This is Draymond's first game in like a year, so I don't know what to expect other than he'll probably be rusty and the online Warrior fanbase does not seem like they want to hear "give him a few games to get back in the flow" at the moment.
Wiseman should have a speed advantage over Nurkic, hopefully the Warriors look to exploit that in transition now that they have him playing with Draymond who can grab a rebound.
My prediction for the night: Draymond has some moments but looks rusty, commits a bunch of turnovers. Wiseman looks amazing, especially in minutes where Nurkic sits, but Dame and CJ both get hot. The game is close until the 4th when a Portland streak puts them too far ahead. Oh, and some random bench player on the Blazers has a career night.
I'm glad you bring up Mannion. I nearly flipped my tv over when I saw the Dubs pick him over Isaiah Joe. Which brings me to my overlying point. Myers and the FO value Multi Skill Positional players. What did Poole do exceptionally well in college? Nothing. But he could shoot at a decent clip, defend ok for his position and most importantly run point or play off ball. Same with Evans. Jury still out on Poole obviously but I'd argue he does nothing that can be considered even average at the NBA level.
Now take Morey in Philly, what does he value? Shooting. He's put a whole bunch of shooters around Simmons and Embiid to adequately space out the floor. What did Isaiah Joe do exceptionally well in college? Shoot the rock. He's seeing some playing time this year because of that ability. Mannion is not.
It's easier to find players late in the first or second round that can do one thing well. Much harder to find a player that can pass, shoot, defend, anticipate, play various positions and have a high bball iq all those things at a competent level. Draymond is the outlier obviously. McCaw has come the closest and full credit to Myers for identifying his abilities but there are reasons why multi skill players such as Iguodala, Livingston, Rush, Curry, Thompson, KD, West, Bogut were drafted at the top half of the draft. Much much much harder to find and/or develop those types of players when you are consistently drafting in the back half of the draft.
Glad to Draymond back. Hoping for no recurring Covid issues. Excited to see more Wiseman and improved play from Oubre. Happy New Years Ladies and Gents!
Dame vs Steph will be fun. I think Dame gets extra inspiration when he plays us, even if we're not in Oakland now. I think they're better than we are right now without Dray but if he's really ready to play, we have a good shot at splitting the two games. Hey, we can dream of taking both! But Duby, you wrote "hopeful squads in New Jersey and Milwaukee"... is Brooklyn in New Jersey nowadays? 😉
There is a good reason 538's newish (summer 2019) defense metric is called "DRAYMOND" (Defensive Rating Accounting for Yielding Minimal Openness by Nearest Defender) [https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-better-way-to-evaluate-nba-defense/]. As the rating shows, Dray minimizes openness. So pumped to have him back!
Speaking of the draft, I was listening to Sam Vecenies latest podcast on the 2021 nba draft and also was reading a couple of other pundits on it and it seems that the draft is not the end all be all all time draft in terms of top end talent. Yes it's still shaping up to be a solid draft but due to obvious Covid limitations there exists the same uncertainty that befell the 2020 nba draft and some people are starting to shy away from labeling the top prospects bonafide superstars. I bring that up because If there is a trade to be had, I wonder how lucrative that 2021 Minny pick will now be looking. If anything, Wiseman has boosted up the trade value of his draft slot BUT can't imagine any player made available outside of Giannis' that they would trade Wiseman for at this point.
I know that I'm crying over spilt milk, but Gary Trent apparently has developed a Beast Mode. Before that draft, some prognosticators had him going to the Warriors and he was available but we picked...give me a minute, I'm thinking...
When the game starts, please move over to the Game Thread I just posted. Or move there now, whatever, I'm not your parent. OR AM I???
Man game starts at 7:30. For some reason I thought they'd be doing 7 pm games this year due to Covid restrictions.
According to the NBA standings:
-Everyone has lost at least one game now. Magic was the last team to go undefeated before they lost last night.
-Raptors and Rockets got their first win of the season yesterday.
-Pistons and Wizards are still winless. They both have the chance to break their winless streak tonight.
This is Draymond's first game in like a year, so I don't know what to expect other than he'll probably be rusty and the online Warrior fanbase does not seem like they want to hear "give him a few games to get back in the flow" at the moment.
Wiseman should have a speed advantage over Nurkic, hopefully the Warriors look to exploit that in transition now that they have him playing with Draymond who can grab a rebound.
My prediction for the night: Draymond has some moments but looks rusty, commits a bunch of turnovers. Wiseman looks amazing, especially in minutes where Nurkic sits, but Dame and CJ both get hot. The game is close until the 4th when a Portland streak puts them too far ahead. Oh, and some random bench player on the Blazers has a career night.
@GlueandBold
I'm glad you bring up Mannion. I nearly flipped my tv over when I saw the Dubs pick him over Isaiah Joe. Which brings me to my overlying point. Myers and the FO value Multi Skill Positional players. What did Poole do exceptionally well in college? Nothing. But he could shoot at a decent clip, defend ok for his position and most importantly run point or play off ball. Same with Evans. Jury still out on Poole obviously but I'd argue he does nothing that can be considered even average at the NBA level.
Now take Morey in Philly, what does he value? Shooting. He's put a whole bunch of shooters around Simmons and Embiid to adequately space out the floor. What did Isaiah Joe do exceptionally well in college? Shoot the rock. He's seeing some playing time this year because of that ability. Mannion is not.
It's easier to find players late in the first or second round that can do one thing well. Much harder to find a player that can pass, shoot, defend, anticipate, play various positions and have a high bball iq all those things at a competent level. Draymond is the outlier obviously. McCaw has come the closest and full credit to Myers for identifying his abilities but there are reasons why multi skill players such as Iguodala, Livingston, Rush, Curry, Thompson, KD, West, Bogut were drafted at the top half of the draft. Much much much harder to find and/or develop those types of players when you are consistently drafting in the back half of the draft.
If this draymond/Wiseman thing pans out there gonna be a problem for the league
Bah, Paschall listed as questionable with a knee thing
Glad to Draymond back. Hoping for no recurring Covid issues. Excited to see more Wiseman and improved play from Oubre. Happy New Years Ladies and Gents!
I love watching Draymond, by far my favorite Warrior of the last many years... however I care more about the W's winning than just having him back.
Dame vs Steph will be fun. I think Dame gets extra inspiration when he plays us, even if we're not in Oakland now. I think they're better than we are right now without Dray but if he's really ready to play, we have a good shot at splitting the two games. Hey, we can dream of taking both! But Duby, you wrote "hopeful squads in New Jersey and Milwaukee"... is Brooklyn in New Jersey nowadays? 😉
There is a good reason 538's newish (summer 2019) defense metric is called "DRAYMOND" (Defensive Rating Accounting for Yielding Minimal Openness by Nearest Defender) [https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-better-way-to-evaluate-nba-defense/]. As the rating shows, Dray minimizes openness. So pumped to have him back!
Speaking of the draft, I was listening to Sam Vecenies latest podcast on the 2021 nba draft and also was reading a couple of other pundits on it and it seems that the draft is not the end all be all all time draft in terms of top end talent. Yes it's still shaping up to be a solid draft but due to obvious Covid limitations there exists the same uncertainty that befell the 2020 nba draft and some people are starting to shy away from labeling the top prospects bonafide superstars. I bring that up because If there is a trade to be had, I wonder how lucrative that 2021 Minny pick will now be looking. If anything, Wiseman has boosted up the trade value of his draft slot BUT can't imagine any player made available outside of Giannis' that they would trade Wiseman for at this point.
I know that I'm crying over spilt milk, but Gary Trent apparently has developed a Beast Mode. Before that draft, some prognosticators had him going to the Warriors and he was available but we picked...give me a minute, I'm thinking...