(06-29-2024, 03:11 PM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: The bench unit with CP3 was one of the few bright spots for the Warriors. So good that they even tried to start CP3 instead of Klay for a few weeks. Thompson stood out as the player with the worst plus/minus numbers on the team in any given role. Didn't work next to Curry/Draymond. Was even worse off the bench.
 
Not trying to be an asshole because it isn't really about you but I am so freakin done with the despite the numbers narrative. We have reached a point where the NBA/synergy is tracking everything I can confirm my eyetest with his post defense numbers. Can look at the tracking numbers to confirm that he gets deflections or secures lose balls. Can look at his blow by %. Can look at his plus/minus impact.
There might be a case that one of those metrics is underrating Thompson's defensive abilities but when all of them paint the same picture and confirm the narrative that most Warriors related media outlets and my eyetest agree with I am inclined to believe that he isn't a good defender.

It's interesting that you mention his passing. From what I can tell his athletic decline hurt his decision making. He isn't able to attack close outs like he used to and the Warriors aren't running as much split action for him because teams aren't afraid of his ability to cut. Resulting in an even higher 3-point volume. More contested 3s.

What remains is the intangible part that you mentioned. His reputation. I think that no matter what happens Klay is always going to have a gravity that only a few select star players can match. No one is going to help off him. Even if he is only shooting 37-38% from 3 for the season. That's certainly a positive.

(06-29-2024, 03:02 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Any interest in D’Angelo Russell?

I personally do not like his knuckleheadness but he could be a third combo guard if they don’t trust Hardy yet. The Spencer Dinwiddie role. Shot 41.5% from three.

He just opted in for $18.7 million. Not sure how that would work.

(06-29-2024, 03:25 PM)Scott41theMavs Wrote: KL, I love that your perspective on this has become more nuanced over the course of the discussion.

(06-29-2024, 03:18 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Can you clarify the point you're making here? I know who Max Scherzer is, but I'm not up on what most fans thought of the move. 

Are you saying that memory of past greatness is leading fans to reach unrealistic expectations of old players' future chances? Do I have that right?

(06-29-2024, 03:27 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: Theres been a lot of talk on this forum about how the goal isn’t to have the best 15 man roster. The end of the roster guys aren’t going to play and you don’t want them to be mad they’re not playing. You want guys at the end of the roster ok with sitting. A guy like Spencer Dinwiddie might be ok with sitting. A guy like Buddy Hield might be ok with sitting. I believe Klay Thompson will be a big time problem if he’s benched down the stretch because you have defensive players in there next to Luka and Kyrie. The more I think about it, I just don’t see how those three guys can be successful playing big minutes together.

(06-29-2024, 03:43 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Someone help - does this mean George to GS is dead? 

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807152270930223230

(06-29-2024, 03:43 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Someone help - does this mean George to GS is dead? 

https://x.com/wojespn/status/1807152270930223230

(06-29-2024, 03:47 PM)Deebo Wrote: Wait he declined 48 million?  lol.  He’s not worth that.  Dumb take that $$$

(06-29-2024, 03:43 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: I’m thinking of the Russell Westbrook situation for years. When you have three hall of famers who are also your three highest paid players, they will want to start and close games.

You can theorize all you want about staggering their minutes but that almost always leads to discontent and drama.

You can only make this move if you believe Luka, Kai, Klay, PJ, Lively/Gafford is a lineup you’re comfortable playing in the most important situations.

(06-29-2024, 03:47 PM)Deebo Wrote: Wait he declined 48 million?  lol.  He’s not worth that.  Dumb take that $$$

(06-29-2024, 03:46 PM)Mavs2021 Wrote: Awesome. That increases the likelihood GS will overpay Thompson.  

Plus if PG13 really leaves the Clippers that is $50M gone from either Orlando or Philly.

(06-29-2024, 03:49 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: I agree, to an extent. I really do. 

But, this is also my argument against rebuttals like Bogdanovic, Kennard, etc. For me, those moves do very little, even if they're improvements on paper. The elephant in the room, as you've identified, is improving your TOP 5-man lineup, which needs to function on both ends of the floor. This is TOUGH to do. More accurately, it's probably to add a player who can function in a few different lineups consisting of players from your top 6-7 guys. 

If they don't think Thompson can do that, and their actions are screaming to me that have a good sense of these things, they won't do what we're all worried about them doing. If you're right about that being the only set of circumstances Klay will accept, he won't end up here. 

If I'm wrong about that, we go scorched earth and turn victory plaza into Portland.