[Grades] Grades v. Warriors 03/13/12

[Bricklayer]

This one damaged my calm.

Just embarrassing.

There will of course be Girls, but this was just stupid. The non-defending smallball crap has just got to stop. And yes, that means a lot of this was about a coach who's tiny rookie PGs got annihilated, who intentionally gave away our frontline edge to go smallball and leave Cousins all alone insde, resulting in us losing the rebounding battle after we dominated it early. Its about 4 guard lineups. Its STUPID. Grr.....

Ommmm...

Ommmmmmmmmmmmm...

O****ingMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

meh

Boxscore

Evans ( B+ ) -- strong game as our Top Two came to play, and just nobody else joined them. All over the rim early, but also hit an early jumper. Fought well when switched onto Lee on defense. Despite low assist totals was setting a lot of people up early in the game for layups around the rim, and they just weren't finishing. Just dominant to the rim in the first half. A couple of good defensive hustle plays and more rim attacks early in the third. But began to get more contested in the third and some of them rolled off. Ended on a sour note as his hustle play to try to save a hoop at the end of the third ended up costing us, as he raced back to stop a fastbreak layup and ended up getting called for a flagrant foul, after which the Warriors canned a three at the buzzerfor a 4pt play (they split the flagrant foul FTs).

Kelly Hu

Thompson ( INC ) -- allow me to copy paste the quote from NBA.com's game summary:

BAD MOVE: Sacramento coach Keith Smart went away from what worked early and let Jackson control the matchups in this one. Jason Thompson had nine rebounds in the first quarter and played a total of three minutes the rest of the way.

'Bout sums it up for me. The excuse of course was defense. As in David Lee was scoring too much against Jason. However at the point that you have actually inserted Travis Outlaw in place of Jason in order to counter a guy (Lee) who finished with 17pts, you have had a flat out coaching fail.

Ashley Pridgen -- had no idea who this person was, but in the course of my pic hunting I discovered some awful news for Sliim -- she apparently announced back in late 2010 her intentions to undergo boob reduction surgery. Which is a terible terrible surgery that should be outlawed.

Cousins ( B+ ) -- struggling to finish inside in the early going before he settled in. Huge spin drive down the lane for the dunk in the early second as he began to turn it up on both sides and dominated play for much fo the first half and into the third. Began to get a little wild with his attempts in the third however, as I think frustration began to set in. Made a few good defensive plays with a couple of charges taken and a block, but overall didn't particularly stop anybody. He and Reke pretty much it for it this time out, and you could see the frustration building with the overall weak effort.

Amirtha Rao -- of Bollywood

Thornton ( D ) -- a couple of early hits, but just selfish and as the accuracy fell off that got ugly with some wild attempts (although it should be noted he led the team with an awesome 3 assists). Hit a three in the early third, but it was the only one he hit. And of course the real problem is that when he has these off games, he still is getting scorched at the other end. Gave up size (we do basically everywhere) to Thompson and Rush, and they just shot right over him even when he was in the area.

Rosie Jones -- of Page 3 fame

 

[Bricklayer]

Thomas ( C+ ) -- again had problems being out little manned by Nate Robinson in the early going, with the problem essentially being defensive. Same size, come from the same school, and they yap at each other and get into little Napoleon complex 1 on 1 battles. But both times we've seen it this year Nate has gotten the better of it, and it was no different here as he blew up for something like 15 first quarter points. IT hit a few threes back the other way and was efficient -- it looks to me like after he sort of bottomed out with selfish play a few games back he may have had a talking to and has been consciously reigning back on gunning up shots in the game since. Hit a three from Reke in the early third after the Warriors almost put us down 13. Began to really score well in the 3rd and started getting to the line, but still not notching assits, as our starting PG now how a grand total fo 2 assists in the last two games combines. Bad turnover to close the third, trying to split a double on our final possession of the half, getting picked, and starting a Warriros 3 on none break that Reke broke up with a flagrant foul. Hard to grade a 15pt 2ast no defense effort from a 5'9" PG. Kinda Boynkinseque I suppose.

Melanie Laurent -- as per jalfas's request from the last blowout

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bench

Garcia ( B- ) -- best of our benchers tonight, but even he did not have the hustle impact he has had in recent games. Hit a well timed three in the 2nd to get us back within 2, but it was the only one he hit on the night. Added a help block inside and at least tried on defense, but mostly just a middeling night that stood ou for not being awful.

