The Warriors nearly blew another double-digit lead on Saturday against Brooklyn, but they pulled out a “much-needed” victory behind the brilliance of two-time MVP Stephen Curry, writes Kendra Andrews of ESPN. Curry, who finished with 37 points, went 7-of-7 from the field in the fourth quarter for 16 points, including 10 during a stretch of one minute and 40 seconds.
“Steph has had to carry this team, let’s be honest,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “And then the Draymond (Green) news, he was emotionally spent the last few days. And it was a slow start tonight. Then, as he’s done so often, he flipped the switch. You can kind of see when it happens right away. And he was incredible.”
Here’s more on the Warriors:
- While Green is “ultimately to blame” for the long line of incidents that led to his indefinite suspension, he’s not the only one who bears responsibility, according to Jim Trotter of The Athletic, who argues that Kerr and the Warriors put “winning ahead of accountability” and “pacified” Green instead of punishing him, which played a role in his repeated misconduct. Trotter points to Kerr’s comments regarding Green’s lengthy history of ejections and suspensions leading up to the punch of Jordan Poole as evidence that Kerr continues to minimize the behavior. “Everything before that, over a decade of play, what are we really talking about? We’re talking about getting ejected for yelling at the ref or throwing a ball,” Kerr said with a shrug (video link).
- Green was suspended for five games earlier this season for putting Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock for several seconds, and the two have a contentious relationship. But Gobert said he has “empathy” for Green after he was suspended indefinitely. “I have empathy for him,” Gobert told Tim MacMahon of ESPN. “You see somebody that’s not well inside and suffering. You take away the game and all that, and you want somebody to be well and be able to do what we do every night and compete and be happy.”
- Golden State currently holds an 11-14 record, trailing Phoenix by two games for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference. Speaking to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. said he still thinks the roster has championship upside. “Yeah, I do; I do believe this whole roster does, as the way it was designed,” Dunleavy said. “We certainly believed that, whatever it was, eight weeks ago, when we started the season. Some things haven’t broken our way. But these things change quickly. We get everybody rowing in the right direction, I think it’s doable. But hey, six weeks from now, the (Feb. 8) trade deadline, maybe something comes up that makes more sense and we do something. But this is a group that the core guys have been there are capable of doing it.”
It was a hell of a run that they had, but Dunleavy Jr should be careful trading future firsts (which could be very good picks) for short term win now pieces. This team is not one decent move away.
This couldn’t be much more wrong. They should be all in to maximize the rest of Curry’s good years, as he’s still playing at a high level. Very similar situation to the Lakers – as long as LeBron is around and playing at a high level, they need to try to win.
Dunleavy’s got to roll the dice on getting the most of Steph remaining years. The Dubs definitely need more size to contend.
No time to be sentimental when they can get back multiple players for Klay’s huge expiring. Likewise CP3 looks good now but maximizing his expiring is for the best longterm.
Wiggins can bounce back from an off year, I wouldn’t trade him with his value so low.
Attach Moody with one expiring and Kuminga the other to make it worthwhile for other team. Those guys are obviously expendable.
Pascal Siakam makes sense as he fits Steph’s timeline. Dubs play small and can start Siakam with Green. If you can add an All-star for an expiring and spare parts pull the trigger!
I’d also look at Utah. They can get John Collins and Collin Sexton or Jordan Clarkson. Stretch 4 and a scoring ball handler to pair with Steph.
If the Bulls blow it up Dubs can try and snare Vucevic who seems a great fit for Coach Kerr.
Dubs have lot of options yet don’t seem keen to take any. If they’re under .500 in Feb maybe that will light a fire to trade their golden oldies.
You say they need size and then suggest they trade for no player over 6’9″.
Those players won’t help vs the 7 footers on the top teams in the west.
Mcfucho don’t watch much.
The Warriors were in worse shape at this time last year and they still made the playoffs. Anything can happen in the playoffs.
Not true, they were 13-13 at this point last season.
Anyone counting out the Warriors only needs to look at Miami’s run from last year. Steph is a winner and will win when it counts.
And anyone complaining about them being too small only needs to look at their championship run from 2 years ago when Looney was their biggest guy on the floor.
Draymond will come back. It’ll be a thing, and annoying. I don’t know that they’ll grab the belt this year, but I wouldn’t bet real, human money that the “dynasty” is over.