Thunder and Nuggets Ascend: Championship Contenders Emerge Dominant

Resources

Books

• "The Basketball Bible" by Nate Silver - Mentioned in the context of statistical analysis and prediction, implying a resource for understanding probability in sports.

Articles & Papers

• "Article on the most lopsided distribution of teams in recent times" by Neil Payne (Substack) - Discusses how the league's structure, with many underperforming bottom teams, leads to skewed win-loss records for top teams.

People Mentioned

• Nate Silver - Referenced for his statistical analysis and predictive modeling in sports.
• Victor Wembanyama - Mentioned as a player with exceptional defensive potential, potentially a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, whose injury is a significant event.
• Tim Duncan - Mentioned as an example of a player skilled in high-low passing.
• David Robinson - Mentioned alongside Tim Duncan as an example of a duo skilled in high-low passing.
• Kevin Garnett - Referenced for his skill in high-low passing and for the Celtics team he played on.
• LeBron James - Mentioned in the context of his longevity in the league and his son Bronny James.
• Bronny James - Mentioned as starting for the Lakers, with a humorous hypothetical scenario of LeBron playing for the G-League team.
• Nikola Jokic - Discussed extensively for his efficiency and improvement, particularly his mid-range shooting and scoring prowess.
• Julius Randle - Mentioned as a player who is good at on-ball passing and leveraging shooters.
• Dante DiVincenzo - Referenced for his shooting ability.
• Trey Young - Discussed in the context of the Atlanta Hawks' offense and his potential to make an All-Star team.
• Jared McCain - Mentioned as a young player on the 76ers roster.
• Adam Bona - Mentioned for a remarkable block he had.
• Andre Drummond - Praised for his rebounding and defensive contributions.
• Leandro Barbosa - Mentioned as "the Brazilian blur," a nickname.
• Derrick White - Discussed in the context of his efficiency and defensive contributions, with a debate about his All-Star potential and true shooting percentage.
• J.J. Redick - Mentioned as someone who advocated for Derrick White as an All-Star.
• Jason Tatum - Mentioned in the context of the Celtics' potential playoff push and his return from injury.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo - Discussed for his unstoppable play and the Bucks' offensive reliance on him.
• Ryan Rollins - Mentioned as an interesting young player for the Bucks, though excitement has cooled.
• Jimmy Butler - Referenced in the context of playoff performance and the Warriors' potential.
• Fred VanVleet - Mentioned as a player whose absence affects the Rockets' offense.
• Alperen Sengun - Discussed for his role in initiating the Rockets' offense, particularly in two-man games.
• Kevin Durant - Mentioned in a comparison with Alperen Sengun.
• Peyton Watson - Mentioned as a role player for the Nuggets.
• Jalen Duren - Praised for his offensive improvement and dunks.
• Cade Cunningham - Discussed as an interesting and very good player for the Pistons, with praise for his passing but some nervousness about his shot efficiency.
• Jaden Ivey - Mentioned as a player not yet back for the Pistons.
• Tyrese Maxey - Nicknamed "the blur" for his speed and exciting play.
• V.J. Edgecomb - Mentioned as a young player on the 76ers.
• Scottie Barnes - Discussed for his development and fun play at the five position for the Raptors.
• Wilt Chamberlain - Referenced for a type of block that resembles one by Adam Bona.

Organizations & Institutions

• Oklahoma City Thunder - Discussed as a dominant team with a strong start to the season.
• Denver Nuggets - Considered an inner circle title contender, with a focus on Nikola Jokic's performance.
• Los Angeles Clippers - Mentioned in the context of their game against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.
• San Antonio Spurs - Mentioned as a team with a good defense when Wembanyama plays, and potentially better than the Pistons.
• Detroit Pistons - Discussed as a good team with solid defense and potential for a good record.
• Atlanta Hawks - Discussed for their defensive potential and the development of their players, though questions remain about their offense.
• Minnesota Timberwolves - Considered a complicated team that is similar to previous years, with a focus on their offensive spacing and Julius Randle's play.
• Los Angeles Lakers - Analyzed for their current performance without LeBron James and their defensive potential.
• Miami Heat - Described as a competitive team with a creative offense under Eric Spoelstra, but potentially lower playoff standing.
• Philadelphia 76ers - Viewed as a team for the future, building around Tyrese Maxey, with concerns about Joel Embiid's health.
• Boston Celtics - Discussed as a feisty team with dynamic scorers, but with questions about their depth at power forward and center.
• Milwaukee Bucks - Mentioned for Giannis Antetokounmpo's dominant play, but with concerns about their supporting cast's creation ability.
• Golden State Warriors - Considered a middle-class team, with concerns about their age and pace of play.
• Toronto Raptors - Discussed as a middle-class team with a good record and fun lineups, and praise for Scottie Barnes.
• Portland Trail Blazers - Mentioned as a middle-class team that could make the playoffs.
• Chicago Bulls - Briefly considered for inclusion in the middle-class tier.
• Phoenix Suns - Briefly considered for inclusion in a tier with Orlando.
• Orlando Magic - Briefly considered for inclusion in a tier with Phoenix.

Tools & Software

• Basketball Reference - Used as a source for checking stats and historical data.
• NBA League Pass - Mentioned as a platform for watching games.
• Patreon (patreon.com/thinkingbasketball) - Mentioned for subscribers to access advanced stats and discussions.
• ThinkingBasketball.net Database - Used for accessing adjusted offensive and defensive ratings.

Websites & Online Resources

• Substack - Mentioned as the platform where Neil Payne published his article.
• Netflix - Mentioned as the platform for the series "The Beast in Me."
• Cafe Bustelo - Mentioned for their espresso style ice coffee.
• Sol de Janeiro (soldejaneiro.com) - Mentioned for holiday gift sets.
• Venmo Stash - Mentioned for earning cash back on purchases.
• AutoTrader.com - Mentioned as a resource for car shopping, powered by Auto Intelligence.
• Stanley Steamer (stanleysteamer.com) - Mentioned for cleaning services.

Videos & Documentaries

• "The Beast in Me" (Netflix Series) - Mentioned as a new series starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys.

Other Resources

• G-League - Mentioned in the context of LeBron James hypothetically playing for the South Bay Lakers.
• PGA Tour - Mentioned in contrast to LIV Golf.
• LIV Golf - Mentioned in a discussion about real-world sports leagues.
• Happy Gilmore 2 - Mentioned humorously in relation to LIV Golf.