The Lowe Post

Zach and Steve Jones Jr. of The Dunker Spot pick their 5 Biggest Questions for the rest of the NBA season: Bucks, Suns, home-court in the West, Knicks, Sixers, Lakers and Warriors figuring things out, Trae Young's future, much more. Then Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com joins to discuss the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers: Are they contenders? What are the Bucks? (1:29) Who wins the West? (11:10) How good are the Suns? (19:52) Are you starting to believe in the Lakers or Warriors? (25:24) Can the Knicks and Sixers hold on? (41:59) Can Boston avoid getting in its own way? (47:41) What's the plan with Trae Young? (51:01) Who wins coach of the year? (1:04:05) Fedor (1:07:28) How is the reintegration of Garland and Mobley going? (1:12:30) Cavs have the inside track at the #2 seed in the East (1:17:14) Is this team a legitimate championship contender? (1:21:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach breaks down all the deals that happened and didn't happen at the NBA trade deadline with ESPN's Bobby Marks and then ESPN's Kevin Pelton coming out of the bullpen in a mega-episode. The guys hit every move, every big non-move (Lakers, Warriors, Bulls again!, Clippers, more) -- and almost every team.  2:50- The Knicks "Home-run" deadline moves. 15:45- The Detroit Pistons confusing deadline. 25:00 The Lakers quiet trade deadline. 30:00- Atlanta Hawks not moving Dejounte Murray 42:00- What is Chicago's direction? 54:20- Analyzing Dallas' moves at the trade deadline 1:10:00- Kevin Pelton joins the podcast 1:11:00- Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors trade 1:20:00- Warriors standing pat. 1:25:00- The Brooklyn Nets holding onto their assets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss Joel Embiid's upcoming surgery, ramifications for the Sixers going forward, all things trade deadline, All-Star snubs, MVP candidates, and much more.  Embiid to have surgery (1:02) Zach's tweak to the 65 game rule (9:22) How Sixers will approach trade deadline (15:20) Big picture on the trade deadline (21:28) Possible moves for the Mavs (28:59) Rockets, Cavs, and Nets (39:20) Jazz (49:56) Clippers (56:19) MVP candidates (59:25) Nuggets (1:05:34) All-Star injury replacements (1:10:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach talks about Joel Embiid's injury and what comes next with injury expert Jeff Stotts. Then ESPN's Chris Herring joins to discuss the Lakers beating Boston without Anthony Davis and LeBron, LeBron's cryptic tweets, Lakers options at trade deadline, Knicks recent play and Jalen Brunson, Boston's up-and-down last two weeks, and their most interesting trade deadline teams: Chicago, Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Sacramento, Atlanta, the Clippers, more -- plus whether the more asset-poor contenders in Phoenix, Milwaukee, Denver, and Phoenix can pull off any deals. That and much more! Possible explanations for Embiid's meniscus (2:36) Thoughts on 65 games played threshold for MVP and other awards (12:49) Herring (20:12) LeBron's cryptic tweets and Lakers' approach to trade deadline (20:46) What will and should the Bulls do? (38:45) Celtics have been a bit wobbly lately (45:56) Knicks offense with OG Anunoby (50:21) Brunson is a star (54:31) How will Knicks act at deadline? (58:48) Rapid fire on other teams

Zach and ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike discuss the offensive explosion around the league, the Jalen Green situation in Houston, the Lakers-Rockets fracas and the Lakers up and down play, Doc Rivers first game as Bucks coach, Wolves, Thunder, trade talk across the league, and more. Then ESPN's Kendrick Perkins joins to talk about the struggling Heat, pitch a wild trade idea, Zach LaVine, Pistons, much more.  Feels like it's not going to happen for the Lakers (4:42) Defense is not dead (15:15) Are there any rule changes that could slow the scoring? (19:43) Vanderbilt ejection- Brooks push (28:52) Should the Rockets trade Jalen Green?!? (30:45) Defensive 5 seconds (38:15) Wolves-OKC (41:42) Bucks with Doc (51:39) Pelicans (55:10) Perk (58:48) Time to trade Jimmy Butler? (59:29) LaVine to the Pistons?!? (1:09:01) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim Legler discuss the Doc Rivers fit in Milwaukee and how teams are looking after big trades: OG Anunoby in New York, the struggling Heat and Terry Rozier, the Pacers with Pascal Siakam, and more. Plus full All-Star roster picks, whether the Sixers have enough to win it all as is, and more. Then Eric Nehm of The Athletic digs deeper into the Bucks hiring and firing Adrian Griffin, and what comes next for Milwaukee.  Thoughts on Bucks making a coaching change (1:01) On Doc Rivers (3:44) State of the Sixers (8:39) Knicks with Anunoby (14:25) All-Star reserves in the East (21:20) Heat with Rozier (25:21) Pacers with Siakam (39:34) Reaction to huge scoring nights on Monday (46:12) All-Star reserves in the West (55:14) Nehm (1:04:29) Why did the Bucks make this change now? (1:06:15) The players have to own some of this (1:17:20) What Doc Rivers will bring (1:30:21) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Bobby Marks discuss the Heat trading for Terry Rozier and how it impacts the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Then ESPN's Tim Bontemps joins to weigh in on Joel Embiid's historic scoring performance, ways for the Sixers to improve around him, the red hot Cavs, and the Bucks moving on from Adrian Griffin.  Heat trade for Rozier (1:40) What does this mean for Miami's ability to trade future picks? (5:28) Rozier's fit with Miami (10:44) A look at the top 7 in the East (14:50) Charlotte is starting to accumulate assets (17:39) Bontemps (24:08) Embiid scores 70 against the Spurs (25:58) Embiid is Durant plus one hundred pounds (36:50) Embiid has to do it in the playoffs (39:10) How can Philly upgrade roster before trade deadline? (42:49) Rookie of the Year race (51:24) Red hot Cavs (54:34) Bucks fire Adrian Griffin (1:06:06) Would you want a do over for the Dame trade? (1:28:50) All-Star starters (1:34:58) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and The Ringer's Bill Simmons discuss the Pacers trading for Pascal Siakam, the Raptors' return on trading two stars, and then go back and forth naming players and teams under the most pressure to win the championship this season. Siakam traded to the Pacers (1:10) Bruce Brown has value on the trade market (8:48) Did Toronto get enough for Siakam? (14:59) Championship Pressure Index (26:40) Celtics (27:39) Dame and the Bucks (37:45) Clippers (43:50) Durant and the Suns (50:28) Embiid and the Sixers (1:00:16) Bam Adebayo and the Heat (1:09:49) Nuggets (1:16:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss the resurgent Jazz, how Dallas can be dangerous in the West, and possible Pascal Siakam teams. Then The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski on the Timberwolves as title contenders, Rudy Gobert fitting in, and the looming financial hurdles in Minnesota. Plus, ESPN's Andrew Lopez on Victor Wembanyama playing the 5 and the depth of the Pelicans. Moves out there for the Jazz? (9:51) Mavs (19:39) Fits for Siakam (26:49) Krawczynski (36:45) Playing Gobert off the floor in the playoffs is a fallacy (42:46) Gobert is fitting in offensively (47:41) Looming financial questions for Minnesota (51:56) Potential trades for Minnesota (1:08:43) Lopez (1:13:50) Pelicans (1:28:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk discuss Kawhi Leonard's extension, whether the Clippers are contenders, and trade possibilities for LA. Then ESPN's Chris Herring joins Zach to pick tentative All-Stars, talk trades leaguewide, and more. Clippers are real contenders (10:54) No one is talking about Clippers defense (25:24) Ty Lue is one of the best coaches in the league (34:32) Herring (40:55) Eastern All-Star starters (50:50) Eastern reserves (1:07:57) Western All-Star starters (1:25:05) Western reserves (1:30:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach welcomes ESPN's Kendra Andrews to discuss the slumping Warriors, turmoil in Golden State, and the return of Draymond Green. Then ESPN's Dave McMenamin talks Darvin Ham, the Lakers bad offense, and LA's outlook at the deadline. ESPN's Bobby Marks rounds things out with rapid-fire trade thoughts on Sixers, Kings, Raptors, Pascal Siakam, Hornets, Heat, Wizards, Nets, and more.  Is this salvageable for Golden State (15:07) Possible trades for the Warriors (25:27) Draymond Green is a surefire Hall of Famer (31:50) McMenamin (37:40) Is Darvin Ham on the hotseat? (39:41) On why the Lakers' offense stinks (41:45) What moves are out there for the Lakers? (52:25) Marks (1:10:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss the Thunder's chances and possible moves they can make, the Lakers struggling offense, the surging Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant's legacy, and more. Four stages of Thunder thoughts (3:49) Is Lauri Markkanen available? (14:40) Jordan Clarkson going for a triple-double (17:35) The Lakers offense is struggling and defense is slipping (20:05) Re-visiting the Westbrook trade and how well Minnesota did to get Conley (31:36) The surging Suns (37:15) Durant's interesting career and legacy (51:23) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Kevin Pelton breakdown the Toronto Raptors-New York Knicks trade centered on OG Anunoby and Immanuel Quickley, discuss what comes next for both teams, and bounce around the NBA trade landscape.  2:00- Did the Raptors get enough for OG Anunoby? 9:45- The Raptors plan for their rebuild 14:40- What is RJ Barrett? 25:25- Who is the best player in the trade? 31:05- The Knicks side of the trade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim Bontemps weigh in on the strengths and weaknesses of the Celtics, Sixers, and Bucks. Then ESPN's Michael Schwartz stops by for a look at the Suns. Zach laments his bet with Bontemps on the Hawks (1:10) This is the best Celtics team of the Tatum-Brown era (6:52) Sixers offense is humming and Embiid has a great MVP case (35:07) Bucks have been cast aside as the third wheel in the East a bit too aggressively (50:18) Schwartz on the Suns (1:09:19) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike discuss the Warriors first game since Draymond Green's suspension, what comes next as Golden State falls down the standings, the rising Clippers, Chiney's hometown Rockets, and the Mavericks season so far. Plus ESPN's Ramona Shelburne joins to talk about her conversation with Draymond in the aftermath of the Jusuf Nurkic incident, the ongoing impact of the Jordan Poole punch, and where the Warriors and Green go from here.  Warriors without Draymond (1:08) Clippers hot streak (11:10) Ramona Shelburne (22:45) Do Warriors now regret the way they handled Poole incident? (32:50) There is no justification for Draymond's swing at Nurkic (35:44) The Rockets taking off (42:06) Suns debut with KD, Booker, and Beal (49:43) Mavericks (50:43) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach discusses the latest Draymond Green incident, what it means for Draymond's career, and whether the Warriors can salvage this season. Then ESPN's Kevin Pelton joins to talk Draymond/Warriors, the Nuggets bench and Nikola Jokic's ejection on Tuesday, and a special Say Something Nice About Bad Teams draft featuring the Hawks, Raptors, Wizards, Jazz, Pistons, Grizzlies, Spurs, Bulls, Hornets, and Blazers. Pelton (22:54) Warriors hopes at salvaging season (23:09) Jokic ejection (26:34) Bad Teams Draft (31:18) Blazers (32:53) Hawks (35:19) Spurs (38:55) Raptors (42:13) Lakers should hang IST banner (46:03) Grizzlies (48:37) Bulls (52:26) Hornets (57:38) Jazz (1:02:15) Pistons (1:07:29) Wizards (1:13:04) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and the Bleacher Report's Mo Dakhil breakdown the Lakers vs. Pacers matchup for the In-Season Tournament Final and the Clippers improvement this season, then The Athletics' Fred Katz joins to discuss the Knicks and make some early season awards picks. 3:35- Pacers high octane offense 5:40- Lakers vs Pacers matchup 18:20- Is the Lakers offense good enough? 25:00- Pacers offense vs. Lakers defense 36:00- Pacers Transition Offense 41:00- Clippers talk 50:30- Fred Katz joins 50:45- Knicks talk 1:00:30- MVP race 1:19:00- Rookie of the Year 1:21:30- Coach of the Year 1:26:30- Most Improved Player 1:30:30- Defensive Player of the Year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and JJ Redick discuss the first two quarterfinal games of the In-Season Tournament and then explain why they are confused by an assortment of teams in the league. Pacers advance to Vegas (1:44) Haliburton is a star (8:03) Indiana needs to improve defensively (13:04) Celtics takeaways from loss to Indiana (17:54) Are the Pelicans a sleeping giant in the West? (31:31) Kings (40:39) Mavs (53:41) Cavs (1:04:29) How do we feel about point differential as a tiebreaker in the IST? (1:10:17) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and Bobby Marks go around the league and the potential trade landscape as we hit the quarter mark of the NBA season -- Warriors, Clippers, Heat, Pelicans, Lakers, Raptors, and much more. Then Cole Anthony hops on to discuss the Orlando Magic's hot start, that vintage Heat alley-oop he and Jalen Suggs recreated, and all things Orlando.  5:16- How do the Golden State Warriors save their season? 18:14- What do the Chicago Bulls do? 23:50- Pistons Losing Streak 30:40- What's going on with the Clippers? 39:10- Should the Raptors trade one of their core? 51:00 -The New Orleans Pelicans intrigue 1:03:05- Miami Heat talk 1:08:33- Cole Anthony joins the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach goes around the NBA with ESPN's Doris Burke: The top of the East and West, middle-rung teams to watch in each conference, much more. Then ESPN's Dave McMenamin joins to check in on the Lakers.  1:35-Who is the second best team in the east? 18:30 -The impressive Orlando Magic 26:30- Who is the second best team in the west? 43:00- Concern level for the Nuggets 46:00 -New York Knicks 53:30- Golden State Warriors 1:06:51- Dave McMenamin on the Lakers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices