The Athletic NBA Daily Pacers Rising + Lottery Madness | Slam N Jam
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May 17, 2025 Mike Vorkunov, a writer focused on the business side of basketball, and Caitlin Cooper, an analyst for the Indiana Pacers, dive into the thrilling NBA lottery and its conspiracies. They discuss how the Pacers are making a remarkable playoff comeback, highlighting Tyrese Halliburton's defensive prowess. The conversation also touches on ownership dynamics amid playoff unpredictability and wraps up with a lively trivia showdown that reveals fun insights into the Pacers' history.
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Inside the NBA Lottery Room
- Mike Vorkunov shared his experience inside the NBA lottery drawing room during the chaotic 2023 draft lottery.
- He highlighted the disbelief reactions and the unique environment caused by phone bans and live broadcast viewing in the room.
Why NBA Lottery Feels Rigged
- The NBA lottery is difficult to rig, involving transparent processes and oversight from media and team officials.
- Human bias causes conspiracy theories when unexpected lottery outcomes occur, revealing our misunderstanding of probabilities.
Home Court Advantage Declining
- Home court advantage is declining significantly in both regular season and playoffs over the past decade.
- This shift correlates with increased three-point shooting and fewer referee calls, flattening competition advantages.