The San Francisco 49ers have had a good time recently supporting Bay Area playoff teams. Head coach Kyle Shanahan had an opportunity to open up a San Jose Sharks playoff game a couple of weeks ago. This week, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who recently said he wanted to go to a Sharks game, did the same.
Last night, general manager John Lynch and a contingent of 49ers headed to Oracle Arena to watch the Golden State Warriors beat the New Orleans Pelicans to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
"It's fun supporting all the local teams," Lynch said on Joe, Lo and Dibs this morning. "Last night, I went over with a bunch of guys, Kyle was there, [to watch] the Warriors ... I sit there and marvel. They bring guys off the bench, and there's no dropoff. Last night, they're bringing Steph (Curry) off the bench and his first play, he's shooting it from way beyond the three-point (line).
"It's just such an electric atmosphere. They play so hard. They play so well together. There's so much versatility on that roster. They're tough to beat."
Of course, being an NFL general manager means that you can never merely sit there and enjoy a basketball game. The Warriors are an excellent example of an organization that has been able to build a team and sustain success. That's something Lynch and company are trying to achieve with the 49ers.
"When you're in this business, you kind of become sick like that," he said. "So instead of just going and enjoying a basketball game, you're essentially scouting. I think a couple of observations last night; we talked a lot about length (of players) and profile in the NFL. And a lot of that, I think, came from basketball.
"We talked a lot about trying to shrink the field. That's what guys with great length do, and the Warriors have that all over the court. That's one thing you notice.
"The other thing is, it's not just about drafting them, it's about developing them. I'm watching the guys, I don't even know his first name, but (Kevon) Looney over there, he was a draft choice a couple of years ago, but the guy has become a heck of a player. He's in there (during) valuable minutes in the fourth quarter. And that's a guy they drafted, but then they worked really hard to develop.
"I think the Warriors, a lot of people could sit back and take notes from them. It also helps to have studs like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. I think we're all looking for those guys."
The 49ers secured one big piece in their rebuilding process when the signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in February to a five-year deal. The team also added running back Jerick McKinnon and center Weston Richburg to the offense via free agency. On defense, the 49ers added cornerback Richard Sherman. Along with the team's nine draft picks, San Francisco hopes the rebuilding process is headed in the right direction.
