Tom Ziller
@teamziller.bsky.social
I write a daily NBA newsletter. teamziller.com
Also in this edition of GMIB: Giannis is probably not going to be eligible for All-NBA due to the injury, ending his 9-year streak. With Tatum out too, there's a rare opportunity second tier players to compete for three first team slots instead of the usual one.
December 5, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Also in this edition of GMIB: Giannis is probably not going to be eligible for All-NBA due to the injury, ending his 9-year streak. With Tatum out too, there's a rare opportunity second tier players to compete for three first team slots instead of the usual one.
Wrote about Donyell Marshall, sorta. www.teamziller.com/lebron-james...
LeBron always makes the right play
With his streak and the game on the line, King James dishes to a teammate with an open shot. Of course he did. That's who he is.
www.teamziller.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Wrote about Donyell Marshall, sorta. www.teamziller.com/lebron-james...
Wrote about Giannis. It looks like the next couple months will depend on just how badly he wants to join the Knicks and just how cautious NY will be if so www.teamziller.com/giannis-ante...
The Giannis crisis has arrived
The question is whether it's a crisis with an interregnum or not.
www.teamziller.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Wrote about Giannis. It looks like the next couple months will depend on just how badly he wants to join the Knicks and just how cautious NY will be if so www.teamziller.com/giannis-ante...
The decision to send CP3 home is so, so dumb given it draws more attention to the Clippers' horrific state and given CP3's status in league circles. So the question is, if it's not simply ineptitude by Clippers brass, WHY? www.teamziller.com/chris-paul-c...
December 3, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The decision to send CP3 home is so, so dumb given it draws more attention to the Clippers' horrific state and given CP3's status in league circles. So the question is, if it's not simply ineptitude by Clippers brass, WHY? www.teamziller.com/chris-paul-c...
Reposted by Tom Ziller
Atari's Basketball is not the first basketball video game ever, but this 1978 Atari VCS release is the first to start to feel like a proper adaptation of the sport. Saying "you could dribble!" might sound prehistoric, but remember, '78 is also when Space Invaders hit. History has to start somewhere.
It's new to me: Basketball (Atari 2600)
Atari turned its eyes toward basketball in 1978, and truly launched the sport in video game form.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Atari's Basketball is not the first basketball video game ever, but this 1978 Atari VCS release is the first to start to feel like a proper adaptation of the sport. Saying "you could dribble!" might sound prehistoric, but remember, '78 is also when Space Invaders hit. History has to start somewhere.
The Clippers:
* gave up a 30-2 run led by a player they traded to save future $
* have fallen from 3rd to 27th in defense
* might have broken Ty Lue, who did a rage sub early in the 3rd
Newsletter's unlocked, don't share it with your Clipset friends though www.teamziller.com/clippers-vs-...
* gave up a 30-2 run led by a player they traded to save future $
* have fallen from 3rd to 27th in defense
* might have broken Ty Lue, who did a rage sub early in the 3rd
Newsletter's unlocked, don't share it with your Clipset friends though www.teamziller.com/clippers-vs-...
Good thing the Clippers arena has all those toilets ...
... because this team needs to be flushed.
www.teamziller.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
The Clippers:
* gave up a 30-2 run led by a player they traded to save future $
* have fallen from 3rd to 27th in defense
* might have broken Ty Lue, who did a rage sub early in the 3rd
Newsletter's unlocked, don't share it with your Clipset friends though www.teamziller.com/clippers-vs-...
* gave up a 30-2 run led by a player they traded to save future $
* have fallen from 3rd to 27th in defense
* might have broken Ty Lue, who did a rage sub early in the 3rd
Newsletter's unlocked, don't share it with your Clipset friends though www.teamziller.com/clippers-vs-...
Wrote about the four teams that are furthest from preseason projections. www.teamziller.com/tier-busters...
Meet the tier busters
Four teams are way off from preseason expectations.
www.teamziller.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Wrote about the four teams that are furthest from preseason projections. www.teamziller.com/tier-busters...
Reposted by Tom Ziller
Our ULP strike has grown to 85 cities... and until Starbucks does the right thing, we'll continue to get stronger.
Pittsburgh, PA is holding down the line! ✊🔥
Pittsburgh, PA is holding down the line! ✊🔥
November 29, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Our ULP strike has grown to 85 cities... and until Starbucks does the right thing, we'll continue to get stronger.
Pittsburgh, PA is holding down the line! ✊🔥
Pittsburgh, PA is holding down the line! ✊🔥
Reposted by Tom Ziller
🗣️ ain't no power like the power of a union, cuz the power of a union won't stop!
We're EIGHTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike and only getting louder. Let's hear it for baristas in Gardner, MA for holding the line! #nocontractnocoffee
We're EIGHTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike and only getting louder. Let's hear it for baristas in Gardner, MA for holding the line! #nocontractnocoffee
November 30, 2025 at 2:22 PM
🗣️ ain't no power like the power of a union, cuz the power of a union won't stop!
We're EIGHTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike and only getting louder. Let's hear it for baristas in Gardner, MA for holding the line! #nocontractnocoffee
We're EIGHTEEN DAYS into our national ULP strike and only getting louder. Let's hear it for baristas in Gardner, MA for holding the line! #nocontractnocoffee
The NBA Cup is giving us four high-stakes games on Friday. Cool! www.teamziller.com/pistons-celt...
How the mighty (Pistons) have fallen!
Detroit's win streak is snapped at lucky 13. Toronto and Oklahoma City stay cooking, though.
www.teamziller.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The NBA Cup is giving us four high-stakes games on Friday. Cool! www.teamziller.com/pistons-celt...
It's unlocked newsletter Wednesday (that's a thing, right?). Lots of links, some highlights, all your Cupstakes notes heading into a busy Cup night. www.teamziller.com/nba-cup-grou...
The Magic are back (don't tell Paolo)
The Battle of L.A. has been decided, the Wizards have won again and the 2025 NBA Cup group stage narrows into resolution.
www.teamziller.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
It's unlocked newsletter Wednesday (that's a thing, right?). Lots of links, some highlights, all your Cupstakes notes heading into a busy Cup night. www.teamziller.com/nba-cup-grou...
Wrote about the Pistons' miracle 2-year rise in the context of that other recent miracle 2-year rise that felt less like a miracle because it was so choreographed (talkin' about the Thunder). Two different ways to bake a cake. www.teamziller.com/detroit-pist...
The miracle of the Pistons
Detroit won its 13th straight exactly two years after it had lost its 13th straight amid a 28-game losing streak. How is this possible?
www.teamziller.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Wrote about the Pistons' miracle 2-year rise in the context of that other recent miracle 2-year rise that felt less like a miracle because it was so choreographed (talkin' about the Thunder). Two different ways to bake a cake. www.teamziller.com/detroit-pist...
kangzism is contagious
just finished kings-timberwolves. omg.
November 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
kangzism is contagious
In the post-2000 NBA, James Harden is on track to be the best player without a title. CP3, to me, is the biggest WINNER without a title.
Wrote a bit about CP3, the ultimate winner. Also recapped a whole lot of basketball from the weekend: www.teamziller.com/chris-paul-r...
CP3 you later
Chris Paul will reportedly retire at the end of the season. He instantly becomes one of the NBA's biggest winners who never won a championship.
www.teamziller.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
In the post-2000 NBA, James Harden is on track to be the best player without a title. CP3, to me, is the biggest WINNER without a title.
Wrote a bit about CP3, the ultimate winner. Also recapped a whole lot of basketball from the weekend: www.teamziller.com/chris-paul-r...
CP3 you later
Chris Paul will reportedly retire at the end of the season. He instantly becomes one of the NBA's biggest winners who never won a championship.
www.teamziller.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Wrote a bit about CP3, the ultimate winner. Also recapped a whole lot of basketball from the weekend: www.teamziller.com/chris-paul-r...
My brief review of Nuggets-Rockets is that if Murray maintains this level and AG gets/stays healthy, HOU needs a ton more juice from KD on offense to compete in a series.
November 22, 2025 at 2:26 PM
My brief review of Nuggets-Rockets is that if Murray maintains this level and AG gets/stays healthy, HOU needs a ton more juice from KD on offense to compete in a series.
Wrote about the reported mutual annoyance between LaMelo and the Hornets, and came up with a cursed trade machine slop sandwich that will haunt me all weekend. www.teamziller.com/lamelo-ball-...
LaMelo is not having a ball
The flashy star reportedly would be open to moving on from Queen City. This can go a couple different ways.
www.teamziller.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Wrote about the reported mutual annoyance between LaMelo and the Hornets, and came up with a cursed trade machine slop sandwich that will haunt me all weekend. www.teamziller.com/lamelo-ball-...
Wrote about how the cold, calculating Clippers didn't want to pay the price for Norm Powell, so now they are paying the price for trading Norm Powell. www.teamziller.com/norman-powel...
The cold, calculating Clippers are paying a different Norm Powell price
Los Angeles did the cap-savvy thing by trading their 32-year scorer before he needed an extension. The result is a 4-10 record.
www.teamziller.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Wrote about how the cold, calculating Clippers didn't want to pay the price for Norm Powell, so now they are paying the price for trading Norm Powell. www.teamziller.com/norman-powel...
Against my better judgment, I wrote about the Kings. 🔓 www.teamziller.com/sacramento-k...
November 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Against my better judgment, I wrote about the Kings. 🔓 www.teamziller.com/sacramento-k...
Not to beat a dead horse, but the Pelicans' decision-making has been an all-out disaster since June. www.teamziller.com/willie-green...
Good for Willie Green
Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver put a coach they didn't trust in charge of a roster no one could fully trust with a couple of huge bets on the line. How did it possibly go wrong?
www.teamziller.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Not to beat a dead horse, but the Pelicans' decision-making has been an all-out disaster since June. www.teamziller.com/willie-green...
Also: Draymond Green will hear "An-gel Reese" chants taking free throws at a road arena this season, and GMIB readers will know why.
Wrote about the Warriors and Spurs, whose Friday instant classic stuck with me, and who are on opposite ends of the development curve but could both disrupt the West playoffs www.teamziller.com/warriors-vs-...
Dangerous near death, dangerous in discovery
The Warriors and Spurs played two close games including an instant classic on Friday. The teams showed how dangerous they both are at opposite ends of the development curve.
www.teamziller.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Also: Draymond Green will hear "An-gel Reese" chants taking free throws at a road arena this season, and GMIB readers will know why.
Wrote about the Warriors and Spurs, whose Friday instant classic stuck with me, and who are on opposite ends of the development curve but could both disrupt the West playoffs www.teamziller.com/warriors-vs-...
Dangerous near death, dangerous in discovery
The Warriors and Spurs played two close games including an instant classic on Friday. The teams showed how dangerous they both are at opposite ends of the development curve.
www.teamziller.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Wrote about the Warriors and Spurs, whose Friday instant classic stuck with me, and who are on opposite ends of the development curve but could both disrupt the West playoffs www.teamziller.com/warriors-vs-...
Reposted by Tom Ziller
I’m excited for the USA vs World All Star format mostly because I want to see which guys denounce their heritage for a chance at an All Star selection, especially when there are contract incentives involved.
Like, does Sabonis play the “I was born in Portland” card?
Like, does Sabonis play the “I was born in Portland” card?
November 14, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I’m excited for the USA vs World All Star format mostly because I want to see which guys denounce their heritage for a chance at an All Star selection, especially when there are contract incentives involved.
Like, does Sabonis play the “I was born in Portland” card?
Like, does Sabonis play the “I was born in Portland” card?