6 Games, 6 Positives, 6 Negatives

[LPKingsFan]

point taken about post offense--- however, Landry has been completely allergic to the inside this season so-far (whether it is his call or the coaches),
and you don't do a Hockey-style "line switch" in basketball- so they won't all swap at the same time.

Obviously, but by starting one and bringing the other off the bench, you make it so they're likely not to be on the court together as often as if they had both started. As for Landry's post play (or lack thereof) the fact that Cousins hasn't been taking it inside either makes me wonder if the team as a whole is struggling to incorporate an inside game other than Reke's driving. I've only been able to watch bits and pieces of the games so far, though, so I'll defer that to anyone who has a better observation.

 

[Section 101]

Well, seeing as we have hit the epic 7.4% mark of the season and have a few days off, thought I would start a time filling thread:

6 Early Season Positives
1) Reke's jumper IS improved. By quite a lot. Not so much that it is a weapon in and of itself. But enough that on many nights when an opponent backs off and crowds the lane, he's got a chance to punish that now. So far this season he's shooting .489, .400 from 3pt land (you would imagine the latter will sink a bit).

I think the bigger reason is better shot selection. He's not tossing up a bunch of jumpers out of the flow.

5) Here are the #8-#11 scorers in the league right now:
Wade 24.1pts (.487 .381 .778) 6.4reb 3.7ast 1.7stl 1.1blk 3.6TO
Kevin 23.0pts (.488 .429 .898) 2.2reb 2.3ast 0.3stl 0.3blk 2.7TO
Kobe 22.9pts (.442 .321 .879) 5.7reb 4.6ast 0.9stl 0.3blk 2.4TO
Reke 22.6pts (.489 .400 .704) 5.4reb 5.0ast 1.8stl 0.2blk 3.2TO

All shootig guards.

6 Early Season Negatives
1) Landry's rebounding. We may have to revoke that Mandry nickname if this keeps up. We have added major size (when the coach actually plays it) and rebounding, and yet still are a minus rebounding team on the year (41.5rebs for, 42.0 against). And when you look up and down the lineup by far the biggest culprit has to be our PF, one of the main rebounding positions, rebounding like a guard. 13.8pts 4.3rebs are not starting PF numbers on a good team, and Carl is currently ranked #200 in the league in rebs/48, just behind Vince Carter and J.R. Smith. Can't continue.

He needs to come off the bench. Way more effective.

2) Cousins defense. As impressive as he has been on offense, Cousins defense is just as bad. He has absolutely no clue what he is doing out there. Its like he hasn't even been taught, with the only lesson he remembers being how to take a charge from his junior high P.E. class when he was 5'8" not 6'11". Is about as unconcerned wiht being a shotblocker as any young big I have seen -- normally the major foul trouble for young bigs is because they are going after eveyrthing. Its not even a consideration for him. This is a major project on this side of the ball, and in the future may dictate roster moves because your center is normally your defenisve anchor and he may never be.

Defense is always the biggest area for bigs coming into the league. He's actually handled it pretty well considering some of the bad calls he received. I think he just needs the time to figure it out.

6) Team defense. Which ties in to some of the above. We have acquired great size...but rarely use it. Our opening night starting lineup included the 3 weakest defenders on the roster in Beno, Cousins and Landry, and Landry's rebounding of course has hurt too. And instead of taking the expected step forward, powered by more experience and great size/length, we are running stubby PFs, undersized guard lines, and have taken a step backward, even with Daly doing all he can in the middle. Guys are getting beat off the dribble, if Daly is not in nobody is closing the paint and the transition defense has sucked. Meanwhile some of our best potential defenders are either floating facedown int he American River (Donte), posing for mugshots (Wright) or sitting in the stands in a suit (Whiteside). We are allowing opponents 107.7ppg on .479 shooting. Again that cannot continue.

From your favorite writer/coach in today's chat.

Chris (Sacramento, CA)




What do you think of the Kings so far this season? Offense seems to be running great but defense seems to be worst in the league.
David Thorpe (12:44 PM)





They'd play better d if they just got rid of that Kevin Martin kid. Oh.

 

[mac]

Cousins has the talent to be a Gasol-like player for us in the future. He has the post moves, the outside shot, the passing. What he needs is experience and as many have said, conditioning. Gasol has a good outside shot, but he makes it so good because he knows when to use it. He only shoots pretty near the basket facing up when the defender gives him space, or around the free throw line off dribble penetration by Kobe or whoever. Other than that it's all post moves, faking passes and then using quickness and length to get good shots up around the rim. The spacing also plays a big part to allow him to have time to attack his man in the post, and that comes from the movement of the other 4 guys.

As much as I do not want to 'idolise' the Lakers, their ball movement this season has really captured my attention, and it would do the Kings well to try and learn a thing or two from em. I mean, hey, if you're getting blown out in an offensive clinic by the other team might as well watch and pick up a couple of things right?

GAH come on PW, develop the guys. Teach them the right stuff I beg you!!!

 

[mcsluggo]

....

Regarding Greene, if clueless means confused, then yes, he does seem confused. I don't know what to think when a guy who is fighting for a job comes into camp so out of shape. It's incredibly dissapointing. It totally defeats the culture of improvement and competitiveness that Westphal is trying to instill. It's not just bad for Donte, it's a slap in the face of the other players because he's letting them down. It's too bad that corporal punishment has gone the way of the dinosaur. Personally, I'd have Donte run the gauntlet...

this line of reasoning seems to be something of a mantra on this board, but it really doesn't make any sense given the fact that Donte had played the pre-season with the coaches as well.

if THAT was teh reasoning... then wtf is with making him the opening day starter (after a preseason where there WAS open comprtition for the starting three spot, its not as if it was his by default) and THEN sending him to the freezer?? They hadn't figured out that he was out of shape before that? In that first game he had a terrible shooting night... but really wasn't so bad in the hustle department. he rebounded VERY well, and played decent D for much of the game.

i think that the standard story "he is benched to punish him for coming to camp out of shape" is appologetic, and is a case of SEARCHING for an acceptable rationalle for the move... whether or not it lines up with the actual timeline of the facts on the ground or not. THere might be a perfectly rational and acceptable reason for this bizzare move... but we haven't come CLOSE to hearing what it is, and all of the self assured (but uninformed) statements of the rationale just come off as apologist.

GIVEN the facts we have on hand: THE MOVE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
if there ARE facts that provide the motivation for the move : WE DON'T HAVE THEM.

 

[Kingster]

this line of reasoning seems to be something of a mantra on this board, but it really doesn't make any sense given the fact that Donte had played the pre-season with the coaches as well.

if THAT was teh reasoning... then wtf is with making him the opening day starter (after a preseason where there WAS open comprtition for the starting three spot, its not as if it was his by default) and THEN sending him to the freezer?? They hadn't figured out that he was out of shape before that? In that first game he had a terrible shooting night... but really wasn't so bad in the hustle department. he rebounded VERY well, and played decent D for much of the game.

i think that the standard story "he is benched to punish him for coming to camp out of shape" is appologetic, and is a case of SEARCHING for an acceptable rationalle for the move... whether or not it lines up with the actual timeline of the facts on the ground or not. THere might be a perfectly rational and acceptable reason for this bizzare move... but we haven't come CLOSE to hearing what it is, and all of the self assured (but uninformed) statements of the rationale just come off as apologist.

GIVEN the facts we have on hand: THE MOVE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
if there ARE facts that provide the motivation for the move : WE DON'T HAVE THEM.

I understand your point, that Donte did start for a very brief time, so therefore his being out of shape is not the reason for him being out of the lineup currently. However, maybe there isn't just one reason for Donte falling out of favor. Maybe it's a number of things, one of which is him being out of shape at the beginning of training camp. Granted: If Donte played like an All Star at the beginning of the season even though he had been terribly out of shape at the beginning of training camp, we wouldn't have this discussion. And Westphal would have him right now as the starter. But Donte played lousy when he got his chance through the "generosity" of Westphal. If a guy is way behind in training camp because he is trying to get into shape, it's pretty hard for that guy to perform well once the season begins. He's starting a five mile race one mile behind. Bottom line is that Donte didn't make points with Westphal being out of shape, and Donte didn't do himself any favors in performing on the court by being out of shape.

 

[alpinegroove]

I don't remember the exact order of things, but at first it was believed that Donte gained muscle weight over the summer. Perhaps the coaching staff thought that too, and asked him to lose some of it to regain his quickness. If I remember correctly, only after PW made the announcement about Donte being the starting 3, Donte said in an interview that he gained weight because of sitting around at home and not working out.
Perhaps Donte hadn't told the coaches that previously, and they were surprised to hear that or perhaps felt misled by him...
Just another speculation.

 

[kennadog]

The only problem with the "weight" issue being the reason is that Donte isn't the only one who gained weight and or showed up in less than ideal condition. Apparently Reke was guilty of this, too, along with some others mentioned in the Bee.