Grades v. Lakers 12/16
- Thread starter Bricklayer
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This is a great suggestion. Pietrus may not be Bruce Bowen, at least not yet, but he has the heart and desire to do so, and he's athletic as just about anyone in the league. Had a solid game against the Mavs the other night on the offensive side of the ball as well. He's a high effort player just like DC, and DC could probably still teach him a few tricks.
Most people that have scouted the guy in some form (I have before he was an NBA player) and most GS fans will tell you that he's simply an amazing physical specimen. His quickness and athleticism are on the level of a LeBron James or Marcus Banks.[font="]
[/font] Yup. His stock is low too, hasn't been getting minutes in GS (but don't for a second think it's because he's not capable, GS is the worst franchise in sports), but he has shown flashes of brilliance offensively, in addition to his already stellar defensive abilities. If he wanted to, he could cover point guards.
Petrie would probably have to offer Martin and cash, and maybe a pick. If it came down to it, I’d offer Bobby straight up for Pietrus. Hard to ignore a 9 year difference in age between Bobby and Pietrus.
[/font] Yup. His stock is low too, hasn't been getting minutes in GS (but don't for a second think it's because he's not capable, GS is the worst franchise in sports), but he has shown flashes of brilliance offensively, in addition to his already stellar defensive abilities. If he wanted to, he could cover point guards.
Petrie would probably have to offer Martin and cash, and maybe a pick. If it came down to it, I’d offer Bobby straight up for Pietrus. Hard to ignore a 9 year difference in age between Bobby and Pietrus.
Lakers came out with a plan and executed it well. They were taking it to webber and bibby and were not trying to set up kobe in the first half. Basically it was the kings two best players trading points with the laker counter parts and that doesnt always sound good when you know that the lakers best player is waiting to explode anytime.
RA should have done something sometime to stop those lay ups, that one play where odom started from the top of the circle and just ran right to the rim and dunked that deserved a time out and a change in line up. You cant let a player do that even if they are in the calibre of kobe or tmac. Taking it to the hole from the sideline and going past a couple of defenders for a dunk (like kobe did) is kinda acceptable since the weakside doesnt have that much time to react. But to let the guy come right from the top of the key past 5 guys to dunk without anyone contesting, thats ugly.
Lakers played a great game and i am not sure if they can have a better shooting night than this where they were able to hit everything, again they may not face another team that gives up so many open shots every time they come down the floor. The game was close in the first half since the kings moved the ball and shared the ball. Second half or even end of first half it was webber taking those jumpers from the high post or brad taking jumpers, it was not even about taking jumpers but it was hesitation before the jumpers that cost them more. For some reason they didnt belive in their shots and even when they were open they didnt want to take shots unless it was bobby/bibby/webber. Those three took shots that were not even there and they made a few just based on their talent and brilliance, but thats not kings ball.
Peja was not set up enough and i am not sure if it was pejas mistake or the teams, they just didnt have enough plays designed for him.
RA should have done something sometime to stop those lay ups, that one play where odom started from the top of the circle and just ran right to the rim and dunked that deserved a time out and a change in line up. You cant let a player do that even if they are in the calibre of kobe or tmac. Taking it to the hole from the sideline and going past a couple of defenders for a dunk (like kobe did) is kinda acceptable since the weakside doesnt have that much time to react. But to let the guy come right from the top of the key past 5 guys to dunk without anyone contesting, thats ugly.
Lakers played a great game and i am not sure if they can have a better shooting night than this where they were able to hit everything, again they may not face another team that gives up so many open shots every time they come down the floor. The game was close in the first half since the kings moved the ball and shared the ball. Second half or even end of first half it was webber taking those jumpers from the high post or brad taking jumpers, it was not even about taking jumpers but it was hesitation before the jumpers that cost them more. For some reason they didnt belive in their shots and even when they were open they didnt want to take shots unless it was bobby/bibby/webber. Those three took shots that were not even there and they made a few just based on their talent and brilliance, but thats not kings ball.
Peja was not set up enough and i am not sure if it was pejas mistake or the teams, they just didnt have enough plays designed for him.
i wholeheartedly agree. we are not an elite team. we got worked by an inferior club last nite in our own crib. the worst feeling for me was knowing that barkley and kerr were internally gloating as our kings decided they were going to take the night off, on a nationally televised game and on a night when there were only two other games being played.
btw, there is no player in the league who makes doug look as bad on defense as kobe. that reverse slam was sick.
btw, there is no player in the league who makes doug look as bad on defense as kobe. that reverse slam was sick.
Problem with that is jsut the minutes. When your main cogs all have defensive issues, then its hard to patch by adding deep bench guys. We've got a shotblocker on the team, but he's hard pressed to find minutes behind Webb and Miller. If we brought in another, he'd either have to be good enough to steal minutes from those guys (or maybe just eliminate Darius from the rotation) or would actually have to be brought in via a trade FOR one of those guys, which would be a blockbuster to say the least.
Systems are delecate and sensitive things, and adding elements (players) changes them with many unpredicted results. If your team is clearly not going anywhre you do it. If your team is close the answer is more likley to be found in taking the existing pieces and exploiting strnths and improving weakness. Think endless rebound drills, improved paly execution in the interior, big me boxing out so the little guys pick up more boards, improved bench rotation, on ball defense drills, exploitation of passing game to an even larger extent and sending Mike, DC, Bobby and Pedja as cutters to the basket much more often. Looking at new players is more often than not an way to improve a team as much as it is a way for managemnt to claim they are "doing something."
I think sport teams get into rhythms, good and bad. Losing teams that have sufficient skills to win, but lose anyway, simply fail to react and adapt to on-the-court stress. That's also how armies lose battles. Last night, the Kings kept doing the same old stuff that wasn't working. It was like trench warfare. I would have liked them to do something off the radar.
What would have happened if the Kings would have taken it to the basket almost every time. How about some application of brute force with Webber, Miller, Ostertag, and Peja. How about drawing fouls with slashes to the basket by Bibby, Bobby, Barnes, and Christie? For crying out loud, send in the deep bench guys with orders to show off. Just something to change the status quo.
When the Kings are being molested by three-point shots and masterful dunkage, something needs to change. If there were a few more Songaila smashes to Kobe's noggin, he would have modified his play, one way or the other. Ostertag needed more time. The Kings needed Tag. Somebody send a telegram to Adelman.
What would have happened if the Kings would have taken it to the basket almost every time. How about some application of brute force with Webber, Miller, Ostertag, and Peja. How about drawing fouls with slashes to the basket by Bibby, Bobby, Barnes, and Christie? For crying out loud, send in the deep bench guys with orders to show off. Just something to change the status quo.
When the Kings are being molested by three-point shots and masterful dunkage, something needs to change. If there were a few more Songaila smashes to Kobe's noggin, he would have modified his play, one way or the other. Ostertag needed more time. The Kings needed Tag. Somebody send a telegram to Adelman.
Look, the Kings probably aren't going to win the championship this year. It's not because they don't have talent, they have loads of it and they know their offense and each other better than any core in the league. They know exactly what their weaknesses are; perimeter D, shot blocking. They can shore up a lot of the perimeter D problems with Pietrus. They're not going to get anybody better than him in trade this season, unless they're willing to give up their big 4 (Bibby, Webber, Peja, Miller). Christie and Bojax are expendable for the right players, but chemistry is a delicate thing, that would be a tough decision.
Still, if the Kings can somehow get Pietrus without losing their big 4, IMO they are much stronger contenders. Shot blocking is impossible to get unless they take minutes away from Webber and Miller (which you shouldn’t).
Still, if the Kings can somehow get Pietrus without losing their big 4, IMO they are much stronger contenders. Shot blocking is impossible to get unless they take minutes away from Webber and Miller (which you shouldn’t).
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