Golden State Of Mind: All Posts by Ivan Bettger"UNSTOPPABLE BABY!" - Warriors rookie Marc Jackson to the Mavs' bench, after a lay-up during a 29-point loss (2000)https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50563/gsom-fav.png2018-05-30T11:00:02-07:00https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/ivanbe/rss2018-05-30T11:00:02-07:002018-05-30T11:00:02-07:00Kevin Durant and the dilemma of isolation
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<img alt="NBA: Playoffs-Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Nr8eEkPYNE2kyFvBkP88gHQRHH0=/0x0:3804x2536/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59896771/usa_today_10860084.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>“Strength in Numbers,” the t-shirt says. </p> <p id="wbJysU">We’ve lived with Steve Kerr’s motto for years now, and we know what “Strength in Numbers” means: everybody plays, everybody gets involved in the offense, and the team is bigger than any one person. It also means we get to enjoy the likes of Anderson Varejao in crucial Game 7 minutes — sometimes you take the bad with the good.</p>
<p id="ALGBAn">Isolation basketball, well. The numbers involved there are “one” on “one,” which is the same number twice. Not very strong, and not something we’re accustomed to in Kerr’s offensive system. Yet at times, the grueling series between the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> and the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a> was defined by — one might even say <em>marred</em> by — mano a mano stagnation. </p>
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<blockquote><p id="GxgFLs">I know what I can do physically ... they did such a good job at switching. I know the whole iso thing was a big thing around our team -- we talked about it a lot.</p></blockquote>
<p id="nMf6Dl"><a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/csn/warriors/The_statistic_that_stands_out_most_from_Kevin_Durant_s_Game_7_vs_Houston-483981341.html"><small><em>NBC Bay Area</em></small></a></p>
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<p id="JTgnEB">This wasn’t by accident, of course: we know how <span>James Harden</span> and <span>Chris Paul</span> earned their bucks (and their regular season record trophy). And we know from watching hundreds of hours of Warriors basketball, just as Mike D’Antoni does, that ball movement is key to the Warriors’ half court offensive machinations. </p>
<p id="lr6RuZ"><span>Kevin Durant</span> is much less of a stranger to isolation ball than the rest of the squad — 15.5% of his regular-season plays were <a href="http://stats.nba.com/players/isolation/?sort=Time&dir=1&Season=2017-18&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&CF=TeamNameAbbreviation*E*gsw">categorized by NBA.com</a> stats collectors as isolation plays, surprisingly about the same as in his last year playing for OKC. In this playoffs, that percentage is <a href="http://stats.nba.com/players/isolation/?sort=Time&dir=1&Season=2017-18&SeasonType=Playoffs&CF=TeamNameAbbreviation*E*gsw">up to 26.3%</a> on almost double the number of possessions. (To be fair to KD, several other players’ isolation numbers are up. Assist % is down. The playoffs are hard.)</p>
<p id="HsPLOv">And, frankly: KD is a very good isolation player. The Rockets were clearly content to play him that way at the outset, and he kinda killed them in Game 1 — because he’s a ridiculous basketball talent that can shoot with purity over any defender — even the centerpiece of The Tuck Wagon himself, PJ Tucker. It wasn’t the prettiest brand of Warriors basketball we’ve become fiendishly in awe of, but it gave GSW a 2-1 lead against the “favorites,” so: I’ll also take the good with the bad, if offered. </p>
<p id="RQ7QTf">Turns out that offer was pulled from the table, and instead we got the bad with the bad. In Games 4 through 6, <span>Durant</span> shot 36.5% from the field, and the Warriors’ offense showed an uncharacteristic lack of rhythm. </p>
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<blockquote><p id="Xq9vXg">For me, after the first two games, I just felt like I could get a lot in the switches and the mismatches. I thought they did a great job ... they started to bring guys over and help and shadow a bit and I wasn’t seeing that for a couple games. I was running into crowds, I was forcing, I was going too fast on my drives and on my moves. And had me just thinking too much out there.</p></blockquote>
<p id="WdUwxj"><a href="https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/csn/warriors/The_statistic_that_stands_out_most_from_Kevin_Durant_s_Game_7_vs_Houston-483981341.html"><small><em>NBC Bay Area</em></small></a></p>
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<p id="qnTMAJ">This was all punctuated by Kerr’s somewhat shockingly broadcasted timeout pep talk to KD <a href="https://www.slamonline.com/slam-tv/steve-kerr-told-kevin-durant-michael-jordan-story-game-5/">in which he relays</a> the infamous <span>Phil Jackson</span> - Michael Jordan - John Paxson “who’s open?” story.</p>
<h3 id="iWUzit">The logic behind baiting a star into isolations</h3>
<p id="iURecD">The whole situation, along with the above quotes from <span>Durant</span> after their victorious Game 7, reminded me of this great insight from Chauncey Billups about the 2004 Champion <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a>’ approach to defending the <a href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> superteam, <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2468658-an-oral-history-of-the-2003-2004-los-angeles-lakers-the-first-super-team">as reported by Ric Bucher</a>: </p>
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<p id="yOHZAB">Our game plan was very calculated. We knew we were going to play Shaq straight-up. We knew there was no way we could stop Shaq straight-up. And there was also no way we could stop Kobe straight-up. But, if we’re going to play Shaq straight-up, [the Lakers’] eyes are going to get big, which means they’re going to keep throwing it down there. ... </p>
<p id="ZWQxO4">But what’s going to happen is Mr. Bryant is going to get a little discouraged with getting no touches and now the second half comes around…now he’s pressing. He’s going to start coming down and just breaking the offense. When you do that, you’re done—you’re playing right into our hands. Even if you start making those shots, you’re finished.</p>
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<p id="Gm9GaD">In our Warriors-Rockets version of this scenario, Durant is both Shaq and Kobe, while Kobe is (ironically) also Strength in Numbers. D’Antoni and Jeff Bzdelik knew that Durant could cook them on isolation plays, and KD knew it too — a nice pot of honey. But as time went on, KD wore down and started pressing while Houston made those iso plays harder and harder on him, all the while creating stagnation elsewhere in the Dubs’ offense. In Games 4 and 5, like Kobe, the rhythmless Warriors started pressing.</p>
