GBear4Life said:

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Games 1 and 2 were evenly matched.

HOU is more than capable of tying the series up 2-2.

HOU does a better job at exploiting match ups. Why GS doesn't switch in order to attack their weak/small defenders like Harden all day is beyond me. Durant settles for fall away jumpers against inferior and smaller players. We're so used to him hitting them, but they won't always go down.

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he's averaging 40 over the last 5 games. He scores many different ways on top of his fall away. Would not bet against him and some guy called him a "cancer" on this board early in this season.

GBear4Life said:

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Games 1 and 2 were evenly matched.

HOU is more than capable of tying the series up 2-2.

HOU does a better job at exploiting match ups. Why GS doesn't switch in order to attack their weak/small defenders like Harden all day is beyond me. Durant settles for fall away jumpers against inferior and smaller players. We're so used to him hitting them, but they won't always go down.

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I actually think Harden is passable as a defender when he wants to be. But they sure as hell should be trying to get him into foul trouble, like the Rockets do to Steph.

I wouldn't call Game 2 evenly matched. Golden State led comfortably almost the entire game. It was never really in doubt, though of course Houston is always capable of a run.

I agree Houston could tie it. Though I think they are feeling the losses of Ariza and Mbah Moute on the defensive end. But...envisioning them winning 4 out of 5 is difficult.

GMP said:

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GBear4Life said:

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Games 1 and 2 were evenly matched.

HOU is more than capable of tying the series up 2-2.

HOU does a better job at exploiting match ups. Why GS doesn't switch in order to attack their weak/small defenders like Harden all day is beyond me. Durant settles for fall away jumpers against inferior and smaller players. We're so used to him hitting them, but they won't always go down.

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I actually think Harden is passable as a defender when he wants to be. But they sure as hell should be trying to get him into foul trouble, like the Rockets do to Steph.

I wouldn't call Game 2 evenly matched. Golden State led comfortably almost the entire game. It was never really in doubt, though of course Houston is always capable of a run.

I agree Houston could tie it. Though I think they are feeling the losses of Ariza and Mbah Moute on the defensive end. But...envisioning them winning 4 out of 5 is difficult.

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The numbers say Harden is actually good as a post defender. He's terrible off-ball. Searching out the mismatch with him is not as good a strategy as it seems.

sycasey said:

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GMP said:

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GBear4Life said:

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Games 1 and 2 were evenly matched.

HOU is more than capable of tying the series up 2-2.

HOU does a better job at exploiting match ups. Why GS doesn't switch in order to attack their weak/small defenders like Harden all day is beyond me. Durant settles for fall away jumpers against inferior and smaller players. We're so used to him hitting them, but they won't always go down.

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I actually think Harden is passable as a defender when he wants to be. But they sure as hell should be trying to get him into foul trouble, like the Rockets do to Steph.

I wouldn't call Game 2 evenly matched. Golden State led comfortably almost the entire game. It was never really in doubt, though of course Houston is always capable of a run.

I agree Houston could tie it. Though I think they are feeling the losses of Ariza and Mbah Moute on the defensive end. But...envisioning them winning 4 out of 5 is difficult.

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The numbers say Harden is actually good as a post defender. He's terrible off-ball. Searching out the mismatch with him is not as good a strategy as it seems.

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The value is in making Harden work on defense as much as possible. Don't let him guard the least offensively dangerous Warrior. Make him burn energy guarding KD or someone else who requires work to defend.

BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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GMP said:

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GBear4Life said:

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Games 1 and 2 were evenly matched.

HOU is more than capable of tying the series up 2-2.

HOU does a better job at exploiting match ups. Why GS doesn't switch in order to attack their weak/small defenders like Harden all day is beyond me. Durant settles for fall away jumpers against inferior and smaller players. We're so used to him hitting them, but they won't always go down.

---

I actually think Harden is passable as a defender when he wants to be. But they sure as hell should be trying to get him into foul trouble, like the Rockets do to Steph.

I wouldn't call Game 2 evenly matched. Golden State led comfortably almost the entire game. It was never really in doubt, though of course Houston is always capable of a run.

I agree Houston could tie it. Though I think they are feeling the losses of Ariza and Mbah Moute on the defensive end. But...envisioning them winning 4 out of 5 is difficult.

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The numbers say Harden is actually good as a post defender. He's terrible off-ball. Searching out the mismatch with him is not as good a strategy as it seems.

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The value is in making Harden work on defense as much as possible. Don't let him guard the least offensively dangerous Warrior. Make him burn energy guarding KD or someone else who requires work to defend.

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Agreed. If the Rockets insist on making Harden do 90% of the work on the offensive end, then there's a ton of value in trying to make Harden work on the defensive end as well. The dude is already starting to wear down.

Plus, as an added bonus, you can also try to get him in foul trouble.

If you subscribe to the Athletic, the Dubs have been trying to make Harden work on D.

https://theathletic.com/952205/2019/04/28/kerrism-part-2-the-warriors-aimed-to-punish-james-harden-from-the-jump-in-game-1/

BearSD said:

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sycasey said:

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GMP said:

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GBear4Life said:

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Games 1 and 2 were evenly matched.

HOU is more than capable of tying the series up 2-2.

HOU does a better job at exploiting match ups. Why GS doesn't switch in order to attack their weak/small defenders like Harden all day is beyond me. Durant settles for fall away jumpers against inferior and smaller players. We're so used to him hitting them, but they won't always go down.

---

I actually think Harden is passable as a defender when he wants to be. But they sure as hell should be trying to get him into foul trouble, like the Rockets do to Steph.

I wouldn't call Game 2 evenly matched. Golden State led comfortably almost the entire game. It was never really in doubt, though of course Houston is always capable of a run.

I agree Houston could tie it. Though I think they are feeling the losses of Ariza and Mbah Moute on the defensive end. But...envisioning them winning 4 out of 5 is difficult.

---

The numbers say Harden is actually good as a post defender. He's terrible off-ball. Searching out the mismatch with him is not as good a strategy as it seems.

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The value is in making Harden work on defense as much as possible. Don't let him guard the least offensively dangerous Warrior. Make him burn energy guarding KD or someone else who requires work to defend.

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Agreed. And as I said you also can get him in foul trouble so they should absolutely be going at him. I was just disagreeing that he's either a small (definitely not) or weak defender.

GMP said:

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BearSD said:

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The value is in making Harden work on defense as much as possible. Don't let him guard the least offensively dangerous Warrior. Make him burn energy guarding KD or someone else who requires work to defend.

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Agreed. And as I said you also can get him in foul trouble so they should absolutely be going at him. I was just disagreeing that he's either a small (definitely not) or weak defender.

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I don't watch the Rockets in the regular season (unless they play the Warriors), but he looks like he's actually put some effort into becoming a better defender than he was when he won Shaqtin' a Fool MVP. Even if you just restrict it to the postseason when some guys turn up the defensive intensity, he looks like he's putting more effort in than I'm used to seeing.

Yogi Bear said:

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concordtom said:

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So, who is going to join me in predicting that the Rockets win this series?
Curry and Klay both injured.
Warriors depth sucks.
Rockets hungrier.

What are the odds?
I would not be surprised one bit.

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And now?

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Yeah, I still felt after Game 1 that the Rockets could still win.
But now down 0-2, it will be harder.
I still think they should be feared. KD has been awesome(!), but Klay and Curry have not been as good as in prior years. Draymond has been very good.

It will be very interesting to see what the team roster looks like next November! If the warriors lose KD, I wouldn't expect them to win again with Klay, Curry, Draymond core. The league has figured out how to defend and compete with that, even if they play the same as 3 years ago.

As for games 3 and 4, expect Harden to get more calls, but he appears to be shoveling from the bright lights, incredible as that may be to say. How bad was his eye, for real? Milked it for cameras as an excuse? Or he rose above it for his 29 points like a star?

This is a great series so far!!!! 2019 Finals quality in second round. Very compelling drama!

Right now, this is clearly Kevin Durant's team.

What can the W brass do to make KD feel like it's his team, and not Curry's as a pitch. Statues outside the new arena on Day 1? Why not?!!

If he's a 3-time finals MVP, opening the new arena, why not?!?!

Make 5 of them, and put KD in the middle.

Iggy, Klay, Durant, Curry, Draymond (Hamptons Five)

4 championships in 5 years.
Livingston would be only other guy there all 5 years to not get one?

Harden is not a good on-ball defender. His lateral quickness/speed is terrible.

And I don't know what additional evidence is needed that Durant coming to the Warriors did not make GS a "super team". The league caught up to them. Without a premier player similar to Durant, GS does not win titles the past two years. Certainly not last year and certainly not this year. People see 73-9, then adding the best player in the league and assume the deck is stacked with a super team. Um, no.

concordtom said:

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Yogi Bear said:

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concordtom said:

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So, who is going to join me in predicting that the Rockets win this series?
Curry and Klay both injured.
Warriors depth sucks.
Rockets hungrier.

What are the odds?
I would not be surprised one bit.

---

And now?

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Yeah, I still felt after Game 1 that the Rockets could still win.
But now down 0-2, it will be harder.
I still think they should be feared. KD has been awesome(!), but Klay and Curry have not been as good as in prior years. Draymond has been very good.

It will be very interesting to see what the team roster looks like next November! If the warriors lose KD, I wouldn't expect them to win again with Klay, Curry, Draymond core. The league has figured out how to defend and compete with that, even if they play the same as 3 years ago.

As for games 3 and 4, expect Harden to get more calls, but he appears to be shoveling from the bright lights, incredible as that may be to say. How bad was his eye, for real? Milked it for cameras as an excuse? Or he rose above it for his 29 points like a star?

This is a great series so far!!!! 2019 Finals quality in second round. Very compelling drama!

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Obviously keeping kd is ideal. But don't write the warriors off just cause they lose him.

There's a lot of things I really dislike about lacob. But he does a couple things well. He hires well. And he's willing to spend money to win.

I promise you they have plan a, b and c if kd leaves. They've been planning for this offseason for years. Maybe none of those plans materialize. But lacob is going to try his damndest (and he's now got the money to throw around) You better believe he wants to win during chase centers inaugural season.

ducky23 said:

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Obviously keeping kd is ideal. But don't write the warriors off just cause they lose him.

There's a lot of things I really dislike about lacob. But he does a couple things well. He hires well. And he's willing to spend money to win.

I promise you they have plan a, b and c if kd leaves. They've been planning for this offseason for years. Maybe none of those plans materialize. But lacob is going to try his damndest (and he's now got the money to throw around) You better believe he wants to win during chase centers inaugural season.

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The problem for them if KD leaves is that they will still be way over the cap. They would have to dump another another big salary to pick up another free agent. The most viable option would be to re-sign Cousins (potentially possible only because of his new injury), but I don't think that would put them on the same tier as they are now.

GBear4Life said:

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Harden is not a good on-ball defender. His lateral quickness/speed is terrible.

And I don't know what additional evidence is needed that Durant coming to the Warriors did not make GS a "super team". The league caught up to them. Without a premier player similar to Durant, GS does not win titles the past two years. Certainly not last year and certainly not this year. People see 73-9, then adding the best player in the league and assume the deck is stacked with a super team. Um, no.

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I don't think you can know whether they would have won. They have more firepower than they need. They adjusted around the addition of KD. If he never came, the other stars would have done more as they did previously. You are also assuming KD gets replaced with nobody. Maybe they get another star. Maybe they have a deeper team. KD gave them the best chance to win. Not the only chance.

concordtom said:

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What can the W brass do to make KD feel like it's his team, and not Curry's as a pitch. Statues outside the new arena on Day 1? Why not?!!

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If he's not happy being on this team, best luck to him on his next team. There's nothing more that the Warriors could do for him.

The Warriors are just not going to be "KD's team" from the fans' perspective. Curry is like their son, he was drafted by the Warriors, played during the bad years, through their rise to being decent, and then was the MVP when they finally won it all. Doesn't matter how well Durant plays, he can't replicate that emotional journey.

Yogi Bear said:

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concordtom said:

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What can the W brass do to make KD feel like it's his team, and not Curry's as a pitch. Statues outside the new arena on Day 1? Why not?!!

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If he's not happy being on this team, best luck to him on his next team. There's nothing more that the Warriors could do for him.

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They should all take a pay cut to stay together.

sycasey said:

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The Warriors are just not going to be "KD's team" from the fans' perspective. Curry is like their son, he was drafted by the Warriors, played during the bad years, through their rise to being decent, and then was the MVP when they finally won it all. Doesn't matter how well Durant plays, he can't replicate that emotional journey.

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Even if the warriors continue to clear outendlessly for KD in every fourth quarter, and he wins his 3rd MVP away?
I would have agreed with you, but after watching these past few games, I see that it is now KD's team. Only stupid fans would not appreciate what KD is doing on the court compared to Curry.

sycasey said:

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...Doesn't matter how well Durant plays, he can't replicate that emotional journey.

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That's why I said the brass should put a KD statue out there NOW.
Let the fans know.

Golden State's Klay Thompson Is a Different Kind of Dangerous

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/02/sports/klay-thompson-warriors-defense.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

concordtom said:

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Yogi Bear said:

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concordtom said:

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What can the W brass do to make KD feel like it's his team, and not Curry's as a pitch. Statues outside the new arena on Day 1? Why not?!!

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If he's not happy being on this team, best luck to him on his next team. There's nothing more that the Warriors could do for him.

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They should all take a pay cut to stay together.

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They have no reason to save Joe Lacob money. The only thing stopping them from resigning all four of them is the willingness to pay an exorbident luxury tax bill, but technically they can all be resigned for a maximum salary fi that's what they wanted to do.

Reality is somewhat different.

OaktownBear said:

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I don't think you can know whether they would have won. They have more firepower than they need. They adjusted around the addition of KD. If he never came, the other stars would have done more as they did previously. You are also assuming KD gets replaced with nobody. Maybe they get another star. Maybe they have a deeper team. KD gave them the best chance to win. Not the only chance.

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They went 7 games and needed CP3 and 27 straight missed 3's (a huge outlier) to beat a Rockets team with 1 all star in his prime and a 2nd on the back 9 vs their 4 all stars. All of this with arguably the best scorer in the league that made them a super team. Yes the Warriors may have won with other all stars, but they don't win jack without adding an all star to that 73-9 team.

Kerr has not gone deep into his bench ..playing maybe 7-8 guys. I like the way the Portland coach runs his bench where they go for looong stretches...and after that last game rip city played we may be seeing them.

cal83dls79 said:

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Kerr has not gone deep into his bench ..playing maybe 7-8 guys. I like the way the Portland coach runs his bench where they go for looong stretches...and after that last game rip city played we may be seeing them.

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Nurkic is hurt. Kanter is unplayable against the dubs.

Harkless and aminu (while good defenders) can't shoot, so if you think the defense against harden is suffocating, wait to see what the dubs do against lillard. Draymond will be able to guard harkless and lillard at the same time.

While I do think Portland is better than Denver, Denver matches up better against the dubs. Portland will be forced to go small against the Hampton 5 (lol good luck). At least Denver with jokic may be able to force the dubs to play looney/bogut more.

This is why philly scares me the most. Embiid may be the most difficult player for the dubs to match up against.

ducky23 said:

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cal83dls79 said:

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Kerr has not gone deep into his bench ..playing maybe 7-8 guys. I like the way the Portland coach runs his bench where they go for looong stretches...and after that last game rip city played we may be seeing them.

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Nurkic is hurt. Kanter is unplayable against the dubs.

Harkless and aminu (while good defenders) can't shoot, so if you think the defense against harden is suffocating, wait to see what the dubs do against lillard. Draymond will be able to guard harkless and lillard at the same time.

While I do think Portland is better than Denver, Denver matches up better against the dubs. Portland will be forced to go small against the Hampton 5 (lol good luck). At least Denver with jokic may be able to force the dubs to play looney/bogut more.

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Kanter is playable, not disagreeing but I admire what both of those coaches are doing. After game 1 I thought PORTLAND was dead. Good battle in so many ways.

philbert said:

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ducky23 said:

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Obviously keeping kd is ideal. But don't write the warriors off just cause they lose him.

There's a lot of things I really dislike about lacob. But he does a couple things well. He hires well. And he's willing to spend money to win.

I promise you they have plan a, b and c if kd leaves. They've been planning for this offseason for years. Maybe none of those plans materialize. But lacob is going to try his damndest (and he's now got the money to throw around) You better believe he wants to win during chase centers inaugural season.

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The problem for them if KD leaves is that they will still be way over the cap. They would have to dump another another big salary to pick up another free agent. The most viable option would be to re-sign Cousins (potentially possible only because of his new injury), but I don't think that would put them on the same tier as they are now.

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I hope there's a way to keep Cousins, but he should get every penny he can for himself. I have a feeling that, even with his new injury, some team -- probably the Lakers -- that strikes out with the "hot" free agents will sign him, just so they don't walk away from free agency empty handed, and give Cousins at least twice what the W's can pay.

The midlevel exception salary slot is all the W's will have to use to fill Durant's role, and the players who will be available at that level won't even come close to filling it. So next season they will have the key players of 2014-15, five years older than they were then, plus a cast of role players.

Good point.
But my understanding is that the luxury penalties go up like a hockey stick the further you go over the limit. Thus, 1 dollar to PlayerX mean 4 dollars to league in form of penalty tax.
At some point, even warriors in Chase can't afford that, no?

GBear4Life said:

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OaktownBear said:

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I don't think you can know whether they would have won. They have more firepower than they need. They adjusted around the addition of KD. If he never came, the other stars would have done more as they did previously. You are also assuming KD gets replaced with nobody. Maybe they get another star. Maybe they have a deeper team. KD gave them the best chance to win. Not the only chance.

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They went 7 games and needed CP3 and 27 straight missed 3's (a huge outlier) to beat a Rockets team with 1 all star in his prime and a 2nd on the back 9 vs their 4 all stars. All of this with arguably the best scorer in the league that made them a super team. Yes the Warriors may have won with other all stars, but they don't win jack without adding an all star to that 73-9 team.

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It was pointed out to me on tv that iggy did not play games 1-5 vs Rockets last year. He played 6&7 and we won those.

concordtom said:

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GBear4Life said:

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OaktownBear said:

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I don't think you can know whether they would have won. They have more firepower than they need. They adjusted around the addition of KD. If he never came, the other stars would have done more as they did previously. You are also assuming KD gets replaced with nobody. Maybe they get another star. Maybe they have a deeper team. KD gave them the best chance to win. Not the only chance.

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They went 7 games and needed CP3 and 27 straight missed 3's (a huge outlier) to beat a Rockets team with 1 all star in his prime and a 2nd on the back 9 vs their 4 all stars. All of this with arguably the best scorer in the league that made them a super team. Yes the Warriors may have won with other all stars, but they don't win jack without adding an all star to that 73-9 team.

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It was pointed out to me on tv that iggy did not play games 1-5 vs Rockets last year. He played 6&7 and we won those.

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No. Iggy got injured in game 3 of the Rockets series, I believe. He didn't come back until the 2nd or 3rd game of the Finals against the Cavs.

Okay, thanks for the correction.

concordtom said:

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GBear4Life said:

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OaktownBear said:

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I don't think you can know whether they would have won. They have more firepower than they need. They adjusted around the addition of KD. If he never came, the other stars would have done more as they did previously. You are also assuming KD gets replaced with nobody. Maybe they get another star. Maybe they have a deeper team. KD gave them the best chance to win. Not the only chance.

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They went 7 games and needed CP3 and 27 straight missed 3's (a huge outlier) to beat a Rockets team with 1 all star in his prime and a 2nd on the back 9 vs their 4 all stars. All of this with arguably the best scorer in the league that made them a super team. Yes the Warriors may have won with other all stars, but they don't win jack without adding an all star to that 73-9 team.

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It was pointed out to me on tv that iggy did not play games 1-5 vs Rockets last year. He played 6&7 and we won those.

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Did mark Jackson feed you that information?

If the league gave Draymond a T for this....

ducky23 said:

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GBear4Life said:

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OaktownBear said:

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I don't think you can know whether they would have won. They have more firepower than they need. They adjusted around the addition of KD. If he never came, the other stars would have done more as they did previously. You are also assuming KD gets replaced with nobody. Maybe they get another star. Maybe they have a deeper team. KD gave them the best chance to win. Not the only chance.

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They went 7 games and needed CP3 and 27 straight missed 3's (a huge outlier) to beat a Rockets team with 1 all star in his prime and a 2nd on the back 9 vs their 4 all stars. .

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I think iggy has once and for all proved his injury was not a minor inconvenience for the dubs last year. That series could easily have gone 5.

If you count this year and last year's playoffs, when both iggy and cp3 play, dubs are 4-1. I'm sick and tired listening to the cp3 excuse

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Iguodala is essential to the Warriors' defense in their small lineups, because of his ability to switch onto anyone. With him and Draymond you have two guys who can do that.