James Harden and Jarrett Allen in pick and roll has been fun, keeping an eye on the skip passes to Donovan Mitchell out of it. How often does he get to attack a rotating defense?

Cleveland started the game with a lot of Jarrett Allen setting a pindown for Sam Merrill. Fun part is the build up into a handoff with James Harden and that flowing into Harden/Allen P&R.

On the latest Dunker Spot, @nekiasnba.bsky.social and I broke down how James Harden playmaking opens things up for the Cleveland Cavaliers youtu.be/jPMPKSgf-0U?...

🚨NEW POD ALERT🚨 @stevejones20.bsky.social & I are BYKE w more Dunker Spot! We have debuts to discuss! -Harden's PnR prowess -Jaren has space -Vuc's versatility -Can MIN be normal, pls? -Unrivaled 1v1 thoughts And more! Full YT: youtu.be/XeMZYVYb1W8?... Harden talk: youtu.be/jPMPKSgf-0U?...

On the latest Dunker Spot, @nekiasnba.bsky.social and I broke down how James Harden playmaking opens things up for the Cleveland Cavaliers youtu.be/jPMPKSgf-0U?...

On the latest episode of The Dunker Spot w/ @nekiasnba.bsky.social -What Harden brings to Cleveland -Jaren Jackson Jr fits in Utah, also ??? -Vuc's in Boston + MORE -Unrivaled + 1v1 tourney preview APPLE: tinyurl.com/3eu2nvnj SPOTIFY: tinyurl.com/yc5ptyf3 YT: youtu.be/XeMZYVYb1W8

NEW DUNKER SPOT EP 445 w/ @nekiasnba.bsky.social -James Harden's fit in Cleveland -Jaren Jackson Jr's fit in Utah -"tanking" -Vucevic, Alvarado and Ayo + MORE -Unrivaled + 1v1 tournament preview! YOUTUBE: youtu.be/XeMZYVYb1W8

NEW WORDS The trade deadline has come and gone which has me wondering...what does that mean for the Eastern Conference? sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/...

TURN UP BAD BUNNY LET'S GOOOOOO

Entirely too early Ayo Dosunmu thoughts in Minnnesota: active on defense, switchable (see it off ball), the drives (especially in transition) could pop.

Celtics held the Knicks to 7 of 22 from the field in the third (31.8%) the tough part is the Celtics also *shot* 6 of 25 from the field (24%), 0 of 10 from 3 and Jaylen Brown scored 13 of their 15 points.

Value of adding Jose Alvarado here for the Knicks. End of quarter, Celtics are trying to put Jalen Brunson in action vs. Jaylen Brown. Alvarado switches on to Pritchard so White goes to screen. Alvarado sees it and kicks Brunson out so he can switch vs. Brown.

Nice first quarter for the Knicks. Helps when Jalen Brunson is cooking to that degree and you shoot 62% from the field. But 15 made field goals and 10 assists is good and the defense felt solid throughout.

More you watch the Celtics the more you get how committed they are to their identity. They just really work to not beat themselves. Don't turn the ball over, work to get back in transition, protect the paint and try to find quality shots. Isn't always pretty but they correct

Harden gets a screen from Jaylon Tyson early in the clock and while that's fun, you have to tip the cap to the work Tyson does as a screener. Screens and the Kings switch. Before you can blink, Tyson is already into a re-screen and already slipping out.

Dribble handoff for James Harden and see you what he can do vs. drop and what it looks like with Cleveland's wheel. Harden makes sure to engage the big, Tyson cuts from the corner and Merrill fills. Weakside not all the way in so Allen is there for a late roll.

Keeping an eye on how the James Harden/Jarrett Allen P&R chemistry develops. High P&R can engage a big early, opens Allen back up on the short roll. Combine that with Cleveland's spacing/cutting and should give it a boost.

It's Mitchell, Merrill, Ellis, Harden and Allen and Kenny Atkinson going from three guard lineups to "actually, James Harden you're the 4" is a fun bit.

Some off ball movement for James Harden, pindown before the dribble handoff. Value in his drives and him being able to end possessions

So I thought the Cavs would have more driving I didn't know that would mean Donovan Mitchell would drive *more*

Not a ton new but there just has not been a lot of hesitation from Jaren Jackson Jr to take advantage of the space.

You can see Jaren Jackson Jr's fit within Utah's spacing and concepts. Second time they have ran this for him early, starts at the top and gets a backscreen. Magic switch it, Jazz go right to JJJ in the post.

Early usage for Jaren Jackson Jr in Utah. Double drag with him and Nurkic as screeners. JJJ slips to the wing, catches and swings. Flows into empty side pick and roll, able to roll for 2.

Sheppard pre-determines a pocket pass to KD when OKC is switching with Wallace/Caruso Sengun dribbles the ball down to 14 and goes into a dribble handoff. Houston has to hit the pressure points in the 4th.

Back and forth again. OKC's defensive personnel means you can have Alex Caruso duck under a pindown and go under P&R. Means you can switch Cason Wallace on to KD when Houston uses him as a screener. Houston having KD means he can take and make this shot and it doesn't matter.

OKC just gets to casually throw Jared McCain out there to make a three and kick for another and alright.

Through 3 quarters, Houston with 29 made field goals, 20 assists. All five starters in double figures. Third quarter felt like they played off of how Sengun/KD were being defended. Methodical works better when they can force some help.

Back and forth between Houston and OKC. Have been switching and showing doubles vs. Kevin Durant. Notice when KD catches it Dort showing early help but no hit. Kicks it and gets it back for a quick drive. More help comes and it's a kick for 3.

World a difference for Houston just by starting the pindown for KD with 19-20 on the clock. OKC is switching all of the movement but you can churn through options, get to Sheppard/Sengun P&R and make the defense make *another* decision.

One thing @nekiasnba.bsky.social hit on the Dunker Spot was Kevin Huerter's ability to play two man game with Detroit's bigs. DHO gets an under, goes right into pass and cut.

Vucevic can give Boston a lift in the half court if teams are switching. Really committed to screening, rolling and working to seal. Miami was able to switch late, still sealed. Corner being empty helps, great pass from Derrick White.

Little ways where Vucevic can add some balance to Boston in the half court. Heat trap Jaylen Brown in P&R, defenses is there on Vucevic's catch. Kicks it right out but Miami recovers. Then Vucevic goes to post, gets a front. Defense has to help and now he hits White cutting.

In theory, Boston should have the defensive infrastructure to allow Vucevic to just "do his job" on defense. Gets to the level here in P&R, works to contain when they keep it on the side but Boston helps on drives anyways so it's not the same amount of space.

The Miami Heat did not make a move at the trade deadline and @nekiasnba.bsky.social had some words for them youtu.be/nIIZQvXD2jI?...

On the latest Dunker Spot, @nekiasnba.bsky.social and I gave our winners from this year's trade deadline -Detroit, leaning on identity -Cleveland did *fix* some things -THE HORNETS -OKC did it *again* youtu.be/Z87KBYHziBU?...

Well I will say Nikola Vucevic is going to work to punish mismatches if you switch that's for sure.

Good action from Miami here. Larsson screens for Mitchell. Watch Powell rise from the block and Bam rise from the corner. Looks like Bam is going to screen on ball, instead Mitchell goes off Powell. C's switch, Powell right off a flare from Bam.

It's just nice to turn on the TV and hear folks talk hoops.

So @nekiasnba.bsky.social and I broke down all the happenings of the NBA Trade Deadline! -Utah, Wizards and Pacers go BIG -Who won between the Warriors and Hawks? -Vucevic to the Celtics? -Deadline Winners/Losers -Nekias is #BigMad at the HEAT WATCH: youtu.be/ojACFqvzQYU

NEW DUNKER SPOT EP 444 w/ @nekiasnba.bsky.social -LET'S TALK TRADES -Trade Deadline Winners + Losers -Jazz, Wizards said enough! -Pacers swung early -NEKIAS RANTS ON THE HEAT -Unrivaled APPLE: tiny.cc/y7ny001 SPOTIFY: tiny.cc/28ny001 YOUTUBE: youtu.be/ojACFqvzQYU

The Bulls put Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons right to work and it's interesting to watch them do the first game "try to do the right thing" bit to start this game.

HEY! Join @nekiasnba.bsky.social and Fanta and myself at the top of the hour for the Warm Up! Live on NBATV and the NBA App!!

Queta on Thompson, Houston adjusts to have Thompson as a screener. The issue is Derrick White reads it and pre-switches so he can be in the action. Does end up screening, you do get a roll but with Capela at the dunker spot, Queta is right there to help.

time to roll the sleeves up and look at this Rockets game. Broke it down on the pod but it's not just putting a big on Thompson. It can't be that + we sag off Thompson + we can put a wing on Sengun + we can switch. Have to knock *something* off the table or defenses will dig in

Brandon Ingram and Anthony Edwards getting buckets in the 4th is fun times. Knicks/Nuggets is a real fun game.

Well that's a tough bucket Jalen Brunson

New DUNKER SPOT EP 443 w/ @nekiasnba.bsky.social -Harden to Cleveland? (recorded before it HAPPENED) -All-Star Reserve Thoughts -Defensive Trends -Pistons *get after it* -Unrivaled! APPLE: tiny.cc/j1iy001 SPOTIFY: tiny.cc/01iy001 YOUTUBE: youtu.be/XKCBKcnyhEE

Hornets go with P&R for LaMelo Ball on one side, Kon Knueppel spaced on the wing. Two on the ball so it's a swing. Can't sleep on the drives and playmaking from Kon. Drives it, good footwork to stay alive, sees the help and drops it off.

The flow from the Charlotte Hornets offense has been *really* nice during this stretch. Kon Knueppel brings it up and screens for LaMelo. Nothing there now Diabate flashes to the Elbow. Pass and cut and now you open up the roll. String actions together.

Doing some pod prep figured I'd lob a question out there. Any defense questions popping out to y'all? Anything your team is doing or that you've seen standing out?