The organization is in a bad state
Vlade never had the credentials to be appointed to his job, and that leads into ownership. But either way, I don’t have confidence in the organizations brain trust to make forward thinking moves (Okafor etc) or systematic strategies (signing the vets) that I agree with
The organizations young talent hasn’t produced. Skal has been nothing this season. Fox has been not a factor. Jackson hasn’t produced. WCS is now a ceiling role bench guy. The youth has not shown out
So now we are watching random vets with youth not producing, it’s a bottom 5 situation
Somewhere in this thread it was mentioned Willie played well yesterday. Not really.
12-6-4-2 in 33 minutes was an improvement over his putrid game vs KAT but we needed more. We needed 18-12 or more.
The Raptors were switching Lowry and DeRozan onto him in the post and Willie cannot make the defender pay.
I have said it all along. You cannot run offense through Willie. Not creative enough. Not intuitive enough. Not good enough.
Willie has a mismatch on the high post or low post and things are slow to unfold and they don't unfold at all.
The guy is a finisher with spot shots and lobs. He's not a creator.
His offensive limitations would be fine if he was a defensive presence a la Rudy Gobert and DeAndre Jordan and cleaned the glass. But he's not.
Offensive boards are there for the taking with Willie on the floor. And when is the last time Willie took an offensive charge?
Why should fans invest emotionally in a player like Willie when he is not investing his mind, body and soul in being an impact player?
With Z-Bo out we needed at least 25 points between Skal and Willie. We got 12.
Willie throws these interior passes in traffic that are hit and miss. The team as a whole throws a lot of shuffle passes to Koufos so he can squirt that ugly flip shot up there.
When your offense is resigned to Koufos flip shots you know it is going to be a struggle!
You know you are low octane offense!
Now here is the sad thing: Compared to Skal Willie has been an indomitable force!
When the season started I said we needed 2 of the 3 starting front court positions capably manned to shock and awe and win 40 games with the strength of the team being the backcourt.
Skal, Willie and Jackson were the prime candidates to assume these spots by the midseason. Well, this collective hope has been a colossal bust.
I have very little faith and confidence in a GM who would value Justin Jackson over AG Anunoby. Jackson was NOT even on my radar pre-draft. Skinny kid, unassuming, average athlete.
I like players who can be positive contributors when their shot is not going in. Anunoby was as comfortable yesterday guarding Willie as he was switching out onto a guard.
Anunoby is a rare breed with extraordinary length and lateral mobility and power to his game in a league in which this type of player is extremely scarce and valuable. Swing and miss!
If the Kings were comfortable taking Giles with his ACL injury why not AG?
Vlade better hope Harry Giles is the next Chris Webber or he is going to be out of a job within 12-18 months.