If it's still an entertaining game in the 3rd quarter, nobody gets hurt, and the oldsters don't empty the tank, that's a W in my book.
I'm a little less bothered about dropping into the play-in than some. Being in the 7/8 slot gets us two bites at the apple, and I find it hard to believe this team will lose twice with meaningful stuff on the line. Of course, the 8 seed gets a date with OKC, and that could be pretty unfun.
Well gotta give Danny Ainge a bit of credit: If Podz was indeed the holdup in the trade then I can see why he would have wanted him as the featured young player of choice in a trade for Markannen
I give Ainge credit for nothing other than being more interested in fleecing the other team than making a fair deal. I don't think he ever intended to trade LM -- which allowed us to dodge a bullet on multiple fronts (avoiding LM, losing promising young pieces about to bloom, missing out on Butler, obstructing QP's path). Things happen for a reason.
Oh, I am over the moon about our front office, in particular after last night. That was such a proof of concept of their vision. Somehow they have kept Steph and Draymond in their primes, obtained a great vet in Jimmy, while developing great young talent like Podz, Post, Gui, Moody, JK.
Talk about things that online said couldn't be done
Not sure if anyone here caught the game last night, but it was a really exciting round of high quality basketball. I really can't recommend highly enough watching NBA Warriors basketball games as a thrilling joy ride of television watching. I have other sports viewing recommendations if folks are interested. Please like and subscribe to this channel.
Basketball, you say? Bunch of guys running around in gym shorts. Why should I care? They represent the local region but they aren't even from it, and it's like I'll ever meet them and interact with them. So they run around throwing a ball in a basket and I'm supposed to cheer? I don't really get it. Sell me on it.
Well, there's usually food and beer. Also, an interesting fight might break out, although rarely with actual punches thrown. And sometimes the half-time shows have dogs!
Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry and Gary Payton II will be listed as questionable for the Warriors tonight vs Nuggets. Butler has a forearm strain, but it’s minor. Curry still has that bruised tailbone. Payton could make his return from absence from thumb injury.
It's very hard to decide whether these guys should play. On one hand, the Warriors need to win as many games as possible to avoid falling into the play-ins. On the other hand, the Nuggets starters had a two-day rest while the Warriors are on a 2nd night of a B2B and have recently finished their six-game road trip. Plus, Curry and Butler are kinda banged up right now.
Nobody is sitting unless the medical team says they have to. If Steph sits but Jimmy can play, Jimmy will play, and vice versa. This is IT, everything is on the line now. One or two losses could mean we're in the play-in game and maybe no playoffs.
Where someone finished in MVP or DpoY voting does make a difference to some as far as evaluating basketball legacies so I'd say it's still relevant as well as impressive.
Don't get me wrong, I love that he's considered top 5 and want to see him make it a tough choice for MVP voters! He has a great case for it. But his legacy as one of the very best ever is beyond question regardless of what he does from here.
Don't underestimate the Pelicans against the Lakers tonight. Lakers' key players racked up big minutes last night: Lebron (40), Reaves (40), Doncic (38), Hachimura (34), and Lakers are probably a little down after last night's beating. Pelicans have a bunch of scrubs but no pressure. On paper, Lakers should win easily, but going against a bunch of younger and more athletic players with nothing to lose could keep this one interesting.
Also interested in seeing if Clips can sweep a B2B with Dallas. Doesn't Kawhi rest on second games of B2Bs? Mavs are much better with AD back into the fold.
Ja's looked like a travel... am I the only one? Looked awkward in real-time... in slow mo it looks like a travel (picked up his pivot and put it back down). L2M didn't think it was though 🤷
That Reaves prayer after Podz last dagger 3 was borderline bull crap. We could have emptied out the bench if they weren't hitting shots like that to stay within single digits lol
I rewatched the highlight, which I highly recommend for anyone that missed the game, and he actually says NOOOO after the Podz 3, and then GOOOOOD again after Reeves hits his.
GO OKC GO. GO Pelicans ... it's hard to type this with a straight face go Pelicans go. Go Maverics go I can do with more belief, if AD is going to play well as he has been lately.
You can tell when Steve REALLY wants a game by the way he calls those very timely timeouts to get on the little details instead of just calling it when you need to stop the bleeding
Yep, the time for experimenting with lineups to glean information on what works has come to a close as playoff time draws nigh. Playoff Kerr is entering the room.
If the Lakers predictably beat the Pels and split with the Thunder (though the Thunder have won 11 in a row, and won't have clinched best record in the NBA by the first game), they'll be at 48-31 headed into their final 3 games @DAL (on a SEGABABA), home for HOU, then @POR. They may end up 49-33... but that would be contingent on HOU having something to play for in the second to last game of the season.
There's all sorts of interesting scenarios out here... just gotta keep stacking wins.
Over his last 37 games, Podz has hit 81-195 threes (41.5%) .
He has also averaged 12.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.2 threes, and 1.2 steals against just 0.9 turnovers and 1.3 fouls per game on 56.6% effective field goal and 58.3% true shooting in just 27 minutes per game.
He just turned 22, and he's the youngest player on the roster, 4 months younger than Kuminga.
The weirdest thing about Podz's game to me is when I try to take in account his age and consider his ceiling. My problem here is that I can't think of any player to compare him to who was as effective as he is at this age with his physical limitations. The closest analogues I can think of are Doncic and Bird, but Podz is obviously shorter and smaller than either.
Other players who excelled this young with physical limitations, such as Chris Paul, Isiah Thomas, Kevin Johnson, Baron Davis, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, and Tyrese Haliburton are much more pure point guards than Podz is. And other non-point and non-athletic stud guards who were as effective this young tend to be sharpshooters. Maybe Brandon Roy? Kerry Kittles?
One of the strengths of Podz's game is that, like Draymond's, it really doesn't comp well. There aren't a lot of relatively short guards who rebound well, nor rookies/soph who have the savvy and BBIQ he has to lead the league in charges and be a defensive savant; nor be an attacker without obviously having scoring fluidity.
Sometimes these guys come along, usually forwards, like Boris Diaw, Slo Mo, PJ Tucker, Draymond, who don't fit the mold in so many ways, who don't seem athletically gifted or even all that skilled, and then they succeed. Every time they score the opponent is like "How the hell did that happen?"
You're right though, I can't think of that many guards who have been like that, who consistently raise the question for opponents, "How the hell are we letting that bum beat us?"
There are different ways to define athletic. Most people think 40 inch vertical and great quickness and speed.
Another way is a guy is just athletically gifted. Ever see Podz take batting practice and hit one out of the park?
Some guys are just good. Athletic IQ, instincts, hand eye coordination. Everyone doesn’t have to be J Morant.
His quickness and jumping ability are definitely at a level good enough to be a very effective player.
Look at Reaves. The guy is one of the best scorers in the NBA now.
I don’t know anything about his ability in other sports besides golf, but he is a very good golfer, like another pretty good guard who is not a J Morant type athlete……what is his name again, hmmmmm.
It feels like his below average wingspan (just 1/2 inch shorter than DDV) has influenced the perception of his athleticism and size. For example, he's the same height as and slightly heavier than Derrick White (nba.com). He has 2.5 inches on max vert on White (nba combine numbers).
The two best case scenarios I liken his upside to are SGA and Jalen Brunson. Both are better pure scorers than Podz, but they both only scored in the high teens per 36 in year 2. Neither is a crazy fast twitch athlete and both are PG/SG hybrids who rebound and pass well.
It's incredibly unlikely Podz ever reaches upside like that, but that's two first team All NBA level players he could emulate. He'll never be quite as offensively gifted, but a Podz that averages 20 points might be an All Star.
Interesting thoughts. I’d say both SGA and Brunson have enough burst and first step to create advantage off the dribble against a set defense and BP is far from that today.
Both SGA and Brunson had huge leaps in year 3 that really flashed superstar upside. If Podz wants to be an All Star, he's gonna have to show flashes soon - something like hitting 8 3Ps in a game or clutch tip ins in big games.
But I think you're right, Brunson and SGA are shifty in a way Podz hasn't quite shown yet, though he has been doing better attacking closeouts.
Of course not. But you have to admit that I do have a point, no matter how overstated. Podz is better having just turned 22 than Manu was in his rookie season, when he was 25.
Right?
Full disclosure: I have had irrationally good feelings about Podz since the first preseason game of his rookie season. And we all know how those can work out.
I am reluctant to dampen your enthusiasm and I don’t have a lot at stake about Manu’s rep. However, a quick check of Manu’s age 23 (2000-01) season:
Wikipedia: Ginóbili then entered the 1999 NBA draft and the San Antonio Spurs selected him late in the second round with the 57th overall pick. However, Ginóbili did not sign with the Spurs at this point. Instead, he returned to Italy to play for Kinder Bologna, whom he helped win the 2001 Italian League Championship, the 2001 and 2002 Italian Cups, and the 2001 EuroLeague. In the lattermost, Ginóbili was named the 2001 EuroLeague's Finals MVP. He was also named the Italian League MVP in 2000–01 and 2001–02, and made the Italian League's All-Star Game three times during this period.
And then even though it took a while to crack Pop’s rotation, Manu in his rookie season had
OBPM -0.7
DBPM 2.6
BPM 1.9
VORP 1.4
Podz this season has
OBPM -0.3
DBPM 0.7
BPM 0.4
VORP 0.9
So I would not say it’s obvious at all that Podz is better this year than Manu’s rookie season or his age 22 season overseas. But this is more to say that Manu is a fantastic career outcome, not that Podz is a chump.
New article from the Gold Blooded King.
https://dubnationhq.com/p/warriors-put-the-lakers-on-notice/comments
I think the odds of a W tonight are very long.
If it's still an entertaining game in the 3rd quarter, nobody gets hurt, and the oldsters don't empty the tank, that's a W in my book.
I'm a little less bothered about dropping into the play-in than some. Being in the 7/8 slot gets us two bites at the apple, and I find it hard to believe this team will lose twice with meaningful stuff on the line. Of course, the 8 seed gets a date with OKC, and that could be pretty unfun.
Nuggets are -120, so Vegas at least thinks it’s close to a coin flip.
Well gotta give Danny Ainge a bit of credit: If Podz was indeed the holdup in the trade then I can see why he would have wanted him as the featured young player of choice in a trade for Markannen
I give Ainge credit for nothing other than being more interested in fleecing the other team than making a fair deal. I don't think he ever intended to trade LM -- which allowed us to dodge a bullet on multiple fronts (avoiding LM, losing promising young pieces about to bloom, missing out on Butler, obstructing QP's path). Things happen for a reason.
And let’s give credit to MDJ and Lacob as well for not giving in and trading him. There was a lot of online mockery of that.
I’m old enough to remember people mocking the FO for being afraid to toss Podz into the deal.
Rumor has it that you're old enough to remember James Naismith nailing up peach baskets and teaching students to pass and shoot with a soccer ball.
And I’ve been around the block enough times to know it was all public posturing and the hold up about the deal was NEVER just about Podz.
This.
Oh, I am over the moon about our front office, in particular after last night. That was such a proof of concept of their vision. Somehow they have kept Steph and Draymond in their primes, obtained a great vet in Jimmy, while developing great young talent like Podz, Post, Gui, Moody, JK.
Talk about things that online said couldn't be done
Two timelines live!
Not sure if anyone here caught the game last night, but it was a really exciting round of high quality basketball. I really can't recommend highly enough watching NBA Warriors basketball games as a thrilling joy ride of television watching. I have other sports viewing recommendations if folks are interested. Please like and subscribe to this channel.
Basketball, you say? Bunch of guys running around in gym shorts. Why should I care? They represent the local region but they aren't even from it, and it's like I'll ever meet them and interact with them. So they run around throwing a ball in a basket and I'm supposed to cheer? I don't really get it. Sell me on it.
Well, there's usually food and beer. Also, an interesting fight might break out, although rarely with actual punches thrown. And sometimes the half-time shows have dogs!
Hockey, baby.
Or even spinning plates!
Yeah, but small dogs. I can’t handle small dogs. Give me a labrador retriever every time.
Sorry, no, missed it. I'm on day 2 of my Green Acres binge watch.
I was planning to start that after I finished watching Murder She Wrote.
Spoiler: Jessica Fletcher will reveal that the Butler did it.
Jimmy Butler, Steph Curry and Gary Payton II will be listed as questionable for the Warriors tonight vs Nuggets. Butler has a forearm strain, but it’s minor. Curry still has that bruised tailbone. Payton could make his return from absence from thumb injury.
@anthonyVslater
It's very hard to decide whether these guys should play. On one hand, the Warriors need to win as many games as possible to avoid falling into the play-ins. On the other hand, the Nuggets starters had a two-day rest while the Warriors are on a 2nd night of a B2B and have recently finished their six-game road trip. Plus, Curry and Butler are kinda banged up right now.
Sure be nice to have GP2 and his fresh legs in there tonight to hound Murray.
You almost have to sit both JB and SC together. So if one sits the other should too.
Nobody is sitting unless the medical team says they have to. If Steph sits but Jimmy can play, Jimmy will play, and vice versa. This is IT, everything is on the line now. One or two losses could mean we're in the play-in game and maybe no playoffs.
That was fast
After win over Lakers, Steph Curry should now be a top-5 MVP candidate | The Kevin O'Connor Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ng1qecZaSiA
The NBA also has Steph on the fifth spot (from seventh a week ago).
https://www.nba.com/news/kia-mvp-ladder-april-4-2025-edition
Indeed, but he's top 5 in what probably will be a 2-man race. Still impressive, though, especially at his age.
Where someone finished in MVP or DpoY voting does make a difference to some as far as evaluating basketball legacies so I'd say it's still relevant as well as impressive.
Don't get me wrong, I love that he's considered top 5 and want to see him make it a tough choice for MVP voters! He has a great case for it. But his legacy as one of the very best ever is beyond question regardless of what he does from here.
Don't underestimate the Pelicans against the Lakers tonight. Lakers' key players racked up big minutes last night: Lebron (40), Reaves (40), Doncic (38), Hachimura (34), and Lakers are probably a little down after last night's beating. Pelicans have a bunch of scrubs but no pressure. On paper, Lakers should win easily, but going against a bunch of younger and more athletic players with nothing to lose could keep this one interesting.
Also interested in seeing if Clips can sweep a B2B with Dallas. Doesn't Kawhi rest on second games of B2Bs? Mavs are much better with AD back into the fold.
Definitely have more hope for Dallas with AD back than the Pels. But we shall see.
Dallas has a lot more to play for.
Yeah we need to worry more about falling than rising.
Well… the Lakers have a tough closing schedule. If they lose to the Pels, they join the muck of teams in the play in range…
Lakers fact: Reaves and Luka are both sub-optimal defenders. Any team with good scoring wings, like us, is likely to feast.
I'd say Steph is our best weapon against them, personally. BBQ chicken never tasted so good.
Hows the rain out there? Des Peres river going over ?
Mm m. BBQ. Although, to be fair, neither you nor I are being entirely ground-breaking here to say that Steph is our best weapon and that Luka is slow.
Top 5 plays last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JqN_EOqpPM
Curry's wild and-1 shot made it to #4.
Podz's buzzer beater 3 before halftime made it to #3.
Ja's looked like a travel... am I the only one? Looked awkward in real-time... in slow mo it looks like a travel (picked up his pivot and put it back down). L2M didn't think it was though 🤷
Sure was a lucky shot though - not on target but got a lucky roll on the iron.
That Reaves prayer after Podz last dagger 3 was borderline bull crap. We could have emptied out the bench if they weren't hitting shots like that to stay within single digits lol
During the flurry of opposing threes in the last minutes (after Steph's, then Bron's threes):
Kevin Harlan: It's Podziemski. His three ... GOOOOOOD!!!
Reggie Miller: (chuckles) Are you tired of saying "good," my friend?
Harlan: NOOOOOO!!!
Enjoyed that!
Yeah, the whole sequence was great, Steph, LeBron, Podz, and then Reeves all in a row.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCQrWbc0aDY
I rewatched the highlight, which I highly recommend for anyone that missed the game, and he actually says NOOOO after the Podz 3, and then GOOOOOD again after Reeves hits his.
I stand by my transcript.
Yes, you had it right, I should have been more clear that I was misremembering the nooo after the Reeves make, so I was correcting myself here
Games to watch for tonight:
Rockets vs. Thunder (Houston won't have Brooks since he has 16 technical fouls)
Warriors vs. Nuggets
And maybe Lakers vs. Pelicans and Clippers vs. Mavericks, even though both LA teams are likely to win both of those games.
Warriors v Nuggets sounds intriguing. Tell me more.
GO OKC GO. GO Pelicans ... it's hard to type this with a straight face go Pelicans go. Go Maverics go I can do with more belief, if AD is going to play well as he has been lately.
Since his injuries, I think Podz has been taking less charges, which is good. I didn’t think that was sustainable.
Efficiency Landscape: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GnsGyueWgAApHBY.jpg?name=orig
1. Thunder: #2 offense, #1 defense
2. Clippers: #3 offense, #2 defense
3. Celtics: #1 offense, #11 defense
4. Rockets: #4 offense, #9 defense
5. Heat: #13 offense, #4 defense
6. Timberwolves: #6 offense, #7 defense
7. Pacers: #12 offense, #6 defense
8. Magic: #20 offense, #3 defense
9. Bulls: #7 offense, #15 defense
10. Pistons: #10 offense, #14 defense
11. Warriors: #16 offense, #8 defense
Worst offense: Jazz, Nets, Raptors, Hornets, Pelicans
Worst defense: 76ers, Jazz, Suns, Wizards, Lakers
You can tell when Steve REALLY wants a game by the way he calls those very timely timeouts to get on the little details instead of just calling it when you need to stop the bleeding
But... calling time outs is the easiest thing to be consistent with.
Yep, the time for experimenting with lineups to glean information on what works has come to a close as playoff time draws nigh. Playoff Kerr is entering the room.
Something else the Warriors can fight for. Winning the Pacific Division.
https://www.espn.com/nba/standings/_/group/division
And don't division winners get automatic tie breaker? To win the division, we have to finish with a better record than both the Lakers and Clippers.
If the Lakers predictably beat the Pels and split with the Thunder (though the Thunder have won 11 in a row, and won't have clinched best record in the NBA by the first game), they'll be at 48-31 headed into their final 3 games @DAL (on a SEGABABA), home for HOU, then @POR. They may end up 49-33... but that would be contingent on HOU having something to play for in the second to last game of the season.
There's all sorts of interesting scenarios out here... just gotta keep stacking wins.
After head to head I think.
Winning the Pacific division at like 5-10 or 6-10 within the division would be absolutely hilarious.
Coupled with the fact that the cellar-dwelling Suns are 9-5.
Remaining schedules:
Lakers: vs. Pels (B2B), @ Thunder (x2), @ Mavs (B2B), vs. Rockets, @ Blazers
Warriors: vs. Nuggets (B2B), vs. Rockets, @ Suns, vs. Spurs (B2B), @ Blazers, vs. Clippers
Over his last 37 games, Podz has hit 81-195 threes (41.5%) .
He has also averaged 12.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.2 threes, and 1.2 steals against just 0.9 turnovers and 1.3 fouls per game on 56.6% effective field goal and 58.3% true shooting in just 27 minutes per game.
He just turned 22, and he's the youngest player on the roster, 4 months younger than Kuminga.
The weirdest thing about Podz's game to me is when I try to take in account his age and consider his ceiling. My problem here is that I can't think of any player to compare him to who was as effective as he is at this age with his physical limitations. The closest analogues I can think of are Doncic and Bird, but Podz is obviously shorter and smaller than either.
Other players who excelled this young with physical limitations, such as Chris Paul, Isiah Thomas, Kevin Johnson, Baron Davis, Kyrie Irving, Trae Young, and Tyrese Haliburton are much more pure point guards than Podz is. And other non-point and non-athletic stud guards who were as effective this young tend to be sharpshooters. Maybe Brandon Roy? Kerry Kittles?
Can anybody came up with a better comparison?
I was calling Podz the Reincarnation of small ball Bird very early and nothing has changed.
People always call me crazy, but I’ve always seen Podz’s game as being VERY similar to Delon Wright.
One of the strengths of Podz's game is that, like Draymond's, it really doesn't comp well. There aren't a lot of relatively short guards who rebound well, nor rookies/soph who have the savvy and BBIQ he has to lead the league in charges and be a defensive savant; nor be an attacker without obviously having scoring fluidity.
Sometimes these guys come along, usually forwards, like Boris Diaw, Slo Mo, PJ Tucker, Draymond, who don't fit the mold in so many ways, who don't seem athletically gifted or even all that skilled, and then they succeed. Every time they score the opponent is like "How the hell did that happen?"
You're right though, I can't think of that many guards who have been like that, who consistently raise the question for opponents, "How the hell are we letting that bum beat us?"
Kevin Johnson had serious hops.
My brother can confirm — he was dunked on by KJ in a pickup game some time in the late ‘80s and used to talk about it often.
Yeah, you are right.
Is Podz really not that athletic? His measurables from the draft combine aren't that different from GPII, actually just a shade better:
Lane agility (lower is better): Podz 11.16 GPII 11.57
Shuttle run (lower is better): GPII 3.17 Podz 3.20
3/4 sprint (lower is better): Podz 3.21 GPII 3.23
Standing vertical (higher is better): Podz 31.5 GPII 31.5
Max vertical (higher is better): Podz 39.0 GPII 38.5
https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-strength-agility?SeasonYear=2023
https://www.nba.com/stats/draft/combine-strength-agility?SeasonYear=2016-17
There are different ways to define athletic. Most people think 40 inch vertical and great quickness and speed.
Another way is a guy is just athletically gifted. Ever see Podz take batting practice and hit one out of the park?
Some guys are just good. Athletic IQ, instincts, hand eye coordination. Everyone doesn’t have to be J Morant.
His quickness and jumping ability are definitely at a level good enough to be a very effective player.
Look at Reaves. The guy is one of the best scorers in the NBA now.
I don’t know anything about his ability in other sports besides golf, but he is a very good golfer, like another pretty good guard who is not a J Morant type athlete……what is his name again, hmmmmm.
It feels like his below average wingspan (just 1/2 inch shorter than DDV) has influenced the perception of his athleticism and size. For example, he's the same height as and slightly heavier than Derrick White (nba.com). He has 2.5 inches on max vert on White (nba combine numbers).
Look no further than Austin Reaves... I think that's a pretty relevant comp.
Probably, although Podz is a better defender even if Reeves ends up a better offensive player.
The two best case scenarios I liken his upside to are SGA and Jalen Brunson. Both are better pure scorers than Podz, but they both only scored in the high teens per 36 in year 2. Neither is a crazy fast twitch athlete and both are PG/SG hybrids who rebound and pass well.
It's incredibly unlikely Podz ever reaches upside like that, but that's two first team All NBA level players he could emulate. He'll never be quite as offensively gifted, but a Podz that averages 20 points might be an All Star.
Interesting thoughts. I’d say both SGA and Brunson have enough burst and first step to create advantage off the dribble against a set defense and BP is far from that today.
Both SGA and Brunson had huge leaps in year 3 that really flashed superstar upside. If Podz wants to be an All Star, he's gonna have to show flashes soon - something like hitting 8 3Ps in a game or clutch tip ins in big games.
But I think you're right, Brunson and SGA are shifty in a way Podz hasn't quite shown yet, though he has been doing better attacking closeouts.
A college comparison would be Kon Knueppel. We call him Slippery Knueppel.
This may be boring, but Manu Ginobili is his idol and a pretty great model.
Sure. But Manu didn’t get to the NBA until he was 25, and didn’t really excel until he was 27. So Manu may be Podz’s floor, not ceiling.
I love the enthusiasm! Just don’t underestimate how amazingly good Manu was. It’s not a fair standard to expect BP to have a hall-of-fame floor…
Of course not. But you have to admit that I do have a point, no matter how overstated. Podz is better having just turned 22 than Manu was in his rookie season, when he was 25.
Right?
Full disclosure: I have had irrationally good feelings about Podz since the first preseason game of his rookie season. And we all know how those can work out.
Don’t get too hung up on numbers. They play on different teams and in different times.
I was a Suns fan when they had Nash and the gang and couldn’t get by SA. Believe me, Manu was a great player.
> And we all know how those can work out.
Sometimes well, sometimes not so well?
I am reluctant to dampen your enthusiasm and I don’t have a lot at stake about Manu’s rep. However, a quick check of Manu’s age 23 (2000-01) season:
Wikipedia: Ginóbili then entered the 1999 NBA draft and the San Antonio Spurs selected him late in the second round with the 57th overall pick. However, Ginóbili did not sign with the Spurs at this point. Instead, he returned to Italy to play for Kinder Bologna, whom he helped win the 2001 Italian League Championship, the 2001 and 2002 Italian Cups, and the 2001 EuroLeague. In the lattermost, Ginóbili was named the 2001 EuroLeague's Finals MVP. He was also named the Italian League MVP in 2000–01 and 2001–02, and made the Italian League's All-Star Game three times during this period.
And then even though it took a while to crack Pop’s rotation, Manu in his rookie season had
OBPM -0.7
DBPM 2.6
BPM 1.9
VORP 1.4
Podz this season has
OBPM -0.3
DBPM 0.7
BPM 0.4
VORP 0.9
So I would not say it’s obvious at all that Podz is better this year than Manu’s rookie season or his age 22 season overseas. But this is more to say that Manu is a fantastic career outcome, not that Podz is a chump.
Ben Taylor did a breakdown of Manu's impact and I think the conclusion was that he could arguably have been the MVP of the Spur's dynasty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9XbDCXLE94
No one should be arguing that anyone other than Duncan was the MVP of that dynasty.
It’s akin to putting Draymond above Steph for MVP of this dynasty.
But the comp doesn’t stop there. I think the layperson would have Klay and Parker as the #2’s, but the real ones know it’s probably Dray and Manu.
Yeah... if Podz ends up with Manu's career, I think we would be pretty pleased.
While remaining a Ws' lifer, of course.
Indubitably. Didn't Manu stay with the Spurs his whole career? The comp still works