Cranjis McBasketball

🏀 Xs & Os • Team & Agent Consulting • @The_BBall_Index Founder • Lakers Exceptionalism Pod

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

If you want more Tim & Tom content, our Discord server is the place to be.

Example: with 24 bonus pods since the start of the regular season, that's an extra pod every ~2 games.

Join any premium tier to get into the Discord for good:
https://t.co/dK4pCTd7YD

[EuroLeague @EuroLeague]

Only 6 teams still perfect after just 2 Rounds 👀

Check out the standings here 📈

[Shax @ShaxNBA]

This⬇️

A big thing last year for New York on both ends was variety. Variety in their offense and in their defense. Were able to play all sides.

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

@AceBBallNews I ran the numbers on ~3,200 examples

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

LA is going to see a jump in defensive playmaking because they really upped the roster skill in those areas, not because of Kessler.

I've sliced and diced data on the effect big man rim protection has on teammates picking pockets and jumping passing lanes defensively.

I can't find any real evidence that adding a guy like Kessler will result in improvement in those areas.

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

If LA isn't switching as much we might see Luka get back to easier matchups again.

P&R D goes beyond just your center. I'd like to see LA show & recover with Luka instead of switch as well.

He saw a big spike in his time in LA with how often LA let opponents hunt him.

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

If we're going to get drop, hedging, & switching from the Lakers (vs super switch heavy) it'll take more time to build out (don't freak out early) but has so much more upside for a deep playoff run.

You need more than just a fastball.

[Red Mamba @Purpl3andGold]

This is pretty neat. Playing around with @The_BBall_Index Age Growth Curve model.

Basically, it predicts how a player will perform in the future in key metrics.

They are predicting Ziaire Williams will take a leap next year. Going from about the 34th percentile to the 50th percentile for overall talent.

The yellow dot is the actual talent value. The blue one is the prediction.

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

Some of Adou Thiero's college talent grades and roles👀

[Connor Moreno @cmorenoNBA]

I asked JJ about this today. Here’s what he said:

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

Things offensively really started clicking for Wemby that last year before he got drafted.

And of course A+ Defensive Talent the whole time.

[BBall Index @The_BBall_Index]

Skill Badges are our way to highlight granular skills across the NBA

A look at Zion Williamson's badges 🔎

Explore badges on Player Profiles: https://t.co/rG3IJaRH2r

Read our original badge writeup: https://t.co/wqAq5nzXBr

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

*off-ball screens

[NBA Official @NBAOfficial]

See below for Part 2 of the 2026-27 Points of Emphasis video (narrated by SVP, Head of Referee Development and Training Monty McCutchen), which provides examples and guidance regarding Freedom of Movement – Perimeter & Post and Straight-Line Pathway Plays:

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

It’s probably so early that they’re mostly just hooping, but with how zoomed in and choppy these are you can’t get much of a feel for alignment, coverages, no shot at IDing actions, nothing on roles, etc.

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

LA is doing a better job not giving anything away schematically with these

[Los Angeles Lakers @Lakers]

Setting the tone.

@BMO_US | 💜💛

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

Luka was killing it in prior to being drafted. This talent profile is insane.

[BBall Index @The_BBall_Index]

The Helper defensive role leans a lot on a player's instincts/reaction + physical tools for success rotating to close off leaks.

2025-26 Help Defensive Talent leaders among starters in Helper rorles:

1. Jaren Jackson Jr.
2. Bam Adebayo
3. Draymond Green
4. Santi Aldama
5. Jalen Johnson

Leaderboards: https://t.co/28DGWHUPxn

Helper Explainer Video 📽️

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

Matisse Thybulle has gradually upped his game as a 3-point shooter the last handful of seasons.

His shot quality has lived among the top of the league each year. Less room for growth there.

It's encouraging seeing his Off-Ball Gravity reach more respectable levels too.

https://t.co/1usy5kgfcr

[BBall Index @The_BBall_Index]

These defenders had the toughest assignments last year when looking specifically at the One on One Talent metric ratings players guarded:

1. Christian Braun
2. Lu Dort
3. Herb Jones
4. Toumani Camara
5. Stephon Castle

Don't analyze raw isolation defense stats without accounting for matchups!

Full Leaderboards: https://t.co/28DGWHUPxn

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

And then if you’re looking forward to next year we have calculated projections for each of the RAPM style stats that are based on a mix of player traits + teammate context + past performance in those factors since that’s much more predictive than just carrying over the value year to year https://t.co/diigXzSJDN

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

Part 2 is up!

This time, we're looking at what we can do instead to better forecast next year's performances.

✅ Talent data
✅ This year's context, including teammate stats
✅ Last year's impact

All 2026-27 player 4-factor projections are included ⬇️

https://t.co/sHvVc9teY3

[Cranjis McBasketball @Tim_NBA]

Good thoughts!

We have the Defensive Playmaking stat that looks at steals, blocks, deflections, and offensive fouls drawn and weighs each appropriately since they’re not all equally important.

And then in terms of RAPM style on/off metrics we have ones for each of the 4-factors and ones that look at possession volume impact (3 between overall, offense, & defense).