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

Latest Episodes:

First impressions of Michael Jordan's "Last Dance," NBA name games Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina deliver their first impressions of the first two episodes of "The Last Dance," the 10-part documentary about Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Was Jerry Krause portrayed fairly? Should Scottie Pippen have gone nuclear? Was 1985 Michael Jordan the coolest person in world history? How would young MJ have reacted to The Process? From there, they shift gears to take questions from the Open Floor Globe. Which NBA players would have had better careers if they had cooler names? Which stars would have fallen short if their names were less cool? And which players in today's game have the best names? They close with follow-ups on FIBA's numbering system and Luka Doncic's "77" number gaffe.

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Last Dance hype, NBA numerology, Basketball stars as track athletes Apr 21, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a quick rundown of the excitement around "The Last Dance," the Michael Jordan documentary, but decide to save their full commentary until Friday to avoid early spoilers. From there, they recap NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's recent press conference and pivot to questions from the Open Floor Globe. Why are certain numbers like 32 so popular in basketball? Which NBA players would make the best track and field athletes? Would Zion Williamson be a good shotputter? Would LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo win the decathlon? Finally, they discuss which modern players would have been better in the 1980s and 1990s and which players would have been worse. They close by saying thanks to a 10-year-old listener.

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Previewing ESPN's "The Last Dance" documentary about Michael Jordan's Bulls Apr 17, 2020

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina offer an extended preview of "The Last Dance," ESPN's 10-part documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Ben teases some memorable scenes, lays out Jordan's participation in the project, and describes how the series came together. From there, they shift to a recent SB Nation feature on the most memorable "Title-less" teams in NBA history and Michael recaps some of the saddest title defenses.

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Rudy Gobert fake trades, Our biggest draft misses, NBA inspirations Apr 14, 2020

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig deep into the strained relationship between Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. They lay out the importance of both players to the franchise and explore Gobert trade scenarios. Which teams should target Gobert? How should the Jazz rework themselves around Mitchell? Then, Michael lays out his three favorite fake trades. From there, Ben and Michael answer two questions from the Open Floor Globe. What are their favorite Draft hits and misses over the years? Which NBA figures provide them with daily inspiration?

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The most overrated NBA players, coaches, front offices & owners Apr 10, 2020

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In response to a question from the Open Floor Globe, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina sift through nominees for the NBA's most overrated figures. They debate the likes of Mike D'Antoni, Reggie Miller, Chris Paul and the "Big 3" Celtics and discuss what exactly it means for someone to be "overrated" in the NBA context. Then, Ben and Michael make their own lists of current players, coaches, owners and front offices. Along the way, they dissect Kyrie Irving, Joel Embiid, Kyle Kuzma, Kemba Walker, Jamal Murray, Devin Booker, Julius Randle, the Warriors' owners and the Spurs' front office.

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Best and Worst HORSE players, 1990s cult heroes, no-ring-yet Dream Team Apr 07, 2020

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by diving deep into the NBA's proposal to launch a HORSE tournament during quarantine. Is the NBA desperate? Are we desperate enough to watch? Which players make the dream field and which players would be absolutely horrible? From there, Ben and Michael take questions from the Open Floor Globe. Which cult heroes of the 1990s are worth re-watching on YouTube? Should the NBA change its MVP voting procedure to adopt daily updates like Australian Rules Football? Which players would form our no-ring-yet Dream Teams? Should free Legos have been part of the USA's COVID stimulus program?

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Best games of 2019-20, coronavirus mid-life crises, past greats in modern NBA Apr 03, 2020

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with Michael's story on a Palo Alto company's ranking of the most memorable games of the 2019-20 season. What does the company's algorithm prioritize? Does it have any blind spots? And what were Ben and Michael's favorite games of the season? From there, they dive into questions from the Open Floor Globe. Will the coronavirus trigger mid-life crises and retirements from coaches and players? Should non-NBA basketball stars be invited to All-Star Weekend in some way? Which stars of the 1990s and 2000s would be the most fun to watch in the modern era? What have been the biggest changes to the NBA media landscape over the last 20 years?

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Hakeem's what-if, MJ's 55, the wall of sound Mar 31, 2020

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dive into another batch of questions from the Open Floor Globe, starting with an incredible "What if?" involving the Houston Rockets and a possible 1984 trade that could have landed Clyde Drexler and Michael Jordan alongside Hakeem Olajuwon. Would that Big 3 have worked? How many titles would Jordan and Olajuwon have won as teammates? From there, Ben and Michael discuss re-watching Jordan's 55-point explosion at Madison Square Garden on its 25th anniversary. How famous would John Starks be in the Twitter and Instagram era? What made Jordan's game-winning play so special? Why did Hubie Brown steal the show? The guys then pivot with questions about NBA crowd environments, and whether the coronavirus might spoil Steve Ballmer's idea of building a "Wall of Sound" in his new arena. At the end, Michael explains his 40" vertical leap and accepts an offer to be a ringer on a Milwaukee beach volleyball team.

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Two truths and a lie, media as fans, social distancing stars Mar 27, 2020

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Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a game of "Two Truths and a lie." Did Michael have a 40-inch vertical in high school? Is he really related to Dana Barros? Did Ben once shatter a backboard? Did he watch the 2004 Finals in a disease-fueled state in a foreign country? From there, they take questions from the Open Floor Globe. Should media members act as stand-in fans if NBA games resume in empty arenas? Which NBA stars would rise to the top if the league enacted a six-foot social distancing policy on the court? What advice do the guys have for a recent high school graduate about becoming a sportswriter and picking games to watch on a nightly basis?

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Free agency match-making, Saving the NBA awards, White whale games Mar 24, 2020

Show notes

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a summary of the NBA's looming $1 billion hit due to the coronavirus and possible impacts on next year's salary cap. Should the owners and players agree to "smooth" a possible record cap decline? From there, Michael plays matchmaker between 2020 free agents and teams, pairing Fred VanVleet with the Knicks, Montrezl Harrell with the Pistons and Paul Millsap with the Suns. Then, the guys take questions from the Open Floor Globe. How should the NBA save its annual awards show? Were Anfernee Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal underrated as a duo? Which 1980s-era playoff games do Ben and Michael wish they had been alive to see? At the end, they address a distraught high school senior and an emailer who is seeking forgiveness after lying to Open Floor about his love life.

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