[Grades] Grades v. Rockets 4/5/11

[Superman]

I think refs are also starting to see a lot of the dirty looks Cousins makes are because he's fustrated with himself. For the most part, Cousins hasn't really said anything to the refs lately, even when getting his nose and lip smashed in.

No, no, no.

Cousins is not a good person. He punched a teammate. He's too immature to be trusted. He's a bad guy. He's a bad teammate. He just doesn't get it. He's got a bad attitude. He can't get out of his own way. He scowls too much. He doesn't enunciate when he speaks.

/sarcasm

 

[Glenn]

No, no, no.

Cousins is not a good person. He punched a teammate. He's too immature to be trusted. He's a bad guy. He's a bad teammate. He just doesn't get it. He's got a bad attitude. He can't get out of his own way. He scowls too much. He doesn't enunciate when he speaks.

/sarcasm

He doesn't wipe, either.

 

[Superman]

Exactly. While JT's flaws are clear, his basketball IQ isn't low so much as frustrating, because he is the same player he was as a rookie. As great as Daly has been, he is no genius out there either, magnified when you see a rookie like Demarcus doing what he does. As far as JT, the key to role players is accepting that they are that, and he has done that so far.

And Greene has such a nice looking jumpshot, it needs to get better but at the same time it's hard to say that it will. He's not quite a rotation player, but even as raw as he is now has his spot uses as a big swingman and stretch PF. He's a team-first guy, and as long as his salary is low the team should keep him around for that, and in case he does figure it out.

These are the same complaints people had about Lamar Odom three or four years ago, and now he's arguably the third most important player on a back-to-back championship team.

I get the criticisms, but I can't help but think that Kingster is being a little hard on the guy. He's certainly no Mensa member, and some of his mistakes are inexplicable, but as the third big, an energy guy off the bench who has several tools to help a team, I think he's well-suited. I certainly wouldn't get rid of a three-year player just because he makes silly plays sometimes, especially when you consider the circumstances surrounding the team for those three years.

 

[Asaf]

These are the same complaints people had about Lamar Odom three or four years ago, and now he's arguably the third most important player on a back-to-back championship team.

I get the criticisms, but I can't help but think that Kingster is being a little hard on the guy. He's certainly no Mensa member, and some of his mistakes are inexplicable, but as the third big, an energy guy off the bench who has several tools to help a team, I think he's well-suited. I certainly wouldn't get rid of a three-year player just because he makes silly plays sometimes, especially when you consider the circumstances surrounding the team for those three years.

I agree. I think it would be silly to get rid of JT. He is the perfect third big. Anyone who thinks we can do better at that role is delusional, unless they want to pay starter's money for a bench player. And even in that case, you would probably get a disgruntled player who is frustrated because he is good enough to be a starter but is getting a limited role and minutes.

There is a reason why 3rd bigs in the league are 3rd bigs. They have shortcomings. Otherwise they would be starters/allstars. Ok, so we get rid of JT and bring in some other 3rd big who won't make the same dumb plays that JT does sometimes. He would still have other shortcomings. He might be an inferior rebounder or defender. He might have no range outside the paint. He might be a bad/selfish teammate. Any of those things would hurt us at least as much, if not more, than JT's shortcomings. We really don't need an upgrade at this position, and any improvement that JT makes, at whatever pace, will actually be a bonus.

 

[DesertFox]

I agree. I think it would be silly to get rid of JT. He is the perfect third big. Anyone who thinks we can do better at that role is delusional, unless they want to pay starter's money for a bench player. And even in that case, you would probably get a disgruntled player who is frustrated because he is good enough to be a starter but is getting a limited role and minutes.

There is a reason why 3rd bigs in the league are 3rd bigs. They have shortcomings. Otherwise they would be starters/allstars. Ok, so we get rid of JT and bring in some other 3rd big who won't make the same dumb plays that JT does sometimes. He would still have other shortcomings. He might be an inferior rebounder or defender. He might have no range outside the paint. He might be a bad/selfish teammate. Any of those things would hurt us at least as much, if not more, than JT's shortcomings. We really don't need an upgrade at this position, and any improvement that JT makes, at whatever pace, will actually be a bonus.

This is why I think it would be a good idea to lock up Thompson with a front loaded deal, Nick Collison style. The Thunder are giving him 13 mil this year, then 11 the next 4, allowing them to lock up Durant and Perkins while having space to easily extend Westbrook and Ibaka down the line.

Thompson's game centers around hustle, so it's safe to say he won't fall off a cliff production wise. And at 26, there's still a small chance he could improve, or at least gain consistency. JT's stock is still low (believe he was rejected for Atlanta's Teague straight up) and he might be perceived as having a down year, when really he's doing the same, just playing less.

 

[Bricklayer]

I thought that was JT who threw that pass...

Jason's was the play before....and the play two plays after.

 

[Superman]

Jason's was the play before....and the play two plays after.

They all start to blend together after a while.

 

[Agent23]

He doesn't wipe, either.

And he keeps the toilet seat up

 

[Amaranth]

Also i was looking for casspi in the end huddle and he wasnt there again.

So? Last night's game and the game before that are the first times they've done any sort of huddling after the game. Usually, the team does exactly what Omri did - leave and go to the locker room, with maybe three or four players hanging back to chat with the other team and hand out hugs.

 

[hrdboild]

Greene doesn't need to become a great shooter to have a role on this, or any other team. He just needs to become consistent. A regular NBA veteran should be able to hit an uncontested 3 point shot 60 or 70% of the time. In the context of a game that might drop down to 50 or 60% of the time but it's still going in more often than not. If Greene can get to that point, he'll be fine. I think his biggest problem on offense right now is that he's too passive. He seems hesitant to take shots even when he's open. That's got to change.

 

[Lockehead]

Greene doesn't need to become a great shooter to have a role on this, or any other team. He just needs to become consistent. A regular NBA veteran should be able to hit an uncontested 3 point shot 60 or 70% of the time. In the context of a game that might drop down to 50 or 60% of the time but it's still going in more often than not. If Greene can get to that point, he'll be fine. I think his biggest problem on offense right now is that he's too passive. He seems hesitant to take shots even when he's open. That's got to change.

Usually the better the set up, meaning open look and in motion, the better chance the 3 point shot will go in. However 60-70%? Thats way too high especially from 3's. Even 50-60 is unreasonable. If Greene can consistently shoot between 35-45% from 3s then hed be really good, but i dont see that happening to be honest. Thats where Casspi and Garcia stands as of now. To put in perspective, nobody in the NBA shoots above 50% from 3 pt land.

 

[Bricklayer]

Usually the better the set up, meaning open look and in motion, the better chance the 3 point shot will go in. However 60-70%? Thats way too high especially from 3's. Even 50-60 is unreasonable. If Greene can consistently shoot between 35-45% from 3s then hed be really good, but i dont see that happening to be honest. Thats where Casspi and Garcia stands as of now. To put in perspective, nobody in the NBA shoots above 50% from 3 pt land.

I think he was saying the 60-70% number was what guys cold hit standing still wide open. Not sure that's right, but certainly standstill open threes are probably hit at a significantly greater rate than overall threes, whihc include challenged shtos, bad shots, shots agains the clock etc. Donte is very erratic even when all by himself.

 

[Lockehead]

I think he was saying the 60-70% number was what guys cold hit standing still wide open. Not sure that's right, but certainly standstill open threes are probably hit at a significantly greater rate than overall threes, whihc include challenged shtos, bad shots, shots agains the clock etc. Donte is very erratic even when all by himself.

Certainly. I look at Ray Allen, who usually takes really smart 3 pointers from getting open off the ball or getting setup by his teammates, and he shoots at just above 45%. He doesnt take a lot of bad shots or forces contested 3's. For Donte to break the 30-35% mark on a consistent basis would be a big achievement.

 

[Asaf]

Certainly. I look at Ray Allen, who usually takes really smart 3 pointers from getting open off the ball or getting setup by his teammates, and he shoots at just above 45%. He doesnt take a lot of bad shots or forces contested 3's. For Donte to break the 30-35% mark on a consistent basis would be a big achievement.

I think you are talking about two different levels. 45% in-game shooting is elite shooter numbers (like Ray Allen), but when you count just wide open, uncontested shots with balanced feet (like in a 3-point shooting contest) that number goes way up, and almost any NBA PG, SG, or SF should make well over 60% of those.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think you are talking about two different levels. 45% in-game shooting is elite shooter numbers (like Ray Allen), but when you count just wide open, uncontested shots with balanced feet (like in a 3-point shooting contest) that number goes way up, and almost any NBA PG, SG, or SF should make well over 60% of those.

I remember Jerry Reynolds always talking about how Peja would/could hit 70-80 of every set of 100 threes he took in practice. Of course there have not been many like Peja.

 

[rainmaker]

Didn't Webb say Peja hit something like 36 straight 3's from the corner in one practice? Thought I remember that from a while back.

 

[hrdboild]

Yeah I was talking about wide-open concession threes when the defense just gives up and lets you shoot it unguarded. Any NBA player (well, perimeter player anyway) should be able to make 60 to 70% of those I think. With game pressure and a cursory attempt by a defender to get a hand up, they should still be able to make more than they miss. Over a whole season the percentage is going to go down. Some shots will be taken under duress, some will be desperation heaves, sometimes you'll just be having a bad night. But my point is that good NBA shooters don't cause themselves to miss. Right now Donte is causing himself to miss either because he hasn't practiced the shot enough or he just doesn't have confidence in it. His follow-through isn't consistent.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

And he keeps the toilet seat up

After somebody sneezes, he doesn't say "Bless you" or "Gesundheit", he just stands there in silence.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Beno must be 75-80+% on those little slashing lefty drives. Has a few blocked now and then but very consistent at the rim. Opps, meant to get this one in the game thread - Kings/Spurs.

 

[Glenn]

After somebody sneezes, he doesn't say "Bless you" or "Gesundheit", he just stands there in silence.

He likes to set cats on fire and swing them by the tail.

 

[Agent23]

He likes to set cats on fire and swing them by the tail.

When he farts, he blames Donte Greene instead of manning up and admitting he was the one. He makes one of his "I swear I didn't foul him" faces when he blames Donte.

 

[Spike]

When he farts, he blames Donte Greene instead of manning up and admitting he was the one. He makes one of his "I swear I didn't foul him" faces when he blames Donte.

Now we're just getting silly.





Everyone knows his farts smell like roses. Who were we talking about again?

 

[Bricklayer]

He likes to set cats on fire and swing them by the tail.

Wait...I thought we were talking about DeMarcus here, not Reke.

 

[Agent23]

Wait...I thought we were talking about DeMarcus here, not Reke.

No, Tyreke punches babies. DeMarcus does all the above.

 

[IfAt1st]

My quote wasn't, "You guys are frickin' idiots!!!" It was, Thompson, you freaking moron!" He only made three brain-dead plays in the last few minutes. Thompson has got to have the lowest basketball IQ I've ever seen. Not just on the Kings. Not just in the NBA. But that I've ever seen at any level. And there were people on this board arguing that he didn't have a low BB IQ earlier in the year. Does anybody want to recant now? Does anyone think this guy is is Einstein on the floor? It might take this guy until he's 33 years old before he doesn't make stupid plays that most high schoolers wouldn't make. The Kings have GOT to trade Thompson. Yes, he can shoot an open outside shot. Yes, he can rebound. He can even play some D. But those brain-dead plays KILL you in games. If the Kings ever make the playoffs can you imagine him in a playoff game? You'd have to get yourself liquered up before you could even bear the thought of him having the ball in those games in which ever single possession is key. Please, Petrie, do me a favor and let some other team have the opportunity of showing Jason Thompson how to play ball.

Totally agree about JT.

I cannot stand watching him on the court, and cringe EVERY time it's an important possession and he is involved at all in a play.

The only way I would be for him staying with the team is if he keeps hitting his outside shot (because his inside game is completely hopeless at this point, 3 years into his career without ANY improvement).

 

[Glenn]

No, Tyreke punches babies. DeMarcus does all the above.

And if my memory doesn't fail me, Reke does this while driving over a 100 miles an hour on Compton Blvd.