> Despite peaking as the fourth-best DRTG in the NBA in February, the Warriors have posted the worst DRTG in the league (116.6) over the last eight games.
> That's not a 3-point variance fluke, either. Giving up a ton of points in the paint via late rotations and easy points off TOV
In February they were playing a lot of Draymond at center. Now they are playing a lot of Wiseman at center (although this includes the Memphis games he missed too, but I could have sworn the Warriors played good defense in those games lol). There is a much better version of this team that is available for the playoffs, should they choose to use it (and should health permit them to get there)
(Elaborating on some thoughts below, in response to Belilaugh's insights on how different this team looks with Dray at C)...
Otto Porter Jr. was a DNP last night. Is he still a buyout candidate?
Call me the world’s biggest homer in the wake of a 53-point beatdown by a team that had lost 13 of 14 ... but I can *still* squint and see a lineup of Curry-Oubre-Wiggins-[Otto Porter]-Green — with Loon, Lee, Baze, JTA, Poole as the core bench guys — as a verrrry fringe title contender *this year.*
Not a serious contender, obviously, but let’s say “non-zero chance”?
The main case for it of course starts with the fact that Steph Curry is possibly the best player in the NBA right now. That’s a decent starting point in the playoffs. He’s been mostly chilling out in the regular season, playing the right way, getting teammates involved, etc. What if he gets really greedy and starts launching a million threes a game in the playoffs, the way he did in the last couple minutes v. Miami? He also seems well-rested and peaking right now, which hasn’t always been the case with him at this point in the season. Tanned, rested, and ready.
Then there’s smallball. We don’t do it much right now, largely to preserve Dray’s body over the long regular-season haul. What if we do it for 30-35 mpg in the playoffs? That’s where Porter comes in: a rugged 6-8 “smallball big” who’s an excellent rebounder (9.0 per 36 this season) and 40%+ three-point shooter, at high volume. Porter-Wiggins-Oubre-JTA-Lee bring back the old switch-everything look we had with Klay-Barnes-Iguodala-Livingston-BRush. Poole plays the Barbosa role. Loon is Bog’z.
Worth remembering that Steph+Dray have not lost a playoff series without some insanely extenuating circumstances since 2014. They’re 20-2 in playoff series since then, with none of those series wins coming without KD. And of course, the two series losses were both complete BS.
Anyway, I say let’s keep our draft pick *and* win the chip this year. Or ... we can just tank for Suggs.
For a second, I thought you meant the Warriors had to finish with a 1-20 *record* to keep their pick, and got very confused for a second!
As for players, I think Suggs is more athletic than Halliburton, and Green a much better shooter than Edwards, just not nearly as big. As for what the Warriors need, here would be my top choices (not that I think the W's will have the chance to get all of them, of course):
1a (not happening). Cade
1b. Suggs
2. Mobley
3. Barnes
4. Moody
5. Giddey
6. Kispert
7. Keon Johnson
8. Wagner
9. Green
As much as we could use shooting, Klay (*knocks on wood with crossed fingers*) will help with that next year, even if he's still moderately limited. So will Poole's continued development. But maybe even more than that, I think the dearth of high level passing has been a major loss this season and last, which is why I'd prioritize guys like Suggs, Barnes, and Giddey (and maybe Wagner) over someone like Green, who I think is going to take a few years to mature and learn how to play within a system. One project is enough for now.
My hot take on that UCLA game is that Jaquez is a better pro prospect than Juzang. He's got a really interesting skillset. And also that if Riley's wingspan is long enough, he can be a rotation player in the NBA as well. He's a bit undersized though, so those arms need to be long enough lol.
My cold take is that if the Warriors want Suggs on the roster next season, they better start tanking because he's not going to be available for the Minnesota pick. His three point shooting is a bit of a concern but he has everything else.
Tanking is a strategy that goes against everything an athlete and professional sports player has learned in his career and life. It is a form of cheating which Americans readily embrace as something 'creative' or 'justified' like cheating on your taxes. No one can convince me that players like Lebron and Curry are capable of this and will conspire to 'not execute' their games. Klay too, is a non cheater. Of course, the coach can always sit these players and 'construct' a strategy for tanking. Kerr doesn't really strike me as this kind of personality, either. So, I'm not buying into this.
I'm also not buying into this draft as being the answer to any of our problems that plague this team. Mobley might be the best choice of the top 5 but that will be an enormous stretch for the Warriors to select him if they get the chance. I see the best opportunity in trading out with teams that are desperate to add some future talent to their stagnant lineups and getting some key players that can fit into this system of Kerr's right away. There is some talent in the draft and if we cherry pick and really get lucky, we can bolster our team for the future. But contending for the championship next season? I don't see this happening at all. Playoffs, yes, but no cigar. Using Wiseman or whoever in a trade deal is very much on the table in my book.
If the tank is on, just keep playing Oubre. His shooting percentages are abysmal. He’s athletic, but that’s about it. He has no bbiq. He’s as good as gone next year because he thinks he’s much better than he actually is. I had high hopes for him, but he hasn’t played well almost all season. I wish they traded him.
I’d hate to see a tank. I’d like to have watchable Dubs ball for the next few months, participation in play-in and maybe a shot at taking out a top seed in the first round. If the dubs sit Steph and Dray for long stretches I’ll be hard pressed to watch a lot of games.
https://twitter.com/wcgoldberg/status/1378751411257757698
> Despite peaking as the fourth-best DRTG in the NBA in February, the Warriors have posted the worst DRTG in the league (116.6) over the last eight games.
> That's not a 3-point variance fluke, either. Giving up a ton of points in the paint via late rotations and easy points off TOV
In February they were playing a lot of Draymond at center. Now they are playing a lot of Wiseman at center (although this includes the Memphis games he missed too, but I could have sworn the Warriors played good defense in those games lol). There is a much better version of this team that is available for the playoffs, should they choose to use it (and should health permit them to get there)
In other news, I just spun the Sim Lottery wheel on Tankathon and got the Ws the #1 and #5 picks on my *first spin.*
Imma just leave up the page and not spin again. You can thank me in advance. :-)
(Elaborating on some thoughts below, in response to Belilaugh's insights on how different this team looks with Dray at C)...
Otto Porter Jr. was a DNP last night. Is he still a buyout candidate?
Call me the world’s biggest homer in the wake of a 53-point beatdown by a team that had lost 13 of 14 ... but I can *still* squint and see a lineup of Curry-Oubre-Wiggins-[Otto Porter]-Green — with Loon, Lee, Baze, JTA, Poole as the core bench guys — as a verrrry fringe title contender *this year.*
Not a serious contender, obviously, but let’s say “non-zero chance”?
The main case for it of course starts with the fact that Steph Curry is possibly the best player in the NBA right now. That’s a decent starting point in the playoffs. He’s been mostly chilling out in the regular season, playing the right way, getting teammates involved, etc. What if he gets really greedy and starts launching a million threes a game in the playoffs, the way he did in the last couple minutes v. Miami? He also seems well-rested and peaking right now, which hasn’t always been the case with him at this point in the season. Tanned, rested, and ready.
Then there’s smallball. We don’t do it much right now, largely to preserve Dray’s body over the long regular-season haul. What if we do it for 30-35 mpg in the playoffs? That’s where Porter comes in: a rugged 6-8 “smallball big” who’s an excellent rebounder (9.0 per 36 this season) and 40%+ three-point shooter, at high volume. Porter-Wiggins-Oubre-JTA-Lee bring back the old switch-everything look we had with Klay-Barnes-Iguodala-Livingston-BRush. Poole plays the Barbosa role. Loon is Bog’z.
Worth remembering that Steph+Dray have not lost a playoff series without some insanely extenuating circumstances since 2014. They’re 20-2 in playoff series since then, with none of those series wins coming without KD. And of course, the two series losses were both complete BS.
Anyway, I say let’s keep our draft pick *and* win the chip this year. Or ... we can just tank for Suggs.
Happy Easter! :-)
For a second, I thought you meant the Warriors had to finish with a 1-20 *record* to keep their pick, and got very confused for a second!
As for players, I think Suggs is more athletic than Halliburton, and Green a much better shooter than Edwards, just not nearly as big. As for what the Warriors need, here would be my top choices (not that I think the W's will have the chance to get all of them, of course):
1a (not happening). Cade
1b. Suggs
2. Mobley
3. Barnes
4. Moody
5. Giddey
6. Kispert
7. Keon Johnson
8. Wagner
9. Green
As much as we could use shooting, Klay (*knocks on wood with crossed fingers*) will help with that next year, even if he's still moderately limited. So will Poole's continued development. But maybe even more than that, I think the dearth of high level passing has been a major loss this season and last, which is why I'd prioritize guys like Suggs, Barnes, and Giddey (and maybe Wagner) over someone like Green, who I think is going to take a few years to mature and learn how to play within a system. One project is enough for now.
My hot take on that UCLA game is that Jaquez is a better pro prospect than Juzang. He's got a really interesting skillset. And also that if Riley's wingspan is long enough, he can be a rotation player in the NBA as well. He's a bit undersized though, so those arms need to be long enough lol.
My cold take is that if the Warriors want Suggs on the roster next season, they better start tanking because he's not going to be available for the Minnesota pick. His three point shooting is a bit of a concern but he has everything else.
Jalen Green is doing pretty dang good. It seems at least as well as Ball did in AUS. And G-League might be comparable to NBL
I would rather us fight for the play in games and get real first round playoff experience then tank, our team needs to get back to winning habits
An SC Select:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNOpXh-F5DK/?igshid=13f2q8w3tvbkt
Checking out Suggs, Kispert in the UCLA-Gonzaga semifinals. Quite a game. Kispert threw down a surprise dunk in traffic.
Tanking is a strategy that goes against everything an athlete and professional sports player has learned in his career and life. It is a form of cheating which Americans readily embrace as something 'creative' or 'justified' like cheating on your taxes. No one can convince me that players like Lebron and Curry are capable of this and will conspire to 'not execute' their games. Klay too, is a non cheater. Of course, the coach can always sit these players and 'construct' a strategy for tanking. Kerr doesn't really strike me as this kind of personality, either. So, I'm not buying into this.
I'm also not buying into this draft as being the answer to any of our problems that plague this team. Mobley might be the best choice of the top 5 but that will be an enormous stretch for the Warriors to select him if they get the chance. I see the best opportunity in trading out with teams that are desperate to add some future talent to their stagnant lineups and getting some key players that can fit into this system of Kerr's right away. There is some talent in the draft and if we cherry pick and really get lucky, we can bolster our team for the future. But contending for the championship next season? I don't see this happening at all. Playoffs, yes, but no cigar. Using Wiseman or whoever in a trade deal is very much on the table in my book.
Pretty clear that all we need to do to tank is sit Steph. We are rich in potential tank commanders.
If the tank is on, just keep playing Oubre. His shooting percentages are abysmal. He’s athletic, but that’s about it. He has no bbiq. He’s as good as gone next year because he thinks he’s much better than he actually is. I had high hopes for him, but he hasn’t played well almost all season. I wish they traded him.
God bless, thanks for the distraction!
Really good draft resource: https://www.thestepien.com/
I’d hate to see a tank. I’d like to have watchable Dubs ball for the next few months, participation in play-in and maybe a shot at taking out a top seed in the first round. If the dubs sit Steph and Dray for long stretches I’ll be hard pressed to watch a lot of games.
I know this was a rough draft but I still felt like adding a few thoughts. I haven't necessarily watched that much of these guys either.
I think Suggs is a lot faster than Haliburton.
I think Wagner has more defensive potential than Gallinari.
I don't quite see Klay with Kispert, he seems more like a Joe Harris type to me.
I think Mobley has a better feel for the game defensively than Wiseman in addition to the passing.