[Grades] Grades v. Lakers 03/02/12

[kingsnation]

Evans had a ok game coulda played better d missed easy layups and still hasnt made a shot smh¡

And yet he still shot 50% from the field w/ 14 pts and only 1 TO. Yes I'm smh too.

 

[mac]

Tyreke played a good offensive game. At the 3. He was moving without the ball in the half court, and did his usual on the fast break offense. He looked good out there. Nice to see his teamates were looking for him from the wing when he was on the move. The D wasn't loaded up on him like when he plays pg. I hope more of that happens in the future. Overall, I thought the Kings played the most intelligent offensive game I've seen all year. Very few turnovers. Very few bad shots. Keep it up and get the first team to play some D and they win.

The bench played great on D. The undersized bench. They were rotating great and creating turnovers because of it. I wonder if Smart kept his starters out in the 4th because he wanted to send a message about playing D? If the first teamers could play D with the intelligence and passion of the 2nd team, they win this game.

IT started the game playing like a rookie who had just won Rookie of the Month. Not a good thing. After he got reigned in some, then he started playing like IT. After that, I didn't see the overdribbling and poor shot selection. He made some great passes that weren't converted within 2 feet of the basket. Of course he's going to have ups and downs. He's a rookie, guys and gals. That doesn't change the failure of Tyreke at pg. We have a large body of work on that experiment.

I think Tyreke's biggest flaw at PG is his inability to make the hockey assist. He's pretty good at setting guys up off of his penetration, but good defenses rotate and take away that kick out or limit his penetration. I think that's one of the reason why he tends to pound the ball, because he's waiting for a chance to drive and then kick the ball out. Part of the problem is his limited off the ball skills, and needless to say his lack of outside shooting. If he could get rid of the mindset that he HAS to either score or make an assist, he would become a much better playmaker, whether at PG or SG. His penetration would force the defense to move, and he can then pass it to someone, force the defense to scramble a little, and then another pass can be made for a better open shot.

Overall player movement would also help a lot. Kobe is excellent at making very timely accurate passes to cutting players off his drives or in transition. The Kings could learn a thing or two from such passes from Kobe to cutting big men.

 

[Kingster]

Ok, then play him at SG and bring Thornton off the bench! I think that the team has been looking a little better offensively with Thomas starting, but not so against the Lakers. Against the Lakers he didn't set guys up at all, was totally just looking to shoot and shoot and shoot.

I disagree. In the first quarter he was overdribbling and took a few bad shots. He looked a little full of himself. After the coach yanked him, he took what the offense gave him and he looked good out there. Made some great passes.

 

[mac]

Tyreke played a good offensive game. At the 3. He was moving without the ball in the half court, and did his usual on the fast break offense. He looked good out there. Nice to see his teamates were looking for him from the wing when he was on the move. The D wasn't loaded up on him like when he plays pg. I hope more of that happens in the future. Overall, I thought the Kings played the most intelligent offensive game I've seen all year. Very few turnovers. Very few bad shots. Keep it up and get the first team to play some D and they win.

The bench played great on D. The undersized bench. They were rotating great and creating turnovers because of it. I wonder if Smart kept his starters out in the 4th because he wanted to send a message about playing D? If the first teamers could play D with the intelligence and passion of the 2nd team, they win this game.

IT started the game playing like a rookie who had just won Rookie of the Month. Not a good thing. After he got reigned in some, then he started playing like IT. After that, I didn't see the overdribbling and poor shot selection. He made some great passes that weren't converted within 2 feet of the basket. Of course he's going to have ups and downs. He's a rookie, guys and gals. That doesn't change the failure of Tyreke at pg. We have a large body of work on that experiment.

He played an efficient game. The question that needs to be asked though, is whether we can win games with him simply scoring on the break or getting a few layups off of cuts. This is supposed to be your co-star ... I don't know of any successful team that doesn't consistently put the ball in their best players' hands. TBH I don't see a great change in offensive play among our starters. Instead of Evans going 1 on 1 you have IT going 1 on 1, Thornton still going 1 on 1, or throwing it to Cousins to go 1 on 1. It's not like we're seeing some great ball movement ending up with nice open shots.

 

[Spike]

He played an efficient game. The question that needs to be asked though, is whether we can win games with him simply scoring on the break or getting a few layups off of cuts. This is supposed to be your co-star ... I don't know of any successful team that doesn't consistently put the ball in their best players' hands. TBH I don't see a great change in offensive play among our starters. Instead of Evans going 1 on 1 you have IT going 1 on 1, Thornton still going 1 on 1, or throwing it to Cousins to go 1 on 1. It's not like we're seeing some great ball movement ending up with nice open shots.

Agreed. The only difference right now is that we're putting up more points per game, but the end result is still the same...and the defense has looked worse, to boot.

