Open Floor: Si's Nba Show

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the end of the NBA bubble, which saw the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat in six games to claim their 17th championship. Ben offers a behind-the-scenes look at LeBron James's title celebration and then they debate where this title ranks among James's four rings. From there, Ben and Michael look back on the Finals and the overall bubble experience. What happened to the Heat in Game 6 and will they be back next year? What prevented this year's Lakers team from capturing the national imagination? How and why did the bubble humanize the superstars who participated? The show closes with a discussion of Ben's Washington Post essay on his complicated feelings leaving the bubble and returning home to California.   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 back into the NBA Finals, exploring the key Game 4 moments that helped the Los Angeles Lakers build a 3-1 series lead over the Miami Heat. Why was the Anthony Davis defensive adjustment on Jimmy Butler so effective? Why didn't the Bucks make a similar adjustment with Giannis Antetokounmpo? What are the guys' favorite Finals adjustments of all time? How does the bubble environment influence Miami's ability to launch a 3-1 comeback? Was this really one of the "biggest games" of LeBron James's career? From there, Ben and Michael discuss whether Anthony Davis has had the best playoff run of any James teammate, and they wonder whether Jimmy Butler and Jim Boylen could have gotten along in Chicago.  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 react to Miami's Game 3 win in the NBA Finals by offering extended thoughts on Jimmy Butler. Ben and Michael both recount past experiences interviewing Butler and try to put his 40-point triple-double into historical context. Why does Butler get added motivation from his past playoff history with LeBron James? Where does Butler rank among the NBA's best wings? Who regrets losing Butler more: Chicago, Minnesota or Philadelphia? What makes Butler different from many of his contemporaries? The show closes with Ben's descriptions of life inside the NBA bubble during the three-month marathon's final miles. 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 react to the Lakers' breathtaking performance and the Heat's many injury issues in Game 1 of the Finals. Are the Heat toast? Are we seeing a legendary breakthrough for Anthony Davis? If the Lakers win, will LeBron James or Anthony Davis claim Finals MVP? What adjustments can Miami make? Was the grueling bubble experience always bound to fizzle out? From there, Ben and Michael discuss their biggest takeaways from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's press conference before turning their attention to the art of trolling. Will Ben apologize to the Celtics fans for his glee at their demise? They close with thoughts on Doc Rivers' exit from LA and what comes next for the Clippers. 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 recap the exciting end to the conference finals and preview the upcoming NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat. Did LeBron James reclaim his spot as basketball's best player with his Game 5 takeover? Did he really beat the Nuggets with his mind? Will the Lakers have the same advantages against Miami that they had against Denver? Then, Ben and Michael shift gears to analyze how the Heat won the East and what went wrong for the Boston Celtics . Was this the first major loss of Brad Stevens's career? Why did Jayson Tatum struggle so much to impact late-game situations? Where will the Celtics' expectations be set for next year? How did Bam Adebayo so thoroughly eviscerate Boston? Who else can do what Adebayo did in the fourth quarter and is he the ideal match-up for Anthony Davis? Do the underdog Heat have a chance to pull the upset on the Lakers? Will Michael really pick against LeBron James four series in a row?  Learn more about your ad-choices at h

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of Tyler Herro's 37-point explosion in Game 4 of the East finals. Where does that night rank in NBA history for players at his age? Where did Herro come from? How does he compare to Celtics foils from years past? From there, Ben and Michael zoom out to see what's gone wrong for Boston and whether they are toast. Then, they dig into the Breonna Taylor ruling and how it impacted NBA players and coaches on Wednesday. What takeaway should players have about their advocacy on behalf of Taylor's family? Ben and Michael close with quick thoughts on the Western Conference finals and Billy Donovan's move to the Bulls before Michael unveils his latest episode of The Pod's Book Club.    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 offering their thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers' dramatic Game 2 victory over the Denver Nuggets, which came courtesy of an Anthony Davis buzzer-beater. Did Davis sink the Nuggets? Did the Lakers deserve to lose? How will Davis be received if the Lakers win the title after he elbowed his way off the small-market Pelicans? From there, Ben and Michael shift to the resurgent play of Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard, taking a moment to reminisce on Rondo's early-career peak. They close with a look at the Boston Celtics' big Game 3 bounceback, how Gordon Hayward changes the series, and whether Jaylen Brown should be viewed as the Eastern Conference Finals' X-factor.  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 in deep to the Clippers' spectacular demise, assigning blame to Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Doc Rivers before listing the extenuating circumstances that contributed to their collapse. Then, at the urging of many angry Nuggets fans, Ben and Michael riff on Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray while previewing an unexpected Western Conference finals match-up with the Los Angeles Lakers. Is Jokic vs. LeBron the best showdown of playmakers since Magic vs. Isiah? Is Gary Harris the WCF's X-factor? How will the match-up battles between the stars shake out? The show closes with a look back at Boston's late offensive struggles in Game 1, and Michael pours his heart out describing what it felt like to watch Bam Adebayo block his beloved Jayson Tatum with the game on the line.Please consider donating to the Red Cross for its efforts fighting the Oregon wildfires: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/ Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor

Ben Golliver opens the floor to angry listeners who demand accountability for Michael Pina's takes about the Lakers. How have LeBron James and company turned things around? How did they dismantle the Rockets so easily? Are they now the clear title favorites? Then, Ben and Michael dig into Houston's complicated future and ponder James Harden trade scenarios. They close with updates on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, plus a rapid fire preview of the Eastern Conference finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.   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 recapping the best game of the bubble: Toronto's double-overtime Game 6 win over Boston. Why did Nick Nurse decide to go super small? Did Jayson Tatum need to do more late? What will be the deciding factors in Game 7? From there, they shift gears to show love to the Miami Heat, who are in the Eastern Conference finals just waiting to find out their opponent. What are Miami's key strategic advantages in the East finals? How well does Jimmy Butler need to play to get to his first NBA Finals? Can their shooters be trusted to stay hot? Ben and Michael close with a look at the impact of Danuel House's possible health protocol violation and how the Bucks' protest has inspired striking teachers across the country. 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 recap the long holiday weekend of NBA playoff basketball by asking four questions about each of the four remaining series. Who's to blame for the Bucks' collapse? Did the Celtics unveil their championship case in Game 5? Has an MVP ever played worse than Russell Westbrook did in Game 2? Is Patrick Beverley the NBA's best troll? If the Celtics and Heat meet in the East finals, who wins and in how many games? Do the Rockets have any answers for Playoff LeBron? Why don't the Heat get more love as a title favorite?  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 react to the stunning news that the Brooklyn Nets have hired Steve Nash as coach. Is Nash really the next Steve Kerr? Can he be the Kevin Durant whisperer? Can any coach lead Brooklyn to the title? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to recap a crazy week of NBA playoff action. What's up with the referees mucking up late-game scenarios? Why are the Bucks struggling and how much is Mike Budenholzer to blame? What does the future look like for Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert after Utah's first-round exit? And what can Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's boycott of the 1968 Olympics tell us about the players' activism efforts in the bubble? 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 gushing over Jamal Murray's latest scoring explosion and poignant post-game interview. What does Murray's playoff rise say about the Nuggets' pecking order and the importance of big men in the NBA's evolving style? Where does Murry rank among 23-and-under talents? Will his historic scoring duel with Donovan Mitchell lead to bubble asterisk talk? From there, Ben and Michael shift gears to recap the Bucks' protest and the NBA's return. Did the players extract enough in their negotiations with the owners? Did the protest prove its point? The guys close with farewells to Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks and Damian Lillard's Portland Trail Blazers. How did the Lakers turn their series around to eliminate the Blazers and what are the next steps on Doncic's rise to world domination?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the Milwaukee Bucks' historic walkout and react to the NBA players' decision to continue with the 2020 playoffs. Ben offers a first-hand account of the Bucks' decision not to play their playoff game against the Orlando Magic in protest of Jacob Blake's police shooting, which triggered a postponement of the NBA's Wednesday schedule. From there, they react in real time to news that the NBA players, after discussing a possible cancelation to the rest of the playoffs, have decided to continue playing. 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 deep into Luka Doncic's unbelievable 43-point triple-double against the Los Angeles Clippers by answering a bunch of questions from the Open Floor Globe. Luka or Giannis to start a franchise? Luka, LeBron or Harden to win a title this year? Luka or Dame for Bubble MVP? Would you buy a Luka sneaker? Are the Mavericks the most likeable team in the Bubble? From there, Ben and Michael analyze the Clippers' many issues -- including Paul George's shooting struggles -- and explore the impacts of a potential upset.   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 recap the early first-round NBA playoff action by digging into the Lakers' shooting struggles. How can LeBron James fix this? What's up with Anthony Davis? Should they go small more often? From there, they shift gears to the Bucks' disappointing Game 1 loss. Will they get right and can their defensive strategy hold up to the way basketball is being played in the bubble? Ben and Michael then give the Sixers a full autopsy and ponder Joel Embiid trades before glancing at Luka Doncic's first playoff win and Denver's defensive problems.  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 recapping a busy weekend on and off the court. Jim Boylen is out in Chicago, Vlade Divac is out in Sacramento, and Alvin Gentry is out in New Orleans. Will Boylen ever get a second chance? Did Luka Doncic cost Vlade his job? What will the Pelicans look for in their next coach? From there, Ben and Michael recap Portland's play-in win by discussing Ja Morant's upside and Damian Lillard's growing legacy. They close by selecting their most likely first-round upsets, with Michael making a pick that is sure to enrage Lakers fans everywhere. 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 long-awaited NBA playoffs by breaking down the seven first-round match-ups that have been set in stone and guessing who will face the Los Angeles Lakers. Ben and Michael make their predictions for each series and identify key storylines that will determine each series. Out West, does bad blood make Thunder/Rockets the most interesting showdown of the eight series? Will the Clippers flip the switch and lock down Luka Doncic? Will anyone watch Nuggets/Jazz? Are the Lakers at risk of an upset? In the East, will the Celtics fold under the pressure of everyone picking them to destroy the Sixers? Does TJ Warren really have a chance to lead the Pacers past the Heat? Can you name the starting five for the Nets, and is that a bad sign for their match-up with the Raptors? Will the Bucks treat the 2020 Magic like the 2019 Pistons?  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: ht

Ben Golliver and Michael Pina recap a wild weekend of NBA action by rethinking some of their conventional wisdom from before the bubble. Why aren't defenses ahead of offenses? Did the NBA really invite too many teams to Orlando? Will the favorites romp in the playoffs or will chaos reign? From there, they gush about Luka Doncic's electric showing against the Milwaukee Bucks, dig into Damian Lillard's squabble with the Clippers, and try to make sense of the disappointing New Orleans Pelicans. Will Zion Williamson have a new coach next 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 by discussing the back-and-forth between LeBron James and Donald Trump over the NBA's kneeling demonstrations. Did LeBron show a strategic shift from the "U bum" showdown in 2017? Then, they double back quickly to Jonathan Isaac's demonstration to discuss why some people draw a distinction between Black lives mattering in general and the Black Lives Matter movement specifically. From there, Ben and Michael dig into Michael's story on one-dribble three-pointers. Why have they grown in popularity? Why do they matter so much in the modern game? They close with questions from the Open Floor Globe on what it sounds like to hear players and referees banter in the empty bubble gyms, whether too many fouls are being called, and how helpful Gordon Hayward is at this stage of his career.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy