No way will this keep up.
This was a dog and pony show - Denver barely tried.
They repeatedly quick-shot bad 3's, barely tried on defense, and if the refs allowed the Kings to play handsy defense like this when Demarcus was here, they would have been a top 4 seed in the West.
Did anyone notice the refs, the clock-keeper, and Michael Malone all allowed the ball to be resting on the ground in the backcourt in front of Lawson, with the game clock running down, yet the shot clock was staying at 24, and noone said anything?!
I've never witnessed that in all my years of watching the NBA -
this was a gift game from the league to the Kings, because the Kings org probably whined to the league, saying their bottom line was in danger, blah blah.
I know we all see what we want to see, but it's games like this that reveal the inner-workings of the NBA to me - showing how much the league can dictate who wins a game, IMO.
Excuse me but are you the mayor of Trollsville, USA? Willie Cauley Franken Stein terrorized the opposition and will give them bone chilling nightmares for weeks. But this flies in contrast with your limited perception of Trill Dollar Bill, what he can do when he gets comfortable and confident, so you refuse to deny his dominant potential rising to the surface and soaring high like a purple feathered eagle reaching for the stars!
No one is game planning for Buddy (rookie 9 PER), Skal (who? says the NBA), Willie (6 PPG) and Tyreke (damaged goods) who amassed 72 points on 62% FGs. But the play sets the team is running is not calling their numbers. We run the plays for the best shot. Can't game plan too much against that! With Boogie cast aside with callous disregard, the team is going to increase its pace per game by 5 to 10 possessions and spread the wealth. They are going to abandon low post offense (about 30-35%) with Boogie and run high pick and roll.
This is a pick and roll league with guards turning the corner and bigs diving to the rim and catching lobs. We have the personnel to do it well. With Ty, Collison and now Reke who can see over the top, we have guards who can break down the defense and throw it at the rim. And with Willie and Skal we have guys who can get it. Plumlee looked like he was playing with marbles in his pockets the way Willie was jumping over him.
Why would more of this meal of speed (guards) length (bigs) and execution (Joerger way) not be on the menu for the rest of the year? Only a cynic would deny the effort hustle and execution witnessed last night in most exciting game of the year! We kicked their butt without Malachi and Temple. Barnes is addition by subtraction. Affalo needs to never see another minute of court time as a Sacramento King. I will miss the dominance of Boogie, but I am excited by his massive usage rate being dispersed among other thirsty guys.
I am excited by the oxygen Boogie sucked out of the room with chronic griping being circulated and breathed again. This does not change the fact that Vlade made a terrible impulsive trade, and if he would not have panicked I think he could have had 2019 pick from the Pelicans by the deadline or better deal from the Lakers (Ingram, Clarkson). But it does mean Vlade can be vindicated and his muddied name washed clean if the assets he is betting upon grow as one.
One of my initial reactions to the trade was to be deemed success Buddy has to be a star. I said before the draft and say again now Buddy has star potential. He changes ends really well at OSU and did so last night. This means he's gonna fill lanes for early offense to shoot the three. Buddy also has fantastic footwork, a quick release on a set shot from deep like Curry and Klay. Buddy also can go left, finish with his left hand and maintain his dribble in traffic. He's not afraid of contact and gets after it defensively.
None of the aforementioned traits could you assign to Stauskas or Ben early on or maybe even today. So Buddy needs to turn into a 15-20 PPG scorer hopefully the rest of this season and build on that. Willie and Skal need to rely on their guards and continue to take high percentage looks and make hustle plays. As long as this occurs we are not going to have games like last night every time, but there will be a respectability to collective performance to make the fans proud.
