Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast

Nate and Danny tackle Western Conference mailbag questions from the Dallas Mavericks through the LA Lakers, digging into star-trade calculus, emerging young players, and which contenders really scare OKC and Denver.Dallas Mavericks — 0:55Is Max Christie’s 65% true shooting for real, and if/when his shooting regresses, can he still be a starter on a championship team?How should Dallas value and time a potential Anthony Davis trade—what kind of package is “enough,” how much does the extension/player option risk matter, and is it better to move him now or wait?Given their place in the standings and draft-lottery odds, how low can Dallas realistically fall in the West, and how much does that affect the urgency to trade Davis?Would a Trae Young–for–Anthony Davis swap make sense for either the Mavericks or the Hawks in terms of fit and direction?How does the Derek Lively–Cason Wallace–Dāvis Bertāns draft-night trade look 2.5 years later for both Dallas and OKC, and which side would you rather be on now?Denver Nuggets — 17:57How has Peyton Watson grown offensively, and is he finally ready to be a reliable playoff-rotation player?Why is Zeke Nnaji still getting minutes over DaRon Holmes—are the Nuggets trying to pump up Nnaji’s trade value, or do they genuinely see him as the better fit?What are Denver’s best and worst potential playoff matchups in the first two rounds (with OKC assumed as the 1-seed and off the board)?Golden State Warriors — 28:40As in so many recent seasons, the Warriors hit mid-December around .500—what’s the single biggest factor that can actually turn their season around?Is there any realistic “retool” path where Golden State trades some of the youth to become a legitimate threat again in games where Steph drops 40+ (e.g., moving Pods/Kuminga plus picks for a real starter)?Is the fan criticism of Brandin Podziemski this year justified—how good is he actually and what are his limitations?How much faith should we have in the Warriors’ front office to build another contender post-Steph based on their track record?What’s the most likely resolution with Jonathan Kuminga—do the Warriors still see him as a core piece, or is he basically just flotsam matching salary at this point?With Steph still playing at an elite level but the team stuck in the middle, are the Warriors really in an intractable “can’t blow it up / can’t contend” quandary, or is the path forward actually straightforward?Houston Rockets — 44:17If Giannis becomes available, should the Rockets not go after him this season because of OKC’s dominance and instead wait to add another star later, or is this exactly the kind of opportunity you must seize?How much better would Giannis actually make Houston in the next 2–3 years compared with just riding out growth with Alperen Şengün and the current core—and is a Şengün-for-Giannis framework ever worth it?Is a core trio of Amen Thompson–Şengün–Giannis really viable given their combined limitations, and if so, who becomes the odd man out long-term?Is Reed Sheppard being misused when he’s just parked in the corner while others run the offense—are the Rockets wasting his on-ball skills by treating him like a pure 3-and-D guard?Including possible trades, who is the bigger playoff threat to the Thunder this year: the Spurs or the Rockets?LA Clippers — 53:52Do the Clippers’ struggles this season help them at all when the league decides Kawhi Leonard’s punishment, or is that totally irrelevant to discipline?How much of the Clippers’ disaster season is real underlying weakness versus bad clutch luck and opponent shooting luck (teams bombing threes against them)?What is the most likely course of action for the Clippers at the trade deadline—could they or should they do any kind of “firesale” given they owe so many picks?In hindsight, did the Clippers have the worst offseason—essentially gifting Miami an All-Star-caliber Norman Powell while signing a washed Brook Lopez—and how badly did that set them back?What are the realistic odds the Clippers can claw back to the 10th seed and at least mildly salvage their season?LA Lakers — 1:04:21The Lakers’ record is great but their net rating is mediocre—what are their biggest weaknesses or needs, and do they actually play well enough consistently to reach the West finals or NBA Finals?In the MVP discussion, did you underrate Luka Doncic compared with Giannis—if you swapped their team contexts (Luka on the Bucks, Giannis on the Lakers/Mavs), how would that affect their cases, especially when you account for defense?With LeBron driving less and spending more time on the perimeter, would the Lakers’ offense be better if they used him more in the post/elbow or as a handoff hub instead of having him just initiate from outside? Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Victor Wembanyama's sensational return leads San Antonio to a stunning win over Oklahoma City, changing the game dynamics. Jalen Brunson shines with a 40-point performance, showcasing the Knicks' potent offense. The hosts propose a thrilling Final Four format for the playoffs to spice things up. They dissect late-game strategies and the pivotal moments that defined the matchups. Looking ahead, the Spurs and Knicks face off in a highly anticipated Cup Final, with strategies and predictions laid out for a thrilling conclusion.

Nate and Danny dive deep into the Eastern Conference, exploring the stark differences in performance between the Pacers and Celtics. They discuss the implications of Ryan Nembhard's selection and assess Indiana's center options. The Heat face lineup struggles with Bam Adebayo and Kel'el Ware, while Nikola Jović's extension sparks debate. From Myles Turner’s future in Milwaukee to the Knicks' use of the triangle offense, the hosts analyze player roles, potential trades, and the evolving dynamics of several teams.

The hosts dive into potential trade scenarios, debating whether the Hawks should swap Trae Young for Giannis. They analyze Boston's need for a deep playoff run while managing player health. A discussion on LaMelo Ball's decline raises concerns about injuries and future trades for the Hornets. The Nets weigh the value of Michael Porter Jr. against his trade potential, and the hosts question early draft evaluations as rookies show promise. Buzz surrounds the Pistons' surprising ascent and their trade targets.

With the East so open, should the Pistons push their chips in now for a star forward like Jaren Jackson Jr. (or Markkanen/AD), and what would that kind of trade cost?Is an Austin Reaves–Luka Dončić backcourt too weak defensively for the Lakers to be a true championship contender?⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠⁠Lawrence FrankChris Paul-ClippersChris PaulL.A. ClippersCleveland CavaliersGiannis AntetokounmpoSpurs-MagicPistons-BucksDunc'd On LivePat SpencerDenver NuggetsDenver Nuggets⁠Full Daily Duncs with links⁠ Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential trade request leads off the show, as Nate and Danny retrace how Milwaukee got here and debate where he could go next.They then break down Bucks/Pistons, highlighted by Giannis’ calf injury, Doc Rivers’ clever 2–3 zone, and Jericho Sims’ decisive and-one.San Antonio/Orlando follows, with Dylan Harper’s electric playmaking, De’Aaron Fox’s tough shotmaking, and Luke Kornet’s game-saving block on Franz Wagner.Jamal Murray’s 52-point explosion against Indiana ranks among the most efficient 50-point games ever.A shorthanded Warriors/Thunder matchup features Pat Spencer’s breakout, Seth Curry’s debut, and OKC’s defensive lapses.Finally, Chris Paul’s exit from the Clippers headlines a lengthy news segment on injuries and updates around the league.Giannis’ looming trade request, the Bucks’ timeline, and possible destinations and returns. 0:30Bucks/Pistons: Giannis’ calf injury, Doc’s 2–3 zone on Cade, Sims’ putback, and Detroit’s crunch-time collapse. 17:30Spurs @ Magic: Harper vs Fox, Orlando’s paint attack, and Luke Kornet’s game-saving block on Franz. 25:47Jamal Murray drops 52 on Indiana and what it reveals about Denver’s season and their home/road split. 45:38Warriors/Thunder in SF: Pat Spencer’s shock performance, OKC’s shorthanded defense, Seth Curry signing, and Kuminga’s health. 50:08Chris Paul sent home by the Clippers, locker-room dynamics, Ty Lue/Lawrence Frank, and what’s next for CP3. 58:59News (league-wide injuries/updates: Nuggets, Clippers, Lakers, Heat, Pelicans, Wizards, Knicks, Kings, Celtics, Nets, Bulls, Hornets, and more). 1:06:41 Join Dunc’d On Prime! It's the only place to get every episode with Nate & Danny, plus every pod with John Hollinger & Nate as well!Subscribe on YouTube to get Dunc'd On Clutch Calls, Real Video Scouts, and more.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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nate and Danny dive into the fierce MVP race featuring Jokic, Shai, Luka, and Giannis. They examine the deep pool of over 25 candidates for the All-NBA teams and discuss surprising Defensive Player of the Year nominees. Coach of the Year contenders also get spotlighted, with coaches showcasing innovative systems. The Sixth Man award offers contrasting views, and the Rookie of the Year debate heats up with fresh faces emerging. They also touch on standout sophomores and wrap up with teasers for future segments.

Nate and Danny dive into the thrilling NBA Cup quarterfinals, dissecting Orlando's gritty win over Detroit and the late-game heroics of Jalen Brunson against Giannis. They explore the surprising upset as the Spurs take down the Nuggets, highlighting Denver's clutch struggles. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shines for the Suns while the Hawks disrupt Cleveland’s momentum. The hosts also preview intense matchups ahead and discuss injury updates affecting key players. Get ready for a high-stakes playoff atmosphere!

Nate and Danny dive into the Lakers' nail-biting win over the Jazz, spotlighting LeBron's mixed performance. They dissect LA's rotation and role changes, alongside Utah's lineup choices amidst struggles. The duo evaluates the Mavericks' dismal record and discusses potential Anthony Davis trade rumors. The Clippers' recent spotlight shines on Harden's explosive game and CP3's retirement. Nash and Danny explore the Suns' surprising success and the Thunder's dominance, capped off by Shai's scoring surge and the Warriors' injury woes.

Denver and Houston faced off in an intense tactical showdown, showcasing Jokic's dominance despite an injury to Aaron Gordon. Phoenix pulled off an unexpected win against the Wolves, thanks to Minnesota's late-game blunders. Portland shocked the Warriors with strong rebounding efforts. The latest news includes LaMelo Ball's trade rumors and potential moves for Anthony Davis amid ownership drama with the Lakers. The hosts break down playoff possibilities and explore the implications of ongoing NBA Cup scenarios.