Open Floor: SI's NBA Show
Episodes
Russell Westbrook traded for John Wall, LeBron James & Anthony Davis re-sign
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina explore all angles of the Russell Westbrook for John Wall trade between the Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards. Who ...
Kevin Durant's comeback, East landscape, Atlanta's spending spree
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina ramp up the hype for Kevin Durant's long-awaited comeback with the Brooklyn Nets. What's KD's best-case sce...
John Wall trade request, shaky Clippers & holiday mailbag
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina celebrate the holiday weekend by opening the mailbag to the Open Floor Globe. What's up with the Clippers, is Serge ...
NBA free agency winners and losers
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina sort through the winners and losers from the opening weekend of the NBA free agency period. Did the Lakers tighten their...
2020 NBA Draft Winners and Losers
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina run through the winners and losers of the 2020 NBA Draft. How crushing of a blow is Klay Thompson's Achilles injury ...
Chris Paul traded, James Harden rumors, top 5 draft projections
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by breaking down the Suns' splashy move for Chris Paul. Why did Phoenix decide to pull the trigger, and could t...
Matchmaking with LaMelo Ball, Rusell Westbrook, Chris Paul & James Harden
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina gobble up the latest round of rumors before the upcoming NBA Draft and free agency period and try to find the best landi...
NBA election reaction; Minnesota, Golden State & major Draft decisions
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina round up NBA player reaction to the presidential election. Did the players' More Than a Vote campaign make a differe...
Jrue Holiday fake trades; NBA Draft pressure check
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing a recent report that New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday is on the trading block. Which types of ...
The NBA needs a labor deal, Kevin Durant's comeback
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with the latest on the 2020-21 negotiations between the NBA owners and players. Can the two sides afford not to rea...
Will Daryl Morey save the Sixers?
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dive headfirst into Daryl Morey's expected hiring as president of the Philadelphia 76ers. Will Morey trade Ben Simmo...
The NBA's 2020-21 schedule plans: pros & cons
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina lay out the good, the bad and the ugly of the NBA's latest proposals for the 2020-21 season. Why is the league now e...
Zion Williamson gets a new coach
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina weigh all sides of the New Orleans Pelicans' decision to hire Stan Van Gundy as their new coach. Was this all about ...
Daryl Morey's complex legacy in Houston
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina take an extended look back at Daryl Morey's 13-year run as Houston Rockets general manager. Where does Morey rank as...
Ranking the Lakers vs. the last 10 title teams & updating the GOAT debate
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the NBA bubble officially wrapped, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina settle into the offseason. They start by giving Lakers fans the opportunity to g...
LeBron James & the Lakers win the bubble title
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the end of the NBA bubble, which saw the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat in six games to claim their 17th...
The AD adjustment; 3-1 psychology
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig back into the NBA Finals, exploring the key Game 4 moments that helped the Los Angeles Lakers build a 3-1 series lea...
The Jimmy Butler show
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to Miami's Game 3 win in the NBA Finals by offering extended thoughts on Jimmy Butler. Ben and Michael both re...
Lakers steamroll Heat in Finals opener
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to the Lakers' breathtaking performance and the Heat's many injury issues in Game 1 of the Finals. Are th...
LeBron James ends the Nuggets, Bam Adebayo ends the Celtics & the NBA Finals are set
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina recap the exciting end to the conference finals and preview the upcoming NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and M...
Tyler Herro's heroics push Celtics to the brink; NBA reacts to Breonna Taylor
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of Tyler Herro's 37-point explosion in Game 4 of the East finals. Where does that n...
The biggest shot of Anthony Davis's career; Celtics fight back
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by offering their thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers' dramatic Game 2 victory over the Denver Nuggets, which ca...
Clippers collapse, Nuggets get their due, West Finals preview
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig in deep to the Clippers' spectacular demise, assigning blame to Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Doc Rivers befor...
LeBron James & the Lakers peak, Rockets combust, ECF preview
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver opens the floor to angry listeners who demand accountability for Michael Pina's takes about the Lakers. How have LeBron James and co...
Raptors live on, Heat watch and wait, Danuel House in trouble
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by recapping the best game of the bubble: Toronto's double-overtime Game 6 win over Boston. Why did Nick Nurse ...
