[Game] Game 73: Kings @ Grizzlies, 3/30/15 - 5pdt, 8edt
- Thread starter VF21
- Start date
HereWeBoogie
Hall of Famer
Team is so hard to watch without Boogie. I hope theres a HUGE roster turnover this summer
9x1x6
Bench
Really hope to see him start one game this season.
The next 10 years of his career perhaps? Lingering small injuries can can turn into big injuries if ignored long enough. Not being in a do or die playoff race makes this a good time to get our workhorses a little extra rest. Rudy and Cuz did play games over the summer too afterall.
Obviously there's some difference, but I don't think one of them is more or less justifiable than the other. I mean, if I bet money on the games or something it would probably irk me but resting guys 4 or 5 games out of 82 to help prevent injury isn't a bad idea in general. Even the best teams in the league don't win every regular season game. It's just a matter of keeping your end goal in mind. Pop doesn't care about winning the regular season nor should we. I'd be more mad if Coach Karl were keeping Boogie on the floor 45 mins every game. Is the draft a motivation too? Probably. I'd argue if you're not in the playoffs than it should always be a consideration though.
This game was weird. A couple of possessions in the 1st half Miller brought the ball up but he immediately handed it over to Nik to run the offenses a little bit. I think they were trying to hit JT a few times but he was denied position. Nik then dribbled and tried to create but nothing was there. He couldn't shake off his defender, so he just passed it back to Miller while the shot clock was expiring down. This happened 2x on back to back plays.
Karl had both players share duties of handling. I think I commented something like this in the beginning of the thread.
Come late 3rd quarter, Nik started to bring up the ball and he was actually commanding the offense. There were about 2 possessions where Miller never touched the ball at all. Nik did a good job bringing the ball up and initiating the offense. It wasn't great, but it was good. Nik was the leader of that little mini run we had at the end of the 3rd quarter. Karl took him out for rest in the beginning of the 4th and our offense fell flat again. Nik was brought back in, but he played alongside Ray and Ben. He never got the opportunity to run the offense after that mini run we had. He went back to standing around the 3pt line.
I think Karl was just trying to see what Nik could do with the ball in his hands. I'm not saying Nik is a PG, but he's showing us smarts.
I think he's a more natural creator than Ray, but Ray is the better passer/creator. Impressed by Stauskas today even though it wasn't very much.
Games like these remind me that Nik has such a high ceiling. If I could, I'd bet Nik's value is still a lottery pick. He's matching a lot of his draft profiles. He just needs more PT and more touches. It's difficult to do that when you're the back up SG playing on a team with both Cousins and Gay.
I think the Payton vs. Stauskas arguments are a little unfair to Nik because he hasn't received the same opportunities as him nor a lot of these other rookies.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
I don't think te Payton vs. Stauskas argument is unfair at all. In fact, if anybody should be coming back like the prodigal son it should be Shareef, who fought to pick Payton in the draft. That's the mark of a lousy organization - rewarding the guy who picks wrong and dismissing the guy who picks right.
I think if you're talking about the pick itself and not the players then there's nothing wrong with the comparison. I think if you do take a lot at our roster, Payton would've most likely played behind Collison. I don't know how good he'd be receiving limited minutes behind Collison though. He's starting for Orlando and is averaging nearly 30minutes a game. I don't think he'd get the same opportunity here.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
He certainly would have since about mid-Feb.
Of course since the pick was made before Collison was signed, who knows if we even sign him. We might have just given up on the whole season before it began and run with an all clueless kid PG platoon.
P
PoundForPound
Guest
Derrick Williams made an incredibly stupid pass that was lazy and caused for Rudy to get hurt. I see him trying hard to get paid but the dude lacks basketball IQ. Athleticism only takes you so far if you don't have a brain.
9x1x6
Bench
Derrick Williams, Ben McLemore, Omari Casspi, Jason Thompson and Ray McCallum. The Kings of Inconsistence.
The pass didn't cause Rudy to get hit in the face by Marc Gasol's elbow. There was no way he could have known that would happen.
Yes, it was a bad pass and ill-conceived but to try and put the blame on Williams is unfair.
IfAt1st
Starter
ROFL!
And anyone is in doubt as to what's controlling this season?
It's obvious the organization is primarily concerned with how they are going to be perceived, and fans being pleased with the home games.
Not overall record, not their reputation in the NBA as a palatable destination, not good business acumen - it's solely whether the fans (specifically ticket-buying fans) feel they got their money;s worth at the home games.
Are they running a broadway show, or are they trying to make a winning basketball team?
And anyone is in doubt as to what's controlling this season?
It's obvious the organization is primarily concerned with how they are going to be perceived, and fans being pleased with the home games.
Not overall record, not their reputation in the NBA as a palatable destination, not good business acumen - it's solely whether the fans (specifically ticket-buying fans) feel they got their money;s worth at the home games.
Are they running a broadway show, or are they trying to make a winning basketball team?
I honestly don't know what else you think they could do at this point. How are they going to "make a winning basketball team" between now and mid-April?
The organization is being realistic. Keep the home fans happy by playing DMC. Give the young Kings a chance to show what they're made of. Allow George Karl to try some combinations he generally wouldn't be able to use.
This year has been anything but normal. Why would you expect the final couple of weeks to be any different?
Kingster
Hall of Famer
How do you think WCS and Thompson would have done against the front line of the Grizzlies?
lawlman91
Starter
They would be solidly and firmly decent.
Well, Gasol didn't have a great game, but I felt like they had too many easy rebounds and no one to challenge them inside. Would they have beaten the Grizzlies? Likely not, but I think there could have been moments where the outcome was legitimately in doubt.
Against teams with a weaker inside presence, going with a front line of JT and WCS would still be a net positive.
Yes, please. Even if your worst-case scenario doesn't come true, I heartily endorse your proposed solution.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
Net positive, probably. But WCS isn't a great rebounder, and I think he'd get bumped like bumper cars by the big boys on the Grizzlies.