 

[Kingster]

He played an efficient game. The question that needs to be asked though, is whether we can win games with him simply scoring on the break or getting a few layups off of cuts. This is supposed to be your co-star ... I don't know of any successful team that doesn't consistently put the ball in their best players' hands. TBH I don't see a great change in offensive play among our starters. Instead of Evans going 1 on 1 you have IT going 1 on 1, Thornton still going 1 on 1, or throwing it to Cousins to go 1 on 1. It's not like we're seeing some great ball movement ending up with nice open shots.

Yes, he did play efficienctly, which I love to see. He's playing within his limitations, which is fantastic. That's all you can ask of him, right now. I don't follow you on the best player stuff. First, Cousins looks to be our best player. He is very versatile in his offensive game, he can shoot from inside and outside. Tyeke is definitely our best layup artist. That, and passes off of his slashes to the basket are the extent of his game. And if you give the ball consistently to someone with so little versatility on offense, your offense is in trouble. So I don't mind giving the ball less to Tyreke than in months past. Give him the ball where he can be most effective - on the move, from the wing.

 

[Bricklayer]

Suggested theme: Strangest roadside attractions (reminiscent of a trip along the old Route 66)

Ah, you saw that msn feature too, huh?

I actually meant to take that link down for possible future use, but appear not to have for some reason.

 

[pshn80]

Not nearly as much as being a fan of a player.

By the way, Coach Smart did not necessarily cost them the game...but he did cost them the best opportunity to win the game. Chances are we lose anyway. But you lose going down swinging as opposed to shrugging at the inevitable.

Hopefully.

 

[pshn80]

As much as I don't like Smart's substitutions, I have to agree with him tonight. The starters were pretty lethargic in the 3rd and dug a hole almost too deep to get out of, however the bench played with hustle and intensity and made the game winnable. I don't think putting the starters back in were going to seal the deal for the kings at that point, it's not like we have superstars that are game changers in our lineup.

I think Smart's substitutions are just fine. Other wise I agree with your point. By the time our subs got the game back last night our unproductive and stiff old 23 year old starters would never even have warmed up - game over. I think Brick's emphasis on the better perfornance twice in a row of our bench is the highlight of the game. Maybe we've even found a productive use for Salmons.

 

[Chupacabra]

I havent been able to follow every game lately, but one thing that stood out to me about this game was jimmers style of play. I thought he looked great. Its exactly the way i expect jimmer to play. Zero conscience jump shooter.

 

[Mad D]

.

Theme is going to be: Liu Bolin, an artist with a fun schtick.

That's not photoshop.

Next time go with Chinese photographer Li Wei.

He also does surreal stuff but with mirrors and wires

 

[Tetsujin]

I havent been able to follow every game lately, but one thing that stood out to me about this game was jimmers style of play. I thought he looked great. Its exactly the way i expect jimmer to play. Zero conscience jump shooter.

I think that mini-hot streak against the Clippers has kinda jostled his consciousness because last night was the best he has ever looked (discounting the several bizarre defenseive lapses in which his man some how wound up open on the complete opposite side of the court).

 

[Glenn]

I think that mini-hot streak against the Clippers has kinda jostled his consciousness because last night was the best he has ever looked (discounting the several bizarre defenseive lapses in which his man some how wound up open on the complete opposite side of the court).

At this point, I am happy seeing his confidence come back. He's a shooter and is beginning to look like one. I think the Sacto fans who haven't watched BYU games will see what the BYU fans are excited about. Also, I don't think he dribbled into a trap last night and that's another problem he needs to solve. As to defense .......... sigh!!! He's no dummy and let's work on the first two items first. I think it'll take a few years before we know what his ceiling is re: defense.

 

[jcwkings]

At this point, I am happy seeing his confidence come back. He's a shooter and is beginning to look like one. I think the Sacto fans who haven't watched BYU games will see what the BYU fans are excited about. Also, I don't think he dribbled into a trap last night and that's another problem he needs to solve. As to defense .......... sigh!!! He's no dummy and let's work on the first two items first. I think it'll take a few years before we know what his ceiling is re: defense.

I don't think he will ever be a good man defender, but he does have high basketball IQ and can become a solid team defender, at least to the point where he is not a clear liability. I think from all our gaurds, Jimmer has the highest bball iq

 

[pshn80]

I don't think he will ever be a good man defender, but he does have high basketball IQ and can become a solid team defender, at least to the point where he is not a clear liability. I think from all our gaurds, Jimmer has the highest bball iq

I hope so but I don't believe we can tell yet. Doesn't play enough and doesn't play well enough. Hope so because he'll need that to develop into an NBA regular.

 

[Spike]

I think that mini-hot streak against the Clippers has kinda jostled his consciousness because last night was the best he has ever looked (discounting the several bizarre defenseive lapses in which his man some how wound up open on the complete opposite side of the court).

