The Golden Era | A Golden State Warriors Dynasty (NBA 2K20)

[marshdaddy]

Quote: Originally Posted by trekfan

Warriors with a trove of assets (in terms of young players with high potential). Gonna be interesting to see how they approach the offseason after the playoff run. Steph's injuries seem to be piling up in recent years, which is a big concern -- as Steph goes, so do the Warriors.

There are certainly concerns in the organization regarding Steph's health, but considering he is 36, the team understands there are only a few years left of high-level production from him.

The fact that he is 36 also has the organization not desperate to deplete their young assets to bring in a superstar, as it could very well hurt their depth. Not to say Kuminga, Edwards and Mobley are as good as Giannis, but if they have to give up two or all three of them, what does the team left look like and is it good enough to compete? Giannis has already struggled to have a great supporting cast, would what is left be any better?

[marshdaddy]

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A drama-less West doesn’t mean it’s calm in the East

Anthony Nojkic
April 10, 2024

As the calendar turns to April, the playoff teams in the West are solidified. The Jazz have clinched the top spot in the West by April 11, coming in at 59-20. The Warriors have rolled back up the standings and are tied with the Clippers at 50-28 with one game left between the division rivals.

The Pelicans and Grizzlies are jokeying for position at 48-30 and in fourth and fifth respectively. The Spurs, Thunder and Mavericks round out the Western Conference playoffs.

LeBron James has announced that the 2023-24 season will be his last, but it will not end in the playoffs. The Lakers sit at 37-41 with four games to play and are 5.5 back of the Mavs. The 21-year vet has been coming off the bench for the Lakers and is the front runner for Sixth Man of the Year. The splashes at the trade deadline for Denver and Minnesota have not paid off, as the Timberwolves have limped to a 6-15 record. The Nuggets have played .500 ball but are 36-43.

Miami has taken over Atlanta for the top spot at 55-24. The raptors are in third and are holding off both Boston and New York who sit at 46-32 and fighting for the four seed. The Bucks, at 40-39 are in sixth and need just one win with three games to go to clinch that six seed. The Bulls hold a half game edge over the Nets for the seven spot.

Brooklyn isn’t out of the woods, owning a one-game edge over the Sixers for the final spot in the playoffs while the Pacers sit two games back with four to play.

Golden State continues to get productive minutes out of their young trio of Anthony Edwards, Jonathan Kuminga and Ibraham Mobley. However, in early April, Mobley suffered a torn ligament in his elbow and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, likely bleeding into the playoffs.

Curry’s knee struggles seemed to end, but he was slowed by a bruised hip into the beginning of April. The 36-year-old still is the focal point of the Warrior attack, and is likely looking at his final championship bid considering his age. If he can stay healthy, the Warriors’ bid for a fourth straight title is alive.

[marshdaddy]

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Historic perfection helps Warriors clinch second seed

Isaiah Charles
April 16, 2024

Shield your eyes, fans of imperfection. Look away if you believe there is always room for improvement. With the second seed on the line on the eve of the NBA season’s final day, the Warriors did what, statistically speaking, shouldn’t be possible in going a perfect 26-for-26 from beyond the three point arc in a 154-74 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers to secure the two seed in the Western Conference.

Aaron Gordon led the Warriors with 32 points off the bench, while Aaron Nembhard had 26 points in just 17 minutes. Stephen Curry and Jonathan Kuminga each had 20.

In a must-win game, Golden State started perfect and stayed that way, becoming the first team to make all of their three point attempts and while tying the NBA record for most made in a game. (To be fair, the Warriors did miss one three-point attempt, from Klay Thompson, but a foul was called on Kostas Antetokounmpo prior to him releasing it.)

Golden State dominated from the start, thanks entirely to their three-point efficiency, building a 36-18 lead after one and entering halftime up 76-44.

The Clippers, having lost to the Warriors two weeks ago but without Paul George, were unable to put together any offense. Kawhi Leonard scored 12 points on 6-for-14 shooting, while George shot just 2-for-8. Marcus Morris was the leading scorer for Los Angeles, finishing with 14.

As the win secures the two-seed for Golden State, it drops the Clippers into a must-win season finale against LeBron James and the Lakers. The Clippers enter play with a one-game lead over the Pelicans and Grizzlies. A win and the Clippers can lock up the three seed, but a loss coupled with wins from New Orleans and Memphis could send the Clippers falling to the five seed.

Los Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors
Apr 16, 2024	1ST	2ND	3RD	4TH	SCORE
Los Angeles (51-30)	18	26	18	12	74
Golden State (52-29)	36	40	36	42	154

Los Angeles Clippers
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Kadeem Allen	22	2-12	0-6	0-0	0	4	0	0	0	4
Paul George	22	2-8	0-2	4-4	2	2	2	0	2	8
Kawhi Leonard	24	6-14	0-2	0-0	2	4	0	0	0	12
Marcus Morris Sr	26	6-8	0-2	2-2	2	0	0	0	0	14
Ivica Zubac	19	0-0	0-0	0-0	4	0	0	2	0	0
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Richaun Holmes	22	0-0	0-0	0-0	4	2	0	0	0	0
Landry Shamet	19	4-10	2-4	0-0	4	2	0	0	0	10
Ryan Broekhoff	19	0-2	0-2	0-0	0	0	0	2	0	0
Montrezl Harrell	17	2-4	0-0	4-4	6	0	2	2	0	8
Tim Hardaway Jr.	14	4-14	2-8	0-0	0	2	0	0	2	10
R.J. Davis	12	4-16	0-4	0-0	2	0	0	0	2	8
Chimezie Metu	12	0-2	0-2	0-0	0	2	0	0	0	0
Frank Ntilikina	12	0-2	0-2	0-0	2	0	2	0	0	0
TEAM TOTALS		30-92	4-34	10-10	30	18	6	6	7	74

Golden State Warriors
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Stephen Curry	30	8-10	4-4	0-0	4	8	0	0	2	20
Klay Thompson	30	6-12	2-2	0-0	2	10	0	0	2	14
Anthony Edwards	27	6-12	4-4	0-0	6	4	0	0	2	16
Jonathan Kuminga	26	8-14	4-4	0-0	6	4	2	0	0	20
Myles Turner	20	2-2	0-0	0-0	6	6	0	0	2	4
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
Kostas Antetokounmpo	26	0-4	0-0	4-4	18	0	0	0	2	4
Aaron Gordon	22	12-14	2-2	6-6	4	4	0	0	0	32
Draymond Green	20	0-2	0-0	0-0	6	4	0	0	0	0
Aaron Nembhard	17	10-12	6-6	0-0-	6	4	2	0	2	26
Jordan Poole	6	6-6	4-4	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	16
Derrick Jones Jr.	6	0-0	0-0	0-0	2	2	0	0	0	0
Torrey Craig	6	0-0	0-0	0-0	2	2	0	0	0	0
Kris Dunn	4	0-0	0-0	2-4	0	0	0	0	0	2
TEAM TOTALS		58-88	26-26	12-14	64	48	4	2	10	154

[RolePlayer]

Very off-topic post I apologize, but who are the Warriors fans hoping you guys draft in real life if you do select?

As a Hornets fan really hoping you guys trade to a team that wants Lamelo or pass on Wiseman

[marshdaddy]

Quote: Originally Posted by RolePlayer

Very off-topic post I apologize, but who are the Warriors fans hoping you guys draft in real life if you do select? As a Hornets fan really hoping you guys trade to a team that wants Lamelo or pass on Wiseman

All good man. I like Edwards but wouldn’t be opposed to trading back for more assets and taking Vassell. I do not want LaMelo, and Wiseman is good but I’m not a big believer in taking a center so high. League is won by wings, not bigs, so worried about his viability long-term.


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[marshdaddy]

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The Purple and Gold Wedding - The Reign is Over

Ryen Simons
April 17, 2024

So this is how the reign ends? Not with a heroic last stand. Not with a crowning ceremony. Not with an impossible but dream-it-into existence comeback. But with a whimper; a quiet cry in a meaningless 82nd game in April.

LeBron James will put on an NBA jersey for the final time in the Lakers’ final game of the 2023-24 season, stepping away from an NBA that he has dominated since he was taken first in the 2003 NBA Draft. The kid from Akron has more than lived up to the lofty expectations set upon him, but even this end, one in which the Lakers miss the playoffs for the second year in a row, seems ill-fitting for The King.

James will retire as the NBA record holder in points (42,149), minutes (58,179) and assists (11,622), second in field goals (15,463) and games played (1,593), third in free throws (8,464), sixth in steals (2,359) and seventh in three pointers (2,759). But the final chapter of his career still doesn’t fit. It’s not so much the fact that it ended in purple and gold, as it is the fact that we barely got to see James compete for it all. Outside of one trip to the Western Conference Finals, James’ Lakers were merely a postseason participant, not contender. Even his lone Conference Finals trip seems like a mirage as he missed the first two games due to injury.

James’ twilight was surrounded by mediocre players, outside Anthony Davis, who failed to provide the adequate punch to push James further up the all-time list. You could fault the Lakers for giving up the farm for Davis and walking into this reality, you would be excused for blaming James for pushing it upon the team, but no matter what way you look at it, it’s still disappointing.

You’ll no doubt see plenty of articles praising James and all he did for the NBA, so I won’t waste your time on that. Instead I’ll say I feel like the James fans, and fans of the NBA as a whole, are left with blue balls. Oh what could have been!

James and Davis could have brought upon the NBA a fabled L.A. rivalry with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. They could have resurrected a Miami-L.A. rivalry that, while it hasn’t ever really been, really should be. They could have short-circuited a Warriors dynasty that has refused to quit.

Instead, they fell flat. The Warriors dusted the Lakers in their first return to the playoffs in a quick three games, then the Lakers never made it back. I still can’t accept the fact that the last time we will ever see LeBron James play in the NBA playoffs will be a three-game sweep at the hands of Steph Curry, the man who James (never publicly) abhorred for creating the conversation about who was the actual best player in the NBA.

James in a Lakers' jersey may look strange when we look back in five, 10, 15 years, much like Michael Jordan in a Wizards jersey does. But for me, as much as his bear hug with Kevin Love and his smile in Miami will be etched in my memory, so too will be the exacerbated look on his face as Curry, Klay Thompson and the Golden State Warriors flicked him and Davis aside like day-old sushi.

I suppose this is what we get, and James too, for chasing off court goals in L.A. rather than titles on it. Hell, LeBron even got offers this past offseason to play elsewhere and potentially be more competitive, but the allure of staying home and more money kept LeBron in the city of Angels. But regardless, here we are. LeBron James walking off the court for the final time, grasping at visions and dreams of what could have been.

The King once crowned, now the reign is over.

[marshdaddy]

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Warriors enter Western Conference Playoffs as Second Seed

Isaiah Charles
April 19, 2024

Never count out a champion. Despite a slow start that saw the Warriors three-games under .500 near the quarter-way point of the year, Golden State rolled back to win 53 games and secure the two seed in the Western Conference Playoffs.

Golden State has looked equal parts Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. After starting the season anemic on the defensive end, the Warriors inserted Kostas Antetokounmpo into the rotation, springing a defensive renaissance that powered Golden State to the third best point differential in the West. Stephen Curry, meanwhile, spearheaded a potent Warrior offense that averaged the second most points the conference.

Golden State finished seven games behind the Utah Jazz in the West, who finished with 60 wins and the NBA’s top record. The Warriors and Jazz have met in three straight playoffs, including two Western Conference Finals, all belonging to Golden State. Should both teams meet in the Conference Finals yet again, the Jazz would own home court for the second straight year.

New Orleans, Memphis and the Clippers all finished with 51 wins a piece, but the Pelicans move into the three spot with the Grizzlies and Clippers behind them by way of a tie breaker. Oklahoma City’s 47 wins slots them into the six seed and a first round duel with the Pelicans, while Luka Doncic and the Mavericks will be the eight seed and face the Jazz.

In the East, Miami outlasted the Hawks to claim the top spot in the conference with 58 wins, three games ahead of Atlanta. Toronto put together yet another 50-win season, ending with a 51-31 record to take the three seed.

The Knicks, led by Trae Young, are back in the NBA playoffs thanks to a 48-win campaign.The success gets them the five seed and an identical record as the Boston Celtics. Chicago (41-41), Brooklyn (40-42) and Philadelphia (40-42) round out the top eight.

Milwaukee entered the final night of the regular season as the six seed with a chance to clinch a playoff spot, but thanks to a loss and wins by all the above, fell all the way out of the playoff picture at 40-42. This doesn’t bode well for the Bucks, with rumors swirling around the league about reigning NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo’s dissatisfaction with the organization’s management of the roster. Many believe this could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.


2024 NBA Final Standings

NBA Standings - Updated: Apr 17, 2024
EAST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
Miami Heat	58	24	--
Atlanta Hawks	55	27	3
Toronto Raptors	51	31	7
Boston Celtics	48	34	10
New York Knicks	48	34	10
Chicago Bulls	41	41	17
Brooklyn Nets	40	42	18
Philadelphia 76ers	40	42	18
Milwaukee Bucks	40	42	18
Detroit Pistons	36	46	22
Indiana Pacers	36	46	22
Orlando Magic	32	50	26
Charlotte Hornets	31	51	27
Cleveland Cavaliers	30	52	28
Washington Wizards	15	67	43
WEST PLAYOFF RACE	W	L	GB
Utah Jazz	60	22	--
Golden State Warriors	53	29	7
New Orleans Pelicans	51	31	9
Memphis Grizzlies	51	31	9
Los Angeles Clippers	51	31	9
Oklahoma City Thunder	47	35	13
San Antonio Spurs	46	36	14
Dallas Mavericks	44	38	16
Los Angeles Lakers	39	43	21
Denver Nuggets	38	44	22
Sacramento Kings	35	47	25
Portland Trail Blazers	35	47	25
Minnesota Timberwolves	35	47	25
Phoenix Suns	28	56	32
Houston Rockets	15	67

[Thugger Jackson]

Utah and Miami being the top seed, didn't see that coming.