Grades v. Spurs 11/21
- Thread starter Bricklayer
- Start date
- Status
I am quite proud of the way the Kings muscled back into this game. I also, wrote this game off as a loss from the very beginning, but they hung in there and played some really good ball. Bibby was awesome and Garcia played extremely well. Bonzi really made me sit up and pay attention. He truly impressed me tonight. What a hell of a player. It was a tough loss, especially after Seattle, but we take it home and if last night is any indication of what's to come, we have fun time coming up.
I wonder if Adelman realizes this, or if his hand was just forced to play Garcia as Martin clearly doesn't have the size (or hasn't shown the ability to play SG). Of course, against the Spurs Bonzi could have just as easily played the SF spot, and Martin could've guarded Bowen, but I seem to recall Adelman doing this in the past where he will leapfrog a guy seemingly buried on the bench over a guy who has been getting more consistent minutes b/c the guy he chooses in his mind fits the starting bill a bit better.
And in this case, Adelman may have been right, and hopefully he recognizes Garcia's contributions. But I wonder whether Garcia is the type of player that needs bulk minutes to be successful and demonstrate his value in a game. Players like BJax are hard to come by --- there just aren't a lot of guys in the NBA that come into the game ready to make positive contributions no matter how much time they have on the floor. And it's not a position Garcia is used to being in since he was a starter for most, if not all, of his time at Louisville.
And in this case, Adelman may have been right, and hopefully he recognizes Garcia's contributions. But I wonder whether Garcia is the type of player that needs bulk minutes to be successful and demonstrate his value in a game. Players like BJax are hard to come by --- there just aren't a lot of guys in the NBA that come into the game ready to make positive contributions no matter how much time they have on the floor. And it's not a position Garcia is used to being in since he was a starter for most, if not all, of his time at Louisville.
As Adelman likes to say, it's about matchups. I don't think last night's game means he'll play Garcia more than Martin, because as soon as Stojakovic returns there won't be any room at small forward for Garcia. They like Garcia at small forward and Martin at shooting guard, and unless either Martin continues to have ineffective performances or Garcia starts stringing together good outings, that's how they're going to keep it.
But does he really?
I find Martin an extremely awkward fit for our system actually, and his in an out intensity only compounds matters. Garcia has shown considerably less saavy than I would have credited him for before he arrived, but his overall game has always looke dto me to be far more "Kingslike" in its versatility and shooting focus.
I find Martin an extremely awkward fit for our system actually, and his in an out intensity only compounds matters. Garcia has shown considerably less saavy than I would have credited him for before he arrived, but his overall game has always looke dto me to be far more "Kingslike" in its versatility and shooting focus.
Does he fit in better? I don't know. I was thinking more along the lines of playing within the scheme rather than being a good fit for it. Martin doesn't do a whole lot when the Kings run their offense, but he doesn't seem to break it, whereas Garcia seems to consistently be in the wrong place or doing the wrong thing when the Kings are running their offense.
In the long run, Martin will improve at being the Richard Hamilton-esque player Adelman wants him to be, Garcia will improve at knowing his role within the Kings offensive sets, neither or both. Until one of those things happens, I'm guessing Martin wins in Adelman's eyes by not screwing up the offense even if Garcia can be more effective in it overall.
In the long run, Martin will improve at being the Richard Hamilton-esque player Adelman wants him to be, Garcia will improve at knowing his role within the Kings offensive sets, neither or both. Until one of those things happens, I'm guessing Martin wins in Adelman's eyes by not screwing up the offense even if Garcia can be more effective in it overall.
Nice grades, Brick. Didn't watch the game, but that looks like a very good summary of what went down. I don't have any illusions right now about the Kings having a chance against the Spurs in a series, but at least they played with intensity and made an attempt at winning the game. Does this mean that our bench may actually be able to contribute in the future?
The problem with our bench players is inconsistency. When Kevin had a couple of nice games, I thought he was a shoe-in for a dominant bench role. All of a sudden he starts playing like an air-head. Then Garcia steps up and plays well. Now he is the heir-apparent.
I just don't know what to expect anymore. I feel sorry for Rick Adelman. I know that he will eventually have to pick one of these guys for major minutes. I hope like hell one of these guys settles down and plays consistently. They both have the natural ability to become the main bench man, but when? If it were ever true, it is a fact now. Their destiny is in their own hands. Adelman needs a break.
I just don't know what to expect anymore. I feel sorry for Rick Adelman. I know that he will eventually have to pick one of these guys for major minutes. I hope like hell one of these guys settles down and plays consistently. They both have the natural ability to become the main bench man, but when? If it were ever true, it is a fact now. Their destiny is in their own hands. Adelman needs a break.
I'm still confused by the apparent misconception some people have about Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia. They aren't competing against each other... Martin is playing at the 2, Garcia is obviously going to get the nod for the 3.
Instead of continuing to tout one over the other, especially this early in the season and in their active tenure as Kings, why not just hope they both - as uolj hinted at - find a way to fit within the system and contribute.
From what I've heard, they compliment each other pretty well in practice. Hopefully, that too will eventually pay dividends on the court. We need them both to grow and mature. And I'm going to be cheering for BOTH of them to do exactly that.
Instead of continuing to tout one over the other, especially this early in the season and in their active tenure as Kings, why not just hope they both - as uolj hinted at - find a way to fit within the system and contribute.
From what I've heard, they compliment each other pretty well in practice. Hopefully, that too will eventually pay dividends on the court. We need them both to grow and mature. And I'm going to be cheering for BOTH of them to do exactly that.
Some people may actually not understand that, but I think many people (like me) were just encouraged to see that Garcia could handle the ball and get to the basket. It showed me that in certain situations, Garcia could play at the 2 (or 1 for that matter) and allow for some different combinations. It just makes our bench a bit more versatile.
I guess I'm just not sure the minutes thing is cast in concrete, especially considering how many different looks Adelman has already put out on the court.
People are so convinced Adelman is inflexible that they aren't looking at the facts. The facts are that RA has been using a lot of different combinations, going to the bench when he thinks someone might be more effective...
I do not disagree at all that Cisco looks like he should have more playing time. But, especially with Peja out right now, I don't think all of that time will come - nor should it - at the expense of our other young guy.
Guess we'll just have to see what happens...
People are so convinced Adelman is inflexible that they aren't looking at the facts. The facts are that RA has been using a lot of different combinations, going to the bench when he thinks someone might be more effective...
I do not disagree at all that Cisco looks like he should have more playing time. But, especially with Peja out right now, I don't think all of that time will come - nor should it - at the expense of our other young guy.
Guess we'll just have to see what happens...
- Status