Today we’re joined by The Athletic’s Tim Cato to discuss the Dallas Mavericks’ slow start to the season (02:00). Later, the guys briefly talk about the Knicks performing above expectations (36:00) and take a look at some of the early championship contenders, including the Nets, Clippers, and 76ers (39:00)

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Jonathan Tjarks, and Rob Mahoney

Guest: Tim Cato

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Logan and Raja start off by getting into the flopping and dirty fouls of Raja’s past (1:00), then discuss the over-the-top Steph Curry discourse following the Warriors’ abysmal start and Steph’s 62-point career-high performance (9:40), as well as the lengthened injury-recovery period that has produced explosive play from John Wall and Kevin Durant (25:47). 

Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell

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We take a look at several teams' performances in the first week of the season and attempt to separate the real trends from the fake, starting with the Sacramento Kings’ 3-1 start. Later we look at the 1-3 Denver Nuggets (13:00), 0-4 Washington Wizards (22:00), 4-0 Orlando Magic (30:00), 3-1 Pacers (49:00), 0-3 Raptors (58:00), and Julius Randle’s MVP-candidate-level averages (64:00).

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Jonathan Tjarks, and Rob Mahoney

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After the first week of the 2020-21 NBA campaign, Logan and Raja get into Raja’s experiences playing in Christmas games (2:45), their biggest takeaways from the new season (20:00), the Clippers' meltdown (44:00), and what, if anything, can be done about Golden State (51:30).

Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell

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We react to the Clippers beating the Lakers on opening night (2:00) as well as the offensive dominance of the Nets against the Warriors (27:00). Later, we look ahead to many of the teams and specific players starting their season tonight (47:00).

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Jonathan Tjarks

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Logan and Raja answer all the questions in The Ringer’s 2020-21 NBA entrance survey (1:30), and then give their award picks for the upcoming NBA season (40:30).

Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell

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The Ringer’s Chris Ryan ponders expectations from different perspectives as the season gets close to tip-off (01:00). New Ringer staffer Mirin Fader joins to discuss Giannis’s decision to stay in Milwaukee as Chris ranks “what if” scenarios for the reigning MVP (05:00). Then, a conversation with Jason Gallagher and Tyler Parker on rooting for a rising star vs. a rebuilding project (22:00), before a “Philly Special” on expectations for the Sixers (36:30).

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Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks joins Logan and Raja to talk about the emotional highs and lows of the NBA bubble (1:00), how she approaches relationship-building with NBA players as a member of the media (21:30), and gives her Real One of the Week (42:00).

Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell

Guest: Taylor Rooks

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We are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Michael Pina as we take our last pod before the start of the NBA season as an opportunity to pontificate on Harden trades, who will win MVP, and the best League Pass teams of 2021 (44:33). But before we get into all that, we break down every detail of the bombshell news that Giannis has inked a supermax extension to remain a Milwaukee Buck (1:15).

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, Jonathan Tjarks

Guest: Michael Pina

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Logan and Raja start off the top with Kyrie’s most recent comments on the media and Raja’s experiences with the media-NBA player relationship (7:00). Then they get into Giannis’s evasive language regarding his future in Milwaukee (31:00) and whether good or bad performances in the preseason mean anything at all (42:00).

Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell

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