Red-Hot Hornets Cool Off Heat in Play-In Victory | Real Ones

Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann open with a thought-provoking question about the NBA playoffs before jumping into the highly anticipated return of the Verriables ahead of all of the playoff excitement. This year, Justin’s playoff Verriables pose questions like: How many teams can realistically win the East? If not the Thunder in the West, then who? Who’s going to be the leap guy? Lastly, the guys predict every matchup on the board and make early Finals picks. (0:00) Intro (2:53) FanDuel ad break (3:30) Should the NBA move to a shorter series? (6:35) Verriables intro (10:10) How many teams can realistically win the East? (19:34) If not the Thunder in the West, then who? (34:46) Who’s going to be the leap guy? (44:35) FanDuel ad break (45:56) Amazon Prime ad break (46:27) Which player or team exec has the most riding on this postseason? (59:14) Playoff matchup predictions (1:26:52) Early Finals picks Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers Social: Keith Fujimoto and Isaiah Blakely Verriables Music by: John Robison The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Order and it will come. Like today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with the 2026 playoff edition of Real or Fake! They go through each team that’s made it through to the playoffs and figure out who the real contenders are and which teams have a slight chance to no chance. (0:00) Intro (1:04) Fan Duel ad break (02:12) Real or Fake: Detroit Pistons (10:06) Real or Fake: San Antonio Spurs (16:20) Real or Fake: Cleveland Cavaliers (20:39) Real or Fake: Toronto Raptors (23:17) Real or Fake: Houston Rockets (34:01) Real or Fake: New York Knicks (36:29) Amazon Prime ad break (37:59) Real or Fake: Boston Celtics (44:35) Real or Fake: Atlanta Hawks (47:04) Real or Fake: Oklahoma City Thunder (53:36) Real or Fake: Denver Nuggets (56:32) Real or Fake: Minnesota Timberwolves (59:46) Real or Fake: Los Angeles Lakers (01:03:21) Real One of the Week: Warriors (01:12:07) Real One of the Week: Chris Paul Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard Beck Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin Additional video support: Jamie Yukich Production: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Hit the mailbag! [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. Order and it will come. Like today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to react to the wild Tuesday night play-in games. The Hornets defeated the Heat in OT thanks to LaMelo Ball’s late-game bucket. What are the chances of the Hornets taking a team deep in the first round? Plus, the Suns fell to the Blazers in the Western Conference play-in. Should they consider trading Devin Booker? Plus, the mailbag!(0:00) Intro (1:14) Fan Duel ad break (2:38) Hornets-Heat (3:52) Lamelo Controversy (28:14) Amazon Prime ad break (28:45) Fan Duel ad break (29:54) Blazers-Suns presented by Ferrero (45:58) Mailbag Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard BeckProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinAdditional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Hit the mailbag! ⁠[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. Order and it will come. Like today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The regular season is officially over and Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here to preview the play-in match-ups in each conference. Then they give some brief thoughts on the playoff match ups before giving final thoughts on any fall out from the final day of the regular season including Doc Rivers leaving the Bucks and they play a game 82 tradition of “Who He Tank For”. (00:00) Intro (2:50) Fan Duel ad break (3:26) Play-in preview (22:31) Men’s Wearhouse ad break (23:14) Initial playoff matchup thoughts (43:34) "Who He Tank For" (58:55) Doc Rivers out as Bucks head coach (1:04:56) Most intriguing off-season Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle MannProducers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah BlakelyProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsAdditional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit⁠ www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available. When you need your fit to deliver, we’ve got you. Shop Men's Wearhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to discuss the future for the teams in the play-in tournament. How will the Clippers navigate the rest of the Kawhi Leonard era with a possible big punishment looming? Are the Sixers stuck in this position because of the Joel Embiid and Paul George contracts? Could Steph and the Warriors possibly get some help from another NBA legend?(0:00) Intro (1:13) Fan Duel ad break (2:29) Los Angeles Clippers (12:01) Philadelphia 76ers (19:44) Phoenix Suns (25:49) Portland Trail Blazers (31:30) Miami Heat (35:42) Orlando Magic (37:38) Golden State Warriors (46:35) Toronto Raptors (50:35) Atlanta Hawks (57:16) Charlotte Hornets (1:00:35) Howard’s Real One of the Week (1:03:21) Logan’s Real One of the Week Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard BeckProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinAdditional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Hit the mailbag! ⁠[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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann open by recapping the 2026 NCAA men’s championship game and giving their thoughts on the evolution of college basketball. Then, they give their picks for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Coach of the Year. (0:00) Intro (0:22) Michigan beats UConn, wins NCAA basketball title (4:03) Fan Duel ad break (7:58) Thoughts on this NBA season (15:21) J.V.’s garden update (18:09) Fan Duel ad break (19:44) Who will win MVP? (43:12) Will this be the last year Wemby isn’t the favorite? (49:09) Rookie of the Year (59:27) Most Improved (1:07:09) Mid-off tracker (1:09:39) Defensive Player of the Year (1:12:20) Sixth Man of the Year (1:17:48) Coach of the Year Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Victoria Valencia and Stefan Anderson Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and take a deep dive into the Rookie of the Year debate. Kon Knueppel has had an outstanding season, but will Cooper Flagg’s late surge ultimately win him the award? NBA championship-winning head coach Michael Malone has taken the University of North Carolina’s head coaching job. How will he have to navigate the NIL waters to make UNC competitive again? Is there any hope for the Chicago Bulls after firing their front office? Plus, the mailbag! (0:00) Logan open (1:23) Fan Duel ad break (2:14) Rookie of the Year debate (27:34) Fan Duel ad break (28:21) Michael Malone headed to UNC (40:23) Is there any hope for the Chicago Bulls? (42:24) Mailbag! Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins 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.Hit the mailbag! [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann begin award season with the team awards. They start with their All-NBA team ballots. Then they move to the All-Defensive teams and wrap up with the All-Rookie teams. Then, right before the show wraps, the guys react to the news that former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has reportedly accepted the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina. (00:00) Intro (2:51) Fan Duel ad break (3:28) All-NBA teams (37:24) Men’s Wearhouse ad break (53:24) All-Defensive teams (1:08:02) All-Rookie teams  (1:15:29) Michael Malone Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit⁠ www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available. When you need your fit to deliver, we’ve got you. Shop Men's Wearhouse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones, and get right into the Lakers getting blown out by OKC and losing Luka to a hamstring injury during the game. What did the game say about where both teams currently stand in the West? Plus, the Magic keep free-falling in the standings, which has star forward Paolo Banchero unhappy. What's the next steps for the franchise? And Real One of the Week!(00:00) Intro (1:39) Fan Duel ad break (2:55) Lakers-Thunder Recap (8:51) MVP Race (18:41) Luka’s injury (27:58) Paolo and the struggling Magic (44:57) Amar'e Stoudemire headed to the Hall of Fame (55:48) Real One of the Week Hit the mailbag! [email protected] 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: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard BeckProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinAdditional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Rob discuss the West’s bottom five teams and give us a positive outlook for each, but first, Victor Wembanyama went off for 41 points against the Warriors and keeps performing at a level that has him shooting up the MVP ladder. Did he put a stamp on his case on Wednesday?(0:00) Intro (1:05) Wemby (13:09) Dallas Mavericks(26:42) Memphis Grizzlies(37:13) New Orleans Pelicans(46:07) Utah Jazz(56:34) Sacramento KingsHosts: Justin Verrier and Rob MahoneyProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsAdditional Production Support: John Richter and Chris WohlersThe Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit⁠ www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices