Tom Ziller
LightNews LightNews
teamziller.bsky.social
Tom Ziller
@teamziller.bsky.social
17K followers 310 following 560 posts
I write a daily NBA newsletter. teamziller.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
teamziller.bsky.social
Unlocked newsletter this week: Did Chris Finch end the Thunder? An investigation www.teamziller.com/thunder-in-c...
Thunder in crisis
OKC is 6-6 since their 24-1 start had us talking about history. Did Chris Finch really sacrifice himself to stop them? Or is it something else?
www.teamziller.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:35 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Wrote about Jaylen Brown, who is breaking the efficiency curve, and the Celtics, who might win the East in what should have been their punt season.

You could say the Celtics are back, but they never even left. www.teamziller.com/jaylen-brown...
The Celtics are good enough
Even if Jayson Tatum can't return this season and perform at a high level, Boston is capable of making a deep playoff run. Jaylen Brown and the team's margin game are that good.
www.teamziller.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Tom Ziller
hamiltonnolan.bsky.social
We are the world's bad guys.
www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/we-are-the...
We Are the Bad Guys
The swaggering threat to global stability is us.
www.hamiltonnolan.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:50 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
pardon my french but ayo what the FUCK
January 3, 2026 at 12:42 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
I'm believin' in the Clippers again, what could go wrong? www.teamziller.com/clippers-kaw...
Are the Clippers running toward nothing?
Come closer and see, see into the dark. Just follow your eyes. The Clippers are winning games in commanding fashion. Kawhi Leonard looks like a top-5 player. What's real?
www.teamziller.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:57 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
GMIB has been independent for six years now! That's crazy to me. Anyways, in this week's unlocked edition, I wrote about tanking for the umpteenth time.

I think shameless tankers should lose some lottery combos. www.teamziller.com/nba-tanking-...
To fix tanking, enhance the punishment
Tactical tanking can have huge benefits and minimal real costs. Change the latter part of the equation to deter the activity.
www.teamziller.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:05 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Search has gotten almost unusable.
keerthikau.bsky.social Keerthika Uthayakumar @keerthikau.bsky.social · 6d
I don't have enough words to say how much I hate that any search only results in articles & blogs on AI slop websites.
December 31, 2025 at 12:41 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
www.teamziller.com/lebron-james...
Trading one LeBron All-Star problem for another
LeBron James isn't in line to be an undeserving All-Star starter. But will he now not be an All-Star at all?
www.teamziller.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:57 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
www.teamziller.com/hawks-trae-y...
This is Hawkward
Atlanta has spiraled of late, despite Trae Young's return. Something's gotta give.
www.teamziller.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:36 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Wrote about the five Christmas games, featuring a god among us www.teamziller.com/nikola-jokic...
Still the one
To cap off a really great Christmas slate of games, Nikola Jokic reasserts himself on the throne he never vacated.
www.teamziller.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Reposted by Tom Ziller
kdonhoops.com
don't wait for the next holiday, buy the kid a birthday guitar in 2026. It won't take 12 months to research, most entry-level cheapos sound great and are easy to play, same with the amplifiers.
December 25, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Reposted by Tom Ziller
jabariadavis.bsky.social
merry christmas to all
December 25, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Reposted by Tom Ziller
sabreenajm.bsky.social
My most memorable video from the NBA Christmas canon youtu.be/kTqguBHl05U?...
Nuggets Christmas In Hollis
YouTube video by MIGUEL ANGEL B.Q.
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Tom Ziller
brianmfloyd.bsky.social
rick steves bought a hygiene center www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...
The biggest change, however, is among the people who visit the center, Mears said. Not many had dared to hope for the center to remain open, accustomed to loss after years or sometimes lifetimes of trauma. Steves' investment in the center, and the people who rely on it, "means something." "It says, 'They are valued. People out there care about us,'" Mears said. "That means a lot." For Steves, the purchase was a gift, but also a way to protest the "insatiable greed" behind the homelessness crisis in the U.S. Communities should not have to rely on the whims of wealthy people to have their essential needs met, he said. Instead, Steves said "smartly invested tax revenue" should fund services that keep vulnerable people healthy and safe. Steves is already planning improvements for the "tin can of a building," like repairing its heating system, installing new showers and buying industrial strength washing machines so people can do their laundry for free. He hopes to open a bike repair at the center, extend its hours and use it as a cold weather shelter during winter months, he said. "I wanted to make a difference. I had this opportunity to walk the talk and love my neighbor," Steves said. "Everybody can pitch in, but we have to inspire people to roll up their sleeves and get involved."
December 24, 2025 at 4:14 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Will try to remember to do my albums of the year for the newsletter next week (basketball diehards love Xiennial music takes, it's a fact) but in terms of new bands Porch Light from Minneapolis has embedded itself in my blood since I heard their debut EP www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA2F...
Upside
YouTube video by Porch Light - Topic
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:51 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
A PISTONS CHRISTMAS CAROL, 19 years later. Where are they now? www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKqF...
Jingle Bells: From Rasheed Wallace and Company
YouTube video by knasty80
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:35 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Wrote about the Spurs, the Thunder, inevitability and broken teams. www.teamziller.com/spurs-vs-thu...
Masters of the storm
The Spurs become the first team to beat the Thunder handily this season, and the first to beat them twice. What does this mean for San Antonio and Oklahoma City now and beyond?
www.teamziller.com
December 24, 2025 at 2:17 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
I'm back. Wrote about Draymond. The Warriors always get past the drama. My question is whether the Warriors can get past the enormous offensive deficiencies that he's helping create. Dude is a turnover machine with little benefit. Unlocked newsletter. www.teamziller.com/draymond-gre...
The Draymond Green question rises again
Leave the drama aside. The Warriors offense isn't functional with Green running it these days. Are we getting closer to the endgame here?
www.teamziller.com
December 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
No GMIB today due to illness. Will catch up on Tuesday.
December 22, 2025 at 1:31 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
www.teamziller.com/jalen-brunso...
Jalen Brunson can do no wrong
Plus: Nikola Jokic breaks a long-held record stunningly fast and Luka Doncic is on it.
www.teamziller.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Early look at 2026 All-Stars. www.teamziller.com/nba-all-star... LeBron is the most interesting wrinkle. If he's not a starter, he might not get in at all. And with voting changes (positions are gone) he might not become a starter.
The Early All-Star outlook
Most of the spots are probably filled. But there are a few interesting debates to come.
www.teamziller.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:56 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Is it possible that the Spurs have the two best players in the world under age 22 in Wembanyama and Castle?

Apologies to Cooper Flagg. But I'm not 100% sure he's better than Castle right now. He *is* a few years younger.

(Also: Dylan Harper is probably top 6 at worst on this list.)
December 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Wrote about the New York Knicks, Champions. www.teamziller.com/new-york-kni...
The luxuries of New York
The Knicks are champions.
www.teamziller.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Free Tuesday newsletter is all about the Cavaliers' woes, which are really the Cavaliers' shooting woes, which might also be the Cavaliers' injury woes. www.teamziller.com/cavaliers-cr...
The Cavs just can't shoot anymore
The problem for Cleveland is pretty simple: the threes aren't falling. Is it fixable?
www.teamziller.com
December 16, 2025 at 2:21 PM
teamziller.bsky.social
Spurs-Thunder was incredible, except for the last 20 seconds, which took 13 minutes to resolve.

Fouling up three is a good strategy that needs to die a painful death. www.teamziller.com/intentional-...
Fouling up 3 is smart and it is bulls--t
Free throws remains a killjoy. This is an entertainment product. There must be a better way.
www.teamziller.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:06 PM