Is LaVar Ball becoming a legitimate distraction for the Los Angeles Lakers? Should Lonzo tell him to back off? What role does the media play in building up LaVar into a newsworthy story? Is Lonzo worth the headache for the Lakers? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod
The first returns from 2018 All-Star Game balloting came out Thursday, complete with some significant surprises. Who should start for each conference? Why doesn't Jimmy Butler have more votes? Can Joel Embiid stave off Kristaps Porzingis? How do Manu Ginobili and Dwyane Wade have so many votes? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod
Which NBA team is likely to wind up with the worst record? Should the Los Angeles Lakers be dangling Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson ahead of the Feb. 8 trade deadline? Will the Memphis Grizzlies host a fire sale? Are the Chicago Bulls screwing themselves out of a top-five pick? Where do the injury-ravaged Orlando Magic go from here? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod...
How will Ben Simmons fare in his Madison Square Garden debut on Christmas Day? Should we take away anything from the Cleveland Cavaliers-Golden State Warriors matchup? Will the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics still have bad blood? Can Oklahoma City Thunder's Big Three keep up with the Houston Rockets? Will Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers upset the Minnesota Timberwolves? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. ...
Are the Oklahoma City Thunder finally beginning to coalesce? What's holding them back from becoming a legitimate Western Conference contender? Is George Hill justified in feeling wronged by the Sacramento Kings' reported change in direction? Will Tom Thibodeau ever learn his lesson about distribution of playing time? How have the Chicago Bulls started looking like a real NBA team? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest Mark Deeks (@mark...
Can Jahlil Okafor salvage his career with the Brooklyn Nets? How will he fit in with head coach Kenny Atkinson's system? Did the Philadelphia 76ers wait too long to trade Okafor? Was Trevor Booker enough to get in return? Does Stephen Curry's ankle injury open the door for the Houston Rockets to run away with the No. 1 seed? Who should the Golden State Warriors fear more: Houston or the San Antonio Spurs? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss...
In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the biggest surprises and disappointments from the first quarter of the 2017-18 NBA season. Which teams and/or players have stood out as pleasant surprises through the first 20 games? Who has fallen short of expectations to date? Check out the episode to hear Morten and Bryan discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod
Should the Memphis Grizzlies have fired head coach David Fizdale? With Fizdale gone, what's Memphis' next step. Should Marc Gasol be on the trade block? With Blake Griffin sidelined for up to eight weeks, should the Los Angeles Clippers sell DeAndre Jordan to the highest bidder? Which teams should be interested in him? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod
Derrick Rose has taken a hiatus from the Cleveland Cavaliers. If he retires, how will we remember his career? Can the Denver Nuggets survive without Paul Millsap for the next few months? With Patrick Beverley done for the year, should the Los Angeles Clippers consider trading DeAndre Jordan or Blake Griffin? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod
How surprising is the value of Robert Covington's extension? Who should the Philadelphia 76ers target in free agency next summer or in 2019? Are the Boston Celtics now the team to beat in the Eastern Conference? Are the Utah Jazz already in danger of falling out of the playoff race? Why do the Dallas Mavericks hate Nerlens Noel so much? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod...
Nearly one month into the 2017-18 NBA season, has a front-runner emerged for MVP? Which players look like candidates for Most Improved Player? Can anyone stop Ben Simmons from winning Rookie of the Year? Is Rudy Gobert still the heavy favorite for Defensive Player of the Year? Has Brad Stevens taken the lead in the Coach of the Year race? Which reserves are contenders for Sixth Man of the Year? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65) and Bryan Toporek (...
How will Eric Bledsoe fit with the Milwaukee Bucks? What does his arrival mean for Malcolm Brogdon? Does Bledsoe make the Bucks a legitimate championship contender this year? Did the Phoenix Suns get enough for Bledsoe? Should they buy Greg Monroe out? Do they need outside help at point guard now? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod
After their respective teams declined their fourth-year options, where should Jahlil Okafor, Mario Hezonja and Rashad Vaughn hope to end up next? How will the Cleveland Cavaliers survive the left calf injury that will sideline Tristan Thompson for the next month? What impact will Larry Nance Jr.'s fractured hand have on the Los Angeles Lakers? Is it time to panic about Lonzo Ball and the other struggling rookie point guards? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wi...
LeBron James says he isn't worried about the Cleveland Cavaliers' slow start. Should he be? Fresh off three straight wins, are the New York Knicks a potential playoff contender? What is fueling the Detroit Pistons' early-season success? Is Victor Oladipo's breakout year for real? Does the Los Angeles Clippers' loss to the Golden State Warriors mean anything long-term? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Follow us on Tw...
Are the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic for real, or are they taking advantage of soft early-season schedules? Can the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers keep up their hot start? Is it time to be worried about Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves on defense? Should Los Angeles Lakers fans be jumping ship on Brandon Ingram? What's contributing to the Denver Nuggets' early struggles? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65) and Bryan T...
Eric Bledsoe wants nothing to do with the Phoenix Suns, so where should Phoenix trade him? Why did the Suns fire Earl Watson only three games into the year? Are you surprised Dwyane Wade willingly accepted a move to the bench? Are opposing point guards actively targeting Lonzo Ball because of his loudmouth father? What's going on with Markelle Fultz's shooting stroke? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of t...
How can the Boston Celtics replace Gordon Hayward in the wake of his ankle injury? Should the Chicago Bulls have punished Bobby Portis more severely for punching Nikola Mirotic? Can the Brooklyn Nets rebound from Jeremy Lin's season-ending injury? Should any fanbases already be panicking? Is Giannis Antetokounmpo a legitimate MVP candidate this year? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that and more. Foll...
Sure, the Golden State Warriors are overwhelming favorites to win the 2018 championship, but don't let that ruin the 2017-18 NBA season for you. After walking through some preseason takeaways and injury notes, Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss what they're most excited to watch this coming season. Follow us on Twitter: @TheNBAPod
Did the Philadelphia 76ers make a mistake by maxing out Joel Embiid now instead of next summer? Is Gary Harris' four-year, $74 million extension too little, too much or just right? What about the deals Norman Powell, TJ Warren and Josh Richardson signed in recent weeks? Should Jabari Parker, Aaron Gordon, Dante Exum, Julius Randle or Elfrid Payton receive extensions by the Oct. 16 deadline? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all of that an...
Can Kawhi Leonard stave off Kevin Durant and LeBron James to win MVP this year? Who else might work themselves into the MVP conversation? Is Rudy Gobert the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year? Will Lonzo Ball run away with Rookie of the Year? Who should we keep an eye on in the Most Improved Player, Sixth Man of the Year and Coach of the Year races? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest Matt Moor...
Which team is the second-best in the Western Conference? Are the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets playoff locks? Which teams will lock up the seventh and eighth seeds out West? Can the Toronto Raptors sneak past the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics to land the No. 1 seed in the East? Could the Milwaukee Bucks snag a top-four seed? Where do the Charlotte Hornets fall in the wake of Nic Batum's elbow injury? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildho...
Is Kristaps Porzingis ready for the pressure that comes along with being the face of the New York Knicks? Can D'Angelo Russell resuscitate his career in Brooklyn? Will Kyrie Irving have an MVP-caliber season with the Boston Celtics? Is this the year DeMar DeRozan begins shooting three-pointers? What should we realistically expect from No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest ...
How will the Cleveland Cavaliers adjust at point guard until Isaiah Thomas returns from his hip injury? Can Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond bounce back after their disappointing 2016-17 campaigns? Do the Chicago Bulls currently have their point guard of the future on their roster? Is Myles Turner headed for a breakout year? Will Giannis Antetokounmpo force his way into the MVP discussion? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65), Bryan Toporek (@btopor...
How will Anthony fit next to Russell Westbrook and Paul George in OKC? Are the Thunder now the second-best team in the Western Conference? How will Kristaps Porzingis handle being the New York Knicks' No. 1 option? Where will the Knicks finish in the lottery standings? After LeBron James, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant spoke out against President Donald Trump on Saturday, will more NBA players follow suit? Should the league actively encourage this type of activism? Check out the episode to hear Mort...
How perfect of a fit is Paul Millsap alongside Nikola Jokic? Can Jimmy Butler help Andrew Wiggins round out his game? Will Paul George emerge as a legitimate MVP candidate in Oklahoma City? Can Rodney Hood make Utah Jazz fans forget about Gordon Hayward? Will Jusuf Nurkic be able to sustain his post-All-Star-break surge? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest Adam Mares (@adam_mares) of Denver Stiffs and Loc...
Will the Miami Heat grow to regret their offseason spending spree, or could they emerge as a sneaky threat out East? How will Dwight Howard fit with the Charlotte Hornets, and what does his arrival mean for Cody Zeller? Who can the Atlanta Hawks rely on outside of Dennis Schroder? How should the Orlando Magic distribute minutes among their plethora of wings? Did the Washington Wizards upgrade their bench enough to make them a legitimate title contender? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jense...
Is Lonzo Ball the Rookie of the Year front-runner? Who will run the Los Angeles Clippers' offense now that Chris Paul is gone? How will all of the Sacramento Kings' new pieces mesh? What should Phoenix Suns fans expect from Josh Jackson? How can Steve Kerr help the Golden State Warriors combat complacency? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65), Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest Shane Young (@youngNBA) of FanRag Sports and BBALLBREAKDOWN disc...
Will Nerlens Noel regret turning down the Dallas Mavericks' reported four-year, $70 million contract offer? How will Chris Paul and James Harden mesh in Houston? Will the DeMarcus Cousins-Anthony Davis pairing take flight in New Orleans? Is there any hope of Chandler Parsons having a bounce-back season in Memphis? What should the San Antonio Spurs do at point guard until Tony Parker returns from his quad injury? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65), ...
Did the Boston Celtics overpay for Kyrie Irving? How will he fit in Brad Stevens' system? Why did they cash in on Irving rather than Paul George or Jimmy Butler? Are they better or worse than they would have been if they rolled back the same core? How will Isaiah Thomas fit alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love? Does this trade make the Cleveland Cavaliers more competitive against the Golden State Warriors? Will it be enough to convince LeBron to re-sign with them next summer? If he leaves, how ...
Which teams will be appointment viewing for NBA fans this year? Which teams can you safely ignore? After losing Chris Paul, are the Los Angeles Clippers more interesting? Will the Utah Jazz be more boring without Gordon Hayward? Are the Nikola Jokic-led Denver Nuggets, Joel Embiid-led Philadelphia 76ers and Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks each must-watch teams? Check out the episode to hear Morten Jensen (@msjnba), Sarah Cilea (@wildhorses65) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss all o...
