48 Minutes: Recent Episodes
Bleav, Michael Freer, Ross Geiger, Bruce Bernstein
“48 Minutes” is a comprehensive podcast featuring discussion and analysis of the biggest NBA stories. Former NBA assistant coach Ross Geiger leads a trio of hoop junkies who offer insight, analysis, and perspective about the game and the culture surrounding it. Ross is joined by Emmy Award winning producer Bruce Bernstein, who spent more than 30 years covering the league at ESPN and research expert Michael Freer, whose information is used by many NBA announcers in their game coverage. Listeners to “48 Minutes” will arm themselves with the kind of hoop knowledge that will help them make intelligent wagers while becoming “Watercooler Legends.”
0:00 Intro
1:18 Scott provides his thoughts on Collin Gillespie’s career development with the Suns
2:04 Scott pays tribute to his dear friend & former teammate Stacey King
3:31 Would Stacey King throw jabs back at Michael Jordan?
6:03 Can Nick Nurse manage all the egos & talent inside the Sixers locker room?
10:06 Should VJ Edgecombe come off Philly’s bench?
11:11 Did Scott Williams see LeBron going on to have the career that he did?
13:02 Scott shares his thoughts on Giannis & the new look Miami Heat
16:47 Scott’s early thoughts on Bulls top rookie Caleb Wilson
19:12 Does the NBA need a dynasty franchise or is it good to a different champion year to year?
22:14 Any memories of Phil Jackson playing mind games with Scott back in the day?
26:06 What teams or offseason moves really caught Scott’s attention this Summer?
29:14 Is there going to be too much pressure on Rudy Gobert in Minnesota?
31:05 What frustrates Scott about today’s era of NBA basketball?
36:05 Scott on the former NBA players declaring for the WNBA draft
38:15 Scott shares his thoughts on Michael Malone being the new Tar Heels head coach
40:30 What the Duke/UNC rivalry is like
44:32 Scott on the passing of his former coach Don Nelson
47:34 As a broadcaster what does Scott try to bring that stands out?
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0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the panel
0:32 ... Show #260 is dedicated to Hall of Famer Michael Cooper who was drafted with the #60 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft.
1:24 ... LeBron James is now a member of the 76ers and World B feels the upcoming season will feature a wide open and competitive eastern conference. There are 11 legit playoff contenders for just 8 spots.
3:44 ... Bruce feels like LeBron made the move to Philly in a desperate attempt to win 2 more rings and tie Michael Jordan with 6 championships and convince people that HE, not MJ is the GOAT. Bruce feels that Sixers games will be "Must Watch" TV.
5:24 ... Depth and health could be issues for Philly. Ross also feels that many more coaches will be on the hot seat with so many solid teams competing for just 8 playoff spots.
6:22 ... Bruce feels that the Jalen Duren contract impasse in Detroit could have a lingering effect that might affect the morale of the team if Duren's teammates feel he is being mistreated by Pistons management.
7:22 ... What's the deal with the Orlando Magic? Is their window closed as far as being elite in the east? They still have talent, but their offense is still sub-standard. Bruce feels that the team will be in the mix for the Play In tournament but he does not have a great feeling about this team.
12:31 ... Jalen Brown is no longer a Celtic, so who is going to step up? From a leadership standpoint, it has to be Jayson Tatum, but others like Derrick White, Hugo Gonzalez, and Baylor Scheierman need to all have solid seasons for Boston to challenge for the top 6 in the east.
14:43 ... World B agrees with Bruce that Derrick White needs to step up.
15:57 ... Ross asks Bruce if Tatum is capable of being a "fiery" leader and Bruce doesn't really know if Jayson is capable of adjusting his personality and mindset from his "too cool" exterior to someone who shows more emotion.
17:45 ... Atlanta has added Lu Dort and Ross wonders if Dort can bring the type of toughness to the Hawks that a guy like Dillon Brooks brought to the Suns? World B loves Dort's perimeter defense and his presence gives the Hawks much better depth. World B also feels Jalen Johnson has to continue his progress for the Hawks to excel. Bruce thinks Dort is exactly the type of gritty veteran Atlanta needs and their fans will love. Ross loves the move and thinks Dort's physicality will really improve the Hawks' defense.
22:17 ... The Portland Trailblazers have a new owner (Tom Dundon) and he has made some really unsettling moves since taking over the franchise. There are rumors that the Blazers, who are battling with local Portland politicians over arena funding and other financial issues could end up leaving the city. That would be devastating to the city of Portland and would give the city a real black eye.
24:14 ... Ross is very angry about the way that Dundon has treated their broadcasters like Kevin Calabro and Tom Haberstroh because he watched a lot of Blazers games and really enjoyed their telecasts.
25:32 ... World B feels Dundon has been an embarassment and cites the bad contract he gave new head coach Micah Nori as a really poor way to treat their new coach.
27:37 ... Bruce feels for the Portland fans, who are among the best in the NBA and since the Blazers are Portland's only major league team, their fans would be devastated if the team flatlines and eventually leaves town.
29:05 ... If you were a fan, would you rather be a Warriors or Clippers fan? Bruce would rather be a 'Dubs fan but Ross and World B would rather be Clippers fans. Everyone explains why they feel the way they do. LA owner Steve Ballmer is the main reason that Ross and World B prefer the Clippers.
33:09 ... Will DeAaron Fox be on the Spurs the entire season? Bruce feels he will because of his contract, which calls for him to be paid more than $222 million over the next 4 seasons. It's such a bad contract that it's hard to see any team taking it on.
37:04 ... It's time for the always enjoyable "Card Challenge" segment where Ross picks random cards and asks Bruce and World B to react to the players spontaneously to prove their knowledge. Jalen Duren of the Pistons is first for World B.
38:19 ... Next up is Klay Thompson of the Mavericks for Bruce
39:25 ... Kyrie Irving of Dallas is next for World B.
40:20 ... Tyler Herro for Bruce
40:57 ... Carmelo Anthony for World B.
42:29 ... Bruce Bowen for Bruce .... they'll be together on Wednesday at the Basketball Hall of Fame for a "HoopHall hangout" session with the fans.
44:17 ... Ross wraps the show and says goodbye
TRT 44:30
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0:00 Intro
0:59 Bruce introduces special guest Leon Powe
1:57 Leon on the basketball state of mind in Oakland
3:41 Why Leon chose to wear #0 as a member of the Boston Celtics
4:43 How growing up in Oakland raises leaders in sports
5:40 Leon on his current role as Team Ambassador with the Celtics
7:04 Leon’s favorite word is Work
8:02 Leon shares his reaction on hearing LeBron was joining the Sixers
9:18 Can LeBron walk into the 76ers locker room & be the leaders from day one?
10:20 Leon on the ideal mindset when dealing with setbacks
11:38 Is Leon close to the players & coaches in Boston?
12:41How will the new look Celtics move forward next season?
14:00 Celtics track record of developing big men, Mitchell Robinson next?
16:17 Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals…the Leon Powe Game
19:30 Bruce reflects on Leon’s legendary Game 2 of the Finals
21:01 Phil Jackson referring to Leon as Pow not Powe
22:49 What’s it like to play in the NBA Finals?
24:44 How close were Leon & LeBron in high school?
27:01 How surprised is Leon that LeBron continues his dominance
28:35 What was Marshawn Lynch like in high school?
30:17-31:09 Powe on Marshawn Lynch
31:26 Word Association with Leon Powe
31:44 Victor Wenbamyama
32:55 Kevin Garnett
33:59 Jalen Brunson
35:38 Giannis Antetokounmpo
36:56 SGA
39:24 Nikola Jokic
43:03 Joe Mazzula
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome .... introduces panel, and dedicates show #258 to "B-Ball Paul" Reed, who was the #58 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
0:50 ... Lu Dort is traded from OKC to the Atlanta Hawks in a three team deal ... the guys discuss how Dort's grit and persistence will be a great asset to the Hawks' defensive schemes. World B wonders if this is the beginning of a new era in OKC where players are traded for financial reasons. Ross agrees and feels this was a salary dump by the Thunder.
7:25 ... Bruce is really shocked at how soon the Hawks gave up on Zachary Risacher who was the #1 overall pick in 2024, an All Rookie first teamer in 2025, and is only 21 years old. Ross and World B also comment on how Risacher's role was reduced in his second season.
11:52 ... LeBron James' indecision in choosing his next team is now causing Commissioner Adam Silver to level some sharp comments about how King James is holding up a lot of the decisions the league needs to make because they need to know where he will be playing. Bruce feels LeBron is putting his ego ahead of the league and it may come back to haunt him if he pursues his ownership aspirations in the future. World B agrees that it's an ego thing for LeBron and Ross feels he should finish his career in Cleveland.
15:57 ... The Heat officially introduced Giannis Antetokounpo last week and while they will need more outside shooting, there are some veterans out there like DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook who might fit into Miami's "win now" plans in spite of them not being long range shooters. Ross liked that Giannis is changing his number from 34 to 7 and leaving 34 behind in Milwaukee.
21:25 .... Will Jonathan Kuminga ever find a team? The whole situation is bizarre due to his status as an "unrestricted" free agent who still needs to be in a sign and trade deal in order to find a new team since only teams under the cap can sign him without doing a sign and trade.
26:47 ... Yaxel Lendebourg led the Warriors to the Summer League championship and talked serious smack to the Grizzlies, the team the Dubs beat in the championship game. Bruce was so inspired that he game Yaxel a nickname: "Yakkin' Yaxel." Ross pointed out that Yaxel and Draymond Green have been talking trash to each other on Dray's podcast so the rookie is learning from the master.
30:33 ... Speaking of the Warriors, Stephen Curry has become the first active player to have a major exhibit at the Basketball Hall of Fame due to the way he revolutionized the NBA with his shooting skills. World B and Ross feel it is well-deserved.
33:46 ... Bruce promotes the Hoop Hall Hangout session he will be hosting with Spurs legend Bruce Bowen on August 5th at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
35:00 ... The guys examine the crazy contract Gary Trent Junior signed with the Bucks and how the league is investigating the Bucks for salary cap circumvention.
37:04 .... The Kawhi Leonard trade from the Clippers to the Raptors is on hold due to the NBA investigating the endorsement deal Leonard signed with Aspiration for $28 million last year. Ross feels for the others involved in the trade because their lives and careers are being negatively impacted by the freezing of the transaction.
40:21 ... Bruce shares a story on Keaton Wagler of the Clippers and how he led the team in a bonding experience in Las Vegas where they went to an escape room and his experience in previous escape room visits helped him guide the team to a succesful escape.
41:56 ... Ross wraps the show and says goodbye.
TRT 42:08
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0:00 Intro
1:16 The Bam Adebayo/Tyler Herro altercation in Vegas
4;36 The Miami Heat’s current offseason situation
7:46 Milwaukee Bucks resigning Gary Trent Jr to an interesting deal
12:22 Our favorite free agent signings
15:55 The free agent signing that was the best value
20:27 Our least favorite free agent signing
26:51 Our favorite offseason trade
32:31 Our least favorite offseason trade
39:01 Where is the position of power next season: The West or The East?
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0:00 ... Ross welcomes everyone to the show and introduces the crew.
0:32 ... Show #256 is dedicated to Nikola Jokic, who had a triple double last Christmas that included a 56 point scoring night.
0:48 ... Ross begins with the Jaylen Brown trade from the Celtics to the 76ers ... Bruce starts the discussion off with his thoughts on the deal. It was a salary dump and it also allowed the team to avoid having to discuss another super max extension with Brown. World B felt it was a move dictated by Brad Stevens' bosses.
5:20 ... Bruce discusses what it feels like to see Brown going to Philly, an ancient rival of the Celtics. And it was set in motion by Brad Stevens' failure to deal Brown for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
7:19 ... Ross feels like Paul George is nothing special at this point of his career.
7:54 ... Should the Celtics be worried about their outlook next season? Bruce feels like Boston could be anywhere between a 4 and 6 seed and Jayson Tatum as the new "Alpha" will be challenged in the area of leadership.
9:40 ... World B wonders if the Celtics will change their "3 Point Happy" offensive style.
11:08 ... Where does Philadelphia stack up in the east? Joel Embiid is no longer "The Franchise" and his slow pace may be detrimental to the faster style that Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Brown will want to play. The Sixers should seriously consider a future move to offload Embiid and his monster contract if possible. World B feels the 76ers are a very thin team even though they look much better on paper with Brown.
16:23 ... The Lakers took a huge swing on Walker Kessler to be Luka Doncic's center. Doncic lost his running mate in LeBron James and with Luka now expected to be the leader of the team, Bruce questions whether he has what it takes "from the neck up" to be a legit team leader and he explains what Luka needs to address in his own performance to become a better leader.
18:01 ... World B feels if LA is a top 4 seed in the west, Luka could be a solid MVP candidate. Kessler has missed a lot of games the past two years so his reliability could be an issue. Ross feels like some of the other signings by LA will help coach JJ Redick implement the type of style that will be successful.
20:45 ... Lots of free agent signings ... John Collins goes to Detroit and replaces Tobias Harris.
22:56 ... Marcus Smart reunites with his former coach in Boston Ime Udoka as a member of the Houston Rockets. Smart fits the Rockets culture perfectly.
24:41 ... Norman Powell leaves the Miami Heat and heads to Chicago ... none of the panelists feel particularly strongly about this move for the Bulls.
36:28 ... Tobias Harris joins the Spurs and brings his experience and mentoring skills to a young team that showed its inexperience in the 2026 Finals against the Knicks.
28:11 ... Andre Drummond replaces Mitchell Robinson with the Knicks as the backup to Karl-Anthony Towns. His rebounding provides similar skills as those of Robinson.
30:24 ... Two interesting Summer League rules will be tested this summer. The "one free throw" experiment is worth a try but Bruce has major issues because at the end of games, there is a lot of strategy surrounding free throws that will be lost if this rule ever becomes permanent. World B questions why there is any need for this rule change AT ALL.
33:07 ... The "connected" basketball is another experiment by the league. Bruce questions how it will even work and if players' fingerprints are part of the equation, the Players Association is likely to have major issues with the use of data like that being used in this way.
35:00 .... Final Thought: Bruce on Lebron James' future.
36:56 ... Final Thought: World B on whether the balance of power is gradually shifting towards the east.
38:39 ... Final thought: Ross on early Summer League standouts so far.
40:26 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 40:41
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0:00 Intro
1:08 LeBron James notifies the Lakers to move on
6:09 Kawhi Leonard traded back to Toronto
11:22 Ja Morant traded to Portland
16:29 The Charlotte Hornets have been some busy bees
26:02 The Golden State Warriors remain in win now mode
30:50 The Miami Heat making some moves
35:59 Knicks retain some key role players
37:08 Spurs pursuing some depth in free agency
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0:00 .... Ross hello and welcome, introduces the panelists, and dedicates show #254 to Sam Mitchell, who was drafted #54 overall in the 1985 NBA Draft.
0:58 ... Giannis Antetokounmpo is now a member of the Miami Heat after the Bucks traded him on Monday night. The guys react to the trade and feel like the Bucks took a better deal from Miami than Boston was willing to offer with their package involving Jaylen Brown.
5:35 ... The Heat will need to add some shooting if they want to put a team out there that can compete even though they've added a Hall of Famer in Giannis. Ross feels that Miami can't go "cheap" and has to stay aggressive.
10:14 ... The Heat have been excellent at developing talent over the years and they will find some diamonds in the rough to complement Giannis and Bam Adebayo.
10:55 ... Ross shares his "wish list" of guys he wants the Heat to go after during the next few months.
12:00 ... The guys discuss the future for the Bucks after losing their best player. Ross feels like they may even improve on their record from last season under new coach Taylor Jenkins. Bruce was having flashbacks to 1975 when Milwaukee traded another superstar player who went on to great success with his new team. World B does not share Ross's optimism about the Bucks prospects next season.
17:10 ... Now that Jaylen Brown knows he was on the trading block, can he return to the Celtics feeling good about his relationship with the team and with fellow star Jayson Tatum?
21:49 ... Julius Randle is traded from Minnesota to Brooklyn in a three team trade that also has Nik Claxton going from the Nets to the Bulls and the Wolves shedding salary and signing Ayo Dosunmu to a contract extension. The deal frees "Nuclear Naz" Reid to start at power forward for the Wolves.
26:01 ... The guys examine the first round of the draft on Tuesday with an extended discussion of AJ Dybantsa to Washington, Darryn Peterson to Utah, and Cameron Boozer to Memphis.
30:12 ... The guys discuss the big winners in the first round ... Bruce likes OKC drafting 7'3" Aday Mara, who could develop into a defender that can battle Victor Wembanyama more effectively than Chet Holmgren did in the playoffs.
31:14 ... Bruce liked Sacramento choosing Alex Karaban, who reminds him of former Kings sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic.
32:38 ... World B liked the draft choices that Charlotte made with Christian Anderson from Texas Tech and Zuby Ejiafor from St John's. He also liked Kingston Flemings going to Atlanta as their point guard of the future. Ross really liked how Memphis snagged Karim Lopez at #21 along with Cam Boozer at #3 and also stockpiled some additional picks with some trades.
36:06 .... Biggest losers? Bruce cited the seven teams that did not have draft picks in the first round. World B felt the Nets messed up their first round pick by passing on Darius Acuff and choosing Mikel Brown.
38:21 ... Bruce has a final thought about his work on the NBA Draft between 2003-2017 when he was at ESPN. Watching the fantasy become a reality for the draftees and their families is something that he never got tired of witnessing
39:21 ... Ross wraps the show
TRT 39:40
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0:00 Intro
1:03 World B opens the show sharing what the last 48 hours have been like as a diehard Knicks fan
1:37 Game 5 Recap & 2026 NBA Finals in Review
11:09 Did Wemby’s reputation take a significant hit in the NBA Finals?
16:38 Is it already time for the Spurs to move on from De’Aaron Fox?
22:51 How much should Mitch Johnson’s coaching be blamed?
28:04 2026 NBA Draft Preview with Joe Doerrer of StrictlyBbal
28:11 The 2025 Draft product quite an impressive list of young stars, will the 2026 Draft produce even better players?
29:31 Is AJ Dybantsa clearly the best prospect in this year’s draft?
31:01 Is there a good NBA comp for AJ Dybantsa?
32:16 How much of Darryn Peterson’s health is a concern to teams during the draft process?
34:16 How high is Joe on Cam Boozer at the next level?
36:24 What’s Caleb Wilson’s biggest strength & what kind of player will he be in the NBA?
38:24 Which player in this draft class will have the most immediate impact as a rookie?
39:26 Is there a player outside of the top 4 that could have a big impact right away?
40:33 Does Joe believe the point guard position is the strength of this year’s class?
42:06 What is the weakest position in this draft class?
43:09 Who is the best non-freshman in this draft class?
44:25 Who is the best shooter in this year’s draft?
45:09 With all this NIL money being thrown around, is the 2nd Round really like a 3rd Round?
47:01 Will Giannis be traded before draft night?
52:56 Joe shares what he’ll be doing on draft night
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0:00 ... Show open ... Ross welcomes everyone and introduces the panel.
0:34 ... Show #252 is dedicated to Luke Garza of the Celtics who wears uniform #52.
1:45 ... In Monday's game 3 of the NBA Finals things got spicy as the Spurs bounced back after losing the first 2 games at home and won game 3 on the road in New York.
2:51 ... Bruce felt the Spurs showed mental toughness and played with desperation in game 3 but Victor Wembanyama's nickname of "The Alien" rubs Bruce the wrong way. Ross doesn't care much for the nickname either.
4:01 ... World B was impressed by the Spurs' effort in game 3, especially after playing poorly in the second quarter and looking like they might be on the ropes.
5:11 ... Ross felt Stephon Castle was huge in game 3 and cited some dagger shots that he hit.
6:03 ... Mike Brown complained about the officiating after game 3 and the crew discusses the benefits and negatives of Coach Brown calling out the refs. Everyone had no issues with him doing it because it could pay off later in the series if it helps him get a key "either/or" call in a close game.
11:55 ... The guys discuss game 4 and which team is under more pressure to win. There are reasons for both teams to feel it but Knicks fan "World B" feels his Knicks have more pressure on Wednesday night.
17:00 ... Is Jalen Brunson starting to wither under the pressure from the waves of Spurs defenders relentlessly pursuing him? Perhaps Brunson needs to look for fewer of his own shots and get Karl-Anthony Towns more involved in the offense.
25:00 ... Which players have distinguished themselves the most during the first three games of the Finals? So many have stepped up .... Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and OG Anunoby to name a few.
32:35 .... Game 4 predictions from everyone ... Bruce still likes the Spurs, World B loves his Knicks, and Ross breaks the tie with his prediction of ___________??
37:55 ... The crew pays tribute to former Chicago Bull Stacey King who passed away over the weekend at the age of 59. World B worked with Stacey at ESPN in Charlotte and shares some stories of their time together. King was also a longtime announcer of Bulls games where he made a lasting impression on Bulls Nation.
42:24 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye.
TRT 42:42
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0:00 Intro
1:00 The Western Conference Finals in review as the Spurs come out on top to advance
6:03 The Yay & Nay Players of the Western Conference Finals
17:56 Our 2026 NBA Finals Preview & Predictions
27:30 Game 1 Preview
32:39 The NBA’s new “3-2-1” Draft Lottery Anti-Tanking Reform
39:54 Final Thoughts
40:01 Bruce glass half full approach on Mitchell Robinson’s injury
41:08 World B shares his thoughts on the passing of Hall of Famer Rick Adelman
42:53 Ross on the former Kings participating in this year’s NBA Finals
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0:00 ... We examine the All Defensive teams for the season. The first teamers are Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Derrick White, and Rudy Gobert. Bruce has a summer assigmnent for Thompson.
4:13 ... The second teamers are Scottie Barnes, Cason Wallace, Bam Adebayo, OG Anunoby, and Dyson Daniels.
7:22 ... Final Thought: Bruce on how Wemby's main "superpower" cannot be measured by analytics.
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0:00 ... The All-NBA Teams were announced over the weekend and the crew does a lightning round commenting on all the members of the first team. Cade Cunningham, SGA, Nikola Jokic, Wemby, and Luka Doncic make up the first team. Bruce has a big issue with one of the first teamers.
5:21 ... The All NBA Second team consists of Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. The guys wondered if aging Kawhi Leonard can have another All-NBA season at age 34 after this season's great performance.
12:44 ... The All-NBA third team consists of Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Johnson, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Duren. Duren making the third team could really affect his contract negotiations with the Pistons due to the 3rd Team honor making him eligible for a Super Max contract worth $48 million more than he would have qualified for had he not been honored as an All-NBA performer.
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0:00 ... Ross Geiger says hello and introduces co-hosts Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer. Show #250 is dedicated to Trey Jemison of the Knicks, who wears #50 for the newly crowned NBA Eastern Conference Champs.
1:07 ... Knicks fan World B shares his thoughts on his team making the Finals after a 26 season drought.
2:10 ... World B had predicted the Knicks to make the Finals in his preseason picks and his aim was true!
3:39 ... Ross tees up a discussion on how the Knicks have grown so much as a team.
4:24 ... Bruce is happiest for Knicks head coach Mike Brown who has led the team to record breaking performances in the playoffs. And they didn't really want to hire him to replace Tom Thibodeau prior to the season but all the other coaches they wanted to interview were not given permission from their teams to speak to New York about the job. So Brown was hired by default and it was a move that has succeeded wildly.
6:16 ... World B gives Brown credit for retooling the Knicks' offensive system and he reels off the numbers that prove it.
8:47 ... Ross wonders whether the Knicks upcoming layoff (as they wait for their Finals opponent) will kill their great momentum? Both Bruce and World B feel like the Knicks are sitting pretty. Ross is concerned how they'll handle any offensive dry spells against the Spurs and Thunder.
13:49 ... If the Spurs beat OKC and play New York in the Finals, Bruce feels like the Knicks will use Karl Anthony-Towns to draw Victor Wembanyama away from the hoop on defense which could allow New York to operate successfully closer to the hoop.
14:48 ... Bruce marvels at how Wemby guards the entire opposing team and how God must be a Spurs fan with Wemby succeeding Tim Duncan and David Robinson as the latest generational big man in San Antonio.
16:37 ... World B reacts to the Spurs big win in game 4 with Wemby leading the way once again.
18:09 ... Bruce points out how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has struggled offensively against the Spurs and with two key teammates like Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell battling health issues, the Spurs will continue to "throw the kitchen sink" at SGA if they miss more action. The result will be to wear SGA down and that will mean big trouble for OKC. Ross adds some perspective to the OKC offensive struggles.
20:11 ... World B explains how the return of De'Aaron Fox has been really important as far as the offense running smoothly. Ross feels like game 5 is a "must win" game for the Thunder.
22:40 ... Bruce points out that all the NBA awards have been announced except for Coach of the Year and he hopes his preseason prediction of Mitch Johnson winning the award might come true with a trophy presentation prior to game 6 in San Antonio.
24:09 ... The All-NBA Teams were announced over the weekend and the crew does a lightning round commenting on all the members of the first team. Cade Cunningham, SGA, Nikola Jokic, Wemby, and Luka Doncic make up the first team. Bruce has a big issue with one of the first teamers.
29:31 ... The All NBA Second team consists of Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. The guys wondered if aging Kawhi Leonard can have another All-NBA season at age 34 after this season's great performance.
36:53 ... The All-NBA third team consists of Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Johnson, Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Duren. Duren making the third team could really affect his contract negotiations with the Pistons due to the honor making him eligible for a Super Max contract worth $48 million more than he would have qualified for had he not been honored as an All-NBA performer.
45:16 ... We examine the All Defensive teams for the season. The first teamers are Wemby, Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Derrick White, and Rudy Gobert. Bruce has a summer assigmnent for Thompson.
49:29 ... The second teamers are Scottie Barnes, Cason Wallace, Bam Adebayo, OG Anunoby, and Dyson Daniels.
52:39 ... Final Thoughts: Bruce on how Wemby's main "superpower" cannot be measured by analytics. World B on how the Orlando Magic's search for a new coach is still wide open with many potential great candidates in the mix. Ross closes with his thoughts on two former NBA players facing off in an MMA match in Las Vegas over the weekend.
56:56 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye.
TRT 57:13
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0:00 Intro
1:19 The Cavs take Game 7 to defeat the Detroit Pistons
8:30 Eastern Conference Finals Preview: Knicks vs Cavaliers
18:44 Our ECF Predictions
21:33 Wemby & the Spurs put the Wolves to bed in Game 6 in Minnesota
24:33 Should the Wolves blow this core up this offseason?
29:23 Western Conference Finals Preview: Thunder vs Spurs
36:24 Our WCF Predictions
40:48 SGA was named the back-to-back MVP
45:40 Jamahl Mosley named the new head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans
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0:00 ... Show open .... Ross intro and dedicates show #248 to Chicago native Nazr Muhammad, who wore #48 for the Bulls for three seasons.
0:35 ... The guys discuss how they felt about the Draft Lottery taking place on Mother's Day in the afternoon.
3:02 ... Ross asks ESPN veteran Bruce about his thoughts on how the Draft Lottery show was produced.
5:24 ... The Wizards pick first .... AJ Dybantsa is the likely choice ... how will he fit in on a veteran team with Anthony Davis and Trae Young?
8:28 ... The Jazz pick second ... Darryn Peterson seems like their likely choice. Will he and Keyonte George be their backcourt of the future? Will Utah try and make a move to trade up for Dybantsa?
10:53 ... The Grizzlies pick third ... Cameron Boozer of Duke appears to be a great fit alongside Zach Edey, GG Jackson, Santi Aldama, and Jaylen Wells in the Memphis frontcourt.
TRT 14:58
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0:00 ... Show open ... Ross introduces Bruce and dedicates show #247 to "friend of the show" Scott Williams, who wore #47 for two different NBA teams during his long career.
1:10 ... The Knicks swept the 76ers in their second round series. They polished off the Sixers so quickly that they may have TOO MUCH time off before their next series which could dampen their momentum. The extended time off will help OG Anunoby who is recovering from an injury.
3:07 ... Knicks coach Mike Brown will need to conduct practices in such a way that he provides activities that help keep the team's momentum alive.
4:40 ... Brown did a great job all season using more players than former coach Tom Thibodeau which has kept his guys fresh and provided quality depth for the postseason.
8:11 ... Karl Anthony Towns has been a great performer for NY during the playoffs with his rebounding, decision making, and passing.
10:36 ... Complementary guys like Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart have been instrumental in the team's playoff run. hart is Mike brown's "Swiss Army Knife."
12:20 ... The Pistons and Cavs are tied at 2-2 in the other eastern conference second round series. Donovan Mitchell has gone "nuclear" in games 3 and 4 and he's gotten some good help from James Harden.
14:30 ... Jalen Duren has been relatively ineffective in the series against the Cavs and he needs to be more aggressive against the Cavs' bigs. Detroit also needs a big performance from Cade Cunningham in game 5 or the Cavs might be ready to finish off the Pistons in Cleveland.
18:42 ... Donovan Mitchell's 43 point explosion in game 4 places him #2 on the Cavs all time list of 40+ point playoff scorers, trailing only LeBron James.
19:19 ... The Oklahoma City Thunder finished off the Lakers in four games ... OKC won all 8 games they played against the lakers this season: 4-0 in the regular season and 4-0 in the playoffs.
20:38 .... Has LeBron James played the final game of his career? Probably not because he will want a farewell tour so fans and franchises can honor him one last time. So when he decides to retire, he'll make it known before the final season so all of that can take place.
22:42 ... Has LeBron played his final game AS A LAKER? Once again, the answer is probably "No." We feel he will retire as a Laker and eventually get a statue in LA.
26:17 ... OKC is humming on all cylinders right now. They are winning every game by large margins and their depth is beyond impressive.
28:02 ... Is the OKC layoff a danger to their momentum as we feel it is with the Knicks?
29:11 .... The Spurs/Timberwolves series got pretty chippy over the weekend and the guys discuss whether Victor Wembanyama should have been suspended for game 5 after his "flagrant 2" elbow against Naz Reid in game 4.
32:04 ... Julius Randle has not had a good series against the Spurs. Wemby's presence in the paint makes Randle's life difficult.
33:49 ... The Spurs are just scratching the surface of the team they will become.
36:17 ... Dylan Harper is a rookie who doesn't play like a rookie. He has a bit of Josh Hart in his makeup.
39:11 ... The NBA lost two members of the hoop family on Monday when Jason Collins died at the age of 47 and Brandon Clarke at age 29. Both Ross and Bruce have had long associations with the NBA and both feel that the NBA culture fosters a feeling of family even if we aren't personal friends with everyone.
TRT 42:22
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0:00 Intro
1:25 An Early Offseason Look at the NBA’s Coaching Carousel
1:42 Chicago Bulls
3:26 New Orleans Pelicans
7:58 Orlando Magic
10:45 Milwaukee Bucks name Taylor Jenkins their new head coach
13:04 Portland Trailblazers
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0:00 Intro
1:10 Game 6, Game 7, & Round 2 Series Previews
1:22 Rudy & the Wolves take down The Joker & the Nuggets
5:40 Spurs/Wolves Series Outlook & Predictions
10:09 The Lakers finally put the Rockets out of their misery after 6 games
16:37 Thunder/Lakers Series Predictions
19:07 The Knicks blew the doors off the Hawks in Atlanta in Game 6 to close out the series
22:55 The Boston Celtics are a 1st Round exit after losing 3 straight to the Sixers
30:09 Knicks/Sixers Series Predictions
32:55 Raptors push the Cavaliers to the limit, but fall short in Game 7
36:31 Pistons/Cavs Series Outlook & Predictions
39:05 Orlando ran out of “Magic” & the franchise moving forward
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0:00 ... Dennis Schroder has played 13 NBA seasons and is currently with his 11th team. In our game of "Six Degrees of Dennis Schroder," which is based on "Six Degrees of Separation," our mission is to find the right connections to link Schroder to the inventor of basketball Dr. James Naismith who lived from 1861 to 1939.
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0:00 ... Show open ... Ross introduces panel and dedicates show #244 to Nikola Topic of the OKC Thunder who wears number 44.
0:53 ... The least interesting series so far is the Thunder/Suns series, which OKC led 3 games to one heading into Monday's game 4. It has been a boringly efficient effort by the defending champs.
6:53 ... The Lakers/Rockets series is next ... Kevin Durant has been a virtual "no show" while LeBron James has turned back the clock and dominated the series. Can the Lakers close the deal in game 5 and advance to the next round? Will Deandre Ayton's elbow to Alpy Sengun in game 4 light a fire under the Rockets?
14:46 ... The Celtics responded to their game 2 loss at home to the 76ers with two solid wins in games 3 and 4 in Philly. Boston has put a stranglehold on the series, which looks to finish up in 5 games on Tuesday in Boston. Joel Embiid tried to help the team when he returned in game 4, but his presence hurt guys like Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe who both had played so well prior to his return.
19:22 ... The Spurs are on the brink of moving on to the next round as they lead the Blazers 3 games to one after Sunday's comeback win. This "2 vs 7" series closely resembles the "2 vs 7" Boston/Philly series in the east. The talent gap is huge and the Spurs should easily move on in 5 games.
25:07 ... The Nuggets and Timberwolves played game 5 on Monday with Minnesota leading the series 3 games to one. The Nuggets were expected to come out and play with desperation, hoping to extend the series to game 6 in Minneapolis. With Anthony Edwards out of action for the Wolves, the Nuggets might still have a chance to win the series, but a win on Monday was mandatory.
31:02 ... The Raptors vs. Cavaliers series is tied 2-2 heading into Wednesday's game 5. The Cavs need some bounceback games from Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen when the series returns to Cleveland. Can James Harden have one of "those games" and spark his Cavs to a pivotal game 5 win?
37:40 ... The Knicks and Hawks are tied at 2-2 heading into Tuesday's game 5 in New York. Karl-Anthony Towns dominated game 4 on Saturday and if he continues to play like that, New York will emerge victorious and move on to the next round.
43:21 ... The Pistons vs Magic "1 vs 8" matchup has been the most compelling first round series. Orlando had a chance to push Detroit to the brink of elimination with a win on Monday night. The Magic seemed to sleepwalk through the regular season before advancing through the play-in games and playing solid basketball against the eastern conference's top seed.
50:07 ... In our final segment, we examine the career of Cleveland's Dennis Schroeder, who is in his 13th NBA season and 11th team. We play a fun game of "6 Degrees of Dennis Schroeder," and connect the veteran guard all the way back to Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball.
56:32 ... Ross wraps the show and says goodbye.
TRT 56:49
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The League’s Top 3 MVP Finalists & Our Official Selections
Bruce gives his vote to Wemby
World B casts his vote for Jokic
Ross votes for SGA to go back to back
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0:00 Intro
1:14 Round 1, Game 1 Postgame Reviews & Reactions
1:15 The Orlando Magic steal Game 1 in Detroit stunning the Pistons
9:42 The Lakers take down the Rockets in Game 1 in LA behind Luke Kennard’s big game
16:14 Celtics set the tone against the Sixers at home
21:01 Thunder put the Suns in their place in their Game 1 victory at home
23:30 Wemby did not disappoint in his playoff debut against the Blazers
27:03 Game 1 reaction & Game 2 Preview between the Wolves & Nuggets
31:56 The Cavs take 2-0 lead on the Toronto Raptors in the 1st round
36:29 Knicks take Game 1 at home against the Hawks
42:57 Final Thoughts
43:05 The League’s Top 3 MVP Finalists & Our Official Selections
43:24: Bruce gives his vote to Wemby
46:56 World B casts his vote for Jokic
48:55 Ross votes for SGA to go back to back
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0:00 ... Ross opens the show, introduces the panelists, and dedicates show #242 to Maxime Reynaud of the Kings.
0:48 ... Eastern Conference predictions: Bruce likes the Celtics over Detroit. World B also likes the Celtics and so does Ross.
4:02 ... Western Conference Predictions: Bruce likes the Spurs over OKC, World B also likes the Spurs and Ross does as well.
6:49 ... Bruce predicts San Antonio over Boston in the Finals. World B likes the Celtics over the Spurs while Ross agrees with bruce and picks the Spurs.
TRT 9:08
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0:00 ... Ross Geiger welcome, introduces panel, and dedicates show #241 to Saddiq Bey.
0:46 ... Ross, Bruce Bernstein, and Michael "World B" Freer react to Doc Rivers leaving the Milwaukee Bucks after a 32-50 season.
5:15 ... Doug Christie will NOT be fired as Sacramento Kings head coach and the guys react to the situation involving the dysfunctional Kings franchise.
8:34 ... Big picture thoughts from the just concluded regular season ... Bruce begins with the 65 game rule for All-NBA and seasonal awards.
10:40 ... World B chooses the Detroit Pistons and their big turnaround as his "big picture" story.
12:16 ... Ross chooses several things he hopes will be in their "final year" as his big picture story.
13:31 ... Play In Preview #1: Hornets vs Heat discussion
16:06 ... Play In Preview #2: Blazers vs Suns
18:35 ... Play In Preview #3: Magic vs 76ers
23:03 ... Play In Preview #4: Warriors vs Clippers
25:43 ... Round One Preview: Raptors vs Cavaliers
28:25 ... Round One Preview: Hawks vs Knicks
31:28 ... Round One Preview: Timberwolves vs Nuggets
34:22 ... Round One Preview: Rockets vs Lakers
37:39 ... Top Seed: Will the Thunder be challenged in the first round out west?
39:27 ... Top Seed: Will the Pistons be challenged in the first round back east?
41:23 ... Reflections on our best preseason predictions ... Bruce on the Spurs, World B on the Nets, Ross on Deni Avdija
45:49 ... Reflections on our worst preseason predictions ... Bruce on the Suns, World B on the Bucks, Ross on Jamahl Mosely.
48:29 .... We discuss our Award winners for this season: MVP is first
51:14 ... Rookie of the Year is next
53:51 ... Defensive Player of the Year
55:11 ... Coach of the Year
TRT 58:28
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Which player not named Wemby would you choose to start a new franchise?
World B selects Cooper Flagg
Ross takes Anthony Edwards
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0:00 Intro
1:16 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
1:19 Toronto Raptors @ New York Knicks
6:48 So Nice, They’ll Play Twice! Joker vs Wemby this weekend!!!
9:01 Which player not named Wemby would you choose to start a new franchise?
9:20 World B selects Cooper Flagg
11:20 Ross takes Anthony Edwards
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0:00 Intro
1:14 The Chicago Bulls fire their front office executives
4:31 What happens with Head Coach Billy Donovan?
7:35 NBA coach Mike Malone named the new head coach at the University of North Carolina
11:16 A breakdown of the NBA’s playoff races
11:24 The Eastern Conference teams, seeds, & scenarios
17:33 The Western Conference teams, seeds, & scenarios
25:01 Cooper Flagg had himself a monster weekend
33:39 Which team had a bigger in-season turnaround: Atlanta Hawks or Charlotte Hornets?
42:21 Final Thoughts on the end of this NBA season
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World B selects Wemby & the Spurs
Bruce doubles down taking Wemby & the Spurs as well!
Ross goes with Luka & the Lakers
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0:00 Intro
0:49 Minnesota Timberwolves @ Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night
4:15 San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets on Saturday night
9:16 Toronto Raptors @ Boston Celtics on Sunday
13:06 Which team is the most “must see” team when they come to your town?
13:43 World B selects Wemby & the Spurs
14:56 Bruce doubles down taking Wemby & the Spurs as well!
16:31 Ross goes with Luka & the Lakers
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0:00 Intro
0:50 A Deep Dive into the Celtics & Spurs
0:58 The Boston Celtics what a surprise & story they’ve been
10:01 Can the Knicks catch the Celtics for the 2 seed?
13:11 The San Antonio Spurs are the hottest team in the league
21:13 How important is it for OKC to finish with the top seed out West?
25:33 Of the 8 Play-In Teams which has the best chance to beat a 1 or 2 seed in the 1st Round?
31:08 The Lakers remain red hot but are they a real threat to win it all this season?
37:58 Is this the most competitive MVP race we’ve ever seen? Who’s our favorite to win MVP?
46:05 What has a better chance of happening Steve Kerr continues coaching the Warriors or Jahmal Mosley continues to be the coach of the Magic next season?
50:02 World B provides the show’s Final Thought: What is our favorite iconic shot in NBA history?
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0:00 .... Bruce Introduction and explains the segment
0:42 .... The case for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
3:22 ... The case for Bill Russell
4:05 ... Why it's impossible to settle these debates
5:10 ... The case for Breanna Stewart
TRT 6:13
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0:00 .... Bruce hello, welcome, and show #236 dedication in honor of former Celtic and current Laker Marcus Smart, who has worn the number 36 for all four of his NBA teams.
0:41 ... Friday: Hawks at Celtics
3:37 ... Saturday: Pistons at Timberwolves
6:34 ... Sunday: Knicks at Thunder
9:22 ... Bonus discussion on best combined college/professional and Olympic careers. Legendary names abound: Kareem, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Bill Walton
14:25 ... Breanna Stewart stands alone
15:34 ... Bruce closes the show
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0:00 .... Show open ... Bruce welcomes the panel and dedicates show #235 to the late Reggie Lewis of the Boston Celtics, whose number 35 was retired by the team shortly after his death in 1993.
1:07 ... Bruce introduces Nick Carboni of WCNC-TV who covers the Hornets on a daily basis.
2:10 ... Nick is excited about finally covering the Hornets in the playoffs after 10 years working in the city and shares a brief story from the recent Dell Curry jersey retirement ceremony.
3:11 ... World B, who has been on the Hornets bandwagon gets the first question and asks about the evolution of LaMelo Ball and his impact on the team's success. Nick thought Melo was going to be traded a few months ago but his progress has really helped the team.
6:50 ... The Hornets have been sparked by rookie Kon Kneuppel and his spectacular 3 point shooting and all around floor game.
9:37 ... Nick points out the moment when he realized the Hornets were not the same old Hornets from recent years. It was their wins over Utah and Oklahoma City that convinced him they were different. And their defense has improved dramatically.
11:55 ... The Hornets have played spectacular ball for second year head coach Charles Lee for two straight months. Are they peaking at a good time?
14:27 ... Lee is part of the Boston connection plus some other veterans like Grant Williams, Xavier Tillman, and Pat Connaughton that are helping a young team to realize its potential.
17:02 ... The Hornets have been healthy and good chemistry has logically followed due to the players having more experience together on the court.
20:15 ... Rebounding has been a key improvement that has led to more winning in Charlotte.
23:19 ... The Charlotte market is not one of the largest TV markets but they support the NFL's Panthers and the Hornets. Major League Baseball may have interest in expanding into Charlotte, but can the city support a third pro franchise?
27:07 ... Bruce asks about the sports culture in Charlotte and whether the fans are more like college fans since the state is so college hoop oriented.
29:59 ... Bruce point out that the Hornets have had many blowout wins but wonders if the team needs to win some close "nailbiter" games in order to be "playoff ready?" Nick agrees and cites a few examples of close games that were losses when they could have been wins.
31:59 ... Kemba Walker was a great player in Charlotte and is now a member of their coaching staff. Nick says Kemba remains his favorite player of all time. And his presence on the bench connects the Charlotte fans of different generations.
35:11 ... Bruce reintroduces Nick and tosses to the mid-show break
35:30 ... Bruce resets and tees up a discussion of the 65 game rule for postseason awards and All-NBA teams. Everyone agrees that some tweaks are needed to minimize the unforeseen circumstances of the rule.
38:45 ... Jayson Tatum's return to the Celtics has Boston fans dreaming of a second title in 3 years. Do these fans need to tap the brakes?
41:49 ... The Lakers have been on fire as of late with Luka Doncic leading the way. Are they a legit threat to win the title?
44:54 ... Which teams are lurking below the radar but who could make a meaningful playoff run? Nick likes the Hornets, World B likes Miami, and Bruce likes Minnesota.
48:00 ... Bruce wraps things up and teases the weekend preview show later in the week.
TRT 48:45
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Word Association: NBA Team Edition
Detroit Pistons
San Antonio Spurs
Washington Wizards
New Orleans Pelicans
New York Knicks
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0:00 Intro
0:51 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:56 Hawks @ Rockets on Friday Night
4:52 Lakers @ Magic on Saturday
8:45 Timberwolves @ Celtics on Sunday
11:20 Word Association: NBA Team Edition
11:46 Detroit Pistons
13:09 San Antonio Spurs
14:28 Washington Wizards
16:01 New Orleans Pelicans
18:14 New York Knicks
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0:00 Intro
1:03 Bam Adebayo’s historic night last Tuesday
7:54 The Sacramento Kings are anti-tanking?
12:50 Western Conference vs Eastern Conference Top Contenders Debate
18:49 Winning Streaks Around the NBA
18:58 Atlanta Hawks
23:29 Oklahoma City Thunder
26:05 Orlando Magic
32:29 The NBA set to vote on Expansion this Summer
36:53 Which Western Conference team do we see moving to the Eastern Conference?
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0:00 ... Ross tees up the "Crafty" segment
0:15 ... Bruce picks Boston's Payton Pritchard ... World B likes Luka Doncic ... Ross likes Shai Gilgeous Alexander
4:28 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 4:44
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome to the show ... introduces Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer. Episode #232 is dedicated to Hall of Famer Bill Walton, who wore #32 at UCLA and with the Portland Trailblazers.
0:57 ... The guys begin with a discussion of the Friday matchup between the Suns and Raptors in Toronto.
5:16 ... Next up is a breakdown of Saturday's game between the Nuggets and Lakers in Los Angeles.
8:06 ... Finally it's the Sunday showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder. Minnesota is one of only two teams to have beaten the Thunder more than once this season. San Antonio is the other. Can OKC show the Wolves they mean business?
12:27 ... In our second segment of the weekend preview, each panelist decribes their favorite "crafty" players. Bruce likes Payton Pritchard. Ross likes Shai Gilgeous Alexander, and World B likes Luka Doncic.
16:54 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 17:07
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0:00 ... Show open intro ... episode #231 dedicated to former Lakers great Kurt Rambis ...
1:00 ... Bruce introduces Byron Scott and ticks off some of his career achievements.
1:39 ... Byron is also a podcaster and discusses his show called Byron Scott's Fastbreak ... one of Byron's guests was Dave Winfield and Byron shares a quick story about Dave.
2:52 ... Byron was childhood friends with baseball legends Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis and they remain friends to this day.
3:38 ... Byron discusses his relationship with his former teammates like Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and former coach Pat Riley. Byron explains how the Lakers were, and are a family because Dr. Jerry Buss wanted it that way.
5:57 ... Byron describes how he was traded by the San Diego Clippers to the Lakers before he ever played an NBA game. The player who left LA in the trade was Norm Nixon, a beloved Laker who was close with Magic and others. Byron describes the rough treatment he received in training camp and how he put an end to it.
7:11 ... Byron describes how the old Celtics and Lakers didn't like each other but respected each other and always raised their level of play when they competed.
9:01 ... Byron didn't think the Kevin McHale clothesline on Kurt Rambis in the 1984 NBA Finals was the dirtiest play he ever saw. Byron describes a shot in the head he took that could have ended his own career.
9:58 ... The Lakers finally beat the Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals and Byron shared a story of how they knew before they left LA that they'd win it in 6 games.
11:31 ... Byron was a teammate of Kobe Bryant from his first days in the league and then coached him his final two seasons. Byron reflects on the greatness Kobe achieved and shares a private memory from Kobe's final game when he scored 60 points.
13:21 ... Byron also played for the Pacers and was part of the great Indiana/New York rivalry in the 1990s. What was it like competing against those Knicks teams led by his former coach Pat Riley? Did he have a little extra juice when he scored against the Knicks?
TRT 15:17
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Our Favorite First Family in Basketball
Bruce on the Barry Family
World B on the Curry Family
Ross on the Antetokounmpo Family
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0:00 Intro
0:45 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:50 New York Knicks @ Denver Nuggets
4:22 Orlando Magic @ Minnesota Timberwolves
8:56 Houston Rockets @ San Antonio Spurs
14:07 Our Favorite First Family in Basketball
14:58 Bruce on the Barry Family
16:52 World B on the Curry Family
18:55 Ross on the Antetokounmpo Family
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0:00 Intro
1:03 Bruce gives our guest Jon Barry a proper introduction
3:21 Is there a specific time or set of games when teams need to start playing their best for the playoffs?
5:17 Jon Barry on this new era of basketball with an emphasis on 3-point shooting
6:47 Jon Barry reflects on the pressure NBA journeyman face in the league
8:58 What was it like being Laker teammates with both Kobe & Shaq
12:18 Having played against Jordan, Kobe, & LeBron Jon shares his thoughts each legend
16:43 Where does Nikola Jokic rank amongst the best big men all time?
19:35 Jon reminisces on his days with the Sacramento Kings
23:50 Did Jon ever get any blow back from players or coaches as a broadcaster at ESPN?
28:36 Jon on working with broadcasting legend Mike Tirico
30:26 Jon shares some personal stories working with Bill Walton
31:57 What Jon remembers about his college days & March Madness memories
35:30 Jon on the Detroit Pistons
37:16 Does Jon think the Spurs can win a title as soon as this year?
39:28 What’s off about the Houston Rockets this season?
42:33 Jon shares his thoughts on the Knicks decision to make a coaching change & their chances this year
44:30 Will Jayson Tatum have to adjust to Jaylen Brown or will Jaylen Brown have to adjust to Jayson Tatum?
46:23 Word Association
46:41 Yao Ming
47:14 LeBron James
48:08 Peja Stojakovic
48:49 Dikembe Mutombo
49:34 The Cousins Center
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0:00 ... Three "players to watch" down the stretch
0:14 ... Bruce Bernstein says Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks
1:33 ... "World B" Freer says LaMelo Ball of the Hornets
3:44 ... Ross Geiger says Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers
5:08 ... Ross wraps it and says goodbye ...
TRT 5:22
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome ... introduction of the panel and dedication of show #228 to Rui Hachimura who wears #28 for the Lakers.
0:53 ... Friday's Nuggets/Thunder matchup ...
4:28 ... Saturday's Lakers/Warriors matchup ...
7:29 ... Sunday's Spurs/Knicks matchup ...
11:29 ... Players to watch down the stretch ... Karl-Anthony Towns ... LaMelo Ball ... Evan Mobley
TRT 16:51
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome the crew ... episode #227 is dedicated to Jordan Walsh of the Celtics.
0:59 ... Bruce introduces his fellow "Brucie B" ... Bruce Bowen ...
1:49 ... Bruce tells the story of the "unretirement" of his #12 jersey that he wore with the Spurs.
3:17 ... How Bowen basically created the position we now know as the "Three and D" and what the role meant to him.
5:02 ... On his battles with Kobe Bryant and how he approached the matchup ... his description of how he used film to prepare is really interesting. And how Kobe was always in attack mode.
7:34 ... Bowen's legendary battle with LeBron James in the 2007 NBA Finals and how he forced LeBron into uncomfortable shots. But Bruce also appreciates LeBron's skills.
9:00 ... Ross asks Bruce about current stars and how he would guard some of them. Jaylen Brown is singled out by Bowen for his intelligence in many areas.
11:33 ... Phoenix Suns fan Ross still has nightmares from his Suns playing the Spurs back in the day. Bruce explains how hard it was to beat those guys in the postseason and how the Suns never played defense under Mike D'Antoni.
14:25 ... Bruce played for Pat Riley in Miami early in his career and he shares some amazing insight on how he and Riles interacted during their time together. He tells an incredible story about a tense contract discussion and how he said goodbye to Miami and bet on himself to succeed in San Antonio.
18:57 ... Bruce played for Miami in some intense playoff battles against the Knicks and Bruce explains the connection from two coaches named Van Gundy with Riles. Bruce has memories of Knicks fans coming to Florida to root for the Knicks.
21:27 ... World B asks Bruce about Tim Duncan and why he is not in the "GOAT" conversation. Bruce gives a great analysis of how Tim thinks and how he took the baton from David Robinson and won more championships. Bruce gives a great blueprint on Duncan's road to becoming a leader. Bruce shares a great story of how Gregg Popovich made it clear that if Tim felt he wanted to leave San Antonio, he should explore his options. And Tim never left.
25:18 ... Bruce takes a deep dive into his relationship with Gregg Popovich and how people misconstrued Pop's relationship with players. Pop always made it clear that his job was to coach guys and that the negative stuff always came from a good place.
29:18 ... As for the current Spurs team ... there's tremendous upside with Victor Wembanyama and young head coach Mitch Johnson. Victor brings guys together and all the current players respect each other. Bruce mentions Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper as young studs along with a mature group of veterans that have quickly developed great chemistry.
33:16 ... Wemby has a competitive edge that has surprised a lot of people because of the way he looks. The way he presented himself at All Star Weekend demonstrated leadership.
36:08 ... Bruce explains how Mitch Johnson has echoed some of Pop's philosophy but in a more contemporary style. Pop was so much of a legend that he seemed unapproachable to younger guys but Mitch is from their era and relates well.
39:09 ... Dylan Harper is a rookie who is learning quickly what it means to be a Spur. Having a system that emphasizes the team over personal agendas helps young players develop more quickly. Bruce feels the team success gives Harper a chance to make a bigger impact that hotter rookie names like Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe.
42:07 ... Bruce from 48 Minutes predicted greatness for the Spurs long before they started playing like a championship contender. But they're so far ahead of schedule that they look like they could win it all this year. What could stop them? The "other" Bruce breaks it all down.
44:57 ... When discussing the officials and all the heat they're getting, Bruce feels like the the replays have hurt the relationship between players, coaches, and refs. Bruce has little patience for guys that can't put a bad call behind them and keep playing. As always, he has a great story about official Danny Crawford, who was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame.
48:59 ... The 65 game minimum for postseason awards has cost some players awards that they might have won. Is 65 the right number of minimum games or should the number be lower ... maybe 62? Bruce feels the awards should take a back seat to what is best for the team.
52:13 ... Word Association ... David Robinson: Man of Faith
53:21 ... Draymond Green ... Fiery and Comfortable with Self
56:11 ... Luka Doncic ... Talented to a Fault
57:42 ...Tony Parker ... Wisdom at a Young Age
59:14 ... Shai Gilgeous Alexander ... Aggressive Competitor
1:00:17 ... Ross wraps it up ... thanks Bruce ... and says goodbye ...
TRT 1:01:13
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Ross, Bruce, & World B share the three teams they're keeping a close eye on for the second half of the season. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.comfor information about our collection and use of personal data foradvertising.
0:00 Intro
0:47 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:51 Cleveland Cavaliers @ Charlotte Hornets
4:02 Houston Rockets @ New York Knicks
7:29 Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers
10:59 3 teams to watch down the stretch
11:10 Boston Celtics
12:27 Orlando Magic
13:57 San Antonio Spurs
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0:00 Intro
1:01 NBA All-Star Saturday Night Recap
1:08 Damian Lillard took home his 3rd 3-Point Contest Title
4:26 The Knicks won the Shooting Stars Competition
5:22 Keshad Johnson was crowned this year’s Dunk Champion
6:18 Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game Recap!
7:57 Wemby set the competitive tone
11:38 Ross was bummed Giannis couldn’t play hard alongside Wemby for Team World
13:55 Our “At the Half” MVP
14:21 Bruce gives his vote to Victor Wembanyama
16:56 World B gives his MVP nod to Nikola Jokic
18:27 Ross would give his MVP vote to SGA
19:54 Who has a better chance of making the NBA Finals: DET or OKC?
23:09 Don’t sleep on the new look Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2nd half of the season
28:06 If and when might Jayson Tatum make his season debut for the Boston Celtics?
37:38 One bold prediction the rest of the season
37:55 World B predicts Cade Cunningham win this year’s MVP award
39:40 Bruce predicts the Sacramento Kings will fire Doug Christie within the next 2 weeks
40:29 Ross predicts the Milwaukee Bucks will make the Eastern Conference Play-In
41:40 Final Thoughts
41:52 Bruce on the Lakers deciding to honor Pat Riley while the Celtics are in town
43:22 World B on his New York Knicks upcoming game against the Detroit Pistons
45:34 Ross’s Best Bets for the final stretch of the season
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0:00 ... Ross explains the format for Sunday's Round Robin All Star Tournament and goes through the rosters.
1:14 ... Bruce's prediction
2:13 ... World B's prediction
3:04 ... Ross's prediction
TRT 4:06
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0:00 .... Show open ... Ross introduces the panel and dedicates show #224 to Naz Reid, the 2024 Sixth Man of the Year.
0:48 ... Three Point Contest breakdown and predictions. Ross with a great Devin Booker story.
4:50 ... Shooting Stars breakdown and predictions. Lots of star power on display.
9:41... Slam Dunk contest breakdown and predictions. This event sorely needs some star power.
12:46 ... USA vs. The World breakdown and predictions ...
TRT 16:52
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0:00 ... Show open ... Ross introduces panel and dedicates show #223 to Jaren Jackson Jr, the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
1:17 ... Dave's former team, the Clippers have played well the past month but still became sellers at the deadline ... what was their plan?
2:55 ... The Memphis Grizzlies sent Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz in a curious move. Is there any sense to this move and some other recent moves like trading Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane?
6:26 ... Dave worked with Danny Ainge in Boston where he pulled off a trade for Ray Allen that helped the Celtics acquire Kevin Garnett and win a title. Can he pull off a similar trick in Utah?
8:52 ... Utah basically tanked a winnable game last weekend against Orlando ... was it a bad look for the league that needs to be addressed?
10:55 ... Will Jazz coach Will Hardy start feeling the pressure next year with a better group of players?
11:45 ... The Washington Wizards seem to be moving away from their young players by acquiring veterans like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, and some others. Will it stifle the progress their young guys were making?
14:34 ... The Wizards seem like a rudderless ship but Dave feels their new GM Michael Winger is smart and there may be subsequent steps involving the guys they acquired.
15:54 ... What about the Celtics trading Anfrenee Simons and getting back Nik Vucevich? Dave loves the deal for Boston. Dave also feels like Brad Stevens has done amazing work in making smart moves while keeping the team in good financial shape.
18:27 ... Payton Pritchard is back to his 6th man role with the departure of Simons. Dave loves this role for him because Pritchard proved he could start in the league and he'll have lots of freedom on the second unit.
20:06 ... Jonathan Kuminga was traded from Golden State to Atlanta with Kristaps Porzingis going to the Warriors ... how does this affect their playoff chances?
21:30 ... How does Kuminga fit in in Atlanta?
23:22 ... What does Giannis Antetokounmpo's future look like? Is he staying in Milwaukee for the long haul?
24:43 ... Expect to see Giannis in Milwaukee at the start of next season. Giannis is very loyal. Dave compares him to what Kevin Garnett went through in Minnesota.
26:09 ... Orlando was quiet at the trade deadline. They're a well coached team with a good roster but they should be better.
27:16 ... Fun topics to cloe the show... how serious are the Philadelphia 76ers as contenders in the east?
28:27 ... The Charlotte Hornets have been on fire ... do they have a chance to make the postseason?
29:48 ... Dave feels Sacramento is the opposite of the Hornets ... they haven't been to the Finals since 1951 and the owner keeps firing good coaches. No reason for excitement in SacTown.
32:13 ... The Bulls have made a bunch of trades and didn't get any first round picks while some of their guys made contributions elsewhere. They never seem to have a breakout season but it's hard to see what direction they're moving in.
33:59 ... Injuries have been a problem across the league and it's making some good players ineligible for postseason awards due to the 65 game rule. Can anything be done?
36:25 ... Is there anything about the style of play that is causing injuries to occur more frequently? Dave cites some examples of random injuries
38:46 ... LeBron James needs to play every game the rest of the way since he would need to do that to reach 65 games played. If he does it, is that good for the team? Dave transitions into a fun story about how he once played just 5 seconds in a game, and went into that game at the 47:55 mark.
43:49 ... Can the Spurs be a serious contender? Dave feels like they can and also ticks off some other teams he feels can win it all.
46:49 ... Ross wraps things up and closes out the show.
TRT 47:21
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Three Teams on the Rise!
Charlotte Hornets
Cleveland Cavaliers
Minnesota Timberwolves
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0:00 Intro
0:46 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:49 Knicks @ Pistons on Friday
3:45 Rockets @ Thunder on Saturday
6:37 Knicks @ Celtics on Sunday
9:46 Three Teams on the Rise!
9:53 Charlotte Hornets
12:27 Cleveland Cavaliers
16:02 Minnesota Timberwolves
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0:00 Intro
1:16 Bruce introduces special guest Cyrus Saatsaz
3:21 The NBA All-Star Reserves Were Announced, Who got snubbed?
22:03 Our Personal Favorite NBA All-Star Games
32:33 Reactions to the 3 Team Trade Between the Cavs, Kings, & Bulls
44:41 Hawks trade Vit Krejci to the Blazers
45:31 Warriors Confidential with Cyrus Saatsaz
45:56 The Ugly Jonathan Kuminga Saga
59:22 The Current State of Steph Curry’s Mindset
1:07:14 Cyrus shares his thoughts on the Giannis trade rumors
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0:00 ... Ross tees up the segment starting with VJ Edgecombe of the 76ers, who is second in the NBA in minutes played.
2:46 ... Jaylen Brown is taking more shots than Luka Doncic ... how's that going for him?
5:26 ... Jalen Johnson leads the NBA in double doubles and Bruce reveals his "All Jalen/Jaylen Team" and makes a suggestion to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
7:50 ... Jusuf Nurkic is among the league leaders in triple doubles and is tied with Cade Cunningham and Deni Avdija with three each.
10:51 ... Bruce closes out the show when Ross was plagued by technical difficulties.
TRT 11:46
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0:00 ... Ross opens the show and introduces the panel.
0:34 ... Show #220 is dedicated to Montrezl Harrell, who was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2020.
1:20 ... The weekend preview begins with Raptors/Magic on Friday
4:01 ... Wemby and the Spurs visit Charlotte on Saturday.
7:50 ... Luka, LeBron, and the Lakers visit the Knicks in NY on Sunday. Bruce has a bold prediction for this game involving LeBron James.
10:24 ... The "Did You Know" Mid-Season Edition features VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen and Luka, Jalen Johnson and the "All Jalen" squad, and Jusuf Nurkic.
21:14 ... Bruce takes over point guard duties from Ross due to technical difficulties and closes out the show.
TRT 22:08
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0:00 ... Ross opens the show and dedicates episode #219 to Luka Doncic, the rookie of the year in 2019.
0:58 ... Bruce reacts to his return to the show after missing last week.
1:17 ... The guys discuss the streaking Toronto Raptors and how they've risen to number 3 in the east.
6:52 ... The Chicago Bulls retired Derrick Rose's #1 over the weekend and the team has been on a hot streak before losing on Monday to the Lakers.
11:41 ... The LA Clippers have been on a heater since the week before Christmas with 15 wins in their last 18 games. Can they keep it rolling and actually make the playoffs?
15:21 ... The Portland Trailblazers have made great strides and are growing up before our eyes. How has rookie coach Tiago Splitter done replacing Chauncey Billups?
19:44 ... There have been some key injuries involving big names over the last week. Tops on the list is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Is there more to his injury than we've been led to believe?
24:03 ... The situation between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga took two bizarre turns over the past week. He seemed poised to regain his starting job when Jimmy Butler suffered a season ending injury, but JK was only able to play one full game before HE was injured. The bad blood between Kuminga and management continues as well.
29:00 ... Ja Morant is another star on the trading block and Memphis seems like a candidate for a reset, so it may just be time for Morant to move on. The guys wrap up this discussion with thoughts on whether any of these guys are going to be traded before the deadline.
34:51 ... The sound of the gong means it's time for Final Thoughts ... World B has not given up on the 76ers, but they were trounced by Charlotte on Monday night.
37:02 ... Ross shares his final thought on Giannis and his situation with the Bucks. It has been a painful season for everyone around the team.
38:40 ... Bruce shares a final thought on his "long strange trip" from Florida to Connecticut over the weekend.
41:29 ... Ross waraps it up and says goodbye.
TRT 41:59
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“I Didn’t See That Coming” This NBA Season
Charlotte Hornets Offense
The Pacers Struggling Mightily
De’Anthony Melton’s Impact
This year’s league leaders in blocked shots
The Portland Trailblazers success
Scoot Henderson’s lack of availability
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0:00 Intro
0:55 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:59 Houston Rockets @ Detroit Pistons
4:25 LA Lakers @ Dallas Mavericks
7:05 Denver Nuggets @ Memphis Grizzlies
10:16 “I Didn’t See That Coming” This NBA Season
10:36 Charlotte Hornets Offense
11:51 The Pacers Struggling Mightily
13:04 De’Anthony Melton’s Impact
14:37 This year’s league leaders in blocked shots
15:25 The Portland Trailblazers success
16:44 Scoot Henderson’s lack of availability
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0:00 Intro
0:47 The NBA All-Star Game Starters were announced
1:04 The Eastern Conference All-Star Starters
3:14 The Western Conference All-Star Starters
6:08 Stock Up or Stock Down
6:18 LA Clippers
12:22 Golden State Warriors
16:54 Cleveland Cavaliers
21:54 Boston Celtics
26:33 New York Knicks
32:54 Atlanta Hawks
35:45 Orlando Magic
39:00 LA Lakers
42:44 Quick notes from MLK Day NBA action around the NBA
44:36 World B on the Detroit Pistons
46:39 Ross on Giannis being the leading fan vote getter again this year
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One team that needs to make a trade prior to the NBA trade deadline
Bruce on the Miami Heat
World B on the Boston Celtics
Ross on the Milwaukee Bucks
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0:00 Intro
1:01 Timberwolves visit the Rockets in Houston on Friday
5:35 Hornets face the Warriors out in the Bay on Saturday
10:04 The Raptors are in LA to face the Lakers on Sunday
14:35 One team that needs to make a trade prior to the NBA trade deadline
14:55 Bruce on the Miami Heat
15:51 World B on the Boston Celtics
19:05 Ross on the Milwaukee Bucks
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0:00 Intro
2:32 Trae Young traded to the Wizards
7:47 The Memphis Grizzlies are listening to offers on Ja Morant
15:29 Would you rather trade for Trae Young or Ja Morant?
18:54 Pelicans don’t intend to trade Zion Williamson by the trade deadline
24:23 Spurs face the Thunder yet again on Tuesday night, can OKC finally pull out a win?
31:24 World B provides a unique update on the Bulls/Magic schedule coming up
33:04 Pulse Check: Should we be taking the LA Clippers seriously?
38:24 Final Thoughts!
39:11 Bruce on the Houston Rockets unbalanced schedule so far
41:05 World B on the Utah Jazz
43:51 Ross on Peyton Watson
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0:00 ... World B on Tyrese Maxey
1:41 ... Bruce on Neemias Queta
2:51 ... World B on Ryan Rollins
3:53 ... Bruce on Keyonte George
4:51 ... World B on Jalen Duren
5:53 ... Bruce on Chet Holmgren
7:07 ... World B on LaMelo Ball
8:36 ... Bruce on James Nnaji
9:50 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome .... introduces the panel and dedicated show #214 to Joakim Noah, the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year in 2014.
1:00 ... Giannis and the Bucks visit the Lakers on Friday night ...
5:19 ... Wemby and the Spurs face the red hot Boston Celtics on Saturday in Boston.
9:13 ... The Knicks are on the road in Portland for a Sunday game against the Blazers
12:37 ... Classic Card Challenge ... Bruce and World B share spontaneous thoughts of active players chosen at random by Ross.
22:25 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
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0:00 ... Open and Ross introduces the panel and dedicates show #213 to LeBron James whose 2013 season was historic.
1:17 ... Breaking news ... Trae Young wants to be traded and the fellas discuss his value in the trade market.
4:03 ... The Orlando Magic
9:19 ... The Denver Nuggets
15:03 ... The Boston Celtics
23:32 ... The Phoenix Suns
29:18 ... Will the "65 Game Rule" cause legitimate NBA candidates Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Victor Wembanyama to be eliminated from contention?
33:57 ... "Final Thoughts:" Bruce on Draymond Green
35:56 ...World B on Jaylen Brown
38:56 ... Ross on Guerschon Yabusele
41:13 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 41:28
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0:00 Intro
0:49 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:52 Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks
4:09 Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Clippers
7:22 Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers
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0:00 Intro
1:35 A Review of the NBA Christmas Day games
1:55 The Knicks come from behind home win against the Cavaliers
7:41 Spurs continue to dominate the Thunder
12:18 Cooper Flag showed up & showed out on the national stage
14:57 The Rockets cruised to victory against the Lakers
20:23 The Joker’s insane game to cap off the NBA games on Christmas Day
22:47 Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to the Bucks lineup
27:06 The Hawks continue their skid with Trae Young back in the lineup
31:37 The Nets suddenly are red hot
37:17 Final Thoughts on the NCAA approving a former NBA draft pick to join Baylor
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Our Favorite Secret Superpowers in the NBA today
Payton Pritchard causing chaos with his dribbling
Kevin Love & his leadership with the Utah Jazz
Mikal Bridges being the Ironman of the NBA
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0:00 Intro
0:57 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
1:02 Detroit Pistons @ Utah Jazz on Friday night
4:56 Denver Nuggets @ Orlando Magic on Saturday night
7:11 Philadelphia 76ers @ Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday
10:17 Our Favorite Secret Superpowers in the NBA today
10:33 Payton Pritchard causing chaos with his dribbling
11:41 Kevin Love & his leadership with the Utah Jazz
13:28 Mikal Bridges being the Ironman of the NBA
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0:00 Intro
0:54 The New York Knicks win the 2025 NBA Cup
7:18 NBA Christmas Day Game Previews!
7:26 Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks
10:18 San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder
14:17 Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors
17:09 Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers
20:44 Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets
24:12 The Fantastic 2025 NBA Draft Class
24:34 Cooper Flagg
27:34 Kon Knueppel
30:40 VJ Edgecombe
35:14 Dylan Harper
39:03 Derik Queen
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0:00 ... The crew plays a game of "Traded or Not Traded" Anfernee Simons of Boston gets us started.
1:56 ... Zach Lavine ... will his contract make him hard to trade?
3:23 ... Jonathan Kuminga seems to be regressing, but he still has the skils.
5:23 ... Lauri Markkanen ... will "Trader Danny" move his best player for future assets?
7:45 ... Is there any chance Giannis Antetokounpo leaves Milwaukee?
9:55 ... Ross wraps it up sand says goodbye.
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0:00 .... Ross hello and welcome. Show #208 is dedicated to Byron Scott, who was NBA Coach of the Year in 2008.
0:47 ... Friday the Heat play the Celtics in Boston .... who will win?
4:49 ... Saturday's game is Rockets at Nuggets with a great matchup at center with Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun.
9:58 ... The Heat visit the Knicks in NY on Sunday ... New York has been unbeatable at home and the Heat have struggled as of late.
13:21 ... The guys pick 5 players and discuss whether they will be traded or not traded. Anfernee Simons, Zach Lavine, Jonathan Kuminga, Lauri Markkanen, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
23:16 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 23:30
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0:00 ... Show open ... Ross welcome and introduces panel ... episode #207 is dedicated to Brandon Roy, who was rookie of the year in 2007.
0:49 ... Recap of NBA Cup semifinal game #1 between the Knicks and Magic.
11:15 ... Recap of the Spurs/Thunder semifinal game ... Victor Wembanyama made his presence felt. It sure looks like the Spurs and Thunder could develop into a great rivalry.
20:10 ... Will the NBA Cup semifinal matchups also be the conference finals matchups?
23:33 ... Will the great games from the NBA Cup lift the interest level in the NBA?
27:14 ... NBA Cup Finals Preview: Spurs vs Knicks on Tuesday ... how can the Knicks contain Wemby?
32:23 ... What would an NBA Cup title mean to these two teams? Would the veteran Knicks or upstart Spurs benefit more?
TRT 36:54
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Who Would You Rather Have?
Anthony Edwards or Tyrese Maxey
Jalen Brunson or Jaylen Brown
SGA or Luka
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0:00 Intro
0:57 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:58 Minnesota Timberwolves/Golden State Warriors on Friday Night
4:48 Philadelphia 76ers/Atlanta Hawks on Sunday
8:31 Who Would You Rather Have?
8:51 Anthony Edwards or Tyrese Maxey
10:24 Jalen Brunson or Jaylen Brown
12:27 SGA or Luka
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0:00 Intro
0:57 The Chicago Bulls are struggling after a red hot start
7:37 The Miami Heat are cooling off with a tough stretch ahead
13:18 The Toronto Raptors have hit their first real bump in the season
18:45 The Boston Celtics find themselves atop the Eastern Conference
25:14 Are the Minnesota Timberwolves finding their stride or not?
28:58 Chris Paul waived by the Los Angeles Clippers
33:37 LeBron James historic scoring streak is over!
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0:00 .... Holiday Season is upon us and our 48 Minutes crew shares some fun facts about our favorite Holidays: Jrue, Aaron, and Justin.
TRT 5:10
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0:00 .... Show open .... Ross introduces the panel and jumps into the weekend preview.
0:47 ... Friday night it's the Lakers visiting the Celtics in Boston. It's the second half of a "back to back" for the Lakers who play in Toronto on Thursday so fatigue may be a factor for LA.
4:52 ... On Saturday, the Warriors visit the Cavaliers and it features the NBA's two most prolific three point shooters in Steph Curry and Donovan Mitchell. Both teams could really use a win.
8:19 ... Sunday features the third and final regular season matchup between the Magic and the Knicks. Orlando took the first two, so the Knicks need to show they can beat this team or else it may haunt them the rest of the season.
12:12 ... It's "Holiday Season" and while Christmas and New Year's Day are on everyone's minds, the 48 Minutes crew thinks Holiday season revolves around the NBA's Holiday Brothers: Jrue, Aaron, and Justin. We share some fun facts about the first family of the NBA.
17:22 ... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye ...
TRT 17:41
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0:00 ... Show open ... Ross introduces the panel and dedicates show #203 to Amare' Stoudemire, who was Rookie of the Year in 2003 for the Phoenix Suns.
1:04 ... The Oklahoma City Thunder are on a historically torrid pace with 20 wins in their first 21 games. World B has some great numbers on their incredible defense. They will be without top rebounder Isaiah Hartenstein for a couple of weeks so Chet Holmgren will need to grab some more rebounds. The crew speculates on how long it will take for them to lose another game.
10:04 .... The Lakers are also very hot and have the third best record in the league. Luka Doncic is now the main man in LA with aging LeBron James as his wingman, but can LeBron accept a supporting role? And will his ego cause him to play more games than he should? He needs to be fresh for the playoffs, but if he decides he HAS to play 65 games for personal reasons that could be an issue.
16:27 ... Austin Reaves has been spectacular to start the season, but when LeBron was not playing, he needed to step up and he did. But with LeBron back on the floor, Reaves' numbers may suffer but not to the detriment of the team.
19:30 ... The guys each pick a western conference team they're keeping their eyes on. Bruce picks the Spurs, World B picks the Suns, and Ross chooses the Clippers.
26:44 ... We move to the eastern conference where the Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled recently. As talented as they are, they really miss Jarrett Allen and if he is out for a long time, the Cavs have a big problem. Allen is not the only key player that is injured and it really has shown up in their shooting numbers.
32:57 ... The Orlando Magic have been without injured Paolo Banchero for three weeks but have continues to play well and win. Desmond Bane has really stepped up in Paolo's absence and scored 24 points a game during the month of November. And no team plays harder. They still have a chance to get to 50 wins, which they have not done since the 2010-'11 season.
37:42 ... The guys each pick a eastern conference team they're keeping their eyes on. Bruce picks the Celtics, World B picks the Hawks, and Ross chooses the Pacers
43:56 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye.
TRT 44:11
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0:00 Intro
0:45 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview
0:50 Dallas Mavericks at the Los Angeles Lakers
5:25 Detroit Pistons visit the Miami Heat
11:32 Toronto Raptors take the stage against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden
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0:00 Intro
1:19 Thoughts on the passing of Rodney Rogers
5:35 Thoughts on the passing of Michael “Ray” Richardson
11:39 15 Things We’re Thankful For
12:34 Klay Thompon calling out Ja Morant
14:15 The Detroit Pistons finding success
15:38 Ryan Rollins blossoming in Milwaukee
16:59 Jaylen Brown carrying the load in Boston
18:35 LeBron James is back out on the court healthy
20:12 Colin Gillespie raising eyebrows in Phoenix this season
21:42 Victor Wembanyama
22:44 The Phoenix Suns & Toronto Raptors proving most season projections wrong
24:34 Derik Queen is absolutely ballin
26:18 The Thompson Twins Parents
27:56 The New York Knicks Playoff Run Last Season
30:10 The Sacramento Kings being open to trades!
33:08 AJ Dybantsa
34:56 World B is thankful for the 48 Minutes crew & listeners!
37:06 The NBA trying out a new All-Star Game concept of USA versus The World
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0:00 ... Will Stephen Curry finish in the top 10 in scoring this season?
0:50 ... Will Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the NBA in free throw attempts?
1:48 ... Will the Boston Celtics lead the NBA in three point attempts?
3:29 ... Ross wraps and says goodbye
TRT 3:44
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0:00 ... Show open .... Ross Geiger introduces the panel and dedicated show #200 to Doc Rivers, who won coach of the year in 2000.
1:34 ... Friday night it's the Nuggets visiting the Rockets and the Nikola Jokic vs. Alpy Sengun individual matchup will be great to watch.
5:17 ... Saturday night it's the Magic vs Knicks in New York. Both teams have had injuries but are still playing well.
8:59 ... Sunday it's a rematch between the Trailblazers and Thunder in OKC where the champs will look to avenge their only loss of the season back on November 5th. Ross said he doesn't care what the point spread is because OKC will cover!
12:21 ... The guys play a game of True or False involving Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Celtics.
15:49 .... Ross wraps and says goodbye
TRT 16:04
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0:00 ... Show open ... Ross introduces the panel and dedicates show #199 to Chris Boucher of the Celtics who wears jersey #99.
1:20 ... Nico Harrison is out as Mavericks general manager ... the timing was odd but Harrison was a "dead man walking" after the dismal Luka Doncic/Anthony Davis trade, which has been a disaster for the Mavs. Dallas would probably like to trade Davis but who will take this talented but fragile big man?
8:04 ... Willie Green is out as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans ... he was the victim of poor front office moves, the inability of Zion Williamson to avoid injuries, and the fact that new GM Joe Dumars didn't hire him.
14:46 ... The Miami Heat are playing good ball despite missing Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, but Bam's skill set is sorely missed and even though it's a deep team, they need these two guys back. Newly acquired Norman Powell has played really well for Miami and helped keep them afloat.
18:02 ... The LA Clippers are the oldest team in NBA history and injuries are taking a huge toll. Bradley Beal is gone for the season, Kawhi Leonard is injured once again, and now Derrick Jones Jr will miss six weeks. The ship is sinking.
23:50 ... Victor Wembanyama will be out 2-3 weeks with a calf strain. By the time he returns, he will be in double figures for games missed and if he misses more than 17 games, he will not qualify for postseason awards. The team is well ahead of schedule in its progress, so the team will likely prioritize his health over any individual awards.
28:26 ... Orlando's Paolo Banchero has a left groin strain and while his teammates like Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane have stepped up, Banchero's rugged play defines the Magic's style and if he is out for an extended period, the Magic will be in big trouble.
32:05 ... Teams whose stock prices are up: the Oklahoma City Thunder ... they can't be stopped.
36:34 ... Stock Up: the Atlanta Hawks ... but Trae Young's future in ATL may be in doubt
39:50 ... Stock Up: the Phoenix Suns ... Phoenix is making naysayers like us look very bad
42:33 ... Teams whose stock prices are down: the Indiana Pacers ... injuries have decimated this team
45:47 ... Stock Down: the Milwaukee Bucks ... and now Giannis may miss action, but at least Ross composed a special poem about Kyle Kuzma.
49:33... Stock Down: the Chicago Bulls ... if the season had ended on October 31st, they'd be a legendary team, but November has been unkind to the team.
52:46 ... Stock Down: the Portland Trailblazers ... has the Tiago Splitter honeymoon come to an end?
55:47 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 56:08
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0:00 Intro
1:12 Philadelphia 76ers vs Detroit Pistons on Friday Night
6:09 Los Angeles Lakers at the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday
11:47 Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets on Sunday
17:33 Ross requests World B’s thoughts on Sunday’s Nets/Wizards matchup
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0:00 Intro
0:34 Ross & World B reflect on the passing of Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens
2:50 The Most Impressive Teams Last Week
3:01 Cleveland Cavaliers
4:51 Detroit Pistons
12:10 The Most Impressive Players Last Week
12:23 Donovan Mitchell
14:02 Jaime Jaquez
17:31 Panic or Relax on These Three Teams
17:52 Los Angeles Clippers
22:28 Orlando Magic
27:11 Dallas Mavericks
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0:00 ... True or False: the San Antonio Spurs will finish in the top 4 of the western conference this season.
2:58 ... True or False: Nikola Jokic will break Russell Westbrook's single season record of 42 triple doubles.
5:10 ... True or False: Is there a player in the league that will hit more three point shots than Stephen Curry this season?
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0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the panel
0:35 ... Episode #196 honors Don "Duck" Ray, a member of the old "Tri Cities Blackhawks" who wore uniform #96 back in the 1949-'50 season.
0:53 ... Friday's matchup between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs is a battle for bragging rights in Texas. Will Houston's three headed monster at center be able to wear Victor Wembanyama down?
5:11 ... Saturday's matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers will be a good measuring stick for the up and coming Bulls, who have started the season on a hot streak. Can the banged up Cavs move closer to the Bulls in the standings?
8:50 ... The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic play twice this weekend on Friday and Sunday with both games in Orlando. While the Magic are playing better than the Celtics as of late, it's never easy to beat the same team twice in two days.
12:16 ... Final Thought: Bruce admits he may have been wrong about Doc Rivers using Giannis Antetokounmpo to bring the ball up and initiate the offense for the Bucks.
13:35 ... Final Thought: World B thinks the Oklahoma City Thunder have a legit chance to win 70 games this season.
15:30 ... Final thought: Ross wonders about unsigned free agents Malik Beasley and Ben Simmons and what their status is. Could Simmons simply be quietly retiring without a formal announcement?
16:54 ... Ross wraps it up
TRT 17:12
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0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, introduction of the panel.
0:36 ... Show #195 is dedicated to the late Anthony Mason who played for the Knicks in 1995 under Pat Riley.
1:34 ... The Chicago Bulls continue their strong early season run and the guys break down what has been going to well. Josh Giddey has been leading the way for Billy Donovan's team even though their forwards are not grabbing many rebounds.
6:20 ... The matchup between the Bulls and 76ers on Tuesday night will feature a fascinating matchup between guards Tyrese Maxey of Philly and Giddey. The winner of the game will also take over the top spot in the east.
9:08 ... The New York Knicks have not been firing on all cylinders early in the season as they adjust to new head coach Mike Brown. The Knicks are shooting a lot more 3 pointers than they did last season but there does not appear any reason to panic in New York. Bruce feels that Jordan Clarkson's impact will eventually be felt as he competes for the 6th man of the year award.
14:10 .... The Orlando Magic have also been shaky out of the gate with their first four games all on the road. Desmond Bane came over from Memphis to shoot 3 pointers but so far has shot mostly blanks. Bruce feels their defense and rebounding will carry them to greater success and Bane will eventually remember how to make threes. Ross is very concerned about the free throw shooting by the Magic which is only around 75% right now
19:10 ... The Oklahoma City Thunder have started the season 7-0 and our guys predict when their first loss may take place. Bruce and Ross see it coming in a day or two while World B feels they'll remain undefeated into next week.
21:44 ... The Portland Trailblazers have responded well to new coach Tiago Splitter who replaced Chauncey Billups when the gambling scandal sidelined him. Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, and Donovan Clingan have all excelled in the early going. World B credits their aggressive defense and insane hustle as huge factors in their success. Once Scoot Henderson returns from his injury, their defense should improve even more.
27:11 ... Trae Young of the Hawks will miss at least a month with an MCL injury. His shooting has been terrible but maybe the mental break due to injury might help him to reset things when he returns. World B has some stats supporting the Hawks' offensive improvement with Young sidelined. Ross points out that with no other point guards on the roster, Atlanta will have to run their offense in a non-traditional way.
30:39 ... Ja Morant is also creating a mess in Memphis with his poor attitude. He was suspended for insubordinate behavior and it won't be long before the trade rumors start up in earnest. Simply put, he needs to GROW UP.
35:07 ... "True or False" The guys check in on whether the San Antonio Spurs will win 50 games and finish in the top 4 in the west.
38:05 ... "True or False" Everyone checks in on whether Nikola Jokic will set the single season record for triple doubles (currently 42 by Russell Westbrook).
40:17 ... The final "True or False" question ... Someone other than Stephen Curry will lead the league in 3 pointers made.
42:05 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 42:18
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0:00 ... Bruce and Ross have some issues with the "Tournament" label on the NBA Cup, which started on Friday. They believe the games are just as important as regular season games than as "Tournament Victories." The timing and format of the "Tournament" are also a bit puzzling.
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0:00 Intro
0:37 Fun NBA Weekend Matchups We’re Looking Forward Too!
1:17 New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls
3:48 Dallas Mavericks vs Detroit Pistons
6:24 Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
9:51 Bruce shares his rant on the NBA Cup
12:29 A Way Too Early Over Reaction
12:42 Bruce on the Houston Rockets
14:55 Ross on AJ Green of the Milwaukee Bucks
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0:00 Intro
01:14 Our Reactions to the NBA Betting Scandals
6:45 Bruce & Ross share their thoughts on all of the different NBA network productions so far
14:45 Victor Wembanyama’s Monster 1st Week
19:20 Just Slow Starts or A Long Year Ahead?
19:25 Boston Celtics
21:24 Indiana Pacers
23:05 New Orleans Pelicans
25:30 Phoenix Suns
27:31 Dallas Mavericks
30:54 Red Hot Rookies Around the League
34:50 The 50 Ball Club is already forming early this season, who’s next to join?
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0:00 ... Ross introduction and dedicates episode #192 to Detlef Schrempf.
0:54 ... Weekend preview ... We begin with Celtics vs Knicks on Friday at MSG.
5:18 ... Saturday's top matchup: Thunder vs Hawks in Atlanta.
9:38 ... Teams we'll be watching this season: The Spurs, Warriors, and Clippers.
TRT 16:13
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0:00 ... Opening animation ... Ross introduces the crew
0:43 ... Ross dedicates Show #191 to Scott Skiles, the first coach Ross ever worked for in the NBA
0:58 ... Bruce introduces Tim Legler of ESPN and ABC, "the best hoop analyst in the business." Legs reacts immediately with a story about Scott Skiles and his record breaking 30 assist game.
2:53 ... Bruce finishes the Legs intro and compares him to the great LeBron James. Legs reacts to the great complement and explains how his work ethic and desire to teach has always been present.
4:30 ... Legs reacts to winning the Long Distance Shootout in 1996 and how it affected his future in the sport. Legs finally found himself with a team and a coach that allowed him to flourish and validate himself.
8:00 ... Bruce asks Legs how he will handle being on the number one broadcast team for ESPN and ABC ... Legs plans to do the same things he has done in the studio, but will do them in "real time" on the game broadcasts.
11:50 ... Legs is doing a series for NBA TV where he interviews a number of high profile coaches and breaks down their favorite plays. Legs says it was an amazing experience to spend time with so many great coaches.
15:00 ... World B asks about Nikola Jokic and if his even keeled demeanor is held against him. Legs feels that Denver has made itself a championship contender this season and that will help Joker in this year's MVP race.
18:19 ... Is Cooper Flagg going to be a "lock" in the "Rookie of the Year" race? Legs' answer was pretty surprising and he pointed out that the award tends to be stat driven, which might work against Flagg.
21:40 ... If Jayson Tatum returns late in the season and is healthy and effective, can the Celtics make a serious playoff run?
24:33 ... Legs shares which teams he feels could maybe come out of the east in a season where the conference appears to be wide open.
26:52 ... Ross asks about the Milwaukee Bucks and if they stand a chance in the east. Legs is concerned about their defense.
29:13 ... Three point shooting has become far more prevalent than it was when Legs played in the 1990s. He feels like the right number of threes taken by a team should be in the 30's.
32:05 ... Bruce asks about the unique skill set of Victor Wembanyama and Legs has an incredible breakdown of things Wemby can do that nobody else can do, especially on defense.
35:17 ... Can an aging Clippers team make noise in the western conference? Legs thinks they can actually finish as high as #3 in the west. Kawhi Leonard could be poised for a strong season.
38:09 ... Michael asks Legs about an "under the radar" team and he loves Orlando's intensity and what they are capable of this season. The Magic added a great three point shooter in Desmond Bane, which was their weakness last season.
40:29 ... LeBron James begins his 23rd season and Legs explains some of the things he'll need to do in order to stay healthy and effective for the playoffs.
43:13 ... Legs is asked about a team that may have been overhyped but might not be "all that." Atlanta in the east and San Antonio in the west are his choices.
46:22 ... Trae Young of the Hawks has not signed for next season and that can affect the team if it drags on endlessly, but at the start of the season it's not a factor.
49:44 ... The Jonathan Kuminga saga in Golden State created a lot of summer drama. Legs calls it "the longest audition" since he still isn't considered an indispensable player. But Legs feels like most of the issues surrounding him have already been dealt with over the years.
53:48 ... Legs played with some of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Legs cites one former teammate that stood out above them all.
55:35 ... Ross thanks Legs and wraps it up ...
TRT 56:23
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0:00 Intro
1:16 Rookie of the Year
3:25 Defensive Player of the Year
5:20 Sixth Man of the Year
7:44 Coach of the Year
10:41 Most Valuable Player
13:53 Most Improved Player
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0:00 ... Fred hello and welcome to the "Big Red Bus" from the BLEAV Network.
1:07 ... Fred introduces Bruce and shares some background on his NBA credentials.
1:47 ... Bruce shares the three top moments of his career covering the NBA. Hakeem Olajuwon & Dr. Jack Ramsay 1995 Finals.
3:08 ... 2008 NBA Finals story with Paul Pierce and the first indoor Gatorade shower.
3:45 ... David Stern's final interview on Pure Hoops Media.
4:31 ... Bruce on some of the famous names he's worked with ... Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe, Brian Windhorst, Stephen A. Smith, Jeff Van Gundy, Hubie Brown, JJ Redick.
9:22 ... Bruce's history as a Celtics fan and how he compares the team to his old team at ESPN.
10:34 ... Bruce discusses his friend and former colleague Tim Legler, who has been elevated to the top NBA analyst position at ABC/ESPN.
11:28 ... Other analysts Bruce admired: Doug Collins, Avery Johnson, Will Perdue.
12:54 ... More on Doug Collins and his brilliance at the 2015 NBA Finals.
14:29 ... Bruce's thoughts on how TV now covers the NBA with an extreme emphasis on gambling
15:20 ... Linear TV is dying and Streaming is ascendent. Bruce was puzzled by Adam Silver's comments on the NBA being a "highlights" league when he was defending all the moves from cable to streaming.
16:50 ... While Bruce disagreed with Adam's streaming comment, bruce feels Adam has done a great job as Commissioner.
18:18 ... Bruce says an "under the radar" storyline this year will be the San Antonio Spurs with Victor Wembanyama winning MVP an Defensive Player of the Year.
20:25 ... How the globalization of the game has impacted the NBA. Bruce feels the best centers are all from outside the USA and he goes down the list.
21:37 ... How about the Chicago Bulls? This year's team needs big improvement from their young bigs and the rebounding and defense need much improvement.
25:54 ... The significance of the late '90s Chicago Bulls teams when Michael Jordan was the most famous person on the planet. Bruce questions why MJ seems to be the "Permanent and Forever GOAT" who can never be surpassed.
27:00 ... Fred and Bruce go back and forth on MJ and LeBron with each making the case for their guy.
30:36 ... Derrick Rose will have his jersey retired by the Bulls and both Fred and Bruce make the case for D-Rose to eventually make it into the Hall of Fame.
33:27 ... Bruce plugs the series of "Two-a-Days" on the 48 Minutes podcast where all 30 teams are previewed over 15 shorter shows.
36:00 ... Fred wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 36:40
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0:00 Intro
2:00 Eastern Conference Team Over/Under Predictions
2:04 Boston Celtics
4:45 New York Knicks
6:07 Toronto Raptors
7:54 Brooklyn Nets
9:15 Philadelphia 76ers
10:53 Cleveland Cavaliers
13:01 Indiana Pacers
14:59 Milwaukee Bucks
18:00 Detroit Pistons
20:25 Chicago Bulls
22:25 Orlando Magic
24:57 Atlanta Hawks
26:38 Miami Heat
28:32 Charlotte Hornets
30:26 Washington Wizards
32:58 Western Conference Team Over/Under Predictions
33:04 Oklahoma City Thunder
34:35 Denver Nuggets
35:15 Minnesota Timberwolves
38:07 Portland Trail Blazers
40:24 Utah Jazz
42:19 Los Angeles Lakers
44:05 Los Angeles Clippers
46:16 Golden State Warriors
48:18 Sacramento Kings
50:19 Phoenix Suns
52:47 Houston Rockets
54:05 Memphis Grizzlies
55:45 Dallas Mavericks
57:08 San Antonio Spurs
58:44 New Orleans Pelicans
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0:00 Intro
1:03 Washington Wizards
6:53 Utah Jazz
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0:00 Intro
1:22 Toronto Raptors
9:43 San Antonio Spurs
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0:00 Intro
1:12 Philadelphia 76ers
8:23 Sacramento Kings
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0:00 ... Opening Animation ... Ross hello and introduces the panel ... Show #185 is dedicated to Baron Davis, who wore #85 with two NBA teams.
1:10 ... Bruce introduces "Woj" and pronounces his name correctly ... Bruce runs down some highlights of his legendary career.
3:21 ... Woj shares his thoughts on delivering his acceptance speech at the Hoop Hall of Fame ... he singles out Jackie MacMullan and how other legends of the game sat and listened to his speech.
5:12 ... Woj grew up in Bristol, CT the home of ESPN. But before joining ESPN in 2017, Woj worked in the newspaper business but took a leap of faith in 2007 and joined Yahoo! Sports. He shares great memories of pioneering digital media NBA coverage with Yahoo!
10:04 ... On being an underdog at Yahoo and using that to fuel his desire to compete. Woj loved being an underdog.
11:47 ... ESPN is a machine and no individual person is bigger than "the place." But that machinery helps to make stars. But Woj did his best to keep his underdog mentality alive, although at ESPN that was hard to do. Woj reflects on the journey and the pride he and his crew felt about their work.
15:00 ... World B asks about growing up in Bristol and traveling all over the country before eventually returning to Bristol to work for ESPN. That's why he didn't pursue ESPN at the start of his career ... he wanted to be a sports writer, which did not exist at ESPN back then.
17:02 ... Woj's elderly Dad lived in Bristol when he joined ESPN in 2017. It was meaningful to be able to spend some time together.
19:11 ... Woj and Donovan Clingan both went to Bristol Central High School. Woj knew him from the time he was in 8th grade.
21:13 ... Woj broke so many stories that he made it seem routine ... if there was a big story, he probably broke it. But there were plenty of challenges ... the demands on his family time were tops on that list. But there were many others and Woj explains some in vivid detail.
27:30 ... Woj shares his experience doing a Giannis Antetokounmpo Series during COVID that was a three part podcast he did with his editor Cristina Daglas, who is Greek. Woj was incredibly impressed with Giannis's recall and contributions to the project.
31:32 ... Woj reflects on his first real scoop with Yahoo! on Greg Oden and how it more or less put him on the map.
34:07 ... When LeBron James and Chris Bosh went to Miami, the modern "Insider" position was really created. It fueled interest in all the "behind the scenes" moves and the fans were hungry for all of it.
35:34 ... Woj runs through his main responsibilities as general manager at St. Bonaventure and the word "general" describes his responsibilities. He tells a great story about how the new film room at the school was where he met his wife Amy back when the student newspaper office was there and they were both students.
40:44 ... The NIL has changed college sports in a huge way. Woj explains where a lot of the money comes from and how "Rev Share" is a big part of the University's financial relationship with students.
43:53 ... Bruce asks Woj to explain how he fits into the chain of command between the coach and athletic director.
46:16 ... Woj has an enormous social media following (more than 6 million on Twitter/X and 2 million on Instagram) and he explains how his personal reach benefits the basketball program. While there are some rules regarding his tweeting, he can still drop a Woj Bomb on behalf of the program.
48:43 ... Ross asks about new recruit Joe Grahovac, a 24 year old sophomore who has an incredible personal story. There is a lot of NBA interest in seeing Grahovac and the school will have a "Pro Day" to showcase Grahovac and other Bonnies players. He looks a bit like a red haired hoop legend from UCLA back in the 1970s.
52:58 ... Woj loved pursuing players from around the world and recruiting them to the school. They've brought in six international players and all have great individual stories and bring different cultures into the program.
57:08 ... Culture is something that has to be worked on every day ... the guys who live that way are the guys they want at St. Bonny.
58:04 ... The "Pro Day" at St. Bonaventure will be a first for a "Mid Major" school. Woj explains how an event like that can enhance a player's prospects for a pro career.
1:02:00 ... Some of the NBA players Woj knows have helped mentor the St. Bonny players, especially in dealing with injuries. Woj also tries to connect players with alumni who are business and community leaders.
1:04:46 ... What is Woj's top goal for the upcoming season? To see the growth of the players and the program is a priority.
1:06:01 ... Ross thanks Woj for his time tonight!
TRT 1:06:41
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0:00 ... Bruce introduction with his ESPN experiences and NBA background.
2:23 ... What the "48 Minutes" podcast is, who the hosts are, and information on the show's "Two-a-Day" project where all 30 NBA teams are previewed as the season approaches.
5:47 ... Milwaukee Bucks off-season storylines
7:52 ... How do we expect the Bucks to fare in the eastern conference this season?
10:27 ... With Giannis Antetokounmpo acting as the primary ballhandler, is that style detrimental to the development of the team's young guards?
13:40 ... Is Andre Jackson Jr. getting a fair chance to develop and what do we make of the other guards on the team?
17:30 ... Bobby Portis plays with "fire in his belly," and his teammate Kyle Kuzma could use some of that in his game too.
22:28 ... Myles Turner replaces Brook Lopez as a rim protector and "stretch five," but this team will rise or fall with its defense.
23:46 ... If the team stumbles badly, could we be looking at the end of the "Giannis Era" in Milwaukee?
26:57 ... League talk ... Rockets lose Fred Van Vleet, possibly for the whole season.
27:46 ... Orlando looks like a dangerous team in the east with newly acquired Desmond Bane.
29:08 ... Which team in the west can challenge OKC for the top spot?
30:16 ... Will LeBron James and Luka Doncic co-exist with the Lakers and be successful together for a full season?
32:47 ... Are the Clippers too old and is Kawhi Leonard actually holding them back?
34:54 ... Bruce promotes the 48 Minutes podcast and the "Two-a-Day" series of 30 NBA previews.
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0:00 ... Opening animation, introduction of the panel, and show #184 dedication to former Knicks great Ron Baker.
1:40 ... Orlando Magic discussion
9:17 ... Portland Trailblazers discussion
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As we get closer to the new-look Boston Celtics beginning their 2025-26 NBA season, there’s no better time to rehash all the moves that were made over the offseason. Four time Emmy-winning ESPN vet and “48 Minutes” Podcast co-host Bruce Bernstein joined Courtney Tate on a special episode of "BLEAV in Celtics." They'll discuss what C's fans have to look forward to this coming season.
Bernstein spent over 30 years at ESPN, including 15 years leading the network’s NBA studio programming. He brings deep behind-the-scenes insight, high-performance leadership stories, and sharp NBA analysis to every conversation.
Some topics include:
Opening Music
Courtney welcome and introduces her guest.
Bruce opening comments
Is there hope in Boston this season?
Reaction to the Kristaps Porzingis trade
Can Jaylen Brown lead the team to success without Jayson Tatum?
Brown will play with a chip on his shoulder
How well have Brown and Tatum learned to work together?
Courtney and Bruce discuss Boston's likely opening night lineup and expected rotation.
How role players like Payton Pritchard achieve their success.
Rookies and young guys on the team ... will they see much action?
Bruce feels Neemias Queta will have a breakout year.
Can the team exceed its modest expectations?
Rapid Fire Questions
Best Celtics play ever? Bruce's "Mount Rushmore" of C's greats.
Best single season Celtics team?
Bruce's favorite Celtics memory (2008 Game 6 vs Lakers)
Bigger Celtics Rival: Lakers or 76ers?
Pat Riley Statue Story
Bruce's favorite NBA era?
Will there ever be a "Four Point Shot" in the NBA?
Discussion of new Celtics "City" uniform that has no green on it.
Bruce promotes the "Two-a-Day" season previews on his 48 Minutes podcast.
Courtney wraps things up and says goodbye.
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0:00 ... Animation, hello and welcome , and introduction of the panel. Episode #183 is dedicated to Craig Smith, who wore #83 as a member of the Portland Trailblazers.
1:07 ... New York Knicks discussion
8:48 ... Phoenix Suns discussion
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0:00 .... Opening Theme and Hello ... intro panel and dedication of show #18 in honor of Nets legend Buck Williams.
1:23 .... Bucks discussion ...
12:56 .... Thunder discussion
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0:00 Intro
1:08 Miami Heat
7:17 New Orleans Pelicans
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0:00 Intro
1:18 Indiana Pacers
8:23 Minnesota Timberwolves
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0:00 Intro
1:23 Detroit Pistons
7:42 Memphis Grizzlies
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0:00 Intro
1:16 Cleveland Cavaliers
8:21 Los Angeles Lakers
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As we get closer to the new-look Dallas Mavericks beginning their 2025-26 NBA season, there’s no better time to rehash all the moves that were made over the offseason. On Wednesday, 4-time Emmy-winning ESPN vet and “48 Minutes” Podcast co-host Bruce Bernstein joined us on a special episode of our Mavs Step Back Podcast to discuss what Mavs fans have to look forward to this coming season.
Bernstein spent over 30 years at ESPN, including 15 years leading the network’s NBA studio programming. He brings deep behind-the-scenes insight, high-performance leadership stories, and sharp NBA analysis to every conversation.
In this episode, we also discuss the Kawhi Leonard / Los Angeles Clippers scandal while also scouting some Mavs’ rivals.
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0:00 Intro
1:34 Chicago Bulls
7:45 Los Angeles Clippers
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Among our topics:
-The standoff between Golden State's management and Jonathan Kuminga over his next contract
-The story behind Giannis Antetoknoumpo and why he appeared on the 48 Minutes podcast two years ago.
-The new broadcast and streaming deals between the NBA and its partners.
-The implications of "Inside The NBA" and its move to ESPN.
-And SO MUCH more!
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0:00 Intro
1:03 Charlotte Hornets
8:01 Houston Rockets
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0:00 ... Show open, introduction of the panel, and explanation of the "Two-a-Day" series.
1:10 ... Brooklyn Nets discussion ... The good news for the lowly Nets is that this will be their 50th NBA season after joining the league as one of the former ABA teams who joined the NBA for the 1976-'77 season. But that may be it for good news this season in Brooklyn.
2:37 ... World B feels the Nets are not "tanking," they're "rebuilding."
4:06 ... Cam Thomas returns to the team on a "lowball" qualifying deal after averaging 24 points last season. Will he be a problem as he looks to score a lot in hopes of being paid next season? Nic Claxton is one of the few players on the team with trade value, so perhaps he may be moved to a good team before the trade deadline.
6:06 ... There should be plenty of good seats available at Barclays Center this season for fans whose favorite teams are playing the Nets!
6:41 ... Golden State Warriors discussion ... this could be their last chance to make noise out west as they have an aging team with key players like Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green in their late 30s. Butler will need to score more consistently to help Curry with the scoring load if the team is to approach 50 wins.
9:02 ... Bruce feels the Warriors are the most "unsettled" team in the league, mainly because of the Jonathan Kuminga free agency standoff. Bruce feels that Kuminga may be risking alienating his teammates since the Warriors can't move forward to fill out their roster until he makes a decision on how much money he'll be willing to accept this season. This is affecting players like Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton whose personal situations are impacted by Kuminga's saga.
10:38 ... Ross feels Kuminga may be traded (before the February deadline) once his contract is settled. Bruce feels like the age of the Warriors increases the potential for injuries.
13:19 ... World B feels like the Dubs really need Kuminga because he is a young player with talent.
14:54 ... Ross wraps up the show and teases the next show.
TRT 15:21
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0:00 ... Show open, introduction of the panel, and explanation of the "Two-a-Day" series.
1:10 ... Boston Celtics discussion ... Bruce believes all eyes will be on Jaylen Brown, who will have a chance to quiet his critics with Jayson Tatum sidelined. Can JB lead his team through adversity this season?
2:00 ... World B feels like the Celtics will be very "guard heavy" and struggle mightily this season. Tatum's absence will be impossible to replace.
3:43 ... Ross feels like coach Joe Mazzulla will have a chance to really experiment and try new things this season.
4:48 ... Bruce explains why the team needed to be "gutted" for financial reasons but he sees hope in Neemias Queta and his development for the future.
7:16 ... Boston has historically been a solid defensive team and has shown the ability to play well in the past when key players missed games.
8:15 ... Denver Nuggets discussion ... has the acquisition of Cam Johnson solved their shooting problems? Can their defense improve from last season? World B loves their starting lineup.
9:59 ... Bruce explains why he feels Nikola Jokic is a "cheat code" for coach David Adelman and shares an unbelievable stat about the Nuggets' three point shooting. The addition of Jonas Valenciunas as Joker's backup will be huge.
11:51 ... Ross feels Denver had the best off-season of any team in the league and explains why.
12:43 ... Christian Braun is a high end "glue guy" who deserves more credit than he usually receives.
13:30 ... Ross wraps things up and teases the next show.
TRT 13:57
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0:00 ... Show open, introduction of the panel, and explanation of the "Two-a-Day" series.
1:10 ... Atlanta Hawks discussion ... many new faces join a solid crew from last season. The Hawks' front office had an incredible off-season.
3:09 ... Trae Young's contract status could be an issue. He's flawed but important.
5:30 ... Health and player development from their young returnees are key issues.
6:26 ... Asa Newell might be a rookie to watch as a 6-11 forward with a great skill set.
7:33 ... Dallas Mavericks discussion ... It's been a wild few months in Dallas and the future may be bright, but it might not happen right away. They have quality bigs with Anthony Davis, Derek Lively, and Daniel Gafford.
9:29 ... Kyrie's extended absence will prevent the Mavs from reaching 50 wins, but Bruce expects the Mavs to peak after the calendar flips to 2026 when Irving returns. PJ Washington signed a four year contract extension but if Cooper Flagg develops rapidly, Washington could become expendable.
10:40 ... Ross is concerned about the Mavericks backcourt and some shortcomings in the playmaking department.
11:48 ... D'Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson will need to create a lot of points. World B expects Flagg to be exceptional. Bruce expects the Mavs to be solid on the boards and good defensively.
16:14 ... Ross is keeping an eye on Jaden Hardy, who could be more important early on before Kyrie returns in 2026.
16:53 ... Ross wraps and teases next show
TRT 17:13
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0:00 .... Opening and Welcome
0:33 ... Episode #172 is dedicated to Rayan Rupert of the Portland Trailblazers who wears uniform #72
0:48 ... Cavaliers news .... Max Strus to miss 3-4 months and how injuries could affect Cleveland's season.
5:01 ... Bucks news ... Thanassis Antetokounmpo returns to the team after missing last season with an achilles injury. What does he bring to the team?
8:10 ... Jeremy Lin announces his retirement from basketball and the guys share stories of his legendary February run in 2012 for the Knicks that became known as "Linsanity."
12:27 ... Bold Predictions Segments ... Bruce on Orlando's Franz Wagner, who will be an All-Star.
14:54 ... World B on the Denver Nuggets and how they can win it all.
17:22 ... Ross says Denver's Cam Johnson will be an All-Star this season.
18:54 ... Bruce feels Neemias Queta of the Celtics will average a double-double and be one of the ten most improved players in the league.
20:16 ... World B says the Knicks will make the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
22:04 ... Ross says Bennedict Mathurin of Indiana will average 21 points per game this season.
23:38 ... Bruce predicts that Kevin Durant will average his fewest points per game since his rookie season but will still be super effective as a clutch scorer late in games.
24:37 ... World B feels that Stephen Curry will manage one more 50 point game this season.
26:30 ... Ross predicts an American born player (Anthony Edwards) will win the Most Valuable Player award this season.
28:29 ... Bruce boldly predicts that the Philadelphia 76ers will jump from #13 to #4 in the east this season as their stars avoid serious injuries.
30:15 ... World B says Paolo Banchero will make an All-NBA Team this season as long as he meets the "games played" requirement of 65 regular season games.
31:54 ... Ross predicts Desmond Bane of the Magic will make the All-Star team with his new squad.
33:28 ... Bruce boldly predicts that Victor Wembanyama will win the Defensive Player of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the third Spur after Tim Duncan and David Robinson to win the MVP.
35:33 ... World B predicts Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo will finish 1-2 in the MVP voting, but he's not saying who is number one and who is number two.
38:06 ... Ross predicts that Deni Avdija of the Portland Trailblazers will win the Most Improved Player award. Bruce agrees 100% and would have made the same prediction if Ross hadn't called "dibs" on it first!
41:13 ... Final thoughts and goodbye ...
TRT 41:38
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0:00 Intro
1:06 Friend of the show Michael Cooper & the Miami 305 win the Big 3 Championship!
3:19 The Eastern Conference way too early power rankings
4:08 The “No Shots” out East
12:13 Bruce unveils his latest & greatest NBA player nickname!
13:32 The Play-In Playas
23:47 The Play-offers
36:22 The Contenders
48:10 Bruce provides his final thoughts on Rick Carlisle’s contact extension with the Pacers
49:48 World B reflects on John Wall’s career
52:01 Ross shares his final thought on Chicago’s Derrick Rose Jersey Retirement night
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0:00 ... Opening animation and welcome to Amar Shah ... a basketball savant, former colleague at ESPN, and longtime "brother and friend."
0:56 ... Amar's family immigrated from India and settled in Deland, Florida in the 1980s. His story really begins at the Phillips 66 gas station his father bought.
2:52 ... Amar first reached the national scene in 2018 when he wrote an Op Ed piece for the Washington Post where he wrote about his father, whom he compared to Apu from "The Simpsons." Amar explains why he wrote the piece. The story had more than 10 million engagements and resonated around the country and even the world.
6:18 ... As a 14 year old high school kid, Amar had an incredible opportunity to cross paths with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, which was his first encounter with an NBA icon. Amar shares the story of a "confrontation" with Bulls coach Phil Jackson. That encounter lit the journalistic fire in the skinny adolescent that has burned brightly for more than three decades.
11:25 ... Jackson was always fond of sending books to his players so Bruce asks Amar if he would send his books (he's published four) to the coach?
12:22 ... After the notoriety he received from his encounter with the Bulls, it helped "Teenaged Amar" to begin an incredible relationship with Shaquille O'Neal which eventually landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids with Shaq. This story is mind boggling on so many levels.
20:15 ... As a 16 year old, Amar also had an interview with Kobe Bryant and as is usually the case with Amar, there is a great story involved.
24:26 ... Bruce asks about Amar's newest book "I Wish I Was a Baller." The book is targeted towards middle school-aged kids and Amar discusses the lessons he hoped to share with his readers. He also explains how the book evolved from its original form into a graphic novel and the process involved.
29:52 ... Amar was a production assistant at ESPN back in 2004 when Bruce first met him. The advice Bruce gave Amar and others was to be "aggressive but patient." Amar explains how he cracked that code.
32:04 ... The ESPN experience for production assistants was incredibly demanding. Amar compares it to a "Hunger Games" type of environment and how it prepared him for everything that followed in his career.
33:57 ... Amar has succeeded in creating content on many different platforms, and he shares one of his most cherished future goals.
35:09 ... His film "The Patel Motel Story" was the story of how immigrants from the Gujarat area of India came to dominate the motel industry. Amar explains the history of how this happened.
37:30 ... Much of Amar's work celebrates how Indian immigrants grabbed onto the American dream and he shares his thoughts on the pride he has in telling these distinctive stories.
38:46 ... Amar's storylines about coming of age as a teenager have resonated and he explains what a privilege it has been to have the opportunity to inspire his readers.
42:30 ... Bruce wonders if it was easier or harder to write about his own stories in "I Wish I Was a Baller" than it was to write his "Play The Game" books. All of them are "personal," but in different ways.
44:17 ... As for fan mail from the kids who read the books, Amar describes how parents have shared stories with him about how their kids consumed them.
44:58 ... Amar explains how all of his experiences on different platforms have helped him in the way he tells stories in his books.
46:18 ... After all of his accomplishments so far, what goals does Amar have for the future?
47:59 ... Amar lets everyone know how to reach him and order his books.
48:59 ... Bruce and Amar say goodbye ....
TRT 49:20
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0:00 .... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the crew of Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer." Show number 170 is dedicated to Devin Booker, who scored a career high 70 points in a loss to the Celtics back in March of 2017.
1:07 ... The NBA released the full schedule for the upcoming season and each member of the show picked three games they have "circled" on the schedule. Bruce leads us off with an opening night matchup between the Thunder and Rockets and the return of the NBA on NBC on October 21st.
2:25 ... World B chooses Warriors/Lakers on opening night, also on NBC.
3:36 ... Ross chooses Bucks/Pacers and Myles Turner's return to Indiana as a member of the Bucks.
4:20 ... Bruce is intrigued by the first meeting between the Magic and Knicks on November 12th.
5:09 ... World B looks forward to Spurs/Mavericks on October 22nd in a matchup with Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama.
6:28 ... Ross looks forward to Kevin Durant's return to Phoenix on November 24th.
7:37 ... Bruce is excited about the first matchup between the Pacers and Celtics on December 22nd.
8:39 ... World B looks forward to the Christmas Day matchup with the Cavaliers and Knicks at the Garden. These are the likely top two teams in the east.
10:08 ... March 21st marks the Bucks visit to Phoenix as Ross looks forward to his yearly reunion with Giannis Antetokounmpo on his once a year visit to Ross' hometown.
11:09 ... The NBA and the Players Association are backing additional limitations on prop bets in the wake of gambling investigations involving Malik Beasley and Terry Rozier. The crew examines all the angles of basketball wagering and wonders if it's possible to put the genie back in the bottle now that sports gambling has become so mainstream. Everyone agrees that the integrity of the game can be adversely affected by gambling and the league needs to act responsibly to protect the image of the league.
21:11 ... Each panelist discusses one significant move that was made by their favorite team in the off-season. Bruce picks the Celtics signing of Chris Boucher, the 8 year veteran who comes to Boston from Toronto.
22:33 ... World B feels the Knicks hiring of new head coach Mike Brown was a major move for the franchise. He compares the hiring to the Yankees hiring of Joe Torre back in 1996.
25:00 ... Ross loves the Cole Anthony signing for his Milwaukee Bucks and adds that the acquisition of Amir Coffey will also be a major boost for the Bucks.
26:52 ... The Lakers will honor former coach Pat Riley with a statue on February 22nd. The crew wonders why the Heat didn't honor him first, but all were thankful that the sculptor who did the Dwyane Wade statue in Miami isn't doing this one.
30:09 ... Bruce recounts some of the stories Lakers legend Michael Cooper told about Riles two weeks ago when he appeared on 48 Minutes. One of the best concerned how Riley buried secret words in each player's video splits that the coach later quizzed them on.
32:33 ... Final Thoughts .... Bruce is saddened by the fact that it seems certain that Al Horford will never play another game for the Celtics. If Big Al goes to Golden State, it's highly unlikely the Celtics will retire his #42.
34:58 ... World B talked about Major League Baseball's consideration of a realignment plan to keep the fans interested in the sport. Adam Silver has also tried some things in the NBA with the in-season tournament an play in games. World B praises Silver for his efforts.
38:00 ... Ross' final thought was to discuss some trades the Suns chose not to make when they dealt Kevin Durant. Miami made an offer that the Suns turned down and everyone shared their thoughts on why Phoenix made a better deal with Houston. Phoenix also could have made a deal where they acquired an unprotected #1 pick from New Orleans next season in the Durant deal and everyone feels like the Suns will regret not doing it.
43:06 ... Bruce shouts out to Shawn Bradley, who was paralyzed in a bike accident but appeared in public at a Big 3 game over the weekend in Dallas. It was one of the only times he's apeared in public since his bike crash in 2021.
TRT 44:25
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0:00 Intro
1:28 Free Agency Update…Who are the big names still left & where might they be headed?
1:37 Russell Westbrook
3:04 Al Horford
6:27 Jonathan Kuminga
8:55 Ben Simmons
11:02 Cam Thomas
14:10 Josh Giddey
16:12 Quentin Grimes
18:19 Our way too early Western Conference Power Rankings
19:05 The “No Shots’
27:08 The “Play-In Playas”
34:35 The “Play-offers”
43:04 The “Contenders”
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0:00 Intro
1:03 Bruce introduces Hall of Famer & Lakers Legend Michael Cooper
2:31 Coop on his childhood memories of the Lakers growing up in the LA area
3:32 How Coop was able to develop into one of the game’s greatest defenders
4:53 Coop reflects on his lifelong friendship with Magic Johnson
7:30 Is Kareem’s GOAT case better than MJ & LeBron?
10:54 The Kurt Rambis effect on the Lakers
14:59 Coop on the family vibe, love, & culture within the Lakers organization
17:50 Will the Laker culture change now with new ownership?
19:06 Pat Riley’s biggest strengths as a coach
22:27 What did Michael Cooper learn under Jerry West?
25:14 Coop on the Lakers organization fallout with Jerry West
26:33 Having coached the WNBA many years ago, how much has the skill level changed over time?
30:29 What it was like playing against & then coaching against old rival Bill Laimbeer
32:20 Coop on the impact of both Caitlin Clark & Angel Reese in the WNBA
34:24 Will individual rivalries in the WNBA spark even more interest in the league?
36:13 What’s it like being a head coach in the Big 3?
40:00 The 4-point shot in the Big 3, could the NBA adapt that?
41:46 Coop on Marcus Smart’s potential impact on the Lakers next season
43:24 Coop on what DeAndre Ayton can bring to this Lakers team
45:45 How should Luka’s game improve now that he’s in shape?
47:18 What advice would Coop give Zion Williamson
49:04 Can Ben Simmons still be a contributor to the contending NBA team?
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0:00 ... Opening animation .... Ross says hello and welcomes the panel.
0:32 ... Show #167 is dedicated to Wilt Chamberlain for a variety of reasons involving the number "67."
1:15 ... The crew discusses four restricted free agents and their prospects for their next deal. We start with Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors.
5:32 ... Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets is next.
8:49 ... Quentin Grimes of the 76ers is next.
13:37 ... Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls is next.
18:45 ... Bulls head coach Billy Donovan agrees to a multi-year contract extension to stay on the Chicago bench. What does it mean for the future of the team?
23:29 ... Former number one overall pick Ben Simmons is looking for his next team and Bruce is hoping it will be with his Boston Celtics.
28:18 ... Off-Season Grades, starting in the east: The Boston Celtics are first.
31:33 ... The New York Knicks are next ...
34:29 ... Next up, the Orlando Magic.
37:24 ... Off-Season Grades, moving to the west: The Oklahoma City Thunder.
39:21 ... Next up, the Houston Rockets
43:44 ... The Los Angeles Lakers are next.
46:20 ... "My Favorite Season" ... Bruce chooses the 2007-'08 Celtics
48:22 ... World B chooses the 1993-'94 Knicks, who lost the NBA Finals in 7 games to the Rockets.
51:09 ... Ross chooses the 2009-'10 Milwaukee Bucks when he was a season ticket holder as a student at Marquette.
53:12 ... Finally the crew plays word association with the following players: Lonzo Ball, Luke Kornet, Desmond Bane, Damian Lillard, Cooper Flagg, Marcus Smart.
56:03... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye ...
TRT 56:23
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0:00 ... Show Open ... Ross welcomes the panel and makes his dedication of show #166 to Jonathan Kuminga and Russell Westbrook who both shot just 66% from the free throw line last season. Bruce registers his disappointment with Ross's choice and suggests someone else.
1:54 ... The Charlotte Hornets are the NBA Summer League Champions ... Rookie Kon Knueppel led the way for the Hornets and we all learned the proper pronounciation of his first and last name. The future looks promising for the Hornets after a string of losing seasons, but health will be a huge issue for the "Bugs."
7:53 ... Bruce wants to give some love to Bronny James, who looked like a different player in the Summer League and could be poised to do well this season.
9:04 .... The WNBA All Star Weekend made all kinds of news, especially with their warmup T-Shirts that said "Pay Us What You Owe Us." The crew examines why the players in the "W" deserve more money and make suggestions on who should pay it.
13:09 ... As for the WNBA All Star game itself ..... it was a big bummer ... Rookie All-Star Paige Bueckers and ABC's Elle Duncan both trashed it on the air for the lack of defense and effort .... OUCH.
15:29 ... Bradley Beal certainly got paid and also got a ticket out of Phoenix to Los Angeles. His departure from the Valley leaves lots of wreckage behind as the Suns will need to stretch $97 million of his salary over the next 5 seasons, causing a major financial hurdle for a team that needs more talent. As for the Clippers, they have a lot of old dudes and are a textbook example of a "Win Now" team. And with the addition of 40 year old Chris Paul, the clock is definitely ticking on the veteran team's "window."
22:00 ... With all the old guys on the Clippers, the crew suggests sponsors whose logos can appear on the uniform jerseys of the team. Everyone took a shot and Ross's choice of "Depends" adult diapers was the clear winner among the crew.
23:40 ... 35 year old Damian Lillard is returning to the Portland Trailblazers and with the recent acquisition of another 35 year old guard, Jrue Holiday, the 48 Minutes crew is scratching their collective heads as to what the strategy of the team will be. Does it mean that Scoot Henderson is on shaky ground with the Blazers?
28:56 ... Ross leads a discussion on Giannis and whether any of these moves might make him appreciate being in Milwaukee.
31:42 ... Former Celtic Marcus Smart will soon join the Lakers after being bought out by the Wizards. Bruce and many other Celtics fans are all "up in their feelings" over this move.
35:05 ... Victor Wembanyama has been cleared to play again after suffering from blood clots in his shoulder last season. These are exciting times in San Antonio with Wemby joining Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on a team that will be a "League Pass Obsession."
37:53 ... The New Orleans Pelicans are looking like a hot mess tossed into a dumpster fire. They've spent the entire off season making one questionable move after another. Over the weekend, their top rookie Derik Queen suffered a wrist injury that will sideline him for three months. New boss Joe Dumars is off to a "bumpy" start to say the least.
42:35 ... Good news in Denver .... recently acquired Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to stop his pursuit of a deal with a team in Greece and will play for the Nuggets as the backup for Nikola Jokic. It's the right thing to do and the Denver fans deserve his best effort, even if he just plays one season for the Nuggets.
45:24 .... This week it's Ross's turn to try and stump his partners with this week's "Card Challenge." Some of the players that Ross used to put Bruce and "World B" on the spot were Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, Yao Ming, David Lee, Gary Payton, Andre Iguodala, Bruce Bowen, and Dwight Howard.
53:48 ... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye ...
TRT 54:05
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0:00 Intro
0:49 The 48 Minutes crew react to the breaking new on Paul George’s injury & surgery
3:29 Bruce wonders whether or not Paul George is a future Hall of Famer
5:26 The Lakers are in a transition period, what’s LeBron’s future in LA?
9:29 Devin Booker’s historic 2-year max extension with the Phoenix Suns
13:34 Brad Beal’s buyout status update
18:07 The Thunder have their Big 3 for years to come!
23:14 Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown wants to play faster next year
27:41 Pacers have resigned Isaiah Jackson to beef up their center position
30:31 Cole Anthony intends on signing with the Milwaukee Bucks
34:11 Las Vegas NBA Summer League News & Notes!
35:25 The Dallas Mavericks shut down Cooper Flagg for the remainder of Summer League
38:10 The Phoenix Suns also decided to sit 2 of their top players on Sunday
40:10 One Summer League player that’s caught our eye
43:17 Bruce provides the show’s final thoughts including a sneak preview on next week’s guest
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0:00 ... Open animation ... Ross Geiger welcome and introduces co-hosts Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer.
0:33 ... Show #164 is dedicated to Phoenix guards Jalen Green and Bradley Beal, both of whom stand 6-4.
0:52 ... Norman Powell is traded to Miami, John Collins is traded to the Clippers, and Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson go to Utah ... we'll discuss the deal from the perspective of all three teams. Everyone agrees that Miami won this trade.
6:37 ... Kevin Durant is finally in Houston after an historic 7 team trade. Besides the Rockets and Suns, five other teams get spare parts and second round picks while Houston moves closer to OKC in the west and Phoenix "embraces the rebuild."
9:58 ... The Rockets made another significant trade, sending Cam Whitmore to Washington where he will have a chance to play near his Maryland home. The Wizards have made some bold moves and Bruce thinks they may be this year's version of the Pistons who could double their win total of 18 from last season.
14:28 ... What is Bradley Beal's future in Phoenix? Bruce thinks he could be a dynamic 6th man for a good team since whichever team picks him up after his buyout in Phoenix will not be paying him max money since Phoenix will be paying most of his salary.
20:53 ... The Pacers lost Myles Turner, who signed with Milwaukee as a free agent but they acquired Jay Huff from Memphis. Standing 7-1, he's not a great shot blocker or rebounder but makes 40% of his three point attempts. It will be his 5th team in 5 seasons.
24:02 ... Paolo Banchero signed a huge rookie max extension on Monday with Orlando for 5 years and almost $240 million. There will be great expectations with all Orlando's young stars signed to long-term deals.
26:22 ... Jaxson Hayes re-signs with the Lakers after being benched in the 2025 playoffs which is somewhat surprising. Will he have a good relationship with LA coach JJ Redick? It should be an interesting storyline moving forward.
29:46 ... The Knicks have officially locked up Mike Brown as their next head coach. Everyone likes the hire and his style should work well with a mature veteran team that won't mind being challenged.
32:07 ... Summer League action is underway and some of the young guys are impressing everyone right out of the gate. VJ Edgecombe of Philly scored 28 in his debut and could make an immediate impact for the 76ers. Ace Bailey of Utah had an uneven debut but showed ability at both ends of the court.
36:33 ... Nikola Topic of OKC finally made his debut on Saturday and had 14 points against Memphis. Finding minutes as a rookie with the defending champs won't be easy, but Topic has the goods to make it in the NBA.
39:08 .... The Memphis Grizzlies have a loaded Summer League roster with three rotation players participating. Ross predicts they'll be the Summer League champions.
42:31 ... It's time for the Classic Card Challenge where Bruce pulls random cards of former players and quizzes Ross and World B. Those dudes show serious knowledge and a great sense of NBA history.
51:05 ... Final Thoughts ..... Bruce on Jonas Valanciunas, who was traded from New Orleans to Denver but is trying to bolt for a Euroleague team in Greece. Bruce has always admired Valanciunas but this move shows that winning an NBA title just isn't that important to him.
52:26 ... World B on James Wiseman, who signed a one year deal with Indiana after missing last season with an achilles injury. World B is rooting for him in his comeback.
54:03 ... Ross feels the Las Vegas Summer League will be spectacular this month.
54:56 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 55:10
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0:00 Intro
0:49 Ross is back & starts the show off by giving Bruce & World B a pop quiz!
2:11 Our Top 4 Teams in the Eastern Conference post draft & after the start of free agency
2:21 Cleveland Cavaliers
5:05 New York Knicks
7:50 Orlando Magic
11:21 Bruce has the Detroit Pistons in his fourth & final spot
12:18 World B likes the Indiana Pacers to round out his top 4
14:09 Ross sides with Bruce with the Detroit Pistons
15:32 Biggest winners and/or losers in the Eastern Conference
15:42 Bruce has the Atlanta Hawks as a big winner this offseason
16:31 Bruce’s big loser is the Indiana Pacers this summer
17:26 World B also has the Atlanta Hawks as big winners this summer
19:04 World B has the Milwaukee Bucks as his big loser of the offseason
22:04 Ross provides a surprising Eastern Conference team for his big winner of the offseason
23:34 Our Top 4 Teams in the Western Conference post draft & after the start of free agency
23:49 The reigning 2025 NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder
25:26 Houston Rockets
29:10 Bruce has the Minnesota Timberwolves at #3 on his board
29:45 World B has the Denver Nuggets as his third best team out West
31:15 Ross doubles down on the Denver Nuggets
32:54 Bruce touches on the Nuggets & their recent offseason moves
33:46 World B has a hot take selecting the Los Angeles Lakers!
35:04 Ross discusses why the Minnesota Timberwolves round out his Top 4 out West
36:12 Biggest winners and/or losers in the Eastern Conference
36:19 Bruce considers the Memphis Grizzlies big winners this summer
37:13 The Portland Trail Blazers are Bruce’s big losers
37:52 World B’s winner is the Dallas Mavericks
38:55 The New Orleans Pelicans are tabbed the biggest loser by World B
40:59 Ross’s big winner is the newest San Antonio Spur Luke Kornet!
42:08 Bruce provides his final thoughts on what a difference a year makes for his Boston Celtics
44:35 World B provides positive insights on the direction the Charlotte Hornets are going
46:38 Ross gets his turn to provide some optimism on the Milwaukee Bucks next year
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0:00 ... Show open ... Bruce Bernstein introduces co-host Michael "World B" Freer and our special guest Dave Wohl, the former player, coach, and general manager.
0:56 ... Dave reflects on the just concluded NBA Finals series between the OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Dave felt that these two teams may meet again in the Finals at some point.
2:06 ... World B points out that OKC may not even have shown the best version of what they can still become as a team. Dave praises OKC GM Sam Presti for the way he built the Thunder into a championship squad.
4:36 ... Bruce points out that NBA players voted Tyrese Haliburton the "most overrated" player in the league and silly they look now. Dave explains how Haliburton's growth whas been so much fun to watch.
5:59 ... World B asks about whether the league has to address the length of the season given the number of high profile injuries. Dave explains why that may not be feasible but suggests a lengthy break midway through the season so players can mentally and physically recharge.
8:40 ... Bruce points out the uniform numbers of the three players who suffered the achilles were all "0." Dave points out how achilles injuries can be so random.
9:53 ... Shai Gilgeous Alexander was originally drafted by the Clippers and traded to OKC in Sam Presti's greatest move. Dave goes through some of Presti's moves while also defending the trade with LA due to the wishes of owner Steve Ballmer.
12:45 ... Bruce transitions to the Kevin Durant trade where he went from the Suns to the Rockets and asks Dave if this closes the gap between the Rockets and the Thunder. Dave likes the deal for Houston but thinks they may miss Dillon Brooks and his defense.
14:59 ... Did the Rockets simply give up on Jalen Green? Dave feels Durant gets them closer to a title more quickly than Green ever could.
17:17 ... How does this deal affect the future of the Phoenix Suns franchise given their bad salary situation?
19:10 ... The New York Knicks' pursuit of the coaches from five other teams has affected their relationships with a lot of teams. How much damage was done? The Knicks didn't have a plan and now whomever they sign will be their 6th or 7th choice.
21:50 ... In spite of the Knicks mis-steps, they're still a premier eastern conference team, so is it better for the NBA to have a lot of teams that COULD win as opposed to fewer elite teams like OKC that could be a future dynasty?
24:06 ... Bruce asks Dave about Tom Thibodeau's decision to bring Josh Hart off the bench and whether the fact that Hart suggested the change might have caused Knicks management to question Thibs' leadership.
27:25 ... The Lakers will be sold for $10 billion and as a former member of the Lakers organization, Dave has some thoughts on how the "Mom and Pop" nature of the team might change under a more corporate ownership. Jeanie Buss will still represent the team as their "Governor," but her input on basketball decisions might be affected.
29:54 ... How will the price tag for the Lakers affect the entry fees for the next NBA expansion teams, which are expected to be Seattle and Las Vegas?
32:08 ... Dave sounds off on what expansion teams are like to work for since he worked for the Miami Heat when they were an expansion team. He feels that expansion teams start with a clean slate and can build their own unique culture. Dave hired Erik Spoelstra as video coordinator and explains why Spo' appealed to him as a young potential hire.
34:27 ... The NBA Draft is on Wednesday night and we discuss five "bottom feeder" teams and what their goals should be in the draft. Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz are first.
35:51 ... The Washington Wizards are next ... members of their management all worked in OKC and Dave feels they'll follow Sam Presti's model.
37:08 ... Washington is a major market while Oklahoma City is not. Does that affect the Wizards' ability to use the OKC model, which requires patience.
39:04 ... The Charlotte Hornets are picking at #4 ... and have missed the playoffs the last 9 years ... they have some talent on the roster so they'll probably draft for a position.
40:32 ... New Orleans picks at #7 but Zion Williamson's lack of reliability really hurts this franchise and also negatively affects his trade value.
42:20 ... Philadelphia is a "bottom feeder" in name only as they were devastated by injuries last season. Can they use the #3 pick wisely and get healthy in time for next season? Will they have to use the trade market more than the draft in order to improve?
44:02 ... Philly's Joel Embiid was one of several Olympians who were injured this season but Dave feels that their injuries were not the result of their Olympic obligations. Dave explains how players who work hard all summer can wear their bodies out even though they're not playing in games.
46:41 ... Bruce asks everyone for their overall thoughts on the season that just concluded. Dave felt it was a "season of change."
47:52 ... World B feels like OKC is built for a run that could result in multiple titles.
49:30 ... Bruce wants to give Pacers coach Rick Carlisle his flowers for a sensational coaching job this season and how he will end up in Springfield one day.
50:22 ... Bruce wraps it up ... thanks everyone ... teases the NBA Draft and next week's show ...
TRT 51:23
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0:00 .... Hello and Welcome ... Ross introduces the panel ...
0:33 ... Episode #161 is dedicated to Pat Spencer of the Golden State Warriors
1:23 ... The crew discusses their respective Father's Day celebrations
2:33 ... Pacers/Thunder game 5 discussion ...
3:10 ... Bruce felt the seeds of OKC's game 5 victory were planted on Friday night when they came back late in the game to defeat the Pacers on the road. And OKC's defense dominated game 5 from the jump.
4:49 ... World B felt that Indiana played a sloppy game on Monday and that was their undoing as the turnovers were a huge difference in the game.
6:56 ... Ross cited Tyrese Haliburton's leg injury and the guys discussed whether Indiana can come back if he is not at full strength.
8:52 ... World B feels like TJ McConnell might be able to rise to the occasion in game 6 if Haliburton struggles.
10:21 ... Bruce feels Andrew Nembhard needs to have a big game in game 6 for Indiana.
12:19 ... Bruce asks Ross if game 5 will be known as "The Jalen Williams game?" Ross agrees and also cites Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a great effort.
14:27 ... Bruce cites Williams for his work on defense and how he is a real disruptor on defense and everyone agrees that he has answered all the questions about whether he is a premier "Number Two" in the league.
15:15 ... Ross tees up everyone for their game 6 predictions ... all three of the guys like Indiana to force a game 7.
17:05 ... The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic and the guys discuss how he fits into the Magic lineup with his great three point shooting and all around game. While Orlando gave up a lot to acquire Bane, the situation in the eastern conference might be very favorable for the Magic with Bane.
22:44 ... Cole Anthony goes from Orlando to Memphis and World B feels he got a raw deal with the Magic. Bruce feels Anthony's chippy style will play well in Memphis. Kentavious Caldwell Pope hopes to rejuvenate his career with the Grizzlies.
25:52 ... Memphis gets four unprotected first round draft picks plus a pick swap, so Ross feels Memphis will do fine with this deal. The guys then discuss whether the Grizz might be looking to deal more players, but Jaren Jackson Junior, Ja Morant, and Jaylen Wells all seem to be franchise cornerstones.
30:36 ... Kevin Durant has told the Suns which three teams he'd like to be traded to: Miami, Houston, or San Antonio. Bruce would love to see KD end up in San Antonio with Victor Wembanyama. World B doesn't feel like KD is chasing a ring since he seems uninterested in going to Minnesota. Bruce cited Marc Stein's report that Miami might offer players other than Bam Adebayo or Tyler Herro and doesn't feel like Phoenix would consider Andrew Wiggins or Duncan Robinson. Ross feels like if Phoenix wants to rebuild, Devin Booker would bring a King's ransom in return.
38:41 ... The Knicks are having problems finding their next coach because they keep trying to hire coaches that are currently employed by other teams and have looked clueless in their pursuit. World B calls it an embarrassment. Bruce compares Knicks management to the Keystone Cops. Bruce thinks NY should hire Mark Jackson, who played for the Knicks and coached the Warriors as they were about to become a dynasty under Steve Kerr.
45:30... Ross wraps it up and says good bye and see you next week.
TRT 45:47
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0:00 Intro
1:12 Ross introduces special guest Joe Doerrer of StrictlyBball
2:07 The Indiana take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals with a big Game 3 home win
3:34 Is Joe surprised with how the Pacers are finding success against the Thunder?
10:05 Is Game 4 a must win game for the Oklahoma City Thunder?
12:42 Ross asks Joe to reflect on the Western Conference Finals given his ties to Chet Holmgren while also being a huge Wolves fan
14:25 Is Anthony Edwards status in the league following the same lines as Jayson Tatum’s pre-championship?
16:13 What’s the future hold for Naz Reid?
17:35 Is Cooper Flag going to be able to live up to all the hype entering the NBA?
19:52 Where are area’s for improvement in Flagg’s game?
21:31 Do Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey have all-star potential?
24:23 Of the Monteverde Acadamy’s historic Class of 2024 group which player other than Flagg will have the most success in the NBA?
27:38 Is Tre Johnson the best perimeter shooter in the draft?
28:46 Joe provides his insights on Kon Knueppel
31:25 Joe on Khaman Maluach
33:48 Carter Bryant’s upside at the next level
36:17 Why isn’t a guy like Johni Broome highly regarded?
39:02 Ross asks for Joe’s thoughts on how NIL deals are effecting the NBA draft
40:27 When did V.J. Edgecombe get on Joe’s radar & what’s his NBA potential look like?
43:10 Who’s the best point guard in this draft class?
44:01 Who’s the top international prospect in this draft class?
45:05 Who are some of Joe’s favorite 2nd round sleepers?
46:28 Does Joe believe this will be one of the wildest off season’s leading up to the draft?
47:20 Joe gives us a sneak preview into next year’s NBA draft class
48:57 Should we expect to see StrictlyBball on stage at the NBA draft again this year?
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0:00 Intro
1:25 Bruce gives special guest Antonio Davis a proper introduction
2:46 Antonio Davis shares his own memories of the Pacers/Knicks rivalry
6:12 How unique & equally matched the Pacers/Knicks rivalry was in the 90’s
8:39 Antonio gives his thoughts on the most recent Pacers/Knicks series in the Eastern Conference Finals
10:56 Haliburton’s heroic Game 1 buzzer beater & “choke” gesture brought back some memories
14:01 Antonio shares his love & respect for Rick Carlisle
16:54 How screens have changed throughout the years
19:40 Antonio shares a great story from his college days guarding Tim Hardaway in practice
22:36 What was it like finally playing as a Knick inside Madison Square Garden?
26:16 Antonio reflects on playing alongside Vince Carter in Toronto
28:31 Do the Indiana Pacers have a shot at pulling off a huge NBA Finals upset?
30:50 Antonio on one of the most notorious plays in the history of the Knicks/Pacers rivalry
35:03 What is the mission of the National Basketball Retired Players Association?
43:30 Antonio shares his vision for the future of the NBRPA
47:09 Antonio on how the NBAPA & NBRPA have worked hard together to provide heath insurance to retired players
51:49 What are some of Antonio’s immediate goals coming up this offseason
56:43 Antonio shares 1 quick final story on the Harlem Globetrotters
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0:00 .... Ross hello and welcome, introduces the panel, and dedicates show #158 to Jack McVeigh of the Houston Rockets who is the only NBA player to wear uniform #58.
1:33 ... Instant reaction to Tuesday night's game #4 of the Knicks/Pacers Eastern Conference Finals playoff series.
2:45 ... Bruce highlights the performances of Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Pascal Siakam who were the biggest reasons Indiana took game #4 and grabbed a 3-1 series lead.
3:53 ... Ross pointed out how it was a game of runs but Indiana never allowed New York to really get close enough to threaten the Pacers.
4:55 ... World B was disgusted with the sloppy play of the Knicks and feels they need to reduce turnovers in game 5 if they hope to extend the series. He is also concerned about the health of Karl-Anthony Towns who hurt his knee in the 4th quarter on Tuesday night.
7:23 ... The crew previews game 5 in New York and discusses if Tom Thibodeau will dial back his rotation as he did in the first two games.
10:17 ... Ross is concerned about how Towns will be perceived by the NY fans if he doesn't play in game 5 due to his knee. Bruce needs Mikal Bridges to show up big in game #5, but World B points out how hard Bridges has to work on defense against Haliburton.
14:38 ... Ross tees up a brief discussion on how Thibodeau expanded his rotation and how Josh Hart nudged him into doing it by offering to come off the bench and allow Mitchell Robinson to start games 3 and 4.
16:00 ... Western Conference Finals discussion as Oklahoma City won Monday's game #4 to put a stranglehold on their series against Minnesota. Bruce felt the tone was set in the first quarter. World B says the series is over now that OKC has a 3-1 series lead and it was impressive how they bounced back from a 42 point loss on Saturday. Ross agrees and praises Jalen Williams of the Thunder for his great performances. Everyone feels the series is over except for the final result. OKC's defense is the decisive factor.
23:25 ... Anthony Edwards needs a great performance in game 5 after scoring just 13 points in game 4. World B feels he is not holding himself accountable.
24:18 ... Ross wants to praise Minnesota's Nickiell Alexander-Walker whose great postseason performances will help him find a team willing to pay him big bucks as a free agent this off-season.
24:50 .... Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beat Nikola Jokic for the MVP Award ... the guys discuss the large margin of victory in the voting and how both players were most deserving of the award.
28:13 ... All-NBA Team discussions ... On the first team the only quibble was Donovan Mitchell making it over Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Stephen Curry.
30:33 .... On the second team, the guys discussed LeBron James making it in spite of ESPN's Brian Windhorst not voting him on any of the three All-NBA teams.
33:36 ... On the third team, Bruce bemoaned the fact that Jaylen Brown fell two games short of the 65 game minimum to qualify for All-NBA. Bruce felt he would have made the third team, but sacrificed an individual award in order to be healthier for the playoffs and Bruce is really annoyed at some Celtics fans who are blaming Brown for the team's earlier than expected postseason exit. World B felt Tyler Herro should have made third team over James Harden. Ross pointed out that if not for injury, Victor Wembanyama would also have probably made 2nd or 3rd team All-NBA and probably also won Defensive Player of the Year.
37:08 ... Smokin' Hot Take from World B ... Cade Cunningham will be first team All-NBA next season. This bodes well for the Pistons ascending into the top 4 in the eastern conference next season.
40:10 ... Final Thoughts ... Bruce on how OKC's comeback from a 42 point loss to Minnesota last weekend reminds him of two former NBA Championship teams that had similar experiences 40 seasons ago: the 1984 Celtics and the 1985 Lakers.
41:30 .... World B on how the Knicks loss to Indiana in game one was not the biggest choke in the Knicks history. It was 30 years ago when Reggie Miller made the Knicks the worst chokers in franchise history. Tyrese Haliburton will clearly haunt World B's dreams for many years to come.
46:16 ... Ross on how all the off-season transactions will be very exciting this year. And from that he says goodbye and "see you next week."
TRT 46:57
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0:00 Intro
1:39 The crew share their thoughts on Sunday’s OKC/DEN Game 7 matchup
4:42 Bruce on why the Thunder have a short turnaround time between Game 7 & WCF Game 1
5:31 How do the Timberwolves stack up against the Thunder in the series
12:26 The crew give their Western Conference Finals series predictions
14:13 Eastern Conference Finals Preview
26:03 The crew give their Eastern Conference Finals series predictions
28:21 What’s next for the Denver Nuggets?
35:15 What’s next for the Boston Celtics?
41:41 What’s next for the Cleveland Cavaliers?
45:03 The WNBA season is underway! Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese recap
47:13 1st overall pick Paige Bueckers made her debut with the Dallas Wings
48:57 Bruce makes a Game 5 confession!
50:42 World B responds to Trae Young’s recent comments
52:57 Ross shares the latest NBA term recently noted by GG Jackson
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0:00 ... Ross hello & welcome ... introduces panel and dedicates episode #156 to Stephen Curry for his 56 point game against Orlando in February.
1:23 ... Ross tees up discussion of the Knicks big win over Boston on Monday night, giving NY a 3-1 lead in their playoff series. World B feels it was one of the most impressive Knicks games in more than two decades.
3:32 ... Bruce felt that even with an 11 point lead at halftime, the Celtics were not in great shape because the Knicks stayed attached the entire game.
5:04 ... Jayson Tatum played great until he injured himself in the final minutes but it appears to be a serious injury and it sure looks bad for his return on Wednesday. for game 5.
8:00 ... Bruce appreciated Tatum's scoring heroics in game 4, but took issue with some of his shot decisions and how they helped stifle the Celtics ball movement, thus playing into New York's hands. World B points out how Boston plays a lot of isolation ball and when they don't penetrate into the paint, they can be successfully defended.
10:46 ... With Tatum likely unavailable in game five, the guys discuss who might step up for Boston. Jrue Holiday might be ready to have a big night.
13:08 ... Ross and World B discuss the pressure NY may feel if Boston can somehow take game 5 on Wednesday. World B has lots of praise for Tatum and how much he respects him.
15:08 ... Ross is concerned that Kristaps Porzingis may be physically unable to step up in to help fill the void that Tatum leaves in game five.
15:39 .... The Cavaliers are being curb stomped by Indiana as they also trail their series 3 games to one. They may not be dead, but they're close to dead. The Cavs are lucky that Sunday's blowout only counted for one loss.
22:30 ... Bruce puts Bennedict Mathurin on notice that moves like his bush league punch in game 4 will get him extra scrutiny from the refs if the Pacers move on. World B feels like Indiana has exhibited some punk-like behavior in the series.
23:59 ... The Thunder and Nuggets are tied at 2 games each out west and OKC's defense has carried the team with their offense not looking especially sharp.
25:15 .... Bruce predicts that Shai Gilgeous Alexander will received his MVP Award on Tuesday night before game 5. Bruce feels that OKC's defense wore down the Nuggets in game four and in the final quarter caused the Nuggets to "drop their hands" like a boxer who absorbs too many punches to the ribs. Ross predicts a Nuggets win in game five and a seven game series ... World B agrees and has high praise for Aaron Gordon of the Nuggets for his performance. Ross feels Gordon is their 3rd most important player.
32:33 ... Game four of Timberwolves/Warriors was underway as the show was being recorded on Monday night and none of the guys felt that Golden State would come back to take the series. Julius Randle was having another big game and has found his playoff groove in Minnesota. With Steph Curry injured, they just need more scoring than they can muster right now.
36:14 ... The Draft Lottery took place on Monday night and the guys respond to the Dallas Mavericks beating the odds and earning the right to draft Cooper Flagg in June's NBA Draft. Bruce was thinking that when the Spurs made it into the top four, they might once again get the 1st overall pick as they did with Victor Wembanyama, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson in previous NBA Drafts.
37:50 ... The saddest teams in the league have to be Charlotte, Washington, and Utah, all of whom were hosed in the lottery and missed out on the #1 overall pick.
41:08 ... The guys take issue with ESPN's star NBA journalist Shams Charania claiming that Giannis Antetokounmpo discussed leaving Milwaukee for the very first time this weekend when he actually did it on our podcast back in September of 2023. We playfully demanded an apology but offered to kiss and make up if he joins us on a future show to talk hoop! Giannis' comments on 48 Minutes were instrumental in helping the Bucks to acquire Damian Lillard, which required them to trade Jrue Holiday to Portland and led to the trade to the Celtics.
44:10 ... Ross was on Milwaukee radio today and told the host "Sparky" Fifer that Bucks fans shouldn't panic because Giannis is loyal to the Bucks and the city.
45:38 ... Milwaukee can't expect to get equal value in return for Giannis in any trade because players of his caliber are hardly ever are traded. Oklahoma City has the assets needed to entice the Bucks into a possible trade, so we'll see if those teams do business in the off-season.
50:10 ... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye.
TRT 50:33
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0:00 Intro
0:56 Ross provides Bruce & World B with an update on how their 1st Round predictions fared
1:15 What we’ve learned from the 2025 NBA Playoffs thus far
1:26 Bruce on the Northwest Division & James Harden
2:08 World B on the Minnesota Timberwolves
2:43 Ross on JJ Redick, LeBron James, & the LA Lakers
3:47 The New York Knicks steal a Game 1 OT Win in Boston over the Celtics
14:10 Is Game 2 a must win for the Celtics?
17:43 The Indiana Pacers steal Game 1 in their series against the Cavaliers in Cleveland
24:50 Two underdogs out West are set to face off in the 2nd Round between the Warriors & Timberwolves
35:53 Will Nikola Jokic & the Nuggets put up a good fight against the OKC Thunder?
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0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the crew.
0:35 ... Episode #154 is dedicated to Sandro Mamukelashvili, who was drafted #54 in the 2021 NBA Draft
1:19 ... Knicks/Pistons discussion which includes a breakdown of the controversial "non call" at the end of game 4 which may have cost the Pistons the series.
3:25 ... Bruce feels like the Pistons should get every 50/50 call in game 5 to try and make up for the non-call in game 4 and he also was super impressed with Jalen Brunson's 4th quarter performance in game 4. World B has massive praise for Karl-Anthony Towns.
7:50 ... Celtics/Magic discussion which includes Bruce's feelings that Orlando's toughness really tested Boston and helped prepare them for their upcoming series by forcing them to find ways to score other than with 3 point shooting. World B feels like the Magic have played really well but lack the offensive firepower to defeat Boston.
11:47 ... Bruce asks Ross and World B if the Knicks have the type of personnel to play Boston the way Orlando has. Ross and World B differ in their responses.
14:36 ... Bucks/Pacers discussion ... the big story is that Damian Lillard tore his achilles tendon on Sunday and will likely miss most of next season. Bruce is worried that Giannis Antetokounmpo will ask to be traded now that Lillard is on the shelf and suggests that Oklahoma City has the assets needed to make the Bucks a solid offer for Giannis and that Milwaukee should be on the phone pursuing a deal. World B feels like the Pacers are really clicking and are back to their hot January form. Ross credits the Pacers defense for their success.
19:38 ... Lakers/Timberwolves discussion ... World B feels like LeBron James and Luka Doncic may have what it takes to win 3 straight games and dig themselves out of a 3-1 deficit, but the Timberwolves are playing like a team that can handle their business and move on. Bruce felt that the Lakers were worn down by the Wolves in Sunday's 4th quarter as LA coach JJ Redick used just 5 players in the final quarter. Bruce praised Naz Reid's work and nicknamed him "Nuclear Naz" because of his explosive play. Ross with an amazing fact about Redick's historic "non use" of his bench in the second half of Sunday's game.
24:45 ... Clippers/Nuggets discussion ... Aaron Gordon's dunk on Saturday will go down in Nuggets lore and will be talked about forever, but the guys were also impressed by the way Gordon stood up for his teammate Christian Braun when the Clippers took exception to a foul Braun committed just before halftime. World B feels it has been a great series that will go 7 games and thinks the Clippers can win another road game in Denver.
28:09 ... Bruce wants James Harden to come up with a monster game in game 5, which is something he has never really done in the playoffs.
30:08 ... Bruce asks his co-hosts if Nikola Jokic is now on the very short list of the 5 greatest centers of all-time? And can he be considered the greatest International player of all-time?
31:13 ... Thunder/Grizzlies discussion ... the guys discuss whether the long layoff that OKC has earned after sweeping Memphis will negatively affect the team at the start of their next series. Ross feels that Chet Holmgren will benefit the most from a long layoff between series as he'll need to have maximum energy against either Jokic or Ivika Zubac in the next round. If the Nuggets advance and play OKC, we'll see the top two MVP candidates squaring off with Jokic vs Shai Gilgeous Alexander.
35:22 ... Cavaliers/Heat discussion ... Whatever happened to Heat Culture after being swept by the Cavs and losing game 3 by 37 points and game 4 by 55 points? Bruce feels like the Heat roster will look a whole lot different next season after the way they flamed out this season. While the Cavs had it easy against Miami, everyone expects the Cavs to be tested by Indiana in the next round.
44:15 ... Warriors/Rockets discussion ... are the Rockets in trouble trailing 2-1 with game 4 on Monday night? Everyone agrees that game 4 is a "must win" for Houston. If Houston can improve their shooting, they can come back in the series. But that's a big IF.
48:06 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 48:33
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0:00 Intro
0:47 World B reacts to Ross’s episode dedication
1:28 The Minnesota Timberwolves with a statement win in Game 1, should the Lakers be concerned?
8:50 Russell Westbrook & the Denver Nuggets secure a huge Game 1 overtime victory over the Clippers
13:41 The Indiana Pacers handled business against the Bucks in their Game 1 home win
17:48 The New York Knicks secured a Game 1 win over the Detroit Pistons
23:19 Any hope for the Miami Heat against Cleveland or is this going to be a quick sweep?
27:11 Can the Orlando Magic win a single game without scoring in triple digits against the Celtics?
33:00 At this point would we be surprised if the Thunder don’t sweep the Grizzlies?
37:48 Should we be surprised the Warriors took Game 1 against the Rockets in Houston?
43:40 Instant reaction to the Pistons Game 2 bounce back win against the Knicks
48:04 The NBA Award Finalists were announced on Sunday
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0:00 ... Show open and Ross intros the panel and our special guest Jared Greenberg of TNT Sports and NBA TV.
0:47 ... Ross dedicates episode #152 to the Houston Rockets, who won 52 games this season.
1:08 ... Bruce introduces Jared Greenberg ot TNT Sports and NBA TV
1:49 ... Eastern conference "play in tournament" preview ... Orlando and the Bulls get the 7 and 8 spots
3:02 ... Western conference "play in" preview ... Golden State gets #7 and Memphis #8
3:48 ... Will Houston be challenged by a #7 seed like Golden State in the first round? Jared is impressed by Houston's mental makeup.
6:07 ... The Rockets are one of the hardest playing teams in the league ... Detroit and OKC are the others. Jared expects ramped up intensity from all 3 of them in the playoffs.
7:06 ... Ross tees up the preview of the Pistons/Knicks series ... lots of pressure on the Knicks while the Pistons are playing with house money.
8:45 ... Will the season be a bust if the Knicks don't make the conference finals? Jared puts their season into context and suggests changes may be coming if they fall short of expectations.
10:06 ... The Pistons have more playoff experience than many realize and NY really needs Jalen Brunson to play well.
11:11 .... Indiana vs Milwaukee is a repeat of last season's 4 vs 5 matchup in the east ... with Damian Lillard out, can the Bucks possibly win the series? Since Giannis is the best player on the court, he may be able to carry Milwaukee to a series victory.
12:35 ... Ross asks Jared about the Bucks personnel moves during the season with the addition of Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Junior and the loss of Khris Middleton.
15:26 ... Tyrese Haliburton has been spectacular since the All-Star break ... his numbers across the board have been great. But Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner have been solid too.
17:17 ... Can any lower seeds challenge Cleveland or Boston in the east? Is there any chance the Cavs could start their first playoff series on a "down" note in game one? Which first round opponent would give Cleveland's defense problems?
19:17 ... Jared sizes up a possible eastern conference finals matchup between Boston and Cleveland.
20:40 ... Joe Mazzulla risked losing some games during the season in order to give guys rest and keep them fresh for the playoffs. Much like the 1995 Rockets, the 2025 Celtics knew they could take their foot off the gas at times in search of a larger prize.
22:57 ... Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley are two young players who will have huge opportunities in the playoffs. Jared feels that Mobley's success will be somewhat dependent on Donovan Mitchell, who must continue his "team first" play.
24:49 ... The Wolves/Lakers 3 vs 6 series in the west should be fascinating ... Jared feels like Minnesota really stepped up their defense as the season wore on. Julius Randle may have some extra motivation as a former Laker. Will Anthony Edwards help eliminate a Hall of Famer for the second year in a row?
28:02 ... Minnesota has an advantage with better bigs, so JJ Redick may go small and try to limit Rudy Gobert's impact.
29:16 .... Denver vs the LA Clippers in the 4 vs 5 series ... Nikola Jokic gives the Nuggets a presence that no team can match. Kawhi Leonard's health is always a potential issue. And Ivica Zubac is someone Jared has his eyes on regarding the matchup with Jokic.
30:36 ... Ross asks if any team in the west can challenge OKC ... um ... No. But Jared feels any number of teams could make it to the western conference finals, they just can't beat the Thunder.
32:16 ... NBA Championship matchup: Boston vs Oklahoma City ... so who does Jared think will win the Larry O'Brien Trophy? Can the Thunder find a second consistent scorer along with Gilgeous-Alexander?
34:46 ... Ross asks about Jared's favorite postgame interview and he has a really good Stephen Curry story.
36:02 ... Postseason Awards discussion ... who will win MVP?
37:45 ... Is Shai Gilgeous-Amexander a "mini version" of Jokic due to his playing style?
39:39 ... Rookie of the Year? Jared runs through the list of worthy candidates but settles on ____!
40:14 ... Defensive Player of the Year? Victor Wembanyama would have won if not for missing so many games, but he doesn't qualify. Jared drops a great stat about Wemby and Brook Lopez.
43:29 ... Most Improved Player? As a former number one overall pick, should Cade Cunningham really be considered?
45:28 ... World B likes Cunningham but also feels Ivica Zubac is worthy.
48:41 ... Coach of the Year? Jared has four solid candidates but he feels that rewarding the coach of a 6 seed is an problem for him. So he's going with the coach who took a good team to "great," rather than taking a bad team to "good."
49:25 ... Jared has worked for TNT's NBA coverage for more than a decade and he shares his feelings about the final weeks of TNT's NBA coverage as their 36 year run covering the league ends in early June.
51:06 ... Ross thanks Jared and wraps things up ...
TRT 51:34
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0:00 ... Bruce welcomes the audience to 48 Minutes and introduces Mike Isenberg, and five time author and 11 time Emmy Award winning producer whose new collaboration with Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell is their second book project together.
1:03 ... Mike briefly explains the "double track" method that the Celtics used to win the 2024 NBA Championship.
1:57 ... Some felt that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown weren't a championship combo but the Celtics management felt otherwise and showed patience with the duo.
3:02 ... With Tatum and Brown just hitting their prime, the only way they'd be split up now has nothing to do with their performance on the court.
4:07 ... How Tatum's snubs regarding the NBA Finals MVP voting and 2024 Olympics benching drove him to even greater levels of achievement this season.
5:22 ... Tatum has finally achieved a level of "Basketball IQ" that has placed him in rare company.
6:53 ... Tatum leads the Celtics in a way this is somewhat like Nikola Jokic in Denver and he has placed individual accolades well behind his desire to get a ring.
8:10 ... Patience and aggressiveness are not easy to combine in one person's emotional makeup. But Celtics president Brad Stevens has mastered that balance.
10:09 ... Bruce tells the story of how the 48 Minutes podcast's interview with Giannis Antetokounmpo set the stage for Stevens to acquire Jrue Holiday. Mike describes how Brad keeps a "wish list" of players he covets and also how Joe Mazzulla told Holiday that they were destined to work together months before the trade was even considered.
13:15 ... It wasn't easy for Stevens to trade Robert Williams III but having already acquired Kristaps Porzingis made it easier to Stevens to part with the "Time Lord."
14:28 ... The health of Porzingis is the key for Boston in the postseason. Mazzulla risked losing some games along the way in order to manage the workload of key players like KP and veteran Al Horford while giving reserve players like Sam Hauser meaningful minutes.
17:51 ... Boston is not concerned about having home court advantage in the playoffs, so they didn't have to go all out to win every game during the regular season. Stevens and Mazzulla had a plan for what they're doing and never wavered or listened to the noise from outside.
19:54 ... Mike's co-author Cedric Maxwell played for 6 different NBA coaches with various different styles, so what is his take on Mazzulla?
21:29 ... Mazzulla's no nonsense style has been effective with the players because of his self-awareness and willingness to be his authentic self.
23:32 ... Mazzulla effectively navigated the move from assistant coach to head coach OF THE SAME TEAM, which isn't easy to do when you go from being the players' "friend" to their boss.
25:09 ... Mike explains the relationship between Stevens and Mazzulla. As a former coach, Stevens could have been heavy handed in his approach to a young coach like Joe, but he avoided doing that.
26:53 ... Stevens' moves were reminiscent of previous moves by legendary Celtics executives like Red Auerbach and Danny Ainge. Mike points out how many of the team's big moves usually led to instant success and gives three great examples.
30:47 ... Ainge is currently angling to get Cooper Flagg in the 2025 Draft for the Utah Jazz.
31:54 ... Bruce resets the show and asks Mike about the future of the team with new ownership. Mike explains how some of their recent big money signings could have negative repercussions down the road, especially if the Celtics don't repeat in 2025.
34:15 ... Bruce and Mike discuss whether guys like Holiday, Porzingis, and Horford would be willing to sign "team favorable" deals to keep winning championships.
36:57 ... Mike likes the OKC Thunder to make the NBA Finals from the west and the Celtics to come out of the east.
38:01 ... Bruce compares the OKC defense to a hockey power play with 6 players against 5. Mike explains how the Thunder just come at you in waves.
39:27 ... The guys discuss how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a mini version of Nikola Jokic and how Tatum is also in that category when it comes to the game "slowing down" for him.
40:43 ... Bruce and Mike praise Derrick White for his clutch play when the team needs a bucket.
41:52 ... Mike explains how to find the book "Banner Year" and the "big picture" philosophy that makes the organization tick.
43:59 ... Bruce wraps it up and teases the next episode with TNT's Jared Greenberg and the 48 Minutes playoff preview next week.
TRT 44:32
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0:00 Intro
1:12 Ross breaks down the “Realistic Expectations” show concept
1:42 Starting out East with the Detroit Pistons
6:02 Do the Milwaukee Bucks stand a chance in the 1st round of the playoffs?
10:30 Do the Indiana Pacers have another surprising playoff run in them?
16:12 The state of the New York Knicks
22:01 Who would Bruce rather face out of the Play-In Tournament? The Magic or Hawks?
29:08 Is it unfair to say it’s Championship or Bust for the Cleveland Cavaliers?
33:41 Ross shares details into the wild playoff battles going on in the Western Conference
34:05 How serious should we take the Golden State Warriors come playoff time?
38:15 The LA Clippers are peaking at the right time
41:57 The Denver Nuggets are we selling their playoff stock?
45:04 Could the LA Lakers become the biggest disappointment in the playoffs this year?
48:40 The Houston Rockets holding on strong to the 2nd spot in the West
52:15 Is it Championship or Bust for the Oklahoma City Thunder?
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0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the gang ...
1:14 ... Ross dedicates episode #150 to Zach "Zeebo" Randolph, who wore #50 in his long NBA career.
1:24 ... Ross live commercial read for BetOnLine ...
2:02 ... Bruce introduces tonight's guest, Lakers reporter Ryan Ward
2:40 ... Ryan shares his thoughts on the "Running Point" series on MAX that is based on Lakers owner Jeanie Buss
3:58 ... "World B" points out how streaky the Lakers have been in March and Ryan shares his thoughts on how the team goes on "Benders" at times and remains a puzzle as to how far they're capable of going in the playoffs.
6:11 ... Ross asks what the biggest difference is when LeBron is on the floor vs. when he is not. Ryan has a great analytical point about how the spacing is affected when LeBron is on the floor.
8:10 ... Ross points out that when Luka Doncic is running the offense, there is better motion in LA's offense and Ryan points out how LeBron causes the motion to stop when he has the ball at the top of the key.
9:50 ... Bruce asks Ryan whether LA has what it takes to win key games down the stretch and secure the #2 seeding in the west. Ryan feels they do not. He is concerned that the Lakers could fold quickly in the playoffs.
11:53 ... LA has really struggled on the road this season and Ryan points out that the Lakers had three straight "back to back" road games and sometimes they were guilty of playing down to the level of their opponents.
13:55 ... Bruce points out that Austin Reaves has been an outstanding "third wheel" with LeBron and Luka and Ryan explains how he continues to amaze and will be relied upon heavily in the playoffs. Ryan sees comparisons between Reaves and Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili.
16:40 ... Ross asks Ryan how much LeBron's endorsement has meant to Reaves' development.
17:46 ... Rookie Dalton Knecht has been impressive after returning to the Lakers after having his trade to Charlotte rescinded. Ryan doesn't really understand how coach JJ Redick is using him and thinks they may trade him again if they can get a quality big man in return.
19:39 ... The guys discuss JJ Redick's coaching job in his rookie year. Ryan likes his intensity, passion, and intelligence.
21:09 ... Ross and Ryan discuss Redick's readiness to coach well in the playoffs.
22:52 ... LeBron James has been acting out lately with battles against ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst ... Ryan feels there is a "Wrestlemania" element to the whole thing. Especially when LeBron did it on the Pat McAfee's show.
25:37 ... Bruce feels LeBron acted like a bully in his comments about Windhorst and Ryan feels like Stephen A. came out on top in this situation. Ryan loves how Mike Wilbon also checked in with his thoughts on the whole thing.
28:11 ... Ross has two quick hitters about LeBron's positive comments on Giannis Antetokounmpo and also asked Ryan if he and LeBron ever locked horns over something Ryan wrote or said.
30:20 ... Bruce offers Ryan some advice on how he can mix it up with LeBron and make worldwide news if there is ever beef between them.
31:18 ... Ryan tells everyone how to find him on social media and shares an update on his "Jello Jigglin" podcast.
32:14 ... Show reset and discussion of the Boston Celtics, who won their 9th straight game on Monday night. They appear to be peaking at the right time and are ready to flip the switch. Bruce credits head coach Joe Mazzulla with guiding the team through a long season and giving his reserves lots of minutes so they can contribute in the postseason. World B cautions that the Celtics starting lineup has not been as dominant as we expected.
38:08 ... Ross expands the discussion on how Boston's bench has stepped up and how it bodes well for the postseason. Bruce points out the value of veteran Al Horford and what a luxury it is that Boston has him.
38:24 ... The Taylor Jenkins firing is a head scratcher and Bruce is angry that the Grizzlies GM has not really given a good explanation as to why it was done. Bruce is concerned how the lack of information about the firing casts a cloud over Jenkins since some may suspect him of "shenanigans" when there may not have been any. World B feels like the Grizzlies team has tailed off badly in the second half of the season.
41:37 ... Ross wants Suns owner Mat Ishbia to hire Jenkins as the lead assistant for Mike Budenholzer and run the offense in Phoenix.
42:43 ... The Milwaukee Bucks are a hot mess with Damian Lillard out indefinitely ... Bruce thinks former head coach Adrian Griffin might be laughing at the situation he left behind since he was fired with a 30-13 record last season and the Bucks have been pretty "meh" since then, winning just 59 of 113 games. None of the guys feel the Bucks are capable of winning a playoff series at this point.
46:16 ... Breaking news! PJ Tucker is signing a 2 year deal with the Knicks and will be a steady veteran presence. Ross has high praise for PJ whom he worked with in Phoenix and called PJ "the new Taj Gibson.".
47:03 ... The guys recap the Sunday night Pistons/Timberwolves brawl and discuss the Pistons and their "Bad Boy" culture. World B has had enough of the fake "tough guy" act from Isaiah Stewart. Bruce initially thought there would not be any suspensions as a result of the brawl but Ross disagreed and Bruce was convinced and changed his mind.
53:22 ... The guys make their choices for the college hoop championship ... Ross and World B like Houston and Bruce likes Auburn.
54:15 ... Ross says goodbye ...
TRT 54:30
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0:00 Intro
1:41 Bruce asks Ross to explain why the show wasn’t recorded Monday night
3:32 Breaking news out of Milwaukee, Damian Lillard is out indefinitely due to a blood clot
6:08 The Boston Celtics franchise has been sold!
10:34 The crew share their brief thoughts on the NBA’s potential expansion team scenarios
11:59 Bruce provides some Boston fan perspective on the Celtics home arena situation
13:10 The Cavs just suffered their roughest stretch of the season
17:23 The LA Clippers are finding their stride, are we sleeping on them?
21:53 Jimmy Butler made his first return to Miami
25:55 Musical Chairs out West! The battle for playoff positioning
26:23 Houston Rockets
30:03 Denver Nuggets
33:48 LA Lakers
36:34 Memphis Grizzlies
40:40 Musical Chairs out East! The battle for playoff positioning
40:56 Indiana Pacers
43:24 Milwaukee Bucks
46:29 Detroit Pistons
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome ... introduces tonight's panelists
0:44... Episode #148 dedicated to the Houston Rockets, who average 48 rebounds a game
0:56 ... Bet OnLine Live commercial read
1:31 .. Bruce introduces special guest Kevin Winter, the veteran ESPN Radio personality
2:35 ... We start out with a robust discussion of the Cleveland Cavaliers and whether they've "Got It." Kevin sees the Cavs as a team that has excelled because of the emergence of Evan Mobley. But Kevin sees the eastern conference as a "two horse" race with the Cavs and Celtics.
5:17 ... World B makes an excellent point about the lack of efficiency by the Celtics' starting lineup. Kevin feels like the C's learned how to win last year, and may have handled the target on their backs well enough to flip the switch in the postseason.
7:49 ... What about the OKC Thunder ... do they look like a championship team? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) has become someone almost impossible to stop.
9:50 ... Bruce felt OKC's lack of rebounding heading into the season was a problem they have fixed. Kevin feels like the Thunder's defense swarms opponents extremely effectively and they have learned from last year's premature playoff exit.
12:46 ... World B tees up a discussion on whether SGA is a "foul baiter" and Kevin says he is not. Everyone agreed that SGA is crafty not phony.
16:39 ... The NBA is investigating the Thunder for resting their starters in a home game against Portland, but does OKC deserve any punishment?
19:32 ... The top three teams: OKC, Boston, and Cleveland appear to be the class of the NBA. But what are the concerns for each team moving forward? Health is an issue for all three teams but OKC's youth is also an issue. Boston has no clue how to stop Donovan Mitchell.
26:43 ... The crew discusses which team was the biggest disappointment this season. Philly tops the list. Bruce has a fun fact about how much Paul George made "per game" during his injury plagued season.
29:26 ... Luke Doncic and LeBron James have done a great job developing chemistry, but can the Lakers actually compete for the western conference championship if and when LeBron returns to good health?
34:54 ... JJ Redick has done a great job coaching the Lakers and has made some great strategic moves this season.
35:58 ... Has Jimmy Butler made the Warriors a team that could make the conference finals or even win the west? Butler is hungry and would love to have a crack at guarding some of the OKC wings.
39:43 ... Ross likes the Memphis Grizzlies and feels that they have successfully overcome a lot of injuries and are a complete team. Kevin feels that the Grizz could make a run in the west.
42:18 ... Bruce worries that Dallas is rushing Anthony Davis back too soon and are trying to save a season that is already lost. He's going to the G-League to continue his rehab but shutting him down seems like a much smarter idea.
45:23 ... Who does Kevin feel will meet in the NBA Finals?
47:10 ... Cooper Flagg is the projected overall #1 pick, so which of the struggling teams would be the best fit for him.
50:27 ... We can't do a show after Selection Sunday without briefly discussing March Madness. Since Kevin, Bruce, and World B don't have teams in the NCAA Tournament, we all discuss which team we'd root for since our favorite college teams aren't involved (except for Ross's Marquette squad).
54:29 ... Ross wraps it up, thanks Kevin and says goodbye until next time.
TRT 55:00
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0:00 Intro
1:33 Bruce questions Ross’s choice in players for the episode’s dedication
1:57 Bruce introduces special guest NBA reporter Christian Clark
2:51 Is the anger over the Luka trade still burning for Mavericks fans in Dallas?
4:34 Has anyone made sense of why Nico Harrison settled for so little in return for Luka Doncic?
6:06 Are Mavericks fans feeling like the Mavericks might be cursed with all the injuries after trading Luka?
9:20 Will Jaden Hardy surprise some people with his big opportunity that lies ahead?
11:11 What’s been the vibe in the Dallas locker room since the Luka trade & Kyrie injury?
12:58 Can this Mavericks team be a potential contender with everyone healthy?
15:25 Will the Mavericks organization ever be the same without Mark Cuban running the show?
17:32 If the Mavs somehow land the #1 overall pick to draft Cooper Flagg how far would that go in easing the anger of Mavericks fans?
18:57 How does Nico Harrison survive this trade?
20:17 Which Mavericks player is Christian’s favorite interview?
22:20 Having recently been around the Phoenix Suns, what’ s the vibe like around the struggling Phoenix Suns?
24:20 Does Christian see anything that might be the OKC Thunder’s achilles heel come playoff time?
25:55 Is there a team out West that’s been floating under the radar that may have what it takes to go on a roll in the playoffs?
27:19 Which young up & coming team out West has a been chance in the playoffs this year? The Houston Rockets or Memphis Grizzlies?
28:27 Have the OKC Thunder or Cleveland Cavaliers peaked too early?
30:06 Christian shares his MVP choice at the moment
31:08 Are the Minnesota Timberwolves still a dangerous team out West?
32:37 Where do the Milwaukee Bucks stand out East?
33:57 The Thunder versus the Cavaliers in the Finals, who does Christian give the edge too?
35:32 Did Luka’s arrival in LA rejuvenate LeBron James this season?
37:26 Where do the New Orleans Pelicans go from here after a disastrous season?
40:02 Christian shares his thoughts on Dyson Daniels having previously covered the New Orleans Pelicans
42:05 Will Dyson Daniels get some Defensive Player of the Year votes this year?
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome and introduces the crew.
0:35 ... Episode #146 is dedicated to John Konchar, who has worn #46 for his entire career in the NBA.
0:47 ... Ross live commercial read for BetOnLine
1:23 ... The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a season-long roll and the crew breaks down the reasons for their incredible success. Donovan Mitchell absolutely torched the Boston Celtics once again last Friday night.
7:50 ... The young Detroit Pistons team has won 9 of its last 10 games, including a huge win over the defending champion Celtics last Wednesday. Their mix of great young talent plus newly acquired veterans like Malik Beasley have them in a great position to make the playoffs as the #6 seed in the east.
12:37 ... The Los Angeles Lakers are rolling and the chemistry is developing quickly between LeBron James and Luka Doncic. They truly look like a team that is peaking at a good time and their defense has been incredible. They may just be the number one threat to the OKC Thunder to represent the western conference in the NBA Finals.
18:29 ... The final two play-in spots out west look like they'll probably go to Sacramento and Dallas, but the young Portland Trailblazers are sitting at #11 and have been playing their best ball in years. The guys size up Portland's chances of grabbing the #10 spot away from the Kings or Mavericks.
23:52 ... Jalen Suggs of the Magic will undergo surgery on his left knee and will be out indefinitely. His loss removes a great two way player and considering what a poor shooting team the Magic are, they'll likely continue to disappoint. In fairness to coach Jamahl Moseley, injuries to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Suggs have derailed their season.
30:18 ... Joel Embiid of the 76ers played just 19 games this season and has been shut down for the remainder of the season. Bruce makes some comparisons between Embiid and the late Bill Walton who was also a super talented big man who battled injuries throughout his Hall of Fame career. The entire 76ers' season has been one big dumpster fire burning out of control.
38:23 ... Jimmy Butler may have moved on to the Bay Area, but the Butler vs. Miami saga continues as he is being sued by a company in Miami Beach. We'll offer details.
39:49 ... Bruce's final thought is on a play he attended last Friday called "King James," which is the story of two Cavaliers fans who bonded over their love of LeBron James.
40:54 ... World B's final thought is on Stephon Curry, the greatest shooter in history and someone who will eventually be considered one of the top five players of all time if he can win one more ring.
42:53 ... Ross's final thought is on Meyers Leonard, who recently announced his retirement. Leonard wrote a country style song about his career and Ross is impressed with the quality of the song.
44:36 ... Bruce tells his fellow Celtics fans not to panic about some recent losses since Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis missed the game against Cleveland but should be ready for the postseason in good health.
45:26 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 45:41
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0:00 Intro
1:33 Victor Wembanyama is out for the season due to a blood clot
5:44 More news out of San Antonio as Head Coach Gregg Popovich won’t be returning to the court as coach this season
8:01 The New York Knicks tough weekend, any legitimate concerns about the Knicks being contenders out East?
15:06 The Jimmy Butler effect in Golden State. Do the Warriors have new life?
18:36 The Play-In Bubble Race in each conference!
18:58 The Western Conference 10th spot is currently held by the Sacramento Kings
19:14 The San Antonio Spurs chances heading down the stretch of the season
23:36 The Phoenix Suns continue to search for answers to improve their playoff hopes
26:57 Can the Sacramento Kings hold onto the 10th & final play-in spot?
30:09 Is there any hope that the Portland Trail Blazers can sneak into the Western Conference play-in?
31:50 The Eastern Conference 10th spot is currently held by the Chicago Bulls
35:05 Give credit to the Brooklyn Nets this year, will the surprise us all & make the play-in?
39:33 Are the Sixers chances dead with how things continue to go in Philadelphia?
42:42 Bruce provides some NBA television news
44:15 Kevin Garnett is rumored to possibly joining the Minnesota Timberwolves front office under the new ownership
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0:04 ... Ross welcomes everyone to the show and introduces his co-hosts.
0:34 ... Episode #144 is dedicated to the Thunder and Cavs, who lead their respective conferences with 44 wins at the break.
0:47 ... Ross live BetOnLine commercial read
1:20 ... For our YouTube viewers, Bruce is rocking an All-Star hat from the 1996 All Star game in San Antonio where he first crossed paths with future colleague and lifetime pal Tim Legler, who won the Long Distance Shootout that year.
2:09 ... Ross begins his recap of All Star Weekend and Bruce's initial thought is that he wished he had binge watched "The Landman" on Paramount Plus instead of another boring All-Star weekend.
3:13 ... World B was similarly unimpressed with the gimmicks the league tried. If the players don't care, the event will always disappoint.
4:14 ... Bruce wonders if the trade deadline should move closer to All-Star weekend to help juice up interest, but World B offers a good reason why that may not be viable. Ross points out that Damian Lillard had some valid points about player fatigue being a factor in why the game lacks intensity.
6:52 ... Ross recaps the Rising Stars competition and feels that one of the good parts of the weekend was seeing younger guys and G-League players get some exposure. World B agrees and Bruce says a prime example of that was Stephon Castle of the Spurs, who made a major impact in his events.
9:14 ... Ross mentions rookie Reed Shepherd and wonders if we overhyped him. Bruce thinks he may be a late bloomer and World B points out how young he is. World B adds that Houston COULD have drafted Castle and must be kicking themselves over that move.
11:28 ... Ross transitions to the Skills Competition which featured controversy involving an attempt by the Spurs duo of Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama to exploit a loophole in the rules to gain an unfair advantage. Bruce isn't buying that it was Wemby's idea as he thinks Chris Paul instigated it and made the young dude take the heat for it.
13:58 ... Bruce wonders if these shenanigans chip away at the credibility of the sport.
15:07 ... Tyler Herro beat Buddy Hield in the Long Distance Shootout and the guys discuss how Herro has played through many distractions in Miami and is doing so well.
18:06 ... Mac McClung dominated the Dunk Contest with a variety of cool slams. Bruce wants to give McClung the "Woody Harrelson White Men CAN Jump Award" as he was reminded of other undersized winners from years past like Spud Webb and Nate Robinson. World B thinks the dunk over the car was one of the best dunks ever.
21:50 ... Ross recaps the championship game and Bruce highlights Steph Curry's two showstopping shots that won him the MVP Award. Ross asks World B if the All Star game should have a new gimmick like a 4 of 5 point shot? World B thinks matchup between Teams from the USA and an International team would help drive interest and players effort.
26:03 ... Preseason prediction recaps ... Bruce starts out with his choice of Stephon Castle as his preseason rookie of the year pick and explains how his big weekend at the All Star game makes him the leader in the clubhouse. World B whips through some picks he made and says Jalen Williams would win Most Improved Player. Ross agrees but Bruce likes Cade Cunningham to win the award.
30:37 ... Bruce had Shai Gilgeous Alexander as his MVP pick and he's pretty certain that SGA will win with Nikola Jokic second and Giannis third. World B thinks SGA is deserving but still makes a great case for Joker.
32:58 ... Ross with a gratuitous cheap shot at World B's Orlando Magic team. Bruce praises the brutal coldness of the comment. But Ross's MVP choice of Luka Doncic will not be happening.
34:15 ... The Coach of the Year race? Ross says Kenny Atkinson will win even though his preseason pick was Jamahl Moseley. Bruce liked Ime Udoka prior to the season but feels Atkinson will win it. World B agrees but also gives some flowers to Ty Lue of the Clippers. Bruce and Ross give a little bit of love to JB Bickerstaff in Detroit who has done a tremendous job with a young team.
39:05 ... Ross tees up the OKC vs Boston finals prediction ... Bruce still likes the Celtics to win it, but they have certainly lacked consistency this season. Ross shared this prediction but World B liked Minnesota to come out of the west and play Boston.
41:59 ... Ross begins the discussion on second half predictions and Bruce feels like Minnesota could get themselves on a roll as they begin a stretch of 7 out of their next 9 games on the road. If they can go 6-3, they may be ready to go into the next gear.
43:12 ... World B with some startling facts about Boston's starters and what isn't clicking. He adds that Cleveland is for real and points out the Cavs have some tough matchups with the Knicks coming up.
46:53 ... Ross predicts the Suns will miss the playoffs entirely, which is shocking considering who is on their team. But they have a brutal schedule and Bradley Beal is injured and morale around the team seems low.
48:42 ... Bruce chimes in Denver, whom he expects to peak at the right time. But he does not fully trust Memphis because when Ja Morant plays, they have a much lower winning percentage than they do when he is out of the lineup.
50:22 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye.
TRT 50:38
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0:00 Intro
1:37 Bruce welcomes Dave Wohl back onto the show
2:00 With the Mark Williams trade to LA being rescinded where do the Hornets/Lakers go from here?
4:00 Has Dave ever been part of a team that has had a trade rescinded in his career?
5:24 Has Lakers GM Rob Pelinka put himself in a position to potentially win the GM of the Year award?
6:46 The Jimmy Butler situation & downfall in Miami, has Dave ever been around a similar scenario?
11:32 Can Jimmy Butler be a difference maker for the Warriors chances out West?
13:25 The Brad Beal no trade clause. How challenging is it to trade a player with that kind of power?
14:54 Dave shares his insights on the Cavs acquiring Deandre Hunter
16:45 What exactly does “Cash Considerations” mean in a trade?
18:01 Can Ben Simmons provide a positive impact for the Clippers this season?
23:25 Is it strange that the Suns decided to trade an unprotected 2031 1st round pick for 3 1st round picks without another deal lined up?
25:09 Is De’Arron Fox the perfect fit & find by the Spurs to pair with Wemby?
26:39 What in the world is going on in Sacramento?
29:00 Did we learn anything from the Celtics/Knicks matchup this past weekend?
31:29 Dave shares his thoughts on the Houston Rockets this year
33:15 Is there a team outside of the Thunder that can come out of the Western Conference?
34:43 Is there any good reason for the NBA to consider shortening quarters?
39:10 Reflections/Memories on Hubie Brown as he called his final game last Sunday
42:07 Why did the Dallas Mavericks decide to trade Luka Doncic?
47:15 With the Lakers adding Luka, does this accelerate LeBron’s retirement or decelerate his retirement thoughts?
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0:00 ... Ross Geiger hello and welcome .... introduces co-hosts Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer and teases our guest Peter Vecsey. This week's show (#142) is dedicated to former Mavs player Maxi Kleber, who will now be a Los Angeles Laker.
0:59 ... Ross live commercial read for BetOnline.
1:39 ... Bruce introduces Peter Vecsey and mentions some of his memorable nicknames.
2:45 ... Peter discusses his best nicknames and shares a great story about Joe Barry Carroll, whom he dubbed "Joe Barely Cares." Peter famously dubbed Larry Bird "Larry Legend."
4:35 ... Ross asks for Peter's reaction to the Luka Doncic/Anthony Davis trade and how none of the newsbreakers who cover the league had any clue it was happening.
10:32 ... Considering the principals in the deal, Peter shares his thoughts on some of the other deals that were historic but he feels than none were ever bigger than this one.
12:54 ... Peter tells why Dallas MAY have traded Luka and tells a story about how former Mavs coach Rick Carlisle left the Mavs because he did not like coaching Luka.
16:13 ... Why did the Mavericks want the often injured Anthony Davis?
17:15 ... The Lakers needed a big man, so naturally they traded their Hall of Fame big man.
20:12 ... Peter reacts to DeAaron Fox going to San Antonio and why he liked Fox prior to this season but has soured on him this year.
24:15 ... Bruce makes a joke about how the players for Archbishop Molloy H.S. in Queens (Peter's alma mater) were big time ballers and he joked how he was ahead of his time as a high school player.
24:53 ... Bruce takes a shot at Zach LaVine, who was traded from the Bulls to the Kings and how Sacramento's GM seems clueless. Peter goes on to discuss Billy Donovan, his first NBA interview that was done for SportsChannel at Hofstra University where Bruce also worked.
27:26 ... On being inducted into the Hoop Hall of Fame in 2009. Surprisingly Peter has little regard for the Hoop hall and Jerry Colangelo who is the boss.
31:23 ... Peter is annoyed that K.C. Jones is not in the Hall as a coach when he was voted one of the top 15 coaches of all time. He relays a great story Larry Bird told him about how K.C. got through to Dennis Johnson when other coaches could not.
36:22 ... Bruce asks about Michael Jordan and John Stockton and their 2009 Hall of Fame speeches. Peter tells a great story about how he took a big gamble during an interview with Stockton that he did for NBC where Stockton was tight lipped but how Peter eventually got him to open up.
39:21 ... World B initiates a discussion of the top players of all time ... Peter takes exception to the suggestion that MJ and LeBron are the two best ever. Peter ticks off many others who are up there.
41:42 ... Kobe is also right up there and Peter shares some moments from their discussions over the years. Their relationship was very close and he tells the story of how Kobe got his unusual first name.
44:44 ... Ross asks about the 65 game rule for postseason awards and Peter is in favor of it. Peter is NOT in favor of Adam Silver's idea for 10 minute quarters.
46:47 ... Bruce asks about the new All-Star game format and how the event has become unwatchable. Peter thinks the new tournament format may help make it more appealing. He is not impressed with the new women's 3 on 3 league but transitions into a story about how K.C. Jones allowed him to work out with the Celtics teams of the 1980s and play full-court 4 on 4.
50:12 ... World B asks Peter who his favorite interview subject was ... and it was Larry Bird. Of course, there's a couple of good Bird stories there! And there's a great story about how Bird signed a photo for Peter's son as a birthday gift. Peter truly misses being around Larry.
53:17 ... Peter shares some Bill Walton stories and how he helped Bill get into TV at NBC. We exchanged some Walton stories.
55:10 ... Bruce asks about the MVP race and how Nikola Jokic probably won't win it this year due to voter fatigue but that Shai Gilgeous Alexander is deserving. Peter feels OKC's record this year helps SGA. Peter goes onto discuss Lu Dort, whom he watched at Arizona State and is a key reason for OKC's success.
58:48 ... Peter predicts OKC will win it all this year ... he praises Isaiah Hartenstein of the Thunder and can't believe how good he has become.
1:00:06 ... Ross thanks peter and says goodbye
TRT 1:00:51
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0:00 Intro
1:06 Downright Shocking News: The Dallas Mavericks trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers
1:27 World B provides his initial reactions when he first saw the news
2:25 Ross provides his initial reactions to seeing the big news drop
2:48 Ross provides all the specific details of the 3-team trade
3:24 Why do we think this trade went down?
11:07 Ross provides his thoughts on the mystery team the Mavs called prior to dealing Luka to LA
13:57 The impact of this trade on the Lakers moving forward
22:59 The Dallas Mavericks moving forward with Anthony Davis aboard
30:27 Is this the biggest trade in NBA history?
32:43 NBA Trade Machine gurus are loving life right now
34:25 Who won the trade? Luka for AD?!
35:40 De’Aaron Fox traded to the San Antonio Spurs!
37:11 What’s this trade mean for the Spurs?
38:54 Can the Spurs possibly contend as soon as this season with Fox?
41:02 Are we sure Chris Paul will still be on the Spurs after this year’s trade deadline?
42:55 What’s this trade mean for the Sacramento Kings moving on from De’Aaron Fox?
49:37 What’s in store for the Chicago Bulls moving forward?
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0:00 Intro
1:30 The Cleveland Cavaliers have now hit a rough patch in their successful season
7:14 The Memphis Grizzlies are on fire entering this week’s action
12:01 Stock Up & Stock Down! The 48 Minutes crew starts up with their Stock Up Teams
12:12 Milwaukee Bucks
15:54 Indiana Pacers
19:51 Houston Rockets
24:44 Denver Nuggets
28:51 Phoenix Suns
32:34 Stock Down Teams
32:35 Orlando Magic
35:54 Dallas Mavericks
40:03 Golden State Warriors
43:29 San Antonio Spurs
46:13 Atlanta Hawks
49:45 Bruce provides his final thought on the Philadelphia 76ers
51:03 World B provides his thoughts on the NBA’s All-Star selection count
52:46 Ross shares a friendly reminder of next week’s exciting guest on the show!
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome .... intros co-hosts Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer
0:41 ... Episode #140 is dedicated to Kurt "Crazy Eyes" Thomas, who wore #40 in his NBA career
0:53 ... Ross teases teases special guest J.A. Adande who will join the show to reflect on a solemn basketball anniversary.
1:30 ... Ross does the Bet Online live commercial read.
2:06 ... Bruce introduces J.A. and shares some of his legendary achievements
3:20 ... J.A. points out that Bruce's son Mitch Bernstein was also a close friend and roommate during his internship in LA a number of years ago.
4:03 ... Bruce asks J.A. about the fires in his native Southern California and how they have affected the psyche of the entire region and J.A. has great perspective on the catastrophe and how it affected many who were close to him.
6:49 ... Ross teases the deep dive on Kobe Bryant but asks J.A. about being honored as the winner of the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame and what it was like to be considered an all-time great in basketball journalism.
9:12 ... World B asks J.A. about those who influenced him the most as a writer. J.A. mentioned Jim Murray, David Aldridge, Mike Wilbon, and many others.
11:17 ... Bruce raises the name of Chris Ramsay from ESPN.com, a mutual friend of J.A. and Bruce's who was a key person in J.A.'s success.
13:00 ... Bruce asks J.A. about all the ESPN people who have won the Gowdy award and if they had anything in common regarding the way they covered the league. Fellow winner Marc Spears gets a shout out for his wise counsel at Hall of Fame weekend.
16:10 ... World B asks J.A. what it was like to be a prominent panelist on ESPN's Around The Horn and how it had a powerful impact on his life and career.
18:47 ... Ross and Bruce provide some stats about Around The Horn and Ross receives permission from J.A. to mute his co-hosts as Tony Reali has done to ATH panelists for many years.
19:57 ... Ross points out that January 26th is the 5 year anniversary of Kobe Bryant's death and J.A. shares where he was when he heard the news and his immediate reaction upon hearing of Kobe's death.
23:55 ... J.A. puts into perspective why Los Angeles loved Kobe the man as much as they loved him as an athlete. The way he embraced LA and knew all the different neighborhoods were huge reasons.
27:03 ... Kobe was known to do research on people he would meet for the first time in order to put them at ease. But while J.A. never witnessed that, he praised Kobe for the way he handled his relationships with members of the local media. J.A. said that in the age of social media, modern athletes put less emphasis on those relationships.
29:19 ... Kobe and Michael Jordan were similar in many ways and J.A. explains that it was both a conscious effort on Kobe's part and simply a matter of MJ and Kobe being cut from the same cloth. J.A. feels that eventually Kobe came to regret those comparisons.
32:16 ... Was there one moment from Kobe's career that stood out to J.A.? Well ... there were a few! The game 7 comeback vs Portland in 2000 was memorable because of Kobe's giddiness.
35:24 ... Bruce's favorite Kobe/J.A. moment was from an NBA Coast to Coast show in Kobe's final season and J.A. describes what happened that night. J.A. uses that incident in his current job as a journalism professor at Northwestern as a teachable moment for his students.
38:49 ... Bruce asks about LeBron James and whether he has begun to mentally check out now that he has played an NBA game with his son Bronny. J.A. thinks it is possible because there is really nothing left to achieve.
40:30 ... J.A. makes his predictions for the rest of the season .. OKC wins the west, Boston wins the east, and Boston wins the championship.
42:19 ... Bruce asks J.A. if he is getting the "1995 Rockets vibe" about the Celtics where a defending champion looks less than dominant in the regular season but ends up repeating due to their "heart of a champion?"
43:43 ... Ross wonders if J.A. has any feeling on who the next "American face" of the league might be ... or even if there will be one?
47:58 ... If J.A. were starting his career over again, which player would he want to cover the most? LeBron James might be the guy. Michael Jordan too.
50:33 ... Ross thanks J.A. ... who thanks Bruce for helping him make some money working in TV! And we'll see you next week!
TRT 51:17
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0:00 Intro
1:26 The 48 Minutes crew starts the show off discussing something much bigger than basketball
2:48 2 NBA teams are going streaking!
2:56 The Sacramento Kings are surging so far with Doug Christie as head coach
8:06 The Indiana Pacers extended their winning streak to 6 games win their win over the Cavs in Cleveland on Sunday
13:41 What’s going on with the Boston Celtics recently?
19:28 Paolo Banchero has returned for Orlando, can the Magic hold onto the 4th spot in the East with a tough week ahead?
24:26 A first half of the season reflection
24:38 How many true contenders are there in the Eastern Conference?
28:33 How many true contenders are there in the Western Conference?
32:21 Other than the Cavs, which team has been most impressive in the Eastern Conference this season?
34:33 Other than the Thunder, which team has been most impressive in the Western Conference this season?
36:32 Which team has been the most disappointing in the Eastern Conference?
39:17 Which team has been the most disappointing in the Western Conference?
42:06 Who is our first half of the season MVP?
44:39 Who is our first half of the season Coach of the Year?
47:12 Quick final thought on NBA pop culture!
48:08 Bruce gives us a sneak preview on next week’s guest JA Adande
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0:00 ... Ross says hello and welcomes the panel.
0:37 ... Episode #138 is dedicated to 38 year old Jeff Green, who is still ballin' at his advanced age.
0:55 ... Ross live commercial read for Bet OnLine.
1:34 ... Bruce is back after missing the past two shows and explains his absence.
2:10 .... The show begins with a discussion of Sunday's game between the OKC Thunder and the Boston Celtics. Bruce felt that OKC played the best half of defense that any team played all season in the second half.
4:13 ... World B feels that there are no longer any question marks about the Thunder after their huge wins over the Celtics and the Knicks earlier in the week.
7:55 ... Ross wonders if Bruce is ready to give up on his Boston/OKC finals prediction but Bruce isn't ready to do that. World B feels that OKC clearly looks like the best team in the league.
11:17 ... The Jimmy Butler drama continues and Bruce said this divorce was totally predictable. When Pat Riley criticized Butler during last season's playoffs, the handwriting was on the wall for the divorce. World B feels that very few GMs around the league will be knocking down the door with offers for Butler.
13:47 .. Butler isn't Miami's only problem. Bam Adebayo has had a tough season and looks worn out after the Olympics and Ross feels part of Bam's struggles are the result of not having a real point guard. Ross also feels that a third team might need to be involved in order to facilitate a Butler trade.
16:49 ... Kawhi Leonard is back after being out for 253 days. His return bolsters a Clippers team that has overachieved in his absence. His defense is a given but World B feels the Clippers really need his offense. They're a talented but aging team and the question is "do they have one more run left in them?"
21:14 ... The Cleveland Cavaliers are a league-best 31-4 and are currently on a 10 game win streak. It's their second double digit win streak of the season and we're still a month away from the All Star Break. World B said the Cavs remind him of the 2019 Raptors when Toronto fired coach Dwane Casey and brought in Nick Nurse. The Cavs did something similar when they fired JB Bickerstaff and hired Kenny Atkinson over the summer. Will Cleveland win the NBA Championship like Toronto did?
26:00 ... Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama faced off twice over the weekend with Denver and San Antonio splitting the two games. The epic matchup featured incredible performances from both big men. Joker is a three time MVP and Wemby will probably be the Defensive Player of the Year. The crew was incredibly impressed with both guys.
31:22 ... Anthony Edwards has had a frustrating season and Ross wonders if he is "thinking the game" properly. World B thinks some of his recent comments were silly and are the result of his frustration. Bruce thinks that the Karl-Anthony Towns trade has been a major reason for AntMan's frustration.
36:02 ... The Warriors have lost Jonathan Kuminga for at least three weeks with a severe ankle sprain. World B is concerned that the depth on the team is already shaky and losing Kuminga is a big blow. And since the defense is not that good, losing Kuminga's offense really hurts.
39:11 ... Ross wonders if Jimmy Butler might be a candidate to join the Warriors since he was always on their radar screen. Bruce doesn't feel Butler would work salary-wise, but Ross think that Golden State might make the move to help Steph Curry continue to be successful in the twilight of his career.
40:56 ... Final Thoughts ... Bruce's appreciation of Derrick Rose, who was honored in Chicago over the weekend. Ross has his own memories of Rose from when Ross worked for the Bucks.
43:19 ...Ross's final thought is on Immanuel Quickley of the Raptors who is back healthy after a lengthy injury absence.
44:00 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 44:23
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0:00 Intro
1:17 Movers & Shakers Around the Association
1:30 The Sacramento Kings cut ties with Head Coach Mike Brown
6:27 Was Doug Christie the right selection to become the Kings interim head coach?
8:15 Did the Kings signing DeMar DeRozan factor into the pressure put on Mike Brown?
11:32 The Lakers trade away D’Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith
16:32 Nets GM Sean Marks had a very busy month of December making moves & what’s next?
20:31 Dorian Finney-Smith’s impact & the Lakers moving forward
25:29 Team Talking Points
25:32 The Phoenix Suns continue to struggle. Ross has some long term questions!
30:02 Are the Memphis Grizzlies the Orlando Magic of the Western Conference?
35:23 World B chimes in on whether or not it’s time to panic in Phoenix with the Suns
37:59 Will Devin Booker make the All-Star Team this season?
39:53 Can the Detroit Pistons sustain their recent success out East?
42:43 Which Pistons guard steps up in Jaden Ivey’s absence?
44:54 No Final Thought, but a Final Question for World B!
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0:00 Intro
1:25 The Milwaukee Bucks are NBA Cup Champions! The Championship game recap
3:20 Do the Oklahoma City Thunder need to address their perimeter shooting prior to the trade deadline?
6:34 Giannis put on an absolute show in Vegas winning the NBA Cup MVP, where does he rank for the season MVP?
9:35 Will winning the NBA Cup MVP help Giannis’s case with MVP voters?
11:30 Key role players on the Bucks have stepped up big time recently, has the team turned a corner?
14:53 The Bucks are right on the Magic’s tail out East in the standings, can they catch Orlando?
18:24 Would the Magic benefit from making a trade to improve their roster prior to the deadline?
21:31 Karl Anthony Towns makes his first return to Minnesota & the Knicks pounded the Wolves
23:24 Mikal Bridges is finding his groove offensively with the Knicks
25:12 Ross provides his insights into the unselfishness of this Knicks group
27:35 Christmas Day Game Previews!
27:54 Wemby & the San Antonio Spurs visit Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks
30:12 “Anta” Claus & the Minnesota Timberwolves head to Dallas to take on the Mavericks
32:49 The Boston Celtics host Joel Embiid & the Philadelphia 76ers
35:57 LeBron James & the Lakers head to the bay to battle Steph & the Warriors
38:32 KD & the Suns cap off Christmas action in Phoenix against Jokic & the Denver Nuggets
41:10 Coach Bud’s defense in Phoenix isn’t as good as usual, is the roster to blame?
43:28 Final Thoughts: NBA viewership is down, but why?
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0:00 ... Ross says hello and introduces co-hosts Bruce Bernstein & Michael "World B" Freer.
0:34 ... Ross recognizes this week's show (episode #135) as it falls on the second anniversary of our very first show. We've never missed a week since we started, so we consider ourselves "Ironmen" of sorts, not unlike the great AC Green, formerly of the Lakers who played in an NBA record 1192 straight games.
1:51 ... Ross does the live read for Bet Online
2:23 ... Ross tees up the NBA Cup Special and begins with the Atlanta Hawks, who battled Milwaukee in one of Saturday's semifinal games and seem poised to make a nice run during the remainder of the NBA season. Trae Young has improved his playmaking and players like Dyson Daniels and DeAndre Hunter are really stepping it ip.
9:19 ... Our focus shifts to the Milwaukee Bucks, who rode the stellar play of Giannis Antetokounmpo to a win over the Hawks and a spot in the championship game on Tuesday. Giannis has gotten a lot of help in recent weeks with the return of Khris Middleton and some more production from Damian Lillard. Age and health remain concerns for the Bucks.
24:32 ... Ross tees up a discussion of the Houston Rockets, a young team that battled the Thunder but has major offensive struggles. The Rockets are dynamic on defense but they struggle to score in the halfcourt and that holds them back against great teams like the Thunder.
30:05 ... Our conversation switches to the OKC Thunder, a team with championship aspirations that will battle the Bucks in Tuesday's championship final. Bruce feels like Shai Gilgeous Alexander plays the game as a guard like Nikola Jokic does at center. He plays at his own speed, he will not let defenses speed him up, and he gets to spots on the floor at just the right time and has a knack for always being where he should be. Ross feels that defensive wizard Lu Dort of the Thunder will actually guard Giannis frequently on Tuesday night.
38:23 .... Bruce, "World B," and Ross all make their predictions for the Bucks/Thunder matchup on Tuesday night. Bruce doesn't feel OKC can stop Giannis, "World B" also likes the Bucks, but Ross is picking the Thunder. Bruce "accuses" Ross of using reverse psychology since he is our resident Bucks fan but Ross insists he is concerned about Damian Lillard's ability to score on OKC's perimeter defenders.
44:27 ... Bruce's final thought concerns his desire to see Jimmy Butler traded from Miami to Houston.
45:39 ... The final thought from "World B" concerns the suddenly healthy Memphis Grizzlies and how Ja Morant needs to clean up his act and grow up.
46:56 ... Ross's final thought is on the two early trades that took place this week. Dennis Schroeder to Golden State and Thomas Bryant to Indiana.
47:57 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 48:10
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0:00 Intro
1:27 Ross introduces tonight’s special guest Zaza Pachulia
4:07 Drafted in 2003, a lot of international big men at the time were considered soft entering the NBA, but not Zaza!
7:18 Coming into the league at 19 years old, what were the biggest challenges he faced as a rookie?
9:46 Was there any kind of language barrier for Zaza at the start of his career?
12:52 Has Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze asked for him for advice throughout his young career in the NBA?
16:11 Being from the same NBA Draft class as LeBron James, Zaza provides his thoughts on how LeBron James continues to impress
19:48 Zaza reflects on the 2008 Hawks/Celtics Playoff Series & his battle with Kevin Garnett
26:31 Zaza shares some stories on his former teammate & close friend Al Horford
29:01 Zaza on what he remembers from his 2015-2016 season with the Mavericks when he nearly made the NBA All-Star team
33:01 Was the Golden State Warriors Dynasty Team is the best NBA team ever?
40:21 The unfortunate Kawhi Leonard closeout became known as “The Zaza Rule” does it bother him that an NBA rule is named after him?
43:07 Being close friends with Klay Thompson, Zaza talks about him joining the Mavericks & his recent return to the Bay for the first time
46:38 Zaza shares some memories out at sea with Captain Klay
48:31 Word Association with Zaza!
48:47 Draymond Green
51:22 Steve Kerr
55:56 Giannis Antetokounmpo
57:49 Dirk Nowitzki
59:48 Stephen Curry
1:03:36 Zaza shares a special message to his fellow Georgians
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0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the panel.
0:37 ... Ross dedicates episode #133 to Toumani Camara of the Portland Trailblazers, who happens to wear jersey #33.
1:04 ... Bet Online Live Commercial Read
1:41 ... The show begins with a recap of the strong week by the up and coming Atlanta Hawks. Head coach Quin Snyder is in his second full season and really seems to be getting his program established with a young team.
6:29 ... The Cavaliers beat the Celtics on Sunday to remain on top of the eastern conference with a 17-3 record. It appeared to be a "statement win," but was it really? Bruce has his doubts. Ross expressed concern over the recent struggles of Jrue Holiday.
12:50 ... Boston may have lost to the Cavs on Sunday but they've been bolstered by the return of Kristaps Porzingis, who missed the first 17 games of the season after having off-season surgery. The guys discuss what his presence means for the Celtics. Bruce feels Neemias Queta did a great job while Porzingis was out and his presence should help Al Horford stay fresh for the playoffs. Ross loves KP as a "first basket" betting option for those who like to wager.
15:46 ... Sunday night's battle between the OKC Thunder and Houston Rockets featured a gritty win by the Rockets, who are playing tremendous defense under coach Ime Udoka. OKC misses Chet Holmgren and even with the return of Isaiah Hartenstein, the Thunder are struggling to rebound effectively. World B reminds everyone that Jalen Green of the Rockets needs to shoot a higher percentage from the floor if the Rockets are to make noise in the playoffs.
23:01 ... Our NBA Cup breakdown begins with Group A in the East ... Will the Knicks get past Orlando on Tuesday night and clinch a spot in the knockout round? The crew is split on who will emerge. World B concludes with a very bold prediction about the Magic.
28:49 ... Group B in the east comes down to the winner of Detroit vs. Milwaukee on Tuesday night. Our crew likes the Bucks but the Pistons can clinch the wild card even if they lose ... as long as they don't lose by more than 5 points.
32:48 ... Group C in the east has already been clinched by the Hawks. The Celtics could emerge from the bracket as the wild card team, but they'll need help from Orlando and a large margin of victory (7 points or more) between the Pistons and Bucks regardless of which team wins.
33:55 ... Group A in the west has already been clinched by the Rockets so the Blazers and Clippers have a shot at the wild card, but both teams will need help from elsewhere in order to advance. The Clippers have a slightly better chance than Portland.
38:03 ... Group B in the west has the most intrigue on Tuesday. The Thunder clinch at least a wild card if they beat Utah on Tuesday. The Spurs clinch the group with a win over Phoenix but if San Antonio loses, there's no path to the wild card and it opens the door for Phoenix to possibly grab the wild card if Dallas lays an egg against Memphis.
40:42 ... Group C in the west has been clinched by Golden State. Dallas grabs the wild card with a win over Memphis. If the Grizz beat the Mavs and the Nuggets beat the Warriors, both Memphis and Denver could theoretically advance to the wild card, but there are many scenarios that would have to take place for that to happen.
43:22 ... Final Thoughts: Bruce feels there could be a new "Batman" in Memphis with Jaren Jackson Jr emerging as Ja Morant's virtual equal.
45:08 ... World B's final thought is on the Magic and how they'll become a real threat to do damage in the playoffs if they regain their health. They may even be Boston's toughest matchup in the playoffs.
46:18 .... In Ross's final thought, he surprisingly sees a good future for the Toronto Raptors if Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley get themselves rolling to go along with RJ Barrett, who has played well.
47:23 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 47:40
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0:00 Intro
1:26 Who’s Hot & Who’s Not in terms of NBA teams
1:32 Are the Milwaukee Bucks finding their stride?
4:33 Orlando Magic remaining successful without their star
8:30 The LA Clippers continue to exceed preseason expectations
12:09 Victor Wembanyama & the Spurs are trending upward
15:44 Who’s Not? (Teams)
16:00 Has the Top 4 teams in the Eastern Conference already been decided?
19:24 The Washington Wizards have been a disaster this season, where do they go from here?
23:31 Without Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns can’t survive
27:09 This season for the New Orleans Pelicans has been an absolute nightmare
30:40 What in the world is going on with the Minnesota Timberwolves?
34:01 Can the OKC Thunder stay atop the West without Chet Holmgren?
36:32 A World B Hot or Not special on The Joker
38:02 Hot or Not Players!
38:13 Giannis Antetokounmpo
38:57 LaMelo Ball
40:15 Victor Wembanyama
41:30 Karl Anthony-Towns
42:50 The NBA’s current Rookie Class
44:44 Ice Cold Players in the NBA at the Moment
44:46 Donte Divincenzo
46:27 Tyrese Haliburton
49:06 Bruce provides his final thought on Scotty Pippen Jr.
50:10 World B gives a shoutout to the Chicago Bulls
51:38 Ross gives a proper Thanksgiving signoff
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0:00 ... Ross welcomes everyone to the show and introduces the panel.
0:35 ... Show #131 is dedicated to Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell, who wore #31 which has been retired by the team. Bruce shares a quick story about "Max," who currently broadcasts Celtics games on radio.
1:28 ... Ross does his live Bet Online commercial read
2:00 ... Buy or Sell: Will the Cleveland Cavaliers be a title contender?
5:31 ... Buy or Sell: Are the Golden State Warriors a title contender?
13:09 ... Buy or Sell: Will the Houston Rockets win 50 games this season?
16:35 ... Buy or Sell: Will the Lakers finish in the top 6 out west and avoid the "Play In" tournament?
20:31 ... Buy or Sell: Are the Bucks a playoff team?
28:08 ... Buy or Sell: Is Anthony Davis an MVP and Defensive Player of the Year candidate?
31:47 ... Buy or Sell: Jared McCain is the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.
37:21 ... Buy or Sell: Jimmy Butler will still be a member of the Miami Heat at season's end.
40:52 ... Buy or Sell: Dyson Daniels will break the single season record for steals.
43:37 ... Buy or Sell: Nikola Jokic will average a triple double this season.
46:17 ... TNT's legendary studio show "Inside the NBA" will be seen on ESPN next season. Bruce has mixed feelings about the implications for his friends at ESPN but likes the decision by ESPN and considers it a "win" for NBA fans.
49:43 ... Cleveland suffered its first loss of the season on Tuesday when the Celtics beat them in a very exciting game. The guys discuss how it happened.
TRT 52:29
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0:00 Intro
1:30 Bruce gives guest Steve Bulpett a proper introduction
3:36 The Cavaliers remain undefeated & the best team in the league, what’s changed for them so far this season?
6:06 Is JB Bickerstaff a better coach developing young player rather than winning with an established team?
10:10 Steve Bulpett provides his thoughts on the New York Knicks thus far
14:51 Payton Prichard’s impact on the Boston Celtics early season success
21:28 Neemia Queta’s development in Boston bringing the Celtics a new dimension off the bench
23:56 Is it possible for the Warriors guard Buddy Hield to come away winning the Most Improved Player Award?
25:45 Do the Warriors have what it takes to make one more run at a championship?
28:43 How can Doc Rivers & the Bucks try to turn this awful start to the season around?
37:02 Are the 76ers as big of a mess as they appear to be right now?
40:20 Lots of NBA stars are currently out injured, are there any fixes the league might consider?
42:20 Can the Suns continue their hot start to the season without Kevin Durant?
46:50 Bruce provides his final thoughts on the latest NBA book to be published called “The Basketball 100”
47:48 World B gives some kudos to the Brooklyn Nets efforts this season
49:31 Steve reminds us all how early we are into the season & what we should be keeping an eye on
50:42 Ross pays tribute to his friend & former colleague Brendan Brown who sadly passed away last week
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0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the crew.
0:40 ... Episode 129 is dedicated to injured Magic star Paolo Banchero, who was averaging 29 points per game before his injury.
1:02 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read from Ross
1:37 ... Ross explains the theme of this week's show and jumps right into a discussion of "What's Wrong With the Milwaukee Bucks?"
10:06 ... "What's Wrong With the Denver Nuggets?"
14:24 ... "What's Wrong With the Minnesota Timberwolves?"
21:25 ... "What's Wrong With the Indiana Pacers?"
25:59 ... "What's Wrong With Victor Wembanyama?"
31:22 ... "What's Wrong With Joel Embiid and (Paul George)?"
37:39 ... "What's Wrong With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope?"
42:33 ... "What's Wrong With Grant Williams?"
47:20... Bruce's Final Thought: Buddy Hield
49:02 ... World B's Final Thought: The Undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers
51:00 ... Ross's Final Thought: Vince Carter's retirement ceremony
52:07 ... Ross says goodbye and see ya next time
TRT 52:27
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0:00 Intro
2:02 Bruce provides his instant thoughts on Monday night’s Bucks/Celtics game before tipping off our Boston discussion!
7:21 Is there cause for concern in Milwaukee?
12:20 Are the Cavs for real?
16:43 A review of the New York Knicks as they continue to gel
21:03 Are the LA Lakers off to the most surprising start this season?
25:57 The Oklahoma City Thunder somehow might be exceeding expectations out of the gates
31:08 Don’t sleep on the Orlando Magic!
34:39 James Harden is leading the LA Clippers to success thus far
38:44 Should we pump the brakes the Golden State Warriors good start?
42:38 The Houston Rockets haven’t taken lift off just yet
46:52 Is it too early to hit the panic button on the Denver Nuggets?
50:35 The Kings are yet to light the beam this season
54:58 Final Thought on the Dwyane Wade statue
57:29 Bruce ends the show with a very special birthday message
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0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome .... and introduces the panel
0:38 ... Episode #127 is dedicated to Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, who both averaged "27" points per game last season.
0:55 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read from Ross
1:36 ... We preview Tuesday night's opening games on TNT.
1:51 ... Bruce starts it off with a preview of Knicks vs Celtics, including some historical facts about their renewed rivalry. World B reminds Bruce that the Knicks actually won game 7 of that 1973 eastern finals on Boston's home court. World B also pointed out that the Knicks played more pre-season minutes together than any other starting five in the NBA.
6:14 ... Ross points out that Boston will have a target on its back like all champions.
6:53 ... Ross asks Bruce if he thinks Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla will use more players off the bench and Bruce feels that Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman will give him good minutes at center in relief of Al Horford until Kristaps Porzingis returns from injury.
8:23 ... World B points out that NY is very thin up front with Precious Achiewa and Mitchell Robinson on the shelf to start the year. Ross is looking forward to seeing Mikal Bridges' and his new jump shooting form.
10:50 ... In the second game on opening night, the Lakers host the Timberwolves and World B feels Minnesota has a solid collection of players and that Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo make the Wolves formidible.
12:24 ... Bruce is looking forward to seeing how TNT handles its coverage in the final year of their contract. Will Charles Barkley and Shaq stir things up? As for the Lakers/Wolves matchup, will JJ Redick throw Bronny James out there against an elite team in his first NBA game? Ross feels that he'll get Bronny out there pretty quickly just to put it to bed.
14:46 ... Ross asks World B if he'd be shocked to see LA win the opener against a great Minnesota team. World B says Anthony Davis will shoot a lot more threes this season.
17:25 ... The Thunder vs Nuggets game on Thursday provides OKC with a chance to make a statement against the 2023 champs on Thursday night. Ross feels OKC is young and talented but World B thinks Christian Braun really needs to step up for Denver this season.
21:49 ... The Pacers vs Knicks on Friday will be another key first week matchup as they meet right away after having played each other in a 7 game playoff series last season. Bennedict Mathurin's return gives Indiana a huge boost.
24:21 ... Ross is excited for the Suns/Clippers matchup at the new Intuit Dome in LA. He also thinks James Harden may try to revert to his Houston days and become a volume scorer again. Coach Mike Budenholzer is expected to really help Phoenix become a solid defensive team to complement their great offensive players.
26:51 ... Ross tees up our segment on postseason awards predictions. We begin with the MVP race. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic are getting love from our crew.
29:57 ... All three guys have different choices for Rookie of the Year. Bruce likes Stephon Castle of the Spurs. World B likes Zach Edey of Memphis. Ross has the biggest eye opening choice in Tidjane Salaun of Charlotte.
33:50 ... Bruce considered Victor Wembanyama for two awards: Defensive Player of the year and Most Improved Player but he settled on Wemby as the top defensive player. All three panelists agreed.
36:18 ... The Coach of the year discussion centers on Ime Udoka of Houston and Jamahl Moseley of Orlando.
39:10 ... The Most Improved Player Award is a three-way race between Cade Cunningham, Wembanyama, and Jalen Williams. World B feels that this award has settled into a very predictable pattern with a good player who becomes a first-time All Star almost always winning the award in recent years.
42:29 .... Bruce predicts a Celtics/Thunder NBA Finals matchup with Boston winning and Jayson Tatum winning Finals MVP. World B feels the Timberwolves will win the west but that Boston will be the eventual champion while Ross is on the OKC bandwagon and believes they'll use draft capital to bolster their team and ultimately win it all.
49:38 ... Ross says goodbye and see you next week!
TRT 50:06
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0:00 Intro
1:43 Bruce gives a quick shoutout & then explains the concept of tonight’s show
3:01 Atlanta Hawks
4:50 Boston Celtics
7:15 Brooklyn Nets
8:59 Charlotte Hornets
11:05 Chicago Bulls
12:45 Cleveland Cavaliers
14:59 Detroit Pistons
17:07 Indiana Pacers
19:45 Miami Heat
21:45 Milwaukee Bucks
24:33 New York Knicks
27:46 Orlando Magic
30:38 Philadelphia 76ers
34:11 Toronto Raptors
36:03 Washington Wizards
38:25 Dallas Mavericks
40:23 Denver Nuggets
42:57 Golden State Warriors
44:58 Houston Rockets
47:27 LA Clippers
49:22 LA Lakers
52:16 Memphis Grizzlies
55:10 Minnesota Timberwolves
58:16 New Orleans Pelicans
1:00:58 OKC Thunder
1:03:31 Phoenix Suns
1:06:22 Portland Trail Blazers
1:09:45 Sacramento Kings
1:12:01 San Antonio Spurs
1:15:16 Utah Jazz
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0:00 ... Ross welcome and introduces the panelists
0:46 ... Episode #125 honors Doc Rivers, who wore #25 during his entire NBA career
0:55 ... Bet OnLine live read
1:42 ... Bruce introduces PJ Carlesimo and points out his many attributes, including his ability to convince Italian restaurants all over the country to keep their kitchens open late when he is in town doing a game.
3:03 ... PJ on the "new look" New York Knicks and how Tom Thibodeau will deploy his new guys like Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges.
5:43 ... PJ says that with Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo headed to Minnesota and Towns coming to New York, this trade will be great for both teams.
7:30 ... As for the Boston Celtics, both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have chips on their shoulders heading into the season. Bruce asks PJ if Joe Mazzulla will be able to channel some of that beef into positive energy that will fuel a long playoff run and possible repeat championship. PJ feels Mazzulla is up to the challenge.
14:42 ... The 76ers are also loaded now that Paul George has joined Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey for a new "Big Three" in Philly. Ross wonders if Nick Nurse should ignore the 65 game minimum for his oft-injured stars (PG and Joel) and make sure they're well rested for the playoffs. PJ says he thinks Nurse should play them more than 65 games, which he feels is important in order for them to be ready to perform at a higher level in the postseason.
19:17 ... Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers hired Rajon Rondo as an assistant coach and Michael asks if PJ thinks he has what it takes to be a head coach in the league. PJ has a lot to say about the Bucks and how Giannis needs to step up and do a better job on the court. PJ said there was a lot of finger pointing in Milwaukee, which did not help the team last season. Health is a key for the Bucks with Giannis and Khris Middleton needing to stay on the court. PJ appreciates Rondo's hoop IQ and say he has a chance to be a great coach but there's more to being a head coach than what many people think.
25:40 ... PJ sees a dark horse team in the east and feels Indiana has been undervalued and explains that if they stay healthy, they're a dangerous team. The east is deeper than it has been in years and nobody is going to waltz through the conference this season.
28:09 ... It's now "Wemby's World" although he's still too young to drink red wine with head coach Gregg Popovich. PJ discusses the Spurs culture that Pop and RC Buford have built. Pop is great with "X's and O's," but his real strength is the relationships he builds with his players.
31:10 ... While the Spurs were lucky to get him, PJ feels that Victor Wembanyama is also lucky to be playing in San Antonio where there is less of a spotlight on his every move. PJ says he always watches Victor because you will eventually see him do something that you just can't believe. PJ shares a story about a game he did with Marc Kestecher on ESPN Radio last season where Wemby made a move that he couldn't even describe.
37:21 ... Michael asks for PJ's take on the relatively young Oklahoma City Thunder and whether they are seasoned enough to come out of the west this season. Chet Holmgren will be bolstered by Isaiah Hartenstein's presence and their rebounding will be much improved. But PJ describes the western conference as a "bloodbath" with so many strong teams competing on a nightly basis.
41:48 ... Ross asks about PJ's dark horse teams out west. Golden State isn't quite there yet but Phoenix will benefit from their new coach (Mike Budenholzer) and upgraded point guards. Kevin Durant is still the best closer in the league and never misses free throws. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will be guys he has his eyes on.
44:52 ... Bruce wonders if Bronny James will flourish alongside LeBron. PJ feels kind of bad for Bronny because of the shadow cast by LeBron. PJ hopes he can be evaluated as a player and not as LeBron's son.
46:45 ... JJ Redick is now coaching the Lakers and the pressure in LA is always "win a title or the season is a failure." With Anthony Davis and LeBron, the rest of the guys need to really step up and that is JJ's mission.
49:04 ... PJ on Duke freshman Cooper Flagg and whether he is a "can't miss" player. PJ says he is the real thing and is totally convinced that he will live up to the hype. PJ got some Luka Doncic vibes watching him play.
52:53 ... PJ says Flagg doesn't really remind him of any other previous players. But he competed against MEN and more than held his own. The Olympics players will all say "he IS that good."
54:42 ... Ross thanks PJ for joining the show and says goodbye ...
TRT 55:32
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0:00 Intro
1:35 Bruce pays tribute to Dikembe Mutombo who lost his battle with brain cancer
4:06 Karl Anthony-Towns traded to the New York Knicks
6:07 Is KAT the correct big swing for New York?
8:14 Does KAT’s style of play mesh with Tom Thibodeau’s style?
9:47 Knicks offensive spacing might look very similar to the Celtics
11:07 Can KAT handle all the pressure that comes with playing in New York with the Knicks?
12:45 Does KAT have the killer instinct?
15:24 Julius Randle’s fit with the Minnesota Timberwolves
17:28 Any ball sharing or ball movement concerns in Minnesota?
20:46 Derrick Rose announces his retirement
25:40 Kawhi Leonard will not be starting Clippers Training Camp 100%
29:18 Zach Lowe out at ESPN
37:45 The top storylines we’re looking forward to heading into the new season!
37:57 How the 76ers & Knicks try to compete with the Boston Celtics
40:30 Can the Boston Celtics repeat as NBA champions
42:46 Vince Carter set to have his jersey retired with both the Brooklyn Nets & Toronto Raptors
0:04 ... Opening Animation and Welcome to the show. Ross introduces the 48 Minutes crew of Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer.
0:40 ... Show #123 is dedicated to Lou Williams
1:10 ... Ross Live commercial read for BetOnline
1:48 ... Joel Embiid signs a three year contract extension for $192.9 million and everyone feels he has earned it and is deserving of the pay day.
5:48 ... Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks will miss the first few months of the season and coach Tom Thibodeau will need to use all of his creativity in order to fill the void he leaves.
10:17 ... With Boston's Kristaps Porzingis also missing the first three months, Embiid and the Sixers could bust out of thre gate and build a nice cushion in the Atlantic Division.
13:25 ... Western Conference Over/Under Win Predictions ... Phoenix Suns
15:42 ... Sacramento Kings
18:24 ... Golden State Warriors
20:36 ... Los Angeles Lakers
24:04 ... LA Clippers
26:46 ... Oklahoma City Thunder
30:13 ...Minnesota Timberwolves
33:29 ... Denver Nuggets
35:30 ... Utah Jazz
38:03 ... Portland Trailblazers
41:49 ... Dallas Mavericks
44:26 ... Memphis Grizzlies
47:53 ... New Orleans Pelicans
50:48 ... Houston Rockets
53:06 ... San Antonio Spurs
55:50 ... Ross pays tribute to Phoenix Suns play-by-play announcer Al McCoy who passed away this week at the age of 91.
56:36 ... Bruce follows up with some thoughts on how long-time play-by-play announcers bond with the fans in a much different way than the players. Legendary announcers like Chick Hearn, Marv Albert, McCoy, and others like Mike Gorman become part of the lives of the fans of the teams.
58:04 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 58:19
0:00 Intro
2:02 Burning Questions leading up to the NBA Preseason
2:12 Which playoff teams from last season are most likely to have a drop off this season?
18:09 Which team out East outside of the playoff field last season is most likely to be in the playoffs this season?
23:22 Which players should fans be on alert to take the leap into stardom next season?
34:19 Which team out West outside of the playoff field last season is most likely to be in the playoffs this season?
40:08 Ross’s Best Bets: A look into some early preseason prop bets!
40:24 James Harden to average 20 ppg next season
41:15 Paul George to average 23 ppg next season
42:44 Brandon Miller to average 23 ppg next season
44:17 Tyus Jones to average 6 apg next season
45:19 Immanuel Quickley to average 20 ppg next season
46:35 Final Thoughts
0:00 Intro
1:42 Bruce asks Ross to provide a recap of Giannis Antetokounmpo's wedding in Greece
05:02 An Eastern Conference Focus on team Over/Under Win Projections
05:20 Boston Celtics
08:49 New York Knicks
11:23 Philadelphia 76ers
14:23 Toronto Raptors
17:40 Brooklyn Nets
20:55 Milwaukee Bucks
24:19 Cleveland Cavaliers
27:25 Indiana Pacers
30:39 Chicago Bulls
33:46 Detroit Pistons
37:23 Orlando Magic
40:18 Miami Heat
42:41 Atlanta Hawks
45:33 Charlotte Hornets
48:23 Washington Wizards
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome to the show.
0:51 ... Bruce live Bet Online Commercial Read.
1:29 ... Bruce introduces Ryan Ward, the host of the Jello Jigglin podcast and reporter for LakersNation.com.
2:07 ... Ryan explains "Jello Jigglin," the name of his podcast which honors Chick Hearn, the legendary Lakers announcer.
3:06 ... Everything begins and ends with LeBron James when it comes to the Lakers ... Bruce thinks he's the GOAT but Ryan has an alternate opinion .... Ryan explains why it's still Michael Jordan for him.
6:12 ... LeBron's son Bronny is a Laker and defense appears to be his strength .... Ryan shares his thoughts on Bronny and how he can use his defense to succeed in the NBA. JJ Redick said Lu Dort could be a model for Bronny's upward trajectory.
8:56 ... Ryan feels Bronny can eventually become a solid shooter and he used Jason Kidd as an example.
11:03 ... JJ Redick is a rookie coach and he's LeBron's guy (for now), but the fans are not expecting much from him. But he'll still take heat if the team flounders out of the gate. Ryan ridicules those who compare Redick to a young Pat Riley.
14:13 ... Bronny has gotten all the attention but top draft choice Dalton Knecht is a three point shooter and could be a major factor right out of the box.
15:21 ... Ryan sizes up the Lakers backcourt situation with newly re-signed Max Christie joining Austin Reaves, D'Angelo Russell, and Gabe Vincent.
16:38 ... Christie signed a nice contract (4 yrs/$32m) but is that deal something the Lakers should have committed to?
18:43 ... This is the last gasp of the LeBron era and Ryan feels the rebuilding process is upon us soon. He even makes a bold prediction about LeBron's future.
20:42 ... Anthony Davis is still at the top of his game and this could be the "last best chance" for AD and LBJ to get one more ring.
22:07 ... Ryan questioned why JJ Redick dissed AD's defense last season and suggested it might have been personal.
24:28 ... World B asks Ryan about AD's shot selection and what he needs to do to be dominant on offense. While three point shooting has never been his thing, Redick loves the three and may ask AD to shoot them more frequently.
25:47 ... Bruce asks Ryan if the supporting cast is good enough for a long playoff run without a mid-season trade?
27:04 ... Has Rob Pelinka had a successful tenure as general manager after winning it all in 2020? Ryan had a major problem with the Russell Westbrook trade and agrees with Dwight Howard about how breaking up the 2020 champions was a mistake.
30:40 ... The Clippers would like to consider themselves rivals of the Lakers and now they have their own new arena. But much like the Nets vs the Knicks in New York, the Clips will never be the equal of the Lakers. Ryan had fun describing how the Lakers built a new scoreboard in response to the Clippers massive new video board but he couldn't tell the difference between the new one and previous one.
35:04 ... Steve Ballmer could have moved the Clippers to Seattle but he chose money over team success.
35:39 ... This is the first time that the fans see Jeanie Buss as "public enemy #1" even though she is a great person. Bruce shares his thoughts on how Jeanie hasn't had it easy with family conflicts affecting the operation of the team. And the relatively small number of people in the inner circle has sometimes given LeBron more opportunities to exert his influence.
37:55 ... Ryan says Lakers Nation is convinced that LeBron is running the entire franchise and the fans are very negative towards the Lakers heading into the season.
40:06 ... The Lakers have usually found success trading for stars and even though they've drafted well, they always trade promising young guys for "one guy."
41:34 ... World B tees up a discussion on whether the team has a "Post LeBron Exit Strategy." Ryan feels the future is really uncertain and their pattern of trading young players for stars probably won't continue.
45:27 .... The Knicks would like to emulate the Lakers in the way they attract stars, but now they're taking a different approach and the Knicks are hitting their stride.
46:50 ... Magic Johnson and Anthony Edwards recently feuded over Ant's statement about old school guys not being as good as the new school guys. We all ridiculed Edwards for his bizarre take.
51:20 ... World B asks Ryan about Kobe vs LeBron and Ryan feels Kobe's mentality set him apart from LeBron. He was a killer on the court, the way his mind worked, and the way he carried himself were all amazing. Ryan said LeBron can do everything on the court but off the court he was not as great as Kobe. Kobe was an inspiration in many non-basketball situations.
54:24 ... Bruce feels Kobe is an eternal life force who remains a presence in the hearts and minds of basketball fans everywhere.
55:46 ... Bruce feels that the Celtics and Lakers complete each other and measure themselves against each other. There is a lot of respect there. But Ryan feels Cedric Maxwell is one player that Lakers fans really hate.
57:54 ... Bruce thanks Ryan for joining the show and says goodbye .
TRT 58:41
0:00 .... Bruce hello and welcome
0:48 .... Live Bet OnLine read
1:29 ... Bruce introduces special guest Bill Pidto of MSG Network
2:27 .. How important is it to the NBA when the Knicks are relevant?
3:39 ... What has made Knicks president Leon Rose so successful in rebuilding the Knicks?
5:50 ... OG Anunoby joined the team during the season last year but he'll be in training camp this season ... what will the impact be when he is around from the start of the season this time around?
7:03 ... Julius Randle can be a polarizing figure, but Bill explains why he is so important to the team.
8:50 ... Bill and World B discuss how close the Knicks are to the Celtics in the eastern conference pecking order.
9:52 ... Head coach Tom Thibideau has a very deep team but still faces many challenges and Bill sizes them up.
12:02 ... The atmosphere in New York is electric when the Knicks are making a playoff run and the excitement level will be at a fever pitch this season.
13:27 ... With the departure of Isaiah Hartenstein, Jericho Sims may be asked to step up along with Precious Achiewa to fill that void behind Mitchell Robinson. As the season goes on, the team's cap space could improve and then a move could be possible to shore up that position.
15:05 ... The Knicks would have liked to keep Hartenstein but the numbers didn't allow it.
16:43 ... Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby are lockdown wing defenders which may help overcome the lack of a rim protector if Mitchell Robinson is out of the lineup. Bill feels there are very few centers in the east that will test the Knicks rim protection.
18:38 ... Will the four Villanova guys (Brunson, Hart, Bridges, DiVincenzo) see time on the floor together? Bill feels it could be a viable "small" lineup with Randle at center.
19:55 ... Although the team did give up a lot of future assets to acquire Bridges, there is one player (Randle) that could potentially be moved if the Knicks feel they need to replenish their future draft assets. But Bill feels that is very unlikely.
21:20 ... What was the significance of Jalen Brunson taking less money in his new deal in order to give the team more cap flexibility? Bill feels he put the team first while Bruce wonders if there could be any unintended consequences for his act of unselfishness.
24:16 ... World B's Knicks loyalty goes back many years but he understands the hype and he asks Bill what the team's actual ceiling is.
26:23 ... Bruce, our resident Celtics fan is just itching for a Celtics/Knicks eastern conference finals which everyone feels will be an epic series.
27:48 ... The Knicks have done a good job of keeping their retired legends involved with the team and that adds to the excitement of the fans.
29:30 ... Bruce thanks Bill and teases next week's show with fellow BLEAV podcaster Ryan Ward of the "Jello Jiggin" Lakers-centric podcast.
TRT 30:14
0:00 Intro
1:30 The crew breaks down the NBA matchups they’ve got circled on next season’s calendar
1:56 Knicks @ 76ers matchup
2:58 Spurs @ Thunder matchup
5:01 Knicks @ Celtics on Opening Night
6:04 Knicks @ Pacers
7:25 Bucks @ Grizzlies
9:13 Suns @ Clippers
10:53 Nuggets @ Lakers
12:47 Suns @ Timberwolves
13:45 Warriors @ Celtics
15:08 Lakers @ Warriors on Christmas Day
16:02 Bucks @ Blazers
17:00 Bruce shares a quick rafting story
17:39 Mavericks @ Warriors
18:31 76ers @ Clippers
19:30 Sixers signing Guerschon Yabusele after his success this summer with France
20:29 Kings @ Rockets
21:31 Best Offseason Move Around the League
21:41 The OKC Thunder adding Isaiah Hartenstein & Alex Caruso
22:54 The New York Knicks adding Mikal Bridges
26:25 The Phoenix Suns signing Tyus Jones
27:31 Bruce gives a shoutout to a Spurs super fan
28:27 Chris Paul & Harrison Barnes joining the Spurs
29:44 Paul George joining forces with Joel Embiid in Philadelphia
31:57 The Bucks significantly improving their wings by adding Gary Trent Jr & Taurean Prince
32:58 The Magic signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
34:09 Klay Thompson making the move to Dallas to play with the Mavericks
37:03 The Kings adding DeMar DeRozan while also retaining Malik Monk
38:32 Caitlin Clark & the Indiana Fever are making noise in the WNBA
45:44 NBA Wedding Bells were ringing! Bruce shares the news
0:00 Intro
1:27 Initial Reactions to Team USA winning the Gold Medal Game
3:19 Steph Curry’s epic finish down the stretch
9:57 Devin Booker’s standout play & development this summer
13:12 Jayson Tatum’s interesting summer
17:00 Joel Embiid becoming a worldwide villain
18:52 LeBron James continues to impress us all
21:22 Victor Wembanyama did not disappoint!
26:38 Team USA Women’s team continue to dominate Olympic competition
29:44 Nikola Jokic’s historic Olympic performance
33:17 Reactions to LeBron James winning MVP of the Olympics
34:43 All-Olympic Team Selections & Reactions
37:27 What could Team USA look like in 2028?
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome ... Ross introduces the panel and dedicates episode #116 to james Johnson, who wears #16 and begins his 16th NBA season in October.
1:00 ... Ross live read for Bet Online
1:47 ... The crew reflects on last week's show with Luke Kornet of the Celtics and what a unique guest he was.
3:33 ... Tyus Jones joins the Phoenix Suns and will be the steady point guard the Suns need.
6:45 ... The Suns rotation will change drastically and they were a poor 4th quarter team last season but Jones will solve many of their late game woes.
10:08 ... The Knicks re-upped Precious Achiewa as a backup big but their center situation is still tenuous with often injured Mitchell Robinson still on the team but reliable backup Isaiah Hartenstein has moved on to Oklahoma City.
15:17 ... Reed Sheppard of Houston is favored by many to win the Rookie of the Year Award but Ross and Bruce feel Stephon Castle of the Spurs will win it while World B likes Zach Edey of Memphis.
19:34 ... Charles Barkley is talking about retirement but nobody takes it seriously since he has 7 years left on a 10 year $210 million dollar contract. If he leaves Turner, ESPN could be a possibility but his deal would need to be different than most talent at ESPN because he probably would balk at the type of workload that ESPN analysts typically have to handle.
23:59 ... Inside The NBA could be a vastly different show next season as the sad reality of losing the contract with the league wears on the guys and some bitterness may show up on the air. Ross appreciates how Charles always would stick up for the people behind the scenes whose jobs will be in jeopardy.
26:47 ... World B shares a personal story about being told he was being let go by the Golf Channel but that he had to work his final two months before his time expired. It was a trying time and the Turner crew will probably experience something similar.
28:19 ... Turner operates NBA TV but if they retain control over the network, they could move Inside the NBA to NBA TV and make that low rated network much more prominent in the marketplace.
30:32 ... The Quarterfinals at the Olympics are set to begin on Tuesday with four games. Team USA will play Brazil and should have few problems as long as they keep Brazil off the offensive glass.
33:17 ... Germany will play Greece and Giannis will be a force, but Germany is a more balanced team with Dennis Schroeder, the Wagner Brothers, and Daniel Theis and the Germans should advance.
35:43 ... Serbia plays Australia but nobody ever has an answer for Nikola Jokic. The Ozzies have lots of NBA talent on their team but the crew likes Serbia.
37:37 ... France plays Canada and while France has Victor Wembanyama and Rudy Gobert, they never really seemed to mesh on the court and Canada looks like the team that should advance.
39:58 ... Team USA's 3-on-3 team was eliminated on Sunday, so we each selected our "Dream 3-on-3 Teams" from among American born NBA players. Ross took Donovan Mitchell, Myles Turner, and Damian Lillard. Bruce chose Karl-Anthony Towns, Jaylen Brown, and Mike Conley. World B chose Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, and James Harden.
45:25 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 45:43
0:00 Intro
1:50 Ross introduces 2024 NBA Champion Luke Kornet
3:15 What makes playing for the Boston Celtics different from any other NBA team?
5:49 Did the outside noise & championship doubt ever reach the Celtics locker room?
8:47 Having previously played with Kristaps Porzingis in New York, how has Porzingis’s game matured?
11:41 Luke shares his favorite memory for the Celtics championship duck boat parade
13:40 Where did Luke get his sense of humor?
15:45 How much of the team success this year falls on Joe Mazzula?
19:57 Luke shares his thoughts on the new head coach of the Charlotte Hornets Charles Lee
22:38 How competitive was the very impressive Kornet household growing up?
26:50 Could Luke see himself becoming an NBA media personality in the future?
29:53 Who is Luke’s funniest teammate on the Celtics?
31:26 Word Association with Luke
31:48 Derrick White
32:45 Jaylen Brown
33:42 Cedric Maxwell
34:17 Al Horford
35:05 Jrue Holiday
36:24 Eclipse Shot Contest
40:42 Is Luke getting used to these shorter offseasons?
0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome ... introduces Bruce, Michael, and guest Kevin Winter ... this is episode #114 in honor of Scotty Pippen Jr.
1:20 ... Ross's Bet Online live commercial read
2:15 ... Bruce complains that with two Celtics fans on the show, show #114 is NOT in honor of Boston legend Bob Cousy. Ross expertly shuts Bruce down with a zinger that left a mark!
2:46 ... Bruce introduces our guest Kevin Winter, the long-time studio host of the NBA on ESPN Radio.
3:53 ... Ross tees the crew up for a discussion of Team USA as they finished their tune-up games on Monday against Germany. Kevin feels the teams around the world not only can compete with team USA, but want to kick some American butt.
5:40 ... Bruce points out how LeBron James has been the dominant player for Team USA in their "friendly" matches.
7:04 ... Stephen Curry will be a huge factor and Kevin discusses some lineups he'd like to see Steve Kerr try.
8:13 ... Jaylen Brown was passed over for Team USA in favor of teammate Derrick White and Kevin said that Grant Hill always wanted White on the team, although he feels Jalen Brunson would have also been a solid choice.
10:02 ... Bruce asks if White's time in the San Antonio Spurs system prepared him to become the winning player he's turned out to be. Kevin feels that former Spur players become excellent fits on the teams they end up playing for.
11:50 ... Ross wonders if Chris Paul will be a great fit in San Antonio and be successful. Kevin is not so sure.
13:17 ... Bruce asks Kevin what it was like to be in the middle of hosting the NBA Finals live on the radio while riding the emotional roller coaster as a fan of the Celtics.
16:20 ... World B wants to know if Kevin feels the Celtics can repeat as champs next year? Kevin has his eye on the Bucks with Giannis and Damian Lillard but is less high on the Sixers.
18:56 ... Bruce asks Kevin about his fellow ESPN Radio analyst PJ Carlesimo and some of their adventures in dining and how the coach makes sure food for the team is a priority and everyone on the radio team is properly fed.
22:32 ... Bruce tells a quick story about another "old school" coach, the late Paul Silas who worked with Bruce at ESPN and was like PJ in that he always picked up the tab for dinner for the crew because coaches knew that armies travel on their stomachs.
23:03 ... Ross asks Kevin about the mysterious Twitter/X fan "Yanos," and gets a hilarious response.
24:14 .... The LA Clippers have made some very strange moves as they get ready to move into their new building next season and Kevin is not optimistic about their chances for the upcoming season.
27:17 ... What do we make of the crosstown Lakers? Can LeBron continues playing at such a high level as he approaches his 40th birthday? Kevin says his days of winning championships are gone.
29:15 ... World B feels the Lakers have been good, but the conference is really tough and Anthony Davis & LeBron may not be physically up to the task of winning big in the postseason.
31:45 ... What about the Denver Nuggets? Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, as always, are the indispensable guys. Russell Westbrook and his aggressive style will work well off the bench for Denver next season.
35:18 ... Bruce tees Kevin up for a nice rant on Evan Mobley's max contract.
36:52 ... Jalen Brunson left money on the table on his recent contract and while it was a great gesture on Brunson's part, there could be unintended consequences.
38:44 ... Brunson's move puts the pressure on the Knicks front office to use the money to bring in more talent.
39:39 ... Kevin thinks Brunson may have gotten some grief from the Players Association over his act of generosity.
41:34 ... Bruce wants to know how Klay Thompson will fit in with the Mavs ... Kevin thinks Klay will help Luka Doncic learn how to win and he also likes the potential of Dereck Lively.
45:45 ... The guys discuss NBA executive Pat Williams and what he meant to the NBA and also to the Orlando Magic, the franchise he co-founded. Williams passed away this past week at the age of 84.
48:27 ... Ross thanks Kevin for joining us and says goodbye
TRT 49:29
0:00 Intro
1:37 Jalen Brunson’s decision to leave $113M on the table for the New York Knicks
11:01 Bruce shares a quick fun fact on Tom Thibodeau you’ve never heard before!
15:22 Underrated free agent signings across the league
21:16 NBA Las Vegas Summer League Notes!
21:23 Stephon Castle is officially shut down due to injury
23:24 More bad injury news for the Denver Nuggets with their top pick
26:31 Bronny James offensive struggles
30:27 Reed Sheppard is dazzling with the Houston Rockets
33:16 Bruce provides a summer league fun fact!
34:10 The Charlotte Hornets remain undefeated this summer
35:27 Brandin Podziemski continues his successful summer in Las Vegas
36:40 The NBA released the groups for next year’s NBA Cup
37:05 Bruce explains how group play works in the NBA Cup
38:02 The crew dive into their initial reactions into the groups & which team they like winning each one
48:13 The crew reacts to the breaking news on Russell Westbrook’s future with the Clippers
0:00 ... Hello, welcome, and introduction of panelists
0:43 ... This show is dedicated to Leaky Black
1:16 ... Bet Online live commercial read
1:56 ... NBA Summer league news, including Bronny James' impressive defensive skills
6:48 ... Zach Edey is off to a great start and could have an immediate impact in Memphis.
10:02 ... San Antonio's Stephon Castle is Victor Wembanyama's new wingman and Bruce predicts he'll be the NBA's Rookie of the Year. World B thinks he could eventually be the starting point guard for the Spurs.
13:33 ... Ross wonders why Scoot Henderson is not on the Portland Summer league roster when he could really use the reps, especially when it comes to building chemistry with rookie big Donovan Clingan.
17:39 ... Cooper Flagg has been crushing it for the Select team in games against the Olympic team. The 17 year old incoming Duke freshman appears to be "NBA Ready."
20:24 ... Anthony Edwards wants to be the "Number One Option" for Team USA ... stay tuned!
23:10 ... Kawhi Leonard was replaced on Team USA by Derrick White, but the crew is scratching their collective heads as to why White was chosen over his teammate Jaylen Brown when it made sense for Leonard to be replaced by another forward rather than a guard like White. Brown did not appear to be happy based on a cryptic social media post.
26:48 ... Ross liked how Brandin Podziemski and Devin Booker seemed to have some beef with each other after one of the Team USA vs the Select Team games.
27:30 ... We switch to the WNBA and the battle for Rookie of the Year between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Bruce is getting a WNBA version of the "Larry vs Magic" vibe from four decades ago with Angel and Caitlin.
31:23 ... The crew discusses the curious exit of Caleb Martin from Miami after he left millions of dollars on the table in Miami to sign with the 76ers.
35:44 ... Future Hall of Famer DeMar DeRozan signs with Sacramento and it leads to a discussion about which of the four California-based teams is the best in the mythical "California Division."
39:47 ... Final Thoughts ... World B on how the potential of Cooper Flagg as the likely #1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft could lead to a frenzy of tanking this season by teams eager to draft him.
41:31 ... Bruce will be hosting the "Hoop Hall Hangout" later in the day on July 11th with University of North Carolina All American guard RJ Davis at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.
43:28 ... Ross sizes up his top Summer League performers including GG Jackson of memphis.
45:24 ... Goodbye and we're back next week!
TRT 45:39
0:00 Intro
2:00 The 76ers big start to the offseason
7:52 LeBron James & the LA Lakers
12:02 The LA Clippers offseason moves thus far
17:02 Chris Paul signs with the San Antonio Spurs
20:35 Is Klay Thompson the missing piece in Dallas?
24:22 The New York Knicks big trade acquisition of Mikal Bridges
30:26 KCP joining forces with the Orlando Magic
33:03 Should Nuggets fans be concerned that the team has let 2 valuable players walk for the 2nd straight offseason?
34:54 Reactions to the big moves by the OKC Thunder this summer
39:17 Boston Celtics big signings & a sale of the team on the horizon?
44:30 Final Thoughts: Our Winners & Losers of the offseason so far
0:00 Intro
1:47 Ross introduces guest Joe Doerrer of StrictlyBball
3:15 Joe being a diehard Timberwolves fan recaps their successful season & reflects on his time being around the team during Media Day
5:23 Joe shares what Anthony Edwards is like behind the scenes
7:48 What does Joe think the Wolves should do with their 27th overall pick in the 1st round of the draft?
10:12 How many prospects in this year’s draft class has Joe covered live in person?
12:04 Joes provides his overview on this year’s NBA draft & what fans can expect
13:43 Joe on the NBA’s decision to split the draft into 2 nights for the first time in history
16:05 Joe on what he’s been hearing around the league on potential draft night moves
18:30 Ross shares his “GG Jackson” deep sleeper prospect in this year’s draft class
19:22 The 48 Minutes crew challenges Joe to a game of “Prospect Association”
19:48 “Superstar Potential”
20:34 “Best Athlete”
21:03 “Biggest Competitor”
21:43 “Best French Prospect”
22:58 “Basketball Junkie”
25:13 “2nd Round Sleeper”
26:06 “Best UCONN Husky”
26:44 World B asks Joe about Nikola Topic’s game & how much his injury might effect his draft stock
30:43 Joe on Zach Edey’s game transitioning to the NBA
33:53 Having covered many of Bronny James’s high school games, Joe shares his outlook on his future in the NBA
36:58 Would Joe be surprised if Bronny gets selected before the Lakers pick at #55?
38:54 If Bronny is taken by a team other than the Lakers will he get some extra rookie hazing?
41:17 Tonight’s final thought is a potentially strategic move by the Celtics on draft night!
0:00 ... Bruce hello and welcome
0:33 ... Bet Online live commercial read
1:13 ... Bruce Introduces his guests: Arsalan Iftikhar, Eric Newman, & Brad from @celticspost
2:40 ... Bruce asks each guy when they became Celtics fans and who their favorite player is.
9:50 ... Why was this year's Celtics team the one to finally break through and win it all? Lots of love for Jrue Holiday.
17:58 ... Arsalan explains how Jaylen Brown emulated a character in the old He-Man cartoons
19:42 ... Holiday was the "Third J," and the 48 Minutes podcast played a major role in setting the stage for Holiday to join the Celtics when Giannis Antetokounmpo challenged the Bucks to make a big move.
21:50 ... Many said that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would never be a great fit as teammates, but they have cracked the code and created an incredible partnership as virtual co-equals.
30:32 ... Bruce dubbed Holiday and Derrick White "The Wardens" because they "lock up" opposing players. Are they reminiscent of former Celtic legend Dennis Johnson? Our crew has great appreciation for both of The Wardens for so many reasons.
38:47 ... Every dentist in Boston should offer to fix Derrick White's teeth for free over the summer
39:23 ... Al Horford in 2024 and Kevin Garnett in 2008 were both glue guys on championship teams in Boston. Our crew compares and contrasts their respective roles but everyone understands what Big Al meant to the 2024 Celtics. He always was able to keep the team together when the pressure was on.
45:26 ... Arsalan said Peyton Pritchard only makes halfcourt shots.
45:58 ... Joe Mazzulla won everyone over after being much maligned in his first season as head coach. Team president Brad Stevens showed great faith in Mazzulla when others wanted him fired. Everyone agrees that he will only get better as a coach.
50:40 ... Bruce thanks his guests and says goodbye and flashes the Larry O'Brien Trophy on the way out.
TRT 51:23
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome ... Ross introduces the panelists.
0:38 ... Episode #109 honors Derrick White, who wears number 9 for the Celtics and is now an NBA champion.
1:10 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read from Ross
1:47 ... Ross tees up our resident Celtics fan Bruce who describes how the 48 Minutes podcast from last summer set the stage for the Celtics to acquire Jrue Holiday after Giannis Antetokounmpo told the Bucks they needed to make a big move, which they did in trading for Damian Lillard.
4:37 ... Bruce felt the Celtics had "that look" all season and they were such a fun team to follow.
5:13 ... Bruce feels that this year's team is one of the five best single season Celtics teams ever.
5:45 ... World B felt the Celtics were one of the best teams we've seen in years. They dominated the regular season and kept responding every time they were tested.
8:10 ... Ross shares what he felt were the three top storylines for the Celtics.
8:59 ... Ross cites the work of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla who erased all the doubts that people had about his coaching skills. Ross also heaps praise on Jaylen Brown for his response to those who doubted him and the massive improvement in his game.
10:26 .... Bruce praises Brown's leadership skills both on and off the court.
12:30 ... World B reacts to Peyton Pritchard's 50 footer just before halftime and how the Mavericks never seemed able to recover from it and make a run.
14:20 ... Bruce points out how matchups are everything and Boston's perimeter defense was a matchup that was too much for Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic to overcome.
16:17 Dallas needed a third wheel and nobody stepped up to help the Dallas Guards.
16:52 ... Ross and Bruce discuss whether it was sweeter as a Celtics fan to see the team win the championship on their home court instead of in Dallas.
18:49 ... World B shared some thoughts on adjustments Jason Kidd could have made against the Celtics, but Boston had way too much talent for Dallas to deal with. But he still felt it was a successful season for the Mavs.
20:36 ... Bruce pointed out how Dallas completely outworked Boston in game 4 and it was reflected in the rebounding numbers. But in game 5, the Celtics turned the tables, totally outworking the Mavs and crushing them on the boards.
22:12 ... Bruce expresses his longstanding admiration for Al Horford and how he became a mini version of Kevin Garnett for this Celtics team.
24:09 ... Ross and Bruce discuss the impact Kristaps Porzingis had with his return to the lineup despite being injured during the series.
26:17 ... Ross and Bruce discuss what's next for the Celtics .... you couldn't be in a better position than they are moving forward. Bruce feels head coach Joe Mazzulla is in a great position moving forward and is looking like "Erik Spoelstra 2.0."
28:32 ... Derrick White could be an injury replacement for Kawhi Leonard on the USA Olympic Team. Bruce praises White as "Dennis Johnson 2.0."
30:19 ... World B is not concerned about White possibly being overworked due to his possible addition to the Olympic roster.
31:46 ... Bruce sizes up the Mavericks team moving forward and sees most of their key guys are signed for next season.
34:45 ... World B thinks the core group in Dallas will be kept together. PJ Washington was a huge addition and has a great future.
38:38 ... Bruce feels Dallas needs better perimeter defense if they're going to contend next year. World B feels the same.
40:31 ... Dereck Lively receives tons of credit from Ross for his rookie year performance.
41:37 ... Bruce praised Nico Harrison for the Lively trade last summer.
43:29 ... Bruce asks Ross and World B if they'd consider trading Kyrie Irving if they were running the Mavs.
46:36 ... Ross wraps things up ... congratulates Bruce and says goodbye.
TRT 47:31
0:00 Intro
1:30 Was it a surprise to see Kristaps Porzingis sit out Game 3?
3:40 Initial reactions to Dallas fast start in the 1st quarter
5:31 Thoughts on Jayson Tatum’s aggressive game
7:17 The 3-point shooting differences in Game 3
10:51 A look at the final tally at the charity stripe in Game 3
11:59 Boston’s defensive block party
13:41 Dallas’s unbalanced offense
14:38 Is Luka Doncic wearing down in this series?
15:54 Was Bruce nervous when Dallas went on their 22-2 run in the 2nd half?
17:14 World B provides his take on the offensive foul call on PJ Washington in the backcourt
18:40 World B on Boston’s 4th quarter pace issues on display again tonight
20:33 The Jayson Tatum/Jaylen Brown dynamic in Game 3
21:53 Is Jaylen Brown the favorite to win Finals MVP?
23:27 Will the Celtics close out the series in Game 4?
24:04 Bruce on where this Celtics team might end up in the Celtics history books
27:31 Some love for Xavier Tillman & Sam Hauser
29:58 The passing of NBA Legend Jerry West & memories
36:34 A special interview of Jerry West is up on Bruce’s YouTube page: @PureHoopsBruce
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
0:40 ... Episode #108 honors Kristaps Porzingis
0:57 ... Live Bet Online Read from Ross
1:33 ... Initial reactions to game 2, including Bruce's reaction to being in the arena on Sunday night ... the crew all believes Boston will eventually win but they differ on what they expect when the series moves to Dallas for game 3.
4:06 ... Bruce feels that Luka Doncic will continue getting his numbers but Kyrie Irving needs to bring it in game 3 or the series won't last long. World B also feels Kyrie needs to find his shot and if he doesn't, Dallas is in trouble.
6:40 ... Boston's starting guards (Jrue Holiday and Derrick White) have turned Irving into the invisible man. World B has a great stat on Holiday's defensive prowess against Kyrie.
8:51 ... Bruce feels Luka has been heroic but has had to work VERY hard to get his numbers but until Dallas starts making some corner threes they're in big trouble. World B backs that up with some good numbers.
11:54 ... Boston's perimeter defenders have been the key to their success all season and they've disrupted Dallas' offense in both games. World B pointed out how the Mavs are not a team that passes the ball a lot but against the Celtics defense their numbers are down even further.
14:00 ... Ross points out that other than Luka and Kyrie everyone else is a "one trick pony" who are not able to create shots on their own. Boston, on the other hand has shot creators everywhere. Bruce wonders if Tim Hardaway Jr will ever get a chance to play and attempt some threes.
16:37 ... Ross asks Bruce if Jrue Holiday is the series MVP after two games and is it reminiscent of Andre Iguodala's MVP run in the 2015 NBA Finals. The crew is super impressed with his big game performances.
19:19 ... Jason Kidd has tried mind games but theycame off as desperation moves and Joe Mazzulla has out-coached Kidd so far. Bruce cited a couple of panic moves by Kidd, including blowing his challenge in the first five minutes of game two.
24:20 ... Kristaps Porzingis has been great in his limited minutes after missing 38 days with a calf injury. The guys feel Dallas may have not been ready for him to be as good as he has been.
28:48 ... Jayson Tatum has not shot the ball well but is affecting the game in many other ways.
32:48 ... Bruce feels Tatum and Jaylen Brown are a "Fire and Ice" combo whose on court styles are different. Brown's stature has risen considerably this season.
35:29 ... The guys discuss the Caitlin Clark Olympics snub from USA Basketball. World B feels her presence could be a factor in growing the women's game. Bruce feels she has conducted herself properly in the wake of the "controversy." Ross feels her lack of presence on the team will be a good factor in building tram chemistry.
40:45 ... UConn head coach Dan Hurley rejected the offer from the Lakers and is staying in college. The Lakers must be smarting from this snub.
47:32 ... Bruce's final thought is on the Hulu series "Clipped," which is about Donald Sterling and is quite entertaining
48:05 .... Ross says goodbye
TRT 48:23
0:00 Intro
0:51 Bruce shares a quick fun fact on recycled Celtics uniform numbers
2:05 Opening thoughts on the 2024 NBA Finals matchup before diving deeper into things
5:18 Breaking down the backcourt battle in the series
11:00 Does Jaylen Brown open up the game guarding Luka?
14:40 A deeper look into the frontcourts of each team
19:17 Derrick Jones Jr’s potential impact on the series defensively
26:56 Bruce raises a question in regards to the Mavericks shot blocking big’s impact in this series
30:41 Reviewing the benches of both teams. Which team has the better bench?
35:25 Ross on Jaden Hardy’s impressive play & stock rising during the Mavs playoff run
36:31 A look into the upcoming coaching battle in the finals
41:24 Bruce points out the similarities between Joe Mazzula & Erik Spoelstra in their early coaching days
44:42 Ross shares his Best Bets heading into the NBA Finals
45:57 The crew shares their NBA Finals predictions, who will be crowned NBA Champs?
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome ... Bruce introduces the co-hosts
0:41 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read
1:45 ... Show #106 honors Celtics great Bill Russell and we segue into a tribute to Bill Walton
2:54 ... World B says Bill was probably the most gifted big man to ever play the game.
4:31 ... Bill was an unbelievably good passer and was one of the four best passing bigs of all time along woth Nikola Jokic, Arvydas Sabonis, and Domantas Sabonis.
6:12 ... Bruce reflects on his friendship with Bill and his memory of having lunch one day with Bill and running into the late Manute Bol in West Hartford, Connecticut.
8:21 ... The Celtics finished off the Pacers on Monday night to complete the four game sweep and advance to the NBA Finals.
9:46 ... Bruce was very happy to see Jaylen Brown win the Larry Bird Award as Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Brown's all around game was on full display in the series.
11:55 .... World B had kind words for Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, but feels Mazzulla is unfairly criticized and has done a great job.
13:29 ... Bruce points out that the Celtics' combined record is 76-20 (64-18 regular season and 12-2 in the playoffs). And Bruce points out how silly the critics can be when they bash the Celtics for their so called easy path to the Finals.
17:45 ... Bruce points out how our show had a major influence on the trade that Milwaukee made for Damian Lillard and how it freed up Jrue Holiday to join the Celtics.
21:45 ... The guys preview Tuesday's game #4 between Dallas and Minnesota to see who will meet Boston in the Finals. World B is exasperated at Minnesota's poor defense in the series against the Mavs. He also takes the Wolves to task saying "it's not so much what Dallas did to take a 3-0 series lead, it's what Minnesota didn't do."
24:36 ... Anthony Edwards has put up decent numbers against the Mavs, but Karl-Anthony Towns has been abysmal. Towns has shot just 3-22 from three point range against the Mavericks.
28:00 ... Bruce cites Towns' numbers in previous rounds as evidence of his decline against Dallas.
28:54 ... Bruce leads a discussion of the Dallas backcourt and has praise for Luka Doncic's improved defense. World B said Luka in the 4th quarter has been cold blooded.
35:16 .... World B feels that Boston's perimeter defense will be a huge factor against Luka and Kyrie Irving
45:55 ... Game #4 Predictions for Minnesota/Dallas
47:24 .... The guys react to the Cavaliers firing head coach JB Bickerstaff who appeared to get a raw deal after winning 99 games over the past two seasons.
50:33 ... Bruce feels that Cavs management made the Bickerstaff move in order to impress Donovan Mitchell.
51:26 ... Bruce jokes that Since ESPN announcer Doc Rivers took the Bucks job and ESPN announcer JJ Redick looks like the favorite to get the Lakers job, maybe ESPN's Doris Burke will be offered the Cavaliers job.
53:53 ... Final Thoughts ...
54:12 ... Bruce wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 54:33
0:00 Intro
1:25 Initial reactions from the crew on Dallas winning Game 1
4:02 The Mavericks front line impressed tonight
8:28 Anthony Edwards’s performance
11:10 Unusual suspects stepping up for Minnesota
14:19 Does Chris Finch coaching behind the bench play a factor in this series?
16:46 Adjustments Minnesota must make moving forward
17:30 The ball in the cylinder violation, was it the right call?
19:55 Do the Wolves bigs need to stay home on Kyrie & Luka drives moving forward?
22:45 Did our series predictions change after tonight?
0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces Bruce and "World B."
0:48 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read
1:26 ... Ross tees things up and asks Bruce for his reaction. It was a dog fight and Bruce was super impressed with Indiana's defense.
3:10 ... World B feels that Indiana has a lot of solid guys off their bench and their adjustments got them back in the game after a slow start.
4:39 ... Ross pointed out that Obi Toppin and TJ McConnell made solid contributions off the bench and Bruce contrasted them with Boston's lack of bench production in game one other than Peyton Pritchard.
6:02 ... Indiana has young legs, a great coach, and had a great game plan in game one.
6:18 ... Ross and Bruce discussed Myles Turner's huge 18 point first half but were mystified that the Pacers stopped giving him the ball in the second half and he finished with just 23.
7:34 ... Ross and World B discuss the huge performance from Jrue Holiday and how he was one of Boston's saviors in game one.
9:07 ... Bruce pays tribute to Jrue Holiday and how he always does the little things that contribute to winning games.
10:39 ... Ross tees up a discussion of Jayson Tatum and how he made some questionable decisions but still came up big when it was needed.
12:31 ... Ross asks World B about the events leading up to Jaylen Brown's tying three pointer from the corner in the final seconds ... everyone felt it was a huge mistake that Pascal Siakam chose not to foul Brown before he got the shot off. World B cited several other instances where the Pacers were sloppy and made mental mistakes.
15:23 ... Bruce asked the guys about the discrepancy in free throw opportunities (30-10 in Boston's favor) ... Ross had no issue with the whistle and didn't feel there any real issues with the calls.
16:41 ... Indiana had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation and Tyrese Haliburton chose not to take a long three but Bruce pointed out that Haliburton faced relentless defense all night long but still played really well in spite of that decision.
19:30 ... Bruce asks Coach Ross if he feels the Pacers will shake off this loss or will it linger into Thursday. Ross feels the Pacers will be resilient and play well in game two.
21:08 ... World B feels Indiana has a good game plan and had Boston on its heels defensively and that could be a recipe for future success.
22:50 ... Former Celtic Aaron Nesmith played great for the Pacers and seemed to have a chip on his shoulder.
24:23 ... Game two predictions ...
26:34 ... Ross says goodbye and teases tomorrow night's show.
TRT 27:00
0:00 ... Ross hello and welcome, introduces fellow co-hosts Bruce and "World B."
0:38 ... Episode #103 honors Jaden McDaniels of Minnesota, who wears uniform #3.
0:53 ... Live commercial read for Bet Online.
1:26 ... Ross tees up the discussion of the Pacers winning game 7 against the Knicks on Sunday.
3:56 ... Bruce felt that nobody could have anticipated the way the Pacers offense performed.
6:02 ... World B has a stat on Indiana's offense on Sunday that is remarkable.
6:50 ... Ross delivers flowers to TJ McConnell, whose play off the bench was a huge factor for Indiana.
7:31 ... Ross tees up a discussion previewing the Pacers/Celtics series and wonders if a Boston team missing Kristaps Porzingis can handle Indiana's Myles Turner, who has been a huge factor at both ends of the court.
10:05 ... Ross expects a fast paced series and World B feels like bettors should take "the overs."
12:30 ... Bruce feels that "The Wardens" (Jrue Holiday and Derrick White) will be Boston's secret weapons against the young Pacers guards (Andrew Nembhard and Tyrese Haliburton). He is also excited to watch the individual matchup between Jayson Tatum and Pascal Siakam.
13:50 ... Ross wonders if Boston's ball movement will suffer if they try to hunt mismatches but Bruce feels Jaylen Brown will be unstoppable and will likely be Boston's leading scorer against the Pacers.
15:48 ... World B says there is more pressure on Boston than on any other team and if they are locked up in a tight battle, will they be able to respond successfully? World B feels they will.
17:04 ... Bruce feels that Jrue Holiday's presence and calming influence will be a difference maker in "late game" situations for the Celtics. World B feels Jayson Tatum will improve his shooting the rest of the way after shooting just 28% from downtown through the first two rounds.
18:56 ... Predictions ... everyone picks Boston
19:15 ... Ross tees up the game 7 discussion on Timberwolves/Nuggets from Sunday ... Bruce feels that Denver depended too much on Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray and Minnesota shut everyone else down.
21:20 ... World B takes a bow as he was very high on Minnesota all season long. The way the Wolves shut down Denver's offense was unbelievable.
23:24 ... As great as Jokic is, he did not "come up big" late in the game and may have been worn down by Minnesota's bigs. The Wolves dominated at the free throw line because their aggressive play caused them to get more whistles from the refs.
26:02 ... Ross points out how Mike Conley of the Wolves is a huge factor in organizing the team and making huge shots in clutch situations.
27:20 ... Ross initiates the discussion on the Mavs/Wolves series ... Bruce feels Luka Doncic will "do Luka things," but Kyrie Irving needs to be more like the guy who played against the Clippers in round one and less like the Kyrie who played against OKC in round two.
28:37 ... Ross asks World B if the Dallas frontcourt has the physical toughness to rebound effectively against the Wolves.
30:31 ... Bruce feels that the three Minnesota bigs will be too much for the young Dallas Bigs. PJ Washington has also been a huge factor for the Mavs.
31:52 ... Predictions ... everyone chooses Minnesota
35:09 ... Bruce's one liner is on the extra 48 Minutes shows this week
36:10 ... World B's one liner is on ESPN's coverage of Pacers/Knicks game 7 and how is was tough to watch.
39:28 ... Ross's one liner congratulates Brandin Podziemski and GG Jackson for making the two All-Rookie teams.
40:18 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 40:32
0:00 Intro
1:14 Celtics/Cavs Game 4 Postgame Reactions
10:28 Pacers/Knicks Series Overview & Game 5 Predictions
21:25 Timberwolves/Nuggets Series Overview & Game 5 Predictions
27:08 Thunder/Mavericks Series Overview
32:57 Head Coaching Firings, Hirings, & Openings
33:07 Phoenix Suns firing Frank Vogel & hiring Mike Budenholzer
39:38 Charles Lee named the new head coach for the Charlotte Hornets
44:12 The latest on the LA Lakers coaching vacancy & potential candidates for the job
49:28 The Atlanta Hawks win the NBA Draft Lottery
0:00 ... Welcome to episode #101 and intro panelists
0:51 ... Episode #101 in honor of Tracy McGrady
1:16 ... Live Bet Online Read
1:44 ... Bruce introduces special guest Steve Bulpett of HEAVY.com ... Bruce designated Steve as the second greatest Massachusetts native of Greek heritage, trailing only the "Golden Greek" Harry Agannis.
3:42 ... Discussion of game one of Pacers/Knicks, won by the Knicks in a very close game
14:05 ... Cavaliers/Celtics game one preview which begins on Tuesday night
28:01 ... Mavericks/Thunder game one preview which begins on Tuesday night
36:19 ... Timberwolves/Nuggets game two reaction and series discussion
45:40 ... Discussion on the LA Lakers & Clippers and what their respective futures look like. Included is a discussion on the firing of Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. Some have blamed LeBron James for Ham's dismissal.
52:11 ... Bruce isn't buying Lakers stock and also feels like Jimmy Butler is done in Miami and could well sign with the Clippers as their latest aging injured veteran.
54:00 ... We end with a brief discussion of Greek cuisine as we say goodbye
TRT 56:14
0:00 Intro
1:25 Celtics/Heat Game 4 Recap & Reactions as Boston moves ahead 3-1 in the series
8:26 Timberwolves sweep the Suns
13:19 An early presumptive thought on a Timberwolves/Nuggets Round 2 Matchup
17:01 Jalen Brunson & the Knicks keep on rolling
23:16 Bucks on the brink of elimination & Game 5 preview
29:09 Magic/Cavaliers Game 5 Preview
35:01 Mavericks/Clippers Game 5 Preview
41:30 Lightning Round of Playoff Questions
41:40 Who’s been the most impressive player in the playoffs
44:01 Who’s been the most disappointing player in the playoffs
47:01 Which team has a brighter future the Bucks or Suns?
49:54 Will Kevin Durant make another Finals appearance?
50:51 Will LeBron James make another Finals appearance?
52:34 Will Steph Curry make another Finals appearance?
54:34 The Thunder eliminate the Pelicans
0:00 Intro
1:29 Sixers/Knicks Series & Game 2 Post Game Reactions
9:42 Magic/Cavaliers Series & Game 2 Post Game Reactions
15:56 Pacers/Bucks Series Game 1 Recap & Reactions to Playoff Dame
22:32 Pelicans/Thunder Game 1 Recap & Reactions
27:03 Heat/Celtics Game 1 Recap & Reactions
33:41 Mavericks/Clippers Game 1 Recap & Reactions
39:01 Suns/Timberwolves Game 1 Recap & Reactions
45:07 Lakes/Nuggets Game 1 Recap & Reactions with a live Game 2 Halftime Review
48:45 Bruce pays homage to his ESPN friend & colleague Howie Schwab
50:01 World B discusses his big takeaway from seeing the NBA Season Award finalists
51:27 Ross touches on Malik Monk’s likely departure from Sacramento
0:00 ... Opening animation, hello and welcome to episode #98 in honor of Jason Collins.
0:55 ... Bet Online live commercial read
1:23 ... Lakers/Pelicans play in preview
7:17 ... Warriors/Kings play in preview
13:25 ... Heat/76ers play in preview
18:15 ... Hawks/Bulls play in preview
22:01 ... Suns/Timberwolves series preview
29:08 ... Mavericks/Clippers series preview
34:00 ... Pacers/Bucks series preview
43:05 ... Cavaliers/Magic series preview
48:25 ... Bruce's "one liner" on what he hated the most this season
49:24 ... Ross's "one liner" on what he loved AND hated the most this season
50:11 ... World B's "one liner" on all the 60 loss teams this season
50:58 ... Ross goodbye and see you next time ...
TRT 51:15
0:00 Intro
1:43 Brandin provides his thoughts on UConn winning the National Championship game
3:05 Brandin discusses his mindset on always betting on himself
4:02 What it would mean to Brandin to make the NBA All-Rookie Team in a loaded draft class
5:25 The biggest adjustment Brandin’s had to make from college to the NBA
6:41 Brandin’s initial reaction once selected 19th overall by the Golden State Warriors
8:24 What Brandin has learned from playing with 4 future Hall of Famers
10:22 How Brandin has adjusted to the Warriors unique offensive style of play
11:33 Brandin shares insight into how he’s become one of the best rebounding guards in the NBA
13:17 How is Steve Kerr preparing the Warriors youth for more responsibilities in the future
14:41 How’s Brandin feeling about the team heading into the final week of the season?
16:14 Leading the league in charges taken, how is Brandin gaining his defensive advantages?
18:05 Have any opposing players given Brandin a hard time about how many charges he takes?
18:58 Brandin on his ambitions to play for the Polish National Team & his offseason plans
20:27 Brandin’s “Welcome to the NBA” moments this season
21:42 Brandin on Trayce Jackson-Davis’s development throughout their rookie seasons
22:56 The one thing Brandin misses the most from back home in Wisconsin
23:34 What’s it like being on the court with Steph Curry when he catches fire
25:03 Brandin on having to guard fellow Santa Clara star Jalen Williams in the NBA
26:21 Who’s been the toughest players to guard this season?
0:00 Intro
0:53 Ross surprises Bruce & World B with a quick trivia question
2:07 An examination of the Top 3 teams out West
2:26 Oklahoma City Thunder
6:40 Minnesota Timberwolves
10:45 Denver Nuggets
15:31 The ongoing battle in the East for very key playoff slots
16:10 Cleveland Cavaliers
19:57 New York Knicks
23:11 Ross jabs Bruce with the Celtics recent losses to the Hawks
23:49 Joel Embiid set to return this week for the 76ers?
28:39 A look at the rest of the West’s playoff picture
28:50 Who’s the better team: Dallas Mavericks or New Orleans Pelicans?
33:18 Are the LA Clippers lurking having won 4 straight games?
36:35 An ugly battle for the 7th seed between the Phoenix Suns & Sacramento Kings
40:26 The Golden State Warriors now have 4 straight road wins
43:55 Did the Houston Rockets blew their playoff chances with Sunday’s loss?
46:44 Is this UCONN Men’s team the sickest squad we’ve seen in awhile?
49:36 Final 1 liners to close out the show!
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome to episode 95 in honor of Juan Toscano Anderson ... our guest this week is ESPN's Tim Legler.
1:13 ... Ross live Bet Online commercial read
1:51 ... Bruce introduces his long-time friend and colleague Tim Legler of ESPN with a story about the biggest night of his NBA career.
3:37 ... Bruce and Legs discuss whether the Celtics have peaked too soon ... Legs wondered if the big lead has made them complacent but he feels Boston is the most complete team in the NBA.
6:13 ... Ross asks Legs about the Bucks as they gear up for the playoffs ... Legs feels Joe Mazzulla is much more comfortable this season while the Bucks hired Doc Rivers to replace a rookie coach. The Bucks are playing well defensively due to Doc making them accountable.
9:00 ... Damian Lillard is adjusting to being on a team with a teammate who is better than him. The Bucks have made him a believer.
9:56 ... The Knicks don't want to finish 4th because they'll get Boston in the second round ... injuries have hurt the team and they might not be at their best until next season, but they can still be a dangerous playoff team.
12:48 ... Bruce asks Legs about how Tom Thibodeau has not overused his guys, and that the injuries to key Knicks players were freakish, not from overuse.
14:59 ... The Cavaliers have really missed Donovan Mitchell and their record without him is dismal ... but players who miss time and comeback healthy for the playoffs usually have more energy due to being idle. Legs compares Joel Embiid's situation to Mitchell. The Cavs are in trouble and might lose in the first round ...
17:58 ... Ross asks about Embiid's possible return ... Legs says Embiid's injury (meniscus) is not like a pulled muscle, once he's fixed and feels good -- play him. But good health and getting into a good rhythm are two different things and his first games will be intense affairs.
20:35 ... If Embiid comes back and is injected into a first round series, it will be the biggest "X-Factor" in first round playoff history.
21:04 ... We discuss the Houston Rockets and their long shot bid to knock the Warriors out of the Play in ... Legs thinks the Rockets/Warriors game on April 4th is a game to circle on your calendars.
23:12 .. Denver looks ready for another deep run and Legs discusses how the Wolves, Mavs, and Thunder could all threaten Denver. Minnesota's defense is great, but can they close out games? OKC is a young team that lacks playoff experience. Dallas could end up being the last team standing against the Nuggets. Legs trusts Luka in clutch situations.
26:38 ... Bruce asks Legs about the Thunder and whether rebounding will be their downfall in the postseason. Legs agrees and points out that Chet Holmgren is tall but thin and has trouble maintaining position down low. Legs also feels OKC's 3 point shooting may be lacking.
30:32 ... Ross asks if Legs was surprised at OKC's lack of pursuit of "bigs" at the trade deadline. Legs riffs on Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively and their 82% combined shooting.
32:42 ... The Wizards have won 3 straight, jeopardizing their lottery position and as a former Bullet and Wizard, Legs has been depressed watching his old team all season. Even Detroit has more hope because they have young studs like Cade Cunningham while the Wiz have Jordan Poole. Legs tells a funny story about Poole and says he's enjoying "the direct deposit every two weeks."
35:23 ... World B asks Legs about the franchise moving to Virginia. Legs feels a move will help the franchise shed its "corporate" feel playing in downtown DC.
36:34 ... The New Orleans Pelicans have missed Brandon Ingram and Legs is concerned his absence could cause the team to stumble because he can create good shots when the shot clock is winding down and that is hard to replace. They may be under the radar but they have three key positions filled with Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Ingram (when healthy). They'll be a problem in the playoffs.
38:57 ... Legs eviscerates the Suns over their loss to Milwaukee ... Phoenix has really pissed him off ... the Suns lost to San Antonio on Monday without Wemby. Legs is simply irate and jokes about kicking the Suns out of the league due to their pathetic effort.
42:43 ... World B asks about the return of Russell Westbrook and what impact he'll have down the stretch for the Clippers. He plays every single minute as hard as he can and is an energizer off the bench. Legs believes they'll reach a higher gear before the playoffs start.
45:29 ... World B asks why the Clippers are losing so many winnable games. If Kawhi has another gear, he can take more control over games but has mostly been pacing himself. As Kawhi goes, so go the Clippers.
48:16 ... If the Warriors play the Lakers in a play in game, Ross asks Legs if he favors LeBron or Curry. Legs picks the Lakers because LeBron has Anthony Davis and Steph doesn't.
50:02 ... Bruce asks Legs, the former 3 Point champion about Caitlin Clark and if he would like to see her at All Star Weekend shooting threes against an NBA three point specialist as Sabrina Ionescu did with Steph Curry this year. Legs says Curry should always be the NBA shooter and he also came up with a creative idea for Caitlin, Sabrina, and the Splash Brothers.
52:22 ... Ross asks Legs about the NCAA Tournament and he likes Houston to win it all. But he also feels UConn is the most complete team out there.
53:19 ... Ross tees up "Parting Shots" and Bruce hammers Shai Gilgeous Alexander and Chet Holmgren for their lame ATT commercial. Legs jumps in and bashes the Jimmy Butler/Jaime Jacquez commercial and wonders if Holmgren ever has any fun playing basketball.
54:58 ... World B says Khris Middleton's return will make them a real threat to win the east.
56:23 ... Ross does a best bet on Milwaukee vs the Lakers on Tuesday night.
57:08 ... Legs says the movie "Arthur The King" with Mark Wahlberg is a "must see" and we should all see it when it comes out. It's the story of a remarkable dog!
58:50 Ross wraps it up, thanks Legs, and says goodbye
TRT 59:34
0:00 Intro
1:35 Instant Bucks/Celtics Post Game Recap & Reactions
10:56 Quick NCAA Championship Predictions!
12:16 Are the Miami Heat lurking around as threats this year?
16:42 The New York Knicks continue to impress & stay hot out West
20:53 Will Joel Embiid return this season? If so, are the 76ers an instant playoff threat?
24:52 The Orlando Magic are streaking
28:20 Bleav or Dis-Bleav? Will the Pacers “Siakaburton” get healthy & peak at the right time?
30:50 Is there anyone out West that can challenge the Denver Nuggets out West?
34:45 Is time running out for LeBron James to win another championship?
38:14 Western Spice courtesy of the Clippers, Pelicans, & Warriors
46:11 One liner endings from the 48 Minutes Crew
0:00 ... Hello and welcome to the show ... Episode #93 is in honor of Metta World Peace ... then Ross introduces the panel
0:59 ... Bet online live commercial read
1:43... Bruce welcomes Jared Greenberg to the show ... who points out another player who wore #93 (PJ Brown)
2:36 ... Jared discusses his new show called "Crunch Time" on the NBA app and shares details on why the show is so valuable to NBA fans.
5:06 ... Can the Warriors hang onto their play-in spot and make the postseason now that Chris Paul is back?
6:43 ... Bruce asks Jared about Chris Paul "T-ing up" official Matt Myers after Myers "T-d" Paul up on Wednesday night. Jared was impressed with Myers' demeanor in the moment.
8:25 ... World B asks Jared for his opinion on the Sacramento Kings and how high their ceiling is. Jared points out that it's hard to go from "good to great," and that's where the Kings are right now. It is harder to do that than to go from from "bad to good."
10:31 ... What about Domantas Sabonis and his spot on the MVP ladder. Jared feels his numerous triple doubles have not led to enough wins so he isn't a top candidate.
12:14 ... The Phoenix Suns could win the west but their injuries have plagued them all season and there is danger of those woes continuing into the postseason.
13:58 ... The New Orleans Pelicans have quietly been excellent this season and Jared feels they have a huge upside heading into the playoffs and are possibly the most talented team "top to bottom" in the NBA.
16:50 ... Jonas Valenciunas of the Pelicans could be a matchup nightmare in the postseason.
17:56 ... The crew discusses the teams currently seeded 7-10 in the west and which ones could make real noise in the playoffs. Dallas and the Lakers don't impress him but the Warriors and Suns do.
20:32 ... Jared feels the Lakers will stay in the play-in hunt despite being bad on the road and having 9 of their final 15 games away from home.
21:35 ... Ross initiates a discussion on the Milwaukee Bucks, but Jared feels that despite their talent, they will not be a threat to the Celtics.
24:16 ... Jared feels the Celtics will not need motivation and will be totally focused on the postseason despite their mostly unscathed cruise through the regular season.
25:36 ... Jared is not concerned that Boston doesn't cause opposing teams to foul them and get into foul trouble due to all the three point shots the Celtics jack up.
27:31 ... Jared agrees with Brian Scalabrine that star players should play MORE minutes and not FEWER minutes as they prepare for the playoffs.
31:15 ... The Knicks have a lot of players who play big minutes and Jared expects Mitchell Robinson to return this season before Julius Randle. He also feels that the Knicks could be more dangerous in the postseason than Cleveland, Milwaukee, and every other eastern conference team not named Boston.
36:36 ... The Orlando Magic have been a nice surprise, but Jared feels that Oklahoma City has been THE top surprise team in the league this season.
37:35 ... Ross and Jared discuss the chances for the Timberwolves to do well in the playoffs with Karl-Anthony Towns injured. While they're a great defensive team, they won't have enough offense without Towns.
38:59 ... Jared shares his thoughts on the race for MVP this season. Had Joel Embiid not been injured, it very well might have been him. There are up to 8 legit candidates but Nikola Jokic is Jared's pick at this point.
40:21 ... Jared and the crew discuss some of his favorite interview subjects and who stands out and we all agree that Michael Malone of the Nuggets is at or near the top of the heap.
42:57 ... Jared shares more details about his whiparound show on the NBA App called "Crunch Time" and why it's a "must watch" for serious NBA fans.
45:16 ... Ross wraps it up and thanks Jared for joining us ... bye bye
TRT 45:47
0:00 Intro
1:57 Which team do we trust more: The Denver Nuggets or Boston Celtics?
9:12 Which team has been better since the All-Star break? The Nuggets or the Bucks?
18:05 NBA Championship Pick: The Boston Celtics or the field?
23:43 LeBron James reached 40K all-time points. Will we see another player reach 40K points again?
30:14 Caitlin Clark becomes the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader
34:02 Is it time to hit the panic button on Tyrese Haliburton & the Indiana Pacers?
38:00 Devin Booker’s injury news & the Suns upcoming schedule without him
44:51 Announcement Time! 48 Minutes Live is back on Playback.TV Wednesday night
0:00 Intro
1:38 The Boston Celtics are on fire
5:07 The Milwaukee Bucks look like a different team heading out of the break
10:03 Health concerns remain in New York with the Knicks
15:16 A Heat/Pelicans brawl leads to some suspensions
19:38 Kevin, Devin, & the Suns are heating up in Phoenix
22:54 Are the LA Lakers really not getting foul calls?
24:50 The Beam Team in Sacramento looks to get laser focused down the stretch
30:58 Storylines out of the Bay with the Golden State Warriors
38:57 Can the Philadelphia 76ers survive without Joel Embiid?
39:59 Trae Young’s injury news out of Atlanta
44:12 Bruce’s TV moment of the week
45:23 Ross provides this week’s 48 Minutes Live announcement
0:00 ... Ross introduction for episode #90, dedicated to Drew Gooden.
0:33 ... Ross live Bet Online commercial read
1:10 ... Bruce's opening comment is on his friend JA Adande, who was named the winner of the 2024 Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame over the weekend at the All Star Game. He tells a story of JA's interview with Kobe Bryant on ESPN's NBA Coast to Coast during Kobe's final season that featured a very special moment.
3:01 ... World B's opening comment is on a touching moment involving LeBron James and NBA journalist Jeff Zilgitt at All Star Weekend.
4:27 ... Ross's opening comment is on Damian Lillard's successful weekend in Indianapolis which will hopefully jump start Milwaukee's season as we hit the stretch run starting on February 22nd.
6:14 ... The Brooklyn Nets have fired head coach Jacque Vaughn but Bruce feels that general manager Sean Marks is the one who should have been fired. World B understands that the Nets have been in a tailspin but many of their losses came against top shelf teams, so management's expectations might have been really unfair. Ross pointed out that the front office might have thought Ben Simmons was more capable than he appears to be and that Vaughn may have been unfairly blamed for his struggles.
11:12 ... Ross feels that Cam Thomas was an outspoken critic of Vaughn and World B feels like Thomas is a remorseless gunner who should not have as much influence as he may have.
12:25 ... Ross begins the discussion of All Star Weekend with a recap of the Rising Stars Game and the Skills Challenge.
13:23 ... The Dunk Contest was next and Mac McClung impressed everyone with his athleticism and creativity. Bruce was underwhelmed by the rest of the Slam Dunk Contest and would like to see it become a smaller player's (6'5" and under) competition since seeing smaller guys dunk would be more fun. However, everyone agrees that Victor Wembanyama should be allowed to compete as the lone exception if the 6'5" rule is ever implemented. World B points out that the Dunk contest needs bigger names competing. Jaylen Brown was the biggest name this year and everyone was impressed that he chose to compete.
18:54 ... As for the 3 Point Shootout, Damian Lillard won it but it was overshadowed by the "Steph Curry vs Sabrina Ionescu" 3 Point challenge. The guys want Sabrina and Caitlin Clark to be in the Men's 3 point Shootout next year.
21:31 ... Sabrina vs Steph was the highlight of the weekend and the respect between the two was really impressive.
23:33 ... The All Star game itself was a total joke. Since the NBA scrapped Elam Ending this year, they lost the chance for some real excitement as the game devolved into a glorified layup line. Bruce then tells a story he heard from ESPN's Tim Legler about a former teammate who never played much, but kept track of his points in the pregame layup line. Ross and World B agreed the Elam Ending should return. World B was irate about the fact that the players didn't care about the game, so why should the fans?
26:52 ... Damian Lillard was named MVP of the game but everyone agreed that it should have been Tyrese Haliburton.
29:11 ... The guys liked the LED floor and hope to see it again, but not for regular season games. maybe just for All Star weekend and possibly for the in-season tournament games.
29:56 ... Ross and World B discuss whether LeBron James will really want a farewell tour after James was asked about it over the weekend.
31:13 ... Ross and Bruce discuss Jayson Tatum meeting Larry Bird for the first time even though Tatum is in his 7th NBA season with the Celtics.
32:59 ... Ross begins the second half with a discussion of teams the guys expect to peak at the right time. Bruce likes Phoenix. World B wants to see if the Clippers and Timberwolves can do it. Ross feels the Warriors are capable of peaking at the right time. Bruce also feels like Sacramento could very well have a strong "closing kick."
36:33 ... Players to watch? Bruce wants to see Khris Middleton get healthy because Milwaukee become a threat to win the east if he does. World B hopes Julius Randle and OG Anunoby can regain their health so the Knicks can put their best team on the floor and see what happens. World B wants to see Damian Lillard step up too.
39:07 ... Ross wants to see if LeBron James has a burst left as the Lakers struggle to make the postseason field.
41:30 ... Bruce's final thought is on Scot Pollard, the 6'11" former player who needed and received a heart transplant on Friday.
43:06 ... World B's final thought is on the Golden State Warriors and how they're much improved as we approach the stretch run.
45:25 ... Ross teed up a brief discussion on Draymond Green joining TNT's alternate broadcast over the weekend in the wake of his "issues" this season. That discussion segued into some thoughts on how Adam Silver's postgame comments on the court certainly made it appear that he was not happy with how the All Star Game looked to the public.
48:29 ... Ross's final thought is on the "48 Minutes Live" Playback.TV game on Thursday night at 9:00pm ET between the Hornets and the Jazz.
51:00 ... Ross says goodbye ...
TRT 51:16
0:00 Intro
1:12 Bruce introduces special guest Amin Elhassan
2:14 Amin’s love for Star Wars explained!
5:00 The New York Knicks won the NBA Trade Deadline, are they now a top team out East?
9:03 Amin shares the 3 issues he’s noticed with the Milwaukee Bucks this season
12:50 The 2 benefits to the Phoenix Suns trade for Royce O’Neale
14:33 Amin shares his perspective on Gordon Hayward joining the Thunder
18:33 The significance of Xavier Tillman joining the Boston Celtics
22:44 Amin sounds off on the Chicago Bulls standing pat at the trade deadline
27:48 Spencer Dinwiddie joins the Lakers, will he make a big impact?
30:47 Which teams does Amin have his eye on for the stretch run of the season?
33:25 Reflections on Bill Russell with Amin
40:56 The crew discuss their favorite Super Bowl commercials with Amin
43:41 Has the term dynasty been devalued?
48:01 Ross ends the show getting Amin’s pulse on Scoot Henderson
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
0:30 .. Bet On Line Commercial Read
1:20 ... Bruce's opening comment is on Marcus Smart's return to Boston on Sunday and how much love he was shown by Celtics fans.
2:30 ... World B's open is on the Charlotte Hornets and what an embarrassment they are.
4:44 ... Ross's open is on the odd situation that involves new Bucks coach Doc Rivers and his assignment as the Eastern Conference All Star coach.
7:01 ... The first quarter this week deals with the All Star reserve snubs. Bruce feels Joel Embiid should be replaced by Kristaps Porzingis. World B doesn't feel that Embiid and Julius Randle necessarily should be replaced by other bigs.
8:44 ... Ross goes through the reserves and asks if Jalen Brunson should be a starter instead of Damian Lillard.
9:55 ... Bruce felt Trae Young might be considered a snub but he liked the guards who were named as reserves and feels all of them are more deserving that Young. World B disagrees and makes a compelling case for Young and wonders if Trae should be there instead of Jaylen Brown.
13:27 ... Ross feels that Scottie Barnes of Toronto would be a worthy replacement for Randle up front.
14:45 ... Bruce feels that the worst snub out west was Karl-Anthony Towns making it while Domantas Sabonis did not. Ross agrees with Bruce.
16:30 ... World B doesn't feel that "games played" should be a deciding factor in selecting All Stars and feels like De'Aaron Fox is a worse snub that his teammate Sabonis. Bruce felt Fox was a "mini snub," but feels that Steph Curry, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker are all more deserving.
20:18 ... World B wants the NBA to make the All Star rosters include 15 players instead of 12.
21:50 ... The second quarter is all about the smoking hot Cleveland Cavaliers (14-1 in their last 15 games) and how they are racing up the standings and could be second in the east by All Star weekend.
23:03 ... Ross gives credit to Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen for keeping the team on a winning run despite injuries to Darius Garland and Evan Mobley.
23:41... World B is really impressed at how the Cavs have made up so much ground in a short time as they continue their rise in the east.
24:58 ... Bruce discusses how Allen and the Cavs defense are dominating and allowing them to grind out wins on the road.
25:58 ... The third quarter is all about the New York Knicks and their 15-3 hot streak since January 1st. World B is impressed but not really surprised but feels the team needs some more offensive players to help out Jalen Brunson.
29:36 ... The addition of OG Anunoby really made a difference and in spite of his recent injury, the team continues to win games.
30:56 ... Ross shares his feelings about how Donte Di Vicenzo has been a real difference maker for the Knicks with his scoring and toughness.
32:40 ... Bruce is impressed with the Knicks rebounding and how they finish defensive possessions by controlling the boards. As is the case with Cleveland, their defense allows them to win on nights where they don't score a lot of points.
34:28 ... The fourth quarter features trade talk and everyone agrees that the Chicago Bulls need to clean house and look to the future.
36:45 ... World B feels Andre Drummond will likely be traded and also feels that Buddy Hield of Indiana could be moving on at the trade deadline. World B feels like the Charlotte Hornets need to also clean house.
38:35 ... Ross thinks Miles Bridges and Nick Richards ought to be moved. He also wonders what is up with the Pistons and Alec Burks? When Burks is on the court, the Pistons are competitive. And while he has trade value, the Pistons young core needs to experience some winning basketball in order to grow and not develop bad habits.
41:52 ... NBA writer Marc Stein floated a Bobby Portis for Grant Williams deal between the Bucks and Mavs but Ross is dead set against the proposal.
43:27 ... Stein also reported that Malcolm Brogdon wants to stay in Portland and his presence could go a long way in helping rookie Scoot Henderson develop.
45:44... Ross's "Best Bets" are back this week with his player prop bets that you should consider.
47:06 ... Bruce's closing thought is on Joel Embiid who is having an MVP caliber season but will be disqualified from winning the award due to his injuries.
49:09 ... World B feels that the explosion of scoring should not cause panic and result in rule changes that will reduce scoring. He feels the game is fine as it is.
51:11 ... Ross has an exciting announcement about the new Playback.TV platform where our 48 Minutes crew will interact with audience members as we watch a live game together on NBA League Pass. It's a great way to share the viewing experience with smart hoop fans and your friends on this podcast. Our first game will be Thursday February 8th at 10:00pm ET as we watch the Nuggets vs. Lakers together with you.
55:05 ... Bye and see you soon
TRT 55:18
0:00 Intro
0:57 Ross introduces special guest Alex Squadron author of “Life in the G”
2:01 What sparked Alex’s interest in writing this book & why he chose the Birmingham Squadron
4:46 Alex on how unique it was to cover a G-League team in their first season
7:02 How big of an impact did the G-League coming to Birmingham have on the surrounding community
9:29 Alex on how grateful he was to have the top players in Birmingham buy into sharing their time/lives
12:12 What was Alex’s big takeaway from his whole experience covering the G-League for a full season
15:22 The major differences between a call up in G-League compared to a call up from minor league baseball
18:19 Alex on how NBA teams reward G-League players with call ups for financial purposes
20:32 What was the biggest challenge Alex faced writing this book
22:13 Covering the G-League season during the Covid outbreak across the league
26:15 Alex’s impression on what it’s like to be a G-League coach
31:24 What adjustment in the G-League stood out to Alex the most
34:32 Alex on the relationship between the NBA Head Coach & G-League Head Coach
37:20 If Alex could make 1 change to the G-League what would that be?
39:51 Live NBA Card Break Challenge
40:24 Tyrese Hailburton
41:55 Jaylin Williams
42:56 Evan Mobley
43:51 Emoni Bates
46:00 Brandon Miller
47:23 RJ Barrett
49:44 Lonnie Walker
53:13 Alex shares where you can purchase his new book: Life in the G
An EMERGENCY PODCAST was warranted as we got some big news out of Milwaukee today as the Milwaukee Bucks relieved Adrian Griffin of his head coaching duties & already announced the hiring of Doc Rivers!
0:00 Intro
1:09 Ross introduces former NBA assistant coach & broadcaster Brendan Brown
2:35 Pascal Siakam debuts for the Pacers & Tyrese Haliburton is back. Are the Pacers now a big threat in the East?
5:43 Will Siakam be a difference maker on the defensive end for Indiana?
7:27 Brendan shares his thoughts on Tyrese Haliburton this season
9:19 Are there long-term concerns signing Siakam to a max extension?
11:30 Do NBA International stars tend to prefer smaller markets?
14:05 Brendan provides his thoughts on the Knicks/Raptors trade
19:10 Immanuel Quickley & RJ Barrett’s big adjustments in Toronto
25:34 World B provides his thoughts & concerns on the Knicks bench moving forward
27:08 Ross shares his perspective on why Evan Fournier’s contract could be huge at the trade deadline
27:52 Brendan shares his formula on the Knicks
30:18 The Knicks playoff chances rely on Julius Randle’s play
31:52 Marquee heavyweight NBA matchups from this past weekend!
32:03 Brendan & the crew breakdown the Denver Nuggets/Boston Celtics matchup
34:26 Has Brendan seen any player even somewhat comparable to Nikola Jokic?
37:50 Any concerns with the Denver Nuggets staying healthy?
40:20 Can the Oklahoma City Thunder or Minnesota Timberwolves challenge the Nuggets out West?
45:53 Brendan shares his perspectives on the Minnesota Timberwolves
48:08 Bruce shares a Hubie Brown memory & asks why Hubie’s former players absolutely love him
51:23 Brendan shares his thoughts on his dad’s time as the head coach of the New York Knicks
56:50 Bruce shares another Hubie Brown memory with Dr. Jack Ramsay before asking Brendan to share his definitive story about his father
1:02:06 Is Brendan surprised his father is calling NBA games for ESPN at age 90 & what still drives him?
0:00 ... Welcome to 48 Minutes episode #85 which honors Baron Davis, who wore that number twice.
0:33 ... Bet Online live commercial read
1:05 ... Bruce Bernstein's opening comment takes Chicago Bulls fans to task for booing the late Jerry Krause in front of his widow at last week's Ring of Honor ceremony.
3:18 ... World B. Freer's opening comment concerns how the new rule requiring players to appear in at least 65 games might affect postseason awards.
5:27 ... Ross Geiger's opening comment praises how the NBA has used the sport to help honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the national holiday each January.
6:38 ... The Utah Jazz are playing great ball and are one of the surprises of the league.
8:50 ... The Jazz traded Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland last season and two of the players who joined Utah (Lauri Markkanen and Colin Sexton) have sparked the team. Team President Danny Ainge is improving the Jazz just as he improved the Celtics.
16:30 ... Bruce points out that while Utah isn't the greatest free agent destination, it has always been a place that International stars are very comfortable.
17:14 ... The guys discuss the top four teams in the west and compare and contrast the "Big Four."
18:05 ... The case for the Minnesota Timberwolves
21:13 ... The case for the Los Angeles Clippers
28:25 ... The case for the Oklahoma City Thunder
30:47 ... The case for the Denver Nuggets
35:01 ... Everyone predicts which team will win the western conference championship.
37:05 ... Key guy returning to the lineup: Joel Embiid's impact
39:39 ... Key guy returning: LaMelo Ball
41:41 ... Key guy returning: Jimmy Butler
43:56 ... Key guy returning: Draymond Green
46:21 ... Key guy returning: Bradley Beal
48:52 ... Three Man Weave: Dame Time in Milwaukee
50:39 ... Three Man Weave: Pistons deal Marvin Bagley III to Washington.
53:09 ... Three Man Weave: Cleveland getting its act together.
56:26 ... In Bruce's Closing Comment, he calls Russell Westbrook our for his hypocrisy
57:37 ... World B's closing comment asks some thoughtful questions about the criteria for the "Most Improved Player" Award.
59:15 ... Ross concludes with a tribute to rookie GG Jackson of Memphis whose days in ther G-League may soon be over.
1:01:00 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 1:01:15
0:00 Intro
1:23 Bruce introduces special guest B.J. Armstrong
3:57 The Warriors dynasty is fading in Golden State
7:57 Could the Warriors dynasty have lasted longer with better draft selections?
12:54 Are the LA Clippers a contender in the Western Conference
15:26 Are the reigning champion Denver Nuggets still the team to beat in the West?
18:16 Is now the right time for the Oklahoma City Thunder to make a trade?
22:50 B.J. Armstrong on Victor Wembanyama
26:00 B.J. Armstrong on the New York Knicks & recent OG Anunoby trade
29:27 Where does B.J. rank the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference
32:32 Are the Boston Celtics “The Team” to beat this year?
35:10 Do the Milwaukee Bucks have enough time required to adjust & make an NBA Finals run?
38:16 Life as an NBA Agent with B.J. Armstrong
40:31 As a former player what does B.J. offer his clients that other agents that didn’t play can’t?
43:41 Is there an aspect of the NBA agency side that B.J. wasn’t aware of as a player?
48:56 What was Ron Artest like as a rookie in Chicago?
51:11 The relationship between players/coaches with NBA officials these days
52:52 B.J. on the atmosphere playing for the dominant Chicago Bulls & then moving on to other teams
57:15 B.J. on being an absolute legend in the video game NBA Jam
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome .... Episode #83 is dedicated to Mikal Bridges and Ross Geiger explains why.
0:37 ... Live commercial read for Bet Online
1:12 ... Bruce's opening comment is on Steve Kerr's complaint that the Warriors lack grit, but Bruce feels the Warriors' biggest issue is the fact that the young guns around the league have caught up to the aging 'Dubs.
2:54 ... World B's opening comment deals with the fact that teams that can't make three-point shots can't win in today's NBA.
5:47 ... Ross' opening comment is on Senator Herbert Kohl, the former Milwaukee owner who saved basketball in Milwaukee by buying the team and then selling it to owners who promised to keep the team in Milwaukee. Ross' life was personally touched by Senator Kohl.
9:20 ... Bruce tells his own Herbert Kohl story about watching a Bucks/Celtics game with the Bucks owner in 2012 and what that was like.
11:57 ... The Knicks and Raptors made a five player deal that was headlined by OG Anunoby becoming a Knick. The crew examined Anunoby's expected impact for New York.
14:27 ... Bruce shares his thoughts on OG and how he's in a contract year and it will be up to his teammates to make sure he gets quality scoring opportunities in order to keep him motivated to play the type of defense he is expected to play.
16:39 ... Ross praises Anunoby's defensive skills and reminds us that he was a member of the 2019 NBA Champion Raptors.
17:26 ... World B shares some numbers from OG's first game for the Knicks and points out that his three point shooting is most effective from the corners.
19:00 ... Ross explains why Anunoby's corner 3's are a great fit with Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle who operate mostly in the paint and at the elbows.
19:50 ... Ross and World B discuss why they feel that Precious Achiewa is a significant addition for the Knicks.
22:40 ... Bruce likes Achiewa's versatility but doesn't feel he will be an effective rim protector at the center position.
24:02 ... Bruce thinks Barrett will face less scrutiny in Toronto from the media, but might face more distractions from family and friends in his hometown.
25:25 ... World B admits that he was down on Barrett and called him "a shooting guard who can't shoot."
27:15 .... Ross changes the topic to Immanuel Quickley and everyone expects him to do well in Canada. Bruce feels that IQ and Coach Thibodeau were never really on the same page, and now that he's in Toronto, he could break out in a way similar to Tyrese Maxey in Philasdelphia.
28:56 ... Ross wonders how badly it hurt World B to see Quickley leave and World explains how he felt.
31:00 ... The second round pick the Raptors received from the Knicks is much more significant because it is really Detroit's pick. Bruce likes the way Toronto is going about its rebuild.
33:56 ... Ross feels like the Raptors have won this trade. World B feels that "any team that acquired Barrett" lost the trade.
35:31 ... Everyone is impressed with the Oklahoma City Thunder who defeated the Celtics on Monday night. Shai Gilgeous Alexander is the leader of this group. SGA was Ross' preseason MVP choice.
39:23 ... Bruce praises the cohesive nature of the Thunder team and points out all of the areas where they are among the league leaders.
41:02 ... World B doesn't feel that OKC needs to make any moves at this time. Everyone discusses the great free throw shooting by the Thunder.
43:02 ... Bruce explains why Chet Holmgren has been such a game changer for OKC.
43:36 ...The Pacers and Bucks hate each other's guts .... isn't it great?
45:13 ... World B praises the historically great stretch that Tyrese Haliburton is currently enjoying.
46:26 .... Bruce reminds us about Giannis Antetokounmpo's continued dominance against Indiana.
47:45 ... Ross loves that Bucks' enemy Haliburton is a Wisconsin native.
48:18 ... Ross' Best Bets for Wednesday include a same game parlay.
49:39 ... In his closing comment, Bruce recaps the wild week the Detroit Pistons just endured.
51:33 ... World B praises Tyrese Haliburton for his continued brilliance including back to back 20 point/20 assist games.
53:38 ... Ross's final thought has to do with the Raptors and whether they should keep dealing, including Pascal Siakam.
54:49 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 55:04
0:00 Intro
1:09 Bruce shares his favorite thing in the NBA from 2023
3:32 World B discusses his concerns for the current state of the Phoenix Suns
5:02 Ross questions the Suns decision to have Damion Lee address the home crowd on Christmas night
6:20 The Boston Celtics keep rolling out West in impressive fashion
16:31 Heat culture continues to do Heat things
25:55 In-Season Tournament Fallouts: Indiana Pacers & Los Angeles Lakers
26:18 Indiana Pacers are sliding down the standings
32:42 Los Angeles Lakers are struggling
37:56 Western Conference teams potentially in danger
38:17 Phoenix Suns
41:44 Golden State Warriors
46:05 Houston Rockets
47:53 Memphis Grizzlies
49:25 Ross’s Best Bets: Current First Basket Leaders in the NBA
50:21 World B touches on the race for MVP
51:26 Bruce gives a NBA prediction for 2024
53:24 Ross provides optimistic thoughts on the Detroit Pistons
0:00 ... Animation and Welcome to the show.
1:08 ... Bet Online live commercial read
1:43 ... Bruce introduces our guest, former Clippers GM Dave Wohl
2:32 ... Dave recalls how the legendary Jerry West called him a pest and he took it as a complement
3:34 ... Dave feels that the Clippers have been hurt by injuries in recent years and adding James Harden has given the team a great new vibe. Dave also heaps praise on Russell Westbrook for how he has handled his reduced role with Harden joining the team.
6:14 ... Bruce admits he didn't like the Harden acquisition but gives James credit for playing the same style of ball as he did last year in Philadelphia and that is helping the team succeed.
7:01 ... Dave is concerned about the Clippers' upcoming schedule and feels like we'll know if they're for real after 8 or 10 more games.
7:33 ... World B feels Kawhi Leonard is a top 5 MVP candidate at this point in the season.
9:21 ... Ross wonders if PJ Tucker has a future with the Clippers or is a likely buyout or trade candidate later in the season since his minutes have been reduced. Dave thinks PJ should handle his complaints with head coach Ty Lue and not put them out in front of the public.
11:15 ... Bruce asks Dave if Lue and Russell Westbrook discussed Russ' new role in order to make the transition easier for him coming off the bench. World B shares info about how Westbrook actually reached out to Lue and offered to come off the bench.
13:47 ... Dave always roots for guys like Russ with that team-first attitude.
14:36 ... Speaking of passionate players, we discuss Draymond Green, who is serving an indefinite suspension. Dave feels that Draymond is an emotional player and you can't take that away from him and expect him to be the same player.
16:25 ... Dave had Kevin Garnett in Boston, who was really emotional as a player but he learned how to channel it and Draymond could learn something from him.
19:05 ... Dave feels maybe an intervention with some of his teammates might be in order for Draymond.
19:44 ... Bruce will always blame Green for his suspension in the 2016 NBA Finals that cost Golden State the championship and he asks Dave if Draymond is capable of changing his tactics this late in his career.
21:37 ... Ja Morant returns from his suspension this week and there are questions about how he comes out. Will he try to do too much or will he ease himself back into the first two weeks of action.
23:17 ... The Grizzlies have gotten off to a poor start and making the playoffs (or the play in field) is a long shot even when Morant returns. Will Ja have continued "off the court" issues?
26:13 ... Dave feels that Ja should no longer have his friends meeting him on the road and that he should be spending time on the road with his teammates.
27:09 ... We discuss teams whose "stock" is up: first we have the Timberwolves
29:33 ... Mike Conley has been a calming veteran presence for the young Wolves team
30:52 ... The Oklahoma City Thunder are another team whose stock is up ... Dave gives a lot of credit to rookie big Chet Holmgren.
32:33 ... Shai Gilgeous Alexander has been incredibly impactful along with other young guys like Josh Giddey and Jalen Williams. Thunder GM Sam Presti has set this team up for the future with all the assets he has stockpiled. World B points out how OKC is one of the three most "complete" teams in the league.
37:45 ... We then discuss two teams whose stock is down: first up is the Suns. Dave feels their struggles go beyond just the injury to Bradley Beal.
39:17 ... Bruce feels the Beal trade was a huge gamble and wonders if the Suns gave up too much to get a guy who has barely played so far. Dave feels that the jury is out on that question because there's a lot of season left and Beal could still make an impact.
42:06 ... We turn to the Detroit Pistons, losers of 24 straight and Dave relates a story from his first year with the expansion Miami Heat where the team was losing at a clip similar to Detroit. Dave understands how losing so much takes its toll on a team. Pistons coach Monty Williams is the right coach for this team since he will stay positive and keep teaching.
44:35... Dave relates a story about when Doc Rivers was struggling as Celtics coach and Danny Ainge publicly backed Rivers and the Celtics won the championship the following year.
46:30 ... The Pistons are a really young team and Bruce asks Dave if the team needs to bring in some older guys. Dave replies that it depends on the qualities of the guys since you can't just bring in anyone. They can't just be older guys looking for a paycheck.
50:00 ... The crew discusses the Giannis situation where he and Oscar Tshiebwe battled over the same game ball. Dave had a couple of good suggestions on how it could have been handled better.
51:30 ... Bruce railed on Oscar because his first NBA basket was a free throw and if he wanted the game ball, he should have made a bucket from the field.
53:45 ... Dave tells a story about his former teammate Calvin Murphy and a legendary on court fight that Murphy had where he knocked out a player who was a foot taller than he was.
56:45 .... Bye until next time
0:00 ... Open animation ... episode #80 honors the great NFL player Cris Carter
0:30 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read
1:00 ... Bruce's opening tip is on Zion Williamson and how Stephen A. Smith shredded him for his lack of conditioning and Bruce takes Zion to task for his lackluster performance against the Lakers in the NBA Cup semifinal game on Thursday.
3:12 ... World B sounds off on the Suns "Big Three" and the excellence of Devin Booker.
4:44 ... Ross calls out the problems in Milwaukee and wonders if the "new guy" might be leaking locker room business to a favored reporter.
5:55 ... The Lakers are the winners of the very first NBA Cup and the guys share their thoughts on the tournament and how LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the way while Myles Turner had no answers for the Lakers' bigs in the championship game.
9:41 ... What changes should take place prior to next season's tournament. The point differential rule was something all the guys want to change. Commissioner Adam Silver likes the crazy colored courts, so they'll be back next year. Ross suggested "winning quarters" might work better than point differential.
13:01 ... Bruce thinks the banner the Lakers plan to hang at Crypto.com Arena is going to look like something out of a high school gym. World B wonders if the Lakers can carry the momentum from winning the tournament forward into a very difficult stretch of games.
15:05 ... As we hit the end of the first quarter of the season, the guys discuss their surprises and disappointments from the team and individual perspectives. Minnesota and Orlando top everyone's list of surprise teams.
19:00 ... As for disappointing teams, Golden State is Bruce's pick and World B's as well. Klay Thompson and Draymond Green have been particularly disappointing. Ross' disappointing team is his beloved Milwaukee Bucks.
22:29 ... Bruce asks Ross if he feels new coach Adrian Griffin is in trouble. Ross says the clock is ticking.
24:28 ... Bruce's surprise player is Aaron Nesmith of the Pacers. World B feels Devin Booker has been a surprise because of his playmaking success this season. Ross likes 19 year old Dereck Lively of the Mavs as his guy.
27:59 ... Bruce's disappointing player is James Harden of the Clippers, whose scoring numbers have now gone down in seven straight seasons while his assist numbers are his worst in 10 seasons. World B's guy is DeMar DeRozan, whose shooting has been the worst in the league. Ross is down on Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson as his most disappointing player.
31:28 ... With December 15th fast approaching, the guys discuss trade rumors and who might be dealing. The Knicks, Bulls, and Pacers might be making moves. Bruce thinks DeMar DeRozan might be a good fit with the Lakers but is down on DeRozan's teammate Zach Lavine who has never impacted winning on any of his teams. Ross feels the Raptors might be willing to trade OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam and simply hit the "reset" button.
36:14 ... Bruce does the Classic Card Challenge with his teammates and marvels at their ability to say intelligent things about five former players each with no preparation time.
44:31 .... Ross shares his "Best Bets" for Wednesday night parlays.
45:46 ... Bruce's final thought is on Mark Cuban and why the former Mavericks owner should run for President of the United States. He wouldn't be the first reality show star to run for President.
47:15 ... World B's final thought is on the In Season Tournament and why it worked so well. He praised the players for taking it seriously and felt that was the reason it succeeded.
48:42 ... Ross' final thought was on how the Phoenix Suns' "in arena" DJ did a great job helping the Suns by blasting techno music and annoying an opposing coach.
TRT 50:05
0:00 Intro
1:34 Bruce introduces our special guest Monica McNutt
3:04 Monica shares her thoughts on the NBA In-Season Tournament
4:34 The In-Season Tournament courts, Monica provides her insight on the full picture
7:18 What sense has Monica gotten from NBA coaches on the in-season tournament
8:26 New York Knicks at Milwaukee Bucks Quarterfinals Matchup Preview
10:01 Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers Quarterfinals Matchup Preview
12:30 Lakers starting to get healthy with key reserves rejoining the team to help AD & LeBron
14:48 Is Monica surprised how well the Suns are playing with their own health issues?
17:36 All things New York Knicks with Monica who also works for MSG Network
18:11 Are the New York Knicks a 50 win team this season?
20:18 Monica on Mitchell Robinson’s development this season
22:15 Does Monica have any concerns with the Knicks lack of perimeter shooting?
24:26 Monica shares something we might not know about Mitchell Robinson
26:06 Has Jalen Brunson’s impact in New York surprised Monica?
28:34 A discussion into Monica’s journey
29:01 Monica on who has had the biggest impact on her career
32:47 Monica on her mindset as she embraced the grind as she worked towards where she is today
35:35 What it was like for Monica growing up in the DC/Baltimore area with its rich basketball history
39:13 Monica shares what it’s been like working with Doc Rivers at ESPN
41:18 Word Association with Monica
41:29 Richard Jefferson
41:52 Walt Frazier
42:57 Patrick Ewing
43:42 JJ Redick
45:34 LeBron James
47:22 Ross’s Best Bets
0:00 ... Show open and introductions ... the Evan Scott episode (#78)
1:05 ... Bet Online Live commercial read
1:48 ... Bruce's opening comment on Draymond Green's latest selfish antics
4:23... World B's opening comment is on Mark Cuban, who is selling his stake in the Mavericks after owning the team since 2000.
6:10 ... Ross' opening comment is on the Houston Rockets, who are much improved but still winless on the road.
7:32 ... World B gets us going in the first quarter with a breakdown of the Orlando Magic, who are riding an 8 game win streak behind Paolo Banchero and a very deep bench.
9:43 ... Bruce points out that the Magic have owned the Celtics since last season winning four of their last five meetings.
11:20 ... Ross loves Cole Anthony coming off the Magic bench and describes him as a "Bucket." Ross also has praise for Jalen Suggs.
13:57 ... Mo Wagner has really found a great role coming off the bench for the Magic after bouncing around his first three years in the league.
15:06 ... The LA Clippers are imploding and suffered a terrible loss on Monday when they lost to Denver, which was without its top three players (Jokic, Gordon, and Murray).
16:28 ... Russell Westbrook has been negatively affected by James Harden's return. He's coming off the bench and averaging under 10 points a game.
18:53 ... Ross is stunned by how poor the ball movement is for the Clippers and feels they need a better offensive system.
20:00 ... World B explains how no team in the NBA runs as many iso plays as LA and they also make fewer passes per game than any other team.
21:37 ... Bruce says LA lacks chemistry, is an old team, and does nothing particularly well. Bruce also believes Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was behind the Harden deal and forced GM Lawrence Frank to make the trade for marketing reasons.
22:50 .... The Phoenix Suns are on fire behind Kevin Durant and Devin Booker. World B feels Booker is going to be in the MVP discussion and is a true difference maker.
25:07 ... While Book struggled on Wednesday in their loss to Orlando, "Kevin and Devin" are combining for 60 points a game and Booker's return to the lineup has made KD's life easier. Bruce also has love for Grayson Allen, who has filled while Bradley Beal has been injured. Ross agrees 100% on Allen.
28:17 ... Eric Gordon has also been huge in his 16th NBA season for Phoenix averaging nearly 15 a game while shooting over 40% from downtown.
30:35 ... In our "Three Man Weave," we size up the Minnesota Timberwolves after their big win over OKC on Monday. Rudy Gobert had a big game and the Wolves really dug in on defense in the second half. Minnesota overcame the loss of Anthony Edwards, who missed the whole 4th quarter and had two great performances off the bench from Naz Reid and Troy Brown Jr.
35:06 ... Ross wants to see more from Jalen Williams, who was a solid rookie last season but who has struggled early in the season for the Thunder. World B wonders if the arrival of Chet Holmgren has negatively affected Williams' development.
37:55 .... In the second topic of the Three Man Weave, the Pistons are a total mess. Coach Monty Williams' job is not in jeopardy but he might need to shake up his lineup to motivate some of the players who are lacking the ability to battle out there. The Pistons can't shoot and that's a problem.
43:00 ... The final element in the Three Man Weave concerns the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. He's great, but his team stinks. Bruce compares Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. When Belichick lost Tom Brady he wasn't such a great coach anymore and when Pop lost Tim Duncan he had the same issue.
46:06 .... Ross shares his "best bets" as he sizes up the four quarterfinal games in the "In Season Tournament" which take place next Monday and Tuesday. He likes the Celtics over the Pacers and the Knicks over the Bucks in the east. Ross likes the Kings over the Pelicans and the Suns over the Lakers out west.
48:35 ... Final Thoughts ... Bruce feels Gregg Popovich was out of line for telling the Spurs fans not to boo Kawhi Leonard last week.
50:31 .... World B has praise for Russell Westbrook, who has turned his image around as a member of the Clippers after a bad experience with the Lakers.
51:31 ... Ross comments on the Chris Paul beef with referee Scott Foster. If Foster said something about one of his kids, as CP3 alleges Ross feels the league needs to step in and change something involving the two men.
53:33 .... Ross says goodbye ...
TRT 53:52
0:00 Intro
1:11 Bruce introduces our special guest in ESPN’s Dave McMenamin
2:17 Does Dave still hangout with fellow Syracuse alum Carmelo Anthony?
2:58 Dave puts LeBron in some historical perspective
5:54 Austin Reaves removed as a starter, will it stay that way in the Lakers lineup?
8:38 Dave shares a glimpse of what Anthony Davis is like behind the scenes
11:56 Cam Reddish seems to have found a home in LA, who on the team has helped him find his stride?
15:09 Dave on D’Angelo Russell’s preseason comments about looking up to Derrick White
18:45 Dave’s insight on Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham
23:13 Zach LaVine trade rumors & why his name is tied to the Lakers
27:26 Word Association with Dave!
33:32 Three Man Weave! Starting with the red hot Sacramento Kings
36:22 Thunder continues to roar with Oklahoma City
39:14 Phoenix Suns had a great weekend in Utah, but Brad Beal is out for a while
42:05 A Bucks/Celtics Heavyweight Matchup Game Preview
48:10 Best Bets: The top NBA game picks for this week’s action!
49:33 Bruce shares his final thoughts on LaMelo Ball’s neck tattoo
51:54 Ross provides an update on the NBA’s In-Season Tournament standings
53:36 Ross & Bruce discuss their In-Season Tournament thoughts so far
0:00 ... Opening Animation and Welcome
0:24 ... Episode #76 honors Shawn Bradley, who wore that number during his career
0:39 ... Bet Online live commercial read
1:16 ... Bruce's opening tip on James Harden and the tough start to his Clippers career
2:47 ... World B's opening tip is on Stephen Curry, who is playing great ball but needs some help
4:10... Ross' opening tip is a question to Bruce and World B on how they felt about Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla's challenge against the Raptors when his team was leading by 27 points with 3:00 left last Saturday. Everyone thought it was kind of lame.
6:46 ... World B's Team of the Week is the Dallas Mavericks, who are winning close games and exceeding expectations
7:46 ... Bruce's Team of the Week is the Houston Rockets, who have won 6 straight games behind center Alperin Sengun
8:59 ... Ross' Team of the Week is the Portland Trailblazers who are remaining competitive despite playing a lot of guys with "zero" name recognition and without their two starting guards.
10:36 ... Bruce's Team of the WEAK is the LA Clippers, who are having major chemistry issues
11:32 ... World B's Team of the WEAK is the Washington Wizards, who are just dreadful on defense and on the boards.
13:30... Ross's Team of the WEAK is Milwaukee, who are driving Ross to pull the old panic button out of his desk drawer.
14:50 ... Bruce is concerned about Khris Middleton, who is playing fewer minutes and struggling offensively.
16:24 ... The Minnesota Timberwolves are rampaging through some very good teams behind Anthony Edwards and a very rugged defense.
23:12 ... The Philadelphia 76ers are rolling in the east behind Tyrese Maxey and reigning MVP Joel Embiid. World B feels they're the best team in the league.
25:01 ... Maxey has been unleashed since Harden moved west ...
32:07 ... We start the "Three Man Weave" with the odd situation where the Golden State Warriors are struggling at home but crushing it on the road. This is in stark contrast to last year's team that was 33-8 at home and 11-30 on the road.
38:10 ... The next element in the Three Man Weave concerns Tim Hardaway Junior's candidacy for the 6th Man of the Year Award in Dallas. He's tied for 3rd in the league with 3.5 "threes" per game.
40:30 ... The final element in the Three Man Weave is on CJ McCollum and how his absence has hurt the New Orleans Pelicans in the area of leadership as well as scoring.
43:38 ... Ross' "Best Bets" features underdogs who are good bets to cover the point spread on any given night.
45:12 ... Bruce's final thought is on Kelly Oubre Junior and how angry hs is that Oubre was injured by a hit and run driver.
46:42 ... World B's final thought is on the Chicago Bulls and head coach Billy Donovan ... World B wonders if his preseason prediction on Donovan's job status will come to pass.
48:24 ... Ross takes aim at Zion Williamson in his final thought and thinks Zion needs to start "buying in" and not complaining about the situation he thinks he is in.
49:19 ... Bye until next time
TRT 49:34
0:00 Intro
3:02 James Harden could learn a thing or two from Josh Dobbs in the NFL
5:32 The New Orleans Pelicans lose their leader CJ McCollum to some unfortunate news
6:44 Ross shares which rookie he’s enjoyed watching the most so far this season
7:47 Victor Wembanyama’s hot start with the San Antonio Spurs
16:10 Phoenix Suns stumbling out of the gates while dealing with key injuries
21:49 The Boston Celtics continue to be a Juggernaut
29:53 Three Man Weave: NBA Storyline Edition!
30:00 CP3’s successful adjustment to joining the Warriors
33:13 The 76ers are now 5-1 without James Harden
38:09 The Grizzlies start the year 1-6 on the season
45:37 Ross provides his Best Bets! 5 players to keep in mind for your parlay & prop bets
47:21 Bruce gives us James Harden’s debut stat line & shares his thoughts on this Clippers group
49:14 World B absolutely roasts Jordan Poole for his final thought
51:17 Ross raises one final question to Bruce & World B to get their thoughts on the new In-Season Tournament courts
0:00 ... Animation and hello ... James Harden is now a member of the LA Clippers
0:52 ... Ross summarizes who went where and what assets were exchanged between the 76ers and Clippers
1:11 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read
1:48 ... Bruce's initial reaction was to wonder if this trade was more of a Steve Ballmer marketing move than a Lawrence Frank/Ty Lue basketball move.
2:26 ... World B feels that the Clippers took a big swing that will get them closer to a championship
2:55 ... Ross says LA is now "all in." He feels Ty Lue will find a way to make this deal work.
3:40 ... Bruce feels that Robert Covington has come full circle from his days in Philly as a member of the bottom feeding "trust the process" teams and is now on a Philly team this is far better. Marcus Morris is a Philly native who also returns to his hometown at age 34
4:35 ... Ross thinks Morris will play some quality minutes for the Sixers
4:58 ... Ross points out that the Clippers have very few homegrown guys on the roster but will be competitive in the loaded Pacific Division. He adds that Sixers GM Daryl Morey did well in the deal.
6:30 ... World B feels Morey is definitely looking ahead by dumping salary in this deal, but is concerned that Joel Embiid might have another wasted season while in his prime.
7:39 ... Bruce on whether the Sixers are better or worse off without Harden. He liked some of the role players Philly acquired but realizes that they'll take a step backward in the short term before using the newly acquired draft assets to hopefully get immediate help for Embiid.
9:23 ... World B wonders if Morey is the guy to make the right deals that will help convince Embiid to not demand a trade.
10:57 ... Ross will be interested to see how Morey uses the draft assets and he felt Morey got a good haul for Harden. Ross thinks maybe the Sixers will try to get some of new coach Nick Nurse's former Toronto guys in a deal.
11:58 ... World B is a huge fan of Pascal Siakam and feels if Philly can get him, they are a major threat in the postseason.
12:36 ... Bruce is not a fan of this deal for LA and questions Harden's commitment to winning, but he does like PJ Tucker coming to LA. However, Bruce is wary because it's an aging team with recent injury troubles and Harden is also old and has been injured in recent years.
14:00 ... Can Russell Westbrook and Harden co-exist? World B feels Russ can adapt to having a "ball dominant" Harden next to him on the court. Harden can still have a positive impact as he showed last season.
16:31 ... The guys all like PJ Tucker in LA because both LeBron James and Kevin Durant are now in the same division as PJ and both of those stars have nightmares about him guarding them.
17:19 .... Bruce has a couple of quick thoughts on Harden. He dislikes his style, thinks he has little impact on winning, and is a fantasy league stud because he fills up a box score. Bruce praised his work last season but wonders if it was a mirage. James wants to be paid for his past achievements but he forgot that the NBA is also a business and aging stars have a limited market for their services if they want max money.
18:57 ... Ross thinks Harden's presence might take some heat off Kawhi Leonard if the Clippers underachieve moving forward.
19:25 ... World B feels like Harden gives Ty Lue enough flexibility to rest some of his other older players. But Harden will be judged by his playoff performance in LA.
21:26 ... Bruce sizes up the Clippers and Sixers' playoff prospects but doesn't think LA will finish higher than #5 in the west. He feels Philly will finish somewhere between 3-6 in the east.
22:24 ... World B feels Philly is still a playoff team, but a badly diminished one. World B likes the Clippers' prospects for this season.
23:26 ... Ross agrees the Clippers have more talent than the Lakers and feels they'll be stronger moving forward and could be a conference finalist. Ross feels that Morey needs to make a deal to help convince Embiid to stay in Philly.
24:49 ... Ross says goodbye
0:00 ... Open animation and welcome ... show #74 is in honor of NBA official Curtis Blair
0:39 ... Bet OnLine Live commercial read
1:18 ... Bruce's opening comment is on his new Granddaughter Sophie Robyn Bernstein
2:22 ... World B eliminated Joel Embiid from the MVP discussion for a very bizarre reason and it wasn't the first time the reigning MVP threw a pass that went awry in a big way
5:00 ... Ross comments on the specialized floors that will be in use for the "In Season" tournament and why they might be awkward ... TV Producer Bruce checks in with his thoughts on the visibility of the players competing on such colorful playing surfaces.
6:35 ... The guys size up the Celtics 3-0 start and what is behind it, but Bruce is concerned that the offense needs to feature more ball movement.
9:56 ... The Pacers are also off to a fast start behind a stud point guard and seven players averaging double figures
13:21 ... The Orlando Magic are off to a hot start behind their huge frontcourt and their outstanding rebounding and defense, but World B says they need more shooting from their guards
19:04 ... The Pelicans have started well behind their Big Two of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram along with some solid defense
23:12 ... The Mavericks are 3-0 out of the gate behind Luka Doncic, but their porous defense may eventually catch up with them. Ross and Bruce aren't impressed but World B is still on their bandwagon.
27:31 ... The Nuggets are off and running behind Nikola Jokic, who continues to look like the MVP.
30:23 ... Then there are the teams who have struggled out of the gate. The guys size up the Rockets, Blazers, Grizzlies, and the Nets. There is hope for Houston and Brooklyn, but things in Memphis could get really ugly.
35:54... The guys look forward to the best matchups of the upcoming week: Kings/Warriors, Pacers/Celtics, Pistons/Pelicans, Celtics/Nets, Knicks/Bucks, and Warriors/Thunder
41:20 ... In honor of Bruce's new Granddaughter, the guys play an NBA version of "Red Light/Green Light." The topics: Jalen Johnson, James Harden and the Clippers, Harden and the 76ers, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, and Nikola Jokic/Chet Holmgren
46:58 ... Ross gives his "Best Bets" on guys that should always be targeted in possible parlays: Norman Powell, Russell Westbrook, Shaeden Sharpe, and Dennis Schroeder
48:38 ... Bruce's closing comment is on Chris Paul's seeming acceptance of the 6th Man role for the Warriors
49:45 ... World B likes Brandon Miller as a dark horse "Rookie of the Year" candidate
51:13 ... Ross has a closing comment on the upcoming schedule for the 48 Minutes podcast and what the crew has planned on a weekly basis this season.
51:41 ...Goodbye and see ya' next time ...
TRT 51:46
0:00 Intro
1:18 Steven Adams set to miss the entire NBA season
3:55 Terry Stotts decision to leave the Milwaukee Bucks coaching staff
7:22 Reactions to Giannis Antetokounmpo signing a 3-year extension with the Bucks
9:36 Which Eastern Conference team will be a surprise this season?
13:34 Eastern Conference Finals matchup predictions
16:29 Eastern Conference Champion predictions
18:35 Which Western Conference team will be a surprise this season?
21:46 Western Conference Finals matchup predictions
26:33 Western Conference Champion predictions
28:50 MVP Award predictions
30:43 Defensive Player of the Year Award predictions
32:28 Rookie of the Year Award predictions
33:43 Sixth Man of the Year Award predictions
35:54 Coach of the Year Award predictions
37:40 Most Improved Player Award predictions
39:55 Predictions on which head coach will be the first on the hot seat
41:55 One random thought/prediction to look out for this season
45:10 Final Thoughts: Which team is crowned the 2024 NBA Champion
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome as Ross dedicates show #72 to Jason Kapono who wore #72 in Philadelphia
0:59 ... Bet Online live commercial read
1:41 ... "World B" discusses James Harden in his opening remarks and how Philly needs to make a move before the start of the season
3:22 ... Bruce's opening remarks are on Jeff Van Gundy joining the Boston Celtics and how it reminded him of another former coach that joined the Celtics front office in 2012.
5:00 ... Ross discusses the trade that sent Kevin Porter Jr to the OKC Thunder along with more draft assets. Ross then explains the unbelievable package of future picks that the Thunder have been accumulating.
6:30 ... Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo finally took the court together over the weekend and the crew discusses how they looked and what we can expect moving forward.
7:43 ... Bruce loves how Giannis and Dame provide a combination that will almost never be completely stopped, but they may want to fine tune a few things before the opener next week.
9:19 ... World B is not worried about Lillard adjusting to his new teammates with the Bucks and how he will do his thing as he always does.
11:27 ... Ross asks Bruce about Khris Middleton's readiness to accept his new role as the third option on offense.
12:50 ... Ross suggests that the Bucks should watch what Phoenix is doing in getting their new "Big 3" in sync for the season.
13:12 ... World B comments on how offense has taken over the NBA and that Middleton will make a huge contribution as the "third guy," just as Chris Bosh did in Miami and Kevin Love did in Cleveland on championship teams.
16:45 ... Ross introduces the discussion on the yearly NBA General Manager's survey and Bruce found the Luka Doncic rankings (#2 point guard and #3 small forward) mark him as a "position-less superstar."
18:11 ... World B found it interesting that Anthony Edwards was chosen as the #1 candidate for top "Breakout Player" while Bruce wondered if the GM's noticed that Edwards actually "broke out" last season.
21:17 ... Ross took issue with some of the GM's ranking of the teams that made the best off-season moves. The Dallas Mavericks were rated highly and the crew questioned whether they deserved it. And Ross was surprised that the Phoenix Suns didn't rate highly in this category.
26:15 ... What can we expect from LeBron James in his 21st NBA season that begins next week? Bruce puts his 19th and 20th season performances into perspective along side others who played 20 seasons like the late Kobe Bryant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
28:53 ... World B believe the Lakers are a 50 win team and a legit title contender, but they may be on thin ice over health concerns for LeBron and Anthony Davis. World B describes him as a "freak of nature."
31:41 ... Ross has been impressed with D'Angelo Russell's pre-season performance as of now.
34:10 ... Ross and Bruce had a chuckle over Russell's admiration for Derrick White of the Celtics.
34:45 .... The guys debate which first year player will win the Rookie of the Year Award. The candidates are Victor Wenbanyama, Chet Holmgren, and Scoot Henderson.
36:24 .... World B thinks Wembanyama is the choice for top rookie
38:15 ... Bruce talks about the "Scoot Henderson Rookie of the Year" bandwagon and how Wemby and Chet are both worthy .... but Scoot will win it.
40:14 ... World B makes a pitch for Brandon Miller as the top rookie.
41:47 ... Bruce's final thought is on how the Israeli team Ra'Anana Maccabi, which played three NBA teams this week is providing hope and inspiration for their fellow Israelis as they go to war against the terrorist group Hamas.
43:03 ... World B's final thought is on the GM Survey on the best coach in the league. And he is surprised that Tyrann Lue didn't finish higher.
45:37 ... Ross concludes with some thoughts on Payton Watson in Denver and how Nuggets GM Calvin Booth thinks Watson will make people forget the departed Bruce Brown
TRT 47:49
0:00 Intro
1:36 Bruce provides his opening tip on Jaylen Brown’s embarrassing moment
2:39 World B pays his respects to longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone
4:24 Ross shares a friendly reminder that the preseason is not just a warm-up for the players
5:41 NBA Stars on new teams
5:56 Jrue Holiday & Kristaps Porzingis make their Celtics debuts
10:16 Brad Beal shines in his Suns debut
15:34 The clock has yet to start on Dame Time in Milwaukee through 2 preseason games
19:51 Preseason Rookie Debuts highlighted by the Wembanyama vs. Holmgren matchup
24:05 Jarace Walker
28:14 Ausar Thompson
32:44 Potential breakout candidates
33:01 Payton Pritchard
34:22 Jonathan Kuminga
36:08 Grayson Allen
39:00-39;41 SHORT SEGMENT
39:49 Which NBA team can come out of nowhere this season
39:58 Charlotte Hornets
42:38 Houston Rockets
44:55 Indiana Pacers
47:03 World B provides his final thought on Barry Melrose
49:27 Bruce on the scheduling of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals
50:51 Ross shares his NBA conspiracy theory to close out the show
0:00 Intro
1:03 Bruce teases who the special guest will be on the show
1:20 Bruce introduces special guest Roland Lazenby
2:12 Roland discusses his new book titled “Magic” The Life of Earvin “Magic” Johnson set to be released next month
3:55 Bruce asks Roland to share a fact about Magic Johnson that even the biggest Magic fans probably don’t know
4:50 Roland elaborates on whether or not Magic Johnson should be considered the ultimate “Citizen Athlete”
8:40 Roland discusses the timeline he documented within his latest book on Magic
12:27 World B asks Roland to compare Michael Jordan to Kobe Bryant
17:12 Bruce shares a personal story on his time with Magic Johnson & Roland elaborates on Magic’s special ability to build relationships with others
19:20 Ross asks Roland his thoughts on HBO’s “Winning Time” & whether he thought Jerry West was portrayed unfairly
28:18 World B shares a quick story on how he first discovered how good of a player Jerry West was before Roland digs deeper into Jerry West
34:24 Bruce asks Roland to discuss the Chicago Bulls & of course gets his thoughts on ESPN’s “The Last Dance”
42:37 What surprised Roland the most about Kobe Bryant while writing his book on “The Mamba”
48:08 How Kobe connected with other people and touched the lives of so many
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
0:26 ... Bet OnLine Live commercial read
1:08 ... Bruce starts out by giving credit to the "48 Minutes" crew for setting in motion several moves that reshaped three NBA franchises: the Bucks, Celtics, and Blazers.
1:46 ... Bruce wanted Holiday on the Celtics from the moment he was traded by the Bucks to Portland. Holiday teams with Derrick White to give Boston an incredible defensive duo on the perimeter.
2:57 ... Ross asks World B to compare Holiday to the departed Marcus Smart and World B feels Jrue is a significant upgrade for Boston at that position.
4:26 ... Bruce feels the addition of Holiday is a "win now" move for Boston. He feels that White and Holiday will be among the league leaders in forcing turnovers and that opposing teams will have a lot of trouble getting into the paint against the Celtics.
5:50 ... World B explains that Boston was already a top two defensive team (last season) and now the Celtics and Bucks are clearly the two best teams in the east and possibly the two best teams in the entire league.
7:16 ... Ross asks Bruce about Boston's front court depth and Bruce feels they need one more big on the roster to play behind Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. Among the possibilities Bruce mentions are Andre Drummond of the Bulls and three available free agent bigs.
9:15 ... Bruce cites some other depth issues for the Celtics
9:58 ... World B points out that Porzingis played well last season for the Wizards when paired with fellow big Daniel Gafford and we should not be surprised if Porzingis and Horford play significant minutes together at times.
11:13 ... Moving to Milwaukee's situation, Ross wonders if the Bucks will regret freeing up Holiday to join Boston. World B feels that the Bucks would not do anything differently in dealing Holiday to get Damian Lillard.
12:59 ... Bruce feels the Lillard acquisition was essential for the Bucks since they often struggled offensively late in games and Dame solves many of those problems.
13:19 ... Bruce points out that Lillard joining Giannis has echoes of Clyde Drexler joining Hakeem Olajuwon in Houston in 1995 and helping "The Dream" win his second NBA title. Bruce also points out that in a Bucks/Celtics playoff series, Holiday and Lillard will be a fascinating individual matchup as they'd likely guard each other.
14:39 ... Ross points out that the Bucks acquired Cameron Payne on Sunday as their backup point guard and all the guys agreed it was an excellent move.
17:26 ... The guys pay tribute to the Portland Trailblazers general manager Joe Cronin for his off-season moves and how he turned what looked like a situation where Lillard might have to be traded for "pennies on the dollar" into a major haul of talent and future assets. Bruce feels he is the early favorite for next season's NBA Executive of the Year.
19:49 ... World B gives Cronin a grade of A+ for his Lillard dealings.
21:13 ... Ross feels that Cronin's great achievement might be if Scoot Henderson wins Rookie of the year.
22:11 ... Ross leads a discussion on whether the Blazers might use Deandre Ayton and Robert Williams III in a "Twin Towers" setup and if so, who would play the 4 and who would play the 5.
26:03 ... Ross leads a discussion on the "lost" off-season of the Miami Heat. Bruce cites the aging players on Miami but predicts that they'll continue to develop undervalued players on their roster with some surprise contributors emerging. Bruce also thinks Heat GM Andy Elisburg should call Cronin and see if Brogdon is available in a trade because he'd be an upgrade at point over "soon to be 38 year old Kyle Lowry."
28:30 ... Ross asks World B how he feels (as a Knicks fan) about Miami's off-season difficulties.
29:56 ... Ross is curious as to what the Heat will be able to do to upgrade the team as the season rolls on.
30:39 ... Ross bye until next time
TRT 30:57
0:00 Intro
1:28 Bruce introduces our legendary special guest Marques Johnson
2:27 Bruce shares a quick story
3:55 Marques shares his initial reaction to hearing Damian Lillard was traded to Milwaukee
7:08 Marques on the Dame/Giannis duo & the Bucks championship window
11:09 Marques discusses how this trade changed the landscape of the NBA heading into the season
14:38 Marques addresses the Bucks loss of Jrue Holiday
17:42 How big was it for the Bucks to show they’re “All-In” heading into Media Day on Monday
19:58 Can the Milwaukee Bucks win the NBA Championship next season?
22:01 Jrue Holiday's in Portland but likely on the move & the Bucks keep Dame away from Miami
23:36 Where could Jrue Holiday end up?
25:48 Marques addresses the state of the Miami Heat after losing out on Lillard
28:43 Is Milwaukee an underrated sports town?
31:17 Marques’s thoughts on the Phoenix Suns after being involved in this trade
0:00 ... Opening Animation, Hello, and Welcome
0:16 ... BetOnLine live commercial read
1:15 ... Bruce introduces special guest Mike Brown of the Sacramento Kings
1:54 ... Bruce asks Mike what the staff is focusing on as we head into the new season and physicality is at the top of the list
3:38 ... World B asks Mike about the special relationship between the Kings team and their very passionate fan base in Sacramento and Mike explains how tight and authentic those connections are
5:50 ... Ross asks Mike about the viral clip from last year's training camp where Mike sprinted down the court demanded that his team "turn on the jets." Mike then tells a funny story about how it spontaneously went down and how he worried about hurting himself after he took off.
9:08 ... Bruce asks Mike if his philosophy changed regarding the balance between offense and defense during his time as Steve Kerr's assistant in Golden State and Mike explained how Steve's philosophy rubbed off on him.
12:22 ... Ross asks Mike about the addition of Euroleague MVP Sasha Vezenkov, who Mike praises as one of the best shooters he has seen.
14:02 ... World B asks Mike if there were any players on the Kings roster who surprised him last season and he singled out Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, and had high praise for several other players like De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
17:54 ... Ross asks about the importance of two nationally televised games from last season that the Kings won. Mike responds that winning those games really was huge for the team's psyche because it showed that the organization had something really good going on and boosted the prestige of their players.
20:21 ... Bruce asks Mike about being hired by Gregg Popovich as an assistant coach for the Spurs in 2000. Mike tells the story of how Pop wasn't sure if he was ready to sit in the front row on the bench but was soon convinced that he was and what convinced Pop that he was.
22:48 ... Bruce asks Mike how coaching LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Tim Duncan made him a better coach and Mike explains what they all taught him.
24:47 ... Ross thanks Mike for joining us and before Mike says goodbye, he asks Ross a funny question about "turning on the jets."
25:46... Closing animation
TRT 25:50
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome ... Ross introduces the panel ... teases our content
0:28 ... Bet OnLine live commercial read
1:15 ... Opening discussion on Giannis and how his presence has set off an avalanche of attention for the show ...
1:30 ... Bruce credits Ross for getting Giannis ... Reaction to seeing ourselves on ESPN's NBA Today
2:12 ... Giannis made news on the show, especially about his future in Milwaukee ...
2:48 ... World B's reaction to the passion that Giannis showed in answering our questions ... lots of fans in Milwaukee are feeling a bit nervous
3:43 ... Bruce discusses how much civic pride the city of Milwaukee has for Giannis and how he is recognizable around the world as a "one name" person ... and while he'd like to stay in Milwaukee if the team is competitive, he does have options. Ross chimes in on the reasons he feels Giannis and Milwaukee are a good fit.
5:53 ... World B sizes up the Bucks situation, singling out Jrue Holiday and the other veterans and understands that their championship won't stay open indefinitely.
6:50 ... Ross tees up a discussion of Giannis' comments about the NBA champion not being the "World Champion." This was a very controversial take by Giannis and we examine the pros and cons of his position.
8:50 ... Bruce feels the American fans and the International fans are clearly divided on the topic. There are other leagues around the world that could lay claim to calling themselves "World Champions," but don't.
10:12 ... Ross points out that Giannis never speaks without thinking first and Ross agrees with him on the issue, even though he was previously on the fence.
10:59 ... World B agrees that part of the issue is the American fans' attitude and he points out that it's now up to the US to send a team to the Olympics to back up the boasting.
11:38 ... Hakeem Olajuwon discussion and why Giannis has always been Bruce's "Hakeem 2.0" Giannis also broke the news that he'd be working out with Hakeem before the season starts, which resonated "big time" around the hoop world.
13:41 ... World B on the excitement in Milwaukee over the Hakeem/Giannis future workout
14:15 ... Ross on comments from fans ... we love them ... keep them coming
14:48 ... Thoughts on the growth of our listeners from around the globe ...
16:22 ... Ross expresses his feeling that helping hoop fans get to know Giannis through this show has been gratifying for him.
17:10 ... Next week's guest will be Mike Brown, the head coach of the Sacramento Kings and we examine some of his accomplishments and why he is such a winning individual. Everyone discusses what they hope to learn from Coach Brown.
23:41 ... Ross asks for listeners to send us questions ... Bruce and World B share their social media handles for listeners questions and Ross adds his at the end.
26:30 ... Bye and see y'all next time
TRT 27:00
0:00 Intro
01:07 Ross introduces special guest Giannis Antetokounmpo
01:45 Giannis confirms this is the very first podcast he’s ever done
02:39 Ross asks Giannis to discuss what he remembers from an all-time moment they shared driving through a Milwaukee blizzard together
04:59 Giannis on Comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon
06:37 Giannis shares why he does not workout with other active NBA players in the offseason & details his upcoming trip to go workout with Hakeem before the upcoming season
08:33 Which part of Giannis’s personality is Greek & which part of his personality is Nigerian?
10:04 Giannis chimes in & provides his stance on Noah Lyles’s recent NBA “World Champion” comments
14:05 Why are all the best NBA Bigs International Players?
16:01 Giannis on Victor Wembanyama
20:20 How much has last year’s First Round Loss to the Miami Heat motivated Giannis this Summer
22:42 Giannis on whether he sees himself playing the rest of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks
27:41 Does Giannis dream of owning an NBA franchise in the future?
31:46 Word Association with the Greek Freak
34:31 Ross makes a promise & proposes a long overdue challenge to Giannis: Pool, Pickleball, & Around the World. Who wins?
37:17 Ross throws out a ladder joke. Giannis shares the full story on the ladder incident in Philadelphia
42:03 Show closes with a reminder that next week our special guest is the NBA’s Coach of the Year Mike Brown of the Sacramento Kings
0:00 Intro
01:14 Bruce talks about his recent trip to U.S. Open Tennis Championship & the really cool NBA connection
03:19 World B shares his thoughts on Noah Lyles comments NBA Champions being considered World Champions
05:15 Ross discusses the significance behind the Kings recent signing of JaVale McGee
06:45 Projected risers for NBA Regular Season Wins according to the Vegas Sportsbook
7:10 Dallas Mavericks
8:59 Detroit Pistons
11:27 Houston Rockets
13:58 Indiana Pacers
16:30 LA Lakers
18:53 OKC Thunder
21:55 Orlando Magic
24:46 Phoenix Suns
27:37 San Antonio Spurs
30:32 Projected fallers for NBA Regular Season Wins according to the Vegas Sportsbook
30:45 Boston Celtics
33:02 Cleveland Cavaliers
36:00 Memphis Grizzlies
38:36 Milwaukee Bucks
41:14 New York Knicks
44:47 Philadelphia 76ers
47:10 Sacramento Kings
50:02 Utah Jazz
52:34 Washington Wizards
55:02 The crew give their final group thoughts on Team USA recent loss in the FIBA Tournament
0:00 ... Ross Geiger welcomes everyone to the show
1:04 ... Ross live commercial read for Bet Online
1:38 ... Bruce Bernstein introduces our special guest Marc Kestecher, the Voice of the NBA on ESPN Radio
2:34 ... Marc tells the story of how he first came into contact with Bruce at the 2006 NBA All Star Game in Houston and how their friendship almost ended before it even began.
3:40 ... Marc will celebrate his 25th year at ESPN in 2024 and he explains how he almost gave up on doing "play by play" but ESPN Radio showed confidence in him and the rest is history.
6:02 ... Marc called games from the Orlando Bubble in 2020 and shares some stories of life in the bubble, including bonding with fellow broadcasters when they were allowed to interact outside of the quarantine area.
8:02 ... Marc discusses his experiences working with Doris Burke and how she is a trail blazer, is able to multitask while doing a live game, and talking with the producer in between her comments.
10:27 ... Marc's broadcast partner PJ Carlesimo famously organizes postgame meals on the road, sometimes pulling off what would be impossible for mere mortals but is routine for PJ.
14:54 ... Marc marvels at the incredible energy of ESPN Radio analyst and Hall of Famer Hubie Brown, who is close to 90 years old but still on top of his game.
18:30 ... Marc will be calling college football games before NBA season starts and he is very excited to be calling the top 10 matchup between Florida State and LSU over Labor Day weekend.
20:18 ... The FIBA World Championships are underway in the Phillipines and the crew discusses which players are setting themselves up for breakout seasons after performing well in the tournament.
22:54 ... Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has done a great job managing the frustration of players who wish they could have a bigger role in the tournament.
25:06 ... Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves and Paolo Banchero are growing really quickly as a result of their FIBA experiences and Marc is really excited about Banchero and also how the Wolves will be impacted by an improved Edwards.
28:17 ... Our Two-a-Days begin with an examination of the Denver Nuggets. We react to Track & Field star Noah Lyles' weird comment on how the Nuggets should not be called "World Champions" because they're "United States Champions."
30:08 ... The Nuggets have had a very quiet off season, but have they improved the roster enough to repeat? The team will miss Bruce Brown, but Christian Braun should be ready to expand his role. And Marc feels that Reggie Jackson will have a bigger role. But the Nuggets don't need to win 65 games to be in position to repeat as champs.
34:21 ... Nikola Jokic is 28 years old and many players are at their best between the ages of 28-32, so is it possible we haven't even seen the best of Jokic? Joker loves talking about his teammates, so the thought of him actually improving is downright scary.
36:32 ... Our "Two-a-Days" continue with a discussion of the Boston Celtics and whether Kristaps Porzingis will make the team better and how he will fit in with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Marc really likes the new assistant coaches on Joe Mazzulla's staff.
39:39 ... Will Jaylen Brown's huge new contract mean that he faces more pressure than any other NBA player next season?
41:23 ... Ross wonders if Porzingis and Robert Williams III will play significant minutes together next season.
42:27 ... Marc expects the Celtics will miss Marcus Smart a lot, but Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White are very capable in their roles.
43:46 ... Mailbag Time! "Who will be traded first: James Harden or Damian Lillard?" Marc and Ross say Harden and Bruce says Lillard because "we know at least one team is interested in Dame."
45:05 ... The crew responds to a question about the new NBA Midseason Tournament and whether it will be successful.
49:38 ... Bruce joked that Pacman Jones was the MVP of the 2007 NBA All Star Game when it was in Las Vegas because he had a "big" weekend back then. Marc tells a story about how he took his family to Vegas that year and his wife never wants to go back!
50:10 ... The guys answer a listener's question about which NBA players will take a big leap forward as a result of their involvement in the FIBA Tournament. Marc and Bruce singled out Paolo Banchero and Austin Reaves while Ross chose Walker Kessler of the Jazz.
53:28 ... Marc shares his social media handles if anyone wants to follow him on X-Twitter.
54:10 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 54:30
0:00 ... Opening animation and Ross welcomes us to show #62 in honor of Scot Pollard, who wore that number as an Indiana Pacer.
0:51 ... Ross' Bet Online live commercial read
1:23 ... Bruce introduces our guest Cassidy Hubbarth and they have a warm exchange about their history working together on NBA Tonight and NBA Coast to Coast, including Cassidy's hip hop nicknames for everyone on the staff
4:40 ... Bruce wants to know if covering the NBA at ESPN is the basketball life Cassidy always dreamed of?
6:09 ... Ross asks Cassidy about the difference between presenting content on linear TV vs. what she does on the digital platform with her hit series "Hoop Streams."
9:49 ... Cassidy waxes poetic on her colleague Doris Burke and why she is the G.O.A.T. Cassidy praises Doris for her character and how she earned everything she has achieved.
14:06 ... Ross asks if there is a specific story about Doris, and Cassidy goes through a series of things that have drawn them so close together as friends.
16:33 ... Cassidy shares a classic story about her very first sideline reporter gig on Christmas Day 2015 where she was tasked with doing sideline interviews, including having to deal with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.
21:24 ... Cassidy has a daughter that will turn five years old in December. What has it been like to balance motherhood and family life with her demanding schedule?
25:20 ... Cassidy discusses her favorite "follows" on social media and discusses how she interacts with social media as a key part of her job.
28:20 ... Ross tees up our "Two-a-Days" and we start with Cassidy's Chicago Bulls ... and Cass struggles with finding something positive to say about Da' Bulls. She feels like they're in purgatory and stuck in the middle, which is the worst place to be in the NBA.
33:08 ... Bruce commiserates with Cass for being bummed about the Bulls and "World B" tries to raise the spirits of "Bulls Nation" but Cass really isn't having any of it. Although Cass' Dad feels more optimistic than she does.
38:17 ... Ross continues our "Two-a-Days" with our Golden State Warriors discussion and tees Cassidy up for her thoughts about newly acquired Chris Paul.
43:18 ... Bob Myers left Golden State to take a job at ESPN and the crew discusses whether Myers got out of Golden State before he had to preside over a tear down and rebuild.
45:32 ... "World B" wonders if Chris Paul's style of offense will mesh well with the style the Warriors have played for so many years. Cass feels his presence will be very helpful to the younger guys on the team like Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga and also that he'll be an asset on the second team.
49:09 ... Ross transitions to a discussion of Damian Lillard and James Harden, both of whom are seeking trades. Cass feels that Portland will eventually deal Lillard but they're trying not to give him away.
52:16 ... Will James Harden ever be happy? Does he want to win a title? Does he just want to get paid? Is it important for him to be "The Man" again? Cassidy hopes james stays in Philly because she doesn't want to see another year of prime Joel Embiid wasted.
56:32 ... We play "Word Association" and Bruce asks Cassidy about Stuart Scott, who was one one of her greatest mentors.
58:34 ... Word Association continues with "World B" asking Cass about Stephen A. Smith and how he is VERY quiet when you talk to him in person.
59:53 ... More Word Association as Ross asks Cass about fellow Northwestern Wildcat and ESPN colleague Michael Wilbon.
1:01:14 ... The crew thanks Cassidy for being on the show and everyone says goodbye
TRT 1:02:25
0:00 Intro
1:24 Former Villanova Wildcats help lead the charge for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup of Basketball
3:14 World B raises some big questions in the Western Conference going into next season
4:52 Ross’s 3 favorite James Harden trades/destinations
9:33 NBA Two-a-Days: An offseason preview on the Cleveland Cavaliers & Minnesota Timberwolves
23:48-24:43 Anthony Edwards/FIBA short segment
26:33 Mail Bag Time! Listener Submitted Questions
38:59 Live NBA Cards Pack Break. Bruce & World B are put to the test!
52:35 Bruce provides his final thought on the San Antonio Spurs presence at the Basketball Hall of Fame this past weekend
54:35 World B gives his final thought on reigning MVP Joel Embiid heading into next season
56:22 Ross provides an exciting announcement of the show debuting on BLEAV TV
Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer examine what happened and what is likely to happen regarding Harden's NBA future.
0:00 ... Open and Welcome
0:27 ... BetOnline commercial read
1:01 ... Bruce summarizes what happened in China and adds some context to the situation.
2:26 ... Morey has always been supportive of Harden, yet James trashed him in China of all places.
2:59 ... "World B" feels Harden acted out of desperation and is trying to force Morey's hand.
3:35 ... Bruce asks why Morey should accommodate Harden at this point?
3:51 ... "World B" feels Morey is also culpable in this scenario due to promises supposedly made that were not honored.
4:38 ... Morey wants to have his cake and eat it too as far as his demands in a trade.
5:11 ... Is Morey acting like Harden is in his prime rather than an aging star who has a lot of miles on his body? Bruce asks if Morey "thinks he's Danny Ainge?"
7:30 ... Can Harden be allowed anywhere near this team?
7:56 ... Bruce feels it's hard to have sympathy for James considering Morey fired head coach Doc Rivers partly because Doc and James were not on the same page. And now new coach Nick Nurse has to deal with this mess.
9:35 ... "World B" still feels Harden and MVP Joel Embiid can be a lethal combo because their efficiency as a duo last season was outstanding.
11:09 ... At this point, is there even a viable market for James Harden? The guys discuss.
TRT 13:03
0:00 Intro
1:30 Anthony Davis’s contract extension with the LA Lakers
3:28 The FIBA World Cup’s possible effects on load management in the NBA next season
5:13 Diana Taurasi becomes the 1st player in WNBA history to reach the 10K points milestone
6:45 Hall of Fame Inductions to the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday
7:06 Bruce gives us more details some of the lesser known names headed to the Hall of Fame
10:02 The crew discusses the 5 legendary NBA names in this year’s class starting off with Dwyane Wade
14:04 Tony Parker group discussion
18:46 Pau Gasol’s career reflection
25:45 Dirk Nowitzki group chat
30:12 Gregg Popovich discussion
38:11 Mailbag Time! Listener Submitted Questions
49:00 A fun NBA Nickname Discussion: Which all-time great nicknames are our favorites?
The latest episode of "48 Minutes" begins with Bruce Bernstein's analysis of Jaylen Brown's new contract with the Boston Celtics followed by a discussion with Ross Geiger and Michael "World B" Freer on the preseason prognosis for the new look C's. Ross then asks Bruce & World B three questions he's dying to know the answers to. Each panelist will count down their top 5 teams heading into the season, share their 5 favorite all-time players by position, and conclude with a game of "What They Said/What They Meant." We'll even examine the new ESPN/ABC broadcast team of Mike Breen, Doris Burke, and Doc Rivers.
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0:00 ... Hello and Welcome ... Ross dedicates show #59 to Rajon Tucker.
1:05 ... Bet OnLine Live commercial read
1:42 ... Opening Comments: Bruce on Jaylen Brown's new Supermax contract with the Celtics and why the franchise did it.
3:47 ... World B defends Kawhi Leonard who was named to a list that nobody would choose to make.
5:28 ... Ross on Thanasis Antetokounmpo's new contract with the Bucks and why it is money well spent.
7:21 ... With Brown's new riches, the addition of Kristaps Porzingis, and Derrick White's increased role, the guys discuss whether the Celtics will be better or worse than they were last year.
11:30 ... The Milwaukee Bucks had the best regular season record last season, but lost in the first round of the playoffs. Can they improve under rookie coach Adrian Griffin?
15:14 ... Ross asks Bruce and World B if they feel either LeBron James or Anthony Davis are capable of winning another MVP Award.
16:59 ... Our panelists count down their top 5 power teams heading into the season ... there is plenty of disagreement but lots of good analysis. And definitely some surprising choices.
30:26 ... Just for fun, everyone shares their all time favorite starting fives by position ... Some of the choices will make you scratch your head while others may make you think.
44:11 ... When World B brought up the name of Jerry West, Bruce told the story of seeing the new movie Oppenheimer over the weekend and noting that the aggressive prosecutor in the movie was played by the same actor that portrayed West in the HBO series "Winning Time" about the Showtime Lakers of the 1980s.
45:04 ... Since many are getting tired of "Political Correctness," we play a game called "What They Said/What They Meant" where we cut through the BS and translate some of the PC terms that describe certain players.
47:47 ... World B's final thought is on the Orlando Magic and his hope that the upcoming season will bring increased success for this young and talented crew.
49:21 ... Bruce's final thought is on the new ESPN/ABC #1 Broadcast team of Mike Breen, Doris Burke, and Doc Rivers. Mark Jackson is the odd man out and while he was a successful coach before joining ESPN, his coaching future is sketchy due to possibly being blackballed and we hope he can find a way to remain a vital member of the basketball family.
51:59 ... Ross' final thought is on Philly coach Nick Nurse and his stated objective of turning Paul Reed into the next Pascal Siakam.
52:45 ... Bye and see you all next week
TRT 53:02
0:00 Intro
1:37 Doug shares how his offseason has been going thus far
2:22 Doug reflects on his trip out to Las Vegas Summer League to watch his newest teammate in Victor Wembanyama
3:15 Bruce asks Doug if the Spurs have any unique processes in place with dealing with the buzz surrounding Victor’s upcoming rookie season
4:19 How can Doug’s own experience coming in as a highly touted draft pick with expectations help him guide Victor next season
6:00 Is there any benefit to having already played with Kristaps Porzingis in New York who has a similar size, frame, & outside shot as Wemby?
7:11 Doug explains what it’s like to be around the well known & well respected Spurs culture
8:24 Bruce asks Doug to compare & contrast his Dad as a coach to the legendary Gregg Popovich
9:53 How Gregg Popovich can make a difference in Victor’s development
11:21 Ross asks Doug how he & the rest of the Spurs veterans plan on helping lead this young Spurs roster during a season that will attract a lot of attention
12:58 What’s it like being traded 2 consecutive seasons in a row? How hard is that adjustment?
15:03 Being not just a great shooter but also an effective off the ball cutter, Ross asks Doug how great it was to see how selfless of a passer Victor was in Summer League
16:43 Ross asks Doug to talk a bit about Jeremy Sochan as a teammate & about his future in the NBA
19:12 Having been drafted by the Bulls & being teammates with Jimmy Butler, is Doug surprised with all his success?
20:27 Bruce asks Doug about Rajon Rondo as a teammate & whether he thinks Rondo would be a good coach in the NBA
21:44 World B asks Doug what the biggest moment was for him becoming the consistent sharp shooter he is today in the league
24:13 Is there anyone in particular that Doug mentors on the current Spurs roster?
25:12 Bruce asks Doug to discuss Coach Pop’s love for red wine
27:56 What’s Doug most looking forward to next season with the Spurs & does he have any goals already set?
30:25 Bruce asks Ross for a Phoenix weather update prior to the start of the 2nd half of the show
33:37 The Crew discusses their Winners & Losers of the NBA Offseason
33:56 Bruce goes first & selects the Houston Rockets
36:22 World B picks the Dallas Mavericks as his winner this offseason
40:57 Ross takes the Phoenix Suns as his winner of the offseason
43:34 Bruce says the Atlanta Hawks are the losers of the offseason
45:33 The Philadelphia 76ers are the losers of the offseason according to World B
47:57 Ross says the Chicago Bulls are the losers of the offseason
49:30 Bruce provides his final thoughts on Kemba Walker signing a contract overseas
51:21 World B discuss Michael Jordan sale of the Charlotte Hornets as his final thought
53:49 Ross provides his final thought on Mike Conley winning the NBA's Sportsmanship Award for his record breaking 4th time
0:00 ... Opening and welcome
0:22 ... Ross dedicates episode #57 to former NBA official Greg Willard who passed away in 2013 and wore that number on his jersey.
1:40 ... Bet Online live read from Ross
2:20 ... Bruce introduces this week's guest Shaun Powell of NBA TV and NBA.com
4:02 ... World B's opening comment is on basketball in Los Angeles with uncertain futures for both the Lakers and Clippers.
5:40 ... Bruce's opening comment is on LeBron James not retiring as a player, but he is retiring the #6 jersey in honor of Bill Russell.
7:22 ... Shaun's opening comment is on how the FIBA World Championships are this summer and how he believes if there were a game between International stars and American born stars, the International team would win.
12:00 ... Summer League thoughts with Cleveland beating Houston in the championship game
13:00 ... Shaun's feelings about the Houston Rockets and what their prognosis is for the upcoming season
15:35 ... World B feels the Rockets need to improve their shooting, but he is taking a wait and see approach
16:54 ... Ime Udoka will bring a renewed commitment to defense for Houston.
18:57 ... Ross is impressed with how the Rockets performed, including rookie Cam Whitmore.
20:59 ... The Portland Trailblazers have a sticky situation with Damian Lillard and his trade demand and Shaun wonders why the Blazers didn't trade him sooner.
24:35 ... Bruce feels that Lillard and his agent Aaron Goodwin put the Blazers in a box by demanding a trade to one team only: the Miami Heat.
26:38 ... Shaun feels Blazers rookie Scoot Henderson will come into the league and be a mature performer right out of the gate.
28:30 ... Bruce has lots of love for Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and believes he should be in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Unfortunately for Bruce, none of his colleagues agree with him. Luckily Bruce has thick skin and his feelings were not hurt.
33:29 ... The guys discuss James Harden and his demand to be traded from Philadelphia. Shaun is tired of his yearly demands and feels he is team hopping and has "basketball insecurity."
35:43 ... Shaun understands why Joel Embiid wants Harden to stay in Philly.
36:08 ... Bruce feels Harden's performance last season was the best version of his "current self" and World B points out what an efficient duo he was with Embiid.
37:48 ... Phoenix traded Cameron Payne, leaving them without a true point guard. Shaun feels that with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, two of their top guns don't really need a point guard because they can create for themselves.
40:12 ... Bruce initiated a discussion on DeAndre Ayton and whether new head coach Frank Vogel can get the best out of him.
41:43 ... World B feels that Vogel, known as a defensive oriented coach will be sorely tested by his new team and their defensive deficiencies.
42:36 ... Jaylen Brown has yet to sign a supermax deal but Shaun feels many teams are getting sticker shock and Brown may not deserve the supermax salary and that could be why he has not yet come to terms with the Celtics on a new deal.
45:06 ... Bruce has praise for Brown because he has leadership qualities and with Marcus Smart gone and Al Horford nearing retirement, he feels Brown will soon be the leader of the team.
47:00 ... The second apron of the new salary cap is something that is a huge factor moving forward when it comes to team building. Shaun explains the financial stakes for owners and general managers.
48:12 ... Ross is concerned that the OKC Thunder may soon be contending with salary cap issues.
49:44 ... With all of the brothers currently playing in the league, we play Word Association with Shaun. The Mobleys (Isaiah and Evan), the Holidays (Jrue, Justin, and Aaron), and the Balls (Lonzo and LaMelo) are our subjects
53:03 ... Final Thoughts: Bruce on new Indiana Pacer Bruce Brown, who signed a big free agent deal despite not being a typical "star" player.
54:17 ... World B's closing comment is on the rising OKC Thunder and their bright future. And now Chet Holmgren is ready to play after missing last year due to injury, so the team looks poised for a playoff appearance.
55:58 ... Shaun's final thought is on NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and all of his great achievements as he begins his 10th season as NBA Commissioner.
59:12 ... Ross lives in Phoenix and the weather has been historically hot with 20 straight days hitting 110 degrees. Let's just say its effects have been felt!
1:00:20 ... Shaun shares his twitter handle and lets everyone know how to find him.
1:00:56 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye
TRT 1:01:13
0:00 Intro
01:54 Bruce gives his opening tip on Damian Lillard
03:53 World B shines some light on the Indiana Pacers offseason moves for his opening tip
05:30 Ross shares his scouting notes on GG Jackson during Summer League
07:32 Summer League Stars & Stand outs during Summer League
30:40 Bruce gets us started on the NBA's biggest offseason news by discussing James Harden’s latest trade demand saga
47:03 Bruce educates us all providing more details into the NBA’s plan to start up a In Season Tournament and the crew discusses the idea
50:57 Bruce shares his final thought on Russell Westbrook
52:37 World B discusses the NBA’s popularity & the uncertainty that’s soon to come
54:21 Ross provides his final thought on a 2nd round pick that all NBA fans should keep an eye on during Summer League & beyond
0:00 ... Introduction
0:20 ... Dedication of show #55 to Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, who proudly wore that number.
1:08 ... Mirin describes the past month in the NBA with one word: "Chaos."
3:07 ... Discussion of Denver's Michael Porter Jr who was recently profiled by Mirin. His health issues have been far more serious that most people realize.
5:21 ... Porter has not been without his detractors but his maturity is clearly on an upward curve.
7:25 ... Some in the sports media disparaged the Nuggets' championship run because of who their opponents were and this did not sit well with Mirin or the 48 Minutes crew.
12:15 ... Derrick White of the Celtics is a unique player and Mirin shares her unique perspective on his career and his role with the Celtics in light of the Marcus Smart trade. Mirin shared how White referred to himself as the "Gerber Baby" due to his unique appearance.
19:14 ... Mirin recently spent a week with Scoot Henderson, the #3 overall pick in the recent NBA Draft and her insight into what makes him tick is compelling.
20:48 ... Scoot's family ties are incredibly strong and Mirin shares a great example of the devotion of his parents and sisters.
22:28 ... Scoot's new coach in Portland is Chauncey Billups, and we discuss how that relationship is an ideal mentor/mentee relationship.
24:08 ... Scoot and the Thompson Twins (Amen and Ausar) are products of the Overtime Elite program and Mirin shares her perspective on why the program is becoming so successful.
27:36 ... The Thompson Twins have been inseperable their entire lives, but now they'll be on different NBA teams. How will that work out?
29:30 ... The parents of the Thompsons and Henderson are very similar in many ways ... Mirin explains.
32:35 ... Mirin's next book is on Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and Mirin tells us why he was such a compelling subject for her second book.
34:37 ... Mirin compares Olajuwon to Antetokounmpo and finds their mindsets to be eerily similar.
38:45 ... Bruce asks Mirin about how Hakeem approached playing basketball during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when he was required to fast from dawn until dusk.
40:39 ... The crew plays "Word Association" with Mirin and here are the topics: Giannis, Ja Morant, Greg Oden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Nikola Jokic, and Mirin's boss at the Ringer Bill Simmons.
49:31 ... Thanks to Mirin ... follow her on Twitter & Instagram @mirinfader and on her website mirinfader.com ... and bye until next time!
... TRT 50:50
0:00 Intro
0:44 Bruce introduces our special guest in ESPN Senior Writer/Reporter Marc Spears who is soon headed to the Basketball Hall of Fame
2:00 Marc gives Bruce some love for all the hard work, support, & love he provided Marc throughout their time together at ESPN
2:55 Bruce asks Marc what it felt like to get “The Call” from the Basketball Hall of Fame
10:57 Ross asks Marc to discuss his initial takes on Victor Wembanyama
19:26 Ross asks Marc where he’d rank Nikola Jokic all time after earning a his first ring in Denver
21:41 Does Marc see the Denver Nuggets having a legitimate chance to repeat next season?
24:04 World B asks Marc for his thoughts on the criticism the Nuggets took after the Finals
27:51 Marc makes a great point on how the TV ratings didn’t suffer from a Nuggets/Heat Finals matchup
28:30 Bruce asks Marc for his insight into the situation in Portland with Damian Lillard
31:40 Marc provides his thoughts & feelings on the Draymond Green situation in Golden State
35:24 Bruce asks Marc to provide more details into Andscape
38:37 Marc talks at length about how special Scoot Henderson is on off & the court
42:40 World B asks Marc if he was surprised Charlotte didn't draft Scoot Henderson 43:55 The Marcus Smart trade, was Marc surprised Boston traded him?
48:43 Marc on Porzingis joining the Boston Celtics
49:09 The 48 Minutes crew challenges Marc to one of their favorite games: Word Association!
49:37 Kobe Bryant, an incredible reflection along with memories Marc has with The Mamba
57:16 Marc on LeBron James
57:58 Carmelo Anthony & Should the Nuggets retire both #15’s for Jokic & Carmelo?
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome to Show #53 in honor of Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore, who famously wore that number.
0:32 ... Ross introduces special guest Kevin Connors of ESPN
1:02 ... Kevin quick story about his Artis Gilmore autographed basketball
1:30 ... Bet OnLine introduction
2:09 ... Bradley Beal traded to Phoenix ... Kevin wonders if the Suns have enough money to surround Beal, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker with enough talent to win it all.
4:33 ... Bruce agrees with Kevin on the salary issue but thinks Devin Booker won't be happy as a point guard if he is required to play that position with Chris Paul gone.
6:10 ... Ross feels DeAndre Ayton will be traded so that the Suns can acquire Draymond Green as a free agent.
7:07 ... World B thinks the Suns will totally be an Iso team and is concerned about Beal's durability.
10:00 ... The guys discuss the Ja Morant 25 game suspension and Kevin agreed with the NBA's decision to wait until the season was over before announcing Morant's suspension.
13:38 ... Will Zion Williamson be traded? Kevin thinks he won't and Bruce agrees. Bruce feels his lack of conditioning and style of play will continue to cause him problems as he moves forward in his career. Ross disagrees and would trade him if he were running the Pelicans.
19:40 ... Lou Williams announces his retirement ... Kevin admired how he was comfortable in his role ... World B had a great number on Lou's career ... Bruce feels that Lou and Jamal Crawford are two 6th Men who belong in Springfield some day.
23:00 ... Our draft discussion begins with players who could be chosen in the top 5 on Thursday night. Jarace Walker has really impressed Kevin.
24:41 ... Anthony Black of Arkansas is another player Kevin loves as a complete two way player. Ross is concerned about his outside shooting but Kevin is really impressed with his intangibles.
27:44 ... Cam Whitmore of Villanova has an NBA body and while Bruce asked if his weight might be a problem, Kevin and Ross told him not to worry!
32:03 ... Victor Wenbanyama is the clear #1 overall pick but do the guys see him playing an center or forward for San Antonio?
35:27 ... More first round discussion ... Jordan Hawkins of Connecticut is a dynamic scorer and a bit older at age 21, but Kevin is cool with that and yes ... he's also a National Champion.
37:05 ... Gradey Dick reminds Kevin of a more athletic Kyle Korver and is the best shooter in the entire draft.
38:09 ... Keyonte George of Baylor has unlimited range and is very mature ... Jett Howard of Michigan is a great shooter but may be lacking in other areas.
38:43 ... GG Jackson is someone both Kevin and Ross are very high on but is a real wild card
39:17 ... World B is mostly concerned about the Charlotte and Houston picks at number 2 and 4. Scoot Henderson and Brandon Miller are both in play. Houston is in need of shooting as is every other team picking near the top of the draft.
41:42 ... Brandon Miller was involved in an incident at Alabama that involved a shooting that mostly involved another player and it was a huge story. Miller's next game was at S. Carolina and despite all the heat he was taking, he destroyed SC that night with 41 points.
44:45 ... Bruce is intrigued by the Thompson Twins and Wembanyama's teammate Bilal Coulibaly as storylines he'll be following in the Draft.
45:49 ... More discussion on GG Jackson ... he originally committed to N. Carolina but ended up going to S. Carolina. Biggest wildcard in the draft ... only 18 years old ... so young and so talented. Ross loves him and thinks he has a full offensive package. Ross added that he'll require patience from his team but he's a top shelf talent.
49:53 ... Bruce's final thought is on the joy he witnessed among the draftees and their families during his 15 year run working on the NBA Draft for ESPN with David Stern and Adam Silver.
50:08 ... World B doesn't care about the NFL Draft but he loves the NBA Draft and is excited about what his Charlotte Hornets will do with the #2 overall pick.
51:37... Kevin thinks it's a good draft but not a great draft ...
52:27... Bruce wants to know what Kevin loves more: the Buffalo Bills or the Foo Fighters ...
52:50 ... Ross' final thought explains why there will only be 58 players drafted this year. The Bulls and Sixers lost their second round picks due to tampering and Ross shares the details.
53:43 ... Kevin shares his Twitter handle if anyone wants to follow him
54:10 ... Ross says goodbye
TRT 54:27
0:18 ... Episode #52 is dedicated to Hall of Famer Jamaal Wilkes who wore #52 for the great LA Lakers teams of the 1980s.
1:05 ... Ross reads info on our title sponsor BetOnline.
2:02 ... Bruce's opening comment takes issue with the Miami Heat's stunt involving UFC fighter Conor McGregor and his knockout of Heat mascot "Burnie" last weekend.
3:18 ... Ross opens with his feelings about Kyrie Irving's attempt to recruit LeBron James to join him on the Dallas Mavericks.
4:45 ... Bruce and Ross begin their discussion of game five of the NBA Finals and the intense competition, particularly down the stretch in the 4th quarter.
8:12 ... Jimmy Butler was a non factor for most of the game before finally making his presence felt in the final quarter.
8:42 ...Bam Adebayo and Kyle Lowry carried the Heat for most of the game before Butler decided to assert himself in the final minutes.
10:47 ... Everyone was astonished that Butler was awarded three free throws on a play that was reviewed and should have been overturned (but wasn't).
12:15 ... The Nuggets executed beautifully down the stretch, led by Jokic who always controls the pace and plays at his own speed.
15:18 ... Most fans can't help but respect what Denver did as they are a likable team that plays physically but always plays clean.
18:05 ... Bruce and Ross discuss Jokic's place in history and Bruce believes he's the best "Big" since Tim Duncan retired 7 seasons ago.
21:00 ... Ross feels Jokic is flirting with being a top 15 player of all time.
24:45 ... The Raptors have filled their head coaching position and they chose a 44 year old native of Serbia.
29:04 ... Former Bucks assistant Charles Lee has joined the Boston Celtics coaching staff as the "lead assistant coach" along with former Celtics guard Sam Cassell. But which guy is the "Top" assistant to Joe Mazzulla?
33:33 ... The Nuggets and Thunder made a rare trade that took place during the NBA Finals. Why is it significant for both teams?
38:36 ... Ross challenges Bruce and himself in the latest episode of the Basketball Card Challenge which tests both of their knowledge on random NBA players.
49:28 ... Bruce's closing comment is on the Miami Heat's organizational culture and why it really is a "thing."
50:23 ... Ross' closing comment concerns a report from NBA reporter Shams Charania that the Pelicans and Hornets are considering a major trade before the June 22nd NBA Draft.
51:23 ... Bye and see you next time
TRT 51:37
0:00 Intro
1:31 Ross welcomes TikTok superstar Joe Doerrer of StrictlyBBall onto the show & to describe what it was like waking up to see his Jamal Murray/Nikola Jokic video featured on ESPN on Thursday morning
3:53 NBA Finals Game 3 Recap & Reaction. Ross & Joe discuss the Nuggets latest victory.
12:22 Game 4 Preview & Adjustments that the Miami Heat need to make to even up the series
18:21 Will the Phoenix Suns possibly part ways with Chris Paul or DeAndre Ayton? Ross & Joe discuss the recent news as well as both chime in on their differences of opinion on DeAndre Ayton
28:06 Zion Williamson has some more off the court drama, Ross asks Joe his thoughts on Zion & whether or not he’s losing faith in his overall potential
33:00 Ross asks Joe to explain what StrictlyBBall is, how it started, & what his company covers
36:20 World B discusses his recent trip covering the Geico National Tournament that Joe was at himself
39:37 Joe discusses the work & coverage his company has done with Overtime Elite
41:07 NBA Draft Prospect talk with HS/AAU expert Joe Doerrer
54:28 Ross asks Joe about his outlook on the Minnesota Timberwolves being that Joe is a diehard Wolves fan
58:48 World B gives a special shoutout to a loyal listener of the podcast!
1:00:26 Joe gives us a hot take on Nikola Jokic as his final thought
1:01:58 Ross gives his final thought on new Wizards GM Michael Winger’s comments at his introductory press conference & also gives him some advice moving forward
0:00 ... Ross welcomes everyone to the show and explains that Episode #50 honors Arizona State great Eddie House who wore that number at ASU and in the NBA. Bruce wonders why it wasn't "The Admiral" David Robinson.
2:47 ... Bruce's opening comment delivers flowers to Jeff Green of the Denver Nuggets, still going strong as he approaches his 37th birthday.
5:35 ... Ross opens with some praise for new Suns owner Mat Ishbia who is beefing up the basketball staff and putting his money to good use with his coaching hires.
7:05 ... World B is very disappointed with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra for his rude response to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne in his game 2 postgame press conference.
9:06 ... Bruce cites all of the reasons that Miami was able to win game 2 on Sunday night and praised the team for doing all of the "little" things.
13:01 ... World B had predicted a game 2 win for the Heat and cited their three point shooting as a primary reason.
15:34 ... The guys discussed how Miami's 4th quarter offensive efficiency was historically good.
17:10 ... When Nuggets coach Michael Malone ripped his team for its lackluster effort in game 2, the guys felt he was talking about Michael Porter Jr and Kentavious Caldwell Pope, even though he did not call them out by name.
18:25... Although Denver' Nikola Jokic scored 41 points in game 2, it wasn't good for him or the team.
22:56 ... The discussion of game 3 adjustments begins with Miami's need to keep shooting a high percentage from downtown.
24:18 ... Bruce believes Denver will have to play "desperate" for the first time this postseason in game three.
26:50 ... Ross believes Caleb Martin will have a "bounce back" effort in game 3 on Wednesday
28:16 ... If Denver is to retake the series lead in game 3, Michael Porter Jr will have to do much more than he did in game 2.
29:31 ... Hall of Fame coach Rick Adelman was honored with the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award and Bruce shares his thoughts.
33:00 ... Sam Cassell will return to the Celtics as an assistant coach to Joe Mazzulla and Bruce explains why it's a popular move in Boston.
34:30 ... Kevin Ollie joins the Brooklyn staff as an assistant coach and the guys are very impressed with his hiring.
37:18 ... Terry Stotts joins the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant to new head coach Adrian Griffin and it's widely praised as an excellent addition to the staff.
39:33 ... James Borrego returns to New Orleans as an assistant coach, which is a homecoming of sorts.
41:38 ... Stephen Silas joins the Pistons staff as an assistant to new head coach Monty Williams.
44:06 ... Bruce busts out some basketball cards and quizzes Ross and World B in the "Classic Card Challenge" that tests their historical knowledge.
56:39 ... Closing Thoughts: Bruce on the Miami Heat culture and at 59:12 ... Ross on some draft prospects he has his eyes on.
1:01:19 ... Predictions for game 3 of the Nuggets/Heat series.
1:02:14 ... Bye until next time
TRT 1:02:32
0:00 Intro
1:30 World B discusses Pat Riley’s impressive career resume for his opening tip
3:34 Bruce reflects on his Boston Celtics bowing out of the NBA playoffs
5:25 Ross provides his opening tip on Mike Dunleavy being the odds on favorite to become the Warriors General Manager
7:00 2023 NBA Finals Game 1 Recap & Reactions as the Nuggets were victorious
20:12 Game 2 Adjustments for the Miami Heat
28:20 Big news around the association
45:44 Jeff Van Gundy’s ideas on shortening NBA games
55:43 World B gives his final thought on the NBA improving their offseason attention
57:18 Bruce gives his final thought on Nick Nurse’s comments on James Harden earlier on Thursday
59:28 Ross thinks Dame Time should be up in Portland for his final thought
0:09 ... Ross intro and BetOnLine promotional information
2:09 ... Bruce's opening comment is on how his late mother may have provided some heavenly help for her beloved Celtics in games 4,5, and 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
3:37 ... World B's opening comment concerns the new Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse.
5:47 ... Ross opens with his thoughts on why he thinks Warriors GM Bob Myers will soon be moving on.
7:14 ... The guys review the amazing sequence at the end of Celtics/Heat game 6 on Saturday night.
9:56 ...World B gives credit to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla for challenging the Jimmy Butler 3 point attempt that set up the miracle play by Derrick White on Saturday.
13:26 ... Miami took Boston's best punch in game 6 and even though they lost the game, they showed great mental toughness by going into game 7 with confidence as expressed by Erik Spoelstra & Jimmy Butler in their postgame comments after losing on Saturday.
16:15 ... In game 7, Jaylen Brown needed to step up when Jayson Tatum was injured in the first minute of the game, but he was unable to get it done.
19:00 ... Miami made a concerted effort to stop Boston from running by not crashing the offensive boards and getting back on defense instead.
20:49 ... Malcolm Brogdon tried to play in game 7 but was ineffective ...
22:10 ... Bruce felt the TNT game analysts did a poor job not pointing out Bam Adebayo's great defense in the first quarter of game 7, which sparked the Heat's victory. Bruce also felt Stan Van Gundy made a totally stupid late game comment about Tyler Herro that lacked context and showed a lack of insight on his part.
27:37 ... Ross had a fun fact about a college game between Jimmy Butler and Joe Mazzulla back in 2011.
28:47 ... The guys all agreed that Mazzulla will be back as Celtics coach next season, but that he could really use an experienced lead assistant next to him on the bench.
32:19 ... Bruce feels that given the super max contract extension that Jaylen Brown will be expecting, budgetary issues might cause him to be traded during the off season.
37:20 ... The crew previews the NBA Finals matchup between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets.
38:50 ... Bam Adebayo vs Nikola Jokic will be a great matchup that forces Joker to play against a smaller (6'9") center with a creative offensive game.
41:18 ... Denver will have 9 days off before game one vs Miami since they finished off the Lakers in a sweep. Is that "too much" rest for the Nuggets?
43:50 ... Miami will need Caleb Martin to continue scoring a lot of points against the Nuggets.
45:14 ... Bruce feels Kyle Lowry will be an important "under the radar" weapon for Miami against Denver because of his ability to control the tempo, especially on the road in Denver.
49:32 ... Bruce Brown vs Jimmy Butler will be a battle between two "DOGS" in the Finals.
50:38 ... The crew makes its predictions for the Finals ... Bruce and Ross agree on their choice but World B has an alternate take.
52:06 ... Bruce's closing comment is on Karl Malone's auction of 1992 Dream Team memorabilia and why he feels it is tacky.
53:55 ... World B discusses the NBA's investigation of game official Eric Lewis over his social media activities.
55:14 ... Ross delivers some flowers to new Milwaukee head coach Adrian Griffin who has landed a head coaching job after many years as an assistant for different NBA teams.
57:03 ... Goodbye until next time ...
TRT 57:27
0:00 Intro
1:36 World B uses his opening tip to discuss Doc Rivers being amongst the favorites to land the Phoenix Suns head coaching job
4:26 Ross discusses the current coaching vacancies & provides a hot take prediction for his opening tip
5:50 Heat/Celtics Game 5 Recap & Reactions, Miami starting to feel the pressure!
21:51 A Denver Nuggets Discussion. Should Nuggets fans be worried this is too long of break?
29:45 LeBron James…Is he seriously considering retirement?
39:16 NBA Trading Card Pack Break. World B & Ross discuss each player pulled!
58:04 World B provides his final thought on NBA Trade Machine & fans proposing trades all offseason
59:16 Ross gives the listeners an update on his 2023 NBA Draft prep update for a final thought
0:00 Intro
2:23 World B discuss Carmelo Anthony’s career for his opening tip
4:16 Ross uses his opening tip to discuss Joe Mazzula’s post game comments following the Game 3 loss
6:04 Our Game 4 reactions after King James & the Lakers are swept by the Denver Nuggets
19:30 The Heat destroy the Celtics in Game 3, is Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzula in trouble?
33:19 A Coaching Carousal Update, our latest reactions to the news
42:39 Mailbag Time! Listener Submitted Questions
53:07 World B tells us why we’re so lucky as basketball fans to enjoy LeBron James for his final thought
54:40 Ross brings up a great question in regards to which Denver Nugget gets their #15 jersey retired for his final thought
0:00 Intro
2:02 Bruce calls out the Celtics reserve that should see some playing time in Game 2
3:28 World B discusses all the bad luck the Charlotte Hornets have had during the draft lottery
5:22 Ross discusses the San Antonio Spurs winning the Wemby sweepstakes
7:13 Lakers/Nuggets Game 2 Recap & Reactions
17:58 The Jimmy Butler led Heat continue to roll & win yet another Game 1 against the Celtics in Boston
32:15 MID ROLL AD BREAK
32:22 A Coaching Carousal Discussion, Now Doc Rivers out as Head Coach in Philadelphia
46:25 Hot Take Time on James Harden & Daryl Morey
50:55 Bruce gives his final thought on what separates the good from the great & the overachievers from the underachievers in the NBA Playoffs
52:20 World B discusses the Wizards decision to trade Rui Hachimura to the Lakers
54:22 Ross uses his final thought to give his initial thoughts on the rest of the teams selecting in the Top 5 of this year’s draft
0:00 ... Show open and welcome ... episode #44 honors the great Jerry West who wore that number during his NBA career with the Lakers.
0:39 ... Michael Freer has a story about discovering old movies of Jerry West in the University of West Virginia sports office.
1:55 ... Bruce has a story about a chance encounter with West as a pre-teen at a shopping mall in Brockton, Massachusetts
4:05 ... Bet Online messaging
4:59 ... Bruce's Opening Tip on his frustrating Mother's Day when his car broke down and he had to listen to game 7 of Sixers/Celtics on the radio instead of watching it on TV.
8:37 ... World B's Opening Tip on new Suns owner Mat Ishbia and his confrontations with Nikola Jokic and firing of head coach Monty Williams.
11:11 ... Ross' Opening Tip takes MVP Joel Embiid to task for accepting only limited responsibility for the Sixers collapse against the Celtics in games 6 and 7.
13:11 ... Celtics/Sixers game 7 recap with commentary on how Boston's defense was the key to beating Philly in the final two games. Joel Embiid was worn down by the "Two Bigs" lineup of Al Horford and Robert Williams III.
14:59 ... Bruce has a surprising fact about Jayson Tatum's scoring in the series.
16:16 ... World B on what game 7 will be remembered for.
18:30 ... The Sixers haven't made it to the conference finals since 2001
22:05 ... Heat/Celtics Eastern Conference Finals Preview and Bam Adebayo's role.
24:49... Can the Heat score enough points to beat Boston?
27:20 ... The Celtics need to be careful with the ball against Miami since they were turnover prone against the Heat this season
32:32 ... Heat/Celtics Predictions ...
33:30 ... Lakers/Nuggets preview
34:38 ... Bruce makes the case (yet again) for LeBron James as the greatest player of all time
36:07 ... Ross mentions the reserves that will have key roles in the Lakers/Nuggets series.
40:11 ... Bruce's number to watch is 5280 ... he will explain
44:22 ... Ja Morant is in trouble again. Bruce highly recommends Kwame Brown's twitter rant and it's attempt to talk sense to Ja.
47:05... Monty Williams got hosed in Phoenix by new owner Mat Ishbia
50:57 ... The Julius Randle hatred in New York has reached epidemic proportions and Bruce thinks the people who are down on him are flat wrong.
54:18 ...The crew has thoughts on Tuesday's Draft Lottery and where they'd like to see Victor Wembanyama end up.
55:09 ... World B only cares about the Draft Lottery if the Mavs slip out of the top 10 and the Knicks get their pick.
56:09 ...Ross wants Wembanyama to go to the Spurs
57:02 ... Ross' "Best Bets"
57:38 ... Bruce's Closing Thought is is on a possible Lakers/Celtics Finals matchup
59:32 ... World B remains impressed with Nikola Jokic and his playoff production
1:00:15 ... Ross hammers Ben Simmons for his social media pettiness about the Sixers playoff loss
TRT: 1:01:52
0:00 ... Show Open and welcome back to Bruce, who is back with the crew after spending a week on the road and missing the last two shows.
2:09 ... Bruce's opening tip on the snake bitten Anthony Davis of the Lakers, who suffered a hard hit to the head on Wednesday. His career continues to be plagued by injuries and the timing could not be worse for him.
4:20 ... World B has some very strong feelings about the just announced All-NBA teams and how future selections will be affected by the new rules adopted for next season.
5:40 ... Ross feels Nikola Jokic was robbed of a much deserved All-NBA First team selection thias season.
7:21 ... The Celtics won a tense game 6 against the 76ers on Thursday but in spite of his Celtics winning the game, it was sheer torture for Bruce as he watched the Celtics make many questionable decisions and lose several opportunities to put Philly away before finally prevailing.
8:56 ... Bruce credits Marcus Smart's spirit and aggressiveness for sparking the Celtics to a huge win.
10:24 ... World B and Ross discuss Smart, Jayson Tatum's late scoring surge, and the suffocating Boston defense down the stretch in game 6.
13:12 ... Ross takes issue with a key decision from Philly coach Doc Rivers late in the game regarding an inbounds play.
14:00 ... Bruce has been concerned about the lack of experience of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla and believes that his game 6 adjustments probably were the result of input from team president Brad Stevens.
16:47 ... World B had flashbacks to Celtics/Hawks in 1988 after watching Thursday's game.
17:32 ... James Harden had a bad game in game 6, but World B feels that the team goes as he goes.
19:02 ... The Suns went into Thursday's game 6 against the Nuggets and it was apparent from very early in the game that it would be a disasterous night for the Suns.
20:24 ... DeAndre Ayton's absence in game 6 left a void that was not going to be filled.
21:55 ... Ayton has been been a virtual "no show" in the entire series against Nikola Jokic. Ayton has been in somewhat of a funk all season. It was obvious from the start of the series that DeAndre wanted no part of the Joker and played accordingly.
24:30 ... Ayton may have missed game 6 with a rib contusion, but Bruce believes he also had a case of "Butt Hurt" because of the way he's been dominated by Jokic.
25:29 ... In the Knicks/Heat series, Jalen Brunson willed the Knicks to a win in Wednesday's game 5 and should have been named to one of the three All-NBA Teams.
27:30 ... When Tom Thibodeau sat Julius Randle down in the second quarter, it lit a fire under him as he reentered the game with a vengeance and was a big reason the Knicks won.
30:58 .... The Knicks were the aggressors from the start on Wednesday but Kevin Love and Jimmy Butler played poorly and that will likely change in game 6.
32:01 ... Everyone agrees that RJ Barrett will need to come up big in Friday's game 6 in Miami if the Knicks expect to extend the series to a game 7 on Monday in New York.
34:47 ... World B just can't contain himself when Bruce and Ross give praise to Barrett
35:49 ... Can the Golden State Warriors win a road game against the Lakers on Friday night?
37:22 ... Draymond Green set the tone against LA in game 5 and he is the emotional engine of the Warriors. He has made some poor decisions along the way, but he is indispensable to the team.
39:13 ... The Warriors have one last chance to extends their streak of 28 consecutive playoff series with at least one road win on Friday. Bruce and Ross feel that there is a role player that will spark them to victory in game 6.
43:05 ... Anthony Davis is likely to play in game 6 despite suffering a blow to the head on Wednesday. But Bruce believes Green and Kevon Looney will test him with a physical style on Friday and he'll need to be able to handle it
44:55 .. World B expects a huge game from LeBron James in game 6 ... at least 35 points according to our numbers guru!
46:30 ... Bruce has some stories from his time on the road covering the Warriors/Lakers.
47:45 ... Bruce was really impressed with Lakers coach Darvin Ham and Warriors coach Steve Kerr after interacting with them during three straight pregame interviews.
49:40 ... The Lonnie Walker IV game on Monday night was the most memorable performance Bruce saw in his week of games.
52:18 ... Ross wondered why Bruce didn't do a postgame interview with Kim Kardashian and his answer left everyone blushing. Hint: Watch it on You Tube and it will make more sense.
53:06 ... World B's final thought concerns West Virginia's head coach Bob Huggins and his homophobic slur on a radio show this week. Although World B is a huge fan of Huggins, he holds nothing back in his assessment of Huggins' comments.
56:32 ... Bruce discusses "The Two Js" in Boston, Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum and wonders if this Dynamic Duo will follow the career arc of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen with championships or Jerry West and Elgin Baylor who made it to the NBA Finals multiple times but never won a ring together.
58:39 ... Ross' final thought is on the Phoenix Suns' aborted effort to place their games on free TV next season.
TRT 59:56
0:00 Intro
2:32 World B discusses the NBA All-Rookie Team that was announced earlier on Monday
4:12 Ross shares who he thinks should be the next Milwaukee Bucks head coach and why
6:14 World B & Ross give their Knicks/Heat Game 4 Recap & Reactions
18:10 Can the Warriors find another road win? They’ll need one to defeat the LA Lakers
28:37 Sixers/Celtics all tied up 2-2 after James Harden’s cold blooded game-winning triple
38:37 Suns take care of business in Phoenix, series now tied 2-2 heading back to Denver
50:25 Best Bets presented by BetOnline: Ross shares his favorite Suns/Nuggets SGP
51:10 World uses his final thought to discuss the importance of role players & provides examples
53:46 Ross gives a long time Suns fan perspective on the Jokic/Ishbia sequence in the moment
0:00 Intro
0:31 Special guest Dave Wohl shares what immediately comes to mind on Dirk Nowitzki
2:22 World B tips things off discussing what this Heat/Knicks rivalry means to him
5:13 Dave a former Heat assistant coach gives his opening tip on Pat Riley and the Heat Culture
6:47 Ross uses his opening tip on the Milwaukee Bucks decision to relieve Mike Budenholzer as head coach & opens up the floor for discussion on the decision
14:09 Western Conference Matchup Overviews: LAL/GSW & PHX/DEN
27:50 Eastern Conference Matchup Overviews: PHI/BOS & MIA/NYK
41:45 We ask former NBA GM Dave Wohl to once again put himself in the shoes of other GM’s around the league
52:20 Rapid fire questions for Dave. Would you be surprised if…
55:32 World B gives his final thought on just how much top talent we have in this league & in this year’s playoffs
57:00 Dave provides some insight on why we should all take a moment to appreciate Stephen Curry
58:43 Ross gives praise to the Suns new owner Mat Ishbia’s decision to put future Suns games on free TV
0:00 Intro
1:57 Bruce shares the vibe working courtside for ESPN at Game 1 of the Suns/Nuggets series
3:56 World B uses his opening tip to discuss Steph Curry’s historic Game 7 in Sacramento
5:12 Ross questions Mike Brown’s lack of adjustments against the Warriors in Game 7
06:58 Philly upsets Boston in Game 1 & the crew breaks it down
18:33 Kings/Warriors Series Recap & Game 7 Reactions
23:43 Lakers/Warriors Round 2 matchup preview with predictions
32:40 Miami Heat stay red hot in a Game 1 win over the Knicks in the garden
41:39 Suns/Nuggets Game 1 recap & thoughts moving forward
50:25 Ross shares his Best Bets presented by BetOnline
50:57 Bruce shares his final thought on Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenhozer’s family tragedy
52:43 World B brings well deserved recognition to Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr
54:22 Ross uses his final thought to bring recognition to the show’s loyal mystery fan in France
0:00 Intro
0:46 Scott reflects on what he remembers about Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag
2:35 Bruce shares a quick story on Olden Polynice before providing his opening tip on his Boston Celtics
4:50 Scott gives some love to Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler who has been unbelievable in the playoffs
6:04 Ross provides a friendly reminder to the listeners to remain buckled up for a wild ride in this year’s NBA playoffs
7:20 1st Quarter: the guys recap the Heat/Bucks 1st Round Series offering their insights
17:10 2nd Quarter: Knicks bury the Cavs & a Miami/New York 2nd Round Series Preview with predictions
25:46 3rd Quarter: The road Warriors get a big Game 5 win in Sacramento. Will they put the Kings to bed in Game 6?
37:11 4th Quarter: Phoenix Suns/Denver Nuggets 2nd Round Series Preview with predictions
51:10 A fun game of Word Association with NBA Champion Scott Williams
58:22 Scott provides an update on his book & where you can purchase a copy
0:05 ... Hello and Welcome to "48 Minutes" presented by Bet Online
1:40 ... Bruce's opening comment concerns Dejounte Murray of the Hawks and his ill advised actions after game 4 against the Celtics that got him suspended for Tuesday's game 5.
3:31 ... World B comments on Ime Udoka and his challenges taking over as head coach for the Houston Rockets
5:17 ... Ross is concerned about Joel Embiid's health and whether he can hold up as the playoffs progress
6:48 ... Monday night, Jimmy Butler of Miami dropped a career high 56 points as the Heat took game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks and put them on the brink of elimination
10:10 ... Ross expresses his surprise that Jae Crowder didn't play a single minute for the Bucks in game 4
12:18 ... The Heat have totally flipped the script against the Bucks as they've gone from a poor offensive team to the top scoring playoff team against a Milwaukee team known for its defense. Erik Spoelstra has done a masterful coaching job in Miami getting the Heat to this point.
15:27 ... Ross believes the Bucks will take game 5 in Milwaukee on Wednesday and head back to Miami with a chance to tie the series 3-3 on Friday
17:29 ...The Warriors/Kings series continues to dazzle with great performances from DeAaron Fox and others, but Fox broke a finger in game 4 and his status for game 5 is unknown
22:24 ... Draymond Green and Kevon Looney were great in game 4 with combined totals of 20 points, 24 rebounds, and 13 assists
25:41 ... After a great game one performance, Trey Lyles of Sacramento has disappeared but needs to reappear for the Kings to prevail in the series
27:27... Turning to the Grizzlies/Lakers series, we'll comment on Dillon Brooks and his continuing shenanigans that are not helping his team
30:45 ... Dillon Brooks needs to earn his swagger, it is not given. If you talk and don't produce, you're just a punk.
32:12 ... Kawhi Leonard will miss his third straight game in the Clippers/Suns series and it has thrown the load management strategy into question
37:08 ... Phoenix needs to carefully manage the minutes of their starters as the playoffs progress
38:23 ... Chris Paul has been BALLING for the Suns and it has to be extra sweet because he's doing it against his former team.
40:50 ... In the Knicks/Cavaliers series, New York has simply been the better team
43:22 ...The Cavs aren't playing 48 minutes, the Knicks are. Cleveland needs to fix this
44:10 ... The Knicks bench has outclassed the Cavs bench
48:53 ... In Best Bets presented by Bet Online, Ross discusses a same game parlay involving Rui Hachimura
49:45 ... In our "Final thoughts" segment, the crew discusses which team leading its series 3-1 is more impressive: the Celtics of the Nuggets.
55:38 ... Bye until next time
TRT: 55:56
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
0:32 ... Ross reads BetOnline copy
1:39 ... Bruce's opening tip on Draymond Green's damaging antics
4:30 ... World B's opening tip on the 37th anniversary of Michael Jordan's 63 point game against the Celtics
5:33 ... Ross opening tip on Jamal Murray's great performance for Denver on Wednesday
6:29 ... Can Jonathan Kuminga help fill the void left by Draymond Green in Golden State?
7:19 ... the Warriors' defense will be tested without Green on the court ...
8:33 ... Ross feels the first 6 minutes of game 3 will tell us a lot about the Warriors chances of winning
10:13 ... Game 3 is "Do or Die" for the Dubs and Steph Curry has had to use a lot of energy against the aggressive Kings defense
15:27 ... In the Suns/Clippers series, LA needs contributions from more than Kawhi Leonard
17:25 ... Devin Booker has actually played well at both ends of the court in the series ... on defense his steals and blocked shots have been big
19:16 ... In the Heat/Bucks series, Jrue Holiday led Milwaukee to a huge game two win with Giannis sidelined due to his back injury
23:00 ... Ross asked Bruce and World B whether Giannis should play if he is only at 80% in game 3
... Bobby Portis filled in admirably starting for Giannis with 15 rebounds and 13 points
27:30 ... Bruce was impressed with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra and his handling of Duncan Robinson and Victor Oladipo while understanding the need to reduce the minutes of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo in game two
29:05 ...In game two against the Lakers, Memphis was aggressive from the start and had much better energy than LA.
30:39 ... The Grizz were the more desperate team and Xavier Tillman and Tyus Jones led the charge
31:27 ... Dillon Brooks is doing his best to be "Draymond 2.0," taunting LeBron James
32:29 ... Ross felt Luke Kennard and David Roddy also made great contributions off the bench for Memphis
33:39 ... LA's Anthony Davis was subpar in game two but he will have a bounce back game back home this weekend
34:50 ... LeBron James has been cold from outside and is getting most of his points at the rim, but if he doesn't start making outside shots, the Grizz will load up to stop his drives to the bucket
35:43 ... Minnesota got way behind against Denver in game two on Wednesday and Bruce feels that they had to work so hard in the 3rd quarter to get back in the game that the altitude eventually got to them in the 4th and the Nuggets pulled away
41:37 ... Ross' "Best Bets" sponsored by BetOnline.ag concerned the same game parlays that he's been cashing in on all week.
43:30 ... Madison Square Garden hosts game 3 of Cavs/Knicks on Friday and there is NOTHING like playoff basketball on Broadway.
47:31 ... Bruce's closing comment is on the three 6-4 guards on the Boston Celtics (Derrick White, Marcus Smart, & Malcolm Brogdon) who remind him of another 6-4 Celtics guard who won two rings in Boston: the late Dennis Johnson.
49:10... World B's closing remarks concern Dillon brooks of the Grizzlies and how he's competing with Draymond Green to be the biggest knucklehead in the playoffs.
50:28 ... Ross' closing comment concerns the drama involving Rappers E-40 and "Fitty-Cent" in Sacramento
51:24 ... Bye until next time
TRT 51:48
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
0:36 ... Bruce quickly recaps the three series that should end quickly
1:36 ... World B explains how load management helped Kawhi Leonard get off to a fast start for the Clippers
2:43 ... Ross has words of praise for Rui Hachimura of the Lakers, who saved his best performance as a Laker for a very big moment
4:36 ... Bruce shows his respect for Miami's Jimmy Butler, the former Marquette star who came back to Milwaukee and crushed the Bucks in game one
5:09 ... World B expresses concern about the Bucks' offense as game 2 against the Heat approaches and Ross pipes in on the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and it's affect on the Bucks' offense.
7:17 ... Ross wonders why Jae Crowder was such a non-factor for the Bucks in game one
11:08 ... Despite losing at home in game one, Bruce identifies several "silver linings" for the Bucks coming off the loss
14:34 ... The Lakers beat Memphis in game one and their transition offense was a big reason
16:22 ... Role players Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves overshadowed superstars Anthony Davis and LeBron James in the first game of the Lakers/Grizz series
18:06 ... Ja Morant injured his shooting hand and the crew discusses the chances of Memphis beating LA if he is out of the lineup
20:56 ... Russell Westbrook of the Clippers had one of his most improbable "big game" performances in game one against the Suns
23:29 ... The two headed Clippers Center (Ivica Zubac and Mason Plumlee) gave DeAndre Ayton of the Suns all he could handle in game one
26:24 ... Phoenix stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker need to be MUCH better in game two
30:18 ... The Warriors/Kings matchup has all the makings of an all time great playoff series
32:59 ... Can Malik Monk of Sacramento continue his torrid shooting as the series moves forward?
35:20 ... The Warriors always win a road game in every playoff series ... will the streak continue?
36:07 ... Kings coach Mike Brown kept calling for screen and rolls against the team he knows well after being a Warriors assistant for 6 seasons
38:43 ... Both Steve Kerr and Brown are using their entire roster rather than tightening up their rotations in the first game of the series
39:11 ... The gritty New York Knicks did what they always seem to do in game one against the Cavaliers
42:02 ... The Cavs have some young players who lacked poise in game one and need to mature quickly
46:47 ... Ross shares his Best Bets on some Clippers parlays that will make you some money
48:03 ... Bruce's closing thought is on "Bloody Sunday" where injuries to key players cast a pall over the first weekend of action
49:37 ... World B takes Russell Westbrook to task for his antics with a fan at halftime of game one
53:22 ... Ross quotes the great Pat Riley who said "A series doesn't start until the home team loses."
54:20 ... Bye for now
TRT: 54:37
0:00 Intro
0:38 Bruce shares his first hand insight/observations while working courtside at the Bulls/Raptors play in game
3:21 Zion Williamson’s decision to warm up pregame but not play in the biggest game of the season, World B has some thoughts and the crew discusses the Zion situation in New Orleans
11:58 Ross explains why Kyle Anderson was the player of the game in Wolves/Lakers play in game despite the result
13:24 Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat Play-In Matchup Preview
19:04 OKC Thunder/Minnesota Timberwolves Play-In Matchup Preview
25:19 Atlanta Hawks/Boston Celtics Series Preview
30:48 Brooklyn Nets/Philadelphia 76ers Series Preview
34:56 New York Knicks/Cleveland Cavaliers Series Preview
38:44 Golden State Warriors/Sacramento Kings Series Preview
46:12 LA Lakers/Memphis Grizzlies Series Preview
54:01 LA Clippers/Phoenix Suns Series Matchup
59:43 Bruce gives his final thoughts on Nick Nurse & the Toronto Raptors
1:01:51 World B discusses Kevin Durant for his final thought
1:03:25 Ross gives loves to the 10 players that played in every game this season & why there is an added level of excitement with the playoffs this season
0:00 Intro
0:54 Ross steals the tip to discuss Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s post podcast game performances
2:09 Kevin gives his two cents on the Dallas Mavericks decision to tank & the crew react as well
7:42 Bruce uses his opening tip to touch on the Lakers & their chances moving forward
10:02 World B reflects on the Minnesota Timberwolves decision making during the past summer & this weekend
13:55 The crew along with special guest Kevin Winter break down the play in matchups & make their predictions
13:56 Atlanta Hawks @ Miami Heat play in game preview/predictions
18:24 Minnesota Timberwolves @ LA Lakers play in game preview/predictions
24:26 Chicago Bulls @ Toronto Raptors play in game preview/predictions
28:30 Oklahoma City Thunder @ New Orleans Pelicans play in game preview/predictions
31:57 The rest of the Western Conference 1st Round Matchups set in stone
32:06 Golden State Warriors/Sacramento Kings 1st Round series preview/predictions
38:05 LA Clippers/Phoenix Suns 1st Round series preview/predictions
43:55 The rest of the Eastern Conference 1st Round Matchups that are solidified
44:04 Brooklyn Nets/Philadelphia 76ers 1st Round series preview/predictions
47:06 New York Knicks/Cleveland Cavaliers 1st Round series preview/predictions
54:48 Our final NBA Award Picks featuring ESPN Radio Studio Host Kevin Winter’s picks
54:56 This year’s 2022-2023 NBA MVP
59:57 The 2022-2023 NBA Rookie of the Year
1:01:14 The 2022-2023 NBA Coach of the Year
1:03:04 The 2022-2023 Most Improved Player
1:05:07 The Sixth Man of the Year
1:07:54 The Defensive Player of the Year
1:10:40 Bruce shares his final thought on Udonis Haslem of the Miami Heat
1:11:53 World B uses his final thought to give Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Jacque Vaughn some well deserved credit
1:13:26 Special guest Kevin Winter gives his final thought on what round of the NBA playoffs he’s most looking forward too
1:15:05 Ross shows much deserved love & recognition to the voice of the Phoenix Suns Al McCoy
0:00 Intro
1:10 Thanasis shares his motivation on why he decided to start his own podcast
2:31 With both a Nigerian & Greek background Thanasis explains a strong similarity between the two
4:18 Having 4 brothers Thanasis discusses his role growing up as the second oldest in the family
5:23 Thanasis explains how cool & special the journey has been being teammates with Giannis in Milwaukee as well as sharing these experiences with Kostas & Alex
8:33 Did Kostas brag about winning a Championship before Giannis & Thanasis?
9:53 Thanasis reflects on the Bucks finishing with the best overall record in the Eastern Conference
11:15 Ross asks Thanasis how he stays well conditioned & ready to play when called upon
13:06 World B asks Thanasis is he sees any similarities between this year’s team & the 2021 Championship team
14:40 How important is it for teams to have playoff experience as the pressure builds in a series?
16:41 Thanasis shares just how competitive practices are with the guys on this year’s Bucks roster
17:53 Bruce challenges Thanasis to determine which Disney character Brook Lopez most resembles
19:19 World B asks Thanasis to give us insight on how this Bucks offense has improved a ton since the All-Star break
21:13 Thanasis discusses the Antetokounbros project
22:38 Is Joe Ingles a fashionable guy?
26:14 The Clippers once again win the Battle of LA on Wednesday night
34:37 How the rest of the West shapes up
41:03 If you were a Suns fan would you rather Phoenix play the Clippers or the Warriors in 1st Round?
43:49 Bruce shares his final thought on Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzula’s lack of coaching experience in the playoffs
45:46 World B discusses the latest Zion Williamson update given by the Pelicans & shares his thoughts
48:14 Ross uses his final thought to discuss Kyrie Irving & the Dallas Mavericks. Bruce & World B chime in.
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome ...
0:36 ... Opening Comments: Bruce looks forward to Andrew Wiggins' long awaited return to the Golden State Warriors after missing 22 games due to a family issue involving his father's health.
1:55 ... World B has a problem with Kawhi Leonard sitting out the second half against Memphis due to load management.
3:17 ... Ross is relieved that the new collective bargaining agreement between the players and management has been agreed upon.
4:40 ... Bold Predictions: Bruce says the Nets will win their final four games, secure the #6 seed in the eastm and his the postseason with some momentum.
7:05 ... World B says the Lakers will not only make the postseason, they'll secure the #6 seed out west and avoid the Play In games.
8:35 ... Ross predicts that the Suns will not lose another game heading into the playoffs.
11:03 ... High Drama in the East ... Milwaukee, Boston, and Philly are the top three teams but there's a lot of unfinished business.
15:00 ... Ross wants to know who will step up for the Bucks if Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday have off night in the playoffs.
21:03 ... Boston needs Robert Williams III to play to his potential if they expect to come out of the east.
25:45 ... Two of the three MVP Favorites are Giannis and Joel Embiid but their recent head to head matchup didn't decide anything.
29:39 ... Playoff matchups we want to see ... Bruce hopes the Celtics and Heat meet in the first round because they have a rich postseason history and the teams don't really like each other.
32:22 ...World B wants to see the Knicks and the Cavaliers go at it with New York's Julius Randle healthy enough to make an impact.
37:16 ... Ross hopes the Kings and Warriors match up in round one as the franchises are in close proximity and the fans of both teams will be incredibly passionate.
41:26 ... The "48 Minutes Awards" are announced ... The categories are "He Came out of Nowhere" with nominees Austin Reaves, Lauri Markkanen, and Jalen Brunson.
44:29 ... The nominees for the "Mr Indispensable Award" are Tyrese Maxey, Steven Adams, and Nikola Jokic.
47:19 ... The nominees for the "Leadership Award" are Jrue Holiday, Jalen Brunson, and CJ McCollum.
51:14 ... And finally, the "I Got You" Award nominees are Robert Williams III, Marcus Smart, and DeAaron Fox.
54:02 ... Final Thoughts: Bruce doesn't think Angel Reese of LSU owes anyone other than her teammates an apology for her actions at the end of Sunday's NCAA Women's Championship game.
55:53 ... World B has praise for the Oklahoma City Thunder and their gesture honoring the late wife of Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams on Sunday evening.
57:19 ... Ross is curious about which teams will be "spoilers" in the final week of the regular season.
58:07 ... Bye until next time ...
TRT: 58:24
0:00 Intro
1:22 Russell Westbrook’s big time performance on Wednesday night is Bruce’s opening thought
2:41 World B shares what he’s currently covering & name drops a future G-League Ignite prospect to keep an eye on
4:42 Ross discusses NBA player comps for Naz Reid & Jordan Poole
8:24 The crew breaks down the Celtics/Bucks matchup & why they’re the best 2 teams in the NBA
18:25 Kevin Durant finally makes his Suns home debut
25:33 OKC has been bringing the Thunder here recently
32:30 Bruce plays GM & offers a suggested deal for the Thunder to land Naz Reid this summer
37:23 The Rest of the West the crew provides an update on what’s going on
52:55 Ross shares his favorite Minnesota Timberwolves Same Game Parlay for best bets
53:59 Bruce uses his final thought to discuss his good friend in Kings Head Coach Mike Brown
55:06 World B touches on the March Madness tournament
56:39 Ross shares all the history behind the epic performances of Jrue Holiday & Giannis on Wednesday night
57:44 Bruce briefly brings up the Julius Randle injury
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome and here's the opening tip.
0:50 ... Opening Comments: Bruce praises Boston's Jaylen Brown for his great play and his contributions to the community.
2:20 ... "World B" bemoans the continuing conflict between players and officials.
4:17... Ross gives love to the Denver Nuggets for their great performance against the Bucks over the weekend.
5:40 ... The Dallas Mavericks have been a complete mess since acquiring Kyrie Irving in February, but is he really the only one who should be blamed for all of their problems?
16:04 ... The Minnesota Timberwolves are playing great ball down the stretch and while Karl-Anthony Towns has been one reason, there's another "big" getting it done for the Wolves.
24:30 ... In the Eastern Conference, the young Cleveland Cavaliers are making lots of noise but are they really ready to contend for the title?
28:13 ...The 76ers have been hot for three months, but they've stumbled on their current west coast swing.
32:03... The Celtics have been on fire since Robert Williams III returned last week but can they maintain it?
34:12 ... The Bucks have flipped the switch and become a lethal offensive team to go along with their always tough defense.
38:44 ... Bruce's "Show and Tell" item is an autographed piece of Boston Celtics history,
40:59 ...World B's item was inherited from his Dad and features a connection to a New York Knicks icon.
43:13 ... Ross' items are some very special basketball cards with a connection to a former colleague in Milwaukee.
46:46... Closing Thoughts: Bruce hopes Ben Simmons can regain his health and confidence, but he has a lot of work to do.
48:40 ... World B has some thoughts on the money that is riding on the All-NBA teams and the guys discuss whether members of the media should vote on them.
53:50... Ross has praise for a record set by Jordan Nwora of the Indiana Pacers, who scored 25 points in a quarter against the Hawks last Saturday.
55:09 ... Bye and see you next time!
TRT 55:27
0:00 Intro
0:31 Bruce chimes in on Paul Silas being the honoree for tonight’s episode
1:00 World B pays tribute to passing of Knicks legend Willis Reed
3:09 Bruce touches on Willis Reed before discusses Timelord’s return to the Celtics lineup
4:54 Ross tells the listeners about an NBA Wordle that exists & has Bruce/World B play today’s challenge
6:47 The crew discusses the big return games for KAT and Ja
15:52 The LA Lakers are making a strong push at the end of the season
24:20 Midroll Ad
24:33 Miami is Heating Up!
31:36 Mayhem Out West - The Western Conference Plays Musical Chairs!
42:58 Bruce calls a clutch timeout to be sure to discuss the Dallas/Golden State fiasco
45:38 Ross shares his favorite Sacramento Kings Same Game Parlay
46:31 Bruce gives his final thoughts on the Philadelphia 76ers
48:03 World B touches on the current state of the New York Knicks
49:16 Ross gives a special birthday shoutout for his final thought
0:00 .... Hello and welcome
0:30 ... Bruce introduces tonight's special guest ... long time NBA journalist Steve Bulpett, the original Greek Freak of the NBA family who taught Bruce the correct pronunciation of his favorite Greek delicacy "Spanakopita."
1:38 ... Opening Thoughts: Bruce moans about his miserable NCAA Tournament experience so far.
3:19 ... World B recognizes the Bulls' improvement since the All Star Break ...
5:14 ... Steve takes issue with Bruce for his attitude about the last four teams (#65-68) in the NCAA Tournament and how Dayton, Ohio is an integral part of the story.
8:48 ... Ross is not happy about Memphis' excuse for Ja Morant not returning on Monday vs Dallas.
9:59 ... Steve discusses what the Boston Celtics need to do to resume their success from earlier in the season.
15:44 ... World B takes the Celtics to task for their recent mediocre play and poor offensive inefficiency.
17:28 ... The Golden State Warriors have been a big disappointment this season and Stebve wonders if their troubles began after an incident during a preseason practice.
21:58 ... World B feels that the Warriors lack of attention to defense during road games has been their biggest issue.
24:20 ... Ross agrees with Steve and World B that the absence of Gary Payton II is a huge reason for the team's poor defense. Ross adds that the loss of reserve guard Damion Lee has really hurt their bench.
24:56... The crew discusses the big storyline for the stretch run and it concerns Kevin Durant and the Suns. Steve is concerned about the depth of the team.
26:56 ... Is Deandre Ayton worth the max contract he signed before the season?
31:31... Steve worries about the cohesiveness of the Suns if Durant isn't ready until the start of the playoffs.
33:53 ... Ross plays Word Association with Steve and asks him about Knicks Coach Tom Thibodeau and Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn.
34:34 ... Steve launches into some great Heinsohn stories including several of a personal nature .... wonderful stuff for any Celtics fan to hear!
40:18 ... Ross opens a random package of basketball cards and requires Bruce, World B, and Steve to comment "off the cuff" on the players he pulls from the pack. Steve got totally hosed with two of the cards he was asked about but still delivered! Some of the players Ross pulled were Walker Kessler, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Chris Paul, Kristaps Porzingis, DeAaron Fox, CJ McCollum, and several other good names.
53:02 ... Steve has a cool story about McCollum and why he missed some free throws in Boston earlier this season.
57:45 ... Final Thoughts: World B with some perspective on the bad blood between Dillon "The Villain" Brooks of Memphis and the Splash Brothers in Golden State ...
59:42 ... Bruce explains why his favorite player to watch during the NCAA Tournament has actually been Steven Adams of the Grizzlies in his commercial for ATT Wireless.
1:01:12 ... Steve has a great story about Cinderella team Fairleigh Dickinson and how the team was "adopted" by the University of Dayton pep band. The FDU players never heard their fight song until it was played by another school's band.
1:02:20 ... Steve slips in a really funny John Stockton/Karl Malone story from years ago.
1:03:33 ... Ross gives us a preview of Tuesday's matchup between the Celtics and the Sacramento Kings and slips in some betting advice ... "Take the Under!"
1:04:43 ... Goodbye and thanks to Steve for joining us
TRT: 1:05:08
0:00 ... Hello and welcome to episode #27: the Zaza Pachilia episode of 48 Minutes.
0:48 ... Bruce's opening tip concerns the referees and how they continue to cause controversy, especially in the Celtics/Timberwolves game on Wednesday.
2:26 ... World B's opening tip gives credit to young teams that are near the bottom of the standings but continue to play with effort and energy.
3:50 ... Ross' opening tip praises the Bucks for becoming the first team to reach 50 wins and clinch a playoff spot.
5:04 ... The Celtics are trending in the wrong direction and Bruce is concerned that they're squandering leads by taking their foot off the gas when they should be finishing off their opponents. World B feels the Celts are just a "blah" team right now.
8:02 ... With Robert Williams III always battling health problems, can Boston get it done against quality bigs like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and the others in the eastern conference?
10:00 ...Will Boston's rookie head coach Joe Mazzulla be overmatched against more experienced leaders like Mike Budenholzer, Doc Rivers, Tom Thibodeau, and Erik Spoelstra in the postseason?
11:28 ... James Harden and Joel Embiid have the 76ers hot on Boston's tail in the race to finish #2 in the east.
17:18 ... Ross and World B disagree on whether the 76ers will actually pass Boston in the standings.
19:03 ... Denver finally stopped its 4 game losing streak on Thursday against lowly Detroit, but the game was tighter than the final score might indicate.
20:30 ... Questions are starting to emerge about two time MVP Nikola Jokic's ability to carry the Nuggets to a deep playoff run.
22:13 ... The Nuggets have a nice cushion over the Kings and Grizzlies, but they'll have a difficult schedule over the final month.
24:53 ... The Grizzlies are in a tailspin and it goes well beyond Ja Morant's suspension.
27:30 ... Ross is concerned that Morant's issues are negatively affecting the vibe in the locker room.
29:19 ... The Kings continue to roll and while they don't have playoff experience as a group, there are many individual players who have been in the playoffs and their head coach Mike Brown certainly has lots of postseason experience.
33:20 ...In Los Angeles, the Clippers have won 4 straight after a 5 game losing streak and Kawhi Leonard's health has been a key reason.
35:19 ... Clippers coach Ty Lue has done a nice job of successfully integrating a lot of recently acquired players into his system.
38:48 ...The Lakers lost a close game to Houston on Wednesday with Anthony Davis sitting it out. Bruce was incredulous that coach Darvin Ham allowed it to happen.
40:53 ... Ross and World B feel that the Lakers didn't take the Rockets seriously and paid the price.
44:32 ... The MVP race has come down to the three International bigs: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. The guys each pick their winner.
52:26 ... Best Bets from Ross features his LA Clippers same game parlay choices that will make you some $$.
53:31 ... Bruce's final thought is on the San Antonio Spurs hoping history repeats itself in their quest to land a generational big man in the 2023 NBA Draft.
55:36 ... World B is upset that his West Virginia Mountaineers lost their first game in the NCAA Tournament, but is happy to remind everyone that WVU is well represented in the NBA on the court, on the bench, and in the front office.
57:24 ... And finally, Ross is excited to see the Chicago Bulls wear their green uniforms Friday on St Patrick's Day against the Timberwolves.
TRT 58:30
0:00 Intro
0:56 Bruce starts the show off with his opening tip discussing Blake Griffin & his recent impact
2:29 World B tips things off by giving props to the NBA for introducing the play-in tournament
4:16 Our guest Ed Cohen shares his take on why right now is the best time of the NBA season with the playoff push
5:58 Ross gives props to the Beam Team as they continue to impressive play now tied for 2nd in the West
7:19 Ed shares what’s different about this year’s New York Knicks
11:50 Ed discusses the impressive play & impact of both Immanuel Quickley/Josh Hart
13:57 Bruce asks Ed to talk a little bit about the Derrick Rose situation
16:37 Ross asks Ed to discuss what he’s seen from Isaiah Hartenstein joining the Knicks this season
19:40 Ed shares just how special it is to be a current Knicks broadcaster following in the steps of legends
23:15 The crew picks Ed’s brain on the rest of the Eastern Conference & which teams would be a tough matchup for NY
25:47 Bruce asks Ed to share this thoughts on the other team in NY, the Brooklyn Nets
28:35 Ed shares just how excited the city is and the buzz in the Garden these days with this Knicks team playing well
31:10 The crew shift gears to the wild Western Conference to start the 3rd quarter (DEN/GSW/MEM/SAC)
40:06 Ross challenges World B & Bruce to share who they’ve got their eyes on in the play in tournament
44:29 Mailbag Time! Listener Submitted Questions
50:13 Breaking news is announced live on air or should we say heartbreaking news for Bruce
52:12 Ross shares his best bet with his favorite Suns Same Game Parlay
53:20 For his final thought Bruce discusses/explains why the NBA should start tracking “Hidden Assists”
54:42 World B filled out his own March Madness bracket NBA edition!
56:36 Ross talks about CJ McCollum’s recent revenge on Portland
0:00 Intro
0:59 Bruce serves up his opening tip discussing Luka’s recent injury & the opportunity for Kyrie
2:28 World B gives his thoughts on Steven Adams & how that absence has hurt the Grizzlies
4:15 Ross touches on KD’s much anticipated Suns home debut or lack thereof
5:27 The crew dives deeper into Wednesday night’s news of Kevin Durant’s injury
15:37 The Memphis Blues: Grizzles continue to stumble
23:51 The crew discuss the latest conflicts between NBA players & NBA referees
34:01 We announce the 48 Minutes All-NBA Reserve Starting Lineup!
50:00 Best Bets! Ross shares his Top 5 players for First Basket Bets
52:10 Bruces shares his final thought on Jim Boeheim’s retirement
54:15 World B gives his final thought on the recent news on Lonzo Ball
56:24 Ross uses his final thought to vent about his fantasy team this year
58:46 Bruces shares the exciting news about our next guest on the show
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
1:08 ... Bruce's opening thoughts on Ja Morant's "off the court" issues, which leads to a discussion of what the future holds for the Memphis Grizzlies' star.
5:15 ... Ohm's opening thoughts on the crazy postseason we can expect starting in just five weeks.
7:02 ... World B's opening thoughts on why he feels the defending champion Golden State Warriors are in trouble.
10:35 ... Ross' opening thought revolves around his good friend Giannis Antetokounmpo's ill fated attempt to record a tainted triple double on Sunday.
12:02 ... Our Clippers discussion begins with Ohm explaining head coach Ty Lue's concerns about the team's lack of solid defense.
16:16 ... Russell Westbrook has played well in his first few games as a Clipper, but is still adjusting to a new team and new system.
21:04 ... It's hard to imagine that the Clippers could be a "Play In" team rather than a solid higher seed.
22:25 ... The Clippers traded three point specialist Luke Kennard and acquired veteran Eric Gordon and Ohm explains the move.
24:50... Kevin Durant has transformed the Phoenix Suns after just three games and his presence has unleashed Devin Booker for some offensive fireworks.
25:10... Booker and Luka Doncic of the Mavericks were talking trash on Sunday and smack talk is nothing new for Devin.
29:47 ... Ohm speculates how high the Suns can finish in the western conference and who they might play in the western conference finals.
33:35 ... The Lakers have struggled all season but with LeBron James idled by injury, the team is getting a big lift from Anthony Davis and recently acquired Jarred Vanderbilt.
39:33 ... The New York Knicks are on fire and are getting great play from Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson. They'll be a tough playoff opponent for certain.
43:31 ... Bruce is concerned with the Boston Celtics' lack of toughness and Ohm thinks that they sometimes play too much like a younger team.
47:10... Back to the Knicks ... Julius Randle and "Sixth Man of the Year" candidate Immanuel Quickley highlight the depth of Tom Thibodeau's team.
50:35... Our Mailbag question for Ohm concerns the Clippers' Terance Mann and what his postseason role might be.
52:19 ... Closing Thoughts: Bruce explains why NBA Commissioner Adam Silver might be a perfect fit to replace Bob Iger as the head of the Walt Disney Company. World B feels Orlando's Paolo Banchero will still be Rookie of the Year although the race is tightening up. Ohm shares his memories of the late David Benner, who was the PR boss for nearly three decades with the Indiana Pacers. Part of Ohm's tribute involves a classic Reggie Miller story from the 1990s. And Ross discusses the current Pacers team and why we should not write them off just yet.
TRT: 1:03:15
0:00 Intro
0:40 Bruce is back & gives his opening tip on the Kyrie/Luka pairing & how it’s off to a rocky start
1:50 World B addresses the injury to LaMelo Ball
3:31 Ross shares his thoughts on Kevin Durant’s Debut in a Phoenix Suns uniform
5:47 The crew get things started by discussing the Bucks extending their win streak to 16
16:34 Knicks are now 9-1 in their last 10 & can’t lose with Josh Hart the crew discuss NY’s success
26:40 Cavs/Celtics recap from Wednesday night’s battle in Boston
34:17 The crew plays a fun game of “In or Out” looking at the Western Conference playoff picture
34:50 Bruce selects the Lakers & provides his insight on why he thinks they’re in
37:15 World B picks the Thunder & shares why he thinks they’re out
43:44 Ross decides to take the Blazers & shares while they may be out, they just might be a close call
46:38 Mail Bag Time! Listener Submitted Questions!
52:53 Bruce provides his final thought on the passing of the Pacers long time PR Director David Benner
54:47 World B provides a friendly reminder that the “Wemby Bowl” takes place this weekend
57:54 Ross uses his final thought to ask Bruce to share the news on the show’s upcoming special guest
0:00 Intro
0:50 World B gives his opening tip on Damian Lilliard’s 71 point performance on Sunday night
3:25 Ross talks about Friday night’s historic double overtime thriller between the Kings & Clippers
8:36 In the 1st quarter World B and Ross recap the outstanding ABC/ESPN games on Sunday
9:09 2021 NBA Finals Rematch between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks
15:23 The Lakers hard fought come from behind win in Dallas against the Mavericks
21:55 The duo react and provide analysis on Sunday night’s Clippers at Nuggets game
30:19 Quin Snyder becomes the new Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks, the duo reacts to the news
34:37 World B explains how oddly enough the Denver Nuggets can still be considered overlooked
40:25 Ross & World B play a fun game of Bleav or Dis-Bleav
46:38 Mailbag! Listener Submitted Questions
53:52 Best Bets with Ross who shares a Same Game Parlay X with familiar faces in new places!
56:11 World B shares his final thoughts on the wild, wild West heading down the stretch
57:46 Ross provides his final thought on how he’s focused on specific teams/coaches rotation decisions moving forward
0:00 Intro
01:12 Scott shares “his why” on sharing his journey and stories in writing his soon to be released book “Through the Fire: A Memoir of Trauma & Loss, Basketball, & Triumph”
05:55 Scott discusses both the pain and therapy he experienced throughout the writing process
08:42 Scott talks about his early childhood, high school days, his recruitment, and how he ended up deciding to attend the University of North Carolina
13:30: World B asks Scott what college he likely would’ve selected if not the Tar Heels
15:39: World B picks Scott’s brain on the expectations and challenges of playing basketball at North Carolina
19:04: Scott shares his experience on going undrafted and how he ended up getting his opportunity with the Chicago Bulls
22:53: Ross asks Scott what it was like being part of one of the greatest NBA teams of all time while also being teammates with some of the league’s best players of all time as such a young NBA player
27:09 Scott discusses the Pistons famous walk off without shaking hands after getting swept by the Bulls in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals
31:34 World B being a longtime Knicks fan asks Scott to talk about some of legendary the Knicks/Bulls battles and some key plays/reasons why the Bulls were able to prevail in their playoff matchup on their way to the 3-peat
36:00 Scott shares his thoughts & perspective on Pippen refusing to check back into that legendary playoff game
40:57 Scott shares his thoughts and perspective as a former player on the NBA’s current load management problem
48:09 Scott shares his thoughts on the Suns big acquisition in Kevin Durant & their chances to win it all this season
50:43: Ross asks Scott to reflect upon his time as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks during Giannis’s rookie year
53:07: Ross asks Scott to talk about the keys to his success from the foul line as a career 72% shooter from the foul line and why many NBA bigs struggle making free throws
55:06: Ross follows up on Scott’s perspective on shooting by asking him about Ben Simmons struggles as Scott and Ben both stand at 6’10
57:44 With Scott being a former teammate of Lakers Head Coach Darvin Ham, he shares his thoughts on the Lakers this season and gives his opinion on the GOAT debate between MJ & LeBron
1:02: Ross asks Scott to provide some insight on young LeBron when they were teammates in Cleveland
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
0:28 ... "World B" opens with a Giannis injury update and what lies ahead for the Milwaukee Bucks with the Greek Freak on the shelf.
4:11 ... Bruce was happy that Donovan Mitchell was warmly received upon his return to Utah.
5:10 ... Ross was impressed with Candace Parker's commentary on TNT's All Star broadcast.
5:50 ... Bruce takes a bow for predicting the winners in the Saturday Night Skills Challenge and the 3 point contest. World B expresses how much he enjoyed the Saturday night events, especially the long distance shootout.
8:40 ... Mac McClung was the breakout star of the weekend with his thrilling performance in the Slam Dunk contest. And the fact that he made every dunk on the first attempt was impressive.
10:42 ... The All Star game itself was a colossal bore that none of the guys really enjoyed due to the lack of defensive effort by both teams.
14:38... When LeBron and Giannis chose their teams on live TV, did LeBron try to mess with Milwaukee's team chemistry by calling out Giannis over his top reserve choice of Damian Lillard?
16:44 ... Bruce goes on a rant about how the All Star game was a complete waste of time and cites numerous reasons why.
18:30 ... Everyone enjoyed the "mano a mano" battle between Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Tatum even explains how this wasn't the first time something like that took place.
21:10 ... The buyout market frenzy is underway and Kevin Love is now in Miami. Will it be a good fit?
24:34 ... Patrick Beverley is now a Chicago Bull .... but why?!
26:04 ... Russell Westbrook is likely to join the LA Clippers and what will the impact be on his new team?
29:54 ... Terrence Ross is now a Phoenix Sun. Ross likes the move a lot.
32:28 ... Other likely buyout guys are Derrick Rose, John Wall, and Will Barton. Who needs them the most?
34:58 ... Load management has become "front and center" for teams around the league. With so many conflicting issues in play, can a suitable solution be found?
39:07 ... LeBron James won't be managing his load as the Lakers approach the home stretch.
43:23 ... In mailbag segment #1, the crew tackles the question of whether Luka and Kyrie can be successful together and bring out the best in each other in Dallas.
49:22 ... In mailbag segment #2, the guys size up the Suns and Clippers and share thoughts on which team is more dangerous.
53:30 ... Bruce's closing thought pays tribute to Marc Spears of ESPN, the winner of the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame.
55:06 ... World B's final thought is on Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves and his desire to play as much as possible and eschew load management.
56:21 ... Ross' final thought concerns our special guest Scott Williams who will appear on our next edition of 48 Minutes.
57:20 ... Goodbye
TRT 57:30
0:00 Intro
0:27 Bruce discusses Joe Mazzulla officially becoming the Celtics Head Coach
1:39 World B questions where the Blazers are going long term
4:10 Ross revisits Tuesday night’s Celtics/Bucks game and gives kudos to the Boston reserves
8:40 The crew discusses NBA All-Star Saturday Night and make their official predictions for each event. Starting off with the 3 teams in the Skills Challenge
13:42 Three-Point Shooting Contest. Who’s crowned this year’s 3-point king?
16:01 Slam Dunk Contest. Who will put on the best show?!
21:27 The Knicks are going streaking with Josh Hart
26:11 Bruce shares some insightful team stats on the Knicks success this season
29:24 Overachievers/Underachievers: The crew discusses the players that have stood out on both ends of the spectrum this season. They start with the overachievers.
33:23 Underachieving players around the league.
38:12: Listener Submitted Questions: What event should be added to All-Star Saturday Night?
45:35 Post All-Star Break what team ascends to the next level?
49:34 Best Bets: The current title favorites according to the sportsbooks
51:26 Bruce provides his final thought on MJ’s special birthday present to others
52:08 World B explains why he enjoys the 3-Point contest and per usual backs it up with some great fun facts
53:46 Ross shows some love to “Brooklyn Bridges” on his career night with the Nets
0:20 ... Opening tribute from Bruce and World B on their fallen friend legendary producer Barry Sacks of ESPN, who passed away on February 12th at the age of 63.
4:07 ... Ross explains why the day after the Super Bowl is his favorite basketball day of the year.
6:34 ... Bruce believes the Spurs are in "full tanking mode" for Victor Wenbanyama as they hope history repeats itself in the 2023 NBA Draft.
10:15 ... Nikola Jokic continues his remarkable play as he seeks his third straight MVP award.
13:07 ... Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic finally played together over the weekend and the early reviews are positive.
15:58 ... Kyrie asks the Dallas media not to ask him about next season because he said it would be a distraction for the Mavs. And it appears the "King of Distractions" was actually serious!
17:35 ... The retooled Mavs certainly appear to be viable challengers to win the NBA's Western Conference.
20:40 ... The Celtics visit the Bucks on Tuesday in a possible Eastern Conference Finals matchup and the guys break down the key elements.
24:15 ... Now that Jae Crowder is a Buck, which players will sacrifice minutes to make room for him?
30:38 ... Zion Williamson's injury will keep him out for longer than previously expected. Does he need to lose weight in order to stay relatively injury free and reach his potential?
38:34 ... The Grizzlies' biggest star is Ja Morant, but since Steven Adams has been injured, the team has hit some hard times.
41:17 ... Ross opens a random pack of basketball cards and demands answers about each player from World B and Bruce. Did they pass the test?
56:10 ... In our final thoughts, since this show drops on Valentine's Day, Bruce pays tribute to players like Denzel Valentine, Josh HART, and Isaiah HARTenstein.
57:10 ... World B's final thought is on the Cleveland Cavaliers, a team he hopes not to jinx with his praise.
59:04 ...Ross' final thought concerns bottom tier teams that might join the Spurs in the "Tanking for Victor" competition by next week.
TRT 60:05
0:00 Intro
1:20 Brooklyn Nets clean house of stars
10:18 Bruce explains why he feels the Nets still make the playoffs
17:10 The crew shift their sights to Phoenix with KD joining the Suns
29:26: LA Lakers moved around some chess piece during the deadline week. The crew discusses the moves and the impact or lack thereof
42:27 Mike Conley’s potential impact on the Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, and the rest of the Timberwolves
46:30 The crew touch on some of the other trades that caught their attention around the association
47:30 Bruce discusses why the Jae Crowder trade was huge for the Bucks
48:42 World B touches on the significance of the Grizzlies acquiring Luke Kennard
51:20: Ross explains the James Wiseman trade and how it was big cost saving move for the Warriors
53:33 World B brings up the Clippers trade deadline decisions
56:51 Ross raises the Final Thought for the show: Is John Collins the new Eric Gordon?
58:20 The crew briefly touch on World B’s Knicks getting Josh Hart
0:00 ... Welcome and introductions
1:09 ... Opening thoughts on the Kyrie Irving trade from Brooklyn to Dallas
3:20 ... Dave on Kyrie's lack of self awareness regarding how his actions affect teammates and organizations.
6:03 ... Dave on the risks and rewards of adding Kyrie Irving to your team
9:34 ... What Mavs coach Jason Kidd needs to do to make the Kyrie/Luka Doncic backcourt work
14:30 ... How will the addition of Kyrie affect Dallas from a defensive standpoint?
17:26 ... After leaving three teams on bad terms, can Dallas trust him to change his ways?
20:25 ... Did the trade bring the Nets a fair return with Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, and draft picks?
20:52 ... What's next for Kevin Durant now that his running mate Kyrie is gone?
27:00 ... LeBron James is on the verge of catching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all time scoring leader. Dave explains what it was like to coach Kareem.
29:55 ... Dave shares his thoughts on a very important trait that both LeBron and Kareem share
32:49 ... Dave suggests that there should be two lists of scoring records: one for the modern era and one for the era before three point shots were part of the game.
33:57 ... Can LeBron possibly eclipse Michael Jordan as the "GOAT?" (greatest of all time)
37:32 ... Dave explains what a general manager goes through in the final 2-3 days before the trade deadline
40:40 ... Dave explains why trading LeBron James could be a shrewd move for the Lakers franchise
48:38 ... Dave shares insight on some of the mind games general managers play with each other when discussing trades
51:21... There were two recent brawls in the NBA and the crew discusses the relatively light penalty given to Dillon Brooks of Memphis vs the harsher penalties meted out to Austin Rivers of Minnesota and Mo Bamba or Orlando
56:41... Dave has known Austin his entire life and he said it was very much out of character for him to be involved in an incident like the one with Bamba
58:03 ... When Jalen Suggs of Orlando grabbed Rivers by the throat, did he cross a line that should never be crossed?
1:00:50 ... Dave played in the NBA during the 1970s and shares memories of some fights that took place during his career. One funny story involved legendary player and coach Don Nelson.
1:08:12 ... Final Thoughts ... Bruce on Ja Morant, Michael on Ben Simmons, Dave on Nikola Jokic, and Ross on his friend Giannis Antetokounpo.
TRT: 1:15:38
0:00 Intro
0:35: Bruce shows off his brand new 48 Minutes Podcast t-shirt which are now on sale
1:28: Bruce speaks on the Celtics dominance of the Nets for his opening tip take
2:33: World B tells NBA fans to pump the breaks on overreacting to deadline trades
4:51: Ross shares his opinion on Thursday night’s 9 p.m. local start time for Clippers at Bucks
5:47: The crew discusses whether this late game start in Milwaukee benefits the Clippers who are usually on West coast time
7:27: The 2023 All-Star Game Reserves were announced, the crew reacts to selections
21:05: The crew discusses the current state of the Memphis Grizzlies as they’re in a slump
25:46: Is it time to hit the panic button in Dallas with the Mavericks?
33:29: Is it more important to have a great big man or a great point guard? We share our answers
40:18: MAIL BAG! Listener submitted questions
50:54: Best Bets: Ross shares 2 hot rookies that deserve consideration for your next same game parlay
53:10: Bruce shares his final thought on the Minnesota Timberwolves as they’re on the rise
54:30: World B uses his final thought to discuss the Clippers as they’re picking up some serious momentum
55:54: Ross teases a fun upcoming show idea to continue to keep his co-hosts on their toes
57:25: Outro
0:00 ... Hello and Welcome
1:34 ... Bruce's opening comment is focused on the slumping New Orleans Pelicans, who have lost 8 in a row.
2:44 ... Ross examines Giannis Antetokounmpo's latest 50 point effort and what it took to get to "5-0."
4:19 ... World B says this year's race for the MVP Award will probably be historically tight.
6:15 ... LeBron James went ballistic after the no call at the end of Saturday's Lakers/Celtics overtime thriller when the NBA admitted its officials probably cost LA a win in regulation.
10:51 ... After the loss, LeBron chose not to play against Brooklyn on Monday. Did that expose him to charges of hypocrisy after his reaction in Boston?
15:12 ... Patrick Beverley's antics on Saturday cost the Lakers a point in overtime but could have cost them much more. Should he have been fined?
18:02 ... The Bucks have won four straight games with Khris Middleton returning to action. Is he a calming influence on the team?
27:47 ... Was the NBA's "Rivalry Week" more like "Rivalry Weak?" Many of the "so called" rivalry games were anything but!
32:43 ... Could the NBA's "Play In" tournament lead to the creation of more rivalries?
34:00 ... The crew discusses their favorite aspects of the "Play In" tournament.
38:43 ... Mail Bag Question #1: Is there a "HIM" emerging in Orlando?
40:27 ... Mail Bag Question #2: Is there "funny business" going on with the Memphis scorekeeper and Jaren Jackson Junior's defensive stats?
45:44 ... Ross shares his "Best Bets" on the "hot player values" of Brandon Ingram and Precious Achiuwa.
47:42 ... Final Thoughts on the suddenly hot Washington Wizards, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the sense of urgency for the Mavericks to get Luka Doncic some help.
TRT 51:58
0:00 Intro
0:54 World B pays tribute to Kobe Bryant on the 3rd anniversary of his tragic passing
03:12:Ross discusses the Toronto Raptors big win in Sacramento & their bench or lack thereof!
04:04: Ross gives love to Damian Lillard on his outstanding 60 point performance
04:46: Wednesday Game Recaps: Ross & World B discuss the Big Matchups & Key Player Returns
04:57: The duo discuss the Nets/Sixers matchup
08:30: Grizzlies/Warriors World B & Ross break down the game in review
15:00: Brandon Ingram Returns for the Pelicans the duo discuss what they saw in BI’s return to action and the challenges Willie Green & the team have to face moving forward with the rotation
19:47: AD’s Return & Rui’s Debut game for the Lake Show! The duo discuss the game and what’s to come for the Lakers here soon with their schedule
26:06: All-Stars Starters have been announced! The duo reacts to the selections & provide their thoughts
27:29: World B & Ross discuss Embiid not being named a starter & how it possibly just added motivation to Embiid & the Sixers the rest of this season
31:51: Breaking News! World B has been promoted to an NBA General Manager!
32:08: World B is questioned by Ross on whether or not he’s trading Bojan Bogdanovic before the deadline
36:25: World B takes over as GM of the Pacers and Ross questions him on whether or not he plans on dealing soon to be free agent Myles Turner
39:27: World B is traded to Sacramento to become their new GM. Will World B make a deadline deal to improve his Kings team before the deadline?
42:49: Mail Bag Time! Listener submitted questions are answered!
42:55: Can Bennedict Mathurin win 6th Man of the year?
46:33: Aside for winning another Championship, what can LeBron do to earn the greatest of all time status?
51:04 Final Thoughts
0:00 Hello and Welcome
0:45 Rui Hachimura to the Lakers ... he'll be a big piece moving forward ... his presence is examined from all angles. How he should flourish with LeBron James as a teammate.
5:00 Jonathan Isaac returns for Orlando and lights it up in his first game back.
6:40 Anthony Davis and Brandon Ingram will be back ... and not a moment too soon for their teams.
9:22 The Celtics were rolling into Orlando on Monday with a 9 game win streak, but a funny thing happened on the way to 10 straight.
16:56 The Sixers are finding ways to win despite being short handed for much of the season. Their role players have really stepped up. PJ Tucker has provided grit even with limited numbers.
22:16 The Nets are heating up as Kyrie Irving raises his game in Kevin Durant's absence. He's getting help from role players like Nic Claxton, Royce O'Neale, and TJ Warren.
28:29 Halftime Break
28:45 The Thunder are rising in the west behind Shai Gilgeous Alexander and the kid from Down Under Josh Giddey.
34:17 Phoenix hopes to rise from the ashes with Chris Paul back on the court and Devin Booker hopefully returning soon. DeAndre Ayton needs to get more aggressive blocking shots.
40:29 Mail Bag ... Bruce compares and contrasts Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown against Larry Bird and Kevin McHale from the 1980's Celtics. You may be surprised at what he tells you.
44:03 Mail Bag ... Ross answers a question about O.G. Anunoby's "up side."
46:31 Ross shares his best bets in the world of shot blockers and how they can make you some $$$.
48:55 Bruce praises Shannon Sharpe for owning his poor behavior at the Grizzlies/Lakers game last Friday.
50:08 World B thinks Kawhi Leonard is about to lead the Clippers on a nice run.
52:36 Ross has a great suggestion for the rules committee when it comes to running out the clock and why players are unfairly treated when they're holding the ball as the clock expires. Bruce has a suggestion for rookies that get bogus turnovers hung on them, but Ross does not think will end well if they ever tried it.
54:13 Bye Bye
TRT 54:35
Intro: 0:00
0:38: Opening Tip: Ross gives some love to the Big Alp before reminding World B the Kings just keep on rolling with or without Sabonis!
2:17: World B responds to Ross & recaps the Kings big road win against the Lakers on Wednesday night
3:42: Ross & World B discuss their 2023 NBA All-Star Selections & Snubs in the Eastern Conference
10:57: Ross & World B discuss their 2023 NBA All-Star Selections & Snubs in the Western Conference
20:56: Ross poses a million dollar question: Should the Lakers let AD suit up for the All Star Game if healthy?
24:35: World B & Ross discuss the Bulls/Pistons international game in Paris
29:45: 2022 NBA Finals Rematch! World B & Ross discuss the Warriors visiting the Celtics in Boston
33:27: The duo discusses the Nets at Suns matchup with Kyrie back in the Nets lineup
39:00: Mailbag Time! We answer listener submitted questions on the show.
39:37: Lauri Markennan is he worthy of an All-Star nod out West?
41:56: Starting from scratch which top young point guard would you want to lead your team? We rank them!
46:07: Would You Rather…NBA Player Edition
56:18: Best Bets Discussion: Ross shares 4 players that are sneaky assist guys for a same game parlay
58:25: World B & Ross share their final thoughts wrapping up an exciting double overtime edition of the show
0:00 ... Welcome to the show and opening comments from Ross, Bruce, and World B.
1:15 ... Bruce discusses how the Nets are faring without Kevin Durant after their first two games with KD on the injured list.
3:10 ... "World B" makes the case for Minnesota's Anthony Edwards to be named an All Star.
5:14 ... Ross wonders when the first domino will drop in the NBA trade market.
7:13 ... Why is Jae Crowder still in Phoenix if the team isn't using him?
8:26 ... Bruce shares some of Hall of Fame writer Marc Stein's hottest trade rumors.
11:14 ... Jayson Tatum drops 51 on Charlotte in the top performance of the MLK Day games.
17:14 ... Toronto tops the Knicks in overtime as the Raptors show signs of life.
20:46 ... Jrue celebrates the "Holiday" with a vintage 35 point performance for the Bucks against the Pacers.
22:27 ... The Hawks beat the Heat and finally reach the .500 mark.
26:24 ... The Memphis Grizzlies are big, tough, and deep as their win streak reaches 10 on Monday vs. the Suns.
28:38 ... Ja Morant's dunk against the Pacers on Saturday is still resonating.
29:50 ... The Denver Nuggets are rolling, but is their defense good enough to win a chip?
31:44 ... "World B" says "Do not sleep on the Pelicans" as they continue to win their share of games even while playing without two of their stars.
33:10 ... Ross praises Denver's Aaron Gordon for expanding his playmaking skills for the Nuggets.
35:27 ... The Sacramento Kings are flourishing under the leadership of head coach Mike Brown, whose team is scoring at a league leading pace.
42:00 ... Harrison Barnes of the Kings is aging like fine wine in his 12th season at the age of just 30.
44:02 ... Bruce leads off a discussion on the importance of depth with his breakdown of the Nuggets' top 7 players.
45:54 ... "World B" has the numbers on the most productive benches in the league.
48:21 ... Ross gives his "Best Bets" and how Josh Giddey, Victor Oladipo, and Trey Lyles will make you some money.
50:22 ... Bruce, World B, and Ross share their thoughts on Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and why he is missed so much in contemporary society.
TRT 55:29
0:00 INTRO
0:45: The 48 Minutes crew discuss the current situation with the Brooklyn Nets & get Jared’s thoughts on the team moving forward
4:48: Jared shares an incredible shooting statistic on Ben Simmons this season
6:33: The crew discusses the status of the Golden State Warriors currently facing a rough home loss skid. Is Jared concerned with the Warriors moving forward?
11:11 Bruce poses the great question on whether or not Draymond Green’s preseason altercation has had any effect on the Warriors this season
13:34: Phoenix Suns struggles so far & will they make a trade soon?
15:41: Jared touches on the Monty Williams/DeAndre Ayton friction
19:05: The crew discusses the Milwaukee Bucks with Jared
23:46: Boston Celtics discussion with Jared & does he they will make a move prior to the deadline
27:16: Bruce mentions a backup big rumored to be on the Celtics radar
28:30: The league’s recent explosive scoring. Jared provides reasons on why we might be seeing this happen
33:47: Jared discusses his time in the NBA bubble & shares some incredible stories
37:15: Bruce gives kudos to Jared for his amazing postgame interview with Jamal Murray & Jared takes us through how it all went down in person.
41:28: Ross asks Jared to name his favorite NBA city, arena, and even the NBA media room food
45:00: Ross asks Jared if he’s ever golfed with Charles Barkley. Jerad shares more on working with Chuck
47:34 Jared discusses former NBA player Jamal Crawford joining TNT’s Tuesday night studio
49:17: Building the Perfect NBA Player: The crew & Jared breakdown which attributes they’d take from current NBA players to combine into the ultimate superstar
56:30 Final Thoughts: Bruce discusses a Celtics duo, World B challenges the elite teams, Jared invites us all on a mission, Ross gives a shout out to Sabonis & Mikal Bridges
0:43 ... Opening thoughts from "World B" on Kemba Walker, who was released by Dallas, and Ross' thoughts on the Tyrese Haliburton/LaMelo Ball point guard matchup from Sunday.
3:40 ... With Kevin Durant likely to miss a month with an MCL injury, Bruce wonders if Kyrie Irving is capable of carrying the Nets until KD returns.
6:26 ... Which Brooklyn players besides Kyrie need to step up in Durant's absence?
12:19 ... The Lakers have been playing well recently behind the incredible leadership of LeBron James, who is playing like vintage LeBron in his 20th NBA season.
18:44 ... The other team in LA, the Clippers have hit the skids, losing 6 straight games. How did things so wrong for Kawhi Leonard's crew?
23:20 ... How would a team of the best International players fare against a team of the best American players? The guys examine all the matchups.
36:14 ... Ross attempts to stump Bruce and "World B" in a new game called "Too Cool for School" where our "experts" attempt to answer questions about colleges attended by several NBA players.
40:16 ... Since we're at the exact mid-point of the regular season, the crew gives out their mid-season awards.
50:55 ... The Best Bets gambling segment features over/under prop bets on Donovan Mitchell and Lauri Markkanen as Mitchell returns to Utah on Tuesday.
53:11... Final Thoughts on the multiple OKC Williamses and the search for defense around the league.
TRT 56:14
0:00: Intro
1:10 Mitchell's 71 Point Performance & Bruce breaks down the history behind it
5:54 Giannis Career High 55 Points & Ross provides his insight into Giannis's recent scoring trends
11:39 The crew discusses Klay's 54 point night
15:40 8 Title Contenders Discussion & which teams demand the most attention
25:41 Ross challenges Bruce & World B to a game of Buy or Sell with select teams
36:31 Weekend preview of top matchups to be on the lookout for
42:43 Final thoughts discussing Damar Hamlin offering their thoughts & support
0:00 ... Ross welcomes you to episode #6 of "48 Minutes."
0:44 ... In Bruce's opening comment, he expresses concern about the Milwaukee Bucks and the health of their veteran players.
2:00 ... Michael's opening comment is full of praise for Toronto's Pascal Siakam.
3:28 ... Ross opens with a statistical anomaly from the Phoenix Suns' first quarter performance on Monday against the Knicks.
5:18 ... Our first discussion is about the way Denver manhandled the Celtics on New Year's Day and the brilliance of Nikola Jokic and his role player teammates.
11:14 ... In the Power Rankings segment, Michael and Bruce give their top 3 teams while Ross shares his bottom 3.
21:11 ... The Pacers are rising quickly in the east and emerging as a team that should make the playoffs.
23:13 ... The offense is on fire led by Tyrese Haliburton
24:05 ... Myles Turner is having a career year and will be a free agent at the end of the season.
24:48 ... Rick Carlisle is a Hall of Fame caliber coach and is a big reason for the Pacers' success.
26:57 ... Indiana's Bennedict Mathurin is the second best rookie in the league, but nobody knows how to actually pronounce his last name. Since the rookie is French, Bruce takes a shot at the proper way to say it. "Mah-tur-ahn."
28:19 ... Ross plays a game of "Word Association" with Michael and Bruce. Their topics are the OKC Thunder, Luka Doncic, and Latrell Sprewell.
39:23 ... In Ross' "Best Bets" segment, he tells you which home teams to put money on and which road teams to avoid like the plague.
43:43 ... Bruce's closing take concerns something the top scorers in the NBA have in common.
45:07 ... Michael's is on the overall brilliance of Miami's Bam Adebayo.
46:44 ... Ross' is on the free falling Phoenix Suns and how far they could fall in the next week.
49:50 ... Show ends
0:00 Intro
0:35 Opening Tip: Top Games from Wednesday Night
9:41: Luka Doncic's Historic Performance
14:23: World B and Ross discuss their Top 3 MVP rankings
30:48: World B and Ross discuss 2 teams in each conference that need to step it up
38:38: Ross shares his best bet for rebounds with smaller named players
40:44: World B and Ross share their New Year's Resolutions for NBA teams & possible trades along with the upcoming Jan. 15 trade restriction being lifted
49:45: World B and Ross discuss the altercation in Detroit between Killian Hayes and Moe Wagner
53:44: Outro
0:49 ... Lakers are squandering LeBron James' late career brilliance ... at age 38 we compare him to Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at that age.
1:50 ... Bruce predicts LeBron will pass Kareem on the all time scoring list on February 11, 2023 against Golden State in an ABC prime time game.
2:08 ... Orlando has cooled off just a bit, but is still playing well behind their Killer B's: Banchero, Bamba, and Bol.
4:28 ... The guys look back at the Christmas Day games and share their big thoughts.
5:53 ... James Harden's playmaking has made Joel Embiid the NBA's scoring leader.
6:47 ... The Celtics crushed the Bucks behind their high octane tandem of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
7:26 ... The "Two J's" are giving Bruce a "Jordan/Pippen" vibe
10:14 ... Ross looks back at the Suns/Nuggets roller coaster ride on Sunday, including another monster triple double from "The Joker" and a "Dunk of the Year" candidate from Aaron Gordon.
13:02 ... The Lakers really stink right now and even LeBron can't save them. They gave up 51 points in a quarter to Dallas and were outscored 51-21 during that 12 minute stretch.
14:41 ... Ross was not impressed with Memphis guard Ja Morant's overconfidence when discussing the challenges he claims they won't face in the west.
16:30 ... Klay Thompson delivered a message to Dillon Brooks and the Grizzlies that the Dubs remember how the Grizz disrespected them and to expect some payback.
18:00 ... The Nets are still on fire and they're much more than just Durant and Irving. Coach Jacque Vaughn, Ben Simmons, TJ Warren, Royce O'Neale, and Joe Harris are all making key contributions. Bruce compares O'Neale to a younger PJ Tucker who does all the little things to help a team win.
24:55 ... Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis were scheduled to face off on Tuesday night in a titanic clash of All Star caliber "bigs," but Sabonis had to miss the game due to injury. The guys compare and contrast these two centers and the similarities are pretty striking.
32:12 ... Who is Alperen Sengun and why should we care? The 20 year old 6'9" center from Turkey is in his 2nd season with the Rockets and is turning a lot of heads. In his honor, Ross, Bruce, and "World B" each choose their favorite Turkish player.
33:48 ... Ross chooses his friend Ersan Ilyasova ... 35:04 World B likes Hedo Turkoglu ... 36:29 Bruce shockingly picks former Celtic (and Knick, and Blazer, and Thunder, and Jazz) Enes (Kanter) Freedom.
38:38 ... Ross explains how Boston's Luke Kornet ("The Green Kornet") has a novel way of challenging three point shot attempts from his spot in the paint. Don't laugh ... Kristaps Porzingis loves the idea and will try it too.
39:57 ... We've got you gamblers covered too with "Best Bets." Ross shares his insight on reliable 3 point shooters from different teams that you can put in a "Parlay X" and make big bucks.
42:40 ... Mike's parting shot is an appreciation of new Cavalier Donovan Mitchell and his impact in Cleveland. 43:46 Bruce points out that the very best bigs in the NBA are all International players. 44:50 Ross laments the demise of "Eastbay," the "shoe catalog of dreams" from his youth.
45:42 ... Finally the crew pays tribute to Duncan Robinson of the Heat. On Monday he made his 800th career 3 point shot in just his 263rd game, an NBA record. The entire top 5 on the list (Robinson, Luka Doncic, Buddy Hield, Donovan Mitchell, and Stephen Curry) are all active players. Of course Mike Freer has another crazy Robinson stat at 46:53.
47:30 ... Final thoughts and Goodbye
TRT 48:20
0:15 ... Opening Takes .... Paolo Banchero should be an All Star ... Houston's "Sons of Ballers" are doing it for their coach who's Dad was also a baller ... Another "Son of a Baller" is Domantas Sabonis and he is giving Sacramento a little bit of everything.
6:05 ... The Celtics continue to stumble ... we'll tell you what's wrong.
7:30 ... Eastern teams are locking down on defense, leading to great success.
9:11 ... Nobody wants a piece of the Cavaliers with their electric backcourt of Spida Mitchell and Darius "Kyrie Irving 2.0" Garland and their two impressive bigs.
11:14 ... Brooklyn has caught fire behind "Kyrie 1.0" and the incredible Kevin Durant. Not only are they getting buckets, they're playing excellent "D."
13:48 ... In the Wild Wild West, the top 6 teams are separated by just 2 games. Every game will matter as far as playoff positioning, so coaches will have to ride their guys hard. Will players be unable to take a night off? Will "load management" go out the window?
16:54 ... We'll analyze how the Memphis Grizzlies can be such a potent offensive team despite not being a good shooting team?
21:45 ... Watch out for the LA Clippers ... they have been hurt by injuries but they're getting healthy and rising in the west now that Kawhi Leonard is back on the court.
25:10 ... In Phoenix, do Monty Williams and DeAndre Ayton have some unfinished business ot attend to?
27:57 ... In Denver "The Joker" is King, but have we been sleeping on Aaron Gordon and his huge impact?
30:49 ... Atlanta changes leadership in the front office, could a change on the bench be next? Are Trae Young and Nate McMillan OK with each other?
34:37 ... Has DeJounte Murray's arrival negatively affected Trae?
36:48 ... Is the man who wants to buy the Phoenix Suns (Mat Ishbia) a potential rival with another NBA owner who comes from the same state? Could the makeup of the Suns ownership group be an issue in closing the deal?
41:31 ... Who are the top "Breakout Players" so far? Ross, Mike, and Bruce each have their top choice.
45:00 ... How did Drake bet $1 million on a team that won, but still lost his bet? We'll explain and Ross will drop some knowledge on how you can make some money if you put the right rookies in your parlays.
48:18 ... In our Overtime segment, we'll preview the three best Christmas Day games: 76ers/Knicks, Bucks/Celtics, and Suns/Nuggets.
52:18 ... And finally, we'll tell you what Christmas gift you can get for a friend that they'll love and it won't cost you a penny. Hint: It's available on line.
0:46 ... Bruce and Ross discuss the dismal performance by the Celtics against the Orlando Magic last weekend and heap praise on Magic rookie Paolo Banchero.
5:49 ... The Magic are loaded with talented bigs like Banchero, Mo and Franz Wagner, Bol Bol, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr, and Jonathan Isaac.
8:32 ... The Milwaukee Bucks are back in the top spot of the Eastern Conference and their alternate blue uniforms are very sharp. Their upcoming schedule is tough, but they'll have a chance to show the league that they are the top dogs if they handle their business the rest of the week.
11:36 ... The Cavaliers continue to roll behind Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, whom Bruce has dubbed "Kyrie Irving 2.0."
13:36 ... The Brooklyn Nets have won 9 of their last 10 games behind Kevin Durant and "Kyrie Irving 1.0."
16:19 ... The Philadelphia 76ers are riding top scorer Joel Embiid and James Harden to 5 wins in their last 6 games. Embiid (33.0 pts/game) is getting the buckets and Harden is dropping the dimes (67 in his last 6 games).
17:48 ... Will the MVP come out of the East this season? Ross and Bruce size up the candidates.
19:20 ... The New York Knicks are rolling behind their left handed "Big 3" of Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, and Julius Randle. Do all those lefties cause unique problems for opposing defenses?
24:47 ... Devin Booker scored 58 points against New Orleans over the weekend and his 3 point attempt at the buzzer fueled a budding rivalry between the Suns and Pelicans.
27:15 ... Bruce was worried that Chris Paul might be losing something off his fastball but CP-3 calmed his fears with his most recent performance.
31:13 ... Anthony Davis is out for a month with his yearly injury and the Lakers are in deep doo-doo without him. How will they stay afloat?
35:38 ... The remarkable LeBron James is keeping LA relevant as he marches towards the all time record for points held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. How many games will it take LBJ to catch Kareem?
36:55 ... Ross has gambling advice in his latest edition of "Best Bets."
41:53 ... In honor of the Knicks' Lefty Big 3, Bruce and Ross share their favorite NBA left handed players of all time and some of the names will surprise you.
45:02 ... Final Thoughts ... Nikola Jokic's sick triple double against Charlotte, Kemba Walker's 32 point explosion for Dallas, and Damian Lillard passes a Hall of Famer.
TRT 48:11
0:12 … The guys tell you who they are and get things rolling
3:22 … How will the Warriors overcome the loss of Steph Curry?
13:01 … The NY Knicks are red hot and looking like a dangerous team
19:11 … Which teams need to make moves for "tradeable" players?
20:10 … The Lakers are broken, but we will help fix them
22:15 … John Collins' future
22:50 … Will the Pistons deal Bojan Bogdanovich to a contender?
23:59 … What do the Suns need to do to get their mojo back?
26:28 … Has Chris Paul lost something off his fastball?
29:10 … More on how the Lakers let a shooter get away
31:10 … The Clippers are rising in the West behind a healthy Kawhi Leonard
37:50 … The Nets are rising in the east with KD, Kyrie, and solid D
43:45 … Best Bets: Which teams are money on 3 Point Parlays?
47:21 … Weekend Preview: Pelicans/Suns, Jazz/Bucks, and Nuggets/Lakers
51:18 … Buh Bye
Running Time 51:44
In this promo, Ross, Bruce, and Michael introduce themselves and tell you what to expect in their weekly show.