Rudy Gay to play at the 4?

#93
I think that it won't be smart for us to deny the idea of Rudy starting at the PF position, we are yet to know how coach Karl is going to use him if he is going to play at the spot, I think Rudy Gay has a good potential as a stretch four guy, he is pretty strong, long, quick and aggressive so I believe he can handle the more heavy and bigger power forwards in the league, in addition, Gay as a PF will be able to lure his defender to guard him from places like the 3-pt line, which means that then Rudy will be able to exploit the situation in order to take the shot or use his quickness benefits to drive to the paint or make the quick pass for Cousins and in that way the team will be able to space the floor for DeMarcus Cousins.

People here offered a starting five of Collison, Ben, Nic, Gay and Cousins, but thus far Nic didn't prove that he deserves a spot in the starting line-up.
I would obviously recommend Casspi as the starting small- forward is Gay is going to play as a power- forward, since Casspi has already proved he can play team basketball, and he makes smart plays and can also gaurd small- forwards and also somewhat of the shooting guards, I believe Casspi is the ideal player for the small- forward spot if coach Karl is going to stick to this scheme.

I believe he should try it because I really reckon that Rudy can be perfect as a PF.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#95
Small ball= fail

I can't even think of the last team to win a ring playing like that. And no miami doesn't count since they got 3 top 10 players in the league in the worst conference.
Don't mistake the ability to go small when it's advantageous for the philosophy of always going small. When you have only one legitimate starting big and one coming off the bench, you don't really have that many options. It's not like we have hordes of bigs that Karl will be overlooking.
 
#97
I just hope Karl watches film of the Malone DMC & Gay connection.

I remember in late game situations he would have them run the 2 man game with them and it worked amazing!

Never saw that with Corbin.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#98
I just hope Karl watches film of the Malone DMC & Gay connection.

I remember in late game situations he would have them run the 2 man game with them and it worked amazing!

Never saw that with Corbin.
I think it's safe to assume that George Karl has done a lot of film watching while he waited for the Kings to reach out to him. This is George Karl we're talking about. It was clear he wanted this job and I'm positive he did as much prep as humanly possible. He wants one more shot at a championship and that means knowing as much as possible ahead of time about what he's walking into.

There are lots of things we can worry about. Whether or not George Karl watches films of his players isn't one of them.
 

rainmaker

Hall of Famer
#99
I do to. Also, after listening to the post practice interview with Karl, I'll just keep my mouth shut about what he says in the next few days. Now that doesn't mean I won't type.
Could be as simple as replacing DWill's mins at backup 4 with Rudy in an attempt to bolster our bench for stretches and get Omri some more run. I have no problem if that's the case.

Or it could be something else, we'll just have to wait and see. I expect a new PF in July and a fair amount of roster turnover this summer and we're not really going to see what Karl wants and what his plan is until next Oct. Would be my best guess anyway.
 
Experienced coaches think a lot about match-ups. They try to keep their best players on the floor considering the opposition. Karl is very good at making these sorts of decisions. Fans need to learn to trust him and not worry about it. The Front Office is a different story. They need to get out of the way.
 
Karl's teams have always played with pace, not sure why this is a surprise to anyone. Has anyone ever watched the old Sonics or Nuggets games? He's never had a true center who played on the block, it was always a fast paced game. That being said, I will give him at least 30 games before I start shaking my head over things said AFTER HIS FIRST PRACTICE.


We should have won that playoff series.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Karl's teams have always played with pace, not sure why this is a surprise to anyone. Has anyone ever watched the old Sonics or Nuggets games? He's never had a true center who played on the block, it was always a fast paced game. That being said, I will give him at least 30 games before I start shaking my head over things said AFTER HIS FIRST PRACTICE.


We should have won that playoff series.
Actually they haven't as much as you might think. Did a post on that last week. We remember the Denver altitudeball and for some reason, I, like many, remember Seattle playing fast. But you actually look at the pace numbers and Seattle only played it fast for 2 seasons out of George's 8. The others were middle of the pack. Milwaulkee was middle of the pack. It wasn't until George hit Denver that he started to Nellie himself. Now being hired by one of the junkball rodents from that front office, working for a foolish wannabe junkballer in Vivek, I have real concerns we're going to be stuck with the aging junkballer and not the midtempo serious contending coach. But I am going to hold out hope here until I see him actually blowing it.
 
Last edited:
Not exactly true. The purpose was for them to start getting into the offense a lot quicker, instead of burning a majority of the clock running around aimlessly.
One of the images I remember of Adelman is Bibby or whoever playing point guard looking at him after a rebound or inbounds and him motioning his hands to stop looking at him and GO.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
Karl successfully played Wilson Chandler for spurts at the 4 so no reason why Rudy Gay can't do it, although Wilson is a more willing defender. No way he plays Rudy for long stretches at the 4.
 
Actually they haven;t as much as you might think. Did a post on that last week. We remember the Denver altitudeball and fro some reason, I, like many, remember Seattle playing fast. But you actually look at the pace numbers and Seattle only played it fast for 2 seasons out of George's 8. The others were middle of the pack. Milwaulkee was middle of the pack. It wasn't until George hit Denver that he started to Nellie himself. Now being hired by one of the junkball rodents from that front office, working for a foolish wannabe junkballer in Vivek, I have real concerns we're going to be stuck with the aging junkballer and not the midtempo serious contending coach. But I am going to hold out hope here until I see him actually blowing it.
There are still two ways of playing fast and one of them isn't covered by the pace stat. Of course you can push the ball and take shots as early in the clock as possible. If there is a good look, this is actually a very valid strategy and there are plenty of teams, that attack the defense early on in search of a high percentage look before the defense gets set. The criticism that this wouldn't benefit DMC is valid to some point, cause you can't always chuck up early shots, when your best player is a center, that usually takes his time to get into position.
But the second way to play fast is via ball and player movement. You don't necessarily shoot early in the clock, but your players move around fast all the time, the ball moves faster, than the defense can react, nobody holds the ball for more than a few seconds. This is the playstyle the Kings advocated for in my opinion (like most of the league, cause you know, everybody wants to be like the Spurs:rolleyes:) - always talking about quicker decision making, ball movement and attacking the defense.
But when you take a look at our actual play we failed to reach this goal. The ball sticks with Rudy or DMC all the time, it takes 15 seconds or more, before we start our offense, the ball movement is atrocious and flawed, DMC is easily doubled all the time.
I personally would be more than happy, when Karl refers to the second way, when he talks about playing fast.
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
This was one of my key questions: How would Karl use Gay? I like the move by Karl. Gay struggles on defense with many 3s because of their quickness. In fact, opposing coaches have sometimes matched up against Gay with some bigger 2s, in which case Gay is three steps behind. On the other hand, we seem to have no 4 on this roster who can guard against other 4s who like to shoot from the outside. Absolutely none. Gay can do that, no problem. It's all going to be about what works. It's not ideological; it's pragmatic. If it works with Gay at 4, that's what Karl will do; if it doesn't, he'll have him play the 3.
 
Why are fans so resistant change when their team is consistently losing?
I don't see the logic. You have to trust a successful coach, instead of questioning him before the first tip-off.
In my opinion JT has never really developed on the offensive side of the ball. He has a lot of nights with 3 points and 4 rebounds. We whines all the time. The 4 has been a weakness in Sacramento for a long time. The position is not consistent.
 
Why are fans so resistant change when their team is consistently losing?
I don't see the logic. You have to trust a successful coach, instead of questioning him before the first tip-off.
In my opinion JT has never really developed on the offensive side of the ball. He has a lot of nights with 3 points and 4 rebounds. We whines all the time. The 4 has been a weakness in Sacramento for a long time. The position is not consistent.
I'm just answering or giving you my opinion on why people are resistant to changes.

Emotional connections, varying experience in playing/coaching basketball, older or younger people mixing, salary cap knowledge differences.

And honestly many of the authorities, or the most visible people in the basketball community/media have varying biases, so it is expected they influence others.

Also the unpopular opinion that may or may not be right is less likely to get spoke in groups.
 
''The shots out there look differently because there is more spacing on the floor and more spacing to drive, not just for me, but for my teammates as well,'' said Gay, who started again at power forward. ''But at the 4 (power forward) I can be more creative and do more things.

This is what basketball is going to, the athletic 4. I think I still have some athletic juice left in my body so I might as well use it.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kings-win-second-straight-beat-wizards-109-86-003516022--nba.html
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
''The shots out there look differently because there is more spacing on the floor and more spacing to drive, not just for me, but for my teammates as well,'' said Gay, who started again at power forward. ''But at the 4 (power forward) I can be more creative and do more things.

This is what basketball is going to, the athletic 4. I think I still have some athletic juice left in my body so I might as well use it.''

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kings-win-second-straight-beat-wizards-109-86-003516022--nba.html
Now never mind that in the West, the power conference, the playoff PFs are going to be Zach Randolph, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tiago Splitter, Donatas Montiejunas, Dirk Nowitzki, and either Serge Ibaka or Anthony ****ing Davis, hey, the Warriors have supplanted David Lee with Draymond Green, so Warriors! Woohoo!

Clearly 6'9" 230 SFs are the way the PF position is headed amongst the good teams.


It may however legitimately make it easier for Rudy to up his ppg, so understandable joy and all that.
 
Now never mind that in the West, the power conference, the playoff PFs are going to be Zach Randolph, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tiago Splitter, Donatas Montiejunas, Dirk Nowitzki, and either Serge Ibaka or Anthony ****ing Davis, hey, the Warriors have supplanted David Lee with Draymond Green, so Warriors! Woohoo!
IMO, in that list only Zach Randolph would really grind down low. But I think Karl would make adjustments for Memphis and put a bruiser next to Zach instead of Rudy.
Anyway, we got nothing to lose at this time of the year except for the lottery chances.
If scoring 30pts a game would make Rudy excited for next season, then let it continue.
 
Now never mind that in the West, the power conference, the playoff PFs are going to be Zach Randolph, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tiago Splitter, Donatas Montiejunas, Dirk Nowitzki, and either Serge Ibaka or Anthony ****ing Davis, hey, the Warriors have supplanted David Lee with Draymond Green, so Warriors! Woohoo!

Clearly 6'9" 230 SFs are the way the PF position is headed amongst the good teams.


It may however legitimately make it easier for Rudy to up his ppg, so understandable joy and all that.
I'd trust Gay to guard Montie, Dirk, Ibaka, and Green, so that's half. Go big with JT or his equivalent replacement against Z-Bo, Griffin, LMA, Splitter (although Pop sometimes goes with Diaw for major minutes and Gay should fare fine against him), or Davis.

Against the west non-playoff teams? Gay would be ok against Morris, and whoever the Wolves, Lakers, and Nuggets are throwing out these days. Favors would be the only real concern.

Out east? Easy. I'd be worried about Gasol. Bosh when healthy (although they were playing him mostly at C until Whiteside emerged, Gay could do fine against their original starting PF, McRoberts). Maybe Monroe and West, and Millsap. I would have thought Nene, but last night showed otherwise. No one else, really.

So, Gay can't hang at PF against six or seven of the 15 other teams out West, and maybe five or six of the 16 teams out East. Not that big of a deal.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
I'd trust Gay to guard Montie, Dirk, Ibaka, and Green, so that's half. Go big with JT or his equivalent replacement against Z-Bo, Griffin, LMA, Splitter (although Pop sometimes goes with Diaw for major minutes and Gay should fare fine against him), or Davis.

Against the west non-playoff teams? Gay would be ok against Morris, and whoever the Wolves, Lakers, and Nuggets are throwing out these days. Favors would be the only real concern.

Out east? Easy. I'd be worried about Gasol. Bosh when healthy (although they were playing him mostly at C until Whiteside emerged, Gay could do fine against their original starting PF, McRoberts). Maybe Monroe and West, and Millsap. I would have thought Nene, but last night showed otherwise. No one else, really.

So, Gay can't hang at PF against six or seven of the 15 other teams out West, and maybe five or six of the 16 teams out East. Not that big of a deal.
Maybe it's a good thing for Rudy since his athletic ability will slowly start to creep downwards maybe playing against slower players who can't burn him off the triple threat position will be a good thing and he won't get the ball knocked away from him dribbling on offense against players much slower than him, they will back up from him and give him plenty of open looks or else they will be on the receiving end of a poster.

Good post btw.
 
I'd trust Gay to guard Montie, Dirk, Ibaka, and Green, so that's half. Go big with JT or his equivalent replacement against Z-Bo, Griffin, LMA, Splitter (although Pop sometimes goes with Diaw for major minutes and Gay should fare fine against him), or Davis.

Against the west non-playoff teams? Gay would be ok against Morris, and whoever the Wolves, Lakers, and Nuggets are throwing out these days. Favors would be the only real concern.

Out east? Easy. I'd be worried about Gasol. Bosh when healthy (although they were playing him mostly at C until Whiteside emerged, Gay could do fine against their original starting PF, McRoberts). Maybe Monroe and West, and Millsap. I would have thought Nene, but last night showed otherwise. No one else, really.

So, Gay can't hang at PF against six or seven of the 15 other teams out West, and maybe five or six of the 16 teams out East. Not that big of a deal.
Motie will destroy Rudy in the post, while lacking in strength a bit, Donatas has a few crisp moves (probably, hanging out with McHale too much), and Dirk will just bring him in high post and drain jumpers over Gay all day. Green was a post player in college, though he was much bulkier and it was 4 years ago, so Rudy might be OK, but I wouldn't bet on that. Good luck trying to handle Randle and preventing Faried from scoring off the ball as well. I remember, Ryan Anderson was scoring on Kings in the post in the last game. It was only 2 possessions, and I don't remember, who was abused, but a lot of weak PFs in the NBA were foundation of their college team's post offense, so they know a thing or two about how to score inside. Just because they hide on the perimeter from strength and length of NBA bigs, doesn't mean they stay there, once you asked them, "Hey, wanna feel like you're back in college?"