Court of Opinion

The Miami Heat have lost their fire and gone cold as of late losing their last 4 straight games. The losses have boiled over, as shown by the public spat between Jimmy Butler, Udonis Haslem, and Erik Spoelstra. Is there a cause for concern in Miami?  The Brooklyn Nets get Kyrie Irving back after Eric Adams reverses the vaccine mandate. What are the Nets' chances of winning the title with Kyrie back? The top 4 teams in the Eastern Conference are within 0.5 games of each other for the top spot. Where do these teams finish the season? Jordan Poole and Tyrese Maxey have been playing great for the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers as of late. The two young guards have elevated their play and have similar stats. Which player ends up having a more successful career? Eric pleads his case on why the Los Angeles Lakers don't have to worry about making the playoffs, why the Knicks don't need to blow it up, and why the Suns may not win it all this year.  Court is in session.

Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets), Victor Oladipo and Markieff Morris (Miami Heat), Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), and Kristaps Porzingis (Washington Wizards) all made their returns. Who has had the best return? LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers), Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets), Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies) all put up 50+ piece nuggets. Who was most impressive? Luka Doncic is leading the Dallas Mavericks to a top 4 seed in the Western Conference. Will they make it out of the first round? Mike delivers the verdict on several of the Lakers' cases and decides whether Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics) is guilty of being a dirty player.

All-Star Weekend came and went. Stephen Curry made history, the Dunk Contest disappointed, and the city of Cleveland wins the day. James Harden makes his Philadelphia 76ers debut and has come out hot. Are they now title favorites? Ja Morant keeps dropping jaws setting yet another career high. Is he better than Derrick Rose ever was? DeMar DeRozan is having the best season of his career, is he DeMVP? Eric pleads a case for why Los Angeles Laker fans are right to boo and why Zion Williamson is not a detached teammate.

Luka Doncic scores a career high, LeBron James becomes the all-time leading scorer, Josh Giddey of the Oklahoma City Thunder becomes youngest to post back-to-back triple doubles. It was a busy week in the NBA, we give you the recap on everything that went down. The trade deadline is done and James Harden is on the move again. We cover all the last minute deals and analyze who won at the deadline. All-Star teams have been picked and Kevin Durant was as petty as advertised. Between him and LeBron, who picked the better team, and who gets Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP? Arbitration cases to be heard: Ben Simmons vs. Joel Embiid Kevin Durant vs. James Harden

The NBA trade deadline is upon us and dominos have started to fall. Domantas Sabonis, CJ McCollum, and Tyrese Halliburton are all on the move. Who wins these deals? The Rising Stars Challenge teams have officially been drafted. Which coach drafted the best/worst team? The Brooklyn Nets have lost 9 in a row and are seemingly in trouble. Will Kevin Durant returning solve this team's problems? The Boston Celtics have won 6 in a row and have suddenly caught fire. Are the Celtics a team to watch out for in the NBA playoffs? Mike gives the verdict on whether the Portland Trail Blazers are wasting Damian Lillard's career, the Brooklyn Nets should consider trading James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, and whether LaMelo Ball should have been chosen to be a fill in as an NBA All-Star.

The NBA 2022 All-Star starters were announced this week - who were the biggest surprises? Biggest snubs? The NBA Rising Stars were announced with a new format this year. There will be 4 teams battling instead of 2 and 4 G-League players get to show out against NBA talent. Which individual player will have the best showing at the event? Two teams in the west are streaking - and no, not that kind of streaking. The Phoenix Suns and Golden State Warriors continue their league dominance with 11 and 7 consecutive wins, respectively. Who has the more impressive streak? Whose streak is more likely to end first? The NBA trade deadline is approaching and it is suspiciously quiet. We expect to have some Woj-bomb and Sham-wows shortly. Who is the most likely to get traded and who is staying put? Mike pleads his case on why Shaq was wrong to say the Brooklyn Nets have reasons to be on their losing streak, why the Toronto Raptors are going to ride their young core into the playoffs, and why Rajon Rondo may be right about Darius Garland being the best closer in the game.

