Who looked better in the playoffs and who looked worse? If you like, you can specify the series (so, for example, Dame's stock was way up against OKC but down against GState. Same for Kanter). UP: Meyers against GState. Qualifier: I don't think anyone will be fooled into thinking that his performance was anything but a byproduct of how the Warriors were guarding the rest of the team. UP: Seth Curry. Once again he was our +/- all-star. UP: Hood against Denver DOWN: Aminu. What went wrong? I've been a big Aminu booster and he's normally a no-stats all-star, but he was just almost unplayable. Even his defense seemed to desert him. DOWN: Harkless - looked good at times but shot even worse from 3 than Aminu and was our worst +/- guy
I have nothing to support this besides a hunch, but Aminu looked completely checked out mentally. My guess is the extent to which the coaching staff had to specifically gameplan around him NOT being involved in the offense was possibly a trigger for him and caused him to effectively shut down.
What do people think of CJ? [Edit:] I would say his stock was up at the moment: in part he benefited from the extra attention on Lillard, but his skill in getting his own shot is more valuable in the playoffs. But GOD DAMN he needs to improve finishing in the paint. I know he's not the tallest or most athletic, but Rod Strickland managed it and Kyrie manages it.
Yeah at some point he got the message. Whether it was from self realization, the media, the coaches, the fans, or his teammates....it became clear that it was not in the team's best interest to keep shooting when every possession is so critical. I do not want to be harsh because I respect Aminu a lot, but it is highly unlikely that he will be starting for any team next year. Playing a key role....sure. But not as a starter or as a scorer off the bench. He is a good guy to have on your bench for certain defensive match ups.
Nards is an NBA role player. No one is fooled thanking he's going to turn into an all-star scoring 30 ppg. But a role player who has value? He's been that for the better part of 2 years now.
Nards has value: can shoot threes pretty well, good at the line and built like a brick shit house. He's not that much different than Brook Lopez. Not a defender but can board and his post up stuff around the rim improved a lot this year.
Kanter - Up, best defense in his career and he's arguably more valuable on offense than Nurk. Was a shell of himself after the injury but still critical in slowing Joker. Aminu - down his defense has declined and he was always a problem offensively. Only had one big Aminu game, he needs those 1/3rd of the time. Wish him the best like Ed Davis but let him walk. Harkless - down he needs to be given a role like Meyers, the right match up or role we start or play him but he is not entitled to starts/minutes/anything. If he pouts trade him, he is an expiring and I'll never trust him as a full time starter. CJ - up, huge games in key wins, no fear of pressure, epic defensive block. Dame - up+down needs to trust teammates when doubled, pass earlier, not jump or drive into double teams. Hopefully he can pace himself end of next regular season so he isn't worn out when playoffs start. Second best PG in league after Curry. Nurkic - up for cheering, tiny concern of down? It was great having him show up game 5 against OKC. With the success of Kanter, Collins, Meyers, previously Davis and Plumlee is the center position easy to thrive on a DameCJ team? Nurk was clearly our second best player when he went down. Center is also the deepest position in the league. Will do a second post for the bench.
Meyers - up, awesome two games. He can fill that Matt bonner role for certain matcbups and when there's injuries. Against small ball lineups he may be unplayable but that's fine. Collins--up defense was awesome, improvements at all distances on offense. Needs to reduce fouls, may be a starter soon Hood - up, can get his own shot against good defense. Hope we can resign him Turner - down up down, glad he had the crazy 4th quarter game 7, I enjoyed it. If he was a vet minum guy not guaranteed minutes I'd love him. Not worth a quarter of his contract, should trade in the off-season or by the deadline. Curry - up down great shooter but slight below average defense, bad diatrubtor. Fun having him play against his brother. Resign if we can, great insurance if Dame or CJ need regular season time off, Simon's may be able to fulfill his role. More of a need if Hood walks. Jake - I'm fine keeping him on a cheap deal or walking if we decide to go that route Simons up got us into the OKC series and a bracket to easily make the WCF. Excited for him to have a role next year. Trent + Skal we will see what they do summer league and training camp. Can Skal be our third string center until Nurk is back? Is Trent an NBA player?
Coaches - up but need to mix more trappingon defense, embrace playing 4 on 3 on offense when trap comes, changes to starting lineup. We weren't prepared for these changes in the playoffs because we stick to one way of doing that stuff all regular season. Impressive how coaches put Kanter in position to outplay Adam's. Also that we score anything with Aminu Harkless as starting forwards. Neil olshey - up for Collins, Hood. Even Meyers makes Neil look slightly less bad. The Turner contract is indefensible though. Jodi Allen up glad to hear everything we hear she said and did as an owner.
Well maybe he should have then? I could not confirm either way. As i understand it he was. But maybe that is just not any of our business and we should just leave it that way? Great guy. Wish him well. But i would not like to see him as the starting PF next year.
I heard / read several reports that he was drinking water, but as I wasnt there and I never heard him talk about it I cant really say.
Not sure about the reports. I had a friend 4 rows back at game 6. He told me Neither Kanter or Aminu drank a drop of water. But i also cannot say i was there and watched it first hand.
There was never any report that he was fasting. Not all Muslims fast during Ramadan. If he WERE fasting it would have been mentioned whenever they talked about how Kanter was fasting.
