KD = Diminishing Returns

[Trollsmasher]

I realized Durant won't really help a crazy amount.

He will be an improvement over Barnes and his 10 shots per game, but that improvement will be marginal as Barnes was pretty efficient last year. KD will score about 0.5 more points on those shots per game than Barnes did.

However then he will have to take away shots from other players, mainly Curry and Thompson and at this point the diminishing returns will hit as he simply won't put up points any more efficiently that these two already do.

You could argue that they will manage to get better opportunities for each other but in reality there really is a cap on how efficient the players can actually get, regardless of how good looks they get.

Now factor in the worse defense, worse rebounding and more turnovers (which will mean even less shots to share) and overall loss of toughness (will KD set Bogut-tier screens to set the tone? nope. he will contribute to their choking department tho) and you have a team that is at best as good as this year's one.

LeBron will still be a GOAT if he beats them tho.

[west_tip]

Agreed. There comes a point where great offensive players cancel one another out since there is only one ball and a finite number of shots to go around.

Curry and Thompson are the most prolific three point shooters in the history of the game and they are efficient to boot. Anything that disrupts their access to shots is going to have a detrimental impact on GSW. This will be offset by what KD brings to the table but is it really going to be that much of a boon when you were already an excellent offensive team? I'm not sure.

[ThatCoolKid]

Durant gives the Warriors isolation scoring. He can bail them out against playoff defenses. He will also be a big addition on the defensive end where he has the length and speed to guard 1-4.

Zaza and David West recoup some of Bogut's loss.

The Warriors will become a worse regular season team for the reasons you've stated, but they become much more dangerous in the playoffs when defenses tighten up.

[Haymaker]

Agreed. There comes a point where great offensive players cancel one another out since there is only one ball and a finite number of shots to go around.

Curry and Thompson are the most prolific three point shooters in the history of the game and they are efficient to boot. Anything that disrupts their access to shots is going to have a detrimental impact on GSW. This will be offset by what KD brings to the table but is it really going to be that much of a boon when you were already an excellent offensive team? I'm not sure.

This is the key right there. I understand the KD signing from a marketing standpoint but GSW were the best team last season. You just don't need anything else. It's not like they lost because of a glaring weakness. Do you really NEED more buckets when you have a 73-9 season and was 1 game away from winning the championship?

[Haymaker]

Durant gives the Warriors isolation scoring. He can bail them out against playoff defenses. He will also be a big addition on the defensive end where he has the length and speed to guard 1-4..

That wasn't a problem for them. They thrive on ball movement, not on hero ball.

[west_tip]

That wasn't a problem for them. They thrive on ball movement, not on hero ball.

Exactly. The Warriors are at their best when the ball is flying around the perimeter - of course, they led the league in assists last year. When KD isos it will hamper their ball movement which has been one of their strengths.

KD will help the Warriors in some regards but he will also hinder them in others, people have to account for both.

[Lebron23]

Agreed. There comes a point where great offensive players cancel one another out since there is only one ball and a finite number of shots to go around.

Curry and Thompson are the most prolific three point shooters in the history of the game and they are efficient to boot. Anything that disrupts their access to shots is going to have a detrimental impact on GSW. This will be offset by what KD brings to the table but is it really going to be that much of a boon when you were already an excellent offensive team? I'm not sure.

First time I really saw you posts some relevant stuff in this forum. Thompson and Durant are pretty redundant, And this is real life not NBA 2k16.

The Warriors are a better team when they are moving the ball.

[Stringer Bell]

This is the key right there. I understand the KD signing from a marketing standpoint but GSW were the best team last season. You just don't need anything else. It's not like they lost because of a glaring weakness. Do you really NEED more buckets when you have a 73-9 season and was 1 game away from winning the championship?

They just needed to be slightly better and minor improvements to have won the title last year. Actually, they just needed not to choke and they would have repeated.

The bigger impact may not be any significant improvements for the Warriors, but by by weakening the Thunder, who gave them hell in the WCF and also blew a 3-1 lead. They no longer have Durant and apparently will no longer have Westbrook.

[KobeLookLike2Pac]

So they are going to suck but if Lebron beats them, they are awesome again, and he's instantly better than Jordan. :roll:

http://dmv.barstoolsports.com/files/2014/11/panic.gif

[ThatCoolKid]

That wasn't a problem for them. They thrive on ball movement, not on hero ball.

It was a problem. The reason the Cavs beat GS was because The Ws shooters went cold at the wrong time. Ball movement isn't always possible in playoff basketball.

Sometimes you need an ugly bucket, and Curry couldn't give that to GS. Durant can.

[ZMonkey11]

You are under the assumption every player will be on every single night. One lightbulb goes out, now you have an immediate, just add bright, replacement.

One of the scoring three gets injured, no problem. You are still pouring in buckets.

And now you have another player who has height and can pass over defenders.

Talking about KD and the rest are only so limited in what they can do. Gtfo

[Goldrush25]

They got Durant to achieve a higher peak. Their team last year had a higher average performance due to their depth, which is now reduced.

This is now a team built for the Finals rather than for the regular season. Last year's Warriors were optimized for the regular season.

[scm5]

You do realize the Warriors sat out for many fourth quarters?

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/GSW/2016.html

The Warriors lost:

Bogut: 4 FGA
Ezeli: 5 FGA
Barnes: 10 FGA
Barbosa: 5 FGA
Speights: 6 FGA

[DMAVS41]

LOL....

Durant takes them to an entire different level. This is absurd.

It is not about regular season offensive ratings or anything like that. It is about having to guard a team with Curry/Klay/Iggy/Durant/Green on the floor at the same time.

It was damn near impossible with Barnes out there. It is going to be impossible with Durant.

Only hope will be that they miss shots. They will get any shot they want consistently.

[IGOTGAME]

LOL....

Durant takes them to an entire different level. This is absurd.

It is not about regular season offensive ratings or anything like that. It is about having to guard a team with Curry/Klay/Iggy/Durant/Green on the floor at the same time.

It was damn near impossible with Barnes out there. It is going to be impossible with Durant.

Only hope will be that they miss shots. They will get any shot they want consistently.

there is jsut nothing you can do. they already made enough tough shots from 3 before, now you add KD...its gonna be insane.

[greymatter]

Production wise, of course KD won't get you 28/7/4 again, but his presence should easily make an already devastating Warriors offense even more ridiculous. Having another 40+% 3 pt shooter and a guy who can consistently hit difficult shots at a much higher rate than league average will create even more spacing than they already had. KD doesn't miss the million+ wide open looks that Harrison Barnes was bricking in games 5,6,7.

Curry, Thompson, and Green's scoring should all go down, but their efficiency as a whole should definitely increase.

[west_tip]

BUMP.

It's only one game (of course) but any thoughts on what was posted on this thread back in the summer?

[FireDavidKahn]

KD is messing up the chemistry on the court.

[SCdac]

I understand the point well enough (diminishing returns) by the OP, but Durant is clutch, a big time scorer, a gamer, and a veteran. Didn't like his decision to go there, and didn't think GSW necessarily needed him, but don't think his skills as a superstar are being respected. Warriors can lean on him if they need to in ways they couldn't Harrison Barnes and it wouldn't be surprising if he wins them some games almost 'singlehandedly'. Assuming Klay Thompson and Green can spot up for three's with efficiency (without needing as many shots to warm up), think their offense will be fine. Defense and grittiness may be another story

[scm5]

YOU GUYS ARE SO RIGHT!!!!!!!!!! LAST NIGHT'S GAME TOLD IT ALL!!!!

Klay + Zaza for DeAndre Jordan + JJ Redick

Curry
Redick
Durant
Green
Jordan

[Hoopz2332]

I understand the point well enough (diminishing returns) by the OP, but Durant is clutch, a big time scorer, a gamer, and a veteran. Didn't like his decision to go there, and didn't think GSW necessarily needed him, but don't think his skills as a superstar are being respected. Warriors can lean on him if they need to in ways they couldn't Harrison Barnes and it wouldn't be surprising if he wins them some games almost 'singlehandedly'. Assuming Klay Thompson and Green can spot up for three's with efficiency (without needing as many shots to warm up), think their offense will be fine. Defense and grittiness may be another story


not really