Hail To The District Podcast

Rajan is rejoined by good friends and fellow basketball fans Neel and John, to provide their wrap-up thoughts on the 2017 NBA Finals, and to take a look ahead at what could be a very interesting offseason in the NBA. Discussion topics include: if Golden State losing game in the Finals takes away from their spot in history (3:24); LeBron James is still, unquestionably, the best basketball player on the planet (8:26); why you can't root against Durant for joining the Golden State Warriors (13:22); how this Golden State team stacks up against other historically great teams (29:41); if Golden State can keep this team together as their top players approach free agency (38:14); players the Cavaliers could add, in order to dethrone the Warriros (51:26); and how the Philadelphia 76ers are the most interesting team in the 2017 NBA Draft (1:01:40).

Rajan is rejoined by good friends and fellow basketball fans Neel and John, to preview the 2017 NBA Playoffs. They discuss the Wizards vs. Hawks playoff match up (1:59), if the Bulls could actually be a problem for the Celtics (14:15), John Wall deserving All-NBA Second Team selection over Isaiah Thomas (21:38), if an NBA team win a championship with JaVale McGee on the team? (32:54), which coach is deserving of the Coach of the Year award (40:13), the James Harden vs. Russell Westbrook for MVP debate (53:34), all the dominoes in the 2017 NBA Draft lottery (1:10:23), and the future salary cap situation for the Wizards (1:17:57).

Rajan chats with Dane Brugler, Senior NFL Draft Analyst for NFLDraftScout.com and CBSSports.com, about the 2017 NFL Draft, and some of the players the Redskins could take in the first round. Discussion topics include: could the Redskins draft running back Dalvin Cook, who is potentially the best running back in the 2017 draft? (4:06) Would Christian McCaffrey be a good fit for the Redskins? (8:06) Why would Reuben Foster, one of the top prospects in the draft, potentially be available at #17 overall? (11:01) What position would be the best fit for linebacker Haason Reddick in the Redskins defense? (15:25) Should the Redskins take a chance on defensive lineman Malik McDowell? (17:43) Who are the under-the-radar players who could rise into the first round of the draft? (19:35)

Rajan and John jump on the horn for an impromptu podcast, to talk about the 2017 NBA trade deadline and the acquisition of Bojan Bogdanovich by the Washington Wizards. Discussion topics include: Ernie Grunfeld cleaning up a mess he previously made (1:28), what Bojan Bogdanovich provides to the Wizards (9:43), an early look at the playoff race in the Eastern Conference (13:21), the elite prospects at the top of the 2017 NBA Draft (19:51), the trainwreck that was the DeMarcus Cousins trade (23:57), other potential and hypothetical trade acquisitions for the Wizards (34:22), if John Wall will try to join Boogie Cousins in New Orleans (40:50), and how the Boston Celtics can reshape the Eastern Conference at the trade deadline (43:40).

Rajan and fellow HTTD writer Dash K. discuss the instant classic that was the Wizards vs. Cavaliers game earlier in the week (1:48), if the Wizards can make a trade at the deadline to bolster their bench (11:44), hypothetical trades the Wizards could/should make (20:28), their recaps of Super Bowl LI (28:01), if Bill Belichick is the greatest organizational CEO ever (33:32), the saga of the Redskins re-signing Kirk Cousins (40:02), running back being a major position of need for the Redskins (44:42), and who the Redskins could take with the #17 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft (51:35).

For the first podcast of 2017, Rajan talks with John and Neel about the NBA's Eastern Conference, discussing Assessing the Scott Brooks as head coach of the Wizards experience to date (3:45, the horrendous voting trends for the 2016-2017 All Star game (16:10), Jimmy Butler being the only positive for the Bulls this season (24:22), the misconstruction of the Knicks (35:29), the incredible talent level of Giannis Antetokounmpo (40:17), Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love having great seasons for Cleveland (47:30), if Boston is a legitimate contender in the East (59:40), and the hilariously bad scouting reports of the Wizards bench players (1:03:13).

To preview the 2016-2017 NBA season, the HTTD basketball trio of Rajan, Neel, and John get together to discuss the top teams in the NBA's Western Conference. Discussion topics include: The Timberwolves being a unanimous pick to appear in the playoffs (8:05), Houston potentially scoring the most points in the NBA, and giving up the most points as well (22:02), Utah potentially being a top four team in the West (26:09), whether Chris Paul would leave Los Angeles after this season (36:07), if Golden State will win 70 games this season (43:37), if Draymond Green is becoming a problem for the Warriors (48:09), and if Kevin Durant has become the newest and biggest villain in the NBA (54:03).

Rajan is joined by venerated NBA biographer Roland Lazenby to discuss his newly-released book: "Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant." They discuss The genesis of the concept of Kobe Bryant becoming "the next Michael Jordan" (3:55), the similarities in intensity between Bryant and Michael Jordan (10:37), the "mutual admiration society" between Bryant and Jordan (13:38), Bryant's fall from grace after the first three-peat in LA (17:30), and Bryant almost getting traded from Los Angeles (22:36). Link to purchase the book: http://amzn.to/2f5XkSd

After a one-week hiatus due to technical difficulties, Rajan and John provide their thoughts aond picks for the games taking place in Week 7 of the 2016 NFL season. Discussion topics include: What's really wrong with the Packers offense (4:06), previewing the Redskins vs. Lions match up (12:28), comparing Carson Wentz to the best quarterbacks in the league (20:54), if the Bengals need to move on from Marvin Lewis (31:11), LeSean McCoy having an MVP-caliber season (36:30), Jalen Ramsey having a great rookie season in Jacksonville (44:42), Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News writing a column shredding Geno Smith (47:48), the San Francisco 49ers being the worst team in the NFL (56:37), and the Cardinals offense is now entirely dependent on David Johnson (1:08:28).

Hail To The District host Rajan Nanavati brings on NHL Analyst Bhupinder Hundal of Hockey Night in Canada, to preview the upcoming 2016-2017 NHL Season. Discussion topics include: a post-mortem of the Capitals playoff loss against Pittsburgh in last year's playoffs (2:51), Washington's biggest competitors in the Eastern Conference this year (12:01), analyzing the blockbuster P.K. Subban and Shea Webber offseason trade (15:10), the Chicago Blackhawks are the favorite in the West even if they shouldn't be (24:24), Edmonton's Connor McDavid is on his way to becoming the best hockey player in the world (33:19), the darkhorse team who could emerge and win the Western Conference (36:57), and if the Capitals will finally fulfill their promise and make it to the Stanley Cup (37:27).

Rajan and John recap their picks from Week 4 of the 2016 NFL season, and provide their thoughts and picks for the games slated for Week 5. Discussion topics include: A breakdown of the Redskins vs. Ravens game (3:17), the Titans ruining Marcus Mariota's career (16:16), the horrific quarterback situation for the Jets (27:45), the Eagles making the best coaching hire of the offseason (31:24), Rajan being an idiot for passing on Julio Jones in fantasy football (42:44), if Jared Goff is officially a bust? (51:20), Derek Carr playing like one of the top quarterbacks this year (56:04), the Cowboys being the most overrated 3-1 team in the NFL (59:39), Odell Beckham Jr. destroying the Giants from within (1:04:48), if the NFC South the worst division in football (1:11:46), and Mike Evans having a monster season (1:17:00).

In a new weekly NFL podcast segment, Rajan and John dicscuss the upcoming slate of NFL games in Week 4 of the NFL season, previewing each matchup, providing fantasy football insights, and making their predictions based on the betting lines for each game. Discussion topics include: Blake Bortles is actually getting worse as an NFL quarterback (8:15), whether the Redskins will win less than seven games (12:52), the Patriots situation at quarterback (18:19), the lost season of Sammy Watkins (21:22), the Vikings defense is ridiculously scary (29:07), comparing Mike Mularkey to a toilet full of poop (39:37), Brock Osweiler is a terrible quarterback (40:40), we need to stop overrating Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers (49:12), the Cowboys trying to get Dez Bryant to play despite a fracture in his knee (54:15), whether Carson Palmer should've been on the 2016 Independence Day team (1:04:04), comparing Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater (1:13:44).

Rajan and John reconvene for the second half of their 2016 Washington Redskins primer, this time to talk about the offense. Topics include Kirk Cousins and the Redskins mutual "Prove It" Year (3:38), where Cousins ranks among all the starting quarterbacks in the NFL (11:25), whether the Redskins really have the worst group of running backs in the NFL (15:06), the status of first round pick Josh Doctson (26:51), Jordan Reed's emergence as a superstar (33:18), the biggest weakness on the Redskins offensive line (41:25), and predicting the Redskins Win-Loss record in 2016 (46:05).

In the first football podcast of the 2016 season, Rajan and John examine and discuss the defense of the Washington Redskins. Conversation topics include Junior Galette's injury and his future with the Redskins (2:53), the defensive line being one of the biggest concerns heading into 2016 (8:39), Ryan Kerrigan's role as the Redskins' top pass rusher (16:10), the versatility of second round pick Su'a Cravens (20:21), the strengths and weaknesses of free agent acquisiton Josh Norman (28:32), and the team's tough slate of opponents in 2016, starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1 (40:29).

Neel rejoins Rajan and John to help provide the trio's collective final thoughts on the 2016 NBA Free Agency period. Discussion topics include our breakdown of Kevin Durant signing with Golden State (2:09), comparing the 2016 Warriors to the 2010 Heat (10:40), Russell Westbrook's future in OKC (17:55), the terrible free agent moves by the Chicago Bulls (23:49), Derrick Rose moronically comparing the Knicks to the Warriors (34:39), what's left of Dwayne Wade at this point in his career (40:37), and Neel's thoughts on the Wizards in 2016 (45:23).

Rajan and John convene to discuss "the good, the bad, and the ugly" of the Washington Wizards foray into the 2016 NBA Free Agency period. The conversation includes: why the Wizards had to re-sign Bradley Beal (4:52), the reasons why Kevin Durant didn't even give the Wizards a free agency meeting (13:35), the Wizards failed pursuit of Al Horford (18:30), how the Wizards free agent moves compares to striking out with girls at a bar (27:09), Ted Leonsis' embarrassing statement about the Wizards improving via free agency (35:59), and whether the Wizards are a playoff team in 2016-2017 (44:48).

Rajan Nanavati is rejoined by friends John and Neel to discuss the results of the 2016 NBA Draft, and all the trades taking place over the last few days. Highlights include Neel delivering his eulogy for the Derrick Rose era in Chicago, from the perspective of a Bulls fan (2:09); questioning Orlando's logic for acquiring Serge Ibaka (12:34); discussing how scary the Oklahoma City Thunder could be in 2016-2017 (15:00); Rajan lambasting the Boston Celtics for, yet again, not making a trade (24:35); our collective final thoughts on the 2016 NBA Finals (35:02); the landscape of the Eastern Conference for 2016-2017 (49:48); is someone actually dumb enough to give Jan Vesely a big free agent contract? (57:52); and the move San Antonio could make in Free Agency to swing the balance of power in the NBA (1:22:42).

Rajan Nanavati is rejoined by friends John and Neel and recap the Western Conference Finals classic between the Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder, preview the 2016 NBA Finals between the Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, and discuss Kevin Durant's forthcoming free agency.

In this NBA megacast, Rajan Nanavati talks to Keely Diven of CSN Mid-Atlantic about the Washington Wizards and other NBA topics, including a lack of chemistry between John Wall and Bradley Beal (7:10), an under-discussed reason Randy Wittman was fired (11:01), who won't be the Wizards head coach next year (15:03), the incredible likability of the Golden State Warriors (31:53), Stephen Curry being a "normal guy" (37:19), and the life of a sports journalist (46:23). Then, Rajan is rejoined by friends Neel and John to discuss the NBA playoffs, including the strange construction of the Charlotte Hornets (1:05:31), predicting the Raptors losing in Round 1 (1:10:08), whether a new LeBron-lead superteam is possible (1:20:35), the biggest threat to Cleveland in the East (1:33:19), and our first team All-NBA ballots (1:49:20).

In the inaugural Hail To The District podcast, host Rajan Nanavat is joined by good friends John and Neel to recap the Washington Wizards 2015-2016 season, discussing if the Wizards should give Bradley Beal a max contract (7:52), the reasons Randy Wittman was ultimately fired (14:13), ESPN's "30 for 30" episode on the Orlando Magic (24:12), the Wizards and other NBA coaching vacancies (29:40), whether John Wall deserves blame for this year's failures (39:12), Becky Hammond as an NBA head coach (50:22), and more.