Golden State Leaving It's Mark.... And It's Green

When it comes to this Golden State Warriors all time regular season win streak, I'm really concerned that folks just don't get it. Winning the most regular season games has a value only useful for barber shop crap talk.

No really.  These guys are pushing for a record that will only matter if they win it all, and even then only for the sake of looking like a peacock while sitting in that hair chair getting yo' doo did.

Now, I am perfectly black enough to get why barbershop crap is actually kinda important, but I'm also old enough to recognize risk over reward.  Also, I am cheap enough and bald enough to not have used a barber in years, so the barbershop dozens are no longer a part of my world.  If I had an NBA title to defend, and a full head of hair that demanded trained barber love and not just that trim the fuzz cut I do at home in my bathroom, I would try to do something that no team has ever done before too, and simply winning back to back is passe. Lots of teams have accomplished that.

I've followed the Warriors just like the rest of the universe, and I've written in the past that the season opening streak was an out of control monster. The health issues of Warriors head coach Steve Kerr left a spineless figurehead in interim coach Luke Walton to pull the strings of the kite and keep the wind from snatching it from his grip, sending it off towards a journey that usually ends horribly.

This run away kite turned a few loopty loops, launched a couple of half court 3 pointers and soared far from the grips of the interim coach's hand, and also out of the functional grip of the real coach who soon would return to the bench.  The out of control start to the season forced Golden State's true leader to keep the ship intact whilst it meandered on a journey few teams have ever ventured to take.

The evidence is clear as it spews freely from the mouth of this team's unquestioned leader,
Draymond Green

It was Green who admitted that the streak might have gotten to be too much before declaring that the regular season win total still stood within reach. It was Green who doubted that it could be done...until around game 50 when it was clear they were still on track to do it- which signifies the moment he decided, why not?.  If you listen to their leader now, Green says that his own coach can't really stop them from trying for the record.  Short staffed or full staff, Green has the influence to dictate the intensity of team play, whether on the court or glaring like a bully from the bench.  Green is both the engine and the brains of the Warriors operation, and Kerr himself would be replaced if he alienated and risked his team the long term services of Draymond Green. For Green, unlike the coach, is the only person that can not be replaced.

His defensive back line support against LeBron is the reason Golden State won one title, and he and said defensive support are still their best hope for getting two. Green is the only reason we even use the term "small ball" because his ability to play five spots on the floor make the Warriors small ball the blueprint- everybody else a copy.  Steph has the highlights and Russell Westbrook does the triple double thing, but even Paul George or LeBron himself DON'T have the plus/minus numbers that Green put up this year.

In fact, NO ONE has ever achieved the plus/minus production that Green has done during this season (although the metric is something the NBA has only tracked in the modern era of basketball). We might actually be witnessing a best player bait and switch move.  As we wait anxiously to anoint a stupendous scorer with average defense as the best player in the entire league, Green keeps proving himself to be "that" player of the so called best team in the league. Even this year's 3 point contest winner, Klay Thompson, could tally similar points to Steph with the same amount of offensive attempts, while his defense is among the best we've ever seen in this league.

With similar shot attempts, would Klay Thompson
score just as efficiently (or better) than Curry? 

How exactly is Curry the best player in the league but close to second or third on his own team? Thompson and Green do way more heavy lifting than does Curry, and are often saving the day on defense or the boards. In reality, the Warriors are much too balanced to really have or need an MVP.  Nonetheless, they will have two.  One that wins the award and one that earned it for him by gobbling up his misses for that second chance kickout, the true key to winning basketball in the first place since statistically, players (including Steph) mostly miss that first shot attempt.

I don't often respect the selection for MVP because it is notoriously given one or two years after it was most deserved, almost as a form of lifetime achievement award, much like all-star game selections. Is LeBron still the true MVP?  Overall, he is still the most impactful, but Green is so close on his heels that he might surpass LeBron before you finish this read.

Curry will continue to dazzle, but will never have the complete ability to impact all aspects of the game.  Green can and does, on and off the court.

On the court, Green is the best player not named LeBron. Off it, he declares that Kerr can't stop the pursuit of 73 wins even while Kerr admits that the record is meaningless to him- then smiles a sly grin realizing that he can't stop Green.

This pursuit is about history, and history has to be made by teams and players that can make it. Is Golden State that kind of team?

Yes they are, but chasing history comes at a price.  To start the season with an undefeated streak forces you to achieve some kind of mark worthy of the all that energy you expended in the first place. 73 wins is that mark, but to set that mark and not win the title would be a waste of all the energy it took to set the regular season mark, which is why coach Kerr could care less about this record.


If the coach doesn't care for the pursuit, why does Green think that it shouldn't and won't be stopped?

Green already has gold, so why not?  

Given the determination of San Antonio, Cleveland, or the Clippers to unseat the Warriors and win their own gold, I don't think Green is really doing the right thing. Unless of course he is moving to make his mark as the best player in the NBA and among the best of all time. In that case, Green is looking to do the only thing all time greats think of.

Make history.

LeBron Forgets His Crown. Misses Shot At Game 1

Will LeBron remember the error of past Final series?

Game one is over and we've learned a whole lot even though we're left with several new questions that we hadn't really thought about.  First question is, did we all forget about the dominating point guard named Kyrie Irving during the phenomenal run that Steph Curry has been on?  He may be out for the rest of the series, which will only add to the question of whether or not the point guard who blocked Steph's shot twice- to start the game and when the game was on the line- is actually equal or better to the league MVP?

The potential loss of Irving seems to be enough  for the prognosticators to declare that the series is all but over for Cleveland, who miraculously made it to the finals without the impact of Kyrie along the way.  Of course, J.R. Smith and others were living up to their potential, but even they were the beneficiaries of  timely passes from the best player in the universe who is almost averaging a triple double in the playoffs.

What Happened To The King?

While I would love to ask the question, "What happened to the best player in the universe", I already know the answer to the question long before I ask it.  Social media happens to LeBron, and it will define him or destroy him in the end as he continues to try to write a narrative for his career in response to the criticism of social media and the Michael Jordan effect.  In the Jordan era, turning off a television was a lot easier than turning off the internet is today, and whether he's behind the interview camera or stepping on the court, LeBron continues to try to prove that he is a different player than Jordan, yet worthy of his early coronation as King.

Before we let the outcome of the game confuse the story too much, the splash brothers were just normal pieces to the Warrior puzzle that Steve Kerr manipulated into a victory.  He probably should be creditted for outwitting player coach LeBron James, who even calls timeouts at the end of the game after a key second chance rebound, whether the real coach (whatever his name is) wants it or not.  Bill Russell has done similar things in this league, so it shouldn't be terribly odd- except the NBA hasn't seen a player coach since the 70's, and never an undeclared coach. Coach James had been forcing J.R. Smith to shoot and make big time shots at the end of the game in order to get his team to the finals- even when J.R. had missed earlier shots.

Last night, LeBron wanted that shot for himself.  Coach James, the Cavalier King, would have shared the ball and enjoyed the benefits of a game he probably deserved to win.  LeBron, the social media dude, wanted the fade away 3 point shot to help write a story that he and Kyrie narrated rather nicely until the final missed shots of regulation.  Everything in OT was the result of one deflated team and another who had clearly dodged a major bullet on their home court. The Cavaliers with Kyrie at 100% might have swept this series.  Without him, LeBron will be forced to return to the basketball doctrine of King James, the benevolent passer, instead of LeBron the petulant social media star hungry to be accepted as King.

Behind the decisions that drive LeBron seems to remain the shadow of the only player anybody thinks he has yet to surpass.  Kobe has slowly fallen from the conversation, and Jordan remains as the last man standing for LeBron to surpass.  What that means to some people is LeBron surpassing Jordan's championship victory totals.  He's already matching Jordan in championship experience and surpassing him in other playoff statistics, but he has lost more than he's won.   Would it have been better for LeBron to have never played the game at all?

Maybe.

Maybe it would have helped LeBron's image to lose in the eastern conference finals each time that his team couldn't close the deal instead of taking two inferior Cavalier squads to the dance in addition to a manufactured Miami Heat team that played for the crown every year that he stayed in South Beach?
But I doubt it.

I would be great for LeBron to remember who he is and what he has done to be succesful in his career instead of declaring himself the same unstoppable player that Steph Curry is during press conferences because whenever you say things of the sort, you then are forced to prove it on the court.  LeBron is an incredible player- but he doesn't transform into a King until he thinks like royalty.  Every time LeBron shows up, the King goes away.

Inside of Mr. James is the capacity for royalty, the ability to bring a team that didn't have Kyrie to the finals, and the experience to close the deal as long as he realizes the method of kingdom building along the way.  In reality, the loss of Kyrie is likely just another opportunity to add an additional spice to the narrative that Curry alone might not give anymore.  For important segments of last nights game, I barely noticed Curry on the court, and he was essentially outplayed by an 80% Kyrie Irving.  Shumpert was also able to quiet Curry, but using Shumpert on Curry is a major interior sacrifice for perimeter defense alone.  This series should take on an entirely new complexion without Irving in the lineup, which could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Cleveland who foolishly tried to close out game 1 with isolation plays, abandoning the style that helped them win the east.

Ball movement and defense got them to the dance and it will help them find their footing as they recover from losing the first game of the championship series.  70% of the time, the winner of game 1 goes on to win the series, however, if the losing team does come back 30% of the time, one with a King could get it done.

Respecting The King

Although Steph Curry won this years MVP award, LeBron James was the only player in game one who was treated with the superstar approach.  What is the superstar approach?  Let the star score most of the points (under pressure) while shutting down the supporting cast entirely.  Some pundits anticipated the Cavs would employ the same approach towards the Warriors.  Instead, Cleveland pressured Curry, who got a big boost from supporting players like Mo Speights who hit big shot after big shot when the game could have gotten away from Golden State.

Cleveland's supporting cast offered no such support and the Cavaliers still had two shots at the end of the game to steal one in Oakland.  If they can watch film on the defensive domination that started the game, in which Tristan Thompson and Timofey Mosgov erased any hopes of second chance rebounds, the Cavaliers could easily steal game two and complete the mission of any visiting team- win one game. Outside of that style of play, they'll be swept themselves.

Matchups will be key throughout this series because no team shoots 3's consistently or the percentages from that distance wouldn't be what they are, and both teams launch a fair amount of them.  What that means is that the Cavs will get their shooters activated eventually- which should uncover the physical dominance of Mosgov and Thompson over Bogut and Green.

So long as triple double King James can make that social media dude LeBron pass the damn ball.

What The Flop Is The NBA Doing Fining Steph?

What the flop is the NBA thinking fining Steph Curry for flopping?

First of all, the rule that instituted fining people who choose to flop was a stupid rule to begin with.  Not that I didn't appreciate the league's attempt to keep Manu Ginobli from making me turn the channel until the part of the game when flops get ignored so that ref's don't dictate outcomes. The idea was beyond admirable, and my initial response came with an equal level of appreciation and trepidation when the rule came to be.  The trepidation, however, comes from the difficulty with determining a flop in the first place.


Some Dude's (Me) Hack Too Much

I've personally stopped playing a lot of organized basketball simply because of the referee problem that makes it difficult for guys like me.  While I admit to being one of the most skilled fouler's in the history of fouling, I also have never intentionally flopped.  I have come to accept that shooting and flopping are not easy to do at the same time if you have any hope of making the shot. Despite the high double digit fouling that I intentionally get away with every single game that I play, I rarely foul out of games.  On the other hand, since I don't understand the flop technique and usually absorb contact without major shot disruption, I often get fouled without getting the calls I deserve.  In the grand scheme of things, it all probably balances out in the end.

You see, the problem with this whole flopping debate is that most really good referee's do not lean towards the heavy whistle side of basketball, especially in the NBA playoffs or old men basketball leagues when physicality amps up a bit.  If basketball game officials chose to keep the whistle blowing in concert with the increased level of fouls in the playoffs, then the game would hardly be watchable.

In last nights Cavs .vs. Hawks game, I watched LeBron James drive to the whole with 3 dudes draped all over him on multiple occasions. No foul called.  In fact, the only real hope that even LeBron, the best player in the world, has of getting a foul called during late game action is to flop a bit.  Taking the foul strongly and focusing on finishing is a formula for getting the field goal, but not the "and one" or the two shot foul you probably deserve,

To Steph Curry's credit, he is paying $5,000 for a flop that really did happen, but not for the reason's that some guy's do it.  Steph is a reactionary flopper in that he focuses on the shot, and falls away from the contact because small guys better fall away just to minimize the bangs and bruises that come with being great.  If I were playing against Curry, I would have to assume he's shooting jump shots, and be near to poke, prod and manipulate his pre and post shot, until he becomes uncomfortable.

In other words, I would foul his arse as much as I could get away with.  Such an approach is not novel.  It is the only hope you have against these type of players.  Conversely, flopping or accentuating the contact is the only hope that such players have to shine a light on the extra that goes on when stars shoot the ball.  If you watch the play, Steph pushes off on Corey Brewer in order to gain the free look, and then gets brushed against the arm from a player trailing the action.  With this player coming from the trail side, his near block of Curry forced the contact that lead to Curry's $5,000 flop.

To the NBA's credit, they've warned players of these potential fines over a year ago, so anyone who pays has very little room to point fingers.  Actually, they could point fingers at the hundreds of players who continue to flop without penalty and ask the question of, why me? Why so sporadic in the enforcement of the rules and why would you decide to open blind eyes on this season's MVP, especially on a less than obvious flop?

There is a statement in this particular fine, but its neither clear or for Curry alone.

Phil Jackson Is Running In Circles For The Sake Of A Triangle

While there probably is a story in the ideal that talking about basketball on television is a great way to prove that you are ready to coach an NBA team to a championship, the broader picture in the world of NBA hiring is much more interesting.  Despite losing his job after only a few fairly successful seasons, Mark Jackson is back in the broadcast booth, but also firmly in the conversation about who will fill one of these vacant job openings, especially the one in New York.

In fact, he is probably the coach most likely to intrigue Carmelo Anthony, who has to be the player that the Knicks brought  Phil Jackson in to retain.  In fact, the only reason you hand over the reigns to an old maestro like Jackson is to have him get you to the promised land.  Quickly!

Jackson himself could hardly be signing on for a ten year rebuild.  If he were, the idea of shopping Melo' for all you can get would make more sense then posturing as though Melo' is priority number one. The swing and miss that Jackson made for Steve Kerr, the television announcer who is swapping coaching seats with Mark Jackson who was fired by the Golden State Warriors, is evidence that Phil is looking for a yes man.  In Mark Jackson, Phil would have the experience of a playoff general who clearly has done a great job, but has more yet to prove.  His firing in Golden State possibly makes him the hottest option for any team serious about winning it all simply because of the ax he would grind.

The problem with Jackson, Mark and Phil, is this darn triangle thing.  You see, Phil, the mastermind who made Jordan the God of basketball and of shoe sales, could do the same with Melo' because the triangle is perfectly suited to someone like Melo who needs lots of touches and lots of space to make use of those touches.  The triangle isolates the court to three players at a time and opens the opposite side of the court to wide open 3's when players slide in to support teammates caught in the triangle's web.

When ran to perfection and with the right group of guys, the triangle is as effective as any offense around.  Run with sticky ball movements and late cuts and shifts, it simply doesn't run and can be a horrendous looking concept. From the time that Phil made it famous until now,few teams, on any level, have dared to run the triangle. Those who have tried it seldom take advantage of the full impact of the triangle's passing flow, opting for one-on-one in order to handle the unique pressure that a 24 second shot clock can create.

Now that Steve Kerr has passed on the Knick's job
will Derek Fisher turn his back on Phil too?

Therein lies the conundrum.  Not only must you coach beneath the greatest coach of the modern era, you have to run his system and make players buy into it without the luxury of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant to exert their will on the situation.  Did I mention that you also have to do this while accepting that you will only be the goat.  Any success that this team has will be credited to Phil and his geometrically described offense.  If you fail, it will surely be as a result of your inability to fit your round thinking into Phil's triangular world.

You might be lucky enough to have the option on whether or not you want sage burning in the locker room during bad losing streaks, (or anytime Phil thinks the energy is bad in the locker room of course) but if there is no sage, will Phil still believe that the coach understands what it takes to win?

Currently, former Phil Jackson player and current OKC Thunder guard, Derek Fisher is in the newest conversation to take over in New York.  Now, let me see if I am clear about this.  They not only wanted a former Philistine in Kerr, an ex-player, ex-executive and now ex-TV analyst (but not an ex-coach), they are also interested in Fisher, who just finished a season at 39 years old and is considering playing one more?

As I shake and scratch my head over who would be the bigger fool in this deal, Jackson or Fisher, I am also left to wonder if Phil is thinking of making him the next player coach?  We certainly haven't seen one of those in some time. In my heart, I hope that the Fisher rumors are far from true because it speaks to how 'way over his head' Phil really is.  The fact that Kerr was even a candidate for the job makes the Fisher story a lot more probable.  Phil is fishing and grasping at straws because he is doing what coaches always do when they need a person to fill a need. Unfortunately, Phil is no longer a coach, and the job he hopes to hire for goes a bit further than simply signing on the line to coach basketball in the Big Apple.  In fact, the skills that Phil himself will need to be great in the front office are most likely yet to be attained. Hiring a coach in the same boat could be disastrous mix for sure.

The next coach of the New York Knickerbockers will have the unique responsibility of needing the cache' to cash in on Melo', or some other big named free agent, but not be concerned with getting credit for any of the teams success.

If ever there was a need for Erik Spoelstra, this is it.