NBA Takedown

OFFICIAL NBA Takedown Play-In & Playoff Preview

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, jeff johnson, shawn hardie) — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:45:09 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie react to the full 20-team NBA postseason field being set. They go through each play-in matchup and discuss which of the eight teams have the best chance to put a scare into a heavyweight in round one. They then go through each of the NBA playoff matchups that have already been set and decide which, if any, carry upset potential.

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Final Regular Season Power Rankings + NBA Awards

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson) — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 17:56:15 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson & Shawn Hardie rank all 20 postseason teams in order of their championship equity, deciding whose postseason is over before it even began, who has a real chance to make noise, and how the order should go at the top. They then hand out all of the NBA postseason awards before deciding which NBA team or player has the most pressure on them ahead of the playoffs.

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Breaking Down the NBA Playoff Picture with 2 Weeks Left + All-NBA Already Decided?

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:28:33 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie take a look at the key races and most important games with 2 weeks left in the NBA's regular season, going deep on all the possibilities in the East, what first round matchups carry the most upset potential, which teams hold the most cards, and why everything is still so uncertain. After taking a brief look at the West, they dive into the race for All-NBA, debating who should and shouldn't be considered a lock, which players are on the bubble, who gets the last 1st Team spot, and why Karl-Anthony Towns still has a real case to make the squad.

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Ranking the Top NBA Storylines & Races of the Final 3 Weeks

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, shawn hardie, jeff johnson) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:01:04 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie go through their most interesting NBA storylines and races of the final three weeks. Among the topics discussed, they talk about whether Boston is being unfairly propped up because of Jayson Tatum's return, what to make of spots 5 through 10 in the East, how Luka wound up in the MVP convo, why the Nuggets need to be taken down a peg, and whether we need to take the Wolves more seriously.

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Expansion is Here! Diving Deep on the Ramifications of Adding Two New NBA Teams

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson) — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 18:25:27 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie digest the news that expansion seems to be destined for the NBA, going through the most interesting storylines surrounding the NBA adding 2 new teams. They talk about which team is most likely to change conferences, how the expansion draft rules might work, and which teams will have the toughest decisions on their hands when the draft actually happens in two years.

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The Takedown Oscars

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie) — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 18:43:51 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie go the movies. Selecting from the 2026 slate of Oscar nominated films, they assign a different movie to eight different NBA teams, starting with Sinners and ending with One Battle After Another. Plus, thoughts on the NBA giving a second round draft pick to the Miami Heat for the Terry Rozier trade, whether Charlotte can topple the Pistons in a playoff series, and a WILD stat you didn't know about the Thunder.

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March NBA Power Rankings: Who's In, Who's Out, and Who's Got a REAL Chance

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson) — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 19:34:22 +0000

It's the first Monday of the month, which can only mean one thing: NBA Takedown Power Rankings! On today's episode, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie open the show by unpacking Luke Kornet's recent criticism of the Atlanta Hawks and their decision to honor Magic City at an upcoming game. Then, they dive into the rankings, tiering all 30 NBA teams into four categories:

No shot
Teams that can make the playoffs
Teams that can make the conference finals
Teams that can win the NBA championship

They close the show by reacting to the breaking news that Giannis Antetokounmpo will be making his return on Monday night against the Boston Celtics.

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The NBA Likability Draft

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, jeff johnson, shawn hardie) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 19:37:47 +0000

WE'RE BACK! After a 2-week hiatus, the NBA Takedown crew of Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie return for a new episode, starting with some belated thoughts on the NBA All-Star Weekend, the most anticipated games remaining in the NBA season, and whether fewer games is a solution to all (any?) of the league's issues. They then square off in the first ever NBA Likability Draft, selecting the most likable teams in the league based on the perspectives of their own fans and impartial observers.

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5 Solutions to Fix the NBA's Tanking Problem

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson) — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 20:40:57 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie go through some of the recent tanking shenanigans throughout the NBA before pitching some solutions to fix the problem.

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Crazy NBA Trade Recap & Final Deadline Preview

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson) — Wed, 4 Feb 2026 17:49:58 +0000

On the latest NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri & Jeff Johnson recap a crazy day of trades before looking forward to what's left on the board before Thursday's 3pm deadline.

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NBA Trade Deadline: Buy, Sell or Hold? Plus: Why LeBron to NY Will Never Die & Weekend Trade Reactions

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 19:37:34 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie react to a busy weekend around the NBA both on the court (Knicks vs Lakers) and off (fake Laker fans vs everyone) before turning their attention to the trade deadline. They each submit one team that should be buyers, one team that should be sellers and one team that should stand pat at the deadline. Last, they look at OKC's treasure trove of assets and list the players in the league who the Thunder COULDN'T get even if they wanted to.

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Giannis Latest + Final NBA All-Star Picks

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 20:26:29 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri & Shawn Hardie go through the latest news & rumors on the Giannis Antetokounmpo front before predicting what will happen before the NBA trade deadline. They then go through their NBA All-Star reserves, starting with the locks and then filtering down to reserves and honorable mentions.

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NBA Takedown Midseason Awards

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie) — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:26:40 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie hand out the hardware. In addition to crowning traditional winners for NBA Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year, they'll also give special NBA Takedown recognition for Best NBA Arrival, Coach on the Hottest Seat, Biggest NBA Surprise (both good and bad), and the Least Valuable Player of the 2025-26 NBA season so far.

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Knicks Therapy Sesh & The 10 Worst Contracts in the NBA (hi, KAT!)

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 19:21:49 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie discuss a Knicks team that is being torn apart at the seams and ponder what went wrong and how we got here. Next, Jon ranks his 10 worst contracts in the NBA and the boys discuss where Karl-Anthony Towns belongs on the list in comparison to the likes of Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Paul George and other high and medium priced players around the NBA.

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What's Wrong With the Quasi-Contenders? A Closer Look at the Rockets, Lakers and Magic

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie) — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 19:43:06 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie bounce around the teams that have disappointed the most over the last month. They dive into what's wrong with the Houston Rockets, whether the Lakers were ever anything more than mediocre, and why the Orlando Magic might have a Paolo Banchero problem.

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Trae Young Trade Postmortem...Why Washington and What Now for Atlanta?

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Thu, 8 Jan 2026 18:13:30 +0000

The Trae Young era in Atlanta is over! On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri and Shawn Hardie consider all angles of the deal, from whether this was a salary dump, what historical comps there are for the trade, how much of a threat the Hawks are now, and what we can expect from Washington (and their draft pick) moving forward.

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Trae Young to the WIZARDS?!? A Washington Perspective

jcmacri@gmail.com (Matt Modderno, Jonathan Macri) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 15:27:48 +0000

On the very first NBA Takedown mini-pod, Jon is joined by Matt Modderno of Bleav in Wizards and Bullets Forever to discuss the report yesterday that the Wizards are showing interest in Trae Young. What might the Wiz be thinking, why would they make this move at this stage of their rebuild, what could it mean for their top-eight protected pick, and how might it impact Washington's young core?

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January NBA Tiers! Celtics & Spurs UP, Lakers & Warriors DOWN, Knicks still Tier 1 Contenders?

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson) — Mon, 5 Jan 2026 19:34:36 +0000

It's the first Monday of the month, which can mean only one thing: NBA tiers! On this episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie group the 30 NBA teams into six tiers based on NFL contenders & pretenders. They start with teams who have already been virtually eliminated from the NBA playoffs, work their way up through a mix of surprising bad teams (hello, Brooklyn) and disappointing good teams (sorry Steph), and then hash out the morass in the middle, figuring out who, if anyone, deserves to stand alongside OKC and which teams will be afterthoughts come May.

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10 Bold NBA Predictions for 2026

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 2 Jan 2026 18:34:32 +0000

Happy New Year! On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri and Jeff Johnson take one final look back at 2025 before tapping into their crystal ball for 2026. Among the NBA predictions they make for the year ahead:

Where will Giannis get traded?
Which East team will shock the world?
What will the NBA do about tanking?
What superstar will fall farthest from grace, and...
Who will be the big winner in 2026?

If you dig the show, please take a moment to give a 5-star rating and/or a review, as well as subscribe on the NBA Takedown YouTube channel!

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NBA Buy or Sell + First All-Star Voting Return Reactions!

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 19:29:26 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri and Shawn Hardie bring the holiday spirit in full force. After questioning the statute of limitations on Ben Simmons "breaking" news items, they buy or sell 5 major NBA storylines involving tanking reform, the Pistons' regression, the Clippers' rise, the LeBron vs JJ maybe-feud in LA, and the impossible situation with Trae Young and the Hawks. Then, they react LIVE to the first round of All-Star voting returns (1:00:45) and debate early surprises and snubs from each conference.

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NBA Secret Santa!

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:30:53 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson and Shawn Hardie get into the holiday spirit and give out some much needed Christmas gifts around the NBA. Presents are handed out to a key Knick reserve, the shooting-deprived Pistons, the lowly Wizards, the Northwest Division, the Timberwolves centers, Steve Kerr, Mavs fans, the NBA commissioner, and the city of Seattle.

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Top 5 NBA Trade Value Mysteries with Matthew Geist of SROS

jcmacri@gmail.com (Matthew Giest, Jonathan Macri) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:27:20 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri is joined by Matthew Geist of Six Rings of Steel to talk everyone's favorite NBA topic: Trades! Jon and Matt each rank their Top 5 most uncertain trade value guys in the NBA. Among the topics discussed:

Would any owner sign off on giving up a significant package for LaMelo Ball?
Is Domantas Sabonis a fit for a team looking to win the championship?
Is there any bloom left on the rose for Zion Williamson?
Would anyone pay Trae Young the max?
What to make of the Anthony Davis situation in Dallas?

Be sure to follow Matt on Twitter and subscribe to his YouTube Channel, SROS. Also follow Jon on IG!

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NBA Cup Bonanza: Drafting Knicks vs Spurs & Appreciating the Tourney

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:11:14 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff and Shawn show the NBA Cup some much deserved love before looking ahead to the NBA Cup Finale between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. To break down the championship game, they draft the most important players from both teams over six rounds, selecting 18 players in total in order of importance to their respective teams.

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NBA Cup & East All Stars with Fred Katz!

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, fred katz) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 17:43:35 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon is joined by Fred Katz of the Athletic to talk NBA Cup and East All-Stars. They start by trying to assemble a starting lineup composed of players from the Knicks and Magic that might give Oklahoma City a run for their money. They then turn to the All-Star game and pick 12 players to represent the NBA’s Eastern Conference. Questions include: How many Pistons make the list? Is KAT a lock? Has Norm Powell done enough to earn a spot? And what the heck is up with Cleveland? If you dig the show, PLEASE rate and review to help spread the word!

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Too-Early Western Conference All-Stars + NBA Cup East Quarters Reaction

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie) — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:55:06 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon and Shawn react to the NBA Cup's East Quarterfinal wins from New York and Orlando before engaging in some bonus Knicks talk. They then pick 12 Western Conference All-Stars based on the season so far, going through the locks first before hashing out tougher arguments surrounding Victor Wembanyama, Julius Randle, James Harden, Devin Booker and others.

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Buying or Selling NBA Early Season Storylines

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 19:39:43 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff and Shawn start off with their takes on the Knicks as East favorites, the Celtics as house money, and the Cavs and Magic as teams in trouble. They then play "Buy or Sell," where Jon gives 6 NBA storylines that Jeff and Shawn can take or leave, including:

Is LeBron James still an All-Star level player?
Did OG Anunoby underact to Desmond Bane?
Should Jaylen Brown make 1st Team All-NBA
How much longer Jonathan Kuminga will be in Golden State?
Does anyone have it worse than Bulls fans?
Will Cam Whitmore still be in NBA in two years?

If you enjoy the show, be sure to follow us on YouTube and social media!

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Top 5 Most Intriguing Rookies & Sophomores in the NBA with Nathan Grubel of No Ceilings

jcmacri@gmail.com (Nathan Grubel, Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 5 Dec 2025 18:34:40 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon is joined by Nathan Grubel of No Ceilings NBA to rank the Top 5 Most Intriguing Rookies & Sophomores in the NBA. Nathan offers some insight on Cooper Flagg's changing role in Dallas, how Kon Knueppel and his fellow rookies are giving Charlotte fans hope, why Alex Sarr needs to be paid attention to in Washington, how Reed Sheppard might be the key to Houston's ceiling, and yet another unlikely gem down in Miami.

Follow Nathan for more coverage of the NBA Draft and young players around the league @DraftDeeper, and also be sure to follow @NBATakedownPod on Twitter and @NBATakedown on IG and TikTok.

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If We Ran The Hawks (with Bonus Giannis Trade Talk!)

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Wed, 3 Dec 2025 21:07:40 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff and Shawn start with some takes about Chris Paul, the Thunder and the Kobe/Duncan all-time ranking debate before moving on to play GM of the Atlanta Hawks. They go deep on the value of Trae Young, whether the Hawks should look to trade him, what he might be fetch in return, and whether any other distressed assets make more sense in Atlanta. Finally, they explore the Giannis trade market and discuss whether the Bucks and Hawks are natural trade partners even if Antetokounmpo could leave in a year and a half.

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December NBA Tiers: Christmas Movie Edition

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 19:31:43 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri and Jeff Johnson sort all 30 NBA teams into 6 tiers based on Christmas movies of varying quality. Among the topics discussed:

Are the Wizards a real threat to be the worst team of all time?
Could the Kings actually be buyers at the deadline?
Is something good happening in Memphis (and can Ja Morant be a part of it)?
Is an AD-to-Chicago trade inevitable?
What happens when an MVP isn't enough to make you good?
Should the Cavs be worried?
Are the Magic the most interesting story in the NBA right now?
Are the Thunder alone in their own tier?

Be sure to follow us @NBATakedown on IG & TikTok and @NBATakedownPod on Twitter!

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NBA Takedown Thanksgiving Mailbag, Part II

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 13:53:47 +0000

In Part II of the first ever NBA Takedown Mailbag, Jon answers the rest of your questions, including:

Can anyone use Domantas Sabonis?
Who are the true NBA sleeper teams?
Is there a suitor for AD that makes sense?
Top 5 non-star trade deadline candidates?
Who will get traded first, Zion or Ja? and...
Who are the Top 10 Point Guards ever?

Thank you to everyone who submitted questions!

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NBA Takedown Thanksgiving Mailbag, Part I

jcmacri@gmail.com (Izzy Randazzo, Jonathan Macri) — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving! As a thank you to all of the amazing people who have helped support the show through its first month of existence, we opened up the mailbag to answer any and all questions you had. In Part I of the mailbag, NBA Takedown intern Izzy Randazzo tosses Jon a 10-pack of questions, including:

Who is the biggest NBA name that will be traded at the deadline?
Which NBA team besides the Knicks would Jon root for if he had the choice?
What are the 5 most surprising players this season?
How to solve the NBA's injury problem?
Rank the Top 25 Players in the NBA

Check back on Friday for Part II with answers to the rest of your questions, and be sure to follow the show on IG, Twitter and Youtube!

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1st Annual NBA Takedown Thanksgiving Draft

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri, Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:43:23 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff & Shawn go six rounds for the 1st Annual NBA Takedown Thanksgiving Draft in which they pick the players, teams and coaches they'd be most (and least) thankful to root for this NBA season. The 6 categories they drafted are: NBA star we'd be most thankful to root for, NBA coach we'd be most thankful to have guiding our team, role player we'd be most thankful for, matchup we'd be most thankful to see in the postseason, NBA team we'd be LEAST thankful to root for, and player we'd be LEAST thankful to root for.

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Top 10 NBA Big Men Right Now

jcmacri@gmail.com (Dexter Henry, Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie) — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 19:04:01 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA TakeDown, Jon and Shawn are joined by Dexter Henry of the New York Post. The begin with the Takeoff, dropping their takes on the depressing Kings, player podcasts, and the unfathomable start to Nikola Jokic's season. Then they get into weeds on the top 10 big men in the NBA right now. Debates include how large the gap is between Jokic and everyone else (and how often we've seen a gap this large in modern sports history), Wemby vs Giannis for the second spot, has Sungun surpassed KAT, is it too early to consider Jalen Duren a top 5 NBA center, are we sleeping on Chet Holmgren, and whether the Cavs would be better off with Pascal Siakam in place of Evan Mobley.

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LeBron James & the “It Ain’t About You No More” Mount Rushmore

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 19:11:28 +0000

On this episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff & Shawn begin the show by getting off some takes about the sneaky fun Jazz, Austin Reaves' All-Star chances and Detroit Stans getting ahead of their skis. They then turn to the return of LeBron James to discuss what the rest of this season might look like for the NBA's all-time leading scorer and whether anyone can realistically catch him on the points leaderboard. Finally, they construct the “It Ain’t About You No More” NBA Mount Rushmore in celebration of LeBron passing the torch to Luka, hitting on Steph Curry, Tim Duncan, Grant Hill, Carmelo Anthony, Magic Johnson, Dwyane Wade, Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis and many more.

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F'Real or Fugazi: Are the Atlanta Hawks Legit? Plus Trae Young Trade Ideas & Weekend NBA Hot Takes

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:55:47 +0000

On this episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff and Shawn debut a new segment, "The Takeoff," where they each get off one NBA hot take based on this weekend's games. Then they dive deep into everyone's favorite NBA surprise story, the Atlanta Hawks, to figure out just how legitimate they are and whether there's a Trae Young young trade that makes sense for both teams. Finally they explore Anthony Davis' wardrobe malfeasance and whether he stepped over a line.

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Top 5 NBA Panic Teams with Fred Katz of The Athletic

jcmacri@gmail.com (Fred Katz, Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 18:58:26 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri is joined by Fred Katz of the Athletic. They talk briefly about one of the NBA's pleasant surprises before revealing their respective Top 5 NBA teams that should be hitting the panic button. Can the Pelicans move past one of the worst NBA trades in recent memory? Where do the Clippers go from here? Will firing Nico Harrison save the Mavs? And are the Memphis Grizzlies the least try-hard team in the NBA?

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BREAKING: Nico Harrison OUT as Dallas Mavericks GM | Instant Reaction & Analysis

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 18:59:21 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff & Shawn react to the breaking news that Nico Harrison has been fired from the Dallas Mavericks. They discuss the state of the fan base in Dallas, whether Harrison has an argument for the worst general manager in NBA history, how things got so bad in Big D, why the Mavs need to scour the NBA for an Anthony Davis trade, and why today's news doesn't necessarily do anything to make things better even if it needed to be done.

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The Brad Pitt Movie Tiers of the NBA

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie) — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 19:15:13 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff and Shawn debate and ultimately slot all 30 NBA teams into 5 tiers based on the films of Brad Pitt.

Tier 1: The Joe Black Tier, reserved for NBA teams who not only resemble death, but are boring as well.

Tier 2: The Wolfs Tier, reserved for NBA teams who are not nearly as good as they should be based on their personnel.

Tier 3: The Troy Tier, reserved for NBA teams who have a major Achilles heal and are thoroughly mediocre.

Tier 4: The Oceans Tier, reserved for the elite supporting characters of the NBA who need to execute one big heist for that will make them a contender.

Tier 5: The Basterds Tier, reserved for the ultimate badasses and a threat to win the NBA title.

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5 WILD NBA stats & 5 Burning NBA Questions

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 7 Nov 2025 19:36:29 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jonathan Macri and Jeff Johnson go 5 by 5. Jon dishes 5 eye-popping early season NBA stats while Jeff guesses the player or team each stat applies to. Then they turn to 5 burning questions related to each stat, including whether the Lakers are currently the NBA's most interesting team, who is the best player who might realistically be moved before the deadline, whether an MVP candidate is sneaking up on us in plain sight, if this is the best Most Improved Player race in modern NBA history, and which team should most be looking to blow it up.

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The Top 10 Point Guards in the NBA RIGHT NOW

jcmacri@gmail.com (Dexter Henry, Jonathan Macri, Shawn Hardie) — Wed, 5 Nov 2025 19:17:36 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon & Shawn are joined by Dexter Henry of the NY Post to debate the current state of the point guard position in the NBA and decide whether Ja Morant belongs anywhere near the top 10. Among the topics they tackle: Who takes the cake between SGA and Luke? Has Jalen Brunson surpassed Steph in the NBA hierarchy? Is Devin Booker a point guard? Ha Tyrese Maxey done enough to crack the top 5? Is Josh Giddey's hot start enough to get him on the list? What to make of a cold start for Trae Young and the always enigmatic LaMelo Ball? All that, plus Shawn goes on an island in deciding to start his own NBA franchise with Morant over another notable name.

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The Inaugural 25-26 NBA Down Bad Rankings

jcmacri@gmail.com (shawn hardie, jeff johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 20:02:58 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff and Shawn go through some of the more unfortunate situations in the NBA to compile the first "Down Bad" rankings of the 2025-26 season. They begin in New Orleans, where the Pelicans have an argument for the most down bad start to a season this decade. After that, they head to Memphis to discuss the Ja Morant fallout with the Grizzlies, whether the situation can be saved, and where Ja Morant might be traded to if things don't rebound. They then finish up by looking at some of the other tough early NBA situations around the league, including Brooklyn, Charlotte, Dallas and more.

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SHEA SERRANO (!!!) on "Expensive Basketball" and the Most Expensive NBA Teams in History

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shea Serrano, Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 18:00:57 +0000

New York Times bestselling author and NBA basketball maven Shea Serrano joins NBA Takedown to talk to Jon about his new book "Expensive Basketball." They go through Shea's process writing the book, where the idea originated from, how he pulled off such a perfect basketball text, and much more. Then Jeff and Jon take inspiration from Shae's Spurs to discuss and ultimately rank the Most "Expensive" Teams in NBA history.

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"A Hollywood Ending": Yaron Weitzman on his new book about LeBron James & the Lakers, plus Early NBA MVP Top 10

jcmacri@gmail.com (Yaron Weitzman, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 18:08:26 +0000

Jon and Shawn start today's NBA Takedown by talking about how this is already shaping up to be one of the most stacked MVP races in NBA history. Then, author and journalist Yaron Weitzman joins Jon to talk all about his new book, "A Hollywood Ending: The Dreams and Drama of the LeBron Lakers." They get into all the inside info and drama surrounding the Buss family, Rob Pelinka's GM skills, Magic being Magic, and of course, LeBron James and his impact on the NBA world.

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The NBA Zero Teams! Early Reactions to the Undefeated & and the Winless

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 18:30:37 +0000

For this episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff and Shawn take a spin around the league with a focus on the undefeated and winless NBA teams. They debate whether Bulls fans should be happy or miserable about the team's 2-0 start, why can't Quentin Grimes get any love, whether the Orlando Magic have a Paolo Banchero problem, does Jalen Brown need a new stylist, and whether Austin Reaves can be the answer to giving the Nets a genuine NBA fan base in Brooklyn.

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Way-Too-Early NBA Overreactions with FRED KATZ of The Athletic

jcmacri@gmail.com (jeff johnson, fred katz, Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 18:22:02 +0000

Jon & Jeff are joined by Fred Katz of the Athletic to react to an incredible first week in the NBA. They talk about how we should react to all the insane scoring numbers before diving into NBA overreactions, including whether Wemby is already an MVP, whether Joel Embiid is the worst NBA contract, whether Ben Mathurin is ready to make a leap, and whether the Knicks depth is for real.

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NBA GAMBLING INVESTIGATION!!!! The Biggest NBA Story SINCE...?

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 16:19:14 +0000

Jon, Jeff and Shawn do their first NBA Takedown EMERGENCY Livestream to react to the news that the FBI has made multiple arrests of key NBA figures in a league-wide gambling investigation. They then debate whether this has a chance to be the biggest NBA story in decades and why the coverage of it matters so much.

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NBA OPENING NIGHT REACTIONS!!! Plus, looking ahead to Wednesday's NBA games

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jeff Johnson, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 18:17:54 +0000

Jon, Jeff and Shawn begin with an earnest discussion about Carmelo Anthony's outfit choice on his first regular season broadcast as a lead analyst for the NBA on NBC. Next they talk about the game of the night and maybe the NBA's game of the year, OKC vs Houston, starting with the major takeaway that Alperen Sengun is now an All-NBA lock. They then touch on other stories from the game including whether Reed Shepard is any good, whether our opinion of the Thunder is any different, and if the Rockets might have 3 All-Stars. Next they hit Lakers / Warriors and go over the biggest takeaway from that game (Jonathan Kuminga SZN!!!) plus other topics like whether Ayton is already on the outs in LA already, does Luka win scoring leader or NBA MVP, and might the Warriors be…really good? Lastly, they go game by game and say one thing we’re looking forward to from each game on Wednesday's NBA slate.

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The First Annual NBA Take Draft!!! with Jon, Shawn & Dexter Henry

jcmacri@gmail.com (Dexter Henry, Shawn Hardie, Jonathan Macri) — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:11:42 +0000

Jon & Shawn are joined by Dexter Henry of the NY Post to draft NBA teams in six categories based off of their predictions for the upcoming NBA season. The categories are:

- The "I would be SHOCKED if this team wasn't awesome" team

- The "Most likely to have a new coach and GM by next summer" team

- The "One injury away" team

- The "We'll be taking them seriously next year" team

- The "I'd rather light my money on fire than bet on their over / under" team

- The "I will watch them more than any other team" team

Check your NBA Takedown social media feeds soon to vote on who won the draft.

***ALSO, APOLOGIES FOR THE CHOPPY FEED ON YOUTUBE! Blame Jeff Bezos and the worldwide issues with Amazon Web Services on Monday.***

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Is Russ the Most Transient NBA Superstar Ever??? Plus, Preseason Vibes Rankings

jcmacri@gmail.com (Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 18:28:44 +0000

On the latest episode of NBA Takedown, Jon, Jeff & Shawn go through the reaction to the Russell Westbrook signing and debate whether he's the most transient superstar in NBA history. Then they check in on Kings fans and debate whether any current NBA fan base has it worse. Plus, Shawn gets some hate mail.

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NBA Eastern Conference Best & Worst Case Scenarios with Monica McNutt!

jcmacri@gmail.com (Monica McNutt, Shawn Hardie, Jeff Johnson, Jonathan Macri) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:30:00 +0000

The first episode of NBA Takedown is here! Monica McNutt of ESPN & MSG Network joins Jon, Jeff & Shawn to talk about the top of the East in the NBA, including what can go right & wrong for the Cleveland Cavs, the New York Knicks (Hukporti Hive unite!), the Orlando Magic, the Atlanta Hawks and the Detroit Pistons. Monica also dishes on why the Knicks media would get creamed in a game vs New York's coaches, and the guys predict the one NBA take that will get them in the most hot water before the end of the season.

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Welcome to NBA Takedown!

jcmacri@gmail.com (Jonathan Macri) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 03:34:32 +0000

The NBA is a take-driven league. We just pod in it.

Join Jonathan Macri & friends every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as we'll take on the NBA take cycle all season long. Episodes are live on YouTube at noon and available on your podcast feed shortly thereafter.

Be sure to subscribe to the NBA Takedown YouTube channel, and also follow us on Instagram and TikTok.

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