[Game] Kings @ Minnesota Timberwolves, 3/1/2024, 5:00p PT/8:00p ET
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In several matches this year Minnesota seems to lack discipline, not following coach instructions, they also had some "losses that were supposed to be easy wins", there was the incident with KAT chasing the 70 piece resulting in a team loss, in multiple occasions last night KAT took shots because he wanted to make one with stupid ISO fade aways from long distance, Ant also had moments like this wanted to dunk in the first half. They are not that "serious" as a team yet and they might get punished for that in the postseason if they keep acting like this. They do have the talent but that's not always enough to do the job.
It is not mechanics being discussed here. Rather, it is positive teaching and learning techniques that lead to success. And "mental" can be fixed over time with proper methodology. Medical and educational studies abound about this topic.
These professionals have been shooting free throws for years and have well-established mechanics. They likely shoot 90%+ in practice. Huerter, Monk, Sabonis, Fox, and others too often have times of free throw mental melt down. Look to why.
Your final point is disingenuous and warrants no response. It is certainly not determinative as you imply.
These professionals have been shooting free throws for years and have well-established mechanics. They likely shoot 90%+ in practice. Huerter, Monk, Sabonis, Fox, and others too often have times of free throw mental melt down. Look to why.
Your final point is disingenuous and warrants no response. It is certainly not determinative as you imply.
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The coaches absolutely influence how the players are physically and mentally performing on the floor. Otherwise, the coaches are of no use. These people are human beings ahead of "professional basketball players". Not surprisingly, they react to influences as a human being first. Thus, it is incumbent on the coaching staff to deal with perceived weaknesses, whether they be physical or mental, in a way to strengthen and improve performance through positive human interactions.
Tonight he was pretty good, he is lacking defensively versus Keon when it comes to steals and altering/affecting shots. Davion had a good offensive game tonight for sure, and if he can keep that up he will be able to help some other team for sure. But Keon I feel has more of an impact on the game for what the team needs. So in the future I would prefer to see more Keon and less Davion.
Is that better?
Is that better?
The legendary North Carolina coach, Dean Smith, called a timeout with 17 seconds left at the end of an ACC Tournament game against Duke:
<"Coach Smith knew exactly what was going to happen in every sequence that occurred," says John Kuester, a member of the 1974 team. "He told us, 'We're in a great spot. After Bobby makes the free throws, we're going to steal the ball, get a layup, and call timeout.' He had an ability to save those timeouts and understand when to use them. And we used every single one in that situation."
Sure enough [Bobby] Jones made both ends of a one and one to draw Carolina within 86-80. Duke botched the inbounds pass, the Tar Heels recovered, and Kuester made a layup. Thirteen seconds remained.>
Carolina went on to win the game in overtime.
https://goheels.com/news/2024/2/29/mens-basketball-born-bred-the-quintessential-comeback
<"Coach Smith knew exactly what was going to happen in every sequence that occurred," says John Kuester, a member of the 1974 team. "He told us, 'We're in a great spot. After Bobby makes the free throws, we're going to steal the ball, get a layup, and call timeout.' He had an ability to save those timeouts and understand when to use them. And we used every single one in that situation."
Sure enough [Bobby] Jones made both ends of a one and one to draw Carolina within 86-80. Duke botched the inbounds pass, the Tar Heels recovered, and Kuester made a layup. Thirteen seconds remained.>
Carolina went on to win the game in overtime.
https://goheels.com/news/2024/2/29/mens-basketball-born-bred-the-quintessential-comeback
That’s fair. Keon is a beast with his hands in terms of steals and deflections. He’s much longer and a MUCH better help defender than Davion, but Davion is better in terms of moving laterally and playing solid man defense. I agree that Keon needs more PT, but let’s not take away the fact that Davion has been solid for a while now, just not this last game. Would be interesting to see what Keon looks like starting next to Fox.
I mean we pretty much have the same squad as last year with the same coaching staff. Last year we were at 79% for the season (still not great) and this year we’re sitting at 72% (awful). What changes in coaching, since you believe it’s the coaches fault, has led to this 7% drop in FT percentage? Do you believe they don’t practice free throws? Do you believe Coach Brown is a meanie and is in these guys heads? And if you really believe it’s the coaches fault that we’re shooting FT so poorly, what do you suggest be done from a coaching standpoint to remedy this situation? Again, because obviously it’s the coaching that’s leading to the missed free throws.
I like Keon also but he isn’t big enough to defend larger wings. He is longer though to
play the 2.
I also thought Davion played very well as he often has when given more minutes.
to me it just highlights the lack of balance and lack of length on this team…. We have too many guys who are best with the ball in their hands and too many stretch 4’s. We lack good wing defenders who can stretch the floor at the 2 and 3. Pair that with a center that can’t defend the rim and it spells defensive challenges…..
Length as Wingspan and standing reach
Bold defender. Italics plus shooter
Malik Monk 6’4” …… ???
Davion Mitchell 6’4.25”…. 8’ 0.5”
Fox 6’6.5” ……. 8’ 4”
Keon Ellis 6’8.5” …. 8’6”. (Plays as ball handler)
Not long enough to guard bigger wings.
Duarte 6’7” …… ???
Huerter 6’ 7.5 … 8’ 5.5”
Colby Jones 6’8”…. 8’ 7”
Edwards 6’11.25” ….. 8’10”
not quick enough to guard quicker wings.
Barnes 6’11” ….. 8’ 5.5”
Keegan 6’ 11” …. 8’ 10” ??? (Chris combine)
Lyles. 7’ 1”….. 9”
Sasha 7’ 1” ……. ??
play the 2.
I also thought Davion played very well as he often has when given more minutes.
to me it just highlights the lack of balance and lack of length on this team…. We have too many guys who are best with the ball in their hands and too many stretch 4’s. We lack good wing defenders who can stretch the floor at the 2 and 3. Pair that with a center that can’t defend the rim and it spells defensive challenges…..
Length as Wingspan and standing reach
Bold defender. Italics plus shooter
Malik Monk 6’4” …… ???
Davion Mitchell 6’4.25”…. 8’ 0.5”
Fox 6’6.5” ……. 8’ 4”
Keon Ellis 6’8.5” …. 8’6”. (Plays as ball handler)
Not long enough to guard bigger wings.
Duarte 6’7” …… ???
Huerter 6’ 7.5 … 8’ 5.5”
Colby Jones 6’8”…. 8’ 7”
Edwards 6’11.25” ….. 8’10”
not quick enough to guard quicker wings.
Barnes 6’11” ….. 8’ 5.5”
Keegan 6’ 11” …. 8’ 10” ??? (Chris combine)
Lyles. 7’ 1”….. 9”
Sasha 7’ 1” ……. ??
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Just because we don't have anyone else does not support that claim. He struggles against Booker, Edwards, Shai and other quicker players. Their is a reason Fox shifts onto those guys on defense. Fox isn't really long enough but he can stay in front of them. Booker ate us up until we put Edwards on him. These comments are not a slam on Keegan. I think he is a very good defender.
Just for fun I looked at length across 4, 3, 2's as a comparison for Kings and the other top 6 western teams. I had to make some judgement calls like I put Fox in that group because he is bigger than Davion or Malik and has to play the bigger players on defense. Did the same thing with Shai. It is interesting when you compare standing reach across the wing players and teams we do well and teams with whom we struggle. Pels and Clippers are clearly longer with the Pels the worst. Clippers are a bit better for us as Powell and Mann aren't terribly long. I put OKC as yellow as they can flip Jalen and Shai to guard and bring in Cason Wallace and Jaylin Williams and get longer quickly.
Just for fun I looked at length across 4, 3, 2's as a comparison for Kings and the other top 6 western teams. I had to make some judgement calls like I put Fox in that group because he is bigger than Davion or Malik and has to play the bigger players on defense. Did the same thing with Shai. It is interesting when you compare standing reach across the wing players and teams we do well and teams with whom we struggle. Pels and Clippers are clearly longer with the Pels the worst. Clippers are a bit better for us as Powell and Mann aren't terribly long. I put OKC as yellow as they can flip Jalen and Shai to guard and bring in Cason Wallace and Jaylin Williams and get longer quickly.
Isn't it interesting though that out of all the players you listed, the guy with the shortest wingspan (Fox) is the one leading the league in deflections per game? He's also second to SGA in steals per game.
I also think there's an aspect of this that you've overlooked -- you mention Keegan struggling against Booker this season defensively (which is true) but I don't think that's because Booker is too small/quick for him to stay in front of. Booker is incredibly crafty at pump faking and drawing fouls even when you do stay in front of him. In fact, a lot of his points are scored on back to the basket mid-range shots where he puts the defender on his back and leverages them to create space for a fadeaway jumper -- a skill which obviously has nothing to do with speed and requires rather a disciplined defender who won't fall for the fakes and can contest a fadeaway without getting into Booker's body. Those are incredibly difficult plays for anyone to defend, let alone a second year player who has not yet been able to receive the benefit of the doubt from the officials.
Shai just straight up jumps into people for calls though and there's no beating that in 2024 unless you're the Lakers and you have the anti-"ref mode" cheat code.
I also think there's an aspect of this that you've overlooked -- you mention Keegan struggling against Booker this season defensively (which is true) but I don't think that's because Booker is too small/quick for him to stay in front of. Booker is incredibly crafty at pump faking and drawing fouls even when you do stay in front of him. In fact, a lot of his points are scored on back to the basket mid-range shots where he puts the defender on his back and leverages them to create space for a fadeaway jumper -- a skill which obviously has nothing to do with speed and requires rather a disciplined defender who won't fall for the fakes and can contest a fadeaway without getting into Booker's body. Those are incredibly difficult plays for anyone to defend, let alone a second year player who has not yet been able to receive the benefit of the doubt from the officials.
Shai just straight up jumps into people for calls though and there's no beating that in 2024 unless you're the Lakers and you have the anti-"ref mode" cheat code.
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it’s a pretty big hit on offense and on the boards as Kevin gets a ton of rebounds. We really don’t need someone who can handle the ball with Fox and Domas. You need someone who can play dribble hand-off with Sabonis and catch and shoot with Fox. He has shown he can catch and shoot but it’s not clear he can run around a Sabonis screen, get square, and shoot like Huerter can.
Well, yeah -- but we're talking KG and Latrell vs. Bibby and Peja so not at all relevant to whatever might happen this season. Unless you're looking for more bulletin board material in which case you can add vengeance and disrespect to the board and underline them. 
shortest Wingspan??? It’s longer than Davion or Malik…. And his standing reach at 8’ 4” is extremely good for a point with his quickness. In fact it’s why I added him to the list of WINGS because even though he is truly a primary ball handler his length as you point out allows him to be effective on defense.
Fox, Keon, Kessler, Murray and McGee are the ones with good or very good length for their position.
Fox, Keon, Kessler, Murray and McGee are the ones with good or very good length for their position.
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