[Grades] Grades v. Grizzlies 11/13/2014

[New Era]

This team reminds me a lot of the Kings teams in 1998-2000. That's when we broke through from sucking after so many years and started to be a pretty good team. The problem with those teams back then is they just didn't know how to put it all together and win consistently or close out games like the current team can't do. I remember experiencing a lot of heartbreaking losses with those teams -- losses that shouldn't have happened because there were mental mistakes or complete meltdowns.

The good news is we have a team finally. I am confident that this group will gel in the next couple of years, especially after we add a few pieces to plug the gaping holes we have now. All of this is contingent on Rudy staying, of course. If he leaves or is traded then who knows what could happen.

 

[bajaden]

JT played solid D on Randolph, but Randolph is a PF JT can guard, cause he is slow and bothered by length. JT is a disaster guarding quicker players and he is missing rotations all the time and he does a poor job contesting shot's at the rim.
The backup center position is a concern, but it's mainly our starting PF-spot, that gives us basically no production at all. Please do me a favor and name a starting PF around the league, who you consider being worse than JT. I personally can't imagine more than a few.

JT actually spent almost all of his time guarding Gasol, not Randolph. I believe he only guarded Randolph in the first minute of the game, after that he switched to Gasol to keep Boogie out of foul trouble. While I'm not happy with our current situation at PF, I'm more concerned about out backup Center situation. The minute Cuz goes off the floor, we start to tank. And while that's a compliment to Cuz's improved defense, its says more about who replaces him, which is usually Evans, at 6'8". So there we were last night with Landry trying to guard Randolph, and Evans trying to guard Gasol. It was a disaster! The majority of Memphis points in the paint came when Cousins, and to a lesser extent, Thompson were off the floor.

If I'm the other team, my game plan would be to get Cuz in foul trouble and put him on the bench. We're going nowhere until we remedy this situation. Hollins is not the answer and never will be. I'd rather have Aldrich out there, and he's by far not my first choice. The obvious answer right now is to move JT to the backup center spot off the bench, and move Evans, or Landry to the starting PF spot. .

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

JT actually spent almost all of his time guarding Gasol, not Randolph. I believe he only guarded Randolph in the first minute of the game, after that he switched to Gasol to keep Boogie out of foul trouble. While I'm not happy with our current situation at PF, I'm more concerned about out backup Center situation. The minute Cuz goes off the floor, we start to tank. And while that's a compliment to Cuz's improved defense, its says more about who replaces him, which is usually Evans, at 6'8". So there we were last night with Landry trying to guard Randolph, and Evans trying to guard Gasol. It was a disaster! The majority of Memphis points in the paint came when Cousins, and to a lesser extent, Thompson were off the floor.

If I'm the other team, my game plan would be to get Cuz in foul trouble and put him on the bench. We're going nowhere until we remedy this situation. Hollins is not the answer and never will be. I'd rather have Aldrich out there, and he's by far not my first choice. The obvious answer right now is to move JT to the backup center spot off the bench, and move Evans, or Landry to the starting PF spot. .

Agreed. We must 'at least' have a starting 4, who is capable of playing some high IQ ball. Much more important than height and length

 

[bajaden]

The way I understand it is as follows. You are allowed to take two steps and then have your pivot foot operate as normal. However the second you pick up your pivot foot would be considered a travel unless you are jumping to shoot a layup or jump shot. If you pick up your pivot foot and you are still on the ground I think that is considered a travel because then you have a new pivot foot and that you can't do.

In this situation, if you pick up your pivot foot, you better be in the act of shooting or passing, because the moment your pivot foot comes down to the floor, and your still holding the ball, you've traveled. This assumes that you had previously picked up your dribble.

 

[CurseOfTheSalmons]

the losses this season have been tough to swallow.

 

[KingsFanGER]

JT actually spent almost all of his time guarding Gasol, not Randolph. I believe he only guarded Randolph in the first minute of the game, after that he switched to Gasol to keep Boogie out of foul trouble. While I'm not happy with our current situation at PF, I'm more concerned about out backup Center situation. The minute Cuz goes off the floor, we start to tank. And while that's a compliment to Cuz's improved defense, its says more about who replaces him, which is usually Evans, at 6'8". So there we were last night with Landry trying to guard Randolph, and Evans trying to guard Gasol. It was a disaster! The majority of Memphis points in the paint came when Cousins, and to a lesser extent, Thompson were off the floor.

If I'm the other team, my game plan would be to get Cuz in foul trouble and put him on the bench. We're going nowhere until we remedy this situation. Hollins is not the answer and never will be. I'd rather have Aldrich out there, and he's by far not my first choice. The obvious answer right now is to move JT to the backup center spot off the bench, and move Evans, or Landry to the starting PF spot. .

You are right. JT guarded Gasol most of the time. But Gasol isnt any quicker than Z-Bo. Both highly skilled, strong Big Man with great positioning. JT can guard those type of players. He has proven it time and time again.
But this is literally the only thing he can do on an average rate on a basketball court. I'm by no means some kind of basketball expert, but if you watch other PF/C around the league the difference between solid roleplayers and JT is obvious.

I would prefer to see JT traded. Let's fix our starting 5 first, before we tinker around with our bench unit.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

the losses this season have been tough to swallow.

I can't remember a loss that has been as tough to swallow as last night's Memphis loss since the Western Conference Finals.

 

[captain bill]

Agreed. We must 'at least' have a starting 4, who is capable of playing some high IQ ball. Much more important than height and length

Well, I mostly agree, except that we already have an undersized high IQ PF in Landry. We need a high IQ role player in the front court with SIZE and DEFENSE if we don't want to get run off the court every time DMC takes a seat.

Of course size is not equal to height per se, but we definitely need someone who "plays big"

 

[pshn80]

Instead of whining and complaining and moaning (I got that all out of my system on the Twitter. Much better place for me spew of ultimate pessimism) I'll leave it at this.

The Kings desperately need size off the bench. The tandem of Landry and Evans together is terrible. Bring in a big lug of a space occupier (Arron Gray type) to eat 10 minutes a game when DMC gets untimely fouls or needs a quick rest.

Sigh...

Ten mimutes wouldn't do it with Cuz. You'd need six minutes more.

 

[captain bill]

I can't remember a loss that has been as tough to swallow as last night's Memphis loss since the Western Conference Finals.

2003 semis vs Dallas game 2
2004 semis vs Minnesota game 7
2006 quarters vs San Antonio games 5 and 6
Pretty much every other loss from 2007-2012 (where not only was the team beyond awful, but was followed by the cloud of relocation)

Playing well but ultimately losing to one of the best teams in your conference at the end of a 4 game road trip, all against WC playoff contenders, is honestly not that bad for a team with a grossly incomplete roster, a very young potential all-NBA center, and a complementary star who has been with the team for less than a year

 

[kingjatt]

Alex Kennedy@AlexKennedyNBA3 minutes ago
Kings are first team in NBA history to lose two consecutive games after leading by 18 or more at the end of the first quarter in each game.

 

[pshn80]

http://hoopshabit.com/2014/09/12/nba-power-rankings-30-starting-power-forwards/

I do not consider Luc Ba A MOUTE a starting PF. So that places our very own JASON THOMPSON as THE WORST STARTING POWER FORWARD in the entire LEAGUE !!

So the question is what is PDA going to do about it? JT is a detriment to the team. Literally subtraction by addition. I think Coach Malone HAS to start Landry at the 4. Thompson gives us nothing and actually makes so many stupid numbskull plays that he is causing losses and he causes runs by the other team. We have NO backup Center and our starting PF is a DOOFUS. Hard to win with a cast like that...

Start Hollins or Moreland at PF and have JT back up Cuz at C. Many problems solved. Charm of this solution is we don't have to move anyone in or out and what do we have to lose.

 

[Bricklayer]

"fun" little stat on Boogie v. the refs that I encountered today:

Boogie's fouls by game:

Gm1: 5
Gm2: 5
Gm3: 4
Gm4: 3
Gm5: 6
Gm6: 6
Gm7: 5
Gm8: 5
Gm9: 5
-------------
44 in 9 gms = 4.9/gm = pace for 401 fouls if he played 82 games.

The all time NBA record for fouls is Daryl Dawkins with 386 in 81gms. And nobody else is even close. If it feels like there is a blizzard of whistles against Cousins, its because there is. In fact the refs have never kept up a pace like this for a full season against any player in NBA history. You want to protest something we can actually win? Protest that. Plaster it around. Make it a thing and a point of embarrassment.

 

[KingsFanGER]

And how many calls on Boogie were actually bad calls?
I don't like the soft approach to the game the NBA prefers nowadays, but Cousins has to play like the ref's want him to play in order to stay on the court. Don't reach, don't use your arms and elbows excessively...
The days of physical Bigman-Play are over. Cousins is the last one, of this kind of players.
For me as an international NBA-Fan it was kind of an eye-opener, when i watched the FIBA-WC and Cousins was allowed to physically dominate his opponents, like i haven't seen it ever in an NBA game.

 

[Kingster]

Would

McCallum
Stauskas
Casspi
Landry/Evans
Thompson

pee away 20 point leads? There's a little more balance there defensively as well as offensively. Will this issue get solved? I'm hopeful the first one will be, as it seems the easiest to at least try and tinker with. Whether or not we get another shot at a 20 pt. lead against a top tier team is another issue. I'm afraid that the second issue won't be fixed until the trade deadline, where more options may potentially exist.

Given that it's probably rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, I wouldn't mind the change. What have you got to lose? The problem is that there is only one fairly consistent scorer in the bunch - Landry. Yes, McCallum is going to play better D than Sessions, but McCallum is the kind of guy who at this stage in his career is going to be ok offensively when playing off of a dynamic scorer (e.g. Cousins), but will not be all that good creating offense on his own. The overall bench talent just isn't there.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

It is funny how things in life often eventually even out:

Yea well, that shot was actually off before time expired

 

[HereWeBoogie]

Just imagine what the Kings record could be if they could actually play a full 48 minute game....

Home opener was close at half time so who knows
OKC loss never would have happened
Dallas and Memphis collapses wouldn't have happen

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I think people are overreacting on JT. Yes we know the guy is a total dunce at times, but he had played fine defense on Z bo(not the first time). Realistically he will not even be on the floor in close games most nights. Landry should close most nights, high Iq, good post defense with his bulldog frame and with Cousins in there his lack of length is semi covered. Our issue is backup C because once Cuz goes out opposing PG's waltz right in when combined with Sessions matador defense. I dont know why Hollins doesnt get a shot, unless you signed him to be honorary towel waiver. Any low level big will do, just someone that can rotate properly, contest shots and set some screens on the other end for the 12-15 minutes Cuz is off the floor, Aaron gray? At least he sniffed the floor last season and knows the guys/system well.

Thompson's performance last night reminded me of a saying we used, back when I was on active duty: you can have a hundred 'atta boys,' but all it takes is one 'aww, ****!' and they're all forgotten.

Thompson played twenty-seven minutes last night and, for about twenty-four of them, he played quite well. When Thompson started the game, and was helping to hold down Gasol and Randolph, everybody was cool. When Memphis started to make their first run in the second quarter, and Thompson was on the bench, there was a lot of "Why is Thompson still on the bench?", "Get JT back in," and the like. When Thompson came back in the third, and help us get back out to a good lead, everybody was still cool. But then, Thompson made a dumbass decision, that enabled Courtney Lee to score the game-winner, and now it's all "GWAOAR~! **** JT!", "I hate that guy!", "HE'S THE WORST PLAYER IN THE UNIVERSE!", "NO, IN THE MULTIVERSE!", and other similar such wailing and gnashing of teeth.

But hey, McLemore appears to have played himself out of his slump, so I guess somebody has to be the goat.

 

[randymoss1881]

The bench is the problem Nik/DWill for Afflalo solves that problem and our 3 point shooting. With landry/AA those 2 scorers alone can make sure our 2nd unite is staying even with everyone else 2nd unite.

 

[dude12]

The defense from our backup guards, Sessions and Stauskas, is killing the second unit. If these 2 guys could keep their men in front, we wouldn't have to rely on Landry and Evans to clean up their mess because they are not that type of bigs. I guess you could replace Landry or Evans but it still doesn't change the fact that the defense of a sessions and Stauskas is on par with IT and Fredette. Defense starts with thoe 2 guards. Look at our defense with Collison and Ben....significantly better than last year.

In the thread from about 2-3 weeks ago mentioning that Ben may be more of the 3 and D guy....I mentioned that he guy to trade, if we were to trade 1 of our young SGs would be Nik. Now we don't have to trade him but I sure as hell wish we had a Toney Douglass off the bench instead of Nik and Ray for Sessions. Nik will be a fine player but this team can make the playoffs and letting our rookie struggle through his rookie season in such a big role is not what we need. Sessions has not played to his potential offensively which makes him a negative cause his defense sucks.

 

[Bricklayer]

And how many calls on Boogie were actually bad calls?
I don't like the soft approach to the game the NBA prefers nowadays, but Cousins has to play like the ref's want him to play in order to stay on the court. Don't reach, don't use your arms and elbows excessively...
The days of physical Bigman-Play are over. Cousins is the last one, of this kind of players.
For me as an international NBA-Fan it was kind of an eye-opener, when i watched the FIBA-WC and Cousins was allowed to physically dominate his opponents, like i haven't seen it ever in an NBA game.

A disturbingly high number actually.

And a number more close calls.

Cousins has only had a couple of poor reach in/swipe calls on the year, and yet he's getting called for MORE fouls than he ever has before. As for the rest, if the NBA refs are a bunch of pussies that FIBA fans mock, that is on the league, not Cuz, who is not remotely the most physical player in NBA history. put another way, are you seriously telling me that if Shaquille O'Neal entered the league today the refs would not let him play/shut down the career of one of the 10 best players of all time? If the answer to that is yes, then that is a huge indictment of the refs and league. The NBA rules on interior play have not changed nearly so much as the ones on the perimeter.

 

[pshn80]

The bench is the problem Nik/DWill for Afflalo solves that problem and our 3 point shooting. With landry/AA those 2 scorers alone can make sure our 2nd unite is staying even with everyone else 2nd unite.

Don't trade Nik, he offers far too much in the near future for us. I've put my roll on him.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

And to think of how little Denver gave up to get Afflalo this offseason. SMH

 

[Kingston Jamaica]

I think that it is not correct to put this loss on the bench. The game was lost in the last (4th) quarter in which the Grizzlies outscored the Kings by 16 points. However, the Kings too scored 19 points in that quarter. That was good enough and the loss was actually the result of bad defense.
I would not be too harsh on Ben Mac. He was simply not experienced enough to handle that situation. If he had been aware of the clock, he should not have embraced that rebound, but just escaped the foul for another second finishing the time. It was simple to foul a standing man.

 

[Bricklayer]

Before people get too fascinated with the Afflalo idea, this is him this year:

12.7pts (.379 .261 .867)4.2reb 2.0ast 0.6stl

and crap defense to boot. Slow start? Very likely. But still having all the impact of a wet noodle. He's dead out there, which is right in line with the rest of that team without Karl there to goose them and trick them into thinking they are better than they are.

 

[captain bill]

"fun" little stat on Boogie v. the refs that I encountered today:

Boogie's fouls by game:

Gm1: 5
Gm2: 5
Gm3: 4
Gm4: 3
Gm5: 6
Gm6: 6
Gm7: 5
Gm8: 5
Gm9: 5
-------------
44 in 9 gms = 4.9/gm = pace for 401 fouls if he played 82 games.

The all time NBA record for fouls is Daryl Dawkins with 386 in 81gms. And nobody else is even close. If it feels like there is a blizzard of whistles against Cousins, its because there is. In fact the refs have never kept up a pace like this for a full season against any player in NBA history. You want to protest something we can actually win? Protest that. Plaster it around. Make it a thing and a point of embarrassment.

Is there a ref assignment of our games to date? My theory is that refs are making a lot of calls against Boogie the first time they see him this season, for a variety of reasons (asserting control, testing his composure, ego-showboating, etc.)

I'm fairly certain the refs don't pay that much attention to games they're not working, and probably won't really notice a change in his demeanor until they've seen him 2 or 3 times. My (speculative) hope is that as the season wears on they will respect him more, and hopefully back off targeting him as aggressively as they have so far this year.

 

[VF21]

They never make that call in the NBA. Honestly, that's another bad defensive play. Running and leaping at a 3 point shooter to make a block, which very nearly resulted in a foul. The proper play from the much longer player, is to stay in front with hands up. If he happens to make over the top, then it's a great shot....instead of a wide open shot and/or free throw line

if memory serves (and it might not), isn't that the kind of travel the officials suddenly started calling on C-Webb in the playoffs after Mark Cuban sent a tape to the NBA?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Is there a ref assignment of our games to date? My theory is that refs are making a lot of calls against Boogie the first time they see him this season, for a variety of reasons (asserting control, testing his composure, ego-showboating, etc.)

I'm fairly certain the refs don't pay that much attention to games they're not working, and probably won't really notice a change in his demeanor until they've seen him 2 or 3 times. My (speculative) hope is that as the season wears on they will respect him more, and hopefully back off targeting him as aggressively as they have so far this year.

Well, through the first nine games, the only official to referee two Kings games is Monty McCutcheon, who is the referee who called Cousins for the technical.

 

[KingsFanGER]

A disturbingly high number actually.

And a number more close calls.

Cousins has only had a couple of poor reach in/swipe calls on the year, and yet he's getting called for MORE fouls than he ever has before. As for the rest, if the NBA refs are a bunch of pussies that FIBA fans mock, that is on the league, not Cuz, who is not remotely the most physical player in NBA history. put another way, are you seriously telling me that if Shaquille O'Neal entered the league today the refs would not let him play/shut down the career of one of the 10 best players of all time? If the answer to that is yes, then that is a huge indictment of the refs and league. The NBA rules on interior play have not changed nearly so much as the ones on the perimeter.

I didn't mock anyone and didn't make an indictment. I you want to go into the extreme - yes i guess Shaq would be called differently today.
The Kings are a pretty physical team at the moment. Cousins uses his body and his arms to his advantage. This is rare, if you watch other scoring Big-Man like Aldridge, Nowitzki for example.
Cousins played very hard on the defensive end in FIBA-WC and rarely got called for a foul. He tries to play with the same intensity on the defensive end in the NBA and is in Foul Trouble in every game.
If you aren't thinking that the reason for this is just a bias of the refs regarding DMC, you can come to the conclusion, that the international rules allow a bit more physicality than the NBA.

 

[Bricklayer]

I didn't mock anyone and didn't make an indictment. I you want to go into the extreme - yes i guess Shaq would be called differently today.
The Kings are a pretty physical team at the moment. Cousins uses his body and his arms to his advantage. This is rare, if you watch other scoring Big-Man like Aldridge, Nowitzki for example.
Cousins played very hard on the defensive end in FIBA-WC and rarely got called for a foul. He tries to play with the same intensity on the defensive end in the NBA and is in Foul Trouble in every game.
If you aren't thinking that the reason for this is just a bias of the refs regarding DMC, you can come to the conclusion, that the international rules allow a bit more physicality than the NBA.

I wasn't saying YOU were mocking anyone. I meant FIBA fans in general. Its been a longstanding NBA saw that Euros are jump shooting wussies, and the REAL men were over here stateside. To pussify the NBA game to such a degree that now that situation was reversed and your NBA big guys are squeaking and whining like somebody just pulled their pigtails after nap hour would be pathetic.

Your point about Cousins getting used to FIBA reffing is however a good one that I have pondered making before. The problem is I have watched all of Cuz's fouls, and he really HASN'T been thugging excessively in there. The fact that the refs won't let Drummond play this year would lend further credence to the idea. On the other hand A.D. is the golden boy and the refs would no more dare call a foul on him than they would on Jordan.