It really is a damn shame that there are so many people who busted their ass through High School and College but can't get to the league because the physical ability just isn't there. Then there's this f**king guy. He can't help that he's stupid, but the laziness is very much his fault. Yet he was a top 10 pick and will get multiple chances despite being complete trash.
Warriors' gamble on big man Marquese Chriss looks like it will pay off "Marquese has been really, really impressive," coach Steve Kerr said, adding that he plans to start Chriss at center Monday, when the Warriors face the Lakers at Staples Center. Draymond Green echoed his coach's sentiments. "Marquese has been great the whole training camp," Green said. Chriss' NBA career hasn't gone as planned, but the Warriors see he's locked in on his latest opportunity to become a mainstay in the league. A man unwanted by two of the league's sorriest franchises is passing the eye test of a Warriors team coming off five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and expected to make the playoffs this season. Sports can be strange that way, right? "They told me they would give me a fair shot to make the team," Chriss said. "They have done that." But, of course, there was another side to Chriss. There were displays of immaturity, particularly in the heat of competition. There has been scarlet-letter innuendo about his conditioning and attitude, which led to questions about his commitment. The Warriors inspected the red flags, considered the integrity of their culture and concluded they can get the best of Chriss. If it fails, hey, they don't lose a nickel. "He's been on three teams already in his brief career, so we're probably getting him at a good time," Kerr said. "He's had some opportunities that haven't gone his way, for whatever reason. Now, all of a sudden, he's got a great opportunity because we've got guys hurt at that spot and he's making the most of it. "He's making a strong case for himself." In 39 minutes over two games, Chriss had produced 16 points (7-of-12 from the field, 2-of-2 from the line), 17 rebounds, eight assists and two blocks. Moreover, his "feel" for the game is evident in how he approaches tasks at both ends. He routinely exhibits the basketball presence the Warriors were hoping Jones could develop. Indeed, Chriss' combination of athleticism and skill is as good or better than any of the nine actual centers that have started under Kerr. "He's picked everything up really quickly," Kerr said. "He's much more advanced as a screener than I knew. A dribble-handoff guy at the top, slipping screens, finding the right angles, screening without fouling. He's shown a really good talent in that regard. And that's a big part of our offense."
Right. I mean, he was terrible screening for us and rolling with Harden ... just lost. Lost on defense, too. Maybe Kerr is trying to prop him up for a sucker trade?
He is competent and playing preseason well for the Warriors. Maybe MDA is and always has been the problem?
Good to see the Warriors are already in the "relying on Marquise Chriss" phase of denial. That much closer ton tanking & rebuilding.
I left out the first paragraph of that article about how Kerr gave up on 7er, Capela-esque, roll-man, Damian Jones, leading to this article about Chriss. The Warriors gave up on Damian Jones, their 2016 first-round draft pick, after losing confidence in his evolution from 7-foot athlete into reliable NBA contributor. They traded him in July because, after three years, they'd exhausted their patience. Are you selectively deciding what's a coach's problem and what isn't, just to bash MDA. I find it hard to believe MDA's system wouldn't fit Jones, better than Kerr's propensity to under-utilze pnr. Maybe it's just that Jones was a headcase most the time?
Saw this and was reminded of John Oliver on last week tonight. He had a segment on the Morey tweet, came out in defense of Morey but cracked hard on Morey for trading Chriss. Was misinformed but funny in context.
Morey and the Rockets were not the only team that gave up on Chriss. The dude played for three teams in his first three seasons. If it wasn't for his size and athleticism, he'd be out of the league already.
If MDA were the only coach he played like crap for I might agree with you. I'm also not putting any stock in the preseason.
