Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to discuss the NBA schedule release, Team USA updates, and the James Harden situation. They talk about marquee games on Christmas Day, player roles in teams, retiring numbers in basketball, Team USA's exhibition games, an NBA hug controversy, fallout from a potential trade, and speculation on James Harden's future.
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Quick takeaways
The NBA schedule release favors Western Conference teams for national TV games and features marquee matchups on Christmas Day.
Team USA basketball has embraced defined roles for players, leading to strong camaraderie and success.
The ongoing controversy surrounding FIBA referees highlights the lack of officiating standards and conflicts with EuroLeague.
Deep dives
NBA Schedule Highlights
The podcast discusses the highlights of the recently released NBA schedule. Key points include the slant towards Western Conference teams in terms of national TV games, the marquee matchups on Christmas Day, and the focus on player rest for high-profile national TV games and the in-season tournament.
Team USA Basketball
The podcast provides insights into the camaraderie and approach of Team USA basketball. It highlights the decision to pick the team without tryouts and cuts, as well as the challenges faced by players in balancing international competitions with their NBA schedules.
FIBA Referee Controversy
The podcast discusses the ongoing controversy surrounding FIBA referees. The lack of officiating standards and the impact of conflicts between FIBA and EuroLeague are explored. Anecdotes from recent games are shared, emphasizing fan protests and referee behavior.
Team USA's Clear Roles and Camaraderie
Team USA's basketball players have embraced their defined roles within the team, leading to a strong sense of camaraderie. Despite lacking experience playing together, the players were told from the beginning what their specific roles would be, such as Brandon Ingram being asked to play a stretch-four role similar to Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant. This clear understanding has helped the team come together and perform well, with Steve Kerr even starting the same lineup in all four exhibition games, a rare occurrence for Team USA.
James Harden's Stalemate with the Sixers
The situation involving James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers remains a stalemate, as there are no teams willing to offer significant value in a trade. By opting into his contract, Harden limited his potential options for getting traded or securing more years and money. Daryl Morey, the president of basketball operations for the Sixers, is reluctant to make a trade that wouldn't benefit the team significantly. As a result, Harden's options are limited, and there is a possibility of a messy situation if he decides to show up, but also doesn't want to play for the team.
Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to react to the NBA schedule release including the most interesting matchups and trends before talking the latest from Team USA and the James Harden situation.