[Grades] Grades v. Nuggets 2/23/2016

[ppine]

I cannot remember a Kings game with some many blocks by our team. That is very encouraging. The defensive intensity was there a lot of the time. WCS makes plays, more all the time. It is amazing how dramatic his dunks and blocks are. His mobility is amazing. He reminds me of a large antelope like an eland going up and down the floor. He demoralizes the opposition.

Transition defense, especially off turn overs continues to be the Kings Achilles Heel. We give away a several baskets a game which really make a difference in the win column.

Last night looked like one superstar with a supporting cast of journeyman NBA players. Cousins can do things like play defense when it counts, that no other guys his size have ever done on a basketball court. His mental outlook is improved since the All Star break. I am guessing that some recognition, and hanging out with greatness taught him a lot about being an adult. He was punk for awhile but has really improved as a person. He is growing into the leadership role.

 

[ppine]

What is with all of those high school long outlet passes to no one in particular? That has got to stop.

 

[ESP47]

Over and over? He had 3 TOs and one of them was a tough offensive foul call on a fast break that could have gone either way. Also, at that point in the game with Rondo, Gay, and Cuz all throwing away ill advised long outlet passes in the first quarter, nothing Ben did stood out as particularly awful. Some of this comes from trying to push the pace on every possession instead of just walking the ball up and running the offense.

He had 3 TOs right off the bat. Got stripped twice trying to drive and got an offensive foul trying to drive. He was terrible in the early going and I don't blame Karl one bit for pulling him for Collison.

 

[Merdiesel]

What is with all of those high school long outlet passes to no one in particular? That has got to stop.

They seem to happen more in the first half for reason. This team needs to take it seriously right out the gate. Buzzer to buzzer. We can't afford unforced turnovers this late in the season. That has got to stop if these guys want any chance of making it interesting.

 

[Boogie_Fever]

What is with all of those high school long outlet passes to no one in particular? That has got to stop.

#pace

 

[206Fan]

He had 3 TOs right off the bat. Got stripped twice trying to drive and got an offensive foul trying to drive. He was terrible in the early going and I don't blame Karl one bit for pulling him for Collison.

He came back in the 2nd half and was productive. Hit his 2 shots, a 3pter and a jumper. Also assisted Cuz on one of his 3s during our giant run... He got pulled out for Belinelli who proceeded to let his man go off on Denver's big run...

Ben played 13mins with 3-4 7pts 2ast...he did have 3tos, but 2 were in the 1st half, and one of those was questionable.

Not sure what you'd want more from Ben at this point...he played solid for someone getting only 13mins.

 

[gunks]

how many games left in the season b4 we can his ass? don't need him

It would have happened at the break.

Methinks we're stuck with the stubborn old man until this summer.

Then, hopefully Vlade can sweet talk a good coach into coming here.... assuming Vlade is still around.

 

[parker]

George Karl is probably the only coach in the entire NBA that believes you should try to outrun the Nuggets in Denver on the first night of a back to back when your franchise player is a 6'11" 280 pound center. And of course, we signed him to such a big 3 1/2 year contract that we can't get rid of him. #Kings

Karl said in the postgame comments that he probably shouldn't say it but he actually liked that the Kings had to pull out a close win because they needed to have the experience of winning close games.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't coaching to give up the lead, but his lineup to start the 4th and the length of time he left in the underachieving lineup, certainly led me to think that he was going to let the team work out their troubles.

 

[hrdboild]

Karl said in the postgame comments that he probably shouldn't say it but he actually liked that the Kings had to pull out a close win because they needed to have the experience of winning close games.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he wasn't coaching to give up the lead, but his lineup to start the 4th and the length of time he left in the underachieving lineup, certainly led me to think that he was going to let the team work out their troubles.

This might be an acceptable coaching strategy if we weren't 4 games back of a playoff spot with 27 games to go -- and we have a back to back against the Spurs today. We need every win we can get and a little extra rest for our starters wouldn't hurt either. It's also kindof a cop out in that he's not acknowledging how quickly we gave up the lead we held for most of the first three quarters (14 pt lead to start the 4th became a 2 pt lead in just under 4 minutes) and that this wasn't a one-time fluke. The Darren/Marco backcourt and Rudy Gay at PF are chronic issues which have been killing us in the fourth quarter all year long and he still hasn't made an adjustment.