357 Comments

I was at the game, and my reaction is, "best losing game with two Warriors starters thrown out ever."

If I had written notes, they'd be similar to yours (except I knew Cojo was in the G league). I guess getting minutes and playing with the rookies (et al) paid off. Pffft--starters, 2nd unit, they were barely recognizable without 23, 11, and 30, and CP and Saric barely sitting long enough to warm the bench. As you said lots of film to review, and matchups to consider.

About the ejections. In the arena they stopped play and showed a pattern on the scoreboard--no video, or images--during the 4-5 minute (I'm guessing) evaluation. Fans were largely clueless, struggling to get the game on their phones (I had it, but others around me couldn't connect, WiFi probably overloaded). Eventually the scoreboard showed the ref, but after he said "ejection" and Klay and Draymond's names, the outraged roars made it impossible to hear, growing ever louder as Klay, Draymond, and McDaniels left the floor but GOBERT DID NOT. Chase Center mounted the most synchronized "REF YOU SUCK" I've heard there. Usually at least half the audience (maybe more?) is too classy to shout, "ref you suck," but I'd say 70% were in. Looking at the recording today, I don't know if it's the directional microphones, but it doesn't seem too bad. Trust me, on the second level, it's loud.

Out loud I said, "The rookies will play!"

Thanks for mentioning Wiggins' hustle; I was happy to see it, and I want to believe he's on the road to his best play.

Nearby was a Dario Saric fan, and he had a lot to be happy about :-) I worried that Saric was getting battered, but he was determined--2nd Warrior over 20!

We competed and stayed close, but the Twolves used their time outs wisely and they had a better close. MM's 3 was a gift; didn't realize until later that points made are part of the In-Season tournament, so I'm glad it matters. I'm strangely optimistic that we've got some surprises for the league. The trial and error might not be fun, but I'm curious to find out.

Expand full comment

So, Draymond's new nickname is "The Saginaw Strangler", right?

Expand full comment

Dubs all small mental destruction squad: CP3, Steph, Cojo, Podz and GP2 at center of course. This is what I want to see for a few minutes as a holiday gift from Kerr.

Expand full comment

This had me up in the middle of the night. Draymond tossed in two consecutive games??!! Yes the previous tossage was totally bogus, but wtf dude. He is so out of control. This is another early season Dubs nadir and it has me down.

Expand full comment

Maybe The Peacemaker is Gobert’s WWE headlock’s name?

Expand full comment

Some examples this game of Moody working with a screen:

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=190&GameID=0022300025&Season=2023-24&flag=1&title=Moody%204%27%20Driving%20Reverse%20Layup%20(2%20PTS)%20(Payton%20II%202%20AST)

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=473&GameID=0022300025&Season=2023-24&flag=1&title=MISS%20Joseph%2026%27%203PT%20Jump%20Shot

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=193&GameID=0022300025&Season=2023-24&flag=1&title=Kuminga%2015%27%20Step%20Back%20Jump%20Shot%20(2%20PTS)%20(Moody%201%20AST)

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&GameEventID=492&GameID=0022300025&Season=2023-24&flag=1&title=Moody%201%27%20Driving%20Finger%20Roll%20Layup%20(8%20PTS)%20(Joseph%202%20AST)

He's a good decision maker, has an improved handle, has a real threat of a pull up jumper, and was very efficient as the PnR ballhandler in college so you'd think it wouldn't take the entire franchise core being out for him to get a chance to do something other than stand in the corner. I laughed at the Suns for not exploring what they had at all in Mikal Bridges and then getting fleeced in a trade for him, I would hate it if another version of that happened to the Warriors.

Expand full comment

Can we stop playing kuminga and gp2 together in the second unit? Get gp2 in there with Steph for klay and let klay run with cp3 n kuminga in the 2nd unit

Expand full comment

In hindsight, what really disappoints me is that Dray didn't get his money worth - if he had knocked Gobert out, then both teams would've been down two players.

Expand full comment

Podz need to be in the rotation with everyone healthy, we should also try starting Saric even with Curry back.

Expand full comment

I don't see a lot of nuance and gray area and team spirit stuff in Draymond's chokehold. Podz described it in positive ways as lifting the arena and the team. That ain't it, bro. I don't care if we win by 150. You don't do that to somebody. As we all know, it's not Draymond's first offense. I understand the argument that one should leap to a teammate's defense, but putting an opponent in a headlock, when you already have a longstanding reputation for cheap and dirty play, including punching your own teammate in practice, does not inspire me. It makes it really hard to root for Draymond.

Expand full comment

Late replay again. Definitely got my money's worth! Was nice to see Kerr HAVE to make lineup and sub adjustments with the HOFers out. Quite a few rotations that haven't played together I imagine. And we will need them in break in case of emergencies down the line. Feels like it's going to be a bumpy one all season long...

Expand full comment

Well, that was one of the weirdest starts I've ever witnessed in a Warriors game. What was Draymond thinking when he put Rudy in a head/choke lock? Ejection for Klay? Ridiculous. Ah well.....

Welcome to the NBA, Podz! You kept us in the game and showed your incredible competitive spirit and BBIQ. You've seemed to have turned a corner. Could it be that you will eventually be Steph's replacement? You seem to make things happen and make the games much more fun to watch.

More Cojo, please. More Saric, please. The bench mob rules and should push out some of the starters who have seemed to have lost some of their game. Anyone else notice this? Steph still our leader, though.................

Expand full comment
Nov 15·edited Nov 15

OK, so this game had that fracas at the beginning, and the Warriors court is incredibly tame compared to other courts, but it barely felt like an in season tournament game. It'll probably get more interesting with the elimination rounds, but if the Warriors aren't involved, I'll definitely just going to shrug.

Expand full comment

Jaden McDaniels on Klay Thompson: "He missed a shot, ran down the court, we probably said something back to each other. To me, it wasn’t that serious. I was laughing and joking around. Some people take things differently."

https://twitter.com/JonKrawczynski/status/1724683391101186333

Didn't McDaniels grabbed and tore Klay's jersey? McDaniels's response is...highly questionable at best.

Expand full comment

Couldn’t really watch much today. Did we get more pnrs with Chris Paul?

Expand full comment

Our top level drafting is not that good it seems. Either that or we stuck at developing non experienced college rookies. 4 years later and wiseman can’t even get minutes on the pistons and 3 years later and Kuminga and moody are getting 15 min when we’re missing 3 starters (4 if you include Wiggins).

Expand full comment