Steph Curry is in the middle of the worst shooting slump of his career and with Draymond Green out the Warriors have hovered around .500 their last 10 games. Should the Warriors be concerned? With the leading early MVP candidates either injured or slumping the NBA MVP race is wide open. Who are the leading candidates now? The Dallas Mavericks are suddenly hot and 5th in the West. Are they more than a first round exit? Eric gives the verdict for why Grayson Allen was not guilty of intentionally injuring Alex Caruso during a matchup between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls, and why Kyrie Irving was in his right to argue with Cleveland Cavaliers fans.

The Miami Heat keep polishing diamonds in the rough. Will the emergence of unexpected talents combined with the return of established players cause rotation issues? The injury bug is back and it is biting the top NBA contenders in the league. With 3 contenders expecting to lose key players for several weeks, which team will be impacted most? The Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Lakers have the current longest losing streaks in their respective conferences. Which team has more to worry about? Unheralded picks have been showing some all-star potential this year. Which young player under 25, that was a non-lottery pick (picked after the 15th pick) is playing best? Arbitration cases to be heard: Magic Johnson vs. Los Angeles Lakers Devin Booker vs. Toronto Raptors mascot (The Raptor)

10-day contracts are being handed out left and right. Which if any 10-day players has made the biggest impact? Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson both make their returns. Which player had the better debut? Bol Bol was traded but then he wasn't. Cam Reddish gets traded to the New York Knicks and reunites with RJ Barrett. The Grizzlies have suddenly won a franchise best 10 in a row and are sitting at 3rd in the Western Conference. Are they real contenders or just a nice surprise? Mike gives the verdict on whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is guilty of being too polite and whether Julius Randle is guilty of letting his frustrations get the best of him.

DeMar DeRozan has hit back to back game winners and has the Chicago Bulls rolling. Was the media wrong about him being washed? Trade SZN has begun with Rajon Rondo getting shipped to the Cleveland Cavs. What sort of impact will he make? Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving are both making their NBA returns. Who will have the bigger impact for their team? Trae Young sets a season and career high for points. His effort wasn't enough against Anfernee Simons career night. Who has a better chance to sneak into the playoffs the Atlanta Hawks or the Portland Trail Blazers? Mike pleads a case for why Draymond Green is the real MVP, Ja Morant is the best PG, and Jimmy Butler's injuries aren't as bad as they seem.

Christmas Day came and brought the gift of NBA Basketball. Which games lived up to the hype? Harden is heating up in his last couple of games with Durant out. Is Harden returning to MVP form? COVID protocols have been thinning out teams depth and veterans are getting Called back out of retirement to fill the voids. Are any of these veterans on 10 day contracts going to make a difference? The Cavs are actually a good team this year and JB Bickerstaff gets a much deserved extension. Is he a possible CotY candidate and where will the Cavs finish ? Russell Westbrook has been getting a lot of heat over his play lately but points the finger at people expecting too much. Does Russ have a point? KAT calls Russ a stat chaser and the Grizzlies have had a better winning percentage without Ja. What's the verdict?

Stephen Curry sets new all time record for 3PM at 2,974 and counting. How much higher can he set the bar and is there anyone who can catch him? COVID protocols are claiming one player after another. With many teams being depleted of depth, will the NBA have to adjust their season? Kyrie Irving is coming back - sort of. Will a part time Kyrie Irving help or hurt the Nets? Former All-Star point guards are making a comeback. Will IT and Kemba make a difference for the Lakers and Knicks, respectively? Should they have been playing again sooner? Mike pleads a case for why Anthony “Glass Man” Davis can in fact stay healthy, why the Heat can keep winning without their best players, and why KAT is the best shooting big man of all time.

Kevin Durant one ups Curry by one point, scoring 51 points for the season high point total so far. Is he the MVP favorite? The Pacers have come to terms and finally embraced a rebuild, making everyone available for trade. Which teams should be looking to buy? Cade Cunningham has strung together a couple of good performances and looks to be figuring it out. Is he back in the rookie of the year conversation ? Eric pleads a case for why the injury plagued Zion Williamson was still the right pick at number 1, and why the red hot Jazz are more than just a regular season team this season.

