NBA Deep Dives: Recent Episodes
Hashtag Basketball NBA
NBA Deep Dives is an NBA podcast hosted by Nick Agar-Johnson where the writers of Hashtag Basketball dive deep into the teams they write about.
In this brief announcement episode, host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) discusses the new home for the NBA Deep Dives Podcast, the No Ceilings NBA Podcast feed!
Thank you so much to all of you who have listened to the podcast, and special thanks to the man behind Hashtag Basketball, Joey Mamone, and all of my Hashtag Basketball co-hosts over the years.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on the 2022 NBA Draft in this two-part episode of the NBA Deep Dives Podcast. In Part Two, they highlight some of their favorite second round selections before wrapping up by discussing some of their favorite and least favorite team hauls from the 2022 NBA Draft.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on the 2022 NBA Draft in this two-part episode of the NBA Deep Dives Podcast. In Part One, they discuss all 30 selections in the first round of the draft in detail and cover their potential fits with their new NBA teams.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) preview the 2022 NBA Draft in this episode. They open the episode by discussing some of the rumors circling around the Orlando Magic and the #1 overall pick. Then, they dive deep on the 15-30 picks on their respective Big Boards after discussing their lottery picks in last week's episode. Finally, they wrap up by discussing some of the trade rumors flying around the NBA world, focusing on the trade discussions around the Sacramento Kings and the #4 pick, and also the Portland Trail Blazers and the #7 pick.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) do an in-depth breakdown of their respective lotteries for the 2022 NBA Draft in this episode. They start by discussing Keegan Murray and Nick and Tyler Rucker's recent article about the Murray dilemma for the Sacramento Kings at fourth overall, and then move into a discussion of Tyler's recent article with Maxwell Baumbach about the ascension of Jaden Ivey. Then, they spend the bulk of the episode discussing the differences between the 14 players they each have in the lottery on their personal big boards.
Link to Tyler and Maxwell's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/jaden-ivey?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on a potential first-round prospect and a sleeper prospect in this episode. They start out by talking about polarizing Michigan State prospect Max Christie and Tyler's recent article about his defense. Then, they wrap up by discussing Dereon Seabron, his exciting game, and his potential NBA future.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/max-christies-defense-the-friday?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep and discuss some of the international prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft in this episode. They start by talking about Tyler's recent article on Ousmane Dieng's perimeter defense, as well as briefly touching on his offensive game. Then, they wrap up by discussing some of the other top international prospects in this class, including Nikola Jovic, Gabriele Procida, Ismael Kamagate, and Hugo Besson.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/ousmane-diengs-perimeter-defense?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) talk about shot selection in this episode. They start out by discussing Tyler's recent article about Bryce McGowens and his shot selection, as they review his improved shot selection over the course of his year at Nebraska. Then, they discuss shot selection more broadly, as they debate their views on how to evaluate shot creators who struggle to cut the dicier attempts out of their shooting profile.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/bryce-mcgowens-shot-selection-the?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss three intriguing Arizona prospects in this episode. They start by discussing Christian Koloko, focusing on his rim protection and defensive game overall as well as in comparison to some other top center prospects. Then, they wrap up by discussing likely lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin and recent draft board riser Dalen Terry.
Link to Tyler's article on Koloko: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/christian-kolokos-rim-protection?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) break down two very different and very intriguing prospects this week in Jalen Williams and Orlando Robinson. They begin by discussing Tyler's recent article on Williams's pick-and-roll creation ability, talking about his scoring and playmaking chops in the pick-and-roll and his overall offensive game. Then, they wrap up by talking about Orlando Robinson's shooting touch and overall offensive game, along with a debate about his feast-or-famine style of play on the defensive end.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/jalen-williamss-pick-and-roll-creation?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss G League Ignite prospects in this episode. They start by discussing Tyler's recent article about Jaden Hardy's passing, along with discussing the other elements of his offensive game. Then, they wrap up by talking about the three G League Ignite prospects who are most likely to be drafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, with a discussion of potential lottery pick Dyson Daniels along with debates about the expected draft positions of MarJon Beauchamp and Michael Foster Jr.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/jaden-hardys-passing-the-friday-screener?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on two fascinating big man prospects in E.J. Liddell and Isaiah Mobley. They start by discussing Tyler's recent article on Liddell's shot-blocking ability, and they then discuss the rest of his game, including his jump as a three-point shooter. After that, they discuss Isaiah Mobley's offensive versatility and debate his best position defensively and his potential contributions on that end of the floor.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/ej-liddells-shot-blocking-the-friday?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss some of the best passing prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft class in this episode. They start out by diving deep on Malaki Branham's passing gifts, and then they wrap up by talking about five of their favorite passing prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Link to Tyler's Malaki Branham article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/malaki-branhams-passing-the-friday?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on Terquavion Smith and Tevin Brown, two of the best shooting prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, in this episode. They start by discussing Smith's versatile scoring game and potential areas for future development. Then, they wrap up by talking about Brown's three-point shooting and defensive potential.
Link to Tyler's Terquavion Smith article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/terquavion-smiths-scoring-the-friday?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss Tyler's current Top 40 for the 2022 NBA Draft, breaking down each prospect and debating a few of the biggest differences between Tyler and Nick in terms of prospect evaluations.
Link to Tyler's Top 40: https://hashtagbasketball.com/nba-draft/nba-draft-prospects
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) preview the NBA prospects in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Men's Tournament in this episode. In Part Two, they cover the potential 2022 NBA Draft prospects playing for North Carolina, UCLA, St. Peter's, Purdue, Kansas, Providence, Iowa State, and Miami.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) preview the NBA prospects in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Men's Tournament in this episode. In Part One, they cover the potential 2022 NBA Draft prospects playing for Gonzaga, Arkansas, Duke, Texas Tech, Arizona, Houston, Michigan, and Villanova.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) finally dive deep on long-time podcast favorite Ochai Agbaji in this episode. They start out by discussing his off-ball capabilities on offense, before talking about his role this year at Kansas. They also discuss just how much he's grown on the offensive end overall during his four years in college. Then, they discuss his defensive capabilities, including his spectacular off-ball defense. Finally, they speculate about his potential role over the course of the first few years of his NBA career and beyond.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/ochai-agbajis-off-ball-scoring-the?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) talk about two prospects who have improved their draft stock in recent weeks. They start out by discussing Arkansas big man Jaylin Williams and Tyler's recent article about his pick-and-roll game. Then, they wrap up by talking about one of the biggest risers over the last few weeks in Ohio State's Malaki Branham.
Link to Tyler's article: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/jaylin-williamss-pick-and-roll-versatility?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) cover two very different guard prospects in this episode. They start out by discussing Blake Wesley and his space creation, along with the ups and downs of the rest of his offensive game. Then, they wrap up by discussing one of the best finishers in the country in Alondes Williams, along with his meteoric rise this season at Wake Forest.
Link to Tyler's article on Wesley: https://www.noceilingsnba.com/p/blake-wesleys-space-creation-the?s=w
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on long-range shooting in this Draft Deep Dives episode. They start by discussing Tyler's most recent article on Gabriele Procida, and Procida's excellent shooting and well-rounded offensive game. Then, they wrap up by discussing three of each of their favorite long-range shooting prospects in this draft.
Link to Tyler's article: Gabriele Procida's Scoring Versatility | The Friday Screener (noceilingsnba.com)
Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) talk about two of their favorite prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft in this episode. They kick off the episode by discussing Tyler's recent article on Duke big man Mark Williams and his impressive pick-and-roll defense, as well as comparing him to a more highly touted center prospect. Then, they discuss Iverson Molinar, who has put together an excellent under-the-radar season for Mississippi State.
Link to Tyler's article: Mark Williams's Pick-and-Roll Defense | The Friday Screener (substack.com) Link to Iverson Molinar article: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/sleeper-deep-dives-iverson-molinar
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on Kentucky guard TyTy Washington, Tyler's recent article about Washington's prowess as a pick-and-roll creator, and the rest of TyTy's game. Then, they wrap up by discussing some of the other lead guard prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft class, including a sleeper prospect on both Tyler and Nick's radars who might have an outside chance of sneaking into the first round.
Link to Tyler's article: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/tyty-washingtons-pick-and-roll-creation
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss some of the top big men of the 2022 NBA Draft in this episode. They start out by discussing Tyler's recent article on Ismael Kamagate and his at-rim finishing, in addition to talking about the rest of Kamagate's intriguing skill set. Then, they wrap up the episode by discussing three other big men (Mark Williams, Christian Koloko, and Walker Kessler) who are likely to end up in the same draft range as Kamagate.
Link to Tyler's article: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/ismael-kamagates-at-rim-finishing
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) start off this episode by discussing Tyler's recent article on Richmond prospect Tyler Burton, covering his shooting touch and cutting skills along with reviewing his overall defensive game. Then, they talk briefly about Purdue passing wizard Trevion Williams. Finally, they wrap up by talking about the most recent No Ceilings Mock Draft, including an AJ Griffin discussion as well as a discussion about a prospect who surprisingly fell out of the first round of the Mock Draft.
Link to Tyler's Tyler Burton article: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/its-time-to-pay-attention-to-tyler
Link to the Mock Draft: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/2022-nba-mock-draft-v2
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss some differences between their Big Boards following the release of the No Ceilings NBA Big Board v2. They talk about their slightly different rankings for Jabari Smith Jr., as well as diving deep on their thoughts on who is the better guard prospect between Jaden Ivey and Johnny Davis. Then, they discuss two wings who they believe in more than current consensus before wrapping up by discussing a few international prospects.
Big Board link: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/2022-nba-draft-big-board-v2
On the first NBA Deep Dives episode of 2022, host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss their recent articles on Daimion Collins and Kennedy Chandler for this Draft Deep Dives episode. They discuss how Collins has done well in limited minutes at Kentucky, and then speculate about whether or not he should remain in college basketball for another season. Then, they talk about Kennedy Chandler's at-rim finishing, as well as the overall game that makes him one of the most enticing point guard prospects in the 2022 draft class.
Article links: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/kennedy-chandlers-at-rim-finishing https://noceilings.substack.com/p/sleeper-deep-dives-daimion-collins
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on Tyler's recent article on Kendall Brown for the last NBA Deep Dives episode of 2021. The two discuss Brown's exceptional cutting instincts, and also talk about the rest of Brown's game as he continues to rise up draft boards and cement a spot in the green room for the 2022 NBA Draft.
Article link: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/kendall-browns-cutting-the-friday
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) start off this week's Draft Deep Dives episode by discussing Johnny Davis and his breakout sophomore season at Wisconsin. They talk about his three-level scoring and expanded role in the Wisconsin offense, along with talking about potential areas for improvement. Then, before wrapping up, Tyler and Nick discuss a few of the biggest differences in prospect evaluations between the Big Boards that they submitted for No Ceilings, including their thoughts on Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Article link: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/johnny-daviss-scoring-versatility
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on Tyler's recent article about Jaden Ivey and his exceptional (and exceptionally fun) transition offense. They talk about how Ivey looks to push the pace and his ability to create shots for his teammates as well as himself. They also discuss whether they see him as a more traditional point guard or as more of a combo guard by comparing to some other elite guard prospects of the (relatively) recent past.
Article link: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/the-friday-screener-jaden-iveys-transition
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on two of Tyler's recent articles for this Draft Deep Dives episode. The two discuss the defensive footwork of Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr. at length, as well as briefly discussing his offensive game and what makes him an early favorite to be a Top 3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. They also discuss Michigan's Caleb Houstan and his passing, and why that skill will be a huge boon to Houstan's draft stock even if his shooting numbers don't pick up.
Article links: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/the-friday-screener-jabari-smiths https://noceilings.substack.com/p/the-friday-screener-caleb-houstans
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep into some small sample size theater in this episode, as they discuss five NBA prospects who have been impressive early on in the college basketball season. They cover Jaime Jaquez Jr., Ochai Agbaji, Daimion Collins, Walker Kessler, and Jaden Ivey, who have each showcased their skill sets early on and solidified their NBA draft stock in their first few games.
The NBA Deep Dives Podcast is back! On this edition of Draft Deep Dives, host Nick Agar-Johnson and co-host Tyler Metcalf discuss Tyler's recent article about Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren for No Ceilings NBA. They talk about the center position overall and the changes in recent years before diving deep on two of the top 2022 prospects, including lengthy discussions of their strengths and areas for improvement, along with Tyler's comparison of Banchero and a famous movie star.
Link to the article: https://noceilings.substack.com/p/the-juxtaposition-of-paolo-banchero
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) review Thursday night’s NBA Draft in an extensive two-part episode. In Part Two, they cover the flurry of trades on Draft Night, with a special focus on the blockbuster Russell Westbrook trade. Then, they cover their presumptive winners and losers of the night and wrap up by discussing some of their favorite undrafted free agent targets.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) review Thursday night’s NBA Draft in an extensive two-part episode. In Part One, they go in depth on all of the first-round picks, with a particular focus on the lottery selections. Then, they wrap up Part One by talking about some of the highlights of the second round and some of the prospects with surprising slides on draft night.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) prepare for Thursday night’s NBA Draft by reviewing Tyler’s updated Top 85 prospects list. They cover the risers since the previous edition, including Tre Mann and James Bouknight, as well as the fallers, including Kai Jones and Jaden Springer. Finally, they wrap up by discussing some of the trade chatter heading into the draft.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) continue their prospect deep dives and discuss the #27-#30 players in Tyler’s Top 75. They talk about Ayo Dosunmu’s upside, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl’s steady play, the high-energy game of Day’ron Sharpe, and the potential upside and downside of Alperen Sengun. Finally, they wrap up by discussing this international prospect class overall and their potential NBA futures.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) continue their prospect deep dives and discuss the #24-#26 players in Tyler’s Top 75. They talk about Bones Hyland’s microwave scoring, the shooting touch and defense of Chris Duarte, and the scoring upside and often frustrating game of Cam Thomas. Finally, they wrap up by discussing these prospects in comparison to each other and give their thoughts on their potential NBA futures.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) continue their prospect deep dives and discuss the #21-#23 players in Tyler’s Top 75. They talk about Jalen Johnson’s potential and often frustrating game, the shooting touch and skill of Jared Butler, and the defensive upside of Miles McBride. Finally, they wrap up by discussing these prospects in comparison to each other and give their thoughts on their potential NBA futures.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) do a mock draft now that the lottery results are in and the draft order is set. They go through the first round and discuss potential fits for each team, before wrapping up by speculating about possible draft night trades.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) react to Tuesday night’s draft lottery. They discuss the winners and losers of the night, and discuss which prospects might be affected the most by the updated draft order. Then, they wrap up by speculating about what the lottery results might mean for potential trades.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) continue their prospect deep dives and discuss the #18-#20 players in Tyler’s Top 75. They talk about the passing brilliance of Sharife Cooper, the athleticism and defensive potential of Isaiah Jackson, and the defensive upside and often frustrating game of Josh Christopher. Finally, they wrap up by discussing these prospects in comparison to each other and give their thoughts on their potential to rise up into the lottery on draft night.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) continue their prospect deep dives as they move outside of the lottery and discuss the #15-#17 players in Tyler’s Top 75. They talk about the defensive skill set of Franz Wagner, the shooting and all-around game of Corey Kispert, and the athleticism and defensive potential of Keon Johnson. Finally, they wrap up by discussing these prospects in comparison to each other and some of the top other top players in this 2021 class.
Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) go through Nick’s Top 30 Big Board for the NBA draft. The two dive deep into the top five prospects on the board, which is one of the strongest Top Fives in recent memory. Then, they discuss the rest of the lottery and the first round from Nick’s board before wrapping up with a quick discussion of one of Tyler’s first round prospects who is further down on Nick’s board.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep on their draft philosophies in this episode. They discuss their overall likes and dislikes, projection of skill development, and debate about when teams should look to draft big men. They also dive deep on Tyler’s favorite topic, footwork, and other key pillars of their draft philosophies before wrapping up by discussing some of their biggest hits and misses.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) wrap up their discussion of the top of the draft in this episode, as they discuss the #12-#14 prospects on Tyler’s Big Board to finish out the lottery. They talk about Scottie Barnes and his intriguing skill set, Josh Giddey’s passing vision and exceptional rise up the draft boards, and James Bouknight’s up-and-down season at UConn. Finally, they wrap up by discussing these prospects in comparison to each other and some of the top other top players in this 2021 class.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) discusses the NBA’s awards with Kevin Nye (@kevinpnye), now that the regular season has wrapped up and the play-in tournament is about to begin. In Part Two, the two cover the Rookie of the Year ballot ballot, their All-Rookie teams, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Coach of the Year.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) discusses the NBA’s awards with Kevin Nye (@kevinpnye), now that the regular season has wrapped up and the play-in tournament is about to begin. In Part One, the two cover the MVP ballot, the Defensive Player of the Year voting, and their All-NBA and All-Defensive teams.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) continue their discussion of the top of the draft in this episode, as they discuss the #9-#11 prospects on Tyler’s Big Board. They talk about Ziaire Williams’ potential, Jaden Springer’s intriguing skill set, and Davion Mitchell’s growth and stellar season at Baylor. Finally, they wrap up by discussing these prospects in comparison to other recent top picks and the top other top players in this 2021 class.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive back into the top of the draft in this episode, as they discuss the #6-#8 prospects on Tyler’s Big Board. They talk about Moses Moody’s NBA-ready skill set, Tre Mann’s growth and upside, and the eye-popping potential of Kai Jones. Finally, they wrap up by discussing these prospects in comparison to the top five players in this 2021 class.
Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) go through Tyler’s Top 75 Big Board for the NBA draft (https://hashtagbasketball.com/nba-draft/nba-draft-prospects), covering picks 46-75 in detail. Then, they discuss some risers and fallers from the Top 45 on Tyler’s board before wrapping up with quick discussions of a few intriguing prospects who are further down on the board.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep into the top of the draft in this episode as they discuss three probable top five picks in the 2021 NBA Draft in Evan Mobley and G-League Ignite stars Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga. They start out by discussing Mobley at length before moving into deep dives and comparisons of Green and Kuminga. Finally, they wrap up by discussing the G-League Ignite experiment and the importance of the program going forward.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep into the top of the draft in this episode, as they discuss Cade Cunningham and Jalen Suggs, their #1 and #2 prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft. They start out by discussing both players on their own at length before wrapping up by comparing the two and discussing where they rank in comparison to each other and previous top draft picks.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) review the NCAA Men’s Tournament prospects by going over the prospects in the Final Four now that the championship game is over. After discussing the college prospects, they then discuss some of the top international prospects in the 2021 NBA Draft, including a lengthy discussion of Alperen Sengün.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) go through the wings in the 2021 Draft for this week’s episode of Draft Deep Dives on the NBA Deep Dives podcast. They discuss the elite wings in this draft, including deep dives on probable Top Five picks Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Green. Then, they discuss the other wing players who are likely to hear their names called in the first round of the draft. Finally, they wrap up by doing deep dives on a few intriguing wing prospects who will probably not hear their names called in the lottery but who could turn into dynamic NBA players.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) talk about the NCAA Men’s Tournament prospects for this week’s Draft Deep Dives episode. They start out by discussing how the 14 players that Tyler currently has slated as lottery picks played in the tournament (barring the three players that did not travel to Indianapolis). Then, they talk about some unheralded prospects who have improved their draft stock in the tournament, including the red-hot Max Abmas and Oregon’s Chris Duarte.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) go through the big men in the 2021 Draft for this week’s episode of Draft Deep Dives on the NBA Deep Dives podcast. They quickly talk about the NCAA Men’s Tournament before diving deep on the elite big men in this draft, including an extended discussion about probable Top Five pick Evan Mobley. Then, they discuss a few intriguing big man prospects who will probably not hear their names called in the lottery but who could turn into dynamic NBA players.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) is joined by Hashtag Basketball draft expert and co-host Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) for the first episode of their weekly Draft Deep Dives on the NBA Deep Dives podcast. They cover playmakers and primary creators in this episode, spending some time discussing the elite playmaking prospects in this draft. Then, they do deep dives on a few intriguing primary playmaker prospects who will probably not hear their names called in the lottery but who could turn into dynamic NBA players.
Episode Notes Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Jordan Christmas (@Jordan_Xmas) dive deep on the Eastern Conference leaders, the Philadelphia 76ers. They discuss the team’s two All-Stars at length, and also cover the impressive season so far from Tobias Harris. Then, they talk about the rest of the rotation before wrapping up by discussing the Sixers’ pace and talking through some potential Eastern Conference playoff matchups.
Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) go through Tyler’s Top 45 Big Board for the NBA draft. The two dive deep into the top five prospects on the board, including a thorough Cade Cunningham breakdown. Then, they discuss the rest of the lottery and the first round from Tyler’s board before wrapping up with quick discussions of picks 31-45 and a few intriguing prospects who are further down on the board.
Episode Notes The NBA Deep Dives Podcast is back! Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) brings on Kevin Nye (@kevinpnye) to discuss the Hashtag Basketball NBA Power Rankings (https://hashtagbasketball.com/nba/nba-power-rankings) and the NBA overall during the 2020-2021 season. They talk about all 30 teams, then wrap up by discussing some surprising trends from the early part of the season.
Be sure to follow the rest of this year’s Power Rankers as well! Twitter handles for this year’s new writers: @NateSmithNBA @416Basketball @Jordan_Xmas @CiaraMountains @KriegerSports @dynoNFL @iHaveAFormula @Joe_Truck @maxnathan3 @mathskers @NBAJohnson @tmetcalf11 @kevinpnye @josephmamone
Episode Notes Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) discusses the NBA’s awards with Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) and Kevin Nye (@kevinpnye) through the first three quarters of the season. The three cover the MVP race, the Rookie of the Year race, and all of the other major season-long awards.
Episode Notes Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) preview Tyler’s Big Board by going through his top 60 prospects in the 2020 draft (you can find that article here: https://hashtagbasketball.com/nba-draft/nba-draft-prospects). They dive deep on this year’s potential lottery picks, including the disappointing fight for the top seed. Then, they cover the rest of the first round in detail before closing out by quickly discussing the second round and potential sleeper picks.
Episode Notes Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) breaks down a wild trade deadline season with Kevin Nye (@kevinpnye). The two discuss all of the big deals leading up to the deadline day, including the big 4-team 12-player trade, and then talk about the crazy action on Thursday before wrapping up with a brief discussion about preliminary winners and losers.
Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) talks through the NBA’s awards with Jeremy Stevens (@Taco_Haus) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) at the halfway mark of the season. The three cover the MVP race, the Rookie of the Year race, and all of the other major season-long awards through the first half of the season.
EP80 - Western Conference Playoff Bubble w. Tyler Metcalf Host Nick Agar-Johnson and Tyler Metcalf discuss the teams on the Western Conference playoff bubble in the weirdest and weakest playoff field in many years. They discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that appears to have separated themselves from the pack but could be stripped down for assets at any time. Then, they cover the revived Spurs, the stunningly successful Grizzlies, and the disappointing and injury-plagued Trail Blazers, along with quick discussions of the Timberwolves, Kings, Suns, and Pelicans. Finally, they wrap up by discussing the proposed changes to the playoffs including the play-in tournament and the still up-in-the-air question of playoff reseeding.
EP79 - Eastern Conference Playoff Bubble w. Kevin Nye Host Nick Agar-Johnson and Kevin Nye discuss the teams on the Eastern Conference playoff bubble now that the top six teams appear to have separated themselves. They discuss the walking wounded Nets and how the Jonathan Isaac injury might knock the Magic out of playoff contention. Then, they discuss the shockingly competent Charlotte Hornets and the up-and-down Chicago Bulls, along with quick discussions of the Pistons, Wizards, and Cavaliers. Finally, they wrap up with a brief discussion of the proposed playoff play-in tournament proposal that the NBA Board of Governors will vote on in April.
EP78 - NBA Quarter Season Awards w. Kevin Nye and Tyler Metcalf Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) talks through the NBA’s awards with Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) and Kevin Nye (@kevinpnye). The three cover the MVP race, the Rookie of the Year race, and all of the other major season-long awards through the first quarter of the season.
EP77 - NBA Power Rankings After Week Five w. Tyler Metcalf Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) revisits the Hashtag Basketball Power Rankings with fellow contributor Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11). The two go through this week’s edition of the Power Rankings in order with a few quick notes on each team, and wrap up by discussing the teams that have been hardest to rank in the early part of the season.
EP76 - 2020 Draft Preliminary Top 30 w. Tyler Metcalf Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) preview Tyler’s first Big Board by going through Tyler's preliminary top 30 list. They dive deep on this year’s Top 3, including their shared choice for the early #1 spot. Then, they cover the rest of the lottery in detail before closing out by quickly discussing the rest of the projected first round.
EP75 - Small Sample Size Theater w. Jeremy Stevens Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Jeremy Stevens (@Taco_Haus) go through some small sample size theater, analyzing the most surprising players and teams through the first portion of the season. They discuss Trae Young’s scoring explosion, Malcolm Brogdon’s offensive wizardry, and other players who have stood out in early action. Then, they talk about the most surprising teams in the league, including the Timberwolves’ hot start and Sacramento’s disastrous start to the season. Finally, they wrap up by discussing the eternal conundrum better known as the New York Knicks.
EP74 - Rookie Rotation Review w. Tyler Metcalf Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) discuss this year’s rookie class and where they’ve fallen within the rotations for their teams. They discuss the rookie starters, including RJ Barrett’s impressive first few games and Coby White playing starting minutes off the bench. Then, they discuss some rookie role players, including Brandon Clarke and some of the Warriors’ rookie forward options. Finally, they wrap up by discussing two first-round big men who may be primed for breakouts later in the season.
EP73 - NBA Power Rankings w. Kevin Nye The NBA Deep Dives Podcast is back for Season Four! Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) goes through the first edition of the Hashtag Basketball NBA Power Rankings with fellow Rankings write Kevin Nye (@kevinpnye). They discuss the teams from #1 to #30 with some brief thoughts on each squad and wrap up by talking about some surprises within the rankings. You can find those rankings here: https://hashtagbasketball.com/nba/nba-power-rankings
If you have any feedback, please feel free to reach out via email (nickaj.nba@gmail.com)--all thoughts on the podcast are appreciated, and thanks for listening!
Episode Notes In Part Two of the 2019 NBA Awards Podcast, host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) dives deep into the All-NBA, All-Rookie, and All-Defensive teams with Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) and Jeremy Stevens (@Taco_Haus).
EP71 - 2019 NBA Awards Part One w. Tyler Metcalf and Jeremy Stevens Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) talks through the NBA’s awards with Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) and Jeremy Stevens (@Taco_Haus). In Part One, the three cover the incredibly close MVP race, the decidedly less close Rookie of the Year race, and all of the other major end of season awards.
EP 70 - Houston Rockets w. Nathan Smith Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Nathan Smith (@NateSmithNBA) dive deep into the Houston Rockets by reviewing their season, including James Harden’s ridiculous scoring numbers and the differences from last year’s team. They also look at their lineups and rotations, including Clint Capela's success manning the middle and Chris Paul’s up-and-down season. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the postseason and James Harden’s MVP chances and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook for the future.
EP69 - 2019 NBA Draft Prospects w. Tyler Metcalf Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) brings Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) onto the podcast to discuss the best draft prospects from his Hashtag Basketball 2019 NBA draft prospects review (https://hashtagbasketball.com/nba-draft/2019-nba-draft-prospects). The two go in depth on Tyler’s lottery picks, then go through the rest of his first round picks lightning-round style. Finally, they wrap up by discussing some potential second-round sleepers.
EP68 - Milwaukee Bucks w. Nathan Smith Nick Agar-Johnson and Nathan Smith dive deep into the Milwaukee Bucks by discussing the team’s impressive season. They discuss the lineup and rotations, including Giannis’ MVP-caliber season, their incredible depth, and Milwaukee’s recent transactions--the Nikola Mirotic trade, the Pau Gasol signing, and the Eric Bledsoe extension. Then, they discuss the team’s outlook for the playoffs, including who they might be playing in the first few rounds and their playoff ceiling. Finally, they look ahead to the awards season and what trophies might be on their way to the Antetokounmpo residence.
