Tom Zayas and Cranjis McBasketball dive deep into the data and analytics to provide detailed and contextualized analysis of the Los Angeles Lakers, and sometimes the broader NBA.
The Taking Charge with Cranjis McBasketball podcast is an absolute must-listen for any basketball fan, whether you're a Lakers diehard or just interested in advanced analytics. Cranjis and Tom deliver insightful analysis that combines practical understanding of the game with in-depth statistical analysis. They present the data they discuss in a way that is accessible to all listeners, regardless of their level of basketball knowledge. I have learned something new every time I've listened to this podcast, and I couldn't recommend it more.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is how Cranjis and Tom assign appropriate context to the statistics they discuss. They go beyond just presenting numbers and provide practical understanding of how these stats impact the game on a deeper level. This makes their analysis incredibly valuable for fans who want to gain a better understanding of basketball from an analytical standpoint.
Another great aspect of this podcast is the guests they bring on. When they have guests, not only do they provide excellent information about the Lakers, but they also delve into other teams and players as well. This makes it an engaging listen for any true fan of the game.
However, one potential drawback could be the overwhelming amount of numbers per minute discussed in this podcast. For some listeners who are not comfortable with advanced analytics, it may be challenging to keep up and fully grasp all the information being presented. However, even for those who may struggle with this aspect, there are still many valuable insights and takeaways from each episode.
In conclusion, The Taking Charge with Cranjis McBasketball podcast is a standout among basketball podcasts due to its combination of practical understanding and advanced analytics. Whether you're a Lakers fan or simply looking to expand your knowledge of the game, this podcast delivers informative content that will leave you wanting more. With great hosts who are knowledgeable and entertaining, along with valuable insights from guests, this podcast should be at the top of any basketball fan's must-listen list.
Taylor goes through each team in the Eastern Conference and discusses their season outlook. He's skeptical of the Knicks championship aspirations
Taylor Wyman previews every team in the Western Conference. He forecasts every team's regular season
Taylor Wyman goes through Basketball Index's key metrics explaining what they do. You need to understand how something works before you can make an informed decision on trusting it
Taylor Wyman reacts to the blockbuster trade between the Knicks and Timberwolves. He loves the talent upgrade for the Knicks but not the change to their financial situation
Taylor Wyman explains the difference between impact vs talent. Impact is the ability to affect the game while on the court. Talent is the theoretical value a player has. Balancing the two can be tricky
Taylor Wyman looks at the last decade of champions and ranks their path to a ring by difficulty using LEBRON
Taylor Wyman ranks the top 15 two-way impact players in the league right now. He looks at players who are clear positives on both offense and defense.
Taylor Wyman unveils Basketball Index's Perimeter Defense and Defensive Playmaking for 2024. He explains how they work and who the top players in the league are
Taylor Wyman talks about the players he misevaluated. He explains what his concerns were with these players and how they improved and exceeded his expectations
Taylor goes through the Olympic roster highlighting what each player brought to the table on their gold medal run
Taylor evaluates if positionless basketball even works. He looks at the rosters of the last 10 teams to play in the finals to determine if the trend has led to success.
Taylor gives his top 10 contract values of the off-season and rants about Caitlin Clark
Taylor Wyman goes through every off-season trade picking winners and losers. He Starts with the Caruso/Giddey trade and finishes with the DeRozan trade
Taylor covers all 42 free agent signings that have happened this offseason. He talks about player fit, player skill set, and contract value
Taylor Wyman ranks the top 10 scorers in the postseason by looking at volume and efficiency. Then he talks about the impact of Alex Caruso heading the OKC and Giddey going to Chicago.
Taylor Wyman compares the NBA's ALL-NBA teams and the BBI ALL-NBA teams.
Taylor Wyman ranks the top 10 best scorers in the Conference Finals by scoring volume and efficiency relative to the series they played in.
Taylor recaps each of the four series from the second round. He looks at each player's points/75 and relative shooting efficiency compared to the series they played in
Taylor ranks the top 10 scorers with the help of his modern playoff scoring run app. Link to the app: https://shorturl.at/fsAL3
Taylor discusses the 10 things he learned watching the first round of the playoffs
Taylor Wyman explains what went wrong for the Lakers and Suns and gets you up to speed on the rest of the playoff series
Taylor reacts to how the first round is unfolding
Taylor gives his picks for every matchup in the first round
Taylor goes over the top storylines from each team this season
Taylor Wyman had Filippos Polyzos on to explain their new app, "Modern Playoff Scoring Runs". It lets you compare the greatest scoring runs since 2000 adjusting for scoring environment The app: https://filippos-pol.shinyapps.io/modern-playoff-scoring-runs/
Taylor Wyman uses analytics to determine the DPOY and ROY the year races
Taylor Wyman presents the best case for each MVP candidate using the latest analytics
Taylor makes his case for why FG% is the most useless stat in basketball. Then he ranks the importance of every box score stat
Taylor Wyman uses Adjusted Big Time Scoring to find the top 10 scorers this season Use the app for free! https://filippos-pol.shinyapps.io/adjusted-big-time-scoring/
Taylor uses LEBRON WAR to figure out the top 5 best duo's this season
Taylor digs into the Magic's data and finds two key data points that point to the team's success this season.
Taylor talks about Keon Ellis, Payton Pritchard, Vince Willaims Jr, Sam Merrill, and Dean Wade breakout seasons as role players
Taylor uses the box score, analytics, and tape study to determine how good Jalen Williams is right now
Taylor continues to rank the top players in the league. In this ep he covers his B tier of players Read the full article here: https://www.bball-index.com/taylor-wymans-2024-mid-season-player-rankings/
Taylor goes through his A- and B+ tier of players Link to the full article: https://www.bball-index.com/taylor-wymans-2024-mid-season-player-rankings/
Taylor talks through what makes the Nuggets offense so hard to stop. He explains how their shooting, passing, and connection are often overwhelming and how Aaron Gordon is a key piece to their success.
Taylor looks at the best passers in 5 stats this season, volume, quality, efficiency, versatility, and gravity
Taylor covers players ranked in his A tier (6-17) in his mid-season rankings See the entire list here: https://www.bball-index.com/taylor-wymans-2024-mid-season-player-rankings/
Taylor uses advanced luck adjusted net rating to create his February power rankings
Taylor goes through each trade made at the deadline rapid fire style
Taylor explains his criteria for his mid-season rankings and discusses players in his A+ tier
Taylor talks with Tim about how he's charted every Lakers half court offensive possession this season. Tim explains the value of running organized sets versus freelance offense.