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RE: NBA Discussion - TrumpCard - 02-14-2023
OF, maybe you are right. If so, the team who gets Klay won’t be any worse off than the Lakers have been since they traded for Westbrook. Also a Hall of Famer who’s now like the 4th best player on a mediocre team and can’t play defense.
RE: NBA Discussion - Leftcoast - 02-14-2023
(02-14-2023, 08:11 AM)Mick Wrote: I've been a Warriors fan since the late 1960s. My father and father in law both played college basketball. It's my favorite spectator sport of the Big Four. And yes, I'd trade Curry, Thompson and Draymond rather than watch them play .500 ball and show up for 2/3rds of the games.
And you know the people who drafted those terrible first round picks are gone, right? And JBC averaged more than 20 ppg for the W's. No, I would have FAR preferred to have Parrish and McHale, obviously. But Todd Fuller and JBC don't belong in the same group.
Agreed on JBC being better than remembered, he made the NBA rookie first team and (if memory serves) one all-star team. On the other hand there were reasons he earned his "Joe Barely Cares" nickname even if it was cruel and unfair. For many (but not all) games each season he lacked passion particularly defensively. Fans and writers noticed and the contrast with his great games against some of the NBAs better centers (Kareem, Malone, etc) were used as proof he had more to give the rest of the season. He also interviewed poorly and left for two years to play in Italy before coming back to the sad-sack Warriors. It wasn't his fault owner Mieuli couldn't afford to pay for better talent nor that Boston's Auerbach picked Mieuli's pocket but he did own his up-and-down play on the court. But yes, he was no Todd Fuller.
Disagree on trading Curry, Thompson, Green before their championship window closes. From Jan 1 2022 through the end of the season the Warriors were barely above 500 (25-23) and Curry/Green/Thompson were rarely on the floor together. So, would you have traded them last year? Celebrating on the parquet floor and raising that fourth championship banner was pretty sweet and made most fans forget the winter results.
In the NFL it's better to "trade a player one year early rather than one year late", as Walsh said. Not the NBA where careers last longer and don't end as abruptly. Post prime Curry and Thompson are still better than their available replacements. Forget last year's example, THIS YEAR the poor performance of former first rounders Kuminga, Moody, and Wiseman have shown, they continue to play much, much better.
Once they are no longer starting we can have this conversation again and I might change my mind. But it will be a sad day. Particularly were the trade to involve franchise trajectory changing Steph Curry who has earned the right to go out on his own terms.
RE: NBA Discussion - Mick - 02-14-2023
(02-14-2023, 03:20 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: Agreed on JBC being better than remembered, he made the NBA rookie first team and (if memory serves) one all-star team. On the other hand there were reasons he earned his "Joe Barely Cares" nickname even if it was cruel and unfair. For many (but not all) games each season he lacked passion particularly defensively. Fans and writers noticed and the contrast with his great games against some of the NBAs better centers (Kareem, Malone, etc) were used as proof he had more to give the rest of the season. He also interviewed poorly and left for two years to play in Italy before coming back to the sad-sack Warriors. It wasn't his fault owner Mieuli couldn't afford to pay for better talent nor that Boston's Auerbach picked Mieuli's pocket but he did own his up-and-down play on the court. But yes, he was no Todd Fuller.
All I was saying is that there was a big difference between one-time All Star JBC and the other names mentioned, particularly Todd Fuller. And JBC played one year overseas, not two.
(02-14-2023, 03:20 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: Disagree on trading Curry, Thompson, Green before their championship window closes. From Jan 1 2022 through the end of the season the Warriors were barely above 500 (25-23) and Curry/Green/Thompson were rarely on the floor together. So, would you have traded them last year? Celebrating on the parquet floor and raising that fourth championship banner was pretty sweet and made most fans forget the winter results.
We don't disagree on that statement. My position is that their championship window has already slammed shut, and it slammed shut this year. Your comments about last year are completely immaterial, the championship window was open then. I never, not once, advocated for getting rid of Green, Steph or Klay in 2022.
(02-14-2023, 03:20 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: In the NFL it's better to "trade a player one year early rather than one year late", as Walsh said. Not the NBA where careers last longer and don't end as abruptly. Post prime Curry and Thompson are still better than their available replacements. Forget last year's example, THIS YEAR the poor performance of former first rounders Kuminga, Moody, and Wiseman have shown, they continue to play much, much better.
Here's my projection. You think the Warriors are still on a championship run. I think the Warriors will be out after the first round of the playoffs. They don't have what it takes any more. Happy to wager on it. I'll take "out after the first round of the playoffs." You take "wins the NBA championship." Let me know your preferred wager.
(02-14-2023, 03:20 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: Once they are no longer starting we can have this conversation again and I might change my mind. But it will be a sad day. Particularly were the trade to involve franchise trajectory changing Steph Curry who has earned the right to go out on his own terms.
Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.
RE: NBA Discussion - cardcrimson - 02-14-2023
(02-14-2023, 03:57 PM)Mick Wrote: Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.
Geez Mick, you forgot Johnny U, Kenny Stabler, Jerry Rice, and even Tommy Brady. . . .
RE: NBA Discussion - OutsiderFan - 02-14-2023
I'm reading Steve Kerr's comments about Moses Moody last night and am wondering...
A few games ago, after a series of DNPCDs, the word was Moody is too limited to get on the floor. Basically, the narrative is Moody isn't a good enough athlete to be a defensive stopper, or beat anyone off the dribble. Yet, after the Wizards win, Steve Kerr said it was maybe the best game Moody has played all season. His line was 8 mins, 0-1 FG, 1-2 FT, + 11.
So, my question: Did Moody all of a sudden play like Kerr wants him to play - setting screens, moving the ball, playing team defense? And.. if Moody, maybe Kuminga and even Wiseman, played more minutes earlier in the season, and were allowed to make mistakes and learn, would the W's have lost games, but now be in a position to win more games? You get better by making mistakes and learning.
It looks like the W's lost games even though the young guys weren't playing, making mistake and learning, and that the opportunity cost of not letting them do this is not only being .500, but might be that the team won't be as good as it could have been if the lotto picks were allowed to take their lumps earlier in the season. Anyone else see this possibly being the case?
RE: NBA Discussion - Leftcoast - 02-14-2023
(02-14-2023, 04:39 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:(02-14-2023, 03:57 PM)Mick Wrote: Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.
Geez Mick, you forgot Johnny U, Kenny Stabler, Jerry Rice, and even Tommy Brady. . . .
It's interesting that not many of those names are in the NBA and so many are in the NFL where physical decline is so precipitous. Personally, I want Curry to go out like Magic, Bird, Kobe, Olajuwon and Dirk. Not like Montana and Lott both of whom were disgruntled and, when scratched, are still bitter. Here's a quote I never want to hear from Steph Curry.
"I should have never had to leave. Why wasn't I allowed to compete for the job? I just had one of the best years I'd ever had. I could understand if I wasn't playing well. We had just won two Super Bowls and I had one of my best years and we were winning in the championship game when I got hurt," Montana lamented. "How do I not get an opportunity? That's the hardest part."
Why am I not allowed in the facility? What did I do to not be allowed in the facility? They wouldn't even let me dress."
(Joe Montana, 2023 ESPN article so almost 30 years after his retirement.)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35604915/49ers-legend-joe-montana-reflects-legacy-ahead-super-bowl
RE: NBA Discussion - triangle2 - 02-14-2023
(02-14-2023, 05:16 PM)Leftcoast Wrote:(02-14-2023, 04:39 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:(02-14-2023, 03:57 PM)Mick Wrote: Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.
Geez Mick, you forgot Johnny U, Kenny Stabler, Jerry Rice, and even Tommy Brady. . . .
It's interesting that not many of those names are in the NBA and so many are in the NFL where physical decline is so precipitous. Personally, I want Curry to go out like Magic, Bird, Kobe, Olajuwon and Dirk. Not like Montana and Lott both of whom were disgruntled and, when scratched, are still bitter. Here's a quote I never want to hear from Steph Curry.
"I should have never had to leave. Why wasn't I allowed to compete for the job? I just had one of the best years I'd ever had. I could understand if I wasn't playing well. We had just won two Super Bowls and I had one of my best years and we were winning in the championship game when I got hurt," Montana lamented. "How do I not get an opportunity? That's the hardest part."
Why am I not allowed in the facility? What did I do to not be allowed in the facility? They wouldn't even let me dress."
(Joe Montana, 2023 ESPN article so almost 30 years after his retirement.)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35604915/49ers-legend-joe-montana-reflects-legacy-ahead-super-bowl
I was in Boston for Bird's last three+ seasons. No one in Boston regrets getting to watch late stage Larry, even though the team was aging and also filled with younger players who were clearly 'not good enough.' My last trip to the Garden before he retired is a favorite sports memory of mine even though Bird probably played 18 minutes and spent much of the game lying down on his stomach due to his lower back pain. I'll be extraordinarily sad if Curry doesn't get to stay until he retires.
Thread drift: what are your favorite moments where you got to see great NBA players play in-person (and where). For me in no particular order - Rick Barry against the Lakers with Kareem at the Coliseum, Dr J at the Spectrum against the Hawks, Patrick Ewing at MSG, and the incredibly talented Supersonics lineup (Payton, Derrick McKey, Shawn Kemp, Ricky Pierce, Nate McMillan) against the Warriors in the Hardaway, Mullin, Marciulionis, and, cough, Sprewell era in Seattle.
RE: NBA Discussion - 81alum - 02-14-2023
(02-14-2023, 03:57 PM)Mick Wrote: Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.My wife grew up a Giants fan and often went to Candlestick to watch Willie Mays. She didn't really care about the Giants. But Willie....
Then, at the impressionable age of 13, Mays was traded to the Mets.
My wife has not watched a single baseball game since May 11, 1972. It was as if someone murdered a family member. Major League Baseball lost a committed fan for next 50 years and counting.
RE: NBA Discussion - Mick - 02-14-2023
(02-14-2023, 05:16 PM)Leftcoast Wrote:(02-14-2023, 04:39 PM)cardcrimson Wrote:(02-14-2023, 03:57 PM)Mick Wrote: Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.
Geez Mick, you forgot Johnny U, Kenny Stabler, Jerry Rice, and even Tommy Brady. . . .
It's interesting that not many of those names are in the NBA and so many are in the NFL where physical decline is so precipitous. Personally, I want Curry to go out like Magic, Bird, Kobe, Olajuwon and Dirk. Not like Montana and Lott both of whom were disgruntled and, when scratched, are still bitter. Here's a quote I never want to hear from Steph Curry.
"I should have never had to leave. Why wasn't I allowed to compete for the job? I just had one of the best years I'd ever had. I could understand if I wasn't playing well. We had just won two Super Bowls and I had one of my best years and we were winning in the championship game when I got hurt," Montana lamented. "How do I not get an opportunity? That's the hardest part."
Why am I not allowed in the facility? What did I do to not be allowed in the facility? They wouldn't even let me dress."
(Joe Montana, 2023 ESPN article so almost 30 years after his retirement.)
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35604915/49ers-legend-joe-montana-reflects-legacy-ahead-super-bowl
Sorry, Joe. You were allowed to compete. Steve Young was better. When an opposing coach tells his team "make sure you don't injure Montana, we don't want Steve Young in the game," that's saying something, whether Joe recognizes it or not. Jerry Glanville, coach of the Falcons said something very similar.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/we-settle-the-great-steve-young-joe-montana-quarterback-debate/
This doesn't even take into account that Young played the bulk of his career with a salary cap, while Eddie D. could buy players at will when Joe was QB.
(02-14-2023, 05:43 PM)81alum Wrote:(02-14-2023, 03:57 PM)Mick Wrote: Lots of transcendant stars end up leaving at the ends of their careers. Joe Montana. Babe Ruth. Duke Snider. Willie Mays. Chris Mullin. Michael Jordan. Ronnie Lott. Jackie Robinson was actually traded to the Giants, and he retired instead. You make it sound as if it's axiomatic that they should be able to select when and where and from whom they retire.My wife grew up a Giants fan and often went to Candlestick to watch Willie Mays. She didn't really care about the Giants. But Willie....
Then, at the impressionable age of 13, Mays was traded to the Mets.
My wife has not watched a single baseball game since May 11, 1972. It was as if someone murdered a family member. Major League Baseball lost a committed fan for next 50 years and counting.
My dad was a Mays fan, and I think he's the greatest player ever. When he was traded, all of my friends were Giants fans and McCovey fans in order. It made us sad to watch Mays batting .184 as a 41 year old for a 7-16 Giants team.
RE: NBA Discussion - Leftcoast - 02-14-2023
One quick point ... While I agree with many of the points made above on the value of franchise icons, Curry and Thompson AREN'T Larry Bird laying down on the sideline or Willy Mays riding the interstate with a 148 batting average. Curry is leading his team in points per game while shooting 50% from the floor and 42% from three. He'd be 8th in league wide scoring average if he'd played more games. (The qualifier supports Mick's point of course). His assist to turnover ration is above 2.0 while his presumptive replacement in Jordan Poole is well behind him in all categories.
I can't believe any of their Western Conference rivals would want to play GSW in the first round. Doesn't mean they'll be favorites, and certainly doesn't mean they can win the four hard series needed for a championship ... but they might. At the very least they'll be a tough out.
Name me a pre Curry GSW team that could say that since 1990. ("We Believe" was a one series mirage in my view)
RE: NBA Discussion - OutsiderFan - 03-01-2023
It's almost surreal to see the Western Conference standings. On Feb. 23, the Warriors were in 10th place. just six days later they are in 5th.
It's pretty clear the Irving trade is not working well for the Mavericks. They are just 1-5 with he and Doncic playing together in the same game, and the only win was against San Antonio that just ended a 16 game bender last night at Utah.
As I looked ahead at the W's remaining schedule before the Portland game, I projected them to go 8-20 the rest of the way. That would put them 40-42. BUT, this is based on how they have played the season up until this point, and without Curry, Wiggins, and Gary Payton II. It's also not factoring in the possibility that they *could* turn up their intensity, regardless of whether those guys return, but especially when they do.
The LeBron James injury certainly weakness the Lakers and makes me less confident they will finish ahead of the Warriors, but they have the easier schedule down the stretch.
Kevin Durant debuts for the Suns - who are just 1 game up on the W's if you can believe it - tonight. Can they improve to #3 or #4 seed?
Nice to see the Sacramento Kings finally on track to end their umpteen year playoff drought. Might they face the Warriors in the first round!?!??
Every night is going to be full of big games impacting playoff and play-in positioning, from now through April 9. The NBA will be happy, but will this translate into more interest in terms of eyeballs?
RE: NBA Discussion - SamuelMcF - 03-01-2023
(03-01-2023, 07:22 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: It's almost surreal to see the Western Conference standings. On Feb. 23, the Warriors were in 10th place. just six days later they are in 5th.
It's pretty clear the Irving trade is not working well for the Mavericks. They are just 1-5 with he and Doncic playing together in the same game, and the only win was against San Antonio that just ended a 16 game bender last night at Utah.
As I looked ahead at the W's remaining schedule before the Portland game, I projected them to go 8-20 the rest of the way. That would put them 40-42. BUT, this is based on how they have played the season up until this point, and without Curry, Wiggins, and Gary Payton II. It's also not factoring in the possibility that they *could* turn up their intensity, regardless of whether those guys return, but especially when they do.
The LeBron James injury certainly weakness the Lakers and makes me less confident they will finish ahead of the Warriors, but they have the easier schedule down the stretch.
Kevin Durant debuts for the Suns - who are just 1 game up on the W's if you can believe it - tonight. Can they improve to #3 or #4 seed?
Nice to see the Sacramento Kings finally on track to end their umpteen year playoff drought. Might they face the Warriors in the first round!?!??
Every night is going to be full of big games impacting playoff and play-in positioning, from now through April 9. The NBA will be happy, but will this translate into more interest in terms of eyeballs?
I'm good. Not at all interested in another basketball season of non-Stanford games from March-April. I'm only interested in Stanford basketball and whether Haase gets fired.
I'm way more interested in NFL and CFB offseason stuff than I am the NBA, which I will not be watching.
RE: NBA Discussion - OutsiderFan - 03-01-2023
(03-01-2023, 10:31 AM)SamuelMcF Wrote:(03-01-2023, 07:22 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: It's almost surreal to see the Western Conference standings. On Feb. 23, the Warriors were in 10th place. just six days later they are in 5th.
It's pretty clear the Irving trade is not working well for the Mavericks. They are just 1-5 with he and Doncic playing together in the same game, and the only win was against San Antonio that just ended a 16 game bender last night at Utah.
As I looked ahead at the W's remaining schedule before the Portland game, I projected them to go 8-20 the rest of the way. That would put them 40-42. BUT, this is based on how they have played the season up until this point, and without Curry, Wiggins, and Gary Payton II. It's also not factoring in the possibility that they *could* turn up their intensity, regardless of whether those guys return, but especially when they do.
The LeBron James injury certainly weakness the Lakers and makes me less confident they will finish ahead of the Warriors, but they have the easier schedule down the stretch.
Kevin Durant debuts for the Suns - who are just 1 game up on the W's if you can believe it - tonight. Can they improve to #3 or #4 seed?
Nice to see the Sacramento Kings finally on track to end their umpteen year playoff drought. Might they face the Warriors in the first round!?!??
Every night is going to be full of big games impacting playoff and play-in positioning, from now through April 9. The NBA will be happy, but will this translate into more interest in terms of eyeballs?
I'm good. Not at all interested in another basketball season of non-Stanford games from March-April. I'm only interested in Stanford basketball and whether Haase gets fired.
I'm way more interested in NFL and CFB offseason stuff than I am the NBA, which I will not be watching.
So we should pencil you in as one person who doesn't find the tight NBA standings and sundry topics interesting. Thank you for making it clear.
RE: NBA Discussion - Leftcoast - 03-01-2023
While it might not persuade SamuelMcF, the Dubs Tuesday night game against the Trailblazers with star Damian Lillard, and paticularly the in-game strategy and maneuvering, was a compelling and fun contest featuring a team that could make some noise in the coming NBA play-offs. That's compelling and all things I don't see at Stanford.
In the first quarter the Blazers scored 41 (!). At one point the Warriors were behind by 23 points but that changed. In the second half the Warriors coaching staff realized that no one other than Lillard could beat them and made heavy use of a box and one defense that denied Lillard the ball. The strategy worked and Portland scored a measly 40 points in the entire second half. You heard that right - 41 points in Q1, 40 points combined in Q3/Q4. That's compelling basketball and good in-game course correction without Curry (future HOF and GSW main engine) and last year's all-star and play-off hero Wiggins.
I think I'll take that over Stanford basketball until further notice despite once being a 17 year season ticket holder. (I hope Mr Muir is listening). It's not that I won't follow Stanford - I certainly will. I'm just not as passionate. I made it to 5 Stanford MBB games this year including the very enjoyable UCLA game using individual tickets but without changes I don't believe Stanford Men's basketball has a viable path to relevance or the commitment to excellence I see at Golden State.
In a crowded Bay Area sports scene remaining a perennial also-ran isn't a path for attendance and ratings success. By the way, I got the lower bowl Stanford/UCLA tickets because a fellow fan who still has season tickets opted for the Warriors/Lakers game and passed me his Stanford tix.
RE: NBA Discussion - lex24 - 03-02-2023
(03-01-2023, 10:59 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote:(03-01-2023, 10:31 AM)SamuelMcF Wrote:(03-01-2023, 07:22 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: It's almost surreal to see the Western Conference standings. On Feb. 23, the Warriors were in 10th place. just six days later they are in 5th.
It's pretty clear the Irving trade is not working well for the Mavericks. They are just 1-5 with he and Doncic playing together in the same game, and the only win was against San Antonio that just ended a 16 game bender last night at Utah.
As I looked ahead at the W's remaining schedule before the Portland game, I projected them to go 8-20 the rest of the way. That would put them 40-42. BUT, this is based on how they have played the season up until this point, and without Curry, Wiggins, and Gary Payton II. It's also not factoring in the possibility that they *could* turn up their intensity, regardless of whether those guys return, but especially when they do.
The LeBron James injury certainly weakness the Lakers and makes me less confident they will finish ahead of the Warriors, but they have the easier schedule down the stretch.
Kevin Durant debuts for the Suns - who are just 1 game up on the W's if you can believe it - tonight. Can they improve to #3 or #4 seed?
Nice to see the Sacramento Kings finally on track to end their umpteen year playoff drought. Might they face the Warriors in the first round!?!??
Every night is going to be full of big games impacting playoff and play-in positioning, from now through April 9. The NBA will be happy, but will this translate into more interest in terms of eyeballs?
I'm good. Not at all interested in another basketball season of non-Stanford games from March-April. I'm only interested in Stanford basketball and whether Haase gets fired.
I'm way more interested in NFL and CFB offseason stuff than I am the NBA, which I will not be watching.
So we should pencil you in as one person who doesn't find the tight NBA standings and sundry topics interesting. Thank you for making it clear.
Wow. Was snark necessary?
RE: NBA Discussion - OutsiderFan - 03-02-2023
It is probably hyperbolic, and every remaining game is important given the standings, but it sure feels to me like tonight's Warriors game vs. the Clippers is the biggest game of the season in terms of value of the win should the W's get it. If they lose, it's not the end of the world, but a W would be very significant.
The Clippers are -3.5, but ESPN's - admittedly questionable - predictor says the Clippers have a 79% chance to win. Pretty large discrepancy between the line and win prediction percentage.
In other games, the Mavericks are -3 over the Sixers at home on TNT before W's-Clips. I don't understand this at all. Philly is a much better team than Dallas, and Irving + Doncic seems to be subtraction by addition. I guess the Vegas sharps think that worm is gonna turn tonight for some reason.
RE: NBA Discussion - OutsiderFan - 03-03-2023
Well, well, well...
The Warriors obliterated the Clippers 70-35 in the second half to erase an 11 point half time deficit, becoming the first team in NBA history to win two consecutive games by 15+ points after trailing by double digits in both first halves of those games. ESPN really needs to adjust its algorithm for predictions. I thought the Clips would win too, but 79% chance of winning was outrageous.
The W's have been sneaky better on defense in the last four games - all wins - lately, and held the Clippers to the fewest points (91) of any opponent this season. They are now a season high 3 games over .500. Still going to be tough to finish .500, but they certainly have the talent to do it. The question is will they continue putting out the effort on defense needed to win on the road that they have shown through this home stand? Will they even bring that effort tonight against New Orleans?
Maybe people have written off the Mavs too quickly. They did in fact beat the Sixers, with Irving and Doncic looking dominant.
The prognosticators are going to have no idea how to pick WC playoffs. The East first round is going to be chalk. Or is anyone really buying into the New York Knickerbockers?
RE: NBA Discussion - Mick - 03-03-2023
Warriors are now the #5 overall seed in the West, one game behind the Phoenix Suns. Dubs play Phoenix on 3/13, who are now instantly tougher with Kevin Durant. As long as the Warriors avoid the play-in tournament, I think they'll do well in the playoffs.
Let's assume they can get back Wiggins and Curry, who have played 37 and 38 games...not too much mileage there. Klay is in his rhythm. If Draymond is rested up...could be a really successful playoffs. I doubt they can win it all again, but who knows if the threes keep dropping and Jordan Poole grows up (he's only 23), and their newfound commitment to defense holds up?
RE: NBA Discussion - cardcrimson - 03-03-2023
Not getting any expectations up yet. If they win five of the next seven, perhaps. They have three against the Pelicans, Lakers and Thunder, all whom they should beat. Then four against the Grizz, the Bucks, the Suns, and the Clips. When the first three, then split the last four.
RE: NBA Discussion - OutsiderFan - 03-04-2023
What an interesting Friday night of NBA results...
- Nets become third team this week to erase a 25 pt deficit and win at Celtics of all teams
- Knicks stay hot in buzzer beating win at Heat
- Warriors yet again erase double digit (17) point first half deficit to win by 9, to go 5-0 on homes sand and go 4 games over .500
- Clippers fight back in final minutes and miss buzzer beater to lose at Kings by 1 and go 0-5 since ASB
- Nuggets come back to win at home vs. Memphis to run further away with #1 seed in West; Kings just 1 GB of #2 seed
Jonathan Kuminga is now in the closing lineup for W's, playing great defense and attacking the rim without the ball, really great to see. And once again the defense shows up, holding Pelicans to 99! Now we get to see if that D travels and how Curry fits in to this evolved lineup.
Tim Kawakami predicts W's to now go 9-9 the rest of the way, to finish 43-39. He just doesn't believe the W's can play the kind of defense they played on this past home stand, on the road, based on their 7-23 road record to date. I'm not as confident they can't, because I didn't think they could play the D they in fact did on the home stand, so am less skeptical they can start playing it on the road.
Suns at Mavericks and Warriors at Lakers makes for a pretty compelling ABC double-header on Sunday.