Bruce gives his vote to Wemby

World B casts his vote for Jokic

Ross votes for SGA to go back to back

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:14 Round 1, Game 1 Postgame Reviews & Reactions

1:15 The Orlando Magic steal Game 1 in Detroit stunning the Pistons

9:42 The Lakers take down the Rockets in Game 1 in LA behind Luke Kennard’s big game

16:14 Celtics set the tone against the Sixers at home

21:01 Thunder put the Suns in their place in their Game 1 victory  at home

23:30 Wemby did not disappoint in his playoff debut against the Blazers

27:03 Game 1 reaction & Game 2 Preview between the Wolves & Nuggets

31:56 The Cavs take 2-0 lead on the Toronto Raptors in the 1st round

36:29 Knicks take Game 1 at home against the Hawks

42:57 Final Thoughts

43:05 The League’s Top 3 MVP Finalists & Our Official Selections

43:24: Bruce gives his vote to Wemby

46:56 World B casts his vote for Jokic

48:55 Ross votes for SGA to go back to back

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:48 ... Eastern Conference predictions: Bruce likes the Celtics over Detroit.  World B also likes the Celtics and so does Ross.

4:02 ... Western Conference Predictions: Bruce likes the Spurs over OKC, World B also likes the Spurs and Ross does as well.

6:49 ... Bruce predicts San Antonio over Boston in the Finals.  World B likes the Celtics over the Spurs while Ross agrees with bruce and picks the Spurs.

TRT 9:08

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:46 ... Ross, Bruce Bernstein, and Michael "World B" Freer react to Doc Rivers leaving the Milwaukee Bucks after a 32-50 season.

5:15 ... Doug Christie will NOT be fired as Sacramento Kings head coach and the guys react to the situation involving the dysfunctional Kings franchise.

8:34 ... Big picture thoughts from the just concluded regular season ... Bruce begins with the 65 game rule for All-NBA and seasonal awards.

10:40 ... World B chooses the Detroit Pistons and their big turnaround as his "big picture" story.

12:16 ... Ross chooses several things he hopes will be in their "final year" as his big picture story.

13:31 ... Play In Preview #1: Hornets vs Heat discussion

16:06 ... Play In Preview #2: Blazers vs Suns

18:35 ... Play In Preview #3: Magic vs 76ers

23:03 ... Play In Preview #4: Warriors vs Clippers

25:43 ... Round One Preview: Raptors vs Cavaliers

28:25 ... Round One Preview: Hawks vs Knicks

31:28 ... Round One Preview: Timberwolves vs Nuggets

34:22 ... Round One Preview: Rockets vs Lakers

37:39 ... Top Seed: Will the Thunder be challenged in the first round out west?

39:27 ... Top Seed: Will the Pistons be challenged in the first round back east?

41:23 ... Reflections on our best preseason predictions ... Bruce on the Spurs, World B on the Nets, Ross on Deni Avdija

45:49 ... Reflections on our worst preseason predictions ... Bruce on the Suns, World B on the Bucks, Ross on Jamahl Mosely.

48:29 .... We discuss our Award winners for this season: MVP is first

51:14 ... Rookie of the Year is next

53:51 ... Defensive Player of the Year

55:11 ... Coach of the Year

TRT 58:28

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

World B selects Cooper Flagg

Ross takes Anthony Edwards

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:16 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

1:19 Toronto Raptors @ New York Knicks

6:48 So Nice, They’ll Play Twice! Joker vs Wemby this weekend!!!

9:01 Which player not named Wemby would you choose to start a new franchise?

9:20 World B selects Cooper Flagg

11:20 Ross takes Anthony Edwards

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:14 The Chicago Bulls fire their front office executives

4:31 What happens with Head Coach Billy Donovan?

7:35 NBA coach Mike Malone named the new head coach at the University of North Carolina

11:16 A breakdown of the NBA’s playoff races

11:24 The Eastern Conference teams, seeds, & scenarios

17:33 The Western Conference teams, seeds, & scenarios

25:01 Cooper Flagg had himself a monster weekend

33:39 Which team had a bigger in-season turnaround: Atlanta Hawks or Charlotte Hornets?

42:21 Final Thoughts on the end of this NBA season

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce doubles down taking Wemby & the Spurs as well!

Ross goes with Luka & the Lakers

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:49 Minnesota Timberwolves @ Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night

4:15 San Antonio Spurs @ Denver Nuggets on Saturday night 

9:16 Toronto Raptors @ Boston Celtics on Sunday

13:06 Which team is the most “must see” team when they come to your town?

13:43 World B selects Wemby & the Spurs 

14:56 Bruce doubles down taking Wemby & the Spurs as well!

16:31 Ross goes with Luka & the Lakers

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:50 A Deep Dive into the Celtics & Spurs

0:58 The Boston Celtics what a surprise & story they’ve been

10:01 Can the Knicks catch the Celtics for the 2 seed?

13:11 The San Antonio Spurs are the hottest team in the league

21:13 How important is it for OKC to finish with the top seed out West?

25:33 Of the 8 Play-In Teams which has the best chance to beat a 1 or 2 seed in the 1st Round?

31:08 The Lakers remain red hot but are they a real threat to win it all this season?

37:58 Is this the most competitive MVP race we’ve ever seen? Who’s our favorite to win MVP?

46:05 What has a better chance of happening Steve Kerr continues coaching the Warriors or Jahmal Mosley continues to be the coach of the Magic next season?

50:02 World B provides the show’s Final Thought: What is our favorite iconic shot in NBA history?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:42 .... The case for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

3:22 ... The case for Bill Russell

4:05 ... Why it's impossible to settle these debates

5:10 ... The case for Breanna Stewart

TRT 6:13

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:41 ... Friday: Hawks at Celtics

3:37 ... Saturday: Pistons at Timberwolves

6:34 ... Sunday: Knicks at Thunder

9:22 ... Bonus discussion on best combined college/professional and Olympic careers.  Legendary names abound: Kareem, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Bill Walton

14:25 ... Breanna Stewart stands alone

15:34 ... Bruce closes the show

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:07 ... Bruce introduces Nick Carboni of WCNC-TV who covers the Hornets on a daily basis.

2:10 ... Nick is excited about finally covering the Hornets in the playoffs after 10 years working in the city and shares a brief story from the recent Dell Curry jersey retirement ceremony.

3:11 ... World B, who has been on the Hornets bandwagon gets the first question and asks about the evolution of LaMelo Ball and his impact on the team's success.  Nick thought Melo was going to be traded a few months ago but his progress has really helped the team.

6:50 ... The Hornets have been sparked by rookie Kon Kneuppel and his spectacular 3 point shooting and all around floor game.

9:37 ... Nick points out the moment when he realized the Hornets were not the same old Hornets from recent years.  It was their wins over Utah and Oklahoma City that convinced him they were different.  And their defense has improved dramatically.

11:55 ... The Hornets have played spectacular ball for second year head coach Charles Lee for two straight months.  Are they peaking at a good time?

14:27 ... Lee is part of the Boston connection plus some other veterans like Grant Williams, Xavier Tillman, and Pat Connaughton that are helping a young team to realize its potential.

17:02 ... The Hornets have been healthy and good chemistry has logically followed due to the players having more experience together on the court.

20:15 ... Rebounding has been a key improvement that has led to more winning in Charlotte.

23:19 ... The Charlotte market is not one of the largest TV markets but they support the NFL's Panthers and the Hornets.  Major League Baseball may have interest in expanding into Charlotte, but can the city support a third pro franchise?

27:07 ... Bruce asks about the sports culture in Charlotte and whether the fans are more like college fans since the state is so college hoop oriented.

29:59 ... Bruce point out that the Hornets have had many blowout wins but wonders if the team needs to win some close "nailbiter" games in order to be "playoff ready?"  Nick agrees and cites a few examples of close games that were losses when they could have been wins.

31:59 ... Kemba Walker was a great player in Charlotte and is now a member of their coaching staff.  Nick says Kemba remains his favorite player of all time.  And his presence on the bench connects the Charlotte fans of different generations.

35:11 ... Bruce reintroduces Nick and tosses to the mid-show break

35:30 ... Bruce resets and tees up a discussion of the 65 game rule for postseason awards and All-NBA teams.  Everyone agrees that some tweaks are needed to minimize the unforeseen circumstances of the rule.

38:45 ... Jayson Tatum's return to the Celtics has Boston fans dreaming of a second title in 3 years.  Do these fans need to tap the brakes?

41:49 ... The Lakers have been on fire as of late with Luka Doncic leading the way.  Are they a legit threat to win the title?

44:54 ... Which teams are lurking below the radar but who could make a meaningful playoff run?  Nick likes the Hornets, World B likes Miami, and Bruce likes Minnesota.

48:00 ... Bruce wraps things up and teases the weekend preview show later in the week.

TRT 48:45

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Detroit Pistons

San Antonio Spurs

Washington Wizards

New Orleans Pelicans

New York Knicks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:51 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:56 Hawks @ Rockets on Friday Night

4:52 Lakers @ Magic on Saturday

8:45 Timberwolves @ Celtics on Sunday

11:20 Word Association: NBA Team Edition

11:46 Detroit Pistons

13:09 San Antonio Spurs

14:28 Washington Wizards

16:01 New Orleans Pelicans

18:14 New York Knicks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:03 Bam Adebayo’s historic night last Tuesday

7:54 The Sacramento Kings are anti-tanking?

12:50 Western Conference vs Eastern Conference Top Contenders Debate

18:49 Winning Streaks Around the NBA

18:58 Atlanta Hawks

23:29 Oklahoma City Thunder

26:05 Orlando Magic

32:29 The NBA set to vote on Expansion this Summer

36:53 Which Western Conference team do we see moving to the Eastern Conference?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:15 ... Bruce picks Boston's Payton Pritchard ... World B likes Luka Doncic ... Ross likes Shai Gilgeous Alexander

4:28 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

TRT 4:44

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:57 ... The guys begin with a discussion of the Friday matchup between the Suns and Raptors in Toronto.

5:16 ... Next up is a breakdown of Saturday's game between the Nuggets and Lakers in Los Angeles.

8:06 ... Finally it's the Sunday showdown between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder.  Minnesota is one of only two teams to have beaten the Thunder more than once this season.  San Antonio is the other.  Can OKC show the Wolves they mean business?

12:27 ... In our second segment of the weekend preview, each panelist decribes their favorite "crafty" players.  Bruce likes Payton Pritchard. Ross likes Shai Gilgeous Alexander, and World B likes Luka Doncic.

16:54 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

TRT 17:07

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:00 ... Bruce introduces Byron Scott and ticks off some of his career achievements.

1:39 ... Byron is also a podcaster and discusses his show called Byron Scott's Fastbreak ... one of Byron's guests was Dave Winfield and Byron shares a quick story about Dave.

2:52 ... Byron was childhood friends with baseball legends Darryl Strawberry and Eric Davis and they remain friends to this day.

3:38 ... Byron discusses his relationship with his former teammates like Magic Johnson, Michael Cooper, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and former coach Pat Riley.   Byron explains how the Lakers were, and are a family because Dr. Jerry Buss wanted it that way.

5:57 ... Byron describes how he was traded by the San Diego Clippers to the Lakers before he ever played an NBA game.  The player who left LA in the trade was Norm Nixon, a beloved Laker who was close with Magic and others.  Byron describes the rough treatment he received in training camp and how he put an end to it.

7:11 ... Byron describes how the old Celtics and Lakers didn't like each other but respected each other and always raised their level of play when they competed.

9:01 ... Byron didn't think the Kevin McHale clothesline on Kurt Rambis in the 1984 NBA Finals was the dirtiest play he ever saw.  Byron describes a shot in the head he took that could have ended his own career.

9:58 ... The Lakers finally beat the Celtics in the 1985 NBA Finals and Byron shared a story of how they knew before they left LA that they'd win it in 6 games.

11:31 ... Byron was a teammate of Kobe Bryant from his first days in the league and then coached him his final two seasons.  Byron reflects on the greatness Kobe achieved and shares a private memory from Kobe's final game when he scored 60 points.

13:21 ... Byron also played for the Pacers and was part of the great Indiana/New York rivalry in the 1990s.  What was it like competing against those Knicks teams led by his former coach Pat Riley?  Did he have a little extra juice when he scored against the Knicks?

TRT 15:17

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce on the Barry Family

World B on the Curry Family

Ross on the Antetokounmpo Family

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:45 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:50 New York Knicks @ Denver Nuggets

4:22 Orlando Magic @ Minnesota Timberwolves

8:56 Houston Rockets @ San Antonio Spurs

14:07 Our Favorite First Family in Basketball

14:58 Bruce on the Barry Family

16:52 World B on the Curry Family

18:55 Ross on the Antetokounmpo Family

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:03 Bruce gives our guest Jon Barry a proper introduction

3:21 Is there a specific time or set of games when teams need to start playing their best for the playoffs?

5:17 Jon Barry on this new era of basketball with an emphasis on 3-point shooting

6:47 Jon Barry reflects on the pressure NBA journeyman face in the league

8:58 What was it like being Laker teammates with both Kobe & Shaq

12:18 Having played against Jordan, Kobe, & LeBron Jon shares his thoughts each legend

16:43 Where does Nikola Jokic rank amongst the best big men all time?

19:35 Jon reminisces on his days with the Sacramento Kings

23:50 Did Jon ever get any blow back from players or coaches as a broadcaster at ESPN?

28:36 Jon on working with broadcasting legend Mike Tirico

30:26 Jon shares some personal stories working with Bill Walton

31:57 What Jon remembers about his college days & March Madness memories

35:30 Jon on the Detroit Pistons

37:16 Does Jon think the Spurs can win a title as soon as this year?

39:28 What’s off about the Houston Rockets this season?

42:33 Jon shares his thoughts on the Knicks decision to make a coaching change & their chances this year

44:30 Will Jayson Tatum have to adjust to Jaylen Brown or will Jaylen Brown have to adjust to Jayson Tatum?

46:23 Word Association

46:41 Yao Ming

47:14 LeBron James

48:08 Peja Stojakovic

48:49 Dikembe Mutombo

49:34 The Cousins Center

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:14 ... Bruce Bernstein says Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks

1:33 ... "World B" Freer says LaMelo Ball of the Hornets

3:44 ... Ross Geiger says Evan Mobley of the Cavaliers

5:08 ... Ross wraps it and says goodbye ...

TRT 5:22

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:53 ... Friday's Nuggets/Thunder matchup ...

4:28 ... Saturday's Lakers/Warriors matchup ...

7:29 ... Sunday's Spurs/Knicks matchup ...

11:29 ... Players to watch down the stretch ... Karl-Anthony Towns ... LaMelo Ball ... Evan Mobley

TRT 16:51

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:59 ... Bruce introduces his fellow "Brucie B" ... Bruce Bowen ...

1:49 ... Bruce tells the story of the "unretirement" of his #12 jersey that he wore with the Spurs.

3:17 ... How Bowen basically created the position we now know as the "Three and D" and what the role meant to him.

5:02 ... On his battles with Kobe Bryant and how he approached the matchup ... his description of how he used film to prepare is really interesting. And how Kobe was always in attack mode.

7:34 ... Bowen's legendary battle with LeBron James in the 2007 NBA Finals and how he forced LeBron into uncomfortable shots.  But Bruce also appreciates LeBron's skills.

9:00 ... Ross asks Bruce about current stars and how he would guard some of them.  Jaylen Brown is singled out by Bowen for his intelligence in many areas.

11:33 ... Phoenix Suns fan Ross still has nightmares from his Suns playing the Spurs back in the day.  Bruce explains how hard it was to beat those guys in the postseason and how the Suns never played defense under Mike D'Antoni.

14:25 ... Bruce played for Pat Riley in Miami early in his career and he shares some amazing insight on how he and Riles interacted during their time together.  He tells an incredible story about a tense contract discussion and how he said goodbye to Miami and bet on himself to succeed in San Antonio.

18:57 ... Bruce played for Miami in some intense playoff battles against the Knicks and Bruce explains the connection from two coaches named Van Gundy with Riles.  Bruce has memories of Knicks fans coming to Florida to root for the Knicks.

21:27 ... World B asks Bruce about Tim Duncan and why he is not in the "GOAT" conversation.  Bruce gives a great analysis of how Tim thinks and how he took the baton from David Robinson and won more championships.  Bruce gives a great blueprint on Duncan's road to becoming a leader.  Bruce shares a great story of how Gregg Popovich made it clear that if Tim felt he wanted to leave San Antonio, he should explore his options.  And Tim never left.

25:18 ... Bruce takes a deep dive into his relationship with Gregg Popovich and how people misconstrued Pop's relationship with players.  Pop always made it clear that his job was to coach guys and that the negative stuff always came from a good place.

29:18 ... As for the current Spurs team ... there's tremendous upside with Victor Wembanyama and young head coach Mitch Johnson.  Victor brings guys together and all the current players respect each other.  Bruce mentions Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper as young studs along with a mature group of veterans that have quickly developed great chemistry.

33:16 ... Wemby has a competitive edge that has surprised a lot of people because of the way he looks.  The way he presented himself at All Star Weekend demonstrated leadership.

36:08 ... Bruce explains how Mitch Johnson has echoed some of Pop's philosophy but in a more contemporary style.  Pop was so much of a legend that he seemed unapproachable to younger guys but Mitch is from their era and relates well.

39:09 ... Dylan Harper is a rookie who is learning quickly what it means to be a Spur.  Having a system that emphasizes the team over personal agendas helps young players develop more quickly.  Bruce feels the team success gives Harper a chance to make a bigger impact that hotter rookie names like Cooper Flagg and VJ Edgecombe.

42:07 ... Bruce from 48 Minutes predicted greatness for the Spurs long before they started playing like a championship contender.  But they're so far ahead of schedule that they look like they could win it all this year.  What could stop them?  The "other" Bruce breaks it all down.

44:57 ... When discussing the officials and all the heat they're getting, Bruce feels like the the replays have hurt the relationship between players, coaches, and refs.  Bruce has little patience for guys that can't put a bad call behind them and keep playing.   As always, he has a great story about official Danny Crawford, who was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame.

48:59 ... The 65 game minimum for postseason awards has cost some players awards that they might have won.  Is 65 the right number of minimum games or should the number be lower ... maybe 62?  Bruce feels the awards should take a back seat to what is best for the team.

52:13 ... Word Association ... David Robinson: Man of Faith

53:21 ... Draymond Green ... Fiery and Comfortable with Self

56:11 ... Luka Doncic ... Talented to a Fault

57:42 ...Tony Parker ... Wisdom at a Young Age

59:14 ... Shai Gilgeous Alexander ... Aggressive Competitor

1:00:17 ... Ross wraps it up ... thanks Bruce ... and says goodbye ...

TRT 1:01:13

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:47 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:51 Cleveland Cavaliers @ Charlotte Hornets

4:02 Houston Rockets @ New York Knicks

7:29 Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Lakers

10:59 3 teams to watch down the stretch

11:10 Boston Celtics

12:27 Orlando Magic

13:57 San Antonio Spurs

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:01 NBA All-Star Saturday Night Recap

1:08 Damian Lillard took home his 3rd  3-Point Contest Title

4:26 The Knicks won the Shooting Stars Competition

5:22 Keshad Johnson was crowned this year’s Dunk Champion

6:18 Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game Recap!

7:57 Wemby set the competitive tone

11:38 Ross was bummed Giannis couldn’t play hard alongside Wemby for Team World

13:55 Our “At the Half” MVP

14:21 Bruce gives his vote to Victor Wembanyama

16:56 World B gives his MVP nod to Nikola Jokic

18:27 Ross would give his MVP vote to SGA

19:54 Who has a better chance of making the NBA Finals: DET or OKC?

23:09 Don’t sleep on the new look Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2nd half of the season

28:06 If and when might Jayson Tatum make his season debut for the Boston Celtics?

37:38 One bold prediction the rest of the season

37:55 World B predicts Cade Cunningham win this year’s MVP award

39:40 Bruce predicts the Sacramento Kings will fire Doug Christie within the next 2 weeks

40:29 Ross predicts the Milwaukee Bucks will make the Eastern Conference Play-In

41:40 Final Thoughts

41:52 Bruce on the Lakers deciding to honor Pat Riley while the Celtics are in town

43:22 World B on his New York Knicks upcoming game against the Detroit Pistons

45:34 Ross’s Best Bets for the final stretch of the season

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:14 ... Bruce's prediction

2:13 ... World B's prediction

3:04 ... Ross's prediction

TRT 4:06

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:48 ... Three Point Contest breakdown and predictions.  Ross with a great Devin Booker story.

4:50 ... Shooting Stars breakdown and predictions.   Lots of star power on display.

9:41... Slam Dunk contest breakdown and predictions.  This event sorely needs some star power.

12:46 ... USA vs. The World breakdown and predictions ...

TRT 16:52

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:17 ... Dave's former team, the Clippers have played well the past month but still became sellers at the deadline ... what was their plan?

2:55 ... The Memphis Grizzlies sent Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz in a curious move.  Is there any sense to this move and some other recent moves like trading Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane?

6:26 ... Dave worked with Danny Ainge in Boston where he pulled off a trade for Ray Allen that helped the Celtics acquire Kevin Garnett and win a title.  Can he pull off a similar trick in Utah?

8:52 ... Utah basically tanked a winnable game last weekend against Orlando ... was it a bad look for the league that needs to be addressed?

10:55 ... Will Jazz coach Will Hardy start feeling the pressure next year with a better group of players?

11:45 ... The Washington Wizards seem to be moving away from their young players by acquiring veterans like Trae Young, Anthony Davis, D'Angelo Russell, and some others.  Will it stifle the progress their young guys were making?

14:34 ... The Wizards seem like a rudderless ship but Dave feels their new GM Michael Winger is smart and there may be subsequent steps involving the guys they acquired.

15:54 ... What about the Celtics trading Anfrenee Simons and getting back Nik Vucevich?  Dave loves the deal for Boston.  Dave also feels like Brad Stevens has done amazing work in making smart moves while keeping the team in good financial shape.

18:27 ... Payton Pritchard is back to his 6th man role with the departure of Simons.  Dave loves this role for him because Pritchard proved he could start in the league and he'll have lots of freedom on the second unit.

20:06 ... Jonathan Kuminga was traded from Golden State to Atlanta with Kristaps Porzingis going to the Warriors ... how does this affect their playoff chances?

21:30 ... How does Kuminga fit in in Atlanta?

23:22 ... What does Giannis Antetokounmpo's future look like?  Is he staying in Milwaukee for the long haul?

24:43 ... Expect to see Giannis in Milwaukee at the start of next season.  Giannis is very loyal.  Dave compares him to what Kevin Garnett went through in Minnesota.

26:09 ... Orlando was quiet at the trade deadline.  They're a well coached team with a good roster but they should be better.

27:16 ... Fun topics to cloe the show... how serious are the Philadelphia 76ers as contenders in the east?

28:27 ... The Charlotte Hornets have been on fire ... do they have a chance to make the postseason?

29:48 ... Dave feels Sacramento is the opposite of the Hornets ... they haven't been to the Finals since 1951 and the owner keeps firing good coaches.  No reason for excitement in SacTown.

32:13 ... The Bulls have made a bunch of trades and didn't get any first round picks while some of their guys made contributions elsewhere.  They never seem to have a breakout season but it's hard to see what direction they're moving in.

33:59 ... Injuries have been a problem across the league and it's making some good players ineligible for postseason awards due to the 65 game rule.  Can anything be done?

36:25 ... Is there anything about the style of play that is causing injuries to occur more frequently?  Dave cites some examples of random injuries

38:46 ... LeBron James needs to play every game the rest of the way since he would need to do that to reach 65 games played.  If he does it, is that good for the team?  Dave transitions into a fun story about how he once played just 5 seconds in a game, and went into that game at the 47:55 mark.

43:49 ... Can the Spurs be a serious contender?  Dave feels like they can and also ticks off some other teams he feels can win it all.

46:49 ... Ross wraps things up and closes out the show.

TRT 47:21

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charlotte Hornets

Cleveland Cavaliers

Minnesota Timberwolves

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:46 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:49 Knicks @ Pistons on Friday 

3:45 Rockets @ Thunder on Saturday

6:37 Knicks @ Celtics on Sunday

9:46 Three Teams on the Rise!

9:53 Charlotte Hornets

12:27 Cleveland Cavaliers

16:02 Minnesota Timberwolves

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:16 Bruce introduces special guest Cyrus Saatsaz

3:21 The NBA All-Star Reserves Were Announced, Who got snubbed?

22:03 Our Personal Favorite NBA All-Star Games

32:33 Reactions to the 3 Team Trade Between the Cavs, Kings, & Bulls

44:41 Hawks trade Vit Krejci to the Blazers

45:31 Warriors Confidential with Cyrus Saatsaz

45:56 The Ugly Jonathan Kuminga Saga

59:22 The Current State of Steph Curry’s Mindset

1:07:14 Cyrus shares his thoughts on the Giannis trade rumors

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2:46 ... Jaylen Brown is taking more shots than Luka Doncic ... how's that going for him?

5:26 ... Jalen Johnson leads the NBA in double doubles and Bruce reveals his "All Jalen/Jaylen Team" and makes a suggestion to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

7:50 ... Jusuf Nurkic is among the league leaders in triple doubles and is tied with Cade Cunningham and Deni Avdija with three each.

10:51 ... Bruce closes out the show when Ross was plagued by technical difficulties.

TRT 11:46

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:34 ... Show #220 is dedicated to Montrezl Harrell, who was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2020.

1:20 ... The weekend preview begins with Raptors/Magic on Friday

4:01 ... Wemby and the Spurs visit Charlotte on Saturday.

7:50 ... Luka, LeBron, and the Lakers visit the Knicks in NY on Sunday.  Bruce has a bold prediction for this game involving LeBron James.

10:24 ... The "Did You Know" Mid-Season Edition features VJ Edgecombe, Jaylen and Luka, Jalen Johnson and the "All Jalen" squad, and Jusuf Nurkic.

21:14 ... Bruce takes over point guard duties from Ross due to technical difficulties and closes out the show.

TRT 22:08

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:58 ... Bruce reacts to his return to the show after missing last week.

1:17 ... The guys discuss the streaking Toronto Raptors and how they've risen to number 3 in the east.

6:52 ... The Chicago Bulls retired Derrick Rose's #1 over the weekend and the team has been on a hot streak before losing on Monday to the Lakers.

11:41 ... The LA Clippers have been on a heater since the week before Christmas with 15 wins in their last 18 games.  Can they keep it rolling and actually make the playoffs?

15:21 ... The Portland Trailblazers have made great strides and are growing up before our eyes.  How has rookie coach Tiago Splitter done replacing Chauncey Billups?

19:44 ... There have been some key injuries involving big names over the last week.  Tops on the list is Giannis Antetokounmpo.  Is there more to his injury than we've been led to believe?

24:03 ... The situation between the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga took two bizarre turns over the past week.  He seemed poised to regain his starting job when Jimmy Butler suffered a season ending injury, but JK was only able to play one full game before HE was injured.  The bad blood between Kuminga and management continues as well.

29:00 ... Ja Morant is another star on the trading block and Memphis seems like a candidate for a reset, so it may just be time for Morant to move on.  The guys wrap up this discussion with thoughts on whether any of these guys are going to be traded before the deadline.

34:51 ... The sound of the gong means it's time for Final Thoughts ... World B has not given up on the 76ers, but they were trounced by Charlotte on Monday night.

37:02 ... Ross shares his final thought on Giannis and his situation with the Bucks.  It has been a painful season for everyone around the team.

38:40 ... Bruce shares a final thought on his "long strange trip" from Florida to Connecticut over the weekend.

41:29 ... Ross waraps it up and says goodbye.

TRT 41:59

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charlotte Hornets Offense

The Pacers Struggling Mightily

De’Anthony Melton’s Impact

This year’s league leaders in blocked shots

The Portland Trailblazers success

Scoot Henderson’s lack of availability

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:55 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:59 Houston Rockets @ Detroit Pistons

4:25 LA Lakers @ Dallas Mavericks

7:05 Denver Nuggets @ Memphis Grizzlies

10:16 “I Didn’t See That Coming” This NBA Season

10:36 Charlotte Hornets Offense

11:51 The Pacers Struggling Mightily

13:04 De’Anthony Melton’s Impact

14:37 This year’s league leaders in blocked shots

15:25 The Portland Trailblazers success

16:44 Scoot Henderson’s lack of availability

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:47 The NBA All-Star Game Starters were announced

1:04 The Eastern Conference All-Star Starters

3:14 The Western Conference All-Star Starters

6:08 Stock Up or Stock Down

6:18 LA Clippers

12:22 Golden State Warriors

16:54 Cleveland Cavaliers

21:54 Boston Celtics

26:33 New York Knicks

32:54 Atlanta Hawks

35:45 Orlando Magic

39:00 LA Lakers

42:44 Quick notes from MLK Day NBA action around the NBA

44:36 World B on the Detroit Pistons

46:39 Ross on Giannis being the leading fan vote getter again this year

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bruce on the Miami Heat

World B on the Boston Celtics

Ross on the Milwaukee Bucks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:01 Timberwolves visit the Rockets in Houston on Friday

5:35 Hornets face the Warriors out in the Bay on Saturday

10:04 The Raptors are in LA to face the Lakers on Sunday

14:35 One team that needs to make a trade prior to the NBA trade deadline

14:55 Bruce on the Miami Heat

15:51 World B on the Boston Celtics

19:05 Ross on the Milwaukee Bucks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2:32 Trae Young traded to the Wizards

7:47 The Memphis Grizzlies are listening to offers on Ja Morant

15:29 Would you rather trade for Trae Young or Ja Morant?

18:54 Pelicans don’t intend to trade Zion Williamson by the trade deadline

24:23 Spurs face the Thunder yet again on Tuesday night, can OKC finally pull out a win?

31:24 World B provides a unique update on the Bulls/Magic schedule coming up

33:04 Pulse Check: Should we be taking the LA Clippers seriously?

38:24 Final Thoughts!

39:11 Bruce on the Houston Rockets unbalanced schedule so far

41:05 World B on the Utah Jazz

43:51 Ross on Peyton Watson

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:41 ... Bruce on Neemias Queta

2:51 ... World B on Ryan Rollins

3:53 ... Bruce on Keyonte George

4:51 ... World B on Jalen Duren

5:53 ... Bruce on Chet Holmgren

7:07 ... World B on LaMelo Ball

8:36 ... Bruce on James Nnaji

9:50 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:00 ... Giannis and the Bucks visit the Lakers on Friday night ...

5:19 ... Wemby and the Spurs face the red hot Boston Celtics on Saturday in Boston.

9:13 ... The Knicks are on the road in Portland for a Sunday game against the Blazers

12:37 ... Classic Card Challenge ... Bruce and World B share spontaneous thoughts of active players chosen at random by Ross.

22:25 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:17 ... Breaking news ... Trae Young wants to be traded and the fellas discuss his value in the trade market.

4:03 ... The Orlando Magic

9:19 ... The Denver Nuggets

15:03 ... The Boston Celtics

23:32 ... The Phoenix Suns

29:18 ... Will the "65 Game Rule" cause legitimate NBA candidates Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Victor Wembanyama to be eliminated from contention?

33:57 ... "Final Thoughts:" Bruce on Draymond Green

35:56 ...World B on Jaylen Brown

38:56 ... Ross on Guerschon Yabusele

41:13 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

TRT 41:28

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:49 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:52 Atlanta Hawks @ New York Knicks

4:09 Boston Celtics @ Los Angeles Clippers

7:22 Detroit Pistons @ Cleveland Cavaliers

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:35 A Review of the NBA Christmas Day games

1:55 The Knicks come from behind home win against the Cavaliers

7:41 Spurs continue to dominate the Thunder

12:18 Cooper Flag showed up & showed out on the national stage

14:57 The Rockets cruised to victory against the Lakers

20:23 The Joker’s insane game to cap off the NBA games on Christmas Day

22:47 Giannis Antetokounmpo returns to the Bucks lineup

27:06 The Hawks continue their skid with Trae Young back in the lineup

31:37 The Nets suddenly are red hot

37:17 Final Thoughts on the NCAA approving a former NBA draft pick to join Baylor

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Payton Pritchard causing chaos with his dribbling

Kevin Love & his leadership with the Utah Jazz

Mikal Bridges being the Ironman of the NBA

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:57 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

1:02 Detroit Pistons @ Utah Jazz on Friday night

4:56 Denver Nuggets @ Orlando Magic on Saturday night

7:11 Philadelphia 76ers @ Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday

10:17 Our Favorite Secret Superpowers in the NBA today

10:33 Payton Pritchard causing chaos with his dribbling

11:41 Kevin Love & his leadership with the Utah Jazz

13:28 Mikal Bridges being the Ironman of the NBA

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:54 The New York Knicks win the 2025 NBA Cup

7:18 NBA Christmas Day Game Previews!

7:26 Cleveland Cavaliers @ New York Knicks

10:18 San Antonio Spurs @ Oklahoma City Thunder

14:17 Dallas Mavericks @ Golden State Warriors

17:09 Houston Rockets @ Los Angeles Lakers

20:44 Minnesota Timberwolves @ Denver Nuggets

24:12 The Fantastic 2025 NBA Draft Class

24:34 Cooper Flagg

27:34 Kon Knueppel

30:40 VJ Edgecombe

35:14 Dylan Harper

39:03 Derik Queen

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:56 ... Zach Lavine ... will his contract make him hard to trade?

3:23 ... Jonathan Kuminga seems to be regressing, but he still has the skils.

5:23 ... Lauri Markkanen ... will "Trader Danny" move his best player for future assets?

7:45 ... Is there any chance Giannis Antetokounpo leaves Milwaukee?

9:55 ... Ross wraps it up sand says goodbye.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:47 ... Friday the Heat play the Celtics in Boston .... who will win?

4:49 ... Saturday's game is Rockets at Nuggets with a great matchup at center with Nikola Jokic and Alperen Sengun.

9:58 ... The Heat visit the Knicks in NY on Sunday ... New York has been unbeatable at home and the Heat have struggled as of late.

13:21 ... The guys pick 5 players and discuss whether they will be traded or not traded.  Anfernee Simons, Zach Lavine, Jonathan Kuminga, Lauri Markkanen, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

23:16 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

TRT 23:30

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:49 ... Recap of NBA Cup semifinal game #1 between the Knicks and Magic.

11:15 ... Recap of the Spurs/Thunder semifinal game ... Victor Wembanyama made his presence felt.  It sure looks like the Spurs and Thunder could develop into a great rivalry.

20:10 ... Will the NBA Cup semifinal matchups also be the conference finals matchups?

23:33 ... Will the great games from the NBA Cup lift the interest level in the NBA?

27:14 ... NBA Cup Finals Preview: Spurs vs Knicks on Tuesday ... how can the Knicks contain Wemby?

32:23 ... What would an NBA Cup title mean to these two teams?  Would the veteran Knicks or upstart Spurs benefit more?

TRT 36:54

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Anthony Edwards or Tyrese Maxey

Jalen Brunson or Jaylen Brown

SGA or Luka

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:57 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:58 Minnesota Timberwolves/Golden State Warriors on Friday Night

4:48 Philadelphia 76ers/Atlanta Hawks on Sunday

8:31 Who Would You Rather Have?

8:51 Anthony Edwards or Tyrese Maxey

10:24 Jalen Brunson or Jaylen Brown

12:27 SGA or Luka

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:57 The Chicago Bulls are struggling after a red hot start

7:37 The Miami Heat are cooling off with a tough stretch ahead

13:18 The Toronto Raptors have hit their first real bump in the season

18:45 The Boston Celtics find themselves atop the Eastern Conference

25:14 Are the Minnesota Timberwolves finding their stride or not?

28:58 Chris Paul waived by the Los Angeles Clippers

33:37 LeBron James historic scoring streak is over!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

TRT 5:10

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:47 ... Friday night it's the Lakers visiting the Celtics in Boston.  It's the second half of a "back to back" for the Lakers who play in Toronto on Thursday so fatigue may be a factor for LA.

4:52 ... On Saturday, the Warriors visit the Cavaliers and it features the NBA's two most prolific three point shooters in Steph Curry and Donovan Mitchell.   Both teams could really use a win.

8:19 ... Sunday features the third and final regular season matchup between the Magic and the Knicks.  Orlando took the first two, so the Knicks need to show they can beat this team or else it may haunt them the rest of the season.

12:12 ... It's "Holiday Season" and while Christmas and New Year's Day are on everyone's minds, the 48 Minutes crew thinks Holiday season revolves around the NBA's Holiday Brothers: Jrue, Aaron, and Justin.  We share some fun facts about the first family of the NBA.

17:22 ... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye ...

TRT 17:41

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:04 ... The Oklahoma City Thunder are on a historically torrid pace with 20 wins in their first 21 games.  World B has some great numbers on their incredible defense.  They will be without top rebounder Isaiah Hartenstein for a couple of weeks so Chet Holmgren will need to grab some more rebounds.  The crew speculates on how long it will take for them to lose another game.

10:04 .... The Lakers are also very hot and have the third best record in the league.  Luka Doncic is now the main man in LA with aging LeBron James as his wingman, but can LeBron accept a supporting role?  And will his ego cause him to play more games than he should?  He needs to be fresh for the playoffs, but if he decides he HAS to play 65 games for personal reasons that could be an issue.

16:27 ... Austin Reaves has been spectacular to start the season, but when LeBron was not playing, he needed to step up and he did.  But with LeBron back on the floor, Reaves' numbers may suffer but not to the detriment of the team.

19:30 ... The guys each pick a western conference team they're keeping their eyes on.  Bruce picks the Spurs, World B picks the Suns, and Ross chooses the Clippers.

26:44 ... We move to the eastern conference where the Cleveland Cavaliers have struggled recently.  As talented as they are, they really miss Jarrett Allen and if he is out for a long time, the Cavs have a big problem.  Allen is not the only key player that is injured and it really has shown up in their shooting numbers.

32:57 ... The Orlando Magic have been without injured Paolo Banchero for three weeks but have continues to play well and win.  Desmond Bane has really stepped up in Paolo's absence and scored 24 points a game during the month of November.  And no team plays harder.  They still have a chance to get to 50 wins, which they have not done since the 2010-'11 season.

37:42 ... The guys each pick a eastern conference team they're keeping their eyes on.  Bruce picks the Celtics, World B picks the Hawks, and Ross chooses the Pacers

43:56 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye.

TRT 44:11

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:45 The 48 Minutes Weekend Preview

0:50 Dallas Mavericks at the Los Angeles Lakers

5:25 Detroit Pistons visit the Miami Heat

11:32 Toronto Raptors take the stage against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:19 Thoughts on the passing of Rodney Rogers

5:35 Thoughts on the passing of Michael “Ray” Richardson

11:39 15 Things We’re Thankful For

12:34 Klay Thompon calling out Ja Morant

14:15 The Detroit Pistons finding success

15:38 Ryan Rollins blossoming in Milwaukee

16:59 Jaylen Brown carrying the load in Boston

18:35 LeBron James is back out on the court healthy

20:12 Colin Gillespie raising eyebrows in Phoenix this season

21:42 Victor Wembanyama

22:44 The Phoenix Suns & Toronto Raptors proving most season projections wrong

24:34 Derik Queen is absolutely ballin

26:18 The Thompson Twins Parents

27:56 The New York Knicks Playoff Run Last Season

30:10 The Sacramento Kings being open to trades!

33:08 AJ Dybantsa

34:56 World B is thankful for the 48 Minutes crew & listeners!

37:06 The NBA trying out a new All-Star Game concept of USA versus The World

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:50 ... Will Giannis Antetokounmpo lead the NBA in free throw attempts?

1:48 ... Will the Boston Celtics lead the NBA in three point attempts?

3:29 ... Ross wraps and says goodbye

TRT 3:44

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:34 ... Friday night it's the Nuggets visiting the Rockets and the Nikola Jokic vs. Alpy Sengun individual matchup will be great to watch.

5:17 ... Saturday night it's the Magic vs Knicks in New York.  Both teams have had injuries but are still playing well.

8:59 ... Sunday it's a rematch between the Trailblazers and Thunder in OKC where the champs will look to avenge their only loss of the season back on November 5th.  Ross said he doesn't care what the point spread is because OKC will cover!

12:21 ... The guys play a game of True or False involving Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and the Celtics.

15:49 .... Ross wraps and says goodbye

TRT 16:04

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:20 ... Nico Harrison is out as Mavericks general manager ... the timing was odd but Harrison was a "dead man walking" after the dismal Luka Doncic/Anthony Davis trade, which has been a disaster for the Mavs.  Dallas would probably like to trade Davis but who will take this talented but fragile big man?

8:04 ... Willie Green is out as head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans ... he was the victim of poor front office moves, the inability of Zion Williamson to avoid injuries, and the fact that new GM Joe Dumars didn't hire him.

14:46 ... The Miami Heat are playing good ball despite missing Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro, but Bam's skill set is sorely missed and even though it's a deep team, they need these two guys back.  Newly acquired Norman Powell has played really well for Miami and helped keep them afloat.

18:02 ... The LA Clippers are the oldest team in NBA history and injuries are taking a huge toll.  Bradley Beal is gone for the season, Kawhi Leonard is injured once again, and now Derrick Jones Jr will miss six weeks.  The ship is sinking.

23:50 ... Victor Wembanyama will be out 2-3 weeks with a calf strain.  By the time he returns, he will be in double figures for games missed and if he misses more than 17 games, he will not qualify for postseason awards.  The team is well ahead of schedule in its progress, so the team will likely prioritize his health over any individual awards.

28:26 ... Orlando's Paolo Banchero has a left groin strain and while his teammates like Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane have stepped up, Banchero's rugged play defines the Magic's style and if he is out for an extended period, the Magic will be in big trouble.

32:05 ... Teams whose stock prices are up: the Oklahoma City Thunder ... they can't be stopped.

36:34 ... Stock Up: the Atlanta Hawks ... but Trae Young's future in ATL may be in doubt

39:50 ... Stock Up: the Phoenix Suns ... Phoenix is making naysayers like us look very bad

42:33 ... Teams whose stock prices are down: the Indiana Pacers ... injuries have decimated this team

45:47 ... Stock Down: the Milwaukee Bucks ... and now Giannis may miss action, but at least Ross composed a special poem about Kyle Kuzma.

49:33... Stock Down: the Chicago Bulls ... if the season had ended on October 31st, they'd be a legendary team, but November has been unkind to the team.

52:46 ... Stock Down: the Portland Trailblazers ... has the Tiago Splitter honeymoon come to an end?

55:47 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

TRT 56:08

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:12 Philadelphia 76ers vs Detroit Pistons on Friday Night

6:09 Los Angeles Lakers at the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday

11:47 Orlando Magic vs Houston Rockets on Sunday

17:33 Ross requests World B’s thoughts on Sunday’s Nets/Wizards matchup

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:34 Ross & World B reflect on the passing of Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens

2:50 The Most Impressive Teams Last Week

3:01 Cleveland Cavaliers

4:51 Detroit Pistons

12:10 The Most Impressive Players Last Week

12:23 Donovan Mitchell

14:02 Jaime Jaquez

17:31 Panic or Relax on These Three Teams

17:52 Los Angeles Clippers

22:28 Orlando Magic

27:11 Dallas Mavericks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2:58 ... True or False: Nikola Jokic will break Russell Westbrook's single season record of 42 triple doubles.

5:10 ... True or False: Is there a player in the league that will hit more three point shots than Stephen Curry this season?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:35 ... Episode #196 honors Don "Duck" Ray, a member of the old "Tri Cities Blackhawks" who wore uniform #96 back in the 1949-'50 season.

0:53 ... Friday's matchup between the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs is a battle for bragging rights in Texas.  Will Houston's three headed monster at center be able to wear Victor Wembanyama down?

5:11 ... Saturday's matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers will be a good measuring stick for the up and coming Bulls, who have started the season on a hot streak.  Can the banged up Cavs move closer to the Bulls in the standings?

8:50 ... The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic play twice this weekend on Friday and Sunday with both games in Orlando.  While the Magic are playing better than the Celtics as of late, it's never easy to beat the same team twice in two days.

12:16 ... Final Thought: Bruce admits he may have been wrong about Doc Rivers using Giannis Antetokounmpo to bring the ball up and initiate the offense for the Bucks.

13:35 ... Final Thought: World B thinks the Oklahoma City Thunder have a legit chance to win 70 games this season.

15:30 ... Final thought: Ross wonders about unsigned free agents Malik Beasley and Ben Simmons and what their status is.  Could Simmons simply be quietly retiring without a formal announcement?

16:54 ... Ross wraps it up

TRT 17:12

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:36 ... Show #195 is dedicated to the late Anthony Mason who played for the Knicks in 1995 under Pat Riley.

1:34 ... The Chicago Bulls continue their strong early season run and the guys break down what has been going to well.  Josh Giddey has been leading the way for Billy Donovan's team even though their forwards are not grabbing many rebounds.

6:20 ... The matchup between the Bulls and 76ers on Tuesday night will feature a fascinating matchup between guards Tyrese Maxey of Philly and Giddey.  The winner of the game will also take over the top spot in the east.

9:08 ... The New York Knicks have not been firing on all cylinders early in the season as they adjust to new head coach Mike Brown.  The Knicks are shooting a lot more 3 pointers than they did last season but there does not appear any reason to panic in New York.  Bruce feels that Jordan Clarkson's impact will eventually be felt as he competes for the 6th man of the year award.

14:10 .... The Orlando Magic have also been shaky out of the gate with their first four games all on the road.  Desmond Bane came over from Memphis to shoot 3 pointers but so far has shot mostly blanks.  Bruce feels their defense and rebounding will carry them to greater success and Bane will eventually remember how to make threes.  Ross is very concerned about the free throw shooting by the Magic which is only around 75% right now

19:10 ... The Oklahoma City Thunder have started the season 7-0 and our guys predict when their first loss may take place.  Bruce and Ross see it coming in a day or two while World B feels they'll remain undefeated into next week.

21:44 ... The Portland Trailblazers have responded well to new coach Tiago Splitter who replaced Chauncey Billups when the gambling scandal sidelined him.  Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant, and Donovan Clingan have all excelled in the early going.  World B credits their aggressive defense and insane hustle as huge factors in their success.  Once Scoot Henderson returns from his injury, their defense should improve even more.

27:11 ... Trae Young of the Hawks will miss at least a month with an MCL injury.  His shooting has been terrible but maybe the mental break due to injury might help him to reset things when he returns.  World B has some stats supporting the Hawks' offensive improvement with Young sidelined.  Ross points out that with no other point guards on the roster, Atlanta will have to run their offense in a non-traditional way.

30:39 ... Ja Morant is also creating a mess in Memphis with his poor attitude.  He was suspended for insubordinate behavior and it won't be long before the trade rumors start up in earnest.  Simply put, he needs to GROW UP.

35:07 ... "True or False"  The guys check in on whether the San Antonio Spurs will win 50 games and finish in the top 4 in the west.

38:05 ... "True or False"  Everyone checks in on whether Nikola Jokic will set the single season record for triple doubles (currently 42 by Russell Westbrook).

40:17 ... The final "True or False" question ... Someone other than Stephen Curry will lead the league in 3 pointers made.

42:05 ... Ross says goodbye

TRT 42:18

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:37 Fun NBA Weekend Matchups We’re Looking Forward Too!

1:17 New York Knicks at Chicago Bulls

3:48 Dallas Mavericks vs Detroit Pistons

6:24 Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

9:51 Bruce shares his rant on the NBA Cup

12:29 A Way Too Early Over Reaction

12:42 Bruce on the Houston Rockets

14:55 Ross on AJ Green of the Milwaukee Bucks

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

01:14 Our Reactions to the NBA Betting Scandals

6:45 Bruce & Ross share their thoughts on all of the different NBA network productions so far

14:45 Victor Wembanyama’s Monster 1st Week

19:20 Just Slow Starts or A Long Year Ahead?

19:25 Boston Celtics

21:24 Indiana Pacers

23:05 New Orleans Pelicans

25:30 Phoenix Suns

27:31 Dallas Mavericks

30:54 Red Hot Rookies Around the League

34:50 The 50 Ball Club is already forming early this season, who’s next to join?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:54 ... Weekend preview ... We begin with Celtics vs Knicks on Friday at MSG.

5:18 ... Saturday's top matchup: Thunder vs Hawks in Atlanta.

9:38 ... Teams we'll be watching this season: The Spurs, Warriors, and Clippers.

TRT 16:13

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:43 ... Ross dedicates Show #191 to Scott Skiles, the first coach Ross ever worked for in the NBA

0:58 ... Bruce introduces Tim Legler of ESPN and ABC, "the best hoop analyst in the business."  Legs reacts immediately with a story about Scott Skiles and his record breaking 30 assist game.

2:53 ... Bruce finishes the Legs intro and compares him to the great LeBron James.  Legs reacts to the great complement and explains how his work ethic and desire to teach has always been present.

4:30 ... Legs reacts to winning the Long Distance Shootout in 1996 and how it affected his future in the sport.  Legs finally found himself with a team and a coach that allowed him to flourish and validate himself.

8:00 ... Bruce asks Legs how he will handle being on the number one broadcast team for ESPN and ABC ... Legs plans to do the same things he has done in the studio, but will do them in "real time" on the game broadcasts.

11:50 ... Legs is doing a series for NBA TV where he interviews a number of high profile coaches and breaks down their favorite plays.  Legs says it was an amazing experience to spend time with so many great coaches.

15:00 ... World B asks about Nikola Jokic and if his even keeled demeanor is held against him.  Legs feels that Denver has made itself a championship contender this season and that will help Joker in this year's MVP race.

18:19 ... Is Cooper Flagg going to be a "lock" in the "Rookie of the Year" race?  Legs' answer was pretty surprising and he pointed out that the award tends to be stat driven, which might work against Flagg.

21:40 ... If Jayson Tatum returns late in the season and is healthy and effective, can the Celtics make a serious playoff run?

24:33 ... Legs shares which teams he feels could maybe come out of the east in a season where the conference appears to be wide open.

26:52 ... Ross asks about the Milwaukee Bucks and if they stand a chance in the east.  Legs is concerned about their defense.

29:13 ... Three point shooting has become far more prevalent than it was when Legs played in the 1990s.  He feels like the right number of threes taken by a team should be in the 30's.

32:05 ... Bruce asks about the unique skill set of Victor Wembanyama and Legs has an incredible breakdown of things Wemby can do that nobody else can do, especially on defense.

35:17 ... Can an aging Clippers team make noise in the western conference?  Legs thinks they can actually finish as high as #3 in the west.  Kawhi Leonard could be poised for a strong season.

38:09 ... Michael asks Legs about an "under the radar" team and he loves Orlando's intensity and what they are capable of this season.  The Magic added a great three point shooter in Desmond Bane, which was their weakness last season.

40:29 ... LeBron James begins his 23rd season and Legs explains some of the things he'll need to do in order to stay healthy and effective for the playoffs.

43:13 ... Legs is asked about a team that may have been overhyped but might not be "all that."  Atlanta in the east and San Antonio in the west are his choices.

46:22 ... Trae Young of the Hawks has not signed for next season and that can affect the team if it drags on endlessly, but at the start of the season it's not a factor.

49:44 ... The Jonathan Kuminga saga in Golden State created a lot of summer drama.  Legs calls it "the longest audition" since he still isn't considered an indispensable player.  But Legs feels like most of the issues surrounding him have already been dealt with over the years.

53:48 ... Legs played with some of the greatest players in the history of the sport.  Legs cites one former teammate that stood out above them all.

55:35 ... Ross thanks Legs and wraps it up ...

TRT 56:23

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:16 Rookie of the Year

3:25 Defensive Player of the Year

5:20 Sixth Man of the Year

7:44 Coach of the Year

10:41 Most Valuable Player

13:53 Most Improved Player

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:07 ... Fred introduces Bruce and shares some background on his NBA credentials.

1:47 ... Bruce shares the three top moments of his career covering the NBA.  Hakeem Olajuwon & Dr. Jack Ramsay 1995 Finals.

3:08 ... 2008 NBA Finals story with Paul Pierce and the first indoor Gatorade shower.

3:45 ... David Stern's final interview on Pure Hoops Media.

4:31 ... Bruce on some of the famous names he's worked with ... Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe, Brian Windhorst, Stephen A. Smith, Jeff Van Gundy, Hubie Brown, JJ Redick.

9:22 ... Bruce's history as a Celtics fan and how he compares the team to his old team at ESPN.

10:34 ... Bruce discusses his friend and former colleague Tim Legler, who has been elevated to the top NBA analyst position at ABC/ESPN.

11:28 ... Other analysts Bruce admired: Doug Collins, Avery Johnson, Will Perdue.

12:54 ... More on Doug Collins and his brilliance at the 2015 NBA Finals.

14:29 ... Bruce's thoughts on how TV now covers the NBA with an extreme emphasis on gambling

15:20 ... Linear TV is dying and Streaming is ascendent.  Bruce was puzzled by Adam Silver's comments on the NBA being a "highlights" league when he was defending all the moves from cable to streaming.

16:50 ... While Bruce disagreed with Adam's streaming comment, bruce feels Adam has done a great job as Commissioner.

18:18 ... Bruce says an "under the radar" storyline this year will be the San Antonio Spurs with Victor Wembanyama winning MVP an Defensive Player of the Year.

20:25 ... How the globalization of the game has impacted the NBA.  Bruce feels the best centers are all from outside the USA and he goes down the list.

21:37 ... How about the Chicago Bulls?  This year's team needs big improvement from their young bigs and the rebounding and defense need much improvement.

25:54 ... The significance of the late '90s Chicago Bulls teams when Michael Jordan was the most famous person on the planet.  Bruce questions why MJ seems to be the "Permanent and Forever GOAT" who can never be surpassed.

27:00 ... Fred and Bruce go back and forth on MJ and LeBron with each making the case for their guy.

30:36 ... Derrick Rose will have his jersey retired by the Bulls and both Fred and Bruce make the case for D-Rose to eventually make it into the Hall of Fame.

33:27 ... Bruce plugs the series of "Two-a-Days" on the 48 Minutes podcast where all 30 teams are previewed over 15 shorter shows.

36:00 ... Fred wraps it up and says goodbye

TRT 36:40

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2:00 Eastern Conference Team Over/Under Predictions

2:04 Boston Celtics

4:45 New York Knicks

6:07 Toronto Raptors

7:54 Brooklyn Nets

9:15 Philadelphia 76ers

10:53 Cleveland Cavaliers

13:01 Indiana Pacers

14:59 Milwaukee Bucks

18:00 Detroit Pistons

20:25 Chicago Bulls

22:25 Orlando Magic

24:57 Atlanta Hawks

26:38 Miami Heat

28:32 Charlotte Hornets

30:26 Washington Wizards

32:58 Western Conference Team Over/Under Predictions

33:04 Oklahoma City Thunder

34:35 Denver Nuggets

35:15 Minnesota Timberwolves

38:07 Portland Trail Blazers

40:24 Utah Jazz

42:19 Los Angeles Lakers

44:05 Los Angeles Clippers

46:16 Golden State Warriors

48:18 Sacramento Kings

50:19 Phoenix Suns

52:47 Houston Rockets

54:05 Memphis Grizzlies

55:45 Dallas Mavericks

57:08 San Antonio Spurs

58:44 New Orleans Pelicans

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:03 Washington Wizards

6:53 Utah Jazz

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:22 Toronto Raptors

9:43 San Antonio Spurs

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:12 Philadelphia 76ers

8:23 Sacramento Kings

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:10 ... Bruce introduces "Woj" and pronounces his name correctly ... Bruce runs down some highlights of his legendary career.

3:21 ... Woj shares his thoughts on delivering his acceptance speech at the Hoop Hall of Fame ... he singles out Jackie MacMullan and how other legends of the game sat and listened to his speech.

5:12 ... Woj grew up in Bristol, CT the home of ESPN.  But before joining ESPN in 2017, Woj worked in the newspaper business but took a leap of faith in 2007 and joined Yahoo! Sports.  He shares great memories of pioneering digital media NBA coverage with Yahoo!

10:04 ... On being an underdog at Yahoo and using that to fuel his desire to compete.  Woj loved being an underdog.

11:47 ... ESPN is a machine and no individual person is bigger than "the place."  But that machinery helps to make stars.    But Woj did his best to keep his underdog mentality alive, although at ESPN that was hard to do.  Woj reflects on the journey and the pride he and his crew felt about their work.

15:00 ... World B asks about growing up in Bristol and traveling all over the country before eventually returning to Bristol to work for ESPN.  That's why he didn't pursue ESPN at the start of his career ... he wanted to be a sports writer, which did not exist at ESPN back then.

17:02 ... Woj's elderly Dad lived in Bristol when he joined ESPN in 2017.  It was meaningful to be able to spend some time together.

19:11 ... Woj and Donovan Clingan both went to Bristol Central High School.  Woj knew him from the time he was in 8th grade.

21:13 ... Woj broke so many stories that he made it seem routine ... if there was a big story, he probably broke it.  But there were plenty of challenges ... the demands on his family time were tops on that list.  But there were many others and Woj explains some in vivid detail.

27:30 ... Woj shares his experience doing a Giannis Antetokounmpo Series during COVID that was a three part podcast he did with his editor Cristina Daglas, who is Greek.  Woj was incredibly impressed with Giannis's recall and contributions to the project.

31:32 ... Woj reflects on his first real scoop with Yahoo! on Greg Oden and how it more or less put him on the map.

34:07 ... When LeBron James and Chris Bosh went to Miami, the modern "Insider" position was really created.  It fueled interest in all the "behind the scenes" moves and the fans were hungry for all of it.

35:34 ... Woj runs through his main responsibilities as general manager at St. Bonaventure and the word "general" describes his responsibilities.   He tells a great story about how the new film room at the school was where he met his wife Amy back when the student newspaper office was there and they were both students.

40:44 ... The NIL has changed college sports in a huge way.  Woj explains where a lot of the money comes from and how "Rev Share" is a big part of the University's financial relationship with students.

43:53 ... Bruce asks Woj to explain how he fits into the chain of command between the coach and athletic director.

46:16 ... Woj has an enormous social media following (more than 6 million on Twitter/X and 2 million on Instagram) and he explains how his personal reach benefits the basketball program.  While there are some rules regarding his tweeting, he can still drop a Woj Bomb on behalf of the program.

48:43 ... Ross asks about new recruit Joe Grahovac, a 24 year old sophomore who has an incredible personal story.  There is a lot of NBA interest in seeing Grahovac and the school will have a "Pro Day" to showcase Grahovac and other Bonnies players.  He looks a bit like a red haired hoop legend from UCLA back in the 1970s.

52:58 ... Woj loved pursuing players from around the world and recruiting them to the school.  They've brought in six international players and all have great individual stories and bring different cultures into the program.

57:08 ... Culture is something that has to be worked on every day ... the guys who live that way are the guys they want at St. Bonny.

58:04 ... The "Pro Day" at St. Bonaventure will be a first for a "Mid Major" school.  Woj explains how an event like that can enhance a player's prospects for a pro career.

1:02:00 ... Some of the NBA players Woj knows have helped mentor the St. Bonny players, especially in dealing with injuries.  Woj also tries to connect players with alumni who are business and community leaders.

1:04:46 ... What is Woj's top goal for the upcoming season?  To see the growth of the players and the program is a priority.

1:06:01 ... Ross thanks Woj for his time tonight!

TRT 1:06:41

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

2:23 ... What the "48 Minutes" podcast is, who the hosts are, and information on the show's "Two-a-Day" project where all 30 NBA teams are previewed as the season approaches.

5:47 ... Milwaukee Bucks off-season storylines

7:52 ... How do we expect the Bucks to fare in the eastern conference this season?

10:27 ... With Giannis Antetokounmpo acting as the primary ballhandler, is that style detrimental to the development of the team's young guards?

13:40 ... Is Andre Jackson Jr. getting a fair chance to develop and what do we make of the other guards on the team?

17:30 ... Bobby Portis plays with "fire in his belly," and his teammate Kyle Kuzma could use some of that in his game too.

22:28 ... Myles Turner replaces Brook Lopez as a rim protector and "stretch five," but this team will rise or fall with its defense.

23:46 ... If the team stumbles badly, could we be looking at the end of the "Giannis Era" in Milwaukee?

26:57 ... League talk ... Rockets lose Fred Van Vleet, possibly for the whole season.

27:46 ... Orlando looks like a dangerous team in the east with newly acquired Desmond Bane.

29:08 ... Which team in the west can challenge OKC for the top spot?

30:16 ... Will LeBron James and Luka Doncic co-exist with the Lakers and be successful together for a full season?

32:47 ... Are the Clippers too old and is Kawhi Leonard actually holding them back?

34:54 ... Bruce promotes the 48 Minutes podcast and the "Two-a-Day" series of 30 NBA previews.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:40 ... Orlando Magic discussion

9:17 ... Portland Trailblazers discussion

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bernstein spent over 30 years at ESPN, including 15 years leading the network’s NBA studio programming. He brings deep behind-the-scenes insight, high-performance leadership stories, and sharp NBA analysis to every conversation.

Some topics include:

Opening Music

Courtney welcome and introduces her guest.

Bruce opening comments

Is there hope in Boston this season?

Reaction to the Kristaps Porzingis trade

Can Jaylen Brown lead the team to success without Jayson Tatum?

Brown will play with a chip on his shoulder

How well have Brown and Tatum learned to work together?

Courtney and Bruce discuss Boston's likely opening night lineup and expected rotation.

How role players like Payton Pritchard achieve their success.

Rookies and young guys on the team ... will they see much action?

Bruce feels Neemias Queta will have a breakout year.

Can the team exceed its modest expectations?

Rapid Fire Questions

Best Celtics play ever? Bruce's "Mount Rushmore" of C's greats.

Best single season Celtics team?

Bruce's favorite Celtics memory (2008 Game 6 vs Lakers)

Bigger Celtics Rival: Lakers or 76ers?

Pat Riley Statue Story

Bruce's favorite NBA era?

Will there ever be a "Four Point Shot" in the NBA?

Discussion of new Celtics "City" uniform that has no green on it.

Bruce promotes the "Two-a-Day" season previews on his 48 Minutes podcast.

Courtney wraps things up and says goodbye.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:07 ... New York Knicks discussion

8:48 ... Phoenix Suns discussion

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:23 .... Bucks discussion ...

12:56 .... Thunder discussion

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:08 Miami Heat

7:17 New Orleans Pelicans

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:18 Indiana Pacers

8:23 Minnesota Timberwolves

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:23 Detroit Pistons

7:42 Memphis Grizzlies

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:16 Cleveland Cavaliers

8:21 Los Angeles Lakers

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bernstein spent over 30 years at ESPN, including 15 years leading the network’s NBA studio programming. He brings deep behind-the-scenes insight, high-performance leadership stories, and sharp NBA analysis to every conversation.

In this episode, we also discuss the Kawhi Leonard / Los Angeles Clippers scandal while also scouting some Mavs’ rivals.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:34 Chicago Bulls

7:45 Los Angeles Clippers

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

-The standoff between Golden State's management and Jonathan Kuminga over his next contract

-The story behind Giannis Antetoknoumpo and why he appeared on the 48 Minutes podcast two years ago.

-The new broadcast and streaming deals between the NBA and its partners.

-The implications of "Inside The NBA" and its move to ESPN.

-And SO MUCH more!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:03 Charlotte Hornets

8:01 Houston Rockets

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:10 ... Brooklyn Nets discussion ... The good news for the lowly Nets is that this will be their 50th NBA season after joining the league as one of the former ABA teams who joined the NBA for the 1976-'77 season.  But that may be it for good news this season in Brooklyn.

2:37 ... World B feels the Nets are not "tanking," they're "rebuilding."

4:06 ... Cam Thomas returns to the team on a "lowball" qualifying deal after averaging 24 points last season.  Will he be a problem as he looks to score a lot in hopes of being paid next season?  Nic Claxton is one of the few players on the team with trade value, so perhaps he may be moved to a good team before the trade deadline.

6:06 ... There should be plenty of good seats available at Barclays Center this season for fans whose favorite teams are playing the Nets!

6:41 ... Golden State Warriors discussion ... this could be their last chance to make noise out west as they have an aging team with key players like Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green in their late 30s.  Butler will need to score more consistently to help Curry with the scoring load if the team is to approach 50 wins.

9:02 ... Bruce feels the Warriors are the most "unsettled" team in the league, mainly because of the Jonathan Kuminga free agency standoff.  Bruce feels that Kuminga may be risking alienating his teammates since the Warriors can't move forward to fill out their roster until he makes a decision on how much money he'll be willing to accept this season.  This is affecting players like Al Horford and De'Anthony Melton whose personal situations are impacted by Kuminga's saga.

10:38 ... Ross feels Kuminga may be traded (before the February deadline) once his contract is settled.   Bruce feels like the age of the Warriors increases the potential for injuries.

13:19 ... World B feels like the Dubs really need Kuminga because he is a young player with talent.

14:54 ... Ross wraps up the show and teases the next show.

TRT 15:21

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:10 ... Boston Celtics discussion ... Bruce believes all eyes will be on Jaylen Brown, who will have a chance to quiet his critics with Jayson Tatum sidelined.  Can JB lead his team through adversity this season?

2:00 ... World B feels like the Celtics will be very "guard heavy" and struggle mightily this season.  Tatum's absence will be impossible to replace.

3:43 ... Ross feels like coach Joe Mazzulla will have a chance to really experiment and try new things this season.

4:48 ... Bruce explains why the team needed to be "gutted" for financial reasons but he sees hope in Neemias Queta and his development for the future.

7:16 ... Boston has historically been a solid defensive team and has shown the ability to play well in the past when key players missed games.

8:15 ... Denver Nuggets discussion ... has the acquisition of Cam Johnson solved their shooting problems?  Can their defense improve from last season?  World B loves their starting lineup.

9:59 ... Bruce explains why he feels Nikola Jokic is a "cheat code" for coach David Adelman and shares an unbelievable stat about the Nuggets' three point shooting.  The addition of Jonas Valenciunas as Joker's backup will be huge.

11:51 ... Ross feels Denver had the best off-season of any team in the league and explains why.

12:43 ... Christian Braun is a high end "glue guy" who deserves more credit than he usually receives.

13:30 ... Ross wraps things up and teases the next show.

TRT 13:57

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:10 ... Atlanta Hawks discussion ... many new faces join a solid crew from last season.  The Hawks' front office had an incredible off-season.

3:09 ... Trae Young's contract status could be an issue.  He's flawed but important.

5:30 ... Health and player development from their young returnees are key issues.

6:26 ... Asa Newell might be a rookie to watch as a 6-11 forward with a great skill set.

7:33 ... Dallas Mavericks discussion ... It's been a wild few months in Dallas and the future may be bright, but it might not happen right away.  They have quality bigs with Anthony Davis, Derek Lively, and Daniel Gafford.

9:29 ... Kyrie's extended absence will prevent the Mavs from reaching 50 wins, but Bruce expects the Mavs to peak after the calendar flips to 2026 when Irving returns.  PJ Washington signed a four year contract extension but if Cooper Flagg develops rapidly, Washington could become expendable.

10:40 ... Ross is concerned about the Mavericks backcourt and some shortcomings in the playmaking department.

11:48 ... D'Angelo Russell and Klay Thompson will need to create a lot of points.  World B expects Flagg to be exceptional.  Bruce expects the Mavs to be solid on the boards and good defensively.

16:14 ... Ross is keeping an eye on Jaden Hardy, who could be more important early on before Kyrie returns in 2026.

16:53 ... Ross wraps and teases next show

TRT 17:13

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:33 ... Episode #172 is dedicated to Rayan Rupert of the Portland Trailblazers who wears uniform #72

0:48 ... Cavaliers news .... Max Strus to miss 3-4 months and how injuries could affect Cleveland's season.

5:01 ... Bucks news ... Thanassis Antetokounmpo returns to the team after missing last season with an achilles injury.  What does he bring to the team?

8:10 ... Jeremy Lin announces his retirement from basketball and the guys share stories of his legendary February run in 2012 for the Knicks that became known as "Linsanity."

12:27 ... Bold Predictions Segments ... Bruce on Orlando's Franz Wagner, who will be an All-Star.

14:54 ... World B on the Denver Nuggets and how they can win it all.

17:22 ... Ross says Denver's Cam Johnson will be an All-Star this season.

18:54 ... Bruce feels Neemias Queta of the Celtics will average a double-double and be one of the ten most improved players in the league.

20:16 ... World B says the Knicks will make the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.

22:04 ... Ross says Bennedict Mathurin of Indiana will average 21 points per game this season.

23:38 ... Bruce predicts that Kevin Durant will average his fewest points per game since his rookie season but will still be super effective as a clutch scorer late in games.

24:37 ... World B feels that Stephen Curry will manage one more 50 point game this season.

26:30 ... Ross predicts an American born player (Anthony Edwards) will win the Most Valuable Player award this season.

28:29 ... Bruce boldly predicts that the Philadelphia 76ers will jump from #13 to #4 in the east this season as their stars avoid serious injuries.

30:15 ... World B says Paolo Banchero will make an All-NBA Team this season as long as he meets the "games played" requirement of 65 regular season games.

31:54 ... Ross predicts Desmond Bane of the Magic will make the All-Star team with his new squad.

33:28 ... Bruce boldly predicts that Victor Wembanyama will win the Defensive Player of the Year award and the Most Valuable Player Award, becoming the third Spur after Tim Duncan and David Robinson to win the MVP.

35:33 ... World B predicts Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo will finish 1-2 in the MVP voting, but he's not saying who is number one and who is number two.

38:06 ... Ross predicts that Deni Avdija of the Portland Trailblazers will win the Most Improved Player award.  Bruce agrees 100% and would have made the same prediction if Ross hadn't called "dibs" on it first!

41:13 ... Final thoughts and goodbye ...

TRT 41:38

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:06 Friend of the show Michael Cooper & the Miami 305 win the Big 3 Championship!

3:19 The Eastern Conference way too early power rankings

4:08 The “No Shots” out East

12:13 Bruce unveils his latest & greatest NBA player nickname!

13:32 The Play-In Playas

23:47 The Play-offers

36:22 The Contenders

48:10 Bruce provides his final thoughts on Rick Carlisle’s contact extension with the Pacers

49:48 World B reflects on John Wall’s career

52:01 Ross shares his final thought on Chicago’s Derrick Rose Jersey Retirement night

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:56 ... Amar's family immigrated from India and settled in Deland, Florida in the 1980s.  His story really begins at the Phillips 66 gas station his father bought.

2:52 ... Amar first reached the national scene in 2018 when he wrote an Op Ed piece for the Washington Post where he wrote about his father, whom he compared to Apu from "The Simpsons."  Amar explains why he wrote the piece.  The story had more than 10 million engagements and resonated around the country and even the world.

6:18 ... As a 14 year old high school kid, Amar had an incredible opportunity to cross paths with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, which was his first encounter with an NBA icon.  Amar shares the story of a "confrontation" with Bulls coach Phil Jackson.  That encounter lit the journalistic fire in the skinny adolescent that has burned brightly for more than three decades.

11:25 ... Jackson was always fond of sending books to his players so Bruce asks Amar if he would send his books (he's published four) to the coach?

12:22 ... After the notoriety he received from his encounter with the Bulls, it helped "Teenaged Amar" to begin an incredible relationship with Shaquille O'Neal which eventually landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids with Shaq.  This story is mind boggling on so many levels.

20:15 ... As a 16 year old, Amar also had an interview with Kobe Bryant and as is usually the case with Amar, there is a great story involved.

24:26 ... Bruce asks about Amar's newest book "I Wish I Was a Baller."  The book is targeted towards middle school-aged kids and Amar discusses the lessons he hoped to share with his readers. He also explains how the book evolved from its original form into a graphic novel and the process involved.

29:52 ... Amar was a production assistant at ESPN back in 2004 when Bruce first met him.  The advice Bruce gave Amar and others was to be "aggressive but patient."  Amar explains how he cracked that code.

32:04 ... The ESPN experience for production assistants was incredibly demanding.  Amar compares it to a "Hunger Games" type of environment and how it prepared him for everything that followed in his career.

33:57 ... Amar has succeeded in creating content on many different platforms, and he shares one of his most cherished future goals.

35:09 ... His film "The Patel Motel Story" was the story of how immigrants from the Gujarat area of India came to dominate the motel industry.  Amar explains the history of how this happened.

37:30 ... Much of Amar's work celebrates how Indian immigrants grabbed onto the American dream and he shares his thoughts on the pride he has in telling these distinctive stories.

38:46 ...  Amar's storylines about coming of age as a teenager have resonated and he explains what a privilege it has been to have the opportunity to inspire his readers.

42:30 ... Bruce wonders if it was easier or harder to write about his own stories in "I Wish I Was a Baller" than it was to write his "Play The Game" books.  All of them are "personal," but in different ways.

44:17 ... As for fan mail from the kids who read the books, Amar describes how parents have shared stories with him about how their kids consumed them.

44:58 ... Amar explains how all of his experiences on different platforms have helped him in the way he tells stories in his books.

46:18 ... After all of his accomplishments so far, what goals does Amar have for the future?

47:59 ... Amar lets everyone know how to reach him and order his books.

48:59 ... Bruce and Amar say goodbye ....

TRT 49:20

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:07 ... The NBA released the full schedule for the upcoming season and each member of the show picked three games they have "circled" on the schedule.  Bruce leads us off with an opening night matchup between the Thunder and Rockets and the return of the NBA on NBC on October 21st.

2:25 ... World B chooses Warriors/Lakers on opening night, also on NBC.

3:36 ... Ross chooses Bucks/Pacers and Myles Turner's return to Indiana as a member of the Bucks.

4:20 ... Bruce is intrigued by the first meeting between the Magic and Knicks on November 12th.

5:09 ... World B looks forward to Spurs/Mavericks on October 22nd in a matchup with Cooper Flagg and Victor Wembanyama.

6:28 ... Ross looks forward to Kevin Durant's return to Phoenix on November 24th.

7:37 ... Bruce is excited about the first matchup between the Pacers and Celtics on December 22nd.

8:39 ... World B looks forward to the Christmas Day matchup with the Cavaliers and Knicks at the Garden.  These are the likely top two teams in the east.

10:08 ... March 21st marks the Bucks visit to Phoenix as Ross looks forward to his yearly reunion with Giannis Antetokounmpo on his once a year visit to Ross' hometown.

11:09 ... The NBA and the Players Association are backing additional limitations on prop bets in the wake of gambling investigations involving Malik Beasley and Terry Rozier.  The crew examines all the angles of basketball wagering and wonders if it's possible to put the genie back in the bottle now that sports gambling has become so mainstream.  Everyone agrees that the integrity of the game can be adversely affected by gambling and the league needs to act responsibly to protect the image of the league.

21:11 ... Each panelist discusses one significant move that was made by their favorite team in the off-season.  Bruce picks the Celtics signing of Chris Boucher, the 8 year veteran who comes to Boston from Toronto.

22:33 ... World B feels the Knicks hiring of new head coach Mike Brown was a major move for the franchise.  He compares the hiring to the Yankees hiring of Joe Torre back in 1996.

25:00 ... Ross loves the Cole Anthony signing for his Milwaukee Bucks and adds that the acquisition of Amir Coffey will also be a major boost for the Bucks.

26:52 ... The Lakers will honor former coach Pat Riley with a statue on February 22nd.  The crew wonders why the Heat didn't honor him first, but all were thankful that the sculptor who did the Dwyane Wade statue in Miami isn't doing this one.

30:09 ... Bruce recounts some of the stories Lakers legend Michael Cooper told about Riles two weeks ago when he appeared on 48 Minutes.  One of the best concerned how Riley buried secret words in each player's video splits that the coach later quizzed them on.

32:33 ... Final Thoughts .... Bruce is saddened by the fact that it seems certain that Al Horford will never play another game for the Celtics.  If Big Al goes to Golden State, it's highly unlikely the Celtics will retire his #42.

34:58 ... World B talked about Major League Baseball's consideration of a realignment plan to keep the fans interested in the sport.  Adam Silver has also tried some things in the NBA with the in-season tournament an play in games.    World B praises Silver for his efforts.

38:00 ... Ross' final thought was to discuss some trades the Suns chose not to make when they dealt Kevin Durant.   Miami made an offer that the Suns turned down and everyone shared their thoughts on why Phoenix made a better deal with Houston.  Phoenix also could have made a deal where they acquired an unprotected #1 pick from New Orleans next season in the Durant deal and everyone feels like the Suns will regret not doing it.

43:06 ... Bruce shouts out to Shawn Bradley, who was paralyzed in a bike accident but appeared in public at a Big 3 game over the weekend in Dallas.  It was one of the only times he's apeared in public since his bike crash in 2021.

TRT 44:25

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:28 Free Agency Update…Who are the big names still left & where might they be headed?

1:37 Russell Westbrook

3:04 Al Horford

6:27 Jonathan Kuminga

8:55 Ben Simmons

11:02 Cam Thomas

14:10 Josh Giddey

16:12 Quentin Grimes

18:19 Our way too early Western Conference Power Rankings

19:05 The “No Shots’

27:08 The “Play-In Playas”

34:35 The “Play-offers”

43:04 The “Contenders”

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:03 Bruce introduces Hall of Famer & Lakers Legend Michael Cooper

2:31 Coop on his childhood memories of the Lakers growing up in the LA area

3:32 How Coop was able to develop into one of the game’s greatest defenders

4:53 Coop reflects on his lifelong friendship with Magic Johnson

7:30 Is Kareem’s GOAT case better than MJ & LeBron?

10:54 The Kurt Rambis effect on the Lakers

14:59 Coop on the family vibe, love, & culture within the Lakers organization

17:50 Will the Laker culture change now with new ownership?

19:06 Pat Riley’s biggest strengths as a coach

22:27 What did Michael Cooper learn under Jerry West?

25:14 Coop on the Lakers organization fallout with Jerry West

26:33 Having coached the WNBA many years ago, how much has the skill level changed over time?

30:29 What it was like playing against & then coaching against old rival Bill Laimbeer

32:20 Coop on the impact of both Caitlin Clark & Angel Reese in the WNBA

34:24 Will individual rivalries in the WNBA spark even more interest in the league?

36:13 What’s it like being a head coach in the Big 3?

40:00 The 4-point shot in the Big 3, could the NBA adapt that?

41:46 Coop on Marcus Smart’s potential impact on the Lakers next season

43:24 Coop on what DeAndre Ayton can bring to this Lakers team

45:45 How should Luka’s game improve now that he’s in shape?

47:18 What advice would Coop give Zion Williamson

49:04 Can Ben Simmons still be a contributor to the contending NBA team?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:32 ... Show #167 is dedicated to Wilt Chamberlain for a variety of reasons involving the number "67."

1:15 ... The crew discusses four restricted free agents and their prospects for their next deal.  We start with Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors.

5:32 ... Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets is next.

8:49 ... Quentin Grimes of the 76ers is next.

13:37 ... Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls is next.

18:45 ... Bulls head coach Billy Donovan agrees to a multi-year contract extension to stay on the Chicago bench.  What does it mean for the future of the team?

