The Best-of-Seven Podcast: Recent Episodes
Hunter Costley
Looking for a deeper dive into sports without feeling like you're in a statistics class, or worse, on the set of some clickbait sports talk show? Welcome then to the Best-of-Seven podcast, where host Hunter Costley breaks down the advanced side of sports (particularly the NBA and MLB) so all level of sports fans can understand. Hunter tackles All-Time debates, player comparisons, award races, and the general sports landscape.
It's NBA Draft season! The Finals are gone, the 2024 NBA season is officially over which means it's time for the draft. In this episode Hunter and Will create a mock draft, using team need and analysis from Hunter and draft insight from Will, for all 14 teams in the Draft Lottery. They also breakdown any potential trades that might happen that could impact draft day as well. Tune in to learn about the future of the NBA!
The 2024 NBA season is officially in the books following a Finals rout of the Dallas Mavericks by the Boston Celtics en route to their 18th franchise NBA Championship. With the conclusion of of the playoffs, Hunter and Will dive into a classic best of seven discussion, combing through what we learned from this NBA playoffs as we prepare for the NBA Draft and a jam packed NBA offseason. Which Stars still need to prove it? Who are the Favorites to come out of the loaded Western Conference next year? Listen as Hunter and Will dig in and discuss!
The NBA Playoffs are in full swing and the 2nd round is officially here! As we inch closer to the NBA Finals and crowning of a champion, Hunter and Will discuss and create a Best of Seven list of players in the NBA who still have something left to prove. Some are still in the playoffs, some have bowed out, and some didn't even make the post-season. Listen to hear who they landed on and why they think each player still has to prove themselves.
The playoffs are officially here! With every playoff team having finished at least one game, Hunter and Will break down each series Game 1's. Then Will gives Hunter one big question for each series as we move into games 2 and 3.
The regular season is over and it's officially time for playoff basketball which means it's also time for regular season awards! In this episode, Hunter and Will go through every award on the ballot. From MVP to All-NBA, Rookie of the Year, All-Defense and everything in between they breakdown who they would choose if they had a vote. Tune in for once last regular season edition before the playoffs kick off. Listen Now!
In this March Madness special edition podcast, Hunter and Will debate which college's feature the best players currently in the NBA. They give their Final Four starting 5's and 6th men of current NBA players from some of the best colleges in America. They then debate 3 Cinderella teams in this competition and if they could challenge the top 4 teams. Don't miss it!
In their first episode back post-All Star Break, Hunter and Will discuss six storylines their interested in as the NBA season hits the three quarter mark of the season. Can anyone from the 7-10 spots in the Western Conference make a run? Can anyone in the East close the gap on the Celtics as they set their sights on that elusive championship? Are the Nuggets just biding their time? Listen as the guys discuss all this and more!
In this All-Star Weekend special edition pod, Hunter and Will have a little fun combining stars of the past with those currently playing to create their all-time 3-Point and Slam Dunk Contest lineups. After that they compare their all-time All-Star Rosters, with Will owning the East and Hunter the West, before debating who would win a game between the biggest stars in NBA history!
Will and Hunter break down all the moves around the NBA during this trade deadline and analyze what it means for these teams moving forward and if anyone increased their title odds. They also touch on the Joel Embiid and Zach Lavine injuries as well as just what the heck the Pistons are doing. Listen now!
In another edition of the Best of Seven Podcast, Hunter and Will discuss some hot topics happening throughout the NBA from the recent controversy surrounding the games played rule, the recent fall from contention for two teams as well as the streaking play of two other teams. Then they give their Best of Seven rookies so far this year and whether or not Victor Wembanyama is now the Rookie of the Year favorite!
In this episode, Will and Hunter catch up on current events throughout the NBA including some crazy scoring performances, a coaching firing in Milwaukee, and recent trades. Then they take a look at five teams in the middle of the pack and dive into what they can do to improve or whether it's time to blow it up. Don't miss this jam packed episode!
Hunter and Will are back after a brief hiatus as we hit the halfway mark of the NBA season! In this episode they give their award winners up to this point, debate the interesting cases for players like Joel Embiid, and what they could see shifting as the season continues. Then they breakdown their East and West All-Star Teams, starters and reserves, as we creep closer to the All-Star break. Listen now!
In this episode, Hunter and Will give their resolutions for the New Year for teams and players around the league. Which players have worn out their welcome? Which teams need to to shake it up or even further, need to blow it up? Then they each give an ant-resolution. Something they are sticking to or a team/player they believe should hold pat. Don't miss it!
In this episode of the Best of Seven podcast, Hunter and Will change it up a bit, breaking down their Best of Seven all-time dream Christmas Day matchups across NBA history. Current teams vs teams of the past, one of the best rivalries of the 80's, a team considered one of the worst ever vs one of the greatest of the 60's, they cover it all! Listen to this fun, light hearted episode on the eve of the holiday and let us know what your dream Christmas games would be!
In this episode, Hunter and Will discuss 3 intriguing teams from both the Western and Eastern conference and how the rest of the season might shake out for them. From surprise teams firmly in the playoff picture to highly touted contenders hanging on to play-in spot, see who the guys believe are legit, who they believe can turn it around, and teams they think have lost it at this point. Tune in now!
It's a story as old as time. You come home for Thanksgiving break during your freshman year of college only to hear those dreaded words from your now ex..."I think we should breakup". So which players (or coaches) on new teams need a fresh start? On this episode Hunter and Will dive into which newcomers already need a new home. Listen as they talk about good and bad teams and what needs to change going forward.
In this episode of the Best of Seven Podcast, Hunter and Will dive into the NBA's early season surprises, highlighting our top seven breakout players. From second year stars making waves to seasoned players finding new heights, we analyze their performances and debate whether these early-season standouts are destined for long-term success. Join us as we dissect the stats, share insights, and provide our take on whether these breakout players are the real deal in this exciting season of the NBA.
In this episode, Will and Hunter breakdown their Best of Seven overreactions from the first two weeks of the NBA season including the Bucks surprising slow start, the emergence of phenom Victor Wembanyama, and scorching hot start from the Boston Celtics. Then they briefly give their thoughts on the blockbuster James Harden trade and what it means for the Clippers and Sixers moving forward.
In this episode, Hunter and Will analyze each NBA Western Conference team's potential standings for the upcoming season. They offer predictions, highlight potential dark horse teams, and engage in lively debates about the squads they believe are poised for a breakthrough. Don't miss this comprehensive breakdown of the Western Conference landscape!
In this episode, Hunter and Will analyze each NBA Eastern Conference team's potential standings for the upcoming season. They offer predictions, highlight potential dark horse teams, and engage in lively debates about the squads they believe are poised for a breakthrough. Don't miss this comprehensive breakdown of the Eastern Conference landscape!
On this episode of the Best of Seven Podcast, Hunter Costley and co-host Will Hailey make their NBA award predictions for the season. Then, they engage in a fiery Best of Seven debate, deliberating the greatest players in NBA history who never clinched a championship ring. Tune in for a dose of basketball insights and heated discussions you won't want to miss!
Hunter and Will bring you an impromptu episode, delivering their immediate insights on the game-changing Damian Lillard to Milwaukee Bucks trade. They dive deep into the Phoenix Suns' perspective, explore potential Jrue Holiday trade scenarios, and unravel the far-reaching impacts this deal will have on the entire NBA landscape.
In this episode, Hunter and Will debate whether or not Damian Lilliard is truly an asset around the NBA, and if so, to what teams? Then they finish up with a fun Best of Seven game where they rank the best heat check guys of all time.
“The Best of Seven" is back with a bang after a three-year hiatus, and host Hunter Costley is joined by new cohost Will Hailey for a thrilling season premiere. Tune in as they dissect the NBA's most exciting and head-scratching off-season moves, from blockbuster trades to draft picks, determining who hit the jackpot and who fell flat. With Hunter's experience and Will's fresh insights, they provide a slam dunk of basketball analysis, promising an electrifying return to the world of the NBA in this must-listen episode.
Hunter Costley discusses the return of the NBA season, what he thinks of the adjusted format, who his title favorites are, and discusses his MVP frontrunners. At the end he discusses a random stat list, then gives a few thoughts on the current social and political climate.
Hunter Costley compares the profiles of Trae Young and Stephen Curry during their first two years, to determine who was the better player. Then he takes a look at why Ronald Acuna Jr. might be just a little overrated for right now.
Hunter Costley gives a quick rundown of who he is, what to expect from the podcast, and a brief overview of the topics he'll discuss.