Game Theory Podcast

Mark Schindler joins the show, and they chat about three topics. First, the Orlando Magic! One of the most fun teams in the NBA resides in Orlando. With Jonathan Isaac back, Franz Wagner emerging, Markelle Fultz leading, and Paolo Banchero flashing all-star vibes, the Magic look set to take the NBA by storm sooner rather than later. Then, Schindler and Sam do another Midseason Top-Five! This time,...

In this episode, Seth Partnow joins the show! We'll start by talking about Rui Hachimura's deal to the Los Angeles Lakers, where the team acquired him for three second round picks. Then, we move on to other players at the trade deadline who could actually use a change of scenery, and where we'd most like to see them. Some of those players include Obi Toppin, John Collins, Malachi Flynn, Eric Gordo...

Adam Spinella joins the show and we dive deep into two topics. First, we start by investigating something that has been seen as a done deal for years: are we positive that Scoot Henderson does not have a legitimate No. 1 overall case in the 2023 NBA Draft over Victor Wembanyama? The conversation is at least worth an investigation and discussion. Then, we do NBA Rookie of the Year Midseason Top-Fiv...

The NBA is loaded with terrific young players and a boatload of parity. It feels like a number of different teams could win a title within the next few years. Largely, that will depend on the development of certain key players acrosss the NBA. So today, I got with Mark Schindler, and we broke down six players who parts of their game that could swing title races in the next few years. What if Ja Mo...

Andrew Schlecht is in the building and we chat about a very simple concept: who are the most teams to watch right now in the NBA? Who do you find yourself switching over to most often if you have some free time? You could see this as a "League Pass Rankings" or whatever, but we just want to dive into which teams we've having the most fun with, including the Kings, Grizzlies, and Cavaliers, among o...

Adam Spinella joins the show for his weekly Sunday appearance, and this week we're doing our monthly 2023 NBA Mock Draft Deep Dive! Join us as we dive deep into the top-30 selections, breaking down what we'd do in each spot as of mid-January, halfway through the yearly draft cycle. We'll dive into players like Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Brandon Miller, Cason...

Parity is everywhere in the NBA this season, and it's made it extremely difficult to gauge exactly where exactly many teams across the league fall. So today, Mark Schindler joins the show, and we try to figure out what in the world is going on with the Clippers, Blazers, Knicks, Hawks, Pacers and more. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/theory Go to HelloFresh.com/theory22 and use code THEORY2...

Danny Leroux joins the show today to break down the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline by diving into the targets that could be available at the deadline. Who are the real move pieces that could shift the title race in what has turned into an exceedingly cluttered year across the NBA? Are there real sellers? Who are some of the players that actually could come available, and how much of what comes out public...

Mark Schindler is here! It's time for midseason All-NBA choices now that multiple teams have played at least 41 games this year. We break down our picks for first team, second-team, and third-team All-NBA, and some of the candidates for each slot. But first, we start on the Houston Rockets, and why Sam thinks it might be time for a change down there, and we finish with Brice Sensabaugh, a fascinat...

In this episode, Adam Spinella joins the show to dive into the 2022-23 NBA Rookie class. We chat Paolo Banchero, Dyson Daniels, Keegan Murray, AJ Griffin, Bennedict Mathurin, Andrew Nembhard, Jalen Williams, Jeremy Sochan, Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and plenty, plenty more! Get 3 months free with a one-year package at expressvpn.com/THEORY Cancel unwanted subscriptions – and manage your expenses the...

In this episode, The Volume's Jason Timpf joins the show for the first time! Jason comes on and chats about the MVP race, with this week marking the midseason point as most teams get to their 40th game of the year. In what is currently the most wide-open MVP Race that I can remember in years, with something like eight legitimate candidates plus a few others hanging on the periphery of the proceedi...

Mark Schindler joins the show, and we dive into the biggest takeaway from 2022 in the NBA: this is the year that redefined what a star is within the league. The talent level has never been higher. We dive into why this season has seen the biggest overlap of superstardom eras, and if this is an outlier year or if it's a thing to continue within the league moving forward. How the overlaps of the Cur...

Adam Spinella joins the show this week to chat about improvement areas for 2023 NBA Draft prospects, this time in New Year's Resolution form. What are some of the ways top prospects in the class like Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Amen Thompson, Anthony Black, Ausar Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Nick Smith, G.G. Jackson and many, many more can take their games to the next level? Learn more about yo...

In this episode, Adam Spinella is here and we're doing to dive into some topics within college basketball and the 2023 NBA Draft. And to do so, we're giving out superlatives! Best Team so far! Fastest Rising Upperclass prospect! Surprise one-and-done prospect! Biggest question marks in CBB? Biggest disappointment? We hit on everything from the Connecticut Huskies to the Duke Blue Devils to Maxwell...

Sam Vecenie is joined on this episode of the Game Theory Podcast by Ricky O'Donnell and Samson Folk in a two-part episode. In the first part, Ricky joins to talk about the Chicago Bulls, who beat the Heat last night but have only moved to 12-18 and are struggling fairly immensely despite health. We discuss whether or not this team should entirely blow it up, and what some potential moves could loo...

In a reversion of the usual schedule, Mark Schindler is here to break down a few different topics. First, we start with something I have a vague idea about scrolling through Twitter and looking at fans' pages: are NBA fans more engaged in nightly results from their team than ever? Why would that be? It seems like fans are living and dying more than ever with the results of games before Christmas,...

James Edwards from The Athletic is here to break down a few different things across the NBA. First, we chat about how Maxi Kleber's injury will impact the Mavericks, and where they're headed. Then, we chat about Cade Cunningham. What does Cade's injury mean for the Detroit Pistons here moving forward? Do they know enough to call him the out-and-out centerpiece? What questions remain to be answered...

Mark Schindler is here and we're diving deep across the NBA. First, we're going to start with Jaren Jackson, whose emergence for the Memphis Grizzlies from elite defensive player into "best defensive player in the NBA" has pushed them to the top of the Western Conference again. Then, we're going to talk about some NBA teams, and some potential shake-up trades across the league, particularly in reg...

In this episode, Adam Spinella joins to break down the race for the No. 3 prospect in the 2023 NBA Draft. Assuming that Victor Wembanyama goes No. 1, and Scoot Henderson is the second-best prospect, who is the third-best? Is it Cam Whitmore? Is it Amen Thompson? What about Nick Smith and Brandon Miller? Anthony Black and Ausar Thompson? Then, we dive into Tank Watch. What's going on with the Washi...

Dave DuFour from The Athletic joins the show! And we dive into NBA Contender tiers. As in: which teams do we think have the best chance to win the NBA title as presently constructed? Which teams need to make moves to get into that mix? We dive into the Celtics, Bucks, Warriors, Clippers, Cavaliers, Suns, Pelicans, Nuggets, Grizzlies and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices....

Mark Schindler joins the show to talk about some birds. First, we chat about the New Orleans Pelicans, a team that has a case as the deepest team in the NBA and one that is playing exceptionally well right now. Then we move to the Hawks, a team struggling with injuries that also has some weird stuff seemingly happening. Then, we move to the Raptors, who aren't birds but birds are descended from di...

In this episode, I'm joined by Adam Spinella where we decide to dive deep into what has been a disappointing 2020 NBA Draft and re-draft it. What order should that class have gone in? Should Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton, LaMelo Ball, or Desmond Bane go first? What about guys like Tyrese Maxey and Devin Vassell? Where do James Wiseman and Killian Hayes fall to? All that and more! Learn more a...

Dear friend of the program Fred Katz joins the show to talk about a few different topics. Our plan is to start with a quick word on the Al Horford extension, talk a bit about Jayson Tatum's incredible run. We also give a brief MVP Power Ranking. Then, we want to dive into the Knicks, and just try to figure out what exactly they are? What are they doing? What is their plan here moving forward? Then...

Mark Schindler joins the show! We chat about potential first-time all-stars for the 2023 NBA All-Star game. Who is shaping up to potentially make the event for the first time by leveling up? Can Tyrese Haliburton, De'Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and others continue on this run. Are there are there any other potential dark horses that could rise up? Also, thoughts on GG Jackson at South Carol...

In this episode, Adam Spinella joins the show to talk about everything we saw during Feast Week. From the Maui Invitational to all of the Phil Knight Invitational events, we dive into guys like Brandon Miller, Anthony Black, Dereck Lively, Purdue and Zach Edey, Battle 4 Atlantis and the big Julian Phillips game we saw, Gradey Dick and Kansas playing well at times, Gonzaga not being quite up to par...