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On The Ball with Ric Bucher
Quad Shot: Melo's Value, Kings' Surge, Wemby's Defense, Cade's Ascension
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Ric discusses four hot NBA topics: LaMelo Ball's entertainment value vs. his effectiveness for an 8-28 Charlotte Hornets' team; what is behind the Sacramento Kings' 7-1 record since firing head coach Mike Brown; Cade Cunningham showing that he deserves to be in the conversation of top point guards in the league; and whether or not Victor Wembanyama is living up to being cast as a runaway favorite for Defensive Player of the Year since the start of the season.
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The Luka-AD Trade: Why It Happened, What It Means
33:39|Ric discusses why the Dallas Mavericks traded their 25-year-old Slovenian superstar, Luka Doncic, to the Los Angeles Lakers for All-Star center, Anthony Davis, without putting Doncic on the open market and the message that the Lakers sent their incumbent star, LeBron James, by making the deal.Word to My Media Brethren: You Missed the Boat on Bronny
16:20|Ric discusses the backlash from the media after rookie guard Bronny James, son of Lakers' star LeBron James, had a poor performance in his most extended playing time for the Lakers in a 118-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.The Biggest Fix Left for the NBA All-Star Game
28:58|Ric discusses the history of the NBA All-Star Game selection process, offers a way to ensure the most worthy players are chosen, gives the list of players he would invite to this year's All-Star Game and identifies the player he would be sorely disappointed if given All-Star recognition for a second time.Time for the 76ers to Find an Embiid Exit Strategy
27:41|Ric discusses Lakers coach JJ Redick's heartfelt account of his family's ordeal with the wildfire that turned their home and all of the Pacific Palisades to ashes and makes a compelling case as to why both the Philadelphia 76ers and their chronically injured center, Joel Embiid, would be best served by parting ways.Why Steph and the Warriors Are Where They Are
30:39|Ric discusses the current state of the Golden State Warriors, his history with the franchise and the forces that have ended the Warriors', and their transcendent guard, Stephen Curry's, run as a perennial title contender.Quad Shot: PG Exorcising, JJ-Barkley Beefing, Kings Surging, Cavs-Thunder Entertaining
32:24|Ric discusses four topics: Paul George's unfathomable explanation for a recent fourth-quarter meltdown; JJ Redick taking a novel approach to being a first-time NBA head coach; the source of the Sacramento Kings' 5-1 record since replacing head coach Mike Brown with Doug Christie; and takeaways from the recent battle between the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers.Jimmy Butler and the Heat: Why We're Here, What It Means
31:24|Ric discusses the circumstances that have driven a wedge between star forward Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat and why it signals NBA owners have achieved their goal of putting a crimp in, or even potential end to, the player empowerment era.Quad Shot: What Finney-Smith Brings, Must-See Magic Stretch, Spinning In Sac, Liking The Dust-ups
27:50|Ric discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the Lakers' acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith for D'Angelo Russell; the upcoming test the Orlando Magic are about to face; the Sacramento Kings' response to widespread criticism of how they handled the firing of head coach Mike Brown; and why he hopes the NBA does not feel threatened by the recent spate of physical altercations between players.