Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast

Nate and Danny break down which of the surprise teams this season are good bets to continue their overperformance, examining Cleveland, Golden State (7:19), Houston (15:28), Phoenix (23:11) and Oklahoma City (33:00).Then we catch up on the latest news around the league (42:04), with Philly continuing to be snakebit by injury. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Our first look at the 15 teams in the East!Hawks: Early thoughts on Zaccharie RisacherBulls: They have a different identity than in years past, but couldn’t get by the Nets. 7:56Nets: It looks like they improbably have a pretty deep team.Pistons: Detroit’s defense is much improved after shutting down the hot Nets. 30:12Celtics: Ho-hum, another 128 offensive rating for the C’s while they ease into the season. Oh, and would they beat OKC? 37:00Hornets: LaMelo is better than ever, but needs to play some defense. And Miles Bridges looks really bad to start the season. 43:28Cavs: The Cavs are dominating behind Evan Mobley’s improved ability to attack the rim. 53:08Bucks: Giannis just isn’t the same defensively, as we saw in their loss to Cleveland.Pacers: This was supposed to be a dominant offense. 1:03:34Heat: Miami is amping up the pressure in the passing lanes defensively. 1:11:11Wizards: It’s been a great start for the Wizards’ main prospects. 1:17:21Magic: How can Jamahl Mosley piece together a rotation with their injuries? 1:26:41Knicks: KAT breaks out for 44. 1:34:57Raptors: Gradey Dick has kept the Raps’ offense afloat early. 1:39:5876ers: Tyrese Maxey has not kept Philly’s afloat, and Joel Embiid’s altercation with a reporter isn’t a great indication of newfound maturity. 1:44:23 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

The Rockets get a surprising win in Dallas. Why the Rockets have a high night-to-night floor this year, and is there any reason to be concerned about Dallas’ offense?Victor vs Chet wasn’t close in the end, as OKC’s dominant team defense was the story. 25:30We go through our opinions on the team option decisions like Jalen Hood-Schifino and Jake LaRavia. 52:38Paolo Banchero is out for at least a month, so what will the Magic do to compensate? Plus the rest of the injury news around the league. 1:01:00And this is your last 12 hours to get 35% off Dunc'd On Prime with code "preseason24". 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

The Athletic’s Anthony Slater joins for a postgame look at Warriors/Pelicans, and then we zoom out with our key takeaways from the Warriors’ 4-1 start. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Nate and Danny continue their frantic surveying of the league in the first week of the season through some of the key games of teams we haven’t had a chance to watch much of yet.Scoot Henderson and Jordan Hawkins were big stories in New Orleans vs Portland, plus why we fear New Orleans’ defense won’t be as good this year.The Grizzlies are a big storyline early with rotations that highlight their depth, we break down their loss to Houston and win over Orlando in the return of Jaren Jackson, Jr. 20:05.The Lakers have started 3-0 for the first time in forever as JJ Redick’s new system has highlighted Anthony Davis and Austin Reaves. 37:20.The Knicks got back on track, and there is concern about Tyrese Haliburton. 50:30.So remember all that talk about how games were going to be called more loosely? Uh, no. 56:07.Plus, some quick hitters on Philly, Milwaukee/Chicago, and Denver.  59:19.Don't forget you can subscribe to Dunc'd On Prime for 35% off the yearly price with code "preseason24". 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

In one of the most anticipated Week 1 matchups, OKC’s business-like win revealed their depth and burnished some of our worst fears about Denver.Anthony Edwards and the Wolves gutted out a late win against a Sacramento team that was supposed to have the advantage late-game. 23:51.Victor and the Spurs controlled the paint on defense, but that’s all that went right in a blowout loss to the Mavs in Klay’s debut. 39:43.Plus, our thoughts on the Klawsuit by Kawhi Leonard’s strength guy against the Clippers. 46:17. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Locked on Rockets host Jackson Gatlin dives into perhaps the most fascinating team of 2024-25.How good was this Rockets team last year? Were they “better without Sengun?” Will the opponent 3-point shooting fall back to Earth?What can the Rockets expect from Reed Sheppard this season?With Sengun and Jalen Green extended, can they take steps forward to All-Star level?Why Jabari Smith, Jr. is one of the most underrated players in the league.How does Amen Thompson fit into the mix as a player the coaches love who has shooting concerns?What will Ime Udoka’s rotation look like?What are the Rockets strengths and weaknesses, plus our predictions for the season. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Nate and Danny give their team and individual award predictions for the 2024-25 Season.West season win predictionsWest playoffs predictions (19:45)East season win predictions (23:29)East playoffs predictions, NBA Champion and championship contenders (28:42)MVP (39:30)Coach of the Year (44:18)First coach fired (46:30)Defensive Player of the Year (49:28)Breakout defensive players (52:09)Sixth Man of the Year (53:38)Rookie of the Year (56:50)Sophomores of the Year (59:41)Biggest surprise team (1:00:31)Biggest surprise player (1:05:02)Most improved player (1:10:18)Most disappointing team (1:12:30)Most disappointing player (1:16:50)Executive of the Year (1:22:51)NOT Executive of the Year (1:25:22) 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Tim Cato of All City is our guest to discuss the Mavericks’ attempt to return to the NBA Finals.What drove their Finals run last year, and is it a formula for regular season success this year?What kind of shape is Luka in?How will the Mavs use Klay Thompson? And will he start/close games by the end of the year?Who will emerge as this team’s defensive stopper on the perimeter?Can Kyrie Irving keep it going as a 33 year-old?Is this the deepest team Luka has ever played on?What are the Mavs’ strengths and weaknesses?Our win predictions for the season 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Derek Bodner of PHLY is our guest to discuss one of the most anticipated seasons in Sixers history.Can Joel Embiid be the same player after knee surgery?Is there even more in the tank from Tyrese Maxey this year?What exactly are the Sixers getting with Paul George at this stage of his career?How will Nick Nurse build out the rotation behind the big 3? Can any of their less-heralded players emerge?What should the Sixers be looking for in a trade at midseason?What are the major strengths and weaknesses for Philly?Our predictions for the seasonHow they match up with other East contendersThe Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski joins to discuss the post-KAT trade Wolves.What did the Wolves lose in KAT?How do newcomers Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo fit in?Can Rudy Gobert repeat his DPOY campaign?What should Anthony Edwards’ focus be to improve this season?The combinations Chris Finch will rely on in his rotationWhat makes the Wolves one of the deepest teams in the leagueCan the defense maintain its crazy top of the league points per possession?The Wolves’ strengths and weaknesses and our predictions for the seasonHow they match up with potential playoff opponents 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Bucks beatman Eric Nehm of the Athletic is our guest to break down Milwaukee’s quest to return to the league’s elite.What we can take away from last year, as injured as it was?How much do the 4 core players (Giannis, Dame, Lopez, and Middleton) have left to carry a limited roster?Why Gary Trent, Jr. is such an important pieceIs Damian Lillard on the downside or can he bounce back with a better offseason?Whether the Bucks depth is improved over last year and if it can provide enough support for Milwaukee to contendThe Bucks’ strengths and weaknesses and our predictions for the season.Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com lends his expertise as one of the best beat writers in the business to discuss a put up or shut up season for the Cavs.What can we take away from an injured season a year ago?Can Kenny Atkinson get this group to the next level? What changes is he making in their offense?The possible improvements in the games of Evan Mobley and Darius Garland that could increase this team’s ceiling.Whether this team is talented enough to compete for a championshipHow Atkinson’s rotation will play out, and how deeper bench options like Ty Jerome, Tristan Thompson, Jaylon Tyson, and Sam Merrill could fit in.Can Donovan Mitchell get even better?The Cavs’ strengths and weaknesses, and our predictions for the season. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

The man who knows the Nuggets better than anyone else, Adam Mares of DNVR, is our guest to break down Denver’s hopes for bouncing back in 2024-25.What went wrong in the Minnesota series? Was it personnel, or the failure of that personnel to play to their potential?How Jamal Murray has looked in camp after a rough 6 monthsThe pressure on Michael Malone and Calvin Booth this seasonWho needs to step up in the absence of KCP?The starting shooting guard competitionRussell Westbrook’s impact on the second unit…or the closing unit?What combinations Michael Malone can rely on off the benchHow hard will Nikola Jokic need to push this season?Which of the other projected top-4 Denver matches up well againstOur predictions for the regular seasonNoah Magaro-George of the Vic-and-Roll is our guest to look ahead to a Spurs season in which they’re projected to take a big step forward.Will the Spurs exhibit the same mindset of emphasizing development over wins?What is Devin Vassell’s health situation and how does he project this year?We’ve all seen the highlights, but how good was Victor on defense last year and where can he improve?Is Gregg Popovich still a good coach?What’s realistic to expect Victor to improve on offensively?How do newcomer vets Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes fit into the rotation? What about Jeremy Sochan?Whether Stephon Castle will play a big role in year 1.The Spurs’ strengths and weaknesses and our predictions for the season. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

The Athletic’s Jovan Buha guests to discuss the dawn of the JJ Redick era in LA.How much of an upgrade will Redick be on Darvin Ham?What are the prospects for the return of Jarrett Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent?Will the lack of depth sink this squad?Under what circumstances will the Lakers make a trade to bolster their playoff chase, and what are the holes they need to fill?Should Austin Reaves be untouchable in trade talks?How do the Lakers get to be a top-5 offense?Can LeBron and AD keep it going another year?Our predictions for the season. Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell of CLNS and SBNation joins to look ahead to Boston’s title defense. The key topics:What was the secret sauce to last year’s crazy regular season numbers?Which players are possible regression candidates this season?Which players who weren’t in the rotation last year can contribute this year?How can Jayson Tatum take another step forward?Was Derrick White’s career year sustainable?How do the Celtics match up with their chief competition in the East?Are Kristaps Porzingis’ awesome postup numbers going to carry over to the postseason?Our predictions for the season 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

A late-night pod on the blockbuster Wolves/Knicks deal involving Karl-Anthony Towns, Julius Randle, and Donte DiVincenzo.We go through the salary cap math as it stands now, how good this Knicks team is, and whether we’d have done the deal as New York.We disagree on the impact of this deal for Minnesota, in which Nate likes it a lot more for the Wolves than Danny. Caitlin Cooper of Basketball She Wrote joins to look ahead to a highly-anticipated season in Indiana.What part of last year’s season is most relevant for predicting this year?How much did Tyrese Haliburton’s injury bother him and what do we expect this year?Why Caitlin expects a big year from Andrew Nembhard.Will the Pacers change up their scheme that was so obsessed with taking away threes?It’s a crucial year for Benn Mathurin to prove he can contribute to winning.How Rick Carlisle’s rotation will shake out.The epic backup center competition between Isaiah Jackson and James Wiseman.Can the offense reach the same heights as last year? Plus, other strengths and weaknesses.Was Pascal Siakam what the Pacers thought they were trading for?How much of a weakness will the defense be?A tangent on Jarace Walker and whether he can figure this year.Our predictions for the season. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Danny is back to evaluate the Eastern Conference season over/unders, in which we have a stunning SIX disagreements.ATLBOS 7:00BRK 12:20CHA 21:00CHI 27:00CLE 35:38DET 39:41IND 49:17MIA 59:13MIL 1:03:40NYK 1:12:04ORL 1:17:21PHI 1:22:29TOR 1:30:13WAS 1:37:18 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Dan Feldman and Danny Leroux are the teams and Nate Duncan the player agent to negotiate deals for the rookie scale players eligible for extensions.Jalen Green 4:29Jalen Suggs 16:04Josh Giddey 24:20Jonathan Kuminga 32:00Davion Mitchell 40:20Ziaire Williams 42:32Moses Moody 45:22Corey Kispert 50:00Alperen Sengun 53:49Trey Murphy III 1:01:46Jalen Johnson 1:06:31Isaiah Jackson 1:09:04Quentin Grimes 1:11:40Cam Thomas 1:13:18Day’Ron Sharpe 1:15:09Santi Aldama 1:17:34Caleb Houstan 1:20:00Jaylin Williams 1:21:36Jaden Hardy 1:24:20We finally give our overall impressions of the market for extensions and which negotiations were the most complex. 1:27:00. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Blake Murphy of Sportsnet is our portal into a new kind of Raptors season having fully moved on from the old guard.What Blake thinks of this tack in the Raptors’ rebuildCan we take anything away from the limited minutes the new big 3 of Barnes, Barrett, and Quickley played with the Raps a season ago? 4:00.What to make of Darko Rajakovic after a chaotic season. 12:49.Jakob Poeltl’s ability to anchor the defense, and how the rest of the talent projects on that end. 17:26.Scottie Barnes’ evolution into an All-Star. 27:30.The competition to be the 5th starter at shooting guard and the bench rotation. 37:30.The Raptors’ rotational and statistical strengths and weaknesses. 50:53.Our predictions for the Raptors’ season. 1:00. 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

One of the best beat writers in the business, Anthony Slater of the Athletic, is our guest to look at the upcoming Warriors seasonThe pros and cons of the Steph Curry extension.What they were last season and if they’ll miss Klay. 6:23Jonathan Kuminga’s potential to evolve into the needed second scorer. 14:00The massive burden on Steph and Draymond. 17:00The prospects for Bradin Podziemski in year two to evolve his game into a key offensive piece. 22:00The new signings replacing Klay and the lower-end rotation pieces. 29:30The possibility of a big trade, and how aggressive the Warriors should be even if they can’t necessarily get back into championship contention. 36:30The Warriors’ strengths and weaknesses heading into the season. 43:00The under-discussed Andrew Wiggins factor. 51:00Our predictions for the season. 58:00 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

Kings-watcher extraordinaire James Ham is our guest to kick off our offseason outlook series. Sacramento is a fascinating team this year, and we hit on all the big questions:What to make of last year’s “step back” and what needs to change this year to rejoin the playoffs?The impact of the DeMar DeRozan signing and his fit with the existing players. 11:20How the guard rotation will shake out with Ellis, Huerter, and Monk. 18:00Who are the main improvement and regression candidates. 27:00The Kings’ closing lineup as a potential strength, and the other key strengths and weaknesses for this team. 37:28Our predictions for the Kings’ season. 49:10 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 the key moments from the pod each week.

It’s time to hold ourselves accountable by looking back at what we originally thought each team’s 2023 offseason and decide how well that take and the teams’ offseasons themselves have aged. We start in reverse alphabetical order in the East:WASTOR-13:36PHI-22:20ORL-28:22NYK-36:25MIL-43:40MIA-58:41IND-1:10:06 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 the key moments from the pod each week.