[Grades] Grades v. Thunder 04/24/12

Kings Player of the Game?

  • Travis Outlaw

    Votes: 10 34.5%
  • Jason Thompson

    Votes: 4 13.8%
  • DeMarcus Cousins

    Votes: 13 44.8%
  • Isaiah Nastocktonson

    Votes: 2 6.9%

  • Total voters
    29
  • Poll closed .
I'd rather pass to Outlaw for a 20-footer than Tyreke.

Well yeah the point is to get Tyreke the ball so that he can drive or something... And I'm not surprised at all. You and section101 would rather we have Isaiah Thomas go 1 on 5 than give Tyreke the ball, less he scores or does something horrible like that. Give me a break.
 
I'd rather pass to Outlaw for a 20-footer than Tyreke.
Wow. I'd think Evans coming off a screen with the ball in his hands would be a deadlier option, but if you'd rather feature Outlaw, well, I just don't know what to say.
Was Outlaw having a good day? Sure, but he still shouldn't be an option before Evans, especially in a situation that we're asking Evans to improve upon.
 
Well yeah the point is to get Tyreke the ball so that he can drive or something... And I'm not surprised at all. You and section101 would rather we have Isaiah Thomas go 1 on 5 than give Tyreke the ball, less he scores or does something horrible like that. Give me a break.

Mac, I'll agree with you that I have noticed IT looking of Reke a number of times lately. Last game a few times for Outlaw. In others for TWill, Chuck or JT, or Cuz repeatedly even when 2-8 or 4-13 or something like that. I understand moving the ball around and keeping others involved. Looking him off a couple times isn't much of an issue. What is, is when Reke has to going, has beat his man when coming off a screen, and then IT goes the other way, gives it to a lesser player, and we end up getting some crap shot. It's also basic recognition to go to a player while he's hot. IT feeds Cuz to death, yet Reke has a better FG% than either Cuz/IT/MT, yet regularly is the one who can't get the ball for stretches.

Aside from JT, Reke is % wise the most efficient scorer on the team, so yes, it is a bad decisions to keep looking off Reke and going to others who are converting at lesser %'s, and that is on both IT and Smart. Too many times Reke is shooting 4-6, 6-9, or something like that, and just can't get a touch, while IT is forcing it to others who aren't shooting well, or just forces it himself like last night, and Reke ends up finishing 4th or 5th in FGA's. Ridiculous. And I do think there's a power struggle which will only get worse behind the scenes, which Smarts philosophy of not being clear are roles hurts even more.
 
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At the least reward a guy who is open. Sometimes they've actually done something to get into that position. Pretty soon you have guys standing around as they know that moving gets them nowhere. But, hey, IT is a rookie. One more game. Then normalcy returns next year and if he is getting some ROY breaks from the coach, the breaks will end.

Yesterday. Jerry and Grant had this chat about how IT was learning to get the ball to the hot hand instead of taking his own shot. He was doing that so well. Then he promptly went for his own shot several times in a row. This was at a point where everyone was making shots except him. Don't want to make a big issue except thank goodness this season is coming to an end. What a waste.
 
At the least reward a guy who is open. Sometimes they've actually done something to get into that position. Pretty soon you have guys standing around as they know that moving gets them nowhere. But, hey, IT is a rookie. One more game. Then normalcy returns next year and if he is getting some ROY breaks from the coach, the breaks will end.

Yesterday. Jerry and Grant had this chat about how IT was learning to get the ball to the hot hand instead of taking his own shot. He was doing that so well. Then he promptly went for his own shot several times in a row. This was at a point where everyone was making shots except him. Don't want to make a big issue except thank goodness this season is coming to an end. What a waste.

I also noticed that Tyreke started forcing things, going 1 on 1 after IT had chucked up a few shots of his own. Now, this isn't a knock on Isaiah Thomas. This is something that goes team-wide, and is a result of us having too many scorers and being a young team. I can't say that the ROY stuff has gotten to IT, but even if it has I don't blame him for it. It's hard for a young player, especially one who's playing with a chip on his shoulder, to focus on being a great team player instead of chasing after certain personal achievements, given that any hope of a team achievement is already far out the window.

The sad thing is, most national media doesn't have IT even in the top 3 for ROY. NBA.com rookie ladder has him at 4th behind Irving, Rubio and Faried. Mike Fratello's candidates were Irving, Rubio, Faried and Kawhi Leonard.

Going back to IT and Evans - I like both players, and it's no secret that I think we should be featuring Evans more than IT. My main concern going forward however, is their inability to play off of each other. Tyreke somehow worked a lot better with Beno. I want to see both Thomas and Evans on our team, and unlike some others I don't think that Thomas necessarily has to become a bench player. The two of them have to find a way to work together, keep each other involved together with Cuz.
 
I love the theme but you left out Charles Comiskey Owner of the Black Sox. FYI they were called the Black Sox not because they threw the 1919 World Series but because Comiskey cut corners by not paying to launder the teams uniforms...
 
Well yeah the point is to get Tyreke the ball so that he can drive or something... And I'm not surprised at all. You and section101 would rather we have Isaiah Thomas go 1 on 5 than give Tyreke the ball, less he scores or does something horrible like that. Give me a break.

I think Tyreke does the 1 on 5 tons more than IT. You pass him the ball and even if he is wide open, more often than not he will drive into traffic instead of catch and shoot.

I'm not defending IT when he tries to be a star himself. Sometime the kid needs to cool down.
 
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