Part 2: Cleveland Survives, Knicks-Sixers, and Whaddya Do for Denver, Houston,  and Atlanta With Zach Lowe

Episode of The Bill Simmons Podcast · May 4, 2026 · 1 h 12 min

Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe react to Cleveland's Game 7 win over Toronto, preview the NBA's second round, and weigh offseason moves for eliminated teams.

Summary

In the second of two live Netflix episodes recorded on the same day, Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe reacted to the Cleveland Cavaliers' Game 7 victory over the Toronto Raptors in the 2026 NBA playoffs. Lowe said the seven-game series was not embarrassing for Cleveland given Toronto's physical, switch-heavy style, and he credited Jarrett Allen's aggressiveness. Simmons praised Max Strus and Allen and criticized the officiating. The hosts also discussed Jaylen Brown's Twitch comments about referees and an Inside the NBA 'Gone Fishing' graphic.

The two previewed the second round. Both leaned slightly toward Cleveland over Detroit. Lowe said Minnesota could extend or even win its series against San Antonio. They saw little chance for the Lakers against Oklahoma City without Luka Dončić. Both picked the Knicks over the 76ers, and Simmons argued that the Eastern Conference had opened up for New York. Lowe predicted that the Thunder and Spurs would remain dominant for years.

In a 'what do you do' segment on offseason plans, the hosts discussed Toronto's expensive contracts and Scottie Barnes's rise. Lowe said no one had denied that Kevin Durant was behind the burner-account texts described in an Athletic story on the Rockets. They also covered Atlanta's cap flexibility, Portland's owner and roster, Houston's options, and Brooklyn as a possible aggressive buyer. Simmons argued Denver should stand pat and re-sign Peyton Watson, while Lowe said Aaron Gordon's availability could no longer be relied on. Simmons said he had dropped Nikola Jokić two spots in his all-time pyramid. The episode closed with Lowe describing his cameo on the Apple TV series Your Friends & Neighbors.

Chapters

  1. 1:34

    Cavaliers survive Raptors in Game 7

    Simmons and Lowe assess Cleveland's Game 7 win, including Toronto's injuries, James Harden's performance, Jarrett Allen and Max Strus, and the officiating.

  2. 9:40

    Jaylen Brown's Twitch stream and Gone Fishing

    The hosts discuss Jaylen Brown's complaints about referees on a stream and Inside the NBA's Celtics 'Gone Fishing' graphic featuring Simmons.

  3. 11:38

    Cavaliers–Pistons preview

    Both hosts lean slightly toward Cleveland in a physical second-round matchup with Detroit and discuss possible defensive assignments.

  4. 14:56

    LeBron's future and scoring records stat

    The hosts speculate on LeBron James's next team, then enjoy a Twitter list of NBA record holders for each point total.

  5. 19:25

    What to do with Toronto

    Lowe and Simmons weigh the Raptors' costly contracts, the Jakob Poeltl extension, and Scottie Barnes's leap.

  6. 25:34

    Durant trade idea and Rockets burner story

    Simmons floats Brandon Ingram for Kevin Durant, and Lowe notes that no one has denied Durant was behind the burner texts.

  7. Linked moment · 28:43Skip to 28:43 using a listen link in the info box.

    28:43

    Western Conference second-round previews

    The hosts dismiss the Lakers' chances against Oklahoma City and warn against underestimating Minnesota against San Antonio.

  8. 35:39

    Pistons–Cavs odds and Knicks–Sixers preview

    The hosts review series odds, pick the Knicks over Philadelphia, and discuss storylines involving Embiid, Towns, Brunson, Maxey and Bridges.

  9. 44:25

    Hawks and Trail Blazers offseason

    The hosts discuss Atlanta's cap space and lottery pick, and Portland's roster, contracts and criticized owner.

  10. 51:03

    Rockets and Nets options

    The hosts outline Houston's three possible paths and consider Brooklyn as a possible aggressive summer buyer.

  11. 54:32

    Nuggets offseason and Jokić's playoff exit

    Simmons argues Denver should stand pat, Lowe discusses Gordon's durability and Watson, and Simmons moves Jokić down his pyramid.

  12. 1:04:29

    Lowe's Your Friends & Neighbors cameo

    Lowe describes appearing in a party scene on the Apple TV series before the hosts sign off.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe argues it was not embarrassing for Cleveland to need seven games because Toronto is very difficult to play against.

    “I don't think it's embarrassing. Toronto is a pain in the ass to play against”

    Listen from 4:05 · Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Bill SimmonsPartly true

    Simmons tentatively picks Cleveland to beat Detroit in six games while expressing low confidence.

    “But my lean would be Cleveland in six. And I don't feel good about it”

    Listen from 12:58 · Detroit Pistons

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe says the Raptors' large contracts have become negative assets that would require attaching sweeteners to move.

    “I think all of those guys have now reached the territory of I have to attach something to get off of them”

    Listen from 20:43 · Toronto Raptors

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons argues the Jakob Poeltl extension hampers Toronto's ability to construct a Giannis trade package.

    “The problem is that Purtle extension kills them for a Giannis thing”

    Listen from 22:33 · Giannis Antetokounmpo trade speculation

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons judges Scottie Barnes to be a championship team's second-best player rather than its best.

    “I am not sure he could be the best guy on a championship game, but he can definitely be the second best guy”

    Listen from 23:53 · Toronto Raptors

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe says that because no one has denied it, the evidence suggests Kevin Durant was behind the burner-account texts described in The Athletic's Rockets story.

    “And no one on the record, off the record, privately, publicly has come out and said, no, no, it actually wasn't Kevin Durant”

    Listen from 27:45 · Houston Rockets

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe thinks the Spurs will probably win but that Minnesota could make it a long series or even win it.

    “But I think Minnesota can make it a long series, and I think they could win the series”

    Listen from 33:48 · Minnesota Timberwolves

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons argues this is the Knicks' best chance to win the East because Detroit and Cleveland look vulnerable and Boston is out.

    “This is the best chance I think they're ever going to have in the East to win this year, right now, next four weeks”

    Listen from 41:40 · New York Knicks

  • Bill SimmonsCame true

    Simmons picks the Knicks to beat the 76ers in the second round.

    “I still think the Knicks are going to win. I would pick the Knicks”

    Listen from 43:30 · Philadelphia 76ers

  • Zach LowePartly true

    Lowe also picks the Knicks, leaning toward New York in seven games.

    “I will also pick the Knicks. I would lean Knicks in seven right now”

    Listen from 43:42 · New York Knicks

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons suggests Brooklyn could make dramatic moves this summer because of its cap space and pick situation.

    “I think we have to start really thinking about Brooklyn as a team that might do some dramatic stuff this summer”

    Listen from 51:43 · Brooklyn Nets

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons argues Denver should not make changes, attributing its first-round loss to bad luck and injuries.

    “I'm doing nothing. I just had bad luck in a playoff series”

    Listen from 55:02 · Denver Nuggets

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe says Denver must build its roster assuming Aaron Gordon will be unreliable availability-wise for the rest of his career.

    “I just think you have to assume Aaron Gordon is going to be hit or miss availability wise for the rest of his career”

    Listen from 56:05 · Denver Nuggets

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe rejects the idea that Jokić has declined as a playoff player, saying he still has plenty of prime left.

    “I'm not going there. I think he still has plenty of time left in his prime”

    Listen from 1:01:43 · Denver Nuggets

  • Bill Simmons

    Simmons says he now ranks Jokić 14th in his all-time pyramid, just ahead of Moses Malone and below Hakeem Olajuwon and Shaquille O'Neal.

    “I think he's right there with Moses. And I think you could, I have him, I have Joker 14, Moses 15. You could talk me into flipping it”

    Listen from 1:02:58 · Denver Nuggets

  • Zach LowePrediction · due Apr 2031

    Lowe predicts that, barring catastrophic injury, the Thunder and Spurs will be 58-plus-win teams for the next five years.

    “it just seems unlikely that they are going to be anything but like 58 plus win teams for the next five years”

    Listen from 1:04:19 · Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Zach Lowe

    Lowe says he made a cameo in a party scene on season two, episode five of Your Friends & Neighbors.

    “I was on Your Friends and Neighbors, season two, episode five”

    Listen from 1:05:08 · Your Friends & Neighbors

People

In the conversation

  • Bill SimmonsSportswriter and founder of The Ringer, host of The Bill Simmons Podcast
  • Zach LoweRinger NBA analyst referenced repeatedly

Discussed

Topics

More from The Bill Simmons Podcast

From the publisher

Join The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe LIVE on Netflix as they react to the Cavs defeating the Raptors in Game 7 to move on to the conference semifinals (1:19). Then, they preview the Round 2 matchups and try to figure out what some eliminated teams should do in the offseason (28:49). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Zach Lowe Producers: Chia Hao Tat, Eduardo Ocampo, and Chris Wohlers The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit https://fanduel.com/playwithaplan to learn more about the resources and helplines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 27, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Basketball·Sports News