Thinking Basketball 21st century peaks Ep 6 | Global impact and modern midrange isolation
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Sep 1, 2025 The discussion kicks off with the incredible scoring abilities of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Joel Embiid, underlining their midrange shots' impact on their teams. It delves into the complexities of evaluating star players like Anthony Davis, especially during playoffs. The podcast also explores how players can influence team dynamics beyond their scoring, referencing legends like Wilt Chamberlain. Lastly, it highlights the evolution of Al Horford and the importance of both offensive and defensive skills in modern basketball.
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Unprecedented Lone-Star Scoring
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted the highest scoring rate I've seen in a lone-star sample, about 41 points per 75 minutes with +10% TS.
- Oklahoma City outscored opponents by ~22 points per 100 in those minutes, showing huge individual offensive impact.
Playoff Efficiency vs Regular Season
- Playoff samples revealed Shai's efficiency and shot-creation decline compared with the regular season.
- That drop lowers the claim that his regular season equaled the all-time best guard playoff impact like Michael Jordan's.
Think Beyond Box Scores
- Ben argues metrics for a player should extend beyond individual box score production to 'global impact' on the whole team.
- Global impact covers teammates' shot quality, rim access, pace, and other system-wide effects.
