In the meantime we see Tor twice over the next week, w/the presumed gimme w/Philly in between -- securing that 3 spot over Atl. & Miami won't be be easy w/out Jae Crowder -- the guy has been immense -- Olynyk's shoulder will be sore the rest of the way they're saying, but he'll be out there -- Crowder back by playoffs -- Isaiah Thomas, our MVP -- he & Avery Bradley, watta backcourt
2 wins over Toronto would be large -- let's go Celts

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle commenting on the Warriors after losing to them in Dallas last night:

''Right now, by NBA standards, this is bigger than the Rolling Stones on tour,'' Carlisle said. ''Wherever they go, there's a mass of people and a huge following.''

Well, I guess it's no longer up for debate: The Spurs are for real.

The real NBA championship will be Spurs - Warriors in the playoffs. Ballsy move by Popovich to sit Duncan other than 8 minutes. LaMarcus Aldridge was huge last night, 26 points/13 rebounds, after hiding in their first meeting with 5 points/3 boards. The Warriors are not going to beat The Spurs too often if Curry goes 1-12 from three point range and 4-18 overall. But give San Antonio some credit for that.

Loved Steve Kerr's post game interview:
Reporter: "Tough game for you with Bogut out."
Kerr: "Injuries are part of the game, you just play with who you have. Last time we played them, Duncan was out."

No excuses.

[Edited on 3/20/2016 by robslob]

It sounds like just sour grapes from grumpy ex-jocks -- "back in my day...." etc etc -- Warriors are among best ever -- NYK was reduced to biddy basketball team last night, as are most of their opponents

More-so than the Bird-Parish-Tiny-DJ teams, our early 70s teams were tops-ever & would have given GSW, Spurs, 1990s da Bulls, 80s showtime Lakiz, etc more than their money's worth

the wheeling & dealing on the 1972-73 team -- Cowens, Havlicek & JoJo White, w/Don Chaney & Paul Silas -- still our most winningest team at 68 wins -- the peak of those teams, title or no title -- w/Don Nelson & Tom Sanders, holdovers from the Russell years, coming off the bench -- we Smoked people that season, incl 33-straight wins LA

Now Steven, there was NEVER a Bird- Parish-Tiny and DJ team. Archibald left before DJ arrived. The 33 win Laker team was the year before the Celtics won 68 games and didn't win the title. That 71-72 Laker team beat the Celts 3 times and the Cs won once by 13 pts.

The 68 win Celtic team the next year did sweep a very good 60 win Laker team but that Laker team was nowhere near as good as the 69 win and 33 in a row Laker team of the year before.

While the above is fact and the following is only opinion, the 86 Celtics would have beaten the 72-73 team. The 86 front line would have overwhelmed that non title winning Celtics team of 72-73. Having said all this I too loved the Cowens/Silas/ Havlichek and Jo Jo White teams of Tommy Heinson.

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle commenting on the Warriors after losing to them in Dallas last night:

''Right now, by NBA standards, this is bigger than the Rolling Stones on tour,'' Carlisle said. ''Wherever they go, there's a mass of people and a huge following.''

It was up for debate that the Spurs are for real? It was a interesting game. Sure do hope these historically great teams meet in the conference finals. Which obviously is quite likely.

It was up for debate that the Spurs are for real?

It wasn't -- they've been for real for years & years, more so than ever this year

Bird, Parish & McHale had Tiny for a PG early on, then DJ later -- as great as theose teams were, the 72-73 team, & those of that era, but especially that team, would have handled them -- as you say tho, all speculation/conjecture 😮

Same thing with Fitch's early 80s teams -- Bird, Parish Maxwell w/Tiny & Chris Ford in the backcourt & McHale, M.L. Carr, Gerald Henderson, Rick Robey, Eric Fernsten etc off the bench -- I'd give them the nod any day over KC Jones' mid 80s teams w/DJ & Ainge in the backcourt -- there was no depth, less Walton in 86

On a different note, great pivot battle tonight between Robin Lopez (23 points 20 rebounds) and DeMarcus Cousins (24/20) -- would have been a fun one to watch

[Edited on 3/21/2016 by Stephen]

It was up for debate that the Spurs are for real?

Yeah, I see what you're saying, and it was a somewhat dumb statement. That said, the Spurs - Warriors had played only once this year, and the Warriors had shellacked them by 30 points. So yeah, when you consider that, the Spurs validated themselves last night. Not that one game really means a whole lot, but then again, the Warriors REALLY gave them a whipping the first time they played. Last night proved that it's a competitive matchup. I still like the Warriors in a 7 game series, especially if both teams are at full strength.

Warriors pulled out a win in Utah last night in overtime. It was a game that they most certainly should have lost.............they played in Utah 24 hours after playing in Oakland, and played terribly for most of the game. But what may be most amazing about them is their will to win. They just refuse to lose. They are now 68-7. NO TEAM in NBA history before them has had 68 wins after 75 games. I think they're going to beat Chicago's record of 72-10.

Warriors pulled out a win in Utah last night in overtime. It was a game that they most certainly should have lost.............they played in Utah 24 hours after playing in Oakland, and played terribly for most of the game. But what may be most amazing about them is their will to win. They just refuse to lose. They are now 68-7. NO TEAM in NBA history before them has had 68 wins after 75 games. I think they're going to beat Chicago's record of 72-10.

I think you are probably right. My Celtics play them tomorrow on night 2 of a back-to-back (in Portland tonight). That could be ugly.

Geez, I am wondering if I could
coach the Warriors and have a record like that(No offense Steve).
Just kidding! 😛 😛

I know there was some talk of Durant going there. I am not sold totally
on the Big 3 concept. Not enough ball , and players of that
caliber would have to learn how to play and learn to be more of a team concept.

I think if you have one allstar maybe two and a few really good role players
and a solid deep bench with a team that knows how to play nice, your good.

But I do wonder how much an influence a pro NBA
coach has. I think they do have some what of an impact,
some more than others , but overall the NBA is a players league.
Brad Stevens is doing well with the Celtics. What elese would you expect
from an Indiana boy?

The local media here in Indy are coming down a little on Vogel(Pacers head coach),
unfairly IMHO. I am not gonna go into all the reasons, but I find alot of it unjust.

Its unfotunate, but in the NBA when a team starts to go down hill it sems to fall on the coach first. That is the last pro sport I would ever want to coach.

Back to the impact of coaching. For years I wanted to see Phil Jackson take over a team that was maybe sub .500 or going through a total rebuilding process and give him 5 yrs to get a job the done without having the players of a Jordan,Shaq,Bryant to see what he could do.
[Edited on 4/1/2016 by jszfunk]

[Edited on 4/1/2016 by jszfunk]

It's 3 teams for last 2 spots out west -- Houston has the easiest schedule -- Jazz play SA tonite, LAC after that -- Dallas has hardest schedule of the 3 -- Jazz close w/Lakers, that could be tough as all the kudos/accolades/plaudits/tributes etc roll in for Kobe in his final game

B's couldn't close out w/5-game streak -- Celts still can tho -- huge those last 3 against the other 3 we're clustered with, it's settin up perfect

we beat GSW there, mayb Jazz can beat SA tonite -- am a Spurs fan but bigger Jazz fan -- have followed both for decades

...& neither come close to the team in green -- we Got something this year --

[Edited on 4/5/2016 by Stephen]

San Jose Mercury News, 4-6-16:

"Both Steve Kerr and Draymond Green proffered an interesting notion -- the Warriors have become bored with the regular season and need to get on to the playoffs. Kerr recalled that the Chicago Bulls of 1995-1996, who hold the record at 72-10, struggled down teh stretch and won just two of their final four.

"It's very similar", said Kerr, who played on that Bulls team. "You've got so much media attention and everybody talkiing about breaking the record and all that stuff, you lose focus a little bit. The same thing happened 20 years ago. We didn't play very well down the stretch. Even the game where we broke the record, we played very poorly, so this doesn't surprise me. It's easy to get lost in all this stuff."

Said Green, "I think right now we're at a point where it's just human nature where we're kind of ready for the regular season to end. You're talking 82 games, you get bored with that after awhile. That's no excuse, I'm just always going to give it to you real, and that's as real as I can be."

[Edited on 4/6/2016 by robslob]

San Jose Mercury News, 4-6-16:

"Both Steve Kerr and Draymond Green proffered an interesting notion -- the Warriors have become bored with the regular season and need to get on to the playoffs. Kerr realled that the Chicago Bulls of 1995-1996, who hold the record at 72-10, struggled down teh stretch and won just two of their final four.

"It's very similar", said Kerr, who played on that Bulls team. "You've got so much media attention and everybody talkiing about breaking the record and all that stuff, you lose focus a little bit. The same thing happened 20 years ago. We didn't play very well down the stretch. Even the game where we broke the record, we played very poorly, so this doesn't surprise me. It's e(asy to get lost in all this stuff."

Said Green, "I think right now we're at a point where it's just human nature where we're kind of ready for the regular season to end. You're talking 82 games, you get bored with that after awhile. That's no excuse, I'm just always going to give it to you real, and that's as real as I can be."

Both are probably right. I hadn't thought about the Kerr connection to both teams until now (I'm sure others have) but that's pretty cool.

There's nothing this guy can't do... 😛

No worries for Clips, Doc will get Paul P into the rotation -- Paul hasn't been playing, this'd be a great way for him to go out -- he & Kobe both, just like Bird & Magic did

Spurs-OKC -- it seldom gets better & if Spurs prevail, they're in -- 4-0 over a very good Memphis team, now get past OC & they're a cinch for finals if no Curry for GSW -- get well soon Stephen -- without him, no record-breaking, full-strength Juggernaut for general hoop fans to watch & enjoy

OMG, whatever the ESPN writer was on when he came up with this, Just Say No -- hopefully Brad Stevens doesn't read it

"An X's and O's savant with what some would call a Popovichian demeanor"

Ignore the bologna, let's go coach Stevens, Isaiah & the Celts -- we're banged up, But This Team's Got Heart -- we return up 3-2

[Edited on 4/26/2016 by Stephen]

Three great players -- Kobe, Tim Duncan, Paul Pierce -- latter two should follow Kobe's lead & call it quits too --
OC was better team -- 1 way or another GSW wins opener by a ton, a la Spurs-OC opener, others -- then the games begin.........

we still might get BklyNets pick, giving us 4 1st-round picks -- unsure of college draft but Danny Ainge, you're as great in the front office as you were on the court -- glad you bagged baseball bro

95-60????????????????????
Rigged -- All The Way -- OKC would have an easier time with a junior college team
every single year, these completely non-believable blowouts -- not all all on the level IMO -- why would they wanna tank it like that??? TV ratings>$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Edited on 5/23/2016 by Stephen]

I must say that as a serious Warriors fan, I am concerned. We were down 2-1 to Memphis in an early round last year and we beat them in six. We were down to Cleveland 2-1 in the championship series last year and we beat them in six.

But I'm still concerned. Concerned because OKC dominated us SO thoroughly tonight, in every single aspect of the game. Never thought I'd see that against this Warriors team.

To say that this will be an interesting series the rest of the way would be a huge understatement. And to say that Tuesday night will be a make or break game for the Warriors would also be a huge understatement.

One more thing: Draymond Green's kick to Steven Adams' crotch tonight was dirty, uncalled for, and classless.

We love Draymond's intensity here by the Bay, but that was really an assh*le move. The announcers were saying the league will review it and he may get suspended for a game. As much of a Warriors fan as I am, I think he SHOULD!

[Edited on 5/23/2016 by robslob]