Basketball by Association

Episode 152: The new "NBA Cup" is a cool idea, but one that's missing a TON of no-brainer features. From raising the stakes to changing the dates and format, Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes debate how to improve the in-season tournament before it even begins. They also break down important offseason news for Damian Lillard, the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and much more.

Episode 151: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes break down the latest Damian Lillard trade rumors while also throwing in a few destinations of their own. Next, they weigh big moves made by the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns and others all hoping to sit atop next year's NBA standings.

Episode 150: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes ponder the next areas of improvement and NBA mountains for Nikola Jokic to climb. They also preview the latest hurdles for the Miami Heat and how that may or may not tie into Bradley Beal's reported desire to be traded by the Washington Wizards. But which other teams make sense for the 3-time All-Star? Find out all that and more!

Episode 149: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes tell the rest of the story behind this historic tear that the Denver Nuggets' stars are on. They also break down how Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat can respond, as well as the disconcerting signs coming from the Phoenix Suns due to recent news about Chris Paul and Frank Vogel.

Episode 148: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes break down the keys to the 2024 NBA Finals and make their predictions. They also weigh the history-making coaching hire of Monty Williams by the Detroit Pistons as well as Nick Nurse going to the Philadelphia 76ers and Adrian Griffin joining the Milwaukee Bucks.

LeBron James isn't going to retire (permanently) from the NBA, y'all. Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes tell you why while walking through all the scenarios that could happen instead. They also weigh whether the Boston Celtics can turn the tables against the Miami Heat in Game 5 and beyond. Finally, they break down why the Denver Nuggets have finally arrived as the prohibitive favorites for a ring.

Episode 146: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes detail how the Miami Heat became the scariest underdog in NBA history while marveling at the perfection that is Victor Wembanyama winding up in San Antonio. They next make sense of the recent firings of Doc Rivers, Monty Williams, Mike Budenholzer and other top coaches while wondering what comes next for Ja Morant's unraveling career. Finally, they break d...

Episode 145: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes check in on each of the NBA Playoffs semifinals series, breaking down which of the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers or Miami Heat will advance to the Conference Finals and who might be sneakily susceptible to an upset.

Episode 144: One or two games does not a series make, but Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes already see warning signs for the Warriors, Sixers, Heat and Suns. They also debate whether now was the time for Joel Embiid to win MVP and if Nikola Jokic will finally add a dominating "revenge game" to his career highlights package.

Episode 143: Different scenarios, same results: The NBA's big-market teams wind back up in the spotlight. Jimmy Butler and a bunch of first-round "underdogs" have upended everything we once thought we knew about these 2024 NBA Playoffs. Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes sift through what it means for the next round and beyond.

Episode 142: Are the Sacramento Kings about to dethrone the defending champs? Can the L.A. Lakers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks pull off big upsets? Will the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers take care of business early? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes check in on each first-round series of the 2024 NBA Playoffs now that everyone has a few games under their belts.

Episode 141: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes break down each of the first-round matchups in the 2024 NBA Playoffs and pick their winners.

Episode 140: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes react to the latest damaging report on Ja Morant's off-court behavior. They also give credit to a Los Angeles Lakers team that seems to be getting more dangerous each week. Plus, they forecast the seeds and winners of the upcoming NBA Play-in Tournament while also picking who the 3rd place Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings should want to see in the f...

Episode 139: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes weigh how much blame Kyrie Irving shoulders for the Dallas Mavericks' steep decline. They also discuss which NBA Play-in Tournament teams could be a first-round threat, whether the Boston Celtics are to be feared or eagerly awaited, and why the Phoenix Suns have all the right pieces for a deep run.

Episode 138: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes remember "The Captain", New York Knicks legend Willis Reed while also brainstorming what else Ja Morant can do to stay on track. They then break down the biggest surprises of the NBA season's final stretch and whether the Milwaukee Bucks are truly a cut above the rest.

Episode 137: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes break down early returns for Kevin Durant with the Phoenix Suns and Kyrie Irving for the Dallas Mavericks along with what the Atlanta Hawks need from Quin Snyder. They also match up the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers while figuring out how the New York Knicks fit in the NBA Eastern Conference.

Episode 136: Which of Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Terrence Ross, Will Barton and others from the NBA veteran buyout market will actually help their new teams? Who is just a replacement-level player (or worse) with a familiar name? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes break down the signings and those remaining on the Free Agent list as the 2023 NBA Playoffs stretch run begins.

Episode 135: Can the Denver Nuggets finally rep the West in the NBA Finals? Is the NBA MVP really a 2-horse race between Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic? Are all the other awards already sewn up? Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes discuss all that, plus what binds so many of the 2023 NBA Hall of Fame nominees together.

Episode 134: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes evaluate the huge deals for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, as well as how the L.A. Lakers just saved their season at the NBA Trade Deadline. They also weigh in on where the New York Knicks, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets and others go after being active.

Episode 133: We're trading Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving. (Just not for each other.) Matt Dagostino from NBA TV joins Joel Cordes to sift through the trade rumors and news while crafting hypothetical deals for Fred Van Vleet, DeAndre Ayton, Russell Westbrook, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jamal Murray, DeMar DeRozan and many more.

Episode 131: Not every NBA coach at the bottom of the standings deserves to be fired. But just because you're around or above .500 doesn't mean you should keep your job either. Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes compare notes on the league's most fickle job. NOTE: Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas was incorrectly listed as John Lucas in this episode.

Episode 130: Matt Dagostino of NBA TV joins Joel C. Cordes to play GM with the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves as they encounter disappointing surprises. They also sort through all the supposed contenders in the West, pump up the Denver Nuggets with a trade, pick out the one Eastern Conference also-ran who might be dangerous and update their NBA MVP lists.

Episode 129: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes frame Donovan Mitchell's 71-point game while weighing the Cleveland Cavaliers' ceiling. They also detail how injuries and pending returns will affect the New Orleans Pelicans and Golden State Warriors while also marveling at the first legit Sacramento Kings team in years.

Episode 128: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes sort out the growing NBA MVP field among Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Jayson Tatum and Kevin Durant while also checking sustainability for the Warriors, Nets, Knicks and others.

Episode 127: Arky Shea and Joel C. Cordes break down their biggest takeaways from the NBA's early season, including the rising pressure on Luka Doncic and Trae Young, the real NBA MVP, the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings' staying power, as well as why the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are headed in opposite directions.