[Game] 51/82: Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers 06 FEB 2025, 7pm PT/10pm ET

[ESP47]

It's a lot easier for Billips to tell Scoot or Sharpe that they're coming off the bench because they're both young players. It's not quite the same as Doug telling all star veterans that have been in the league for a decade that they need to come off the bench because he needs to start this guy who has never even averaged double digits in his career.

We all know that it needs to happen but it's a lot easier said than done.

Having revolving door perimeter defenders like Monk, LaVine and DDR sharing the floor with Domas means that teams can essentially just straight line drive us to death with very little resistance. It doesn't matter how talented they are offensively when the other team gets their choice between wide open 3s and hardly contested lay ups.

 

[Jdbraver137]

Bunch of 1 on 1 play nobody passing the ball.

 

[The_Jamal]

It's a lot easier for Billips to tell Scoot or Sharpe that they're coming off the bench because they're both young players. It's not quite the same as Doug telling all star veterans that have been in the league for a decade that they need to come off the bench because he needs to start this guy who has never even averaged double digits in his career.

We all know that it needs to happen but it's a lot easier said than done.

Having revolving door perimeter defenders like Monk, LaVine and DDR sharing the floor with Domas means that teams can essentially just straight line drive us to death with very little resistance. It doesn't matter how talented they are offensively when the other team gets their choice between wide open 3s and hardly contested lay ups.

I agree, but, to me, that's part of what makes a HC great. Making that hard call, getting the vets to go along. What if Kerr never went to Dray over David Lee, who at the time was an all-star for GS and averaged 18-9-2 the season before? Dray was just a 6-5-2 guy his rookie year in 22 minutes. I get that Keon is a relative "nobody", but we also almost overwhelming win his minutes when he's on the floor. So are we here to appease ego's or win games?

Like you said, it's a hard situation to manage in real life. But it's the difference from this team being play-in fodder to a 5-6 seed, this season.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

This was a tough one to lose. The team needs time to gel and develop on court chemistry.

 

[ESP47]

I agree, but, to me, that's part of what makes a HC great. Making that hard call, getting the vets to go along. What if Kerr never went to Dray over David Lee, who at the time was an all-star for GS and averaged 18-9-2 the season before? Dray was just a 6-5-2 guy his rookie year in 22 minutes. I get that Keon is a relative "nobody", but we also almost overwhelming win his minutes when he's on the floor. So are we here to appease ego's or win games?

Like you said, it's a hard situation to manage in real life. But it's the difference from this team being play-in fodder to a 5-6 seed, this season.

I'm in total agreement with you but sometimes egos are impossible to work with. Doesn't matter if Pops, Phil Jackson or Red Auerbach was coaching. If the player is going to throw a fit, pout or not put in effort because they aren't getting their way, it doesn't matter how good the coach is at smoothing things over.

I guess the good thing is if that happens, then you know who you don't want on your team and it makes it easier to get rid of them in the offseason.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Let's see what they can do after a few practices.

 

[bball_nomad]

In the presser after Orlando's game Christie said that the way Kings played was "unacceptable". After this loss - "he liked the effort, but it will take time to make pieces to fit". In these 2 losses Christie was in a jam. Talent on the team is great. Though I'm waiting for the time when DDR, with the help from the others, will realize that he is 35+ years old. In the first half he played like crap. In the second half he scored some, but scoring is not a problem for the team. In the second half of the third q and in the last q he was just tired.
Just clean the slate. 31 games till the end of the regular season. Countdown starts tomorrow.

 

[Kingster]

I agree, but, to me, that's part of what makes a HC great. Making that hard call, getting the vets to go along. What if Kerr never went to Dray over David Lee, who at the time was an all-star for GS and averaged 18-9-2 the season before? Dray was just a 6-5-2 guy his rookie year in 22 minutes. I get that Keon is a relative "nobody", but we also almost overwhelming win his minutes when he's on the floor. So are we here to appease ego's or win games?

Like you said, it's a hard situation to manage in real life. But it's the difference from this team being play-in fodder to a 5-6 seed, this season.

I'd like DDR to come off the bench, but I doubt that will happen. And even if it did happen Zach is going to be undersized at the 3, still leaving an undersized front court. Brown didn't have DDR coming off the bench because DDR didn't like the idea and Brown had years left on his contract, so I doubt Christie as an interim coach is going to do it. This is what happens when your GM doesn't give your HC a balanced roster. He inevitably puts them in a pickle. The GM just stands and there and says, "Who, me?"

 

[SLAB]

Let's see what they can do after a few practices.

This. I really wish we could have snagged one of these, but it’s too soon to jump to any sort of conclusion.
Let them gel for even a little while before making any Snap judgments.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I'm in total agreement with you but sometimes egos are impossible to work with. Doesn't matter if Pops, Phil Jackson or Red Auerbach was coaching. If the player is going to throw a fit, pout or not put in effort because they aren't getting their way, it doesn't matter how good the coach is at smoothing things over.

I guess the good thing is if that happens, then you know who you don't want on your team and it makes it easier to get rid of them in the offseason.

If they had been able to bring in a starting caliber 4 by the dead line, it would have provided a real opportunity to balance everything, with Murray moving back to the 3, DeRozan as a 6th man, and Monk and Keon fitting really good together.

Instead they got a high dollar 2 in LaVine, which makes balanced starting and closing lineups really difficult to achieve. He's a really good talent, but the roster fit issues are if anything, more challenging after the trade.....with seemingly little to no pathway to increase and maintain Keon's minutes and impact

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I'd like DDR to come off the bench, but I doubt that will happen. And even if it did happen Zach is going to be undersized at the 3, still leaving an undersized front court. Brown didn't have DDR coming off the bench because DDR didn't like the idea and Brown had years left on his contract, so I doubt Christie as an interim coach is going to do it. This is what happens when your GM doesn't give your HC a balanced roster. He inevitably puts them in a pickle. The GM just stands and there and says, "Who, me?"

Brown was notoriously allergic to size though so I think this was a roster Brown was ok with. Maybe not. We had guys that were bigger and could have used seasoning and they all went to the bench. Even Keon who was playing lock defense could barely catch a break with Brown.

GM has to make a balanced roster but the coach has to play it. I think now that Fox and Brown are gone we're already seeing moves that are reshaping this club to be a more balanced roster, the issue now is getting some buy in that maybe coming off the bench for some of these guys is needed to get the proper result in the W/L column.

 

[Caccia]

The amount of negativity on Kings Rap right now is astounding. The team just lost its leading scorer, brought in a new starter last game, a new rotation player this game, and will introduce a new rotation player next game. These guys have not yet had a regular practice together. You want miracles?

Pardon me, but I am taking a break and will see you all after the All-Star break.

 

[Kingster]

Brown was notoriously allergic to size though so I think this was a roster Brown was ok with. Maybe not. We had guys that were bigger and could have used seasoning and they all went to the bench. Even Keon who was playing lock defense could barely catch a break with Brown.

GM has to make a balanced roster but the coach has to play it. I think now that Fox and Brown are gone we're already seeing moves that are reshaping this club to be a more balanced roster, the issue now is getting some buy in that maybe coming off the bench for some of these guys is needed to get the proper result in the W/L column.

I'm not talking about Brown generically. I'm talking specifically about DDR and Brown and Christie. You're presuming something that doesn't exist - a balanced roster. There is no balanced roster and Christie is the de facto fall guy for there not being a balanced roster. He can't do miracles. I wish I had a $ for every time Kayte or Deuce or Morgan talk about the length of the opposing team the Kings are playing. Are they trolling me (us)? It's irritating because it's right! Stop it! Don't tell me what I know already.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I'm not talking about Brown generically. I'm talking specifically about DDR and Brown and Christie. You're presuming something that doesn't exist - a balanced roster. There is no balanced roster and Christie is the de facto fall guy for there not being a balanced roster. He can't do miracles. I wish I had a $ for every time Kayte or Deuce or Morgan talk about the length of the opposing team the Kings are playing. Are they trolling me (us)? It's irritating because it's right! Stop it! Don't tell me what I know already.

Right - we don't have a balanced roster based on the team Brown built. Since then, ignoring Fox/Zach for a moment, we brought in LaRavia and Jonas so at least we're getting a legit big man to backup Domas and a big wing, even if they don't have name value.

I feel like LaRavia might be the sort of guy Brown would ignore. We'll see what happens, but at least something is being done to address it. It is going to take a big offseason.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

I wish I had a $ for every time Kayte or Deuce or Morgan talk about the length of the opposing team the Kings are playing. Are they trolling me (us)? It's irritating because it's right! Stop it! Don't tell me what I know already.

But, but, but...That's kinda their job, though, ain't it??? I mean, not necessarily "telling us what we already know", but it's their job to analyze the team, analyze the roster, analyze the front office, and provide their insight on each. It makes it difficult, though, when us, as fans, think along the same lines and are able to see the same things.

 

[Kingster]

But, but, but...That's kinda their job, though, ain't it??? I mean, not necessarily "telling us what we already know", but it's their job to analyze the team, analyze the roster, analyze the front office, and provide their insight on each. It makes it difficult, though, when us, as fans, think along the same lines and are able to see the same things.

It is their job. Maybe they should just put a written disclaimer up before every Kings game: "We acknowledge that virtually every team the Kings play has longer and more athletic players at the wing position compared to the Kings. Please forgive us for not mentioning this fact in every game, but because it is a tiresome redundancy we will no longer be pointing out the obvious."

 

[Rob-The-Great]

Derozen litteraly just willed us to a win. 3 dam games ago. After a crushing trade. Please, just Please, have some patience. We will be better for this

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

The amount of negativity on Kings Rap right now is astounding. The team just lost its leading scorer, brought in a new starter last game, a new rotation player this game, and will introduce a new rotation player next game. These guys have not yet had a regular practice together. You want miracles?

Pardon me, but I am taking a break and will see you all after the All-Star break.

Many of those that know the game, are less than optimistic, because there doesn't look to be a current pathway to lineups and 4th quarter minutes that fit well enough to make a post season run likely

 

[fansinceday1]

Many of those that know the game, are less than optimistic, because there doesn't look to be a current pathway to lineups and 4th quarter minutes that fit well enough to make a post season run likely

The people I’ve listened to who are in the know say this lineup is completly flawed. This isn’t the coach and it’s not the players. It’s the way this lineup is built. No amount of practice is gonna change who these players are and how these players fit together. Matt George did a good job of explaining to me in plain English why this team is kinda stuck.

 

[Tizzy Flip]

I’m sure the offense will have better flow and cohesiveness once LaVine knows our sets. It seemed like a lot of 5 out when he was on the floor since he hasn’t gotten much work with Monk and Sabonis in. He still has elite speed, athleticism, and a pure release. It’ll be fun to see once he feels more comfortable which likely will take at least another week or 2.

For rotations, I would like to see Ellis play deeper into the 4th. He didn’t play particularly good defense against Simons in the 4th and would switch off when he should have just stuck on him. But that’s the exception, and Monk needs more rest with all the running around he does on offense. Get Ellis playing 3-4 mins more and get Monk in with 6 mins left to go instead of 9. DC will have to be creative but maybe he make a defensive substitution with Ellis late in the game just to give LaVine or Demar a breather for a minute or 2. Demar plays lots of mins in the 4th, so maybe he can take a 1-2 min break at the 5 minute mark.

 

[Tizzy Flip]

Was just rewatching some of the 4th quarter. Big sequence was when we go up 1 with about 6 mins left. We get a stop, and Sabonis has a 3 that goes halfway down. That goes in and he had a good amount of momentum. Next possession, we do a really good job on D but Sharper goes Demar right at Demar with a crazy step back. Next possession shows Sabonis and LaVine haven’t really felt each other out yet. He has an opportunity to pass to Sabonis on the elbow, cut and maybe get an easy look at the rim (or at least draw a foul). Instead, he gets a high screen and misses a midi, which I’m not sure yet if that’s high % for him.

Monk also had 2 tipped balls in the 4th that went to the Blazers for layups. Going back to my earlier point, he’s been playing big minutes and needs more rest

 

[SacTownKid]

I brought up Keon's last game in Portland because the consensus was he sucked that night.

If you play with energy, show a little bit here and there, and hit your shots fans tend to elevate based on that. The issue with Kings fans is then when things like overall productivity or impact don't follow they send you down the rabbit hole of disappointment. Happened with JT, Keegan, and might be happening with Keon now. Hopefully fans don't put unrealistic expectations on this guy. Maybe Keon is the perfect starting SG, maybe not. Time will tell. If he is though, nobody expect him to run the offense or make plays. Perhaps he can in time but right now the evidence has him strictly in the 3 and D zone.

 

[SacTownKid]

Oh man, after listening to Matt George’s post game show the conclusion is this team is totally screwed. Doug Christie is most screwed. What the hell is he gonna do? How do you make a team play defense when that just isn’t what the players on the floor do, with the exception of a couple guys? You need points so who do you sub out at the end of games when you need defense and you have to get Keon in? It’s gotta be either derozan or Lavine.
Matts conclusion was its bad roster construction. This roster is flawed and we are gonna see it going down the stretch of this season. I totally see MG’s complaints. I dont envy Doug one bit.

George also basically said Keegan was going to be a superstar and put the bar really high on someone that probably didn't need it. Questionable talent evaluation skills IMO. He's also selling a podcast, Kings fans want doom and gloom right now and he's going to give it to them. For anyone that's been around long enough, this is NOTHING. Nothing, lol.

 

[SacTownKid]

Many of those that know the game, are less than optimistic, because there doesn't look to be a current pathway to lineups and 4th quarter minutes that fit well enough to make a post season run likely

People really need to deal with the fact that the rest of this season might be a bit of a punt. If it works, great, but the Kings have had a horrible schedule for the situation they're in. The good news is they have the talent, and hopefully the franchise at this point gives them a chance and a summer to come in next season fully prepared to roll. This stretch is going to be a great test for Christie as a coach. Talk about feet to the fire. We'll all know who he is by the end of this. Hopefully they also understand that pure W's isn't the proper way to assess this. By the middle of next season if it isn't looking good then maybe you start heading back down and build around the young guards and Keegan. Perhaps even the draft picks from this next draft. Monte can do either at this point. I think the Kings are in a great spot as long as they don't blow it by dumping a rebuild scenario on more role players that won't change the outcome much anyway. If the starting unit doesn't work, you start moving players to other teams. It's that simple.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

People really need to deal with the fact that the rest of this season might be a bit of a punt.

One game under .500, three of four before the break against the worst team in the west, then a chance to hammer everything out in practice? I'm not punting yet. Heck, it's not even fourth down yet.

 

[QWERTYLICIOUS]

One game under .500, three of four before the break against the worst team in the west, then a chance to hammer everything out in practice? I'm not punting yet. Heck, it's not even fourth down yet.

It might not even be 3rd down yet. We may be looking at a "2nd down and long to go" situation at this point of the season.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

People really need to deal with the fact that the rest of this season might be a bit of a punt. If it works, great, but the Kings have had a horrible schedule for the situation they're in. The good news is they have the talent, and hopefully the franchise at this point gives them a chance and a summer to come in next season fully prepared to roll. This stretch is going to be a great test for Christie as a coach. Talk about feet to the fire. We'll all know who he is by the end of this. Hopefully they also understand that pure W's isn't the proper way to assess this. By the middle of next season if it isn't looking good then maybe you start heading back down and build around the young guards and Keegan. Perhaps even the draft picks from this next draft. Monte can do either at this point. I think the Kings are in a great spot as long as they don't blow it by dumping a rebuild scenario on more role players that won't change the outcome much anyway. If the starting unit doesn't work, you start moving players to other teams. It's that simple.

They won't punt in terms of "tanking", because the owner, front office, Christie, and the core players desperately want/need the playoffs.

Dealing with the idea that the odds are not in their favor after the dead-line,....yeah, that's where I am today.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I think you either make a run into the real playoffs or you probably move on from Deebo in the off-season. Which given where he's at in his career I don't think there would be hard feelings. Then maybe we can get one more big wing or start Keon.

I'm not ready to ship Domas or Keegan out. We can still probably get multiple picks for both in 2 years if we are just that bad.

 

[joemama]

The people I’ve listened to who are in the know say this lineup is completly flawed. This isn’t the coach and it’s not the players. It’s the way this lineup is built. No amount of practice is gonna change who these players are and how these players fit together. Matt George did a good job of explaining to me in plain English why this team is kinda stuck.

Why would u listen to that f'n guy?

Is you him?
Are you trying to get free advertising? What is your angle?

Why would any (actual) Kings fan EVER listen to that clown?

 

[The_Jamal]

I'd like DDR to come off the bench, but I doubt that will happen. And even if it did happen Zach is going to be undersized at the 3, still leaving an undersized front court. Brown didn't have DDR coming off the bench because DDR didn't like the idea and Brown had years left on his contract, so I doubt Christie as an interim coach is going to do it. This is what happens when your GM doesn't give your HC a balanced roster. He inevitably puts them in a pickle. The GM just stands and there and says, "Who, me?"

Eh, no. Not when Keon Ellis sits the last 9:26 of a close game and everyone complains about the lack of defense. Or our defense rookie, that had a great 1H stint and made like 3 or 4 stops, plays 2 minutes in the 2nd H.

Not the GMs fault when the coach doesn't use the roster to its fullest potential. Would anyone think we'd get worse than we are now if Keon played 35 MPG?