Game Theory Podcast

This is one of the best NBA seasons ever, and it's because the star power across the league is playing at the highest level imaginable. The league has never been deeper with stars than it is right now. For 20 minutes, Danny Leroux joins the show and we talk about all of the utterly elite performances we're seeing on a nightly basis from Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, Giannis, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Steph prior to his injury, LeBron, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka, Trae Young, Darius Garland, Ja Morant and all of the other amazing players who have continued to step up league wide. Then, we talk about the MVP race between Jokic, Embiid and Giannis, and finished with some talk about the weird Defensive Player of the Year race, which is littered with injuries from the best candidates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sam Vecenie and Matt Pennie are here to break down all of the NCAA Tournament Bracket reveal. We run through region by region, breaking down all of the matchups, the NBA prospects, the big picture takeaways, and more from an eventful Sunday in sports. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie and they talk about eight players who have the most to gain or lose as March Madness gets going. The first of those names is Chet Holmgren, and they start with 20 minutes on the conversation surrounding Chet, including why he's such a monster and why the conversation needs to shift from what he doesn't have to how complete his game is. (0:00-20:00)Then, they chat about Ochai Agbaji, Jaden Ivey, AJ Griffin, TyTy Washington, Tari Eason, Dalen Terry, Alondes Williams and Jake LaRavia. (20:00-42:00Then, they talk NBA Draft Prospects of the Week: Ryan Rollins at Toledo and Matthew Murrell at Ole Miss. (42:00-50:00). Then, they answer mailbag questions (50:00-1:00:00). Finally they close with 15 minutes on The Batman, a fantastic new entry into the series of Batman films from Matt Reeves (1:00:00-end). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection a

In this episode, Sam Vecenie is joined by Matt Pennie to answer questions regarding the 2022 NBA Draft as we head into March Madness. We start by addressing the MANY rumors that he is a candidate to take over as head coach at his alma mater, UMass.Then we actually dive into draft questions. We address weaknesses that the top pick candidates have in 2022, the best teams to watch in the NCAA Tournament for NBA fans, the players most likely to spike up the board come March Madness. In all, I think we answered over 30 questions in 90 minutes, so we covered a lot of ground! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Schlecht joins the podcast, and we discuss a fun topic today: how do NBA teams keep fans engaged when the team is tanking? On top of that, how do you be a fan of a rebuilding team? The Oklahoma City Thunder have done a great job of both this season, featuring in the top half of all NBA teams in local TV ratings while also putting a fun, exciting product on the floor while losing, so Schlecht joins the show to break down what they've done right. On top of it, we then create a to-do list for all teams and fans for how to create an exciting tanking situation that keeps everyone enthusiastic about the product. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tony Jones joins the show with Sam Vecenie to give some fun bold predictions for the rest of the 2022 NBA season in the Western Conference! This is the second part of a two-part episode. The Eastern Conference with Dave DuFour came earlier in the week.In this episode, Sam and Dave bounce back hot takes about the way the rest of the Western Conference season will go. Will the Pelicans get Zion Williamson answers? Can the Lakers do anything to end the season? Will Mikal Bridges win Defensive Player of the Year? Will the Jazz have playoff success? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie in this episode to mock the 2022 NBA Draft by doing a mock draft. At first, we dive deep on the depth of the 2022 draft, breaking down the class as a whole. Then, we make 30 picks. All of the first round. It's fun! See where Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith, Jaden Ivey, and plenty more end up! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dave DuFour joins the show with Sam Vecenie to give some fun bold predictions for the rest of the 2022 NBA season in the Eastern Conference! This is the first part of a two-part episode, with the second part coming on Wednesday on the Western Conference. In this episode, Sam and Dave bounce back hot takes about the way the rest of the Eastern Conference season will go. Giannis for MVP? Chicago out in the playoffs early? DeMar DeRozan makes the Hall of Fame on the back of this season? The Cavaliers fall to the play-in tournament? Or the Cavaliers rise to the No. 1 seed? Boston makes a run and wins two playoff series? All those takes and more, including a random aside on Nikola Jokic and his elite play so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie to break down the 2022 NBA Draft by answering 21 Questions to re-set the process as we get beyond the Super Bowl and basketball starts to take center stage in the consciousness.1. What is your overall thought on the 2022 NBA Draft as we get past the Super Bowl and into the part of the year where everything starts to focus on basketball?2. Who are the contenders for the No. 1 overall pick?3. Chet Holmgren is dominating. Do we chalk this up to playing in the WCC or genuine improvement throughout the year?4. Paolo Banchero has slowed down just a bit from his early dominance, averaging 14.9 points on 14.9 shots per game over his last seven. Is he still a candidate?5. What makes Jabari Smith such an elite prospect?6. Whether or not you agree, scouts generally have Jaden Ivey as the clear top guard prospect. Do you think Purdue's scheme holds him back in terms of production and efficiency, or do you think believe that he's just a bit limited skill wise?7. Who has been

Sam Vecenie is joined by a pair of awesome guests to break down one of the most action-packed NBA Trade Deadlines in recent memory. First, Michael Levin of The Rights to Ricky Sanchez and TV writer fame joins to break down the Ben Simmons-James Harden deal, the biggest midseason trade that has happened in the NBA in a long time. Then, Mo Dakhil joins to break down the rest of the NBA Trade Deadline. We chat Simmons-Harden for a bit at the top, then move to the Kristaps Porzingis move, the Derrick White trade to Boston, the four-teamer involving Donte Divincenzo and Marvin Bagley, the Thad Young-Goran Dragic deal and everything else that occurred -- or in the Lakers case, did not occur -- on a wild deadline day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie to dive deep into the trades that have occurred in the NBA thus far at the deadline. They start with the Tyrese Haliburton for Domantas Sabonis deal. They talk a lot about the Kings, and what exactly their plan is here. Then they move to the McCollum deal, one that seems almost impossible to evaluate without knowing the context of where Zion Williamson is in his recovery. Finally, they talk Levert, and he figures to help Cleveland.Then they move to Chet Holmgren, and discuss how the Gonzaga center has upended the Race for No. 1 in our weekly segment. They get into the center crop of Walker Kessler, Mark Williams and Christian Koloko next, wondering if the two of us are collectively underrating that trio given their relatively high floors. Finally, they move to Prospects of the Week, and some final Oscars nominations talk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for informati

Sam Vecenie is joined by The Athletic contributor and pro basketball player Cole Huff to run through some things within the NBA. They start on the Norman Powell/Robert Covington/Keon Johnson deal briefly, then they move to the Wizards being kind of a mess. Should Bradley Beal ask out? What should the team do at the deadline? They then chat about 76ers and the Nets potentially talking again about a Ben Simmons-James Harden swap, they give a fake trade that might make some sense, then discuss whether or not such a trade makes sense. How would Simmons and Harden fit in their respective situations? Then they chat about the Lakers, and they finish on some of their favorite players to watch right now league-wide -- including a discussion on guards Darius Garland and Jalen Brunson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Pennie is here and Sam is sick with vaccine side effects! They trudge through anyway, diving deep on a few topics. First, they break down the race to be the first guard selected in the 2022 NBA Draft. Is it Wisconsin's Johnny Davis, or Purdue's Jaden Ivey?Then, we move to the race to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. We recap Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren's weeks, or look forward to what they have coming up. We move on to a group of freshmen that have stood out in recent weeks, including Peyton Watson, Max Christie, Jeremy Sochan, AJ Griffin and Josh Minott. Finally, we close on mailbag questions, which were awesome this week. And on our Game Theory Prospects of the Week, Justin Lewis from Marquette and DaRon Holmes from Dayton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

James Edwards from The Athletic joins the show! We break down a few items from the NBA Trade Deadline market, including the Kings apparently being out on Ben Simmons and the Pacers setting a hilarious Caris LeVert price tag, per reports. Then, we chat about the All-Star teams. We break down the All-Star starters that were named in the East and West last night, including the Andrew Wiggins inclusion. Then, we make our picks for All-Star reserves, including what is an absolute bloodbath in the East and a pretty straight forward choice in the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie to run through a million things. First, we start with the Ben Simmons/James Harden rumors that have percolated in the last 24 hours. Then, we move to the Shaedon Sharpe report, and what makes him such an interesting prospect for the 2022 NBA Draft if he is eligible and decides to go down that route. Then we talk #PennieFieldTrip, where this weekend Pennie went to Auburn-Kentucky, a G League Ignite game, and an OTE game. We break down Walker Kessler, Jabari Smith, the Auburn crowd, Jaden Hardy, Dyson Daniels, MarJon Beauchamp, Michael Foster, the OTE experience, Jean Montero, Dom Barlow and more. We close with mailbag questions and our two Game Theory Prospects of the week, Isiaih Mosley from Missouri State and Colby Jones from Xavier. Then we talk "Random Movies Sam sees on TV while searching for Australian Sports." We close on Yellowjackets for a 10-minute, spoiler-ridden conversation that goes from 1:35:00 to 1:48:00. Then a late breaking addition to the pod co

The Athletic's Jared Weiss joins Sam Vecenie to talk about the NBA Trade Deadline, giving a deep dive on where the market stands by talking about the teams and players that will shape this season's event. We dive deep into the following players: Ben Simmons, Myles Turner, Caris LeVert, Jerami Grant, Eric Gordon , Marcus Smart, Talen Horton Tucker, Buddy Hield, Robert Covington, Joe Ingles, and Kenrich Williams as a stand-in for all of the guys under the radar who could help teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Matt Pennie joins Sam Vecenie where they draft college hoops. Particularly, if you had to win a game tomorrow, who would you pick in college hoops? We dive deep, and select eight players each that we would use to fill out a lineup and bench. Team Pennie vs. Team Vecenie: Who You Got?Also, we do a mailbag section with questions on Christian Braun, most shocking NBA Draft picks we can remember, the player ranked in the 20s most likely to become a lottery pick, and the worst movie we've seen. Also, Game Theory Prospects of the Week: Mark Williams from Duke, and Iverson Molinar from Mississippi State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's that time of the month! It's Mock Draft SZN. In this episode, Matt Pennie and Sam Vecenie trade off picks, deep diving into the 2022 NBA Draft. We deep dive into players like Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivey, Johnny Davis, Keegan Murray, TyTy Washington, Blake Wesley, Ochai Agbaji, Dyson Daniels, Jaden Hardy, and plenty others as we run through 30 picks over two hours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fred Katz joins Sam Vecenie to hand out some Game Theory midseason NBA hardware! Fred joins and we run give out our ballots for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, and Sixth Man of the Year, while also doing All-NBA and All-Defense at the end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Seth Partnow joins Sam Vecenie to re-draft the 2019 NBA Draft! Should Ja Morant have gone No. 1 overall, or Zion Williamson? Is Darius Garland a future all-star? Tyler Herro or Jordan Poole? R.J. Barrett or De'Andre Hunter? How has this draft gone so poorly in terms of providing value thus far? What happened? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.