the second quarter. Mitchell out at 827. 358 of the second quarter. Mitchell back in. They closed together for the last 358 of the first half. Third quarter again. 5 minutes into it. Mitchell comes out. He comes back in at 4:16. Harden's out at 3:44 left of the third quarter at 10:01 left in the fourth quarter. As Mitchell was still in, Harden comes back in. Mitchell's out 2 minutes later at 8:11. He comes back in at 5'11 and then they closed with both of them for the last five minutes. Really liked Harden's game last night. The playmaking, never in a hurry. Thought he had some huge moments and he had that three where it could have been an and one three that was just a massive part of their run uh when they closed this one out. A 15-6 run in Denver to close this game out.

15:36 Little surprised that the Nuggets didn't bring Jokic back until um let me see here. It was late 3:24 left in the game. Felt like it was like all right this is starting to get away from you a little bit on some of these offensive possessions. Allen Jared Allen against Joic. I mean, Joic is always calm, but he must love having the Allen matchup. And it didn't matter because Cleveland ended up winning the game, you know, so I guess the rule is we can't get too excited about any stuff. But it's almost like Allen gets too much of his body into Joic and Joic is like, "Great, put your body all over me. I know exactly where you are. I can feel you. I can feel every angle." And it's like an even slower, more methodical attack. So if they're in the finals, write that one down. Uh because I would say to Allen and there was no Mobly last night. Again, Aaron Gordon's still out.

16:27 Fit looked great, but Allen I think uses too much body on Joic and Joic is in complete control, especially when he gets it like empty on that side of it, which is just not going to happen all that often. I also was kind of looking at like some of the hard and stuff cuz like the floater doesn't feel I got to check these numbers, but I don't feel like that floater once he gets downhill is as much of a weapon for him anymore. So, I think I'd invite him in a little bit more instead of trying to get body on him and then worrying about the free throws. And he had one against Cam Johnson that was terrible, but it wasn't like it wasn't part of the game. Cam Johnson was losing [ __ ] I don't blame him. Um, but then on the other side when he was in there with Mitchell, something I'll continue to look at is when Harden's off the ball and he's like swinging it back to Mitchell's side, you're looking at like

17:21 four sets of eyes just waiting for Mitchell. And I always think about this and how you construct a team. It's like, okay, well, I'd love to have two on ball attackers at least, right? But if one can't shoot, does that kind of defeat the purpose? So, of course, you'd want two shooters that are also on ball attackers, which is kind of what you had in a best case scenario with Mitchell and Garland. And we know with Harden, he can shoot it and he's terrific with the playmaking. The lobs of Moy, the lobs of Allen are going to be great. But once again, when he's off of the ball, he's kind of done with the possession. And I worry about that, not necessarily in the regular season, but also more importantly in the playoffs. So, again, just something to think about here. Since Joic has come back for the Nuggets, they're two and four. The schedule's been pretty tough, though. Clippers, OKC, Detroit, New

18:12 York, Cleveland. There's another game in there. Uh Cleveland, by the way, you may not have noticed this. They're 9-1 in their last 10. They're a game and a half behind New York and Boston, who are tied for the two seed. So, the Cavs are a game and a half behind the two seed right now. Knicks have been playing great basketball as well, but if you had to sit there and think about it today and you're like, who is the two seed in the East? As I talk about like the two from however deep you want to go, how open of a mind you have to have about some of these teams. I don't know if Philly will close with enough of a record because of, you know, who's going to be available for them. Uh, as much as I've liked Toronto this year, I still have a harder time thinking like, hey, I think that's a top four seed team. The Boston thing still shocks me. I still hold out hope for Orlando. I don't really think

18:58 much about Miami at this point. Um, and then there's the Charlotte part of this if they stay on the pace since that 4-4 start. Like there's just a lot of things that are possible when you think about the East and the Cavs being the two seed is I mean again the standings are the standings here. I think it's a very easy thing to overlook here cuz they're not going to have the same 64- win record as they did last year, but they're going to close better than they probably were with the Garland injuries cuz at the very least, whatever you think of Harden, he's going to play and he's going to produce the rest of the regular season. How come it's taken you 20 minutes to get to Scoo Henderson? I wanted to lead with it. Others thought maybe that wasn't the best deal. So, Scoot, my guy, has been back with the Trailblazers for two games.

19:41 He was 122 and seven last night. 10 free throw attempts. It's not the points. It is the thing that I loved about him the most before the draft is that when you get the ball to scoot in the just outlet, right? Defensive board outlet to scoot. He doesn't want to dribble from the catch of the outlet all the way down and set up the offense. He wants to get the ball up the court. And for a young player, that amazed me because usually when you're this kind of profile, you know, coming out of high school and everything, it's like, well, I score, so I want the ball. I want to keep the ball as long as I can to see if I'm going to get my buckets. And Scoot was actually like wired a different way. He's like, if I think another guy has an advantage or it's a one-on-one, I I don't I don't even need to take a dribble. Maybe I take one dribble, I'll get it up to the next guy. He had a bunch of these plays

20:30 last night and he had two lobs that were terrific, but there was even some other just halfcourt passing where he just wants to move the ball so quickly. And again, the thing now for Scoot with him not getting off to the great career based on how much I liked him before the draft and that high selection, uh, Brandon Miller's been the better player, no question. Scoot's missed the entire season up until the last two games. So, the the hope of like, can he be a star, that doesn't feel great right now. the hope of can he be a starting point guard on a team and like really be the starting point guard, not just be the starter that year based on all bunch of other circumstances. Uh the shooting would need to get better. The finishing at the rim stuff is still concerned because you kind of wanted him to be a little juicier as an athlete and it may not necessarily be that. The quick ball movement, the getting the ball up the

21:19 court as much as you can, always putting that pressure on the defense with passing as opposed to dribbling is why I was so impressed with him as a young player. And it was great to see some of that stuff last night. NBA mailbag NBA rrgmail.com. We bring in Siruti for a couple questions.

21:40 What's up? What's up? How we doing? I'm great, man. Great to see you. You, too. Uh, we got a lot to get to, actually. Um, I have a couple questions for you, but I guess let's just do this. When you sent this to me, people, you know, taking shots. I'm still getting flack over the Cooper flag and Thompson thing. So, let's just read this email. Uh, this is from John. It goes, "A few a few years ago, Serudi mentioned Lori Markin, uh, being ranked above France Vagner, and immediately afterwards, Markin had a career year. That is true.

22:09 By the way, I was only mad, it's not like I didn't like Lori. I just I was only mad. It was like a breakout of the year thing. Turns out I was wrong. Still think Fran is awesome. Didn't dislike Lori. I did apologize in person to Mark in by the way at the All-Star game that year. So, shouts out being a good sport. Um but yes, I was I was in fact wrong in that instance. Um then he also says and then Seri picks a man Thompson over Cooper Flag. Cooper Flag then goes on an epic stretch and now is like basically you know would you take five guys in league over him? Probably not. So he's saying should Serudi choose someone he'd rather have that's obviously worse than Paulo and Fron basically go like a a reverse psychology situation. He says I might get clowned but the magic would be playing well so it would be worth it. So I guess he's saying like I should just publicly be like you know what Scotty Barnes is better than Paulo and

22:55 Fron or I'd rather have this guy pick some random guy just to do the reverse psychology thing. I like the idea but I'm not a I don't give out fake takes. Sometimes I just tell you how it is and I'm wrong. It's okay. The Lowry thing was specific though as you said it was about this list where it was egregious to not have Fron on the list and so I think your eye was pointed towards Lowry because Lowry had been in the league for a bunch. It was weird for him to even be on the list considering how long he'd been in the league and then he absolutely lit it up. But I think it was more list construction to have your back there a little bit because I do remember that one cuz I remember being like what this is a weird

23:33 I was still wrong. It's okay. I was wrong, you know, and shout out to to Markin. Had a great year. My thing was like he he we've seen Markin for a while. Like I think I know who he is. And I we didn't he was he had an awesome breakout year. And

23:44 who would you rather have? France. Yeah. And now and then Cooper. Who would you rather have?

23:51 Yeah. I mean I I still really like him. Um but I it's Cooper. Yeah. Okay. That's fair enough. You know, because at at the time I mean

23:59 we were talking about like hey like is he is he really going to be a one? you know, is he just like a great connecting piece? Is he like the one on a on a title team? And I think there was some conversation about that. Clearly, that's not true now. And he seems like he's destined for, you know, the Hall of Fame and stardom and all those things. So, that's great. But, uh, that one was definitely wrong. I would like to say, speaking of scoot, like I do get things right. I did like, um, Brandon Miller had a scoot in that draft. Uh, so like, you know, we get things right, we get things wrong. It happens. It's okay. You know, not going to not going to bat a thousand.

24:29 You usually are reminded of the things you get wrong. So, correct. There you go.

24:32 Correct. Welcome to business. It's okay. It's fine. Um, speaking of the speaking of the Jazz, speaking of marketing, I had I had this question for you though. Uh, did you watch the Jazz Magic game last week? Probably not. We kind of got lost in the super week thing. But,

24:46 uh, yeah, I went back and watched it because I know because I everybody was mad about it. So, I had a couple like the the hard thing with the football weekend stuff and now that it's over, it probably won't happen, but every now and then I would catch myself cuz like on Monday I'd start watching Saturday, Sunday games before the Monday games would tip and then I get caught up in the Monday. So, it turns into like a six, seven hour NBA night. Uh because I and then like look with Detroit Charlotte, I want to watch the entire game. uh OKC San Antonio over the weekend. Like

25:16 I was in my hotel room and I'm going I want to watch this entire game. And then I realized, oh wait, OKC is not playing everybody. So this one may not be as important. And the same thing last night with Lakers. Like SGA's out, Luca is out. I watched the second half. I'm not going to watch the full game of that because I don't I don't feel that I need to. I actually like my approach better now is I'm watching more games, but I'm not I used to just go I have to watch the entire game start to finish and it's just harder to fit as many games in. So, I would prioritize however many games.

25:45 And here's the other thing. You can have four screens up. I don't give a [ __ ] who you are. You could be Larry Brown. You're not going to really know what's going on. And it's not like you have to track every single time of how they're playing pick and roll and what they want to do and who like on a Sunday. But

26:03 football, you can have multiple screens up. There's so much dead time. So the four screen NBA guy that's telling me he's locked in and figuring out everything that's going on. I think you're entirely full of [ __ ]

26:15 Fair. Uh the only reason I can do two I can do two, but that's about it. The only reason I asked you about that game is because it did bring up this new sort of like hatred for tanking again. And you you know you and other people have talked about like how disgusting it's probably going to get for the last couple months here this regular season. And the first I think glimpse of it was cuz like team started getting fined for basically just sitting guys for like mystery illnesses. So now and this isn't terribly new but it's certainly something that's like rearing it ugly head again. The Jazz were up 17 third quarter against the Magic like cruising.

26:44 Triple J looked good. They call him quadruple J. Jazz Jiren Jackson Jr. Now I kind of like that. Uh Lori was playing well. speaking of him. And then they basically just sat Kiate George got hurt earlier in the game, so he was out already, but they basically sat their starters in the fourth quarter. Magic came back and it was like an incredibly disgusting tanking job by the by the Jazz. Um, and I was happy Magic won. They didn't deserve it, but they did get that in the fourth quarter. And uh, you know, people were critical of the Jazz for saying, "Hey, like you know, you just basically sat everyone and just gave the Magic a win. This is this is, you know, people are paying to come to these basketball games." Just interested what you thought. It's kind of it was ugly, but I obviously I get why the Jazz are doing it. They did it again last night and they won in Miami.

27:21 Yep. So the Jets are sneaky too. Good. Shout out to your boy Will Hardy, you know.

27:26 Yeah. So they closed with Collier, Sensaba, Ace, Philipski, Cody Williams, and Lowry and Jiren Jackson and Nerkach all played 25 minutes. So they're all on a 25minute minute restriction. I will say this now, I will say it again. I will say it loudly. I don't give a [ __ ] how you tank. If the goal is that you have to tank, if you're the Jazz and your pick is top eight protected, you've got to do whatever you can. Are you worried about every other fan base that doesn't really care about you or every media member that's on the air being like, "I'd like you to tank, but do it in a way that's more digestible for me." There are no rules in this. Is Washington more ethical because Trey and AD apparently aren't going to play? Like, what the [ __ ] is that? Do you know what the closing unit was for the Bulls last night? Nobody does.

28:14 I've got it for you. By all means, read it out. Um, Modus, Sexton, Anthony Simons, Aoro, Yabu until they replaced Yaboo with Nick Richards. I did not expect to watch an NBA game where those were the five guys closing a game that they lost to the Nets to on top everything else. Uh, the goal is to do what is best for your franchise, not to lose games in a way that people can be less critical of. I mean, granted, Hanky took it to a whole new level. We've we've covered it all the time, but we're we're just strange. You know, there's a bunch of different reasons why we are as human beings odd, but we have this incredibly annoying flaw of that.

29:05 We can know what it is that you're doing, but we want it packaged in a way, don't be honest,

29:11 where we feel better about it. And it's like, why would Austin Age, Justin Xanic, Will Hardy, why would anyone with the Jazz give a [ __ ] how gross it is? Cuz the goal is I want this pick to land in the top eight. So I'm not giving it to anybody else. That is the most. You don't need to apologize to it because there are different versions of the exact same thing that you're doing that somehow are more ethical. I don't care about ethical tanking. It is all unethical. I accept it.

29:41 You like ethical hoopers, but you don't care about ethical tanking. Ethical hooper is very important to me. Ethical tanking is

29:49 it's like asking a burglar to clean up after himself. Like, you know, I don't Yeah. Well, I think it's funny, too, because like the top three teams in the the sport right now, I mean, if you just go by record, Thunder, Pistons, and Spurs all all did some version of tanking at some point. Not necessarily to get exactly where they are, but like it's part of the sport. It just kind of is, you know?

30:11 Yeah. I the craziest thing the Pelicans are like winning some games here two in a row three and three in their last

30:22 but they're winning some games and it's it's just like imagine if they still had their pick what it would look like. The funny thing with the the Sacramento Kings who've lost what 13 in a row. I mean, Sabona sat out. Murray's had this ankle thing, so I think at least with him. I mean, he hasn't played in like a month, so that feels a little bit more real. Uh, Lavine didn't even play last night. So, you know, nobody even cares about like that specific jazz one feels gross and there's somebody that's going to go on TV and get super mad about it. It's like we could just go through and be like, why is this more palatable than this is to you? It's all the same [ __ ] with different packaging. So, let's stop freaking out about it.

31:08 All right. Well, speaking of um tanking and load management, I guess, is a good segue. Arizona upset by Kansas last night at Fog Allen. Pretty awesome game. Darren Peterson maybe the number one pick in the draft. Sits out again. I think it's his 11th game. Nine with a hamstring, one with the flu, which was last night, and an ankle. Um what do you I don't We haven't really talked about this on the show. I'd like to maybe do a guest situation in the future on this, but it is odd. He's like kind of like a kawaii of college, but he's very quiet about it. Bill Self doesn't say much about it. And yet, you know, I think right now he'd go one, even with all the question marks, I guess. Have you heard anything about it?

31:44 Like, what what do you think about the Darren Peterson situation at Kansas? I've watched him a bunch now because it's just, hey, welcome, welcome, Rillo, to college hoops. Um, I always love watching Kansas play. I love Bill Self. I love that gym. Can't believe I haven't been yet. especially with some of these games where you just go, why don't you just look at the schedule a couple weeks out and show up to Fog Allen and go to one of these games, especially now with the lighter schedule. Um, and I say it every year and then the year goes by.

32:10 Same thing with Kentucky. Like I I want to go to a Kentucky game at some point, but I've always kind of wanted to line it up with a football game, which I know doesn't make any sense, but I still have four SEC schools that I haven't been to, and Kucky's one of them for football. So, whatever. Maybe we'll wait it out, see how the new regime does. Uh, I don't know that it's really going to matter cuz I think he's that good. Um, I don't know what to make of it. It's really, really weird. I've read different stuff. I've talked to different people about it. I've heard a bunch of different theories on it cuz some people are like, "Look, if you go back to high school, like this was an issue with this leg thing, this cramping thing that he's had in the past. So, this isn't new. Now, is he shutting it down to cuz he knows he's going to go number one. And then does that say something about the evaluation of him if

32:58 you think it's close? Like if you thought it was really close with him and I I really think there's only two other guys that are in the conversation at this point with him. Um, does that break the tie or is there just no tie and it doesn't really matter? I don't know if it has everything to do with the NIL. I used to always think like when we were in this one and done phase, which we've been in for a really long time now. Not necessarily so much with all the compensation financially. That's like 5 years. But I always thought there was going to be a player like a lesser school that lit it up and then January was going to go, "Hey, I'm done." Like, I'm done. I'm going lottery. That was the whole goal. It doesn't really matter. I just don't think you're that susceptible to a careering injury in basketball to be honest. I just don't think it happens all that much. And if you were that good, like when could have

33:44 probably lost a finger. He probably could have blown out both Achilles and gone number one. So Peterson,

33:51 that's actually a great question. Like would nine fingers still still go number one?

33:57 Definitely left hand. What number of fingers would Webby have to have to go number two?

34:03 Uh I guess four total. Yeah, he's pretty long though. Yeah. Moves well. Yeah. The game doesn't have to score really to change the game. Impact. You see his net rating stuff.

34:15 Get the ball out there. He doesn't It doesn't matter how many fingers there are.

34:17 I need to be convinced by somebody that knows this world better than me that this is totally about who he is, how he's wired, and that he's he's screwing over Kansas with this thing. And I' I've not yet to hear that from enough people that I totally trust. I mean, I know that it's out there. I don't know if it's him going, "Hey, I've already made some." I mean, on top of everything else with the compensation part of it, you go, "How does that work?" Like, "Hey, this is how much we're going to pay you to come here. You're this huge recruit."

34:44 And then you just get to keep all that money and you're sitting there being like, "I want to play a little. I I don't want to play." But then why is he ever playing? Like, why wouldn't he just, if it's about injury and preserving himself, why wouldn't he just go like, "Hey, I'm I'm hurt hurt." or does it have to be hurt in a way that doesn't feel like it's any kind of injury that prevents him from starting the 26 27 team with whichever team drafts him? So, I don't have any answers for you other than I think it's as strange as you think it is and I don't know if it's just dirty business or if it's a kid that's actually just incredibly unlucky. Uh, and like I said, I I don't feel really fair speculating even though I know people are really sick of it. And then they beat Arizona on top of everything else without him.

35:26 It's kind of funny though too like because I've seen people say and you know you mentioned like Bill Self saying hey I feel sorry for Bill Self yada yada I I don't know that I feel sorry I mean this is this is kind of the game you play I think when you when you get these one and done guys and you know they're not actually that successful like how many one and done guys have won a title like true one and done guys have won titles in college that have like been the guy on the team it's like Carmelo and Anthony Davis am I missing anybody?

35:55 Like it's not like these guys like guarantee you any I mean I don't know I think they're a little bit over especially like the teams that win are the older teams right the teams that are more like you know the fifth year guys the transfers that go in like those guys those teams typically do better the one and done guys are a little bit more of a risk cuz one like you're not sure exactly how invested they're going to be and two you know they just don't know the sport as well as maybe a fifth year senior does or a fourth year guy does. So I I don't really feel bad for Bill Self unless he was like sold some sort of false bill of goods here.

36:24 Yeah, I understand. I don't I don't know that anybody's looking at being like, "Oh, poor self." Um I think if anything, maybe it's that BYU game that's in my head here, but there's like there's a lot of guys in this team that I like. Like Tiller's good. Council's good. Um Badunga, I forget if I'm getting that name right or wrong. Um he's a sophomore. He's been there a couple years, but watching that BYU game, I'm like, this team is is better than just Peterson. And obviously they've had to be, but Arizona was rolling and they get him at fog last night. A good one.

36:56 Well, interested to see how it unfolds. And we'll try to get a guest on this because I think I think it is, you know, the other thing I I was asking people at super week this uh speaking of the draft just selfishly like who is a better prospect, Boozer this year, Booger or Paulo at Duke? Because they're kind of similar build guys and I'm just like interested in that. I didn't get a clear answer. Maybe we got to ask our our guy Vini about that because I would I'd want to know like just not not obviously now what we've seen from Paulo but coming out you know of Duke both guys who is the better prospect. So maybe we'll do some draft stuff coming up.

37:25 Yeah we should. We should because it's going to be a really fun class and like I said I always feel guilty because I'm just always behind on the whole thing because if I was on it week in and week out I would have I would have already had Sam Bassini on a couple different times. Yeah.

37:36 On top of everything else Bassini's great in the NBA. He wrote a trade column that I still think is one of the best thing. It was like five trades that he'd like to see happen. And I couldn't believe that all five were totally reasonable and all made sense.

37:49 So that's really hard to do. Hey, we made it under 40 minutes for a good 10 minutes. Again, our NBA mailbag is NBA mailbagrgmail.com and check out the full podcast, the Ryan Rillo Show, Arsenal Sports.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "10 GOOD MINUTES: Pistons-Hornets (Brawl!), Harden-Mitchell Combo, Tanking & Darryn Peterson"?

Ryen Russillo (Host), Siruti (Guest).

What is "10 GOOD MINUTES: Pistons-Hornets (Brawl!), Harden-Mitchell Combo, Tanking & Darryn Peterson" about?

The discussion centers on a recent NBA game between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets, highlighting a dramatic showdown that included a significant player altercation and showcased Detroit's impressive performance, which ended Charlotte's nine-game winning streak. Key points include Detroit's rising status in the Eastern Conference and the standout play of their key players, despite some…

What is mentioned in this The Ryen Russillo Show episode?

102 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Ryan Rillo Show, NBA, Pistons, NBA, Cade Cunningham, Detroit. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "10 GOOD MINUTES: Pistons-Hornets (Brawl!), Harden-Mitchell Combo, Tanking & Darryn Peterson"?

The episode runs 38 min; the transcript is about 8,207 words in 71 timestamped sections.

More from The Ryen Russillo Show

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated February 11, 2026.