Ben Simmons has been in trade rumors for months, but is it for real this time? The Grizzlies get the biggest win in NBA history at the expense of the Thunder, are the Grizzlies great or do the Thunder just suck? The Suns set a franchise record 18 wins in a row and are now tied for first. Are they they championship favorites ? The Miami Heat are getting crushed by injuries and struggling to win games after a dominant start. Can they survive their injury woes or do they need to make a change? Eric pleads a case for why Zion is not guilty of blowing off his rehab and why Kemba Walker should be benched.

The Suns are red hot but no one cares. Are they serious title contenders or just built for the regular season? The Nuggets are hurting with key players battling injuries and in the middle of a losing streak, is their season basically over? DeMarcus Cousins signs a deal with the Bucks, does it matter? Arbitration cases to be heard: John Wall vs. Houston Rockets LeBron James vs. The NBA Steph Curry vs. The Refs

LeBron James and Khris Middleton return from injury, are their returns alone enough to turn it around for the Lakers and Bucks? Second year NBA players Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball have clearly separated themselves as the best two players from the 2020 draft so far. Both have taken another leap this year, who is better now and who will be better later? We know it's too early to decide the NBA All Stars, but we're doing it anyway. We both predicted with 90% accuracy on starters last year, who do we have making it this year? Mike pleads his case for why the Timberwolves can still squeak into its playoffs, and why the Nets are a top tier team despite Steve Nash saying otherwise.

Join us this week as we discuss the recent updates in the NBA, starting with a recap of the biggest individual performances, and surprises in the standings. We also provide all our award predictions for MVP, DPoY, 6MoY, and more. Steph Curry appears to be the front runner, but Eric and Mike disagree on who the dark horse candidates are. We finish off with everyone's favorite segment - What's the Verdict? Is Anthony Davis guilty of putting too much blame on Russ after his recent comments on the Lakers' struggles? Is DeMar DeRozan guilty of stealing the Bulls from Zach Lavine? Find out the answers to all this and more on this week's episode. Court is in session! Twitter @CourtsofOpinion | Instagram @CourtofOpinion | Website www.CourtsofOpinion.com

The new NBA foul rule has been effective this year, and it appears some players are unfazed by the change. Others, like Trae Young and James Harden, seem to be struggling. Will they adjust or will we see their PPG dip this season? Some rookies have impressed this year and there appear to be two rookies sitting at the top of the Rookie Ladder. Spoiler, it's not the top two 2021 draft picks. Can you feel the Heat? Asides from Miami, there are many teams in the East that have been dominant this season. Is the West no longer the supreme conference? We wrap up with Plead Their Case where Mike pleads with Eric on why Thibs is the guy for Rose, how Lowry will turn it around, and why the Nets may not have a Kyrie problem after all. Our Instagram is also live for more weekly content! @CourtofOpinion

The NBA season is finally back. We give you a recap of the current state of the league and the best performances so far, along with our first hot takes of the season. We know it's too early to draw conclusions on teams. We give you our way too early eye test analysis on which teams have looked best and worst from the preseason to now. Which new key additions had the best /worst debuts so far? Chris Paul becomes the first an only to 20k points and 10k assists. Does anyone care? New segment: Arbitration. We present both sides of a league conflict and propose our just resolution.

NBA free agency has officially started and some house hold names are finding themselves in new house holds next season. We run down which teams made the best signings and worst signings so far. The NBA draft is now officially over, which teams made the best picks and what were some of the biggest surprises. With most teams in the NBA having their roster spots nearly complete, which are the best remaining free agents available? The 76ers are trying to now mend their relationship with Ben Simmons after making numerous attempts to trade him. We're the 76ers guilty of causing drama unnecessarily in the way they handled Simmons this offseason? Did Wizards owner make unnecessarily salty comments following Westbrook's departure? Kendrick Nunn was let go by Miami and signed with the Lakers, did he get a fair shake with the Heat? From both of us, thank you for joining us each week to listen to us discuss the latest basketball topics. Starting something new is never easy, but we're amazed by the support and listenership we have received this season. We are humbled to have been played in 23 states and 5 countries over these 37 weeks. Stay tuned for season 2!

The Bucks win the NBA championship and come back from a third consecutive 0-2 hole. After adding Finals MVP to his resume is Giannis the most accomplished 26 year old ever? Team USA drops their first official Olympic game to France and bounces back to blow out Iran. Is the US still the favorite to win gold and what is wrong with team USA? Jonas Valanciunas is traded for Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe. Does anyone care? Find out if this trade moves the needle for either team. Who won the trade? Eric pleads the Raptors and Pistons cases for turning down some rumored proposed blockbuster trades.

The Bucks take the series lead at 3-2 and are now a game away from a championship after starting 0-2. What changed in the series and who wins finals MVP? Team USA wins their final two exhibition games but lose key players to health and safety protocols. Is team USA starting to find their footing and how will losing key players affect their chances at getting gold? The Wizards finally hire a new coach in Wes Unseld Jr, was it the right call? Eric pleads Portlands case for why despite rampant trade rumors, Damian Lillard will remain a Blazer. Giannis Antetokounmpo has won virtually every meaningful accolade you can win as an NBA player but seemingly is disliked by his peers, does he deserve more credit?

The Bucks get on the board after a second consecutive 40pt 10 reb game from Giannis. With the series now 2-1, can Giannis pull his team back from another 0-2 hole? We analyze the series and predict the outcome. The USA Mens Basketball team leases two consecutive exhibitions before getting their first win against Argentina. Does the USA have enough to win the gold? Are they still considered the favorites? Ben Simmons is following up his rocky playoffs with rumors that the trade block may be heating up for him. Is Ben Simmons on the verge of being traded and to who? The coaching carousel continues as the Magic hire Jamahl Mosley and the Pelicans hire Willie Green. Did these teams do a good job of filling these vacancies?

The NBA finals have begun with the Suns taking game one. We analyze individual performances from the game and predict the series. Team USA is finalized and practicing for the Olympics. What is this team's chance of winning it all and how does the roster stack up? Adam Silver says the play-in tourney is here to stay and that this finals matchup is ideal for league viewership. What implications does this have for the league? This may be the hardest finals MVP to call since the best player on any given night for both teams is hard to predict. Who do we have winning finals MVP? Mike pleads Jamal Murray's case for why his liking of a Lakers trade tweet is just stirring the pot and does Bam Adebayo appear to take a shot at Herro?

We're in the middle of the NBA conference finals but that isn't stopping other teams from stealing headlines. The Mavs hire Jason Kidd as predicted and the Blazers hire Chauncy Billups. We break down whether these hires are good fits. The Clippers are on the brink of elimination with Kawhi still out and the Bucks are trying to establish themselves against the surprising young Hawks. We give our analysis on the series' to this point and predict the series outcomes. 3 of the 4 remaining teams are led by stars 26 or younger, have the new young stars of the league taken the reigns from the last generation? Out of the remaining teams, which star 26 or younger would you want to build with for the next 10 years? Khris Middleton is actually really good, despite not getting much love he has proven time and again these playoffs he is the Buck's closer. Is Giannis guilty of being Robin to Khris' Batman? Kawhi Leonard's recent knee injury and refusal to play through it have many similarities to his quad injury in SA. Will the Clippers handle this situation better and is Kawhi guilty of not being able to play through discomfort? All this and more on this weeks episode!

After three hard-fought game 7s the dust has settled and the Bucks, Clips, 76ers advance to the NBA conference finals. We analyze those games and project what to expect in the conference finals. Another day another coaching change, Rick Carlisle steps down. Who is most likely to fill his spot? The Pistons win the NBA lottery with the Rockers slipping to the 2nd pick, who is likely the top NBA draft pick? Eric pleads KD's case for why he is now the best player in the world and can't plead a case for why Ben Simmons didn't peak as a rookie.

We couldn't get through the playoffs without the coaching carousel starting to turn. A bunch of coaches were fired this week, which vacancies are the best landing spots and who is likely to fill it? Injuries have been a story all year, but they're taking center stage as all stars continue to rack up injuries. With Kawhi Leonard joining the list of injured, which injury is the most significant? Hawks-76ers and Jazz/Clips are tied 2-2, with these two being the closest matchups left, we give you our predictions for how the rest of the series will play out. All NBA teams have been announced and confirmed, what are the biggest snubs and who was most deserving? Eric pleads the Net's case for why they can win it all with Durant alone.

We have entered the second round of the NBA playoffs and the Nets and Suns seem unstoppable. Are they headed towards a matchup in the NBA Finals? The Hawks are flying high after stealing a game from Philly with the series tied 1-1. How did this team turn it around after looking lottery bound earlier in the season? One of two LA teams moved on with Kahwi and the Clippers ousting the Mavs. Has PG-13 finally shed his “Playoff P” moniker? For our deposition, we review the recent hot take on Twitter regarding Tyler Herro and his off the court endeavors. Tune in every week for the NBA's best opinions and analysis. Follow us on Twitter @CourtsofOpinion for our daily takes.

The playoffs are under way and after a couple of games we are starting to see what teams are really made of. We give you an overview of the score for each series and predict final outcomes. Which player has been the most impressive in the playoffs so far? Which team has been most surprising? Most disappointing? Julius Randle wins MIP but is currently playing his worst basketball when it matters most. What is his ceiling? Is he a true number 1 option? Injuries dominated headlines during the regular season and are now becoming a factor in the playoffs. We break down the latest injuries to stars such AD, Embiid, and more. Which injuries are most impactful and how does it affect the playoff picture? Unruly fans have resorted to a tossing popcorn, water bottles, spit, etc. at players. Is the league doing enough to protect the players? The Miami Heat went from Finals feel good story to first round sweep. We break down what went wrong and Eric asks Mike to plead his case for why they need to flip the roster.

The play-in tournaments have ended, the Grizzlies and Wizards have snuck into the playoffs, and the Warriors come up just short. Do the play-in teams have a chance to advance past the first round? The East and West have started their matchups, what are the biggest surprises so far and what are the biggest disappointments? Jordan Clarkson wins 6th man of the year, was he the right choice? We break down the marquee matchups from each conference and give you our analysis and scary accurate predictions. On this week's What’s The Verdict?: LeBron has seemingly been taking a beating if you've seen his recent highlights, or is he just guilty of LeFlopping? Was CP3 truly guilty of trying to injure Bron? Are the Banana Boat days over?

The regular season is officially over with most playoff matchups set and the play in tournament about to begin. We break down the matchups to watch and give you our predictions for the East and West. Stephen Curry wraps up the year as the scoring leader and wills his team to a play in tournament match up with the Lakers, did he do enough to take the MVP from Jokic? Kyrie Irving joins the 50 40 90 club, Tony Snell the first to shoot 50 50 90, and more. Was this the most efficient scoring season in NBA history ? The Miami Heat win 8 of their last 10 and go into the playoffs looking like the Bubble Heat are back, can they make two consecutive trips to the Finals ? Guilty or innocent: Does LeBron complain and campaign for himself too much ? Is Kyrie too focused on non basketball issues?

Russell Westbrook makes history as he takes first place all-time in triple-doubles. What does this mean for his legacy and where does he rank among all-time PGs? The Celtics continue reeling after finding out Jaylen Brown will miss the rest of the year and are likely bound for the play in. The Lakers fall to 7th place, the Drummond experiment hasn’t worked, and LeBron will never be the same again. Will it be an early postseason exit for the Lake show? The Nets have lost 4 of their last 5, 2 against the rival Bucks, and Harden is still MIA. Should they be concerned? There are no longer clear-cut title favorites, who is most likely to make it out of the East and West? Bradley Beal turned into Mad Brad when he went off on a Twitter rant aimed at Kent Bazemore, we plead his case for why he was justified.

