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On The Ball with Ric Bucher
Will Blackmon's pick for his alma mater's next FB Coach (Boston College)
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Will has a prime candidate to succeed Steve Addazio at his alma mater, Boston College, while Ric disputes Will's contention that Kirk Cousins was on the brink of entering the MVP race. Also: the only acceptable reason for the Panthers to have fired Ron Rivera now. Also, Part II: What does Will consider a snack for old people?
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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.
Mike Brown Pulled the Pin, Should the Rockets for De'Aaron Fox?
29:48|Ric discusses comments made by Mike Brown 10 days before he was fired as head coach of the Sacramento Kings and the suggestion that the up-and-coming Houston Rockets should pursue Kings star guard De'Aaron Fox.
Holiday Episode with a Special Guest
38:56|Ric discusses solutions to the NBA three-point glut, why BYU is about to become a college basketball powerhouse and the state of the Portland Trail Blazers with a special guest on location in Turks & Caicos.
Solving The NBA Three-Point Shot Obsession
30:20|Ric discusses the ways in which the NBA can address the excessive launching of three-point shots and breaks down his favorite three rule changes that will be tested in the G League next season.
Why Zion May Be A Better Bargain Than BI
26:05|Ric discusses what he learned from the NBA Cup about the Milwaukee Bucks' and Oklahoma City Thunder's playoff readiness; shares his exchange with Warriors coach Steve Kerr on the team's acquisition of Dennis Schröder and if the team is done making moves; and why Zion Williamson, despite his injury history, might have more trade value than Brandon Ingram, both of whom have been rumored to be on the trading block.
Quad Shot: Caitlin Clark Dances, Steph Struggles, NBA Inertia, NBA Cup Value
33:57|Ric discusses four topics in this Quad Shot episode: why Caitlin Clark was Time's Athlete of the Year and what we learned from the subsequent interview; a sobering look at the kind of talent the Golden State Warriors need next to Steph Curry at this stage of his career; why this year's trade market may not be as robust as NBA fans have become accustomed to; and rwhy the NBA Cup Final between the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder is worth watching.
The Biggest Reason NBA Ratings Are Down
29:05|Ric discusses the decline in NBA viewership and why it isn't a reflection of the league's overall popularity or financial health but of its priorities.
The Conundrum That Is Trae Young
22:13|Ric discusses Atlanta Hawks' point guard Trae Young, whose pick-and-roll mastery and league-leading statistics has produced a meager win-loss record and does not appear to enthrall his teammates.
Quad Shot: Hope for an NBA Reversion, Ja Pivots, Four-Letter Fabrication, Jokic's New Weapon
40:57|Ric discusses the hope given to him by an NBA GM about the direction of the league; the change Ja Morant has made to his game; the story created out of thin air and presented as news by a major outlet; and the new skill Nikola Jokic has added since last season, no doubt inspired by how last season ended for him and the Denver Nuggets.