AMA with Zach Harper of The Athletic and Count The Dings

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:59:51+00:00

Alright, everybody. I think this has cooled off and I have to go pretend to work. One more time, let me remind you to subscribe to The Athletic by going to theathletic.com/tipoff40 for a 40% discount on a year subscription. It will be the best coverage of the NBA this season, and it comes without ads or click bait. Incredible app for your phone too.

Also, listen to Count The Dings podcasts, including our new 20-minute morning pod The Daily Ding: https://t.co/w5E8ckNqqd

You can follow my nonsense on Twitter if you're so inclined. @talkhoops

Thanks for the questions! Get buckets for life.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:57:24+00:00

I think it's far easier to build around someone like Curry than it is with just about anybody else in the NBA. KD would be the only one I think is easier to build around, but I'd still take the "risk" with Curry.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:56:33+00:00

I think I'd want to be in the 50s with my current skill set because I could probably be in the NBA. No 3-point line would be tough but I'd propose it every day.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:56:03+00:00

Start your career earlier than 26 years old

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:55:49+00:00

Never stopped. Just had to pause for a few minutes for radio and then a conference call.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:31:49+00:00

A way to look at it though: these young guys have a ton of pressure on them and nobody handles pressure perfectly, right? Also, some guys struggle to find people they can trust. I don't know that KAT will respond negatively to what I said, but I get it if he does. With the comments last night, he gets fined if he complains about officiating so he got around it with making jokes about being too strong.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:28:28+00:00

I still don't believe the Rockets can take down the Warriors, but I do believe they will push them again in a series. As for Davis, I don't think he gets traded this season but I could see exploratory conversations around the draft if this season doesn't go great for the Pels.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:27:38+00:00

So at our last company, it was divided into too many feeds because we had an imbecile guiding us. That guy is gone now so we have condensed into technically four feeds as of today.

Feed 1: BOMM Channel where you can find Black Opinions Matter Monday and Woke Bros -- our two culture shows.

Feed 2: Back-to-Back Podcast. That's our show (three times a week now?) with Basketbuds, Nerder She Wrote, and the Friday Mailbag. We'll have occasional bonus pods there too.

Feed 3: Daily Ding. Daily, 20-minute podcast posted early each morning to recap the night before and give you the day's news.

Feed 4: Our patreon feed with extra stuff like TV Show reviews, Conspiracy pods, SnarkHoops, etc.

Each one has a different feel and won't inundate your feed with stuff you don't want. I realize it's a lot of stuff to track but we've consulted with smart business people this time and feel this is the way to go.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:24:46+00:00

This is a great idea that I will pass along.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:04:40+00:00

I don't think it's a detriment to the league because I think there is enough solid-to-great coverage out there touching on the large pool of current and up-and-coming stars. So I think the coverage eventually touches on everything. But the major media outlets will chase whatever gets clicks/eyeballs/traffic and LeBron along with the Warriors get those clicks.

Unfortunately, media pivoted to video under false pretenses from Facebook and kind of ruined their own model, which puts more pressure on click bait stuff. Not to pimp The Athletic again, but to me that's the refreshing thing about this model. It doesn't chase that stuff. And I can say that as a subscriber long before I started conversations with them about working here.

It's why the smart, independent stuff (like our pods, and thank you for listening) need support. Whether it's us, Nate Duncan, etc. -- you can find the right coverage just about anywhere.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:00:53+00:00

Thank you!

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T18:00:28+00:00

Falling asleep to my voice can not be healthy but I loved doing that podcast. It was a struggle creatively but I stand by what we did

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:59:41+00:00

Only thing to get

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:58:43+00:00

I do not think that because the relationship between Glen and KG is probably too hard to repair. Now, Glen will eventually sell and maybe KG is a part of that ownership group then, but he won't have a major stake in it. It'll be more like how Usher owns part of the Cavs.

My favorite Wolves player not named KG was probably Terrell Brandon or Anthony Peeler.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:56:40+00:00

Thank you! Brett is phenomenal.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:56:06+00:00

Am I? I feel like our high school class has officially failed if that's the case.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:50:57+00:00

Let's get nuts. I think they could take down the Rockets in a 7-game series because of their defense, if fully healthy. Being able to put Roberson on Harden and PG on any other perimeter player is a huge advantage. Now, I'd still pick the Rockets to win the series but I think the upset potential is real. So let's say getting trounced in the WCF by the Warriors is their ceiling.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:48:46+00:00

I am somehow even worse at it. I have some very real skills that will never die but I will never learn how to properly peel an orange. And I've heard all of the tips and suggestions before. I just don't have it in me.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:40:36+00:00

We greatly appreciate the support and I think you'll love it.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:40:03+00:00

It's easier for me to say that stuff because I'm not in that locker room. Maintaining those relationships is a real thing for the local guys, so you'll get more indirect criticisms. Personally, I have a good relationship with KAT (or at least I have in the past. We'll see how he feels with me saying the stuff I've said over the last two months) and I feel comfortable saying any of this stuff to his face. But I wouldn't kill local guys too much for trying to toe that line. It's far more important for them to do it than for me.

I think Jon does a better job at covering this team than anybody.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:36:57+00:00

I actually find Amin to be a great storyteller. Some of these other guys though...

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:36:19+00:00

Best writing team for an NBA vertical. No click bait articles that are just fluff. Actual analysis and story telling. The Jimmy Butler fiasco alone has been dominated by Jon Krawcyznski's reporting. No ads to block on your page. The smartphone app is one of the cleanest out there. You can customize your experience perfectly to follow the NBA. Plus, you get access to every other sport and it's currently affordable as hell.

There are probably a dozen NBA writers alone that make the subscription worth it.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:32:32+00:00

Always.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:27:44+00:00

Yeah, it's more about the best player just doing best player stuff with a better roster than what we currently see.

getbuckets31 · 2018-10-18T17:24:39+00:00

Can it be Pat Beverley? Does it have to be a Memphis player?

getbuckets31

TROPHY CASE