23:29 ... Former number one overall pick Ben Simmons is looking for his next team and Bruce is hoping it will be with his Boston Celtics.

28:18 ... Off-Season Grades, starting in the east: The Boston Celtics are first.

31:33 ... The New York Knicks are next ...

34:29 ... Next up, the Orlando Magic.

37:24 ... Off-Season Grades, moving to the west: The Oklahoma City Thunder.

39:21 ... Next up, the Houston Rockets

43:44 ... The Los Angeles Lakers are next.

46:20 ... "My Favorite Season" ... Bruce chooses the 2007-'08 Celtics

48:22 ... World B chooses the 1993-'94 Knicks, who lost the NBA Finals in 7 games to the Rockets.

51:09 ... Ross chooses the 2009-'10 Milwaukee Bucks when he was a season ticket holder as a student at Marquette.

53:12 ... Finally the crew plays word association with the following players: Lonzo Ball, Luke Kornet, Desmond Bane, Damian Lillard, Cooper Flagg, Marcus Smart.

56:03... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye ...

TRT 56:23

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:54 ... The Charlotte Hornets are the NBA Summer League Champions ... Rookie Kon Knueppel led the way for the Hornets and we all learned the proper pronounciation of his first and last name.  The future looks promising for the Hornets after a string of losing seasons, but health will be a huge issue for the "Bugs."

7:53 ... Bruce wants to give some love to Bronny James, who looked like a different player in the Summer League and could be poised to do well this season.

9:04 .... The WNBA All Star Weekend made all kinds of news, especially with their warmup T-Shirts that said "Pay Us What You Owe Us."  The crew examines why the players in the "W" deserve more money and make suggestions on who should pay it.

13:09 ... As for the WNBA All Star game itself ..... it was a big bummer ... Rookie All-Star Paige Bueckers and ABC's Elle Duncan both trashed it on the air for the lack of defense and effort .... OUCH.

15:29 ... Bradley Beal certainly got paid and also got a ticket out of Phoenix to Los Angeles.  His departure from the Valley leaves lots of wreckage behind as the Suns will need to stretch $97 million of his salary over the next 5 seasons, causing a major financial hurdle for a team that needs more talent.  As for the Clippers, they have a lot of old dudes and are a textbook example of a "Win Now" team.  And with the addition of 40 year old Chris Paul, the clock is definitely ticking on the veteran team's "window."

22:00 ... With all the old guys on the Clippers, the crew suggests sponsors whose logos can appear on the uniform jerseys of the team.  Everyone took a shot and Ross's choice of "Depends" adult diapers was the clear winner among the crew.

23:40 ... 35 year old Damian Lillard is returning to the Portland Trailblazers and with the recent acquisition of another 35 year old guard, Jrue Holiday, the 48 Minutes crew is scratching their collective heads as to what the strategy of the team will be.  Does it mean that Scoot Henderson is on shaky ground with the Blazers?

28:56 ... Ross leads a discussion on Giannis and whether any of these moves might make him appreciate being in Milwaukee.

31:42 ... Former Celtic Marcus Smart will soon join the Lakers after being bought out by the Wizards.  Bruce and many other Celtics fans are all "up in their feelings" over this move.

35:05 ... Victor Wembanyama has been cleared to play again after suffering from blood clots in his shoulder last season.  These are exciting times in San Antonio with Wemby joining Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper on a team that will be a "League Pass Obsession."

37:53 ... The New Orleans Pelicans are looking like a hot mess tossed into a dumpster fire.  They've spent the entire off season making one questionable move after another.  Over the weekend, their top rookie Derik Queen suffered a wrist injury that will sideline him for three months.  New boss Joe Dumars is off to a "bumpy" start to say the least.

42:35 ... Good news in Denver .... recently acquired Jonas Valanciunas has agreed to stop his pursuit of a deal with a team in Greece and will play for the Nuggets as the backup for Nikola Jokic.  It's the right thing to do and the Denver fans deserve his best effort, even if he just plays one season for the Nuggets.

45:24 .... This week it's Ross's turn to try and stump his partners with this week's "Card Challenge."  Some of the players that Ross used to put Bruce and "World B" on the spot were Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, Yao Ming, David Lee, Gary Payton, Andre Iguodala, Bruce Bowen, and Dwight Howard.

53:48 ... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye ...

TRT 54:05

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:49 The 48 Minutes crew react to the breaking new on Paul George’s injury & surgery

3:29 Bruce wonders whether or not Paul George is a future Hall of Famer

5:26 The Lakers are in a transition period, what’s LeBron’s future in LA?

9:29 Devin Booker’s historic 2-year max extension with the Phoenix Suns

13:34 Brad Beal’s buyout status update

18:07 The Thunder have their Big 3 for years to come!

23:14 Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown wants to play faster next year

27:41 Pacers have resigned Isaiah Jackson to beef up their center position

30:31 Cole Anthony intends on signing with the Milwaukee Bucks

34:11 Las Vegas NBA Summer League News & Notes!

35:25 The Dallas Mavericks shut down Cooper Flagg for the remainder of Summer League

38:10 The Phoenix Suns also decided to sit 2 of their top players on Sunday

40:10 One Summer League player that’s caught our eye

43:17 Bruce provides the show’s final thoughts including a sneak preview on next week’s guest

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:33 ... Show #164 is dedicated to Phoenix guards Jalen Green and Bradley Beal, both of whom stand 6-4.

0:52 ... Norman Powell is traded to Miami, John Collins is traded to the Clippers, and Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson go to Utah ... we'll discuss the deal from the perspective of all three teams.  Everyone agrees that Miami won this trade.

6:37 ... Kevin Durant is finally in Houston after an historic 7 team trade.  Besides the Rockets and Suns, five other teams get spare parts and second round picks while Houston moves closer to OKC in the west and Phoenix "embraces the rebuild."

9:58 ... The Rockets made another significant trade, sending Cam Whitmore to Washington where he will have a chance to play near his Maryland home.  The Wizards have made some bold moves and Bruce thinks they may be this year's version of the Pistons who could double their win total of 18 from last season.

14:28 ... What is Bradley Beal's future in Phoenix?  Bruce thinks he could be a dynamic 6th man for a good team since whichever team picks him up after his buyout in Phoenix will not be paying him max money since Phoenix will be paying most of his salary.

20:53 ... The Pacers lost Myles Turner, who signed with Milwaukee as a free agent but they acquired Jay Huff from Memphis.  Standing 7-1, he's not a great shot blocker or rebounder but makes 40% of his three point attempts.  It will be his 5th team in 5 seasons.

24:02 ... Paolo Banchero signed a huge rookie max extension on Monday with Orlando for 5 years and almost $240 million.  There will be great expectations with all Orlando's young stars signed to long-term deals.

26:22 ... Jaxson Hayes re-signs with the Lakers after being benched in the 2025 playoffs which is somewhat surprising.  Will he have a good relationship with LA coach JJ Redick?  It should be an interesting storyline moving forward.

29:46 ... The Knicks have officially locked up Mike Brown as their next head coach.  Everyone likes the hire and his style should work well with a mature veteran team that won't mind being challenged.

32:07 ... Summer League action is underway and some of the young guys are impressing everyone right out of the gate.  VJ Edgecombe of Philly scored 28 in his debut and could make an immediate impact for the 76ers.  Ace Bailey of Utah had an uneven debut but showed ability at both ends of the court.

36:33 ... Nikola Topic of OKC finally made his debut on Saturday and had 14 points against Memphis.  Finding minutes as a rookie with the defending champs won't be easy, but Topic has the goods to make it in the NBA.

39:08 .... The Memphis Grizzlies have a loaded Summer League roster with three rotation players participating.  Ross predicts they'll be the Summer League champions.

42:31 ... It's time for the Classic Card Challenge where Bruce pulls random cards of former players and quizzes Ross and World B.   Those dudes show serious knowledge and a great sense of NBA history.

51:05 ... Final Thoughts ..... Bruce on Jonas Valanciunas, who was traded from New Orleans to Denver but is trying to bolt for a Euroleague team in Greece.  Bruce has always admired Valanciunas but this move shows that winning an NBA title just isn't that important to him.

52:26 ... World B on James Wiseman, who signed a one year deal with Indiana after missing last season with an achilles injury.  World B is rooting for him in his comeback.

54:03 ... Ross feels the Las Vegas Summer League will be spectacular this month.

54:56 ... Ross says goodbye

TRT 55:10

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:49 Ross is back & starts the show off by giving Bruce & World B a pop quiz!

2:11 Our Top 4 Teams in the Eastern Conference post draft & after the start of free agency

2:21 Cleveland Cavaliers

5:05 New York Knicks

7:50 Orlando Magic

11:21 Bruce has the Detroit Pistons in his fourth & final spot

12:18 World B likes the Indiana Pacers to round out his top 4

14:09 Ross sides with Bruce with the Detroit Pistons

15:32 Biggest winners and/or losers in the Eastern Conference

15:42 Bruce has the Atlanta Hawks as a big winner this offseason

16:31 Bruce’s big loser is the Indiana Pacers this summer

17:26 World B also has the Atlanta Hawks as big winners this summer

19:04 World B has the Milwaukee Bucks as his big loser of the offseason

22:04 Ross provides a surprising Eastern Conference team for his big winner of the offseason

23:34 Our Top 4 Teams in the Western Conference post draft & after the start of free agency

23:49 The reigning 2025 NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder

25:26 Houston Rockets

29:10 Bruce has the Minnesota Timberwolves at #3 on his board

29:45 World B has the Denver Nuggets as his third best team out West

31:15 Ross doubles down on the Denver Nuggets

32:54 Bruce touches on the Nuggets & their recent offseason moves

33:46 World B has a hot take selecting the Los Angeles Lakers!

35:04 Ross discusses why the Minnesota Timberwolves round out his Top 4 out West

36:12 Biggest winners and/or losers in the Eastern Conference

36:19 Bruce considers the Memphis Grizzlies big winners this summer

37:13 The Portland Trail Blazers are Bruce’s big losers

37:52 World B’s winner is the Dallas Mavericks

38:55 The New Orleans Pelicans are tabbed the biggest loser by World B

40:59 Ross’s big winner is the newest San Antonio Spur Luke Kornet!

42:08 Bruce provides his final thoughts on what a difference a year makes for his Boston Celtics

44:35 World B provides positive insights on the direction the Charlotte Hornets are going

46:38 Ross gets his turn to provide some optimism on the Milwaukee Bucks next year

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:56 ... Dave reflects on the just concluded NBA Finals series between the OKC Thunder and Indiana Pacers.  Dave felt that these two teams may meet again in the Finals at some point.

2:06 ... World B points out that OKC may not even have shown the best version of what they can still become as a team.  Dave praises OKC GM Sam Presti for the way he built the Thunder into a championship squad.

4:36 ... Bruce points out that NBA players voted Tyrese Haliburton the "most overrated" player in the league and silly they look now.  Dave explains how Haliburton's growth whas been so much fun to watch.

5:59 ... World B asks about whether the league has to address the length of the season given the number of high profile injuries.  Dave explains why that may not be feasible but suggests a lengthy break midway through the season so players can mentally and physically recharge.

8:40 ... Bruce points out the uniform numbers of the three players who suffered the achilles were all "0."  Dave points out how achilles injuries can be so random.

9:53 ... Shai Gilgeous Alexander was originally drafted by the Clippers and traded to OKC in Sam Presti's greatest move.  Dave goes through some of Presti's moves while also defending the trade with LA due to the wishes of owner Steve Ballmer.

12:45 ... Bruce transitions to the Kevin Durant trade where he went from the Suns to the Rockets and asks Dave if this closes the gap between the Rockets and the Thunder.  Dave likes the deal for Houston but thinks they may miss Dillon Brooks and his defense.

14:59 ... Did the Rockets simply give up on Jalen Green?  Dave feels Durant gets them closer to a title more quickly than Green ever could.

17:17 ... How does this deal affect the future of the Phoenix Suns franchise given their bad salary situation?

19:10 ... The New York Knicks' pursuit of the coaches from five other teams has affected their relationships with a lot of teams.  How much damage was done?   The Knicks didn't have a plan and now whomever they sign will be their 6th or 7th choice.

21:50 ... In spite of the Knicks mis-steps, they're still a premier eastern conference team, so is it better for the NBA to have a lot of teams that COULD win as opposed to fewer elite teams like OKC that could be a future dynasty?

24:06 ... Bruce asks Dave about Tom Thibodeau's decision to bring Josh Hart off the bench and whether the fact that Hart suggested the change might have caused Knicks management to question Thibs' leadership.

27:25 ... The Lakers will be sold for $10 billion and as a former member of the Lakers organization, Dave has some thoughts on how the "Mom and Pop" nature of the team might change under a more corporate ownership.  Jeanie Buss will still represent the team as their "Governor," but her input on basketball decisions might be affected.

29:54 ... How will the price tag for the Lakers affect the entry fees for the next NBA expansion teams, which are expected to be Seattle and Las Vegas?

32:08 ... Dave sounds off on what expansion teams are like to work for since he worked for the Miami Heat when they were an expansion team.  He feels that expansion teams start with a clean slate and can build their own unique culture.  Dave hired Erik Spoelstra as video coordinator and explains why Spo' appealed to him as a young potential hire.

34:27 ... The NBA Draft is on Wednesday night and we discuss five "bottom feeder" teams and what their goals should be in the draft.  Danny Ainge and the Utah Jazz are first.

35:51 ... The Washington Wizards are next ... members of their management all worked in OKC and Dave feels they'll follow Sam Presti's model.

37:08 ... Washington is a major market while Oklahoma City is not.  Does that affect the Wizards' ability to use the OKC model, which requires patience.

39:04 ... The Charlotte Hornets are picking at #4 ... and have missed the playoffs the last 9 years ... they have some talent on the roster so they'll probably draft for a position.

40:32 ... New Orleans picks at #7 but Zion Williamson's lack of reliability really hurts this franchise and also negatively affects his trade value.

42:20 ... Philadelphia is a "bottom feeder" in name only as they were devastated by injuries last season.  Can they use the #3 pick wisely and get healthy in time for next season?  Will they have to use the trade market more than the draft in order to improve?

44:02 ... Philly's Joel Embiid was one of several Olympians who were injured this season but Dave feels that their injuries were not the result of their Olympic obligations.  Dave explains how players who work hard all summer can wear their bodies out even though they're not playing in games.

46:41 ... Bruce asks everyone for their overall thoughts on the season that just concluded.  Dave felt it was a "season of change."

47:52 ... World B feels like OKC is built for a run that could result in multiple titles.

49:30 ... Bruce wants to give Pacers coach Rick Carlisle his flowers for a sensational coaching job this season and how he will end up in Springfield one day.

50:22 ... Bruce wraps it up ... thanks everyone ... teases the NBA Draft and next week's show ...

TRT 51:23

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:33 ... Episode #161 is dedicated to Pat Spencer of the Golden State Warriors

1:23 ... The crew discusses their respective Father's Day celebrations

2:33 ... Pacers/Thunder game 5 discussion ...

3:10 ... Bruce felt the seeds of OKC's game 5 victory were planted on Friday night when they came back late in the game to defeat the Pacers on the road.  And OKC's defense dominated game 5 from the jump.

4:49 ... World B felt that Indiana played a sloppy game on Monday and that was their undoing as the turnovers were a huge difference in the game.

6:56 ... Ross cited Tyrese Haliburton's leg injury and the guys discussed whether Indiana can come back if he is not at full strength.

8:52 ... World B feels like TJ McConnell might be able to rise to the occasion in game 6 if Haliburton struggles.

10:21 ... Bruce feels Andrew Nembhard needs to have a big game in game 6 for Indiana.

12:19 ... Bruce asks Ross if game 5 will be known as "The Jalen Williams game?"  Ross agrees and also cites Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a great effort.

14:27 ... Bruce cites Williams for his work on defense and how he is a real disruptor on defense and everyone agrees that he has answered all the questions about whether he is a premier "Number Two" in the league.

15:15 ... Ross tees up everyone for their game 6 predictions ... all three of the guys like Indiana to force a game 7.

17:05 ... The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic and the guys discuss how he fits into the Magic lineup with his great three point shooting and all around game.  While Orlando gave up a lot to acquire Bane, the situation in the eastern conference might be very favorable for the Magic with Bane.

22:44 ... Cole Anthony goes from Orlando to Memphis and World B feels he got a raw deal with the Magic.  Bruce feels Anthony's chippy style will play well in Memphis.  Kentavious Caldwell Pope hopes to rejuvenate his career with the Grizzlies.

25:52 ... Memphis gets four unprotected first round draft picks plus a pick swap, so Ross feels Memphis will do fine with this deal.  The guys then discuss whether the Grizz might be looking to deal more players, but Jaren Jackson Junior, Ja Morant, and Jaylen Wells all seem to be franchise cornerstones.

30:36 ... Kevin Durant has told the Suns which three teams he'd like to be traded to: Miami, Houston, or San Antonio.  Bruce would love to see KD end up in San Antonio with Victor Wembanyama.  World B doesn't feel like KD is chasing a ring since he seems uninterested in going to Minnesota.  Bruce cited Marc Stein's report that Miami might offer players other than Bam Adebayo or Tyler Herro and doesn't feel like Phoenix would consider Andrew Wiggins or Duncan Robinson.  Ross feels like if Phoenix wants to rebuild, Devin Booker would bring a King's ransom in return.

38:41 ... The Knicks are having problems finding their next coach because they keep trying to hire coaches that are currently employed by other teams and have looked clueless in their pursuit.  World B calls it an embarrassment.  Bruce compares Knicks management to the Keystone Cops.  Bruce thinks NY should hire Mark Jackson, who played for the Knicks and coached the Warriors as they were about to become a dynasty under Steve Kerr.

45:30... Ross wraps it up and says good bye and see you next week.

TRT 45:47

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:12 Ross introduces special guest Joe Doerrer of StrictlyBball

2:07 The Indiana take a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals with a big Game 3 home win

3:34 Is Joe surprised with how the Pacers are finding success against the Thunder?

10:05 Is Game 4 a must win game for the Oklahoma City Thunder?

12:42 Ross asks Joe to reflect on the Western Conference Finals given his ties to Chet Holmgren while also being a huge Wolves fan

14:25 Is Anthony Edwards status in the league following the same lines as Jayson Tatum’s pre-championship?

16:13 What’s the future hold for Naz Reid?

17:35 Is Cooper Flag going to be able to live up to all the hype entering the NBA?

19:52 Where are area’s for improvement in Flagg’s game?

21:31 Do Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey have all-star potential?

24:23 Of the Monteverde Acadamy’s historic Class of 2024 group which player other than Flagg will have the most success in the NBA?

27:38 Is Tre Johnson the best perimeter shooter in the draft?

28:46 Joe provides his insights on Kon Knueppel

31:25 Joe on Khaman Maluach

33:48 Carter Bryant’s upside at the next level

36:17 Why isn’t a guy like Johni Broome highly regarded?

39:02 Ross asks for Joe’s thoughts on how NIL deals are effecting the NBA draft

40:27 When did V.J. Edgecombe get on Joe’s radar & what’s his NBA potential look like?

43:10 Who’s the best point guard in this draft class?

44:01 Who’s the top international prospect in this draft class?

45:05 Who are some of Joe’s favorite 2nd round sleepers?

46:28 Does Joe believe this will be one of the wildest off season’s leading up to the draft?

47:20 Joe gives us a sneak preview into next year’s NBA draft class

48:57 Should we expect to see StrictlyBball on stage at the NBA draft again this year?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:25 Bruce gives special guest Antonio Davis a proper introduction

2:46 Antonio Davis shares his own memories of the Pacers/Knicks rivalry

6:12 How unique & equally matched the Pacers/Knicks rivalry was in the 90’s

8:39 Antonio gives his thoughts on the most recent Pacers/Knicks series in the Eastern Conference Finals

10:56 Haliburton’s heroic Game 1 buzzer beater & “choke” gesture brought back some memories

14:01 Antonio shares his love & respect for Rick Carlisle

16:54 How screens have changed throughout the years

19:40 Antonio shares a great story from his college days guarding Tim Hardaway in practice

22:36 What was it like finally playing as a Knick inside Madison Square Garden?

26:16 Antonio reflects on playing alongside Vince Carter in Toronto

28:31 Do the Indiana Pacers have a shot at pulling off a huge NBA Finals upset?

30:50 Antonio on one of the most notorious plays in the history of the Knicks/Pacers rivalry

35:03 What is the mission of the National Basketball Retired Players Association?

43:30 Antonio shares his vision for the future of the NBRPA

47:09 Antonio on how the NBAPA & NBRPA have worked hard together to provide heath insurance to retired players

51:49 What are some of Antonio’s immediate goals coming up this offseason

56:43 Antonio shares 1 quick final story on the Harlem Globetrotters

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:33 ... Instant reaction to Tuesday night's game #4 of the Knicks/Pacers Eastern Conference Finals playoff series.

2:45 ... Bruce highlights the performances of Tyrese Haliburton, Bennedict Mathurin, and Pascal Siakam who were the biggest reasons Indiana took game #4 and grabbed a 3-1 series lead.

3:53 ... Ross pointed out how it was a game of runs but Indiana never allowed New York to really get close enough to threaten the Pacers.

4:55 ... World B was disgusted with the sloppy play of the Knicks and feels they need to reduce turnovers in game 5 if they hope to extend the series.  He is also concerned about the health of Karl-Anthony Towns who hurt his knee in the 4th quarter on Tuesday night.

7:23 ... The crew previews game 5 in New York and discusses if Tom Thibodeau will dial back his rotation as he did in the first two games.

10:17 ... Ross is concerned about how Towns will be perceived by the NY fans if he doesn't play in game 5 due to his knee.  Bruce needs Mikal Bridges to show up big in game #5, but World B points out how hard Bridges has to work on defense against Haliburton.

14:38 ... Ross tees up a brief discussion on how Thibodeau expanded his rotation and how Josh Hart nudged him into doing it by offering to come off the bench and allow Mitchell Robinson to start games 3 and 4.

16:00 ... Western Conference Finals discussion as Oklahoma City won Monday's game #4 to put a stranglehold on their series against Minnesota.  Bruce felt the tone was set in the first quarter.  World B says the series is over now that OKC has a 3-1 series lead and it was impressive how they bounced back from a 42 point loss on Saturday.  Ross agrees and praises Jalen Williams of the Thunder for his great performances.  Everyone feels the series is over except for the final result.  OKC's defense is the decisive factor.

23:25 ... Anthony Edwards needs a great performance in game 5 after scoring just 13 points in game 4.  World B feels he is not holding himself accountable.

24:18 ... Ross wants to praise Minnesota's Nickiell Alexander-Walker whose great postseason performances will help him find a team willing to pay him big bucks as a free agent this off-season.

24:50 .... Shai Gilgeous-Alexander beat Nikola Jokic for the MVP Award ... the guys discuss the large margin of victory in the voting and how both players were most deserving of the award.

28:13 ... All-NBA Team discussions ... On the first team the only quibble was Donovan Mitchell making it over Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Stephen Curry.

30:33 .... On the second team, the guys discussed LeBron James making it in spite of ESPN's Brian Windhorst not voting him on any of the three All-NBA teams.

33:36 ... On the third team, Bruce bemoaned the fact that Jaylen Brown fell two games short of the 65 game minimum to qualify for All-NBA.  Bruce felt he would have made the third team, but sacrificed an individual award in order to be healthier for the playoffs and Bruce is really annoyed at some Celtics fans who are blaming Brown for the team's earlier than expected postseason exit.  World B felt Tyler Herro should have made third team over James Harden.  Ross pointed out that if not for injury, Victor Wembanyama would also have probably made 2nd or 3rd team All-NBA and probably also won Defensive Player of the Year.

37:08 ... Smokin' Hot Take from World B ... Cade Cunningham will be first team All-NBA next season.  This bodes well for the Pistons ascending into the top 4 in the eastern conference next season.

40:10 ... Final Thoughts ... Bruce on how OKC's comeback from a 42 point loss to Minnesota last weekend reminds him of two former NBA Championship teams that had similar experiences 40 seasons ago: the 1984 Celtics and the 1985 Lakers.

41:30 .... World B on how the Knicks loss to Indiana in game one was not the biggest choke in the Knicks history.  It was 30 years ago when Reggie Miller made the Knicks the worst chokers in franchise history.  Tyrese Haliburton will clearly haunt World B's dreams for many years to come.

46:16  ... Ross on how all the off-season transactions will be very exciting this year.  And from that he says goodbye and "see you next week."

TRT 46:57

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:39 The crew share their thoughts on Sunday’s OKC/DEN Game 7 matchup

4:42 Bruce on why the Thunder have a short turnaround time between Game 7 & WCF Game 1

5:31 How do the Timberwolves stack up against the Thunder in the series

12:26 The crew give their Western Conference Finals series predictions

14:13 Eastern Conference Finals Preview

26:03 The crew give their Eastern Conference Finals series predictions

28:21 What’s next for the Denver Nuggets?

35:15 What’s next for the Boston Celtics?

41:41 What’s next for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

45:03 The WNBA season is underway! Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese recap

47:13 1st overall pick Paige Bueckers made her debut with the Dallas Wings

48:57 Bruce makes a Game 5 confession!

50:42 World B responds to Trae Young’s recent comments

52:57 Ross shares the latest NBA term recently noted by GG Jackson

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:23 ... Ross tees up discussion of the Knicks big win over Boston on Monday night, giving NY a 3-1 lead in their playoff series.  World B feels it was one of the most impressive Knicks games in more than two decades.

3:32 ... Bruce felt that even with an 11 point lead at halftime, the Celtics were not in great shape because the Knicks stayed attached the entire game.

5:04 ... Jayson Tatum played great until he injured himself in the final minutes but it appears to be a serious injury and it sure looks bad for his return on Wednesday. for game 5.

8:00 ... Bruce appreciated Tatum's scoring heroics in game 4, but took issue with some of his shot decisions and how they helped stifle the Celtics ball movement, thus playing into New York's hands.  World B points out how Boston plays a lot of isolation ball and when they don't penetrate into the paint, they can be successfully defended.

10:46 ... With Tatum likely unavailable in game five, the guys discuss who might step up for Boston.  Jrue Holiday might be ready to have a big night.

13:08 ... Ross and World B discuss the pressure NY may feel if Boston can somehow take game 5 on Wednesday.  World B has lots of praise for Tatum and how much he respects him.

15:08 ... Ross is concerned that Kristaps Porzingis may be physically unable to step up in to help fill the void that Tatum leaves in game five.

15:39 .... The Cavaliers are being curb stomped by Indiana as they also trail their series 3 games to one.  They may not be dead, but they're close to dead.  The Cavs are lucky that Sunday's blowout only counted for one loss.

22:30 ... Bruce puts Bennedict Mathurin on notice that moves like his bush league punch in game 4 will get him extra scrutiny from the refs if the Pacers move on.  World B feels like Indiana has exhibited some punk-like behavior in the series.

23:59 ... The Thunder and Nuggets are tied at 2 games each out west and OKC's defense has carried the team with their offense not looking especially sharp.

25:15 .... Bruce predicts that Shai Gilgeous Alexander will received his MVP Award on Tuesday night before game 5.  Bruce feels that OKC's defense wore down the Nuggets in game four and in the final quarter caused the Nuggets to "drop their hands" like a boxer who absorbs too many punches to the ribs.  Ross predicts a Nuggets win in game five and a seven game series ... World B agrees and has high praise for Aaron Gordon of the Nuggets for his performance.  Ross feels Gordon is their 3rd most important player.

32:33 ... Game four of Timberwolves/Warriors was underway as the show was being recorded on Monday night and none of the guys felt that Golden State would come back to take the series.  Julius Randle was having another big game and has found his playoff groove in Minnesota.  With Steph Curry injured, they just need more scoring than they can muster right now.

36:14 ... The Draft Lottery took place on Monday night and the guys respond to the Dallas Mavericks beating the odds and earning the right to draft Cooper Flagg in June's NBA Draft.  Bruce was thinking that when the Spurs made it into the top four, they might once again get the 1st overall pick as they did with Victor Wembanyama, Tim Duncan, and David Robinson in previous NBA Drafts.

37:50 ... The saddest teams in the league have to be Charlotte, Washington, and Utah, all of whom were hosed in the lottery and missed out on the #1 overall pick.

41:08 ... The guys take issue with ESPN's star NBA journalist Shams Charania claiming that Giannis Antetokounmpo discussed leaving Milwaukee for the very first time this weekend when he actually did it on our podcast back in September of 2023.  We playfully demanded an apology but offered to kiss and make up if he joins us on a future show to talk hoop!  Giannis' comments on 48 Minutes were instrumental in helping the Bucks to acquire Damian Lillard, which required them to trade Jrue Holiday to Portland and led to the trade to the Celtics.

44:10 ... Ross was on Milwaukee radio today and told the host "Sparky" Fifer that Bucks fans shouldn't panic because Giannis is loyal to the Bucks and the city.

45:38 ... Milwaukee can't expect to get equal value in return for Giannis in any trade because players of his caliber are hardly ever are traded.  Oklahoma City has the assets needed to entice the Bucks into a possible trade, so we'll see if those teams do business in the off-season.

50:10 ... Ross wraps things up and says goodbye.

TRT 50:33

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:56 Ross provides Bruce & World B with an update on how their 1st Round predictions fared

1:15 What we’ve learned from the 2025 NBA Playoffs thus far

1:26 Bruce on the Northwest Division & James Harden

2:08 World B on the Minnesota Timberwolves

2:43 Ross on JJ Redick, LeBron James, & the LA Lakers

3:47 The New York Knicks steal a Game 1 OT Win in Boston over the Celtics

14:10 Is Game 2 a must win for the Celtics?

17:43 The Indiana Pacers steal Game 1 in their series against the Cavaliers in Cleveland

24:50 Two underdogs out West are set to face off in the 2nd Round between the Warriors & Timberwolves

35:53 Will Nikola Jokic & the Nuggets put up a good fight against the OKC Thunder?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:35 ... Episode #154 is dedicated to Sandro Mamukelashvili, who was drafted #54 in the 2021 NBA Draft

1:19 ... Knicks/Pistons discussion which includes a breakdown of the controversial "non call" at the end of game 4 which may have cost the Pistons the series.

3:25 ... Bruce feels like the Pistons should get every 50/50 call in game 5 to try and make up for the non-call in game 4 and he also was super impressed with Jalen Brunson's 4th quarter performance in game 4.  World B has massive praise for Karl-Anthony Towns.

7:50 ... Celtics/Magic discussion which includes Bruce's feelings that Orlando's toughness really tested Boston and helped prepare them for their upcoming series by forcing them to find ways to score other than with 3 point shooting.  World B feels like the Magic have played really well but lack the offensive firepower to defeat Boston.

11:47 ... Bruce asks Ross and World B if the Knicks have the type of personnel to play Boston the way Orlando has.  Ross and World B differ in their responses.

14:36 ... Bucks/Pacers discussion ... the big story is that Damian Lillard tore his achilles tendon on Sunday and will likely miss most of next season.  Bruce is worried that Giannis Antetokounmpo will ask to be traded now that Lillard is on the shelf and suggests that Oklahoma City has the assets needed to make the Bucks a solid offer for Giannis and that Milwaukee should be on the phone pursuing a deal.  World B feels like the Pacers are really clicking and are back to their hot January form.  Ross credits the Pacers defense for their success.

19:38 ... Lakers/Timberwolves discussion ... World B feels like LeBron James and Luka Doncic may have what it takes to win 3 straight games and dig themselves out of a 3-1 deficit, but the Timberwolves are playing like a team that can handle their business and move on.  Bruce felt that the Lakers were worn down by the Wolves in Sunday's 4th quarter as LA coach JJ Redick used just 5 players in the final quarter.  Bruce praised Naz Reid's work and nicknamed him "Nuclear Naz" because of his explosive play.  Ross with an amazing fact about Redick's historic "non use" of his bench in the second half of Sunday's game.

24:45 ... Clippers/Nuggets discussion ... Aaron Gordon's dunk on Saturday will go down in Nuggets lore and will be talked about forever, but the guys were also impressed by the way Gordon stood up for his teammate Christian Braun when the Clippers took exception to a foul Braun committed just before halftime.  World B feels it has been a great series that will go 7 games and thinks the Clippers can win another road game in Denver.

28:09 ... Bruce wants James Harden to come up with a monster game in game 5, which is something he has never really done in the playoffs.

30:08 ... Bruce asks his co-hosts if Nikola Jokic is now on the very short list of the 5 greatest centers of all-time?  And can he be considered the greatest International player of all-time?

31:13 ... Thunder/Grizzlies discussion ... the guys discuss whether the long layoff that OKC has earned after sweeping Memphis will negatively affect the team at the start of their next series.  Ross feels that Chet Holmgren will benefit the most from a long layoff between series as he'll need to have maximum energy against either Jokic or Ivika Zubac in the next round.  If the Nuggets advance and play OKC, we'll see the top two MVP candidates squaring off with Jokic vs Shai Gilgeous Alexander.

35:22 ... Cavaliers/Heat discussion ... Whatever happened to Heat Culture after being swept by the Cavs and losing game 3 by 37 points and game 4 by 55 points?  Bruce feels like the Heat roster will look a whole lot different next season after the way they flamed out this season.  While the Cavs had it easy against Miami, everyone expects the Cavs to be tested by Indiana in the next round.

44:15 ... Warriors/Rockets discussion ... are the Rockets in trouble trailing 2-1 with game 4 on Monday night?  Everyone agrees that game 4 is a "must win" for Houston.  If Houston  can improve their shooting, they can come back in the series.  But that's a big IF.

48:06 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye

TRT 48:33

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:47 World B reacts to Ross’s episode dedication

1:28 The Minnesota Timberwolves with a statement win in Game 1, should the Lakers be concerned?

8:50 Russell Westbrook & the Denver Nuggets secure a huge Game 1 overtime victory over the Clippers

13:41 The Indiana Pacers handled business against the Bucks in their Game 1 home win

17:48 The New York Knicks secured a Game 1 win over the Detroit Pistons

23:19 Any hope for the Miami Heat against Cleveland or is this going to be a quick sweep?

27:11 Can the Orlando Magic win a single game without scoring in triple digits against the Celtics?

33:00 At this point would we be surprised if the Thunder don’t sweep the Grizzlies?

37:48 Should we be surprised the Warriors took Game 1 against the Rockets in Houston?

43:40 Instant reaction to the Pistons Game 2 bounce back win against the Knicks

48:04 The NBA Award Finalists were announced on Sunday

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:47 ... Ross dedicates episode #152 to the Houston Rockets, who won 52 games this season.

1:08 ... Bruce introduces Jared Greenberg ot TNT Sports and NBA TV

1:49 ... Eastern conference "play in tournament" preview ... Orlando and the Bulls get the 7 and 8 spots

3:02 ... Western conference "play in" preview ... Golden State gets #7 and Memphis #8

3:48 ... Will Houston be challenged by a #7 seed like Golden State in the first round?  Jared is impressed by Houston's mental makeup.

6:07 ... The Rockets are one of the hardest playing teams in the league ... Detroit and OKC are the others.  Jared expects ramped up intensity from all 3 of them in the playoffs.

7:06 ... Ross tees up the preview of the Pistons/Knicks series ... lots of pressure on the Knicks while the Pistons are playing with house money.

8:45 ... Will the season be a bust if the Knicks don't make the conference finals?  Jared puts their season into context and suggests changes may be coming if they fall short of expectations.

10:06 ... The Pistons have more playoff experience than many realize and NY really needs Jalen Brunson to play well.

11:11 .... Indiana vs Milwaukee is a repeat of last season's 4 vs 5 matchup in the east ... with Damian Lillard out, can the Bucks possibly win the series?  Since Giannis is the best player on the court, he may be able to carry Milwaukee to a series victory.

12:35 ... Ross asks Jared about the Bucks personnel moves during the season with the addition of Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Junior and the loss of Khris Middleton.

15:26 ... Tyrese Haliburton has been spectacular since the All-Star break ... his numbers across the board have been great.  But Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner have been solid too.

17:17 ... Can any lower seeds challenge Cleveland or Boston in the east?  Is there any chance the Cavs could start their first playoff series on a "down" note in game one?  Which first round opponent would give Cleveland's defense problems?

19:17 ... Jared sizes up a possible eastern conference finals matchup between Boston and Cleveland.

20:40 ... Joe Mazzulla risked losing some games during the season in order to give guys rest and keep them fresh for the playoffs.  Much like the 1995 Rockets, the 2025 Celtics knew they could take their foot off the gas at times in search of a larger prize.

22:57 ... Cade Cunningham and Evan Mobley are two young players who will have huge opportunities in the playoffs.  Jared feels that Mobley's success will be somewhat dependent on Donovan Mitchell, who must continue his "team first" play.

24:49 ... The Wolves/Lakers 3 vs 6 series in the west should be fascinating ... Jared feels like Minnesota really stepped up their defense as the season wore on.   Julius Randle may have some extra motivation as a former Laker.  Will Anthony Edwards help eliminate a Hall of Famer for the second year in a row?

28:02 ... Minnesota has an advantage with better bigs, so JJ Redick may go small and try to limit Rudy Gobert's impact.

29:16 .... Denver vs the LA Clippers in the 4 vs 5 series ... Nikola Jokic gives the Nuggets a presence that no team can match.  Kawhi Leonard's health is always a potential issue.  And Ivica Zubac is someone Jared has his eyes on regarding the matchup with Jokic.

30:36 ... Ross asks if any team in the west can challenge OKC ... um ... No.  But Jared feels any number of teams could make it to the western conference finals, they just can't beat the Thunder.

32:16 ... NBA Championship matchup: Boston vs Oklahoma City ... so who does Jared think will win the Larry O'Brien Trophy?  Can the Thunder find a second consistent scorer along with Gilgeous-Alexander?

34:46 ... Ross asks about Jared's favorite postgame interview and he has a really good Stephen Curry story.

36:02 ... Postseason Awards discussion ... who will win MVP?

37:45 ... Is Shai Gilgeous-Amexander a "mini version" of Jokic due to his playing style?

39:39 ... Rookie of the Year?  Jared runs through the list of worthy candidates but settles on ____!

40:14 ... Defensive Player of the Year?  Victor Wembanyama would have won if not for missing so many games, but he doesn't qualify.  Jared drops a great stat about Wemby and Brook Lopez.

43:29 ... Most Improved Player?  As a former number one overall pick, should Cade Cunningham really be considered?

45:28 ... World B likes Cunningham but also feels Ivica Zubac is worthy.

48:41 ... Coach of the Year?  Jared has four solid candidates but he feels that rewarding the coach of a 6 seed is an problem for him.  So he's going with the coach who took a good team to "great," rather than taking a bad team to "good."

49:25 ... Jared has worked for TNT's NBA coverage for more than a decade and he shares his feelings about the final weeks of TNT's NBA coverage as their 36 year run covering the league ends in early June.

51:06 ... Ross thanks Jared and wraps things up ...

TRT 51:34

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:03 ... Mike briefly explains the "double track" method that the Celtics used to win the 2024 NBA Championship.

1:57 ... Some felt that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown weren't a championship combo but the Celtics management felt otherwise and showed patience with the duo.

3:02 ... With Tatum and Brown just hitting their prime, the only way they'd be split up now has nothing to do with their performance on the court.

4:07 ... How Tatum's snubs regarding the NBA Finals MVP voting and 2024 Olympics benching drove him to even greater levels of achievement this season.

5:22 ... Tatum has finally achieved a level of "Basketball IQ" that has placed him in rare company.

6:53 ... Tatum leads the Celtics in a way this is somewhat like Nikola Jokic in Denver and he has placed individual accolades well behind his desire to get a ring.

8:10 ... Patience and aggressiveness are not easy to combine in one person's emotional makeup.  But Celtics president Brad Stevens has mastered that balance.

10:09 ... Bruce tells the story of how the 48 Minutes podcast's interview with Giannis Antetokounmpo set the stage for Stevens to acquire Jrue Holiday.  Mike describes how Brad keeps a "wish list" of players he covets and also how Joe Mazzulla told Holiday that they were destined to work together months before the trade was even considered.

13:15 ... It wasn't easy for Stevens to trade Robert Williams III but having already acquired Kristaps Porzingis made it easier to Stevens to part with the "Time Lord."

14:28 ... The health of Porzingis is the key for Boston in the postseason.  Mazzulla risked losing some games along the way in order to manage the workload of key players like KP and veteran Al Horford while giving reserve players like Sam Hauser meaningful minutes.

17:51 ... Boston is not concerned about having home court advantage in the playoffs, so they didn't have to go all out to win every game during the regular season.  Stevens and Mazzulla had a plan for what they're doing and never wavered or listened to the noise from outside.

19:54 ... Mike's co-author Cedric Maxwell played for 6 different NBA coaches with various different styles, so what is his take on Mazzulla?

21:29 ... Mazzulla's no nonsense style has been effective with the players because of his self-awareness and willingness to be his authentic self.

23:32 ... Mazzulla effectively navigated the move from assistant coach to head coach OF THE SAME TEAM, which isn't easy to do when you go from being the players' "friend" to their boss.

25:09 ... Mike explains the relationship between Stevens and Mazzulla.  As a former coach, Stevens could have been heavy handed in his approach to a young coach like Joe, but he avoided doing that.

26:53 ... Stevens' moves were reminiscent of previous moves by legendary Celtics executives like Red Auerbach and Danny Ainge.  Mike points out how many of the team's big moves usually led to instant success and gives three great examples.

30:47 ... Ainge is currently angling to get Cooper Flagg in the 2025 Draft for the Utah Jazz.

31:54 ... Bruce resets the show and asks Mike about the future of the team with new ownership.  Mike explains how some of their recent big money signings could have negative repercussions down the road, especially if the Celtics don't repeat in 2025.

34:15 ... Bruce and Mike discuss whether guys like Holiday, Porzingis, and Horford would be willing to sign "team favorable" deals to keep winning championships.

36:57 ... Mike likes the OKC Thunder to make the NBA Finals from the west and the Celtics to come out of the east.

38:01 ... Bruce compares the OKC defense to a hockey power play with 6 players against 5.  Mike explains how the Thunder just come at you in waves.

39:27 ... The guys discuss how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a mini version of Nikola Jokic and how Tatum is also in that category when it comes to the game "slowing down" for him.

40:43 ... Bruce and Mike praise Derrick White for his clutch play when the team needs a bucket.

41:52 ... Mike explains how to find the book "Banner Year" and the "big picture" philosophy that makes the organization tick.

43:59 ... Bruce wraps it up and teases the next episode with TNT's Jared Greenberg and the 48 Minutes playoff preview next week.

TRT 44:32

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:12 Ross breaks down the “Realistic Expectations” show concept

1:42 Starting out East with the Detroit Pistons

6:02 Do the Milwaukee Bucks stand a chance in the 1st round of the playoffs?

10:30 Do the Indiana Pacers have another surprising playoff run in them?

16:12 The state of the New York Knicks

22:01 Who would Bruce rather face out of the Play-In Tournament? The Magic or Hawks?

29:08 Is it unfair to say it’s Championship or Bust for the Cleveland Cavaliers?

33:41 Ross shares details into the wild playoff battles going on in the Western Conference

34:05 How serious should we take the Golden State Warriors come playoff time?

38:15 The LA Clippers are peaking at the right time

41:57 The Denver Nuggets are we selling their playoff stock?

45:04 Could the LA Lakers become the biggest disappointment in the playoffs this year?

48:40 The Houston Rockets holding on strong to the 2nd spot in the West

52:15 Is it Championship or Bust for the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:14 ... Ross dedicates episode #150 to Zach "Zeebo" Randolph, who wore #50 in his long NBA career.

1:24 ... Ross live commercial read for BetOnLine ...

2:02 ... Bruce introduces tonight's guest, Lakers reporter Ryan Ward

2:40 ... Ryan shares his thoughts on the "Running Point" series on MAX that is based on Lakers owner Jeanie Buss

3:58 ... "World B" points out how streaky the Lakers have been in March and Ryan shares his thoughts on how the team goes on "Benders" at times and remains a puzzle as to how far they're capable of going in the playoffs.

6:11 ... Ross asks what the biggest difference is when LeBron is on the floor vs. when he is not.  Ryan has a great analytical point about how the spacing is affected when LeBron is on the floor.

8:10 ... Ross points out that when Luka Doncic is running the offense, there is better motion in LA's offense and Ryan points out how LeBron causes the motion to stop when he has the ball at the top of the key.

9:50 ... Bruce asks Ryan whether LA has what it takes to win key games down the stretch and secure the #2 seeding in the west.  Ryan feels they do not.  He is concerned that the Lakers could fold quickly in the playoffs.

11:53 ... LA has really struggled on the road this season and Ryan points out that the Lakers had three straight "back to back" road games and sometimes they were guilty of playing down to the level of their opponents.

13:55 ... Bruce points out that Austin Reaves has been an outstanding "third wheel" with LeBron and Luka and Ryan explains how he continues to amaze and will be relied upon heavily in the playoffs.  Ryan sees comparisons between Reaves and Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili.

16:40 ... Ross asks Ryan how much LeBron's endorsement has meant to Reaves' development.

17:46 ... Rookie Dalton Knecht has been impressive after returning to the Lakers after having his trade to Charlotte rescinded.  Ryan doesn't really understand how coach JJ Redick is using him and thinks they may trade him again if they can get a quality big man in return.

19:39 ... The guys discuss JJ Redick's coaching job in his rookie year.  Ryan likes his intensity, passion, and intelligence.

21:09 ... Ross and Ryan discuss Redick's readiness to coach well in the playoffs.

22:52 ... LeBron James has been acting out lately with battles against ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst ... Ryan feels there is a "Wrestlemania" element to the whole thing.  Especially when LeBron did it on the Pat McAfee's show.

25:37 ... Bruce feels LeBron acted like a bully in his comments about Windhorst and Ryan feels like Stephen A. came out on top in this situation.  Ryan loves how Mike Wilbon also checked in with his thoughts on the whole thing.

28:11 ... Ross has two quick hitters about LeBron's positive comments on Giannis Antetokounmpo and also asked Ryan if he and LeBron ever locked horns over something Ryan wrote or said.

30:20 ... Bruce offers Ryan some advice on how he can mix it up with LeBron and make worldwide news if there is ever beef between them.

31:18 ... Ryan tells everyone how to find him on social media and shares an update on his "Jello Jigglin" podcast.

32:14 ... Show reset and discussion of the Boston Celtics, who won their 9th straight game on Monday night.  They appear to be peaking at the right time and are ready to flip the switch.  Bruce credits head coach Joe Mazzulla with guiding the team through a long season and giving his reserves lots of minutes so they can contribute in the postseason.  World B cautions that the Celtics starting lineup has not been as dominant as we expected.

38:08 ... Ross expands the discussion on how Boston's bench has stepped up and how it bodes well for the postseason.  Bruce points out the value of veteran Al Horford and what a luxury it is that Boston has him.

38:24 ... The Taylor Jenkins firing is a head scratcher and Bruce is angry that the Grizzlies GM has not really given a good explanation as to why it was done.  Bruce is concerned how the lack of information about the firing casts a cloud over Jenkins since some may suspect him of "shenanigans" when there may not have been any.  World B feels like the Grizzlies team has tailed off badly in the second half of the season.

41:37 ... Ross wants Suns owner Mat Ishbia to hire Jenkins as the lead assistant for Mike Budenholzer and run the offense in Phoenix.

42:43 ... The Milwaukee Bucks are a hot mess with Damian Lillard out indefinitely ... Bruce thinks former head coach Adrian Griffin might be laughing at the situation he left behind since he was fired with a 30-13 record last season and the Bucks have been pretty "meh" since then, winning just 59 of 113 games.  None of the guys feel the Bucks are capable of winning a playoff series at this point.

46:16 ... Breaking news!  PJ Tucker is signing a 2 year deal with the Knicks and will be a steady veteran presence.  Ross has high praise for PJ whom he worked with in Phoenix and called PJ "the new Taj Gibson.".

47:03 ... The guys recap the Sunday night Pistons/Timberwolves brawl and discuss the Pistons and their "Bad Boy" culture.  World B has had enough of the fake "tough guy" act from Isaiah Stewart.  Bruce initially thought there would not be any suspensions as a result of the brawl but Ross disagreed and Bruce was convinced and changed his mind.

53:22 ... The guys make their choices for the college hoop championship ... Ross and World B like Houston and Bruce likes Auburn.

54:15 ... Ross says goodbye ...

TRT 54:30

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:41 Bruce asks Ross to explain why the show wasn’t recorded Monday night

3:32 Breaking news out of Milwaukee, Damian Lillard is out indefinitely due to a blood clot

6:08 The Boston Celtics franchise has been sold!

10:34 The crew share their brief thoughts on the NBA’s potential expansion team scenarios

11:59 Bruce provides some Boston fan perspective on the Celtics home arena situation

13:10 The Cavs just suffered their roughest stretch of the season

17:23 The LA Clippers are finding their stride, are we sleeping on them?

21:53 Jimmy Butler made his first return to Miami

25:55 Musical Chairs out West! The battle for playoff positioning

26:23 Houston Rockets

30:03 Denver Nuggets

33:48 LA Lakers

36:34 Memphis Grizzlies

40:40 Musical Chairs out East! The battle for playoff positioning

40:56 Indiana Pacers

43:24 Milwaukee Bucks

46:29 Detroit Pistons

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:44... Episode #148 dedicated to the Houston Rockets, who average 48 rebounds a game

0:56 ... Bet OnLine Live commercial read

1:31 .. Bruce introduces special guest Kevin Winter, the veteran ESPN Radio personality

2:35 ... We start out with a robust discussion of the Cleveland Cavaliers and whether they've "Got It."  Kevin sees the Cavs as a team that has excelled because of the emergence of Evan Mobley.  But Kevin sees the eastern conference as a "two horse" race with the Cavs and Celtics.

5:17 ... World B makes an excellent point about the lack of efficiency by the Celtics' starting lineup.  Kevin feels like the C's learned how to win last year, and may have handled the target on their backs well enough to flip the switch in the postseason.

7:49 ... What about the OKC Thunder ... do they look like a championship team?  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) has become someone almost impossible to stop.

9:50 ... Bruce felt OKC's lack of rebounding heading into the season was a problem they have fixed.  Kevin feels like the Thunder's defense swarms opponents extremely effectively and they have learned from last year's premature playoff exit.

12:46 ... World B tees up a discussion on whether SGA is a "foul baiter" and Kevin says he is not.   Everyone agreed that SGA is crafty not phony.

16:39 ... The NBA is investigating the Thunder for resting their starters in a home game against Portland, but does OKC deserve any punishment?

19:32 ... The top three teams: OKC, Boston, and Cleveland appear to be the class of the NBA.  But what are the concerns for each team moving forward?  Health is an issue for all three teams but OKC's youth is also an issue.  Boston has no clue how to stop Donovan Mitchell.

26:43 ... The crew discusses which team was the biggest disappointment this season.  Philly tops the list.  Bruce has a fun fact about how much Paul George made "per game" during his injury plagued season.

29:26 ... Luke Doncic and LeBron James have done a great job developing chemistry, but can the Lakers actually compete for the western conference championship if and when LeBron returns to good health?

34:54 ... JJ Redick has done a great job coaching the Lakers and has made some great strategic moves this season.

35:58 ... Has Jimmy Butler made the Warriors a team that could make the conference finals or even win the west?   Butler is hungry and would love to have a crack at guarding some of the OKC wings.

39:43 ... Ross likes the Memphis Grizzlies and feels that they have successfully overcome a lot of injuries and are a complete team.  Kevin feels that the Grizz could make a run in the west.

42:18 ... Bruce worries that Dallas is rushing Anthony Davis back too soon and are trying to save a season that is already lost.  He's going to the G-League to continue his rehab but shutting him down seems like a much smarter idea.

45:23 ... Who does Kevin feel will meet in the NBA Finals?

47:10 ... Cooper Flagg is the projected overall #1 pick, so which of the struggling teams would be the best fit for him.

50:27 ... We can't do a show after Selection Sunday without briefly discussing March Madness.   Since Kevin, Bruce, and World B don't have teams in the NCAA Tournament, we all discuss which team we'd root for since our favorite college teams aren't involved (except for Ross's Marquette squad).

54:29 ... Ross wraps it up, thanks Kevin and says goodbye until next time.

TRT 55:00

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:33 Bruce questions Ross’s choice in players for the episode’s dedication

1:57 Bruce introduces special guest NBA reporter Christian Clark

2:51 Is the anger over the Luka trade still burning for Mavericks fans in Dallas?

4:34 Has anyone made sense of why Nico Harrison settled for so little in return for Luka Doncic?

6:06 Are Mavericks fans feeling like the Mavericks might be cursed with all the injuries after trading Luka?

9:20 Will Jaden Hardy surprise some people with his big opportunity that lies ahead?

11:11 What’s been the vibe in the Dallas locker room since the Luka trade & Kyrie injury?

12:58 Can this Mavericks team be a potential contender with everyone healthy?

15:25 Will the Mavericks organization ever be the same without Mark Cuban running the show?

17:32 If the Mavs somehow land the #1 overall pick to draft Cooper Flagg how far would that go in easing the anger of Mavericks fans?

18:57 How does Nico Harrison survive this trade?

20:17 Which Mavericks player is Christian’s favorite interview?

22:20 Having recently been around the Phoenix Suns, what’ s the vibe like around the struggling Phoenix Suns?

24:20 Does Christian see anything that might be the OKC Thunder’s achilles heel come playoff time?

25:55 Is there a team out West that’s been floating under the radar that may have what it takes to go on a roll in the playoffs?

27:19 Which young up & coming team out West has a been chance in the playoffs this year? The Houston Rockets or Memphis Grizzlies?

28:27 Have the OKC Thunder or Cleveland Cavaliers peaked too early?

30:06 Christian shares his MVP choice at the moment

31:08 Are the Minnesota Timberwolves still a dangerous team out West?

32:37 Where do the Milwaukee Bucks stand out East?

33:57 The Thunder versus the Cavaliers in the Finals, who does Christian give the edge too?

35:32 Did Luka’s arrival in LA rejuvenate LeBron James this season?

37:26 Where do the New Orleans Pelicans go from here after a disastrous season?

40:02 Christian shares his thoughts on Dyson Daniels having previously covered the New Orleans Pelicans

42:05 Will Dyson Daniels get some Defensive Player of the Year votes this year?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:35 ... Episode #146 is dedicated to John Konchar, who has worn #46 for his entire career in the NBA.

0:47 ... Ross live commercial read for BetOnLine

1:23 ... The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a season-long roll and the crew breaks down the reasons for their incredible success.  Donovan Mitchell absolutely torched the Boston Celtics once again last Friday night.

7:50 ... The young Detroit Pistons team has won 9 of its last 10 games, including a huge win over the defending champion Celtics last Wednesday.  Their mix of great young talent plus newly acquired veterans like Malik Beasley have them in a great position to make the playoffs as the #6 seed in the east.

12:37 ... The Los Angeles Lakers are rolling and the chemistry is developing quickly between LeBron James and Luka Doncic.  They truly look like a team that is peaking at a good time and their defense has been incredible.  They may just be the number one threat to the OKC Thunder to represent the western conference in the NBA Finals.

18:29 ... The final two play-in spots out west look like they'll probably go to Sacramento and Dallas, but the young Portland Trailblazers are sitting at #11 and have been playing their best ball in years.  The guys size up Portland's chances of grabbing the #10 spot away from the Kings or Mavericks.

23:52 ... Jalen Suggs of the Magic will undergo surgery on his left knee and will be out indefinitely.  His loss removes a great two way player and considering what a poor shooting team the Magic are, they'll likely continue to disappoint.  In fairness to coach Jamahl Moseley, injuries to Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Suggs have derailed their season.

30:18 ... Joel Embiid of the 76ers played just 19 games this season and has been shut down for the remainder of the season.  Bruce makes some comparisons between Embiid and the late Bill Walton who was also a super talented big man who battled injuries throughout his Hall of Fame career.  The entire 76ers' season has been one big dumpster fire burning out of control.

38:23 ... Jimmy Butler may have moved on to the Bay Area, but the Butler vs. Miami saga continues as he is being sued by a company in Miami Beach.  We'll offer details.

39:49 ... Bruce's final thought is on a play he attended last Friday called "King James," which is the story of two Cavaliers fans who bonded over their love of LeBron James.

40:54 ... World B's final thought is on Stephon Curry, the greatest shooter in history and someone who will eventually be considered one of the top five players of all time if he can win one more ring.

42:53 ... Ross's final thought is on Meyers Leonard, who recently announced his retirement.  Leonard wrote a country style song about his career and Ross is impressed with the quality of the song.

44:36 ... Bruce tells his fellow Celtics fans not to panic about some recent losses since Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis missed the game against Cleveland but should be ready for the postseason in good health.

45:26 ... Ross says goodbye

TRT 45:41

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:33 Victor Wembanyama is out for the season due to a blood clot

5:44 More news out of San Antonio as Head Coach Gregg Popovich won’t be returning to the court as coach this season

8:01 The New York Knicks tough weekend, any legitimate concerns about the Knicks being contenders out East?

15:06 The Jimmy Butler effect in Golden State. Do the Warriors have new life?

18:36 The Play-In Bubble Race in each conference!

18:58 The Western Conference 10th spot is currently held by the Sacramento Kings

19:14 The San Antonio Spurs chances heading down the stretch of the season

23:36 The Phoenix Suns continue to search for answers to improve their playoff hopes

26:57 Can the Sacramento Kings hold onto the 10th & final play-in spot?

30:09 Is there any hope that the Portland Trail Blazers can sneak into the Western Conference play-in?

31:50 The Eastern Conference 10th spot is currently held by the Chicago Bulls

35:05 Give credit to the Brooklyn Nets this year, will the surprise us all & make the play-in?

39:33 Are the Sixers chances dead with how things continue to go in Philadelphia?

42:42 Bruce provides some NBA television news

44:15 Kevin Garnett is rumored to possibly joining the Minnesota Timberwolves front office under the new ownership

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:34 ... Episode #144 is dedicated to the Thunder and Cavs, who lead their respective conferences with 44 wins at the break.

0:47 ... Ross live BetOnLine commercial read

1:20 ... For our YouTube viewers, Bruce is rocking an All-Star hat from the 1996 All Star game in San Antonio where he first crossed paths with future colleague and lifetime pal Tim Legler, who won the Long Distance Shootout that year.

2:09 ... Ross begins his recap of All Star Weekend and Bruce's initial thought is that he wished he had binge watched "The Landman" on Paramount Plus instead of another boring All-Star weekend.

3:13 ... World B was similarly unimpressed with the gimmicks the league tried.  If the players don't care, the event will always disappoint.

4:14 ... Bruce wonders if the trade deadline should move closer to All-Star weekend to help juice up interest, but World B offers a good reason why that may not be viable.  Ross points out that Damian Lillard had some valid points about player fatigue being a factor in why the game lacks intensity.

6:52 ... Ross recaps the Rising Stars competition and feels that one of the good parts of the weekend was seeing younger guys and G-League players get some exposure.  World B agrees and Bruce says a prime example of that was Stephon Castle of the Spurs, who made a major impact in his events.

9:14 ... Ross mentions rookie Reed Shepherd and wonders if we overhyped him.  Bruce thinks he may be a late bloomer and World B points out how young he is.  World B adds that Houston COULD have drafted Castle and must be kicking themselves over that move.

11:28 ... Ross transitions to the Skills Competition which featured controversy involving an attempt by the Spurs duo of Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama to exploit a loophole in the rules to gain an unfair advantage.  Bruce isn't buying that it was Wemby's idea as he thinks Chris Paul instigated it and made the young dude take the heat for it.

13:58 ... Bruce wonders if these shenanigans chip away at the credibility of the sport.

15:07 ... Tyler Herro beat Buddy Hield in the Long Distance Shootout and the guys discuss how Herro has played through many distractions in Miami and is doing so well.

18:06 ... Mac McClung dominated the Dunk Contest with a variety of cool slams.  Bruce wants to give McClung the "Woody Harrelson White Men CAN Jump Award" as he was reminded of other undersized winners from years past like Spud Webb and Nate Robinson.  World B thinks the dunk over the car was one of the best dunks ever.

21:50 ... Ross recaps the championship game and Bruce highlights Steph Curry's two showstopping shots that won him the MVP Award.  Ross asks World B if the All Star game should have a new gimmick like a 4 of 5 point shot?  World B thinks matchup between Teams from the USA and an International team would help drive interest and players effort.

26:03 ... Preseason prediction recaps ... Bruce starts out with his choice of Stephon Castle as his preseason rookie of the year pick and explains how his big weekend at the All Star game makes him the leader in the clubhouse.  World B whips through some picks he made and says Jalen Williams would win Most Improved Player.  Ross agrees but Bruce likes Cade Cunningham to win the award.

30:37 ... Bruce had Shai Gilgeous Alexander as his MVP pick and he's pretty certain that SGA will win with Nikola Jokic second and Giannis third.  World B thinks SGA is deserving but still makes a great case for Joker.

32:58 ... Ross with a gratuitous cheap shot at World B's Orlando Magic team.  Bruce praises the brutal coldness of the comment.  But Ross's MVP choice of Luka Doncic will not be happening.

34:15 ... The Coach of the Year race?  Ross says Kenny Atkinson will win even though his preseason pick was Jamahl Moseley.  Bruce liked Ime Udoka prior to the season but feels Atkinson will win it.  World B agrees but also gives some flowers to Ty Lue of the Clippers.  Bruce and Ross give a little bit of love to JB Bickerstaff in Detroit who has done a tremendous job with a young team.

39:05 ... Ross tees up the OKC vs Boston finals prediction ... Bruce still likes the Celtics to win it, but they have certainly lacked consistency this season.  Ross shared this prediction but World B liked Minnesota to come out of the west and play Boston.

41:59 ... Ross begins the discussion on second half predictions and Bruce feels like Minnesota could get themselves on a roll as they begin a stretch of 7 out of their next 9 games on the road.  If they can go 6-3, they may be ready to go into the next gear.

43:12 ... World B with some startling facts about Boston's starters and what isn't clicking.  He adds that Cleveland is for real and points out the Cavs have some tough matchups with the Knicks coming up.

46:53 ... Ross predicts the Suns will miss the playoffs entirely, which is shocking considering who is on their team.  But they have a brutal schedule and Bradley Beal is injured and morale around the team seems low.

48:42 ... Bruce chimes in Denver, whom he expects to peak at the right time.  But he does not fully trust Memphis because when Ja Morant plays, they have a much lower winning percentage than they do when he is out of the lineup.

50:22 ... Ross wraps it up and says goodbye.

TRT 50:38

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:37 Bruce welcomes Dave Wohl back onto the show

2:00 With the Mark Williams trade to LA being rescinded where do the Hornets/Lakers go from here?

4:00 Has Dave ever been part of a team that has had a trade rescinded in his career?

5:24 Has Lakers GM Rob Pelinka put himself in a position to potentially win the GM of the Year award?

6:46 The Jimmy Butler situation & downfall in Miami, has Dave ever been around a similar scenario?

11:32 Can Jimmy Butler be a difference maker for the Warriors chances out West?

13:25 The Brad Beal no trade clause. How challenging is it to trade a player with that kind of power?

14:54 Dave shares his insights on the Cavs acquiring Deandre Hunter

16:45 What exactly does “Cash Considerations” mean in a trade?

18:01 Can Ben Simmons provide a positive impact for the Clippers this season?

23:25 Is it strange that the Suns decided to trade an unprotected 2031 1st round pick for 3 1st round picks without another deal lined up?

25:09 Is De’Arron Fox the perfect fit & find by the Spurs to pair with Wemby?

26:39 What in the world is going on in Sacramento?

29:00 Did we learn anything from the Celtics/Knicks matchup this past weekend?

31:29 Dave shares his thoughts on the Houston Rockets this year

33:15 Is there a team outside of the Thunder that can come out of the Western Conference?

34:43 Is there any good reason for the NBA to consider shortening quarters?

39:10 Reflections/Memories on Hubie Brown as he called his final game last Sunday

42:07 Why did the Dallas Mavericks decide to trade Luka Doncic?

47:15 With the Lakers adding Luka, does this accelerate LeBron’s retirement or decelerate his retirement thoughts?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:59 ... Ross live commercial read for BetOnline.

1:39 ... Bruce introduces Peter Vecsey and mentions some of his memorable nicknames.

2:45 ... Peter discusses his best nicknames and shares a great story about Joe Barry Carroll, whom he dubbed "Joe Barely Cares."  Peter famously dubbed Larry Bird "Larry Legend."

4:35 ... Ross asks for Peter's reaction to the Luka Doncic/Anthony Davis trade and how none of the newsbreakers who cover the league had any clue it was happening.

10:32 ... Considering the principals in the deal, Peter shares his thoughts on some of the other deals that were historic but he feels than none were ever bigger than this one.

12:54 ... Peter tells why Dallas MAY have traded Luka and tells a story about how former Mavs coach Rick Carlisle left the Mavs because he did not like coaching Luka.

16:13 ... Why did the Mavericks want the often injured Anthony Davis?

17:15 ... The Lakers needed a big man, so naturally they traded their Hall of Fame big man.

20:12 ... Peter reacts to DeAaron Fox going to San Antonio and why he liked Fox prior to this season but has soured on him this year.

24:15 ... Bruce makes a joke about how the players for Archbishop Molloy H.S. in Queens (Peter's alma mater) were big time ballers and he joked how he was ahead of his time as a high school player.

24:53 ... Bruce takes a shot at Zach LaVine, who was traded from the Bulls to the Kings and how Sacramento's GM seems clueless.  Peter goes on to discuss Billy Donovan, his first NBA interview that was done for SportsChannel at Hofstra University where Bruce also worked.

27:26 ... On being inducted into the Hoop Hall of Fame in 2009.  Surprisingly Peter has little regard for the Hoop hall and Jerry Colangelo who is the boss.

31:23 ... Peter is annoyed that K.C. Jones is not in the Hall as a coach when he was voted one of the top 15 coaches of all time.  He relays a great story Larry Bird told him about how K.C. got through to Dennis Johnson when other coaches could not.

36:22 ... Bruce asks about Michael Jordan and John Stockton and their 2009 Hall of Fame speeches.  Peter tells a great story about how he took a big gamble during an interview with Stockton that he did for NBC where Stockton was tight lipped but how Peter eventually got him to open up.

39:21 ... World B initiates a discussion of the top players of all time ... Peter takes exception to the suggestion that MJ and LeBron are the two best ever.  Peter ticks off many others who are up there.

41:42 ... Kobe is also right up there and Peter shares some moments from their discussions over the years.  Their relationship was very close and he tells the story of how Kobe got his unusual first name.

44:44 ... Ross asks about the 65 game rule for postseason awards and Peter is in favor of it.  Peter is NOT in favor of Adam Silver's idea for 10 minute quarters.

46:47 ... Bruce asks about the new All-Star game format and how the event has become unwatchable.  Peter thinks the new tournament format may help make it more appealing.  He is not impressed with the new women's 3 on 3 league but transitions into a story about how K.C. Jones allowed him to work out with the Celtics teams of the 1980s and play full-court 4 on 4.

50:12 ... World B asks Peter who his favorite interview subject was ... and it was Larry Bird.  Of course, there's a couple of good Bird stories there!  And there's a great story about how Bird signed a photo for Peter's son as a birthday gift.  Peter truly misses being around Larry.

53:17 ... Peter shares some Bill Walton stories and how he helped Bill get into TV at NBC.  We exchanged some Walton stories.

55:10 ... Bruce asks about the MVP race and how Nikola Jokic probably won't win it this year due to voter fatigue but that Shai Gilgeous Alexander is deserving.  Peter feels OKC's record this year helps SGA.  Peter goes onto discuss Lu Dort, whom he watched at Arizona State and is a key reason for OKC's success.

58:48 ... Peter predicts OKC will win it all this year ... he praises Isaiah Hartenstein of the Thunder and can't believe how good he has become.

1:00:06 ... Ross thanks peter and says goodbye

TRT 1:00:51

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:06 Downright Shocking News: The Dallas Mavericks trade Luka Doncic to the Lakers

1:27 World B provides his initial reactions when he first saw the news

2:25 Ross provides his initial reactions to seeing the big news drop

2:48 Ross provides all the specific details of the 3-team trade

3:24 Why do we think this trade went down?

11:07 Ross provides his thoughts on the mystery team the Mavs called prior to dealing Luka to LA

13:57 The impact of this trade on the Lakers moving forward

22:59 The Dallas Mavericks moving forward with Anthony Davis aboard

30:27 Is this the biggest trade in NBA history?

32:43 NBA Trade Machine gurus are loving life right now

34:25 Who won the trade? Luka for AD?!

35:40 De’Aaron Fox traded to the San Antonio Spurs!

37:11 What’s this trade mean for the Spurs?

38:54 Can the Spurs possibly contend as soon as this season with Fox?

41:02 Are we sure Chris Paul will still be on the Spurs after this year’s trade deadline?

42:55 What’s this trade mean for the Sacramento Kings moving on from De’Aaron Fox?

49:37 What’s in store for the Chicago Bulls moving forward?

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:30 The Cleveland Cavaliers have now hit a rough patch in their successful season

7:14 The Memphis Grizzlies are on fire entering this week’s action

12:01 Stock Up & Stock Down! The 48 Minutes crew starts up with their Stock Up Teams

12:12 Milwaukee Bucks

15:54 Indiana Pacers

19:51 Houston Rockets

24:44 Denver Nuggets

28:51 Phoenix Suns

32:34 Stock Down Teams

32:35 Orlando Magic

35:54 Dallas Mavericks

40:03 Golden State Warriors

43:29 San Antonio Spurs

46:13 Atlanta Hawks

49:45 Bruce provides his final thought on the Philadelphia 76ers

51:03 World B provides his thoughts on the NBA’s All-Star selection count

52:46 Ross shares a friendly reminder of next week’s exciting guest on the show!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:41 ... Episode #140 is dedicated to Kurt "Crazy Eyes" Thomas, who wore #40 in his NBA career

0:53 ... Ross teases teases special guest J.A. Adande who will join the show to reflect on a solemn basketball anniversary.

1:30 ... Ross does the Bet Online live commercial read.

2:06 ... Bruce introduces J.A. and shares some of his legendary achievements

3:20 ... J.A. points out that Bruce's son Mitch Bernstein was also a close friend and roommate during his internship in LA a number of years ago.

4:03 ... Bruce asks J.A. about the fires in his native Southern California and how they have affected the psyche of the entire region and J.A. has great perspective on the catastrophe and how it affected many who were close to him.

6:49 ... Ross teases the deep dive on Kobe Bryant but asks J.A. about being honored as the winner of the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame and what it was like to be considered an all-time great in basketball journalism.

9:12 ... World B asks J.A. about those who influenced him the most as a writer.  J.A. mentioned Jim Murray, David Aldridge, Mike Wilbon, and many others.

11:17 ... Bruce raises the name of Chris Ramsay from ESPN.com, a mutual friend of J.A. and Bruce's who was a key person in J.A.'s success.

13:00 ... Bruce asks J.A. about all the ESPN people who have won the Gowdy award and if they had anything in common regarding the way they covered the league.  Fellow winner Marc Spears gets a shout out for his wise counsel at Hall of Fame weekend.

16:10 ... World B asks J.A. what it was like to be a prominent panelist on ESPN's Around The Horn and how it had a powerful impact on his life and career.

18:47 ... Ross and Bruce provide some stats about Around The Horn and Ross receives permission from J.A. to mute his co-hosts as Tony Reali has done to ATH panelists for many years.

19:57 ... Ross points out that January 26th is the 5 year anniversary of Kobe Bryant's death and J.A. shares where he was when he heard the news and his immediate reaction upon hearing of Kobe's death.

23:55 ... J.A. puts into perspective why Los Angeles loved Kobe the man as much as they loved him as an athlete.  The way he embraced LA and knew all the different neighborhoods were huge reasons.

27:03 ... Kobe was known to do research on people he would meet for the first time in order to put them at ease.  But while J.A. never witnessed that, he praised Kobe for the way he handled his relationships with members of the local media.  J.A. said that in the age of social media, modern athletes put less emphasis on those relationships.

29:19 ... Kobe and Michael Jordan were similar in many ways and J.A. explains that it was both a conscious effort on Kobe's part and simply a matter of MJ and Kobe being cut from the same cloth.  J.A. feels that eventually Kobe came to regret those comparisons.

32:16 ... Was there one moment from Kobe's career that stood out to J.A.?  Well ... there were a few!  The game 7 comeback vs Portland in 2000 was memorable because of Kobe's giddiness.

35:24 ... Bruce's favorite Kobe/J.A. moment was from an NBA Coast to Coast show in Kobe's final season and J.A. describes what happened that night.  J.A. uses that incident in his current job as a journalism professor at Northwestern as a teachable moment for his students.

38:49 ... Bruce asks about LeBron James and whether he has begun to mentally check out now that he has played an NBA game with his son Bronny.  J.A. thinks it is possible because there is really nothing left to achieve.

40:30 ... J.A. makes his predictions for the rest of the season .. OKC wins the west, Boston wins the east, and Boston wins the championship.

42:19 ... Bruce asks J.A. if he is getting the "1995 Rockets vibe" about the Celtics where a defending champion looks less than dominant in the regular season but ends up repeating due to their "heart of a champion?"

43:43 ... Ross wonders if J.A. has any feeling on who the next "American face" of the league might be ... or even if there will be one?

47:58 ... If J.A. were starting his career over again, which player would he want to cover the most?  LeBron James might be the guy.  Michael Jordan too.

50:33 ... Ross thanks J.A. ... who thanks Bruce for helping him make some money working in TV!  And we'll see you next week!

TRT 51:17

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:26 The 48 Minutes crew starts the show off discussing something much bigger than basketball

2:48 2 NBA teams are going streaking!

2:56 The Sacramento Kings are surging so far with Doug Christie as head coach

8:06 The Indiana Pacers extended their winning streak to 6 games win their win over the Cavs in Cleveland on Sunday

13:41 What’s going on with the Boston Celtics recently?

19:28 Paolo Banchero has returned for Orlando, can the Magic hold onto the 4th spot in the East with a tough week ahead?

24:26 A first half of the season reflection

24:38 How many true contenders are there in the Eastern Conference?

28:33 How many true contenders are there in the Western Conference?

32:21 Other than the Cavs, which team has been most impressive in the Eastern Conference this season?

34:33 Other than the Thunder, which team has been most impressive in the Western Conference this season?

36:32 Which team has been the most disappointing in the Eastern Conference?

39:17 Which team has been the most disappointing in the Western Conference?

42:06 Who is our first half of the season MVP?

44:39 Who is our first half of the season Coach of the Year?

47:12 Quick final thought on NBA pop culture!

48:08 Bruce gives us a sneak preview on next week’s guest JA Adande

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:37 ... Episode #138 is dedicated to 38 year old Jeff Green, who is still ballin' at his advanced age.

0:55 ... Ross live commercial read for Bet OnLine.

1:34 ... Bruce is back after missing the past two shows and explains his absence.

2:10 .... The show begins with a discussion of Sunday's game between the OKC Thunder and the Boston Celtics.  Bruce felt that OKC played the best half of defense that any team played all season in the second half.

4:13 ... World B feels that there are no longer any question marks about the Thunder after their huge wins over the Celtics and the Knicks earlier in the week.

7:55 ... Ross wonders if Bruce is ready to give up on his Boston/OKC finals prediction but Bruce isn't ready to do that.  World B feels that OKC clearly looks like the best team in the league.

11:17 ... The Jimmy Butler drama continues and Bruce said this divorce was totally predictable.  When Pat Riley criticized Butler during last season's playoffs, the handwriting was on the wall for the divorce.  World B feels that very few GMs around the league will be knocking down the door with offers for Butler.

13:47 .. Butler isn't Miami's only problem.  Bam Adebayo has had a tough season and looks worn out after the Olympics and Ross feels part of Bam's struggles are the result of not having a real point guard.   Ross also feels that a third team might need to be involved in order to facilitate a Butler trade.

16:49 ... Kawhi Leonard is back after being out for 253 days.  His return bolsters a Clippers team that has overachieved in his absence.  His defense is a given but World B feels the Clippers really need his offense.  They're a talented but aging team and the question is "do they have one more run left in them?"

21:14 ... The Cleveland Cavaliers are a league-best 31-4 and are currently on a 10 game win streak.  It's their second double digit win streak of the season and we're still a month away from the All Star Break.  World B said the Cavs remind him of the 2019 Raptors when Toronto fired coach Dwane Casey and brought in Nick Nurse.  The Cavs did something similar when they fired JB Bickerstaff and hired Kenny Atkinson over the summer.  Will Cleveland win the NBA Championship like Toronto did?

26:00 ... Nikola Jokic and Victor Wembanyama faced off twice over the weekend with Denver and San Antonio splitting the two games.  The epic matchup featured incredible performances from both big men.  Joker is a three time MVP and Wemby will probably be the Defensive Player of the Year.  The crew was incredibly impressed with both guys.

31:22 ... Anthony Edwards has had a frustrating season and Ross wonders if he is "thinking the game" properly.  World B thinks some of his recent comments were silly and are the result of his frustration.  Bruce thinks that the Karl-Anthony Towns trade has been a major reason for AntMan's frustration.

36:02 ... The Warriors have lost Jonathan Kuminga for at least three weeks with a severe ankle sprain.  World B is concerned that the depth on the team is already shaky and losing Kuminga is a big blow.  And since the defense is not that good, losing Kuminga's offense really hurts.

39:11 ... Ross wonders if Jimmy Butler might be a candidate to join the Warriors since he was always on their radar screen.  Bruce doesn't feel Butler would work salary-wise, but Ross think that Golden State might make the move to help Steph Curry continue to be successful in the twilight of his career.

40:56 ... Final Thoughts ... Bruce's appreciation of Derrick Rose, who was honored in Chicago over the weekend.  Ross has his own memories of Rose from when Ross worked for the Bucks.

43:19 ...Ross's final thought is on Immanuel Quickley of the Raptors who is back healthy after a lengthy injury absence.

44:00 ... Ross says goodbye

TRT 44:23

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:17 Movers & Shakers Around the Association

1:30 The Sacramento Kings cut ties with Head Coach Mike Brown

6:27 Was Doug Christie the right selection to become the Kings interim head coach?

8:15 Did the Kings signing DeMar DeRozan factor into the pressure put on Mike Brown?

11:32 The Lakers trade away D’Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith

16:32 Nets GM Sean Marks had a very busy month of December making moves & what’s next?

20:31 Dorian Finney-Smith’s impact & the Lakers moving forward

25:29 Team Talking Points

25:32 The Phoenix Suns continue to struggle. Ross has some long term questions!

30:02 Are the Memphis Grizzlies the Orlando Magic of the Western Conference?

35:23 World B chimes in on whether or not it’s time to panic in Phoenix with the Suns

37:59 Will Devin Booker make the All-Star Team this season?

39:53 Can the Detroit Pistons sustain their recent success out East?

42:43 Which Pistons guard steps up in Jaden Ivey’s absence?

44:54 No Final Thought, but a Final Question for World B!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.