Gary Payton II is a freaking dog

[Harry Garris]

This man is a lockdown defender just like his dad. A defensive monster. A steal machine. It's crazy that he was available for any team to grab via waivers before this season starts.

He has been on NBA rosters each of the last 5 years and been given opportunities to play. He has been up to this point in his career a really bad offensive player. That's why he went unsigned during the offseason this summer.

[Texas Chuck]

This man is a lockdown defender just like his dad. A defensive monster. A steal machine. It's crazy that he was available for any team to grab via waivers before this season starts.

He has been on NBA rosters each of the last 5 years and been given opportunities to play. He has been up to this point in his career a really bad offensive player. That's why he went unsigned during the offseason this summer.

It amazes me that this simple fact gets missed on all these guys. MKG, Dunn, RHJ, etc Coaches simply aren't going to give you regular rotation run if you make them play offense 4 on 5. They just aren't going to do it. Every year we get a guy who has one game like this and we get an OP like this and 2 weeks later that guy is back to DNP-CD because their offense is just so bad.

Now Kerr claims he's going to play more and I hope for the guy that he can do just enough to stay on the court, but nobody should be surprised when he's not even on the roster at the end of the year.

[whatisacenter]

This man is a lockdown defender just like his dad. A defensive monster. A steal machine. It's crazy that he was available for any team to grab via waivers before this season starts.

He has been on NBA rosters each of the last 5 years and been given opportunities to play. He has been up to this point in his career a really bad offensive player. That's why he went unsigned during the offseason this summer.

It amazes me that this simple fact gets missed on all these guys. MKG, Dunn, RHJ, etc Coaches simply aren't going to give you regular rotation run if you make them play offense 4 on 5. They just aren't going to do it. Every year we get a guy who has one game like this and we get an OP like this and 2 weeks later that guy is back to DNP-CD because their offense is just so bad.

Now Kerr claims he's going to play more and I hope for the guy that he can do just enough to stay on the court, but nobody should be surprised when he's not even on the roster at the end of the year.

woooo....wait....awww

[nfmos]

This man is a lockdown defender just like his dad. A defensive monster. A steal machine. It's crazy that he was available for any team to grab via waivers before this season starts.

He has been on NBA rosters each of the last 5 years and been given opportunities to play. He has been up to this point in his career a really bad offensive player. That's why he went unsigned during the offseason this summer.

It amazes me that this simple fact gets missed on all these guys. MKG, Dunn, RHJ, etc Coaches simply aren't going to give you regular rotation run if you make them play offense 4 on 5. They just aren't going to do it. Every year we get a guy who has one game like this and we get an OP like this and 2 weeks later that guy is back to DNP-CD because their offense is just so bad.

Now Kerr claims he's going to play more and I hope for the guy that he can do just enough to stay on the court, but nobody should be surprised when he's not even on the roster at the end of the year.

Watch the games with GP2 on the warriors tho. The thing about our teams offense is it’s not about isos and being able to take your man off the dribble all the time but instead about making the right reads, cuts, and passes, and he has been really good at that. He has a really high bball iq and just always seems to be on the right place at the right time for open looks. We don’t need him to be starter quality, but for energy off the bench, especially on the defensive side with any offense being a bonus, he has been better than anyone else we have had in that role in years. There’s a reason some castaways ended up being good players with the Warriors and it’s been because of how they fit in our system. And GP2 has been an impact player with us every time he got minutes even going back to last season.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[Texas Chuck]

I'm glad Payton looked good last year. He also played 40 total minutes mostly in garbage time. What stock can be placed in that really?

And I was clear I'm rooting for the guy. But ignoring his career patterns or the career patterns of similar players because we are in the glow of one of his best games just isn't something I'm going to do. Regardless of which team its for.

[BoatsNZones]

He’s their 12th man, but I love when the latter bench guys are stoppers and players who get after it. Keeps the energy up.

The Warriors are the best D in the NBA again. He fits.

[BarbaGrizz]

In the past I followed Gleague a lot more and I always wondered why Christian Wood, Chris Boucher and Gary Payton II were putting monster numbers down there but never seemed to stick with any team.

[BlazersBroncos]

He is a great 11-12th man. Glad he may have finally found a home. He has been putting so much work in over the years and has never given up the dream. Good story.

[Gramercy Riffs]

He has been on NBA rosters each of the last 5 years and been given opportunities to play. He has been up to this point in his career a really bad offensive player. That's why he went unsigned during the offseason this summer.

It amazes me that this simple fact gets missed on all these guys. MKG, Dunn, RHJ, etc Coaches simply aren't going to give you regular rotation run if you make them play offense 4 on 5. They just aren't going to do it. Every year we get a guy who has one game like this and we get an OP like this and 2 weeks later that guy is back to DNP-CD because their offense is just so bad.

Now Kerr claims he's going to play more and I hope for the guy that he can do just enough to stay on the court, but nobody should be surprised when he's not even on the roster at the end of the year.

Watch the games with GP2 on the warriors tho. The thing about our teams offense is it’s not about isos and being able to take your man off the dribble all the time but instead about making the right reads, cuts, and passes, and he has been really good at that. He has a really high bball iq and just always seems to be on the right place at the right time for open looks. We don’t need him to be starter quality, but for energy off the bench, especially on the defensive side with any offense being a bonus, he has been better than anyone else we have had in that role in years. There’s a reason some castaways ended up being good players with the Warriors and it’s been because of how they fit in our system. And GP2 has been an impact player with us every time he got minutes even going back to last season.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

I made the case earlier to Texas Chuck that the reason we're legit and not a .500 team is because of Kerr and his Strength in Numbers™ defense. Kerr coaches this team further above its talent level than any other team. He demands high intensity defense first and then on the other end of the court he asks guys to pass, cut and take open catch and shoot jumpers. By having a simplified role on offense, GP2 has found a home. Most other teams can't afford to have their guards play exclusively off ball but with the Warriors, largely because of Draymond, it works.

[nfmos]

I'm glad Payton looked good last year. He also played 40 total minutes mostly in garbage time. What stock can be placed in that really?

And I was clear I'm rooting for the guy. But ignoring his career patterns or the career patterns of similar players because we are in the glow of one of his best games just isn't something I'm going to do. Regardless of which team its for.

Well it worked out for us well with Livingston, Speights, JTA etc before, sometimes it just takes a while for players to find the right team for them. And we are comparing him to players like Wanamaker, Mulder, Bazemore, etc, so its not like we need him to be an allstar. I think Kerr is realizing now he should have played him more even last year, so one way or the other we will find out this year, but already he brings something to this team that no one else on the roster does, which is high energy and lockdown defense off the bench.

[Flash Falcon X]

Warriors are #1 in the league in defense right now.

It starts with Draymond, but effort from guys like GPII help make a compound effect.

Also, Kerr already knows Payton isn't in the game for offense. That's why Kerr mainly puts him in at the end of quarters to help boost the energy for their defense. People are so used to the Warriors being known as a high scoring team that they forget GSW has always been a defensive team as well. It just gets overshadowed. Especially with guys like Draymond--people knock on him as a triple single donkey when they forget Draymond's key attribute is his elite defense (3rd in DPOY voting last season.)

Kerr loves defensive guys as much as he loves his shooters and passers. We hear all this talk about Steph and Klay's shooting that when a guy like GPII gets credit for something, the first thought on RealGM is "omg but he can't do da offense thooo."

[K3nny Pow3rs]

Warriors are #1 in the league in defense right now.

It starts with Draymond, but effort from guys like GPII help make a compound effect.

Also, Kerr already knows Payton isn't in the game for offense. That's why Kerr mainly puts him in at the end of quarters to help boost the energy for their defense. People are so used to the Warriors being known as a high scoring team that they forget GSW has always been a defensive team as well. It just gets overshadowed. Especially with guys like Draymond--people knock on him as a triple single donkey when they forget Draymond's key attribute is his elite defense (3rd in DPOY voting last season.)

Kerr loves defensive guys as much as he loves his shooters and passers. We hear all this talk about Steph and Klay's shooting that when a guy like GPII gets credit for something, the first thought on RealGM is "omg but he can't do da offense thooo."

I agree, they are the worst kind of posters, they don't appreciate hard work

[SUPERVILLAIN]

Just found this tweet. Sums up very well how great Payton was against the Hornets.

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[SUPERVILLAIN]

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[TheFinishSniper]

I dislike calling basketball players animals. It's degrading.

[warriorschamps]

GPII is an athletic freak for sure. Many athletic freaks goes to waste because they don't have the "know how". But because GPII is playing on such a smart team like the Warriors he don't have to worry about that.

[JN61]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Someone please explain how this is not a double-dribble (3 secs in)

It is. NBA doesn't care especially because possible highlight coming up. That is common practice in NBA. Ignore traveling, carry and so on for highlights.

[K3nny Pow3rs]

This season he's shooting .692 field and .500 downtown, and last season he shot .769 field and .500 downtown

[queridiculo]

I remember the first game Payton started for the Wizards coming straight out of the G-League, 15 points, 6 steals, his hands are just ridiculous.

He deserved a shot in the league and it's a shame the Wizards didn't keep him around.

He's a reliable jumper away from carving out a nice career for himself despite taking a while to stick around in the NBA.

[cdubbz]

The thing about the Warriors offense is that it isn't iso dominant. GPII role isn't to come in and give us an offensive spark (although he has been doing that with his highlight dunks).

GPII is allowed to come in and hound the offensive players full court. He usually has a lot of fouls, but I'm okay with that because he is literally our 15th guy. It gives GPII the freedom on defense to be physical.