Bench Reactions

On this week's very special 100th episode the boys get together to talk about the trade that shocked us all this weekend: Minnesota trading Karl-Anthony Towns to the Knicks in exchange for Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and a protected 1st rounder the Pistons owed the Knicks. They then celebrate the 100th episode of Bench Reactions by talking through the biggest storylines heading into the new season as told by quotes and scenes from the 2007 now cult classic movie, Hot Rod. And finally, they wrap up with Jason's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode Jason, Patrick, and Zack get together to discuss the Raptors announcing that they will retire Vince Carter's (aka "Air Canada") number as well as a massive Joel Embiid extension in Philly before finishing their preseason prep by talking through the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, and New York Knicks. And finally, Patrick wraps up with his Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode Dan, Zack, and Patrick talk through news of the week, including Isaac Okoro getting extended by the Cavs, rumors that AJ Griffin may step away from basketball, and mutual interest between the Warriors and Jimmy Butler, before jumping into their continued preseason prep by discussing the Houston Rockets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Oklahoma City Thunder: Can the Rockets' young talent take a giant leap this season? What should the Pelicans do with Brandon Ingram? How does the Thunder's roster compare to other title contenders? And finally, we wrap up with Zack's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode Chase, Dan, Jason, and Patrick get together to talk through Jamal Murray getting a max extension from the Nuggets and reports that the 76ers are exploring the possibility of moving to New Jersey if they can't get an arena deal done in Philly before continuing their preseason prep with the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Dallas Mavericks: What exactly is Danny Ainge's plan with this Jazz roster? Can Cleveland maximize the fit of their core four with Kenny Atkinson now at the helm? The Mavericks got deeper, but did they actually get better? And finally, they wrap up with Dan's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode Jason, Zack, and Patrick get together to talk about Steph Curry and TJ McConnell getting extensions before they dive into their preseason prep focused on the Portland Trailblazers, Atlanta Hawks, and Philadelphia 76ers: Is Deandre Ayton a lost cause and how high is Scoot's ceiling after a disappointing rookie season? Are the Hawks content with mediocrity or should we expect another big shake up before the trade deadline? Can the 76ers finally make it past the second round of the playoffs with the best team Joel has ever been a part of? And finally, we wrap up with Jason's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode the boys are back together to talk about Dan's dating life before continuing their preseason prep by talking about the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics: Can the Bulls finally trade Zach LaVine and go full tank mode (and maybe be more fun than we expect)? What exactly is the Lakers' long-term plan with this roster? How long can the Celtics' run be after shelling out a ton of money this offseason? And finally, they wrap up with Patrick's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode Jason, Zack, and Patrick dive into some news of the week, including French MVP Guerschon Yabusele signing with the Sixers and reports that Zion is in the best shape of his life, along with a photo that seems to prove just that. They then continue their preseason prep by discussing expectations around the Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves: Can the Pistons shock the world by being anything other than a stinky team in the East yet again? How motivated will Kawhi be to help this Clippers team exceed expectations? Ant has brought immaculate vibes to Minnesota, but can they repeat or even go further than their magical playoff run last season? And finally, they wrap up with Zack's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode the boys dive into Team USA's Gold-medal win in the Olympics, including unbelievable crunch-time performances by all-time great players and an otherworldly Steph Curry shooting explosion against France. Then, they jump into their way-too-early preseason prep and talk about the Spurs, Heat, and Nuggets: Just how high is the ceiling of this Wemby-led Spurs team for the 2024-25 season? What is Pat Riley's plan with this Heat team for this season and beyond? Did Calvin Booth close the championship contention window for the Nuggets or will his plan surprise us and end up working? And finally, they wrap up with Dan's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode the boys break down the quarterfinals of the Olympics, including a disappointing showing by Canada and a barn burner between Serbia and Australia. Then, they dive back into their way-too-early preseason prep: After signing and trading for several veteran players, what exactly is the Wizards' plan for this year? Was Indiana's Eastern Conference Finals run a complete aberration, like the 2021 Hawks, or can Haliburton take another step in his development and help them climb to legitimate contention in the East? With Ja back and healthy for the Grizzlies, what can we expect of them this year in a loaded Western Conference? And finally, we wrap up with Jason's Mudpie Moment of the Week.

On this week's episode Zack, Dan, and Patrick hop on to discuss all the recent happenings with Team USA, including victories against both Serbia and South Sudan and DNP-CDs for Jayson Tatum and Joel Embiid. Then, they hop into their way-too-early preseason prep to talk about the Raptors looking like they're striving for mediocrity, what the Magic need to vault themselves into true contention in the East, and whether or not the current Suns' roster are considered legitimate contenders this upcoming season before wrapping up with Patrick's Mudpie Moment of the Week.