The Chris Rawle Show
578 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 79 ratingsA thoughtful exploration of the world through the prism of sports.
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Episodes
Coaching Matters, But How Much?
July 08, 2021 15:56 - 32 minutes - 15 MBCoaching is a piece in the championship puzzle, one of the razor thin margins between winning and losing in the playoffs. At times it is easy to understand, other times not so much. How much impact can a coach have on a player's career arc and a team's chase for a championship?
The Infinite Avenues To Success: Phoenix Suns, Living In The Midrange
July 07, 2021 15:52 - 29 minutes - 13.5 MBThe Phoenix Suns, led by the star guard combination of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, are more than comfortable dissecting opposing defenses with midrange jumpers. That philosophy was on display in last night's Game 1 of the NBA Finals, as the Suns defeated the Bucks behind the pick-and-roll brilliance of their guards. While the majority of the NBA has leaned away from the midrange, the Suns have leaned in.
The Infinite Avenues To Success
July 06, 2021 16:02 - 35 minutes - 16.5 MBThe greatest task in sports is building a team capable of winning a championship and this mission can be pursed in a variety of ways. Talent is always necessary. Beyond that, there are infinite ways of arriving at the same destination as teams attempt to find the balance between process and adaptability.
The Unpredictability Of Sports
July 02, 2021 16:00 - 29 minutes - 13.6 MBIn all sports, unpredictability plays a major role. A golf ball hits the side of a hole and goes in or out. A hockey puck hits a post and goes in or out. A basketball bounces around a rim and goes in or out. An athlete is injured and another is asked to fill the void. It makes for incredible theater and produces some of the most memorable games (and moments) in sports.
A Shift In Narrative
July 01, 2021 15:43 - 30 minutes - 14.1 MBFor the first time in his 16-year NBA career, Chris Paul is going to the NBA Finals. His performance in last night's Game 6 was a masterpiece, made possible by the team that has been put in place around him. As a shift in narrative occurs, it's time to revisit familiar themes of team success, individual success, and what it takes to win a championship.
Playoff Luck Is Injury Luck, Pt.2
June 30, 2021 15:36 - 28 minutes - 13 MBIt’s always said that good health is a key piece to winning a championship. This year in the NBA, it might be the only piece. Giannis Antetokounmpo went down last night in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, joining Hawks star Trae Young as yet another injured superstar in these playoffs. The war of attrition intensifies in a year unlike any other.
The LA Clippers, Paul George, & Reggie Jackson: Opinions Change
June 29, 2021 15:12 - 29 minutes - 13.4 MBThe LA Clippers staved off elimination against Phoenix in Game 5. It's been a strange yet incredible run of resiliency for a team that was anything but in last year's playoffs. Leading the charge are two players, Paul George and Reggie Jackson, whose performances are flying directly in the face of past opinion.
The Impact Of Referees
June 28, 2021 15:36 - 32 minutes - 14.7 MBReferees will always have a large impact on the outcome of a game. It's easy to remember when a call is egregiously bad and directly changes who wins or loses. It's harder to remember all the minimal ways a referee leaves an imprint, from the simple way a game is reffed to individual calls themselves. On some level, which way the whistle blows will always be a determining factor.
Before You Can Win, You Must Lose
June 25, 2021 15:41 - 33 minutes - 15.5 MBA tale of amateur golf, ice hockey, and the journey of learning from your losses in order to win.
A Different Kind Of Pressure
June 24, 2021 15:40 - 33 minutes - 15.1 MBThe playoffs are a pressure cooker: step inside, see who hardens, and who explodes. Everyone deals with pressure but it can be vastly different depending on the situation of the team. What are the differences (or similarities) between the pressure facing the Golden Knights, Canadiens, Islanders, Lightning, Bucks, and Hawks?
Situation Is Nearly Everything
June 23, 2021 16:33 - 38 minutes - 17.8 MBWith very rare exceptions, situation is everything for a player. Public perception shifts depending upon what a player is asked to do, and how his teammates perform around him. Deandre Ayton's game-winning alley oop (and overall performance) is the perfect catalyst for a discussion around situation and role.
A Postmortem On The 2021 Utah Jazz Season
June 22, 2021 15:41 - 30 minutes - 14 MBThe Utah Jazz season is over after blowing a 25-point second half lead in Game 6 versus the LA Clippers. After a successful regular season, the Jazz were small-balled to death by LA as their defense cracked at the foundation. Another Donovan Mitchell playoff scoring explosion couldn't cover up their defense flaws or an injured Mike Conley. The offseason looms and with it, uncomfortable questions must be asked and answered.
Game 7 Extravaganza: Bucks-Nets, Hawks-Sixers
June 21, 2021 15:46 - 34 minutes - 15.6 MBNothing brings out emotion like the playoffs and nothing in the playoffs brings it out like Game 7. This weekend featured two Game 7s (Bucks vs Nets, Hawks vs Sixers) that gave fans everything: the razor thin margin between winning and losing; another great, lost performance of the playoffs; winning players playing poorly and losing players playing well; and the inevitability that a flawed team will win a championship.
Jazz-Clips Game 5: Season On The Brink
June 17, 2021 15:40 - 31 minutes - 14.2 MBThe Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 119-111 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. The highs of Game 1 were met by the lows of Game 5. No Kawhi. Jazz going 3/24 from 3 in the second half. Paul George dominating. Reggie Jackson closing. It's time for the Jazz to dig deep with a possible season-ending game looming on Friday night.
Awe & Sympathy: Kevin Durant Paints A Masterpiece
June 16, 2021 15:22 - 32 minutes - 15 MBThere are two themes consistently threaded throughout the sports watching experience: awe for world-class athletic performance and sympathy for the losing side. Game 5 of Bucks-Nets tapped into both sources. Kevin Durant played the greatest game of his playoff career and pushed Milwaukee to the brink of elimination, forcing the Bucks to confront yet another possible playoff failure.
Jazz-Clips Game 4: More Of The Same
June 15, 2021 15:29 - 28 minutes - 13 MBThe Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 118-104 in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals. It was an ass kicking in every sense of the word. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both went off. The Jazz offense struggled mightily against LA's ability to switch and swarm on defense. Have the Clippers tapped into something unstoppable with their small ball lineup, or are there adjustments Utah can make going into Game 5?
Jazz-Clips Game 3: Bombs Away
June 14, 2021 15:45 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MBThe Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 132-106 in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. It was a white-hot shooting night for nearly every Clipper. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard did whatever they wanted. Donovan Mitchell was constantly double-teamed and ended his night with a tweaked ankle. What can the Jazz change going into Game 4?
Jazz-Clips Game 2: Team Effort
June 11, 2021 16:37 - 37 minutes - 17.1 MBThe Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 117-111 in Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals. In another close affair, the Jazz relied heavily on six players (Mitchell, Gobert, Bogdanovic, Clarkson, Ingles, O'Neale) to seize control of the game. It was an emphatic answer to the constant playoff question: how do you respond to adversity?
The Emotionality Of Sports, Pt. 2: Colorado Avalanche On The Brink Of Elimination
June 10, 2021 15:51 - 30 minutes - 13.9 MBThe Colorado Avalanche's season is on the brink, down 3-2 with Game 6 against Vegas tonight. It's time for reflection because it's easier to reflect before the end occurs, if it occurs. What does it mean when something comes to an end?
Jazz-Clips Game 1: The Emotionality Of Sports
June 09, 2021 16:09 - 35 minutes - 16.4 MBThe Utah Jazz defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 112-109 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. On a court with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, Donovan Mitchell was the best player during an emotional night inside Vivint Smart Home Arena, filled to max capacity for the first time since the pandemic lockdown.
Bucks-Nets: Star Power That Overwhelms
June 08, 2021 15:46 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MBThe Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks have constructed their rosters in very different ways, yet ended up in a similar place: hopeful championship contenders built upon star power. Through two games of their second round playoff series, Brooklyn has overwhelmed Milwaukee with the combination of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Is it possible for the Bucks to make adjustments moving forward, or is the Nets star power truly an unstoppable force?
Kawhi vs Luka
June 07, 2021 15:54 - 35 minutes - 16.5 MBThe margin between winning and losing in the playoffs is razor thin. To be in that position, however, you need star power. Yesterday's Game 7 between DAL and LAC featured two superstars, Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic, at the peak of their powers. It was a historic series for both players and a reminder of an unshakable truth: supporting cast matters.
The Lost Performances Of The Playoffs
June 04, 2021 16:05 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBA loss is not always an indicator a player performed poorly. Three nights ago, Dame Lillard pieced together a historic 55-point, 12-assist performance against Denver in Game 5. The Blazers lost, and were eliminated from the playoffs last night in Game 6, as Dame's performance joins the long list of the lost performances of the playoffs.
Jazz-Grizz Game 5: The Ceiling Of Mitchell Is The Ceiling Of Utah
June 03, 2021 16:25 - 31 minutes - 42.7 MBThe Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 126-110 in Game 5, finishing off their first round series and advancing to the second round. Donovan Mitchell was superb in only 29 minutes, the catalyst behind a first quarter offensive explosion that buried Memphis in an avalanche of threes. What is his ceiling and what is the ceiling of the Utah Jazz? As Utah waits for their second round opponent, two major questions loom. What is the health of Mike Conley’s hamstring? And why has the defense s...
Searching For Answers To Playoff Questions.
June 02, 2021 16:22 - 43 minutes - 19.9 MBZora Neale Hurston said, "There are years that ask questions and years that answer." This echoes the continual search by teams (like the Toronto Maple Leafs) and players (like Ben Simmons) to find a better version of themselves in the playoffs. What are the questions that have arisen? Are there answers?
Jazz-Grizz Game 4: Baptism By Fire
June 01, 2021 17:10 - 33 minutes - 45.3 MBThe Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 120-113 in Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. For the second straight game, Mike Conley made enormous crunch time plays, Donovan Mitchell provided quality scoring and creation, and the Jazz bombed away from 3. What are the Jazz learning about themselves through these baptism by fire moments of the playoffs?
Jazz-Grizz Game 3: Great Offense, Not-So-Great Defense
May 31, 2021 15:14 - 28 minutes - 13 MBThe Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 121-111 in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. The good: the guard combo of Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell, and Utah's 3-point shooting. The bad: Utah's defensive struggles through 3 games, especially when it comes to limiting the Grizzlies ability to score in the paint.
Playoff Luck = Injury Luck
May 28, 2021 16:16 - 34 minutes - 15.9 MBThere is a razor thin margin between winning and losing in the playoffs. A large portion of this margin is injury luck. One of the most compelling series of the first round is Lakers-Suns, a matchup that has been affected by injuries to Lebron James and Chris Paul. Lebron is playing as a diminished version of himself and Paul infinitely more so. How do teams adjust when injuries strike?
Jazz-Grizz Game 2: The Rise Of Conley, Mitchell Returns, Gobert vs Morant
May 27, 2021 16:51 - 28 minutes - 13.3 MBThe Utah Jazz defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 141-129 in Game 2, knotting their first round playoff series at 1-1. The storylines are endless. Donovan Mitchell returned from injury and provided Utah with an emotional boost. Mike Conley was superb. The Jazz drilled a boatload of 3-pointers. Ja Morant was INSANE. Rudy Gobert was significantly more impactful than Game 1. What to monitor moving into Saturday night's Game 3: the Jazz's 3-point shooting vs the Grizzlies ability to score in the pain...
The Razor Thin Margin Between Winning & Losing
May 26, 2021 15:41 - 28 minutes - 13 MBThe proving ground of the playoffs is where reputations are created and solidified. How do we judge individual success relative to a team's failings? Is it true that, in the words of Connor McDavid, "the regular season doesn't mean anything?" And why is it so hard to comprehend the razor thin margin between winning and losing in the playoffs?
There Are Years That Ask Questions & Years That Answer
May 25, 2021 15:34 - 29 minutes - 13.3 MBA memorable PGA Championship is in the books and Phil Mickelson is the oldest major champion in history. The Kiawah Island Ocean Course was a perfect setting for golf expressed as an art form, finding the spiritual balance between mental grind and physical demand. The tournament, the sport, and Phil's journey are perfectly summarized by the words of Zora Neale Hurston: "there are years that ask questions and years that answer."
Jazz-Grizz Game 1: Homecourt, 3-Point Shooting, & Gobert's Defense
May 24, 2021 15:59 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MBThe Utah Jazz lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening game of the NBA playoffs, 112-109. For Utah, the refinement process begins as old familiar playoff questions pop up. What does it mean for this team to have homecourt advantage, especially in a Covid year? What does it mean to structure your offense around the 3-point shot? What is the difference between Rudy Gobert's defense in the regular season vs the playoffs? And what is going on with Donovan Mitchell?
Body & Mind
May 21, 2021 15:41 - 30 minutes - 14.1 MBEvery sport presents challenges both physical and mental, and every athlete is continually searching for the perfect blend of body and mind. Whether you're an amateur golfer or professional hockey player like Auston Matthews, the process of refining your physical tools and mental abilities is constant. And when blended at the highest level, it's awe-inspiring.
If History Holds True
May 20, 2021 16:12 - 37 minutes - 17.3 MBConventional wisdom of the NBA Playoffs says defense wins championships and last night's Warriors-Lakers battle was a good reminder. However, the league is playing offense at a higher level than ever before: this season alone, seven different teams set an all-time record for offensive efficiency per 100 possessions. Leading the charge is the Brooklyn Nets, a combination of isolation scoring the league has never seen. A question looms: will this offensive explosion carry over into the playof...
Lebron vs Curry
May 19, 2021 17:16 - 22 minutes - 10.4 MBLebron James and Steph Curry square off tonight in a much anticipated play-in game. They are two of the brightest stars of all-time. There hasn't been an NBA Finals without at least one of them since 2010. Curry, the ultimate agent of chaos, is coming off his greatest offensive season. Lebron is coming off a long injury layoff and attempting to morph into Playoff Lebron. What will happen?
Why Sports Gambling Should Be Legal In Utah
May 18, 2021 15:54 - 31 minutes - 14.6 MBIn 2018, the Supreme Court struck down federal controls on sports gambling and turned the decision over to each individual state. Since then, 22 states have legalized sports gambling with 5 soon to follow. Utah is dragging its feet because on a governmental level, the state has a strange relationship with perceived vices and what is (or is not) acceptable.
Eternally In Flux
May 17, 2021 15:26 - 33 minutes - 15.2 MBEvery sport is in a constant state of change, attempting to strike a balance between the soulful nostalgia of the past and the bright-eyed optimism of the future. In a week where the NHL/NBA playoffs are hitting their stride and the PGA Championship is taking place, Major League Baseball is quietly slipping to the back burner. Is it impossible for baseball to find middle ground between the past and future?
Warped Analysis
May 14, 2021 15:25 - 28 minutes - 13.2 MBThere is plenty of warped analysis when it comes to postseason success, or lack thereof. What does it mean when a player misses the playoffs? Why do we hold postseason losses against a player, especially if they happen in the Finals? How can opinions change drastically over the course of years for a player who is performing at the same level? All of these questions are examined through the careers of Jordan, Lebron, Brees, Manning, Rodgers, Zion, Shaq, Barkley, and Devin Booker.
Not Everything Can Be Measured, Not Everything Can Be Known
May 13, 2021 15:46 - 27 minutes - 12.7 MBAt their best, sports are the blend of known and unknown, measurable and unmeasurable, the tug-of-war between analytics and gut instinct. Even experts have different opinions on what information matters and how to interpret it.
Beautiful, Optimistic Amnesia
May 12, 2021 15:39 - 34 minutes - 15.7 MBThe Utah Jazz have never won an NBA championship. This season, the Jazz have their best team in over two decades, begging a simple yet complex question: is this the year Utah's hopes and dreams of a championship are realized?
Hope Is Your Strength & Your Weakness
May 11, 2021 15:45 - 27 minutes - 12.5 MBEvery fan hopes this is the year their team wins the championship. It's the great lure of sports, because hope realized offers a sense of fullness and awe that very few things do. The Stanley Cup playoffs begin soon and this means, especially for fans of a team like the Colorado Avalanche, it's time to hope.
Steph Curry, Connor McDavid, & How We Judge Individual Success
May 10, 2021 15:14 - 32 minutes - 15 MBBoth Steph Curry and Connor McDavid are having transcendent offensive seasons. Both are interesting case studies in how we celebrate and judge individual success, especially when team success doesn't follow.
I Learn By Going Where I Have To Go
May 07, 2021 16:40 - 28 minutes - 13.2 MBThe NBA play-in format is generating buzz, increasing competition, and creating spectacular theater. Why aren't more professional sports leagues experimenting with the process of trial and error, and finding a balance between what is most scintillating for the consumer and what is most equitable in determining a champion?
It's Going To End At Some Point
May 06, 2021 17:34 - 56 minutes - 26 MBAaron Rodgers doesn't want to play for the Green Bay Packers. The Green Bay Packers want Aaron Rodgers to play for them, but have shown no sense of urgency in maximizing his championship window. It seems like the end is near, which means it's also time to reflect on a quarterback whose team demanded him to be perfect in order to win.
A History Of Violence
May 05, 2021 16:35 - 37 minutes - 17 MBThe game of ice hockey is a beautiful sport built upon speed, skill, physicality, and violence. To some extent, the history of hockey is a history of violence and because of this, the NHL is continually facing a very hard question without clear answers: what is the acceptable level of violence in a sport that has always celebrated it in the past?
Refuse The Old Means Of Measurement
May 04, 2021 16:00 - 22 minutes - 10.5 MBNikola Jokic is a -500 favorite to win the MVP, one of the most unique players in basketball, and is being celebrated for his accomplishments. From a roster construction standpoint, Jokic and the Nuggets are mirror images of the Utah Jazz, a small market team featuring a unique player of their own in Rudy Gobert. As we examine both teams and players, how do we refuse the old means of measurement?
Baptism By Fire
May 03, 2021 16:04 - 28 minutes - 13.1 MBThe Phoenix Suns are currently the #1 seed in the NBA, yet lack the playoff experience many believe is a prerequisite for winning a championship. Chris examines the idea of being baptized by fire, the fine line between "taking your lumps" and becoming a "playoff loser," and the notable playoff failures of MJ and Lebron.
The Easiest Way To Create Hope
April 30, 2021 15:40 - 30 minutes - 6.9 MBThe first round of the NFL Draft is complete. Teams are drafting more quarterbacks in the top 10 than ever before and less running backs, engaging with the idea that the easiest way to create hope for an NFL franchise is to draft a first round quarterback.
Find Anything That Makes You Happy & Run
April 29, 2021 16:00 - 38 minutes - 17.5 MBThe NBA and NHL playoffs are quickly approaching, gambling is being embraced by professional sports leagues as both a revenue stream and a way to strengthen emotional bonds, and the lure of believing your team is destined to win a championship.
The Way Things Were
April 28, 2021 16:10 - 25 minutes - 11.7 MBWhat does college football mean to each individual? As College Football Playoff expansion looms, Chris explains his nostalgic connection to the sport ("A twinge in your heart, far more powerful than memory alone") and reminisces on The Way Things Were.