Mark Schindler joins the show and we break down a few different topics that are happening either around the NBA or adjacent to it.

First, we'll start with Brandon Ingram's struggles with Team USA. Do they matter for his future? What does this say about Ingram and his standing league-wide?

Then, we move to the Sacramento Kings, an interesting team worth discussing in light of their offseason where they decided to run it back. What do the post-breakout 2023-24 Sacramento Kings look like?

Finally, we chat about how basketball evaluation has changed in the last 12 months? Is there anything that we've noticed or continued to pick up upon that stands out?

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

2:44 Pistons Talk

3:35 Jaden Ivey Improvement throughout year

5:37 Why I'm fundamentally opposed to Jalen Duren-James Wiseman lineups

11:15 Will Jalen Duren-Isaiah Stewart lineups work?

13:50 Why I would strongly consider starting Alec Burks for the Pistons

17:20 Brandon Ingram on Team USA, what hasn't worked?

21:20 Brandon Ingram's struggles away from the ball and on defense

25:15 Brandon Ingram's dynamic offensive game matters, too

31:15 Ingram and Zion together has been AWESOME

41:38 Sacramento Kings Time!

42:20: Reasons to be bullish on the Kings

45:45 Why the Kings front office has done a great job of building the roster

47:25 Why health is a huge factor for the Kings

49:34 Why Mark is bullish on the Kings winning more games next year anyway

51:05 Chris Duarte is a good bet for the Kings

58:05 Why Denver is the point of comparison for Sacramento's team build

1:04:15 What have we learned evaluation-wise in 2023?

1:07:30 NBA rookies have less time to prove themselves now

1:09:40 The Rondae Hollis-Jefferson example

1:12:10 How Sam has changed his tune on draft stock and when kids should leave school

1:17:25 How many MVP candidates are "elite" athletes by the traditional definition of athleticism?

1:26:20 How has shooting changed and the way you get into your shot

1:34:20 Why the intel piece matters more than ever

1:40:00 Outro and future podcast schedule

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