I hope the rest of our guys are ready to help out Steph tomorrow night. I have a feeling he is going to see a lot of traps/double teams forcing him to give up the ball early. We’re going to need to make the Celtics pay for that early and often.
I think you're on to something saying that Boston hasn't seen Steph & Dray in title mode. I've been thinking since early in game 1 that Boston is not ready to defend Steph. Our Western Conference opponents have had a lot more chances to face off against Steph than Boston has. In fact, only one player in Boston's entire rotation has ever faced the Warriors in a playoff game before: Derrick White, who logged a total of about 18 minutes—across 3 games—on the court as a Spur back in 2018.
As for their regular season meetings, I previously felt like the Celtics defended Steph fairly well, but after looking back on this season and the previous, I'm not so sure.
Maybe going back even further, we could find some games where they defended Steph adequately, but based on these 4 plus the first couple finals games… Boston can't slow down a healthy Curry. I guess they stand a chance if their 3-point shooting is as hot as ours, but statistically that seems less likely.
Trying to decide if I want to believe in Warriors in 5 or if I think Boston will have another hotter-than-hot shooting game. Both feel plausible. I guess I'll go conservative and say Dubs in 6.
“I probably seemed a little rushed,” Thompson admitted. “I wasn’t underneath my shot. This is nothing I’m immune to. I’ve been through shooting slumps before. The best part is, it’s how you respond. Come Game 3, I’ll probably not do much differently rather than just play with great pace and pump great shots. When I tend to do that, I tend to have a big night.
> Klay Thompson says sometimes when he struggles shooting, he will go on YouTube and reference past big games he’s had [...] Asked what his go-to is on YouTube, he smiled and said: “Game 6 Klay.”
Quote from Marcus Smart from today’s practice. “You respond to fire with fire, right?…When you get hit in the mouth, there's only one way to respond, and if you're not really ready to do that, then you don't need to be on this stage.”
It sounds like game 3 is going to be even chipper than game 2.
Check out the @warriors best defensive stops from Game 2 as they held their opponent to 37.5% from the field and forced 18 turnovers! #DubNation pic.twitter.com/CDDPixbXe4
Can we get a no more post-ups chant going? Kinda feels like if you don’t have the drop step and the up and under then you can’t really get separation on the step backs and counters to the level where that’s a high enough % shot.
OT..paean to Kerr’s coaching by Kayakami (sp?) in today’s Athletic. “If this isn’t the best season of Slow-Play Steve Kerr’s bountiful coaching career — and it actually really might be, given the stakes and circumstances — at least it featured his cheekiest callback, hands down.” Couldn’t get link.
FWIW, I didn't really think of what Dray was doing as 'bullying.' Yeah, he was setting a tone. But if he wants to go physical, how about more bullying his way to the rim? This is where having a little Jonathan Kuminga could be fun. They'd probably kill him on the other end, but it would be awesome to watch him dunk over some of their rim protectors. Wiggs and GP2 are welcome to join that party. /That/ would take some of the swagger out of them.
Just win game 3. That all I care about. The Celtics are a really, really good team. We have played well, but if Steph has an off night or the Refs suddenly think Draymond needs to be taught a lesson, we could be down 3-1 in a heartbeat. Just focus on ourselves, make our shots, play good defense, keep battling for boards, and DO NOT LET UP. We are so damn close...
I hope the rest of our guys are ready to help out Steph tomorrow night. I have a feeling he is going to see a lot of traps/double teams forcing him to give up the ball early. We’re going to need to make the Celtics pay for that early and often.
So, Tatum has 83 turnovers in the postseason, only 11 off the NBA record… and Brown has 60. Keep getting in those passing lanes.
Whatever happened to the "Steph is in decline" people?
I think you're on to something saying that Boston hasn't seen Steph & Dray in title mode. I've been thinking since early in game 1 that Boston is not ready to defend Steph. Our Western Conference opponents have had a lot more chances to face off against Steph than Boston has. In fact, only one player in Boston's entire rotation has ever faced the Warriors in a playoff game before: Derrick White, who logged a total of about 18 minutes—across 3 games—on the court as a Spur back in 2018.
As for their regular season meetings, I previously felt like the Celtics defended Steph fairly well, but after looking back on this season and the previous, I'm not so sure.
March 16, 2022: Y'all remember this one. Marcus Smart injured Steph and the Warriors lost badly. https://dubnationhq.com/p/curry-moody-hurt-in-painful-loss?s=r
December 17, 2021: Steph had 30 points but it was Wiggins' game, really. Warriors won.
April 17, 2021: Warriors lost a close one where Curry and Tatum dueled with 47 and 44 respectively. https://dubnationhq.com/p/warriors-injuries-erasing-margin?s=r
Feb 2, 2021: Warriors lost another close one, mostly on the boards after Looney rolled an ankle and we had no center. Steph scored 38. https://dubnationhq.com/p/post-game-therapy-warriors-drop-a?s=r
Maybe going back even further, we could find some games where they defended Steph adequately, but based on these 4 plus the first couple finals games… Boston can't slow down a healthy Curry. I guess they stand a chance if their 3-point shooting is as hot as ours, but statistically that seems less likely.
Trying to decide if I want to believe in Warriors in 5 or if I think Boston will have another hotter-than-hot shooting game. Both feel plausible. I guess I'll go conservative and say Dubs in 6.
WOOOOOOOOOO I AM FEELING GREAT!!! DUBS GOT THIS!!!
https://twitter.com/NBCSWarriors/status/1534248271169957888
100% agreed with Draymond and I hope Corny Bread cries when he hears this too
Klay from The Athletic article:
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“I probably seemed a little rushed,” Thompson admitted. “I wasn’t underneath my shot. This is nothing I’m immune to. I’ve been through shooting slumps before. The best part is, it’s how you respond. Come Game 3, I’ll probably not do much differently rather than just play with great pace and pump great shots. When I tend to do that, I tend to have a big night.
----
Jean Luc Picard says "Make it so, Data".
This is soooo Klay haha
> Klay Thompson says sometimes when he struggles shooting, he will go on YouTube and reference past big games he’s had [...] Asked what his go-to is on YouTube, he smiled and said: “Game 6 Klay.”
https://twitter.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1534227973326479362
'I feel like I'm in my prime' - Steph Curry opens up on his return to the NBA Finals | NBA Today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82CuHqDMZFQ
Quote from Marcus Smart from today’s practice. “You respond to fire with fire, right?…When you get hit in the mouth, there's only one way to respond, and if you're not really ready to do that, then you don't need to be on this stage.”
It sounds like game 3 is going to be even chipper than game 2.
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE 🔒
Check out the @warriors best defensive stops from Game 2 as they held their opponent to 37.5% from the field and forced 18 turnovers! #DubNation pic.twitter.com/CDDPixbXe4
Can we get a no more post-ups chant going? Kinda feels like if you don’t have the drop step and the up and under then you can’t really get separation on the step backs and counters to the level where that’s a high enough % shot.
OT..paean to Kerr’s coaching by Kayakami (sp?) in today’s Athletic. “If this isn’t the best season of Slow-Play Steve Kerr’s bountiful coaching career — and it actually really might be, given the stakes and circumstances — at least it featured his cheekiest callback, hands down.” Couldn’t get link.
FWIW, I didn't really think of what Dray was doing as 'bullying.' Yeah, he was setting a tone. But if he wants to go physical, how about more bullying his way to the rim? This is where having a little Jonathan Kuminga could be fun. They'd probably kill him on the other end, but it would be awesome to watch him dunk over some of their rim protectors. Wiggs and GP2 are welcome to join that party. /That/ would take some of the swagger out of them.
On a side note, apparently Poole likes the "Kid Splash" nickname!
Just win game 3. That all I care about. The Celtics are a really, really good team. We have played well, but if Steph has an off night or the Refs suddenly think Draymond needs to be taught a lesson, we could be down 3-1 in a heartbeat. Just focus on ourselves, make our shots, play good defense, keep battling for boards, and DO NOT LET UP. We are so damn close...