Hoop Ties

Both the 76ers and the Kings had phenomenal years but do they have what it takes to make a deep playoff run? The West is wide open so watch out for the Lakers and in the East keep on eye on the Cavaliers because they could surprise some people. On this episode I am joined by Drew Hill, a Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Daily Memphian. We talk about the Grizzlies championship aspirations and the players that need to step up for them to get past the Lakers in the first round. What can we expect to see from players like Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Dillon Brooks in the playoffs?

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It is going to be hard to give the MVP award to someone other than Joel Embiid. Is he the most skilled big man this game has ever seen? Jay Appaji from the MavsFilmRoom joins the podcast today. Let’s talk about Dirk Nowitzki’s impact on the Maverick’s franchise. What if Dirk and Steve Nash had more years together? The Kyrie Irving trade shook the basketball world but why hasn’t it worked out yet? Where would the Mavs be if they kept Jalen Brunson? Also, let’s wrap it up by talking about some of our favourite Mavericks of all-time.

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The 2023 Hall-of Fame class has been announced. So let’s start this off by highlighting a couple of these basketball legends. On this episode I am joined by Denver Sports Analyst, Swipa. We talk about Jokić’s playmaking ability and the key pieces around him. What do the Nuggets need to do to live up to their expectations? Who do they need to step up in the playoffs? Discussion then shifts to the MVP race. Embiid, Jokić or Giannis? This might be the best generation of bigs that we have ever seen. Finally, who are the best players we’ve seen since Michael Jordan retired and who are our favorite Nuggets of all-time? Another episode down! Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss a thing. 

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Welcome to episode 1 of Hoop Ties! Today we are joined by Suns writer Gerald Bourguet. We all know this Suns team is dangerous. Let’s talk about Kevin Durant and his impact on the team. Is there anyone else that needs to step up to make the Suns true contenders? Are the Suns lacking depth? Who is the most valuable trade asset on this team? Finally, who are Gerald’s top 5 favorite players of all time? That’s a wrap on our first episode! Make sure you all subscribe and tune in weekly. 

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We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Kemba Walker is back in the league! How will he fit into the Mavericks roster and will he be productive? Welcome back Anthony Davis! He has been balling and maybe a little adversity is what he needed to get back to playing like a star. Is he a top 3 player in the league? Maybe a top-10 player? Who ranks above him? Also, where does a guy like Jimmy Butler rank in these conversations? Also, should the Timberwolves look to move on from Karl-Anthony Towns? Will the Timberwolves be able to figure it out? They have all the pieces but the fit appears to be off. Who is their number 1 option?

Today we are joined by Chase Hughes from NBC Sports Washington. What should be the Wizard’s goal for next few years? Bradley Beal is doing his thing but who else is stepping up for this team. What is Bradley Beal’s overall impact on the community? Has Kyle Kuzma found his NBA home? Will Washington be able to keep him? Can Kuzma make an All-Star team? Also, can this be a team that makes the playoffs and continues to build out their roster? Let’s talk about Russell Westbrook. Could he find his way back to the Wizards? How does the Beal and Porzingis combination compare to other teams? Finally, what Wizard would you build around in their prime? Chase says Jordan Goodwin is a young player to watch!

We are joined by Oklahoma City Thunder beat writer, Brandon Rahbar! Discussion begins with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s a three way scorer and nobody can stop him in the paint. What does the future look like with Shai and Chet leading this team? How does SGA compare to a player like Ja Morant? How would their teams preform if they were to switch places? Can SGA be the number 1 option on a championship team? What will Chet Holmgren’s impact be on this team when he is back? There is definitely a bright future ahead for OKC. If Russ and Kevin Durant stayed, how many championships would this team have? Finally, is their a world where Russell Westbrook comes back to the Thunder? Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss conversations like this!

The conversation starts with the big man who is making a serious statement, Joel Embiid. 100 points over 2 games is a little crazy. Have we seen a 3-level big that is such a pure scorer? Who in the NBA do we think could drop 70 points in a game? Curry? Giannis? We then transition to the Golden State to talk about their struggles. Do they have a guard that can guard? Reigning champs but can they make it back to the finals? Also, can they keep this team together? They have a lot of young talent but are these players getting lost behind the vets? Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you can stay caught up with the league.

We are joined by Orlando Magic beat writer Khobi Price! The Magic are a young team on the rise! Listen to us break down the roster and hear our thoughts. The conversation starts with Paolo Banchero. Looking like a definite Rookie of the year candidate but can he be the guy for the future? Is he maybe a Lebron James disciple? Also, Franz Wagner is killing it. Does he really have All-Star potential? Who else stands out on this roster? Things are looking bright for the Magic’s future. When can we expect them to be in the playoffs? Finally, let’s get into the top 5 Magic players of all time and talk about SLAM's six classic digital collectibles.

Are the Utah Jazz serious playoff contenders? They are playing hard and they are a fun team to watch! Did anyone think they were going to be this good? How many games does it take in a before we know what we can expect from teams. We then transition to talk the greatest trades of all-time. Is it the Garnett trade to the Celtics, Gasol to the Lakers or maybe Kawhi to the Raptors? Finally, who are the most athletic guys in the league?