Stan Van Gundy

I've been really surprised by Golden State. Golden State and Cleveland probably the two most pleasant surprises. I thought Golden State's ceiling would be to get the ninth or tenth spot and be in the play-in, and they have looked outstanding on both ends of the court. I mean, they're a top-ten offensive and defensive team after losing Klay Thompson, and they've just played great basketball.

I mean, I just think the guy's hurt. Look, I mean, his body clearly struggles to keep up with the demands of playing 82-game NBA seasons. And I think it's unfortunate because at his best, he's the—

I mean, I just think the guy's hurt. Look, I mean, his body clearly struggles to keep up with the demands of playing 82-game NBA seasons. And I think it's unfortunate because at his best, he's the—

the most physically imposing player in the NBA and the guy that you really can't do anything with one-on-one but he's just never healthy and that franchise has been built around him and they haven't been able to get past the second round of the playoffs and now they go out and bring in Paul George and there's all this optimism but Paul George is another guy who's hurt all the time and so you know one of the things I've said many times is

the most physically imposing player in the NBA and the guy that you really can't do anything with one-on-one but he's just never healthy and that franchise has been built around him and they haven't been able to get past the second round of the playoffs and now they go out and bring in Paul George and there's all this optimism but Paul George is another guy who's hurt all the time and so you know one of the things I've said many times is

You know, when guys, when you go out and sign guys who are, or extend guys who are always hurt and then they get hurt, that's not bad luck. That's not, you can't look, ah, we're having such bad luck. No, no, you're getting exactly what you should have expected. When you put that roster together, what you're hoping for is that you get something out of the ordinary and those guys stay healthy.

You know, when guys, when you go out and sign guys who are, or extend guys who are always hurt and then they get hurt, that's not bad luck. That's not, you can't look, ah, we're having such bad luck. No, no, you're getting exactly what you should have expected. When you put that roster together, what you're hoping for is that you get something out of the ordinary and those guys stay healthy.

And if they were all healthy, those two guys and Maxie, then they'd have a chance to contend in the East. And it's still early. Maybe they'll get to that point. We'll see.

And if they were all healthy, those two guys and Maxie, then they'd have a chance to contend in the East. And it's still early. Maybe they'll get to that point. We'll see.

Well, that's the problem. How much time are they going to miss? The good thing in the East is Milwaukee is sitting a game below .500 at 8-9, and they're in the sixth spot in the East, which is a guaranteed playoff spot. So, you know, you don't have a ton of ground to make up to get back. It's just a matter of how much time they're going to have together. Look, talent-wise, they're good.

Well, that's the problem. How much time are they going to miss? The good thing in the East is Milwaukee is sitting a game below .500 at 8-9, and they're in the sixth spot in the East, which is a guaranteed playoff spot. So, you know, you don't have a ton of ground to make up to get back. It's just a matter of how much time they're going to have together. Look, talent-wise, they're good.

I mean, I really thought they and New York were the two teams that had rosters that could best challenge Boston. I didn't see this coming out of Cleveland. I thought they'd be good. Orlando's good. Miami and Milwaukee will be teams that nobody wants to play in the first round of the playoffs. But I thought the only teams that could contend with Boston were New York and Boston.

I mean, I really thought they and New York were the two teams that had rosters that could best challenge Boston. I didn't see this coming out of Cleveland. I thought they'd be good. Orlando's good. Miami and Milwaukee will be teams that nobody wants to play in the first round of the playoffs. But I thought the only teams that could contend with Boston were New York and Boston.

and Philly and all of a sudden New York doesn't guard anybody and Philly doesn't have anybody healthy. Do you understand why Milwaukee stinks? Well, They looked early in the year, I thought they looked really old and slow, older than they actually are and slow, but they don't have Middleton, and that's a key piece. He was fantastic in the playoffs last year in that series against Indiana.

and Philly and all of a sudden New York doesn't guard anybody and Philly doesn't have anybody healthy. Do you understand why Milwaukee stinks? Well, They looked early in the year, I thought they looked really old and slow, older than they actually are and slow, but they don't have Middleton, and that's a key piece. He was fantastic in the playoffs last year in that series against Indiana.

They get him at full strength, but again, he's played 88 games in the last two years, so him being hurt is not a big rarity, but if they get him back with Lillard And Giannis, then they've got a chance to be really, really good. They put shooting around those guys, and you would think Lillard's going to play better than he is right now. I mean, he's at a career-low 32% from three.

They get him at full strength, but again, he's played 88 games in the last two years, so him being hurt is not a big rarity, but if they get him back with Lillard And Giannis, then they've got a chance to be really, really good. They put shooting around those guys, and you would think Lillard's going to play better than he is right now. I mean, he's at a career-low 32% from three.

Why would you think he's going to play better?

Why would you think he's going to play better?

No, yeah. But last year he wasn't efficient either, but he was at 35% from three on high volume. I don't think he's going to stay at 32%. I don't know if he'll be up around 40%, but he's going to be better. They're starting to get into more two-man game stuff with he and Giannis. Why they haven't done more of that early in the year, I'm not really sure.