104 Comments

1. Curry, Booker, Tatum, Giannis, Jokic

2. Luka, Mitchell, KD, AD, Embiid

3. Ja, Haliburton, Bridges, Wiggins, Sabonis

Something like that? So many studs this year. Apologies to Fox, SGA, Jaylen, Zion, et al…

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Maybe Zion ranks higher? His game is so disruptive and flamboyant. Sometimes I think he’s all that and nobody close. Then I look at his shot charts - e.g. last night every single make is in the restricted zone. So one dimensional and yet seemingly unstoppable?

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Yo thats so disrespectful to SGA!!

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I know … maybe SGA over Haliburton?

I think toughest part this year is gonna be having to boot one of Steph-Luka-Booker off the first team.

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Steph is old news…

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You missed Westbrook.

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Dec 5, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Players with most average assists this season:

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/players-with-most-average-assists-this-season

Tyrese Haliburton- 10.9 assists

Trae Young- 9.6

Nikola Jokic- 8.9

Luka Doncic- 8.6

Darius Garland- 7.7

Russell Westbrook- 7.7

Marcus Smart- 7.7

Ja Morant- 7.5

Jrue Holiday- 7.4

Draymond Green- 7.1

Stephen Curry- 7.1

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"Most average assists". I thought Curry had a lot of assists that were "above average", maybe even "outstanding".

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Yeah, who has the most outstanding assists this year? That's what I want to know!

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Dec 5, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Hali gonna miss the Warriors game with a groin injury apparently…

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The Dubs have got to crush Indy without their best player and on the second night of a back to back. I wonder if they’ll sit Hield and Turner to protect the potential value of their potentially valuable trade value potential.

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Turner almost always plays great against the Dubs. [I always thought he was auditioning to be a Dub.]

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Just send them to LA already, sheesh

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AD has been killing it this season. I’m conflicted. I hate when injuries interfere with great basketball, so I’m happy for him, but letting Lakers fans have anything nice is like giving a drunk frat bro at a bar a megaphone.

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I was a big AD fan before he got traded to the Lakers. Life is just unfair sometimes.

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55 points 17 rebounds. But to be fair, primary defender was Porzingis ....

My view is that it just can't last. AD and/or LeBron injury coming in 5...4...3..2...

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If it does last, the playoffs are gonna be fun! Even if those two stay healthy, they will lose in the first round due to the lack of perimeter shooting… unless they’re willing to give two unprotected FRP in a Westbrook trade AND get a traditional “Lakers discount” from whoever. I’m preparing myself for a Conley/Beasley/Olynyk trade after Utah starts struggling.

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AD apparently stopped trying hard after the chip. Came in to both seasons out of shape. This season he’s finally back in shape and motivated.

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Any explanation for why he's suddenly motivated again?

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It’s what they will say… he’s always been injury prone though…

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Dec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Watched the Sea Dubs game, and Wise was a real problem for Stockton… he was fouled a lot, his defender couldn’t help on defense or weak side guy pulled in and gave up open corner threes. Had some good rebounds in traffic, and even had an offensive rebound/great pass to cutter that didn’t get paid off. He’s being patient with his screens and even setting multiple solid borderline moving screens. Defensively, still quite the work in progress, but clearly deterring people from attempting shots at the rim sometimes, seems a little more dynamic in his contests, rebounding better. Overall, I think give him another month of concerted effort to improve awareness of what he should be doing on both ends of the court, and he’s gonna be markedly better.

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It's. The. G. League.

For perspective, here are some past winners of G League MVP:

2014–15 Tim Frazier[12] Guard United States Maine Red Claws

2015–16 Jarnell Stokes[13] Forward United States Sioux Falls Skyforce (2)

2016–17 Vander Blue[14] Guard United States Los Angeles D-Fenders

2017–18 Lorenzo Brown[15] Guard United States Raptors 905

2018–19 Chris Boucher[16] Forward Canada Raptors 905 (2)

2019–20 Frank Mason III[17] Guard United States Wisconsin Herd

2020–21 Paul Reed[18] Forward United States Delaware Blue Coats

2021–22 Trevelin Queen[19]

So, good for Wiseman if he does good things, but until I see it in the NBA consistently, I'm just not going to conclude much.

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It's true. But he needs basketball experience. I don't know how they'll ever know how good he can be, nor do I know how he'll improve if he never plays. Baby steps, Asher -- baby steps.

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Man, how'd you like to be 7 feet tall with a great touch, you've played with some of the greats already at age 20, you were drafted #2 overall for a team that really needs a center to go to the next level, and what people say about you a year later is "Baby steps." Ouch, but deserved ouch.

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Oh, if I were guaranteed $55M through 24-25, I think I'd muddle through.

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Dec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022

GP2 and JP3 say hi… Wise needs to learn basketball. It’s possible to do that against the sub-NBA competition.

EDIT: and if/once he learns basketball, his physical tools will enable him to compete at an NBA level.

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Dec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022

I think this is the main point. Whether or not sending Wiseman to the G League will result in Wiseman becoming an NBA player is less about the G-league and more about Wiseman.

He needs a place to get some reps and intensive teaching in game situations.

College or NBL or the Spanish league would hypothetically work as well (if they ran a Dubs-ish system).

Asher is no doubt right to reserve judgment, but not sure skepticism is warranted yet. Let's give the guy a couple of months before we start figuring out if it works or not.

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I believe there is an internet rule against saying anything positive about Wiseman's basketball abilities. It's probably permissible on Twitter now that Elon is in charge and anything goes, but is probably beyond the boundaries of decorum elsewhere. Unfortunately substack doesn't have a mechanism to flag inappropriate posts.

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I resemble this remark. I'd LOVE to say something positive about his abilities: I am a Dub fan and was delighted when he was drafted. And he has some nice touch and shooting potential, as well as finishing potential and a block or two. But he's WAY behind where I'd hoped he'd be and I'm skeptical he'll ever get to NBA starter level. It's on him to prove the doubters wrong. Let's go, let's do it.

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It's the curse of being a high draft pick combined with the NBA salary slotting. There is a pretty good chance that Wiseman could someday be at least a passable backup center, but the misfortune of being the #2 pick and the salary that goes with it means anything less than above average starting center is a disappointment especially for a team that is well into the repeater luxury tax.

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Duly noted. Please accept the commentary on his defense as sufficiently negative.

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Phoenix ekes out the 133-95 win over the Spurs... Suns won't be that easy to catch.

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Warriors aren't trying to catch Phoenix. They can finish 4th, be in the same bracket at the Suns, and knock them off there.

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Fortunately the Warriors don't need to catch the Suns in the regular season. The way things are going now, the 3rd seed looks pretty possible again.

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Don't need to but would like to

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I actually kind of like the 3rd or 4th seed. The Suns go into the playoffs as the #1 and have all of the weight of expectation on their shoulders, only to get trucked again. That works for me.

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Dang! JimmyG out for the season and my guess is 49ers hope for going far.

Things can change on a dime. Stay healthy, dear OGs and others.

Always makes me wonder - are some players more susceptible to injuries than others because of how they play or how their body is or how fast can they react to avoid injury.

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Let's see if Purdy is actually worse than Garoppolo before calling the season over. The guy who played QB today looked better to me and allowed the Niners to run actual play action for the first time in awhile lol, but obviously we gotta see how he responds to getting gameplanned for.

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Some irony in that during the off season the Niners were desperate to find a team that really, really needed a quarterback so they could unload Garappolo for some draft picks and that team turns out to be the Niners.

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Ha! No more Mr Irrelevant!

If you are him, do you feel sad because big bro got hurt with season ending injury OR you are sneakily happy that you get to be QB of a good team for N games or are you pissing your pants thinking about the stagea? I would probably be all of that

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Dec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022

The 2nd. Based on a sample size of 1 game the Niners might be better off letting McCaffrey play QB. At least he probably understands that the idea is to move forward instead of backwards when the pocket collapses. Presumably when they look at films they can coach out the dumb instincts.

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I didn't watch the game yet. McCaffery is playing in QB spot?

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No, and it isn't going to happen either. Merely a comment on Purdy, a right handed QB, running backwards and to his left a couple of times when being chased out of the pocket. You don't have to be an expert in human anatomy to be able to figure out that nothing good is going to come of that.

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True. How the hell did 49ers win today then and that too big time?

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Has this been posted yet?

https://youtu.be/LRSxTWScnQ0

It’s a puff piece about Steph but contains some good footage of his training regiment.

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Dec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022

Steph full court practice shot... five out of five.

https://www.reddit.com/r/warriors/comments/zcqk76/unreal_our_curry_goes_66_from_full_court/

EDIT: apparently it's a fake (see sab's newer comment) but still says something when it's believable, I guess.

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I wonder if Kerr will let him take that shot in a game. Might as well with, say 35 seconds left in a quarter and a chance to go 2 for 1. Also if the rest of the team knows it is coming and busts it down the court the rebound is almost certainly a 50-50 ball.

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How is this possible? 🤯

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Unreal!!

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Okay, I thought I could no longer be wowed by his famous practice court shenanigans, but: JFC. That’s kinda like 5 straight holes in one.

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Dec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022

He’s a modern day globetrotter who also happens to be one of the best handful of competitive basketball players of all time.

Unique.

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I just saw this on Instagram and said, "That's enough internet for today." Obviously not cuz I'm replying to this.

Steph's not from this planet.

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deletedDec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022
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No look away, definitely sus.

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I'm pretty sure it's fake

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Good call :)

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deletedDec 5, 2022·edited Dec 5, 2022
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The mystery of why Moody seems to be in Kerr's doghouse? I'm guessing there's no doghouse, just Kerr giving a large dose of minutes to just one project at a time. That project has been Kuminga up to this point recently. Kuminga has taken the opportunity and run with it. Moody will get his chance, Soon? Later? Probably only Kerr knows..

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Dec 4, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

He’s a small wing. Behind Klay, Wiggs, JP, and DDV on a team chasing wins. Announcers last night said Kerrs stated recently that is just a minutes crunch and that Moses has been playing well in practice, FWIW.

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author

Kerr official reason is Moody has too many fouls and turnovers

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This was from a few weeks ago… it might be old news

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Yes but- who doesn’t foul and turnover much? It justifies keeping him out a week- not a month.

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His assist to turnover ratio was even worse then kumingas despite playing next to the starters where he just needs to catch n shoot

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Moody has played like 20-30 minutes with the starters all season.

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All those minutes came like 13 games ago tho, he was playing a good amount of time with good lineups at the start of the season, if it wasnt with the starters it was with steph and draymond alot

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Nah, it was that candle that Moses purchased, and put on Steve's room....

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I assumed it was related to curry reportedly yelling at him for not hustling last time he played

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Did they accidentally stumble into a play with that screen for Looney with a shooter in the middle of the paint who then uses a Looney screen to pop out to the arc "concept"? Or was that just the Rocket defense being dumb?

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It's the "screen the screener" aka Spain variation of the split cut, clearly.

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author

I don’t think it’s a typical geometry in Kerrball because the shooter Moody would normally either get the screen from Looney along the perimeter or maybe go into a three man pop/dive from the perimeter. Or maybe cut all the way through to relocate opposite corner.

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10-3 in the last 13 games, with one of those losses being essentially a forfeit.

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Well, enjoy it. This upcoming road trip is going to be another 'wake up and smell the coffee moment'

( not necessarily because we're bad, just because it's a long road trip with two B2Bs).

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Yeah I've written here about that a few times. Gonna be brutal, worse than the road trip that opened the season which was itself pretty rough.

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If we get a single win on the road trip it won't be worse in the outcome.

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I think having set, productive rotations can make a difference. We’ll see.

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Dec 4, 2022·edited Dec 4, 2022

Yes! We're in a much better place than the first road trip.

Still, given that the opponents are much tougher, getting through the Utah - > Memphis stretch (7 road games, 2 at home) with a .500 record would be an achievement, I think. And, as tight as the West is, we don't really need a 6-3ish result to stay in the thick of it.

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And one being an OT loss with a questionable call to seal it.

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Which one is that? I only see the Phx debacle, the rest vs NO, and the random ending @Mavs that ended in regular time…

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Dec 4, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

It does seem like a fine line seperating the play of DD and MM. It seems like Kerr has given Dante the benefit of the doubt, and has him as the 4th guard. I like them both, but our long term future is probably with Moody, and if Moody can contribute now, it makes sense to have him take over the 4th spot.

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Donte is still young and I wouldn’t mind keeping him around if we can

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I wouldn't say DDV is in the way of Moody as far as minutes. I think their is a little overlap, but DDV is a secondary ball handler, will D up at the point of attack. Moody's time this year has been split evenly between the 2 & 3, he hasn't shown to be quick enough to handle the point of attack, and is probably best suited as a 3 at this point in his development. So, I think they are on the floor for different reasons. If Moody want to secure minutes, backing up Wiggins ought to be top on his list, thus freeing up Wiggs for more minutes with the 2nd unit. Or playing the 3 when the Dubs go small and Wiggs moves to the 4. A 2nd unit rotation that should happen at some point is Poole-DDV-Moody-Wiggs-Dray. This would push Lamb out of the 4, rather than replacing DDV minutes.

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Dec 4, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

I dunno, Wiggs could just as likely have been celebrating a fine Italian flatbread...

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Dec 4, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

Eric, I'm really liking the new bite-sized E1Ps.

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author

Thanks! Trying to keep them shorter this year, just for my personal sanity. Sometimes I relapse like the longer Kuminga video…

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Dec 4, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot

Shorter is fine though longer is more so

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There is a limit, though ... If he starts one out with 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times', I'll probably stop listening right there.

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author

You are not a fan of Charles Dunkins?

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Could be a whole new side-gig for you. Narrating the NBA classics.

Kyrie as Hamlet.

KD as Richard III

James Harden as Godot.

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I'd LOVE waiting for Harden omg

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I'd gladly pay for an EA audiobook of Tale of Two Cities played out over the course of season wins!

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Aaah Fog it.

lmao

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