What's the deal with Golden State?
- Thread starter Grayhead
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I'll tell you one thing I've gleaned from watching GS a little in the playoffs - Harrison Barnes needs more touches and needs to be more assertive. He defers too much to Curry, Thompson and Green. Granted, those 3 guys have shown to be better players than barnes. But Barnes is a good player. And I don't think GS involves him enough on the offensive end. Barnes should be in the post more often when he's guarded by the opposing team's 3 man. Other times, when Barnes is guarded by the opposing team's 4 man, he should be making a move to the hole. His first step is not great, so I prefer when Barnes has a size advantage to when he has a speed advantage. But I just know from I see that running a play for Barnes some of the time is better than Thompson or Curry taking a contested 28 footer.
As far as GS's overall issues, yeah I think Curry is not 100%. He looks a step slower and his ability to shake someone with the dribble has clearly diminished. And GS seems lost sometimes when they can't rely on Curry to do inhuman things. Thompson is a good player but I don't like his shot selection or his overall decision making at times. And yes, OKC seems legit. I was shocked they disposed of the Spurs and am impressed with how they're handling the Warriors. KD and Westbrook are monsters but I love the big dude from New Zealand. He's tough as nails.
As far as GS's overall issues, yeah I think Curry is not 100%. He looks a step slower and his ability to shake someone with the dribble has clearly diminished. And GS seems lost sometimes when they can't rely on Curry to do inhuman things. Thompson is a good player but I don't like his shot selection or his overall decision making at times. And yes, OKC seems legit. I was shocked they disposed of the Spurs and am impressed with how they're handling the Warriors. KD and Westbrook are monsters but I love the big dude from New Zealand. He's tough as nails.
They went all out to win regular season games and break a record. Now they're a little worn out and have to deal with teams that are finally starting to go all out to win playoff games.
Curry isn't 100% - and when that's the case, the sidekicks (Thompson and Green) are shown to be not as good as they look when Curry is on fire. I agree with GSD that Barnes needs more touches.
Winner of this OKC/GS series will beat the Cavs in 6. Anyone who thinks the Raptors (or any other team in the East before they got eliminated) has (had) a snowballs chance of making the finals needs to get their head examined. Same goes for anyone outside the OKC/GS/SA trio. The NBA is so top heavy its ridiculous. If you're not a top 4 team, you have no chance - just tank.
Curry isn't 100% - and when that's the case, the sidekicks (Thompson and Green) are shown to be not as good as they look when Curry is on fire. I agree with GSD that Barnes needs more touches.
Winner of this OKC/GS series will beat the Cavs in 6. Anyone who thinks the Raptors (or any other team in the East before they got eliminated) has (had) a snowballs chance of making the finals needs to get their head examined. Same goes for anyone outside the OKC/GS/SA trio. The NBA is so top heavy its ridiculous. If you're not a top 4 team, you have no chance - just tank.
Golden State's defense is atrocious. They've given up something like 113 points per game in the playoffs. With Curry healthy they can typically outscore other teams, but he's not and OKC isn't like most other teams.
Simply put -- OKC wants it more.
Golden State is getting punched in the mouth and they don't appear to know how to respond. Curry probably isn't 100%, but that's no excuse. MJ willed his team to a Finals win while damn near fainting on the court from the flu. If he's on the floor, injury is no excuse. Too injured to play - sit the bench.
As for Barnes...not sure if we're watching the same thing, but he doesn't seem to have it offensively, to me. Just like he was in his UNC days, he looks to me to be hesitant, careless with the ball in his hands, and down-right timid. I remember the biggest criticism he got in Chapel Hill was not demanding the ball more and willing the team to a win. He was completely passive, and IMO he still is. Just my take.
Golden State is getting punched in the mouth and they don't appear to know how to respond. Curry probably isn't 100%, but that's no excuse. MJ willed his team to a Finals win while damn near fainting on the court from the flu. If he's on the floor, injury is no excuse. Too injured to play - sit the bench.
As for Barnes...not sure if we're watching the same thing, but he doesn't seem to have it offensively, to me. Just like he was in his UNC days, he looks to me to be hesitant, careless with the ball in his hands, and down-right timid. I remember the biggest criticism he got in Chapel Hill was not demanding the ball more and willing the team to a win. He was completely passive, and IMO he still is. Just my take.
I don't disagree. But that's on the coach. If Kerr was involving him more often and telling Barnes in the huddle, "You're the man. Now go get us some buckets.", I think you would see a different Barnes. But it's obvious that the message to the team is "get the ball to Steph. If for some reason you can't, get the ball to Klay." And that's fine because they're good players - better than Barnes. But coaches get paid a lot of money to manage egos and players' confidence levels and I just don't think Kerr has fed Barnes' ego. But I agree that Barnes isn't an Alpha. He's just not. But he could be far more productive than what he's been if the leash would be lengthened. However, when you win 73 games doing it your way, it's unlikely you're gonna change. That's why I hope Barnes gets out of Oakland. He needs to go to a team where he can have a better role than to be on the outside of a "Big 3" situation. He's already won a title. No go and get yours.
Can agree with that. I would give Kerr credit though -- Curry and Thompson became all-time great shooters once he was hired. Being a shooter himself, I would have to say Kerr gets a lot of credit for getting their shooting mechanics right. Curry's release is possibly the quickest I've ever seen...it's more of a flick of the wrist than a jumpshot.
I see they survived last night.
I think we underestimate just how good MJ and crew were. I was pulling for GS to beat their record. I respect what they have done this season and how incredible curry has played. But this tourney has shown why there is a separation between the two teams. I still look to see them play lights out again.
I think we underestimate just how good MJ and crew were. I was pulling for GS to beat their record. I respect what they have done this season and how incredible curry has played. But this tourney has shown why there is a separation between the two teams. I still look to see them play lights out again.
OKC is hot right now, and a bad matchup for GS.
Even in the regular season GS had some odd games.
Portland blew them out, lost to the Lakers. Won several games
they shouldn't, one over OKC.
Even in the regular season GS had some odd games.
Portland blew them out, lost to the Lakers. Won several games
they shouldn't, one over OKC.
If you want a crazy stat in this series, Curry and Thompson both broke the record for most made 3's in a series. Curry had 32, Thompson had 30, previous record was 28. They needed every bit of that to get through. They've had a great season, but they really got tested in this series. It will be interesting to see how they play versus the Cavs, but I think they will have a lot of confidence considering they came back from being down 3-1 to win the series. Should be a great Finals.
OKC didn't "choke" like so many are claiming...they pushed the defending champs and one of the best NBA teams in the history of the league to the brink. There's nothing they can with when Curry is throwing up 30-footers with a 7-foot center right in his grill. That is just indefensible.
In this series -- I can't bet against Curry. Even though the Cavs pushed Golden State pretty hard last year without Love or Irving...if GS's backcourt gets going like that, it's going to be nearly impossible to beat them in a 7 game series. LeBron would have to come out with one of the best finals performances we've ever seen.
In this series -- I can't bet against Curry. Even though the Cavs pushed Golden State pretty hard last year without Love or Irving...if GS's backcourt gets going like that, it's going to be nearly impossible to beat them in a 7 game series. LeBron would have to come out with one of the best finals performances we've ever seen.
I think OKC needs to think about a rebuild. As good as KD and Westbrook are they seem to choke when it matters most.
Everyone could be labeled a "choker" until they finally push through -- the same was said about Roy Williams pre-UNC.
My issue - if I'm an OKC fan - is the lack basketball IQ that Westbrook shows. KD is a special talent, but the PG on every team has to set the tone. He came down last night in a crucial moment, and quickly jacked up a 3 while throwing his leg out trying to get fouled. In a moment like that, in Game 7 with a finals trip on the line...you don't go into desperation-mode and try to put the game in the referee's hands like that. JMHO.
Financially, I'm hearing that KD's MUCH better off signing a 1-year deal to go back to OKC and wait for the CBA to pass next off-season. Apparently he's in line for a massive pay day if he goes that route. But on the court, I think the result will be the same as long as Westbrook is running the point.
My issue - if I'm an OKC fan - is the lack basketball IQ that Westbrook shows. KD is a special talent, but the PG on every team has to set the tone. He came down last night in a crucial moment, and quickly jacked up a 3 while throwing his leg out trying to get fouled. In a moment like that, in Game 7 with a finals trip on the line...you don't go into desperation-mode and try to put the game in the referee's hands like that. JMHO.
Financially, I'm hearing that KD's MUCH better off signing a 1-year deal to go back to OKC and wait for the CBA to pass next off-season. Apparently he's in line for a massive pay day if he goes that route. But on the court, I think the result will be the same as long as Westbrook is running the point.
Another thing -- OKC is s small market. They aren't luring big time free agents there. KD was drafted when the team was still in Seattle, so that fanbase in OKC has never experienced life as a small market team without a superstar. Maybe they should ask Hornets fans what that is like before they let either KD or Westbrook walk.
I disagree completely Blue. OKC did choke. They choked when Westbrook and Durant started playing hero ball when what they had been doing was what put them up 3-1. But they reverted back to that terrible iso crap that eventually dooms all teams. They could have and should have closed it out in game 5 or 6. No excuse. I like Durant ok but if I'm a GM, I wouldn't throw money at him to come to my team. And for Westbrook, it's amazing that a player can be so gifted athletically and so devoid mentally. He's a terrible decision maker. Neither guy will ever win a championship unless they hitch their wagon to a more mentally and emotionally tough player.
As far as who I'll be pulling for in the finals - that's easy, GS. But only because of Barnes and McAdoo. Curry is kind of getting on my nerves. I like a lot about him - most of all that he told Nike to piss off when they wouldn't put bible scripture on his shoes. But I think he's getting a little too big for his britches. He should be thankful Westbook is an idiot and KD is mentally weak or they'd be watching the finals on TV. But I also don't want those ridiculous LeBron over MJ talks to start up again so I don't want him winning another.
Most likely, I won't watch all that much.
As far as who I'll be pulling for in the finals - that's easy, GS. But only because of Barnes and McAdoo. Curry is kind of getting on my nerves. I like a lot about him - most of all that he told Nike to piss off when they wouldn't put bible scripture on his shoes. But I think he's getting a little too big for his britches. He should be thankful Westbook is an idiot and KD is mentally weak or they'd be watching the finals on TV. But I also don't want those ridiculous LeBron over MJ talks to start up again so I don't want him winning another.
Most likely, I won't watch all that much.
GSD,
I agree on your point about KD and Westbrook being mentally weak. Under many circumstances, I would also agree that OKC gave it away, but I think the narrative is different given who their opponent was. I mean, by most measures, the shots that Curry hits -- regularly -- are "circus" shots. The kid is just insane. You have to go bucket-for-bucket with a guy who is just tossing it up from anywhere he wants to, against anyone he wants to. There's not a whole lot any team in the league can do about that.
I'm okay with his ego / swag, only b/c it would be hypocritical of me to cheer for Cam Newton when he does it but then criticize Steph. Therefore, I'm on the side of "If you don't like it, stop him."
I agree on your point about KD and Westbrook being mentally weak. Under many circumstances, I would also agree that OKC gave it away, but I think the narrative is different given who their opponent was. I mean, by most measures, the shots that Curry hits -- regularly -- are "circus" shots. The kid is just insane. You have to go bucket-for-bucket with a guy who is just tossing it up from anywhere he wants to, against anyone he wants to. There's not a whole lot any team in the league can do about that.
I'm okay with his ego / swag, only b/c it would be hypocritical of me to cheer for Cam Newton when he does it but then criticize Steph. Therefore, I'm on the side of "If you don't like it, stop him."
Where did you hear that at? I've always heard that Nike didn't put much effort into signing him because they had Irving. They didn't have the right name in the pitch to him. They even did an article on ESPN about it.
Here it is.
http://www.christianpost.com/news/d...ry-for-wanting-bible-verse-on-sneaker-158871/
Snopes has yet to verify though.
Interesting. I'd like to hear him comment on it. Although if it were true he doesn't seem like the type that would try to make them look bad. Here's the espn article I was talking about.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15047018/how-nike-lost-stephen-curry-armour
I don't mind (and actually kind of like) Curry. So I'll be pulling for GS a little because of him. I'll be pulling for them more because of Barnes and JMM. But the reason I'll be pulling for them the most is because they're the team going up against LeBron - and most of all I'd like to see him denied a title yet again.
I'll only watch the games that I bet on - which admittedly will probably be all of them - but I'll only be watching for the bets sake... not cuz I really care for either of the teams.
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