Basketball Outsiders

This week, Ben & Tim sift through the remnants of the Ron Marshall Memorial Mock Draft on Detroit Bad Boys of SB Nation, an annual fan-run simulated offseason, where participants controlled the fate of all 30 NBA teams to varying degrees of anarchy. The result? Superstars being passed around like trading cards, draft riddled with auto-picks, and free agency turning into a barren wasteland, after one-third of the league suddenly vanished into the ether.

This week, Ben & Tim discuss the growing popularity of the NBA in Australia, from both experience and observation. The result is an extremely tangential conversation, which loosely covers their own introduction into basketball, gripes with League Pass, the influence it plays on pop culture, and issue of local fan conversion faced by the NBL.

Following their extended conversation on 'The Last Dance', Ben & Tim return for a bonus recording of sorts, to discuss another piece of Michael Jordan propaganda, the 1996 cult classic 'Space Jam'. Phoning it in with an effort even Bill Murray would be proud of, the result is a piecemeal dialogue, perhaps more incoherent than the plot of the movie itself, which covers; influence and elements of overrated nostalgia, critiquing MJ as an actor, notable cameos, whether the film is just a 90-minute commercial, and speculating the 2021 sequel with LeBron James.

This week, Ben & Tim add their two cents to the avalanche of reactions after ESPN aired 'The Last Dance' docu-series, which highlights Michael Jordan & the Chicago Bulls' Sixth NBA Championship, and the key contextual events that built toward, and maintained their 1990s dynasty. Rather than a traditional review, the discussion focuses on broader arcs depicted in the documentary, including; question of objectivity with MJ having final say, timeline shifting to construct the narrative, portrayal of General Manager Jerry Krause, controversy surrounding Scottie Pippen, influence of Coach Phil Jackson, interviews with Dennis Rodman & Steve Kerr, absence of Luc Longley, and a host of other tidbits from the ten-part series.

It’s the news you absolutely weren’t waiting for, and possibly even dreading, but the Basketball Outsiders podcast resurfaces after three years in the wilderness. And what better way than to break a lengthy hiatus than to discuss one of the more controversial topics of the stoppage, that being ESPN's list of the 74 greatest players in NBA history? Ben & Tim give their thoughts on a range of issues, from critiquing the concept of the exercise itself, to challenging recency bias with active players, and ultimately, judging whether the top ten stands up.

[Double Episode] Tim is once again joined by Ben Quagliata of Detroit Bad Boys to (somewhat indecisively) preview the 2017 NBA free agency market.

Tim is joined by Ben Quagliata of Detroit Bad Boys to break down the 2016-17 NBA award winners.

This week, Ben Quagliata and Tim Wray are joined by Duncan Smith of 16 Wins A Ring and PistonPowered to discuss where it all went wrong for the Detroit Pistons, the greatness of LeBron James and the Milwaukee Bucks demolition of the Toronto Raptors. Then, once again it's time for 'Quizketball' (32:15), the podcast's head-to-head trivia segment. Reigniting the fierce rivalry between Detroit Bad Boys and PistonPowered, Ben and Duncan face-off over 21 questions. Follow along to test your NBA knowledge and find out which Pistons blog reigns supreme.

This week, Ben Quagliata and Tim Wray are joined by Chris De Silva of 16 Wins A Ring and Luke Sicari of The Pick and Roll to discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers' defensive issues, the ridiculousness of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the Boston Celtics. Then, it's time for 'Quizketball' (33:30), the podcast's new head-to-head trivia segment. As Chris and Luke face-off over 21 questions, follow along to test your NBA knowledge and find out which Cavalier reigns supreme.

This week, Ben Quagliata and Tim Wray are joined by Brandon Marlow of PistonPowered to discuss the Detroit Pistons' struggles, why we shouldn't be worried about the Cleveland Cavaliers and the case for both James Harden and Russell Westbrook to win the MVP Award. Then, it's time for 'Quizketball' (36:40), the podcast's new head-to-head trivia segment, with a battle of the blogs between Detroit Bad Boys, represented by Ben, and PistonPowered, represented by Brandon. Follow along to test your NBA knowledge and find out which Pistons fan site reigns supreme.

With less than a month remaining in the regular season, Ben and Tim get together to discuss where each team in the league stands on the road to the playoffs...or the draft lottery.

It’s that time of the week again where Ben and Tim sit down to discuss some of the NBA’s hottest topics and story lines, but be warned, this marathon is not for the faint hearted. A slight change in the format sees the guys run through all the results from the last week with specific focus on a few interesting games, concluding with a look at the standings and the cluster of teams clamouring for playoff seeding in both conferences. Next, the recent injury toll of the NBA has hit the product of the game hard, with some of the sport’s biggest stars like Kevin Durant, Kyle Lowry and Joel Embiid all struck down with ailments. The guys look at how the Warriors will cope without KD and whether the Raptors free fall without Lowry. There has been a spate of roster movement and shuffling even after the trade deadline so Tim gives us a rundown of all the latest 10 day contract signings, as well as some bigger free agent movements through waivers and buyouts, such as Deron Williams, Matt Barnes, Brandon Jennings and Andrew Bogut. Finally, a fun exercise as the marathon nears its ending, with the lads tasked with creating the best possible NBA roster using a third of the salary cap (32 million). Specific rules apply which are laid out by Ben as the guys debate some of the best bargain value contracts in the NBA, and whether their respective patchwork rosters can beat the dregs of the league and make a playoff push.

The NBA's Trade Deadline passed and while there wasn't the raucous flurry of blockbuster deals that we all hoped for, there was definitely enough to keep us interested as Ben and Tim got together to round up all the action from the past few days. Starting with the Lou Williams trade, the guys advance through the week giving their thoughts and ideas as to why each trade helps or hurts the parties involved, as well as how the trades have altered the landscape of the NBA in terms of playoff seeding. Finally, a small side note as buyout season is now in full swing, as bad teams begin releasing their veterans in the hope that they will latch on to a contender and help fuel a title challenge.

In light of the recent blockbuster deal sending DeMarcus Cousins to the New Orleans Pelicans for spare parts, Ben and Tim hastily got together in the 1-3 Advantage's first ever emergency podcast. In this episode, there is, to be polite, a fair amount of roasting directed at the Kings front office for the package they received as well as the way this was all handled. It's hard to keep a steady flow to this episode because things keep springing to mind, such as the temporary nature of some of the contracts the Kings got, how the Pelicans reshuffle their depth now, and what assets the Kings possibly have in order to make the future any brighter. But is it too high a price for the Pelicans? Reports indicate Boogie may not re-sign for a team that traded for him. Only time will tell, but for now, it's a Boogie Wonderland on Bourbon Street.

The 1-3 Advantage returns this week and with the All-Star break upon us we can’t be drawn away from trade rumours and the festivities going on in New Orleans. To kick things off in our new format, Ben and Tim take a look at the week that was and review some of the more amazing match ups from the last seven days, including a Valentine’s Day date between the two hosts and their teams, which sent one of our own home heartbroken. As usual, the conversation turns to story lines and the big one this week is the injury to Kevin Love and his status for the next few weeks. Also reviewed is whether Carmelo Anthony deserves his spot as an injury replacement and a thorough review of the G-League and how a true minor league system helps the NBA. Our transaction ticker is quiet in terms of ten day contracts but some spicy deals have been brokered, including a lucky escape for the Orlando Magic, as well as a swap of big men between Denver and Portland. Can Serge Ibaka make Toronto elite again? And how will Mason Plumlee play next to Nikola Jokic? Finally, some folly and frivolity as the guys take us through All-Star Weekend and give us their predictions for the events. There is some pause as our hosts dissect who half of these celebrities even are, as well as lamentation that Thon Maker was disgracefully snubbed from the Rising Stars Challenge.

The 1-3 Advantage returns this week as Ben and Tim reconvene to discuss some of the NBA’s hottest topics. For starters, the guys review some of the best games from the past 7 days as the NBA certainly didn’t fail to deliver some ridiculously entertaining basketball. Moving on from that, they touch on some of the more interesting story lines that have developed around the league, including the sudden spate of injuries to young stars and the rise of the Miami Heat. There’s also a “massive” trade to dissect, as the Milwaukee Bucks sent Miles Plumlee to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert. Following this, there’s a run through of the recent 10-day contract signees and a full round-up of all the latest trade rumours. Finally, it’s the far-too-late midseason awards as Ben and Tim debate winners of all the major categories. Few surprises ensue as the lads agree on almost every award, as well as the NBA’s First Team, mixed in with some Rudy Gobert appreciation and lamentation.

It’s the day of beers and barbecues as Ben and Tim get together to talk about the rarest breed of NBA basketballer, the feared Australian. Known for toughness and grit, the guys give a rundown of how each Aussie in the league has fared so far this season for this Australia Day special edition, as well as their main talking points and a couple of ring ins. There’s talk of impending free agencies, invites to All-Star weekend and potential franchise changing players. A little bit of trivia is played as the guys reveal what city has produced the most #1 overall draft picks, and even a sprinkling of past and future Olympic discussion and hopes.

Ben and Tim reconvene after a weekend of exhilarating NBA action to breakdown what went wrong for Golden State and why Memphis have been so impressive this season. Meanwhile, further south, another surprise team in the Houston Rockets has us debating whether it's appropriate to term them as 'elite.' While they're in the conversation, there are some teams in the East beginning to separate themselves from the pack and solidify playoff positioning, while a scrap to the death has ensued for the final spot in the Western Conference seeding in a veritable case of last man standing.

It’s nearing that time of year again when the NBA All-Star debate begins to heat up, so Ben and Tim got together to discuss their starters, reserves and almost famous picks for both conferences. There’s some raised eyebrows at the early returns of the first round of fan voting as well, and hot debate over whether the fans are really the best source to decide. As always, follow the podcast on Twitter at "13AdvPod" and its hosts at "QuagSport" and "TRW24". You can also subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and find us on our new home at http://www.believethehypenba.com.

Ben and Tim reconvene after several weeks off due to technical difficulties and Festivus celebrations to discuss two of the more interesting teams in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks have surprised, surging to 6th in the conference behind the stellar play of Giannis Antetokounmpo as well as surprise rookie Malcolm Brogdon while the Pistons have disappointed, falling down to 11th amid questions of leadership and consistency. As always, follow the podcast on Soundcloud and subscribe on iTunes. Follow the boffins behind the podcast at @badboyskip and @TRW24.

Ben and Tim get together for the inaugural episode of the 1-3 Advantage, your source for basketball banter from the great nation down under. In the debut of the show, our two hosts discuss the mess that is the Eastern Conference in a standings order, including the hot topic of resting players, how good the Raptors are and what has happened to the Hawks and Wizards. You can follow our hosts at @badboyskip and @TRW24, as well as keep up to date with the podcast at @13AdvPod on Twitter.