Thinking Basketball #354: Reed's Rockets vs. Denver & Officiating Saga
15 snips
Dec 25, 2025 The discussion dives into the intense three-game series between the Rockets and Nuggets. They highlight Reed Sheppard's surprising impact and analyze the Jokic-Sengun matchup. Officiating trends lean towards more offensive calls, stirring fan reactions and critiques on the game's direction. The duo also reflects on Victor Wembanyama's defensive prowess and how Houston's jumbo lineups shifted playoff expectations. A look at the missing Aaron Gordon adds intrigue to Denver's strategies, while historical context on league trends rounds out the conversation.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Officiating Shift Favors Offense Over Defense
- Ben Taylor argues the NBA's officiating has trended toward favoring offense, eroding consistent defense.
- He warns this shift harms strategic variety and fans' enjoyment of defensive play.
Fan Response Validates Officiating Concerns
- Cody Houdek reports viewers broadly agreed with Ben's officiating critique and found the video eye-opening.
- He hopes awareness spurs eventual enforcement consistency across seasons.
Holiday Pub Ritual With Guinness
- Cody shared a holiday ritual: Guinness and fries at his local pub with his sister.
- He calls it one of his favorite nights of the year.
