Wiggins was an indispensable contributor to that really pretty danged unexpected 2022 championship; absolutely re-wrote his career narrative with the Dubs; and seems to have been universally believed as a teammate. Easy #YES
Feel like Indy lost this when Hali for whatever reason got shy and refused to cook KAT and/or Brunson off the bounce in the 4th. On one possession he had plenty of space to launch a three on a couple of separate occasions, and ended up dumping it into Nesmith for a bad, one-legged long two. That felt like the ballgame to me.
T J McConnell plays a little like Brandin Podziemski ... from what I've seen... tough nosed, shorter, always hustles, not quite as many rebounds, better (more confident) ball handler, occasional errant passes, decent shooter. Podz making a few more shots and fitting himself into a consistent role should be a big plus for the Ws.
His defense on Brunson has been what I've noticed. He is quick and long which can make it hard for an offensive player to get past him, or get a shot off. Ws need that.
Indy adding Siakam was sneaky awesome. And Niesmith/Nbhard growing into exactly the secondary scorer/plus defender that they hoped. And health this year. Last year, they coulda had a chance against Boston if their star PG hadn’t gone down with a hamstring injury.
Sure. But the Warriors already have a top five defense, and a bunch of good-to-great POA defenders. They could certainly use Nesmith’s D, but there are a lot of teams who could use it even more — including Indiana.
More importantly: Nesmith is on a fantastic contract ($11M a year, non escalating) with Indiana for the next two seasons after this one, so there’s no real reason to discuss him as a potential Warrior.
Not discussing him as a potential Warriors, but commenting on his skills.
From what little I've seen of AN I do not think the Ws have as an active, long, quick POA defender.
With his contract the Pacers are in a good spot.
I do think those types of players can be available as defense sometimes goes under the radar, and I think it would be good for GSW to look for similar skills, however they can find them, especially with a friendly contract.
Still think a 6-5 POA defender with no offensive creation skills is pretty low on the Ws list of offseason priorities (after size, shooting, and high level shot creation). He’s probably better on D than Moses, Podz, Payton, Jimmy, Buddy, or Kuminga — but again, the Warriors have an elite perimeter defense as it is.
What would make Nesmith (or a guy like Nesmith) appealing to the Ws is his 40%+ three-point shooting ability — but again, everyone wants 40% 3 pt shooters who can defend at a high level, and they tend not to fly under the radar or come cheap.
Any particular player with Nesmith’s skills that you had in mind as a potential target?
Nor trying to find players for the Warriors to target.... just watching games and commenting on what I see.
IMHO- the Warriors' defense has been lacking POA quickness for several years.
From what I saw the strength of their defense was interior and overall switchability. Draymond keys a lot of that and the addition of Jimmy really helped them both cover drives into the paint... often when POA defenders got beat.
My hope is that the scouts and GM look for someone to help with that in the draft. Young hungry players with the right attitude who are willing to concentrate on playing defense to start their careers... we'll see what Apricot's draft tourney might bring up.
Pacers are up 20 points in the second quarter with 3 minutes to go. KAT snd Brunson have 3 fouls each. Pacers’ defense is holding NY to 34 %. I think NY is done.
#NO. I see I'm an outlier here, so let me explain: (1) I love Wings, his smile, easy going, how his teammates love him; (2) He is a really good basketball player; (3) Without him, no 2022 ring. But: (1) he needs others to motivate him -I go for the guys (and gals) who may not have as much talent but motivate others; (2) After 2022 he was unreliable (day to day), even after trying to factor out the personal reasons portions of this; (3) He was the subject of one of the best COVID 'jabs' ever: (How do you get Andrew Wiggins to take the shot? Put it two feet in front of the 3 point line.) To his credit, he did cut down on the long twos over time.
I do wish him well and will always root for him (when he's not playing the Dubs), but I can't endorse him for the most important and exclusive club ever.
I’m with you. Being really good yet not that fired up is the Andrew Wiggins signature. And its good enough to win games and even a championship— but it’s not enough to get you in the Sacred Hall
Playing a key role in a championship is HUGE. if Pacers or Knicks get the chip can you imagine a player who did what Wiggs did in 2022 not being their HOF? Is it because we have so many recent chips that chip value falls? I can see that, but not for me. W/o the 2022 run, with no KD, with post surgery Klay, I would be a no for Wiggs, but with it he is a yes for me.
Edit: Oops! I forgot this is a W4L, not “get him back” thread. (But you’re still wrong! 😁)
I don’t think any of us are saying we’d take him over Giannis, just that it would a nice piece to have if we’re talking about incremental improvement of the non earth-shattering variety. He’s a egoless, highly-skilled/over-qualified role player, who can contribute on both sides of the ball and step up his game if one of the top bananas is out.
If the Warriors had Wiggins in that Wolves series, I like their odds.
New thread up!
Wiggins was an indispensable contributor to that really pretty danged unexpected 2022 championship; absolutely re-wrote his career narrative with the Dubs; and seems to have been universally believed as a teammate. Easy #YES
#Yes
#YES
#YES
No Wiggs, no '22 chip - Steph, Klay, Dray, Andre only 3 rings each
Feel like Indy lost this when Hali for whatever reason got shy and refused to cook KAT and/or Brunson off the bounce in the 4th. On one possession he had plenty of space to launch a three on a couple of separate occasions, and ended up dumping it into Nesmith for a bad, one-legged long two. That felt like the ballgame to me.
Gotta run through damn tape, Indy!
Indy is not winning the chip.
lol
Random ending incoming
KAT redeeming himself in the 4th quarter with 20 points so far to give the Knicks the lead.
T J McConnell plays a little like Brandin Podziemski ... from what I've seen... tough nosed, shorter, always hustles, not quite as many rebounds, better (more confident) ball handler, occasional errant passes, decent shooter. Podz making a few more shots and fitting himself into a consistent role should be a big plus for the Ws.
I had this comparison in my head too when watching him. The most important commonality is the sheer hustle and intent.
I think Podz is and plays bigger. According to their combine measurements, Podz is over 3” taller and 15 pounds heavier.
If Minnesota wins tomorrow, Indy might have some serious time off in the near future
Edit: did I jinx the Pacers?
I have not been able to watch much of this series... but Aaron Nesmith looks good and exactly the type of player I think GSW could use.
Every team can use a guy with good size who hits 40%+ of his threes and plays great defense.
He just turned his ankle, tho. Hopefully not too serious.
His defense on Brunson has been what I've noticed. He is quick and long which can make it hard for an offensive player to get past him, or get a shot off. Ws need that.
Indy adding Siakam was sneaky awesome. And Niesmith/Nbhard growing into exactly the secondary scorer/plus defender that they hoped. And health this year. Last year, they coulda had a chance against Boston if their star PG hadn’t gone down with a hamstring injury.
Sure. But the Warriors already have a top five defense, and a bunch of good-to-great POA defenders. They could certainly use Nesmith’s D, but there are a lot of teams who could use it even more — including Indiana.
More importantly: Nesmith is on a fantastic contract ($11M a year, non escalating) with Indiana for the next two seasons after this one, so there’s no real reason to discuss him as a potential Warrior.
Not discussing him as a potential Warriors, but commenting on his skills.
From what little I've seen of AN I do not think the Ws have as an active, long, quick POA defender.
With his contract the Pacers are in a good spot.
I do think those types of players can be available as defense sometimes goes under the radar, and I think it would be good for GSW to look for similar skills, however they can find them, especially with a friendly contract.
Still think a 6-5 POA defender with no offensive creation skills is pretty low on the Ws list of offseason priorities (after size, shooting, and high level shot creation). He’s probably better on D than Moses, Podz, Payton, Jimmy, Buddy, or Kuminga — but again, the Warriors have an elite perimeter defense as it is.
What would make Nesmith (or a guy like Nesmith) appealing to the Ws is his 40%+ three-point shooting ability — but again, everyone wants 40% 3 pt shooters who can defend at a high level, and they tend not to fly under the radar or come cheap.
Any particular player with Nesmith’s skills that you had in mind as a potential target?
No, I'm not a scout or GM.
Nor trying to find players for the Warriors to target.... just watching games and commenting on what I see.
IMHO- the Warriors' defense has been lacking POA quickness for several years.
From what I saw the strength of their defense was interior and overall switchability. Draymond keys a lot of that and the addition of Jimmy really helped them both cover drives into the paint... often when POA defenders got beat.
My hope is that the scouts and GM look for someone to help with that in the draft. Young hungry players with the right attitude who are willing to concentrate on playing defense to start their careers... we'll see what Apricot's draft tourney might bring up.
Indy is going to win the title.
This is what I told my husband when Indy was still playing the Knicks.
OKC sweeps them
OKC -280
IND +360
MIN +1100
NYK +3800
Pacers are up 20 points in the second quarter with 3 minutes to go. KAT snd Brunson have 3 fouls each. Pacers’ defense is holding NY to 34 %. I think NY is done.
Brunson just picked up his 4th foul.
Can the knicks lose it in 3 - i dont think they want to play the pacers anymore! Down 20 with 4:33 left in the first half
Now 5.
That Indiana run was nuts.
#NO. I see I'm an outlier here, so let me explain: (1) I love Wings, his smile, easy going, how his teammates love him; (2) He is a really good basketball player; (3) Without him, no 2022 ring. But: (1) he needs others to motivate him -I go for the guys (and gals) who may not have as much talent but motivate others; (2) After 2022 he was unreliable (day to day), even after trying to factor out the personal reasons portions of this; (3) He was the subject of one of the best COVID 'jabs' ever: (How do you get Andrew Wiggins to take the shot? Put it two feet in front of the 3 point line.) To his credit, he did cut down on the long twos over time.
I do wish him well and will always root for him (when he's not playing the Dubs), but I can't endorse him for the most important and exclusive club ever.
I’m with you. Being really good yet not that fired up is the Andrew Wiggins signature. And its good enough to win games and even a championship— but it’s not enough to get you in the Sacred Hall
Playing a key role in a championship is HUGE. if Pacers or Knicks get the chip can you imagine a player who did what Wiggs did in 2022 not being their HOF? Is it because we have so many recent chips that chip value falls? I can see that, but not for me. W/o the 2022 run, with no KD, with post surgery Klay, I would be a no for Wiggs, but with it he is a yes for me.
> 1) I love Wings
But Steph, Klay, Dray, and Kerr are the Beatles?
I think Steph, Klay, Dray & Iggy are the Beatles and Kerr is George Martin.
Yeah, that’s the one.
There’s definitely some Paul/John energy in Steph/Dray, and Klay definitely has some George or Ringo energy. Maybe Andre as George, Klay as Ringo?
Steph is Paul. The greatest hit-maker and face of the franchise
Draymond is John. Part genius, part asshole. Controversial.
Klay is George. Younger and more quiet, but capable of greatness at any moment.
Iggy is Ringo. Older, wiser and keeps the whole thing flowing.
David Lee as Pete Best?
(That does turn Dray into Ringo ... or we could not examine the metaphor too closely:)
As far as Wiggs goes, I say let 'em in (to the HWFL hall-of-fame)
Edit: Oops! I forgot this is a W4L, not “get him back” thread. (But you’re still wrong! 😁)
I don’t think any of us are saying we’d take him over Giannis, just that it would a nice piece to have if we’re talking about incremental improvement of the non earth-shattering variety. He’s a egoless, highly-skilled/over-qualified role player, who can contribute on both sides of the ball and step up his game if one of the top bananas is out.
If the Warriors had Wiggins in that Wolves series, I like their odds.
He certainly would have helped over Moody in that series :)
Better question: Do the Warriors win that series with Wiggins instead of Kuminga? (All other things being equal.)
I would guess no, because Curry-less Dubs teams with Wiggins were also bad
They didn’t have Jimmy.