Re: 5th Seed Watch (was 6th Seed Watch)
Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2025 3:04 am
Sports is our Business
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/
https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2447524
Injury Report ahead of tomorrow’s game against the Warriors:
PROBABLE:
Christian Braun (Left Foot Inflammation)
QUESTIONABLE:
Nikola Jokić (Right Elbow Contusion/Left Ankle Impingement)
Jamal Murray (Right Ankle Sprain)
Aaron Gordon (Right Calf Injury Management/Left Ankle Sprain)
OUT:
Julian Strawther (Left Knee Sprain)
DaRon Holmes II (Right Achilles Tendon Repair)
AirP. wrote:
Onus wrote:AirP. wrote:
This is scary. Steve has not been good with deciding who should play and he's already started experimenting with different lineups and rotations.
We just have to hope he's settled on a closing 4 or 5.
vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:AirP. wrote:
This is scary. Steve has not been good with deciding who should play and he's already started experimenting with different lineups and rotations.
We just have to hope he's settled on a closing 4 or 5.
I think Steve has been pretty spot on since the Jimmy trade with his rotations, starting, and closing lineups. People had issues the last few years with Klay playing too much, JK/Moody not playing enough, and the 3 guard rotations. Some late game issues also became more prevalent. That said, the mix of shooting and defense, the 2nd unit rotations, and the managing of what is still a large roster, has been pretty solid the last month.
Onus wrote:vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:This is scary. Steve has not been good with deciding who should play and he's already started experimenting with different lineups and rotations.
We just have to hope he's settled on a closing 4 or 5.
I think Steve has been pretty spot on since the Jimmy trade with his rotations, starting, and closing lineups. People had issues the last few years with Klay playing too much, JK/Moody not playing enough, and the 3 guard rotations. Some late game issues also became more prevalent. That said, the mix of shooting and defense, the 2nd unit rotations, and the managing of what is still a large roster, has been pretty solid the last month.
I don't think we've had 11 players vying for playing time in that time.
vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:vvoland wrote:
I think Steve has been pretty spot on since the Jimmy trade with his rotations, starting, and closing lineups. People had issues the last few years with Klay playing too much, JK/Moody not playing enough, and the 3 guard rotations. Some late game issues also became more prevalent. That said, the mix of shooting and defense, the 2nd unit rotations, and the managing of what is still a large roster, has been pretty solid the last month.
I don't think we've had 11 players vying for playing time in that time.
Sure. We're only missing podz, at the moment, and he's certainly not forcing JK back into the lineup (starting Gui vs NYK?). We'll see how he'll adjust the starting 5 but it's pretty clear he'll be closing with Dray, Steph, Jimmy, and the other 2 are on a game by game basis. We've seen Loon out there, GP2, Podz, Moody, Hield, even a bit of Post. I'm hoping we'll see JK in that unit at some point. It's certainly a meritocracy, as most have been calling for.
AirP. wrote:vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:I don't think we've had 11 players vying for playing time in that time.
Sure. We're only missing podz, at the moment, and he's certainly not forcing JK back into the lineup (starting Gui vs NYK?). We'll see how he'll adjust the starting 5 but it's pretty clear he'll be closing with Dray, Steph, Jimmy, and the other 2 are on a game by game basis. We've seen Loon out there, GP2, Podz, Moody, Hield, even a bit of Post. I'm hoping we'll see JK in that unit at some point. It's certainly a meritocracy, as most have been calling for.
From an outsider to this team, I really worry about bringing Kuminga into the rotation because I've not liked some of what I've seen. The offense overall has been flowing well, the ball moving around with good decisions made for the most part, Kuminga while he has had some really nice plays for whatever reason will just decide it's his turn to score and try to force up a shot. He's come back after a long absence to a somewhat different team with Butler that's been winning and in his 2 games and 40 total minutes back has put up 18 FGA and 12 FTA, that's a lot of offense to just force back into the rotation. He may be the 4th most talented player on the roster but that doesn't mean however he plays just fits, it can be detrimental to the team. I'm not so sure how much he'd be willing to dial it back with RFA coming this summer for him, he needs to put up stats to get paid (get a large offer that GS would have to match to keep him).
Onus wrote:AirP. wrote:vvoland wrote:
Sure. We're only missing podz, at the moment, and he's certainly not forcing JK back into the lineup (starting Gui vs NYK?). We'll see how he'll adjust the starting 5 but it's pretty clear he'll be closing with Dray, Steph, Jimmy, and the other 2 are on a game by game basis. We've seen Loon out there, GP2, Podz, Moody, Hield, even a bit of Post. I'm hoping we'll see JK in that unit at some point. It's certainly a meritocracy, as most have been calling for.
From an outsider to this team, I really worry about bringing Kuminga into the rotation because I've not liked some of what I've seen. The offense overall has been flowing well, the ball moving around with good decisions made for the most part, Kuminga while he has had some really nice plays for whatever reason will just decide it's his turn to score and try to force up a shot. He's come back after a long absence to a somewhat different team with Butler that's been winning and in his 2 games and 40 total minutes back has put up 18 FGA and 12 FTA, that's a lot of offense to just force back into the rotation. He may be the 4th most talented player on the roster but that doesn't mean however he plays just fits, it can be detrimental to the team. I'm not so sure how much he'd be willing to dial it back with RFA coming this summer for him, he needs to put up stats to get paid (get a large offer that GS would have to match to keep him).
You would've really enjoyed the team last year with Klay and JK hi jacking the offense. Then the year before that JP and Klay jacking up shots before anyone else even touched the ball.
JK has a use, but a very limited use but the team (Kerr probably at the behest of the front office) has tried to focus the offense around JK. They keep saying he has all nba talent so they try to play him like he is.
AirP. wrote:
Maybe, Kerr could try to steal some minutes with Curry and Butler off the court and allow Kuminga to be the leading option on the court for a few minutes here and there.
AirP. wrote:Onus wrote:AirP. wrote:
From an outsider to this team, I really worry about bringing Kuminga into the rotation because I've not liked some of what I've seen. The offense overall has been flowing well, the ball moving around with good decisions made for the most part, Kuminga while he has had some really nice plays for whatever reason will just decide it's his turn to score and try to force up a shot. He's come back after a long absence to a somewhat different team with Butler that's been winning and in his 2 games and 40 total minutes back has put up 18 FGA and 12 FTA, that's a lot of offense to just force back into the rotation. He may be the 4th most talented player on the roster but that doesn't mean however he plays just fits, it can be detrimental to the team. I'm not so sure how much he'd be willing to dial it back with RFA coming this summer for him, he needs to put up stats to get paid (get a large offer that GS would have to match to keep him).
You would've really enjoyed the team last year with Klay and JK hi jacking the offense. Then the year before that JP and Klay jacking up shots before anyone else even touched the ball.
JK has a use, but a very limited use but the team (Kerr probably at the behest of the front office) has tried to focus the offense around JK. They keep saying he has all nba talent so they try to play him like he is.
They don't really believe the chances of him being an all-NBA talent are all that high because had they believed that he'd have been extended at the number he wanted. They HOPE he can develop into an all-NBA talent because he has the physical tools to do that.
AirP. wrote:vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:I don't think we've had 11 players vying for playing time in that time.
Sure. We're only missing podz, at the moment, and he's certainly not forcing JK back into the lineup (starting Gui vs NYK?). We'll see how he'll adjust the starting 5 but it's pretty clear he'll be closing with Dray, Steph, Jimmy, and the other 2 are on a game by game basis. We've seen Loon out there, GP2, Podz, Moody, Hield, even a bit of Post. I'm hoping we'll see JK in that unit at some point. It's certainly a meritocracy, as most have been calling for.
From an outsider to this team, I really worry about bringing Kuminga into the rotation because I've not liked some of what I've seen. The offense overall has been flowing well, the ball moving around with good decisions made for the most part, Kuminga while he has had some really nice plays for whatever reason will just decide it's his turn to score and try to force up a shot. He's come back after a long absence to a somewhat different team with Butler that's been winning and in his 2 games and 40 total minutes back has put up 18 FGA and 12 FTA, that's a lot of offense to just force back into the rotation. He may be the 4th most talented player on the roster but that doesn't mean however he plays just fits, it can be detrimental to the team. I'm not so sure how much he'd be willing to dial it back with RFA coming this summer for him, he needs to put up stats to get paid (get a large offer that GS would have to match to keep him).
Maybe, Kerr could try to steal some minutes with Curry and Butler off the court and allow Kuminga to be the leading option on the court for a few minutes here and there.
vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:vvoland wrote:
I think Steve has been pretty spot on since the Jimmy trade with his rotations, starting, and closing lineups. People had issues the last few years with Klay playing too much, JK/Moody not playing enough, and the 3 guard rotations. Some late game issues also became more prevalent. That said, the mix of shooting and defense, the 2nd unit rotations, and the managing of what is still a large roster, has been pretty solid the last month.
I don't think we've had 11 players vying for playing time in that time.
Sure. We're only missing podz, at the moment, and he's certainly not forcing JK back into the lineup (starting Gui vs NYK?). We'll see how he'll adjust the starting 5 but it's pretty clear he'll be closing with Dray, Steph, Jimmy, and the other 2 are on a game by game basis. We've seen Loon out there, GP2, Podz, Moody, Hield, even a bit of Post. I'm hoping we'll see JK in that unit at some point. It's certainly a meritocracy, as most have been calling for.
Onus wrote:vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:I don't think we've had 11 players vying for playing time in that time.
Sure. We're only missing podz, at the moment, and he's certainly not forcing JK back into the lineup (starting Gui vs NYK?). We'll see how he'll adjust the starting 5 but it's pretty clear he'll be closing with Dray, Steph, Jimmy, and the other 2 are on a game by game basis. We've seen Loon out there, GP2, Podz, Moody, Hield, even a bit of Post. I'm hoping we'll see JK in that unit at some point. It's certainly a meritocracy, as most have been calling for.
Steve has been better when JK has been out of the lineup and doesn't have a vet that he seems to have to play for some reason. But JK is back and they do not play JK on meritocracy until the playoffs when he was getting dnps.
GQ Hot Dog wrote:AirP. wrote:vvoland wrote:.Spoiler:Spoiler:
Kuminga is 10-18 with only one 3pter taken in the two games he's been back, while on a 20 mpg restriction. I don't see what in his play would cause any anxiety. He's been great.
And he's not the 4th most talented on the team, he's the most talented. Which is why we want him taking shots when they're good shots and that's what he's been doing the last two games and most of this season. By the end of the season, if everything goes as well as can be hoped, Kuminga will be taking the second most shots per game after Curry.
Jimmy is settling in as a primary playmaker along with Draymond, while the primary shot takers should be Steph and Kuminga, with Moody as the third most. That's not set in stone game-to-game as Jimmy and Draymond are great at funneling the ball to the hot hand.
Kuminga's development trajectory is as a Giannis-like scorer with a better jump shot. He's a future primary scorer and has MVP potential.
vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:vvoland wrote:
Sure. We're only missing podz, at the moment, and he's certainly not forcing JK back into the lineup (starting Gui vs NYK?). We'll see how he'll adjust the starting 5 but it's pretty clear he'll be closing with Dray, Steph, Jimmy, and the other 2 are on a game by game basis. We've seen Loon out there, GP2, Podz, Moody, Hield, even a bit of Post. I'm hoping we'll see JK in that unit at some point. It's certainly a meritocracy, as most have been calling for.
Steve has been better when JK has been out of the lineup and doesn't have a vet that he seems to have to play for some reason. But JK is back and they do not play JK on meritocracy until the playoffs when he was getting dnps.
Wild statement. You think Lamb getting minutes was not a meritocracy? Or JK getting big minutes when Wigs missed half the season? Or when he was putting up 20+ for long stretches last season as the only reliable scorer next to Steph?
Was Steve experimenting with JK in various lineups this season? Sure. Same can be said of anyone not named Steph. Not really seeing where JK is getting minutes he doesn't deserve on a team stocked with talent.
Onus wrote:vvoland wrote:Onus wrote:Steve has been better when JK has been out of the lineup and doesn't have a vet that he seems to have to play for some reason. But JK is back and they do not play JK on meritocracy until the playoffs when he was getting dnps.
Wild statement. You think Lamb getting minutes was not a meritocracy? Or JK getting big minutes when Wigs missed half the season? Or when he was putting up 20+ for long stretches last season as the only reliable scorer next to Steph?
Was Steve experimenting with JK in various lineups this season? Sure. Same can be said of anyone not named Steph. Not really seeing where JK is getting minutes he doesn't deserve on a team stocked with talent.
It's the fact that he was playing and then got no playing time in the playoffs proves that he wasn't playing based off of merit.
AirP. wrote:
For instance, 14 seconds on the shot clock, he get K.Ellis switched onto him at the top of the key, from that point on he wasn't passing the ball, he was 100% about scoring which he did, this offense was up by 20 in the 2nd quarter when he did this, why break off the offense to get yours when you have Curry on the court with you and you need to win every game if possible? If I'm on defense, I want to see Kuminga go one on one more than let the team move the ball around and get a good shot, possibly an open 3. Here it is on nba.com. He had 0 thought of passing it even if someone were to help (which DeRozan should have done).
I do a quick little search and find this... I absolutely understand what he's talking about without even going back and looking at his previous games and I had no idea it's been said publicly; I'm just going off what I'm watching, tendencies don't change quickly. Just because you make a shot doesn't mean it was a good shot. I'm fine with forcing a shot near the end of the shot clock, take all those shots you want, but with a good amount of shot clock left, unless you're cooking players left and right, run the offense.