Game Theory Podcast

Kyle Mann from The Ringer joins Sam Vecenie to chat about the NBA. We start by talking about the craziest fanbases and explain why we think fans have such an attachment to the subject that Kyle and I hold near and dear to our heart: young players. Then, I pitch him my two favorite Ben Simmons trade ideas. Then we actually get to the point of what we wanted to talk about after 25 minutes. We chat a...

With Matt Pennie out due to family obligations for the holidays, Sam Vecenie is here for a solo mailbag episode to answer some of your questions about the 2022 NBA Draft. The listeners asked great questions, including:  -How does the top-four in the 2022 NBA Draft compare to 2021's top-four?  -How does Jalen Duren compare to other lottery big guys? -How good is Johnny Davis and where is he ranked?...

Matt Pennie and Sam Vecenie's weekly draft episode, where this week they explore the simple question: Where have all the lead guards gone in the 2022 NBA Draft? Why is this group of lead guards so bad compared to past drafts? We dive deep on Alabama's JD Davison, Tennessee's Kennedy Chandler, and Kentucky's TyTy Washington.  Then, we move to mailbag questions. How often do the two of us look at Dr...

Dave DuFour from The Athletic is here, and we preview the NBA's impending trade period. Who could be on the move? We start with the Danny Ainge news, that he's taking over the Jazz' front office. Then, we break down the Celtics situation and explain why the Jaylen Brown trade rumors are silly; we move into Ben Simmons discussions, and Sam gives a couple of interesting potential trade constructions...

This week's draft episode is a deep dive into the top-four prospects in the class: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and Jaden Ivey. We also debut a new mailbag segment, and name prospects of the week. 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...

In this episode, Jovan Buha of The Athletic joins the show. We start with 20 minutes on the Pacers, following a report that the team is finally willing to look into trading some of its core players including Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. We take a look at few trade constructions and situations that could make sense. Then, we move to the Lakers. What a weird Lakers season so far. Jovan and I d...

In this episode, Danny Leroux and I dive deep into the Portland Trail Blazers, discussing what in the world that organization is doing following what has undeniably been a messy start to the season. Do they try to shake things up with some moves, or do they stick with the status quo given that the Western Conference is a mess and Damian Lillard hasn't even gotten going yet? Then, Danny and I chat...

A full episode of the Game Theory Podcast! Anthony Slater from The Athletic joins, and we break down Michael Porter Jr.'s third back surgery and how it affects the Nuggets. Brook Lopez' back surgery and how it affects the Bucks. Bam Adebayo's thumb surgery and whether or not the Heat should be worried about the play-in. Then, we get into the meat of the episode, and break down the two best teams i...

Matt Pennie joins Sam to run through some important questions about prospects, including the Scoot Henderson breakout; the Gonzaga-Duke game from over the long weekend; and Emoni Bates' struggles early in the season. We also run through the other G League Ignite prospects, including Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels, MarJon Beacuhamp, and Michael Foster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastcho...

Matt Pennie is here with Sam to talk a little NBA Draft. We each pose four Fact or Fiction-style questions to each other without any prep, and dive deep into the NBA Draft. Your eight statements that are decided upon in terms of fact/fiction -This is the best start to a college basketball season in the last decade -Jaden Ivey has solidified himself as a top-five pick in the 2022 NBA Draft -Kendall...

The 21 Questions Covered: Are the Golden State Warriors the NBA title favorites?  Fact or fiction? From the mid-point of last year onward, Stephen Curry has been the best player in the NBA It seems like there is a consistent outrage economy right now surrounding the Brooklyn Nets. The Brooklyn Nets are also 11-5, and currently tied for the first place in the Eastern Conference. How do we feel abou...

It's back! Pennie and Vecenie go back and forth, doing a deep dive on the 2022 NBA Draft, Mock Draft style, making picks out to No. 30 back and forth in an exercise that will almost assuredly make us look dumb as soon as next week, given this draft class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati...

Matt Pennie is here to record a first reaction episode to the Champions' Classic on the NBA Draft. We dive into Paolo Banchero, Trevor Keels and Ochai Agbaji as well as all of the many other prospects who played on Tuesday in the opener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our colle...

Rob Dauster joins to run through everything you need to know about the 2021-22 college basketball season, 21 Questions style. College basketball is older than it's been in years due to the decision to grant an extra year of eligibility. Does that mean we think the quality will be better? What is your favorite preseason bet on winning the national title? Who is your national player of the Year pick...

Pennie and Vecenie are here, and we chat about the second-year players across the NBA. First though, we do a little news recap including the Robert Sarver report, the Celtics team meeting, and some rookie scale options being declined. We run through Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman, Pat Williams, Tyrese Haliburton, the Pistons' guys, Desmond Bane, Cole Anthony, and plenty others. On top...

Nekias Duncan from The Dunker Spot and Basketball News is here to dive into what we've seen from the NBA thus far. Questions on the Bulls, the Heat, Evan Mobley, the Celtics, Zion and plenty more. Full list below: Is the Miami Heat the best team in the NBA? I think they're the best, most complete team I've seen this year.  We definitely trust Jimmy, Bam and Kyle at this point. But do we think that...

Matt Pennie joins Sam to break down the first week we've seen from the NBA's rookies so far. Special attention to Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Chris Duarte, Josh Giddey and Davion Mitchell. 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 an...

Tony Jones from The Athletic is here, we run through the NBA's first week by breaking down its contenders and more. We dive in by discussing some of the weaknesses the league has shown so far. We start with Brooklyn, then go to the Lakers. Then, we move to the East and run through Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Atlanta (not Miami just because I haven't seen them yet). Then we run through Utah, Denver, P...

Danny Leroux joins for a new style of episode jumping around the NBA to talk about the NBA's first games, including Giannis, the Mavericks, the Hawks, and plenty other topics. The goal here is to do a show where we can talk about a lot of things within an hour and have fun doing so. We spend approximately three minutes on each question, and they include: -what team disappointed you most with their...

It's Opening Night in the NBA! I chatted with Cole Huff from The Athletic about Warriors-Lakers and Bucks-Nets. We saw tonight that continuity matters. But, are we worried about Russell Westbrook? Do we just stay the course with the Lakers? Why Anthony Davis looks awesome. What did we think of the Warriors tonight? Then, we chat about the Bucks. Jordan Nwora looks great, Jrue Holiday looks great,...

Matt Pennie and I preview the guards in the 2022 NBA Draft Class. Including Jaden Hardy, Jaden Ivey, JD Davison, Kennedy Chandler, TyTy Washington, Nolan Hickman, Aminu Mohammed, Jean Montero, Andre Curbelo, Jordan Hall, Kadary richmond, Iverson Molinar, Kendric Davis, Max Abmas, Adam Flagler, Jahvon Quinerly and some further. We also talk about my diving into Boston sports and culture in a way th...

Derek Bodner is here and we chat about the two dominant NBA storylines of the preseason that came to a head on Tuesday: Ben Simmons coming to the front door of the 76ers unannounced to return to the team, and Kyrie Irving being ruled out of all basketball activities until something changes with his vaccination status or the rules allowing him to play in home games. Learn more about your ad choices...

Dave DuFour is here to break down all of the potential awards races this year, from Kevin Durant and the narrative race for MVP; DPOY and the push for a perimeter player to win; some ROY thoughts and a sleeper to win that award; and other stuff like most likely to be traded, most interesting trade targets, and plenty more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted...

Matt Pennie and I preview the wings in the 2022 NBA Draft Class. Including AJ Griffin, Peyton Watson, Johnny Juzang, Jaime Jaquez, Benn Mathurin, Dyson Daniels, and a slew of freshmen. We also talked a bit about a big Boston sports weekend with Pennie, my Instagram account dying an oil-covered death at the hands of Nicolas Cage, and we talk a lot about The Many Saints of Newark at the end. Finally...

For the fourth year in a row, Robby Kalland joins Sam for the only essential preview podcast: NBA Win total over/unders. This episode is on the Western Conference. We use our good friends over at BetMGM and their win total lines to dive deep into each team, and discuss what we think will happen this year for every one. The teams go in alphabetical order.  DAL: 48.5; DEN: 47.5 ; GSW: 48.5; HOU: 27....