The Stephen Curry Thread (2015-16 Pt. 1)

[The411]

Draymond's defense when they went small

Curry's D was unreal this game as well. He was guarding Hayward at times.

[Atmanne]

Draymond's defense when they went small

Curry's D was unreal this game as well. He was guarding Hayward at times.

As his offense has slipped a little, feels like Curry's ramped up the D lately. He's been causing a ton of turnovers

[prech]

Dangerously close at falling out of 50/40/90 status, FT: 338/375 = 90.13%

[The-Power]

This was a tough game. The circumstances made a loss very likely - b2b on the road in less than 24 hours flying from Oakland to Utah, who are fighting for the playoff-spot, with Iggy and Ezeli still out. But at this moment, it's all about the record and it's impressive to me how they get it done every night, it's talent and will carrying them from win to win.

If the Warriors don't win the title, many people are going to say it's because they didn't rest their players and decided to chase the record, although it would definitely be a too simple way to look at it. Anyway, I don't believe they - and Kerr in particular - have much of a choice at this point. With the record being so close, all the players want it and they are always going to regret it if they fail to get it due to extensive rest. If they do not win the title, the rest would have been useless anyway and if they do win the title, they are always going to think "and we could have gotten the record as well, which would have made us the greatest team of all time". Being this close to break the record, you're going for it.

As for Curry's individual performace against the Jazz: he still misses lay-ups he didn't miss this frequently in the first half of the season. He also committed some stupid turnovers which has become rather rare lately. But his defense was brillant, especially considering the circumstances. Outstanding job of staying attached to his opponent, sharp on switches, very active with his hands and feet, impeccable on the contests and physically present - just an incredible physical and mental effort despite playing b2b and being somewhat exhausted. You could see the fatigue on one play where he basically gave up after he poked away the ball but couldn't get the steal IIRC, but other than that he fought every possession and with this one scene in mind, you realized how much it actually took from him. This was a textbook leading by example.

And yeah, this game named Draymond did a pretty solid job defensively at the end of the game.

[JulesWinnfield]

The Warriors have gotten plenty of rest this season and will continue to get plenty of rest with the spacing of the postseason. I don't share these concerns about them wearing down. In the unlikely event that they do not win the title, pushing a narrative that they failed to do so because they wore themselves out chasing the record would be wholly indefensible and unsupportable on every conceivable level imaginable. There is literally not an argument for it. No one on this team is playing big minutes. They're going to get week-long layoffs during the postseason between series as they likely make quick work of teams.

The record is worth chasing. The highest new bar possible is worth setting. If they can go 75-7 they should try. This is bigger than even this one season. This is forever. And I believe they feel the same way. I don't see a worn down team. They're missing a couple key pieces defensively and that has shown recently. Steph hasn't been quite as awesome in the past 5-7 games but a mini slump was bound to happen at some point with the absurd level he maintained for so long. Even still he has been terrific by any other standard during this "slump" and he will have plenty of chances to re-charge his batteries for the big push

[cpower]

my favorite play from Curry last night

[RSCD3_]

The Warriors have gotten plenty of rest this season and will continue to get plenty of rest with the spacing of the postseason. I don't share these concerns about them wearing down. In the unlikely event that they do not win the title, pushing a narrative that they failed to do so because they wore themselves out chasing the record would be wholly indefensible and unsupportable on every conceivable level imaginable. There is literally not an argument for it. No one on this team is playing big minutes. They're going to get week-long layoffs during the postseason between series as they likely make quick work of teams.

The record is worth chasing. The highest new bar possible is worth setting. If they can go 75-7 they should try. This is bigger than even this one season. This is forever. And I believe they feel the same way. I don't see a worn down team. They're missing a couple key pieces defensively and that has shown recently. Steph hasn't been quite as awesome in the past 5-7 games but a mini slump was bound to happen at some point with the absurd level he maintained for so long. Even still he has been terrific by any other standard during this "slump" and he will have plenty of chances to re-charge his batteries for the big push

This was a tough game. The circumstances made a loss very likely - b2b on the road in less than 24 hours flying from Oakland to Utah, who are fighting for the playoff-spot, with Iggy and Ezeli still out. But at this moment, it's all about the record and it's impressive to me how they get it done every night, it's talent and will carrying them from win to win.

If the Warriors don't win the title, many people are going to say it's because they didn't rest their players and decided to chase the record, although it would definitely be a too simple way to look at it. Anyway, I don't believe they - and Kerr in particular - have much of a choice at this point. With the record being so close, all the players want it and they are always going to regret it if they fail to get it due to extensive rest. If they do not win the title, the rest would have been useless anyway and if they do win the title, they are always going to think "and we could have gotten the record as well, which would have made us the greatest team of all time". Being this close to break the record, you're going for it.

As for Curry's individual performace against the Jazz: he still misses lay-ups he didn't miss this frequently in the first half of the season. He also committed some stupid turnovers which has become rather rare lately. But his defense was brillant, especially considering the circumstances. Outstanding job of staying attached to his opponent, sharp on switches, very active with his hands and feet, impeccable on the contests and physically present - just an incredible physical and mental effort despite playing b2b and being somewhat exhausted. You could see the fatigue on one play where he basically gave up after he poked away the ball but couldn't get the steal IIRC, but other than that he fought every possession and with this one scene in mind, you realized how much it actually took from him. This was a textbook leading by example.

And yeah, this game named Draymond did a pretty solid job defensively at the end of the game.

In my opinion, if they get to 73 theyll rest afterwards. Theres no point in killing their legs for 74 or 75 if they aready have the record, personally I think they should rest curry on the final day unless they only have 71 wins.

[weekend_warrior]

They have 4 home games to come. Winning those would put them at 72-7. They could afford to rest Curry and Green (and maybe some others as well) during the road b2b afterwards (Memphis and Spurs). Maybe try to squeeze out a win versus a depleted Grizzlies team to clinch the record or just take the losses. The last game is a home game vs. Grizzlies again which they could use to get the full squad some burn for the POs and seal the 73 wins.

[Doctor MJ]

Welp, that was predictable:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241389/Joe-Lacob-Warriors-Light-Years-Ahead-Of-Every-Other-Team-In-Structure-Planning

Warrior ownership dead convinced that his team is winning because he's the smartest.

It’s not just Steph Curry. It’s architecting a team, a style of play, the way they all play together. It’s all extremely thought through.

There's no doubt that Lacob deserves some credit here, but I get so frustrated with all these billionaire owners who basically have let their previous success inflate their egos to unbearable levels.

[euliss]

Getting the player in the league on the best contract in the league was all on him

Yeah i rolled my eyes reading that yesterday too

[Ballerhogger]

Getting the player in the league on the best contract in the league was all on him

Yeah i rolled my eyes reading that yesterday too

That's insane deal though for the best player in the league right now

[Dipper 13]

There's no doubt that Lacob deserves some credit here, but I get so frustrated with all these billionaire owners who basically have let their previous success inflate their egos to unbearable levels.

Sporting News - Mar. 18, 2012

Some took the Golden State Warriors’ move to trade Monta Ellis in an effort to get Andrew Bogut as a vote of confidence in point guard Stephen Curry.

Warriors owner Joe Lacob turned that theory on its ear in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, when he admitted the team was also willing to trade Curry for Bogut.

Lacob said it was a tough decision to move Ellis, a player he has grown fond of. He also mentioned Curry and said the team would have moved either player to get the deal done.

“I’m getting chills talking about (Ellis) right now,” Lacob said. “He’s one of my favorite players in the NBA. Anyone who thinks otherwise is crazy. I feel very strongly about him. It was incredibly difficult to trade him, but he’s the piece it had to be to get Andrew Bogut. We would have traded either (Curry or Ellis) to take the next step for this franchise.”

[PCProductions]

Avoiding trading Klay for Love was a brilliant decision, though. I would have done it at the time, and I'm super glad they didn't.

[RSCD3_]

Avoiding trading Klay for Love was a brilliant decision, though. I would have done it at the time, and I'm super glad they didn't.

I heard windy say that GS relented on Klay but it was after flip chose the cavs trade package. He released it shortly after flip passed and I don't know why he would lie about that.

But yeah if so the warriors managed some lucky breaks in Trades and they are not lightyears ahead of everybody.

[Dr Spaceman]

Welp, that was predictable:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241389/Joe-Lacob-Warriors-Light-Years-Ahead-Of-Every-Other-Team-In-Structure-Planning

Warrior ownership dead convinced that his team is winning because he's the smartest.

It’s not just Steph Curry. It’s architecting a team, a style of play, the way they all play together. It’s all extremely thought through.

There's no doubt that Lacob deserves some credit here, but I get so frustrated with all these billionaire owners who basically have let their previous success inflate their egos to unbearable levels.

The scary thing is you picked the 25% of his quote that puts him in the best light. There's some scary unreasonable stuff there, not to mention the ridiculous luck involved in drafting Curry and Steph where they did and even convincing Iggy to sign there.

Also the "light years" comment makes me wonder whether he watches the league closely enough to know there's a team in San Antonio.

[lorak]

So Lacob is modern day Jerry Krause. I hope GSW will not end the same way as Bulls because of that.

[timlin500]

So Lacob is modern day Jerry Krause. I hope GSW will not end the same way as Bulls because of that.

I mean it can't be worse than Chris Freaking Cohan...I think we'll be fine

[Clyde Frazier]

Welp, that was predictable:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/241389/Joe-Lacob-Warriors-Light-Years-Ahead-Of-Every-Other-Team-In-Structure-Planning

Warrior ownership dead convinced that his team is winning because he's the smartest.

It’s not just Steph Curry. It’s architecting a team, a style of play, the way they all play together. It’s all extremely thought through.

There's no doubt that Lacob deserves some credit here, but I get so frustrated with all these billionaire owners who basically have let their previous success inflate their egos to unbearable levels.

The scary thing is you picked the 25% of his quote that puts him in the best light. There's some scary unreasonable stuff there, not to mention the ridiculous luck involved in drafting Curry and Steph where they did and even convincing Iggy to sign there.

Also the "light years" comment makes me wonder whether he watches the league closely enough to know there's a team in San Antonio.

Seriously, his comments make it seem as if the Spurs (and to lesser extent Mavs) haven't existed over the last 15+ years as great ownership models. The Warriors are obviously moving in the right direction as an organization on many levels, and just happened to have lucked into Curry + his contract, but they aren't re-inventing the wheel here.

[Quotatious]

Avoiding trading Klay for Love was a brilliant decision, though. I would have done it at the time, and I'm super glad they didn't.

Agreed, I would have done it, too. Hell, not only that - I thought Love was better than Curry at that time (summer of '14), and would remain better for the rest of their careers...Just one of my wrong predictions - another one was that Harden would win the 2016 MVP and he would surpass Curry this year...Damn, I couldn't be any more wrong about that.

[Doctor MJ]

Avoiding trading Klay for Love was a brilliant decision, though. I would have done it at the time, and I'm super glad they didn't.

Part of what's so frustrating about the quotes, as opposed to amusing, is that the Warriors really do deserve a ton of praise, and the owner is part of that. This isn't Vivek insisting on his own genius as the whole world can see he's in the process of burning down the house.

The issue here really, aside from the taunting of other franchises, is that the success has everything to do with the right decisions being made by the people who work underneath Lacob...and those people - like Myers, West, and Kerr - would be quick to tell you where they got lucky, and where things easily could have gone another way. THEY understand that this stuff is tough, their boss does not.