Dub Nation HQ Comments of the Week & Open Thread
Dub Nation HQ Comments of the Week & Open Thread
Somehow GSW has started 5-1 and we all think it's spooooooky
Game Thread: Damion Lee out vs. Thunder…
Let's get a win!
ServantOfLuna (9 ♡):
Kuminga 3!
storytellinsabrina (8 ♡):
Jazz lost.
We're number 1! We're number 1!
jeckyllhouse (6 ♡):
Slater: Steve Kerr has subbed Gary Payton II in for the final defensive possession of a quarter three times in the season's first six games. Payton has created a steal all three times.
Broken clipboards and recurring problems…
Damion Lee (shoulder), Toscano-Anderson (ankle) are questionable against OKC - but maybe we see Kuminga!
Asher B. (9 ♡):
We had a thread in the game thread regarding turnovers. The topic was the challenge of telling a team to constantly keep the ball moving, and to play fast, yet not commit turnovers. I think it was mduo13 who made what I think is a very valid and useful distinction: some turnovers are "The cost of doing business" and some are just lack of focus, Draymond's 8 second violation.
I can't imagine that the cost-of-doing-business ones are going to go down much unless we change style of play -- or personnel. You can't whip the ball around the perimeter, have actions off of two screens and sudden back-cuts, and never have the opponent shoot the gap on a pass or intercept a pass. It also drives everyone crazy when a player steps backward and out of bounds to shoot a 3.
Klay never does that, so among a million other reasons we want him back instantly is that he doesn't turn it over much, both because of his style of play and skill set. When the first thing you do after catching the ball is shoot it, not a lot of error creeps in. But this brings up the question of personnel. The Warriors want to integrate young players, but Poole is definitely destined to make poor decisions for a while to come. And the announcement that Kuminga might play does not make me think "Oh good we won't have turnovers." But it's not just young guys, it's also integrating new guys. Bjelly, Porter and Iggy are all about as reliable as anyone you could bring in, but they don't always have the timing down.
Still what seems to be the biggest problem involves the way Warriors often start plays: a throw ahead off a miss, or a Curry/Green action of some kind. Both of these lead to lethal outcomes, but are predicated on high skill levels. Chuck it ahead a bit off and it gets picked off. And failing to set the second or third screen just right can mean Steph isn't there yet, or is double teamed into trouble. That last bit is also very common. Steph doesn't just turn the ball over randomly. He gets pressured a ton. He also reaps the benefit of sudden one-handed no-look hook passes, or behind the back -- when those work they are great at surprising the offense, when they get picked off it's a massive groan.
So if I were Kerr I'd isolate only 5-8 turnovers from the Memphis game and break down what went wrong, and then show 5 more and go "Hey, cost of doing business, we're going to keep running that type of risk."
mDuo13 (4 ♡):
I don't remember who/when, but the "cost of doing business" re: turnovers in the Warriors system was originally coined by someone else.
Also, if you really want to understand the problem, breaking it down play-by-play is the ultimate way. stopnpop did a great breakdown of Steph & Dray's turnovers here and concluded that the defense's non-fear of Draymond's 3-point shot was a major factor allowing more guys to pick on Curry. Actually, it's really cool how the box scores on nba.com link to video highlights of each said moment, so you can see, for example, that a couple of Memphis's steals were probably uncalled fouls from hitting guys on the wrist/forearm.
https://dubnationhq.com/p/explain-one-play-stephen-currys-special/comment/3408288
Rewatching them, my take is that at least 5 of the turnovers were Memphis playing good defense; guys jumping passing lanes, keeping up in transition, etc. Honestly I have to give Memphis props for playing like that down the stretch of a road b2b. Some of those turnovers could have been avoided by guys being a little more careful with their passes, but being too careful leads to being stiff and would probably cancel out some sweet assists, so those are the ones I'm OK with. (Even Jordan Poole's one-handed attempted touchdown pass to Wiggins—that one was almost a sick highlight and it was pretty close to target despite being fired off super-suddenly.)
A few more of the turnovers came on miscommunications. Like, Bjeli screened for Poole then stepped like he was about to roll, and stopped, but Poole let off the pass to where he would've been, with a clear lane to the basket; that's something they need to get more experience playing together.
Guys trying to force it to Looney in traffic with Steven Adams on top of him? Those need to stop. (There were two similar ones.) The 8-second violation? Unbelievably dumb especially if Dray was aware of the fact that the Lakers lost on the same thing the night before. Poole failing to get the inbounds over Melton? Please, do better.
There's no way tonight's game has so many turnovers because that embarrassment will be fresh in the guys' minds, but also: OKC doesn't have the same team identity and coordination on defense. Dort is amazing but he's one guy. Memphis has smart, talented defenders up and down the roster.
Explain One Play: Stephen Curry's special D…
Good old High Tag
Eric Apricot (7 ♡):
I thought High Tag was what you played after the edibles kicked in.
I think you should only use High Tag for mismatches or people like Steph that you’re trying to protect from fouls or being overmatched. It’s a gimmick defense that a prepared offense should be able to solve. For instance, Harden with the Rockets *killed* High Tag. For all of his cheating ways, he really is very skilled.
AFineCat (6 ♡):
[On extending Wiseman] The deadline was Monday, Nov 1, so they didn't jump the gun too much.
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2021/10/29/22753273/warriors-jordan-poole-james-wiseman-options
stopnpop (6 ♡):
Some thoughts on the game last night.
Dray was 3 of 8 on threes over 78 MIN in preseason (~1 attempt per 10 min). So far in the regular season, 2 of 3 in 168 MIN (1 attempt per 56 min).
He has to take this shot. There's no way a 5 MEM vs 4 GSW is going to result in anything good.
-----
These were the Curry TOs:
(1) Dray's man sags off and takes away the drive from Curry.
(2) Dray's man sags again. Two guys on Wiggs. Steph's defender is only concerned about running Steph off the line because he knows one of the guys on Wiggs can rotate.
(3) Dray ignored. His man just comes down and pokes the ball away from Steph.
(4) Just good D by MEM.
(5) Bad spacing and a forced pass by Steph.
-----
Dray's TOs looked like he was playing with a 1000ms ping. Bad outlets and bad timing/decisions in general.
JP's TOs were all over the place. Some of it was bad decision-making and the pass into traffic to Loon disturbs me because JP beat his man and didn't take the floater/pull-up... if there was one thing you didn't have to worry about before was JP's confidence in taking a shot. Not sure why he passed it up.
Warriors out for revenge against Grizzlies…
Memphis is coming in on the tail end of a back-to-back, but this won't be easy
Goofus (17 ♡):
In the play-in game we had seven guys (Steph, Dray, Wiggins, JTA, Bazemore, Looney, Poolewith occasional minutes from Mulder) that had run themselves into the ground just to get there.
Subtract: Bazemore and Mulder
Add: Lee, Igoudala, Bjelly, OPJ, GP2, Moody and Chiozza
There’s enough guys back who want revenge and Kerr has far more pieces to mix and match. I like our chances.
Captain Jack (16 ♡):
[On GSW giving up very few steals] You can't take the ball from them, they'd rather throw it away by themselves lol
crusty quips (15 ♡):
I just want to share this photo of JTA going up to contest and block a shot from Josh Giddey and Giddey looking completely terrified. https://ibb.co/pPWDR6y
pengpeiyi (11 ♡):
It's kind of amazing how quickly expectations can change. If when he was drafted we knew that in his third year Poole would be averaging over 15 points per game (small sample size, I know) we would be over the moon about it. Now after his breakout play to end last season and his flaming hot preseason we're all collectively wondering when he's going to get through his "slump" and regain more of his formidable form.
I don't really have much of a point in saying that rather than to remind myself how awesome it is that we got someone like Poole with the 28th pick in the draft. Found money by Myers to be sure!
Explain One Play: Andrew Wiggins drives …
Never look down on a road victory
Duby Dub Dubs (20 ♡):
Lakers so old, the team chiropractor is a paleontologist
Ando (9 ♡):
Lakers so old they're asking that all games be played half-court.
Arash (9 ♡):
Funny story time!!
I was on my way back from work jamming to Mrs. Officer, which is a catchy Lil Wayne song about him having a . . . ahem . . . "relationship" with a female cop.
While, I was bumping that at a stop light, a police car rolls up next to me . . . with a female police officer. Lil Wayne was singing "wee uh weeh uh" in the background and we locked eyes. 😂
My light turned green, but before I turned, I very calmly stated . . . "Gives fuck the police a whole different meaning", and drove away. I heard her cackling behind me as I made the turn.
TunaSandwich (9 ♡):
Staunch defender. Unshellfish passer. Scorer in the post.
Andrew Wiggins: so much more than a tuna sandwich.
How Wiggins and Lee helped summon GSW weapons…
I have forgotten what losing even feels like.
dinohealth (19 ♡):
FOUND YOU GUYS...Geez, the entire ςrew from ''LOST NATION'' is here...I was a ςonfused pup with all the stuff I am involved in, I was not aware the ςommish had gone his separate way; thought he was part of the Dub Nation HQ and you had simply merged with Let's Go Warriors and Dub Nation HQ was the new name. I renewed my subscription on October 19 with the ςommish when I saw Let's Go Warriors on my Bookmark-the Dub Nation HQ was somehow no longer there; did not take long to figure out something was amiss when I saw no DUBY, NATE, ERIC DANIEL, etς....DUH...At any rate, my subscription with Dub Nation is not up for renewal till FEB/22...I've always liked the ςommish, BUT THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO BE. Too muςh of a gentleman to ςanςel the ςommish/my dumb, but there will be no further renewal. Thought I would share with you, as others may be lost, also. Just happy I found you again, and enjoy the great writers I am familiar with....
crusty quips (14 ♡):
[Wiggins] didn't look too weak last night when he repeatedly drove inside and finished at the rim. Wiggs' build has always been wiry.
Duby Dub Dubs (12 ♡):
oh neat! Looks like Oakland is throwing their hats in for a WNBA team!
> WNBA Legend Alana Beard
@Alanabeard20
to lead ownership group for Oakland WNBA proposal. Beard has officially partnered with the AASEG to bring a WNBA expansion team to Oakland!
Eric Apricot (12 ♡):
I think Wiseman over LaMelo was a perfectly reasonable draft pick. I say that as someone who publicly (on this site!) opposed drafting Wiseman.
So if LaMelo ends up being spectacularly better than Wiseman, I'd shed a tear at the missed opportunity, but I wouldn't say this was Myers incompetence at all. That's life, people miss on the draft. Just do the best process possible.
Postgame Party: Dubs come back…
It wasn't always pretty, but Golden State holds off pesky OKC
crusty quips (16 ♡):
Last season, they lose a game that they started this way. Tonight it's a win. I don't believe in moral defeats any more than I do moral victories. I do believe in 4-0 and first place in the west, though. Not going to stop anyone from feeling sour but it feels pretty sweet to me.
Also, pretty cool to see the team win the rebounding battle in 3 out of the 4 games they played so far. That's another thing that wasn't happening last year.
Nadav (12 ♡):
I hereby request this version of Wiggins for the rest of the season.
Duby Dub Dubs (11 ♡):
this was not happening over the past few seasons
@dbs408
No warriors bench player who played 10+ minutes had a negative+/-
Curry stayed, Thunder lost their stars - Two…
Iguodala expected to return to action as the NBA's top team looks to go 4-0
pengpeiyi (13 ♡):
The Steph to 2974 watch continues!
Where he currently stands: 2846
Magic number to pass Allen: 128
3's this season total: 14
3's per game thus far: 4.7
Games needed at this pace: 27
Record-breaking game at current pace: December 18th at Toronto
fotd (10 ♡):
I love your enthusiasm Duby. I’m with you - and looking to get back to watching every game this year. And it isn’t just that they are true competitors again. After decades of rarely missing my Warriors play, through many losing seasons and then through the early and middle Curry years, I dropped off into caring only about “important” games. They were so dominant, it was kind of boring. And then so bad, two years ago, it was difficult to watch.
But now we have a perfect mix of uncertain optimism that is like the old days. They didn’t (couldn’t?) sell out and sign a superstar (eg Giannis) so they kept invested in resigning and developing their own. A Warriors fan can now root for cementing the legacies of the 2014-2019 OG. Four members of the small ball “death squad” that revolutionized the NBA are set to prove to the naysayers (Sir Charles, etc…) they are indeed the core of the best team ever. They still have it, and what the legs won’t do, through teaching and good example, their teammates will help with. A championship or two more before they retire would really help out the discussion at family events attended by both Celtic and Laker fans. (I’m sure every family has a few, right?)
The Warriors are espousing a defensive identity…
After an abysmal defensive showing in the first half against the Kings, the Warriors put the clamps in the second half through team effort and scheme variability.
Guest post by Joe Viray.
Alex (15 ♡):
By the way, fun quote from Seth about his incredible 23 point first quarter (6-7 from 3pt range):
''I was getting good shots,'' Seth Curry said. ''It wasn't like I was 18 dribbles, half-court, 40-footers. It wasn't like I was like on a Steph-type streak. I was finding good shots.''
ender2148 (15 ♡):
Yours and Eric's posts help me understand basketball better. Glad to have your GSOM posts here a day in advance now 😉
vignette17 (15 ♡):
Man, DNHQ keeps getting better and better. At this point, the discussion here is getting to the point that it just might be the best team sports site on the Internet.
As for team defense, the key to how good the Warriors will be lies with Poole, and to a lesser extent Bjelica. Both could end up anywhere from way below average to average depending on how they're used and their internal improvement.
Five Alarm Freddy (13 ♡):
I haven't read a damn thing, but I saw "Joe Viray" and wanted to comment. I don't know how you kidnapped him, threw him in the trunk at DNHQ and forced him to write for you, but I fully support this! Big fan!
ok, now I will go back and read it...
GlueAndBold (13 ♡):
What a treat to read your analysis! Thank you!
Joe Viray (12 ♡):
Thanks for reading!
To address [why Joe doesn’t do talking videos]:
1. I'm not as confident with my speaking skills
2. I really, REALLY love writing
3. With my workload (aiming to write articles and post Twitter threads after every Warriors game this season), I don't know if I'll have the time to level up my editing skills
Not gonna rule that possibility out completely however. But it's not something on my immediate radar as of yet.
Eric Apricot (11 ♡):
Don't worry, Joe will save the best stuff for us here exclusively, where an appreciative crowd can really dig into his work
Game Thread: Iguodala out for Golden State a…
plus, the Kings once again looking good enough to break hearts
Sleepy Freud (15 ♡):
Two straight games with 0 threes by OPJ BBC and Bjelly, two straight wins.
I’m more impressed that we’re winning these games while not remotely hitting on all cylinders than I am worried that Otto and Bjelly aren’t gonna start stroking it.
I see some 30+ point wins incoming…
Goofus (15 ♡):
I’m sincerely open to the possibility that I was wrong about wishing we had Marquese Chriss instead of GP2.
Eric Apricot (12 ♡):
Harden owes the world a hefty refund of fake fouls called for him
Dilly (11 ♡):
Per NBATV: the last time the Warriors started the season 3-0, they won 70 more games.
Asher B. (10 ♡):
"Stand With Kyrie" sounds more like a statement about the way he plays defense than anything else.
The bench is looking fantastic. I'm not sure there's a better bench in the league, although I haven't watched them all, fair enough. It starts with how the team is built. Obviously if you can get ten all-star players, you do it, but I think Meyers and Kerr have prioritized what sounds like a bunch of cliches but is winning basketball -- obtaining and playing guys who: follow the game plan, make the right play, play selflessly, know their role, study the opponent, have confidence to play to their strengths, hustle, support each other, minimize mistakes, bring energy. I'll take that over "We bring DeAndre Jordan off the bench he's tall," all day.
ServantOfLuna (9 ♡):
After hearing about what happened in front of Barclays Center today, I'm glad that Wiggins got vaccinated.
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The tanking teams are getting it done early this year. Rockets (do they even have their pick?)Thunder, Pelicants, Magic, & Pistons are all 1 win teams. Only the Pacers are unexpectedly crashing the party (even with Duarte) this early season.
On the flip side the playoff hopefuls who added players to compete this year are starting out strong while the favorites are chilling in the middle.
Our garbage time -10ish points was disappointing. Hopefully Wiseman’s return will help with that.