Learning Basketball

Ep. 59 Learning Basketball with Charlie Cummings! @klaytheist11

Today we learn about the Golden State Warriors after two monumental wins in a Game 7 and Game 1 on the road and celebrate Aaron Gordon making game-winner nba playoff history for Denver.

Steph Curry Injury

Game 7 Buddy

Draymond's shooting and defense

Jimmy's clutch factor

GM 7 Rockets-Warriors Recap

GM 1 Nuggets-Thunder Reaction

GM 1 Timberwolves-Warriors Reaction

Warriors - Timberwolves Series Predictions

Houston Rockets Franchise Outlook

Trade Rumors: Giannis, Durant, Booker

Timeline:0:00 Nuggets GM 1 W @ OKC, Aaron Gordon making Game-Winner Playoff History23:00 Warriors GM 1 W @ MIN, Steph Injury Implications, Reaction + Series Predictions

01:02:04 Warriors GM 7 W @ HOU, Splash Cousin Buddy Hield, Steven Adams and Kevon Looney Adjustments, Sengun Defensive Strategy

01:28:53 Houston Rockets franchise outlook + Trade Rumors circling Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokoumnpo, Devin Booker 

Ep. 58 Learning Basketball with Dayne Coates!

Dayne Coates (PG) just averaged 18 PPG for an undefeated 26-0 Class C winning high school team named Berne-Knox-Westerlo. (New York)

Dayne went viral in recent weeks due to his unique shooting form and has college football aspirations as a two-sport athlete pursuing college football.

Today we learned about the obstacles Dayne faced and found solutions to develop into a walking bucket with a clean jump shot for a state-title winning team, his basketball and football athletic achievements and aspirations, inspirations and inspiring others with Tourette's Syndrome and OCD.

Ep. 57 Learning Basketball with Jackson Frank!

@jackfrank_jjf

Today we learn about Anthony Edwards' development, James Harden's career evolution, Julius Randle's impact, the Lakers future plans around Luka, as Jackson and I dive into the NBA Playoffs with the Timberwolves knocking out the Lakers and the Nuggets - Clippers series heading to Game 6.

Timeline:
0:00 Intro

01:44 Clippers - Nuggets

07:00 Jamal Murray's 43 PTS Explosion

12:00 Clippers' Defensive Struggles

18:00 Westbrook's Impact on the Series

24:00 Adjustments and Strategies for Game 6

33:00 Harden's Impact and Career Evolution

45:00 Wolves - Lakers

55:00 Lakers' defense and offense and roster limitations at center

01:20:00 The Future of the Lakers: Building Around Luka and LeBron as creator and finisher

01:33:00 Anthony Edwards: Rising Star and Playoff Performer

Learning Basketball Podcast:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WPNyHW4I8wNgDFdsL6ZLf

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-basketball/id1775085550

Ep. 56 Learning Basketball with Josh Cohen @Josh_Cohen_NBA

Josh Cohen is a Writer and Digital Content Manager for the Orlando Magic who covers the Magic and the rest of the NBA.

Today we learn about how the Orlando Magic beat the Boston Celtics in GM 3 of their first round series, look at the film and matchups, celebrate Franz Wagner’s and Paolo Banchero’s rising stardom, and break down the players and coach who have built this resilient competitive culture in Orlando

Timeline:00:00 Introduction & Background

01:13 Journey into Sports Journalism & Sports Media Advice

04:20 Film Breakdown Process: The Evolution of Basketball Analysis

11:55 Franz Wagner's Performance and Impact

21:45 Adjustments - Both teams Switching and Attacking Switches - Adjust

29:22 Anthony Black the X-Factor and Defensive Role Players showing up

42:00 How did Orlando break away in the 3rd quarter? Wendell Carter dominating glass and defending in space

52:00 Jamahl Mosley’s communication, team identity, and culture setting tone of resiliency and competitive fire
1:05:45 Orlando’s shooting woes and longterm team building strategy goals, lineup construction philosophy
1:21:45 Paolo Banchero’s effortless shooting and scoring versatility, the future rising stardom of Paolo and Franz, and how they and Orlando matchup so well with Boston top to bottom

Ep. 55 Learning Basketball with Robert Flom! @RichHomieFlom

Robert Flom is the managing editor for 213 Hoops, covering the NBA, the Clippers, and formerly of Clips Nation, Blazers Edge, and The BBall Index.

Today we learn about the Los Angeles Clippers stabilizing the team into a steady contender, Kawhi Leonard resembling his peak form when available, James Harden providing a steady hand running the offense, Ivica Zubac making a leap as this team's most reliable two-way anchor and playmaking hub in the paint, Kris Dunn's lockdown perimeter defense, the effect of Ty Lue running the show and bringing in Jeff Van Gundy on the bench, as we dive into the first round playoff matchups between Clippers-Nuggets and Magic-Celtics

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction & Background

8:00 Kawhi Explodes - How often can he do this?

13:30 All-Defense level impact -  Ivica Zubac & Kris Dunn

22:00 All-NBA level impact - Ivica Zubac & James Harden - who to credit

25:00 Daring Russell Westbrook to Beat Them - Denver’s X-Factor sparked Game 1 win for Nuggets in Clippers Series

30:00 Aaron Gordon guarding Kawhi Leonard matchup + Michael Porter Jr.’s Rebounding dominance/getting picked on defensively

37:00 Norman Powell replacing Paul George on the aggregate, Ty Lue COY candidacy, impact of Jeff Van Gundy as Asst Coach

55:00 Magic-Celtics GM 2 Live Reactions… Paolo! Franz! What does this team need besides shooting? (Talent)

Ep. 54 Learning Basketball with Joe Viray @JoeVirayNBA

Joe is an NBA writer who covers the Golden State Warriors for Golden State of Mind and @TheDubNationHQ and the General NBA for @SBNationNBA

Today we learn about the Warriors dominant play since the Jimmy Butler Trade, Steph Curry's wow-factor never dying, Draymond Green being the best defender alive, the inverted Jimmy-Steph P&R, and a film breakdown on Rockets-Warriors GM 1 with predictions, counters, and x-factors for the series.

Timeline

0:00 Introduction & Background4:00 Film Scouting Process10:00 Basketball Media Advice18:00 The Jimmy Butler Trade’s Impact on Golden State26:00 The Inverted Jimmy-Steph P&R into Blind Corner Handoff for Steph39:30 Is Draymond DPOY or The Best Defender Alive?46:40 Rockets - Warriors Game 1 Film Breakdown, Counters, X factors + How many times did Steph wow you?1:20:00 Do the Warriors now view this year as championship or bust? 

Ep. 53 Learning Basketball with David Steele!

David Steele is the play-by-play voice of the Orlando Magic's broadcasting team, now in his 36th year with the team between radio and tv.

Today we learn about Dwight Howard's Hall of Fame Career, stories about those Stan Van Gundy teams, David Steele's Top-5 calls and journey into sports broadcasting, and celebrate the legacies of Paul Porter, Pat Williams, John Gabriel

Timeline:

00:00 The Voice of the Magic: David Steele's Journey

10:08 The Legacy of Pat Williams, John Gabriel, and Paul Porter 17:30 David Steele’s Top-5 Calls

24:15 Dwight Howard: First-Ballot Hall of Famer & Stan Van Gundy Team Stories

34:00 Magic Beat Hawks in Play-In, to face Boston in First Round

Ep. 52 Learning Basketball with Thom! @ThomNotTom

Today we learn about Detroit Basketball with Thom (0:00)

His scouting process through the lens of a Pistons fan (5:00), Scouting Thoughts on Ace Bailey and the talented bigs in the 2025 NBA Draft (10:00) , we have The Danny Wolf Conversation (18:00) the University of Michigan program under Head Coach Dusty May (36:30), The Danny Wolf Passing Mixtape Evidence (40:44), naming Yaxel Lendeborg to First Team All-Name (49:46)

then the NBA Playoffs (54:20) highlighting the Detroit Pistons' differences this season and chance's this postseason against their highly competitive Central Division Competition between the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls

plus interesting NBA Award debates like Coach of the Year (1:14:00) and Most Improved Player (1:32:15)

Ep. 51 Learning Basketball with CT Fazio @CTFazio24

CT Fazio is a Head Basketball Coach at SLG and in AAU and a contributor for Crown Hoops who covers the NBA, the NBA Draft, College Hoops, and Denver Nuggets.

Today we learn about Carmelo Anthony's legendary basketball career, why the Denver Nuggets would part ways with Head Coach Michael Malone just two years after winning a championship along with GM Calvin Booth just a week before the playoffs, St John's revamped program with Rick Pitino plus NBA Draft Scouting thoughts on RJ Luis, and then we draft the coolest versions of Melo.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction & Background

6:22 Denver Nuggets Fire Everybody - Head Coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth let go one week before Playoffs

23:50 St. John's Rick Pitino Rebrand & Scouting RJ Luis

36:43 Celebrating Carmelo Anthony's Legendary First-Ballot Hall of Fame Career

1:00:00 The Coolest Melo Draft

Ep. 50 Learning Basketball with Scott Perry @ScottPerryGM

Scott Perry is the host of the Hoop Genius Podcast with decades of front office experience spanning from GM of the New York Knicks to Assistant GM and VP of Basketball Operations with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Sacramento Kings, and Seattle Supersonics.

Today we learn about Scott’s journey into basketball scouting from college player and coach to NBA front offices, lessons he’s learned to form his evaluation process, and dive into the inner workings of how front offices make decisions, build an identity, and ideally create a sustainable contender over the long haul.

Timestamps:00:00 Introduction & Background and Unexpected Opportunities in Basketball

08:50 Lessons from Dad, Lowell Perry, Breaking Barriers in NFL

14:05 Building a Successful Team Identity with Joe Dumars and John Hammond

20:47 The Importance of Character in Player Evaluation, who players are as people matters just as much as talent

24:18 Drafting Kevin Durant and Victor Oladipo with 2nd overall picks in Seattle and Orlando, respectively

32:27 How Front Offices Make Decisions + Vertical Integration Communication from GM to Coach to Player

37:35 Lesser Known Realities of Front Office Life

42:11 Advice to aspiring Scouts and Favorite Memories as New York Knicks GM
46:42 Influence of different perspectives like Sam Presti, Rob Hennigan, Matt Lloyd helping develop scouting process