Steve Jones

Impact of Darius Garland for the Clippers here. Knicks trapping Kawhi, gets it to Brook on the short roll. Defense helps and it's a kick to Garland for 3.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is ridiculous

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is very good at this.

Good nuance from Denver on defense. OKC goes guard/guard screen, Joe fakes like he's going to. clear and gets a pindown. Brown sees it from the right wing and switches since Johnson is showing help. Another switch and they work to keep the ball in front.

Denver is showing help against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. You see THJ stepping up from the wing, looking at the bench to see if he's going to hit. SGA's response is to *check notes* straight line drive and finish.

A pindown for Jokic is not new but I like the angle. Jones comes from the wing, Jokic has room to curl. SGA ends up switching it. Jokic has been scoring so his attack draws help, kick right to THJ for 3. That scoring can get you in a tough spot defensively.

Denver has been going with a wing P&R for Jokic a *ton* in the third quarter. THJ looks to set it but as the defense cheats, Jokic looks to turn into a DHO for Murray. Thunder switch the issue is now Wallace is on Jokic. Gets a catch and it's HB Dive time.

Like sometimes you have to sit back and enjoy the moments where a defense is like "sure Jokic go score" and then he just goes and does it.

Denver has just spammed inverted P&R for Jokic in this third quarter and gotten what they want and this is a very fun matchup between these two teams.

Not a perfect world but good defense from Denver. Activity, rotating to recover, the type of multiple efforts they have to find a way to nail consistently. THJ did a really nice job of taking drives.

The timing on Jokic's passes, as soon as you make that decision to show help the ball is gone. Good job from Gordon to clear but stay ready.

Fun action from Cleveland to start the game. Elbow action, Mobley catches into a DHO with Wade. Notice Merrill is at the other Elbow. Fakes a screen for Wade and cuts off a flare from Mobley. Defense jumps out, Mobley rolls for a dunk.

If Cleveland's first play is putting Tatum in action against James Harden let's have a quick conversation

First of all, Happy International Women's Day

17 for Paolo Banchero in the first half and you see what that can open up. Magic get it to him in the post, Wolves double and then you see the ball movement.

Minnesota defending on a string here, really nice effort from Bones Hyland. Goes under the handoff, fights over the P&R and works to get back in front. Magic flow to another P&R, Gobert in a drop but watch Hyland rotate to Carter so Gobert can stay low.

well alright Anthony Edwards

Not a perfect rep but knew what they wanted to do. Sometimes you have to roll through options.

Defense isn't always about a perfect world, sometimes it's about problem solving. Hart points for Brunson to take the throw ahead. P&R, KAT is pointing to keep it on the side but it gets over the top. Drop turns into a late switch with Brunson peeling.

Denver had Gordon on KAT so they could switch Brunson/KAT P&R. Knicks worked to get it to KAT at the Elbow. You can feel the difference when KAT is physical and patient on his drives vs. smashing the turbo button.

One thing to note with Denver, last few games have given them some great reps as far as double teams go. Jokic working the baseline, rotating around it. Hard doubles vs. showing early help. Adversity but those reps can help down the line.

Feels like the Knicks have made it a lot cleaner for KAT on defense. When he's in a drop doing a much better job of communicating, taking a late switch and avoiding the "in between" moments that got them in trouble earlier.

YouTube video by Yahoo! Sports NBA Something's DIFFERENT About The Miami Heat This Year! w/ Couper Moorhead

On the latest episode of the Dunker Spot

-Deep Dive into the Miami Heat with Heat Insider @coupnba.bsky.social

YT: youtu.be/Oumz_ErZ-oA?...

Funny part about this Celtics roster is there is way more of a wave between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Not new but you feel it. Deal with one attacking on one side, swing and now you deal with the other or they screen for them off ball.

Warriors running a post up for Al Horford to get to a post split for Gui Santos and plot twist they scored. Twice in a row. The Rockets are *overhelping*

Cooper Flagg's command and control when it comes to playmaking feels like it still flies under the radar. Taking space, reading the defense, engaging and then making a play. Big growth point for him this year.

Trae Young making his Wizard debut and the Jazz immediately putting him action, trapping him in pick and roll and in the back court was a funny bit.

Well hey Trae Young is a Washington Wizard

I just don't think some get how important the shotmaking from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is to the Thunder.

The OKC lineups continue to intrigue me. SGA, Joe, McCain, Caruso and Jaylin Williams is fun.