Warriors vs Lakers |GM-35|

I pride myself on player evaluations... I don’t miss much. That said Zo has been great, but House would have been very comparable. He is a little more versatile, but not the catch and shoot guy Zo is turning into. Guessing that and is freakish offensive rebounding won him the spot.

Athletic Alchemy

Danuel House Jr. playing real well for the Rockets... we could've had him too

carlosd93

Yes! I'm not a D Rose fan, but his story is probably one of the best stories of the year.

YANCEY WADE

Thanks for the video Alchemy. I can't figure it out, and I never will. This is the NBA and there's always another game around the corner. Warriors have 47 more regular season games. I'm sure there were times Derek Jeter struck out 5 times in a game. Klay's attitude bugs me, but he's a shooter, and I gotta trust that when Boogie comes, the rhythm of the team will change, and Klay will change, too. Draymond.....I have no idea what to say.

YANCEY WADE

i aint too worried yet, not sure if thats good or bad

Tony Stark

If Klay isn't an All Star, then I hope D Rose gets his spot.

thatmattc

We need 2016 finals gm7 draymond... if u kno u kno 🚫🧢

How was y’all Christmas...didn’t feel like christmas imo

I was surprised you didn’t show Svi drop Lee at the end it summarized the game pretty well hahaha

Not crazy at all. As minute as it seems he has also gone from getting a cut like once a month maybe. To having a fresh line and cut every other game.

Athletic Alchemy

I think we can all agree that Kerr keeps things way too loose and the discipline isn't there. The lack of a strong screening center is really disrupting the actions they try to run for Steph and Klay. Dray is the best we have for that but with a shot he clearly never practices and his defense regressing probably due to injury, he's really pulling them down. Can we also say that whatever ego management Kerr was hoping to do with Klay has clearly failed? IDK if Klay's dad has been in his ear or what but he's clearly trying to make sure he gets a Max contract, ironically losing value in the process. But why would he be concerned about getting a Max contract from the Dubs? Or is he already planning on leaving? This makes me feel like he's auditioning for another team. Call me crazy...

Andre Lazar

Appreciate it!

Athletic Alchemy

I go in a little more on Kerr in my YouTube video I cut just after this one. I like the take about Steph and showing him rather than telling him. But be honest Rich... Dray is having a rough year and if he doesn’t get right they will move on from him before They do Steve.

Athletic Alchemy

Great analysis but I gotta say I don't agree completely with your final conclusions. What's going on now isn't anything new at all. I've seen this team play like this and have these exact same issues for years now. People need to go back and watch our playoff games from the past 3 years. Teams have been defending Draymond like this for years. We already know exactly how to counter this and Draymond said exactly that after the game. He's not lying. None of this is new. Therefore, the solution to all of this is nothing new as well. This isn't on the players. This is on Kerr. Kerr gets left off the hook way too much. Teams can't defend Draymond like that if we're running high PnR and using him as the screener both on the ball and off ball. Why do we save the high PnR for the playoffs and not use it during the regular season? Why is the usage of our 2 best players, Curry and KD, so low? Why is he utilizing Curry, the greatest offensive force of all time, like he's JJ Redick? The fixes to all the issues are simple but Kerr has failed to make the adjustments bc he's so stubborn. This ain't quantum physics. It's simple. But Kerr has failed to do his job which is to put his players in the optimal position to succeed. When you see Curry playing like he is now for extended periods - low energy and without joy - that is him sending a message to Kerr. Curry is too classy to complain thru the media. Instead, Curry sends messages thru his actions. Curry is sending the message that he isn't down with this crap we're running. He is telling Kerr to put the damn ball in his hands, run some PnR, and let him cook. I guarantee you Kerr will get the message. Just like he did after our Xmas 2016 loss in Cleveland.

great video fam

Ezra Abbey

Just a masterful video analysis. You named all the issues, basketball, xs and os plus the whole morale of the team and mindset issues. I'm pretty sure it won't be long till someone comes along to offer you big money. I hope you can make it AND stay totally independent. Great stuff.

Looking back at this bballbreakdown footage (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngO2uWo7X6Q)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngO2uWo7X6Q)</a> it's crazy how much time Draymond spends time out on the perimeter. It's the opposite problem KD had at the start of the season. We backed off of Rondo the same way teams play Draymond but the difference was Rondo pretended to attack the paint and while he drove, Zubac followed. Typical LeBron strategy of utilizing centers when he's cut off from drives. Draymond either has to move around near the paint or utilize this same strategy to be not completely useless on offense. Same with Looney. They have to move off the ball and move in a way where they psychologically threaten the opposing team.

Paradox

Imagine dropping a grand and having to sit through it live! Again I’m not too optimistic about Boog. but I know being the pessimist that I am, I’m wrong about health things all the time.

Athletic Alchemy

caught my bathroom humor 😂

Athletic Alchemy

Lol I just noticed the video cover looks like LeBron shitting himself. <a href="https://warriorswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/26/as-klay-thompson-continues-to-struggle-from-deep-the-warriors-struggle-with-him-on-the-court/amp/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://warriorswire.usatoday.com/2018/12/26/as-klay-thompson-continues-to-struggle-from-deep-the-warriors-struggle-with-him-on-the-court/amp/</a> Just a little more proof Klay needs to lower his FGA and find better shots, focus on his 3s and get his rhythm back.

Paradox

That was awful. What I kind of equate this to was the Xmas game two years ago in Cleveland when the KD-adjusting Ws lost the lead and the game, and it was a wakeup call for them. Iggy's the only guy who deserved a paid holiday, and the visibly worst was the threes - the big three were 6 of 19, but if you subtract Iggy the rest were 0 for 12. I think at one point in the first half the three guys playing the 4, Dray, YoJo and the Fonz, were bricklayers, 0 for 7 and not even close, and that was killing them. Overall the big 3 were 12 of 37 for 41 points, and I don't know how they got to 100 with that. Well, I do, it was Iggy. When was the last time the leading scorer was not one of the three (and they were all healthy)? It's as if they all pounded holiday turkey and ham before the game and were lugging it around the court - there must have been a line at the shitters at halftime. In some sense on top of everything else they're waiting on Boogie, as if this doesn't mean anything until then, which it kind of doesn't, but what if they don't ratchet it up when he does show up? They aren't really going to fit him in if they're not really playing, so I hope being embarrassed on national TV does something. Oh, and not to be a broken record, they are missing Patty and DJ, which is probably part of why Iggy and Shaun seem to be stepping it up some - they do need them. The young guys were supposed to carry the weight through the year, but one is gone, another never showed up, make that two if we count Evans (who?), and Cook only got into the game because they were down by almost 30, sent in with their two-way to run around for a few minutes while the fans filed out. That was just awful...

The Dubs needed this super embarrassing loss, almost put money on em too smh... Klay trying to do too much and Steph not doing enou... When Steph is working with the 2nd unit the ball should be in his hands more and let him create instead of constant ball movement that'll wind up in the hands of an unwilling scorer... Hmmm didn't KD something similar a short while ago?? Defensively, like you said a while ago Alc, if they do double down in the paint it should only be against a low oost threat like Davis or Embiid not Zubac sorry like he's pretty okay but COME ONNNN!!! Gsw might need to shake things up with roster (Outside of starters) or maybe coaching staff if things don't improve... Also I can't stand Looney anymore... Almost make me miss the big dummy... Looney is so slow and undersized at 6'9 to be a center I feel... He is good in spurts, I would start Jerbko til Boogue gets ready and switch it depending on if the matchup doesn't suit him...

Nsikan Usen

Kerr is the problem is offense is trash no wants to admit it. Also they have stopped playinh defense, Draymond does not communicate like he used so everyone running around like a headless chicken. Less talented teams play harder than them so this is not a the lead as caught up issue they just don't care instead of trying they play the law of averages every game hoping the other team misses and steph and kd gets hot. Livingston and Mckinnie have been awful on defense, while mckinnie tries and get burns Livingston looks like he does not want to be on the court.

Totally forgot about Iguodala my bad. He was by far and away the best player and had no idea why everyone else left him out to dry. Thank you Iguodala for showing like you actually wanted to be there

Jansen E

I think all 3 are starting to really show it. KD is even starting to hint at it post games.

Athletic Alchemy

That is a brilliant analogy! People don't want to hear it, he has built a lot of good will over the years. But Draymond is the biggest culprit in our (relative) struggles this year. Now! We know him..he loves to prove the haters Wong. Can he turn this around? Absolutely! But he has to be healthy and willing to acknowledge his shot is broken. He is so stubborn, I think he thinks changing his form is a L.

Athletic Alchemy

My take on the game: Besides literally everyone deciding to forget how to play basketball and defend, there were two things that singlehandedly won the game for the Lakers and lost the game for the Warriors. #1 Rajon fucking Rondo. The way the warriors were playing defense, they literally made Rondo look like the greatest fucking point guard of ALL TIME. Every single time down the court, Rondo got a bucket, assist, or foul. I seriously dont remember a single time he was stopped when he was on the court. It was absolutely infuriating. #2. The single bullshit foul call on Steph Curry when he stole the ball from KCP. The warriors started an 11-0 run, were a single basket away from tying the game and Curry was on fire. He cleanly stole the ball, but the refs called the foul, Curry had to sit, and the Warriors NEVER got within 2 pts ever again. That was a turning point that solely stopped any momentum the Warriors had and took it away for good. I have no idea whats up with the Warriors defense. Wide open layups and dunks, or wide open transition 3s. I dont know how theyre supposed to address it but my god they look like a high school team out there defending. Everyone except third-quarter Curry was just absolutely dreadful in this game. Lebron or no Lebron, the Lakers win that game with the Warriors playing like that. I counted something like 6 turnovers between Klay-Dray. Like everytime those two wanted to pass to each other......either one of them turned it over and it just blew my fucking mind. They just couldnt get on the same page. The game was a total pain to watch. Having Boogie isnt gonna address all the problems that were vehemently obvious in this game.

Jansen E

Somethings got to give!

Athletic Alchemy

I remember I couldn't wait to get to the AS break last year...it was they were laying tirds all over the place.

Athletic Alchemy

Cruse! But get up for these certain matchups!

Athletic Alchemy

Good take! It has taken me a while to realize how poor our young guys screen. So focused on Klays actual shot mech

Athletic Alchemy

They are...but they dont really have that luxury anymore with league adjustments.

Athletic Alchemy

It has to be addressed ASAP

Athletic Alchemy

1. He is not healthy and able to get in real shape. 2. He doesn't put in the reps with his shot. 3. No vertical spacer for him.

Athletic Alchemy

Alch you are absolutely right about the defense being completely back-asswards. DEFEND THE THREE. It's like the Warriors are still surprised other people can shoot the three besides them, that's completely unacceptable. The League has adapted, 3 &gt; 2 is now the mantra of almost every contending team now. I'm honestly tired of seeing defenders, ESPECIALLY KD, being way too late to contest threes and then shaking their heads when it goes in. Pissing me off way worse than Klay slumping, that's natural, and like you said part of it is absolutely nonexistent or shitty screens for him.

Neal X

In short, we actually need Boogie. He's not just going to be icing on the cake for us like all the YouTube comments would have you believe.

Neal X

what do you think is the cause of draymonds huge regression this season?

I know people are going to make Dray and Klay scapegoats but their problems isn't even the biggest problems you see offensively. Look at the first half of the game, we were down by about the same number as our FT discrepancy. We don't have enough guys that can drive to the paint and draw fouls. Everyone is too occupied about taking high quality shots, rather than getting desperate and drawing the fouls other teams get. Well not exactly everyone, Klay is definitely an exception this season. Curry almost fouled out of the game, which is just hilarious considering the dozens of off ball and on ball fouls other people commit to Curry on a nightly basis. One of the reasons why Kerr may put Curry off the ball is we don't have any goddamn person except Draymond that can screen properly to run a PnR. If we had more spacing we could even run more isolation like the Rockets who are now back to #1 offense rating. The PnR with KD has a high rating statistically but it favors KD more than Curry considering how bad KD is at screening.

Paradox

I really do this there's a lot of frustration from Klay realising they're always playing 3v5 and has more Trust in his shots than looney or dray. And the Lakers game plan didn't help it. Thoughts?

Dre is like that high i.q football free safety who defends a little bit of everybody resulting in shutting down nobody as at the end of the day dude is underside and un athletic , his over switching results in wide open 3’s time and time again..@alch do you agree even his defense is suspect thus far? We all know Drey is a liability in the half court as he is a great passer however passing to 3 players guarded by 5 dudes as him an looney are just painful to watch, in my opinion is the greatest culprit to klay’s struggles....klay does his damage when we space the floor and he can play off screens diving or finding open Realestate as he is money anywhere on the court as long as he is open...Dre and loon insure he won’t be open...however leaving a big (loon) alone in the paint will cost you, leaving Dre alone at the three point line cost us...@alch do you fault Dre for hindering our spacing and negatively impacting Klay’s game?

LeBron less Lakers beat us as well before. T-Wolves. Sometimes you miss shots and they make them. That's why you play 7 games in the playoffs. This ain't football.

Nathan Glanzer

Shooting percentages in this game were wack. That's why you play 7 games in the Playoffs. No way their bench shoots as well as they did, and we shoot as poorly as we did in 4/7.

Nathan Glanzer

Agree completely Klay and Dray have no chance to make the All star game. I'd be shocked if they were even close, last night Kerr actually sat Klay more than I can ever remember. If Cousins comes back at anything less than near 100% I don't see us getting up for a long playoff run at all. Something has to happen to shock this team back into it, maybe Boogey does it... Good point you've been making about us not guarding the 3 pt line, we really have never been good at that but this year is glaringly worse. Most of the 3's taken against us are dream 3's, no one close, stand, shoot when you feel ready, no wonder everyone makes a higher % against us. And games like this and a number of others on Nat. TV take away any intimidation teams used to feel playing us, that's over.

Russ

Tough game to watch and even tougher that the warriors aren’t getting up for big games. We look like crap on the big stage games. Combo of dray and Klay having bad years is frustrating

Matt Hanna

Always kind of got to force myself to watch after losses, shit stings. Feels kind of like last year the last like month or so before the all Star break we we're terrible.

Kyle Most

Is it unfair to be pissed off about them cruising? I mean we want them fresh and healthy come playoff time but I can’t feel anything but sorry for those who purchased a ticket to see steph jogging around and klay forcing his way to 5 points. Especially for a big game like this it’s just frustrating to see.

Ken Bradford

I think a lot of our woes are because of our lack of a bruising center. Hopefully we can pick up Robin Lopez or KOQ in February. Last year we had Zaza scooping up rebounds and somewhat controlling the paint. He was a great communicator something that Loon and DJ are not. So you have Dray and Zaza controlling where everyone goes and who they defend and this year we are lacking a true controlling anchor.

Aqua

this one hurts

Similar to last year, i think everybody is just sitting in cruise control...their defense is lackluster...offensively I'm still waiting for a everybody to chip in and have a solid performance. Sure would be nice to have a little run where the warriors are winning games 125 to 87 (or similar to what was going on in 2016 when gsw was blowing everybody out). Mental fatigue is a mofo

Adam Johnson

That’s what I often think Zaza was underrated. Sure he wasn’t much of anything offensively but in the minutes he gets at the start of the game, he sets the tone with his solid screens, allowing Klay and Curry to run around behind Zaza. Also missing a superb passer from the block (D-West) that sadly we don’t have anymore. When was the last time we had cutters easily exploiting the paint?

The bigger problem that I really noticed was Steph and Dray once again being in foul trouble early and pretty much the entire game. It was the Clippers game that Dray had 5 fouls again right? These guys seem to not be able to take their hands out of the cookie jar and it’s costing us our rotations as thin as it is already. Sure some of the calls were bs from the refs but the refs also won’t give that kind of respect to Steph and most certainly not Draymond. Klay’s shots were bad man...I thought 12 points was a low game but he raised the ante and gave us 5 points!!

Great take on steve kerr n steph curry being undisciplined and loose in physical games, also that was my opinion about the shooting, the screens n picks are awful

Thank u alchemy, I am glad they got this loss shoved Down there throat. They are lacking that chip on there shoulder they have had in the past. I just hope the players don't take it out on each other to the point they don't trust each other. We need to start defending the 3 ball better, at this point it's so obvious.

martin pattison

warriors have these games through the years, last few yrs it was the spurs n thunder who came in and was more physical n made the team look bad

forreaal tho alc. wtf was up with this game