Totally off topic, but we’re in the middle of humpback whale season here on Maui and have been having some pretty epic stand up paddling sessions with whales coming up within 10-15 feet of us to say hello. Here’s a couple of clips from a momma and her baby who swam around us for 20 minutes https://youtu.be/wFtk6YpTYj4
I think this team is starting to find themselves a little bit. I do feel like it's been a rough whistle these last few games. Quite a few questionable calls, some games worse than others, but they keep fighting through. Don't think it's gonna matter Saturday. Three really good players who all have their own reasons they will want to kill the Dubs. Take the L and move on quick. And hey, if they surprise us, great.
Steph is by far my favorite player in any sport ever. He is a Clemente, a Mays, an Ali. He makes me better at the things I do because he pushes boundaries so beautifully.
What it’s like being Steph’s teammate: (1) you can start celebrating before he even shoots the ball; (2) you may call yourself “Juan” or “Toscano” or “JTA” or whatever you like, but Twitter will refer to you as “Steph’s teammate.” https://mobile.twitter.com/espn/status/1360093839621451776
I think it was partly the way the broadcast had the arena sounds way up (both the fake crowd and the real sounds) but this game felt full of energy. Orlando really tried to steal it and came pretty close, but... hot damn.
Steph puts on the best show in sports night after night. Sure, everyone knows about the long range shooting, and the more knowledgeable are familiar with his acrobatic games of horse around the rim, but have you considered the basketball-sized yoyo performance? The impromptu dance routines featuring seven-foot tall guys from around the world? The absolute sleight of hand where he makes it look like he lost the ball and then suddenly it reappears already undergoing a long-distance pilgrimage to the hoop? Orlando may have it in their name, but Steph has magic in his game.
Meanwhile, back in, like, ordinary basketball stuff, tonight's starting lineup (SC, KO, AW, JTA, DG) played some meeeeaannn defense in the 4th. Just absolutely destroyed the Magic's offense. It's kind of amazing we didn't win by more given that Orlando scored, like, one basket in 7 minutes. Steph's defense is not bad (he helps off his guy a little much sometimes, and of course his height+wingspan limit what he can do) but the rest of those four... hoo boy. All four have super quick inspector gadget arms and they are getting better and better at figuring out the rotations and help defense. Probably doesn't hurt that Orlando's ball movement without a proper PG was pretty minimal. But wow, if you like defense, that group delivered tonight.
The team struggled against the box-and-one again; weirdly, feels like guys like DLee and Mulder shoot worse on good looks vs that defense than against man defense. Maybe it's a mental thing, like they're feeling the pressure to be the one who makes shots and forces the opponent out of that formation? Tonight it basically felt like Steph did it himself by just firing up pretty well-contested 3's off a step-back or a curl around a screen and swishing them anyway.
Oubre & Wiggins are looking a lot more comfortable in the offense; Bazemore still a great contributor; Paschall tried but didn't seem quite right (I buy the lingering knee soreness theory); Mulder held up pretty unremarkably well and made some shots; Wanamaker once again looked like a liability and the least useful guy on the floor. He had some good games earlier in the season so I'm not sure what happened.
And Our Guy Juan, what a revelation. His shot still doesn't look that good—when it misses, it's often not that close—but... the defense! the cuts! the hard screens! Even things like smart fouls to prevent an easy basket without giving up an and-1... Myers better have a plan to get him on a real contract in time for the playoffs, because he's Making It Happen out there and I am here for it.
Take away from the game: point guards are more important than centers in today’s NBA. Unless the Center has double digit assists in at least 4 consecutive games (Green’s had 10 or more every game he’s started at center right?)
Oubre and Wiggins are such an awesome defensive duo. They play so differently. There were a couple possessions in a row at the end of the game where they alternated on Ross and it was awesome to see. Oubre was denying Ross the ball, then next possession Wiggins let's him gets it but plays solid fundamentals and prevents from scoring, then a couple possessions later Oubre presses Ross and steals the ball from him.
Also unrelated even though fitz and kelenna are not the best commentators in the league, there are so many worse commentators out there. We hate on them so much I feel like this needs to be said to lol
Great game even though we tried to lose it a few times. Steph is unreal right now.
Was looking at the draft board, there’s an interesting thing going on with the records in the East being so poor it will be hard for us to get a six seed or something and keep our first rounder. Right now Denver (7 seed) is 21st pick. I sure hope we get that Minny pick. I played the draft roulette at talkathon and got Jalen Green about 8 times in a row from the Minny pick. Guess I should go watch some of his games in the G-bubble!
As fun as this team is to watch, it really feels like we need one more legit NBA player to compete in the playoffs. Will it be Wiseman? Will it be JTA? Will we pull some trade in a month for some savvy vet? Who knows, but I would like one more weapon on the court.
Totally off topic, but we’re in the middle of humpback whale season here on Maui and have been having some pretty epic stand up paddling sessions with whales coming up within 10-15 feet of us to say hello. Here’s a couple of clips from a momma and her baby who swam around us for 20 minutes https://youtu.be/wFtk6YpTYj4
Has Draymond missed the rim on multiple layups this season?
I think this team is starting to find themselves a little bit. I do feel like it's been a rough whistle these last few games. Quite a few questionable calls, some games worse than others, but they keep fighting through. Don't think it's gonna matter Saturday. Three really good players who all have their own reasons they will want to kill the Dubs. Take the L and move on quick. And hey, if they surprise us, great.
Steph is by far my favorite player in any sport ever. He is a Clemente, a Mays, an Ali. He makes me better at the things I do because he pushes boundaries so beautifully.
Also, as expected Draymond makes Shaqtin' : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHT7JroQbBk
Found Steph's 3 that was a 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh6W9pQhFEk&t=2m16s
Warriors now #5 in the league in defense. That plus Super Saiyan Steph is a potent combo.
What it’s like being Steph’s teammate: (1) you can start celebrating before he even shoots the ball; (2) you may call yourself “Juan” or “Toscano” or “JTA” or whatever you like, but Twitter will refer to you as “Steph’s teammate.” https://mobile.twitter.com/espn/status/1360093839621451776
And this on Wiseman & Looney.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30883516/golden-state-warriors-rookie-james-wiseman-wrist-least-another-week
Just read this ESPN article, if you haven't seen it already.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30884855/game-speaks-itself
I think it was partly the way the broadcast had the arena sounds way up (both the fake crowd and the real sounds) but this game felt full of energy. Orlando really tried to steal it and came pretty close, but... hot damn.
Steph puts on the best show in sports night after night. Sure, everyone knows about the long range shooting, and the more knowledgeable are familiar with his acrobatic games of horse around the rim, but have you considered the basketball-sized yoyo performance? The impromptu dance routines featuring seven-foot tall guys from around the world? The absolute sleight of hand where he makes it look like he lost the ball and then suddenly it reappears already undergoing a long-distance pilgrimage to the hoop? Orlando may have it in their name, but Steph has magic in his game.
Meanwhile, back in, like, ordinary basketball stuff, tonight's starting lineup (SC, KO, AW, JTA, DG) played some meeeeaannn defense in the 4th. Just absolutely destroyed the Magic's offense. It's kind of amazing we didn't win by more given that Orlando scored, like, one basket in 7 minutes. Steph's defense is not bad (he helps off his guy a little much sometimes, and of course his height+wingspan limit what he can do) but the rest of those four... hoo boy. All four have super quick inspector gadget arms and they are getting better and better at figuring out the rotations and help defense. Probably doesn't hurt that Orlando's ball movement without a proper PG was pretty minimal. But wow, if you like defense, that group delivered tonight.
The team struggled against the box-and-one again; weirdly, feels like guys like DLee and Mulder shoot worse on good looks vs that defense than against man defense. Maybe it's a mental thing, like they're feeling the pressure to be the one who makes shots and forces the opponent out of that formation? Tonight it basically felt like Steph did it himself by just firing up pretty well-contested 3's off a step-back or a curl around a screen and swishing them anyway.
Oubre & Wiggins are looking a lot more comfortable in the offense; Bazemore still a great contributor; Paschall tried but didn't seem quite right (I buy the lingering knee soreness theory); Mulder held up pretty unremarkably well and made some shots; Wanamaker once again looked like a liability and the least useful guy on the floor. He had some good games earlier in the season so I'm not sure what happened.
And Our Guy Juan, what a revelation. His shot still doesn't look that good—when it misses, it's often not that close—but... the defense! the cuts! the hard screens! Even things like smart fouls to prevent an easy basket without giving up an and-1... Myers better have a plan to get him on a real contract in time for the playoffs, because he's Making It Happen out there and I am here for it.
We are #7 in DefRtg, #12 in NetRtg (+1) and #20 in OffRtg
I guess Kerr delivered more than what he projected.
OT: How is Opponent<xyz>% different than Defended<xyz>%? Shouldn't they be same?
Steph at 30 PPG!
Take away from the game: point guards are more important than centers in today’s NBA. Unless the Center has double digit assists in at least 4 consecutive games (Green’s had 10 or more every game he’s started at center right?)
Oubre and Wiggins are such an awesome defensive duo. They play so differently. There were a couple possessions in a row at the end of the game where they alternated on Ross and it was awesome to see. Oubre was denying Ross the ball, then next possession Wiggins let's him gets it but plays solid fundamentals and prevents from scoring, then a couple possessions later Oubre presses Ross and steals the ball from him.
Also unrelated even though fitz and kelenna are not the best commentators in the league, there are so many worse commentators out there. We hate on them so much I feel like this needs to be said to lol
Great game even though we tried to lose it a few times. Steph is unreal right now.
Was looking at the draft board, there’s an interesting thing going on with the records in the East being so poor it will be hard for us to get a six seed or something and keep our first rounder. Right now Denver (7 seed) is 21st pick. I sure hope we get that Minny pick. I played the draft roulette at talkathon and got Jalen Green about 8 times in a row from the Minny pick. Guess I should go watch some of his games in the G-bubble!
As fun as this team is to watch, it really feels like we need one more legit NBA player to compete in the playoffs. Will it be Wiseman? Will it be JTA? Will we pull some trade in a month for some savvy vet? Who knows, but I would like one more weapon on the court.