In honor of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2020-21 NBA championship, the franchise’s first in 50 years, two longtime Bucks fans share their joyous feelings and thrilling experiences from the past week. First, Frank Madden, host of Locked on Bucks, details his long journey as a fan, including what it meant to witness his very first title alongside the man who introduced him to the Bucks 29 years earlier, his father. Then, Jewell Graham of Gimme a Buck podcast goes through his unforgettable time at the Bucks’ championship parade.      Frank Madden at 4:41-5:03: “For me, having a chance to be in the building and watch the Bucks clinch an NBA title with an historic performance by Giannis, it was pretty much the absolute fantasy of what I’ve always dreamed could be possible. I mean, basically if you had had me write up a script, I wouldn’t even have had the guts to be so bold as to write out what happened in this series and in that last game.” 11:11-12:04: “The day before, my mom had actually texted me, ‘Hey, I don’t know if he’s gonna be able to go ‘cuz big crowds, his balance and going up stairs in a stadium may not be ideal.’ But then on Tuesday, I talked to him. I was just like, ‘Hey, whatever we have to do – if you need to take me by the arm to feel comfortable, whatever we need to – let’s do it. We’ve gotta see this game together.’ And he said ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ …I paid more money for worse seats than we’ve ever had at any other game, and we could not have been happier just to be in the building and experiencing that with all the other people there.    16:27-16:49: “I think back to, in particular, the Giannis block on Ayton that sealed Game 4. That play, I’ll never forget. The Jrue steal and alley-oop to Giannis, I’ll never forget. I feel like I’ll always remember the TV call as well. Those two plays I think will always stand out the most.” Jewell Graham at 21:28-22:07: “Our mascot, Bango, comes through first, and the fire truck. You could see just a see of people on both sides. The music is going, and they’ve got confetti that pops out. Bango is throwing T-shirts to the crowd. Everyone’s yelling. It is a great time. And then they had more buses come. … It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced. Just everybody’s so happy and just living in the moment.” 23:01-23:14: “My favorite from the parade had to be P.J. Tucker. PJ Tucker was the livest guy on the team.” 27:27-28:13: “After the announcer’s like, ‘Yo, wait, wait, wait,’ it’s Ben – he’s our guy that sung the national anthem game for us every home playoff game – singing “We Are the Champions.” It was like picture perfect. And as he’s singing that, we get fireworks coming from up top of the Fiserv Forum.”        34:08-34:28: “Giannis is 26 years old, and he has pretty much every individual accolade. Like, what’s next for…? I just hope he doesn’t lose that hunger. I still need that mean mug, and I need him to want more and more and more.”   Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat

On the NBA Beat Ep. 158: Madden: “Still Pinching Myself” After Bucks’ Title Feat. Jewell Graham

Two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak, led his Milwaukee Bucks to the franchise’s first NBA Finals in 47 years. Along the way, he received critical help from talented teammates Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez, among others. But through the first two Finals games, the supporting cast hasn’t done enough. With the Bucks trailing the Phoenix Suns 2-0 and the series shifting to Milwaukee, Frank Madden of Locked on Bucks explores what must change as the team hopes to win four of its next five in pursuit of the 2020-21 title.   7:05-8:03: “You're tied in the Eastern Conference finals, you have the more talented team, you really should be advancing to the Finals, and then to see your superstar, two-time MVP, a guy who's been remarkably durable, just suffer this horrible-looking injury. You know, I kind of half-jokingly referred to it as like from a fan perspective, it was like a near-death experience. Basically, those 24 hours thinking that ‘Geez, I have to be prepared that he's blown out everything in his knee and next year is gone too’ to then, the next day hearing no structural damage and we'll see what happens here over the next couple weeks. … To win those two games the way they did to close out the Hawks series was incredible to know that Giannis still had a chance to come back at some point in the playoffs. It just felt like a new lease on life, I think for Bucks fans, just that we had a chance at that. And then for him to come back and actually play at a high level has just been incredible.” 15:27-16:07: “Now you've got to win four out of five, so they [Middleton and Holiday] can't afford to have three off games out of five. They've gotta pretty much be good to great more or less every game from here on out. Certainly, they can't both be bad, as we saw in Game 2, shooting the ball. It's just really tough. And again, I mean, I think we've seen those guys when they have their game, they're really valuable two-way guys. They can both create for others as well as themselves. But you know, that's the difference between a top 5-10 player and a top 30-35 player. I think those two guys are both in that latter category, and they're just not going to be able to give you 25-30 points every night in the playoffs.” 19:06-19:26: “Part of the issue is just the Suns are really good. You kinda have to pick your poison. Are you gonna give Booker and Paul the looks that they want from midrange or are you going to try to put more pressure on them, try to turn them over more, but at the risk of letting those wings and those role players get open looks for themselves?” 28:16-28:43: “I think they do need to lean in a little more on Lopez, use their size, try to beat them up on the offensive glass. Interestingly, the offensive glass has been sort of their savior throughout the playoffs and kind of in many ways been the antidote to that poor 3-point shooting that I mentioned. And so whether it’s just religiously zone-dropping in or at times switching him, I think he’s kind of underrated in terms of his ability to kinda hang in switches.”   37:27-37:34: “That’s the challenge for the Bucks right now. This is probably their best chance ever to win a championship. There’s really no guarantee that they’re gonna be able to get back.”  Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 157: Frank Madden: Bucks Should “Use Their Size” in NBA Finals

