The GPII Little Big Man show fit in so perfectly because the the Warriors have been the Little Big Team for so long. The lost decades were about searching in vain for the mythical prototypical big man. But surprisingly stout guards, 'tweeners', and other unusuals with big hearts kept us going. (I'm thinking mostly Baron and J-Rich, but, hell, I still appreciate A. Jamison's bag around the basket.)
GPII is a HWFL because that made the other team say "Wait, he's not supposed to be doing that. Oh shit, there he goes again."
I don’t know if this HWFL election will pass unscathed a Curry’s season WORST TS%, ppm, ast and tov against Portland. Hoping, indeed, that GP2 doesn’t dare scratch his head after dunking hard at Chase.
NBA 2022-23 strength of schedule for each team, broken down into four time periods. Higher numbers = easier schedule. Teams at the bottom have the toughest schedules
All teams in the same conference have basically the same schedule, give or take. Depending somewhat on what happens with the Nets, I think the West may be marginally easier than the East.
We also have the significant scheduling advantage over all teams of never having to face the Warriors.
Interesting to see how Memphis go without JJJ for the start of the season. I think it will really hamper them, but after he returns I think they make a strong run
Hmmm... Top to bottom I think the West is still tougher, but it is a close call. A lot of strong teams in both conferences. I think the East might have more top end talent, but the West is deeper.
Not to be a Debbie Downer (Waaa-waaa-waaahh), but I would be very interested to see a DubNation Poll of Pick 3. You get Klay, Dray, Wiggs & Poole. Pick 3. Explain. In my own book, Klay isn't in the discussion, it's pick 2 of 3, Dray, Wiggs & Poole. But I think someone needs to make a case for moving on from Klay as a matter of course. So it should be open to all 4. It's a gut wrenching exercise, but Bob can't do everything by himself. 4 players, four options, all unpleasant. Starting to sound like a family dinner already.
Klay is the hardest to say goodbye to. His come back story. Likable league-wide. Original splash bro. Vocal about loyalty to team/Kerr. Love of the bay. My wive's favorite player behind Sdot/Bogut. Lacob's favorite player? Holy cannoli what a likably pot head. Resisting past Klay trades (for Love) proved prudent. The basketball gods would smite us indefinitely for trading him.
Cons: he's owed $83M. Wiggins+Green+Poole combined are owed $89M. Sleepy will tell you it's not our money, we can resign them all. But then we lose guys like GP2, Porter, McGee due to salary issues.
In the playoffs he finished:
7th in PER, 9th in TS%, 6th in WS, 9th in BPM, 4th in VORP.
And my eye test also placed his importance in the 6th-8th range.
Definitely behind Curry, Wiggins, Green, Looney, Poole. Probably in the middle of the pack of Porter, GP2, Bjelica. If he was making Looney's salary it'd be a no brainer, Klay would be essential to keep, but he is making 5x!!! Looney's salary.
TLDR: He's still recovering from injury and to difficult to evaluate his importance per salary owed. Could a mutual agreement void his $43M next year to be replaced with $100M/4 years?
Somehow I thought players could not re-negotiate their contracts until the end of the contract or in the year there is a player option. At the end they can agree to a new contract for much less?
It comes down to Klay or Dray and I take Klay every day and twice on Sundays. Klay’s hall of fame ability is shooting which ages well. Dray’s is defense which doesn’t. Especially not when you have a wonky back. Also a massive factor in my decision is that Dray plays basketball and Klay is a basketball player. After his injury history I think Klay will scrap and claw his way to as long of a productive career as possible. Dray may not be bothered to keep playing much longer. I also think it will be easier to get Klay to accept a little less than Dray would accept.
Taking my familial emotions out of this... Like a good investor, I'm managing my risk and return portfolio.
#1 I'm taking Poole because he's young (23!), is on a steep up trending growth curve, and back up for Curry.
#2 Dray; he runs our defense, leads our assists, and brings the fight in the dawg.
So now it's between Klay and Wiggs. Taking Klay would put too many eggs in the OG basket and I think his potential return does not out way his potential risks. The double injuries are a factor, he's no longer the defensive specialist to take on the opponents #1 threat, and I feel the Warriors system increases the spacing for shooters to increase their efficiency anyway so is more replaceable.
#3 Going for Wiggs; He's in his prime, excelled in his 2way role, and proved he's a Big Game Play Off performer.
Klay, Dray, and Poole. I'm an early settler on Wiggins Island, but as good as he has been, Wiggins isn't a guy that is going to get you 37 points in one quarter and Klay might still be that guy. Neither the Warriors offence or the Warriors defense runs as well without Dray, so he is in. And Poole might also be a guy that gets you 37 in one quarter one day, he can handle the ball when Curry is on the bench, and he just turned 23. The Warriors can't really afford to give that up.
Got to keep the core together as long as possible (whilst still healthy) so #1 & #2 - Dray & Klay.
Then it gets really tough because I don’t think we win the last championship without Wiggs (or at least that easily). Buuuut, we got to keep the core together & healthy for as long as possible and that means supporting Steph. So, it’s a brutal choice, but I take JP at #3. And gamble JK & Moody step up their D to replace Wiggs.
Hoping we don’t have to make this choice with the new CBA
As I keep saying Poole is the closest thing we’ve ever had to Curry and we have no one else behind him for that role (unless you’re really excited about Rollins or Gui or Spoon). Pick #1
I just re-watched Thinking Basketball’s “Greatest defender of his era” video https://youtu.be/jbNS09Rt4u8 as well as the Warriors new video of Draymond’s best assists of the season https://youtu.be/U89ob2jSZL8 Watching those two videos B2B provides a good reminder of how indispensable what Green brings is and considering we don’t have understudy for him, he’d be sorely missed and REALLY difficult to replace. Pick #2
It’s definitely going to be one of Wiggins or Klay who goes, since we’ve got Moody and Kuminga and one (or both) of them should be ready to be big-minute rotation guys. DDV could fill some of that void as well.
From there, my brain says Wiggins but my heart says Klay. I’m really glad we have a season to watch them and see if Klay comes all the way back and if Wiggins keeps his defensive and rebounding effort and intensity up or if goes all casual. If I have to pick right now, I’ll go with the guy who’s never had his heart or effort questioned and who means more to the history of the dynasty. Klay is pick #3.
Also after this contract Klay might be less expensive than Wiggs due to age and the fact that he wants to play out his career under Kerr. Chemistry is another thing: Steph, Klay, and Dray have something special going on and off the court, and JP fits in. Example: He's working with Steph's trainer this summer. Now, I really like Wiggs so this is very tough but when you add it all up, and you consider Moses and Kuminga coming up behind Wiggs (and maybe PBJ too), Klay/Dray/JP seems like the pick.
For the purposes of apples-to-apples comparison, let’s say they’re all unrestricted free agents next summer, and all looking for 4/$120M contracts. I’d rank them as follows:
A LOT of Golden State and Santa Cruz connections with this roster- Jeremy Pargo, Eli Pemberton, Kendall Smith and Patrick McCaw all vying for an AmeriCup roster spot
Post says 'Night Night' trademark could be used for Alcohol, among other things. Actually, think I just had some Night Night Vodka. I highly recomme.........zzzzzzzzzzz
For me, it was watching the video of the Villanova championship game. With Brunson & Spellman & Paschall on the team, they don't win if DDV doesn't just take over all aspects of the game. Did not look like a typical game for a college player.
Cashing in my property from GPII Island (hard to let go, but raising a toast of my tears to BobGod) and grabbing my high rise apartment on Donte's Inferno!
Great stuff! And that vid was from when he was 22 — since then he’s added a better 3 ball, better FT stroke, and (presumably) even more hoops IQ and grown man strength. 25 is basically the perfect basketball age.
If the Ws get ‘chip #5 in 2022-23, methinks Donte’s gonna be a sneaky big part of it.
(Note: that vid also calls him a “wing,” in case there was any doubt about that).
This was the video that got me hyped about the signing. Loved GP2, but DDV is Swiss Army knife of skill sets and one of those guys you can put in any lineup.
My biggest fear is that Kerr falls too much in love and it holds back Moody’s development.
Moses gives off that long term compound gains > instant gratification vibe. If he took the Marshmallow Test, he would wait the 15 mins and not eat the two marshmallows.
This year the NBA introduced the MVP award for the Conference Finals, and the inaugural winners were Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum.
The people at Thinking Basketball did a podcast (4 part) deciding who they (and their Discord group) thought would have won those awards if they existed all the way back to 2000.
When they finished the West, they had awarded Curry all five of the MVPs from the 2015-2019 run. Added to the real one this year, he has six and the nearest contender has four (Kobe).
I wish every nutball who claimed that Steph shrinks in big games would listen to this: https://is.gd/Ig7rPi
Any minutes that Avery Bradley takes are minutes that Moody does not get. And, he couldn't even stay on the Lakers. So, please God, no.
This isn't really responding just to this post, Dilly (the Carmelo business is a much more constant theme), but I've never understood the fascination with older, borderline-washed players.
Give me a player on the way up ... and even if they don't work out, at least you've found out sooner, and can move on to the next prospect.
Edit: I realize you aren't really pushing this ... nothing personal intended. I know your takes are sound.
It was just a thought that popped into my head this afternoon. Apparently, the vets preferred him to GPII before last season. So I just was curious if anyone thought it was a possibility this season. I much prefer DDV too. And Rollins and anybody else younger like Q Weatherspoon.
I feel like there's a chance but a very small one since Avery is a guard and if Andre doesn't come back AND they want to fill that slot with a veteran, it's more likely to be a wing. Their guard rotation seems fairly set.
AB is nominally a wing, just a small one. He’s a wing by default, inasmuch as he can’t really do anything with the ball in his hands, lol. Kinda like a much older, shorter, less skilled, worse passing, much-worse rebounding version of DDV.
I think we can do better. And if we’re giving the spot to a 6-3 wing, I’d sooner just give it to Q-Spoon.
Meh, it's semantics because he's not a primary offensive initiator but he's still more of a guard than a wing based on who he can still guard in the NBA. If Bradley is somehow on the team, Kerr's not putting him on defense against anyone but other guards and the smallest of wings. He may be listed as an inch taller than GP2 but GP2 plays much larger and has far more athleticism to guard big guys. Don't think that Bradley could even fit the role of a wing on this team. Not saying I want him as a guard either, since I don't want him at all.
Edit: And DDV is definitely considered a guard on this team.
You’re using the terms “wing” and “guard” as if they were mutually exclusive — which they are not. Even using the traditional, somewhat outdated five-position naming system, “wing” conventionally refers to small forwards *and* off guards.
In the modern NBA, with positions as fluid as they are, the term “guard” is somewhat outdated. It’s more typical to divide players into three groups corresponding more organically to the three main hoops roles: ballhandlers, wings, and bigs.
In either case, “off-guards” or “two guards” like Bradley, Poole, Q-Spoon, Payton, DiVincenzo et al. are also “wings.”
OT: Joe Viray spotted Steph going “Night Night” to the Nuggets bench … in the midst of dribbling the ball upcourt (he *lets go of the dribble* to do it, lolz) with the play, the game, and the series still very much in doubt. Disrespectful AF 😂
I find this both awesome and kind of off-putting. Denver seems like a good group of guys -- no need to rub it in. He could have done this with Memphis, and I wouldn't have thought twice....
We're talking about the same guy who pointed to the imaginary next ring on his finger with six minutes left in the THIRD QUARTER of game six. So... yeah...
I bet when he's wearing 3 rings, he does it with his ring finger, pinky, and index finger because of spacing. If true, the middle finger is the one without a ring. Next year he'll be pointing at his thumb.
I could have sworn this was already known about and discussed when it happened, but I guess not because it looks like SportsCenter reposted his tweet. Free clout never hurt though, so good for him.
Curry knew that Jokic had no chance of guarding him when he got into a 1 on 1 situation in the perimeter, he knew the game (and series) was a formality at that point.
I still feel like we tend to be a bit of a prisoner of the moment with players like GPII and Damian Lee.
It will be interesting to see how GPII does when he actually has high expectations going into the season. There were absolutely zero expectations for him coming in as the 15th player this past season. He worked hard, and everything positive he did was a huge bonus!
This season he's being listed as a dark horse DPOY candidate, will likely either start or be the first player off the bench for Portland, and is likely to be expected to play significant minutes. Will his offensive limitations finally catch up with him, or will it not matter so much when playing next to Lillard? Will other teams start to respect him a bit more, and thus neutralize his impact a bit? Will he be able to be as effective when he's playing on a bad defensive team instead of surrounded by other great defenders? It will be very interesting to watch.
As has been discussed on here before, very few if any players have actually done better after leaving the Warriors than they did with the team. Kerr and Co. really seem to know how to get the best out of players. I'm really curious to see how that will play out with GPII. I'm definitely wishing him the best. It would be great for him to help Portland have some real success up there.
And. When I think about which non-Warriors teams I want to watch when the Dubs aren't around, the Trailblazers are high on my list because I am very interested in seeing how GP2 does. Hah, I'm more interested in watching GP2 that Lillard. Go figure.
I think he is one of those guys who has many skills and does whatever it takes to win. So I think he's adaptable to whatever the team's need is.
That said, I just don't know how he's going to hold up to lots of minutes over a season's worth of games. Given the way he plays, I'm thinking he's going to be chipped up and it's going to reduce his effectiveness. He was brilliant for the Ws in limited, high-intensity minutes. Can he be as good if he has to play 30-35 minutes a game?
“Time and Perspective” Sir I must object. I don’t have a horse in the Spellman/Clark races. But as a fan sitting on the couch with a drink in my hand, relaxed among my fellow fans, I have to ask what, what, Sir, is this Perspective? There is only the long now, the reaction, the emotion, and then the wistful memories. Let’s not corrupt the past with perspective.
Great article. Godamn am I excited for Moses! He may not end up as the best draft pick that the Myers regime has made (although he could be) but I think he will be the most well-fitting into the team's philosophy and play style. He is going to have an outstanding season this year.
Thanks for sharing this. I like the point of view and cheerful optimism, but the analysis is very one sided (all highlights, no lowlights). If we get more of this best possible version of Moody, then oh my will we giggle. Still, it is a good guide of what to look for as we watch Moses early in the season.
Side note, “the analyst” is an ok writer but he’s not at the DNHQ level. A bit sloppy and he loves the big word too much. Keep him in Sports Writer G League for now.
How can you say that the analysis is one-sided/doesn't have any lowlights when the writer closes the article by clearly criticizing Moody's on-ball defense and showing a montage of his defensive miscues? I didn't feel like it was an overly optimistic piece at all.
That's more accurate, although I would still disagree as a matter of personal opinion. Moody did more positive things last year than negative things so it seems logical that a review of his performance would focus more on what he did well.
As someone who consistently voted in the pre-draft pool in favor of Moody, I didn't find it all that optimistic. Moody made a huge improvement in his shooting after late January and even accounting for the fact that some of it was in garbage time, I think it is indicative of what we can expect from him going forward. A 6'5" guy that can shoot 40% from 3 and 80% from the line while playing adequate or better defense may not be an all-star but is a darn good player. In addition, Moody has already proven he his more than willing to fight for loose balls. If he can acquire Wiggins new found love and ability to get rebounds, that is an all-star player.
What is wrong with pontificating ones thoughts that were formed from their cerebral intuition? I disavow of a peasantry restriction upon writing with "big words". Without "big words" one must be concise and clear. How else can one obfuscate they don't know what they are talking about?
Kelenna: "We were all hopeful about the young guys, of course, but could anyone have predicted how quickly they would rise to take their place alongside the OGs? They are going to be a problem for YEARS to come..."
Fitz: "See, that shows the maturation of Draymond, since he's been married. Two years ago, he would have ripped that ref's leg off and beat him to death with it. Now, he uses the arm."
The GPII Little Big Man show fit in so perfectly because the the Warriors have been the Little Big Team for so long. The lost decades were about searching in vain for the mythical prototypical big man. But surprisingly stout guards, 'tweeners', and other unusuals with big hearts kept us going. (I'm thinking mostly Baron and J-Rich, but, hell, I still appreciate A. Jamison's bag around the basket.)
GPII is a HWFL because that made the other team say "Wait, he's not supposed to be doing that. Oh shit, there he goes again."
Also: Fuck Dillon Brooks.
I don’t know if this HWFL election will pass unscathed a Curry’s season WORST TS%, ppm, ast and tov against Portland. Hoping, indeed, that GP2 doesn’t dare scratch his head after dunking hard at Chase.
NBA 2022-23 strength of schedule for each team, broken down into four time periods. Higher numbers = easier schedule. Teams at the bottom have the toughest schedules
https://twitter.com/EdKupfer/status/1560263244266082305/photo/1
GSW middle of the pack: Starts easier. Gets a bit harder. Could be a lot worse *cough* Philly *cough*
Main gripe: 2nd most scheduled losses (when a tired team has to face a well-rested opponent, I learnt)
All teams in the same conference have basically the same schedule, give or take. Depending somewhat on what happens with the Nets, I think the West may be marginally easier than the East.
We also have the significant scheduling advantage over all teams of never having to face the Warriors.
Hmmm... Let's say no major trades happen from here on out. Top eight teams in each conference in no particular order:
East:
Boston
Toronto
Miami
Milwaukee
Chicago
Brooklyn
Philadelphia
Atlanta/Cleveland
West:
Golden State
Memphis
Phoenix
Dallas
Denver
Minnesota
Clippers
Lakers? New Orleans? Portland?
Interesting to see how Memphis go without JJJ for the start of the season. I think it will really hamper them, but after he returns I think they make a strong run
Hmmm... Top to bottom I think the West is still tougher, but it is a close call. A lot of strong teams in both conferences. I think the East might have more top end talent, but the West is deeper.
“Shaquille O'Neal says Warriors' Stephen Curry is 'by far' the best player in the world: 'I love that kid'”
Link: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/shaquille-oneal-says-warriors-stephen-curry-is-by-far-the-best-player-in-the-world-i-love-that-kid/amp/
As Alas Phood Fight pointed out, I really REALLY want the JP Heir to the Throne Timeline to unfold. In which case I hereby pre-Dub him... Heir Jordan.
PS, I don't mind if DNHQ puts that on a T-shirt so we get first dibs on any copyrights if it happens!
Not to be a Debbie Downer (Waaa-waaa-waaahh), but I would be very interested to see a DubNation Poll of Pick 3. You get Klay, Dray, Wiggs & Poole. Pick 3. Explain. In my own book, Klay isn't in the discussion, it's pick 2 of 3, Dray, Wiggs & Poole. But I think someone needs to make a case for moving on from Klay as a matter of course. So it should be open to all 4. It's a gut wrenching exercise, but Bob can't do everything by himself. 4 players, four options, all unpleasant. Starting to sound like a family dinner already.
Klay is the hardest to say goodbye to. His come back story. Likable league-wide. Original splash bro. Vocal about loyalty to team/Kerr. Love of the bay. My wive's favorite player behind Sdot/Bogut. Lacob's favorite player? Holy cannoli what a likably pot head. Resisting past Klay trades (for Love) proved prudent. The basketball gods would smite us indefinitely for trading him.
Cons: he's owed $83M. Wiggins+Green+Poole combined are owed $89M. Sleepy will tell you it's not our money, we can resign them all. But then we lose guys like GP2, Porter, McGee due to salary issues.
In the playoffs he finished:
7th in PER, 9th in TS%, 6th in WS, 9th in BPM, 4th in VORP.
And my eye test also placed his importance in the 6th-8th range.
Definitely behind Curry, Wiggins, Green, Looney, Poole. Probably in the middle of the pack of Porter, GP2, Bjelica. If he was making Looney's salary it'd be a no brainer, Klay would be essential to keep, but he is making 5x!!! Looney's salary.
TLDR: He's still recovering from injury and to difficult to evaluate his importance per salary owed. Could a mutual agreement void his $43M next year to be replaced with $100M/4 years?
Somehow I thought players could not re-negotiate their contracts until the end of the contract or in the year there is a player option. At the end they can agree to a new contract for much less?
It comes down to Klay or Dray and I take Klay every day and twice on Sundays. Klay’s hall of fame ability is shooting which ages well. Dray’s is defense which doesn’t. Especially not when you have a wonky back. Also a massive factor in my decision is that Dray plays basketball and Klay is a basketball player. After his injury history I think Klay will scrap and claw his way to as long of a productive career as possible. Dray may not be bothered to keep playing much longer. I also think it will be easier to get Klay to accept a little less than Dray would accept.
Dray, Wiggs, JP3. Not a hard choice.
Taking my familial emotions out of this... Like a good investor, I'm managing my risk and return portfolio.
#1 I'm taking Poole because he's young (23!), is on a steep up trending growth curve, and back up for Curry.
#2 Dray; he runs our defense, leads our assists, and brings the fight in the dawg.
So now it's between Klay and Wiggs. Taking Klay would put too many eggs in the OG basket and I think his potential return does not out way his potential risks. The double injuries are a factor, he's no longer the defensive specialist to take on the opponents #1 threat, and I feel the Warriors system increases the spacing for shooters to increase their efficiency anyway so is more replaceable.
#3 Going for Wiggs; He's in his prime, excelled in his 2way role, and proved he's a Big Game Play Off performer.
Klay, Dray, and Poole. I'm an early settler on Wiggins Island, but as good as he has been, Wiggins isn't a guy that is going to get you 37 points in one quarter and Klay might still be that guy. Neither the Warriors offence or the Warriors defense runs as well without Dray, so he is in. And Poole might also be a guy that gets you 37 in one quarter one day, he can handle the ball when Curry is on the bench, and he just turned 23. The Warriors can't really afford to give that up.
Got to keep the core together as long as possible (whilst still healthy) so #1 & #2 - Dray & Klay.
Then it gets really tough because I don’t think we win the last championship without Wiggs (or at least that easily). Buuuut, we got to keep the core together & healthy for as long as possible and that means supporting Steph. So, it’s a brutal choice, but I take JP at #3. And gamble JK & Moody step up their D to replace Wiggs.
Hoping we don’t have to make this choice with the new CBA
As I keep saying Poole is the closest thing we’ve ever had to Curry and we have no one else behind him for that role (unless you’re really excited about Rollins or Gui or Spoon). Pick #1
I just re-watched Thinking Basketball’s “Greatest defender of his era” video https://youtu.be/jbNS09Rt4u8 as well as the Warriors new video of Draymond’s best assists of the season https://youtu.be/U89ob2jSZL8 Watching those two videos B2B provides a good reminder of how indispensable what Green brings is and considering we don’t have understudy for him, he’d be sorely missed and REALLY difficult to replace. Pick #2
It’s definitely going to be one of Wiggins or Klay who goes, since we’ve got Moody and Kuminga and one (or both) of them should be ready to be big-minute rotation guys. DDV could fill some of that void as well.
From there, my brain says Wiggins but my heart says Klay. I’m really glad we have a season to watch them and see if Klay comes all the way back and if Wiggins keeps his defensive and rebounding effort and intensity up or if goes all casual. If I have to pick right now, I’ll go with the guy who’s never had his heart or effort questioned and who means more to the history of the dynasty. Klay is pick #3.
WIggs, JP, healthy Dray.
Dray’s skill set is irreplaceable. Klay’s is not…and for a lot less.
It’s a business, right!
"Klay’s is not…" Steph might see that differently. What then?
IMO This was a hypothetical exercise comparing the 4. Factoring in feelings is another thing and likely Steph’s loyalty to Klay would be a big factor.
Also after this contract Klay might be less expensive than Wiggs due to age and the fact that he wants to play out his career under Kerr. Chemistry is another thing: Steph, Klay, and Dray have something special going on and off the court, and JP fits in. Example: He's working with Steph's trainer this summer. Now, I really like Wiggs so this is very tough but when you add it all up, and you consider Moses and Kuminga coming up behind Wiggs (and maybe PBJ too), Klay/Dray/JP seems like the pick.
Curious to hear your reasoning behind Wiggins over Klay since they have a lot of the same skills. (I went Klay)
For the purposes of apples-to-apples comparison, let’s say they’re all unrestricted free agents next summer, and all looking for 4/$120M contracts. I’d rank them as follows:
1. Age 24-27 Poole
2. Age 27-30 Wiggins
3. Age 33-36 Klay
4. Age 33-36 Dray
Rational Klay>Dray?
https://twitter.com/kevo408/status/1560749770632663040?s=21&t=zy3DpajroYR70D04UeaqvQ
A LOT of Golden State and Santa Cruz connections with this roster- Jeremy Pargo, Eli Pemberton, Kendall Smith and Patrick McCaw all vying for an AmeriCup roster spot
(2022 USA Mens Americup Team training camp)
What is the AmeriCup? Is there any qualification?
Pretty sure it’s a yacht race. I hear McCaw is a really good helmsman.
The FO should make a McCaw docu for Poole to study before contract negotiations.
"I wouldn't say there's regret. I'm still alive, I'm still breathing."
He's a ringer, for sure
First I heard of this. Steph has filed to trademark “Night Night”.
https://sports.yahoo.com/warriors-steph-curry-trademarked-night-184725359.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIe8gYYzijz3Aw0MG5zfh7oNNg86UNXcigxk0EWH8nJIny8zZrByS9pooAtOQqrhZoUiAMw9vaCWAHGviBYuhQ5xLwHLS9WsvyzSrFsFQpNcXx56ZNVpQq0uDOIdcV4vmo-tvF8_QQHjNmJUMNDEhvFs_PdvM0On_WixMJ1U5EvB
Post says 'Night Night' trademark could be used for Alcohol, among other things. Actually, think I just had some Night Night Vodka. I highly recomme.........zzzzzzzzzzz
Dude I was using the phrase with my young children way before he was where's my money?
Random youtube video I ran across today: Why Donte DiVincenzo Is The Bucks Secret Weapon.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2ZtyWNCFxI
For me, it was watching the video of the Villanova championship game. With Brunson & Spellman & Paschall on the team, they don't win if DDV doesn't just take over all aspects of the game. Did not look like a typical game for a college player.
Cashing in my property from GPII Island (hard to let go, but raising a toast of my tears to BobGod) and grabbing my high rise apartment on Donte's Inferno!
Great stuff! And that vid was from when he was 22 — since then he’s added a better 3 ball, better FT stroke, and (presumably) even more hoops IQ and grown man strength. 25 is basically the perfect basketball age.
If the Ws get ‘chip #5 in 2022-23, methinks Donte’s gonna be a sneaky big part of it.
(Note: that vid also calls him a “wing,” in case there was any doubt about that).
This was the video that got me hyped about the signing. Loved GP2, but DDV is Swiss Army knife of skill sets and one of those guys you can put in any lineup.
My biggest fear is that Kerr falls too much in love and it holds back Moody’s development.
I think this is a fair prediction. Fortunately Moses is patient and a professional. His time will come
Moses gives off that long term compound gains > instant gratification vibe. If he took the Marshmallow Test, he would wait the 15 mins and not eat the two marshmallows.
This year the NBA introduced the MVP award for the Conference Finals, and the inaugural winners were Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum.
The people at Thinking Basketball did a podcast (4 part) deciding who they (and their Discord group) thought would have won those awards if they existed all the way back to 2000.
When they finished the West, they had awarded Curry all five of the MVPs from the 2015-2019 run. Added to the real one this year, he has six and the nearest contender has four (Kobe).
I wish every nutball who claimed that Steph shrinks in big games would listen to this: https://is.gd/Ig7rPi
538 did one too, although the author just picked game score it wasn't a bad first pass to get a general feeling for the set of possibilites: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-nbas-conference-finals-mvp-award-is-new-this-year-but-what-if-we-had-always-had-it/. I recall (unsurprisingly) liking the "Thinkies" (lol) better.
I've been meaning to go back and see where they picked different people but I didn't write down Thinking Basketball's version and I am lazy.....
They recap at the end of ep2, so they'll probably also do it at the end of ep4
Random musing...
IF ... Andre decides to not return - is there any chance the Warriors bring in Avery Bradley?
Any minutes that Avery Bradley takes are minutes that Moody does not get. And, he couldn't even stay on the Lakers. So, please God, no.
This isn't really responding just to this post, Dilly (the Carmelo business is a much more constant theme), but I've never understood the fascination with older, borderline-washed players.
Give me a player on the way up ... and even if they don't work out, at least you've found out sooner, and can move on to the next prospect.
Edit: I realize you aren't really pushing this ... nothing personal intended. I know your takes are sound.
It was just a thought that popped into my head this afternoon. Apparently, the vets preferred him to GPII before last season. So I just was curious if anyone thought it was a possibility this season. I much prefer DDV too. And Rollins and anybody else younger like Q Weatherspoon.
I’d rather have Spoon and Rollins getting minutes over Bradley as well.
I feel like there's a chance but a very small one since Avery is a guard and if Andre doesn't come back AND they want to fill that slot with a veteran, it's more likely to be a wing. Their guard rotation seems fairly set.
AB is nominally a wing, just a small one. He’s a wing by default, inasmuch as he can’t really do anything with the ball in his hands, lol. Kinda like a much older, shorter, less skilled, worse passing, much-worse rebounding version of DDV.
I think we can do better. And if we’re giving the spot to a 6-3 wing, I’d sooner just give it to Q-Spoon.
Meh, it's semantics because he's not a primary offensive initiator but he's still more of a guard than a wing based on who he can still guard in the NBA. If Bradley is somehow on the team, Kerr's not putting him on defense against anyone but other guards and the smallest of wings. He may be listed as an inch taller than GP2 but GP2 plays much larger and has far more athleticism to guard big guys. Don't think that Bradley could even fit the role of a wing on this team. Not saying I want him as a guard either, since I don't want him at all.
Edit: And DDV is definitely considered a guard on this team.
You’re using the terms “wing” and “guard” as if they were mutually exclusive — which they are not. Even using the traditional, somewhat outdated five-position naming system, “wing” conventionally refers to small forwards *and* off guards.
In the modern NBA, with positions as fluid as they are, the term “guard” is somewhat outdated. It’s more typical to divide players into three groups corresponding more organically to the three main hoops roles: ballhandlers, wings, and bigs.
In either case, “off-guards” or “two guards” like Bradley, Poole, Q-Spoon, Payton, DiVincenzo et al. are also “wings.”
OT: Joe Viray spotted Steph going “Night Night” to the Nuggets bench … in the midst of dribbling the ball upcourt (he *lets go of the dribble* to do it, lolz) with the play, the game, and the series still very much in doubt. Disrespectful AF 😂
https://mobile.twitter.com/JoeVirayNBA/status/1560628083715031040
I've never seen him do the psycho eyes reaction afterwards either 🤡
Nit: it's the Warriors bench. You can see Andre and Kerr urging him to get over half court.
It's not a nit, it's a very important distinction between taunting your opponent vs getting hyped with your teammates.
Wow, he came dangerously close to an 8 second violation on that play, lol.
Yeah... he does that a lot...
I think you have until the clock hits 15s before they'll call it, I've seen him cross with it reading 16 often enough.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbtAg523-_o
I can't believe NBA players do this...
Yeah that was an absolute facepalm moment
Ah, good to know, thx!
Yeah, Joe just said “the bench”
I find this both awesome and kind of off-putting. Denver seems like a good group of guys -- no need to rub it in. He could have done this with Memphis, and I wouldn't have thought twice....
As others have noted, it was his own bench that he did it for. More like “Watch this…night night coming.”
Steph's uncanny powers are fueled by the humiliation of his foes
Steph, what is best in life?
We're talking about the same guy who pointed to the imaginary next ring on his finger with six minutes left in the THIRD QUARTER of game six. So... yeah...
Also, someone on youtube noticed he pointed with his middle finger lol
I bet when he's wearing 3 rings, he does it with his ring finger, pinky, and index finger because of spacing. If true, the middle finger is the one without a ring. Next year he'll be pointing at his thumb.
Also - Steph has long fingers. Probably helps with the shooting :)
It like how some seniors lose their filter. Steph has always been expressive, but now it's got an edge to it...
I could have sworn this was already known about and discussed when it happened, but I guess not because it looks like SportsCenter reposted his tweet. Free clout never hurt though, so good for him.
Curry knew that Jokic had no chance of guarding him when he got into a 1 on 1 situation in the perimeter, he knew the game (and series) was a formality at that point.
Love it!!
Congrats to GPII!
I still feel like we tend to be a bit of a prisoner of the moment with players like GPII and Damian Lee.
It will be interesting to see how GPII does when he actually has high expectations going into the season. There were absolutely zero expectations for him coming in as the 15th player this past season. He worked hard, and everything positive he did was a huge bonus!
This season he's being listed as a dark horse DPOY candidate, will likely either start or be the first player off the bench for Portland, and is likely to be expected to play significant minutes. Will his offensive limitations finally catch up with him, or will it not matter so much when playing next to Lillard? Will other teams start to respect him a bit more, and thus neutralize his impact a bit? Will he be able to be as effective when he's playing on a bad defensive team instead of surrounded by other great defenders? It will be very interesting to watch.
As has been discussed on here before, very few if any players have actually done better after leaving the Warriors than they did with the team. Kerr and Co. really seem to know how to get the best out of players. I'm really curious to see how that will play out with GPII. I'm definitely wishing him the best. It would be great for him to help Portland have some real success up there.
Yes.
And. When I think about which non-Warriors teams I want to watch when the Dubs aren't around, the Trailblazers are high on my list because I am very interested in seeing how GP2 does. Hah, I'm more interested in watching GP2 that Lillard. Go figure.
https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/07/how-the-portland-trail-blazers-can-maximize-the-addition-of-gary-payton-ii/
Maybe already posted?
I think he is one of those guys who has many skills and does whatever it takes to win. So I think he's adaptable to whatever the team's need is.
That said, I just don't know how he's going to hold up to lots of minutes over a season's worth of games. Given the way he plays, I'm thinking he's going to be chipped up and it's going to reduce his effectiveness. He was brilliant for the Ws in limited, high-intensity minutes. Can he be as good if he has to play 30-35 minutes a game?
“Time and Perspective” Sir I must object. I don’t have a horse in the Spellman/Clark races. But as a fan sitting on the couch with a drink in my hand, relaxed among my fellow fans, I have to ask what, what, Sir, is this Perspective? There is only the long now, the reaction, the emotion, and then the wistful memories. Let’s not corrupt the past with perspective.
California Dreamin’: Is Moses Moody Ready to Step Into a Key Role With the Warriors? by Jackson Frank
https://theanalyst.com/na/2022/08/is-moses-moody-ready-to-step-into-a-key-role-with-the-golden-state-warriors/
Great article. Godamn am I excited for Moses! He may not end up as the best draft pick that the Myers regime has made (although he could be) but I think he will be the most well-fitting into the team's philosophy and play style. He is going to have an outstanding season this year.
Thanks for sharing this. I like the point of view and cheerful optimism, but the analysis is very one sided (all highlights, no lowlights). If we get more of this best possible version of Moody, then oh my will we giggle. Still, it is a good guide of what to look for as we watch Moses early in the season.
Side note, “the analyst” is an ok writer but he’s not at the DNHQ level. A bit sloppy and he loves the big word too much. Keep him in Sports Writer G League for now.
How can you say that the analysis is one-sided/doesn't have any lowlights when the writer closes the article by clearly criticizing Moody's on-ball defense and showing a montage of his defensive miscues? I didn't feel like it was an overly optimistic piece at all.
Ok. How about ‘overly’ one sided?
That's more accurate, although I would still disagree as a matter of personal opinion. Moody did more positive things last year than negative things so it seems logical that a review of his performance would focus more on what he did well.
As someone who consistently voted in the pre-draft pool in favor of Moody, I didn't find it all that optimistic. Moody made a huge improvement in his shooting after late January and even accounting for the fact that some of it was in garbage time, I think it is indicative of what we can expect from him going forward. A 6'5" guy that can shoot 40% from 3 and 80% from the line while playing adequate or better defense may not be an all-star but is a darn good player. In addition, Moody has already proven he his more than willing to fight for loose balls. If he can acquire Wiggins new found love and ability to get rebounds, that is an all-star player.
What is wrong with pontificating ones thoughts that were formed from their cerebral intuition? I disavow of a peasantry restriction upon writing with "big words". Without "big words" one must be concise and clear. How else can one obfuscate they don't know what they are talking about?
Lol ! 😄
Since it's silly season and I'm bored:
What call do you want to hear from Fitz and Kelenna next season and why?
My two starter samples:
Fitz: Poole to Peanut Butter and Jelly for the dunk!
Kelenna to Fitz: What's after Splash Quintuplets?
kelenna: counter moves; he has that move and then he counters with this move, it's all about counter moves, moves and counters, counters and moves.
fitz: he shot that one from...(click, switches over to tim roye but it's hard to sync, missing jb)
Fitz: "Mama, there goes that man."
Kelena: "I think you just violated a Patent on that one, Bob."
What I want to hear from them is ….nothing
On the seventh day, God created the mute button, and it was Dub.
I wish.
Kelenna: "We were all hopeful about the young guys, of course, but could anyone have predicted how quickly they would rise to take their place alongside the OGs? They are going to be a problem for YEARS to come..."
Fitz: "."
Another:
Fitz: "See, that shows the maturation of Draymond, since he's been married. Two years ago, he would have ripped that ref's leg off and beat him to death with it. Now, he uses the arm."
As long as Fitz doesn’t say the ‘Human Helicopter’ after a JK dunk, I’m good. So with that in mind…
Fitz: “Wow what a dunk from Kumiga. That is vertical take off & landing capability right there.”
Kelenna : “Better Fitz. Better.”
Kelenna: “who knew Steph at 34 could get even better?”
Fitz: “I’m retiring, effective immediately. Thanks for the memories!”