The Wolves Are Still Set Up For Success, Plus the Magic, Warriors and All-NBA Race | The Dunker Spot
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- čas přidán 28. 04. 2024
- Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. are back with another episode of The Dunker Spot!
The fellas bounce around the league with more observations -- and more questions for some playoff hopefuls.
0:00 Intro
1:20 A salute to the Celtics and Nuggets
4:45 The Wolves leaning on their identity without KAT
22:45 The Magic making strides offensively
39:00 How do we judge this version of the Sixers?
44:50 A quick hat tip to the Wizards
47:20 What's going on with the Warriors?
52:45 The importance of CJ McCollum + a Zion question
1:07:30 An All-NBA check-in
If you have NBA or WNBA questions for us, email them to dunkerspot@yahoo.com.
If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot online watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot
Subscribe to The Old Man and The Three podcast w/ JJ Redick (ESPN / First Take) and Tommy Alter CZcams channel today for more NBA analysis, player interviews and highlights. - Sport
Love listening to these guys because they have no bias. They just love basketball and know it.
💯
The Wolves can win at home (25-9) - they win on the road (24-13) - they win in the Western Conference (34-12)...1-1 vs Boston (both games went to OT) - 1-1 vs Denver (last game went down to the wire without Towns/Reid/Gobert)...When you limit your opponents to 105 a night, you're going to be in most games, even if the offense struggles. Wolves are tough.
Probably a first round exit tbh
@@tubbsthabarber4507curious as to why you think so
@@aaronkrause7595 doesn't know ball is the answer
@@aaronkrause7595 the reason why I think they are a first round exit is because Gobert becomes almost unplayable in the playoffs.. net average in the playoffs (over 7 years appearing in the playoffs) is a -17.. He is a great regular season player but becomes a defensive liability when schemed for. Then there is KAT who is an average net rating of -33 in 16 games played in the playoffs .. Then there is Mike Conley who over the last four years has been an average net of -1 (this includes an outlier year where he was a net +43, all other years he was a double digit net negative) Naz Reid is also a -22 in the playoffs, although it is a smaller sample size. Finally, ANT is a -18.5 in his 11 playoff appearances..
This iteration of Minnesota is good, in fact they are built to be elite in the regular season! But, with a bunch of bigs who have a history of getting cooked in the playoffs, an inexperienced depth chart, and a star who turned the ball over 15 times in a five game series.. it’s gonna be a tough look.
Add to all of this the fact that the most likely matchup for the T-wolves is going to be a team in either the Suns, Kings, or Mavs.. I would pick any of those teams to win in a seven game series against the Timberwolves. Each of those teams (especially post-trade) have shown an ability to dominate the paint, expose bigs, and play mistake free basketball. (Edit: the suns showed this in the first half, lately who knows)
But genuinely I didn’t think they were a first round exit, I was just trolling lol, but after looking at the numbers and history, looks like it might be fate 😂
naz was out last year for playoffs so ur sample size is a 7 game memphis series where he wasnt even half the player he is now@@tubbsthabarber4507
You can feel the mana listening to these two talk hoops ⚡️⚡️⚡️
The Magic have a top defense, top duo, top defender, and top bench. So slept on
They can also open up a lot of cap space this offseason, along with multiple firsts in the ‘25 and ‘26 drafts.
It’s what happens when there is no pressure or impatience in team-building lol.
Never heard you guys talk about ball before. I watch every wolves game and I gotta say you guys have def done your due diligence on this team cuz everything you said was spot on. Yall got a new subscriber keep up the good work
"Embracing your bounce" Pause 😂😂
love the cerebral back n forth fellas !
Thank you! You two are the best!
Wow, you guys are very insightful and actually prove you watch the games.
Tuesdays are for THEE DUNKERS! Hi Steve and Nekias.
Wolves D is great against iso-heavy offenses. Can have trouble with powerful 4's and strong mid-range shooters
Since I believe I was one who was commenting specifically asking to add clips for visuals to the discussion, I will make sure to leave this comment and thank you for the important improvement in those regards!
Same re: comment and appreciation. I think a handful of folks suggested this over the months.
Kyle Anderson will figure it out. He’s good at pushing the pace. They’re finding more offense on fast breaks without Kat.
Shoutout to the Roamers and the Cutters!
No way a team fighting for their play-in lives should have two all-nba players, Lakers. Make it make sense.
THE GOAT NEKIAS I just realized I use to follow him growing up in Orlando and Orlando magic HQ instagram.
Luka for MVP
Runner Up of the year Jokic too good
@@gobbluShai playing such good ball too, but realistically u have to give it to joker
Wolves are the perfect playoff team with their defense. As a fan, I’m just hoping they win a couple of rounds finally for the first time in twenty years as a stepping stone towards becoming a perennial threat. Anything more would make the fanbase in MN lose their minds. We’ve been starving for decades as a fanbase.
This is the best Timberwolves team except maybe the KG, Spree, and Cassel team.. The issue is we need to get out of the 3 spot because Suns are probably the worst matchup out of all the teams as they don't need to go to the paint which then makes Rudy obsolete. Don't get me wrong love Rudy but Suns are a pure shooting team. Next 2 matchups vs them might change how i feel but they murdered us the first game.
