Open Floor: Si's Nba Show

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina gear up for opening week with a breakdown of the new extensions given to Rudy Gobert and Kyle Kuzma. From there, they shift into a conversation about NBA coaches on the hot seat? What does Mike Budenholzer need to do to keep his job in Milwaukee? Are Lloyd Pierce and Ryan Saunders facing new pressure? Can Washington's Scott Brooks earn a new contract in his lame duck year? They close with three debates to tease Ben's upcoming Top 100 Players of 2021 rankings list. Who would you take: Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry or Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard or Nikola Jokic? 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 big announcement: SI has formed a slack channel for all Open Floor Globe members to use during the upcoming NBA season. Ben and Michael will be popping in there from time to time, so check out http://www.si.com/openfloorglobe. From there, Ben and Michael dig into Giannis Antetokounmpo's supermax extension. Did Giannis settle? Do the Bucks have a title path? What are the possible downsides in Milwaukee over the next few years? Then, the guys shift into debate mode to predict all the major NBA awards. Can Damian Lillard or Kawhi Leonard take home MVP? Does Caris LeVert have the inside track for Sixth Man? Will evolving defensive priorities shape the Defensive Player of the Year conversation?  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 Monday's episode with big breaking news about Michael's exciting new career move. Then, the guys shift into a discussion of the playoff bubble races in both conferences. Who does Michael predict will be the last three teams to make the playoffs in both conferences? Who will be the first three teams to miss the playoffs? In the West, What's Golden State's ceiling? Can Dallas win a series? Does Minnesota inspire optimism? Is Zion Williamson headed for a monster bounce-back? In the East, are Atlanta and Washington the Spiderman pointing meme? Is Indiana's drama being overstated? Will Miami come back to Earth? What in the world is going on in Orlando? 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 surveying the latest drama surrounding James Harden and the Houston Rockets. What are the Rockets' options as they enter the season? Can they realistically try to patch things up? Should teams be scared off by Harden's recent antics? What will happen to Harden's trade value if they wait to move him? From there, they shift gears to react to the breaking news that Paul George re-signed a five-year extension with the Los Angeles Clippers. What will this mean for Kawhi Leonard's upcoming free agency? Did the Clippers have a choice? Ben and Michael close by hearing out emailers who were upset by Michael's Luka Doncic takes and addressing a missive from a California weed farm.   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 preview the upcoming season with an annual staple: Ben's 2021 Entertainment Value Rankings. Which teams will be must-see TV and which ones will be totally unwatchable? Michael lists off his biggest beefs with Ben's list, prompting arguments over the Mavericks, Warriors, Bucks, Pelicans, Hawks, Rockets and more. Is Luka Doncic getting too much hype? Are people sleeping on Zion Williamson? Will the Clippers bounce back or fall flat? Has the ship sailed in Houston? Is Trae Young about to live his best life?   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 explore all angles of the Russell Westbrook for John Wall trade between the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards. Who won the deal? Do Wall and James Harden fit, or will Harden be traded next? Will Washington make the playoffs? How will Westbrook impact Washington's desire to keep Bradley Beal? From there, the guys shift gears to discussing the Lakers' ability to re-sign LeBron James and Anthony Davis to longer-than-expected contracts. Did the pandemic play a role? Did Davis sacrifice too much flexibility? Ben and Michael close with a recap of the Christmas Day slate, ranking their favorite games and proposing better match-ups. 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 ramp up the hype for Kevin Durant's long-awaited comeback with the Brooklyn Nets. What's KD's best-case scenario this year? How does he stack up against the best players in the East? Do the new-look Nets have the best projected starting lineup and roster depth on paper? Which factors might prevent Brooklyn from becoming a certified title contender? From there, Ben and Michael offer their assessments of Atlanta's big off-season investments in Danilo Gallinari, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Rajon Rondo. How good can the Hawks' offense be and will they make the playoffs? What motivated them to go all-in this year? The guys close with discussion of Boston's record-breaking trade exception, whether Danny Ainge will actually use it, and which players he should target. 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 celebrate the holiday weekend by opening the mailbag to the Open Floor Globe. What's up with the Clippers, is Serge Ibaka really the answer, and do they still need a point guard? How should the Wizards respond to John Wall's desire to leave Washington? Will Gordon Hayward emerge as a future trade chip for the Hornets? Could Thunder GM Sam Presti ever bundle all his assets together and trade for a franchise-level superstar? Should the Pelicans be mentioned more often as a possible landing spot for disgruntled stars, and did they re-sign Brandon Ingram to keep him or move him? At the end, should the NBA expand its roster of mascots for the upcoming season?  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 sort through the winners and losers from the opening weekend of the NBA free agency period. Did the Lakers tighten their hold on the 2021 title chase? How will Giannis Antetokounmpo respond to the Bucks' missteps? Why did Michael Jordan give $120 million to Gordon Hayward? Has Rich Paul established himself as one of the league's ultimate power-brokers? Can the entire world agree that it's great news Fred VanVleet re-signed with the Raptors? Which players landed in great fits? Which ones settled for horrible fits? Which executives nailed their plans, and which came up empty? 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 run through the winners and losers of the 2020 NBA Draft. How crushing of a blow is Klay Thompson's Achilles injury to the Warriors? Did LaMelo Ball find a good home in Charlotte? What about Killian Hayes in Detroit? Could the Minnesota Timberwolves have done better? Did Daryl Morey ace his first test in Philadelphia? What was Phoenix doing? Are the new Knicks the same as the old Knicks? Did we all lose because there weren't any lottery trades? 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 breaking down the Suns' splashy move for Chris Paul. Why did Phoenix decide to pull the trigger, and could this move backfire? Why is OKC so aggressively tearing things down after an awesome season? From there, the guys shift gears to discuss the bubbling James Harden trade rumors. How good would the Nets be if they landed Harden? What motivation does Houston have to do a deal now rather than waiting? Ben and Michael close by looking at which players would make the most sense for the Hornets, Bulls and Cavaliers, who all hold top-five picks in Wednesday's draft.   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 gobble up the latest round of rumors before the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency period and try to find the best landing spots for the biggest names. Is LaMelo Ball worth the No. 1 pick and which team should draft him? Does he fit at all in Minnesota? What type of teams can afford to trade for Russell Westbrook and his massive contract? Does Westbrook need to relocate to the weaker Eastern Conference and save a dead-end franchise? Are Chris Paul and the Suns a natural fit? Can Phoenix afford to think about its long-term planning after so much losing? With so much turmoil in Houston, should James Harden try to pull the plug and form a new superteam with one of his high-profile teammates?   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 round up NBA player reaction to the presidential election. Did the players' More Than a Vote campaign make a difference in key battleground states? What lessons should the players take from their voting advocacy experience? Then, Ben and Michael shift to a discussion of the schedule agreement between the owners and players that will launch next season on Dec. 22. Which of the eight non-bubble teams are they most and least excited to watch? The guys close with a look at the Pistons, Spurs, Cavaliers and other teams seeking a new direction before debating how the Timberwolves and Warriors should use their top draft picks next week.   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 discussing a recent report that New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is on the trading block. Which types of teams should be interested in acquiring him and how much trade value does he really have given his age and contract? Then, Michael designs his three favorite fake trades involving Holiday and Ben grades them. The guys pivot to discuss which other players they most want to see traded before the start of the upcoming season, including a number of big names. They close by briefly looking ahead to the 2020 NBA Draft. Which three organizations have the most pressure to make the right pick this season?  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 the latest on the 2020-21 negotiations between the NBA owners and players. Can the two sides afford not to reach a deal given the massive projected losses? How would the public react if this dragged on, and what impact would that have on their long-term business? How is the latest coronavirus spike impacting the league's thinking? Then, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss the Brooklyn Nets' new coaching staff and what's next for Kevin Durant. Is he poised for a monster comeback year after an extended rehabilitation and will Steve Nash's offensive approach be a good fit? The show closes with questions from the Open Floor Globe. Where should the Raptors relocate this season? How might the quality of play next season be impacted by the disrupted schedule? What should the Kings do with Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Marvin Bagley? Should the NBA consider hosting a showcase game outdoors because its arenas will be empty?   Learn more about your ad-cho

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dive headfirst into Daryl Morey's expected hiring as president of the Philadelphia 76ers. Will Morey trade Ben Simmons or Joel Embiid? How will the new power dynamic work with ownership and Doc Rivers? Should Morey try to retool the roster during the rushed free agency period or evaluate the roster for a year? Will the Sixers climb back into the East's top tier with a new front office and coach? From there, Ben and Michael break down the Utah Jazz's sale and the latest on the negotiations about the start of the 2020-21 season. At the end, Open Floor Globe members weigh in on what it would take to make them feel comfortable returning to an NBA game in person before Ben and Michael discuss whether the word "legacy" is ruining professional sports conversation. 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 lay out the good, the bad and the ugly of the NBA's latest proposals for the 2020-21 season. Why is the league now eyeing a pre-Christmas start date? Why cut games out of the schedule? What do these proposed changes mean for plans to bring fans back into stands? Why does the NBA want to get its calendar back on track so badly? Will the players be ready after such a short off-season? Would Ben and Michael feel comfortable attending games as fans this season? Should the NBA utilize hub cities rather than all 30 markets? From there, the guys take questions from the Open Floor Globe. Would Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Dallas Mavericks harm Luka Doncic's legacy? Should the Boston Celtics package assets to pursue a star-level player this summer?  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 weigh all sides of the New Orleans Pelicans' decision to hire Stan Van Gundy as their new coach. Was this all about Zion Williamson? What's Van Gundy's top task as he takes over? From there, Ben and Michael discuss the Indiana Pacers' hiring of Nate Bjorkgren and whether it signals the start of a rebuild. The episode closes with questions from the Open Floor Globe on the Gasol brothers, the success of the preps-to-pros generation and the joy that Boston has delivered to Los Angeles this month. 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 take an extended look back at Daryl Morey's 13-year run as Houston Rockets general manager. Where does Morey rank as an executive? Which criticisms of Morey were fair and which were off-base? What's his legacy in Houston and what's his ideal landing spot in the future? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to discuss the Clippers' hiring of Tyronn Lue as their coach before reliving their bubble favorites. They close by diving into the scientific joy of symbiosis and the pain of parasitism.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

With the NBA bubble officially wrapped, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina settle into the offseason. They start by giving Lakers fans the opportunity to gloat after their title and then rank how the 2020 Lakers stack up against the last 10 NBA champions. From there, they try to set the early field of contenders for the 2021 title chase and debate who should be viewed as the best player in basketball heading into next season. They wrap with an updated look at the GOAT discussion pitting LeBron James against Michael Jordan.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy