Zach and ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike go rapid-fire around the first week of NBA action: Lakers struggles, Kawhi and Wall are back, 0-2 Sixers, Pelicans roaring out of the gate, Nets expectations, Banchero, Ivey, Cavs, Warriors repeat chances, much more. 
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Opening Week Thoughts with Chiney Ogwumike

ESPN's Zach Lowe talks to various basketball people about various basketball things.

Sports

Zach is joined by ESPN's Chris Herring to review Sunday's regular-season conclusion, preview the four play-in games and four playoff series that we know so far, and give their final awards picks for the 2024 season.
7:00 Winners and losers from Sunday's regular season conclusion
12:15 Is Orlando actually a good matchup for the Cavs?
18:00- The Phoenix Suns avoiding the Play-In by beating the Wolves
24:30- Can the Bucks beat the Pacers without Giannis?
30:00- The Mavericks-Clippers Trilogy
36:45- Lakers vs. Pelicans Play-In preview
49:54- Philadelphia vs. Miami Play-In preview
1:00:30- Warriors vs. Kings Play-In rematch from last year's playoffs
1:09:45- Hawks vs. Bulls Play-In
1:17:20- Rapid-Fire Awards Picks.
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Regular Season Conclusion, Play-In Preview, and Awards Picks.

Zach asks injury expert Jeff Stotts about the extent of Giannis Antentokounmpo's injury and his potential recovery timetable. Then The Athletic's Mo Dakhil joins to discuss Knicks-Celtics, playoff seeding, and the MVP race.


What will Giannis' recovery look like? (1:27)

Dakhil (17:20)

Does anything concern you about the Celtics? (21:03)

Knicks are a joy to watch (24:26)

Jrue Holiday extension (32:01)

Bucks make a starting lineup change (36:34)

Nuggets move into pole position in the West (45:12)

MVP race is not over (51:45)

West seeding possibilities (1:01:18)
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Giannis' Injury, Knicks-Celtics, Playoff Seeding Possibilities, and the MVP Race

Zach and ESPN's Bobby Marks weigh in on the pivotal races in the Western Conference. Then ESPN's Tim Bontemps joins to discuss the logjam behind Boston in the East, what's gone wrong in Cleveland, and how their All-Defense and All-NBA ballots are shaping up.

The race for 6th in the West (3:21)

How the top spot will be determined in the West (20:05)

The muddled East from 2 to 8 (33:42)

Who's the biggest threat to Boston in the East? (39:55)

What's gone wrong in Cleveland? (54:07)

All-Defense Teams (1:14:37)

All-NBA Teams (1:19:39)
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Final Week Frenzy, All-Defense, and All-NBA Races

Zach and ESPN's Kevin Pelton discuss the Sixers' chances now that Joel Embiid is back in the fold, how seeds 3 through 5 might shake out in the East, the race for the top seed in the West, how dangerous the Lakers can be, and what to make of the Suns and Clippers.

Sixers with Embiid (10:31)

Are the Heat going to heat up or what? (24:01)

Knicks without Randle (27:14)

Cavs and Magic (35:26)

Race for top seed in the West (44:35)

How dangerous can the Lakers be? (49:56)

Wolves without KAT (1:00:10)

Suns coming together (1:03:09)

Can the Clippers find the magic they had earlier in the year? (1:05:59)
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The Playoff Push with Kevin Pelton

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss Joel Embiid's expected return to the Sixers, the charging Mavericks, and a trio of teams succeeding without an injured star. Plus, TrueHoop's David Thorpe joins to run through the top candidates for Most Improved Player.

Impact of Embiid's return (1:04)

Mavs currently in 5th in the West (9:42)

Hawks without Trae, Wolves without KAT, and Rockets without Sengun (30:57)

Thorpe (48:10)

Most Improved Player candidates (49:55)
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Opening Week Thoughts with Chiney Ogwumike

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