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PODCAST · sports

NBA Retrospective

by Joshua Lowe

Statistics tutor Josh Lowe breaks down the greatest NBA seasons from the Last Dance Bulls to LeBron and the block, all with an eye toward accessible analytics.

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Episodes

  1. 2013-14 No Rest in the West Part 3

    We break down five teams in the 2013-14 NBA season by overachievement, underachievement, and accurate achievement and chronicle what this meant for their respective futures in the league.

  2. Tanking Terminus

    We may finally have a solution to the NBA's tanking problem. I break down the new proposal and what it means for basketball fans.

  3. 2013-14 No Rest in the West Part 2

    Time to talk about PLAYOFFS! We break down the 2013-14 playoffs, the upsets, the Elo projections, and the many game sevens!

  4. 2013-14 No Rest in the West Part 1

    We look back on the 2013-14 NBA season. You'll hear which teams rose to the occasion and which teams fell short as backed by Elo simulation.

  5. Lin in the End Part 2

    The long awaited conclusion to the Linsanity series! We break down Lin's statistical impact on the 2012 Knicks and discuss why the rest of his career never reached the heights of Linsanity.

  6. Thoughts on the NBA Cup

    We talk about the NBA Cup and its relevance in the current NBA climate. We also look at some ideas to improve it and what the average NBA fan thinks of it. Your vote is your voice. Vote yes or no on continuation of the NBA Cup on Instagram or Spotify.

  7. Lin in the End Part 1

    We chronicle the rise of Linsanity from Harvard to undrafted to media sensation. We also discuss Lin's brief time with the Steph Curry Warriors.

  8. 2011-12 Linsanity and the Heatles Part 5

    We break down our four featured teams--the Heat, Thunder, Clippers, and Bobcats--and reveal a surprising metric that can lead teams to NBA championships.

  9. 2011-12 Linsanity and the Heatles Part 4

    We look at Four Factors performance for the 2011-12 NBA season including some surprising results from playoff teams.

  10. 2011-12 Linsanity and the Heatles Part 3

    We break down four teams in terms of Elo progression, and note surprising parallels between the 2012 and 2025 Oklahoma City Thunder, our most recent NBA Champions.

  11. 2011-12 Linsanity and the Heatles Part 2

    We discuss the 2011-12 playoffs. We note a major underachievement, a major overachievement, and talk about two "new classic" teams who reached the finals.

  12. 2011-12 Linsanity and the Heatles Part 1

    We introduce the 2011-12 NBA season, noting several key parallels with current league events. We also look at Elo projections for regular season performance and compare with reality.

  13. Days of Our Lakers Part 3

    The long-awaited conclusion to our coverage of the 2004 Lakers season. We go behind the scenes of the Western conference finals against the Timberwolves and the NBA Finals against the Pistons. We also compare defensive metrics for the Lakers and Pistons based on a game plan from Phil Jackson.

  14. Days of Our Lakers Part 2

    Time to talk about the Lakers in the 2004 PLAYOFFS! Plus, inside Shaq's free throw trouble and a potential fix with whom the team parted ways.

  15. Tanking Tendency

    We discuss the NBA's worst-kept secret--teams tanking for top draft picks-- and what the league can do about it.

  16. Days of Our Lakers Part 1

    We chronicle the soap opera-like drama--and relate it to the data--of the 2003-04 Lakers regular season. This was the NBA's first "superteam" that I can remember. Also, if statistics are not your cup of Mountain Dew, this episode is for you.

  17. 2004 Lakers Soap Opera, Linsanity

    We are taking a break due to statistics tutoring business, but we still have the 2004 Lakers episode coming up, which resembles a soap opera. We also have Linsanity ahead. Stay tuned!

  18. 2003-04 Wild Wild West Part 6

    We break down six teams in Elo and Four Factors projections and show why defense wins championships.

  19. 2003-04 Wild Wild West Part 5

    We discuss the Four Factors model as it applies to the 2004 season. We also compare it to the previous Elo model. Finally, we talk about the state of the NBA All Star Game.

  20. 2003-04 Wild Wild West Part 4

    We break down six teams in terms of Elo achievement. We also briefly discuss the groundbreaking trade that went down in the current NBA.

  21. 2003-04 Wild Wild West Part 3

    Finally talking about PLAYOFFS! We had some epic Western conference clashes; especially Lakers-Spurs in second round. Also an epic matchup in the Eastern Conference Finals that unfortunately invokes a painful memory for the NBA.

  22. 2003-04 Wild Wild West Part 2

    We continue to explore the dichotomy between the East and that Wild Wild West. Specifically, we look at the Atlantic Division in the East and Pacific in the West. We discuss an absurdly high number of overachievers, underachievers, and accurate achievers for the season. Your host then leaves to...

  23. 2003-04 Wild Wild West Part 1

    We discuss the 2003-04 Lakers team who went for it all and missed this season. We also talk about some major overachievements in Elo projection and an extremely elite Western conference.

  24. Spirit of '76: 2001 Style Part 3

    We break down the 76ers season using Elo and Four Factors metrics. Does it matter that AI and Brown didn't get along? Did the 76ers make the right decision to trade Ratliff for Mutombo? We break that down too.

  25. Spirit of '76: 2001 Style Part 2

    We continue to chronicle the 2001 76ers season from the big Dikembe Mutombo trade to the historic Game 1 Finals win over the Lakers. You'll hear player reactions from Theo Ratliff, Allen Iverson, Shaq, and others.

  26. Spirit of '76: 2001 Style Part 1

    We discuss the 2001 Philadelphia 76ers, particularly the relationship between Allen Iverson and Larry Brown, the massive trade that never was, and one of the greatest NBA All Star Games of all time.

  27. We are BACK 2000-01 NBA Season Part 4

    We discuss Four Factors metrics for the 2001 Lakers, Clippers, and Wizards and explain how they achieved the records they did. We also offer concluding remarks on the season.

  28. We are BACK 2000-01 NBA Season Part 3

    We discuss the Four Factors metrics for the 2001 NBA season and some notable discrepancies from Elo. Take care of the basketball!

  29. We are BACK 2000-01 NBA Season Part 2

    Talking about PLAYOFFS?! We're definitely doing it. Plus some unusual regular season results and a surprise overachieving team. Hint: the team is in California, but it's not the California team you're thinking.

  30. We are BACK 2000-01 NBA Season Part 1

    We break down the actual and Elo simulated playoff seedings for the 2001 NBA season. Simulation was surprisingly accurate. We also note extremely strong correlation in the Atlantic Division between simulated and actual performance.

  31. RIP Dikembe Mutombo

    We acknowledge the basketball and analytics contributions of Dikembe Mutombo and regrettably announce his passing. RIP, Dikembe.

  32. Nothing Gold Can Stay

    Thank you to all who listened to this podcast. Join me for this episode as we chronicle NBA Retrospective's genesis, its peaks, and ultimately, its conclusion.

  33. 2007-08 Anything is Possible Part 4

    We discuss Four Factors performances by the Celtics, Lakers, Suns, and Heat and discuss the question of when to fire first year head coaches given success of Heat's Eric Spoelstra.

  34. 2007-08 Anything is Possible Part 3

    We discuss the Four Factors model for the 2007-08 season, the surprising number of significant predictors, and the future of NBA Retrospective.

  35. 2007-08 Anything is Possible Part 2

    We discuss the 2007-08 playoffs and assess how teams fared compared with their Elo simulation. We also provide deeper statistical analysis for the Celtics, Lakers, Suns, and Heat. Finally, we note some interesting parallels between the 2007-08 season and the 2023-24 season.

  36. 2007-08 Anything is Possible Part 1

    We simulate the 2007-08 season using Elo and report on the strength of the simulation and anomalous teams. We also discuss a blockbuster trade and striking conference disparity.

  37. Western Conference War: 2018 Rockets vs. Warriors Part 2

    We compare the 2018 Rockets and Warriors using the Four Factors model and reveal how the Warriors got it done.

  38. Western Conference War: 2018 Rockets vs. Warriors Part 1

    We set up the 2017-18 Western Conference Finals series between the Warriors and Rockets by comparing Elo simulations for both teams. We also recognize that statistics is not everyone's cup of Mountain Dew and recommend some episodes for those folks, including this one!

  39. 2017-18 Dynastic Death Lineup Part 4

    We discuss Four Factors performances by the Warriors, Cavs, and 76ers and reveal the key metric that led the Warriors to the Promised Land.

  40. 2017-18 Dynastic Death Lineup Part 3

    We discuss how the Four Factors model predicts wins in 2017-18. Shooting is strongest predictor this year. Thank you, KD, Steph, and LeBron.

  41. 2017-18 Dynastic Death Lineup Part 2

    We discuss the 2015-16 NBA Playoffs and assess how teams fared compared with their Elo simulation. We discuss a statistical overachiever, accurate achiever, and a very surprising underachiever based on Elo.

  42. 2017-18 Dynastic Death Lineup Part 1

    We simulate the 2017-18 NBA season using Elo and report on the strength of the simulation and anomalous teams. We also address statistical anomalies by division and conference.

  43. Hidden Figures 2

    We discuss Arpad Elo and his famous rating system that is now essential to NBA analytics and this podcast.

  44. 1984-85 Showtime Showdown Part 4

    We discuss Four Factors performances by the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Rockets, and Cavs and note that Lakers completely dominated the league in one key metric.

  45. 1984-85 Showtime Showdown Part 3

    We discuss how the Four Factors model predicts wins in 1984-85. Take care of the basketball!

  46. 1984-85 Showtime Showdown Part 2

    We discuss the 1984-85 playoffs and assess how teams fared compared with their Elo simulation. We also provide deeper statistical analysis for the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Rockets, and Cavs.

  47. 1984-85 Showtime Showdown Part 1

    We simulate the 1984-85 NBA season using Elo and report on the strength of the simulation and anomalous teams.

  48. Great Eight Fate: 1999 Knicks Part 2

    We discuss the metrics the 1999 Knicks excelled in to reach the Finals as an 8 seed. We also compare the traded players and compare the 1999 Knicks with the 2023 Heat.

  49. Great Eight Fate: 1999 Knicks Part 1

    We chronicle key off-season trades and the drama surrounding them leading into the Knicks 1999 season.

  50. Hidden Figures 1

    We welcome a young basketball player and Bulls fan to talk NBA, statistics, and podcasting.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Statistics tutor Josh Lowe breaks down the greatest NBA seasons from the Last Dance Bulls to LeBron and the block, all with an eye toward accessible analytics.

HOSTED BY

Joshua Lowe

CATEGORIES

sports basketball

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does NBA Retrospective have?

NBA Retrospective currently has 68 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is NBA Retrospective about?

Statistics tutor Josh Lowe breaks down the greatest NBA seasons from the Last Dance Bulls to LeBron and the block, all with an eye toward accessible analytics.

How often does NBA Retrospective release new episodes?

NBA Retrospective has 68 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to NBA Retrospective?

You can listen to NBA Retrospective on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts NBA Retrospective?

NBA Retrospective is created and hosted by Joshua Lowe.
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