One on One Podcast: Recent Episodes
Derrick Edwards
Join Derrick and Rodney (along with other guests) as they talk all things NBA from a fans perspective. Relax as the One on One Podcast walks you through all the NBA news from the biggest stories to the stuff we find interesting.
Taylor (TW: @papercash) joins the show again to discuss how we were wrong about the Mavs, again, and recap the NBA finals. We also discuss the news of the day as JJ Redick is named head coach of the 17 time NBA champions, Los Angeles Lakers.
Second time guest, Taylor (TW: @papercash) is back to preview the upcoming anti-Grant Williams NBA finals and what we got wrong and right about in our season opening show.
- Recapping our preseason NBA takes (spoiler we were right and wrong about the Mavs)
- The Minny issues for KAT
- Will KP matter in the Finals
- Luka/Kyrie
We also banter on the state of the WNBA/Stephen A. championing the league (or not?), Clipped, and JJ Redick coaching the Lakers?
Derrick and Rodney discuss what most people might say are unlikely pairings for the conference finals.
- Recaps of both second round game 7s. Knicks and Nuggets collapse
- Game 1 & 2 of both conference finals
- Is KAT getting enough blame?
- Dallas' unlikely road here
- C's chances at a title
Derrick and Rodney touch on each first round series and progress to date. Major storylines include:
- NY/Philly
- Suns/Wolves - The Suns collapse
- LA/Den - LA elimination
- Mavs/Clips - Game 1 overreactions
- Pacers/Bucks - The potential failure of the Bucks season
This was recorded before game 5 of NY/Phi; Bucks/Indy; Orl/Cle
Knicks super-fan ,and friend of the show, Brad (TW: @beemorgs27) joins to tell the world how NY is going to win the 2024 NBA Finals!
Even with Randle out this will be no issue because Jalen is a top 5 player...? (come on man).
Topics include:
- Addition by subtraction with Randle
- How good Jalen really is (Jalen vs. Donovan)
- Potential Sixers/Heat, Bucks, and C's matchups
- The depth of the roster
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- other general NBA banter like MVP meaning, the west, etc.
Jaylen joins the show to talk about the overall playoff outlook as we are 1 month from the postseason. We breakdown rosters, which teams have an actual playoff rotation, and how seeding could help/hurt some teams.
We tackle the biggest questions in the eastern conference:
- Sixers chances
- Celtics biggest issue/Tatum vs. Melo
- Knicks or Cavs as sleeper
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- more.
The we head out west and do the same:
- Youth movement: is OKC and the Wolves for real
- Kings/Pelicans as sleepers?
- Will the Clippers be the Clippers
- How good are the current play-in teams actually?
Derrick and Rodney forecast the playoff push for the western conference.
- Is Denver a lock for conference finals?
- How do we feel about young top seeds: Wolves/Thunder
- Sneaky seeds to watch out for
- Major western conferences takeaways and lookouts
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- good banter and much more
Derrick and Rodney recap All-Star and give highlights (spoiler, were none) and lowlights. Can the events and game be fixed? Solutions/thoughts are shared on the following topics:
- Canceling the dunk contest for good?
- Frustration for the skills challenge
- ASG lack of effort
As we move into the second half of the season the eastern seems to be up for the taking. Are the Knicks in prime position for a deep post-season run?
Tune back in for our western conference forecasting as we breakdown the teams and the path coming out of the west in part 2.
Derrick and Rodney link up to talk through some coaching carousels. Adrian Griffin is out, Doc Rivers is in. The Bucks change coaches, but was it the right move and is Giannis to blame? Wes Unseld Jr. is out in DC but also lands a new job in DC...? What's happening around the league with coaches.
ASG starters are announced, Rodney and Derrick we give takes on the east/west staters.
Rodney is back and we rapid fire through the following:
- Does GSW have too many people?
- Who do the Lakers need to target
- How do the Sixers/Bucks improve to catch the C's
- Have the Clippers figured it out
- Is OKC for real?
Jaylen and Darien stop by to, of course, talk all things Sixers. Embiid MVP candidacy, playoff success and needed trades. We also get on the rumor mill and discuss Zion/Pelicans and teams that should be active at the deadline and the players that will be packing their bags. Other topics include our IST review, the return of Ja and our opinions of player development.
