Austin and Pausha celebrate their one year anniversary of ‘Off Guard’ by breaking down a week full of games, starting with the Timberwolves’ dominant win in Orlando before their unfortunate loss to the Celtics (4:14), and the Thunder’s 62-point demolition of the Trail Blazers (9:38). Then, they take a closer look at the Lakers’ post-IST struggles before offering up suggestions for potential trades to help fix both them and the Golden State Warriors (13:01), before wrapping things up with their p...
Jan 12, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Austin and Pausha are joined by three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to discuss this season’s impressive start and his role playing alongside All-Star teammates Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns (3:46). They talk about his career with Cholet Basket in France and his transition to the NBA playing with the Utah Jazz (14:16). Later, they dive into his goals on and off the court and hit on his relationship with Victor Wembanyama and other fellow European players in the league (41...
Jan 09, 2024•1 hr 13 min
Austin and Pausha begin by talking about the development of Victor Wembanyama and why the Spurs are in pressure mode to build around him (01:54). Then they discuss OKC’s win over Boston and whether SGA is currently the best guard in the league (14:38). After, they discuss recent reports of a “growing disconnect” between Darvin Ham and Lakers players (21:45). They end with a conversation revolving around Klay Thompson and Ricky Rubio and why we should do a better job of giving players their flowe...
Jan 05, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Austin and Pausha kick off the new year by giving their thoughts on the Knicks trading away Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to Toronto in exchange for OG Anunoby (05:05). They discuss why Anunoby is a good fit for Tom Thibodeau’s play style, what this means for Pascal Siakam’s future, and more. Then, they look into whether it’s time for the Warriors to reset the roster around Stephen Curry (30:08), if Derrick White should be an All-Star (36:30), Detroit finally snapping their 28-game losing str...
Jan 02, 2024•1 hr 14 min
Austin and Pausha recap all the Christmas Day action, starting with the Mavs and Suns and the rivalry between Luka Doncic and Devin Booker (1:34), and then weigh in on Jalen Brunson’s impressive performance vs. the Bucks, which has him ranked among the best guards (21:33). Later, they discuss Warriors-Nuggets and Steve Kerr’s postgame free throw comments as well as Celtics-Lakers and why it may be time for Austin Reaves to be starting again (35:42). Then they send a shout-out to Miami and its un...
Dec 26, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Austin and Pausha kick off the show by talking through Austin’s latest workout for NBA brass on his journey back to the league (0:00). The guys also get into Ja Morant’s much-anticipated return to the court and what that means for the Grizzlies moving forward (9:40), before discussing the red-hot Clippers sending a message to the NBA and the haters with their recent nine-game winning streak (16:00). They close things out with a flurry of topics, including giving Karl Anthony-Towns his flowers th...
Dec 22, 2023•1 hr 12 min
Austin and Pausha start the show by talking through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s growing case to win MVP (8:30), as well as the Joel Embiid greatness fatigue that’s seemingly developing in NBA discourse. Next, they discuss the massive scoring nights from Jalen Brunson and Keegan Murray and Austin describes what it’s like to be the guy guarding players who go off like that (14:00). The guys wrap things up by examining Lauri Markkanen showing back up in trade rumors, the toll the Pistons’ losing stre...
Dec 19, 2023•47 min
Austin and Pausha recap all the drama happening around the league, starting with Draymond’s indefinite suspension (2:25), before unpacking the wild events that took place between the Pacers and Bucks over the ownership of a game ball (16:46). Finally, they reveal and break down the first-ever Off Guard Top 10 Power Rankings (40:04). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Dec 15, 2023•1 hr 4 min
Austin and Pausha kick the week off comparing Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal to NBA contracts (1:38). Then, they talk through why the Lakers winning the In-Season Tournament upped the “cool” value, and why it overall was a huge win for the Association (19:40). Jumping off the Lakers’ IST win, they discuss the duos that rank higher than LeBron and AD, and why King James may be the greatest athlete to ever play sports (43:16). Then, they wrap things up with arguments for a 70-game regular seaso...
Dec 12, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Austin and Pausha talk the in-season tournament semifinals, highlight the impressive play between Tyrese Haliburton and Dame (3:18), and give credit to LeBron for his dominating performance (12:40). Later, they touch on whether the Pacers are a legitimate contender out East and which type of coach is worth investing in, using Rick Carlisle as a jumping-off point (39:12), discuss how the winners of the in-season tourney should celebrate, and then give their predictions for who will win the tourna...
Dec 08, 2023•57 min
Austin and Pausha start things off by touching on the wild tweet from Adidas in defense of Anthony Edwards after saying he’d like Kevin Durant to rock his shoes (8:06). Then, they argue why Jokic’s absurdly good season should already have his third MVP locked up (25:30). Later, they touch on the on-court incident between LeBron and Ime Udoka and discuss the dynamic between a coach and a player (36:36). Finally, they offer their in-season tournament predictions (52:48). Hosts: Austin Rivers and P...
Dec 05, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Austin and Pausha revisit the current state of the Washington Wizards, including whether Kyle Kuzma would be better off as a player on a winning team and what’s behind Jordan Poole’s struggles (1:00). They also try to dissect what exactly is wrong with the Warriors and whether it’s realistic for them to uphold the franchise’s high standards (5:00). Then, the guys give praise to Alperen Sengun out in Houston and see where he stands in comparison to standout rookies like Chet Holmgren and Wemby (1...
Dec 01, 2023•58 min
Austin and Pausha open the show by giving their thoughts on the current hot streak of Pausha’s beloved Orlando Magic, and whether their success is sustainable throughout the rest of the season. Then, the guys discuss Devin Booker cementing himself as one of the most elite closers in the NBA before talking through Norris Cole’s latest comments about the “lack of basketball IQ” in the league today.They close things out with their admiration of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Austin providing more con...
Nov 28, 2023•1 hr 13 min
Austin and Pausha begin by talking about some of the teams at the top of the East—specifically who the fourth-best team in the East is (6:58). They also discuss why the Cavs are off to a slow start. Then, Austin rants about some of the Klay Thompson disrespect (29:27) before they discuss how good the Kings have been and debate if De’Aaron Fox is a top-10 player (36:53). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about ...
Nov 21, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Austin and Pausha kick things off by talking through the Draymond Green chokehold on Rudy Gobert that resulted in Draymond’s five-game suspension (6:43). Then, they discuss the stacked Timberwolves lineup and their place among the top teams in the league (17:15), before dissecting what exactly is wrong with the Clippers (18:36), and Ime Udoka’s Coach of the Year-like impact for the Rockets (22:48). Later, they welcome the new era of players in the league and touch on where things could be going ...
Nov 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Austin and Pausha run down this week’s matchups and explain why they are extremely bullish on the Timberwolves (9:14). Then, they break down James Harden’s fit with the Clippers following their recent losses (14:27), and Bradley Beal’s early contributions to the Suns (31:41). Later, they evaluate what’s going on in the Eastern Conference with Joel Embiid and the post-Harden 76ers (43:40), before discussing Giannis’s absurd ejection from the Bucks-Pistons game (47:56). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pa...
Nov 10, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Austin and Pausha kick off the pod with their first impressions of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament and whether players will actually be able to celebrate winning the whole thing (00:55). They then discuss Scoot Henderson’s early struggles and Scottie Barnes’s ascension as a top guy with the Raptors (10:05). Later, they discuss Donovan Mitchell’s MVP-level season so far, James Harden’s integration with the Clippers, before ending things by talking about Austin’s experience playing at Duk...
Nov 07, 2023•56 min
Austin and Pausha start by discussing the slow starts of Paolo Banchero and Austin Reaves and what that may have to do with their USA Basketball run this past summer (6:40). Then, they talk through who may be the next face of the league after LeBron James finishes playing (12:00). Later, they hit on Draymond Green’s most recent comments about the post–Jordan Poole Warriors era before closing things out talking the Timberwolves’ big win over the defending champion Nuggets (45:38). Hosts: Austin R...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Austin and Pausha kick off their Halloween by discussing the late-night trade that landed James Harden with the Los Angeles Clippers, and how the Philadelphia 76ers will deal with a Beard-less future (1:36). The guys break down how Harden’s arrival impacts Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George, before picking who they thought won the trade. Then, Austin and Pausha get into the new court designs that will be used for the NBA’s in-season tournament games and decide whether they like th...
Oct 31, 2023•1 hr 19 min
It’s a new NBA season on ‘Off Guard!’ Austin and Pausha run through a handful of the league’s first few games and talk through the story lines that are already in motion (7:34). Then, they discuss the common theme between the top-heavy teams and their levels of success (22:03), and give their major takeaways so far (54:06). Later, they put their hoops knowledge back to the test with another round of Lost in the Sauce (59:58). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes an...
Oct 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Austin and Pausha fire up the mics for the first podcast of the new NBA season. The guys start by reacting to Jaden McDaniels’s big extension with the Timberwolves. They use that as a jumping off point to discuss how the T-Wolves have built their team around Anthony Edwards compared to how the Dallas Mavericks have built theirs around Luka Doncic. The guys then talk through the impact of Steven Adams’s season-ending injury on the Grizzlies, James Harden’s continued absence before revealing what ...
Oct 24, 2023•1 hr 9 min
Austin and Pausha are back and on their brand-new ‘Off Guard’ feed, where they begin with reactions to the impressive performances so far from both Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren (0:47). Then, they discuss which players are on their radar this upcoming season, including underrated names like Payton Pritchard and Jonathan Kuminga (23:45). Later, they talk through The Ringer's and ESPN’s top 100 rankings and offer their own suggestions (41:16), then switch gears to hit on a few of Austin’s pe...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Austin and Pausha are back for the start of the preseason; they react to the news that Jrue Holiday was traded to the Celtics and discuss how this compares to the Damian Lillard trade and what this ultimately means for the Heat (6:04). Then, they address quotes from media day, starting with Jimmy Butler’s hair and Brandon Ingram’s take on a big payday (15:34). They finish off the show with another round of Lost in the Sauce, where they once again put their basketball knowledge to the test (51:22...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Austin and Pausha react to the blockbuster Damian Lillard trade and talk through why this is a rare triple win for all three teams involved (0:32). Then, they hit on the Travis Kelce–Taylor Swift relationship news (25:52) and likely NBA prospect Cooper Flagg’s UConn photo shoot. They wrap things up with Lost in the Sauce, a new segment that puts both guys’ NBA history knowledge to the test (53:51). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about ...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Austin and Pausha review the Charlotte Hornets conversation from last week’s episode and Austin responds to comments made around the league (1:05). Then, they hit on Jarred Vanderbilt’s extension with the Lakers and Kelly Oubre Jr. signing with the Sixers (8:31). Later, they make their preseason award predictions for MVP, Sixth Man of the Year, Most Improved, and more (11:57)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Sep 22, 2023•1 hr 2 min
Austin and Pausha are back to discuss why Team USA came up short in the FIBA World Cup and the potential dream team that will be heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympics (07:30). They briefly discuss the Lakers' signing of Christian Wood (25:00). The guys also share their thoughts on the NBA’s new rules regarding load management and sitting out games (28:00). Later, they address Kevin Porter Jr.'s arrest on assault charges (36:00). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Jonathan Kermah...
Sep 13, 2023•53 min
Austin and Pausha are ramping up for the 2023-24 NBA season and kick the show off with Austin’s thoughts on Noah Lyles’s viral comments on the NBA. Then, they talk through Team USA’s quarterfinal FIBA win and how a potential championship game against Canada may shake out.The guys also do some looking ahead and discuss which players have the most to prove this upcoming season before closing things out with some classic 'Off Guard' rapid-fire questions. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Pro...
Sep 05, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Austin and Pausha dive into last week’s All-Time starting five lineup and discuss why KD was chosen amongst other elite players (7:40). They then discuss Team USA’s competition and why they believe Trae Young was left out (14:12). Later they talk through what type of NBA career they’d rather pick: one with a better peak or one with more longevity, using Tracy McGrady and Paul Pierce as a jumping off point (28:25). They end the show by running through a few listener questions, ranking their top s...
Aug 11, 2023•53 min
Austin and Pausha revisit the viral Damian Lillard conversation to rehash the effects of certain trade demands throughout the league (3:30). Then, they choose their all-time starting five (14:05), answer a round of Rapid Fire Questions, including their choice between a prime James Harden or Dwyane Wade (31:54), and then discuss the lost art of practicing alone (37:47). Later, Austin breaks down why he still has stock in a Ben Simmons comeback (50:51). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Pro...
Aug 03, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Austin and Pausha are back and start things off by recapping their time at Summer League watching Wemby play in Las Vegas (2:14). Then, they dive into all the player movement this offseason and take a closer look at Dillon Brooks’s fit with the Houston Rockets. They also talk through what Damian Lillard’s fit will look like on the Miami Heat if/when that trade ends up happening (22:27). Later, they weigh in on the latest developments in the Draymond-Poole drama (41:37), and then wrap things up w...
Jul 21, 2023•1 hr 5 min
