Sasha Watch 2022-2023

Good thing Sasha didn't come over last summer. Last summer he was still a relative unknown. I feel that if he came over last year before he broke out in Europe, he would had been buried on the Kings bench.

Now when he comes over as a proven commodity, he's going to command lots of touches and I feel he's going to play a big part in the Kings future success.
 
How are his handles? I'm not sure if his lack of dribbling is impressive or scary.
Ball handling is not a big part of his game. You don't want him to be the one bringing the ball up the court, but you won't get anxious if he ends up having to in those rare instances.

I would say he's better than Keegan. But again, ball handling isn't part of his game, so I'm not sure how much weight we should put on it.

There's pressure for Keegan to improve his handles because we want to make a star out of him. With Sasha, it's kinda like... meh. He'll be 28 and we already know what type of player we have in him. I don't think it'll hindrance the team in anyway. Play Sasha in this same exact role, and he'll give you the same results (minus less shots).
 
I just don't get from his interviews that he even cares about the NBA. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
given the Marc Stein and Sean Cunningham reports I’d assume he is interested in coming over. Brown and both his offensive and defensive coordinators have been over there plus the front office. I have to assume they would only do that if they had indication he would come over. In the end he might decide his life is great and he doesn’t need the NBA but that competitive itch often gets to these types of players
 
given the Marc Stein and Sean Cunningham reports I’d assume he is interested in coming over. Brown and both his offensive and defensive coordinators have been over there plus the front office. I have to assume they would only do that if they had indication he would come over. In the end he might decide his life is great and he doesn’t need the NBA but that competitive itch often gets to these types of players
Exactly, I can't see the Kings going over that many times if Sasha flat out said no, or they got the idea he had no intentions of coming over. I haven't delved too deeply into it but in the interviews I've seen with Sasha it certainly didn't seem like he didn't want to play in the NBA. Quite the opposite actually. I do however think he's going to make sure if he does come over it's not something that will be a bust for little money. If the Kings were the same gamble of a franchise still tarnishing anyone and everything around it then I could understand the apprehension, but I mean, is there a better franchise for him to come to when you watch his game?
 
Ball handling is not a big part of his game. You don't want him to be the one bringing the ball up the court, but you won't get anxious if he ends up having to in those rare instances.

I would say he's better than Keegan. But again, ball handling isn't part of his game, so I'm not sure how much weight we should put on it.

There's pressure for Keegan to improve his handles because we want to make a star out of him. With Sasha, it's kinda like... meh. He'll be 28 and we already know what type of player we have in him. I don't think it'll hindrance the team in anyway. Play Sasha in this same exact role, and he'll give you the same results (minus less shots).
I think it's just a deal where the less tools you have, the easier it is to guard you. If Keegan's game doesn't expand and he plays next to Sasha, now you've got two guys on the court who don't dribble the ball at all.

Lyles has the pump fake and drive aspect to his game so defenses have to play him more honestly than they will against Sasha. Huerter gets the hand offs from Sabonis and either shoots it if he's open or has the option of turning it into a pick and roll with Sabonis if the shot isn't available. I just hope Sasha can handle the ball well enough to do something more than just shoot or pass it back to someone else if he's covered.
 
Keegan can dribble. I expect the take and go and pump and drive game to take a significant leap this year. He teased both at the end of the year.
That along with getting more comfortable shooting over defenders is the thing to watch. That's one area where Sasha is definitely ahead of Keegan. Sasha can get that shot up over the top of almost anyone regardless of where they are at. Keegan has a tendency when a defender is right there, or quick on the run out he looks to swing the ball out on the pass, even if he's in mid shot. In terms of what you see Sasha do both on the perimeter and in the post is exactly what it looks like they are attempting to turn Keegan into.
 
I think it's just a deal where the less tools you have, the easier it is to guard you. If Keegan's game doesn't expand and he plays next to Sasha, now you've got two guys on the court who don't dribble the ball at all.

Lyles has the pump fake and drive aspect to his game so defenses have to play him more honestly than they will against Sasha. Huerter gets the hand offs from Sabonis and either shoots it if he's open or has the option of turning it into a pick and roll with Sabonis if the shot isn't available. I just hope Sasha can handle the ball well enough to do something more than just shoot or pass it back to someone else if he's covered.
And along with Huerter you have 3 guys that are basically system guys. Although I do think Sasha has more to his game right now. And Keegan could if used right. Flat out, Fox needs another player that can take the pressure off of him to create almost everything. Fox going Superman in the playoffs was great, but it's not ideal. He needs another player that can consistently take over the ship for a bit.
 
And along with Huerter you have 3 guys that are basically system guys. Although I do think Sasha has more to his game right now. And Keegan could if used right. Flat out, Fox needs another player that can take the pressure off of him to create almost everything. Fox going Superman in the playoffs was great, but it's not ideal. He needs another player that can consistently take over the ship for a bit.
You mean like Malik Monk ;)
 
Good thing Sasha didn't come over last summer. Last summer he was still a relative unknown. I feel that if he came over last year before he broke out in Europe, he would had been buried on the Kings bench.

Now when he comes over as a proven commodity, he's going to command lots of touches and I feel he's going to play a big part in the Kings future success.
I mean..... He wasnt unknown.. To casual fans, sure... I've been familiar with this players name n first saw footage of him almost 10 years ago..

He was drafted in 2017 but I first recall hearing his name around draft circles in 2015 when he was still a teenager. I myself am a lefty and slightly biased towards lefties so he caught my eye and I recall watching him shoot and being very convinced that shot was wet.
 
I just don't get from his interviews that he even cares about the NBA. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
Given that the team is spending significant effort in scouting him and likely talking to him, I presume they expect him to come over. Always possible that they are doing their due diligence even if he has been non-committal in the hopes that he might change his mind, but the former seems more likely.
Haven't heard many interviews, but even college prospects often say they are focused on winning and plan to return the next year as long as the team is playing. Plans of entering the draft are revealed only after the season is over. That's the correct, professional thing to do too.
 
Do you guys remember when Steve Novak (a 6'9 stationary shooter) went crazy for the Knicks?

(whenever I think of Steve Novak I recall the game in college where he obliterated Rudy Gay and all of UConn [who was ranked like #1 or #2] single handedly)

What are the chances that Vezenkov can be THAT guy for us?


I'm a believer...
 

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
Do you guys remember when Steve Novak (a 6'9 stationary shooter) went crazy for the Knicks?

(whenever I think of Steve Novak I recall the game in college where he obliterated Rudy Gay and all of UConn single handedly)

What are the chances that Vezenkov can be THAT guy for us?

Vezenkov is wayyyyy more mobile than Novak but I get your point.
 
Do you guys remember when Steve Novak (a 6'9 stationary shooter) went crazy for the Knicks?

(whenever I think of Steve Novak I recall the game in college where he obliterated Rudy Gay and all of UConn [who was ranked like #1 or #2] single handedly)

What are the chances that Vezenkov can be THAT guy for us?


I'm a believer...
When I first saw Sasha I thought he was more a better (with some post game as well) Luke Babbit from NOP/Portland, Babbit had similar frame/athletic ability and height (lefty as well). But yeah the hope is he can forfill that Novak role.
 
Vezenkov with a good start in the first quarter, 3 minutes still left.

He's had an and-one, fast-break lay-up, a nice drive and finish, a nice assist, and a few rebounds. Very involved early.

Isaiah Canaan also balling so far, he's nailed 3 three pointers.
 

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
Also somewhere, Vlade is still trying to find a way to trade for Super Mario despite neither guy being in the NBA over the last couple of years m