Game Theory Podcast

In this episode, Mo Dakhil joins the podcast and we talk about five teams: the Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers and Kings have turned it on to start the year, while the other three are stuck in neutral. Why? We dive deep into all five.The order: Chicago Bulls: Start to 20:00Golden State: 24:00-47:00Brooklyn Nets: 47:00-1:03:00Blazers: 1:03:00-1:13:00Kings: 1:13:00-1:25:00 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Schindler joins Sam to break down the Champions' Classic, where Kentucky played Michigan State and Duke played Kansas. What do we make of Jon Scheyer's big game debut? What do we think about Duke moving forward? Did Dereck Lively, Kyle Filipowski or Tyrese Proctor impress? GRADEY DICK. Then, we chat about Kentucky. Why was Cason Wallace the best long-term prospect we saw on the court tonight? What did we make of Kentucky and John Calipari's offense? Anyone in particular on Michigan State stand out?Then, we chat about three NBA topics. First, who has been the best defender in the NBA through 15 games? Particularly, we dive deep into OG Anunoby and Brook Lopez, among discussing others. Then, we talk about the Celtics and whether or not the team's defense, which has give up way more points than you'd think early in the season, should be worried? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Adam Spinella joins the show to break down the first week of college basketball action. We start with Emoni Bates, chat about some of the other terrific prospects who have looked great to start the season, such as Brandon Miller, Jett Howard, Keyonte George, and plenty others, We also chat about the G League Ignite's start to the season, including a Mojave King breakdown. Then, we do Tank Watch on the Hornets and Wizards.Then, Sam chats with Zach Edey, one of the most dominant players in the country for the last two years at Purdue, a 7-foot-4 center who establishes position whenever he wants. But his journey in basketball has been fascinating, going from Canada, where he played baseball and hockey to eventually finding basketball and embracing the grind. He explains his journey within the game at this point, and then dives deep into his game, explaining how it's not just his size that allows him to dominate games: it's his focus on the fundamentals and little things. Learn more about your ad

Andrew Schlecht joins the podcast today to chat about three things! First, we start with how the MVP race is shaping up in the early season, and how we'd handicap the race at this stage after this first portion of the season.Then, we move to the Lakers, who continue to lose and look not particularly good in doing so. Should the Lakers look into moving Anthony Davis, as Bill Simmons mentioned recently as a potential option? How should the team proceed here?Finally, we chat about the team near and dear to Andrew's heart, the Oklahoma City Thunder, a beautiful team with a weird roster, a monster Shai Gilgeous-Alexander start, and real Poku developments! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Schindler joins Sam to, much like last week, dive into seven teams across the NBA. This time, we play a game called "Real or Fake?" We'll dive into the Mavs, Warriors, Heat, Jazz, Hawks, Wolves, and Pacers and decide if their performances thus far after 10-12 games this season for each are real, or if they're fool's gold so far.Then, a hottest take on Rings of Power and Celebrimbor, then finally, a Mark Schindler food takes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the eve of the college basketball season starting, Adam Spinella joins Sam to dive into a 2023 NBA Mock Draft. It's a good way to preview what we'll be looking for from certain players as they get started in college basketball this season, as well as what we're continuing to hunt for throughout the country this year.Guys like Victor Wembanyama, Scoot Henderson, Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, Nick Smith, Tyrese Proctor, Dereck Lively, and many more will be discussed in depth as we run through and make picks!After that is over, Sam interviews Gonzaga center Drew Timme, where they discuss what brought him back to Gonzaga for a fourth year, in addition to doing a tape watchalong! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sam chats with Mark Schindler where they dive deep into some lineup data and talk a bit about what the best NBA lineups tell us about some of those teams? Basically, it was a good way into talking about the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns and....the Washington Wizards?! But first, we start on the Kyrie and Josh Primo situations and just how incredibly disappointing they are for the league as a whole. Also, they close on the Houston Rockets, and why they have been disappointing even by rebuilding standards thus far.Time stamps:Kyrie Irving -- 0:00-10:30Josh Primo -- 10:30-20:00The play on-court has been incredible -- 20:30-29:00Cavaliers! 29:00-42:00Bucks -- 42:00-50:00Suns: 50:00-1:00:00Warriors: 1:00:00-1:11:00Wizards, Thunder: 1:11:00-1:27:00Rockets: 1:27:00-1:38:00BARBARIAN: 1:38:00-1:43:00Kyrie: `1:47:00-1:53:00Caleb Love Interview: 1:53:00-end Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Spinella is back for the second part of a promised two-part episode this week, with us diving deep into the 2023 NBA Draft class with some bold predictions heading into the college basketball season. We talk about Duke's freshman four, overall outlooks on the class, the upperclass prospects heading into the year, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Indiana, and more.But first, we start with the NCAA's Baba Miller decision, as the organization handed down a 16-game suspension to the Spanish freshman forward that defies comprehension.Then, around the one-hour mark, Sam chats with Dayton center DaRon Holmes. Holmes is considered a potential 2023 NBA Draft prospect, and a likely breakout player in college basketball. Sam and DaRon chat about how he ended up at Dayton, how he got involved in basketball, and then they break down tape for 25 minutes, discussing his rim-running, his passing, his jumper and his defensive ability across the board. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoic

It's time to check the vibes across the NBA after two weeks of the NBA season. Adam Spinella joins Sam to dive deep into seven teams across the league. First though, they have to chat about a few news items.They start with Bojan Bogdanovic's extension in Detroit. Then, they move on to Josh Primo, who was cut in San Antonio after allegedly exposing himself to women; then, we chat about Kyrie, and why his press conference following the Nets' loss to Indiana was as harmful as it was.Then they move on to checking the vibes. We start with the Nets, then move to the 76ers, Lakers, Hornets, Blazers, Knicks and Cavaliers. Some positives, some negatives, some fake trades, and a lot of fun storylines league-wide to dive into. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam is joined by Mike Prada, an editor at The Athletic, formerly of SB Nation, and the author of a new book, Spaced Out, which discusses in-depth how the NBA's 3-point revolution has changed basketball, and how the rest of the game has adjusted around it.In that vein, Mike and I will discuss some interesting theories he discusses within the book, and then we do a little experiment trying to determine which NBA teams and rosters have the most "modern" construction and are set up for the best success long-term because of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Mark Schindler is here and he joins Sam to break down some of the fun, exciting teams and moments across the NBA thus far, including another Pascal Siakam leap, the Raptors, why we're still believing in the Kings, how fun the Pelicans are with Zion Williamson back, how the Nets are fitting together, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Spinella joins the show for this episode to break down the Rookies that we've seen across the NBA so far, including some of the standout performances from players like Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Bennedict Mathurin, Keegan Murray, and others. But first, we have to start with the Lakers 0-3 start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cole Huff from The Athletic and a variety of places is here to break down a lot of different things from the opening week of the NBA! Kawhi Leonard is back! Philadelphia is 0-2, but should anyone hit the panic button? The Hawks have a new backcourt they're integrating, Boston has a new bench unit, and Detroit/Orlando played the most fun game of the early season! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA's rookie extension window has come and gone. So for that, we've got a three-part episode. First, I chatted with Danny Leroux about what we can take away from this year's window, a strange one at the nexus of a draft that hasn't established a normal amount of stars yet and a television deal that everyone expects but has yet to be signed. Should we think much of the players not extended like Cam Johnson, Grant Williams and P.J. Washington? What should we take away from guys like De'Andre Hunter and Keldon Johnson getting extended? All that and more.Then, I chatted with Kelly Iko about the wild Kevin Porter extension, a deal unlike any extension we've seen in history for a rookie scale player. It has 16M guaranteed on a 4 year, 82.5M deal. We talk about it.Then, I chat with Brad Rowland about the De'Andre Hunter extension. Why has Hunter, outside of the injuries, not quite reached his full potential yet? And is 4/90M an overpay? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Adam Spinella is here, and we dive deep into the Warriors extensions of Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins. Are these good value deals? Does this make sense for the Dubs? And what does this mean for their long-term planning? We also chat Brandon Clarke and his extension with the Grizzlies.Then, we dive deep into bigs in the 2023 NBA Draft. Who are the guys you need to know? Including Victor Wembanyama, GG Jackson, Kel'el Ware, Dereck Lively, and more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shamit Dua joins this episode, and we dive deep into bold predictions for the upcoming 2022-23 NBA season in the Eastern Conference. We chat about the Blazers, Nuggets, Grizzlies, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jared Weiss from The Athletic joins this episode, and we dive deep into five bold predictions for the upcoming 2022-23 NBA season in the Eastern Conference. We chat about the 76ers, the Cavaliers, the Magic, the Hornets and Knicks, and give some takes on what is coming for those teams this season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Adam Spinella joins the show to chat about a few things. First, we chat Draymond Green and Jordan Poole, and the fallout from the punch that Draymond chose to throw in practice at Poole. Then, we chat about the Lakers extending Rob Pelinka and whether or not that's a good plan. Finally, we move to our quick 2023 NBA Draft Wings preview, where we dive deep into all of the wings that could feature in this 2023 NBA Draft class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The G League Ignite played Metropolitans 92 on October 6 in the second game of their series, which means NBA scouts and evaluators got a live, in-person look at Victor Wembanyama against Scoot Henderson, the potential No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks in the 2023 NBA Draft. Unfortunately, Henderson got hurt, but good lord Wembanyama did some special things. A dive into what could be an epic tanking saga this year in the NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Mark Schindler joins the show to break down the NBA's most likely break out players in 2022-23. The way we're doing this is simple. We go back and forth, choosing three players each and diving deep into each of them and explaining why we're all in on each of these players. Then, I chat with Ricky O'Donnell, and dive deep into the best prospect game we've seen in many years: Victor Wembanyama vs. Scoot Henderson. on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices