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 19, 2023 • 1h 23min
#169: The Heliocentric rankings
What happens when players are the only stars on the court? In this episode, we attempt to sort out the best “lone stars” or heavy-lifters who can carry offenses by themselves when other capable offensive focal points head to the bench. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Jan 12, 2023 • 57min
#168: Are the Clippers still built for the playoffs? (And All-defense is crowded!)
The Clippers 5-out offense filled with flexible, switching defenders and strong outside shooters took them to the Conference Finals in 2021. But do they still have that competitive advantage in the playoffs? We also discuss Nic Claxton and his case for an All-defensive team, along with the effect of the “Take Foul” on offensive efficiency this season. With @codyhoudek. Support atwww.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Jan 8, 2023 • 1h 1min
#167: The problem with one-dimensional scorers
Rookies and sophomores with big scoring numbers create a lot of hype, but sometimes can't even stay in the league! (Brandon Jennings was “the next Iverson!”) We discuss the steep slope of one-dimensional scoring among young prospects, and why role players who contribute in other areas are often much more valuable than these “Fool's Gold” scorers. With @codyhoudek. Support atwww.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Jan 5, 2023 • 60min
#166: The title contenders
We discuss the Nets improved defense and the seriousness of the Grizzlies, along with the handful of teams who we think could win the East and the West among an incredible amount of parity. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 31, 2022 • 1h 4min
#165: Jokic is the offensive GOAT vs. Jokic's defensive problem
Is Nikola Jokic having the best offensive season in regular season history? And can the Nuggets defense stop teams in the playoffs with Jokic playing heavy minutes? We discuss the duality of Jokic's transcendent offense and his weaknesses on defense in today's NBA. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 23, 2022 • 1h 26min
#164: The best shooters ever
Who are the best shooters in NBA history? (Or really, of the 3-point era?) We discuss the concept of outside shooting skill and use a model to estimate shooting outside of 15 feet going back to 1980, comparing volume and accuracy relative to league norms to help sort out the greatest outside shooters in league history. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 20, 2022 • 54min
#163: Why are offenses so good right now?!
We discuss some of the reasons why we are seeing record-setting offensive efficiency around the league this season. Why have we seen an increase in movement and screening? And does the right player need to come along to create a paradigm shift? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 14, 2022 • 46min
#162: What defensive stats actually tell us | Anthony Davis & New Orleans
We start with the Pelicans surprising defense and Anthony Davis's resurgence in Los Angeles, and segue into a bigger conversation about how to judge players defensively: What metrics are reliable, and which ones are misleading? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 5, 2022 • 1h 25min
#161: Top 25 under 25 Draft
We attempt to draft the 25 best players under 25 this year, based on how good they are right now. There are surprises, twists and turns, and utter agony throughout. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Dec 1, 2022 • 53min
#160: Developing on good vs. bad teams
Is it better for young players to play on bad teams with lots of opportunity and experimentation, or good teams with less opportunity where different skills earn paying time? We also react to the Wolves defensive experiment with Karl-Anthony Towns out injured, along with Cody's theory of rim protection. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
