Dub Nation HQ Comments of Week, plus open thread
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Dub Nation HQ Comments of Week, plus open thread
mostly about the Draft
2022 NBA Draft: Warriors trade up to get…
The Warriors kept the small program theme going in the second round, trading up to add a pick and roll guard. With their final pick, they made what seems to be a draft-and-stash selection.
Eric Apricot (21 ♡):
Okay, now that I’ve slept on it, I feel perfectly good about the draft. I was turned off on PBJ pre-draft because of (1) his terrible performance in college and (2) his career-damaging decision to play for his dad.
But now I have read the Norlander piece https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2022-nba-draft-profile-after-flameout-at-milwaukee-patrick-baldwin-jr-is-this-years-top-wild-card-prospect/ and whichever of the Athletic articles talked about how impressive PBJ was in film sessions with GSW staff.
I see a very smart prospect with physical tools and skills that everyone was sure would dominate college ball, who suffered a major injury in their last year of HS and never recovered from it. His father had been the coach at UWM and was on the hot seat, and PBJ took the chance to go there to try to save his dad’s job, at the cost of his own draft stock, declining offers from Duke etc. In interviews, he seems at peace with the decision and treasures it from a family perspective. He tried to play through the injury but his dad finally shut him down for the year. Was this the best decision? I don’t know, but it wasn’t a selfish one.
So when you draft PBJ, you are betting that he can rehab his foot over the next 6-12 months and recover his physical peak which had him on track to be a high lottery pick. GSW seemed impressed and confident that PBJ had the mental skills to play in a complex system.
So this is the biggest high risk, high reward pick that I had been advocating for and a perfect late 1st rd multi year gamble for the type of team that can afford it.
As for Rollins, I want to watch his Toledo game against top-seed Dayton in their 1st rd NIT loss because he got (statistically) smacked against the best competition he faced all year. But I don’t have any expectations for second round picks. It’s more a question of why this guy will be taking a roster spot.
hammystyle (17 ♡):
I think you nailed it in terms of why they’re comfortable he fell, what they liked about him (size, smarts, shot, pedigree) etc.
And this blog has written that the Warriors are a “people” org. They invest in the person. They want to build relationships between the players, the coaches and management. Baldwin is really forthright and earnest about how his year went. Doesn’t seem to have any negativity around it despite it seeming like a disaster from the outside. That seems like the type of maturity and positivity the Dubs gravitate to.
crusty quips (14 ♡):
Some thoughts from Warriors Reddit on our new two-way player Quinones:
- Memphis fan. This guy can really shoot the ball and is a very good and smart defender. Hustles his ass off and never takes a play off. Been watching Memphis for 20+ years and Lester is one of my favorites. Seemed to be a good culture and team guy from what I could tell too. He and Wiseman were teammates until James got suspended and quit the team. He’ll be better than your other two-way Memphis (native wise) guy, Chiozza. I understand why he didn’t come back to school now lol.
-(Another Tigers fan) I’ll add that from watching his IG stories for 3 years he’s also a massive Warriors fan so I know this is a dream come true for him. He’s been posting Steph Curry highlights basically every day since he committed to Memphis. I’m so happy for him
crusty quips (12 ♡):
Moving this from the old thread on request - the 21 and under Warriors and their wingspans:
Rollins: 6'10"
Kuminga: 6'11"
Moody: 7'1"
Santos: 7'1"
Baldwin: 7'2"
Wiseman: 7'5"
I realize that someone like Santos is not guaranteed to play a minute in the NBA but overall these guys are indicative of the organizational approach of #lengthinnumbers as far as what physical attributes are prized by the FO, the same way that Memphis likes strong-bodied physical types and OKC has that slenderman thing going on.
Abaddon (11 ♡):
“That Game 4 was iconic to me,” Durant said on The ETCs with Kevin Durant.
“It's like much more than just the win, that game right there was just like, alright, this is one of the greatest we've ever seen. And in that environment and the shots he was making … and the rebounds though. It was the rebounds for me, 'cause playing with Steph, that's how I know he's super, super engaged when he's on the boards heavy. Coming over somebody's back ... so it's just like, he really wants this.”
Pod link:
(also on Spotify)
Sleepy Freud (10 ♡):
KOC gives the Baldwin pick … an A+.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
A+
There isn’t a better situation for Baldwin than Golden State. He’s joining a team where there will be no pressure at all to develop quickly. It’s an all-upside pick on a top-ranked prospect out of high school who had a disastrous college season, dealing with injuries while playing for a bad team coached by his father. But with his great size and theoretical two-way ability as a scorer and defender, the Warriors can be patient in trying to get everything they can out of him. And if they miss, so be it.
rcknfn (10 ♡):
I don't think FO is expecting any contributions from PBJ and Rollins this year. Neither should we. We can get through RS with 13 guys with increased minutes from JK, Moody and Wise.
GhostRidingTheInjuryCart (9 ♡):
Not sure if someone else mentioned it, but
"Baldwin revealed Friday to reporters at his Warriors introductory press conference that he was whistled for his first technical foul ever for the no-look three."
"Rollins revealed Friday that the Warriors even tried to move up to No. 30 overall, the last pick in the first round, to snatch him."
Also: "Santos called it "amazing" to continue to learn from Barbosa and be around him even more. The recently turned 20-year-old forward played with Barbosa for the Brazilian club Minas in the 2019-20 season when Barbosa led the league in scoring at 37 years old. The two quickly formed a big brother, little brother bond with Barbosa taking Santos under his wings."
I missed the intros today, but there's a short summary article on NBC Bay Area:
hammystyle (9 ♡):
As a side note, my other big takeaway is it's another aggressive financial showing by ownership to bring in two more rookies who will contribute little to nothing to a title contender next year. I/we thought it was possible they totally punted on the first round pick, let alone the 2nd rounders. They're going to pay a considerable amount to have a complete redshirt on the roster. A real big gamble overall. Very nice believable upside to that move, but also, they could end up paying like ~$20-30M for a guy that never even plays for them. It's just a massive commitment to building that future core. Then doubling down and sending out 2M to move up for a 2nd round prospect.
That's where the flexing is really happening. Yes they kept the core together. Yes, they kept that salary slot that turned into Wiggins. Yes, they'll re-sign Poole. All those are aggressive financial moves to make a contender. But wow, how much they've spent now on the future of the Warriors is really something else.
This title wasn't really a paycheck title. Other teams spend a lot too. But if the Warriors are still contenders in 5-6 years like they plan to be that's where they just went out way further then any team.
Arash (9 ♡):
Baldwin Jr Flaws Counterpoints
Inefficient Shooting: In a larger sample size than the 11 games he played while injured, Baldwin has been a much more efficient shooter at the lower levels. Plus, his FT% indicates a higher proficiency shooter than his 3 pt% indicates.
Overall scoring efficiency: Baldwin had absolutely terrible teammates when it comes to shooting/providing spacing. This means not only was he the primary focus of every opposing defense, but also they could afford to collapse their defense and clog up inside to make things more difficult for him. All of this plus the fact that he was playing through a severe ankle injury which sapped his athleticism probably contributed to the drop his inefficiency (plus maybe he just was in a cold spell shooting wise since 11 game is so small).
Lack of Athleticism: Firstly, its without a doubt that he is still recovering from that aforementioned ankle injury so that undoubtedly sapped at his performance at the combine. Secondly, even taking into account his injury, apparently the poor numbers were as a result of a brain fart by Baldwin where he jumped with two feet instead of one. Apparently, in private workouts with teams he was jumping a max vert of 36 inches (he is probably even better when his ankle fully heals) which is quite average explosive athleticism rather than the terrible athleticism his initial numbers in the combine indicates.
Love For the Game: The kid played through an tough ankle injury. Even if he doesn’t love the game, this indicates that he is enough of a professional and is tough enough that Im fine drafting him.
Poor defense: His injured ankle plus outsized role on the offensive end probably sapped at his defensive capabilities BUT there are some flashes of ability. His 3.2 Block % is excellent for a wing and reflective of his excellent size/wingspan. Beyond that, the fact that he “finished 98th percentile in synergy defensive PPP is also amazing when you consider Milwaukee as a team was 284th in the nation in (adjusted tbf) defense).
Five Alarm Freddy (9 ♡):
Probably been posted before, but this kids kids stroke is beautiful. I was not exactly sold on his college highlight tapes, but this quick pro day video shows me why people are so high on this Baldwin kid. That shot is impressive.
Sabrina420-"Holy Cannoli." (9 ♡):
You down with OPJ (Yeah you know me), you down with PBJ (Yeah you know me)
🙃☮️
Warriors select Patrick Baldwin Jr at #28 …
19 yo with NBA physique and maybe, just maybe, NBA skills
tempprofile (14 ♡):
I wan't excited about him before, but now that the Warriors drafted him I'm super excited.
Sabrina420-"Holy Cannoli." (12 ♡):
Wolves passed on EJ Lidell more than once. Kid is destined to be a superstar now.
DFiB (11 ♡):
Any thought that Lacob is worried about $$ should be erased by his combined willingness to have the highest payroll, pay lux tax through the nose, promise to keep the team together, keep the FRP, and pay $2M to move up 7 spots late in the second round, lol… any other team thinking “I’ll sign Looney away” better be ready to back up the Brinks truck for real.
Being (10 ♡):
Great quote from the SBNation article on his decision to turn down Duke:
Baldwin said his parents never pressured him in any direction, but it was easy for some to see his decision as a way to save his father’s job. Baldwin Sr. had a 47-70 record with Milwaukee in his first four seasons, and knew he’d be on the hot seat if he didn’t deliver in the upcoming year.
“I only have one life,” Baldwin told SB Nation on his decision to go to Milwaukee. “Playing for my father is something I only got one time, so I had to take advantage of that.”
Sleepy Freud (9 ♡):
Whoa. The Pounding the Rock crew, who’s usually pretty savvy, had Ryan Rollins ranked #19, and called him, “among the most polished scorers in this draft.”
void (8 ♡):
Side note, I love that our FO spends on draft picks, as an A's fan it's really nice to come over here and see what it's like to have an owner that gives a shit.
Shawyer (8 ♡):
A+ from The Ringer
"There isn’t a better situation for Baldwin than Golden State. He’s joining a team where there will be no pressure at all to develop quickly. It’s an all-upside pick on a top-ranked prospect out of high school who had a disastrous college season, dealing with injuries while playing for a bad team coached by his father. But with his great size and theoretical two-way ability as a scorer and defender, the Warriors can be patient in trying to get everything they can out of him. And if they miss, so be it."
Abaddon (7 ♡):
Hollinger doesn’t like him so there’s a plus
Eric Apricot (7 ♡):
I was in favor of a “high risk high reward” pick, but PBJ was too much even for me. GSW really went for it.
AttilaTheHun (6 ♡):
If we're keeping one of our previous 2-ways I'd rather have Spoons.
Eric Apricot (6 ♡):
I take PBJ to be in a long line of Dubs dynasty picks -- Looney and Damian Jones were lottery type talents who dropped all the way to the end of the 1st due to injury issues. And a dynasty can afford to wait for a guy to heal for a year (or two plus, in Looney's case)
2022 Dub Nation HQ Draft Viewing Guide and…
Find the exact moment you will be mad about GSW's draft selections
Eric Apricot (15 ♡):
We have to be the only fanbase in the universe who would have hesitation about having KD on their team.... amazing situation to be in
Goofus (14 ♡):
This Thanksgiving, when we go around the table and say what we’re thankful for, I hope I’m still able to say, “None of the Warriors are dating a Kardashian.”
Eric Apricot (12 ♡):
Jonathan Kuminga is 5 months younger than Chet Holmgren
Five Alarm Freddy (12 ♡):
I love how the California Classic doesn't include the Clippers, but does include Miami. I am sure there is a truly logical reason for this, but I choose to believe it is because no one wants to see Steve Ballmer in summer shorts.
Goofus (11 ♡):
Posting this here so I can quickly copy-and-paste to post my reaction when our pick comes up:
Wow! I can’t believe he fell to us! Awesome! Welcome to the Warriors, <player’s name>!
I really didn’t know much about him, but after watching some film and reading up on him, I can see why the Warriors liked him as he potentially checks a number of boxes. It’ll be really interesting to see how much playing time he gets this season. Welcome to the Warriors, <player’s name>!
I guess the team decided they can’t develop another prospect, so I understand trading the pick away, but it’s disappointing after watching the entire draft broadcast. (If needed) Welcome to the Warriors, <incoming player’s name>!
Eric Apricot (11 ♡):
Going to rebrand as the OKC Thinder
Captain Jack (11 ♡):
God, hearing the noise about KD and Kyrie about wanting to jump ship yet again makes me appreciate our core 3 so much. I get it, the NBA is a business and you do what's best for you but in those guy's cases I think they're just divas
Sphe (11 ♡):
Appreciate how detailed you've been with this! I'll be able to catch the Warriors picking Trevion Williams at 55.
Eric Apricot (10 ♡):
***
Spurs: So tell us about yourself
Jeremy Sochan: We’ll actually I lived overseas and…
Spurs: SOLD!
Sleepy Freud (10 ♡):
Excellent internet sobriquet for OKC’s (likely) Poku + Chet combo…
“Twig Towers”
Dub Nation HQ Draft Tourney Wrap-up …
It's good to have some humility
belilaugh (16 ♡):
Holy shit, that's awesome, good for the Blazers. Lillard/Hart/Anunoby/Grant/Nurkic with Simons as the 6th man?
Warriors in 5.
Captain Jack (13 ♡):
I know we're extra harsh on Wise because we've seen all of the bad and rightfully so but I can't help but get excited when I watch the highlights of this game. I firmly believe he'll take that next step in year 3 and prove a lot of people wrong. Next year will be very fun
belilaugh (10 ♡):
The Warriors winning the championship takes a lot of pressure off of him imo.
TheseGuysAreF’ingGIANTS! (9 ♡):
100% gotta resign a proven playoff performer that you have full bird rights to if you’re serious about winning.
Captain Jack (8 ♡):
Looney is the top priority IMO. He's the reason why we can get away with the smaller lineup in the playoffs. He's big enough to where he can punish other teams for going small but he's also not too big to stay in front of faster guys. Playoff Loon is very real and GP2 is almost just as important. As much as I'd love to keep OPJ if I had to choose 2 out of 3 to keep he wouldn't make the cut
hammystyle (8 ♡):
Pretty much every contender (using contender loosely) owes at least a pick and some owe quite a bit more moving forward. Bucks, Nets, Lakers, Clippers, Mavericks, Celtics, 76ers, Dallas, Suns, Jazz, Heat, Nuggets.
The Grizzlies have a net positive. They're in very good shape. If Zion returning makes the Pelicans a contender, they have an absolute treasure trove. Particularly from the Lakers: (8th pick this year, swap option 2023, unprotected in 2024 or 2025 at Pelicans discretion).
But anywho, pretty crazy for the Warriors just to owe one, have just won a championship, and have three young lottery picks plus Jordan Poole at age 22 and under.
Eric Apricot (8 ♡):
I expect any trade to come down to draft time so GSW can see who fell and also what deals they are offered because of who fell. And possibly even be announced after the pick is made.
Dilip Goswami (8 ♡):
I have to say your videos on Kuminga's G league games were eye-opening for me. And his season kind of proved it. But he does seem like the kind of kid who needed this environment (and continues to need it) of accountability and vets to rise to his potential. Maybe it's reading too much into his g-league vs nba regular season games this season. I don't like to speculate on draft but I do love the deep dives on whoever we end up drafting!
2022 Draft Preview and Draft Tourney Finals…
Dream a little dream
Eric Apricot (11 ♡):
“Fat is potential in disguise”
Chasing Rings... (11 ♡):
Man, DNHQ got me going from Warriors Fan, to Owner, to GM within less than a week after winning the Chip! I love it, already focused on running it back! Keep serving up the great content team 🙏
Goofus (10 ♡):
Can you guys spend some of those big DHNQ bucks to rent out a gym? We need to get these guys in there and work them out before I can make a decision.
GhostRidingTheInjuryCart (8 ♡):
Eric Apricot:
+ Elite explainer
+ Unparalleled dedication to his craft
+ "Has that dog in [his profile pic]"
tempprofile (7 ♡):
I saw on spotrac that Davidson is the university with the highest average NBA salary for current players. Of course, they only have one player currently in the NBA.
Eric Apricot (6 ♡):
Ghost asked about our irrational good feeling guys in the draft. I really like watching Trevion Williams highlights. I just have to believe there is a place in the NBA for a big guy like this, the funnest passer in the draft.
Draft Tourney Bonus Group E: Terry, Nembhard…
By popular demand, we added a group for these players
Nate P (5 ♡):
So … this group is …interesting…
A lot of these guys are worth discussing because they had interesting profiles, but they also all looked like dime a dozen guys … that you might find in the G-League…
So I’m basing my vote for this group on the most superficial thing possible: at just before the 1:19 mark in Dalen Terry’s video, he cut off his opponent’s drive on defense with his superior length and then clapped in the guy’s face before just taking the ball. KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY in the NBA next to Draymond and GP2 and I’ll be a very happy Warriors fan lol
But seriously, his defensive energy was the thing that excited me most of any of these guys so Dalen Terry is definitely getting my vote here.
Goofus (4 ♡):
I’m voting for Terry. They had me at “Shades of Andre Igoudala”, but I see some Halliburton in him with the passing and character, but more athletic. If the improved shooting is for real, he’s a great get. I hope the Warriors worked him out.
CNB (4 ♡):
Give me Nembhard. I know he seems like a safe pick, but some of those passes he made are better than safe. That was the only skill I saw from any of these guys that I think could be immediately above-average (or better) in the NBA. I would love to see him dishing to Wiseman and Kuminga (and Kerr would love to see him avoiding turnovers). His shot-putting jumper isn't great, but at least he seems comfortable with it, which is more than I can say for Terry, who has the same form in the short- and mid-range, and every time the ball leaves his hand he looks curious as to where it's going to go. Terry's defense might be better, but everything else seems more theoretical than not.
Houstan's shot is too methodical, and he doesn't appear nearly explosive enough to be a wing to dream on. I'd prefer if he went more for a 3 point-shooting power forward role, but he doesn't seem to have the kind of inside game he'd need for that. And Rollins just looked like a very good (which is to say, not good enough) college player playing against sub-par competition.
So I vote for the best NBA skill I saw that would fit in best with the Warriors' young guys: Nembhard's playmaking.
2022 Championship Parade Attendance and…
Be there or be there virtually
BadlyBrowned (34 ♡):
Yo, I got to clap Steph's hand! My life is complete lol
TheseGuysAreF’ingGIANTS! (21 ♡):
For some reason I got flipped back to a post game sadness thread from March where folks were making predictions and there were lots of 1st and second round ouster predictions but there was also this:
Five Alarm Freddy
Mar 29
I am still holding on to how I felt a few months ago: This team will win it all if healthy. Knowing health is an unknown, I still say the Warriors flip the switch and they release two years of pent up frustration on the league. Warriors in 6 over whoever meets them in the Finals.
Kudos Mr Freddy posting this after a rough loss. I’m especially impressed by 6 games and the perfect pent up frustration call. Which it feels like Dray and Klay might still be doing.
Daniel Hardee (18 ♡):
IM HERE
wonderyearsballer (16 ♡):
A fearsome hoard of marauders swept in to besiege my workplace this morning. I went out to negotiate surrender terms. Their leader seemed to be called "M-V-P". Thankfully he was placated with gold and moved on. I asked if he had conquered Gaul, but I was told they follow him because he puts a ball through a hoop(?) Maybe humanity is making progress after all. I hope they return again next spring.
Sanctorum (15 ♡):
Myers repping the San Quentin Warriors. Salute.
Trogdor (15 ♡):
With the parade I thought it would be a good time to celebrate all the players who have been a championship winning part of this dynasty:
Steph Curry x4
Klay Thompson x4
Draymond Green x4
Andre Iguodala x4
Kevon Looney x3
Shaun Livingston x3
James Michael McAdoo x2
Kevin Durant x2
Patrick McCaw x2
David West x2
Zaza Pachulia x2
Damian Jones x2
JaVale MGee x2
Damian Lee x2*
Leando Barbosa
Marreese Speights
Andrew Bogut
Odjen Kuzmic
Justin Holiday
Harrison Barnes
David Lee
Brandon Rush
Festus Ezeli
Matt Barnes
Ian Clark
Jordan Bell
Omri Casspi
Quinn Cook
Nick Young
Andrew Wiggins
Jordan Poole
Otto Porter Jr.
Gary Payton II
Moses Moody
James Wiseman
Jonathan Kuminga
Nemanja Bjelica
Juan Toscano Anderson
Marcus Derrickson*
Chris Chiozza*
Jeff Dowtin*
Quinndary Weatherspoon*
Chris Boucher*
Briante Weber*
Anderson Varejao*
*Two-way players and those not on the roster for the playoffs
Trogdor (14 ♡):
I really want to see Poole-Moody-Wiggins-Kuminga-Wiseman all on the floor at the same time this upcoming season. That right there could be a future championship starting lineup.
Sabrina420-"Holy Cannoli." (13 ♡):
Before I go into read only status to attempt to refocus on work...I was today years old when I learned the Philadelphia Warriors won the very first (pro basketball? NBA???) championship in 1947. 75 years later the Warriors come full circle with another ring. Beauty. 🙃☮️🥂
belilaugh (13 ♡):
"We'll see you next year, run it back"
The GP2/Looney free agencies are about as suspenseful as Klay's was in 2019 imo, pretty obvious both will be back.
crusty quips (13 ♡):
"I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying!" KT to Steph
Duby Dub Dubs (13 ♡):
I'm going!!
Told myself "no matter what" so here we are.
I've got to travel international for work tomorrow, this us not ideal timing, but I must go yell my head off with fellow fans
belilaugh (11 ♡):
> It’s like the Bay Area still doesn’t realize what the rest of the country now knows: They’re done winning titles, let alone getting outta the conference. Durant is who made them unbeatable.
> 12:28 AM · Jan 31, 2021
crusty quips (11 ♡):
They won a championship. I wouldn't give a damn if they were doing lines off the trophy, personally.
Bel (11 ♡):
Kerr just knows what to always say. When Kerith Burke asked him what he thought of when Klay said he only wants to have Steve for his coach, Kerr replies "Well, I don't want to coach anybody else".
Eric Apricot (11 ♡):
Dray: Some championships we were so good we didn't have to be aligned. But this one, we had to be all aligned
Sleepy Freud (11 ♡):
My brother on parades: “there are two kinds of people in the world: people who don’t really like parades … and fascists.” 😂
Goofus (11 ♡):
Didn’t see it posted below. NBC Sports Bay Area is easy easy streaming on YouTube:
The Sword Of The Morning (10 ♡):
I know GSOM had "Unstoppable Baby!" as their tag line, can we have "Welcome Back To The Warriors Invitational" as ours here lol?
Sabrina420-"Holy Cannoli." (10 ♡):
JTA has his own fan club section on the parade route lol. WIN.
Chasing Rings... (9 ♡):
They figured to tiptoe around it for a moment, neither Kevon Looney nor Otto Porter Jr. quite ready to share what they and their Golden State teammates chanted in the giddiness of the visiting dressing room at TD Garden late Thursday.
But enough champagne had been flowing by the time the two Warriors role player reached the interview room, so what the heck.
“You can tell them,” Looney said to Porter, laughing.
Porter didn’t hesitate. “Basically we were saying, ‘[Expletive] you, Draymond!’ That’s what we were saying. But it was fun, though.”
Said Looney: “Fun moment. Draymond has been yelling at us all year.”
belilaugh (9 ♡):
These people tried to write the Warriors out of the history books and now they have to sit there and pretend like they are not bothered that the Warriors won, knowing they failed and the pro-Warrior spin on history is how things will be remembered. That's what makes me the happiest about this title.
g8tgod (9 ♡):
Should have been a 23-second delay...
DNHQ Vidcast: How Warriors can afford to keep…
BIG RINGS REQUIRE BIG MONEY
Johan (11 ♡):
You may be right about OPJ and Beli but it doesn't seem fair to call them ring chasers. They signed with a team that didn't make the playoffs last year. This summer is when the ring chasers sign on.
Dan Doerge (8 ♡):
You 3 rock! Loved the contributions all year. Dubs in 6, indeed.
E2148 (6 ♡):
Completely OT but Dejounte Murray just earned a new fan. On Father’s Day no less.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ce-K4MoFgot/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
DFiB (5 ♡):
All the little opportunities are there to make me confident this will work financially. Biggest one is the new CBA, of course. If they’re paying a 7x tax multiplier, a $20M increase would save the Dubs $160M in tax…
TheseGuysAreF’ingGIANTS! (5 ♡):
Loved that DH Hennessy energy to kick off the show! Maybe my favorite 10 minutes of webcasting ever!
Trogdor (4 ♡):
Beyond just the annual ROI, which is certainly important for paying the bills in the short term, but the longer the dynasty lasts for the greater the franchise will be valued in the long run. There are Warriors fans out there who became fans during that first championship run. There are Warriors fans who will be fans moving forward because of THIS championship run.
Especially when you take into account the growing popularity internationally, the continued dynasty is only increasing the value of the Warriors brand. If the young uns are able to win championships for the Warriors as well? The Warriors could easily close in on passing the Cowboys as the most valuable sports franchise in the world. They've already passed the Lakers (the Lakers!!!) and are closing in on the Knicks and Yankees.
The Bulls are still printing money off of the Jordan dynasty. The Celtics have won ONE ring since the 80s, and they're still one of the most popular teams because of past success. In the NFL, the Cowboys haven't sniffed the Superb Owl since the 90s and yet they're still the most valuable sports franchise in the world.
If the Warriors are able to keep the championship train running with all of these extremely marketable personalities? All the short term salary tax pain will be more than worth it in the long run.
Chasing Rings... (4 ♡):
Thank you all for the entertaining and braggadocious (well earned Gold Blooded King of the Ring!) in depth analysis on the intriguing off season manoeuvres we have coming up with players and payrolls.
When I heard Joey Lightyears say that he was as proud of building Chase Centre as he was of building the Dynasty, I got the sense he really loves achieving ambitious goals and manifesting things to life that are by most accounts very improbable to pull off. I think the "Bridge to the Future" plan is just the next one that will come to fruition and we will all marvel when last last of The Trio retires and the kids are all All Stars - "What's past is prologue".
But so much has gone on THIS season that I want to savor the journey as much as I can while the afterglow is still as warm as a shot of cognac in the morning :)
Would love to hear your best "Remember that time when..." moments of on court, off court, DNHQ. NBA or otherwise to relive the magic! We're back on TOP baby!! Let's Go WARRIORS!!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆
tempprofile (4 ♡):
Exempting the salaries of players you drafted would be huge for the Warriors. Even a partial exemption would be huge. It is crazy to penalize teams for doing a good job of identifying and developing talent. That said, I can see both the players and owners having problems with it, the players as it would be yet another barrier to a big free agency pay day and the owners because it would lock in an advantage to the Warriors for quite a few years as they have made so few trades.
Draft Tourney Group D: Baldwin, Keels…
Vote to decide who moves on to the final round
stopnpop (5 ♡):
Moore for me and it's not even close. I'm surprised he's mocked at #38 (on nbadraft.net).
Aside from the others looking unappealing, Moore checks a lot of boxes... improved 3P% every season while shooting 80%+ from the line... upped assists while lowering turnovers... plays defense... knows how to move the ball and make plays. I guess his only downside is he doesn't pop athletically? But he's got size for his position.
He feels like a Brogdon type of player to me.
Eric Apricot (3 ♡):
This group is expecially hard for me, as it really really tests my theoretical commitment to (1) high-risk high-reward, (2) defensive terror big, (3) draft and stash.
Patrick Baldwin Jr is the ultra swing for the fences pick. But the self-destructive choice to play for his dad, plus the injuries, make this a bridge too far for me.
Walker Kessler in a weird way is both the defensive terror and a big swing. The worst case is Shawn Bradley. The best case, if Kessler can somehow defend in space, then you've got a playoff playable Rudy Gobert. But... that's just too big a swing for me.
Wendell Moore is the most likely to stick in the pros, but it isn't a big enough swing for me.
That leaves my pick, Trevor Keels. He was an elite shooter in HS and his small sample size performance at Duke dropped his value a lot, plus his decision to come out a year too early. If that shooting is real and didn't just disappear in college, you combine that with a guy who can get to the rim and draw fouls. Rim pressure off the dribble plus elite shooting is a real tasty package. It's a dream, but #28 is for dreaming.
belilaugh (3 ♡):
Mostly going on vibes here:
1) Baldwin
2) Moore
3) Kessler
4) Keels
What if this Baldwin kid is indeed an elite shooting 6'10, 230 pound, 7'2 wingspan stretch 5 (even though he is talked about as a wing)? What if he was fighting through injury all throughout college after being a highly regarded high school prospect and was playing a primary shot creator role which he is horribly suited for and getting zero space on any of his catch and shoot attempts due to his teammate quality? What if the team who converted Looney from a star high school scoring forward to a dirty work center can do the same for this kid? I would be fine gambling on his upside at #28. Looney was supposed to be a lottery pick before the injury red flags too...
Moore is probably the smarter pick than Baldwin but whatever, live dangerously.
Kessler's seemingly unprecedented block rate is kinda intriguing. I think a lot of us expect him to be another big stiff type who is too slow for the league but there is a chance that Kessler is just an absurd rim protector. I'd rather gamble on a big like Koloko though.
Not too keen on Keels.
void (3 ♡):
The athleticism might not play at the moment, but Moore was 6th in max vert and 4th in standing vert (38.5 and 32.5 respectively) in the combine.
Pius Street Uke (2 ♡):
With his length and shooting there's moore to like with Wendell.
mDuo13 (2 ♡):
Difficult group; I don't think any of these guys is likely to win our little draft tourney. But I am intrigued by a Kessler & Moore.
Kessler's defensive presence looks like the real deal, a very rare player in that regard; the question is if he can do enough on offense, and if he'll only be as effective in the postseason as Gobert. Bit of a positional clash with Wiseman, but, whatever, if he's the best option we take him and trade whichever one we don't like after a while.
Moore is probably the guy whose resume most obviously fits the modern NBA out of all the rookies we've seen so far; it's hard to go wrong with a 3pt shooting, passing wing who plays fundamentally solid defense. His instincts for pushing the pace on the break should fit well with GSW. But he isn't all that impressive in any one respect.
I have to say Kessler, because I like the idea of gambling on a unique talent and finding a role where he can succeed or a way to maximize his skills, something our coaches have been pretty good at, rather than just going for the straightforward choice.
Sphe (2 ♡):
Summed up how I feel here. I have liked Kessler for a while now. He would add another dimension to the Warriors. Wise looks to be a small ball centre (Steve described the role as someone who can stretch the floor, not necessarily small). Kessler's a legit shot blocker and on offense would be relegated to just finishing at the rim with the Warriors. I see him as a good regular season player. I've like Moore for a little while as well so I would be happy with either.
vignette17 (2 ♡):
I think this group is selling Kessler low and he's enough of an outlier on the defensive end that I'm a little intrigued. Even if I have a huge anti-center bias. But I just can't say no to Moore. He fits my archetype too perfectly. Could he be Jacob Evans or Pat McCaw? Of course, but at #28, you can't and won't always get Jordan Poole.
Dub Nation HQ Comments of Week, plus open…
2022 CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION, Games 5 and 6
stopnpop (11 ♡):
Draymond Green
@Money23Green
Getting ready for Game 7 tonight… 🔒in!!! Happy Father’s Day
fzwinter (8 ♡):
You can't redshirt your age, unfortunately
Sabrina420-"Holy Cannoli." (8 ♡):
Klay led all Warriors in minutes played this playoffs. Who saw that coming?
Asher B. (8 ♡):
Thank you very much for posting the comments of the week. So much has been blasting through that I'd missed a lot of great comments. I hadn't heard anything about this "checkbook championship" thing. Enough has been said about the non-correlation of salary to championship, but I just think it's ironic because a key to the Warrior dynasty has been UNDER paying successfully. The Steph's Maybe His Ankles Will Give Out salary changed so much. The Kerr shoutout to Myers at the trophy award was so cool. Because we have won the front office wars over the decade -- but not by virtue of wallet. Let's look at the core contributors in the Finals: Drafted: Steph Klay Draymond Poole Looney. Traded for: Wiggins. Picked up on minimum contracts: OPJ, GPII. In other words, the rest of the league could have gotten each of those guys if they'd evaluated talent as intelligently as Bob et. al. They didn't, we did, haha. Kuminga Moody and Wiseman say whut up.
Abaddon (7 ♡):
“FiveThirtyEight’s Basketball Power Index algorithm blew the Finals worse than they did the 2016 election.” 🤣
Link: https://deadspin.com/steph-curry-is-the-black-swan-1849082944
hammystyle (7 ♡):
I’m so so sooooo happy that I’m just luxuriating in all the Warriors championship content. The recaps and the look forwards to next year.
Vs - being very excited, but stressed and planning my whole Father’s Day around a game 7. So Happy Father’s Day to the Warrior Dads that crushed game 6 and took it home: Steph, Dray, Wiggins…is GP2 a father? If he’s not hoping he’s hanging with GP1, and ribbing him that he actually had a bigger impact on the championship he won.
Eric Apricot (6 ♡):
I am so so so so thankful not to be freaking out about a Game 7 right now. Just really happy about the world right now… I wonder how long the high will last.
After 2015 everyone in media was whining about how lucky it was, after 2017 it was more a cold feeling of vengeance, 2018 was more of a relief… feels like the first one I’ve really just enjoyed
Sanctorum (6 ♡):
Dubs on Fatherhood:
Happy Father's Day to the dads of Dub Nation! As we saw up on that trophy presentation stage with the kids running riot and the players beaming ear to ear watching them, children are a huge source of inspiration for these guys, and to many of us as well. To all of you that have taken on the mantle of fatherhood, thank you for everything that you do.
Special thanks to the Warriors for closing things out in six and making sure we didn't have to suffer through nightmares of Father's Day 2016.
And finally, shoutout to the mothers of Dub Nation as well. Yes, obviously mothers get their own day, but let's be honest: you do one hundred times the work for a fraction of the credit. While today may be a day to recognize fathers, this championship belongs to all of the fathers, mothers, and parental figures out there helping to raise the next generation of Warriors fans. Congratulations to all, and see you at the parade!
Aaannnd1 (5 ♡):
Can’t we give Fitz to the Timberwolves as a consolation prize?
Sabrina420-"Holy Cannoli." (5 ♡):
Happy Birthday to the Splash nephew, Jordan Poole. 23. Wow. Getting old, man.
Eric Apricot (4 ♡):
In many parallel timelines, Game 7 of the NBA Finals just ended, and either way, I would have a LOT more white hair and much less healthy heart
Aaannnd1 (4 ♡):
My 8 yr old grandson has, without my influence, fallen in love with GSW. There’s a huge range of books for children on basketball, but can anyone recommend a few either about the Warriors or about Steph Curry, about the value of team versus individual success, or about kids who persisted in basketball even though they weren’t ‘perfect specimens’?
TwoRingTest (4 ♡):
So many threads ... so little time. :)
And, yeah, I know that in a month it will be tumbleweeds around here until early Oct.
Dub Nation HQ Comments of Week, plus open thread
Any news on the California classic roster? Wondering if I should spend 80 bucks or not
I died 🤣
Underaged Jonathan Kuminga sneaking inside the Warriors party
https://twitter.com/NBAMemes/status/1540912786452418561
Bonus
Never forget Jonathan Kuminga dunking on Chet Holmgren 👀
https://twitter.com/NBAMemes/status/1540419294655176704?cxt=HHwWgICj8fvL1eAqAAAA