Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick

The NBA Finals are set. Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington and the Dallas Mavericks will face Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis and the Boston Celtics and JJ Redick and LeBron James are here to break it all down in Episode 9 (dropping tomorrow). What advantages do the Mavs and the Celtics have and how can they exploit one another?

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Welcome to Episode 8 of the Mind the Game podcast with JJ Redick and LeBron James. We have a fantastic show for you all today covering all things 2024 NBA Playoffs. First up, we discuss Bronny James going through the combine and the NBA draft process and what it's like for LeBron as a father. Then we dive into the NBA Playoffs - starting with a conversation around the MVPs of these playoffs - the role players. Guys like Naz Reid, P.J. Washington, T. J. McConnel and more. Then we dive into the Eastern Conference Finals between Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers and Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics. We discuss why the Celtics are so difficult to guard and how Indiana makes defenses uncomfortable. Then we dive into the Western Conference Finals between Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns and the Minnesota Timberwolves and Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks. LeBron and JJ discuss Ant and Luka's ability to go away from ballscreens like Dwyane Wade and how the Wolves make the court smaller with their defense. Finally, LeBron weighs in on the hate Caitlin Clark has gotten so far in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever.

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Welcome to Episode 7 on Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick. This episode was recorded last week, shortly after LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers first round series against Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and the Denver Nuggets. LeBron explains why he thinks he, Anthony Davis and the Lakers lost the series and what simply made the Nuggets the better team. He also opens up about how he's personally feeling heading into the offseason. Then, they get into some of the observations and takeaways from other series' in the playoffs including; actions that make Jamal Murray, Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), and Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia 76ers) the most dangerous. They also share what they think gives Anthony Edwards, Karl-Anthony Towns, Rudy Gobert, and the Minnesota Timberwolves an advantage in the playoffs, what it's like facing elite defenders like Luguentz Dort (Lu Dort) (Oklahoma City Thunder) for multiple games throughout a series, and much more. 

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Welcome to Episode 6 of Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick. This episode was recorded a few weeks and it's our favorite one yet. Here we discuss the evolution of shooting in the NBA and how it's completely changed the way basketball is played. First we discuss how purpose of the modern NBA offense is to put two on the ball and the best players at doing that (Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, James Harden). Then the guys dig into early shot clock three-pointers and self created three-pointers like step-back threes and how those have also expanded the modern NBA offense. Which leads us into how difficult it is for defenses today to stop these offenses covering so much space. And finally, JJ and LeBron tough on the catch-and-shoot three-pointers and play a thought experiment where LeBron has to draw up his favorite ATOs for JJ — plays like "Victory", "Oklahoma", and "Clippers Down." 

Again this is one of the nerdiest episodes of Mind the Game we'll ever do and we can't wait for you all to see it! 

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Welcome to Episode 5 of Mind the Game with LeBron James (The Los Angeles Lakers) and JJ Redick, where we talk all things NBA Playoffs and welcome in LeBron's high school coach, Keith Dambrot. Our full episodes are available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple and wherever you get your podcasts. First, we open with JJ's brief explanation of concepts like Icing, Top-Locking and Motion Offense. Then LeBron and JJ open up about the difference between regular season basketball and playoff basketball. JJ asks LeBron about his first ever playoff game with the Cavs (Cleveland Cavaliers) and his big game winner in 2009 against the Orlando Magic. Then the guys talk about the mental toll of a 7 game playoff series and JJ highlights some of his own mental mistakes in the playoffs. We also have a deep discussion about the role of luck or chance in the playoffs and talk about THE SHOT from Ray Allen in the 2013 NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs. Then we bring in LeBron's high school coach, Keith Dambrot to talk about what it was like to coach LeBron at such a young age. Keith provides wisdom for all coaches at any level about working with stars, role players and more. This is a special one so let's get to it! 

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Welcome to Episode 4 of the Mind the Game podcast hosted by JJ Redick and LeBron James. We first want to thank everyone who has watched, listened, commented, shared and provided feedback on the show. We are so grateful that people like it. Now let's get into Episode 4. First the guys take some time to discuss the growth of women's basketball, particularly in college with the rise of names like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Then the guys talk about spacing, particularly one of the most unstoppable moves LeBron loves to utilize on the Los Angeles Lakers.... the Gortat screen (made famous by Marcin Gortat). Next, the guys talk about why the "screen assist" should a box score stat rather to help gather us appreciate players like Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert. Then the guys talk about the term "court mapping" and why Nikola Jokic is elite at this skill. Finally, JJ asks LeBron to break down one of the greatest defensive players ever... The Block on Andre Iguodala, which took place in the 2016 NBA Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors . LeBron discusses the variables that went into the iconic play including the importance of J. R. Smith on that play. And as a bonus - JJ decides to show LeBron an old play of JJ on the Orlando Magic crossing over LeBron James while he was on the Cavs. This is a good one. Let's go. 

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Welcome to Episode 3 of Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick. In this episode, JJ and LeBron talk about adapting and evolving with the game of basketball. Each of them discuss lessons they learned in high school that helped shape the rest of their careers. Next the guys talk about college basketball and whether LeBron ever wishes he could've played in the NCAA tournament / March Madness. Then the guys move on to talk about LeBron's first NBA basket and the way the game has changed from way back then to today. JJ goes on to discuss the impact of the 2009 Orlando Magic and why Stan Van Gundy's offense was revolutionary at the time. The rest of the conversation centers around LeBron's time with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Miami Heat. They talk through how the team recovered from the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks and Coach Erik Spoelstra's innovation that led to NBA championships and how Chris Bosh had to sacrifice for the good of the team. Then we take a beat to appreciate how Chris Bosh influenced many of today's big men like Bam Adebayo, Nikola Jokic and Chet Holmgren. This is such a fun episode so let's get to it. 

Subscribe to Mind the Game with LeBron James (The Los Angeles Lakers) and JJ Redick today for more NBA insight, analysis, highlights and more.

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Welcome to another episode of Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick. We first want to thank everyone for watching and sharing the first episode and we're proud to share this next one with you all. Today we examine the hardest actions to guard in the NBA and the best ways to defend against these actions. The two main actions we focus on are the Golden State Warriors post splits and the way Draymond Green acts as a hub for Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and the rest of the roster made that play nearly impossible to defend against. The other play we talk in detail about is the inverted pick-and-roll with Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets. There are several examples of duos that make that play hard but we take an extra close look at what Jokic does that makes this play so unstoppable. We also dive into other schemes like ghost-screens with a great big shooter like Kristaps Porzingis of the Boston Celtics and how Boston gets creative on offense. A few other topics we discuss are why teams blitz Luka Doncic of The Dallas Mavericks, the lack of creativity in men's college basketball and the mileage LeBron has put on his body in 2024. There's so much more we discuss so let's get into it. Cheers. 

Mind the Game is presented by Uninterrupted and ThreeFourTwo Productions. 

Subscribe to Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick today for more NBA insight, analysis, highlights and more. And if you'd like to see some of the visuals referenced in this episode, please subscribe to Mind the Game on YouTube at YouTube.com/@MindtheGame

Presented by Uninterrupted and ThreeFourTwo Productions. Welcome to the first episode of Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick. We are really excited to share this podcast where we examine and celebrate the game of basketball. In this first episode we ask ourselves a very simple question, "What makes a great basketball player?" That question launches us into discussions about the The Los Lakers recent comeback win against the Los Angeles Clippers, philosophical questions about basketball IQ and we dive into concepts like "Thumb Down" and "Floppy" and "Horns Chest." We also talk about this year's leap of Jayson Tatum and The Boston Celtics and what makes them so dangerous. And finally, we dive into the influence of Stephen Curry.

We really hope you enjoy our show. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. And if you'd like to see some of the visuals referenced in this episode, please subscribe to Mind the Game on YouTube at YouTube.com/@MindtheGame

Subscribe to Mind the Game with LeBron James and JJ Redick today for more NBA insight, analysis, highlights and more.

Don’t just play the game. Mind it.

Presented by Uninterrupted and ThreeFourTwo Productions, Mind The Game is an entry into the heralded basketball minds of LeBron James and JJ Redick. The two sit down weekly to discuss the state of the game, dissect X’s and O’s, and wax poetic about the game they love. 

Kick back with them as they uncork, unwind and invite you into a hoop conversation unlike any you’ve heard before.