NBA (whenever)...

[DarthFed]

Kerr hinting that this might be it for him. If it is I salute him. He could frustrate the hell out of me sometimes, during the regular season. But I'll say this for him, in the playoffs, he was awesome. If people want to go at him for the regular season and the the fluid line ups, then they're stupid. That's the front office. That was Lacob. In this season in particular he's shown that it's not so much that he was wedded to small ball, it was that he didn't have bigs good enough in his opinion. He wasn't wrong!

Sometimes it’s hard to rate NBA coaches that have a lot of success because they find themselves with an insanely good team. Spolestra to me proved he is an elite HOF coach after LeBron left because a circus monkey could have coached those teams to the finals. Phil Jackson has been blessed with insane talent but we saw what all those teams looked like before and after so he clearly was an incredible coach.

I feel like Kerr is in the “unknown” group but I’d lean towards him being a great coach based on the 2022 title and even some of the other solid GSW teams after Durant was gone and Klay got injured. If this is it for him we will see what the next guy can do and that may tell us more what Kerr’s impact was.

 

[Federberg]

Those guys are decent but I just don’t think they move the needle much. The problem GS has is any big trade they make would involve a few of those guys and draft capital and then you just have some old superstars with no depth. I hear there are a lot of good players in the draft this year but no Wemby or even a Flagg. Maybe they find a Knueppel type surprise and you suddenly have a Splash Bros Part 2!

that's exactly what I'm hoping for. This is supposed to be one of the deepest drafts in years. We even have chance at the no. pick. If they pick some small (sub- 6ft 4) dude I'll personally fly over to the Bay area and kick some behind!

You're right about those guys, but the thing is they play the system really well. Mind you.. if Kerr leaves, then perhaps that will need to be revisited. What I know is that we need two or three guys on the roster who have above NBA average athleticism. That's for darn sure

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

I don’t follow salary cap that much in NBA since it’s kind of absurd, but I’m not sure how they’d make that work. LeBron, despite being a billionaire, is not ever taking a pay cut, I can tell you that lol.

GS won’t do a full rebuild as long as Steph is there. Draymond clearly has been a big part of their success but they will do what they can to maximize their chances with Steph playing.

LeBron could sign a 1-year/$24M or 2-year/$49M (first year $24M/second year $25M) contract. Golden State could let Porzingis go, instead of Draymond. Porzingis was only in GS for a season, and there isn't an emotional attachment to the franchise that Draymond has.

Besides, if you let Draymond walk, then that probably sends a message to Steph that the team is rebuilding, and Steph may retire or go elsewhere. If GS is going to maximize their chances with Steph, it will almost certainly be with Draymond on the roster and Kerr coaching.

 

[kskate2]

LeBron could sign a 1-year/$24M or 2-year/$49M (first year $24M/second year $25M) contract. Golden State could let Porzingis go, instead of Draymond. Porzingis was only in GS for a season, and there isn't an emotional attachment to the franchise that Draymond has.

Besides, if you let Draymond walk, then that probably sends a message to Steph that the team is rebuilding, and Steph may retire or go elsewhere. If GS is going to maximize their chances with Steph, it will almost certainly be with Draymond on the roster and Kerr coaching.

This is exactly the thinking that has them in their current predicament. They should've kicked Green eons ago. They need size and talent and they needed it yesterday. Steph would understand if they parted ways w/ Green. In the end it's about business. Years ago, they should've ditched Green while he still had some value.

 

[kskate2]

Speaking of SGA, with 3 mins left in the 3Q, he's 4-14 FG with 20 points and had drew 7 fouls.

 

[DarthFed]

LeBron could sign a 1-year/$24M or 2-year/$49M (first year $24M/second year $25M) contract. Golden State could let Porzingis go, instead of Draymond. Porzingis was only in GS for a season, and there isn't an emotional attachment to the franchise that Draymond has.

Besides, if you let Draymond walk, then that probably sends a message to Steph that the team is rebuilding, and Steph may retire or go elsewhere. If GS is going to maximize their chances with Steph, it will almost certainly be with Draymond on the roster and Kerr coaching.

Bron isn’t playing for 24.5 million a year for starters. That man wants to get paid above all else. I assume Porzingis will be gone and may retire given his health issues. But you still have Butler’s contract too.

 

[Murat B.]

Orlando has been an average defensive team all year....now, the play-in game and the first game against Detroit, they are playing like the Bulls of 97. Defense is an identity man, it is the most difficult thing to turn on and off if you do not have that mind set. Crazy .

 

[DarthFed]

I saw the 4th quarter of Blazers-Spurs and that was horrific junk. That Wemby injury is awful luck. I know each concussion is different but in the NFL it usually takes at least a week to be cleared. That series is probably 50-50 if he is out more than a week.

Also saw first half of Lakers-Rockets. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the basketball overall was a lot better with guys like LeBron, KD, Sengun, etc. It is still of course a 3 point shootout and Smart couldn’t miss and Kennard was on fire too. But the Rockets should feel embarrassed being down 2-0 with no Doncic or Reaves as it is just the vampire and a fairly underwhelming supporting cast.

 

[Federberg]

I saw the 4th quarter of Blazers-Spurs and that was horrific junk. That Wemby injury is awful luck. I know each concussion is different but in the NFL it usually takes at least a week to be cleared. That series is probably 50-50 if he is out more than a week.

Also saw first half of Lakers-Rockets. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the basketball overall was a lot better with guys like LeBron, KD, Sengun, etc. It is still of course a 3 point shootout and Smart couldn’t miss and Kennard was on fire too. But the Rockets should feel embarrassed being down 2-0 with no Doncic or Reaves as it is just the vampire and a fairly underwhelming supporting cast.

this seriously exposes Udoka's limitations as a playoff coach imho

 

[the AntiPusher]

This is exactly the thinking that has them in their current predicament. They should've kicked Green eons ago. They need size and talent and they needed it yesterday. Steph would understand if they parted ways w/ Green. In the end it's about business. Years ago, they should've ditched Green while he still had some value.

there was a movie back in the late 80s called My BodyGuard. This is what Draymond is to Step. We all thought the Splash Brothas (the lightskinned Splash Bros is what I called them, Step and Klay) were inseparable but its really Step and Dray. Steve Kerr and the owner Jacobs are the biggest supporters of Step Curry and they have mortgage their NBA morality to keep Draymond on the team. I would have preferred KD, Klay and Step but KD is so thin skinned he let all the outside noise about he could not win (which is true) without Step. As a Dubs fan I just hope they can get some younger WING players like Keaton Wagler of the fighting Illini to build around Step since they gave away Kiminga for a ham sandwich.

 

[the AntiPusher]

this seriously exposes Udoka's limitations as a playoff coach imho

Nah,, they need a true point guard ( they could have gotten CP3 from the GoodWill) to run the team. the rockets dont have any real snipers besides KD. They could not win a real shoot out with a team like OKC, Denver or the brainless Timberwolves. They may get back into the series but someone has got to play 1 spot!.

 

[Federberg]

there was a movie back in the late 80s called My BodyGuard. This is what Draymond is to Step. We all thought the Splash Brothas (the lightskinned Splash Bros is what I called them, Step and Klay) were inseparable but its really Step and Dray. Steve Kerr and the owner Jacobs are the biggest supporters of Step Curry and they have mortgage their NBA morality to keep Draymond on the team. I would have preferred KD, Klay and Step but KD is so thin skinned he let all the outside noise about he could not win (which is true) without Step. As a Dubs fan I just hope they can get some younger WING players like Keaton Wagler of the fighting Illini to build around Step since they gave away Kiminga for a ham sandwich.

Kuminga wasn't a fit. Not able to read and react. Wanted to be a scorer and didn't really put the work in to do the one thing he would have been excellent at. Defence, rebounding and finding mismatches at the post. Wants the ball in his hands and takes too much time off the clock for a motion offence. I wish him the best and I'm delighted he played so well in game 2 against the Knicks

And as for KD staying and Draymond leaving? KD would have an issue with almost anyone as his record since leaving GSW has shown. Draymond can be a problem, but let's not act like KD didn't/doesn't have issues

 

[Federberg]

Nah,, they need a true point guard ( they could have gotten CP3 from the GoodWill) to run the team. the rockets dont have any real snipers besides KD. They could not win a real shoot out with a team like OKC, Denver or the brainless Timberwolves. They may get back into the series but someone has got to play 1 spot!.

well they certainly needed a PG, but it's more than that. He's more of a cheerleader coach than someone who can create schemes to attack opposition weaknesses. That was pretty obvious in that Celtics-GSW final, but it's just become clearer with Houston.

 

[Murat B.]

VanVleet is missed more than people give him credit for. Even when he was backing up Lowry when they won it all, he was the guy who calmed things down, showed intelligence and ran the team with a solid head. Always played hard and while inconsistent, still hit the big shots when necessary. Houston could have used him this year. I think they still have the team to go to the next round but they have to get going fast.

 

[Federberg]

VanVleet is missed more than people give him credit for. Even when he was backing up Lowry when they won it all, he was the guy who calmed things down, showed intelligence and ran the team with a solid head. Always played hard and while inconsistent, still hit the big shots when necessary. Houston could have used him this year. I think they still have the team to go to the next round but they have to get going fast.

100%. Not just because he's a great PG, but more so because he's a leader. Something KD is not.

I'm hearing that Luka has started practicing again. If he comes back it's probably all over for Houston. But I fear for him. I remember KD, I remember Dame... these soft muscle issues.. if you come back too soon. Worse can happen

 

[Murat B.]

100%. Not just because he's a great PG, but more so because he's a leader. Something KD is not.

I'm hearing that Luka has started practicing again. If he comes back it's probably all over for Houston. But I fear for him. I remember KD, I remember Dame... these soft muscle issues.. if you come back too soon. Worse can happen

Luka got the Rafa treatment in Spain. That worked out for Rafa , generally

 

[DarthFed]

there was a movie back in the late 80s called My BodyGuard. This is what Draymond is to Step. We all thought the Splash Brothas (the lightskinned Splash Bros is what I called them, Step and Klay) were inseparable but it’s really Step and Dray. Steve Kerr and the owner Jacobs are the biggest supporters of Step Curry and they have mortgage their NBA morality to keep Draymond on the team. I would have preferred KD, Klay and Step but KD is so thin skinned he let all the outside noise about he could not win (which is true) without Step. As a Dubs fan I just hope they can get some younger WING players like Keaton Wagler of the fighting Illini to build around Step since they gave away Kiminga for a ham sandwich.

Great defenders are more and more rare these days and Green is still valuable due to that. And of course he and Steph are the last guys standing from their glory days and that is likely valuable for Steph too at this point. If they get rid of Green who knows how motivated Steph is to play a bunch more seasons.

I feel like GSW have valued their young guys too much. May as well go all in and accept that they will need a full rebuild in a couple years vs having mid level young dudes that will get them 30-35 wins at best once the geriatrics are gone.

 

[DarthFed]

VanVleet is missed more than people give him credit for. Even when he was backing up Lowry when they won it all, he was the guy who calmed things down, showed intelligence and ran the team with a solid head. Always played hard and while inconsistent, still hit the big shots when necessary. Houston could have used him this year. I think they still have the team to go to the next round but they have to get going fast.

Totally agree. I will admit that I’m surprised the Rockets weren’t a lot better this year, but they do clearly lack ballhandling with no VanVleet and they miss Green’s defense too. I just figured having KD would outweigh that since they badly needed a scorer and someone I think is still clearly a superstar…but that clearly isn’t the case.

If Luka is back by game 4 or 5 I feel like LA takes it. They obviously may take it without him at this point. And if it does go to 7, LA clearly has the bigger star power when Luka is in there with LeBron and they’d also have HCA.

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Also saw first half of Lakers-Rockets. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the basketball overall was a lot better with guys like LeBron, KD, Sengun, etc. It is still of course a 3 point shootout and Smart couldn’t miss and Kennard was on fire too. But the Rockets should feel embarrassed being down 2-0 with no Doncic or Reaves as it is just the vampire and a fairly underwhelming supporting cast.

This series should remove all doubt on the GOAT argument. LeBron is the greatest ever. He is winning, at age 41, with players like Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, who have never made an all-start team. Not to mention, making them look like prime time playoff performers.

LeBron makes his teammates better. KD does not. That should be obvious to anyone watching this series. Just look at what happened in Brooklyn. He couldn't win Kyrie, Harden, and Ben Simmons, and he threw them under the bus. Swap KD for LeBron on those early 2020s Brooklyn Nets teams, and they are a dynasty. (After watching Kennard and Smart flourish, I really wish Simmons would have played with LeBron. Simmons has way more talent than them, and if LeBron was able to get that out of Kennard and Smart, I'm pretty sure LeBron would have maximized the strengths of Simmons, and made him one of top defensive players in NBA history.)

 

[Murat B.]

This series should remove all doubt on the GOAT argument. LeBron is the greatest ever. He is winning, at age 41, with players like Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart, who have never made an all-start team. Not to mention, making them look like prime time playoff performers.

LeBron makes his teammates better. KD does not. That should be obvious to anyone watching this series. Just look at what happened in Brooklyn. He couldn't win Kyrie, Harden, and Ben Simmons, and he threw them under the bus. Swap KD for LeBron on those early 2020s Brooklyn Nets teams, and they are a dynasty. (After watching Kennard and Smart flourish, I really wish Simmons would have played with LeBron. Simmons has way more talent than them, and if LeBron was able to get that out of Kennard and Smart, I'm pretty sure LeBron would have maximized the strengths of Simmons, and made him one of top defensive players in NBA history.)

Where the hell is Simmons and what the hell is he doing? Haven't heard the name in a long time.