Thinking Basketball

In the first episode of the Great Debates series, I size up James Harden, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and deep sea aquatic creatures. Who was better at his best? What are the important numbers and trends to know about each player? How do they succeed in the regular season versus the playoffs, and which of these players is best suited for playing next to high-level teammates? Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and get a FREE month trial at the Athletic at http://www.theathletic.com/thinkingbasketballpod

The Ringer's J. Kyle Mann joins to discuss Luka Doncic, legacies, along with Kevin Garnett and Shaq in the modern NBA. Also, how does having a legendary parent impact young players? And what does that mean for LeBron James Jr. and 2020 draft prospects like Cole Anthony? Following Kyle @jkylemann. Post show at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and get a FREE month trial at the Athletic at http://www.theathletic.com/thinkingbasketballpod

Why are do superstars really play fewer minutes today? Does load management work? In this episode I take a deep dive into this hot button issue by looking at available data and unpacking some of the biomechanics involved in basketball. I also answer questions about true shooting percentage and share how my magic facial recognition powers led to some real-life magic. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and get a FREE month trial at the Athletic at http://www.theathletic.com/thinkingbasketballpod

#31: Ben Falk | The one-number debate, film in analytics & measuring defense by Ben Taylor experiments

The Athletic's Dave DuFour joins the podcast for a mega season preview of the upcoming 2020 season! We size up the playoff teams in each conference, the Terminator makes an appearance, and there's even a post show podcast for Patreon subscribers. Follow Dave @DaveDuFourNBA. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

Nate Silver stops by to take a deep dive into 538's new in-house metric RAPTOR. We talk about the research behind the model and its strengths and weaknesses going forward. Apologies for some audio glitches. Check out RAPTOR details here: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/introducing-raptor-our-new-metric-for-the-modern-nba/ Follow Nate @NateSilver538 Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

In part III of our look at the aging curve, Danny Leroux, returns for a (less fun) foray into players we think are candidates to give way a bit to Father Time this year, or just take a meaningful step back for other reasons. Follow Danny on twitter @DannyLeroux. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

In part 2, Danny Leroux returns to round out our most likely breakout player candidates of 2020. Follow him on twitter @DannyLeroux. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

In part I, Danny Leroux, Athletic columnist, host of realgm radio and co-host of the Dunc'd On podcast joins me for a deep dive into the breakout player candidates of 2020. We focused mainly on under-25 players, looking at the “how” and “how much” of players likely to improve this year. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Follow Danny @DannyLeroux

By popular demand, I took a crack at the All-Decade team for the 2010s by sizing up which players had the most championship equity over the last 10 years. I also discuss NBA.com's controversial choices (Kobe Bryant & Carmelo Anthony) and some interesting omissions along with a brief discussion about MVP criteria. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

An exploration of young volume scorers on really bad teams. What happens historically when these players are surrounded by better talent? How often are their numbers “empty?” And how does that influence our perception of young, exciting players like Devin Booker and Zach LaVine? Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

A look at the greatest playmakers in NBA history using an updated model that balances shot creation, passing ability, turnovers and teammates/team performance to figure out who made life the easiest for their teammates. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

Draft expert Cole Zwicker joins to discuss draft concepts, draft philosophy, and provide an in-depth breakdown of how this year's rookies fit on their new teams. Following him @colezwicker on twitter. www.thestepien.com. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

I dive into the final minutes of the NBA Finals and the incredible on-court stories that history might completely forget. Also some reflections on the series as a whole and thoughts on the value of Anthony Davis after the reported Pelicans-Lakers trade. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

After Game 4, an in-depth breakdown of key players like Steph Curry, how Toronto succeeded on offense against a depleted Warriors defense, the emerging brilliance of Nick Nurse, and Fred Van Vleet's defense / phonetics. I also discuss Kawhi Leonard's narrative along with Kevin Durant and the Warriors supporting cast. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball