Open Floor: Si's Nba Show

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a rundown of their biggest beefs with the 2021 NBA All-Star selections. Was Khris Middleton robbed? Was Devin Booker a worthy injury replacement for Anthony Davis? What about Bam Adebayo? Did the coaches "Do it for the Gram" with this year's selections? From there, they shift to a discussion of the Utah Jazz's blowout win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. On a 1-10 scale, how likely are the Jazz to win the title? How should the Lakers respond in the wake of their losing streak without Anthony Davis? What are the telltale signs of fatigue for LeBron James? From there, the guys double back to take listener reaction to the Timberwolves' firing of Ryan Saunders and close with a more detailed comparison of the 2020 Nets' offense to the 2017 Warriors' attack. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver welcomes special guest Haley O'Shaughnessy of Blue Wire Podcasts for a bonus episode. Ben and Haley open with a discussion of her new podcast, "Spinsters," and then break down the biggest All-Star snubs. How would they handle being snubbed publicly? Which players got the short end of the stick this year? What does Khris Middleton have to do to get some respect? From there, Ben and Haley shift gears to brainstorm ways to help the Brooklyn Nets win over new fans. Do the Nets need to re-brand? Should Michael Pina finally forgive James Harden and embrace the Brooklyn bandwagon? Then, it's time for a deep dive into the world of NBA astrology. What can "signs" tell us about LeBron James, Rudy Gobert and Reggie Jackson? At the end, Haley gives Ben a customized astrology reading and offers advice to become a better person and media member based on the results. You can hear Haley and her co-host Jordan Ligons "put a new spin on the NBA" on their new podcast "Spinsters.&

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina check in with the Brooklyn Nets, who are on a six-game winning streak and have started to win over some skeptics, including one Open Floor Globe member. After wins over the Lakers and Clippers, is Michael still sure that Brooklyn's defense will be a fatal flaw? Is it possible for James Harden to get appropriate credit for his recent work given his ugly exit from Houston? From there, they shift gears to the .500 Boston Celtics and their catastrophic collapse against the New Orleans Pelicans. Does Boston have a path to a third star? What should they do with their trade exception and should they part with future picks to land Harrison Barnes? Can any buyout candidates help balance their rotation? Ben and Michael close with a discussion of the Minnesota Timberwolves' decision to fire Ryan Saunders. Why did Saunders have to go now? Was it shady to line up Toronto Raptors assistant Chris Finch as his replacement so suddenly and did David Vanterpool deserve a shot? What constitu

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with the news that the NBA has officially announced its All-Star Game for Atlanta on March 7. From there, they break down the biggest roster debates for both the Eastern and Western Conferences. Should James Harden start over Bradley Beal? Julius Randle or Domantas Sabonis? Zach LaVine or Ben Simmons? Is there room for Trae Young? Should Jerami Grant, Nikola Vucevic and Gordon Hayward all get snubbed? In the West, should Anthony Davis be included despite his injury? Is there a case to include Mike Conley? How many Jazz players deserve to make the cut? Did Michael really leave off both Chris Paul and Devin Booker? Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of Anthony Davis's Achilles' strain and why it represents the first major test of the Los Angeles Lakers' title defense? Should the Lakers take it extra slow with Davis's return? Should they ramp down LeBron James's workload? How do they make up for Davis's absence in the short term? Is it too soon for the defending champions to worry about the West standings and the race for the top seed? From there, Ben and Michael dig in deep to the Boston Celtics' struggles. How are they only .500 and dropping games to terrible teams? Where did things go wrong for Danny Ainge? Should Jayson Tatum be doing more to compensate for their injury issues? To close, the guys give credit to the Brooklyn Nets for their thumping of the Golden State Warriors, discuss whether the Nets should target Andre Drummond if he gets bought out, and weigh possible trade destinations for Blake Griffin. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by wading into the culture wars prompted by the Dallas Mavericks' decision not to play the national anthem before games. Should the anthem be played before sporting events? Why did the NBA step in to mandate that all teams play the anthem? Has the NBA reversed course on social issues since the bubble? From there, the guys dig into the growing LaMelo Ball hype. Should the Timberwolves and Warriors regret passing on him? Has Ball already changed the Hornets' identity? Ben and Michael then build their dream fields for All-Star Weekend events like the Slam Dunk Contest, Three-Point Contest and Skills Challenge using only projected All-Stars, before pondering what "Field Day" from elementary school might look like if NBA players were involved. They close with a discussion of the Dallas Mavericks, who are finally back winning, and the Atlanta Hawks, whose defense has improved noticeably with Clint Capela. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by cataloguing the hurt feelings from superstars over the NBA's All-Star Game plans. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Giannis Antetokounpo, James Harden and Kevin Durant have all expressed their frustrations with the NBA's All-Star plans or health protocols since Thursday. How should NBA Commissioner Adam Silver respond to this outpouring of angst and what are his options? From there, Ben and Michael go through the ballot to make their All-Star starter selections. James Harden or Bradley Beal? Luka Doncic or Damian Lillard? Kawhi Leonard or Paul George? After the All-Star talk, they shift gears to discuss Michael's recent piece on Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox. What's behind his strong recent play? The episode closes with a discussion of this season's many 50/40/90 shooting candidates and an Open Floor-related punching incident during a South London fun run. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiri

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing the 2021 NBA All-Star Game plans, which are quickly taking shape. Should the NBA even bother with the All-Star Game? What, exactly, are the added risks, and how can the NBA manage them? If they hold an All-Star Game, should they aim for a Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest too? What would those look like in a best-case scenario? From there, Ben and Michael dig into the first round of All-Star ballot returns. Kevin Durant was the leading vote-getter? Why didn't the Celtics' stars fare better? Was it a good thing that internet sensations Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, and LaMelo Ball didn't do all that well? Then, Ben and Michael look back at the Nets' victory over the Clippers on Tuesday in search of takeaways for each team. Can the Clippers defend at the point of attack well enough to win a title? Did Steve Nash finally have a late-game performance to be proud of? To close, Open Floor Globe members weigh in from around the world on the most

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina look back on the first quarter of the NBA season to investigate which teams are having the biggest regrets after six weeks of basketball. Would the Boston Celtics have found a way to keep Gordon Hayward? Would any team trade for Russell Westbrook? How should the Washington Wizards wiggle out of their current predicament with Bradley Beal? Did the Brooklyn Nets make the right hire with Steve Nash? Should the Detroit Pistons have scrapped their entire strategy? Did Denver need to back up the Brinks truck for Jerami Grant? How many teams screwed up by passing on Tyrese Haliburton? Should the Atlanta Hawks have just paid John Collins? Was there anything that Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks could have done differently to prevent their slow start? What about the wayward Timberwolves?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a remembrance of NBA TV's Sekou Smith, a pioneer in the NBA podcasting world and a charismatic, beloved member of the basketball community. Then, the guys discuss Philadelphia's signature win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Does this mean the Sixers are for real? Where does Joel Embiid rank in the MVP conversation? Who are the other top candidates? Will LeBron James wind up winning on the power of his "lifetime achievement" narrative? If the NBA named an award after LeBron, should it recognize his off-season impact or his sportsmanship? From there, Ben and Michael discuss whether the Nets can trade for a better option at center before digging into Michael's recent piece on the Orlando Magic. They close with a debate over Kawhi Leonard's playoff achievements and their lasting memories of Kobe Bryant. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a look back at Shaquille O'Neal's controversial post-game interview of Donovan Mitchell on TNT. What did Shaq get right and what did he get wrong in his dismissal of Mitchell? What's the real story about Mitchell and the surging Jazz? Should "Inside The NBA" alter its approach or should other media avenues step up in the analysis department? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's uneven opening month, the Milwaukee Bucks' lineup holes, and whether they can get back to an elite level on defense. At the end, the guys process a bunch of Kyrie Irving fake trades sent in by the Open Floor Globe. Kyrie to Orlando? Kyrie to Chicago? Kyrie to Washington? Kyrie to New York? Kyrie to Toronto?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a discussion of the Portland Trail Blazers' injury woes. What was driving CJ McCollum's early season success and how will his injury impact Portland's playoff outlook? From there, the guys shift to a look at the struggling New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson's second season. Williamson has been dominant in the paint, but does he need to expand his spheres of influence? Should Stan Van Gundy consider a lineup change? After detailing the Utah Jazz's place in the NBA's exclusive "40/40" club, Ben and Michael close with an extended look at the Brooklyn Nets' loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. How did the "Big 3" look in their first game together? Is Kyrie Irving the weakest link in Brooklyn's defense? What does Steve Nash need to do late in games to get better results? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://re

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig in deep on James Harden's first two games with the new-look Brooklyn Nets. Why is Harden on his best behavior and will it last? Do Kevin Durant and Harden share a telekinetic combination, and how does their partnership stack up to past duos involving Durant and Harden? Can Harden actually repair his reputation with casual fans or is that a lost cause? Which role players benefit the most from Harden's arrival? How aggressively should Brooklyn seek trades involving Kyrie Irving? Should their thinking change at the deadline versus next summer? What type of players should Brooklyn target in an Irving deal? Who wins in an Eastern Conference finals between the Nets and Bucks? Is the pressure off Milwaukee now? Do the Bucks need to make a counter move to keep up after the Harden trade? Best, Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig into all aspects of the Brooklyn Nets' blockbuster trade for Houston Rockets superstar James Harden. How happy is Ben after his November vision for Brooklyn's Big 3 came true? Are NBA fans winners because the Rockets saga is over? Are the Nets now the clear-cut favorites in the East? Did they overpay? Will Kyrie Irving be okay with playing third fiddle? Was this the trade that Kevin Durant needed? Did the 76ers miss their shot? What does Harden's successful departure do to competitive balance? Should the Rockets have kept Caris LeVert? Was Tilman Fertitta the NBA's biggest loser over the last 12 months? What can Houston expect from John Wall, Victor Oladipo and Christian Wood? Will the Nets be able to compensate inside without Jarrett Allen?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the NBA's rise in positive tests, contact tracing absences, and postponed games. How close is the NBA to pushing pause on the season? How might the league respond to tighten up its protocols to ensure games can continue? Do the absences devalue the product? From there, Ben and Michael break down both sides of an entertaining game between the Warriors and Clippers. Has Stephen Curry proven Michael right by making Golden State the NBA's most entertaining team? What exactly ailed the Clippers during their collapse and how have they changed from last season? Can the Clippers topple the Lakers if they can't generate more offense at the basket? The show closes with an email from an Open Floor Globe member who powered through a marathon by listening to Michael's takes on the Phoenix Suns.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of the various protests that swept the NBA on Wednesday night in response to a lack of charges in the Jacob Blake shooting and the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington. Was it surprising that all games went on as planned? What are the next steps for NBA protests after the bubble shutdown? What role did the NBA's successful voting rights advocacy in Georgia play in the league's reaction to this week's events? From there, Ben and Michael take stock of Wednesday's games. How long will Bradley Beal endure 60-point games in losses? What's driving the Knicks' early success? How will Orlando react to Markelle Fultz's ACL tear?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by basking in the glow of Stephen Curry's 62-point explosion. Did Curry actually have something to prove? Were any of the recent criticisms warranted? Where does Golden State go from here? Is Curry bound to live out a "Super-Dirk" existence as he progresses through his 30s? From there, Ben and Michael discuss Jayson Tatum's game-winner, Blake Griffin's decline, Brooklyn's latest late-game mishap, and Kawhi Leonard's weekend struggles. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021 by offering 10 New Year's Resolutions to NBA players, teams, and commentators. Should Steve Nash exert himself more late in games? Should the Sixers trade Ben Simmons and three first-round picks for James Harden? Should Luka Doncic build a world-class gym at his home? Should the Grizzlies tank? Should Scott Brooks have a word with the Wizards' broadcast crew? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina pick up the pieces after a chaotic opening week by trying to spot trends. Are the Nets on track for the Finals or set to come back to earth? Are the Warriors dead on arrival or poised for a bounce back? How does Kevin Durant's decision to leave the Warriors look 18 months later? Is Ja Morant making the leap in front of our eyes? From there, Ben and Michael shift to examining which players have the best shot to earn their first All-Star selections in 2021.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina wrap up the opening week of NBA action with takes on 10 different teams. Did the NBA handle the latest James Harden controversy properly? What did it feel like inside the Staples Center for the Lakers' opening night? Does Philly have enough talent to climb in the East standings? Was Jayson Tatum's banked three-pointer the greatest moment of Michael's life? Have the Pelicans returned with a happier vibe? Are the Jazz ready to lead the NBA in three-point attempts? How sure are we that Steve Kerr will be the coach of the Warriors next season?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy