The Control Room with Esrael Yohannes
Welcome to The Control Room! This show breaks down NBA basketball using stats researched by graphics producer, Esrael Yohannes, providing a fresh take on the league through objective data and analysis. Special guests include fellow sports broadcasters, former professional athletes, and members of the Hall of Fame, where you will also learn about their careers in the sports broadcasting industry. If you know ball, or you want to know ball, this is the pod for you. This is an independent project and is not associated with the NBA, FanDuel Sports Network, or any other sports network.
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Episodes
Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
Wednesday Feb 26, 2025
The loss of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers still stings, and Esrael breaks down how Luka has come into form in his most recent outings with LA. Then, he talks about what the Mavericks need to do to stay in the playoff race, if the legend of Ramadan Kyrie is real, and what Anthony Davis brings to the table.
Monday Feb 03, 2025
Monday Feb 03, 2025
After what is considered to be the worst trade in NBA history, Esrael briefly gives his two cents on Nico Harrison, the general manager of the Dallas Mavericks, and why he believes Harrison was wrong to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
Wednesday Dec 25, 2024
The Dallas Mavericks have had a month to remember, and Esrael has the stats to back it up. He breaks down how the Mavs are balancing both their paint and perimeter offensive attacks and how their defense has held up to get them wins. He will also recap the 2024 Emirates NBA Cup, highlighting the resurgence of the Milwaukee Bucks and the dipping efficiency of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Then, he'll give a standings update and the NBA Christmas Day schedule. Merry Christmas!
Wednesday Dec 04, 2024
Wednesday Dec 04, 2024
The Mavs are on a hot streak despite being without Luka Dončić, and Esrael has all the stats to break down their winning ways. He dissects how Dallas is breaking from the new NBA norm of shooting threes and is carving out their own identity in the paint. Plus, he ponders the question...do the Boston Celtics really need Kristaps Porziņģis?
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
The Mavericks responded to their 4-game losing streak with a 4-game winning streak, and Esrael has the stats to break down why Dallas has been more successful despite losing Luka Dončić. He'll also look at new teams to watch as they start to build identities, and he'll provide an update on the NBA Cup standings in group play.
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
After Dallas lost consecutive games in the clutch, Esrael breaks down the stats showing where the Mavs are having the most trouble. He'll also give his assessment on the Oklahoma City Thunder and how they will fare without Chet Holmgren. Then, he'll look at the standings and the return of the Emirates NBA Cup.
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
Sunday Nov 03, 2024
With the first week of the NBA completed, Esrael has some notes about a couple games from the Dallas Mavericks and where he's noticed some struggles. Later, he breaks down Klay Thompson's historic achievement and gives 3 other teams to watch for as they've impressed early on in the season.
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
The Control Room returns for Season 2! Esrael is back to break down plenty of stats and milestones from the Dallas Mavericks' incredible season, culminating in the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance since 2011. He will also talk about some high-profile players who have moved on to new teams, as well as give his take on who is the frontrunner to win the 2025 NBA championship.
Saturday Aug 10, 2024
Saturday Aug 10, 2024
*Recorded May 21, 2024*
A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Nancy Lieberman joins Esrael to talk about her basketball career, both as a player and a coach, and how she translates her skills to broadcast television. She also breaks down the evolution of the point guard and the state of the women's game.
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
Thursday Jun 20, 2024
In this episode, Esrael is joined by Mavs Live Host Dana Larson, who has covered the Mavericks for 22 seasons in its 44-year existence! She talks about her sports TV career, how she stays prepared, her favorite memories of the Mavericks, and she and Esrael recap Dallas's 2023-24 NBA Season after falling short in the NBA Finals.