Donte Greens first Bighorns game

[Showtime]

so.....Kings are garbage on defense...and you want to play him over salmons? we are shopping him

Ah, so we have a Grant Napier here. One or the other, can't possibly split minutes now can we? Why not give Donte 25+ minutes a game? Because those minutes might go to Salmons and Garcia? Salmons doesn't need to be shopped, because he had his time during the injury period. If teams want him, they will make a deal towards the deadline. Otherwise, why not play Donte? Keep him out so the team has a better chance to win? Haha, win, that's funny.

I'd be pissed as a paying customer to go watch a game with Brad Miller and John Salmons and Garcia instead of watching Jason Thompson, Spencer Hawes, and Donte.

 

[Showtime]

The Bighorns were in town here tonight, so I went to watch Donte play.

Not one of his better nights. 16 points on 4-14 shooting (and one of those was this horrible-looking bank shot that you knew he wasn't calling glass on). Had one nice block and was posterized on the other end a couple times. He looked flat-out awful in the first half and got into early foul trouble. Came out in the second half and was gasping for air during breaks almost immediately (we're not as high as Reno, but at 2700' we're not Key West either). But he caught a second wind and seemed OK for the rest of the game. Too many catch-and-shoots and 1-on-1 and not enough shots within the flow of the offense. There was just no rhythm to his game tonight.

He's clearly the most vocal player on the team, both on and off the court. There were some really egregious turnovers from other teammates, and sometimes it was hard for him to hide his displeasure. And he was doing his Mateen impression on occasion when the other guys on the bench just sat there. He was also the only player continually calling for the ball. Unfortunately when he got it he just jacked it up most of the time.

With the addition of Pete, wouldn't you think Greene could use quality coaching instead of the D-League? I don't think playing time in that league is going to make him improve his decision making. If anything, it's worse because he can basically do whatever he wants to do there.

 

[VF21]

If the Kings actually finally made the decision to send someone to the D-league, it has to be for a reason. I firmly believe one of the main reasons is pretty obvious after reading L.A. Brian's observations (good to see you here, BTW!).

Donte needs to play but he's not ready for the NBA quite yet. By sending him to the developmental league (note the appropriate nature of the name "developmental league"), the Kings are showing pretty much everyone involved that they do have faith in him, they are interested in keeping him around and they want him to develop some of the basic skills he'll need to be a productive and useful addition to our team. It's actually one of the more positive steps I've seen the Kings take, especially in relation to the development of a young player. I simply cannot understand why anyone would argue against TPTB doing something positive to help Donte in the long run. It's not about this season, which is a lost cause waiting for the draft anyway. It's about the future - Donte's and the Kings.

 

[Showtime]

If the Kings actually finally made the decision to send someone to the D-league, it has to be for a reason. I firmly believe one of the main reasons is pretty obvious after reading L.A. Brian's observations (good to see you here, BTW!).

Donte needs to play but he's not ready for the NBA quite yet. By sending him to the developmental league (note the appropriate nature of the name "developmental league"), the Kings are showing pretty much everyone involved that they do have faith in him, they are interested in keeping him around and they want him to develop some of the basic skills he'll need to be a productive and useful addition to our team. It's actually one of the more positive steps I've seen the Kings take, especially in relation to the development of a young player. I simply cannot understand why anyone would argue against TPTB doing something positive to help Donte in the long run. It's not about this season, which is a lost cause waiting for the draft anyway. It's about the future - Donte's and the Kings.

If a problem is his conditioning, then I understand. If the problem is his decision making on the court, I can't see how the D-League helps. He is playing against inferior competition (compared to NBA competition), and he has more freedom in that environment to make bad decisions.

 

[HighTopKicks]

If the Kings actually finally made the decision to send someone to the D-league, it has to be for a reason. I firmly believe one of the main reasons is pretty obvious after reading L.A. Brian's observations (good to see you here, BTW!).

Donte needs to play but he's not ready for the NBA quite yet. By sending him to the developmental league (note the appropriate nature of the name "developmental league"), the Kings are showing pretty much everyone involved that they do have faith in him, they are interested in keeping him around and they want him to develop some of the basic skills he'll need to be a productive and useful addition to our team. It's actually one of the more positive steps I've seen the Kings take, especially in relation to the development of a young player. I simply cannot understand why anyone would argue against TPTB doing something positive to help Donte in the long run. It's not about this season, which is a lost cause waiting for the draft anyway. It's about the future - Donte's and the Kings.

If Salmons gets moved before the deadline, Donte will end up being Cisco's backup so he can expect to see PT then. In fact, since they did send him to the D-League, the Kings might just be trying to get him into game shape because they think Salmons will be moved.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

If a problem is his conditioning, then I understand. If the problem is his decision making on the court, I can't see how the D-League helps. He is playing against inferior competition (compared to NBA competition), and he has more freedom in that environment to make bad decisions.

True, if he was getting NBA minutes. However, if he is stuck on the bench because of our glut at the 2/3 than he is still getting better practice with decision making in the NBDL. Although, this partially depends on how the team is coached.

I still think it's better for him to be playing every day against legitimate competition and the experience of the players who have come from the D-League to carve out a niche in the NBA seems to show there is merit to what they are learning.

 

[Kingster]

If a problem is his conditioning, then I understand. If the problem is his decision making on the court, I can't see how the D-League helps. He is playing against inferior competition (compared to NBA competition), and he has more freedom in that environment to make bad decisions.

The Lakers sent their pg to D league last year; helped him. And a lot of players have come from the D league; helped them. So it's not as if it's just jungle ball where the last one that scores gets to take it out. They actually do teach players how to play.

 

[Showtime]

The Lakers sent their pg to D league last year; helped him. And a lot of players have come from the D league; helped them. So it's not as if it's just jungle ball where the last one that scores gets to take it out. They actually do teach players how to play.

I'm just saying that some players just need time on the court to produce. Look at Gerald Wallace. A guy like Jermaine O'neal was stuck on the bench in Portland, got to Indiana, and flourished. Tracy McGrady blew up when he got heavy minutes. I'm just saying sometimes it all comes down to giving a guy a chance to play through things instead of playing 5 minutes stints.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I'm just saying that some players just need time on the court to produce. Look at Gerald Wallace. A guy like Jermaine O'neal was stuck on the bench in Portland, got to Indiana, and flourished. Tracy McGrady blew up when he got heavy minutes. I'm just saying sometimes it all comes down to giving a guy a chance to play through things instead of playing 5 minutes stints.

I don't disagree with you, but if those minutes are not there at the NBA level, than the D league provides a nice temporary alternative. JON or Wallace might have been able to contribute sooner to their original teams if they had been allowed to get minutes in the NBDL.

It would be great if Donte were getting the minutes in Sac, but with our 2/3 glut, he just wasn't getting that time.

 

[Nighthawk1]

I agree, I actually think it's good for him to be there right now. He wasn't getting minutes here, and probably wouldn't have until someone gets traded so he gets to go play, develop some basic skills hopefully, get some game back into him and probably after trade deadline we'll have him back on the roster in the rotation hopefully... I don't think they'll keep him there all season, but until mid-feb I could easily see. Just think if they can help him fix what bad habits he might have right now it's one less thing he has to worry about hurting him in the NBA..

 

[Gary]

If Salmons gets moved before the deadline, Donte will end up being Cisco's backup so he can expect to see PT then. In fact, since they did send him to the D-League, the Kings might just be trying to get him into game shape because they think Salmons will be moved.

I kind of am leaning towards this too.. Maybe the Kings are showcasing Salmons for a trade, and wanted to get Donte into playing shape before he got major minutes with the Kings as Garcia's backup. We all heard what happened when Donte got minutes in the D-League. He was huffing and puffing (partly due to altitude).

I would rather have a Donte backing up Garcia after being in the D-League getting decent minutes than a Donte thats only played in a couple games here and there and that will be winded after a couple minutes on the floor.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I kind of am leaning towards this too.. Maybe the Kings are showcasing Salmons for a trade, and wanted to get Donte into playing shape before he got major minutes with the Kings as Garcia's backup. We all heard what happened when Donte got minutes in the D-League. He was huffing and puffing (partly due to altitude).

I would rather have a Donte backing up Garcia after being in the D-League getting decent minutes than a Donte thats only played in a couple games here and there and that will be winded after a couple minutes on the floor.

Factor in that Donte is a raw player who would have been well served by going back to school for another season and the D league basically provides that for him until we have minutes available. Keep in mind these D-League teams are made up of high end college players.

 

[One and Done]

Keep in mind these D-League teams are made up of high end college players.

True, the D-League is stocked with good college players...but the league culture/style needs work. Players play to pad stats, play little defense, and little team ball. Of course, you can't blame them, they're trying to get a job!

I don't know why Donte was recalled, maybe because it was an experiment to see "what they have," or get him into game shape, or because a trade is imminent. What I'd hope for - other than a beneficial trade - is that the Kings wanted to see how Donte plays in a full game, and take note of what bad habits need to be corrected.

I hope the staff is able to instill skills in defense, dribbling/penetration, and moving without the ball...all of which he is lacking. He also needs to work on being more effective in the post, as he has the size and athleticism to be a better rebounder/inside scorer.

 

[Nighthawk1]

Donte had a decent final game it seems... 28 points in 33m, 0 TO's, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 10/21 shooting, 3/7 from beyond the arc

 

[Bibby.10]

Very good to see.
How did he do defensively?

 

[Sptsjunkie]

True, the D-League is stocked with good college players...but the league culture/style needs work. Players play to pad stats, play little defense, and little team ball. Of course, you can't blame them, they're trying to get a job!
.

I am with you on this to an extent, but this is where "the proof is in the pudding" to me. If there was a bad track record of player coming from the NBDL to the pros, then I would think the styles was not condusive to really teaching players NBA skills. However, we have seen a number of borderline draft picks hone their skills in the NBDL and then come to the NBA and contribute. That tells me there must be something good going on down there.

I do hope you are right though that Coachie and the rest of the staff learned from watching him in full games and can train him better now.

 

[Entity]

I am with you on this to an extent, but this is where "the proof is in the pudding" to me. If there was a bad track record of player coming from the NBDL to the pros, then I would think the styles was not condusive to really teaching players NBA skills. However, we have seen a number of borderline draft picks hone their skills in the NBDL and then come to the NBA and contribute. That tells me there must be something good going on down there.

I do hope you are right though that Coachie and the rest of the staff learned from watching him in full games and can train him better now.

I'm sorry don't mean to come off as a smartass but, you said we have seen a number of borderline draft picks that went to the NBDL then came to the NBA and contributed. Just wondering if you could name more than 2 or 3.

 

[Kingster]

I'm sorry don't mean to come off as a smartass but, you said we have seen a number of borderline draft picks that went to the NBDL then came to the NBA and contributed. Just wondering if you could name more than 2 or 3.

Bowen.

The Laker's pg (UCLA) - can't recall his name.

The guys on Golden State who kicked our A$$.

And there's a ton more if you really look into it.

 

[Mad D]

Bowen.

The Laker's pg (UCLA) - can't recall his name.

The guys on Golden State who kicked our A$$.

And there's a ton more if you really look into it.

Bruce Bowen? Never played in the NBDL, he played over seas in France though and for some CBA team tough.

The UCLA point guard is Farmar. You're not helping yourself by saying a tons of others so I'll list some for you:

Rafer Alston, Brandon Bass, Chuch Hayes, Jamario Moon, Devin Brown, Bobby Simmons, Matt Barnes, Mikki Moore and a bunch of guys from the Golden State Warriors.

 

[kings4lyfe32]

Bruce Bowen? Never played in the NBDL, he played over seas in France though and for some CBA team tough.

The UCLA point guard is Farmar. You're not helping yourself by saying a tons of others so I'll list some for you:

Rafer Alston, Brandon Bass, Chuch Hayes, Jamario Moon, Devin Brown, Bobby Simmons, Matt Barnes, Mikki Moore and a bunch of guys from the Golden State Warriors.

To add to the list - Anthony Johnson, Ime Udoka, and the birdman Chris Andersen