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Kevin O'Connor is joined by Grant Liffmann of NBC Sports ahead of NBA opening night to break down their biggest questions before the 2026-27 season. They dive into the brutal East playoff race, players who look like future All-Stars, Wembanyama's outlook for the season, the Knicks' contract concerns and more.
The duo also spotlights breakout candidates, debates which stars are under the most pressure and asks which franchises are most likely to blow up their core by season’s end.
(0:49) Cason Wallace re-signs with OKC
(6:15) Ben Simmons torn achilles
(7:52) Franz Wagner right shoulder injury
(18:43) Which East teams miss the playoffs?
(22:58) Which team confuses you the most?
(31:48) Which coach is on the hottest seat?
(35:34) Will Knicks contract situation hurt the team?
(43:54) Which star is under the most pressure?
(51:01) Which team is most likely to blow it up?
(54:00) Which preseason development are you buying?
(59:50) Who will be a future All-Star?
(1:04:22) Will the majority consider Wemby the best player in the world by April?
(1:07:06) NBA Finals predictions
(1:11:29) What opinion will you walk back by Christmas?

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KOC shares five must-watch NBA preseason trends, from Jalen Duren’s outstanding performance and the evolution of big men shooting threes to deep dives into changing shot distributions in Dallas, Houston and Philadelphia. Plus, are Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP odds way too low? And is there a Rookie of the Year sleeper in Oklahoma City?

Kevin O'Connor is then joined by NBA shooting coach Chris Matthews, known as Lethal Shooter, as he shares experiences from training NBA stars like Jaylen Brown, Anthony Davis, AJ Dybantsa and more. The conversation dives into Lethal Shooter’s creative content and collaborations and how he pushed NBA stars to the limit of what is possible with their shot.

(1:27) 5 Preseason trends to track
(18:58) Lethal Shooter joins the show
(24:05) Training Jaylen Brown
(26:27) Zion Williamson shooting 3s
(35:33) How to fix Ben Simmons' game?
(38:33) Does Wemby shoot too many 3s?
(42:58) Most exciting teams this season
(47:48) Expectations for AJ Dybantsa & Wizards
(51:59) Importance of the midrange
(53:26) Chris Matthews' journey to social media stardom

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Kevin O’Connor welcomes special guest Chris Vernon to go all-in on their “semi-bold” NBA predictions for the upcoming season. They debate who will bottom out harder in the West—Warriors, Kings, or Clippers—and whether the Celtics should be a lock for the East’s top spot.

Verno breaks down Denver’s sneaky-good additions and the Lakers’ real chances in a loaded Western Conference. The pair also predict All-Star picks, breakout rookies, why this season could be the best yet with the NBA's revamped anti-tanking rules, and more.

(1:12) Verno's Warriors prediction
(6:19) KOC's Kings prediction
(8:01) Verno's Nuggets prediction
(12:51) KOC's Celtics prediction
(19:13) Verno's Lakers prediction
(24:11) KOC's Coby White prediction
(26:51) 2025-26 semi-bold predictions recap
(29:08) Verno's prediction for second-tier stars
(39:54) KOC's Mavericks prediction
(41:26) What to expect from the West
(50:00) Who will be the first coach fired?
(56:55) Verno's league-wide prediction
(1:03:50) KOC's prediction for SGA & Ant

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We have a fun episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way!
First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones preview the Pacific division (Lakers, Suns, Clippers, Warriors, Kings).
On the WNBA side, the guys recap the Dream's Game 2 win over the Liberty, as well as the Valkyries' win over the Aces, then talk through potential adjustments we may see in each Game 3.
If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com
01:40 -- Los Angeles Lakers
16:05 -- Phoenix Suns
27:26 -- Los Angeles Clippers
36:07 -- Golden State Warriors
46:03 -- Sacramento Kings
51:34 -- Dream-Liberty
01:11:26 -- Valkyries-Aces

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Kevin O'Connor dives into early NBA preseason insights including Tyrese Haliburton’s much-anticipated return, Minnesota’s evolving offense with LaMelo Ball and what Zion Williamson’s new 3-point shot could mean for the Pelicans. KOC also explores the Knicks’ bumpy start after their Finals win, the Sixers’ intriguing rotation options (now without Ariel Hukporti), why OKC’s roster shakeup makes them a dark horse for the championship and more.

(0:57) Tyrese Haliburton returns
(2:08) LaMelo's impact on Minnesota
(3:32) What's going on with the Knicks?
(5:05) 76ers standouts vs. New York
(7:50) Zion Williamson shooting 3s
(9:42) Standout rookie performances
(14:46) KOC Show mailbag

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🖥️ Subscribe to the all new Yahoo Sports NBA channel on YouTube!