Labar: A Q&A with Action Network and TNT Sports NBA Analyst Sean Little

By Abby Labar
Sportmoney Columnist

With the Knicks, Nets and Sixers all within a very easy travel distance to where I am in Manhattan, maybe this will be the year I jump on the NBA train? I grew up in a basketball family: My dad played in college, my brother was dedicated to the game, and after I didn’t make Varsity my Junior year, I hung up the sneaks and proceeded to cover basketball in the college basketball mecca — Tobacco Road.

I love the game. It’s not that I choose not to follow it, but when I’ve been covering baseball, hockey and college football over the last several years, it’s a lot for your girl to keep up with. Better late than never though, and the energy here up north when it comes to professional ball is something much different than the feeling in Charlotte surrounding the Hornets (not a knock on any Hornets fans, Buzz City you’re great). 

With the start of a new season, I called in reinforcements to help me with this column. He knows and understands the NBA better than anybody I know, and is a good friend and colleague of mine who has been so passionate about the game — he really knows his stuff. I met him when I first started at MSG Networks. He welcomed me with open arms, and since then I’ve admired his work ethic as he’s turned heads with his analysis and energetic personality, climbing the ladder in the industry. Not only does he love the game, but he’s one sharp bettor and an expert in that realm. If you tail his picks you won’t regret it. So low and behold, here is my fun and quite educational Q&A with NBA Analyst for Action Network and TNT Sports, Sean Little.

What or who has been the biggest surprise to start the season?

Coming in we thought Boston would be really good, and they are really good. The Thunder we were high on and they’ve been really good. But Cleveland: I thought they would be good, but man, Cleveland is stellar. In a way they are the clear second-best team in the East. You could even potentially talk about the Cavs being a top-five team in the league. That’s my early surprise because nothing really changed. They got Kenny Atkinson in as the new coach, who has been sensational, it seems like he’s gotten everyone to buy in. It’s essentially the same roster. They are deep, they are fun, they have their star Donovan Mitchell buying into exactly what they want to do. They look deep even without Max Strus. 

Who is in jeopardy early?

The team that is in jeopardy because the expectations were so high coming into the season, plus they have a three-time MVP in Jokic, is the Denver Nuggets. They haven’t been playing very well, they lost KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope),  which has been a bigger deal than we thought it would be, and they aren’t very deep. They added Russell Westbrook but they are literally five or six off the bench. Christian Braun is playing 34 minutes a night. He’s still a really young guy that doesn’t have a lot yet outside of his hustle and grit. He’s not a guy you can go to offensively, despite the fact that he’s playing well the team is asking for a lot from him. Don’t sound the alarm on the Nuggets yet but you’re definitely reaching for it because we were sure they were going to be a top two or three team in the West, and they haven’t looked that way to start the year. 

I also have to throw in the Milwaukee Bucks, sound the alarm on them. They are really bad at the moment. In spots that they should be competing in they aren’t. The other night they had two full days off, showed up in a spot and got dusted off again for four straight losses. Coming in you have Giannis, you have Dame (Damian Lillard), you have Doc Rivers off a full offseason and it still hasn’t made a difference. The roster is extremely old and the Giannis-Dame two man wasn’t really working last year, they were still taking turns. It’s not really working this year, and I think the disgruntled Giannis headline could be coming really soon. 

Which team has started off the season below expectations but should not be reaching for the panic button?

The New York Knicks. They aren’t deep either and that is something that will need to get sorted out. They only scored three points off the bench the other night against Houston. After a retool this offseason, they’re just trying to work through some things. There are possessions where you can say “that’s exactly what they are trying to do,” the spacing is right, Jalen Brunson gets a little less responsibility offensively, which can balance out the squad, Mikal Bridges is knocking down corner threes and they are playing defense really well. But then there are other games and possessions you can see that the team has a lot of work to do still for cohesion.

What are the best players to follow on a weekly basis for good prop bets?

Anthony Davis is a good one because JJ Reddick, the new coach of the Lakers, is running EVERYTHING through him when he’s available. It’s always been the case with LeBron James, even though he can shoulder the load, he doesn’t want to. So if Reddick is good with running the offense through Davis, LeBron has no issues giving it to him and letting him go to work — and he’s been so good to start the year. At the end of the day though with prop bets, it’s so match-up based.  Don’t lock in on players just because they are doing well, you really want to focus on those matchups. 

Dark Horse teams to keep our eye on?

My biggest and favorite team coming into the year was Orlando Magic.  But they lost Paulo Banchero, which is a tough one now. 

Overrated teams?

The Miami Heat have been living off the Heat culture – we aren’t concerned about what they are doing during the regular season because come playoff time they will pick it up, flip the switch and it will be Jimmy Butler this and that. But I think that stuff is over. Spo is one of the best coaches in the league, but they don't have that offensive firepower anymore to keep up. Jimmy Butler is getting older and Tyler Herro is a bucket, but outside of those two guys, Bam Adebeyo offensively is still not a guy you can depend on for 20-plus a night. I’m out on Miami based off of the culture, will they be in that play range? Sure, but I don’t expect them to be that impactful in the East. 

Favorite Storyline to follow?

The Oklahoma City Thunder and if they have the ability to win 60-plus ball games. I think they are that good defensively. The pieces that they added in, Alex Caruso plus Hartenstein hasn’t even played yet. That’s the key thing: They didn’t lose anybody, they just added people so the roster looks solid. With the head of the snake in SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), Oklahoma City has a real chance and the appetite in the regular season with Coach of the Year, Mark Daigneault to win 62 or 63 games if they really wanted to. 

Futures: Who are you putting your money on to come out of the East and the West?

Celtics-Mavericks Finals, a rematch!

To follow Sean Little and all of his insights and expertise follow his social channels!

IG: @chicagoflow
X: @ChicagoFlow