The Phoenix Suns are headed to the 2021 NBA Finals, and there absolutely should be no asterisk attached to their stellar run, according to guest Greg "Espo" Esposito, host of the Solar Panel Podcast. And why should there be? Phoenix bounced back from a 2-1 deficit to dethrone the defending champions before sweeping the MVP Jokic-led Nuggets. Then, the Suns took down a deep and resilient Clippers squad in a gritty series that could have gone either way. Espo breaks down how the Suns just keep on winning and provides a brief glimpse into their forthcoming Finals appearance against either the Bucks or Hawks. 8:27-9:18: “Having grown up a big Charles Barkley fan, I've always taken issue with the ‘If a guy doesn't win a championship, you have to kind of pooh-pooh his career and his legacy.’ … Basketball is a team sport. Individuals can have big games, but what you're seeing with the Suns is proof yet again that nobody wins alone. This team is truly a team, and the thought that Chris Paul's legacy or his career wasn't impressive until Year 16 when he finally made it to the Finals just seems somewhat laughable.” 16:14-17:06: "A win's a win. Doesn't matter if it's pretty, if it's ugly, if it's one point, if it's 90 points. In the playoffs, a win is a win. I think the Suns proved in the series against the Clippers they can win any way possible. They can win when the refs seemingly are against them like they did in Game 2 where they won on what's dubbed as the ‘Valley Oop.’ … They found a way. Defensive slugfest where nobody's scoring the basketball, the Suns found a way. Just explosive offensive night, the Suns had that too. This team can win anyway, anyhow, anywhere." 24:41-25:41: "Boo-freaking-hoo. There's no asterisk. Does Toronto have an asterisk because Golden State was hurt? No, people don't think about that, they just go, ‘Oh, Toronto was the champions that year.’ Last year because it was played in a bubble, do the Lakers have an asterisk? No, they pound their chests just like anybody. …The Suns have beaten everybody that they faced. Hands down, they've done what they've been asked to do. They can't control who's there. And Chris Paul had his shoulder injured against the Lakers and was out with COVID, Devin Booker as a broken nose. Things happen, and things have happened to the Suns. And in the past, the Suns over the last 50 plus years have been one of the most unlucky franchises in NBA history. I could not care less what the path was to get to a title." 31:33-32:27: “My daughter's four, so this has been kind of the first time she's really been into basketball, and they rush right to see the end of [Game 2]. And my daughter was just as excited as I was for it and that [the ‘Valley Oop’] is the kind of thing that makes a fan for life. It's those kind of moments that solidify it, and that's what made it so cool for me was I knew there was a generation, like my daughter and a little older than my daughter, that were like me during the '93 run, that that will be seared in their memory forever. That that may be the moment that they just decided I'm gonna love basketball irrationally well into my 30s and 40s and 50s because I saw something that was unbelievable in the moment. That's why we all watch sports and that's what I loved so much about that play.” 46:15-46:41: “Whether it's Atlanta or Milwaukee, that's going to be the biggest vulnerability for the Suns is can they mentally stay locked in to win four games? I think they can, I think they've proven it, but they have to work hard. And like I said, I mentioned this quote that Monty Williams says: ‘Do not get happy on the farm.’ Because, and I add this part, if you get happy on the farm, that's when you're gonna get slaughtered.” Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 156: Espo: “There’s No Asterisk” on Suns’ Finals Berth

Dan Morgan of the Process Potables podcast joins Loren and Aaron to break down the Philadelphia 76ers’ heartbreaking Game 7 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. From Ben Simmons’ offensive disappearing act to Joel Embiid playing through injury to Dan’s faith (or lack thereof) in head coach Doc Rivers to President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey’s offseason task ahead, this episode has everything. Enjoy some excerpts below: 15:02-16:26: “‘Can they [co]exist, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid?’ Well, that’s been the question for a long time. They did enough to be the No. 1 seed in an improved East this year, so there’s something to be said for that. I still don’t know that you can say, ‘No, it absolutely can’t work.’ But the problem is year after year, the conversation happens, and of all of Ben Simmons’ shortcomings, this was the worst, and I don’t think it’s close at all. This was far and away one of the most atrocious things I’ve ever seen. … The one lesson that I think I’ve already learned and I’m not gonna get fooled again is believing that Ben Simmons is gonna add something offensively this offseason.”       23:53-24:15: “It’s not people overreacting at this point because the argument has been ‘every other part of his [Simmons’] game is there.’ But in this series, in fourth quarters, in second rounds of the postseason, it hasn’t been. … There’s been a lot of other gaping holes, and that is where the concern lies with this franchise.”  26:59-29:21: “Ben Simmons is gonna be the guy that is blamed for this, so Doc Rivers is gonna get a pass because he wanted the chance to make them work. I think you just realize he can’t do it either. And now Ben Simmons will be the scapegoat. Next season, Rivers won’t have the Ben Simmons excuse. … While I don’t believe in Doc Rivers, and I’m pretty sure I don’t believe in Ben Simmons anymore, I do believe in Daryl Morey. … Now it’s time for him to prove why that’s the case.”      32:13-32:30: “If you trade Ben Simmons, you really can’t trade Matisse Thybulle because Matisse Thybulle made second-team All-Defense off the bench. That’s how good he is on the defensive end. … You can’t trade ‘em both.”    36:06-37:04: “The Sixers’ third-most played lineup during the playoffs was George Hill, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, Tobias Harris and Dwight Howard. … One starter and four bench guys, two of which cannot shoot a basketball at all. That lineup finished with a net rating of negative 16 points per 100 possessions, per Clean the Glass. That is an atrocity! … You’ve gotta play your horses.” 42:50-44:21: For all the Embiid turnovers and poor shooting nights, he’s the only guy really on the team that was willing to be the person to go to. … After everything he did, playing on the injury, putting up the numbers he did, as soon as everything was done, he came out, said in his pressers, ‘I have to do better. I can be better. I’m gonna work on things’ etc., etc. He went on social media. He said, ‘Philly, I love you. I’m sorry I let you down. I can do better.’  Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 155: Dan Morgan: “Ben Simmons” Will Be “the Guy Blamed" for 76ers' Exit

Nikola Jokic earned 2020-21 MVP honors and was presented with his trophy before Denver’s home Game 3 against the Phoenix Suns. But an epic individual performance from the skilled center was not enough for the team to avoid another double-digit loss, its third in as many games of the series. Facing a 3-0 hole, the Nuggets will need a miracle in order to make NBA history and become the first ever team to come back from such a series deficit. Our guest, Mike Singer of the Denver Post, breaks down how the Nuggets got to this point, with specific emphasis on Denver’s ongoing quest to replace the scoring void left by Jamal Murray’s season-ending knee injury and the team’s inadequate defense against Phoenix’s devastating pick-and-roll attack. Finally, Singer looks ahead to the most pressing offseason priorities looming ahead for the franchise.   8:08-8:33: “If Austin Rivers and Facu Campazzo are not giving you anything offensively, that means that you are not making Chris Paul and Devin Booker work on the defensive end. Therefore they’re saving all their energy for the offensive end and just picking you to pieces. So, talent disparity, but more specifically if you zoom in, it’s in the backcourt.”   14:21-15:05: “There is no doubt that he [Aaron Gordon] has not been the offensive piece that they need this series, and I don’t know if that’s fair to ask of him to be the third scoring option in this series. That’s not really his game. He has kind of an inconsistent, unreliable 3-point shot. His midrange is iffy. I even think his touch around the basket is a little bit suspect. However, he is really good in transition, when he’s cutting Nikola Jokic really makes the most of him and finds him, and he’s really good in that dunker’s spot. … But the reason why they got Aaron Gordon was for the defensive end, and I think he’s been reliable.”   19:29-19:42: “So they can hit you from so many angles. They’re a dynamic, three-level scoring team that also plays defense. I think people are starting to recognize the Suns may be legitimate title contenders.”  25:44-26:23: “I think maybe among the coolest things about his legacy is that it will change the perception of what people think about as an NBA superstar. When you think about NBA players, you think of freak athletes. You think Giannis, you think Russell Westbrook, obviously LeBron, those fast-twitch leapers who are just incredible physical players, and then you think about Nikola Jokic. … He has proven that you don’t need to be a fast-twitch, high leaper to dominate the game like he did this year.” 37:42-38:07: “I don’t think that they’ve tuned out [head coach Michael] Malone by any means. He’s a sixth-year coach. I think that there’s a lot of respect that runs up and down the roster for him. He could be quicker in certain adjustments. He could try to change up matchups a little bit. But the reality is the Nuggets are depleted right now, and there aren’t a lot of giant changes to be made schematically or personnel-wise.” 41:38-41:50: “I’m not gonna be shocked if they come out fighting and somehow steal Game 4, but no, I do not expect them to make NBA history. I think this team is exhausted.” *The Bill Clinton-Mike Singer Youtube video referenced in the intro. Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 154: Mike Singer: Stopping Phoenix an “Impossible Equation” for Nuggets

Despite a dominant performance by reigning, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nets star James Harden going down with a hamstring injury in the first minute of Game 1, the Milwaukee Bucks were not able to take advantage and secure the first victory in this highly anticipated second-round series. Pratik Patel of ESPN Wisconsin helps us digest that first game, the implications of the injury and what adjustments need to be made for the Bucks to advance. Specifically, he delves into how the Bucks can hope to slow down the supremely gifted Brooklyn offense, the leadership new addition Jrue Holiday provides and how Milwaukee's supporting cast must step up to support its stars. Finally, we discuss the possible consequences of another disappointing Bucks postseason, coming on the heels of early playoff exits in the prior two seasons as well. 8:30-8:52: “This is also kinda the loosest the Bucks have been the last couple postseasons. The last two years, they were really pressed. There was a lot looming, a lot of talk about championship window. There was all of the conversation surrounding Giannis’ future and this year just felt different. The entire attitude of the team, the aura around them, the feeling in the locker room, was just different this year.” 15:01-15:37: “I think the Bucks are pretty happy with how they defended the stars, especially once they knew that James Harden was ruled out. … It’s about the other guys and how you defend ‘em and what you’re willing to sacrifice in order to potentially send extra help at the two stars for the Nets.” 31:04-31:22: “Last year or really the last two years, Giannis got really good as a passer, as a playmaker – and he’s still getting better – but it really didn’t matter. They didn’t have the shooting around him that they do this year, especially from guys that you can trust out on the floor.”  35:22-36:04: “The biggest thing that they’ve done to help this offense is acquire Jrue Holiday. He’s just a complete game-changer for this team, on offense and on defense. Offensively, it gives you another ball-handler and someone who can play-make, someone who can get the ball out of Giannis’ hands and get him the ball on the run. It’s a top-tier point guard in this league. I was an Eric Bledsoe guy. I was an apologist for quite some time, but ultimately he didn’t show up in the playoffs, and you just felt the second you got to see Jrue start to jell with this team, ‘Okay, this is different.’”  45:35-46:06: “I think that if, let’s say hypothetically, the Nets eliminate the Bucks and it’s not a close seven-game series or whatever, let’s say it’s five or six, and then the front office decides its time for a coaching change, I don’t know that you see much else in the way of changes. They’re not in a position to blow up the roster by any means. I don’t think that they try to move Khris [Middleton]. They’re certainly not gonna try to move Jrue.” Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 153: Pratik Patel: “This Is the Loosest the Bucks Have Been”

As soon as eight-time All-Star James Harden was acquired by the Brooklyn Nets in January, "title" flashed on everyone's minds. The addition paired the talented lefty with fellow superstars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, forming one of the most talented Big 3s in NBA history. Only, the trio were able to log just eight regular-season games since then. How much of a problem will this lack of reps pose for the Nets, or are they just too darn talented for it to matter? Chris Milholen of SB Nation's Nets Daily and the Wingspan Podcast addresses this key question and much more, as Brooklyn leads Boston 3-1 and sees a challenging matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks on the horizon. 1:44-2:16: “Obviously everyone knows the type of offensive presence and the gifted style of offense that the Nets can play with these three players. It’s arguably the most prolific offense the NBA has ever seen. But their defense has also held up pretty well ‘cuz that was one of the major concerns: outside of chemistry, how would their defense look? You just see what they’ve done throughout the Celtics [series] this whole time, especially with this Nets switching defense, they’ve really done a good job of kind of trapping Tatum and restricting the other two options, Fournier and Smart, and same thing with Thompson.”    9:59-10:13: “We know the history between the Celtics and the Nets, especially focused around Kyrie Irving. The Nets don’t want to return back to Boston for a Game 6; Kevin Durant said that yesterday. … You know that closing out the series is on their mind.” 22:25-23:25: "He [Griffin] wasn't brought in to be that star player; he was brought in to be a role player. … When he came in, just throughout this whole entire year, you see what his value really is and that's kinda just having that veteran leadership, but also mixed in with that physical play, and someone that kind of just has that versatility element where he transformed his game from what we all know him as, or used to know him as, as that high flyer, dunker on the Clippers, that highlight machine. Now he can shoot threes, he picks and pops. You see all these little stuff here and there, and that's kind of a perfect ingredient for this Nets offense to kind of absorb." 28:56- 29:10: "One thing about Joe's game that a lot of people kind of overlook is when his shooting isn't falling, especially from behind the arc, that he gets himself involved and makes cutting passes, makes layups, tries to find a rhythm inside the paint. Joe Harris is definitely an X-Factor." 32:38-34:07: "We all know that common experience makes a difference in the postseason. That's what really makes the difference between championship team playoff contenders is that common experience and that chemistry. And throughout the Celtics series, like I mentioned, the Nets have … been using that time to really just jell together as a unit, because in Game 1 of the series, that Big 3 lineup with Harris and Jeff [Green], that was the first time they played together. … With Giannis, it’s gonna be interesting to see how they defend him and how well they defend him, especially in certain moments where the momentum is gonna be on the Bucks’ side in away games and stuff like that. … I would have to go Milwaukee in six, and if it goes seven, I think the Nets get it." *Chris is also the author of Basketball Beyond Borders: The Globalization of the NBA Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 152: Milholen: “Lethal” Nets Boast “Arguably Most Prolific Offense Ever”

In an opening-round rematch from the 2020 playoffs, the Mavericks have stunned many by stealing the first two games in Los Angeles. As the Clippers scramble for answers as to how to slow down Luka Doncic and company’s electric offense, The Athletic’s Law Murray breaks it all down. Is the series all but over? If not, how can the Clippers give themselves a fighting chance? If the Mavs do eliminate them, what’s the likelihood that franchise cornerstone Kawhi Leonard will leave in the offseason? Murray tackles these and many other timely LAC topics.   14:35-15:08: “The Clippers chose a lot of this. They chose their opponent. They chose a lot of the narratives that went into how they got here. They chose health over whatever could have been gained by playing the last two regular-season games. They chose their path. Now they’re in a situation where things are as hard as they can be. Either the Clippers are gonna overcome it and it’s going to be like, ‘Wooh, well, you got through that.’ Or they’re not gonna be around after next weekend. That’s it!  27:10-27:46: “The Clippers need to play with a lead, and then they won’t have to do the crazy stuff that comes with these unorthodox lineups and unorthodox defenses. They’re doing it because they have to create events to regain some level of control when they’re running out of time. … That’s where the Clippers are in trouble. They’re playing a catch-up game against a team that you don’t wanna be playing catch-up against.” 28:02-28:12: “They’re not getting enough out of Zu. Honestly, that’s been the biggest concern. [Mavericks head coach] Rick Carlisle should get a lot of credit for taking Ivica Zubac out of this series.” 34:19-34:25: “The Clippers have a surplus of options [to defend Doncic]. It’s just that not enough of them are good right now.” 39:06-40:25: “Marcus [Morris] is a vet. Marcus is supposed to be the guy that exudes toughness, that’s supposed to be the third scorer, that’s supposed to be the shooter, that’s supposed to be the versatile defender, that’s supposed to be able to respond when the team needs a response, and Marcus has been really, really bad. … The impact Marcus has had on this series compared to Tim Hardaway Jr. is the difference in this series. … For Marcus to be a no-show right now, the Clippers aren’t winning this series. They’re not getting close with Marcus playing as poorly as he’s played.”    48:41-48:52: “This Dallas team game-planned to take away the things that hurt them last year, and it’s just tough beating a team two years in a row in the playoffs.” Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 151: Law Murray: Clips Have “Not Enough Good” Options Vs. Doncic

The 2020-21 NBA regular season has officially come to a close, and one of the most pleasant surprises was the year the Phoenix Suns recorded. Suns fans already had reason for optimism after an 8-0 performance in last year's Orlando bubble, but rarely does a team make the jump so quickly from outside of the playoffs all the way to the No. 2 seed, especially in the crowded Western Conference. We're joined this episode by Greg "Espo" Esposito of The Solar Panel, who attributes this growth to the veteran leadership of new addition Chris Paul, the coaching of Monty Williams, and a cadre of supporting players who all have effectively filled their roles when their names have been called. Espo also takes us through a few potential playoff scenarios, including a possible first-round matchup with the defending champion Lakers. Note: This episode was recorded on Sunday, before the Suns were locked into the No. 2 seed and the full seeding in the play-in games was still yet to be determined. 4:54-5:23: “I had them going like 41-31. I thought a 5 or 6 seed was probably where they’d top out. I did not see this coming. And a big part of it was they’ve been healthier than most teams, but I just did not see them being a top two team in the West, finishing with 51 wins and an over .700 winning percentage. It was not in my wildest dreams.” 9:19-10:38: “His [Chris Paul’s] talent is undeniable, but what he brought to this young group was a mindset, an approach to the game. And they did not take any night for granted this year. … And every night, they came out and they played hard. Rarely did they lose back-to-back games. … That’s Chris Paul’s doing. It was like having a head coach on the floor that went completely along with Monty Williams’ philosophy as the coach off of it. And that’s what Chris Paul did for this team. He helped them grow up." 17:39-18:07: “I was with the team Devin Booker’s rookie year, and I have never met a guy that is built for stardom like I have with Devin Booker. The maturity, the mindset, the way he approached the game, everything he wanted to accomplish from Day 1, he has it. And I hope that the entire NBA gets to see and witness that evolution in the playoffs." 19:30-20:53: If he [DeAndre Ayton] is inconsistent, it’s going to be problematic. If he gets in foul trouble, it’s gonna be problematic. Because the one thing that James Jones didn’t do…the one place he didn’t build depth was at that backup center spot. … If he takes some large step in these playoffs, watch out. That could be the difference between a second-round or a Western Conference finals exit, and a championship. That’s how big you could see a swing if DeAndre Ayton does something special.” 31:07-32:03: “They have a very good chance and maybe even likelihood of beating the Lakers, just because they’re coming off of injuries, the Suns have played very well. Their style of play has been geared toward the way you play in the playoffs, plus the Suns are a deeper team. … But whenever you have two of the top five guys in the game on the court for your team, like the Lakers do, that’s scary. It should be scary for anybody in the first round.” 37:40-38:23: “That is one scrappy group. Steph [Curry] still can put up 50 in a game. I mean it would not shock me if he has a game in the playoffs where he drops 60, and we all just go, ‘Yeah, he is one of the best scorers we’ve ever seen.’ So that factor is always a bit unnerving, but if I had to pick between Portland, the Lakers and Golden State, give me Golden State out of that group. You can just wear them down. Sure, maybe they get two against you, maybe they get lucky and Steph has three unbelievable games, but I think the path to four wins against the Warriors is a lot easier.” *Here's Jared Dubin's 538 article on the Suns' X-factors referenced during the show. Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 150: Espo: Suns Registered a “Cinderella Story” Season

Seth Rosenthal, video producer for SB Nation’s Secret Base, makes his triumphant return to discuss his beloved Knicks’ superb season in the face of extremely low expectations coming into the year. They’ve done it through seismic shooting improvements from Julius Randle and second-year guard RJ Barrett, Derrick Rose's inspired bench play, new head coach Tom Thibodeau’s seamless fit and much more highlighted in the show. Also included: A discussion of where the franchise is headed and where it stands with the playoffs just around the corner.         6:10-6:55: "As a fan of the team who has been stuck in his apartment for the last year, what a thing it's been to be able to depend on a player and a team like the Knicks to sort of cheer me up at the end of the night. I wasn't counting on that. And it's just the way Randle has turned his performance and his career around during this incredibly difficult year has been really inspiring, and it's meant a lot to me. And it's hard to fully describe. … I was searching around ESPN Trade Machine for ways to dump him for, like, Cory Joseph like four months ago, five months ago today. And now I'm ready to extend the dude. I've never seen anything like it as a Knicks fan, and the timing could not have been better." 7:58-8:10: “This is what we’ve been waiting for. This is why you take a gamble on a player. This is why you sign him to an initial sub-max contract. He’s 26 years old right now. Pay the dude.” 10:37-12:06: There is that sort of cultural fit. I think the characteristics that may have made Thibodeau a bad fit in some other places, some things that one might consider flaws, happen to vibe pretty nicely with the personalities of his best players or I guess the people who have become his best players, who weren't necessarily particularly good players coming into this season. … Thibodeau's rap has been: He overplays guys, he's an incredible hard-ass who will scream at you and will overwork you and just has this sort of military mindset. Turns out that someone of Julius Randle's experience and caliber and in RJ Barrett’s case, someone who came up with Coach K, and have these sort of gym rat reputations, they fit perfectly. They like that.” 18:46-19:09: “Coming into this season, I saw him [RJ Barrett] as someone who maybe should be traded because other teams still believed in him and I really didn’t. But I was pleasantly mistaken about that one, about as wrong as I’ve ever been about a Knicks player. He’s extremely important, and a lot of this remarkable season, this turnaround can be attributed to him improving immensely.”  23:25-23:49: “I think everyone understands that going forward with whatever draft pick the Knicks end up with, with the cap space they’re gonna have and the trade market, there’s a pretty clear path forward for this time to go from surprisingly OK to good to great, and it’s building the backcourt. The Knicks really need a good point guard, a star point guard, and I think there’s a good chance they’re gonna go get one.” 38:07-38:43: “Home-court advantage definitely matters, especially as I believe the state of New York is gonna dial up its capacity allowance for a place like Madison Square Garden right around the time the playoffs start. … MSG’s an important home-court advantage, and unless the players on the Knicks are gonna suddenly put their tails between their legs and shoot poorly with the Garden at 25 [percent] or half capacity, whatever it is, they need that.    38:48-41:33: “Erik Spoelstra has always ruined the Knicks. Linsanity, Spoelstra was the guy who just threw a wrench in that. He just really knows how to design a defense that can wreck the Knicks, and the Heat have destroyed the Knicks this season. … The Hawks are gonna be a tough matchup for the Knicks too, but I think not as much of a problem as the Heat would be.”    Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 149: Seth Rosenthal: Randle’s “Rare” Turnaround Fuels Knicks’ “Dream of a Season”

NBA TV producer Kevin Cottrell Jr. joins the show to discuss his debut book, Ball Don’t Lie, a collection of detailed conversations with 10 legends of the game.   9:23-9:42: “I never wanted to be the forefront of the book. I wanted to be the writer, but I wanted to share other people’s stories that I thought were interesting. So I thought the quotes were very, very, very important. I didn’t want to really paraphrase anything. I wanted to you to feel what they feel. I wanted you to understand what they saw and how they thought.  13:06-13:40: “Did you know he [Vince Carter] was injured going into the dunk contest? Naw, yeah. So when I found out things like that, I was like, ‘OK, this a perfect story to tell because people might think one thing and they get another.’ Chris Webber, honestly, I don’t think the game we talked about ultimately, him playing for the Sixers, that’s not a game he wanted to even discuss. And I had to explain to him the reason why I wanted that game was ‘cuz people would forget A, that he got traded to the Sixers, and B, his first game was against the team that traded him. That’s just a crazy story.”      15:13-15:28: “What happened was it almost felt like a therapy session, like guys almost land on a couch, and I took them back to this moment in time and now they were expressing something that they never got to truly express. And then by the end of the interview, they’re like, ‘Man, nobody’s ever asked me such and such.’” 30:38-31:00: “Probably the most challenging aspect was just doing this whole thing independently. A lot of people didn’t trust or believe in my vision of the book because A, they didn’t think I could deliver those names, and B, they didn’t think those people would help promote the book. Being a writer is one thing; being a publisher is a whole ‘nother thing.”   35:11-37:03: “If it wasn’t for Sekou, I would’ve left journalism a long time ago. … I was just getting down. I wasn’t getting the opportunities that I wanted. … I was always like a day late, a step short on those opportunities. And one time, I’ll never forget, we went and met at Panera Bread, right by where we lived, and he just encouraged me to keep writing, keep creating and don’t give up. … He just always was somebody that if I had a question or questioned something about what I was doing, he’d be the first person I’d pick up the phone and call. Him and David Aldridge, the two best journalists I’ve ever had the chance to be around, work with and just pick their brains.”   Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 148: Kevin Cottrell: “Ball Don’t Lie” Reporting “Felt Like Therapy"

Going into the 2020-21 season, the Atlanta Hawks revamped their roster, hoping a few high-profile veteran additions would help their talented young core finally make the playoffs. The plan didn’t exactly work out as intended, as the team incurred a slew of key injuries and fell to 14-20, which triggered the firing of its head coach, Lloyd Pierce. Under Nate McMillan, however, the Hawks have completely turned it around, playing high-quality basketball that’s put them in prime position to achieve a top-five playoff seed. And their veterans are excelling, including Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari and Clint Capela, who was acquired via trade last year. In the process, they’ve learned how to close games, most recently registering a 41-point fourth quarter to defeat the Greek Freak-led Bucks Sunday night, all without the services of a banged-up Trae Young. Joining Aaron to discuss this spirited group, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Sarah Spencer makes her first appearance on the pod. Near the end, she also touches upon what beloved Atlanta-based journalist Sekou Smith meant to her and her paper. 18:26-20:02: “The biggest factor for them has been [Clint] Capela. He’s been a good fit on both sides of the ball too because he gives Trae Young another rim-running target. … They needed someone to kind of organize and get things moving. I remember having a conversation with Kevin Huerter about this, and he said, ‘We want Trae to do that on offense; we want Clint to do that on defense.’ That’s what you need. You need guys to be vocal. And this was a pretty quiet team last year.” 26:02-26:28: “In the first half of the season, the Hawks were really pretty dreadful in the fourth quarter – that’s how they lost a lot of games. In the second half, in the fourth quarter, it’s pretty much been the exact opposite, which has been crazy how dramatic that turnaround has been. And I think Trae’s been a part of that. He’s had a few games where he’s come alive and been really steady in the fourth quarter, and that’s what you want to see out of a guy like that.” 32:28-33:06: “I think that the biggest thing with Nate [McMillan] has been his experience as a head coach over the years. This was Lloyd [Pierce]’s first head coaching gig, and it was a tough one. You take over a team that’s rebuilding, that’s very young, that’s banged up. But I think Nate’s experience has helped. Especially in the fourth quarter when things get dicey, it just seems like he’s managing things really well, and the Hawks are responding and you can see the results of that.” 38:09-38:59: “Before I could even send the email, he [Sekou Smith] had reached out to me. … And I just remember being blown away that this guy was taking time out of his day to do something like that. He didn’t have to do that. It was kind of on me to reach out, but that’s not how he saw it. He was just someone who was so happy to help and so earnest. My impression of him is that he was just an awesome guy who was always willing to give advice and talk through things.” *Link to the Twitter thread referenced in the introduction where Aaron pays tribute to the great Sekou Smith. Sponsor: Use code TBPN during sign-up at DraftKings.com to claim your free shot at millions of dollars in total prizes.

On the NBA Beat Ep. 147: Sarah Spencer: Hawks Have “Caught Fire”

Just in time for the start of the season, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss broke down the most striking storylines around the Eastern Conference with an emphasis on the Boston Celtics, whom he covers so closely. Among a slew of timely topics, Jared discusses his favorites to emerge out of the East, Jayson Tatum’s next expected leap, how good the Heat actually are and the new-and-improved Atlanta Hawks who seek to get back into the playoffs after a three-season absence.*Due to dynamic advertising, time stamps may vary - 5:14-5:40: “I think it was Ryan Ruocco. I’ll give him credit for putting them as…they’re basically like the Death Star. And the Death Star very famously had a major vulnerability that allowed you to blow it up. And so if somebody can nestle right in there between Kyrie and KD and make the chemistry fall apart, this team can really, really fall apart . But they’ve got a giant frickin’ laser beam basically when it comes to KD and Kyrie.” 21:51-22:20: “The big thing for him (Jayson Tatum) this year is now that he’s the big star, everybody knows it. The amount of attention he’s gonna get, the matchups he’s gonna get, the coverages that he’s gonna get, he’s gonna be getting a lot of traps, a lot of blitzes and double-teams, he’s gotta be able to handle it. He’s gotta be able to handle that defenders, that they know that the spotlight’s on them when they’re covering him, and they’re gonna be showing up with their A-game, and they’re gonna be playing way harder on him than they were playing last year. He’s gotta be ready for that.”35:52-36:25: “If they’re starting John Collins and they’re starting one of the wings that they signed this offseason, then their defense is in critical condition because obviously Trae (Young) is a turnstile and then who do you put at the 2? … There’s not really a correct answer for their starting lineup. Their starting lineup’s always gonna have some sort of defensive compromise, pretty much.”

On the NBA Beat Ep. 146: Jared Weiss: The Nets "Have a Giant Frickin' Laser Beam"

Just in time for the start of the season, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss broke down the most striking storylines around the Eastern Conference with an emphasis on the Boston Celtics, whom he covers so closely. Among a slew of timely topics, Jared discusses his favorites to emerge out of the East, Jayson Tatum’s next expected leap, how good the Heat actually are and the new-and-improved Atlanta Hawks who seek to get back into the playoffs after a three-season absence. *Due to dynamic advertising, time stamps may vary - 5:14-5:40: “I think it was Ryan Ruocco. I’ll give him credit for putting them as…they’re basically like the Death Star. And the Death Star very famously had a major vulnerability that allowed you to blow it up. And so if somebody can nestle right in there between Kyrie and KD and make the chemistry fall apart, this team can really, really fall apart . But they’ve got a giant frickin’ laser beam basically when it comes to KD and Kyrie.” 21:51-22:20: “The big thing for him (Jayson Tatum) this year is now that he’s the big star, everybody knows it. The amount of attention he’s gonna get, the matchups he’s gonna get, the coverages that he’s gonna get, he’s gonna be getting a lot of traps, a lot of blitzes and double-teams, he’s gotta be able to handle it. He’s gotta be able to handle that defenders, that they know that the spotlight’s on them when they’re covering him, and they’re gonna be showing up with their A-game, and they’re gonna be playing way harder on him than they were playing last year. He’s gotta be ready for that.” 35:52-36:25: “If they’re starting John Collins and they’re starting one of the wings that they signed this offseason, then their defense is in critical condition because obviously Trae (Young) is a turnstile and then who do you put at the 2? … There’s not really a correct answer for their starting lineup. Their starting lineup’s always gonna have some sort of defensive compromise, pretty much.”

Sekou Smith of NBA TV, NBA.com and the Hang Time Podcast returns to the show to survey the ultra-competitive West, a conference replete with fascinating storylines ahead of the season’s start. For instance, should the Lakers be considered heavy favorites, what’s going on in Houston, which teams are best primed to squeeze into the postseason and what can we expect from the Warriors following a lost '19-20 season? Sekou tackles all these Western Conference questions and more, plus he offers a bonus Giannis extension reaction and Aaron delivers a Spurs-themed Sexy Stats segment coming out of the break. *Due to dynamic advertising, time stamps may vary - 8:09-8:38: “To me, there’s a built in advantage for (head coach) T(yronn) Lue in familiarity that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. He’s the kind of human being – knowing him as well as I do – and kind of coach who’s going to be extremely beneficial to the Clippers as an organization. You’re talking about a guy who’s had experience with the pressures that come with a win-or-else proposition like he had with LeBron.”12:16-12:53: “They’ve changed the expectation for themselves in the postseason, which if you’ve built the way that they have – which I think is some of the best front-office work, roster building, player development we’ve seen in the past few years – then you’re right where you want to be. You’re in that conversation among the best teams in the Western Conference. You have young stars who are entering into their primes. You have even younger potential stars, like Michael Porter. Jr. – Bol Bol being an even bigger reach but certainly with an upside that is really incomparable when you think about his size and skill set.” 20:44-21:16: “Houston is such a difficult team to evaluate because we don’t know, is this the team they’re gonna carry throughout the season, is this the team that’s put together now with James (Harden) bought in or is James committed wholeheartedly at all to sticking around? When you strip all that away, if you start moving pieces and changing things up, then, to me, they fall out of the conversation of teams that are trying to make the playoffs.” 32:44-33:17: “I want to see him (Zion Williamson) play 30 minutes a night, just to see if he can sustain what we saw in glimpses during an injury-filled rookie season. He’s a mind-boggling talent when you look at his combination of size, heft and skill. And to me, that is the beauty of NBA seasons and the NBA in general, just watching talent evolve and seeing if it can reach its potential in a given situation.”

On the NBA Beat Ep. 145: Sekou Smith: “In the West, Everybody is Swinging for the Fences at All Times”

A show bringing you nuanced perspectives on the NBA's most important stories, hosted by USC alums Aaron Fischman, Joshua Jonah Fischman and Loren Lee Chen. Find us on our website at OnTheNBABeat.com or our Twitter page (@OnTheNBABeat).

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