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The NBA 82-game regular season is just around the corner. Balls are bouncing. Lineups are forming. Ideas are flowing.

Friend of The Finder Nate Jones, an NBA agent and entrepreneur, joins the pod to propose a wild way to juice fan interest in the NBA regular season: Gamify it.

If the owners aren’t willing to shorten the season from 82 games, there might be an alternative way to raise the stakes and make games matter more. Pulling from his affinity for professional wrestling and Monopoly, Jones introduces The Gauntlet, a points-based system that incentivizes teams to play more and play harder throughout the season.

Instead of the standings being decided by win-loss record, Jones argues for a points-based system that awards bonus points for wins in (but not limited to) the following circumstances:

* Second-night of a back-to-back

* In-Season Tournament

* On the road, especially deep in a road trip.

* National TV

The goal is to transform the NBA from an Inventory Sport into an Event Sport without putting players more at risk for injury. We also look at interesting comps to the Continental Basketball Association 7-point system from the 80s and the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour.

OK, Finders:

What do we like?

What do we not like?

Let’s hear it.

If you’d like to watch the episode, it’s up on YouTube. (Sorry for my blurry video. We’re still recovering from Hurricane Helene here in NC).

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Early this week, I texted Kirk Goldsberry to invite him onto the pod and talk about his awesome new book, HOOP ATLAS: Mapping the Remarkable Transformation of the Modern NBA. He was in. He had one request.

Can we get Brandon Payne on too?

YES.

A man of many talents, Goldsberry is a professor of Sports Analytics at the University of Texas and has worked at ESPN and the San Antonio Spurs, and evidently, he is also a great producer. It was a great hour with Goldsberry and Payne.

Goldsberry’s changed the way we watch and talk about basketball, if not changed basketball itself. In his chapter on Stephen Curry, Goldsberry talked to our pal Brandon Payne, Curry’s longtime trainer, and shared a bunch of insights on what makes Curry one of one. You should pick up Goldsberry’s book at your local Amazon store. Tell ‘em I sent ya!

We caught Payne just before he headed out to The Bay to run some workouts with Curry before he jets off to France for the Olympics this summer. As always, he shared so much wisdom with us about basketball, especially here in the States compared to abroad.

On this episode, we hit a bunch of topics:

* The technology that Stephen Curry uses in workouts

* Why the nose is so important

* Why swishes aren’t good enough for Payne re: Steph

* Goldsberry’s campaign to kill the corner 3

* The return of the bigs

* The problem with American youth basketball

* What is Wemby going to do to basketball?

* Are there too many 3s?

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Amin and Tom break down the ramifications of the CJ McCollum trade, what it means for the future of the organization, how Damian Lillard will handle the breakup, and Tom's Trivia indicates how much of an outlier the pairing has been in NBA history.
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What is life like for basketball players stuck in Italy during the coronavirus pandemic? Michael Roll, who reached three Final Fours with UCLA, described being under a total lockdown while playing for Olimpia Milano. Plus he discussed how his family is preparing to welcome their first child at a time when Italian hospitals are so overwhelmed.

1:35 Scene in Italy
7:51 Reaction of NBA vs. EuroLeague
9:44 Playing against someone who tested positive
13:01 Expecting his first child in early May
19:21 Playing with Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love at UCLA

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What did Andy Larsen do after Rudy Gobert touched his microphone in the now-infamous press conference? Larsen, the Utah Jazz beat writer for The Salt Lake City Tribune, discussed finding out that Gobert tested positive for coronavirus and having to take the test himself. Then Eric Chemi, CNBC’s Sports Business reporter, analyzed the financial ramifications of the NBA suspending its season and which teams will be affected the most.

Andy Larsen (1:01)
5:35 Rudy Gobert’s now-infamous press conference
8:41 Learning Gobert was sidelined with an “illness”
16:50 Taking the coronavirus test
23:10 The conflict between Gobert and Donovan Mitchell
31:11 Larsen’s incredible story about his heart-rate monitor

Eric Chemi (36:46)
44:41 The ways coronavirus will affect NBA revenue
49:51 Why the NBA was slow to shut down the season
55:10 Next season’s salary cap

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When will NBA players return to the court? Tom Haberstroh discussed the coronavirus’ impact on the NBA with Howard Beck, Bleacher Report’s senior NBA writer and host of The Full 48 podcast.

2:12 Why the NBA made the right decision
9:35 The reasonable bar for players to get tested
12:40 Interactions with Rudy Gobert
24:11 Next steps for NBA
31:01 Possible NBA timeline for the next month

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How is Seattle reacting to the coronavirus? Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird discussed precautions and the possibility of playing in front of empty stadiums. Plus Bird, a three-time WNBA champion and four-time Olympic champion, revealed why she is endorsing a CBD brand.

1:50 Smartphone addiction
2:55 How Seattle is reacting to coronavirus
6:05 Being one of the first athletes to endorse a CBD brand
17:40 The importance of sleep
20:42 Why 40 is the new 30

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Just like in NBA Jam, players who make a couple of shots in a row catch on fire, right? Tom Haberstroh discusses the “hot hand” with Ben Cohen, author of the new book “The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streak.” Cohen, who covers the NBA for The Wall Street Journal, uses players like Stephen Curry to explore whether there really is such a thing as being in the zone. Plus Cohen and Haberstroh, who will both speak at the 2020 MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, preview the topics attendees will be buzzing about.

6:01 Stephen Curry as the embodiment of the “hot hand”
12:03 Red Auerbach's thoughts on the “hot hand”
21:07 Important lessons from Cohen’s book
30:19 Previewing the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference
38:07 The hottest anyone has been on an NBA court

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Does the NBA need to change its stance on marijuana? Tom Haberstroh and NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole reveal what they learned after interviewing a number of NBA players including Al Harrington, Andre Iguodala, Stephen Jackson and Brian Shaw for their column “Marijuana and the NBA: Erasing the stigma and healing the league,” which you can read at NBCSports.com/Haberstroh. Plus Poole, the host of the Runnin’ Plays podcast, discussed being in Los Angeles for Kobe Bryant’s memorial and previewed Stephen Curry’s return to court.

2:35 Stephen Jackson and “The Program”
12:07 Brian Shaw’s cannabis party
21:10 David Stern’s stance on banned substance list
36:29 Kobe Bryant’s memorial
46:11 Should Stephen Curry be returning to the court?

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How do you coach LeBron James? Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel sat down with Tom Haberstroh at NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago to discuss what the Lakers need to do to win the NBA title. Plus Vogel told the story of how he ended up on the Stupid Human Tricks segment with David Letterman as a 13-year-old prodigy at spinning a basketball.

1:10 Being on David Letterman as a 13-year-old
5:36 Best trick-shot artist on the Lakers
14:40 Where he was when he heard the Kobe news
19:07 Becoming the coach of the Lakers
21:12 First meeting with LeBron James

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When did Mark Cuban know Luka Doncic could be a franchise player? The Dallas Mavericks owner sat down with Tom Haberstroh in a hotel lounge at NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago to discuss scouting, drafting and building around the 20-year-old All-Star. Plus Cuban revealed what he learned talking basketball with Barack Obama and Donald Trump, as well as his own political aspirations.

2:22 When Cuban knew Luka could be a franchise player
8:53 Why Cuban follows certain players on social media
11:34 The need to monetize NBA highlights
24:12 Will Mark Cuban run for president?
25:22 Talking basketball with Obama and Trump

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Tom Haberstroh sat down three special guests for a LIVE podcast at the Highline Bar in Downtown Chicago to celebrate NBA All-Star Weekend. Orlando Magic star Aaron Gordon previewed his appearance in the 2020 NBA Slam Dunk Contest and reflected on his unforgettable matchup with Zach LaVine in the 2016 competition. Tom Thibodeau relived his glory years coaching the Chicago Bulls and discussed his coaching future. Plus Chicago native Richaun Holmes returned to the Windy City—with his proud mom Dr. Lydecia Holmes—to tell the hometown fans about blossoming as a promising young big for the Sacramento Kings.

4:48 Gordon on the importance of winning the Dunk Contest
11:30 Gordon on his difficulties of participating in the 2017 Dunk Contest
22:49 Thibodeau on the 2011 Bulls who lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to Miami
30:04 Thibodeau on remembering Kobe Bryant
50:30 Holmes on playing alongside De’Aaron Fox & Buddy Hield

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Who made the best moves at the NBA trade deadline? Tom Haberstroh discussed the trade winners and losers with ESPN NBA analyst Amin Elhassan (@darthamin), who spent a decade working in NBA front offices.
2:20 Analyzing the Andrew Wiggins trade to Golden State
12:30 What Amin texted Steve Kerr after the Wiggins trade
32:45 Agent Leon Rose taking over in New York
35:28 Why being in the front office is such a different skillset than being an agent
46:50 Winners and losers from trade deadline

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Tom and Amin are joined by just another kid from Akron, Rachel DeMita, to discuss her celebrity game resume, Shaq's life advice, the shell game that is the college recruiting process, H-O-R-S-E strategies, Barberton's famous fried chicken, and so much more.
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Why can’t anybody stop Damian Lillard? Neil Olshey, who drafted Lillard less than a month after joining the Portland Trail Blazers, explained why his star point guard is so tough to defend. Plus Olshey, the Blazers’ President of Basketball Operations, revealed what he looks for in a prospect.

11:50 How did you know Damian Lillard would be this good?
15:50 What Neil looks for in a prospect
21:10 The origin of Logo Lillard
25:20 Was Lillard’s game-winner over Paul George a good shot?
31:11 Will the NBA ever adopt a 4-point shot?

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What made Kobe Bryant so special? The Undefeated’s Marc Spears, who covered Bryant for more than two decades, shared his favorite stories about the Black Mamba on and off the court. Then Chris Hein, the creative genius behind The Haberstat who graduated Lower Merion High School with Bryant, recalled when Bryant took Brandy to the prom. Plus Tom Haberstroh dug into The Habershow archives to resurface portions of his conversation with Brian Shaw about winning three NBA titles with Bryant, as well as with Doug Christie about guarding Bryant.

11:55 Marc Spears’ story about Kobe making a young kid’s day
15:18 How Kobe made every postgame visitor feel special
27:07 Why Kobe sold out arenas even on bad teams
34:15 How Gigi and Kobe connected through basketball
49:29 Chris Hein on going to the prom where Kobe took Brandy

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Why did Run TMC end after just two seasons? Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond and Chris Mullin sat down with Tom Haberstroh at NBC Sports Bay Area headquarters to discuss the highs and lows of playing in Don Nelson’s fast-paced offense.

1:34 What made Run TMC special
7:12 The origin of the Run TMC nickname
12:50 Connection to Run DMC
20:01 The end of TMC
33:10 The best crossover since Tim Hardaway

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What was it like guarding Kobe Bryant? Doug Christie, who was named to the NBA’s all-defensive team four teams, revealed the secrets to stopping Kobe. Christie also gave a blow-by-blow description of his fight with Rick Fox. Christie, who is now the Sacramento Kings analyst for NBC Sports California and host of the Purple Talk podcast with James Ham, also discussed the state of the Kings.

7:17 Fighting Rick Fox
22:40 Guarding Kobe Bryant
25:40 Playing with Jason “White Chocolate” Williams
33:03 Whether kids should play multiple sports growing up
34:20 Losing the 1996 NBA Slam Dunk contest to Brent Barry

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Will this be an active NBA trade deadline, or will teams be “slugs”? Tom Haberstroh discussed with Nate Duncan, NBA salary cap guru and host of the Dunc’d On Basketball podcast. Plus Duncan revealed his list of top-10 prospects in the NBA 23 and under, and his answer might surprise Philadelphia 76ers fans.

