Limited Upside

How did Victor Oladipo get this good?

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 23:08:00 -0000

Tim Cato, Zito Madu, and Whitney Medworth join for a free-flowing conversation on Lacroix -- and the NBA Playoffs, too. Topics include: -Victor Oladipo is really good. Goddamn. -What the heck happened to Chris Paul? -Can the Timberwolves please give Karl-Anthony Towns the ball. -Are the Spurs the worst team in the playoffs? -Is Kawhi Leonard ducking the team to go to Wing Stop? -Ben analyzes Sixers-Heat Game 2 in depth so nobody else has to, then unleashes his Brett Brown impression. -What is Paul George thinking now? -Did the Jazz stage a coup to let Donovan Mitchell back into the game? Plus, plenty more.

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Is this Dwyane Wade's swan song in Miami?

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 23:21:00 -0000

SB Nation contributor (and Athletic, Fansided, etc) Seerat Sohi joins the show to talk about her big Dwyane Wade profile, the Raptors, injuries ruining the playoffs, and Wednesday's Timberwolves-Nuggets playoff play-in game.

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What if NBA Playoff teams could pick their first-round opponent?

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 13:27:00 -0000

We're back after a bit of a hiatus! On today's show, friend of the pod Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) of VICE Sports joins us to go through an exercise you see in the G-League: what if the top seeds could pick their first-round playoff opponent? Top seed in each conference gets first choice, second-place team goes next, and so forth. Mike, Ben, and Pina each make their choices if they ran the Raptors, Celtics, and Cavaliers in the East, and then the Rockets, Warriors, and Blazers in the West. Do we believe the Bucks have another playoff gear? Is Indiana just a nice regular-season story? Then, our picks get especially weird in the West, where two of us don't believe in Minnesota and one of us makes a bold pick on Portland's behalf.

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The All-Star Game was actually competitive! Is that what we want?

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 17:56:05 -0000

SB Nation friends Whitney Medworth, Hector Diaz, and Zito Madu join to recap All-Star Weekend, why the Celebrity Game has a deeper meaning, whether the new All-Star Game format was the cause of a more competitive game, and why the dunk contest gets so much scrutiny. Plus, Mike rants about the three-point shootout and Hector regals us with tales of STAPLES Center hot dogs.

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Were the Cavaliers' moves addition by addition or addition by subtraction?

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 14:28:44 -0000

Mike's back! On this week's pod, he joins Ben to chat about Cleveland's deadline-day demolition, the John Wall Wizards drama, Donovan Mitchell vs. Ben Simmons, the epic tankathon to come, and more. Plus, Ben gets pissed about Simmons missing the All-Star Game.

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Breaking down the Big Blake Trade

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 23:30:08 -0000

Ben is joined in studio by SB Nation's own Seth Rosenthal as well as friends of the pod, and LA residents, Mo Dakhil and Anthony Irwin, to breakdown the big Blake trade, and what it means for the great LA Hoops narrative. Topics touched on: - The Blake era in LA; was he the greatest Clipper ever? - The Pistons have a one way ticket to the middle of the NBA - Is LA now back to being a 100% a Lakers town? Was it ever not a full on Lakers town? - What's next for the Clippers, more moves, DJ, Lou Will... - Listener questions

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The Sixers are the NBA's most interesting team

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 16:48:50 -0000

The Sixers have been one of the NBA's most intriguing soap opera's over the past 4+ seasons, and things are more dramatic than ever now. We welcome back to the show former Liberty Baller's writer and current Philly Voice Sixers beat writer, Kyle Neubeck, as well as SB Nation's own Tim Cato for this Sixerscentric episode. Topics include: - What has it been like for Kyle to cover the very unique and very cloudy Markelle Fultz situation? - Brett Brown is finally coaching against real expectations, what does success look like to him this season? And how long is his coaching leash against those expectations. - Joel is special, but what stands out following him on a day to day basis? He doesn't practice, so what does he do with his "down time"? - Assume they make the playoffs, who is the ideal first round matchup?

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Clippers-Rockets makes us glad, Cavs make us sad, Wizards make us mad

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:19:43 -0000

VICE Sports' Michael Pina joins the show to laugh about the Clippers-Rockets brewhaha, lament the state of the Cavs and the fruitlessness of going against the Warriors, debate the Bulls' young core, and wonder why the Wizards can't be more like the Raptors.

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What we talk about when we talk about the Timberwolves

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 14:42:58 -0000

Mike, Ben, and Alex discuss the factors behind the Timberwolves' improvement, why we're often slow to acknowledge them, why Karl-Anthony Towns gets nitpicked, Andrew Wiggins' struggles, and more. Plus, a Heat-Raptors discussion that predates Tuesday night's fight, Steph Curry is STILL underrated, and what the Lakers should do about LaVar Ball, if anything.

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Kyrie and Bron were both in their own world

Thu, 04 Jan 2018 00:29:20 -0000

We're back! SB Nation Director of Vibes Zito Madu and friend of the pod Alex Rubenstein discuss Isaiah Thomas' debut, the psychology of the Kyrie Irving/LeBron James breakup, DeMar DeRozan vs. analytics, whether the Raptors can compete with the Cavs in the East, and an epic Ben rant on Marcus Smart's flopping.

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Victor Oladipo mania is SWEEPING Indiana

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 19:37:32 -0000

The Pacers are thriving and Paul George's Thunder are struggling. Who saw that coming? With George's return to Indiana on the horizon, we dialed up SB Nation NBA assistant editor Whitney Medworth and Indy Cornrows writer Caitlin Cooper. Topics include:A series of mea culpas for our doomsday preseason predictions.Why Victor Oladipo has emerged and why the city has bought into him so quickly.Other reasons the Pacers have overachieved.From afar, do George's struggles and the Thunder's in general surprise them? What do they think is wrong with the George fit there?What kind of reception will George get for his return? Why are Pacers fans still upset with how his departure happened? When will those feelings fade? Will those feelings fade?Is there a worry that the Pacers' success is unsustainable? Will they suffer the same pitfalls as other accidentally good teams like the 2014 Suns and 2016 Blazers.Our favorite Pacers moments of the season.

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We reveal our unpopular NBA opinions. What's yours?

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 02:50:59 -0000

What is your unpopular NBA opinion? This week, SBNation.com NBA writers Tim Cato and Kristian Winfield join the show as we each argue a HOT TAKE we (kinda) believe. Including: -Mike on why the Rockets and Warriors are equals -Kristian on why the Spurs are gonna be the toughest team in the West by the end -Ben on why the Celtics won't even make the conference finals. -Tim on why the Timberwolves will miss the playoffs Plus, we read off and rate your unpopular opinions, some of which we believe, too!

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Who makes the NBA All-Star Game if the season ended today?

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 02:27:59 -0000

Ben and Mike run through their early picks for the 12 All-Star slots in each conference, including a bold pick from Mike for the second West guard spot and a spirited discussion about whether Ben Simmons deserves consideration for a starter spot. Yes, starter.

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Let's geek out about early-season NBA Xs and Os trends

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 04:18:14 -0000

Former Clippers and Spurs video coordinator Mo Dakhil, Basketball Dictionary editor and onetime D-League assistant coach Dylan Murphy, and former Nets assistant coach Steve Jones join Mike for a super in-depth discussion about some key league-wide Xs and Os trends they've noticed from the first month of the season. We chat about the rise of defensive switching and whether teams need to practice it more, how to attack dynamic defensive teams like the Celtics that can switch at every position, what's wrong with the Thunder in crunch time, how to tell when a team is spacing the floor properly, teams that are outperforming their talent because of strong early-season coaching, the NBA's next Xs and Os innovation, and tips for how to watch a game like a coach.

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The NBA players we irrationally (and sometimes rationally) love

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 01:11:08 -0000

We all have players we like more than others. Instead of pretending to be unbiased, Mike, Ben, and Alex decided to admit their favorites and asked listeners for theirs in the following categories: no-brainer superstar, former All-Star transitioning to their twilight, possible first-time All-Star, role player, and random bench/rotation guy. Consider this the Limited Upside All-Star team! Plus: Ben and Mike talk about how they'd react if they saw LeBron James on the subway, and Alex explains why he'd take Mike Conley over every point guard in the league not named Stephen Curry.

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This NBA rookie class is super dope

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 23:28:02 -0000

Mike and Ben are joined by SB Nation college hoops/preps/draft guru and longtime guest Ricky O'Donnell. We briefly discuss Milwaukee's trade for Eric Bledsoe, then spend a solid hour chatting about this awesome rookie class. We hit every key player, including Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz (sorry Sixers fans), Jayson Tatum, Lonzo Ball, Dennis Smith Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and almost every other first-year player doing cool stuff.

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Cavaliers fans are trying not to panic. Should they be?

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 14:58:38 -0000

LeBron James' Cavaliers are 3-5, with a string of double-digit losses and the worst defense in the NBA. Should we worry? We bring back Chris Manning of Fear the Sword and MMA Fighting/Cavs junkie Eric Jackman to figure out what's wrong with Cleveland, how much fans are worried, and which issues will actually carry over once they begin to try.

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Are the Cavaliers trash? Plus, other early-season NBA trends

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 03:31:56 -0000

SB Nation's Tim Cato and friend of the pod Alex Rubenstein join Ben and Mike to assess whether a bunch of early-season NBA trends will actually carry over, including:The Cavaliers' awful start. The Magic suddenly being an offensive juggernaut.Kristaps Porzingis taking over.Ben Simmons playing at an All-Star level.Giannis leading the NBA in scoring.Boogie and the Brow thriving in New Orleans.Whether a team can actually score efficiently without shooting a lot of 3s.And much more. Featuring terrible analogies, botched European geography, bizarre gambles, and much more. So, the usual.

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The Western Conference is a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 22:41:29 -0000

Ben Epstein and Mike Prada run through the first week of the NBA with SB Nation friend of the show Alex Rubenstein. Topics include: the plucky Grizzlies, the teams we're already changing our minds about, the Spurs plugging along without Kawhi, Max/Play/Trade with three early-season player performances, some Giannis talk (but not enough), some Sixers talk (too much), the sad Suns, and more.

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The Warriors are winning 75 games and other bold (dumb) predictions

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 20:55:15 -0000

After 30 episodes diving into each NBA team, Mike and Ben fly solo to make their own predictions, including Mike's bold Warriors call, which West team gets the 2 seed, who makes the playoffs from 5-8, which team will tank most blatantly, how many games does Joel Embiid need to play for the 76ers to make the playoffs, the Celtics vs. Cavs, Wizards talk, MVP, and more.

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Warriors fans have the ultimate set of first-world problems

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:13:59 -0000

How do you talk about a team that seems a near-certainty to win it all? We went all over the place on this Warriors preview with good friend Bram Kincheloe of Golden State of Mind. Among the topics:Are Warriors fans more confident or even more confident after the flurry of activity this summer?Who actually poses the greatest danger to the Warriors, whatever level it is?How do Warriors fans process expectation-setting when they are such overwhelming favorites? Is there an odd sense of anxiety that something might go wrong?Is there any concern that the Warriors don't have a motivating theme like they have the last couple years, i.e. "they got lucky" or "they blew a 3-1 lead?"The terrifying part: their roster is even better top to bottom this year, though Nick Young's conditioning has not been encouraging.The Warriors' place as the face of a league that has become more outspoken on social issues.The interesting dynamics of the Bay Area and the impending move to San Francisco.A more technical discussion: does this team have any weaknesses? How do you possibly gameplan to stop them? Are the Warriors at all worried about other teams loading up on stars, or are those teams going about this challenge the wrong way? What (or who) would actually be the Warriors' Kyrptonite if it existed?A bunch of cruel hypotheticals, plus a robust banana boat discussion.Mike makes a really bold prediction at the end.This is the 30th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We brought together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbases heading into the season. Scroll back on our feed to check out the other 29 teams.

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Same old Spurs? Kinda, but not exactly

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 01:32:09 -0000

The Spurs looked like they'd make a big splash this summer. Instead, they've brought the band back together, including a surprise contract extension for LaMarcus Aldridge. Are Spurs fans worried, or has the team bought itself enough goodwill. We brought on J.R. Wilco and Bruno Passos of SB Nation Spurs site Pounding the Rock to discuss the following:INSTANT REACTION to LaMarcus Aldridge's new 3-year, $72.3 million extension. And we do mean instant, because we began recording minutes after the news broke.Why didn't the Spurs make the big move that many expected? Why re-sign Pau Gasol and Aldridge with their cap space? Are they playing a different game that we can't see? Kawhi Leonard's gonna be OK health-wise, right? This quad issue isn't a long-term thing, is it? Assuming not, what can he possibly do for an encore?Rudy Gay seems like an interesting fit. How will that work? And will the Spurs play more of a modern style after playing very traditionally last year? Why are Spurs fans going gaga over DeJounte Murray?Over/under six long Gregg Popovich screeds against Donald Trump? (That doesn't count the one from today, which dropped after we recorded). Which game will he unleash his grumpiest sideline interview?The all-important banana boat question.Are the Spurs still the toughest matchup for the Warriors? Did this summer get them closer or further away to the Warriors? Why do they seem to have more success than most against them? How do Spurs fans feel about the Warriors?More worried about the Rockets or Thunder as a challenger?Assuming Kawhi is healthy, he's definitely winning MVP, isn't he?Plus, more dumb things to bet on. Recreationally, of course. This is the 29th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Rockets LAST UP: Warriors

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You knew the Rockets wouldn't sit out an NBA arms race

