The Pure Hoops Quick Hitters

Both Marv Albert and Mike Breen have been the lead play-by-play voice of the NBA and Jared Greenberg of Turner Sports and NBA TV reflects on his connections to both legendary broadcasters. Albert announced he will retire from calling games at the end of this NBA postseason while Breen was just recently inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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Ever since the Nets assembled their "Big 3" of Kyrie, KD, & The Beard they've played fewer than 10 games together. With the postseason upon us, can they develop chemistry quickly enough to go all the way? Howard & Mike explain the challenges facing the team as it tries to "microwave" a championship.

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With the play-in tournament looming and teams jockeying for seed positioning, BJ Armstrong and Eric Newman breakdown the play-in race, as well as potential playoff matchups.

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The Milwaukee Bucks pushed all their chips to the middle of the table with the Jrue Holiday trade and all they gave up to acquire and sign him. With the team in "Win Now" mode, the pressure on Giannis Antetokounpo and coach Mike Budenholzer is intense as the playoffs begin. Can the "Greek Freak" handle the heavy load? Can "Coach Bud" survive if the team doesn't win at least two playoff series? NBA TV analyst Brendan Haywood shares his thoughts and spares nobody's feelings in the process.

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The Knicks are having an unexpected revival this year, and Alan Hahn of MSG Network and ESPN Radio explains how having this success has been critical considering what's also been taking place with their crosstown rivals, the Brooklyn Nets. Hahn explains that while the Knicks will always be New York's team, winning now helps them stay relevant with the next generation of the city's hoops fans. Hahn also gives us a fun anecdote on what the energy is like at Madison Square Garden when the place is hopping, something that many Knicks fans look forward to when the arena is allowed to be back at full capacity.

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New York Knicks "Super Fans" Michael Jackson and Barry Sacks explain why the Brooklyn Nets could win the NBA championship but it won't matter because the Knicks will ALWAYS be New York's favorite NBA team.

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Shaun Powell of NBA.com joins Mike Wise for a discussion on the merits (and demerits) of the NBA's "Play In" games. While the games will no doubt be compelling and keep more fans engaged, there is a potential down side that could come back to haunt the league and its TV partners.

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BJ Armstrong and Eric Newman weigh the pros and cons of the play-in tournament.

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This season's NBA Most Valuable Player award will probably go to Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets. The big man from Denver is certainly deserving of the award with the season he is putting together. But while Kendrick Perkins is a great admirer of "The Joker," he believes the real MVP is a foot shorter, 100 pounds lighter, and plays for the Phoenix Suns. Big Perk will make his case in this Quick Hitter and after you hear his explanation, it may just convince you that the real MVP this season is actually Chris Paul.

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Law Murray, the Clippers Beat Writer for The Athletic, tells our Aaron Berlin and Otto Strong how Ty Lue is doing as Clippers head coach. While Lue continues to espouse the same level of culture and accountability preached by former head coach Doc Rivers, Lue seems better able to reach the team's superstars of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

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