Game Thread: Golden State @ San Antonio (March 19)

[WiggyRuss]

Down three of their best players, Golden State played the Spurs very tough. Both of the GS Centers being out allowed San Antonio to focus outside on Curry and Thompson and they did a good job on those two. But with Bogut, Ezili and Iguodala in there San Antonio would not have controlled the glass the way they did or have been able to focus on the D outside so much.

It'll be a different story in a couple of weeks when the teams meet in Oakland if GS has its players back,

when you say "3 of their best players"- you really mean Bogut, Ezili, Iggy? those are 3 of their "best players"?

holy shit....just imagine if you would lose Klay AND (or) Draymond like the Cavs lost Irving and Love....would you just forfeit?

im beginning to like the Cavs being able to be under the radar and disrespected to a certain extent. That should play well.

 

[CitySushi]

I seriously think everything happens for a reason in regards to Barnes passing on that extension. I find it hard to believe he will be offered a better deal if he doesn't get his game back. Letting him go could be an opportunity for GS to find a true PF. That would allow them to play Steph & Klay in the backcourt & Dray @ the 3. I think Dray will excel in that role because he wouldn't have to work quite as hard on defense as he does when he's guarding 4's & 5's. But, they would have to get someone who can be a threat in their own right-someone who knows his game and plays that way rather than someone who will try to change his game to keep up with the backcourt.

Harrison Barnes would be lucky to receive the same offer he got from the Warriors prior to him passing on the extension. He's regressing at an alarming rate. The most concerning area of regression is his rebounding numbers. Part of the reason why the Warriors are able to go small is not just Draymond, but HB's ability to rebound and defend. If he can't grab rebounds, it's going to hurt our chances.

 

[LAD]

But last year when Cavs fans brought up injuries it was an issue right?

The difference is the guys that were out for GS have a big impact on the game & they WIN with them. The one the Cavs can say makes that kind of impact is LBJ. And he played last year.

 

[CitySushi]

when you say "3 of their best players"- you really mean Bogut, Ezili, Iggy? those are 3 of their "best players"?

holy shit....just imagine if you would lose Klay AND (or) Draymond like the Cavs lost Irving and Love....would you just forfeit?

Not 3 best, but 3 of their best defensive players. In addition to that they held the Spurs to just 87 points. That's great.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Harrison Barnes would be lucky to receive the same offer he got from the Warriors prior to him passing on the extension. He's regressing at an alarming rate. The most concerning area of regression is his rebounding numbers. Part of the reason why the Warriors are able to go small is not just Draymond, but HB's ability to rebound and defend. If he can't grab rebounds, it's going to hurt our chances.

its the dog days of the NBA season- i wouldnt worry about it......teams that peak and are playing great in February and March and act like that is important are in for a rude awakening before long.

 

[LAD]

Its just hilarious that the Warriors fans are using the injury excuse but last year in the playoffs, the Cavs fans were not allowed to dare bring up that their 2nd and 3rd best players were out. Memphis fans weren't allowed to bring up the Conley injuries. Earlier this year Spurs fans were not allowed to bring up the Duncan injury. You guys are full of shit

For the record I think the Warriors already proved this season that those teams you mentioned having their 2nd & 3rd best players back didn't matter-or change the outcome. So really, this point is moot.

 

[CitySushi]

Its just hilarious that the Warriors fans are using the injury excuse but last year in the playoffs, the Cavs fans were not allowed to dare bring up that their 2nd and 3rd best players were out. Memphis fans weren't allowed to bring up the Conley injuries. Earlier this year Spurs fans were not allowed to bring up the Duncan injury. You guys are full of shit

I look at it differently. I don't see complaining or making excuses, but optimism that even missing key pieces, and Curry playing his worst game of the year, the Warriors were still within reach of winning this game. Maybe it's just me.

 

[LAD]

Makes sense. I could definitely see Pop deciding to play the full roster vs. GSW and resting his starters in other games. Pop also could decide to play them more than usual down the stretch because of Aldridge. When he was interviewed after the game, Aldridge said it's taken awhile, but he is finally starting to feel completely comfortable in their system. He may play the starters more to keep that continuity going into the playoffs.

Kind of scary to think that they've put together the record they have while Aldridge was trying to get used to their system and team.

I mentioned Pop should've had Timmy coming off the bench earlier to help LA get his groove there.

 

[LAD]

Its just hilarious that the Warriors fans are using the injury excuse but last year in the playoffs, the Cavs fans were not allowed to dare bring up that their 2nd and 3rd best players were out. Memphis fans weren't allowed to bring up the Conley injuries. Earlier this year Spurs fans were not allowed to bring up the Duncan injury. You guys are full of shit

And when the Warriors swept the floor with the Spurs in that first game you were the first one on these boards talking about Timmy not playing is the reason they were able to win. So just stop it.

 

[LAD]

Harrison Barnes would be lucky to receive the same offer he got from the Warriors prior to him passing on the extension. He's regressing at an alarming rate. The most concerning area of regression is his rebounding numbers. Part of the reason why the Warriors are able to go small is not just Draymond, but HB's ability to rebound and defend. If he can't grab rebounds, it's going to hurt our chances.

I don't think he's been the same since his ankle injury, honestly. In a game like Saturday I think he should've come off the bench and Kerr should've started Livingston. I think that would've helped in terms of having a bigger man defending in the paint early on.

 

[bksballer89]

And when the Warriors swept the floor with the Spurs in that first game you were the first one on these boards talking about Timmy not playing is the reason they were able to win. So just stop it.

I'm all about using injuries as excuses as long as you're willing to accept both sides of it. Warriors fans did not want to hear anything about their opponents injuries last year in the playoffs but now they want to bring up injuries when they're going through it. If Warriors fans acted differently last season in regards to the Cavs and Grizzlies injuries, I would have zero issue with you guys bringing this up

 

[CitySushi]

I'm all about using injuries as excuses as long as you're willing to accept both sides of it. Warriors fans did not want to hear anything about their opponents injuries last year in the playoffs but now they want to bring up injuries when they're going through it. If Warriors fans acted differently last season in regards to the Cavs and Grizzlies injuries, I would have zero issue with you guys bringing this up

I hate being lumped with these "Warrior fans", tbh.

 

[bksballer89]

I hate being lumped with these "Warrior fans", tbh.

Understandable and my apologies but "most" Warriors fans last season hated when Cavs fans brought up the fact that their 2nd and 3rd best players pretty much missed the entire finals. Not saying the result would have been different but I think as a realist you must acknowledge those injuries and realize there was a chance of the result being different had Love and Irving been healthy

 

[CitySushi]

Understandable and my apologies but "most" Warriors fans last season hated when Cavs fans brought up the fact that their 2nd and 3rd best players pretty much missed the entire finals. Not saying the result would have been different but I think as a realist you must acknowledge those injuries and realize there was a chance of the result being different had Love and Irving been healthy

Of course. I think I'm probably the outlier in being a reasonable fan of the Warriors.

I admitted to Wiggy that the Cavs losing to the Warriors last year in the finals was expected because they were without two key pieces. The Warriors were expected to win, and won. If the roles were reversed, the Cavs would have been favorites to win, and should be expect to have won.

Injuries are always a part of the game. The difference in pointing them out for me is optimism verse excuse. There's a huge difference in the following statements:

"Warriors only lost because they were missing ___"

or

"Warriors were missing ___ and still came close to winning".

 

[WiggyRuss]

Of course. I think I'm probably the outlier in being a reasonable fan of the Warriors.

I admitted to Wiggy that the Cavs losing to the Warriors last year in the finals was expected because they were without two key pieces. The Warriors were expected to win, and won. If the roles were reversed, the Cavs would have been favorites to win, and should be expect to have won.

Injuries are always a part of the game. The difference in pointing them out for me is optimism verse excuse. There's a huge difference in the following statements:

"Warriors only lost because they were missing ___"

or

"Warriors were missing ___ and still came close to winning".

i was just so mad because Kyrie Irving played- literally- one of the best games of his career in that Game 1--- seriously- probably the best 2 way effort i have ever seen the kid play- while on a bum wheel.....

not only that- but LeBron was GOD-LIKE in that series.......

come the playoffs- no one will even be able to rememebr what happened in feb and march- other than trying toget guys healthy and o nthe same page for the playoff run.

 

[CitySushi]

i was just so mad because Kyrie Irving played- literally- one of the best games of his career in that Game 1--- seriously- probably the best 2 way effort i have ever seen the kid play- while on a bum wheel.....

not only that- but LeBron was GOD-LIKE in that series.......

come the playoffs- no one will even be able to rememebr what happened in feb and march- other than trying toget guys healthy and o nthe same page for the playoff run.

Probably could have blamed Blatt for running him into the ground late in the season.

Lebron was dominant, but lets be completely honest about it. His dominance was fueled because of the absence of Kyrie and Love. If both of those guys are playing, Lebron doesn't have the ball in his hands nearly as much and his production isn't anywhere near that level during the rest of the series. His usage rate was RIDICULOUS. But on the flip side, that's when he's at his best.

 

[LAD]

I'm all about using injuries as excuses as long as you're willing to accept both sides of it. Warriors fans did not want to hear anything about their opponents injuries last year in the playoffs but now they want to bring up injuries when they're going through it. If Warriors fans acted differently last season in regards to the Cavs and Grizzlies injuries, I would have zero issue with you guys bringing this up

I think the problem is you're so focused on GS & their fans "not giving credit to the other team" that you can't give GS credit for being such an incredible team. But you want to give the Spurs credit. Guess what, they're pretty much having identical seasons in terms of them clicking on all cylinders & making history.

The main difference is GS has lost less games-which to most is pretty freaking impressive. In the grand scheme of things I think that deserves more credit than focusing on the hand full of teams that have managed to beat them-during the reg season that according to you "don't mean anything".

Honestly, I'm pretty sure the fact that GS has beat Cleveland (and done so convincingly) every time they've met this year (with BOTH teams being healthy) that the only difference Cleveland's injuries made was in the score. And that might even be generous. They can't beat GS 4 out of 7 games period. The same goes for Memphis. So miss me with all this crap about GS fans crying about a loss or having excuses. This team wins consistently so there are NO EXCUSES needed my friend.

 

[gordontrue]

the fact that GS has beat Cleveland (and done so convincingly) every time they've met this year

Gotta call BS on that. The game in Cleveland was an absolute slaughter. The game in GS was a very close, competitive game.

In fact that was the only other game the Warriors were held under 90 points all season long.

 

[bksballer89]

Gotta call BS on that. The game in Cleveland was an absolute slaughter. The game in GS was a very close, competitive game.

In fact that was the only other game the Warriors were held under 90 points all season long.

@LAD making up lies

 

[LAD]

Gotta call BS on that. The game in Cleveland was an absolute slaughter. The game in GS was a very close, competitive game.

In fact that was the only other game the Warriors were held under 90 points all season long.

I think the most important fact you've missed in that second meeting was that although Cleveland held them to under 90 points they still weren't able to close the deal & win.