[Game] 52/82: Pelicans @ Kings 08 FEB 2025, 7pm PT/10pm ET

LaVine has to be aggressive. Need him a scorer first.
At first, i think he was hesitant because of maybe some of the bad rep he gets for being just a scorer or selfish, even though i don’t think he is. Some guys walk on eggshells when they’re worried about a potential narrative IMO - but it’s good to see him shaking whatever that was right off.
 
Great defensive performance from Keegan, Keon, and I think Domas as well tonight.

I think once Domas and LaVine learn eachothers games that will open up a lot. You already see flashes of it. I see a lot of complimentary aspects there.

Though offensively(and defensively) I do have concerns about the cohesion of Monk-LaVine-Deebo long term. Three guys that need to handle the ball quite bit is too much. You’re almost always going to have a guy or two who underperforms in that situation…not to mention the effect on overall ball movement.

Though I think grumbling about LaVine as a defender have so far proved overblown. He’s capable and I don’t see a traffic cone out there.

Fox was a very capable defender who could do good one on one work when he wanted… but as a team defender and throughout a game he would more often gamble for the steal and leave an open lane . So I’m not listening to any Fox was all world defense and now the Kings defense is way worse. It’s the same stuff. Bad most of the time, but unchanged.

But Doug needs to figure out a way to get Keon around 30 minutes each game
 
Don’t love that some players were not happy with Doug for the rotation decision. I get as a competitor but the data don’t lie
Hmm. I didn't take it like that. Felt it was more just "competitive" and they want to get on the floor.

And hey, the best way to get full buy-in on rotation decisions is to win ball games. Players can start talking smack if you're a 37 win team. Really can't say anything if you're a 50 win team.
 
Doug. Not trying to blow it out of proportion but at the very least Monk wasn’t feeling it. The fact that Doug said it publicly probably means it’s not a super big deal. Something to monitor though
Christie's rotations have been haphazard since he's come aboard, and it's hurt the team at times too. Have to remember he's a rookie coach also. There has been more than a few times he's shown it.
 
Christie's rotations have been haphazard since he's come aboard, and it's hurt the team at times too. Have to remember he's a rookie coach also. There has been more than a few times he's shown it.
Yep. And in a 1 game turn-around, he kept our best defender on the floor in crunch time, vs a guard who was absolutely scorching us. Immediately learned his lesson from the game in POR. Seen enough now to where Keon+Keegan just gives you at the very least an above average defensive unit on the floor.
 
Doug. Not trying to blow it out of proportion but at the very least Monk wasn’t feeling it. The fact that Doug said it publicly probably means it’s not a super big deal. Something to monitor though
Doug did not complain about Monk at all. Monk wanted to get in but DeRozan hit a bucket and so he was held at the table for a couple of min. I think they understand that they have to go with what's working on the floor at that time.

"I love all my players but I like winning the most" - Christie