Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul Thriller in Pittsburgh, Coaching Decisions, and Around the NBA
Jan 5, 2026
The podcast kicks off with a thrilling recap of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry, highlighting playoff stakes and late-game drama. Rich shares an intriguing chat with LeBron at the Lakers game, discussing offensive strategies and team dynamics. They dive into coaching changes, particularly in Cleveland, and weigh the pros of investing in assistant coaches. Max vents about the Giants' struggles while exploring playoff narratives for standout QBs. Finally, Rich teases a discussion on Michael Jordan’s unparalleled branding success, all while the whiteboard makes a triumphant return!
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Scoring Context Changes Play Value
- The Ravens-Steelers playoff game showed how each play's value increases in low-scoring, high-stakes environments.
- Max and Rich say momentum and late-game execution magnify every decision in rivalry games.
Pay Assistants To Keep Them Put
- Pay elite assistants enough to keep them in their role rather than losing them to head-coaching bids.
- Rich and Max recommend paying coordinators head-coach money to preserve specialized excellence.
Sideline Coaching Moment With LeBron
- Rich recounts spotting JJ's frustration and instructing LeBron and teammates on simpler offensive actions during a Lakers game.
- He describes advising catch-and-shoot looks and using LeBron-initiated pick-and-rolls to free Luka.