2022/3 season thread

Zero-Cool

Congrats to the Warriors and congrats to you, best of luck with the wedding :)

Beaming for Steve Kerr. Boston must be disappointed but that has to be a serious boost going into next session.

Corvo

Wow, another great performance from the Warriors and of course from Curry, but huge credit to Andrew Wiggins who I doubt anyone would have thought would turn into the second best player on a Championship team. Played brilliantly on both ends of the floor and along with Tatum's inability to adapt, helped keep the Celtics under 100 points in the last three games.

Love Tatum but agree with agree with Carcharodon (best of luck on your wedding day, btw!) he needs to add another few elements to his game before he can be considered in the Top 5-7 in the league, something that Bill Simmons christened him with earlier in the play-offs which now looks a bit foolish. Obviously his percentages in and around the basket absolutely cratered too.

I think its the Warriors best Championship win and as far as legacies go - probably cements Curry over Durant now (which a lot of people would have had anyway)

It will be an interesting off-season for both teams. Boston probably need to still address their lack of a true point guard and Warriors have the Wiseman situation along with re-signing Gary Payton II.

Bring on the Draft!

K.O.Kiki

I might catch some flak for this, but I think people should seriously start considering moving Steph into the Top-10 conversations.

Or at the very least, ahead of Kevin Durant.

Carcharodon

On my way to get married and still buzzing from last night. One of my boys is trying to get a bunch of Warriors hats for later for some pics, we are all massive fans. Had the tv on this morning while getting ready, first time I’ve listened to Skip Bayless in years, it was honestly embarrassing listening to him, he was tearing Curry apart and the usual going back to if x player wasn’t injured then Warriors wouldn’t have that many rings and even on this win, saying Boston were the easiest team they could of played, pure nonsense, who actually watches that nonsense, also Perkins was rambling on about crap. Warriors will never get their dues, role on next year baby, we ain’t going anywhere!!!

A side note from the game, I’ve never seen a team flop so much like Boston did, Smart is the worst by far but didn’t work in the end, quality and experience prevailed

letssss gooo get married baby

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119216555#Comment_119216555

Today will be the best day of your life. I hope you have a long and wonderful marriage.

eagle eye

I think Boston lacked experience and it showed against a savvy team with plenty of players who have been there before and done that and experienced a finals loss too.

I think Boston will be better for this experience.

I love Tatum but he is inconsistent. He can look like the greatest player that ever played the game one night and very average the next night. It's hard to know what to do with that. Maybe he can work with somebody on being more consistent.

Steph Curry is a top 10 all time player in my opinion. He changed the game, how many players can you say that about?

Carcharodon

Probably best few days of my life, still pumped after the win. Had an absolute epic wedding party, one of my friends even had a NBA championship hat so we got a few pics with that.

Rewatching game again today, Warriors really deserved that win, no ifs or buts, a really solid experienced win. Curry cementing himself as an all time great.

Wiggins was my favorite player this season, his defense was incredible, he kind of shut Tatum down, I don’t want to judge Tatum so harshly cos he is still young and progressing nicely but he kind of disappeared the past few games, Wiggins owned him at times

2smiggy

Kyrie and the Nets seem to be at an impasse.

It would be hilarious if he went to the lakers

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119227337#Comment_119227337

He is very overrated by a lot of people.

ButtersSuki

Haven't been around for a few days as have been incredibly busy but @Carchardon - congrats, and hope you had an amazing day!

K.O.Kiki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119227811#Comment_119227811

And he's constantly not available - 30.3% of games missed in his career (so far!)

Carcharodon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119229367#Comment_119229367

Thank you, without being cheesy, definitely some of the best days of my life, celebrating the Warriors with my friends before and day of wedding was amazing. This Championship is by far my favorite cos I never really saw it coming to be honest, Steph is my favorite athlete of all time, on and off the court he is flawless to me.

The parade in the city was amazing also, such a good vibe, you could feel how much it meant to the players.

I would like to hear your thoughts on Celtics, I genuinely think they are in a really good place, Warriors experience just figured them out in my opinion, bar Curry, I feel there isn’t a gap in talent. This could be great for Tatum, Iam not convinced on him but he is young, do the Celtics need to add a lot ? I don’t think so, they definitely need to add something but nothing drastic for me. I like their core, one or two upgrades and they will definitely be back

pjohnson

OKC drafted both Jalen Williams and Jaylin Williams.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119241673#Comment_119241673

Glad you enjoyed it!

Ok, my thoughts. I actually think both teams got a relatively lucky path to the Finals insofar as Boston got lucky by Middleton being injured and Dallas unexpectedly took out Phoenix who I honestly think would have given GS a much tougher series than Dallas did. But no quibbles, you need a bit of luck to do anything really.

On Boston - there's lots of positives for sure. They have a very good coach - I've been incredibly impresed with Udoka and his calling out the players - that takes serious balls. The core 4 (for all the criticism Ainge too) of Tatum, Brown, Smart and Williams were all drafted by Boston - who said you can't build a team through the draft anymore? The difficulty is there's no bench, Horford will be a year older next year (and faded visibly after Game 1) and White doesn't lock like the player he was in San Antonio (system is obviously different). I don't think a full strength Boston is better than a full strength Milwaukee for example. So what do they need - they clearly need backcourt help (turnovers were a massive issue - I'm sure you've seen those stats that when they have 15 or less turnovers they were 16-2 or something like that and when they go over they almost always lose), and they need a bench. For me, everyone bar the core 4 should be on the trade block if it improves the team. They are a very top heavy team and need to redress that.

The series - I honestly believe Boston blew it by not being 3-1 up after 4. They SHOULD have been, but for Curry going nuts and (and this is crucial, even Curry going nuts wasn't going to be enough if Boston played to potential) some Boston players having very bad games. I really see this as a lost title. You may laugh at this but I honestly still believe Boston are a better TEAM than GS in an overall sense. Curry was by far the best player in the series, but Boston for me are a better team. Tatum seriously underperformed - forget the stats, he was a shadow of himself compared to earlier rounds. I do worry about his mental toughness. He's supposedly an ALL NBA talent, but was very much outplayed by Brown in the Finals. After Game 4, GS had Boston beaten psychologically and it was all over. Boston hadn't lost 3 in a row all year and do it in the Finals - mental issue again. And to double down on that GS's confidence grew enormously after pulling off a G4 victory in Boston and they were playing like they knew they were going to win, whereas Boston were playing like they hoped they would. TGS had figured out Boston, and Boston's famed defence had no answers for Curry. But had Boston played to their potential that really shouldn't have mattered.

Curry is one of my all time favourite players to watch and I admire him so much on so many levels basketball and teammate wise, so I'm obviously delighted for him silencing a lot of the LeBron stans and other haters.

If you asked me who I think is more likely to get back to the Finals next year I'd say Boston, but I don't think either team (bar adding talent or trading) will tbh. The West will be a lot stronger (Clippers and Denver have lots of All Star talent coming back from in jury) and Dallas isn't far away, and Memphis are on a roll. Phoenix has missed their window now as Paul will be another year older but I don't see GS coming out next year. Likewise, the East will be a lot tougher next year too.

Carcharodon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119242093#Comment_119242093

I actually agree with most of your post, both teams got relatively easy paths but as the saying goes, you can only beat what’s put in front of you and if the Suns capitulated so easily against Dallas then I could see them doing it against the Warriors, it’s not like Chris Paul has a history of that….lol

I was saying the same thing about Boston having a better team, my view has changed a little after the win, maybe I should of counted experienced as a bigger attribute, Curry clearly head and shoulders above everyone, then Wiggins kind of took second spot of best player as the series progressed. I agree Boston need more depth, bench abandoned them in that series.

I actually think Warriors will be strong next year, they will pretty much keep that team together and spend a bazillion dollars over the luxury tax. Regular season won’t be a priority, they will use that to adavance Kuminga, Moody and Poole while managing the other players minutes, Klay might even get better next year. No one will want to play a healthy Warriors next year, obviously a lot will depend on other teams but Iam not overly scared.

Kerr has been very good also, I always saw him as more of a man management style coach over x&o but he has shown again how he can adapt to a series

eagle eye

Celtics only had one pick at 53 I think it was and took JD Davison out of Alabama. I seen him play twice, he is like lightning and a good rebounder from what I seen. I think he's a project and hopefully it works out.

My top player in the draft was Chet Holmgren from Gonzaga who went at two to the Thunder. I think he's a future regular All-star.

eagle eye

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119243579#Comment_119243579

Just on Kerr, he was a great shooter on the outside for the Bulls. It just seems fitting to see him coach a team with such prowess beyond the arc.

I feel old thinking about Kerr playing, like I wasn't a kid when he played and I'm talking over 25 years ago. He's only a couple of years older than me.

Zero-Cool

I might not be a fan of the Warriors but I'm happy out for Kerr, absolute legend. 9 rings in 9 minutes.

https://youtu.be/339fdkmteRE

ButtersSuki

Imagine how differently things could have turned out for Kerr had he taken the Knicks job back in 2014 instead of the Warriors one? Kerr was offered the job and was about to take it by all accounts to work under his own former Bulls coach Phil Jackson who was the NY GM at the time. New York were certainly a more high-profile team than GS at the time, and arguably had better players (AT THE TIME!!), and it was still that "you can't win anything with jumpshots" (not a theory I ever subscribed to btw!) . The GS pick was all about potential really. He chose well in this instance, but he also had a bit of a rocky patch when involved with Phoenix. I say all of this as someone who admires Kerr tremendously, it's not in any way intended as criticism.

A real "what if?" moment if ever there was one.

Zero-Cool

Apparently, sources have told espn that Durant has asked the Nets to trade him :O

Corvo

What a dumpster fire the Nets project was/is. I assume Kyrie will be traded also.

ButtersSuki

Just came on to post this. Crazy. Nets just have to blow it up now….Irving and Simmons could be moving too I suspect.

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119273588#Comment_119273588

Be very hard to shift either of them. Nets probably have to take on Westbrook now just for Salary Matching reasons now.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119273729#Comment_119273729

Kyrie will want out when KD leaves. Simmons? Who knows?

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119274052#Comment_119274052

Yeah but what team will be crazy enough to touch either of them?

Zero-Cool

I think Kyrie and Nets know they're stuck with each. It's all good though, Ben will realise he needs to step up and will become 23 MVP...

Carcharodon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119273588#Comment_119273588

I get player power but the Nets don’t have to do anything they don’t want to, Durant is under a long term contract, obviously you don’t want a player that doesn’t want to be there but unless they get a big return, they can keep him for the next 4 years. Going to be a circus for the next few weeks

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119274355#Comment_119274355

Durant could learn a trick or two from Simmons and refuse to play.

Corvo

I think the Nets will find a package for both, reports indicate they knew this situation would arise, essentially (no contact from Durant at all, they only found out about Kyrie opting in when the rest of the public did etc).

I imagine the Nets have just had enough of the entire situation, from Harden to now this.

Just blow it up and get what you can.

pjohnson

McGee (mavs) and Tucker (sixers) got very nice deals.

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/07/nba-2022-free-agency-day-1-recap.html#ref=home