Episode Details

Kelly Iko, The Athletic’s Rockets beatman and host of the Ikosystem show, joins to discuss the rebuilding Rockets. We discuss the key dynamics around the team this season:What can we make of the fact there are more young guys than roles? What are the expectations for Stephen Silas as he enters the last guaranteed year of his contract? Can franchise pillars Jalen Green, Jabari Smith, Jr., and Alperen Sengun evolve this year? Plus, our predictions for the Rockets season.

Zion is back! Will Guillory of The Athletic takes a look at an intriguing Pels season. We discuss Zion’s form, the frontcourt fit with Jonas Valanciunas, the path to a good defense, what Willie Green’s rotation will look like, and of course make our predictions for the Pels’ season.

Plus, Thursday Daily Duncs.

Thursday Daily Duncs (10/13/22)

Patrick Beverley-Russell Westbrook

Something or nothing? In the Lakers' preseason loss to the Timberwolves yesterday, Patrick Beverley tried to bring his floormates together during a stoppage. Russell Westbrook didn't join.

As much as Beverley has talked up his fast friendship with Westbrook now that they're teammates in Los Angeles, there are many years of them being nemeses.

But I'm going with nothing.

Westbrook, who was called for a foul on the preceding play, might have been talking to a referee. Though resisting Beverley's continued attempts to wave him into the huddle, Westbrook high-fived Beverley while taking his spot outside the paint. By that time, Westbrook might have thought he was too late to huddle and it was time for the free throw.

Mostly, it's the high-five that does it for me. That's a key piece of evidence people overly thirsty for Lakers drama are overlooking

Draymond Green

The Warriors didn't suspend Draymond Green for punching Jordan Poole in the face.

Why not?

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:

I'm told that the Warriors, they put a significant amount of weight on the fact that opening night was ring night, that the players are going to get their rings. Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry – their fourth championship in Golden State. The banner is going to be raised. They did not treat this like it was one of 82. They didn't want to suspend Draymond Green and keep him from that. Now, if this incident had happened in the regular season or if this had just been a normal opening night and they weren't there as defending champions, there probably would've been a suspension for Draymond Green.

This strikes me as reasonable. Green was integral to the Warriors winning the championship. The ring-and-banner ceremony is a uniquely special moment in celebrating that massive accomplishment.

There are two, overlapping questions about how Golden State should have punished Green: How severe should the punishment have been? What punishment is appropriate? You can think Green deserved a harsher penalty than he got while believing suspending him for ring night wouldn't have been a fitting punishment.

My problem with the logic, though: Why didn't the Warriors just suspend Green for their previous two preseason games (which he missed anyway while away from the team) and maybe their last preseason game tomorrow (which he'll probably play in)? If Golden State wanted to send a message of a suspension while allowing Green to attend ring night, that would have been an easy middle ground.

Instead, the Warriors went out of their way to say Green's weeklong absence wasn't a suspension.

Jeanie Buss

Rich Eisen asked Lakers owner Jeannie Buss who's in her inner circle.

Listen Now