(05-01-2023, 10:44 AM)OutsiderFan Wrote: Here's more on the Curry speech.
https://theathletic.com/4475672/2023/04/...ors-kings/
One of the more interesting tidbits is mention of "dissension" creeping into the team, with the finger being pointed at Jonathan Kuminga being upset about lack of playing time, and possibly Jordan Poole, about I don't know what.
It sounds like Curry got wind of it and rather than call out Kuminga and Poole directly, or even speak to each privately, he addressed the entire team, making clear how committed he was and how he demanded the same from everyone who was going to go with him to Sacramento to play Game 7. The 30 for 30 is gonna be epic.
Sixers-Celtics Game 1 and Suns Nuggets Game 2 tonight.
I'm going with both home teams.
You truly don’t know what Poole’s issue is? Seriously?
As for Curry I think he and Posey are a lot alike. Guys that simply command universal respect. B6 their play and their manner. Don’t usually give big speeches, etc. But when they do…
Been blessed to watch them both. What a joy.
(05-01-2023, 12:39 PM)Leftcoast Wrote: Earlier Lex said regular season records mean nothing in a Warriors/Lakers playoff. Maybe, but it doesn't mean we can't learn from them.
On defense a healthy Anthony Davis protecting the rim and using his length to deflect drive-and-dish passes will be troublesome in a way Sac's Sabonis was not. He's a Warrior killer when healthy. Lebron James' familiarity with the Warriors' offense lets him anticipate passes and create turnovers-tough, tough opponent for the Dubs. Plus they can shutdown any Warrior wing not named Curry. Weirdly, even Steph gets cold when playing at whatever they now call the Staples center.
Kerr is going to need to pull out some match-up magic and coach the heck out of this series. The Lakers SHOULD have the edge (it's a tough match-up for the Warriors and I'd have preferred to play the Grizzlies) but it's close.
This is a different Warriors club. I heard Tim Kawakami remark that the early Warrior runs to the finals were built on long two-way players that didn't make you choose between O and D. They no longer have that. For the most part their good defenders are so-so on offense and their good offensive players are so-so on defense. The Sacramento series showed between game adjustments are critical. Coaching the Warriors is no longer as easy as it was in the early title runs when almost every player was world class on offense and defense.
Enjoy the ride however long it lasts. The Sacramento series was fantastic for basketball fans and I'm hoping for the same in the Lakers series.
It should be a good series. And it will be very different. The Lakers won’t run like Sacramento. But they are going to be much tougher inside and I think the Davis matchup is going to be tough. I expect Kerr will play both Looney and Green together a lot. They will need two bigs. Kuminga may get a little bit of a shot in the series.
To me, the key for the Warriors will be Wiggins. They need him to play like he did against the Celtics. If he does that, they’ll win the series. He’s more than capable of it.