[Game] 67/82 Kings vs. Grizzlies 17 MAR 2025, 7pm PST/10pm EST
- Thread starter QWERTYLICIOUS
- Start date
- Status
That part in the 2nd quarter where LaRavia and Carter seemed to steal the ball every time down the court was really fun to watch. The Grizzlies had to make lineup changes in the 2nd half because of that.
Carter already has some of the better defensive metrics on the team. Now it helps that he mostly only plays against bench players but it's impressive for a rookie nonetheless.
On the flip side, the refs calling that blocked 3pt attempt a foul after reviewing it was ridiculous. This "sport" really is a farce.
Carter already has some of the better defensive metrics on the team. Now it helps that he mostly only plays against bench players but it's impressive for a rookie nonetheless.
On the flip side, the refs calling that blocked 3pt attempt a foul after reviewing it was ridiculous. This "sport" really is a farce.
I would really love it if part of our offseason is spent “retooling” our identity into a scrappy defensive minded squad. Keegan, Laravia, Ellis, Carter….thats a damn good foundation for a defense. Somehow need to turn Deebo, Lavine or Monk into an athletic shot blocker. I have a feeling our best move will look like we are taking a downgrade in talent but will potentially significantly improve the team. unfortunately, I’m concerned that path might not be flashy enough for Vivek or that Monte will be able to accept the downgrade in offense.
Based on the eye test and the advanced stats our starting lineup has one very good defender (Keegan), three poor to awful defenders (Malik, Zach, and DeMar) and one mediocre defender (Sabonis). Combine that with the fact that all four other than Keegan also need to have the ball to be effective on offense and there are two very clear issues.
I'd love to see a lineup of Carter, Ellis, LaRavia, Murray, and Sabonis for stretches, but while they'd be disruptive on defense, they'd lack ball handling or clear ways to score.
So the logical thing to do is what most of us have asked for - start two of those four scrappy defenders and give significant minutes to the other two.
Monk
Ellis
DeRozan
Murray
Sabonis
would give better balance. Give Carter and LaRavia lots of bench minutes with LaVine (and Lyles/Valaciunis) and add a few more complimentary pieces this off-season.
The current starting five is only going to be successful when they are having a very good night offensively and struggle when they aren't, because they don't have defense to lean back on. I've been a Monte defender, but the Fox trade has made this team even more unbalanced and it needs to be fixed.
I'd love to see a lineup of Carter, Ellis, LaRavia, Murray, and Sabonis for stretches, but while they'd be disruptive on defense, they'd lack ball handling or clear ways to score.
So the logical thing to do is what most of us have asked for - start two of those four scrappy defenders and give significant minutes to the other two.
Monk
Ellis
DeRozan
Murray
Sabonis
would give better balance. Give Carter and LaRavia lots of bench minutes with LaVine (and Lyles/Valaciunis) and add a few more complimentary pieces this off-season.
The current starting five is only going to be successful when they are having a very good night offensively and struggle when they aren't, because they don't have defense to lean back on. I've been a Monte defender, but the Fox trade has made this team even more unbalanced and it needs to be fixed.
Fair.
But I think the dynamics of the current NBA would make it hard for any coach, let alone an interim HC with a team struggling to keep pace in the play-in area of the standings to bench an established veteran making a large salary for a former two way player on a budget deal, a rookie, or a guy picked off the scrap heap after his former team declined his option.
I definitely think the Kings would be a better team with Ellis starting, but realistically we aren't likely to see LaVine or DeRozan coming off the bench.
But I think the dynamics of the current NBA would make it hard for any coach, let alone an interim HC with a team struggling to keep pace in the play-in area of the standings to bench an established veteran making a large salary for a former two way player on a budget deal, a rookie, or a guy picked off the scrap heap after his former team declined his option.
I definitely think the Kings would be a better team with Ellis starting, but realistically we aren't likely to see LaVine or DeRozan coming off the bench.
Yeah, I get that, but that's also a huge red flag to me. This is essentially saying we have the right talent to make a winning squad, but are choosing to placate egos and status over winning. That's an issue with coaching and honestly personal on the team if they aren't willing to make that sacrifice for the team. Or DC isn't the leader we expected and doesn't want to rock the boat in that way.
I truly believe this season is vastly different with Keon starting and playing 30+ MPG. Hes that good of a defender and his elite 3pt shooting makes him a huge value on offense too. So whatever needs to happen this offseason to make that happen... should be a priority. It's just crazy to me how little we play Keegan and Keon together when they've been our only shot at a competent defense.
I truly believe this season is vastly different with Keon starting and playing 30+ MPG. Hes that good of a defender and his elite 3pt shooting makes him a huge value on offense too. So whatever needs to happen this offseason to make that happen... should be a priority. It's just crazy to me how little we play Keegan and Keon together when they've been our only shot at a competent defense.
I'd say both. LaVine and DDR really aren't bench players. Monk you could make a case for but he's also the vocal leader of the team and seems to have everyone's respect. He's also the only real competent ball handler that's capable of running a smooth flowing offense. Plus he took a discount to stay here. Each guy individually is a good player but collectively their weaknesses are exacerbated when they play together.
I don't envy Doug's position at all.
I don't envy Doug's position at all.
Ideally, we should never have Monk, LaVine, and DeRozan on the floor at the same time (unless there’s a dead ball and we have the last possession of the quarter/game and need a bucket). Only 1-2 of those guys should be on the floor at any given time in the game. It really comes down to this…
Pick 1 of…
Pick 1 or 2 of…
Pick 2 or 3 of…
However, the main “ego” issue is how you handle the starting lineup and closing lineup.
LaVine is making close to $50 mil, is a multiple time all star, is still in his prime, and is our most efficient volume scorer. I have a hard time justifying him not being in both the starting and closing lineup.
DeRozan is our next most efficient volume scorer and is a great clutch option to use to close out games. It seems illogical to keep our most clutch player out of the closing lineup.
Monk is our closest thing to a PG and has excellent energy. It might make sense to have him out there to start the game to help make sure we don’t come out lethargic while also helping setup others & get comfortable early in the game.
With that in mind, I’m going with the following starting lineup and closing lineup if we want to try and maximize winning this year…
Starting Lineup
PG - Monk
SG - Ellis
SF - LaVine
PF - Murray
C - Sabonis
Closing Lineup
PG - Ellis
SG - LaVine
SF - DeRozan
PF - Murray
C - Sabonis
The lack of size in the starting lineup is not ideal, but I honestly don’t think the alternative is that much better (having DeRozan defend SFs vs. having LaVine defend SFs).
The lack of a PG in the closing lineup is also not ideal, but a lot of the time, the 4th quarter/crunch time comes down to elite shot making and I think LaVine and DeRozan help us in that department more than Monk.
I’m fine with just having Monk come off the bench from the start as well if we think that will go over easier “ego-wise,” but by going with the lineups I proposed above, you’re asking two guys to make a smaller sacrifice (Monk not closing out games and DeRozan not starting) vs. asking one guy to make a bigger sacrifice (Monk not starting AND not closing out games). Perhaps both Monk and DeRozan would be willing to make that sacrifice knowing their sharing the “sacrifice load.”
Pick 1 of…
- Domantas Sabonis
- Jonas Valanciunas
Pick 1 or 2 of…
- Malik Monk
- Zach LaVine
- DeMar DeRozan
Pick 2 or 3 of…
- Keon Ellis
- Devin Carter
- Keegan Murray
- Jake LaRavia
- Trey Lyles
However, the main “ego” issue is how you handle the starting lineup and closing lineup.
LaVine is making close to $50 mil, is a multiple time all star, is still in his prime, and is our most efficient volume scorer. I have a hard time justifying him not being in both the starting and closing lineup.
DeRozan is our next most efficient volume scorer and is a great clutch option to use to close out games. It seems illogical to keep our most clutch player out of the closing lineup.
Monk is our closest thing to a PG and has excellent energy. It might make sense to have him out there to start the game to help make sure we don’t come out lethargic while also helping setup others & get comfortable early in the game.
With that in mind, I’m going with the following starting lineup and closing lineup if we want to try and maximize winning this year…
Starting Lineup
PG - Monk
SG - Ellis
SF - LaVine
PF - Murray
C - Sabonis
Closing Lineup
PG - Ellis
SG - LaVine
SF - DeRozan
PF - Murray
C - Sabonis
The lack of size in the starting lineup is not ideal, but I honestly don’t think the alternative is that much better (having DeRozan defend SFs vs. having LaVine defend SFs).
The lack of a PG in the closing lineup is also not ideal, but a lot of the time, the 4th quarter/crunch time comes down to elite shot making and I think LaVine and DeRozan help us in that department more than Monk.
I’m fine with just having Monk come off the bench from the start as well if we think that will go over easier “ego-wise,” but by going with the lineups I proposed above, you’re asking two guys to make a smaller sacrifice (Monk not closing out games and DeRozan not starting) vs. asking one guy to make a bigger sacrifice (Monk not starting AND not closing out games). Perhaps both Monk and DeRozan would be willing to make that sacrifice knowing their sharing the “sacrifice load.”
- Status