Open Floor: SI's NBA Show
652 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 2.3K ratingsFrom the NBA draft to the playoffs and back again, Open Floor takes you on a ride across the NBA standings, laying out the latest news and rumors along the way and leaving no basketball conspiracy theory stone left unturned. Join hosts Chris Herring and Rohan Nadkarni as they let their imaginations run free up and down the court and around the world. Welcome to the Open Floor Globe.
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Episodes
Recapping All-Star Weekend with 20 burning questions
March 08, 2021 20:13 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina recap the 2021 NBA All-Star Weekend by answering 20 burning questions. Does the Skills Challenge need to be fixed or dumped? Was Stephen Curry's Three-Point Contest title the highlight of the night? What grade did the Slam Dunk Contest deserve? Did Anfernee Simons deserve to win? Was the Dunk Contest's new final round format a success? How big of a disaster was the contact tracing news about Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons? What were the three most memorable moments...
Officiating complaints, small-market bias, All-Star preview
March 04, 2021 21:31 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina dig into the Utah Jazz's extended criticism of the officiating during their loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. Are the refs out to get the Jazz? Do their complaints about the officiating reflect frustration over the skepticism they face over their playoff chances? Do these comments deserve substantial fines and will they come back to haunt Utah? From there, Ben and Michael name their first-half MVPs, discuss Lloyd Pierce's firing and conclude that the ...
The Open Floor's NBA All-Star Mock Draft
March 01, 2021 22:41 - 1 hour - 58.5 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina pick up sides for Sunday's NBA All-Star Game. Ben serves as Kevin Durant and Michael serves as LeBron James, and they go through selecting their starting lineups and all-star reserves. Should LeBron and KD draft the best overall players or the most entertaining players? Does it make sense to load up a team with two-way talent or creative ball-handlers? Is there enough room for Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, James Harden and Damian Lillard on the same roster? How muc...
Lagging Lakers, The Jazz machine, All-Star snubs
February 25, 2021 21:27 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with a rundown of their biggest beefs with the 2021 NBA All-Star selections. Was Khris Middleton robbed? Was Devin Booker a worthy injury replacement for Anthony Davis? What about Bam Adebayo? Did the coaches "Do it for the Gram" with this year's selections? From there, they shift to a discussion of the Utah Jazz's blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. On a 1-10 scale, how likely are the Jazz to win the title? How should the Lakers respond i...
Bonus episode with Haley O'Shaughnessy: All-Star snubs, Nets makeover, NBAstrology
February 25, 2021 00:51 - 59 minutes - 54.5 MBBen Golliver welcomes special guest Haley O'Shaughnessy of Blue Wire Podcasts for a bonus episode. Ben and Haley open with a discussion of her new podcast, "Spinsters," and then break down the biggest All-Star snubs. How would they handle being snubbed publicly? Which players got the short end of the stick this year? What does Khris Middleton have to do to get some respect? From there, Ben and Haley shift gears to brainstorm ways to help the Brooklyn Nets win over new fans. Do the Nets need ...
Rethinking the Nets, Fixing the Celtics, Firing Ryan Saunders
February 22, 2021 21:04 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina check in with the Brooklyn Nets, who are on a six-game winning streak and have started to win over some skeptics, including one Open Floor Globe member. After wins over the Lakers and Clippers, is Michael still sure that Brooklyn's defense will be a fatal flaw? Is it possible for James Harden to get appropriate credit for his recent work given his ugly exit from Houston? From there, they shift gears to the .500 Boston Celtics and their catastrophic collapse agai...
The great NBA All-Star roster debates
February 18, 2021 20:12 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with the news that the NBA has officially announced its All-Star Game for Atlanta on March 7. From there, they break down the biggest roster debates for both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Should James Harden start over Bradley Beal? Julius Randle or Domantas Sabonis? Zach LaVine or Ben Simmons? Is there room for Trae Young? Should Jerami Grant, Nikola Vucevic and Gordon Hayward all get snubbed? In the West, should Anthony Davis be included despite hi...
Anthony Davis's injury tests Lakers, Boston's woes, Brooklyn rises
February 15, 2021 23:08 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of Anthony Davis's Achilles' strain and why it represents the first major test of the Los Angeles Lakers' title defense? Should the Lakers take it extra slow with Davis's return? Should they ramp down LeBron James's workload? How do they make up for Davis's absence in the short term? Is it too soon for the defending champions to worry about the West standings and the race for the top seed? From there, Ben and Michael dig in deep ...
National Anthem outcry, LaMelo Ball mania, dream All-Star event fields
February 11, 2021 20:30 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open by wading into the culture wars prompted by the Dallas Mavericks' decision not to play the national anthem before games. Should the anthem be played before sporting events? Why did the NBA step in to mandate that all teams play the anthem? Has the NBA reversed course on social issues since the bubble? From there, the guys dig into the growing LaMelo Ball hype. Should the Timberwolves and Warriors regret passing on him? Has Ball already changed the Hornets' ...
All-Star anger, picking the starters, De'Aaron Fox's rise
February 09, 2021 15:38 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open by cataloguing the hurt feelings from superstars over the NBA's All-Star Game plans. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounpo, James Harden and Kevin Durant have all expressed their frustrations with the NBA's All-Star plans or health protocols since Thursday. How should NBA Commissioner Adam Silver respond to this outpouring of angst and what are his options? From there, Ben and Michael go through the ballot to make their All-Star starter selectio...
All-Star Game plans & voting returns, contender clash
February 04, 2021 20:20 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing the 2021 NBA All-Star Game plans, which are quickly taking shape. Should the NBA even bother with the All-Star Game? What, exactly, are the added risks, and how can the NBA manage them? If they hold an All-Star Game, should they aim for a Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest too? What would those look like in a best-case scenario? From there, Ben and Michael dig into the first round of All-Star ballot returns. Kevin Durant was the leading...
The NBA's biggest early-season regrets
February 02, 2021 00:15 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina look back on the first quarter of the NBA season to investigate which teams are having the biggest regrets after six weeks of basketball. Would the Boston Celtics have found a way to keep Gordon Hayward? Would any team trade for Russell Westbrook? How should the Washington Wizards wiggle out of their current predicament with Bradley Beal? Did the Brooklyn Nets make the right hire with Steve Nash? Should the Detroit Pistons have scrapped their entire strategy? Di...
First-quarter MVP, Joel Embiid's Sixers, the LeBron James Award
January 28, 2021 20:22 - 1 hour - 72 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with a remembrance of NBA TV's Sekou Smith, a pioneer in the NBA podcasting world and a charismatic, beloved member of the basketball community. Then, the guys discuss Philadelphia's signature win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Does this mean the Sixers are for real? Where does Joel Embiid rank in the MVP conversation? Who are the other top candidates? Will LeBron James wind up winning on the power of his "lifetime achievement" narrative? If the NBA named an ...
Shaq questions Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving fake trades
January 25, 2021 20:52 - 1 hour - 56.2 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with a look back at Shaquille O'Neal's controversial post-game interview of Donovan Mitchell on TNT. What did Shaq get right and what did he get wrong in his dismissal of Mitchell? What's the real story about Mitchell and the surging Jazz? Should "Inside The NBA" alter its approach or should other media avenues step up in the analysis department? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's uneven opening month, the Milwaukee B...
CJ McCollum's injury, Zion Williamson's next steps, Steve Nash's learning curve
January 21, 2021 19:58 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with a discussion of the Portland Trail Blazers' injury woes. What was driving CJ McCollum's early season success and how will his injury impact Portland's playoff outlook? From there, the guys shift to a look at the struggling New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson's second season. Williamson has been dominant in the paint, but does he need to expand his spheres of influence? Should Stan Van Gundy consider a lineup change? After detailing the Utah Jazz's...
Ten questions about Kevin Durant, James Harden & the new-look Nets
January 19, 2021 21:15 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina dig in deep on James Harden's first two games with the new-look Brooklyn Nets. Why is Harden on his best behavior and will it last? Do Kevin Durant and Harden share a telekinetic combination, and how does their partnership stack up to past duos involving Durant and Harden? Can Harden actually repair his reputation with casual fans or is that a lost cause? Which role players benefit the most from Harden's arrival? How aggressively should Brooklyn seek trades invo...
James Harden blockbuster trade: Winners and Losers
January 14, 2021 01:58 - 1 hour - 58.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina dig into all aspects of the Brooklyn Nets' blockbuster trade for Houston Rockets superstar James Harden. How happy is Ben after his November vision for Brooklyn's Big 3 came true? Are NBA fans winners because the Rockets saga is over? Are the Nets now the clear-cut favorites in the East? Did they overpay? Will Kyrie Irving be okay with playing third fiddle? Was this the trade that Kevin Durant needed? Did the 76ers miss their shot? What does Harden's successful ...
COVID woes mount, Stephen Curry's magnetism, Clippers' highs & lows
January 11, 2021 22:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the NBA's rise in positive tests, contact tracing absences, and postponed games. How close is the NBA to pushing pause on the season? How might the league respond to tighten up its protocols to ensure games can continue? Do the absences devalue the product? From there, Ben and Michael break down both sides of an entertaining game between the Warriors and Clippers. Has Stephen Curry proven Michael right by making Golden State the NBA's most entertaining t...
NBA protests Jacob Blake ruling & Capitol storming
January 07, 2021 20:33 - 53 minutes - 49 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of the various protests that swept the NBA on Wednesday night in response to a lack of charges in the Jacob Blake shooting and the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington. Was it surprising that all games went on as planned? What are the next steps for NBA protests after the bubble shutdown? What role did the NBA's successful voting rights advocacy in Georgia play in the league's reaction to this week's events? From there,...
All angles on Stephen Curry's 62-point explosion
January 04, 2021 21:37 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open by basking in the glow of Stephen Curry's 62-point explosion. Did Curry actually have something to prove? Were any of the recent criticisms warranted? Where does Golden State go from here? Is Curry bound to live out a "Super-Dirk" existence as he progresses through his 30s? From there, Ben and Michael discuss Jayson Tatum's game-winner, Blake Griffin's decline, Brooklyn's latest late-game mishap, and Kawhi Leonard's weekend struggles. Learn more about you...
NBA New Year's Resolutions
December 31, 2020 21:18 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021 by offering 10 New Year's Resolutions to NBA players, teams, and commentators. Should Steve Nash exert himself more late in games? Should the Sixers trade Ben Simmons and three first-round picks for James Harden? Should Luka Doncic build a world-class gym at his home? Should the Grizzlies tank? Should Scott Brooks have a word with the Wizards' broadcast crew? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet...
NBA opening week chaos; First-time All-Star watch
December 28, 2020 20:59 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina pick up the pieces after a chaotic opening week by trying to spot trends. Are the Nets on track for the Finals or set to come back to earth? Are the Warriors dead on arrival or poised for a bounce back? How does Kevin Durant's decision to leave the Warriors look 18 months later? Is Ja Morant making the leap in front of our eyes? From there, Ben and Michael shift to examining which players have the best shot to earn their first All-Star selections in 2021. Lea...
10 teams, 10 takes on NBA opening week
December 24, 2020 22:52 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina wrap up the opening week of NBA action with takes on 10 different teams. Did the NBA handle the latest James Harden controversy properly? What did it feel like inside the Staples Center for the Lakers' opening night? Does Philly have enough talent to climb in the East standings? Was Jayson Tatum's banked three-pointer the greatest moment of Michael's life? Have the Pelicans returned with a happier vibe? Are the Jazz ready to lead the NBA in three-point attempts?...
Coaches on the hot seat; Top 100 of 2021 debates
December 21, 2020 20:38 - 1 hour - 61.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina gear up for opening week with a breakdown of the new extensions given to Rudy Gobert and Kyle Kuzma. From there, they shift into a conversation about NBA coaches on the hot seat? What does Mike Budenholzer need to do to keep his job in Milwaukee? Are Lloyd Pierce and Ryan Saunders facing new pressure? Can Washington's Scott Brooks earn a new contract in his lame duck year? They close with three debates to tease Ben's upcoming Top 100 Players of 2021 rankings lis...
Giannis Antetokounmpo's supermax & NBA awards debates
December 17, 2020 21:35 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with a big announcement: SI has formed a slack channel for all Open Floor Globe members to use during the upcoming NBA season. Ben and Michael will be popping in there from time to time, so check out http://www.si.com/openfloorglobe. From there, Ben and Michael dig into Giannis Antetokounmpo's supermax extension. Did Giannis settle? Do the Bucks have a title path? What are the possible downsides in Milwaukee over the next few years? Then, the guys shift int...
