Just because Karl never had as talented of a big man as Boogie doesn't mean he was completely clueless. To say so is a stretch. He had Sean Kemp, didn't he? Boogie being the last man up the floor was often a function of being overweight and tendonitis in both feet. It was not by design it was function of suboptimal conditioning. You are being disingenuous re: Karl. Obviously this guy was past his expiration date but Boogie compiled arguably his best statistical season in his system. If he was hanging out at the three point all season long as you suggest he wouldn't have produced at the volume he did.
Can Kings coach Dave Joerger break DeMarcus Cousins' bad habits?
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I saw many times Boogie starting out beyond the 3 point line. That is where the "Dribble Drive" offense we all saw had him start. I also recall what you are saying about Boogie catching the ball as the trailer on the play and shooting the three. Both happened a significant amount of the time last season.
Cousins was the four man in Karl's version of the dribble drive. That puts him starting beyond the 3pt line as a function of the scheme. That's just how it works. The only other option is to have him be the five man who is solely a dump off target in a pure dribble drive system.
The Bee reported that it was Rondo and Cousins who had to convince/bargain with Karl to slow the pace, integrate pick & rolls and post ups.
Cousins wasn't necessarily "hanging out" at the three point line, but he was asked to largely attack from there.
It did expand his skill set but I can't say it maximized his value on offense.
The Bee reported that it was Rondo and Cousins who had to convince/bargain with Karl to slow the pace, integrate pick & rolls and post ups.
Cousins wasn't necessarily "hanging out" at the three point line, but he was asked to largely attack from there.
It did expand his skill set but I can't say it maximized his value on offense.
Shawn Kemp wasn't a big man either, not really. Not as an interior focus. Shawn Kemp was an elite, as Karl likes to say "rim runner". That's where the bulk of his points came from. Hardly a surprise that Karl wanted Cousins to do the same thing.
And yes, lack of experience combine with world class stubborness absolutely can render you clueless. George Karl turned into an old idealogue in his old age, determined that his legacy was going to be playing a certain way, which was different from the old way, and the father of the modern way. He didn't even want an interior big man as an offensive focus. Never had one before. Just in the way now.
And yes, lack of experience combine with world class stubborness absolutely can render you clueless. George Karl turned into an old idealogue in his old age, determined that his legacy was going to be playing a certain way, which was different from the old way, and the father of the modern way. He didn't even want an interior big man as an offensive focus. Never had one before. Just in the way now.
If Kemp wasn't a big man, what was he, a PG? He wasn't a prototypical low post player, but he was a big man.
Regardless Boogie is going to be out by the free throw line this year a lot. Or so it seems, let's wait and see. Personally I will love it if it happens, as I have said repeatedly Boogie is at his best in the middle of the floor with a live dribble. I would expect you would have a problem and philosophical difference with this based on what you have said and projected when Joerger was hired.
I anticipate this: Boogie is going to get his touches out of the post but they will come selectively in transition when he can pin a little guy and has clear size advantage on the man guarding him. Otherwise, we are going to keep the basket area open to allow for cutters and back doors. This is NOT a lot different than the Karl system. The difference is we are going to have more player movement and we are changing our point of attack from PG-initiated (pound, pound, pound, pass) to PF-initiated.
And instead of three players on the court being an afterthought in play sets, everyone is going to have more opportunity to score, with the strong side having three guys, instead of two man ball with three out. The difference between Karl and Joerger will be a matter of structure and inclusion and not predominantly where Boogie positions himself in half court sets. Boogie spent a ton of time at the top of the key (not behind the three line) last year setting pick, and rolling. I know because I saw every game! There will be less freedom for Boogie to break plays and more options for him to find teammates, give up the ball and get it back.
This will hopefully reduce Boogie's usage and help to boost his scoring and passing efficiency (over 55% TS and 1.0 or better assist to turnover). These are the difference fans should expect to see, and those I expect, not the vague references you have made to ground and pound smash mouth basketball with Boogie getting 10-12 touches out of the low post. By early accounts, it is not going happen.
Regardless Boogie is going to be out by the free throw line this year a lot. Or so it seems, let's wait and see. Personally I will love it if it happens, as I have said repeatedly Boogie is at his best in the middle of the floor with a live dribble. I would expect you would have a problem and philosophical difference with this based on what you have said and projected when Joerger was hired.
I anticipate this: Boogie is going to get his touches out of the post but they will come selectively in transition when he can pin a little guy and has clear size advantage on the man guarding him. Otherwise, we are going to keep the basket area open to allow for cutters and back doors. This is NOT a lot different than the Karl system. The difference is we are going to have more player movement and we are changing our point of attack from PG-initiated (pound, pound, pound, pass) to PF-initiated.
And instead of three players on the court being an afterthought in play sets, everyone is going to have more opportunity to score, with the strong side having three guys, instead of two man ball with three out. The difference between Karl and Joerger will be a matter of structure and inclusion and not predominantly where Boogie positions himself in half court sets. Boogie spent a ton of time at the top of the key (not behind the three line) last year setting pick, and rolling. I know because I saw every game! There will be less freedom for Boogie to break plays and more options for him to find teammates, give up the ball and get it back.
This will hopefully reduce Boogie's usage and help to boost his scoring and passing efficiency (over 55% TS and 1.0 or better assist to turnover). These are the difference fans should expect to see, and those I expect, not the vague references you have made to ground and pound smash mouth basketball with Boogie getting 10-12 touches out of the low post. By early accounts, it is not going happen.
In the context of whether we make the playoffs or not, it is splitting hairs. Maximizing Cousins utilization nets us a couple points a game. Turning the worst defensive team into a good defensive team can save us 10 points a game. It's kind of like spending all your time trying to squeeze an extra 5hp out of your 550hp big block when you have bald tires, bad brakes and sloppy steering.
Basketball is not football or baseball where there is clear delineation between offense and defense. I've had this conversation many times. In hoops good offense and defense are correlated. Bad offense leads to bad defense, whether a quick shot with unbalanced floor leads to being vulnerable in transition, or isolation ball that leaves teammates less engaged.
Even though there is a half court line, it is a bifurcation separated by one pass and 1-2 seconds of clock time. Think of it like this: Good offense leads to good defense more often than the inverse, insofar as a cohesive group of players on end are more inclined to be cohesive on the other.
More specifically it is incorrect to say offense last year wasn't the problem. It was part of the problem. Our offense was middle of the pack in efficiency despite scoring a lot of points and leading in pace. Karl didn't emphasize defense like Joerger will. We did not have length and skill on the perimeter to guard the three point shot or prevent penetration. That is hopefully going to change this season with new coaching and personnel. But what also needs to change is better offense to lead to better defense, fewer quick shots by Boogie, fewer instances of the PG dominating the ball while teammates watch, and less isolation play, that leaves teammates disengaged and step slow to get back. This is complete picture of what needs to change for the Kings to be a good team not the partial one you paint with a flawed analogy.
P.S.: The Kings offense was tied for 17th out of 30 in efficiency last year.
Even though there is a half court line, it is a bifurcation separated by one pass and 1-2 seconds of clock time. Think of it like this: Good offense leads to good defense more often than the inverse, insofar as a cohesive group of players on end are more inclined to be cohesive on the other.
More specifically it is incorrect to say offense last year wasn't the problem. It was part of the problem. Our offense was middle of the pack in efficiency despite scoring a lot of points and leading in pace. Karl didn't emphasize defense like Joerger will. We did not have length and skill on the perimeter to guard the three point shot or prevent penetration. That is hopefully going to change this season with new coaching and personnel. But what also needs to change is better offense to lead to better defense, fewer quick shots by Boogie, fewer instances of the PG dominating the ball while teammates watch, and less isolation play, that leaves teammates disengaged and step slow to get back. This is complete picture of what needs to change for the Kings to be a good team not the partial one you paint with a flawed analogy.
P.S.: The Kings offense was tied for 17th out of 30 in efficiency last year.