On today’s show, only 2 weeks removed from the coronation of Jokic and the Nuggets, the landscape of the NBA has already shifted significantly, and we have a lot to catch up on. We all know by now that the NBA offseason holds a special place in the hearts of hoops fans, how the machinations and movement fascinate a segment of fans who rarely even actually watch the games. It’s probably one reason why NBA/Reddit is the single largest sports community on the site and NBA Twitter goes viral so much...
Jun 26, 2023•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 579
On today’s show, it’s a wrap, with another NBA Finals in the books, and the 2022-2023 season ends with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and the Denver Nuggets as our NBA champions. The Nuggets’ Playoff run was impressive, with only 4 total losses as they rolled through the postseason with never a series in doubt, and today we’re looking at what makes them a deserving champ. With the spotlight shining brightest, Nikola Jokic was dominant throughout, and regardless of the chatter, he’s dominant whether ...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 578
On today’s show, we’re getting ready to dig into a rather appetizing NBA Finals matchup for us basketball nerds, while acknowledging that at the same time, Heat/Nuggets might not have the appeal of Lakers/Celtics to the NBA League Office, nostalgia-buffs and casuals. But we have a 2 time league MVP making his first Finals appearance, and he legit has a title-worthy Nuggets team behind him. Jamal Murray made his name in the Bubble before suffering a serious injury, but we could see a super-star t...
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 577
On today’s show, we were all set to put a wrap on these Conference Finals and move on to the Joker vs Jimmy but the Celtics had something to say about that, taking Game 4 in Miami to avoid the sweep, and in doing so, created for themselves an almost ideal comeback situation, as well as the most probable scenario for a Heat collapse. So we postponed the pod til after GM 5 back in Boston; since we were almost giving that one to the home team, it made sense to wait and see what would happen. And no...
May 26, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 576
On today’s show, we’re done moping after watching our Warriors take an absolute thrashing in a clinching Game 6 with the Lakers, we’re ready to look ahead to the Conference Finals and wrap up Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs, and I’m wondering which fan base took their team’s Conference Semifinal exit the hardest. Warrior fans are coming off a title year so they’re out, we have nothing to complain about, but Suns’ fans legit believed KD could put them over the top, SIxers’ fans have waited out the pr...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 575
On today’s show, we’re checking in on the Conference Semifinals heading into four high leverage Game Sixes starting tonite. We always love a Game 6 around here, one team with their backs against the wall, the other poised to advance, but what sets this scenario apart is that three of the teams facing elimination are the higher seeds and their Game 6 is on the road. The pressure is on both teams tho; the team up 3-2 has to close out or face a Game 7 on the road. It starts with the Celtics trying ...
May 11, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 574
On today’s show, we’re live at Casa Goldfield, still celebrating a huge win yesterday by our Ws in an epic GM 7 but ready to break down what was an extremely unusual 1st round. We got 4 upsets that we’re gonna get into today, yet we only had one series that ended up really competitive, in Kings/Warriors, illustrating how decisive these other upsets really were. And we had injuries, lots of them and to some players who really mattered, and we’ll get into everything we saw over these past few week...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 573
On today’s show, the NBA Playoffs are off to a raging start, and even though we’re only a week in, there’s so much to catch up on. The Kings staggered the defending champion Warriors in Sacramento, with the Dubs losing both games as well as losing Draymond to a suspension, and the eulogies for the champs started coming from everywhere, but back in the Bay, Steph and Loon saved the day with a Game 3 win. LeBron and the Lakers made a statement and made it a series with a Game 1 win in Memphis, but...
Apr 21, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 572
On today’s show, NBA Playoff season is here! Well, almost. There’s still the technicality of the final Play-In games tonite to determine who gets the dubious distinction of being first round fodder for the Nuggets and the Bucks, but the real action starts Saturday with a 4 game slate, and we’re ready for it with previews of each and every series. The East is looking pretty chalk, hard to anticipate the Sixers, Celtics or Bucks being challenged, but we may get a series out of Cavs/Knicks. But out...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 571
On today’s show, as the regular season races to a close, the Western Conference seeding is still falling into place, as the Clippers, Lakers, Warriors and Pelicans all look to avoid the Play-In and the Mavs and Thunder struggle just to get in. While the Clippers maintain without PG13, the Lakers have had a resurgence, but we’re starting to see some evidence that our Warriors may be forming into a postseason threat. Wiggins has returned to the team, the gang is back together and the vibes are get...
Apr 07, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 570
On today’s show, a tight Western Conference Playoff race looks like it's gonna come down to the final day of the regular season, as 9 teams vie for the 5 remaining spots, but amidst the mad scramble, we might be seeing a new power emerging in the West. KD is in Phoenix now, and alongside CP3, Book and Ayton, the Suns are putting the West on notice. But it’s crowded out here, and to get to the Finals, they’ll have to go on the road to beat teams like the Nuggets, Grizzlies and Kings, and that’s a...
Mar 30, 2023•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 569
On today’s show, SGA and the Thunder are on the rise, making the most unlikely of Playoff runs behind an All-NBA season from their star; Joel Embiid is making a strong push for the MVP, but as the Sixers hit their stride as the Playoffs approach, we’re appreciating what James Harden is bringing to the table, and we make our cases for how the Bucks and the Celtics stack up vs them; we’re looking at timetables for the return of three of the biggest names in the game, as Ja returns from his suspens...
Mar 23, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 568
On today’s show, the NFL offseason is taking all the headlines nationally with the Free Agency period underway, especially with an extremely thirsty Aaron Rodgers soaking up the spotlight, keeping us waiting with his “will he/won’t he” become a Jet, when all the signs indicated that he was going to New York this whole time. But Rodgers need for attention aside, as exciting as the Bears’ and Niners’ moves have been, as stoked as we are that Jimmy G was able to find a starting QB job, and as bumme...
Mar 16, 2023•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 567
On today’s show, it’s all NBA, all the time. With only 20 something games remaining post All-Star Break, there’s still a lot to be decided in the Playoff seedings, particularly in the West, and we’re starting to see the urgency of the situation related on the court, as player intensity picks up. An age old criticism of the Association is that the regular season doesn’t mean anything, that the players don’t try hard until the Playoffs, and while this argument is too nuanced for me to fully agree,...
Mar 03, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 566
On today’s show, as we survey the sports landscape since the last pod, all is quiet. It’s kinda peaceful, we’ve had lots of time to catch up on some tasks around the house, spend some time with friends and family, get in that extra swim at the gym, or just read a bit, and nowhere to be found has been a single NFL or NBA game. It’s a huge switch from just a few weeks ago, when multiple screen viewing was almost mandatory in order to catch as much of the action as humanly possible, if The Associat...
Feb 23, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 565
On today’s show, you’ll have to excuse us if we get all caught up marveling at the incredible championship run we just witnessed by the Kansas City Chiefs. A 13-1 record since October 23rd with rookies in the secondary and free agent wide receivers learning on the job, we watched this team come together, but none of it would be possible without the emerging legend. Gaber and I sorted thru our collective Super Bowl memories, trying to find the occasion where the superior overall opponent was defe...
Feb 14, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 564
On today’s show, we’re getting hyped for one of the most promising Super Bowl matchups in the past few years, but with two weeks off between games, NBA trade season has been at the center of our attention. As the trade deadline hits today, no team has shifted gears more suddenly than the Nets, now minus their two stars but plus a bunch of 1st round picks and 3 and D wings. The continuing drama that surrounds Kyrie will follow him to Dallas, and maybe Luka helps him find a home, but KD has gone t...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 563
On today’s show, really it’s all about one dude. Sure, the Eagles looked dominant after they knocked “Super” Brock Purdy out of the game and they may have been the better team either way, but as fans, we missed out on seeing a great matchup unfold, so really not a lot to take away here. But the Bengals/Chiefs Conference Championship rematch, now that one gave us something. If you’re a Bengals or Burrow fan, you’ll point to the no PI call on Chase, the grounding call, the late hit on Mahomes but ...
Feb 01, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 562
On today’s show, it’s more about the results than the method, and while a relatively lackluster Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs didn’t have us on the edge of our seats, we were rewarded with some marquee matchups for the Conference Championships. MVP candidate QBs lead three of the remaining teams, highlighted by the blockbuster matchup of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs vs Joe Burrow and the Bengals, while Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are set to host rookie QB Brock Purdy and the Niners. Maho...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 561
On today’s show, we’ve got a lot to discuss from a wacky Wild Card Weekend, and what it lacked in marquee matchups, it more than made up for in drama, until Monday night’s blowout that is. We had upsets, as Trevor Lawrence went from the game’s goat to the maybe the Jags GOAT QB in the span of 4 quarters, and Danny Dimes dominated once again as the Giants exposed the Vikings. We had backup QBs going toe to toe with contenders, as Tyler Huntley and the Ravens put a scare into the Bengals, and Skyl...
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 560
On today’s show, as we close the books on another NFL regular season, we bid farewell to someone who became somewhat of a TV friend, with whom, if you watched DirectTV’s RedZone, you probably spent more time with than any other single media presence over the years. Since 2009, for 7+ hours each and every Sunday, Andrew Siciliano has guided us through the action from each and every NFL game on the slate, and the ease and joy and familiarity he did it with made our Sundays even better. He’ll move ...
Jan 10, 2023•51 min•Ep. 559
On today’s show, we start by offering our thoughts and prayers to Damar Hamlin and family after his traumatic injury Monday night, and we’re happy to report that he has regained consciousness once again. We had intended to pod on Tuesday and I had been working on something quip-y for the intro but considering everything we witnessed, it became apparent that it was no time to talk about the stakes of the game when a young man was facing the highest stakes of all. Considering we had no news to off...
Jan 05, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 558
On today’s show, it’s time for some heavy lifting, trying to sort through everything we saw in an extended NFL Week 15 that featured 12 one score games and handful of wild finishes, but most importantly, I think we’re seeing some team’s true colors shining through. The Niners were beat up, on the road vs a division rival who needed a win and who the sharps all loved, but they showed why they’re legit contenders in the victory. The Bills came back late. The Eagles hung tough to win. The Chiefs du...
Dec 20, 2022•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 557
On today’s show, as we kick off Week 15 tonite with Niners/Seahawks, we close out Week 14 in the NFL with a whole lot of movement around the bottom of the Playoff seedings between teams vying to get in, and not a bit of shuffling at the top, as the TRUE contenders all took home wins. And yes, that’s a shot at the Vikings, somehow riding the wide shoulders of Justin Jefferson to their gaudy record, but also at the Titans, forever feasting on a mediocre AFC South, and to a lesser degree, the Seaha...
Dec 16, 2022•52 min•Ep. 556
On today’s show, we’re continuing to follow all the contenders in the NFL Playoff race, and after a pretty chalk Week 13, it would seem that the cream is rising to the top. With the notable exception of the Game of the Week in Cincinnati, nearly all the contenders held their ground, but even despite getting the win, the Ravens and the Niners took Ls. SF lost Jimmy G for the season, while Lamar Jackson is week to week for the Ravens, and while both teams are still atop their divisions, their hold...
Dec 06, 2022•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 555
On today’s show, we continue to focus on contenders only as the NFL season enters the home stretch. Most teams have 6 games left, a few have 5, and like we said last week, we know pretty much all the major players, from the Chiefs and Eagles at the top, to the Chargers, Pats, Falcons and Giants on the outside looking in, so we’ll continue to update and evaluate the seedings as they shift with every win and loss. Meanwhile, in the NBA, we suggested that everyone hold up on hitting the panic butto...
Nov 29, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 554
On today’s show, as we look ahead to Week 12 in the NFL kicking off with a Thanksgiving Day triple-header, it’s time to start to keep tabs on the Playoff picture. At this point of the season the real contenders have made themselves known, and with the exception of a few low seed Wild Card teams, we pretty much know who will be there in the end, but there’s still a lot of shuffling in the seeding to look forward to. That said, it’s time to narrow our focus, as we start to really hone in on who is...
Nov 23, 2022•43 min•Ep. 553
On today’s show, with the NFL season past the midway point, it’s time to draw some conclusions. We’ve been patient, we’ve observed, we’ve deliberated, but now our sample size is sufficient so we’re revisiting our preseason tiers, throwing together some power rankings and deciding how much a mid-November Vikings road win over the Bills and an Eagles loss at home to the WFT really means. Meanwhile, the Chiefs stay winning, the Ravens, Dolphins and Niners are making moves, and somehow we are forced...
Nov 15, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 552
On today’s show, there’s far too much Gaber and I have to catch up on to fully preview here in the intro; since we last spoke, we have two NFL Sundays in the books and hit the unofficial midway point of the season with a surprising Bills loss; we’ve seen the sample size of NBA games more than double; and we have a World Series champ! That said, I guess I should warn you that in addition to the talk of trades, triumphs and tribulations from the NFL, a look at the low profile teams doing well in t...
Nov 08, 2022•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 551
On today’s show, NFL Week 8 is underway, and while there’s still plenty of time for underachieving teams to turn it around, the sample size is large enough for us to figure out pretty much what teams need to do to maintain their Playoff ambitions. TB12 has looked every bit of 45 years old, but in the putrid NFC South, the chances we see him in the Playoffs are still high, while Aaron Rodgers and the Packers would likely have to go 7-4 from here on out to get in, and even with the Bucs falling to...
Oct 29, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 550
