Dub Nation HQ Comments of Week, plus open thread

Dubs cruise into the playoffs, never in doubt, right?

Helpful hint: Every commenter’s name is a link that leads back to the original comment.

Dub Nation HQ Rooting Guide, Play-in: OKC vs…

Random season endings

• Mr.Plow (13 ♡):

  Kind of depressing that the best defender of his generation (and possibly ever) will have just one DPOY to his name. But these awards are voted on by people who still thinks blocks = defense, so hard to care too much

• TwoRingTest (12 ♡):

  Archeologists have discovered an ancient Mayan scoreboard.

  https://www.cnn.com/style/article/chichen-itza-mayan-scoreboard-intl-scli-scn/index.html

  It tracks the progress of the Kevon Looney/Kyle Anderson pickup game, which is late in the third quarter now.

• belilaugh (9 ♡):

  Also, I'm sorry, but who the fuck is guarding Steph Curry on the Kings? Davion Mitchell? Are the Kings going to play Davion Mitchell 36+ minutes a game?

  Meanwhile, the Warriors have the defensive personnel for all of the top King offensive players.

• nomdesab (8 ♡):

  Ahhh shit. 4/20. That'll be lit. For sure.

• Chasing Rings... (8 ♡):

  Yo DubNation(HQ)!! Just got back from a week road trip so missed the last couple of live games. We've hung in there to get to the post season!! Objective #1: Check. Objective #2: Win 16 more. We know we can do it. We know we've been here before. Just don't let us win another Back-to-Back! Thanks for all your efforts in getting through arguably the most frustrating season of the Dynasty. Here's some light hearted moments of the season I found and thought you might all enjoy.

  The Ring Chase starts now!! LetsGoooooooooooo!

• (Ps Includes Dubs reactions to That slam by JFK :)

• Nellie (7 ♡):

  I am pleasantly surprised to see Green getting any buzz at all for DPOY, even though I think he deserves to win the award. Leaving JJJ off entirely seems excessive to me, but also I'm fine with a nothing-good-for-the-Grizzlies-ever policy.

• Eric Apricot (6 ♡):

  That Siakam foul in the act of shooting feels unjust

• belilaugh (6 ♡):

  The Kings have had excellent health this season. Fox played 73 games, Sabonis played 79 games, Huerter played 75 games, Barnes played all 82, Monk played 77, Murray played 80, Mitchell played 80, and Lyles played 74. Metu played 66 but from what I can tell the games he didn't play were coaches decisions. Edwards was available in every game after the Kings traded for him.

  Despite that fortuitous health, they finished four losses ahead of the Warriors, and only two if you look at expected win/loss record.

Dub Nation HQ Rooting Guide, Play-in: MIN vs…

Thank Odin GSW gets to rest and heal up this week

• Chasing Rings... (18 ♡):

  Forgive me if I may...

  Lakers and Wolves, the game you've just played is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever seen. At no point in your rambling, incoherent play were you even close to anything that could be considered an actual NBA game. Everyone in this chatroom is now dumber for having watched it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

• Bel (18 ♡):

  The Athletic has an fantastic article on Rick Celebrini entitled “The Warriors’ whisperer: If Golden State is to repeat, he’ll have a hand in it”. It’s a must read on how he has brought Looney, Klay, Steph, Green and GP2 back from injuries to where they are now physically and, for some, mentally.

  https://theathletic.com/4381601/2023/04/10/rick-celebrini-golden-state-warriors-trainer/?source=pulsenewsletter&campaign=6572447

  Some points from the article:

  Celebrini might be the most powerful figure in the organization you don’t know. Joe Lacob empowers him. President of basketball operations Bob Myers believes in him. Kerr listens to him. The team’s stars swear by him.

  “Coach is 1A,” Stephen Curry said, followed by a chuckle. “(Celebrini) might be 1B.”

  “I tried to go off on my own and do my own thing, seek out my own thing,” Thompson said. “That backfired. Very badly. So I came crawling back to Rick. Very apologetic.”

  “He helped me find my daily routine,” Looney said, “from my hip stuff to my core stuff. My warmups is everything I learned from him. He’s a big part of why I’ve been able to stay on the court.”

  “He always tells me, ‘Dray, this is what I studied,’” Green said, using his finger to trace a line back and forth from his sternum to his pelvis. “’This is what I wrote my thesis on.’ I’ve never met anybody that knows it better.”

• ServantOfLuna (17 ♡):

  The entire Pacific Division has made the playoffs.

  3. Kings

  4. Suns

  5. Clippers

  6. Warriors

  7. Lakers

• Alex (14 ♡):

  We are all dumber for having seen this game.

• TwoRingTest (14 ♡):

  Dear Lord, thank you for making my local team the Golden State Warriors.

  Even when they play like trash, they still occasionally cut without the ball, and they can pass (mostly).

  Even Poole having a bad game is more entertaining than watching Ant shotput threes like he was trying to break the backboard.

• DFiB (12 ♡):

  There are 82 game video producers and 16 game video producers. EA needs this rest before his upcoming stretch of 16 E1Ps.

• DFiB (11 ♡):

  Root for the team playing against the Lakers because it's your birthright, as a Warriors fan, to root against the Lakers.

• Sleepy Freud (11 ♡):

  Fine, take Atkinson. We’ll take back Silas in his stead. I always got a great vibe from Silas — seems like a way too smart and likable dude for the Rockets.

• Eric Apricot (11 ♡):

  LeBain Capital

• Run_TMC (11 ♡):

  No. Warriors fans root for lakers to lose. Warriors fans root for LeBron to lose. LeBron is on the Lakers....

  (Minnesota can wear out Memphis just fine - they proved that last year)

• Eric Apricot (10 ♡):

  Okay last year I vowed to never root for MIN again after that horrible MEM series. I am renewing this vow. I may have to write it on a post-it note on my monitor

• kinbote (10 ♡):

  This is the basketball equivalent of my three year old refusing to go to sleep.

Explain: Jonathan Kuminga's nuclear dunk and…

and PBJ is one with the earth

• pooryorick (29 ♡):

  In another case of the student surpassing the master my grandson now regularly dominates me in all aspects of backyard basketball and has shown rapidly developing skills in taunting. Now when he blows past me or runs up the score he says “tragic” and refers to me as “Ooof” for the involuntary sound I often make during these beatdowns. Yesterday he called me Ooof at our family gathering and earned a quick side eye from his too uptight father. I actually kind of prefer Ooof to Gpa. There’s plenty of grandpas out there but probably only one Ooof.

• Eric Apricot (22 ♡):

  I remember when Kobe wrote that poem “To Basketball” and someone wrote a reply poem from the basketball to Kobe saying things like Please stop shooting me into the rim, it is so cold and very hard

• nomdesab (19 ♡):

  Kendra Andrews is reporting that the Warriors are planning to have Wiggins available to play for game 1.

• Asher B. (13 ♡):

  I think if it were his first year, it would be a question. But it's not, he's been playing with these guys, they've been playing with him, they won a chip, it's a well-trod path

• Dooner Dub (13 ♡):

  Smash and Splash: The Surf & Turf of the NBA...

• SFtoNYwarriorsfan (12 ♡):

  Reminded me of Wiggins's dunk over Luka but Kuminga actually took off a step farther back inside the free throw line circle. I'm going to start thinking of them as the Smash Brothers.

• ServantOfLuna (11 ♡):

  Warriors stats for the regular season:

  Offense:

  2 in points scored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (118.9)

  28 in points in paint (44.9)

  13 in fastbreak points (14.5)

  9 in offensive efficiency!!!!

  12 in shooting % (47.9%)

  2 in three point % !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (38.5%)

  6 in two point % !!!!!!!!!! (56.4%)

  14 in off. rebound % (24.4%)

  16 in def. rebound % (76.0%)

  17 in total rebound % (49.7%)

  6 in opponent blocks!!!!!!!!! (4.0)

  25 in opponent steals (7.9)

  1 in assists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (29.8)

  30 in turnovers (16.3)

  Defense:

  21 in points allowed (117.1)

  14 in opponent points in paint (49.8)

  18 in opponent fastbreak points (14.1)

  16 in defensive efficiency

  9 in opponent shooting % !!!! (46.9%)

  18 in opponent three point % (36.4%)

  9 in opponent two point % !!!! (53.6%)

  25 in blocks (3.9)

  14 in steals (7.2)

  17 in opponent assists (25.7)

  13 in opponent turnovers (14.3)

• TwoRingTest (11 ♡):

  I wonder how long it takes Draymond to walk into Golden One, find Leandro Barbosa and say:

  We Gonna Be Championship.

• Offero (11 ♡):

  Old Man Kerr: "My word". He also considered, "Oh my", "Gracious!", “As I live and breathe!”, and “Heaven’s to Betsy!” :D

• Mycroft (10 ♡):

  The lower the chances 538 gives us, the better I feel. I'm pretty sure Harden's Rockets won eight championships in six years according to their system.

• Truckeeman (10 ♡):

  "I am One with the Edibles".......classic.

• Night Night (9 ♡):

  Right when we needed another 3 to tie our 3pt record for a game, I said: “Moody will make the next one.”

  And lo, Moody dropped the dagger (jumped up and down on the couch afterward, and got yelled at for doing so).

  I’m so glad that kid is getting some play, I was beginning to wonder about his future in the Bay. Now, we need to get him some playing time (next season).

• Five Alarm Freddy (9 ♡):

  If Skyler Mays doesn't end up having a career in basketball, he certainly can find one as a Loveline radio host. That voice is like pouring warm chocolate into my ear canal.

Warriors close season with a win. Bring on…

WAS THERE EVER ANY DOUBT?

• Faye (25 ♡):

  I made it up to Portland for the game today and I was skeptical of what the vibes would be but honestly. From both sides, the vibes were great. There were maybe equal parts warriors fans in the crowd and everyone pretty much clapped for every point regardless of team? So. Not exactly thrilling but definitely heart warming.

  I brought two of my best friends who have never been to an NBA game before and probably haven’t watched a game in over a decade and everyone had a blast. They both chose GP2 as their favorite guy out there and were surprised that everyone was “so nice to each other” because GP2 was hugging everyone he made eye contact with pretty much 😂

  Happy Easter and Merry Post Season Eve to all who celebrate 🥳

• belilaugh (24 ♡):

  As far as I can tell, this is the first season since 1983-1984 where no team in the Western Conference has a point differential above 4. Seems like a perfect season for a 6 seed to make the Finals.

• pooryorick (18 ♡):

  Ok little homies, listen up. The formula is simple. In the postseason 3 Klay games, 3 Dray$ games, and 6 Curry games = NBA Finals. So let’s ride!

• Golden Gate Warrior (17 ♡):

  Golden One Center?

  More like Golden State Won Center lolamirite?

  But all kidding aside, we gotta pack those away games - this series is going to be so much fun simply due to the electricity in both arenas alone.

  It's wild that the Kings and Warriors have never been good at the same time, and when it finally happens, we get to see them go head to head.

  And if you don't like that, you don't like NBA basketball!

• DFiB (16 ♡):

  JK and MM splits are crazy this year. Sooooo much better post ASB

Game 82. Warriors need one more win to avoid…

Plenty to keep an eye on for last day

• WarriorsGoldenGirl (13 ♡):

  LOL - And all the Texas teams are out of the playoffs this year

• TwoRingTest (11 ♡):

  All four California teams in the playoffs.

  Take that, red states.

• TwoRingTest (10 ♡):

  Our father, who are't in chocolate bunnies, please make sure no Warrior (indeed, no NBA player) gets injured today.

• Stefano Gelati (9 ♡):

  NO

  ONE

  SAVES

  THE

  GAZELLE

• Asher B. (8 ♡):

  Kuminga and Moody a combined 16-23 FG%, 5-8 from three, 3-3FT, 11 reb. 10 assists, 2 blocks, 40 points. Future lookin' bright.

• Da Marc (8 ♡):

  Effectively, the Warriors are already in a three-game play-in tournament where they only need to win one of the three. Win the first one, today, and they're in with the 5 or 6 seed. Lose the first and they (probably) need to play a second game. Win that one and they're in with the 7 seed. Lose that one and they need to play a third game. Win that one and they're in with the 8 seed.

• Goofus (7 ♡):

  Moody seemingly putting it all together in the final month of the season is really satisfying

Donte DiVincenzo continues shooting the…

DDV is having a career year in Golden State.

• BeerGuy (13 ♡):

  I'm pretty sure the Warriors now have both the best backcourt AND the best backup backcourt in the league.

  The championship hangover has manifested itself in weird ways this season but I'm feeling good about them going to the WCF at least. No one's really all that scary in a 7 game. With Steph healthy and playing well as ever and Klay pretty much all the way back and playoff Draymond on the horizon it's really hard for me to bet against them, regardless of context.

  Sidenote: I think it's crazy that people by and large don't recognize what a generational postseason performer Draymond Green is. Last time I plugged players who have at least his postseason averages in PTS, REB, AST, STL, BLK into BB-Ref's Stathead tool (admittedly a few years back) it spat back names at me like Jordan, LeBron, Bird. Granted, they all did it with 15-20 more PPG, but still! I mean, the current factoid/ad for Stathead on his BB-Ref page is: "Draymond Green has twice averaged at least 10 RPG, 8 APG, 1 BPG & 1 SPG in the playoffs. Can you name the only other player to do it even once?" I can't, and I don't pay for it, but that's insane stuff.

  I also have this lingering, admittedly optimistic, soon to be tested (provided they don't screw around and just beat the Blazers) theory that the rhythm, intensity, and looser whistle of the playoffs will mitigate whatever is going on with this team on the road, that their true talent is much closer to how they play at home, and they're going to repeat.

  Just a theory, something I'd peg at like a 25% chance of happening. But those are super awesome odds for a repeat and so I choose to remain optimistic.

  Seriously though, just beat the Blazers and stay the everloving hell out of the play-in, Warriors. If this team has proved anything this year it's that they are capable of losing a single game to anyone on any given night.

• ForeverFoyled (10 ♡):

  I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure there were at least some knee jerk comments here this year about how the Mavs were a shining example of a contender making moves to get better, while the inept Bob & Co sat on their hands and don't care about winning. I think it's safe to say Bob, Lacob, Kerr, Curry, et all care about winning, but it is natural to have differing opinions on what will lead to that. Maybe trading every asset you have for a questionable journeyman is the best option. Maybe trying to develop the draft talent you have is best. There's no clear cut answer, but I would challenge anyone skeptical of current management -- how many (if any) organizations over the last 10 years have proven to have more success with their decisions?

• DFiB (9 ♡):

  https://www.nba.com/stats/players/speed-distance?Season=2021-22&dir=D&sort=DIST_MILES

  Steph is moving more this year than last year.

• Freddie (9 ♡):

  I really liked DDV in Milwaukee pre injury

  I thought he was far more productive than Connaughton or Grayson Allen, only two steps less than Jrue.

  I was very very happy when we got Nemanja Bjelica in 2021 summer and the same when we got DDV in 2022

• Mr.Plow (6 ♡):

  Kevon with b2b 82 game seasons is insane. Remember when this guy was an injury-riddled prospect whose hips capped his ceiling?

Explain: Kevon Looney's Three Offensive…

Plus Santa Quiniones

• DubsNerd (22 ♡):

  Klay commenting on getting to 300 threes ( he needs 5 more to get there):

  “Yeah, that’d be awesome,” Thompson said. “I mean, how many guys have done that in the history of the game? I’m not going to really shoot for it.”

  He paused and nodded his head.

  “Well, I am going to shoot for it.”

• fzwinter (12 ♡):

  With a Dubs win against the Blazers tomorrow, they can go 8-2 in their final 10 games, marred only by their last minute choke against the Wolves and by their loss in Denver where Klay's 3 in the last couple of seconds didn't fall. So they're not all that far from a 10-game winning streak to enter the post-season. And I hear this Wiggins fellow is a pretty good basketball player. Momentum, anyone?

• Abaddon (10 ♡):

  Wow, sucks for him and them. I feel bad for him. Not for them.

• TwoRingTest (10 ♡):

  What a weird game.

  Looney not only had the great rebounding game, but had seven! assists.

  And DDV had nine assists (along with 18 points) to lead the team.

• Asher B. (9 ♡):

  There are of course many theories as to why the Warriors did not play to their presumed potential this regular season; and multiple theories can be true at once. But to my mind the most compelling one is mental exhaustion.

  Honestly, even I get a bit tired rooting for a team through tight games, tense moments, playoff series. You know, just a bit. And I'm just a fan, not responsible for anything. The players? Steph, Klay, and Draymond have been to six Finals, extreme high pressure moments that lasted months. In particular, the last few years have required incredible mental fortitude to persist and prevail through Klay's two devastating injuries, covid, being a terrible team, reacclimating to new teammates, contract issues, media chatter about them being done; and somehow scaling the mountain again in 2022.

  It's just human nature to not be able to get up for every regular season game the following year. In every profession, doing a thing for a decade with top focus is asking a lot.

  Yet this also gives me great hope, because of the "turn it on in the playoffs" concept. We have the players, we have the coach, we have the talent, we have the experience. What we need are the focus, and hey, some road wins.

  There is no other current team as able to coast in the regular season and turn it on in the playoffs. Because to do that, you have to have a core that has gotten it done many times before and can throttle the intensity back up. Of course we don't want the Dubs to do this to themselves, to be fighting for some ignominious "hope I don't play-in" spot. But if they show their true selves in the playoffs, I will once again be walking away with the Larry O'Brien for my fandom efforts.

• Asher B. (9 ♡):

  1. No disagreement with any point regarding Looney's excellent work on the boards, but it is worth adding that this is yet another example of the gravity of Steph and Klay. Looney secures a lot of rebounds because big men who could be in prime position to fend him off are caught up in the Warrior offense, the threat of the outside shot, the switching, and often Looney times it so he's got prime position for a rebound amid all the chaos.

  2. The Warrior with the best rebounding instincts has got to be DeVincenzo. Swear to God as soon as the ball goes up he's racing to the spot where the rebound is going to be.

  3. You may be asking, "Why don't they teach Kuminga these skills, since they want to make him more of a rebounder?" Answer: they keep trying, but he keeps asking "Why not just jump over everyone?" And no one has a good answer for that.

• DubsNerd (9 ♡):

  Thanks Eric for a great E1P. I usually learn something, but agree with ilikefoodtrucks that this was especially informative. Also, amazing how much I don't see when I watch the game at full speed and focus mostly on where the ball is.

• Bel (8 ♡):

  I think Looney and Donte were the first and second best players last night. They were just everywhere hustling and making the right plays.

• Dilly (8 ♡):

  One of the most fun celebration audits, EA!!

  And Loondawg's rebounding technique was great too. Fun to see the Dekky-Effect broken down.

• Night Night (8 ♡):

  All jokes aside, I think Wiggins’ absence has been rough on Poole.

  With all the OGs hassling Poole, the Draymond Punch (tm), and a fanbase that makes these kinds of jokes (myself included), Poole is without his bestie. Remember last season, Poole and Wiggins were inseparable. And now when Poole is struggling, he is without his literal and figurative ‘wingman’.

  And for the record, I’m still here for Poole - a talented and resilient young man.

• Janet (7 ♡):

  Rookie Quinones learned a valuable rookie lesson about championship celebrations. I expect his skills to ramp up in the playoffs.

• DraymondWantsItMore (7 ♡):

  Love E1Ps like this that pick a new specific part of the game like OREBs and focus in, awesome work as always EA!

• Ilikefoodtrucks (7 ♡):

  my understanding of OR is about three times higher than prior to this vid (he says flashing the ok 3 sign).

• BilltheBiker (7 ♡):

  Eric, you do realize the warriors watch E1P and now are upping their celebration techniques. I predict next year we will see the inclusion of backflips, somersaults and handstands. The bar will be continually set higher, to a point where a 21/2 backfill with double twist while holding the three sign will barely warrant a mention.

• Irrationally optimistic (7 ♡):

  Poole's celebration with GP2 is chef's kiss.

  Nice to see that his celebration finishing is at such an elite level, but I wish he would maybe focus on cleaning up in-game miscues.

Post-game: Warriors beat resting Kings, Steph…

took care of business

• Arash (17 ♡):

  Looney aka "The Ground Bound Hound Of Rebound"

• Dilly (14 ♡):

  Just had ice cream of wonby20butshouldabeen50ifnotforallthefuckingturnovers!!

  [Still tasted good.]

• belilaugh (10 ♡):

  If Wiggins is healthy, I know they are winning the West

• Ando (9 ♡):

  I liked the part where they won the game.

Wild turn of events: Kings resting players…

There's still a chance this all just works out

• Eric Apricot (12 ♡):

  It would have been “healthy” for the NBA if the American sports media and social media hadn’t treated the best regular season team of all time as a bunch of choker laughingstocks from the end of the Finals until they shocked the world again on KD Free Agent Decision Day.

  Seeing that, how can ANYONE ever try in the regular season for a second longer than necessary for playoff position?

• Chaos_Samedi (12 ♡):

  I think I messed up, I watched curry's game 4 against the Celtics last night and now I want us to play the KD suns on the road first round to increase curry's legacy

• Bel (11 ♡):

  No matter who plays or doesn’t play, let’s just win these last two games please.

• belilaugh (10 ♡):

  So much DDV vs GP2 talk over the season, turns out the answer is "both"

Dub Nation HQ Comments of Week, plus open…

reunions and season-size random endings

• Asher B. (13 ♡):

  As we wrap up the regular season, it's time to review my performance as a fan in 2022-23. (Does not include playoffs).

  This year I took a noticeable step backward. Maybe it's age, maybe I've been doing this for too long and have lost a step. Noticeably, I missed watching approximately 34 games with claims like "I went to a movie" or "Went to a friend's birthday dinner" that, frankly, ring hollow. Excuses do not cut it. In 11% of blowouts, according to Second Spectrum, I kept the game running but didn't actually watch and instead did crossword puzzles. My posts online in support of the Warriors were more arrogant and misinformed than in previous years, if that's possible. I also severely annoyed everyone with excessive focus on one player, to the detriment of team spirit.

  Positives: I did attend a Santa Cruz Warriors game, even though they suck. I was an early advocate for more Lamb. I did continue to spread the word by talking to all my friends (who are not yet sports fans) about the Warriors and what is happening with the team. My recruitment game was solid, although with few actual converts.

  Summary: a down year, looking forward to next year if I'm back with the team. Just trying to go out there each and every day and get better.

• DubsNerd (13 ♡):

  Yeah, but despite the down year, aren't you the fan that no other team's fan wants to see in the playoffs?

• nomdesab (13 ♡):

  Denied.

  Shams: Mavs protested that refs did not properly administer a call that led to uncontested Warriors basket in 2-point loss.

  NBA statement: "game officials could have taken steps to better manage this particular situation...that did not provide a basis...of upholding a game protest."

• DFiB (10 ♡):

  Exactly... he may not be the "organizational PG" that CP3 is. But ask yourself why... CP3 uses the P&R as the ball handler, and then eats up the space the drop big leaves, snakes back, and tries to maintain the "2-on-1" advantage for as long as he can while pressing the drop defender closer and closer to the basket to ultimately make them commit to himself or the roller before either taking the midrange himself or delivering a pocket pass. If defenders gave Curry that space, he'd just rain down 3s all day (Ref: Boston Celtics, June, 2022)... so they tend to switch or trap... and Steph either attacks the big or gives Dray a 4-on-3 opportunity. So Dray ends up appearing as the PG/organizer of the team instead. It doesn't mean Steph couldn't do it... he's just such a lethal shooter that "do I take this shot or press the advantage" invariably ends up in "I should take the shot" and he looks like he's a scorer and not an organizer.

• Asher B. (10 ♡):

  I'm OK with it. I like hearing that he looks good. Try to beat Sacto and certainly Portland without him, then hopefully a week of hard practice not being in the play in, bring him in to lay waste to the league.

• Alex (9 ♡):

  Charles is so bad at predictions, he is in the court-mandated process of having his name legally changed to 538.

• Night Night (9 ♡):

  My favorite moments from this wild season?

  Watching our young talent develop and shine.

  Kuminga. Enough said.

  Poole’s improvement with playmaking, driving and drawing contact, 4th quarter clutch moments (lately, and progressing from early season fumbles), and overall strength of character in response to all the drama.

  And just wow: Moody’s last game was the first time we’ve seen a glimpse of his ceiling.

  PBJ could be Looney with a sweet jumper, with the right training.

  Warriors next-gen.

• E2148 (8 ♡):

• Hell of a conversation between RJ and JJ on pre-Dynasty Steph, Klay, and Dray. Great stuff and worth the whole 10 minute clip

  Only thing I disagree with is when he said that Steph’s best version is off ball; when he was primary PnR under Jackson he was still putting up Harden numbers. And his handle/vision is even better now. That’s what makes the Steph/Klay/Poole lineup fascinating.

• Night Night (8 ♡):

  Steph is an amazing PG, but RJ is right in a sense: He operates best off-ball. More than the looks this creates for him as a ‘shooting guard’, his off-ball gravity creates quality looks for other players, and allows Draymond to be at his best on the offensive end (point forward). And of course, Steph can be a regular PG and his handles are super tight nowadays.

  But Steph is more than an elite shooter that changed the game with elite range - Steph also created a new position in the league, the ‘off-ball point guard’!

• Abaddon (8 ♡):

  > Only thing I may disagree with is that Steph’s best version is off ball;

  Maybe the second-biggest thing that makes Steph unique, after his crazy shot making ability, is his ability to play both on >and< off the ball. (That's hardly a secret, of course). He's better doing both. Tell me he's not a "point guard" when he's running the two-man game with Dray initiating the offense at the end of pretty much any close game.

  RJ was a great listen here, but he's off-base about that one.