Friend of the show, Tramel, stops by to discuss some important early season storylines. Teams with problems that can't be fixed, teams that can/have fixed their problems, trade bait, owed apologies, and more!
- The Clippers James Harden problem
- Sixers James Harden solution
- Dame/Bucks
- Chicago to blow it up
- Minnesota
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- more
This episode I'm joined by friend of the show and first time guest, Taylor (TW: @papercash). It's day 2 of the NBA szn (upon recording) but there is much to discuss.
- James Harden: his time in Philly and his legacy
- Potential star trades (looking at you Cleveland)
- Who misses the the play-in in the western conference
- Wemby* and the international explosion
- Day 1 reactions
50 episodes in, thank you everyone for listening!
The 2023-2024 NBA season is upon us and this episode Derrick and Rodney touch on some major offseason moves, playoff picture, star that could be on the move and more!
Topics:
- Dame to Bucks/Jrue to C's
- New look Suns and Blazers
- Potential stars trade demands and/or teams that might (or should) consider it
- Playoff outlook
- James Harden
- Player to watch out for this season
To wrap up the 2022-2023 NBA Derrick and Rodney give final thoughts on the Finals (yes, it's been awhile) and grade more than half the league (basically playoff teams/teams that had expectations entering the season) on their season. Thank you everyone who listened throughout the season, much appreciated!
Let's all get one good laugh in for Boston! Jon (TW: feat. @The_Fat_John) joins to share in the delight of mourning the Celtics season. We deep dive what really happened in the series, choke job? Boston looked like an AAU at times, how badly were they out coached? Where do you go with Jaylen Brown from here and what additional piece fixes this team? On the flip side, how did Miami take this series and earn their way to The Finals? Much is made of the Celtics fumbling throughout the playoffs but respect must been given to Miami for taking what's theirs.
Jumping into the finals, Miami has been the underdogs all postseason so what needs to to happen for them to pull one more upset. Or do we believe this is where the ends. Are we sleeping on the Heat or does Joker have enough tricks up his sleeve to burn Miami.
Derrick and Rodney run through the end of the conference semi's and preview the conference finals. Philly collapsed (again), so what is their next step? Should Embiid be looking elsewhere and what happens with Harden? Not sure if the Lakers winning would be considered an upset but the Warriors dynasty, as currently constructed, seems like it could be coming to an end. The Suns came up short, which shouldn't be so shocking. Moving on to the conference finals, both matchups are discussed in detail. Who has the coaching advantages (MIA/BOS), who guards who and how hard does one team try to exploit certain mismatches (DEN/LAL), and general strengths and weaknesses all team have. (Some Jordan Poole/Tyler Herro comparisons sneaks into the discussion.) Banter another the draft lottery and Ja end the show on a funny note.
Jon joins (TW: @The_Fat_John) and we discuss the playoffs to-date. Topics include:
- Heat/Knicks: Good story or the Knicks or are they just that bad?
- Lakers/GSW: The series is 2-1 LAL at the moment but are we sure the Lakers are the favs to pull it out
- Sixers/C's: Harden letdowns, Doc being Doc, Embiid health, Tatum stinker coming? Jon gives his honest takes as a Sixers fan.
- Suns/Nuggets: Can KD/Booker be enough to get the Suns over the hump?
- Giannis' take on failure
- Plus more
Brad (TW: @beemorgs27) returns and joins Rodney and I to talk all thinks Knicks as they take a 2-1 lead after a lackluster performance in the garden from the Cavs.
- Are the Knicks now favorites to knock off the Cavs?
- What are the Knicks title odds? Yes, we took it there.
We also share and deep dive into some of our surprise takeaways from round 1 so far. The Suns aren't as hot as may thought, will roster depth do them in? The Lakers are... all over the place, Kawhi/Embiid/Giannis are all day-to-day currently, and GSW/Sac continues to entertain. Just to name a few hot ticket items.
Lastly we share our thoughts on the recent movement to remove the block/charge rule. What's you take on all this?
The play-in arrives and Jon (TW: @The_Fat_John) joins to discuss each matchup and pick the winners. As we look deeper in the the playoffs we highlight a few intriguing round 1 matchups and favorable/potential paths some certain teams have to make deep post season run. The West looks open, with potential 6/7 teams with a real shot to make out. Do you agree? The East is rather top heavy, who's your favorite? We also talk about what this post season means for specific players ( a 2x MVP), which brings us to banter on topics that divide the NBA world, how we judge losing/legacy in the playoffs. Much more is discussed as the 2022-2023 regular season wraps.
Friend of the show and New York's own Brad (TW: @beemorgs27) stops by to share New York propaganda, this episode all Knicks!
- The Jalen Brunson experience, from the initial signing to now. How big his impact has been.
- Julius Randle ups/downs
- Honest opinion on RJ
- Playoffs expectations. How does a healthy Knicks matchup with the the East elite? Upset alert?
- Looking ahead to the offseason; the future star that demands a trade to NY, Thibs on the hot seat, how does this team look in 2-3 years.
And of course good, extra banter which you should come to expect from the show.
Darien and Jaylen return so of course the 76ers are topic number 1. But first we talk the news of the day: Nets/Mavs/Kyrie. Who won the trade and how did the Nets even get to this point? Who is to blame? KD next? Are the Mavs done? Other topics include Embiid and other ASG snubs and the overall criteria, or lack thereof, to the ASG selections. More trades or teams fans should be watching to make moves. PHX, Toronto, Cleveland, LAL, Memphis plus a few more. What does the Mavs/Nets trade mean for the league/other teams that were attempting to get him. And as promised, we talk what all this means for Philly. Is this their best year to get it done, who needs to be moved/play more/what's Doc's beef with the youth. This is just a brief description, there's so much discussed in this episode that listeners will enjoy.
On this episode we talk about how gambling changes the sports viewing experience. Our favs and the teams/player we avoid no matter what. Then we discuss the western conference. Who's the favorite(s), each teams weaknesses, surprises in seeding, and buyers/sellers at the deadline.
*Note: Per recording Portland was manhandling the Lakers and Thomas Bryant came up in our gambling example (in neither a good or bad way). LA ending up winning the game and Bryant had a career night. A little insight for all the listeners out there that'll catch on.
It's truly looking like "Any Given Weeknight" this year in the NBA. Any night someone is getting, shockingly, worked. Causally shooting the breeze we run through general NBA storylines giving our takes on what's happened to this point. Best team(s) in each conference, Rudy Gobert, problems in ATL, underrated teams and players, bounce back teams, NBA awards to this point, and possible playoff upsets. A fun and more laidback show as we past the "unofficial" kickoff of the NBA season (Christmas) and near the midpoint.
Rodney returns and we survey the league hitting the major storylines a fourth through the season. We both had some takes before the season that we're walking back a bit and some we're doubling down. Major items discussed this episode: a team that "should" be tanking, would you trade the #1 pick, Boston being ECF favorites, SGA hype, all things Nets, and how GSW fixes their current situation.
Sixers fan Jaylen (TW: @Jaylenab24) joins to discuss all things Philly; where they stand in the East, Embiid's chances to ever win a MVP, and Doc. Being a Sixers fan Jaylen know all about Ben Simmons so we break down the Nets Simmons problem... and Nash and Kyrie problem. We also talk about early season surprises, teams we like and don't, and why certain teams aren't tanking. The Lakers are on the hot seat and Russ is getting the blame but who's really at fault? How many 3s per game they should be taking. Can LBJ reign everyone in? Is there a trade to be made to put the Lakers in title contention or at least a top 6 seed? Should the picks be evolved? The convo then turns to more causal basketball talk as we just bounce around on various topics and ideas. LBJ's case for greatest ever, Kobe's all-defensive first teams, Curry vs. KD all team, Curry's all-time ranking, plus more. A very cool podcast hitting on specifics from this season and more barbershop style discussion topics.
The NBA is back NEXT WEEK! Derrick and Rodney run through their top 6 playoff locks in each conference and the remaining play-in teams. They both provide opinions on surprise teams that might fall off a bit this season plus some shockers that might be better than expected during the regular season. A few teams around the league will be very bad, that will be discussed. Way too early MVP candidates, draft talk, and more.
Jon (TW: @The_Fat_John) joins as we look back on what the 2022 offseason has brought us. We recap major FA signings, trades, and other moves still on the table from KD to Cleveland to both LA teams. Great recap of the what happened and unofficial kickoff of the 2022-2023 season.
Derrick and Rodney discuss the NBA offseason so far, the big moves and moves still to come. Topics include:
- Rundown of big FA signing
- Players who got bags but might still leave
- Utah/Twolves trade
- KD/Kyrie and the Nets situation
- Lakers/Russ potential deals to be made? 2022-2023 outlook
- Global NBA: big markets mattering (or not) to international superstars
Jon (TW: @The_Fat_John) returns and helps to discuss the L the Celtics took. A Boston L is a win for us all and it's celebrated throughout the show. Other topics include Beal opting out if his deal to test free agency, Boston's chances of returning to The Final, HOFers and a good game of "what's more likely to happen" NBA edition. This was a fun, more unstructured podcast with a number of jokes but serious topics as well, addressed in an entertaining way.
Derrick and Rodney discuss what they've seen up until this point in the Finals (until game 4). Does what they've seen match what they thought was going to happen and what has surprised them (if anything). Steph had an all-time great performance in game 4 while Draymond has been lackluster all series and Wiggins/Looney stepped up big, all is discussed. Looking ahead, both share their predictions for the remainder of the series and keys for both teams. Tune in to see if anyone's original predictions change.
Derrick and Rodney discuss game 7 of the ECF and how close the Heat were to pulling it out even though they both had Boston in 6. Did Miami pushing this series change our overall opinion on Boston? Heading west, Dallas' run resembled the Hawks run from last season, what steps does Dallas need to take to get over the hump? Touching on the overall playoffs to date, everyone thought this year was really going to be really competitive especially the east, but was it? Did this year's postseason live up to the hype to you? We share out thoughts. Moving on to The Finals, GSW vs. Boston, picks are made. GSW looks to be the favorite but would an upset truly be shocking? Lastly, the two share fun banter around sports betting, MLB, NHL and who's the biggest hater.
Return guest Justin (TW: @JDanso18) joins to talk more than just his beloved Sixers going fishing. Each of round 2 outcomes is discussed in some detail, comparing reality to our original picks. Certain stars stepped up and others looked lost to say the least. We look ahead to the conference finals and make our selections plus give our title favorite, and you might be surprised who is picked. We couldn't talk about this years postseason to-date without mentioning Dallas's beat down of the Suns, CP3's legacy, Doc Rivers/Harden, Booker, top 5 Luka, Pat Bev and much more. This is a very good listen!
The title "contending" Brooklyn Nets were eliminated in a somewhat shocking 4 game sweep by the Boston Celtics. To break down everything guest Dom (TW: @whatupnewshoes) joins to tell us how this might've been in the cards from the start of the season. Nothing is off the table regarding the Nets this podcast. We deep dive into Steve Nash, did he get a raw deal or is this all on him? How much soul searching do the Nets two biggest stars have to do this offseason? How can the Nets round out the rest of a noticeably light roster going into next season? And, Ben Simmons. Ultimately, the Nets went all in on KD/Kyrie and a third star and as of now are at risk of having this era end in disappointment. Things aren't looking so bright but it's the NBA, anything can happen.
Round 1 is in the books and Derrick and Rodney recap an eventful first round. The one big surprise in round 1 is discussed plus other takeaways for the winners and losers. Next, we move on to round 2 and make early predictions and point out any key areas of note for the series. At time of recording we're 1 game into each series for round 2. How did your round 1 predictions end up? Do you agree with our round 2 predictions?
Round 1 is here and Rodney returns! Derrick and Rodney touch on the outcomes of the play-in games then get right into picking the winners of each series and in how many games. At time of recording we're 1 game into each series. High-level overviews of each series is given, some injury updates and one or two things to look for. Listen to stay updated and reach out with your round 1 opinions.
Jon (TW: @The_Fat_John) returns as the postseason is upon us. A day before the play-in tournament begins we share our thoughts on who wins each play-in game and ultimately gets the 7th and 8th seed in each conference. We also talk about some stars that are rumored to possibly make their season debut in the playoffs and how that shakes things up. Lastly, we go through each round 1 matchup, with the our selections for play-in teams slotted in, and pick make our winners. Definitely will be some disappointments coming out of the play-in and round 1 as we see it now.
Two Sixers super fans, Darien and Jaylen, stop by to talk 76ers as they plan their celebration on Broad Street in June. Everything Sixers related is discussed here. Is Harden and Embiid the duo to get Philly over the top or was the trade too much? On top of Harden/Embiid, how's that rotation looking now? What really happened with Ben and was there a chance he could've ever returned? We take a look at the Eastern conference playoff picture as a whole and discuss our sleepers, favorites and matchups we want (need) to see. With the East looking how it is, is this championship or bust for 76ers, how are fans viewing this season? Could this end in major disappointments? Our last main topic is making the Embiid MVP case. It wouldn't be an "all things Sixers" pod if this wasn't brought up, but is Embiid everyone's favorite to win? A lot more is discussed; Doc's coaching style/coaching tree, legacy talk for some non-Sixers players, east coast sports fandom and just good friend dialogue. Definitely a podcast you don't want to miss.
Rodney rejoins Derrick as they discuss how the NBA playoffs are shaping up, roughly a month out from kicking off. Everything from the play-in, semi-frauds, sleepers and ideal matchups for certain teams is touched upon. We close the show with MVP and ROY odds. Of course there's great side banner. Tune in!
Return guest, Darren (TW: @IceBurrrgSlim), of The Working Title Podcast joins Derrick and they talk everything Lakers. We touch on what success looks like for this team throughout the rest of this season. Looking ahead, we ask the question "who's really running the team?" How does a franchise with an aging LeBron James deal with protecting their future vs. winning now with LeBron? Also, what does winning with Bron look like in 2022 and beyond. A lot of tough questions are asked such as, who can we trade and what's the realistic return? Russ, AD, Monk THT, Bron, Jeanie, Pelinka, everyone's role in how we go here is discussed (everyone's). This is definitely the full Lakers deep dive Derrick has been hinting at and you might have been waiting for.
The Brooklyn/Philadelphia trade is discussed in the intro due to it being the big move at the trade deadline.
*Note: There's a bit of audio feedback throughout the podcast at certain points. Apologizes for technical/audio issue and I appreciate the support/listens.
Rodney returns as he and Derrick discuss "you know who" being an all-star starter. But, do we both believe it's well deserved, because honestly... you're going to want to listen to this. Also, who are the other snubs and potential reserve snubs? Meanwhile, the top of the East is really competitive but is also wide open for the taking? Derrick and Rodney discuss, if possible, why the Sixers should be looking to make their move now. Plus, new Brad Beal news has surfaced so the time could be right. Lastly, Derrick and Rodney discuss rumors of Donovan Mitchell being unhappy in Utah and believing he could be a bigger star elsewhere.
Jon (TW: @The_Fat_John) joins the show to discuss a wide range of topics as we near the midseason. Derrick and Jon touch on the recent Knicks and Hawks trade; was this a somewhat lopsided deal? Again, does Boston NEED to make a move involving Tatum or Brown and should the Lakers be open to parting ways with THT? Which teams should blow it up and which should be looking to add a piece or two? Early playoff outlook: Klay is back but should Phoenix be the favorites out west? The Bulls are hot now but are they built for the postseason and is Miami a team people are overlooking? We talk NBA awards and which players are closing the gap on the MVP, ROY and 6th man awards? Other topics include: hottest teams in the league right now, Derrick's beef with Chandler Parsons, LeBron vs. Memphis, Zion vs. Ja, the Lakers draft history/young player media hype, Atlanta's "bright future" following last season compared with recent young teams that had "bright futures/early success" and how that usually plays out, and more. This is a longer podcast but a wonderful listen, enjoy!
Derrick and Rodney get together on the final day of 2021 to discuss all happenings in the league and possible change on the way. Covid is spiking and the two discuss the chances of another bubble or shutdown. The trade deadline is approaching, who's likely to be on the move and what teams need to make a move (Grizzles, Lakers, Pistons, Bulls, etc.). Is Philly just wasting time and an Embiid prime season? The two go deep into the idea of swapping a few names, make sure you listen to that. It's a lot of disappointment in LA right now, what's wrong with the Lakers? And the possibility of a midseason tournament as well as frontrunners for the NBA awards is how the podcast is wrapped up. Great listen to end the year!
Derrick and Rodney discuss the Dame saga and how Portland can handle this situation. The Pacers are reported to be sellers at the deadline, with both of their big men on the market. Which is more likely to be moved and what are some possible landing spots? The Rockets and Grizzlies are the two hottest teams in the NBA since Thanksgiving. Houston in particular made us eat our words from the last podcast, but how have both teams gotten so hot? We also talk about the Knicks and how their free agent signing look now, cool grey 11's and destination cities.
Derrick and Rodney are joined by Tramel (TW: @Raggs_No_Riches) to go through each conference team by team, breaking down who we think is for real and who might be faking it. Is Golden State the favorites to come out the west? Can Phoenix actually win a chip? How long will Luke Walton last in SAC and how are the Rockets so bad? In the east, what do really think of the Nets/Knicks? Are the Bulls a true contender and are we out on Miami? Other topics include both LA teams, the middle of the ECF, the ongoing Ben Simmons saga and more.
*We had a few technical issues, please excuse any sound issues.
Ten games into the season Derrick and Rodney discuss their early season surprises and compare that to their preseason predictions. The east is looking wild with the 76ers at the top, DC being better than expect and teams like Boston and Brooklyn not living up to the hype at the moment. There's a lot of other good surprises discussed. Heading out west, it seems like mostly everyone is underachieving/leaving much to be desired. GSW is flying high but conference champs, Phoenix, is just getting by and there's trouble in LaLa land, just to preview a few. Listen up for all our surprises and what we think will happen next for some of these teams.
Derrick and Rodney are back to discuss the start of the NBA's 75th season. We discuss why it isn't always sunny in Philly, although Embiid might have some sneaky good MVP odds. Of course Kyrie was mentioned and while we don't deep dive into his views we do make solid predictions for when we expect him to return, if at all. Lastly, we get into the heart of the show, picking the playoff and likely play-in teams from each conference. Highlighting surprise teams that might rise or fall.
Derrick and Rodney are back and the NBA season is secretly around the corner (beautiful). Houston and John Wall are working together to find a trade but how likely is that to happen? Other late free agent news is discussed as well. The main focus of the episode is the "lesser" known players/teams you should be watching this season. Young guys that can play their way into/out of trades, players that have to take the next step, teams that looking to make a big swing and/or have to and more. We discuss who we will be following and why.
This episode opens with Derrick and Rodney recapping the latest bit of free agency/offseason news that happened since the last episode. Then the two discuss the physical nature of postseason basketball compared to the regular season and international basketball. Are there steps the NBA can take to find solutions? The misinterpretation of "small ball" and how it might play into this is also discussed. Lastly, some Gregg Popovich slander in tossed around from number one Spurs fan, Rodney.
Derrick and Rodney discuss the NBA draft (which feels so long ago) and a host of FA news. The Lakers have assembled the '03 & '04 draft class, will it work out? The Heat made big moves, DeMar is on the move and the Nets add more fire power. What are the moves we still think will happen and what are some missed opportunities? We also tease at future topics for upcoming shows.
*This was recorded Tuesday, 8/3 approximately midday. We'll be back once FA wraps up to discuss any news that broke after recording.
Derrick and Rodney recap game 6 of The Finals which saw the Bucks win it all. They review the series and look to the future for both teams. Is this the start of the Giannis era? Was this the Suns best chance to win it all for the near future? They also touch on some other teams and moments throughout the playoffs.
Justin (TW: @JDanso18) returns as we recap game 1 of The NBA Finals. Giannis returns and we share what that ultimately means for our predictions. But first we recap the seasons of the runner ups in each conference, the Hawks and Clippers. Everyone thinks the future is bright in ATL but have we seen this story before? And, even though it was "championship or bust" in year two for LAC, do we think they'll run it back? More NBA banter included!
Derrick and Rodney discuss each of the conference finals series. Can the Clippers comeback Kawhi-less? The Hawks are keeping pace with the Bucks, but are we really surprised? And how good is Trae Young? Then we go around the league and talk about the new hires/fires and possible trades, which leads us to Dame and Portland. What does it mean to "run from the grind"?
Rodney joins as we run through the playoffs happenings through round 2 so far. How are injuries shaping our picks and what are the biggest updates? Quick hits: Can Brooklyn bounce back? Are the hated Jazz sneakily more fun to watch than the Clippers? What do we really thing of Philly? Can Phoenix represent the western conference in the finals? Tap in!
Jaylen (TW: @Jaylenab24) stops in to discuss the NBA playoffs to this point. Halfway through round 1, Jaylen shares the picks he originally had and who he thinks is coming out of each conference. Each series is dissected, highlighting the ups and downs of what has happened to this point and future predictions. The two also share which players/teams/coaches they think are getting exposed/struggling the most and some dooms day scenarios for certain teams. Derrick talks about his picks from last episode, the ones that are panning out and the ones that don't look so hot. Plus more general NBA talk from two fans.
Tramel Raggs (TW: @Raggs_No_Riches) joins the podcast for episode 7 and discusses his opinions on what it means to be a number 1/lead guy and all things play-in/playoffs. The Wizards are the first topic as we discuss the dynamic of Beal/Russ, who's the number 1 guy, common misconceptions about being the number 1 guy and the Wizards overall play-in chances. Then we take this questions out west and discuss whether a certain LA big can be a true number 1. Next, it's all things play-in/playoffs. Can DC pull the "upset" over the C's, will Charlotte get in and can Steph drag GSW in as 7 or 8? The Knicks are underdogs but do we believe it? Are the Jazz and/or the Suns getting upset in the first round? Denver/Blazers, what do we think? Can the Bucks beat the Nets and can Philly beat either the Nets or Bucks? Heat nation? And for certain teams if an early exit happens who takes the blame? All these questions and more are answered. Tune before the play-in starts.
*Yes, it is episode 6. Please excuse the low mic/sound levels during certain parts of the episode.
Episode 6: Rodney returns! Dropping the pod very early (special surprise), we talk all things playoffs/play-in tournament. Do we like the new format and should the league add in additional tournaments throughout the season? Will this reduce tanking? Who gets in this season? After the tournament is over, what playoff matchups interest us? Can we get a battle of New York? Do we trust the Suns? Lakers as the 5th seed? Other topics include: Asking the hard questions about the people at the top in New Orleans, making a change in Portland, Wiseman and the Warriors and plenty more.
Dropping an episode little earlier that usual with guest Justin (TW: @JDanso18) to discuss all things 2000's. We talk about the highlights from this semi-forgotten era in NBA history. First, Justin runs through his NBA awards for this current season then we get right into it, discussing every MVP from 2000-2010. Ranking the top MVPs from the decade, sleeper picks for certain years, the inconsistent criteria/standards of how we determine MVP and who just got plain robbed. We also discuss players and teams from that era that were before their time and could thrive in the league today. As always, there's more general hoops talk, jokes and banter.
This week Darren (TW: @IceBurrrgSlim) of The Working Title Podcast joins and shares his list of NBA award winners for the 2020-2021 season and sleeper playoff teams. Then we jump into some deeper topics: 1) Does NBA need to shorten the season and will that help ratings? 2) Are we fans of the playoff tournament and should the first round be best of 5? 3) What is the state of the league looking forward and how has the game changed in our lifetime. Who are the most influential players and playing styles? More topics include the skill level of incoming players and role players compared to the early 00's, why understanding your role on a team is so critical but overlooked by players/fans, a slight deep dive into Melo: Origins/Denver/Knickstape era etc., some Wiz talk: Wall vs. Westbrook and more. This pod was real entertaining and is packed with gems. Enjoy!
First, we get into a discussion over the ending of the UCLA/Gonzaga Final Four game then we jump right into the NBA. Post trade deadline means it's buyouts season, what does this mean for the NBA's top contenders? The west just got a lot wilder, are the Lakers still the favorites? We touch on a few teams that have been disappointments this season before gazing slightly ahead to the offseason. What big names could still be on the move and which teams might have some shakeups with their young players.
Welcome to episode 2! Of course we dive into a little March Madness to start (upset alert). Then we get right into NBA talk with the biggest trades/trade rumors. What does PJ Tucker mean for the Bucks, how does/can Boston improve and should the Magic and Kings be listening to offers for their whole rosters? Throughout the pod we bring up more trade/buyout names like Kyle Lowry, LaMarcus Aldridge and Myles Turner so keep listening for that. Next, battle of the young guards, LaMelo vs. Ja... or Shai? Where does Trae Young land in all this? Speaking of Trae, the Hawks are flying high so we weight back in on that situation. And all isn't good in sunny LA. Much more banter sprinkled throughout such as MVP, playoff standings and Timberwolves talk. Enjoy and thanks for listening!
Joined by his cohost later in the episode, Derrick first talks to Mia about her love/hate relationship with the NBA. They speak on the off-the-court drama she feels like she misses out on and she gives her opinion on the mid-90s Warriors and Joel Embiid for MVP. She also built her own computer! Cohost, Rodney joins and the two banter about the Hawks and Trae Young, trade rumors (sorry in advance Dallas) and the second half of the season. What teams are in the playoffs and who's going to have the tougher road. Thanks for listening!