EP67 - Denver Nuggets w. Tyler Metcalf Nick Agar-Johnson and Tyler Metcalf dive deep into the Denver Nuggets by discussing the team’s impressive season thus far overall along with the lineup and rotations, including Nikola Jokic’s All-NBA caliber season and the stellar guard rotation. Then, they look ahead to discuss the team’s outlook for the playoffs, including who they might be playing in the first few rounds and their playoff ceiling. Finally, they look ahead to some important decisions that the Nuggets will face this offseason.
EP66 - Oklahoma City Thunder w. Nathan Smith Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Nathan Smith (@NateSmithNBA) dive deep into the Oklahoma City Thunder by reviewing their offseason and early season, including Paul George committing to the team and the Dennis Schröder trade. They also look at their lineups and rotations, including the Markieff Morris buyout pickup and Russell Westbrook’s shooting woes. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the postseason, the team’s candidates for various awards, and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook for the future.
EP65 - NBA Trade Deadline Recap w. Tyler Metcalf and Jeremy Stevens Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson), Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11), and Jeremy Stevens (@Taco_Haus) go over all of the trades that took place during the week before (and the day of) the February 7th trade deadline. They discuss the shocking Kristaps Porzingis trade at length, the Tobias Harris blockbuster, and all the rest of the action leading up to the deadline. Finally, they wrap up by talking about the most surprising deals that weren’t completed before the end of the trade cycle and who is likely to be on the move this offseason instead.
EP64 - Sacramento Kings w. Nathan Smith Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Nathan Smith (@NateSmithNBA) dive deep into the Sacramento Kings by reviewing their offseason, including the Marvin Bagley debate and the crucial signings of Nemanja Bjelica and Yogi Ferrell. They also look at their lineups and rotations so far this season, including the breakout seasons from De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield and the veteran presence of Iman Shumpert. Then, they look at the Kings’ key role in the upcoming trade deadline as the only team with cap space . Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the season and wrap up by speculating about the team’s upcoming offseason.
EP63 - Toronto Raptors w. Jordan Kligman Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Jordan Kligman (@416Basketball) dive deep into the Toronto Raptors by reviewing their offseason, including the blockbuster deal that re-shaped the franchise. They then discuss the team’s season thus far along with the lineup and rotations, including Pascal Siakam’s breakout season and the team’s glut of talented wings. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s outlook for the playoffs and the approach of what might be the most important offseason in Raptors history.
EP62 - Boston Celtics w. Jeremy Stevens Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Jeremy Stevens (@Taco_Haus) dive deep into the Boston Celtics by reviewing their offseason and early season, including early returns on Robert Williams and their fluctuating offensive success. They also look at their lineups and rotations, including the poor starts from Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward, and the lingering impacts of the rivalry that has yet to launch between Jayson Tatum and Markelle Fultz. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the season and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook for the future.
EP61 - Los Angeles Lakers w. Nathan Smith Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Nathan Smith (@NateSmithNBA) dive deep into the Los Angeles Lakers by reviewing their offseason and early season, including LeBron putting down roots in Hollywood and their group of one-year deals. They also look at their lineups and rotations, including the Tyson Chandler pickup and Lonzo Ball’s shooting woes. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the season and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook for the future.
EP60 - Chicago Bulls w. Chance Collins Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Chance Collins (@ChanceDaBlogger) dive deep into the Chicago Bulls by reviewing their offseason and early season, including their really solid draft success and the excellent early returns on Zach LaVine's new contract. They also look at their lineups and rotations, including the unfortunate injuries to some of their young players. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the season and wrap up by speculating about the team’s (and Fred Hoiberg's) outlook for the future.
EP59 - Philadelphia 76ers w. Jordan Christmas Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Jordan Christmas @SlyHooperX dive deep into the Philadelphia 76ers by reviewing their offseason and early season, including re-signing J.J. Redick and snagging Landry Shamet late in the first round. They also look at their lineups and rotations, focusing on Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz’s interplay in the starting lineup. Then, they talk about the incredible season from Joel Embiid and the changes to the team’s bench. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the NBA playoffs and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook beyond this year.
EP58 - Minnesota Timberwolves w. Tyler Metcalf Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Tyler Metcalf @tmetcalf11 dive deep into the Minnesota Timberwolves by reviewing their offseason and early season, including Karl-Anthony Town's new contract extension. They also look at the team's lineups and rotations. Then, they talk about the...interesting Jimmy Butler situation. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the NBA playoffs and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook for the future with or without their disgruntled superstar.
EP57 - 2018 Post-NBA Draft Podcast w. Tyler Metcalf Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) brings Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) back onto the podcast with their next-day reactions to the 2018 NBA Draft prospects review. The two cover all of the lottery picks and draft day trades. Then, they go through some highlights and lowlights of the non-lottery picks. Finally, they wrap up by giving their (way too early) thoughts on the winners and losers of the draft.
EP56 - 2018 Pre-NBA Draft Podcast w. Tyler Metcalf With the 2017-18 season now over, all eyes have turned to the 2018 NBA Draft. Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) brings Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) onto the podcast to preview the draft. They dive deep on each of the lottery teams before doing a quick review of the rest of the first round. They then close out the podcast by discussing some potential second-round sleepers.
EP55 - 2018 All-League Team Review w. Jordan Christmas and Nathan Smith Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) talks through the NBA’s All-League teams with Jordan Christmas (@SportsTalkXmas and @NateSmithNBA). The three cover the All-NBA teams, the All-Rookie teams, and the All-Defensive teams. They also talk about some of the biggest snubs (in their minds) from those All-League teams.
EP54 - 2018 NBA Draft Top 40 w. Tyler Metcalf The NBA Deep Dives podcast is back! Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) brings Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) onto the podcast to discuss his Top 40 prospects from his Hashtag Basketball 2018 NBA draft prospects review. The two go in depth on Tyler’s lottery picks and then go through the rest of the Top 40 lightning-round style.
EP53 - Orlando Magic w. Jordan Kligman Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Jordan Kligman @416Basketball dive deep into the Orlando Magic by reviewing their season so far. They look at their best and worst games including their hot start, and discuss the lineup and rotations. Then, they talk about the team’s decision to trade away Elfrid Payton and some of the players near the bottom of the rotation. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s difficult situation moving forward and the rebuilding years to come.
EP52 - Trade Deadline Review w. Jeremy Stevens Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Jeremy Stevens @Taco_Haus wrap up one of the most shocking trade deadlines in recent years. The two start by talking about the biggest deals before the deadline, including the Blake Griffin and Nikola Mirotic deals. Then, they dive deep on the craziness of deadline day itself, including Cleveland’s complete roster overhaul. Finally, they wrap up by talking about the most surprising moves that were not made, including Memphis’ inexplicable decision to not trade Tyreke Evans.
EP51 - Oklahoma City Thunder w. Nathan Smith Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Nathan Smith @Nathan_Smith dive deep into the Oklahoma City Thunder by reviewing their offseason and early season. They also look at their best games thus far, and discuss the lineup and rotations. Then, they talk about some potential Thunder trade targets with the trade deadline rapidly approaching. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the NBA playoffs and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook for what is shaping up to be a franchise-defining offseason.
EP 50 - Philadelphia 76ers w. Jordan Christmas Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Jordan Christmas @SportsTalkXmas dive deep into the Philadelphia 76ers by reviewing their offseason and early season. They also look at their best games thus far, and discuss the lineup and rotations. Then, they talk about the incredible season from Joel Embiid and the strong start from rooke Ben Simmons. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s ceiling for the NBA playoffs and wrap up by speculating about the team’s outlook for 2020 and beyond as well as Joel Embiid’s future MVP chances.
EP49 - Midseason Awards w. Jordan Christmas Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Jordan Christmas (@SportsTalkXmas) discuss their awards at the halfway point of the season. Their talk briefly about their All-Star starting lineups before diving deep on their picks for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, All-NBA teams, All-Rookie First Team, Sixth Man of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
EP48--Milwaukee Bucks w. Tyler Metcalf Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Tyler Metcalf @tmetcalf11 dive deep into the Milwaukee Bucks by reviewing their offseason and early season, including the Eric Bledsoe trade. They als look at their best games thus far, and discuss the lineup and rotations. Then, they talk about the incredible season from Giannis and the disappointing sophomore slump for Thon Maker. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s chances of winning the conference and their ceiling for the NBA playoffs and wrap up by speculating on how much longer Jason Kidd has in Milwaukee and Giannis’ future MVP chances.
EP47 - Portland Trail Blazers w. Evan Dyal Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Evan Dyal @EvanDyal dive deep into the Portland Trail Blazers by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first few games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the new rookie big men, as well as talking about relative newcomer Jusuf Nurkic. They also discuss the team’s rotations, including the surprising changes in the forward rotation from last year. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s chances of winning the conference and their ceiling for the NBA playoffs.
EP46 - First Trimester Awards Part Two Host Nick Agar Johnson @NBAJohnson goes through the award races for the first third of the season with Jordan Christmas @SportsTalkXmas and Jordan Schultz @dynoNBA. In Part Two, the three discuss the leading candidates for Coach of the Year. Finally, they wrap up by going through some of their favorite storylines from this season.
EP45 - First Trimester Awards Part One Host Nick Agar Johnson @NBAJohnson goes through the award races for the first third of the season with Jordan Christmas @SportsTalkXmas and Jordan Schultz @dynoNBA. In Part One, the three discuss their top five picks for MVP, and their top choices for the Defensive Player of the Year. Then, they talk about the top rookies this season in a loaded class of first-year talents.
EP44 - Introducing The High Post Introducing The High Post, a weekly Denver Nuggets podcast hosted by Brendan Vogt and Mallorie Salazar.
EP43 - Boston Celtics w. Robby McKittrick Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Robby McKittrick @robbymckittrick dive deep into the Boston Celtics by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first few games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the Kyrie Irving and Avery Bradley trades, as well as the Gordon Hayward and Aron Baynes deals. They also discuss Jaylen Brown’s breakout start. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s chances of winning the conference and their ceiling for the NBA playoffs.
EP42 - Introducing Hashtag Raptors Introducing Hashtag Raptors, our new Toronto Raptors podcast hosted by Jordan Kligman and Craig Oliver. Available at the start of December by searching for Hashtag Raptors using your favorite podcast app.
EP 41 - Minnesota Timberwolves w. Tyler Metcalf Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) and Tyler Metcalf (@tmetcalf11) dive deep into the Minnesota Timberwolves by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first few games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the superstar trade for Jimmy Butler, as well as the Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson signings. They also talk about the starting lineup’s fit together and Nemanja Bjelica’s role as an X-factor. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s chances of getting homecourt advantage and their ceiling for the NBA playoffs.
EP40 - Washington Wizards w. Kevin So Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Kevin So @kevinso dive deep into the Washington Wizards by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first few games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the new contract for Otto Porter, as well as the Jodie Meeks signing. They also talk about the starting lineup’s fit together and Kelly Oubre’s role as an X-factor. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s chances of getting homecourt advantage and their ceiling for the NBA playoffs.
EP 39 - Los Angeles Lakers w. Nathan Smith Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Nathan Smith dive deep into the Los Angeles Lakers by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first few games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the D’Angelo Russell-Brook Lopez trade and the Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signing. Then, they talk about the Lakers’ four rookie draft picks in depth. Finally, they look ahead and project where the Lakers might finish in the standings this year as well as their future outlook for 2020.
EP 38 - New York Knicks w. Luke Hickey Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Luke Hickey @burritorain dive deep into the New York Knicks by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first few games, and discussing their lineups and rotations. They discuss the Carmelo trade and the Tim Hardaway Jr. signing. They also talk about rookie Frank Ntilikina’s role in the team’s new offense and Kristaps Porzingis’ hot start to the season. Finally, they look ahead to the team’s chances in the race to the bottom this year and their future with Porzingis and Ntilikina.
EP 37 - Toronto Raptors w. Jordan Kligman Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Jordan Kligman @416Basketball dive deep into the Toronto Raptors by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first few games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the new contracts for Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka. They also discuss Jonas Valanciunas’ role in the team’s new offense. Finally, they look ahead to discuss the team’s chances of winning the division and their ceiling for the NBA playoffs.
EP36 - Introducing Hashtag Hornets Introducing Hashtag Hornets, the new Charlotte Hornets podcast soon to be part of the Hashtag Basketball Podcast Network.
EP 035 - Southeast Division Preview w. Jordan Schultz Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) dives deep on the Southeast Division with Jordan Schultz (@dynonba). They start out by reviewing the offseason for all five teams, including the Wizards bolstering their bench and the Dwight Howard trade. Then, they talk about one major question facing each of the teams in the division for the 2017-18 season. Finally , they look ahead to the future of the division including Washington's chances of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, Miami's chances at signing a superstar in the near future, and which the Hawks or the Magic would return to the playoffs before the other.
EP 034 - Pacific Division Previw w. Jordan Schultz Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) dives deep on the Pacific Division with Jordan Schultz (@dynonba). They start out by reviewing the offseason for all five teams, including Golden State bolstering their bench and the Chris Paul trade. Then, they talk about one major question facing each of the teams in the division for the 2017-18 season. Finally , they look ahead to the future of the division including Golden State's window as title favorites, the Lakers' chances at signing a superstar in the near future, and whether the Kings or the Suns have a brighter future.
EP033 - Northwest Division Preview w. Jordan Christmas Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) dives deep on the Northwest Division with Jordan Christmas (@SportsTalkXmas). They start out by reviewing the offseason for all five teams, including the three superstar trades involving Jimmy Butler, Paul George, and Carmelo Anthony. They also cover the Nuggets new star Paul Millsap and cover the recent Gary Harris extension. Then, they talk about the 2017-18 outlook by discussing one major question facing each team, including the Thunder's title chances and Tom Thibodeau's offseason as head coach and GM. Finally, they look ahead and speculate about the longer-term future of the division by comparing Giannis Antetokounmpo and Karl-Anthony Towns.
EP32 - Southwest Division Preview w. Jordan Christmas and Jordan Schultz Host Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) dives deep on the Southwest Division with Jordan Christmas (@SportsTalkXmas) and Jordan Schultz (@dynobball). The three start out by reviewing the offseason for all five teams, including the massive Chris Paul trade and the Mavericks snagging Dennis Smith Jr. Then, they talk about the 2017-18 outlook by discussing one major question facing each team. Finally, they look ahead and speculate about the longer-term future of the division.
EP31 - Atlantic Division Preview w. Jordan Kligman Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson dives deep on the Atlantic Division with Toronto Raptors writer Jordan Kligman @416basketball and New York Knicks writer Luke Hickey @burritorain. The three start out by reviewing the offseasons for all five teams, including the blockbuster inter-division trade involving Markelle Fultz and Jayson Tatum as well as the recent massive Kyrie Irving trade. Then, they talk about the outlook for each team next season by discussing one major question facing each team. Finally, they wrap up by speculating about the future outlook for the division.
EP30 - Central Division Preview w. Mike Catron & Jordan Schultz Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson dives deep on the Central Division with Hashtag Bulls hosts Mike Catron @watchtheboxes and Jordan Schultz @dynobball. The three start out by reviewing the offseasons for all five teams, including the three superstar trades involving Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, and Paul George. Then, they talk about the outlook for each team next season by discussing one major question facing each team. Finally, they wrap up by speculating about the future outlook for the division.
EP29 - Chicago Bulls Season Preview Mike Catron (@watchtheboxes) and Jordan Schultz (@dynobball) break down the Chicago Bulls' off-season, make predictions on the upcoming season, and define what success looks like for the rebuild.
EP28 - Special announcement Over the next few weeks you'll notice a few take-over episodes appearing on this feed.
EP27 - 2017 Summer League Review w. Andrew Buchanan Host Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Andrew Buchanan @andrewb248 dive deep on the 2017 NBA Summer League. The two talk about Andrew's time in Las Vegas, where he went to Summer League games in both arenas. Then, the two talk about the rookies who stood out--for better or worse. Finally, the two discuss the top five rookies in the class (plus one honorable mention) and wrap up by talking about the second and third-year players in Vegas who stood out for one reason or another.
EP26 - First Week of 2017 Free Agency w. Jordan Kligman With free agency starting to wind down entering Week Two, Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Jordan Kligman @416Basketball review the first week and a bit of free agency. They go through the announced signings for all 30 teams and discuss how their free agents will fit in their new homes.
EP25 - 2017 Free Agency Day 1 & Trade Wrap-up w. Kevin Nye Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Kevin Nye @kevinpnye start off the 2017-18 NBA season and the second season of the Deep Dives podcast with a review of the start of free agency. They discuss the trades leading up to the start of the new season, including Jimmy Butler's move to the Timberwolves, Chris Paul's move to the Rockets, Rick Rubio's move to Utah, and the perplexing Paul George trade to Oklahoma City. Then, they discuss most of the free agent signings on July 1st, including Blake Griffin and Stephen Curry. Finally, they wrap up with a discussion of some of the bigger names still on the market and a brief discussion about the future of LeBron and the Banana Boat crew.
EP24 - 2017 NBA Draft w. Andrew Buchanan & Michael Marzec Nick Agar-Johnson (@NBAJohnson) dives deep on the 2017 NBA Draft with Andrew Buchanan (@andrewb248) and Michael Marzec (@michaelmarzec11). They discuss the lottery in depth, including the nearly-finalized trade between the 76ers and the Celtics and how that has shaken up the top of the draft. Then, they discuss the rest of the first round, with Andrew and Michael giving their input based on their most recent mock draft. Finally, they discuss some second-round sleepers that could become impact players from early or late in the second round.
EP23 - Round 1 & 2 of the Playoffs Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Andrew Buchanan @andrewb248 dive deep on the first two rounds of the playoffs. They wrap up the first round, including Golden State's annihilation of the Trail Blazers, the competitive series between the Clippers and the Jazz, and Cleveland's surprisingly close sweep of the Indiana Pacers. Then, they move on to the second round. They cover the (almost) finished series between the Celtics and the Wizards, Cleveland's destruction of the Toronto Raptors, Golden State's sweep of the Utah Jazz, and the collapse of the Rockets in Game Six after a tight series against the Spurs.
EP22 - Regular Season Awards Part Two (All-NBA, ROTY, All-Rookie, 6MOTY, COY & EOY) Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson, Jordan Christmas @SportsTalkXmas, and J.C. Fischer @thejcfischer finish their dive deep on the regular season awards. They discuss all three of their All-NBA teams and their ROTY and First Team All-Rookie picks. They also discuss Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Coach of the Year. Finally, they wrap up with their picks for Executive of the Year and a quick discussion of one of the most important late season signings of 2017.
EP21 - Regular Season Awards Part One (MVP & DPOY) Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson, Jordan Christmas @SportsTalkXmas, and J.C. Fischer @thejcfischer dive deep on the regular season awards, starting with the MVP and DPOY in Part One of the two-part episode. They discuss the MVP at length as they debate the top four candidates and their picks for fifth place. They also discuss the tight race for Defensive Player of the Year and name their top three candidates.
EP20 - Washington Wizards Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Charles Maniego @ignisyon dive deep on the Washington Wizards by reviewing their offseason, talking about their season thus far, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the successes of new coach Scott Brooks as well as the injury-plagued season from Ian Mahinmi and the struggles of Trey Burke and Tomas Satoransky. They talk about Otto Porter’s career year, the inconsistent Kelly Oubre, and the successes of midseason acquisitions Brandon Jennings and Bojan Bogdanovic. Then, they talk about the brilliance of John Wall and Bradley Beal, covering where the two rank among the best backcourts in the league. Additionally, they talk about Wall’s standing among the league’s elite point guards and his case for fifth place in the MVP voting. Finally, they talk about some of Washington’s best and worst games through this point in the season and look ahead to their potential first round matchups.
EP19 - Houston Rockets Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Jordan Christmas @SportsTalkXmas dive deep on the Houston Rockets by reviewing their offseason, talking about their season thus far, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the additions of Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, and Nene. They also talk about the center trio of Nene, Clint Capela, and Montrezl Harrell. They talk about the sixth man of the year race between Gordon and new trade acquisition Lou Williams, as well as the elite defensive starters Patrick Beverley and Trevor Ariza. They also discuss James Harden's MVP case and how he stacks up against the other prime contenders. Finally, they talk about some of Houston's best and worst games through this point in the season.
EP18 - Brooklyn Nets Nick Agar-Johnson @NBAJohnson and Charles Maniego @ignisyon dive deep on the Brooklyn Nets by reviewing their offseason, talking about their season thus far, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the additions of Jeremy Lin and Trevor Booker as well as the contributions of other newcomers Joe Harris, Justin Hamilton, and Randy Foye. They talk about the surprisingly solid play from the two rookie guards Caris LeVert and Isaiah Whitehead. The strong performances of the new coach Kenny Atkinson and new GM Sean Marks are also covered at length. Then, they talk about Brooklyn's trade deadline decisions and whether or not they can find another D-League success story alongside Spencer Dinwiddie and Quncy Acy. Finally, they talk about some of Brooklyn’s best and worst games through this point in the season.
