Thinking Basketball
Episodes
#265: Wolves-Nuggets, Mavs-Clippers, Knicks on brink
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Wolves are the first team to advanced in the 2024 NBA playoffs, and we break down a potential matchup with the Nuggets, the Mavs size and the Clip...
#264: Size + Defense dominate the start of the playoffs
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We break down the thrilling Game 1 between the Philadelphia 76ers and New Yorks Knicks, the stunning Clippers victory over the Mavs and their gameplan...
#263: 2024 Playoff preview
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We preview the 2024 NBA Playoffs! Incredibly pivotal play-in games. Are the Celtics and Nuggets inevitable? Can the Los Angeles teams make a run? Who ...
#262: What have we changed our minds about?
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We talk about what players and ideas we're changed our minds on in the recent years, the impact of “little things” adding up in the game, judg...
#261: 2024 Thinkies! (Defensive Awards)
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's again time for the annual Defensive Awards! We hand out awards for best paint protector, perimeter helper and more, as well as discussing som...
#260: Jalen power rankings & Playoff officiating
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The officiating points of emphasis have reigned in scoring and curtailed some penetrators – who will this impact the most in the playoffs? Plus, the...
#259: 2024 Playoff draft
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Who will have the best performance in the 2024 playoffs? We draft a team based on breakout stars, supporting stars, role players and sixth men for the...
#258: Poor fit? The Suns, Cavs and Pelicans
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cleveland, Phoenix and New Orleans have a ton of talent, but have all been inconsistent or mysterious throughout the season. We discuss how the stars ...
#257: Finals players, defense is back & Cinderella Warriors
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are the Golden State Warriors good enough to win a playoff series this year? We discuss their good play of late when Steph Curry is on the floor, but ...
#256: What are the Celtics weaknesses?
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Boston Celtics are on the most dominant 11-game win streak in NBA history! We rank the most important Celtics for their playoff run, attempt to co...
#255: Are the Thunder serious contenders? | Blame Doc!
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss whether the incredibly young Oklahoma City Thunder can be the youngest team in NBA history to win a title. Plus, what's really wrong wi...
#254: The Wild West with No Dunks
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The No Dunks team stops by to discuss the stretch run of the season in the Western Conference (with some Eastern Conference discussion). Who will take...
#253: Jokic, the efficiency king? | Overall scoring & turnovers
18 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What can turnovers tell us about ball-handlers, passers and scorers? Who becomes the most efficient scorers when we account for “scoring” turnover...
#252: 2024 Sub All-Stars!
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We select the 6th annual Sub All-Stars or “Almost Stars,” the players who are in the next tier after All-Stars. First, we sort out All-Star level...
#251: Victor Wembanyama's ceiling
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Ringer's J. Kyle Mann returns to discuss Wemby's incredible potential after exploding in the last month. What are realistic areas of impro...
#250: The Cavs are on fire & the next hot team
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cleveland has moved into the 2nd seed in the East after a bumpy start. Why are so many teams catching fire in the mid season? How do we make sense of...
#249: OG's unstoppable Knicks & modern offensive rebounding
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dave DuFour joins to discuss the surging Knicks since the OG Anunoby trade, what makes him such a good fit in New York, and why the Knicks are so good...
#248: No. 1 options on really bad offenses
26 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There can be a razor's edge for young players putting up big stats on bad teams. We discuss these polarizing players, whether they're miscast ...
#247: The top passers in the NBA
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a great passer? What characteristics set the best apart from the rest? We discuss the different types of passers in the NBA, some archetype...
#246: How are the Utah Jazz suddenly so good?!
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is Will Hardy making a push for Coach of the Year? How are the Jazz suddenly playing so well? Are they going to make the playoffs and bump Golden Stat...
#245: Is Quickley a diamond in the rough? & Are stars playing longer?
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We break down the Knicks-Raptors trade involving Immanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett and O.G. Anunoby, and discuss trading a known commodity versus a pote...
#244: A new title contender? | Power rankings
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Clippers are hot and the Thunder are fighting for the top seed – are either inner circle contenders for the 2024 NBA championship? Can Shai Gilg...
#243: Top 25 under 25 draft (2024)
28 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the best young players in the league right now? We draft the top players who are in their age 24 (or younger) season according to basketball-r...
#242: Will the offensive explosion ever stop?
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Offensive rating around the league is up AGAIN! Multiple teams would be “the best offense in NBA history” by efficiency right now – why? What...
#241: Who has the best defense in the league?
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Boston and Minnesota have the best records in the league, but who has a better playoff defense? We discuss the sustainability of the Timberwolves impr...
#240: Embiid vs. Giannis in 2024 | Great Debates
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who is better right now, Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo? We discuss the offensive and defensive strengths of these former MVPs, the new context ...
#239: Anthony Davis's weird “peak” & the end of Small Ball?
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can you have an all-time peak without a big regular season? How important is a “single series” playoff peak? After Anthony Davis's dominant NB...
#238: MVP predictions
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We make our MVP predictions for the 2024 season, filling out our predicted top-5 ballots by balancing narrative, player performance and team trajector...
#237: “Overrating” Luka + Cup predictions
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We break down the quarterfinal matchups in the first ever NBA Cup while handicapping the games – will there be adjustments? Added intensity? A massi...
#236: Top-10 duos in the NBA
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We attempt to rank the best pairings of current teammates in the NBA, taking into account the fit of each player and building around them. What great ...
#235: Do you believe in Magic? (And Thunder? And Pace?)
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the importance of pace and the shot clock – both offensively and defensively – but first! We break down the top-rated defense in the NB...
#234: J. Kyle Mann | 2024 Rookies
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a crazy episode, The Ringer's J. Kyle Mann discusses his new Rookie rankings, the floater 3-pointer, Chet vs. Wemby, Scoot Henderson's bump...
#233: Most Improved Player predictions
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who is taking a leap? Which players look like the most improved? We discuss our candidates for the Most Improved Player award, and debate whether the ...
#232: Power rankings | Are the Mavs legit?
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We sort out our “inner circle” contenders, fringe contenders and other possible “really good team” candidates after the first 10 games or so o...
#231: Defensive Player of the Year predictions
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the best defenders of the early season who are candidates for Defensive Player of the Year. How good is this Timberwolves defense? Will the...
#230: OKC, modern basketball & an UNREAL perimeter defender
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the Thunder's positionless basketball and their young core, the versatility of big men like Joel Embiid and the new look 76ers, and an ...
#229: A ROY race (!), the new Warriors & LA's offense
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the exciting start of Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, the Bucks early start with Damian Lillard, the Lakers bumpy offense, the Magic d...
#228: 2024 NBA season preview
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We preview the upcoming NBA season, mapping out the contenders in each Conference, possible surprise teams, arguments over health and availability, th...
#227: Best rim finishers of the 3-pt era
14 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We attempt to discuss who the best rim “finishers” (scorers?) of the last 40-something years. How should we balance finishing near the rim as a bi...
#226: The "other" skills | What do stats miss?
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What are the blindspots in analyzing basketball players? What do stats fail to capture, and what concepts are rarely (or never!) discussed that make a...
#225: Jrue Holiday vs. Damian Lillard in Milwaukee
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We breakdown the blockbuster trade for Milwaukee, but first we help Cody through the loss of one his all-time favorite Bucks, Jrue Holiday. Also, the ...
#224: Who *could* be the GOAT? (Part 3)
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the finale, we list possible GOAT peaks, talk about intricacies in turnovers, decision-making, and on-ball primacy while going deep on Larry Bird, ...
#223: Who *could* be the GOAT? (Part 2)
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2, we discuss the strengths of weaknesses of some specific players, the nature of interactions between teammates, using players optimally, and...
#222: Who *could* be the GOAT? (Part I)
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who REALLY had the best peak in NBA history? In discussing players with “GOAT” cases, we hit on the uncertainty of player rankings, methods of det...
#221: Potential breakout players in 2024
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss players on our radar for taking a big leap this season – and some of the teams that might impact – although so much hilarity ensues tha...
#220: The best defenders of the last 15 years | Guards
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 3 of our series, we look at the best guard defenders since 2008. What makes a small player a good defender? How valuable are they? How do they...
#219: The best defenders of the last 15 years | Wings
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In part 2 of our series, we look at the best wing defenders since 2008. Who was the best at his peak since 2008? How has defensive value changed over ...
#218: The best defenders of the last 15 years | Big Men
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who were the best defenders of the last 15 seasons, at their peak? How has defensive value changed over that time period? We start this 3-part series ...
#217: Making the Wilt Chamberlain documentary
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Directors of the new documentary “Goliath,” Christopher Dillon and Rob Ford, join to discuss the making of the film, Wilt the player and person, w...
#216: Who will have the best career from the last 3 drafts?
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We “superdraft” players from the 2021, 2022 and 2023 NBA draft in a vacuum to guess at their future career value based on what we know so far. Who...
#215: How much “luck” is there in basketball?
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How much “luck” is involved in an NBA game or playoff series? Is it all about outside shooting? How big of a difference does streaky shooting make...
#214: The off-season moves
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We break down some of the big trades and free agent signings of the off-season so far, while attempting to remember who plays where and the names of p...
#213: Top 10 players of 2023
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's time for the annual top-10 players list, this year in podcast form! We make our way through the best players of the 2023 season, and finish b...
#212: 2023 NBA draft with Chip Jones
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our resident draft expert Chip Jones breaks down the 2023 NBA lottery picks, sleepers, and what teams had the best night in a class highlighted by Vic...
#211: Victor Wembanyama & the best prospects ever
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is Victor Wembanyama the best prospect ever? Is it even fair to expect today's prospects to compete with more “certain” rookies from the past?...
#210: NBA Finals Game 5
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Nuggets win the title, the Heatiest heat game, Denver's defense, and Nikola Jokic's 2023 season stacked up historically against the greats...
#209: NBA Finals Game 4 | Jokic's defense
11 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss Nikola Jokic's defense, the Nuggets role players and more in our Game 4 breakdown. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/think...
#208: NBA Finals Game 3
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We break down Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray's historic night, adjustments in the game, Christian Braun's outburt and what the Heat can do to a...
#207: NBA Finals game 2
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We break down Miami's Game 1 win over the Nuggets, starting with Erik Spoelstra big adjustment to go big, another ridiculous shooting game from th...
#206: NBA Finals game 1
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We break down Denver's Game 1 win over the Heat, and how they used size and transition to create mismatches. Is there anything Miami can do to sto...
#205: NBA Finals preview
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We recap the wild Eastern Conference Finals and discuss Nuggets-Heat: Will we see the zone? Will Miami go small? Can the Heat generate enough offense?...
#204: Boston's comeback & Best non All-Stars ever
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Celtics have won 2 in a row – what are they doing differently? How worried should Miami be heading home for Game 6? We discuss the impact of 3-p...
#203: Surprise! Miami Thrice and Playoff Murray on the brink
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Heat obliterated the Celtics in Game 3 while the Nuggets took a 3-0 lead over the Lakers. We discuss the incredible Law Firm of Martin, Vincent an...
#202: How valuable are big men in the playoffs?
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A center has won the last 3 MVPs, and they've also dictated a ton of strategical elements in the playoffs this year. But they also get played off ...
#201: Bubble redux preview & 20/20 hindsight!
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We preview the Conference Finals, but first! A look back at the Celtics-76ers series and the Lakers closing out the Warriors. We also discuss the “c...
#200: All-Playoff teams!
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the conclusion of the wild Conference Semifinals – including actual Eastern Conference discussion – plus we pick our All-playoff first ...
#199: Whose stock is up in the playoffs?
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Devin Booker has been on fire over the first 9 games of the playoffs – how sustainable is this hot shooting? We take stock in player's around th...
#198: Denver's defense & adaptive coaching in the playoffs
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss Denver's great defense Phoenix through 2 games, the role of Big Wings in the playoffs and adaptive coaching in a playoff series. Plus, ...
#197: Warriors-Lakers preview & Bubble Murray is back
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We wrap up the incredible Kings-Warriors first round series and look how Golden State and Los Angeles might match up. Plus, Jamal Murray is on fire an...
#196: Nuggets-Suns preview & Heat-Knicks mania!
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After maybe the craziest night in the NBA history, we discuss Jimmy Butler's historic series, Miami's incredible upset of the Bucks, the Knick...
#195: Warriors “twin towers” & Cavs+Grizz on the brink
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can you play 2 big men in today's playoffs? Why is scoring down in the playoffs? Before that, we discuss the classic Warriors-Kings Game 4, the Kn...
#194: Early adjustments, the Kings D & Murray-Ant duel!
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss a bunch of early series adjustments and tactics after the first week of the playoffs, the precedent for the Draymond Green suspension, and ...
#193: What changed after the first playoff weekend?
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What did we learn from an incredible opening playoff weekend? What games changed our minds? We discuss the Warriors-Kings incredible Game 1 and what i...
#192: 2023 Playoff Preview
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Athletic's Dave DuFour stops by again for our annual mega playoff preview episode, where canvas the entire NBA, talking Warriors-Kings, the wi...
#191: 2023 Defensive awards (The Thinkies)
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We pick our 2023 Defensive Award winners in categories ranging from best paint protector to best point of attack defender. Who shows up on the most ba...
#190: Stan Van Gundy on playoff game-planning & stopping great offense
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coach Stan Van Gundy discusses game-planning for a playoff series, what the strategy was against LeBron James in 2009, facing off against Kobe Bryant&...
#189: The importance of Motor & Misleading stats
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is “motor?” How important is it for players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Dennis Rodman? Can it be improved? Before we tackle those questions, w...
#188: Top-10 backcourts in the NBA
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who has the best backcourt in the NBA right now? We think about building teams around current “guards,” attacking their weaknesses, offensive and ...
#187: Evaluating NBA Coaches (Coach of the Year)
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a good coach? How can we evaluate NBA coaches? We tackle this and look at the historical patterns of Coach of the Year to gain some insight...
#186: Mismatch hunting & hiding defenders in the playoffs
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the latest tactics for “hunting” or “targeting” weaker defenders, and how teams are protecting these defenders, especially in the p...
#185: Are we seeing the best scoring seasons in NBA history?
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
More players than ever are averaging 30-points per game. Where do the current scoring seasons rank historically? And how do we compare scoring across ...
#184: Winning with defense in the playoffs
12 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss how the incredible offensive explosion changes defense in the playoffs, and what to expect from top defensive teams heading into the playof...
#183: The parity in the West; Is Dame top-5 in offense?
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are the Kings dangerous or pretenders? Are the Lakers a sleeper? We discuss the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the top-9 Western Conference teams, ...
#182: Embiid-Giannis & the MVP “conversation”
05 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why are so many MVP “debates” about tearing down one player? We dive into the historical criteria of the MVP, the shift in the conversation these ...
#181: The best bench players in 2023
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the best bench players in the league right now? Why do certain types of players seem to start versus coming off the bench? Should limited scor...
#180: Defenses need help | A 351 point game!
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Kings and Clippers scored an incredible 351 points over the weekend, Damian Lillard scored 71, and offenses continue to explode league-wide. We di...
#179: The “new” James Harden | Re-evaluating players
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Harden missed the All-Star game for the first time in a decade, but that actually has us wondering if this year makes his career look better. We...
#178: The best Age 21 and younger seasons in NBA history
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who was the best 18-year old in league history? The best 20-year old? When do players become MVP-level players? In this episode, we discuss Luka Donci...
#177: The evolution of 3-and-D players
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's 3-and-D players are doing more than just spot-up and shoot on offense – we discuss the expanded skills that have added an extra dimension to...
#176: Overvaluing 1st round picks & The best cutters, screeners, dunkers and more...
12 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the best players at the “other” skills? We discuss under-represented skills like cutting, screening and more, nominating some of the NBA's...
#175: Post deadline power rankings
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who are the inner circle title contenders after the trade deadline? Are the Suns the new favorite in the West? We break down the primary and fringe ti...
#174 2023 Sub All-Stars
06 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We select the 5th annual Thinking Basketball “Sub” All-Stars – those players in the next tier below All-Stars (the “Almost Stars”) who don't...
#173: Peak Harden vs. Luka & Brunson-Grimes
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is Luka Doncic's ball-dominance more similar to peak James Harden or LeBron James? Where is he as an all-time offensive player right now? Before that,...
#172: Is LeBron having the best 38-year old season ever?
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Who had the best “old” seasons in league history? We compare LeBron's incredible 37 and 38-year old seasons with the best in history while looking...
#171: Has the league overtaken the Warriors?
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Golden State has hovered around .500 all season while battling a few injuries. Do they have a big run coming? Or has their competitive advantage over ...
#170: Development in the modern game & All-Star minutes
22 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Offenses seem to have a strategic edge of defenses in today's game, so what does this mean for development? Are there differences between Internationa...
#169: The Heliocentric rankings
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when players are the only stars on the court? In this episode, we attempt to sort out the best “lone stars” or heavy-lifters who can ...
#168: Are the Clippers still built for the playoffs? (And All-defense is crowded!)
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Clippers 5-out offense filled with flexible, switching defenders and strong outside shooters took them to the Conference Finals in 2021. But do th...
#167: The problem with one-dimensional scorers
08 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rookies and sophomores with big scoring numbers create a lot of hype, but sometimes can't even stay in the league! (Brandon Jennings was “the next I...
#166: The title contenders
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the Nets improved defense and the seriousness of the Grizzlies, along with the handful of teams who we think could win the East and the Wes...