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. 

For this 15 in 60 edition of the Duncs for the Eastern Conference, we'll spotlight one item on each team. All stats below were pulled after Saturday's games.

Atlanta Hawks (33-27 (7-3 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = +2.1 (11th); Off Rtg = 115.4 (8th); Def Rtg = 113.3 (17th); Proj Wins = 40 (T-4th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 99% Elo Playoff Odds: 98%

Kevin Huerter Is Creating Depth And Resiliency With The Hawks (Dime)

  • Katie Heindl profiles Kevin Huerter. 

Boston Celtics (32-28 (7-3 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = +2.3 (9th); Off Rtg = 114.3 (12th); Def Rtg = 112.0 (12th); Proj Wins = 40 (T-4th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 99% Elo Playoff Odds: 97%

Jayson Tatum's growth around the margins (Basketball News)

  • Nekias Duncan on the continued growth of Jayson Tatum’s game. 

Brooklyn Nets (39-20 (5-4 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = +5.0 (6th); Off Rtg = 118.9 (2nd); Def Rtg = 113.9 (24th); Proj Wins = 46 (T-2nd); Raptor Playoff Odds: >99% Elo Playoff Odds: >99%

Brooklyn Nets: Nicolas Claxton Can't Be This Good Already, Right? (Nets Republic)

  • Lucas Kaplan dives into the film to show what’s been so impressive about Nicolas Claxton’s contributions in Brooklyn this season. 

Charlotte Hornets (29-30 (4-6 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -2.2 (22nd); Off Rtg = 111.2 (19th); Def Rtg = 113.3 (18th); Proj Wins = 35 (T-8th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 49% Elo Playoff Odds: 57%

Is Malik Monk an NBA Development Exception or a New Kind of Rule? (The Ringer)

  • Paolo Uggetti on Malik Monk finding his way in year four. 

Chicago Bulls (25-35 (5-7 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -1.3 (21st); Off Rtg = 112.3 (16th); Def Rtg = 113.6 (20th); Proj Wins = 29 (12th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 4% Elo Playoff Odds: 2%

How Nikola Vucevic has changed the Bulls for these ten games (Blog A Bull)

  • Matt Bernhardt on how the Bulls have looked so far with Nikola Vucevic.

Cleveland Cavaliers (21-38 (4-6 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -7.3 (26th); Off Rtg = 106.4 (28th); Def Rtg = 113.7 (21st); Proj Wins = 25 (13th); Raptor Playoff Odds: <1% Elo Playoff Odds: <1%

Roundtable: Darius Garland in the spotlight (Fear The Sword)

  • Danny Cunningham, Will Cunningham, and Nick Trizzino go back and forth on what they’ve seen from Darius Garland this season. 

Detroit Pistons (17-43 (3-8 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -4.9 (25th); Off Rtg = 108.6 (26th); Def Rtg = 113.4 (19th); Proj Wins = 22 (T-14th); Raptor Playoff Odds: <1% Elo Playoff Odds: <1%

Killian Hayes’ career night, Isaiah Stewart as a starter: Pistons observations (The Athletic)

  • James Edwards III on Killian Hayes finding his groove, Cory Joseph’s fit in Detroit, Isaiah Stewart, and more. 

Indiana Pacers (28-31 (6-5 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -1.1 (20th); Off Rtg = 111.4 (18th); Def Rtg = 112.5 (13th); Proj Wins = 35 (T-8th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 43% Elo Playoff Odds: 46%

On the method in T.J. McConnell’s craftiness (Indy Cornrows)

  • Caitlin Cooper details the craftiness of T.J. McConnell. 

Miami Heat (32-29 (6-5 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -0.7 (18th); Off Rtg = 110.1 (23rd); Def Rtg = 110.7 (6th); Proj Wins = 38 (T-6th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 95% Elo Playoff Odds: 85%

Video: Brady's Breakdown of the Miami Heat Down the Stretch Against Brooklyn (Five Reasons Sports Network)

  • Brady Hawk breaks down some key plays from Miami’s recent win at home over the Nets.

Milwaukee Bucks (37-22 (5-5 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = +6.3 (4th); Off Rtg = 117.5 (5th); Def Rtg = 111.2 (9th); Proj Wins = 46 (T-2nd); Raptor Playoff Odds: >99% Elo Playoff Odds: >99%

How does Jrue Holiday fit with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton? ‘We’re still evolving with Jrue’ (The Athletic)

  • Eric Nehm checks in to see how Milwaukee’s star trio has been meshing with the playoffs right around the corner. 

New York Knicks (34-27 (9-2 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = +2.1 (10th); Off Rtg = 110.4 (21st); Def Rtg = 108.3 (3rd); Proj Wins = 38 (T-6th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 88% Elo Playoff Odds: 97%

RJ Barrett is Controlling the Driving Lanes on Both Ends (Premium Hoops)

  • Mark Schindler digs into RJ Barrett’s film on both ends of the floor. 

Orlando Magic (18-41 (1-9 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -7.6 (28th); Off Rtg = 106.2 (29th); Def Rtg = 113.8 (22nd); Proj Wins = 22 (T-14th); Raptor Playoff Odds: <1% Elo Playoff Odds: <1%

I feel… good (?) about the Orlando Magic (Premium Hoops)

  • Mark Schindler on some promising signs from Chuma Okeke and the road ahead for the Magic. 

Philadelphia 76ers (39-21 (5-5 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = +3.9 (7th); Off Rtg = 112.7 (15th); Def Rtg = 108.8 (4th); Proj Wins = 48 (1st); Raptor Playoff Odds: >99% Elo Playoff Odds: >99%

Matisse Thybulle is an absolute game wrecker: here are 7 reasons why he needs more playing time (Liberty Ballers)

  • Dave Early makes the case for Matisse Thybulle to get more run in Philly. 

Toronto Raptors (25-34 (6-5 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = +0.4 (15th); Off Rtg = 113.0 (13th); Def Rtg = 112.6 (14th); Proj Wins = 31 (11th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 14% Elo Playoff Odds: 5%

Tank or not to tank? Raptors are in purgatory when it comes to losing for draft lottery (The Athletic)

  • Blake Murphy on the Raptors and their approach to the final stretch of the regular season. 

Washington Wizards (26-33 (9-2 since last 15 in 60); Net Rtg = -3.0 (23rd); Off Rtg = 109.7 (24th); Def Rtg = 112.7 (15th); Proj Wins = 32 (10th); Raptor Playoff Odds: 10% Elo Playoff Odds: 13%

What’s next for Wizards, Deni Avdija after a difficult setback? (The Athletic)

  • Fred Katz looks ahead for Deni Avdija and the Wizards.