Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

On today's episode, Jason starts things off by telling us why the Memphis Grizzlies are already in deep trouble after Game 1 of their series against the Golden State Warriors. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson weren't good, Draymond Green got ejected in the second half, Jaren Jackson Jr and Ja Morant both played well... and the Grizz still lost. You can't give away a game like that when you have that many things working if your favor. Maybe if Morant and his dad spent less time hamming it up after baskets and more time worrying about defense, Memphis wouldn't be down 0-1. Speaking of the NBA Playoffs, is it already time to put Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns on upset alert heading into tonight's Game 1 against the Dallas Mavericks? The Suns were the best team in the NBA throughout the regular season, but they haven't looked nearly as sharp so far in the postseason. The Mavs play stout defense, and they will have the best player in the series (Luka Doncic), so an upset shouldn't be all that shocking. Finally, Jason and Producer Rob G close the show by picking a few of the biggest winners from this past weekend's NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens both did really well, but is it fair to say that it was the Arizona Cardinals who best set themselves up for immediate success? Our fearless leader is already predicting an NFC West crown for Kyler Murray and the Cardinals! Guess only time will tell on that one.  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason brings you wall-to-wall reaction to round one of the NFL Draft where his beloved New York Jets came away as the clear winners of the night. The Jets used their three first round picks to nab Cincinnati cornerback Sauce Gardner, Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Florida State edge rusher Jermaine Johnson II; a case can be made that all three of those guys should have gone in the top-10 overall, so it should come as no surprise then that the Jets are viewed as the big winners of round one. Speaking of winners, disgruntled wide receiver AJ Brown got his wish and was traded to the Eagles - and promptly signed a $100 million extension in Philadelphia. It sure does pay to be an unhappy wideout in today's NFL. Aside from those two headlines, Jason shares his thoughts on the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions' road to redemption, the Green Bay Packers' decision to pass on a wide receiver (again), Malik Willis falling out of the first round altogether, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason has a double-dose of interviews leading up to tonight's 2022 NFL Draft. First up, Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson II checks in on behalf of Gillette to discuss how he plans to celebrate on Draft Night, how was able to use a dominant Senior Bowl to vault up draft boards, what skills he thinks he can bring to an NFL franchise, and his NFL Combine experiences. Later, former NFL scout and The Draft Network analyst Brentley Weissman swings by to discuss why he's so much lower on Georgia pass rusher Travon Walker than most of his contemporaries, why he's a big believer in Oregon EDGE defender Kayvon Thibodeaux, which quarterback he's expecting to be the first one taken off the board, and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Ja Morant's virtuoso performance on Tuesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Morant was the best player on the floor, and he had one of the greatest highlight reel dunks in recent NBA Playoff history; In many ways, Morant's performance was reminiscent of what we saw from Derrick Rose back in 2011... and therein lies the problem. Rose, like Morant, was arguably the most exciting player in the NBA, but his shortcomings were exposed in the postseason by LeBron James and the Miami Heat. Assuming the Grizzlies get by the Timberwolves in round one, expect Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors to do the same to Morant in round two. Later, Jason shares a quick note on the Miami Heat's series-clinching victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The fact that the Heat got it done in five games isn't all that surprising, but what is surprising is how mortal they made Trae Young look. One could argue that the Heat exposed a fatal flaw in Young's game the same way they did to Giannis Antetokounmpo a few years ago. Here's to hoping Trae can turn that weakness into a strength the same way Giannis did. Finally, our fearless leader closes the show by recapping his NFL Mock Draft that he dropped earlier this week on FOXSports.com. Who's going number 1? Will any quarterback get drafted in the top half of the first round? How many pass rushers will go in the top 10? Jason has the answer to all those questions - and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G open things up with a deep dive into Kyrie Irving's comments on the heels of the Brooklyn Nets' first round exit at the hands of the Boston Celtics. After a season of self-inflicted turmoil, Kyrie admitted that his vaccine status was a distraction for the club and promised that he would get together with the Nets front office to formulate a game plan for next season. Wait, what?! You really decided to say these things after getting swept out of the playoffs?! There really isn't a less self-aware athlete in all of sports. All of this then leads to a serious question: Should the Nets be willing to offer Kyrie a max contract extension this offseason? On one hand, Irving has shown himself to be a wholly reliable superstar. On the other, by refusing to extend Kyrie, the Nets run the risk of alienating Kevin Durant. Perhaps it's time to put KD to a decision about whether or not he really trusts Kyrie to be his running mate moving forward. Later, the guys do a quick recap of all the Monday night NBA Playoff action. Could Doc Rivers and the Philadelphia 76ers really blow a 3-0 series lead? With KD and LeBron James out of the mix, would the NBA be best served by Luka Doncic making a championship run? Are we sure the Utah Jazz should build around Donovan Mitchell if they decide to blow it up? Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show with a few thoughts on the report that the Green Bay Packers have tried - and continue to try - to trade for Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller. Given that the Packers just lost Davante Adams, it makes a ton of season why they'd look to acquire the Pro Bowl tight end out of Vegas. However, between Adams, Waller and Hunter Renfrow, the Raiders just might have the best trio of receiving options in the NFL, so why would they break it up?  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into what's gone wrong for Kevin Durant since he decided to leave Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors to join forces with Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. KD was well on his way towards becoming a top-8 player of all-time before the move, and his career has been in a downward spiral ever since. Once the Boston Celtics officially put the Nets out of their misery, Durant will have only won one series since moving to Brooklyn. One. KD basically ruined his career when he decided he'd rather team up with Kyrie instead of Steph. Later, Pro Football Focus director of content Austin Gayle swings by to preview the upcoming NFL Draft. During the conversation, the guys discuss why Michigan edge rusher Aiden Hutchinson is viewed as the favorite to go first overall, why the narrative surrounding Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and his work ethic feels like a big smokescreen, if we can expect Cincinnati cornerback Sauce Gardner to fall out of the top-3, the likelihood that Liberty quarterback Malik Willis gets drafted in the top-10, which teams might be prefer to wait for the 2023 quarterback class headlined by Ohio State’s CJ Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason gets the party started by taking a verbal flamethrower to Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns. Jokic appears set to win his second consecutive NBA MVP award, and yet his Denver Nuggets are about to get swept out of the postseason by Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Through the first week of the NBA Playoffs, it's become painfully obvious that Jokic isn't the top-5 NBA player that analytics nerds would like us to believe. Not to be outdone, KAT has had more fouls than baskets in three of the four postseason games he's played thus far. Towns has looked mentally soft and physically clumsy so far against the Memphis Grizzlies, and things culminated on Thursday night when the Timberwolves blew multiple 20+ point leads en route a crushing Game 3 loss. It was an embarrassing night all around for these two All-NBA big men. Later, Pro Football Network NFL Draft analyst Tony Pauline swings by to discuss why Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker has seemingly shot up draft boards as of late, why his top rated player – Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux – could easily fall out of the top 5 picks, where top-rated cornerback Sauce Gardner could end up if the New York Jets don’t take him as many have predicted, the likelihood that quarterbacks get overdrafted, why he’s lower on Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder that most in the draft community, why he believes Notre Dame superstar safety Kyle Hamilton could switch positions to linebacker in the NFL, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason gets the party started by sharing his thoughts on the Boston Celtics' impressive come-from-behind victory over the Brooklyn Nets to take a 2-0 series lead. Kevin Durant had arguably the worst playoff game of his NBA career, and it's got our fearless leader wondering aloud whether or not this is the beginning of the end for KD. Either way, it's hard to envision the Nets winning 4 of the next 5 games going up against a defensive juggernaut like the Celtics. Speaking of the NBA, Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton became the latest player to succumb to injury during this postseason. Is it possible that a summer of Olympic basketball is the biggest reason behind this sudden rash of injuries? Lest we forget, Middleton, Devin Booker and Luka Doncic all played in the Olympics before the start of the NBA season. Later, 95.7 The Game San Francisco radio host Mark Willard swings by to discuss Deebo Samuel’s trade demand, how the exploding wide receiver market has shaped the ongoing negotiations between Samuel and San Francisco, the emergence of Jordan Poole as a third offensive star for the Golden State Warriors, whether or not the young guys like Poole and Jonathan Kuminga could extend the Warriors’ championship window beyond the prime windows of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, and much more! Finally, Jason closes the show with a Thursday night NBA Playoffs edition of the Best Bet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a few thoughts on Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's war against HBO's hit television show 'Winning Time'. Apparently Cap and The Logo don't understand that the phrase 'based on true events' means what you're watching is only a fictionalized version of the truth. If they want to change the way they get portrayed moving forward, maybe they should get involved in season 2. Later, the guys share their thoughts on a trio of Game 2's in the NBA Playoffs. The Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies earning blowout wins shouldn't be all that shocking if you've been watching the two teams throughout the season, but the New Orleans Pelicans stealing home court from the Phoenix Suns sure was. Granted, the Pels were able to pull away only after Devin Booker left with an injury, and nobody actually expects New Orleans to win the series, but would you be surprised if they make a jump into the Top-4 of the Western Conference next season? If Zion Williamson is healthy and motivated, the Pelicans could make some serious noise in 2022-23. Finally, our fearless leader closes the show with his Best Bets for the Wednesday night slate of games in the NBA Playoffs (Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets / Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors / Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason shares his thoughts on a pair of disgruntled superstar wide receivers in the NFL: the San Francisco 49ers' Deebo Samuel and the Tennessee Titans' AJ Brown. Both guys scrubbed their social media pages in an effort to gain a little leverage over their respective teams...and promptly got ripped by anonymous sources, team reporters and local fans. This makes no sense. The Niners offense is built almost entirely around Samuel's unique skillset and Trey Lance is on a rookie deal; Why wouldn't San Francisco back up the Brinks trunk for Deebo right now? The Titans were the #1 seed in the AFC last season and Brown is easily the most explosive player on their roster. If you remove him from the offense, are we sure Tennessee is even the best team in a watered down AFC South? Both of these guys deserve to get paid. Later, our fearless leader shares a few thoughts on Monday night's NBA Playoff action. The Philadelphia 76ers have beaten the brakes off the injury-ravaged Toronto Raptors - even with James Harden looking like a shell of himself. In the Western Conference, it's clear to see why Jalen Brunson and Jordan Poole are poised to get big deal this offseason after they both lit up the scoreboard in wins by the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors, respectively. Finally, Jason closes the show with a special Tuesday NBA Playoffs edition of the Best Bet.  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #DPShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason brings you a deep dive into Kyrie Irving's ongoing war against the fans in Boston. Jayson Tatum's game-winning layup to beat the Brooklyn Nets should have been the biggest headline of the weekend, but after the game all anyone could talk about was Kyrie's (repeated) back-and-forth with the Celtics faithful. Irving flipped the bird at a few courtside fans (a couple of times), shouted obscenities at someone in the tunnel and eventually told the media after the game he plans to keep that same energy throughout the series. Our fearless leader has been hard on Kyrie over the years, but he's riding with the mercurial point guard in this one. Irving, like LeBron James and Kevin Durant before him, isn't afraid to play the villain. Sports fans nowadays think they have the right to do or say whatever they want without repercussion, so it's refreshing to see a star like Kyrie give them a taste of their own medicine. Not only does it make for a better on-court rivalry, but it sends a message to these jabronis in the stands that these players are humans, too. Bravo, Kyrie. Later, Jason closes the show with a very special edition of the Best Bet featuring a slate of Game 2's in the NBA Playoffs.  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason makes his official predictions for round one of the NBA Playoffs. Will the two MVP frontrunners - Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid - even make it out of the first round? Can the Dallas Mavericks and Golden State Warriors survive without Luka Doncic and Steph Curry being fully healthy? Will Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks be able to sweep the plucky Chicago Bulls? Can the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves upset Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies? Will Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics get revenge Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets? Jason has the answer to all those questions - and more! Plus, our fearless leader closes the show with a very special NBA Playoffs weekend edition of the Best Bet  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on the New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks advancing in the NBA Play-In tournament. Or, more specifically, he recaps a few of his player props that helped make him (and our listeners) a little dough. Later, ESPN NBA analyst Brian Windhorst swings by to discuss whether or not Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets should be the favorites to win the Eastern Conference this year, the perceived pressure on Kyrie Irving heading into the postseason, the overall uncertainty surrounding Luka Doncic’s calf injury, why the Los Angeles Lakers head coaching job is more desirable than folks would lead you to believe, what’s next for Russell Westbrook, the likelihood that superstar players like Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard and Karl-Anthony Towns get moved this offseason, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G get the party started with a deep dive into the Brooklyn Nets’ play-in tournament victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Earlier in the week, Jason listed the Nets as one of only 5 teams he thinks can win the NBA championship this season… and he’s already on the verge of backing off that claim. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were fantastic, and the Nets still needed to hold on for dear life to beat an inferior opponent. Brooklyn won’t be able to get away with that kind of play against better teams. Both Jason and Rob G have already said they’ve got the Jayson Tatum-led Boston Celtics winning Game 1 of the series, and at least one of the guys has gone on record in picking Boston to win the series outright. Later, Jason and Rob G share their thoughts on the Minnesota Timberwolves' thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. With Karl-Anthony Towns struggling, the T'Wolves leaned on young stud Anthony Edwards and #FormerLaker D'Angelo Russell to carry the load. Now while Minnesota versus Memphis in round 1 is unlikely to draw huge television ratings, with guys like Patrick Beverley and Ja Morant going at it, it certainly has the potential to be the most entertaining series of them all. Finally, Jason closes the show with a very special NBA Play-In Tournament (Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks / New Orleans Pelicans vs. San Antonio Spurs) edition of the Best Bet.  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #OddCoupleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the Los Angeles Lakers' decision to fire head coach Frank Vogel. Vogel wasn't perfect, but he was far from the reason why the Lakers failed so spectacularly this season. Rob Pelinka gave Vogel - a defensive coach - a roster full of poor defenders, and compounded the problem by allowing LeBron James and Anthony Davis to convince him into trading for Russell Westbrook. Frank was clearly the 'fall guy' for everything that's gone wrong in Los Angeles this year. With Vogel out of the picture, the only question now is who can they get to replace him? Would an established guy like Nick Nurse or Quinn Snyder be willing to take over a relatively dysfunctional team? Would the Lakers really offer the gig to the criminally overrated Doc Rivers? Is there a young and up-and-comer from the college ranks that could make the jump to the NBA? Only time will tell. Later, Jason closes the show with a very special NBA Play-In Tournament (Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Brooklyn Nets / Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Clippers)  edition of the Best Bet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason is back from vacation with a vengeance as he and Producer Rob G bring you the definitive preview of the NBA Playoffs. Both guys are predicting that Joel Embiid, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers will get bounced in the first round, and neither one thinks the upstart Memphis Grizzlies are poised to make a deep playoff run. In fact, according to our fearless leader, there are only 5 teams who can the NBA championship this season: Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks. The Suns with Devin Booker and Chris Paul are easily the best team in basketball, and the Bucks with Giannis Antetokounmpo are the defending champions, so it's obvious why those two teams are in. The Miami Heat have been the best team in the East for most of the season, so they're in. The Nets and Mavs picks, however, are not without controversy. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are fantastic, but can they get through that kind of gauntlet (Celtics, Bucks, Heat) without playing any defense? The Mavs have Luka Doncic, but are we sure that his calf strain is as mild as some reports are suggesting? Only time will tell! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Day Two of the Vacation edition of Straight Fire! On today's (very abbreviated) episode, Jason checks in from parts unknown to put on a bow on wild NCAA Tournament Championship Game between Kansas and North Carolina. While most are applauding the Jayhawks for completing the largest comeback in championship game history, Producer Rob G says he's going to remember this game as the one where North Carolina choked away a 15-point halftime lead. No matter which side of the fence you're on, we can all agree that the Tar Heels players looked physically and emotionally spent down the stretch... which is exactly what our fearless leader predicted would happen on Monday's show! Things got so bad that one Carolina player actually vomited on the court during the game. Seriously. Any way you slice it, there really is nothing like March Madness!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a special Vacation Edition of the podcast! On today's episode, Jason checks in from parts unknown to help Producer Rob G lay the 2021-22 Los Angeles Lakers to rest. The Lakers were one of the favorites to win the championship before the season but a series of injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis - coupled with a general lack of effort for most of the season - ultimately did them in. We can all agree that Russell Westbrook and Frank Vogel won't be back next season, but would the Lakers really trade AD as well? This offseason is going to very interesting, to say the least. Later, the guys preview tonight's NCAA Tournament National Championship game between North Carolina and Kansas. UNC is coming off a very emotional win in the semi-final matchup against Duke in Coach K's final game, and the guys are willing to bet that the Tar Heels won't be able to muster up that kind of energy again against the Jay Hawks. Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show with a few thoughts on Tiger Woods' impending return to the golf course in the Masters.  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the incredible play as of late of Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak has scored at least 40 points in consecutive wins over Joel Embiid's 76ers and Kevin Durant's Nets. At we head down the home stretch, Giannis is making a hell of case to earn his 3rd NBA MVP award. And yet, for whatever reason, current and former players continue to discount his overall play. I guess it's true what they say - folks will build you up just to tear you down. Later, the guys explain why it's become abundantly clear that the honeymoon phase is officially over for James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only has Harden's play tapered off considerably, but now we've got head coach Doc Rivers taking shots at him through the media. With the way things have been going, are we sure the Sixers even get out of the first round in the rugged Eastern Conference? Finally, FOX Sports Radio host and college basketball analyst Aaron Torres checks in LIVE from the Final Four in New Orleans to discuss how each team matches up with one another, the narrative surrounding Mike Krzyzewski in his final season as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, why he's a little conflicted about his preseason pick of the Kansas Jayhawks to win the national championship, what's gone wrong for John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekendsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Bruce Arians' sudden retirement as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. We're not going to say that Tom Brady is reason why Arians decided to step down... but it sure is a coincidence that Brady cut his own retirement short in the same offseason that the coach he's reportedly been at-odds with decided to move upstairs. It's hard to believe that Brady had nothing to do with this. Later, ESPN Basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla joins Jason for a lengthy college basketball conversation as we lead into this weekend's Final Four. In the interview, Fraschilla discusses why he's openly rooting for Villanova to cut down the nets in New Orleans, how Remy Martin's up-and-down season at Kansas has prepared him for tournament play, whether or not Nova is adequately prepared to handle Kansas' style of play, how North Carolina's incredible turnaround midway through the regular season that has carried over into the tournament, Caleb Love's incredible shooting during the past few games, why his early lean is on Duke to beat UNC in the trilogy match, why Duke superstar Paolo Banchero reminds him a bit of Carmelo Anthony coming out of college, why he currently has Auburn's Jabari Smith as the best player available in the upcoming NBA Draft, the notion that Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs are like the Buffalo Bills of college basketball, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G go toe-to-toe debating the merits of the NFL’s revised overtime rule. Our fearless leader says that the change helps to fix what had been a very annoying problem (and fundamentally changes the strategy we’ve all grown accustomed to) while the Producer to the Stars says all these rule changes favoring the offense are killing the soul of the game. Neither guy is ready to back down so it makes for quite a lively discussion. Later, Jason discusses Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay's decision to trash former quarterback Carson Wentz on his way out the door to Washington. Is it possible that Wentz' decision not to get vaccinated drew the ire of his former boss? Impossible to say. However, Wentz has now been kicked to the curb by the team that traded an obscene amount of draft capital to get him and another which was led by the one coach he's had success with in the NFL, and that does not bode well for his NFL future. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick whip around the NBA as we head down the stretch of the regular season. Paul George's return to the floor makes the Los Angeles Clippers a very dangerous team for the upstart Memphis Grizzlies in a potential 2-7 matchup. And, did we mention that if the season ended today, that LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers wouldn't even make the play-in tournament? Yikes! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Day Two of the Will Smith 'Slap heard 'round the Oscars' fallout. Somehow, Smith's slap has become even more divisive than the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James GOAT debate. Unfortunately, we've already reached the point where folks are turning this single incident into a microcosm of real societal issues both in this country and around the World. Safe to say this whole thing has jumped the shark. Later, on the 30th anniversary of Christian Laettner's legendary game-winning shot to beat Kentucky in the 1992 NCAA Tournament, Jason takes us all for a trip down memory lane of a few college basketball moments that will forever be ingrained in his own mind. The college hoops hoopla rolls on in the next segment as our fearless leader gives you an update on the lucrative Calcutta League he's in this year. The $50,000+ buy-in is long gone at this point, but the guys can save face if the Kansas Jayhawks end up cutting down the nets in New Orleans. Let's go, Jayhawks! Finally, Jason closes the show with a few thoughts on the obscene tanking that's been going on throughout the NBA the last week or so. Have you seen some of the lineups the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets have been putting out lately? It's getting ridiculous at this point. That said, Jason says if he was running an NBA franchise, the player he'd be most likely to take #1 overall is Duke forward Paolo Banchero; One source even compared Banchero to a young Blake Griffin - with more playmaking skills. DISCLAIMER - Jason McIntyre's microphone malfunctioned midway through the podcast so he had to record the rest of the show using his laptop's built-in microphone. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the infamous slap by Will Smith on Chris Rock at The Oscars on Sunday night. Rock made a joke about Smith's wife (Jada Pinkett Smith) and the Fresh Prince just snapped. Whether you think the incident was provoked or not, the fact of the matter is Smith can't let his emotions get the best of himself in that situation. It was embarrassing for all parties involved, and Smith should be thankful that Rock chose to press assault charges. Later, Jason explains why the Los Angeles Lakers blowing a 23-point lead on Sunday night to the New Orleans Pelicans has him wondering whether or not they'll even make the Play-In tournament. Anthony Davis is still nursing a foot/ankle injury, LeBron James is dealing with knee and ankle injuries, and the Lakers are only one game up on the San Antonio Spurs for the 10 seed. Making matters worse, Los Angeles has an absolutely brutal schedule to end the regular season. The NBA can't be happy about this one. Finally, Jason closes the show by discussing why he was so opposed to St Peters team making the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Cinderellas are great through the first round or two, but wouldn't you much rather see a competitive game than watch the plucky underdogs get pounded into oblivion? That said, the. upcoming Final Four is full of blue bloods: Villanova, North Carolina, Duke and Kansas. Which of the four has been most impressive thus far? And which two will be facing off in the championship game next week? Tune in to find out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G bring you wall-to-wall reaction to the Thursday slate of games in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Things got off to a rocky start when the top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs (a team that our fearless leader dropped over $50,000 on in a Calcutta auction) got upset by the Arkansas Razorbacks. Yes, the officiating was bad, but it was clear pretty early on that the Zags just could not handle the Arkansas pressure. Chet Holmgren, Drew Timme and Andrew Nembhard are all fine student athletes, but they didn't have enough 'dog' in them to physically compete with a scrappy Arkansas team. In many ways, Gonzaga in college basketball is eerily similar to Notre Dame in college football: a fine program that isn't quite tough enough to hang with the big boys of the Power 5 conferences. Later, the guys explain why they believe that most sports fans should be rooting for Coach K, Paolo Banchero and the Duke Blue Devils to win the NCAA Tournament this year. With so many #1 seeds exiting early (Gonzaga, Arizona and Baylor), the sport needs either a marquee player or a marquee school to win it all. Thankfully, Duke has both. If the goal of the NCAA Tournament is to bring eyeballs to your product, the powers that be who run college basketball better have their fingers crossed that we get something like Duke-Kansas in the championship game as opposed to an Arkansas-Houston rock fight. Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show with a preview of the entire Friday slate of the Sweet 16. Here's to hoping the Blue Bloods flex their muscle! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the blockbuster trade that saw the Kansas City Chiefs send wide receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins for five draft picks. More importantly, Miami also had to make Hill the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history - $30 million per season in new money. The Dolphins are a bad team (and have been for a long time) so it's not surprise that they had to overpay in a big way to bring a player of Hill's caliber to Miami. The only question now if you're a Dolphins fans is whether or not embattled quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is capable of unleashing The Cheetah the way we've been accustomed to; We're going to go out on a limb and say "No". Later, Caesars Sportsbook Assistant Director of Trading Adam Pullen swings by to discuss the impact of the Hill trade from a gambling perspective for both the Chiefs and the Dolphins, preview the upcoming Sweet 16 matchups of the NCAA Tournament, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the upcoming Sweet 16 games in the NCAA Tournament. We'll go through each games with a fine-toothed comb as the week goes on, but it's nice to get J-Mac's early lean on all the action. As we've said plenty of times before, sometimes the best time to bet a game is early in the week before the sharps start to manipulate the number. Later, Jason does a deep dive into the futures of Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo. A few weeks ago, Mayfield was the franchise quarterback of the Browns and Jimmy G was seen as the most realistic trade target for teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Now? They'd be lucky to find a starting gig anywhere. Making matters even more complicated is now that Aaron Rodgers has signed a big money deal to remain with the Green Bay Packers, former first round pick Jordan Love should be very gettable. Love will come at a much lower price-tag than either Garoppolo or Mayfield, so you shouldn't be surprised to see his name floated around as we get closer to the NFL Draft. Speaking of QB-needy teams, the Seattle Seahawks should absolutely be in the market for a new signal caller now that Russell Wilson is in Denver. However, with the way Pete Carroll keeps publicly pumping up Drew Lock, it's becoming more and more apparent that the Seahawks are planning a stealth tank job in 2022 in hopes of landing their next franchise quarterback in the 2023 NFL Draft when guys like CJ Stroud and Bryce Young should be available. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Indianapolis Colts’ acquisition of quarterback Matt Ryan. The trade is a clear slam dunk for Indy. Ryan gives the Colts something they didn’t have last season with Carson Wentz: A quarterback who can win games with his arm. Now, Indianapolis will still rely heavily on running back Jonathan Taylor and a stout defense, but the mere fact that they can also win through the air means that the Colts should be viewed as the heavy favorites to win the AFC South. What’s more, given how weak their division is, don’t be surprised to see the Colts get the #1 overall seed in the AFC. Later, Bally Sports NBA analyst Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson swings by to discuss why he's optimistic about Ja Morant the Memphis Grizzlies in the suddenly wide open Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers' plan for getting Anthony Davis back on the floor, how the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics matchup in a hypothetical playoff series, whether or not Jayson Tatum is indeed the best offensive player in the League, why Steve Nash - not Kyrie Irving - is the biggest reason why James Harden wanted out of Brooklyn, what exactly makes Kyrie so popular on #NBATwitter, his early First Team All-NBA picks, and more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kicks things off with a recap of a wild weekend of games in the NCAA Tournament. Even as the officiating became a key talking point in several contests (Arizona-TCU, Purdue-Texas, North Carolina-Baylor), the fact remains that we had some high-level basketball take place over the weekend. What's more, less than 72 hours after Gonzaga big man Chet Holmgren staked his claim to be the #1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Duke's Paolo Banchero put on such a show against Michigan State that our fearless leader is now comparing him to a young LeBron James. Here's to hoping that we get to see these two square off in the Final Four in a few weeks. Later, the guys do a deep dive into the Cleveland Browns' acquisition of embattled quarterback Deshaun Watson. Not only did the Browns give up a boatload of draft capital for their new franchise quarterback, but they also gave him the richest fully-guaranteed contract in NFL history. The fact that Watson got this mega-deal while he still has 22 sexual assault lawsuits hanging over his head has some up in arms, but the harsh reality is the NFL is a business first and foremost. So long as guys like Watson can perform at a high level, teams (and fans) will look the other way when it comes off-field transgressions and issues of morality. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the blockbuster trade that saw the Green Bay Packers send superstar wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Adams has been arguably the best receiver in football for the past few years, and he should be a difference maker for the Silver and Black. In fact, our fearless leaders argues that with Adams on the outside, Darren Waller at tight end, Hunter Renfrow in the slot and Josh McDaniels calling plays, the Raiders could look eerily similar to those 2007 New England Patriots with Randy Moss, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker. On the flip side, Aaron Rodgers can't be happy about losing the only legitimate outside receiving option he has. Even though the stats say that Rodgers has been fine without Adams in the lineup, no one really expects he'll be able to keep it up over the course of a full season. What's more, the timing of the trade makes it so that they've already missed out on the top receivers available in free agency (Allen Robinson) and will now be forced to pivot to good-but-great options (Jarvis Landry) or damaged goods (Odell Beckham Jr). Any way you slice it, Thursday was a bad day for Rodgers and the Packers. Later, the guys share their thoughts on Day 1 of the NCAA Tournament. Brackets were busted all across the country when Iowa and Kentucky were upset in round one - but that's part of what makes March Madness so much fun! So naturally, you're going to want to stick around for Jason's Best Bets for Day 2. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's (abbreviated) episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive into the Buffalo Bills' signing of All-Pro pass rusher Von Miller in free agency. The Bills had one of the best pressure rates in the NFL last season, and now they're adding arguably the best outside rusher of the last decade. Quarterbacks should have a healthy fear of the Bills' pass rush in 2022, and with budding superstar Josh Allen at quarterback, don't be surprised to see Buffalo knocking on the door of a Super Bowl yet again. Later, it's the moment you've been waiting all week for: Jason's official NCAA Tournament predictions. Our fearless leader takes you through the first round of the tournament, and tells us not just who he has to win the games but also which side of the line he likes from a betting perspective. More importantly, he tells us which teams he has futures bets on to win the national championship. The only problem is that J-Mac does 20 brackets every year so it's hard to get a firm grasp on which teams he has the most confidence in. In any event... Enjoy the ride! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Kyrie Irving’s 60-point barrage on Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic. In the last week, Kyrie has scored 60, scored 50… and got the Brooklyn Nets front office fined $50,000 for flouting the New York City vaccine mandate. Such is life in Kyrie’s World these days. It almost feels as though Irving is hoping that if he generates enough headlines – good or bad – it will pressure the NYC mayor into lifting the mandate. Moving over to the NFL, it’s becoming apparent that Baker Mayfield’s days are numbered as the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns. We found out earlier in the day that the team was recruiting Deshaun Watson, and then Mayfield seemed to write his own death certificate with a de facto ‘goodbye’ letter later that night. Baker has been mostly mediocre in the NFL so it's no surprise that the team would look to upgrade, but you'd hope that Mayfield would have learned by now that running to social media rarely helps the situation. Speaking of Watson, while the talking heads on television want us all to think that the former Houston Texans signal caller is headed to a team in the NFC South, J-Mac says you should keep your eye on the aforementioned Browns or a mystery team like the Philadelphia Eagles instead. When big deals like this come together, it hardly ever involves the 'obvious' names. Don't forget that. Sticking in the NFL, did you hear that Tom Brady reportedly tried to position himself as the co-owner/president of the Miami Dolphins this past offseason? Of course, you did - Jason told you about it last month! However, once that deal fell through, Brady decided he'd rather come back and play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rather than live a life outside of football. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason gets the party started with a few thoughts on all the biggest happenings on day one of NFL Free Agency. The big winners so far are clearly the Los Angeles Chargers. A few days after trading for star pass rusher Khalil Mack, they added the top cornerback on the market in JC Jackson. The AFC West is brutal, but the Chargers should be a double-digit win team (at minimum) next season. Later, NBC Sports EDGE betting analyst Thomas Casale swings by a for a deep dive preview of the NCAA Tournament. During the conversation, Casale and J-Mac discuss the challenges of betting on March Madness, why so many are down on Baylor and Providence, why Gonzaga is being overrated by sports media and casual fans alike, why you should have big reservations about Duke, which mid-majors are primed to make a deep run, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Tom Brady's return from a (very) short-lived retirement from the NFL. Our fearless leader has been saying for months now that he didn't believe Brady was really hanging up his cleats, so needless to say he wasn't shocked to see TB12 tweet that he would be returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2022. The only question at this point is: Why did Brady even retire in the first place? Not only did he seem lukewarm on the decision almost immediately, but he was coming off a season where he finished 2nd in the MVP race. Here's to hoping we get some juicy expose in the coming weeks that gives us the real story behind Brady's 2 month retirement. Later, Jason Lisk form TeamRankings.com swings by for a deep dive into the NCAA Tournament. Trust us, you won't find a more thorough analysis of the bracket anywhere else! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason gets the party started with a deep dive into the Brooklyn Nets' blowout victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The game was billed as 'Ben Simmons' return to Philly', but the story to come out of this one was James Harden's disappearing act in yet another big game. The Beard shot 3-for-17, further cementing his reputation as player who folds when the lights are the brightest. J-Mac has been saying since the Harden trade went down that the Sixers were overrated, and they sure looked that way on Thursday night. On the flip side, with a healthy Kevin Durant and an available Kyrie Irving, the Nets look every bit like the championship contender we thought they were. If and when Simmons returns to the floor, Brooklyn has to be viewed as one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. Later, Jason closes the show with a few thoughts on the blockbuster trade that saw the Chicago Bears send All-Pro pass rusher Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers. Mack isn't the superstar he was a few years ago, but he's still one of the best defensive ends in the NFL. What's more, with Joey Bosa on the other side, offenses won't be able to double-team his much. This trade is a huge win for the Chargers, and with stud quarterback Justin Herbert still on his rookie deal, we should expect more moves like this from Los Angeles going forward. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a deep dive on the Indianapolis Colts' decision to trade quarterback Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders. It's clear that Wentz had worn out his welcome in Indy (even his buddy Frank Reich soured on him), but it's unclear whether or not the Colts have a succession plan in place. Will they make a trade for a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo, Derek Carr or Baker Mayfield? Do they kick the tires on a high-upside youngster like Gardner Minshew? Either way, they have plenty of money and a playoff-ready roster, and we should trust that front office to make the right decision. For Washington, we all knew that they were desperate for a quarterback, but are we sure that Wentz is that much of an upgrade over incumbent starter Taylor Heinicke? It definitely feels like a panic move in DC. Later, author Jeff Pearlman swings by to discuss how his book 'Showtime' on the Magic Johnson/Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Era Los Angeles Lakers served as the basis for the ‘Winning Time’ mini-series on HBO, how much of the television show is factual and how much is clearly dramatized, why role players and staff members were so vital in the overall information gathering for his book, if we can expect a future ‘Winning Time’ season to focus on the Shaquille O'Neal/Kobe Bryant Era Lakers, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason brings you wall-to-wall analysis of the blockbuster trade that saw the Seattle Seahawks send star quarterback Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Once the terms of the deal were released, it became abundantly clear that the Seahawks got fleeced in this one. Denver got the franchise quarterback they've desperately needed in exchange for two firsts, two seconds and some change. That's it. Seattle is officially in full-blown rebuilding mode after this one. For the Broncos, the arrival of Wilson instantly makes them Super Bowl contenders. We said last season that Denver had arguably the most talented roster in the NFL outside of the quarterback position, and now they've got one of the best QBs in all of football on their roster. The only downside in this whole thing is that the Broncos play in the brutal AFC West; This division was already one of the best last year, and now they just added a future Hall of Famer to this mix. The Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers all have legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, and the Las Vegas Raiders were a playoff team themselves last season. Were it not for guys like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr, the Broncos would be considered a shoo-in for the AFC Championship game. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason goes deep into the NFL's decision to suspend Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley for the entire 2022-23 season after he was caught gambling on games last season. The punishment was excessive, but it's understandable why the NFL felt like they had to make an example of Ridley. You'd have to be pretty naive to believe that Ridley is the only player in the League betting on games, so it makes a ton of sense why the NFL decided that the best way to cut the water off on the whole thing would be to throw the book at him in hopes of scaring off the other players. Having said that, Producer Rob G believes that since it's painfully obvious that players bet on games in some form or fashion (including fantasy football), maybe the NFL would be better served by just allowing the players to bet through a League-sanctioned betting app. At least this way everything would be above board and you want have to worry about players using proxies to get their wagers on. No matter which way you believe on this whole ordeal, it's pretty clear that the NFL's incestuous relationship with various betting shops makes the whole thing pretty complicated. Finally, Jason closes the show with a quick homage to Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic. J-Mac tried to tell you a few weeks ago that Luka should be in the running for NBA MVP, and his play as of late has only cemented that. Don't be surprised if Luka leads the Mavs to an NBA Finals berth. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off by taking a small verbal victory lap on the heels of Jayson Tatum's 54-point explosion on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets. J-Mac tried to tell y'all last week that Tatum was the best one-on-one scorer in the NBA since Kobe Bryant and the fans were outraged, so it's safe to say that our fearless leader is feeling pretty good about himself today. Plus, Producer Rob G joins the show to help discuss the notion that LeBron James (who will likely already be the NBA's all-time leading scorer this time next season) is not one of the great scorers in NBA history. Just because LeBron's bag isn't as deep as someone like Tatum or Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving doesn't necessarily mean that he shouldn't be viewed as a great scorer. LeBron puts the ball in the basket, period. Having a Swiss Army knife is great but that doesn't mean it's always more effective than a hammer. Later, the guys take a few minutes to discuss the latest scuttlebutt surrounding Aaron Rodgers and his future in Green Bay. It appears the Packers are starting to doubt whether or not Rodgers really wants to remain with the club. Quite honesty, who could blame him? The Packers haven't made a Super Bowl in over a decade. Maybe Rodgers thinks a change of scenery is exactly what he needs to get over the hump. Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show with a few thoughts on the reports that the Dallas Cowboys could lose both Amari Cooper and Demarcus Lawrence this offseason. J-Mac tried to warn us last year when Dak Prescott signed his big deal that the Cowboys would only able to keep the team together for a year or two before the salary cap came back to bite them. It's pretty safe to say that the Cowboys championship window is already closed. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers' latest blowout loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. LeBron James and the fellas don't play a lick of defense, and their offense isn't good enough to make up for it. They desperately need Anthony Davis back. In the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets lost to the short-handed Miami Heat in Kevin Durant's return to the court. KD was mostly good in his first game back, but it's clear that he needs a co-star (either Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons) to help carry the load against good teams. Later, former NFL offensive lineman, FOX Sports Radio Weekend host Ephraim Salaam swings by to discuss his transition from playing in the NFL to becoming a staff writer for the show 'Bel-Air' on Peacock, why they felt it was so important to do a reimagining of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' and not a remake, how the dramatic approach to the story complete changes the on-screen dynamic between the Will Smith and Carlton Banks characters, why they decided to do a show 'For the Culture', how being a member of television writer's room compares to being a player in an NFL locker room, which additional shows from the past have a reboot potential, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Philadelphia 76ers’ latest blowout victory of the James Harden-Joel Embiid Era. We all knew the Sixers would be dynamite in the regular season; the big question was always whether or not Harden and Embiid would be able to co-exist in the postseason when the game slows down. It’s why the oddsmakers in Las Vegas still have the Brooklyn Nets as the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. Kevin Durant is coming back tonight, Kyrie Irving will become a full-time player before the playoffs start and Ben Simmons (hopefully) will be on the floor in a couple weeks. The Nets, not the Sixers, are the team to beat in the East. Later, 3x Super Bowl champion LeGarrette Blount swings by to discuss his unusual path to the NFL, how an incident in college helped shaped the man he is today, his experiences at the NFL Scouting Combine, what it was like playing for Bill Belichick and alongside Tom Brady in New England, his new CBD product line 'LG's Feel Good', and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick note on the Dallas Mavericks’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night. Luka Doncic put the NBA world on notice once again that he’s the best young player in the League, and the way he took it to LeBron James down the stretch had the building (and social media) buzzing. That said, J-Mac still maintains that if the Lakers have a healthy LeBron and Anthony Davis heading into the play-in tournament, they're going to make a deep run in the postseason. Guess only time will tell on that one. Later, FS1 college basketball analyst Casey Jacobsen swings by to discuss why this has been the busiest season of his broadcasting career so far, how the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to rebound this season despite losing star big man Luka Garza to graduation, why he believes the Duke Blue Devils have what it takes to send Coach Mike Krzyzewski into a retirement with a national championship, if Gonzaga can finally breakthrough and win a national championship after getting so close the past few years, how Chet Holmgren has elevated himself into contention for the top overall pick in the upcoming 2022 NBA Draft, whether or not the Baylor Bears have what it takes to repeat as champions, which mid-majors could shock the world during March Madness, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into Kyler Murray’s decision to try and strong-arm the Arizona Cardinals into offering a lucrative contract extension after just his third NFL season. Kyler has gotten better every single season, and given the dearth of legitimate quarterback options in the League as a whole, he seems to have a ton of leverage here. Can you imagine how much money Kyler could fetch on the open market if he were a free agent right now? Heck, he could even threaten to go play professional baseball if the Cardinals decided not to pay him. However, given that the recent track record of first round quarterbacks getting massive extensions following their third year is really hit (Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes & Deshaun Watson) or miss (Jared Goff, Carson Wentz & Ryan Tannehill), would it behoove the Cardinals to put off any serious negotiations for at least one more season? Jason and Rob don't full even see eye-to-eye on this one, so you know there's some dissension in the Cardinals front office about it. Later, the guys close the show with a few thoughts on the reports that LeBron James is zeroing in on becoming a minority owner of the soon-to-be Las Vegas expansion team in the NBA. LeBron has openly discussed wanting to own an NBA team for years and Vegas seems like an ideal spot for him. The only problem is - would LeBron the Owner be as flippant about the luxury tax and draft picks as LeBron the Player is? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G hit you with a deep dive into the first few days of the James Harden-Joel Embiid Era in Philadelphia. Harden and Embiid have been putting up astronomical numbers together, prompting many Sixers fans to dub them this generation's Kobe and Shaq. Wait, what?! They're not even a top-5 NBA duo right now (LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Devin Booker and Chris Paul, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are all definitively better). In fact, you could make a legit argument that Harden and Embiid might not crack the top-10. Duos like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, and Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray might not have the same level of individual talent as Harden and Embiid, but they all seem to fit together better than the Sixers' tandem. The Beard and The Process are otherworldly talents, but history tells us that neither player can perform like the best version of themselves alongside the other given where and how each guy likes to operate on the floor. Sixers fans can bask in the hot start all they want, but until Harden and Embiid prove they can dominate at the same time in the postseason, you can't call them a top-5 dynamic duo in the NBA. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason gets the party started by paying homage to Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan has been on absolute tear as of late; He’s literally put the Chicago Bulls on his back and carried them to the top of the Eastern Conference. DeRozan’s All-NBA caliber play has to make LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers absolutely sick. If you believe the reports, LeBron chose Russell Westbrook over DeRozan in the offseason. It’s entirely possible DeRozan used that perceived slight by LeBron to take his game to another level in Chicago. Speaking of LeBron, can you believe the LA Times is suggesting that the Lakers trade The King this offseason? I know that Lakers have struggled mightily this season, but let’s not get crazy. The Lakers with a healthy LeBron and a healthy Anthony Davis are still a tough out for anybody in the postseason. Finally, Jason closes the show with a word on the rumors swirling around Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. It's become abundantly clear that Zion wants out of town, so why would the Pelicans cut the chord and trade him? Holding on to a disgruntled star is never good for anyone, and history says the longer you wait to make a deal the worse the trade offers get. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the reports that Troy Aikman is leaving FOX to become ESPN's lead Monday Night Football analyst. Sports broadcasting is big business, and Aikman is one of its biggest stars. However, are we sure that Aikman's arrival is bound to boost ESPN's ratings? Are we certain that Aikman's departure will hurt FOX all that much? We'll find out soon enough. Later, Sirius XM NBA Radio host Rick Kamla swings by to discuss why he believes the impending repeal of the vaccine mandate in New York (thus allowing Kyrie Irving to play in home games) makes the Brooklyn Nets the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, why he's still bullish on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, why he believes it's two-horse race for the NBA MVP between Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, why he's more worried about Draymond Green's back injury than he is about Chris Paul's thumb injury, why he's expecting big things from Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies in the playoffs, Damian Lillard's uncertain future in Portland, the possibility that the Los Angeles Lakers would consider trading away LeBron James or Anthony Davis this summer, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on Aaron Rodgers' gotcha-moment on Tuesday in which he was successfully able to convince most of the sports media world that he would be announcing plans regarding his football future in Green Bay… only to come out it say that he just finished a cleanse and was feeling grateful afterwards. We all remember back in the day how irritated Rodgers was that Brett Favre kept waffling about his decision to retire, leaving his teammates, coaches and fans in a state of constant flux – and now Rodgers is doing the exact same thing! Rodgers, like Tom Brady, LeBron James and Favre before him, loves the spotlight and he'll do almost anything to keep it on himself. Later, New York Post sports columnist and author Ian O'Connor swings by to discuss the early reviews of his new book "Coach K: The Rise & Reign of Mike Krzyzewski", how Coach K's lack of involvement while the book was being written was actually pretty beneficial, why the 1980s and 1990s were the pinnacle of college basketball, why some wanted Coach K out at Duke during his early years, how Johnny Dawkins helped save Coach K's career and started the fire that led to his reign of dominance in the sport, why Coach K's confrontational style of coaching helped make him so successful - and so beloved by his players, why Coach K never ended up making the job to the NBA, how John Scheyer ended up being chosen as Coach K's successor at Duke, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a quick homage to Steph Curry on the heels of his record-setting performance at the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. Following what many described as a snoozer on All-Star Saturday night, Curry came in and saved the weekend behind a barrage of three pointers. In fact, our fearless leader is ready to declare Steph's big night as the greatest All-Star Game performance since Magic Johnson in 1992. That's some legendary company right there. Later, the guys react to the news that LeBron James is already planning his exit from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2-3 years so that he can play his final NBA season with his son, Bronny. If you've been paying attention at all the past few years it's been pretty obvious that this was LeBron's plan all along, but it still has to be a little jarring if you're a Lakers fan. What's more, with reports circulating that LeBron and Klutch Sports are frustrated with the Lakers front office stemming from their inactivity at the trade deadline, it's becoming even more clear that The King is already planning his exit. Finally, the guys close the show with a few thoughts on Juwan Howard's infamous slap of a Wisconsin assistant basketball coach on Sunday. While neither one is calling for Howard to lose his job over it, it puts a black eye on the program and should absolutely lead to a lengthy suspension; Howard show know better. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a quick discussion about the NBA MVP race on the heels of the Philadelphia 76ers' primetime victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. After the game, our fearless leader took to Twitter to explain why he has Giannis as the front-runner to win the award at this point in the season... and why he would have a really hard time voting for the odds-on favorite, Joel Embiid. Suffice to say, our fans in Philadelphia aren't going to like this one. Later, NBA champion Eddie House swings by to discuss why he wasn't high on the Los Angeles Lakers even before Anthony Davis' brutal ankle injury, if the Lakers should look to trade AD this offseason, what makes Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns the best team in the NBA, the seemingly 3-horse MVP race between Embiid, Nikola Jokic and Giannis, if we can trust the upstart Memphis Grizzlies and Cleveland Cavaliers to make some noise in the postseason, how hard it is for rookies to impact winning in the NBA, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few words on Anthony Davis' nasty ankle injury which is likely to sideline him for several weeks – at least. If AD has to miss an extended period of time, the Lakers season is toast; They would be hard-pressed just to make the playoffs. With that in mind, would it be all that surprising if LeBron James decides to shut it down himself so as not to add more miles to his body during a lost season? This is bad news for the Lakers, and it’s bad news for the NBA as a whole. Later, FOX Sports NBA analyst Ric Bucher swings by for a lengthy conversation (which was recorded prior to the AD ankle injury). During the interview, Bucher discusses why he's predicting a Milwaukee Bucks vs. Phoenix Suns rematch in the NBA Finals, why the Suns don't seem to have the national profile that they deserve, Ja Morant's star power and potential to become one of the faces of the League, the Atlanta Hawks' perceived chemistry issues, why it's laughable to say that the Lakers can make a deep playoff run in the Western Conference, why he doesn't think the addition of James Harden instantly makes the Brooklyn Nets the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, why he has Giannis Antetokounmpo as the best player in the NBA, and much more! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason continues his war of words with former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman over Matthew Stafford's Hall of Fame candidacy. If you just look at the raw numbers Stafford is already on a Hall of Fame trajectory, and we can assume he'll continue to have even more postseason success moving forward now he's with the Los Angeles Rams. What's more, based on Sherman's very specific HOF requirements (All-Pros, Pro Bowls, etc.), guys like Russell Wilson, Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger shouldn't be in HOF contention either. And let's be honest, if you don't think any of those 3 guys are deserving of Hall of Fame consideration you're probably just being a hater. Later, Jason floats out a very interesting trade idea involving disgruntled Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray. What if - and hear me out here - the Houston Texans send Deshaun Watson to Arizona for Murray? Kyler would be back in his home state of Texas while the Cardinals would be able to reunite Watson and DeAndre Hopkins. Just some food for thought. Finally, Jason closes the show with a deep dive into the final days of the Brooklyn Nets Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving and the ongoing soap opera that exists between the Los Angeles Lakers Big Three of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.