67 Comments

With all this winning, it's easy to overlook the fact that the Dubs have had a lot of sloppiness. I see this as a good thing as there's room for improvement moving forward. Perhaps just in time for the Celtics we'll see the finely-tuned Dubs machine locked in for close to 48 minutes a night.

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As Steph said they're still trying to peak. The finals would be a good time to do so.

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I like the big beefy arm!

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Steph's got some good beefy arms, that's for sure. He could use some more consummate Vs though. At least Looney is starting to gain some majesty.

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Burninating all the Nuggets. Burninating all the Grizzlies. Burninating all the slow-footed Mavericks!

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Just rewatched the game. That win was just nuts. There were enough highlights (on both sides) for three games.

Wiggins may not be a Luka stopper, but his defensive effort was a big part of the win. I love that dude.

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May 21, 2022Liked by Eric Apricot, punk basketball

Beautiful E1P. Thank you! But I would like to see an E1P slo-mo of Kerr hugging Looney.

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May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Our rookies and Poole are basically attending a playoff workshop that's going to be so huge for them in the future. Poole is even luckier because he's getting even more of a hands on experience of contributing meaningful minutes as the Robin to Steph. I hope he's watching how Steph handles the kitchen sink thrown at him closely because in about 3-4 years he'll be getting the same treatment from opponents

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I don't know if it's going to take 3-4 years. Maybe Steph's foot is still giving him trouble, but he's not tip-top, and if any of that is age, and Jordan keeps ascending at his current meteoric rate, the lines on the graph might cross before then. Like you said, hopefully, he's learning everything now -- nothing like seeing it in real-time and being able to interview the master.

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Poole got a taste against Memphis when they made life difficult. I love that he never totally lost confidence, maybe he even gained some. The kid is special, and seems to be having the time of his life.

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May 21, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Here we see Moody's best plays, but he was a mixed bag. That's OK, he's a rookie who has played few minutes, suddenly thrust into the final minutes of a crucial playoff game. 2028 All-Star team. On offense he several times stood around confused and twice set a "screen" that was almost comical because it was about ten feet from the guy he wanted to screen, like he was hoping Steph would dribble to him and then use the screen. That didn't work. On defense he plays hard, and seems to know the concepts; but Reggie Bullock blew by him on a three closeout and Jalen Brunson dribbled in a complete circle around him for a layup. OK, sure, Brunson confuses a lot of defenders, but I think the errors were more mental than physical. And for sure like I said Moody gets a serious pass for being a rookie; but for me he inspires very hesitant confidence moving forward, especially on the road.

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He just has to be a better option than Lee for about 6-12 minutes at most

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Yeah. I like Moody but I would give Lee another chance. This has to be his worst game and, at the start of the season, was really solid. Where is that guy?

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Going on the road, in a crucial playoff series, it seems clear Kerr has to choose between Moody's superior potential and Lee's superior game knowledge. We shall see. Kerr also likes a surprise factor now and then and has already played it...

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I think you are referring to the screen attempt at 14:37 in this E1P video:

https://youtu.be/uabqWAgi6lc?t=877

But I don't agree with your take that it was a mistake by Moody. Bullock is extremely attached to Curry here, there's no daylight for Moody to get in there and screen without committing an offensive foul imo. Curry would probably need to take a sharper angle for any screen to have a chance there because Bullock played it really well.

What was the other failed screen? Not doubting it exists, I just don't remember. I remember the screen he had to free Klay up for that dunk and I think one other one to help Curry out, but that was about it.

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May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022

Found one example: At nba.com if you click on Steph FGs, there's a list of videos This one is titled "Curry 5' Driving Reverse Layup " and the score is 115-108. Fourth quarter, 2:28 on the game clock. I think the url might work, it's confusing:

https://www.nba.com/stats/events/?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=28800&GameID=0042100312&PlayerID=201939&RangeType=0&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Playoffs&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612744&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

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No, I WISH I was referring to that play. There were two plays earlier, not shown in the video. Moody was at or near the three point line, Steph was crossing half court, and Moody was in screening stance. Anyone who finds it for me I'll give you a heart on your next ten posts no matter what they say. OK, no, it matters what they say.

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That's kind of what happens when you get thrown into the mix in the 4th quarter when the team is trying to come back from a 19pt deficit. I thought he showed great poise for a rookie that got thrown into the most crucial stretch of the comeback effort where you had to be precise. To me he showed way more positive than negative but then again, the bar is pretty low with him only having to outplay Lee until GP2 comes back.

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So, Warriors roster has 9 players who have worn a Warriors uniform for their entire NBA career

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Curry, Green, Thompson, Poole, Kuminga, Moody, Looney, JTA, and Wiseman? Did Lee play elsewhere before landing here?

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Lee started off with Atlanta

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Fun fact: If you add the ages of Wiseman, Kuminga, Moody and Poole, you get Kevon Looney's age.

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But also, if you add those 4 up, then subtract any 3 of them, you get about Looney.

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May 21, 2022Liked by punk basketball

So I don't know if this is rare but I noticed that Loon buckets were assisted by, for sure, Steph, Dray, Poole, Wiggs, and Moody (did Klay or OPJ get one to him? can't remember) but I thought it was kind of cool that everyone was finding him.

Also, if he can keep up even half of that amount of offensive threat it will throw a big wrench in how teams play D against the whole team.

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I highly doubt Looney would be able to have this type of offensive success against Miami or Boston. The lack of a rim protector for Dallas makes things a lot easier for Looney to score, I think it's something specific to this series. Looney was great against Memphis in Game 6 but as a rebounder and defender, not a scorer. That's what he'd have to do to be effective against either potential Finals opponent if the Warriors advance.

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Well, it was a career high so not looking likely to have this type of offensive success regularly, but moving from the 2-6 point range to the 10-12 point range on a pretty regular basis is all I'm talking about.

And yeah, less likely to do that against JJJ, Gobert, Adams, etc but not sure why you think Boston and Miami are particularly suited to stopping Looney. I mean I get that they are 2 of the best defenses in the league (since the Porzingis trade Dallas has been pretty good on defense also), but they both rely on great scheme and team defense not great rim protectors so not sure they would be a lot more effective stopping Looney as a more aggressive 5th option (Maaaybe Williams, he's pretty scary) when they are also trying to contain some combination of Steph, Klay, Poole, Wiggins, OPJ, etc.

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Bam and Robert Williams are great rim protectors I believe

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Bam sure, RWIII is unlikely to play much against us.

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May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022

Dallas is in damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't territory. They need to double our shooters either at the top or certainly when they drive. You can't just let Klay waltz in for a layup. OK, you can and they did, but that's not a good plan. Their problem is that many Warriors can hit a three, or get a step to attack the rim. Steph, Wiggins, OPJ, Poole, Klay, Moody were all doing both. When that happens Dallas can at its very best manage to both defend the three, and attend to the drive, but only by leaving someone like Looney or Draymond. It wasn't Draymond's night and Looney played his role perfectly -- and benefits from being the tallest guy on the court. His shots were mostly uncontested layups and dunks, which really the extent of his offensive range, but if you let it happen, he'll do it over and over again. Or you could guard him and let the shooters do their thing. Good luck, Dallas.

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May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022

Basically agree. A couple small points. 1) Looney seems to be finishing better even within his range even on the contested ones and 2) I think his range could expand a little bit over time. He was a pretty good shooter in college. All the injuries plus filling the role the Ws needed from him seem to have removed most of that from his repertoire, but I have this feeling that he would get some of it back with repetition and a little opportunity in games (don't think that should happen much for the rest of the playoffs, but next season...)

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With all due respect to Loon, Dallas never even tried the "hack+a+Loon" defense, they just let him shoot. As much as I love what Loon does for the team, he is a career 60% free throw shooter. The Mavericks probably should have fouled him rather than give him easy layups.

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well, there was that one hilariously ineffectual hug by Kleber

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Mavs were giving up drives, so Looneys man had to rotate, so Looney was open under the basket. Mavs just don’t have the horses to stay in front of all the motion for 48 minutes. It showed in the fourth quarter. It would have been blowout city, except Doncic made a bunch of tough shots in the 4th quarter. He’s good enough to do that sometimes… but the fact is that he did and it still wasn’t enough.

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Gotta feed the hot hand!

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I am moving on to a hopeful expectation for the the groundbreaking pilot, Explain

Three Bench Fines.

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Three Bench Fines?

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Good. Now they have to follow up with Techs if they do this any more.

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Mavs bench has been fined twice already this playoffs, hoping for a third and a stern sit down or else from Silver. If this had been a random ending loss, in part because of Steph's pass to the Mavs bench????

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Three Blind Mavs?

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Three French Mimes?

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May 21, 2022Liked by punk basketball, Daniel Hardee

Looney was amazing. He's never going to get a statue outside Chase Center, but maybe that can say least name a hand rail after him or something.

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When Looney's career is done, we'll talk about how he was the bridge from the old guard of Curry, Klay, Dray, Andre and KD to the new core of JP, Wigs, JK, Moody & Wiseman, and how he has the most rings of them all. :-)

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Here's my vision: in chase plaza, main statue in the front of steph/klay/dray "the core". Then individually around the edges of the plaza you have Iggy/loon/KD with their own solo statues "the supporting cast". KD deserves one but not with the main 3 and not a more prominent one than Loon.

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Can we make a box and put a statue of KOJ in it?

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May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022

I dunno if kd should get one. It's not that he wasn't amazing here or I'm trying to throw shade at him, but it never felt like wanted to be a part of the warriors legacy.

He got what he wanted from the dubs and left, and what a joy it was to watch.

All the other guys just feel like their identity is warriors!

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If it's not an individual one, then I'd at least want a Hampton's 5 one... the greatest 5-man lineup in NBA history.

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Also one of the Splash Brothers, Klay and Rocco, Kerr and a clipboard

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...facts said here. That lineup was unreal.

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Yeah, KD's a tough one. He was hugely instrumental, but I mentally stick him in more of the category of roll players who came and went. He could have been worshipped here almost as much as Steph if he just bought in.

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If Looney stays on the team, and the next generation wins just one championship without Steph, Dray, and Klay, Looney will be tied for the most. They would need two championships for Looney to take the lead.

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I suppose they'll just have to win at least two then.

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Wonder if he could develop a West-like jump shot? The game has changed, morphing into something in which Looney can excel. Just stay healthy ...

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On his way to being the Haslem-of-the-Bay

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May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022

The wife and I love the quaint little shops at the charming Looney-By-The-Bay. We like to explore Mr. Antique's Old Tyme Shoppe, then stop in at Slow Food Organic Cafe, and afterward get a treat at Layupin' Donuts.

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May 21, 2022·edited May 21, 2022Liked by punk basketball

He will get honors. Besides Steph Klay and Dray (yes, and old man Andre) he’s the only one left from the Championship teams. Kevon has 2 rings already. Hopefully a few more. He will not be forgotten!

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Coach Kerr deserves a statue too. Maybe wearing a mask that's obviously slipped off his nose.

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This! For the purposes of maintaining club culture, maybe it is actually a good idea to celebrate Looney with a statue. The ultimate glue-guy spirit, the ultimate warrior spirit.

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A statue of Looney with a ball in one hand and a tube of Super Glue in the other?

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A hand rail hahahah

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May 21, 2022Liked by punk basketball

Oh he’ll get a statue if I have to make it myself...

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He's gonna make it himself.

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Maybe for his retirement he'll just gradually slow down until he is the statue.

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We're like 45 minutes away from that.

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Depending on how the celebrations go, JTA may beat him to it

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And it'll take him a long time to finish it, but he'll probably complete it with 0.1 seconds before the deadline.

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The hardest part will be depicting the 1 and a half inches of airspace below his feet as he soars for a rebound.

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