The mantra for the Warriors this coming season appears to be “balance,” writes Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area. According to Johnson, the way the team has re-balanced through its veteran signings and draft class is one of the main things that excites head coach Steve Kerr coming into the season.
“I think this year’s team will offer a much better mix of mentors and veterans to go along with those young guys,” Kerr said on the latest episode of Dubs Talk podcast. “… It’s real exciting to think of the structure of the team and the balance and what we can accomplish.”
After two straight years of missing the playoffs, Kerr says he feels the team is back to a level where it can compete every night, especially once star Klay Thompson returns from his two-year hiatus due to ACL and Achilles injuries.
“It’s really hard to gauge where we are against the rest of the Western Conference,” Kerr said. “Obviously there’s a lot of great teams. We haven’t even had a practice to put the group together. But I’m very excited about the potential.”
We have more news from around the Pacific Division:
- Lakers owner Jeanie Buss recently sat down with Daniel Kaplan of The Athletic. In the interview, she describes why the legacy of her father’s Showtime Lakers impels her to build not just a great basketball team, but a stylish one. She talks about why she doesn’t like the play-in tournament, why Kobe Bryant‘s 20-year run with a single team is unlikely to be repeated, and says “our fans are going to be just cuckoo for (Russell Westbrook), are going to be so happy that he’s here.“
- The Clippers may not have shaken up their roster in a major way, but Summer League provided some reasons for excitement, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times. No. 51 pick Brandon Boston outperformed expectations, knocking down shots and creating off the dribble, No. 33 pick Jason Preston overcame a rough start to show his ability to orchestrate the offense and get into the paint, while hyper-athletic wings Jay Scrubb and Keon Johnson both showcased why they’re intriguing talents while also laying bare the flaws that could keep them off the floor early on.
- In a much-discussed interview with Bleacher Report, Kevin Durant and Draymond Green explored the last year of their time together with the Warriors, as well as their infamous blow-up in November of 2018. As Nick Friedell of ESPN explores, Durant and Green blamed head coach Steve Kerr and president of basketball operations Bob Myers for mishandling the response to that dust-up. “Y’all are about to f— this up,” Green said he told the Warriors front office. “I said, ‘The only person that can make this right is me and (Durant). And there is nothing that y’all can do, and y’all are going to f— this up.’ And in my opinion, they f—ed it up.” In response, Durant said, “I think so too.”
Warriors bench will be much better than the last 2 years of a bunch G league players on the bench. They need to bring back Marquis Chris as aback up Center to take the place of Mulder who is not needed. They need a enforcer Center when they go against bigger teams.
No big deal replacing 3 of their top 7 scorers with Porter, Iggy, and Bjelica.
Who are the 3?
Kent Bazemore, Kelly Oubre, Jr., & Eric Paschall.
Huh? What kinda drugs are you doing. The Warriors didn’t lose their best offensive options. It is silly to say that.
Who said the Warriors lost their best offensive options?
Obviously that’s Curry, and no one else is even close. What I said was 100% correct since Oubre, Paschall, and Bazemore were their 3rd, 6th, and 7th leading scorers. How’s that so hard to understand?
it’s not hard to understand. we assumed your usual sarcasm.
Your post is the height of silliness.
Departing production will be absorbed by Klay Thompson.
And no roster turnover equates to a one-for-one swap. Like, “We can’t have Oubre so we have to replace him with Porter.” Oubre didn’t fit. Paschall was given away because he didn’t fit. Bazemore won’t be missed.
But you knew all that. You were just reeeeaaaching for something to criticize.
Ummm…Oubre was benched. Bazemore is only your list because they ran out of options. Paschal did not fit in with the the offense and got traded because of it. A full year of Poole will equal what Bazemore and Paschal did. 80% of Thompson is going to be better than Oubre. You don’t have to worry about the Warriors scoring. It will be fine.
Oubre will not be missed he was so inconsistent last year. Bazemore and paschal average less than 10 points a game. Poole took most of Bazemore minutes with twice the scoring. Thompson will easily out score Oubre points. Paschal only played half the games averaging 7 points a game. Any of the new players will out score him and out play those games. Every way you look at it the bench is way better this year than last year.
pretty sure 5 play at a time, but who are the 3?
I researched. Oubre, who was hurt a lot, paschall and bazemore finished in top 7 for gsw. Now I REALLY don’t see your point Greenwood. please clarify
Or were you actually not being facetious? If you weren’t than I do agree, and I apologize for the mistaken assumption
He’s talking about Oubre, Bazemore and Paschall. Those 3 guys are easily replaceable. Iggy, Bjelica, Porter(granted he’s healthy), Kuminga, Moody, Damion Lee, Toscano-Anderson and either or Looney/Wiseman is a damn good bench unit. The poor guy is just a troll who wants to get a reaction from anybody and everybody.
I assumed that macdaddy, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt in that maybe he WAS saying those 3 are easily replaceable. We’ll see I guess
Oh man, if they took Chriss and Milsap for those last two spots over Lee, Payton and Mulder its OVER for everyone. Unfortunately it looks like they need to keep one of Payton/Lee/Mulder though, but either Chriss or Milsap would be PERFECT for that last spot.
give Milsap the last spot and Chriss can have Mulder’s spot and GSW are good to go.
I just know I’m going to enjoy watching Westbrook this yr. Wow I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a Laker. Even though I think Lakers will be fun to watch. I don’t see them as favorites in West. Suns and Nuggets are favs to me.
“Kobe’s 20-year run with a single team is unlikely to be repeated” While uncommon it’s not that rare for a Hall of Fame player to play their entire career. Is it the arbitrary number of 20? Duncan played 19 and Ginobli played 16 all with the Spurs. Back in the day Stockton did 19. Reggie Miller did 18. Dirk bettered the number with 21. Udonis Haslem on season what now 28?
If Curry plays til he’s 40, that will be his 20th season with GSW. After last year, I can see Steph going til he’s mid-40s, that shooting isnt going to go away ever, and as long as he can run, he will be good to go.
Idk about mid 40 that’s a stretch. Speed and agility are just as much of Steph’s games as his shooting. You’re right never know but I really can’t see Steph or Klay for that matter playing for anyone but the Warriors.
“Unlikely”.
So you mention seven players out of how many who have signed NBA contracts during that time?
Why did Draymond have that interview with KD? Was it to show he has a great relationship with KD? Was it to set the record straight? Was it to take a shot at Myers and Kerr?
Did they talk about the past to help their image, make more money, play mind game with each other, or for pure entertainment reasons for their fans?
Whatever it is, this is not good for team chemistry for W’s. Can Draymond still talk to Myers and Kerr with straight eyes? Draymond literally let KD cause turmoil in the W’s land. He made a huge boo boo with this interview and showed a huge immaturity.which could impact his career post playing days.
Your statement is laughable. You are saying that the one Warrior who works hardest to get every player involved in the team chemistry is selfish. That is ignorant. He prides himself in his assist numbers. That,is not a selfish player.
He’s definitely not selfish on court, but he took a major shot at his HC and Myers. It would be one thing if he is on another team or retired. He showed poor judgment with that interview as he made a mockery of W’s organization.
The rest of the players on the Warriors would easily disagree with you. They have done it many times. I’m sure you are some fat white guy in the Midwest trying to stir up trouble. Go troll some other team.
Draymond ought to pride himself in his assists if he’s putting up those scoring numbers.
Ummm…You think Draymond needs to shoot more when the starting rotation has guys like Klay Thompson and Steph Curry? Why?