Open Floor: SI's NBA Show - TopPodcast.com

Latest Episodes:

NBA reacts to Derek Chauvin verdict, Trae goes down, AD returns Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a rundown of the NBA community's response to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial. Was this "justice" for George Floyd? What role did current and former NBA players play in ensuring that this prosecution took place? Did the league and its teams strike the right notes in their statements and what were the Oakland Raiders thinking? From there, Ben and Michael shift to a discussion of teams hitting newfound turbulence. Will the Hawks fall into the East's play-in round after Trae Young's ankle injury? Are the Blazers doomed to be passed by the Mavericks and lose control of the coveted sixth seed? The guys wrap with Open Floor Globe suggestions for the NBA Clone Wars, the power of positive reinforcement in coaching players, and our habits towards the referees in pick-up games.

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Ranking Stephen Curry, NBA clone wars, East match-making Apr 20, 2021

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina reflect on Stephen Curry's torrid April by taking a fresh look at the Golden State Warriors guard's place in the MVP, All-NBA and "Best Player Alive" conversations. Then, they shift gears to imagine a world with NBA clones. Could 5 LeBrons beat 5 Durants or 5 Kawhis? Would 5 Zions beat 5 Stephs? What's the ideal combination of clones to form a superteam: 1 LeBron, 2 Durants, 1 Steph and 1 Anthony Davis? Would a Zion/Zion pick-and-roll combination be unstoppable? How do Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and James Harden factor into this conversation? At the end: Playing matchmaker in the Eastern Conference playoff field. Which play-in candidates should the favorites root for as first-round opponents and which teams are looming as potential spoilers? Can Miami climb out of the play-in round? Will Washington sneak in to make things interesting?

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LaMarcus Aldridge retires, Joel Embiid dominates, Stephen Curry catches fire Apr 16, 2021

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina gather themselves during a storm of NBA news to discuss LaMarcus Aldridge's sudden retirement due to an irregular heartbeat. How will Aldridge be remembered? How will the Nets adjust without him? From there, Michael presents his research findings on Joel Embiid's incredible shooting numbers. Which factors are driving Embiid's shooting and can they be trusted in the playoffs? Will the new-and-improved Embiid be able to win the match-up game in a way that he wasn't able to in postseasons past? Then, the guys discuss whether James Wiseman's injury clarified the Golden State Warriors' goals in the short-term. Can they transform into the Stephen Curry Show as they eye the play-in tournament and are they a sneaky threat if they claim the 8th seed? The episode closes with Ben trying to get Michael to admit that he secretly loves Luka Magic after the Dallas Mavericks' miraculous last-second win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

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Ten NBA Playoff X-Factors: Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris, Rajon Rondo & more Apr 13, 2021

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina catch their breath during the dog days of the NBA's regular season to look ahead to the 2021 NBA playoffs. Which players are looming as X-factors in the title chase? Can LaMarcus Aldridge hold up against big centers or will size be the Nets' undoing? Is Bojan Bogdanovic the key to a properly-balanced offense for the Jazz? Can Aaron Gordon transform the Nuggets from very good to great? How heavy will Donte DiVincenzo's load be in Milwaukee's new backcourt? Can Rajon Rondo step forward for the Clippers in ways that Patrick Beverley and Reggie Jackson can't? Is Deandre Ayton ready for primetime? Will Tobias Harris finally show up? Why has less Kemba Walker been more for the Boston Celtics and should that continue? Can the Hawks win a first round series if Bogdan Bogdanovic shows up big?

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Chris Paul & Devin Booker have the Suns in the spotlight Apr 09, 2021

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina take stock of the Phoenix Suns after a signature win over the Utah Jazz. Should Chris Paul be an all-NBA selection? Can Devin Booker be trusted in the clutch? Will Deandre Ayton be their playoff X-factor and did his play against the Jazz inspire newfound confidence? Who can the Suns beat in the first round and would drawing the Lakers be their worst nightmare? From there, Ben and Michael break down Kevin Durant's long-awaited return and whether the Brooklyn Nets are as unfairly loaded as their critics like to suggest. They close by looking at the Bulls' future and running through Open Floor Globe reactions to the NBA's best and worst contracts. Do Alex Caruso, Donovan Mitchell, Carmelo Anthony and Trae Young deserve some love? Were Otto Porter and Steven Adams snubbed from the “worst” list?

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Jalen Suggs' best NBA fits & Jrue Holiday's monster contract Apr 06, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by recapping Baylor's NCAA title game triumph over Gonzaga and discussing Jalen Suggs' strong tournament run. Does Suggs have a shot at being the first pick? Did the NCAA tournament prove its worth from a visibility standpoint compared to the G-League? Then, the guys dig into Suggs' best NBA fits. Should he ride shotgun to Zion Williamson in New Orleans? Take over for Kyle Lowry in Toronto? Enjoy an epic homecoming in Minnesota? Pair with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in OKC? Ben and Michael close by shifting gears to dissect Jrue Holiday's four-year, $160 million extension. Is this one of the NBA's worst contracts? Was it still worth doing? What chance does Milwaukee have to win a title with its new Big 3? Is Jrue Holiday now Milwaukee's version of Tobias Harris?

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The NBA's best and worst contracts Apr 01, 2021

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina take a look at the NBA's best and worst contracts after the trade deadline and the round of buyout agreements. Who is delivering the most value in the league this year? Should LeBron James be the automatic No. 1? Or should all-stars on rookie deals like Luka Doncic and Zion Williamson top the list? Which veteran all-stars are delivering max production on non-max deals and which former second-round picks are way outperforming their contracts? On the flip side, now that guys like Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond have been bought out, which deals are the league's most onerous? Would you rather have John Wall, Russell Westbrook or Kevin Love? Does Klay Thompson have to be mentioned? How does Tobias Harris, who has had an awesome season, factor into this conversation?

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LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Drummond, buyout backlash & the tank is on Mar 29, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina analyze the latest buyout moves, including LaMarcus Aldridge to the Brooklyn Nets and Andre Drummond to the Los Angeles Lakers. What roles will Aldridge and Drummond play in the postseason? Which factors influenced their decisions? Does the recent acceleration of buyouts harm small-market teams? Should the NBA institute rules governing buyouts to help limit the flow of veteran players to a select number of contenders? From there, Ben and Michael discuss whether two-way wings were the real winners of the trade deadline before digging into the NBA's tank race. Is OKC headed for a draft lottery dream after shutting down Al Horford? Who needs the number one pick the most? Which team deserves the top pick? The guys close with a look at the MVP race and how best to pitch Nikola Jokic's candidacy to voters.

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NBA Trade Deadline Winners & Losers Mar 25, 2021

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to Thursday's NBA trade deadline, handing out their grades for a busier-than-expected day and running through the winners and losers. Were the Orlando Magic smart for pulling the plug? How do Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier fit in their new homes? Which aspiring contenders in the West made moves that could tilt the title chase? Will the Miami Heat's many new additions boost them higher in the East standings? Was anyone a bigger loser than the Houston Rockets? Did the Chicago Bulls make a sneaky good play by adding Daniel Theis? Should the Raptors have lowered their asking price to get a Kyle Lowry trade done or was grabbing Gary Trent Jr. enough? Will Portland be willing to pay up to keep Norman Powell or is this a short-term rental only? Will Victor Oladipo's short Houston tenure turn into another example of Player Tanking?

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The Lakers without LeBron James, crushing LaMelo Ball news Mar 22, 2021

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig into a depressing weekend of NBA injury news concerning LeBron James and LaMelo Ball. How will the Lakers manage without LeBron James and how far will they slide in the standings? Does the high ankle sprain end his MVP pursuit, and which players are the new favorites? Will top teams try to tank down the stretch to avoid the Lakers in the playoffs? From there, Ben and Michael pay a quick tribute to Ball's sensational rookie year by listing their favorite moments and ranking him compared to his fellow under-23 playmakers. The guys close with a discussion of Aaron Gordon's reported trade request and ponder a listener's question about whether the NBA should seek better competitive balance by mandating that each team can only have one all-star or one player on a max contract.

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