Basketball by Association

Can the L.A. Lakers escape their Play-in matchup against the Golden State Warriors and make an improbable repeat as NBA Champions? Or is this finally the Philadelphia 76ers' year? Are newcomers like the Brooklyn Nets, Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns dangerous or vulnerable? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss every matchup of the NBA postseason.

Will the L.A. Lakers and Brooklyn Nets ever get fully healthy? How vulnerable are they on the eve of the NBA Playoffs? Are the Boston Celtics fully "cooked" after losing Jaylen Brown for the year? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that, plus which teams are especially dangerous "upset specials".

Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss Russell Westbrook's history-making, the outlook for numerous NBA teams once the playoffs begin as well as digging into why the Play-in Tournament is actually a far better idea than given credit for.

Where will Russell Westbrook end up among the pantheon of all-time great NBA point guards? Is LeBron James really going to complain about the Play-In Tournament now? What should the Indiana Pacers do about Nate Bjorkgren? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all of that and more!

What does it mean if LeBron James truly never is "100 percent" again as he's asserted? How does LaMelo Ball's return impact the Charlotte Hornets' playoff ceiling? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that, plus Jayson Tatum scoring 60 points and Steve Kerr lamenting the lost fundamental of rebounding.

Just how bad are things with the Boston Celtics, and what consequences might they face in both the playoffs and offseason? Did Kevin Love just permanently damage his reputation and his late-career value with his recent "inbounding outburst"? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all of that and more!

Can Anthony Davis' return be enough to rejuvenate the L.A. Lakers, or is it too little too late? Who are the Brooklyn Nets especially vulnerable to now that James Harden has been ruled out for the regular season? Can the L.A. Clippers stay under the radar to win an NBA championship? Arky Shea & Joel C. Cordes discuss all that and more!

Are the Brooklyn Nets finally facing a lot of trouble after James Harden's latest injury setback? Just how far can the red-hot New York Knicks take this momentum? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that plus how this season affects Steph Curry's legacy.

Have the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards turned the respective corners on their seasons after a couple of incredibly positive weeks? What's their ceiling? How can the NBA fix its "resting problem" for teams, players, ticket holders and sponsors? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that plus LaMarcus Aldridge's legacy after he abruptly retired from the Brooklyn Nets.

Will Jamal Murray's torn ACL rip away the Denver Nuggets' championship chances? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss how they can stay afloat as well as why Luka Doncic and Mark Cuban are talking crazy talk when complaining about the NBA's pre-Playoffs Play-in Tournament.

Will pending new owners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore resurrect the Seattle SuperSonics at the expense of the Minnesota Timberwolves? Which Western Conference team is actually the frontrunner for the NBA Finals? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that, debate whether Miles Bridge's dunk over Clint Capela was really that good, and figure out why the Brooklyn Nets may be a looming NBA Playoffs...

Author Bob Kuska joins Joel C. Cordes to preview his new book "Shake and Bake: The Life and Times of NBA Great Archie Clark", telling unsung stories of Archie's impact on the modern game with revolutionary moves both on and off the court. They also delve into Elgin Baylor's legacy as well as which modern players would have thrived in the 1960s-70s NBA and vice versa.

Are the Denver Nuggets the sneaky Western Conference favorites after Aaron Gordon's arrival? Under what scenarios could Brad Stevens and/or Danny Ainge be fired in Boston? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that, plus Arky's irrational love of former Sacramento Kings point guard Jason "White Chocolate" Williams.

Is LeBron James' injury more serious than previously thought? Can DeMarcus Cousins resurrect his career with the L.A. Clippers? How do we frame Russell Westbrook's latest statistical achievements? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all of that and more!

Can Andre Drummond's arrival save the L.A. Lakers' season? Are the Miami Heat back to "dangerous sleeper" status after trading for Victor Oladipo? Did the Boston Celtics do enough by landing Evan Fournier? What about the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets and other notable moves? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that and more!

Do you agree with Charles Barkley that James Harden is a better offensive player than Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan? What about Draymond Green's assertion that he's the greatest defender of all time? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that, plus Aaron Gordon's trade demands and recent "suspicions" about Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis' injuries.

How long can the L.A. Lakers hold down the fort while LeBron James and Anthony Davis are injured? What's the latest buzz on the sinking Boston Celtics and other teams who should be active at the NBA Trade Deadline? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes dish on all that plus the Atlanta Hawks' win streak, PJ Tucker's Milwaukee Bucks arrival and whether Brad Stevens is on the hot seat.

Considering what we've seen during the NBA's first half, who will win MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year? Which teams will make big moves at the trade deadline? Who will land Andre Drummond? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that plus who will win the 2021 NBA Finals.

Is Paul Pierce a first-ballot NBA Hall-of-Famer? What about the many other notable names in the 2021 class? Is it Joel Embiid's MVP award to lose now? Which teams will be the biggest movers and shakers of the season's second half? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all of that and more.

What does Blake Griffin's arrival mean for the Brooklyn Nets' NBA championship aspirations? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss that plus their 2021 NBA All-Star Game takeaways as well as some fresh ideas to spice up future games and future dunk competitions.

Should the Houston Rockets retire James Harden's number? Why make their announcement now? How do you feel about the limited (and relatively unknown) field of NBA Dunk Contest participants? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that, plus whether the Atlanta Hawks' coaching change was the right move.

Should the NBA change its decades-old logo from Jerry West to Kobe Bryant? What's wrong (and right) with the Boston Celtics, and how much can be changed midseason? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that plus the league's looming schedule problem as COVID-related postponements continue to pile up.

Which NBA All-Star Game roster selections do you agree with? Who should have made the list and who should have been left off? Arky Shea & Joel C. Cordes make their picks.

How much is the L.A. Lakers' repeat bid endangered by Anthony Davis' absence? What more can LeBron James and his supporting cast do? Is DeMarcus Cousins a potential trade candidate for other teams besides the Lakers? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that plus winners and losers from the 2021 NBA All-Star Game starters vote.

Where are the best landing spots for former All-Stars Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond? Does Draymond Green have a good point about NBA organizations, the media and the public's double standard during trade season? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that plus the league's decision to condense All-Star Weekend to a single day.