(22-21) Warriors skeleton crew almost pulls out the B2B Memphis upsets, falter at the end
Oh well, they almost pulled that out
Oh well, they almost pulled that out.
Apricot's In-Game Notes
This is the dawning of the Age of the Smiley Three, Age of the Smiley Three, SMILEE THREEEEEE
MEM trying a new game plan of not throwing away the ball and making every shot. It’s working.
Smiley and JV are really going at it physically. Smiley standing up to the punishment so far. But also fouling.
Smiley does not seem to know where to be on offense. Messed up the three man split, bumping into Dray instead of setting a pindown
Smiley with 3 PF in 4.5 min. But a lot of fight. And he defended the PNR not too badly
Smiley covered the pocket pass reasonably well. JW should watch tape.
I’m sad that Bazemore’s 110% 3FG% from the left corner has dropped so much. He’s probably shooting an average % in the last few games.
GSW providing valuable data on what happens when hustling average talent NBA players drive repeatedly into three men in the paint.
Q1.3.40. Warriors have been running this little HORNS loop rescreen play. Our Guy Juanito turned down a very open 3 to drive... but somehow made it a good play
OUR GUY JUANITO. He suckered that layup so hard. He read that so hard, he jumped even before the ball left the hand.
Honestly, GSW has played fantastic D against JV. Just a bunch of scrappy smalls doubling and denying. Have to hope MEM keeps trying to force it in to JV.
Haha that play around Q1.0.10 was I think a very messed up version of The Klay Play. Only down 4... I’ll take it
Do we know the NBA record for worst team FG%? If things go bad, we can always shoot for that record
Poole has made three straight shots, each 15% harder than the last
YES, POOLE SETTING THE BACKSCREEN FOR OUBRE DUNK. Kerr has fully embraced him
Two plays in a row. Got two MEM fouls in a row.
That Nico play was encouraging. Left open for 3, he takes the Dray screen and makes a tough layup
Ted Cruz Jr almost airballs the T. Our T defense is elite
Poole ran that PNR with Dray so well
I usually think Nico makes the right play, but... that hesi into a drive into two defenders. Gets bailed out with a foul.
I guess it’s probably good for Nico to practice looking for his shot, but that’s about three plays in a row I didn’t like that he went shot first
MEM unlike every other team in the league so far has no answer for our 2-3 zone
Mulder snuck on to the court. I want to believe.
*Kisses fingers*. Our Guy Juanito shuts down Ja on a drive... then Poole strips Ja on a drive, then OG Juanito with an exquisite pass out of the post for a Poole and-1
Praying we never have a close game come down to WIggins FTs.
Very gutsy six quarters in Memphis. Keep waiting for the wheels to fall off, but still enjoying the ride
I used up a lot of my favors with God on Andre’s FTs to send Bang Bang into OT
Haha I had zero faith at all... I promised God I’d never complain about Andre FTs again if he made those
Tbh I get emotionally attached to any player who plays really hard for GSW
Smiley with 2 fouls in 4.5 min. An improvement over his 3 fouls in 4.5 in Q1. Five fouls in 9 min playing time, yikes
[on the record for fastest foul out] Probably some schlub sent in to Hack-a-Shaq
Hold your breath for Dray. A lot of pain.
Okay... Dray is playing, whew
So many push floaters in this game
Q3.3.45. HORNS Flex Cut, a staple for Poole. Threeee
JUANITO POR TRES
Our Guy Juanito for 3, then a great rebound, then a great cut to a sweet pass from Baze, layup.
If MEM doesn't focus, we'll have a R*ndom *ss Ending, and they want no part of that.
Great minds think alike. So do disturbed ones.
Appreciating the writers of this game... the Juanito steal and fast break pass to Nico for 3, thanks for the fan service... AND AGAIN. Another Juanito steal, fast break pass to Nico for 2. I know it's obvious fan service but not tired of it yet kthx
I'm concerned that Dray's leg will have frozen up after sitting
We're used to it, but it's amazing how much less Oubre is pressing and hurrying now
JUAAAAAAAAAAANITO
Q4.5.20. GSW BLOB Elevator play. Have I written about that yet? Also: JUAAAAAAAAAANITO AGAIN FOR THREEEEE
Followed by a sweet Juanito block
(casually) really? I hadn't noticed
This is the definition of a random ending
Yeah if Wiggs could have that back, that was time for a timeout.
STILL MATHEMATICALLY POSSIBLE
Q4.1.30. Interesting wing elevator door play for Poole there.
Poole with a fantastic hustle OREB tip, then a 3. STILL MATH POSSIBLE
Well, the random ending was Wiggins not calling timeout and giving up a Pick-2, and then Juanito getting beat on a little backdoor cut on the BLOB
okay okay, not math possible any longer. They fought hard.
OT Just now seeing that the Kings waived GRIII almost a month ago. Had not seen that. Hmmm...
My thoughts on the two Memphis games.
Given that we were missing Steph, this is a pretty good result. The sweep would have been nice so we wouldn't have to worry about the tiebreaker with Memphis but they're really the least of our worries right now.
The biggest positive is Jordan Poole's continuing high level. His defense looks better too, but his offense is just shockingly good at this point. In particular, his midrange teardrop and finishing around the rim are starting to look elite, and his ability to get there is also impressive. I often say a guy looks like a stable rotation player (like JTA continues to do) but Poole's performance these last few games in particular has been more like an NBA starter.
Mannion is also looking very good for a second-round rookie pick, and I'm optimistic for his future with the team as well. I *love* his decision-making on when to drive, pass, look for his own shot, read the defense, etc. He's also surprisingly good at being in the right place on defense to contest shots. Just don't let him get posted up.
Smiley, on the other hand, showed a couple glimpses of why the team scouted him, but he's still more of a G-league level player who deserves a two-way contract at best, not a full guaranteed contract. Like, our guy Juan is not a natural center, but he's far more effective in that position despite being like 5 inches shorter and on an actual two-way contract!
These games also strengthened my suspicions that Paschall and Wiseman being out with health and safety protocols could be addition by subtraction. I still haven't entirely figured out how Paschall is such a negative on the court, but Wiseman is still just so inexperienced that he ends up kind of getting in the way of the play rather than being in the play a lot of the time. Unfortunately the only cure for that is playing time, and he's missing some good opportunities to play against weaker opponents due to the health and safety protocols.
Wiggins had a career night the first game, so that was awesome. His second game was not great, especially at the end, but it was still pretty acceptable.
Oubre had a couple of quiet games, but he was playing through a foot injury so that's fair. His defense in the win was a major contributor.
Draymond is still really freaking good and it was terrifying when he was hurting and holding his ankle. Really hoping that doesn't flare up and cause him to miss games down the line.
As I suspected, Wanamaker looks a bit better out there alongside Poole or others, but maybe not that much better.
Damion Lee still fights hard and rebounds well. He and Juanito are such excellent guys to have in the rotation, even if their 3-point shooting comes and goes.
Looney looney looney! He will be sorely missed during his health-and-safety-protocols absence.
Overall, steady goes it. Let's stay above .500, pick on some bad teams, and try to stay as healthy as we can to close out the season strong. Or, maybe Jordan Poole turns out to be the second coming of Steph Curry and the Warriors are about to ruin the league again. That would be fine, too. ;)