48 Minutes

0:00 ... Bruce and Ross have some issues with the "Tournament" label on the NBA Cup, which started on Friday.  They believe the games are just as important as regular season games than as "Tournament Victories."  The timing and format of the "Tournament" are also a bit puzzling. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 ... Ross introduction and dedicates episode #192 to Detlef Schrempf. 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.

0:00 ... Opening animation ... Ross introduces the crew 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 ... Fred hello and welcome to the "Big Red Bus" from the BLEAV Network. 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 ... Opening Animation ... Ross hello and introduces the panel ... Show #185 is dedicated to Baron Davis, who wore #85 with two NBA teams. 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.

0:00 ... Bruce introduction with his ESPN experiences and NBA background. 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.

0:00 ... Opening animation, introduction of the panel, and show #184 dedication to former Knicks great Ron Baker. 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.

As we get closer to the new-look Boston Celtics beginning their 2025-26 NBA season, there's no better time to rehash all the moves that were made over the offseason. Four time Emmy-winning ESPN vet and “48 Minutes” Podcast co-host Bruce Bernstein joined Courtney Tate on a special episode of "BLEAV in Celtics."  They'll discuss what C's fans have to look forward to this coming season. 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: Is there hope in Boston this season? Can Jaylen Brown flourish as the "Alpha" with Jayson Tatum out of action? Will Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta work out as starters? Rapid Fire on Celtics History & Classic Memories Pat Riley/Lakers Story 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.

0:00 ... Animation, hello and welcome , and introduction of the panel.  Episode #183 is dedicated to Craig Smith, who wore #83 as a member of the Portland Trailblazers. 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.

0:00 .... Opening Theme and Hello ... intro panel and dedication of show #18 in honor of Nets legend Buck Williams. 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

As we get closer to the new-look Dallas Mavericks beginning their 2025-26 NBA season, there's no better time to rehash all the moves that were made over the offseason. On Wednesday, 4-time Emmy-winning ESPN vet and “48 Minutes” Podcast co-host Bruce Bernstein joined us on a special episode of our Mavs Step Back Podcast to discuss what Mavs fans have to look forward to this coming season. 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.

0:00 Intro 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.

Among our topics: -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.

0:00 Intro 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.

0:00 ... Show open, introduction of the panel, and explanation of the "Two-a-Day" series. 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    

0:00 ... Show open, introduction of the panel, and explanation of the "Two-a-Day" series. 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    

0:00 ... Show open, introduction of the panel, and explanation of the "Two-a-Day" series. 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 ... De'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    

0:00 .... Opening and Welcome 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      

0:00 Intro 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

0:00 ... Opening animation and welcome to Amar Shah ... a basketball savant, former colleague at ESPN, and longtime "brother and friend." 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          

0:00 .... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the crew of Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer."  Show number 170 is dedicated to Devin Booker, who scored a career high 70 points in a loss to the Celtics back in March of 2017. 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

0:00 Intro 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”

0:00 Intro 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 Reilly'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?

0:00 ... Opening animation .... Ross says hello and welcomes the panel. 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    

0:00 ... Show Open ... Ross welcomes the panel and makes his dedication of show #166 to Jonathan Kuminga and Russell Westbrook who both shot just 66% from the free throw line last season.  Bruce registers his disappointment with Ross's choice and suggests someone else. 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      

0:00 Intro 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

0:00 ... Open animation ... Ross Geiger welcome and introduces co-hosts Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer. 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              

0:00 Intro 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

0:00 ... Show open ... Bruce Bernstein introduces co-host Michael "World B" Freer and our special guest Dave Wohl, the former player, coach, and general manager. 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            

0:00 .... Hello and Welcome ... Ross introduces the panel ... 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        

0:00 Intro 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?

0:00 Intro 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

0:00 .... Ross hello and welcome, introduces the panel, and dedicates show #158 to Jack McVeigh of the Houston Rockets who is the only NBA player to wear uniform #58. 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              

0:00 Intro 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

0:00 ... Ross hello & welcome ... introduces panel and dedicates episode #156 to Stephen Curry for his 56 point game against Orlando in February. 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                      

0:00 Intro 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?

0:00 ... Ross hello, welcome, and introduces the crew. 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            

0:00 Intro 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

0:00 ... Show open and Ross intros the panel and our special guest Jared Greenberg of TNT Sports and NBA TV. 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              

0:00 ... Bruce welcomes the audience to 48 Minutes and introduces Mike Isenberg, and five time author and 11 time Emmy Award winning producer whose new collaboration with Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell is their second book project together. 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