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Zach and Mo Dakhil of The Athletic discuss the Warriors and Lakers, the surging Mavs, the Thunder going for the #1 seed, the state of the MVP race, and the three most important players for the rest of the season. Who has a better chance of making a run- Warriors or Lakers? (4:43) The surging Mavs (14:51) The state of the Suns (23:33) The Thunder are really going for it (31:01) Shai's MVP case (39:36) Tatum does not have a statistical case for MVP (47:34) The three most important players for the stretch run (53:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim Bontemps discuss the Brooklyn Nets soap opera of the last 10 years and where they go after firing Jacque Vaughn, and Tim picks his biggest East storyline of the rest of the season. Plus: Breaking down Mike Conley's extension. Then ESPN's Malika Andrews joins to fix All-Star, pick Most Confusing Teams in the West, and more. Plus: The Debut of Malika Andrews Worst Take of the Month.  The Nets firing of Jacque Vaughn (1:22) A turbulent decade plus for the Nets (16:55) Minnesota extends Mike Conley (38:15) Most intriguing Eastern Conference storyline the rest of the way (44:12) Andrews (52:15) Ideas to fix All-Star Weekend (53:40) Most confounding teams in the West (1:34:52) Malika's Worst Take of the Month (1:43:46) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Ramona Shelburne discuss the Warriors attempting to trade for LeBron James, LeBron's future in LA, the recent surges for both teams and whether they can do damage in the playoffs. Then John Hollinger of the Athletic weighs in on Rookie of the Year and checks in rookies in Charlotte, Memphis, Washington, Toronto, Utah, Houston, and more. Plus: Klay Thompson coming off the bench, Deni Avdija's recent play, the Bucks falling to 3-7 under Doc Rivers, much more! 1:00- Ramona's reporting on how close LeBron to the Warriors was to happening. 15:00- What are LeBron's goals at this stage of his career? 25:15- Are the Lakers and Warriors latest stretch sustainable? 30:05- The Warriors commitment to build a contender around Steph. 39:49- John Hollinger joins 40:00- Brandin Podziemski replacing Klay Thompson in the starting lineup 46:45- Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and the Utah Jazz 54:30- GG Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies 1:01:45- Concern level for Milwaukee 1:07:35- Brandon Miller's impressive season 1:17:50- Scoot Henderson's confusing rookie year 1:20:30- Houston Rockets' Guard Room 1:24:40- Rapid Fire Rookies 1:32:24- Rookie of the Year debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and Steve Jones Jr. of The Dunker Spot pick their 5 Biggest Questions for the rest of the NBA season: Bucks, Suns, home-court in the West, Knicks, Sixers, Lakers and Warriors figuring things out, Trae Young's future, much more. Then Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com joins to discuss the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers: Are they contenders? What are the Bucks? (1:29) Who wins the West? (11:10) How good are the Suns? (19:52) Are you starting to believe in the Lakers or Warriors? (25:24) Can the Knicks and Sixers hold on? (41:59) Can Boston avoid getting in its own way? (47:41) What's the plan with Trae Young? (51:01) Who wins coach of the year? (1:04:05) Fedor (1:07:28) How is the reintegration of Garland and Mobley going? (1:12:30) Cavs have the inside track at the #2 seed in the East (1:17:14) Is this team a legitimate championship contender? (1:21:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach breaks down all the deals that happened and didn't happen at the NBA trade deadline with ESPN's Bobby Marks and then ESPN's Kevin Pelton coming out of the bullpen in a mega-episode. The guys hit every move, every big non-move (Lakers, Warriors, Bulls again!, Clippers, more) -- and almost every team.  2:50- The Knicks "Home-run" deadline moves. 15:45- The Detroit Pistons confusing deadline. 25:00 The Lakers quiet trade deadline. 30:00- Atlanta Hawks not moving Dejounte Murray 42:00- What is Chicago's direction? 54:20- Analyzing Dallas' moves at the trade deadline 1:10:00- Kevin Pelton joins the podcast 1:11:00- Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors trade 1:20:00- Warriors standing pat. 1:25:00- The Brooklyn Nets holding onto their assets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss Joel Embiid's upcoming surgery, ramifications for the Sixers going forward, all things trade deadline, All-Star snubs, MVP candidates, and much more.  Embiid to have surgery (1:02) Zach's tweak to the 65 game rule (9:22) How Sixers will approach trade deadline (15:20) Big picture on the trade deadline (21:28) Possible moves for the Mavs (28:59) Rockets, Cavs, and Nets (39:20) Jazz (49:56) Clippers (56:19) MVP candidates (59:25) Nuggets (1:05:34) All-Star injury replacements (1:10:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach talks about Joel Embiid's injury and what comes next with injury expert Jeff Stotts. Then ESPN's Chris Herring joins to discuss the Lakers beating Boston without Anthony Davis and LeBron, LeBron's cryptic tweets, Lakers options at trade deadline, Knicks recent play and Jalen Brunson, Boston's up-and-down last two weeks, and their most interesting trade deadline teams: Chicago, Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Sacramento, Atlanta, the Clippers, more -- plus whether the more asset-poor contenders in Phoenix, Milwaukee, Denver, and Phoenix can pull off any deals. That and much more! Possible explanations for Embiid's meniscus (2:36) Thoughts on 65 games played threshold for MVP and other awards (12:49) Herring (20:12) LeBron's cryptic tweets and Lakers' approach to trade deadline (20:46) What will and should the Bulls do? (38:45) Celtics have been a bit wobbly lately (45:56) Knicks offense with OG Anunoby (50:21) Brunson is a star (54:31) How will Knicks act at deadline? (58:48) Rapid fire on other teams ahead of the deadline (1:07:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike discuss the offensive explosion around the league, the Jalen Green situation in Houston, the Lakers-Rockets fracas and the Lakers up and down play, Doc Rivers first game as Bucks coach, Wolves, Thunder, trade talk across the league, and more. Then ESPN's Kendrick Perkins joins to talk about the struggling Heat, pitch a wild trade idea, Zach LaVine, Pistons, much more.  Feels like it's not going to happen for the Lakers (4:42) Defense is not dead (15:15) Are there any rule changes that could slow the scoring? (19:43) Vanderbilt ejection- Brooks push (28:52) Should the Rockets trade Jalen Green?!? (30:45) Defensive 5 seconds (38:15) Wolves-OKC (41:42) Bucks with Doc (51:39) Pelicans (55:10) Perk (58:48) Time to trade Jimmy Butler? (59:29) LaVine to the Pistons?!? (1:09:01) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim Legler discuss the Doc Rivers fit in Milwaukee and how teams are looking after big trades: OG Anunoby in New York, the struggling Heat and Terry Rozier, the Pacers with Pascal Siakam, and more. Plus full All-Star roster picks, whether the Sixers have enough to win it all as is, and more. Then Eric Nehm of The Athletic digs deeper into the Bucks hiring and firing Adrian Griffin, and what comes next for Milwaukee.  Thoughts on Bucks making a coaching change (1:01) On Doc Rivers (3:44) State of the Sixers (8:39) Knicks with Anunoby (14:25) All-Star reserves in the East (21:20) Heat with Rozier (25:21) Pacers with Siakam (39:34) Reaction to huge scoring nights on Monday (46:12) All-Star reserves in the West (55:14) Nehm (1:04:29) Why did the Bucks make this change now? (1:06:15) The players have to own some of this (1:17:20) What Doc Rivers will bring (1:30:21) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Bobby Marks discuss the Heat trading for Terry Rozier and how it impacts the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Then ESPN's Tim Bontemps joins to weigh in on Joel Embiid's historic scoring performance, ways for the Sixers to improve around him, the red hot Cavs, and the Bucks moving on from Adrian Griffin.  Heat trade for Rozier (1:40) What does this mean for Miami's ability to trade future picks? (5:28) Rozier's fit with Miami (10:44) A look at the top 7 in the East (14:50) Charlotte is starting to accumulate assets (17:39) Bontemps (24:08) Embiid scores 70 against the Spurs (25:58) Embiid is Durant plus one hundred pounds (36:50) Embiid has to do it in the playoffs (39:10) How can Philly upgrade roster before trade deadline? (42:49) Rookie of the Year race (51:24) Red hot Cavs (54:34) Bucks fire Adrian Griffin (1:06:06) Would you want a do over for the Dame trade? (1:28:50) All-Star starters (1:34:58) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and The Ringer's Bill Simmons discuss the Pacers trading for Pascal Siakam, the Raptors' return on trading two stars, and then go back and forth naming players and teams under the most pressure to win the championship this season. Siakam traded to the Pacers (1:10) Bruce Brown has value on the trade market (8:48) Did Toronto get enough for Siakam? (14:59) Championship Pressure Index (26:40) Celtics (27:39) Dame and the Bucks (37:45) Clippers (43:50) Durant and the Suns (50:28) Embiid and the Sixers (1:00:16) Bam Adebayo and the Heat (1:09:49) Nuggets (1:16:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss the resurgent Jazz, how Dallas can be dangerous in the West, and possible Pascal Siakam teams. Then The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski on the Timberwolves as title contenders, Rudy Gobert fitting in, and the looming financial hurdles in Minnesota. Plus, ESPN's Andrew Lopez on Victor Wembanyama playing the 5 and the depth of the Pelicans. Moves out there for the Jazz? (9:51) Mavs (19:39) Fits for Siakam (26:49) Krawczynski (36:45) Playing Gobert off the floor in the playoffs is a fallacy (42:46) Gobert is fitting in offensively (47:41) Looming financial questions for Minnesota (51:56) Potential trades for Minnesota (1:08:43) Lopez (1:13:50) Pelicans (1:28:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices