Hardwood Knocks is chatting up a STORM in advance of the 2021-22 NBA season. Consider this your lifeline page for all podcasts that will prep you for another go-round in the Association. From offseason grades and breakout candidates for every team to individual deep dives into all 30 squads, we’ve got you covered.
Please note our season lookahead podcast series is ongoing, so each team’s episode will be added as they roll out. And make sure you’re following and subscribing to Hardwood Knocks wherever available!!! ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
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Offseason Report Cards
Eastern Conference
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Grading Criteria (2:46) Atlanta Hawks (5:26) Boston Celtics (13:17) Brooklyn Nets (25:14) Charlotte Hornets (31:58) Chicago Bulls (42:57) Cleveland Cavaliers (55:13) Detroit Pistons (1:02:42) Indiana Pacers (1:10:45) Miami Heat (1:16:41) Milwaukee Bucks (1:25:12) New York Knicks (1:32:10) Orlando Magic (1:46:13) Philadelphia 76ers (1:51:16) Toronto Raptors (1:57:23)
Washington Wizards (2:06:53)
Western Conference
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Dallas Mavericks (4:04) Denver Nuggets (15:07) Golden State Warriors (22:52) Houston Rockets (42:10) Los Angeles Clippers (51:29) Los Angeles Lakers (59:13) Memphis Grizzlies (1:14:02) Minnesota Timberwolves (1:23:05) New Orleans Pelicans (1:30:33) Oklahoma City Thunder (1:46:21) Phoenix Suns (1:56:52) Portland Trail Blazers (2:07:41) Sacramento Kings (2:15:05) San Antonio Spurs (2:23:07)
Utah Jazz (2:32:53)
2021-22 Breakout Candidates for Every NBA Team
Eastern Conference
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Hawks (17:44) Celtics (21:27) Nets (26:07) Hornets (30:27) Bulls (34:40) Cavaliers (39:56) Pistons (46:20) Pacers (50:42) Heat (55:21) Bucks (59:59) Knicks (64:16) Magic (69:46) Sixers (73:58) Raptors (79:47)
Wizards (84:29)
Western Conference
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Mavericks (3:45) Nuggets (10:39) Warriors (19:35) Rockets (26:33) Clippers (31:31) Lakers (35:59) Grizzlies (40:25) Timberwolves (44:59) Pelicans (53:08) Thunder (1:00:44) Suns (1:07:03) Blazers (1:12:11) Kings (1:16:42) Spurs (1:23:10)
Jazz (1:26:37)
2021-22 NBA Season Lookaheads for Every Team
Atlanta Hawks with Sarah K. Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Intro/Puppies! (00:00) Impressions of the Hawks offseason (6:29) Trae Young’s next step (14:04) Atlanta’s offense when Trae sits (17:41) The backup center rotation (22:22) John Collins’ growth (24:02) Expectations for De’Andre Hunter (29:24) Kevin Huerter and Cam Reddish (33:26) Nate McMillan’s impact (36:41) Rookie-year expectations for Sharife Cooper and Jalen Johnson (40:07) Are the Hawks built for a consolidation/blockbuster trade? (42:47) Player most likely to be traded (51:49) Best closing lineup (54:34) Quirky lineups we want to see (55:22) Win-total prediction (57:20)
Boston Celtics with Alex Kungu of Hoops Island
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:54 – Intro 3:30 – Takeaways from Celtics offseason 6:37 – Can Jayson Tatum take another playmaking leap? 10:22 – Does Jaylen Brown have more table-setting in him? 16:41 – The fits of Dennis Schroder & Josh Richardson 19:36 – Marcus Smart’s expanded role 21:49 – Robert Williams III’s expanded role 23:56 – Will RWIII play a ton with Al Horford? 26:38 – Expectations for Payton Pritchard & Aaron Nesmith 28:50 – End of rotation decisions: Juan Hernangomez, Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Jabari Parker 31:47 – Boston’s defensive ceiling 35:08 – Trade candidates 38:21 – Best crunch-time lineup 40:32 – Quirky lineups we want to see 43:32 – Win-total predictions
45:21 – Alex trolls the Knicks! (But also advocates for Kemba’s defense!)
Charlotte Hornets with Konata Edwards of the Locked On Hornets Podcast
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Intro (0:57) Grant Riller catharsis (2:39) Why Charlotte didn’t spend big on a center (7:06) Rookie-year expectations for Kai Jones (12:45) P.J. Washington’s progress at the 5 (16:56) Kelly Oubre Jr.’s fit (20:33) Miles Bridges’ ascendance/next contract (23:43) Terry Rozier’s extension/long-term value to Charlotte (33:26) Early impressions of James Bouknight (40:15) Where LaMelo Ball needs to improve (47:24) Charlotte’s place in the East (52:17) Will the Hornets consider trading for a center? (1:02:21) Best closing lineup (1:09:57) Quirky lineups we want to see (1:11:32) Win-total predictions/Eastern Conference standings (1:13:10)
Jalen McDaniels (1:21:31)
Dallas Mavericks with Dalton Trigg from the Step Back Mavs Podcast
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ 0:54 – Intro 4:23 – Did the Mavs have an underrated free agency? 7:17 – The Luka-plus-shooting model 9:05 – Impact Sterling Brown and Reggie Bullock 11:12 – Dallas’ lack of secondary shot creation 14:15 – What does a better version of Luka look like? 19:17 – Kristaps-at-the-4(???) 25:52 – Trey Burke vs. Frank Ntilikina vs. Josh Green 32:44 – Other changes to expect under Jason Kidd 35:46 – Trade candidates/Trade targets 40:54 – Best crunch-time lineup 43:29 – Quirky lineups we want to see 45:29 – Win-total prediction
47:33 – Final thoughts on Jason Kidd
Golden State Warriors with Sam Esfandiari of the Light Years Podcast
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Intro (00:00) The Ben Simmons talk (2:53) Jordan Poole/The offense when Steph sits (9:49) Expectations for Klay Thompson (12:22) Expectations for James Wiseman (16:00) Jonathan Kuminga and Mose Moody (22:09) Importance of Otto Porter Jr., Nemanja Bjelica and Andre Iguodala (24:47) Will Golden State lean more on Draymond-at-the-5? (28:18) Can Stephen Curry remain ageless? (34:23) Best closing lineup (37:35) Quirky lineups we want to see (40:08) Win-total prediction (42:31)
Should we expect the Dubs to make a major trade? (44:05)
Houston Rockets with Salman Ali of the Red Nation Hoops Podcast
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ Overall impressions of the Rockets offseason (3:57) How will the John Wall situation end? (5:12) Other trade candidates on the Rockets (16:01) Can the Rockets get involved in the Ben Simmons sweepstakes? (22:41) Christian Wood’s value to Houston (24:59) Can Kevin Porter Jr. be a full-time floor general? (30:34) Jalen Green’s role (34:18) How will the Rockets use Alperen Sengun? (38:00) Rookie-year expectations for Josh Christopher, Usman Garuba (44:06) Jae’Sean Tate’s ceiling (47:14) Is Kenyon Martin Jr. a long-term keeper? (52:18) Where will the Rockets defense and offense rank? (54:26) Best crunch-time lineup (1:00:04) Quirky lineups we want to see (1:01:51) Win-total prediction (1:04:59)
Final thoughts (1:11:54)
Indiana Pacers with Caitlin Cooper of Indy Cornrows
TIMESTAMPS⬇️ A quick thank you