NBA Cup Gamer: DAL/DEN; IND/MIL; ATL/CHI, Cup Scenarios and News

We finish our mailbag look at the Eastern Conference, then hit on the latest news and rumors around the league and look ahead to the NBA Cup Semifinals on Saturday.ORL: Do the Magic need another scorer?PHI: There’s a lot of talk of the Sixers tanking. Plus how can Joel and PG play off one another more? 11:26TOR: With Scottie Barnes out, what is the Raptors’ path forward this season? 27:42WAS: Why has Alex Sarr struggled so badly? 39:30News: 50:49NBA Cup Semifinals Outlook: 1:03:53 Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

It’s a mailbag edition of our bi-weekly look at the Eastern Conference! We’ve got multiple questions for each team. A few examples:ATL: What does the future of the Hawks look like?BOS: Are the Celtics enjoyable to watch? Who is the biggest threat to them? 9:07BRK: What of the Nets’ draft pick? Did they wait too long to move their guys? 21:11CHA: Should the Hornets consider trading LaMelo? 29:36CHI: The Bulls’ pick is top-10, then top-8 protected. Is it better to get the obligation out of the way now? What about trading Vuc? 37:03CLE: Can the Cavs re-sign Merrill, Jerome, and LeVert? What trade could the Cavs make to get better? What’s Evan Mobley’s ceiling? 47:21DET: The Pistons are respectable. What’s the next step with this core? 58:07IND: Where has it all gone wrong for Indiana this year, and what do they do now? 1:05:50MIA: What’s driving Herro’s improvement and Bam’s offensive regression? 1:16:28MIL: Is Andre Jackson, Jr. a playoff player for the Bucks? 1:27:03NYK: Is this Knicks #1 offense for real? Will it sustain in the playoffs? 1:35:43 Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

Nate and Danny each pick five trends that will or won’t continue on some interesting topics, including Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, the Cavs’ offense, the Bucks defense, teams that are top-10 in offense and defense, Cam Thomas, and the Wizards’ start.Plus, we take listener questions on the topics du jour. Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

The first awards show of the year is always a fascinating one as new faces emerge into the national conversation. We give our picks for MVP, All-NBA, DPoY, CoY, Rookie of the Year, Sophomore of the Year, and 6th Man of the year. Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

Cleveland surely was going to take care of business against Atlanta after losing Wednesday, right?The Knicks survived a close call in Charlotte to set up a game for the group against Orlando. 24:04There was no way Chicago was actually going to win the group, right? 31:27Oklahoma City could take a big step to winning West Group B with a win in LA.  47:27Plus, some fun run-up-the-score scenarios.Sign up for our free newsletter! Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

Our bi-weekly look at the West!LAL and DEN: The Nuggets continued their dominance over the Lakers, and LA has a transition defense problem.DAL: The Mavs don’t have great defensive personnel up and down, but the numbers show how they contain the ball to get a top-10 defense. 21:01HOU: Alperen Sengun is an indicator of how well Houston’s defensive system is working. 28:23GSW: Where the Warriors will miss De’Anthony Melton the most, plus Draymond at C or PF? 36:22SAS: The Spurs are over .500! 43:34LAC: The Clippers are elite at defending the paint, even with James Harden’s defensive difficulties. 48:41OKC: The Thunder defense has held up even without any centers. 54:53MEM: Jaren Jackson, Jr’s individual defensive numbers have fallen, but the Grizz are still right where they want to be. 1:03:25PHX: Mike Budenholzer is playing very conservative defense with his centers. 1:10:23UTA: Cody Williams’ extremely low usage so far. 1:14:04MIN: Anthony Edwards is having a historically good shooting season. Why hasn’t it translated into great team offense? 1:21:29SAC: There’s only one ball in Sacramento, so how have the Kings’ stars adjusted? 1:29:16NOP: Yves Missi is the one player worth looking at for New Orleans so far. 1:37:08POR: Shaedon Sharpe and Robert Williams have made the Blazers respectable–as has the absence of Deandre Ayton. 1:46:07 Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

The Mavericks delivered the Group of Death to Golden State, but kept their own Wild Card hopes alive by beating Denver without Luka Doncic.Milwaukee turned the NBA Cup tables on Indiana and controls their destiny in East Group B. 30:38The Bulls dealt Atlanta their first loss in East Group C, and got their first ever Cup win, plus all the rest of the results and the fascinating scenarios emerging. 58:59Unfortunately, we also need to talk about injury news with Joel Embiid and Zion Williamson. Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

Part 2 of our bi-weekly look at the East:Toronto Raptors - 0:22Boston Celtics - 8:10Cleveland Cavaliers - 14:27Indiana Pacers - 25:46Orlando Magic - 32:26Chicago Bulls - 38:43Charlotte Hornets - 44:11Atlanta Hawks - 49:49 Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

Part 1 of our bi-weekly look at the East starts with a few of the teams du jour:Miami gets right at the expense of reeling Philadelphia. Are there any reasons for optimism in Philly right now with Joel Embiid?The Pistons finally get a blowout win at the expense of the Wizards, whose young players are struggling at the moment. 27:38Is this Cam Thomas’ breakout with the Nets? 46:53New York is struggling defensively because they aren’t getting enough from KAT and Bridges, but maybe the offense will be enough to make up for it. 55:17Milwaukee’s defense remains respectable with Brook Lopez, but the lack of a true backup center is causing issues. 1:02:31. Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.

Victor Wembanyama's 50-point game - 1:06News - 14:28Inspired by the Cavaliers, longshot NBA champions - 37:40 Subscribe to Dunc’d On Prime, the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FMSubscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see watch this free pod twice a week.Or, sign up for our FREE mailing list to get Dan Feldman's Daily Duncs with all the major topics around the league twice a week.