[Grades] Grades v. Cheaters 1/13/15

[Chubbs]

The good news is Demarcus shows up on the stat leader boards again.

He's officially #3 in both points and rebounds. I honestly can't imagine there being any precedent for someone with those numbers not making an all star team.

Without Boogie last night Kings lose by 20.

As for Corbin, his explanation for the curious decision to run clock is, well, just sad. I want to like him, but yikes.

 

[Spike]

^ Yep.

 

[Woogie]

So Rudy was out since the 1st quarter, Rondo had his best scoring performance in the season and the rookie ref fouled out Cuz after such a ridiculous flop by Chandler on the last possesion for the home team. I don't want to blame anybody on this team (except, maybe, Corbin. But again, his second best player was out after the 1st quarter), this is a very disappointing loss.

 

[thingfish]

Smart play by Chandler. As much as I hate it - flopping is part of the game and DMC is pretty good at selling fouls too.
I blame the ref, who was staring at the back of Chandler and had no vision at all, for making this call. I don't blame Chandler for selling it, as long as guys like Harden are considered to be superstars.

Agreed

 

[KingsFanGER]

So Rudy was out since the 1st quarter, Rondo had his best scoring performance in the season and the rookie ref fouled out Cuz after such a ridiculous flop by Chandler on the last possesion for the home team. I don't want to blame anybody on this team (except, maybe, Corbin. But again, his second best player was out after the 1st quarter), this is a very disappointing loss.

Rondo scored most of his baskets in the second, when we went small without any rim protection. In this stretch we did a very good job offensively moving the ball and getting easy baskets, but I don't know if trading buckets was a great idea at this point. Maybe Corbin had to pick his poison.

 

[Letsgokings13]

Maddening. I went to bed in a BAD mood

 

[kupman]

I really enjoyed watching this game. I thought the Kings showed some toughness as a team when 1/3 of the Big 3 went down early. We could have easily won this game and maybe we would have if Chandler had not come-up with his excellent flop move. Hats off to him. If you are going to have your lunch eaten by Boogie, beat him the only way you can - put him on the bench.

Boogie continues to make progress under Corbin's leadership. He has looked like an MVP candidate in the past few weeks.

I hope that we can start to get some production outside of the Big 3. If just 1-2 more players could step it up I think it would make a really big difference for us.

This team is fun to watch and I think that this is a very exciting time for the franchise.

 

[kingjatt]

I wonder if the recent uptick in minutes played by Rudy had anything to do with his injury. Thats an injury he has been dealing with for a while and seemed to be under control up to this point. In fact Ben, Darren, Cuz and Rudy have all been playing a ton of minutes since the Malone firing. We have seen a quite a number of 40 minute games at times from those guys during this stretch.

While the team has been more successful with the starters logging more minutes than before I wonder how truely sustainable that is over the course of a long season, espcially defensively (if thats even a concern anymore). Maybe this is PDA's plan until he can put together a decent bench?

 

[Chubbs]

I really enjoyed watching this game. I thought the Kings showed some toughness as a team when 1/3 of the Big 3 went down early. We could have easily won this game and maybe we would have if Chandler had not come-up with his excellent flop move. Hats off to him. If you are going to have your lunch eaten by Boogie, beat him the only way you can - put him on the bench.

Boogie continues to make progress under Corbin's leadership. He has looked like an MVP candidate in the past few weeks.

I hope that we can start to get some production outside of the Big 3. If just 1-2 more players could step it up I think it would make a really big difference for us.

This team is fun to watch and I think that this is a very exciting time for the franchise.

As opposed to before? That's a confusing comment to me as most people had Boogie as an early MVP candidate as well.

I think the "progress" you're referring to is Boogie getting healthy more than anything.

I'll admit, I'm really not in the mood to give Corbin any credit right now.

 

[macadocious]

This game should seal Corbin's fate. Unfortunately, it won't.

 

[ppine]

Cousins has turned into an impressive player. Anyone that is not blind can see it. He is starting to do everything well. One of the things that impressed me was that he headed for the bench after one of the worst calls in NBA history. The absence of Rudy Gay was glaringly obvious.

I think it was C Barkley that talked about how great players play well almost every night. Journeymen players are good about half the time. Bench players have good games maybe 1 out of 3 or 4.
The Kings have 2 great players and have a hard time winning without both of them in action.

 

[funkykingston]

Well, apparently Corbin doesn't learn from his mistakes. Not a good sign.

 

[Livinthedream]

Cousins has turned into an impressive player. Anyone that is not blind can see it. He is starting to do everything well. One of the things that impressed me was that he headed for the bench after one of the worst calls in NBA history. The absence of Rudy Gay was glaringly obvious.

I think it was C Barkley that talked about how great players play well almost every night. Journeymen players are good about half the time. Bench players have good games maybe 1 out of 3 or 4.
The Kings have 2 great players and have a hard time winning without both of them in action.

One great. One really good.

 

[Livinthedream]

I didn't read the game thread, so this may have been mentioned. Did anyone else notice that the ball moved freely without Gay and when the offense was initiated by Cousins?

It is a credit to Cousins, but also highlights just how far away we may be if we have ONE player in our roster who can consistently create plays for his teammates and its not even his responsibility.

 

[Spike]

I didn't read the game thread, so this may have been mentioned. Did anyone else notice that the ball moved freely without Gay and when the offense was initiated by Cousins?

It is a credit to Cousins, but also highlights just how far away we may be if we have ONE player in our roster who can consistently create plays for his teammates and its not even his responsibility.

In a half-court setting, we are absolutely stuck given our current roster. Good luck asking DWill to initiate anything, but we do need that extra playmaker at the SF position, given our current construct. Without Gay, it's a struggle. With him, we seem to be able to better rotate through in order to put Cousins in a greater position to score.

That said, you're right. It is a credit to Cousins. He did it all, but unfortunately, he had to do too much. With just a little help from some role-players, Cousins has a triple double, and the Kings come away with a win.

 

[pshn80]

Ashame we blew a number of opportunities t o put this away but I was pleased that we were competitive through most of the game against a good team. We keep this up and one will fall our way. Our guys are learning and they can't miss shots forever.

 

[Bricklayer]

Boogie continues to make progress under Corbin's leadership.

Stop. That's embarrassing.

 

[chasen4r1]

Well, apparently Corbin doesn't learn from his mistakes. Not a good sign.

Wow this is crazy. Even his quote is eerily similar to last night. I kept looking for signs that this is fake, but it looks like this is legit.

Nice find Funky.

How can a coach make the same mistake like this twice? At least think of a different excuse the second time...

 

[chasen4r1]

I'm getting tired of saying this, but I just feel so bad for Boogie.

It is so clear how badly he wants to win.

During the game I was so excited about his dominance that I decided to transition from my Webber throw back and bought myself my Cousins jersey online, right then and there.

I dont know what else to say, other than our Front Office needs to get into a closed room, take a long, hard look at themselves and figure out what they are going to do. Standing pat like this is NOT cutting it, and you better believe DeMarcus will not stand for it for long. He's turned into such a professional, but he deserves to much more, and I think he knows that.

 

[funkykingston]

Wow this is crazy. Even his quote is eerily similar to last night. I kept looking for signs that this is fake, but it looks like this is legit.

Nice find Funky.

How can a coach make the same mistake like this twice? At least think of a different excuse the second time...

I'd love to take credit but Carmichael Dave actually tweeted that out. But really kind of hard to fathom. After last night how do Vivek and D'Alessandro stand by their claims that the team is better off with Corbin than Malone? No offense to Corbin (who I actually like) but they disrupted the team, upset their best player, changed the narrative of the Kings around the league for the worse and there have yet to be any actual benefits or real explanation for the move.

Rereading this article made me more upset. I am taking it with a grain of salt despite it being from Woj who is as plugged in and reliable a reporter as there is in the NBA world. If what this really comes down to is Vivek, PDA and Mullin being upset that they don't get to meddle as much as they'd like I don't know what to say.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-do...kings-and-coach-michael-malone-175201188.html

 

[steelevt]

I really enjoyed watching this game. I thought the Kings showed some toughness as a team when 1/3 of the Big 3 went down early. We could have easily won this game and maybe we would have if not for a few turnovers Chandler had not come-up with his excellent flop move. Hats off to him. If you are going to have your lunch eaten by Boogie, beat him the only way you can - put him on the bench.

Boogie continues to make progress under malone's Corbin's leadership. He has looked like an MVP candidate in the past few weeks.

I hope that we can start to get some production outside of the Big 3. If just 1-2 more players could step it up I think it would make a really big difference for us.

This team is fun to watch and I think that this is a very exciting time for the franchise.

It's cool that you found this post from earlier in the season when Malone had us in these close games. Must be nice to just switch a couple words and reuse the post.

 

[Chupacabra]

Smart play by Chandler. As much as I hate it - flopping is part of the game and DMC is pretty good at selling fouls too.
I blame the ref, who was staring at the back of Chandler and had no vision at all, for making this call. I don't blame Chandler for selling it, as long as guys like Harden are considered to be superstars.

The problem with your post is that you understood the main topic of the post to be about Tyson Chandler and flopping, rather than Demarcus Cousins and his greatness. While what you have to say is valid, it doesnt makes sense as a reply to what i said.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I'd love to take credit but Carmichael Dave actually tweeted that out. But really kind of hard to fathom. After last night how do Vivek and D'Alessandro stand by their claims that the team is better off with Corbin than Malone? No offense to Corbin (who I actually like) but they disrupted the team, upset their best player, changed the narrative of the Kings around the league for the worse and there have yet to be any actual benefits or real explanation for the move.

Rereading this article made me more upset. I am taking it with a grain of salt despite it being from Woj who is as plugged in and reliable a reporter as there is in the NBA world. If what this really comes down to is Vivek, PDA and Mullin being upset that they don't get to meddle as much as they'd like I don't know what to say.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-do...kings-and-coach-michael-malone-175201188.html

I had forgotten about that piece. Bucher said something similar recently and got rightfully panned for being Bucher, but Woj is solid, and I remember hearing that Bruski was recenly reporting that there are conflicts among the FO as well. There were also reports back when he bought the team that Vivek came on board (toward the last minute, remember?) once he received assurances he would have input in player personnel decisions. There's enough rumblings for me to read that firing PDA simply would not change anything.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Standing pat like this is NOT cutting it, and you better believe DeMarcus will not stand for it for long.

I find this to be a curious criticism. The FO can be accused of a lot of things, but standing pat is not one of them.

 

[upinsmoke]

I feel like if D. Williams cut his hair he would be instantly better.
you heard it here first folks lol.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think the whole team should get mohawks and grow out fu manchus. Time to get a little ****ing toughness around here.

 

[chasen4r1]

I find this to be a curious criticism. The FO can be accused of a lot of things, but standing pat is not one of them.

I'd say riding with a "substitute teacher" coach and throwing a season away before you hire the coach you want is standing pat.

If they wanted to move forward, they'd hire a coach now and get us out of this mess.

 

[funkykingston]

Stop. That's embarrassing.

Personally I don't give any credit to Corbin for Boogie's ascension. But to be fair I gave very little credit to Malone for it either. Cousins is a massive talent who is simply progressing at a normal rate. The funny thing is that his per 36 numbers have changed very little and that it's really more a matter of the narrative changing around him, largely due to him having more self-control on the court this year. I think playing for Team USA was a big part of that, as was just getting a year older and maybe a small part due to Malone's influence. But make no mistake, the person responsible for Boogie becoming a great player is Boogie.

That said, what I DID give Malone credit for was having DeMarcus buy in completely to his system, something that was reinforced by the team's hot start and Cousins getting his first taste of success in an NBA uniform. Is he fully committed to Corbin as he was to Malone? I don't know. And even if he isn't, that's not necessarily Corbin's fault.

Cousins is a loyal dude. And he wants to feel like his loyalty is returned. That's my big fear about this whole ordeal. Does he feel like the Kings front office has his back? Or does he feel like they are pulling the rug out from under him?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I think the whole team should get mohawks and grow out fu manchus. Time to get a little ****ing toughness around here.

Handlebars and mutton chops, or nothing.

 

[captain bill]

Did anybody else notice Cousins' reaction right after the flop? He drops the ball, bites his lip, and looks like he's about to punt the ball into the stands.

http://streamable.com/566

Wow. That's the game right there.

I had to work late and missed the game, but I'm almost happy I did. Probably would have had to buy a new TV if I saw that live