Verno and KOC get into all the factors that led to the Atlanta Hawks firing head coach Lloyd Pierce midseason and what this Hawks team’s ceiling can be moving forward (0:30). After the Pelicans' exhilarating win over the Jazz, they look into the roster and leadership decisions that still need to be made in order to maximize the Pelicans’ potential (14:00). Then they discuss Brooklyn slicing and dicing its way through the league over the past couple of weeks and the even higher levels of play the...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC are back this Friday covering the Bucks' win over the Pelicans and what makes the Pelicans the most confusing team in the NBA (4:30), Michael Malone’s ill-advised comments after the Nuggets lost a tough one to the Wizards (18:00), Ben Simmons's devastating defense stifling Luka Doncic (27:00), and G League player Jonathan Kuminga making a name for himself on the Ignite team (34:40). Then they delve into the mailbag to answer questions about basketball, life, video games, and more (...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC are back this Tuesday getting into the Wizards’ overtime win over the Lakers and five-game winning streak that raises the question of whether the team’s newfound success will last (0:30). Then they talk about what the Timberwolves can do to salvage this season and their future (17:00), whether Houston should rebuild or try for the playoffs (25:30), their picks for All-Star reserves (37:00), and more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit pod...
Feb 23, 2021•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC take a look at the All-Star starters and talk about the inclusion of Luka Doncic over Damian Lillard (1:00), then get into the injury-riddled Blazers and Lillard’s incredible effort (13:00). After that they jump around the league and hit the Celtics and what pieces they might still need (32:00), Utah’s continued dominance through a tough section of its schedule (36:00), and the Nets' win over the Lakers (38:30) before answering a few listener questions (48:00). Hosts: Chris Vernon ...
Feb 19, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC have so much to talk about this week. They get into the Utah Jazz just dominating the league (1:00), Julius Randle’s 44-point game (16:30), and the Hawks taking a nosedive in recent weeks with De'Andre Hunter out (26:30). Then they talk about the Suns’ success with Devin Booker and Chris Paul (45:00), AD’s injury (50:30), and Draymond Green’s comments about Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin being benched after their teams made them available for trades (56:00). Hosts: Chris Vernon a...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast ESPN’s Zach Lowe stops by to talk with Verno and KOC about how he got into sports journalism (0:45), the teams he’s most surprised by this season (20:00), the state of his All-Star ballot (31:45), Joel Embiid’s monster season (51:00), and quite a lot more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Guest: Zach Lowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC take a tour around the league, starting with LaMelo Ball's success in Charlotte (3:00) and what factors play into the increasingly early success of young players over the past decade (11:00). Then they jet over to San Antonio, where Dejounte Murray led the Spurs to victory over the Warriors (28:36) and Steph Curry continued to make a fringe case for MVP (31:30). Finally, they hit Utah to discuss an underappreciated Jazz team (34:40), Boston to parse through trade whispers (37:45), ...
Feb 09, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC are back this Friday talking about Adam Silver’s LeBron James–induced headache over the NBA’s All-Star plans in Atlanta (0:30) and James's MVP-level performance against the Nuggets on Thursday night (18:05). Then KOC officially hits the panic button on the struggling Dallas Mavericks, as Kristaps Porzingis continues to play below expectations (28:16). And finally, KOC and Verno give some love to six players who deserve more shine for their achievements this season (41:30). Hosts: C...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC get into LaMelo Ball’s first start and Malik Monk’s fantastic play in the Hornets’ win over the Heat, as well as how the Heat haven’t been putting the pedal to the metal this season after their Finals run (7:23). Then they talk about what is causing the Mavericks to perform below expectations, including worse shooting than last season and Kristaps Porzingis’s inability to stay on the court and play at a high level (16:26). They take a look at this hungry Rockets team (32:36), the G...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this Friday, Chris and Kevin get into the new-look, defensively minded Rockets after the James Harden trade brought them Victor Oladipo (8:00), how good Jerami Grant looks on the "giant killer" Pistons (15:25), and what Mikal Bridges brings to the bright-now Suns (21:35). Then Chris shows us his diamond hands in a game of Do Not Sell, where he invites KOC to buy low on some of the players whose stock is going straight to the moon (30:30). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor Learn more abou...
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Kevin start off by reflecting on the legacy of the late great Kobe Bryant a year after his death (3:00). Then they get into the pure fun of the Lakers-Cavaliers game Monday night where LeBron James went for 46 points in a dominant performance (12:15). And in an episode all about the surprises of the season, a not-so-surprising surprise is that LeBron James has not been coasting early, and the Lakers look like the clear favorites (14:30), but the Clippers are not too far behind with Kaw...
Jan 26, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Kevin get into the most interesting games of the week, starting with the Lakers’ lackadaisical win over the not-quite-complete Bucks (0:45). Then they get into Tom Thibodeau’s continually surprising positive effect on the Knicks after a win over the Warriors (18:35), the difference in development between RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson, and the Pelicans’ struggles this season (30:00). Finally, they get into the generally unremarked-upon success of the Utah Jazz and Shaq’s bizarre intera...
Jan 22, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Kevin dive into the emerging story lines in the league, starting with how James Harden and KD played together against the Bucks on Monday (1:00), how CJ McCollum’s injury, in conjunction with Nurkic’s injury, will affect Portland’s playoff aspirations (12:15), and Jamal Murray’s disconcerting step down from his bubble play in contrast to Paul George’s step up (16:45). Then they talk about whether the Suns are getting the most out of Devin Booker (29:00), how the Grizzlies are playing w...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Kevin discuss the details of the intricate and wide-reaching James Harden trade on Wednesday (0:40). Then they get into a conversation about what the nature of Harden’s trade request says about the changes that have occurred across the NBA and NBA coverage, including player empowerment, the media boom, and shifts in fandom (12:30). They cap it all off with a conversation about the specific on-court and off-court chemistry concerns for the Nets with their new star-studded roster (40:30)...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Since it’s still early in the season, Chris and Kevin play a game of “Do You Believe..?” to discuss emerging trends across the NBA. Do you believe that the season will go on without having to take a long stoppage or delay for a period of time? (3:10) Do you believe that the Nets are not going to be able to reach their best? (8:20) Do you believe that the Raptors can get it together? (17:59) Do you believe LaMelo Ball will run away with Rookie of the Year? (20:46) Do you believe Jerami Grant is p...
Jan 12, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Kevin take a look at how the COVID-19 protocols are working after Seth Curry’s positive test (5:07) and at the massive leak from the Hawks’ locker room reported by The Athletic (13:14). Then they get into the biggest surprises of the NBA season so far, including the Brogdon-and-Sabonis-led Pacers glow-up (31:43), Lou Dort’s stellar 3-point shooting (37:43), Julius Randle’s Knicks (47:14), and more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...
Jan 08, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chris and Kevin go through all the big games and story lines in the NBA, kicking it off with a discussion about Tom Thibodeau’s 4-3 Knicks and their win over the Hawks on Monday (0:39). Then they get into Steph Curry’s incredible performance over the past couple of games and what the Warriors need to do to reach the postseason (15:30), the Kings’ abysmal start to the season (27:31), and Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum’s tag-team takedown of the Raptors (36:16). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Conn...
Jan 05, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC talk about 10 observations they've made in the early part of the season, including impressive showings from rookies Precious Achiuwa (18:18) and Tyrese Haliburton (34:45), hot starts by the Cavs (50:30) and Hawks (7:55), and much more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 29, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC go through the slew of extensions and deals that have and haven’t closed over the past week (0:36). Then they get into the 10 teams in each conference they think will make the playoffs and play-in (29:25) as well as their awards predictions (1:04:46). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 22, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Transcript available on Metacast After Verno attends his first live basketball game in person since March, the boys get into the Grizzlies-Hawks game (0:47) and the Twitter kerfuffle last night about Ben Simmons potentially being available in a trade for James Harden (6:50). Then Nick Wright of ‘First Things First’ joins Verno and KOC to talk about how he got into the industry (20:19), the Harden situation (42:22), the Clippers' demise (50:43), the best teams in the Western Conference (57:46), and the bets he’s put down for the...
Dec 18, 2020•2 hr 37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Before the show, KOC gives his instant reactions to Giannis' brand new shiny contract with the Bucks (0:01). Then Verno and KOC get into the new Pelicans offense under Stan Van Gundy (5:52), Talen Horton-Tucker’s breakout preseason with the Lakers (13:32), the challenging conditions for rookies this season (25:34), the fun and fancy-free LaMelo Ball (32:27), the Bucks’ new roster (44:47), and much more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...
Dec 15, 2020•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC start with Paul George’s shiny new contract with the Clippers (0:41), what in the world the Rockets can do with Harden (8:33), and Kyrie’s $25,000 fine levied by the NBA (18:40), before they get into the teams playing on the first day of preseason games (41:27). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 11, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bill Simmons joins Verno and KOC on the brand-new feed to talk about James Harden skipping training camp in favor of the strip club (0:45), the Brooklyn Nets (23:24), teams Bill is higher on and lower on than everyone else (29:18), KOC’s Rookie of the Year pick (40:22), and more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Guest: Bill Simmons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 08, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Verno and KOC get into the nitty gritty of the Westbrook-Wall trade (3:00), then talk over the latest news around the league, including the LeBron and AD signings (42:30), Paul George’s recent comments about his role on the Clippers, and the NBA season schedule. Thank you for listening to 'The Mismatch'! If you haven't already, please subscribe to this new feed and we'll have episodes for you every Tuesday and Friday. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Dec 04, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to 'The Mismatch' on The Ringer Podcast Network with your hosts, Chris Vernon and David Jacoby! Follow on Spotify or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 01, 2020•44 sec•Transcript available on Metacast 
