The Zach Lowe Show

NBA Latest, Training Camp Reports, and Favorite Non-Finals Teams With Chris Ryan

82 snips
Sep 24, 2025
Chris Ryan, a well-known basketball writer and podcaster, joins to share eager insights about the NBA's training camp. They discuss Fred VanVleet's ACL injury and its impact on the Rockets' roster. Anthony Edwards is highlighted for improving his post-up game. The duo tackles the challenges faced by the Knicks and 76ers. In a nostalgic twist, they draft their favorite non-Finals teams from the past 15 years, including the powerhouse 2012-13 Oklahoma City Thunder and the gritty 2012-13 Memphis Grizzlies.
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ADVICE

Let Young Players Earn Roles First

  • If a star guard suffers a season-ending injury, prioritize discovering what your young talents can do in real minutes rather than forcing immediate win-now trades.
  • Use preseason and early season reps to test Reed Shepard and Amon Thompson before making major roster moves.
INSIGHT

Star Presence Doesn’t Replace A Proven Point Guard

  • Losing a veteran point guard can reduce a contender's realistic championship equity to nearly zero even with a superstar like Kevin Durant.
  • Teams may accept that tradeoff to evaluate young assets and preserve long-term flexibility.
INSIGHT

Timing Helps Mitigate Big Injuries

  • A major injury is less catastrophic if it occurs before training camp and the trade deadline because teams can still experiment and pivot.
  • Early injuries let franchises evaluate replacements and target sellers later in the season.
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