D'Angelo Russell Discussion: Adopting A Professional Attitude

It has. Warriors are saying that’s false, but who knows?

 

Warriors reportedly add Willie Cayley-Stein and Glenn Robinson III.

 

Point Guard
Curry +15 (88) 6.68/3.54/2.38
.Evans* -18 (49) 2.24/1.70/1.31

Shooting Guard
Russell +3 (90) 6.42/4.15/2.40
.Poole**
..Oni**

Small Forward
(Thompson) +5 (68) 6.23/2.51/2.33
Robinson -2 (44) 4.95/1.80/2.34
.Smailagic**

Power Forward
Green +5 (72-Initiator) 4.36/4.11/2.91
.McKinnie* -11 (70) 5.01/1.71/2.98
..Paschall**

Center
Looney +1 (93) 5.02/2.73/3.79
Cauley-Stein +1 (88) 5.51/2.79/3.39
.Jones -1 (78) 4.79/2.17/3.39

They're managing to get some solid pickups. That Center rotation is NOICE.

 

They’re a contender, but they’re no longer what they were. Their initial greatness had a lot to do with depth and defense, their depth has been severely depleted. Also Iggy was their Finals MVP in 2015, he was a huge part of that team. Look at their 73 win roster and compare it to now, it’s just not the same, and with Klay out they will not be the same Warriors, as good as Russ is and with the strides he’s made. Also factor in a Curry who is coming off of 5 straight Finals, fatigue has to take hold at some point

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2016.html

Retaining Looney and adding WCS and Robinson help, but they lost Iggy, Cook, Bell, and probably will lose Livingston (not even mentioning Durant and Cousins). It’s an almost entirely different roster outside the main core of Curry, Klay, and Green, and they’ll need to rely on their draft picks more than they have in a while too. I think Curry, Russ, and Green keep them a playoff contender, but not a title contender unless Klay makes an incredibly quick recovery.

 

I also think the Warriors are done for now.

Their stars are now on the wrong side of 30 with the toll of 5 consecutive finals...

Also they used to have a killer 8 man rotation...Iggy and Livingston are pretty much done. Also their game has changed with Durant over the years. They can't just flip a switch and go back to the old system.

Klay will be healthy again but next season, he certainly won't be the same. So at least for next season, they are done. They can possibly recover in the season after this but take into consideration...they will then also be 2 years older...so its all pretty shaky right now in the bay area.

 

I can't say you are wrong...its not particularly smart to bet against the Warriors...

Not only do they still have a great core, they also have the best front office in the league and a great coach. Is it impossible that they are contenders? certainly not.

But I would assume that when a guy like Durant leaves your team, you will automatically come down a earth a bit.

 

I have been acquainting myself with their draft picks. They seem to have gotten some incredibly promising young guys, too.

 

I see a lot of differences between them and the Spurs though. Spurs never went to 5 Finals in a row, the body isn’t supposed to do that, we saw the results of that with their team basically being held together by scotch tape at the end. Durant’s achilles gave out, Klay’s ACL tore after he had a hamstring injury bothering him earlier in the Sixers before that, Iggy (who I still think you’re downplaying the impact of on those teams) was nursing a leg injury since I think the Houston series, and if I remember right Curry had his usual ankle issues going on before the playoffs even started. Eventually fatigue and wear and tear catches up, even if it only means it will cost them this one year while they start to recover from playing less. Even those great Bulls teams have said they couldn’t have kept winning without that Jordan break in the middle, it’s too hard to keep going back and back and back to the Finals. Hell, did those Spurs ever even repeat as champs one time? I don’t think they did.

I get what you’re saying and I agree they are a great system team and as long as Curry, Klay and Green are there and healthy they will be contenders, but I think THIS particular season that won’t be the case. Feels like that one year where there’s just too much going against them and they need to recuperate and come back strong again the next season. Yes, they beat Houston in 6 this year, but I think Houston got fatigued too, and let’s not forget Houston almost beat them in 6 last year too before Paul got hurt. They didn’t exactly breeze by everyone, I remember even the Clippers gave them a decent fight, other teams are catching up, I think Utah for one has improved majorly, and if we get Kawhi we beat the Warriors too imo.

 

Oh no, you’re not a Warriors fan now are you? They don’t need anymore of those with how full their bandwagon has gotten

 

There’s only one team i like, but there’s only one player I’m really following. When LeBron is gone, I’ll probably start watching the Lakers again. I just can’t stand him.

 

If an Achilles tears on non-impact, it’s 100% overuse or improper use. I’m not sure how much better most athletes are at taking care of their bodies than athletes used to be. Many eat poorly, don’t sleep enough, and party too much. At the same time, they’re often faster and stronger, so they put more strain on the body.

But to play basketball from October to June year after year, you have to become better and better and resting. Not just staying the same.

 

538 data...

Russ was in the "up-and-comer" category with a five-year value of 93.9m. He doubled his projected wins above replacement and now has a five-year value of 193.5m. Not a bad gain - $100m in a season.

 

Warriors - Current Look

Point Guard
Curry +15 (88) 6.68/3.54/2.38
.Evans* -18 (49) 2.24/1.70/1.31
.Bowman (Just signed; I'll have to look into him.)
--Your hope is obviously that Curry doesn't get hurt, because he's their best player. Could put up monster numbers before Thompson returns.


Shooting Guard
Russell +3 (90) 6.42/4.15/2.40
Burks -12 (59) 5.38/2.86/2.36
.Poole**
-5.44/2.42/1.99 (54)
--Russ should work well both with Steph on and off the court. Burks is an okay backup.

Small Forward
(Thompson) +5 (68) 6.23/2.51/2.33
Robinson -2 (44) 4.95/1.80/2.34
.Smailagic**
-6.11/2.25/3.94 (72 wing/101 big)
-cf. Jonathan Isaac
--I like Thompson's game, but he's going to be out for a good bit of the season. Robinson isn't bad, and Smailagic (who may be a PF) is really, really interesting.

Power Forward
Green +5 (72-Initiator) 4.36/4.11/2.91
.McKinnie* -11 (70) 5.01/1.71/2.98
.Spellman* -15 (82) 5.03/2.31/3.46
..Paschall**
-5.85/2.30/2.40(61 wing 65 big)
--I can't stand the guy, but Green does some things very well. Their depth is young and pretty promising, maybe Paschall most of all. He's already 22, however, and he'll be 23 when the season starts (okay, November).

Center
Looney +1 (93) 5.02/2.73/3.79
Cauley-Stein +1 (88) 5.51/2.79/3.39
--I like both of these dudes. I was really high on WCS coming out of college, and he seems to have played himself into the player he showed he could be. Looney and WCS won't draw the oohs and ahhs of some big man tandems, but how many teams have two centers under 27 who can defend (at least 1.6 DBPM) and posted 6+ WS last season?

SUM +29 (411)
Unit Rating: 82 (B-)
Unit GPA: 2.80 (C+)

They need Thompson back, but if they can stay afloat without him - say hover around .500, at worst, he can get them into the playoffs. Obviously you want to give him as much time as possible before he has to go toe to toe with some of the elite looking rosters in the West, but a favorable first round matchup would make the Warriors really dangerous.