Pina's Postseason Picks: Handicapping playoff bubble races
December 14, 2020 22:02 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open Monday's episode with big breaking news about Michael's exciting new career move. Then, the guys shift into a discussion of the playoff bubble races in both conferences. Who does Michael predict will be the last three teams to make the playoffs in both conferences? Who will be the first three teams to miss the playoffs? In the West, What's Golden State's ceiling? Can Dallas win a series? Does Minnesota inspire optimism? Is Zion Williamson headed for a monst...
Handling James Harden's holdout, judging Paul George's extension
December 11, 2020 00:46 - 1 hour - 62 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open by surveying the latest drama surrounding James Harden and the Houston Rockets. What are the Rockets' options as they enter the season? Can they realistically try to patch things up? Should teams be scared off by Harden's recent antics? What will happen to Harden's trade value if they wait to move him? From there, they shift gears to react to the breaking news that Paul George re-signed a five-year extension with the Los Angeles Clippers. What will this mea...
Debating the 2021 NBA Entertainment Value Rankings
December 07, 2020 21:51 - 1 hour - 66.5 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina preview the upcoming season with an annual staple: Ben's 2021 Entertainment Value Rankings. Which teams will be must-see TV and which ones will be totally unwatchable? Michael lists off his biggest beefs with Ben's list, prompting arguments over the Mavericks, Warriors, Bucks, Pelicans, Hawks, Rockets and more. Is Luka Doncic getting too much hype? Are people sleeping on Zion Williamson? Will the Clippers bounce back or fall flat? Has the ship sailed in Houston?...
Russell Westbrook traded for John Wall, LeBron James & Anthony Davis re-sign
December 03, 2020 21:03 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina explore all angles of the Russell Westbrook for John Wall trade between the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards. Who won the deal? Do Wall and James Harden fit, or will Harden be traded next? Will Washington make the playoffs? How will Westbrook impact Washington's desire to keep Bradley Beal? From there, the guys shift gears to discussing the Lakers' ability to re-sign LeBron James and Anthony Davis to longer-than-expected contracts. Did the pandemic play a ...
Kevin Durant's comeback, East landscape, Atlanta's spending spree
November 30, 2020 22:23 - 1 hour - 70 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina ramp up the hype for Kevin Durant's long-awaited comeback with the Brooklyn Nets. What's KD's best-case scenario this year? How does he stack up against the best players in the East? Do the new-look Nets have the best projected starting lineup and roster depth on paper? Which factors might prevent Brooklyn from becoming a certified title contender? From there, Ben and Michael offer their assessments of Atlanta's big off-season investments in Danilo Gallinari, Bo...
John Wall trade request, shaky Clippers & holiday mailbag
November 27, 2020 17:16 - 1 hour - 64.6 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina celebrate the holiday weekend by opening the mailbag to the Open Floor Globe. What's up with the Clippers, is Serge Ibaka really the answer, and do they still need a point guard? How should the Wizards respond to John Wall's desire to leave Washington? Will Gordon Hayward emerge as a future trade chip for the Hornets? Could Thunder GM Sam Presti ever bundle all his assets together and trade for a franchise-level superstar? Should the Pelicans be mentioned more o...
NBA free agency winners and losers
November 23, 2020 22:05 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina sort through the winners and losers from the opening weekend of the NBA free agency period. Did the Lakers tighten their hold on the 2021 title chase? How will Giannis Antetokounmpo respond to the Bucks' missteps? Why did Michael Jordan give $120 million to Gordon Hayward? Has Rich Paul established himself as one of the league's ultimate power-brokers? Can the entire world agree that it's great news Fred VanVleet re-signed with the Raptors? Which players landed ...
2020 NBA Draft Winners and Losers
November 19, 2020 20:28 - 1 hour - 58.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina run through the winners and losers of the 2020 NBA Draft. How crushing of a blow is Klay Thompson's Achilles injury to the Warriors? Did LaMelo Ball find a good home in Charlotte? What about Killian Hayes in Detroit? Could the Minnesota Timberwolves have done better? Did Daryl Morey ace his first test in Philadelphia? What was Phoenix doing? Are the new Knicks the same as the old Knicks? Did we all lose because there weren't any lottery trades? Learn more abou...
Chris Paul traded, James Harden rumors, top 5 draft projections
November 16, 2020 22:10 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open by breaking down the Suns' splashy move for Chris Paul. Why did Phoenix decide to pull the trigger, and could this move backfire? Why is OKC so aggressively tearing things down after an awesome season? From there, the guys shift gears to discuss the bubbling James Harden trade rumors. How good would the Nets be if they landed Harden? What motivation does Houston have to do a deal now rather than waiting? Ben and Michael close by looking at which players wou...
Matchmaking with LaMelo Ball, Rusell Westbrook, Chris Paul & James Harden
November 12, 2020 22:39 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina gobble up the latest round of rumors before the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency period and try to find the best landing spots for the biggest names. Is LaMelo Ball worth the No. 1 pick and which team should draft him? Does he fit at all in Minnesota? What type of teams can afford to trade for Russell Westbrook and his massive contract? Does Westbrook need to relocate to the weaker Eastern Conference and save a dead-end franchise? Are Chris Paul and the Suns a...
Matchmaking with LaMelo Ball, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul & James Harden
November 12, 2020 22:39 - 1 hourBen Golliver and Michael Pina gobble up the latest round of rumors before the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency period and try to find the best landing spots for the biggest names. Is LaMelo Ball worth the No. 1 pick and which team should draft him? Does he fit at all in Minnesota? What type of teams can afford to trade for Russell Westbrook and his massive contract? Does Westbrook need to relocate to the weaker Eastern Conference and save a dead-end franchise? Are Chris Paul and the Suns a ...
NBA election reaction; Minnesota, Golden State & major Draft decisions
November 09, 2020 23:47 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina round up NBA player reaction to the presidential election. Did the players' More Than a Vote campaign make a difference in key battleground states? What lessons should the players take from their voting advocacy experience? Then, Ben and Michael shift to a discussion of the schedule agreement between the owners and players that will launch next season on Dec. 22. Which of the eight non-bubble teams are they most and least excited to watch? The guys close with a ...
Jrue Holiday fake trades; NBA Draft pressure check
November 05, 2020 21:26 - 1 hour - 57.4 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing a recent report that New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is on the trading block. Which types of teams should be interested in acquiring him and how much trade value does he really have given his age and contract? Then, Michael designs his three favorite fake trades involving Holiday and Ben grades them. The guys pivot to discuss which other players they most want to see traded before the start of the upcoming season, including a number of...
The NBA needs a labor deal, Kevin Durant's comeback
November 02, 2020 21:06 - 1 hour - 60.2 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with the latest on the 2020-21 negotiations between the NBA owners and players. Can the two sides afford not to reach a deal given the massive projected losses? How would the public react if this dragged on, and what impact would that have on their long-term business? How is the latest coronavirus spike impacting the league's thinking? Then, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss the Brooklyn Nets' new coaching staff and what's next for Kevin Durant. Is he ...
Will Daryl Morey save the Sixers?
October 29, 2020 19:19 - 1 hour - 57.6 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina dive headfirst into Daryl Morey's expected hiring as president of the Philadelphia 76ers. Will Morey trade Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid? How will the new power dynamic work with ownership and Doc Rivers? Should Morey try to retool the roster during the rushed free agency period or evaluate the roster for a year? Will the Sixers climb back into the East's top tier with a new front office and coach? From there, Ben and Michael break down the Utah Jazz's sale and the...
The NBA's 2020-21 schedule plans: pros & cons
October 26, 2020 20:29 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina lay out the good, the bad and the ugly of the NBA's latest proposals for the 2020-21 season. Why is the league now eyeing a pre-Christmas start date? Why cut games out of the schedule? What do these proposed changes mean for plans to bring fans back into stands? Why does the NBA want to get its calendar back on track so badly? Will the players be ready after such a short off-season? Would Ben and Michael feel comfortable attending games as fans this season? Shou...
Zion Williamson gets a new coach
October 22, 2020 21:31 - 1 hour - 59 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina weigh all sides of the New Orleans Pelicans' decision to hire Stan Van Gundy as their new coach. Was this all about Zion Williamson? What's Van Gundy's top task as he takes over? From there, Ben and Michael discuss the Indiana Pacers' hiring of Nate Bjorkgren and whether it signals the start of a rebuild. The episode closes with questions from the Open Floor Globe on the Gasol brothers, the success of the preps-to-pros generation and the joy that Boston has deli...
Daryl Morey's complex legacy in Houston
October 19, 2020 21:04 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina take an extended look back at Daryl Morey's 13-year run as Houston Rockets general manager. Where does Morey rank as an executive? Which criticisms of Morey were fair and which were off-base? What's his legacy in Houston and what's his ideal landing spot in the future? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss the Clippers' hiring of Tyronn Lue as their coach before reliving their bubble favorites. They close by diving into the scientific joy of symbios...
Ranking the Lakers vs. the last 10 title teams & updating the GOAT debate
October 15, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 59.5 MBWith the NBA bubble officially wrapped, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina settle into the offseason. They start by giving Lakers fans the opportunity to gloat after their title and then rank how the 2020 Lakers stack up against the last 10 NBA champions. From there, they try to set the early field of contenders for the 2021 title chase and debate who should be viewed as the best player in basketball heading into next season. They wrap with an updated look at the GOAT discussion pitting LeBron Ja...
LeBron James & the Lakers win the bubble title
October 12, 2020 17:51 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the end of the NBA bubble, which saw the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat in six games to claim their 17th championship. Ben offers a behind-the-scenes look at LeBron James's title celebration and then they debate where this title ranks among James's four rings. From there, Ben and Michael look back on the Finals and the overall bubble experience. What happened to the Heat in Game 6 and will they be back next year? What prevented this year's Lakers...
The AD adjustment; 3-1 psychology
October 08, 2020 18:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina dig back into the NBA Finals, exploring the key Game 4 moments that helped the Los Angeles Lakers build a 3-1 series lead over the Miami Heat. Why was the Anthony Davis defensive adjustment on Jimmy Butler so effective? Why didn't the Bucks make a similar adjustment with Giannis Antetokounmpo? What are the guys' favorite Finals adjustments of all time? How does the bubble environment influence Miami's ability to launch a 3-1 comeback? Was this really one of the ...
The Jimmy Butler show
October 05, 2020 22:54 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina react to Miami's Game 3 win in the NBA Finals by offering extended thoughts on Jimmy Butler. Ben and Michael both recount past experiences interviewing Butler and try to put his 40-point triple-double into historical context. Why does Butler get added motivation from his past playoff history with LeBron James? Where does Butler rank among the NBA's best wings? Who regrets losing Butler more: Chicago, Minnesota or Philadelphia? What makes Butler different from ma...
Lakers steamroll Heat in Finals opener
October 01, 2020 18:40 - 1 hour - 72.3 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina react to the Lakers' breathtaking performance and the Heat's many injury issues in Game 1 of the Finals. Are the Heat toast? Are we seeing a legendary breakthrough for Anthony Davis? If the Lakers win, will LeBron James or Anthony Davis claim Finals MVP? What adjustments can Miami make? Was the grueling bubble experience always bound to fizzle out? From there, Ben and Michael discuss their biggest takeaways from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's press conference be...
LeBron James ends the Nuggets, Bam Adebayo ends the Celtics & the NBA Finals are set
September 28, 2020 20:10 - 1 hour - 67.3 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina recap the exciting end to the conference finals and preview the upcoming NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. Did LeBron James reclaim his spot as basketball's best player with his Game 5 takeover? Did he really beat the Nuggets with his mind? Will the Lakers have the same advantages against Miami that they had against Denver? Then, Ben and Michael shift gears to analyze how the Heat won the East and what went wrong for the Boston Celtics . ...
Tyler Herro's heroics push Celtics to the brink; NBA reacts to Breonna Taylor
September 24, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 63.9 MBBen Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of Tyler Herro's 37-point explosion in Game 4 of the East finals. Where does that night rank in NBA history for players at his age? Where did Herro come from? How does he compare to Celtics foils from years past? From there, Ben and Michael zoom out to see what's gone wrong for Boston and whether they are toast. Then, they dig into the Breonna Taylor ruling and how it impacted NBA players and coaches on Wednesday. What takeaway s...