bdonovan
12-29-2023, 04:41 AM
Podziemski is not starter-caliber. Worse, it pushes Klay to the SF position where he doesn't have a height advantage. Klay thrives on his height advantage- at 6'7" is big for a shooting guard. He shoots over his opponents as he doesn't have the speed other guards have. At SF, his height advantage is gone- it's going to be hard for him to recover his shooting touch like that.
Chris Paul and Wiggins are on the bench; either would make a better starter.
If Podziemski could run an offense, sure. Curry sometimes struggles with bringing the ball up; he could play off the ball more. But Podziemski isn't that guy. He's a hustle player. He makes for a good energy bench replacement.
The other problem is the lack of defense. Without Green, they are trying to play D with 3 guards, including Podziemski, a guy who's 21 years old (and very suspect defense- I wrote a whole thread on Kuminga's bad defense), and a center who is 6 foot 9 and can't guard centers who can score or rim protect.
Overall the wheels are coming off this car. The 5 game win streak was against 4 bad teams, and one great game against the Celtics.
Whatever drama happened in Wiggins life last year that caused him to miss a lot of games has damaged him mentally; he has been diminished ever since.
Klay lost his confidence after the Warriors last title where he didn't play a major role (Wiggins scored more than him). The days where he was a co-equal in the Splash Brothers is over. No one uses that phrase anymore. Klay is just a role player now - along with Wiggins and Draymond.
Between the front office's failings in finding a big man, Kerr's mismanagement and everyone falling off except Curry, this may be a sad ending to Curry's last few years.
Chris Paul and Wiggins are on the bench; either would make a better starter.
If Podziemski could run an offense, sure. Curry sometimes struggles with bringing the ball up; he could play off the ball more. But Podziemski isn't that guy. He's a hustle player. He makes for a good energy bench replacement.
The other problem is the lack of defense. Without Green, they are trying to play D with 3 guards, including Podziemski, a guy who's 21 years old (and very suspect defense- I wrote a whole thread on Kuminga's bad defense), and a center who is 6 foot 9 and can't guard centers who can score or rim protect.
Overall the wheels are coming off this car. The 5 game win streak was against 4 bad teams, and one great game against the Celtics.
Whatever drama happened in Wiggins life last year that caused him to miss a lot of games has damaged him mentally; he has been diminished ever since.
Klay lost his confidence after the Warriors last title where he didn't play a major role (Wiggins scored more than him). The days where he was a co-equal in the Splash Brothers is over. No one uses that phrase anymore. Klay is just a role player now - along with Wiggins and Draymond.
Between the front office's failings in finding a big man, Kerr's mismanagement and everyone falling off except Curry, this may be a sad ending to Curry's last few years.