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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

Draymond Reveals Which Warriors Player Is The Most Professional |

Podcast P with Paul George: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8amSPU1f_5c

From an earlier podcast, I believe, but always nice to hear players shouting out Loony (spoiler).

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For the “2nd round picks rarely work out” crowd. Taken the next pick after Paschall

Adrian Wojnarowski

@wojespn

Free agent F Admiral Schofield has agreed to return to the Orlando Magic on a two-way deal, his agents Mark Bartelstein and George Roussakis of @PrioritySports

tell ESPN. Schofield has played 75 games for the Magic in the past two seasons

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His first name sounds like a nickname

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call me when he doesn't suck

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Still in the league. Barely but still in the league.

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true but I don't know if I'd call that "working out" exactly 😉

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If Castleton (or anybody else) goes on to become another undrafted success story I wonder if 2nd round picks will lose even more value

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I'd hazard it increases SRP value (since this would give the team exclusive rights to negotiate) and possibly decreases FRP (since FRP rookie scale pay tends to be higher) a bit under the new cba, at least until new tv money increases the cap space available.

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Stop your messing around;

Better think of your future,

Time to straighten right out,

Creating problems in town.

Rudy!

A message to you, Rudy…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cntvEDbagAw&pp=ygUVYSBtZXNzYWdlIHRvIHlvdSBydWR5

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Scene - (half-time during the NBA Finals, Jonathan Kuminga enters the Kerr's office)

Kuminga: "I want Rudy to sub into my minutes in the 3rd, Coach. He deserves it"

Kerr: (scoffs) "Don't be ridiculous. Joe's burner account has been flaming my rotation pattern on Threads all day. You're an All-Star and All-Defensive team member and a pillar of this team, act like it."

Kuminga: "I believe I am." (places his phone with his tiktok highlights on the desk)

Moody: "Me too, coach" (also puts his phone down). "Let's get Rudy a ring."

(Rest of the team also files in, doing likewise)

Epilogue - Rudy Gay goes 3-3 from 3 with a +10 bpm in 7 minutes played. The team carries him off the court as they celebrate the decisive win that many credit as a key moment in Dubs securing the '24 chip. And Rudy, after 57 years in the NBA, Rudy finally got that ring.

This is for Rudy, Coach - https://youtu.be/TY0LUIIwo8k

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Interesting scene. I've never seen that movie. My mind works in a twisted way so it made me think of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C8gfX8FpAA

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In general, I'm intrigued by the lineup flexibility around Fox, Murray, and Sabonis. Anyone know a bit about Sasha Vezenkov? Besides the accolades and a few highlights, I'm not familiar. Curious to hear what his game is and how he might fit.

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To me the biggest issue with the Kings is that, for all their intriguing talent, they lack a Top 20 NBA player, and it’s really hard to do anything super interesting in the NBA without that.

Fox was maybe somewhere in the #20-25 range last season, and at age 25-26 could conceivably take another mini-leap forward, but such leaps are really hard when you’re 6’-3” and a poor-to-mediocre 3 pt shooter. The Kings last season were actually not much better with Fox on the floor than without (+0.9 net on-off). If it turns out last season was a plateau (give or take) for him, the Kings’ ceiling seems pretty limited; and if he regresses to his .550-.560 TS form of previous seasons, I think they could easily trend towards .500 and the bottom of the Pacific Division.

Life comes at you fast in the NBA, even for media darlings with seemingly bright futures. The West this season seems particularly brutal, and the Kings won’t have the benefit this season of sneaking up on people.

But who knows….

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"I don't just hit people" is as pathetic a statement as it gets. This excuse of a player is absolutely classless to still be going about this. I'm with Stefano and Alas on this. I'm quite ready for this era to be over and for Green to be gone.

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"enemies" is a strange word to describe challengers.

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I don't know what it is about Rudy Gay; he's the kind of player that I don't generally like... he's old, he shoots too many 3s on a mediocre percentage, he takes too many middies, doesn't rack up a ton of assists or rebounds, pretty inefficient, and the advanced stats don't love him...

But actually when I said "I don't know what it is" I was lying, I know what it is -- he's been on a ton of teams, good teams, mediocre teams, terrible teams, and one thing has been remarkably consistent: his team is always better when he's on the floor. It's pretty impressive, I think I probably have to chalk it up to underrated defense, but even this last year, at his current age, on a bad team, and with (according to BPM and RAPTOR) a down year both on offense and defense, the Jazz were still +3 with him on the floor and +5 on-off. I don't know what he's doing exactly, but he seems to be doing it right!

Ideally our last roster spot would be a 3/4, but I'll take a good player over an ideal fit. Is he a good player still? I don't know! But if the warriors were to sign him my mood would be intrigued and optimistic.

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> Ideally our last roster spot would be a 3/4

Is that not what Rudy Gay is?

I think their last player is going to be someone comfortable with not playing that much, which is why someone like Gay could make sense. For better or worse they are about to guarantee Kuminga a full time frontcourt rotation role, don't think the minutes are there to attract someone better than Gay unless you can find a G-League gem or something. If they try Kuminga out and it doesn't work then maybe that spot will open up by the time the buyout market gets going.

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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

Why not just promote Gui? He's not going to expect a ton of minutes, you can send him down to the G-league if he's not getting any run and needs to play, and it solves the problem of whether you can get under the apron next year in his case. You can put him on a two year vet min contract, and then you'll have (partial?) bird rights.

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Cuz you don’t have to… and he hasn’t proven to be NBA trustable. But mostly because you don’t have to.

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37 year old, post-Achilles Gay is just as likely to be a Celebrini special than a player who contributes. At the very least, Gui on the main roster gets his feet wet in the NBA. And frankly, given the strides I've seen in one year, I think Gui will be able to help us next year.

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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

Yah he definitely was a 3/4 at one point, I guess I would be more comfortable with him exclusively at the 4 at his age (he even played a bit of 5 with the jazz), but agree with everything else you're saying!

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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

A 4/5 would be even better imo. A general idea of the minutes:

PG: Curry 32, CP3 16

SG: Klay 25, CP3 10, GP2 10

SF: Wiggins 32, Moody 10, Klay 5

PF: Draymond 30, Kuminga 18

C: Looney 25, Saric 15, TJD 8

The specifics aren't super important as I'm sure this is not entirely accurate, but the point here is that it is already really hard to give minutes in the PG/SG/SF spots. CP3 is at 26 here which is like 6 minutes below last season, Klay is 3 minutes below last season, Curry is 3 minutes below last season, GP2 and Moody are pretty squeezed and could easily be phased out of the rotation if one or the other isn't performing without having to look externally, hell Joseph isn't even in the rotation here (neither is Podz).

Whereas in the frontcourt, the Kuminga (who I am assuming a full time role for) and TJD minutes were a lot easier to find. Obviously those TJD minutes could just get absorbed by the other frontcourt guys if he's not ready. But the point is, another 4/5 who doesn't expect an every night role but can step in if they are needed makes the most sense for roster spot #14 imo

I'd keep #15 open, try to sign a more traditional emergency big like Giles or Queta on a two-way, gives Quinones one of the two-ways, and then get a non-center who they think is good for the last two-way. I'd say Santos but it sounds like he's main roster or bust with his contract situation, so maybe next year.

EDIT: From a strictly basketball sense, Lamb would be a great get on that last two-way and has an argument for #14. But...you know.

EDIT2: JaMychal Green could also make sense for that last spot but if he was indeed a locker room issue last season then no thanks.

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Totally! When I said we need a 3/4 I guess I was thinking from a 3rd string/backup perspective rather than a minutes perspective, i.e. where are we thinnest overall...

PG: Steph, CP3, Joseph

SG: Klay, GP2, Moody, Podz

SF: Wiggins, ?

PF: Draymond, Kuminga

C: Looney, Saric, TJD

Obviously Moody/Klay/Kuminga, maybe even GP2, will eat up minutes at SF, but Wiggins is our only true 3 at this point. That said, since we have players that can fill that role it might not be a true need. Honestly, like you said, from a *purely basketball perspective* I think Lamb would be the best fit for #14, but since Rudy's not an alleged rapist I'll happily give him the nod.

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To the extent that positions matter I think Moody and Klay are SFs, personally.

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Dundun has said not to expect any more signings. So, alas poor Rudy, you'll have to wait for another year. Maybe when you hit 39, there might be a spot for you.

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where'd you see that? I thought he said that they were looking to add one more player and that ideally they wanted size and length.

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Yeah read same thing. That dont expect any more signings “for now” but that they would look to fill 14th spot in training camp competition

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IIRC, he said later in the season.

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That's what I recall too. And if nobody grabs the job then, there will be a list of borderline FAs they can grab from, as there always is.

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My main concern is whether he has enough left to help us. I am encouraged by what you wrote about the Jazz being +3 better with him on the floor even in a down year.

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I'm against signing him. They already have enough over 30 year olds. As soon as the team hiccups Steve Kerr will yank every player under 30 off the floor and insert Rudy Gay and others he identifies as vets into the lineup. (Moody, JK won't count as vets in that framework). It will be a double loss--1)he'll ride his "vets" so hard they'll have nothing left for the playoffs, and 2)he will have (once again, in my view) stalled young gun development. And then, after the first round exit, he'll make the podcast rounds and crow about "learning how to win (from the bench, I take it)." No thanks.

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I can’t stand D. Green anymore. I don’t think I might be enjoying any more Dubs games with him on the team. And sincerely, I don’t understand how some of you still stand his constantly destroying all the beauty that players like Curry, Thompson, Poole, Durant bring on the court. Plus, he doesn’t bring any.

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100% disagree with you Stefano. Draymond creates as much beauty in the game as either of the rest of our big three. If you don't understand how many of us are loyal to Dray after 4 titles, I can't explain it much clearer. And I wouldn't enjoy this team as much without him on it (nor do I believe they would win anything).

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For all the nonsense that Draymond brings upon himself, to his credit, he creates a lot of the beauty on the court that you speak of. Without Draymond you might have less distractions, less arguing, less podcasts, etc... But with Draymond you get elite understanding of the game, four championships, and a Gold medal. I would love for him to stop rehashing the past and move on, but that's not him. He's got to work through that on his own and come to some peace.

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I agree with this assessment, but I wish he didn't have to work through it IN PUBLIC and by talking about his teammates (past and present). My God, man -- show some self-awareness!

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The stunning thing is that the young man acts more as an adult compared to the older.

The weakness is on Dray’s shoulders, not his.

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Come maturità e serietà Poole batte Green 6 - 0 6 - 0

Tipo Djokovic contro Fognini, per intenderci

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Which just suggests that a second core with JP at the center might've been amazing, 'cause JP has the composure and maturity, it appears, to play that role. Dray? Not so much.

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Lets not go that far...

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I did say "might've". :-)

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And yet… when he does hash them out in public, people watch/listen/talk about it, and he gets paid more for every media junket.

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Sigh. I know this is true. I just think it's twisted and sad.

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Just because a lot people watch or listen to him or he gets paid more doesn't mean he's right. And that's the sad state of the world today where money and fame often override truth or decency.

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Enjoy your feelings of moral superiority, I guess...

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I'm just giving my opinion like everyone else here.

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But how much does it cost him in respect?

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How much does it cost him in respect from his peers? Probably not that much... they all know how the NBA $$ game is played.

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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

He's gonna make around 200 million in the NBA not including any endorsement deals he may have.

At this point to he's probably trying accumulate enough wealth to try and stand shoulder with steph in LeBron. Wealth is status and he wants to be on their level.

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Totally agree.

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Draymond can be annoying, but Playoff Draymond still shows up sometimes and that guy is a straight up animal. As in, second best player on the team.

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Removed (Banned)Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023
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I’d be curious to see the numbers that seem to capture Dray’s impact more. Honestly, not to be a hater, but I think you’re describing Klay more than Dray.

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Vabbè ma della gentaglia c'è più o meno in tutte le squadre dai. Anche a Milano, Bologna eccetera. Pensa a Ettore Messina o Luca Baraldi. Il Real Madrid è pieno di stronzi, eccetera eccetera

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ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.

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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

Nefandím těm týmům, takže mohou mít všechny šmejdy, jaké chtějí.

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Me and Freddie, we deserve that! :D

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Sono convinto che con Messina JP e JK avrebbero beccato sberle tutti i giorni, e avrebbero lavato il parquet con lo spazzolino da denti dopo ogni allenamento. Ma Dray, 4” dopo il cazzotto a JP, sarebbe atterrato nel Michigan con il mento.

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E probabilmente dopo sarebbe stato licenziato in tronco (Ettore).

Perché gli amici si sono schierati dalla parte di Dray e non dalla parte dello sbarbato.

Il quale è stato pagato profumatamente con le conseguenze che abbiamo visto.

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Concordo in pieno

123 milioni di risarcimento per non rompere troppo i maroni e, a giugno 2023, adios amigo

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We’ll see you at the start of the year rooting proudly for Steph, Klay, Dray, and even CP3 and the young guys. One thing i don’t keep receipts on is an “in the moment” reaction to one of ours doing something dumb. It should be a fun one, Stefano.

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Set aside the major transgressions and, I agree, I tend not to "keep receipts on an 'in the moment' reaction." But Dray has a lot more negative stuff than just costing the team its 73-9 title and (allegedly) running KD and JP out of town. Its an every single game occurrence. Its just a repeated yell at the refs for every call. Dray, you know, he DOES commit fouls. He is not some foulless defender. The arguing every single call takes away from the fun of the game. . . . Sometimes I even turn it off, I just don't wanna watch the complaining and acting a fool anymore.

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Unfortunately that unending foul whining is most of the NBA today

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Yeah, but I have no desire to cheer the vast majority of other players on other teams. If they want to behave like classless fools, let 'em. But players on my team doing it? Its embarrassing and, eventually, no longer fun. I mean, have you ever played a game with someone like that? Not fun, not to play and not to watch.

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Here's a receipt to look back on: I'll definitely be rooting for these guys when the season begins. But when the time comes for Green to hang it up, I won't be sorry to see him go. I /want/ to cheer for the guy. But he's making it hard and a lot less fun.

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Man, I’ve had more of those type of reactions than I care to admit.

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Yeah. Same. I thought about it briefly when we traded for Chris Paul

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You mean when they traded away Ryan Rollins

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Random offseason post, here's a Warriors/Lakers game from the 2012-2013 season:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLtWPkLMIis

Spoiler alert, don't watch it if you are expecting to see a Warrior win. But I think this YT channel has a few older Warrior games in full.

Also, miss you Jim Barnett.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwIgQFTflTs

You want to go back even more, then here's a game from 2011-2012 with a Curry/Ellis/Wright/Lee/Udoh starting lineup.

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Crazy how little Curry was featured in this game

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15 minutes of dudes scrimmaging. Spoiler: JK isn't chilling on a beach somewhere (relax! It's a joke. Jeez people).

https://youtube.com/watch?v=g0QfFOT-Y8k&feature=share7

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Really glad to see JK putting in the work. I wish I saw more on that reel in terms of development. Cade hangs him up on screens about ten times on that vid, and JK also gets caught overplaying on D a couple time. I like the effort, but the positioning needs work. On offense, on the dribble he's too upright, clearly looking to pass mostly instead of creating an advantage. As usual, he's spectacularly explosive when he takes it to the cup, and the shot looks better, and there's at least a couple plays where he breaks the paint and makes a good kickout. But overall he still looks kinda raw to me, particularly defensively, at least in this scrimmage.

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As a near 40 year Warrior fan, I reserve the right to root for the team, that is the name that continues to be printed on the front of the jersey rather than the name of the player that is printed on the back. As a Warrior's fan, I am not beholden to any player or coach. I am beholden to the team I want to root for. And I would rather root for a losing team that played to the best of their abilities and had an ounce of character than a championship team that had no class.

Dray, Dray, Dray, Dray, Dray. Hall of Fame. 4 rings. Podcast, TNT, Media King, LeBron BFF, you got the NBA world wrapped around your finger.

One problem. Jordan Poole is still schooling your A. Every moment your open your trap and Jordan keeps his cool is another moment of you getting punked. JP got under your skin. You lost it. And he is still under your skin. He owns your A and you can't deal with it because you can't F'ing shut up about it. Welcome to school, Dray. Better takes notes. You are no longer the head of class, which shouldn't surprise anyone, cuz' you have none.

Am I no longer a Warrior's fan because I no longer want them to win? Or am I a real Warrior's fan because I want them to be a team worth rooting for? That, my friends, is the question.

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OK. Wife birthday remembered. Check. Dog and Cat fed, check. Kids spending the night with Grandma, check.

Poole's Dad calling Dray a little B?

Priceless.

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OKC waives Rudy Gay, per Shams

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That was their easiest cut other than Oladipo. After that they'll either have to eat a lot of Bertans money or start making some decisions on some young guys.

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author

A specter is haunting the Warriors 14th roster spot — a specter called Rudy

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I now wanna see a Warriors Manifesto!

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It is high time that Warriors should openly, in the face of the whole world, publish their views, their aims, their tendencies, and meet this nursery tale of the Specter of Smallball with a Manifesto of Making the Right Play itself.

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Oh, god. Please say it isn't so.

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Please, let’s not get another old player.

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A young player will want to play more than the 14th roster spot will allow

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If he has enough left in the tank. He'll be 37 by the time camp starts.

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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

David West is another ex-spur who dominated @ 37 w/ golden state ;)

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Jul 20, 2023·edited Jul 20, 2023

Legend has it he's still waving back. Poor soul

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Been gone a few days. Did I miss anything???

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More like Poole Sr beefing with Dray. but yeah, drama.

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OT (didn't see posted already) Guardian review/story on new Curry doc "Stephen Curry is too good to pretend his success is merely down to hard work" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jul/19/stephen-curry-documentary-movie-apple-tv-review

movie was going to be a lot more about him finishing his degree, then he went and got a chip and an MVP. so things changed up.

Not sure if headline is fair - need to see the film. .. .

M

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The headline is a response to Curry allegedly saying in the movie that nobody works harder than he does. As near as I can tell, Curry never denies that he has more innate skill than 99% of all humans, that's an invention of the headline writer. However I haven't seen the movie as it isn't out yet and, in any event, I don't have appleTV.

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> Curry allegedly saying in the movie that nobody works harder than he does.

Context matters, and this is "allegedly," but IF Steph said that, there are probably a few single Mom's and Dad's, firefighters and paramedics, and K-12 teachers who would like to have a word.

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