“We’re a lot more dangerous in transition with him,” Kevon Looney said. “Early in the year, that was one thing we wanted to be better at. Since he’s been out, I don’t think we’ve been as good and our identity changed a little bit. But you see it when he’s out there: We’re a totally different team in transition. He’s putting a lot of pressure on the rim, and when he does that (Stephen Curry) gets open shots, Buddy (Hield) gets open shots, Moses (Moody) gets open shots.”
Kuminga described the injury as “pretty bad,” and coach Steve Kerr told reporters that it turned out to be more significant than the team originally believed. Kerr experimented Thursday by playing Kuminga alongside Butler and Draymond Green in a small-ball lineup and was encouraged by how they looked together.
“What you notice is the different dimension (Kuminga) gives us, with his explosion to the rim,” Kerr said. “The way teams are playing Steph now, everybody is top-locking him. It completely distorts the defense, and it makes sense, but then you don’t have help in certain areas. So if you have a guy like JK who can attack and score at the rim, it’s a huge help.”
There’s more on the Warriors:
- Curry became the first player with 4,000 career three-pointers, reaching that mark off a broken play in the third quarter, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. As Youngmisuk points out, he has made more than 1,000 long-distance shots since passing Ray Allen in 2021 for the all-time lead in that category. “It’s a clear milestone threshold,” Curry said. “A number that I didn’t think about, that it was realistic even from 2,974, which is a number that means the most because that was the record at the time. It’s beyond my wildest dreams to push a record that far.”
- After Butler was dealt to the Warriors, he was determined to move past the drama that marked his contentious exit from Miami, according to Marc J. Spears of Andscape. He started by telling his new teammates that winning is more important to him than anything. “When I walked in, I was like, ‘Yo, look man, I’m only here to win,’” Butler said. “’I don’t care about nothing else. I don’t care about points. I don’t care about shots. I don’t care about none of that. I’m only here to win and I’ve always only been places to win. So, whatever y’all need me to do, y’all let me know.’”
- Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard examines general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s strategy for remaking the roster after a pair of major offseason trades fell through, making sure he had the right pieces in place when the opportunity arose to acquire Butler.
Having kuminga back is like getting a offensive weapon for free at the trade deadline. Curry was ailing last night with a sore back and they didn’t need him with the other players stepping up. The big test will be Denver with their height advantage.
Post was 3 for 7 last night. He keeps getting better. So, it was kinda like adding Vucevic with the the 52nd pick in last year’s draft.
Post defense is better than expected. Yes he makes some rookie mistakes but the rebounding and offense makes the warriors so much better. His passing has improved.
Agree on all points! Also … I love his attitude, he seems like he isn’t willing to shy away from any moment and the team seems to love his personality.
Nuggets come to town Monday ESPN game. Must see TV, but I would bet that one or both teams sit out a key guy.
I think they do this so they don’t show all their cards in case they meet in the playoffs, but most disagree with me on that strategy. I still think coaches do it though.
I grew up in the Don Nelson era where one example the Warriors held out Chris Mullin in game one of a playoff series versus the Lakers just so he could smoke and mirror wizardry his way to a game 2 win and split in LA. Didn’t work of course. Warriors lost both games lol.
With how well the T-wolves are playing right now the warriors do not have the luxury to hold out players. T-wolves have a easy schedule so every game is a must for the warriors.
@aristotle
GSW is getting the #2 seed. They are unstoppable now.
Gary, Great post. I don’t remember Nelly sitting Mullin in game 1, but it sounds like something Nelly would do.
I’m still worried about getting the 6th seed, though. As well as GSW is playing, Minnesota is also white hot and has a much easier strength of schedule for remaining games. GSW could go finish 11-5 and Minnesota could still pass us.
Agree, arc…..AND nobody mentions how Quentin Post has changed a dynamic also. 42% from 3?.. dubs have never had that kind of stretch big. team loves this guy. Jimmy is always hitting him for the corner 3. lots of positive changes moving forward.
@LBC Post also helped GSW get Butler by GSW trading Waters for Post, then trading back for Post again. Portland messed up massively with that trade, MDJ ran their pockets. MDJ might be the GOAT. All of his moves have worked. He built a team that started 12-3, then got decimated by injuries to pretty much everyone, then he rebuilt that 12-3 team back, MIDSEASON! Give the man his flowers, nothing but W’s from him this season…
it was OKC and the trade back for the draft pick was already part of the deal Watters deal. OKC was looking to drop payroll. So GSW took Watters contract.
Right, the trade was fine by OKC, but not Portland. That’s who I was referring to. Waters was still in the Butler deal, make sense?
GSW is a very good team without Kuminga, but they absolutely are a Finals threat with him.
It will never not be hilarious to me how many times I had guys screaming at me that the window was closed, it was over, “they had their run but they should trade Curry” – but that never made sense with Kuminga, Moody, Post, Podz, TJD and Gui all being solid-to-all-star level regulars? Draymond was never ever unplayable in this league and still is very good and now add an on-fire Jimmy freaking Butler to the mix?
It was all purely a coping mechanism from people tired of the Warriors…well, you are gunna need more rest where we are going. 50s/60s Celtics domination is on the table now. The “first part” of the dynasty might get blown away by this newly forming and gelling second part!
We all know Kuminga is athletic but you never get bored watching him dunk and play. So frekin exciting and amazing! Go Warriors!!!!
Two months ago, I would not have thought this. But with Post developing at rate faster than most bigs, the future looks bright. I guess those extra college years were beneficial. I would not have expected them to land a young starting big for at least 3+ seasons. It makes resigning Kuminga more reasonable. No need to blow it up.
Now, can get JK on team friendly deal. Two years to establish early bird rights. They can go after Brook Lopez on a minimum deal. He can probably get more. But, he can mentor Post. Butler can mentor Kuminga. Move TJD to the 4. You would have a pretty solid team with a nice mix of young and old. No need to go after Sabonis or Durant.
Knox could develop the defense he didn’t have coming out of college. He already has the shooting skills. Armstrong is a wild card. Bogut gave him rave reviews. Podz is a Swiss army knife. He can play the point.
Kuminga will get paid one or another this offseason. He will be paid no less than what he wa offered before season started.
Curry’s initial deal post-rookie deal was team friendly. It allowed them to sign some players. So, there is precedent for it.
I think this off season will be huge for Post. If he can get a trainer (maybe he should train with Curry in the off season LOL) and work on his foot work and core to stay down low versus the bulkier bigs, he might help extend Curry’s run in the next few years (along with Podz, JK and Moody).
I have to say … it’s nice having Lacob as an owner. If they show signs that they can be highly competitive, the ownership group looks willing to splurge on the cash.
Giants74, The Warriors will want a 4-5 year deal, as any team in their position would. The CBA makes that the longer deal “team friendly”. A 2 year deal is not.
A 5 year “rookie extension” is the most team-favorable agreement possible under the current CBA schedule. A players’ value increases the most from age 24-28. A typical rookie extension deal looks like an overpay in year 1, but by year 4-5, it looks like a great deal. No team wants a young star to be a free agent at 24 years old.
Consider, for example, that Jason Tatum is still making $34M in his 8th season (4th year of his rookie extension), or that SGA will be making $39M in his 9th season. Neither will be in the 35 best-paid players, though they are both top 5 in value.
(BTW, Steph did NOT give the Warriors a team-friendly deal in 2012. At the time of his signing a 4-year deal, he had just come off ankle surgery the previous off-season and was able to play only 26 games that year. He had another significant ankle procedure scheduled in the near future, and it was unclear how the next season, or, even, Steph’s career, would go. GSW assumed significant risk, while Steph was guaranteed. It paid for GSW, but it might not have.)
Davey J knows balls!
The development of Post has proved one thing. Steve Kerr is great head coach. The coaching staffs of Santa Cruz and SF talking on a daily basis. SCs HC is Nick Kerr. They run the same playbook. Coaches travel back and forth.
When they drafted Wiseman, the brought in Deki. The guy who developed Jokic and Zubac. He and Kerr grew close. Most importantly, Looney and Deki got real close. Looney preaches Deki. Since then, Looney is pulling 15+ rebounds in 36 minutes. To bad he doesn’t have an offensive game. I don’t doubt Post and Looney have had a few conversations.
Nice win for Warriors. Winning without
Curry (11 pts) or Jimmy (6 pts) scoring. Thats a good sign for them.
I like TJD and Post as bigs. Be better with Bamba there too.
Congratulations and happy birthday, Steph – likely the most complete (ALL the tangibles) superstar an NBA franchise could ever hope for in an era of rampant softies, divas and wanna-be GOAT athletes. I’d hate to imagine what the basketball landscape would have looked like over the last decade and a half without you around.