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

Zach and The Athletic's Mo Dakhil discuss the latest Laker losses, the charging Mavericks, their concern for the Clippers and Suns, Victor Wembanyama making highlight plays look routine, and candidates for 6th Man of the Year. Lakers-Warriors reaction (4:03) The surging Mavs (15:08) Concerns about the Clippers (30:47) Officiating has been tweaked since the All-Star break (44:28) Suns (50:22) Wembanyama is here (1:02:44) Sixth Man of the Year contenders (1:10:44) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Bobby Marks run through their preliminary list of candidates for All-NBA. Then the NBA's Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and the Senior VP of Referee Training and Development Monty McCutchen join to discuss why scoring has dipped since the All-Star Break, ideas to help defenders, and the unintended consequences of the 65-game rule for awards. Bucks still trying to figure it out (15:48) Brunson is going to make an All-NBA team and state of the Knicks (29:05) Rounding out All-NBA candidates (35:32) Sixers in disarray without Embiid (48:58) Dumars and McCutchen (1:01:27) On scoring being down since the All-Star break (1:04:23) Ideas to help defenders (1:14:45) On how the 65-game rule is working (1:29:43) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Andrew Lopez discuss the red-hot Pelicans, Zion's play, Brandon Ingram's unheralded season, and how the Pelicans stack up against each of the West's elite. Then ESPN's Kevin Pelton joins to pick All-Defensive teams, talk Heat, Suns, Magic and Jamahl Mosley's extension, the recent decline in scoring and free throws, Victor Wembanyama, and much more.  Pels are a mystery box and a sleeping giant (6:26) Zion's improved defense and rebounding (10:57) Herb Jones has a case for All-Defense and Most Improved (13:28) The Pelicans' shooting luck defensively (20:13) Not enough talk about Brandon Ingram (27:08) How the Pels match up against other Western Conference playoff teams (33:30) Pelton (40:15) Middle of the East (57:46) 2nd tier All-Defense guys (1:02:47) Thunder in line for the top seed in the West (1:09:14) Wembanyama's All-Defense case (1:15:27) Scoring is down since the All-Star break (1:30:20) Temperature check on the Suns (1:39:46) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Bobby Marks discuss Denver's win over Boston in a potential Finals preview, whether Boston has crunch-time issues, the game's impact on the MVP race, and much more -- the impact of Karl-Anthony Towns injury on Minnesota's playoff chances and big-picture future, Dallas' win over Miami, ankle issues for Steph Curry, Victor Wembanyama, and LeBron James, Ben Simmons being out for the season, and what to make of Wembanyama wanting to win more soon. Then -- a special guest on all things Cavs and tax season.  Celtics in crunch time (12:57) You can't double-team Jokic (17:01) The Porzingis matchup for Jokic (24:53) Ben Simmons out for the year (34:16) KAT's injury (38:33) Keeping an eye on the Mavs (51:08) Is there another level for the Kings? (55:02) The Magic are making a charge (1:01:55) The noise around Wembanyama is just that (1:06:03) Cavs forward Dean Wade (1:16:31) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and Brian Scalabrine break down the red-hot Boston Celtics and who might challenge them in the East. Then ESPN's Chris Herring joins to talk about the top-4 in the West, the Bucks finding their groove, injuries to Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell, and Scottie Barnes, the Raptors deal for Kelly Olynyk, RJ Barrett's play, Anthony Davis, and much more around the league.  Derrick White has been amazing (12:36) The Warriors leaving Jaylen Brown open at the 3-point line (22:31) What are you looking for the rest of the way (28:03) Herring (39:04) What are you seeing with the Clippers? (41:57) OKC is for real (52:50) More surprising if Twolves win West or lose in 1st round? (1:11:52) Bucks charging (1:23:53) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike discuss the Lakers' big week, LeBron approaching 40,000 points and their favorite LeBron moments, the Bucks' surge on defense, Giannis' MVP case and the awards race overall, Wemby vs Chet, Rookie of the Year, San Antonio's path forward, whether it's time to worry about the Clippers, Houston's struggles, the Pelicans, much more.   Does it matter if the coach makes more than most players on the team? (14:10) LeBron's best moments (18:10) Concerned about the Clippers? (23:38) Trivia question (33:04) The Bucks under Doc Rivers (35:31) Why isn't Giannis talked about more as an MVP candidate? (49:57) ROY race (57:10) Rockets and Pelicans (1:06:58) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and Adam Mares of DNVR Sports check in on the Nuggets and break down all the key matchups at the top of the Western Conference. Then Nekias Duncan of the Dunker Spot joins to talk about playoff races in the middle of the East: Knicks, Sixers, red-hot Heat, Hawks without Trae Young, Magic's present and future, the frisky Raptors, the Pacers with Pascal Siakam, and much more.  Is this anything? (12:23) How the Nuggets match up with the Thunder, Timberwolves, and Clippers (23:35) Duncan (43:38) Heat (49:04) Pacers (1:02:27) Hawks (1:12:35) Raptors (1:20:07) Magic (1:27:54) Suns (1:35:41) Clippers (1:40:41) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and Mo Dakhil of The Athletic discuss the Warriors and Lakers, the surging Mavs, the Thunder going for the #1 seed, the state of the MVP race, and the three most important players for the rest of the season. Who has a better chance of making a run- Warriors or Lakers? (4:43) The surging Mavs (14:51) The state of the Suns (23:33) The Thunder are really going for it (31:01) Shai's MVP case (39:36) Tatum does not have a statistical case for MVP (47:34) The three most important players for the stretch run (53:14) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim Bontemps discuss the Brooklyn Nets soap opera of the last 10 years and where they go after firing Jacque Vaughn, and Tim picks his biggest East storyline of the rest of the season. Plus: Breaking down Mike Conley's extension. Then ESPN's Malika Andrews joins to fix All-Star, pick Most Confusing Teams in the West, and more. Plus: The Debut of Malika Andrews Worst Take of the Month.  The Nets firing of Jacque Vaughn (1:22) A turbulent decade plus for the Nets (16:55) Minnesota extends Mike Conley (38:15) Most intriguing Eastern Conference storyline the rest of the way (44:12) Andrews (52:15) Ideas to fix All-Star Weekend (53:40) Most confounding teams in the West (1:34:52) Malika's Worst Take of the Month (1:43:46) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Ramona Shelburne discuss the Warriors attempting to trade for LeBron James, LeBron's future in LA, the recent surges for both teams and whether they can do damage in the playoffs. Then John Hollinger of the Athletic weighs in on Rookie of the Year and checks in rookies in Charlotte, Memphis, Washington, Toronto, Utah, Houston, and more. Plus: Klay Thompson coming off the bench, Deni Avdija's recent play, the Bucks falling to 3-7 under Doc Rivers, much more! 1:00- Ramona's reporting on how close LeBron to the Warriors was to happening. 15:00- What are LeBron's goals at this stage of his career? 25:15- Are the Lakers and Warriors latest stretch sustainable? 30:05- The Warriors commitment to build a contender around Steph. 39:49- John Hollinger joins 40:00- Brandin Podziemski replacing Klay Thompson in the starting lineup 46:45- Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and the Utah Jazz 54:30- GG Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies 1:01:45- Concern level for Milwaukee 1:07:35- Brandon Miller's impressive season 1:17:50- Scoot Henderson's confusing rookie year 1:20:30- Houston Rockets' Guard Room 1:24:40- Rapid Fire Rookies 1:32:24- Rookie of the Year debate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and Steve Jones Jr. of The Dunker Spot pick their 5 Biggest Questions for the rest of the NBA season: Bucks, Suns, home-court in the West, Knicks, Sixers, Lakers and Warriors figuring things out, Trae Young's future, much more. Then Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com joins to discuss the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers: Are they contenders? What are the Bucks? (1:29) Who wins the West? (11:10) How good are the Suns? (19:52) Are you starting to believe in the Lakers or Warriors? (25:24) Can the Knicks and Sixers hold on? (41:59) Can Boston avoid getting in its own way? (47:41) What's the plan with Trae Young? (51:01) Who wins coach of the year? (1:04:05) Fedor (1:07:28) How is the reintegration of Garland and Mobley going? (1:12:30) Cavs have the inside track at the #2 seed in the East (1:17:14) Is this team a legitimate championship contender? (1:21:48) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach breaks down all the deals that happened and didn't happen at the NBA trade deadline with ESPN's Bobby Marks and then ESPN's Kevin Pelton coming out of the bullpen in a mega-episode. The guys hit every move, every big non-move (Lakers, Warriors, Bulls again!, Clippers, more) -- and almost every team.  2:50- The Knicks "Home-run" deadline moves. 15:45- The Detroit Pistons confusing deadline. 25:00 The Lakers quiet trade deadline. 30:00- Atlanta Hawks not moving Dejounte Murray 42:00- What is Chicago's direction? 54:20- Analyzing Dallas' moves at the trade deadline 1:10:00- Kevin Pelton joins the podcast 1:11:00- Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors trade 1:20:00- Warriors standing pat. 1:25:00- The Brooklyn Nets holding onto their assets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach and ESPN's Tim MacMahon discuss Joel Embiid's upcoming surgery, ramifications for the Sixers going forward, all things trade deadline, All-Star snubs, MVP candidates, and much more.  Embiid to have surgery (1:02) Zach's tweak to the 65 game rule (9:22) How Sixers will approach trade deadline (15:20) Big picture on the trade deadline (21:28) Possible moves for the Mavs (28:59) Rockets, Cavs, and Nets (39:20) Jazz (49:56) Clippers (56:19) MVP candidates (59:25) Nuggets (1:05:34) All-Star injury replacements (1:10:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zach talks about Joel Embiid's injury and what comes next with injury expert Jeff Stotts. Then ESPN's Chris Herring joins to discuss the Lakers beating Boston without Anthony Davis and LeBron, LeBron's cryptic tweets, Lakers options at trade deadline, Knicks recent play and Jalen Brunson, Boston's up-and-down last two weeks, and their most interesting trade deadline teams: Chicago, Oklahoma City, Brooklyn, Sacramento, Atlanta, the Clippers, more -- plus whether the more asset-poor contenders in Phoenix, Milwaukee, Denver, and Phoenix can pull off any deals. That and much more! Possible explanations for Embiid's meniscus (2:36) Thoughts on 65 games played threshold for MVP and other awards (12:49) Herring (20:12) LeBron's cryptic tweets and Lakers' approach to trade deadline (20:46) What will and should the Bulls do? (38:45) Celtics have been a bit wobbly lately (45:56) Knicks offense with OG Anunoby (50:21) Brunson is a star (54:31) How will Knicks act at deadline? (58:48) Rapid fire on other teams ahead of the deadline (1:07:10) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices