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Loon must be hitting all the podcasts. Here he is on "Locked In Warriors":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IB-NfLtplss

He finishes with this answer to the question if they have enough to win a championship:

We have enough talent to win it all. Years past our margin for error was a lot bigger (but) if we play our style of basketball and stay healthy we have the chance to do it all over again. We're all hungry, Steph Klay and Draymond, this is the most locked in I've ever seen them coming into training camp. We've got those three, your chances are always going to be high.

WGBC!!!

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I can listen to Loondawg all day long. He’s just the coolest.

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Yes.

And he's done some work on presentation/speaking - very listenable!

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

He also appeared on Warriors Plus-Minus. Definitely doing the rounds today

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he apparently did all of these after the game.

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And they’re asking him the hard questions haha

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Havent listened to the Locked On in years because the sheer amount of commercials is unbearable

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Yeah, not in my usual rotation, but I made an exception for Loon.

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The sheer amount of Cyrus Saatsaz is also unbearable.

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Yeah, he’s annoying. Is this his channel or is he hired “talent”?

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I think it's his, and he probably has some sort of contract with locked on sports network for the name.

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I can’t stand him as the host, yeah.

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As is the current host.

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This. He grates.

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Timpf with a new breakdown of the first pre-season game. Says some nice things about CP, JP, MM and BP. Also talks about AD and those other guys, and a few other games.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WAxe34Rd1g

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

He also said Looney is a much better screener than anyone CP3 has played with in recent years.

Also MM and JK are gonna be really good players. Kuminga has the potential to be a star.

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

OT: both Wemby and Chet seem to be going off in tonight’s String Bean Bowl:

Wemby 18 points on 7-9 fg in 14 minutes

Chet 21 pts on 7-10 fg, 9 reb in 16 minutes

Spurs 81, Thunder 74 in a defensive struggle at the half.

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So neither can defend the other.

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Neither has been guarding the other

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Yeah, a bit weird seeing Wemby parked on Dort at first, but it makes sense to have him on a weaker offensive player, so he can focus on help defense at the rim right now. Puts him in position to succeed.

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Oct 9, 2023Liked by Eric Apricot

OT: Rick Beato is finally back with "season two" of What Makes This Song Great? I'm linking Episode Two: Smoke on the Water. If you are into music appreciation with some music theory and a production-oriented dissection of classic tunes with soloed parts and some playing along (guitar) and air drums and you HAVEN'T watched this series before, do yourself a favor and check it out. Highly recommended.

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Big Beato fan since stumbling across his site a couple years ago. My favorites WMTSG was “More Than A Feeling” by Boston.

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

Oh yeah, how did I forget to mention that one! One of his best — made me re-think a song I had liked as a “guilty pleasure” as just a straight masterpiece. One of the things I love about him is how he embraces all great music, without getting tribalistic about genre, era, or style (even if he’s also very much a product of his milieu and generation, like all of us).

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The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” was another good one as well.

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As a keyboard player, I was particularly taken with his "Rocket Man" breakdown.

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

I think often about the beautiful “room to breathe” he praises in the opening verses of that song — so different from the overstuffed wall of noise of most highly produced pop songs — along with the distinctive “caps” Elton puts at the end of his musical phrases (e.g. “I packed my bags last night pre-fly-IGHT”)

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Here's a link to his "the most COMPLEX pop song of all time": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnRxTW8GxT8

Worth a listen

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

If we’re talking favorites it’s hard to choose but the first one I ran across was Comfortably Numb so I’d probably go with that one.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Liked by Eric Apricot

Ooh, nice! I love that show, and am happy to hear he's getting back to more straight "What Makes This Song Great" episodes. I don't mind his other stuff (interviews, rankings, live chats, etc.) but he tends to ramble or lose focus on them, and I lose interest. The WMTSG ones are like the perfect mix of teen fanboy enthusiasm (e.g. when he plays air-drums on John Bonham's "caveman fills") with his crazy-deep musical knowledge (so deep that I only get like 40% of what he's on about — but I even if I don't know a A-minor triad from a hole in the ground, I enjoy hearing him geek out, in the same way I enjoy Eric or Joe Viray break down basketball plays I don't fully understand).

I like basically all the episodes I've seen, but standouts for me are Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," Elton John's "Rocket Man," Steely Dan's "Kid Charlemagne," and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" (Bonham caveman fills!)

Edit: lol, just noticed you called out the air drums, too. It's his trademark!

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Yeah, love his genuine enthusiasm, but shrug when he starts talking about mixolidian and stuff. I’m a crappy guitar player and theory is my biggest musical weakness, but it’s fun to hear him articulate an explanation to what we’re hearing.

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By the way, I’ve been quietly working on a music equivalent of Explain One Play, which is kind of a more nerdy version of Beato. I’ll publicize it more when we’ve got a few more videos in the can

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Liked by Eric Apricot

Mind blown. Cannot wait!

Ooh if you take requests Time Won’t Wait by jamiroquai has been living in my head recently with that divine walking base through multiple key changes in the chorus.

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Oct 9, 2023Liked by Eric Apricot

Oh wow … can’t wait to check them out!

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Oct 9, 2023Liked by Eric Apricot

Do a Stan Rogers song and I’ll love you forever dude

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I only know “Northwest Passage” but that’s a banger. I’m sure scholars have looked at the structure of the interesting harmonies

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Oh man, there are so many brilliant songs of his. I think from an instrumentation perspective, “The Last Watch”, “The Field Behind the Plow”, “The Flowers of Bermuda, and “Three Fishers” (that last one you’d need to look up on YouTube), are all perhaps particularly interesting.

Also, all of his other songs.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

100% I have the JV HS equivalent of music theory and I've learned some things watching the series but when he's really flying through chord progressions I get lost. I really think it is suitable for a general audience. Easily his best content. Just a word of warning, since I posted it and was wondering about how I missed Episode 1, it was seven months ago (Mr Brightside! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuCAFvcrtVc), so maybe not as speedy as he used to be. Hopefully a shorter wait for Episode 3 :)

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Related: Do you watch Polyphonic’s videos? I find them equally enjoyable. (It’s less theory and more appreciation and cultural impact of music.)

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

I have not, will make sure to check that out - thanks for the rec!

Another one of this ilk I should mention is Dead Wax née Professional Musicians React. They’ve been dormant for a while but they’re the pamplemousse (and CEO of Patreon incidentally) and Scary Pockets dudes and they’re a lot of fun as well.

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How does the Athletic not have any post-game coverage yet. AS, MT2, and TK be slacking.

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Slate was on the NBA pod with Amick and Katz... "Indie Rock"

;)

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Yeah I’m a little annoyed by that. They have three writers on the warriors beat - prompt post-game coverage is not too much to ask.

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Niners game plus u dont need a summary. Here’s everything you need to know:

1). Warriors won

2). Kuminga improved his draft stock

3). Hopefully this spelled the end of any “Lester Quinones for the 14th spot” talk

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Regarding #3, remember when we needed to offer him a roster spot off of Summer League or risk losing him altogether?

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I was so waiting for point 2. :)

Almost posted something after the game about whether you thought we might be able to get someone good for him after the game.

And, yeah, Quinones is making a liar out of me. He's had a bad summer.

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Ha ha, me too!

Is his trade value higher now than on draft day? On the one hand, he’s closer to fully-formed and his floor is higher. On the other hand, he’s going to start getting more expensive.

He’s certainly more valuable to the Warriors.

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Edwards on team USA vs Kuminga after the first preseason game. Who made you think they will have the better next decade?

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I didn’t watch Team USA. Assume Ant wasn’t good?

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Preseason is young, Quinones will have plenty of opportunities to make people forget the opener.

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Yup, G1 is going to be about other folks, since Lester is more of a known quantity within the organization.

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You mean Kuminga's fantasy draft stock?

Yeah, Lester was invisible except for a forced shot.

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but but ...

I wanted to relish reading the "3rd year breakout" takes from the beat writers...

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How do I make it to Friday? Gaaahhhhh... trying breathing exercises.

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Yah - it's soooo long until the next game. I don't remember that from previous seasons - well, unless there was an out of country event involved.

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I suppose it might be amusing to watch JP doing his "alpha" thing...

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And there's Victor vs. Chet tonight...

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Looney will be a special guest of the Light Years Pod at 4pm PT today.

https://x.com/lightyrspod/status/1711157010677236048?s=20

https://www.playback.tv/light-years

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To be honest, I think this is a bad move for them. Once media start developing relationships with the people they cover their coverage inevitably changes. A big part of the allure of these guys is that they are outsiders and speak "honestly".

Not that I'm worked up about it or anything, just saying.

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I’m okay with it cos it’ll probably (hopefully) force Andy to dial back his constant, breathless hyperbole.

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For an episode...

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I gave up on them last year.

Same schtick?

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I'm sure...

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Brock Purdy

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Brandin Podziemski

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

Instead of pretending to be a World Expert in how to pronounce “Podziemski” (despite presumably not knowing a word of Polish), Fitz might as well just tell people his full name is pronounced “Brock Purdy.”

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BP FTW!

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Jonathan Kuminga

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Lou Seal

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Ball

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All-Access | Golden State Warriors 2023 Media Day | Golden State Warriors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qOAJQIlBj4

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Great stuff. Two thoughts:

1. Of course they knew cameras were rolling and the footage is edited, but it was nice to see our guys friendly and cordial with all the behind the scenes support people. My personal and professional life has been oddly filled with celebrity encounters (musicians, actors, athletes, politicians) and I’ve seen a spectrum of behaviors. (Robert Blake was the worst…and Festus might have been the best.) The Dubs all seemed fun to work with.

2. I want one of those big, noisy kuka arm cameras to take along for our travel videos.

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023Author

- I didn’t expect to watch the whole thing, but it was kind of hypnotic.

- I can only imagine how weird CP3 felt recording the “Waaaarriors” etc hype videos, after hearing those chants through some pretty depressing (for him not for us) losses

- Klay riding on his bike without a helmet. Nervous

- As others mentioned, Rudy Gay got a lot of video time… hard to not read into that

- I had this dream that GP2 took a break from being a Warrior… that was weird

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One interesting feature of this footage was Jonathan Kuminga, walking down the hall talking. I was amazed that he talked just like the average (middle class) black American. When he gives an interview post game, he kind of muffles his voice and says very little. When I heard him in these interviews, I assumed he didn’t speak English very well. Not so.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

He talks like a guy who went to high school in the US after growing up in a foreign country as a non-native English speaker. It’s subtle, because he’s got a lot of the verbal mannerisms of a young American after having spent the past 8 years here, but at the same time he very much does not speak like an American or a similarly native speaker.

I do think he’s growing more confident and becoming more expressive in his speech. I always enjoyed his interviews, but compared to his first year, his recent interviews definitely come across more fluent to me.

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Just finished watching this. There's a lot of Rudy Gay footage in there for a guy that's a camp invite.

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Yep... really seems like the 14th spot is his to lose.

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Fitz haters make sure to check out starting 15:33 😭

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

I was just coming on here to post that. It was a freaking Key and Peele skit.

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LOL. "Please allow me to introduce myself ..."

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… I’m a man of wealth and taste…

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Oh that was hilarious. Fitz kissing ass while Kalenna gets dapped up.

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Didn’t see this shared. Hoop Reports with a short video on how people are sleeping on the Dubs.

1. Best starting five +/- by far (Steph Klay Wiggs Dray Loon)

2. Top 5 bench…perhaps the best (Paul GP2 Moody Kuminga Saric)

He adds some stats I was unaware of https://youtu.be/2Tq99VhDukM?si=NuZWLXS0-tua8u7X

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

His videos have always seemed a bit empty of original analysis/value to me. I feel like he just packages all the hopeful takes from the fanbase(or DNHQ) into a nice video with music.

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My empty analysis is simple; the Warriors have a good chance for winning the championship because they have Steph Curry and the other 29 times don't.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

I enjoy Hoops Reports but take with a massive grain of salt as the guy is a huge Warriors homer. Think of it as a less critical Gold Blooded King piece.

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You don't think that bench lineup has merit? I would love to see how that lineup works.

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Sure, but it’s still fun…plus I agree with him that a lot of people think the Dubs have next to chance.

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I don't really watch any of those channels for serious analysis. I think one of them had a "The Warriors Found Their Next Young Star" headline and it was Kai freaking Sotto lol

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He's so smug...

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I just came here to say I'm pretty angry with all of you. I had that stupid Beach boys song stuck in my head all weekend. Thank a lot!

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I did not realize the lyrics to the original song were written by John Phillips (the Mamas and the Papas), Scott McKenzie (“San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)"), Mike Love (added the chorus which lists the names of islands), and Terry Melcher (son of Doris Day, boyfriend of Candace Bergen, and somewhat involved with Charles Manson).

No wonder we can't get the song out of our heads.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

You're welcome!

I've had "Garuba, Bahama, come on pretty mama" rattling around my head for a week.

:)

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Goddamnit Turing! I just got that out of my head

(and managed to replace it with something just as bad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALkjA1t8ibQ

- warning do NOT click on this, you've been warned)

Now you've put it back!

Seriously, though, the best way I've found to get rid of earworms is to play the actual song all the way through a couple times. I think the brain has an issue with closure ...

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I love 'They Might Be Giants' (and that song). Happy to be earwormed with that one.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

Me too, what's your point? ;P

(I also like the Beach Boys)

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

Me too on all three counts.

Also, it’s nearly impossible to walk around Istanbul without singing it.

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That's nobody's business but the Turks.

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Yeah, I can see how that would get old if you live there and everyone’s doing it.

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And that is the truth (at least is was for me, also ;)

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We actually shot the video to make a music video, but still have to get around to learning to play it so we can record the music.

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We're entering what may be the most important week of basketball for the season. Last year I believed at the time and even moreso looking back that the Japan trip screwed the Warriors hard by robbing them of the chance to prepare for the season properly. There is so little time to practice during the season that this time is literally irreplaceable. Hoping for productive practices and NO MORE INJURIES.

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I mean the Dubs themselves were also culpable on that front - they’ve all admitted as much.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

Expanding a bit from the previous thread.

====

Player A:

• 37 years, 53 days old

• 250 lbs, 7'-3" wingspan, 8'-11.5" standing reach

• 17.3 pts, 8.5 rebounds per 36 over the past five seasons

====

Player B:

• 37 years, 128 days old

• 240 lbs, 7'-1"wingspan, 8'-11" standing reach

• 14.2 pts, 8.3 rebounds per 36 over the past five seasons

====

Player A is Rudy Gay. Player A is Al Horford.

I assume we'd all be okay with a slightly younger, bigger, better rebounding Big Al with our #14 roster spot? :-)

Seriously, Horford's the better passer and more efficient scorer, plus was much better last season, which probably means he's less close to being washed. But I think many would be surprised to learn Gay is younger and bigger. (I was, anyway).

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A lot of Horford's value (to the Celtics in particular) has to do with defense, doesn't it? He hasn't recorded a negative DBPM (per bbref) since his rookie season, has actually been at +1.4, +2.7, +1.9 in recent years, and has been at or above +1.0 DBPM twelve times.

Over those same years, Gay has had DBPM 0.0, -0.3, -0.4 and has never had a season DBPM of 1.0 or higher.

Don't get me wrong, what I saw from Rudy Gay in our first preseason game is a guy who looks like he can still contribute at a passable level as a vet min who plays few minutes, but it's also quite plausible that Horford's overall game ages better because of his BBIQ (timing, placement, schemes).

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Thinking about this some more:

If you hope that Rudy's last year was just a down year, and not the beginning of the end, his three point shooting numbers before that were reasonable (right around league average the last few years).

So, if you squint, you might be able to see him as a 'backup' to Saric as a stretch 5. Nowhere near the passing of course, but the main thing you need from the stretch 5 is a guy who will drag the defender out to the three point line.

In that sense, he would play a role kinda like Meyers Leonard. Defensively challenged floor spacer.

I'd still rather have a true wing, who can guard on the perimeter, but it's not the worst use of the last roster spot I can think of.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

I think I'd be more worried about whether he's got enough quickness left to play defense.

It's not just the years ... he had a ruptured Achilles tendon.

But, yeah, Gay being bigger than Horford is a surprise (though I always knew he was a large dude).

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

Yeah, I think that's where the fact that he's now a full-time 4-5 assuages my concerns somewhat.

Despite the drop in shooting efficiency last season (in a smallish 816-minute sample) it was his third straight season putting up good-to-excellent plus-minus numbers, which suggests to me he's doing a lot right:

2020-21: +4.4 on court / +10.1 net on-off

2021-22: +8.7 on court / +3.6 net on-off

2022-23: +3.1 on court / +5.3 net on-off

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Imho, I thought Gay looked fine out there in what was limited minutes. There was this layup I want to say was around Q3 4:00 where the pass came in below the knees, but he was quick to get the ball up and in through traffic. As someone who finds it an ordeal to bend down for a dropped remote, thought this might indicate he still has a bit of quickness.

That being said, I thought another camp invite Davion Williams (6'6) looked interesting too. Found myself wondering who's that, since I hadn't seen him before. Or maybe it was just the headband.

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I assume you mean Donovan Williams. I'm intrigued by him as well.

Didn't show much in the game, but he has a 7' wingspan in a 6'6" frame, so he's built like a Warriors wing. I think the poor showing is at least partially attributable to not having been with the team for more than a week.

I'm hoping he shows enough to catch onto one of the two-way spots.

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At this point I think Garuba has one two way slot locked up. After that, the gaggle of guys including Williams, Davis, Johnson, Robinson, as well as LQ, who is the frontrunner, are all competing for the last two 2-ways, with a small chance that one of them could really show off and win the 14th slot. Gay and McGruder are also competing for 14th with this group, with Gay as the frontrunner.

Pulled from by Butt:

14th Man Odds:

Gay: 50%

Other/TBD: 20%

McGruder: 10%

LQ 5%

Garuba 4%

Robinson 4%

Williams 3%

JJ: 3%

Davis: 1%

2-way odds:

Garuba 80%

LQ 70%

Robinson 40%

Williams: 30%

JJ: 30%

Davis: 20%

Note: I'm ranking Davis under JJ and Williams b/c the team seems to have a lot of ballhandling Guard depth. And Robinson gets a boost cuz he already signed the 2-way.

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You know more than I do, but I would say:

1. Gay ... probably 80% he'll be roster spot 14. He'd have to really show he doesn't have anything to not get it.

2. Garuba ... mortal lock on his two-way. They will want at least a year long look at him, since he's a promising quasi-backup to Dray.

3. LQ .... maybe 50%.

4. Davis ... 0% He's just not an NBA-sized guard. All the smarts in the world won't get him there. And, we're super-deep at PG.

I'd say the others are just 'the field' and in the mix with whatever cuts come out of other training camps.

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thanks, yes, you are right, Donovan Williams. I thought he played decent, but I guess I've been setting the bar pretty low. I think he's competing for spot 14/15 (e.g. other candidates: Rudy Gay, McGruder, Kendrick Davis, Javan Johnson). My guess is Gay and Williams are the 'serious' candidates. Of course, they could shuffle the three two-ways (LQ, Garuba, Robinson) as Williams only has a year of service. Would be surprised, but then again, I was surprised when Weatherspoon lost his spot.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

I think Williams is more a two-way guy. He has exactly four minutes played in the NBA so far. :)

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Wait?! Al Horford is Rudy Gay? Rudy Gay is Ray Finkle? Horford is Einhorn? Terrance Mann is a man?

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And, don't forget that everyone thought Harford was washed 2 years ago when he got traded to a young, rebuilding OKC team. Might be hard for older smarter players to show their value on a tanking team like OKC or Gay on the Jazz last year.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

Horford continuing to play at the level he's played at is both shocking and an aberration. It shouldn't be expected he can continue to do that much longer (if at all) and we shouldn't expect it from Gay either. I just hope he can stay healthy enough to contribute, a la Otto Porter, another guy who's talent has been overshadowed by injury issues most of his career.

IIRC much of the "washed" idea about Horford was that OKC didn't even want to play him, so it was coming from him "not being able to crack the rotation" of a bad team, rather than seeing him play poorly. Clearly that wasn't actually the case...

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

Yeah, I think biggest difference between the two is that Horford was really good last season, and Gay was pretty bad, at least in terms of scoring efficiency (though his on-off numbers were solidly positive). But as you point out, role players in their 30s who seem washed in one season can sometimes have more left in the tank than we expect on a different team.

Anyway, I expect Kerr, Dunleavy, and Celebrini are getting a really good read on Gay's level of washed-ness as we speak.

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"Anyway, I expect Kerr, Dunleavy, and Celebrini are getting a really good read on Gay's level of washed-ness as we speak."

That's the important point. They get to see him in practice, and we don't. Plus he is on a vet min and as the 14th guy, he can be jettisoned without much remorse if a roster crunch elsewhere makes a better player available. It is a cruel world out there and even if Gay makes the team he won't have a lot of job security.

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Right, if he gets "GPII'd" by DW or someone else, I'm fine with that too. MDJ needs to balance experience with declining ability vs. inexperience but future upside for a guy that hopefully only gets in the game in the 4Q when we are up by a ton. But, it does seem like most of the team is expecting Rudy to get that spot, so hopefully he has more in the tank than 2022-23 Andre did

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He's on a non-guaranteed deal and can be cut anytime... but yeah.

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deletedOct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023Liked by Eric Apricot
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I just wish we had known he wasn’t coming back and they could’ve honored him a with proper send off. I’d have been out in front of Chase selling “Thank You Bjelly” buttons.

(SWIDT?)

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Love that guy. Didn't he straight up tell Steph "I love you" at one point? He's gotta be top 5 among guys who only spent one season with the team.

All the best, Bjelly!

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

If you expand to two seasons that's a fun list. Guys like Zaza and Otto Porter were vital to winning rings where it's hard to imagine it happening without them.

I think Bjelly, David West, and Barbosa are on that next tier of really making it a lot easier, fitting in perfectly, and bringing some pizzaz and fun to their roles.

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023Author

I don’t think I ever polled Bjelica for Honorary Warriors For Life, but he’d get my vote.

I stopped polling one-year Warriors because of the common feeling that that wasn’t enough time to make HWFL.

But I personally am a Big Tent HWFL guy so Belly is in

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The real question is did he get that status after his first game in LA against the Lakers where he played like Magic Johnson in slow motion.

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Same here. David West and Bjeli are two of my favorite short stint Dubs.

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West was a couple season though so in a different category.

I'd add Jarrett Jack to the list, he made a big impression in his one season.

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

Hard to top Chris Webber for #1 all-time.

Edit: although I guess he’s two seasons if you count the fully washed “comeback” a zillion years later.

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Oct 10, 2023·edited Oct 10, 2023

He must have... cuz I would have sworn it was more than one... (sigh)

(edit) Just the pass to Dray in Miami!

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Gah... sounds like he's been dealing with a tough calf injury... probably doesn't want to tear his achilles...

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Oct 9, 2023·edited Oct 9, 2023

The bad playoff performances that men do live after them, the 300 3pt shots with 41% made is oft interred with their bones.

Honestly, it is ridiculous to write Klay off after 3 bad games.

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