In the battle of SBDS vs Hamptons 5, KD is obviously a huge upgrade, and 2017 was KD's best year defensively with us, imo, which is another huge plus for H5. 2017 Draymond's 3pt wasn't completely broken yet (he shot 40% 3pt in the 2017 playoffs). Both teams will probably play to give up jumpers to Iguodala. Regular season 2017 Iguodala was slightly better than regular season 2016 Iguodala, but 2016 playoff Iguodala was better than 2017 playoff Iguodala, scoring efficiency wise at least.
Most importantly, 2017 has more bodies to throw at 2016's smallball with McCaw, Matt Barnes, and David West vs Barbosa, Rush, and Speights. Not sure how to count Looney, since he was hurt both years, though did get 50 games in 2017 vs 5 in 2016....
Apricot has 2016 Ian > 2017 Ian, but the West-Clark connection was really good in 2017, and Ian Clark was 30 points better in TS% in 2017.
By 2016 Bogut was already a liability on offense, so I'll take 2017 center rotation of Zaza, West, and McGee over Bogut, Ezeli, and Speights.
2017 Warriors are the better team in my opinion. Not only did they replace Barnes with KD (that alone would justify putting the 2017 Warriors), they also replaced Bogut/Speights/Ezeli with Zaza/Javale/West who were a noticeably better center tandem. The 2017 Warriors had every bit the switching defense of 2016 Warriors and were a far better rim protecting team with the additions of KD/Javale/West.
2016 fully healthy Warriors > 2017 fully healthy. They didn't win 73 games by accident. They had fully integrated the Kerr program and had the chip on the shoulder. Bogut was a key element of that team, Iguodala was younger. KD would create problems, no doubt. But the small failures of communication/familiarity with system and deference from Curry towards KD and vice versa from that 2017 team would cause breakdowns. The 2016 team was a lot more fun to watch - until Curry got injured.
GSW 2016 had a nail-biting 7-game series against OKC w/KD. If GSW 2016 beats GSW 2017, we're basically acknowledging that KD's teammates in OKC 2016 were at least as good as KD's 2017 teammates (not even close imo).
I think the 2016 team only wins if they find a way to frustrate the 2017 guys, provoking a series of events that would doubtlessly include a tiff between KD and Dray. I could see it being pretty damn close though.
For one thing, by 2019 Barnes is among the best in the league at defending KD, and with the experience of doing so against OKC in the playoffs already under his belt, his 2016 edition really could cut off just enough of those normally unstoppable KD ISO plays to make them less efficient than what his side is running. He's gotta make those corner threes, though, so luck and nerves will play a big role.
Do you think Klay defends his mirror self, or Steph, most of the time? I'm betting we see a lot of Klay on Steph. With his persistence—plus the overall BBIQ and savviness of the team and coaches—Steph's life gets a lot harder; those relocation threes aren't going to be so automatic.
I think Bogut and Zaza end up playing only spot minutes as the other side's smallball lineups attack them; that would leave room for Javale to go to work in short bursts, except when Speights manages to draw the charge against him. David West would anchor 2017's second unit, but with Liv slightly declined and no Barbossa I could see him struggling to find cutters and players who can create their own shot against the reliable defense of the 2016 team.
Speaking of defense, Draymond would be a force on both teams. Though his physical abilities may not quite measure up as well, 2017 Green has a huge advantage in familiarity with the 2016 cast, whereas his year-younger counterpart would have less foreknowledge of how the Super Villain Warriors operate and less intimate familiarity with the new players. On the other hand, the inherent disadvantages of not having KD on his side would mean 2016 Draymond would have an even bigger chip on his shoulder and would play with even more fire. That, plus the hunger of the 2016 team determined to prove themselves, could lead to an upset, but in a long enough series the underdog energy is bound to flow both ways, making it a hell of an event.
I guess that if we can figure out how to get the 2017 team to play the 2016 team, then what I'd do is have Bob Myers from 2017 trick 2016 Bob Myers into a sucker deal where he acquires 2016 Curry, Dre, and Klay for 2017 McCaw, Dre and Barnes. Now I have 2 Stephs and 2 Klays on my team. This way I always have at least one Curry on the floor. Sometimes I run 2 Klays, sometimes I run 2 Stephs. Sometimes I run all 4. I think my best lineup is probably Durant, Curry, Klay, Green, and Steph. But if the other team ever forces a game 6, then I start both Klays.
I think the 2017 team wins in 6.
In the battle of SBDS vs Hamptons 5, KD is obviously a huge upgrade, and 2017 was KD's best year defensively with us, imo, which is another huge plus for H5. 2017 Draymond's 3pt wasn't completely broken yet (he shot 40% 3pt in the 2017 playoffs). Both teams will probably play to give up jumpers to Iguodala. Regular season 2017 Iguodala was slightly better than regular season 2016 Iguodala, but 2016 playoff Iguodala was better than 2017 playoff Iguodala, scoring efficiency wise at least.
Most importantly, 2017 has more bodies to throw at 2016's smallball with McCaw, Matt Barnes, and David West vs Barbosa, Rush, and Speights. Not sure how to count Looney, since he was hurt both years, though did get 50 games in 2017 vs 5 in 2016....
Apricot has 2016 Ian > 2017 Ian, but the West-Clark connection was really good in 2017, and Ian Clark was 30 points better in TS% in 2017.
By 2016 Bogut was already a liability on offense, so I'll take 2017 center rotation of Zaza, West, and McGee over Bogut, Ezeli, and Speights.
This is a real dumb question. A better question would be something along the lines of 2017 warriors vs 2013 Heat or 2016 warriors vs 2018 Rockets.
2017 Warriors are the better team in my opinion. Not only did they replace Barnes with KD (that alone would justify putting the 2017 Warriors), they also replaced Bogut/Speights/Ezeli with Zaza/Javale/West who were a noticeably better center tandem. The 2017 Warriors had every bit the switching defense of 2016 Warriors and were a far better rim protecting team with the additions of KD/Javale/West.
2017 Warriors are the best team ever.
2016 fully healthy Warriors > 2017 fully healthy. They didn't win 73 games by accident. They had fully integrated the Kerr program and had the chip on the shoulder. Bogut was a key element of that team, Iguodala was younger. KD would create problems, no doubt. But the small failures of communication/familiarity with system and deference from Curry towards KD and vice versa from that 2017 team would cause breakdowns. The 2016 team was a lot more fun to watch - until Curry got injured.
2017 wins.
GSW 2016 had a nail-biting 7-game series against OKC w/KD. If GSW 2016 beats GSW 2017, we're basically acknowledging that KD's teammates in OKC 2016 were at least as good as KD's 2017 teammates (not even close imo).
They added Kevin Durant. No question 2017 wins easily. That team is arguably the most talented starting roster ever
I think the 2016 team only wins if they find a way to frustrate the 2017 guys, provoking a series of events that would doubtlessly include a tiff between KD and Dray. I could see it being pretty damn close though.
For one thing, by 2019 Barnes is among the best in the league at defending KD, and with the experience of doing so against OKC in the playoffs already under his belt, his 2016 edition really could cut off just enough of those normally unstoppable KD ISO plays to make them less efficient than what his side is running. He's gotta make those corner threes, though, so luck and nerves will play a big role.
Do you think Klay defends his mirror self, or Steph, most of the time? I'm betting we see a lot of Klay on Steph. With his persistence—plus the overall BBIQ and savviness of the team and coaches—Steph's life gets a lot harder; those relocation threes aren't going to be so automatic.
I think Bogut and Zaza end up playing only spot minutes as the other side's smallball lineups attack them; that would leave room for Javale to go to work in short bursts, except when Speights manages to draw the charge against him. David West would anchor 2017's second unit, but with Liv slightly declined and no Barbossa I could see him struggling to find cutters and players who can create their own shot against the reliable defense of the 2016 team.
Speaking of defense, Draymond would be a force on both teams. Though his physical abilities may not quite measure up as well, 2017 Green has a huge advantage in familiarity with the 2016 cast, whereas his year-younger counterpart would have less foreknowledge of how the Super Villain Warriors operate and less intimate familiarity with the new players. On the other hand, the inherent disadvantages of not having KD on his side would mean 2016 Draymond would have an even bigger chip on his shoulder and would play with even more fire. That, plus the hunger of the 2016 team determined to prove themselves, could lead to an upset, but in a long enough series the underdog energy is bound to flow both ways, making it a hell of an event.
I have a sneaking suspicion that having KD taking open 3's via Steph double teams will work out slightly better than HB taking open 3's.
Also, for those with NBATV, 2pm PST today is something on Steph and Monta.
Simple. Whoever has the healthiest Steph.
I guess that if we can figure out how to get the 2017 team to play the 2016 team, then what I'd do is have Bob Myers from 2017 trick 2016 Bob Myers into a sucker deal where he acquires 2016 Curry, Dre, and Klay for 2017 McCaw, Dre and Barnes. Now I have 2 Stephs and 2 Klays on my team. This way I always have at least one Curry on the floor. Sometimes I run 2 Klays, sometimes I run 2 Stephs. Sometimes I run all 4. I think my best lineup is probably Durant, Curry, Klay, Green, and Steph. But if the other team ever forces a game 6, then I start both Klays.