On the NBA Beat

Although the Memphis Grizzlies find themselves better than .500, they’ve struggled to beat the league’s upper-echelon teams. Grizzlies radio play-by-play announcer Eric Hasseltine joins the show to discuss Memphis’ early struggles, caused primarily by uncharacteristically poor defense and a lack of perimeter shooting. With Zach Randolph really showing his age and Mike Conley Jr. starting slow, Eri...

Last week, longtime NBA referee Bill Kennedy publicly announced that he was gay three days after Rajon Rondo was suspended for twice directing a homophobic slur at Kennedy. Before closing out with some Wizards discussion, this episode primarily focuses on how the Kings point guard badly mishandled the Kennedy incident. The hosts contend that, although the incident was ugly and regrettable, once Ro...

Despite the offseason departure of Paul Pierce, the Washington Wizards and their young core were widely expected to turn in another quality season. Well, things haven’t quite gone that way. SB Nation NBA editor Mike Prada was gracious enough to stop by to discuss what’s holding this young team back, such as a porous defense and an onslaught of key injuries. Here are some of the highlights:  Learn...

On the heels of the Lakers-focused interview with ReyMoralde, the guys delve further into how Los Angeles can best develop itshighly touted young players and how important it will be for the Lakers to re-signJordan Clarkson. In the final segment, the A-A-Ron Block, the MinnesotaTimberwolves are used as a prime example of a team that has fairly seamlesslyintegrated young talent, an area where Byron...

This season’s Los Angeles Lakers are being talked about for mostly unfortunate reasons. One of the best players of all time, Kobe Bean Bryant, will retire upon season’s end and is undoubtedly playing the worst individual basketball of his career. The team is just as bad, beginning with a 3-18 record that includes a loss to the now 1-21 76ers in Bryant’s underwhelming homecoming. But while there’s...

The podcast warriors wax Warrior, as they delve into why Splash Brother Klay Thompson has not been splashing as much, Festus Ezeli’s promising development and coach Luke Walton’s reluctance to rest his stars. The trio also takes sides on a couple of juicy player battles with the media: Kevin Durant vs. the media on their treatment of Kobe Bryant and Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut’s beef with Jazz...

As Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors continue to make history, Andy Liu of SB Nation’s Golden State of Mind comes by to drop some knowledge. He opines on the team’s dominant 19-0 start, Stephen Curry’s MVP play, the Warriors’ biggest weakness (huh? they have one?), their underrated front-office selflessness and so much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...

While the Warriors are grabbing all the headlines, thanks to a perfect 16-0 start, the reliable San Antonio Spurs are quietly succeeding at a high level on both ends of the court. They are led by 24-year-old phenom and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, but as with all Gregg Popovich-led Spurs teams over the years, individual accolades are not what it’s about. Stephen Anderson of...

Despite Aaron’s absence, Joshua and Loren revisit the Hawks conversation that began with Lang Whitaker earlier in the week. We touch upon Atlanta’s mounting injuries and how those might impact such a well-balanced Hawks squad even more than a typical star-centric team. Although new acquisition Tiago Splitter might not be garnering too many minutes in the early season, we talk about the types of co...

After Jeff Teague’s ankle injury, the Atlanta Hawks have been on a bit of a slide, dropping three straight to the Nets, Jazz and Timberwolves. Fortunately, they began the season winning eight of 10. This week, devout ATLien Lang Whitaker, who writes and podcasts at NBA.com, joins the show to talk about the Hawks, who are seeking an encore performance to their memorable 60-win season from a year ag...

In this action-packed episode, the guys reflect on the state of the Oklahoma City Thunder, particularly given Kevin Durant’s hamstring strain. Later, the trio celebrates the emergence of 24-year-old Kawhi Leonard as a bona fide offensive star and explores what in the hell is going on in Sacramento these days. Should George Karl lose his job this early in the season? Can the damage be undone? The O...

Following Tuesday’swin over the Wizards, we caught up with Chuck Chaney of ThunderObsessed.com todiscuss the current state of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chuck is encouraged bythe increased space new coach Billy Donovan’s system has afforded theoffense, but he’s wary of the Thunder’s lack of defensive intensity. It’s still“extended training camp,” for this team and coach, Chuck asserts, but theywon...

On today’s episode, the A-A-Ron Block is devoted to continued discussion of the Chicago Bulls. This intriguing-yet-perplexing team has defeated the Cavaliers and Thunder, while also surrendering 130 points to the Hornets. Its starting point guard is an enigma, too, going three straight games with single-digit scoring before erupting for 29 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds against the Thunder Thurs...

This week, Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report, NBC Sports and Sports on Earth gives us a detailed glimpse into the Chicago Bulls, a talented team that returns much of its roster but is playing under a first-year NBA coach in Fred Hoiberg. Sean highlights the many differences between Hoiberg and his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, including Hoiberg’s considerably more easy-going nature. He also provides u...

On today’s episode of the podcast, LLC Incorporated continues the week’s discussion of the Los Angeles Clippers. The co-hosts touch on the Clippers’ bad-boy reputation, Lance Stephenson’s comfort level and whether this is the best team in franchise history. Finally, on the J-Spot, the boys play around with small sample size overreaction, exploring what has surprised them most so far in the newborn...

WithDeAndre Jordan returning and the bench deficiencies seemingly fixed,expectations for the Los Angeles Clippers are sky high this season. Fox Sports Radio’sIsaac Lowenkron stops by to convince us why we should believe the hype. Ourguest envisions the team’s newfound depth as a vital factor in its championshiphopes, claiming that such depth essentially allows Doc Rivers to be a“basketball mad sci...

In the J Spot, the panel continues the Kings discussion from earlier in the week, touching upon the Kings’ playoff hopes, Ben McLemore’s changing role given the improved guard depth, Rudy Gay’s seemingly newfound efficiency and how much it matters to have winning veterans on an up-and-coming team. Next, on the A-A-Ron Block, the league’s seven new head coaches are analyzed. What can we expect from...

The Sacramento Kings are mired in a nine-year playoff drought. But James Ham, Kings Insider for Comcast SportsNet, brings preseason cheer in the form of his optimistic outlook. He believes there is a bigger-than-expected opening for a team like the Kings to sneak into one of the West’s final three playoff spots. He acknowledges the potential for combustibility, while praising the team’s myriad off...

On the debut of OTNB’s three banter segments (the A-A-RonBlock, LLC Incorporated and the J-Spot), the co-hosts react to theWarriors-Clippers media beef and opine on Jamal Crawford’s fit with theClippers’ retooled roster. Later, the panel praises Elfrid Payton’s dynamic young game, as it includes Orlando as a potential surprise team this season. TheStifle Tower, Rudy Gobert, gets some serious love...

On the very first episode, Aaron, Joshua and Loren are joined by Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders to talk about the many contenders out West, young players poised for breakout seasons and what in the world is going on with Jeremy Lin’s hair, among other general NBA topics. Spoiler alert: Alex likes the spikes. “The spikes are great.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoic...