Shows
The Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E12 - The Best Two Words In Sports...Game 7The 2025 NBA Finals have gone to a seventh game! Esrael breaks down the numbers from the playoffs and Finals for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. He'll make his case for how each team can finish the job and win the 2025 NBA Championship.
*Disclaimer: This episode was recorded before Game 7 began. Tyrese Haliburton unfortunately suffered an injury in the 1st quarter. Sending my best to him and wishing for a major comeback.
2025-06-2328 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E11 - The 2025 NBA Finals Preview - Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Indiana PacersThe 2025 NBA Finals are set between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers. Esrael returns to break down how OKC and Indiana reached this point through their successful styles of play. He also gives his prediction of who will be crowned the 2025 NBA Champion.
2025-06-0628 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E10 - Why Luka's Return Was Better Than Wilt's + Pacers & Haliburton, Bulls' Finish & Final Play-In GamesIn this episode, Esrael breaks down Luka's historic return to Dallas and why he thinks ESPN missed out on a massive statistical opportunity. He also talks about how Luka's presence has helped the Lakers with their 3-PT shooting and overall offense. Then, he dives deep into the Indiana Pacers' surge since mid-December involving Tyrese Haliburton's improved play, as well as lays the Chicago Bulls to rest with a recap of their run in March & April. Finally, he gives his stats to watch for the final Play-In Tournament games before the 2025 NBA Playoffs are set.
2025-04-1947 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E09 - The Lakers' Brilliant Backcourt + Knicks' Minutes Problem & The Pistons' ArrivalIn the mad month that is March, the NBA had massive performance after massive performance. In this episode, Esrael breaks down the numbers for the high-scoring backcourt duo on the Los Angeles Lakers. Later, he looks to solve the mystery of why the New York Knicks are heavily relying on their starters, and he then embraces the arrival of the Detroit Pistons, led by newly-named All-Star Cade Cunningham.
2025-04-0435 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E08 - Luka Dončić is a Laker + Ramadan Kyrie & ADThe 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.
2025-02-2730 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E07 - Nico Harrison, Dallas's Public Enemy #1After 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.
2025-02-0413 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E06 - Mavs Are Clicking On Both Sides + 2024 NBA Cup RecapThe 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!
2024-12-2626 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E05 - Mavs Have No Need For Threes + Do The Celtics Need Kristaps Porziņģis?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?
2024-12-0434 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E04 - How The Mavs Can Continue Winning + NBA Cup UpdateThe 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.
2024-11-2524 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E03 - Mavs' Clutch Struggles & The Return of the Emirates NBA CupAfter 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.
2024-11-1528 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E02 - Mavs' First Week, Klay Makes History & 3 Teams to WatchWith 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.
2024-11-0426 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS02E01 - Dallas Mavericks Recap & 2024-25 NBA Season PreviewThe 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.
2024-10-2525 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E29 - Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman Talks Playing & TV Career & The State of Women's Basketball*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.
2024-08-1038 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E28 - Mavs Live Host Dana Larson Talks Sports TV Career & Recaps the Mavs' 2023-24 SeasonIn 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.
2024-06-2044 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E27 - Mavs Graphics Producer Michaela Lewis Talks Broadcasting Career, Working Mavs, and The NBA FinalsOn the 13th anniversary of the Dallas Mavericks winning their first and only NBA championship, Esrael is joined by colleague Michaela Lewis, the Mavericks Basketball Graphics Producer. Michaela runs graphics for Mavs games on their local broadcasts and has an even closer perspective on the Mavs over the last 3 seasons. She goes over her broadcasting career, her time covering the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, and she also gives her take on what the Mavs need to do to get back in the NBA Finals series against the Boston Celtics.
2024-06-121h 02The Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E26 - The 2024 NBA Finals Preview - Dallas Mavericks vs. Boston CelticsThe 2024 NBA Finals are set between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics! First, Esrael puts a bow on the Conference Finals, then he breaks down stats pertaining to both teams' strengths and weaknesses. He gives his official Finals prediction at the end of the episode. Here's to the Finals!
2024-06-0637 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E25 - How The Dallas Mavericks Can Make The NBA FinalsWe've reached the Conference Finals, and the Dallas Mavericks are still dancing! Esrael breaks down how they've succeeded against the Minnesota Timberwolves to take a 2-0 series lead by laying the foundation with their success against the Oklahoma City Thunder. He'll also share his Conference Finals predictions and celebrate the All-NBA selections for this season.
2024-05-2556 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E24 - Dallas & OKC Match Up After Mavs Send Clippers to Cancún, Thunder Sweep PelicansThe Dallas Mavericks & the Oklahoma City Thunder will face off in the Western Conference Semifinals! Esrael breaks down how the Mavs took down the Clippers, as well as his main concern for the upcoming series against the Thunder. He'll also recap his picks from the 1st round and give predictions for the 2nd round.
Mavs-Thunder Series Preview: S01E20 - Apple Podcasts
Mavs-Thunder Series Preview: S01E20 - Spotify
2024-05-0735 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E23 - Pelicans Live Host Erin Hartigan Talks New Orleans Playoff AdjustmentsThe one and only Erin Hartigan joins Esrael to talk about their experiences in athletics and broadcasting and how they use their skillsets to create a compelling show for the basketball fan. They also break down what went wrong for the New Orleans Pelicans in their first two games in Oklahoma City and what they need to do to bounce back and avoid elimination.
2024-04-261h 14The Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E22 - Mavs/Pelicans/Thunder Playoff PreviewThe NBA Playoffs have begun! Esrael revisits what he wanted the Mavs to improve from last season and gives his prediction for how they'll fare in their 1st-round series against the LA Clippers. He then recaps the Pelicans' and Thunder's seasons and predicts who wins the series between New Orleans and Oklahoma City. He also gives his early playoff predictions for every series in the NBA.2024-04-2156 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E21 - Dave Evans, Former Coordinating Producer at Fox/Bally Sports SouthwestThe first interview of The Control Room features Dave Evans, Esrael's former professor of Sports Broadcasting at Baylor University. He was the Coordinating Producer at Fox/Bally Sports Southwest, Oklahoma, and New Orleans. He also served the Dallas Mavericks as their Director of Broadcasting for 14 years. Esrael & Dave discuss Dave's career, including the technology advancements he's seen and the challenges he's overcome from his early years at KWTX in Waco, Texas, through the end of his time at Bally Sports.
2024-04-062h 32The Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E20 - The NBA's March Madness! Mavs, Pels & Thunder Are PeakingAs March Madness continues, Esrael takes a look at the red-hot Mavericks and what's helped them win 9 of their last 10 games. He also looks at the Pelicans and CJ McCollum to fill the void left by Brandon Ingram as well as the Thunder and their recent 2nd Chance success. Plus, a preview of some potential playoff matchups.
2024-03-3042 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E19 - Mavs Make NBA History, Zion Leads The Pels & The Thunder's Tough TestLuka Doncic and Daniel Gafford both made NBA history in the last several games, and Esrael has all the stats to break them down. And as the NBA season reaches the last 16 games, Esrael takes a look at what the Mavs, Pelicans, and Thunder all have ahead of them as they all make a playoff push.
2024-03-1753 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E18 - Max Strus Breaks the Mavs, Pels Get Big Wins & Thunder Look to Win the WestThe Mavs are broken, and it's partly because of the Strus juice. Esrael breaks down Dallas's plays and mistakes from the last 5 minutes of the Mavs-Cavs game. He also takes a look at the high-flying Pelicans after their wins against the Knicks & Pacers as well as the Thunder's quest for best in the West.
Mavericks vs Cavaliers: Final 5 Minutes
76ers vs Mavericks Highlights
2024-03-0652 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E17 - The NBA Playoff Push for the Mavs, Pelicans & Thunder + All-Star Weekend ReviewThe NBA All-Star Weekend is in the rearview mirror, and the Mavs, Pelicans, and Thunder each have interesting paths to the playoffs. Esrael breaks down where each team has improved and/or where they may have trouble as contending teams look to finish the season on a high note.
2024-02-2247 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E16 - NBA Trade Deadline Recap & Mavs/Pelicans/Thunder Week 16 UpdatesThe NBA Trade Deadline has come and gone, so Esrael breaks down what the Mavericks, Pelicans, and Thunder did or did not do at the deadline, and he also provides a brief outlook for what each team must look out for. Then, he recaps Week 16 for those three teams, and he also provides a tease to what's coming the next couple of weeks as well as a Super Bowl LVIII prediction.
2024-02-1143 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E15 - The NBA's 65-Game Rule Sucks...Here's Why + Mavs/Pels/Thunder Week 15 RecapOne of the hottest debates in the basketball world right now is the NBA's 65-game rule, and Esrael has some thoughts on it. He'll explain the purpose of the rule as well as its biggest flaw. Plus, he'll touch on how he feels about Luka being 6th in the MVP race, and he'll also look at the best games from the Mavs, Pelicans, and Thunder from Week 15.
2024-02-061h 14The Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E14 - Luka Drops 73, Pels Fall to Thunder & OKC Reigns SupremeThis week, the NBA saw 2 players score 60+ PTS on the same night...TWICE. Luka's performance, however, was the best of them, and Esrael breaks down the Mavs' response to their recent struggles. He also looks at the matchup between the Pelicans and Thunder, as well as the 2024 All-Star Starters that have been announced.
2024-01-2842 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E13 - NBA Midseason Reports - Mavs/Pelicans/ThunderThe NBA has reached the halfway point, and Esrael has data on how the Mavs', Pelicans', and Thunder's seasons have gone so far. He'll also give some insight as to where they can improve to come out strong in the second half of the season.
2024-01-2146 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E12 - Mavs’ Hot Homestand, Pels’ Prolific Play & Thunder’s Second Chance IssuesThis week, Esrael breaks down the start of the Mavs' longest homestand of the season and their huge victory against the Knicks without Luka Doncic. He also looks at the hot offense and suffocating defense of the Pelicans while diving deeper into the Thunder's issues with second chance points.
2024-01-1357 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E11 - Mavs Need a Reset, Pels Fly High & Thunder Take Down the CelticsIn the first episode of 2024, Esrael breaks down the Mavs' post-Christmas struggles, then he talks about their first win of their 7-game homestand. He then gives out advanced stats about the Pelicans' recent rise through their 4-game win streak, and then he looks at the Thunder's big win against the Celtics. He'll also give news on NBA All-Star voting.
2024-01-0549 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E10 - Luka’s Christmas Miracle, Pels Fall Again & Thunder Take Down the Best in the WestFor the last episode of 2023, Esrael recaps Week 9 in the NBA for the Mavericks, including all the milestones Luka Doncic hit on Christmas Day in Phoenix, as well as for the Pelicans and the Thunder throughout the week. He also takes a quick look at the NBA Christmas slate and previews what's to come in 2024.
What We Learned From The NBA Christmas Day Games | The Dunker Spot
2023-12-2841 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E09 - Mavs Struggle, Pelicans Lose at the Buzzer in Ja’s Return & OKC Strikes Gold in the Mile HighIt's the holiday season, and Christmas in the NBA is almost here! Esrael recaps Week 8 for the Mavericks, Pelicans, and Thunder as they each navigate their trials and triumphs and look to solidify their standing in the loaded Western Conference. He also previews the NBA Christmas slate.
Merry Christmas!
2023-12-2139 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E08 - Mavs Stay Hot, Pels Get Waxed in Vegas & Thunder Take Another Game from WarriorsWith the first quarter of the NBA season completed, Esrael breaks down Week 7 for the Mavs, Pels, and Thunder, and he identifies some key traits of these teams through their stats. He also puts a bow on the In-Season Tournament and provides an update on Mark Cuban's sale of the Mavericks.
Links to Articles/Documents about Dallas Mavericks sale:
Dallas Morning News Article
D Magazine Article
Land Deed near Texas Stadium
Winston & Strawn LLP Locations
Village Walk RE 2 LLC - Company Information
Tax I...2023-12-1359 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E07 - Mavs vs. Thunder Showdown in Dallas & Pelicans Advance to VegasThe Mavericks and the Thunder had one of the wildest game endings ever, and Esrael breaks down everything that happened on the floor and behind the scenes in the control rooms for both the Pelicans and Thunder shows from that night. He also updates the In-Season Tournament bracket with New Orleans advancing to Las Vegas in the Semifinal.
2023-12-0854 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E06 - Mavs Find Balance, Pels Reach Knockout Round & OKC’s Young Stars Keep Showing OutWith the In-Season Tournament Group Play all wrapped up, Esrael recaps the last week for the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, and Oklahoma City Thunder, as well as previews the Quarterfinal Round for all the remaining teams looking to win the inaugural NBA Cup. He also touches on the news of Mark Cuban selling a majority stake of the Mavericks.
Josh Bowe's Article (Mavs Moneyball): Luka Doncic Got Back Into The Paint Against The Rockets
Marc Stein's Article (The Stein Line): Mark Cuban Has a Deal
2023-12-0152 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E05 - Mavs’ 3-PT Shooting, Pelicans’ Resurgence & Thunder’s DominanceAfter the NBA's games in Week 4, Esrael breaks down the Mavs' recent 3-PT shooting trends, as well as looks at how the Pelicans and the Thunder have improved their records. He also gives an update on the In-Season Tournament as two teams have already clinched their groups.
2023-11-2354 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E04 - NBA Week 3 Breakdown - Mavs/Pelicans/Thunder & In-Season Tournament UpdateAs the NBA season reaches 10 games for most teams, Esrael breaks down the most recent week for the Dallas Mavericks and the New Orleans Pelicans, and he also takes a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder in their most recent game. He also provides updates on the In-Season Tournament standings for both groups in which these teams play.2023-11-1548 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E03 - Mavs’ and Pelicans’ Week 2 BreakdownIn this third episode, Esrael breaks down the Dallas Mavericks' hot start through the second week in the NBA. Then, he shares his thoughts (and stats) on the New Orleans Pelicans' season so far. He will also preview the upcoming In-Season Tournament matchups for both teams, including the LA Clippers with newly-acquired James Harden against Dallas.
2023-11-0856 minThe Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E02 - Dallas Mavericks’ First Week & In-Season Tournament PreviewIn this episode, host and Bally Sports Southwest Associate Producer, Esrael Yohannes, recaps the Dallas Mavericks' first week and compares them to last year's numbers. He also previews the upcoming, inaugural In-Season Tournament.
2023-11-011h 12The Control Room with Esrael YohannesS01E01 - Dallas Mavericks Recap & 2023-24 NBA Season PreviewWelcome to The Control Room! Host and Bally Sports Southwest Associate Producer, Esrael Yohannes, recaps the Dallas Mavericks' season with stats and insights he's gained from covering them as the Studio Graphics AP for Mavericks Live in 2022-23. He also brings you up to speed on some of the biggest changes in the NBA for the upcoming season.
2023-10-251h 39