Game Theory Podcast

Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie on the show this week to break down the NBA's rookie class at the midway point of the 2021-22 NBA season. They start with asking the simple question: who has been the best rookie in the 2021-22 NBA rookie class? They talk Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs, Cade Cunningham, Franz Wagner, Josh Giddey and plenty more.Then, they answer mailbag questions, including ones on Keegan Murray and EJ Liddell, Johnny Davis and the best prospect games we've seen this year, and freshmen who are having a tough season. Finally, they recognize prospects of the week, Dereon Seabron and Kellan Grady. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie after a stint in the health and safety protocols.First, they spend 20 minutes chatting about the Boston Celtics. Why are they a mess? What can they do to fix it? How should they go about building this roster long-term?Then, they move to 2022 NBA Draft Wings. First, they break down who they believe to be the top wing in the 2022 NBA Draft, a conversation about Arizona's Benn Mathurin and Baylor's Kendall Brown. Next, they break down a bunch of other wings, including Johnny Davis, AJ Griffin, Ochai Agbaji, MarJon Beauchamp, Trevor Keels, Blake Wesley, Bryce McGowens and Max Christie, Peyton Watson, Caleb Houstan, Harrison Ingram, and more.They close with the Game Theory Prospects of the Week, Aminu Mohammed and Tari Eason; And finally, with draft mailbag questions, including stuff on the Cleveland Cavaliers vs the Memphis Grizzlies; Jonathan Kuminga; and Analytics in Draft Analysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle Mann from The Ringer joins Sam Vecenie to chat about the NBA. We start by talking about the craziest fanbases and explain why we think fans have such an attachment to the subject that Kyle and I hold near and dear to our heart: young players. Then, I pitch him my two favorite Ben Simmons trade ideas.Then we actually get to the point of what we wanted to talk about after 25 minutes. We chat about NBA teams that have given us joy this season. Particularly, we end up spending a lot of time talking about the Cavaliers, who have been incredible, and the Grizzlies, who are so fun even without Ja Morant.Then we close with a little bit of NBA Draft talk, including some thoughts on Kyle's beloved Kentucky Wildcats and TyTy Washington, as well as some stuff on the first overall pick race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Matt Pennie out due to family obligations for the holidays, Sam Vecenie is here for a solo mailbag episode to answer some of your questions about the 2022 NBA Draft. The listeners asked great questions, including: -How does the top-four in the 2022 NBA Draft compare to 2021's top-four? -How does Jalen Duren compare to other lottery big guys?-How good is Johnny Davis and where is he ranked?-Who is the best guard defender in the class? -What to do with the Detroit Pistons?And many more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Pennie and Sam Vecenie's weekly draft episode, where this week they explore the simple question: Where have all the lead guards gone in the 2022 NBA Draft? Why is this group of lead guards so bad compared to past drafts? We dive deep on Alabama's JD Davison, Tennessee's Kennedy Chandler, and Kentucky's TyTy Washington. Then, we move to mailbag questions. How often do the two of us look at Draft Twitter? Where would Emoni Bates be taken in the 2022 NBA Draft? How would we rank the Arizona prospects: Bennedict Mathurin, Christian Koloko, Azuolas Tubelis and Dalen Terry? Finally, we finish with our Game Theory NBA Draft Prospects of the Week. Pennie's is Terrence Shannon Jr from Texas Tech, and Sam's is Pete Nance from Northwestern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave DuFour from The Athletic is here, and we preview the NBA's impending trade period. Who could be on the move? We start with the Danny Ainge news, that he's taking over the Jazz' front office. Then, we break down the Celtics situation and explain why the Jaylen Brown trade rumors are silly; we move into Ben Simmons discussions, and Sam gives a couple of interesting potential trade constructions there; we chat Jerami Grant and the Pistons; Cam Reddish and the Hawks; some weird Pacers constructions; and way more.Also, go subscribe to the Game Theory YouTube page! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's draft episode is a deep dive into the top-four prospects in the class: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith and Jaden Ivey. We also debut a new mailbag segment, and name prospects of the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Jovan Buha of The Athletic joins the show. We start with 20 minutes on the Pacers, following a report that the team is finally willing to look into trading some of its core players including Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner. We take a look at few trade constructions and situations that could make sense.Then, we move to the Lakers. What a weird Lakers season so far. Jovan and I dive deep into everything we've seen from Los Angeles thus far, including the Russell Westbrook fit, the lack of continuity lineup wise due to absences, the defensive issues on the perimeter, and the question of Frank Vogel as coach. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Danny Leroux and I dive deep into the Portland Trail Blazers, discussing what in the world that organization is doing following what has undeniably been a messy start to the season. Do they try to shake things up with some moves, or do they stick with the status quo given that the Western Conference is a mess and Damian Lillard hasn't even gotten going yet?Then, Danny and I chat about the rest of the Western Conference, with special focus on the middle teams. We play a little game of Buy/Sell/Hold teams in the West, including the Lakers, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Clippers, Grizzlies, Spurs, and Trail Blazers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A full episode of the Game Theory Podcast! Anthony Slater from The Athletic joins, and we break down Michael Porter Jr.'s third back surgery and how it affects the Nuggets. Brook Lopez' back surgery and how it affects the Bucks. Bam Adebayo's thumb surgery and whether or not the Heat should be worried about the play-in.Then, we get into the meat of the episode, and break down the two best teams in the NBA, the Warriors and Suns. We spend time waxing poetically about Deandre Ayton and the Suns' defense. Then, we chat about the Warriors, the impending return of Klay Thompson, the weird situation surrounding James Wiseman, and more. We also close on the Timberwolves, where I make a bold prediction regarding the team. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices