[Grades] Grades v. Hornets 2/6/12

[Kingster]

http://www.nba.com/statistics/efficiency.html

Didn't see the game, but thought you guys might be interested in the above. Check out the NBA efficiency leader for yesterday.

 

[Section 101]

TO be fair, aside from the Bulls, we probably had the toughest start in the league (lots of road games against lots of good teams). Now that that stretch is starting to wind down (last long road trip not included), who knows what can happen? With this teams propensity for coming back from deficits, I'm not going to count anything out.

Actually not the toughest next to the bulls and most teams aren't winning on the road.

Kings 10 home games 14 away. Others that are equal or worse.

Bulls 10/17
Thunder 10/14
Pacers 8/15
Raptors 9/17
Cavs 9/13
Bocats 10/14

A few teams real close to the same

Nets 11/15
Suns 11/13
Bucks 10/13
Griz 11/14

 

[The_Jamal]

TO be fair, aside from the Bulls, we probably had the toughest start in the league (lots of road games against lots of good teams). Now that that stretch is starting to wind down (last long road trip not included), who knows what can happen? With this teams propensity for coming back from deficits, I'm not going to count anything out.

My thinking is that if we can survive this 10 game stretch with at least a .500 record, I don't see any reason we can't get to a .500 record. It would leave us with a 13-20 record which would mean we'd need to go 20-13 in a home-heavy second half of the season. We built ourselves too big of a hole, especially in the West (unless we go on some crazy insane run) to get to the playoffs this season

 

[TehSwimGuy]

TO be fair, aside from the Bulls, we probably had the toughest start in the league (lots of road games against lots of good teams). Now that that stretch is starting to wind down (last long road trip not included), who knows what can happen? With this teams propensity for coming back from deficits, I'm not going to count anything out.

First off, great win! Also, I'd throw out the Clippers for one of the toughest starts (in regards to opponents) in the league. They had only a couple that were "gimmes".

 

[kingsnation]

Where did you read/hear that? I cant find anything

Here you go..

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=320206003

"We're just playing great basketball right now," Evans said. "We want to keep that up and try to be in the race for the playoffs."

 

[kingsnation]

If they run off a few more wins it's definitely possible. If they do that and take care of HC after the all star break they could still finish around .500.

I totally agree. I'm very excited for the way these guys are playing right now. With more confidence and a growing chemistry we could be fighting for that 8 seed come April.

 

[kennadog]

My apologies. I was being age insensitive there. There, I added an option for you to balance things.

Wow, four others checked knitting, before I saw this. I need to flash a heckuva lot of cash to find a boytoy and diabetes ruins many of the other choices. Not into babes, which is why I'm glad the Kings have put together some wins. Sometimes it sucks getting old.

On the other hand, it has some definite perks. Close to retirement, so I can be brutally honest to the bosses. What's the worst they could do? Fire me? Give me a poor job performance review? Oooohhhhh, I'm so scared.

 

[UK_King]

First game i've seen "live" for a while and i can't say enough about I.T's defense, wow, what he lacks in height he makes up with desire. I know it was only Vasquez but he didn't let him breathe in the 4th.

 

[macadocious]

Not sure where to put this, but did anyone else notice Salmons completely ignored Jimmer when they were in together. Literally went out of his way to pass around him. I have noticed it before, but this was blatant. A couple times Jimmer would have had a wide open three and he swung it right past him or to the other side of the court.

Is this just Salmons being Salmons? Or is their possible more too this?

 

[pshn80]

Not sure where to put this, but did anyone else notice Salmons completely ignored Jimmer when they were in together. Literally went out of his way to pass around him. I have noticed it before, but this was blatant. A couple times Jimmer would have had a wide open three and he swung it right past him or to the other side of the court.

Is this just Salmons being Salmons? Or is their possible more too this?

Didn't notice last night. But I have thought that many times different players have skipped passing to Fredette. Probably just the natural pecking order. Our guys have difficulty making good passes more than most.

 

[UK_King]

Not sure where to put this, but did anyone else notice Salmons completely ignored Jimmer when they were in together. Literally went out of his way to pass around him. I have noticed it before, but this was blatant. A couple times Jimmer would have had a wide open three and he swung it right past him or to the other side of the court.

Is this just Salmons being Salmons? Or is their possible more too this?

I noticed it on one play last night and he's done before earlier in the season he'll just pound the ball, ignore Jimmer and then dish off to the other side.

who knows, it's salmons after all, i often wonder what's going on inside his head. Probably just the sound of a basketball bouncing and the clang of iron.

 

[rainmaker]

I saw Salmons pass up Jimmer yesterday. It was on the trip prior to Reke setting up his 3. There are two sides to this though.

Yes Jimmer has been passed up and ignored on occasion. But I also don't see his teammates having the same respect for him as they do IT. That's something rookies battle, gaining respect. It's a mans league. Jimmer will just have to put his head down and keep working his a** off. Keep plugging away and you'll earn the trust and respect from teammates. While Jimmer hasn't played exceptionally well, what he's going through is common for rookies, and what makes it tough to accept in the opinion of many Jimmer fans I think, is that IT has just played so well.

Rookies aren't owed anything based of college. IT wasn't given anything. He took it. While Jimmer was ahead in the rotation and IT sat, he worked his a** off in practice, got a few chances and took full advantage. Now it's on Jimmer to do the same. The problem I see right now isn't the shooting. Some keep pointing to our need of a 3pt shooter as a reason to put Jimmer in. That's shortsided. Jimmer isn't playing much now imo, because he's contributing far less in other areas than our other 3 guards. Have to bring more to the table.

IT hits the glass, creates for others, runs the club maturely, and most importantly really gets into the opposing pg on defense, picks up charges and even blocks shots. He's even hitting 3's, which is what Jimmer would be brought in to do. That's not to say Jimmer can't run the team or can't create for others. He can. He's shown it. Just not to the extent he's doing at the same level as IT. If you say we need Jimmer for 3pt shooting, and IT is now hitting his 3's, than Jimmer has to bring something else to the table, or he'll get spot minutes as a spot up shooter. Right now I see IT contributing more is every other area. Right now IT runs the team better, more confidently, sets guys up more effectively, hits the glass harder, and is far ahead defensively. And, with IT hitting above 63% from 3 over his last five....?

 

[macadocious]

I agree with all you said rainmaker, except, if he really is purposely passing him up it's not OK. If he is on the court, specifically to shoot 3's and you pass him up for a wide open 3, there is a major problem. One that goes deeper than rookies taking their lumps.

Not sure what the answer is here. Smarts responses IRT to Jimmer the last few games have been interesting as well. Keeps talking about how he is "going" to be a great player. Maybe it's just because there is such Jimmer mania still he needs to respond that way. Not really sure.

 

[Bricklayer]

I agree with all you said rainmaker, except, if he really is purposely passing him up it's not OK. If he is on the court, specifically to shoot 3's and you pass him up for a wide open 3, there is a major problem. One that goes deeper than rookies taking their lumps.

Not sure what the answer is here. Smarts responses IRT to Jimmer the last few games have been interesting as well. Keeps talking about how he is "going" to be a great player. Maybe it's just because there is such Jimmer mania still he needs to respond that way. Not really sure.

Smart also will keep on telling you what a great job Salmons has been doing wiht the defense and rebounding (!) all season and that the only thing he wasn;t doing was shooting. Smart will tell you a lot of things.

 

[rainmaker]

Smart also will keep on telling you what a great job Salmons has been doing wiht the defense and rebounding (!) all season and that the only thing he wasn;t doing was shooting. Smart will tell you a lot of things.

I scratch my head when I see that as well. Smart sure praises other aspects of Salmons game. I don't get it, and if he felt that way why is he constantly benching him never to return in the 2nd half of games? Seems to me the only thing thing which keeps him on the court for any extended time is when he can hit a few shots. If there was an inkling of truth to what Smart says about Salmons he'd be playing in many more 4th quarters.