[Grades] Grades v. Magic 3/6/2015

[Chubbs]

Those who thought George Karl could fix this toxic culture created by the Malone firing overnight, has reality set in yet?

Yea, I'm talking to you Vivek and PDA.

If we resign Dwill, for any amount of money, this FO will prove once and for all they are completely clueless. He's worthless as an NBA player and if he occasionally looks like one, it's only because there are so few on this roster right now. Don't be fooled.

Landry, wow. What a signing, huh? Only two more years. He's a high priced cheerleader at this point.

 

[flamecrow]

What the hell was Omri doing on that possession?
Why would he leave his man and just start reacting to whoever was closest to him?

For that matter, what was McCallum doing?
He left his man wide open in the corner so that he could contest/help-defense the pick and roller?!?
There was absolutely nothign good he could do by being on that side of the court when his man was open in the corner - his guy just chose to pass it to an open guy who passed it to a more open guy.

Agreed, wtf was Mac and Omri doing (although I'll give Omri less heat since he was more reacting to that initial pass)

 

[TheJewishKing]

What the hell was Omri doing on that possession?
Why would he leave his man and just start reacting to whoever was closest to him?

For that matter, what was McCallum doing?
He left his man wide open in the corner so that he could contest/help-defense the pick and roller?!?
There was absolutely nothign good he could do by being on that side of the court when his man was open in the corner - his guy just chose to pass it to an open guy who passed it to a more open guy.

It wasn't Casspi but Rudy Gay who left his guy wide-open, Casspi was not the one guarding Tobias Harris, Rudy Gay, did and after the Kings finally got the lead, he from some reason didn't react in time to the play and left Harris wide-open for the open three, in that sealed the deal in my opinion, and obviously the clutch three-pointer by Frye didn't help so much as well.

 

[KingMilz]

It wasn't Casspi but Rudy Gay who left his guy wide-open, Casspi was not the one guarding Tobias Harris, Rudy Gay, did and after the Kings finally got the lead, he from some reason didn't react in time to the play and left Harris wide-open for the open three, in that sealed the deal in my opinion, and obviously the clutch three-pointer by Frye didn't help so much as well.

While your probably right I think we get to caught up on one play that supposedly decided the game (like in the JT mishap vs Memphis when it fact it should have never got to that) when in fact it was the game as a whole you could literally look at every players and say well they blew the game on that one, Dre had a 1-8 performance including a GIMMIE layup he blew (and Casspi blew a even easier follow up) which puts us up by 3, every player imo was accountable for highly stupid plays. did we get burnt on that final play yeap but we got burnt and the entire game in the same way it's just for some reason we choose to magnify one play .

I think we need to look at the game as a whole we just did to many things wrong I mean when Dre is literally the only guy who could force Victor to miss a shot and he's 39 that's sad perimeter defense and the amount of times the D got collapsed and our forwards just could not anticipate to recover was mind blowing.

 

[TheJewishKing]

While your probably right I think we get to caught up on one play that supposedly decided the game (like in the JT mishap vs Memphis when it fact it should have never got to that) when in fact it was the game as a whole you could literally look at every players and say well they blew the game on that one, Dre had a 1-8 performance including a GIMMIE layup he blew (and Casspi blew a even easier follow up) which puts us up by 3, every player imo was accountable for highly stupid plays. did we get burnt on that final play yeap but we got burnt and the entire game in the same way it's just for some reason we choose to magnify one play .

I think we need to look at the game as a whole we just did to many things wrong I mean when Dre is literally the only guy who could force Victor to miss a shot and he's 39 that's sad perimeter defense and the amount of times the D got collapsed and our forwards just could not anticipate to recover was mind blowing.

I obviously feel that the possession where Rudy could not keep up with Tobias Harris was very crucial because one possession before it Casspi was fouled on his three-point attempt, he was sent to the line and was clutch, he was able to hit all of his three free-throws attempts, Kings got the lead, 111-110, all the Kings had to do was to keep up with the Magic players and not letting them get wide-open for an easy shot.
Harris is having a pretty good season, he was the first player which I believe you can't take your eyes off, the second player is definitely Oladipo which is having few great games lately, once you lock those two players up and do not let anyone any chance to be wide-open and hit the three you pretty much seal the deal.
Any other Magic player on the court can take the shot and I will live with that because none of them has been hot as Oladipo and Harris.

That possession was a fatal mistake, I agree that the Kings could finish the game even earlier, if Andre Miller or Casspi could capitalize their attempts, but overall the Kings again choked when weren't able to defend the opponents on a crucial possession and then Cousins isn't able to put the ball in the hoop.

I hope the Kings will learn from that experience.

 

[gman23]

Blow up this team. . Lose a few millions and live with it. Of course it's not my money( hehehe)

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I obviously feel that the possession where Rudy could not keep up with Tobias Harris was very crucial...

