Monday Daily Duncs

Here's the latest installment of our Daily Duncs: a curated list of writing, video, and podcasts on a near-daily basis for subscribers. You can read, watch, and listen to exactly what Danny and I are consuming every day if you so choose.

Podcast: Jared Dubin On The Regular Season So Far (RealGM Radio)

• Danny and Jared Dubin discuss the ripple effects of Chris Paul’s injury, the East playoff field, and more. 

The data says watch Utah; scouting Bennedict Mathurin; Portland’s Jusuf Nurkić situation (The Athletic)

• John Hollinger on the Jazz, Jusuf Nurkić, and Arizona’s Bennedict Mathurin.

Power Rankings, Week 20: Heat face critical week while West chase tightens (NBA.com)

• John Schuhmann with new power rankings as Miami embarks on an interesting stretch against some fellow East contenders. 

Nuggets stars Michael Porter Jr., Jamal Murray on track to return soon: Where that leaves Denver and the rest of the West (The Athletic)

• Sam Amick on the Nuggets hoping to be at full strength in the playoffs. 

Magic guard Markelle Fultz eager for Monday return vs. Pacers: ‘It’s been a long time coming’ (Orlando Sentinel)

• Khobi Price on Markelle Fultz returning to action. 

Sources: Miami Heat's Victor Oladipo could make season debut by second week of March (ESPN)

• Woj on Victor Oladipo’s current timetable for a season debut. 

Checking in on the new NBA trade acquisitions (Sporting News)

• Steph Noh with some first impressions of several notable deadline acquisitions with their new teams.

Jazz Kryptonite? An Empirical Look at Utah’s Supposed Smallball Struggles (Salt City Hoops)

• Dan Clayton on the Jazz going small, and playing against opponents that opt to use smaller lineups. 

Views from the bottom: What to look forward to from NBA non-contenders (Basketball News)

• Nekias Duncan on what to watch for from the teams at the bottom of the standings.

Maxi Kleber has become incredibly important to the success of the Mavericks (Mavs Moneyball)

• Matthew T Phillips on Maxi Kleber. 

The Whiteboard: Power ranking the best clutch teams in the NBA (The Step Back)

• Ian Levy on the teams that have performed best in close games this season. 

'The most wide open I've ever been in my career': The James Harden-Joel Embiid duo is all smiles after blowout debut win (ESPN)

• Ramona Shelburne on Harden’s debut with the Sixers. 

James Harden lives up to hype in Philadelphia debut as 76ers rout Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN)

• Tim Bontemps with more on the first look at Harden as a Sixer. 

The Trail Blazers’ future through the eyes of Joe Cronin: Create space, then find talent (The Athletic)

• Jason Quick on the Blazers’ outlook on their future. 

Which Player Does Each NBA Team Introduce First? Who Comes Last? And … Why? (FiveThirtyEight)

• Jared Dubin on in-arena NBA player intros. 

Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green returns to practice for first time since early January (ESPN)

• Kendra Andrews with an update on Draymond Green. 

New NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio is ‘unflappable and brilliant.’ But she’s a change agent first (The Athletic)

• Mike Vorkunov on new NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio.

NBA mailbag: The stretch run could be full of Phoenix Suns turnovers -- a historic Chris Paul stat is to blame (ESPN+)

• Kevin Pelton answers reader questions on buyout candidates, the future unveiling of the NBA 100 list, and more. 

Reeling Lakers met with boos at home as Russell Westbrook says opponents' scouting report to 'just play harder than them' is working (ESPN)

• Dave McMenamin on a new low point for the Lakers. 

Sources: LeBron James' agent meets with Los Angeles Lakers, denies any push to shake up front office (ESPN)

• Woj on Rich Paul meeting recently with Lakers brass.