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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Summary:
The Central Division is wobbling between comfort and courage, and we’re calling the shots that actually move teams forward. We start in Chicago, where play-in habits and expiring money collide with a promising youth surge. Josh Giddey’s vision is opening the rim, Kobe White’s value is peaking, and Matas Buzelis looks ready to close. The question isn’t whether the kids can flash; it’s whether the front office will trade from strength to chase real upside and finally fix the rim protection gap.
Indiana faces a different test: how to keep pace without its engine. With Tyrese Halliburton rehabbing and Miles Turner gone, Rick Carlisle leans into defense-to-corners offense, Pascal Siakam’s short-roll reads, and Andrew Nembhard’s point-of-attack grit. The spotlight lands on Benedict Mathurin’s decision making and Jarace Walker’s second-side initiation—because replacing lost threes and paint gravity requires more than hope, it requires habits that scale into 2026.
Milwaukee makes the boldest bet: Point Giannis at speed. Doc Rivers wants quicker decisions, high outlets, and wing sprints on every make. Miles Turner replaces Brooke Lopez with younger legs and pick-and-pop volume, clearing lanes and forcing long closeouts. The third scorer becomes a nightly committee—Kevin Porter Jr., Gary Trent Jr., or a Kuzma cutting revival—while corner threes aim to lift Giannis’s assist totals and calm the half-court.
Detroit pushes for consistency over flashes. Cade Cunningham set the tone; now Jaden Ivey must become the clean No. 2 with point-of-attack stops and corner volume. With Asar Thompson disrupting and Jalen Duren anchoring, JB Bickerstaff’s rotation needs reliable bench shooting from Duncan Robinson and Chaz Lanier to keep spacing honest when the game slows.
Cleveland stares at a rare opening and a heavy bill. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland drive the offense, Evan Mobley must claim more usage, and Jarrett Allen has to translate regular-season dominance into playoff bite. Health and wing depth help, but the verdict comes in May: validate the core or reshape it.
If you’re here for real stakes—windows, role clarity, and decisions that change ceilings—hit play. Then subscribe, share with a Central fan, and drop your boldest prediction in our mentions. We’ll read the best takes on Tuesday’s prediction show.
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Chapters
1. How The Bulls, Pacers, Bucks, Pistons, And Cavs Can Turn Uncertainty Into Wins (00:00:00)
2. Welcome And What's Coming Next (00:00:13)
3. How To Follow And Send Feedback (00:02:11)
4. Bulls Overview: Stuck In The Middle (00:03:55)
5. Kids Closing Time In Chicago (00:06:07)
6. Giddey, Kobe, And The Asset Math (00:11:25)
7. Lineups, Defense, And Rim Protection (00:16:31)
8. Pacers Lose Their Engine (00:20:46)
9. Siakam’s Usage And Next Men Up (00:25:09)
10. Milwaukee’s Philosophical Reset (00:31:16)
11. Turner’s Fit And Giannis Speed Plan (00:36:09)
12. Detroit’s Cade-Ivey Era Begins (00:42:37)
13. Depth, Bench Roles, And Shooting Needs (00:48:06)
14. Cleveland’s Window And Allen Question (00:54:32)
15. Pressure Year And Closing Groups (01:01:00)
16. Programming Notes And Predictions Tease (01:07:24)
17. Sign-Off And Community Message (01:13:01)
57 episodes
