Game Theory Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, Sam is joined by two guests. First, Kane Pitman joins the show to break down the Celtics win over the Bucks. One of the best first round series in a while, the Celtics blew out Milwaukee from the 3-point line. What happened? Then, we do a mini preview of the Heat-Celtics series.Then, Kellan Olson is here, and we dive into a completely baffling Suns blow out loss to the Mavericks, where they looked entirely overmatched from the first moment onward. Is it even explainable what happened here to the NBA's most consistent team? How does Dallas match up with Golden State? And most importantly now for Phoenix, where do the Suns even go from here following that game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode two of the Future of Sports series, The Athletic's Mike Smeltz looks at how the team experience may change in the future: increased use of technology in gameplay, robotic umpires and the unique initiatives of a startup sports league. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In episode one of the Future of Sports series, The Athletic's Mike Smeltz looks at how the fan experience may change: how going to games, watching games at home and how memorabilia is shifting from physical to digital. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie to break down the 2022 NBA Draft Combine Invite list, with Sam going on a rant explaining why the selection process for the combine is flawed and needs to change. But first, we start on Giannis Antetokounmpo, why he's the best player in the league, and why Boston fan Matt is frustrated with how he gets officiated. Then we move to an MVP discussion, and whether or not the playoffs and how the bigs in the MVP race have played changes the discussion as it refers to the 2022 NBA Draft. Finally, we close with a mailbag! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, James Edwards from The Athletic joins the show and we chat about the NBA, MVP, and the playoffs. We start with 10 minutes on MVP, which NIkola Jokic reportedly has won. James had a vote, and explained why he voted for Jokic. I explain why the whole conversation this year just bummed me out.Then, we dive into all of the playoff series. We start with 76ers-Heat, then we move to Mavs-Suns, then to Warriors-Grizzlies, then some quick thoughts on Bucks-Celtics (because they play as this podcast is getting released). Finally, I talk to James about Jaden Ivey, and why I love a potential fit with the Pistons and Jaden Ivey if he ends up there on draft night while James has been a bit more skeptical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie to break down how Bigfoot stole his AirPods at LegoLand, then we discuss the Celtics-Bucks series, Dillon Brooks' WTF foul on Gary Payton II; A deep dive into Leonard Miller from a scouting perspective in the 2022 NBA Draft; then, we do mailbag questions! A packed, fun show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Matt Pennie and Sam Vecenie dive deep into the 2022 NBA Draft with a Mock Draft! See where Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith, Shaedon Sharpe, and 25 other players end up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sam Vecenie is joined by Cole Huff to chat about the NBA playoffs. We start with a deep dive into the Brooklyn Nets and their sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics. Then, we dive into why the Celtics should be considered the favorite right now in the Eastern Conference. Then, we move to the Raptors-76ers series, and we do a deep dive on that series explaining why the Raptors are in a good position here moving forward despite going down 3-0 and bringing it back to 3-2 with the Sixers set to travel back to Toronto. Then, we move to Utah, where the Jazz are a mess because of their perimeter defense and look unlikely to mount much of a game against Dallas in Game Six based off of what we've seen so far. Finally we finish on the Pelicans-Suns series. The Pelicans are good! We break down why that is, and why the team is poised to give Phoenix all it can in the next few games with that series at 2-2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sam Vecenie is joined by Matt Pennie and they dive deep into a number of things. First, they talk about the Boston Celtics-Brooklyn Nets series, some of the factors that have led to Boston taking a 2-0 lead in the series, and then focus specifically on how Boston's success drafting this team has made them the most positive draft story of the 2022 season. The narrative that Danny Ainge couldn't draft should be dead.Then, they move into talking about Jay Wright, a coach with an incredible career whose retirement has brought out so many of the terrible takes that Twitter can bring. Why Jay Wright's retirement doesn't mean that college basketball is dying, and why the transfer portal and NIL rights are GOOD for college basketball.Then, they chat about Shaedon Sharpe, and his NBA Draft situation after he announced that he is declaring for the draft and after media reports announced that he will be in the draft for good. We dive deep into his game, the situation surrounding him, and plenty more. Fi

The second part of a two-part episode breaking down the NBA playoffs Game 1 action. We chat a lot about Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves, the Nuggets' lineup struggles against the Warriors, the Grizzlies-Timberwolves super fun series, the Mike Budenholzer experience, and Chris Paul going absolute god mode in Game 1 versus the Pelicans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the first part of a two-part Game Theory episode, Sam is joined by Jared Weiss to dive deep into an instant classic: the Celtics beat the Nets on a killer late layup by Jayson Tatum. They outlasted an unbelievable Kyrie Irving performance that included 39 points, six assists, five rebounds, at least four middle fingers to the crowd, and one expletive-filled interaction with a fan. What do we make of this series moving forward? How does Brooklyn respond? Can Boston keep taking advantage of these mismatches they're getting? Should the Nets try to get Ben Simmons back as early as possible? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave DuFour joins the show, and we run through a quick preview of the play-in games: Cleveland-Brooklyn, Minnesota-Clippers, Hawks-Hornets, Spurs-Pelicans. However, the meat of the show is a deep dive into All-Defense teams. We do that in the most fun way possible: we try to competitively draft All-Defense teams. We try to pick the best All-Defense team possible, and will send it to the listeners: who drafted the best All-Defense team, Dave or Sam?Then, we jump into some stray rookie thoughts, including Rookie of the Year and an explanation as to my pick in the Scottie Barnes versus Evan Mobley conundrum (as well as where Cade Cunningham fits into the mix). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie to discuss the Final Four in New Orleans! We got to hang out! Sam is stuck in the health and safety protocols with a COVID diagnosis in Portland! But more than that, we also got to see a number of awesome games and prospects, including the best matchup I've ever seen in person, the Duke-UNC game that doubled as Coach K's last game. On top of that, Kansas-Villanova played a fun game, then Kansas went on to beat North Carolina to win the national title! All of the prospects including Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin, Wendell Moore, Mark Williams, Ochai Agbaji, Christian Braun, Caleb Love, Armando Bacot and more. Then, we chat about some prospects who recently declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, including Ryan Rollins and others. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sam chats with Matt Moore from The Action Network to dive deep into everything NBA MVP as we get into the final week of the season. Is this truly a three-man race between Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid? Could anyone like Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, or others crash the party? We do a dive on ALL of the candidates, including deep dives on Giannis, Jokic and Embiid. We discuss the candidates in comparison to one another without getting particularly negative on anyone, and we come up with a ballot for each of us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins the show to break down all of the action we saw this weekend during the Sweet 16 and the Elite 8. Particularly, we focus on the teams who progressed to the Final Four. We talk for 25 minutes about Duke, its prospects, and Coach K. Is Mark Williams a lottery guy? Who is Duke's second-best prospect? Then we move forward into Kansas, Villanova and North Carolina, and dive deep into some of the players who have had some success over the course of the tournament. We then move toward the Sweet 16 action we saw, including some stuff on Jaden Ivey, Chet Holmgren, Jaylin Williams, and plenty more. Then my internet goes out and we end the podcast early! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie to dive DEEP into the first and second rounds of the 2022 NCAA Tournament! We jump in about St. Peter's and how they've found success under Shaheen Holloway, then dive into some draft prospects. Who succeeded and failed in their auditions for NBA teams? Who was the player that helped themselves most? We talk Chet Holmgren and his game against Memphis, Jabari Smith against Miami, Paolo Banchero, Jaden Ivey, Johnny Davis, Benn Mathurin and Arizona, Tennessee and Michigan, Malaki Branham and plenty more. Then, we look forward to the weekend, and what games we're most excited to see this weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is one of the best NBA seasons ever, and it's because the star power across the league is playing at the highest level imaginable. The league has never been deeper with stars than it is right now. For 20 minutes, Danny Leroux joins the show and we talk about all of the utterly elite performances we're seeing on a nightly basis from Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Giannis, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Steph prior to his injury, LeBron, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka, Trae Young, Darius Garland, Ja Morant and all of the other amazing players who have continued to step up league wide. Then, we talk about the MVP race between Jokic, Embiid and Giannis, and finished with some talk about the weird Defensive Player of the Year race, which is littered with injuries from the best candidates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sam Vecenie and Matt Pennie are here to break down all of the NCAA Tournament Bracket reveal. We run through region by region, breaking down all of the matchups, the NBA prospects, the big picture takeaways, and more from an eventful Sunday in sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie and they talk about eight players who have the most to gain or lose as March Madness gets going. The first of those names is Chet Holmgren, and they start with 20 minutes on the conversation surrounding Chet, including why he's such a monster and why the conversation needs to shift from what he doesn't have to how complete his game is. (0:00-20:00)Then, they chat about Ochai Agbaji, Jaden Ivey, AJ Griffin, TyTy Washington, Tari Eason, Dalen Terry, Alondes Williams and Jake LaRavia. (20:00-42:00Then, they talk NBA Draft Prospects of the Week: Ryan Rollins at Toledo and Matthew Murrell at Ole Miss. (42:00-50:00). Then, they answer mailbag questions (50:00-1:00:00). Finally they close with 15 minutes on The Batman, a fantastic new entry into the series of Batman films from Matt Reeves (1:00:00-end). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Sam Vecenie is joined by Matt Pennie to answer questions regarding the 2022 NBA Draft as we head into March Madness. We start by addressing the MANY rumors that he is a candidate to take over as head coach at his alma mater, UMass.Then we actually dive into draft questions. We address weaknesses that the top pick candidates have in 2022, the best teams to watch in the NCAA Tournament for NBA fans, the players most likely to spike up the board come March Madness. In all, I think we answered over 30 questions in 90 minutes, so we covered a lot of ground! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices