Latest from Saitama: Italy and Nigeria bricked and fumbled horribly all the way to 00:27 when the Stallimannion put the dagger three!! 14 pts for the Red Mamba, and Italy to the playoff.
Very good essay on why this team is so great. One can feel the respect the Dubs have for each player and member of the team. This feels unique in the NBA (except for maybe the Spurs...) Stephan Curry is the center of the wheel but all the spokes are important. This is a terrific team and you have articulated why we fans "Believe"!
I believe in love, but does one have to take a shot at LaMelo’s “personality” in order to talk Wiseman up? I just think that if LaMelo was picked by Myers last year, one would not say anything so negative about him. It also is not needed. Wiseman had some impressive highlights his rookie year and definitely flashed his athleticism and potential.
Taking a shot at Ainge is entirely OK though, he has no loyalty to his players and that has been shown by his history of trades.
Hi. Just to be clear, that wasn't intended to be a shot a LaMelo's personality. I love him. My point was that he has a Game & Personality worthy of being the foundation piece of his own team. If KD, arguably the best player on the planet, still felt like he was playing in Curry's shadow, then the same may have held true for LaMelo. I think Charlotte was the perfect landing spot for Ball and the league is better for it. We just have to face the fact that not everyone wants to play for the Warriors and the FO, when drafting #2, has to be honest about the fit, and I suspect that they felt very comfortable with Wiseman as a "Long Term" fit and may have been just a little bit unsure about LaMelo resigning himself to being a role player in the Curry system.
Brilliant article Peter. Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed your point about genuine care for others and how this translates to a winning culture.
My first experience of warriors culture was in 2011 when my husband and I went to our first game at Oracle. We loved the way the crowd cheered despite the warriors loosing the game.
After the game we were chatting with a season ticket holder and we mentioned we were going to see a few other NBA teams play and eventually pick a team to support. He asked, ‘are you sure you want to follow the warriors? They promise so much and always loose. But we love them, so we keep coming back’. And with that, we decided this warriors team and supporter base was for us. We wanted to be part of a culture that chose to cheer even when things weren’t perfect and the chips were down. Because that’s a winning culture baby! And the rest is history….
Really digging these guest author posts! Thanks for the perspective, Peter!
I'm not sure I'm as sold on the culture (I mean, unless having Steph, Klay and Dray on your team counts), but I REALLY love the closing lines in this article. Compartmentalize the criticisms of the FO (if you happen to have them) and just root for all of our guys to find success.
Folks are real quick to give up on Wiseman, but like the post says, look at what Poole became. Or JTA? There are bunch of winding paths to NBA success, so I'm doing my best to keep an open mind and stay hopeful but not delusional.
I may come off as a romantic or idealist, a blind fan who believes Speedy Claxton is going to turn the team around, but it's really not the case. There are plenty of legitimate issues with front office, coaching and players alike. I am a staunch supporter of Dray, but do I believe he should be playing the Point Forward for 12 minutes straight 1st and 3rd quarters? Hell no. Those 12 minute stretches with Green basically running the offense need to be broken up, because the longer the stretch, the less effective it is. In a final play offensive possession, I would rather have Poole subbing in for Green. And I think there are great discussions along these lines, but unfortunately, these types of discussions don't make a good radio show. So I admit, my commentary is intended to provide some counterbalance to the thoughtless narratives I have been subjected to in the media all year. Not a single day has passed that I haven't had to listen to someone talking about trading Wiseman. I guess it's good for ratings, but after a certain point, it is no longer a real discussion, it's just noise. On the other hand Dub Nation and its Dubbies bring OUTSTANDING basketball knowledge, insight & discussion. Thank God for this website, those that run it and those that contribute. The passion and love for the game expressed on this site is freakin awesome. Cheers.
So many of my formative basketball-watching years were spent rooting for marginal guys to turn into rotation players, or for rotation players to turn into All Stars! I do miss it.
I'll always remember the conversations with IQofaWarrior when he left GSOM because he just wasn't as into watching a team that was so good as he was rooting for a sketchy team to make a breakthrough. I think my main takeaway from watching the discourse around the draft/team building right now is that we all have to be sure to remember how uncertain the future is. A bunch of really smart, attentive people are super wrong about player development all the time. We just don't know.
Plus, we always have to put into the equation how DAMN GOOD are our guys in developing and rehabbing players. In Seattle, Chriss 42 pts 13 reb, just in case.
On a seperate note, have you guys played Basketball GM online? Its an insanely in depth/completely free game where you can become GM for any current team (or GM for a team in a made up league) and have control over drafting/trades/free agency. Its honestly amazing, highly recommend.
I feel like to add an imaginary reply from gym-rat Poole, that gymratting all summer long, added one inch breadth to his shoulders. At least that's what it looks like, since he doesn't bump his way to the rim anymore. Now he moves away defenders. That's exactly the shy chick that entered Dub team on tiptoes two years ago. And this is what Golden State Warriors Organisation has done for him.
Jul 28, 2021Liked by Eric Apricot, punk basketball
Thanks for the inspirational article. Here is a reply to it, from a young redhead PG that in Saitama played against USA-team-nightmarish Aussies, with 21 pts, 9/15, 7 ast, 1 tov, 3 rb and two dunks in 24 minutes, and in the fourth quarter, with the game on the wire, 30 yr old players and Italian-Pop Meo Sacchetti let him carry the whole team on his shoulders. Unfortunately he missed the 3 that might have changed the outcome (Aussies won by three), but that's the way of victory tomorrow, isn't it? Especially with the Dubs ;)
Jul 28, 2021Liked by Eric Apricot, punk basketball
Hah, was just gonna post this!
Nicolo:
24 minutes
21 points on 9-15 fg
3 rebounds
7 assists
1 turnover
Australia is a killer team; Italy nearly knocked them off with Nico as arguably its best player. Putting up performances like that at age 20 — 2.5 years younger than Davion Mitchell, 4 years younger than Chris Duarte — against grown men on the biggest international stage is impressive indeed. You gotta think the Dubs’ brass is taking notice…
@Peter Hood lovely piece! I was mentally pumping my fists throughout. :-)
Honestly him belonging on an Olympic level his rookie year is already impressive enough. We don't need Davion Mitchell, we already have the Stallimannion!
Nico absolutely carried Italy to the olympics. Without his Youngesque performance (I’m not exaggerating that much) we wouldn’t have made it out alive from Belgrade. Look for his highlights reel.
I was just about to post about this as well! Australia has loads of NBA talent in Baynes, Ingles, Dellavedova, Mills, Thybulle, Exum. The fact that Nico performed so well for Italy bodes well for us!
So long as Mannion has spent this offseason strengthening his core so he can finish inside more effectively (plus working on some midrange game options like a floater or CP3 middie fadeaway) . . . Mannion could quite probably average 7 ppg and 3 assists per game off the bench.
If everything we read/hear is true, this is probably the case. Seems like he might have valued team chemistry to a point (although Bogut and Ezeli might disagree), but didn’t think of management/ownership as part of the “team” and tried to circle the wagons with the players into a “us vs. them” situation. (The irony, of course, is that a head coach is part of management.) Locking executives (i.e. “the bosses”) out of practices; how is that a good idea?
Everyone says it’s a players’ league because of the leverage they have. Because he lead the team into relevancy, I think Jackson thought he had player-like leverage over the bosses. Lacob showed him otherwise.
I think it's fair to include his homophobic public statements, and all that weirdness with support coaches (and of course the Ezeli thing).
All told, I'm sure there are a BUNCH of reasons Jackson got canned. I just want him to get another shot because he was pretty great at believing in the Splash Bros before anyone else (while also not being the world's most bitter broadcaster during Warriors games)
Terrific post Peter. On the Locked on Warriors podcast yesterday guest Connor Letourneau said the Ws have narrowed to James Bouknight, Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, and Davion Mitchell at 7. They have personality concerns about Kuminga at 7 “a loner.” Watching video interviews, I have some concerns that I don’t think are attributable to English as a second language. Reminds me a bit of Kawai. And shutting it down in the G league early because his people thought he’d done enough to warrant a top 5 pick doesn’t seem like a team friendly approach, if true. On the other hand could be viewed as calm and steady and confident. Per your post, I’m not sure Kuminga, talented as he is, fits with Ws values. Ws think Mitchell may be there at 14. That leaves Bouknight- supposedly had a great workout (showed he could do things he didn’t in college- I’m guessing pass) and interview (like James Wiseman the year before) or X-factor Josh Giddey. If Bouknight is gone, I think it’d be a tough call for them between Giddey and Kuminga. They’d try like hell to trade.
X-factor Josh Giddey ... no shit. I am a firm believer that the Warriors need to draft a big wing / combo forward. Moody? He's a 2/3 not a 3/4, but ok, I'm okay with that. Wagner or Jalen Johnson? If Warriors did their homework, ok, I would trust their judgement. Then there is Josh Freakin Giddey sitting there on the edge of my mind. He may be a PG, but he has the body of a big wing and the Dubs run a lot of their offense thru the 4. Second unit minutes: Giddey, Poole, Wiggs, JTA, Wiseman? That is intriguing.
With the rumors that the Kings promised Wagner at #9, and the Grizzlies wanting to trade up from #10 (who are also rumored to want Wagner), seems to me the tables are pretty set for the Warriors to trade back with Kings/Griz from #7 to get a guy they like plus more.
That is, if the Warriors aren't interested in Wagner themselves, which I think they should be....
From your mouth to God's ear. I'd love it if this happens. Stay in the lottery for two promising young guys AND grab a vet in the process -- Kyle Anderson or ?
Yeah, if he really is “close to 6’11”, that’s a game changer in my book. That wing defense, passing and shooting (his overall track record is strong) at 6’11” is pretty unicorny.
I kind of doubt Connor has any more insight to the Warriors draft process than we do, but he gets paid to write something every day and let's face it, until the players show up to start training, there isn't really anything to write about other than speculation.
On second thought, that isn't true. One could do detailed breakdowns of all the available players that might be drafted 7-14 and discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses as well as fit with the Warriors, but that isn't what sports journalists do, just as political reporters avoid the details of policy like the plague. I wonder where we could find something like that?"
To be fair, as a beat writer, Connor has developed relationships with GSW staff and players and regularly have side conversations that don’t get reported. So the different writers (Connor, Wes, MT2, etc.) probably do have some insider perspective on what they are hearing from their contacts.
So I do take seriously the beat writer reports of GSW’s thinking, but also recognize GSW is made of a lot of staff with different opinions and in the end, the main ones (Myers, Lacob, Kerr, plus Steph & Dray) are not likely to leak their thinking. I think assistant coaches and other staff are more likely to be willing to share their impressions from the workouts off the record (because there’s less at stake if they get outed).
Also personality traits I’d associate with Mitchell: leadership, hard worker, Rottweiler on the court. Bouknight: New York Street ball swagger. Giddey: lives up to his name, kind of like Jack Sparrow, swashbuckling passes and fun. All good fits for Ws.
Latest from Saitama: Italy and Nigeria bricked and fumbled horribly all the way to 00:27 when the Stallimannion put the dagger three!! 14 pts for the Red Mamba, and Italy to the playoff.
Very good essay on why this team is so great. One can feel the respect the Dubs have for each player and member of the team. This feels unique in the NBA (except for maybe the Spurs...) Stephan Curry is the center of the wheel but all the spokes are important. This is a terrific team and you have articulated why we fans "Believe"!
What are the chances of a trade for an all star before the picks are made?
I believe in love, but does one have to take a shot at LaMelo’s “personality” in order to talk Wiseman up? I just think that if LaMelo was picked by Myers last year, one would not say anything so negative about him. It also is not needed. Wiseman had some impressive highlights his rookie year and definitely flashed his athleticism and potential.
Taking a shot at Ainge is entirely OK though, he has no loyalty to his players and that has been shown by his history of trades.
Hi. Just to be clear, that wasn't intended to be a shot a LaMelo's personality. I love him. My point was that he has a Game & Personality worthy of being the foundation piece of his own team. If KD, arguably the best player on the planet, still felt like he was playing in Curry's shadow, then the same may have held true for LaMelo. I think Charlotte was the perfect landing spot for Ball and the league is better for it. We just have to face the fact that not everyone wants to play for the Warriors and the FO, when drafting #2, has to be honest about the fit, and I suspect that they felt very comfortable with Wiseman as a "Long Term" fit and may have been just a little bit unsure about LaMelo resigning himself to being a role player in the Curry system.
But other than that, it was a great article.
Brilliant article Peter. Thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed your point about genuine care for others and how this translates to a winning culture.
My first experience of warriors culture was in 2011 when my husband and I went to our first game at Oracle. We loved the way the crowd cheered despite the warriors loosing the game.
After the game we were chatting with a season ticket holder and we mentioned we were going to see a few other NBA teams play and eventually pick a team to support. He asked, ‘are you sure you want to follow the warriors? They promise so much and always loose. But we love them, so we keep coming back’. And with that, we decided this warriors team and supporter base was for us. We wanted to be part of a culture that chose to cheer even when things weren’t perfect and the chips were down. Because that’s a winning culture baby! And the rest is history….
I hope this article instills within all of the 'trade Wiseman' crowd some measure of trust and patience. We've all been here before. #godubs
Really digging these guest author posts! Thanks for the perspective, Peter!
I'm not sure I'm as sold on the culture (I mean, unless having Steph, Klay and Dray on your team counts), but I REALLY love the closing lines in this article. Compartmentalize the criticisms of the FO (if you happen to have them) and just root for all of our guys to find success.
Folks are real quick to give up on Wiseman, but like the post says, look at what Poole became. Or JTA? There are bunch of winding paths to NBA success, so I'm doing my best to keep an open mind and stay hopeful but not delusional.
I may come off as a romantic or idealist, a blind fan who believes Speedy Claxton is going to turn the team around, but it's really not the case. There are plenty of legitimate issues with front office, coaching and players alike. I am a staunch supporter of Dray, but do I believe he should be playing the Point Forward for 12 minutes straight 1st and 3rd quarters? Hell no. Those 12 minute stretches with Green basically running the offense need to be broken up, because the longer the stretch, the less effective it is. In a final play offensive possession, I would rather have Poole subbing in for Green. And I think there are great discussions along these lines, but unfortunately, these types of discussions don't make a good radio show. So I admit, my commentary is intended to provide some counterbalance to the thoughtless narratives I have been subjected to in the media all year. Not a single day has passed that I haven't had to listen to someone talking about trading Wiseman. I guess it's good for ratings, but after a certain point, it is no longer a real discussion, it's just noise. On the other hand Dub Nation and its Dubbies bring OUTSTANDING basketball knowledge, insight & discussion. Thank God for this website, those that run it and those that contribute. The passion and love for the game expressed on this site is freakin awesome. Cheers.
Plus, rooting for young lions is far more fun than going all Steve Ballmer!
So many of my formative basketball-watching years were spent rooting for marginal guys to turn into rotation players, or for rotation players to turn into All Stars! I do miss it.
I'll always remember the conversations with IQofaWarrior when he left GSOM because he just wasn't as into watching a team that was so good as he was rooting for a sketchy team to make a breakthrough. I think my main takeaway from watching the discourse around the draft/team building right now is that we all have to be sure to remember how uncertain the future is. A bunch of really smart, attentive people are super wrong about player development all the time. We just don't know.
Plus, we always have to put into the equation how DAMN GOOD are our guys in developing and rehabbing players. In Seattle, Chriss 42 pts 13 reb, just in case.
On a seperate note, have you guys played Basketball GM online? Its an insanely in depth/completely free game where you can become GM for any current team (or GM for a team in a made up league) and have control over drafting/trades/free agency. Its honestly amazing, highly recommend.
I feel like to add an imaginary reply from gym-rat Poole, that gymratting all summer long, added one inch breadth to his shoulders. At least that's what it looks like, since he doesn't bump his way to the rim anymore. Now he moves away defenders. That's exactly the shy chick that entered Dub team on tiptoes two years ago. And this is what Golden State Warriors Organisation has done for him.
Thanks for the inspirational article. Here is a reply to it, from a young redhead PG that in Saitama played against USA-team-nightmarish Aussies, with 21 pts, 9/15, 7 ast, 1 tov, 3 rb and two dunks in 24 minutes, and in the fourth quarter, with the game on the wire, 30 yr old players and Italian-Pop Meo Sacchetti let him carry the whole team on his shoulders. Unfortunately he missed the 3 that might have changed the outcome (Aussies won by three), but that's the way of victory tomorrow, isn't it? Especially with the Dubs ;)
Very cool. The continued growth of Nico is why I'm not super high on GSW taking Davion.
Hah, was just gonna post this!
Nicolo:
24 minutes
21 points on 9-15 fg
3 rebounds
7 assists
1 turnover
Australia is a killer team; Italy nearly knocked them off with Nico as arguably its best player. Putting up performances like that at age 20 — 2.5 years younger than Davion Mitchell, 4 years younger than Chris Duarte — against grown men on the biggest international stage is impressive indeed. You gotta think the Dubs’ brass is taking notice…
@Peter Hood lovely piece! I was mentally pumping my fists throughout. :-)
Honestly him belonging on an Olympic level his rookie year is already impressive enough. We don't need Davion Mitchell, we already have the Stallimannion!
Nico absolutely carried Italy to the olympics. Without his Youngesque performance (I’m not exaggerating that much) we wouldn’t have made it out alive from Belgrade. Look for his highlights reel.
I was just about to post about this as well! Australia has loads of NBA talent in Baynes, Ingles, Dellavedova, Mills, Thybulle, Exum. The fact that Nico performed so well for Italy bodes well for us!
So long as Mannion has spent this offseason strengthening his core so he can finish inside more effectively (plus working on some midrange game options like a floater or CP3 middie fadeaway) . . . Mannion could quite probably average 7 ppg and 3 assists per game off the bench.
https://youtu.be/ElbzQjrRBLA ... with Baynes all over him
How was Nico's defense, as I recall that was a significant problem this past year
Not bad on Exum, he suffered with Mills, but who doesn’t? Good full court pressure in the fourth
Mills will be a Warrior next season, so it’s all good. :-)
I'm cool with this, as long as there is some sort of hypnosis therapy to convince him that each game is actually happening in the Olympics
Nice job Peter!! I love the perspective
Hey, all I did was get you guys to put a link in to a Cher video, and in the end, isn't that what we are all here for? ;-)
Having just binge watched Ted Lasso (rare series that lives up to the hype for me) it seems like some similar philosophies, especially Bob and Kerr.
Nice piece!
Thanks. You nailed it. Relationships matter.
Compare and contrast with the MISERY that was the Cohan years.
Interesting to think about why Mark Jackson was fired. I wonder if it was partly because he didn’t think well about chemistry.
If everything we read/hear is true, this is probably the case. Seems like he might have valued team chemistry to a point (although Bogut and Ezeli might disagree), but didn’t think of management/ownership as part of the “team” and tried to circle the wagons with the players into a “us vs. them” situation. (The irony, of course, is that a head coach is part of management.) Locking executives (i.e. “the bosses”) out of practices; how is that a good idea?
Everyone says it’s a players’ league because of the leverage they have. Because he lead the team into relevancy, I think Jackson thought he had player-like leverage over the bosses. Lacob showed him otherwise.
I think it's fair to include his homophobic public statements, and all that weirdness with support coaches (and of course the Ezeli thing).
All told, I'm sure there are a BUNCH of reasons Jackson got canned. I just want him to get another shot because he was pretty great at believing in the Splash Bros before anyone else (while also not being the world's most bitter broadcaster during Warriors games)
Terrific post Peter. On the Locked on Warriors podcast yesterday guest Connor Letourneau said the Ws have narrowed to James Bouknight, Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, and Davion Mitchell at 7. They have personality concerns about Kuminga at 7 “a loner.” Watching video interviews, I have some concerns that I don’t think are attributable to English as a second language. Reminds me a bit of Kawai. And shutting it down in the G league early because his people thought he’d done enough to warrant a top 5 pick doesn’t seem like a team friendly approach, if true. On the other hand could be viewed as calm and steady and confident. Per your post, I’m not sure Kuminga, talented as he is, fits with Ws values. Ws think Mitchell may be there at 14. That leaves Bouknight- supposedly had a great workout (showed he could do things he didn’t in college- I’m guessing pass) and interview (like James Wiseman the year before) or X-factor Josh Giddey. If Bouknight is gone, I think it’d be a tough call for them between Giddey and Kuminga. They’d try like hell to trade.
X-factor Josh Giddey ... no shit. I am a firm believer that the Warriors need to draft a big wing / combo forward. Moody? He's a 2/3 not a 3/4, but ok, I'm okay with that. Wagner or Jalen Johnson? If Warriors did their homework, ok, I would trust their judgement. Then there is Josh Freakin Giddey sitting there on the edge of my mind. He may be a PG, but he has the body of a big wing and the Dubs run a lot of their offense thru the 4. Second unit minutes: Giddey, Poole, Wiggs, JTA, Wiseman? That is intriguing.
With the rumors that the Kings promised Wagner at #9, and the Grizzlies wanting to trade up from #10 (who are also rumored to want Wagner), seems to me the tables are pretty set for the Warriors to trade back with Kings/Griz from #7 to get a guy they like plus more.
That is, if the Warriors aren't interested in Wagner themselves, which I think they should be....
From your mouth to God's ear. I'd love it if this happens. Stay in the lottery for two promising young guys AND grab a vet in the process -- Kyle Anderson or ?
Yeah, if he really is “close to 6’11”, that’s a game changer in my book. That wing defense, passing and shooting (his overall track record is strong) at 6’11” is pretty unicorny.
Not really my favorite list for #7... hope that’s inaccurate.
I kind of doubt Connor has any more insight to the Warriors draft process than we do, but he gets paid to write something every day and let's face it, until the players show up to start training, there isn't really anything to write about other than speculation.
On second thought, that isn't true. One could do detailed breakdowns of all the available players that might be drafted 7-14 and discuss their relative strengths and weaknesses as well as fit with the Warriors, but that isn't what sports journalists do, just as political reporters avoid the details of policy like the plague. I wonder where we could find something like that?"
To be fair, as a beat writer, Connor has developed relationships with GSW staff and players and regularly have side conversations that don’t get reported. So the different writers (Connor, Wes, MT2, etc.) probably do have some insider perspective on what they are hearing from their contacts.
So I do take seriously the beat writer reports of GSW’s thinking, but also recognize GSW is made of a lot of staff with different opinions and in the end, the main ones (Myers, Lacob, Kerr, plus Steph & Dray) are not likely to leak their thinking. I think assistant coaches and other staff are more likely to be willing to share their impressions from the workouts off the record (because there’s less at stake if they get outed).
This. He’s not Bill Simmons sitting in his living room making up stuff to talk about in podcasts.
Also personality traits I’d associate with Mitchell: leadership, hard worker, Rottweiler on the court. Bouknight: New York Street ball swagger. Giddey: lives up to his name, kind of like Jack Sparrow, swashbuckling passes and fun. All good fits for Ws.
Share and Cher alike
Great article. Cher! We all need a little Cher in our lives.