The Inferno: A Phoenix Suns Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Follow The Inferno co-hosts Cedric Ceballos (former NBA All-Star, retired Suns player), Dana Scott (Arizona Republic writer covering Suns), and Mr. ORNG (Suns super fan/14-year season ticketholder) on X (formerly known at Twitter) @cedceballos @PHXMRORNG @iam_DanaScott
- Discussion about if James Harden was traded to L.A. Clippers, and formation of a superteam with Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, and Harden's second career reunion with Russell Westbrook
- Who the lottery-bound Phoenix Mercury should pick in the 2024 WNBA draft
- Hip Hop's 50th anniversary in August 2023
Follow Donnis Henry (@mtcpreps), @CedCeballos, @PHXMRORNG and @iam_DanaScott on Twitter/X.
- Ranking the new Suns uniforms with the others in team history
- Dr. J’s recent comments about super teams and not respecting Durant “hopping around” from team to team
- Durant wanting Seattle to get a new team (Donnis used to work for the Sonics, and is a Seattle sports fan, so he should chime in on this)
- Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi reaching the WNBA’s first ever 10K-point mark by a player
- Skylar Diggins-Smith’s allegation of mistreatment by the Phoenix Mercury
The Inferno co-hosts are former NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos, Suns superfan Mr. ORNG (aka Dr. Patrick Battillo), and azcentral.com Suns beat writer Dana Scott who discuss:
- Suns' free agency additions on veteran minimum deals?
- Can Deandre Ayton thrive playing power forward next season if they sign Bol Bol to be their center?
- Suns' second-round draft pick Toumani Camara's first two performances, Spurs' No. 1 overall selection Victor Wembanyama in NBA Las Vegas Summer League.
- Who to look forward to seeing in the WNBA All-Star Game
- Suns owner Mat Ishbia response to Chris Paul's accusatory comment in NY Times interview about Isiah Thomas advising Ishbia to trade him for Bradley Beal
Follow The Inferno co-hosts Cedric Ceballos (@cedceballos), Dr. Patrick Battillo aka Suns superfan Mr. ORNG (@PHXMRORNG) and Arizona Republic's Suns beat writer Dana Scott (@iam_DanaScott) on Twitter as we discuss:
- How will Chris Paul fit with Warriors, and why they made that trade to send their sixth man Jordan Poole to Washington?
- Are Suns and Warriors in each other's way for next season's title?
- How will Ayton's respond in his play with Suns' new Big 3 Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal
- Suns are working out veteran free agents, including the 2014 draft's No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker, just days before free agency opens. Should Suns look to sign veteran former All-Stars such as John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins?
Follow us The Inferno co-hosts on Twitter: Former Suns player and one-time NBA All-Star Cedric Ceballos (@cedceballos); Dr. Patrick Battillo, aka Suns superfan Mr. ORNG (@PHXMRORNG); Arizona Republic's Suns beat writer Dana Scott (@iam_DanaScott)
Discussion notes:
- Chris Paul's time in Phoenix reviewed
- Additional moves Suns have to make to improve their bench amid salary cap issues for Bradley Beal's $251 million supermax contract from Washington Wizards fit with Devin Booker's and Kevin Durant's supermax deals.
- Are Deandre Ayton's days in his hometown Phoenix ending soon?
- How can Suns beat Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets in 2024 postseason after their recent West semifinal season-ending Game 6 blowout home loss?
- Cedric details seeing Charles Barkley get mobbed by fans during Suns fan's massive parade in downtown Phoenix following the team losing in 1993 finals to Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls.
Follow co-hosts Dana Scott @iam_DanaScott and Dr. Patrick Battillo (aka Suns superfan Mr. ORNG) @PHXMRORNG as they discuss on this episode:
- Frank Vogel's introductory press conference as Phoenix Suns head coach is reviewed
- Scott and Battillo discuss Arizona high school boys and girls basketball tournaments this summer
Follow The Inferno co-hosts Cedric Ceballos @cedceballos, Dr. Patrick Battillo (aka Suns superfan Mr. ORNG) @PHXMRORNG and Dana Scott @iam_DanaScott on Twitter.
Episode 28 topics:
- Is Suns assistant coach a better candidate to slide over to be their next head coach instead of Doc Rivers, Nick Nurse, Frank Vogel, and other candidates?
- Which of the Suns' eight pending free agents should be re-signed or let them walk?
- Would Brittney Griner's comeback season to Phoenix Mercury and leading the team to the 2023 WNBA title quell Suns fans' hurt from being routed and eliminated by Nuggets in the NBA Playoffs?
Follow these The Inferno co-hosts on Twitter: former Suns player @cedceballos @PHXMRORNG and @iam_DanaScott.
On Mother's Day discussed:
- How Monty Williams changed the Suns into a winning culture, but what went wrong the past two years in their season-ending blowout losses in the West semifinals
- New Suns owner Mat Ishbia's role in the termination of Williams
- Potential new head candidates for Suns
- Chris Paul, Deandre Ayton possibly gone from Suns this summer, potential Suns trades
Follow @FlexFromJersey @CedCeballos @iam_DanaScott @PHXMRORNG on Twitter
- Predictions for Sun-L.A. Clippers series outcome
- Which team had the most disappointing season? Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, or Chicago Bulls?
- Did ex-Suns starter Mikal Bridges' deserve to be a Most Improved Player award finalist?
- Should Suns move on from Chris Paul if they don't win the '23 Finals?
- Short review of New Jersey's greatest hip hop artists
Follow co-hosts Cedric Ceballos @cedceballos, MR. ORNG (@PHXMRORNG), and Dana Scott (iam_danascott) on Twitter
- Why Suns fans can rejoice about the Dallas Mavericks not going to the playoffs
- Who would be the better first round opponent, Pt. 2 (Clippers or Warriors)?
- Should Suns sign a veteran big (i.e. DeMarcus Cousins) to replace the their top shotblocker Bismack Biyombo for an insider enforcer?
- Review of trash talkin in 2023 women's basketball, NCAA tournament
Follow co-hosts Cedric Ceballos (@cedceballos), Suns superfan Mr. ORNG (@PHXORNG) and Dana Scott (@iam_DanaScott) on Twitter.
- Suns' free throw disparity complaints, what has made them lose five of their last six games?
- Which Suns players are likely to step up on offense and defense with Devin Booker continuing his 30-point games?
- Would you rather have Suns face Clippers or Warriors in the 2023 playoffs' first round?
- NCAA men's basketball head coaching carousel after national tournament losses
Follow co-hosts Suns super fan Mr. ORNG (aka Dr. Patrick Battillo) @PHXMRORNG, former Suns player Cedric Ceballos @cedceballos, and Suns beat writer Dana Scott @iam_DanaScott on Twitter
- Mr. ORNG discusses him coaching his alma mater Peoria High School boys basketball team to its first ever Arizona 4A conference state title on 3/2/23.
- Discussion about Kevin Durant's first three performances for Suns and what he provides for the Suns offense before he sprained his ankle on 3/8/23.
- Is Devin Booker and Kevin Durant already the best NBA duo?
Follow co-hosts Dana Scott @iam_Dana Scott, Cedric Ceballos @cedceballos and Suns super fan Patrick Battillo (aka Mr. ORNG) @PHXMRORNG on Twitter
- Will Deandre Ayton be traded from the Suns? Who else from their roster might be on the trading block, and who should they acquire?
- Cam Johnson's impact on the Suns offense and defense in his expected return after missing 37 games from his knee injury at home vs. Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 19
- The 1992-93 Phoenix Suns team which made the NBA Finals that season will reunite and be honored at Footprint Center on Jan. 21 when Suns host Pacers. Cedric Ceballos examines why his former teammates on that squad are still the pride of the Arizona sports community.
- Who will win the Suns vs. Grizzlies in Memphis on MLK Day and why?
Former Suns player Cedric Ceballos, Suns beat writer Dana Scott from azcentral, Suns super fan Mr. ORNG (aka Dr. Battillo) also discuss the storyline of the five Christmas games and which will be the most important:
- Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
- Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks
- Milwaukee Bucks at Boston Celtics
- Memphis Grizzlies at Golden State Warriors
- Phoenix Suns at Denver Nuggets
Follow @cedceballos @PHXMRONG and @iam_DanaScott on Twitter.
- How Suns went from the Western conference's first-place spot to fourth after their losses to the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Pelicans (one in an 11-point loss, and the second of a back-to-back within a weekend), and Houston Rockets.
- Unwritten rules: Did some of the Suns have a right to be mad at Zion Williamson's 360 windmill dunk in the closing seconds of Pelicans' 128-117 home win?
- Chris Paul's inconsistency since his return on Dec. 7 vs. Celtics after missing 15 games.
- The return of Brittney Griner to Phoenix after nearly one year in Russian detainment. Should she play for Phoenix Mercury in WNBA again or retire?
- Backstory of Cedric Ceballos' 1995 rap single produced by rapper/producer legend Warren G, and its music video featuring late comedian Ricky Harris.
Follow @cedceballos @PHXMRORNG @iam_DanaScott on Twitter
- Ceballos discusses the origins of his collaborative rap single "Ya Don't Stop" featuring former NBA player Dana Barros, rap legends Grand Puba and Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Diamond D and A.G. from the B-Ball's Best Kept Secret compilation album released in 1994.
- Ceballos details his blindfolded 1992 NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner
- Why isn't Suns' Devin Booker in the early MVP conversation despite the Suns being shorthanded and first place in the Western conference?
- Breaking down the NBA's best duos this season besides Booker and Deandre Ayton
- Ceballos reveals what it takes to score 50 points like himself in 1994 with the Lakers and Booker's 51 points in Suns win over Bulls
- Does the injured Chris Paul have more borrowed time to return as Suns and his backup point guard Cameron Payne are playing well?
Follow Cedric Ceballos, Mr. ORNG and Dana Scott on Twitter.
- Free throw disparity between Suns and their opponents
- How can Suns avoid 8-7 record after 7-1 start
- Impact of Cam Johnson's absence from knee injury
- Ceballos discusses being traded from Suns to Lakers in 1994, All-Star appearance in '95
- Devin Booker's comment about defying light-skinned Black stereotype of being soft
- What went wrong for Suns in their preseason home-opening upset loss to NBL's Adelaide 36ers
- Who will step up to fill the physical and defensive presence that soon-to-be traded Jae Crowder provided as their starting power forward?
- How Suns bounced back to beat rival Lakers in their second preseason game in Las Vegas
- Why Ish Wainwright needs to be the "Jae Crowder 2.0" he's been wanting to emulate since the 2021-22 season
- Who will be new key role players from the Suns bench
- How should Suns organization moves forward to find new majority owner after the Robert Sarver fallout
- Monty Williams and Deandre Ayton need to settle their differences since Suns' abysmal Game 7 loss to Mavericks in 2022 West playoff semifinals
Follow @iam_DanaScott and @PHXMRORNG on Twitter.
- Why the nixed summer-long Kevin Durant trade talks between Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets was a moral victory for the Suns
- Where Deandre Ayton will stand with the team after this summer's trade talks and four-year max deal he signed in July to stay in Phoenix
- Suns celebrating 30th anniversary of their 1992-93 season "sunburst" uniforms for the 2022-23 season; which were the best and worst Suns jerseys in team history
- Which Suns role players should be watched the most at training camp?
Follow on Twitter: -- azfamily channel's @MarkMcClune, watch his Extra Point sports nightly show @azfamily at 10:30pm (Arizona time) and check his ExtraPoint podcast.
-- @PHXMRORNG
-- @iam_DanaScott
- Comparison of Suns starting center and recent free agent Deandre Ayton's four-year, $133 million max deal to Kyler Murray's five-year, $230 million extension from Cardinals.
- Review of 2022 MLB All-Star Game
- Who will be the new face(s) of the WNBA after Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi and Seattle Storm's Sue Bird retire?
Co-hosts Dana Scott and Mr. ORNG dedicate this show in loving memory of Mr. ORNG's late mother and fellow Suns fan Carol Mead. She passed away on June 14.
Ep. 11 topics discussed:
- Discussion about Mead's last wish obliged, buried wearing Devin Booker jersey
- How Kevin Durant trade talks affect Suns' roster, including Deandre Ayton for where he possibly could be if he's dealt in a sign-and-trade, and free agency market this summer.
- Review of Las Vegas Summer League's splendor for fans and team personnel, and Suns' 104-84 win over Lakers in their first of five games July 8th-16th or 17th.
Follow Dana Scott (@iam_Dana Scott) and MR. ORNG (@PHXMRORNG) on Twitter.
- Possible teams to trade with and Suns players to give up from their roster to get into the draft.
- Mr. ORNG discusses his high school boys basketball team Peoria Panthers, who competed in the Section 7 basketball tournament at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.
- The azcentral Sports Awards at Arizona State's Gammage auditorium on June 11.
Co-hosts Dana Scott and Mr ORNG (aka Patrick Battillo) discuss:
- Breakdown of the Mavericks beating Suns in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
- Should Suns re-sign their former No. 1 overall draft pick Deandre Ayton to a rookie max extension, sign-and-trade him, or let him walk as a restricted free agent?
- What unraveled for the Suns in Game 6 for them to lose, 113-86, in Dallas?
- What adjustments should be made for Game 7 in Phoenix?
- Did Jokic deserve to win the MVP again?
Follow @iam_DanaScott and @PHXMRORNG on Twitter
- Discussion about the Western Conference semifinals No. 1 Phoenix Suns vs. No. 4 Dallas Mavericks and No. 3 Golden State Warriors vs. No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies player and team performances in the playoff thus far
- Why it's weird Ja Morant won the 2022 Most Improved Player award
Inferno co-hosts Dana Scott and Patrick Battillo (aka Suns superfan "MR. ORNG") discuss the Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs, and Ja Morant's impact leading Memphis to the NBA Western Conference's No. 2 seed with Grizzlies beat writer Shy Brown.
Topics in order:
- Game reviews of North Carolina vs Duke in Final Four, UConn vs NC State in women's tournament Elite 8
- Suns losing to Memphis Grizzlies on April 1 and Memphis having the NBA's second-best record behind Phoenix
- NBA Coach of the Year candidates besides Monty Williams
- UNC vs Kansas NCAA championship (this episode was recorded on April 4 before the game)
Follow Dana Scott @iam_DanaScott and Patrick Battillo @PHXMRONRG on Twitter.
- DJ Automatic spinning at Suns home games since 2021 and the Phoenix hip hop market
- Suns' five-game win streak since losing to Toronto Raptors on March 11, and going 10-4 withtout
- March Madness/NCAA men's and women's college basketball tournament's first and second-round review
- Retirement of Jamal Crawford on March 21, 2022.
Follow @DJAutomatic @iam_DanaScott and @PHXMRORNG on Twitter
Five topics discussed:
- Suns' performance since the 2022 All-Star Break
- Memories of Suns' Hall of Fame broadcaster Al McCoy following his 50th anniversary tribute at Footprint Center on March 2
- Arizona high school boys and girls state championships review
- Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski's final home game at Cameron Indoor Stadium
- Phoenix Mercury star center Brittney Griner detained in Russia on drug smuggling charges
Follow Dana Scott (@iam_DanaScott), Mr. ORNG (aka Peoria boys basketball head coach Patrick Battillo, @PHXMRORNG), Richard Obert (@azc_obert), Anthony Ray (@ArizonaPreps), and George Courtney III (@GC3ArizonaPreps) on Twitter.
The Inferno co-hosts Dana Scott (@iam_DanaScott) and MR. ORNG (@PHXMRORNG) discuss how the Suns will move forward following the All-Star break without Chris Paul in the regular season's second half.
Episode 1 Topics:
- How can Devin Booker win All-Star MVP?
- Best Phoenix Suns head coaches ranked
- Michael Jordan's 59th birthday tribute (review of the 1993 Suns vs. Bulls NBA Finals)
*Would Suns' 2021-22 season be considered a failure if they reach 70 wins without NBA title?