X's & O's: Lynam Basketball Podcast

Episode 17: The Warriors Are Champions Once Again

1:45 The performance of Stephen Curry; he played up to the standard he has set on this grand stage. 3:10 The Warriors were down and out the last two years. To go from a play-in game a year ago to NBA Champions is incredible. 4:35 Who would Klay Thompson be after missing two seasons. Thompson was not his old self, but the play of Andrew Wiggins off-set that. 5:44 The Warriors were not going to let Jayson Tatum beat them. 7:00 Golden State has one quality that Coach Lynam does not like, but they compensate in other areas to mitigate that flaw 8:10 The nature of NBA play these days is outside in. The emphasis is on three point shooting. 10:30 We analyze how the Warriors were built. Credit the Golden State front office as well as the coaching staff for picking the right players and then coaching them up. 12:45 Finding a guy like a Gary Payton II; “he is a club in the bag” and guys like that are incredibly valuable. 13:30 Is it becoming more difficult to predict who the front runner to win it all next year is? The answer is - there are a lot of good teams. The NBA is headed in the direction of the NFL where on any given Sunday…. 15:25 If you are the Sixers, the future can be daunting considering the talented teams that are in the league. 16:30 If the Sixers are going to be a threat to the teams that are upper echelon currently, the play of James Harden will be a big factor in doing that. 17:50 James Harden discussion 19:00 Is the pressure equal amongst Morey, Rivers, Harden, Embiid? 21:00 When the lights shine brightest, who plays the best? The list is impressive, but the Sixers stars aren’t there yet. 21:52 Steve Kerr has four Championship rings as a head coach to go along with five rings as a player. 24:20 What will we see around the league in free agency? Coach thinks we will see activity, but not a “knock your socks” list of players. 25:50 If the Sixers acquire another star it likely requires moving Tobias Harris. 26:42 Lack of consistency from the Sixers role players, how do you change that? Derrick White of the Celtics is an example.

Episode 16: The Finals is a Best Of Three

In episode 16 of X’s & O’s the Lynams discuss how the NBA Finals have arrived at a now best of three series with Game 5 on the horizon Monday night. Stephen Curry has been sensational. The Boston Celtics have countered with greater depth and weapons of scoring ability. Here is where the conversation goes: 1:05 Coach Lynam believes you are watching two great defensive teams. 2:15 How is Steph Curry doing what he is doing at both ends of the floor at 34 years of age? Coach Lynam has great admiration for Curry averaging 34 points per game in these Finals, but is it sustainable? 4:25 “Curry is operating in a space barely able to contain his body; its like he is working in a phone booth…” Curry ignores the presence of the up close defender. 6:15 Curry is supremely confident. 6:45 Boston through four games has outscored the Warriors 422-421 and yet the winner in each case has won by ten or more. Coach explains why he still favors Boston to win the series. 9:45 What did Coach Lynam make of Steve Kerr sitting Draymond Green for a significant stretch of the fourth quarter because Green continues to struggle mightily from a scoring perspective. 12:25 Coach Lynam credits Green for trusting Kerr and also contributing in other ways. 14:30 Game 4 from the Boston perspective. 16:00 The Celtics have greater possibilities of guys who on a given night can score the ball. 17:00 The winner of game five logically in the driver seat, but coach thinks these two team are too evenly matched to dismiss that either team is capable of winning two games in a row. 18:45 Discussion about Markelle Fultz and Jayson Tatum and the players they have become or haven’t become. 21:10 Looking at various drafts and where players were selected and who becomes a star. 22:30 Portland Trailblazers viewed Greg Oden vs. Kevin Durant as a photo finish in that NBA draft. 23:20 Getting a rotational player (first year) in the bottom third of the draft is the exception not the rule. 24:30 Do players coming from certain schools or coaches impact an organization selecting players who are on the board in the moment? 26:50 Coach makes his Game 5 pick 27:40 Golden State is dependent on four players, playing at high levels. They have less wiggle room. 29:00 Adjustments are ongoing; it never stops throughout a series

Episode 15: Dei and Coach Are Back For The NBA Finals

In episode 15 of X’s & O’s Dei Lynam and Coach Lynam look at how the NBA Finals’ series came to be knotted at 1-1, what they are expecting as the series shifts to Boston for games three and four, and then what the Sixers options are this summer if they are going to improve their roster. 1:35 Coach Lynam believes Boston found a way to win that Game one, but he has reasons to believe that was an outlier. 2:45 Jason Tatum more beneficial in this series as a scorer or distributor? 5:15 What makes Draymond Green so special? Does Draymond Green being an agitator make you a fan or do his antics annoy you? The coach weighs in. 8:45 Golden State needs Klay Thompson to pick it up. On the flip side, Derrick White must sustain his play to take pressure off Tatum and Brown. 9:45 What goes on in the respective locker rooms at halftime because Golden State is dominating the third quarter. 12:19 Boston cannot have 2, 2, 2 happen again. 14:04 How can the Sixers be better given that they are over the cap and have 13 players under contract. 16:20 “I don’t think there is a taker.” Coach explains what it would take for the Sixers to move Tobias Harris. 18:02 Sixers situation if moving Tobias is their answer, is starting to resemble the Lakers roster. 18:55 How good can Tyrese Maxey be? Better than Tony Parker? An all-star or even all pro - we discuss. 21:15 With one year left on a deal… the situation changes. We make an argument for standing pat for 2022-23 season. 23:45 “The issue is the Sixers bailed out back to back years in really bad style.” Fans next spring will be collectively holding their breath at the Wells Fargo center when the post season commences. 26:50 How one performs when the most is on the line 29:15 Steph Curry will be remembered for what he does in the post season. 30:25 “they will bang on his door,” says the coach when discussing Quin Snyder’s departure from Utah.

Episode 14: Dei and Coach Welcome Billy Lange

In episode 14 of X’s & O’s Dei Lynam and Jim Lynam include Coach Billy Lange, head basketball coach at Saint Joseph’s University, in the conversation. Prior to being named the 15th all-time head coach on Hawk Hill, Lange was an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. His relationships with players and coaches are countless and he shares some behind-the-scenes stories. 5:00 Lange explains how Jimmy Butler recently showed up in Hagan Arena. 9:55 Lange won’t miss a minute of the Miami - Boston series because of his long time relationships with Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry. 11:15 Coach Lynam discusses the frequency of “clunkers” happening in the NBA Playoffs; the why behind it and who is best weathering that storm. 16:35 Billy Lange shares a story about “Riggin for Wiggins” and the growth of players over time. 19:08 Joel Embiid story about getting creative using a chair during his two year hiatus due to injury. 22:00 The influence of others on coaching style… a long list for both Billy and Coach Lynam 25:00 Coach Lynam shares a story about Charles Barkley and Larry Bird and the “hitch” 28:00 Going to games at the Spectrum and the Palestra. Coach Lynam would give his Palestra practice days to Rollie Massimino. 29:40 The fruits of a Hubie Brown clinic… Coach Lynam recalls 32:20 Lange is passionate about taking care of the present, but also the past at SJU.

Episode 13: Herb Magee Joins The Show

In episode 13 of X's and O's, Dei Lynam and Coach Jim Lynam are joined by Herb Magee. 2:00 Three West Catholic teammates all go on to coach at the college level or higher and in their hometown - isn’t that so unique of a situation? 4:25 The coaching fraternity of basketball coaches in Philadelphia area has a long history of great camaraderie. 5:55 Herb Magee did not think the Sixers had enough to win the championship. He lists his reasons for the why behind his thought. 8:00 Miami and Boston pretty evenly matched teams in Coach Lynam’s eyes. He picks Bam Adebayo being an X factor for Miami; versus the Celtics three-point shooting. 11:00 Magee talks about NBA coaches who make adjustments in game and on off days. 12:15 Luka Doncic discussion 14:36 Is Steph Curry the best shooter of all time? Herb Magee weighs in. 17:26 Dallas versus GS; who you got? 19:20 What Herb Magee likes about Tyrese Maxey’s game beyond his high three point shooting percentage this season. 21:41 Herb Magee shares his experience of working with Charles Barkley back in the day, when he was trying to improve Barkley’s shooting. 24:15 Other NBA players Magee worked with over the years. 29:00 Who wins the NBA championship