Drive & Kick: The Sb Nation Nba Podcast

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the best teams in the NBA, but are they deep enough to compete with the other elite reams in the Western Conferfence? On this episode of the Drive & Kick podcast, we talked to Dan Woike of the Orange-County Register who tells us about the Austin Rivers dynamic and the complications of playing for his father. Dan also breaks down the changes in Blake Griffin's game and why he may be saving himself for the postseason. He also tells us what it's like to cover Chris Paul. 

After trading Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks have officially bottomed out. That wasn't Phil Jackson's original plan for this season, but as Scott Cacciola from the New York Times tell us, it's the only direction they have left. What does this mean for Carmelo Anthony, Derek Fisher and the vaunted triangle offense? Cacciola offers his insight on the team's future as well as his own plans for the rest of the season. 

After a 50-win season and a hard-fought playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, everyone expected the Memphis Grizzlies to stay the course and maybe add a shooter or two to their well-hone grit n' grind strategy. No one expected them to clean house, but that's what happened when reclusive owner Robert Pera unexpectedly fired assistant GM Stu Lash and team president Jason Levien. Man about Memphis, Chris Herrington helps us understand what went down and what comes next for the Grizzlies on this episode of the Drive & Kick.

Now that the combined and the lottery are behind us, it's time to breakdown the NBA draft with Jonathan Givony of Draft Express. Givony gives us his thoughts on top prospects like Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid, while giving us background on the decisions league execs have to make on Dante Exum, Marcus Smart, Julius Randle and Noah Vonleh. What should the Cavs do with the top pick? Is there a draft-day trade for Kevin Love? All that and more on this episode of the Drive & Kick podcast with Paul Flannery.  

There were a number of issues in the wake of Mark Jackson's dismissal as coach of the Golden State Warriors, but below the surface was a conversation about racial dynamics that few were willing to have. Marcus Thompson, columnist for the San Jose Mercury News, wrote a nuanced column about the subject and we're happy to have him on the Drive & Kick to continue the conversation.

Before there werer blogs and the basketball internet, there was Slam magazine. Young, unaffiliated and unafraid to bring you stories from the frontlines of the cultural revolution sweeping the NBA, Slam told it you straight and didn't ask if you wanted to hear it. Slam Editor Emiritus Russ Bengtson joins the Drive & Kick to relive the glory days.

We once thought this would be a game changer, but there have been enough whispers and hints that maybe the 2014 NBA draft class just isn't that good. We talked to Jonathan Givony from Draft Express for some answers and broke down several of the top prospects including Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

When you have a great story that needs to be told, you want Sorts Illustrated's Lee Jenkins to write it. He's profiled everyone from Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to Rajon Rondo and Roy Hibbert. Paul Flannery talked to Jenkins about Jason Collins, the 29 seconds that defined last season and the enigmatic Rondo.

What's it like to write a book about an NBA team? Jake Appleman, author of Brooklyn Bounce, joins the Drive & Kick to talk about his experiences on the inside of the Nets move to Brooklyn from New Jersey. Appleman chronicled every aspect of the operation from the arrival of Deron Williams to the blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn.

The great Michael Lee from the Washington Post joins the Drive & Kick SB Nation NBA podcast to break down the Wizards, John Wall and whether they can make a deep run in this year's playoffs. We also tackle the team's long-range plan and whether there's a place for veterans like Trevor Ariza and Marcin Gorat. And of course, what would a Wizards podcast be without some great JaVale McGee stories? Mr. Lee shares a few great ones.

After shelling out big money in free agency for Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, the Detroit Pistons have been one of the league's biggest disappointments. What's gone wrong? Drive & Kick host Paul Flannery is joined by Vincent Goodwill from the Detroit News to get to the bottom of the Motory City blues.

The Memphis Grizzlies are a .500 team and that leaves them out of the playoffs as the season hits the midway point. But the Grizzlies have been playing better recently and with Marc Gasol back in the lineup, Grit 'n Grind looks like its on the way back. We talked to Chris Herrington from the Memphis Commercial-Appeal for insight on the Grizz, Tony Allen and the best BBQ in Memphis.

What has come over the Toronto Raptors? Since trading Rudy Gay in early December they've gone from a team going nowhere but the bottom of the tank to a surprising contender. Or have they? We talked to Eric Koreen from the National Post to find out what's going on north of the border and whether the Raptor run is sustainable.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have the statistical profile of a top 10 team but they have a 500 record and would be out of the playoffs at this point in the season. Missing the playoffs could also spell trouble for their relationship with star forward Kevin Love, who can opt out after next season. SB Nation's Paul Flannery is joined by Britt Robson from the MinnPost in this episode of the Drive & Kick to talk about all things Wolves, plus lots of Kevin Garnett stories.

The San Antonio Spurs are good again. Big surprise, right? We talked to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio-Express News to find out what, if anything, is different about this year's team. Plus, Pop stories. Lots and lots of Pop stories.

What's gotten into the Portland Trail Blazers? An eleven game winning streak put them on the map and victories over the Pacers and Thunder elevated them to the top of numerous power rankings. Drive & Kick host Paul Flannery talks to Ben Golliver of Blazers Edge about LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and the rest of the red-hot Blazers.

The Knicks are fighting! The Nets are reassigning coaches! Paul Flannery gets back in the New York groove with Bleacher Report's Howard Beck to talk about the teams that put the fun back in dysfunction.

What happens when tankers stop being polite and start winning games? Paul Flannery talks to CSN Philly's John Gonzalez about the surprising Sixers, the politics of rebuilding and the time Gonz ran for congress in Texas.

How dysfunctional are the Knicks, and can they be saved? Paul Flannery is joined by Chris Herring from the Wall Street Journal to talk about the Knicks, wackly lineups and life on the beat.