The Basketball Feelings Podcast, Episode 13: Sabreena Merchant

I like watching a team get a stop. I like watching teams be able to get into their bag and figure out how to shut down opposing offences. Ugh. I feel like I’m 75 years old saying this — I miss watching defences play.

You’ve probably heard Sabreena Merchant’s voice before. Either in your head, reading her work covering the Clippers and Lakers, the WNBA, and the NBA at large, or in your head literally, listening to her on a lot of different podcasts.

She’s considered, precise, and quick to question (e.g. when I said Chris Paul had “softened” with the Suns and she cocked her head and asked, “Has he?”) in a way I wish more people were.

We talked about the Lakers, a team she covers now, and their identity crisis. We talked about the Clippers, a team she used to cover, and their metaphysical one.

We talked about defence! Specifically, the obstacles necessary in a game to make offence look better, or make us appreciate it more. Like a good accoutrement. I put Sabreena on the spot to come up wit…