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

Latest Episodes:

The great NBA All-Star roster debates Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with the news that the NBA has officially announced its All-Star Game for Atlanta on March 7. From there, they break down the biggest roster debates for both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Should James Harden start over Bradley Beal? Julius Randle or Domantas Sabonis? Zach LaVine or Ben Simmons? Is there room for Trae Young? Should Jerami Grant, Nikola Vucevic and Gordon Hayward all get snubbed? In the West, should Anthony Davis be included despite his injury? Is there a case to include Mike Conley? How many Jazz players deserve to make the cut? Did Michael really leave off both Chris Paul and Devin Booker? Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram?

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Anthony Davis's injury tests Lakers, Boston's woes, Brooklyn rises Feb 15, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of Anthony Davis's Achilles' strain and why it represents the first major test of the Los Angeles Lakers' title defense? Should the Lakers take it extra slow with Davis's return? Should they ramp down LeBron James's workload? How do they make up for Davis's absence in the short term? Is it too soon for the defending champions to worry about the West standings and the race for the top seed? From there, Ben and Michael dig in deep to the Boston Celtics' struggles. How are they only .500 and dropping games to terrible teams? Where did things go wrong for Danny Ainge? Should Jayson Tatum be doing more to compensate for their injury issues? To close, the guys give credit to the Brooklyn Nets for their thumping of the Golden State Warriors, discuss whether the Nets should target Andre Drummond if he gets bought out, and weigh possible trade destinations for Blake Griffin.

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National Anthem outcry, LaMelo Ball mania, dream All-Star event fields Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by wading into the culture wars prompted by the Dallas Mavericks' decision not to play the national anthem before games. Should the anthem be played before sporting events? Why did the NBA step in to mandate that all teams play the anthem? Has the NBA reversed course on social issues since the bubble? From there, the guys dig into the growing LaMelo Ball hype. Should the Timberwolves and Warriors regret passing on him? Has Ball already changed the Hornets' identity? Ben and Michael then build their dream fields for All-Star Weekend events like the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest and Skills Challenge using only projected All-Stars, before pondering what "Field Day" from elementary school might look like if NBA players were involved. They close with a discussion of the Dallas Mavericks, who are finally back winning, and the Atlanta Hawks, whose defense has improved noticeably with Clint Capela.

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All-Star anger, picking the starters, De'Aaron Fox's rise Feb 09, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by cataloguing the hurt feelings from superstars over the NBA's All-Star Game plans. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounpo, James Harden and Kevin Durant have all expressed their frustrations with the NBA's All-Star plans or health protocols since Thursday. How should NBA Commissioner Adam Silver respond to this outpouring of angst and what are his options? From there, Ben and Michael go through the ballot to make their All-Star starter selections. James Harden or Bradley Beal? Luka Doncic or Damian Lillard? Kawhi Leonard or Paul George? After the All-Star talk, they shift gears to discuss Michael's recent piece on Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox. What's behind his strong recent play? The episode closes with a discussion of this season's many 50/40/90 shooting candidates and an Open Floor-related punching incident during a South London fun run.

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All-Star Game plans & voting returns, contender clash Feb 04, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing the 2021 NBA All-Star Game plans, which are quickly taking shape. Should the NBA even bother with the All-Star Game? What, exactly, are the added risks, and how can the NBA manage them? If they hold an All-Star Game, should they aim for a Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest too? What would those look like in a best-case scenario? From there, Ben and Michael dig into the first round of All-Star ballot returns. Kevin Durant was the leading vote-getter? Why didn't the Celtics' stars fare better? Was it a good thing that internet sensations Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, and LaMelo Ball didn't do all that well? Then, Ben and Michael look back at the Nets' victory over the Clippers on Tuesday in search of takeaways for each team. Can the Clippers defend at the point of attack well enough to win a title? Did Steve Nash finally have a late-game performance to be proud of? To close, Open Floor Globe members weigh in from around the world on the most inappropriate times they've watched basketball.

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The NBA's biggest early-season regrets Feb 02, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina look back on the first quarter of the NBA season to investigate which teams are having the biggest regrets after six weeks of basketball. Would the Boston Celtics have found a way to keep Gordon Hayward? Would any team trade for Russell Westbrook? How should the Washington Wizards wiggle out of their current predicament with Bradley Beal? Did the Brooklyn Nets make the right hire with Steve Nash? Should the Detroit Pistons have scrapped their entire strategy? Did Denver need to back up the Brinks truck for Jerami Grant? How many teams screwed up by passing on Tyrese Haliburton? Should the Atlanta Hawks have just paid John Collins? Was there anything that Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks could have done differently to prevent their slow start? What about the wayward Timberwolves?

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First-quarter MVP, Joel Embiid's Sixers, the LeBron James Award Jan 28, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a remembrance of NBA TV's Sekou Smith, a pioneer in the NBA podcasting world and a charismatic, beloved member of the basketball community. Then, the guys discuss Philadelphia's signature win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Does this mean the Sixers are for real? Where does Joel Embiid rank in the MVP conversation? Who are the other top candidates? Will LeBron James wind up winning on the power of his "lifetime achievement" narrative? If the NBA named an award after LeBron, should it recognize his off-season impact or his sportsmanship? From there, Ben and Michael discuss whether the Nets can trade for a better option at center before digging into Michael's recent piece on the Orlando Magic. They close with a debate over Kawhi Leonard's playoff achievements and their lasting memories of Kobe Bryant.

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Shaq questions Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving fake trades Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a look back at Shaquille O'Neal's controversial post-game interview of Donovan Mitchell on TNT. What did Shaq get right and what did he get wrong in his dismissal of Mitchell? What's the real story about Mitchell and the surging Jazz? Should "Inside The NBA" alter its approach or should other media avenues step up in the analysis department? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's uneven opening month, the Milwaukee Bucks' lineup holes, and whether they can get back to an elite level on defense. At the end, the guys process a bunch of Kyrie Irving fake trades sent in by the Open Floor Globe. Kyrie to Orlando? Kyrie to Chicago? Kyrie to Washington? Kyrie to New York? Kyrie to Toronto?

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CJ McCollum's injury, Zion Williamson's next steps, Steve Nash's learning curve Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a discussion of the Portland Trail Blazers' injury woes. What was driving CJ McCollum's early season success and how will his injury impact Portland's playoff outlook? From there, the guys shift to a look at the struggling New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson's second season. Williamson has been dominant in the paint, but does he need to expand his spheres of influence? Should Stan Van Gundy consider a lineup change? After detailing the Utah Jazz's place in the NBA's exclusive "40/40" club, Ben and Michael close with an extended look at the Brooklyn Nets' loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. How did the "Big 3" look in their first game together? Is Kyrie Irving the weakest link in Brooklyn's defense? What does Steve Nash need to do late in games to get better results?

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Ten questions about Kevin Durant, James Harden & the new-look Nets Jan 19, 2021

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig in deep on James Harden's first two games with the new-look Brooklyn Nets. Why is Harden on his best behavior and will it last? Do Kevin Durant and Harden share a telekinetic combination, and how does their partnership stack up to past duos involving Durant and Harden? Can Harden actually repair his reputation with casual fans or is that a lost cause? Which role players benefit the most from Harden's arrival? How aggressively should Brooklyn seek trades involving Kyrie Irving? Should their thinking change at the deadline versus next summer? What type of players should Brooklyn target in an Irving deal? Who wins in an Eastern Conference finals between the Nets and Bucks? Is the pressure off Milwaukee now? Do the Bucks need to make a counter move to keep up after the Harden trade?

Best,

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