Yahoo Sports NBA

We have a jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way!
First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones are joined by Justin Rowan and Carter Rodriguez (The Chase Down Podcast) for a wide-ranging conversation about the Cleveland Cavaliers. They talk about the team's perception, what's needed to make the James Harden/Donovan Mitchell partnership work, next steps for Evan Mobley, the addition of Peyton Watson and much more!
On the WNBA side, the guys preview the first round of the 2026 playoffs! They discuss the matchups, key battlegrounds, potential X-Factors and schematic twists that could determine the winner of each series.
If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com
0:47 -- Justin & Carter join the show!
56:58 -- Aces/Fever
01:12:36 -- Lynx/Liberty
01:22:30 -- Dream/Mystics
01:30:40 -- Valkyries/Wings

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
🖥️ Subscribe to the all new Yahoo Sports NBA channel on YouTube!

Kevin O'Connor reveals his Preseason Power Rankings for the 2026-27 NBA season, with every move, surprise and question mark across the league dissected. From the fall of Giannis’ Bucks to the upside of the young Utah Jazz, KOC shares insights into rebuilding teams, superstar trades and headline-making contract drama.
Later, Tom Haberstroh joins to challenge Kevin's rankings, digging into team chemistry, roster depth and which front offices nailed or fumbled the offseason. The episode also dives into the Jalen Duren contract saga and what it means for the Detroit Pistons’ future.
(1:26) Power Rankings teams 30-21
(15:05) Power Rankings teams 20-11
(28:50) Power Rankings teams 10-1
(43:12) Rankings Tom disagrees with
(1:15:40) Jalen Duren contract drama

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
🖥️ Subscribe to the all new Yahoo Sports NBA channel on YouTube!

Kevin O’Connor welcomes YouTuber and independent sports journalist Joon Lee for a wide-ranging conversation on analytics and their impact on modern sports. Joon shares insights on why teams like the Thunder and Dodgers are ahead of the curve, and why Boston Celtics fans might be frustrated by the team's data-driven strategies.
The duo also covers how to quantify clutch performance, their fantasy football philosophies, and the Patriots win against the Steelers on Sunday.
(0:44) Takeover of analytics in sports
(17:01) Boston Celtics shooting strategy
(21:32) Potential NBA rule changes
(27:34) MLB talk
(37:17) Patriots beat Steelers + Fantasy Football update

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
🖥️ Subscribe to the all new Yahoo Sports NBA channel on YouTube!

We have a jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way!
First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones are joined by Jason Timpf (Hoops Tonight, The Volume) for a wide-ranging conversation about the Los Angeles Lakers. They talk through the Lakers' offseason roster overhaul, next steps for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, what to expect from Walker Kessler, early thoughts on how the Lakers may look to defend, and much more!
On the WNBA side, the guys go back and forth on their biggest questions and storylines entering the final sprint before the postseason arrives. From there, Minnesota Lynx star Natasha Howard joins the show to discuss her new book (The Vision Through My Lens: My Life in Basketball and Beyond), her basketball journey, the dominance of this year's Lynx team and more.
If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com
01:05 -- Jason joins the show for Lakers check-in
01:07:02 -- Biggest post-World Cup questions
01:15:29 -- Natasha Howard joins the show

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
🖥️ Subscribe to the all new Yahoo Sports NBA channel on YouTube!

Kevin O'Connor & Tom Haberstroh draft the teams they believe will make the NBA Playoffs in 2026-27 from the pool of teams that missed last season. Are the Indiana Pacers a safe bet to make it with the return of Tyrese Haliburton?

What can Will Hardy do with a Utah Jazz team that finally isn't tanking? And can the Washington Wizards & New Orleans Pelicans stay healthy enough to overcome their long odds?

(0:47) Bad team playoff draft
(1:40) KOC - #1
(8:39) Tom - #2
(15:46) Tom - #3
(23:32) KOC - #4
(32:18) KOC - #5
(39:55) Tom - #6

📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network or yahoosports.tv
🖥️ Subscribe to the all new Yahoo Sports NBA channel on YouTube!