I watched the Draymond/Klay show this morning & thought it was the most carefully scripted piece of PR bullsh*t I've ever seen. First half was all lobbying for Mark Jackson. The rest was trying to rehab Dray's image with a bunch of kumbaya. You could clearly see Klay struggling to recite his scripted answer about how he felt about Draymond's behavior.
As for Jackson, they don't seem to understand that the reason MJ will never get another NBA head coaching job has nothing to do with his relationships with players or his Xs & Os (tho I could quibble with that). It's all about his toxic relationships with his own staff and upper management. The guys making the hiring decisions don't want to deal with his BS & I don't blame them. No CEO wants a mid manager who's not a team player.
Honestly I don't know where Edey is supposed to rank in the draft or whatever but based on his film I might take him in the late 1st or 2nd round. If he adapts to the NBA speed I can see him being a serviceable big at some point... nothing more than that.
Listening to Dray’s pod with Klay. Klay tells a funny story about how Steph gave him a pep talk about how he was the future after Monta’s trade and then Klay went out and shot 6-19 against SAC. It’s actually true: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201203130SAC.html
Are the Dubs a legit title contendor? I kept thinking their success was illusory and they still couldn't put it together for the real games, but I just checked their post-ASB record. No cherry-picking of endpoints. This is what we get:
Here's the top-15. The Dubs are 6th, in a gaggle of 4-5 with OKC, Lakers, Mavs, and Pacers. They're right below the two teams everyone would consider the two heavyweights, BOS and DEN. Sure, samples are small with a loss or two either way, but it's almost half a season, as well, and just after a winning streak was ended.
So what are your chip odds? After Boston or Denver, what teams have an outside chance? I bet the Dubs have as good a chance as any of OKC, Mavs, Lakers, Pacers.
Dan Hurley is the only college coach where I've ever watched their team play and thought "they should be coaching in the NBA". All the endless offensive movement was beautiful to watch and wears on a team, reminded me of the vintage third quarter Warriors bending opponents until they broke.
I've been thinking about the Warriors who are best at shot creation, which I will define here as "Seven seconds on the clock, offense has stagnated, catch this ball and just make a bucket happen by yourself." The list surprises me. Steph is obviously first, but I would argue that Kuminga is second and Podzzz!!! is third. I would not put Wiggins that high because he's too timid. Agree, disagree?
I was also thinking how it's interesting that Wiggins and Kuminga are pretty damn similar, yet opposite in one way. Basically they are highly athletic wings who can score and pass and rebound and defend very well. Their stats are quit similar.
But the biggest difference is a known one in personality. Basically every time down the floor Kuminga is thinking "I should attack," and everyone else is thinking, "Could you maybe pass it?" Whereas Wiggins is the opposite, always thinking, "I should pass it," and everyone else is thinking "Could you maybe just go attack?" Fair? One is too timid and one too aggro?
There’s no way I can see Zach Edey being successful in the NBA. He’s getting frazzled every time they’re bringing the double. He’s killing Purdues spacing right now
I watched the Draymond/Klay show this morning & thought it was the most carefully scripted piece of PR bullsh*t I've ever seen. First half was all lobbying for Mark Jackson. The rest was trying to rehab Dray's image with a bunch of kumbaya. You could clearly see Klay struggling to recite his scripted answer about how he felt about Draymond's behavior.
As for Jackson, they don't seem to understand that the reason MJ will never get another NBA head coaching job has nothing to do with his relationships with players or his Xs & Os (tho I could quibble with that). It's all about his toxic relationships with his own staff and upper management. The guys making the hiring decisions don't want to deal with his BS & I don't blame them. No CEO wants a mid manager who's not a team player.
The entire NBA audience: Watches defenses constantly assaulting Steph during his ‘off-ball’ motions.
NBA Refs: We need to allow more contact and make the game more physical to limit the offensive advantage.
Honestly I don't know where Edey is supposed to rank in the draft or whatever but based on his film I might take him in the late 1st or 2nd round. If he adapts to the NBA speed I can see him being a serviceable big at some point... nothing more than that.
Listening to Dray’s pod with Klay. Klay tells a funny story about how Steph gave him a pep talk about how he was the future after Monta’s trade and then Klay went out and shot 6-19 against SAC. It’s actually true: https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/201203130SAC.html
Are the Dubs a legit title contendor? I kept thinking their success was illusory and they still couldn't put it together for the real games, but I just checked their post-ASB record. No cherry-picking of endpoints. This is what we get:
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/nba-teams-record-since-all-star-break
Here's the top-15. The Dubs are 6th, in a gaggle of 4-5 with OKC, Lakers, Mavs, and Pacers. They're right below the two teams everyone would consider the two heavyweights, BOS and DEN. Sure, samples are small with a loss or two either way, but it's almost half a season, as well, and just after a winning streak was ended.
So what are your chip odds? After Boston or Denver, what teams have an outside chance? I bet the Dubs have as good a chance as any of OKC, Mavs, Lakers, Pacers.
1) Boston Celtics 19-4
2) Denver Nuggets 18-5
3) Dallas Mavericks 16-7
4) Oklahoma City Thunder 16-8
5) Los Angeles Lakers 15-8
6) Golden State Warriors 16-9
7) Indiana Pacers 14-9
8) Sacramento Kings 14-10
9) Houston Rockets 14-10
10) New York Knicks 13-10
11) Phoenix Suns 13-10
12) New Orleans Pelicans 13-10
13) Miami Heat 13-10
14) L.A. Clippers 14-11
15) Milwaukee Bucks 12-10
Dan Hurley is the only college coach where I've ever watched their team play and thought "they should be coaching in the NBA". All the endless offensive movement was beautiful to watch and wears on a team, reminded me of the vintage third quarter Warriors bending opponents until they broke.
Samson Johnson of UConn played 5 minutes and fouled out. That's got to be approaching a record
Connecticut is awesome against the press - quick, accurate passes and spread the floor well
I've been thinking about the Warriors who are best at shot creation, which I will define here as "Seven seconds on the clock, offense has stagnated, catch this ball and just make a bucket happen by yourself." The list surprises me. Steph is obviously first, but I would argue that Kuminga is second and Podzzz!!! is third. I would not put Wiggins that high because he's too timid. Agree, disagree?
I was also thinking how it's interesting that Wiggins and Kuminga are pretty damn similar, yet opposite in one way. Basically they are highly athletic wings who can score and pass and rebound and defend very well. Their stats are quit similar.
But the biggest difference is a known one in personality. Basically every time down the floor Kuminga is thinking "I should attack," and everyone else is thinking, "Could you maybe pass it?" Whereas Wiggins is the opposite, always thinking, "I should pass it," and everyone else is thinking "Could you maybe just go attack?" Fair? One is too timid and one too aggro?
There’s no way I can see Zach Edey being successful in the NBA. He’s getting frazzled every time they’re bringing the double. He’s killing Purdues spacing right now
Man, what a bizarro schedule this week.
no games today, 14 games tomorrow, 15 games on Friday, no games on Saturday, 15 on Sunday.
Has it always been like that, and I've not noticed? I assume it's to avoid giving some teams a rest advantage before the play-in/playoffs.
From Slater:
Andrew Wiggins is probable to return tomorrow at Lakers. Gary Payton II also probable. Warriors should have full rotation available.
https://www.threads.net/@anthony_slater/post/C5hOYstv2AP
Pat Spencer's brother is good
Anybody here watch/follow the clippers-Cavs game from last night.
Cavs lead by 30 in the third. Ty Lou benches Harden after few minutes into the 4th
PG goes bananas on offense and defense and clippers win
Clippers have the most wins after being down 20+ this season
- also no Kwahi
Suns signed IT for the rest of the season and he's eligible to play in the playoffs too.
I can’t believe the regular season is over this weekend. What in the world will we all do?