Thinking Basketball

Former University of Windsor Coach Chris Oliver and founder of Basketball Immersion discusses player development, the evolution of tactics from lower levels and evaluating modern coaches. NB: This episode was recorded before the 2022 season. Follow Chris at @BballImmersion Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

Who was robbed of Finals MVP? Using series-specific data, I go back over the Finals series since 2001 and try to outline the strongest statistical cases for the best player in each championship series, including the Finals MVPs I would change if I had a retroactive vote. NB: This episode was recorded before the 2022 Finals, and Steph Curry would still be the choice based on the structure of this e...

Thinking Basketball's draft guru Chip Jones breaks down nearly every first round pick (and a few sleepers in the second round) as we take a broad sweep of the incoming NBA rookies and what to expect from them moving forward. Follow Chip @ChipJNBA. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We recap the key factors and players in the 2022 NBA Finals (Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Jayson Tatum) and compare a great individual series versus players who struggle to finish the season. Also, are we watching Curry's peak? With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We contrast the offensive philosophies so far in the series, with the Celtics focused heavily on mismatch hunting compared to the Warriors flexible read-and-react offense. We also discuss Curry's “bad” game, Rob Williams's impact and the narrative around Draymond Green's “poor” play in the series. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We discuss Steph Curry's great Game 4, how Boston is defending him, and whether they should play Curry differently. Plus the Celtics offensive stagnation, Jayson Tatum's rim finishing and midrange along with Jaylen Brown's tough-shot making. Signup with the code THINKING BASKETBALL at sportsbusinessclassroom.com for $300. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

Solo episode breaking down Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals in detail, focusing on Boston's adjustments on both ends and the counter-attacking dynamics of the series, especially involving Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Rob Williams. Also, do players need at least a game to adapt to new adjustments? Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We break down Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Finals in detail, discussing Golden State's success in Steph Curry pick-and-roll these first two games, the return of Gary Payton II, Rob Williams in pick-and-roll and the state of Boston's offense. Signup with the code THINKING BASKETBALL at sportsbusinessclassroom.com for $300. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We break down Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals in detail, noting some wins and losses on both sides of the ball for each team and asking some key questions about the Warriors lineups going forward. Signup with the code THINKING BASKETBALL at sportsbusinessclassroom.com for $300. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

The Ringer's J. Kyle Mann and the Athletic's Dave DuFour join for a 3-man preview of the 2022 NBA Finals between the Celtics and the Warriors. Plus a conversation about Steph Curry's legacy and how the perception of the Warriors dynasty. Follow Dave @DaveDuFourNBA and Kyle @jkylemann. Signup with the code THINKING BASKETBALL at sportsbusinessclassroom.com for $300. Support at www.patreon.com/think...

How should we evaluate players in a small sample like the Conference Finals? Should primary creators always be seen as more valuable than finishers. We discuss Kevon Looney and Al Horford versus the Steph Curry's and Joel Embiid's of the world, along with rebounding numbers and the slog of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Heat and Celtics. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patr...

It seems like there are huge leads and blowouts every night in the 2022 playoffs – what's going on? We discuss the big quarters from the Heat, the Warriors comeback over the Mavs in Game 2, and whether there are indeed more blowouts in the 2022 playoffs than in prior seasons. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We break down the opening games of the Conference Finals, fawning over the help defense from the Heat and the Warriors in their home victories. Major takeaways, early tactical wins for teams in the series, and expectations moving forward. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We look ahead to the Conference Finals, but first looking back to the Mavs and Celtics victories, Phoenix's inability to adjust to Dallas's counters, the importance of having multiple creators on the floor in the playoffs against these defensive tactics, and the Playoff MVP of the first 2 rounds. Signup with the code THINKING BASKETBALL at sportsbusinessclassroom.com for $300. With Cody Houdek @co...

Larry Coon of Sports Business Classroom stops by, but first, we discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's floor-raising, Jrue Holiday's amazing game-saving play, and the continuing trend of slower big men being attacked in space by small ball lineups. How many defenders are safe? Signup with the code THINKING BASKETBALL at sportsbusinessclassroom.com for $300. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.pa...

We go deep on the chaotic and controversial Game 3 between the Celtics and Bucks, compare the defensive battles of the Eastern Conference with the offensive explosions in the West, and also discuss the power of DeAndre Ayton, and whether it's better to have no weaknesses on offense or defense. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

Sports Illustrated's Howard Beck joins to discuss Gary Payton II, the original Gary Payton, Marcus Smart's DPOY, asymmetries in offensive/defensive awards, and the nature of awards voting itself. Follow @HowardBeck and support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

How much stock should we put in one good or bad series from the first round? Should we ignore the regular season or fall back on it? We reflect on some of the dominant defensive performances of the first round and look ahead to round 2. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

More changes from the regular season to the playoffs than ever before. Coach Gibson Pyper of Half Court Hoops joins to discuss what makes postseason basketball different from regular season basketball in the 2020s, and what that means for star players like Kevin Durant and Trae Young, 3-point shooting, slower big men (Jokic and Gobert), scheme versatility and more. Follow Gibson @HalfCourtHoops. S...

After only 1 week of the playoffs, many stars are under fire and many narratives have momentum. We discuss how no one is safe, and whether all the criticisms of Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant and more are fair. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We go deep on the epic Celtics-Nets opener in the East: Tatum's great game, what caused Durant's struggles and more. Plus other thoughts on officiating, physicality, rim pressure and more. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

The Athletic's Dave DuFour stops by for our annual preview show, where we size up the contenders in the East and the West, including a stunning first round upset pick by Dave in the Eastern Conference. Follow Dave @DaveDuFourNBA. Support at  www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

Who is the MVP in 2022? Are we prioritizing the right players? Can we even answer this question without defining it clearly? We discuss the concept of awards ballots, the idea of ambiguous definitions, the purpose of awards and the difference between philosophical variety, fallacious arguments and non-contextual data points (Stats Police!) With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at  www.patreon...

It's time for the second ever defensive awards, where we discuss the best defenders in a variety of categories ranging from the best paint protector to the best point of attack defender to “who is the most switchable defender in the league?” With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Support at  www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

We tackle the exciting, difficult, painful task of sorting out the best offensive players in the league this season, including the incredible big men in the league right now and their different approaches, the value of playmaking, spacing and non-scoring effects, and the handful of players with really wide, uncertain ranges of impact heading into the 2022 playoffs. With Cody Houdek @codyhoudek. Su...