[Game] 50/82: Kings vs. Magic 05 FEB 2025, 7pm PT/10pm ET
- Thread starter Mr. S£im Citrus
- Start date
The Kings needed the defense tonight. Keon and Carter are totally different players on both ends. And Carter is actually doing things on offense. Next time, watch him off ball. Notice some of the screening you'll see. He's being used in a certain way out there. The offense so far hasn't sputtered much with him, although as a rookie it might at times, but if he's going to be a need player right now, you play him with the need calls and tonight it certainly did in terms of size and strength at the guard spot. First play back in Wendell Carter Jr. tried to iso post him up top, but he held his ground and stole the ball. That along with the F to F pick roll of the Magic is what killed the Kings tonight. Monk and Keon were underpowered when it came to the switch. Carters not likely going to win those battles all night but again, if A isn't working and getting pounded, try B.
I've watched him really close....and the offensive flow hasn't been there. Does some nice extra things as a guard, but isn't quite there yet overall, for a team fighting for post season. The Keon reference is because they're both combo guards.....and Keon has earned as much extra time as they can find for him.
I think Christie and the staff are seeing the same thing
I think Christie and the staff are seeing the same thing
Well, tonight they saw the wrong things because they needed the defense and Carter was one of only two positives in +/- after his first stint. If the score starts dropping by all means adjust, if he starts looking lost because yes, he has absolutely no offensive role/experience other than as a connector/back screener/secondary ball handler/spreader or role guy? Fine. But the score dropping in his minutes doesn't happen all the time by any stretch. And even if it does, if you can find some rest for someone else it might be worth it if that means a fresh body can help provide a run later.
I really need to stop going to games. They never seem to win when I do. But I did want to catch this one in person.
Funny thing - I grabbed two seats behind a stair opening (where there are only 4 seats total) and the other two were taken by Aaron Del Bono and his wife - funny how we run into them at some Kings related events and in all of G1C the other two seats next to ours are the ones they had bought for the game. I think I last saw him at the middle of the night "welcome back" of the Beam Team from a road game when they clinched the playoffs or something.
Funny thing - I grabbed two seats behind a stair opening (where there are only 4 seats total) and the other two were taken by Aaron Del Bono and his wife - funny how we run into them at some Kings related events and in all of G1C the other two seats next to ours are the ones they had bought for the game. I think I last saw him at the middle of the night "welcome back" of the Beam Team from a road game when they clinched the playoffs or something.
When my daughter saw me browsing some news the other day there was a farewell message of Luka Doncic to the Mavs fans. It was in b/w and grey background, so anyway she told me (she is not yet 4 year old, knows some letters but still can't read normally) "Why our assistant coach is so sad, he left?" referring to Luke Loucks either because "Luka" looks like "Luke" or because of the "silhouette" that looks similar a bit.
Unfortunately it was Doncic instead, though there were some talks that he is about to become the coach in a college team or high school team or something (I browsed his name to show her the difference between him and Doncic).
Bottom line our defense under his "guidance" seems not to be working so well. I am sure it's on the players too but still somebody is there guiding them without doing his job that well. Today was full of open shots, "blowing by" and easy baskets inside the paint. Against one of the worst offensive teams in the league. It seems that we are a team that is "easy to be read" by the opponent. Add to this the bad start that we have in 1st and 3rd quarter and we have a freaking mountain to climb in each match to play catch up.
Also once more the team shown that we have playmaker issues, Monk is good but he can't handle the (physical) pressure, and there is no other true point guard that can keep the ball safe to his hands when the defenders are "glued" to him apart from Mason Jones. DDR, LaVine, Keon can handle the ball but not as point guards do. Still I don't think we will get someone till tomorrow (I don't think any is available) and I am afraid that it will still be an issue moving forward.
Unfortunately it was Doncic instead, though there were some talks that he is about to become the coach in a college team or high school team or something (I browsed his name to show her the difference between him and Doncic).
Bottom line our defense under his "guidance" seems not to be working so well. I am sure it's on the players too but still somebody is there guiding them without doing his job that well. Today was full of open shots, "blowing by" and easy baskets inside the paint. Against one of the worst offensive teams in the league. It seems that we are a team that is "easy to be read" by the opponent. Add to this the bad start that we have in 1st and 3rd quarter and we have a freaking mountain to climb in each match to play catch up.
Also once more the team shown that we have playmaker issues, Monk is good but he can't handle the (physical) pressure, and there is no other true point guard that can keep the ball safe to his hands when the defenders are "glued" to him apart from Mason Jones. DDR, LaVine, Keon can handle the ball but not as point guards do. Still I don't think we will get someone till tomorrow (I don't think any is available) and I am afraid that it will still be an issue moving forward.
I think what makes it tough, is they feel the need to have one of Monk or Lavine (now) on the floor at all times for offensive creation as lead guards. With Keon having already earned any extra available guard minutes....and him and Carter not fitting together as an offensive guard pair, they're likely going to continue to struggle finding more minutes for him this season.
It's practically a "red shirt year" for him, because of the circumstances
It's practically a "red shirt year" for him, because of the circumstances
Maybe. But remember we were tied with the Zach Deebo Bulls in the Davion lottery pick. It was the Bulls pick that became Franz Wagner for Orlando.
what struck my wife and I was how similar of a style of game Zach and Deebo have. Many similar strengths and similar weaknesses. I am not sure a Monk, LaVine, Deebo, Domas starting line-up won’t be the worst defensive team in the NBA.
what struck my wife and I was how similar of a style of game Zach and Deebo have. Many similar strengths and similar weaknesses. I am not sure a Monk, LaVine, Deebo, Domas starting line-up won’t be the worst defensive team in the NBA.
I'm going to call this game a mulligan. Again it hurts because I paid to see it but if I was at home and thinking clearly, I'd have expected this. It's easy to put a defensive player i to the mix, but when you have a offensive power like Lavine coming to your team, it takes time to gel. Even a guy like fox or butler will be easier to get proceed in as they are down hill players. Less rythem like players.
Jm not worried about Lavine. I'm worried about how Christie will implement them. Him being such a playerd coach may hurt his decision making. Sometimes hard decisions must be made regarding playing time.
Murray Murray Murray man. The most inconsistent player on the team. I don't know what to do with this guy. With his talent there is no way he should be at 12ppg. Crawford can average that. He's so dam passive it hurts. What can we do with him Kings Fans smh
Jm not worried about Lavine. I'm worried about how Christie will implement them. Him being such a playerd coach may hurt his decision making. Sometimes hard decisions must be made regarding playing time.
Murray Murray Murray man. The most inconsistent player on the team. I don't know what to do with this guy. With his talent there is no way he should be at 12ppg. Crawford can average that. He's so dam passive it hurts. What can we do with him Kings Fans smh
When I walked into the game tonight with my granddaughter I was truly excited about Zach joining our team and I’m telling you it was so electrifying when it came time for Scott Moat to introduce him you couldn’t even hear him talk about a HUGE welcoming. Well….. way too many turnovers (I think 19 for like 28pts?) and again—- like it has been for a very long time WIDE OPEN 3’s nothing new except I am hoping Coach Christie starts drilling it into their heads it’s not acceptable?? Try harder?? Stay on your man?? PLAY SOME DEFENSE??? Keegan had a rough night 5 points…. Normal bad calls from refs…but give our team a little time New coach, losing a few old team members, getting some new great team players with some time together???? I still believe, I’m still Sacramento Proud, and Hear Us Roar…
Who is to say they don't though? Yeah, maybe a little more development might be needed but one plays on ball or has the potential to and the other is an off guard pretty much fully. Maybe Keon is toeing the line of ball handling SG. In the end, the offense isn't diving hard with them at all times, or didn't tonight when they were in there together. In fact, that's when the turn started and they got the crowd up. Creating turnovers and stopping the other team is pretty important and does yield offensive results sometimes. The issue tonight was mainly defensively. Christie allowed a bigger team to run a gimmick pick and roll to pound guards that couldn't physically provide any resistance when they got them on their back. Carter likely can.
Neither one is an offensive creator at a high enough level for this team that is desperately trying to make the post season. They both can handle the ball and bring it up to start the offense, but that isn't enough to compete offensively, if playing together.
Keon has really earned a spot and identity as a 3&D guard, with his ability to shoot a high percentage and a relatively quick release. Carter, while already good defensively at this level, is neither a real 3 pt threat or a shot creator yet, so the team loses flow on that end. Doesn't mean he's not capable of improving those things, but that he hasn't proven it within the small window the team has had for him to work with.
All that's been said, I'm certainly rooting for him to expand and improve. Even if that means some more time in Stockton, where they can afford to hand him the keys and work on whatever he wants this season. I wouldn't look at it as a negative, but just part of the circumstances of this "red shirt season". It definitely worked for Keon,... no reason it can't work for Carter, regardless of whatever spot they were drafted or not drafted in
Keon has really earned a spot and identity as a 3&D guard, with his ability to shoot a high percentage and a relatively quick release. Carter, while already good defensively at this level, is neither a real 3 pt threat or a shot creator yet, so the team loses flow on that end. Doesn't mean he's not capable of improving those things, but that he hasn't proven it within the small window the team has had for him to work with.
All that's been said, I'm certainly rooting for him to expand and improve. Even if that means some more time in Stockton, where they can afford to hand him the keys and work on whatever he wants this season. I wouldn't look at it as a negative, but just part of the circumstances of this "red shirt season". It definitely worked for Keon,... no reason it can't work for Carter, regardless of whatever spot they were drafted or not drafted in
Man, this whole season is starting to feel like this. I guess where we can breath a sigh of relief is we FINALLY can start something new here. No more Fox tanking the season to get out of town. No more weirdness with Brown and the players and the FO. But now we have to integrate yet another high USG player in LaVine, add in what the Jval minutes look like, adjust everyone's role's AGAIN. All while Christie is trying to do this on the fly without the benefit of an off-season, training camp or even who he'd want on his bench with him.
I listened to Monk's comments at the end of the game and dude just looked super hurt. To me, looks like Fox didn't clue him in on anything at all. Pretty shady for guys who are supposed to be boys.
I never bought the line that some would throw around, that they were best friends. Always viewed them as buddies from college.
Fox is a me first player, who showed many signs of money being his top focus, which is part of why I never viewed him as a lead player for a contender, whether here or anywhere else.
Fox is a me first player, who showed many signs of money being his top focus, which is part of why I never viewed him as a lead player for a contender, whether here or anywhere else.
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Issue with bluesky is it appears that some of the teams and maybe leagues have exclusive agreements with twitter. That's not above board but some teams started official bluesky accounts and then deleted them.
The nice thing there is when you block someone they are completely blocked. My bluesky is almost all music and sports.
The nice thing there is when you block someone they are completely blocked. My bluesky is almost all music and sports.