The Warriors have been ordered to pay approximately $40MM for prior renovations at Oracle Arena, according to an Associated Press report. The dispute stemmed from renovations to the arena back in 1996. The government agency that manages the arena took out a $150MM bond for basketball renovations and the team agreed to help finance with annual payments. The Warriors argued their debt obligation should end when they terminate their lease and leave Oakland for San Francisco at the end of the season. An arbiter disagreed and ruled that the team must continue making payments through 2027.
We have more news from the Pacific Division:
- Rookie Elie Okobo may have emerged as the Suns’ answer at point guard in a loss to the Thunder over the weekend, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic writes. Okobo posted a team-high 18 points and eight assists after he replaced Isaiah Canaan, who suffered a left ankle injury early in the contest. “He played with confidence, he played with a presence. He played like, ‘I belong here,’” Suns coach Igor Kokoskov said.
- Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins apologized to coach Steve Kerr for getting ejected from the bench during the team’s game against the Knicks on Friday, Nick Friedell of ESPN relays. Cousins, who is still rehabbing from his Achilles injury he suffered last season, got tossed for trash talking to Knicks center Enes Kanter. “That kind of stuff is not going to help us win a championship, it’s not going to help his reputation, and I think he understands that,” Kerr said. “And I think he immediately regretted what happened, so I really appreciated him coming to me and making that pretty clear, and I don’t expect it to happen again.”
- The Lakers need to ride their young players — Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart — to complement LeBron James and build a brighter future, Martin Rogers of USA Today argues. It’s important for that quartet to grow and develop chemistry with James, rather than playing veterans like Rajon Rondo and Michael Beasley, Rogers adds.
Rondo is better than Ball. If the Lakers are trying to compete for a playoff spot this year, he should be starting. If they are just trying to build for the future, carry on.
Hard to argue that Rondo is better when they’re putting up similar numbers and Ball has played better D thus far
It’s actually not that hard of an argument. In a vacuum, Rajon Rondo is better than lonzo Ball. That’s why they signed him. Ball is far from a finished product. However, in your micro sample size of this season, maybe ball has played better because rondo has played all of what, 4 games with a new team and a new system?
Rondo is a better scorer, but Ball is clearly the better defender. Defensive metrics don’t lie
Klay Thompson ended his 3 point shooting slump tonight. He hit an NBA record 14 and scored 52 in 3 quarters. Golden State led Chicago 92-50 at the half. Warriors still need to work on their defense.
This is why I think the Warriors will stay together. They don’t each have to have a great night every night. They can step up when needed. Steph just set an NBA record for 5 3 pointers in 7 straight games. Steve Kerr says in an ESPN article that Steph and Kevin are more comfortable than they’ve ever been. Klay had 52 points in 27 minutes tonight. They are just having fun.
Obviously I understand why Kerr pulls the starters with a big lead, but it would have been cool to see how far out of reach Klay could have put that record last night. He and Curry could both have had 70 point games by now this year.
That would of been cool but they play with respect. 70 points be my guess too. But in return it’s giving the whole team great chemistry making them even stronger as a team. Gotta love it!!
They could have scored 180 points. They said the way Steph is playing he could break it again. Klay said he could too. Durant could too.
If Aaron Holiday wasn’t there, the Pacers were rumored to be considering Okobo in the 1st round.
The Lakers got LeBron and then built a terrible roster around him.
Since they got rid of Harrison, their rotation should be Okobo, Booker, Ariza, Jackson, Ayton
Warren, Bridges, Crawford, Chandler/Holmes, Melton, Anderson/Bender, Troy Daniels
Rondo, KCP, Ingram, LeBron, Javale
Kuzma, Hart, Lance, Wagner/Beasley, Ball, Svi
They need another option defensively at the 5. Until then, Beasley and LeBron should play there at times, not Kuzma for some reason. Wagner is just getting healthy, and I think he can give them some minutes there. There are more than a few options available in FA right now that can help them in that 5 spot