Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing the back-and-forth between LeBron James and Donald Trump over the NBA's kneeling demonstrations. Did LeBron show a strategic shift from the "U bum" showdown in 2017? Then, they double back quickly to Jonathan Isaac's demonstration to discuss why some people draw a distinction between Black lives mattering in general and the Black Lives Matter movement specifically. From there, Ben and Michael dig into Michael's story on one-dribble three-pointers. Why have they grown in popularity? Why do they matter so much in the modern game? They close with questions from the Open Floor Globe on what it sounds like to hear players and referees banter in the empty bubble gyms, whether too many fouls are being called, and how helpful Gordon Hayward is at this stage of his career. 

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to the opening weekend of the NBA Bubble with their boldest opinions and hottest takes. Before diving into the action, they discuss Jonathan Isaac, Meyers Leonard, Gregg Popovich and the other NBA figures who chose not to kneel during the national anthem demonstrations. Then, they hand out superlatives. Most impressive player? Most disappointing performance? Weakest link on a contender? Favorite quote? Coach who is getting canned? Team that's set to implode? And they reassess the tiers of contenders. How many teams showed they have championship potential?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina offer a detailed breakdown of the NBA bubble's opening night. They start by analyzing the pre-game social justice demonstrations during the National Anthem by players, coaches and referees. Was this a demonstration, a protest or a sanctioned protest? Then, they pivot to discussing LeBron James's epic opener: a game-winner, a big defensive stand and a moving tribute to Colin Kaepernick. They wrap up by discussing the Pelicans' weird treatment of Zion Williamson and Rudy Gobert's full-circle moment after being the "patient zero" of American sports

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Podding the Bubble is a three-part mini-series taking a deep dive look into the biosphere created by the NBA in Orlando. Part 3 puts the NBA's plan into the context of what other major sports leagues are doing, and of the pandemic at large as it stands today. And with the help of global health expert and noted bioethicist, Dr. Zeke Emanuel, we try to answer the question: Was all of this a good idea?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina welcome NBA fans to opening week of the bubble restart. They discuss how stars like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic looked in early scrimmage play, and break down the audio and visual components of the NBA's new made-for-TV courts. From there, they dive into Lou Williams' Magic City misadventure. Did he threaten the bubble? Should we be thanking our lucky stars for Jack Harlow? Do Williams and the Clippers owe their fans and colleagues an apology? Then, the Open Floor Globe weighs in with questions. How close in proximity are the MLS and NBA bubbles? Are there any titles from past NBA history that deserve asterisks? Who won the Jay-Z versus Nas beef? 

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Podding the Bubble is a three-part mini-series taking a deep dive look into the biosphere created by the NBA in Orlando. Part 2 follows the lives of the NBA players inside the bubble who now face a unique challenge. How do they stave off restlessness and cabin fever for three months while living inside the bubble through the rest of the season and the playoffs? Not to mention, they still have to find a way to play their best basketball.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Podding the Bubble is a three-part mini-series taking a deep dive look into the biosphere created by the NBA in Orlando. Part 1 explores how the NBA decided that a bubble was the right solution for them to be able to finish the 2019-2020 NBA season and conduct something resembling a normal playoffs and NBA finals. We'll also get into how the bubble is supposed to work on paper, both for players and basketball staff, as well as for Disney Parks employees, and for journalists.

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina celebrate as the NBA's Disney bubble opened practice sessions to the media. What was the best thing LeBron James said? How did Giannis Antetokounmpo's shot look? Are the Bucks about to spoil all the narratives and run to a "boring" title just like the Spurs of yore? From there, Ben and Michael take questions from the Open Floor Globe. What do the new playing courts look like? Should we rename the "Mt. Rushmore of the NBA" conversation? Will players want to keep their social justice message jerseys after this season?

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina get into the NBA bubble talk with a quick tour from Ben of the media's access area after he finally cleared his week-long quarantine. Which Disney World areas and amenities are available to media and which are off limits? Which NBA players and figures has he seen so far? Do the NBA's rules regarding media access make sense? From there, Ben and Michael dig into everyone's favorite bubble topic: the informant tip line. Which players are most likely to rat out violators? What kind of crazy informant conspiracies has Tinfoil Hat Pina come up? Is Michael actually a secret agent? What would it take for Ben to call the line? 

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with the latest from the NBA bubble, where Ben has entered Day 5 of quarantine. How is Ben holding up? Is Michael starting to get worried? Are the NBA's safety protocols holding up as designed? From there, they shift gears to an extended conversation about playoff X-factors, discussing Mike Budenholzer, Kemba Walker, Zion Williamson, Anthony Davis and more. They close by launching Michael's new series of book recommendations, "The Pod Reads."

Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy