Zach and ESPN's Kevin Pelton reveal their early MVP ballots, complete with honorable mentions and state of the team discussions for every candidate's team. Plus, a deep dive on the 9-6 Indiana Pacers (59:41), revisiting the Tyrese Haliburton-Domantas Sabonis trade, more. 
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Top 5 MVP Candidates So Far

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

Sports

Zach and ESPN's Kevin Pelton discuss what they've seen from every Game 1 of the first round and what to look for as each series progresses.

Knicks-Sixers (2:11)

Celtics-Heat (8:03)

Cavs-Magic (12:06)

Nuggets-Lakers (16:46)

Timberwolves-Suns (27:10)

Thunder-Pelicans (36:21)

Clippers-Mavericks (50:23)

Bucks-Pacers (1:02:57)
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First Round Analysis with Kevin Pelton

Zach discusses the Warriors being eliminated from playoff contention and questions if this is the end of this team as we know them, then he is joined by David Thorpe for their annual 8x8 first round deep dive.
0:00 The Warriors being eliminated by the Kings.
19:10 Injury updates following the play-in.
25:55 Minnesota vs. Phoenix series preview
41:20 Sixers vs. Knicks preview
51:42 Lakers vs. Nuggets preview
1:04:00 Clippers vs. Mavs series preview
1:17:00 Magic vs.Cavs series preview.
1:26:45 Pacers vs. Bucks preview.
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First Round Deep Dive with Coach David Thorpe

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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Top 5 MVP Candidates So Far

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