Suns-Thunder, Lakers-Spurs Preview + Examining Paolo Banchero's Return

We're bouncing around on today's episode of The Dunker Spot!Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones discuss the surging Boston Celtics, who recently climbed to the East's second seed. They discuss their current standing and the non-Jaylen Brown standouts, as well as appreciate the level of buy-in Joe Mazzulla has gotten from this group.From there, they bounce around. From the Pistons' consistent winning, to the Nuggets finding offense without Nikola Jokic, playoff-level questions for the Rockets and Thunder (what's going on there?), a Rudy Gobert check-in and more.Finally, the guys close the show with reactions to the first day of the Unrivaled season.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].(2:08) -- Boston Celtics(9:45)-- A quick Pistons salute(15:19) -- Back to the Celtics(24:13) -- Portland Trail Blazers(31:46) -- Denver Nuggets(41:20) -- Atlanta Hawks(45:36) -- Houston Rockets(51:21) -- Oklahoma City Thunder(56:36) -- Rudy Gobert(01:03:27) -- Unrivaled takeaways Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

Happy New Year from The Dunker Spot!Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones dissect two of the most interesting teams in the league to this point: the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers.How good are they/ What are the growth areas? How seriously should we take them come playoff time?Then, the guys discuss the breakout campaign Jaylen Brown is currently on.They close with thoughts on the upcoming Unrivaled season, slated to tip off on Monday.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].(2:13) — Los Angeles Lakers(33:15) — Philadelphia 76ers(58:49) — Jaylen Brown's breakout(01:10:28) — Key questions heading into Season 2 of Unrivaled Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

Happy New Year's Eve-Eve from The Dunker Spot!Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones discuss the hot play of the Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat and surprisingly-plucky Brooklyn Nets. Next, they check in on the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks.Finally, the guys react to the first return of All-Star voting. There may be a rant included.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].(1:44) — How to evaluate this stage of the NBA season(7:33) — Los Angeles Clippers(21:21) — Miami Heat(27:21) — Quick check-in on the Pistons' offense(30:08) — Brooklyn Nets(36:54) — San Antonio Spurs(43:18) — Oklahoma City Thunder(47:40) — Cleveland Cavaliers(50:34) — Quick Atlanta Hawks disappointment(52:18) — First All-Star returns are out(01:10:46) Free Throws Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

Happy Holidays from The Dunker Spot!Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones went back to the mailbag for this one.Questions range from the Minnesota Lynx's ideal draft strategy, to the Portland Trail Blazers' late-game offense, to the Houston Rockets' ideal closing five, to zone-beaters for rec league basketball teams. We bounced around quite a bit — thank you to everyone who sent in questions.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].(1:29) — What should the Minnesota Lynx do with the #2 overall pick?(4:28) — Examining Marina Mabrey landing spots + the most entertaining Unrivaled team(7:38) — What's the most top-heavy position in the (W)NBA?(10:21) — How do coaches decide when to make an adjustment?(22:53) — What's behind teams being able to erase big leads more easily?(28:55) — What lineup(s) should the Rockets close playoff games with?(33:50) — How sustainable is the Pelicans' offense?(38:28) — Examining the Blazers' late-game offense & Tiago Splitter(43:43) — What can we take away from this Pacers season?(49:28) — The perception around Bam vs Evan Mobley, Jaden McDaniels' switching, and 2nd round pick trade value(57:52) — Memorable role player performances(01:01:49) — How should rec-level teams attack a 2-3 zone? Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

Happy Holidays from The Dunker Spot!Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones previewed this year's Christmas slate.We have Cavaliers vs. Knicks, Spurs vs. Thunder, Rockets vs. Lakers, Mavericks vs Warriors and Timberwolves vs. Nuggets as the nightcap. Steve and Nekias are examining the key matchups, mini-battles and potential swing factors in each game.Also, shout out to Wilt Chamberlain.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].(1:17) — Cavs-Knicks(15:23) — Spurs-Thunder(30:32) — Mavs-Warriors(42:22) — Rockets-Lakers(54:16) — Wolves-Nuggets Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

We have a fun episode of The Dunker Spot on deck!With All-Star voting officially live, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones give their current All-Star teams — the games played minimum is (annoyingly, amusingly) in play for Nekias.From there, they salute the NBA Cup champion Knicks and dive further into the shifts they've made offensively. They discuss the uptick in tempo, the empowerment of non-Brunson/KAT initiators, their lineup versatility and more.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].(5:38) — West All-Star thoughts(20:46) — East All-Star thoughts(39:44) — Knicks offense breakdown(59:14) — Free Throws Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

We have a fun episode of The Dunker Spot on deck!First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones check in on the MVP and ROY races — the top two for each award will be heavily contested throughout the year. Then, the guys react to a thrilling game between the Rockets and Nuggets, and open a broader discussion about the top of the West.From there, they quickly salute the Knicks before diving into the Spurs' upset victory over the historically-good Thunder. They examine Victor Wembanyama's impact — and the ways the Thunder bothered him — as well as potential growth areas for the Thunder to hone in on. Then, it's a quick peek into Tuesday night's Final between the Spurs and Knicks.(1:59) — MVP discussion(30:51) — Rookie of the Year discussion(48:08) — HOU/DEN thoughts + Who's the 2nd best team in the West?(01:01:27) — NBA Cup discussion (NYK salute, OKC-SA, NYK-SA thoughts) Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

Ahead of this weekend's NBA Cup slate, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones recap how the Magic, Knicks, Thunder and Spurs earned victories in the quarterfinals.Then, the guys preview the semifinals — Knicks-Magic and Spurs-Thunder — asking and answering big picture questions about each matchup.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected].(1:22) — Heat-Magic(13:08) — Knicks-Raptors(20:25) — Suns-Thunder(27:31) — Lakers-Spurs(35:55) — Knicks-Magic preview(51:52) — Spurs-Thunder preview Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

Ahead of this week's NBA Cup slate, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones offer temperature checks in the West, ask key questions of the East, and bounce around with observations — and ice-in-cereal thoughts.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected] you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties — they're free, and easy to sign up for — you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot(1:29) — Suns-Thunder(16:24) — Lakers-Spurs(29:49) — Orlando Magic(45:02) — Toronto Raptors(50:51) — Dallas Mavericks(58:37) — Golden State Warriors(01:00:57) — Player Shoutouts(01:10:19) — Free Throws Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones have an honest conversation about the Los Angeles Clippers and the Chris Paul fallout, and talk through how the Clippers can still salvage their season.From there, they check in on the Milwaukee Bucks in light of the recent Giannis Antetokounmpo injury, break down the excellent play of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, then close with a round of Free Throws.If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at [email protected] you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties — they're free, and easy to sign up for — you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot(2:48) — Los Angeles Clippers(30:00) — Chris Paul(45:59) — Milwaukee Bucks(54:09) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is leveling up(01:06:35) — Free Throws Subscribe to the The Dunker Spot on your favorite podcast app:🎧 Apple Podcasts🎧 Spotify🖥️ YouTube📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube