Windy’s Wild Ride: Why His Latest Takes on the Lakers and Celtics Are Spot On
Brian Windhorst has been at this a long time. Over 15 years, in fact, covering the NBA. And his "Hoop Collective" podcast, week in and week out, is still where you go for the kind of granular detail and whispered intel you just don't get anywhere else. He’s not always right, but he’s always got something interesting to say, and his latest episodes have been a masterclass in reading the tea leaves.
The Lakers' Looming Disaster
Look, the Lakers are a mess. We all know it. But Windy laid out just how deep that mess goes in his May 20th episode, talking about the fallout from their first-round exit to the Nuggets. Los Angeles got swept in the Western Conference Finals in 2023, then lost 4-1 this year. That’s nine straight losses to Denver in the playoffs. LeBron James, who put up 27.8 points, 8.8 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game this past season, is staring down 40 years old.
Windhorst mentioned the "Bronny clause" in James' contract, suggesting it's a very real factor in his free agency. Thing is, if James opts out of his $51.4 million player option, the Lakers are in a bind. They’re already tight against the cap, and without a clear path to a third star, they're stuck. The idea that they can just run it back with a slightly tweaked roster and expect different results against a deep Western Conference is wishful thinking. They finished seventh in the West, needing the Play-In tournament to even make the playoffs. That's not a championship contender, no matter how many times Darvin Ham said it.
Boston's Blueprint for Banner 18
Now, let's talk about the Celtics. Windy's been pretty consistent on Boston all season, and he's been proven right. On the May 28th episode, he highlighted the sheer dominance of this Celtics squad. They finished the regular season 64-18, a full seven games ahead of the second-place Knicks. Jayson Tatum averaged 26.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per game in the playoffs. Jaylen Brown, frankly, has been a revelation, especially defensively.
The criticism about their "soft" schedule in the Eastern Conference playoffs? It's fair, to a point. They took care of business against Miami (4-1), Cleveland (4-1), and Indiana (4-0). But let's be real, the Pacers were without Tyrese Haliburton for the final two games. Still, the Celtics have depth, with Kristaps Porzingis returning and Derrick White playing out of his mind. They’ve got the best defense in the league, allowing just 109.2 points per 100 possessions. This isn't just a regular-season juggernaut; they’re built for the postseason.
Kyrie's Redemption Arc?
Here's my hot take: Kyrie Irving, the same guy who stomped on the Celtics logo, is going to be the biggest story of the NBA Finals. Windhorst has talked about Irving's maturity, and you can see it in Dallas. He’s been a calm, steadying force alongside Luka Doncic. Irving put up 27.0 points per game against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, shooting 51.4% from the field. He’s playing with a chip on his shoulder, and against his old team, with all the history, he’s going to be absolutely unleashed. Forget the booing, forget the past. This is his moment to prove he's a winner, and he will.
My bold prediction? The Celtics win the NBA Finals in six games, but Kyrie Irving wins Finals MVP.