<p id="G5SqKD">Thankfully, for myriad reasons, the 2017-2018 Warriors are not the 2003-2004 Lakers, and they were not, in fact, finished. Durant came to understand the trap that he’d fallen into, and while it took one ugly half of Game 7 basketball for the Warriors to shake the haze (along with an historically poor shooting night from Houston), GSW and KD came out victorious and educated. </p>
<p id="hP6ZNI">And this is why “Strength in Numbers” won’t go away. Yes, it’s often frustrating and leads to previously unseen and unseemly lineups and rotations, or guys with bad hands who can’t shoot playing critical playoff minutes. But it also helps protect from the unexpected pitfalls of having an exploitable overabundance of confidence and talent. </p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2018/5/30/17407722/nba-playoffs-2018-kevin-durant-warriors-rockets-isolationsIvan Bettger2018-03-16T09:01:01-07:002018-03-16T09:01:01-07:00Podcast: NBA Playoff Seeding Mayhem
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<img alt="NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Golden State Warriors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mqgv9WcSC1Wot5PRTxQbU1JiOkg=/0x0:4805x3203/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59054325/usa_today_10705704.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The injured #2 seed Warriors watch and wait as playoff seeding chaos ensues below them. Also: Quinn Cook, and the NCAA Tournament.</p> <p id="hETQna">The <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> are now firmly locked into the #2 seed, while seeds eight teams below them vie for positioning. How will the Warriors’ injuries affect the team heading into the playoffs — and who the hell are they going to play? Bram, Charlie, and Ivan talk about it, among other topics — the mild success of <span>Quinn Cook</span> and how it affects the team’s roster decisions going forward; the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/a/march-madness-2018-ncaa-tournament">NCAA Tournament</a> and consternation caused by the fall of amateurism in sports; and gambling, tattoos, and fear of hepatitis. </p>
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<p id="dFFXWd">1:12 - Injuries to the non-KD Big 3. Worried about Klay’s break?</p>
<p id="Bqa9z8">5:10 - Warriors’ easy schedule and locked into the #2 seed</p>
<p id="zI8Zwq">6:50 - First round matchups. Could be the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a>...</p>
<p id="B47UnQ">7:36 - ...could be the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a> with Kawhi</p>
<p id="w89Wv3">8:12 - ... or the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Thunder</a>. And on and on</p>
<p id="wYw9UA">14:03 - How the rest of the season plays out with all of the injuries</p>
<p id="eztLQ5">16:53 - “The Houston crowd *sucks*”</p>
<p id="gj0wae">20:00 - Not a guarantee that the Warriors win out</p>
<p id="6PXG7W">22:02 - Eastern Conference seeding is tight too</p>
<p id="NOyTKm">28:28 - Bram’s go-to drink: roasting OKC</p>
<p id="5iaoxR">30:28 - Sports gambling and road tattoos</p>
<p id="hpRnZD">33:02 - Quinn Cook, his role on the Warriors, and his effect on the Warriors draft</p>
<p id="mdgvai">40:51 - Bram talks himself into a dark place, about Pat McCaw</p>
<p id="5exg4M">43:01 - NCAA Tournament talk</p>
<p id="feeAry">48:50 - And now some manner of rant about the demise of true amateur sports and dudes going into finance</p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2018/3/16/17129852/podcast-nba-playoffs-first-round-ncaa-tournamentIvan BettgerBram KincheloeCharlie Stanton2018-03-02T09:29:53-08:002018-03-02T09:29:53-08:00Podcast: Disrespect and the Houston Rockets
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<img alt="NBA: Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q5MGb5jodLvASfwUC6lynuEIhqI=/0x0:3875x2583/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58880177/usa_today_10567752.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We talk about our love for disrespect in sports, why the Rockets aren’t a threat, and whether the Warriors have another gear.</p> <p id="qCvZ3z">Nate, Daniel, and Ivan reflect on the crime committed by <span>James Harden</span> against <span>Wesley Matthews</span>, and how much we appreciate the gamesmanship of disrespectfulness in basketball. We also discuss the threat, or lack thereof, of the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a>, and why the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a>’ lackluster defense won’t be a problem down the stretch. All that and more!</p>
<p id="aVS1TX"><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com/?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fgolden-state-of-mindcast%2Fid945840042%3Fmt%3D2" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><strong>Subscribe on iTunes</strong></a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/blogtalkradio/golden-state-of-mindcast"><strong>Stitcher</strong></a>, and <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Icjihen33dy5s7u6bcdf2ckgt3q?t=Golden_State_of_Mindcast"><strong>Google Play</strong></a>!</p>
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<p id="kiyhpB">00:45 - James Harden embarrasses Wesley Matthews</p>
<p id="rHADkJ">04:20 - The value of disrespectfulness in sports</p>
<p id="99oR1t">08:30 - Daniel fixes his mic! </p>
<p id="utPqm5">13:05 - Most arrogant Warriors opponents</p>
<p id="1BJzMm">19:32 - Other top disrespectful moments in NBA history</p>
<p id="XkCvqu">23:00 - Switching gears: are the Houston Rockets a problem?</p>
<p id="XEC618">25:15 - Daniel drops the hammer on <span>Chris Paul</span> and leaves us speechless</p>
<p id="FpiT2z">28:03 - Warriors not taking this regular season seriously</p>
<p id="gp3Qb9">30:30 - Ivan wonders if the Warriors have another gear. Daniel and Nate are nonplussed</p>
<p id="QNTAKl">37:50 - Ivan continues to clutch his pearls, now about the Warriors’ defense</p>
<p id="Ze8l6y">42:02 - Which Warriors player is underperforming? Nate throws his guy McCaw under the bus</p>
<p id="MzFDsy">51:23 - If Steve Kerr doesn’t win a championship, is he on the hot seat? Nate: “Shut your mouth”</p>
<p id="sF7voG">53:29 - <span>Jordan Bell</span> impactful down the stretch?</p>
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https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2018/3/2/17071630/podcast-houston-rockets-james-harden-nba-playoffsIvan BettgerNate P.Daniel Hardee2018-01-19T14:00:02-08:002018-01-19T14:00:02-08:00Podcast: 2018 NBA All-Star MOCK DRAFT! Steph vs. LeBron — who you got?
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<img alt="NBA: Golden State Warriors at Cleveland Cavaliers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Kj3yy7blFTre7ZC2J8NAhfdBaQ8=/0x0:4106x2737/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58383469/usa_today_10546208.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>David Richard-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Daniel, Bram, and Ivan talk All-Star selections, Stephen Curry vs. LeBron James, and the decline of the Cavaliers</p> <p id="7eu7Vv">Bram Kincheloe and Ivan Bettger are joined by Daniel Hardee to discuss the 2018 NBA All-Star picks, and the intrigue surrounding <span>Stephen Curry</span> and <span>LeBron James</span> as captains. Daniel hosts a mock draft, and things get very petty. We also talk Westbrook, the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a>’ decline and next move, and the wild <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a>/<a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/">Clippers</a> show. </p>
<p id="SIMV5E"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/golden-state-of-mindcast/id945840042?mt=2">Subscribe on iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/blogtalkradio/golden-state-of-mindcast">Stitcher</a>, and <a href="https://play.google.com/music/m/Icjihen33dy5s7u6bcdf2ckgt3q?t=Golden_State_of_Mindcast">Google Play</a>!</p>
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<p id="bm1CXI">0:30 - Steph and LeBron voted as All-Star captains. Brief explainer on new All-Star system.</p>
<p id="wgjnhp">1:38 - Drama between Steph and LeBron</p>
<p id="0uPSvu">3:27 - LeBron picking KD first?</p>
<p id="shsorQ">5:47 - 2018 deserves the NBA Petty Draft</p>
<p id="1dlVXd">6:17 - MVP Westbrook not All-Star starter</p>
<p id="kmO4pS">8:37 - Banana Boat crew hate Steph?</p>
<p id="N7nMQO">10:27 - Tangent: Houston Rockets invasion of the Clippers locker room</p>
<p id="G0uCSX">17:42 - #1 reasons why people hate the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a></p>
<p id="OWbArV">21:57 - MOCK ALL STAR DRAFT TIME: Bram is Steph, Ivan is LeBron. What if LBJ picked Kyrie?!</p>
<p id="2g4Big">25:35 - Steph is on the clock. AD? Giannis? Harden? </p>
<p id="U4JHwV">27:36 - Back to LeBron for the next pick. Going all Nike / “fake tough guys”</p>
<p id="f4FJhF">28:38 - Steph going big with his third pick, building the “best NBA Jam team of all time”</p>
<p id="6ht4Al">30:04 - Steph thinks he’s killing LeBron in this draft. Meanwhile, LBJ stays petty, at the expense of his team</p>
<p id="DKOjeP">34:25 - Final pick by Steph is a real wildcard</p>
<p id="yweSBT">35:53 - Will Kyrie and Westbrook be snubbed in the draft?</p>
<p id="lGsBr4">38:00 - Is it ok to feel sorry for the Cavs?</p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2018/1/19/16910118/2018-nba-all-star-mock-draft-stephen-curry-lebron-jamesIvan BettgerDaniel HardeeBram Kincheloe2017-12-14T10:45:37-08:002017-12-14T10:45:37-08:00Podcast: Playmakers on the wings — Klay Thompson, Pat McCaw... Nick Young?!
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<img alt="Golden State Warriors v Boston Celtics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ATxBWtGiF76dAdhsjzCOJULxRBg=/0x0:2989x1993/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57983525/875426094.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>GSOM stalwart Dubydubdubs joins Nate and Ivan to discuss Klay as a playmaker and our expectations of Swagginess.</p> <p id="zJM2Sd">Dubydubdubs makes his Mindcast debut, joining Nate and Ivan to discuss all of their favorite players, including <a href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> Best Player Harrison Barnes. We go into depth on the development of <span>Patrick McCaw</span>, the growth of <span>Klay Thompson</span> as a playmaker (or so our eyes would make us believe), and "found money" <span>Jordan Bell</span>.</p>
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https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/12/14/16777492/podcast-playmakers-klay-thompson-pat-mccaw-nick-youngIvan BettgerNate P.Duby Dub Dubs2017-09-24T07:00:04-07:002017-09-24T07:00:04-07:00Carmelo Anthony traded to the OKC Thunder: GSOM Reaction Roundtable
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<img alt="NBA: New York Knicks at Oklahoma City Thunder" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AFmPX2AoupaWjhFe_z08ziZD-UI=/4x0:4252x2832/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56825797/usa_today_9880287.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Here’s the recipe: one Russell Westbrook, one Paul George, add a Carmelo Anthony, and stir vigorously. What do you get?</p> <p id="EMT2en">On Saturday, the sports world at large, and specifically our <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a>, were engulfed in an heroic war of words against some idiot. Our intrepid team <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/9/23/16354380/nba-2017-warriors-trump-fires-back-twitter-stephen-curry-media-day-white-house-invitation-withdrawn">wrote</a> <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/9/23/16354570/donald-trump-stephen-curry-white-house-black-athletes-tweets-2017">a bunch</a> <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/9/23/16355176/nba-2017-golden-state-warriors-statement-white-house-donald-trump-tweet-steve-kerr">about that</a>.</p>
<p id="junbdi">But that drama just was not enough for the basketball gods, and so they treated us to a blockbuster trade as well: the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/">New York Knicks</a> sent megastar <span>Carmelo Anthony</span> to the <a href="https://www.welcometoloudcity.com/">Oklahoma City Thunder</a> for <span>Enes Kanter</span>, Dougie McBuckets, and a draft pick.</p>
<p id="BVQAAc">While we had more pressing Warriors-related matters to attend to yesterday on Golden State of Mind, that doesn’t mean we don’t have opinions! After spilling our guts about the trade in Slack, we went ahead and spilled more of our guts into this Reaction Roundtable. Please read this instead of watching the terrible NFL. </p>
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<p id="5GL3Yw"><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/ivanbe"><strong>Ivan Bettger</strong></a></p>
<p id="xQr6jw">For the New York Knicks, this might be an addition-by-subtraction situation. If this makes them worse in the very short term, it’s still to their benefit, as they can now focus on dismantling the A-Frame House that <span>Phil Jackson</span> was contracted to build but slept through half the job, using <span>Kristaps Porzingis</span> as the inarguable centerpiece for whatever comes next. </p>
<p id="Wn0l0y">As for the Thunder: well, I started talking about the Knicks first because I still don’t know what to make of this OKC team. In <span>Russell Westbrook</span> and Carmelo Anthony, you have two distinct and transformative singularities. Typically you’d ask the question, “How does this player fit into the puzzle?” But neither Carmelo or Russ are puzzle piece players. They’re like if you’re working on a puzzle with a few people at one end of the table and someone else decides to spin a top at the other end of the table. Now there are two tops spinning next to an unfinished puzzle and Billy Donovan is nervously skittering around the table hoping that it doesn’t collapse into chaos. </p>
<p id="JxQ9g9">But you know what would be pretty fun? Walking into a room expecting to see a completed puzzle and instead you’ve got these tops spinning everywhere. It might not always work, but it’s definitely not going to be boring.</p>
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<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="UCBpgi"><q>We throw around the notion of “there’s only one ball” too easily, but this does apply with the new Thunder roster.</q></aside></div>
<p id="NotIYx"><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/thomas-bevilacqua"><strong>Thomas Bevilacqua</strong></a></p>
<p id="lqRMtL">How one evaluates the Carmelo-to-OKC trade really depends on what your expectations are. Are you asking if the Thunder are going to be a better and more exciting team or are you asking if they’re a team that can compete with/knock off the Warriors?</p>
<p id="PV81Qn">The Thunder are, obviously, a better and more talented team with Carmelo. That GM Sam Presti was able to add Anthony and <span>Paul George</span> while only having to give up <span>Victor Oladipo</span>, <span>Domantas Sabonis</span>, and Enes Kanter was tantamount to highway robbery. Those players, paired with Russell Westbrook, <span>Steven Adams</span>, and free-agent acquisition <span>Patrick Patterson</span> make for a collection of talent that’s slightly beneath the Warriors and, depending on what Melo contributes, could be the second best in the Western Conference. While Westbrook carried the Thunder to the 6th seed in the West last season, this season they should definitely be seen as a prohibitive top 4 Western Conference team and a tough group to match up against.</p>
<p id="nde17W">But if you’re trying to answer the question “does this put the Thunder at the Warriors level?” or “Are the Thunder now a team that could beat the Warriors in the playoffs?” I would say that this doesn’t change anything and the Thunder still aren’t that team. </p>
<p id="gldZkQ">We throw around the notion of “there’s only one ball” too easily, but this does apply with the new Thunder roster. Westbrook, George, and Anthony were all in the top 25 of usage rate last season; these are players who command an offense and it runs through them. Westbrook also ranked near the top in terms of time of possession and seconds per touch, while Anthony and George ranked high among forwards. These are stats that skew towards guards having higher numbers so it’s worth looking specifically at forwards for Anthony and George.</p>
<p id="Dooo1C">While Westbrook did pass a great deal last season (I mean, he averaged double-digits in assists), both Anthony and George were middle of the pack even amongst forwards. For the Thunder to get the most out of these players, which they will need to do to compete with the Warriors, the ball needs to move around and not be stagnant.</p>
<p id="Y0ypwS">One can find more evidence that these players are ball stoppers when you consider that all three players ranked in the top 20 last season in terms of pull up field goals attempted. Westbrook, Anthony, and George are all prone to taking shots that don’t involve much creation and ball movement. When the Thunder were pushing the Warriors to Game 7 of the 2016 Western Conference Finals, they moved the ball and stretched out on the court. I wonder if the talent that Presti has collected for this Thunder team can really do that and play like that.</p>
<p id="sb5laK">Because the traits (and strengths) of these players overlap so much, I don’t know if the Thunder will be set up to get the most out of George and Anthony by having them play with Westbrook. I also have my doubts about head coach Billy Donovan’s ability to blend these somewhat disparate pieces together and whether the Thunder will be strong enough defensively. George is a good defender but I have my doubts about Westbrook and some serious questions about Anthony on that end of the floor.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="QSeoOl">
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="nk8HNf"><q>Defensively they’re still a sieve, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about when the postseason rolls around.</q></aside></div>
<p id="zUUFUM"><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/justin-mak"><strong>Justin Mak</strong></a></p>
<p id="wMsoe7">It really shouldn’t surprise me that the Knicks literally traded Melo away for Kanter and a handful of nothing, but I’m still blown away by the package they accepted by OKC. I was never a big fan of Melo’s game, but he has to be worth more than this, right?</p>
<p id="ETbKew">The Thunder on the other hand got a little more interesting. I agree with my fellow GSOM staffers that the chemistry and fit looks iffy at best. But considering the teams that Melo wanted to be traded to, I would think he had to have known that there was a necessary role shift coming in his career. Every destination he had on his list pegged him as the <span>Chris Bosh</span> and/or <span>Kevin Love</span> of a superstar trio. </p>
<p id="OC5sYN">If he’s able to embrace being a spot up shooter from the corner, he could very well be a nice addition for Westbrook to kick out to when defenses collapse on his drives. It’s worth noting his shooting percentage from downtown was pretty mediocre the past 2 years and has been inconsistent throughout his career, but he’s still a much more attractive option than watching Roberson brick shots off the side of the backboard. Needless to say, if the ball drops in his favor this year like it did 3 seasons ago (40% 3PT/56% TS), OKC may end up being quite a bit more dangerous on the offensive end. </p>
<p id="XZZtwq">Defensively they’re still a sieve, so I don’t think we have anything to worry about when the postseason rolls around.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="JF6wh1">
<p id="gn8a6S"><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/patrick-murray"><strong>Patrick Murray</strong></a></p>
<p id="JnF0k5">The Thunder have obviously made some very good deals this summer bringing in first Paul George, and now Melo, for basically spare parts. But buyer beware. From someone who watched a lot of Melo on the Knicks, it is not going to be smooth sailing. </p>
<p id="yjp6mA">He was basically poisonous in New York, chasing off anyone who might threaten his throne. He demands touches and shots, and will never accept being a third option on offense — which he will have to be in OKC with Paul George wanting plenty of touches too.</p>
<p id="5dNBwu">He has only ever played like “Olympic Melo” for brief periods when surrounded by veteran ball handlers, such as Billups or Kidd. Russell Westbrook is not going to bring out the best in him. His rebounding and shooting percentage at close range, once a real plus, have fallen off. He’s ageing, and not gracefully.</p>
<p id="hfcxHn">If there was ever a case of “there’s only one ball”, a team featuring Westbrook and Melo is going to be it. The Thunder have a lot of talent, and will doubtless cause teams problems. But none more so than the ones they will pose themselves.</p>
<p id="tRLcZq">For the Knicks, it’s a chance for Porzingis to shine. Dolan will forever poison the culture there, but there will be a real boon from freeing themselves from the Melodrama that had engulfed their franchise. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="Ys2qQS">
<p id="fATYjV"><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/brady-klopfer"><strong>Brady Klopfer</strong></a></p>
<p id="2J2VcA">First things first: Sam Presti deserves a gold star. The Thunder were sitting on two horrible contracts with Enes Kanter and Victor Oladipo. It’s quite possible they would have given them both away for free, if such a thing were possible. That they managed to not only get rid of them, but get Paul George and Carmelo Anthony back in the process, without giving up any future building blocks or taking on horrible contracts? Brilliant. Then again, Presti gave Kanter and Oladipo those terrifying contracts in the first place, so applauding him is akin to lauding someone for escaping the handcuffs they put on themselves.</p>
<p id="vuQtT7">While the trade clearly makes the Thunder better, there are some hidden concerns. First, it likely pushes Patrick Patterson out of the starting rotation. Patterson is not only one of the most underrated and underpaid players in the game, but a perfect fit in OKC. His ability to shoot threes gives the Thunder much-needed spacing, while his play on the other end helps solidify one of the league’s top defenses. It’s easy to say that the Thunder traded Kanter and <span>Doug McDermott</span> for Anthony, but really they traded Kanter, McDermott, and a significant chunk of Patterson’s minutes.</p>
<p id="OMuZL5">The Thunder will likely have a very good record, but I foresee serious issues when the playoffs start. Carmelo is an isolation scorer who’s not a great threat from downtown. Sound familiar? Yeah, that describes Russell Westbrook as well. The playoffs are a different animal: teams scheme their defenses to defend specific players and specific play types. As the <a href="https://www.poundingtherock.com/">Spurs</a> showed last year against <span>James Harden</span> and the <a href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Rockets</a>, there are ways to slow down isolation wings who don’t shoot particularly well from downtown, no matter how talented they are. That the Thunder now have two such players doesn’t really alleviate that issue. Ultimately, the Dubs can put <span>Kevin Durant</span> on Paul George, and then pack the paint and dare Westbrook, Anthony, and <span>Andre Roberson</span> to take low-percentage shots. Suddenly they’re not too scary.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="6nvjfZ">
<div class="c-float-right"><aside id="PNPX4L"><q>We know Russ is a human jackhammer. His impatient, hyper-aggressive probing into the paint off of transition or pick and rolls unlock a simple but deadly series of events. </q></aside></div>
<p id="kSXlDK"><a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/authors/daniel-hardee"><strong>Daniel Hardee</strong></a></p>
<p id="09Jbcn">As my time is short and it’s been briefly covered by my esteemed colleagues in this roundtable, I’m not going to waste time addressing the raging dumpster fire that is the New York Knicks. #Yikes. Can we talk some basketball strategy for a second? I’m referring to the good ol’ “Drive-and-Kick”.</p>
<p id="fDKbHC">We know Russ is a human jackhammer. His impatient, hyper-aggressive probing into the paint off of transition or pick and rolls unlock a simple but deadly series of events. </p>
<ul>
<li id="95JxRb">Once the D collapses to prevent the <em>drive</em> and/or a OKC big rolling towards the rim, Russ can easily fling a pass to an open teammate. This quick pass is called the <em>kick. </em>
</li>
<li id="oBM5XE">That “open teammate” used to be Kevin Durant/James Harden. Since they could shoot or accelerate for posterizing jams, it put their defender in a “no man’s land”. It’s<em> damn near impossible </em>to stop those guys when the defender’s out of position and scrambling back to contest them after being lured in by a barreling Westbrook drive. Usually this would end in a high quality shot for Russ’s teammate.</li>
<li id="uL2otJ">What made the action increasingly dangerous was that any one of those three players could rotate places to initiate the cruel conundrum. If KD or Harden couldn’t take the shot, they could restart the sequence as Russ vacated the middle. Drive. Kick. Rinse. Repeat. Russ, KD, and Harden stuffed the San Antonio Spurs into a body bag largely because of this action (sheesh, I can’t imagine what it would feel like to lose to OKC in the playoffs).</li>
</ul>
<p id="aHpkNj">The OKC strategy hasn’t changed much since then, even with Harden traded and KD “liberated” (shout out the homie @stepfdelaghetto for coining that). The offense generally looked like garbage with Andre Roberson and Victor Oladipo in the “open teammate” role as they ran the gamut from “saboteurs shaving points” to “moderately useful” as offensive weapons. </p>
<p id="88hUFL">I would warn the GSOM community to not let our hoop snobbery diminish our recognizing the overall effectiveness of this concept though. Let’s not forget that the strategy has yielded a lot of big time playoff victories for OKC, and would have broken us if not for <span>Klay Thompson</span> going supernova in Game 6 at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Sam Presti has <em>effectively replaced</em> KD/Harden with PG13 and “Future Big 3 League MVP” Melo. These two Olympic Gold Medalists are offensive savants who are motivated to prove they aren’t washed up. </p>
<p id="XjjUQi">Folks, that’s problematic. Do you really think the Thunder won’t polish up that deadly, simple, tried and true offensive game plan? They will be very difficult to stop for the majority of the NBA if Melo and PG13 buy into reviving OKC’s drive-and-kick death machine.</p>
<p id="7guAMl">Thank God we aren’t the majority of the NBA. Our depth, offense, and defense are LIGHT YEARS ahead of these cats. I have no doubt we will sweep the regular series from them for the <strong>third straight year</strong> in entertaining fashion. At least I truly do expect these games to actually remain competitive when the 4th quarter starts. Unlike last season. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="3h1ajX">
<p id="wDFhqE"><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/users/Apricot"><strong>Apricot</strong></a></p>
<p id="hQTqYh">Not much to add to the thoughts except that there is a mythical creature called Olympic Carmelo. This creature plays well off-ball, plays defense, moves the ball, plays the 4 when needed and is a strong complementary player. Some people think this creature only exists in the Olympics when the other players are Hall of Famers. Carmelo certainly hasn’t been Olympic with the Knicks, refusing to play the 4 (despite that being a natural position for him and his high post game), or adopt a motion offense (various varieties from D’Antoni, Fisher, Rambis, Hornacek and Phil Jackson). </p>
<p id="7le5Fi">There is also a mythical creature called Selfless Westbrook. This creature, when surrounded with bad players, is forced to stat-pad for triple-doubles, hog the ball and shoot a record number of shots at a historically low percentage. But when this creature finally has worthy teammates, he will become a force that amplifies his teammates in performance and morale. </p>
<p id="wG5PxY">This trade is going to answer once and for all whether Olympic Melo and Selfless Westbrook can exist in the NBA, or whether there were myths all along.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="XCI5OV">
<p id="mA4shC">Hot damn, that’s good stuff. So: What does the GSOM community think?</p>
<p id="qrKZXh"></p>
<div id="m6SXfO"><div data-anthem-component="poll:666988"></div></div>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/9/24/16356268/carmelo-anthony-oklahoma-city-new-york-knicks-thunder-trade-nba-2017Ivan BettgerThomas BevilacquaJustin MakPatrick MurrayBrady KlopferDaniel HardeeApricot2017-09-13T14:50:46-07:002017-09-13T14:50:46-07:00“The Town” alternate uniform is leaked, and it is beautiful
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OtO07Lyo-4pxNxghE4bZEQacC44=/0x133:587x524/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56664579/GST.0.png" />
<figcaption>via <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/09/13/video-game-leaks-full-set-of-new-nba-alternate-jerseys/">SportsLogos.net</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>At long last, the Warriors are representing the actual city in which they play with new “The Town” alternate uniforms for the 2017-2018 season.</p> <p id="N5ku55">[UPDATE 9/14/17 5:00PM PT]</p>
<p id="imauBw">Another leak here shows the full uniform. Looks like the shorts will be identical to the Slates from the past couple of years, which is not a bad thing. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/kN5fIM-6ZItnjTYI07OWtAEvsqE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9250857/GST_front.png">
<cite>via <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/09/13/video-game-leaks-full-set-of-new-nba-alternate-jerseys/">SportsLogos.Net</a></cite>
</figure>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="zglWHG">
<p id="UwiUb1">The <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a>, not content with NBA Championship rings, have set their sights on another throne: Hottest Uniform. Beginning in the 2017-2018 season, as leaked last month and <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/8/6/16102698/warriors-throwback-jersey-2017-2018-nike-uniform">discussed on GSOM</a>, it appears that the Warriors will introduce an alternate uniform celebrating the city of Oakland — and if the leak is accurate, we’ll all soon be tapping into our savings accounts to shell out for this beauty.</p>
<p id="4eLfng">Courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/JMoneyMikita/">@JMoneyMikita</a> and SportsLogos.Net’s <a href="https://twitter.com/conradburry">Conrad Burry</a>, the above image comes of course from NBA2K18, which seemingly is the primary source for early uniform leaks these days, for obvious reasons. You can see every team’s “Statement” jerseys on <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/09/13/video-game-leaks-full-set-of-new-nba-alternate-jerseys/">SportsLogos.Net</a>. Most of them are familiar as last year’s alts, but there are a few new gems (<a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PHI.png">76ers</a>, <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/POR.png">Blazers</a>, <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IND.png">Pacers</a>, and <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BKN.png">Nets</a>) as well as this <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DET.png">horribly drab Pistons</a> alt and this <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MIN.png">radioactive eyesore</a> from Minnesota.</p>
<p id="ZnKsBz">The only thing that could ruin this “The Town” design is if they jammed an <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/9/12/16294540/golden-state-warriors-rakuten-jersey-patch-advertisement-deal">obnoxiously clashing red logo</a> of some other brand onto the front, but obviously that would never happen.</p>
<p id="xBWlSy">In other news, I will now spend the next few months in litigation over royalties owed to me by the Warriors, considering this mockup I posted of what this uniform could look like: </p>
<div id="J7OG9F">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Uninformed spitballing, but something like this would work really nicely (cc <a href="https://twitter.com/conradburry">@conradburry</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/phredroq">@phredroq</a>) <a href="https://t.co/t1s37zQxNb">pic.twitter.com/t1s37zQxNb</a></p>— ivan bettger (@ivanbe) <a href="https://twitter.com/ivanbe/status/894397227124359169">August 7, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="OCtueR">(Yes, I know that they likely had this design in the hopper months ago.)</p>
<p id="rSPzEH">So, what do y’all think???</p>
<div id="qvzfXy"><div data-anthem-component="poll:649195"></div></div>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/9/13/16304672/warriors-the-town-alternate-jersey-uniform-nbaIvan Bettger2017-08-06T09:00:01-07:002017-08-06T09:00:01-07:00Rumor: Warriors adding a throwback, plus alternate slate The Town jersey for 2017-2018 season [UPDATE]
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l6OAzQaOO4y_NQs-wY0QiIiaKY0=/38x0:1658x1080/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56071553/floydsleepy_51016_getty_us_ftr_1j11rys5580pz1fqcdysph35rk.1501988910.jpg" />
<figcaption>via <a href="http://www.sportalnz.gearbox.performgroup.com/nba/flashback-sleepy-floyd-scores-39-second-half-points-as-warriors-upset-lakers/1s0dt4jsgcs4v129r6xqe5d32y">sportal.co.nz</a></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Golden State Warriors are one of eight teams to rock new “Classic” uniforms for the upcoming season, according to <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/08/05/eight-nba-teams-to-wear-classic-uniforms-next-season/">sportslogos.net</a></p> <p id="7f2qQJ"><strong>UPDATE</strong> (8/6/17 7:15PM PT)</p>
<p id="hHhYDT">Red hot news flash!!! There’s been an apparent leak (<em>love</em> the leaks) of the shorts design:</p>
<div id="ETpAXa">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yes! Here is the pic he showed me. <a href="https://t.co/nLP9pRZsEQ">pic.twitter.com/nLP9pRZsEQ</a></p>— Derf Diggler (@phredroq) <a href="https://twitter.com/phredroq/status/894241399461134336">August 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="mtQwni">That would appear to be the <a href="http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/view/27kwzpmppb9bfyaybday5meei/Golden_State_Warriors/1985/Home_Uniform">1984-1987 design</a>, and not the ‘71-’75 set as previously reported. I believe this would mark the first time that this design has been brought back as an on-court throwback.</p>
<p id="XyxySR">The only time I can even remember seeing this uniform is in photos of Sleepy Floyd:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EA4sOaGKgKRtGf0BFskVCs5oO1Y=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9003413/sleepy_lead.jpg">
<cite><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2014/08/13/sleepy-floyd-nba-warriors-nets">www.si.com</a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="cP9A1v">Hot stuff, I say. Love the yellow outline on the numerals.</p>
<p id="tnViYw">More exciting rumors from Derf Diggler:</p>
<div id="rQLSFz">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Slate unis will have "The Town" with an Oak Tree</p>— Derf Diggler (@phredroq) <a href="https://twitter.com/phredroq/status/894290369029877760">August 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="WvvqA6">Big, if true! Slate “The Town” jerseys — Lacob might as well open his own personal mint. </p>
<p id="6KspET">I imagine “The Town” uniform would be classified under <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.nike.com%2Fnews%2Fnike-nba-game-uniforms&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goldenstateofmind.com%2F2017%2F8%2F6%2F16102698%2Fwarriors-throwback-jersey-2017-2018-nike-uniform" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Nike’s new scheme</a> as the “Community” set, with the assumption that the Chinese New Year uni is a special edition bonus design that doesn’t fall under their classification system. Perhaps the CNY design will instead be the “Community” design, while “The Town” is instead their “Athlete’s Mindset” edition (listen, I didn’t come up with these names). </p>
<p id="fXaCNC">NBA uniform unveiling season is my own personal Finals. I feel like I just got a shot of adrenaline. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="XGsmTL">
<p id="crtnIt">(8/6/17 9:00AM ET)</p>
<p id="Xhfwbt">According to <a href="https://twitter.com/conradburry">Conrad Burry</a> on <a href="http://SportsLogos.net">SportsLogos.net</a>, the <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Golden State Warriors</a> will be <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/08/05/eight-nba-teams-to-wear-classic-uniforms-next-season/">one of eight teams</a> blessed by Nike and the NBA to carry a “Classic” uniform for the 2017-2018 season. And it might not have been the one you expected!</p>
<p id="F6la8i">Or, it maybe was. The likeliest throwback design to reemerge (and sell a million units) is, and always will be, the iconic “The City” set from 1967-1968. [Author’s note: I’m wearing the shorts from that set as I type this.] While we will most definitely see The City on the court again in the future, this coming season we will instead see the <em>second</em> most likely candidate get run.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/qi18oDFHBsdRO-Rcw5ou0_IkwSs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8998901/GSTclassic1718.png">
<cite><a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/08/05/eight-nba-teams-to-wear-classic-uniforms-next-season/">www.sportslogos.net</a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="dwNUYq">That would be the jersey they wore from 1971-1975, and the one worn in their first championship since moving to the Bay. Incredible props to Conrad for including the above image of Warriors mega-legends Nate Thurmond and Jim Barnett in his <a href="http://news.sportslogos.net/2017/08/05/eight-nba-teams-to-wear-classic-uniforms-next-season/">report</a>.</p>
<p id="NyoLtW">This isn’t the first time the Warriors have brought back this set. <span>Baron Davis</span> and the We Believers also graced the court with the road rendition back in 2007-2008 (seen above), and the home version was also reintroduced in 2011-2012:</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H6u26JAJNQ57D3kXaK92ubl7YGs=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/8998951/Golden_State_Warriors_2011_2012_Throwbacks_Jersey_uniform.jpg">
<cite><a href="http://www.sportsjerseypedia.com">www.sportsjerseypedia.com</a></cite>
</figure>
<p id="Zl21Rz">Freaking gorgeous. While The City is rightfully revered as one of the best designs to ever grace the hardwood for its originality and bombast, part of me actually likes this set better. The funky western-style typeface, the Bay-starred California logo — it was the introduction of “Golden State” as the team’s identified origin, and has all of the elements that informed what we think of as Warriors Basketball Aesthetic when we close our eyes. Unless you’re a deranged sadist and instead see Bimbo Coles covered in lightning bolts, in which case I would recommend calling your medical professional as soon as possible. </p>
<p id="5ijD0x">It’s not yet known whether they will wear the home yellows or road blues, or whether Nike is going to futz with the design beyond adapting it to their new “chassis”. We also don’t know how often they’ll wear these. They’ll have a full wardrobe to choose from this year, as every team will have four designs at their disposal at some point — this Classic set is the fifth. Plenty more NBA jersey news to come this offseason! </p>
<p id="thKXuc"></p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/8/6/16102698/warriors-throwback-jersey-2017-2018-nike-uniformIvan Bettger2017-06-05T20:26:48-07:002017-06-05T20:26:48-07:00Listen: Ivan joins SB Nation Radio for Finals talk
<figure>
<img alt="NBA: Finals-Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EAc6eWzXCrdV-MwIxdIc9lHRZII=/0x25:2574x1741/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55106085/usa_today_10092446.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Host Joe Spano asks Ivan Bettger what the Cavs can do differently at home and what, if anything, should concern Dubs fans. Ivan just stammers about Kevin Durant.</p> <p id="4bE6EM">I couldn’t get home for a podcast recording this evening — tune in tomorrow for their chat with the tremendous <a href="https://twitter.com/Adam_Mares">Adam Mares</a> of the <a href="http://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Stiffs</a> — but quenched my fervent thirst to talk <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> on a microphone by jumping on with Joe Spano on <a href="http://www.sbnationradio.com/">SB Nation Radio</a>. </p>
<p id="iV5744">Joe asked whether the <a href="https://www.fearthesword.com/">Cleveland Cavaliers</a> could make any adjustments heading back home, what their bench needed to do to help even the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/odds">odds</a>, and whether there was anything at all that indicated whether the Golden State Warriors should be be concerned about. Instead of answering, I strapped on some ski goggles, popped a bottle of Prosecco, and dumped it on my head while performing my best <span>Stephen Curry</span> shimmy. It’s a quick listen.</p>
<p id="mD3cEY">The truth is, there’s a long way to go, the Cavs are still an awesome team, and as always, Anything Is Possible. In true Longtime Warriors Fan form, I’m hoping for the best and expecting the worst. Warriors in 5. </p>
<div id="YClnV4"><iframe src="https://audioboom.com/posts/5988711-golden-state-of-mind-s-ivan-bettger-ivanbe-talks-nbafinals/embed/v4?image_option=full&link_color=%2355ACEE&source=twitter_card&utm_campaign=detailpage&utm_content=card&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 300px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/6/5/15743940/nba-finals-2017-radio-warriors-cavs-kevin-durantIvan Bettger2017-05-30T11:00:02-07:002017-05-30T11:00:02-07:00The unpredictable nature of legacy
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<img alt="NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers at Golden State Warriors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l7Fy6NWoEhu8ywjmsYvt5SWXEnk=/0x0:3391x2261/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54999217/usa_today_9814276.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>LeBron James’ legacy is falling into place, and the Warriors will have to wait for more of their pieces to fall.</p> <p id="MyM43i">Last week, <a href="https://twitter.com/theshrillest/">@theshrillest</a> — a mandatory Twitter follow for basketball, culture, politics, and learning about that one time they ran out of chicken at Popeyes — posted a tweet-drizzle that has stuck with me:</p>
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<cite><a href="https://twitter.com/theshrillest/status/868258611620855808">@theshrillest</a></cite>
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<p id="DPtZAw">The cookie crumbles, and this whole structure of incredible scope — thousands of livelihoods, millions of obsessed fans, and billions of dollars — are ultimately judged and remembered by how a couple of crumbs landed. Shrill says a Cavs win would cause us to think of 2015 as a fluke, but only because of the injuries to <span>Kevin Love</span> and <span>Kyrie Irving</span> (even in the absence of proof that their contributions would have led to a different outcome). The Cavs come back healthy and beat a team with half of a <span>Stephen Curry</span> and an abbreviated <span>Draymond Green</span>, and again we’re left wondering what if. </p>
<p id="jlV3Pq">The <a href="https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/">Warriors</a> then sign <span>Kevin Durant</span> — a brilliantly orchestrated and fortuitous no-brainer. But it barely matters in a vacuum: it just adds to the greater context of the story, which, even if the Warriors win the next five championships, will have been written thusly: </p>
<p id="yLqCxJ"><span>LeBron James</span> was the goddamn king. </p>
<p id="5CAUVW">And it just very easily could have been a different story. If any one little detail, or even our perception of a detail, were to have played out differently, then we’re talking about how Curry and Green rightfully and viciously captured the crown and tainted LeBron James’ legacy forever. Instead, Bob Myers is Littlefinger and Kevin Durant is a trio of dragons we might not have needed.</p>
<p id="FB8mwB">This all serves as a reminder of how tenuous our understanding of reality really is. A sprinkle of misfortune here, a swift (but accidental!) kick to the groin there, and suddenly a legacy is etched into granite. </p>
<p id="4nEhxp">And hell, maybe it plays out the way it does because it <em>has</em> to play out that way. I’m not one to discount the possibility that fate and predestination are the true dictators of fortune, as trite as it might be to apply such things to something as relatively meaningless as the game of basketball.</p>
<p id="wltJkD">Regardless of how his legacy was going to shake out — and sure, there are still plenty of cookies to crumble — LeBron James is <a href="http://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/5/27/15701980/lebron-james-greatest-player-history-nba-michael-jordan">very arguably the greatest</a> to ever play the game. Maybe it wouldn’t even be a discussion if a couple of details in Michael Jordan’s own legacy were rearranged. Maybe Scottie Pippen kicks <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Magic</a> Johnson in the balls, or Jerry Kraus manages to sign Hakeem Olajuwon in free agency, or Jordan slips in a puddle of Chris Gatling’s sweat — suddenly the entirety of the NBA’s most sacred lore is a different read.</p>
<p id="gbvwcS">But thus it was written, and Jordan’s legacy has survived the test of time. LeBron James’ legacy hasn’t been published yet, but no matter what happens in 2017 there is material for a happy ending. </p>
<p id="dfQyeb">And the Warriors? Well, 2016 happened. They lost a 3-1 lead, and then added Durant. If some cosmic force had watched the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-finals">2015 NBA Finals</a> and then pulled up a chair to start writing The Story of GSW, they’d currently be throwing their pen aside in writer’s block frustration. This is the Dubs’ third straight Finals, and they might not even have reached their zenith. By the end, 2016 might just be a one-sentence tale of trial and tribulation at the outset of the most convincing streak of dominance in professional sports history. Just know that that one sentence will include the words “3-1” and “LeBron James,” with a hotlink to the tale of his legacy that fell into place. </p>
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2017/5/30/15705330/2017-nba-finals-warriors-cavs-lebron-james-legacyIvan Bettger