Mitch opens the pod with a monologue about his biggest surprises and disappointments at the start of the season. He then brings on Warriors expert Cole Stoecklein to talk about the start of the Warriors season. Covering everything from Kuminga, the Jimmy Butler experience, and possible closing of Curry, Kerr, and Draymond.
In this episode, Mitchell and Adam discuss the exciting start of the NBA season, touching on various themes such as gambling scandals affecting the league, the atmosphere of home openers, and the performances of different teams. They also delve into the impact of injuries on player performance and team success, the innovations in broadcasting that enhance viewer experience, and the resurgence of trading cards as a popular hobby. The conversation highlights the competitive spirit of the NBA and the joy of collecting sports memorabilia.
00:00 Introduction to NBA's Opening Week
02:07 Gambling Scandals in the NBA
11:57 Home Opener Experiences
22:28 Team Performances and Surprises
30:41 Offensive Struggles and Player Dynamics
33:25 Pistons' Shooting Struggles
35:27 Injury Concerns in the NBA
36:57 Intensity of Early Season Games
39:07 Broadcasting Quality in the NBA
41:48 NBA's New Broadcast Partners
46:54 The Evolution of Sports Card Collecting
For their final episode of the Anatomy of a Franchise project, Adam and Mitch bring on Austin Johnson to breakdown the 3 games they watched for the San Antonio Spurs
Thanks to all who listened throughout this project. This isn't the last of the fun off-season projects we will be doing going forward. This is just the jumping point for projects ahead.
Adam and Mitch start their final week of the Anatomy of a Franchise project with Adam's hometown team, the San Antonio Spurs. A team that was synonymous with winning during the 2000's and 2010's, that is known for its history of big men that continues with Wemby joining the franchise.
Adam and Mitch finish the Boston Celtics week with their game's breakdown.
- 1969 NBA Finals vs Lakers Game 7 "Russell's Final Game"
- 1986 ECSF vs Hawks Game 5 "Best Quarter of Basketball"
- 2008 NBA Finals vs Lakers Game 4 "Crazy Comeback against Lakers"
Adam and Mitch move to the Northeast for Mitch's favorite team, the Boston Celtics. The franchise with the most NBA titles, some of the game's biggest names, and a crazy amount of rivalries throughout its history. Below are the three games we will be watching for Friday's games breakdown.
Adam and Mitch wrap up Wolves week with the games breakdown.
- 2004 WCSF Game 7 "KG's Masterpiece" (05:40)
- 2018 Game 82 vs Nuggets (22:16)
- 2022 1st Round Game 4 "KAT's Best IQ Game"
Adam and Mitch are coming down the home stretch with their third-to-final team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. A team that struggled for nearly the first decade they were in the league before bringing in the Franchise's best player, Kevin Garnett. They discuss the limited success of KG's tenure, the 2010's mediocrity, and the rise of the 2020s.
Here are the 3 games to watch for Friday's episode:
Adam and Mitch wrap up Pistons week with the game's breakdown.
- 1988 NBA Finals Game 6 "Thomas Bum Ankle" (04:37)
- 1997 1st Round vs Hawks "Hill's best Pistons Team" (25:18)
- 2004 ECF vs Pacers "Tayshaun Prince Block" (44:21)
Adam and Mitch go to the Motor City, where the Detroit Pistons and their three titles in Franchise history are waiting for them. A team built on defense and team basketball. With the "Bad Boys" of the 80's to the total underdogs of the early 2000s, this team has had its share of success, but also been a bottom-feeder of the league since 2010.
Here are the three games to watch for Friday's game breakdown:
- 1988 NBA Finals Game 6 vs Lakers
Adam and Mitch bring on Mitchell's brother, Evan, who is a massive OKC Thunder fan. They break down the history of the Thunder through Evan's eyes, and they dive into 3 games that have been incredibly important to the franchise's history
Adam and Mitch make a trip to the middle of nowhere, or so it seems. What it actually is is the middle of Oklahoma where the craziest fan base in the NBA presides to cheer for the Thunder. A franchise that just won its first title in OKC, but their history before their move to the south is even more important. The Pacific Northwest is desperately missing its team in Seattle which where the Thunder were moved after a controversial ownership change.
Here are the three games we are going to watch for the Sonics/Thunder:
Adam and Mitch wrap up Hornets week, breaking down three games that have defined their team's history.
- '93 1st Round G4 vs Celtics "Zo game winner" (3:15)
- '98 1st Round G4 vs Hawks "Anthony Mason and Glen Rice lead the Hornets" (21:27)
- 2016 1st Round G4 v Heat "Fun Hornets vs Wade's Heat" (38:19)
The state that is more known for its college basketball, Adam and Mitch move to the Carolinas to talk about the Hornets. A team that is a recent addition to the NBA landscape and had a rebirth in 2004. With some fun talent that has come through the franchise but never stay long, there's little success in the team's history. Here are the three games we will watch for Friday's Games Breakdown:
- 1993 1st Round Game 4 vs Celtics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZquM-a_t68
- 1998 1st Round Game 4 vs Hawks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liCkot0pw9Q
- 2016 1st Round Game 5 vs Heat: https://www.nba.com/game/cha-vs-mia-0041500125
Adam and Mitch wrap up Nuggets week breaking down three historical games that truly define this team's history.
- 1985 WCF Game 2 vs Lakers "Peak English Performance"
- 1994 1st Rnd Game 5 vs Sonics "8 seed over 1 Seed"
- 2009 WCF Game 4 vs Lakers "Billups and Melo take down Lakers"
We move out to the Rocky Mountains for the Denver Nuggets. The guys discuss one of the most fun 80s teams not to win it all, a historic 8-seed in the 90's, the Melo-led teams of the 2000s, and the great Serbian Nikola Jokic and their title in 2023. Below are the games to watch for Friday:
- 1985 WCF Game 2 vs Lakers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS7Oltef9O0
- 1994 1st Rnd Game 5 vs Sonics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Foa6L6nhyQ
- 2009 WCF Game 4 vs Lakers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiUlKaRWO4o
Adam and Mitch are back for part of Toronto Raptors week. They break down the three games they discussed earlier this week:
Regular Season 1996 vs Bulls "Beating the Historic Bulls Team"
2001 1st Rnd Game 5 "First Playoff Series win in franchise history"
2019 ECSF Game 7 "The Bounce"
Adam and Mitch take a trip up to the great white North to visit the only Canadian team left in the NBA, the Toronto Raptors. From Vincanity to the Collapses of the 2010s to their lone title in 2019, the Raptors have done so much for one of the newest additions to the NBA landscape. Below are the 3 games we watch for the games breakdown later this week:
- 3/24/96 vs the Chicago Bulls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y16DjNB3vKs
- 2001 1st Rnd Game 5 vs Knicks: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/2001-east-1st-rd-gm-5-raptors-come-of-age
- 2019 ECSFT Game 7 vs Sixers: https://www.nba.com/game/phi-vs-tor-0041800217
Adam had to call in some help because Mitchell was unavailable, so his brother, Austin, was to the rescue. The duo broke down the three games selected for the haunted franchise, the LA Clippers.
- 1992 1st Rnd vs Jazz "Danny Manning pushes the series to Game 5" (8:56)
- 2006 1st Rnd vs Nuggets "Clippers FINALLY win a playoff series" (31:44)
- 2015 1st Rnd vs Spurs "CP3 knocks out the defending champs" (56:35)
Adam and Mitch begrudgingly move on to a team that has one of the worst histories in the NBA. Whether it is team success, crappy owners, or lack of playoff success, the Los Angeles Clippers were the laughing stock of the NBA as the long-time little brother to the LA Lakers. Now in their own arena and with much better ownership, the Clippers are heading in the right direction. Below are the games to watch for the games pod later this week:
- 1992 West 1st Rnd G4 vs Jazz: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/1992-west-1st-rd-game-4-clippers-vs-jazz
- 2006 West 1st Rnd G4 vs Nuggets: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/2006-west-1st-rd-game-5-clippers-vs-nuggets
- 2015 West 1st Rnd G7 vs Spurs: https://www.nba.com/watch/video/2015-west-1st-rd-game-7-clippers-vs-spurs