As soon as Avery Bradley makes a three, game over. Just how opponents shake their heads in submission when Draymond Green makes a three back when Beyoncé, Jay Z, and Rhianna "watched" GSW games.
I think we should be looking to create the best ‘death lineup’ possible (and not just because the Rockets are 5-out now, but because it’s won us 3 titles), so I would take Simmons over Embiid in a vacuum. Simmons running the fast break with the splash bros and playing defense with Draymond would be amazing.
But if not, maybe Embiid could be flipped:
Dubs: Brown, Thybulle, Theis, Buck 2020 pick (from BOS – for Stepien purposes) , 2021 2nd from Sixers and Celtics
Dubs have now flipped D’Angelo to try and re-create a pseudo-death lineup: Splash bros, Thybulle, Brown, Dray (yeah that lineup lacks offense – especially Thybulle, but without a blockbuster Giannis trade, etc, it’s going to be hard to replace even half of KD’s offense. Also, that’s 4 good defenders + Curry). There’s also still the trade exception, TPE, etc.
Sixers get Smart (puns intended?), and the Wolves pick + the pick swaps
Chriss is awesome, and deserves the JaVale McGee Endowed Chair Of Vertical Spacing in both the regular season and the playoffs. I was just talking about the death lineup in the sense of the closing/important moments lineup: v1 – splash bros – iguodala –barnes – dray v2- KD in for Barnes (lol rest of the league). Dray always played at the 5, with Iguodala and another switchable wing/forward (KD being so tall and good at shooting was just ridiculous icing on the cake).
Since we’re missing Iguodala and Barnes (Wiggins could maybe be Barnes lite, I guess), I figured we need two more good defenders. Thybulle has a 7-ft wingspan, but he might not be strong enough to guard the types of players that Iguodala could. That’s where Brown comes in.
Anyway, just a theoretical scenario. And of course, there a lot of scenarios/matchups where you want Chriss on the floor.
One reason I really like Chriss as a potential starter next season is that he's going to be faster than 90% of the centers we face. Sure, we'll get abused in the post a bit, but Kerr has already shown that if he trusts the lineup he'll let them prioritize transition attack.
A while back at GSOM I broke down Dray's game and found that his best shots (using Synergy data) were cuts and off transition. I don't know that we'd be the quickest team out there, but it's a squad that would do really, really well on the break
I might say yes if you twisted my arm, but I'd push harder for a variant of that deal involving Wiggins + LaMelo (or one of the other many talented big PGs in this draft) for Simmons.
I'd be real interested to hear from some Philly insiders. Like, if the Sixers move on from either Embiid or Simmons, are they looking for draft picks, or an established star?
When it comes to Wiggins, I've never felt more unsure about one of our players' value on the market. Is he an albatross contract, just slightly overpaid, or somewhere in the middle?
ooh, MRI on the shoulder? Hopefully it comes back clean! I think Simmons is still out for them as well with some sort of lingering lower back issue right?
In general, I would certainly consider a Wiggins for Embiid or Simmons trade, but I'm pretty sure Philly says no to that - even with picks attached. Then again, I was the same guy that had an emotional breakdown when we got Wiggins, so what do I know?
Nah, not a win, continue to tank, but make it competitive... Let Poole hit 40% of his 3's and Wiggins play efficiently and get a couple blocks. A few slams by Chriss and Paschall. Let Lee look like a good Klay backup. Bowman to make a couple steals and another impossible block. Green to throw a couple passes out of the arena and get at least one technical, and push the Brow around. Toscano to look like an NBA player. Go warriors!
Funny thing is, I actually have a whole other section that was tacked on to the end of my Poole rant but we are going to run it as a standalone. I definitely have more thoughts on this subject though
As soon as Avery Bradley makes a three, game over. Just how opponents shake their heads in submission when Draymond Green makes a three back when Beyoncé, Jay Z, and Rhianna "watched" GSW games.
I think we should be looking to create the best ‘death lineup’ possible (and not just because the Rockets are 5-out now, but because it’s won us 3 titles), so I would take Simmons over Embiid in a vacuum. Simmons running the fast break with the splash bros and playing defense with Draymond would be amazing.
But if not, maybe Embiid could be flipped:
Dubs: Brown, Thybulle, Theis, Buck 2020 pick (from BOS – for Stepien purposes) , 2021 2nd from Sixers and Celtics
Sixers: Wiggins, Smart, Looney, Wolves pick, 2 (mid-2020’s?) pick swaps with Dubs
Celtics: Embiid, Dubs 2020 1st, filler
Dubs have now flipped D’Angelo to try and re-create a pseudo-death lineup: Splash bros, Thybulle, Brown, Dray (yeah that lineup lacks offense – especially Thybulle, but without a blockbuster Giannis trade, etc, it’s going to be hard to replace even half of KD’s offense. Also, that’s 4 good defenders + Curry). There’s also still the trade exception, TPE, etc.
Sixers get Smart (puns intended?), and the Wolves pick + the pick swaps
Celtics: Kemba, (Anthony) Edwards, Hayward, Tatum, Embiid
I'm confused. Isn't the death lineup all about small size and speed, and if so, isn't Curry/Thompson/Wiggins/Draymond/Chriss a potential death lineup?
Chriss is awesome, and deserves the JaVale McGee Endowed Chair Of Vertical Spacing in both the regular season and the playoffs. I was just talking about the death lineup in the sense of the closing/important moments lineup: v1 – splash bros – iguodala –barnes – dray v2- KD in for Barnes (lol rest of the league). Dray always played at the 5, with Iguodala and another switchable wing/forward (KD being so tall and good at shooting was just ridiculous icing on the cake).
Since we’re missing Iguodala and Barnes (Wiggins could maybe be Barnes lite, I guess), I figured we need two more good defenders. Thybulle has a 7-ft wingspan, but he might not be strong enough to guard the types of players that Iguodala could. That’s where Brown comes in.
Anyway, just a theoretical scenario. And of course, there a lot of scenarios/matchups where you want Chriss on the floor.
One reason I really like Chriss as a potential starter next season is that he's going to be faster than 90% of the centers we face. Sure, we'll get abused in the post a bit, but Kerr has already shown that if he trusts the lineup he'll let them prioritize transition attack.
A while back at GSOM I broke down Dray's game and found that his best shots (using Synergy data) were cuts and off transition. I don't know that we'd be the quickest team out there, but it's a squad that would do really, really well on the break
On the plus side, more recently Poole has gone from historically bad to just G-league hopeful bad
Think I'll take a nap until Sunday.
Wise
Oof, Joel Embiid injured again. Embiid for Wiggins plus this year's first (possibly Wiseman), who says no?
I might say yes if you twisted my arm, but I'd push harder for a variant of that deal involving Wiggins + LaMelo (or one of the other many talented big PGs in this draft) for Simmons.
I'd be real interested to hear from some Philly insiders. Like, if the Sixers move on from either Embiid or Simmons, are they looking for draft picks, or an established star?
When it comes to Wiggins, I've never felt more unsure about one of our players' value on the market. Is he an albatross contract, just slightly overpaid, or somewhere in the middle?
I say no.
ooh, MRI on the shoulder? Hopefully it comes back clean! I think Simmons is still out for them as well with some sort of lingering lower back issue right?
In general, I would certainly consider a Wiggins for Embiid or Simmons trade, but I'm pretty sure Philly says no to that - even with picks attached. Then again, I was the same guy that had an emotional breakdown when we got Wiggins, so what do I know?
I think the two are pretty much a wash so I would not give up a pick to get yet another limited player, and one who does not see a lot of court time.
But I do hope the dude is ok.
Wiggins and Embiid a wash?
*inserts nickyoung.gif*
82, 82, 51, 19, 18
The number of games Embiid has missed over the last 5 years
0, 1, 0, 0, 9
The number of games Wiggins has missed over the last five years.
The best ability is availability. I'd rather have Wiggins and the pick.
We have an aging core who are going to be more susceptible to injury. Why add an injury prone player to that mix?
Is Mulder available to play?
Having someone hitting open threes would be a big improvement. I would be interested to see the offense end with an open three that actually goes in.
Hopefully this is a game where Dragan can show off his talent. I would love for him to fit with this team.
This should be an interesting game. I am predicting a win for the Dubs... which means they will lose.
Looks like Mulder is going to be available. Poor Man's Commissioner saw him at practice today wearing his new jersey.
I will predict a loss, to cancel out your prediction. I'm usually awful at this, so, good luck to us.
I will predict a win to cancel out yours. Just kidding....I'm not crazy! But I do want a win, tank be damned! 😎
Nah, not a win, continue to tank, but make it competitive... Let Poole hit 40% of his 3's and Wiggins play efficiently and get a couple blocks. A few slams by Chriss and Paschall. Let Lee look like a good Klay backup. Bowman to make a couple steals and another impossible block. Green to throw a couple passes out of the arena and get at least one technical, and push the Brow around. Toscano to look like an NBA player. Go warriors!
and Looney 2 blks and a slam! LGW!
Yeah, there's plenty of shooting. It's the aiming that's been lacking.
Dead
lmao!
lack of <accurate> shooting
Funny thing is, I actually have a whole other section that was tacked on to the end of my Poole rant but we are going to run it as a standalone. I definitely have more thoughts on this subject though
ok, and here it is
https://www.letsgowarriors.com/p/what-cant-he-fix-currys-return-will
Basic premise: Curry is going to make everything better, but the baseline here is so low right now that it's still probably going to be a bad team.
But just for our eyeballs alone, it will be heavenly to get Steph back out there
dried sea slug or Twizzlers?
Red Ropes