That 4/5 spot is really close but I wouldn't be surprised if the dubs meander a bit to keep that 6th.
Then again, home court is real and although KD is great, his health and chemistry with the Suns is still questionable in a playoff setting against the dubs.
As for a matchup against the clips, well they're definitely no stranger to going home early and obviously PG13s leg is a thing
Harris was eating Klay's lunch in the first half. He didn't look to score as much in the second half, probably because the Dubs put JK on him when they could.
Even if Wiggs is not the Wiggs of last year's playoffs, just having another long, athletic perimeter defender would be huge. He also gives the Ws another scoring option, both from 3 and when the 3 isn't falling. He's a key contributor, and having him back at 80% would be way better than not having him at all.
Wiggs rebounded great in the playoffs last year, 7 TRB/36 min. over the whole playoff run. We all hoped he'd keep that up but that was peak Wiggs. For the most part this season he has been pretty good, with 4.5 TRB/game and 5.6/36, which is his career high. Still, in comparison, OPJ gave us 9.3 TRB/36 last season.
Embiid is the kind of player that is going to give back as much as he takes. He’s a phenomenal 1-on-1 guy, but that’s not good enough. Then on defense, you saw the Warriors just destroy his drop coverage… and they didn’t shoot that great. The pundits want to talk about a renaissance of the big man, but, uhhh… not if they’re going to have to defend Steph and Klay in drop in the half court.
I think Embiid's great, but you can wear anyone out. If he's going 1 on 2 most of the game, he's going to be dead tired by the end of the 4th, even if he's gutting people.
Kerr sometimes has does some weird things, but he absolutely knows how to beat a team that revolves around a single dominant player.
That was tonight but usually he is an excellent defender. As far as the renaissance of the big man, the current three leading MVP candidates this year appear to be Embiid, Jokic, and Giannis. That doesn't in any way diminish the destruction Steph can do, he's a super special talent, but it still shows dominant big men aren't entirely a thing of the past.
I think we all know that Curry would be in the running as well, if he could stay healthy. But given his record of the last few years, I'm just glad to have him doing what he does for 60 games per season.
This is the type of game that convinced the Warriors to pay JP3. Maybe not his best game of the year (had some big ones with Steph out) but by far his best coming off the bench.
Of teams currently in the top 6 in either conference, the Dubs have gone 13-2 against them at home. They're undefeated against the top 6 in the East. Positive enough?
Satisfying win. Very, very entertaining 4th quarter and Poole played his best game in a long time. I do think Philly is the team I most want who could conceivably make it out of the East. But that's a tough road to climb for both parties. The trick is for the Dubs to keep winning, so more of that please.
As for JK, this has happened to him multiple times in his career. A run of 5-6 games where you say I never want him to play <30 min again followed by 3-4 games where he's a negative on the court. The joy of being 20. Hopefully the former becomes 7-8 games and the latter shrinks to 1-2. Sunday could be really good for him or Gobert could completely neutralize those backcuts, we shall see.
Playing in the finals against Harden would be delicious -- because you know how that would end.
Is there a realistic road that takes the Ws through Durant and Chris Paul, Morant and Brooks, and Harden? Because that would be my favorite. If they knocked all of those guys out of the playoffs in one run, it would epic -- the 'end your dreams' tour. I guess realistically, it wouldn't end Morant's and Brooks' dreams, but it would be very enjoyable. I could relish knocking out the Clippers or the Celtics one more time as well.
I have to give credit to the NBA for the play-in. I hated it when they first instituted it, but it sure makes these late-season games matter. They're getting some playoff intensity already, and it's fun to watch.
I'm telling you, the way the Warriors are coming on late in the season? Come the first round of the playoffs, they're a team no one is going to want to play.
Nostradamus did predict that the Kings would never reign until the coming of the third Antichrist. Or something like that. At least, that's what someone told me was in the 300th bad translation of the 73rd different version of what Nostradamus might have written that someone read to him over a bad cell phone connection. So obviously either this is not their year or we're all in very serious trouble.
Didn’t watch the game, just the play by play up to the end of third. Sort of surprised but really not surprised they pulled this out. If we are going to gel now is the time to do it. It could get interesting when the worlds shortest big man takes the floor…
Joel Embiid told Draymond Green tonight: “You know why I played like that tonight? Because you said Jokic was the hardest guy to guard in the league. So I took that personally.”
Green: “So now I want to say (Embiid) is the hardest guy to guard in the league.”
Alc said something like, there's players that have external motivations and most stars fall in that category, then there's guys like Steph where it's all internal and the strive to be great is stronger than just proving something to naysayers. I put Dray in that same mold of players as well
That 4/5 spot is really close but I wouldn't be surprised if the dubs meander a bit to keep that 6th.
Then again, home court is real and although KD is great, his health and chemistry with the Suns is still questionable in a playoff setting against the dubs.
As for a matchup against the clips, well they're definitely no stranger to going home early and obviously PG13s leg is a thing
Harris was eating Klay's lunch in the first half. He didn't look to score as much in the second half, probably because the Dubs put JK on him when they could.
Lot of things trending positive for us in last couple of weeks in spite of road losses:
- JK having his best stretch and he is only getting better
- Poole playing more mindful and being attentive on D
- JMG having impact on offense and rebounds (over 4 weeks or more)
- Moody getting consistent minutes and him having impact (mostly plus)
- GP2 coming baxk
- Dray giving it all
- Steph/Klay not going for killer 3s
What more do we need:
- Wiggs coming back and being Wiggs of last year by 2nd round
- GP2 being last year's GP2
- Lamb shooting 3s at high clip as he was couple of months ago
- JK having impact every single game no matter the matchup
Even if Wiggs is not the Wiggs of last year's playoffs, just having another long, athletic perimeter defender would be huge. He also gives the Ws another scoring option, both from 3 and when the 3 isn't falling. He's a key contributor, and having him back at 80% would be way better than not having him at all.
Plus, reboundz!!
Wiggs rebounded great in the playoffs last year, 7 TRB/36 min. over the whole playoff run. We all hoped he'd keep that up but that was peak Wiggs. For the most part this season he has been pretty good, with 4.5 TRB/game and 5.6/36, which is his career high. Still, in comparison, OPJ gave us 9.3 TRB/36 last season.
Embiid is the kind of player that is going to give back as much as he takes. He’s a phenomenal 1-on-1 guy, but that’s not good enough. Then on defense, you saw the Warriors just destroy his drop coverage… and they didn’t shoot that great. The pundits want to talk about a renaissance of the big man, but, uhhh… not if they’re going to have to defend Steph and Klay in drop in the half court.
I think Embiid's great, but you can wear anyone out. If he's going 1 on 2 most of the game, he's going to be dead tired by the end of the 4th, even if he's gutting people.
Kerr sometimes has does some weird things, but he absolutely knows how to beat a team that revolves around a single dominant player.
That was tonight but usually he is an excellent defender. As far as the renaissance of the big man, the current three leading MVP candidates this year appear to be Embiid, Jokic, and Giannis. That doesn't in any way diminish the destruction Steph can do, he's a super special talent, but it still shows dominant big men aren't entirely a thing of the past.
True.
I think we all know that Curry would be in the running as well, if he could stay healthy. But given his record of the last few years, I'm just glad to have him doing what he does for 60 games per season.
Let them enjoy their regular season awards and big numbers. Warriors will gum them up enough in the postseason while we destroy the drop…
It just shows how utterly massive Steph is… and the motion offense.
Only one of those has a real shot at the title. The other two play drop coverage
This is the type of game that convinced the Warriors to pay JP3. Maybe not his best game of the year (had some big ones with Steph out) but by far his best coming off the bench.
Well I was incorrect. It took until 2AM + a sleeping kitten on my lap to wind down after the win tonight.
Also teams to beat the Dubs at home:
Denver (game 2 of season)
Detroit
Orlando
Indiana
Phoenix (without CP3, Ayton, or Booker)
Brooklyn (no KD)
Lakers (no Lebron)
What a strange mix of teams.
Was that the game where Indiana was missing Haliburton as well?
And Myles Turner!
Basically games where Dubs didn't feel that they will be challenged and went through the motions - except for the Denver which happens to be #1 team.
Get that negativity outta here.
Of teams currently in the top 6 in either conference, the Dubs have gone 13-2 against them at home. They're undefeated against the top 6 in the East. Positive enough?
Oh man. The dreaded 3 games over .500
Satisfying win. Very, very entertaining 4th quarter and Poole played his best game in a long time. I do think Philly is the team I most want who could conceivably make it out of the East. But that's a tough road to climb for both parties. The trick is for the Dubs to keep winning, so more of that please.
As for JK, this has happened to him multiple times in his career. A run of 5-6 games where you say I never want him to play <30 min again followed by 3-4 games where he's a negative on the court. The joy of being 20. Hopefully the former becomes 7-8 games and the latter shrinks to 1-2. Sunday could be really good for him or Gobert could completely neutralize those backcuts, we shall see.
Playing in the finals against Harden would be delicious -- because you know how that would end.
Is there a realistic road that takes the Ws through Durant and Chris Paul, Morant and Brooks, and Harden? Because that would be my favorite. If they knocked all of those guys out of the playoffs in one run, it would epic -- the 'end your dreams' tour. I guess realistically, it wouldn't end Morant's and Brooks' dreams, but it would be very enjoyable. I could relish knocking out the Clippers or the Celtics one more time as well.
No, the trick is not to play any more games on the road!
Imagining this team with GP2…
and Wiggs...
Yoooo!
Klay leading the league in 3PM
Steph's going to have to ramp up in these next 8 games to catch Klay...
He could catch 2nd if Buddy starts sitting games…
Another entertaining Warrior win.
I have to give credit to the NBA for the play-in. I hated it when they first instituted it, but it sure makes these late-season games matter. They're getting some playoff intensity already, and it's fun to watch.
I'm telling you, the way the Warriors are coming on late in the season? Come the first round of the playoffs, they're a team no one is going to want to play.
You don’t say?
Your crossover is better than Jordan Poole's.
Wait a minute ...
LOL
DeAaron Fox left the game tonight with a hamstring injury
Nooooo would hate for thr kings not to have a full squad for their first playoff series in 62846 years
Nostradamus did predict that the Kings would never reign until the coming of the third Antichrist. Or something like that. At least, that's what someone told me was in the 300th bad translation of the 73rd different version of what Nostradamus might have written that someone read to him over a bad cell phone connection. So obviously either this is not their year or we're all in very serious trouble.
I’ll drink their tears either way if/when the Dubs beat them… but it does suck for them to lose their straw that stirs the drink
Oh man that sucks.
Didn’t watch the game, just the play by play up to the end of third. Sort of surprised but really not surprised they pulled this out. If we are going to gel now is the time to do it. It could get interesting when the worlds shortest big man takes the floor…
Joel Embiid told Draymond Green tonight: “You know why I played like that tonight? Because you said Jokic was the hardest guy to guard in the league. So I took that personally.”
Green: “So now I want to say (Embiid) is the hardest guy to guard in the league.”
https://twitter.com/ShaynaRubin/status/1639493710957400069
Why not just play hard because you're a professional basketball player and your team needs wins?
Alc said something like, there's players that have external motivations and most stars fall in that category, then there's guys like Steph where it's all internal and the strive to be great is stronger than just proving something to naysayers. I put Dray in that same mold of players as well
And he's got Jokic coming up. Now /he'll/ take it personally.