The season ended the way a fifth straight miss ends. Quietly, at home, against the Dodgers, with the booth already saying goodbye. San Francisco finished 65-97, fourth in the National League West, 35 games behind Los Angeles. The winter argument is not a lineup teardown. It is an arm problem, and Buster Posey owns it. The Dodgers closed at 100-62. San Diego was second at 91-71.

Steve Kerr had not seen Kristaps Porziņģis. He used the word anyway. Concerning. The Warriors are thirteen days from a roster deadline, and the big man the frontcourt was built around is not in the building. Golden State is 0-1 in the exhibition schedule. Stephen Curry is on a minutes cap. Two starters are out until 2027. Preseason is supposed to be a dress rehearsal.