4x4 NBA playoff round-up
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina recap the long holiday weekend of NBA playoff basketball by asking four questions about each of the four remaining serie...
Steve Nash to Brooklyn, referee hijinks, Bucks crumbling
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to the stunning news that the Brooklyn Nets have hired Steve Nash as coach. Is Nash really the next Steve Kerr? Ca...
Jamal Murray's moment, NBA resumes play, Goodbye to Luka and Dame
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by gushing over Jamal Murray's latest scoring explosion and poignant post-game interview. What does Murray'...
An inside look at the Milwaukee Bucks' historic walkout
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the Milwaukee Bucks' historic walkout and react to the NBA players' decision to continue with the 2020 p...
Luka Mania
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig deep into Luka Doncic's unbelievable 43-point triple-double against the Los Angeles Clippers by answering a bu...
Lakers woes, Joel Embiid's future, Bucks adjustments
21 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina recap the early first-round NBA playoff action by digging into the Lakers' shooting struggles. How can LeBron James ...
Goodbye to Boylen, Vlade, Gentry & hello to NBA playoffs
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by recapping a busy weekend on and off the court. Jim Boylen is out in Chicago, Vlade Divac is out in Sacramento, a...
NBA playoffs preview
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina preview the long-awaited NBA playoffs by breaking down the seven first-round match-ups that have been set in stone and g...
Luka's magic, Lillard's beef, Zion's stumbles
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina recap a wild weekend of NBA action by rethinking some of their conventional wisdom from before the bubble. Why aren'...
LeBron James vs. Donald Trump, evolving threes, bubble eavesdropping
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by discussing the back-and-forth between LeBron James and Donald Trump over the NBA's kneeling demonstrations. ...
NBA Bubble opening weekend HEATERS - NBA Bubble Insider
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to the opening weekend of the NBA Bubble with their boldest opinions and hottest takes. Before diving into the ac...
Recapping NBA bubble opening night: Kneeling! LeBron! Rudy! Zion! - NBA Bubble Insider
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina offer a detailed breakdown of the NBA bubble's opening night. They start by analyzing the pre-game social justice de...
BONUS: Podding the Bubble - Part 3: Will the NBA Bubble Burst?
29 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Podding the Bubble is a three-part mini-series taking a deep dive look into the biosphere created by the NBA in Orlando. Part 3 puts the NBA's pla...
BONUS: Podding the Bubble - Part 2: Will the NBA Players Go Stir Crazy?
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Podding the Bubble is a three-part mini-series taking a deep dive look into the biosphere created by the NBA in Orlando. Part 2 follows the lives of t...
The NBA returns, complete with strip club drama - NBA Bubble Insider
28 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina welcome NBA fans to opening week of the bubble restart. They discuss how stars like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo ...
BONUS: Podding the Bubble - Part 1: A Deep Dive into the NBA Biosphere
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Podding the Bubble is a three-part mini-series taking a deep dive look into the biosphere created by the NBA in Orlando. Part 1 explores how the NBA d...
LeBron James & Giannis Antetokounmpo meet the media at NBA bubble practices - NBA Bubble Insider
23 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina celebrate as the NBA's Disney bubble opened practice sessions to the media. What was the best thing LeBron James sai...
NBA bubble tour & top informant suspects - NBA Bubble Insider
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina get into the NBA bubble talk with a quick tour from Ben of the media's access area after he finally cleared his week...
Latest from NBA bubble & playoff X-factors - NBA Bubble Insider
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with the latest from the NBA bubble, where Ben has entered Day 5 of quarantine. How is Ben holding up? Is Michael ...
Reporting live from the NBA's Orlando bubble - NBA Bubble Insider
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina detail the launch of the NBA's Orlando bubble, with Ben reporting live from Disney World as he begins his seven-day ...
It's finally NBA bubble time! Plus, more worst decisions of the decade - NBA Bubble Insider
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina announce that Ben will enter the NBA's Orlando quarantine bubble this weekend. Michael offers his travel tips and t...
The 10 worst NBA decisions since "The Decision" by LeBron James
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina commemorate the tenth anniversary of LeBron James's "The Decision" television special by running through the...
NBA ramps up and top contenders push back on asterisk talk
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina take stock of the NBA ramping up its return for the Orlando bubble. Top contenders like the Lakers, Clippers and Bucks m...
Vince Carter retrospective & NBA schedule breakdown
30 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by taking a long look back at Vince Carter's career after the 22-year vet announced his retirement? Where did h...
NBA players test positive for coronavirus, renaming awards, star semantics
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina take stock of the NBA's return plan, which saw players report to their teams for coronavirus testing this week. Is t...
Remember that NBA move? Plus, Florida's coronavirus spike
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by going back to review some of the NBA's minor transactions from February and March before the shutdown. Consi...
Life, safety and games in the NBA's Disney World bubble
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig into the NBA's health and safety protocol for the upcoming season at Disney World. Is this a good plan? How will...
NBA players voice concerns about Orlando return
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to the NBA players' various concerns about the Orlando return plan. What is Kyrie Irving's role in all of ...
NBA superstars mobilize for social justice
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by surveying the superstar landscape to detail how the NBA community is gearing up in the wake of George Floyd'...
Ten predictions for the new NBA playoffs
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dive headfirst into an impossible task: trying to predict the most unpredictable playoffs in NBA history. Will the NBA b...
The NBA sets return plans & an all-quarantine draft
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by recapping the NBA's 22-team return-to-play plan. Was it a good compromise, a money grab or both? Will it suc...
The NBA responds to George Floyd's death
02 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina recount the weekend of nationwide protests that followed George Floyd's death in police custody in Minneapolis. They...
Playoff format overload, scoring champ title winners
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by running through this week's developments regarding the potential format of the 2019-20 resumed NBA season. W...
Jack McCallum on Michael Jordan and the 1992 Dream Team
28 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver is joined by legendary basketball writer Jack McCallum to discuss his new podcast project, "The Dream Team Tapes." Which Michael ...
The NBA's return plans: the good, bad and ugly
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig through the NBA's first official steps towards a resumption of the 2019-20 season. Do they like Disney World as ...
Closing thoughts on The Last Dance, Michael Jordan, the Pacers and the Jazz
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina conclude their coverage of "The Last Dance" by taking questions from the Open Floor Globe. Should this project b...
Michael Jordan didn't want the Bulls dynasty to end
19 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the key revelation of the final two episodes of "The Last Dance": That Michael Jordan wanted to run thin...
Being Michael Jordan's teammate, more NBA quitters
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina begin their latest recap of "The Last Dance" by asking how they would survive as Michael Jordan's teammate. ...
Scottie Pippen's sit down & the biggest quitters in NBA history
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina look back at Scottie Pippen's decision to sit out the closing seconds of a 1994 playoff game against the New York Kn...
Michael Jordan comes up short on politics & gambling, top under-25 duos
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina break down the latest episodes of "The Last Dance" by dissecting Michael Jordan's shaky defenses of his gamb...
Michael Jordan's most tortured opponents, NBA shutdown fall-offs and bounce-backs
05 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by arguing about an age-old question: Who was Michael Jordan's most tortured opponent? Charles Barkley or Patri...
Bad Boys revisited, the real Dennis Rodman, 2020 expansion draft
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina review episodes 3 and 4 of "The Last Dance" by digging into the rivalry between the Bulls and Pistons. Did Isiah...
The NBA's Most Hated, basketball's chemistry majors
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina use Michael Jordan's intense hatred of Isiah Thomas and the Detroit Pistons as a jumping off point to discuss the mo...
First impressions of Michael Jordan's "Last Dance," NBA name games
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina deliver their first impressions of the first two episodes of "The Last Dance," the 10-part documentary about Mic...
Last Dance hype, NBA numerology, Basketball stars as track athletes
21 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a quick rundown of the excitement around "The Last Dance," the Michael Jordan documentary, but decide ...
Previewing ESPN's "The Last Dance" documentary about Michael Jordan's Bulls
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina offer an extended preview of "The Last Dance," ESPN's 10-part documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chica...
Rudy Gobert fake trades, Our biggest draft misses, NBA inspirations
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig deep into the strained relationship between Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. They lay out the impor...
The most overrated NBA players, coaches, front offices & owners
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In response to a question from the Open Floor Globe, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina sift through nominees for the NBA's most overrated figures. The...
Best and Worst HORSE players, 1990s cult heroes, no-ring-yet Dream Team
07 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by diving deep into the NBA's proposal to launch a HORSE tournament during quarantine. Is the NBA desperate? Ar...
