45 Comments

If Steph wants to be better, he needs to learn how to get to the free throw line more like how Trae Young does it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOTGrk3ypN0

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“Just as he did in Brooklyn, Wiseman showed that he has some range to stretch the floor, knocking down another three-pointer”

If feel like this sold Wiseman short. Dude went 3-for-4!

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https://youtu.be/OHMJZov6XB4

Steph with 103 straight threes today

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I think we're being far too ambitious. As far as I can see, we're currently trying to straddle between 2 eras - the big 3 (Steph, Klay and Draymond) era and the post big 3 rebuild era (with Wiseman + Minn 2021). I understand the appeal of doing this and hoping for a Spurs like 20 year spell but that just doesn't happen too often. For optimal results, we need to commit to 1 timeline, be it the present (which mean trading Wiseman + future picks for help now) or the future (trade our non-Wiseman + draft assets for draft assets and young stars).

Otherwise, this is looking very much like a lost year. And I don't know whether next year a 33 year old Steph + older Dray + post-injuries Klay + sophomore Wiseman will be enough to make us real contenders.

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Here's how I see it going down, barring injury of course.

Draymond will return, and might be a bit off in his first few games since he hasn't played in a year. The team, already trying to adjust to each other, will undergo a new adjustment period of playing with him. It might still be pretty ugly, and who knows what happens in these next few games.

The team will eventually settle in (maybe in a week or two when they get back to Oracle?) and start looking like an NBA team. Draymond will transform the offense with his high post playmaking ability. Defensively, they'll be better (even just removing Paschall from the starting lineup for JTA would make them better), but a lot will depend on Wiseman due to the roster construction. If Wiseman defies the odds for teenaged rookie centers and is a quick learner defensively and becomes a competent paint presence, the Warriors will be a great defense and cruise to a nice playoff spot. Oubre and Wiggins will look a lot better defensively with some actual defensive resistance backing them up instead of what we've seen so far, and the transition attack will flourish. If Wiseman is bad defensively, their lack of an NBA caliber starting center will come back to bite them and they'll be in the mix for the play-in tournament. Perhaps they trade for help at the center position.

Still though, beating out the Kings, Wolves, Thunder, Pelicans, perhaps Grizzlies/Spurs/Rockets, and whatever other team loses a key star to injury (like the Warriors last season) sounds pretty likely to me as long as Curry/Draymond are around.

If they improve as much as they should over the course of the season, I think they could win the play-in tournament. An actual playoff series win would depend on the matchup and if they used the DPE and all that.

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After 2 games I’m not ready to say this is a tank season. But it is looking that way. What are the chances we can get Kawhi next year? We would have to move some big contracts to make the space. Is that even possible?

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No, just a bit more patient. Watch Malone explain to Kenny Smith (youtube). Guard has to be patient, otherwise screener will end up with offensive foul. W's should also be able to run P/R with Curry Wiggins. If Kerr doesn't feature P/R they won't have practiced enough for the play to be unconscious. Until the defense improves, there won't be many fast break opportunities, and the W's will be playing a lot of half court offense.

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Dec 26, 2020Liked by Duby Dub Dubs

W's didn't need pick and roll with Klay and KD, but they need it now. Kerr has never had a center like Wiseman (except for a game or two with Cousins), and he never needed to use the center. Watch Stockton/Malone tapes. Unstoppable. Curry should be nearly as good as JS, and if the guard switches onto Wiseman.....

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Dec 26, 2020Liked by Duby Dub Dubs

Well.... The Bulls D has been a cold streak breaker over the years. Let’s hope better shooting and maybe a Green sighting lead to better defense.

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