Embiid's Return, Charging Mavs, and Most Improved Player Candidates

Zach and ESPN's Kevin Pelton discuss what they've seen from every Game 1 of the first round and what to look for as each series progresses. Knicks-Sixers (2:11) Celtics-Heat (8:03) Cavs-Magic (12:06) Nuggets-Lakers (16:46) Timberwolves-Suns (27:10) Thunder-Pelicans (36:21) Clippers-Mavericks (50:23) Bucks-Pacers (1:02:57) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach discusses the Warriors being eliminated from playoff contention and questions if this is the end of this team as we know them, then he is joined by David Thorpe for their annual 8x8 first round deep dive. 0:00 The Warriors being eliminated by the Kings. 19:10 Injury updates following the play-in. 25:55 Minnesota vs. Phoenix series preview 41:20 Sixers vs. Knicks preview 51:42 Lakers vs. Nuggets preview 1:04:00 Clippers vs. Mavs series preview 1:17:00 Magic vs.Cavs series preview. 1:26:45 Pacers vs. Bucks preview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach is joined by ESPN's Chris Herring to review Sunday's regular-season conclusion, preview the four play-in games and four playoff series that we know so far, and give their final awards picks for the 2024 season. 7:00 Winners and losers from Sunday's regular season conclusion 12:15 Is Orlando actually a good matchup for the Cavs? 18:00- The Phoenix Suns avoiding the Play-In by beating the Wolves 24:30- Can the Bucks beat the Pacers without Giannis? 30:00- The Mavericks-Clippers Trilogy 36:45- Lakers vs. Pelicans Play-In preview 49:54- Philadelphia vs. Miami Play-In preview 1:00:30- Warriors vs. Kings Play-In rematch from last year's playoffs 1:09:45- Hawks vs. Bulls Play-In 1:17:20- Rapid-Fire Awards Picks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach asks injury expert Jeff Stotts about the extent of Giannis Antentokounmpo's injury and his potential recovery timetable. Then The Athletic's Mo Dakhil joins to discuss Knicks-Celtics, playoff seeding, and the MVP race. What will Giannis' recovery look like? (1:27) Dakhil (17:20) Does anything concern you about the Celtics? (21:03) Knicks are a joy to watch (24:26) Jrue Holiday extension (32:01) Bucks make a starting lineup change (36:34) Nuggets move into pole position in the West (45:12) MVP race is not over (51:45) West seeding possibilities (1:01:18) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Bobby Marks weigh in on the pivotal races in the Western Conference. Then ESPN's Tim Bontemps joins to discuss the logjam behind Boston in the East, what's gone wrong in Cleveland, and how their All-Defense and All-NBA ballots are shaping up. The race for 6th in the West (3:21) How the top spot will be determined in the West (20:05) The muddled East from 2 to 8 (33:42) Who's the biggest threat to Boston in the East? (39:55) What's gone wrong in Cleveland? (54:07) All-Defense Teams (1:14:37) All-NBA Teams (1:19:39) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Kevin Pelton discuss the Sixers' chances now that Joel Embiid is back in the fold, how seeds 3 through 5 might shake out in the East, the race for the top seed in the West, how dangerous the Lakers can be, and what to make of the Suns and Clippers. Sixers with Embiid (10:31) Are the Heat going to heat up or what? (24:01) Knicks without Randle (27:14) Cavs and Magic (35:26) Race for top seed in the West (44:35) How dangerous can the Lakers be? (49:56) Wolves without KAT (1:00:10) Suns coming together (1:03:09) Can the Clippers find the magic they had earlier in the year? (1:05:59) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss Joel Embiid's expected return to the Sixers, the charging Mavericks, and a trio of teams succeeding without an injured star. Plus, TrueHoop's David Thorpe joins to run through the top candidates for Most Improved Player. Impact of Embiid's return (1:04) Mavs currently in 5th in the West (9:42) Hawks without Trae, Wolves without KAT, and Rockets without Sengun (30:57) Thorpe (48:10) Most Improved Player candidates (49:55) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Doris Burke discuss Draymond Green's ejection and the Warriors' push for the play-in before revealing their preseason takes that have since fallen flat. Headlines around the league (15:04) Worst Preseason Takes (22:07) Under on the Thunder (22:27) Hawks to finish in the top 5 (30:56) Lukewarm on the Porzingis trade (33:19) A Mavs swoon that never happened (41:58) D'Angelo Russell's season with the Lakers (47:17) The Suns as a title contender (55:23) Clippers escaped Philly with a win (1:03:05) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and The Dunker Spot's Steve Jones, Jr. discuss what's going on with the Warriors, the races for the 6th seed in the East and West, and the battle for positioning among the 3-4-5 spots in the East. Then ESPN Chalk's David Purdum joins for the latest on the NBA looking into betting irregularities involving Toronto's Jontay Porter. What's going on with the Warriors? (2:27) 6-7-8 spots in the West (9:44) 6-7-8 spots in the East (33:56) 3-4-5 in the East (53:05) Purdum (1:08:34) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss how the Celtics and Bucks would match up in a playoff series, forecast the Thunder's chances in the West, and weigh in on Coach of the Year candidates. Then The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski joins to talk all things Anthony Edwards- the dunk and his elevation into superstardom- plus, what success looks like for the Timberwolves this season. Celtics-Bucks matchup (1:50) Forecasting the Thunder (21:20) No one has an answer for Jokic (40:13) Coach of the Year front runners (43:10) The red-hot Rockets (47:50) A basketball dilemma (53:02) Krawczynski (56:29) The Anthony Edwards dunk (58:54) Wolves have more of a backbone this season (1:07:25) Latest on KAT and Reid (1:11:13) Anthony Edwards has taken the leap (1:16:39) What is success for the Wolves this year? (1:33:23) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices