DeJuan Blair is becoming a polarizing figure for Spurs fans. (Photo credit: The Brit_2)

After a podcast hiatus during the holidays, and pretty much the entire month of January, we return with a fresh new episode of the 4-Down Podcast. Our pal Beckley Mason of HoopSpeak.com joins us to talk about some Spurs-related subject matter. We recorded shortly after the Spurs’ return-from-the-dead loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday night, so we talked some about that game. We discussed how as boring as the Spurs are, the team’s games rarely go according to plan.

We also asked Beckley about DeJuan Blair. With the ascension of Tiago Splitter, Blair’s starting role and minutes are becoming a polarizing topic for some Spurs fans. Beckley gave us his opinion on Blair as an NBA player and where he stands.

Then, we talked a lot about pickup basketball. Most NBA bloggers are avid pickup aficionados, and we are no exception. We break down some pickup ball etiquette and share some stories. It’s not necessarily Spurs-related, but whatever, it’s where the conversation went.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right click (or control click on a Mac) to download the audio file (55:12, 13.4 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and reviews, it will help spread the word about the show. Email 4downpodcast@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments for the 4-Down Podcast.

Tony Parker will score in the paint and you will watch him do it. (Photo credit: aaronisnotcool)

The 4-Down Podcast is back for its last offseason episode. That’s right, actual competitive (to an extent) basketball begins tonight. Ethan Sherwood Strauss of HoopSpeak and Warriors World was our guest on the podcast this week to talk about if we had any actual memories of preseason basketball (I forgot to mention the Gary Neal 3-pointer Manu Ginobili drew up to win in Mexico City),  the public perception of Tony Parker and whether or not Ethan thinks that Manu Ginobili is overrated or underrated. Ethan also shares his relative hate of Rajon Rondo and David Stern’s involvement in the Chris Paul trade.

Another reminder for you folks that after the Spurs’ preseason game against the Rockets on Saturday night, head back here to 48MinutesofHell.com immediately for a live postgame show. We’ll talk about what we saw, evaluate some of the young guys and take questions from the audience. We’ll have a link to the postgame show up around halftime of the game.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right click (or control click on a Mac) to download the audio file (1:10:18, 17 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and reviews, it will help spread the word about the show. Email 4downpodcast@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments for the 4-Down Podcast.

Did Tim Duncan teach English this summer? (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

America’s finest news source, The Onion, has a bit of a crush on Tim Duncan. Over the last few years, they have created a plethora of material through the Spurs big man. The Onion‘s Seth Reiss returned to the 4-Down Podcast this week to talk some more about Tim Duncan and The Onion‘s new sports book “The Ecstasy of Defeat: Sports Reporting at Its Finest by the Editors of the Onion.”

You may remember Seth’s previous appearance on the 4-Down Podcast, where he talked about the Tim Duncan character that he and others at The Onion had created. If you’re a new listener, go back and listen to that episode, as it’s one of our best. We asked Seth what, in his mind, Tim Duncan has been up to during the lockout and his dominating presence in the new book.

We also talk to Seth about other characters that The Onion uses, the difficulty of making fun of Kevin Durant and how much they’re going to miss Shaq. As always, we appreciate Seth coming on the podcast, but the fancy gifts we gave him should more than make up for it.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right click (or control click on a Mac) to download the audio file (43:45, 10.5 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and reviews, it will help spread the word about the show. Email 4downpodcast@gmail.com if you have any questions or comments for the 4-Down Podcast.

We miss you already, George. (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

For the first time since June, we come to you with a 4-Down Podcast containing no lockout talk. The labor dispute should be over soon and we’ll have regular season basketball starting Christmas. For this episode, we had Jared Wade from Indiana Pacers blog Eight Points, Nine Seconds on for the first time.

In what could, but probably won’t, be described as an audio celebration, we talked about the fateful trade that tied our organizations together. Was the George Hill for Kawhi Leonard trade the closest a deal can get to being win-win? At the very least, both teams see some help. We also talk about the idea of George Hill now being considered a veteran leader.

In addition to basketball, we break down proper karaoke protocol and what constitutes a “hot date.” The 4-Down Podcast: for all your non-basketball topics that basketball people think about.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right click (or control click on a Mac) to download the audio file (52:18, 12.6 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and reviews, it will help spread the word about the show. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

Photo credit: RMTip21

The 4-Down Podcast returns for another episode during this NBA lockout in which we do not talk about the NBA lockout. Not because it’s like Fight Club and we can’t acknowledge the lockout because it’s so cool, but because we’re tired of hearing about the lockout and instead we’d just like to talk about basketball.

David Roth of new sports website The Classical joins Graydon and me to talk about people who have the same names as us, the competitive instincts of LeBron James and Michael Jordan, how cut Manu Ginobili is, and this catch from Sunday Night Football earlier this season:

We enjoyed having David on and look forward to having him as a guest on the 4-Down Podcast again soon.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right click (or control click on a Mac) to download the audio file (59:38, 14.3 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and reviews, it will help spread the word about the show. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

Photo credit: CameliaTWU

Before the NBA players union and owners ended talks for the night and announced that a revised offer was on the table for players to consider, Kevin Arnovitz joined Graydon and me on the latest episode of the 4-Down Podcast. Kevin is a NBA writer for ESPN.com and the editor of the TrueHoop Network, so he knows basketball pretty well. Kevin also started ClipperBlog.com, so you know he’s dedicated to the NBA if he’s willing to blog about the Clippers as far back as 2006.

On this week’s episode, we talked a lot about the business around the NBA. Not the lockout per se, but things like the NBA being successful in small markets, the global TV market eventually being a breakthrough for the NBA and Kevin’s idea of a 44 game season for the league.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right click (or control click on a Mac) to download the audio file (1:10:44, 17 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and reviews, it will help spread the word about the show. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

Photo credit: Keith Allison

Tim Duncan has been praised as many things in his Hall of Fame career. Weirdly, strong isn’t one of those things. At least, not a lot. In truth, though, Tim Duncan is one of the strongest players in the league, even if he doesn’t look like a chiseled rock. That’s in part to his top-notch lower body strength. John Krolik of Cavs: the Blog brings this issue up in the latest episode of the 4-Down Podcast.

John also contributes to such places as the Heat Index and NBC Sports ProBasketballTalk.  John is on a bit of a tear through the blogosphere right now after his review of the book “The Whore of Akron“ by Scott Raab.

In addition to Tim Duncan’s strength, we talk a lot about LeBron James, the 2007 NBA Finals and, of course, the NBA Lockout.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right or control click to download the audio file (1:00:04, 86.5mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and comments, it will help spread the word about the show. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

Photo credit: miu3112

As reports come out announcing progress in NBA labor talks, we forge on with our heads down and hopes level (I feel like I should throw a “clear eyes, full hearts” in there too). Avoiding too much lockout-related talk, Graydon and I had Trey Kerby of The Basketball Jones join us on the 4-Down Podcast this week. We talk with Trey about groomsmen heights at weddings, Tim Duncan wanting to be nicknamed “Merlin” when he came into the league, and San Antonio’s favorite Canadian, Matt Bonner. Needless to say, it was a good time with Mr. Kerby. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as we did.

We also have a little 48MoH-related announcement in there, so make sure you have a listen.

The Basketball Jones guys are going on a tour to several NBA cities next month for some live shows. They will be in San Antonio on Sunday, November 20 at an undetermined location. If you’re interested in going, stay up on the Jones’ Facebook page for info.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right or control click to download the audio file (44:51, 64.6 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and comments, it will help spread the word about the show. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

Depressing photo credit: smiling_da_vinci

I’m done. I’m out. I no longer care about the minutiae of the CBA negotiations between the NBA players and owners. All I want is a deal. I don’t care how it happens or who gets the upper hand, I just want something signed, sealed and delivered. And now I want to listen to Stevie Wonder.

The fallout from Thursday’s negotiating session looks bleak, and the players union is not painting a pretty picture of Spurs owner Peter Holt right now. Although Paul Allen is looking worse. All the news is doing is driving me to tune out mentally.

With all that said, Graydon and I had Zach Harper of ESPN Daily Dime Live chats, HoopSpeak Live and A Wolf Among Wolves on the 4-Down Podcast to talk about some lighter topics related to the NBA lockout. We ask Zach about having things delivered to the reporters covering the lockout, lockout babies, Kyle Lowry and everyone’s favorite Daily Dime Live topic: bacon.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m in serious need of a strong whiskey like George Cohen.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right or control click to download the audio file (44:55, 64.7 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please go to iTunes and leave us good ratings and comments, it will help spread the word about the show. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

Photo credit: miu3112 on Flickr

The NBA season’s first two weeks have been cancelled. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we have another episode of the 4-Down Podcast. Okay, that could be considered bad news also. Don’t be mean.

If and when the NBA lockout ends, the Spurs have a lot of work to do before the regular season tips off. However, they have less time to work with. To figure things out, Tim Varner joined me to talk about San Antonio’s laundry list of things to do between the settlement of the lockout and opening night.

There’s also the matter of Tim Duncan teaching the rookies the ropes of Gregg Popovich’s system, multiple amnesty provisions and which NBA teams will be best suited to a shortened, post-lockout season.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also right or control click to download the audio file (46:22, 66.8 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please leave us good feedback and ratings in iTunes, I hear that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

Listen here:

Photo credit: Otterman56

The lockout continues on and makes it difficult for blogger-types like myself to write about Spurs-related goodness. To counter the lockout-induced writer’s block, I invited Beckley Mason of HoopSpeak to join the 4-Down Podcast this week and talk about the latest in NBA labor strife.

Tuesday was supposed to be the day of days when it comes to the lockout, and in a way it was. But it was also a big ol’ tease. According to David Stern, we’ve got until Monday before the first couple weeks of the NBA season are cancelled. Beckley and I talk about the threat of cancelled games, and how different things are from the 1998-99 NBA lockout.

We also take some time to talk about the death of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, because nothing makes talking about a professional sports work stoppage more trivial than talking about actual life and death.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also download the audio file (33:56, 48.9 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please leave us good feedback and ratings in iTunes, I hear that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days. If you have a question you want answered on the next 4-Down Podcast, email 4downpodcast@gmail.com and it just might happen.

And make sure to tune into HoopSpeakLive on HoopSpeak.com on Thursday afternoon, at 2 pm central time, for a rip-roaring good time. Also, follow Beckley on Twitter, ol’ chap.

Photo credit: Dirk Hansen

After a lockout-induced hiatus, the 4-Down Podcast returns. After meeting in person for the first time in New York City last weekend, Graydon and I talk about Kawhi Leonard. At a bar in Brooklyn, Graydon and I discovered that Kawhi Leonard played in Jimmer Fredette’s All-Star game in Utah. This sounded like as good a time as any to chat about how Leonard will impact the Spurs next season. It also gave us a chance to discuss the departure of George Hill and what kind of void the draft day trade of Hill leaves on the Spurs’ roster.

We also tackle the unique dimensions Leonard possesses. For a 6’7″ guy, Leonard has ridiculously long arms and freakishly large hands. It’s safe to say the Spurs haven’t had a player like Leonard in a while.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also download the audio file (33:53, 48.8 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please leave us good feedback and ratings in iTunes, I hear that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days.

And as a reward for listening, here’s a highlight video that Tad Hathaway of LockoutHoops.com sent us of Kawhi Leonard highlights from Jimmer’s all-star game:

(Photo: Mark Lennihan / Associated Press)

There are several players who have come through the San Antonio Spurs program over the years who have become near and dear to fans’ hearts. Jaren Jackson is likely one of those players.

Jackson was a member of the Spurs first championship team in 1999 and played over three seasons with the silver and black. In all, Jackson played 12 seasons in the NBA for several different teams, but his peak came in San Antonio.

Currently, Jackson is a head coach with the Saint John Mill Rats in the National Basketball League of Canada.

Jackson joined Jesse Blanchard and I on the 4-Down Podcast this week. He spoke with us about his time in San Antonio, what it was like playing for Gregg Popovich and the family culture surrounding the Spurs franchise. He also spoke with us about what it’s like for players going through the lockout and the insecurity that comes with it. He also enlightens us on “lockout babies.”

There was no talk about his famous head shake, however.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also download the audio file (30:11, 43.5 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please leave us good feedback and ratings in iTunes, I hear that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days.

Big thanks to Jaren for taking the time to speak with us and best of luck to him coaching in Canada.

Wouldn't you rather see Matt Bonner in a jersey at this point?

Will the lockout please end sometime soon? Unfortunately, it doesn’t look that way.

Larry Coon, Technical Director at the University of California,Irvine and author of the ultra-valuable NBA Salary Cap FAQ, joined the 4-Down Podcast this week to give an update on collective bargaining negotiations. Or lack thereof. Larry lets us know where things stand at this point and where they may be headed.

Enjoy, and then cry yourself to sleep tonight after praying that there will be an NBA season in 2011-12.

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also download the audio file (24:40, 33.9 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please leave us good feedback and ratings in iTunes, I hear that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days.

Don't overreact. Don't overreact. Don't overreact. Don't overreact. (Express-News File Photo / treel@express-news.net)

Last week, San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich and General Manager RC Buford both made media appearances. Normally, that’s not all that news-worthy on our end. Officials from NBA teams appear on local sports shows and radio broadcasts all the time.

In this instance, though, things were a little different. Possibly in damage control mode after Tony Parker’s recent comments about the Spurs no longer being championship threats, Buford and Coach Pop took to the airwaves to encourage Spurs fans not to overreact to the way the Spurs finished the season and that because San Antonio won 61 games, they are still in fact contenders.

To discuss what was said by two of the most influential men in the Spurs organization, 48MoH decided to host a roundtable podcast of silver and black bloggers. I moderated a podcast featuring Tim Varner of our own site, Jeff Garcia of Project Spurs, Dale Dye of Pounding the Rock and Wayne Vore of Spurs Planet.

If you want to get straight to the meat of the conversation, fast forward to the around 9:30 mark. For the first few minutes there’s mainly some casual conversation about the Spurs offseason and the NBA. Otherwise, enjoy.

Also, we give Matt Bonner the new nickname “winter shoes.”

Subscribe to the 4-Down Podcast via iTunes. Or you can can keep up using the RSS feed. You can also download the audio file (53:45, 77.4 mb) or listen below. Whatever you do, please leave us good feedback and ratings in iTunes, I hear that’s what all the cool kids are doing these days.