Thinking Basketball
Thinking Basketball
Ben Taylor, creator of the popular YouTube channel Thinking Basketball (and author of Thinking Basketball the book) goes deeper on basketball analysis, history, philosophy and theory with co-host Cody Houdek, and a variety of guests ranging from journalists to former players.
Ideal for fans interested in Xs and Os, stats & analytics, coaching and team strategy and adjustments, in-depth breakdowns on player strengths and weaknesses, and who is better and who is best in the NBA. (GOAT debates!)
Ideal for fans interested in Xs and Os, stats & analytics, coaching and team strategy and adjustments, in-depth breakdowns on player strengths and weaknesses, and who is better and who is best in the NBA. (GOAT debates!)
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 15, 2024 • 53min
#246: How are the Utah Jazz suddenly so good?!
Is Will Hardy making a push for Coach of the Year? How are the Jazz suddenly playing so well? Are they going to make the playoffs and bump Golden State or the Lakers out? We discuss Utah's white hot month, coaching adjustments, and the all-time legendary team the Jazz remind us of. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Jan 9, 2024 • 54min
#245: Is Quickley a diamond in the rough? & Are stars playing longer?
We break down the Knicks-Raptors trade involving Immanuel Quickley, R.J. Barrett and O.G. Anunoby, and discuss trading a known commodity versus a potential breakout star in a bench role. Plus, with LeBron James and others excelling in their late 30s, are stars playing longer today than ever before? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Jan 4, 2024 • 1h 13min
#244: A new title contender? | Power rankings
The Clippers are hot and the Thunder are fighting for the top seed – are either inner circle contenders for the 2024 NBA championship? Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and OKC's creative offense be schemed for? Plus, Cody makes a bold proclamation about Nick Nurse and the 76ers, and there's a violent disagreement (or agreement) about the Bucks. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 28, 2023 • 1h 50min
#243: Top 25 under 25 draft (2024)
Who are the best young players in the league right now? We draft the top players who are in their age 24 (or younger) season according to basketball-reference, if the playoffs were to start today. What happens when Ben forgets to follow his board and forces Cody to do a re-draft? What do we make of players struggling to start the season? Where should the microwave scorers go? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 21, 2023 • 1h 1min
#242: Will the offensive explosion ever stop?
The podcast discusses the offensive explosion in the NBA, including the historical scoring averages, factors driving the offensive explosion, and the possibility of adjusting rules for balance. They also explore the evolution of dribbling and basketball moves, offensive strategies, challenges of determining screen legality, and the diminishing impact of high-scoring games.
Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 4min
#241: Who has the best defense in the league?
Boston and Minnesota have the best records in the league, but who has a better playoff defense? We discuss the sustainability of the Timberwolves impressive defensive, along with the makeup of the other top defenses team in the league. Plus, Derrick White, Kirstaps Porzingis, and the incredible way the Celtics assembled their starting 5. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 14, 2023 • 1h 3min
#240: Embiid vs. Giannis in 2024 | Great Debates
Who is better right now, Joel Embiid or Giannis Antetokounmpo? We discuss the offensive and defensive strengths of these former MVPs, the new context of their seasons (and coaches), Embiid's passing improvement, their defensive versatility and more in this resurrection of the Great Debates series. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 11, 2023 • 51min
#239: Anthony Davis's weird “peak” & the end of Small Ball?
Analyzing Anthony Davis's dominant performance in the NBA Cup Final, discussing his offensive skills, defensive versatility, and impact on the team. Exploring the significance of versatile big men like Davis and the importance of size in today's game.
Dec 7, 2023 • 1h 14min
#238: MVP predictions
We make our MVP predictions for the 2024 season, filling out our predicted top-5 ballots by balancing narrative, player performance and team trajectories after the first 20 games of the year. But first, more NBA Cup predictions. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 4, 2023 • 60min
#237: “Overrating” Luka + Cup predictions
Professional basketball player Luka is the guest on the podcast. They discuss the recent debate on his overrated status, analyzing his impact on the Mavericks' performance and the debate of stats vs skill level. They also analyze small plays' significance, evaluate players' value, discuss defensive issues, and predict the Pacers vs Celtics game. Concerns about the Bucks' offensive capabilities are also discussed, along with the importance of curated news updates in basketball.
