Pound The Rock

Whether it was leaving the door open to a Cavs reunion, taking subtle shots at the Lakers' front office while praising Sam Presti, or detailing his plans to play with Bronny James when the youngster is drafted, LeBron's All-Star Weekend comments have us heated.

With Zion Williamson' status still looming over the Pelicans' season, we're joined by Mason Ginsberg (Bourbon Street Shots and the In the N.O. Podcast) to talk Zion and everything else New Orleans basketball. Non-Zion topic include CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Devonte' Graham, Garrett Temple, Larry Nance, Willie Green, and David Griffin.

James Harden and Ben Simmons swap homes, the Mavs ditch Kristaps Porzingis for pennies on the dollar, the Celtics steal Derrick White, and more from a wild NBA trade deadline day.

Teams are getting busy in the lead-up to Thursday's trade deadline, with the Blazers trading CJ McCollum to the Pelicans, the Cavs getting Caris LeVert from the Pacers, and the Nets pondering trading James Harden to Philly. We break down all that news, before reacting in real time to the shocking trade that sent Domantas Sabonis to the Kings in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton.

Which players deserve to join the current All-Stars as injury replacements, plus Ja Morant and Joel Embiid continue to troll opponents, and we break down the Clippers-Blazers trade that sends Norman Powell and Robert Covington to LA.

After Cash takes a victory lap on a Gary Trent Jr. take, we check in on the 8 swing players we picked before the season (Jaren Jackson, Michael Porter Jr., De'Andre Hunter, Klay Thompson, C.J. McCollum, Tobias Harris, Kristaps Porzingis, and D'Angelo Russell) and discuss the extent to which they have and haven't swung things for their respective teams.

How is Wolfond handling the news that Andrew Wiggins is an All-Star starter? Does Anthony Davis' return mean anything in the big picture for the Lakers this year? The Suns are by far the best team in basketball right now, and the Wizards are once again the Wizards.

We unpack recent rumors about the 76ers' inclination to wait until the summer to flip Ben Simmons for James Harden in a sign-and-trade, as well as Harden's reported disillusionment with his living and playing situation in Brooklyn. Is this a wise gambit for the Sixers given the alternatives available to them ahead of the trade deadline? Does Harden actually want to go to Philly? Could the Sixers make a Simmons trade now *and* get Harden in the offseason? Are we headed toward a sign-and-trade bidding war? After that, we discuss the impact of the injuries to Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, and wonder if those injuries will change the Bulls' approach to the deadline. Finally, we check in on the surging Mavericks, who have yet to hit their stride offensively but are being carried by their 4th-ranked (!) defense.

Who's in, who's out? Our All-Star selection mega-show by Score Media and Gaming

It's been an up-and-down season for the Bucks, but the defending champs still feel like the safest best to come out of the East. We discuss their season so far, the impact of Brook Lopez's absence, Giannis Antetokoumpo's continued growth, and whether the team's offense has improved enough to offset some defensive regression. Then, we take a look at their steepest competition in the Eastern Conference, and wonder about the title prospects of the Nets, Heat, Bulls, Sixers, and Cavs.

The Bucks make a statement against the Warriors, the Blazers lose Dame, the disappointing Hawks start shaking things up, and the Kings troll Russell Westbrook.

With Kawhi Leonard reportedly ahead of schedule and expected to return this season, we take stock of the undermanned Clippers and wonder how much of a threat they can be at full strength. Then we assess the contrasting returns of Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson, look ahead to a blockbuster Warriors-Grizzlies matchup, discuss the Nets' ongoing offensive struggles, and anoint a new Eastern conference favorite.

What to expect from Kyrie Irving's (partial) return to the Nets and Klay Thompson's long awaited return to the Warriors. Plus we break down the many reasons the Knicks have come crashing back to earth so far this season.

For our final episode of 2021, we look back at some of our preseason predictions, some of which are looking prophetic and others woefully misguided. We hit on Celtics friction, the Lakers' foreseeable struggles, why the Grizzlies have outperformed our expectations, and just how far Cash's Pokusevski hype train has gone off the rails. From there, we wonder whether hating Trae Young is all Knicks fans have to hold onto right now, and explain what makes DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls, and the Timberwolves so interesting.

Are Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks wasting this season away? How real are the fourth-place Memphis Grizzlies now that Ja Morant is back? Plus Benny The Bull takes aim at the Lakers, and we preview the NBA's Christmas schedule.

The Nets are permitting a still-unvaccinated Kyrie Irving to return as a part-time player. Shortly after reporting to the team, Irving tested positive for COVID-19, and entered the NBA's health and safety protocols, along with Kevin Durant and 7 other Nets players. We sort through the fraught Kyrie situation, what his return means for the team, Durant's heroics up to this point, and how Brooklyn has managed to sustain the East's best record in light of so many absences.

Zion Williamson's latest setback might mean some tough questions need to be answered in New Orleans. Did Charles Barkley have a point in his criticism of Anthony Davis? What the over-achieving Clippers' start means for the rest of their season.

The Indiana Pacers are reportedly thinking rebuild. But what exactly does that entail? Will this notoriously tank-averse organization really push for a full-scale teardown, or will this simply be another soft reset? And which of their big men will they ultimately decide to trade? We delve into all that, before discussing the young trio powering the extremely legit Cavaliers. Finally, Cash takes us on a trip to Memphis to explain what he learned in writing about the bone-deep connection between the city and Penny Hardaway.

With Neil Olshey out the door, where do Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers go from here? Should Portland trade for Ben Simmons? What's up with the Celtics' team broadcast taking shots at opposing players? Are the Bulls a contender? Is DeMar DeRozan a Hall of Famer?

What to make of injuries to Bam Adebayo, Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, and Brook Lopez. How concerned should we be about Zion Williamson's future after his latest setback? Suns vs. Warriors is awesome basketball. How Phoenix's success exemplifies a leaguewide trend of decreased rim frequency. And finally, are the Timberwolves finally figuring it out?