[Game] 45/82: Kings @ Knicks 25 JAN 2025, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET
- Thread starter Mr. S£im Citrus
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Once again, that wasn't the criteria. The point is that Simmons was drafted ahead of four guys who all had better careers that he did. Actually, he was drafted ahead of seven guys who ended up having better careers than him: I'm going to count Mills, Brown and Campbell, too (I'll give him a pass on Kukoč, since the pick was in on that pick). And the only reason why Simmons' scoring average was as high as it was is because he stopped playing before it could drop any lower: he averaged less than six points a game in each of the last three seasons of his career.
BUT, let's stipulate for the sake of discourse that Simmons was a good pick. He still picked Mays, Bonner and Causwell over three of those guys, too. Defend that. McNair still only had the one pick, there's no amount of quality guys to come out of the 2021 Draft that's going to convince me that that was a worst draft performance than having four picks in the first round and coming away with one rotation player.
BUT, let's stipulate for the sake of discourse that Simmons was a good pick. He still picked Mays, Bonner and Causwell over three of those guys, too. Defend that. McNair still only had the one pick, there's no amount of quality guys to come out of the 2021 Draft that's going to convince me that that was a worst draft performance than having four picks in the first round and coming away with one rotation player.
Or just use their bench more effectively. Unless Devin Carter is under minutes restrictions I have no idea why he's only playing 4 minute stretches in first half of games now. He was one of the only effective defenders at guard today. It's tough to watch someone like Hart dominate you on the boards when you have a similar player and even if only a rookie, someone that might be able to put up a fight.
The Kings aren't likely completely gassed yet, I'm saying that this pattern after awhile starts to compound. Heck, look at Thibs. He's pretty much written the book to learn from on burnout. Brown used to burn his guys up as well, especially Barnes. If the Kings had like 2 weeks left to make up ground you do what you have to, but now it's a war of attrition first over any individual battles.
The Kings aren't likely completely gassed yet, I'm saying that this pattern after awhile starts to compound. Heck, look at Thibs. He's pretty much written the book to learn from on burnout. Brown used to burn his guys up as well, especially Barnes. If the Kings had like 2 weeks left to make up ground you do what you have to, but now it's a war of attrition first over any individual battles.
Honestly thought Carter was injured. This is the first game where I felt Christie was Catering instead of coaching.
If he learned anything from Rick Adalmine it should have been how important the bench is.
We always had great minutes from the bench and never over used the starters.
I hope he snaps out of it and learns to use his full team. Someone said it right earlier. Those Ellis minutes might have been fools gold.
If he learned anything from Rick Adalmine it should have been how important the bench is.
We always had great minutes from the bench and never over used the starters.
I hope he snaps out of it and learns to use his full team. Someone said it right earlier. Those Ellis minutes might have been fools gold.
sure he made the trades of McCray and Ellison to acquire those picks so he at least took a swing.
let’s compare with Monte who didn’t trade Barnes, didn’t get the pick from Boston, and had to trade a pick swap with San Antonio to off load him.
so what’s worse, creating an opportunity and missing or standing their watching a called strike and giving away more assets later as a result.
In my book Monte is far worse.
let’s compare with Monte who didn’t trade Barnes, didn’t get the pick from Boston, and had to trade a pick swap with San Antonio to off load him.
so what’s worse, creating an opportunity and missing or standing their watching a called strike and giving away more assets later as a result.
In my book Monte is far worse.
the Vlade swing and misses given what was available with that 10 pick was almost as bad. But at least Vlade put himself in position to get those picks. Monte didn’t even do that when he should have.
personally I prefer errors of commission where you tried and just ****ed it up versus repeated errors of omission where you did nothing.
personally I prefer errors of commission where you tried and just ****ed it up versus repeated errors of omission where you did nothing.
I look back at all the stupidity the kings have endured, the hiring of bill Russel and Willis reed as our coaches. Joe axelson. The Ralph Sampson experiment. Dick motta. Air ball one. Bringing back a hurt Webber to a team that was KILLING IT and effectively putting a stop to that teams momentum. Firing Malone. Nothing this team has done since day 1 compares to passing up on Luka.
Am I bitter? HELL YEAH.
It easily tops the disappointment I felt when Roger Craig fumbled and effectively derailed what would
Have been a 49er 3 peat.
Am I bitter? HELL YEAH.
It easily tops the disappointment I felt when Roger Craig fumbled and effectively derailed what would
Have been a 49er 3 peat.
It's time to wake up and smell the coffee. Appreciate Fox trying to gut through injuries but unfortunately he is a liability out there on both ends of the floor. He is not doing himself favors with respect to individual or team performance or long term health. Players always want to play but it's up to the coach and management to take the hard decisions for the betterment of the team. Manage the egos as the scoreboard doesn't care about feelings.
Fox’s lackluster play in January is interesting considering he was also much worse in January last season. For reference, below are the deltas in his stats when comparing Oct-Dec to Jan these past 2 seasons…
2023-24: Oct-Dec & Jan Delta
USG% Delta = -5.3%
TS% Delta = -6.8%
FGA Per36 Delta = -3.5
FTA Per36 Delta = -1.9
PTS Per36 Delta = -8.0
AST Per36 Delta = -1.7
2024-25: Oct-Dec & Jan Delta
USG% = -5.9%
TS% = -5.9%
FGA Per36 = -2.6
FTA Per36 = -0.9
PTS Per36 = -5.7
AST Per36 = -0.2
His efficiency has not only been much worse in January, but he considerably lowers his usage, takes less shots, gets to the free throw line less frequently, etc. From an eye test perspective, it looks like he is taking a step back, deferring to others, complacement, indifferent, nonchalant, etc. I think it’s fair to say the stats and eye test line up here.
Maybe next year we can just give Fox the month of January off and tell him we’ll see him after the all star break
2023-24: Oct-Dec & Jan Delta
USG% Delta = -5.3%
TS% Delta = -6.8%
FGA Per36 Delta = -3.5
FTA Per36 Delta = -1.9
PTS Per36 Delta = -8.0
AST Per36 Delta = -1.7
2024-25: Oct-Dec & Jan Delta
USG% = -5.9%
TS% = -5.9%
FGA Per36 = -2.6
FTA Per36 = -0.9
PTS Per36 = -5.7
AST Per36 = -0.2
His efficiency has not only been much worse in January, but he considerably lowers his usage, takes less shots, gets to the free throw line less frequently, etc. From an eye test perspective, it looks like he is taking a step back, deferring to others, complacement, indifferent, nonchalant, etc. I think it’s fair to say the stats and eye test line up here.
Maybe next year we can just give Fox the month of January off and tell him we’ll see him after the all star break
To that point, he hasn’t really looked the same since coming back from that injury. It doesn’t seem like he has the same burst that we’ve grown accustomed to and perhaps there’s a bit more caution in the back of his mind when attacking the rim & paint. I’m not saying he has PTSD from the fall or anything, but if he’s still not 100% from the fall, perhaps he’s more hesitant to attack at the moment.
We managed to hung around for the LONG time - only one positive thing from this game.
Foxy plays with the really banged up hands - that's really not helping Kings. Doug Christie as a head coach looks like good, right guy. He needs to not forget that he is a damn HC. Tell Foxy that "till your fingers are not aligned more or less properly - you ain't dressing up".
This is a very dangerous moment in the season. Let Foxy heal. We have plenty of talented, young guards. In a contested games play Domas, Monk, DDR 40+ minutes. Otherwise Fox will have a long off-season to heal his fingers.
Foxy plays with the really banged up hands - that's really not helping Kings. Doug Christie as a head coach looks like good, right guy. He needs to not forget that he is a damn HC. Tell Foxy that "till your fingers are not aligned more or less properly - you ain't dressing up".
This is a very dangerous moment in the season. Let Foxy heal. We have plenty of talented, young guards. In a contested games play Domas, Monk, DDR 40+ minutes. Otherwise Fox will have a long off-season to heal his fingers.
This opinion certainly has merit. But it brings up another aspect of what Coach Christie might be addressing. He is the "interim" coach and is more able to be influenced by management. So how much input does Monte or Vivek have in what is occurring on the floor. It seems as if it is more than we know for certain.
Perhaps Klutch demands that Fox plays so his monetary value can be maximized. Maybe Monte is anticipating a trade and doesn't want to dilute the possible outcome. It could be that Vivek wants to fill seats and a Fox absence would lessen interest in games. Or none of these but something else..
The bottom line is that Christie has to remedy the first quarter woes. Trying to outscore, or even keep up with, opponents rarely works and has not been working well from the beginning of the season. He must see this but is hamstrung by outside influences. It may be front office interference as described above. Or it may be players' personalities and desires. As previously posted, Christie should emphasize defense in the first quarter to be able to play the remainder of a game on a level playing field.
Starting either Monk or Fox with Ellis or Carter would very likely slow the opponent's first quarter scoring surge that is so evident lately. If Ellis or Carter don't have a matchup advantage then the other defensive specialist should be first off the bench. These two have the ability to contribute offensively as well.
Either Monk or Fox (injured) off the bench could be the offensive punch that might dishearten opponents. Christie is defensively minded so this possibility has very likely occurred to him, at least to give it a try. Why he hasn't attempted it is the mystery to be solved. Perhaps the results of the previous two games will convince the team that this path has possibilities.
Perhaps Klutch demands that Fox plays so his monetary value can be maximized. Maybe Monte is anticipating a trade and doesn't want to dilute the possible outcome. It could be that Vivek wants to fill seats and a Fox absence would lessen interest in games. Or none of these but something else..
The bottom line is that Christie has to remedy the first quarter woes. Trying to outscore, or even keep up with, opponents rarely works and has not been working well from the beginning of the season. He must see this but is hamstrung by outside influences. It may be front office interference as described above. Or it may be players' personalities and desires. As previously posted, Christie should emphasize defense in the first quarter to be able to play the remainder of a game on a level playing field.
Starting either Monk or Fox with Ellis or Carter would very likely slow the opponent's first quarter scoring surge that is so evident lately. If Ellis or Carter don't have a matchup advantage then the other defensive specialist should be first off the bench. These two have the ability to contribute offensively as well.
Either Monk or Fox (injured) off the bench could be the offensive punch that might dishearten opponents. Christie is defensively minded so this possibility has very likely occurred to him, at least to give it a try. Why he hasn't attempted it is the mystery to be solved. Perhaps the results of the previous two games will convince the team that this path has possibilities.
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