Tom Ziller

Sacramento

Writer at Good Morning It’s Basketball

Subscribe to Good Morning It's Basketball, a daily NBA newsletter. https://t.co/2WXxCRApCf

Featured in: Favicon

substack.com (+3) Favicon

medium.com Favicon

sbnation.com Favicon

wftv.com

wsoctv.com Favicon

wpxi.com

netsdaily.com Favicon

sactownroyalty.com Favicon

blogabull.com Favicon

espn975.com

Articles

Presenting the inexplicable Indiana Pacers

3 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Presenting the inexplicable Indiana Pacers Good morning. THE INDIANA PACERS ARE UP 1-0 IN THE NBA FINALS. Is this happening? Are the Pacers potentially going to win a championship? Let's basketball. Two Men Contemplating the Moon; Caspar David Friedrich; 1819-20 This post is for paying subscribers only Subscribe now Already have an account? Sign in
Will this Thunder era be different?

3 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Good morning. As the NBA Finals begin, we look at whether Oklahoma City is capable this time of establishing a dynasty with their young core. Plus: Mat Ishbia says now he's taking control. Let's basketball. The rise of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the late 2000s and early 2010s remains vivid in my memory. It was so visual and captivating, really starting midway into the 2008-09 season, that first season after the relocation from Seattle, Russell Westbrook's rookie year and Kevin Durant's second.
There's no such thing as a championship coach

3 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

Good morning. Tom Thibodeau has been fired by the Knicks after the most successful season in a quarter-century for the franchise. Whether it was merited or not, the idea that a team with Thibodeau as head coach could never win a title is absurd. Plus: we have some links on Finals Eve. Let's basketball. The Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau on Tuesday.
The thin line the Joshes Hart of the league walk

3 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

The thin line the Joshes Hart of the league walk Good morning. Today we're looking at the Josh Hart genotype in the NBA, and the conditions needed to make it useful for a team. Let's basketball. Landscape; Paul Ranson; 1890 This post is for paying subscribers only Subscribe now Already have an account? Sign in
The impossible what-ifs of the Phoenix Suns

3 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

The impossible what-ifs of the Phoenix Suns Good morning. We begin Finals Week with a ... meditation on what the Suns, who are not in the Finals, could have done differently in 2023 when they traded for Kevin Durant and then Bradley Beal. Let's basketball. Witches Around the Fire; Paul Ranson; 1891 This post is for paying subscribers only Subscribe now Already have an account? Sign in
The Pacers are a miracle

3 weeks ago | teamziller.com | Tom Ziller

— 5 min read Good morning. The Indiana Pacers are back in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2000. Their style, their construction, their path: it's all a miracle. Let's basketball. I wrote last week about the Tyrese Haliburton trade, which now becomes the most impactful deal of the 2022 NBA trade deadline, edging out Derrick White to the Celtics, James Harden to the Sixers, Norm Powell to the Clippers or C.J. McCollum to the Pelicans.
Don't take it personal

1 month 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 month 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 month 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 month 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.