Another weird thing that popped up when a few started turning on Domas was this idea that Sabonis is some historically bad playoff performer whose teams can’t get past the first round with him as a starter.
Many would be surprised to find that last season with the Kings was actually the first time Sabonis had played in the playoffs as a starter, let alone as a focal point of the offense and the guy the opposing team game planned around.
All other playoff appearances he played he came off the bench so his early exits before last season aren’t really relevant to the question of if the Kings can advance with him as the starting center. You might as well add his OKC year to it as it adds about the same to your point.
Indiana was the 4 seed during one of his All Star campaigns but he didn’t play in the playoffs because of injury, so no data there.
He did start two play -in games in 2020-2021 for the 9th seeded depleted Pacers. He performed well.
So Domas was somewhat of a novice to playoff play himself when it came to being a starter, focal point and focus of the opposing defense. It’s probably a way different ball game than what he experienced in Indiana…and he got basically the most formidable defensive front you can face in the Western Conference with Draymond and Looney. Who had disrupted Jokic just the year before. So, we can wait for more data there. It wasn’t all bad and it wasn’t all him.
I would like Domas to shoot more outside the paint as well. Certainly from mid range since I think he’s actually pretty good. I actually think he will. Though where you and I disagree is that I would view him doing it more and doing it well as more of a luxury and welcomed elevation for him and the Kings, rather than an absolute imperative for the Kings to get to where they want to go long term with him as a one of the Kings core pieces.
Most teams will have one guy that they aren’t expecting to shoot a lot of threes. Maybe Denver and Boston are two teams where everybody can take and make threes at volume but most teams make do with 4. Warriors won a lot usually with just 3.
Domas is the facilitator who draws the defense to find shooters. If they don’t double him. Most of the time he’s going to be able to score easily even if they first give him a mid range shot to think about. I think Fox apparent arrival as high volume three point threat puts less pressure on Domas to become one himself.
I mean, it certainly wouldn’t hurt. It could only make him and the Kings better but Domas will be the starting center on a Kings team that’s going to keep getting better and better regardless of his range/volume of deep shots.
This team is far from a finished product or near their ceiling in regards to the players around Domas and Fox. Though I don’t get the feeling you think this core is worth building on…We would find more agreement in regards to need. Kings do need more wings. Players like Kessler but with better shooting ability, and another consistent 20+ a game guy.
but regardless, Domas is pretty dead set in that center position for years to come and its not just because of what the Kings traded to get him.
What is “silly”(the word I used) is that people act like he’s holding the team back when their progress and style of play is mostly attributable to him.
They can and will win a playoff series with him as Center. They could’ve won the series last season even if his individual performance stayed the same if the team could make a three or Steph Curry just wasn’t especially great.
Many would be surprised to find that last season with the Kings was actually the first time Sabonis had played in the playoffs as a starter, let alone as a focal point of the offense and the guy the opposing team game planned around.
All other playoff appearances he played he came off the bench so his early exits before last season aren’t really relevant to the question of if the Kings can advance with him as the starting center. You might as well add his OKC year to it as it adds about the same to your point.
Indiana was the 4 seed during one of his All Star campaigns but he didn’t play in the playoffs because of injury, so no data there.
He did start two play -in games in 2020-2021 for the 9th seeded depleted Pacers. He performed well.
So Domas was somewhat of a novice to playoff play himself when it came to being a starter, focal point and focus of the opposing defense. It’s probably a way different ball game than what he experienced in Indiana…and he got basically the most formidable defensive front you can face in the Western Conference with Draymond and Looney. Who had disrupted Jokic just the year before. So, we can wait for more data there. It wasn’t all bad and it wasn’t all him.
I would like Domas to shoot more outside the paint as well. Certainly from mid range since I think he’s actually pretty good. I actually think he will. Though where you and I disagree is that I would view him doing it more and doing it well as more of a luxury and welcomed elevation for him and the Kings, rather than an absolute imperative for the Kings to get to where they want to go long term with him as a one of the Kings core pieces.
Most teams will have one guy that they aren’t expecting to shoot a lot of threes. Maybe Denver and Boston are two teams where everybody can take and make threes at volume but most teams make do with 4. Warriors won a lot usually with just 3.
Domas is the facilitator who draws the defense to find shooters. If they don’t double him. Most of the time he’s going to be able to score easily even if they first give him a mid range shot to think about. I think Fox apparent arrival as high volume three point threat puts less pressure on Domas to become one himself.
I mean, it certainly wouldn’t hurt. It could only make him and the Kings better but Domas will be the starting center on a Kings team that’s going to keep getting better and better regardless of his range/volume of deep shots.
This team is far from a finished product or near their ceiling in regards to the players around Domas and Fox. Though I don’t get the feeling you think this core is worth building on…We would find more agreement in regards to need. Kings do need more wings. Players like Kessler but with better shooting ability, and another consistent 20+ a game guy.
but regardless, Domas is pretty dead set in that center position for years to come and its not just because of what the Kings traded to get him.
What is “silly”(the word I used) is that people act like he’s holding the team back when their progress and style of play is mostly attributable to him.
They can and will win a playoff series with him as Center. They could’ve won the series last season even if his individual performance stayed the same if the team could make a three or Steph Curry just wasn’t especially great.
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