Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

On today’s episode, Jason and Producer Rob G bring you wall-to-wall reaction to the Boston Celtics’ Game 3 victory over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. Steph Curry suffered a foot injury that could sideline him for Game 4, but even still, the biggest storyline to come out of Wednesday’s action had to be the play of Draymond Green. After a week of injecting himself into social media beefs with Kevin Durant and a war of words with Cornbread Maxwell, Green was an absolute disaster on the floor in Game 3; Things have gotten so bad on the offensive end that both Jason and Rob G believe that Steve Kerr may have no choice but to cut Green’s minutes moving forward… and even that might not matter if Curry isn’t 100%. Speaking of Steph, if the Warriors end up falling to the Celtics in these NBA Finals (which is looking more and more likely these days), is it fair to say that he’s officially eliminated from top-10 all-time consideration? As great as he is, the harsh reality is that his only NBA championship without Kevin Durant would have came against a Cleveland Cavaliers team that was missing both Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. J-Mac and Rob G mostly disagree on this topic, but it definitely makes for an interesting discussion. Finally, the guys close the show by explaining why they both currently have Jaylen Brown - not Jayson Tatum - as their pick to win NBA Finals MVP.  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, the King of #NBATwitter, Josiah Johnson, joins Jason for a lengthy conversation in which Josiah discusses the pros and cons of current athletes like Draymond Green and former athletes like Gilbert Arenas having their own media outlets, why he tries to bring a unique and fun perspective to his basketball analysis, why he’d rather be comedic basketball mercenary than to latch himself to any single network or corporation, why Steph Curry fans seem to have it out for him these days, how much respect he has for Steph and the Golden State Warriors as a whole, the ‘overrated’ narrative surrounding Kyrie Irving, Donovan Mitchell’s uncertain future with the Utah Jazz, why he's still picking LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers to win it all in 2023, and much more! Finally, J-Mac closes the show with his Best Bets for Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Warriors and the Boston Celtics. 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 gets the party started by sharing his thoughts on Steph Curry and the absence of 'clutch moments' during his postseason career. Curry is a 2-time NBA MVP, a 3-time NBA champion and easily the greatest shooter in NBA history, and yet this narrative continues to haunt him. However, a thorough analysis of Curry's playoff career shows that the biggest reason why he's never hit a clutch shot in the playoffs is because his teams are usually well-ahead in the closing moments; How is Steph supposed to have a 'signature moment' if his teams are blowing everyone else out? Curry is clearly a victim of his own success. Later, Jason elaborates on his viral tweet from Monday night in which he explained how an NBA Finals series victory by the Boston Celtics would cement Jayson Tatum as having arguably the greatest postseason run of all-time. If the Celtics win the title, Tatum will have defeated Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jimmy Butler en route to the championship. Going through the annals of NBA history, and there's probably only a handful of guys (Curry, Michael Jordan, Dirk Nowitzki) who can argue that they had a tougher path. Finally, Jason closes the show with a few quick thoughts on Aaron Donald's massive contract extension with the Los Angeles Rams.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G kick things off with a deep dive into the Golden State Warriors' Game 2 win over the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. The Warriors blew the game open in third quarter, and unlike in Game 1, never looked back as they cruised to victory. Even though you've lost home court advantage in the series, if you're a Warriors fan, you still have to be feeling pretty good  about yourselves as the series shifts back to Boston. Steph Curry has been the most consistently great player in the NBA Finals thus far, and he's even shown flashes of being a decent defender to boot. Golden State needs Steph to be the best player on the floor if they're going to win the championship, and he's been exactly that through two games. Later, the guys go long on Donovan Mitchell's future in Utah following a report that he's 'unsettled and unnerved' about the Jazz' long-term outlook. If Mitchell is that unhappy about his situation in Utah then he absolutely should force his way out of town, and the Miami Heat and New York Knicks seem like the two teams who make the most sense as potential landing spots. However, anybody who trades for him needs to do so knowing that he'll likely never be the best player on a championship team. There are only a handful of true 'No. 1' players in the NBA, and Mitchell ain't at that level.  Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #FSRWeekends See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G bring you wall-to-wall reaction to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. The Boston Celtics closed the game on a 40-16 run in the fourth quarter to steal the win (and home court in the series). Jayson Tatum had an off-shooting night for Boston, but with guys like Al Horford and Derrick White burying threes from the outside, the Celtics didn't really need his scoring. Jason and Rob G are split on whether or not those role players can continue their hot shooting moving forward, but it was a sight to behold in Game 1. While neither guy is ready to back off their prediction that the Warriors would win the championship, the fact of that matter is that Draymond Green, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole were mostly bad for Golden State, and Steve Kerr's defensive schemes and lineup rotations left a lot to be desired. The only Warriors player who seemed to avoid blame after the game was Steph Curry. Curry had 21 points in a scintillating first quarter but was pretty quiet the rest of the way. Does he deserve more criticism for turning in another second-half clunker? You won't believe what the guys have to say about 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 gets the party started with a quick note on a minor transaction in the NBA that could end up paying big dividends. The Brooklyn Nets' decision to differ their first round pick from the Philadelphia 76ers to 2023 is something more folks should be talking about. If the James Harden experiment continues to go awry or if Joel Embiid gets struck by another injury (neither of which would be all that shocking), the Nets could find themselves with a lottery pick. Later, Jason brings you an in-depth preview of the upcoming NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics. J-Mac has already gone on the record as picking 'Warriors in 6', and that seems to be a pretty common prediction from NBA analysts. At this point, it almost feels like anyone who is picking Jayson Tatum and the Celtics to win the series is only doing so as a way to cut through the media clutter. Having said that, if Golden State does in fact bring home the bacon, what then will that mean for Steph Curry's legacy? Would he have passed Magic Johnson as the greatest point guard in NBA history? Does it end any debate about whether or not he's a better player than Kevin Durant? Would a championship and an NBA Finals MVP vault him into the all-time top-10?  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 bring you a nuanced conversation on Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors Dynasty. History says it's much more difficult to prolong a dynasty than it is to build one; there's a reason why Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs are the only other team this century to have prolonged levels of success in between championships. The Warriors, like the Spurs, were built around a generation superstar, found secondary stars late in the lottery and in the second round of the NBA Draft, and benefitted from more than a little bit of luck on multiple occasions. Would the Spurs have extended their run if they didn't 'luck' into  Kawhi Leonard? Probably not. Would the Warriors have won those two championship if they didn't 'luck' into Kevin Durant? Doubt it. Later, the guys go head-to-head debating whether or not the Warriors decision to keep lottery picks James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody rather than flip them for a proven star was actually the right move. Right now, it looks like a shrewd move given that Golden State is back in the NBA Finals. However, given that the Warriors are already viewed as a dynasty, will they get more credit for being contenders or do they actually need to win the championship to justify the decision? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason recaps a thrilling Eastern Conference Finals Game 7 between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat. Our fearless leader is so committed to his craft that he interrupted his family vacation to record a podcast from his bathroom using a pair of AirPods. Seriously. As for the game itself, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics finally broke through and will now face Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals. While both Jason and Producer Rob G are expecting a long and entertaining series, neither guy is willing to to admit that these are easily the two best teams in the NBA as both the Celtics and the Warriors have benefited from opposing injuries on their way through the postseason. That's not a knock on either team; it's just the truth. As far as the Heat are concerned, while some in the basketball community are questioning Jimmy Butler's decision to shoot a potential game-winning three pointer in the final seconds rather than go for the tie, the truth of the matter is that Miami is so limited offensively that Butler's transition three was still probably the best option they had. The Heat definitely need to upgrade beyond Butler and Bad Adebayo this offseason. Finally, the guys close the show by sharing their thoughts on a controversial Damian Lillard-to-the-Los Angeles Lakers trade that Jason floated on Friday's edition The Herd. Is the idea as crazy as it sounds? You be the judge! 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 by taking Jalen Rose to task for voting Kyrie Irving to the All-NBA team. Given the fact that Kyrie only played 29 games last season and is generally regarded as the main source for all the turmoil surrounding the Brooklyn Nets, it's clear that Rose had some sort of personal agenda for voting for Kyrie. Moreover, the criteria seems to vary from voter to voter; The whole thing has turned into a joke. Our fearless leader also brings us a way-too-early preview of the NBA Finals. Barring something catastrophic, it's going to be a showdown between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics. Can't wait! Later, NBA.com scribe and FOX Sports Radio NBA insider Mark Medina swings by to discuss the current status and future outlook of several high-profile superstars, including which teams might break the bank for Deandre Ayton, the likelihood that Zach LaVine returns to the Chicago Bulls, how the Philadelphia 76ers can 'fix' James Harden, why the Brooklyn Nets are unwilling to offer Kyrie a max contract extension, what it might take for the Los Angeles Lakers to unload Russell Westbrook, and 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 kick things off with a way-too-early NBA Finals preview. Now that Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors are officially in, the guys went ahead and assumed that Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics would punch their ticket later tonight. Will the vaunted Celtics defense be able to slow down the high-powered Warriors offense? How much of an impact will injuries have on the series? Later, NBA skills coach and Pure Sweat CEO Drew Hanlen swings by to discuss how determination and discipline helped shape his career, what it was like training NBA players while he was still in college, what makes Jayson Tatum so special, how Joel Embiid has evolved his game over the years, why he believes Michael Jordan - not LeBron James - is easily the greatest player in NBA history, which of his younger clients could be the next ones to really pop in the NBA, 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 quick note on the Dallas Mavericks’ blowout victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 4. Luka Doncic was phenomenal, and the role players were lights out from deep, but let’s be honest – all the Mavs did was prolong the inevitable; Steph Curry and the Warriors will be back in the NBA Finals in short order. Later, Producer Rob G joins the show to discuss Curry’s arrival as the undisputed Face of the NBA and where he fits it alongside some of the legendary names in basketball history as he sits on the precipice of his sixth NBA Finals appearance. Is it fair to say that he’s already on the same tier as guys like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson? Will folks talk about Steph’s run the past few years the same way they talk about Michael Jordan’s pair of three-peats or LeBron James’ eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances? Only time will tell. Finally, the guys close the show by sharing their thoughts on the reports that the Los Angeles Lakers are actually considering bringing Russell Westbrook back next season. The whole thing feels like a negotiating ploy, but it is fair to say that the market for Westbrook’s services does look bleak. 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 by sharing some very inside information on top high school quarterback prospect Arch Manning. SEC fans, you'll definitely want to tune in to this one. Later, our fearless leader discusses the likelihood that we'll see Boston Celtics vs Golden State Warriors NBA Finals, and explains why it's looking more and more likely that we'll see Steph Curry and the boys in this position again moving forward. With Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson still at the tail ends of their primes, and guys like Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman coming up behind them, few teams are set up better for success than Golden State. Finally, DallasBasketball.com and 105.3 The Fan Mavericks insider Mike Fisher swings by to discuss why the Mavs need a second star alongside Luka Doncic to make 'the leap', why he believes Jalen Brunson is best suited for being a bench player on a championship team, what makes Luka such a great villain in the NBA, why Dallas historically hasn't been a destination for stars and what Luka can do to change that, the possible pursuit of big men like Rudy Gobert and Deandre Ayton this summer, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #DougGottliebShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason and Producer Rob G get your week started with a deep dive into the Golden State Warriors' Game 3 victory over the Dallas Mavericks to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. This series is eerily similar to what we saw in 2007 when LeBron James squared off against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. Luka Doncic by himself, like LeBron, is no match for a great team headlined by a generational talent. When it's all said and done, we're going to look back at the these Warriors as one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. In fact, Jason argues that the Steph Curry-led Warriors are already the greatest dynasty the NBA has seen in over 50 years. Yes, even better than the Showtime Lakers and Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls. Later, the guys discuss what's gone wrong for Luka and the Mavs in this series, and explain why neither of them believes Doncic is going to win a championship in Dallas any time soon. Both agree that the only way the Mavericks will be able to get over the hump is if they can land a superstar sidekick to take some of the pressure off Luka. Only one problem: Who can they get that fits the bill? Julius Randle? Bradley Beal? Zach LaVine? This summer should be really interesting in Dallas. Finally, Jason and Rob G close the show by sharing their Best Bet for tonight's Game 4 between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat.  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 into the Nick Saban-Jimbo Fisher war of words over how NIL is being applied in college football. While some might call two of the most high-profile coaches in the sport trading barbs through the media a black eye of sorts, the guys argue that this is actually a good thing for college football as there hasn't been this much offseason buzz around the sport in years. As far as Saban is concerned, however, it's clear that he feels as though his perch atop the college football mountaintop is being threatened by guys like Fisher. Now that school 'benefit packages' are being made public and supporters can give recruits as much as they want, Saban has come to the realization that more top prospects will choose to go elsewhere. Can the Crimson Tide dynasty continue if Saban doesn't have the most talented roster year-in and year-out? Only time will tell. Later, Jason shares a quick thought on the Boston Celtics' blowout victory over the Miami Heat to tie the series 1-1. Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart were brilliant for Boston, but the bigger takeaway has to be just how boring the last week of NBA Playoff basketball has been; We've seen two Game 7s and two Conference Finals games and none of them have been remotely competitive heading into the fourth quarter. Let's hope all that changes as we head into the weekend. 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 by sharing their thoughts on the Golden State Warriors' drubbing of the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Steph Curry was phenomenal, but it's hard to make any sweeping conclusions about the series moving forward given that nobody expects Luka Doncic and the Mavs to play this poorly again. In fact, the same can be said about what happened in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics. Does anyone really expect Jayson Tatum to have six turnovers in a single quarter ever again? Of course not. Both of these series should be lengthy, and we can't wait to see how they unfold. Later, longtime NBA writer and House of Strauss founder Ethan Strauss swings by to discuss how he was able to break into the sports media business, why he ultimately decided to leave ESPN and go into business for himself, what it was like covering the Warriors in the early days of Curry’s career, Kevin Durant's psyche and why thought Golden State was the right fit for him (until it wasn't), what to make of the current NBA Playoff ratings, and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, Jason shares his takeaways from the Heat beating the Celtics in Game 1 of the ECF. Jimmy Butler gave Jayson Tatum and the C’s the business. Boston’s prodigal son, Grant Williams, couldn’t replicate his game 7 performance and returned to earth as the Heat took off during the 3rd quarter. Tatum kept turning the ball over with Miami’s defense just hounding his squad, but Jason can’t bash Tatum because his team was a bit shorthanded. J-Mac also dives into the NBA Draft Lottery with the Orlando Magic winning the number 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. If Jason had his druthers, he would go with Paolo Banchero but feels that Jabari Smith is the guy to bet on. What will it say about Kevin Durant if the Warriors win the NBA Championship this season? Jason reveals what KD’s response is to that question and gives his preview of game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the aforementioned Warriors and Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks!    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 McIntyre discusses a story about Suns center Deandre Ayton detailing his inability to live without video games. While Jason talks about his own affinity for video games, Ayton spending a lot of his free time in the virtual gaming sphere is a much different story. Ayton asked the Suns to deliver on his request of a multimillion dollar deal last summer, but if you’re an organization having to question his work ethic and what he does on his free time, it’s understandable for Phoenix to take some pause on paying their big man. If you’re a real contender in the NBA, Ayton should not be the one you shell out your dough for. Plus, Jason discusses some NFL topics including Packers CB Jaire Alexander’s big payday AND previews Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the short rested Boston Celtics and Miami Heat! 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 by recapping the Boston Celtics dismantling the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 7 which turned out to be the Grant Williams show. This Celtics victory leads into another showdown with South Beach’s very own Miami Heat! Jason also shares his take on the Mavericks blowing the Suns out of the water in Phoenix as Luka Doncic continues his tear on the NBA! Dallas came in with the urgency out of the gate in game 7 and had the Suns’ backcourt stumbling in front of their home crowd. Jason believes Chris Paul is getting into washed territory with yet again another door shut on a championship opportunity. CP3 laughed at Luka after game 2, but Doncic gets the last laugh as his Mavericks move on against the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Plus, Jason shares his thoughts on the potential of an awesome NBA Final 4, his Luka comparison to LeBron James and 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 by throwing verbal haymakers at Joel Embiid, James Harden, Doc Rivers and the Philadelphia 76ers following their season-ending loss to the Miami Heat. This is the second consecutive season where Embiid has come up very small in the final game of the season; the Embiid love affair has to end. Harden's disappointing play, on the other hand, is pretty much expected these days. He's never been good in big moments, so the fact that The Beard didn't score a point in the second half shouldn't come as much of a surprise. Not to be outdone, head coach Doc Rivers actually fabricated a narrative about unrealistic expectations in Philadelphia. Seriously. These three really deserve each other. Moving over to the Western Conference, Luka Doncic added to his legend with yet another virtuoso performance in an elimination game. Luka has already established himself as arguably the best player in the NBA, the only question now becomes: Can he finish the job in Game 7? Later, The Ringer editor-at-large Bryan Curtis swings by to discuss how the internet and social media has fundamentally changed the way we consume news, athletes like Kyrie Irving using social media instead of new media to get their messages out, NBA Playoffs ratings and the idea that basketball fans have LeBron James ‘fatigue’, how sports journalism has evolved into public relations in certain aspects, 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 by heaping a ton of verbal praise on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday and the Milwaukee Bucks following their comeback victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 5. Champions find ways to get the job done, and the Bucks definitely showed their championship mettle with their fourth quarter closing kick - particularly in the final :45 seconds of the game. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics are going to have a really hard time bouncing back from this one. In the Western Conference, Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors got blitzed by 39 points in their Game 5 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. What's even more shocking is that the Grizzlies have thoroughly outplayed the Warriors in 7 of their 8 quarters without superstar guard Ja Morant. At this point, it's pretty hard to argue against Memphis being better without Morant. Later, 7x NBA champion Robert Horry swings by to discuss his new iHeartMedia podcast ‘NBA Finals File’, the Brooklyn Nets being non-committal about  Kyrie Irving and his long-term future with the franchise, why international players like Giannis, Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic have enjoyed so much success in the NBA, how analytics and AAU have negatively impacted the way the game is played today, the Los Angeles Lakers’ search for a new head coach, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #JSSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's show, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on what turned out to be a very underwhelming Tuesday night in the NBA. We were all looking forward to a pair of dynamite Game 5's but instead got treated to blockout victories by the Phoenix Suns and Miami Heat, respectively. History tells us that whoever wins Game 5 after being tied 2-2 goes on to win the series 82% of the time, so all signs point to the Suns and Heat making the Conference Finals. Later, Club Necaxa co-owner Sam Porter swings by to discuss the ins and outs of owning a soccer club in Liga MX, how he was able to recruit celebrity investors like Shawn Marion and Eva Longoria, the appeal of investing in MLS and Liga MX franchises, what the arrival of Wayne Rooney to the MLS meant to the sport of soccer in the United States, 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 kick things off with a deep dive into the Boston Celtics' thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Milwaukee Bucks to even their series 2-2. Al Horford turned back the clock to the tune of 30 points, but Jason's biggest takeaway from the game was how Jayson Tatum firmly established himself as a top-5 NBA player with the way he closed out the game for Boston. Tatum has always been a prodigious scorer, but in the last two playoff series, he's stifled Kevin Durant defensively and now outshined Giannis Antetokounmpo in the clutch on the road. If that's not top-5 worthy then we don't know what it is. On the flip side of the playoff bracket, the Golden State Warriors were able to overcome a historically bad shooting night (at least by their standards) to take a 3-1 series lead over the Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies. Once Morant was ruled out, many expect the Warriors to roll. However, with their best player in street clothes, the Grizzlies turned up the defensive intensity and had Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Jordan Poole look mostly mediocre for three quarters. Given how poor Morant is defensively, is it fair then to say that the Grizzlies are actually better off without him? Maybe we'll get that answer in Game 5. Finally, the guys close the show with their Best Bets for tonight's NBA playoff games between the Philadelphia 76ers-Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns-Dallas Mavericks.  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 opens things up with a few thoughts on how the Dallas Mavericks were able to even their series at 2-2 against the Phoenix Suns. Aside from the schematic adjustments, the biggest change over the last two games has been the disappointing play of Chris Paul; Since the series shifted to Dallas, CP3 has been absolutely brutal on the court. Things even boiled over off the court as Paul's mother and wife were allegedly shoved by unruly Mavs fans late in the game. Unfortunately, fans behaving badly has become rather commonplace in NBA arenas the past few years, and Producer Rob G says the rise of social media and the mob mentality has played a big role in it. Later, our fearless leader does a deep dive into the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 4 win over Miami Heat. James Harden was fantastic for Philly, but Jimmy Butler put on a quite a show himself for Miami. Butler didn't get much help from his supporting cast in Game 4, and given how much money they have tied up into Kyle Lowry and Duncan Robinson, would it be all that shocking if he decided to leave the Heat this summer in search of a squad with more high-end talent? Just throwing it out there. Finally, the guys close the show by discussing why they're both expecting the Golden State Warriors to roll over the Ja Morant-less Memphis Grizzlies in Monday's Game 4. In fact, given how vulnerable Phoenix has looked the last two games, don't be surprised to see the Warriors pegged as the favorites to come out of the Western Conference this year.  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 explaining why Kyrie Irving saying that he 'revolutionized' the game and deserved to be on the NBA75 is blasphemous. Not only is he not one of the top 75 players in NBA history, but it almost feels like he's trying to take attention away from the NBA Playoffs. Typical Kyrie, if you ask me. Later, J-Mac shares his thoughts on the reports that Phil Mickelson lost over $40 million over a four year span while gambling on sports. What on Earth was this man gambling on?!? Either way, now that sports wagering is becoming more widespread, you should probably expect more stories like this to pop up moving forward.  Finally, Jason closes the show with an extended weekend edition of the Best Bet featuring a slew of NBA playoff games. Can the Philadelphia 76ers cover the Game 3 spread without Joel Embiid? Will the Boston Celtics suffocating defense travel to Milwaukee? Can Steph Curry get back on track now that the series is shifting back to the Bay Area? We've got the answers to all of those questions - and so 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 podcast, Jason kicks things off with a few thoughts on the Phoenix Suns' blowout victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Luka Doncic put up big numbers offensively, but Chris Paul and the Suns absolutely hunted Luka on the defensive end in the second half. CP3 is clearly fed up with all the love Luka has been receiving from the media and it seems through the first two games as though he has a personal vendetta Doncic. Having said that, the last time Paul got into it with an opposing point guard (Steph Curry), he injured his hamstring; CP3 would be wise not to tempt the Basketball Gods again. Later, CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell swings by to discuss how NIL and the transfer portal has unintentionally changed college sports for the worse by essentially becoming ‘pay for play’, the sagas surrounding University of Pittsburgh wide receiver Jordan Addison and University of Miami guard Isaiah Wong, the potential development of a true minor league outside of college football, how NIL has made school boosters feel like NFL general manager, which 2023 NFL Draft eligible quarterbacks could be taken in the top-10, and much more! Click here to subscribe, rate and review all of the latest Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre podcasts! #SOVSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s episode, former NBA assistant coach and basketball analyst Dave Miller swings by for a lengthy conversation with J-Mac. During the interview, Miller discusses what it was like coaching Chris Paul back in the day with the New Orleans Hornets, how he ultimately ended up becoming an NBA assistant coach, what college basketball recruiting was like before NIL legalized players getting ‘perks’ to sign with certain schools, some of his favorite memories while coaching college hoops at USC, how Kobe Bryant helped him become a better on-air television analyst, the perception that Kyrie Irving doesn’t really care about winning, how he would try to ‘fix’ the Los Angeles Lakers if he was running the show, and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Jason kicks things off with a few quick thoughts on DeAndre Hopkins' 6-game suspension for PEDs. While most are ready to jump off the Arizona Cardinals bandwagon, J-Mac says you should double-down and throw even more money down on Cardinals futures bets for the upcoming season. D-Hop is a tremendous player, but unlike last season when he got hurt, the Cardinals have plenty of time to prepare to play without him. Later, Jason explains why he's refusing to pile on James Harden following the Philadelphia 76ers' blowout loss to the Miami Heat in Game 1. Until Joel Embiid is back on the floor, it's hard to put too much blame on The Beard. In the Western Conference, Luka Doncic was clearly the best player on the floor in Game 1 between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns, but unless he gets more help around him it's hard to envision the Mavs winning the series. Thankfully, if you're a Dallas fan, history tells us that Jalen Brunson and Spencer Dinwiddie won't play that poorly again in Game 2; the Mavs are clearly still in this series. Finally, FOX Sports Radio 910 Phoenix host Jody Oehler swings by to discuss how Kliff Kingsbury and the Cardinals plan to adjust without Hopkins for the first half of the season, what kind of leverage disgruntled quarterback Kyler Murray has as he looks for a new contract, why Cardinals fans are generally split on Kyler, and much more!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.