The WNBA playoffs are here and there's no better time to be watching women's basketball. Lukas and Marco talk through the first round matchups and a little bit beyond at how these playoffs might shape up. Can the Liberty take a game from the reigning champion Sky? Are the Wings just the team to upset the high-expectation Sun? Who will come out on top between Breanna Stewart and Elena Delle Donne? And what last hurrah can this crumbling Mercury team put up against the league best Aces?

Oh it's the off-season alright! Marco and Lukas scrape the bottom of the barrell and talk about some of the most famous NBA rules named after players, whether created to limit their game-breaking impact or to stop them from chewing plastic straws during games. Also, an eventful watching of The Hateful Eight, Dejounte Murray's childish antics since his trade to the Atlanta Hawks and Kevin Durant pulls yet another ultimatum on the Brooklyn Nets.

The boys pay tribute to the great Bill Russell – although they don't have an emotional connection to him or a memory of him playing his unassailable success and perserverance in the face of extreme racism set the foundation for the league we love today. Then, we talk through some WNBA news, including the "lose-lose" release of Brittney Griner and Liz Cambage's contract divorce from the Los Angeles Sparks. Finally, the boys recap three recent WNBA games – Minnesota Lynx v Atlanta Dream, Washington Mystics v Dallas Wings and Connecticut Sun v Chicago Sky.

Lukas and friend of the pod Sam Reeves have been tearing it up in social basketball, taking home the University of Melbourne Basketball Club 3x3 Division II Men's championship and Sam having a Thursday night game for the record books. The boys chat through their recent exploits and then look back on Sam's Boston Celtics and their trip to the NBA Finals. Then, what does a Kevin Durant trade to the Cs look like, is it worth it, and is Brooklyn even really interested in trading the damn guy?

The 4MW+M gets together on the JVG feed to celebrate 100ish episodes of the show (and exactly 100 since their inaugural guest spot!). The Deep Two NBA Podcast's Sean Carroll and Dante Boffa and The Deep Two contributor and friend of the pod Alessio Conte join Marco and Lukas to discuss Deandre Ayton's new contract with Phoenix and check in on how they're feeling about their respective teams. Things get out of hand pretty quickly and surprise guest Monty joins halfway through. This one's a barrel of monkeys for real.

The 2022 NBA Summer League (sponsored by the video game) is in full swing but the rose-tinted glasses have come off as fast as ever. Lukas and Marco talk through how some of the bigger names are doing and lay out their gripes with the format. On the other side of the coin, the 2022 WNBA All-Star Weekend has just come to a close, capped by a massive All-Star game that farewelled Sue Bird and Sylvia Fowles and showcased a league-wide display of solidarity with Brittney Griner. The boys then talk through how the league is sitting coming out of the All-Star break, who's likely to surge and who's likely to dip as we head towards the playoffs.

Some more sombre reporting to start this episode: Marco and Lukas talk through the beginning of Brittney Griner's trial in Russia and the various reactions to it across the Internet, as well as touch on the assault charges laid against Nick Kyrgios. Then, some reactions to some stale NBA news and transactions. What Kevin Durant trade scenarios are the most likely to happen, and what does each team look like post-trade? Can Karl-Anthony Towns make it work with his new Minnesota Timberwolves' frontcourt partner? Will the Spurs successfully head for a rebuild and win the Wembanyama sweepstakes? Will Jalen Brunson really change things in New York?

The Golden State Warriors dispatched with the Boston Celtics with ease in Game 6 and the dynasty is having its little dessert with a fourth championship. Marco and Lukas discuss the Celtics' valiant effort, what they can take into next season and how everything clicked this season for the Warriors. Then, some brief off-season chat: Kenny Atkinson will be staying with the Warriors rather than taking up the Charlotte Hornets coaching job, Christian Wood goes to Dallas for peanuts, and how can coaches bring out the best in headstrong players?

We've been to Boston and back to San Francisco and the Golden State Warriors are taking a strong 3-2 lead into Boston going into Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Marco and Lukas recap the previous three games of the series, going through what the Warriors have done right to assert their dominance and the mistakes Boston need to avoid to keep this series alive. Steph Curry's dominance, Andrew Wiggins' consistency, Robert Williams' stifling defence, Draymond Green's resurgence – it's all cracking up to be a series to remember.

Finally, some good basketball! Games 1 and 2 of the 2022 NBA Finals have been and gone and we've seen fiery offence, stifling defence and plenty of adjustments by both the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics. The boys discuss Tatum's playmaking, Boston's struggling big men (not Horford), the Warriors' adjusted defensive scheme in Game 2 and what to do and where to put Jordan Poole. They look forward to Game 3, discuss Australia Post Parcel Lockers and put some weird ideas into an AI image generator.