The Athletic NBA Daily NBA All-Surprise Team w/ Fred Katz
Mar 27, 2026
Fred Katz, NBA reporter known for deep team and player analysis, joins to break down tight playoff matchups and why West seeds 4-6 could shift the bracket. He unveils his All-Surprise Team and highlights Jalen Duren's defensive leap. Conversations also cover Boston vs. New York dynamics and surprising breakout role players.
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Jokic Murray Two Man Game Is Unmatched
- Denver's offense is built on chemistry and smart two-man play rather than pace or three-point volume.
- Katz highlights Jamal Murray's intelligence and the Jokic-Murray assist symbiosis as the league's best two-man game.
Wolves And Knicks Force Long Playoff Series
- The Timberwolves and Knicks share a profile of teams that push most series to six or seven games.
- Katz argues both franchises trade consistent dominance for high-variance, physical 'barnburner' matchups in playoffs.
Mitchell Robinson Has Gravity On The Offensive Glass
- Mitchell Robinson is a uniquely game-changing offensive rebounder who creates extra threes and opens lanes.
- Katz compares Robinson's offensive-rebound gravity to historical greats and explains how double- or triple-teaming him fuels Knicks' second-chance offense.