AirP. wrote:vvoland wrote:AirP. wrote:
So, you're saying a coach who has multiple championships as a coach and as a player is tanking GS's potential on purpose because he just doesn't like Kuminga, not because Kuminga refuses to do what he's asked to do?
For instance, let's say it's the last possession of game 7, down by 1 and Kuminga is on the court with Curry, I can't trust that Kuminga will do what it takes to run the offense or possibly try to get Curry open for a shot before Kuminga calls his own number.
I don't think many are saying Kuminga isn't talented (maybe nobody is, he is talented), the problem is that he wants to be able to call his own number whenever he wants and in 4 years in the NBA not being able to do that, he's still not willing to give in. He wants to be the main guy and I say, let him go be that main guy for a lot of money somewhere else.
That's not what I'm saying and I challenge you to find anything I wrote that would imply that.
What I am saying is, JK can play with Dray/Steph, despite the narrative on this board and other places. Kerr believed that JK couldn't play with Dray/Curry/Wigs but then changed his mind when the early lineup data or injuries or losses or all 3 started to pile up. In fact, I think if JK never got hurt, he would have played a ton w/ Jimmy and, eventually, found a way to fit with him as well, as he kinda did in the minny series. JK came back from his injury to a team playing very differently and Steve went away from JK before pulling the plug completely. THAT'S what I disagreed with. I think we could have used him in the clipper game, not to "turn the offense over" or whatever the strawman is. Just to guard kawhi on a few possessions and attack the rim when the offense slowed down. Same thing in the Mem play-in. Same thing to start the Hou series. The fact that he responded well and was able to come out firing tells me enough about his attitude and approach.
What I am also saying is that this whole "he thinks he's kobe" narrative is also overblown. Again, the lineup data suggests he plays better with Steph/Dray AND that Steph/Dray play better with JK than almost anyone else on the roster (ex. podz, i believe). In fact, I think JK would be fine as the 5th starter next to Dray/Jimmy/Steph or even as the 6th man, logging 25-35 minutes. He clearly wants to play and most people think he only wants to shoot. Getting DNP-CDs while the Gui Santos and Pat Spencers of the world get run in big games must have been infuriating especially as the team was losing those games as he watched from the bench.
The ask has been and continues to be... PLAY YOUR ROLE FOR THIS TEAM, quit calling your own number so often. This is why he doesn't play much. Can multiple high usage scorers work together, sure but over the long haul that's going to get complicated when the game is on the line and you have multiple players wanting to put up the last shot."I don't think there's a disagreement. I think that there is a different view from his perspective and what he's comfortable doing," Kerr said Thursday on 95.7 The Game's "Willard and Dibs." "Obviously, he's a natural scorer. You saw that in the Minnesota series when he got his opportunity. He scored really well. And that's what he's most comfortable doing.
"But with our team and the way we're built, with Steph and Jimmy [Butler], they're going to dominate the ball. [So] what we need from that spot is rebounding, passing, the connection, and yes, we need the scoring, but it has to come within the context of what we're really good at and what we're great at over the last two months with Jimmy and Steph."
https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/jonathan-kuminga-fit-concerns-steve-kerr/1851783/
Right.
The role prior to Jimmy was to be the 2nd option and, after a rough start, he started to excel in that role.
The role next to Jimmy/Steph/dray is a more awkward fit, particularly when jk was shooting 10% from 3, post injury. I think we all agree on this second point while I think the first one is highly counterintuitive for people.
Again, where we disagree and where I disagree with Kerr, is the idea that if JK does some things wrong, he should get dnp-cds in the most important games of the season. I've never advocated for turning over the offense to jk, paying him the max, or whatever other strawman people want to use.
Did Kerr get as much out of jk as the talent level of this team needed? No.
Did JK play the way Kerr wanted? Also no.
While everyone can agree on the latter, I'm really not sure why the former engenders so much disagreement.
Sure, it can get complicated late in games. Let's get there first.
