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

Latest Episodes:

Jrue Holiday fake trades; NBA Draft pressure check Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing a recent report that New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is on the trading block. Which types of teams should be interested in acquiring him and how much trade value does he really have given his age and contract? Then, Michael designs his three favorite fake trades involving Holiday and Ben grades them. The guys pivot to discuss which other players they most want to see traded before the start of the upcoming season, including a number of big names. They close by briefly looking ahead to the 2020 NBA Draft. Which three organizations have the most pressure to make the right pick this season?

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The NBA needs a labor deal, Kevin Durant's comeback Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with the latest on the 2020-21 negotiations between the NBA owners and players. Can the two sides afford not to reach a deal given the massive projected losses? How would the public react if this dragged on, and what impact would that have on their long-term business? How is the latest coronavirus spike impacting the league's thinking? Then, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss the Brooklyn Nets' new coaching staff and what's next for Kevin Durant. Is he poised for a monster comeback year after an extended rehabilitation and will Steve Nash's offensive approach be a good fit? The show closes with questions from the Open Floor Globe. Where should the Raptors relocate this season? How might the quality of play next season be impacted by the disrupted schedule? What should the Kings do with Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marvin Bagley? Should the NBA consider hosting a showcase game outdoors because its arenas will be empty?

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Will Daryl Morey save the Sixers? Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dive headfirst into Daryl Morey's expected hiring as president of the Philadelphia 76ers. Will Morey trade Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid? How will the new power dynamic work with ownership and Doc Rivers? Should Morey try to retool the roster during the rushed free agency period or evaluate the roster for a year? Will the Sixers climb back into the East's top tier with a new front office and coach? From there, Ben and Michael break down the Utah Jazz's sale and the latest on the negotiations about the start of the 2020-21 season. At the end, Open Floor Globe members weigh in on what it would take to make them feel comfortable returning to an NBA game in person before Ben and Michael discuss whether the word "legacy" is ruining professional sports conversation.

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The NBA's 2020-21 schedule plans: pros & cons Oct 26, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina lay out the good, the bad and the ugly of the NBA's latest proposals for the 2020-21 season. Why is the league now eyeing a pre-Christmas start date? Why cut games out of the schedule? What do these proposed changes mean for plans to bring fans back into stands? Why does the NBA want to get its calendar back on track so badly? Will the players be ready after such a short off-season? Would Ben and Michael feel comfortable attending games as fans this season? Should the NBA utilize hub cities rather than all 30 markets? From there, the guys take questions from the Open Floor Globe. Would Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Dallas Mavericks harm Luka Doncic's legacy? Should the Boston Celtics package assets to pursue a star-level player this summer?

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Zion Williamson gets a new coach Oct 22, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina weigh all sides of the New Orleans Pelicans' decision to hire Stan Van Gundy as their new coach. Was this all about Zion Williamson? What's Van Gundy's top task as he takes over? From there, Ben and Michael discuss the Indiana Pacers' hiring of Nate Bjorkgren and whether it signals the start of a rebuild. The episode closes with questions from the Open Floor Globe on the Gasol brothers, the success of the preps-to-pros generation and the joy that Boston has delivered to Los Angeles this month.

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Daryl Morey's complex legacy in Houston Oct 19, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina take an extended look back at Daryl Morey's 13-year run as Houston Rockets general manager. Where does Morey rank as an executive? Which criticisms of Morey were fair and which were off-base? What's his legacy in Houston and what's his ideal landing spot in the future? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss the Clippers' hiring of Tyronn Lue as their coach before reliving their bubble favorites. They close by diving into the scientific joy of symbiosis and the pain of parasitism.

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Ranking the Lakers vs. the last 10 title teams & updating the GOAT debate Oct 15, 2020

Show notes

With the NBA bubble officially wrapped, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina settle into the offseason. They start by giving Lakers fans the opportunity to gloat after their title and then rank how the 2020 Lakers stack up against the last 10 NBA champions. From there, they try to set the early field of contenders for the 2021 title chase and debate who should be viewed as the best player in basketball heading into next season. They wrap with an updated look at the GOAT discussion pitting LeBron James against Michael Jordan.

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LeBron James & the Lakers win the bubble title Oct 12, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the end of the NBA bubble, which saw the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat in six games to claim their 17th championship. Ben offers a behind-the-scenes look at LeBron James's title celebration and then they debate where this title ranks among James's four rings. From there, Ben and Michael look back on the Finals and the overall bubble experience. What happened to the Heat in Game 6 and will they be back next year? What prevented this year's Lakers team from capturing the national imagination? How and why did the bubble humanize the superstars who participated? The show closes with a discussion of Ben's Washington Post essay on his complicated feelings leaving the bubble and returning home to California.

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The AD adjustment; 3-1 psychology Oct 08, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig back into the NBA Finals, exploring the key Game 4 moments that helped the Los Angeles Lakers build a 3-1 series lead over the Miami Heat. Why was the Anthony Davis defensive adjustment on Jimmy Butler so effective? Why didn't the Bucks make a similar adjustment with Giannis Antetokounmpo? What are the guys' favorite Finals adjustments of all time? How does the bubble environment influence Miami's ability to launch a 3-1 comeback? Was this really one of the "biggest games" of LeBron James's career? From there, Ben and Michael discuss whether Anthony Davis has had the best playoff run of any James teammate, and they wonder whether Jimmy Butler and Jim Boylen could have gotten along in Chicago.

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The Jimmy Butler show Oct 05, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to Miami's Game 3 win in the NBA Finals by offering extended thoughts on Jimmy Butler. Ben and Michael both recount past experiences interviewing Butler and try to put his 40-point triple-double into historical context. Why does Butler get added motivation from his past playoff history with LeBron James? Where does Butler rank among the NBA's best wings? Who regrets losing Butler more: Chicago, Minnesota or Philadelphia? What makes Butler different from many of his contemporaries? The show closes with Ben's descriptions of life inside the NBA bubble during the three-month marathon's final miles.

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