Pound The Rock

With every first-round playoff series at least two games deep, we check in on Knicks-Sixers (4:58), Nuggets-Lakers (23:55), Thunder-Pelicans (35:57), Cavs-Magic (43:07), Bucks-Pacers (48:10), Clippers-Mavs (52:52), Wolves-Suns (1:02:57), and Celtics-Heat (1:13:16)

Jontay Porter gets a lifetime ban, a number of stars limp into the postseason, and we (quickly) break down the six first-round series that are already set.

On our final episode of the regular season, we wonder what's up with Kawhi Leonard's knee injury, consider the implications of Giannis Antetokounmpo's calf strain, discuss Karl-Anthony Towns' impending return, and break down Jrue Holiday's extension. Then, we hand out some regular-season hardware.

Who's the second-best team in the East? Who's the fourth-best team in the West? Is there any path to a deep run for the Lakers or Warriors? What's with Jalen Green and the Rockets taking off without Alperen Sengun?

The Pelicans lose Brandon Ingram, Deandre Ayton loses sleep, and we check in on how all of this year's in-season trades have worked out.

On this week's episode, we're talking about two mirror-image teams having up-and-down seasons, and the threat level they might pose to top teams in the postseason. Are the Dallas Mavericks or Miami Heat ready to be playoff spoilers?

Last week we talked about the league's most volatile and confusing teams. This week we're talking about this season's exemplars of stability: the Timberwolves, Thunder, Nuggets, and Celtics.

How the Clippers, Warriors, Bucks, Cavs, Pelicans, and Kings have confused us thus far this season, and why each team is so fascinating to watch down the stretch. Plus, has Trae Young played his last game for the Hawks?

We dig into some lingering post-deadline thoughts and observations on the 76ers, Lakers, Warriors, Heat, Suns, Jazz, Mavericks, and Spurs - Trae Young to San Antonio, anyone? In addition, with the All-Star break upon us, we look forward to some of the most interesting second-half storylines to monitor.

We break down some of the most interesting moves and non-moves from a low-key trade deadline, focusing on the Knicks, Mavs, 76ers, Celtics, Thunder, Pistons, Bulls, and Raptors

How trading for Steven Adams can help Houston a year from now, more on Doc Rivers' postseason woes, and reflecting on Joel Embiid's knee injury, the games-played minimum for major awards, and the continued scoring explosion around the league. To conclude, we get to our biggest All-Star snubs and disagreements, as well as our thoughts on Donovan Mitchell and the surging Cavs.

Joel Embiid adds to his MVP resumé, Karl-Anthony Towns somehow comes out a loser while dropping 62, the Heat land a great-fitting Terry Rozier, and Doc Rivers replacing Adrian Griffin is downright hilarious (even if it ultimately makes sense).

Digging into the perfect fit between Pascal Siakam and the Pacers, how the Raptors got to a point where this was the best package available to them, and what's next for Indiana and Toronto.

We start with quick-hitters on the win-win Raptors-Knicks trade and the suddenly elite RJ Barrett, Utah's incredible turnaround, why a Markkanen trade could still theoretically be on the table, and a non-OKC destination that might make sense. Then we discuss Ja Morant's season-ending injury, a lost season in Memphis, and potential big-picture silver linings. We talk Kawhi Leonard's 3-year extension, which feels like a coup for the Clippers, and Erik Spoelstra's 8-year extension, which he earned by continuing to coach up a snakebitten Heat team that's been better than it has any right to be. Finally, some early impressions of the Suns' big 3, and some of the challenges they're running into.

Klay Thompson comes to grips with reality for himself and the Warriors, the Lakers are turning on Darvin Ham, the Pelicans demand our attention, and the Raptors and Knicks are enjoying some early returns from the O.G. Anunoby trade.

On our last episode of 2023, we go around the league and try to decide which teams deserve to be defined as title contenders a third of the way through the season.

The Bucks and Pacers squabble over a ball, Draymond Green gets himself suspended, and we count down the 10 best players of the 2023-24 NBA season so far.

With Cash out of town, Dan Devine of Yahoo Sports joins the show to discuss a wide range of topics, including: the relationship between fandom and professionalism, the current state of the Knicks, Julius Randle as a floor-raiser and ceiling-lowerer, impressions of the In-Season Tournament, what it feels like to watch almost-39-year-old LeBron keep doing this, the Bucks winning while figuring themselves out, the Pistons' muddled objectives, the undermanned Grizzlies weathering the storm, and the Wolves' proof of concept shining through after a disastrous first season with Rudy Gobert.

We check in on the increasingly moribund Pistons after a winless November, before turning our attention to the NBA Cup now that the eight-team field for the knockout stage has been set. Has the in-season tournament been a success in year one? What can or should change in the future? How do people around the league feel about it? And which matchup are we most excited about? After that, we take stock of the teams that have confused us most so far this season, including the Bucks, Clippers, Lakers, Pelicans, Cavs, Spurs, and Hawks.

We check in on the state of eight rebuilding teams around the league, assess where they're at in the present, and rank their long-term outlooks. How bleak or rosy do things look in Detroit, Washington, Portland, Houston, Utah, Orlando, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City?