The Lakers & Hawks Can't Stop Winning, Luka & Wemby Pushing for MVP + Team USA Takeaways

Hi, hello, we have a fun episode of the Dunker Spot coming your way.

First, we've got some wind streaks happening in the NBA and we examine what they mean.

The Los Angeles Lakers, they've won six straight top five on both ends of the floor.

How real is this?

The Atlanta Hawks.

Now up to 10 straight wins the first time doing so in over a decade.

How real is this?

We talk about awards stuff.

Is the Luke MVP case getting loud?

Is the Wimbee MVP case getting loud?

Is Kawaii Leonard pushing for an all NBA first team selection if he's healthy enough?

We talk about that too.

And then, we close with more team USA talk, a little bit of coaching shifts.

Carl also went back to do, Nate Tibbett takes over, so line up tweaks.

We talk about what we've seen over the last two games.

And we examine what the 28 Olympic roster could look like.

Who's earned themselves more consideration with what we've seen so far.

We have a fun conversation coming your way.

Stay tuned.

Lock in with us.

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Hi hello and welcome to another episode of the Dunker Spot.

We are part of the Yahoo Sports Network.

I am your host, Nikaie Duncan, and joining me as always is my co-host, the always excellent

Steve Jones Jr. Steve.

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

How the heck are you?

Feeling good, feeling great, happy to be here, excited to be here.

Thank you, Dunkers, for once again embracing your bounce.

The hoops keeps going on right now, hoop it up with you, Nikaie, it's all, yeah, man.

We bring a Booker T to the guys star podcast, but okay, we are indeed excited to talk about

basketball.

Steve, we have some winning streaks happening across the league, and it kind of fit into

the bubble of, this is impressive, but what does it mean if we're taking like 10,000

foot view?

It's like, I want to dig in on a couple of teams that are streaking right now.

And before getting into that, I want to quickly say, okay, Steve, we see you, we talked about

you last week, we talked about Shay on Friday, you have the longest win streak, in the Western

Conference right now, you continue to win games and be dominant while doing so, despite

this go over with your bodies, I promise we respect y'all, best team in the league, still

my title favorite, want to give you respect at the top of the show.

As for these teams that are kind of throwing before a little bit of a move, I am in tree,

but it's like, I don't want to dip, I can dip the toe in, can't dip the full foot in yet,

I'm just kind of watching, trying to examine what this all means.

In the Western Conference, Steve, we talked about the Los Angeles Lakers and really the

three through six block in the Western Conference back on February 24.

And at the time, it's like, okay, the offense is good, we've seen it be lead, it needs

to be more lead, we'd like to see the defense be better than what it's been.

You brought up the point that had the offense probably matters more to this conversation

that people are giving credit for, like you can't afford slippage and light of what

the defense personnel is, and we fast forward three weeks.

And the Los Angeles Lakers are nine and three, since we had that conversation, perckling

the glass, third and offense, fifth and defense, second and that rating during that time.

Within that 12 game stretch, they have won six games in a row and they are coming off

for an impressive win over the Houston Rockets.

And in that six game winning streak, fifth and offense, fourth and defense, second and

that rating, sweep the homestand, to beat Houston Rockets on the road, no outpourishing

going to still an impressive win nonetheless.

And so with that, the biggest shift from their overall profile, we're again, top 10 offense,

bottom 10 defense, the biggest shift has come from their defense where they've been

in the top five.

So the question I want to pose to you, Steve, is has anything in particular moved you

or popped more on film or is this just an example of we are doing the things we've been

trying to get to?

And this is what it can look like.

This is the build.

Like I think so many times when it comes to a team in the season, you're expecting the

high end result to happen all the time, right?

Or you're looking at a team what they can do and when they don't get there, you're saying,

oh, I don't think they can get there.

There's a formula for every team to win in the NBA.

And the Lakers have a very specific formula and they're refining it to a degree.

The reason why people say, hey, no one wants to deal with LeBron, Luca and Austin Reeves

and a playoff series is on display.

There's even in the moments where the offense hasn't been at 10 out of 10.

It's at least gotten to 8 out of 10.

We've been able to hit pressure points.

We can keep pressure on you.

And then defensively, I think what you've seen during this stretch is a team and this

is the ceiling in the playoffs to a degree where, hey, we know exactly what we want to

do defensively.

And we have a game plan that we're going to execute.

Doesn't mean it's going to work all the time, but we're going to do these very specific

things.

And we've seen kind of the impact of Marcus Smart, right?

And his ability to defend multiple players and his ability to raise the compete level

of the Los Angeles Lakers.

And we've been able to see them, okay, we're mixing in switching.

And so we're going to mix in an ability to kind of switch, kind of help.

Well, we're not afraid to put a wing on the center.

We're not afraid to try and take away driving lanes.

We're not afraid to play smaller if we need to.

We have more line up versatility to a degree to where if the Andreate doesn't have it or

Hayes doesn't have it, we can go small.

We can go small in different ways and we can kind of maintain this base.

And then we still have Luca Dachich, who you have to deal with and how do you want to

cover him.

So all those nights where, hey, what do we do?

You know, okay, we're going to be in drop.

Luca pokes at that.

We're going to be putting two on the ball, get a little bit higher.

Luca pokes at that.

We're going to switch.

Luca pokes at that.

Okay.

Well, now we're in trouble.

Now we have to deal with LeBron.

Austria has been going.

So the combination for me, when they are humming offensively or at least to a point where

you don't feel comfortable and then defensively, we have a clear focus, we have a clear

game plan.

We're taking away driving lanes.

We're rotating.

Because even that went over Houston, it wasn't, I don't think it was their best defensive

effort, but it was them being able to be versatile, versatile enough to get in the mud and

get into a fight and win.

I think that's important.

I think the biggest thing that's been impressive to me during this like a stretch is their

ability to win in different ways.

We can go high scoring.

We can get into a rock fight.

We can figure things out.

And then they did it over Houston, Denver, Minnesota.

And I know the Lakers are playing well because of my mentions or the Lakers are delivering

belts.

Even though they lost a belt the whole day.

Lake your nation is rising again.

So yeah, they're just showcasing what their high ceiling is and they're doing it the

right time of year.

Yeah.

I think it's been good stuff, hilarious that your mentions have been an interesting

place.

I feel like your adventures are always an interesting place, but that's another rant.

People need to leave Steve alone.

I'm not going to do that on this podcast later.

To the defense.

I want to agree with what you've said, like I think this is an example of something that

you talk about all the time, but when we have not just a game plan, but when we have

buy into our game plan, the effort level generally rises.

And I think what I had in my notes on the base of love for I getting to all my numbers

and stuff, I have typed up.

But what I have in my notes is work assistant effort from the stars.

I think Luca has played harder defensively and more consistently.

I think LeBron has bought in and played harder and more consistently from the effort perspective.

And you really seeing that pop off the ball.

Like how often do we see LeBron die for a loose ball to the degree that he did a couple

nights ago?

Like, that's just a flashball moment, but the dive against Denver, that was a big, big

time play.

Like him and Marcus brought me a lot of big time plays down the stretch, but LeBron almost,

I know he felt that.

I know he still feels that to this day.

That dive.

I know he does.

Yeah, it's still in the side, but like that's just a very loud example of like, oh, we're

not getting November, LeBron off all defensively, where you stand straight up and it's like,

okay, LeBron, you're pointing in your quarter bracket things, we've got to need you to move

to.

He's doing more of that stuff as he's came back with three games ago at this point came

back in the Chicago game.

The same one where Luca had 51, 10 and 9 in that basketball game.

But the star effort in general has been better.

As you mentioned, Marcus Mark, Marcus Mark, Jake LaRavia, the roleguides in general have

taken on the challenge of tough assignments to your point about being able to cross match

and take different things away.

And they're making extra effort games like in that Houston game, Jake LaRavia was not

the player of the game for very obvious reasons, but he made so many hustle plays on both

into the floor in that game, particularly in the first half, and just like, well, this

is kind of what they've been getting for him for most of the year, obviously.

Like, I may be over-task defending this number one option, but I am going to be physical.

I am if he's coming off of the screen or coming off a pen now or something, I'm getting

into the body early.

Like he is doing all the little things to make things more difficult.

And when you have a collective effort around those kind of things, this is where you can

get this kind of productivity.

And as you zoom out with this winning streak again, they've been a top five defense during

this run.

They have faced multiple top 10 offences in the stretch, Steve, faced in New York Knicks

who are third and offensive rating right now for cleaning the glass.

And so does 10.

Denver has the best offense in the league, Houston heading into last night's game was 9.

And they're now split to 11, but it's like a virtual tie with them Minnesota and Detroit

with a 117.1.

But it's like, these are multiple good offences that they have faced, that they have been

able to do this to.

And something that we've talked about also on this podcast is this zone from the Los Angeles

Lakers is an interesting one.

It's something that you've talked about it particularly that broken down both here and

on your timeline, but them being able to mix in these looks and teams still are trying

to figure out like what exactly in this because it just morphs the man and then it's like,

okay, well, then what are we going to do?

And if you're trying to set up, I'll go back to the Minnesota game where ant dribbles

up the right side of the floor.

Here comes Luke Knart or someone just already pre-rotating to the other side, it's like,

well, okay.

So is this just man and you're just already kind of sitting in an early double and make

sure you see the crowd is this actually zone like what are we doing here?

The backline communication within that has been strong and so the fact that they've been

able to mix in this zone in addition to what you've already said about mixing into switches

and the cross-matches and things, like they're hitting a lot of notes defensively.

Like I don't think they are in top five unit overall, but like this has been super impressive

to me.

Do they have to be a top five unit?

If the question that's holding people about the Lakers is they can't defend, do they have

to be top five or can they just do their job?

And I think that's where the Lakers have stood out.

So to your point with the zone thing, the most important thing outside of like, okay, we

could junk it up, we can make you think, we can get you deeper in the clock, it still sticks

to their principles.

And so to me, in the NBA, the best zones are a blend of we are playing zone, but this

is also what we do naturally.

Like you think Miami, hey, yeah, zone, but we're also matching up where we able to rotate

or fly around within our zone for the Lakers, it's, you know, we want to switch, right?

And you know, we want to show early help, right?

We're doing that without necessarily telling you that right away.

So we've now shaved off six seconds and we're doing what we want in any way.

And I think it's being able to, if you're going to navigate during the playoffs, you're

going to have to be able to have multiple things you can do defensively or multiple things

you can throw at a team, especially when it comes to star players.

And so we got to throw you different looks, we got to throw you different coverages,

different matchups.

And so, yeah, you're going to get the activity of Marcus smart.

You might get a switch, but if you get that switch, we're going to show early help.

It might be switching double as he did against Houston.

They threw all that in a second half because that third quarter didn't look great.

Houston was like, ah, is that a big on almond Thompson?

Well, guess what?

No more picking role.

You be a handoff hub and a screener and then it's Luke and LeBron on week side together.

It's like, hmm, interesting.

I don't know what's going on here.

And then the Lakers is like, you know what, let's switch it up a little bit.

And so now we've got more switching.

Now we're showing early help.

Now we're taking things off the table.

I think the Lakers, the biggest thing they have to be defensively, is try to take things

off the menu for offensive teams, if that makes sense.

Get themselves to a point where, well, what you think is a weak point tonight is not a

weak point for us.

And now you're searching for something else.

So people are mad at Houston for, hey, why'd you only run Kevin Durant, pick and roll?

Because they knew they were going to get two on the ball.

And contrary to Rocket's fans' belief, which by the way, a full circle moment for y'all.

But boy, this stinks.

We can't get anyone to get two on the ball.

Two on the ball isn't really a good thing because, come, you guys know what I'm saying.

You're up to tell you right now.

I'll see you all get to see the big thing.

I need to put the basketball down, I every single one of you, but they are now able to

kind of have this versatility where Deandre Aiden gets which uncertain players, we can go

small, we can do different things, we can kind of keep ourselves within our base.

So now you're not thinking about running some of these sets that you normally would or

putting just Luca in action, you know, we can take off the table, we make you think

and do something else.

That's to our advantage.

We get stops, we run, so even in the night, we're not really scoring that much, we're struggling

a little bit.

Austria is not having a great night, Luke is a little bit off, well, we're getting stops.

And that's what we set up a few weeks ago.

If the defense raises up, boy, they got a little bit more margin for air.

And if they have more margin for air, that's not a team you want to deal with with LeBron

James Luca-Dontes and Austenrich.

Yeah, I just, so one, I want to quickly hit the Houston bit because one of that, that

was just a very funny game and watching that third quarter in particular, it even kind

of the end of the second heading into the third, it was like, ooh, so this is happening

again, huh?

Because if you remember that Christmas day matchup between the Lakers and the Rockets,

it was like, oh, this is interesting for the first three minutes.

And then the Rockets, like actually we're faster than y'all, we're bigger than y'all, we're

more athletic than y'all, you're not going to have a good time with us.

Here are your turnovers, here are our transition baskets, this game is over with.

And so with the turret, with the tie, it's starting to turn a little bit in that second

and into that third.

And it's like, oh boy, the Rockets are starting to get comfortable, here's some offensive

rebinding for you.

As you mentioned, I'm in Thompson, getting comfortable, this has been a fun, offensive

stretch for I'm in Thompson.

That's a late by the way.

It's like, all right, cool.

But for the Lakers kind of dig in, like let's find some answers to your point, let's get

into the switching, let's get into these double teams.

It did, it did kind of annoy me from the Houston perspective that we completely honest

with you.

Like, I want to give grace because there's no Operation Goon on top of this.

So like, it was easier for the Lakers to say, hey, let's just double Katie because we

trust the other guys to consistently beat us for on three.

So I think it's a smart gambit from the Lakers.

And the Rockets not having their best or second best player.

In this case, in shangoon, I think that does hurt, not sure how to do there.

But like so many reps where I'm just like, how do you not have a better answer than this?

How is it taking, more than anything, how is it taking this long to get into some of

this stuff?

Like, why are these double teams hitting Katie with four on the clock?

It felt like every time.

It's like, hey.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I don't want to cut you off, brother, but let's talk

about it.

Okay.

Houston is a methodical offense.

Some of that, a lot of people will say it's the coach.

Please look at the guards and their dribble animations as they get into place.

Every single one of them has to hit some version of a tween, tween, heavy before they come

off a pick and roll.

That complicates things.

And so for me, Houston has to up the tempo.

Start these actions earlier and give yourself a better opportunity.

So the double, as you said, doesn't come later in the clock.

That's something you can fix, but they have to fix it.

And so if you are taking eight seconds to figure out who's going to string and who and

then finally say, okay, Kevin Durant, go speak for me, Trevor.

And then they switch.

They get at the Katie.

There's eight on the clock and now the Lakers double.

Yeah.

You are hitting Lakers in opportunity to double now.

So Lakers credit, they did a really good job of mixing in their timing.

And I think that's where you get into narrative stuff and you just want to hammer that narrative

home.

We want to bang that narrative home.

The rockets can't run.

They can't run offense.

Why would you make an adjustment?

They had an advantage.

You need these reps to understand that how many times the rockets really been used to playing

advantage basketball?

How many of these Houston Rockets players have been used to be able to be close outs?

It's not a regular thing for them.

Contrast that with the Orlando game earlier, when they won against Orlando on prime, they

had the mix.

Once they got a team in rotation, things were good to go.

But they were slow.

The Lakers hit two on the ball.

And now, okay, well, reach up pretty in a shoot.

It's all using a shoot.

If you're both going to do the, well, I don't have a shot swing, well, I'm going to drive.

You put yourself into a box, and this is a learning experience.

That's the thing about the regular season.

You've got our member folks.

It's a learning experience.

You're thinking, oh, well, this is game, blah, blah, blah, blah.

They should be blah, blah, blah, blah.

It's not always how it works.

Sometimes you have a bad day at the office.

Sometimes you're throwing something that, that hurts you.

Every playoff series, you're presented a problem, and one team just can't figure it

out.

To this day, to this day in the kindness, I mourn.

Being in Memphis, and we lost to the Spurs, and four straight games in the Commerce Finals,

so they decided we are literally only guarding two people.

The adjustments were there.

We couldn't make plays.

That's basketball.

That is basketball.

It is infuriating sometimes because you can see it's exactly what's happening, and you

don't make a defense pay, and you lose.

It sucks basketball's hard.

I understand the spreadsheets, I understand the expected outcome, I understand what you

think should happen, sometimes it doesn't happen.

Do you think I wanted this?

It just happened.

I was not expecting us to get here on this podcast.

We are all the more thoroughly, but no, I think that is important content, and something

that you always say, Steve, when you're evaluating teams or evaluating players, young rookies

etc, take notes of what you're successful with, or what you're successful with, or take

notes on what's bothering them, and then track them back with them.

Within that lens, I understand frustration from rocket fans, where it's like, hey, why

are we still this slow?

Before getting into the double teams of what that looked like, as you mentioned, against

Orlando, we get you in rotation, we get two on the ball, and some capacity were good.

Against the Lagos in that fourth quarter, it was not that good.

Sometimes that just happens.

To the temple points, why are we still having temple problems?

This latent to the season.

I think that's a fair thing to worry about, and as you project to the playoffs, hey,

if we ain't fixed this by now, and this is to your point, it should be a simple fix,

as the Lakers, they'll sprinkle it in more when they get to some of themselves, or when

Marcus Martin just wants to be annoying, but the Lakers aren't like the blazers in terms

of we are going full-core press all the time, or something like that.

It wasn't that for the rockets consistently in that fourth quarter, to where we're

bogging you down behind half-four.

So like, hey, if this is this easy without pressure, why is this still taking this long?

I think that's fair.

And I think just playing out in four or three or something like that, that is a result

based thing.

You just want to see that be more successful, more consistent.

I think that's fair.

But like, to your point, the put it in the notes, let's see what it looks like the

next time a team tries to do that, and let's see if the Rock is ready to handle that,

especially when Shane Goon comes back.

So I think that part is going to be interesting.

What does Zoom out a little bit?

Before you zoom out, I just want to say this one thing.

Sometimes the thing you criticize can end up playing well in your favorite down the line,

because even though you didn't win that game against the Lakers, you were still in it

for a very long time, despite not really performing well offensively, and part of Houston's

formula, formula secretly, is the ability to control tempo.

We saw that last year in the playoffs.

Hey, we're really good defensively.

Hey, we're methodical.

We score.

You're not really having a good time.

And in the playoffs, traditionally, Nekias, what's the cliche?

It gets slower in the playoffs, it gets tired into playoffs.

And so who has had more reps with slower offense than the Houston Rockets?

So at some point, this may come to your benefit, is all I'm saying.

I understand the criticisms.

I understand the anchor.

But the secret sauce is this team can get switching, and then I have a bunch of guys

to on the ball.

Yeah, they got to figure it out.

They got to figure it out.

All right, last thing is when we on the Lakers, just on the numbers front for me, mentioned

the zone.

They played zone on roughly eight percent of their possessions during this win streak

that is third only to the Miami Heat and the Philadelphia 76 during that stretch, 0.8 points

for possession on trips featuring the Lakers in zone during this stretch.

I think you take that if you are the Los Angeles Lakers to the point about the late double

teams against Kevin Durant.

This Lakers group has not been a team under JJ Redick that generally likes putting two on

the ball.

There's something that you pointed out very early on.

And if you have listened to JJ on the podcast before him, taking the Laker job.

It's like, hey, I don't really love putting two on the ball if I get the help.

And so the fact that last year, there were 18 games where they lost the double team rate

above 10 percent of possessions or 10 percent of touches.

18.

They're already at 25 this year's team.

They have ramped it up.

And this is still while being the switchiest team in basketball for a second spectrum.

And so you have the switching.

You have the zone.

You have the cross matching in general that helps with the switching.

And then sporadically, if we need to put two on the ball, we'll do that.

And so like the fact that they are pressing a bunch of different buttons at different

times, it's important to get those rips.

It's obviously helping them win right now, but this is something that, as you project

for the playoffs, part of having more wiggle room is having options to give you said

with a room.

So it's good thing that they're exploring with that.

The question that I wanted to ask you before we got out of here with the Lakers.

So Luca don't judge as of recorded nearly 33 points per game that is first in the league

58 on Tuesdays, 36 on three, 77% from free though line, and he's getting to the line quite

a bit.

Eight boards, eight and a half assists, a still and a half per game.

I personally have been quieter on the Luca MVP thing because of how I track it where

I'm looking at the C55 game threshold and Luca for most of the season has been below

the 9% of games played threshold.

And so it's more so been he is having a great year.

Here are some of the quibbles I have about defense, whatever.

But in terms of the actual MVP conversation, I haven't brought him up that much because

he hasn't been eligible for most of the year because Andrew's face.

He has played over 82% of the Lakers games at this point in season.

So he is on pace to be eligible.

Where are you at with the Luca Dodges MVP right in case the same, the same place I've been

at.

I don't know exactly where he's at in the five, he's in the five, you give me look, look

me.

I said this here.

I'll say it again.

Hear me once.

Hear me twice.

Hear me.

Look at this new shape.

Nicola Yokich.

Luca Dodges.

It's Mr. Women's Yaman K.

Come here.

Some jumbled order of those five players after all eligible will be your MVP candidates.

Will be your all NBA first team.

Luke has been insane.

It's harder than I.

What he's done, especially as the Lakers continue to win, he just he pokes at everything

you want to defensively.

And he continues to score all the time.

So yeah, he's playing a super high level.

Where are you at with him is the question that I have.

I think he is in my five, especially if he again remains healthy enough to be eligible.

I think he is earned the right to just be in the five.

He's been at good.

3389.

This is nuts.

He's fifth in the EPM of on players that have lot in these 50 games.

If you care about that, he's only behind Shane Yokich, Wimby and Kawai Litter.

The thing that has always thrown me for a loop within the actual loop of case, like putting

the games play inside right now is like trying to parse through like the defense portion

of this, especially early on in the year when the Lakers were not close to, you know,

the leveled in the form of defense to me right now.

Luke was a part of the reason why the defense was the way it was.

Effort stuff.

Unvolved.

Consisted effort there.

All ball tentatives.

Transition defense.

Whatever.

He factor into that.

A lot of the positive case that I saw about Luca early on, again, setting aside the games

play it right now was this Laker personnel is what it is.

LeBron's Miss time, Reese's Miss time.

The Lakers are still in the top four, top five in the West.

They're winning all of these clutch games and I was like, okay, that's true.

He is carrying this off of the load.

You actually look at what he's doing in the clutch and this is not the case that I would

be making if I were a Laker fan.

I will not be using the clutch, the clutch wins argument because Luca has it been usual

Luca in clutch games, at least early on in the year he wasn't.

Now he is fresh off the game winner against Denver.

So like that is obviously pertinent as late, but just thinking again, earlier in the season

I was like, okay, I don't know what to do with this.

You count now has the bot store, the Lakers are in the 3C right now.

The Lakers are 5.2 points for 100 possessions better with Luca on the floor.

It's a plus 3.4 with a mod, it's a minus 1.8 with a mod, which is solid.

But then you compare that the plus 5.2 to other MVP candidates.

And it's like Shay is plus 9.1.

I think you take that in addition to just what the Thunder have done this year.

So like you take the Shay portion of the program with Yokeh, it's plus 15.2 with Wimbee.

It's plus 15.4 with Cade.

I think that's also in the double digits.

It's like, ooh.

So like Luca has been great, but I'm also comparing him to these other cases.

And this is without mentioning like, I think the jail of Brown cases just kind of slid.

I think he's just firmly you are in the all NBA discussion.

But I don't know what the MVP portion is going to look like at this point.

Even Cade feels like the noise has got a little bit quiet around him.

But as you mentioned, like he should firmly be in like the top five conversation at the very least.

We talked about Don from Mitchell earlier this year.

Like there have been a lot of names you can tell us in.

And so like, I'm trying to figure out like how high I would have Luca right now.

So I think you can argue him as high for me.

Like I probably, if I'm saying like, ceiling and floor, like it's probably as high as 3 for me.

And I can also argue him like five or six.

It's kind of like the range for Luca for me right now since he's on pace to be eligible.

I probably land.

I probably land four.

I think it's where I have them.

So, so you said all of these numbers to pick the one number you didn't say that's what you mean?

I can do five or six.

I probably do four.

I think the range is that's what I feel.

But I think Luca is firmly like playing himself into more of this conversation.

He's just, he's been nuts.

And like last thing I'll say, because we talked about like some of the room pressure for him

early on this year.

But it hasn't, it didn't really matter to that point because he was making like 60% of his twos anyway.

In the mid-range scoring has just been insane.

We are in the middle of March and it is still.

And so he is still converting 57, 58% of his twos.

And it just does not matter.

Just even looking at the early portion of that Rockins game.

He's seeing some Tari Esen.

He's seeing some almond Thompson.

It just does not matter.

We just sprinkling in these flavors and these push outs and these crowned arounds.

Like he is a special offensive player.

But the shot making in particular has been nuts for him.

So I've kind of wanted to get a temperature tech.

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Thank you for that Steve.

Excellent.

Excellent job on the promo there.

We're going to take a quick break following that.

And when we return, we play a little game of is this real?

We talk about the Atlanta Hawks who can't sit in right now.

And I have some player slash award questions that I want to toss these ways.

So stay tuned.

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And we are back with this episode of The Dunker Spot.

And Steve, it's time to talk about the team that actually has the longest win streak

in the NBA right now.

That is the Atlanta Hawks.

Now, ever we talked about Hawks a couple weeks ago.

They had won four straight.

They had beaten Brooklyn.

They had beaten the Wizards twice.

They beat the Blazers without their top two creators.

And I asked you, like, hey, how you feel about this?

I know some people are going to quilt about the schedule.

You were meetings, like, hey, I'll raise my hand.

We've seen this.

We know what the offensive flow looks like.

The defense just has to hit a level.

Let's see it.

Since then, they still have not lost.

They are six and no.

Since we last talked about the Atlanta Hawks.

Bringing the win streak to tend is their first in win streak they've had

since the 2014-15 season, which,

Ha, funny year that was for Nakai as the basketball analyst.

Because later that year,

I wrote a very detailed article heading into that Hawks cab series.

Or I was like, you know what?

The Hawks are going to get it done.

Or here, like, the five or six reasons why it's going to happen.

And then LeBron James very loudly said,

LOL, it got the Hawks out of you.

So, like, not my best moment.

But either way, it's been a while since the Hawks have won like this.

So the question I want to pose to you, Steve,

as over the last six,

beat the Bucks on the road.

Heck, Yannis, no KPJ.

They beat the Sixers, no VJ, no PG.

Beat Brooklyn, no MPJ.

Beat Milwaukee again.

This time without Yannis.

Beat Orlando.

And a pretty big win last night in a normal Monday night basketball game.

Has any of these six wins from the Atlanta Hawks moved you at all?

Are you still in a similar head?

They're taking care of this, this, that's fine.

No, not moved him so sorry.

Not so.

What do you do?

They won nine home games against

non-gratis.

Oh, they just got to the eight seed.

They went from 10 and 16 at home to 19 and 16 at home.

I'm not moved by this from the Atlanta Hawks.

It's a reason why I'm not moved by it.

Is it what's changed?

Hey, we're good offensively.

I knew that.

Hey, when we defend, you aren't going to win.

I also knew that.

Ceezy McCollum bucketed it.

You knew that.

Micheal Alexander Walker having a great year.

You knew that.

Hey, Dice and Daniels plays defense.

You knew that.

And Yaka and Cobbler was making threes.

You knew that.

You got to play something.

Talk to me on March 25th and March 27th when they go at Detroit at Boston.

But no, I'm so sorry.

This this little nine home stand winning streak

of what we be Brooklyn and what we be Washington twice.

And we be Portland and then all we be Milwaukee.

And we beat the sixers.

The sixers.

They might as well be the six seveners.

No, we beat Dallas.

No, we beat the that.

They would beat the bucks.

They would beat the magic.

Yeah, no, my move.

So sorry.

The Mares had everyone.

Seveners.

I cannot believe you got that all.

But the beverage had all their folks.

The sixers still had time.

The Orlando Magic still had Paulo.

And the magic were on a long win streak of their own heading into this matchup

and the Hawks thoroughly got the money.

So like, I hear you.

But like, I think we can give them a little bit more than that.

Then you give them a little bit more than that.

I think for me, the fun part is I kind of go through some of the players that

will play it well.

Like you mentioned the kill Alexander Walker career high game for him against Orlando Magic.

The shop making was incredibly fun and prolific.

But more than anything, like the way that he moved off ball in that game to your point,

like we've seen conceptually what Atlanta wants to get to.

But like, it really popped in this Orlando matchup.

And I really kind of want to hang on the Orlando matchup for a minute there.

One of it is the most recent one.

Again, the magic were on the big win streak and the help strapped it.

So that's impressive.

But like, I went into that matchup.

And I mentioned that matchup when we talked about him a couple weeks ago.

Like, hey, I want to see what that game in particular looks like.

Because Orlando has this collective size.

They have this level of switchability that they can tap into.

And have been terror over the past month or so.

And then early in this game, you see the size.

You see the switching.

You see a bunch of unders.

And the Hawks had counters for just about all of it.

And like, that was the most impressive thing for me from that game.

And like overall, like, there has been.

And it's similar to what I said last time we talked about him.

I have been pretty impressed with the process from the Atlanta Hawks during this stretch.

Like, the opponent quality is what it is.

The fact that there's a level of problem solving happening with this group.

And a level of flow that they're able to maintain with their offense.

I think deserves a little bit of praise.

And like, even to the CJ point, this hasn't been the best shot-making stretch for him.

Like, his shooting splits have not been very good.

However, he does deal with all a level of tension off him.

And the fact that he's been able to help maintain their flow

with his ball movement, with his screening, with his relocation,

like that all slots into what they're doing off it.

And I think he deserves praise for that as well.

Well, go ahead.

You sell to me on the Hawks and you still, CJ, still caught a stray

for the fifth consecutive year in this podcast.

What do you mean?

It's all going to be great.

We should respect them.

CJ, the shooting splits.

Oh, boy.

But you ain't going to say them about killing the Hayes.

It's fine.

What you think?

Continue on.

Those splits, those splits look eerily similar right now.

That's not what you want.

But the point I want to make was less that the splits are bad.

CJ's bad.

It's more, he has not shot at the level that we are accustomed to

and ultimately we'll get back to.

And he is still positive as often.

And it's a broader story too, like him being

starting to the start line of it, what he's done for this group.

And the fact that he's been helpful despite him not shooting at his level,

boasts well for when he does.

And he's able to juice all this.

It's been more triple doubles and overall attacking for Jalen Johnson

during the stretch.

Dyson Daniels, I like sprinkled ends of Dyson Daniels

commentary since it was like the end of the Hulk seven when we talked about

the last.

But what a unique season he is having.

One happy birthday, Dyson Daniels is recording all the Tuesday.

But during the win streak, Steve, 11.6 points,

8.1 rebounds, three offensive rebounds per game during the stretch.

6.3 assists, 2.4 steals.

He's shooting 59% from the field.

But the three point shooting is what it is.

But the way that he has been used as a handoff hub,

as a screener, as a transition threat,

the way that some of these drives have to look for him.

Like I still kind of choke on like, hey brother,

use your left hand sometimes.

But in general, like there's a level of snappiness that he's playing with

that I think is helpful, especially if you're not going to be taking three.

I love how quick his decisions have been made,

whether he is directly bringing the ball up in initiate action

or if he is someone that just kind of flashes the ball the way

or above the break and kind of gets them to the second side.

Like there was a possession in that game,

where Orlando's sprinkling in some early switching

or Jayla Johnson left pick and roll,

ball goes to Dyson Daniels, immediate flip to the kill Alexander Walker.

Immediate pocket pass from the kill Alexander Walker, Dyson Daniels,

were like, yeah, this is the kind of energy that he can eject

into a possession when some of the switching may bog you now

or when some of the tempo isn't as good to be.

And so like I've been super impressed with what this Dyson stretch has been

and defensively, it's been fun like watching him talk

between I will take on your toughest perimeter assignment,

sometimes the kill Alexander Walker do that,

and that can just muck stuff up off the ball to fly around.

And that's where you see and get in the steel and the flexion numbers,

but in general, he's been a super active presence as a male

as he has generally been throughout his basketball career.

It aids in this Atlanta Hogs defense,

which is still performing at an incredibly high level speed.

They're forcing turnovers at an incredibly high rate

that is led by Dyson Daniels,

but all of these from the guys they can kind of slide in,

and then you kind of zoom out where Jalen's contributing,

not contributing, CJ's contributing, Dyson contributing,

on Yekka, knocking down three, as you mentioned,

nearly three spots of game under two, under three fouls of game,

which is insane considering the matchups and the size of his advantage,

and he's in sometimes.

Jonathan Gomingo averaged 15 and eight off the bench during the stretch.

But there you go, are you, are you, are you,

are you bought in on Jonathan Gomingo?

Is that what you're telling me, mate?

I've been impressed with the rebounding in particular for them.

And as I mentioned a while ago, like this is the level of,

I have the ball, I am making a quick decision.

I am driving it, or I am passing it, or I am shooting it.

I am not catching it, hold it and get super off it.

I will say there was one position in the first half,

where he was just kind of seeking through switches from Orlando,

and I think it was Austin Rivers, you can hear him on the broadcast saying,

oh, this is going up.

While Jonathan Gomingo had the ball,

and then sure enough, it is a drive against Orlando big pump fake finish and one,

it's like, well, that's probably why Jonathan Gomingo is out there.

Good call from the broadcast, but like, that was a funny play for me.

But again, he continues to stack good plays.

So I'm impressed with him.

And just with the Hawks in general,

as you mentioned earlier, it is funny that they've gone on this win streak

and they have booze up a spot because of what they just moved up the spot.

That's why they just, where am I supposed to move?

We've done this segment at least four times this season.

It's the same song and dance.

Do you think they did it be Boston to play off series, the guys?

Do they beat Boston?

Probably not.

That's actually a question I want to ask you,

among the top four.

Who do you think they match up best against?

No one.

Do they beat Detroit?

That's not how that question works though.

It is.

Now I answer it.

Do they beat Detroit in the series?

I don't think they beat Detroit in a series.

I will say that.

So if the segment is this real,

no.

You're trying to sell me on the secret lives of the Atlanta Hawks

and I don't want to watch it.

Even though they're a really good team.

I love to watch that play off fence.

I don't want that to show.

I hate you to be a little kinder to the Atlanta Hawks.

This is unbelievable.

I just said they're really good.

I've done this three times.

What else is real?

We're doing the thing where

who looked this team want a whole bunch of games

and they're doing this and then they stop doing it.

Guess what we don't talk about it.

We've done this with the hops in the Raptors.

17 times this season.

So what else is real with this?

How did the Raptors catch a stranger?

Okay. Well, it's a little to the Atlanta Hawks.

Next five games at Dallas, Houston,

going to state Memphis.

As Steve mentioned, Detroit next Wednesday.

So we'll see what happens

as the show goes on the road.

As for other things that I want to ask you about Steve.

I want to ask you about the Vita Wimba Nyamba MVP case.

As Wimba was recently asked

or recently talked about his desire

to win MVP and D-poor post game

after I think the Charlotte game.

Where a boy did he get his get back

again Charlotte after the first match up.

Musa Diabata ate his lunch respectfully.

Respectfully.

Wimba had none of it.

Two quick files in the first quarter from Musa.

It was just a dominant effort for him.

Both hits.

But Wimba said,

right now in my mind is taking care of

Greg and Greg.

Taking great care of my body

because I also want to win MVP and defense player

the year.

So I'm trying to press the gas now

from now to the end of the season.

Really take care of my treatment.

Take care of my sleeve.

Take care of my routine.

Show up for my team.

He wants it.

As a recording Steve,

he has played 53 of 68 games.

So that's 77.9% of games.

So like not quite qualified

or not quite on pace yet.

But I think he is a game or two away.

But you zoom out.

It's 24 points on 58.36.

81 shooting splits.

11 boards.

Three assists.

A steel and three blocks of game.

At least, at least,

he started an EPM among that group.

That's played at least 50 games.

He's first in defense of EPM.

You care about that.

Is there a chance?

You've already mentioned like he's going to be in your top five

if he's healthy enough.

How strong is the case for him

to actually win the award right now?

Well, I mean,

there are people that could not be eligible.

And then you end up with a whole different discussion.

And so I think for me,

you got to evaluate his individual case.

He's been incredible.

And so it's very hard to point to this first success

and not point to victory woman,

but when he's been able to do on both ends on the court.

Offensively, he's continuing to grow.

He's been a presence.

He hurts you inside, outside the drives,

inverted picker roll.

I can get to my three.

I can get to the lane.

I can finish.

But the defense,

the defensive impact that he's had for that team

consistently every single night to where,

yeah, I'm in command of this defense.

You don't really want to come into paint.

I'm going to find a way to get to the block.

I'm going to make sure we're rotating around me.

I'm going to communicate that.

I can guard multiple positions.

I can be in different places.

I can do this every single night.

And we have this base that you can trust when I am in the game.

Yes.

No one really thought this first would just be the

runaway to seed.

When we talk about the Western Conference,

14 pack, you probably thought this person

would be in there somewhere and have a good year.

They're clearly the number two team in the Western Conference.

And it's very hard, you know, as good as, you know,

as good as Coach Johnson has been.

It's because the guard play has been as well.

They've played as a team.

Everyone knows their role.

It all orbits around Victor Womanyama.

And so I think he has a case no matter what.

But if we're knocking on the door of, hey, Shay,

looks like you didn't play enough games.

Hey, Nicole Yokinch, looks like you didn't play enough games.

It's people going to have a really interesting conversation

about old Victor Womanyama now, aren't they?

Yeah, it gets funny.

I think like even in the pendant of that,

like 24, 11, 3, 1, and 3,

insane efficiency is going to be the front runner for the

defensive player to hear these healthy enough.

Like that alone says, you at least need to have a conversation about me

in the top three and higher.

The spurs are 18 and one in the last 19 games

that Wimby has played in.

It's 25, 11, 3, 1 and 4 in those games.

The thing that's killing me about this, the complimentary,

is like, this is Wimby putting up these numbers

and having this impact.

Like, how often does he play more than 30 minutes?

It's a good question.

Like that, like that's the, like more rhetorical to be clear.

But it's just like, it's not like he's doing this playing

37 minutes game, which would also be impressively clear.

But like he is wrecking stuff and piling up these kind of bot score numbers.

While not having to, you know, it doesn't have to be a 40 minute affair for him.

He's wrecking stuff in 30 minutes in three quarters.

It's like, well, we just can't get to the room.

We can't score at the room when we do get there.

And then offensively, what do we do with this dude?

Like, we can be physical with him.

But like, he's not going to stop attacking.

We can switch a bunch of stuff, but we're eventually not

to send help, we're going to want our guards on him.

Is that you look at somebody on off stuff outside

a little bit earlier in relation to Luca?

But the Spurs would win be all on the floor per PvP stats.

Plus 15.1 per 100 possessions.

Would Shay on the floor for, okay, see, that's plus 14.6.

Like, the Spurs are performing better than the Shea Lat Thunder

when Wimby is on the floor.

That is insane.

And the Spurs is pretty much neutral,

but like a minus 0.3 net rate.

Like, the plus 15.4 overall for Wimby,

that is higher than Shea, that is higher than Yo-Pitch,

that is higher than K8, that is higher than Jalen Brown,

that is higher than Donovan Bitch.

Like, it's a wild.

Like, this is getting louder for a bit to Wimby Yava.

Even to your point about the Spurs being the clear number two.

Like, they're right back two, we're only three games behind, okay, see.

And this is when, okay, see, currently on an 8-game win streak right now.

Like, it's not inconceivable that the Spurs closed his gap

before the year ends.

If there's any sort of injury stuff with, okay, see,

or just in general, okay, see, it's a roast patch.

Close out the year.

So, like, it's been, it's been a fun time.

It's been a fun time.

While we're on award stuff, Steve,

where are we at on Kawaii Leonard?

In his all-in-be-a-first-team case.

Because as he has mentioned a little bit earlier,

he seems to be among the names

that you could have a conversation about with his first team

between, between, between Shio Kijin, Wimby and Luca.

Like, it can't Kawaii be five?

Like, Kawaii versus Donovan Mitchell.

Kawaii versus Jaila Brown.

Kawaii.

How far, like, what does that look like for you

if he plays enough games?

He's currently out with the ankle injury,

but he is traveling on the road trips.

I think he's back soon.

How have these Kawaii federated?

You're asking the wrong person.

You're doing the discourse with the wrong person.

I've already revealed what my all-in-be-a-first-team would be

if everyone is eligible.

If someone is eligible,

Kawaii Leonard would be a name to definitely process

and put us to Canada.

I have him as an all-in-be-a-second-team rep

because I do not have him in my top five

for MVP, thus he would not be

on my first team all-in-be-a.

Where are you at with it?

I need you.

Okay.

No, understood.

Like, I think your top five is pretty strongly,

pretty firm.

I guess my broader question for you

is going to be outside of,

like, Shade Mrs. Games or some of Mrs. Games.

Like, is there a way that Kawaii could play himself over,

like, Kate or play himself over Muka?

Or is it just that it's just the five,

not a way at this point?

Okay.

I mean, Luca maybe?

But I mean, the Clippers turn around

with fantastic.

There's still 34 and 34.

So, I mean, we've got some high-impact players

and impacting winning and having great seasons.

I mean, if they were the sixth seed right now,

I'd probably be like, you know what?

Let's talk about it.

Let's talk about it.

But as great as the turn around has been,

as great as Kawaii has been, he's been lights out.

I can't get the first team.

Muka, I think that's fair.

That's fair.

I think for me, like, he is creeping towards,

honestly creeping towards the top of my list

among, like, the second teamers

and can get into that conversation for first team,

because he has just been nuts.

And I guess I should have mentioned

as of recording 53 games at a 68 plate,

so a little under 78%.

So, he's also a game or two away

from being technically on pace to be eligible.

So, he's still got to wait.

And again, he's out of the ankle right now.

But, 28.3 points per game, 57% on two,

38% on three, he's 90 from the line,

six boards, four assists, two steals,

fourth in the EPM.

So, like, that would make the all in the A first

in case you want to use that.

But he has been so good on both ends of the floor.

And, like, it's been a different defensive season for him,

because it hasn't been your usual

Oco-Y's just guarding number ones.

And he's ricking stuff.

It has been more IMD off-ball destroyer.

And then, when I need to guard this guy

for a few possessions,

I can also make life ugly for him too.

But, like, the two-way impact has been there.

He has been the biggest part of this turn around for the Clipper.

So, I just kind of wanted to get the temperature check

on where you were with Oco-Y Leonard on that front.

Can I toss one warrior away?

Let's leave.

Sure.

It's circling back to the San Antonio Spurs.

And this is more free throw adjacent from me.

How close is Stefan Castle to being the Spurs' second best player?

Uh, very close.

I still have Fox.

I think Castle's two-way impact is very good.

I think he doesn't,

it helps that he doesn't have to carry some of the weight

because Deer and Fox did this.

So, he can be involved.

He's been really patient.

Really good playmaking.

Really good defense.

So, but I wouldn't necessarily give him the crown

of the second best player

because if you're a defense,

am I treating him like he's the second best player?

Not really.

Okay.

I, I think for me, like, I want to see

what playoff Stefan Castle looks like.

I think from a competitive standpoint,

he is not going to be afraid of the moment or anything like that.

It's just more so,

what does he do against game plan defenses?

Are we going to see even more of

we're putting center on Stefan Castle,

which mentioned the Memphis example earlier in this year.

Other teams have tried it since then.

It has not gone well for the other teams.

Like, that's a positive on the San Antonio side.

But, want to see like what that part looks

quite familiar to go there.

But, the two-way impact is what's kind of making the case

for me, Steve.

Like, I think if he's going to be a rim-thread,

if he has the mid-range going to get the very least,

it's kind of offset how teams treat him

beyond the three-point line.

And even to the three-point portion,

since they all start breaking,

39% from three is only three-and-a-half attempts,

so you want the ball to be a little bit higher.

But, like, that is pretty solid.

He's making teams pay more often.

And over his last five games,

44% from 5.4 attempts.

He's like, okay, this is interesting.

Again, these are dare shots.

He's making the dare shots.

But, if he's going to be just kind of threatened inside the yard,

if he's going to have these kind of play-making chops,

with the turnovers going down for what they were earlier this year.

And if he's going to defend a little bit of everybody

on the other end and make a legitimate all-defense case,

like, I don't think we're far off.

I think it's fair to at least have the conversation

even if, like, I'm with you, I still say Fox for now.

I need to see a playoff run from Castle

before I'm really ready to firmly stamp it.

But, it's a testament to how good he is

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So, just want to...

Can I throw one out there?

Yes.

Okay, I throw one last.

Is this real out there?

Sure.

I actually have a definitive answer.

You know what's real?

This break we're about to take.

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And we are back with this episode of the Dunker Spot.

Gonna close things out with more Team USA basketball talk.

Two games since the last time we courted Steve.

Two more big wins for Team USA.

And that is setting to the stage for later this afternoon.

We got Team USA taking the old Spain.

Megan Gustafson, I will find.

Number one pick in this year's draft.

It should be a fun front court battle at the very least.

Exciting to see that one a little bit later.

But just want to circle back to two games over the weekend.

They beat Italy 93 to 59.

They beat New Zealand 101 to 46.

No Carol Lawson, who is returning back to Duke as the tournament

is getting ready to start soon.

So Nate Tibbett's assistant on staff.

Got to coach these two games.

We got two different starting lineups.

Two different rotation patterns in general.

Steve.

So just I guess the broad and the scope.

Is there anything in particular that stood out to you

across these two games over the weekend?

No, we're starting with you, man.

But because I heard you going a different podcast after we spoke

about Team USA.

And I spoke with the first two of the bigs.

And you wanted to see small ball.

And so we had Team USA Nate's edition.

And so I want to see your thoughts.

And they hear them spoken to me.

What did you think of the decision to go with smaller lineups here?

But what were your thoughts on this version of Team USA?

You know Steve, I was intrigued because we had seen through the first two games

a lot of double big alignments with some sprinkling of Ryan Howard at the fore.

I was like, OK, this is interesting.

As we talked about on the last part, like, OK, what is somebody's flares

and what are the re screens look like?

What is some of the spacing look like in the half court with the double big alignment?

And so for Nate Tibbett to come up all for rip and say, you know what?

We're starting smaller.

Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Khalia Copper, Ryan Howard, the Eric Ahambi.

Come on down.

And you immediately see pace pick up a little bit.

The spacing fell a little bit cleaner.

It certainly wasn't perfect.

But the space is different, a little bit cleaner.

You saw the speed and transition pop a little bit more.

I think the Eric Ahambi in particular really enjoyed across both of these games, honestly.

Even though you saw her more paired with a big end, the New Zealand game that you did in the Italy game.

But just quicker decision making.

I think clear pockets for the roles to play making pop a little bit more.

So like I was intrigued by seeing more space.

And ultimately with them trending smaller,

you also got to see the full court pressure ramp up even more than we've seen in the first two games.

And so the defense popped the little louder for me.

I will say on the downside if you're going smaller.

If there were any kind of defense and misuse or if they were able to switch into some unfavorable matchups for them.

The defense arena got a little hazy sometimes.

So when they grabbed them, the transition opportunities were fruitful.

When they were not, it's like Uno.

Extra opportunities.

You get some of the files.

Like that got kind of hazy.

And that was something that on the other pod.

I brought up like, hey, if I'm trying to pick at like a yellow or orange flag for Team USA.

It's just keeping an eye on what their defensive rebound it looks like.

And light up some of the overhelps and some of the misuse that we've seen from them defensively.

But I really enjoyed how fast and aggressive they played overall with some of those smaller lineups.

I think it really popped in the Italy game.

You popped in like the second quarter onward really in the New Zealand game.

But like that was kind of my initial impressions at the very least.

How did you feel about some of the lineup ships over these last two?

Well, I mean, I think it's just speaks to the versatility of Team USA overall.

And so I think being able to do multiple things, do different things is important for them.

And I think leaning into the small lineup did open some different things up.

I thought Italy at the start of that game was very good and patient.

I get into their next action and willing to throw it in the post.

And if you're going to strictly be small, that does open you up to hey to the post.

We can do some post ups.

We can we can get some rebounds.

Overall, I mean, we talked about it last time.

The defensive activities were fantastic.

So they got pressure, they're flying around, they're rotating.

I don't necessarily think it has to be a small lineup that makes it even better.

But because the small lineup you now can lead more to the switching, be more decisive.

And so you kind of have the yin and the yang of it.

So that's where it was pretty fun.

But also offensively, now we open ourselves up to some different possibilities and probabilities.

Katelyn Clark is able to operate in space.

And you've got Jackie Young, mate, it's Jackie Young.

You know what I mean?

You got Collie.

You got Collie.

You got Collie a cop are getting downhill.

You got plumb.

So I mean, it was interesting to see kind of some of the different combinations that were rolled through.

Especially in that Italy game where it's like, hey, that's Katelyn Clark and that's Paige.

And that's Kelsey plumb.

Is that Chelsea Gray out there as well?

Okay.

So we're just we're just we're we're the space to form and make plays and do different things.

I think leaning having the ability to have a team that, okay, we can go double big.

We can really really make it tough on you defensively.

But also we can emphasize our offense if we'd like to and make it so where you can't really guard us.

And so them finding the way off offensively throughout.

I think those two games leading into the small one.

I don't think that was important just to kind of have a variety to know.

Okay, when we advance or when we have all of our components or when we have the more people that is possible.

We can kind of speak with different things that have that in our base.

Yeah, I'm with you on that.

I think the overall versatility is going important here.

I think the other thing I want to bring up, especially in relation to them going more single big over these two games in particular in the Italy game.

Is now I went to bring this up more just on Friday as a concept both here and the other but like angel getting an opportunity to play more at the five.

I think is good for her developmentally.

I think the best version of her.

As we've seen in the high end in this sort in the qualifier so far.

Someone that can fly around defensively can play at the level can fly to play the cat mouse game can come all the way out in the head.

That's a serious force turnovers get out and transition.

And if you are using her as a screener and roller around four guards in some of these lineups as you mentioned.

That's a lot of space for her to roll into that should help the finishing pop even more.

But more so defensively for me like okay if you are now the only big on the floor.

What do these reps look like?

How locked the NR you and just in general like getting more reps at the five.

Where you look at the Chicago sky to you like it's mostly her plus Camilla Cardoso her plus Elizabeth Williams.

You know go back the year before last her plus easy hair.

You know she's been paired with another big a bunch.

I think if angel can get more reps at the five.

And showcase that she can handle it on both ends of the floor or more so defensively than anything.

That opens up some lineup stuff for when she's back in the W.

It opened up some fun line of opportunities for the sky.

And I think even for her individual projects.

If she can firmly just be a five long restrictions like that just adds more value period.

So I think that you know that mitigate some of the opposite concerns that you may have if she's not paired with another big.

I disagree.

I think the best version of angels ability to do both.

I think when she's at her most impactful defensively is I can do all of these things defensively.

So I can switch.

And we've seen that be mixed in I can be at the level I can be dropped back.

So I can do this at before I can also do this at the five and lock down exactly what I have to do.

And so I think if she's able to have the best of both worlds and just find a consistency defensively as far as you're going to rotate to the beverages.

She'll be fine. I don't know what position team puts her in.

I guess I'm not arguing that like she is only going to like provide value at the five is more so like can she do more of that so to your point she can do both.

I think right now I think she is firmly better at the four than the five right now.

But that's why I think like the five reps matter that's more so what I was trying to convey on that front.

I think but I hear you.

I was going through my notes at the moment.

Oh, I don't want to break up as we talk about these other two games.

Welcome to the rotation Ray Barrell who has mostly just kind of been in these four quarters with the games out of hands.

You get to see the energy and stuff. Her just firmly being in the first half rotation and you get to see.

Oh, she guards a little bit of everyone and she can add it to the school court pressure.

So, you know, defensively you may get the rental crashes for the corner still with off into rebounding or at least getting into the fray.

And kind of playing until those tap outs or I'm just putting my head down and putting you underneath the basket with drives.

And then some of the catch the shoe shop making on top of that like it was just nice to see her.

She earned this opportunity like her and Monique Billings again coming from the unrival season right into the camp into these games.

I think it's been a unique opportunity for them. Monique has just played well throughout these all throughout these four games.

So, I want to say that as well as we kind of zoom out which leads me to another question Steve or another pair of questions close this out.

So, number one.

We've got four games under belt again. We get the Spain game a little bit later today has been team USA's best player through these first four games.

Who's been their best player?

I mean, it's hard to not say it's that's a hard question to answer because I think as a unit they've all been great together.

Everyone's had their moments everyone's flashed well Collier copper and a team USA you know home was like a 97 overall like the air game.

We have been active so it's a great.

It's been so great. Jackie young mate been great.

KP's done a job. I'm going to go I'm going to go Kate on car.

I think it's been been some real good.

Hey, what are you going to do with me?

Precisely. I got past and cut whatever I get to my step back.

I'm manipulating all of you in transition. The defense is kind of holding up unless I foul.

I'm going to get me on the to Kate and Clark.

I think it's been a really impressive showing for what say you.

I have a guess I already know to be going to say Ryan Howard aren't you?

I sure am going to say Ryan out.

You know your podcast co-host I tell you what absolutely has has bombed away from three.

Some of the drives and playing against popped up not to the dream volume but like in those stretches you see it.

And defensively she's everywhere.

Like the on ball shop blocking and some of the weak side stuff.

She's taking on guard assignments depending on what lineup she's in.

And she's handled that well.

She's been part of the pressure packet for team USA as well.

Like it has just been a really strong two way effort for Ryan.

And she's been incredibly efficient.

And so Caitlin has also been very good.

Page has been very good.

I guess you mentioned like it's been a collective team USA effort which is ultimately what you want.

But I would give the nod to Ryan which leads to the question.

Now I really want to get into Steve.

Have any of the how many of these play firmly played themselves into like the 28 Olympic conversation.

Because for me as I was kind of thinking about it.

I think there are three spots up for sure compared to the 24 Olympic squad.

Like Diana Tarrossi as retired.

I don't think Brittany Garnes would be there in 28 and I don't think Joel Law is going to be there in 28.

And so I kind of stopped at those three.

Because again, there's the like this Chelsea want to do it.

Like there's going to be a cry to guard room.

And so you can get to like five spots being up in the air.

But I live into three.

And so if you had three.

Which three players are taking those spots as of today.

We got two years.

But as of today, who would you say who would be the three players to get those spots?

Are you going to give me three?

Yeah.

Three for promote.

Caitlin Clark Pagebacker's Angelries.

Ooh, okay.

I had a really tough time in part three this.

Because my initial thought was like, okay, well then yeah, we're going to get Kate.

We're going to get Paige.

And we're probably going to get Alia Boston who didn't get to do it.

Yeah, isn't playing right now because of the ankle or lower body injury rather.

But like she's, they're going to want size and center.

It's like crap.

There's Angel.

There's Ryan who I think, as I just said, has been the best player in the mix.

So like Ryan feels like she's also firmly played herself in.

I was like, ooh, Christ.

I don't know what I do with this.

I would say the first three in for me is probably Caitlin Page Ryan.

Especially if you're anticipating in the front court already for Team USA,

you're going to have Asia.

You're going to have Fee.

You're going to have Stewie.

And potentially a little Thomas.

But again, that could be a spot that opens up later.

I went perimeter based early on, but like, man, I think Angel's going to end up being,

I think Angel's going to be on the team.

I think the boss is going to, it's, it's a tight deal.

But I wanted to see where you were on that front, Steve.

With that, we bid the Dunkers a do.

Thank you for listening to and or watching this episode of the Dunker Spot.

Please subscribe if you haven't already.

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If you haven't already, you can follow me on socials at the Kai's NBA.

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And with that, we will catch y'all later in the week.

Bye!

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