Grades v. Clippers 02/28/10

[jcassio]

Hawes on playing against Chris Kaman: "He is an All-Star, there are no bones about it. He is so skilled down there and for me it is kind of like playing against myself. He goes left or right, and can really create so many problems when he gets rolling. I think our team did a great job of containing him."
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/postgame-reacti-6.html


Hawes has had two good games in a row, and now he's saying he's an All-Star caliber player? I'm happy for the Kings, but Hawes needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

 

[Tetsujin]

Hawes on playing against Chris Kaman: "He is an All-Star, there are no bones about it. He is so skilled down there and for me it is kind of like playing against myself. He goes left or right, and can really create so many problems when he gets rolling. I think our team did a great job of containing him."
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/postgame-reacti-6.html


Hawes has had two good games in a row, and now he's saying he's an All-Star caliber player? I'm happy for the Kings, but Hawes needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

I think he meant in terms of style. I've always thought that Hawes was skinny Kaman with hair.

 

[pshn80]

I'd give the team and coach a pretty good grade. And I won't pick one as player of the game. Donte got to play. I hope they can carry the quality play over to these road games. Go Kings.

 

[TheWileyVet]

Hawes beasted again today. Can he keep it up? *fingers crossed*

 

[kingsnation]

Maybe it's just me, but a lot of people here tend to defend Donte Greene as if he's better than he really is. It's a "yes, but" sort of thing...

- Hits open shots
- Plays solid defense
- Energy

but...

- Poor decision making
- Inconsistency
- Poor free throw shooter

He's young. the decision making and inconsistency will change in time - if he's given the minutes. And as far as Poor FT shooting.... well take a look at our team as a whole and you'll see that just about everyone fits into that category.

 

[kingsnation]

Donte is not a rookie..

No, but he barely played at all last year and as others pointed out - Natt was his coach, so...

 

[mac]

Hawes on playing against Chris Kaman: "He is an All-Star, there are no bones about it. He is so skilled down there and for me it is kind of like playing against myself. He goes left or right, and can really create so many problems when he gets rolling. I think our team did a great job of containing him."
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/postgame-reacti-6.html


Hawes has had two good games in a row, and now he's saying he's an All-Star caliber player? I'm happy for the Kings, but Hawes needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

wow someone's over-reacting... Like tetsujin said, Hawes probably meant playing-style wise.

 

[gunks]

Donte is a goofball, who does goofball stuff on the court.

He does have a high ceiling though, I think PW knows what he's doing. You reward good play, not dumb play. But I doubt Greene is ever going to drop out of the rotation.

 

[jcassio]

wow someone's over-reacting... Like tetsujin said, Hawes probably meant playing-style wise.

Do you remember Hawes saying a while back when asked about changing/improving his game, he essentially said that he was who he was and has had success; why change it?
Obviously Hawes was not saying (out loud) that he thinks he's an All-Star. But in my opinion his collective comments reflect a person who is overly fond of himself. And that's consistent with a player who thinks he's entitled to playing time when he hasn't earned it.

That said, I'm happy that he's had two good games in a row. I'd be even happier if he'd learn to control his mouth and leave the entitlement stuff in his locker...

 

[ZZ-TOP]

The Kings are 9-8 with Beno starting in the back court with Evans.

Shut up! Somebody might hear you.

 

[VF21]

He's young. the decision making and inconsistency will change in time - if he's given the minutes. And as far as Poor FT shooting.... well take a look at our team as a whole and you'll see that just about everyone fits into that category.

And he'll get the minutes if he utilizes what he gets wisely. Personally, I think he's slowly but surely starting to get it, but I do not blame Westphal at all for coming down on him hard.

 

[The Hammer]

Hawes on playing against Chris Kaman: "He is an All-Star, there are no bones about it. He is so skilled down there and for me it is kind of like playing against myself. He goes left or right, and can really create so many problems when he gets rolling. I think our team did a great job of containing him."
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/postgame-reacti-6.html


Hawes has had two good games in a row, and now he's saying he's an All-Star caliber player? I'm happy for the Kings, but Hawes needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

Did you even WATCH the clip, Mr. Negative? Hawes' tone and demeanor were humble, and he was just talking about what it was like playing against him. You should get a job blogging about politics, that's where your skills would really best be used. That way you can spin to your heart's content.

But you probably didn't watch the clip, or at least not without putting the crack pipe down.

 

[Uncia03]

Did you see Donte's dunk where he put his hand behind his head? Westphal yanked him for doing it.

I agree that it was too much 'Hot' in the hot-dogging of Donte in that dunk that got him yanked.

Do you know what's funny?

I went to Kings.Com and they had the little intro pre-page before getting to the main site, and there in all its glory is a picture of Donte making that dunk.

I really want Donte to succeed, and I think he has more potential than anyone except for Tyreke to become a legitimate All-Star candidate. If he continues to grow for the next couple years as he's done this year he will be an amazing player.
I'd like to see him solidify the starting 3 spot next year, as his chemistry with Tyreke is amazing and his defense is outstanding.
But he's got to make sure that he's playing as intelligently as he can while on the floor, and he has to be a beast with-out the showmanship.

My problem is that Kings.Com is not doing him any favors by highlighting something which got him pulled from the game. To me that's positive accolades for behavior which Westphal is trying to remove. I'd rather the entire Kings organization be consistent with what they want to see when it comes to Donte Greene.

----------------

I'm not a fan of Udoka getting the 20 minutes tonight. It's strange that he got 20 minutes, while Nocioni got a DNP. I'm fine with Nocioni getting the DNP except for the fact that the more DNPs he gets, the more likely it is that we'll have to hold on to his contract till it expires. So seeing Nocioni, as our highest paid player, getting playing time is far more important than Udoka.
And I'd actually rather see McGuire get more playing time over Udoka. He's shown a defensive knack, and it would probably be better for the team to get an idea of whether or not he's someone who the organization might want to keep around for cheap.

Finally, I don't care much about wins/losses at this point. The best thing this franchise could do is get Wall/Turner/Cousins/Favors/Aldrich in the draft. The worst thing for this franchise with around 20 games left would be to win so many that we are unable to draft an impact player.

So Udoka getting major minutes, even if it contributes to a win, is completely counter productive at this point in the season. Either play the young guys, or play the high contract guys to audition them. Playing veteran single-year pick-ups is the worst thing you can do with the 20 games left, even if it results in a victory.

As an aside, if we were fighting for a play-off spot I'd be saying something completely different. Getting those wins, even if it came by playing someone like Udoka more minutes than Greene would be fine by me. But we aren't competing for the playoffs this year. Let's get an impact player in the draft, see about making a good FA signing, and then compete for the playoffs next year.

 

[sactownfan]

And that speaks volumes...

hey VF21 why dont you red card yourself for being insulting...

HEY GUYS REMEMBER WHEN DESMOND MASON EARNED THOSE PLAYING TIME MINS!!!! WOW! IM JUST AS EXCITED AS THE NEXT PERSON WHENEVER WE WIN... BUT LETTING WESTPHAL OFF THE HOOK FOR STUPID CRAP IS LAME. JUST BECAUSE WE WIN DOESNT MEAN WESTPHAL'S GRADE IS AN A+



we've all been questioning his roster moves and his distribution of mins all season.... so has the media.... AND THE FRICKN PLAYERS!!!

im not the only dang person that thinks its ridiculous....

I see no reason why a player like greene thats so much more talented and figures to be "the future" of this team. plays and produces 7pts 1blk 1reb in 6mins but cant get more mins than Ime Udoka who had 3pts and 5reb in 20mins ????

Greene was playing well tonight... great defensive effort early and was "ON" tonight with the shooting 3/4 from the field and 1/1 3pt shooting... YET ONLY 6MINS???

make fun of me all you want thats freakn bull crap that Ime Udoka played more mins...

 

[mac]

Dude. A lot of people agree with you, myself included. You don't actually think we all want Ime Udoka to play more than Greene do you? But there really isn't any point in bashing Westphal or any player for that matter over every little thing they do, especially if we get a win.

I understand your frustration, and perhaps now you know how I feel when Sean May gets to play and Spencer gets benched. Isn't it the same thing? Try to not be so prejudiced against certain players, especially if they're part of our future.

Greene will get his minutes. In time...*evil emperor laughter* just be patient with the team and coach man.

 

[Aenadin]

losing season, or not you still have to make playing time a by performance level kind... you dont just earn it cause the team threw out the season or rebuilding being young doesnt always merit playing time... im glad paul westphal did this, why? so the vets who want playing time would practice harder those who want contracts will too. and those who want to have a part in the rotation will work on their game. there's nothing that makes a man work and focus when his job is on the line

what donte did with the dunk was just show boating.. and i approve of him being yanked for that you dont showboat even if your ahead by uber points. you just dont this isnt the playground if you want to showboat join the horse competition in allstar or something but show some respect for your opponent.. even if its the clippers (lakers dont get jack )

that dunk was just donte being his silly self again... I dont approve.. play your game son... dont fool around

 

[mac]

I think Westphal wants to emphasize not to take anything for granted, especially as a young team. If Donte had missed that dunk it could have affected the momentum of the game a whole lot more than just having 2 points less. As a young and inexperienced team, we're working really hard to get good shots and we more or less have to earn every win. It's not a good idea to attempt a risky dunk that you may blow. Now if you were a championship calibre team or at least in pretty good playoff contention then against a lesser opponent it's fine to showboat a little. But we're several years from there, so just keep it simple Donte!

 

[SacKings384]

I don't like the fact that Donte is sitting. The guy has a ton of talent, and it isn't like he doesn't play hard (which would warrant him being sat). He makes some mistakes and needs to learn but he won't learn from his mistakes if he's rotting on the pine. This is a perfect season to develop him. It seems like he's getting the Gerald Wallace treatment which is really making me angry.

 

[SLAB]

I don't like the fact that Donte is sitting. The guy has a ton of talent, and it isn't like he doesn't play hard (which would warrant him being sat). He makes some mistakes and needs to learn but he won't learn from his mistakes if he's rotting on the pine. This is a perfect season to develop him. It seems like he's getting the Gerald Wallace treatment which is really making me angry.

Word.

The guy did one 'silly' thing (which resulted in two points) and gets yanked most the game for IME UDOKA?!

I mean seriously...I coach didn't like it, pull him, give him a tongue-lashing and put him in after the next timeout. There is absolutely ZERO reason why someone like Ime Udoka should be getting 20 minutes to Donte's 6.

 

[Bricklayer]

I mean seriously...I coach didn't like it, pull him, give him a tongue-lashing and put him in after the next timeout.

This.

And Westphal was pretty good about that earlier in the season too. Now...?

 

[Capt. Factorial]

This.

And Westphal was pretty good about that earlier in the season too. Now...?

He may have taken note of what has (at least initially) appeared to have finally gotten to Spencer. Benchings may garner more attention than tongue-lashings.

 

[Jkbiker]

Qoute from todays blog
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/postgame-reacti-6.html


*Ime Udoka's steal when the Kings had a one-point lead was the play that saved the game.
And no, Udoka doesn't practice tossing the ball falling out of bounds to his teammates.
"I knew where my guys were on the court," he said.
*Another note from Westphal's press conference. He said developing young players is a priority but "we won't give young players playing time - they have to earn it."
Too often teams with losing records give playing time to young players who might have not earned it with good practice habits and solid play on gameday.
It sends a bad message: that the players are entitled to play. Yes, they need to play. But if they're not putting in the work, they'll learn more watching a player like Udoka do the right thing. "


Sounds like to me that Donte is in the dog house for not working hard in practice, Coach has stressed defense, Ime has come thru on the defensive end, Im sure he has told Donte time after time you need to show me 100% effort on the defense and be smart on the offense side.

Coach needed Ime's defense and until Donte can show he has earned his minutes in practice he wont get the minutes he wants

 

[JB_kings]

Donte is a bit different to manage than the usual young player. Some mistakes are correctable by time spent on the court. Those are usually skill related or just a need to be a cohesive unit. Donte has some great skills already and he is lacking more in the decision making department. So I can see why he's on a short leash and forced to focus his efforts towards helping the team on defense and other non-scoring areas instead. I don't doubt that a turned loose Donte could score 20+ a night given 35+ minutes... as a volume shooter. That is not what the team needs and not what it's going to take to make Donte a great player.

 

[JB_kings]

Qoute from todays blog
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sports/kings/archives/2010/02/postgame-reacti-6.html


*Ime Udoka's steal when the Kings had a one-point lead was the play that saved the game.
And no, Udoka doesn't practice tossing the ball falling out of bounds to his teammates.
"I knew where my guys were on the court," he said.
*Another note from Westphal's press conference. He said developing young players is a priority but "we won't give young players playing time - they have to earn it."
Too often teams with losing records give playing time to young players who might have not earned it with good practice habits and solid play on gameday.
It sends a bad message: that the players are entitled to play. Yes, they need to play. But if they're not putting in the work, they'll learn more watching a player like Udoka do the right thing. "


Sounds like to me that Donte is in the dog house for not working hard in practice, Coach has stressed defense, Ime has come thru on the defensive end, Im sure he has told Donte time after time you need to show me 100% effort on the defense and be smart on the offense side.

Coach needed Ime's defense and until Donte can show he has earned his minutes in practice he wont get the minutes he wants

Just to back this up. I heard Donte on 1140 talking about skipping an optional practice recently. Here's a good example of missing chances to show that he is a hard worker and wants more playing time. Examples like this might be why coach thinks he needs to get hungry.

 

[pshn80]

I'm not a fan of Udoka getting the 20 minutes tonight. It's strange that he got 20 minutes, while Nocioni got a DNP. I'm fine with Nocioni getting the DNP except for the fact that the more DNPs he gets, the more likely it is that we'll have to hold on to his contract till it expires. So seeing Nocioni, as our highest paid player, getting playing time is far more important than Udoka.
And I'd actually rather see McGuire get more playing time over Udoka. He's shown a defensive knack, and it would probably be better for the team to get an idea of whether or not he's someone who the organization might want to keep around for cheap.

Finally, I don't care much about wins/losses at this point. The best thing this franchise could do is get Wall/Turner/Cousins/Favors/Aldrich in the draft. The worst thing for this franchise with around 20 games left would be to win so many that we are unable to draft an impact player.

So Udoka getting major minutes, even if it contributes to a win, is completely counter productive at this point in the season. Either play the young guys, or play the high contract guys to audition them. Playing veteran single-year pick-ups is the worst thing you can do with the 20 games left, even if it results in a victory.

As an aside, if we were fighting for a play-off spot I'd be saying something completely different. Getting those wins, even if it came by playing someone like Udoka more minutes than Greene would be fine by me. But we aren't competing for the playoffs this year. Let's get an impact player in the draft, see about making a good FA signing, and then compete for the playoffs next year.

Completely disagree with this view. Know some folks feel this way but it is just inconsistent with my NBA/Kings fanhood. I paid the big bucks, enjoyed the heck out of it, but never wanted to see them lose. Play Ime if that helps us win now.

As an aside, I don't know who those names belong to re. next years draft. When the season is over and we have a spot for our pick I'll read everything there on each. Right now I don't give a rats whatever.

 

[kingsnation]

And he'll get the minutes if he utilizes what he gets wisely. Personally, I think he's slowly but surely starting to get it, but I do not blame Westphal at all for coming down on him hard.

I agree with the decision to pull him as well for his taunt/gesture whatever you want to call it. But as others have stated, it shouldn't have been for the rest of the game.

My problem is this: Why all of a sudden? From Nov-1/2 of Feb, Donte was a main contributor for this team and even started a bunch of games. He had a huge hand in our 13-14 start and those big losses to CLE and LA. Did he just now begin to be "lazy," or "not work hard?" Donte was even one of our "defensive stoppers," a couple months ago. So, his questionable work ethic must be new because obviously he was doing something right until a week ago.

If someone told me 3 weeks ago that the Kevin trade was going to open up more playing time for Ime Udoka as opposed to Donte Greene, I would've laughed.

 

[Rookie]

Donte is still the wild stallion.

 

[Tetsujin]

If someone told me 3 weeks ago that the Kevin trade was going to open up more playing time for Ime Udoka as opposed to Donte Greene, I would've laughed.

On the plus side, it has slashed Noce's time.

 

[dbfish]

into

???




I've been impressed by Hawes's sudden transformation. If he keeps this up, our front court looks an awful lot better than before.

I agree that Spencer has had a couple of good games lately, but the comparison in this picture compares him to McHale? Hardly. If nothing else Mchale was consistant. Hawes? Not so much, yet.

 

[Tetsujin]

I agree that Spencer has had a couple of good games lately, but the comparison in this picture compares him to McHale? Hardly. If nothing else Mchale was consistant. Hawes? Not so much, yet.

I just wanted an excuse to post the pic of Uncle Spence.