Up & Under

The 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs had it all. Francis Carlota is joined by the President of Off The Ball Network, Chris LeBron to dissect each series and look ahead to the 2nd round.

Francis is joined by Kenneth Cotterill (@CompHedgePod and @Shooters_Pod) to discuss his NBA Power Rankings.

Finally, Damian Lillard has been traded. But not where many expected! Francis Carlota is joined by sports writer for Off The Ball Network, Medium.com, and DeepCoverSports.com, Omar Zahran to give winners/losers of it all. They also talk NBA Teams in flux that could make a big impact on the season and much much more.

There's no better soap opera than the NBA offseason. Francis Carlota, Conor Byrne, and Grant Hechinger (THEY'RE BACK!) break down each heart-stopping, thought-provoking move and how each trade impacts all teams involved along with so much more.

There's an old saying in Tennessee. I know it's in Texas. It's probably in Tennessee that says "Fool me once, shame on... shame on you. Fool me, can't get fooled again."

Ja disappointed a lot of people, again. Francis Carlota is joined by Co-Host of the 3 The Hardaway Pod, Marcus Savage to talk Ja and how his actions affect the Memphis Grizzlies. Francis gives his eulogy of the Phoenix Suns. The 2nd round is also fully broken down before talking conference finals and naming a champion! Check out Marcus on Twitter @MSavage901 and listen to the 3 The Hardaway Pod wherever you get your podcasts!

While Conor finishes up year 1 of business school and Grant parties with Billy Joel, Francis and special guest Brandon Nwokeji talk their beloved Grizzlies, Coach Bud's firing, give 2nd round predictions, and much more! Follow Brandon on Twitter @brandon_nwokeji and read his great work at bluffcitymedia.co!

50 episodes!!! For this milestone, Grant and Francis focus on their hometown and talk Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Tigers. This is what happens when Conor is away from the pod for too long.

Whatever you think of Kyrie Irving (and I hope it's bad things) you have to admire his flare for the dramatic. He showed up to prom, saw the boys and girls clustered on opposite sides of the gym, and emptied a fifth of vodka into the punch bowl. He's the hero that literally none of us want.

On today's episode, Francis and Grant are joined by Hawks beat writer Nick Andre to discuss the big moments of the trade deadline, including the Suns (2:30), Lakers (18:43), and how the deadline reshaped the conferences (31:27).

Trade Season is officially here. Grant and Francis are joined by Off the Ball Network's Mo Murphy to talk trades and NBA contenders! 

The NBA season is underway with chaos and surprises across the Association. Grant and Francis are joined by the President of the Lauri Markannen Fan Club, Kenneth Cotterill (@CompHedgePod) to discuss their favorite things about the season so far. They also talk about the lovechild of Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Victor Wembanyama, and give some exciting landing spots for him. 

Welcome back to another addition of the Up & Under's Most Interesting Teams series, featuring the long-lost but rarely-forgotten Conor Byrne, whose eyebrow reputation precedes him. 

On this episode, the guys review/preview the Golden State Warriors (4:06), Boston Celtics (16:22), New Orleans Pelicans (26:10), Toronto Raptors (35:34), and Minnesota Timberwolves (45:37).

The NBA season is upon us. Time to discuss the 15 Most Interesting Teams heading into the year. Francis and Grant are joined by President of Off the Ball Network and New York Knicks superfan, Chris LeBron! We give our offseason grades and season predictions for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, LA Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, and Denver Nuggets.

No Conor Byrne. No Grant Hechinger. But just like the Grizzlies, the Up & Under thrives on its "Next Man Up" mentality. In their place are two of the best content creators out there. Joining Francis are Kenneth Cotterill (@CompHedgePod) making his 2nd appearance and Vice President of the Off The Ball Network, the Podfather himself, Jeff Hunt (@JHunt006). We talk Suns meltdown; surging Grizzlies; Mavs-Warriors; James Harden rant; Bucks will be fine; Celtics-Heat; NBA Finals predictions. Massive thank you to Kenneth and Jeff! Go follow them on Twitter and check out all their awesome content! 

What is good everybody, it's ya boy Francis Carlota in the description of the Up and Under podcast! No Grant Hechinger for the description means no Grant for the pod. But in his place, we're joined by legendary Canadian, Kenneth Cotterill of the Competitive Hedge Podcast! Kenneth joins Francis and the man with the best eyebrows in all of NBA podcasting, Conor Byrne, to breakdown each 1st round playoff series starting with Heat-Hawks (2:30) debating whether the Heat are true title contenders; I guess Ben Simmons didn't play (9:34); sorry Chicago Bulls (18:56); James Harden worries (23:46); Pelicans for the upset? (34:15); Let’s go Grizzlies (46:03); Jokic and Friends (59:42); What is wrong with Utah? (1:08:40); NBA Finals predictions (1:20:19).

The Up & Under turns 40! This will now be a podcast exclusively about school districts, sitting down at concerts, and perusing the Home Depot.

What better way to celebrate a birthday than with the Annual All-NBA Draft Extravaganza? Team PR departments have been campaigning us hard for months and we cannot wait to disappoint some of them. This week Conor, Francis, and Grant choose their third (6:10), second (40:06), and first (1:08:47) All-NBA teams before closing with some day trading (1:34:19).

10 games. 10 things. Such a simple, yet beautiful concept. It's a wonder no NBA media member has ever put together a list like this. Hm.

This week Francis, Conor, and Grant break down what they're watching for as the NBA season winds down, a list that includes but is not even remotely limited to (because it's limited to 10 things. Ten.): the interesting storylines surrounding two unusual play-in teams (19:30); playoff matchup hunting (27:30); the favorites but the CP is silent (34:42); and a presumptuous MIP discussion (41:57). Finally, as always, the boys walk through a crowded Wal-Mart unmasked (1:06:35).

Hey gang. Have you missed us? Like Myles Turner is inevitably going to miss Domantas Sabonis? Well that's too damn bad, this is a business and you're about to get allllll the post touches you asked for. Anyways, we know everyone and their stepsister has broken down the trade deadline already. But that's their fault for not having the patience to take a step back, let it breathe, saturate. We're big smart over here at the Up & Under so we waited three weeks, just long enough to keep you titillated. Don't worry, it won't be anticlimactic.

On today's episode the evermore rare triumvirate of Conor, Francis, and Grant draft their favorite trade deadline teams (5:12) before getting suspended from the NFL for the entirety of the 2022 season (1:15:55).

Welcome back to the Up & Under, where the ups are upper and the unders are underer.

This week, Francis and Grant are joined by Off The Ball Network's Edgar Acevedo to discuss his Knicks' big name acquisition (2:17) and rate the seasons disappointing teams on the Panic Meter, featuring the Hawks (11:51), Celtics (25:19), Nets (36:40), and Lakers (47:39). Then, finally alone, Frank and Grant panic in completely the opposite direction for 33 minutes about the NBA's least disappointing team (55:50).

The flames sawed in the wind and the embers paled and deepened and paled and deepened like the bloodbeat of some living thing eviscerate upon the ground before them and they watched the fire which does contain within it something of men themselves inasmuch as they are less without it and are divided from their origins and are exiles. For each fire is all fires, and the first fire and the last ever to be. - Cormac McCarthy, Blood Meridian.

Here at the Up & Under, we always give our listeners what they want. And what our listeners want, whether they know it or not, is eleven minutes of unbridled commentary on an early December Pacers-Knicks game.

This week after Frank reads his book report for the class (3:51), the guys break down the Grizzlies' incredible mini run and what it means for Ja Morant and the team's future (14:58), discuss who in the Eastern Conference could challenge the Nets and Bucks for supremacy (32:29), and Frank take's center stage once again to make a late entry for his best and worst offseason takes (43:52) before they wrap up with some good old fashioned wagering (55:55)

Okay, so now that we finally are through our offseason predictions, let's break down why all of them were wrong instantly. This week, Conor and Grant are reunited and you bet your ass that "midichlorians" is said in the first two minutes. With no Francis to hold them back, the guys gleefully list their worst and best offseason takes 12 games into the season (7:57), discuss the effect of the NBA's rule changes this year and some additional ones to consider next (38:17), and then play just one more hand to get their chips back before signing off (57:22)

Anndddddd we've finally made it through our 2021 Most Interesting Teams series. Luckily, we worked out a deal with the NBA that the first 10 games of the season won't count this year, so this does in fact qualify as a preseason series. Please stop sending letters to our parents' houses telling them we're not punctual. It hurts.

Part 3 is another split episode: in the first segment, Francis and Grant are joined by longtime guest Mac Trammell to discuss the, as Mac once said, "stable, under the radar" Sixers (4:11), and just touch quickly on the boys' hometown Grizzlies (22:55); in segment two, Conor and Francis talk the in-limbo-waiting-for-Brad-Beal-to-come-to-his-senses Wizards (1:17:52), the once-presumed-favorite Nets (1:39:07), and the this-is-without-Klay? Warriors (1:51:24), before wrapping up with the first bets of this new season (2:02:17).

Welcome back to the Up & Under for season 3! They say season 3 is typically a series' peak, but boy, I don't know how in the world we're going to top that absolute heat we brought each and every episode of the first two seasons. I guess the only thing to do is go bigger and better.

For the first episode of season 3, we rekindle our Most Interesting Teams series from last year with a brand new special guest. Please welcome LA native and lifelong fan of the not-Clippers, Chris Moore! He gives Francis and Grant their becoming-routine break from Conor's overbearing eyebrows. In today's episode, the boys give offseason grades and preseason predictions for Chris' not-Clippers (3:00), the superteam Bulls (21:04), the long-lost lover Heat (37:12), the does-Hassan-Whiteside-really-solve-our-Rudy-Gobert-couldn't-put-a-post-move-on-a-well-groomed-bonsai-tree-problem Jazz (45:36), and the plucky and still loaded Hawks (56:24).

What...is...good everybody it's your boy Franklin Carvana, welcome to another episode of the Up & Under.

This week, Conor and Grant return to save the pod and the boys talk all things playoffs, including but very much not limited to: Rajon Rondo, Luka-stopper (6:20); the Los Angeles Kendall Jenner's Boyfriends (25:10); the Jazz upsetting the Grizz (50:32); the second round Finals between the Bucks and Nets (57:22); Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau (1:11). Then they finish up by "willingly retiring from the NBA to pursue a career in baseball" (1:24:51).

Hey Listener. It's me, The Up & Under Podcast, from your phone. I know it's been a while but you haven't forgotten me already, have you? I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when the Magic sent out their only three competent players. But did it really mean that much to you? I mean you had to have seen this coming, it was long overdue. Okay, okay you're right, it was wrong of me to abandon you and it won't happen again. If I can't handle you at your UCLA-Kevin Love, I don't deserve you at your GQ-Kevin Love.

This week Conor, Francis, and Grant break down what the Nuggets will look like sans Jamal Murray (4:30), Luka Doncic and recent-Just-for-Men-Touch-of-Gray-convert Mark Cuban's comments on the play in tournament (22:07), the impact of Jalen Suggs' iconic shot on the future decisions of top prospects, and, of course, creepily ask the closest person to blow on our hand in the hopes of rolling snake eyes (46:16).

Welcome back to the Up and Under! In our first ever season-opening episode, we dive into a bunch of topics that will surely be irrelevant in a month. Enjoy!

The storylines we discuss include an already-irrelevant-because-we-recorded-before-the-Harden-trade evaluation of the surprising and exciting Indiana Pacers (2:46); the Nuggets poor start due to (cough predictable cough) defensive struggles (17:16); the short and long-term watchability of the continued Sprawlball evolution (27:52); Anthony Davis' nonchalant first two weeks (38:37); and, of course, the Coronavirus and it's impact on the unpredictability of the season (47:46).

In other news, we have launched the official Up & Under Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts. Please go like, follow and subscribe there, and don't forget to subscribe and rate us here. It really helps!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upandunderpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upandunderpod

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCsLJtAcFKMrJUq9sbODsbeg

Welcome to Season 2 of the Up & Under! We had a shortened offseason due to the NBA's desire to get paid. LeBron told us we should just take the first month off. We said maybe in year eighteen LeBron, but our legs are young and we're still paying off that house we bought for our cousin.

This week Conor, Francis, and Grant open it up with a breakdown of Frank's Twitter draft experience as the GM of the Clippers (2:38), before heading into our own official Up & Under 2020 NBA Mock Draft (30:46). Mock decisions were made, mock careers were ruined, and Adam Silver's mock skeleton hands were shaken 30 mock times.

In other news, we have just launched the official Up & Under Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts. Please go like, follow and subscribe there, and don't forget to subscribe and rate us here. It really helps!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upandunderpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upandunderpod

YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCsLJtAcFKMrJUq9sbODsbeg

As the NBA season has finally come to an end, we're not done just yet. We've got some exciting stuff planned for the offseason, but until then please enjoy us talking about actual basketball for the last time for either a very short or very long period of time. 

This week Conor, Francis, and Grant are pretty schloppy, but still manage to discuss the Lakers championship (3:00) and its impact on LeBron's legacy (24:34), the continued development of Anthony Davis (35:21), Tyler Herro's future (48:57), and projections for the Heat and Lakers in 2021 (56:40).

This is the day that LeBron has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

This week — sans Conor — Francis and Grant preview the NBA Finals as they tip-off tonight (26:45). But first they discuss Doc Rivers' firing and his intriguing future (2:10), and recap the Eastern (10:29) and Western Conference Finals (16:41); then they wrap up with a cool 50 on black (43:07).

We have a name!!! (oh and the NBA Playoffs started). Introducing the Up and Under, the name that took 5 months and 11 episodes to come up with and if you think that's maybe a little long then you just don't understand the creative process and you can get the hell out of my studio.

This week, Conor, Drunk Francis, and Grant discuss the winners and losers of the seeding games (7:27) and the most important questions heading into the playoffs (36:10), make their picks for the first round of action (56:44), and finish up with some poker (1:02:44).

The gang is back together, sorry we were busy watching real live sports. This week Conor, Francis, and Grant overreact to the first three games of the bubble (15:02), judge the bodies of professional athletes (37:15), and make some more gambles (49:38).