It wasn't that he couldn't keep up with Harris, it's that he took a vacation out there. The most important defensive possession of the night and he simply did not have his head in the game. And I hope he got a real big earful for it too. It's not the first time.

 

[bajaden]

Rudy blew that play. He was basically guarding no one, and realized too late that Harris had slipped to the corner. No other way to put it, he just blew it. We get a stop on that possession, and the outcome of the game is probably a different one.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

Rudy definitely committed a terrible mistake on defense that pretty much cost us the game but if it weren't for his crazy three, we would not have been in the position to have a chance to sneak a victory out of Orlando. Now, this doesn't mean he gets a pass from me, but he shouldn't be the scapegoat. There were many things we could have done better, as a team, to win the game, and Rudy's mistake was just one of many from last night.

 

[kingsboi]

Rudy has way too many mental lapses for a guy that's been in the league as long as he has....you can teach a player technique and schemes but if the guy doesn't have the desire to play defense it's all for not and you have to surround him with players that are more willing.

 

[upinsmoke]

Rudy has way too many mental lapses for a guy that's been in the league as long as he has....you can teach a player technique and schemes but if the guy doesn't have the desire to play defense it's all for not and you have to surround him with players that are more willing.

6th man?

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Rudy definitely committed a terrible mistake on defense that pretty much cost us the game but if it weren't for his crazy three, we would not have been in the position to have a chance to sneak a victory out of Orlando. Now, this doesn't mean he gets a pass from me, but he shouldn't be the scapegoat. There were many things we could have done better, as a team, to win the game, and Rudy's mistake was just one of many from last night.

Rudy can be frustrating because Rudy giveth and Rudy taketh away. And some of the things he does offensively are amazing. But what's so frustrating about his deficiencies is that they don't have to happen. You could look at a guy like Jimmer and watch him get burned on defense, but it is what it is. He's not a good defender and you have to balance the good with the bad and if you use him you build your game around the fact he's a bad defender. Or DeAndre Jordan. He doesn't have a jump shot. But he's a really good defender and rebounder, and you build your game around the fact that he doesn't have a jump shot. Rudy doesn't HAVE to have a mental lapse on the most important defensive play of the game. But sometimes he does, and he does it too often. It's just another part of the team that hopefully Karl can get fixed.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Rudy can be frustrating because Rudy giveth and Rudy taketh away. And some of the things he does offensively are amazing. But what's so frustrating about his deficiencies is that they don't have to happen. You could look at a guy like Jimmer and watch him get burned on defense, but it is what it is. He's not a good defender and you have to balance the good with the bad and if you use him you build your game around the fact he's a bad defender. Or DeAndre Jordan. He doesn't have a jump shot. But he's a really good defender and rebounder, and you build your game around the fact that he doesn't have a jump shot. Rudy doesn't HAVE to have a mental lapse on the most important defensive play of the game. But sometimes he does, and he does it too often. It's just another part of the team that hopefully Karl can get fixed.

This. Rudy is a huge talent, and he's not the problem. But let's not pretend he's not capable of more. He absolutely is. And there's a reason he has his detractors.

He's a great guy and I'm happy we have him. He gets unnecessary criticism. But some is warranted. Rudy has so much confidence (generally a good thing) that it actually hinders him. He's cocky to the point of deflecting personal responsibility on the court. I don't want to trade him btw. I want to keep Rudy. But he's capable of more. His size, length, and athleticism means that at absolute minimum, he should be at least average defensively. But he's not.

 

[kingsboi]

6th man?

clearly you're not suggesting....

 

[kingsboi]

This. Rudy is a huge talent, and he's not the problem. But let's not pretend he's not capable of more. He absolutely is. And there's a reason he has his detractors.

He's a great guy and I'm happy we have him. He gets unnecessary criticism. But some is warranted. Rudy has so much confidence (generally a good thing) that it actually hinders him. He's cocky to the point of deflecting personal responsibility on the court. I don't want to trade him btw. I want to keep Rudy. But he's capable of more. His size, length, and athleticism means that at absolute minimum, he should be at least average defensively. But he's not.

It's all about will and a desire to want to defend and put in the work. I'm sure he is aware that all the teams he has left have gotten better and I think it's a large part because he wasn't on the team...I remember listening to Grant and Jerry and them mentioning that Rudy needed to look himself in the mirror and ask what can he change in order to be a positive contributor. So what it seems like to me...he is trying to be more of a facilitator rather than just chucking up every shot like he used to. Unfortunately, I am not sure how much he values his defense and the impact it can have on the game too.

 

[Spike]

6th man?

Sure. As long as we have a better option at the SF, SG, AND PF position, because he's legitimately better than anyone on our roster NOT named Cousins.

Elsewise, I'll have some of what you're having.

 

[IfAt1st]

Almost four years. Let's not add a year to DWill's career.

You're absolutely right - almost FOUR years.

It wasn't Casspi but Rudy Gay who left his guy wide-open,

On the Frye three that video was posted, Omri is not covering anyone. (I am ONLY talking about this one play, since I can't stomach to watch the DVR'd game). His man looks to be Frye, since he's shadowing him from 18 feet away and Rudy is sticking 14 feet from #12 (Tobias).

That defensive play is a catastrophe, and is shows a main problem of the Kings - (in Rudy's own (paraphrased) words) "These guys don't know what they're supposed to be doing out there."

Watch the pick and roll - ALL FIVE KINGS PLAYERS are defending it, and leave 3 guys wide open.
Rudy and Omri are basically playing the same role : cheating to help cover the roller. (And RayMac is insane, reacting the wrong direction)

That play may not have lost the game single-handedly, but it is indicative of the Kings' entire defense - guys don't know where they should be playing.
It is defensive ineptness like this that will keep this team in the basement for years to come until it is fixed.

 

[Bricklayer]

You're absolutely right - almost FOUR years.

On the Frye three that video was posted, Omri is not covering anyone. (I am ONLY talking about this one play, since I can't stomach to watch the DVR'd game). His man looks to be Frye, since he's shadowing him from 18 feet away and Rudy is sticking 14 feet from #12 (Tobias).

That defensive play is a catastrophe, and is shows a main problem of the Kings - (in Rudy's own (paraphrased) words) "These guys don't know what they're supposed to be doing out there."

Watch the pick and roll - ALL FIVE KINGS PLAYERS are defending it, and leave 3 guys wide open.
Rudy and Omri are basically playing the same role : cheating to help cover the roller. (And RayMac is insane, reacting the wrong direction)

That play may not have lost the game single-handedly, but it is indicative of the Kings' entire defense - guys don't know where they should be playing.
It is defensive ineptness like this that will keep this team in the basement for years to come until it is fixed.

Perhaps.

The thing is, we were NOT defensively inept under Malone. Difference? Good defensive coach who had had the guys for a year+ and a full training camp. now they are on their third head coach in a year with a cobbled together coaching staff. There is absolutely no guarantee that our group of non-defenders will get it, but this isn't exactly a fair test.

 

[IfAt1st]

Exactly, Brick -
and since this is the exact same team, minus Sessions and + Andre, why are they incapable of playing defense the same way they did under Malone?
Do these professionals literally have to have the defensive schemes bludgeoned into their heads for months during the off season, and repeated during the season until they get it?
Then, the game after that coach is gone, all that practice is wasted and they have to relearn how to play team defense?

I'm not buying it.

Karl may be a different coach than Malone, but I'm willing to bet his defense against the pick and roll is almost exactly the same as Malone's was - yet, here they are, with 2 players completely losing their man.

I know why the Kings defense was so bad under Corbin - because the players wanted to rub the FO's nose in their belief (publicly stated or not) that defense isn't important.

So if this team wanted to play defense, why can't they now?
Why are people playing confused and don't know their roles and where they should be?

I'm not a typical defender of most NBA player's intelligence levels, but I refuse to believe they are as dumb (at remembering defense) as this situation is making them look to be.

Can you explain it, as an X's and O's guy, how the Kings can possibly know how to play vs pick/roll under Malone, but not know under Karl?

 

[Big Cuz 15]

I'm startin' to get kinda worried about some fans' thoughts about DWill:


I told y'all NOT to buy ANYTHING you see from DWill through the rest of the season. I don't care if he shoots 75% and scores 15 every night.

The guy is FOOL'S GOLD.
Do NOT let this front office believe he is someone the Kings should be retaining next season - the guy has had almost FIVE years to show what he is about.
Don't buy into the dunk hype, people.

The second he gets a long-term contract, this guy is going to stink up the arena again and destroy team chemistry/competitiveness.

this is EXACTLY the type of player we need to capture a fan base in india. let's assume they know nothing about basketball and can enjoy dunks.

 

[Chubbs]

I don't give Rudy a pass for that awful open 3 by Harris, but I do recall in the Memphis game that the mental breakdown there somehow was all Malone's fault.

Here, all rudy? Got it.

Rudy scored 39. He didn't cost us the game. Gimme a break. Without Rudy that game isn't even close enough for him to make that mistake.

I totally get he's fristrating. Cause his talent is immense. Put him with a decent talented team, he'd be fine. He's done it before. Put him with clowns like this, and you get an indifferent rudy defensively.

It's hard to blame him. These games are utterly meaningless. Sorry folks, that's the truth. There's no such thing as late season momentum. Half this team will be gone next season anyway. We need more talent. Period. The draft is cheap talent. I mean, we crap the bed this season. No way around it. But we need that pick.

I'm not for tanking, but I'm not crying about losing either.