Stephen's A-List: Top NBA Storylines 🏀 + High-scoring GOOD or BAD for the NBA? 🤔 | First Take 

That's one of the best breakdowns in years on ESPN! JJ went in..

Redick, is a smart dude. I like his takes when he’s on.

Jj’s segment was really insightful, agree with removing 3 second rule

JJ really kno how to talk straight Basketball and I love that😂💯

JJ is right about there not being a post game in today's game. That's why the Joker is eating them boys alive. He actually learned how to play post first and just added a 3 pt shot to his game. I also am for getting rid of the 3 in the key.

I still can’t believe Stephen A Smith made 17 3 pointers in a row & combined for 51 points what a 🐐

Molly, no shame in the pounds gained with these camera angles :)

I don't mind high scoring, but I hate when it feels like its impossible to play defense. Like if a player is so good that even with a hand in their face they keep knocking down 3s, that's awesome to watch. But if a player intentionally runs into a defender, then scores basically undefended because the defender knows if they so much as flinch they'll get called for a foul, THEN the defensive player gets called for a foul anyway even though they had their hands in their pockets because their feet shuffled ever so slightly a fraction of a second before the offensive player charged into them, so the player gets an easy lay up/dunk and gets to take free throws, that makes me want to turn off the tv and go do something else.

JJ Cooked ngl.

I want more JJ on first take. I wish it was a constant dose of Shannon and JJ on the same show with Stephen A

Definitely implement fiba rules… stand in the paint, block the ball after it touches the rim etc.. gives the defense and edge without penalizing the skilled offensive player with physical hand checking

Man JJ cooked with the FIBA take. Love FIBA. I would love to see more of that in the NBA.

JJ has some next level ball knowledge, I love 95% of his takes

Molly: "You lost the pounds, I found them"... #Mollyforpresident

4:50 the hug 😂😭😭 did not expect that ❤

Brilliant points JJ. Love ditching the 3sec rule for defenders too. Time for the block party to begin

JJ is actually insane. he raises questions, identifies problems, and then actually provides tangible solutions. i don’t think anybody else does that

👀When Molly walked out, I forgot what tf they were talking about.

AYO MOLLY 3:08 ??????

SAS's enthusiasm is so contagious lol

The only issue I have with JJ’s suggestion is that it can change too much. Maybe a 4 or 5 second wait before moving the defender.

JJ hugging SAS is top 5 story line 🤣

Adam Silver bring back hand checking to limit 3 point shooting and remove defensive 3 second rule so the paint won't be wide open

4:46 Molly oh Molly 😢😩😩❤️

Honestly high scoring games are bad for the NBA. Unless elite defense is being played. Defense wins championships and we seen it time and time again.

We need the jumping in the beginning LOL

This all on steph. He changed everything!! Most impactful player ever!

Hats off to SA who managed to get Shannon who has an amazing on-screen personality and JJ with his analytical breakdown on the same show. Credit where credit is due.

I agree with defensive 3 seconds but i would also add fiba goaltending where if it touches the rim you can rebound it

Molly got that.....

Man, it's no perception of No Defense. That's a reality in Hi Def.

while hand checking won't stop a great offensive player, it will still allow a defender an additional tool to help control an offensive player. Combine bringing that back AND getting rid of defensive 3 in the paint, and you'll see a comeback of stronger wings and guards and the big men back into the league. JJ underestimates what a strong hand check can do to break the rhythm of a ball handler. The great ones will be great, but the fringe ones won't adjust well.

I love the idea of getting rid of the 3 second rule. They don’t call it a lot during the season anyways.

Had no idea Molly had yams like that. Good job camera man

I adore how Lakers being in the WCF isn’t being ignored and they could do it again, but Miami making the ECF again is off the table. God I cannot wait for the Playoffs to start. #DontDisrerespectTheHeat

I need a Max Kellerman take on this

Producers deserve a raise. Molly angles hittin this morning

Rules that help the defense would be to stop allowing offense 18 steps and a gather and a shoulder drop to get off a shot

This segment was Hot Hot Hot !! Great work team 👍🏽 Also we need a NBA fantasy Draft with the NBA network 🙏🏽

That is the best breakdown I’ve ever seen with legit facts to back it up

That fit Stephen A is 🔥

Great take

We don't how to fill time so let's talk about storylines😂

At the 8:15 mark, JJ Redick mentions spacing in basketball and compares to the NFL. Scoring was down this year in the NFL, so that comparison doesn’t hold up. Also, defenses typically catch up to offenses in the NFL because there aren’t any rules to how you can play zone vs man. The NBA penalizes the defense to allow offense… and the ratings for the NBA continue to decline… Edit: JJ mentions some of those rules differences at the end of his segment. I hadn’t gotten to that part yet when I posted

I’m so happy JJ brought up the 3 second rule. That change would help a lot

Tatum winning MVP is not a Storyline!!!! Im dying lol

Yoooooo we gotta see JJ and Shay Shay more often that gotta nice ring to it

I LOVE the mix when JJ and Shay Shay are on the show with SA

JJ is truly spending a lot of time studying basketball in depth. Thaose some spot on points right there 👏🏾

Awesome take by JJ, he sure does have some valid points backed by analytics. So how come subjectively the game is not watchable, and we all see players are not trying on the defense end of the floor. Also, if everything is better, players are more skilled, and shooting is off the chart, why are we talking about fixing something. I have never heard anyone from the '80s to the '00s complain about the game, not being excited enough, and certainly did not witness anyone pointing out players who do not want to participate in the game. 🤷‍♂ So how come we are having this conversation in the first place?

They need to let JJ get a full 30 min to himself lol

-Louise Erdrich in The Plague of Doves (2008) “When we are young, the words are scattered all around us. As they are assembled by experience, so also are we, sentence by sentence, until the story takes shape.”

They need to keep inv Reddick. Man’s is intelligent and can breakdown the game in a way that even casual fans can understand.

theres so many good storylines this szn, im excited at the thought of miami running it back, OKC having their first run, and seeing what the T wolves can do.

Agreed on the 3 second rule

Today was a great show wish it was like this every day, SAS, Shannon and JJ dynamic works, Dame and Giannis is one, Clippers getting past the WCF at two, Tatum winning a championship is the correct title at 3, Knicks getting to the ECF at 4 and LeBron last real chance at 5

why molly standing like that with her hand on her hip😻😻😂

If no 3 seconds rule, Wemby and AD are about to average 10+ blocks lol

JJ’s takes are brilliant! I love how he see’s the game .

Dame going off this weekend was a message…. I had him winning 3pt n ASG MVP with Doc in mind, he’s not using him correctly… and the ASG was the PERFECT place for Dame to shush the haters that’s saying he lost a step

The screech for the Knicks was hilarious

ESPN MY GOAT

As a spurs fan, I approve JJ’s message. Get rid of the defense 3 seconds rule. Make defense sensational again

This trio rocks. Yes,Shannon doesnt understand ball as much as Stephen A and Jj but i believe he will learn more and more as season progress

Media: Sets narratives Media: "Lets rank our narratives"

JJ always coming with that fuego 🔥

JJ Reddick popped off at the end lol.. great points

What JJ said. I agree

You didn’t Bring Up Kyrie & Luka Finally Gaining A Connection 😤

Replace that Tatum MVP propaganda with a Shai MVP/Thunder contender storyline

The media is glazing Tatum now he’s gonna win mvp just watch

Nice to see they got JJ back

No more 3sec rule helps the defense inside but it would also mean teams would take even more 3s because drives would be more difficult. In other words, people are going to complain again... SAS did great when he reminded JJ, "no take your time" while he was making his long point. JJ always comes prepared when he makes his case. Amazing takes.

New York loves all four of you but especially Steven A.

Does JJ realize that nitpicking timestamps on statistics goes against his point? The abuse of the 3pt line, less fouls in that area of the court, & teams monopolizing/cheating their competition is the reason their league is second to the NHL in viewership now?! Front office league still in shambles from the GSW debacle😂💀🤡

Always love when JJ is on first take

Now that's a real NBA Xs and Os breakdown. Shoutout to JJ Reddick

Love listening to JJ talk basketball. He sure knows his hoops 👍🏀.

JJReddick looks like a Lucifer in Stephen A.Smith comedy show

VERY GOOD IDEA!!! NBA needs to try that

I completely agree with jj except the hand checking part. The nba has come down more on the sweeping arms fouls because of james harden. Removing the 3 sec rule is actually a smart idea tho

Sounds logicall JJ. But removing the 3 second rule will create even more 3s and less points in the paint. Eliminating the Euro and 2 step step-back by making thst a traveling call, might be more effective.

I see you Stevie with The Loubs 🫡🤙🏾

JJ is so on point here. They added the 3 second rule into play to create space for drivers becasue they couldn't shoot. Now everyone can shoot so there is no harm in having Rudy Gobert stand in the lane the whole game. But what would happen is if you removed the 3 seconds. Guys like Wemby, Gobert & Chet would be in the lane every time you drove the ball. So as JJ said Driving the ball is at All time highs. That would go away.

Best JJ take I’ve heard, I usually be annoyed by him… good shih

JJ THE GOAT, PLS READ THIS SOMEHOW AND GET HIM ON MORE!! 🙏

I only watch when jj is on first take i swear this guy is special i can listen to him all night

Shannon is just yapping at the moment💀

JJ’s point about hand checking being countered by gathering into a shot is the whole problem….basically just baiting/drawing fouls whenever the defense dares to have any physicality

JJ was right to represent Luka's take on this. Rn Luka's the 2nd highest scorer in the league, and only Kobe and Wilt have higher all-time scoring games than him. Luka knows what he's talking about, and he's said its easier to score in the NBA than Euro yrs ago.

Anyone remember when final scores would be like 71-66 but the games would fire?? Lol

I hope the sixers come with a fiery passion after the allstar break and beat the breaks off the celtics and the bucks. As a sixers fan this season has lots of expectations riding on it. Especially after the trade deadline

They need someone to check jj when he’s talking sometimes because he says things that make you scratch head sometimes when he’s in his monologue. He made freedom of movement sound less impactful than it actually is. As a defender you can’t obstruct the motion of offensive players anymore meaning they can cut, run around screens with little resistance. And his point about points in the paint being up is skewed. When we’re comparing the present to the 90s you have to account for the pace of play and shot distribution also. I’d gather the pacers points in the paint are closer to 40% of their total shots, whereas the 97 bullets is probably 50% or higher.

JJ was cooking Shannon 😂 .. Shannon wasn’t prepared

Problem with what jj saying is the only reason they drive now is to pass out for the 3 it’s less free throws because they are all jump shooting teams

Amazing redick

Stephen A don’t move to much u kno you’re the king 🤴🏽 of non related basketball 🏀 injuries 🤦🏽‍♂️🙅🏽‍♂️🫡🙌🏾🤷🏾😆👊🏾…..

There goes JJ again bringing down the older eras and sucking on the new ones 😭

On point jj

Shannon and jj need to be on more often. And molly looked amazing.