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S6 Ep51: Play-In CHAOS + Full NBA Award Ballot

Basketball

S6 Ep51: Play-In CHAOS + Full NBA Award Ballot

The Hoop Genius Podcast›
2 days ago39:35

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Episode Notes

The NBA play-in tournament is deliveringeverything you could ask for. The Golden State Warriors came back from double digits down in the fourth quarter to eliminate the Clippers, Al Horford hit three straight threes, and Draymond Green locked Kawhi Leonard out of the game. Portland upset Phoenix. The Sixers handled Orlando, and Charlotte ended Miami's season in overtime with a LaMelo Ball controversy hanging over the whole thing.

Mo and Coach Brendan Suhr break down every play-in result before turning to the end of season awards. Who gets MVP? Who wins Coach of the Year? Why is the Most Improved Award being given to the wrong players? And is Cooper Flagg already good enough to have been on the US Olympic team?

Both hosts submit their full award ballot and make the case for some picks you won't hear anywhere else, including a Most Improved Player who hasn't been mentioned in any of these conversations.

Listen or watch on your favourite platform and catch up before the playoffs begin.

Topics covered:

  • Warriors comeback win over the Clippers, play-in recap
  • Portland Trail Blazers eliminating the Phoenix Suns
  • Philadelphia 76ers defeating the Orlando Magic
  • Charlotte Hornets beating the Miami Heat in overtime
  • LaMelo Ball's flagrant 2 foul on Bam Adebayo and the referee failure
  • A'ja Wilson's $1.4M per year contract vs NBA rookie salaries
  • Golden State vs Phoenix play-in preview
  • 2026 NBA MVP debate: SGA vs Wembanyama vs Jokic
  • Victor Wembanyama Defensive Player of the Year
  • Joe Mazzulla as Coach of the Year and the best coach in the NBA right now
  • Brad Stevens Executive of the Year
  • Sixth Man of the Year: Mo's pick vs Brendan's pick
  • Most Improved Player: why lottery picks shouldn't qualify
  • Cooper Flagg Rookie of the Year
  • Clutch Player of the Year debate

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This podcast is brought to you by NBA2K26:
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