[Grades] Grades v. Nets 03/31/121

[Kingster]

I won't argue the outside shooting, but Tyreke is a terrific ballhandler, and Williams is a very good ballhandler. I'll give you Greene, but his has improved over his stay here. I think Williams could develop into the big 2 that can shoot. No guarntee's, as I don't have a crystal ball. But his shooting has never been terrible. But I'm on board for a top SF being added.

We all know what the team needs. We've discussed it adnausem. If I have carte blanche, I can make up a line up that everyone would love. But I'm trying to deal with what we now have on the roster. Williams is a good passer with good court vision. So far I've been impressed with his play. So all I'm saying, is that for the few games we have left, lets try something different, that doesn't require a bunch of midgets running round the floor.

If Tyreke were so terrific with his ballhandling, IT wouldn't have taken job from him. I think the knee-jerk is for people to take IT out of the lineup because they don't like small ball. He's the shortest guy, so take him out and no small ball, right? No. Wrong. To put it kindly, I think that view doesn't see what's going on out on the floor. Donte is a 6'10" player that doesn't rebound. His defense really isn't that great either. So what does going with Donte get you at the 3? He's big. Yeah. What else? Nothing. He's big. I'd rather put Terrence Williams at the 3 any day over Greene. He'll get more rebounds, play better defense, and be productive on offense. Yet he gives up 4" to Donte. Where this team does get killed because they don't play big is in the second unit. Hayes is a shell of himself. He plays like a 6'5" center. Jimmer plays smaller than he is. Garcia seems smaller every day that goes by. Donte plays like a 6'5" guy half of the time.

Leave IT at pg where he belongs. Try Tyreke at the 2 (maybe it will make him happier). Put T Will at the 3. I don't think he has a problem with it and he can make greater impact than Tyreke at that position. Then you still have outside shooting with IT, and you have an above average ball handling team, provided Tyreke at the 2 doesn't revert to dribble, dribble, dribble.

 

[Spike]

If Tyreke were so terrific with his ballhandling, IT wouldn't have taken job from him.

If our coach weren't so gung ho about trying to score 120 points a game in Smartball™ fashion, Tyreke would still be at the point.

 

[UK_King]

getting kind of hard to avoid the reke can do no wrong vs the reke can do no right debate now it's in every thread.... kinda boring, especially when the truth is somewhere in the middle.

 

[Kingster]

If our coach weren't so gung ho about trying to score 120 points a game in Smartball™ fashion, Tyreke would still be at the point.

The defense isn't getting killed because they are abusing IT. Far from it. The defense is getting killed because of the defensive deficiencies at the 2, 3 and 4, and in particular the defensive deficiencies of the bench. It's the bench that really has issues and not the starting lineup. Yet everybody is focused on the starting lineup as if that's going be "the answer". When and if Salmons comes back the defense of the bench should improve, but it's not going to be because they get collectively taller. It's because they are going to get better.

 

[ppine]

I like Kingster's post. The defensive answer remains elusive. I don't think the Kings' guards are a defensive liability. The bench players are though. Thompson and Cousins are working harder at playing defense and are improving. Evans and Williams can both handle most 3s.

The Nets game at home sums up what is ailing with the Kings. They give up way too many points to crummy teams. It is demoralizing and needs to stop. The Kings need to play their way to contention. The posts that start with "if we replace the 3, get a new 4, and find a good 2" are becoming redundant. The parts are mostly there. It is early to be sure about Williams. Evans may come back from the summer with a 17 foot shot. A high draft choice will help. Smart must lay awake nights trying to get the parts to fit better.

Most teams know they have been in a contest against the Kings even if they win. The pride in competing is there, but the mental outlook in the last 6 minutes still needs to improve. The Kings continue to be enigmatic.

 

[gunks]

The positive thing about this game is that we helped Portland secure that New Jersey pick. Giving it more chance to bounce out of the top 3 pick. LOL

Hopefully, Portland gives us Batum for this favor.

And lastly, Smart is damn deceptive about us really tanking for Anthony Davis. Personally, I think these loses are pretty intentional. Deep in my heart I believe Smart can really coach a this team other than small ball.

It must be breaking Smart's heart seeing Reke at SF and riding the IT4ROY campaign. This because early this Season, Smart made a beast out of Reke at PG but just can't get Salmons or anyone working at SF.

I'd like to dream that come draft day, Portland gets #4 pick, and Stern hands us the #1 pick. We select Anthony Davis, Drummond goes 2nd, Robinson 3rd, and Portland is torn between 2 SF (Barnes and MKG). So Portland trades Batum to us for MT. And so the Kings dynasty began.

PG - Reke
SG - T-Will
SF - Batum
PF - One-brow
C - Boogie

BTW, I just realized that front court line-up could might as well end up as the most scary combination of nicknames. The Boogie man, The One-brow, and the Bat-"um". LOL

Portland letting Batum go is about as likely as.....Us landing Davis.

Fun to dream though, right?

 

[Bricklayer]

I don't think the Kings' guards are a defensive liability.

Haha.

Wait....

You were serious???

Quite likely THE very worst defensive pairing of guards in the NBA. And yes, size is a significant part of that, as not only are they giving it up to their own opponents, but they can't switch on anybody, and we can't hide them on weaker SFs without complete mismatches. Teams sometimes start one poor defendeing guard. They almost never pair them up. And this is basketball. There is no defensive scheme yet invented that allows you to play defense in basketball gtivign up 3-4 inches at every perimeter position. Its like trying to play in the NFL with an offensive line that averages 250lbs.

 

[pshn80]

If our coach weren't so gung ho about trying to score 120 points a game in Smartball™ fashion, Tyreke would still be at the point.

Heaven forbid!!!

 

[pshn80]

I think that we should start Evans, Williams, Greene or Salmons, and two bigs for the rest of the season. This would be informative and, hopefully, help settle questions about the future. Start after tonight because I see tonight's game at Arco and I only have one more before season end. I have too often reported my pain at several games and over the last two seasons at watching too many bad nights for Tyreke at PG. But, though sadly I don't think so, maybe he has or can learn something to allow him to be consistent as a replacement for IT. Do it and we'll see, and I'll as always root for success.

 

[HighFlyingMonkey]

The answer is so obvious. Thomas/Tyreke/Williams with Thornton off the bench.

 

[Spike]

Simply stated, the current starting lineup is all offense and no defense. The bench is punchless, but has some D. What good is scoring 35 a quarter with all guns blazing if the opposition scores 31 with their balanced lineup/rotation? Once the limp subs come in en masse in the second quarter, they generally get rolled, and we're back to where we started.

When IT plays against the second unit (hell, when any of our three guards play against the second unit) the scoring continues. It has to be IT or MT off the bench to keep the offense going. Evans and Cousins and whomever is in can supply more than enough offense, especially now that Cousins is converting his baskets at a better clip.

Making this change will create balance, and we'll probably even pull away from teams with more consistency.