Steph Curry finds it funny Warriors aren't le favorites, Draymond mentions Spurs

[Mikeanaro]

I liked it better when he was humble and didn't say anything.

Same here, after that alcohol drink dude went totally now he acts like Garnett.

[TD 21]

Warriors think they should be favorites...how ridiculous

I don't know why you and a few others keep playing this game.

The Spurs have rarely been favored, whether they've been the reigning champions or not and in addition to age, it always came back to this: What happened last season doesn't necessarily foretell what will happen next season.

Yet the mighty Warriors, they of the one season of elite play and virtually unprecedented fortune, are above reproach apparently.

It's funny, less than a year ago most would have laughed at you if you'd have said the Warriors could beat the Spurs in a series. They go through a season of virtually unprecedented fortune, the Spurs don't, plus look worn down from three straight deep runs and all of a sudden it's damn near the opposite.

[Spurtacular]

And guess what, this hasn't been talked about in the national media just yet but Warriors beat writer, Ethan Strauss has implied that there's some tension between Iggy and Barnes. At the recent players' awards, Iggy didn't thank Barnes, who replaced him in the starting lineup. He said they aren't the best of friends either.

This is fueled by Iggy winning the FMVP instead of Curry. Iggy now thinks he has a case to be a starter. Kerr knows he doesn't though.

[Spurtacular]

I don't know why you and a few others keep playing this game.

The Spurs have rarely been favored, whether they've been the reigning champions or not and in addition to age, it always came back to this: What happened last season doesn't necessarily foretell what will happen next season.

Yet the mighty Warriors, they of the one season of elite play and virtually unprecedented fortune, are above reproach apparently.

It's funny, less than a year ago most would have laughed at you if you'd have said the Warriors could beat the Spurs in a series. They go through a season of virtually unprecedented fortune, the Spurs don't, plus look worn down from three straight deep runs and all of a sudden it's damn near the opposite.

Before the season started, I knew the Warriors would be trouble. They were young and they almost beat a better Spurs team in 2012. Their lack of experience is what prevented them from finishing a wounded Spurs. But with Bogut geting older, Lee prime to move, Iggy one year further from prime, etc. I felt like it was really gonna be their last best shot. I even kinda could see that fast start coming and the increase in three efficiency. But what I didn't foresee is getting a pass on the Spurs, Clippers, Thunders, a viable East team. The Warriors themselves have to know that it's gonna be incredibly more difficult to repeat. They're not truly a dominant team. They beat a league of teams that weren't suited for their fast regular season pace and barrage of threes. But teams will play them tougher and make them work that much harder night in and night out. They'll lose more games. They'll go into the postseason more worn down against more healthy teams; and they'll find that their lack of inside game is a liability when teams clamp down on the three looks.

[spurs10]

They are just creating a little drama for themselves. They're are the champs....for now.

[Proxy]

It's funny... every year the Spurs won, there was plenty of talk about a new favorite. It's the nature of the league and media giving into the hype.

can't remember anyone in silver and black giving comments that sounded so insecure though. Who gives a what anyone says.

[Solid D]

There's a part of me that's happy for the splash brothers...

But I had to laugh at the fact that Kerr had to "sell" Iguodala on coming off the bench as if he's all that. Dude's best days are way behind him.

Yeah, the Finals' MVP's best days are just sooooo way behind him.

[Solid D]

Dude's best days are way behind him.

Manu was in his prime coming off the bench. Havlicek was in his prime coming off the bench. It's rare to find a combination of a coach willing to stick a starter at 6th man for strategic purposes...matched with a player who is somewhat amenable to coming off the bench when they have a starter's abilities. Pop and Auerbach and Manu and Hondo were the exceptions. Iggy's game is definitely starter material, as was proven when Kerr changed the strategy in the Finals and it turned out to be the right strategy for the matchups.

[SpursFan86]

I don't know why you and a few others keep playing this game.

The Spurs have rarely been favored, whether they've been the reigning champions or not and in addition to age, it always came back to this: What happened last season doesn't necessarily foretell what will happen next season.

Yet the mighty Warriors, they of the one season of elite play and virtually unprecedented fortune, are above reproach apparently.

It's funny, less than a year ago most would have laughed at you if you'd have said the Warriors could beat the Spurs in a series. They go through a season of virtually unprecedented fortune, the Spurs don't, plus look worn down from three straight deep runs and all of a sudden it's damn near the opposite.

No, last season doesn't necessarily foretell the upcoming season...but what logical reasons do you have for why GS won't be as good?

Last year they won 67 games and had one of the best point differentials of all-time. They brought back the same team minus David Lee and essentially replaced him with Jason Thompson. Their entire core is young and likely to improve. They'll have another year of experience + chemistry together. Kerr will no longer be a rookie coach and will have another year under his belt.

People here love bringing up all their luck in the playoffs, but you can only beat who's in front of you. They looked like one of the most dominant teams ever in the regular season, and then breezed through the playoffs as well. Sure, they went down early against Memphis/Cleveland, but then they went on to win 3 straight games in convincing fashion against both. They won games 4-6 against Memphis by a margin of 50 points, and won games 4-6 against Cleveland by a margin of 42 points.

I'm not saying it's some ridiculous opinion to not have them as favorites...but they're the safest pick aside from Cleveland, and that's just because of the conference disparity. And people here are really underselling what they did last season just because they played some injured teams in the playoffs.

[Spurtacular]

Yeah, the Finals' MVP's best days are just sooooo way behind him.

Well then, I guess Iggy showed that he's in his prime still after all and that he should be a starter.

[Kidd K]

Well, until some team takes them out, they are the favorites.

Tbh I have never agreed with this logic. What happened last season has nothing to do with the next season. They should still be -a- favorite but having won the le does not automatically make you -the-favorite.

Ofc neither are the Spurs since no games have been played yet and we don't know how LA and DW are fitting in.

[Spurtacular]

Manu was in his prime coming off the bench. Havlicek was in his prime coming off the bench. It's rare to find a combination of a coach willing to stick a starter at 6th man for strategic purposes...matched with a player who is somewhat amenable to coming off the bench when they have a starter's abilities. Pop and Auerbach and Manu and Hondo were the exceptions. Iggy's game is definitely starter material, as was proven when Kerr changed the strategy in the Finals and it turned out to be the right strategy for the matchups.

It's really not for the course of an NBA season. The Warriors starting line-up was much more potent with Barnes inserted into the starting line-up. I read an article on that a while back. The season before last, Iggy logged 32.6 mpg and still didn't hit double digits on his scoring average.

[SAGirl]

Before the season started, I knew the Warriors would be trouble. They were young and they almost beat a better Spurs team in 2012. Their lack of experience is what prevented them from finishing a wounded Spurs. But with Bogut geting older, Lee prime to move, Iggy one year further from prime, etc. I felt like it was really gonna be their last best shot. I even kinda could see that fast start coming and the increase in three efficiency. But what I didn't foresee is getting a pass on the Spurs, Clippers, Thunders, a viable East team. The Warriors themselves have to know that it's gonna be incredibly more difficult to repeat. They're not truly a dominant team. They beat a league of teams that weren't suited for their fast regular season pace and barrage of threes. But teams will play them tougher and make them work that much harder night in and night out. They'll lose more games. They'll go into the postseason more worn down against more healthy teams; and they'll find that their lack of inside game is a liability when teams clamp down on the three looks.

And there is always this:
All it takes is for a significant injury for one of their key guys. I am not wishing an injury or anything like that don't misinterpret me. But injuries are part of basketball and many playoff teams were afflicted all through the season and unfortunately at the end of the season. All the teams you mentioned had such injuries. Clippers had Blake injured through the season, but they survived it. Rockets had a huge assortment of injuries TBH and while I am not a fan of that team at all, it made the case for Harden's MVP more compelling. Spurs, we all know about December 2014, and so on...
I dont think that the Warriors can go through an assortment of injuries like the Rockets did and have MVP Curry carry them by himself with a bunch of dudes TBH. If anything the Warriors best luck last year was that they were healthy all year and their minutes were well managed. The guys who got hurt, Lee and Bogut, they could play without and did. I am not discounting them though. It is always foolish to discount a potential tough rival, but I agree with your assessment, they are not so dominant as to be without question.

[cd98]

This current Spurs roster hasn't done squat. GS are the champs and the le goes through them.

[Spurtacular]

And there is always this:
All it takes is for a significant injury for one of their key guys. I am not wishing an injury or anything like that don't misinterpret me. But injuries are part of basketball and many playoff teams were afflicted all through the season and unfortunately at the end of the season. All the teams you mentioned had such injuries. Clippers had Blake injured through the season, but they survived it. Rockets had a huge assortment of injuries TBH and while I am not a fan of that team at all, it made the case for Harden's MVP more compelling. Spurs, we all know about December 2014, and so on...
I dont think that the Warriors can go through an assortment of injuries like the Rockets did and have MVP Curry carry them by himself with a bunch of dudes TBH. If anything the Warriors best luck last year was that they were healthy all year and their minutes were well managed. The guys who got hurt, Lee and Bogut, they could play without and did. I am not discounting them though. It is always foolish to discount a potential tough rival, but I agree with your assessment, they are not so dominant as to be without question.

Your case is strong. But I'm gonna at least partially disagree. I think arguably match-ups was the biggest luck for the Warriors. Imagine if the Warriors had to have played Westbrook fueled and experienced OKC, Memphis (at full strength or Clippers) and the Spurs and then a healthier Cleveland? What would their odd of success have been? Ten to twenty percent?

Even with HCA and against a relatively Splitter-less Spurs, the silver and black presented grave dangers to the Warriors. That series would have went six or seven with the Spurs having a great shot at winning it.

[therealtruth]

This is fueled by Iggy winning the FMVP instead of Curry. Iggy now thinks he has a case to be a starter. Kerr knows he doesn't though.

Iggy not starting was never about him not being good enough to start. It was about getting HB to play better and having Iggy stabilize the bench unit.

[Spurtacular]

Iggy not starting was never about him not being good enough to start. It was about getting HB to play better and having Iggy stabilize the bench unit.

Barnes is better at the defensive end and Iggy frankly isn't effective in starter's minutes over a season at this point. Yes, the bench gets an added punch for having Iggy. But moving Iggy out of the starting lineup almost irrespective of Barnes was a pretty obvious move. It's a move that had Mark Jackson made it, he might've saved his job and have a ring right now.

Now, Barnes did do much better in the starting lineup. But that's because he wasn't playing with the scrubs and wasn't trying to do things he shouldn't be trying.

[therealtruth]

Barnes is better at the defensive end and Iggy frankly isn't effective in starter's minutes over a season at this point. Yes, the bench gets an added punch for having Iggy. But moving Iggy out of the starting lineup almost irrespective of Barnes was a pretty obvious move. It's a move that had Mark Jackson made it, he might've saved his job and have a ring right now.

Now, Barnes did do much better in the starting lineup. But that's because he wasn't playing with the scrubs and wasn't trying to do things he shouldn't be trying.

Iggy was by far the best defender against Lebron in the Finals.

[Spurtacular]

Iggy was by far the best defender against Lebron in the Finals.

Really? Lebron scored 30 ppg in the three games Iggy was starting. Not saying that the switch didn't pay some dividends. But let's not hype Iggy's defensive impact. I do think Iggy can laterally move better than Barnes though. And when you play LBJ, that's needed. But Barnes does well enough vs. most threes and offers interior play that Iggy can't.

[Solid D]

It's really not for the course of an NBA season. The Warriors starting line-up was much more potent with Barnes inserted into the starting line-up. I read an article on that a while back. The season before last, Iggy logged 32.6 mpg and still didn't hit double digits on his scoring average.

It's superficial to look at scoring average. His role isn't scoring at GS. You've got to look beyond that. His defensive abilities are what are needed on this Warriors team. He's only taking 6 or 7 shots per game at GS because they already have scoring. His FG percentage has been fine in his 2 seasons there - .480 ('13-14) and .466 ('14-15) compared with his career average of .461 (.4599 career prior to his 2 seasons in GS). He can still make shots. Just because he's played 11 seasons doesn't mean "Dude's best days are way behind him." He's an extremely versatile player. He's playing the role he is being asked to play. In the Finals, Iggy played at the 4 when Kerr went with a small starting 5. He was rewarded for overall play and defense by winning the MVP. He can start and excel and he can come off the bench and excel. I doubt LeBron James or Steve Kerr or Coach Pop would side with you in your opinion of Iggy.

[Spurtacular]

It's superficial to look at scoring average. His role isn't scoring at GS. You've got to look beyond that. His defensive abilities are what are needed on this Warriors team. He's only taking 6 or 7 shots per game at GS because they already have scoring. His FG percentage has been fine in his 2 seasons there - .480 ('13-14) and .466 ('14-15) compared with his career average of .461 (.4599 career prior to his 2 seasons in GS). He can still make shots. Just because he's played 11 seasons doesn't mean "Dude's best days are way behind him." He's an extremely versatile player. He's playing the role he is being asked to play. In the Finals, Iggy played at the 4 when Kerr went with a small starting 5. He was rewarded for overall play and defense by winning the MVP. He can start and excel and he can come off the bench and excel. I doubt LeBron James or Steve Kerr or Coach Pop would side with you in your opinion of Iggy.

Yea, Iggy has good numbers still. I'm not debating that. But long before he joined GS, his numbers as a starter were significantly declining. Kerr would have been stupid to ignore that reality. Limiting his minutes is really what this was about. Playing him 27 minutes as opposed to 31 or more pays huge dividends. As a Spurs guy, Kerr knows this concept very well.

[Solid D]

Yea, Iggy has good numbers still. I'm not debating that. But long before he joined GS, his numbers as a starter were significantly declining. Kerr would have been stupid to ignore that reality. Limiting his minutes is really what this was about. Playing him 27 minutes as opposed to 31 or more pays huge dividends. As a Spurs guy, Kerr knows this concept very well.

Judging from your other posts, plus this one, it seems like you're a bit conflicted there. Enjoy your evening. Go Spurs go!

[YGWHI]

It's understandable. The Spurs are one of the favorites in Warriors mind, that should be a scary thought for a rival who already had a difficult time stopping us in last regular season.

[Spurtacular]

Judging from your other posts, plus this one, it seems like you're a bit conflicted there. Enjoy your evening. Go Spurs go!

Well, I wasn't perhaps fully clear or maybe slightly altered p.o.v.'s as I studied it more. But let me just say what I believe at this point:

* The Warriors on any given night could do as well with Iggy in the starting lineup as with Barnes. But doing it over the course of a season is disadvantageous for various reasons.
* Iggy does help the second unit as you say. But to my mind, this was more about Kerr realizing the need to reign in Iggy b/c he does worse in the thirty plus minute threshold; and psychologically speaking, I think Iggy thinks he needs to do more than he should when he's a starter. Even Iggy has said that he was taken aback by the move b/c he has a "starters vs. scrubs" mindset ingrained into his DNA.
* The move to the starting lineup allowed Barnes to play more to his strengths. He was trying to do too much as a bench guy. Whereas, a guy like Iggy likes more ball time; and playing with the bench guys allows more of that. And then when he is playing with the starters, he has more of an understanding that he is better off being more selective with his shots.

[Horse]

Original article with Curry is here: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nba/writer...itle-favorites

http://defpenradio.com/stephen-curry-finds-it-funny-that-the-warriors-arent- le-favorites/

Actually, Curry probably isn't aware that the Spurs aren't the favorites to win it all according to Bovada, the Cavaliers are.

Curry is probably referring to teams like the Spurs, Clippers, and Rockets who have all re-tooled:

Draymond Green was interviewed on KNBR 680AM: http://www.knbr.com/2015/08/13/green-warriors-already-have-chip-on-shoulders/

He won't think it's funny when wingstop is waiting around every corner.