The Pick N' Popcast

Episode 079 - Take Two with Brady Jennings

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 12:00:00 -0500

Paul returns for the first podcast in months and talks to Brady Jennings about everything from the historical ramifications of the 2015-16 NBA season, to pessimism in politics, to the start of the 2016 MLB season.

Worth a click:

Portland speeds up the rebuilding plan (Zach Lowe, ESPN)

On Josh Smith, Who Could Have Been Draymond Green (David Vertsberger, Vice Sports)

For Some Atlanta Hawks, a Revved-Up Game of UNO Is Diversion No. 1 (Scott Cacciola, The New York Times)

BallR: Interactive NBA Shot Charts with R and Shiny (Todd W. Schneider)

Sorting Through the Drama in Phoenix (Zach Lowe, ESPN)

The scheme dreamer: How Brad Stevens draws up winning plays (Chris Forsberg, ESPN)

Episode 078 - San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, and Serial Season 2

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 14:36:00 -0500

Chris and Paul discuss the early season success of the San Antonio Spurs and their record-setting defense, then transition to the Toronto Raptors and how they’ve managed to keep making ground in a competitive Eastern Conference, despite injuries to their starting frontcourt. For their pop culture segment, they get into the return of the Serial podcast, and season 2’s new focus and the inherent biases in dealing with a contemporary case.

Worth a click:

The Spurs have changed, but they’re really dominating the same way they always do (Mike Prada, SBNation)

The Hinkie Chronicles’ latest chapter (Zach Lowe, ESPN)

Paul George, Pacers finding success with new identity: flexi-ball (Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN)

Bomani Jones is More Than Just the Smartest Person in Sports (Myles Brown, Complex)

Episode 077 - Warriors/Pacers, Jerry Colangelo to the 76ers, and Timberwolves, Jazz, Hornets

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 9 Dec 2015 11:00:00 -0500

Chris and Paul begin by previewing Tuesday’s Warriors/Pacers game, the Jerry Colangelo hire in Philadelphia, and then a bit on the Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, and the surprising Charlotte Hornets. As usual, they end on pop culture talk, as Chris continues catching up on The Leftovers and Paul describes his latest Netflix binge series.

Worth a click:

Jerry Colangelo hiring signals change in 76ers’ rebuilding plan (Jeff Zillgitt, USA Today)

Jerry Colangelo hire by 76ers follows lobbying by NBA from owners (Brian Windhorst, ESPN)

The NBA at the first-quarter buzzer (Zach Lowe, ESPN)

Deron Williams on Nets’ tenure: ‘Everybody felt I was the problem’ (Mike Mazzeo, ESPN)

Episode 076 - Kobe's Retirement, Lakers, Pacers, and Wizards

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 1 Dec 2015 12:00:00 -0500

Chris and Paul discuss Kobe Bryant’s announcement that he will be retiring at the season’s end, including the concept of finality among great NBA players and which current superstars will age well as they enter the twilight of their careers. After about 10 minutes they transition to the Los Angeles Lakers and how the franchise stands, post-Kobe, and then the strong recent play of the Indiana Pacers and, alternately, the struggling Washington Wizards. They end with some TV talk on The Leftovers, Master of None, and Jessica Jones, and some slight video game musings.

Worth a click:

Why Kobe Bryant decided it was time to retire (Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports)

I am a Kobe Bryant hater, and I will never forget him (Tom Ziller, SBNation)

Processing the end of Kobe Bryant, the NBA’s most divisive player (Paul Flannery and Tom Ziller, SBNation)

The Knicks’ bright future (that’s right, the Knicks) (Zach Lowe, ESPN)

On Kobe Bryant’s night, Pacers’ Paul George cherishes final moments (Candace Buckner, Indy Star)

Episode 075 - Rockets' Struggles, Warriors' Dominance, and Streaking Teams

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 19:04:00 -0500

Chris and Paul begin with recent NBA news, including the Rockets' struggles and dismissal of head coach Kevin McHale, the Warriors' undefeated start to the season, and the Mavericks' recent six-game winning streak, then talk about teams they've watched, the Celtics, the rookie class, and some TV/movies/podcasts.

Worth a click:

The Changing Beat (Arik Parnass, The Cauldron/SI)

How the small-ball virus is infecting the NBA (Zach Lowe, ESPN)

With Lin watching Porzingis gets his Garden Party (John Schuhmann, NBA.com)

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is The Brooklyn Bandit (David Vertsberger, Hardwood Paroxysm)

Episode 074 - Overreactions After Three Games

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 3 Nov 2015 12:00:00 -0500

Chris and Paul overreact after the first six days of the NBA regular season and share some thoughts on teams that they’ve watched and teams they need to, beginning with the Detroit Pistons and ending on the San Antonio Spurs, before discussing the recent sports media news.

Worth a click:

With Pivotal Season Ahead, Can Kevin Durant Be What Kevin Durant Was? (Howard Beck, Bleacher Report)

Myles Turner’s NBA path inspired by childhood friend’s cancer bout (Fred Katz, FOX Sports)

The Replacements: Meet the brand-new Blazers (Corbin Smith, Willamette Week)

Connelly Q&A: Editor-in-chief on what went right, wrong with Grantland (Richard Deitsch, Sports Illustrated)

The Give and Go: 2016 Champions

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 14:44:00 -0400

LBJ: The Whole F'ing Show (Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports)

The Give and Go is a quick back and forth between Paul Mitchell and Chris St. Jean about a relevant subject in the NBA at that moment.

Paul: Let’s keep it real simple this week, Chris: Which team wins the 2015-16 NBA Championship?

Chris: As simple as that question seems, the answer can be quite complicated. We broke down the Eastern Conference in our last podcast and came away with the Cavs as the clear favorite. To that point, I think we'd both be shocked if a Miami, Washington, or Chicago could get past the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, nevermind match whichever powerhouse comes out of the West.

The West? What a bloodbath. We saw last season that injuries will take their toll on teams (ahem... Thunder, Blazers, Grizzlies). So, as insane as the West looks now, there may not be as many true title contenders at the end of the season.

As much as I like what Houston, San Antonio, and the Clippers did to load up this offseason, I still think we're heading for a Cleveland-Golden State rematch in the NBA Finals and I don't think that LeBron will let another opportunity slip through his fingers.

As banged up as the Cavs are right now, I think they will coast in the East, manage minutes and workload appropriately, and be as healthy as any team could be by late May. They couldn't be any more banged up than last season, that's for sure.

If either Kyrie or Kevin Love were healthy for the Cavs in the Finals, that would be a different series. The Cavs were very close to morphing themselves into a defensive juggernaut as they drove deep into the Playoffs last year.

This year, assuming a healthy roster later in the year, their versatility and depth will be leap years ahead of last season. During last preseason, Zach Lowe toyed with idea that the Cavs might have one of the greatest offenses we’ve ever seen from an efficiency standpoint. That never came to fruition, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them build towards the best offense in the league by March of 2016.

In this scenario, Golden State gets their credit for making it out of the West yet again, but LeBron gets his third ring. At the age of 31, and with a loaded roster, that sets LeBron up to make a few more runs in his early thirties. He may not be as driven as Kobe to match the six rings of MJ, but I do believe after coming so close yet again last season, and for the first time in his career dealing with physical limitations (he was uncannily healthy over the first seven years of his career), he will be motivated by the idea that the window is only open for so long.

I think it's LeBron's year, and I think the Cavs get their NBA Championship. What say you, Mitchell?

Steph Curry, stuntin' (Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle)

Paul: I can’t really disagree with your Finals equation, and your logic for picking the Cleveland Cavaliers to take the 2015-16 title, yet I still can’t shake the feeling that the Golden State Warriors are somehow being underrated entering this season.

Perhaps that’s the problem with residing in the loaded West, where every other title contender upgraded their roster over the summer, while the Warriors will return the same core that tore through the conference last season on their way to 67 wins. Trading David Lee, a former fantasy star-turned-backup big, for Gerald Wallace, and then for Jason Thompson, wasn’t quite as dramatic as signing LaMarcus Aldridge or basically stealing Ty Lawson from Denver, for example, but the Warriors’ successes should again rely in their depth, versatility, and innovative approach to the game.

Oh, and Steph Curry, and Klay Thompson, and their prolific proficiency from deep. Able to keep defenses honest from any spot on the floor, their improving ability to run high screens and find Draymond Green or Andre Iguodala rolling to the basket opens up the court and creates that vital numbers-advantage below the free-throw line. On the defensive end, the team’s wing depth allows them to close on shooters and still recover to funnel drives into Andrew Bogut, while maintaining the league’s fastest pace. As long as the Warriors can keep their infrastructure healthy - and that might include head coach Steve Kerr - they have the talent necessary to repeat as champions.

Health is the area where Golden State seemed to receive the most criticism last season, as if their avoidance of catastrophic injury was somehow something to be sorry for. The team’s early success enabled Kerr to stagger the rotation to absorb the loss of Festus Ezeli to start the season and Bogut - who started at least 65 games for the second-straight season - to close, but Curry, Thompson, Green, and Harrison Barnes combined to miss just 10 games. Their playoff opponents would be less fortunate, which somehow leads to the faint “The Warriors got lucky!” narrative that should fuel the team’s title defense this season.

I’m expecting a similar style of Golden State basketball in 2015-16, but with an added element of familiarity and aggression than last year’s version. A more confident and comfortable Steph Curry, with the perpetual green light, has the handles and quick trigger to light up any defender, and Andre Iguodala, Draymond, and Bogut love to make the extra, flashy pass (and talk a whole lot of noise in the process). The Warriors were lucky last year, just as every other Western Conference team was fortunate to be without Kevin Durant, or to avoid the San Antonio Spurs, following a first-round series loss. But few teams would take those accusations personally, and have the capacity to channel that anger into elevating their style of play and embarrass their opponents on a nightly basis. The Golden State Warriors do, to the detriment of the rest of the teams in the NBA this season.

Episode 073 - Tier-ing Up the West

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 12:00:00 -0400

Chris and Paul take on the Western Conference and break down all 15 teams into tiers based on their projected finish in 2015-16.

Worth a click:

NBA.com 2015-16 GM Survey (John Schuhmann, NBA.com)

MVP? NBA Title? When you’re Anthony Davis, everything’s up for grabs (Paul Flannery, SBNation)

100 Steps to Kevin Durant’s July (Tom Ziller, SBNation)

The Annual League Pass Rankings, Part 1 & Part 2 (Zach Lowe, Grantland)

Episode 072 - Tier-ing Through the Eastern Conference

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 11:00:00 -0400

Chris and Paul return after a temporary hiatus to preview the Eastern Conference by separating its teams into tiers. They get into their title contender, candidates for the second-best team in the conference, why Paul was wrong about this Boston Celtics roster, and which playoff hopefuls are a couple of breaks away and which teams need a drastic change.

Worth a click:

The NBA PhD Program - Year 2 (Adam Mares, Reddit)

Paul George is right. This is why the Pacers shouldn’t play him at power forward (Mike Prada, SBNation)

Who’s Funding Kevin Johnson’s Secret Government? (Dave McKenna, Deadspin)

Labor Peace in Our Time: How the NBA’s Money Train Could Keep Chugging (Zach Lowe, Grantland)

Deron Williams’ curious demise, and where he goes from here (Ken Berger, CBS Sports)

Between the bright lights and darkness, Lamar Odom is burdened with his own 'True Hollywood Story' (Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo Sports)

Gregg Popovich Guides the Spurs into a New Era (Chris St. Jean, Basketball Society)

The Give and Go: The Dominant Narrative of the 2015 Preseason

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:00:00 -0400

Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports

The Give and Go is a quick back and forth between Paul Mitchell and Chris St. Jean about a relevant subject in the NBA at that moment.

Paul: Last week’s Give and Go focused on predicting the dominant narratives of this upcoming NBA season, but I’ll ask you this week instead: which preseason narrative and situation are you most interested in? You mentioned the Golden State Warriors winning a championship by playing position-less basketball last season, so are you more interested in seeing them attempt to repeat as champions or, for example, the San Antonio Spurs as they work to integrate their new pieces into Gregg Popovich’s system? Dare I say it’s been a relatively quiet preseason - outside of an awful injury to Michael Kidd-Gilchrist - but which team has caught your eye early on?

Chris: For the most part, we try to fight the urge to get sucked into preseason narratives but there are a few that have piqued my interest this year.

The fact that Steve Clifford is putting so much of an emphasis on the three-point shot in Charlotte is really intriguing and makes the MKG injury even more sad. I'm excited to see how that plays out and how it might open up room for “Big” Al Jefferson to work in the paint.

But to me, the most interesting preseason narrative is the 'Paul George at the four' strategy Indiana will employ this season. That includes the disconnect between Larry Bird and Paul George himself.

As we saw with Roy Hibbert, Bird has no problem moving a player along if they don't fit into his plans. If George decides he's done with the experiment and Bird views the experience as the future of the Pacers, that could be explosive.

On the other hand, it seems crazy to put so much pressure on George to play so many minutes at the four coming off of that injury. Bird's roster moves forced head coach Frank Vogel's hand. George will have to play meaningful rotation minutes at the four no matter what.

But most other teams at least have some options to help preserve their hybrid/small-ball fours. LeBron is the most dangerous small-ball four in the world, but the Cavs still brought in Kevin Love.

Coming off of that injury, it seems like a bit much to force George to play 25 minutes a night at that position, so I'll be fascinated to watch that scenario in the early part of the season.

How does George fare at the position? How many of his minutes are played there? How well does he defend and rebound against bigger foes? How does he react? And does Bird relent at any point and look to bring in some help at the position (ahem… Channing Frye)?

How about you, Mitchell? Which preseason narrative has tickled your fancy?

Sue Ogrocki/AP

Paul: Allow me first to answer your Paul George questions: True. Some. Not well, at least so far. Ditto. Probably. Wait, are we calling Channing Frye a big man, and define “help”?

You’re right, though; Paul George’s transition to the power forward is fascinating and somehow still an underrated story. I love Larry Bird’s pivot to a less conservative offense and believe that Frank Vogel is the kind of head coach who can adapt his strategy successfully on the fly while getting effort on the defensive end from his players, but it’ll take time to acquire the talent necessary to transform the Indiana Pacers from their formerly plodding pace into a new-age NBA offense. Don’t let Steve Clifford’s Charlotte Hornets fool you; meaningful change is difficult at the professional level.

But my most intriguing preseason storyline has been the NBA debuts of two highly regarded collegiate coaches, and their potential impact upon a couple of dark-horse championship contenders. Fred Hoiberg and Billy Donovan have been linked to rebuilding situations in the past but finally jumped at the chance to coach the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder, respectively, after both franchises had moved on from their previous long-term head coaches this summer, and will have to adjust not only to the new league but to the immense expectations they’ve each inherited.

Both Hoiberg and Donovan will initially have the advantage of being considerably different than their predecessors, which should aid in their transitions to their new situations. Few people on the planet are as intense and focused as Tom Thibodeau, so Bulls players can at least enjoy less stressful practices and minutes totals under Hoiberg’s direction, with the hopes that Thibs’ defensive tutelage lingers and the offense opens up considerably in the exchange. Scotty Brooks’s Thunder tenure was ultimately undone by his rotation stubbornness and uncomplicated offenses, while Donovan’s successes at the University of Florida could be credited largely to his ability to adapt his playbook to his personnel.

They’ll have to avoid the inflated egos and paranoia that have defined the failures of previous NCAA-to-NBA head coaches, but Hoiberg and Donovan will each enter almost ideal situations in their first NBA jobs, complete with rosters stacked with All-NBA talent and resources that most head coaches would envy. The only expectation in return is improvement; and the more immediate the better. Considering that each franchise might already have hoisted championships if not for LeBron James and his Heat teammates, the possibility of improvement becomes a bit more limited, especially given their time parameters.

Billy Donovan has dealt with plenty of pressure in winning back-to-back collegiate titles with the University of Florida, but he’ll face an increased media presence on a daily basis, even in Oklahoma City, and should tire of questions concerning Kevin Durant’s Thunder future by the time the season tips off. Chicago’s situation isn’t exactly as expedited, though the chemistry rumors seem to be real and the eventual Derrick Rose divorce will be ugly, and they could also look like a completely different team following the summer of 2017.

The Thunder and Bulls are solidly in “win-now” mode and boast two of the league’s five-highest payrolls this season, and simply can’t afford to let their rookie head coaches learn on the job and take a step back this postseason. Billy Donovan and Fred Hoiberg will need to adjust quickly to their new environments and not only adjust to coaching men after over a decade in the NCAA ranks, but also show substantial improvement and stability over their predecessors in order to ensure the futures of their franchise players. No pressure or anything.

The Give and Go: The Dominant Narrative of the 2015-16 NBA Season

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Chris St. Jean) — Mon, 5 Oct 2015 12:00:00 -0400

Credit: REUTERS/Bill Waugh

The Give and Go is a quick back and forth between Paul Mitchell and Chris St. Jean about a relevant subject in the NBA at that moment.

Chris: We’re back Mitchell! After a long and tortuous NBA-less Offseason, we’ve arrived on the hopeful shores of NBA Media Day. NBATV is airing Real Training Camp on a daily basis and I’ve already been reminded just how terrible Preseason NBA basketball really is (but I’ll watch it anyway…).

If I may make a proclamation, in my opinion the dominant narrative of the 2014-15 NBA Season was the Golden State Warriors and their middle finger to the idea of traditional positions (particularly debunking the myths that stated jump shooting teams and teams without a traditional dominant center can’t win a Championship). There were other narratives to be sure, but I made a proclamation damnit!

What do you think will be the dominant narrative of the upcoming 2015-16 NBA Season?

Paul: /Googles “cash register chime”

Oh, you mean during the season? Well, outside of broadcasters mentioning Harrison Barnes’s looming, max-level contract during Warriors games, we probably won’t hear too much about the NBA’s salary cap explosion next summer while games are actually occurring, but you can bet that it will be the dominant narrative among players. Look for the healthiest season in recent NBA history in ‘15-16 as players report to camp in the best shape of their lives. (The latter’s a given; I’m hopeful on the former.)

I’ve made this point before while in the midst of my preseason euphoria, but I feel like more organizations care about competing than at any point in our 30-team era. Unlike in years past, we might be spared any national columns on the evils of the tanking epidemic - save for Sam Hinkie’s 76ers - as the formerly rebuilding clubs are taking steps towards legitimacy. Which teams can you say will be truly hopeless, from our preseason vantage point?

Hinkie’s outright refusal to address free agency or the point guard position might be the most obvious bullet point in the anti-tank conversation, but Philadelphia still added another blue-chip big man to a team that routinely exceeds (albeit abysmal) expectations under head coach Brett Brown. Orlando’s been building lottery talent for years and finally got serious about improving by hiring the always-serious Scott Skiles, while up-and-coming teams like Boston and Utah might be a step further than we assumed last preseason. The Timberwolves were beset by injuries again last year but will be maybe the most talented 20-win team ever by adding Karl-Anthony Towns with the first overall pick. Even the Lakers and Knicks struck out famously in free agency and still recovered to sign some talented, defensive-oriented veterans to build an infrastructure, and should at least showcase competent squads this season.

The league’s reliance on shorter contract lengths and the increasing importance of free agency has already completely flipped the future of the Trail Blazers franchise in a single summer, with the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge sending them into a sudden rebuild. The presence of point guard Damian Lillard and head coach Terry Stotts (and, of course, Chris Kaman) will lend Portland some respectability, but the rest of the roster is comprised of young players on either their first or second contracts who are still fighting for a place in the league.

Beyond Portland, however, who will still play hard with some long-limbed lineup combinations, there aren’t any other basketball situations that are quite lacking in optimism this preseason. The Sacramento Kings are the most talented they’ve been in a decade, yet with a highly combustible mix of personalities and on-court talent that should blow up spectacularly, and the Denver Nuggets can go nowhere but up after the disaster that was Brian Shaw’s two-year reign as head coach. Despite residing in the Eastern Conference, where they’ve each been mediocre enough to snatch its last two eighth seeds, the Brooklyn Nets and Charlotte Hornets are a couple of injuries to their (All-Star caliber) centers away from completely bottoming out (again), yet also fringe playoff teams if things go well, health-wise.

Basically, the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats won’t be walking through that door, fans. (And if they did they’d be old and grey still really bad at basketball.) At least not this season. We’ll still see bad teams and awful basketball for stretches of the season, just not on the level we may have been accustomed to in years past. Whether it’s the quicker economic turnarounds, or more available information, or simply the timetables on some of these rebuilds, but the amount of easy outs on the NBA schedule is steadily shrinking as the quality of basketball keeps improving. I hesitate to use the word “parity”, in discussing the dominant trend of 2015-16, but the NBA’s lower to middle classes are stronger than they’ve ever been, and we’re weeks away from watching some incredible basketball being played night in and night out.

Chris: You might be on the money with this one. I would argue that the NBA has more talent than at any other time as well which leads to better rebuilding plans as you mentioned. And on top of that, the league has never been more invested in keeping players healthy. If the Kobe/Duncan/Garnett/Pierce era was defined by Superstars who learned how to take care of their body to prolong their career (Ray Allen=the poster boy), this era may be defined by NBA teams doing everything they can to spread those ideas across their entire roster.

More and more teams will be resting Superstars a la the San Antonio Spurs and the league made adjustments to the schedule to reduce back to backs and four games in five nights, brutal stretches for players. The NBA even created a committee to figure out the best ways to keep their star players on the floor. So, I agree, we may be drinking the optimistic Kool-Aid, but I am expecting a healthier NBA overall compared to last season.

If I'm looking for an alternative theory, there is one narrative that jumps out to me, and although the rising cap impacts it, it’s more specific than that. It’s Kevin Durant. With Durant, the question about what he will do this off-season is going to build momentum as we get farther and farther into the season.

We all know the NBA season is very long and prone to many ups and downs. For every downswing and hardship the OKC Thunder endure, the Durant rumor mill will pick up speed. Billy Donovan will be challenged to mold a much more versatile offense compared to past versions of these Thunder while maintaining a top tier defense despite players like Enes Kanter and Dion Waiters figuring to be prominent members of the rotation.

Durant signed with Jay-Z’s sports agency in June of 2013 and you're crazy if you don’t believe that Roc Nation isn’t going to use Kevin Durant’s upcoming free agency and mega-deal as their biggest marketing weapon. This has already started with Stephen A. Smith claiming Durant will sign with the Lakers and Durant having to debunk that immediately.

And on top of all of that, we haven’t seen Durant be able to play 50 games in a row after an unfortunate lost season that involved multiple surgeries to try to correct that foot. This narrative is mostly squashed if the Thunder keep Westbrook, Durant, and Ibaka healthy and are one of the top three teams in the NBA.

But even then there will be various ‘reports’ citing ‘sources’ as the season goes along claiming to ‘have intimate knowledge’ with Kevin’s decision-making process. He’ll likely get link to multiple teams before Christmas Day. And if, God forbid, the Thunder are truly struggling close to the trade deadline, and late into the season, the music will grow louder.

It’s simultaneously one of the most frustrating and interesting thing about the NBA. The next available Superstar in the NBA will always be coveted since Superstars are in short order around the league, and when you’re talking about a player of Kevin Durant’s talent, that is amplified. Add to that a financial landscape where literally every team will have the cap space to make a run at him, and my guess is this season will revolve around what Kevin Durant’s next move will be.

Episode 071 - Memphis, Movies, and Media with Jonah Jordan

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 4 Sep 2015 14:03:00 -0400

With Chris on vacation this week, Paul is joined by Jonah Jordan (of Grizzly Bear Blues and the University of Memphis’ Daily Helmsman) to discuss his history with the Memphis Grizzlies and their 2015-16 season outlook. Topics include Mike Conley’s future with the team and anxiety over Marc Gasol’s free agency experience, two-way players at the two-guard position, young Grizzlies, Skal Labissiere and the 2016 draft class, and a couple of NBA teams with rookie head coaches from the collegiate levels, in the Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder, before Jonah gives his bottom-5 teams next season and a bold prediction in the Western Conference playoff picture. They then discuss recent movies and the approaching Star Wars release, plus Narcos, BoJack Horseman, and Rick and Morty on television, and then get sidetracked by some Markieff Morris breaking news/tweets, Grantland fallout, and a breakdown of the Memphis media landscape.

Worth a click:

The evolution of Mike Conley (Jonah Jordan, Grizzly Bear Blues)

These Are the Things That Change Boys to Men (Jonathan Abrams, Grantland)

10 promising NBA youngsters poised for a big breakout in 2016 (SBNation staff)

Small-ball power forwards are coming, and Jeff Green may be the best bet against them (Kevin Yeung, Grizzly Bear Blues)

The arrogance of Roger Goodell (Dan Wetzel, Yahoo Sports)

Domo Arigato, ‘Mr. Robot’: A Great Finale for the Show of the Summer (Andy Greenwald, Hollywood Prospectus/Grantland)

Episode 070 - Bottom-Five Teams and Mr. Robot

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 13:08:00 -0400

Chris and Paul continue their contract-extension conversation from last week’s podcast by discussing Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s new deal with the Charlotte Hornets, and then transition to their potential bottom-five teams in the 2015-16 season. They end by previewing the season finale of the debut season of USA’s Mr. Robot, and briefly talk about Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty and Paul’s foray back into the world of “Serial” with the “Undisclosed” podcast.

Worth a click:

Remembering the ABA, the upstart league that challenged pro basketball and won (Paul Flannery, SBNation)

Why Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is worth $52 million even though he can’t shoot (Jason Patt, SBNation)

BoJack Horseman, Rick and Morty, and the art of cynical sincerity (Zach Handlen, AVClub)

Why USA Was Right to Delay the ‘Mr. Robot’ Finale (Andy Greenwald, Hollywood Prospectus/Grantland)

America Has Lost the War Against Guns (Greg Howard, Deadspin)

Episode 069 - Class of 2012 Extensions

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 11:00:00 -0400

Chris and Paul delve into the NBA’s extension-eligible candidates from the 2012 draft class and predict which players will/should receive extensions by the October 31st deadline, and then finish by discussing random movies and TV shows, including Trainwreck, True Detective, Mr. Robot, and Straight Outta Compton.

Worth a click:

The rookie extension impact for 2016 (Bobby Marks, HoopsHype)

Welcome to Extensionville: The NBA’s Next Big-Money Community (Zach Lowe, The Triangle/Grantland)

Jonas Valanciunas: In It For the Long Haul (Joshua Howe, HoopsHabit)

What to Expect From C.J. McCollum (Chris St. Jean, HoopsHabit)

Pitching Backward: Cribs, Dorms, Ballplayers in Swarms (Jeff Long, Baseball Prospectus)

Episode 068 - Team Building

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 1 Aug 2015 14:27:00 -0400

Chris and Paul discuss NBA team building by highlighting general managers who have adopted interesting strategies and tactics to rebuild their rosters into perennial playoff contenders, and the teams that are on the cusp of escaping the lottery. They then transition to pop culture talk and cover Focus, BoJack Horseman, Bill Simmons signing with HBO, and how out of touch we are with the current rap beef.

Worth a click:

Sunday Shootaround: Don’t Ruin This Golden Age, NBA (Paul Flannery, SBNation)

A Brief History of Deron Williams Feuding With Everyone Ever (Derek James, Hardwood Paroxysm)

Good Charlotte? The Hornets and the Sliding Scale of Mediocrity (Zach Lowe, The Triangle/Grantland)

Q&A: Flip Saunders on Building the Baby T’Wolves, Luck, and Mountain Dew (Zach Lowe, The Triangle/Grantland)

Ex-NBA star Vin Baker conquers demons and shoots for success in Starbucks management (Kevin McNamara, Providence Journal)

Episode 067 - Summer League & Emmy Impressions

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 18 Jul 2015 11:54:00 -0400

Chris and Paul delve into the various NBA Summer Leagues and the young players who have stood out this summer, then discuss some leftover free agency news and trades, and go through the Emmy categories to narrow down their rooting interests.

Worth a click:

Set the NBA lockout countdown clock. Again. (Tom Ziller, SBNation)

Why not tanking is the right move for the Mavericks (Andrew Kreighbaum, Mavs Moneyball)

Take Me Out to the Brain Game: Can Two Entrepreneurs Turn Neuroscience Into Moneyball? (Zach Schonbrun, SBNation)

Nets Sign Andrea Bargnani for No Good Reason (David Vertsberger, Brooklyn’s Finest)

5 NBA Teams That Need to Make a Trade (Chris St. Jean, Basketball Society)

TrueHoops’ Paul Mitchell Talks Mason Plumlee (Chris St. Jean, HoopsHabit)

Episode 066: NBA Free Agency Fallout

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 12:00:00 -0400

Chris and Paul catch up on all the chaos of the NBA offseason by beginning with the DeAndre Jordan hostage situation and subsequent social media response, then touch on Greg Monroe’s signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, the San Antonio Super Spurs, the Boston Celtics’ asset acquisitions, and other assorted free agent signings.

Worth a click:

Chandler Parsons Q&A: ‘We did everything that we can’ (Tim McMahon, ESPN)

Jordan looks to step out of Clippers stars’ shadow (Kevin Arnovitz, ESPN)

Sunday Shootaround: You Can’t Always Get What You Want in the NBA Draft (Paul Flannery, SBNation)

SBNation’s 2015 NBA Free Agent Rankings (Tom Ziller, SBNation)

Every NBA free agent signing this offseason (Mike Prada, SBNation)

Portland Trail Blazers: Ed Davis Q&A With FanSided’s Lake Show Life (Chris St. Jean & Scott Asai, HoopsHabit)

Portland Trail Blazers: Neil Olshey Moves Forward With, Without LaMarcus Aldridge (Chris St. Jean, HoopsHabit)

Episode 065 - 2015 NBA Draft Edition

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Chris St. Jean) — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 16:27:00 -0400

Chris and Paul decide to record the podcast in the midst of the chaos that was the first 20+ picks of Thursday night's NBA Draft. Re-live the Draft with them as they react to the Knicks fans booing the Kristaps Porzingis pick, how the Willy Cauley-Stein pick is the cap on the most Sacramento Kings week ever, Justise Winslow slipping to the Miami Heat, the surprising fit of Devon Booker and the Suns, and of course, the pure shock of Danny Ainge selecting Terry Rozier at pick 16.

Worth a click:

Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Jahlil Okafor: One Man's Opinion (Zach Harper, A Wolf Among Wolves)

A History of NBA Stars Calling George Karl a Snake (Tom Ziller, SBNation)

#Knickstaps: Coming to Terms With Phil, the Porzingis Pick, and the Future of the Knicks (Jason Concepcion, Grantland)

2016 NBA Mock Draft (Ricky O'Donnell, SBNation)

Lou Williams' Potential Future and Potential Fit With the Brooklyn Nets (Paul Mitchell, Brooklyn's Finest)

What the Nicolas Batum Trade Means for the Blazers Offseason (Chris St. Jean, Hoops Habit)

2015 NBA Mock Draft - Version 2

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 15:23:00 -0400

Karl-Anthony Towns, tremendous photobombing potential

After last week’s original version of our NBA Mock Draft, Chris and I knew we had to switch things up a bit. The first detail to change was our draft order, with Chris now taking the even-numbered picks and me on the odds. The only directive we exchanged was to be different. What that meant exactly is still up for interpretation, and to which I battled with in my first selection. Instead of choosing the opposite of whoever Chris picked, I used it as a tiebreaker but went with my original thoughts and tried to evaluate the most recent rumors that have been circulating among NBA circles. Like I explained last week, our sources still aren’t returning our phone calls and I’m afraid Chris and I can’t offer any original insight into draft philosophies. But we tried to have fun with our second version of the Mock and talk about as many prospects as we could within the framework of the first round.

I’m up.

1.) Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns

Thus begins the very first issue of our second mock draft: to go different for the team or different for ourselves. I've already discussed Jahlil Okafor in relation to the Los Angeles Lakers in Version 1, and while he would present a departure from your pick of Karl-Anthony Towns to the Timberwolves, I'm doubtful that Minnesota lets Towns slide to #2. I suppose there's a chance that D'Angelo Russell is in play for the first overall selection, at least with the recent workout news; I'm just not ready to accept it as a realistic option, with Towns (or Okafor) ranking as the consensus top choice since the preseason. Wolves fans deserve to root for that super athletic core that you mentioned last week; we'll have to see if Flip Saunders can give the people what they want.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

D'Angelo Russell

I think I'm trolling everyone with this pick. Lakers fans who felt so safe after winning the second pick in the draft lottery that they'd be handed their franchise center. You for your obvious ignorance to the greatness of Russell. And even in an ironic way, Lakers fans again, both those who think Russell should be the pick here over a possible franchise center and those who think the Lakers are all set in their back court with Jordan Clarkson and Kobe Bean Bryant.

Did I just piss off all Lakers fans? Well, my work here is done.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

Emmanuel Mudiay

I like it!

... although I have no idea what to do with this pick. Sam Hinkie can go anywhere at #3 under the assumption that he's selecting best player available. Jahlil Okafor also seems kinda troll-y, even with the latest Joel Embiid foot injury setback, but Nerlens Noel and Okafor would certainly represent a formidable frontcourt and interesting complement of skills. Noel seems like an ideal big to play with Jahlil and to protect him defensively, which would then turn the conversation into the spacing on the other end. I still feel like Philadelphia needs shooting to eventually bail out Brett Brown's offense and wanted to talk myself into Mario Hezonja here, as I'm not ready to accept the Kristaps Porzingis smokescreens (potential Andy Dwyer band name?) and actually think it's cruel for Hinkie to keep trolling the Orlando Magic after last draft's Elfrid Payton extortion.

You talked me into D'Angelo Russell to Philly on last week's podcast, then pulled the plug on him a pick early. Cruel. So I'll stick to my #HotTake that Emmanuel Mudiay will have a better career than Russell and select him at #3 to run high screens with Nerlens Noel. Mudiay's got some power guard tendencies and will need to develop consistency in shooting the ball, but he'll push the tempo for a Philadelphia defense that should be able to force transition opportunities. I'm buying into his upside and high basketball IQ, especially seeing him sacrifice and adapt to his situation in China and with his potential draft stock on the line. He'll get the Michael Carter-Williams comparisons if drafted to Philly, which isn't that awful; he's just younger and more skilled offensively, and not as lanky and effective on defense. Now let's work on #FreeDario!

4. New York Knicks

Jahlil Okafor

If Phil Jackson wasn't so zen he would be so excited that Okafor fell to him at 4 that he'd be giving away signed copies of his book!

Phil has been pretty outspoken, especially lately, about his old school perspective on the NBA game. It's easy to scoff at him when the Knicks are playing Langston Galloway, but he's one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, without a doubt.

Of course he's now managing the front office of one of the most dysfunctional institutions in the state of New York.

Okafor falling to New York would be extremely fascinating though. As much as it's fun to make fun of the Knicks, it's better when they are at least decent.

5. Orlando Magic

Kristaps Porzingis

You went with Willie Cauley-Stein here in our last mock, which would thrill Nikola Vucevic and protect him on the defensive end, but what about Orlando's greatest need: shooting? With all due respect to Channing Frye (and Ben Gordon), the Magic desperately need a stretch option to open up driving lanes for some of their exciting young athletes and to prevent defenses from doubling down on Vucevic in the post.

Porzingis has been maybe the biggest beneficiary to the whole draft and workout process with his agility, shooting touch, and sense of humor in his interviews, and there's a good chance that he's gone by the time Orlando picks at #5. He'll need to add substantial weight and upper-body strength at the NBA level, and has already adjusted well to American culture aided by, apparently, breakfast foods. Porzingis even profiles to be a pretty effective defender in time and after adding size, with good lateral quickness and steal and block numbers while with Seville in the ACB League.

The question is if he's too much of a project and too far away defensively for the Orlando Magic and new head coach Scott Skiles. The draft room debates in Orlando must be fascinating between Porzingis and Cauley-Stein, and especially if Philadelphia's reported interest in Kristaps results in them again scooping up the Magic's target two picks before them. If so the Magic can turn to WCS and again go defense in the draft (rather than deal with Sam Hinkie), but Kristaps Porzingis could be a great fit in Orlando as an offensive threat, floor spacer, and potential star player.

Mario Hezonja (Rodolfo Molina/Getty Images)

6. Sacramento Kings

Mario Hezonja

Hezonja would bring the shooting ability that the Kings attempted with Nik Stauskas last season, but more importantly he brings a swagger and confidence that Stauskas never displayed last season.

There would be some concern about throwing two strong personalities like DeMarcus Cousins and Hezonja together, but it'd be worth the risk to bring a potentially deadly scorer from the wing position to a team that could use it.

Playing Hezonja and Gay and Cousins together would be interesting, but maybe it pushes Gay to play more at the four.

I get the feeling that George Karl would both appreciate Hezonja's personality as well as be frustrated with it at times.

Say what you will about the Kings organization, but it's always interesting and bringing Hezonja in would continue that trend.

7. Denver Nuggets

Justise Winslow

Denver can feel free to take the best player available at #7, due to their evolving roster and potential transition under recent head coaching hire Mike Malone. Malone could take the team in a couple of different directions next season, by establishing a defensive identity and by possibly altering the team's usual elevation-oriented paced, which could also impact the team's decision in the draft. Luckily for both management and their head coach, their choice should come down to two high-level, high-energy defensive players who should also contribute on offense and excel in any system.

Malone would love to coach both players, but I have Justise Winslow's versatility and slightly higher offensive upside winning out in Denver. Both he and WCS can guard almost any position on the floor and pester their opponents on-ball, while Cauley-Stein's bigger frame and screen-and-roll skills maybe limits his role on the offensive end. Winslow excelled at Duke by slashing to the basket, getting out on the fastbreak, and finding holes in the opposing defense with his timely cuts, and is by all accounts a hard worker who seems to keep adding to his game. Already a good spot-up shooter from playing off of Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor, Winslow will need to add to his in-between offense and learn how to attack off the dribble at the pro level without lowering his right shoulder. It wasn't long ago that many college basketball analysts were pushing Justise as a possibility at #1 overall, and his selflessness and high character endears himself well to both coaches and teammates, which can't be discounted after Denver's mess of a 2014-15 season.

8. Detroit Pistons

Myles Turner

(Side Note: The Nuggets are going to luck into a very good player with Winslow.)

This scenario works out kind of rough for the Pistons even if I am tempted to pair Andre Drummond with Willy Cauley-Stein just to see that combination defending the paint. That's probably not a realistic option for the Pistons and I'm not high enough on Devon Booker to name him the 8th pick in the draft. Maybe it'd be advantageous for the Pistons to move down a few spots if things work out this way (the Heat? the Suns? dare I say, the Celtics?).

(Thinking about this scenario and the Celtics moving up to 8 to nab Cauley-Stein for the 16th, 33rd, and a spare part...)

(Is this really as possible as I'm thinking it is?)

Ok, back to reality. Instead of the Pistons trading out, I'll just have them reach for a player that I imagine Stan Van Gundy would fall in love with IF he develops into what we all hope he will. Pairing Turner a stretch option that can protect the rim with Drummond's insane rebounding and roll ability could be the ultimate front court for Stan Van's system. And bringing in Ersan Ilyasova shouldn't discourage Detroit from drafting Turner as it may take a little time for him to come into his own.

Willie Cauley-Stein (James Crisp/Associated Press)

9. Charlotte Hornets

Willie Cauley-Stein

Woooooo! Rich Cho, I do believe you have Danny Ainge on Line 1, ready to offer you #16 and any (non-Nets) future first to move up to #9 and select Kentucky's versatile Willie Cauley-Stein. It's almost like we each subconsciously kept dropping WCS down the board and into the range of "trade-up" teams, after the Hornets have leaked that they might prefer to trade down rather than up in the draft. The Celtics have #'s 16, 28, and 33 to dangle in this draft alone, plus firsts next season from Dallas and Brooklyn, and need a dynamic defender and athlete in the worst way. His versatility in guarding multiple positions on defense and verticality while finishing the pick and roll on offense would help to elevate the play of the rest of his (limited) teammates, and theoretically give Marcus Smart a (defensive-minded) foundational partner to build with. But I'm getting way ahead of myself here by pinning my Celtics draft hopes on WCS and a trade, plus I'm curious to see what you cook up at #16 and 28. I just got super excited for a second there.

Willie works in Charlotte, too, but would require a more existential conversation among the decision makers within the Hornets organization. (*insert Crying Jordan meme*) The organization has spent their last two lottery picks on power forwards and employ the league's best low-post scorer in Professor Al Jefferson, and Cauley-Stein would definitely be repetitive next to Tyler Zeller or MKG (in that neither frontcourt players are three-point shooters). Charlotte can otherwise select Devin Booker, in the hopes that he can single-handedly revitalize their long-range issues, but that should still carry considerable risk by drafting based off of team need. Willie Cauley-Stein is the best player available at #9 and although he's redundant with their incumbent bigs, he could change their future upside. If the Hornets want to again make the playoffs as the Eastern Conference's eighth seed in 2015-16, after a year back in the lottery, then they go Devin Booker or Frank Kaminsky. If they hope to aim higher, to say the fourth or fifth seed in 2017 or '18, then the Hornets select Willie Cauley-Stein.

(Or trade him to the Celtics, take R.J. Hunter or Cameron Payne at #16, and roll the dice again next season with Dallas or Brooklyn or Boston's first rounder. Sorry, I promise I'm done now.) - PM

10. Miami Heat

Stanley Johnson

This pick seems inevitable and look even more likely if there are legitimate questions whether Dwyane Wade will be in Miami. Johnson seems to be one of the biggest enigmas in this draft. Playing in Miami with the core of Chris Bosh, Wade, and Goran Dragic would be great for his development and he could also provide some insurance should Luol Deng opt out of his contract.

But back to the Dwyane Wade thing. Give the man his money no? He was the reason that LeBron James ever considered Miami and he got you a championship prior to that when Shaq and Alonzo were having their Draft Class of '92 reunion. It's a shame that he has to utilize the Lakers to apply leverage in the negotiations and get all the Lakers fans fired up over their supposed Rondo/Wade/Kobe/Love/Cousins super team that is literally an impossibility.

Pay the man. - CS

11. Indiana Pacers

Frank Kaminsky

I wanted to select the youngest, highest-upside player to the Indiana Pacers so badly. Once their season began without their starting backcourt, the conversation turned to the Pacers perhaps "tanking" the season and adding a high-impact lottery pick to a pretty good infrastructure, although one that's steadily aging and getting closer to free agency. Paul George's return coincided with George Hill's, and the team playing up to their previous standards on the defensive end in a scorching hot month of February kept them in contention for the East's last playoff spot until the final day of the season (a loss in Memphis, which gave the Brooklyn Nets the tie-breaker). Team President Larry Bird and head coach Frank Vogel developed this current crew of talent and brought them to the precipice of two separate Finals appearances (damn LeBron), and need to focus on nailing the eleventh pick to get the team back into the playoff conversation in 2015-16.

But that's the question here (much like I argued with the Charlotte Hornets): to simply make the playoffs next year or build for a higher seed in the future? Kelly Oubre's insane physical tools and Tyus Jones's all-around (and clutch) skills at the point could give the Pacers a higher upside in two seasons, while probably giving management headaches in Year 1. Frank Kaminsky might not develop any more, after four strong seasons at Wisconsin, but he'll rebound and make jump shots from either big man position off the bench and hopefully groom into a starting frontcourt partner with a re-signed Roy Hibbert in 2017. The Pacers aren't yet ready to embrace small ball with their bigs, but Kaminsky could give them a spacing element while still helping the team on the boards and in protecting the paint. Kaminsky will help the Pacers immediately, as they work their way back to the playoffs; I would just like to see them aim a little higher with their highest first-round pick since 2011.

12. Utah Jazz

Myles Turner

The Jazz are in a great spot. They have young talent at every position and therefore any pick they make could be viewed as duplicitous. Given that, they can be patient with Turner as he develops into what the Jazz hoped Enes Kanter could have become. A floor spacer who defends and rebounds could be a great pair with either Derrick Favors or Rudy Gobert long term. How's a young core of Exum, Burke, Burks, Hood, Hayward, Favors, Turner, Gobert for you?

Also, as much as I'd love to see Turner slide to the Celtics at 16, getting picked at number 12 seems just about right for a guy with his physical gifts and talent who will need some time to live up to his potential.

13. Phoenix Suns

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

I immediately feel like I'm reaching here, even if Chad Ford approves in his full mock draft. My whole thought process with this pick and the Phoenix Suns is to find a unique talent to add to their roster, and unfortunately the current draft board makes that tough. They can rule out point guards, assuming they match any offer sheet that Brandon Knight signs this summer, and their wing situation is complicated with the Morrii (and their own complicated legal issues) and the T.J. Warren pick last season, which is why I'm ruling out some of the more offensive-minded wings. You mentioned the possibility of them upgrading the P.J. Tucker role of tough wing defender who could potentially hit the corner-three, and I like Hollis-Jefferson to at least fulfill the "tough" and "wing defender" obligations. Kelly Oubre has more long-term potential than RHJ and a functional jump shot, but the Suns could use a smart and versatile wing who can work without the basketball and off of their two ball-dominant guards.

14. Oklahoma City Thunder

Cameron Payne

This seems like one of the most uneventful picks in the draft (unless the Pacers talk themselves into Payne and move on from Hill which I would love by the way). The Thunder have limited roster and cap space and apparently want to bring back Enes Kanter, so they could be a wildcard on draft night.

But Payne would bring a scoring punch off the bench, could replace D.J. Augustin when his contract expires after next season, and could probably play alongside Russell Westbrook. To me, Payne is last year’s Elfrid Payton, in the sense that he moved up draft boards fast when the ‘Draft process’ began, but he’s a completely different type of player who can shoot and score, but he brings size, may develop defensively, and has some passing ability.

In the long term, Payne could be more than just a scoring guard off the bench. A nice get for the Thunder at the end of the lottery.

15. Atlanta Hawks

Kelly Oubre

Whoever the Atlanta Hawks select at #15, they need to swing for the fences and select the highest upside player available. As the last remnant of the Joe Johnson trade, the Hawks managed to jump 14 spots in their pick swap with the Brooklyn Nets, and while expecting another 60-win season is optimistic, Coach Budenholzer's team should safely be a 50-win squad over the next few years. Hitting on a potential star player with the 15th pick would be huge for a team that was over-matched against LeBron James's Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. The only concern is their missed evaluation on last year's 15th overall pick, Adreian Payne, who they traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a lottery-protected (until 2020) first-round pick.

But Oubre is in a completely different situation, as a 19-year old wing with loads of potential and some immediate signs of translatable NBA skills. Oubre struggled early in Kansas head coach Bill Self's offense but improved his play over the second half of the season and shot 36% from three as a freshman, despite some inconsistent shooting mechanics. That should seemingly improve if with the Hawks next season and under their coaches, but I worry about his raw ball-handling skills and lack of court vision in Coach Bud's "read and react" system. Easing into the bench rotation alongside Dennis Schröder and Kent Bazemore's energy would allow Oubre to dumb down his game by running the floor, catching and shooting, and locking in on defense. Or not play at all. Either way he has plenty of skills and upside to merit the high-variance selection by Atlanta. - PM

Bobby Portis (#10) (Associated Press)

16. Boston Celtics

Bobby Portis

In this scenario, the Celtics are faced with deciding between Bobby Portis and Trey Lyles and I’m going with Portis, who may have less upside if you listen to the general consensus. Ignoring the cynical view of this Boston Globe piece on Danny Ainge targeting Marcus Smart, I buy into the idea that Ainge drafted Smart as much for his mental makeup as his ability on the court.

I don’t think it’s a knock on Lyles to say that Portis may be more similar in mental makeup to Smart than him. Portis is continually talked about as the guy who is going to bring ‘energy’ and has less upside because his best skill is his effort and how can you improve on that?

But Portis can rebound, may have more range than we think, and is absolutely unafraid of performing and trying to win. - CS

17. Milwaukee Bucks

R.J. Hunter

The Milwaukee Bucks have a nice, young core emerging that's both long and versatile, if still short on shooting. R.J. Hunter would give the Bucks another lanky prospect and potential Khris Middleton insurance, who is super skilled with the basketball and maybe the best shooter in the draft. Hunter had to handle the ball more in his Junior season while at Georgia State and suffered in his shooting percentages as a result, but boasts unlimited range and good passing skills that would be a nice fit in Milwaukee and among their collection of position-less slashers. He projects to be capable enough to contribute on the defensive end and can provide instant offense off the bench. I'll admit that I'm high on Hunter, but I'd really like to see Milwaukee (or Boston...) add shooting and potentially trot out a Michael Carter-Williams, R.J. Hunter, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo five-man unit. Plenty of options for the Bucks at #17.

18. Houston Rockets

Tyus Jones

The Rockets desperately needed a point guard when Patrick Beverley went down last season and in the Playoffs I think they needed another shot creator in the rotation to take some burdan off of James Harden.

Although, I’m now fascinated by the idea that Indiana may draft Payne and make Hill available. George Hill would be the perfect point guard to pair with Harden in the backcourt, but assuming that doesn’t happen (or even if it does) bringing in Tyus Jones to play some point guard and provide offense seems like the right move.

19. Washington Wizards

Devin Booker

This is a weird pick, with Devin Booker plummeting down our draft board and the Washington Wizards already covered at the two-guard position, but completely necessary for a Wizards team starved for outside shooting. Excluding Randy Wittman's Keyser Soze routine from this past postseason, the Wiz run fairly basic pick-and-roll sets that rely on John Wall collapsing the defense and generating room for shooters; it's just that outside of Bradley Beal and first-half-of-the-season Rasual Butler, Washington's long-range options are limited. Playoff Otto Porter showed some competence in spotting up, and Drew Gooden has been working on his corner-three-point shooting, but otherwise the Wiz start three non-shooters in Wall (down 5% to 30% from deep this season), Nene, and Marcin Gortat.

Devin Booker offers one NBA-ready skill immediately, in his long-range shooting, to which he can get his shot off either with the ball or in catch-and-shoot situations. He shows good court awareness and sense of when to shoot and when to skip to another spot on the perimeter, and should translate well to modern NBA offenses (or, in this case, Wittman's). His basketball IQ and limited frame almost reminds me of Klay Thompson in an extremely best-case scenario, while his limitations on the court and athletic ceiling could put his floor at maybe a John Jenkins or Reggie Bullock. The only measurement of his that the Wiz should pause at is his meager wingspan, but that shouldn't dissuade them from experimenting with a Beal/Booker wing duo to finally give John Wall some actual spacing and passing lanes. This would be a great scenario for Washington and their anemic offense.

Trey Lyles (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

20. Toronto Raptors

Trey Lyles

Although the rumors that the Knicks were considering Lyles at number 4 were laughable, I think it’d be unrealistic to see him fall this far when the actual draft happens tonight. Lyles is a bit of an enigma since we weren’t able to see him play his natural position in college, and if he falls this far, this would be a steal for the Raptors who have a large hole at Power Forward to fill.

Amir Johnson worked like hell to become a respected and effective role player in this league, but injuries have taken a toll on him and he’s a shell of his former self. Patrick Patterson is inconsistent and provides certain things, but is definitely more suited for a bench position so that the Raptors don’t have to rely on him.

21. Dallas Mavericks

Jerian Grant

I'm basically in agreement with everything you said from Version 1. Perfect fit for Dallas, regardless of what their 2015-16 roster looks like, as a passer and bigger guard who excels in the pick and roll. If only he had an all-time great pick-and-pop big man to play with if selected by the Mavericks...

Jerian Grant shows flashes of being an instinctive defender and should improve in that area if under head coach Rick Carlisle, along with, possibly, his shooting mechanics on spot-up attempts. He'll also have to add some strength or a floater to improve his finishing in the paint, though he can get to the free-throw line at a decent rate. Grant's ability to push the tempo and move the ball on offense could give the Mavericks a less expensive and stressful version of what they hoped to acquire last season in the Rajon Rondo trade.

22. Chicago Bulls

Sam Dekker

Dekker is another player that seems a bit too low at 22. He could go anywhere from 8 to around this range, but there are legitimate concerns that Dekker’s hot finish in the NCAA tournament and good workouts have him valued higher than he ought to be.

He would be a great fit for Chicago though, who spent all of last season with patchwork to replace the hole that was left after Luol Deng was traded including extended looks at Dunleavy, Tony Snell, and even Mirotic at the small forward position.

Dekker would shore up the position for the Bulls and provide some more ball handling and creating from that position. Again, this could take some burden off of Noah and Rose, especially if Jimmy Butler is exploring other options.

23. Portland Trail Blazers

Kevon Looney

You've written extensively about the Trail Blazers' draft targets for Hoops Habit, but I doubt you envisioned a scenario where Kevon Looney was available at #23. Looney is still incredibly raw at 19 years old and scored mostly off of hustle plays and offensive rebounds while at UCLA, but is more polished on defense by utilizing his 7'3" wingspan to contest shots and contain opposing ball handlers. Like most players his age he needs to add considerable muscle and strength at the NBA level to fulfill his potential, yet also work on his conditioning to maintain his energy plays. He's not a post player by any means on offense, preferring instead to face up and take the jumper - to which he made 22 of his 53 three-point attempts - and lacks the explosive athleticism to finish around the rim and in traffic. Even among freshmen in this draft, Kevon Looney might be one of the furthest away from contributing to an NBA rotation, but the Portland Trail Blazers would love to find a player of his skills and potential at this point in the draft. - PM

24. Cleveland Cavaliers

Justin Anderson

If the Cavaliers learned anything from facing the Golden State Warriors it’s that you can never have too many long, athletic, wing athletes who can either shoot from the outside, penetrate, or both. Despite the presence of LeBron, Iman Shumpert, and J.R. Smith (although he did opt out), Anderson would fit in well and could hopefully soak up some of those James Jones minutes.

Anderson should be able to shoot from the outside from Day 1 and will be able to defend his position, that’s really all the Cavaliers would need him to do, which is good, because Anderson struggles when he’s asked to do too much creating on offense. - CS

25. Memphis Grizzlies

Delon Wright

The Grizzlies need outside shooting, as always, and could pull the trigger on Rashad Vaughn here to give them a gunner to bail out their half-court offense, but what about another ball handler? Nick Calathes is a restricted free agent this summer and could find better offers overseas, giving Memphis just Beno Udrih to back up Mike Conley. Conley is too important to the team's title chances to play heavy regular season minutes, and Delon Wright could take on the Grizzlies offense for minutes-long stretches and even allow Conley or Udrih to play off-ball alongside him. Wright's age and shaky jumper keep him in the bottom-third of our first round(s), but his passing skills would be a tremendous fit in a Grizzlies offense that runs a lot of Horns sets with back-door cuts. Beno Udrih is a great bench point guard option who can push the ball to get himself open looks, but Delon Wright prefers to push to draw and dish on the break and should help the Grizzlies immediately on the defensive end as an NBA-ready point guard.

Rashad Vaughn (Sam Morris/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

26. San Antonio Spurs

Rashad Vaughn

I am beginning to have an unnatural affinity to the idea that Rashad Vaughn represents, but where he gets drafted, and more importantly by whom, is extremely important for him to develop to the best possible version of himself.

There would be major concerns if Vaughn went to a free-wheeling system that may foster some of his bad habits, but I have no concerns of that here with San Antonio. Vaughn’s game may be more similar to Patty Mills, but he has the size to replace Danny Green if the Spurs are not able to re-sign him and I love the idea of Popovich empowering this young and gifted scorer.

27. Los Angeles Lakers

Christian Wood

Before you feel bad for Christian Wood, think of this: what better way to maximize the mythology of Kobe Bryant than by drafting a player underrated reportedly only because of questions about his work ethic and intensity level? Wood has all of the physical tools and projectable skills at the power forward position to impact the game in all areas, from blocking shots to spacing the floor to rebounding the ball. His issues revolve entirely around intangibles and the need to add strength, which should all come with time and better coaching. The 19-year old Wood has plenty of time to better develop his basketball IQ and grow into his frame; we'll have to see if the Los Angeles Lakers and Byron Scott can expedite the process.

28. Boston Celtics

Anthony Brown

This is actually a bit of a reach I think, although picks 25-40 are fairly fluid in my opinion. I think the Celtics would have a chance at Brown with the 33rd pick as well which I would like even more.

Brown is your typical 3 and D prospect, who excelled defensively at Stanford. He shot 44.9% from the 3-point line last season on almost 5 attempts per game so it’s clear that he will be able to shoot the ball with range. The downside to Brown is likely that he projects as a role player only and is already 22 years old which makes him ancient by today’s draft standards, but he should be a solid defender that can catch and shoot. Brad Stevens can make use of that.

29. Brooklyn Nets

Joseph Young

When in doubt with Billy King and the Brooklyn Nets, always take the best senior available (BSA). Joseph Young checks that box, and also gives the Nets a potentially deadly bench scorer in the backcourt capable of lighting up the Barclays Center crowd with his jump shot or athleticism in going to the basket. He's almost strictly an instant-offense guy at the next level who isn't particularly effective at protecting or moving the ball, and is a non-factor on the defensive end. Dat jumper doe.

I recently wrote about the Brooklyn Nets showing up in a RealGM rumor expressing interest in signing Lou Williams in free agency (despite their limited funds), but selecting Joseph Young at #29 could give them a reasonable Lou replacement in a few seasons for a fraction of the cost. - PM

30. Golden State Warriors

Jarell Martin

Jarell Martin is a guy that has floated around the draft board during the process flirting with the late lottery and then sometimes considered a mid-second round pick. To me, he is a poor man’s Draymond Green, a skilled big who can handle the ball with above average skill, could be seen as a tweener, but may have the skills to defend small forwards and power forwards.

For Golden State, it’s just further pushing the idea of positionless basketball with skilled, long, athletic basketball players. The risk is almost inconsequential picking at 30. - CS

Episode 064 - NBA Finals Recap and Draft Preview

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 11:00:00 -0400

The NBA’s offseason is here, and before Chris and Paul get into the NBA Draft and their favorite prospects, they first begin by recapping the 2015 NBA Finals and the Golden State Warriors’ complete team victory, small-ball strategy, and LeBron James’s historical dominance. As always they end on some pop culture talk, including Daredevil Episode 3, the Season 5 finale of Game of Thrones, and some miscellaneous TV talk (Community, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, True Detective Season 2).

Worth a click:

The Champs Are Here: A Guide to the Elite and Unlikely Cast of Characters Who Defined the 2014-15 Golden State Warriors (Zach Lowe, The Triangle/Grantland)

Can’t touch Warriors now: 2015 NBA champs (Ramona Shelburne, ESPN)

LeBron’s handling of Blatt unbecoming (Marc Stein, ESPN)

Golden State Warriors Illustrated (Kirk Goldsberry, The Triangle/Grantland)

Ryen Russillo’s NBA Draft Confidential: Real Scouts on Towns, Russell, and Okafor (Ryen Russillo, The Triangle/Grantland)

6 Players the Boston Celtics Should Consider With the 16th Pick (Chris St. Jean, Hoops Habit)

2015 NBA Mock Draft

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 19:04:00 -0400

Jahlil Okafor, Karl-Anthony Towns, D'Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay (Photo: Robert Willett, AP, Getty, Paul J. Bereswill)

The NBA Draft is officially 10 days away, and much like last summer, we’re participating in the festivities with our own Mock Draft project. Neither Chris nor I claim any reliable sources or inside information, and our picks are backed by personal preferences and what we deem to be common sense selections, given team context and incumbent rosters. Unlike last season, however, where we dove a bit deeper and explained our predictions with longer-form essays, this draft we’ll limit ourselves to just a few paragraphs per pick, in the hopes that maybe we can tack on another version before next Thursday, as the (dis)information evolves.

We’ll be alternating picks, beginning with Chris and the Minnesota Timberwolves and ending with my take on the Golden State Warriors at #30. All statistics and measurement numbers are from the incredible team over at Draft Express, along with any rumors and innuendo we’ve absorbed from the various mock drafts by ESPN (by that I mean Chad Ford), CBS, SBNation, Fansided, etc.

So with the first pick of our 2015 NBA Mock Draft, Chris selects…

1. Minnesota Timberwolves

Karl-Anthony Towns | PF/C | 7'0 | 250 lbs. | 7'3.25" wingspan

The Timberwolves add this season’s first-overall pick to last season’s (and the season before that). Towns’s potential on both sides of the ball and ability to play PF and/or C make him ideal for a Timberwolves team still finding their way.

His projected ability to space the floor makes room for Wiggins to operate in the post. A LaVine-Shabazz-Wiggins-Payne-Dieng-Towns young core, plus maybe another lottery pick is quite promising. And I left off Rubio!

You're on the clock.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

Jahlil Okafor | C | 6'11" | 272 lbs. | 7'5" wingspan

The Lakers are in great position at #2 to not have to make a decision among either franchise big man and can leave the tough choices to the Timberwolves. Okafor's talents on the low block should give the Lakers a consistent scoring option, regardless of what their 2015-16 squad looks like, but he'll need to watch tape of Brook Lopez from March and April to learn how to score off of "soft" rolls from the high screen. Let's see Okafor and Julius Randle healthy and playing together first before we start tearing them apart on defense.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

D'Angelo Russell | PG/SG | 6'5" | 193 lbs. | 6'9.75" wingspan

I'm getting less and less concerned about the bad taste in my mouth left by Evan Turner. I think Russell is a different player and his size and skill-set will give the Sixers flexibility in the future to either pair him with a shooter or a pure point.

His ability to score off the dribble and natural basketball IQ (he relies more heavily on his feel for the game rather than his speed or athleticism) will open up things for Noel and Joel Embiid. The Sixers will be fun next season!

4. New York Knicks

Emmanuel Mudiay | 6'5" | 200 lbs. | 6'8.5" wingspan

Phil Jackson and the New York Knicks could certainly go in any direction here. Emmanuel Mudiay has star potential from the guard position and should eventually be a nightly triple-double threat if he's allowed to push the pace, like a less homicidal (and skilled) version of Russell Westbrook. He'll struggle shooting the ball and it'll be interesting to see the Knicks fans' reactions to some of his struggles, given his style of play, but he presents the highest upside of any guard in the draft and his adjustment and play in China should alleviate any bust concerns.

5. Orlando Magic

Willie Cauley-Stein | PF/C | 7'1" | 242 lbs. | 7'3" wingspan

Although I was very tempted to select Mario Hezonja or Kristaps Porzingis here to give the Magic the shooting they desperately need, the Scott Skiles hiring caused me to double down on the defensive side of the ball to pair Nikola Vucevic with a true rim protector and a frontcourt defender that will wreck as much havoc as the Payton/Oladipo backcourt.

I've said over and over that one of Jacque Vaughn's biggest problems last season was that there was no sense of an identity for that Magic team, even with all the young talent. That won't be an issue with Skiles, and bringing in Cauley-Stein could lift the Magic from the bottom five in the league defensively to the borderline of the top five (remember, Payton, Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, etc.). I for one have been a huge Cauley-Stein supporter and the Magic can always buy a second round pick or use free agency to bring in a shooter.

6. Sacramento Kings

Justise Winslow | SF | 6'7" | 222 lbs. | 6'10.25" wingspan

I really, really wanted to pull the trigger on Frank Kaminsky here, with the "hey, ya never know with Vivek and the Kings!" rationale. It would still make more sense than Nik Stauskas at #10 last season and actually help the team at a position of need, but I'll wimp out and take best player available, with Duke's versatile Justise Winslow. He's exactly the kind of scrappy, defensive-oriented player the Kings always avoid in the draft, so I'm relying on head coach George Karl to recognize his team's need for an Andre Iguodala-type to do the dirty work and help the team (eventually) win.

Kristaps Porzingis and a bunch of basketballs (no photo credit found)

7. Denver Nuggets

Kristaps Porzingis | PF/C | 7'0" | 220 lbs.

Although I do love Justise Winslow for Denver and they'd probably be bummed if he was taken off the board just in front of him, I feel like the Nuggets are in a good spot at 7 to take whoever falls to them. Porzingis looks like a project, but the combination of size and shooting ability in theory is the exact position every NBA franchise is looking for.

At the same weight as Winslow but standing five inches taller, he'll need to devote an entire year to bulk up, but at only 19 there's plenty of time for that. At the very least he'll be able to catch and shoot right away to provide spacing for the Nuggets and in time, hopefully his defense and playmaking will develop. The Nuggets are in a weird spot where they do have some talent but they don't know what their core is yet. Porzingis could be a part of that.

8. Detroit Pistons

Mario Hezonja | SG/SF | 6'8" | 200 lbs.

We seem to be in a rut of indecision in our last couple of picks, and this choice by Detroit is no different. Instead of debating the team needs between different positions, the debate at #8 boils down to two wings, to me: Mario Hezonja and Stanley Johnson. Both wings. Both high-upside talents. And both could help the Pistons going forward. But I'll take the polished jump shot over the versatility. Ten years ago I might have leaned towards Johnson, but with the complexity of NBA offenses and the value of dynamic shooters, Hezonja seems like a perfect fit at the pro level. His skills with the basketball could be a nice fit next to the emerging game of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at the wing spots.

9. Charlotte Hornets

Frank Kaminsky | PF/C | 7'1" | 231 lbs. | 6'11" wingspan

Although this pick opens the Hornets up to the criticism that they missed on Noah Vonleh last season, I don't see it that way.

The Hornets could use shooting at any position and Al Jefferson won't be around forever (maybe even not next season). I don't see any reason that Kaminsky and Vonleh can't share the floor in 3 years and provide shooting at both Center and Power Forward.

10. Miami Heat

Stanley Johnson | SF | 6'7" | 242 lbs. | 6'11.5" wingspan

This is a perfect fit for Stanley Johnson and his chances of realizing his potential in the NBA. Erik Spoelstra will put him into the right positions on the floor and work on rounding out his game, while Johnson brings an element of youth and athleticism that the Heat might otherwise lack. With Luol Deng already at small forward and a potent, name-brand lineup when healthy, Stanley could spend most of his rookie season easing in off the bench, while filling in for the eventual Miami injuries in the starting lineup. - PM

11. Indiana Pacers

Myles Turner | C | 7'0" | 240 lbs. | 7'4" wingspan

I'm really tempted to go Cameron Payne here to add a dynamic scorer to this team, but the fact there are question marks about how long both Roy Hibbert and David West will be with this team leaves a huge hole in the frontcourt.

Turner in theory can shoot from the outside and protect the rim; the holy grail for NBA front offices. Pair that potential with one of the best developmental staffs in the NBA and the Pacers could have themselves a future cornerstone to pair with Paul George. - CS

12. Utah Jazz

Devin Booker | SG | 6'6" | 206 lbs. | 6'8.25" wingspan

Are we sure the Utah Jazz don't need a point guard, with a third-straight lottery pick and Cameron Payne creeping up draft boards? This should be the season that the young Jazz build upon their second-half defensive dominance from last season and put it all together in 2015-16, but to reach the playoffs in the Western Conference they'll need lots of shooting and more wing depth. Devin Booker is a young, dynamic shooter who might lack some athletic upside and remind me too much of James Young, though he's exactly the kind of player the Jazz can plug into their crazy-long lineups and let fire away. He, Rodney Hood, and Alec Burks could be an interesting fit at the wing next season, alongside Gordon Hayward.

Justin Anderson or Kelly Oubre could be scary options on the wing, and with Gobert and Favors behind them protecting the paint, but Devin Booker's unique skill-set wins out.

13. Phoenix Suns

Kelly Oubre | SF | 6'7" | 203 lbs. | 7'2.25" wingspan

Who's to say that Kelly Oubre won't be a better wing player than Stanley Johnson and Justise Winslow in five years. The Suns have a nice collection of young talent, and a rangy and long wing defender would fit perfectly alongside Bledsoe and Alex Len. If Oubre turns into a less crazy P.J. Tucker than that's a win for Phoenix, but he has way more upside than that.

I think we saw last season that Bill Self doesn't exactly unleash his wing freshmen. There's a chance that Oubre could be a steal here at 13 when we look back at this pick in five years. There are worse things than a long wing defender who can knock down some outside shots.

Cameron Payne (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)

14. Oklahoma City Thunder

Cameron Payne | PG | 6'2" | 183 lbs. | 6'7.25" wingspan

Sam Presti is furious with you right now, St. Jean. Oubre would echo some Perry Jones III memories but I'm not sure if the remaining draft board possesses the same kind of upside and potential.

Cameron Payne could still help, and serve as the Thunder's best passer immediately upon being drafted. His lack of a consistent spot-up jumper would relegate him below D.J. Augustin on the 2015-16 depth chart, though he'd force his way into the lineup by his ability to push tempo and find teammates in the pick and roll. Dual- or even triple-point guard lineups could be in play next season, with Kevin Durant back to provide the spacing.

15. Brook... er Atlanta Hawks

Kevin Looney | PF | 6'9" | 222 lbs. | 7'3" wingspan

Of Looney, Trey Lyles, and Bobby Portis, I think Looney has the highest upside. His potential to stretch the floor, and his translatable skill to rebound the ball, could make Looney a nice Paul Milsap replacement.

Atlanta is also the type of team that will be patient with Looney as the 19-year old develops and adds some strength.

16. Boston Celtics

Bobby Portis | PF | 6'9" | 246 lbs. | 7'2" wingspan

Not a great situation for the Celtics at #16, with some potential solid bench options at power forward and point guard on the draft board that duplicates their incumbent roster. I wanted to talk myself into Justin Anderson's 3-and-D game but Bobby Portis should offer a reasonable Brandon Bass replacement with enough defensive instincts to possess some additional upside. Below-the-rim bigs don't exactly inspire confidence and he'll have to maintain his energy level in the NBA to be successful. I do like bigs with high release points and consistent range out to the corner-three, though his lanky form reminds me of former Celtics draft bust JaJuan Johnson. Bobby Portis might have too much Leon Powe in his game to follow that route, and I have no doubt that he'll be a fan favorite next season due to his hustle on the offensive glass.

17. Milwaukee Bucks

Sam Dekker | SF | 6'9" | 219 lbs. | 6'11.5" wingspan

Just like the Celtics, the Bucks are in a bit of a weird spot at 17 when you compare their needs to the players projected to go in that area. It's clear the Bucks need shooting and maybe a long-term solution at center. So should they reach a bit on players like Justin Anderson, R.J. Hunter, Robert Upshaw, or Rakeem Christmas? Or are the Bucks maybe a candidate to trade down in this draft?

Instead I have the Bucks drafting Dekker, a versatile forward who has the potential to not only provide shooting but some playmaking as well. Dekker's size and length match the Bucks’ philosophy of position-less basketball and he could probably play either the SF or PF for stretches. A wing rotation of Middleton (assuming he's re-signed), Giannis, Dekker, and Jabari provides all sorts of versatility on both sides of the ball.

18. Houston Rockets

Tyus Jones | PG | 6'2" | 185 lbs. | 6'5" wingspan

Both Draft Express and Chad Ford have Jones at #18 to Houston, and as much as I want to, I can't disagree with the fit and team need. After a postseason of Jason Terry running point, even James Harden agrees that the Rockets need another ball-handler and playmaker in the halfcourt. Jones is a natural point guard, if not a great athlete, who can play pick and roll and instigate tempo, which are two staples of the Rockets' offense. He's able to play without the ball in his hands after a strong freshman season at Duke, and is the third-most effective player in this draft at pulling up with the jumper. Tyus Jones will have to improve his spot-up shooting and runner-game at the pro level once defenses adjust to his average-first step, and he won't exactly remind Houston fans of Patrick Beverly with his defensive skills. He probably won't make an All-Star team in the Western Conference, but Tyus Jones will be a valuable point guard option for the Houston Rockets years after Omer Asik played his last minute with the team.

19. Washington Wizards

Trey Lyles | PF | 6'10" | 240 lbs. | 7'1.5" wingspan

Trey Lyles is probably the toughest Kentucky Wildcat to translate to the pros because of the way he was forced to play out of position in college. Do we really know how good this guy can be? His lack of athleticism and high hairline make him seem older than the 19-year-old prospect that he is. As Draft Express puts it, "power forwards who aren't great perimeter shooters, athletes or shot-blockers are not the most en vogue players in today's NBA." Lyles doesn't project to be great at any one skill, but we're talking about the 19th pick here.

I could see Lyles as a bit of a Nene-lite. He'll rebound the ball, may space the floor better than people are expecting (not to the 3-point line yet though), and can likely be effective scoring in the post or on face ups. Lyles could stand to improve his jumper and play with a bit more strength defensively, but backing up Nene in Washington for a year might be a pretty nice spot for him to develop those skills.

20. Toronto Raptors

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson | SF | 6'7" | 211 lbs. | 7'2" wingspan

The Raptors could always use help in the frontcourt and might be the ceiling for Robert Upshaw at #20 (Montrezl Harris might be too similar to Tyler Hansbrough), but wing depth makes more sense, given the board, and would allow them to finally move Terrence Ross this summer. The debate came down to Hollis-Jefferson or R.J. Hunter to me, and while Hunter's range and passing skills intrigue me on this team, Hollis-Jefferson is a crazy athlete who can help the team much more on the defensive end. His jumper will be a work in progress but he'll be able to play right away as an energy guy and defender, and will score through transition and dump offs alone. Point guard is another option, though the Raptors aren't exempt from taking best player available who can contribute right away to the rotation, after taking a long-term project last draft. - PM

21. Dallas Mavericks

Jerian Grant PG | 6'5" | 198 lbs. | 6'7.5" wingspan

I hadn't actually considered this fit until this very moment, but I am in love with it. With Rondo and Ellis both likely gone, the Mavericks will be in desperate need of a scoring punch in the backcourt. They've gotten by using 'undervalued veterans' for too long. Grant would be a capable Ellis replacement in to run the pick and pop with Dirk. Grant would bring a scoring and playmaking ability that they probably hoped Chandler Parsons would have provided.

They'll have cap space and may be active in free agency, but since Grant could theoretically play either guard position, his selection would rule out almost nobody in free agency. Grant is actually probably better suited to play minutes at the SG than Ellis, at 6'5" and with a decent wingspan. I love Jerian Grant to Dallas. - CS

Justin Anderson (Jeremy Brevard/USA Today)

22. Chicago Bulls

Justin Anderson | SF | 6'6" | 231 lbs. | 6'11.75" wingspan

The Bulls are guaranteed to get a rotation wing at this pick, with both Justin Anderson and R.J. Hunter still on the board. Hunter could give their offense a (slight) ball-handling option with a deadly three-point stroke who could play off of Derrick Rose and (possibly a re-signed) Jimmy Butler. His average athleticism and polished offensive game prevents him from being an impact player on the defensive end, while Justin Anderson's development has taken the opposite path, as an established wing defender with an improving jump shot.

With the Bulls transitioning from Tom Thibodeau as head coach to the Fred Hoiberg era, the defensive readiness of Anderson could win out as a potential replacement for Mike Dunleavy Jr. at the small forward spot. If his 45% shooting from deep as a Junior while at the University of Virginia is sustainable at the NBA level then Justin Anderson could be a scary good pick for a team that, as recently as last season, considered themselves a title contender.

23. Portland Trail Blazers

Montrezl Harrell | PF | 6'8" | 253 lbs. | 7'4" wingspan

I am still hashing through my own thoughts about who I'd like to see the Blazers take at 23. I am working on a Justin Anderson profile now for Hoops Habit and I'm unsure how I feel about that, but in this scenario he's gone anyway.

I like Harrell for Portland in the scenario that they bring the core back. I could see him contributing by running the floor, rebounding, and playing with energy for them right away.

I do have a little concern that Thomas Robinson couldn't fill that role, but I expect Harrell to be more similar to Kenneth Faried than T-Rob.

24. Cleveland Cavaliers

R.J. Hunter | SG | 6'6" | 185 lbs | 6'10.5" wingspan

Much like with the Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers can count on adding a solid piece to their rotation towards the back end of the draft. R.J. Hunter already has experience playing both guard positions and making huge shots on the national stage for Georgia State University, and could find himself in a similar situation next season with the Cavaliers, only without the responsibility. His offensive skill set should translate well to the next level - probably as a bench guard and "irrational confidence" guy - but he'll struggle to adapt to the man-to-man defensive concepts, despite good steal and block numbers and a 6'10"+ wingspan. Hunter also isn't a great ball handler yet, and will find early success as an off-the-ball threat, particularly on a team with LeBron James. There are other, probably higher-upside players available here (Christian Wood, Rashad Vaughn, Chris McCullough), but R.J. Hunter could provide some Matthew Dellavedova insurance this summer and again find himself in a position to make big shots next postseason.

25. Memphis Grizzlies

Aleksandar Vezenkov | SF/PF | 6'9" | 225 lbs.

The Grizzlies have a lot of options here at 25 surprisingly. They could double down on their defensive identity with Rondae-Hollis Jefferson, swing for the fences for an eventual Zach Randolph replacement with Christian Wood, or bring in a backcourt scoring punch with Rashad Vaughn.

I like all of those options for the Grizzlies at 25, but at this point in the draft, there's always a question mark. Vezenkov is a question mark as well but at 19 he may be one of the best scoring prospects to come out of Europe in a couple years. He can score from the perimeter, the post, and around the basket, although the latter two skills may not translate fully in the NBA unless he's able to add some strength to his frame. But at 19, he's a worthy gamble as a Jeff Green replacement who may actually knock down outside shots.

(NOTE: Aleksandar Vezenkov has withdrawn from the draft. Instead, I'll have the Grizzlies take a shot with Christian Wood.

Christian Wood | PF | 6’10.5” | 216 lbs. | 7’3.25” wingspan

Wood is a longshot, but he has tons of potential to develop into a replacement for Zach Randolph, although it would be a divergence from their ‘Grit and Grind’ culture. Wood could have the potential to be an athletic, fluid big man who could even space the floor a bit and handle the ball. In an ideal world, he could develop into a poor man's Chris Bosh with a bit less skill but maybe a bit more athleticism.

This would not be the type of pick that could be expected to help the Grizzlies 'get over the hump' but they have two young players from last year’s draft that could get folded into the rotation next season, so they have a track record of patience even as they fight to get their title shot before the window closes on this core. They won't know what happens with Marc Gasol at the time of the draft and with Koufos likely leaving in free agency, they may take a shot with Robert Upshaw, but I like Wood's potential for them.)

George de Paula showing off his ridiculous 9.5 inch hands pic.twitter.com/Q9E7Izmet2
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) May 14, 2015

26. San Antonio Spurs

George de Paula (Alves de Paula) | PG | 6'6" | 194 lbs. | 7'0.25" wingspan

Selecting the San Antonio Spurs' first round pick is always an impossible task. The combination of their annual bottom-five draft slot and R.C. Buford and Gregg Popovich's affinity for international talent creates unlimited range as to their pool of candidates, and there's almost something comforting about knowing that no matter how logically I attempt to mock their pick, I'm almost guaranteed to be wrong. There are still some interesting domestic players available at #26 with varying degrees of polish and potential, plus plenty of international upside picks.

Rashad Vaughn could help to fill in for a possible Danny Green departure in free agency, though his questionable shot selection might not endear him to the Spurs' system, and there are plenty of interesting big man prospects remaining on the board who could help the team next season (Christian Wood, Jarell Martin, Chris McCullough, Robert Upshaw). The most intriguing option, and possibly the most Popovich-ian, would be Brazilian point guard George "Lucas" de Paula.

De Paula is a raw, 18-year old point guard who excels at pushing the pace and moving the basketball, and his combination of projectable frame and gigantic hands could make him a dominant defensive player in time. A teammate of Bruno Caboclo's last season with the Brazilian U18 national team, de Paula is still developing his jump shot and feel for the game, particularly when to attack in the half court, and can fall victim to playing out of control on occasion. He's effective at attacking the basket off-the-dribble and should eventually use his size to post up smaller points, as his game rounds out (hopefully under Gregg Popovich). I'm another week away from talking myself into de Paula as my favorite prospect in the 2015 Draft, not only due to his skill set and size profile, but also due to his nickname of “Georginho”.

27. Los Angeles Lakers

Rashad Vaughn | SG | 6'5" | 195 lbs. | 6'7" wingspan

Although Delon Wright should be tempting for the Lakers, even though their fans swear by Jordan Clarkson, in our scenario Rashad Vaughn slips a bit and would be the perfect way for the Lakers to replace Nick Young's scoring off the bench.

The UNLV Freshman is one of the youngest players in the draft but with his proven scoring and shot-making ability at a thin position in the draft and in the league, this could be a steal for the Lakers. A young core is all of a sudden developing for Kobe to 'mentor'.

28. Boston Celtics

Robert Upshaw | C | 6'10.75" | 258 lbs. | 7'5.5" wingspan

YUP! How did I get the Celtics twice? What did I pick last time? Bobby Portis? Shit, there goes taking another power forward here (sorry, Jarell Martin or Chris McCullough). Poor Delon Wright is itching to get out of our hypothetical green room and would be a devastating defensive option next to Marcus Smart in the C's backcourt, but his advanced age and lack of a jump shot might keep him off of Danny Ainge's radar. Terry Rozier of Louisville is a slightly different point guard who affects the game through his speed and energy, and could also be in play here. As a Celtics fan, though, I want to see them take a chance on the controversial and super talented Robert Upshaw with the third-to-last pick in the draft (thanks, Clips!).

Upshaw is a physical specimen at the center spot who can impact the game primarily on the defensive end with his 9'5" standing reach. He's less polished as a post defender but is effective at protecting the rim in one-on-one or help situations, and can even finish around the basket on the other side of the court. Robert Upshaw is still a pretty raw prospect, even after three years in the college basketball system, who still struggles in space (both on offense and defense), shooting the basketball (43% free throw accuracy last year at the University of Washington), and in creating his own shot outside a right-handed jump hook. His personality issues at U-Dub and Fresno State resulted in him being kicked off of two separate collegiate programs in three years, and Huskies head coach Lorenzo Romar gladly sacrificed his best defensive player at the mid-point of the season over keeping him around the team. The question for Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and President Danny Ainge is the same that Romar faced last season: Is Robert Upshaw worth the headache?

For an organization that might not otherwise have the opportunity to add a player of Upshaw's talent and potential (at least with future-POTUS Brad Stevens still employed and the Eastern Conference diluting the Nets' incompetence), pulling the trigger on him at #28 is a no-brainer. The risk-reward benefits will be discussed endlessly in Waltham, but Robert Upshaw is worth the risk to a team desperately searching for impact-level talent. In Brad we trust.

Delon Wright, mid-dunk (credit: Associated Press)

29. Brooklyn Nets

Delon Wright | PG | 6'6" | 181 lbs. | 6'7.25" wingspan

The Brooklyn Nets actually have a few options picking at 29 in our scenario. Of course, they would have been much happier choosing at 15 where we have the Hawks choosing Kevin Looney with their pick.

The fact that so many teams have point guards and the fact that Wright doesn't have an outside shot to date make him available this late, but his size, length, defensive ability, and passing skills make him a viable prospect.

With Deron aging and inconsistent, Delon could be the point guard of the future for a team that doesn't have many young pieces to build around. Delon may not make the Nets an exciting offensive team, but he could be a nice young piece for them at 29. - CS

30. Golden State Warriors

Jarell Martin | SF/PF | 6'9.25" | 239 lbs. | 6'9.75" wingspan

First of all, St. Jean, I don't think Billy King would appreciate the shade, although he would love Delon Wright's passing and defensive skills from the point guard position (skills seriously lacking from the current Nets roster). That's a good pick, and this is a pretty deep draft. I'd suggest going another round, if not for all of the extenuating circumstances surrounding second-round picks. Plus, haven't we failed enough already?

With the last pick of our (first?) 2015 Mock Draft, I have the (world champion?) Golden State Warriors supplementing their wing depth with LSU's Jarell Martin. Listed at just over 6'9" with a short wingspan, Martin has some combo forward tendencies to his game, as a strong athlete who is still fleshing out his perimeter and post-up skills. He can score from almost any spot on the floor while not really excelling in any particular area, and is effective at getting out in transition and also in going to the basket. I would think his jump shot and general basketball IQ improve if with the Golden State organization and under head coach Steve Kerr (and assistant Ron Adams), not to mention in practicing with the Splash Brothers.

Down the line he could, conceivably, serve as Draymond Green insurance, although his game reminds me more of Harrison Barnes's at similar ages. Martin must gain consistency with his long-range stroke and defensive effort, and should be a great fit under Kerr's "space-and-screen" system (though not so much under previous coach Mark Jackson's post-based approach). The Warriors are guaranteed a talented player at #30, whether with Jarell Martin or a bigger "big" like Christian Wood or Guillermo Hernangomez. - PM

Game of Thrones - Season 5, Episode 9 - "The Dance of Dragons"

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 12:00:00 -0400

HBO's Game of Thrones - Season 5, Episode 9 - "The Dance of Dragons"

Paul: As a fan of HBO's Game of Thrones and George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, I'm by now almost used to the unexpected, and to the moral compromise that's inherent with the nihilistic tone of the universe. I've excused or looked past the violent rapes and head-popping executions and baby murders of previous seasons, with the trust that the writing could either overcompensate, put it into context, or use the macabre to transform its characters or stories into a more complex and developed place. After Episode 9, "The Dance of Dragons", I no longer have that confidence in the direction of the narrative.

"The Dance of Dragons" could be the worst hour of television I've ever seen (and I've watched every episode of Lost and multiple seasons of Dexter). Every single storyline fell completely flat to me, before even getting to the disgust and dread I felt throughout the entire Stannis/Davos/Shireen subplot. The unease, anxiety, and nausea I experienced halfway through the episode has since turned into anger and disappointment, and easily transcends the guilt and self-loathing I usually feel after watching an NFL game.

I'll watch next week's season finale if only to see the audience reaction to the potential death of an important character, but I'm not sure as to my future with this series. The political and power struggles previously ranked among my favorite aspects of the plot but have been rendered pointless after last week's White Walkers encounter. There's even a possibility that the Night's King could be our most likable, competent, and child-friendly contender to the Iron Throne in all of the realms.

Without talking to you beforehand, I have no doubt that you enjoyed this week's episode more than I did. What worked, to you? How off-base am I in my ranking this as the worst hour in the show's history? Am I too emotional, based off of Princess Shireen's fate, or were the extended Arya scenes and the ending with Daenerys (and Drogon) also really, really lame? Is this the same show I enjoyed as recently as last week?

Chris: As a longstanding defender of Lost, even after an ending that left things to be desired, I have to disagree as you thought I might have, Mitchell. But first, I'll agree.

I agree, and had similar feelings of guilt/disappointment/anger during the Shireen scene even as I realized the inevitability of that scene in retrospect. As the showrunners put in their "Inside the Episode" short, Melisandre, Stannis, and this entire group of characters were introduced in a scene that saw them burning human sacrifices, and every other line in their dialogue talked about the importance of king's blood. This was an inevitability; in our subconscious we knew it was going to happen all along, and our anger and guilt probably stems from the fact that we chose to ignore it or have hope that it wouldn't happen in a world that has no place for hope.

It was a gruesome scene, and I'm curious how the impact will be displayed in the next episode. That could be another reason for the anger and frustration. We're shown the sacrifice that Stannis makes, but are robbed of the payoff for this week. We have no evidence that it had any impact at all. That's not to say that the ends could ever justify the means in this case, but it may have taken the sting off.

As for the the Daenerys/Drogon/Fighting Pits climax of this episode, it did work for me. There is a similar scene in the books, but the stakes seem higher in this version because it becomes very clear Daenerys has officially worn out her welcome in the city of Meereen. It's expedited by the proximity of the threat of the Sons of the Harpy to Daenerys, the fact that Tyrion is with the Queen to witness it all, and the return of Jorah Mormont, who, oh by the way, is about to infect everyone with Stone Man Disease. Aside from a couple short and cheesy-as-hell close-up shots of Daenerys, which I can forgive considering how much they've blown out the scale for a television show (as you said earlier this season, remember when they were yada yadaing the battle scenes in season 1?), I thought the Drogon fight scene was intriguing and well done.

I especially enjoyed Tyrion's amazement of that scene that was unfolding around him. He was fully realizing the power/potential (both in a good way and a bad way) that Daenerys and her dragons can have on the world and there's likely no other character on the show who is intelligent enough to realize all the ramifications of what could unfold (during next season).

While I understand your frustration with the scene in question, I was impressed that the show was able to maintain momentum after such an amazing 20 minutes last week.

At the Wall

Paul: In my attempts to devour as many recaps, reviews, and takes as I could on "The Dance of Dragons", in an effort to better understand my disconnect with the content, I figured the "Inside the Episode" feature would be important. I understand that our interpretation of Stannis over the past season may not have been what the writers intended, but why waste precious screen time humanizing Stannis and his daughter, if BURNING HIS ONLY CHILD ALIVE AT THE STAKE was always a part of the plan? I'm supposed to believe that Stannis Baratheon can survive months trapped on Storm's End by boiling leather and roasting rats, but a couple of weeks in the snow forces him to BURN HIS ONLY CHILD ALIVE AT THE STAKE? It's not as if Melissandre's prophecies have exactly been accurate before, and does nobody care that Balon Greyjoy is apparently alive and well, and immune to king's blood magic? And I'm sure his remaining Baratheon and Florent forces, combined with the mercenaries purchased with the Iron Bank's coin, are completely cool with following a wannabe king who BURNS HIS ONLY CHILD ALIVE AT THE STAKE. Not to mention Ramsay Bolton and his 20 compatriots' incredible success in midnight guerrilla warfare. Oh and the fact that one of my favorite characters in the show, Ser Davos Seaworth, completely condoned the effigizing of Shireen (Motherfucking) Baratheon. But at least he carved her a toy and talked about his son before he let the "just" King Stannis murder his only daughter and heir!

Again, after excusing all of the awfulness that we've witnessed over the past five seasons, there's a chance that I could rationalize another low point to this series, just like I have in the past ("Now play with her ass", anyone?), given some competent storytelling and build up. Instead, Shireen's execution was flanked by more awkward scenes with Arya/Lana, the world's worst spy, and the chaos and cheesy CGI of Dany's "Never Ending Story"-ride. The Fighting Pits were grander and more epic than in weeks past, but the combat was still clunky and scattered. The only positive vibe to the episode may have been Jorah Mormont reuniting with Dany and again rejoining her side as a protector, which was then dashed when the Khaleesi stranded all of her loved ones in the Pits with the remaining, non-singed Sons of the Harpy. The death of Hizdahr zo Loraq is a departure from the books and indicates that maybe he wasn't involved with the conspiracy in Meereen after all, but Barristan Selmy's absence is felt (as is Strong Belwas's and the honeyed locusts). Dany's apparent telepathic link with her dragons was unexpected and should alleviate Bran or Tyrion's involvement with her eventual takeover of Westeros.

I still have to watch this episode again, to hopefully better understand the writers' intentions and at least to grab screen caps for this post, but I really don't want to. I can't remember feeling this upset and disgusted before upon watching an episode of (what is supposed to be) entertainment, and just the day before I finally saw "Fruitvale Station". This wasn't quite the same feelings of sadness and despair, but the nihilistic themes are quite similar, and I have to finally wonder why I subject myself to the negativity without the payoff of even a positive or human moment. Maybe it's my fault for seeking interesting and evolving characters in my Game of Thrones experience, when I should probably just appreciate the spectacle of dragons and zombies and brutality. I can't wait to see Arya, the undercover teenage prostitute-assassin, next week! I guess I'm with Stannis at this point; just let it all burn.

Stannis's camp, just north of Winterfell

Chris: A big part of the problem has been the inconsistencies with who the characters are in the books and the television show. Minor changes in the characterization can make certain plot points work poorly. The tender scene between Stannis and Shireen earlier in the season was not in the books, and probably would never happen with book Stannis. In the "Inside the Episode", Benioff and Weiss mention that George R.R. Martin told them about this scene involving the brutal sacrifice of a young girl.

In the books, with the prevalence of prophecy overshadowing this entire storyline, you are led to believe that the terrible things that Stannis may do are necessary because, in the end, he is going to be instrumental in, even essential to, defeating the White Walkers. Of course there is still a question about whether what Melisandre says is true or not, but in the books she displays even more power and knowledge than in the show.

It's Utilitarianism at it's apex. If the sacrifice of a little girl is necessary to save millions of other lives, it must be done under the utilitarianism way. Of course, it remains to be seen if this sacrifice in particular is necessary to save any lives at all. And then there's the greater question that maybe there are very few lives in the world of Game of Thrones that would be worth saving and Shireen being one of them makes this seem extra cruel.

In the end, I can't get upset now when the hook of the series was Twincest pushing an eight-year old boy out of a window. Game of Thrones, as realistic as it may seem, is complete fantasy, and I can process the awful and terrible things that these terrible people do and move on when the episode ends. It's obviously not what drew me to this story, and I was absolutely uncomfortable/disgusted/offended/irate watching the scene, but I will continue to suffer through what Benioff and Weiss are serving under the assumption that there is some greater good at the end of the tunnel.

I'm probably a sucker for that.

Braavos

Paul: As am I ("a sucker"), but in a different sense. In the few days since our last correspondence my curiosity in not "getting" the episode has turned to resignation, in that maybe I'm wrong in how I viewed this show and in my expectations from it. Perhaps Game of Thrones has always been more Breaking Bad than The Wire, and the mistake is on my part for assuming the story had a direction or consistent characters. I've apparently spent too much time invested in this world and the various power brokers, when I should instead appreciate the overabundance of nudity and nihilism, apparently.

Benioff and Weiss have made their intentions clear in the last two episodes, in that military strategy and politics aren't as integral to their story as spectacle, and my ongoing conflict this season has been deciding whether or not the showrunners are decent writers. Even last week's "Hardhome" was amazing, but it was more a product of Wun Wun and the Night's King than their characterization of Karsi and her maternal limitations. It was also nice of Weiss and Benioff to spoil us book readers as to George R.R. Martin's intentions, as a way of passing the blame for their poor efforts when it comes to Princess Shireen's fate. I don't doubt that Martin originally intended to kill off Shireen as well, but I would expect his execution of her execution to make a lot more sense to the plot and to the character of Stannis Baratheon, along with treating the event with much more compassion and less brutality.

As Jason Concepcion wrote this week on Grantland, the decision by Stannis was completely against the character that has thus far been portrayed on HBO by Stephen Dillane. He's burned Florents before and even already committed the grievous sin of kinslaying with his brother Renly, but all for a reason: to quell opposition to his claim to the Iron Throne. His decision to murder his only heir reminds me of Petyr Baelish revealing his Sansa secret to Roose Bolton (that's it?). If these two women are the keys to getting their guardians into actual positions of power, aren't they wasted on Winterfell? I'm not sure how the risk could be worth the reward to either Littlefinger or Stannis, and talk about low expectations. Shireen's king's blood had better be powerful, because keeping her alive and marrying her off to another powerful family (Willas Tyrell? An Umber/Manderly?) might have proven a better use of resources. But that wouldn't have been nearly as offensive and shocking, and this is Benioff and Weiss's Game of Thrones that we're talking about. Shout out to Kerry Ingram for some incredible acting and even better voice work, and I guess to director David Nutter for getting it out of her.

What are you looking forward to in the Season 5 finale? Does seeing the "Written by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss" graphic before the episode starts usually fill you with confidence or dread? What will we be discussing on Monday morning, and will the audience be generally content or upset afterwards?

Chris: That is totally fair. As we get deeper and deeper into the series it's become more and more obvious how different the story is in each medium.

Martin often gets the criticism that the story is moving along too slowly in Books 4 and 5, but the positive side of that is the depth of story, of setting of character that he spends the time creating. The story spreads out more than it travels in a linear fashion.

That's something the television show could never have hopes to accomplish and even less so as the audience grew. It's an inevitability. There's just more terrain to traverse in literary form. The limitation is more pronounced now as opposed to season 1.

As for the season finale, I'm not 100% sure what to expect. There seems like a lot of plot to be covered to bring some closure to all the different storylines. I'm very curious to see how Winterfell ends up and to see if there's any attempt to justify that awful scene. And Andy Greenwald has been calling the Omar/Jon Snow similarities. I don't expect happy endings, that's for sure, but I assume people will keep watching.

Episode 063 - NBA Finals Preview

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 4 Jun 2015 12:25:00 -0400

Chris and Paul preview the 2015 NBA Finals and the hype and various narratives leading up to it, transition to some recent coaching hires, and then wrap up on the second episode of Netflix’s “Daredevil” and the series finale of “Mad Men”.

Worth a click:

Allen Iverson Has Destroyed the Legacy of Allen Iverson (Drew Magary, Deadspin)

Seven Questions That Will Shape the NBA Finals (Zach Lowe, Grantland)

LeBron James has already saved Cleveland (Tom Ziller, SBNation)

Portland Trail Blazers and The Conundrum of the Franchise Player (Chris St. Jean, HoopsHabit)

2014-15 Season in Review: Thaddeus Young (Paul Mitchell, Brooklyn’s Finest)

Game of Thrones - Season 5, Episode 8 - "Hardhome"

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 2 Jun 2015 13:19:00 -0400

HBO's "Hardhome"

Paul: Wow. I can't think of another episode of Game of Thrones that so perfectly gave the fans what they wanted, so to speak, and I think I'd be hard-pressed to find a certain "type" of GoT viewer who wasn't satisfied with "Hardhome". The fans of the show's interpersonal politics were treated to extended sequences between Daenerys Stormborn and Tyrion Lannister as she interviewed and then hired him as campaign manager (before the 2016 season heats up). Acting snobs saw more proof as to why Lena Headey deserves a Best Supporting Actress Emmy (at the least). Even fans of the Starks or character development had Sansa finally step up and extract some humanity and answers out of Theon Turnclock. And then everyone else witnessed the Battle of Hardhome.

Perhaps even more impressive were the character moments and touches of humanity within the pure chaos north of the Wall. Wun Wun the Giant and Dolorous Edd getting acquainted. The Thenn's newest Magnar condemning the Crows and then fighting alongside them. Tormund's reluctance to leave the battlefield. And the death of Karsi, a character given the kiss of death of characterization just minutes earlier, by the group of child zombies was legitimately sad and amazing and awful all at the same time. I have no question for you; that was amazing.

Chris: I couldn't agree more, Mitchell; when Jon Snow was George Washington-ing it up at the front of a row boat with so much time left in the hour, I got the same feeling as way back in season 2 in "Blackwater". Game of Thrones rarely has the time to dwell in any particular location or with particular characters for as long as when something truly world-shattering is going to happen, and the massacre at Hardhome was truly world-shattering.

It was amazingly shot and the location offered the perfect combination of the openness to convey being on the other side of the wall and the claustrophobic feeling once the army of undead was sweeping down the mountainside. I'm also a sucker for Wun Wun and actually thought they had just cut that character out. I can't wait to see him walking around Castle Black.

And as amazing as the action-packed last half of the episode was, the first half was just as gratifying (probably aided not only by Tyrion and Daenerys's interactions but also the focus being on the most compelling story lines). After some sleep, how has your perception of the episode changed (if at all)?

Sansa and Theon

Paul: I need to watch it again, first of all, but secondly, I'm almost fascinated by the overwhelmingly positive response to episode 8. I did just say that "Hardhome" had something for everybody, but this is the Internet we're talking about. The most negative response I've seen thus far was basically a "the end was meh but Dany and Tyrion was awesome." Alan Sepinwall's initial reaction was spot on, as I also initially sat in front of my computer screen for a solid 10 minutes before I could even muster a "Wow" to launch this exercise. It's still tough to remember what happened before we headed north.

Oh, yeah! Lana of the Canals! (Not as alliterative...) Are you optimistic that the goings-on at the House of Black and White could improve in entertainment quality with the introduction of some color, particularly the vibrant environment of Braavos? I'm too bored by her lying-ninja training (and her non-Jaqen new BFF) to look for nuance or metaphor in that part of the story (what was her smirk for when Jaqen flashed the poison?). Also, Tears of Lys or the Strangler?

Cersei's comeuppance achieved the desired result in the room of friends I was watching with - a lot of "Good!"s and "I hate her"s - while I enjoyed picking up the minor details that Maester Qyburn kept dropping. The return of Uncle Kevan should help to stabilize the realm and appease the Tyrells momentarily, and keep us on track for our epilogue scene from "A Dance with Dragons". I kept waiting for Qyburn to offer a trial by combat as another way out of the dungeons, but he teased it well enough before he left.

I'll say this by the end of this season (and with the events at Castle Black and further north): I'm going to be so upset.

Chris: I agree, that was a quick turnaround. It's inevitable when breaking down a series week by week without seeing the whole, but I'm glad it came around.

I was wondering how long we would go before mentioning Arya's new alter-ego. I agree that the "lying-ninja training" has been a bit repetitive, but getting Arya outside and interacting with the people of Braavos did it for me. I could watch another season of Arya applying her new con-man skills across the bustling port city. One thing I was a bit miffed at as a book reader that I can totally get over is that in the books, Faceless Men are pretty much the most expensive wedding gift on the registry. They don't just go around killing for free. I'm totally in on this thread as long as Arya is getting some sunlight.

As for seeing Queen Cersei, like Mr. Sepinwall, I didn't take as much pleasure in her suffering as I was expecting to. Similarly to you, I was grasping at the details about Kevan Lannister's return and Qyburn's progression and was also waiting for the trial by combat, but it made me think: This is probably the first time in the series that we didn't have any direct perspective of the rule of King's Landing, only the rumor and hearsay that helps make the books so deep.

With only two episodes left of the season, I look forward to seeing Kevan at the helm as he navigates the rough waters ahead and hopefully keep the religious fanaticals in check. Also, I noticed in the teaser that we'll be getting the Fighting Pits that we were hoping for, and of course Stannis and his march on Winterfell.

That makes me wonder though. Are audiences going to stay engaged in the Stannis-Bolton war after seeing how imminent and deadly the threat of the White Walkers are? In the books, the weather becomes as much of a villain as either side of the war. I hope the TV show is able to convey that as well.

Paul: Great point to close (and in other spots, obviously). Do we even get a battle between the Boltons and Baratheons? Like you mentioned, in the books our tensions are more contained and psychological than all-out warfare, and let's not forget that through five seasons the Battles of Blackwater, the Wall, and Hardhome are the only such instances we've witnessed. Back when the Starks were still militarily relevant, our frustrations laid with the writers' whole "yadda, yadda" approach to war. I am intrigued by what Ramsay Bolton could do with a unit of 20 men, though, given our winter-y conditions.

Oh yes, the lame Fighting Pits from last week... I am glad that my trepidation last week is of the momentary-variety, and Jorah's suicidal mission will give us a glimpse into Meereen's cultural history. There were a couple of book scenes that I could see Jorah involved with, in place of other deceased or un-cast characters, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to see his end game be that of a walking smallpox blanket (but with Greyscale).

There are two episodes left to the season, but was episode 8 what we would normally expect out of a penultimate hour? What are you hoping to see next week and as we wind down to the GoT offseason, and which stories do you feel have been particularly well-told throughout our fifth season?

Someone's smitten...

Chris: I wondered the same thing about the penultimate hour. Can the show-runners ride this high of momentum through two more hours to close the season? It would be particularly impressive if they could. The scenes we are approaching in the North are some of the most enduring images I have from the entirety of Book 5. I'm very excited to see how that's handled on screen while containing the dose of realism that it likely can't live up to my imagination.

As for the stories that I think have been told well, I feel that goes to both Tyrion's and Dany's. Both storylines were streamlined compared to the books and I think it served the story well. Even though Dany didn't go anywhere and even TV viewers felt the frustration that book readers have had for years about Dany ruling in Meereen, when I look back at the season, some of the best moments were in Meereen.

And Tyrion's journey from King's Landing to Dany's side actually left us wanting more (Tyrion and Varys in particular) and gave us a glimpse of Valyria. I've been surprised at how effective both stories have been as lean as they are compared to the books.

How about you? What are you excited about as the season comes to a close?

Paul: Fuck it, let's go another round. It was that good of an episode and I haven't even gotten to Hardhome yet on my rewatch.

I was wondering if any of our other storylines were as direct and sequential as Jon Snow's, if only because he embarked on an actual mission. Now that we've seen perhaps the biggest (or at least the most important) event at the end of episode 8, how do we close the season? Can anything compare, and do the writers even try, or are we left with more intimate and character-oriented options to wind down the last two hours? Ser Jorah should have his last moment of glory in the big arena and should again give us a sense of spectacle, plus whatever Stannis has planned for a siege on Winterfell (because Roose Bolton obviously doesn't know his Westerosi history if he thinks Stannis Baratheon can be waited-out and starved into submission, even with some snow flakes).

A week ago I pined for the return of the epic scope to our story, with our worlds simultaneously expanding and coming together. "Hardhome" delivered completely, and pushed our boundaries and expectations of action sequences, conflict, and mythology in our universe, with still two episodes left. I would question if we ever see a sequence as massive as this again, but I think a part of "Hardhome" was to subvert our expectations and keep us from waiting on the fireworks in the second-to-last episode.

Which is all to say that I think we finish pretty subdued this season compared to the last half of episode 8. Cersei's trial probably won't be as entertaining as Tyrion's, due to the Charles Dance-to-Jonathan Pryce drop-off in sarcasm and showmanship, but Lena Headey should at least be given a chance to punch it into the endzone for the touchdown, after marching down the field ("it" being her Emmy). Like I said last week, I'm still waiting on a Doran Martell monologue to save this season in Dorne, and we could get it next week if the previews are accurate. Sansa and Brienne have to run into each other again eventually, right? I can finally say that as a book reader, I have no idea what is coming next in some of these arcs, which made the Battle at Hardhome that much more incredible, as I kept waiting for it to end early even though I knew the episode would run long. Does Arya finally stumble upon Ser Meryn Trant and the Lord Oaf of Highgarden on the docks of Braavos (after she's won her poison prize, of course)?

I don't quite share your fond memories of Meereen this season, but how do you think Daenerys's season ends, and do they begin next season still in Meereen? Would you be as content as I would with just Tyrion and Dany sipping wine on the pyramid terrace and discussing political strategy for the last two hours? And, probably because of their partnership, has this been the most quotable episode of the show in recent memory?

Chris: Without getting into spoiler territory, I wonder how they end Dany's season as well. There's a very familiar scene to close Book 5 for her that doesn't seem to involve Tyrion; I wonder if some variation of that is used to close out the season and I wonder where Tyrion goes from here. I worry that he's becoming too much of the fan favorite (isn't he supposed to be in despair after just killing his own father and lover)? There's got to be a dark/bad side to this. There has to be some conflict. As much as I share your fascination with "Tyrion and Dany sipping wine on the pyramid terrace" there's got to be some higher stakes at play eventually, as quotable as that may be.

I like your theory about Arya (or Lana) stumbling upon Ser Meryn Trant. That'd be a tidy way of bringing Arya back into the world we know a bit. I'm excited to see where that storyline goes as, like you said, there's not much source material left to cover, and like you, I'll be waiting on that Doran Martell plea for relevance.

But to me the momentum of the end of the season rests on two key places, King's Landing and Castle Black. In King's Landing, how Cersei and Margery are handled by the High Sparrow, the potential trials, and the revelation of Qyburn's science project should be plenty do dive into in two episodes. In Castle Black, I'm concerned I know where this story is going and Jon Snow's return with the Wildlings (and after that mess that was Hardhome) will be the most interesting storyline to close the season. That's what I'm excited about.

Game of Thrones - Season 5, Episode 7 - "The Gift"

PaulMitchellPod@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 28 May 2015 13:14:00 -0400

HBO, Episode 7, "The Gift"

Paul: Now that's how you end an episode. While not exactly a great hour of television, "The Gift" continued to advance the plot as the fifth season comes to a close, by pairing up the characters in a given location and slowing down the pace a bit to let them breathe and interact with one another. The various combinations in King's Landing supplied the politics and exposition, as the High Sparrow added another Queen to his collection, while the dungeons of Dorne seemed much more hospitable (and with better acoustics) than its counterparts at the Capitol. Samwell Tarly and Gilly again found themselves in a volatile situation that was meant to show how isolated our heroes at Castle Black are without Lord Commander Snow, but instead ended with Sam "the Slayer" forsaking his vows with Gilly, finally. If only Stannis Baratheon had similar success with Melissandre.

So which was your favorite character pairing in this episode, Chris? Also, with the (kind of random) passing of Maester Aemon Targaryen, which minor character's death has affected you the most, in the five seasons?

Chris: Great questions. First, my favorite character pairing, or at least moment, was probably the High Sparrow sparring with the Queen of Thorns, although I found it a bit uncomfortable to see Lady Olenna without a card to pull. I know there's nothing really that she can do, but I still felt it difficult to watch. Almost as difficult as seeing Natalie Dormer in that cell.

As for the Maester Aemon, this was one of the deviations that I struggled with compared to the books. I thought the Maester's death was underserved as far as its importance to the plot. It seemed to be used as a way to show that Samwell is very alone at the current moment at Castle Black. I always attributed much more importance to Maester Aemon's death in the books. I'm not sure where Sam goes from here either. Things are looking bleak with he and Gilly at Castle Black, but I'm not sure how he goes anywhere else without the shame and dishonor as befits a deserter, yet another character losing any assemblage of hope.

Paul: The High Sparrow and Queen of Thorns encounter is the correct answer. There are too many interesting combinations at the Capitol that I almost don't blame the episode's writers (show-runners Benioff and Weiss) for trying to burn through them all this week. I could, however, have used more time to set up the separate queen traps, as I didn't exactly buy the sudden heel turn from Jonathan Pryce. I half-expected Lady Olenna to offer Cersei to the High Sparrow as a turn of politics because, as you said perfectly, watching a prick-less Queen of Thorns was an unnerving development, to say the least.

As far as minor characters that have left us, I'm still pining for the various fan theories that reveal Syrio Forel (Arya's water dancer from season 1) as alive and well, and chilling in Braavos. His was my first experience with the concept of death in the Game of Thrones universe before reading the books, and the first time I said, "he can't really be dead, right?" (Cut to Old Nan admonishing me with a "oh, my sweet summer child...") I'll be vague but... there's a chance we see the death of a major character to close this season that could shake everything up (and piss a lot of people off), and make the death of Maester Aemon an afterthought.

We've always complained about the limited time the show-runners have in which to tell their stories every season and the almost archaic decision to cap the seasons at ten episodes per. Am I wrong in feeling that the time constraints feel more pronounced and obvious here in the halfway point of the season as the plot and conflicts start to intensify, at least compared to the first few hours? If so, which storylines do you feel have been betrayed by the back-and-forth storytelling and which would you cut to save time to devote to others?

I completely forgot Brienne (and Podrick) were involved, and it kills me to say this but the Sand Snakes have been so poorly written and introduced that I'd almost rather treat the Martells like the Greyjoys this season. If you don't agree with the time issue, then which stories have you felt the writers have excelled in telling through season 5?

Chris: I do agree, and this is hardly an uncommon opinion, but the whole of Dorne has just seemed completely unnecessary.

Doran has been under served and for what? So that Bronn and whichever-Sand-Snake-that was can have phone sex that only costs $4.95 per minute (oh, and quite possibly your life).

The entirety of Dorne has to this point seemed like an excuse to shoot in another location (were the Showrunners sick of going to Iceland?). And on top of that, this seemingly pointless location and story line pulled two of the best characters (maybe most rootable as well?) into its vortex of tangents.

I always understood the need to cut the Iron Islands’ storyline, but seeing that the resources went to Dorne instead, I have to ask, why?

I suppose time will tell, but as you said, they're running out.

Paul: Sadly, I'll reluctantly agree to your overall point as to Dorne's uselessness thus far. Can you blame their wanting to shoot in a more Mediterranean location, especially with winter actually approaching? I remain optimistic that Alexander Siddiq still has a monologue and powerful expository scene left yet as Doran Martell, that will better explain his family's importance to the actual story and their ambitions once they hear about the chaos in King's Landing. I did find the jail scene at least tolerable compared to other Sand Snakes scenes, due mostly to Jerome Flynn's singing and the appearance of another classic Westerosi Top-40 pop hit in "The Dornishman's Wife".

Speaking of the Iron Islands, have you read the most recent casting leaks for season 6? (SLIGHT SPOILERS) Has the awkward debut of the Sand Snakes soured your confidence at all in Benioff and Weiss's potential handling of the Greyjoy clan next season?

Chris: No, it hasn't yet, mostly because I found the Sand Snakes difficult to differentiate in the books as well. There isn't as much depth to those characters as there would be for the segment of the Greyjoy clan that seems most likely according to that report. But enough about the poor parts of the adaptation, Tyrion Lannister, finally, at long last, has arrived in Meereen at the feet of Daenerys Targaryen.

This is a plot advancement that Martin could never pull together in the books (yet). It's a great moment, but I found myself wondering why. The assumption is that Tyrion is so 'good at ruling' (whatever that means), that his mere appearance will help Dany to realize that it's time for her to go conquer the seven kingdoms, but as he showed up, I had to wonder, what does this really mean? Why is Dany going to listen to Tyrion again? Just because he betrayed and murdered his father? Hasn't she dealt with enough betrayal at this point?

I'm curious to see where this goes as we're now officially off the script.