Playoff Scenarios and Defensive Prowess

Zach and ESPN's Andrew Lopez discuss the red-hot Pelicans, Zion's play, Brandon Ingram's unheralded season, and how the Pelicans stack up against each of the West's elite. Then ESPN's Kevin Pelton joins to pick All-Defensive teams, talk Heat, Suns, Magic and Jamahl Mosley's extension, the recent decline in scoring and free throws, Victor Wembanyama, and much more. 

Pels are a mystery box and a sleeping giant (6:26)

Zion's improved defense and rebounding (10:57)

Herb Jones has a case for All-Defense and Most Improved (13:28)

The Pelicans' shooting luck defensively (20:13)

Not enough talk about Brandon Ingram (27:08)

How the Pels match up against other Western Conference playoff teams (33:30)

Pelton (40:15)

Middle of the East (57:46)

2nd tier All-Defense guys (1:02:47)

Thunder in line for the top seed in the West (1:09:14)

Wembanyama's All-Defense case (1:15:27)

Scoring is down since the All-Star break (1:30:20)

Temperature check on the Suns (1:39:46)

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices