Sure sounds like KD is leaving

[GQ Hot Dog]

There's a thread on the General Board, and the Op has raised the question "Replace KD with _________, and it makes the Warriors better". Then he throws out names like Kawhi Leonard, Lebron James, Giannis, Davis, etc.

Some people just don't get it. Any of those players wouldn't make the Warriors "better", they make the Warriors different. Players that would make the Warriors better in place of KD at the SF position, are guys like Khris Middleton, Otto Porter Jnr, Pascal Siakam, PJ Tucker, old man Ariza, and even a youngster like Jonothan Isaac. Guys that don't need the ball, have defensive versatility and length, can hit the 3 ball, are smart, great compliments to ball dominant players. Taking the ball out of Steph, klay and Draymond's hands to cater to an Iso heavy scorer, does not bring out the best of what we are.

Give me Ariza next year on an exemption deal, we won't skip a beat.

I disagree. KD is the perfect compliment to our team's players and normal offensive scheme. The problem is it's freakin' KD, top-3 iso scorer in the NBA and not a guy looking to just be a "compliment" to our main offense. He expects to be the main offense. Which is why even into his 3rd season with us he still has a tendency to just stand around when Klay and Steph are working screens to get open. What we need is a long forward that can score and pass out of the post just like KD who is willing to also set and work off screens with Klay and Steph as a normal part of the offense.

Remember Barnes? We used to post him up and iso him as the final wrinkle in our offense and while he wasn't great at it, he was just good enough to score a few buckets and distract the defense. If KD played that role, the final wrinkle, it would work great but too often it's iso KD or he stands back and watches what's going on.

[CalGTR]

KD is a huge part of the Warriors' success these past three seasons. In the short term, yes, Curry, Dray and crew can pick up most of the extra load. But I don't believe that to be sustainable even for a single series against a great opponent. We've seen what great defensive teams can do to slow Curry down. We HAVE to have another player that can play good-to-great defense and that can create offense. Doesn't necessarily need to be ISO, but it can't just be an outside shooter that relies on others for looks. Curry needs to be able to coast/rest/relax from time-to-time, and the defense needs somebody else to worry about. We saw what happened in '16 (although we were still very close and it took a suspension to Green), and I'll also remind everybody that we needed ALL of our squad to beat the '17 Cavs. That was a very, very good team and KD had a ton to do with winning that series. I honestly don't believe we would have won that year without KD. Houston, last year, was better defensively and I don't believe we win without KD. We had a hard enough time once Igoudala went down.

If KD leaves, we'll still be a very, very good team, and among the title favorites. If we can replace KD's outside shooting and most of his defensive abilities, we could contend for the whole thing again. But there is no way on God's green earth that this team will not feel the loss of a player as great as KD with his length defensively and his ability to generate offense. Personally, I hope he stays and continues this chase for history (assuming we can get by the Bucks, who will be a very strong challenger). I mean, how often do you get the chance to win four titles consecutively? Or five? That would place this squad at the very top of the all-time list right along with Jordan's Bulls (and even they never four-peated).

[Coxy]

There's a thread on the General Board, and the Op has raised the question "Replace KD with _________, and it makes the Warriors better". Then he throws out names like Kawhi Leonard, Lebron James, Giannis, Davis, etc.

Some people just don't get it. Any of those players wouldn't make the Warriors "better", they make the Warriors different. Players that would make the Warriors better in place of KD at the SF position, are guys like Khris Middleton, Otto Porter Jnr, Pascal Siakam, PJ Tucker, old man Ariza, and even a youngster like Jonothan Isaac. Guys that don't need the ball, have defensive versatility and length, can hit the 3 ball, are smart, great compliments to ball dominant players. Taking the ball out of Steph, klay and Draymond's hands to cater to an Iso heavy scorer, does not bring out the best of what we are.

Give me Ariza next year on an exemption deal, we won't skip a beat.

I disagree. KD is the perfect compliment to our team's players and normal offensive scheme. The problem is it's freakin' KD, top-3 iso scorer in the NBA and not a guy looking to just be a "compliment" to our main offense. He expects to be the main offense. Which is why even into his 3rd season with us he still has a tendency to just stand around when Klay and Steph are working screens to get open. What we need is a long forward that can score and pass out of the post just like KD who is willing to also set and work off screens with Klay and Steph as a normal part of the offense.

Remember Barnes? We used to post him up and iso him as the final wrinkle in our offense and while he wasn't great at it, he was just good enough to score a few buckets and distract the defense. If KD played that role, the final wrinkle, it would work great but too often it's iso KD or he stands back and watches what's going on.

Soooooo, KD is not the perfect compliment then?

[NBAWestFan]

Is it a strain left Calf or something much more Serious?
I read a rumor that it might be more.

[Samurai]

There's a thread on the General Board, and the Op has raised the question "Replace KD with _________, and it makes the Warriors better". Then he throws out names like Kawhi Leonard, Lebron James, Giannis, Davis, etc.

Some people just don't get it. Any of those players wouldn't make the Warriors "better", they make the Warriors different. Players that would make the Warriors better in place of KD at the SF position, are guys like Khris Middleton, Otto Porter Jnr, Pascal Siakam, PJ Tucker, old man Ariza, and even a youngster like Jonothan Isaac. Guys that don't need the ball, have defensive versatility and length, can hit the 3 ball, are smart, great compliments to ball dominant players. Taking the ball out of Steph, klay and Draymond's hands to cater to an Iso heavy scorer, does not bring out the best of what we are.

Give me Ariza next year on an exemption deal, we won't skip a beat.

I disagree. KD is the perfect compliment to our team's players and normal offensive scheme. The problem is it's freakin' KD, top-3 iso scorer in the NBA and not a guy looking to just be a "compliment" to our main offense. He expects to be the main offense. Which is why even into his 3rd season with us he still has a tendency to just stand around when Klay and Steph are working screens to get open. What we need is a long forward that can score and pass out of the post just like KD who is willing to also set and work off screens with Klay and Steph as a normal part of the offense.

Remember Barnes? We used to post him up and iso him as the final wrinkle in our offense and while he wasn't great at it, he was just good enough to score a few buckets and distract the defense. If KD played that role, the final wrinkle, it would work great but too often it's iso KD or he stands back and watches what's going on.

Regarding the underlined sentence, I think KD can be the perfect compliment to our team, but not necessarily is the perfect compliment. There have been segments of games in which KD did not just "ball watch" but moved and passed the ball within the flow of the offense; we looked like world-beaters during those segments. But his natural inclination is to be an iso-heavy player and "ball watch" when he doesn't hold the rock. He is the perfect insurance policy when the offense bogs down and we desperately need a bucket to halt the other team's run.

I think Seth Curry was on point after game 1 when he said that this team is a better team with KD but is harder to guard without KD. Being a better overall team and being a team that is harder to defend are not the same thing. The ball moves more without KD and it is harder for a defense to guard when the ball and our guys are moving; it creates more opportunities for someone to miss an assignment in the chaos of chasing guys and can leave people open for easy shots. It may be "easier" to defend if they know the ball is going to KD for some 1 on 1 action, but even if you know it's coming it is near impossible to stop. Sort of like facing Kareem's sky hook: it is "easy" to defend from the standpoint that everyone in the arena knows what is coming. You just cannot stop it.

[GQ Hot Dog]

There's a thread on the General Board, and the Op has raised the question "Replace KD with _________, and it makes the Warriors better". Then he throws out names like Kawhi Leonard, Lebron James, Giannis, Davis, etc.

Some people just don't get it. Any of those players wouldn't make the Warriors "better", they make the Warriors different. Players that would make the Warriors better in place of KD at the SF position, are guys like Khris Middleton, Otto Porter Jnr, Pascal Siakam, PJ Tucker, old man Ariza, and even a youngster like Jonothan Isaac. Guys that don't need the ball, have defensive versatility and length, can hit the 3 ball, are smart, great compliments to ball dominant players. Taking the ball out of Steph, klay and Draymond's hands to cater to an Iso heavy scorer, does not bring out the best of what we are.

Give me Ariza next year on an exemption deal, we won't skip a beat.

I disagree. KD is the perfect compliment to our team's players and normal offensive scheme. The problem is it's freakin' KD, top-3 iso scorer in the NBA and not a guy looking to just be a "compliment" to our main offense. He expects to be the main offense. Which is why even into his 3rd season with us he still has a tendency to just stand around when Klay and Steph are working screens to get open. What we need is a long forward that can score and pass out of the post just like KD who is willing to also set and work off screens with Klay and Steph as a normal part of the offense.

Remember Barnes? We used to post him up and iso him as the final wrinkle in our offense and while he wasn't great at it, he was just good enough to score a few buckets and distract the defense. If KD played that role, the final wrinkle, it would work great but too often it's iso KD or he stands back and watches what's going on.

Soooooo, KD is not the perfect compliment then?

He is, he just doesn't seem to want to accept it. The problem is when our offense is iso heavy it's not as efficient which is why using his abilities as a complimentary wrinkle makes us better. If the indications are accurate he's moving on specifically for this reason, he wants to be the primary offensive weapon but we're worse when the offense is run that way.

Of the guys you mentioned I like Siakam the best because he's actually showed some ability to score and pass out of the post, not as well as KD of course, and he is willing to set screens and move off ball when running a motion offense. Khris Middleton somewhat, Otto is not a great passer, Tucker and Ariza don't do much work in the post.

I bet Julius Randle would slot in well with us. Tobias Harris would work. Gallo and Gay would be serviceable. Thad Young? I might think about giving Jabari Parker a shot.

[SinceGatlingWasARookie]

Harrison Barnes in the corner took his defender out help position. Sometimes when Durant does not have the ball he leaves his defender in help position but at least a guy defending Durant is not really free to give help.

I think Durant joined the Warriors because he wanted to play as a part of the Warriors offense. But integrating Durant's game with the Warriors offense without losing any of Durants offense or any of the Warriors team offense has not been easy.

[Quazza]

should it come to it, I'm not sure we can beat the Bucks without him

[HiRez]

should it come to it, I'm not sure we can beat the Bucks without him

Maybe not, but he hasn't been tremendously useful against them. In KD's Warriors career, we're 3-2 against Milwaukee when he plays, and in the last 2 games (this year), he's averaging 14 points on 31% (9-29) shooting and 6.5 turnovers.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have him than not if facing Milwaukee, but I don't think he himself is the sole key to victory or defeat. We need to figure out Milwaukee as a team, which we haven't really been able to do yet. Then again, if Milwaukee is a top 5 (or top 2) team, I guess having just a slight edge is good and appropriate, it's not a team we're likely to dominate.

However, I do feel like going into the repetitive iso grind with KD could hurt us and play right into Milwaukee's hands. If the ball isn't moving, I don't think we win, so we need to figure out how to do that consistently with KD in the lineup (the numbers are clear that we pass a lot less with KD playing).

[statsman]

Is it a strain left Calf or something much more Serious?
I read a rumor that it might be more.

Read a rumor? Link, please.

[Impuniti]

should it come to it, I'm not sure we can beat the Bucks without him

Maybe not, but he hasn't been tremendously useful against them. In KD's Warriors career, we're 3-2 against Milwaukee when he plays, and in the last 2 games (this year), he's averaging 14 points on 31% (9-29) shooting and 6.5 turnovers.

Don't get me wrong, I'd rather have him than not if facing Milwaukee, but I don't think he himself is the sole key to victory or defeat. We need to figure out Milwaukee as a team, which we haven't really been able to do yet. Then again, if Milwaukee is a top 5 (or top 2) team, I guess having just a slight edge is good and appropriate, it's not a team we're likely to dominate.

However, I do feel like going into the repetitive iso grind with KD could hurt us and play right into Milwaukee's hands. If the ball isn't moving, I don't think we win, so we need to figure out how to do that consistently with KD in the lineup (the numbers are clear that we pass a lot less with KD playing).

Giannis needs get the Lebron treatment. Don't collapse when he drives. He can get 45PPG if he wants, but then his teammates are not going to get those wide open 3s they love so much and then we can see what they're really made of.

[wco81]

Harrison Barnes in the corner took his defender out help position. Sometimes when Durant does not have the ball he leaves his defender in help position but at least a guy defending Durant is not really free to give help.

I think Durant joined the Warriors because he wanted to play as a part of the Warriors offense. But integrating Durant's game with the Warriors offense without losing any of Durants offense or any of the Warriors team offense has not been easy.

Look at his career stats. He’s had some of his most efficient seasons in the 3 regular seasons in his career as a WRrior.

And in the playoffs, it’s arguably his 3 best playoffs seasons, even not accounting for the ultimate results in those playoffs campaigns.

Kerr has kept his MPG down both in the regular and playoffs, compared to his OKc years. Of course his shooting volume and usage are lower too but you suspect his higher efficiency has to do with the reduction in minutes and usage.

[ILOVEIT]

I've decided.... I don't WANT Durant back. I think he stunts the entire teams ball movement game and he stunts the greatness of Curry.

Give me PJ Tucker or Mirotic and I think Warriors are fine.

[xdrta+]

I've decided.... I don't WANT Durant back. I think he stunts the entire teams ball movement game and he stunts the greatness of Curry.

Give me PJ Tucker or Mirotic and I think Warriors are fine.

I think they'll win more with Durant, if that makes any difference. And neither of those guys are possible for the Warriors to get.

[MintFresh]

I've decided.... I don't WANT Durant back. I think he stunts the entire teams ball movement game and he stunts the greatness of Curry.

Give me PJ Tucker or Mirotic and I think Warriors are fine.

This is a horrible take. You don't just decline one of the best offensive players of all time

unless this is sarcasm

[Swift21]

I've decided.... I don't WANT Durant back. I think he stunts the entire teams ball movement game and he stunts the greatness of Curry.

Give me PJ Tucker or Mirotic and I think Warriors are fine.

This is a horrible take. You don't just decline one of the best offensive players of all time

unless this is sarcasm

Draymond is more valuable to us. Add another 3&D wing with the MLE and a few shooters off the bench and we'll be just fine next season.

KD has had one foot out the door the entire season. Let him enjoy working for James Dolan. He'll be completely out of our way when he's a Knick.

[MintFresh]

I've decided.... I don't WANT Durant back. I think he stunts the entire teams ball movement game and he stunts the greatness of Curry.

Give me PJ Tucker or Mirotic and I think Warriors are fine.

This is a horrible take. You don't just decline one of the best offensive players of all time

unless this is sarcasm

Draymond is more valuable to us. Add another 3&D wing with the MLE and a few shooters off the bench and we'll be just fine next season.

KD has had one foot out the door the entire season. Let him enjoy working for James Dolan. He'll be completely out of our way when he's a Knick.

Joe Lacob went on record saying he'll pay to keep the band together. Its not one or the other.

If you can keep both why not?

[Impuniti]

I've decided.... I don't WANT Durant back. I think he stunts the entire teams ball movement game and he stunts the greatness of Curry.

Give me PJ Tucker or Mirotic and I think Warriors are fine.

Rockets aren't trading PJ to the Warriors man

[Swift21]

This is a horrible take. You don't just decline one of the best offensive players of all time

unless this is sarcasm

Draymond is more valuable to us. Add another 3&D wing with the MLE and a few shooters off the bench and we'll be just fine next season.

KD has had one foot out the door the entire season. Let him enjoy working for James Dolan. He'll be completely out of our way when he's a Knick.

Joe Lacob went on record saying he'll pay to keep the band together. Its not one or the other.

If you can keep both why not?

KD wants out. That's why not.

[Impuniti]

Draymond is more valuable to us. Add another 3&D wing with the MLE and a few shooters off the bench and we'll be just fine next season.

KD has had one foot out the door the entire season. Let him enjoy working for James Dolan. He'll be completely out of our way when he's a Knick.

Joe Lacob went on record saying he'll pay to keep the band together. Its not one or the other.

If you can keep both why not?

KD wants out. That's why not.

Found it out suspicious that Lacob after the Houston tie stated that they want to keep Steph and Klay there for life. I don't think anyone in the organization knows that KD is staying, it's either they're unsure or they know he's gone.