On The Ball with Ric Bucher

Ric discusses Tim Duncan's Hall of Fame induction speech and examines the clamor for Warriors guard Steph Curry as this year's MVP. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines the Oklahoma City Thunder's complete and unapologetic commitment to losing for the last two months and why the league has not said a word about one of the most overt tanking jobs in NBA history. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines how the pandemic could affect the way selected media cast their votes for the NBA's regular season awards and the various methods teams have tried to influence his vote. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric discusses why the current Golden State Warriors' stars, Steph Curry and Draymond Green, are uniquely suited to lead the band of unknown and unsung players around them. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric offers a few takeaways from the Lakers' overtime win against the Knicks and explains why Russell Westbrook surpassing Oscar Robertson's career record for triple-doubles hasn't garnered him more respect. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric fills in the details behind his recent social media post about a high school star sitting out a game and discusses the response, along with a look at what load management actually involves at the NBA level. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines why the Pelicans, despite two All-Star talents in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, are headed to the lottery once again -- and the statistical category that has loomed large determining which teams have surprised (Utah Jazz) or disappointed (Lakers?) this season. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...

With Lakers guard Dennis Schröder under Covid-19 restrictions, and his earlier suggestion that he and LeBron James had not been vaccinated, Ric examines if differing opinions on the vaccine might be contributing to the defending champions' lack of chemistry. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric discusses why he believes the two-time defending MVP, Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, is not receiving much attention for this year's award and why he should be. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines the arguments made for Knicks power forward Julius Randle being one of the NBA's top 20 players. Also: how Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer touched on a baseball issue that also is a problem in the NBA. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines the recent torrid scoring streak by Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry, his MVP worthiness because of it and why it hasn't produced more wins for the team overall. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric explains how Kevin Durant provided the Golden State Warriors a vital element in the two championships they won together -- and how he'll have to provide that same element if the Brooklyn Nets hope to win a championship as well. Also discussed: the injuries and absences that are making the regular season once again appear not all that important. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/buch...

Ric outlines why there's no reason to take sports lists or rankings seriously, including the recent one by ESPN naming the top 25 NBA players under the age of 25. Also: how the current circumstances for the Lakers are far different than the ones they faced making last year's title run. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

Ric examines if player empowerment has gone too far, discusses how he believes the Clippers are different from last year's disappointing version and the entertaining sight of the league's best players trying to solve the riddle of making free throws. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines the many failures surrounding Magic Johnson's claim that no point guard has a higher basketball IQ than the New Orleans Pelicans' Lonzo Ball and why Milwaukee Bucks' star Giannis Antetokounmpo could be at the top of his MVP ballot for the first time this season. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Ric examines why he still isn't sold on the Brooklyn Nets as the best team in the Eastern Conference, the difference between Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving and the player the Clippers have to move if they're serious about winning a championship. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines how three-point shooting has defined which teams have both surprised and disappointed so far this season, the dramatic shift in the number of 3s being shot over the last 10 years, and why to believe, and not believe, that trend continues in the postseason. Also discussed: Kyrie Irving and his enablers. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast....

Ric examines Draymond Green's attempts to infuse the Warriors' championship habits and mentality in their new roster and how costing them a game they were in position to win against the Hornets does major damage to his locker room authority. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric discusses with Kennard his unusual talent as a left-handed shooter, right-handed quarterback, left-footed punter, right-handed golfer and left-handed batter. Kennard also shares what he has learned about his reticent teammate, Kawhi Leonard, and from spending most of his career with the high-strung point guard he followed from Detroit to Los Angeles, Reggie Jackson. Support this show http://su...

Ric talks with Rodney about overcoming his early struggles in the playoffs, tearing his Achilles tendon as a pending free agent, being critiqued by his wife and the Blazers' chances of making Charles Barkley smart for betting $100,000 they'd win this year's title. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric discusses with Nurse his response to those who discount the Raptors' 2019 title because of the Warriors' injuries, how to motivate a team after its championship window closes, Pascal Siakam's struggles, and how he set a three-point shooting record at Northern Iowa while shooting worse from the free-throw line. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. S...

Ric examines the volume of stories produced in conjunction with the one-year anniversary of NBA legend Kobe Bryant's death and disheartening reactions to longtime NBA analyst Sekou Smith succumbing to the Coronavirus. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines what we learned from Bulls-Rockets, Nets-Bucks and Warriors-Lakers, including Exhibit A on the superstar characteristic Steph Curry has over LeBron James. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric examines why everyone universally dislikes when players do what James Harden did to force his way to Brooklyn and yet we historically forgive and forget -- thereby tacitly condoning the behavior we abhor. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ric discusses the danger posed by flawed rankings, whether they be for MVPs or draft prospects, and who his top 10 NBA MVP candidates are -- and why -- at this point in the season. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.