Off Guard with Austin Rivers

Austin and Pausha revisit the Haliburton-LaMelo viral conversation from last week and discuss Melo’s cultlike fan base (3:00). Then, they weigh in on Grant Williams's weirdly aggressive foul on Jayson Tatum (12:42), talk about the Bucks starting the season off at the bottom of the East (28:50), and give flowers to Dennis Schröder and Buddy Hield for their recent play. Plus, the guys give their early thoughts on the teams Cooper Flagg might end up on (54:44).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha return to the mics to discuss an action-packed second week of NBA. They start by discussing the complexity surrounding the Indiana Pacers and Tyrese Haliburton (0:00), then talk through the beginnings of the Paolo Banchero Year 3 leap (13:53).

Later, Austin gets into why he isn’t a big fan of Anthony Edwards shooting mostly 3s this season (28:07), before he and Pausha get into an interesting Karl-Anthony Towns–Nikola Jokic debate (34:30).

The guys wrap things up with talk of their concerns for the Nuggets (43:17) and try to figure out whether there is a clear-cut third-best team in the league after the Celtics and Thunder (48:28).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producers: Ben Cruz and Troy Farkas

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha are back and will be coming to you twice a week, and the guys kick things off with their reactions to the Dwyane Wade statue that left everyone speechless (8:05). Then, they test a new segment for the start of the season that has us reviewing teams and whether we “Buy In” or decide it’s “Way Too Early.” They start off with the Bucks (17:26), then discuss what Denver might be missing compared to a stacked Thunder roster (30:22). Then, they touch on the Lakers’ chances at a title after an impressive start to the season (36:58). Then, they wrap things up with Austin sharing his date-night experience at Universal Halloween Horror Nights, which featured a surprise performance from Lance Stephenson (52:27).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha share all their opening day overreactions, starting with the Celtics’ stacked lineup and the Knicks’ reliance on Jalen Brunson (1:53). Then they hit on the iconic LeBron-Bronny moment and Austin reflects on his first game playing for his dad in the league (24:14). Lastly, they hit on what we saw from Clippers-Suns at the Intuit Dome debut and what this could mean for both teams heading into season (53:00).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha share their final regular-season predictions for both the Eastern and Western Conferences (14:00) before reacting to The Ringer’s Top 100 Players in the NBA and discussing where they personally would’ve ranked certain players (42:52).

https://nbarankings.theringer.com/

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha revisit their now semi-viral pickup hoops conversation (4:45) and highlight preseason play with a shout-out to first pick Zaccharie Risacher (17:10). Then, they jump into the GM survey and evaluate who will be MVP, breakout player of the season, favorite team to watch, and more (21:31)!

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha offer some closing thoughts on the Karl-Anthony Towns trade and discuss what exactly needs to happen in order for the Knicks to come out on top (8:36). Then, they discuss media day chatter, including Joel Embiid’s comments, LeBron and Bronny’s photo op, Chris Paul and Wemby as teammates, and a “low-key” Jimmy Butler (33:49). Then, they hit on their top picks for Defensive Player of the Year (52:30)!

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha send their farewells to the youngest MVP in NBA history, Derrick Rose, upon his retirement and share their favorite memories looking back at his career (18:00). Then, they jump into way-too-early predictions and decide which players already belong in the MVP race, like Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, and SGA. Later, they discuss Jokic’s potential for a fourth MVP award (43:36).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha discuss their top questions heading into the preseason and kick things off with talk of ‘Starting 5’ on Netflix (8:07). Then, they get into Giannis’s future in Milwaukee (20:04), the importance of the point guard position (28:46), which teams are destined for the play-in games (35:16), and more! Later, they say their farewells to Adrian Wojnarowski after his shocking retirement, and share their favorite Woj bomb moments (51:41).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producer: Erika Cervantes

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha are back to share their final summer thoughts from the offseason and kick things off by trying to figure out what exactly the Cleveland Cavaliers’ plan is with their current roster construction (9:22). Then, they break down the Knicks’ approach to next season with an emphasis on Julius Randle (14:58), discuss Luka’s legacy if he never receives an MVP (30:12), and then rank the top cores in the league, before answering whether or not they would trade Chet Holmgren for Cooper Flagg (42:53). Later, Austin wraps up with his theory about the league’s approach to young vs. veteran players (1:01:59), and Pausha shares his missed opportunity with The New York Times (1:18:19).

Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi

Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices