On the NBA Beat

19/11/2023

On the heels of the Dallas Mavericks’ 9-3 start, Jason Gallagher returns, and you bet the head of production at The Old Man and the Three comes ready with analysis of the Mavericks’ scalding start as Luka Doncic has led the way with 30.7 points per game, the second-most converted treys after Stephen Curry, and the lowest usage rate of his career other than his rookie season. Jason touches upon the improved fit between Doncic and Kyrie Irving now that they’ve had adequate time to jell, teen center Dereck Lively II’s instant success, Grant Williams and Derrick Jones Jr. starring in their respective roles, Tim Hardaway Jr.’s sixth-man brilliance, ultimate team expectations and so much more.

On the NBA Beat | On the heels of Dallas' 9-3 start, Jason Gallagher returns with analysis of the Mavs’ scalding start as they showcase their newfound identity.

24/10/2023

Alex Kennedy, Chief Content Officer at BasketballNews.com and host of Running Up the Score, a biweekly live sports show airing every Tuesday and Friday night, stops by to wind through the Western Conference just as the league readies for tipoff. The Nuggets are Alex’s leading squad but far from the conference’s only contenders. Oh, and he's firmly taken a seat aboard the Wemby Train. Who’s coming with him?

Kennedy stops by to wind through the West. In addition to laying out the numerous contenders that hail from the conference, he talks rookies and so much more.

21/10/2023

Jake Fischer, senior NBA reporter for Yahoo! Sports and author of "Built to Lose," expertly previews the Eastern Conference. Some highlights: Boston as the favorite, Evan Mobley's leap, the intensifying James Harden-76ers saga, Tyty Haliburton, the non-British, non-musical Thompson twins, and so much more.

Fischer breaks down the East's biggest storylines. Listen to hear why he regards the Celtics as favorites, analysis of Jake's dark-horse team and so much more.

02/10/2023

Creator and co-host of the Light Years podcast Andy Liu is back yet again, and for a record ninth time, no less. His task this time? Helping Aaron preview the Golden State Warriors as they attempt to bounce back from a 44-38 campaign, which saw them finish just six games ahead of the 11th-place Jazz and ultimately fall to the Lakers in the second round. Andy and Aaron discuss last season’s challenges, summer acquisition Chris Paul’s fit, Draymond Green’s leadership, Kevon Looney's and Andrew Wiggins’ underrated value, and Klay Thompson’s future, among other timely topics.

Andy Liu returns for a record ninth time to ready us for GS' upcoming season. This conversation has it all, including CP3's fit, Klay's contract and Wiggins' value.

20/09/2023

Before we return to NBA content next week with a team preview interview with our favorite Warriors commentator, we have a special book episode to share. Here, Aaron speaks with professor Ethan Scheiner about the latter's fascinating new nonfiction narrative that deftly blends sports, politics and culture:

“Freedom to Win” Book Special With Ethan Scheiner September 19, 2023 / Aaron Fischman / 0 Comments Ethan Scheiner, professor of Political Science at the University of California-Davis, stops by to discuss his fascinating, important and timely new book, Freedom to Win. Here are some highlights .....

13/12/2022

In a tightly packed Western Conference, where only a handful of games separate the first- and thirteenth-place teams, Rose Garden Report's Sean Highkin is encouraged by the Portland Trail Blazers’ start. Specifically, the Blazers have gotten All-Star-caliber, not to mention career-best, contributions from Jerami Grant and Anfernee Simons. Such stellar play from Portland’s secondary stars has enabled it to weather a difficult early schedule played about half of the time without franchise cornerstone Damian Lillard. He also notes that we've seen the same-old Dame when healthy. Enjoy the episode, which was recorded Saturday, just hours before Portland's first of two straight wins over the Timberwolves:

Sean Highkin details the Portland Trail Blazers’ formidable start with a focus on Grant's and Simons' emergence and the front-office's intentional offseason.

30/11/2022

On the heels of a 2022 Western Conference finals berth, the 9-10 Dallas Mavericks are mired in mediocrity despite receiving historically brilliant contributions from superstar point guard Luka Doncic. Emmy Award-winning director Jason Gallagher, now head of production at The Old Man and the Three, triumphantly returns to shed light on what exactly isn’t working so far.

Emmy Award-winning director Jason Gallagher, now producer at The Old Man and the Three, returns to shed light on what exactly is going wrong in Dallas.

16/11/2022

After an 8-1 start that had some prognosticators pe***ng them as dark-horse title contenders, the 2022-23 Cleveland Cavaliers have been hit with the On the NBA Beat curse and have lost their last four games. To help us better understand this enigmatic team, we’ve brought on Cavaliers expert and longtime friend of the show Justin Rowan, host of The Chase Down. Justin takes us through what the offseason trade for Donovan Mitchell unlocks for Cleveland, the growth trajectory of young stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley and how he projects the Cavs to compare to the other members of the Eastern Conference elite this season and beyond.

Justin Rowan explores what the Donovan Mitchell acquisition unlocks for Cleveland and how the Cavs compare to the rest of this year's Eastern Conference elite .

01/11/2022

Last season's Memphis Grizzlies announced their arrival by earning the second seed in the Western Conference. And with the NBA's fifth-youngest roster and proven success building through the draft and player development, there's no reason to believe their upward trajectory shouldn't continue into this season. To discuss how this up-and-coming team can continue to bolster its franchise's history, we've brought on special guest Molly Morrison, formerly of MadeInMemphis1, the most followed Grizzlies' fan account in Memphis. She takes us through the growth that led to Ja Morant winning the Most Improved Player Award and Zach Kleiman winning Executive of the Year and where the team can go from here.

Molly Morrison discusses Ja Morant's superstardom, the shrewd team-building of Zach Kleiman and more about the Memphis Grizzlies' ascent into the NBA elite.

19/10/2022

After their 2021-22 season ended with a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Memphis Grizzlies, the Minnesota Timberwolves retooled by trading for three-time NBA Defensive Player of Year Rudy Gobert, in what many called the most surprising and impactful move of the offseason. They also re-emphasized their commitment to franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns by offering him a super-max contract extension worth $224 million. To help us assess how Minnesota will fare in the crowded Western Conference, we’ve enlisted the help of Derek James, former Timberwolves beat reporter for various outlets and writer of the By Derek James Substack. He’ll take us through those two aforementioned seismic front-office moves, the continued growth of Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, and much, much more.

Derek James breaks down the expected impact of Rudy Gobert in Minnesota, the continued growth of Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels, team-wide expectations & more.

04/10/2022

The 2022-23 Los Angeles Clippers are so deep, according to The Athletic's Law Murray, that they are an "injury-proof team." Among a slew of interesting topics, Law opines on the highly anticipated return of some guy named Kawhi Leonard, former No. 1 overall pick John Wall's inaugural season with the Clippers, why Norman Powell "is like a cheat code" and what makes Ty Lue such a terrific head coach. What a fun way to end our offseason hiatus! Listen, share and enjoy 💙❤️

The Clippers have returned for NBA preseason with a clean bill of health and championship expectations, and The Athletic's Law Murray is here to dish.

24/05/2022

After two seasons of missing the playoffs, the Golden State Warriors are back on the main stage, impressively making their sixth Western Conference finals appearance in the last eight years. Ahead of Sunday night’s Game 3, they find themselves with a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Dallas Mavericks and are poised to make their return to the NBA Finals. Joining us for a record fifth episode is Andy Liu of the Light Years podcast, who discusses, among other timely topics, the Warriors' offensive style shift that's reaping huge dividends.

Now the veteran leaders on the team, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have led Golden State back to the Western Conference finals with a different approach than years past (/Instagram).  Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS After two seasons of missing the playoffs, the Go...

07/05/2022

With the super-fun, Ja Morant-led Memphis Grizzlies and the championship-tested Golden State Warriors tied through two games of an intense Western Conference semifinal series, we’re joined by Keith Parish, host of Grind City Media's Fastbreak Breakfast and Grits and Grinds podcasts, who provides insight from the Grizzlies’ perspective.

Parish: Desmond Bane Is “Absolutely Key for the Grizzlies” May 7, 2022 / Aaron Fischman / 0 Comments Ja Morant, just 22, has been incredible through the series’ first two games, but will he get more help on the offensive end (/Instagram)? Subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitch...

25/04/2022

A 24-year-old superstar named Jayson Tatum has led the Boston Celtics to a commanding 3-0 lead over the Brooklyn Nets, but he's had ample help, as the team has bottled up elite offensive talents Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Enjoy our Sunday discussion with longtime Celtics beat reporter John Karalis:

With Boston leading the star-studded Brooklyn Nets 3-0 in an opening-round 2-7 matchup, we're joined by Celtics reporter John Karalis.

12/03/2022

Shamit Dua, host of the In the NO podcast, discusses the promising, young New Orleans Pelicans, whose vastly improved defense and deadline acquisition of guard CJ McCollum has them jockeying for a play-in spot. Shamit discusses McCollum’s arrival, including what it’s unlocked for star wing Brandon Ingram, before exploring New Orleans’ new dual-big man starting lineup, Herb Jones’ seismic contributions to its defensive leap and the team’s prospects for the remainder of the season and beyond. Among other forward-looking topics, Shamit pays special attention to the franchise’s consequential upcoming summer decision regarding Zion Williamson’s future as its centerpiece.

Dua delves into the McCollum acquisition, NO managing the risk of cementing Zion as its franchise centerpiece and projections for the season's remainder and beyond.

24/02/2022

Caitlin Cooper, contributing writer for SB Nation’s Indy Cornrows, has experienced quite a memorable 2021-22 Pacers season so far. Although the team stands at 20-40 at the All-Star break, well below expectations, it boldly traded 25-year-old two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, just days before the deadline, in a package that most notably returned super-talented second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton from the Kings. Caitlin discusses Indiana’s team-building process, why Sabonis was ultimately dealt, what Haliburton’s arrival means for Malcolm Brogdon’s Pacers future, why she’s excited about some of the franchise’s lesser-known youngsters, the magic of Lance Stephenson’s return, and that’s not even all.

Indy Cornrows' Caitlin Cooper dishes on what she's seen through the 2021-22 Pacers' first 60 games with an eye to the franchise's exciting yet uncertain future.

24/02/2022

Zach Weiss, host of the Across the Cavs podcast, is back to provide Loren an update, and boy, is it an exciting one! As the Cavaliers ready to host the 2022 NBA All-Star game, they just received word that Darius Garland will be playing in the showcase event for the first time. On the heels of an 11-4 January, Cleveland is still playing excellent basketball, yet not satisfied with its roster. In fact, one-third of the way through this very interview, Zach learned in real time that Caris LeVert was on his way to Cleveland to improve the already talented squad. Among other topics, Zach opines on the acquisition, the Cavaliers’ postseason chances and why their three-7-footer lineup has worked so well.

Across the Cavs' Zach Weiss updates Loren on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have excelled with their tall trio and electric All-Star point guard Darius Garland.

23/11/2021

The Cleveland Cavaliers outperformed expectations by getting off to a 9-5 start this season, but since then have dropped four in a row while dealing with numerous injuries to most of their top players. Guest Zach Weiss of Across the Cavs joins us this episode to help us understand how to properly assess how good this Cavs team is and can be once everyone is back healthy.

Zach Weiss helps us weigh the good and the bad for the Cleveland Cavaliers so far this season and provide his insight on where this young team can go from here.

19/11/2021

The awfully young Charlotte Hornets have been predictably streaky (5-2 start, dropped next 5, current 4-game win streak), boasting a stellar, high-octane offense led by 20-year-old LaMelo Ball and much-improved Miles Bridges, a terrible defense and too many fun storylines to count. Guest Nick Denning was a joy to have on to break down this enigmatic squad...

Nick Denning reveals what makes one of the NBA's youngest rosters so prolific and efficient on offense, beginning with sizable growth from Ball and Miles Bridges.

09/11/2021

The Golden State Warriors have made their triumphant return to the upper echelon of the Western Conference behind an MVP-caliber start to the season from their star, Steph Curry. On this episode, Andy Liu of the Light Years podcast has made a similarly triumphant return to this podcast to discuss his expectations for the team this season.

Andy Liu discusses his expectations for the Golden State Warriors, who stand near the top of the West behind an MVP-caliber start from sharpshooting Steph Curry.

28/10/2021

Jake Fischer's debut book, "Built to Lose," chronicles how the NBA's so-called "Tanking Era" profoundly changed it forever, and he was kind enough to appear on the pod to take us behind the scenes of the making of it. From how he got players like Markieff Morris and D'Angelo Russell comfortable enough to make controversial revelations to how a pair of teachers inspired his passion and career and everything in between, you're not going to want to miss this conversation. For the basketball lovers in your life, his book would make an excellent holiday gift as well.

Enjoy Aaron's one-on-one conversation with BR scribe Jake Fischer on his debut book, "Built to Lose: How the NBA’s Tanking Era Changed the League Forever."

13/10/2021

Far and away, last season's best regular-season team, the Utah Jazz fell short yet again in the postseason, blowing a 2-0 series lead to the Clippers in the Western semis, a year after their 3-1 opening-round collapse to the Nuggets in the Bubble. Sarah Todd of the Deseret News is here to outline what makes Utah so difficult to beat, how the squad can overcome its playoff shortcomings and what are the ramifications if it cannot exorcise those postseason demons?

Sarah Todd, Utah Jazz beat reporter for the Deseret News, sheds light on last season's best regular-season team, which is still pining for a deep postseason run?

01/10/2021

Gregg Popovich finds himself in an unfamiliar position after a quarter-century of coaching the San Antonio Spurs. For the first time, he’ll be tasked with leading a youthful group packed with promising but largely unproven players – a group projected by most to miss the playoffs by a landslide. In the offseason, the franchise parted with veteran mainstays DeMar DeRozan, Patty Mills and Rudy Gay, and months earlier, it bought out LaMarcus Aldridge’s contract. As a result, the youth movement is firmly here. And Popovich, 72, appears energized for his new challenge, expecting to lead a fast-paced team where playing time will be spread around generously. Paul Garcia of Project Spurs and the Spurscast previews the young team’s season and further describe the new dynamic. Discussing the youngsters, with special emphasis on Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Josh Primo, Paul gets us ready for San Antonio’s season to tip off in three weeks.

Project Spurs’ Paul Garcia previews the Spurs' season with special emphasis on young talents Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell.

14/09/2021

Keith Parish, host of the Fastbreak Breakfast NBA Podcast and Grits and Grinds podcast joined the show to talk about the Memphis Grizzlies. Despite being one of the youngest teams in the NBA in both age and experience, the Grizzlies were able to make the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference. Now, after a series of transactions in the off-season, the team seems to be even more heavily focused on building the young core around franchise cornerstone Ja Morant, entering his third season. Keith also discusses the importance of Jaren Jackson Jr. having a bounce-back season and the continued balancing act that many franchises go through of both trying to stay competitive in the immediate term while also building toward becoming a championship contender in the future as well.

Even though Memphis' front office is heavily focused on the future, Parish, the host of Fastbreak Breakfast, doesn’t expect a “big step back” this year.

27/08/2021

Author Pete Croatto, whose work has appeared in the New York Times, GQ and SportsIllustrated.com, among other notable places, discusses his debut book, “From Hang Time to Prime Time: Business, Entertainment, and the Birth of the Modern-Day NBA.” The conversation includes explorations of the NBA's perpetual willingness to innovate, the league's conscious decision to expand its reach by elevating player narratives over everything, David Stern's profound impact and much, much more.

Author Pete Croatto discusses his debut book, which illuminates how the NBA evolved, including the many social, cultural and business factors behind the growth.

20/08/2021

Blake Murphy of The Athletic joins the show to delve into the performance of the Toronto Raptors' Las Vegas Summer League entry, especially with regard to the newly drafted Scottie Barnes. Additionally, we discuss the Kyle Lowry trade, what he meant to the Raptors and the city more broadly, and how the team will move forward without him next season and beyond. Blake also explores the distinct roles he expects to be played by Pascal Siakam (bounce back season?), Fred VanVleet (now the leader) and OG Anunoby (ample room to grow). https://www.onthenbabeat.com/2021/08/blake-murphy-theres-a-million-things-to-say-about-what-kyle-lowry-meant-to-the-raptors/

Blake Murphy delves into the performance of the Toronto Raptors during Las Vegas Summer League, the Kyle Lowry trade, and how the franchise will move forward next season and beyond.

02/08/2021

A couple days after the 2021 NBA Draft, independent draft analyst Brian Schroeder shared his insight as he ran through the most notable storylines surrounding this year’s class. Among a slew of other topics, he addressed why Sharife Cooper fell precipitously, what makes the Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley so adaptable defensively and why Brian’s the “only person on the internet who likes and defends” a particular pick.

Brian Schroeder offers his post-draft takes, incl. why Sharife Cooper fell precipitously, what makes Mobley so adaptable defensively and why Santi Aldama is overlooked.

28/07/2021

In honor of the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2020-21 NBA championship, the franchise’s first in 50 years, two longtime Bucks fans share their joyous feelings and thrilling experiences from the past week. First, Frank Madden, host of Locked on Bucks, details his long journey as a fan, including what it meant to witness his very first title (in person, no less) alongside the man who introduced him to the Bucks 29 years earlier, his father. Then, Jewell Graham of Gimme a Buck podcast goes through his unforgettable time at the Bucks’ championship parade.

In honor of the Bucks’ title, the franchise’s first in 50 years, two longtime fans share their joyous feelings and thrilling experiences from the past week.

16/07/2021

We're seeking to bring aboard some on-air contributors this offseason. Here's the relevant information https://www.onthenbabeat.com/2021/07/seeking-on-air-contributors/