Best games of 2019-20, coronavirus mid-life crises, past greats in modern NBA
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with Michael's story on a Palo Alto company's ranking of the most memorable games of the 2019-20 season. Wh...
Hakeem's what-if, MJ's 55, the wall of sound
31 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dive into another batch of questions from the Open Floor Globe, starting with an incredible "What if?" involving...
Two truths and a lie, media as fans, social distancing stars
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a game of "Two Truths and a lie." Did Michael have a 40-inch vertical in high school? Is he really rel...
Free agency match-making, Saving the NBA awards, White whale games
24 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with a summary of the NBA's looming $1 billion hit due to the coronavirus and possible impacts on next year'...
NBA's lost narratives, our favorite seasons, MJ's return
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina cope with the coronavirus crisis by running through some of this season's biggest lost narratives. What's next f...
The coronavirus & the NBA schedule, airing old grievances
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the coronavirus and its ongoing impacts on the NBA schedule. Players have been sent home and the NBA is on hiatu...
NBA suspends season due to coronavirus
12 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the NBA's decision to indefinitely suspend the 2019-20 season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and guard D...
LeBron's Lakers enjoy a big weekend, Coronavirus gets real
10 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina look back at LeBron James's big weekend, as the Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed signature victories over the Milwaukee Bu...
Stephen Curry's next chapter, Does NBA need commentating shake-up?
06 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina welcome Stephen Curry back to the court with an extended discussion about the Golden State Warriors guard's legacy ...
Giannis vs. Harden escalates, KD considers Tokyo, Peak Westbrook
03 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open by dissecting the escalating tension between James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Does Harden have a point? Is ...
LeBron vs. Zion, Giannis vs. 70, Road jersey etiquette
28 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Golliver and Michael Pina open with an extended discussion of LeBron James' first game against Zion Williamson. Was LeBron trying to prove a p...
MJ honors Kobe, Tatum erupts, Simmons' back woes
25 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina offer a line-by-line breakdown of Michael Jordan's incredibly moving tribute for Kobe Bryant...
Kyrie Irving's season ends, All-Star Weekend fixes
21 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the fallout surrounding Kyrie Irving's season-ending shoulder surgery. What's ne...
All-Star Weekend winners and losers
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina convene for a late-night All-Star Weekend recap. Ben and Michael run through the winners and los...
2020 NBA All-Star Weekend Preview
13 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina preview the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend. Will Zion Williamson and Team USA crush Luka Doncic and t...
Surging Raptors, Damian Lillard's outrage, All-Star mailbag
11 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina recover from the NBA trade deadline by catching their breath before the upcoming craziness of Al...
NBA Trade Deadline Winners & Losers
07 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina run though the winners and losers of the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline. Did the Warriors gamble wisely...
NBA trade deadline preview, Kobe Bryant's tribute, All-Star angst
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina preview this week's NBA trade deadline. First, though, they recap the Lakers' Friday nig...
Los Angeles, the Lakers & the NBA remember Kobe Bryant
30 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's tragic death. Ben discusses the scene at the site of ...
Kobe Bryant, remembered
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina react to the tragic deaths of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter...
Dissecting Zion Williamson's debut & contender check-in
24 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina tackle all angles of Zion Williamson's electrifying debut for the New Orleans Pelicans on We...
Zion returns, Top 5 under 23, NBA fan conversion strategies
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's show, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina preview Zion Williamson's upcoming season debut on Wednesday. What's the baseline for a suc...
2020 NBA All-Star picks, snubs & toughest calls
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina pick their 2020 NBA All-Star teams. They stick tightly to the official rules, naming their start...
Kyrie Irving returns, Kevin Durant's title odds, champions & non-champions in the 2020s
14 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina dig into Kyrie Irving's return to the court for the Brooklyn Nets. How did he look and can h...
John Beilein's slugs, RJ Barrett's blurry Knicks existence & the NBA's biggest dead ends
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's show, Ben Golliver and Michael Pina discuss the John Beilein controversy in Cleveland. Is his "thugs vs. slugs" explanation bel...
Russell Westbrook returns to OKC, three cheers for Sam Presti, Pondering midseason boredom
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode, Ben Golliver opens with exciting news about former Open Floor co-host Andrew Sharp, who has made his triumphant return to the ...