Podcast appearances and mentions of tom haberstroh

KOC and Tom Haberstroh react to the Wolves evening their series with the Golden State Warriors at 1-1. Anthony Edwards suffered a bad-looking ankle injury, but miraculously returned for the 2nd half. But does it even matter, as Kevin thinks the Warriors are DONE after this one? PLUS - what team would be the absolute dream landing spot for Cooper Flagg on Monday night's NBA Draft Lottery? The guys preview the Lotto that is just a weekend away! Up next, NBA Skills Coach Drew Hanlen is back on The KOC Show to talk about how his client Chet Holmgren bounced back to have a great Game 2. What did the Oklahoma City Thunder do different on both ends of the floor to completely neutralize Nikola Jokic? Hanlen also works with Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers, calling him "the best passer in the NBA." With the Pacers set to take on the Cavs in Game 3, KOC wants to know, why doesn't he shoot more?? And then, Noa Dalzell and Jack Simone join KOC to break down how the Boston Celtics have fallen into the completely unexpected 0-2 hole vs the underdog New York Knicks. How much of the blame should superstar Jayson Tatum get, and how much of it falls on HC Joe Mazzulla? Find out the answers to all those questions in this awesome KOC Show conversation! (0:22) Tom Haberstroh joins the show(0:33) Wolves beat Steph-less Warriors in Game 2(18:41) NBA Draft Lottery preview(35:33) Drew Hanlen joins the show(36:06) Thunder dominate Nuggets in Game 2(55:10) Pacers take 2-0 lead vs. Cavs(1:11:57) Noa Dalzell & Jack Simone join the show(1:12:32) Celtics blow ANOTHER 20-pt lead to Knicks

On this episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine answer the question "do the Warriors have a chance WITHOUT Steph Curry?" The answer may surprise you. Plus, are the Indiana Pacers starting to show they're a team of destiny? Tyrese Haliburton's numbers in the clutch will leave you stunned. But not as stunned as Cleveland Cavaliers fans... yikes! The insanity of the NBA Playoffs is peaking and Tom and Dan are here to break it all down on this installment of The Big Number.(1:20) The Big Number: 0(20:29) Little Numbers: Warriors possessions in the bonus(24:47) Little Numbers: Anthony Edwards Game 1(29:02) Little Numbers: Draymond Green contested shots(30:45) Little Numbers: Warriors offensive rebounding(36:30) Pacers stun Cavaliers AGAIN

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are joined by Steve Jones Jr. of The Dunker Spot podcast to discuss the flexion point between the first and second rounds of the playoffs. What does Steve look for in the first 5 minutes of a new series, and what matchups intrigue him in the Wolves/Warriors matchup? Tom Did His Own Research on the surprising anomalies of James Harden's Game 7s, beyond his scoring ineptitudes. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. ⁠⁠Join the Count The Dings Patreon⁠⁠ to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/CountTheDings⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED⁠⁠ - Check it out here:⁠⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH⁠⁠ Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On ⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ Email us: ⁠⁠basketballilluminati@gmail.com⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠@bballilluminati⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠@basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes have separated the signal from the noise on the Defensive Player of the Year award. Physicality continues to dominate the NBA Playoffs, but there's a new phenomenon brewing as teams continue to tighten rotations and increase the minutes of their best players. Truth Teller Jason Gallagher of ThreeFourTwo Productions joins the program to discuss his Dallas Mavericks fandom, meeting Luka Doncic and working with LeBron James and Steve Nash on Mind the Game. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. ⁠Join the Count The Dings Patreon⁠ to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at⁠ www.patreon.com/CountTheDings⁠ ⁠ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED⁠ - Check it out here:⁠ https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH⁠ Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On ⁠Apple⁠ or ⁠Spotify⁠ Email us: ⁠basketballilluminati@gmail.com⁠ Twitter: ⁠@bballilluminati⁠ Instagram: ⁠@basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine break down the New York Knicks' offensive struggles. Could they actually blow this series to the Detroit Pistons?Plus, Tom and Dan have unearthed the numbers that prove this is one of the most exciting NBA postseasons of ALL-TIME, and the 1st round is still going!The duo also recap the Milwaukee Bucks blowing a 7-point lead with 40 seconds left on Tuesday night to end their season, and perhaps the Giannis Era in Milwaukee. How did things get so bad for the Bucks that they may have no choice but to entertain offers for their generational superstar? It's here on this installment of The Big Number.(1:05) - What makes this first round so competitive(16:05) - Cade Cunningham's early dominance(18:55) - Knicks' concerning pace of play(24:35) - Jalen Duren making plays for Detroit(28:25) - Knicks offensive struggles without Brunson(32:20) - Should Bucks trade Giannis?(46:55) - Cavs-Pacers thoughts & predictionsSubscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

On today's episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show, KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh and the guys do a deep-dive on every single series. Do the Los Angeles Clippers have the Nikola Jokic stopper? Did the New York Knicks turn a corner against the Detroit Pistons? Why the physicality of the Houston Rockets-Golden State Warriors series is a bad thing, how Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies would have been better off missing the Playoffs altogether, and Darius Garland's blunt trash talk about Tyler Herro. And why Jayson Tatum's wrist injury is a great thing for Jaylen Brown. The guys give their takes on where every single NBA Playoff matchup stands -- don't miss this episode of the KOC Show!(0:47) Nuggets vs. Clippers Game 3 reaction(12:12) Lakers vs. Wolves Game 3 preview(18:33) Rockets vs. Warriors Game 3 preview(30:25) Pistons vs. Knicks Game 3 reaction(40:13) Bucks vs. Pacers Game 3 preview(52:29) Thunder vs. Grizzlies series update(1:06:45) Celtics vs. Magic series update(1:12:58) Cavs vs. Heat series update

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are stepping up their level of physicality for a deep podcast playoff run. Tom thought the season was over after spending two years with the Blazers not making the postseason, so we missed our episode last week. Truth Teller Jason Timpf of Hoops Tonight joins the show to discuss the Warriors vs. Rockets series, Steph Curry's brilliance, Jonathan Kuminga's disappearance and how LeBron made him fall in love with basketball. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine dug up the data that proves Luka Doncic is LeBron James' greatest teammate of all-time. Sorry Dwyane Wade, our bad Kyrie Irving, apologies Anthony Davis -- Tom and Dan have the data that shows why #77 on the purple and gold gets this honor. But is Head Coach JJ Redick putting too much on the shoulders of his newcomer? And what does Anthony Edwards need to do offensively to break out in this series as it shifts back to Minnesota?Plus, Jayson Tatum has been Mr. Durability for the Boston Celtics for nearly a decade now, but this latest wrist injury has Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine concerned.(3:05) The Big Number: Luka's points in playoffs(11:18) Luka's minutes on the bench(15:30) Minnesota wide-open 3-pointers vs. LAL(19:35) Gobert impact on Wolves defensive rating(23:16) Edwards pick-n-roll points per possession(27:30) Jayson Tatum doubtful for Game 2 vs. Magic

Bomani Jones is joined by Tom Haberstroh of Yahoo Sports to discuss Luka Doncic's return to Dallas. Bo starts off the show by complimenting Tom having a framed Muggsy Bogues jersey hanging in the background (0:42) and how impactful Bogues is in the city of Charlotte. (2:27) They move on to Luka Doncic returning to Dallas for the first time after being traded and why Wednesday night's game was very tough on Anthony Davis. (6:25) Bo and Tom criticize Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban for his demeanor at the game (26:45) and defend GM Nico Harrison saying he wasn't the only front office member complicit in the Luka Doncic trade. (32:28) They wrap up the show by saying why it wasn't surprising the Denver Nuggets fired head coach Michael Malone (40:00) and why Tom has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as his NBA MVP over Nikola Jokić. (47:05) . . . Subscribe to The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts and follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik Tok for all the best moments from the show. Download Full Podcast Here: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6N7fDvgNz2EPDIOm49aj7M?si=FCb5EzTyTYuIy9-fWs4rQA&nd=1&utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-right-time-with-bomani-jones/id982639043?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social Follow The Right Time with Bomani Jones on Social Media: http://lnk.to/therighttime Subscribe to Supercast for Ad-Free Episodes: https://righttime.supercast.com/ Support the Show: Discover faster, more reliable search with Perplexity today. Download the app or ask Perplexity anything at perplexity.com! https://pplx.ai/bomani-jones Download the DraftKings Pick Six app NOW and use code BOMANI. Better payouts. Bigger wins. Only with Pick6 from DraftKings. The Crown is yours. Go to zbiotics.com/BOMANI to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use BOMANI at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the latest episode of the Kevin O'Connor Show, KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh to reveal his 2024-25 NBA awards ballot. The pair debate all the biggest honors including Nikola Jokic vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP and Amen Thompson vs. Draymond Green for DPOY. Plus, is Payton Pritchard the undisputed Sixth Man of the Year? And should Cade Cunningham even be ELIGIBLE for Most-Improved Player considering he was a no. 1 overall draft pick??Later, they recap the Minnesota Timberwolves routing of the Memphis Grizzlies. Anthony Edwards dropped 40+ despite Zach Edey finding his footing for Memphis—could the Wolves find themselves the four seed in the West?(0:35) Timberwolves beat Grizzlies Thursday night(3:12) Updated Western Conference playoff picture(11:11) KOC's NBA awards ballots(11:12) SGA vs. Jokic for MVP?(24:54) Stephon Castle for Rookie of the Year?(34:39) Amen Thompson vs. Draymond Green for DPOY?(50:25) Payton Pritchard for 6th Man of the Year?(54:55) Who should win Coach of the Year?(1:00:11) Cade Cunningham MIP controversy

Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine unravel how the Denver Nuggets got to the point this week where they felt it necessary to totally clean house. On this new episode of The Big Number, Tom uncorks a jawdropping stat about the total lack of help Nikola Jokic got this season from his coaches, his front office and his teammates. Dan and Tom see the writing on the wall, and why a MASSIVE trade (or two) could be coming this summer. Plus, where the team goes from here as they search for their new HC and GM.Later, Tom and Dan are joined by Portland Trail Blazers star Toumani Camara, who reflects on his growth as a player, ranking second in the NBA for defensive stops and embracing his role with the Blazers, where he excels in guarding top players and taking charges.(00:45) - Were the Nuggets right to fire Michael Malone?(15:30) - Conference finals teams need good defenses(21:50) - Denver's concerning dependence on Jokic(26:20) - Lack of production from Denver's young core(31:55) - Murray, Porter Jr. and Gordon's HUGE contracts(39:15) - Toumani Camara joins the show! Subscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are working on their Parker Posey drawls to mock Duke's tough exit from the Final Four. Tonight is Luka Doncic's grand return to Dallas, and thanks to Marc Stein's reporting, a new influential figure has emerged in the sequence of events that led to the stunning trade. The Denver Nuggets stunningly cleaned house during our recording, firing Michael Malone (and GM Calvin Booth) with three games left in the regular season as the NBA continues to up the ante. Finally, master codebreaker Draymond Green is on the precipice of the greatest defensive play of his career: stealing the DPOY award from Evan Mobley's grasp because he spoke it into existence. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin O'Connor and Tom Haberstroh went LIVE on Friday morning to discuss 10 storylines with 10 days left in the NBA regular season, and they started with reaction to last night's masterclass performance by Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Did Steph officially enter the MVP conversation, and is GSW the team best-suited out west to KO the Thunder? Plus the guys hit 9 other massive storylines -- including why Cooper Flagg landing with the San Antonio Spurs and Victor Wembanyama would create "Tim Duncan-David Robinson 2.0" (0:43) 10 storylines with 10 days left in the season (0:52) Steph is Top 5 MVP 5(5:55) Can Cavs & Bucks fix their issues? (8:58) Grizzlies are all-in on Ja Morant (14:23) Can Thunder win 70 games? (19:56) SGA nears +1000 (23:36) Where will Houston's pick end up? (26:47) Mailbag/live questions pt. 1 (39:59) Tanking teams contend for Cooper Flagg (42:05) Who will earn the 'Mark Madsen' award? (45:13) Can the Timberwolves keep it rolling? (51:50) All 30 teams in action on April 13 (54:25)  Mailbag/live questions pt. 2

On this episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine break down Ja Morant's unique, disturbing decline in PPG the last 3 years. Could Ja actually be past his prime already? The chaos of this season for the Memphis Grizzlies, which has seen the firing of HC Taylor Jenkins, may have culminated on Tuesday when Ja Morant seemed to do yet another "gun" gesture that the NBA is now investigating, too. Speaking of Western Conference contenders, the Thursday night tilt between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors is also previewed in full on this must-watch edition of The Big Number.(00:55) - The Big Number: Ja Morant's declining PPG(17:20) - Grizzlies using Ja less in pick-and-roll(22:25) - Ja has missed over half of Grizzlies' regular season games since 2021(25:50) - Grizzlies defensive struggles in 2025(30:20) - Grizzlies can't beat good teams?(34:10) - Warriors vs. Lakers previewSubscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes aren't satisfied with simply running leagues; it might be time to make a league from scratch. Truth Teller Tim 'Banned' MacMahon returns to the program to discuss his new book 'The Wonder Boy', which chronicles the Luka Doncic era in Dallas up until his stunning trade. Banned also helps us unpack the Taylor Jenkins firing in Memphis, the staffing changes made behind the bench and Ja Morant's future with the organization. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh as the guys react to the absolutely unbelievable game-winning buzzer beater from Josh Giddey. LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers lose in devastating fashion (mostly because of LeBron's careless late turnover), and now it has the guys wondering if the Chicago Bulls are BACK?? Plus the Indiana Pacers scored HOW MANY points last night vs the hapless Wizards? And Kev and Tom weigh in on how fun an Indiana-Detroit Pistons First Round matchup would be. Plus Adam Silver's press conference on Thursday covered everything from NBA Expansion in Europe, (and Seattle/Las Vegas), how All-Star Weekend needs to change (again!), and how Tanking can be addressed. And don't miss the guys' thoughts on Cooper Flagg's masterpiece performance vs Arizona that sent them to the Elite 8, along with Coach John Calipari's Arkansas squad blowing a massive lead to Texas Tech, and Alabama's historic night from 3-point land.Then, Thinking Basketball's Ben Taylor joins Kevin O'Connor to discuss the cutting-edge strategies being implemented by the "futuristic" Oklahoma City Thunder. Are the Boston Celtics on that level, too? Plus, Ben is blown away by what he's seeing from LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, he just wonders if they'll be able to keep it up over the course of the Playoffs. And Ben weighs on why so many fans complain about the volume of 3-pointers being shot in today's "modern" NBA, and how the league may need to address it. (1:05) Lakers lose on Bulls buzzer-beater(6:28) Pacers put up 162 pts on Wizards(9:34) Current Eastern Conference playoff matchups(12:01) Adam Silver comments on NBA expansion(18:34) Silver admits All-Star game missed the mark(23:46) Could NIL in college hoops end NBA tanking?(35:32) Cooper Flagg shines in Duke win vs. Arizona(39:31) Texas Tech rallies back to beat Arkansas(44:55) Alabama shoots record 3's vs. BYU(48:18) Ben Taylor of Thinking Basketball joins(48:59) Are Celtics title favorites?(56:28) Draymond Green deserving DPOY favorite?(1:02:25) Is Camara a modern-day Pippen?(1:08:40) 2024 NBA re-draft(1:12:01) A Thinking Basketball video on Bronny?(1:13:28) Assessment of Lakers recent skid(1:22:55) Banchero bounces back(1:23:01) Modern vs. ‘old school' NBA

On this episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine weigh in on why Anthony Davis is THE most important player with 10 games remaining in the NBA regular season. Patrick Dumont and Nico Harrison get to see whether their high-stakes gamble pays off in the short term, as AD currently has an outside shot to drag the Dallas Mavericks into the Play-In and then perhaps the Playoffs. Plus, Dan explains how the next tier of "most important players" with 10 games to go includes Aaron Gordon, Devin Booker, Jaden McDaniels and Kawhi Leonard — with the Western Conference Playoff picture heating up more each day. And the guys discuss Damian Lillard's DVT diagnosis and how it impacts the Milwaukee Bucks in the short-term, and perhaps additionally impacting Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with Milwaukee in the long run.(1:00) - Big Number: Can Anthony Davis carry the Dallas Mavericks?(16:45) - Aaron Gordon elevates the Denver Nuggets defense(21:20) - Devin Booker's impact on the Phoenix Suns(25:30) - Kawhi Leonard surging with the Los Angeles Clippers(29:00) - Jaden McDaniels is sinking 3's for the Minnesota Timberwolves(33:45) - Over/under scoreboard update(37:15) - LeBron says Giannis could score 250 a game in the 1970's(41:10) - Where do the Milwaukee Bucks go from here?Subscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes recognize the Chicago Bulls defying convention with their starting lineup last Saturday. Sometimes we set the Agenda, as national writers around the league have opened their third eyes to the massive tankjobs currently underway. Dan Hurley crashed out following a loss to Florida in March Madness, and to think he could be coaching Luka Doncic right now. Tom Did His Own Research on James Harden cookie jar fouls and searches for the outlier of all outlier stats. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NBA analyst explains why SGA is the clear MVP, plus why the Knicks aren't built for the playoffs.

Kevin O'Connor is joined by Tom Haberstroh to answer 14 big NBA questions at the moment: Is Austin Reaves the modern day Manu Ginobili? Is Giannis' legacy taking a major hit this season? Could "Skinny Kawhi" help the Clippers go on an improbable Playoff run? Plus the guys talk Nikola Jokic and whether the Denver Nuggets' big man is seriously injured, the concern level surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers after suffering a 3rd straight loss, who will get the 10-seed between the Phoenix Suns and Portland Trail Blazers, the Boston Celtics being sold for a record amount of money, the Houston Rockets' 8-game win streak and which East sleeper goes on the deeper run between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons. All this and more on this monster 14-pack of NBA questions KOC needs you to think about. (0:40) Are the Clippers formidable with Kawhi ‘back?'(5:41) Concerned for Cavaliers?(9:23) Reaves steps up for Lakers(15:36) Can Phoenix hang on to the 10 seed?(19:58) Anthony Davis nearing a return(22:30) Are Warriors still top-tier title contenders?(25:26) 21 stars did not play Wednesday(31:10) Nuggets struggle without Jokic(34:03) Who's to blame for Bucks failures?(40:28) Celtics sold for $6.1 billion(45:26) Who can make a deeper run: Pacers or Pistons?(49:12) Where should Amen Thompson play for Rockets?(51:27) What's wrong with the Grizzlies?(53:28) NCAA Tourney predictions(55:52) Favorite mid-lottery prospects Want to compete against KOC and the entire Yahoo Sports crew in this year's NCAA tournaments? Enter the Men's and Women's contests to claim the ultimate bragging rights.Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor Show on your favorite podcast app:

The Big Number this week looks at the spectacular season being had by Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. Could the Greek Freak finish 3rd in the MVP race, despite how disappointing the team has been? Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine reveal that Giannis is putting up numbers that we've never seen before, but no one is talking about it. That probably has something to do with the Bucks being WINLESS against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder this season. Tuesday night's loss to Golden State was bad enough that Doc Rivers called a meeting with Giannis and Damian Lillard to try and pull the Bucks out of a "dire" situation.(3:30) - Does Giannis deserve more MVP buzz?(13:25) - Celtics' lead over Bucks helps Tatum's case(17:55) - Is the Cavs' talented roster hurting Donovan Mitchell's case?(24:50) - Too little too late for Anthony Edwards?(28:15) - Jalen Brunson is elevating the Knicks(32:15) - Over/under scoreboard update(33:05) - Are the Bucks a one & done playoff team?Want to compete against Tom, Dan and the entire Yahoo Sports team in this year's NCAA tournaments? Enter the Men's and Women's contests to claim the ultimate bragging rights.Subscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

The energy of Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes is contagious. It's Tanking season, kid! Inexplicable DNPs, 4th quarter benchings and season shutdowns abound from sandbagging coaches all across the association. We Do Our Own Research to give a second opinion on New Owner Syndrome, assess whether it's a proper diagnosis and even develop a cure! Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Wizards visit Portland, Craig welcomes Blazers TV analyst Tom Haberstroh to revisit the Deni Avdija trade from last year's NBA Trade Deadline. Initially skeptical about Avdija's floor spacing, Haberstroh now believes the young forward has All-Star potential. They discuss how the trade has benefited both teams and why Avdija has emerged as a key piece for the Trail Blazers.

Let the NBA Draft Lottery tanking COMMENCE! De'Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs, out for the year. Paul George, likely done for the year. The Mavs, well they're not TRYING to tank but it's happening anyway because DuMont and Nico Harrison's respective visions for the Dallas Mavericks continue to blow up in their face. The Miami Heat, we can't tell if they're tanking or just plain stink. The Utah Jazz are tanking in plain sight (and getting fined for it). But there's plenty of good too -- Tom Haberstroh tells Kevin O'Connor that the Golden State Warriors are officially a "top-tier" title contender, right up there with the Cavs, Thunder and Celtics. It's all on this fresh new episode of The KOC Show.Plus, former NBA star Gordon Hayward joins Kevin O'Connor to break down Cooper Flagg's injury, and what this could mean for #1-ranked Duke's immediate future with The Tournament looming. Hayward explains how after he saw the Flagg injury, the first thing he thought of was his own gruesome ankle injury. KOC and Gordon also talk about which players for Duke will now need to step up, including Kon Knueppel. Gordon also reacts to his alma mater Butler losing on Thursday to #6 St. John's. (1:28) NBA teams beginning to tank(1:59) Utah Jazz fined(2:35) San Antonio Spurs tanking?(3:50) Philadelphia 76ers tanking?(7:26) Miami Heat tanking?(10:47) Are teams tanking for Cooper Flagg?(13:22) Portland Trail Blazers are NOT tanking(20:49) Mikal Bridges comments on ‘minutes'(27:41) DuMont comments on Luka trade(35:47) Golden State Warriors title contenders?(43:43) Minnesota Timberwolves title contenders?(52:33) Why incentives matter in NBA postseason(58:17) Gordon Hayward joins the show Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor Show on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are here to report on conspiracy theories, much to Jason Kidd's frustration. LeBron James publicly confronted Stephen A. Smith courtside not as a basketball player, but as a father. Meanwhile, Charles Barkley called out 'fool' Kendrick Perkins for his talking points. What was the hidden agenda for all parties? Truth Teller Ben Alamar, the former Director of Sports Analytics at ESPN, joins the show to discuss a study he presented at the Sloane Conference with Dean Oliver on Quantifying Chemistry between NBA players. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin O'Connor and Tom Haberstroh dive into the Lakers' thrilling overtime victory against the Knicks in this episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show. How concerned should Knicks fans be about Jalen Brunson's ankle injury, and does Thibs deserve any blame for the star guard's usage down the stretch? Plus, the OT heroics of Luka Doncic prove yet again why Nico Harrison made "the dumbest trade" in the history of sports.Plus KOC and Tom rank the current Western Conference Play-In picture teams currently seeded from #6-through-#12. How awesome would it be to get a Golden State Warriors vs Los Angeles Lakers series in Round 1 of the Playoffs? Speaking of the Dubs, the guys break down Draymond Green's foot-in-mouth comments about Karl-Anthony Towns missing the Knicks-Warriors game. And their hilarious recap of the Charles Barkley vs Kendrick Perkins "media feud" that took place on social media Thursday night.Later, 2025's #1 recruit and BYU commit AJ Dybantsa sits down with KOC to talk his greatest inspirations, why he plays basketball, his expectations for the NBA and much more.(00:45) - KOC's West Play-In power rankings(25:20) - Do NBA coaches need to experiment more?(31:30) - Jalen Brunson suffers ankle injury(36:00) - NBA media drama: Draymond & KAT, Charles Barkley & Kendrick Perkins(42:25) - Best restaurants in Portland(47:00) - AJ Dybantsa on life & basketball

On this edition of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine take a look at every single front-runner for each of the NBA Awards: MVP, Most Improved Player, 6th Man of the Year, Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Will the current favorites hang on for the next month? Tom and Dan break down SGA's chances of winning his 1st MVP, and whether LeBron James has a true, viable path to chasing him down (in LeBron chasedown fashion). Evan Mobley is the current DPOY favorite, but Tom explains why he "hates" that. Could Evan's head coach Kenny Atkinson be caught by JB Bickerstaff? Cade Cunningham leads MIP as the Pistons dream season continues, but should former #1 overall picks even be eligible for that award? And the nominees that could catch Payton Pritchard for 6MOY. Plus the guys weigh in on the devastating Kyrie Irving news as it pertains to his looming contract situation, and go in hard on Mavericks GM Nico Harrison.(1:40) - Big Number: SGA or Jokic for MVP? (or LeBron?)(18:55) - Little Number: Defensive Player of the Year(25:20) - Little Number: Coach of the Year(29:50) - Little Number: 6th Man of the Year(34:35) - Most Improved Player(42:55) - Scoreboard update: Tom ties it(44:50) - What Kyrie's injury means for Dallas'

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are the faces of NBA podcasting. As the situation in Dallas continues to decline while ticket prices rise, the Mavericks took away a signature stadium feature that set them apart from other organizations. Was LeBron's 'Face of the League' commentary secretly free publicity for the return of the "Mind the Game'?? Truth Teller Brandon Payne of Accelerate Basketball joins the show to explain why he thinks the Lakers can win it all and what makes Orlando more conducive to a Stephen Curry 56 point outburst. Finally, Amin Did His Own Research on the stipulations of medical retirement. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After yet another night of Stephortless Brongevity, Kevin O'Connor and Tom Haberstroh are wondering if Father Time has lost his powers. Steph Curry drops 56 (including 12 threes!) vs. the hapless Orlando Magic, and LeBron James continues to rewrite the history books after a 3-and-D clinic vs the Minnesota Timberwolves. All of that "Face of the League" talk can be quieted, as KOC and Tom point out that these two might STILL be in their primes. Speaking of the "face of the league" comments from King James, Kevin and Tom agree -- the way the national media covers the game right now is STALE.Also on this episode of The KOC Show: the Denver Nuggets fell to the Milwaukee Bucks and the guys think THE BLAME GAME is about to fall squarely on Russell Westbrook. Uh oh. Plus, the season of misery continues for the Phoenix Suns. They fell to the New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson, who logged his first triple-double -- maybe thanks to Zion's new tattoo? Plus Kevin and Tom hit the streaking Detroit Pistons, the surging Portland Trailblazers, pay homage to Gregg Popovich, and discuss Paul George's temporary leave from podcasting life. (0:48) Steph drops 56 pts on Magic(19:50) Bucks defeat Nuggets at home(29:19) Lakers take down Timberwolves(37:53) LeBron on being “face of the league”(43:29) Zion's new tattoo(50:53) Suns lose to struggling Pelicans(58:02) Anthony Edwards double technical(1:01:32) Popovich won't return this season(1:03:32) Paul George breaks from podcasting(1:04:07) Blazers recent success(1:06:51) Can Pistons make run in playoffs? Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor Show on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes will not be silenced by doubters, no matter how high profile they are. Following another beat down at the hands of the Celtics, have the Knicks hit their ceiling as a good but not great team? Meanwhile on the west coast, Jimmy Butler has shifted the Warriors mindset towards belief, and it's affecting the Illumination. A soldier in the field directs our attention to the proliferation of teams scoring over 140 points in a game. Finally, Surgeon General Jeff Stotts of InStreetClothes.com joins us to discuss Wemby's shut down and Joel Embiid's future. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine have stumbled across undeniable evidence: the 2024-25 Cleveland Cavaliers are the best team in franchise history. Yes, better than the 2016 title-winning team (sorry, LeBron!) by EVERY statistical measure. The Big Number this week focuses on the Cavs' margin of victory, which has now encroached "all-time great" status. The ascent of Evan Mobley, the MIP case for Ty Jerome, how Kenny Atkinson and Koby Altman have been right with every decision, the addition of De'Andre Hunter, how this has been the best individual seasons for both Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland... and how Max Strus is playing the Cavs' "Steph Curry" role (don't worry: Tom and Dan will explain)! The Cavs are absurdly good and this episode will tell you what has been "The Diff."Plus — the Los Angeles Lakers are somehow BETTER defensively with Luka Doncic than they were with Anthony Davis. How is that possible?? Tom and Dan have you covered on every angle from LeBron past to LeBron present on this must-watch installment of The Big Number.(1:00) - The Big Diff: Cavs' historic point differential(13:35) - Cavs' insane offensive rating+(17:35) - Cavs have 20% of the top players in win share per 48 min(22:15) - Evan Mobley's impact on Cavs offense(28:35) - 10 Cavs players averaging 19+ minutes per game(34:30) - Over/under scoreboard update(35:10) - Reacting to Luka Doncic against the Mavericks

Tom Haberstroh of TomTheFinder.com and Yahoo Sports joins Bill to talk Luka and the Lakers as well as many other NBA storylines.

Ever wonder about that guy who jumps into the middle of a Trail Blazers game to give us stats and chop it up with the rest of the broadcasting crew? We did too! So we reached out and Tara got to talk to Tom Haberstroh (https://bsky.app/profile/tomhaberstroh.bsky.social) - about his basketball journey, how he got into covering sports, what kinds of things he's learned about Rip City since he started covering the Blazers and which Portland restaurant won him over . . .All this and so much more!!(This was such a fun talk and we covered so much! Go follow Tom but also please follow Hoops4ALS on Instagram and Bluesky to support the work they do to help people with ALS)1:00 On the excellence of the Blazers Broadcasting crew7:00 1977 Championship game tv rating10:00 Tom's basketball origin story18:00 Sports coverage origin story20:00 Covering basketball through an analytics lens27:00 Favorite player (and moms)36:30 What he has learned about #RipCity since he started to cover the team43:00 Time machine Blazer team he would cover50:00 Question from Rose: What new or revised NBA statistic do you think would add to our understanding of the modern game?59:00 Al Farouq Aminu talk!!1:00:30 Crunch Time talkThe cutest intro/outro music by Eric Peterson (@shoozumoops)Join us on Discord! It's a place where we can share our love for the Blazers, talk about games, and get to know other Blazer fans. You can also find us on BlueSky @wehaveatake, @tcbbiggs @roselharding

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are definitely all suiting up and podcasting in this episode. It's time to bust out the Super Agenda in the wake of yet another All Star Weekend kerfuffle, another flawed format and too much Kevin Hart. We shine a light on Adam Silver's ignorance of Mavericks' ownership ulterior motives echoing a David Stern quote from 2007. And speaking of ulterior motives, Amin has an Inconvenient Truth about LeBron's lack of participation in the games. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes have their third eyes wide open on the templates used in this year's All Star Draft. The ripples of the Luka Doncic trade continue to spread as the Mark Williams trade has been rescinded, thrusting Luka's fellow Bill Duffy client Jaxson Hayes into the spotlight. Determined to squash conspiracies brought to our attention by Chris Kratovil last week, Mavs owner Patrick Dumont made some statements that only opened himself up to more criticism. Finally, Truth Teller David Purdum of ESPN joins us to break down the unusual betting activity related to Terry Rozier and the connections to the Jontay Porter investigation. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh on Luka debut/trade, Jazz @ Lakers tonight + more

