Wednesday 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.

Ime Udoka 'proud' to lead Celtics to NBA Finals in 1st season after other teams passed on him (Yahoo Sports)

  • Chris Haynes chats with Ime Udoka. 

How Ime Udoka’s Brutal Honesty Turned the Celtics Into Contenders (The Ringer)

  • Jackie MacMullan on Ime Udoka’s impact on the Celtics. 

NBA Finals numbers preview: Key stats that could define series (NBA.com)

  • John Schuhmann previews the Finals. 

NBA Finals 2022: The 10 most important players in Golden State Warriors vs. Boston Celtics (ESPN+)

  • Kevin Pelton previews the Finals. 

How The Celtics Turned Things Around (FiveThirtyEight)

  • Jared Dubin on the Celtics. 

Celtics vs Warriors: 2022 NBA Finals Preview (CelticsBlog)

  • Keith Smith previews the Finals. 

Warriors vs. Celtics odds, picks, predictions, schedule for 2022 NBA Finals (Sporting News)

  • Steph Noh previews the Finals. 

Marcus Smart knows he's not your favorite player, and he's not going to change his game (Yahoo Sports)

  • Chris Haynes chats with Marcus Smart. 

Kevon Looney has become a rebounding machine under Warriors coach Dejan Milojević (The Athletic)

  • Marcus Thompson on Dejan Milojević’s work with Kevon Looney.

Warriors' Gary Payton II on track to return for NBA Finals: Sources (The Athletic)

  • Shams and Anthony Slater on GP2’s status for the Finals. 

A letter from mom: Gary Payton II wins NBA community service award (The Athletic)

  • Gary Payton II’s mother, Monique, on GP2 winning the NBA’s community service award. 

Kerr leads Warriors to feat last achieved by '90s Bulls (NBC Sports)

  • K.C. Johnson on Steve Kerr. 

Is Luka Magic Enough, or Do Dallas Mavericks Need to Land Doncic Another Star? (Bleacher Report)

  • Eric Pincus on the Mavs.

Next on Planet Luka (The Stein Line)

  • Marc Stein with more on what’s next for Dallas. 

Latest NBA Offseason Intel: Does OG Anunoby Want out of Toronto? (Bleacher Report)

  • Jake Fischer on OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, and more. 

Raptors offseason: Talking extensions, free agency and draft (The Athletic)

  • Eric Koreen and John Hollinger on Toronto’s offseason.

Projecting the Washington Wizards’ future with help from an expert: Part 2 (The Athletic)

  • John Hollinger and Josh Robbins on the Wizards. 

Video: Shaedon Sharpe Scouting Report | 2022 NBA Draft Breakdown (Hoop Intellect)

  • Hoop Intellect scouts Shaedon Sharpe. 

Christian Wood, the Rockets’ rebuild and the looming decision that may define it (The Athletic)

  • Kelly Iko on Christian Wood’s future. 

As coach Quin Snyder's future remains unclear, possibility exists that he could end his eight-year tenure with Utah Jazz, sources say (ESPN)

  • Woj and Tim MacMahon on Quin Snyder. 

Lakers hire Darvin Ham: What the head-coaching move means for LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Los Angeles' NBA title hopes (ESPN+)

  • Kevin Pelton on Darvin Ham and the Lakers. 

Lakers coach Darvin Ham already has his first win; he’s won over LeBron James (The Athletic)

  • Bill Oram with more on Darvin Ham.