[Game] 40/82 Kings @ Buckaroos 14 JAN 2025, 5pm Pacific 8pm Eastern
- Thread starter Tetsujin
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I’m not arguing Murray can’t guard them. I’m arguing we have no one else we can rotate on that kind of player.
We are largely in agreement we need a player like that……. The disagreement is how we get there. You and others think we can do it by trading Huerter and a pick.
I don't think that gets it done or Monte would have done it already.
We are largely in agreement we need a player like that……. The disagreement is how we get there. You and others think we can do it by trading Huerter and a pick.
I don't think that gets it done or Monte would have done it already.
And do you think that might have looked different had we been able to start Keegan Murray vs. Doug McDermott in the DEN game?
Also, since when is Gordon a “non-scorer?” He’s averaging 17.5 PTS per 36 min with a .645 TS%. And during the year DEN won a championship, he averaged 19.4 PTS per 36 min with a .617 TS%. He’s not going to lead a team in scoring but he’s also not some 10-12 point defensive role player.
He’s a good ball handler and passer for his position and he’s a decent scorer who’s more than capable of taking advantage of mismatches (as we all saw). I would never classify him as a “non-scorer.”
Also, since when is Gordon a “non-scorer?” He’s averaging 17.5 PTS per 36 min with a .645 TS%. And during the year DEN won a championship, he averaged 19.4 PTS per 36 min with a .617 TS%. He’s not going to lead a team in scoring but he’s also not some 10-12 point defensive role player.
He’s a good ball handler and passer for his position and he’s a decent scorer who’s more than capable of taking advantage of mismatches (as we all saw). I would never classify him as a “non-scorer.”
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With a player like Giannis, you're never going to match up. The key is to have players that outmatch Bucks players at the other positions. The Kings don't have that yet. Lopez and Lillard took at total of 30 shots for 45 points. Good luck trying to beat this team if you allow that kind of point production efficiency from those two. Guard defense is the strength of the Kings, yet they still can't shut Lillard's water off? Lillard took the Kings to school. Again. The length of Lopez is accentuated by the short Kings front line. Do a switcheroony and put Lopez on the Kings and it's an entirely different picture.
That's exactly the problem. Such players don't come easy. You have to give something valuable to get them. Just like we had to trade Hali to get Domas.
In our case, trading Fox to get such a player makes most sense (assuming someone good is available). However, the option of trading Fox has really opened up only now after the growth of Keon and the drafting of Carter. Else, you are trying to plug one hole by opening another.
In our case, trading Fox to get such a player makes most sense (assuming someone good is available). However, the option of trading Fox has really opened up only now after the growth of Keon and the drafting of Carter. Else, you are trying to plug one hole by opening another.
I think you’re missing my point.
I never said that we need to “match up” with Giannis. Frankly, that’s impossible. But you can reduce the disadvantage he causes by having a bigger, longer, more athletic PF that can attempt to defend him.
Giannis had 13 assists in this game in large part due to his ability to break down our defense and kick out to open shooters (Lillard, Lopez, etc.). I don’t think it’s as simple as guarding Lillard and Lopez better because that means we’d be staying home on them and forcing Sabonis, Len, etc. to defend Giannis on an island.
Now it you have a guy like…
Jalen Johnson
Onyeka Okongwu
Patrick Williams
Evan Mobley
PJ Washington
Aaron Gordon
Isaiah Stewart
Draymond Green
Tari Eason
Pascal Siakam
Dorian Finney-Smith
Anthony Davis
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Bam Adebayo
Jaden McDaniels
Herb Jones
OG Anunoby
Chet Holmgren
Jonathan Isaac
Joel Embiid
Kevin Durant
Victor Wembanyama
Scottie Barnes
…you could probably try that strategy knowing that your good PF/C defender will hopefully stop Giannis enough to give your team a chance at winning, but when your team is having to put Sabonis, Len, etc. on him with the strategy of rotating/doubling, you’re naturally going to give Giannis’s supporting cast good looks.
I never said that we need to “match up” with Giannis. Frankly, that’s impossible. But you can reduce the disadvantage he causes by having a bigger, longer, more athletic PF that can attempt to defend him.
Giannis had 13 assists in this game in large part due to his ability to break down our defense and kick out to open shooters (Lillard, Lopez, etc.). I don’t think it’s as simple as guarding Lillard and Lopez better because that means we’d be staying home on them and forcing Sabonis, Len, etc. to defend Giannis on an island.
Now it you have a guy like…
Jalen Johnson
Onyeka Okongwu
Patrick Williams
Evan Mobley
PJ Washington
Aaron Gordon
Isaiah Stewart
Draymond Green
Tari Eason
Pascal Siakam
Dorian Finney-Smith
Anthony Davis
Jaren Jackson Jr.
Bam Adebayo
Jaden McDaniels
Herb Jones
OG Anunoby
Chet Holmgren
Jonathan Isaac
Joel Embiid
Kevin Durant
Victor Wembanyama
Scottie Barnes
…you could probably try that strategy knowing that your good PF/C defender will hopefully stop Giannis enough to give your team a chance at winning, but when your team is having to put Sabonis, Len, etc. on him with the strategy of rotating/doubling, you’re naturally going to give Giannis’s supporting cast good looks.
I don't disagree with your point. I would take it a step further. Not only would a longer athletic forward be nice to slow Giannis, he would also help out in guarding Lopez on switches and on Lillard in help-out situations in the point. So I agree with your point to an even greater degree than just diminishing Giannis.
I'm still hoping that athletic F is going to be Jones and maybe Crawford behind that. Jones has shown potential there. Going out and prioritizing a Giannis stopper shouldn't be at the top of the list. The Kings simply aren't there yet. And apparently neither are some of those teams with the listed players when you look at Giannis' performances against some of them. The Kings strategy was to let the shooters beat the Kings and they did. For the first quarter. The Kings never got back in it but the Bucks never trashed them either. The Kings dug a hole and couldn't dig out. It happens. Now we see what the Kings look like without the pressure of a winning streak on their backs. Now people can start drawing conclusions with this team.
It's not that much work to read all the posts of this forum, and the respond to the silliest or most interesting takes. It's part of the charm of a small forum.
Brockman was a guy on the team for 1 year who tried hard. Which was something to root for after the worst year for the Kings in Sacramento history. That was cheering for a guy who didn't belong in the league living his dream.
Len's a 12 year pro. He brings a particular set of skills which lets him keep getting NBA work, based on his real production and not on speculative potential. He played a surprisingly important role in the first playoff game won in more than a dozen years. And he's the 2nd longest tenured member of the team.
Comparing Len to Brockman, is one of the sillier takes I've seen on this board in a while.
Brockman was a guy on the team for 1 year who tried hard. Which was something to root for after the worst year for the Kings in Sacramento history. That was cheering for a guy who didn't belong in the league living his dream.
Len's a 12 year pro. He brings a particular set of skills which lets him keep getting NBA work, based on his real production and not on speculative potential. He played a surprisingly important role in the first playoff game won in more than a dozen years. And he's the 2nd longest tenured member of the team.
Comparing Len to Brockman, is one of the sillier takes I've seen on this board in a while.
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