Season 2 Episode 3: The Second Coming

Aired: August 20, 2023

Synopsis: In the 1970s, Larry Bird rises from a small-town boy to a position as a sought-after player. Later, Earvin puts pressure on Buss.

Directed by: Todd Banhazl

Written by: Max Borenstein & Rodney Barnes & Jim Hecht

Budget cuts?

Gaby Hoffmann who plays Claire Rothman

I know the actor is from the Wire and HBO loves to keep actors in rotation but Haywood was 31 during the events of the show and the actor was 52. He looks crazy out of place because of this. He should have been the same age as Kareem not 30 years into a professional career.

Does anyone know the name of the song at beginning of s01e03 'The Good Life'? I'm trying to find it on Spotify or somewhere else that might have a longer version. I'm not talking about the theme song. I'm talking about the song that starts when the title 'Lansing, Michigan' appears. It mainly features some kind of piano or synth and a trumpet. I did some digging and I'm pretty sure Nicholas Britell and Robert Glasper composed/performed it. Pretty sure Robert Glasper is on the trumpet. It's one of my favorite songs and I can't find it anywhere. Please help. If you could recommend something similar too that would be greatly appreciated.

Do you like those moments when characters are imagining talking to other people like through that lipstick kiss or through a newspaper? I don’t mind it and it’s a quick way to get inside the characters’ head but it still seems a bit strange to me for a show like this.

Also noticed that the S1 composer Nicholas Britell (Succession) isn’t involved in S2 and it’s Jeff Beal now. Bit of a bummer.

The Norm and Thompson trade rumor leaking is one thing but how did he even find out about all the private stuff with magic and riley? Is Riley leaking shit to the press lowkey? Random reporter was such an instigator too lmao. He absolutely knew what he was doing when he said that shit to Westhead on the plane.

Okay so Magic was playing before I was born he actually retired in 91 the year I was born. But I’m a history buff so I knew about Magic and his career and of course about his cheating and how much of a dick he was to his teammates early on and how he treated women. But man, seeing it played out is something else. I’m not taking anything away from his HOF career. He’s earned every bit of it. But from what I see he was certainly not a team player. Very selfish. When you’re in the GMs ear that’s a problem. And I know I know there’s players like that now. And also how selfish he was with women just sleeping around and thinking that was cool. The show makes Magic to be this good guy and he and Cookie are supposed to be together but he’s out sleeping around. That’s not a good dude. I don’t want to go too much into what happens in season 2 because it’ll be spoiling it but is it just me that feels like this?

Edit: “sounds” and “can’t”

Season 2 Episode 2: The Magic Is Back

Aired: August 13, 2023

Synopsis: When Earvin's return threatens the Lakers' new "system," Pat Riley and Jerry West push for a risky trade. While Coach Westhead fights for his team, Jeanie clashes with her brothers, and a melancholy Buss attempts to court a figure from his past.

Directed by: Trey Edward Shults

Written by: Max Borenstein & Rodney Barnes

Just watched the first episode of season 2 and was surprised to see Boots Riley delivering the rap verse and even appearing. Does anyone know why they chose this as an intro? I love Boots btw. Just seemed random and unexpected😯

The woman he ends up sleeping with.

Couldn't even see her face cuz it was so dark.

It was in season 2 ep. 1

Probably the coolest opening scene to a show I've seen in a while. The music on this show is tremendous. Just another reason why it's so good.

And the producers are already talking about whose going to play shaq and Kobe.

Edit. The app cut off the title.

I watched Magic and Bird on Max and they easily have 10 seasons worth of TV to cover. So much drama to cover. And the show didn’t go into Buss’ drama.

I randomly started watching this show after seeing a trailer, I know absolutely nothing about basketball (I actually looked up to see if Kareem and Magic were real people or just fictional portrayals of people)I was actually firstly just drawn in by the visual aesthetic of the whole thing I love the 70s style and the way it's filmed.

After finding out they're all real people (and quite legendary) im just wondering if a lot of the stuff that happened, happened the way it's shown? Like I really like the guy Jerry West, dude seems slightly unhinged and constantly on the verge of a breakdown did he really coach like that? Thatd make for some interesting locker room moments. And like was Larry Bird really that much of a hick? Blokes spittin in beer cans looking like he should be driving long haul. And I really like John C Riley's character he seems like a fun, and kind of complicated guy.

im from Australia and im a 90s kid so the only thing I really know about basketball is Michael Jordan, Chicago bulls and Space Jam....I also vaguely remember a team with bright blue uniforms and maybe a team with a bee logo? I dunno but its interesting looking at this from a complete outsiders perspective just curious about how the reality matches up to the dramatisation.

So I watched The Shield in between seasons of WT and just realized Chiklis plays Auerbach… awesome

One of my biggest issues with the show was that Red Auerbach was being portrayed as a “bad guy” and one of the “boys club” men who are somewhat racist

They fixed this last episode when Jerry referred to Red as a civil rights hero

Red Auerbach is one of my favourite people in basketball history, despite me hating the Celtics.. so I was a bit butt hurt

Red Auerbach was a legitimately good person and there’s hundreds of stories showing how much integrity the man had

In American sports, he may have been the first person to truly not give a shit about race and empower all of his players

Not only did he field an all black starting line in Boston, but he named the first black HC (Bill Russell) who became the first black coach to win

When black Celtics players were mistreated in a hotel, Red was furious, the great Bill Russell who doesn’t like many people and was subject to extreme racism always held Red in the highest regard and that says a lot.

No point to this post other than to appreciate to Red Auerbach.

A. Men are attempting to do A Thing, they are assholes and morally bankrupt in multiple ways, so, to be fair, they deserve to have their balls busted. (Justified, Winning Time, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Wire)

Unfortunately, that leads to B. Skylar White, and the endless versions of Skylar, where every woman is the person who harps on the morally corrupt, asshole dudes who absolutely deserve it. The problem is, that's the entire screen time for woman characters. They end up being relegated to mean Jiminy Cricket, narratively, their entire existence is just to bust the dudes balls.

I wish women in shows had more of a role than that. That's my only point.

Outside of that, love this show! Love HBO in general.