[Game] 21/82: Kings vs. Grizzlies 30 NOV 2025, 6pm PT/9pm ET

[Srzly]

Yeah, I don't understand it. His philosophy is just to keep going back to vets, no matter the game flow or whats happening on the floor. It's cost us quite a bit this year.

I'm not saying just bench the vets entirely either. But we've seen the bench several times throughout this year that got us back into the game, or at least we're playing far more competitive basketball... and just not get rewarded for it

It not only hurts our chances of winning, it stunts the development of the young guys, and it also stunts the development of Keegan using all of his energy on defense while maybe getting to just touch the ball on offense 1 out of every 15 possessions because he has to play most of his minutes with the vets.

It is just frustrating and pure stupidity at this point.

 

[The_Jamal]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995525204416589856

Free this man to a playoff team that will actually use him and get him on the floor. 26th in DRtg and he's playing 6 minutes a game.

 

[Caccia]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1995525204416589856

Free this man to a playoff team that will actually use him and get him on the floor. 26th in DRtg and he's playing 6 minutes a game.

In the NBA stats, Malik Monk leads the team (among rotation players) with a DRtg of 110.5. Keon Ellis is fifth at 115.6, behind Clifford, Achiuwa, and Eubanks. Last night, Monk was defending like a madman, possibly the most intense I have ever seen him play on that end of the court. He got knocked down hard twice, fighting through screens, resulting in turnovers by Memphis. He is the only rotation player with a positive net rating or positive +/- on the team in the midst of this abysmal season.

That second unit really showed the coach what they can do. I hope he "looks at the tape" and acts accordingly.

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612758/players-advanced?dir=A&sort=DEF_RATING

 

[The_Jamal]

In the NBA stats, Malik Monk leads the team (among rotation players) with a DRtg of 110.5. Keon Ellis is fifth at 115.6, behind Clifford, Achiuwa, and Eubanks. Last night, Monk was defending like a madman, possibly the most intense I have ever seen him play on that end of the court. He got knocked down hard twice, fighting through screens, resulting in turnovers by Memphis. He is the only rotation player with a positive net rating or positive +/- on the team in the midst of this abysmal season.

That second unit really showed the coach what they can do. I hope he "looks at the tape" and acts accordingly.

https://www.nba.com/stats/team/1610612758/players-advanced?dir=A&sort=DEF_RATING

Monk's another guy that's kind of gotten tossed aside for the Dennis/LaVine/Russ/DDR contingent, which has proven to be a massive mistake. While he's not always effective, I never have to question Monk's heart or his energy levels on the floor.

He's also got hilarious on/off splits

ON: 438 minutes

ORtg: 113.0
DRtg: 114.6

Net: -1.6

Off: 576 minutes ( get ready for this one)

ORtg: 108.1
DRtg: 126.8 (LOL)

Net: -18.7 (LOL AGAIN)

Total net: +17.1

Now, to me, this is pretty clear that because Monk is playing a lot more with the bench units (you know, the guys who actually play defense) as well as being apart of more balanced offensive lineups because we don't have all the offense only dudes on the floor.

But there's something seriously wrong with our rotations when splits like this exist.

 

[Section 101]

Monk's another guy that's kind of gotten tossed aside for the Dennis/LaVine/Russ/DDR contingent, which has proven to be a massive mistake. While he's not always effective, I never have to question Monk's heart or his energy levels on the floor.

He's also got hilarious on/off splits

ON: 438 minutes

ORtg: 113.0
DRtg: 114.6

Net: -1.6

Off: 576 minutes ( get ready for this one)

ORtg: 108.1
DRtg: 126.8 (LOL)

Net: -18.7 (LOL AGAIN)

Total net: +17.1

Now, to me, this is pretty clear that because Monk is playing a lot more with the bench units (you know, the guys who actually play defense) as well as being apart of more balanced offensive lineups because we don't have all the offense only dudes on the floor.

But there's something seriously wrong with our rotations when splits like this exist.

The off has more to do with Zach and DDR on the floor when he isnt.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Yeah, I don't understand it. His philosophy is just to keep going back to vets, no matter the game flow or whats happening on the floor. It's cost us quite a bit this year.

I'm not saying just bench the vets entirely either. But we've seen the bench several times throughout this year that got us back into the game, or at least we're playing far more competitive basketball... and just not get rewarded for it

Their "plan" is much greater than this season. Could be the first post for "Thursday insights"

 

[hrdboild]

Lavine is this season’s low hanging fruit. It was Barnes. Then Fox. Now Zach. It’s tiresome. Christie trying to scheme a defense with these guys is ridiculous. Lavine’s best defense is outscoring the other team’s guard. We’re sacrificing his offensive excellence with this poor coaching.

It is completely within Zach LaVine's control to change the narrative by putting in the work on the defensive end. And I don't just mean hustling for loose balls and rebounds (though that would be a good place to start). He also needs to learn opponent tendencies and offensive sets so that he can be proactive about cutting off drives when his matchup is favoring their strong hand, know when to fight over a screen and when to cheat under or call for a switch, and when he needs to beat somebody to their spot before they get the ball or deny them the ball entirely. It's homework and it needs to be done before the game every game and it only works if everyone on the floor is doing it. One strong defender is not going to be able to cover for a poor one. That worked 20 years ago but it does not work now when almost everyone can shoot, handle, and pass regardless of position.

But Zach also believes his best defense is scoring and I just cannot abide that in a basketball player at any level. It's selfish and it's unfair to your teammates. If we're committed to riding him to the bottom of the standings then so be it but it's going to take a long time to unlearn all of the ways these guys are trying to compensate for playing defense short-handed and by the time we actually pull out of this losing mentality I hope that is the end of Kings fans thinking that we can win by out-scoring everyone and coasting on defense. That has never worked in the NBA and it will never work and if that's what people think is exciting to watch than I guess they must be okay with winning one or two playoff games a decade and forever talking about "next season". Maybe I'm greedy but I would like to see a 50 or 60 win season and another trip to the Conference Finals at some point. It's never going to happen without a full team defensive effort.

 

[Section 101]

It is completely within Zach LaVine's control to change the narrative by putting in the work on the defensive end. And I don't just mean hustling for loose balls and rebounds (though that would be a good place to start). He also needs to learn opponent tendencies and offensive sets so that he can be proactive about cutting off drives when his matchup is favoring their strong hand, know when to fight over a screen and when to cheat under or call for a switch, and when he needs to beat somebody to their spot before they get the ball or deny them the ball entirely. It's homework and it needs to be done before the game every game and it only works if everyone on the floor is doing it. One strong defender is not going to be able to cover for a poor one. That worked 20 years ago but it does not work now when almost everyone can shoot, handle, and pass regardless of position.

But Zach also believes his best defense is scoring and I just cannot abide that in a basketball player at any level. It's selfish and it's unfair to your teammates. If we're committed to riding him to the bottom of the standings then so be it but it's going to take a long time to unlearn all of the ways these guys are trying to compensate for playing defense short-handed and by the time we actually pull out of this losing mentality I hope that is the end of Kings fans thinking that we can win by out-scoring everyone and coasting on defense. That has never worked in the NBA and it will never work and if that's what people think is exciting to watch than I guess they must be okay with winning one or two playoff games a decade and forever talking about "next season". Maybe I'm greedy but I would like to see a 50 or 60 win season and another trip to the Conference Finals at some point. It's never going to happen without a full team defensive effort.

You put Monk's heart in Levine and he's a top 10 player in the league.

 

[kingdivac]

You put Monk's heart in Levine and he's a top 10 player in the league.

Yeah that other comment the other day reportedly from Levine - saying something like, "yah other guys can do that" ie I dont need to do x, or y, only z, was tres mal!