A short handed crew delivers with help from the live studio audience. Milton talks through a new concept that has many referees calling travel. A few seasoned referees debate a new move by James Harden. Milton and Sony ponder how long it may take for some previously unseen footwork to make it to the league. Milton previews a new program he's launching soon. Sony ends the pod early to bag up debris from the storm.
WNBA player Linnae Harper bolsters the discussion with her expertise and passion for the game. Milton and Linnae debate physicality on a flagrant foul call, and footwork on a drive to the ball. Chip tries to recruit Linnae into officiating, ie "The Dark Side". Milton makes the case for the importance of players learning the rules. Linnae sheds light on what many officials may not understand. Sony listens.
Marc Davis (NBA referee) and Chip Clark (Deep Dive Ref, Orlando Magic) join the crew. Milton runs out of game film to watch and resorts to analyzing 2k25. Marc explains his litmus test for determining when the gather occurs, and shares a story about one of the greatest ball handlers of all time. Chip explains an interesting rules difference between levels of play while breaking down a hop-step. The crew agrees on an offensive foul at LA Fitness that was perhaps a flagrant. Sony cracks a few jokes.
The crew discuss a step through from Luka, with particular attention given to the pivot foot. The Milton breaks down a creative play from Bones Hyland and gives him some flowers. Gucci explains a crazy example of illegally assisting a teammate. Milton and Gucci agree on a flop, and Sony surprisingly nails the explanation of the incorrect call.
The crew breaks down rules related to ball control in determining possession. Milton and Gucci agree on a missed self pass and an axis point travel. Gucci highlights the challenges officials face with split-second decisions and obstructed views. Milton searches for ways to exploit referee weak spots on the court. Sony reminisces about short sleeve jerseys and the NBA New Ball of 2006.
03:11 The Role of Defenders in Assessing Controlled Taps
08:56 The Importance of the Gather in Determining Possession
13:03 The Debate on Short Sleeve Jerseys in Basketball
25:10 Minimizing Guessing and the Importance of Off-Ball Action
29:14 Exploiting Weak Spots: Strategies Used by Players
34:18 The Importance of Footwork and Travel Calls
43:00 The Challenges of Blocked Vision and Unfair Grading
The crew revisits The NBA Finals and the Lakers coaching hire. Milton and James disagree about PJ Washington's push in the back, but agree Payton Pritchard did not travel on his half-court buzzer beater. Milton breaks down a play never seen before. James gives to flowers to a young player's footwork. A very special guest calls in to correct Sony.
The crew ponders whether championship level basketball is officiated differently. Milton dissects contact plays featuring Jalen Brunson and Lu Dort. Gucci shrugs off conspiracy theories about The NBA being scripted. The crew laughs at a few youth-level flops, and gets a bit more serious about the recent WNBA conversation.
01:38 Championship-Level Games and Officiating
13:16 Understanding Legal Guarding Position
26:34 The Illegal Act of Stealing the Jump Ball
28:36 Understanding the Nuances of Basketball Plays
37:39 The Deceptive Nature of Flops
41:14 The Caitlin Clark Incident
46:24 Toughening Up and Adapting in the Game
49:00 Appreciating the Women's Game in the WNBA
The team encounters a few highly unusual plays they've never seen before. Milton breaks down some recent Luka magic. James explains his thought process during a recent Knicks/Pacers skirmish. Milton and James discuss the use of Hawkeye technology on a KAT basket interference. Sony changes the episode theme while recording.
00:00 The Empathy Gap and Pressure on Referees
31:31 The Art of Officiating: Making Accurate Calls
35:18 Interpreting Unusual Plays: The Ball Hitting the Net
46:44 Understanding the Step-Through Move: Rules and Competitive Advantage
James notices Milton's influence while officiating a recent playoff game. The crew discusses a pair of missed calls from the playoffs and the comparison of players from different eras. Sony compares hoopers with cars and mathematicians. Milton makes a passionate case for imperfection in the game.
The crew disagrees on the infamous end of Iowa vs UConn, but agrees on lowered shoulders. Gucci senses Milton's influence during an NBA game. Milton shares the true motivation behind his content. Speeding tickets and bright sneakers come up yet AGAIN. Sony names another Milton move.
The crew debates a Hezigod play and agrees on Jordan Poole's sneakers. Milton breaks down his latest creation and causes James to ponder retirement. Sony forgets to press the record button.
