

TrueHoop
Henry Abbott
Award-winning hard truths about the NBA since 2005.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 6, 2022 • 56min
The one with Kevin Arnovitz...
Today, TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector is joined by an OG TrueHoop member, the one and only Kevin Arnovitz! They talk playoffs including:* Grizzlies vs. Warriors and why Kevin is not ready to give up on the old guys* Jaren Jackson Jr. We know Jarod is a fan, but is Kevin?* The brilliance of Chris Paul* Kevin’s distaste for mismatch basketball* What will be an interesting offseason in Philadelphia* Who can score enough in the eastern conference to make it to the NBA Finals?RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* May 2, 2022 Adjusting in the playoffs* April 29, 2022 In the NBA playoffs all you need is love?* April 25, 2022 Playoff series change on a dime...* April 22, 2022 Injuries will decide the NBA title* April 18, 2022 Exactly how the Celtics won This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 2, 2022 • 45min
Adjusting in the playoffs
Today, TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss the adjustments teams make as their opponents change in the playoffs:* The Grizzlies and Warriors went down to the wire in an exciting game one. The final play went to Ja Morant for a layup he missed. Very good play call. Was there an option to pass it to Jaren Jackson Jr. for a three?* Draymond Green was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected, was that the right call by the officials?* In the Celtics vs. Bucks series it seemed like it took the Celtics a while to get used to the physicality. Going forward David thinks they will adjust just fine, but the Bucks can’t be counted out. * Injuries will most likely decide the NBA champion. In the Heat vs. 76ers series both teams are dealing with significant injuries. Could Philly advance with a limited Embiid?RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 29, 2022 In the NBA playoffs all you need is love?* April 25, 2022 Playoff series change on a dime...* April 22, 2022 Injuries will decide the NBA title* April 18, 2022 Exactly how the Celtics won* April 15, 2022 Playoff preview with betting market insight This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 29, 2022 • 1h 1min
In the NBA playoffs all you need is love?
Today, TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott and David Thorpe indoctrinate Jarod Hector into the playoffs church of love:* All you tinfoil hats that think the NBA is rigged, Henry knows you’re wrong this time.* Pelicans vs. Suns was hard fought and super intense, but there was so much love in the arena afterwards, is this a healthier way to compete?* After that amazing Pelicans run David is ready to trade Zion Williamson. (UPDATE: After we recorded, evidence that the Pelicans and Zion worked out something.)* Many young and unheralded players are shining in the playoffs as they do every year, but why do so many teams struggle with this fact?* It’s all over in Utah and David has insight on how the best team in the world messed up their internal chemistry.RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 25, 2022 Playoff series change on a dime...* April 22, 2022 Injuries will decide the NBA title* April 18, 2022 Exactly how the Celtics won* April 15, 2022 Playoff preview with betting market insight* April 11, 2022 Play-in and Playoffs This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 25, 2022 • 1h 2min
Playoff series change on a dime...
Today, TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott and David Thorpe discuss the NBA playoffs:* The best scoring duos in the playoffs don’t feature a big man. What’s up with that?* The #8 seed New Orleans Pelicans have a real shot to upset the best team in the NBA all season, the Phoenix Suns. How are undrafted Jose Alvarado and second round pick Herb Jones frustrating Chris Paul?* The Heat vs. Hawks series is likely over. David Thorpe predicted the Hawks would win a title soon—does he still believe that?* The Celtics vs. Nets series has been a disaster for Brooklyn. But this is what they chose as an organization. Henry sees a problem with the Nets org chart.RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 22, 2022 Injuries will decide the NBA title* April 18, 2022 Exactly how the Celtics won* April 15, 2022 Playoff preview with betting market insight* April 11, 2022 Play-in and Playoffs* April 8, 2022 Time for the playoffs! But first awards, All-NBA… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 22, 2022 • 1h 2min
Injuries will decide the NBA title
Today, TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss round one of the playoffs, including:* David Thorpe goes 30 seconds on each series.* What Jarod and David like and dislike so far about the playoffs.* Game 3 between the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves was wild! Blowing two 20+ point leads? Thorpe sees something the Wolves aren’t doing…* Jarod’s favorite player to watch so far has been Jordan Poole. He was drafted 28th so virtually every team could have had him.* David’s favorite thing is the lesson Stephen Curry is teaching the world in humility by coming off the bench.* Injuries have altered the prospects for last year’s NBA finalists the Bucks and Suns. How likely is it they both advance now?* David is paying attention to big men in the postseason. Seems like two extremes, feast or famine. * Who is the playoff MVP so far?RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 22, 2022 Exactly how the Celtics won* April 15, 2022 Playoff preview with betting market insight* April 11, 2022 Play-in and Playoffs* April 8, 2022 Time for the playoffs! But first awards, All-NBA…* April 4, 2022 Dawn Staley, NBA big men, Mavs vs. Bucks This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 18, 2022 • 60min
Exactly how the Celtics won
Today, TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott and David Thorpe discuss every game of the NBA playoffs so far, but with a special emphasis on this incredible game-winning play:* Kevin Durant ambles after passing to Kyrie Irving, which tells Thorpe something about the Nets’ strategy. Bruce Brown sets up on the left block, instead of in the left corner, which tells him something else. Step by step, second by second, there is so much to see here. Thorpe jokes he could write a whole book about the end of this play. * The Nets had a burst of success early in the fourth quarter with Durant on the bench. Henry wonders if the Nets can get grandpa KD some more rest, so he’s fresher late in games?* How good was Jayson Tatum’s defense on KD?* In KD, Thorpe sees a player who doesn’t want to get to the rim. Should he be trying?* Kyrie Irving and the Boston fans have an antagonistic relationship. Why have we made sports the environment where we allow this? Henry’s idea: record the full interaction—fan vs. player over the game—and we’d probably stop wondering why Kyrie’s mad. * The Jazz are the heavy favorites as long as Luka is missing games, but Thorpe explains that, because of the peculiar makeup of that team, it could change in a hurry. They could certainly blow a 2-0 lead. * The Warriors are so lucky to have Jordan Poole! OR … every team could have had Jordan Poole! RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 15, 2022 Playoff preview with betting market insight* April 11, 2022 Play-in and Playoffs* April 8, 2022 Time for the playoffs! But first awards, All-NBA…* April 4, 2022 Dawn Staley, NBA big men, Mavs vs. Bucks* April 1, 2022 Drunk basketball, KD vs. Giannis, and Team Dynamite This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 15, 2022 • 60min
Playoff preview with betting market insight
TrueHoop’s NBA playoff preview: The East. The West. The Raptors vs. 76ers. The play-in winners. The betting markets. Today, TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss every first-round playoff series, with a little insight from the Las Vegas odds:* Why do the Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Toronto Raptors in five or seven games have the same +350 odds?* The Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets series is interesting on a number of levels. Celtics in 5 and Nets in 6 are the same +400 odds. * David thinks the Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves series is the one to watch in round one. Grizzlies in 5 is +270. Grizzlies in 7 is +300. RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 11, 2022 Play-in and Playoffs* April 8, 2022 Time for the playoffs! But first awards, All-NBA…* April 4, 2022 Dawn Staley, NBA big men, Mavs vs. Bucks* April 1, 2022 Drunk basketball, KD vs. Giannis, and Team Dynamite* March 28, 2022 Being a target of the defense This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 11, 2022 • 1h 2min
Play-in and Playoffs
Today, TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott and David Thorpe discuss:* Facundo Campazzo’s play on Wayne Ellington that caused Ellington to tweet he’ll “put hands” on Campazzo next time he sees him. * The play-in games are set and injuries will decide who will advance.* David Thorpe is neck deep in advanced stats and video as he is preparing his NBA playoff predictions. His track record is pretty good. * Adam Silver and the NBA Board of Governors met last week and Silver made interesting comments about player injuries and the league’s next broadcast deal. RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 8, 2022 Time for the playoffs! But first awards, All-NBA…* April 4, 2022 Dawn Staley, NBA big men, Mavs vs. Bucks* April 1, 2022 Drunk basketball, KD vs. Giannis, and Team Dynamite* March 28, 2022 Being a target of the defense* March 25, 2022 Vax mandates, #HeatCulture, Max Thorpe This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 4, 2022 • 1h 2min
Dawn Staley, NBA big men, Mavs vs. Bucks
Today, TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott and David Thorpe discuss:* Dawn Staley and the South Carolina Gamecocks win the natty. Should Dawn be President? Yes, and David has another job for her first.* The role of the big man in the NBA has changed. David sees players in this year’s NCAA tournament who could help teams, but likely won’t get drafted.* Jason Kidd and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. David thinks the Mavs did the Bucks a big favor. * Joel Embiid thinks he’s done enough to win MVP. David says there is one thing left on the list.* There is an almighty battle for playoff positioning, especially around the play-in tournaments. Do any of those teams have a chance to win a playoff series?RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* April 1, 2022 Drunk basketball, KD vs. Giannis, and Team Dynamite* March 28, 2022 Being a target of the defense* March 25, 2022 Vax mandates, #HeatCulture, Max Thorpe* March 18, 2022 NBA Scoring Barrage* March 14, 2022 Save a timeout This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 1, 2022 • 1h 1min
Drunk basketball, KD vs. Giannis, and Team Dynamite
Today TrueHoop’s David Thorpe and Jarod Hector discuss:* Thursday night’s Bucks vs. Nets game. Everyone found it exciting, but David also saw what he calls drunk basketball.* The mythical basketball game for humanity’s survival. Are we still picking KD before Giannis? We know Jarod is …* Kevin Durant is a leader and David sees more than one type of way to lead* David wrote an article about the Memphis Grizzlies aka “Team Dynamite”—why are they successful without their best player, Ja Morant?RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES:* March 28, 2022 Being a target of the defense* March 25, 2022 Vax mandates, #HeatCulture, Max Thorpe* March 18, 2022 NBA Scoring Barrage* March 14, 2022 Save a timeout* March 11, 2022 Let's not overreact... This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.truehoop.com/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices