206 Comments

Any news on the California classic roster? Wondering if I should spend 80 bucks or not

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Looks like no JK for sure

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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

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Damn and I thought Mobley was skinny

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That's an advanced post move for a 18 year old

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Even the kid guarding him first looked like he got injured! Kuminga's different 💪🏾

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Jun 27, 2022·edited Jun 27, 2022

OT, but ASVEL Basket (Lyon-Villeurbanne)'s president is Tony Parker (who is also the majority owner). Nic Batum not only a major investor but also the president of basketball operations. Tony's brother T.J. is the coach. Giannis' brother Kostas is on the team.

And there's also this Victor Wembanyama guy.

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That guy sounds amazing, kind of like if you took the most optimistic of projections ever for Wiseman and then made them quite a bit better.

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He is stretched out Evan Mobley (who is already pretty stretched out)

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTrq1o8BtPs

This shit does not look real to me lol

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It’s more how you’d make the stupidly unreal player on 2K… either he’s going to be the best player ever, or the things I’ve heard are just wrong, lol

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Like a lot of gigantically-sized humans, I think a big part will come down to whether he can stay healthy over time with the heavy physical demands of the league, even if he is everything people say about him.

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Yeah… we’ll see. He doesn’t really look like he moves fluidly from the highlights, either. He’s so huge it may not matter that much, but it also might. Won’t know till he plays against NBA talent. In related news, ‘twill be interesting to see how Holmgren competes against the NBA big bodies.

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Wait, from what I’ve seen and read, it seems he’s the most fluid/mobile 7+ footer in the history of basketball.

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I can see it sometimes (e.g. his crossover, step back), but other times he looks like a young deer learning to run (e.g. running up court in transition)...

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Athletes and politics? Overturn of Roe v. Wade constitutes a huge loss for all men and women, for all athletes. Which athletes have spoken out?

https://fansided.com/2022/06/24/athletes-roe-v-wade-decision/?utm_campaign=FanSided+Daily&utm_source=FanSided+Daily&utm_medium=email

And, by the way, has everyone forgotten Brittney Griner? February she was incarcerated.

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Rumor:

Jake Fischer

@JakeLFischer

San Antonio and Atlanta remain engaged on trade conversations regarding a larger deal centered around Dejounte Murray and John Collins, sources said.

5:21 PM · Jun 26, 2022

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Why is SA trading Murray? I thought he was a key player and their primary point guard.

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He’s really not enough to build around, imo… and they’ve got Keldon, Primo, Vassel, and Richardson at guard spots. Maybe hope for Collins to pull it together as a modern 4/5? But… who knows.

#onlytellmeifiteffectsourchances

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I can't see the Murray/Trae fit though... or maybe I can. I'm not sure. We'll see.

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Preserving ambiguity! I love it

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Jun 27, 2022·edited Jun 27, 2022

There's a lesser-tier rumor that the Hawks are going to target Ayton to replace Collins. How, I don't know.

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Jun 27, 2022·edited Jun 27, 2022

Hmm… one of those rare situations where the guy who’s the *much* more efficient scorer (Collins) is the less good all-around player. And I think I have more faith in Murray improving his scoring efficiency than I do in Collins improving his defense and all-around game.

No idea what SA is thinking here, but I imagine we’ll find out soon enough.

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Make more sense to me if they flip Collins.

If you get Collins and a pick or two, then send him out for some more picks. Might be the Spurs lining themselves up for a mini tank heading into a major draft year

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Has anyone heard/read any theories for why Liddell fell to 41?

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deletedJun 27, 2022·edited Jun 27, 2022
Comment deleted
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Did you know that if you watch game five again and somewhere in the middle of the game if you look up towards the ceiling there’s a large advertising sign:

HOLIE CANNOLIE

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Wait, really?

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Interesting note that the warriors allegedly tried to move up to 30 to get Rollins... I wonder if that means they had him over Nembhard?

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If true, it sounds like they had him just under PBJ, over all other available players at that point, including Liddell.

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GP2 is known as "handcuffs" in China.

https://i.redd.it/pixtdwwo00891.png

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They also seem to think he has head lice.

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author

Dray released part of his podcast

https://youtu.be/CjUC8CzyWG0

Some parade talk, then…

Talking about being in an exhausted fog right after winning that he missed most of the champagne celebration, trophy photos and postgame party…

Then talked about Game 5 and 6. They felt they had the series after Game 3. The biggest shot of the series was Poole’s 3 at the end of Q3 Game 5 because BOS had taken the lead than then lost it again.

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Jun 27, 2022·edited Jun 27, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

Also the HUGE difference from winning 3 Chips to winning a 4th (which I think we all felt as a collective unconscious)

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Guys, Poole averaged 23.4 points, 5.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds in 23 games after the All-Star Game this season. We have a straight up All Star coming off the bench and he's incredibly fun to watch as well.

How are we Warriors fans so lucky!

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How did he play while Curry was out?

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Most of the post ASB was without Steph. 14 games without (I’m including Bos) 10 games with.

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on 62.7% true shooting!

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Am I correct his free-throw percent in the finals was 100%? What was it throughout the entire playoffs, does anyone know?

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Poole shot 10 for 11 in the finals, 65 for 71 overall in the playoffs.

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So 91.5%

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Poole missed a 50/40/90 postseason by .9% 3pt.

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Kid Splash is downright dominant. I like that nickname because the reference to Flash encapsulates how he is a fast/explosive version of the Splash family.

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Our village is protected by BobGod and his host.

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I really think Kerr should get him hyped about the possibly of being 6MOY this summer. I really hope he embraces that role in the short term until he's made a full time starter.

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Rumors:

- Harden opting in this year, and then signing a 2-yr extension.

- Wall to be bought out and sign with Heat, Clippers, or Lakers.

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Wall would be nice in MIA

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Would make sense after being MIA for years. ;-P

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That's mean ... also accurate. :)

You remember when Wall and Beal were saying they were the best backcourt in the game? That turned out well.

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Way OT:

Can anyone recommend a basketball game (could be college, even) that:

- is a strategy game, not arcade

- can run on my potato pc

- is currently available on Steam

(if one exists)

I have a feeling the basketball withdrawal this summer and fall is going to be particularly intense, especially with glimpses of Wiseman and some of the rookies in Summer League.

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I used to play a great college basketball game called Fast Break College Basketball. It's unsupported now, because the developer gave up on it.

I would look at the "Draft Day Sports" games on Steam. I never really took to them like FOF and OOTP, but they're 50% off during the current sale.

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Thanks! I'll take a look at those.

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Not what you asked—so even more OT, I guess—but for all those suffering basketball withdrawal: maybe check out the WNBA. Game's a little different, but I think it's fantastic.

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WNBA All Star Game coming up.

Ionescu just imported Steph’s Night, Night into the WNBA!

Subscription for the year on WNBA App is around $20.

Also the app contains a lot of the previously played games this season, so you can follow your team game after game after game.

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It's so much better than I ever anticipated, but it can be hard to watch if you don't have the proper subscriptions.

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Now that Steph’s in the greatest of all time conversation alongside MJ and LeBron I think it’s timely and only fair that he now gets his own animated feature. I think something along the plot lines of a Freaky Friday might work where you’d have Steph wake up one morning before the start of the 2027 Playoffs (his beard gone all gray) and he’s in Kuminga’s body. The fun begins from there. 🙃

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I don't think he's in the GOAT convo yet. He's definitely in top10, and possibly top5, but GOAT? Not yet.

Question: What more does he have to do to be in the GOAT convo?

Does 1 more 'chip get him in that convo? How about another MVP? Both? Will it take 2 more 'chips?

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I'd say it would take at least 6 rings (2 more) and at least one more MVP to be in that conversation.

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He's in my GOAT conversation, lol. No one's GOAT conversation matters more than your own.

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I'm happy with GOAT shooter, and I think GOAT PG is fair, too. Personally, I don't Steph will ever be close to being the GOAT period, because he isn't a really good defender (by all-time startdards, not that he isn't actually above average now, and hasn't improved tons since his rookie year through physical training and film study).

But it doesn't matter to me - RINGZ!!!!! (and 13+ years of great memories, playoffs and regular season).

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It's not a category but he's undoubtedly the GOAT under-6'5" dude in NBA history.

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And one of the best (relatively, of course) 'non-athlete'/non-physically dominant players. (Although his reflexes/shot release is an innate skill, too).

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I think it would take him playing like Unanimous Steph for the next three years, winning at least two more MVP and two more titles to even truly enter the conversation.

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Jun 26, 2022·edited Jun 26, 2022

History will prove that is exactly what happened during his mini slump. It was actually Kuminga trying to play in Stephs body!!

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Or he could be in... Space Swish?

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Space Splash!

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Detroit out on Brunson (leaving only Knicks)?

Who do we want weakened more, Phoenix or Dallas?

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Phoenix, because screw CP3.

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In short term Phoenix. They're the more immediate "threat," but an old Chris Paul will never last the entire playoffs.

Dallas is a more long term threat, but they have a few more years before I think they can really challenge for a title, despite their making it to the WCF this year.

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I'm not convinced of this. I think Phx' internal issues make them less dangerous than Dallas. Luka is young and will get better. CP3 is decrepit and will soon begin to disintegrate.

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This might be more anti-Bouknight than pro-Rollins but what is the case for drafting Bouknight #11 in a strong draft and taking Rollins #44 in a weak one?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/ryan-rollins-1.html

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/james-bouknight-1.html

-Stats-wise (per 40 since Bouknight played fewer games) I think you could easily argue Rollins was better in college, higher assist to turnover ratio and more steals and the other numbers look similar.

-Both players have a similar weakness with 3 pointers despite promising FT%s.

-Both guys knocked for their defensive effort in scouting reports.

-Rollins was a month from turning 20 at the time of the draft, Bouknight was a few months from turning 21.

-Bouknight is a bit bigger, Rollins is a bit longer.

-Bouknight played in a better conference.

-Bouknight is a better athlete.

-Rollins has a low release point on his shot.

I suppose the difference comes down to the athleticism difference? I am not convinced. I want to see Rollins go against Year 2 Davion Mitchell at the Cali Classic because Bouknight got absolutely swallowed up by him last summer (Mitchell is elite on the ball, obviously).

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don't know about Bouknight, but Rollins' off-ball D looks pretty good to me, and he has the deflections/steals/blocks rates to back that up I think. It's mostly his on-ball d that seems to need work.

Also, Rollins 3-ball looked to me as if he primarily needed to strengthen his lower body for them to go in more, and I recall a recent article that mentions the Warriors felt the same, so depending on how he takes to a professional strength and conditioning program, my feeling is that his 3-point percentage should get to ~35% from those gains alone.

We'll see about his release. Low releases are trendy these days, but he's got long arms so perhaps he would benefit from a higher release. TBD if it's a limiting factor in the near-term.

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It’s gotta be the athleticism… it’s a main thing most NBA talent evaluators look at. Can’t teach height or athleticism. But if you put them in the right system, they can learn the other stuff.

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Yeah it's gotta be.

Also, another thing I remember with Bouknight was that his handle was kinda high/loose while the little I have seen from Rollins suggests his handle is fairly tight. Could be wrong about Rollins' handle though.

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Will Mitchell play in the Cali Classic?

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Oops, reposting here from last thread for discussion purposes:

The comments from the silverscreenandroll link from last thread were def. entertaining, but there was an interesting point made, which I'm going to reframe for y'all to see what DubNation thinks:

If Kerr had never joined the Dubs, would they have won any championships?

Let's start with scenario A) Mark Jackson stays on as head coach fo the Dubs for the 2015-2019 years. Does he ever lead them to a 'chip?

And then scenario B) Let's give MJ one year, and then he's fired. Who's hired next (not Kerr), and is there a 'chip in those years?

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I don't believe Mark Jackson could have lead the team to a title unless they won despite his "leadership" rather than because of it.

I do think a different coach could have taken them there. D'Antoni with Steph and Klay could have been fascinating.

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Remember that Stan Van Gundy was rumored to be in the final two with Kerr for the open job. What a nightmare that would have been.

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On the one hand, we wouldn't have to hear him in the broadcast during those years (sideline interviews notwithstanding).

On the other hand, without the beautiful style of basketball that brought so many of us into/back to the sport, I doubt I'd be watching the broadcast at all.

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