273 Comments

The first 18 minutes of that game was a reminder we can't just show up with our new depth and think we're going to win.

We created close to zero good shots.

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Fortunately, there were 30 other minutes.

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Yeah, I'm kinda wondering what Kerr said after the first quarter.

This was the first time we came up against an actually organized D and and they made a mockery of our motion offense.

Just hoping it's not a harbinger.

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Just watched the post game Looney and Lee interview. Such nice guys. I was really bothered to see comments that GP2 is better than Lee and Lee wouldn’t be playing if not for Steph. Have they watched D Lee play?! His preseason has been strong. Man, I hope he breaks out and silences that narrative. Poor guy having to live with that shit.

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Who sez GP2 >> D.Lee?

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Poor guy gettin paid more in a year than most make in a decade to play basketball. I think he’s okay living with that shit ;)

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Yeah, but NBA careers are short. 50% of what he's making goes to taxes.

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We're a social species though. You can't buy self-esteem.

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Slightly crazy thing - it would take someone 30 years on the US median salary to earn what DLee is earning this year.

And this is one of the smallest guaranteed NBA contracts out there lol.

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Note that Axel Toupane was the starting 4 on the Sea Dubs during Poole, Mannion, and Smiley's shortened G League season last year. So they know they like him. I vaguely remember him getting signed by another team's NBA roster late last year and some people here being sad.

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Building up a good Santa Cruz roster with players who can run a Warriors offense probably affects the Warriors more this year than most, since Wiseman and JK are both likely to play in Santa Cruz before getting time in the big league.

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Looks like Alex Toupane has been signed at #15. This is according to PMC over at Letsgowarriors.com

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Nice. I’d guess it’ll be for the second two-way (or an Exhibit 10 deal), not the 15th spot, but those are some impressive numbers. 9.2 boards per 36 from a wing player is boner-ific.

Seems like the team is going all in on position-less basketball. We’ve never had this many talented wings. I heartily approve.

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Trois et D. C'est magnifique!

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Edit: PMC guesses Exhibit 10 as well. Definitely not the 15th spot, in any case.

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https://twitter.com/WarriorsPR/status/1449250348883841027

Yep. Although I think it’s unclear if this will be a 2-way, sign for SCW or the #15

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Slater (Athletic - https://theathletic.com/2892992/2021/10/16/is-gary-payton-ii-still-an-option-for-the-warriors-in-their-now-vacant-15th-roster-spot/ )

But Steve Kerr mentioned weekend “discussions” the Warriors’ decision-makers are still set to have regarding the 15th spot. There has been no final resolution. In fact, I’m hearing there’s a strong possibility that Payton could return and claim that 15th roster spot before Tuesday’s opener, but he’d have to clear waivers before that decision can even be made, which isn’t a guarantee.

Payton’s contract details add needed context. He actually signed on the final day of last regular season, so this would’ve been the second season of his deal, meaning a raise. That bumps the salary a bit above the minimum and it included a $659,000 guarantee that was set to trigger had he not been waived before 2 p.m. Saturday.

It seems the Warriors decided that was too expensive and lengthy a commitment to Payton. If there is a reunion after he clears waivers, it could be lowered back to the first-year minimum and come without a guarantee, basically making it a day-to-day contract until early January (when all contracts guarantee league-wide), leaving the Warriors continued flexibility with that 15th spot, if they want to shuffle in another player or leave it open weeks from now.

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Dray with 10pts, and looking for his shot… looked pretty nice.

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At least half of those points he just walked into the paint and nobody was home... Maybe because the Dubs' spacing is so good, maybe because it's preseason, but Portland's interior defense was... inconsistent.

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Portland is one of those teams that cannot go big on us. I was surprised at how many minutes the starters got but that is probably because they knew AB & GP2 would be waived so no competition was needed and they let it be a warm up for Curry & Cie.

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I was surprised by how much the starters played as well. But as a warm up it was pretty hot!

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Agreed! One of those especially he showed some nifty footwork.

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https://mobile.twitter.com/kerithburke/status/1449234647460679681?s=21

Kerr praised Jordan Bell, saying it was fun to have him at camp and Bell’s grown a lot as a player and person.

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with everyone back healthy, who do you guys think falls to the end of the depth chart?

i highly doubt we go more than 12-13 deep on a nightly basis. assuming JFK sees no meaningful minutes who else do you guys think falls to the end of the depth chat? not because they suck but sometimes there’s just not enough minutes to go around. i think wise will get minutes and moody will force his way into the rotations.

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I'll say the inactives will be JFK and probably the 15th roster spot guy (GP2?) unless they grab a gritty vet mid-season, then prolly JTA.

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what if it’s marc gasol?!?

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Based on what we saw tonight, JTA might be the odd man out.

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I think JTA gets some minutes that could've gone to Andre here and there. They have close enough roles that if Dre is feeling like he needs a rest it's a straightforward sub

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I have no idea if the lineups tonight meant anything, but if they do have so much depth that JTA has a smaller than expected role, I could see him getting cast in the role of Andre's understudy. Play maybe half or more than half of Andre's minutes throughout the regular season.

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yeah i’m not investing too much into preseason but with draymond and andre back they do what JTA does well but better. if iguodala retires next year JTA will take over that role full time. He will still play a lot this year though

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If EVERYONE is back healthy then that includes Klay, right?

Starters: Steph, Klay, Draymond, Wiggins, Looney

Bench in order of minutes: Poole, Porter, Wiseman, JTA, Bjelica, Lee, Iguodala, Moody. Iggy that far back because they'll rest him as much as possible. Wiseman that far up because we need another center after Looney. Hopefully he improves enough to start but we'll have to wait and see.

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Not at all sure that Klay’s return means that JP3 returns to the bench. Perhaps so. Obviously we have to see how teams adjust to him as he becomes more of a force offensively.

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Basically, yeah but I could see more Bjelica and Lee (if he plays the way he has been) and less JTA unless Juan catches fire. Maybe more Moody late in the season. It's a good problem to have.

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My guess is close. Before Klay returns, Lee is #2 in bench minutes. After his return: Poole, Porter, Bjelica, Lee, Iguodala and JTA. I’m afraid JTA is odd man out and will get minutes if bigs are injured or late in safe games to give them rest. Wiseman and the rookies will play meaningful minutes if they break out. Unless a vet gets injured, if one of these three plays more than garbage time, it will be a very pleasant surprise. Not because they aren’t already good or don’t have star potential. The rest of the team is just that good. This is an ideal small ball team. We are gonna have some fun this year.

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If GP2 and MM don't clear waivers - that's not a such bad news. That means they got contract with another team!

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Took me way too long to figure out you weren't talking about Moses Moody...

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Final preseason grades? -- Pick your player or coach or team... what's your grade?

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Lakers F mwahahahaha

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GP2 incomplete. Not enough sample size to grade. Showed B+ in the single game.

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Kuminga D- before he got injured.

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Wiggins: C

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He’s defense was ok, but definitely lacked intensity & accuracy on offense. Here’s hoping it was just preseason/post covid vax apathy and he gets back into his normal mode next week

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Steph Curry A+ w/ extra credit and $100 gift card (but on the Duby scale, probably just a B+).

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Clippers get an A.

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Final stats:

Blazers:

40.2% shooting (37/92 FGs)

10/40 threes

13/15 FTs

42 rebounds (9 off.)

21 assists

20 turnovers

12 steals

9 blocks

Warriors:

44.6% shooting (45/101 FGs)

16/46 threes

13/18 FTs

57 rebounds (17 off.)

31 assists

22 turnovers

9 steals

5 blocks

Points in paint:

Blazers: 48

Warriors: 58

Fastbreak points:

Blazers: 17

Warriors: 16

Points off turnovers:

Blazers: 22

Warriors: 20

Bench points:

Blazers: 25

Warriors: 42

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People eyerolled at BKisforSF when they said that Paschall trade might just be a salary dump but if the Warriors do leave the 15th spot open, that's exactly what it is.

Too early to say though. Hoping that they are leaving it open to see who else has been cut from other teams and will sign GP2 if there is no one they like better.

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just left the game. some notes

- poole’s off ball lack of awareness might potentially keep him from the death lineup. long season though. could see him improving

-we might have prematurely penciled JTA as a key contributor.

-moody will find his way into the rotation eventually. extremely impressed

- no Gp2 or bradley. looks like a decision was made.

-poole has a deeper bag this year but still has to improve on picking his spots. with time with time.

-if wise comes back and locks in with the team and provide us with that size this team will be terrifying

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Didn't see the game, curious to watch some Moody highlights though. If he can make the rotation of a team trying to make the playoffs at 19 years old, maybe fans will calm down with all of this "limited ceiling" talk and start referring to Moody as the best prospect (excluding Poole) on the team.

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Moody looked really good, and I'm excited about him. But as far as the best prospect, don't write off Kuminga and Wiseman. They will take longer to arrive but I think both have huge potential.

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Everyone can have their own rankings but I'll just offer that athleticism isn't the only source of potential. Moody has a hell of a base to work from with that gorgeous shot, what happens if he adds a pull up (which he flashed at Arkansas)? An ability to hit shots off of movement? What type of player is he then with his toughness, passing, instincts, and wingspan?

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Oh don't get me wrong, I love Moody, I originally wanted him with the #7 and said as much here at the time. I couldn't believe he fell to us at 14. I think he will be excellent for us. I'm just saying don't sleep on Kuminga or Wiseman either, though they will probably take longer to develop.

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Precisely. Skill is more important that athleticism (as has been traditionally measured at least) generally in basketball (obviously, it's amazing if you combine both).

And what happens if Moody's pullup shooting and FT drawing from college translates?

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Watching the highlights and you failed to mention the biggest development of all...Headband Looney?!?

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hardly recognized him

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to be fair i sat near the ceiling i couldn’t even tell chiozza apart from steph.

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Even watching on TV it's hard.

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darn foreshortening

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he continued to make the right reads on and off the ball all night long. i have no doubt he’ll eventually find his way into the rotation this season

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The JTA conclusion seems premature. He'll get key minutes. I don't think one preseason game of trying other guys proves he's out of the clubhouse

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As long as JTA is healthy, we'll see a lot of him this year. Guys get banged up - the depth of this squad is very strong. Expecting to see significant contributions from everyone on the roster with the possible exceptions of Moody and Kuminga this year, and even they might get some floor time should others get hurt.

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Agreed. Iggy won’t play 20 minutes a game and will get many rest days off.

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it might be. like i said i’m not saying he’s in anyone’s doghouse i just think we have a lot of dogs this year

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JTA looked worse last preseason than Poole looked his rookie year. I wouldn’t worry too much about him

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I'm not sure anyone could possibly be worse than Poole in his rookie year, he ate all the possessions.

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not saying he looks bad but we have so many weapons this year. i don’t know who will get the short end of the stick just because there’s only so many minutes to go around.

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Oakland strong.

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i just don’t think we’re going 12+ deep this year. lee, porter, andre and eventually moody will be competing for those minutes. he’ll get minutes but i don’t think he’ll be first off the bench

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the only player i don’t see getting non garbage minutes this year is probably JFK. realistically we won’t be using the whole roster on most nights. i don’t know who will be left out of the action on a nightly basis but everyone else just looks too good right now.

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actually i did! didn’t mean to speak for everyone

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@Rusty_SFChron

The Warriors waived Jordan Bell, Avery Bradley, Mychal Mulder and Gary Payton II, leaving the 15th roster spot open.

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I'll bet Gary does get signed again, they were talking about having Bradley in the rotation a lot (Steph and Andre), so to cut him probably means they like GP2 better.

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We still have a 2-way, and Mulder could still get that. I'm still not convinced he's more than a "AAAA" player but I guess that's more or less what a 2-way contract is about.

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Geez, enough "stills" in that comment to alert the Infernal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

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Save Gary, Save Gary

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@anthonyVslater

Warriors have also waived Gary Payton II. The 15th spot is currently vacant. But Steve Kerr said there will be "discussions" in the coming days about the vacancy. I'm hearing that there is a possibility of bringing Payton back, once the process plays out.

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Guess they want to re-negotiate a non-guaranteed /partial guaranteed deal for GP2.

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We've come a long way from lobbying to keep Ky Bowman on the squad!

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This sounds right. That way, they can pivot mid-season, if necessary, and sign someone like Gasol.

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Wow that's kind of a kick in the hernia but I guess he's in no position to bargain

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Lots of Moody playing time. Which... I mean he looks like he deserves it.

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Bell has already given up, going by body language.

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Warm up complete. Passing timing down. Curry flamethrower primed and lit. Time to make it count.

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