# NBA Playoffs Expose the Truth: Ric Bucher on Celtics Collapse, Anthony Edwards’ Maturity, Wemby’s Rise & Why the Lakers Are Done

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/on-the-ball-with-ric-bucher-711886/nba-playoffs-expose-the-truth-ric-bucher-on-celtics-collapse-anthony-edwards-maturity-wemby-s-rise-why-the-lakers-are-done
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/on-the-ball-with-ric-bucher-711886/nba-playoffs-expose-the-truth-ric-bucher-on-celtics-collapse-anthony-edwards-maturity-wemby-s-rise-why-the-lakers-are-done.md
Podcast: [On The Ball with Ric Bucher](https://stenobird.com/podcast/on-the-ball-with-ric-bucher-711886)
Published: 2026-05-07T07:51:56+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/bucher-and-friends/episodes/nba-playoffs-expose-the-truth-ric-bucher-on-celtics-collapse
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/f66edc52-c9ac-4e17-bf90-6f1121579b75/e/69fc449c13990e6fae5ae3e9/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/on-the-ball-with-ric-bucher-711886/episodes/nba-playoffs-expose-the-truth-ric-bucher-on-celtics-collapse-anthony-edwards-maturity-wemby-s-rise-why-the-lakers-are-done
Duration seconds: 2309

## Resource

Ric Bucher breaks down why the NBA playoffs are basketball’s ultimate truth serum — exposing flaws, habits, maturity and roster weaknesses that the regular season can hide. Ric dives deep into the shocking Celtics collapse against the 76ers, why Joe Mazzulla actually overachieved with Boston’s roster, and how Philadelphia finally found the formula to weaponize Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. Ric also examines Cade Cunningham’s playoff emergence, Anthony Edwards’ lingering maturity issues, Victor Wembanyama’s extraordinary composure, and why the Spurs-Timberwolves series may come down to discipline versus size. Plus: why Luka Doncic is almost certainly done for the postseason and why the Lakers’ hopes against the Thunder are finished regardless. Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro + Ric’s new book “Coachable” 01:41 Why playoff basketball reveals the truth about teams 03:29 Celtics collapse: why Joe Mazzulla is NOT to blame 04:45 Boston’s overachieving roster explained 08:00 Cade Cunningham’s playoff leap and postseason realities 09:40 How Paul George neutralized Jaylen Brown 11:14 Boston’s dangerous addiction to 3-point shooting 12:45 Why Embiid and Paul George finally worked together 15:13 Celtics center rotation confusion: Garza, Vucevic & Kata 16:15 Why playoff trash talk matters 17:05 Knicks vs. Sixers matchup problems 19:20 Karl-Anthony Towns’ smartest basketball yet 21:55 Spurs vs. Timberwolves: size vs. discipline 24:35 Wembanyama’s response after Game 1 struggles 25:08 Anthony Edwards and Minnesota’s maturity problem 27:15 Wemby’s professionalism vs. Embiid’s defensiveness 29:50 Ant’s late-game mistakes and accountability 31:55 Why Ric still trusts San Antonio over Minnesota 32:30 Luka Doncic’s injury timeline means Lakers are finished 34:35 Cavaliers-Piston…

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