The NBA Podcast

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss their biggest takeaways from the 2020 NBA playoffs and how they might affect the upcoming draft and free agency. Will teams put more of a premium on size to counter the Lakers? Did the Lakers prove that the Big Two model is the way to build a team moving forward? Will two-way wings like Devin Vassell...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss Daryl Morey's departure from the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Clippers' decision to hire Ty Lue as their next head coach. What likely led to the breakup between Morey and the Rockets? What's next for the Rockets? Which teams should go after Morey? Was Lue the best fit for the Clippers? And how...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss what's next for the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat after the 2020 NBA Finals and preview the upcoming offseason. Why were we so bearish on the Lakers' title chances this year, and what did we miss? Who should they prioritize re-signing this offseason? Could the Heat add a big-name free agent? How w...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) preview Game 4 of the 2020 NBA Finals, discuss whether the Sacramento Kings should trade Buddy Hield and assemble a New York Knicks trade package for Victor Oladipo. Did Jimmy Butler's Game 3 performance prove he's a superstar? How will Bam Adebayo's return affect the outlook of this series? Who will win Game...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) of ClutchPoints to discuss the Sixers' decision to hire Doc Rivers, how that might affect other coaching searches and preview Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Why did the Clippers part ways with Doc? Is he a good fit with the Sixers? What are some of the concerns about him c...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by Allana Tachauer (@AllanaTachauer) of HoopsHabit to preview the 2020 NBA Finals, discuss what's next for the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets and react to Doc Rivers' departure from the Los Angeles Clippers. Which players may be X-factors for the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals?...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the keys for the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets to claw back into their respective conference finals series. Did Brad Stevens unlock a key in Game 5 by pivoting to his centers more? Do the Miami Heat need Jimmy Butler to be more aggressive offensively? How should the Nuggets adjust now that LeBron...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by Matt Moore (@HPbasketball), Senior NBA Writer at The Action Network, to preview Game 4 of each conference finals and discuss the Chicago Bulls hiring Billy Donovan. Have the Denver Nuggets figured out how to attack the Los Angeles Lakers? Is LeBron James destined for a Game 4 eruption? How will...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by T.J. McBride (@TJMcBrideNBA) of the Rocky Mountain Hoops podcast to discuss their early takeaways from the Western and Eastern Conference Finals and what's next for the Los Angeles Clippers? What went wrong for the Denver Nuggets in Game 1 against the Los Angeles Lakers? What do they need to fix...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) are joined by Ti Windisch (@TiWindisch) of the Gyro Step podcast to discuss the Milwaukee Bucks' future before diving into what's next for the Houston Rockets and a Game 7 prediction for the Clippers-Nuggets. Are the Bucks making a mistake in bringing back Mike Budenholzer? How can they retailor their roster...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) preview the Eastern Conference Finals, discuss what's next for the Toronto Raptors and weigh in on Michael Porter Jr.'s comments and the Danuel House Jr. situation. Which matchups could decide the series between the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics? Who should be favored? How much should the Raptors be willing t...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the biggest offseason questions for the Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz. Should the Bucks fire head coach Mike Budenholzer? Do they have to entertain the possibility of trading Giannis Antetokounmpo if he doesn't sign a supermax extension? Should the Thunder trade away their veter...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) and special guest Anthony Irwin (@AnthonyIrwinLA) of Locked on Lakers discuss what's going wrong for the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers in their respective playoff series. How can the Lakers get even with the Houston Rockets in Game 2? Who's to blame for the Bucks being down 3-0 against the Miami Heat? Could OG Anunoby's game-wi...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss their takeaways after Game 1 of Celtics-Raptors and Bucks-Heat and make their predictions for Game 7 of Nuggets-Jazz and Rockets-Thunder. How can the Raptors get their half-court offense going against the Celtics? Do the Bucks have a Mike Budenholzer problem? Should they switch Giannis Antetokounmpo o...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the NBA's protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake and speak with Caitlin Cooper (@C2_Cooper) of Indy Cornrows about the Indiana Pacers' future. What was our reaction to the players' decision not to play games Wednesday? What are the next steps for the NBA in aiding social justice causes? Were...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss what's next for the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers, preview the Celtics-Raptors series and make predictions for Rockets-Thunder and Clippers-Mavericks. Who should the Sixers hire to replace Brett Brown? Should they trade Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons this offseason? Should the Indiana Pacers be sh...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss the fallout from the 2020 NBA draft lottery and the top takeaways from Game 2 of each team's first-round playoff series. What should the Minnesota Timberwolves do with the No. 1 overall pick? Who should the Golden State Warriors target if they trade the No. 2 pick? Are the Los Angeles Clippers in real...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) overreact to Game 1 of every 2020 first-round playoff series. Are the Los Angeles Lakers in legitimate danger of losing to the Portland Trail Blazers? Is Mike Budenholzer an "82-game coach?" Was Brett Brown to blame for the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 1 loss? Is Donovan Mitchell now effectively unguardable? Are...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) preview every first-round matchup of the 2020 NBA playoffs. Will the Portland Trail Blazers win the play-in tournament? Could they upset the L.A. Lakers? Do the Dallas Mavericks have a shot against the L.A. Clippers? How does Russell Westbrook's injury affect the Rockets-Thunder series? Can the Sixers survive...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) hand out individual awards for the NBA seeding games. Who should be the Rookie of the Bubble? Are there clear-cut favorites for Sixth Man of the Bubble and Coach of the Bubble? Who deserves Most Improved Player and MVP? Who should be named to the All-Bubble team? Check out the episode to hear Morten and Bryan...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss Jaren Jackson Jr.'s meniscus injury, Ben Simmons' kneecap injury, the Los Angeles Lakers' lethargic bubble play and Jim Boylen's future in Chicago. Are the Memphis Grizzlies no longer the favorites to win the No. 8 seed in the wake of Jackson's injury? Are the Philadelphia 76ers headed for a first-rou...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss Jonathan Isaac's ACL tear, Michael Porter Jr.'s breakout game, the battle for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference and whether the Toronto Raptors are a legitimate threat to repeat. What does Isaac's injury mean for the Orlando Magic moving forward? Should MPJ continue to start for the Denver Nugg...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) discuss their top takeaways from the first few days of NBA seeding games. Did the New Orleans Pelicans err with Zion Williamson's minutes distribution? Should the Los Angeles Clippers feel better about their chances against the Los Angeles Lakers despite the loss? Are the Portland Trail Blazers the favorites...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) rank the top 20 players in the NBA bubble ahead of the 2019-20 season restart. Who's the top dog in the Orlando bubble? How high does Luka Doncic rank? Where does Pascal Siakam belong in the league's hierarchy? Should we buy into Jayson Tatum as a bona fide superstar? Do Russell Westbrook, Khris Middleton and...

In this episode of The NBA Podcast, Morten Jensen (@msjnba) and Bryan Toporek (@btoporek) power rank all 22 teams participating in the 2019-20 NBA season restart. Do any non-playoff teams crack the top 15? Where do the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets land? What about the new-look Philadelphia 76ers? Are the Boston Celtics above the Toronto Raptors? Which team enters the bubble as the presumpt...