Craig welcomes The Athletic's senior writer David Aldridge to discuss the recent spate of NBA coaching changes, including the Denver Nuggets' dismissal of head coach Michael Malone just before the playoffs. They delve into the reasons behind these late-season firings and their implications for team dynamics. The conversation also touches on Luka Dončić's emotional return to Dallas as a Los Angeles Laker, where he scored 45 points against his former team. Finally, they assess the competitiveness of the upcoming Western Conference playoffs, debating whether the Oklahoma City Thunder's impressive regular season positions them as favorites or if other teams, like the Lakers or Warriors, could make significant runs.