Tom Ziller

Sacramento

Writer at Good Morning It’s Basketball

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Articles

Don't take it personal

1 week ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Don't take it personal Good morning. Today we have an argument that the Minnesota Timberwolves shouldn't take special exception to the fact that the Oklahoma City Thunder embarrassed them on live television to eject them from the playoffs. It happens. Let's basketball. The Theatre Box; Pierre-Auguste Renoir; 1874 This post is for paying subscribers only Subscribe now Already have an account? Sign in
OK fine, the Tyrese Haliburton trade wasn't *exactly* a win-win

1 week ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Good morning. As the Indiana Pacers move closer to the NBA Finals, we revisit the moves that got them there. Let's basketball. Game 4 of Knicks-Pacers was very good and very entertaining. There were a ton of free throws, sure, but New York kept it reasonably close and was within two possessions late, only for Indiana to close it out 130-121.
Haymakers for dinner, yawns for dessert

1 week ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Good morning. The NBA really needs to fix the free throw parade at the end of games. The most exciting point in the game shouldn't also be the most boring. Let's basketball. Game 4 of Thunder vs. Timberwolves was awesome. Oklahoma City played sensational defense on Anthony Edwards, limiting him to two field goal attempts in the first half by swarming him every time he touched the ball. He made the right calls consistently to get the Wolves an advantage, with Minnesota shooting 18/41 (44%) from deep.
Sundays are for the KATs

1 week ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

— 5 min read Good morning. Karl-Anthony Towns had a fourth quarter for the ages to lead the Knicks back against the Pacers and make the series interesting. Plus: All-NBA voters possibly saved the Grizzlies from themselves. Let's basketball. The Pacers technically led the Knicks by 20 points in this game, but just for a single possession.
We have one series. Will we get another?

1 week ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

We have one series. Will we get another? Good morning. The Timberwolves did to the Thunder what the Thunder usually do to other teams, and the Pacers stunned the Knicks again. The conference finals are weird. Let's basketball. The Grand Canal of Venice; Edouard Manet; 1875 This post is for paying subscribers only Subscribe now Already have an account? Sign in
The Serge Ibaka trade was an inside job!

2 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

— 5 min read Good morning. As the Thunder move one win closer to glory, we take a brief look at how they arrived here. Let's basketball. Every champion has a defining roster transaction that feeds a direct line to the NBA Finals. For the 2024 Celtics, it was the infamous Nets trade that netted Boston Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. For the 2023 Nuggets, it was drafting Nikola Jokic during a Taco Bell commercial and later trading for Aaron Gordon.
Zombies of Indiana

2 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

â 5 min read Good morning. The Pacers unveiled their most improbable comeback yet to steal Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. And then Tyrese Haliburton went farming. Let's basketball. The Pacers have had enough amazing comebacks in these playoffs to have made the point. There was the time they trailed the Bucks by seven with 40 seconds left and won in regulation to close out their first round series.
Can anyone crack the Thunder's defense?

2 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Good morning. Minnesota's defense kept them in contention for Game 1 until their inability to score efficiently doomed them, as it seemingly dooms everyone facing the Thunder. Let's basketball. The final score in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals – a 114-88 Thunder win over the Wolves – is probably the most deceiving of the postseason to date. This wasn't a blow-out until the final four minutes or so; when the Thunder lay it on, they lay it on thick.
Meet the Bockers

2 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Meet the Bockers Good morning. How about a brief meditation on building a contender from scratch? Let's basketball. Sunset Over New York Bay; Gifford Sanford Robinson; 1878 This post is for paying subscribers only Subscribe now Already have an account? Sign in
The legacies made on small sample sizes

3 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

The legacies made on small sample sizes Good morning. Denver won Game 6 thanks in part to an offensive explosion by ... Julian Strawther. Let's basketball. Lakeside Landscape; Daniel Charles Grose; Late 1800s This post is for paying subscribers only Subscribe now Already have an account? Sign in