@@worldzealot I would normally agree but with how inconsistent they have been all year and their atrocious 4th quarters, I think we’d be fine. The team that scares me the most because of the matchup is the Pelicans and that’s including the Nuggets.
@@skoolynugenator1802 I agree with the Pelicans, Zion seems to bully Rudy a bit. The Nuggets not so much. I do believe with a healthy starting 5 we could beat the Nuggets unless we just brick everything. The difference is those 2 teams go to the paint a lot and get a chunk of points that way which gives us better odds having Rudy. Suns have 3-5 great shooters, KD is unstoppable for the most part, Booker at times is KD in disguise. Gordon & Allen are excellent shooters, Beal i really don't know about him as i have not watched him all that much but from what i do know is he can light it up as well. They are just a team with too many pure shooters that don't need to get to the paint.
Who's Rudy guarding? How are we going to keep pace if they are all on or even 2-3 on and 2-3 shooting 35-40%...
Karl in the playoffs is a little worrying just based on previous playoffs but he has changed and adapted this year so i'm not overly worried if we even have him back.
Either way I'm ready for some twolves in the playoffs this year. They can win it all they just have to put it together, stop making dumb turnovers and show up for all 4 quarters. Can't go down by 10-20 and expect to come back in the playoffs.
@@worldzealot I think we match up best against iso scoring teams because our man to man defense is so good. And the Suns don’t have a PG to organize everything. Look at how well we played against the Clippers all year and they are an iso team. Every team scares me just because of MN sports ptsd but personally, the Suns don’t scare me as much as other teams.
The Irony was not lost on Adam when he ran the Draft Kings ad
I bet clippers drop to 6 seed. Wolves would love to play them
Wolves struggle against midrange guys that why suns are toughest matchup
18:52 kings have a better third option in Keegan than Dallas with Hardaway since Luka is ball dominant. Kings moves the ball effortlessly
Come on man Dame has to be in the third team!!!!
Wolves most likely want Dallas. They have multiple lengthy defenders to send at Luka and Kyrie for 7 games. Even if they get past the wings you have a 7 footer DPOY candidate there, ready to help/recover.
Feeling bad for Steph after having a career playing with great teammates and for a great and solid organization that wants to win is kinda crazy, not gonna lie
Why do you feel that way?
Lol are we referencing the one game Dallas beat the wolves (barely btw). It’s not like minny can only play drop so idk about comparing Denver’s phoenix problem.
Antman average 6.3 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1 assist across 62 game in the 4quarter. Missing clutch free throws ,jumpers and threes in big games. Gotta be more clutch
Steph is still a stud, but the rest of the Warriors have left their best days behind them to the point that they need to find a new home where they can be veteran leaders for up-and-coming teams/players. We have to acknowledge that the window has closed for Draymond and Klay being any kind of threat as starters. All that is left is for them to extend their careers by leading role players for teams that aren't dependent on old dudes to guide them to the promised land. The Lakers fit that mold as well. LBJ is approaching forty and AD has been injury-prone as aging bigs do. You have to look at these legendary players for who they are today, and not romanticize about what they were 2, to 4, to 6 years ago while just entering their twilight. Steph and LBJ have defied father time, but they are still nowhere near where they were in their prime, even though their fans are unwilling to accept that their skills have declined a notch or two (or 3 or 4).. As Charles Barkley once said (paraphrasing), "Nobody beats Father Time." From a team perspective, living on past glories only leads to current and future failures, and with current NBA veteran salaries, living in the past only accelerates current failures into the now.
i agree all the way. the off szn work and dedication between the 3 is shown through how they are separating in production through the years. As much as i want to give Klay slack for the injury. I feel we have to look at PG, and expect at least 80% of that level production from Klay. Not basically being a consistent Jordan Poole lol. Draymond needs no explanation. Love the trio but they are holding up the money like a champion in a UFC division 🤦🏾♂️.
Everyone isn't hall of fame nba material
You don't really watch the Wolve bcuz you can't talk about Wolves defense and sliding through screens without mentioning NAW!!! One of the best perimeter defenders and screen dodgers in the game! That's Nyquel Alexander Walker for the unintiated
Twolves want Dallas. We've had their number all year
Nobody wants to play Minnesota
How jalen brown is not atleast second team, third team cm'on dog , he is equal to tatum fr and as sg no 1 is better maybe kyrie (that didnt played enough games) mpj is also need to be mentioned !
I’m taking like 3-4 sg’s over Jalen. Easy.
Rockets upset denver calling it now
Must be nice in la la land
I don't get how you think AD and Lebron are a lock for 3rd Team all nba, when they're in 9th place in the west 🤷
Tell me you dont watch games without telling me
It's not that complicated.
that logic only applies awards like rookie of the year, mvp, defensive player of the year. all nba is very stat oriented. less narrative based.
I think I have a high basketball iq then I listen to these guys
So who goes to play with Wemby in the next decade?
Anthony Edwards
Paolo Banchero
Zion Williamson
Ja Morant
Lamelo Ball
Trae Young
Jason Tatum
Luca Doncic
Shea Gilgeous Alexander
Cade Cunningham
Because they're all young and ain't no way they're all staying where they are for 10 years. Maybe a couple will but not all of them.
So wemby's coming to minnesota? 😂😂
Utah Jazz still da best
🤣🤣🤣
No offense but every time I click on an old man and the three podcast and the dunkers spot comes on I immediately switch. These dudes boring af