Big Market Blues

Luka drops 52 in Salt Lake City to keep the Lakers perfect at 3-0. Meanwhile, the defending champs lose to our Small Market Sibling Magic and fall to 0-3. Charles Diamond and FroMagnum get into the Lakers’ backup center problem, whether the KAT extension cloud is hanging over the Garden, Dalton Knecht joining the Baby Laker pipeline, and Bill Simmons calling Jamahl Mosley’s coaching an “early April tank job.”

Show notes

Chapters (approximate)

* 0:00 Cold open: split-screen Sunday

* 1:30 Mood check: “Lakers exceptionalism is indefatigable” vs. “the Knicks are unserious”

* 5:00 Lakers 132, Jazz 123: Luka’s 52, Kessler’s return, and the Looney problem

* 13:00 Magic 111, Knicks 102: 24% from three, a 47-11 bench gap, and Mike Brown’s lineup roulette

* 18:30 Is the KAT extension situation weighing on the champs?

* 23:00 Magic injury curse: Banchero out for weeks, Suggs carried off

* 25:30 Small Market Siblings: should the Magic sell, and is Franz a Warrior?

* 28:30 Pelicans 0-3: the 23-point collapse in Denver and Simmons vs. Mosley

* 32:30 Newser: Dalton Knecht and the Baby Laker pipeline

* 36:00 Week ahead: Luka vs. the Warriors rookie, the LeBron rematch, and the Friday doubleheader

* 39:30 Sign-off and a shout-out to J-Dub

Key takes

* Charles Diamond: Backup center is officially an issue. Looney can’t play real minutes against big teams, and size will matter against OKC and San Antonio.

* FroMagnum: The Knicks were “an unserious basketball team” as of October 25. She’s not panicking, but the jersey feels heavier.

* The Magic might be cursed: They beat the champs without Banchero, then lost Suggs to a non-contact leg injury in the same game.

* The Pelicans: They rank top 10 in offense, but bottom five in defense, three-point attempt rate and forcing turnovers. Is that Mosley or the roster?

* Knecht: Good things happen when the Knicks sign Baby Lakers (see Randle, Hart and Clarkson).

Next week

* Lakers: vs. POR, at LAC (first back-to-back), at GSW, vs. TOR

* Knicks: vs. DET, at CHI, at PHI (LeBron rematch), vs. BKN

* Friday: the Knicks–Lakers doubleheader

Hosted by Charles Diamond (a.k.a. the Black Bruce Wayne) and FroMagnum. Subscribe so you don’t miss the opening night rematches.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlesdiamond.substack.com

The NBA is officially back, and what better way to celebrate than raising not one, but two banners in Madison Square Garden? But the slate is clean now, and with an opening night loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, the New York Knicks begin their quest to defend their title.

We dive into the banners and rings, address the urban legend of championship hangover, and LeBron going full young boul in his Sixers debut. After that, we look towards the Lakers season debut against the Warriors and what excites Charles most about the upcoming season.

The episode ends with a short foray into our #SmallMarketSiblings, Pelicans FC and Magic FC.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlesdiamond.substack.com

We’ve reached the point of the year where you can count the number of days until the season starts on one hand. Before the Big Market Blues podcast gets truly Lakers and Knicks heavy, Charles Diamond and FroMagnum decide to zoom out and make their predictions for which teams in each conference are a lock to make the playoffs.

This episode starts with some quick preseason impressions from the Lakers, followed by recent trade news with both teams being reported as looking to swap some roster spots. Then the predictions begin.

We end with two short trips to Orlando and New Orleans to discuss our #SmallMarketSiblings and show some love to Magic FC and Pelicans FC.

As always, feel free to send us questions, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and follow the show!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlesdiamond.substack.com

Back like they never left (shoutout WDNG CRSHRS), your favorite NBA coworkers turned married couple turned podcasters FroMagum and Charles Diamond a.k.a. the Black Bruce Wayne are returning to your earbuds, car speakers, and over-ear headphones to talk Lakers, Knicks, and literally everything in between NBA-wise.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charlesdiamond.substack.com