The Ringer Nba Show

We give immediate reactions to the Warriors' hot third-quarter comeback against the Blazers, behind strong performances from Steph Curry on offense and Andre Iguodala on defense (1:00). Then, we briefly preview Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, where Toronto will look to make adjustments against the heavily favored Bucks (22:52). Hosts: John Gonzalez and Haley O’Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We recap a hard-nosed win for the Milwaukee Bucks over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals—one that featured a solid performance from Giannis and an outstanding one from his supporting cast (2:08). Then we bounce around to some other news from the league, including Blazers players’ comments about Terry Stotts’s pick-and-roll defense, the Pelicans' chance to draft Zion Williamson, and the NBA coaching carousel (21:09). Hosts: Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now that we know the order of the NBA draft, we go over which teams might be the best fit for the non-Zion top talent: R.J. Barrett, Ja Morant, Darius Garland, Cam Reddish, and more (1:05). Then, we recap Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, in which Steph Curry was dominant and the Warriors of old routed the Trail Blazers (43:34). Finally, we wonder whether Toronto has run into LeBron 2.0 in Giannis Antetokounmpo (47:45). Hosts: Danny Chau, Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The New Orleans Pelicans win the 2019 NBA draft lottery, presumably landing superstar prospect Zion Williamson (5:26), while multiple teams find themselves in more or less fortunate draft positions than expected (16:20). Plus: Kevin O’Connor reports his takeaways from the lottery drawing in Chicago (39:07). Hosts: Chris Ryan, Justin Verrier Guests: Jason Concepcion, Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers advance to the Western Conference finals in impressive fashion, but how far will they be able to push reigning champs Golden State Warriors (0:48)? With the Toronto Raptors now facing the well-rested Milwaukee Bucks, who will emerge from a massive Eastern Conference finals showdown (22:38)? Plus: Recent head coach hirings elicit a wide range of reactions, and many fan bases’ hopes hinge on the results of the NBA draft lottery (48:30). Hosts: Chris Vernon, Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beating fadeaway lifts the Toronto Raptors over the Philadelphia 76ers to move on to the conference finals (3:12), while CJ McCollum’s big night helps the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Denver Nuggets to secure their first conference finals berth in 19 years (32:29). Host: John Gonzalez Guest: Dan Devine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We give our immediate reactions to a statement game from Ben Simmons, who helped the Sixers force a Game 7 in Toronto on Sunday (0:50). Then, we eulogize the Celtics and wonder if the Bucks are flying under the radar as the best team in the league, before wondering how KD's injury will affect the Rockets-Warriors series (16:00). Finally, we recap a tumultuous week in Lakerland, as they lost out on their desired coach in Ty Lue, only to land on Lionel Hollins and Jason Kidd as potential backup options (33:00). Hosts: Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We go over what appears to be the worst possible timeline for the Sixers—backs against the wall in the present, uncertain of how to build their Frankenstein roster in the future (1:15). Then, we run down the larger takeaways from the other series: Boston’s been overwhelmed by Milwaukee, Paul Millsap has found his old form, and the Rockets’ swingmen have been critical (24:50). Finally, we finish with some draft talk about what lessons we can learn from these playoffs, including (for the hundredth time) that teams shouldn’t take inexperienced rim-running centers over skilled combo guards (44:10). Hosts: Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Two of our resident Philadelphia 76ers fans commiserate over the Sixers’ embarrassing loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 5. Hosts: John Gonzalez, Michael Baumann Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giannis Antetokounmpo takes advantage of the imploding Boston Celtics to propel the Milwaukee Bucks to a 3-1 series lead (0:34) while the Houston Rockets hold off a late run from the Golden State Warriors to tie the series (25:04). Plus: The Portland Trail Blazers need to reactivate Dame Time to defeat the Denver Nuggets (42:19), and the Philadelphia 76ers need to address their inconsistent play to compete against Kawhi Leonard’s historically great playoff stretch for the Toronto Raptors (51:10). Hosts: Chris Vernon, Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to give immediate reactions to a gritty, frantic win for the Houston Rockets over the two-time reigning champion Golden State Warriors to even the series at 2-2 (1:10). Then, Simmons and House discuss the Milwaukee Bucks’ sound win over the Boston Celtics to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, which featured a dominant, MVP-like performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo (21:10). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Joe House Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An impressive scoring outburst from Jamal Murray helps the Denver Nuggets edge out the Portland Trail Blazers (3:45) while yet another dominant performance from Kawhi Leonard lifts the Toronto Raptors over a struggling Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers (16:28). A bizarre end-of-game sequence of events, including a missed Stephen Curry dunk, ensures the Houston Rockets an overtime victory over the Golden State Warriors (30:28) while the Milwaukee Bucks take back home-court advantage from the Boston Celtics by revving up their offense (42:50). Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Tate Frazier, Danny Chau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We give our instant reactions to the Sixers’ convincing Game 3 win over the Raptors (1:30), before bouncing around to the other Round 2 series (21:00). Then, we go over some of the offseason news that has gotten swallowed by the playoff churn, including Monty Williams’s and Ty Lue’s impending coaching hires and Gersson Rosas’s new gig as GM of the Timberwolves (35:43). Hosts: Justin Verrier and Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We check in with each of the four playoff series, including what the Celtics need from Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, whether Brett Brown’s adjustments in the Sixers-Raptors series are here to stay, and whether Nikola Jokic has finally made the choice to be a dominant scorer for the rest of the playoffs (1:30). Then we give a quick preview of the big men in the upcoming NBA draft, theorizing about what roles they might fill and whether it’s worth using a high draft pick on any of them (43:23). Hosts: Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, Danny Chau Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Game 2 of the most anticipated playoff series thus far, the Golden State Warriors hold off a bloody-eyed James Harden and the Houston Rockets to defend home-court advantage with a 2-0 lead. Host: John Gonzalez Guest: Haley O’Shaughnessy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the juggernaut Toronto Raptors in Game 2, tempering concerns of a one-sided series (0:47), while Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets present a big-man problem for the Portland Trail Blazers (14:36). The Milwaukee Bucks need to address how to combat the Boston Celtics’ suffocating defense (28:38), while Warriors-Rockets remains derailed by officiating controversies (45:16). Hosts: Chris Vernon, Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first game of the highly anticipated second-round matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets ended with a conspicuous lack of foul calls (4:04), while in the East, the Boston Celtics proved their formidability with a resounding win against the Milwaukee Bucks (16:02). Plus: the Philadelphia 76ers struggled to contain—let alone stop—Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors (24:50), and the San Antonio Spurs got knocked out of the first round in a bizarre sequence at the end of Game 7 versus the Denver Nuggets (37:33). Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Dan Devine, Shea Serrano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We wonder whether the Warriors can close the Clippers in Game 6 in L.A., or whether we’re starting to see signs that they’re unraveling (4:00). Then, we touch on the other Western Conference series that’s still going—Spurs vs. Nuggets—and what a potential loss could mean for Michael Malone, Nikola Jokic, and the rest of the Nuggets franchise (15:30). Finally, we close with—predictably—some Russell Westbrook talk and a preview of the upcoming round of the playoffs (28:00). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We recap one of the most ridiculous shots in NBA history—Damian Lillard’s 37-foot stepback 3 to end the series against Oklahoma City (1:08). Then we talk about the rise of the pull-up 3 in the NBA, and how it might affect scouting and drafting going forward (21:00). Finally, we go over the remaining series and give exit surveys for the Nets and Magic, the other teams that were eliminated on Tuesday night (34:30). Hosts: Kevin O’Connor and Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Phoenix Suns fire head coach Igor Kokoskov, continuing a season of constant upheaval for the franchise (1:14), the Milwaukee Bucks look unstoppable as they complete their sweep of the Detroit Pistons (22:38), and the Utah Jazz pull off an impressive win against the Houston Rockets to avoid a sweep (33:36). Plus: as the first round comes to a close, the most interesting narratives for the remaining series (49:56). Hosts: Chris Vernon, Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices