(07-15-2024, 10:31 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: This just reminded me that something that was discussed after Brunson left actually came true.  The Brunson loss was compared to the loss of Nash and it was pointed out that the team went to the finals two seasons later (the loss to Miami).

Well, that will never happen...except it just did.  Hopefully we won't win 60 and lose in the first round next season.

(07-16-2024, 11:13 PM)Reunion Mav Wrote: I’m not finding anything on the Kyrie headline. What happened to his hand?

(07-16-2024, 08:12 PM)audiosway Wrote: What you are dealing with right now is a combination of bad info and the appearance of him not being engaged and miserable. The talking heads are upset that he chose Dallas over the Lakers. The Lakers are a better story for them and more clicks. They will all come across as "shocked" when Klay performs in Dallas. They will all say they didn't see it coming.

You guys seem to quickly forget how good Kidd was on defense at 37 and how good Marion was at 35 still. I'm not saying Klay is on the level of Matrix. But, to say he can't defend anymore is very misguided.

Here is another video from this past season. It's just snippets of his play but he is guarding all types of players at times and guarding them well. He can guard in the post, perimeter, etc. He isn't done like people are saying. He's not prime Klay anymore but he will be a massive upgrade to THJ.

(07-16-2024, 08:12 PM)audiosway Wrote: And yes, Klay is still a very good defender. I have a video of his defensive highlights from the 21-22 season. Last season the Warriors were a mess. CP3 completely destroyed the flow of the team and how they have always played. CP3 is a mid shooter. He is the exact kind of player that throws off the system they run. 

Klay was also not happy due to the FO not showing that they wanted to keep him. Then, there is Kerr benching him because the front office is retooling the team and wants to see what they have before paying these young guys. As far as the ones saying the Warriors had better defensive numbers with Klay off the floor need to consider that the Mavs numbers on offense were better with Luka OFF the floor last year. I don't remember which numbers it was but during the finals they flashed it on the screen.

Numbers are great for sports with a large starting lineup like Football or Baseball. They don't always show the truth though in basketball since it's just 5 players on the floor at a time.

(07-17-2024, 01:04 PM)mvossman Wrote: You never actually answered the question.  Getting back to the OP question, do you think Klay is going to be guarding small quick point guards while in the starting lineup?

As for numbers in sports, they are best when there are less variables.  Having less players on the court means less variables, so in that sense its easier to evaluate in basketball than other sports.  The reason they work so well for baseball is because it is essentially pitcher vs hitter with the defense playing a fairly minor role.  That has less variables than other team sports.

(07-17-2024, 01:04 PM)mvossman Wrote: You never actually answered the question.  Getting back to the OP question, do you think Klay is going to be guarding small quick point guards while in the starting lineup?

As for numbers in sports, they are best when there are less variables.  Having less players on the court means less variables, so in that sense its easier to evaluate in basketball than other sports.  The reason they work so well for baseball is because it is essentially pitcher vs hitter with the defense playing a fairly minor role.  That has less variables than other team sports.

(07-17-2024, 01:37 PM)audiosway Wrote: At times I think he will. He still can. Just not for entire games while also being the 2nd option on an offense predicated on movement. But, while he is in the starting lineup he'll have no problem slowing small PGs. He essentially bullies them. Most of the time if Klay is guarding a smaller player he will body them up. The reason is due to his size. When he is right up on them they have trouble seeing over him to pass out of it and they can't just go around him due to his quick hip switch. If they do somehow get by him it's normally close enough to the rim that he's able to recover with length and block or effect the shot or just guide them right into the rim protector.

He's never been quick footed but has a quick first step when players start to drive. He also has a tendency to put his leg around a screen making it so that the opposing guard has a hard time shaking him around it. Most of the time I think they will have Luka guarding either a wing or in the post (3-4). Kyrie will probably be used similar to Steph on defense. If he got on a guy that was trouble for him Klay would switch over quickly with Steph.

It will actually work well since Klay will mostly be shooting spot up. He will be able to be fresh on defense. With Klay as the second option in GS he was having trouble playing 30+ mpg, shooting well, and guarding the other team's best perimeter player. GS's system is like running a track meet. They never stop moving.

So now with Klay being the 3rd option it's going to make it so that he looks closer to 85-90% of his prime self since he won't have to move so much. Offense with Klay will be way less movement on him. He will also have much more open shooting. If not, Luka and Kai will be destroying teams inside.

I also think that Kidd will stagger minutes during the game to make sure that there is always great defense on the court. So, Luka, Klay, and Kai will start and finish games. But, during the games they will be staggered quite a bit with Gafford, Grimes, Naji, Exum, and Hardy. I have a feeling that we'll see Kidd run that top 10 most of the time for the season. That way he can trim it to 8 in the playoffs with the option of 10 deep depending on matchups.

All of this said, if I'm being very nit picky Klay does have the tendency to space at times on defense. It's normally during the long season. So, he will have some lapses here and there. That's just that he doesn't lock in for all 82 games 48 minutes. He will also have some poor shooting nights. Nothing like THJ but it does happen. Steph even has them. Normally if you see Klay go 3-10 from 3. Expect his name game to be 6-10. He doesn't do it back to back and it doesn't happen often or a lot. Even though he is a top notch defender still and one of the best shooters of all time he's not perfect. Just keeping it real.

(07-17-2024, 02:34 PM)mvossman Wrote: Hmmm.  I have heard of smaller guys using strength to guard up, but I have not heard of bigger players using strength to guard down.  I guess we will see.  I think its reasonable to have concerns that he will be able to play that role.  I do agree that he will likely be staggered with Luka and Kyrie so it shouldn't be much more than 10 minutes a game.

(07-19-2024, 12:31 PM)SleepingHero Wrote:


Dirk is the greatest shooting big man ever, and it's not close.

(07-19-2024, 12:31 PM)SleepingHero Wrote:


Dirk is the greatest shooting big man ever, and it's not close.

(07-19-2024, 12:31 PM)SleepingHero Wrote:


Dirk is the greatest shooting big man ever, and it's not close.

(07-19-2024, 01:51 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: Hmmm.... looking at that, I wonder if Kobe scored the most from just inside the arc, or if he made lots of corner threes.

(07-21-2024, 09:19 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: @OlgunUluc
Danté Exum suffered a dislocated finger in the Australian Boomers’ pre-Olympic warmup game vs France today, sources told ESPN. New story on @ESPNAusNZ