[Game] Game 13: Sacramento Kings @ Minnesota Timberpups 11/22/14. 5 PM PST/8 PM EST

[Hadlowe]

I know people are saying it was an iffy win and it was for sure. But even if the wolves aren't very good it says how far our team has come that we're not super happy about a win (nor was Malone it seems) because we're expected to win even on the road.

A couple of plays different and the Kings are at the top of the standings. The ball movement is looking way better. Malone just has to work with Gay on the isn't and we need our bench to play way better than they have been. If that means shortening the rotation then so be it.

That is something that winning teams have in common. One of the things I loved about Coach Sloan (and Popovich now) is that the win or loss was secondary to how the team played in getting there. A great team effort that results in a loss to superior opponent play (it's rare but does happen) would earn praise for the team effort. Sloppy play in a win would result in ladders in practice the next game if you played for Coach Sloan. If he was really pissed, you didn't get to shower after the game. You had to go straight to the stationary bikes and ride ten miles.

It is nice to see thinking in that same vein from Malone.

 

[KingMilz]

I was a bit concerned about Rudy's game but the percentages are OK and he got a few rebounds. I think he stepped aside for Ben. I sure hope that's the explanation.

Ben had the most minutes with 41. A good Ben is VERY good for the team.

Ben is the X-Factor on this team, we know what we are going to get from the other 4 starters and if it gets to a point where we know what we are consistently going to get from Ben that's when we become a team that's really going to open some eyes.

 

[VF21]

DWill's stat line is really good. That's two games in a row. It's getting very difficult to write about him with total disdain.

4-7 fgs
1-2 3 pts
3-4 fts
6 rebounds
3 TOs

Good games by Ben and DWill make us a tough team. I suppose everyone knew that, huh?

One national game and one game against the team that dumped him on us? I'm not ready to change my mind quite yet... let's see how he does the rest of the road trip.

 

[Gilles]

Here's an interesting tidbit: Cousins is averaging 21.4ppg (.475) and 11.4rpg when he has 5+ fouls, and 27ppg (.609) and 14.25rpg when he has 4 or fewer.

I would guess, the level of his foul trouble correlates strongly with the strength of opposing team, which usually tied to the defensive strength of frontcourt (affects rebounding and FG%), so not all that surprising.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Cuz is now averaging 23.3ppg and 12.3rpg. He leads the league now in rebounding and has jumped to 7th in scoring.

 

[Bricklayer]

I would guess, the level of his foul trouble correlates strongly with the strength of opposing team, which usually tied to the defensive strength of frontcourt (affects rebounding and FG%), so not all that surprising.

Not to mention its hard to put up numbers form the bench, or to play with normal aggression when you are in imminent danger of fouling out.

 

[Widowmaker2k]

I'm now watching the replay of this on league pass. This first half is just ugly. Is it me, or does Minny have the worst PA announcer in the league? He sounds like a zany carny barker.

 

[dude12]

One national game and one game against the team that dumped him on us? I'm not ready to change my mind quite yet... let's see how he does the rest of the road trip.

You don't have to change your mind on how you feel but you have to admit he's been better than Nik.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

DWill's stat line is really good. That's two games in a row. It's getting very difficult to write about him with total disdain.

4-7 fgs
1-2 3 pts
3-4 fts
6 rebounds
3 TOs

Good games by Ben and DWill make us a tough team. I suppose everyone knew that, huh?

Would be nice to see those two push the ball and run the fast break together, like we saw a little bit of last season. Ben is a much better ball handler now, so he could actually setup Williams on the break

 

[KingsFanGER]

Two games in a row Dwill was a nice solution for our struggles against stretch-4's er smallball lineups, where Jt just looks lost.
I hope he can keep this up.

 

[SCKingsfan]

I didn't get to watch the game, but I feel like I have enough confirmation from all of you about my plan to only watch the second half on the League Pass archive

 

[whozit]

You don't have to change your mind on how you feel but you have to admit he's been better than Nik.

Why would she have to admit that? Nik is a rookie who is still a kid playing in a man's league. I'll give Nik time, a lot more time before I get to the frustration level I've had in the past with Williams and all the while hope for more on a more consistent basis from Williams.

 

[Chubbs]

You don't have to change your mind on how you feel but you have to admit he's been better than Nik.

So we are holding 4th year former #2 picks to the same standard as first year #8 picks?

Look around the league. Not a lot of rookies are making an impact. 4th year guys are making all star teams.

He scored 12 points against a pretty weak team. The team that drafted him. Lets see some effort and production the rest of this trip.

I think the best case remains he produces at a bench level player level on the Sacramento Kings the rest of this season, then we part ways. If malone can convince him to play like this consistently, that's our best option UNLESS someone wants to offer up a help right now bench type player. But I don't see a large market out there for Williams. Williams can potentially play that bench role. It's do or die time for his career. We can milk something out of him. Take advantage of what should be desperation time.

 

[dude12]

Stauskas fanboys...I get it....the kid is a rookie and few rookies are contributing...DWill is a knucklehead and a high draft choice bust.....I get it....doesn't mean that DWill didn't have a good 2 games...nothing more, nothing less. That's all that was said.......Nik has been awful to date.....nothing more, nothing less was said. Would it surprise anyone if DWill was awful next game? We all know the answer. There's no crime in saying that Nik is not playing well. I'm ok with people defending Nik.....I'd rather see or read that than some of the venom that was spewed at DWill during the game.

 

[Chubbs]

Stauskas fanboys...I get it....the kid is a rookie and few rookies are contributing...DWill is a knucklehead and a high draft choice bust.....I get it....doesn't mean that DWill didn't have a good 2 games...nothing more, nothing less. That's all that was said.......Nik has been awful to date.....nothing more, nothing less was said. Would it surprise anyone if DWill was awful next game? We all know the answer. There's no crime in saying that Nik is not playing well. I'm ok with people defending Nik.....I'd rather see or read that than some of the venom that was spewed at DWill during the game.

What happened is someone said something about Williams, and you responded with something about Nik, as if there were a relation between the two players.

What Williams does really has no relation to what Nik is or isn't doing. Best case, both produce. But a critique of Williams need not require a rebuttal about Nik.

I defend Nik because I think he will be here a lot longer. I'd like to see Williams do well this season for the benefit of the Kings here and now. He's not going to be here after this season though. It's not a fanboy situation, as I am neither Canadien, nor a Michigan fan.

I am, however, a Kings fan. Nik has a much better chance to be here longterm than Williams.

 

[VF21]

You don't have to change your mind on how you feel but you have to admit he's been better than Nik.

Apples and rutabagas.

 

[dude12]

What happened is someone said something about Williams, and you responded with something about Nik, as if there were a relation between the two players.

What Williams does really has no relation to what Nik is or isn't doing. Best case, both produce. But a critique of Williams need not require a rebuttal about Nik.

I defend Nik because I think he will be here a lot longer. I'd like to see Williams do well this season for the benefit of the Kings here and now. He's not going to be here after this season though. It's not a fanboy situation, as I am neither Canadien, nor a Michigan fan.

I am, however, a Kings fan. Nik has a much better chance to be here longterm than Williams.

Actually when I quote someone it was directed at them specifically.....had something to do with something else.

Of course Nik is going to be here longer than DWill.....this is the end game for him in Sac...either by trade or his contract runs out.

But DWill playing effectively does have something to do with Nik. In the Chicago game, IIRC, they had Casspi, Gay and DWill in with a big man and a PG. this only works in certain matchups and if all players are playing well. Sliding Gay or Casspi to SG is way more effective for this team currently if Nik keeps playing poorly. Sliding Ray to SG hasn't been effective in the little time it'a been used.

 

[King Baller]

Actually when I quote someone it was directed at them specifically.....had something to do with something else.

Of course Nik is going to be here longer than DWill.....this is the end game for him in Sac...either by trade or his contract runs out.

But DWill playing effectively does have something to do with Nik. In the Chicago game, IIRC, they had Casspi, Gay and DWill in with a big man and a PG. this only works in certain matchups and if all players are playing well. Sliding Gay or Casspi to SG is way more effective for this team currently if Nik keeps playing poorly. Sliding Ray to SG hasn't been effective in the little time it'a been used.

In that Bulls game whoever was playing SG had to defend Jimmy Butler. Butler is 6' 7" and an athletic 220 lbs. IMO it was a minor stroke of genius to put 3 SF's in so Nik did not get pummeled by the bigger, stronger and more experienced Butler.

 

[206Fan]

I didn't get a chance to watch the game yesterday, can anyone give me a few recaps? How was Wiggins able to go off for 29pts? Who defended him, and does he look really good on both ends of the floor? Did D-Will have a positive impact tonight? Why was the game so close despite the team edging out the Wolves in a lot of stats?

 

[206Fan]

In that Bulls game whoever was playing SG had to defend Jimmy Butler. Butler is 6' 7" and an athletic 220 lbs. IMO it was a minor stroke of genius to put 3 SF's in so Nik did not get pummeled by the bigger, stronger and more experienced Butler.

Stauskas has been pretty bad as of late. I don't mind this because he's a rookie, but I hope to see him start knocking down his easy shots. Coach isn't going to play Nik until he shows that he can at least be a solid contributor on one side of the floor.
Malone had Gay against Butler almost the entire game from what I recall. Nik would've just had to guard Dunleavy, Hinrich, or McDermott. We had enough offense on the floor to the point where we didn't need Nik to spread out the floor for us. That's his only role on the team right now with PT... Spread out the floor for Landry and Casspi to work/attack in the paint.

 

[King Baller]

I didn't get a chance to watch the game yesterday, can anyone give me a few recaps? How was Wiggins able to go off for 29pts? Who defended him, and does he look really good on both ends of the floor? Did D-Will have a positive impact tonight? Why was the game so close despite the team edging out the Wolves in a lot of stats?

Wiggins went for 29 because he is the real deal. At times I thought of a young Lebron the way he drove the lane at his size and with incredible hops. He also hit a few jumpers. DWill looked pretty good scoring 12 pts and grabbing 6 boards. The reason the game was so close was Flip Saunders had his guys prepared to play the Zone Defense, they had 10 steals in this game. We watched the Kings struggle against the zone for the first half while their shooting was cold. In the third quarter the Kings got it going and then did just enough to beat the undermanned TPups. The Kings are going to see a lot of Zone Defense going forward. Lets hope the fellas start hitting the 3's at a higher %.

 

[Kingston Jamaica]

Let's just ease this a little bit. Nik is a shooter by profession and coming to the league is expecially difficult for a shooter. Either you run into trouble early on or it hits you later, but it will catch up with you. Every shooter will run into a slump and they need to overcome that mentally. This is for the team to solve. Give the guy confidence even if he misses and he'll come back stronger. Ben Mac is on the way to become a really tough SG, probably a star class player. That's only because of patience. Nik can become a Steve Kerr type of shooter, but it takes time and it takes a lot of coaching skills. Nik is actually lucky to play with the Kings. The veteran bench will help him. I've even noticed how Casspi guides him to spread the floor. When Sessions gets his game in order, it will be even better.

 

[gunks]

Are we all seriously worried about Nik?!

He's a rookie. He's not especially athletic, and he's pretty darn weak. But he's also a hard worker, has a high BBIQ, has good size for a SG, and an awesome skill set to build on.

Lets be patient people!

Remember when we were all writing off Ben?

 

[randymoss1881]

Are we all seriously worried about Nik?!

He's a rookie. He's not especially athletic, and he's pretty darn weak. But he's also a hard worker, has a high BBIQ, has good size for a SG, and an awesome skill set to build on.

Lets be patient people!

Remember when we were all writing off Ben?

That was just oct. 31 matter fact we were talking mid lottery for our team after the preseason. My how the times have changed.

 

[KingMilz]

Are we all seriously worried about Nik?!

He's a rookie. He's not especially athletic, and he's pretty darn weak. But he's also a hard worker, has a high BBIQ, has good size for a SG, and an awesome skill set to build on.

Lets be patient people!

Remember when we were all writing off Ben?

Difference is when we had Ben last year we had Empty and no one else, I'm not doubting Nik's ability to play but if Ben keeps improving at this rate I don't really see Nik replacing that elite athletic ability and shooting/D. I thought Nik cause of his BBIQ and skills would be a lot better still think he will be good. If we can get a young talented shot blocker for him (maybe in the upcoming draft) than I don't mind trading him. Nik's place imo on this roster is tied to how well Ben develops if, Ben keeps what he's doing up for the rest of the season than Nik should be on the chopping block while he still has value for a shot blocker.

 

[King Baller]

I see things developing for Ben and Nik this way. Ben will continue to improve and become one of the top SG's in the League. Nik will improve and will become a deadly shooter off the bench. Both SG's will score in bunches. Ben's defense looks pretty good right now and he can become very good due to his elite physical tools. I don't think Nik's defense is that bad. Right now the Refs blow the whistle if he tries to body up his opponent. Meanwhile when Nik gets the ball his defender is allowed to body up and slap at the ball at will. This is pretty much how it works for Rookies in the NBA I would like to see Nik handle the ball more. Right now he is passing it almost as soon as he gets it.

I think when things click for both Ben and Nik the Kings will be the envy of the league for having two solid SG's. IMO everyone needs to back off the trade talk and let these two develop.

KB

 

[Bricklayer]

Are we all seriously worried about Nik?!

He's a rookie. He's not especially athletic, and he's pretty darn weak. But he's also a hard worker, has a high BBIQ, has good size for a SG, and an awesome skill set to build on.

Lets be patient people!

Remember when we were all writing off Ben?

Not worried about NIk per se. Worried about wins. This is the Western Conference. You want to make the playoffs out West you damn near need to win 50 games. For a team that won 28 last year that means you have to make very few mistakes, not let anything slide you can get. And Nik's not ready for that yet. We could really use a steady veteran of some sort to lock down that spot until he is.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Isn't that, at least hypothetically, why we signed Sessions and Casspi?