The Bill Simmons Podcast Why a Weird NBA Season Finally Went Full Weirdo On Us, With Tim Legler
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Jan 28, 2026 
Tim Legler, former NBA player turned analyst, joins to break down why this season feels so unpredictable. They discuss young analytical coaches reshaping lineups. Power rankings, trade chatter around big names, and which teams are real contenders versus wild cards get rapid-fire debate. Expect talk of surprising rising clubs and playoff matchup implications.
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Every Night Is Unpredictable Right Now
- The season feels unusually balanced because player availability and effort fluctuate wildly night to night.
- Tim Legler and Bill Simmons expect stabilization after the All-Star break as availability and intensity normalize.
Three-Point Volume And New Coaches Raise Variance
- League-wide three-point volume and deeper benches amplify variance and upset potential night to night.
- Younger coaches using analytics and creative lineups magnify that effect by deploying nontraditional combos successfully.
Best Crop Of Young Coaches Ever
- Tim Legler sees this as the strongest infusion of young coaching talent he's witnessed.
- These coaches combine analytics with the presence to command rooms and get player buy-in quicker than older coaches.