Fri, 13 Oct 2017 14:22:38 -0000

Last year's Rockets were fun. Then, they got Chris Paul and demolished their supporting cast to build a new one around Paul and Harden. Never say Daryl Morey sits on his laurels. We brought on Ethan Rothstein and Jeremy Brener of SB Nation's Rockets site The Dream Shake to discuss the following:How stunned were they when the Chris Paul trade happened? Why is this different than previous Rockets alpha dog experiments that didn't go quite as well?Can they name every non-guaranteed player Daryl Morey acquired to facilitate the CP3 sign-and-trade? It's hard!So how's this CP3-Harden thing going to work anyway? Early returns are promising, and Rockets fans don't seem too worried. Let them explain why Mike's skepticism is unfounded.Why Clint Capela's improvement is actually the key to the season.What's the rest of the rotation going to look like? Who plays on the wing? Does that roster flexibility help the Rockets, or hurt them in finding their five best players to end the game?Is there any concern that some of the older players fall off or regress to the mean? Which is more damaging if it happens: CP3 losing a step, Trevor Ariza and/or P.J. Tucker completely falling off the map, or Ryan Anderson/Eric Gordon not being as healthy?How does this team match up with the Warriors, anyway? Quite well, in fact!Some ... interesting answers to our traditional banana boat question.Predictions, including some fascinating super-specific ones.(Apologies for the janky-ish audio on this one). This is the 28th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Celtics NEXT UP: Spurs, Warriors

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These Celtics are barely recognizable

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 03:32:56 -0000

The Celtics had the East's best record last year, then promptly turned over more than two thirds of their roster. What's left is a new superteam built around Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Al Horford, but also one with youth waiting in the wings and a whole lot of uncertainty for how this is going to work. To help us make sense of the madness, we brought on SBNation.com senior writer Paul Flannery and Celtics Blog contributor/CLNS Radio founder Nick Gelso to talk through the following.The emotions of losing Isaiah Thomas after what he did last year, combined with the cold hard reality that the trade for Kyrie Irving needed to be made and IT was never going to match that success even if healthy. How is Kyrie warming up to Celtics fans?How will Kyrie fit in to Brad Stevens' offense? Early returns seem promising.Let's not forget about Gordon Hayward. The Celtics chose signing him over pursuing Paul George and Jimmy Butler. Can he make them justify that decision?Who plays alongside those two and Al Horford? Who plays in the backcourt? Do they have too many options, or not enough?What should fans expect from Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum this year? Why did the Celtics trade the No. 1 pick to get Tatum, anyway? What kind of dude is Brown, anyway?We circle back to Brown's comments about it being weird that the team traded IT while talking up tradition. What did we make of those?RIP Nets Picks.What kind of person is Kyrie, anyway? Is there more to him than we've seen before, or is there actually not as much? It's kind of weird how we've learned so much about him over these past three months. How much of it is authentic?Paul and Nick pick very different banana boats.We know they should be good this year, but what defines success for the Celtics? Does it even matter if they repeat last year and don't progress?Later on, Ben paid off a bet to a friend.This is the 27th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Clippers NEXT UP: Rockets, Spurs, Warriors

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The key to the Clippers' season? Send Blake Griffin highlight videos

Fri, 06 Oct 2017 02:31:31 -0000

It's a new era for the Clippers ... kinda. Chris Paul is gone, but the Clippers didn't exactly blow the team up in his absence. Instead, we've got this funky roster surrounding Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan, and coach Doc Rivers. To make sense of it, we invited former Clippers video coordinator Mo Dakhil and Clips Nation editor Lucas Hann to discuss the following:Was it time for the CP3 era to end? How will his tenure in L.A. be viewed in the future?Did the Clippers make the right decision to pivot into a quick rebuild instead of bottoming out? What market factors made it impossible to conduct a full rebuild? Given the strategy, did they execute their offseason effectively?It's been a long time since Blake Griffin had his own team. It's also been a long time since he's been fully healthy. What will that mean this season? How will his role change? Plus, how do you get him to have the confidence to use his athleticism without fearing injury? (Mo had a great idea).Is Doc Rivers long for this situation? Should our antennas be up after he lost (or voluntarily gave back) personnel power? Does the organization bringing in Jerry West and other respected personnel people from other places mean that Doc's tumbling in Steve Ballmer's pecking order?How is Coach Doc gonna use this weird roster? Who starts in the backcourt? How does Danilo Gallinari fit it?Is this noise about getting more ball movement a sustainable strategy or sour grapes from losing Paul? CAN WE GET MORE MILOS TEODOSIC?Your favorite banana boat question, which has A LOT of options.Predictions, along with an extended discussion about the Clippers' place in the Los Angeles sports scene in a post-CP3 era.This is the 26th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Cavaliers NEXT UP: Celtics, Rockets, Spurs, Warriors

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What on (flat) earth was that Cavaliers offseason?

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 01:42:21 -0000

(Sorry, had to). Wow, that was an eventful offseason in Cleveland. It feels like last decade that David Griffin was let go and Kyrie Irving was still in town. To help us, Fear the Sword's Chris Manning and MMA Hour super producer (and massive Cavs fan) Eric Jackman jumped on to dissect the following:So uh, how do Cavs fans feel about Kyrie Irving now? Should we have seen his trade demand coming?Pretty sweet return for a dude that wanted out, though, right? How will Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder fit in? What about that Brooklyn pick?Dwyane Wade! Derrick Rose! Kevin Love at center! What the heck will this rotation look like? Sorry, Cavs fans, we gotta have the Future Of LeBron discussion. How did we get to the point where all the tea leaves point to him leaving next summer? Is it even worth worrying about Bron's future at this point?Are the Cavaliers actually better than they were at the end of last year? Has Cleveland's competition sufficiently caught up?How many (and which) Warriors have to get injured for the Cavs to be favored in a Finals matchup?Would Cavs fans rather see LeBron lead the Cavs to another title this year and bounce, or fall short and stay for the long haul?We predict the fake scandal that'll cause LeBron to go on his annual social media subtweet barrage at midseason. This got very creative.Banana boat stuff, which was an excuse for Eric to tell the unique story of how he became a Cavs fan and Mike to watch Christian Eyenga videos. (Seriously!) BOLD PREDICTION TIME. Wins? Will LeBron stay or go? And much more.This is the 25th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Raptors NEXT UP: Clippers

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The Raptors are who they are. Is that what their fans want?

Tue, 03 Oct 2017 15:02:21 -0000

The Toronto Raptors faced a crossroads this summer and decided to bring the band back together, for the most part. Now, they seem stuck in pretty good land. Is that OK? Our two panelists disagree, and it makes for a fun conversation. Daniel Reynolds, the editor in chief of Raptors HQ, and Seerat Sohi, a terrific freelance writer based in Toronto, join the show to discuss the following:Was this year the time to blow it up, or did Masai Ujiri's handling of the Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka contract situations make bringing the team back together palatable?Are they really stuck in place? Is there anything that can jolt them out of the East's middle tier? And if they are actually stuck, is that so bad?How the Raptors' fate and popularity in the city is tied to the Maple Leafs.We all agree that this recent Raptors run has helped rebrand the franchise. Is there more than needs to be done to cement their new reputation, or has this core done enough already?Where do Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan stack up in the NBA's pecking order? Why is it so hard to discuss them rationally?Would you rather see Jonas Valanciunas finally break out, or Norman Powell take a major step forward? Who else should we be paying attention to off the bench?Serge Ibaka -- will he play a lot of center this year? Has his decline been overstated?How will they replace some of the key bench players they lost?Some more info on how the franchise's relationship with Drake soured. (Don't expect to see much of him this year at the Air Canada Center).A passionate defense of the "Raptors" nickname.Which three Raptors players would you want on your all-time banana boat, i.e. the three players you most want to vacation with?Predictions, etc. Will this team tread water or dip?This is the 24th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Jazz NEXT UP: Cavaliers

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The Utah Jazz are a 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 13:36:07 -0000

The sudden loss of Gordon Hayward has turned the Jazz into one of the NBA's mystery teams. How will they replace their franchise player? Can they still succeed with a deep, defensive-oriented roster surrounding Rudy Gobert? Will they actually stay healthy this year? We brought on Mychal Lowman and James Hansen from SLC Dunk and the SLC Punks podcast to discuss the following:Why did Hayward's departure sting so much for fans? How have views changed over the last three months? And what does it say about Hayward and the Jazz players still on the roster that the sniping still hasn't stopped?At least the Jazz still have Gobert. What makes him such a great, underrated player?So ... how is this team going to score points?Are the Jazz committed to playing Gobert and Derrick Favors together again? What can we actually expect out of Favors this year?Utah was the slowest-paced team in the league last year, with an offense that relied on lots of passing and movement. They just traded for a point guard in Ricky Rubio that loves to push the ball, can't shoot, and is a wizard as long as he actually has the ball in his hands. Does that mean the team's style will change?We play our favorite game: the NBA version of Do/Marry/Kill called Max/Play/Trade. The candidates: Donovan Mitchell, Rodney Hood, Dante ExumThe Jazz famously made 20 straight playoff appearances in the Karl Malone/John Stockton era without winning a title. How many of those 20 would Jazz fans trade in to have won just one championship. We got two wildly different answers.Which three Jazz players would each panelist put on their all-time banana boat, i.e. the three they most want to vacation with.Predictions and much more.This is the 23rd of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Wizards NEXT UP: Raptors or Clippers

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Are the Washington Wizards the rock or the pebble?

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 03:18:25 -0000

It's the Wizards! Last year was pretty cool! Can they build on it, or is this another flash in the pan? We brought on Sports Illustrated's Andrew Sharp and Bullets Forever's Michael Sykes to join Wizards fan Mike Prada and co-host Ben Epstein to preview The Season After the Season. Featuring some big picture talk about expectations and the team's place in the league (including the terrible Prada analogy that led to this title), contention windows, the value of continuity, John Wall + Bradley Beal's place in the league, Markieff Morris the barometer, Kelly Oubre the X-Factor, To Boogie Or Not To Boogie, and a way better hypothetical from a listener than anything we've come up with on our own. This is the 22nd of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Thunder (two parter!) NEXT UP: Jazz

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Emergency OKC preview addition! Carmelo Anthony trade!

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 03:01:57 -0000

The Thunder traded for Carmelo Anthony. Big news! And just after we recorded our Oklahoma City preview podcast! So as an addendum, we brought back Eddie Maisonet of The Sports Fan Journal to talk through our thoughts on OKC's heist. Also, we briefly discuss the other big NBA story of the day: the response to Donald Trump "disinviting" Stephen Curry and the Warriors from the White House. That's at the 35-minute mark.

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The Thunder are on the brink of something special ... or a break-up

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 01:56:53 -0000

Sam Presti pulled a rabbit out of his hat to bring Paul George to Oklahoma City, but with both he and Russell Westbrook under contract for only one more season, this union could be a short one. How will the Thunder handle it? Repeat guest Eddie Maisonet of The Sports Fan Journal and newcomer Joshua Broom of SB Nation's Thunder blog Welcome To Loud City join the show. Topics include:The Russell Westbrook show was something last year. Can Russ step back a bit to help the rest of the team thrive with Paul George now here? Does he even need to?Getting George was a no-brainer, and now OKC has a year to sell him on staying. What has to happen for the Westbrook-George pairing to be more than a one-year reunion? Do Thunder fans view this as a real long-term option or a one-year thing? (This was explained with a Major League analogy. Yup).Will Russ and George be invested in this franchise? If so, the roster looks awesome. If not ...How George and Russ can help each other on the court, assuming they are able to mesh personality-wise.Which three players work best with George and Russ? What should the starting lineup be? What should the closing lineup be? Can Billy Donovan properly manage the rotation, or is he in over his head? Let's take a second and marvel some more about what Russ did last year, because we should never take that granted.Is it fair to say that Steven Adams' growth stagnated last year? How do the Thunder get him to take the next step?The three Thunder players you want on your all-time banana boat ... i.e. the three you want on your vacation. This was an excuse for Eddie to shout out Enes Kanter for his eventful summer.So ... is Russ gonna sign that designated player extension, or no?Predictions, which are very hard for this team. Do they have enough to get to the conference Finals? Will that keep George in OKC? This is the 21st of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Grizzlies NEXT UP: Jazz

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Grizzlies fans prepare for an "interestingly horrifying" season

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 13:01:45 -0000

Grit 'N Grind is truly dead in Memphis with the departures of Tony Allen and Zach Randolph. What's the new identity that replaces it? And who are all these dudes around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, anyway? Joe Mullinax, site manager for SB Nation's Grizzlies site Grizzly Bear Blues, joins us for a wonderful discussion about a franchise at a crossroads. Among the topics:This is now David Fizdale's team. No more of the old guard to stop him and add tension to the transition. Will it work? Will there be blowback if the team struggles?Why so much of the Grizzlies' success depends on Chandler Parsons ... and why that makes everyone nervous.Mike Conley and Marc Gasol deserve more love, so let's give it to them. Especially Conley. Did y'all realize how good he was last year? Can they duplicate that effort? Is there any chance Gasol gets traded if things go south?Who else will start alongside those two? Who will finish games? Can they get something out of players like Ben McLemore, Tyreke Evans, etc.?If you had to bet your house on a player being Memphis' third-leading scorer this year, who would you put your money on? Mike capes for Wayne Selden, which means he's probably losing his house.We run through our favorite Grit 'N Grind moments and the enduring legacy of that core of players.The all-important banana boat question.Predictions, etc. For once, we're more optimistic than Joe is.This is the 20th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Hawks NEXT UP: Thunder

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The Hawks ripped the rebuilding band-aid off, but the wound still hurts

Fri, 15 Sep 2017 19:51:31 -0000

After fiddling around for two years trying to recapture the magic of their 60-win team, the Hawks finally committed to rebuilding this summer. How did we get here and what happens now? We were joined by Brad Rowland, the editor of SB Nation Hawks site Peachtree Hoops and the Locked On Hawks podcast, and Harry Lyles Jr., an SB Nation NFL staff writer based in Atlanta, to talk about the following:We walk through the string of transactions that occurred after that 60-win season, from the loss to DeMarre Carroll, to Al Horford leaving, to Dwight Howard, to Kyle Korver departing, to the decision to pull Paul Millsap off the trade market, and more.Why were the Hawks so reluctant to break their team up even when it was in decline? What sort of market factors played into that?Who's in charge now? How did instability in the front office contribute to the Hawks' confusing series of moves that got them here?Winning fans in the city has always been a challenge. What happens now that the team is going to stink?Plenty of talk about this year's team, including some mad Taurean Prince love from all three of us.Dennis Schroder ... yeah, he's a complex figure. What happens to his career now?We answer questions about Kent Bazemore's future, Coach Bud, and what exactly was the issue with Dwight Howard in the locker room?The customary banana boat question.Why should Hawks fans pay attention to this team? Why should national fans pay attention?Predictions, etc.This is the 19th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Bucks NEXT UP: Grizzlies

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The Bucks finally have a superstar. Now comes the hard part

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 02:55:55 -0000

Giannis Antetokounmpo's rise injected new joy and energy into the Bucks and their fanbase. Last year was fun, and on the surface, everything is good. But Giannis' rise also means the stakes have been raised for the next four years of his contract. Is this front office, supplementary core, and coaching staff up for the challenge? SB Nation soccer editor and Bucks fan Kevin McCauley joins us, along with Brew Hoop managing editor Mitchell Maurer. In our chat:We merge Mitchell's caution with Kevin's exuberance to describe the mood of the fanbase.Plenty of Giannis talk because he is such a joy.How important was it to get Khris Middleton back last year?Jabari Parker was supposed to be the second cornerstone with Giannis. Instead, he's coming off a second torn ACL and is up for an extension without much on his track record. How does he fit in now, and do the Bucks have enough time to wait it out and see if they can ever get Giannis, Jabari, and Middleton healthy at the same time?Our usual devil's bargain: the NBA version of Do/Marry/Kill called "Max/Play/Trade." We do this with Malcolm Brogdon, Thon Maker, and Jabari.Why is Jason Kidd such a divisive coach among fans?The Bucks' front office situation is ... whoa boy. What happened this summer, and why should Bucks fans be concerned?A brief Giannis signature shoe interlude.Kevin's very detailed breakdown for his all-time Bucks banana boat.Predictions, best/worst-case scenarios, and why 50 wins is actually a reasonable expectation.This is the 18th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Blazers NEXT UP: Hawks

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Blazers fans worry their team might be growing stale

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 19:59:44 -0000

Blazers fans didn't have a ton to do this summer, giving them more time to think about the overall state of their franchise. Last year was mostly rough, but a great finish salvaged some hope. What now? Brian Freeman and Peter Sampson from Blazers Edge join us to discuss the following:Why fans are apprehensive about this year and the future despite having two core guards and plenty of stability.What happened last year before Jusuf Nurkic came aboard? Why were the same mix of players so much less effective?Lillard and McCollum. Dame and C.J. They're the stars of the team, and they like each other, and they're great people. They also have similar games and may not be fully maximized next to each other. Is this a pairing that's built for the long haul? Is there a ceiling for the duo? How do fans feel about having them as the two best players?Lillard is the leader, but where does C.J. rank in that pecking order?Why was Jusuf Nurkic so effective last year? Can it last?What's the level of trust in Terry Stotts and Neil Olshey right now? How badly did the franchise botch the summer of 2016?You've been gifted the magical powers to give one of Al-Farouq Amine, Maurice Harkless, and Evan Turner a consistent, proficient three-point shot on high volume. Who are you bestowing the gift on and why?We spend some time reminiscing about Brandon Roy because he deserves it.Some tough choices were made for the all-time banana boat -- but there was one easy one.Why did the Blazers pick Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan when they already were overloaded with bigs?Predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and much more.PREVIOUSLY: Pacers NEXT UP: Bucks

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Pacers fans know their team is bad. They fear it's also boring

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 14:56:20 -0000

The Pacers no longer have Paul George, and other than Myles Turner, they don't really have much exciting young talent, either. You can see how this setup isn't exactly inspiring their fans. Our Indiana dynamic duo of SBNation.com assistant NBA editor Whitney Medworth and Indy Cornrows lead writer Caitlin Cooper joins to run through a depressing season preview. Topics include:One last look back at the Paul George trade.Darren Collison? Victor Oladipo? Cory Joseph? Lance? What is with these offseason moves to stay mediocre?Is Myles Turner ready to be the face of the franchise? Have the Pacers put him in a position to actually succeed?What is a good season for Turner? What can Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis do to make fans feel better about the return package for George?Why not just pull the plug and commit fully to a rebuild? Why is Indiana a "never rebuild" market? Does Indiana's past success building through the middle give the front office a false sense of their own abilities?Is Nate McMillan the right coach to shepherd this reconstruction?Happier thoughts! Which of the following Pacers teams is the best: 13-14, 03-04, 97-98, or 94-95?Which player from recent Pacers history not named Miller, O'Neal, or George would be best to add to this Pacers team?The all-important banana boat question.Sad predictions.Plus, some important chili and peanut butter talk. Very important. This is the 16th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Bulls NEXT UP: Blazers

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The Bulls 'picked a direction.' So did their fans

Wed, 06 Sep 2017 03:57:21 -0000

Oh, Bulls. What a rough summer. What a rough roster. What a rough fanbase. Ricky O'Donnell and Jason Patt from SB Nation, Blog a Bull, and FanRag Sports return for a bleak look at Chicago's fortunes this year. Topics include:The Bulls' biggest problem? They can't evaluate talent.So why'd they trade Jimmy Butler again? What is his legacy in Chicago? Is there any hope for the return package they got? Who's actually gonna play on this team? What will the rotation be?Have we mentioned that the fanbase doesn't have much confidence in the front office? Is there any way they will be fired?Slightly more positive thoughts: how about Lauri Markkanen in Eurobasket!Slightly less positive thoughts: so how good is Zach LaVine anyway?What's going on with Nikola Mirotic's contract situation?Who's this team's best player? Who's jersey should fans buy?Since we all know the Bulls are gunning for next year's draft, who should they pick anyway? Draft expert Ricky runs through the prospects.The all-important banana boat question.Very depressing predictions.This is the 15th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Heat NEXT UP: Pacers

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Will last season carry over? Heat fans sure hope so

Thu, 31 Aug 2017 04:18:49 -0000

The Miami Heat had two seasons in one last year. In Part I, they were terrible and went 11-30. In Part II, they ripped the league apart and went 30-11. The sum of that led to a narrow playoff miss, which leads to a simple question: which Heat team from last year is the real Heat team, especially after a summer where they paid up to bring the band back together. Kelly Cohen, a political reporter in D.C. who moonlights as a Heat fan, and Surya Fernandez from SB Nation's Heat site Hot Hot Hoops join us for this episode. Among the topics discussed:What happened last year to cause that second-half surge? Can Dion Waiters, James Johnson, and several others actually do that again?Are Heat fans feeling good about whiffing on a top free agent and pivoting to bring the gang back together? Kelly and Surya have mixed feelings on that.How good is Hassan Whiteside, really? Where is he in the center hierarchy?We torment our two guests with a difficult version of Max/Play/Trade with Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, and Rodney McGruder.Where does Erik Spoelstra rank in the coaching hierarchy?Simple question, complex answer: how do Heat fans feel about LeBron James?Which player's jersey should you buy from this year's team?We get to the customary banana boat question, throwing both off guard.Predictions (even if Kelly hates them), best-case scenarios, and more. This is the 14th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Nuggets NEXT UP: Bulls

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Learn to love Nikola Jokic with Nuggets fans

Tue, 29 Aug 2017 20:38:10 -0000

The Nuggets have one of the league's most fun stars, an up-and-coming roster, and now a marquee free agent that chose them. It's a fun time to jump aboard the bandwagon. (You listening, Denver? Get involved!). We're joined by Adam Mares of Denver Stiffs and the Locked on Nuggets podcast to preview one of the NBA's League Pass darlings. Among the topics discussed:Why doesn't Denver get excited about the Nuggets?Adam gets to gloat about Nikola Jokic because he was an early adopter.The Kevin Love trade that never happened, plus the addition of Paul Millsap.Rotation questions! Who starts at point guard? Do they have enough wing players? What's the deal with Mason Plumlee? Is this the year Kenneth Faried finally gets traded?Offensively, the Nuggets were awesome. Defensively ... not su much. Will that change this year.We spend more time gushing about Jokic because you can never do that too much.What's the best Nuggets team ever? Why Adam believes a different result in the 2009 West Finals does nothing to change Carmelo Anthony's final days in Denver.What does the franchise need to do to get fans more excited about this team? We go down a long road talking about the past, the present, and the future, with a look at Denver the city sprinkled in.Adam gets caught off guard by our customary banana boat question, which leads us down a long tangent.Predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and much more.This is the 13th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Pistons NEXT UP: Heat

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Pistons fans could use a little cheering up

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 10:52:35 -0000

Last year was supposed to be a big step forward for the Pistons. Instead, it was a major step back, and all the optimism from an encouraging 2015-16 season is gone. That's at least based on the response we got from our three Piston fan guests: SBNation.com deputy editor John Ketchum, SBNation.com social producer Kofie Yeboah, and Detroit Bad Boys editor Lazarus Jackson. Among the topics discussed:Same players. Same coach. Same mix. What the heck happened last year?Reggie Jackson had an awful year last year. Was it all because of his knee injury? Can he look more like 2015-16 Reggie Jackson this year?Were fans surprised that the Pistons ditched Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to then trade for Avery Bradley? This was the most upbeat part of the podcast, surprisingly enough.Stanley Johnson has to step up this year. How confident are fans that'll happen? (Not very confident)Andre Drummond ... sigh. That's all. To make this discussion worse, we play Max/Play/Trade with Reggie, Dre, and Stanley.An extended conversation about the pros and cons of the Pistons moving into a downtown arena.Bad Boys Pistons or 04 Pistons? Plus, how well would the 04 Pistons fare in the modern era?Some odd banana boat combinations.Bringing this back full circle: this is Year 4 of the Stan Van Gundy era. What are the chances this ends well?Plus, predictions, best/worst-case scenarios, and more sadness. C'mon, y'all. This is the 12th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Hornets NEXT UP: Nuggets

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Hornets fans want Kemba Walker to get more love

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 18:35:18 -0000

The Hornets followed up their fun 2015-16 season with an utterly frustrating 2016-17. How do they get back on track? We brought on SBNation.com's James Dator and At the Hive's Nicklaus Denning to talk about the following:What the heck happened last year? The Hornets seemed to be cruising toward another playoff berth, and then the bottom fell out. Why?Can Kemba Walker please get a little more love?Help us figure out Nicolas Batum, because we can't.Dwight Howard on the team, huh? Is this something Hornets fans are excited about? Will Steve Clifford get the most out of him?Is this the year Michael Kidd-Gilchrist becomes more than an interesting role player, or is this just who he is?Who else on the team can be expected to make a leap this year? Is Malik Monk ready? Jeremy Lamb? Someone else? Plus, some talk about the importance of the "Hornets" name, some Bobcats nostalgia you probably didn't ask for, your favorite banana boat question, and much more. This is the 11th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Pelicans NEXT UP: Pistons

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Kyrie Irving got traded? In late August? To the Celtics???

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 22:50:05 -0000

Friend of the pod Michael Pina of VICE Sports joins the show for an emergency Kyrie Irving trade discussion. We will return to your regularly scheduled team preview series shortly.

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Pelicans fans are nervous about this season, and they should be

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 14:56:03 -0000

This is a HUGE, HUGE year for the New Orleans Pelicans. DeMarcus Cousins is an impending free agent, the clock is ticking on Anthony Davis' long-term future with the franchise, and they need to win this year. Are they up for the challenge? Oleh Kosel and Travis Tate from SB Nation's Pelicans site The Bird Writes join us to talk through that apprehension. Topics!How well did the Davis/Cousins pairing actually work last year, and how can it work even better?What are the chances this roster is constructed better around them than last year's?How's the Jrue Holiday/Rajon Rondo pairing gonna work? Do the Pelicans have enough shooting around Davis and Cousins?How much confidence do Pelicans fans have in the franchise's infrastructure -- i.e. ownership, management, the medical staff, etc? (Answer: not much). Does it bug Pelicans fans that so many are mentally trading Anthony Davis to other teams already? If you had to reassign the original scary Pierre the Pelican to a job with the organization, what would it be?Our favorite banana boat question, which lightened the mood a bit.Then, a return to apprehension thanks to an extended conversation about the Saints, the Pelicans' unique place in the New Orleans sports hierarchy, and how it affects their roster decisions. This is the 10th of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Wolves NEXT UP: Hornets

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Wolves fans aren't used to this whole 'supposed to be good' thing

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 23:07:11 -0000

The Minnesota Timberwolves have expectations. Big expectations! That's what a summer of grabbing Jimmy Butler for very little and many more win-now moves will do to a team with two of the last four No. 1 picks. How will they deal with said expectations? We asked Eric Goldman and John Meyer of SB Nation Wolves site Canis Hoopus. Our topics:What's it like dealing with actual expectations of being a solid playoff team instead of hoping for good luck?Jimmy Butler is an awesome player. Are there any worries about how his personality will mesh with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins? (Answer: not really -- or, it's exactly what they need).We spend a lot of time talking about Wiggins because he's one of the most intriguing players in the league this season.What's the next step for Karl-Anthony Towns? Outside of Butler, did Thibodeau have a good offseason? Have fans come around on the Jeff Teague/Ricky Rubio swap?We play Timberwolves word association, because Ben really wanted to. If you could undo one terrible David Kahn move, what would it be? Plus, Mike unleashes his devastating Kahn/Steph Curry hypothetical.We figure out which three Timberwolves belong on everyone's banana boat, which quickly goes wayyyy off the rails.Predictions and more, which were far more sober than the hosts expected.This is the ninth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Mavs NEXT UP: Hornets or Pelicans

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Mavs fans have a fun, young team for once. That's kinda cool

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:40:06 -0000

The Mavericks have quietly embraced an on-the-fly youth movement and are in a position where expectations are relatively low. That's a new world for Mavs fans, and they're embracing it. SBNation.com's Tim Cato and Mavs Moneyball's Kirk Henderson join Mike to discuss the following topics:The Mavs have an actual future now! Maybe not like a future title winner, but a fun youngish core nonetheless.Are we getting too far ahead of ourselves with Dennis Smith Jr., or should we shut up and just enjoy him? (The latter).What's going on with Nerlens Noel? Why hasn't he re-signed yet? Are fans worried?How good is Harrison Barnes, exactly?Has management done enough to regain the trust of the fanbase after Plan Powder kinda fell flat year after year?Oh yeah, let's talk about Dirk. Suppose you put Dirk at his absolute best (whenever that is) on this Mavs team. How high would they be in the West?What will Dirk's next job title be once he retires?If Mavs fans had a chance to do it all over, would they have preferred keeping the 2011 championship team together or breaking it up like they did?Which three Mavs would you want on your banana boat? (Dirk and Steve Nash should be shoo-ins, but who else joins them?)Plus, predictions, best/worst case, making fun of Tim being super young, and way more. This is the eighth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Kings NEXT UP: Timberwolves

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Kings fans have moved past DeMarcus Cousins ... sorry, "No. 15"

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 13:44:33 -0000

It feels weird talking about the Kings without talking about DeMarcus Cousins Boogie "15", but it's a new era and it's time for everyone to move on. Tony Xypteras of Sactown Royalty and Kenny Caraway from the K.C.'s Corner podcast join Mike to preview the new era of the Kings. Among the topics discussed:The mood of the fanbase in a word and the fanbase's appetite for a fresh start.Why it meant a lot that De'Aaron Fox explicitly wanted to be drafted by the Kings.What's the level of confidence in the Kings' long-unstable front office?How much of an impact will the new old heads the Kings signed (Z-Bo, Vince, George Hill) make? Did the Kings go too far in signing vets, or are they exactly what the team needs?Can Kings fans take anything away from the performances by the young guys down the stretch last year?Max/Play/Trade: Buddy Hield, Skal Labissiere, Willie Cauley-Stein.Is there too much pressure on Fox to be the face of a new era amid all the dysfunction that came before him?If Fox is the first jersey Kings fans should buy, who is No. 2? It might be a name you wouldn't expect.OK we talk about Boogie "15" one more time with a fun hypothetical: what if he and Chris Webber switched eras? How would both of their careers be impacted? How would Boogie "15" impact the harmony of the early-00s Kings and how would Webber deal with the dysfunction of recent teams?Kenny thought way too hard about the three Kings in franchise history that he'd add to his banana boatPlus, predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and all that other good stuff. This is the seventh of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Magic NEXT UP: Mavs

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Magic fans are restless, just like they were last year ... and the year before that

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 01:37:25 -0000

It's not all that fun being an Orlando Magic fan after the rough year they had last year. Is there hope for the future, or are we doomed for another lost season post-Dwight Howard? Zach Oliver and Cory Hutson from Orlando Pinstriped Post jump on to discuss the following topics:What's the mood of the fanbase in a word? Can they dig themselves out of this salary-cap hole they created?Oh hey, it's been five years since the Dwight Howard trade. Total coincidence that we recorded this podcast on the anniversary. (We swear)How much trust is there in the new front office of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond to take the organization out of cap hell?Should the Magic have taken Dennis Smith Jr. instead of Jonathan Isaac?Which second-half performance was more encouraging: Elfrid Payton's, or Aaron Gordon's?What happened down the stretch last season that the national media missed, whether good or bad?We play Max/Hold/Trade (our version of Do/Marry/Kill) with Payton, Gordon, and Isaac.What's the deal with Mario Hezonja anyway?Would you rather have seen Shaq or Dwight Howard win a title in Orlando? Which era of great Magic basketball was closer to a title?What's the ultimate Magic NBA Jam team -- other than Penny/Shaq, of course.Why won't the Magic retire anyone's number?Who is on your all-time Magic banana boat, i.e. the three people you most want to hang out with on vacation?You have to buy one player's jersey from this current team. Who is it and why?Plus, predictions, best/worst case, and more. There's a scenario where Orlando slips into the playoffs! We swear! (Apologies for the poor audio quality on my mic. I forgot to plug it in. I wish I had a better excuse). This is the sixth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Knicks NEXT UP: Probably the Kings, but maybe the Timberwolves

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What's the mood of Knicks fans in one word? "Meh"

Thu, 10 Aug 2017 00:34:37 -0000

Knicks fans are ... well, there's been a lot of drama, and they're just trying to look on the bright side. Seth Rosenthal and Kristian Winfield from SBNation.com join us for this free-flowing Knicks preview. Topics include:The mood of the fanbase in a word, which is ... not negative, but not exactly positive either. It's been that weird of a year.Carmelo Anthony's played his last game in New York, right?Compared to previous sequences of Knicks drama, how optimistic are they that things will turn out better this time around?Is everything fine with Kristaps Porzingis now that Phil Jackson is gone? What do Knicks fans need to see from him in his third year? What is the ideal starting lineup for him?It's too early to say that Frank Ntilikina over Dennis Smith is a mistake, right? (Right).What should folks be looking for that may not be super obvious unless they watch the Knicks very closely?If you could add one player from Knicks history to add to this team, who would it be? Plus, a lot of other silly follow-up questions, mostly thanks to Mike.Who is on your all-time Knicks banana boat, i.e. the three players in Knicks history you'd want to vacation with? Seth: "Cheikh Sahm would like me. I feel like we'd get along."Best case, worst case, leading scorer, predictions and all that jazz. This is the fifth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: 76ers NEXT UP: Magic

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Sixers fans don't wanna hear your skepticism. Let them live

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 14:22:15 -0000

The 76ers have Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Markelle Fultz. The Process is bearing fruit. So you know where this is going. Mike mediated a very happy 76ers preview discussion with Ben, SBNation.com's Tyler Tynes, and Liberty Ballers editor Kyle Neubeck. Among the topics discussed:Is "The Process" over, or is it forever ongoing? How many new Process fans are jumping on board late? And obviously 76ers fans are excited about the season, so stop grumbling, Mike.How will Markelle Fultz, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid mesh?What should 76ers fans expect from Simmons this year? How much does his perimeter shooting actually matter? Would you rather have Joel Embiid stay healthy for five straight years, or not have to pay taxes during that same time period?What were some developments that the national media missed that'll matter for this year?Why the 76ers' decision to prevent Sevyn Streeter from singing the national anthem in a "We Matter" jersey was so troubling, even if they tried to rectify the situation. (If you don't know what this is about, read this)Does anything make 76ers fans nervous about the future? Ben talks about Jahlil Okafor, while Tyler notes the team's lack of transparency with injuries.Would you rather the organization re-hire Billy King as Bryan Colangelo's No. 2, or replace Brett Brown with Doug Collins? (Sorry, you have to choose)Which jersey should fans buy first: Fultz or Simmons?Say the 76ers are told that their fans are no longer allowed to use the phrase "The Process" or "Trust the Process." What should be the new 76ers fan slogan?Your all-time 76ers banana boat, featuring some interesting answers.Plus, predictions, best/worst case scenarios, and much more. This is the fourth of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Suns NEXT UP: Knicks

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Suns fans are pleading with ownership to follow #TheTimeline

Sun, 06 Aug 2017 22:55:23 -0000

The Suns are finally taking it slow and steady, much to their fans delight. It's birthed a new hashtag rally cry: #TheTimeline. But what is #TheTimeline and will a trade for Kyrie Irving potentially disrupt it? It's our Suns preview with Dave King (@DaveKingNBA) and Evan Sidery (@esidery) from SB Nation's Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun. Among the topics discussed:Where did #TheTimeline come from? Who are the core pieces of #TheTimeline?Why most Suns fans are down on the idea of trading for Kyrie Irving right now. (If you're a Suns fan tired of beating this topic into the ground, skip ahead to the 23-minute mark).What kind of coach is Earl Watson and why are so many missing the mark with him?Let's say you have to choose between Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss. Who do you take? Who are most Suns fans taking?What kind of season does Devin Booker need to put together to show he's taking the next step?Is Eric Bledsoe long for Phoenix? Why is he always on the block? Then, we have some fun with the following topics:Do/Marry/Kill: 1992-93 team, 2004-05 team, 2009-10 team?You can change one of the following four moments in recent Suns history: Joe Johnson's face injury in 2005, Robert Horry hip-checking Steve Nash in 2007, Tim Duncan hitting a game-winning 3 in 2008, or Metta World Peace's miracle tip-in in 2010. Which is it and why? And does Amar'e Stoudemire's knee surgery trump all of those?The Suns have asked you to pick this year's jersey sponsor. Who is it and why?Who is on your all-time Suns banana boat? (This led to Evan's odd fascination with reuniting Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Isaiah Thomas). Plus, predictions, best/worst case, and more. This is the third of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Lakers NEXT UP: 76ers

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Lakers fans are itching to be exceptional again

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:25:57 -0000

The Lakers will be a hot ticket because of Lonzo Ball. They have a fun young core, even though some wish D'Angelo Russell wasn't cast aside. They have dreams of LeBron James next summer. Beware. The monster is re-awakening. Mike missed this one, so in his place, Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) welcomed SBNation.com featured writer Zito Madu (@_Zeets) and the Silver Screen and Roll/Locked on Lakers dynamic duo of Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) and Anthony Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) to the show to dive into the revived Lakers. Among the topics discussed:What's the mood of a fanbase in a word? This year might be cool, but are Lakers fans looking ahead to next summer?The impact of Luke Walton on the team's young core.Brandon Ingram -- are we gonna start seeing star potential? Do we need to?Anthony vents about the D'Angelo Russell trade, because he's still mad.But other than that ... hey this was a good summer. KCP! Kyle Kuzma!Oh yeah, that Lonzo Ball guy. Probably should talk about him.Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle -- what happens to them now?A Lakers fan friend has enough money to buy the jersey of one player on the current team, and it can't be Lonzo or Ingram. Who is it and why?Who is on your Lakers all-time banana boat? (i.e., the players you'd love to hang out most with on a vacation).Would you accept an equity stake in Big Baller Brand in exchange for a) being LaVar Ball's publicist, and b) having to follow him around nearly all the time? Plus, predictions, your questions, and many more shenanigans. This is the second of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. PREVIOUSLY: Nets NEXT UP: Suns

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Nets fans enjoy being in the honeymoon stage of rebuilding

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 03:09:33 -0000

The Nets are going to be bad again, but fans are oddly in a good mood. Why? The team at least has a plan and doesn't have to worry about winning right now. We kick off our 30-team 2017-18 NBA preview with a look at the Nets with SBNation.com NBA reporter Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) and Nets Daily ace writer Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH). Topics on the docket:What's the mood of a fanbase in a word? Why do Nets fans seem so happy when the team is so bad?Is D'Angelo Russell going to be a frontline player for this franchise for years to come? What has to happen this year for fans to believe that's going to happen?How will the Russell/Jeremy Lin combination work in the backcourt?Will the Nets miss Brook Lopez?What makes Nets fans most excited? Most nervous?We play an NBA version of Do/Marry/Kill called Max/Play/Trade with the following three players: Caris LeVert, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Isaiah Whitehead.A Nets fan friend has enough money to buy the jersey of one player on the current team. Who is it and why?Where do we realistically see the Nets in five years? Everyone seems happier, but have they accomplished much in the rebuild thus far? What gives fans confidence about Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinson?What's the Nets' starting lineup in 2020?Who is on your Nets all-time banana boat? (i.e., the players you'd love to hang out most with on a vacation). PREDICTED RECORD: 31-51 (Kristian), 34-36 wins (Anthony), 20-25 wins (Mike) This is the of Limited Upside's 30 team previews leading up to next season. We're bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fanbase heading into the season. Next up: L.A. Lakers.

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The NBA Summer League totally matters! (OK, just a little)

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 00:42:24 -0000

SBNation.com NBA writers Tim Cato (@tim_cato) and Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) join the show to wrap up everything they saw at Summer League. Topics include: the Lonzo Ball show, Dennis Smith Jr., the young Suns, random dudes that impressed us, the Nets, the problem with the league's new two-way contract provision, and just how much does any of this mean anyway? This'll be our last episode until August 1, when we begin the 2017-18 SB Nation team-by-team preview series. With hosts Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) and Ben Epstein (@EppyBen).

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Mailbag! How will this new Rockets superteam work?

Tue, 11 Jul 2017 20:06:14 -0000

Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) and Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) answer a ton of reader questions about the NBA offseason and much more, including: -How good are the Rockets? Will they fit together? What about Melo? -Most important and most overrated offseason moves. -Anthony Davis' future in New Orleans -Should the NBA re-seed 1-16? Should they adopt Tom Ziller's plan? -Who will actually make the East All-Star team? -How much should Western Conference teams trade to switch conferences?

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Gordon Hayward makes the Celtics _____ much better

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 21:46:25 -0000

Danny Ainge got his guy, and we knew just the person to dial up. Longtime guest Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) of Vice Sports joins the show to break down the Celtics' coup of landing Gordon Hayward in free agency? How much does the addition of Hayward bolster the Celtics? What needs to happen now for Boston to fill out its roster around Hayward, Al Horford, and Isaiah Thomas? Does this vindicate Ainge's previous failures (if you even want to call them that) to get a star? What happens now in Ainge's grand master plan? With hosts Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) and Ben Epstein (@eppyben). (NOTE: we focused only on the Celtics in this podcast, so no Jazz talk).

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Pacers fans never have to talk about Paul George again! (Except on this podcast)

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 21:22:17 -0000

It's been a few days, so how are Pacers fans feeling about Paul George's departure and the meager trade package Kevin Pritchard received in return? We dialed up SBNation.com assistant NBA editor Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney) and Indy Cornrows lead writer Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) to talk through their emotions surrounding George's final days in Indy, the mishandling of the situation by the Pacers' front office, and whether George will get his number retired in Indiana. Plus, a brief detour into a bizarre strategy for eating peanut butter. With hosts Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) and Ben Epstein (@EppyBen).

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Ding Dong, the Phil Jackson witch is dead

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 00:01:16 -0000

James Dolan did it. He really fired Phil Jackson. Now, Knicks fans have hope again. Award-winning MMA journalist and longtime Knicks fan Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) joins Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN), Ben Epstein (@EppyBen), and SBNation.com NBA staff writer Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) to celebrate the news, ponder what's next for their beloved franchise, and ignore Mike's desperate attempts to pour cold water on their joy. You should also check out our podcast with Max Croes of SB Nation's Rockets site The Dream Shake on the Chris Paul trade.

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Chris Paul is a Rocket, and we have no idea what to think

Thu, 29 Jun 2017 22:15:55 -0000

How? How is Chris Paul on the Rockets? How is this possibly going to work with James Harden? We dialed up Max Croes (@CroesFire), a writer for SB Nation's Rockets site The Dream Shake (@DreamShakeSBN), to figure out how Daryl Morey pulled this heist off, what Mike D'Antoni can do to make this pairing work, and what Houston does next.

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SB Nation's 2017 NBA Draft Live Show

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 18:48:21 -0000

This is the audio-only version of SB Nation's 2017 NBA Draft live show, which ran during the lottery and featured live results, analysis, reactions, and jokes from a busy night in the NBA. To watch the video replay, visit SB Nation's Facebook page. Hosted by Dan Rubenstein (@DanRubenstein) and Elena Bergeron (@ElenaBergeron), and featuring NBA contributors Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN), Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky), Tyler Tynes (@tylerrickytynes), Zito Madu (@_Zeets), Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney), Seth Rosenthal (@seth_rosenthal), Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed), Tim Cato (@tim_cato), Matt Ellentuck (@mattellentuck), and Alex Rubenstein. Other segments: -An exclusive interview with LaVar Ball's long-lost brother, "LaMar Ball." Interview by Richard Johnson (@RJ_Writes). "LaMar Ball" played by Joe Ali (@draftdaydeion) -Welcome to your new (kinda not great) NBA city, hosted by Matt Ufford (@mattufford) -NBA Draft suit, Guy Fieri, or Boy Band game show, with Seth Rosenthal and Jessica Smetana (@jessica_smetana) -Can these people eat a 7-foot pizza before Lauri Markkanen is selected? Featuring Joe Ali, Richard Johnson, Alex Rubenstein, and Russ Oates.

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NBA Draft recap: WTF, Bulls?

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 04:14:57 -0000

Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN), Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky), Tyler Tynes (@tylerrickytynes), Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney), Tim Cato (@tim_cato), and Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) on the Jimmy Butler trade, how sad the Bulls are, the Timberwolves' intriguing future, Andrew Wiggins' future, the Pacers failing to pull the trigger on a Paul George trade, Dennis Smith to Dallas, Markelle Fultz, the Celtics' gamble, the 76ers' upside, and so much more.

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The NBA offseason is already dunk

Thu, 22 Jun 2017 00:24:38 -0000

The SB Nation NBA writing team takes over the podcast to talk about the latest Paul George rumors, the D'Angelo Russell trade to the Nets, the sad Dwight Howard deal, these ridiculous Kristaps Porzingis rumors, and more. Featuring Ben Epstein (@EppyBen), Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN), Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney), Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed), and Tim Cato (@tim_cato).

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NBA Draft preview with Ricky O'Donnell: What are the Celtics doing?

Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:52:08 -0000

The 2017 NBA Draft is off to a weird start after the Celtics traded the No. 1 pick to the 76ers. SB Nation draft guru Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) joins the show to talk about why the 76ers landed a home run with Markelle Fultz and wonder what the Celtics are up to. Plus, we review the top prospects in this draft, including Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, De'Aaron Fox, Malik Monk, and more. With hosts Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN)

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Zach Harper joins to play NBA Would You Rather

Fri, 16 Jun 2017 21:48:31 -0000

We're bored of NBA Finals talk and it's too early to think about the draft, so we brought on FanRag Sports' Zach Harper (@talkhoops) to burn through a series of alternate realities. Topics include: would you rather have Stephen Curry on the Wolves if it meant keeping David Kahn; the four Warrior All-Stars vs. the 2012 Bobcats in a game of 4-on-5; 40-year-old MJ vs. 40-year-old LeBron; and much more serious (and silly) ones.

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NBA Finals recap: The Warriors will probably be kings for a while

Tue, 13 Jun 2017 21:38:26 -0000

Regular guests Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) of VICE Sports and Mo Dakhil (@TheJumpBallNet), a former NBA video coordinator, join the show to recap the Warriors' five-game series victory, pay tribute to Kevin Durant, wonder if anyone can stop the Warriors in the next five years, and complain about former players complaining about the Warriors.

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The Warriors are incredible, but are they actually interesting?

Wed, 07 Jun 2017 03:12:51 -0000

Frequent guest Zito Madu (@_Zeets) joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to discuss the first two games of the NBA Finals, whether Zito's opinion that the Warriors are less interesting has any merit, Kevin Durant's coronation, and much more. Plus, the crew makes fun of Mike's fractured elbow (jerks) and veers into weird soccer/basketball crossover talk.

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The 2017 NBA Finals, where familiarity breeds a lot of contempt

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 03:47:30 -0000

It's the Finals! Warriors! Cavs! Threematch! We invited mortal frenemies Bram Kincheloe (@BramKincheloe) and Ryan Mourton (@Ryan_Mourton), editors for SB Nation's Warriors (@unstoppablebaby) and Cavaliers (@FeartheSword) blogs, to get into fan psychology, key matchups, what annoys each about the other's fanbase, and much more. Plus, predictions!

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The magic and chaos of the Warriors' offense

Tue, 23 May 2017 23:36:27 -0000

Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA), the terrific NBA writer for ESPN's FiveThirtyEight, joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to discuss the artistry of the Warriors' unique offense, why the key to understanding them is noticing how they set screens, and why nobody can duplicate Golden State's egalitarian style. Plus, a brief Finals preview and how Chris (and Mike) write about Xs and Os and analytics in an interesting way.

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These lame NBA Playoffs, All-NBA talk, '12 Heat vs. '17 Cavs, and more

Fri, 19 May 2017 02:08:55 -0000

SB Nation Internet celebrity Seth Rosenthal (@seth_rosenthal) joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to discuss these underwhelming NBA Playoffs and whether we'll get the big Warriors-Cavs payoff at the end. Plus, some Cavs-Cs talk, a fun hypothetical posed by a listener, live reaction to the all-NBA teams, Knicks/draft talk, and other nonsense.

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Something finally goes right for the Celtics and Lakers

Wed, 17 May 2017 13:14:04 -0000

In this two-part NBA draft lottery reaction podcast, Celtics Blog's Jeff Clark (@celticsblog) joins Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to celebrate Boston getting the No. 1 pick, assess what this means for Isaiah Thomas' future, and consider the zillions of options at Danny Ainge's disposal now. At the 22:45 mark, Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) of Silver Screen and Roll (@LakersSBN) and the Locked on Lakers podcast (@LockedonLakers), jumps on to thank the heavens for the Lakers' lottery luck, consider what drafting Lonzo Ball could mean for D'Angelo Russell, and break down the Paul George situation.

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The Raptors got their butts kicked. Now what?

Mon, 08 May 2017 21:14:57 -0000

Fresh off a trip to Toronto to watch the Raptors' season end, SB Nation's Paul Flannery (@PFlanns) joins the show to ponder the Raptors' future, discuss the key storylines in the Celtics-Wizards season, and plead for anyone to give Cleveland a game.

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The Celtics and Wizards are gonna piss each other off

Sat, 29 Apr 2017 23:15:17 -0000

The series between the two pettiest rivals in the NBA is upon us. Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina), newly minted VICE Sports writer and Boston Celtics devotee, joins Ben and Mike to discuss the nastiest series of the second round: Wizards vs. Celtics. Later, we touch on the other two second-round series already set (Spurs-Rockets, Raptors-Cavs) and argue about the simplicity of boxing.

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The return of PEAK RUSS and the Bulls' improbable revival

Fri, 21 Apr 2017 12:53:27 -0000

Ben's gone this week, so SB Nation NBA editor Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) brought on The Sports Fan Journal's Eddie Maisonet (@edthesportsfan) to chat about what Russell Westbrook's erratic 51-point triple double says about him, the team, and the way we talk about Russ the basketball player. Later, SB Nation's Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) joins the show to glee about the Bulls' 2-0 lead over the Celtics and ponder Boston's next move.

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The biggest Xs and Os questions of the Western Conference Playoffs

Fri, 14 Apr 2017 03:36:34 -0000

Mo Dakhil (@theJumpBallnet), a former video coordinator for the Spurs and Clippers, joins the show to dissect the biggest questions in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. This is Part II of our two-part NBA Playoff preview podcast. Check back in the feed for the East preview.

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The biggest Xs and Os questions of the Eastern Conference Playoffs

Fri, 14 Apr 2017 03:00:47 -0000

Mo Dakhil (@theJumpBallnet), a former video coordinator for the Spurs and Clippers, joins the show to dissect the biggest questions in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. This is Part I of our two-part NBA Playoff preview podcast. Next up: the West.

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The great SB Nation NBA MVP podcast debate

Tue, 11 Apr 2017 23:17:36 -0000

SB Nation staff writers Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed), Tim Cato (@tim_cato), and Zito Madu (@_Zeets) join Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to each argue for one of the four main NBA MVP candidates. They present opening statements and hear cross examinations before Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) declares a winner.

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The NBA Playoff matchups we want to see

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 21:51:15 -0000

Ben Epstein and Mike Prada dive through the NBA Playoff picture, why we hope the matchups we currently have don't change much, why Jazz-Clippers excites us more than Harden vs. Westbrook (sorry, Rockets-Thunder), unwritten rules of basketball, the tank-off at the bottom and much more.

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The Cavaliers are a bunch of clownfrauds

Fri, 31 Mar 2017 19:56:41 -0000

Chris Manning (@cmnwrites) from SB Nation's Cavaliers site Fear the Sword joins Mike and Ben to figure out how much we should be worried about the Cavaliers' recent struggles. Do we really think that someone in the East can knock them off this time?

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Why is there so much outrage about NBA teams resting their stars?

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 19:31:45 -0000

ESPN True Hoop podcast personality Big Wos (@BigWos) joins Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) and Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) to discuss the outcry over the Warriors and Cavaliers resting their stars, the league's warped incentive structure, and why the Warriors are vulnerable in the playoffs.

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NCAA Tournament preview: Because basketball is everywhere

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 19:06:36 -0000

We kicked Mike off the show and brought on SB Nation college hoops guru Ricky O'Donnell to preview March Madness. Ben and Ricky run through their favorite bracket busters, mid-majors to watch, the players you need to know, and make their Final 4 picks.

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What the NBA MVP award says about the human condition

Fri, 10 Mar 2017 03:02:27 -0000

Frequent guest Tim Cato (@tim_cato) joins us to discuss the epic Rockets-Spurs game he saw in person on Monday, Kawhi Leonard's MVP candidacy, and what a person's MVP preference says about them. Yes, we get existential about the MVP. Plus, we pay tribute to Dirk Nowitzki's amazing career and dive into the Mavericks' resurgence.

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Kevin Durant's injury, the Sixers' busted injury Process, and MVP arguing

Thu, 02 Mar 2017 18:30:35 -0000

Frequent guest Zito Madu (@_Zeets) joins the show to discuss the Warriors' chances without Kevin Durant, the pesky world of injury timetables, the 76ers misleading the public with Joel Embiid, the state of The Process, and why Russell Westbrook is the MVP.

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Trade deadline recap, Paul George's future, more Sixers angst

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 03:16:10 -0000

Ben and Mike run through the big storylines from the NBA trade deadline, including the Celtics standing pat and the bizarre Bulls moves. Then, SB Nation assistant NBA editor and Pacers fan Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney) jumps on to talk through the Paul George situation (25:15 mark). Finally, Michael Levin (@Michael_Levin), the co-host of the Rights To Ricky Sanchez podcast and the founder of Liberty Ballers, joins us to vent about the awful Nerlens Noel trade (43:53 mark).

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We're so sorry, Kings fans

Mon, 20 Feb 2017 20:11:32 -0000

The great Tom Ziller (@teamziller) joins us to dissect the DeMarcus Cousins trade to the Pelicans from all angles. Tom's a Kings fan, so this got dark very fast.

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Let's make NBA All-Star Weekend great(er) again

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 17:24:07 -0000

SB Nation social editor Kofie Yeboah (@KofieYeboah) and SB Nation NBA assistant editor Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney) join the show to brainstorm ways to improve All-Star Weekend. Rock 'N Jock in the All-Star Game? A regional 3 on 3 battle? Professional dunkers in the dunk contest? Fastest man with the ball competition? Plus, we each make our picks for the weekend's breakout star.

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We talk about whatever NBA topics you want

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 04:09:38 -0000

We couldn't figure out a rundown for this week's show, so we asked you to give us one. Topics include: that bonkers Wizards-Cavaliers game, the top threat to Cleveland in the East, the Pacers' rise, how trade rumors happen, the latest Phil Jackson/Carmelo Anthony drama, Matthew Dellavedova's signature shoes and more.

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Break up the Wizards! (Actually, please don't)

Thu, 02 Feb 2017 14:25:22 -0000

Several weeks ago, we left the Wizards for dead. Now, they're the NBA's hottest team and are dreaming of a deep playoff run. What's changed? We spoke with J Michael (@JMichaelCSN), the Wizards' best reporter for Comcast Sports Net, to get an insider's look at how Washington turned things around. Topics include: Scott Brooks' impact compared to Randy Wittman, the bridging of the John Wall/Bradley Beal "feud" (if that's what we want to call it), the next steps with the roster, the return of fan enthusiasm at the Verizon Center, and much more.

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Who will get snubbed from the NBA All-Star Game?

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 03:47:30 -0000

With Mike sidelined due to real life matters, Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and friend of the show Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) reveal their All-Star picks and who they expect will come up short when the final teams are announced. (Note from Mike P.: I don't actually think Dwight Howard should be an All-Star. I guess I'd pick Paul Millsap. Just wanted some variety from the Joel Embiid happy fest).

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The 76ers are making that title run we all expected

Mon, 23 Jan 2017 12:37:20 -0000

The Sixers are actually winning, so we had to indulge Ben's appetite and talk about them for a whole podcast. Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck), the managing editor of SB Nation's 76ers blog Liberty Ballers, joins the show to talk about Joel Embiid's emergence, Ben Simmons' impending return, Jahlil Okafor's awkward state, Bryan Colangelo's rep in Philly, and #RaiseTheCat

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Let's assess the state of the Warriors-Cavs "rivalry"

Wed, 18 Jan 2017 04:40:23 -0000

Bram Kincheloe (@BramKincheloe) and Ryan Mourton (@Ryan_Mourton), the social media managers for SB Nation's Warriors (@unstoppablebaby) and Cavaliers (@FearTheSword) blogs, join Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to talk about ... well, anything Cavs-Warriors that's not directly related to Monday's game. Besides trading insults at each other, the trio talks about LeBron James' reluctance to call this a "rivalry" and the larger socio-economic undertones of the matchup. Plus, what could possibly derail a third straight Finals showdown? And will there be another bet between the two sites? We also kick the show off with Bram's live reaction to the Warriors unveiling dancing cranes for their new arena groundbreaking.

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Are these NBA teams (and players) actually good?

Thu, 05 Jan 2017 00:00:46 -0000

Eh, who knows? Anyway, SB Nation Internet master Seth Rosenthal (@seth_rosenthal) joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) in studio to answer a simple question about a bunch of teams and players, because we couldn't think of another podcast theme. Topics include the Rockets (yes, they're good), Bucks, Celtics, Knicks, Bulls, Hawks, Pacers, Thunder, Grizzlies, and more. Plus: Andrew Wiggins, Victor Oladipo, Andre Drummond, and other players.

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Tanking teams are already salivating over these NBA Draft prospects

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 10:00:00 -0000

Are you a fan of a bad NBA team? You'll enjoy this discussion of the top prospects in college basketball this season with Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and SB Nation college hoops editor Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky). Ricky gives us the lowdown on players like Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr., Lonzo Ball, Josh Jackson, Jonathan Isaac, Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles, Frank Ntilikina, Terrance Ferguson, and more. This episode is sponsored by MailChimp. Twelve million people use MailChimp to connect with their customers, market their products, and grow their e-commerce businesses every day. MailChimp: send better email, sell more stuff.

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A Warriors-Cavs game that good deserves a thorough breakdown

Wed, 28 Dec 2016 00:43:59 -0000

Mo Dakhil (@TheJumpBallNet), a former video coordinator for the Clippers, Spurs, and Australian National Team, joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) for an in-depth, Xs and Os breakdown of that great Cavs-Warriors Christmas thriller. If you love talking about schemes and strategy, this is the podcast for you. This episode is sponsored by MailChimp. Twelve million people use MailChimp to connect with their customers, market their products, and grow their e-commerce businesses every day. MailChimp: send better email, sell more stuff.

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The only NBA Christmas preview you need

Fri, 23 Dec 2016 04:28:19 -0000

Presumptuous? Probably. Oh well. Anyway, longtime friend of the show Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) of a thousand different basketball websites joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to preview the NBA's five-day Christmas slate. 1:50: Knicks-Celtics. Is there something wrong in Boston, or do the Celtics just need to get healthy? And let's talk about Kristaps, because that's fun. 13:53: Warriors-Cavs. Finals rematch! Are these teams going to show their hands to each other? Is there any reason to worry about some of Cleveland's recent wobbles? How much will Kevin Durant alter this rivalry? Who has more to prove? 24:05: Bulls-Spurs. Ugh, this game's gonna be bad, isn't it? Let's move on. 28:50: Timberwolves-Thunder. Mostly, we talk about whether the NBA made a mistake putting the Wolves on Christmas. 34:57: Clippers-Lakers. Blake Griffin's injuries are scary, aren't they? Have we seen the best of him already? What happens if the Clippers hang in there again with him out? Plus, what do we think of Brandon Ingram so far? This episode is sponsored by MailChimp. Twelve million people use MailChimp to connect with their customers, market their products, and grow their e-commerce businesses every day. MailChimp: send better email, sell more stuff.

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The Wizards are (kind of) back, the Nerlens Noel mess and All-Stars

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 03:59:35 -0000

Sports Illustrated NBA writer/podcaster Andrew Sharp (@andrewsharp) joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to discuss the revived Wizards (well, kinda) and the messy Nerlens Noel situation in Philadelphia. Then, the trio picks their early All-Star starters. (We get a vote! Sorta! Actually, not really!). This episode is sponsored by MailChimp. Twelve million people use MailChimp to connect with their customers, market their products, and grow their e-commerce businesses every day. MailChimp: send better email, sell more stuff.

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Is it time for these 5 NBA teams to tank? Plus, the CBA is done!

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 05:46:42 -0000

In this two-part podcast, Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) chat with SB Nation's Tim Cato (@tim_cato) about whether it's time for the Wizards, Mavericks, Heat, Nuggets, and Timberwolves should give up playoff hopes and pack it in. Then, SB Nation NBA columnist Tom Ziller (@teamziller) jumps on to explain the new CBA and celebrate a lockout-free world. This episode is sponsored by MailChimp. Twelve million people use MailChimp to connect with their customers, market their products, and grow their e-commerce businesses every day. MailChimp: send better email, sell more stuff.

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Warriors-Clippers wrap, remembering the CP3 veto and HOLY GIANNIS

Fri, 09 Dec 2016 04:59:30 -0000

Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) discuss key takeaways from the Warriors' beatdown of the Clippers, honor the five-year anniversary of David Stern famously vetoing the Chris Paul trade to the Lakers, and take a last look back at Klay Thompson's 60-pointer. Then, Frank Madden, the editor of SB Nation's Bucks blog Brew Hoop (@brewhoop) and the host of the Locked On Bucks podcast, joins the show to dive into the Giannis Antetokounmpo phenomenon.

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The Knicks are who we thought they were. Well, kinda

Fri, 02 Dec 2016 04:23:13 -0000

Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed), the newest member of the SB Nation NBA team, joins Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) to discuss the Knicks' interesting start to the season, what the young Timberwolves are lacking, whether Russell Westbrook is really going to average a triple double and much, much more.

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You're damn right we're going nuts over Joel Embiid

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 04:52:53 -0000

Ben Epstein (@EppyBen) and Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) riff on our favorite and least favorite stories of the first month of the NBA season, including Joel "The Process" Embiid, the frustrating start to the Wizards' season, all the new stars in the East, James Harden's offensive mastery, the confusing Timberwolves, and more.

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All of these great NBA stories are real and will never end. (We hope).

Wed, 16 Nov 2016 04:26:47 -0000

Hey, we went an hour without talking about the Warriors! The Internet's Michael Pina joins us to talk about the ferocious Clippers, the fun-loving Lakers, the brilliant James Harden, and the red-hot DeMar DeRozan. Plus, can the Pelicans help Anthony Davis, and will the Kings ever stop being the Kings?

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It feels like every NBA team has a star

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 08:02:00 -0000

What a damn first week in the NBA! SBNation.com writer at-large Zito Madu joins the show to discuss the Warriors' early struggles, Kawhi Leonard's career highs, Anthony Davis' sad plight in New Orleans, whether the Thunder's performance actually matters to those of us just here for Russell Westbrook's revenge tour, and the irony of the league having so many different teams with stars despite its "superteam" reputation.

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2016-17 NBA Western Conference Over/Under predictions

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 09:00:00 -0000

Ben and Mike run predict every Western Conference team's record and make some bold calls for season-ending awards.

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2016-17 Eastern Conference Over/Under predictions

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:00:00 -0000

Ben makes his triumphant return to the show and joins Mike to run through over/under predictions for every Eastern Conference team, including Ben's beloved 76ers and Mike's Wizards.

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Warriors fans insist their super team is great for the NBA

Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:27:26 -0000

Is there much to say about the Warriors on the court, other than that they'll dominate? Probably not, so we spent much of our time with Golden State of Mind's Bram Kincheloe discussing bigger-picture matters. Namely: why Bram thinks Kevin Durant's arrive is great for the NBA, despite what many others would say. We also discuss fan reactions to Durant's signing, whether a recent ESPN article about Draymond Green's abrasive leadership is cause for concern and how the Warriors will approach the regular season. How many wins will the Warriors get this year? Bram thinks they'll take their foot off the gas in the regular season, while Mike thinks they'll walk into 70 wins anyway. This is the 30th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. If you want to gauge the temperature of every team's fanbase before the season starts, you'll want to check this series out. You won't get deeper on-the-ground analysis anywhere else. Click this link for each episode. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast

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Cavs fans know never to doubt LeBron James again

Fri, 21 Oct 2016 15:40:06 -0000

The defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers (wow that's a weird phrase to type) return with a unique challenge on their hands: how do they stay motivated when they're the clear favorite in the East and can turn it on whenever they want? Chris Manning, an editor at Fear the Sword and the Locked On Cavaliers podcast, joins the show to run through his emotions after that Game 7 victory, dissect the offseason moves, ponder Kevin Love's fit on the team and wonder what sort of approach LeBron James will take to the regular season after an NBA Finals for the ages. This is the 29th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Last up: the Golden State Warriors

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Spurs fans seem apprehensive about a post-Tim Duncan world

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 16:05:34 -0000

Spurs fans know they have serious first-world problems, but for the first time in a while, the franchise does appear to be in transition. Will the post-Tim Duncan era go smoothly, or are there already warning signs that things won't exactly be the same? To help us find out, longtime Pounding the Rock writer Michael Erler joins the show to discuss the staying power of "Spurs culture," why LaMarcus Aldridge trade rumors have popped up, the addition of Pau Gasol, rotation holes that must be filled and whether Kawhi Leonard can carry the franchise torch. It's an interesting time to be a Spurs fan now. This is the 28th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Thunder fans are still angry at Kevin Durant. Maybe angrier

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 20:16:56 -0000

The sting from Kevin Durant's departure won't go away anytime soon for Oklahoma City fans. In this special episode, Marina Mangiaracina and Chris Hanneke of Welcome to Loud City explain why they're more upset at Durant now than when he first departed. Also, we ponder Russell Westbrook's hero status in the city and the intriguing roster he now must lead. Do the Thunder have enough shooting? Will Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis help them forget about Serge Ibaka? Will their historically-great rebounding make up for their other holes? This is the 27th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the San Antonio Spurs.

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Raptors fans love having a team even Drake can bandwagon

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 04:01:59 -0000

Daniel Reynolds, the editor of SB Nation's Raptors HQ, jumps on to discuss if Toronto can duplicate its franchise-best season. Why did Raptors fans perceive disrespect during Toronto's playoff run? Can Kyle Lowry match his amazing 2015-16 season? Should the Raptors have ponied up for DeMar DeRozan instead of letting him walk? How will they replace Bismack Biyombo? What's the fanbase's feeling on Dwane Casey? Plus, key playing time issues and an in-depth discussion about Drake's dwindling role as the team's ambassador. This is the 26th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Of course Clippers fans don't want to break up the best team in franchise history

Fri, 14 Oct 2016 08:00:00 -0000

"Is this it for the CP3/Blake/DeAndre Clippers?" is a question we seem to ask every year. Lucas Hann, the editor of SB Nation Clippers blog Clips Nation, is tired of hearing about it. In this episode, we talk about LA's past playoff failures, the return of Blake Griffin, the team's shaky depth behind the Core 4, and, yes, whether this really is this group's last chance to break through to the conference finals and beyond. This is the 25th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Celtics fans are gearing up for another run at LeBron James

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 21:26:21 -0000

Jeff Clark, the dean of Celtics blogging (and really NBA blogging as a whole) joins the show to discuss the rising power in Boston. How much of a difference will Al Horford make? Is this finally the year they light up fireworks and make a big trade? What does Isaiah Thomas do for an encore? Why are so many Celtics fans excited about Terry Rozier of all players? Plus: is Brad Stevens really a genius, and could they really push for the No. 1 seed in the East if the Cavaliers take it easy until May and June? This is the 24th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Los Angeles Clippers.

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Hawks fans aren't so sure about this Dwight Howard thing

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 03:58:18 -0000

Brad Rowland, an editor at Peachtree Hoops and the host of the Locked On Podcast, joined Mike to dissect a very different Hawks team. Among the topics discussed: the decision to let Al Horford walk, whether there's a scenario that the Dwight Howard signing actually works out, elevating Dennis Schroder to the point guard position, how Mike Budenholzer has to change the team's style to accommodate new personnel, and much more. Plus: some ideas to follow up the Hawks' famous Tinder night promotion. This is the 23rd of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Boston Celtics.

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Hornets fans trust Steve Clifford unconditionally after last year's sorcery

Thu, 06 Oct 2016 08:00:00 -0000

Even wild optimists didn't see the Hornets winning 48 games last year. What will Charlotte do for an encore? Chris Barnewall of At The Hive joins Mike to talk about why pace-and-space worked, whether the Hornets retained enough of their core this summer to at least tread water, how Kemba Walker can build on last season and what can be expected from a healthy Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Plus, we take turns doing terrible impressions of Hornets' excitable play-by-play man Eric Collins. This is the 22nd of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Atlanta Hawks.

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No Dwyane Wade? No Chris Bosh? This'll be weird for Heat fans

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 03:10:22 -0000

Surya Fernandez, the managing editor of Hot Hot Hoops, joins the show to discuss the sad Chris Bosh situation, why the Heat moved on from Dwyane Wade and what Heat fans should expect from the rag-tag group that remains. Plus: everyone congratulate Ben, who will be away from the pod for the next month for a very good reason. This is the 21st of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Charlotte Hornets.

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Indiana fans are ready for Paul George to set the Pace(rs).

Sun, 02 Oct 2016 23:30:00 -0000

You knew we couldn't go through this 30-team series without a pun, right? Anyway, Tom Lewis of Indy Cornrows and the Locked On Pacers podcast joins us to answer whether Frank Vogel got a raw deal, how Nate McMillan will change the team's style, whether this year's offseason facelift will work and what Paul George needs to do to cement his status as a top-7, top-8 player. This is the 20th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Miami Heat.

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Pistons fans are waiting for Andre Drummond to put it all together

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0000

Jordan Bellant, who hosts the Detroit Bad Boys podcast, joins the show to preview one of the NBA's rising young teams. How happy are Pistons fans that the team is finally headed in the right direction? What do we make of Stan Van Gundy's bench makeover? Will we see a leap from Stanley Johnson and Tobias Harris? How good is Reggie Jackson? Most importantly, can Andre Drummond finally capitalize on his immense potential and play like a superstar? This was one of those weird podcasts where the hosts were more optimistic than the guest. This is the 19th of 30 podcasts previewing each team with writers from SB Nation's communities. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Indiana Pacers.

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Blazers fans can't stop arguing about Evan Turner, so why not argue some more?

Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:50:05 -0000

Chris Lucia, the host of the Blazer's Edge Podcast, joins the show to analyze the Portland Trail Blazers after their dream 2015-16 season. Why did they surprise all of us? What can they do for an encore? How good is Damian Lillard? How the heck does Evan Turner fit in? Who actually gets to play? Most importantly: did the Blazers really just spend a hundred gazillion dollars on a team that tops out at a conference Finals contender? This is the 18th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Detroit Pistons.

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Mavs fans see no reason why Dirk Nowitzki will ever slow down

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 19:00:52 -0000

Mavs Moneyball editor and SBNation.com NBA contributor Tim Cato joins the show to talk about the ageless Dirk Nowitzki, the additions of the less desired 40 percent of the Warriors' starting lineup (Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes) and whether the Mavericks can somehow will their way to a playoff spot again. This is the 17th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Portland Trail Blazers.

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Grizzlies fans have already moved past Grit 'N Grind

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0000

Joe Mullinax, editor of SB Nation's Grizzlies blog Grizzly Bear Blues, joins the show to preview one of the most difficult teams to predict next season. If Grit 'N Grind as we once knew it is dead, what evolves to take its place? Can Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons and Marc Gasol stay healthy? What can fans expect from new coach David Fizdale? Plus: if anyone from the Grizzlies is listening, can we have one of those Memphis Sounds jerseys? This is the 16th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Dallas Mavericks.

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Rockets fans insist we'll fall in love with James Harden again this year

Wed, 21 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0000

Ethan Rothstein of SB Nation's Rockets site The Dream Shake joins the show to discuss last year's clown show, the hiring of Mike D'Antoni, the impact of new additions like Ryan Anderson and Eric Gordon, and, most importantly, why James Harden is poised to return with a vengeance this year. For once, Mike actually agrees that a team will overachieve! This is the 15th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Memphis Grizzlies

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Bulls fans can't help but laugh at this incredibly bizarre roster

Fri, 16 Sep 2016 08:00:00 -0000

Ricky O'Donnell, SBNation.com's college hoops editor, and Jason Patt, managing editor for Today's Fast Break and a Blog-A-Bull contributor, join the show to make sense of a profoundly odd Bulls offseason. There's no way the Rajon Rondo-Dwyane Wade-Jimmy Butler trio works, right? What exactly can Fred Hoiberg do to fit the pieces together? Will the rest of the roster, which actually features some promising young players, be marginalized? Is Jimmy Butler really empowered to lead this bunch? Plus, your questions, terrible Cristiano Felicio puns and our predictions. This is the 14th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Houston Rockets

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Wizards fans have modest expectations because they don't want to get hurt again

Wed, 14 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0000

The Wizards are Mike's favorite team, so this is the episode of the Limited Upside countdown we've long anticipated. To help us, Michael Sykes and Lyndie Wood from SB Nation's Wizards blog Bullets Forever jump on to discuss what went wrong last year, why this summer's Kevin Durant whiff stings, what the offseason additions (and new coach Scott Brooks) can do to improve the team and whether there's any reason to worry about the tension between John Wall and Bradley Beal. Plus, plenty of Xs and Os talk, your questions and an odd sequence where the one non-Wizards fan (Ben) predicted a better win-loss record than the three Wizards supporters. This is the 13th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Chicago Bulls

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Jazz fans are trying very hard to temper expectations. It's not working

Tue, 13 Sep 2016 16:06:52 -0000

Hey, it's an actual good team! Two editors from SB Nation's Jazz site SLC Dunk join the show to discuss why Utah fell short last year, how the rotation should play out and potential pitfalls that could prevent such a loaded team on paper from becoming a factor in the West. Plus, why Joe Ingles will be the team's breakout social media star. This is the 12th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Washington Wizards

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Confused by the Magic's strange summer? So are Magic fans

Fri, 09 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0000

Zach Oliver and Cory Hudson from SB Nation's Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post join the show to talk about the Magic's baffling summer. Why are they making so many moves that don't make sense together? Bismack Biyombo? Jeff Green? Is there any reason to expect that this strange roster actually comes together? Who is supposed to score on this team? Can Aaron Gordon at least make a jump into stardom? We also talk about Orlando's awful new alternate uniforms, declining stadium experience and why they need a sponsored giveaway to encourage the team to get to the free-throw line. Plus, Zach compares the team's summer to bitter craft beers over-stuffed with hops. Everything's going GREAT in Orlando. This is the 11th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Utah Jazz Just for the record, here are the BeerAdvocate pages for the drinks Zach mentioned: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/27077/81301/ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/31805/113976/ https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35575/127384/

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Kings fans know this year will define the DeMarcus Cousins era

Wed, 07 Sep 2016 17:15:06 -0000

Akis Yerocostas and Tony Xypertas from SB Nation's Kings blog Sactown Royalty join the show to take stock of Sacramento's current feeling on DeMarcus Cousins, vent about the organization's ongoing instability and assess the chances of the team finally taking a step forward and salvaging the Boogie Era. This is the 10th of 30 podcasts examining each team's offseason and 2016-17 prospects with the members of SB Nation's team sites. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Click this link for past episodes. http://www.sbnation.com/limited-upside-nba-podcast Next up: the Orlando Magic.

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Bucks fans are ready to make their team weird again

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 09:00:00 -0000

Frank Madden and Eric Nehm, the editors of SB Nation's Bucks blog Brew Hoop and the co-hosts of the Locked On Bucks podcast, join us to preview one of the NBA's hipster favorites. Why was Milwaukee such a big disappointment last year? How excited should we be for Giannis Antetkounmpo, point guard? What is the next step for Jabari Parker? Can Jason Kidd find the right playing rotation around his two unique young stars? Is there any chance Michael Carter-Williams and Greg Monroe occupy some of those rotation spots? This is the ninth of 30 podcasts previewing each NBA team before the 2016-17 season. We're going roughly in reverse win order from last year. Next up: Sacramento.

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There are layers to the John Wall-Bradley Beal tension

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 04:20:00 -0000

Mike returns from vacation ready to talk to someone about John Wall's admission that he and Bradley Beal "tend to dislike each other" on the court. Poor Ben was the unlucky soul that had to listen. Plus, a discussion about Russell Westbrook's new Jordan Brand ad taking a shot at Kevin Durant. We'll return soon with the next episode in our team-by-team offseason recap series.

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Knicks fans have no idea how this'll all work, and that's OK

Wed, 24 Aug 2016 10:00:00 -0000

Legendary Knicks blogger and SBNation.com contributor Seth Rosenthal joins the show to review the Knicks' interesting offseason. What should we make of Jeff Hornacek? What's the next step for Kristaps Porzingis? Do Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah have enough left in the tank? How have Knicks fans' opinions toward Carmelo Anthony changed over the past year? Plus: what you should name your dog, some hot baby name takes and much more.

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Nuggets fans desperately want anyone to notice their delightful young team

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 17:10:56 -0000

Adam Mares, managing editor of SB Nation's Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs, joins us to talk about one of the league's more interesting League Pass teams. What did Michael Malone accomplish in Year 1 on the job? How much fun is Nikola Jokic? What does Emmanuel Mudiay need to improve most? Who gets all the minutes on the wing and at power forward? Can Danilo Gallinari be even better next year? What constitutes success in Year 2 of the Malone era? Plus, we introduce your favorite parolur game: how many Nuggets games did Mike watch last year?

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Pelicans fans really hope injuries don't ruin another season

Mon, 15 Aug 2016 04:04:16 -0000

Oleh Kosel and Kevin Barrios from SB Nation's Pelicans site The Bird Writes join Mike to talk about what caused Anthony Davis' down year, whether New Orleans' free-agent signings can change the culture, why Buddy Hield will or won't be a bust and why fans shouldn't expect to see much from Tyreke Evans this year.

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Team USA's slip-up, Dario mania and a brief soccer interlude

Fri, 12 Aug 2016 14:57:46 -0000

Ben and Mike discuss Team USA's scare against Australia, Olympic Melo, future NBA MVP Dario Saric and the Timberwolves earning a Christmas Day slot next year. Plus, we offer a season preview of our second love: the Premier League.

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Timberwolves fans can smell that elusive postseason berth

Fri, 05 Aug 2016 03:58:23 -0000

David Naylor and John Meyer from SB Nation's Timberwolves site Canis Hoopus join us to take a deep dive on the NBA's hottest young team. How will Tom Thibodeau help Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins? What happens to Ricky Rubio now that the Timberwolves drafted Kris Dunn? Are the playoffs really a possibility?

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Russell Westbrook's return to the Thunder sets up the best narrative

Thu, 04 Aug 2016 23:32:18 -0000

Ben and Mike react to Russell Westbrook's extension with the Thunder, ponder the great storylines that result and try to figure out what happens next for both Westbrook and the Thunder.

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Suns fans are cautiously optimistic about this rebuilding project

Sun, 31 Jul 2016 15:32:50 -0000

Dave King, the managing editor of SB Nation's fantastic Phoenix Suns site Bright Side of the Sun, joins us to talk about Earl Watson's hiring, the future upside of Devin Booker and whether the organization can kick its bad habit of managing its players poorly. Plus, we answer some questions about Brandon Knight's future, the upside of the other Suns youngsters and Amar'e Stoudemire's legacy. This is the fourth of our deep dives into each teams' offseason and future. Next up: Minnesota.

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Nets fans are all in on their team sitting out

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 22:21:22 -0000

Nets Daily reporters Tom Lorenzo and Anthony Puccio join the show to talk about Brooklyn's understated offseason, for once. How do fans feel about pushing the reset button? What is Brook Lopez's future? Who are some previously-anonymous players that could be interesting this year? Plus, Mikhail Prokhorov's weird suggestion to replace the infamous BrooklyKnight mascot.

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Lakers fans are still baffled by that Timofey Mozgov contract

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 03:56:24 -0000

Harrison Faigen and Anthony Irvin, two contributors to SB Nation's Lakers site that also produce their own podcast, join us to dissect LA's eventful offseason. How good is Brandon Ingram? Can Luol Deng be the adult in the room? Can the Lakers count on D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle? How weird is not having Kobe Bryant? And, of course, what the heck was that Timofey Mozgov contract? r2qraawv

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76ers fans will not tolerate any Ben Simmons slander

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 01:43:36 -0000

In the first of our offseason recaps for each NBA team, SBNation.com's Tyler Tyles and Liberty Ballers' Jake Pavorsky join us to hype Ben Simmons, argue about Jahlil Okafor and dream about a new day for the 76ers.

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NBA Summer League: Where legends like Tyus Jones are made

Tue, 19 Jul 2016 03:35:43 -0000

SBNation.com's Mike Prada and Tim Cato return from Vegas to talk to Ben about their weird Summer League experiences and the players that stood out most to them, whether good, bad or indifferent.

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Kevin Durant's departure and the death of a dynasty that never was

Wed, 06 Jul 2016 03:04:05 -0000

Special guest Eddie Maisonet of Yardbarker and The Sports Fan Journal may be the world's only Thunder fan living in the Bay Area. He joins the show to talk through Kevin Durant's earth-shattering free-agent decision, whether the new Warriors superteam is good for the NBA (we think it is), Russell Westbrook's future and how we'll remember the Thunder dynasty that never materialized.

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NBA free agency: Where everyone gets paid and not much changes

Thu, 30 Jun 2016 18:30:20 -0000

Ben and Mike talk about Kevin Durant's free-agent options, the Wizards' dangerous reality after Durant snubbed them and some of the other most interesting free agents in what should be an explosive market.

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NBA Draft recap: Orlando is hoping for a Serge of Magic

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 05:51:16 -0000

We break down an NBA Draft wild on speculation, but short on actual movement, with one big exception. Why did the Thunder trade Serge Ibaka? How good is Victor Oladipo anyway? Why would the Bulls even think about trading Jimmy Butler? We also evaluate Jaylen Brown to the Celtics and the complicated topic of intelligence as it relates to basketball. Plus, a look at a few other draft picks that intrigued us.

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There's way too much time between these NBA Finals games

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 02:24:31 -0000

Ben and Mike run through the NBA Finals storylines we want to go away, try to explain the rise of Warriors backlash and preview what will hopefully be an epic Game 6. Will Draymond Green's return be enough, or have the Warriors given LeBron James and Kyrie Irving too much confidence? Follow us on Twitter: @Limited_Upside | @EppyBen | @MikePradaSBN

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NBA Finals Game 3 recap: No Love lost for the Cavaliers

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 21:13:55 -0000

David Zavac, the managing editor of SB Nation's Cavaliers community Fear the Sword, joins the show to talk about Cleveland's Game 3 victory, the awkward Kevin Love question the Cavaliers must address and how Cleveland has managed to stop two-time MVP Stephen Curry.

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NBA Finals Game 2: You can blame LeBron's teammates while blaming him too

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 21:13:04 -0000

SB Nation's Zito Madu joins us as we try to parse out how much the Cavaliers' 33-point Game 2 loss should be attributed to LeBron James. Plus, some brief U.S. Soccer thoughts at the end (starting at the 36-minute mark).

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Game 1 recap: Dorothy, we're not in the Eastern Conference anymore

Fri, 03 Jun 2016 16:29:51 -0000

FOX Sports' Michael Pina joins us to break down Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a game the Cavaliers weren't ready to play. We take a look at what Cleveland did wrong, why Shaun Livingston was so successful and whether it's time for LeBron James to take on even more of a challenge defensively.

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The Thunder may have choked. Or, maybe they just lost

Tue, 31 May 2016 20:26:20 -0000

Paul Flannery joins us to answer an oddly controversial question: did the Thunder choke in losing a 3-1 lead to the Warriors? Is that even a fair question? Plus, we look back at Game 7, look ahead to the Thunder's future and preview what should be a fantastic NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cavaliers.

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Warriors-Thunder is awesome, Kyle Lowry's mental frustration, the soaring Cavs and more

Fri, 20 May 2016 17:43:41 -0000

Mike and Ben take a deep dive into the Conference Finals and other topics. We break down Warriors-Thunder Game 2 (3:20 mark), list Russell Westbrook and energy as the keys to OKC's chances (21:12), show empathy for Kyle Lowry needing to "blow off steam" in the middle of a game (26:30), look ahead to a Cavs-whoever Finals (35:50) and congratulate Ben for the 76ers winning the lottery (48:35). We also imagine a world where the NBA is like European soccer, with no draft or salary cap(52:23).

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The Lakers and Sixers somehow both won the lottery

Wed, 18 May 2016 20:37:42 -0000

We chat with Jake Pavorsky and Harrison Faigen, the editors of SB Nation's 76ers and Lakers sites, about their team's lottery victories, their emotions as the ping-pong balls dropped, the state of their teams' unique rebuilding projects, why Ben Simmons should have the edge on Brandon Ingram and why lottery reform is a bad idea.

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Dare we question the great Gregg Popovich? Yes

Fri, 13 May 2016 22:38:28 -0000

Gregg Popovich is the greatest coach of our era, but the Spurs' semifinal loss to the Thunder wasn't his greatest performance. Michael Pina of Bleacher Repot, FOX Sports and elsewhere joins us to critique the Spurs' disappointing playoff exit. Also, we look ahead to Thunder-Warriors, pour some cold water on Blazers optimism, argue about whether the Eastern Conference Finals will be a cakewalk for Cleveland and discuss the latest rumblings on the coaching carousel.

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How to ask yourself a question (and actual Thunder-Spurs Game 5 analysis) with Fred Katz

Wed, 11 May 2016 20:14:07 -0000

Fred Katz, the new Oklahoma City Thunder beat reporter for the Norman Transcript, joins the show to analyze the Thunder's surprising victory in Game 5, the brilliance of Russell Westbrook and how he accidentally became a meme when cameras caught him stumbling over a question to Westbrook and Kevin Durant during the postgame press conference.

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Thunder-Spurs, where rules don't apply

Tue, 03 May 2016 20:57:27 -0000

SBNation.com staff writer Tim Cato joins live from Texas to recap the wacky ending of Spurs-Thunder Game 2 and whether officials swallow their whistles too much at the end of games. In the second part of the podcast (starting at the 25:46), we discuss the game itself -- how OKC got back to helter-skelter, why the great Gregg Popovich may have messed up his rotations and whether the Thunder can capitalize for the rest of the series.

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Baron Davis dishes on his new Drew League documentary

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 21:25:00 -0000

Two-time NBA All-Star (and 2004 Skills Competition champion!)joins the show to discuss his new Showtime documentary The Drew: No Excuse, Just Produce. The film airs April 29 at 8 p.m. and tells the history and impact of one of the country's biggest grassroots basketball institutions. In this podcast, we discuss Davis' upbringing in the crime-riddled neighborhoods of Los Angeles, the racial unrest that informs the Drew League's purpose, the people that build the institution that brings the South Central community together and the league's rising profile during and after the 2011 lockout. We also discuss what it means to be a Los Angeles player.

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Poor Warriors. Poorer Clippers

Tue, 26 Apr 2016 20:13:58 -0000

SBNation.com writer extraordinaire Zito Madu joins the show to discuss if the Warriors can overcome Stephen Curry's injury (2:42 mark); whether the Clippers have enough of a spine to somehow overcome the absence of Chris Paul and possible loss of Blake Griffin (12:12); the Blazers' chances against the shorthanded Clippers and possibly the Warriors (23:39); if Curry will even by 100 percent when he returns (27:40); and the most indispensable players left in the playoffs (33:25). Plus, Zito gets some Charlie Villanueva thoughts off his chest (48:30).

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The Clippers are sitting pretty

Thu, 21 Apr 2016 19:24:23 -0000

It's time to take stock of the beginning of the NBA Playoffs! Ben and Mike discuss why the Clippers' defense strategy is working and bodes well for a future series against the Warriors(1:50); groundhog day with the Thunder after an awful Game 2 loss to Dallas (14:52); the amazing Rick Carlisle and Wesley Matthews (25:00); Steve Clifford's comments about adjustments and the media being ignorant in the Heat-Hornets series (27:10); LeBron as the queen of the chess board(37:40); and how being a good shooting team in the regular season means something different than being a good shooting team in the playoffs (44:20)

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Western Conference Playoff Preview with Tom Ziller

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 23:11:31 -0000

SBNation.com lead writer Tom Ziller joins us to discuss the Western Conference playoffs. Will the Warriors have any trouble winning the conference? Which of the Thunder and Spurs is better equipped to take Golden State down, and does it matter? Will Portland give us a competitive first-round series against the Clippers?

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Eastern Conference Playoff Preview with Paul Flannery

Thu, 14 Apr 2016 22:28:57 -0000

SBNation.com features writer Paul Flannery joined the show to talk about the Cavaliers' day of reckoning, the Raptors' vulnerability, the Hornets' window of opportunity and the impossible-to-call Hawks-Celtics series, where we changed our pick a hundred times.

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Love him or hate him, Sam Hinkie made the 76ers interesting

Thu, 07 Apr 2016 18:58:29 -0000

Ben and Mike discuss Sam Hinkie's 7,100-word resignation letter from the 76ers, why "The Process" failed and Philadephia's troubling decision to immediately replace Hinkie with Bryan Colangelo instead of holding an open search for a new GM.

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What went wrong for the Wizards this season?

Tue, 29 Mar 2016 04:33:10 -0000

With the Wizards' playoff hopes on life support, Ben and Mike dialed up top Wizards bloggers Jake Whitacre of Bullets Forever and Kyle Weidie of Truth About It to try to figure out how a season that began with such promise turned into a dud. What's next for D.C.'s NBA franchise?

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Why have this year's NBA rookies hit the ground running?

Fri, 11 Mar 2016 04:03:25 -0000

As part of SB Nation's Rook Week, Jonathan Tjarks, a draft expert from Real GM and other places, joins Mike to break down the promising 2015 draft class, why Karl-Anthony Towns may be a better prospect than Anthony Davis, why team context is so important when scouting and which players from the class are flying under the radar.

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LeBron James' Cavaliers are such a bummer

Fri, 04 Mar 2016 04:58:58 -0000

Mike and Ben discuss the latest drama in Cleveland and try to figure out why the NBA's third-best team seems to have no chemistry or cohesion.

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Why should we believe in the Raptors?

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 05:01:54 -0000

CBS Sports' James Herbert joins the podcast to talk about the East's second-best team just before the biggest game of its season. Why have the Raptors emerged from the pack? Can they beat the Cavaliers? Why trust them this year after back-to-back first-round flameouts? We also wonder why there's so much negativity surrounding Hassan Whiteside and dive briefly into the Heat's weird dynamic.

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Winners and losers from the 2016 NBA trade deadline

Thu, 18 Feb 2016 22:46:39 -0000

Mike and Ben recap the boring NBA trade deadline for Facebook live. How did the Pistons swipe Tobias Harris? What's next for Dwight Howard? Will Markieff Morris work out in Washington?

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The Knicks will be fine. Hopefully

Thu, 11 Feb 2016 18:17:45 -0000

SB Nation Knicks blogger Seth Rosenthal and award-winning MMA journalist and Knicks superfan fan Ariel Helwani join the show to break down the latest Knicks drama, whether Derek Fisher deserved to be fired and how Knicks fans finally have hope because of the amazing Kristaps Porzingis.

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We're about to find out just how good the Thunder really are

Thu, 04 Feb 2016 00:16:46 -0000

We're about to find out just how good the Thunder really are by Limited Upside

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The Warriors are the masters of chaos

Fri, 29 Jan 2016 01:11:37 -0000

Ben and Mike talk about the Warriors' overwhelming dominance and how they inspire fear in their opponents, both on the court and in how they build their teams. How do you beat this team anyway? We also discuss the David Blatt firing and where the Cavaliers go from here.

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The NBA All-Star Game is VERY important

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 18:07:14 -0000

Ben and Mike run through their NBA All-Star picks and wonder why Mike left DeMarcus Cousins off his team.

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The Spurs' dominance feels boring, but it shouldn't be

Wed, 16 Dec 2015 08:00:17 -0000

Ben and Mike discuss the resurgent Spurs and the existential question of whether their dominance is compelling. They also hit on another excellent Mavericks patchwork job, whether the Thunder have any chance to win the title and the sad downfall of the Pelicans.

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The second-best team in the East is ... who knows?

Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:49:23 -0000

The Cavaliers will probably win the East, but who will actually give them the stiffest challenge. Are the Bulls good? Can Toronto and Indiana sustain this? What the heck is Miami? Are Charlotte, Orlando and Boston actually good? And wow we just forgot about the Hawks! We go through an Eastern Conference that's still yet to sort itself out. We also discuss the downfall of the Bucks and Wizards and quickly check in on Ben's sanity as the 76ers continue to flounder.

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When's the last time an NBA rookie class was this good?

Fri, 13 Nov 2015 16:37:52 -0000

Mike and Ben return to the recording studio to talk about the 2015 NBA rookie class. With so many top picks impressing, is this the best draft in recent memory? Is it too early to freak out about D'Angelo Russel, the one top rookie playing poorly? We also ponder an interesting hypothetical: would you rather have Blake Griffin or Kevin Durant from this day forward? For more great NBA features and information, check out www.sbnation.com/nba

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NBA Draft preview: Jahlil Okafor might be underrated now

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 11:49:40 -0000

Ben and Mike go deep on the NBA Draft. Why did the narrative change so quickly with Jahlil Okafor? Why doesn't Mike like Kristaps Porzingis? Is Emmanuel Mudiay's shooting a fatal flaw? Plus, we give a couple late sleepers that intrigue us as we prepare for Thursday.

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NBA Finals preview with Paul Flannery

Tue, 02 Jun 2015 19:14:59 -0000

SB Nation NBA genius (official title) Paul Flannery joins us to preview the NBA Finals. Do the Cavaliers really have a chance? Should the Warriors single-cover LeBron James? Will Mike Miller have another random signature moment? That and much more.

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NBA Playoffs preview: Which series do we WANT to watch?

Fri, 17 Apr 2015 13:36:39 -0000

SB Nation's Seth Rosenthal joins us to go through each playoff series. Which Spurs player will snap at a Clipper? How hilarious will Playoff Tyreke be? Is Grizzlies-Blazers or Wizards-Raptors a sadder series? The Celtics don't have a chance ... right?

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These are a few of our favorite NBA Draft prospects

Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:54:58 -0000

SB Nation college hoops guru Ricky O'Donnell joins the podcast to talk about his favorite (and least favorite) NBA prospects in the NCAA Tournament.

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The Blazers vs. Rockets death match

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 12:57:25 -0000

Rolling Stone's Michael Pina joins the show as we go around the league. Why are the Celtics good? Would you rather face the Rockets or Blazers in the playoffs? Can the Jazz make the playoffs next year? What's going on with Kevin Love? Also tune in for Prada's BOLD PREDICTION, Pina's amazing Kevin Garnett story and Ben's mea culpa on Kyrie Irving.

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NBA players need to stop getting injured

Mon, 09 Mar 2015 02:54:22 -0000

The latest batch of NBA injuries has Ben and Mike wondering why NBA players seem to be getting hurt more often. Do players just break down sooner these days? Is youth hoops to blame? We also imagine NBA coaches doing regular jobs and marvel at Russell Westbrook.

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What are the Philadelphia 76ers doing?

Tue, 24 Feb 2015 02:41:21 -0000

Mike and Ben try to make sense of a wild trade deadline. Did anyone really get better? Did the 76ers do the right thing giving away Michael Carter-Williams and K.J. McDaniels? Did the Thunder do enough?

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Stephen Curry or Prime Steve Nash?

Fri, 06 Feb 2015 16:06:26 -0000

Mike and Ben discuss the hot topic that was all over the Internet on Wednesday: is Stephen Curry a better player than Steve Nash ever was? Plus: are the Cavaliers now the favorite in the East?

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Naming our NBA All-Star Teams

Thu, 22 Jan 2015 21:27:59 -0000

Mike and Ben work out their disagreements and come up with collective East and West All-Star teams. Someone awesome is being snubbed out West.

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Limited Upside NBA Podcast: Episode 6

Tue, 06 Jan 2015 22:57:45 -0000

Limited Upside NBA Podcast: Episode 6 by Limited Upside

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Limited Upside SB Nation NBA Podcast, Episode 5: Who won the Rajon Rondo trade?

Fri, 19 Dec 2014 19:31:09 -0000

Limited Upside SB Nation NBA Podcast, Episode 5: Who won the Rajon Rondo trade? by Limited Upside