Young stars Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, and Kevin Porter Jr. make history. Who had the most impressive game? LeBron returns but the Lakers keep losing, with a 3-7 record in their last 10. What's going on with the Lakers and is it too late for them to figure out their issues? With less than 10 games remaining on the schedule every game counts, especially for teams trying to avoid the play in tournament. The East and West both have the 5-7 seeds all separated by one game. Which of these playoff hopefuls will wind up avoiding the play in tournament? After Jamal Murray went down everyone assumed the Nuggets title chances were done. Instead they have a 10-2 record in their last 12, Michael Porter Jr is realizing his potential, and Nikola Jokic cements his case for MVP. On this weeks Whats The Verdict: LeBron is complaining a lot since his return, is he guilty of making preemptive excuses? Is Luka guilty of demanding too much star treatment?

As strange as it sounds the Knicks and Wizards have winning streaks of 9 and 8 wins respectively, just in time for the playoff push. Will the win streak allow the Wizards to sneak into the playoffs after being left for dead? There's a lot of Buzz regarding the Hornets' Miles Bridges these days, but is he more than a dunker? What is his ceiling and can the Hornets make noise in the playoffs with LaMelo returning? Anthony Edwards has not only done enough lately to shed the draft bust label, but he has also put himself in position to win ROY. Did he do enough to steal the award from LaMelo? The playoff race in the West is tightening up, how will 5-10 shake out? Zion becomes the fastest since Jordan to 2k points and Michael Porter Jr. takes advantage of Murray's absence to produce career highs. What's The Verdict? Anthony Davis returns, but the Lakers don't seem much better, is it too late for the Lakers? Curry has a monster month passing Harden for most 3pm in a month, but was it more impressive than when Harden had 32 straight games of 30pts or more?

Injuries continue to pile up as Jamal Murray tears his ACL but Stephen Curry won't let injuries be the headline as he goes for 10 3PM on 3 separate occasions last week, epic showdown with Jayson Tatum included. We dive into what effects the latest round of injuries will have and break down the game of the week between the Warriors and Celtics. The Knick's are seemingly a lock to make the eastern playoffs this year as strange as that sounds. Is Julius Randle also a lock for MIP after exceeding all expectations? Who is the frontrunner for MVP? Does Curry have a legitimate chance to claim it even if the Warriors miss the playoffs? The East playoff race is tightening up, with 3 teams tied for 10th which is most likely to squeak into the play in tournament? Steve Kerr says only Steph, Bron, and Giannis are untouchable assets, is he right? A follower sends in their sworn statement on Bam Adebayo and the Heat's recent play, Mike adjusts his perspective with some A1 analysis and counters.

The League is hurting. The Miami Heat lose victor Oladipo indefinitely and Wiseman gets shut down for the year, and Harden continues to miss time, whats the impact? The Lakers and Warriors have been sliding down the standings after being firmly in strong playoff position most of the year. Will the Warriors even make the playoffs now? Will The Lakers be playing in the play in tournament? The League is in good hands with some young guns putting up monster numbers. Tatum and Lavine go for 50 on the same night and Zion Williamson continues to be the best 20 year old basketball player of all time. Mike Pleads the case for why the Timberwolves may finally be able to turn it around after the recent sale to Alex Rodriguez and his partner, and why Miles Bridges' recent poster cements him as the best dunker in the league.

As we go into the last third of the season we get a look at how some of the new additions teams have made since the trade deadline and buyout market have fit. We cover which players have seemed to be a great fit and which ones have struggled. Joel Embiid returns from injury for a showdown with KAT and Gordon Hayward is seemingly made of glass after going down with yet another injury. Is EMbiidVP still a possibility and will the Hornets be able to compete after losing another key player. IT and DeMarcus get their second, or maybe 3rd chances to come back into the league after signing 10-day contracts. Jrue Holiday signs a $135 million dollar extension that forms a Bucks core of Giannis, Jrue, and Khris Middleton. Is that enough for a championship? Eric tells Mike The Verdict on whether Kevin Durant is guilty after his recently exposed DM's to celebrity troll Michael Rapaport. After spending time with adult film star Teanna Trump, is LaMelo only guilty of having too much fun?

The NBA trade deadline has come and gone. Orlando makes a fire sale, Kyle Lowry isn't traded despite his farewell to the fans, and the Miami Heat's Pat Riley gets Victor Oladipo in exchange for a bag of basketballs. We break down every deal and potential impacts. When you strike out at the trade deadline you pivot to the Buyout market. Lamarcus joins the Nets and Drummond joins the Lakers, making the rich richer. How do these additions affect the landscape of the league and which players may be signed next? Zion Williamson is making history at only 20 years old. He has seemingly taken a leap recently, is it enough to make him the best under 21 player of all time? Durant left Golden State to prove he could win without a super team, but is now playing for a super team and getting a ton of crap about it. Mike Pleads Kevin Durant's case for why this time it's different.

The trade deadline is days away but so far only no names have been moved. Do any of the recent deals actually make a difference and what major deals may go down in the coming days? The MVP and ROY award may come down to health as LeBron James and LaMelo ball join the growing list of injured stars. What impact will injuries have on contending teams and awards? Chris Paul is making history every other night lately as he joins the 10k assist club, and Blake Griffin dunks for the first time since 2019. Eric gives his verdict on whether Lloyd Pierce was to blame for the Hawks' problems and whether Tyler Herro’s sophomore slump is due to outside distractions.

Joel Embiid has been putting up a monster campaign for EmbiidVP, but now that he's sidelined has the door opened for someone else to take over as MVP favorite? Outside of the Blake Griffin signing and the blockbuster trade for Hamidou Diallo, the trade and transaction front has been quiet lately. With the trade deadline closing in which deals are imminent and who is the next domino to fall? The Miami Heat are looking like they're playing in the Bubble again winning 10 of their last 11. Meanwhile the LA teams have opened the second half with questions and concerns, we give you the most likely forecast for these teams. Eric finally has something positive to say about the Timberwolves when Pleads the Case for why Anthony Edwards should be considered worthy of the top pick.

Team LeBron vs Team Durant, 3PT point shoot-out, Skills Challenge, and the No-Star Dunk contest are all broken down for you with analysis on best individual performers, and some history being made.  We look ahead to the second half and next season and predict which teams are slated for a second-half surge and which teams are trending down, and who will probably be an all-star next year that wasn't this year. Blake Griffin is headed to Brooklyn, but does it really even matter?  The halfway point is officially here, we give out our Midseason MVP, ROY, COY, MIP Awards and break down why those players earned it. And of course, a segment of What's The Verdict? Steph may be the best 3PT shooter ever, but is Lillard better at the "Deep 3"? We have the answers, Court is in Session!

The newly released All-Star reserve selections included some first-time all-stars and some surprise snubs, tune in to find out who got shafted. Some All-Star Dunk Contest participants have been announced, but most people wouldn't know who they are, who are the favorites to win? Everyone loves some streaking in sports, no one took off their clothes but a few teams have been stringing together W's, is it sustainable? The East playoffs are tight, 5 teams are within 1 game of the 4 spot. Which teams can separate from the pack and escape playoff bottom feeder status? Victor Oladipo and John Collins reject their teams' offers creating the sort of awkward tension sports journalism feasts on, will they stay? Court Themed segment, The Deposition: Twitter has been roasting the Heat for holding on to Herro and passing on Harden, a listener sends in their statement saying the Heat messed up and Mike educates him on why he is in fact wrong. Tune in to hear us predict the firing of Lloyd Pierce, we are podcasters but also fortune tellers

Eric and Mike draft their mock NBA All-Star teams this week and discuss some of the early favorites for the 3P and Dunk Contests. History continues to be made in the NBA with LeBron and Chris Paul climbing the ladder, as well as some young guys having historic nights. All this and everyone’s favorite segment - Plead Their Case on this week’s pod. Like, subscribe, rate, and review us! Follow us on Twitter @CourtsofOpinion

Kyrie Irving wants James Harden to be the point guard, is this what's best for the Nets? Luka took on some of the League's best in last week's slate of games, is he the best young player under 23 to build your franchise around? All-Star snubs happen every year, but no one ever made an All-Star snub team. Be a part of history and check out the first edition of the NBA's Just Missed It All-Star teams. LeBron gets a league warning for flopping, so Mike and Eric give you the Verdict on whether King James should deserve being labeled a professional flopper.

Tom Thibodeau gets his guy, for the third time, as the Knicks complete a trade with the Pistons for Derrick Rose. The Wizards losing ways continue, and Bradley Beal gets a new nickname as a result #SadBrad. Luka Doncic and Steph score 42 and 57 respectively in an epic Saturday night duel, Jokic also chips in a 50 point triple double the same night. LeBron gets into a shouting match with a fan, Zion breaks the breakaway rim, and Mike Pleads The Case for why SadBrad still deserves MVP consideration despite the Wizards bottom feeder status.

Games have been going down to the wire, which teams are showing up when it matters most? Teams are starting to get an idea of what they have, or what they don't have. We break down which players are likely to be moved and their potential fit on a new squad. Vegas has decided on who is making the East/West finals, did they get it right? We've got some pre contenders that are looking more likely to make the lottery than the playoffs at this point, can they turn it around? Mike asks Eric "What's The Verdict" on whether Jaylen Brown is now better than Jayson Tatum, and whether Klay is right about McGruder being out of the league soon. And Who the Hell is Juan Toscano-Anderson? All this and more on this week's episode of Court of Opinion. Follow us on Twitter: @CourtsofOpinion

Steph Curry becomes 2nd all-time in 3PM to no ones surprise, we break down the accomplishment and his place among the greats of the game. Kyrie Irving returns after missing games due to "needing a pause", are the Nets better for it? The New York Knicks top defense has them sitting at 8th in the East, do Knicks fans finally have a reason to cheer? Bam Adebayo and Collin Sexton have elevated their game, is it sustainable? Eric and Mike give you their East/West Way Too Early all-star picks. To top it all off we give you a new Court Themed segment, The Deposition - because variety is the spice of life, enjoy! Like us, subscribe to our channel, and check out our Twitter: @CourtsofOpinion

On this week's episode, the end of the Harden saga, including trade grades for each team, an analysis on whether one basketball is, in fact, enough for the new Brooklyn Big Three, and rumors on potential post-trade domino effects. Does Steph Curry still lead for MVP or have other players emerged? Teams around the league seemingly suck with more teams possessing losing records than winning records. Tune in to find out which of the 6 teams in a virtual tie for the 8th seed are most likely to actually make the playoffs. Oh, and for the weekly Court themed segment, Eric asks Mike to "Plead The Case" for several players including Kyrie "The Artist" Irving's potential fit alongside the newly formed Dribble Bros. Can't forget the gimmicks, tell your friends for good karma. Like us, subscribe to our channel, and check out our Twitter: @CourtsofOpinion

The James Harden trade front has been uncharacteristically quiet and stable of late, is he staying put given the emergence of Christian Wood and the health of John Wall? LaMelo becomes the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double, is he already the better Ball? Steph Curry has been playing MVP caliber ball and the Warriors now have a winning record, but is this sustainable? It's looking like Kyrie will voluntarily miss more games due to personal reasons than Kevin Durant missed due to mandatory COVID protocol. Does Kyrie really contribute to winning or is he just the world's best HORSE player? Only the best opinions, pass them off as your own and impress your friends. Like, rate, and subscribe to the podcast. Follow us on Twitter @CourtsofOpinion

Court is now in session for 2021! The season is starting to take shape and teams who were performing well, such as the Knicks and Cavaliers, have finally come back down to earth. Conversely, the 76ers are the team to beat in the east; however, Ben Simmons is not the second-best player on the team. Looking at the rookies, there are several surprises to start the season, and this class is shaping out to be better than expected. Listen to your hosts Eric and Michael discuss this and more on this week's episode! Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review us. Check out our Twitter @CourtsofOpinion.

Court is now in session for week 1 of the NBA season! There are some early season surprises with three teams in the east having an undefeated record. Also, the young talent in the league is showing why they are ready to take over. Listen to your hosts Eric and Michael discuss this and more on this week's episode! Be sure to subscribe, rate, and review us. Check out our Twitter @CourtsofOpinion.