Explore every episode of the podcast Off Guard with Austin Rivers
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Era for the Sixers + Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa Shine in NCAA Debuts | 31 Oct 2025 | 01:00:54 | |
(00:20) The NBA's Scoring Surge (01:36) Austin Rivers "On the Bench" (06:57) Is 25 points The New 20? (14:17) Can The 76ers Compete in The East? (26:23) Tyrese Maxey is Underrated (31:06) Is Cam Boozer Ready For the NBA? (37:40) Golf, Getting Angry At Things You Aren't Good At (42:36) The Milwaukee Bucks Are Dangerous (48:48) Early MVP Candidates/Predictions (54:58) Halloween: In or Out? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| Reaves Scoring Explosion & The Case Against Cooper Flagg at Point Guard | 29 Oct 2025 | 01:05:50 | |
(0:22) Previewing "On the Bench" With Austin Rivers (4:41) Previewing Pistons-Cavs (9:18) Austin Reaves 50pt Game + Improvement (14:21) Is the Lakers Big-3 Really a Big-3? (25:55) Dylan Harper’s Early Flashes (31:45) Wembanyama Is Still an Alien (34:17) The Case Against Cooper Flagg at PG (42:30) LaMelo Ball and the Hornets (47:30) Is Cam Thomas Underappreciated (58:06) Austin Rivers Goes Kayaking (1:03:40) Life Lessons w/Austin, Basketball, and Life. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. | |||
| First-Round Observations and How the Celtics Are Pivoting | 26 Jun 2025 | 00:53:42 | |
Austin and Pausha return to react to the first-round selections of the 2025 NBA draft and the latest trades and discuss how they affect the arms race in the Eastern Conference. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Stefan Anderson Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto
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| The Magic Win Big in Game 3 and Embiid Drops 50 on the Knicks. Plus, the Lakers Fall, 0-3. | 26 Apr 2024 | 01:27:35 | |
Austin and Pausha are back to discuss more playoff basketball. They start by talking about Paolo Banchero and the Magic’s big win in their series with Cleveland (1:19). Then, they get into Joel Embiid’s 50-point game against the Knicks (22:05). Later, they break down the Suns-Timberwolves series (41:08) and talk about why the Lakers fell to 0-3 against the Nuggets (53:35). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Carlos Chiriboga and Ben Cruz
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| Ant Rises to the Occasion and Bounce-Back Games to Watch | 23 Apr 2024 | 01:11:22 | |
Austin and Pausha are back after the first group of playoff games, and jump in with a discussion about the heavy home-court advantage so far (1:24). Then, they break down two games that could see a bounce back, and discuss matchups in which we need to see things change (36:24). Later, they highlight Anthony Edwards’s continued rise to stardom after his epic starting performance in the Wolves-Suns series (55:18). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Erik Spoelstra Is the NBA’s Best Coach and Power Ranking the League’s GOAT Dynasties | 20 Apr 2024 | 00:57:26 | |
Immediately after the end of Friday night’s play-in games, Austin and Pausha went live on Ringer NBA’s YouTube channel! In this special reaction podcast, the guys get into Miami’s win over Chicago and how Erik Spoelstra’s scrappy Heat squad will stack up against the Celtics. Plus, with the Warriors dynasty seemingly coming to an end, the guys rank the top dynasties in NBA history. And to finish out the show, the guys preview the Magic vs. Cavaliers series. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Chris Wohlers, Cory McConnell, Benjamin Cruz, and Troy Farkas
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| How We Define the League’s Top Guards and Playoff Predictions | 16 Apr 2024 | 01:07:19 | |
Austin and Pausha kick off the week talking about play-in teams they trust to compete most if they advance (1:26). Plus, they discuss two playoff matchups to watch: Mavs-Clippers and Suns-Wolves (33:15). Then, they predict just how successful OKC can be walking in as the top seed in the Western Conference, and share their thoughts on the Team USA squad that’s likely headed to Paris for the Olympics (46:12). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Our Season Awards and Takeaways | 12 Apr 2024 | 01:10:10 | |
Austin and Pausha are back to hand out season awards for Rookie of the Year, Best Defender, Favorite Play of the Season, and more! Later, they talk through potential play-in matchups and discuss their biggest takeaways from the season. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| The State of College Hoops Post-Tourney. Plus, Surprising NBA Teams as the Season Winds Down. | 09 Apr 2024 | 01:12:07 | |
Austin and Pausha hit on both NCAA championships: They highlight Caitlin Clark’s dominant season (despite coming up short), give props to men’s UConn coach Dan Hurley, and discuss how to replicate this level of success in college hoops (1:20). Then, with the NBA regular season coming to an end, the guys discuss which teams surprised them with exceptional play and which teams disappointed (45:04). Plus, Austin and Pausha share their thoughts on Wemby’s new Nike logo (1:08:14)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Teams Struggling at the Worst Time and Joel Embiid’s Return | 05 Apr 2024 | 01:08:30 | |
Austin and Pausha are back to discuss a few teams on the struggle bus at this point in the season (10:55), then address which players are showing out with impressive 50-point games (20:31). Later, they hit on Joel Embiid’s return from injury and Wemby’s ranking among the top 30 players, then give Vince Carter his flowers and praise for being the best dunker of all time (36:16). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Caitlin Clark Gets Her Revenge and Debating Austin Reaves Vs. Tyler Herro | 03 Apr 2024 | 01:07:40 | |
Austin and Pausha kick things off by talking through Caitlin Clark’s legendary performance that sent Iowa to the Final Four (1:33). Then, they dive into a discussion on which players past and present they’d trust to take the final shot in a game (14:56). Next, they break down current playoff matchups and debate Austin Reaves vs. Tyler Herro (49:30). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Ranking Playoff Teams’ Second Options and Concerns for College Development | 29 Mar 2024 | 01:01:51 | |
Austin and Pausha are back to discuss Draymond Green’s latest ejection, Steph’s subsequent frustration, and more Warriors questions (7:49). Then, they answer which players on playoff-bound teams like the T-Wolves, Cavs, and Clippers are the second-most-important players to their teams’ success (25:22). Later, they wrap things up with some March Madness talk, including the big upset with Alabama beating North Carolina, and dive into concerns about player development in college (45:33). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Rockets Soaring Up the Standings, and Who's to Blame for the Identity-less Clippers | 26 Mar 2024 | 01:01:22 | |
Austin and Pausha are back to discuss the Houston Rockets being the hottest team in the league, thanks in large part to Jalen Green’s incredible play (5:45). Then, they talk through the identity-less Clippers and suggest who could lead the team heading into the playoffs (30:00). Later, they speculate on rumors regarding Paul George possibly going to the Sixers, and why the Suns’ loss to the Wemby-less Spurs is very alarming (40:22). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| OKC Wins the NBA Title, and Kevin Durant Gets Traded to Houston | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:56:39 | |
Austin and Pausha return to react to the Thunder’s 103-91 championship-clinching win over the Pacers in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals and break down the seismic Kevin Durant trade to Houston. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Kyle Williams Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto
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| Allen Iverson and Steph Curry’s Influences. Plus, Giving Flowers to Isaiah Thomas. | 19 Mar 2024 | 00:38:24 | |
Austin and Pausha discuss their feelings on JJ Redick and LeBron entering the podcast space together, then offer their take on the impact of Allen Iverson and Steph Curry on the game of basketball (3:00). They then talk in-depth about two plays that absolutely blew their minds: Kyrie Irving’s absurd game-winner and Anthony Edwards’s filthy dunk on Jason Collins (19:18). Later, they give their flowers to Isaiah Thomas after signing his 10-day contract with the Suns (29:54), and wrap things up with a True or False segment that touches on Joel Embiid’s return and Klay Thompson’s future (32:06). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Sabonis Cooks AD AGAIN! And Is Isiah Thomas Right About KD and the Warriors? | 15 Mar 2024 | 01:01:54 | |
Austin and Pausha close out the week with a discussion about the Anthony Davis-Domantas Sabonis “feud” following the Lakers’ latest loss to the Kings (10:05). Then, they talk through Isiah Thomas’s comments about KD saving the legacies of Stephen Curry and the Warriors (27:32), and compare his dominance to that of LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan (44:04). Later, they touch on the double-edged sword that comes with the new way referees are allowing defensive players to play (52:18). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| What If the Mavs Miss the Playoffs Again? Plus, the Impact of KAT and Sengun’s Injuries. | 12 Mar 2024 | 01:13:13 | |
Austin and Pausha are back to discuss recent injuries, including the Rockets’ Alperen Sengun and the Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, then break down where this leaves both teams (8:00). Then, they talk through the Mavericks’ unimpressive record—despite MVP candidate Luka Doncic lighting the league on fire—and suggest what another playoff miss could mean for the team (30:50). Later, they run through another edition of Rapid Fire questions, in which they propose moving Zion Williamson from the Pelicans to Miami (58:48). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Crickets for the Bucks’ Recent Success and Giving Caitlin Clark Her Flowers | 05 Mar 2024 | 00:51:52 | |
Austin and Pausha are back and start things off by discussing why no one seems to be talking about the Bucks, despite being on a six-game winning streak (1:20). Then, they sort through the teams that could give the Bucks and Nuggets the most trouble throughout the rest of the season (16:00), and wrap things up with a shout-out to Caitlin Clark for becoming the all-time leading scorer in college basketball (42:10)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Rapid Fire Friday: ‘Off Guard’ Edition! | 01 Mar 2024 | 01:07:33 | |
Austin and Pausha are back with a Rapid Fire Edition of ‘Off Guard’! They answer a slew of “X Player" vs. "Y Player” scenarios and discuss historical NBA choices, then share how they would rebuild a few of the teams in the league. Later, Pausha opens up and discusses the time Damian Lillard absolutely roasted him and made him a huge internet meme! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| KD Puts Fan in Place, Meeting in the Middle on Court-Storming, and Why the Mavs Are for Real | 27 Feb 2024 | 00:55:52 | |
Austin and Pausha kick things off with a talk about some on-court incidents, including Kevin Durant’s viral fan interaction during Suns-Mavericks, as well as the event in which Wake Forest fans stormed the court and injured Duke’s Kyle Filipowski (1:02). Then, Austin reveals why his early pro-player comparison for Cooper Flagg is Andrei Kirilenko (18:35) and discusses why Victor Webanyama needs to be the next face of the NBA. Later, they make their case for the Mavericks and the Magic as legitimate playoff contenders (48:48). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Jayson Tatum’s Odds to Become Face of the League and Final All-Star Game Fixes | 23 Feb 2024 | 01:04:03 | |
Austin and Pausha are back from break and share some ideas that could revitalize the All-Star Game and All-Star Weekend as a whole (1:20). Then, Austin responds to his latest stint in NBA headlines thanks to JJ Redick’s comments (26:44), before getting into a two-part discussion about Jayson Tatum becoming the face of the league and being excluded from the MVP conversation (35:14). Later, they touch on their favorite hoop shoes (45:12) and then wrap things up with their top storylines for both the Eastern and Western conferences heading into the stretch run of the season (49:52). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| The Warriors’ LeBron Trade Attempt and Our Favorite All-Star Memories | 16 Feb 2024 | 01:06:25 | |
Austin and Pausha prepare for All-Star Weekend by talking through why they’re most excited for the Sabrina Ionescu–Stephen Curry 3-point showdown on All-Star Saturday night (6:28). Then, they discuss the reported attempt by the Warriors to trade for LeBron James at the trade deadline (24:36), why Austin thinks the Clippers are primed for a Finals run (44:32), and Jamal Murray’s comments on not making the All-Star team (54:45). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Ben Cruz
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| Is This Jayson Tatum’s Best Celtics Team? Plus, Our Favorite Dunkers of All Time. | 13 Feb 2024 | 01:04:06 | |
Austin and Pausha kick off the show with their reactions to the Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes’s greatness, and Usher’s halftime show (00:00). Then, they discuss whether this is the best Celtics team in the Jayson Tatum era (16:33), the importance of role players and good locker-room guys (34:52), and reminisce on their favorite dunkers like Vince Carter, Aaron Gordon, and Zion Williamson (49:00). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes, Ben Cruz, and Eduardo Ocampo
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| Knicks Are Officially Contenders and the Bulls Are in No Man’s Land | 09 Feb 2024 | 00:57:05 | |
Austin and Pausha go through some of the biggest deals made at this year’s trade deadline. They start off by looking at teams that didn’t make any moves, such as the Bulls, Warriors, and Lakers (01:12). Then, they discuss why the Knicks hands-down won the trade deadline and cemented their status as East contenders with their acquisition of Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks (17:15). Later, they look at other trades, including the Mavs acquiring P.J. Washington, the Sixers trading for Buddy Hield, and more (26:43)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes, Ben Cruz, and Eduardo Ocampo
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| Pacers Force a Game 7, and the Lakers Have a New Ownership Group | 20 Jun 2025 | 00:53:27 | |
Austin and Pausha return to react to the Pacers' 108-91 Game 6 win over the Thunder to force a Game 7 in the 2025 NBA Finals and discuss the Lakers' new ownership group. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Stefan Anderson Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto
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| The Bucks’ Identity Search and the Irony of Kawhi’s MVP-Type Season | 06 Feb 2024 | 00:56:18 | |
Austin and Pausha kick off the pod by expanding on Austin’s semi-viral Bronny James–LeBron James take (05:19), and discuss if LeBron’s Knicks towel moment was a not-so-subtle pressure sign to the Lakers (19:08). They also delve into the Bucks needing to find their identity with Doc Rivers now as coach, the irony of Kawhi Leonard potentially winning MVP the year load management rules were instituted (29:15), whether the Warriors should look to trade away Klay Thompson (37:20), and more! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes, Ben Cruz, and Eduardo Ocampo
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| The Irony Behind the 65-Game Rule and the Biggest All-Star Snubs | 02 Feb 2024 | 00:56:05 | |
Austin and Pausha highlight last night’s Lakers dominance with Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell leading the way (and without LeBron James and Anthony Davis) (1:12), then jump into the debate circulating around the 65-game rule that has stars like Joel Embiid pushing themselves to play through injury (16:12). Later, they run through the All-Star reserves and hit on which players were snubbed and why (31:12)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Why Bradley Beal Should Take Notes From Ray Allen and Jalen Brunson’s All-Star Snub | 30 Jan 2024 | 01:02:47 | |
Austin and Pausha kick things off talking about everything surrounding Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl and why they’ve come around on her and Travis Kelce’s relationship (1:12). Then, they dive right into some hoops, starting with a Miami Heat conversation in which they unpack whether or not the regular season will determine their playoff success (13:17) and why Bradley Beal needs to follow the Ray Allen mold in terms of adjusting his game, before then breaking down why D’Angelo Russell is the third best player on the Lakers (22:45). Later, they talk through the All-Star starters and discuss why Jalen Brunson was snubbed (29:40)! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Embiid Gives Wemby a 70-Point Lesson, and Doc Rivers’ Fit in Milwaukee | 25 Jan 2024 | 01:04:07 | |
Austin and Pausha are back to hit on the news throughout the league, starting with the 70-piece Joel Embiid dropped on Wemby and the Spurs’ heads, as well as KAT getting his career-high 65 points against the Hornets (1:17). Then, they hit on the hiring of Doc Rivers to replace Adrian Griffin as new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and break down why Doc makes the most sense (21:46). Later, they discuss Terry Rozier’s fit with the Miami Heat after landing there via trade, and touch on what bothered them most about the Grant Williams–Kevin Durant altercation (38:00). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| D’Angelo Russell in His Bag Despite Trade Rumors. Plus, Is KD a GOAT? | 23 Jan 2024 | 01:01:57 | |
Austin and Pausha revisit the elite guard conversation and whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should be crowned as the league’s best (1:00), then, they touch base on the Pascal Siakam trade to Indiana (7:47), and talk through D’Angelo Russell’s impressive performance amid trade rumors (18:36). Later, they highlight the 40-point game KD had against the Pacers and respond to his claim that he should be included in the GOAT conversation (32:58). Then, they wrap things up discussing just how meaningful it would be for the Clippers to win an NBA Championship (54:21). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Warriors Need to Blow It Up! Plus, a Very Real Garbage Time Conversation. | 17 Jan 2024 | 01:06:42 | |
Austin and Pausha talk through which lineup is best for the Lakers as they look to turn their season around (2:35). They then talk through whether bringing back Dejounte Murray to pair with Wemby would make sense for the Spurs (13:10). Then, the guys get into another Warriors conversation where they discuss why they need to hit the eject button and blow up the roster entirely (28:25). Finally, Austin goes on an epic rant about garbage time in the NBA and why it actually matters to certain guys in the league (42:32). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| The Lakers’ Post-IST Victory Struggles and Giving James Harden His Flowers | 12 Jan 2024 | 01:10:33 | |
Austin and Pausha celebrate their one year anniversary of ‘Off Guard’ by breaking down a week full of games, starting with the Timberwolves’ dominant win in Orlando before their unfortunate loss to the Celtics (4:14), and the Thunder’s 62-point demolition of the Trail Blazers (9:38). Then, they take a closer look at the Lakers’ post-IST struggles before offering up suggestions for potential trades to help fix both them and the Golden State Warriors (13:01), before wrapping things up with their power rankings in the Western Conference and how, specifically, the surging Los Angeles Clippers stack up (54:56). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Rudy Gobert on Why the KAT Pairing Now Works, Wemby, and Draymond’s Apology | 09 Jan 2024 | 01:09:52 | |
Austin and Pausha are joined by three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert to discuss this season’s impressive start and his role playing alongside All-Star teammates Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Towns (3:46). They talk about his career with Cholet Basket in France and his transition to the NBA playing with the Utah Jazz (14:16). Later, they dive into his goals on and off the court and hit on his relationship with Victor Wembanyama and other fellow European players in the league (41:41). And of course, Gobert responds to Draymond Green’s apology for their on-court altercation. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Guest: Rudy Gobert Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| The Pressure to Build Around Wemby. Plus, Is Darvin Ham Really to Blame for the Lakers' Struggles? | 05 Jan 2024 | 01:05:58 | |
Austin and Pausha begin by talking about the development of Victor Wembanyama and why the Spurs are in pressure mode to build around him (01:54). Then they discuss OKC’s win over Boston and whether SGA is currently the best guard in the league (14:38). After, they discuss recent reports of a “growing disconnect” between Darvin Ham and Lakers players (21:45). They end with a conversation revolving around Klay Thompson and Ricky Rubio and why we should do a better job of giving players their flowers (50:30). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Ben Cruz and Eduardo Ocampo
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| What’s Next for Siakam After O.G. Trade and a Derrick White All-Star Convo | 02 Jan 2024 | 01:11:08 | |
Austin and Pausha kick off the new year by giving their thoughts on the Knicks trading away Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett to Toronto in exchange for OG Anunoby (05:05). They discuss why Anunoby is a good fit for Tom Thibodeau’s play style, what this means for Pascal Siakam’s future, and more. Then, they look into whether it’s time for the Warriors to reset the roster around Stephen Curry (30:08), if Derrick White should be an All-Star (36:30), Detroit finally snapping their 28-game losing streak (54:42), and more. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Eduardo Ocampo and Ben Cruz
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| OKC Takes a 3-2 Lead, and Desmond Bane to Orlando! | 17 Jun 2025 | 01:04:51 | |
Austin and Pausha return to react to the Thunder's 120-109 win over the Pacers in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals and break down the shocking Desmond Bane trade to Orlando. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Kyle Williams Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto
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| Christmas Day Takeaways: “Phoenix Luka,” Time to Start Austin Reaves, and More! | 26 Dec 2023 | 01:00:25 | |
Austin and Pausha recap all the Christmas Day action, starting with the Mavs and Suns and the rivalry between Luka Doncic and Devin Booker (1:34), and then weigh in on Jalen Brunson’s impressive performance vs. the Bucks, which has him ranked among the best guards (21:33). Later, they discuss Warriors-Nuggets and Steve Kerr’s postgame free throw comments as well as Celtics-Lakers and why it may be time for Austin Reaves to be starting again (35:42). Then they send a shout-out to Miami and its unmatched culture (53:12). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Ja Morant Crushes His Return and the Clippers Are Shutting Everyone Up | 22 Dec 2023 | 01:08:43 | |
Austin and Pausha kick off the show by talking through Austin’s latest workout for NBA brass on his journey back to the league (0:00). The guys also get into Ja Morant’s much-anticipated return to the court and what that means for the Grizzlies moving forward (9:40), before discussing the red-hot Clippers sending a message to the NBA and the haters with their recent nine-game winning streak (16:00). They close things out with a flurry of topics, including giving Karl Anthony-Towns his flowers this season (34:40), whether or not the Knicks need a change to really be a contender (43:12), and Nikola Jokic leaving Nike to become the face of the Chinese brand 361 Degrees (54:00). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz
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| SGA Is a Legit MVP Candidate and Joel Embiid Greatness Fatigue | 19 Dec 2023 | 00:44:25 | |
Austin and Pausha start the show by talking through Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s growing case to win MVP (8:30), as well as the Joel Embiid greatness fatigue that’s seemingly developing in NBA discourse. Next, they discuss the massive scoring nights from Jalen Brunson and Keegan Murray and Austin describes what it’s like to be the guy guarding players who go off like that (14:00). The guys wrap things up by examining Lauri Markkanen showing back up in trade rumors, the toll the Pistons’ losing streak is taking on the players, and how much longer Stephen Curry can maintain his current level of greatness. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Devon Renaldo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz
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| Power Rankings: Off Guard Edition! Plus, Can Draymond Green Really Be Helped? | 15 Dec 2023 | 01:00:51 | |
Austin and Pausha recap all the drama happening around the league, starting with Draymond’s indefinite suspension (2:25), before unpacking the wild events that took place between the Pacers and Bucks over the ownership of a game ball (16:46). Finally, they reveal and break down the first-ever Off Guard Top 10 Power Rankings (40:04). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| NBA Player Salaries vs. Shohei Ohtani’s, and Why LeBron Is the GOAT Athlete | 12 Dec 2023 | 01:04:18 | |
Austin and Pausha kick the week off comparing Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal to NBA contracts (1:38). Then, they talk through why the Lakers winning the In-Season Tournament upped the “cool” value, and why it overall was a huge win for the Association (19:40). Jumping off the Lakers’ IST win, they discuss the duos that rank higher than LeBron and AD, and why King James may be the greatest athlete to ever play sports (43:16). Then, they wrap things up with arguments for a 70-game regular season, and why the Warriors and Jordan Poole shouldn’t have parted ways (50:55). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Pacers a Title Contender? Plus, How the IST Champs Should Celebrate. | 08 Dec 2023 | 00:53:27 | |
Austin and Pausha talk the in-season tournament semifinals, highlight the impressive play between Tyrese Haliburton and Dame (3:18), and give credit to LeBron for his dominating performance (12:40). Later, they touch on whether the Pacers are a legitimate contender out East and which type of coach is worth investing in, using Rick Carlisle as a jumping-off point (39:12), discuss how the winners of the in-season tourney should celebrate, and then give their predictions for who will win the tournament (46:16). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Jokic Has MVP in the Bag, and Adidas Goes Off on KD | 05 Dec 2023 | 00:58:27 | |
Austin and Pausha start things off by touching on the wild tweet from Adidas in defense of Anthony Edwards after saying he’d like Kevin Durant to rock his shoes (8:06). Then, they argue why Jokic’s absurdly good season should already have his third MVP locked up (25:30). Later, they touch on the on-court incident between LeBron and Ime Udoka and discuss the dynamic between a coach and a player (36:36). Finally, they offer their in-season tournament predictions (52:48). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Kyle Kuzma Is on the Wrong Team. Plus, Would You Rather Have Alperen Sengun or Chet Holmgren? | 01 Dec 2023 | 00:54:57 | |
Austin and Pausha revisit the current state of the Washington Wizards, including whether Kyle Kuzma would be better off as a player on a winning team and what’s behind Jordan Poole’s struggles (1:00). They also try to dissect what exactly is wrong with the Warriors and whether it’s realistic for them to uphold the franchise’s high standards (5:00). Then, the guys give praise to Alperen Sengun out in Houston and see where he stands in comparison to standout rookies like Chet Holmgren and Wemby (13:45). Later, they entertain the idea of a Mark Cuban presidential run after news dropped that he has sold his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks (25:22). Austin and Pausha finish off the show by sharing their Spotify Wrapped results (49:51). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Magic Happening in Orlando? Plus, Devin Booker No Longer Complaining About the Double | 28 Nov 2023 | 01:09:38 | |
Austin and Pausha open the show by giving their thoughts on the current hot streak of Pausha’s beloved Orlando Magic, and whether their success is sustainable throughout the rest of the season. Then, the guys discuss Devin Booker cementing himself as one of the most elite closers in the NBA before talking through Norris Cole’s latest comments about the “lack of basketball IQ” in the league today.They close things out with their admiration of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Austin providing more context on the Chris Paul-Scott Foster beef. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Brian H. Waters and Ben Cruz
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| Can the Cavaliers Find Their Stride, and How Good Is De’Aaron Fox? | 21 Nov 2023 | 01:03:42 | |
Austin and Pausha begin by talking about some of the teams at the top of the East—specifically who the fourth-best team in the East is (6:58). They also discuss why the Cavs are off to a slow start. Then, Austin rants about some of the Klay Thompson disrespect (29:27) before they discuss how good the Kings have been and debate if De’Aaron Fox is a top-10 player (36:53). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz
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| The Pacers Take a 2-1 Lead, and What Are the Knicks Doing? | 12 Jun 2025 | 00:44:56 | |
Austin and Pausha return to react to the Pacers' 116-107 Game 3 win in the 2025 NBA Finals and break down the latest in the Knicks' coaching search. Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producer: Stefan Anderson Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto
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| Timberwolves Are a Legit Contender, and We Welcome the New Era of Players | 17 Nov 2023 | 00:59:17 | |
Austin and Pausha kick things off by talking through the Draymond Green chokehold on Rudy Gobert that resulted in Draymond’s five-game suspension (6:43). Then, they discuss the stacked Timberwolves lineup and their place among the top teams in the league (17:15), before dissecting what exactly is wrong with the Clippers (18:36), and Ime Udoka’s Coach of the Year-like impact for the Rockets (22:48). Later, they welcome the new era of players in the league and touch on where things could be going for the sport of basketball as a whole (43:00). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Harden and the Clippers’ Rocky Start, and Why the Sixers Are Now Thriving | 10 Nov 2023 | 00:59:38 | |
Austin and Pausha run down this week’s matchups and explain why they are extremely bullish on the Timberwolves (9:14). Then, they break down James Harden’s fit with the Clippers following their recent losses (14:27), and Bradley Beal’s early contributions to the Suns (31:41). Later, they evaluate what’s going on in the Eastern Conference with Joel Embiid and the post-Harden 76ers (43:40), before discussing Giannis’s absurd ejection from the Bucks-Pistons game (47:56). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz
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| Does Winning the In-Season Tourney Mean Anything? Plus, the Rise of Scottie Barnes | 07 Nov 2023 | 00:52:31 | |
Austin and Pausha kick off the pod with their first impressions of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament and whether players will actually be able to celebrate winning the whole thing (00:55). They then discuss Scoot Henderson’s early struggles and Scottie Barnes’s ascension as a top guy with the Raptors (10:05). Later, they discuss Donovan Mitchell’s MVP-level season so far, James Harden’s integration with the Clippers, before ending things by talking about Austin’s experience playing at Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium (25:27). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Eduardo Ocampo and Ben Cruz
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