Given it's the first night of a b2b, and the Rockets are one of the less competitive teams we'll be going against but they have Dillon Brooks, a little caution on minor soreness is warranted.
Also the Pels game is nationally televised and Dray is unlikely to play on the b2b and the Warriors can only have one “star” not playing. Maybe? This ish is so complicated….
I didn’t expect the biggest concern would be 40% of the best lineup in the NBA.
Klay looked better but still slow. I’m going to set the over/under of Klay’s final game as a GSW starter at the final game of this season. The way Moody and JK are looking, I half expect one of them to force this issue this season.
Steph-Chef-41 - big deal! That's normal. For me, 'what just happened' moment was Loondawg's (crossover?) move on that one possession to get himself the bucket. I feel like there are parts of Loon's game that we dont get to see because he has Steph, Klay and such around him. And that's a pity.
Kuminga/Moody taking Wiggins minutes is a good thing right now… Wiggins just seems a step slow defending guards, his shot isn’t quite there, and he’s not as physical or aggressive to the basket. I have faith he’ll refind himself, but he’s not there yet… though last night was better than the Suns game.
I think this is going to be an open but important question for a while -- when do Kuminga and Moody play, for whom, and in what clutch situations. Mostly we have a good problem not a bad one.
As much as I like Moody, I think that is a good news/bad news stat as he rarely takes an even moderately contested 3. It is good to see that kind of discipline in a young player, but eventually he is going to gain the confidence to take harder shots and still make them.
I agree, if you are shooting 50+% on threes it means you aren't shooting enough threes.
Imo Moody has way more to his offensive game than he's been able to show the past two seasons, and perhaps this is the season he starts to get more of an offensive role. We saw a few midrange pull ups yesterday which I can't recall him taking in non-garbage time before. We have seen them call plays for him to run open and shoot but it's something that could be done more frequently. And then I'll know they are really interested in exploring his offensive abilities if they let him run some pick and rolls. He graded well as a PnR ballhandler in college but we've rarely seen it in the pros, at least until these two preseason PnRs with Garuba (scored on both):
Having a good shot selection is a skill. You can absolutely build out on that. Moody had a nasty one dribble pull up last night to counter a hard close out.
If GPII or Draymond made this percentage of threes, we'd be back to 2015 levels of dominance.
If Moody commands being closely guarded, then that frees up the paint for Steph and Paul and Kuminga. If they sag off, well, it's 1.5 points every time he shoots, which is beyond elite levels of scoring (by comparison, Steph scores 1.39 points every time he shoots).
True, but I think it's commendable that so far in his very young career he has limited his diet of bad or tough shots, something most young players don't learn until much later.
I really liked the TJD minutes. Low on points and rebounds but high on contests, screens and rolls. CP3 was coming off those screens with more space and the defense sucked down to stop the roller. He was feeding Moses, Kuminga and Klay for some very nice rhythm jumpers. Looked easy.
They extended the lead by 6 without Steph and the Kings with Fox. That was even with that bogus flopping call on Moody. Was a danger zone that the Warriors dominated.
Saric was getting manhandled by Sabonis. I think there will be more nights like this where TJD is the better matchup.
I think everyone here will be delighted to see that this video that needs no introduction was just posted: https://youtu.be/gc7q5QN46RE?si=muIgDp2-RyOrrfX2
Love the ending on why we drafted Podziemski.
is Podz a lefty?
This needs to be pinned to the top!
RiP Matthew Perry
- Aaron Nesmith has 26 points for the Pacers in a 125-113 win over the Donovan Mitchell-less Cavaliers
- Naz Reid leads Timberwolves in 106-90 takedown of short-handed Heat in home opener
- Booker and Beal both out for the Suns
I’d say this new era of star players playing is working out real great /s
Timpf’s take on last night’s game: https://youtu.be/317Y-JmJUoU?si=9wVYwozhL-MP8uc4
Some highlights:
- Jonathan Kuminga is better than expected to start the season
- With his mobility, TJD is like having another wing defender out there
- CP3 is the adult with the kids in the 2nd unit
Was really impressed by the TJD-JK-MM front court with CP and Klay. The athleticism the three of them provide is exciting for the team.
Yeah TJD has such quick feet. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s more laterally quick than even Moody or Klay.
Steph questionable for,Houston: https://www.si.com/nba/warriors/news/steph-curry-unexpectedly-added-to-injury-report-vs-rockets
Given it's the first night of a b2b, and the Rockets are one of the less competitive teams we'll be going against but they have Dillon Brooks, a little caution on minor soreness is warranted.
Also the Pels game is nationally televised and Dray is unlikely to play on the b2b and the Warriors can only have one “star” not playing. Maybe? This ish is so complicated….
Yipes
I didn’t expect the biggest concern would be 40% of the best lineup in the NBA.
Klay looked better but still slow. I’m going to set the over/under of Klay’s final game as a GSW starter at the final game of this season. The way Moody and JK are looking, I half expect one of them to force this issue this season.
Klay's shoes aren't doing him any favors. They look like a pair of comfortable black shoes senior citizens wear.
Dray plans to play tomorrow: https://www.si.com/nba/warriors/news/breaking-draymond-greens-return-date-from-injury-revealed
Asher, you, with the kuminga profile after being taken to task for not having a profile image is hilarious.
I mean what was I gonna use John Havlicek?
Dalton Johnson@DaltonJ_Johnson
The whole city of Sacramento has to be sick of Steph Curry
Nah.
(As we speak, I’m sure Dubs fans up there that are rubbing it the noses of their Kings fan friends, family neighbors and co-workers 😁)
This year the warriors seem so much better already:
Returning best five starting lineup
Moody better
Jk better
Paul>Poole
Saric better than someone
Gp2 better than Wiseman
2 promising rookies with “a feel for the game”
Can you imagine if we also had the best pointforward/defender in the league? :)
There's no way we can get LeBron.
I know youre usually sarcastic. But Im worried this is not sarcasm…
Why the worry?
Steph-Chef-41 - big deal! That's normal. For me, 'what just happened' moment was Loondawg's (crossover?) move on that one possession to get himself the bucket. I feel like there are parts of Loon's game that we dont get to see because he has Steph, Klay and such around him. And that's a pity.
That one blew me away. Had to rewind!
I loved that. Rewatched multiple times.
Kuminga/Moody taking Wiggins minutes is a good thing right now… Wiggins just seems a step slow defending guards, his shot isn’t quite there, and he’s not as physical or aggressive to the basket. I have faith he’ll refind himself, but he’s not there yet… though last night was better than the Suns game.
I think this is going to be an open but important question for a while -- when do Kuminga and Moody play, for whom, and in what clutch situations. Mostly we have a good problem not a bad one.
little competition for playing time can help keep everyone sharp, and we've got it in backcourt, frontcourt, AND wings
Steph, Dray, and all 3 of them.
He was miles better this game than last! If this is his recovery trajectory, he’ll be back in no time.
Least we forget it was Wiggins' assist at the end that gave Curry his dagger-three! I didn't realize it till I saw the highlights.
Guarding Fox will make anyone look a step slow.
Especially when the Kings were running Wiggs through screens a lot.
I have faith in my Canadian overlord.
Kuminga kept up with him better than Wiggins.
He looked like essential Wiggs at the start of the game. As long as his heart is in it, I have faith:
From Slater "since last March, Moody has made 40 of his last 72 attempted 3s, an eye-popping 55.5 percent"
As much as I like Moody, I think that is a good news/bad news stat as he rarely takes an even moderately contested 3. It is good to see that kind of discipline in a young player, but eventually he is going to gain the confidence to take harder shots and still make them.
I agree, if you are shooting 50+% on threes it means you aren't shooting enough threes.
Imo Moody has way more to his offensive game than he's been able to show the past two seasons, and perhaps this is the season he starts to get more of an offensive role. We saw a few midrange pull ups yesterday which I can't recall him taking in non-garbage time before. We have seen them call plays for him to run open and shoot but it's something that could be done more frequently. And then I'll know they are really interested in exploring his offensive abilities if they let him run some pick and rolls. He graded well as a PnR ballhandler in college but we've rarely seen it in the pros, at least until these two preseason PnRs with Garuba (scored on both):
https://youtu.be/MP_yK1zK-Po?t=46
Having a good shot selection is a skill. You can absolutely build out on that. Moody had a nasty one dribble pull up last night to counter a hard close out.
Making open threes at an elite percentage on this team is invaluable.
This.
You're going to get open shots with Steph.
If GPII or Draymond made this percentage of threes, we'd be back to 2015 levels of dominance.
If Moody commands being closely guarded, then that frees up the paint for Steph and Paul and Kuminga. If they sag off, well, it's 1.5 points every time he shoots, which is beyond elite levels of scoring (by comparison, Steph scores 1.39 points every time he shoots).
True, but I think it's commendable that so far in his very young career he has limited his diet of bad or tough shots, something most young players don't learn until much later.
I really liked the TJD minutes. Low on points and rebounds but high on contests, screens and rolls. CP3 was coming off those screens with more space and the defense sucked down to stop the roller. He was feeding Moses, Kuminga and Klay for some very nice rhythm jumpers. Looked easy.
They extended the lead by 6 without Steph and the Kings with Fox. That was even with that bogus flopping call on Moody. Was a danger zone that the Warriors dominated.
Saric was getting manhandled by Sabonis. I think there will be more nights like this where TJD is the better matchup.
Faced on your excellent analysis of big man basketball, you have a standing invitation to TJ D Atoll.
I like Saric more as a change of pace/second unit floor spacer than the second big off the bench.
I wonder if he could play alongside TJD to minimize some of his defensive struggles.
Of course, the big man rotation will get pretty jumbled again when Draymond gets back.
Say: TJD, Saric, Kuminga, Moody, Paul.
That unit really should rock, now that I think of it.
I think most nights Saric will be great as 2nd big. Sabonis is a really tough cover for most guys not named Looney.
But to your point Saric can definitely play with TJD, or with Dray.
It'll be interesting. TJD definitely offers something they don't have from anyone else in the frontcourt.
Saric had some weak calls against him that got him in foul trouble
That CP3-Saric PnR/PnP is such a nice add on to our toolbox. It's like their own mini game within our offense lol
You mean like Poole & Wiseman? That was also a (league-leading I think) effective thing of (in small doses) beauty.
In what ways was it league-leading?
Can't Light the Beam when it's lights out by 9:30 PM sharp.
It's called The Golden One Center for a reason.
🙏😴
Yeah, they weren't thinking about the Golden One coming to town a couple of times a year to shut them down...
You don't want to turn on any lights once it's night-night time