King of the Fourth Quarter

Tatum Is the Best Player in the East The Eastern Conference has been turned upside down. LeBron James is headed to Philadelphia. The Knicks are the defending Eastern Conference champions. The Celtics look completely different. And the Pistons, Pacers, Cavs, Heat, and Magic are all trying to make their move. This week, Jim and Mike break down the biggest offseason storylines, debate whether Philadelphia's new "superteam" can actually work, rank the best players in the Eastern Conference, and predict how the standings will shake out heading into the season. Is Jayson Tatum still the best player in the East? Is New York still the team to beat? And are the Celtics being massively underrated? All that and more on another episode of They're Gonna Call It a Hard Foul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The NBA season is still months away, but it's time to set some realistic expectations. Jim and Mike break down what they've seen from Celtics Summer League, why they're encouraged by Hugo González, Dylan Mitchell, and the team's young talent, and what they expect from Jayson Tatum as he takes full control of the franchise. They also debate whether Paul George can still make an impact, whether Derrick White can bounce back offensively, and what Payton Pritchard's next step looks like. Plus, the guys discuss potential starting lineups, the future of the Celtics, LeBron's next move, and close with a heartfelt tribute to friend of the show Chris Matthews. Topics include: Summer League standouts Hugo González's development Expectations for Tatum, Pritchard, White & Paul George Predicting Boston's starting five LeBron rumors Remembering Chris Matthews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Celtics did what?! Jim and Mike react to the stunning reported trade sending Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers and don't hold back. Was this one of the worst trades in Celtics history? Why wasn't there a better market? Did Boston completely mismanage its championship window? The guys break down the return, debate Brad Stevens' offseason strategy, discuss what this means for Jayson Tatum, and look at the ripple effects across the NBA. They also dive into: Why this trade makes no basketball sense Whether ownership prioritized money over winning The Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley additions The Eastern Conference power shift What's next for Boston—and whether there's any path back to contention 🎙️ A passionate emergency episode from lifelong Celtics fans trying to make sense of one of the most shocking days in franchise history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Stevens took his shot, and he shot a brick. Jim and Mike break down the collapse of Boston's pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo after reports surfaced that Jaylen Brown was included in trade discussions. What does this mean for Brown's future? Did Brad Stevens miscalculate? And is Boston now facing the fallout from a deal that never happened? The guys dive into: 🏀 Why the Giannis deal fell apart 🏀 Jaylen Brown's future in Boston 🏀 Whether the Celtics should still make a blockbuster move 🏀 Ownership's willingness to spend 🏀 Potential trade destinations and packages 🏀 The NBA landscape after Miami lands Giannis 🏀 Draft implications and what's next for Boston One of the most important Celtics offseasons in recent memory just got a whole lot more complicated. #Celtics #NBA #JaylenBrown #Giannis #BostonCeltics #NBATrades #HardFoul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Knicks continue their surprising NBA Finals run, and Mike and Jim ask a question Celtics fans should be thinking about: what can Boston learn from New York's success? The guys break down the Knicks' resilience, the emergence of OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns' playoff performance, and why Jalen Brunson's leadership has helped push New York to the brink of a championship. They also discuss whether the Spurs' young core led by Victor Wembanyama could become the NBA's next dynasty and how San Antonio's defense has exposed some of New York's weaknesses. From there, the conversation turns to Boston. What separates these Knicks from the Celtics teams that have fallen short in recent postseasons? Does Boston need a major roster shakeup? Should Brad Stevens explore trades involving Jaylen Brown or Derrick White? Could Giannis Antetokounmpo be the answer? Plus: Why the Knicks' playoff mentality frustrates Celtics fans The Celtics' biggest offseason needs Trade targets and roster construction around Jayson Tatum The NBA Finals and the future of the Eastern Conference And, as always, a few completely unexpected detours Presented by the Fan First Sports Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices