[Game] 52/82: Pelicans @ Kings 08 FEB 2025, 7pm PT/10pm ET
- Thread starter QWERTYLICIOUS
- Start date
Yeah, while some of us have been banging the "start Keon" drum for a bit now, it's just not realistic under the current circumstances. Perhaps the offseason can bring change on that front. But for now, a 9-man rotation can get Keon to 30 mpg. His impact is just required, at this point. Unfortunately, this means that Carter feels the squeeze. I don't see many minutes for him in a rotation with Monk/LaVine/DDR/Ellis/LaRavia. It may be best to move him back to the G-League team so he can get reps and conditioning. The Kings will need him to be ready if there's an injury further up the rotation.
Additionally to the win, it appears that one of the best things to come out of this game is the revelation of the tools that the Kings have available. Now that the team is whole and skills demonstrated, the coaching staff needs to apply those tools to manufacture a game winning strategy before the game, during the first quarter, adjustments in-game, and during the final game minutes. A complete dismantling of the Brown-era direction is due.
The second half of this game was an "in your face" and "watch this" by the players. Coach Christie just has to take notice of what is available talent-wise and apply it in a firm reality check to players having an off night or are underperforming regardless of status or ego issues. If conflicts develop, he can fall back on the "we are here to win as a team and that is it" philosophy he expounds.
Having to recover from a first quarter thrashing game after game must be addressed. If Christie isn't able to start the game with some defensive strength beyond Keegan, he might option to quickly substitute in a stopper or two while leaving a skeleton scoring core. There is only one ball and playing five scorers (with suspect defense, sans Keegan) approaches mismanagement. Keegan can be screened off of their hot shooter but it will be to no avail if being switched onto another defensive specialist.
Rotations can now be more flexible and responsive to needs and performance. Players will adapt to it as long as their strengths are recognized and utilized when needed. A rested DeRosan in the last five minutes is a prime example.
It is recognized that this is one game, new players are available, and practice has been limited. But the direction of the team can be manipulated to cement the goal of "US" and "WIN" by bold and clever use of personnel.
The second half of this game was an "in your face" and "watch this" by the players. Coach Christie just has to take notice of what is available talent-wise and apply it in a firm reality check to players having an off night or are underperforming regardless of status or ego issues. If conflicts develop, he can fall back on the "we are here to win as a team and that is it" philosophy he expounds.
Having to recover from a first quarter thrashing game after game must be addressed. If Christie isn't able to start the game with some defensive strength beyond Keegan, he might option to quickly substitute in a stopper or two while leaving a skeleton scoring core. There is only one ball and playing five scorers (with suspect defense, sans Keegan) approaches mismanagement. Keegan can be screened off of their hot shooter but it will be to no avail if being switched onto another defensive specialist.
Rotations can now be more flexible and responsive to needs and performance. Players will adapt to it as long as their strengths are recognized and utilized when needed. A rested DeRosan in the last five minutes is a prime example.
It is recognized that this is one game, new players are available, and practice has been limited. But the direction of the team can be manipulated to cement the goal of "US" and "WIN" by bold and clever use of personnel.
Agree. I keep thinking the solution is an offseason trade of Demar for PJ Washington and matching salary. When the Mavs inevitably don’t win this year, they are going to feel even more win now pressure, and Demar helps them. And we get even more length, and better matching pieces. Imagine:
Domas (34) JV (14)
PJ (30) Lyles (14) LaRavia (4)
Keegan (32) LaRavia (16)
Lavine (34) Keon (14)
Monk (32) Keon (16)
Domas, Lavine -34
Keegan, monk - 32
PJ, Keon - 30
LaRavia - 20
Lyles, JV - 14
if you wanted to carve out a 10 minute role for Carter you could borrow 2-3 minutes each from
Monk, Keon, Lavine, LaRavia. But you’d have lots of length, and at least two of Keegan, PJ, Keon, and Jake on the floor at all time providing plus defense.
Domas (34) JV (14)
PJ (30) Lyles (14) LaRavia (4)
Keegan (32) LaRavia (16)
Lavine (34) Keon (14)
Monk (32) Keon (16)
Domas, Lavine -34
Keegan, monk - 32
PJ, Keon - 30
LaRavia - 20
Lyles, JV - 14
if you wanted to carve out a 10 minute role for Carter you could borrow 2-3 minutes each from
Monk, Keon, Lavine, LaRavia. But you’d have lots of length, and at least two of Keegan, PJ, Keon, and Jake on the floor at all time providing plus defense.
You this shows the problem with the Lavine trade. Keon is not a point guard nor is Lavine.
And yet now you have one of your most impactful players blocked by your most expensive player. We all want to blame Doug but very few point to the root of the problem which is Monte failed to get a starting caliber forward for Fox.
And before people whine and blame Fox. Monte created this problem by stacking pick after pick in the position most easily filled by other teams. Where you can get a Van Vleet, Brunson or Keon in the 2nd round or free agency.
And yet now you have one of your most impactful players blocked by your most expensive player. We all want to blame Doug but very few point to the root of the problem which is Monte failed to get a starting caliber forward for Fox.
And before people whine and blame Fox. Monte created this problem by stacking pick after pick in the position most easily filled by other teams. Where you can get a Van Vleet, Brunson or Keon in the 2nd round or free agency.
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Nope, I will blame Fox. He could have requested a trade this offseason and given us more leverage in negotiations. But he played nice because he wanted to chase the all-nba bag. He did not care about the Kings in slightest throughout this whole process. He had this franchise hostage and Monte at least found somewhat of an escape hatch to get out of this thing battered down, but not all the way knocked down.
If it was so easy to find a brunson fvv and keon, why doesn't every team do it?
If it was so easy to find a brunson fvv and keon, why doesn't every team do it?
That stood out to me too. Looked like he had zero interest in playing defense last night. Just let guys go by him, lost his man multiple times. At one point, he just left his guy open in the corner and made no attempt to close out. Just watched him shoot.
I was glad to see Doug pull him for Keon late for defense. I could tell DDR was not happy about it but you know what, if you want to play in those situations then put in some effort on defense.
I was glad to see Doug pull him for Keon late for defense. I could tell DDR was not happy about it but you know what, if you want to play in those situations then put in some effort on defense.
Demar has had a lot more good games than bad. Against Portland, he carried us in the 4th. That said, his mins should top out at 30. Monk should also be a 30-32 min guy with all the cardio he puts out. With that, Ellis easily gets 28+ mins. I think Christie plays the starters too long in the 3rd. Prefer Monk and LaVine get rotated out around the 5 min mark, come back at the 10 min mark in the 4th, get about 5 mins of play, get Ellis in there for either of the 3 (whoever needs the break and not playing as well) and manage defense/offense rotations from there.
The other move that really hindered things from the start of the season, was removing Keon from the starting lineup and throwing Huerter in there at the last minute. Had they just stuck with Keon and allowed him to establish the play that we see from him on a consistent basis, it would have helped to balance things and kept Monk as the 6th man....at least until the trade.