Join John Hollinger, co-author of "The Basketball 100" and analytics wizard at The Athletic, as he shares his insights on the NBA season so far. He discusses standout performances and trends, including the surprising rise of the Mavericks and challenges faced by the Timberwolves. The hosts award the Slammies for unique team achievements, celebrating electrifying plays from teams like the Rockets and Hawks. Plus, Hollinger dives into the complexities of ranking the greatest players with his expertise, sparking delightful debates!
The podcast celebrates exceptional performances through its quarterly Slammie Awards, highlighting both surprising teams and disappointing underachievers in the NBA.
John Hollinger discusses his observations on the league's competitiveness and shares insights from his new book, NBA 100, enriching fans' understanding of the sport.
The episode emphasizes the struggles of the Washington Wizards, who are facing significant challenges with their record, prompting concerns regarding the franchise's future direction.
Deep dives
BetMGM Partnership and Offers
The collaboration with BetMGM enables the use of their lines for making picks during the season, accompanied by special offers for listeners. New users who sign up with the bonus code THEATHLETIC can benefit from a one-year subscription to The Athletic, along with a substantial first bet offer. The podcast emphasizes the encouragement of fans to engage with BetMGM while ensuring responsible gambling practices are highlighted, including resources for those facing gambling issues.
NBA Cup Conclusion and Key Matchups
The episode covers the conclusion of the group play in the NBA Cup, revealing the advancement of teams to the elimination round. In the Eastern Conference, teams like Orlando and New York will face off, while the Western Conference features matchups including Dallas and Oklahoma City. Notably, the Atlanta Hawks, despite being underdogs, are highlighted as a team with potential to surprise after overcoming tough competition in their group. This week also showcases the latest betting lines from BetMGM, indicating the competitive dynamics going into these elimination rounds.
Celtics vs. Cavs Showdown
The podcast reflects on an intense matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, noting the Cavs' remarkable comeback from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Despite being without two starters, the Celtics put up a tough fight, with Chris Staps Porzingis making a significant contribution. The Cavs' record continues to impress, standing at 20-3, demonstrating their strong positioning in the league. This matchup raises questions about both teams' potential in the title race as the season progresses.
Wizards' Dismal Performance
The episode sheds light on the Washington Wizards' troubling season, as they struggle with a record of 2-18, marking a significant losing streak. The podcast emphasizes the team's difficulties in maintaining competitiveness, with 16 consecutive losses and the challenge of facing several tough opponents ahead. The commentary reflects on the historical implications if the Wizards were to reach 20 losses, tying their record for one of the longest losing streaks in the league's history. This situation raises concerns about the direction of the franchise and the need for a serious reevaluation.
Quarterly Slammy Awards Highlights
The podcast introduces the concept of quarterly awards dubbed 'Slammys,' which celebrate standout performances and surprising developments from the first quarter of the season. Various categories are discussed, including the biggest disappointments and standout teams, along with insights on players exceeding expectations. Examples such as the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets are suggested as entertaining to watch, while teams like the Timberwolves and Pacers face scrutiny for underperformance. The discussions allow for a deeper dive into team dynamics and the evolving landscape of the NBA.
Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers hand out their quarterly Slammie Awards including: League Pass Team of the 1st Quarter, Say What? Stat of the 1st Quarter, They did what now? Award, "Now THIS is gonna be fun" award, and many more. Then in Part 2 John Hollinger of the Athletic joins the show to discuss some of his observations a quarter way through the season and discuss his new book the Basketball 100. Then the guys play a fun edition of Andrew vs. The Beat.
Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers
With: John Hollinger
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio Producer: Jake Kleinberg
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