King of the Fourth Quarter

We’re finally back, and apparently we picked a hell of a week to return. Jim and Mike dig into the fallout from the Clippers’ cap-circumvention scandal, the massive punishment the NBA handed down, and what the whole mess says about league insiders, access journalism, and how the NBA does business. Then we return to the Celtics. How much more valuable is Boston’s 2028 Clippers pick now? What will the offense look like with Jayson Tatum back at the center of the action? Could Payton Pritchard take another leap? Which other Celtics have the most room to grow this season? Plus, the NBA schedule, a much deeper Eastern Conference, and an old-school basketball question: are today’s point guards really better, or are we forgetting just how damn good the previous generations were? The NBA is almost back. So are we. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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