Havlicek Stole the Pod NBA Basketball Podcast

Media day for the Boston Celtics and much of the rest of the NBA is nearly upon us. And with that milestone will come the endless cavalcade of positivity, boilerplate claims of progress, and general hot air meant to hype up fans with exaggerated positivity for the season ahead.
And while that time-honored trend may serve an important purpose in terms of fan engagement, it can also contribute to unrealistic expectations. To that end, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with the Ringer's Howard Beck to pour some cold water on the Eastern Conference ball clubs, specifically by playing out all of the reasons each East squad (including Boston) may finish the 2026-27 NBA regular season lower than the fourth seed.
Join us as we make the case why every team in the conference may end their coming campaign without homecourt advantage, as well as touching base on the trickle of offseason news still reaching our eyes and ears a week away from Media Day.
Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What did we learn from the Boston Celtics introductory press conference for Paul George and Mike Conley? The Celtics introduced the pair of veterans to the media and their fans in a presser this past Tuesday (Sep. 15) afternoon, the duo opening up about a number of aspects of their joining the Celtics this summer.
From frank admissions on how they saw the trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers by team President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens to how they see Boston head coach Joe Mazzulla approaching his job as former outsiders, and their respective health, goals, and motivation, Conley an George joined Stevens and Mazzulla in a wide-ranging interview. To see what we can glean from what went unsaid or understated (as well as what we now know because of what they did share), the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" put their heads together with Hardwood Houdini Celtics beat writer Bobby Krivitsky.
We also get up to speed on a smidgen of late-offseason Celtics and NBA news, so be sure to tune in to this episode.
Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 2026-27 NBA regular season is nearly here, with the Boston Celtics set to introduce Paul George, Mitchell Robinson, and Mike Conley this week, with training camp and preseason set to kick off soon after. And with this clarity comes the ability to assess our expectations for each of the 14 players on full contracts as well as the prospects who are on or likely to be on two way deals.
To such an end, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" put their heads together with "Celtics Chronicle" founder Adam Taylor to break down what we think are reasonable expectations for each player who will don the green and white next season. We also address their ceiling and floors in the coming campaign, as well as getting caught up on some fairly substantial Celtics news making the rounds.
Be sure to tune into this week's episode of the show, if for nothing else than to hear which legendary fighter Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla might be able to glean more tactical advantages for the Celtics from.
Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Los Angeles Clippers/ Kawhi Leonard scandal has dominated the NBA news cycle this week, and for good reason given the potential implications of the cap circumvention allegations the league levied one of the most aggressive penalties ever seen in modern sport. And the Boston Celtics are among the ball clubs in the NBA who may be most impacted by the Clippers scandal.
From the 2028 first round draft pick that the Celtics control off the court, to how the landscape of the Eastern Conference standings may shift as a result of Leonard likely being dealt to the Toronto Raptors, there is no shortage of ways this news may change Boston's future in the Association. So to that end, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" linked up with "Third Apron" NBA salary cap expert Yossi Gozlan to take a magnifying glass to all the ways this debacle could shape the Celtics moving forward.
We also get into the trickle of news still bubbling up, from the chatter surrounding seasons ahead and in the past from Boston alumni to former players hanging it up to make the leap to the other side of the clipboard and more. So be sure to tune in!
Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For better or worse, the NBA is now a league dominated by billionaires. Whether we're talking the new wave of private equity ownership groups led by the likes of Bill Chisholm and company with regard to the Boston Celtics, investment banking billionaires like outgoing Los Angeles Lakers owner Mark Walter, or tech giant billionaires like Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
And as for the 'worse' side of the better-or-worse continuum of NBA billionaire proliferation, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" sat down with HoopsHype's Cyro Asseo to talk through how Ballmer's Clippers scandal may impact the Celtics – and how the dynamics of the league are changing due to this shift in team ownership.
We also get caught up on the rest of the news this deep into the dog days of summer, from FIBA play and uniform colorways to Jaylen Brown's goodbye party to Boston fans. Check it out!
Outro: Whistle by Benjamin Banger - https://tiny.ee/Jk4U or BenJaminBanger.com

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.