Every win is a good win but . . .

[funkykingston]

Other than the exciting finish, I don't see how Kings fans can be too excited about this win. On paper, it is simply another win that aids the Kings in their quest for home field advantage, a Pacific Division title or even a number one seed, but I am still troubled by one thought:

This game should have been a blowout.

A struggling Blazers team who is missing their best player, their starting small forward, one of their top backups, and who had their best interior defender injured before overtime. Not to mention that this was a home game for the Kings. Maybe the Kings just took the depleted Blazer too lightly, but I wonder how they'll handle a Blazer team with Randolph, Miles and Reef available.

This Kings team is just not playing with enough determination and toughness right now. How can you watch opposing teams dominate you on the offensive glass and not have your pride challenged? Joel Przybilla had TWENTY TWO rebounds, including TEN offensive rebounds. More than any other part of the game, rebounding is a matter of heart and desire.

One thing I love about Mo and Kevin is that they attack the glass on both ends. There is really no other King that you can say that about except for a healthy Bobby Jackson. Webb and Miller are decent rebounders but they need help keeping opponents from slashing in for easy boards and put backs. And Peja (although tonight was a slight improvement by his standards) is really a liability in this regard. Considering his lackadaisical defense tonight and his poor shooting, he really contributed nothing tonight outside of one timely basket.

I realize looking back at what I just typed that this is an especially negative post for a night where the Kings won in dramatic fashion, but I guess I'm already looking ahead to the postseason. This team has a way to go in terms of its mentality and effort if it truly has championship aspirations. I suppose it is a testament to the overall talent level of the Kings that they can win while being so soft defensively and so horrible on the boards.

Not every game can be a masterpiece, but imagine if the Kings played defense and rebounded anywhere close to the level they did against the Spurs in every game from here on out.

 

[Since93]

Blazers always give us fit, no matter how struggling they are.

 

[starks]

I agree 100%.....

 

[VF21]

Pedja was totally ineffective. We ALWAYS have problems with NVE, who was the primary reason the Blazers were kept in the game.

A win is a win - and this one helped get Cat even more integrated into the team. Yeah, there are things they need to work on but no one is perfect. Look around the league. Virtually every team has things to work on.

You're right. It's extremely negative. If you're looking to the post-season already, then you're looking way too far in advance. Of course the team has a way to go, but they're on the way up in case you hadn't noticed.

It's a win. AND once again, the team was energized when Special K took the court. Can we bench House now?

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

Blazers always play hard agianst the Kings , just how it is ..

 

[KingKong]

Other than the exciting finish, I don't see how Kings fans can be too excited about this win. On paper, it is simply another win that aids the Kings in their quest for home field advantage, a Pacific Division title or even a number one seed, but I am still troubled by one thought:

This game should have been a blowout.

A struggling Blazers team who is missing their best player, their starting small forward, one of their top backups, and who had their best interior defender injured before overtime. Not to mention that this was a home game for the Kings. Maybe the Kings just took the depleted Blazer too lightly, but I wonder how they'll handle a Blazer team with Randolph, Miles and Reef available.

This Kings team is just not playing with enough determination and toughness right now. How can you watch opposing teams dominate you on the offensive glass and not have your pride challenged? Joel Przybilla had TWENTY TWO rebounds, including TEN offensive rebounds. More than any other part of the game, rebounding is a matter of heart and desire.

One thing I love about Mo and Kevin is that they attack the glass on both ends. There is really no other King that you can say that about except for a healthy Bobby Jackson. Webb and Miller are decent rebounders but they need help keeping opponents from slashing in for easy boards and put backs. And Peja (although tonight was a slight improvement by his standards) is really a liability in this regard. Considering his lackadaisical defense tonight and his poor shooting, he really contributed nothing tonight outside of one timely basket.

I realize looking back at what I just typed that this is an especially negative post for a night where the Kings won in dramatic fashion, but I guess I'm already looking ahead to the postseason. This team has a way to go in terms of its mentality and effort if it truly has championship aspirations. I suppose it is a testament to the overall talent level of the Kings that they can win while being so soft defensively and so horrible on the boards.

Not every game can be a masterpiece, but imagine if the Kings played defense and rebounded anywhere close to the level they did against the Spurs in every game from here on out.

Great post.

 

[RAIDER925]

Blazers always give us fit, no matter how struggling they are.

yup

 

[HndsmCelt]

You do the team the Blazers DID field a great disservice, Damon, and Nick were brutal, Prixbella had a career night, Patterson locked down pedja then put up 23 points, they played good ball, very good. As for the Kings; eh, the have had a lot better games, and Pedja had the worst night I can remember, but the Kids rocked, and RA had the good sense to play em. A W is a W and the coaching staff can look at the tapes for suggestions for improvment. So lets move on...

 

[piksi]

We did not play well, we did not defend but we won

 

[funkykingston]

Look around the league. Virtually every team has things to work on.

Of course they do. But what concerns me about the things that the Kings need to work on is that they are indicators of competitiveness, toughness and heart.

Occasional lapses on defense I can forgive since the Kings have shown that they can come together and play team defense when they need to. But getting embarrassed on the glass night after night is just an indication of a soft team, which has long been a criticism of this team.

To me, until the Kings toughen up a bit mentally (especially Brad) and give a better effort in terms of rebounding, they are paper tigers.

These comments ARE negative because the seed for them was planted as I watched the Blazers go on a 9-0 run to put themselves back in the game and eventually force overtime. They were the frustrating thoughts I had when I thought the Kings lazy D and weak rebounding were going to cost them a very winnable game. I'm glad they didn't, but that doesn't absolve the Kings of all their sins. I could devote a whole post to things the team did right but tonight, more than usual, the Kings weaknesses really frustrated me.

 

[Superman]

Pedja was totally ineffective. We ALWAYS have problems with NVE, who was the primary reason the Blazers were kept in the game.

A win is a win - and this one helped get Cat even more integrated into the team. Yeah, there are things they need to work on but no one is perfect. Look around the league. Virtually every team has things to work on.

You're right. It's extremely negative. If you're looking to the post-season already, then you're looking way too far in advance. Of course the team has a way to go, but they're on the way up in case you hadn't noticed.

It's a win. AND once again, the team was energized when Special K took the court. Can we bench House now?

A win is a win, but these are Kings' weaknesses that have helped us get put out of the playoffs every year since 2002. Softness on the defensive end and lackluster rebounding are our Achilles' heel, and we go through this every year. Midway through the season, we look okay record-wise, but we often give up 20+ offensive rebounds a game. We give up 100+ points a game more often than not. We allow teams to shoot well from beyond the arc. And it always catches up with us.

Considering how rough the season started for this team, it's hard to look at how the team is doing right now and find something to complain about, especially considering the turnover in players from last season. But I guarantee you that the coaching staff - and hopefully, the players - are concerned and looking towards the playoffs. Our weaknesses don't disappear come April; if anything, they are magnified. We should be lucky that we haven't faced the Spurs in our recent championship quest, because mano y mano, they are a much tougher team that has been able to get the job done - one way or another.

As a fan, I'm happy anytime the Kings win. We are moving up in the standings after a slow start (according to recent Kings standards), we're making up ground on the division-leading Suns, and we're playing well, overall. But we have some major weaknesses, and - SURPRISE, SURPRISE! - they are the same old weaknesses that bite us in the butt over and over again. We can talk about injuries and raw deals and all that, but bottom line is that we've got to get better defensively and on the boards in order to have a reasonable and valid shot at the title.

And April is too late to start worrying about it. Mid-January sounds about right to me.

 

[NME]

Considering that every game we've played with Portlands for years has seemingly gone down to the wire, regardless of how well either was playing, a blowout is not something I would have anticipated.

 

[VF21]

In the last 12 meetings before this one, 6 have been settled by less than 6 points and 4 have gone into O/T.

 

[funsc]

it seems Blazers are another Timbervolves. However, they couldn't make playoff.

 

[funkykingston]

You do the team the Blazers DID field a great disservice, Damon, and Nick were brutal

Stoudamire and Van Exel are capable of putting up huge numbers on any given night, but a weakened Blazer team who have lost 7 of 8 coming in should not be forcing overtime at Arco.

And outside of NVE I don't think Portland played an incredible game. I caught some grief at work after the loss to New Orleans, but having watched that game I wasn't really bothered by it. The Hornets played well, period. But I think this game was more a matter of the Kings just not doing what they needed to do to beat the Blazers, rather than Portland playing especially well.

I don't think I'm disrespecting the Blazers to say that the Kings should have handled the team that they were forced to go with. Or do you think that a healthy Blazer team is better than the Kings?

Prixbella had a career night

I cite Przybilla's big night as proof of the Kings weaknesses, not an excuse for them. It isn't as if Przybilla was knocking down jumpers or working the post like Kevin McHale. He was simply taking advantage of poor rebounding to get easy put backs and weak interior defense to get easy dunks.

the Kids rocked, and RA had the good sense to play em.

No argument here. I love Martin and Evans and I hope they (especially Kevin) continue to get minutes. Martin needs some work on the mechanics of his jumper and as Adelman noted he tends to drift at times, but with some work I see him as a big part of the Kings future.

A W is a W and the coaching staff can look at the tapes for suggestions for improvment. So lets move on...

At this point I'm sure the coaching staff doesn't need game film to see that the Kings rebounding is horrible. Getting outrebounded by 17 and nearly getting doubled up on the offensive glass makes it hard to win.

Lately, the Kings have had to look to offensive brilliance to make up the difference. They outshot the Clippers by 12% and still had a close game down the stretch because of second chance points.

Obviously I have no idea what things are like at the NBA level but as far as being a former player and a coach at the HS level, I don't see why the Kings rebounding woes can't be cured or at least assuaged with an increased effort. It is simply frustrating to me.

 

[hoops4kings]

I think big Tag may be our only hope for a better presense in the middle come playoff time. Miller just isn't that good of an interior presense. Tag at least may keep opposition from exploiting the glass time and time again. One can only hope.

 

[Evenstar]

i hate nick van exel. why can't be be marooned out in the east somewhere.......

blazers always give us fits. grrrrr. i'm just glad the kings actually won tonight even though the jails outplayed them.

hahaha *SCOREBOARD*

 

[funkykingston]

I think big Tag may be our only hope for a better presense in the middle come playoff time. Miller just isn't that good of an interior presense. Tag at least may keep opposition from exploiting the glass time and time again. One can only hope.

I often understand why RA keeps Greg on the bench especially against a run-and-gun team like the Suns or when the opposing big man can step out to the perimeter, but why on Earth didn't he play more than six minutes tonight? Joel Przybilla can't score from more than two feet away and he was killing the Kings on the boards. That just doesn't make sense to me.

 

[nAj jAn™]

I see your point funkykingston! All great posts...

Przybilla who? 21 rebounds and 17 points?

Maybe he is Zach Randolph in disguise of a white guy, so that the Kings can take it lightly, and they will like "Hey, no Zach,Reef,and Miles, they have no rebounding players, let's play soft basketball, I mean Kings basketball"

Anyway, win is a win! Those rebound problems and labeled soft are common to the Kings the last 5 years, no more point for improving this types, 'coz its been around for many years now! They are just what they are, an offensive team, a great team that can win games while outrebounded by the other team. These are just the Kings. Their style, their game, their Kings basketball!

Nice win....

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

i hate nick van exel. why can't be be marooned out in the east somewhere.......

blazers always give us fits. grrrrr. i'm just glad the kings actually won tonight even though the jails outplayed them.

hahaha *SCOREBOARD*

I dont know that they outplayed us...I mean they had advantages on the boards, but we definetely had more energy than they did, and that is what won the game, in the end, I think...our bench came up huge once again. Patch Evans was once again awesome! Special K, Darius...damn, and when we get Bobby back...wow, thats all I have to say.

 

[Kingsgurl]

Not every game can be a masterpiece, but imagine if the Kings played defense and rebounded anywhere close to the level they did against the Spurs in every game from here on out.

If they play defense and rebound like they did in that game in the play offs, this team has a very good chance. I don't think this team has the athletes or the one on one defenders to play at that level for an entire season. Don't think there would be much left in the tank.

 

[Bricklayer]

Bottomline is that in order for us to become a dominant rebounding or defensive squad, we would need to trade some combination of Bibby/Peja/Miller because those are our core unathletic problems in those areas (Bibby on D, Peja on the boards, Miller a little of both this year). But of course those are also theoretically our young core guys that we've built the team around. We've made the conscious choice to go unathletic and maybe even a bit soft in exhange for skill/shooting.

Now the alternate could be that we steal minutes from those problem guys with Evans, Tag and Bobby when he returns. And that is at least theoretically doable. But obviously something that our coaching staff has never been comfortable with. For better or worse we go with our main guns. And our main guns are very very good. They just also happen to be groundbound and kinda soft.

In any case, weaknesses or no, if we had ouor full compliment of players in any playoff since 2001 we would most likely be wearing one or more big gaudy rings right now. Without denying they exist, I also think its fair to say a lot of teams wish they had our problems.

 

[funkykingston]

I never understand why it is that people think the Kings lack of athleticism is a chief reason for their rebounding woes. Offensive rebounding is often a matter of quickness and athleticism but defensive rebounding is about positioning and desire. In fact, fundamental, get-your-backside-into-your-man boxing out actually negates the athleticism advantage of the opponents. Being athletic can take you from a good rebounder to a great one, but the Kings problems on the boards are really from lack of effort than lack of ability IMO.

I can accept that the Kings will never dominate the offensive glass because of their lack of athleticism, and I understand that for the same reason they will never be a great defensive team, but defensive rebounding can and should be fixed if the Kings want it badly enough. That is what is frustrating to me.

 

[PFFFT!!]

I would leave Webber out of it. Hes gotten double digit rebounding, and hobbled by that knee injury thats commendable. Miller and Peja are the drawbacks. I think Miller is playing with a chip on his shoulder since hes not connecting most of his shots these days. Peja had a horrible game. Made Patterson look like the second coming of Jordan's defense. Whatever the case, I still would like to see Petrie do a 2+pick for 1 player that is athletic and can get rebounds. Not necessarily a good shooter. I still don't think the crew we have can go beyond the conference finals.

 

[Bricklayer]

Whatever the case, I still would like to see Petrie do a 2+pick for 1 player that is athletic and can get rebounds. Not necessarily a good shooter. I still don't think the crew we have can go beyond the conference finals.

Problem solved:

Minnesota trades:
PF Kevin Garnett(23.1 ppg, 14.9 rpg, 6.2 apg in 39.4 minutes)
Minnesota receives:
C Brad Miller(14.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.7 apg in 36.2 minutes)
SF Peja Stojakovic(20.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 39.6 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +11.5 ppg, -1.7 rpg, and -0.7 apg.

Sacramento trades:
C Brad Miller(14.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.7 apg in 36.2 minutes)
SF Peja Stojakovic(20.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 39.6 minutes)
Sacramento receives:
PF Kevin Garnett(23.1 ppg, 14.9 rpg, 6.2 apg in 39.4 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -11.5 ppg, +1.7 rpg, and +0.7 apg.
TRADE ACCEPTED

Due to Minnesota and Sacramento being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Minnesota and Sacramento had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

[PFFFT!!]

Brickie, not the starters, trade 2 BENCH players and a pick. But your idea is definitely tempting ...hmm

 

[keflanag]

I never understand why it is that people think the Kings lack of athleticism is a chief reason for their rebounding woes. Offensive rebounding is often a matter of quickness and athleticism but defensive rebounding is about positioning and desire. In fact, fundamental, get-your-backside-into-your-man boxing out actually negates the athleticism advantage of the opponents. Being athletic can take you from a good rebounder to a great one, but the Kings problems on the boards are really from lack of effort than lack of ability IMO.

I can accept that the Kings will never dominate the offensive glass because of their lack of athleticism, and I understand that for the same reason they will never be a great defensive team, but defensive rebounding can and should be fixed if the Kings want it badly enough. That is what is frustrating to me.

Some of the Offensive rebounds given up by the Kings the last few games have been just laziness on the Kings part, but the majority of them, especially last night can be attributed to two things:

1) Horrible Shots!! The Blazers were jacking up some bricks. Sometimes it doesn't matter how good your positioning is, when the ball bounces 10 feet away from the rim, it's acutally easier for the offense to rebound the ball.

2) Big men forced to rotate off their man to stop the penetration. Dozens of times either Brad or Chris was forced to rotate off their man to stop Van Exel or Damon from penetrating. This would lead to either the assist for easy dunk or a missed shot (due to the rotation) followed by an easy putback by the man.

I am in no way excusing it, but the Kings starters especially, are just not quick. They never will be. However they are extremely productive jump shooters. That's how they will win or lose. I attribute our rebounding problems to slow perimeter defense, and no one in the NBA being able to shoot, leading to weird bounces off the rim.

 

[KP]

Some of the Offensive rebounds given up by the Kings the last few games have been just laziness on the Kings part, but the majority of them, especially last night can be attributed to two things:

1) Horrible Shots!! The Blazers were jacking up some bricks. Sometimes it doesn't matter how good your positioning is, when the ball bounces 10 feet away from the rim, it's acutally easier for the offense to rebound the ball.

2) Big men forced to rotate off their man to stop the penetration. Dozens of times either Brad or Chris was forced to rotate off their man to stop Van Exel or Damon from penetrating. This would lead to either the assist for easy dunk or a missed shot (due to the rotation) followed by an easy putback by the man.

I am in no way excusing it, but the Kings starters especially, are just not quick. They never will be. However they are extremely productive jump shooters. That's how they will win or lose. I attribute our rebounding problems to slow perimeter defense, and no one in the NBA being able to shoot, leading to weird bounces off the rim.

Very good post keflanag^^
Look, if the Kings had no competitiveness and toughness, then they lose that game last night. The whole starting five is a little bit confused on where everyone is going to be at any given time, on Offense and Defense. The Kings had been steadily improving on Rebounding (from -7 a game to -1.5 diff.) until these past 3 games. Give them some time to play with the Cat some more work in practice and rotations will improve. Of course there is no excuse for not getting a key rebound on a free throw, but Brad just got beat to it. He's white and slow but highly skilled, you gotta deal with it. I'm down with Martin playing more and he got in last night for some good minutes so there is no complaint. I gotta admit though, this whole Ostertag thing is kinda blowing me away. I mean you would think he's the greatest Defensive player/Rebounder in the league the way some people are clamoring for him. The last few times he got in, I saw him get beat for rebounds just like C-Webb and Brad Do. I watched T-Lue go right by him for a layup! Don't get me wrong he's a big body and a good rebounder but just cuz he's in doesn't mean we will suddenly stop everyone from penetrating or get every Defensive rebound.(See Bricks Peja/Mike comment) And after the last 5 games why anyone would ever want C-Webb off the floor for more than a quick rest is beyond me.

 

[Heuge]

Problem solved:

Minnesota trades:
PF Kevin Garnett(23.1 ppg, 14.9 rpg, 6.2 apg in 39.4 minutes)
Minnesota receives:
C Brad Miller(14.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.7 apg in 36.2 minutes)
SF Peja Stojakovic(20.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 39.6 minutes)
Change in team outlook: +11.5 ppg, -1.7 rpg, and -0.7 apg.

Sacramento trades:
C Brad Miller(14.0 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.7 apg in 36.2 minutes)
SF Peja Stojakovic(20.6 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.8 apg in 39.6 minutes)
Sacramento receives:
PF Kevin Garnett(23.1 ppg, 14.9 rpg, 6.2 apg in 39.4 minutes)
Change in team outlook: -11.5 ppg, +1.7 rpg, and +0.7 apg.
TRADE ACCEPTED

Due to Minnesota and Sacramento being over the cap, the 15% trade rule is invoked. Minnesota and Sacramento had to be no more than 115% plus $100,000 of the salary given out for the trade to be accepted, which did happen here. This trade satisfies the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

In a heartbeat!

 

[SaCTowNFeveR]

Nick Van Exel always comes up big against the Kings.