[Grades] Grades v. Heat 11/19/2015

We are 4-9 now. Will we ever reach .500 this season?

  • Yes, in 5 games

    Votes: 2 2.7%
  • yes, by Christmas

    Votes: 13 17.3%
  • yes, by January

    Votes: 20 26.7%
  • yes, after the all star break

    Votes: 10 13.3%
  • no, we are the Kings

    Votes: 30 40.0%

  • Total voters
    75
  • Poll closed .
George Karl's defenses calls for an option of gambling in the passing lanes, and switches.

There's no problem with this...except, when you have someone like Belinelli on a Klay Thompson, or Rondo on a Andre Drummond.

I specifically singled out Belinelli because he's a poor defender. He has troubles getting through screens and catching up with his man. Unlike Ben, when Belinelli tries to go for the steal in the lane, he can't recover in time. This leads to too many open shots. The guys need better awareness. On deadly shooters, you should not leave them. On guys who aren't strong shooters, it's ok to leave them.

Rondo always switches really early for some reason. I don't think switching is all that bad, but there's a time and place for it. At the end of close games is not the time for it.

A lot of this team's defensive problems is on the lack of how to do it, like you said. We don't have the personnel to become a good defensive team. Rondo is an inconsistent defender, and with him, I think it's the effort part. Ben might be our best perimeter defender. Gay has been below average, to average. WCS is not great on boards, and has a tendency to over-help sometimes. Cousins is an average defender.

There is no real + defender like many of these other teams have. I hope that's what Ben can be.

If they are going to play smaller and have players like Acy and Willie on the floor switching screens could be a huge asset because they are built for it. If they want to switch though Rondo and Collison being in there is a huge detriment. It just can't happen if they want to switch. Switching is the only solid defensive scheme I've seen from the Kings this year so I say go full on into it, but don't go half way.

Another problem I've noticed is when they get lost on matchups they tend to double, you can't consistently double if you are going to switch and if you do the help needs to know what's going on and cheat in the paint until the double man recovers to a match up. If they are going to switch they need to commit to being a man to man defensive team and a large part of their downfall that I've seen is they rely on help way too much.
 
It seems so clear to me that we are a big ball team no matter where Karl's comfort level is. I think a problem with the TOs may be that so many players are new or with Boogie, missing. We need the team to stay together and see what comes of it. We SHOULD play better,
 
Brick posted this troubling stat at the very beginning: George Karl ball has us giving up 108.2 pts/gm, which would be the most since our stellar 17 win season in 2008-09 when we gave up 109.3.

This says it all. No defense = LOSING. Also, the T.O.s are killing us. At least 3 of our losses this early in the season could have been wins with better ball control and defense. All of a sudden we are 4-9. :eek:


Although I totally agree, I'm not surprised at all this early in the season.

A brand new roster with a brand new system are a recipe for head scratching turnovers and blown assignments on defense.
 
It seems so clear to me that we are a big ball team no matter where Karl's comfort level is. I think a problem with the TOs may be that so many players are new or with Boogie, missing. We need the team to stay together and see what comes of it. We SHOULD play better,

I can't honestly say that I know the answer as to why were leading the league in turnovers, but one of the reasons we wanted veteran players on the team, was because of their experience, and that they could adjust to the new system quicker. So far, that hasn't been the case, and one could easily place most of the blame for our losses on our turnovers. Not only do we turn the ball over, we tend to do it at crucial points in the game. That's when our experience should help us. Our players, for whatever reason, aren't executing. One thing I do know. We keep turning the ball over 17 plus times a game, and we not only won't make the playoffs, we'll be lucky to win more than 30 games. Asking Casspi or McLemore to play fast, is like giving an arsonist a can of gasoline and some matches. Not blaming Casspi or Ben, just pointing out that both are contributors, and the current style of play doen't help them reduce mistakes.
 
Again, it's the TOs and points off TOs. If we take care of the ball I think we start winning games.

Big true here. Also as others said, maybe this team/collection of players just doesn't fit Karl's run-gun scheme........yet. Real question is can they adapt to the big run game AND get TO's down to 10 and under? Kings can rum but they are not the ballhandlers needed to pull it off. Can they be better ball handlers? Can they get fast ball smarter? Casspi has the intent but plays on the edge of control most of the time. Ben too but does not have the ball handling skills or BB IQ that Casspi has. Rondo getting 15+ assists a game shoild be the incentive to move mor without the ball to reduce too much passing, particularily in close quarters in and around the key.
 
Although I totally agree, I'm not surprised at all this early in the season.

A brand new roster with a brand new system are a recipe for head scratching turnovers and blown assignments on defense.

Just a couple of examples. Last night Casspi got picked off in the pick and roll by Bosh. Koufos did what he was supposed to do, he switched to stop the ball, but Casspi just stood there in no mans land guarding no one while Bosh took an uncontested three pointer, which he made by the way. This is just one example, but its prevalent every game. Gay is another culprit who constantly never switches, or is late. In another play, McLemore got picked, and instead of switching to the picker, he followed the ball along with his teammate, once again leaving a player unguarded. Two players besides Cousins who are defending the pick and roll well are Koufos and Willie. All three of our big men. Everyone else takes turns screwing up. Maybe I'm generalizing a little too much, but at the moment, I'm disgusted.
 
I can't honestly say that I know the answer as to why were leading the league in turnovers, but one of the reasons we wanted veteran players on the team, was because of their experience, and that they could adjust to the new system quicker. So far, that hasn't been the case, and one could easily place most of the blame for our losses on our turnovers. Not only do we turn the ball over, we tend to do it at crucial points in the game. That's when our experience should help us. Our players, for whatever reason, aren't executing. One thing I do know. We keep turning the ball over 17 plus times a game, and we not only won't make the playoffs, we'll be lucky to win more than 30 games. Asking Casspi or McLemore to play fast, is like giving an arsonist a can of gasoline and some matches. Not blaming Casspi or Ben, just pointing out that both are contributors, and the current style of play doen't help them reduce mistakes.

It's a mystery as I thought the addition of vets would be a major plus. I think missing Boogie 5 games has slowed down our evolution if in fact we are going to evolve. It is not only has pts and rbds that we are missing. We are missing the comfort level of playing with him on the court.
 
Back
Top