1:57 The fallout of John Beilein’s “thugs” (or “slugs”) comment
8:55 Should the Cavs trade Kevin Love?
19:57 The 2020 free agent class
28:40 Revisiting the Russell Westbrook trade
34:58 Top-10 prospects in the NBA 23 and under
45:35 Ben Simmons’ ceiling
57:15 The media members who are the best basketball players

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How will longtime NBA commissioner David Stern be remembered? Tom Haberstroh discussed Stern’s legacy with Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Chris Haynes and CNBC Sports Business reporter Eric Chemi (1:07:15). Plus Haynes, who used to cover the Portland Trail Blazers for NBC Sports Northwest, explained why the Blazers are struggling, possible moves at next month's trade deadline, the LeBron/Anthony Davis combination and more.
6:05 David Stern was a genuine no-nonsense guy (Haynes)
9:30 Tom’s story about being “memed” when asking Stern a question (Haynes)
37:17 Wade vs. Davis in terms of LeBron’s best ever teammate (Haynes)
1:13:05 Stern was a visionary (Chemi)
1:24:14 Stern stood up to the players who did not want Magic Johnson to return to the NBA (Chemi)


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Who is right in the Doc Rivers vs. LeBron James load management debate? Tom Haberstroh discussed with Sam Amick, senior writer for The Athletic. Plus Amick, who recently returned from Milwaukee to interview Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry, revealed what he learned about Giannis and the Bucks’ uncertain future.

1:10 Who will be the NBA MVP?
7:50 The big decision Giannis has to make this summer
14:33 The Doc Rivers vs. LeBron James load management debate
29:20 Players most likely to get traded
38:19 Why the Lakers didn’t sign Melo
52:02 Amick’s fun Jason Kidd story

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Will the Lakers and Clippers remain the top two teams in the Western Conference? Tom Haberstroh discussed with Dan Woike, who basically lives in the Staples Center as the LA Times national NBA writer. Plus Woike, who recently returned from Canada for Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto, takes you behind-the-scenes of Leonard’s championship ring ceremony, gives his take on Chris Paul's future and more around the NBA.

5:09 Why Carmelo Anthony has gotten so much attention in Portland
13:13 Raptors absolutely nailed the Kawhi tribute video in his return to Toronto
30:30 Dan explains why Chris Paul's contract is so complicated to trade
44:20 Explanation of the latest with the Lakers and their roster
1:06:44 Comparing the Lakers vs. the Clippers

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Are the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks as good as their records suggest? Tom Haberstroh discusses with ESPN analyst Amin Elhassan. Elhassan, a former Phoenix Suns executive and noted archrival of Kobe stans, also reveals whether he thinks Kobe Bryant quit in the 2006 playoff series against the Suns.

2:03 Amin’s impersonation of Alvin Gentry
7:44 Why does Amin Elhassan hate the Lakers so much?
18:18 Explaining the Lakers’ hot start
30:01 LeBron is playing more defense…can he keep it up all season?
50:19 Did Kobe Bryant quit on the Lakers in their 2006 playoff series against the Suns?
52:46 How much Smush Parker and Kobe hated each other as teammates

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Gersson Rosas has remodeled the Minnesota Timberwolves since being named the team’s President of Basketball Operations earlier this year. He has assembled a world-class support staff that includes analytics experts, injury gurus and culinary icons. He has hired diverse voices and established better levels of communication between players and the front office. Rosas, the former Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Houston Rockets, also discussed leaving the Rockets after 17 years without a championship.

1:42 Solving the enigma of Andrew Wiggins
14:11 How good is Karl-Anthony Towns
22:09 Being proud that Towns fought back against Joel Embiid
36:12 Why the Wolves took a player-led trip to the Bahamas
45:12 Leaving the Rockets without an NBA title
48:01 Being the first Latino to lead an NBA front office
54:50 Player nutrition…including donkey meat

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Amin and Tom discuss the white on white basketball crime plaguing the league, John Stockton's big numbers, James Harden's alleged dissatisfaction with Brooklyn, Daryl Morey's most desired target for Ben Simmons, Grant Hill's Sprite Commercials, and the most ejected players in recent NBA history. All facts and sources credited to Ballsack Sports.
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What does opening the Chase Center mean for the Golden State Warriors? Hall of Fame executive Rick Welts, the President and COO of the Warriors, explained how the Warriors overcame political and economic challenges to develop the world-class sports and entertainment venue. The former ball boy for the Seattle SuperSonics also revealed whether he thinks the NBA will return to Seattle. Welts, who in 2011 became the highest ranking executive in men’s professional team sports to publicly acknowledge he is gay, also discussed his LGBT advocacy with Athlete Ally.

5:14 The challenges of opening the Chase Center
10:04 Eric Paschall’s immediate contributions
17:53 Welts’ LGBT advocacy
23:40 Marketing the Dream Team
34:51 Will the NBA return to Seattle?
46:02 The impact of Stephen Curry on and off the court

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Would Larry Bird have had a longer career if he took more games off? NBA champion Channing Frye advocates for load management and believes it shouldn’t have a negative connotation. Frye, the host of NBC Sports Northwest’s newest podcast Talkin’ Blazers, also explained why the Trail Blazers need to make a move to be competitive in the Western Conference.

2:33 How players like LeBron James continue to play at a high level as they age
5:35 What if Larry Bird took advantage of load management
15:40 What makes LeBron such a great passer
18:29 Will Kevin Love end up in Portland?
20:55 The best shooters Channing played with
30:47 Why the Trail Blazers need to make a trade now

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Stephen Curry might not actually be out for the season, according to his longtime trainer, Brandon Payne. Payne discussed Curry’s rehab and provided updates on his injuries. Payne, the founder of Accelerate Basketball, also talked about his work with Trae Young and Luka Doncic.

1:02 Watching Stephen Curry go down with an injury
13:50 Being with Curry on an international shoe tour
22:01 The extent of Curry’s injury
23:45 Comparing Luka Doncic to Stephen Curry
31:18 Comparing to Trae Young to Stephen Curry
44:34 Whether Curry will return this season

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Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis discussed John Wall’s health, drafting Rui Hachimura and the relationship between Bradley Beal and Wall. Leonsis, who recently won a WNBA title as the owner of the Washington Mystics, also touched on off-court topics including esports and sports gambling.

23:30 John Wall’s health and the state of the Wizards
33:40 Recruiting Bradley Beal and his relationship with Wall
34:57 What David Stern told Leonsis about Alexander Ovechkin’s contract
36:01 The struggles of LeBron James and the Lakers last season
55:40 Leadership advice from Barack Obama
1:04:56 The three innovations that are driving sports on a global basis

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Brian Shaw won five NBA titles as a player and an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. Shaw, who is now a studio analyst for NBC Sports Bay Area, joined The Habershow to preview the NBA season. He also revealed details about the feud between Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as brokering the Shaq vs. Dame rap battle.

8:45 Shaw’s pick to win the NBA Finals
12:50 What derailed LeBron’s first season with the Lakers
30:50 Mentoring a young Kobe Bryant
38:55 Shaq-Kobe feud
59:45 Brokering the Shaq vs. Dame rap battle

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A number of high-profile NBA players (and Golden State Warriors) have suffered serious injuries recently. Lachlan Penfold, the Warriors' Head of Physical Performance and Sports Medicine during their 73-9 season, explains why.

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NBC Sports Boston' Chris Forsberg checks in from Las Vegas as Team USA prepares for the FIBA World Cup. Which of the new faces will star for Team USA? Plus Chris breaks down the Boston Celtics’ offseason additions, including Kemba Walker and fan-favorite Tacko Fall.

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Performance strategist Matt Mayberry on the rise of phone and social media addiction in the NBA, as well as player movement, league-wide anxiety and the role of tech.

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Bleacher Report's Howard Beck joins Tom Haberstroh on a special "emergency podcast" to discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Russell Westbrook to the Houston Rockets. Was this the craziest NBA offseason ever?

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ESPN’s Amin Elhassan joins Tom Haberstroh to wrap up free agency. They discuss Kawhi Leonard’s impending decision, what the Warriors’ next phase will look like without Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant, how good the Sixers will be after their free agency moves and who the title favorites might be next season.

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Tom and Amin discuss Frank Vogel's chair temperature, his lack of contract extension given other coaches with his resume, and what it means about his relationship with GM LeBron. Then they step in the way back machine to look at who the biggest losers in NBA history snapped their losing streaks against.
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ESPN's Ryen Russillo joins Tom to discuss the winners and losers from a wild 2019 NBA Draft, including Zion Williamson going No. 1 to the New Orleans Pelicans and a head-spinning number of trades.

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Tom talks to Henry Abbott of TrueHoop about the Raptors' NBA championship, the fallout from the Anthony Davis trade and how the rest strategy around Kawhi Leonard will change the way the league treats its superstars.

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Tas Melas, a Toronto native and co-host of NBA TV’s The Starters, talks Raptors-Warriors in the NBA Finals, discusses adjusting for a Golden State lineup without Kevin Durant and makes the case for Kawhi as one of the NBA’s best players.

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Tom talks to Logan Murdock of NBC Sports Bay Area and Jamie Hudson of NBC Sports Northwest to break down the Warriors' Game 1 win, whether the Blazers are overwhelmed, the importance of Enes Kanter, the Warriors without Kevin Durant and the secrets behind Steph vs. Seth.

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Tom talks to Marc Stein of the New York Times about Stephen Curry's popcorn addiction, how Houston's referree controversy will impact more than their series against Golden State and the Lakers' future post-Magic Johnson.

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Tom talks with David Thorpe of TrueHoop about how Utah is defending James Harden, Ben Simmons' future MVP chances and more.

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Tom goes around the NBC Sports Regional Networks to preview the 2019 NBA playoffs. Logan Murdock of NBC Sports Bay Area talks Boogie Cousins and the biggest threat to the Warriors, while Philly's Serena Winters talks through the Jimmy Butler experience and Ben Simmons' development. Then NBC Sports Northwest's Jamie Hudson talks about Damian Lillard's incredible year, the Blazers' injuries and the atmosphere around Portland.

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Chris Bosh opens up about what it’s like to be a star in the social media age, how Kevin Garnett helped convince him to take his talents to South Beach and why he’s rooting against Steve Kerr and the Golden State Warriors.

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Tom talks to Milwaukee Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer about coaching the best team in the Eat, being in awe of Giannis Antetokounmpo, coaching an All-Star Game, why the Bucks don't defend the 3-point line, Brook Lopez's 3-point game and much more. Stay up to date on everything from Tom Haberstroh at NBCSports.com/Haberstroh and in the MyTeams app.

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Tom talks to Memphis Grizzlies executive VP of basketball operations John Hollinger about the Marc Gasol trade, what really goes on behind the scenes at the trade deadline and the differences between being a national columnist at ESPN and a team's decision-maker.

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Tom and Amin discuss Chauncey Billups' glowing comments about Kyrie Irving, the subtle differences between skill, talent and IQ, the latest addition the MVP conversation, Point Guard tiers, the plight of Russell Westbrook, and finally a walk down memory lane to the magical 90-91 Denver Nuggets squad.
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Tom welcomes a host of special guests to The Habershow to break down the 2019 NBA trade deadline. Paul Hudrick breaks down the Markelle Fultz trade, while Monte Poole talks the biggest threats to the Warriors. A. Sherrod Blakely, Dan Woike and Howard Beck call in to talk through every angle of the Celtics, Lakers and Pelicans and walk through the Anthony Davis sweepstakes. Then, Chris Miller joins to break down where the Wizards are at after John Wall's Achilles injury and the Otto Porter trade.

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Tom previews the trade deadline with Nate Duncan of the Dunc'd On Podcast. They break down the Anthony Davis sweepstakes from all sides, talk about the Knicks' superstar gambit and talk through the most interesting players and teams ahead of the trade deadline.

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Tom talks to Stan Van Gundy about teaching college kids, starting the 3-point revolution and how it's changed NBA for the worse, the pluses and minuses of James Harden's game, coaching even though it makes you miserable, what went wrong with Tom Thibodeau and much more.

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This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.tomthefinder.com/subscribe