Game Theory Podcast

Adam Spinella joins the show to dive deep into some NBA news and notes. First, we chat briefly about the Ime Udoka suspension in Boston. Then, we move to the Bojan Bogdanovic trade to Detroit, and why more teams should be willing to make moves like this. Then, we jump into Jae Crowder's trade request, and the C.J. McCollum and Dean Wade extensions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...

In this episode, I chat with the 3 Man Weave, our favorite college basketball analysts here at the show, to break down the upcoming season in conjunction with the release of The Almanac, a new college basketball online magazine that will go on sale next week. We chat in-depth about the changing tides within college basketball and whether the changes are good. How college basketball has continued t...

Adam Spinella joins Sam Vecenie to do two things. First, we break down what was the best Victor Wembanyama offensive game that I've seen, a 34-point early season game against Hapoel Holon. We explain the context behind the game, and explain what made us so excited about Wembanyama's terrific performance.  Then, we do what might end up being a new segment on the podcast for an hour: Prospect Wars....

It's time for one of our favorite yearly episodes here on the podcast, our win total over/unders with Robby Kalland. Using BetMGM's odds, we chat with Robby and dive deep into every NBA team's over/under win total in the Eastern Conference. We also make it abundantly clear which ones we actually like, and the other ones that we will stay completely and utterly away from because they're good number...

It's time for one of our favorite yearly episodes here on the podcast, our win total over/unders with Robby Kalland. Using BetMGM's odds, we chat with Robby and dive deep into every NBA team's over/under win total in the Western Conference. We also make it abundantly clear which ones we actually like, and the other ones that we will stay completely and utterly away from because they're good number...

Cole Huff sometimes lets the people forget that he was a professional basketball player, but he's now a writer for The Athletic and a variety of other platforms. He chats with Sam about NBA Awards odds coming into this preseason. MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Sixth Man of the Year are all covered, with some thoughts on who we think is going to hav...

In the second part of this two-part episode, Sam is joined by Coach Spins and they chat about a couple of topics. First, they chat about Bronny James, and why they think he is actually underrated as a player. Colleges should take a really strong look if he's serious about considering that pathway. Then, Mark Cuban suggested adding a third and fourth round to the NBA Draft. Adam and Sam break down...

The first part of a two-part NBA Draft-centric episode! In this first part, Spins and I chat about the forthcoming Scoot Henderson vs. Victor Wembanyama matchup that has been set for October 4/6 in Las Vegas. What should we be looking for in this game? When was the last time we saw this kind of 1 vs. 2 matchup in the preseason? A deep dive into an incredibly fun NBA Draft matchup. Then, we break d...

In this episode, in conjunction with the Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony this coming weekend, Adam Spinella joins Sam Vecenie to break down how many Hall of Famers are currently in the NBA in 2022. We dive deep into some of the weirder, stranger cases like Kyle Lowry, some of the more strangely polarizing ones like Dwight Howard, and some of the future stars and what they'd have to do i...

In this episode, Adam Spinella joins Sam Vecenie and they break down everything to do with the blockbuster NBA trade that sent Donovan Mitchell to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, as well as Cleveland's 2025, 2027, and 2029 unprotected first round picks in addition to pick swaps in 2026 and 2028. Is this too much for Mitchell? Should Cleveland be going all in at this point?...

In this episode, I chat with Adam Spinella and we break down the young cores in the Western Conference. In this episode, we dive deep into the Grizzlies, Warriors, Rockets, Thunder, Spurs, Wolves, Pelicans and others. Then we chat a bit about cooking and movies, and we call it at a brief two hours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...

Alex Schiffer from The Athletic joins the show to break down a few things. First, Chet Holmgren is out for the season and we are sad. Then, we chat about the Patrick Beverley for Talen Horton-Tucker trade, and why it makes sense for everyone across the board. Finally, we chat about Alex's area of expertise, with Kevin Durant deciding to stay in Brooklyn instead of continuing to seek a trade. We ar...

In this episode, I chat with Adam Spinella about who has the best young core in the Eastern Conference. We dive deep into the Magic, Pistons, Cavaliers, and Pacers, as well as chat a bit about the Raptors, Wizards, Hawks, Hornets, and others. We break down all of the young guys on those teams, then decide which core we'd most want to build around moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

The Athletic's Jovan Buha joins the show and we break down where the Lakers stand now in the offseason. LeBron James has signed his extension. Russell Westbrook is still on the roster. Where does the team go from here? What does the team's current closing lineup look like? Where do they sit in the Western Conference hierarchy? All that and more for one of the most fascinating, active teams in the...

Adam Spinella AKA Coach Spins joins and we chat about a few different team-building constructs within college basketball. First, we ask the question: Do recruiting rankings matter? We discuss the ways in which they're dissected and talk about what matters and what doesn't within them. Then, we chat about team-building in general in college basketball today. Do you focus on the transfer portal or r...

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins the show for the FINAL time and we explain what's going on and what has prompted this sad change. Additionally, we announce the new addition to the Game Theory family, Adam Spinella of Coach Spins fame! Then, I bring Coach Spins in, and we talk about two things: first, we focus on the Kevin Durant to the Celtics rumor that emerged early this week. Then, we dive i...

This episode is focused on two topics: Donovan Mitchell and Russell Westbrook. Fred Katz has covered both of these topics extensively, so he joins to dive in. First, we chat about Mitchell and how the Jazz-Knicks trade talks are probably a bit more complicated than they would appear on first glance. Then, we focus on a simple question: should the Knicks be willing to go all-in for Mitchell? Our se...

In this episode, Adam Spinella aka Coach Spins from The Box and One joins us to break down a number of NBA things. First, we start for 15 minutes on the Deandre Ayton saga ending, with the Suns matching his max contract extension. Then, we ask the simple question: who has been the best player at Summer League? We both have the same answer. Finally, we break down the rookie class at Summer League,...

It's a special Game Theory Podcast episode! Potential 2023 lottery picks Amen and Ausar Thompson are here to break down their own tape with Sam Vecenie. First, they introduce themselves to an NBA audience and give a bit of background on themselves and on their games. Then, we dive into tape together, with the Thompson explaining some of their best, most fun highlights of the 2021-22 season! Learn...

Caitlin Cooper from over at Indy Cornrows and SB Nation joins the show. Caitlin is one of the few people that I think legitimately makes me sound dumb when she talks about basketball, so I had her on to talk about Deandre Ayton, what Phoenix seems to be doing with Ayton, and why the Pacers make a ton of sense if they do indeed decide to give him a restricted free agency offer, as has been reported...

In this episode, Sam Vecenie is joined by Andrew Schlecht, where they dive into Chet Holmgren's Summer League debut last night, which was a monster game that has the hype train firmly off the rails. Then we chat NBA offseason. I did some research and we do a bit of a deeper dive into the Rudy Gobert trade to Minnesota, explaining why maybe this might make more sense than immediately meets the eye....

In this episode, Shamit Dua of Boot Crewe Media joins the show and we do a substantial deep dive into 2022 NBA Free Agency and the offseason. We start with the Rudy Gobert trade. Why we're skeptical for Minnesota, and why it's a great deal for Utah. Then, the Kyrie-for-Russell Westbrook report came from Chris Haynes while recording, so we dove deep into that, explaining why this is the kind of dea...

Alex Schiffer joins Sam Vecenie to break down the massive Brooklyn Nets news that Kevin Durant has asked for a trade. They dive deep into a number of topics, from how this all went down, why it happened, what it all means for KD and Kyrie, and of course, we jump into the fake trade well and try to come up with the best deals for KD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoi...

In this episode, Sam Vecenie is joined by Dieter Kurtenbach to break down the 2022 NBA Free Agency period's early beginnings. We chat the Dejounte Murray trade to Atlanta from San Antonio; Jalen Brunson seemingly headed to the Knicks; Kyrie headed back to Brooklyn by opting in; James Harden heading back to Philly by opting out; some John Wall, some Denver and Washington deal. All that and more! Le...

Sam Vecenie and Matt Pennie dive deep and chat 2022 NBA Draft. The first three picks! What team had the best draft? That and much, much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.