The Hot Hand Theory Podcast Xavier Justin and Geoff Rasmussen

On the twenty-sixth episode of the Hot Hand Theory Podcast, XJ and Geoff recap the Knicks' heartbreaking seven-game series loss to the Pacers. The duo evaluates whether Thibs is the right coach to lead the Knicks to a championship, debating whether his tendency to focus on short-term success might come at the expense of the team's championship aspirations. They then discuss the Knicks' next moves to go from contender to title favorites, pondering if there's a single-player acquisition that could make all the difference. Join us for an in-depth analysis of the Knicks' current state and future prospects.

On the twenty-fifth episode of the Hot Hand Theory Podcast, Geoff and XJ dive into the Knicks' recent domination of the Pacers leaving them one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. The duo dives deep into the critical role of spacing in the Knicks' offense, highlighting the biggest strategic adjustment made by Thibs and the coaching staff to propel them to a critical Game 5 victory. The two then discuss the Pacers' short- and long-term future and explain why the Siakam trade may have put a hard cap on their ceiling. Next, they break down Isaiah Hartenstein's unreal performance and explain how his rebounding dominance helped dictate the game. Finally, XJ and Geoff touch on the reports around the Knicks looking to extend Thibs and debate whether he is the right coach to lead the Knicks to a championship.

On the twenty-fourth episode of the Hot Hand Theory Podcast, XJ and Geoff are back to uncover some underrated aspects of the Knicks-Pacers playoff matchup! The duo begins by dissecting the key lessons the Knicks should have learned from their hard-fought series against the 76ers, exploring how these insights could influence their approach against the Pacers. They then delve into a surprising revelation about the key driver of the Pacers' offensive effectiveness, discussing potential strategies for the Knicks to counter it. Finally, XJ and Geoff tackle the controversial debate between Brunson and Haliburton, analyzing the distinct strengths of these two elite point guards.

Tune in for unique insights and predictions on this highly anticipated playoff matchup!

On the twenty-third episode of the Hot Hand Theory Podcast, Geoff and XJ are joined by Knicks Twitter LEGEND, Shaun Geddes! Together, the three give an in-depth recap of the Knicks' incredible 50-win season. They also unpack the standout performance of Jalen Brunson and debate his surprisingly strong candidacy for MVP. Finally, the trio delves into the Knicks' potential first-round playoff matchups, breaking down the strategic nuances of facing either the Miami Heat or the Philadelphia 76ers. Listen in as Shaun, Geoff, and XJ analyze the strengths and weaknesses of the Heat and Sixers and share why they think the Knicks will make a run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Don't miss this must-listen episode!

NOTE: We apologize for XJ's audio in this episode. The audio was mistakenly recorded to the webcam mic. Thank you for bearing with us, we strongly believe the content of this one is worth it!

On the twenty-second episode of the Hot Hand Theory Podcast, XJ and Geoff are joined by none other than Alex Hoops—creator of the AlexHoops YouTube channel and co-host of The Media Pass podcast!

The trio dives headfirst into the NBA awards season, offering their takes on who deserves the league's top honors and why. They discuss who deserves the MVP and why the race might be closer than most think, tackle the big debate between the two candidates for Defensive Player of the Year, and shout out a HUGE sleeper 6th Man of the Year candidate. The three then debate about the criteria for Most Improved Player, causing them to go in different directions with their choices, and try to nail down what makes the Coach of the Year. Finally, they cover their All-NBA teams and discuss who the biggest snub might be.

In the second part of the twenty-first episode of the Hot Hand Theory Podcast, XJ and Geoff take a dive deep into "Clone Theory" - a unique perspective on team building in the NBA. The two provide a detailed explanation of the theory and share several examples that illustrate its relevance. The due then explores the implications of Clone Theory, including the notion that players who complement star players but don't necessarily have "star skills" may be significantly undervalued.