Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer and Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine talk about the streaky Dallas Mavericks, a new foundational player for the Atlanta Hawks and check in on the Most Improved Player race.00:00 - Hello friends!02:20 - Donovan Mitchell returns vs. Pelicans04:15 - Magic give Mosley 4-year extension07:50 - Otto Porter Jr. retires11:10 - VIBE CHECK: Dallas Mavericks28:50 - Most Improved Player candidates32:55 - Tyrese Maxey36:00 - Coby White44:00 - Herb Jones44:25 - Jalen Suggs44:45 - Duncan Robinson48:00 - Donte DiVincenzo49:20 - Deni Avdija49:35 - Jalen Johnson & the Atlanta HawksOn this episode of No Cap Room, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer and Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine kick things off by talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers, who got Donovan Mitchell back last night and proceeded to beat up on a good New Orleans Pelicans team. Are the Cavs quietly the 2nd best team in the East?The guys give a quick shoutout to Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, who recently got a 4-year extension after turning this young roster into a fantastic defensive team. Dan argues that this is the most successful Magic season since Dwight Howard was on the roster, while Jake wonders if Mosley could win Coach of the Year this season.After another shoutout to Otto Porter Jr., who retired after 11 NBA seasons, Jake and Dan do a vibe check for the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks have been streaky lately, winning a bunch, and then losing a bunch, and now riding another 4-game winning streak. Dan explains that the key to their success is the defense, which might be turning a corner. Jake points out that Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington seem to finally be finding their roles in this Dallas offense, which could end up helping the defense.With just a few more weeks left in the NBA regular season, the guys decided to check in on the Most Improved Player race, which is probably locked up for Tyrese Maxey. Dan admits to who he has voted for in the past, Jake roasts him for it while explaining his own philosophy for who should win MIP, and then they throw out some names of guys that could theoretically challenge Maxey for the away this year.One of those names is Jalen Johnson, who has made such a leap this season for the Atlanta Hawks that they might just trade away Trae Young and rebuild the team around Johnson. Jake talked with Johnson, and some of his struggles to escape pre-draft rumors, and came away very impressed by the kid’s mentality and work ethic. Will we see him in the play-in game? And could his improvement lead to a shift in the Eastern Conference?Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

On this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by NBA analyst Tom Haberstroh to talk about what’s going on in the NBA.The guys start with last night’s Timberwolves win over the Clippers, which saw Kawhi Leonard leave with back spasms and Anthony Edwards taking over the game afterwards. The Clippers still have a ton of talent, but Vinnie has some trust issues because of Kawhi. The guys then turn their attention to scoring, which is way down across the NBA since the all-star break. Tom tells us how wild this drop in scoring is, historically, and what he thinks is the main cause of it (officiating) before he and Vinnie discuss which teams and players will benefit from it and which ones will be hurt.Jokic vs. Giannis has been an ongoing conversation for the last week or so, as Vincent wonders which of these guys will end up being the best player of this generation (and maybe the best international player ever?). He discusses it with Tom, who takes a detour to explain why he would vote for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over both of them for NBA MVP if the season ended now.Finally, we have some fun and let Vince and Tom pick their 5 favorite college basketball players that never made it in the NBA.00:00 - Introduction01:10 - Trust issues with the Clippers05:40 - Anthony Edwards15:05 - Why is scoring down in the NBA?28:45 - Jokic vs. Giannis38:40 - SGA for MVP?43:20 - What’s the future for Clippers & Bucks?45:33 - Top 5 college basketball players who never made it in the NBACheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine is joined by Dane Moore from The Dane Moore NBA Podcast to talk all things Minnesota Timberwolves, including the transformation of Anthony Edwards’ role while Karl Anthony-Towns recovers from surgery.00:00 - Count me in!03:15 - Naz Reid06:20 - Minnesota Timberwolves12:50 - Karl Anthony-Town’s injury14:45 - Anthony Edwards26:10 - Jaden McDaniels29:50 - Timberwolves vs. the refs35:55 - Who do the Wolves want to face in the playoffs?45:25 - The Closing Five52:30 - Weekly recommendationsYahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine is joined by Dane Moore from The Dane Moore NBA Podcast to talk all things Minnesota Timberwolves, including Naz Reid’s journey from undrafted prospect to starting-level player ready to fill in for Karl Anthony-Towns, who is recovering from knee surgery.The player with the biggest additional burden on the run up to the playoffs, with KAT out, is actually Anthony Edwards. Dan talks about how Edwards’ role tends to change when KAT is out and Dane discusses what head coach Chris Finch would prefer to happen over the next few weeks without their starting power forward.Jaden McDaniels, sometimes called a bellwether for the Timberwolves’ offense by the team’s head coach, is the weak spot that other teams can take advantage of. Dane discusses how the team could try different things to try and make him enough of an offensive threat that opposing defenses can no longer ignore him.The guys also discuss Minnesota’s penchant for complaining about the officiating and which teams they match up with the best in the playoffs, with or without KAT, and which teams they probably want to avoid.Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by Nick Wright from FOX Sports for a discussion about LeBron vs. Michael Jordan, the NBA’s gambling problem and more.00:00 - Welcome to the Good Word00:50 - Are we done with the 90s? (MJ vs. LeBron)22:10 - Is Scottie Pippen overrated or overlooked?31:10 - Is gambling ruining the NBA?39:20 - Are you optimistic about the Lakers?47:40 - Who is the best team in the East?On this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by Nick Wright from FS1’s First Things First show to talk about everyone going on in and around the NBA.First, social media is going crazy with NBA fans claiming to be “done with the 90s”. That leads to a fun conversation between Nick and Vincent, which essentially turns into a the GOAT debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James, along with why Scottie Pippin is either overrated or overlooked.Rudy Gobert was fined by the league for making a gesture and then claiming that the refs are affected by sports gambling. Nick tells his own tale of sports gambling and then explains why he thinks there will be a scandal involving officials in a major sport sometime soon.Nick is a Lakers fan, so Vinnie asked him if he was worried about the Lakers likely being in the play-in this season. The guys agree that there is a big difference between being in the 7/8 seed against the 9/10 seed, and that the Lakers should do everything they can to avoid the Nuggets.Finally, Nick says he’s going on TV to predict the Milwaukee Bucks will win the Eastern Conference this year. Vinnie also agrees that the Celtics have some serious flaws that make it hard to pick them despite all of their success. Can Jayson Tatum change their minds?Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Jake Fischer and Dan Devine talk about the impact of Karl Anthony-Towns’ knee injury, LeBron James’ ankle injury, vibe check the New Orleans Pelicans and check in on some month-old trades.00:00 - Hello friends!01:25 - Karl Anthony-Towns knee injury10:45 - LeBron James ankle injury14:00 - Injuries for Evan Mobley, Ben Simmons & Russell Westbrook22:45 - VIBE CHECK: New Orleans Pelicans35:15 - Early returns on NBA Trade Deadline deals35:50 - Phoenix Suns39:20 - Indiana Pacers44:30 - Philadelphia 76ers49:45 - New York Knicks55:45 - Oklahoma City ThunderOn this episode of No Cap Room, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer and Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine kick things off by talking about all of the impactful injury news that has broken over the last few days, starting with Karl Anthony-Towns’ torn meniscus.The Minnesota Timberwolves were built a specific way, and that formula was working this year as KAT took a smaller role that fit the team best. Now, without him, the formula that makes the most sense for the Timberwolves will be difficult for them to pull off.LeBron James left last night’s Lakers game with an ankle injury that he said he’s been dealing with since the all-star break. Jake and Dan discuss the wear and tear on LeBron’s body and how important he is for the Lakers’ offensive success.The guys then speed through some minor injury news. Ben Simmons has been ruled out for the rest of the season, Evan Mobley is out for a while with an ankle injury, and Russell Westbrook is hoping to be back before the playoffs after having hand surgery.Jake and Dan vibe check the red-hot New Orleans Pelicans, who seem to be finding their identity behind some of the best basketball that Zion Williamson has played in the NBA. They’ve also developed a handful of really great two-way players that can fit around Zion. Does anybody want to play the Pelicans in the playoffs?Finally, the guys spend the time revisiting the trades that happened before the NBA Trade Deadline and talking about the returns after a month. The Suns and 76ers have found good fits, the Pacers are still trying to find consistency, and the Knicks can’t seem to get healthy. And when will Gordon Hayward find his role in OKC?Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill was in Cleveland last night and has some thoughts on what happened to the Boston Celtics that led to a 23-point comeback win for the Cavaliers.00:00 - Welcome to the Good Word00:30 - What’s wrong with the Mavericks?04:15 - Celtics implode in loss to Cavaliers27:55 - Being fair to LeBron & Bronny James37:00 - NBA viewing guideOn this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by Producer John to talk about what happened in the league last night and a lot more.Producer John is a Dallas Mavericks fan, so Vinnie kicks off the podcast by discussing why the team keeps losing despite strong offensive efforts from both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.They then switch to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who overcame a 23-point 4th quarter deficit to end the Boston Celtics’ 11-game winning streak. Vinnie isn’t sure if this is more a credit to the Cavaliers or something that the Celtics should be worried about as we head towards the NBA Playoffs.There’s plenty of rumors about Bronny James as a prospect and which NBA team, if any, would select him in the 2024 NBA Draft. Vinnie and Producer John talk about what makes that difficult and if there’s a path that lands both father and son on the Los Angeles Lakers next year.Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine is joined by the host of Locked On Heat, Wes Goldberg, to try and figure out if the Heat are better or worse off than when they won the Eastern Conference last season.00:00 - Count me in!04:00 - Patrick Beverley & Bobby Portis06:10 - Jalen Williams10:10 - How good are the Miami Heat?18:20 - Duncan Robinson23:30 - Tyler Herro33:05 - Can the Heat get back to the Finals?36:45 - Playoff Jimmy Butler37:50 - The Self-Scout50:00 - The Closing Five61:10 - Weekly recommendationsYahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine is joined by the host of Locked On Heat and editor of AllUCanHeat.com, Wes Goldberg, to try and figure out if the Heat are better or worse off than when they won the Eastern Conference last season. But first…Wes talks about the pairing of Patrick Beverley and Bobby Portia in Milwaukee being a source of joy for him, as two of the NBA’s best hype men teaming up is fun for everyone.Dan talks a bit about Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who does a little bit of everything for them (including leading the team in 4th quarter scoring) and might not have an actual ceiling on his potential.Then the guys get to the Heat. Wes explains why he thinks the team has gotten better since last year’s run through the playoffs, even though they missed out on trading for Damian Lillard this offseason.The guys discuss Duncan Robinson, who went from out of the rotation to fighting for a starting spot by working on his game and rounding out his skillset. However, the more he improves as a dribbler and passer, the more opportunity he potentially takes away from Tyler Herro.Herro’s name always comes up in trade talks, both for Lillard and for Kevin Durant, despite him being one of the Heat’s “big 3”. Dan and Wes talk about the good and the bad parts of Herro’s game and if his latest injury will once again knock him out of the playoff starting lineup.Dan also complains about Jimmy Butler giving different answers to different reporters about the existence of “Playoff Jimmy” before Wes explains that Jimmy changes his mind a lot and that’s okay.Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Now that we've entered March, the NBA regular is entering its home stretch as the playoffs fast approach. Vincent Goodwill welcomes TNT's Jared Greenberg onto the podcast today to discuss three end-of-season awards races and where the playoff picture stands as of March 4th. Kicking off the show, the guys discuss how the Rookie of the Year race is shaping up between top contenders Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs and Chet Holmgren of the Oklahoma City Thunder. While Big Vic may be running away with the award in the latter half of the season, is there a case to be made that the French rookie should win Defensive Player of the Year too?Elsewhere in the Western Conference, Vincent & Jared check-in on the floundering Phoenix Suns, who remain hovering towards the rear of the playoff standings and who have a few fatal flaws that may prevent Devin Booker & Kevin Durant from getting to the Finals together.In Los Angeles this past weekend, Lakers forward LeBron James eclipsed the 40,000 point mark in his career, adding yet another ridiculous milestone to one of the great NBA careers of all time.In the final third of the show, Vincent & Jared hash out the playoff chances for the Miami Heat & Golden State Warriors, discuss the unbeatable Boston Celtics, argue over Giannis vs. Jokic for MVP and wonder how Russell Westbrook's injury will affect the Los Angeles Clippers as they approach the playoffs: 2:00 - The rookie of the year race is over, should Wemby be DPOY too?14:30 - Sun setting in Phoenix: Suns fatal flaw in building super team27:10 - LeBron breaks another record and tries to re-write history more ways than one40:00 - Are the Heat seriously going to repeat in the East this summer?46:30 - Can the Warriors avoid the play-in tournament with recent surge?48:30 - Are the Bucks mentally ready to compete with Boston? 56:00 - Are we ready to trust the Clippers this postseason?

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Jake Fischer Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine talk about the Hornets finding a new GM, LeBron crushing the Clippers in the 4th quarter, Team USA, Kevin Durant’s defense, the Play-In Push™ and more!00:00 - Hello Friends!02:05 - Hornets find their new Head of Basketball Operations09:15 - LeBron’s Lakers comeback win over the Clippers12:55 - Team USA roster speculation22:35 - Kevin Durant’s underrated defense32:55 - Draymond Green is the key to the Warriors’ success40:45 - The Play-in Push™45:05 - Miami Heat46:00 - New York Knicks48:05 - Orlando Magic48:55 - Indiana Pacers50:55 - Dallas Mavericks58:05 - Tales from New OrleansOn a very fun leap day edition of No Cap Room, Jake Fischer and Dan Devine talk their way through everything that’s going on in the world of basketball.First, the Charlotte Hornets have found a new Head of Basketball Operations to replace Mitch Kupchak in Jeff Peterson, previously of the Brooklyn Nets. Considering the other openings around the league, Dan says the Hornets might be the best landing spot if you’re looking to compete right away.LeBron James went nuclear last night, erasing a 21-point Clippers lead in the 4th quarter and turning it into a Lakers win. Jake marvels at LeBron still doing these things at his age while Dan points out that the Lakers offense has actually been great for the last 6 weeks.The Athletic posted a list of 11 players that they believe will be on the Team USA roster, leaving one roster spot open. Jake and Dan talk about who they would pick to fill that spot before Jake says that Kevin Durant spoiled the surprise for him a few weeks ago.Speaking of Kevin Durant, he’s been an incredible two-way player this season instead of just a scorer and the Phoenix Suns need him to be their #1 scorer as well as their #1 defender. Can his body hold up?The Golden State Warriors have been much better since Draymond Green returned from suspension, so Jake explains what was going wrong early in the season while Dan explains how Draymond returning has completely changed the shape of who the Warriors are for the better.The Play-In Push™ is back! The guys talk about which teams they’re worried about rising or falling in the current playoff standings, while taking a pitstop for Jake to root for the Pacers (and the Magic) and Dan to worry about the Knicks.Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill talks about Monty Williams’ fit as the Pistons head coach and where this year’s Celtics team ranks amongst the best teams in NBA history.00:00 - Welcome to the Good Word02:15 - What’s up with Monty Williams and the Pistons?12:00 - Are we underrating the Boston Celtics?42:15 - NBA Viewing GuideOn this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill podcast, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill kicks things off by talking about Monty Williams’ fit as the head coach of a young Detroit Pistons team and wonders if the pairing got off on the wrong foot to begin with.Later, Producer John wonders if the Boston Celtics aren’t getting the respect they deserve and brings some stats to prove it. Vinnie talks about what purpose the regular season serves to championship contenders and applauds the Celtics for taking the entire season seriously.Finally, the guys provide their viewing guide for the rest of this week, including a test for the Golden State Warriors and a rematch of last year’s NBA Finals.Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts