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On The Ball with Ric Bucher
Why Steph and the Warriors Are Where They Are
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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.
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The Mastermind Behind The Pacers' Success
28:01|Ric discusses the moves that Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle made to win Game 3 and shares how he came to know Carlisle both as a person (and pianist) and coach.The Beauty and Intrigue of the 2025 NBA Finals
29:09|Ric discusses why the NBA Finals could prove to be transformative for the league and the blueprint for building championship teams.Why The Pacers' Game 1 Win Wasn't A Fluke, What It Means For The Series
23:29|Ric discusses the shocking last-second win by the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals over the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder -- why it happened and whether or not the Pacers' chance of winning the series should be re-evaluated.Triple Shot: Why Pacers Have A Chance, SGA Is In Top 5 PG Convo, Bronny Has To Play Next Season
29:18|Ric discusses why the Indiana Pacers could make the NBA Finals vs. the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder more competitive than expected, why Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be in the conversation for top 5 point guards of all-time if he wins this year's title and Finals MVP, and why rumors that the Lakers are hoping guard Bronny James -- son of LeBron -- can be in their playing rotation next season has to happen -- for Bronny's sake.Ant Edwards is Being Robbed of What He Needs Most
22:21|Ric discusses the danger of anointing young NBA stars as can't-miss future champions or league MVPs as illustrated by the current projections for, and analysis of, Anthony Edwards with the Minnesota Timberwolves.Quad Shot: New vs. Old Media, The Real Overrated Player, The Real Foul Merchant & Malone on the Mike
30:09|Ric discusses four topics: the differences between new and old media; what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has that Anthony Edwards doesn't; Gilgeous-Alexander's label as a foul hunter; and former Nuggets head coach Mike Malone's prospects of landing another head-coaching job.Quad Shot: The False Ant Narrative, Unfounded Jimmy Criticism, Caitlin-Angel Misappropriation, Crushed Conspiracy Theory
29:03|In this four-topic episode, Ric discusses a manufactured story line for Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, the unrealistic expectations Warriors fans had for Jimmy Butler, the misappropriation of the latest Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese conflict and the kibosh on small-market fans complaining the NBA favors big stars and big markets.Triple Shot: Pop's Farewell, Giannis' Identity, Luka's Motivation
31:27|Ric dives into three current topics on the NBA landscape: remembrance of his personal experiences with Gregg Popovich, recently forced to step down after an extraordinary run as head coach of the San Antonio Spurs because of health issues; the debate over whether Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks would be best served continuing to join forces, and a disturbing secondary debate inspired by one of Ric's TV clips; and, finally, the question of why Luka Doncic's level of conditioning continues to be an issue.Quad Shot: Why Jimmy is Indispensable, Paolo is Unappreciated, LeBron-Ant Laugh-fest was Confusing, Adam Silver Deserves Thanks
36:09|Ric discusses four hot topics involving the NBA playoffs: the many ways Jimmy Butler is indispensable for the Golden State Warriors, the overlooked excellence of the Orlando Magic's Paolo Banchero, the quizzically friendly banter between LeBron James and Anthony Edwards in the final minutes of a closely contested Game 3 and how a change in officiating has contributed to the most highly competitive and entertaining playoff series we've seen in years.