"We’re about to find out a lot about Stephen Curry. He’s undeniably one of the greatest players of all time, but now he has a chance to carry a team on his back for the first time in his career. Steve Kerr said last year he won’t turn Curry into James Harden by giving him the ball every play. But we should see Curry take more shots than ever before now that Kevin Durant is long gone and Klay Thompson is out for the season.
Curry will need to handle the bulk of the playmaking; Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. are at their best playing off others, and the bench players are far worse than past Warriors contenders Curry has led. Curry may need to produce a career-best statistical season to lead the Warriors to a guaranteed playoff spot.
Draymond Green will need to return to form too. The last time we saw Green, he was a shell of his former self, playing uninspired regular-season basketball. But Green needs to bring it regularly for the Warriors to be a stout defensive unit. James Wiseman is promising, but he’s still a rookie who’s not yet seasoned enough to stabilize a defense. If Curry can have another MVP-caliber season, if Green can be worthy of an All-Defensive team nod again, and if the supporting cast is good enough, the Warriors will elevate themselves from a team that’ll make the playoffs but fizzle out to a team that could make a deeper run than anyone is expecting."
That was chill. Thanks for the laughs. Honestly, between no Dray, no experience yet for Wiseman and a team that has a long way to go to figure itself out, I don't begrudge Matt his blowout take at this point. More important than the result is that the team show well, flash the potential we believe it has, and not lose its composure. It could do all that and still lose by double digits against a team with that much talent that already seems to have good chemistry. The key here is to be healthy and still in the playoff hunt after the first third of the season, because this team will need some time to gel. They just will. If we can get enough wins through that point, we'll be able to start winning games at a more serious clip and go into the playoffs ready to make some noise.
You're welcome! And yeah we may be in store for a beating. But then again... what if instead we witness an unleashed James Wiseman ripping rims down and taking souls??? (probably not lol)
I’m pretty sure the league didn’t want Wiseman to play in the pre-season because teams might forfeit their games against the Warriors. Draymond and Wiseman are going to be our own Han Solo and Chewbacca.
(In this anology, I guess Curry is Luke, Oubre is Lando and Wiggins is the Mandalorian.)
I don’t see why the Rockets would want the grab bag of stuff for Harden.
They should trade Kyrie for him (plus picks, and likely another key piece). They’ll get to keep a lot more depth, and Harden is a big talent and durability upgrade on Kyrie.
Most importantly, it might actually get the Rockets to say yes.
The whole reason Durant signs is that he could go there with Irving. He'd have to sign off and I just don't see that happening, if for no other reason than his cred
I can’t remember where I saw it, but there was some speculation that Durant told the team he’d be ok with losing Kyrie if it meant getting Harden. Would Kyrie and Wall be a good fit though? I still think Simmons would be the guy to go after.
I hadn't heard that, but honestly that would surprise me. There's no way Kyrie wouldn't be pissed and I don't see how that works out for KD in terms of how he's perceived by his peers and the NBA cognoscenti, which is important to these guys. Wall isn't really a fit for Kyrie or Simmons if for different reasons, but agreed that between the two, the Rockets would have to be nuts to build around Irving. Some people aren't sold on Simmons though, just like some people aren't sold on Dray.
No matter how hard you try to slay them, people just love points and counting stats more than advanced stats all day. IMO Simmons is a stud, and him with Christian Wood would be an immediately formidable 1-2. Frankly, I'm not sure that I would do that deal if I'm the 6ers, but I don't think that view is shared by their management.
My guess is that Houston genuinely wants to see if Harden can't be swayed by regular season success to stay. As I've been saying, I think Houston actually had a superlative offseason. Wood is a beast and they got a great deal on him. The question is whether it was good enough to offset the catastrophic offseason they had a year ago.
According to realgm, LeVert and Dinwiddie in trade for Harden works. I'm don't think either team would do this trade though, the Rockets because they would want younger players with higher ceilings, and the Nets because they need somebody to play if one of the stars goes down with an injury.
Patience is a virtue! Jessup wouldn't be very good this year. It generally takes time for those high level skill guys who aren't NBA level athletes to work on their bodies to the point where they can use their skills on O and survive on D.
So you let him do it in the Australia league for free. He plays against men. He can expand his game and try different things. It's free development. It's great.
Not only is he playing with men, he’s also playing with a deeper 3-point line. Watching the highlights, he’s looking pretty damn good; lighter on his feet than I expected and stronger in the legs than he looked in college. Maybe by the end of the Australian season, he can come over and help like Bogut did. (We should also have a better idea whether Smiley is showing signs of blossoming.)
They could bring him over after the IBL season. I think we might be better served in letting him work on his body in a longer offseason and then coming in strong for next year's Summer league and more typical season.
As well as he's playing over there, it's just not likely he makes any kind of difference in a playoff run.
I think he meant deeper than the college line, but now that college moved back last year I think it's the same as Australia (and only 8 inches less than NBA).
The Ringer NBA Power Rankings Part 2: https://www.theringer.com/2020/12/21/22192681/nba-preseason-power-rankings-part-2 has the Warriors as #11 and a playoff lock, with the following text:
"We’re about to find out a lot about Stephen Curry. He’s undeniably one of the greatest players of all time, but now he has a chance to carry a team on his back for the first time in his career. Steve Kerr said last year he won’t turn Curry into James Harden by giving him the ball every play. But we should see Curry take more shots than ever before now that Kevin Durant is long gone and Klay Thompson is out for the season.
Curry will need to handle the bulk of the playmaking; Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. are at their best playing off others, and the bench players are far worse than past Warriors contenders Curry has led. Curry may need to produce a career-best statistical season to lead the Warriors to a guaranteed playoff spot.
Draymond Green will need to return to form too. The last time we saw Green, he was a shell of his former self, playing uninspired regular-season basketball. But Green needs to bring it regularly for the Warriors to be a stout defensive unit. James Wiseman is promising, but he’s still a rookie who’s not yet seasoned enough to stabilize a defense. If Curry can have another MVP-caliber season, if Green can be worthy of an All-Defensive team nod again, and if the supporting cast is good enough, the Warriors will elevate themselves from a team that’ll make the playoffs but fizzle out to a team that could make a deeper run than anyone is expecting."
That’s fair
Anyone know anything about Eli Pemberton? 6'5 with good shooting sounds intriguing...
Those are some good numbers from him in college. 4-year player, seems like someone with potential
(As Kruk and Kuip would say in Spring Training when they’d never even heard of a player) “Oh yeah, that’s Old Man Pemberton’s kid.”
Context: https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/12/warriors-sign-waive-elijah-pemberton.html
This holiday I want Wiseman launching 3's just so we can say "3 Wiseman, with a gift!"
Lmao! I hate you for that one
When he hits a game winner "It's a Myrrhacle!"
I hear that a lot.
Frankly, I'm incensed!
This just keeps getting worse
This thread is immaculate
An epiphany
That was chill. Thanks for the laughs. Honestly, between no Dray, no experience yet for Wiseman and a team that has a long way to go to figure itself out, I don't begrudge Matt his blowout take at this point. More important than the result is that the team show well, flash the potential we believe it has, and not lose its composure. It could do all that and still lose by double digits against a team with that much talent that already seems to have good chemistry. The key here is to be healthy and still in the playoff hunt after the first third of the season, because this team will need some time to gel. They just will. If we can get enough wins through that point, we'll be able to start winning games at a more serious clip and go into the playoffs ready to make some noise.
You're welcome! And yeah we may be in store for a beating. But then again... what if instead we witness an unleashed James Wiseman ripping rims down and taking souls??? (probably not lol)
Or if Unleashed Wiseman steps out on DeAndre and calmly drops three threes in the first quarter, prompting a quick hook from Nash?
I’m pretty sure the league didn’t want Wiseman to play in the pre-season because teams might forfeit their games against the Warriors. Draymond and Wiseman are going to be our own Han Solo and Chewbacca.
(In this anology, I guess Curry is Luke, Oubre is Lando and Wiggins is the Mandalorian.)
Im not too big on Star Wars, in general, but I love this analogy lol
It's time for Currys return of the Jedi
I don’t see why the Rockets would want the grab bag of stuff for Harden.
They should trade Kyrie for him (plus picks, and likely another key piece). They’ll get to keep a lot more depth, and Harden is a big talent and durability upgrade on Kyrie.
Most importantly, it might actually get the Rockets to say yes.
The whole reason Durant signs is that he could go there with Irving. He'd have to sign off and I just don't see that happening, if for no other reason than his cred
For sure. I should’ve put the disclaimer that I don’t see it happening for that reason. Very cutthroat from KD and the Nets management both.
What’s funny is that in a years time Kyrie and KD will be sick of each other and they’re probably dumping him for a much worse player than Harden.
I can’t remember where I saw it, but there was some speculation that Durant told the team he’d be ok with losing Kyrie if it meant getting Harden. Would Kyrie and Wall be a good fit though? I still think Simmons would be the guy to go after.
I hadn't heard that, but honestly that would surprise me. There's no way Kyrie wouldn't be pissed and I don't see how that works out for KD in terms of how he's perceived by his peers and the NBA cognoscenti, which is important to these guys. Wall isn't really a fit for Kyrie or Simmons if for different reasons, but agreed that between the two, the Rockets would have to be nuts to build around Irving. Some people aren't sold on Simmons though, just like some people aren't sold on Dray.
No matter how hard you try to slay them, people just love points and counting stats more than advanced stats all day. IMO Simmons is a stud, and him with Christian Wood would be an immediately formidable 1-2. Frankly, I'm not sure that I would do that deal if I'm the 6ers, but I don't think that view is shared by their management.
My guess is that Houston genuinely wants to see if Harden can't be swayed by regular season success to stay. As I've been saying, I think Houston actually had a superlative offseason. Wood is a beast and they got a great deal on him. The question is whether it was good enough to offset the catastrophic offseason they had a year ago.
According to realgm, LeVert and Dinwiddie in trade for Harden works. I'm don't think either team would do this trade though, the Rockets because they would want younger players with higher ceilings, and the Nets because they need somebody to play if one of the stars goes down with an injury.
The Nets would trade Levert and Dinwiddie (and Allen, and a bunch of picks) without question. But that would be a terrible return for James Harden.
On a side note, Jessup performing well in the Australian NBL. I wish he was with the main team, we could definitely use that shooting of his.
Patience is a virtue! Jessup wouldn't be very good this year. It generally takes time for those high level skill guys who aren't NBA level athletes to work on their bodies to the point where they can use their skills on O and survive on D.
So you let him do it in the Australia league for free. He plays against men. He can expand his game and try different things. It's free development. It's great.
Not only is he playing with men, he’s also playing with a deeper 3-point line. Watching the highlights, he’s looking pretty damn good; lighter on his feet than I expected and stronger in the legs than he looked in college. Maybe by the end of the Australian season, he can come over and help like Bogut did. (We should also have a better idea whether Smiley is showing signs of blossoming.)
They could bring him over after the IBL season. I think we might be better served in letting him work on his body in a longer offseason and then coming in strong for next year's Summer league and more typical season.
As well as he's playing over there, it's just not likely he makes any kind of difference in a playoff run.
Is it really a deeper 3 point line? I had no idea.
I think he meant deeper than the college line, but now that college moved back last year I think it's the same as Australia (and only 8 inches less than NBA).
Oops, my bad then. I thought Aussies used the NBA line. I guess that explains why Bogut couldn’t shoot 3’s.
Klay being injured could ultimately force the issue? I wonder....
Tbh, his offensive playing style reminds me quite a bit of a smaller Joe Ingles.
He looks a little more bouncy/athletic to me than Ingles, but that’s still a good comp.
Can't wait! GAME DAY'S IN 28 Hours!!
Sooooon