logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2024
2h 1m

Houston’s Surprise Surge, Best West Futu...

The Ringer
About this episode

The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Houston Rockets climbing the ranks in the Western Conference (1:35), the Warriors' down year, and Western Conference teams with the brightest futures (21:22). Then, they talk through some Clippers confusion and whether they're ready to believe in the Bucks (48:18), before drafting the best NBA defenders (1:09:22), wondering if the Nets are in the worst spot in the league (1:27:16), and more.


Host: Bill Simmons

Guest: Ryen Russillo

Producer: Kyle Crichton





The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming, please checkout theringer.com/RG to find out more or listen to the end of the episode for additional details.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Jul 7
The Bleakest NBA Team Situations (Next 5 Years) With Ryen Russillo
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to react to the latest NBA free agency news (1:50). Then, they break down the teams with the worst roster situations in the East and the West (18:40). Finally, they discuss LeBron’s situation with the Lakers, Deandre Ayton, and ... Show More
1h 46m
Jul 2
Milwaukee’s Crazy and Other NBA Summer Takeaways With Rob Mahoney, Plus a Boston Sports Check-In With Bill’s Dad
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Rob Mahoney to react to NBA free agency with major moves from the Bucks, Rockets, and Lakers (2:01). Then, they talk about the positive offseason for the Nuggets and the Hawks, before discussing the Pacers, Celtics, and Pistons (31:47). Afte ... Show More
1h 55m
Jun 30
The NBA Summer Movement Preview With Ryen Russillo
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the upcoming NBA free agency, plus some big deals that already came from the Rockets and Timberwolves (2:07). Then, they talk about their favorite free agents, Yang Hansen, and the Collin Sexton trade (35:33). Finall ... Show More
2h 6m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2024
Imagining Siakam With the Warriors, the Bucks' Championship-Caliber Defense, and Why a Two-Day Draft Makes Sense
Verno and KOC discuss the silver linings for the Grizzlies after Ja Morant suffered a season-ending injury before moving on to the dominant wins by the Bucks and Thunder (02:28). The guys break down Kawhi Leonard's contract extension with the Clippers and discuss why the Warriors ... Show More
1h 5m
May 2018
Rockets Up on Warriors, All-NBA Teams, Doncic Falls, and Porter Rises | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 276)
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Shea Serrano react to the Houston Rockets defeating the Golden State Warriors to take a lead in the series (0:35), debate how LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers can hold off the Boston Celtics (11:49), and discuss the All-NBA selections (19:39). Th ... Show More
47m 8s
Dec 2017
'Group Chat': Houston Is Good, OKC Is Bad, and Hezonja Is Back (Ep. 178)
The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Danny Chau and Haley O’Shaughnessy to throw out some LeBron relocation theories (0:50), try to pinpoint what's wrong with the Thunder (3:30), gush about the Rockets (14:45), and answer some rapid-fire questions (21:10). The ... Show More
45m 38s
Jun 2024
NBA Draft Takeaways, Steals, and Zach Edey
Verno and KOC recap the 2024 NBA draft, as they discuss picks they liked, picks they disliked, surprises, and more! They start off by discussing Zach Edey’s fit with the Grizzlies, the one big difference maker for Ron Holland’s development with the Pistons, and the importance of ... Show More
1h 17m
May 2018
Cleveland Bullies Boston, WCF Game 4, and the Draft Combine | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 273)
The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers’ beatdown of the Boston Celtics (02:00) and preview Game 4 of the Western Conference finals between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors (32:20). Then they talk about the winners and losers from ... Show More
1h 10m
Jan 2021
What are your new NBA obsessions thus far? | The Answer
Chris Ryan is joined by the Ringer’s Bill Simmons to discuss early season things that they are obsessed with including Collin Sexton, chippy Kevin Durant, and more (01:00). Later, Chris is joined by NBC Sports Warriors reporter Kerith Burke to talk about the many reasons to obses ... Show More
42m 46s
Oct 2017
'Group Chat' — Lonzo Gets Baptized, CP3 Makes a Movie, and the Sixers Must Learn to Share (Ep. 147)
The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy to chat about the first Clippers-Lakers matchup of the season (1:10), Chris Paul's timely released short film (5:38), and the Rockets' impressive bout with the Warriors (10:00). Then they discuss rookies ... Show More
45m 45s
Dec 2020
Will Westbrook Help the Wizards? Plus: Lakers Loom Large and PG-13 Talks Trash | The Mismatch
Subscribe now to the new feed on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts for ALL future episodes of "The Mismatch".On their last-ever podcast on the Ringer NBA Show feed, Verno and KOC get into the nitty gritty of the Westbrook-Wall trade (3:00), then talk over the late ... Show More
1h 11m
Jan 2021
What Are the Ripple Effects of the Nets' James Harden Trade? | The Answer
Chris Ryan is joined by The Ringer’s Rob Mahoney to discuss how James Harden will impact Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and the rest of the Nets roster. Later, Chris is joined by 'Greatest Of All Talk’ cohost Andrew Sharp to discuss key figures around the league affected by the trad ... Show More
57m 2s
Feb 2022
Is This the Twilight of the Superteam? | The Answer
Chris and Seerat are joined by The Ringer's own Justin Verrier to analyze the James Harden-Ben Simmons trade. The conversation then leads to a discussion about the viability of teams with a 'Big Three' (17:00) and the effect the player empowerment era is having on the league and ... Show More
50m 26s