Feel free to be an optimist, season is still young.
Don't mistake the complaints about Karl for not having Cuz as not having Cuz doesn't touch on issues with the system, rotations and apparent poor preparation/game planning defensively. Separate topics. No Cuz doesn't address those issues. Cuz however is good enough to cover those issues at times.
Don't mistake the complaints about Karl for not having Cuz as not having Cuz doesn't touch on issues with the system, rotations and apparent poor preparation/game planning defensively. Separate topics. No Cuz doesn't address those issues. Cuz however is good enough to cover those issues at times.
K
I'm willing to give Karl as well as Rudy/Rondo 20 games with a healthy Cuz to see what we have it were are 5-10 games below 500. it's time to pull the pin and trade Rudy/Rondo for players in the mold of Marcus Morris/Jae Crowder and a PG in the mold of George Hill and similar type players. If this scenario plays out I'm playing Willie 30mins + a game to develop him next to Cuz. To me the only 3 players worth keeping on the current roster if this does play out are Cuz/WCS and Collison (due to his deal being good).
I'm keeping Gay too. We saw how well Collison/Gay/Cousins worked together last year. I think it would be a mistake breaking that trio up.
I have said it before, and I'll say it again. I was against the Rondo signing when it happened. That doesn't mean I don't think he can return to the level of play before his injuries (or at least close to it). It means even if he does return to that level of play, I still don't think he is a very good compliment with Cousins and Gay. He's too ball dominant and doesn't provide enough spacing for those two to operate. I would like to see Collison in a starting role again with those two next year. He plays solid defense, can spread the floor, score when needed, and help facilitate the offense. With him starting, we obviously lose his scoring punch off the bench. I would like to see us go after Jeremy Lin in the offseason. I would imagine he would use his player option and opt out of his $2.2 mil deal to get a bigger payday. If we could sign him, he would take over for Collison in that bench scoring role. Not to mention he is a solid 3pt shooter which would allow us to spread the floor at the PG spot for the entire game (giving Cousins and Gay more room to operate).
As for our SG situation, I've been trying to watch the Hawks as much as possible this year. Bazemore is looking more and more like the player I would hope he would become. He's got excellent size and length at SG (6'5" w/ a 7'0" wingspan), he's a solid athlete, defends very well, knocks down threes, and plays within himself. He would look very good as our starting SG. I hope we make a run at him in FA next year. If not, Courtney Lee is a UFA next year as well and he would be another solid 3 and D SG that could fill the void.
At SF, I think we're pretty much set with Gay, Casspi, & Butler. However, I'd like us to bring in a SF who is known as a better defender to give us more flexibility in certain matchups. For all of his issues off the court, grabbing a guy like Matt Barnes would be beneficial during times when we need to slow down a SF. Considering he's a local guy and that we're likely to be competitive by this time, perhaps a minimum deal is all that is warranted.
As for our big man situation, I'm perfectly okay with continuing on with a Cousins/Cauley-Stein/Koufos combination as long as Cauley-Stein is starting and we have one of Cousins or Koufos on the floor at all times. Cousins and Koufos should not be playing together for long stretches. I also really like Moreland, but I'd prefer him to be in that 5th big role. That leaves our 4th big. I don't think we have found this player yer, but I do think it would be wise for this big to be a stretch 4. We have almost every other skill covered through our other 4 bigs. It would be wise and help to balance the roster if we have a PF that could stretch the floor. If McLemore doesn't work out this year and we decide to move on, I'd like to see a trade of Mclemore for Jerebko. It works salary wise, and Jerebko is not getting much use with Johnson, Zeller, Olynyk, & Sullinger in front of him. Not to mention Boston is still looking to collect young assets. The trade obviously helps us now while it gives them a shot at developing a young player down the road.
I think this team would be much better than the one Vlade assembled for us this year:
PG - Collison/Lin/Curry
SG - Bazemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Barnes/Butler
PF - Cauley-Stein/Jerebko/Moreland
C - Cousins/Koufos
This team is much more balanced and is tailored to Cousins and Gay. What's the point of having star players if you're not going to build around them? Both Cousins and Gay have 3 shooters to spread the floor (Collison, Bazemore, Gay/Cousins) and a consistent lob threat (Cauley-Stein). The spacing should be much better which should limit turnovers and make the offense run much more smoothly. And if we can't steal an easy basket on the break with our excellent athletes (Collison, Bazemore, & Cauley-Stein), we can easily back it out and run it through Cousins and Gay. On defense, you have 4 players who are good to great defenders in the starting unit in Collison, Bazemore, Cauley-Stein, & Cousins. Rim protection would be solid with Cauley-Stein & Cousins roaming the paint, and Cauley-Stein helps us limit pick & roll effectiveness. This starting unit also has the ability to grow together as none of them will be very old next year (29, 27, 30, 23, & 26).
As for the bench, it would be spear headed by Lin, Belinelli, & Koufos with Casspi, Barnes, & Jerebko filling in here and there. We should have plenty of playmaking and scoring off the bench to give us one of the better benches in the league. Not to mention Barnes & Koufos would come in to give us some more toughness and defense. More importantly, our bench players continue to compliment our star players by being able to play off the ball and having the ability to knock down open 3s (Lin, Curry, Belinelli, Anderson, Casspi, Barnes, Butler, & Jerebko). All of those players would continue to help make things easy on the offensive end for Cousins and Gay while Koufos continues to clog the paint and clear the glass while Cousins is taking a breather.
If only, if only...
I have said it before, and I'll say it again. I was against the Rondo signing when it happened. That doesn't mean I don't think he can return to the level of play before his injuries (or at least close to it). It means even if he does return to that level of play, I still don't think he is a very good compliment with Cousins and Gay. He's too ball dominant and doesn't provide enough spacing for those two to operate. I would like to see Collison in a starting role again with those two next year. He plays solid defense, can spread the floor, score when needed, and help facilitate the offense. With him starting, we obviously lose his scoring punch off the bench. I would like to see us go after Jeremy Lin in the offseason. I would imagine he would use his player option and opt out of his $2.2 mil deal to get a bigger payday. If we could sign him, he would take over for Collison in that bench scoring role. Not to mention he is a solid 3pt shooter which would allow us to spread the floor at the PG spot for the entire game (giving Cousins and Gay more room to operate).
As for our SG situation, I've been trying to watch the Hawks as much as possible this year. Bazemore is looking more and more like the player I would hope he would become. He's got excellent size and length at SG (6'5" w/ a 7'0" wingspan), he's a solid athlete, defends very well, knocks down threes, and plays within himself. He would look very good as our starting SG. I hope we make a run at him in FA next year. If not, Courtney Lee is a UFA next year as well and he would be another solid 3 and D SG that could fill the void.
At SF, I think we're pretty much set with Gay, Casspi, & Butler. However, I'd like us to bring in a SF who is known as a better defender to give us more flexibility in certain matchups. For all of his issues off the court, grabbing a guy like Matt Barnes would be beneficial during times when we need to slow down a SF. Considering he's a local guy and that we're likely to be competitive by this time, perhaps a minimum deal is all that is warranted.
As for our big man situation, I'm perfectly okay with continuing on with a Cousins/Cauley-Stein/Koufos combination as long as Cauley-Stein is starting and we have one of Cousins or Koufos on the floor at all times. Cousins and Koufos should not be playing together for long stretches. I also really like Moreland, but I'd prefer him to be in that 5th big role. That leaves our 4th big. I don't think we have found this player yer, but I do think it would be wise for this big to be a stretch 4. We have almost every other skill covered through our other 4 bigs. It would be wise and help to balance the roster if we have a PF that could stretch the floor. If McLemore doesn't work out this year and we decide to move on, I'd like to see a trade of Mclemore for Jerebko. It works salary wise, and Jerebko is not getting much use with Johnson, Zeller, Olynyk, & Sullinger in front of him. Not to mention Boston is still looking to collect young assets. The trade obviously helps us now while it gives them a shot at developing a young player down the road.
I think this team would be much better than the one Vlade assembled for us this year:
PG - Collison/Lin/Curry
SG - Bazemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Barnes/Butler
PF - Cauley-Stein/Jerebko/Moreland
C - Cousins/Koufos
This team is much more balanced and is tailored to Cousins and Gay. What's the point of having star players if you're not going to build around them? Both Cousins and Gay have 3 shooters to spread the floor (Collison, Bazemore, Gay/Cousins) and a consistent lob threat (Cauley-Stein). The spacing should be much better which should limit turnovers and make the offense run much more smoothly. And if we can't steal an easy basket on the break with our excellent athletes (Collison, Bazemore, & Cauley-Stein), we can easily back it out and run it through Cousins and Gay. On defense, you have 4 players who are good to great defenders in the starting unit in Collison, Bazemore, Cauley-Stein, & Cousins. Rim protection would be solid with Cauley-Stein & Cousins roaming the paint, and Cauley-Stein helps us limit pick & roll effectiveness. This starting unit also has the ability to grow together as none of them will be very old next year (29, 27, 30, 23, & 26).
As for the bench, it would be spear headed by Lin, Belinelli, & Koufos with Casspi, Barnes, & Jerebko filling in here and there. We should have plenty of playmaking and scoring off the bench to give us one of the better benches in the league. Not to mention Barnes & Koufos would come in to give us some more toughness and defense. More importantly, our bench players continue to compliment our star players by being able to play off the ball and having the ability to knock down open 3s (Lin, Curry, Belinelli, Anderson, Casspi, Barnes, Butler, & Jerebko). All of those players would continue to help make things easy on the offensive end for Cousins and Gay while Koufos continues to clog the paint and clear the glass while Cousins is taking a breather.
If only, if only...
I'm not ready to make ANY judgements regarding team, coach, rotations, or plays. It is far too early, and the schedule has been a real killer. Majority of the teams we have faced are playoff teams. The schedule tends to even out over time. In 20 games where are we? In 30 games? I agree that the trajectory is not good, but that doesn't mean the jet is gonna crash on takeoff. At any time they can pull up on the stick and shoot straight up and be flying high. At that point I will be cautioning those who will be thinking we are leaving the atmosphere. It's a long flight... relax and eat your peanuts....
Yes, and if one were to look into the archives, they'd probably be able to find a "Fire So-and-so" thread for every Kings coach all the way back to ole Rick.
Calling for the coach's head is a grand tradition in these parts!
Calling for the coach's head is a grand tradition in these parts!
The thread is comical. However, there is a philosophy and scheme problem that many of us saw from the beginning. Put any name or description to it, but Karl is basically playing street ball. Read and react, dribble drive. It's freelance. It will only get you so far in the NBA in my opinion. It's also the reason Karl doesn't like younger players who need guidance. There is nothing to guide. React.
Same goes for the defense. Sag in the lane and switch everything. React and recover. Problem comes from when you're not good enough to recover. Or when you're opponent stands at the 3pt line and there is more ground to make up. Or constantly switch into unfavorable matchups. Clippers exploited this mercilessly.
We keep pointing the fingers at individual players. If we just trade this guy. If we had only kept that one. If we start this one it will all be better. But the reality is that Karl's style doesn't match our personnel.
Same goes for the defense. Sag in the lane and switch everything. React and recover. Problem comes from when you're not good enough to recover. Or when you're opponent stands at the 3pt line and there is more ground to make up. Or constantly switch into unfavorable matchups. Clippers exploited this mercilessly.
We keep pointing the fingers at individual players. If we just trade this guy. If we had only kept that one. If we start this one it will all be better. But the reality is that Karl's style doesn't match our personnel.
Fire Vlade? No, he's doing a good job. The team is the one doing a lousy job. We could move to a half court game. We would lose anyway. Bench Ben. Been there done that. Sit down, pick a set of starters (your best players) and stick with them. Cuz isn't the problem and he is not the solution. Team, team, team. Pretend like you are going to have to win with 5 and pick 'em and play 'em. All will be well.
Well firing Karl at this point would be dumb. I do think he needs to make adjustments and I think he knows it.
Anderson started last night and Ben came off the bench. Expect to see more of this and if Ben does not improve soon Curry will take his minutes.
I think Karl needs to switch up his defense and play zone from time to time. Also he needs to have two Bigs in at all times. And Rudy is not a Big. Last night Rudy got in foul trouble because he was banging with bigger players. Leave Gay at the 3 where he has a size advantage. Let Moreland and Acy play a few minutes to dish out and absorb some punishment. That is parts of a Bigs job
Lastly Rudy and DeMarcus need to get the ball closer to the basket. Both of them can operate in traffic and use their size to draw fouls. Rudy just needs to rise up and shoot the J. Big Cuz can use his size to clear space and put it in the hoop or pass to the open shooter.
My early assessment of the Dribble Drive is that it kind of sucks. But it is early and my criticism may be premature.
Where oh where is the pick and roll???
Anderson started last night and Ben came off the bench. Expect to see more of this and if Ben does not improve soon Curry will take his minutes.
I think Karl needs to switch up his defense and play zone from time to time. Also he needs to have two Bigs in at all times. And Rudy is not a Big. Last night Rudy got in foul trouble because he was banging with bigger players. Leave Gay at the 3 where he has a size advantage. Let Moreland and Acy play a few minutes to dish out and absorb some punishment. That is parts of a Bigs job
Lastly Rudy and DeMarcus need to get the ball closer to the basket. Both of them can operate in traffic and use their size to draw fouls. Rudy just needs to rise up and shoot the J. Big Cuz can use his size to clear space and put it in the hoop or pass to the open shooter.
My early assessment of the Dribble Drive is that it kind of sucks. But it is early and my criticism may be premature.
Where oh where is the pick and roll???
That sounds all well and good, but in reality, you either let a coach coach, or you fire him. No good coach worth his salt is going to let a GM, an owner, or anyone else dictate how he or she coaches a team. If anyone thinks that would work with Karl, they're crazy. The owner of the Nuggets demanded Karl play McGee, and Karl refused, and despite his winning season, he was fired. As for us playing a halfcourt type offense, there's not much chance of that until Cousins returns. As far as firing him goes, it's a ridiculous idea. You want Cousins to stay here? Do you think he'll be willing to do that if you fire his coach five games into the season. How do you think the national media would react. Once again we'd be the laughing stock of the NBA. Do you really think (not you) that any reputable coach would want to come here?
Karl is one of the best coaches in the NBA if you just measure wins and losses. You don't fire a coach with his reputation five games into the season. You have to give him some time to work this out
Karl is one of the best coaches in the NBA if you just measure wins and losses. You don't fire a coach with his reputation five games into the season. You have to give him some time to work this out