Although the veteran big man struggled throughout most of the season, Warriors coach Steve Kerr expects to see the very best version of Draymond Green next year, recently explaining his thoughts on KNBR’s “Tolbert, Kreuger and Brooks” podcast (hat tip to Sportando).
“I think this year was really frustrating for him offensively, and then as a competitor, it was frustrating for him just losing night after night,” Kerr said. “It’s just too difficult in this league to try to win games when you’re that shorthanded. I think he dealt with the frustration. He definitely boiled over several times, got kicked out. But, overall, I just thought he handled himself well.”
“He made it through, and he is getting a much-needed rest,” Kerr continued. “And I think we’re going to see the very best version of Draymond next year, whenever next season starts. I feel really good about where he’s going to be mentally and physically.”
Green posted averages of 8.0 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game on 39% shooting from the floor and 28% shooting from deep this season. By comparison, he averaged 11 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per contest during Golden State’s last title run in 2017/18, shooting 45% from the floor.
The Warriors dealt with a series of injuries this season, playing without Klay Thompson and losing Stephen Curry to an injury in late October. The team finished with the NBA’s worst record at 15-50 and is among eight clubs that weren’t invited to the league’s restart in Orlando next month.
Here are some other notes out of the Western Conference today:
- Suns owner Robert Sarver wanted to own an NBA franchise in Las Vegas, Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic writes. Sarver, who purchased the Suns in 2004, explained that then-commissioner David Stern pointed him toward Phoenix after Sarver initially expressed interest in Vegas.
- The Grizzlies have hired Austin Spurs assistant Blake Ahearn to their coaching staff, the team announced in a press release. Ahearn is the sixth assistant coach on Memphis’ staff, leaving the Spurs’ minor league affiliate in Austin to accept the position. He’ll participate in various player development efforts with the Grizzlies, including shooting development.
- Mike Singer of the Denver Post examines whether Nikola Jokic‘s sudden weight loss could negatively impact his game. Jokic has slimmed down during quarantine with hopes of getting in better shape and becoming quicker, though his past successes with the Nuggets have come with a wide seven-foot, 280-pound frame.
It’s so funny media makes fun of Jokic because of his weight and b*tches that he needs to lose weight to take his game to the next level. Jokic then does lose said weight and then they b*tch saying it has now wildly limited his game and he will fall off. At a certain point they need to take some accountability for previous statements.
Jokic gets criticised for being overweight and then loses weight and gets criticised before he plays. Just leave him and line and let him play.
A quick 7 foot centre that’s a consistent triple double threat and has top 10 passing ability is hard to stop. Mane he won’t be backing down and using his weight and instead plays in more space and shoots more and has more room to pass. I like the fact he has worked hard to get in better game shape
So racist picking on a minority NBA player
Ahhh… I see what you did there… taking advantage of the post to sneak your own racism in there with fake sarcasm.
And got two “thumbs ups” to boot! smh
No writer publicly disparaged Jokic; it was a mailbag item; the writer also defended him. Unless you think the writer wrote the letter to dis Jokic secretly! Possible, but he sounded indignant.
Actually after being a weight critic then looking at the picture… I am having that sort of worry; he’s not going to be able to push people around.
It’s always a good idea to check the link before a blast.
A tweet pic:
link to twitter.com
Either on the Lowe Post or the Hoop Collective ESPN writers gave him crap for the weight loss.
And I kind of just did too. But if he wants to put on weight, that would be a lot more fun & easy. At least for me it would be
Even a healthy Golden State team will have a very difficult time climbing back to the top of the standings in an extremely deep Western conference next season. Both LA teams will still be hard to catch up to. While teams like Houston, Denver, and Utah will still be competing for home court advantage in next year’s playoffs.
Then there are younger teams like Dallas and New Orleans who should be even better next year. And Portland will also be getting healthy just like the Warriors. That’s 9 teams right there, so at least one of them will be left out. Perhaps two if either the Suns or Kings can get their act together.
You still shouldn’t count the spurs out yet and okc knows what they’re doing better than the kings.
Giving you a thumbs up like I always do but I will tell you watch out for the Warriors next season. They are rested and know they have just two to three years to get it done again. These guys know what it takes they are playoff & Finals tested. 5 straight finals. They will be back with a vengeance. No one will work harder, no other team knows what it takes outside of maybe LeBron and Kawhi.
Yes the young teams will have their day but everyone knows you have to get almost there first and then you know what it takes to win it all. Until that happens the Warriors will be in the way of any other team reaching the Western Finals.
Give you Thumbs up though because it will be a dogfight and definitely not easy or a guarantee. It’ll be fun to watch in any case.
The problem with Golden State is that even though they will have Curry, Thompson, and Green back together plus Wiggins as well, unless they strike gold in the draft their supporting cast will be mediocre at best. They’re already $10M over the luxury tax, and if they decide to make a trade for another quality player by using their $17M exception, that will give them an enormous luxury tax bill next year. That’s a huge risk for them to take.
Exactly. Golden State will be a playoff team but people are in for a shock when they find out this team is not nearly as good without KD in his prime.
Another major factor is most likely salary cap will drop and with the four big contracts + a top 5 pick salary it doesn’t leave much room to fill out a bench which will be needed to compete in the west.
Warriors will be back on top. Every team you listed have holes. Warriors will have a deeper bench and all the stars healthy plus a top draft pick. Houston will be much weaker. They are getting old fast and their bench will be weak.
All you guys make great points and they’re all valid. You’re definitely speaking truth. Except for Arc 89, I don’t know if the Warriors bench will be all that. Like these guys mentioned there’s no money.
Risk to spend money. These are billionaires. If you have a shot at a ring. You’re not worried about luxury tax. Warriors have Wiggins, top 3 pick, 17.5 mill trade exception, and mid level contract. This team will be loaded next yr. Plus FA vets like Gasol. Older vets will take less to have a shot at multiple rings. We just don’t know which way they will go. They can draft and sign players. Or they can make big trades. The draft will tell a lot about them. But I see them as clear favorites next yr. Getting a solid big vet. Like Gasol or Ibaka will also help Green age better.
Jokic looks thin. No one has said what his weight is. I thought it was KP when I saw him. I’m sure he’s quicker. But you need your strength too. He’s a vet so he knows his body. Wouldn’t want to see him under 265lbs. Like I said he knows his body and game. So I’m with him.
Lighter doesn’t make you quicker – just as gaining 10 pounds of quarantine weight doesn’t make you stronger.
What if I gained the “quarantine 15?” Starting to lose it though.. cutting the carbs baby.
Quarantine 15 rhymes. It’s going to be a country song.