[Grades] Grades v. Thunder 12/6/2015

[Larry89]

This season is a waste of Rondo's talent and hustle, he's busting his ass out there

 

[flamecrow]

Tired of being frustrated with this team. Damn, wtf do we have to do to be at least decent/watchable. FFS.

 

[ForlornKing]

Love the way Rondo has ben running this offense, but let's be real. Aside from his IQ and knowing this other teams plays and playing the passing lanes, he cannot guard anyone out there right now.

 

[Padrino]

Tired of being frustrated with this team. Damn, wtf do we have to do to be at least decent/watchable. FFS.

well, for starters, this team could value defense and commit a consistent effort to that side of the ball on a game-to-game basis...

 

[Merdiesel]

...But yeah, you just go stand in the corner with the game on the line.

 

[John Galt]

Love the way Rondo has ben running this offense, but let's be real. Aside from his IQ and knowing this other teams plays and playing the passing lanes, he cannot guard anyone out there right now.

He is good enough, and important enough, that the team should scheme around his shortcomings and leverage his strengths. I think Rondo is a joy to watch - really more of a draw to me as a paying spectator than Cuz.

Make it work George.

 

[Bricklayer]

To this point, if you're going to build a team with an identity, you can't have a mindset of players on the team being untradable. That doesn't mean I want Cousins traded. He's the guy I would want to keep. But you only get one guy to build around.

Being afraid to trade a guy like Rudy simply because of his offensive talents, is going to hold the organization back if he doesn't fit what the team is trying to do. It's not just Rudy. It goes for anyone on the roster. But before you start trading, better have a plan beyond trying to acquire "talent." That plan has to have coach, GM, and owner on board. Right now, players, coaches, GM and owner seem to be functioning independently. When that happens, you're dysfunctional and it doesn't matter how much player talent you get.

Its not just talent that makes these guys untradeable. Its also interconnection. Vlade may have been slightly brilliant in putting together a crew with bonds of friendship etc. Friend connections, Kentucky connections, Karl connections You go up and down our rotations and virtually all the guys have them. So people talk about our chemistry, especially Cousins bashers, without realizing we actually have very good chemistry, offcourt. We are holding together despite failure again because of it. But you start yanking out jingo blocks and sooner or later you could cause the tower to fall.

Besides, while we are in deep trouble recordwise, the fact of the matter remains we went into Houston and OKC, two of the traditional powers in the West, and even with our crapty defense would have beat them with even an average game out of our superstar. Despite everything, the most frustrating thing about this team is it is STILL right there as a good team, but just refuses to put everything together.

 

[KingMilz]

Its not just talent that makes these guys untradeable. Its also interconnection. Vlade may have been slightly brilliant in putting together a crew with bonds of friendship etc. Friend connections, Kentucky connections, Karl connections You go up and down our rotations and virtually all the guys have them. So people talk about our chemistry, especially Cousins bashers, without realizing we actually have very good chemistry, offcourt. We are holding together despite failure again because of it. But you start yanking out jingo blocks and sooner or later you could cause the tower to fall.

Besides, while we are in deep trouble recordwise, the fact of the matter remains we went into Houston and OKC, two of the traditional powers in the West, and even with our poopooty defense would have beat them with even an average game out of our superstar. Despite everything, the most frustrating thing about this team is it is STILL right there as a good team, but just refuses to put everything together.

You are talking about off court chemistry and we are 7/15 who cares its not friendships over wins.

 

[gunks]

Eeeeehhhh.

Cuz IS a HOF talent. He isn't a leader, yet. He might never be. But he is a HOF talent.

He isn't without blame. Neither is Rudy, who's always been a bit of a ***** IMHO. But Rudy is also a talent.

Rondo is a huge talent. Kosta, Marco, DC, Omri....

We have a talented roster that is underachieving.

That's on Karl. Dude is just flat out horrible. Pace is horrible for this roster. His defensive philosophy sucks. His use of Cuz sucks. Pretty much everything about Karl is awful.

We need to find a solid replacement. The coaching carousel can't continue, but neither can Karl. Firing Malone put us in a spot. Thanks Vivek, you moron.

 

[Bricklayer]

You are talking about off court chemistry and we are 7/15 who cares its not friendships over wins.

It actually is sometimes. Our offcourt chemistry is what is holding us together and why the Kings lockerroom appears to be a far less messy place than this site at the moment. You start tearing holes in it at your peril. Right now we remain really close. Everyone is all upset because we should have beaten Houston and OKC on their home floors, and did not. But you have to think about the first part of that statement for a minute. We should have beaten two traditional West powers on their home floors. We were right there, and choked it away. And we got bad performances out of our best player in both games. The current situation remains one ever elusive tweak from this team beating anybody but maybe the Warriors/Cavs/Spurs in any given game. Once you start tearing holes open in traditional Kings panic, you could easily go backwards rather than forwards, and take yourself right back off the precipice of being competitive.

 

[kingsboi]

All this talk about Cousins being a leader is just not right at the moment. Just because he is your star player and best player...does not mean he is entailed to also be the leader. You have Rondo around to take that role, at least for this season. That must also be a reason why they brought in 50 year old Caron Butler, just to have a positive voice in the locker room and keep the guys heads up and moving forward. You would think Karl would have a say in this also but he just doesn't have that in him any longer.

 

[VF21]

Demarcus was in better shape last season. Looks a little fuller this year. Seemingly getting injured more, less finishing around the rim. And yes even when he was dropping 30 points per game I still noticed it.

He just needs to man up and hit the weights hard. And the treadmill. He's said in the before he doesn't like weights because he thinks it will make him stiff and not flexible.

Picture a Cuz at the same weight, but with a lower body fat percentage and higher muscle mass. I just don't get why he doesn't.

There's a post in one of the other threads that details his weight workout regimen. Your assumption for this post is incorrect.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Demarcus was in better shape last season. Looks a little fuller this year. Seemingly getting injured more, less finishing around the rim. And yes even when he was dropping 30 points per game I still noticed it.

He just needs to man up and hit the weights hard. And the treadmill. He's said in the before he doesn't like weights because he thinks it will make him stiff and not flexible.

Picture a Cuz at the same weight, but with a lower body fat percentage and higher muscle mass. I just don't get why he doesn't.

He was in noticeably better shape at the start of last season. He worked out harder than he ever had, in his efforts to make the USA team. He did that and started that season well ahead of "normal".

This off season was different and included a couple vacations and lots of "downtime" and rest

 

[Henkel]

He was in noticeably better shape at the start of last season. He worked out harder than he ever had, in his efforts to make the USA team. He did that and started that season well ahead of "normal".

This off season was different and included a couple vacations and lots of "downtime" and rest

That's bull crap. He looked great and was running the floor as well as he ever has to start the season.

Rudy on the other hand "bulked up to play the four" and has played his way into shape.

 

[rainmaker]

He was in noticeably better shape at the start of last season. He worked out harder than he ever had, in his efforts to make the USA team. He did that and started that season well ahead of "normal".

This off season was different and included a couple vacations and lots of "downtime" and rest

There was a USA camp in Aug which he was in good shape for. Before that he was working out in Israel with all these out of shape players.

Followed up all that by dropped 91 in a pro am game in Aug, not to say pro am means much but he was playing and doing what most the league does in the summer.

He was in fine shape to be played as a freakin guard and put up 28/11 early this year until injuries hit. I have no idea why separating the two is so complicated. Do people think if guys like Gasol or Duncan/LMA were asked to play as guards and ended up getting injured due to playing roles which don't fit them the issue is not being in good enough shape?

And funny enough, Cuz strained his back in the Char game where he repeatedly was attacking from the perimeter and twisting/contorting his body as no other big like him in this game does. And I posted the vids of that game. When you see Cuz being asked to make movements like that, ankle injuries, knee injuries, back injuries, hip injuries are bound to happen. It's also only a matter of time until he comes down on someone's foot when going for one of those trailing 3s.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Play as a guard? He played some stretch 4...and he's wanted to do that. Remember? He wanted/wants to play the 4

 

[VF21]

That's bull crap. He looked great and was running the floor as well as he ever has to start the season.

Rudy on the other hand "bulked up to play the four" and has played his way into shape.

People keep saying that as though it's gospel and yet, when I asked Carmichael Dave about it, he said Rudy hasn't bulked up.

 

[rainmaker]

Play as a guard? He played some stretch 4...and he's wanted to do that. Remember? He wanted/wants to play the 4

Unless a pure stretch 4, which other PF, let alone center spends anywhere near the same amount of time camping on the perimeter and needing to attack off the dribble from the arc? Griffin, Davis, Millsap, Favors, LMA, even Ryan freakin Anderson get regular and more post touches than Cuz. Hell, my boy Porzingis is regularly getting post touches 15-18 ft out or getting little elbow jumpers off the move.

What he's being asked to do is mainly what guards are asked to do, spot up and spread the floor at the arc or attack 1v1 from the arc off the dribble.

 

[mac]

It actually is sometimes. Our offcourt chemistry is what is holding us together and why the Kings lockerroom appears to be a far less messy place than this site at the moment. You start tearing holes in it at your peril. Right now we remain really close. Everyone is all upset because we should have beaten Houston and OKC on their home floors, and did not. But you have to think about the first part of that statement for a minute. We should have beaten two traditional West powers on their home floors. We were right there, and choked it away. And we got bad performances out of our best player in both games. The current situation remains one ever elusive tweak from this team beating anybody but maybe the Warriors/Cavs/Spurs in any given game. Once you start tearing holes open in traditional Kings panic, you could easily go backwards rather than forwards, and take yourself right back off the precipice of being competitive.

The same could be said in years past though. We've been in close games against OKC and HOU before. and won a couple here and there (more so against houston). At the end of the day it's still about wins over the course of the whole season, and recordwise we are failing at the moment.

 

[KingMilz]

It actually is sometimes. Our offcourt chemistry is what is holding us together and why the Kings lockerroom appears to be a far less messy place than this site at the moment. You start tearing holes in it at your peril. Right now we remain really close. Everyone is all upset because we should have beaten Houston and OKC on their home floors, and did not. But you have to think about the first part of that statement for a minute. We should have beaten two traditional West powers on their home floors. We were right there, and choked it away. And we got bad performances out of our best player in both games. The current situation remains one ever elusive tweak from this team beating anybody but maybe the Warriors/Cavs/Spurs in any given game. Once you start tearing holes open in traditional Kings panic, you could easily go backwards rather than forwards, and take yourself right back off the precipice of being competitive.

The only thing off court chemistry is keeping together is a core group which has never sniffed 500. There's a reason we don't win those games it's cause our two best players lack basketball iq and a high motor which would allow them to win games despite having off nights. The off court thing is yet another in a long line of excuses.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Unless a pure stretch 4, which other PF, let alone center spends anywhere near the same amount of time camping on the perimeter and needing to attack off the dribble from the arc? Griffin, Davis, Millsap, Favors, LMA, even Ryan freakin Anderson get regular and more post touches than Cuz. Hell, my boy Porzingis is regularly getting post touches 15-18 ft out or getting little elbow jumpers off the move.

What he's being asked to do is mainly what guards are asked to do, spot up and spread the floor at the arc or attack 1v1 from the arc off the dribble.

If he doesn't like it and/or want to do it,...he should post a clue on Twitter indicating that, or even better..simply say it. If anyone knows what he can do and wants to do, I would assume it's him. If he feels his talent is not being used in the right spot, just say it

 

[KingMilz]

If he doesn't like it and/or want to do it,...he should post a clue on Twitter indicating that, or even better..simply say it. If anyone knows what he can do and wants to do, I would assume it's him. If he feels his talent is not being used in the right spot, just say it

Exactly PG13 said hes not going to play the 4 and they made Cj Miles do it, Couisbs for 6 years has been far to willing to keep taking bail out jumpers.

 

[kingsboi]

Exactly PG13 said hes not going to play the 4 and they made Cj Miles do it, Couisbs for 6 years has been far to willing to keep taking bail out jumpers.

Have you forgotten? the league has become a soft jump shooting league where it's all about the three ball...no body is trying to bang in the post anymore. How I miss those days. I yearn for those days.

 

[Kingston Jamaica]

There was a USA camp in Aug which he was in good shape for. Before that he was working out in Israel with all these out of shape players.

Followed up all that by dropped 91 in a pro am game in Aug, not to say pro am means much but he was playing and doing what most the league does in the summer.

He was in fine shape to be played as a freakin guard and put up 28/11 early this year until injuries hit. I have no idea why separating the two is so complicated. Do people think if guys like Gasol or Duncan/LMA were asked to play as guards and ended up getting injured due to playing roles which don't fit them the issue is not being in good enough shape?

And funny enough, Cuz strained his back in the Char game where he repeatedly was attacking from the perimeter and twisting/contorting his body as no other big like him in this game does. And I posted the vids of that game. When you see Cuz being asked to make movements like that, ankle injuries, knee injuries, back injuries, hip injuries are bound to happen. It's also only a matter of time until he comes down on someone's foot when going for one of those trailing 3s.

I think that picture is from Las Vegas. Only Caron was working out in Israel.

 

[Bricklayer]

The only thing off court chemistry is keeping together is a core group which has never sniffed 500. There's a reason we don't win those games it's cause our two best players lack basketball iq and a high motor which would allow them to win games despite having off nights. The off court thing is yet another in a long line of excuses.

As for the core group, no, our new core group has been together about 20 games, and less than that if we are talking about Cousins games. Less than a month.

 

[ForlornKing]

There's a post in one of the other threads that details his weight workout regimen. Your assumption for this post is incorrect.

That's great, he posted a workout routine online. But the proof is in the pudding. The guy just does not have a physique as other NBA players who lift weights. As someone who does lift weights, it's pretty obvious that he doesn't focus on it as much as other players. He could easily have a similiar physique as Segre Ibaka and Whiteside if he fully commited to it. Granted he still is naturally huge which is what makes him the force he is now, but he could be so much more.

This is not the body type of someone who has an "intense workout regiment" sorry. Love Handles, you can tell his body fat% is pretty high for an nba athlete. Not saying he's Jared Sullinger or Big Baby Davis...but you get my drift.

At about the :20 mark, He explains how he doesn't really work on his body a lot since he's already not an "atheltic" player. Skill work. The issue is that he CAN work on his athleticism! It's pretty astonishing how quickly you can be more athletic with proper training.


http://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/10/20/cousins-trainer

Now this article is from his rookie year, but it still is interesting. His trainer says he wants to make him cut like Dwight, but then Demarcus says he doesn't want to look like Dwight. Lol now that is mainly 20 year old Demarcus talking, but the point is that he still is no where near what you would call "cut". He has surely trimmed since his college year and rookie year, but still has a lot of body fat he could drop, and could gain alot of muscle.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Exactly PG13 said hes not going to play the 4 and they made Cj Miles do it, Couisbs for 6 years has been far to willing to keep taking bail out jumpers.

There's composed ways to voice 'concern' or let people know when something doesn't feel right. It's not necessary to cuss out the coach, throw fits, act the fool, disrespect the opponent, etc etc.

If he doesn't believe in what's going on or how he's being used, just come out and say something like..."I'm not best as a stretch 4". Now it's up to someone else to respond, if they want to help. If they don't, then prepare for the future and moving on. Done deal, without dragging down teammates and staff

 

[FaStRmAn]

Winning is very difficult for the Kings. Home or away it's hard. As a team they have a lot of pluses but not winning. And it's sort f a combo of offense and defense. It's sort of a combo of the coach and the team but mostly the team. Unfortunately the main contributor is Cuz followed by Rudy with others following and contributing to the lack of success. If we fired the coach the team would simply lose under some other coach. My suggestion particularly on offense is design it so scoring is left primarily to members other than Cuz. Let his scoring be added on top but rely on the rest. When Cuz gets healthy and n shape it can be his team again.

The Kings MAKE it hard on themselves. They make winning harder for themselves by the little things they do or do not do. Forgotten or ignored defensive assignments, jacking up unwanted shots, unforced turnovers, dumb fouls, riding the refs until they are furious. Just about every thing you can do to sabotage victory, the Kings are number 1 at.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

The Kings MAKE it hard on themselves. They make winning harder for themselves by the little things they do or do not do. Forgotten or ignored defensive assignments, jacking up unwanted shots, unforced turnovers, dumb fouls, riding the refs until they are furious. Just about every thing you can do to sabotage victory, the Kings are number 1 at.

Complete snowball effect....which leads to the ever present..."they shot themselves in the foot, again". All the tiny things and where a team "spends it's energy" and focus, matter and...add up quickly. The best player and the leaders have to "get it"....or it won't be happening and will continue to spin the wheels

 

[SacKings384]

That's great, he posted a workout routine online. But the proof is in the pudding. The guy just does not have a physique as other NBA players who lift weights. As someone who does lift weights, it's pretty obvious that he doesn't focus on it as much as other players. He could easily have a similiar physique as Segre Ibaka and Whiteside if he fully commited to it. Granted he still is naturally huge which is what makes him the force he is now, but he could be so much more.

Now this article is from his rookie year, but it still is interesting. His trainer says he wants to make him cut like Dwight, but then Demarcus says he doesn't want to look like Dwight. Lol now that is mainly 20 year old Demarcus talking, but the point is that he still is no where near what you would call "cut". He has surely trimmed since his college year and rookie year, but still has a lot of body fat he could drop, and could gain alot of muscle.

Yeah. Boog is a physical specimen in the same way Shaq was. Yeah he can bully people and has ridiculous strength/agility, but he's never really tried to get in shape. His cardio has always been pretty suspect.