I was hoping that would be the light switch moment - I know we're all waiting for it.

 

[Npliam]

I also think that it helps him to be the main scorer when he out there. Tyreke and Thornton are black holes and Isiah and Jimmer at the same time is too hard defensively.

 

[pshn80]

I also think that it helps him to be the main scorer when he out there. Tyreke and Thornton are black holes and Isiah and Jimmer at the same time is too hard defensively.

It all sounds gruesome doesn't it. May be should play 3 SFs.

 

[Tetsujin]

It all sounds gruesome doesn't it. May be should play 3 SFs.

New line up:

C:Reke
PF:Salmons
SF: MT
SG: Jimmer
PG: IT

 

[LoungeLizard]

New line up:

C:Reke
PF:Salmons
SF: MT
SG: Jimmer
PG: IT

I'm not so sure that Smart hasn't been tempted.

 

[VF21]

Ah, you saw that msn feature too, huh?

I actually meant to take that link down for possible future use, but appear not to have for some reason.

No, I had just finished watching An Idiot Abroad: Bucket List where Karl traveled Route 66.

 

[ESP47]

I ask this about once a week. Why in the **** is Donte allowed to shoot 3 pointers? I'm tired of him bricking them and costing us 3 or 4 possessions a game.

 

[Tetsujin]

No, I had just finished watching An Idiot Abroad: Bucket List where Karl traveled Route 66.

Absolutely love that show.

 

[Tetsujin]

I ask this about once a week. Why in the **** is Donte allowed to shoot 3 pointers? I'm tired of him bricking them and costing us 3 or 4 possessions a game.

Same reason Jimmer is allowed to blindly rush into traffic?

 

[Bricklayer]

I ask this about once a week. Why in the **** is Donte allowed to shoot 3 pointers? I'm tired of him bricking them and costing us 3 or 4 possessions a game.

Its one of the shots he is specifically out there to take as a SF/"stretch 4". Just doesn't make enough of them. Especially with the reserves. Has always worked best with Reke.

 

[Kingster]

I think Tyreke's biggest flaw at PG is his inability to make the hockey assist. He's pretty good at setting guys up off of his penetration, but good defenses rotate and take away that kick out or limit his penetration. I think that's one of the reason why he tends to pound the ball, because he's waiting for a chance to drive and then kick the ball out. Part of the problem is his limited off the ball skills, and needless to say his lack of outside shooting. If he could get rid of the mindset that he HAS to either score or make an assist, he would become a much better playmaker, whether at PG or SG. His penetration would force the defense to move, and he can then pass it to someone, force the defense to scramble a little, and then another pass can be made for a better open shot.

Overall player movement would also help a lot. Kobe is excellent at making very timely accurate passes to cutting players off his drives or in transition. The Kings could learn a thing or two from such passes from Kobe to cutting big men.

I think you are a very perceptive basketball fan. It's not always about the assists, and he rarely makes the hockey assist in large measure because he appears to just not have that mindset. The thing I noticed with Tyreke is that when he played pg his assists were "inside-outside" assists predominantly, not "outside-inside" assists. By that I mean that he drives, gets very close to the basket, then if it's walled-off, he kicks the ball outside. And, of course, many times the shooter doesn't make it because we don't have great shooters (as you have pointed out). What I didn't see very much from Tyreke were the outside-inside assists - getting a layup for a teamate close to the basket. Two reasons for that: 1) by the time Tyreke drove to the basket it was very clogged next to the basket, leaving little room for the inside pass, and even if the pass were completed in traffic, it made it very difficult for the finisher to finish; and 2) because Tyreke's outside shot isn't respected, defenders are backing off of him, clogging the lane, and not leaving room for guys to slip in to get the close-in basket. So, it's not just shooting percentage and points scored that is affected by Tyreke's shooting. It's the way he's forced to pass the ball. If he can just get a decent 18 footer, then it will be much easier for him to make the outside-inside assists and for others to move without the ball under the basket.

 

[Andre87]

is this thread's theme guy for real???

 

[ppine]

I agree with Kingsters posts. Evans has trouble with the outside inside assists, and shooting from outside. IT is an improvement, but is still learniing. Salmons works okay at the 1 with the bench. The bench against the Lakers, lulled them to sleep and then got aggressive on defense. It was the best part of the game to watch for me. The starters need to perfect the same style of defense.

 

[Bricklayer]

is this thread's theme guy for real???

yes

 

[HighFlyingMonkey]

Smart is bringing in the bench way too late. Instead of having the starters play a grueling 14-16 minutes in a row and then have the bench in, inevitably running out of time to bring the starters in to close the half, Smart should play the starters for 7-8 minutes, bring in the bench for 6-8 minutes, and then the starters in to close the half. It keeps the starters fresh, ensures the best talent is on the court for crunchtime, and the bench still has a chance to actually impact the game.