I don't understand Kerr's coaching decisions. In game 2, to pull your players after cutting the lead to 7 seemed like a horrible decision. Down 7, after cutting the lead by 10, you choose to give up? At that point, it's anybody's game. After confirming what I always thought to be the case - that TJD and JK can play with anybody and excel if only given the chance, I thought it would be a given that both played significant minutes in game 3. For TJD to be held to 11 min, 5 min each half makes absolutely no sense. If he got Looney's minutes, there's a really good chance the Warriors win that game. Having a guy who can play above the rim, block shots, play the pick and roll, and who is quick enough to guard most of the Wolves scorers would have helped significantly. I don't understand Kerr's coaching decisions at all. We know what Looney brings to the table. He is only useful when setting screens for Curry and Klay. Otherwise, he is a liability. He can't score, he can't jump, and he's too slow to guard the Wolves wings and big men. Very disappointed in Kerr's coaching decisions up to this point.
I actually think that Looney as a starter and maybe getting those 5 or so minutes with TJD and/or Post coming in as substitutes for a change of pace might be something to try.
Kevon was used that way in past, including championship years. Kerr can then assess who he thinks is doing well and play whomever more later in the game. This could be a good way to relieve Draymond of big minutes inside at center.
I did not see such great defense from TJD. Post's skill set as a rookie is not defense. He did not get enough minutes to help the team with his shooting. Looney is willing to play physical inside against Gobert and others. When opponents get past the perimeter defenders, it is hard for any of them to stop the drives, especially Edwards'.
Draymond is the best Warrior for that, but he can't do it too often without picking up fouls.
You’re being disingenuous here, again. You can’t sincerely be “disappointed” in Kerr’s decisions when you’ve clearly established (every time you’ve posted here) that you think he’s a terrible coach.
It’s easy to assert counterfactuals like, “if TJD got Looney’s minutes there’s a really good chance the Warriors win that game.” It’s kind of a pointless and silly thing to do, since there no way to how that alt universe would have played out, so no grounds on which to debate it. But it’s easy to assert.
“The coach sucks” is the lowest hanging fruit that every angry adolescent on Reddit grabs for after their team loses. Obviously even the best coaches make bad decisions all the time. It’s easy to pretend, with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, that our own armchair coaching decisions (which unlike Kerr’s never have to be subject to real world testing) would have worked out better.
Which is all pretty normal to indulge in in moderation, but when all of your posts seem to (1) have a top line of “Kerr sucks” and (2) occur after a Warriors loss, there’s a distinct “boy who cried wolf” quality to them. I could pretty easily get Chat GPT to tell me why Kerr is a disappointment and what moves he could have made differently that would have resulted in a Warriors win.
Yikes. Alot to unpack here. I never said Kerr was a horrible coach. I critique his decisions when I think it costs the Warriors a win. I thought that's the point of this site. To offer different points of view. If it makes you feel better, I think Kerr is a great motivator and team leader. Perhaps second to none in that category. And that absolutely goes a long way. It's a very unique skill/trait. Do I think he makes great personnel decisions? No I don't. Pretty sure I am not the only one in that camp. And to your point, no I don't generally post when they win. I see no reason to. Hence why like you said all my posts offer critiques. Posting for cheerleading purposes isn't my thing. When they lose, I think its important to understand why they lost. And I do generally think Kerr makes some poor personnel decisions in many instances. I don't believe a player can go from playing all star caliber hoops (kerr's own admission), to bench warmer who can't help the team, to one of the team leaders again, often on a whim. I cannot think of any other player on any other team in the league who has experienced that volatility. And no I can't foresee the future. It's just an opinion - obviously. Which anybody is free to disagree with. If you really think Kerr made all the right moves, that Looney is the guy who can fill the Warriors needs and help turn the series around, and that TJD can't help the team win, then feel free to say so. Of course this site is about playing armchair quarterback. Pretty sure that's the purpose. But again, I would strongly argue that a player who's stats suggest he is a double-double machine if given the chance, who has scored 22pts in the last 30 min on 80+% fg that he was on the court vs this very team, certainly has the ability to help the Warriors win, moreso (in my opinion) than Looney, when it's clear nobody else on the team is playing well. Feel free to disagree with that assessment, which it sounds like you do.
I’m not sure if we saw the same game, but I saw TJD getting eaten alive on defense. Looney is also, at his best, an elite rebounder and a respectable defender, not just a screen-setter.
I’ll take 22 points in 30 min on 9 for 10 fg w 2 blocks any day, especially when scoring is at a premium and nobody else on the roster is playing well. I think the end results spoke for themselves. Minus a few good plays, I thought Looney was mostly getting abused on defense. Hence fouling out in only 19 min. So yes maybe we were watching different games. I also think it's a little unfair to form a conclusion on someone who plays 5 min per half. He was only a -1. It's just not enough time to get into the flow of a game. Don't get me wrong. I like Looney. But this was not the game for him to receive the most playing time he's received in over a month.
I expect Draymond to make layup, floaters, and occasional 3s. But to expect more offense from him doesn’t make sense. He gets paid like 25 mil. If he also knows how to create his own shot, he’d be a max contract player. We get what we pay for, his stellar and versatile defense and limited offensive bag.
Actually, I would rather have the other guys take the shot instead of Draymond. Unfortunately the opposing teams defense is setup to leave Draymond open and dare him to make the shot. However, I expect him to make his layups, which he somehow miss due to hunting for fouls instead.
At this point in his career Draymond is what he is emotionally. I just hope he could have a little bit better self awareness when he is about to tip to "bad for the team" zone.
In crunchtime, that's three bricked FTs by Jokic, an airballed wiiiide open corner three by Westy, a bricked FT by Gordon, two bricked fairly open threes by Jokic and Braun, and a missed bunny by MPJ to let OKC back in the series. Dammit.
Heck, even the Westy airball wide open from the corner is fairly uncharacteristic. Some of it's certainly OKC's D, some of it fatigue? But even if you're tired and being well defended, you shouldn't be bricking FTs. Jokic missing two with a chance to cut it to two late basically ended it.
I'd be big mad about this one if I were a Denver fan (which I sort of am, in this series). Played well and took it to crunchtime, where they normally have an edge. Being up 3-1 would have been huge. Couldn't close the deal.
Yeah not a lot of defense played on free throws I think we can agree there. And it's not like Denver can play the "we've never been in the big moment" card either
Russel Westbrook was an incredible athlete early in his career. Brandin Podziemski is a decent athlete but I don't think quite at the level Westbrook was.
BP has several years to improve his game shooting, so I won't count out putting the ball in the bucket yet.
I’m low-key rooting for Denver. Somehow this season OKC, which I had sort of enjoyed watching grow up, became the big bad wolf. And somehow Denver is the underdog, even though they’re actually a team that just won it all not that long ago with the same squad basically
I think Draymond needs to work on his relationships with Refs. They’re clearly biased against him for all these years of him yelling at them. He’s getting the shortest leash and quickest and softest whistles from them. How many games was he suspended for last season for going WWE on players again? I’m not remembering clearly but was that why we got stuck in the playins last season?
Look we very well could’ve won yesterday if Draymond didn’t foul out. I just want Steph to have a chance winning another ring. Feels like Draymond’s past is finally catching up to him. The refs are trying to make him ineffective cuz they don’t like him. If not fouling out for the softest fouls then it’s the worry of him getting suspended for flagrant or techs. I know we win cuz of Draymond’s Defense. It just feels like the baggage is much heavier these days. The league is nerfing him and not letting him play defense.
Also, I know we’re here bagging on the guy, he made some mistakes that cost us the game yesterday. With all the talk of jb and chef getting older, Green is too and i attribute to him making mistakes cuz he’s been playing all out for us to get this far and he makes mistakes when he’s gassed out.
New thread here: https://dubnationhq.com/p/warriors-falter-in-game-3-to-tough/comments
I don't understand Kerr's coaching decisions. In game 2, to pull your players after cutting the lead to 7 seemed like a horrible decision. Down 7, after cutting the lead by 10, you choose to give up? At that point, it's anybody's game. After confirming what I always thought to be the case - that TJD and JK can play with anybody and excel if only given the chance, I thought it would be a given that both played significant minutes in game 3. For TJD to be held to 11 min, 5 min each half makes absolutely no sense. If he got Looney's minutes, there's a really good chance the Warriors win that game. Having a guy who can play above the rim, block shots, play the pick and roll, and who is quick enough to guard most of the Wolves scorers would have helped significantly. I don't understand Kerr's coaching decisions at all. We know what Looney brings to the table. He is only useful when setting screens for Curry and Klay. Otherwise, he is a liability. He can't score, he can't jump, and he's too slow to guard the Wolves wings and big men. Very disappointed in Kerr's coaching decisions up to this point.
I actually think that Looney as a starter and maybe getting those 5 or so minutes with TJD and/or Post coming in as substitutes for a change of pace might be something to try.
Kevon was used that way in past, including championship years. Kerr can then assess who he thinks is doing well and play whomever more later in the game. This could be a good way to relieve Draymond of big minutes inside at center.
I did not see such great defense from TJD. Post's skill set as a rookie is not defense. He did not get enough minutes to help the team with his shooting. Looney is willing to play physical inside against Gobert and others. When opponents get past the perimeter defenders, it is hard for any of them to stop the drives, especially Edwards'.
Draymond is the best Warrior for that, but he can't do it too often without picking up fouls.
You’re being disingenuous here, again. You can’t sincerely be “disappointed” in Kerr’s decisions when you’ve clearly established (every time you’ve posted here) that you think he’s a terrible coach.
It’s easy to assert counterfactuals like, “if TJD got Looney’s minutes there’s a really good chance the Warriors win that game.” It’s kind of a pointless and silly thing to do, since there no way to how that alt universe would have played out, so no grounds on which to debate it. But it’s easy to assert.
“The coach sucks” is the lowest hanging fruit that every angry adolescent on Reddit grabs for after their team loses. Obviously even the best coaches make bad decisions all the time. It’s easy to pretend, with the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, that our own armchair coaching decisions (which unlike Kerr’s never have to be subject to real world testing) would have worked out better.
Which is all pretty normal to indulge in in moderation, but when all of your posts seem to (1) have a top line of “Kerr sucks” and (2) occur after a Warriors loss, there’s a distinct “boy who cried wolf” quality to them. I could pretty easily get Chat GPT to tell me why Kerr is a disappointment and what moves he could have made differently that would have resulted in a Warriors win.
Yikes. Alot to unpack here. I never said Kerr was a horrible coach. I critique his decisions when I think it costs the Warriors a win. I thought that's the point of this site. To offer different points of view. If it makes you feel better, I think Kerr is a great motivator and team leader. Perhaps second to none in that category. And that absolutely goes a long way. It's a very unique skill/trait. Do I think he makes great personnel decisions? No I don't. Pretty sure I am not the only one in that camp. And to your point, no I don't generally post when they win. I see no reason to. Hence why like you said all my posts offer critiques. Posting for cheerleading purposes isn't my thing. When they lose, I think its important to understand why they lost. And I do generally think Kerr makes some poor personnel decisions in many instances. I don't believe a player can go from playing all star caliber hoops (kerr's own admission), to bench warmer who can't help the team, to one of the team leaders again, often on a whim. I cannot think of any other player on any other team in the league who has experienced that volatility. And no I can't foresee the future. It's just an opinion - obviously. Which anybody is free to disagree with. If you really think Kerr made all the right moves, that Looney is the guy who can fill the Warriors needs and help turn the series around, and that TJD can't help the team win, then feel free to say so. Of course this site is about playing armchair quarterback. Pretty sure that's the purpose. But again, I would strongly argue that a player who's stats suggest he is a double-double machine if given the chance, who has scored 22pts in the last 30 min on 80+% fg that he was on the court vs this very team, certainly has the ability to help the Warriors win, moreso (in my opinion) than Looney, when it's clear nobody else on the team is playing well. Feel free to disagree with that assessment, which it sounds like you do.
I’m not sure if we saw the same game, but I saw TJD getting eaten alive on defense. Looney is also, at his best, an elite rebounder and a respectable defender, not just a screen-setter.
I’ll take 22 points in 30 min on 9 for 10 fg w 2 blocks any day, especially when scoring is at a premium and nobody else on the roster is playing well. I think the end results spoke for themselves. Minus a few good plays, I thought Looney was mostly getting abused on defense. Hence fouling out in only 19 min. So yes maybe we were watching different games. I also think it's a little unfair to form a conclusion on someone who plays 5 min per half. He was only a -1. It's just not enough time to get into the flow of a game. Don't get me wrong. I like Looney. But this was not the game for him to receive the most playing time he's received in over a month.
I expect Draymond to make layup, floaters, and occasional 3s. But to expect more offense from him doesn’t make sense. He gets paid like 25 mil. If he also knows how to create his own shot, he’d be a max contract player. We get what we pay for, his stellar and versatile defense and limited offensive bag.
Actually, I would rather have the other guys take the shot instead of Draymond. Unfortunately the opposing teams defense is setup to leave Draymond open and dare him to make the shot. However, I expect him to make his layups, which he somehow miss due to hunting for fouls instead.
At this point in his career Draymond is what he is emotionally. I just hope he could have a little bit better self awareness when he is about to tip to "bad for the team" zone.
i agree
I do think we are asking too much of Draymond. But he can definitely limit his turnovers, and maybe some of his fouls.
yeah exactly
Draymond, Podz and GPII 94 minutes, 9 points. If this doesn’t improve by a good margin the games going forward will not be so close.
What are the odds JB and JK go for 60 plus again?
I said earlier that the Warriors played great but I should have said they played their butts off and gave it everything they had.
jb and jk can keep scoring. Will the former 3 score more points? I think so
They can is way different than they will. If they score 60 plus on Monday I will walk barefoot …….
okay let’s do it :)
AG is so clutch it isnt funny anymore.
He has been sub par for two series in a row
Jesus, Jokic suddenly can't hit a shot or a FT.
In crunchtime, that's three bricked FTs by Jokic, an airballed wiiiide open corner three by Westy, a bricked FT by Gordon, two bricked fairly open threes by Jokic and Braun, and a missed bunny by MPJ to let OKC back in the series. Dammit.
He’s tired. You see what kind of minute and responsibility threshold he’s under…
None of that is characteristic, except the Westbrick airball. I think OKC is playing some tough D out there.
Tough defense but Jokic is probably running on fumes
Heck, even the Westy airball wide open from the corner is fairly uncharacteristic. Some of it's certainly OKC's D, some of it fatigue? But even if you're tired and being well defended, you shouldn't be bricking FTs. Jokic missing two with a chance to cut it to two late basically ended it.
I'd be big mad about this one if I were a Denver fan (which I sort of am, in this series). Played well and took it to crunchtime, where they normally have an edge. Being up 3-1 would have been huge. Couldn't close the deal.
Yeah not a lot of defense played on free throws I think we can agree there. And it's not like Denver can play the "we've never been in the big moment" card either
Refs extending this OKC DEN series.
Three MVP candidates out there in the Denver-OKC game: Jokic, SGA, Aaron Gordon.
Did you know Gordon is a 50-40-90 guy in these playoffs, has 15 rebounds tonight, and is generally speaking, to use a technical term, a baller?
I've certainly been impressed.
He's certainly been Denver's MVP this postseason.
Is podz the “white” Westbrick! Does all the hustle plays but absolutely cannot put it in the bucket!
Russel Westbrook was an incredible athlete early in his career. Brandin Podziemski is a decent athlete but I don't think quite at the level Westbrook was.
BP has several years to improve his game shooting, so I won't count out putting the ball in the bucket yet.
Podz has a credible 3 pt shot. This is all fatigue for him and the young guys
I am not sure he has a credible shot. Going 40% on 3s for a month does not make it a credible
Shot - especially since rest of season it was terrible
He was a 39% shooter his rookie year and 37% this year, with 4 months over 40%. To say he doesn’t have a 3 ptr is ridiculous
Is the MVP award a contrarian indicator? The last MVP to win a chip was Steph in 15!
I’m low-key rooting for Denver. Somehow this season OKC, which I had sort of enjoyed watching grow up, became the big bad wolf. And somehow Denver is the underdog, even though they’re actually a team that just won it all not that long ago with the same squad basically
I root for OKC
That's just human nature
OKC offense looking terrible right now.
OKC look shook.
I think Draymond needs to work on his relationships with Refs. They’re clearly biased against him for all these years of him yelling at them. He’s getting the shortest leash and quickest and softest whistles from them. How many games was he suspended for last season for going WWE on players again? I’m not remembering clearly but was that why we got stuck in the playins last season?
Look we very well could’ve won yesterday if Draymond didn’t foul out. I just want Steph to have a chance winning another ring. Feels like Draymond’s past is finally catching up to him. The refs are trying to make him ineffective cuz they don’t like him. If not fouling out for the softest fouls then it’s the worry of him getting suspended for flagrant or techs. I know we win cuz of Draymond’s Defense. It just feels like the baggage is much heavier these days. The league is nerfing him and not letting him play defense.
Also, I know we’re here bagging on the guy, he made some mistakes that cost us the game yesterday. With all the talk of jb and chef getting older, Green is too and i attribute to him making mistakes cuz he’s been playing all out for us to get this far and he makes mistakes when he’s gassed out.
Thunder up 42-36 at halftime. This is a low-scoring game.
Here comes the Nuggets.
Best team in the league…?