[Game] Kings at Celtics, 1/25/2022 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET
- Thread starter Capt. Factorial
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It's not perfect, but on paper I think it can work. The key is Tyrese putting on 20 pounds. Until then he's going to be controlled on both ends with one hand when it comes to physical play most nights. That said, they have to play small ball. Spacing, pick and roll, defensive switching is even more key with them than most modern teams. Your pick and roll is only as good as the spacing around it. Fox spacing for Haliburton isn't ideal already. Haliburton running pick and roll when he can't physically break through doubles or bump guys off is only as good as what the defense is going to give you.
Most of us have been here for the long stretch of badness. There is an old saying, don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. The Kings have been outside the playoff window for awhile. I would say so far that there are 3 names out of all of it that are where you want to be talent wise. Well 4 had they not completely sandbagged Bagley, but Cuz and Fox are the big hits, Haliburton is a score. Just because everything around them is total mismanaged garbage (Walton being allowed to hang on firstly) don't be so willing to toss it all.
He can't handle, break down a defense, goes to the floater every time, has no creative finishing ability and limited shot creation, and is very much on the slower and less athletic side for lead guards.
People call him a PG because he can playmake at a lead guard level. That doesn't make him one.
He's like super Bogi. People called him a PG because he could playmake and shoot (kinda).
People call him a PG because he can playmake at a lead guard level. That doesn't make him one.
He's like super Bogi. People called him a PG because he could playmake and shoot (kinda).
Fox had the team last year, all he did was put the team on his back even if they didn't make the playoffs. This is exactly why in the summer I was so concerned with the build Monte was going with. It did nothing to build on that. Nothing. That affects success and trade value. When you have neither, and you still do have talent? That's about an inexcusable as anything we've seen in the last 16 years.
And that begs the question who then? They'd obviously need to be able to go 1 on 1. They'd need to have slashing ability that doesn't always require a running start or a pick and roll. To me, the biggest mistake is again trying to change Fox around his teammates rather than the other way around. At least then even if it doesn't work trade value for Fox will be high. The Kings misused him for all but literally 1 season and that was last season.
You're talking contending though. I think they are just looking at 10th/9th/8th, haha. I think you can contend playoff wise with players of a talent level like Fox/Haliburton/Barnes, but, you can't just willy nilly build a team around them like they are LeBron/Durant. They aren't that. Therein lies the problem of teams like Boston. Know who your rocks are and always build around that. Anything else even if it's better value is going to end up less.
Pat Bev was a lead guard technically on a playoff team though. I think you slice off your true talent regardless of position and focus on that first. If contention is the goal, not having players that can consistently generate shots in an offense is fooling around. We as Kings fans know that having watching multiple iterations of teams without a player remotely capable of getting 20 PPG on average without really forcing the issue or relying on gimmicks. Pick your guys and build around that. Like I said, I think Fox can Haliburton can technically work but the problem is Monte might have waited beyond his window again. Once value drops, opportunity drops, and your actual record drops it doesn't matter what you want to do. You've boxed yourself in.
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