EP17 - San Antonio Spurs Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Devin Domino @DevinDomino11 dive deep on the San Antonio Spurs by reviewing their offseason, talking about their season thus far, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the revamped frontcourt with Pau Gasol, David Lee, and Dewayne Dedmon. They also discuss the struggles of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, as well as the promising play of Dejounte Murray and the play of Danny Green. Then, they talk about Kawhi Leonard’s leap and whether or not he belongs in the MVP discussion. Finally, they talk about some of San Antonio’s best and worst games through this point in the season.
EP16 - Trade Deadline Review Nick Agar-Johnson @nbajohnson and Jeremy Stevens @TacoHaus dive deep on the NBA trade deadline. They discuss all of the moves leading up and including the deadline day, and give preliminary trade grades to all 30 teams.
EP15 - Toronto Raptors Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Jordan Kligman @416basketball dive deep into the Serge Ibaka trade and the Toronto Raptors. They talk about how the trade will alter Toronto's big man rotation, how losing Terrence Ross will affect their wing rotation, and what impact Ibaka will have on the team. They talk about the Raptors' hot start to the season on the offensive end, their recent slump, and talk about the start backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. Finally, they talk about some of Toronto's best and worst games this season and their future outlook after their blockbuster trade.
EP14 - Sacramento Kings Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson is joined by guest host J.C. Fischer @thejcfischer for a deep dive on the Sacramento Kings. They discuss the Kings offseason and particularly their free agent signings of Arron Afflalo, Anthony Tolliver, and Ty Lawson and the Kings' three rookie first-round picks. They also discuss the frontcourt and backcourt rotations and debate whether or not to sign DeMarcus Cousins to a maximum extension. Finally, they discuss some of the best and worst games for the Kings this season and briefly talk about their potential plans for the future.
EP13 - Midseason Awards Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson, J.C. Fischer @thejcfischer and Evan Dammarell @AmNotEvan dive deep into the NBA as a whole and give out their midseason awards. They discuss the MVP race, Defensive Player of the Year, and the All-NBA and All-Rookie teams. They also discuss Sixth Man of the Year and Coach of the Year. Finally, they talk quickly about the Executive of the Year award race.
EP12 - Oklahoma City Thunder Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Evan Dammerall dive deep into the Oklahoma City Thunder by reviewing their offseason, talking about their first 44 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss both sides of the Serge Ibaka trade, the potential of Alex Abrines, and Andre Roberson's troubling shooting output. They also discuss the frontcourt duo of Steven Adams and Enes Kanter, as well as the uniquely incredible season from Russell Westbrook. Finally, they talk about some of the Thunder's best and worst games through the first half of the season and preview their important upcoming slate of games.
EP11 - Milwaukee Bucks Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Andrew Buchanan @andrewb248 dive deep into the Milwaukee Bucks by reviewing their offseason, talking about their first 37 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss Malcolm Brogdon's fantastic rookie season, Greg Monroe's solid play off the bench, and the scoring brilliance of Michael Beasley. They also discuss the incredible seasons from young stars Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Finally, they talk about some of Milwaukee's best and worst games through the first half of the season.
EP10 - Golden State Warriors Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Jordan Christmas @SportsTalkXmas dive deep into the Golden State Warriors by reviewing their offseason, talking about their first 27 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the acquisition of Kevin Durant, the disappointing start from Zaza Pachulia, and whether or not Javale McGee should be the starting center going forward. They also discuss Golden State's Top 10 defense thus far and some of their best and worst games through the first third of the season. Finally, they talk about their favorite ridiculous Warriors stats and how exciting the NBA season has been thus far.
EP09 - Chicago Bulls Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Mike Catron @WatchTheBoxes dive deep into the Chicago Bulls by reviewing their offseason, talking about their first 24 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the dynamic between Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, the disappointing start from Rajon Rondo, and whether Nikola Mirotic or Taj Gibson should be the starting power forward in the long-term. They also discuss the strong start for Robin Lopez and the Bulls' Top 10 defense thus far. They also discuss the Bulls' playoff hopes and some of their best and worst games through the first quarter of the season. Finally, they discuss Mike's Watching the Boxes podcast and how he uses box scores to make fantasy basketball decisions.
EP08 - Portland Trail Blazers Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Russell Smith @thatguyrusselll dive deep into the Portland Trail Blazers by reviewing their offseason, talking about their first 24 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss the issues with the big man rotation, the increased role for Maurice Harkless, and what Portland can get out of Allen Crabbe and Evan Turner. Finally, they discuss the Blazers' playoff hopes and some of their best and worst games through the first quarter of the season.
EP07 - New York Knicks Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Luke Hickey @burritorain dive deep into the New York Knicks by reviewing their offseason, talking about their first 18 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss Kristaps Porzingis’ increased role and whether he's been as good as Carmelo Anthony so far, as well as the frontcourt trio of Anthony, Porzingis, and Joakim Noah. They also briefly review the play of New York's younger players, the shaky start of Noah, and what they can get out of the point guard position from Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings. Finally, they discuss whether New York can improve their struggling defense and their chances of making the playoffs.
EP06 - Dallas Mavericks Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and J.C. Fischer @thejcfischer dive deep into the Dallas Mavericks by reviewing their offseason, talking about their first 12 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They discuss Harrison Barnes’ increased role and whether he's been worth his max contract so far, as well as the frontcourt pairing of Dirk and Andrew Bogut. They also briefly review the play of Dallas' younger players, the shaky starts of Wes Matthews and Justin Anderson, and what Dallas can get out of Seth Curry. Finally, they discuss whether Dallas can improve their struggling offense to match their decent defensive play thus far.
EP05 - Toronto Raptors Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Jordan Kligman @416basketball dive deep into the Toronto Raptors by reviewing their offseason, looking at their first 10 games, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They also discuss Jonas Valanciunas’ increased role, Kyle Lowry’s early struggles, DeMar DeRozan’s incredible start to the year and the surprising early starting role given to Pascal Siakam.
EP04 - Cleveland Cavaliers Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Benjamin Winks @BenjaminWinks dive deep into the Cleveland Cavaliers by reviewing the Cavs offseason, previewing the rest of the NBA season, and discussing the lineup and rotations. They also discuss LeBron's emphasis on playmaking thus far, Iman Shumpert's strong start, and some of Cleveland's advanced statistical numbers in the early part of the season.
EP03 - Boston Celtics Nick Agar-Johnson @nbajohnson and Jeremy Stevens @TacoHaus dive deep into the Boston Celtics by reviewing the Celtics offseason, preview the rest of their NBA season, discuss Al Horford's fit, lineup rotations and how Jaylen Brown is already exceeding expectations. They also discuss Marcus Smart, Ray Allen's time in Boston and talk about Jeremy's latest feature article on Avery Bradley.
EP02 - Minnesota Timberwolves Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Devin Domano @DevinDomino11 dive deep into the Minnesota Timberwolves by covering Tom Thibodeau, reviewing the Timberwolves offseason moves, what to expect from Khris Dunn and whether he's ready to be a permanent starter. They also discuss starting lineups, rotations, and discuss Devin's article about the benchmark for a successful season, potential trades and review the Timberwolves first few games of the season.
EP01 - Philadelphia 76ers Nick Agar-Johnson @nba_johnson and Jordan Christmas @SportstalkXmas dive deep into the Philadelphia 76ers by covering the 76ers offseason, preseason, key acquisitions, Dario Saric and the NBA draft. They also preview the season, including minutes and rotations.