This week, Chris talks to Pick-and-Popcast favorite Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com, an ace NBA writer, barbecue aficionado, honorary Memphian and the writer who discovered David Fizdale. (Ok, not, really, but you’ll see.) Kevin talks about the new-look Grizzlies, the Fizdale hire, this weekend’s opponents (Clippers and Blazers) and the wider Western Conference landscape. We even get some reading tips.

First-time guest Britt Robson has covered the Minnesota Timberwolves since at or near the franchise’s beginnings as an expansion team during the first Bush administration, for Minneapolis’ City Pages for many years and now for the digital newspaper Minn Post. With the Grizzlies and Wolves facing off tonight to start the season in Memphis and again next week in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Britt seemed like the man to talk to.

The Pick-and-Popcast tips off the 2016-17 season with a first-time guest, Sports Illustrated NBA writer Rob Mahoney, perhaps best known to many Grizzlies fans for his terrific 2015 process story chronicling Mike Conley's broken face and quick return to the court.