On The Nba Beat

This season’s Los Angeles Lakers are being talked about for mostly unfortunate reasons. One of the best players of all time, Kobe Bean Bryant, will retire upon season’s end and is undoubtedly playing the worst individual basketball of his career. The team is just as bad, beginning with a 3-18 record that includes a loss to the now 1-21 76ers in Bryant’s underwhelming homecoming. But while there’s certainly ample room for doom and gloom on the episode, Rey-Rey is Fundamental’s Rey Moralde talks about some of the more positive aspects of the current Lakers, such as their exciting young core, led by Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and potentially D’Angelo Russell. Rey speaks glowingly about those guys, as well as less glowingly on the disappointing close to Bryant’s career and how poor of a job he believes Byron Scott is doing with this unit. Here are some highlights:   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The podcast warriors wax Warrior, as they delve into why Splash Brother Klay Thompson has not been splashing as much, Festus Ezeli’s promising development and coach Luke Walton’s reluctance to rest his stars. The trio also takes sides on a couple of juicy player battles with the media: Kevin Durant vs. the media on their treatment of Kobe Bryant and Draymond Green and Andrew Bogut’s beef with Jazz reporter Ben Dowsett on locker room reporting.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors continue to make history, Andy Liu of SB Nation’s Golden State of Mind comes by to drop some knowledge. He opines on the team’s dominant 19-0 start, Stephen Curry’s MVP play, the Warriors’ biggest weakness (huh? they have one?), their underrated front-office selflessness and so much more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While the Warriors are grabbing all the headlines, thanks to a perfect 16-0 start, the reliable San Antonio Spurs are quietly succeeding at a high level on both ends of the court. They are led by 24-year-old phenom and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, but as with all Gregg Popovich-led Spurs teams over the years, individual accolades are not what it’s about. Stephen Anderson of Project Spurs graciously came on the show to discuss the Spurs’ scalding start, Leonard’s insane potential, the addition of LaMarcus Aldridge and plenty more.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite Aaron’s absence, Joshua and Loren revisit the Hawks conversation that began with Lang Whitaker earlier in the week. We touch upon Atlanta’s mounting injuries and how those might impact such a well-balanced Hawks squad even more than a typical star-centric team. Although new acquisition Tiago Splitter might not be garnering too many minutes in the early season, we talk about the types of contributions he can make come playoff time.In the second segment, we reflect on the Warriors’ exhilarating comeback Thursday night against the Clippers. The Dubs’ small lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green has been killing teams in their limited minutes together so far. Should that unit be utilized more? And how integral is the team’s second MVP, Draymond Green? Finally, despite the embarrassing national TV loss, Joshua details what encouraged him about the Clippers’ performance Thursday.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Jeff Teague’s ankle injury, the Atlanta Hawks have been on a bit of a slide, dropping three straight to the Nets, Jazz and Timberwolves. Fortunately, they began the season winning eight of 10. This week, devout ATLien Lang Whitaker, who writes and podcasts at NBA.com, joins the show to talk about the Hawks, who are seeking an encore performance to their memorable 60-win season from a year ago despite being overlooked coming into the season.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this action-packed episode, the guys reflect on the state of the Oklahoma City Thunder, particularly given Kevin Durant’s hamstring strain. Later, the trio celebrates the emergence of 24-year-old Kawhi Leonard as a bona fide offensive star and explores what in the hell is going on in Sacramento these days. Should George Karl lose his job this early in the season? Can the damage be undone? The OTNB boys are on the case.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following Tuesday’swin over the Wizards, we caught up with Chuck Chaney of ThunderObsessed.com todiscuss the current state of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chuck is encouraged bythe increased space new coach Billy Donovan’s system has afforded theoffense, but he’s wary of the Thunder’s lack of defensive intensity. It’s still“extended training camp,” for this team and coach, Chuck asserts, but theywon’t be a championship contender if they can’t find a way to defend.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, the A-A-Ron Block is devoted to continued discussion of the Chicago Bulls. This intriguing-yet-perplexing team has defeated the Cavaliers and Thunder, while also surrendering 130 points to the Hornets. Its starting point guard is an enigma, too, going three straight games with single-digit scoring before erupting for 29 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds against the Thunder Thursday. Following Derrick Rose’s strong individual performance, the guys debate the validity of the latest trade rumors swirling around him. They also touch on frontcourt rotations, the pros and cons of starting Doug McDermott and more. Later, LLC Incorporated breaks down the best rookies so far — Karl-Anthony Towns is the twins’ consensus pick — and the league’s most pleasant surprises and early disappointments. While the Blazers and Pistons have impressed Aaron so far, Joshua is particularly irked by the Grizzlies’ sluggish start. Finally, who’s currently the worst team in the league? The guys disagree.  &nb

This week, Sean Highkin of Bleacher Report, NBC Sports and Sports on Earth gives us a detailed glimpse into the Chicago Bulls, a talented team that returns much of its roster but is playing under a first-year NBA coach in Fred Hoiberg. Sean highlights the many differences between Hoiberg and his predecessor, Tom Thibodeau, including Hoiberg’s considerably more easy-going nature. He also provides us the latest on Derrick Rose and explains why Chicago’s dynamic offense could make up for most of what the team figures to lose on the defensive end. Among other topics, Sean breaks down the Bulls’ impressive depth in the frontcourt, touching upon why Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah have rarely taken the court together. Despite the Bulls’ 130-105 drubbing in Charlotte, which occurred shortly before the interview took place, Sean looks forward to another strong season in the Windy City.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of the podcast, LLC Incorporated continues the week’s discussion of the Los Angeles Clippers. The co-hosts touch on the Clippers’ bad-boy reputation, Lance Stephenson’s comfort level and whether this is the best team in franchise history.Finally, on the J-Spot, the boys play around with small sample size overreaction, exploring what has surprised them most so far in the newborn NBA season. Shocking upsets, impressive player performances and more!Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

WithDeAndre Jordan returning and the bench deficiencies seemingly fixed,expectations for the Los Angeles Clippers are sky high this season. Fox Sports Radio’sIsaac Lowenkron stops by to convince us why we should believe the hype. Ourguest envisions the team’s newfound depth as a vital factor in its championshiphopes, claiming that such depth essentially allows Doc Rivers to be a“basketball mad scientist,” experimenting with various potential rotations. Healso explains why the team is likely to transform from a mediocre defense intoan elite unit. And could eight-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul truly be theClippers’ most underrated player? With all these topics covered, among others,you’re now officially ready for the Clippers’ season to tip off Wednesday night. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the J Spot, the panel continues the Kings discussion from earlier in the week, touching upon the Kings’ playoff hopes, Ben McLemore’s changing role given the improved guard depth, Rudy Gay’s seemingly newfound efficiency and how much it matters to have winning veterans on an up-and-coming team. Next, on the A-A-Ron Block, the league’s seven new head coaches are analyzed. What can we expect from their respective squads, and who has the most pressure in their new role? Which coaches are taking over the best and worst teams? Finally, with the NBA GM survey being released earlier this week, LLC Incorporated poses three original questions that should have been included on the actual survey. Well, maybe not, but they sure are fun ones.Which NBA player or personality would YOU want to be your personal stylist? Let us know on Twitter: @OnTheNBABeat.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Sacramento Kings are mired in a nine-year playoff drought. But James Ham, Kings Insider for Comcast SportsNet, brings preseason cheer in the form of his optimistic outlook. He believes there is a bigger-than-expected opening for a team like the Kings to sneak into one of the West’s final three playoff spots. He acknowledges the potential for combustibility, while praising the team’s myriad offseason acquisitions around DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay. Particularly, James shares his enthusiasm for rookie big man Willie Cauley-Stein and what he can do to improve a previously miserable defensive squad. Also, the Rondo enigma is further explored. *From this point forward, each interview episode will be titled the week number followed by “a,” whereas each banter episode will be considered the “b” show for the week. Thus, this second interview show will be 2a. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the debut of OTNB’s three banter segments (the A-A-RonBlock, LLC Incorporated and the J-Spot), the co-hosts react to theWarriors-Clippers media beef and opine on Jamal Crawford’s fit with theClippers’ retooled roster. Later, the panel praises Elfrid Payton’s dynamic young game, as it includes Orlando as a potential surprise team this season. TheStifle Tower, Rudy Gobert, gets some serious love on the show, and the merits of Sam Hinkie’s radical approach to team-building are debated. Finally, ifyou were going to cheat on your favorite NBA team, with which squad would itbe? Loren and Aaron provide interesting answers.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the very first episode, Aaron, Joshua and Loren are joined by Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders to talk about the many contenders out West, young players poised for breakout seasons and what in the world is going on with Jeremy Lin’s hair, among other general NBA topics. Spoiler alert: Alex likes the spikes. “The spikes are great.”  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices