Henry Abbott and David Thorpe discuss:
A listener question about playing with joy (email your question to truehoop@truehoop.com) which absolutely matters in the case of Immanuel Quickley.
How the Raptors are different after trading OG Anunoby.
Why the TrueHoop podcast doesn't have sports gambling ads.
Why Pascal Siakam would be amazing on the Thunder.
Should the Suns trade Kevin Durant?
The best team in Los Angeles.
The best player in the world.
With a time machine, Joel Embiid would destroy Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
The league's top five teams.
Mentioned in this story:
Ben Krauss's Slow Boring article on the perils of sports gambling.

The Wirecard executive who was really a Russian spy.
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Play with joy

Award-winning hard truths about the NBA since 2005.

Sports

Basketball

On today's episode Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss:
The challenges the Celtics present the Mavericks on offense
How the Pacers better prepped the Celtics for the Finals than the Wolves did for the Mavericks
How Kristaps Porzingis optimizes the Celtics on both ends of the court
What the Mavericks can take from the third quarter and apply to Game 2
Luka Doncic
The NBA's new media rights deal and expansion
The news around the Lakers head coach search
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Celtics blowout Mavericks in Game 1 of the Finals, will Boston sweep?

On today's show Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss:
The Timberwolves had a nice postseason run, how do they sustain success?
How does the Celtics' offense wear down opponents?
Will Kristaps Porzingis be ready for the finals?
How important are Jrue Holiday and Derrick White?
The Mavericks' offensive simplicity
How do you stop Luka Doncic?
Mavericks' role players
Kyrie Irving being assertive
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Can the Mavericks pull the upset and defeat the Celtics in the NBA Finals?

On today's show Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss:
David's time in Los Angeles
The Wolves staved off elimination and forced a Game 5, can they send the series back to Dallas?
The Celtics have been the best team all season and have 10 days off before the Finals, can anyone stop them?
The Pacers exceeded expectations this season but David has a word of advice and some caution.
Why do certain NBA media talk about the game in such a negative way?
JJ Redick to coach the Lakers?
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Who will play the Celtics in the Finals, and does it matter?

On today's show Henry Abbott and Jarod Hector discuss:
Mavericks Game 1 win over the Timberwolves. What's up with Luka Doncic? How brilliant is Kyrie? Are the stars being delivered to crunch time of these playoff games in their best possible versions?
The Celtics defeat the Pacers in OT in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Should the Celtics be worried about the "blur ball" Pacers? What can the Pacers teach the other 26 teams not in the playoffs about team building?
Henry's article on the average payroll of the Conference Finalists being 13th, and what it means going forward for teams that want to be good.
Caitlin Clark and fandom
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How did teams with the 12th, 13th, and 24th highest payrolls make the conference finals?

On today's show Henry Abbott and Jarod Hector discuss:
Why and how did the Knicks literally breakdown?
The Pacers young and fun nine-man rotation
Nikola Jokic did not look like an MVP in the second half of Game 7
Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid were great, how did the former's foul trouble lead to the latter's success?
The Mavericks' advanced to the conference finals, can they beat the Wolves?
The future is bright for the OKC Thunder, right?
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Play with joy

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