NBA/Warriors mailbag: Steph Curry’s harm and Bob Myers’ legacy

The Golden State Warriors returned type the All-Star break on Thursday evening, and misplaced 121-110 to Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics. However earlier than that recreation occurred, I put out a name for mailbag questions … and Dub Nation didn’t disappoint! You all got here by means of with some nice questions. Hopefully my solutions can do the questions justice.

There are actually some key variations of their video games, however sure, I believe that’s truthful to say. I believe it’s asking an excessive amount of to anticipate Will Richard to have the ability to match De’Anthony Melton’s worth as early as subsequent 12 months, however cheap facsimile? Yeah, I believe that’s very doable.

Melton has talent with the ball in his palms that’s far above what Richard is at present able to. It will be a serious win if Richard is ever capable of penetrate the protection, get to the rim, playmake, and rating in isolation the best way Melton does; and if he does get there, it most likely gained’t be for a number of years. However he could make up a few of that together with his transition offense and his slicing, and I don’t assume it’s unreasonable to hope he’s pretty much as good of a shooter and defender as Melton is, as early as subsequent 12 months.

The most important situation is that Richard is, in my eyes, essentially an off-guard, whereas Melton is a combo guard who is sort of comfy working the purpose. Except the Warriors are comfy letting Pat Spencer be a 20-minutes-per-game backup level guard, they’re going to wish to ensure they’ve somebody on the roster apart from Steph Curry who’s comfy (and gifted) with the ball in his palms, and I don’t assume that’s Richard.

This isn’t a enjoyable reply, however I believe it’s an trustworthy reply: the important thing to the Warriors rising into one of many prime six spots within the Western Convention is for somebody on one other workforce to get injured. The Warriors are 5 video games out of the sixth seed, with solely 26 video games remaining. With Jimmy Butler III out for the 12 months and Steph Curry out for, at minimal, a handful extra video games, I don’t assume it’s sensible for Golden State to play their method out of that deficit.

However the Los Angeles Lakers are one of many groups six video games forward, and so they’ve dramatically outperformed their internet score (which is considerably worse than Golden State’s); if LeBron James or Luka Dončić misses a while, they may tumble down. The Minnesota Timberwolves are additionally six video games up on the Dubs, and they might crumble fully if Anthony Edwards suffered an harm.

Hopefully these issues don’t occur. However I don’t see the Warriors getting additional than the No. 7 seed with out a complete lot of assist.

I don’t imply this to sound patronizing, however I believe generally followers aren’t conscious of how a lot coaches and gamers discuss issues. Steph Curry and Draymond Inexperienced making careless passes that end in turnovers is one thing that Steve Kerr has most likely talked with them about 1000’s of occasions. It most likely will get talked about in virtually each movie session. Generally there’s a sentiment amongst followers that as a result of one thing hasn’t been fastened, that nobody is addressing it, and that’s not the case. Kerr has known as out these two within the media a notable variety of occasions for careless passes … and it’s protected to imagine that any criticism Kerr is levying by means of a presser is one thing that has been mentioned to the participant at the very least 10 occasions.

The truth is, that is who Curry and Inexperienced are. It’s a weak spot of their respective video games — one of many few weaknesses, in Curry’s case. But it surely’s additionally a state of affairs the place you may’t all the time have the great with out the unhealthy. They’re distinctive playmakers, and it’s most likely not sensible to ask them to chop again on the careless passes whereas sustaining all the great ones.

Bob Myers’ legacy is easy: he’s the architect of the best stretch of basketball in Golden State Warriors historical past, and one of many biggest dynasties of all time. When all is claimed and carried out, that’s how he’ll be remembered; and it’s how he ought to be remembered.

First off, let’s make clear some info. Myers was employed a month earlier than Jerry West was. West had no involvement with the Warriors once they drafted Steph Curry; he wasn’t employed for one more two years. He had a job in drafting Klay Thompson in 2011, however so did Myers, who was the assistant basic supervisor on the time, and a really revered voice within the group as he was considered because the inheritor obvious (a voice that was a part of the workforce hiring West, it must be famous). Myers was promoted to GM in 2012, earlier than the draft … that means he was the person in cost once they chosen Draymond Inexperienced and Harrison Barnes later that 12 months. So if you wish to name these the Jerry West Years for narrative’s sake, that’s effective, however simply keep in mind that Myers had as huge — and I’d argue, a a lot larger — position in buying the dynastic trio as West did.

Extra importantly, Myers performed a fully essential position in constructing the dynasty. He was the first individual concerned within the — on the time, unpopular — choice to fireplace Mark Jackson after a profitable season, and towards the desires of his personal gamers. And he was the first individual concerned in hiring Steve Kerr. That sequence of occasions is, after drafting Steph Curry, an important transfer of the century for the Warriors. The dynasty doesn’t exist with out that, nor does it exist with out the slick maneuvering so as to add Andre Iguodala and the signing of key veterans like David West and Shaun Livingston, or his position in buying Kevin Durant. The stunning 2022 championship doesn’t occur if Myers didn’t use Durant’s departure as an opportunity to overpay D’Angelo Russell for the sake of sustaining a wage slot that he then used so as to add Andrew Wiggins … to make no point out of drafting Jordan Poole, a transfer that drew criticism on the time, and for a full 12 months, earlier than paying large dividends en path to a trophy.

There have been some unhealthy strikes, however these are going to occur while you run a workforce for nicely over a decade. I don’t criticize him as a lot as others do for the Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody picks, and I believe if you happen to look on the historical past of the No. 7 and No. 14 slots, you’ll supply him some grace there, as nicely.

It wasn’t an ideal tenure, however it was an awesome one. And it must be remembered as such.

I believe most individuals would like that the Warriors get a lottery choose moderately than lose within the play-in event, that’s for positive. It will massively assist them of their retooling efforts, both as a possibility for expertise or as a commerce chip.

That mentioned, there can be a draw back, aside from the misplaced income of a possible collection. If the Warriors fall out of the play-in — which might require a lot of losses — then meaning they’re taking part in terrible basketball, and that’s a foul signal for a workforce attempting to compete subsequent 12 months. It means Kristaps Porziņģis is both injured or not taking part in nicely, and that hurts their plans. In the end, the most effective consequence is that they play good basketball that gives confidence for his or her 2026-27 plans. However a lottery choose is a really good comfort prize in the event that they fail.

I like each of these gamers for the Warriors. That mentioned, I’m undecided that veterans who’re identified entities must be their goal within the buyout market this 12 months, since they’re not contending. I like the thought of them utilizing the market as an audition for much less confirmed gamers who may play a job on subsequent 12 months’s workforce, like Lonzo Ball.

I believe Gui Santos is already higher than Eric Paschall and Anthony Lamb, to be trustworthy. Paschall was actually a one-trick pony: a north-south scorer who couldn’t defend or shoot threes. And Lamb was a man who by no means actually performed nicely, he simply supplied vitality and energy when Steve Kerr was determined for some. Santos, together with his strong protection, easy three-point shot, and skill to attain in transition or with cuts, is already a greater participant, I’d say.

My guess is he’s a number of years away from being an honest-to-goodness starter. He simply wants a bit extra seasoning in order that the sport can decelerate for him. Let’s not overlook that he’s solely 23 years previous, and has barely performed 1,600 profession minutes. In minutes phrases, he’s performed one full season at fewer than 20 minutes per recreation. There’s a lot of progress left for him to do.

I’ll be trustworthy, I’m not a really knowledgable draft man, and it’s early, so I don’t have a very good sense but. However within the newest SB Nation mock draft, Ricky O’Donnell has the Dubs taking Baylor guard Cameron Carr, who has an extended wingspan and a slick three-point shot. Appears about proper.

It’s very troublesome to examine, much less as a result of the Warriors are incapable of beating the Lakers, and extra as a result of the logistics of it simply don’t line up. The Warriors are play-in sure, that means in the event that they make the playoffs, it is going to be because the No. 7 or 8 seed. The Lakers don’t have a practical shot of reaching one of many top-two seeds. That implies that, for the Warriors and Lakers to even face one another within the playoffs, the Dubs must escape the play-in event, beat both the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in a seven-game collection, and hope that the Lakers each land in the precise spot within the bracket, and pull off a first-round upset of their very own. None of that appears doubtless.

There’s higher hope for the groups assembly within the play-in event, although I doubt that occurs, both.

For those who ask the web, I’d say Draymond Inexperienced is extra hated than Brandin Podziemski. Pat Spencer is unquestionably nice at pickleball, however I’m choosing Steph Curry over anybody in any hand-eye coordination dominated sport. Gui Santos is unquestionably the man who enjoys SF essentially the most, although I think about Al Horford is up there as nicely. They’re hitting up completely different spots, however I think about they each are relishing what the town has to supply.

As to your precise query … I don’t assume Moses Moody has totally hit his ceiling, however it’s shut. I believe we may give up on him ever being a man who can take his defender off the dribble to create a shot. However I do assume he may add one thing of a low submit recreation to his arsenal. Possibly Jimmy Butler III can train him a factor or three.

I touched on this earlier, however I would really like them to make use of the spot on somebody who they may be contemplating signing this summer season, and wish to give a check run within the system to. Lonzo Ball is a superb slot in my eyes, as he consistently retains the ball transferring and performs nice protection. He may thrive within the Warriors system, however we’ve mentioned that about plenty of gamers who struggled, as an alternative. If they’ll discover out now, as an alternative of after giving him a assured contract for subsequent 12 months, then that’s a win.

I undoubtedly assume Kristaps Porziņģis can return to All-Star type, and it’s value noting he by no means totally misplaced that type, he simply misplaced the flexibility to remain wholesome. In his All-Star season, Porziņģis had per 100 possessions averages of 34.7 factors, 10.1 rebounds, and three.7 blocks, whereas capturing 39.5% from three-point vary; final 12 months, his averages have been 33.9 factors, 11.8 rebounds, and a pair of.6 blocks, whereas capturing 41.2% from deep.

There are actually simply two questions for Porziņģis: can he keep on the courtroom, and may he match a system that has stymied loads of good gamers previously.

I’ll say, I don’t assume him signing a long-term contract is especially possible. I’d be very stunned if he indicators — with the Warriors, or with anybody else — for greater than two years. He’s simply in that awkward spot the place he’s too gifted to take a long-term deal at a reduction, however too injured to be provided a long-term deal that’s not at a reduction. I do assume he’ll keep on the Warriors, and it may turn into a long-term factor if he stays wholesome. His minutes will doubtless all the time be monitored, so I believe the ceiling is an All-Star degree expertise who is simply taking part in 25 minutes an evening.

The boring reply is that they work. The Warriors have had plenty of success with four-wing lineups. The NBA, as an entire, has had plenty of success with four-wing lineups, and it’s why you see gamers like Moses Moody and Scottie Barnes generally being categorised as energy forwards while you’d be inclined to name them capturing guards. The place the Warriors battle from a lineup development standpoint is that their guards and wings aren’t as athletic as the remainder of the league’s, and so they don’t shoot as nicely, both. However, for essentially the most half, that also provides higher outcomes than throwing out two-big lineups and getting run off the courtroom.

9ergold:
What’s your over/underneath on # video games performed out of remaining video games to finish of standard season for …

Steph

Kristaps

Al

Dray

Soften

Seth

Nice query. There are 26 video games left. Listed here are my over/unders for video games performed:

Steph Curry: 13.5
Kristaps Porziņģis: 14.5
Al Horford: 18.5
Draymond Inexperienced: 20.5
De’Anthony Melton: 21.5
Seth Curry: 0.5

Thanks for the questions, everybody!