Preseason NBA Power Rankings, Part 1 | Group Chat

Justin, Rob, and Wos are back with their annual preseason power rankings. To start the rankings off, they discuss the bottom five teams in the NBA. Brooklyn Nets (8:07) Washington Wizards (27:15) Portland Trail Blazers (40:02) Detroit Pistons (1:00:12) Charlotte Hornets (1:10:22) The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard and Raja start off the pod with an exciting update regarding Logan! Then, they go through the recent extensions of Joel Embiid (6:00) and Jamal Murray (23:00) and whether both were wise moves from the Sixers and Nuggets. After, they look into whether the Miami Heat potentially resigning Jimmy Butler is a smart or stagnant move (30:00). Also, they look into whether the Nuggets’ turnover over the past years highlights how quickly championship windows unravel (39:00). Email us your questions at [email protected]. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Howard Beck and Raja Bell Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Eduardo Ocampo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle, Seerat, and Michael bring two players each that they’re intrigued by going into the '24-'25 season. Hosts: J. Kyle Mann, Seerat Sohi, and Michael Pina Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat is joined by The Athletic’s James Boyd to talk about the Fever’s recent play and Caitlin Clark’s continued impact on the league (1:38). Then, writer Katie Heindl joins to talk through the fallout of Cathy Engelbert’s CNBC comments and discuss what happens next (53:35). And lastly, reporter Mark Schindler hops on to discuss the Lynx’s playoff potential and who he thinks will take MVP this season (1:24:26). Host: Seerat Sohi Guests: James Boyd, Katie Heindl, and Mark Schindler Producer: Erika Cervantes Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard and Raja take a look into how the discussion around mental health in the NBA has evolved over the years. They start off by discussing the reaction back when DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love opened up about their mental health struggles (06:06), how the issue was dealt with, if at all, during Raja’s playing days (10:33), and more. After, Howard sits down with DeRozan upon the release of his new book, ‘Above the Noise: My Story of Chasing Calm,’ to discuss his signing with the Kings, entering the later stage of his career, and his personal mental health journey (42:13). Email us your questions at [email protected]. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Howard Beck and Raja Bell Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Eduardo Ocampo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat Sohi kicks off the debut episode of ‘The Ringer WNBA Show’ by talking with Indiana Fever play-by-play commentator Pat Boylan to discuss the Fever’s latest hot streak and the rise of Caitlin Clark (1:36). Seerat is then joined by Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times to discuss Angel Reese and the rest of the youth movement happening with the Chicago Sky (32:38). The show wraps with an in-depth conversation with Nekias Duncan about the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and the bumps on the road they’ve hit on their quest for a three-peat (55:08). Host: Seerat Sohi Guests: Pat Boylan, Annie Costabile, Nekias Duncan Producer: Brian H. Waters Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle, Seerat, and Michael are back together to make their case for the teams they’re most looking forward to watch play heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. Hosts: J. Kyle Mann, Seerat Sohi, Michael Pina Producer: Erika Cervantes Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Wos start with the recent news that Steph Curry signed an extension with the Warriors and discuss what that means for him and the organization moving forward (5:23). Then they open up the mailbag to answer some listener questions about the 'Starting 5' cast, leap candidates, and more (17:03). Hosts: Justin Verrier and Wosny Lambre Producer: Isaiah Blakely Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard and Raja are back to discuss what seems to be the biggest theme of the NBA offseason: DISRESPECT. They start the conversation with Paul George's and Klay Thompson's feelings that they were slighted by their former teams' contract offers (06:48). Then, they go into Jayson Tatum’s playing time during the Olympics (30:24) and the criticism Tua Tagovailoa directed at his former coach Brian Flores’s coaching style (39:52). After, they share their Real One of the Week before answering your mailbag questions (53:37)! Email us your questions at [email protected]. The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Howard Beck and Raja Bell Producers: Jonathan Kermah and Eduardo Ocampo Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha take one last look at Team USA’s Olympic run, starting with the close call against Serbia (16:10). Then, they hit on the gold medal game against France (22:13) and address the top five takeaways from the games, including Steph’s ridiculous 3s, LeBron adding to his GOAT résumé, the Jayson Tatum controversy, and more (34:54)! Later, they play a game of Whose Career Would You Rather Have: Jrue Holiday vs. Damian Lillard edition (56:36). For more episodes of "Off Guard," subscribe to the podcast feed here! Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices