I just got through watching Masters of the Air on Apple TV Plus. I came in with tempered expectations because I had just done a rewatch for The Pacific. After the series finale If I could summarize it in one sentence, it would be “Not enough meat on that bone”
Since you're obviously a fan of WW2 history, highly recommend you read "The American GI in Europe in World War II: D-Day: Storming Ashore" which tells a history of WW2 from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground.
You’ll love Pacific upon rewatch (not the first time). Band of Brothers is just the Apex of television viewing but IMO some elements don’t hold as well over time. Pacific is just a more grounded and brutally realistic view of combat and of how they portrayed the Japanese as subhumans.
I am sure this link to a fantastic interview of JK by Kerith Burke and Monty Poole was posted earlier - but just in case you are bored with the boring games on tonight it’s a must hear.
Suns cruise to a relatively easy win v the lowly Hornets … but somehow manage to drop the 4th quarter 15-29, to maintain their status as possibly the worst 4th quarter team in NBA history.
Bones Hyland v Jordan Poole has somehow morphed from "who's the most dynamic young scoring combo guard in the NBA?" to "who's the worst high-usage player in the NBA?"
To celebrate Steph’ birthday i rewatched the YT highlights of games 4 through 6 of the 2022 finals. Jordan poole was so good in game 4 and game 6 - he host that terrific near half court buzzer beater in game 5 as well. Sigh - I hope he gets back to that type of player
Game 4: 20 minutes, 14 pts on 6-13 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast
Game 6: 18 minutes, 15 pts on 5-12 fg, 3 reb, 2 ast
He was a key role player and a critical part of the ‘22 championship. And night and day better than the guy he’s been the last two seasons. But still … probably best as a 17-20 mpg role player.
Is anyone else looking forward to what our center rotation will look like in the playoffs?
I think DG and TJD is a more than serviceable center rotation, with Loon off the bench for specific matchups.
If you had told me at the beginning of the season that we would draft a 2nd string center who I'd be pretty OK with starting a playoff game, I'd have thought you'd exceeded your 'shroom allowance.
I can watch the games tonight with the contented glow of the righteous, since I got my tax returns done.
I assumed DNHQ was a tax-exempt charity, and valued my posts at $8691.30 for tax deduction purposes. I'm sure there's absolutely nothing wrong with this.
And Grant Williams... not that he's done anything despicable off the court, but he's just a guy I don't like. And they're giving Poku 1st quarter minutes, which is WILD.
An interesting question… Why are there some players we just like or don’t like. We don’t really know them at all, but something about them irritates us or appeals to us. For example, I really really, did I say really, don’t like Luka Dončić and James Harden. I really did like James Wiseman, and what he had to say, and KAT whom I know absolutely nothing about. Go figure.
Tbh most of the players I like or dislike are because of their play style, precisely because I know little about them as people. The exceptions are usually if I do know something about the player that's particularly good or bad. The only guy I think I dislike for basically no reason: Sabonis. The Kings are fun for me when they're firing and he seems important for that, but he just seems like a dingus to me. The flip side is I think Aaron Gordon seems like a fun dude who I know nothing about but just sorta like
For me there are usually reasons I dislike players, even if they seem superficial at times.
With Harden, although I respect his talent, I don’t like his flopping and over-reliance on drawing fouls, especially when he played for the Rockets. Off the court I didn’t like the way he forced teams to trade him, coming in out of shape, out partying instead of focusing on his business (hooping), opting in with Philly and then refusing to play, etc.
I never hated Chris Paul. I didn’t like his flopping and whining to refs, and he was an arch-rival I wanted to beat every time we played his teams. It was a mission to deny him a ring. But I never thought he was a bad person, just a very intense competitor who strove to be great — and was. And he helps make teammates better. I respect that.
But I don’t like Dillon Brooks because he’s a jerk on the court and seemingly off the court (based on stuff he says), and he cultivates that image. I am not a Miles Bridges fan because of the way he treats women, having nothing to do with his game. Kyrie is an all-time great player with some of the best handles this side of Pistol Pete and Cousy but I don’t care for off court things he says and does. Then again, the players mostly seem to like him. I’m disappointed in Ja Morant’s behavior but he is young, and I hope he can change.
But unless there’s a real reason not to, I am fine with most players. I was a professional musician for a long time, I’ve seen a lot go down, I can’t pass any purity tests — and after all I use the moniker “Attila the Hun”! — so I am not by nature very judgmental. I certainly don’t have anything against Luka, and I am not anti-LeBron. It’s amusing to say Austin Rivers sucks but I don’t take it seriously.
I do tend to like players who play the game right and don’t act like jerks. I like SGA, I like Haliburton, I like Joker and Giannis. They respect themselves and the game.
@Gold Blooded King: LOVED this piece — an instant classic. You gotta compile all these into a book! No disrespect to great writers like Ethan and MT II, but I enjoy your insightful, witty, poetic prose more than that of any of the other GSW bards. You're basically the anti- Andy Liu. 😜
I watch Light Years because I enjoy Sam, but Andy is just so terrible. He often doesn’t finish sentences coherently, or with insightful “What are we/you doin’ here?”
Also, on the topic of Steph's post basketball career. Will we have to migrate to SPGAtionHQ or will we be able to add an Explain-1-Hole to his post round play?
Hmmm... I am not sure I want to watch a video about Dillon Brooks' a-hole-i-ness. Or Grayson Allen's for that matter. Hey let's watch videos of NBA players being jerks, maybe injuring other players, and mouthing off. I suppose it COULD be entertaining in a sick sort of way. (Yes I realize you were being facetious. So am I.)
That said, I don't want to watch a video about Steph's golf game either. I can watch grass grow in my backyard without a video. But then, I don't play golf. 😊
Any word on Dray? I assume he's going to try to play if at all possible, but not sure how much Wednesday was "my back is sore, I could use some rest since Steph is out anyway" vs. "nope, can't play, back is out"
Although the article “Like Steph and Jimmer before her, Caitlin Clark is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience” is on Clark, quite a bit of it is on Steph and his start to stardom in college.
Most likely we won't have the #1 pick anyway. In the past, the wnba has allocated the expansion team the pick after the lottery teams (currently four teams), and she would not last until #5 next year. So, you can be a bit less mad.
Playoffstatus.com has the Warriors at a 1% chance of avoiding the play-in. 14% chance of 7th or 8th, 77% chance of 9th or 10th.
Obviously tomorrow's game and 2 against DAL are huge, and I think the most realistic thing to root for is to sneak into the 7/8 game and out of the 9/10 game.
I mean, we're probably not leapfrogging three teams to knock the Kings out of #6, but "1%" seems like an absurdly low guesstimate. The Warriors are four games back of SAC, with a significantly better net rating, and 17 games left. Something like 14-3 to close probably gets them the #6. Way stranger things have happened.
I'd go more like 5-10%. (But maybe knock that down to 2-3% if Dray's back issue is serious and lingers?)
Mar 15·edited Mar 15Liked by Eric Apricot, Daniel Hardee
I've suffered as the fan of perennially bad teams for the entirety of my life. For goodness sake, I was a RAIDERS and WARRIORS fan simultaneously. Suffice to say, I've seen the depths of sports centered despair.
Its because of memory, that I quietly strangle the cold dead part of me which whispers that we should seriously consider trading Curry/Klay/Draymond and kickstarting the rebuild. While I may play with various trade scenarios, the memories of joyous warmth that our Golden Trio shone upon me throughout the vicissitudes of life make me unwilling to ever pull the trigger. Sometimes, doing the optimal thing is not always the right thing.
Beyond the players on the team, I'VE LOVED our organization with the Zen Buddha Kerr, the thoughtful but decisive Myers, and the inspirationally ambitious Lacob. I've loved the culture they've created that cares for the players as human beings, realizing that while we ARE a business that it's nonetheless personal. That the relationship between the fans, the players, and the organization is a precious flower that must be watered and maintained.
Even beyond that, this incredible online community has been the fantastic intersection between thoughtful content and critical but positive interaction. Yes, I'm the resident asshole but that doesn't mean I can't recognize that what we have here is special and rare.
I truly can't believe my insane luck that I was able to experience basketball greatness at every level with the players, organization, fans. Most people never experience one of these things, let alone all three simultaneously. My best guess, in another life I was a GODDAMNED hero and all this is just good karma!!!
Y'know. I'm not really sure who the resident asshole is around here, but I can't think of a single name/handle that makes me go "fuck this person". I think we're all pretty cool here, or maybe im just used to all you assholes ;p
I think the fact that Kerr re-signed for two more years indicates that Steph and Draymond at least will be here that long and most likely Klay if a mutually acceptable deal can be struck this summer. I think there's a good chance all three will retire as Warriors, although their roles may change, as Klay's already is changing.
WE DONE WITH THE 90'S!!!
JxmyHighroller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPZ_HlpI8x8
A great perspective piece. Seems like everyone is taking stock at the moment...
I just got through watching Masters of the Air on Apple TV Plus. I came in with tempered expectations because I had just done a rewatch for The Pacific. After the series finale If I could summarize it in one sentence, it would be “Not enough meat on that bone”
Since you're obviously a fan of WW2 history, highly recommend you read "The American GI in Europe in World War II: D-Day: Storming Ashore" which tells a history of WW2 from the perspective of the soldiers on the ground.
Its really great/engaging!!
Your thoughts on Pacific vs Band of Brothers?
Haven't seen Pacific.
You’ll love Pacific upon rewatch (not the first time). Band of Brothers is just the Apex of television viewing but IMO some elements don’t hold as well over time. Pacific is just a more grounded and brutally realistic view of combat and of how they portrayed the Japanese as subhumans.
Thanks. Just rewatched BoB, and was shocked at how well it held up.
I am sure this link to a fantastic interview of JK by Kerith Burke and Monty Poole was posted earlier - but just in case you are bored with the boring games on tonight it’s a must hear.
https://art19.com/shows/316ce225-5694-403f-a724-adbf53d39c76/embed?playlist_type=playlist#
In case above link does not work it’s under the podcast section of nba sports Bay are
https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/podcasts/
This is great! Thank you so much for posting
Some highlights
- it’s hilarious
- as per JK, Kerr is much harder on him then he was on JP- in response to Keriths question of how Kerr is really hard on people he thinks can be great
- when ever he walks by Dray, Dray is muttering - nobody can stop you
- he clearly loves Loondawg
Zero interesting games today, schedulers suck.
Watch Brazilian Luka dropping crazy dimes down in Santa Cruz right now
Checked the box score, no Usman tonight? Is he hurt?
Yeah, sprained ankle a few weeks ago… Gui iced this one with a pure swished 3 with just over a minute left to make it an 8 point game too.
Santa Cruz Surfers! Nice Jerseys.
Suns cruise to a relatively easy win v the lowly Hornets … but somehow manage to drop the 4th quarter 15-29, to maintain their status as possibly the worst 4th quarter team in NBA history.
Bones Hyland v Jordan Poole has somehow morphed from "who's the most dynamic young scoring combo guard in the NBA?" to "who's the worst high-usage player in the NBA?"
To celebrate Steph’ birthday i rewatched the YT highlights of games 4 through 6 of the 2022 finals. Jordan poole was so good in game 4 and game 6 - he host that terrific near half court buzzer beater in game 5 as well. Sigh - I hope he gets back to that type of player
Game 4: 20 minutes, 14 pts on 6-13 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast
Game 6: 18 minutes, 15 pts on 5-12 fg, 3 reb, 2 ast
He was a key role player and a critical part of the ‘22 championship. And night and day better than the guy he’s been the last two seasons. But still … probably best as a 17-20 mpg role player.
Always thought of JP as a gunslinger. The Bishop on the board can not get promoted to a Queen... But can become trapped by a poisoned pawn...
It's an off day, so:
Is anyone else looking forward to what our center rotation will look like in the playoffs?
I think DG and TJD is a more than serviceable center rotation, with Loon off the bench for specific matchups.
If you had told me at the beginning of the season that we would draft a 2nd string center who I'd be pretty OK with starting a playoff game, I'd have thought you'd exceeded your 'shroom allowance.
Cue Jim Mora, "Playoffs?"
I lump the play-in with the playoffs ... it's all postseason to me.
TJ D is busy practicing his free throws and will be ready for the playoffs.
.655 FT if you combine his last year of college and first year in the NBA. Not super encouraging, but not cause for panic yet either, imo.
Feel like we may need to call in a southpaw shooting coach this summer for both Podz and TJD. Paging Chris Mullin?
.655? Better than Loon, better than Wiggins’ last two years…
Low bar.
Eh, lots of bigs tend to have bad FT% numbers… being in the mid 60s is plenty good enough.
That's fair.
Fwiw, by the same measure (last two seasons, NCAA + NBA) Podz is .719. Again, not super encouraging but not cause for panic.
Great idea, I’ll tell Steve. But, of course, I will give you credit.
I can watch the games tonight with the contented glow of the righteous, since I got my tax returns done.
I assumed DNHQ was a tax-exempt charity, and valued my posts at $8691.30 for tax deduction purposes. I'm sure there's absolutely nothing wrong with this.
Since your brand value is such a valuable contribution, you should probably be valuing at $86,913.00...
As a tax preparer, I can tell you that this checks out. Make sure you keep the receipts!
Should we even bother? Let's go Charlotte! Let's go Clippers!
Let's go Miles Bridges! Yecchh, now I need a quick shower to wash that off.
And Grant Williams... not that he's done anything despicable off the court, but he's just a guy I don't like. And they're giving Poku 1st quarter minutes, which is WILD.
An interesting question… Why are there some players we just like or don’t like. We don’t really know them at all, but something about them irritates us or appeals to us. For example, I really really, did I say really, don’t like Luka Dončić and James Harden. I really did like James Wiseman, and what he had to say, and KAT whom I know absolutely nothing about. Go figure.
Tbh most of the players I like or dislike are because of their play style, precisely because I know little about them as people. The exceptions are usually if I do know something about the player that's particularly good or bad. The only guy I think I dislike for basically no reason: Sabonis. The Kings are fun for me when they're firing and he seems important for that, but he just seems like a dingus to me. The flip side is I think Aaron Gordon seems like a fun dude who I know nothing about but just sorta like
My reasons…are largely due to visceral , unexplainable reactions to some guys.
Extra points for perfect usage of “dingus”
Good question!
For me there are usually reasons I dislike players, even if they seem superficial at times.
With Harden, although I respect his talent, I don’t like his flopping and over-reliance on drawing fouls, especially when he played for the Rockets. Off the court I didn’t like the way he forced teams to trade him, coming in out of shape, out partying instead of focusing on his business (hooping), opting in with Philly and then refusing to play, etc.
I never hated Chris Paul. I didn’t like his flopping and whining to refs, and he was an arch-rival I wanted to beat every time we played his teams. It was a mission to deny him a ring. But I never thought he was a bad person, just a very intense competitor who strove to be great — and was. And he helps make teammates better. I respect that.
But I don’t like Dillon Brooks because he’s a jerk on the court and seemingly off the court (based on stuff he says), and he cultivates that image. I am not a Miles Bridges fan because of the way he treats women, having nothing to do with his game. Kyrie is an all-time great player with some of the best handles this side of Pistol Pete and Cousy but I don’t care for off court things he says and does. Then again, the players mostly seem to like him. I’m disappointed in Ja Morant’s behavior but he is young, and I hope he can change.
But unless there’s a real reason not to, I am fine with most players. I was a professional musician for a long time, I’ve seen a lot go down, I can’t pass any purity tests — and after all I use the moniker “Attila the Hun”! — so I am not by nature very judgmental. I certainly don’t have anything against Luka, and I am not anti-LeBron. It’s amusing to say Austin Rivers sucks but I don’t take it seriously.
I do tend to like players who play the game right and don’t act like jerks. I like SGA, I like Haliburton, I like Joker and Giannis. They respect themselves and the game.
@Gold Blooded King: LOVED this piece — an instant classic. You gotta compile all these into a book! No disrespect to great writers like Ethan and MT II, but I enjoy your insightful, witty, poetic prose more than that of any of the other GSW bards. You're basically the anti- Andy Liu. 😜
I watch Light Years because I enjoy Sam, but Andy is just so terrible. He often doesn’t finish sentences coherently, or with insightful “What are we/you doin’ here?”
Also, on the topic of Steph's post basketball career. Will we have to migrate to SPGAtionHQ or will we be able to add an Explain-1-Hole to his post round play?
Not Explain-1-Hole, Explain-A-Hole: e.g. Dillon Brooks.
Hmmm... I am not sure I want to watch a video about Dillon Brooks' a-hole-i-ness. Or Grayson Allen's for that matter. Hey let's watch videos of NBA players being jerks, maybe injuring other players, and mouthing off. I suppose it COULD be entertaining in a sick sort of way. (Yes I realize you were being facetious. So am I.)
That said, I don't want to watch a video about Steph's golf game either. I can watch grass grow in my backyard without a video. But then, I don't play golf. 😊
OT, I didn't watch much FB anymore, but props to Aaron Donald for a great career, and for walking away while he can still walk.
49ers heaving a sigh of relief at that announcement 😁
https://twitter.com/MontePooleNBCS/status/1768741445471813684
Warriors expect Stephen Curry, who missed 3 games with a sprained R ankle, to return Saturday in LA against the Lakers
Won't be surprised if he's listed as 'probable,' which generally means available
Any word on Dray? I assume he's going to try to play if at all possible, but not sure how much Wednesday was "my back is sore, I could use some rest since Steph is out anyway" vs. "nope, can't play, back is out"
https://x.com/nbcswarriors/status/1768780520908071322?s=46&t=uin-bDCpAMkWQkABBJ4tFA
Draymond believes he will be able to return tomorrow to face the Lakers
Thanks, and good to hear
Although the article “Like Steph and Jimmer before her, Caitlin Clark is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience” is on Clark, quite a bit of it is on Steph and his start to stardom in college.
https://theathletic.com/5318203/2024/03/07/caitlin-clark-stephen-curry-ncaa-tournament/
I'm extremely salty she's declaring one year before we get the N.1 pick.
Most likely we won't have the #1 pick anyway. In the past, the wnba has allocated the expansion team the pick after the lottery teams (currently four teams), and she would not last until #5 next year. So, you can be a bit less mad.
Basketball Reference current projections:
5. NO - 50-32
6. SAC - 47-35
7. DAL - 46-36
8. PHO - 46-36
9. GS - 44-38
10. LAL - 44-38
Playoffstatus.com has the Warriors at a 1% chance of avoiding the play-in. 14% chance of 7th or 8th, 77% chance of 9th or 10th.
Obviously tomorrow's game and 2 against DAL are huge, and I think the most realistic thing to root for is to sneak into the 7/8 game and out of the 9/10 game.
I mean, we're probably not leapfrogging three teams to knock the Kings out of #6, but "1%" seems like an absurdly low guesstimate. The Warriors are four games back of SAC, with a significantly better net rating, and 17 games left. Something like 14-3 to close probably gets them the #6. Way stranger things have happened.
I'd go more like 5-10%. (But maybe knock that down to 2-3% if Dray's back issue is serious and lingers?)
14-3 is gonna be tough to begin with, then we need some help... whatever, just get to the dance and see how it goes.
It's so important to push hard for that 8th spot. Gotta get two chances at making the real playoffs.
And the last game against LAL in April :)
I've suffered as the fan of perennially bad teams for the entirety of my life. For goodness sake, I was a RAIDERS and WARRIORS fan simultaneously. Suffice to say, I've seen the depths of sports centered despair.
Its because of memory, that I quietly strangle the cold dead part of me which whispers that we should seriously consider trading Curry/Klay/Draymond and kickstarting the rebuild. While I may play with various trade scenarios, the memories of joyous warmth that our Golden Trio shone upon me throughout the vicissitudes of life make me unwilling to ever pull the trigger. Sometimes, doing the optimal thing is not always the right thing.
Beyond the players on the team, I'VE LOVED our organization with the Zen Buddha Kerr, the thoughtful but decisive Myers, and the inspirationally ambitious Lacob. I've loved the culture they've created that cares for the players as human beings, realizing that while we ARE a business that it's nonetheless personal. That the relationship between the fans, the players, and the organization is a precious flower that must be watered and maintained.
Even beyond that, this incredible online community has been the fantastic intersection between thoughtful content and critical but positive interaction. Yes, I'm the resident asshole but that doesn't mean I can't recognize that what we have here is special and rare.
I truly can't believe my insane luck that I was able to experience basketball greatness at every level with the players, organization, fans. Most people never experience one of these things, let alone all three simultaneously. My best guess, in another life I was a GODDAMNED hero and all this is just good karma!!!
Y'know. I'm not really sure who the resident asshole is around here, but I can't think of a single name/handle that makes me go "fuck this person". I think we're all pretty cool here, or maybe im just used to all you assholes ;p
I think the fact that Kerr re-signed for two more years indicates that Steph and Draymond at least will be here that long and most likely Klay if a mutually acceptable deal can be struck this summer. I think there's a good chance all three will retire as Warriors, although their roles may change, as Klay's already is changing.
ARASH!