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are here to remind you that we predicted Luka to the Lakers TWO YEARS AGO. When Nico Harrison needed to explore the possibility of trading his Slovenian Superstar, he turned to someone he knew he could trust, a confidant and fellow member of Kobe Bryant's inner circle: Rob Pelinka. Dallas lawyer Chris Kratovil did some pro bono work for the Illumination to connect the dots between the Mavericks ownership desiring to open a casino in Texas and the Luka trade. Finally, Truth Teller Marcus Elliott of P3 joins the show to discuss their role in the NBA's new league-wide biomechanics program announced earlier this year. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's new episode of the Kevin O'Connor Show, we've got NBA Trade Deadline madness, rumors and news with Tom Haberstroh. First up, Jimmy Butler's name has been recently linked to the Golden State Warriors. Kevin has sources close to that situation that you need to hear. Plus, the major contenders that are all showing interest in Zach LaVine. Kevin and Tom weigh in on why the Milwaukee Bucks may have to deal for the Chicago Bulls star if they want to make a run this season. Plus, trade insights involving or affecting Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, De'Aaron Fox, Victor Wembanyama, Myles Turner, Cam Johnson and more.And should the Philadelphia 76ers finally just blow it up, and start tanking the rest of this season? What do Tom and Kevin think about Adam Silver's 10-minute quarter idea? It's all on this monster episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show! (0:54) Latest Jimmy Butler trade buzz(21:22) De'Aaron Fox on the trade block(33:02) To tank or not to tank: Bulls(36:35) To tank or not to tank: Pistons(39:24) To tank or not to tank: Sixers(43:59) Do Pacers need to make a trade?(46:18) Do Bucks need to make a trade?(51:52) Do Thunder need to make a trade?(55:34) 10 min quarters? Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor Show on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine crunch the numbers to explain why this season could have more triple-doubles recorded than any NBA season in history. One of the big reasons is Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic who is currently averaging a triple-double this season. But it's not all Jokic, as the NBA has increased this season in pace and spacing, making it easier for players to score in a greater amount of possessions.Dan digs up four more interesting stats concerning triple-doubles including the astounding win percentage for teams with a player scoring a triple-double. The pair also chat about the origin of the triple-double, bench players with triple-doubles, and players who've recorded their first career triple-double this season.Tom and Dan update the score of their over/unders competition and make picks on whether Paolo Banchero, Joel Embiid and LaMelo Ball will notch a triple-double before the season ends. Plus, an update on the De'Aaron Fox situation with the Sacramento Kings after Fox made it clear he wants to leave Sacramento for San Antonio.  (1:12) The Big Number: 154 triple-doubles(12:53) Origin of term 'triple-double'(15:01) The Little Numbers: .756(19:42) The Little Numbers: 1(20:13) The Little Numbers: 5(24:07) The Little Numbers: 40(27:35) The Little Numbers: 0(28:39) Over/under scoreboard update(30:59) Triple-doubles over/unders(38:40) De'Aaron Fox wants out of Sacramento Subscribe to The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are baffled by Mac McClung's hesitancy to go for the Dunk Contest 3-Peat. We direct our third eyes toward Adam Silver's Parisian press conference to parse out the hidden truths. Tom Did His Own Research on the most successful teams in the modern era to start two rookies. Plus, an unexpected Randy Livingston deep dive. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of 'The Kevin O'Connor Show,' NBA player Larry Nance Jr. stops by to remember his former teammate, Kobe Bryant. Both KOC and Larry have a hard time believing it's been 5 years since we lost the legend. They talk about the lasting impact Kobe had on Larry's career and some of the funny moments they shared on and off the court. Larry had a front row seat to Kobe's 60-point final game and told Kevin what it was like watching that special night unfold.Tom Haberstroh joins to discuss the latest news from around the league, including the latest on trade talks surrounding disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler. The two also discuss Steph Curry, Zach LaVine, Khris Middleton, Bradley Beal, the injury-riddled Dallas Mavericks, and more. (0:53) Suns trade 1st round pick to Jazz(7:17) Jimmy Butler suspended again(12:33) Zach LaVine trade buzz(20:03) Steph Curry to the Spurs?(40:09) Dereck Lively injury update(42:43) Jarred Vanderbilt cleared to play(43:10) Tom's favorite Kobe Bryant memories(45:48) Remembering Kobe Bryant with Larry Nance Jr.  Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor Show on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes have been infiltrated by the NFL. Put Your Buffs On. Who is the Lamar Jackson of the NBA? Tom explains why James Harden isn't the right comp. Truth Teller Kalyn Kahler joins the show to discuss her article that pulled back the curtain on the pattern of coaching agent representation in the NFL. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘Top 10' and ‘Detroit Pistons' are not two words you hear together often, but Cade Cunningham has led the Pistons to a 21-19 record and a near top-10 offense so far this season. Third most in the NBA in triple-doubles, and improving statistically in several major categories from last season, does Cade Cunningham deserve a shout for the NBA's Most Improved Player award? Or does a player finally meeting his potential three years after being drafted no.1 not qualify for something like ‘most improved?' Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine answer these questions and more with this week's Big Number.Dan brings four more numbers to the table to ask which came first in Detroit's success this season: Cade Cunningham's improved shooting or the Pistons surrounding him with multiple 3-point shooters? The chicken or the egg? Perhaps it doesn't even matter, just as long as the Detroit Pistons are eating eggs for breakfast in Motor City.To wrap, the pair checks in on their over/unders competitions and make two, new Detroit-centric picks.(1:49) The Big Number: 7(5:05) Should Cunningham win Most Improved Player?(15:30) The Little Numbers: 113.5(20:24) The Little Numbers: 8.1(24:04) Cade Cunningham minigame(26:22) The Little Numbers: 37.6(30:24) The Little Numbers: 5.9(37:32) Detroit Pistons over/undersCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

On this episode of the Kevin O'Connor Show, Tom Haberstroh and KOC play a little game of Panic Meter with certain NBA teams that are struggling as of late. Should these teams feel CHILL, should they be SWEATING or is it full blown PANIC? The guys start with the Boston Celtics, who have been playing .500 ball as of late. Is Kristaps Porzingis entirely to blame for Boston's recent woes? The second team Kevin and Tom evaluate are the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both guys are panicking, and Julius Randle is the main reason why. But is "Dubious Handles" impossible to move ahead of the deadline? And thirdly, the Golden State Warriors. Kevin and Tom both think the Warriors have no shot to win this season, and it may be time for Steph and the Dubs to part ways.Would that potential divorce look similar to how Tom Brady left the New England Patriots? Would Warriors fans still support Steph, even if he were to leave? KOC thinks Steph owes nothing to the Warriors, and it would benefit Curry and the NBA if he were moved to a contender. In fact, what if that contender was the Houston Rockets? Kevin and Tom have concocted a hypothetical trade you need to see to believe. And if Rockets trade rumors are your thing, don't miss KOC and Tom discuss hypotheticals involving Devin Booker and Kevin Durant, as the Phoenix Suns' season of misery continues. (0:29) Panic meter(0:50) Celtics panic meter(11:35) Timberwolves panic meter(25:36) Warriors panic meter(40:26) Suns trade for Nick Richards(51:18) Scoot Henderson scores 39(53:31) After the pod: bonus Warriors trade talk Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor Show on your favorite podcast app:

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes want to send the Jazz team name back to New Orleans, and play musical chairs to make it happen. A word keeps popping up that has caught our third eye: Accountability. Are Draymond Green, Zion Williamson, and Jimmy Butler truly accountable for their actions? Or simply the consequences? Finally, Amin has an Inconvenient Truth about the NBA's newest statistical metric: Dunk Score. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of the Kevin O'Connor Show, Tom Haberstroh hops on to discuss the instant classic between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder and of course the latest trade rumors as we inch closer to the deadline. Kevin and Tom both agree after Wednesday night's statement victory, the Cleveland Cavaliers are bona fide NBA title contenders. KOC points out the Cavs' depth is full of unsung heroes like Ty Jerome and Dean Wade. They know the matchup might not be the sexiest when it comes to TV ratings, but who cares! They both want to see these two teams face off again in June and luckily for fans these 2 teams face off again next week (if only Chet Holmgren was healthy!)The guys broke down the chances of the New Orleans Pelicans actually moving Zion Williamson now that he's back in the lineup and looking great. Tom's idea: why shouldn't the Spurs take a swing for Zion? Pairing Williamson and Wemby might be the modern day equivalent of Shaq-Kobe when it comes to unstoppable duos. The trade chatter didn't stop there: each of the guys give their take on where Bradley Beal and Jimmy Butler could wind up, too. While Golden State Warriors fans wish Steph Curry would get some help, the guys explain why GSW may stand pat. And speaking of "Pat," Riley and the Miami Heat might be better off tanking for Cooper Flagg at this point. Fresh off Tom attending Duke's last game, Tom and Kevin discuss the ultra-talented 18-year-old. (1:45) - Cavaliers beat Thunder, prove they are legit(17:40) - Wemby no match for Giannis in Spurs-Bucks showdown(26:40) - Zion Williamson returns, should NOP sell-high?(35:30) - Why the Warriors need to trade now(40:35) - Latest on Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal trade rumors(50:05) - Cooper Flagg, still definitely tops in this year's draft class(55:30) - Reed Sheppard gets his groove back in G-League 

The Sacramento Kings are on a five-game win streak with the latest two victories coming with De'Aaron Fox on the sidelines. With this in mind, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine reveal this week's Big Number and evaluate if the Kings are better off WITHOUT De'Aaron Fox on the court and, if so, should they trade him before the deadline?Dan brings in four Little Numbers that explain what's going right and what's still wrong with Sacramento this season including Keon Ellis' rising star and Keegan's Murray's drop in production. Dan also dives deep into the Kings' offensive possessions in transition and compares their expected total wins this season with their actual win total.The pair give an update to their over/unders competition and wrap by sharing their latest Yahoo Sports stories on Victor Wembanyama & potential first-time NBA all-stars.  (1:21) The Big Number: -5.2(12:55) The Little Numbers: 8.9(17:21) Keon Ellis minigame(21:16) The Little Numbers: .513(25:51) The Little Numbers: 14.6%(29:59)The Little Numbers: -2.8(36:29) Over/under scoreboard update(37:49) Tom & Dan's recent Yahoo Sports stories Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes give JJ Redick some advice on how to respond to Charles Barkley's impromptu rant against him. The Jimmy Butler situation has escalated, and Tom connects the dots between Bradley Beal's benching in Phoenix and the family ties that could send him to Detroit. Truth Teller Jorge Sedano joins the show to discuss the state of Heat Culture, his top 5 Heat players of all time and if he can do more push-ups than Pat Riley. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes got LeBron a 40th birthday present: A D'Angelo Russell trade back to Brooklyn. Six months after signing a 3 year contract extension, and a little more than year removed from winning Coach of the Year, Mike Brown was fired by the Sacramento Kings. Then Truth Teller Ethan Strauss of House of Strauss joins the show to discuss the NFL's attack on NBA Christmas and the evolution of the ratings landscape. Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Haberstroh, Amin Elhassan and producer Anthony Mayes are here to remind you about the LeBron James of Feet and his Healing Hans. Recently crowned the top front office in the NBA, Amin has an Inconvenient Truth about Sam Presti's magical draft pick acquisitions. Finally, Truth Teller Jake Fischer makes his triumphant return to the podcast to discuss Dennis Schroder to the Warriors, the future of the NBA Cup and potential European expansion. You can read more of Jake's coverage entering a busy trade season at https://marcstein.substack.com/ Basketball Illuminati is now part of the Count The Dings Network. Join the Count The Dings Patreon to support the show, get ad free episodes and exclusive content at www.patreon.com/CountTheDings ILLUMINATI MERCH HAS RETURNED - Check it out here: https://bit.ly/CTDMERCH Subscribe to Basketball Illuminati! On Apple or Spotify Email us: basketballilluminati@gmail.com Twitter: @bballilluminati Instagram: @basketballilluminati Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices