Episodes

  • Why Sam Merrill’s return changes everything for the Cavs

    Why Sam Merrill’s return changes everything for the Cavs
    Dec 24 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, Ethan Sands, Chris Fedor and Jimmy Watkins break down the Cleveland Cavaliers' 141-118 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. They praise coach Kenny Atkinson for making effective lineup adjustments, highlighting the significant impact of Sam Merrill's return. The speakers discuss how Merrill's presence as a shooter and "connector" has unlocked the offense, making things easier for the entire team. The discussion also covers the team's improved physicality and energy, while noting the organization's belief that their issues are fixable without drastic roster or coaching changes. Despite the positive performance, the hosts remain cautious, emphasizing that the team must sustain this level of play against tougher opponents to prove a true turnaround. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Reacting to the Cavs snapping a three-game losing skid with a 3-point barrage

    Reacting to the Cavs snapping a three-game losing skid with a 3-point barrage
    Dec 23 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, Ethan Sands and Jimmy Watkins discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers' recent victory over the Charlotte Hornets, highlighting the positive offensive performance and key player contributions. They also delve into the team's defensive struggles, the importance of rebounding and the physicality needed to improve their game. Looking ahead, they emphasize the need for the Cavs to bank wins as they face upcoming challenges, particularly with player health concerns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • Reacting to the Cavs’ third straight loss to a sub-.500 team

    Reacting to the Cavs’ third straight loss to a sub-.500 team
    Dec 20 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk Podcast, Ethan Sands, Chris Fedor and Jimmy Watkins react to the Cavaliers’ third straight loss to a sub-.500 team — their latest being a dispiriting showing against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night. The conversation centers on a team that looks increasingly disconnected, with a defense that can’t sustain effort, possessions that die on the vine and an identity that remains undefined months into the season. The guys examine why Cleveland continues to lose the plot against lesser opponents, including uneven play from key rotation pieces like De’Andre Hunter and a growing list of questions surrounding Kenny Atkinson’s in-game decisions. They also dig into the larger implications: whether the belief that carried last season’s group has cracked, how fragile the current culture feels, and why the margin for patience is shrinking. With the Cavaliers carrying one of the league’s most expensive payrolls, Dan Gilbert’s reported dissatisfaction looms in the background — even as the reality of the CBA makes meaningful roster fixes far more complicated than they sound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • The Thunder have raised the bar — and the Cavs aren’t close yet | What Cleveland must learn from OKC w/ The Athletic's Joel Lorenzi

    The Thunder have raised the bar — and the Cavs aren’t close yet | What Cleveland must learn from OKC w/ The Athletic's Joel Lorenzi
    Dec 19 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, Ethan Sands and Jimmy Watkins are joined by The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi for a wide-ranging NBA conversation that quickly turns into a reality check for the Cavaliers. Drawing on his time covering OKC, Lorenzi breaks down how the Thunder have built a dynasty-in-waiting through elite organizational alignment, patient player development and ruthless asset management. That framework casts an uncomfortable light on Cleveland. The group examines the Cavs’ lack of a clear identity, inconsistent execution and stalled growth from key pillars like Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. They come to the conclusion that as currently constructed, the Cavaliers are not championship contenders — and teams like the Thunder have permanently raised the bar for what it takes to win in today’s NBA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • Do the Cavs need to stop kidding themselves about their defensive identity?

    Do the Cavs need to stop kidding themselves about their defensive identity?
    Dec 18 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, Ethan Sands and Chris Fedor discuss the Cavs' latest disappointing loss falling 127-111 to the struggling Chicago Bulls. Cleveland has tried nearly everything to snap out of its funk — player-led meetings, lineup tweaks and messaging shifts — yet the same issues persist on both ends of the floor. The conversation centers on a hard question the Cavs can no longer avoid: what evidence actually supports the “defense-first” label they continue to lean on? Sands and Fedor push back on comparisons to teams that eventually played their way out of early-season struggles and into deep playoff runs, noting that this Cleveland roster has yet to show it can consistently defend, let alone impose itself as an elite team. Until that proof shows up, the Cavs aren’t unlucky or unfinished — they’re unresolved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • If not now, when? What this Evan Mobley-less stretch means for Jarrett Allen’s Cavs Tenure

    If not now, when? What this Evan Mobley-less stretch means for Jarrett Allen’s Cavs Tenure
    Dec 17 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, Ethan Sands and Jimmy Watkins dig into the Cavaliers’ growing inconsistency and lack of urgency, framing the upcoming matchup against the Chicago Bulls as a revealing “Cavs vs. Cavs” moment. With Evan Mobley sidelined, the conversation sharpens around Jarrett Allen and the opportunity in front of him. This isn’t just about filling minutes but whether Allen can anchor a team that continues to search for its baseline effort — this two-to-four week stretch presents a clear test of how much Allen can shape a winning outcome when the margin for error is minimal. Sands and Watkins also push for a change in the starting lineup to shift the opening dynamic and discuss why the Bulls are another valiant test for Cleveland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins
  • Is it time to hit the panic button on the Cavs' season?

    Is it time to hit the panic button on the Cavs' season?
    Dec 15 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk Podcast, Ethan Sands discusses the Cleveland Cavaliers' disappointing 119-111 overtime loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The host expresses concern over the team's inconsistent habits, questionable coaching decisions by Kenny Atkinson, and over-reliance on Donovan Mitchell. The discussion highlights the team's struggles against weaker opponents, the impact of injuries to Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, and the failure to establish a consistent identity a third of the way into the season. Despite public statements from players and coaches downplaying any crisis, the episode argues that the team's performance, particularly going scoreless in overtime, is a significant cause for alarm. The conversation also touches on potential moves at the upcoming trade deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 mins
  • At what point does the Cavs' complacency become a real problem?

    At what point does the Cavs' complacency become a real problem?
    Dec 13 2025
    In this episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast, Ethan Sands and Chris Fedor break down the Cleveland Cavaliers’ narrow 130-126 win over the Washington Wizards and why it felt like a continuation of their inconsistency. Coming off a five-day break designed to clean up defensive issues, the Cavs instead delivered one of their sloppiest performances of the season, leaning on yet another superhero effort from Donovan Mitchell just to escape with a win. The conversation also dives into coaching decisions that are becoming increasingly questionable — and what it all says about Cleveland’s standards moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins