PTBN's NBA-Team: Level of Compete

New Year, new me, but in the case of the NBA, the new 'me' way meaner, nastier, and more cutthroat than the old 'me.' But with the trade deadline coming up, will things get only more intense, and does the league kinda need it? Adam Murray and Andrew Riche, Place To Be Nation's NBA-Team, are here to mediate fights, arbitrate some fantasy trades, and contemplate all things 2025. Now that Jimmy Butler has talked his way out of Miami's lineup, how much longer will it be before he is no longer in Miami, and why does Adam believe that Butlers's options very limited? How much blame does De'Aaron Fox deserve for the firing of Mike Brown in Sacramento? (You might be surprised by our answers). Riche and Adam also discuss the Suns' dysfunction, the Lakers dumping D'Angelo Russell, FIGHTS, the Knicks, and more! So suit up and take it out in episode 330 with the NBA-Team!

PTBN's NBA-Team: Stuffing Stockings and the Box Scores

There is more than just creatures stirring in the NBA household as we get ready for the annual Christmas Day slate this Wednesday, and right before the gifts are delivered, Adam Murray and Andrew Riche, Place To Be Nation's NBA-Team, are sending out their Christmas cards (and in Adam's case for some teams, Grinch-mas coal). All the discourse might involves too many three's and sagging ratings, but why was a low-scoring NBA Cup final between the Bucks and Thunder a strange breath of fresh air? Are the Kings, Heat, and Wolves in a purgatory where they need to make dramatic moves? Why has Riche suddenly become anti-rest? The duo also discuss the Christmas Day broadcast lineup, the overachieving Spurs, Joel Embiid in a mask, and more! So suit up, take it out in episode 329, and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year form the NBA-Team!

PTBN's NBA-Team: Excess Baggage

The holidays are upon us, and while people are wrapping the gifts and packing up for their annual vacations, the NBA teams is stuck with some baggage (and possible early vacations) of their own. Adan Murray and Andrew Riche, Place To Be Nation's NBA-Team, are ready to travel abroad all across the league and catch up on the goings on. Is Nikola Jokic (who scored 104 points in back-to-back nights) lapping the field for MVP already, or can Giannis and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander catch up? Does the NBA have a ratings problem, and can the NBA Cup in its second year help the league bounce back? Now that players can be traded starting on the 15th, will we see moves immediately? Is the junior slump the new 'sophomore slump' with third-year players really struggling? Riche and Adam also discuss the Shams-Jimmy Butler's agent feud, the Lakers' recent struggles, Joel Embiid's bad luck, and more! So suit up and take it out in episode 328 with the NBA-Team!

NBA-Team: NBA Draft Risers/Fallers

In this minisode, Adam goes through recent NBA drafts and identities the players who unexpectedly rose and fell on draft night and Andew makes the call whether it it's better to reach for the player you want or have a player unexpectedly drop to you. Enjoy!

NBA-Team: NCAA Team: Names to Know

With the NCAA season starting up again, Andrew and Adam go over a few players to keep an eye out for who are appearing in early NBA mock drafts.

PTBN's NBA-Team: Sharing Is Scary?

Thanksgiving week is here, but some NBA teams this seasons have been more busy sharing injuries & playoff seeds than sharing the ball (just ask the Philadelphia 76ers!). But thankfully, two who have shared the microphone for years, Adam Murray & Andrew Riche, Place To Be Nation's NBA-Team, are here to provide family therapy for teams struggling at the table. The Cleveland Cavaliers finally lost a game to the defending champion Boston Celtics on national television, but can we take any stock in the match up, and who else in the East can catch up to them? Franz Wagner is having a career year on a good Orlando team, but will it close to impossible for him to win M.I.P.? The Rockets are doing a lot of things right, but why are we both concerned about them? Riche and Adam also discuss the dominant East-West combo of Giannis & Jokic, the scrappy Detroit Pistons, the new All-Star Game format, who will make it to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup, and more! So suit up and take it out in episode 326 with the NBA-Team!

PTBN's NBA-Team: Early Exits

It feels like 'grand opening, grand closing' for some NBA teams and players already getting bit badly by the injury bug as the 2024-25 season gets through its first football-distracted month. But we have no injuries here, so Adam Murray and Andrew Riche, Place To Be Nation's NBA-Team, are ready to take the league on. The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken the whole league on, and haven't lost yet, but can they keep the hot streak going? Is Nikola Jokic probably going to win league MVP for the fourth time as he leads the league in rebounds and assists? Is it panic time already in Milwaukee with Giannis and Doc Rivers? And do the Chicago Bulls take the cake as THE worst defense in the NBA so far? Riche and Adam also discuss 'Inside the NBA' surviving after a court settlement between TWD and the league, M.I.P. candidates, League Pass guilty pleasures, and more! So suit up and take it in episode 325 with the NBA-Team!

PTBN's NBA-Team: You Better Believe-Land

CLEVELAND, this is for you! Well, actually, it's for the 29 other NBA teams including the red hot Cavaliers, because Adam Murray and Andrew Riche, Place To Be Nation's NBA-Team, are a free and fair podcast and will discuss the entire league two weeks into the start of the 2024-25 NBA season! Cleveland is undefeated thanks to a red-hot offense, while Oklahoma City is holding it down undefeated with an ice cold defense, but can they keep the momentum going? The injury bug is already up early this season with Paolo Banchero, Scottie Barnes, Desmond Bane, and ALL the New Orleans Pelicans, but can these teams shake it off? Maybe coaching really IS important early in the season, or is it just a matter of the Lakers and Suns finally buying in? Riche and Adam also discuss surprises and disappointments, Anthony Davis dominating opponents, rookie contract extensions, and more!! So suit up and take it out in episode 324 with the NBA-Team!

NBA-Team: 2024-25 Predictions, Do-Overs, and Final Thoughts

Tip-off for the 2024-25 NBA season is upon us! And after previewing ALL 30 teams for the listeners, Adam Murray & Andrew Riche, Place To Be Nation's NBA-Team, are finishing off all their preseason thoughts to give expert (or not so much) opinions. DId we changes our minds about any of our original over/under picks? Will someone other than Jokic, Embiid, or Giannis win the league MVP? What is the worst case scenario for the NBA title contenders and the best case scenarios for the basement teams? How many years in a row will Victor Wembenyama win Defensive Player of the Year? Riche and Adam also talk about MIP and 6th Man, BOLD PREDICTIONS, and more! So suit up, get ready for tip-off, and take it out in episode 323 with the NBA-Team!

NBA-Team: Relegation

It's hard to believe that our 11th season previews are slowly coming to an end, and what a better way to wrap it up with teams who appear who have thrown in the towel already...i'm sorry, "focusing on development." If this were european soccer, these teams would be up for relegation down to the G League, but here, nope, they are just relegated to League Pass. Teams covered this episode are BKN 3:00, CHA 9:50, DET 15:10, POR 20:55, TOR 26:00, WAS 31:55, UTA 37:50. Enjoy!
 
 

NBA-Team: Lucky to Make Playoffs

As our season previews continue, Andrew wrote "lucky to make playoffs" for this group while researching. Adam thinks that's waaaay too optimistic. This group features some rudderless teams, some teams who should take the year off and wait to strike next year, and some with a combination of both. Teams covered are: ATL 2:30, HOU 7:30,  LAC 13:00, CHI 17:20, SAS 25:15. Enjoy! 

NBA-Team: 2024-25 Season Previews: Play-Ins & Possibly Outs

As our 11th season previews continue, Andrew and Adam venture further down the ladder to teams that will actually fall into the play-in category. These are some very expensive rosters to be fighting for the 8-10 seeds in the west. Teams covered are: GSW 2:05, SAC 8:45, LAL 14:30, MEM 21:00, ORL 27:30, NOP 35:45 . Enjoy!

NBA-Team: Talk of the Towns

Stop the Presses! We had a major trade with two top teams that like..doesn't ever happen. Andrew and Adam scramble to try to dissect this trade and what it means for both teams. Also they talk about ESPN's most recent brain drain with Zach Lowe and Woj departing the network. Enjoy!

NBA-Team: 2024-25 Season Previews: The Foils

As their 11th season of previews continues, Andrew and Adam go into the next tier of teams, the teams who could be possible foils for the season. Teams covered are: CLE 2:20, IND 9:25, PHX 15:45, MIA 23:05, MIL 30:15. Enjoy!

NBA-Team: 2024-25 Season Previews: Kings of the Hill

Andrew and Adam are back for an 11th (!) season and this year they're starting at the top- the odds on favorites to win the championship. Teams discussed in this episode are:
BOS 2:30, DAL 9:00, PHI 15:15, MIN 23:25, NYK 29:50, DEN 35:30, OKC 42:00. Thank you and enjoy!