Alexis Bledel

Salmons ( C ) -- continues to show rejuvenatiion in his ability to knock down long jumpers, but whatever push we briefly got from using him as a backup PG seems to have largely dissipated. Nothce 0 assists again tonight, and really didn't have a defensive impact either when we tried to substitute him in for IT/Jimmer to get some defense on the ball.

Mili Avital

Fredette ( F ) -- dreadful outing against the same team he lit up in his first preseason game. The pain was on both ends of the court. On offense he finished 1-6 for 3pts, unable to free himself for shots, and finally hitting his only score on a three in the mid 4th. But the other end was as bad as we've seen it all year. From the very beginning Mark Jackson, who loves to play matchup ball, just had his guys absolutely seroing in on Jimmer and attacking him, no matter who he was guardng and where on the floor we tried to hide him. And then some scrub named Charles Jenkins (feel free to have a uh, who? moment) came in off the bench to matchup with him and just lit him up. Jenkins averages 2.7ppg and had a previous career high of 8. Against Jimmer he poured in 15 points in 19 minutes, and that is just unacceptable.

Emma Glover -- another Page 3 leftover from my the British hotties Girl thread from last month

 

[Bricklayer]

Hickson ( INC ) -- first reserve big in in the first half, used his athleticsm on the glass, but was soon out and forgotten about as weplaye every SF and SG on the roster at PF rathe than go back to him.

Bobbie Phillips

Hayes ( D ) -- getting a distinct fish out of water vibe with Chuck right now. We had some of the normal inability to clog the paint, and amateurish shot at the hoop. But the coach also steadfastly refused to pu him in next to Cousins wheil we still had a chacne in the game to slow down Lee. And then when that pairing finally did materialize late in the game, Chuck did nothing. Does the coach believe in him? Does he believe in the smallball coach?

Candice Swanepoel -- who actually appeared on my lists twice, so was an obvious must use.

Greene ( INC ) -- minutes usurped by Hickson, by Outlaw, by John freakin Salmons and just anyone else, and why? Who knows. In the handful of minutes he did get was barely noticeable.

Amelia Heinle

Outlaw ( C- ) -- in in the third to guard Lee as we just gave up on the rebounding Thompson brings. Hit a three, but otherwse not much more effective than you remembered him. A garbagetime hoop as well

Jessica White

Whiteside ( INC ) -- in in the final 3 minutes. Nice post move and hook finish inside the lst two minutes. Also went up for block and there was big contact. Whihc is great actually. Being a shotblocker isn;t aobut being pretty and stats. Its about intimidation. So if he wants to slam a few guys along with his blocks, all the better. Does not get a girl because 13 is unlucky, and he was the 13th guy to play for us in this game. 13. After 50 years of it being 12. Ah well.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen... Ashley Pridgen...

 

[Entity]

We got a pg playing sf and a swing man playing pf. We continue to lose and nobody that gets paid can figure out why.

 

[jpsls]

You think Smart will go small ball the rest of the season?

 

[Tetsujin]

We got a pg playing sf and a swing man playing pf. We continue to lose and nobody that gets paid can figure out why.

Judging from that grimace he was wearing, I think Petrie might kinda get it. Either that or he was holding one in when the camera was on him

 

[rainmaker]

We got a pg playing sf and a swing man playing pf. We continue to lose and nobody that gets paid can figure out why.

Yeah, some think Smarts deserves zero criticism for that.

Sick of going away from every advantage we have. We're not talented enough to have many advantages, so the ones we do have, use them for christ sake!

 

[Spike]

Someone else said it best: the kind of girls we need after a loss like this would shut the server down. We need a Slim-Spike girls list...

 

[rainmaker]

I have a theme. Hottest female athletes. Should be easy with the SI issue that recently came out.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Someone else said it best: the kind of girls we need after a loss like this would shut the server down. We need a Slim-Spike girls list...

I am Slim, and I approve this post.

 

[MassachusettsKingsFan]

I have a theme. Hottest female athletes. Should be easy with the SI issue that recently came out.

I'm 100% sure Brick has done this before, and I am 100% sure that when I saw that this was going to be the theme the last time I posted this little gem ..

 

[The_Jamal]

A lack of understanding from our coach on how to properly use this team, parts that don't fit together, no active veteran leadership, lack of consistency/effort on the defensive end, and just a lack of overall talent from top to bottom. Add all these together and you got the cluster**** we're seeing on the court

 

[steelevt]

we need to make a trade. we need a coach that doesnt play small ball. we need... we need something to change because losing to the warriors like this is embarrassing

 

[KingsCitizen]

Anthony Davis or Andre Drummond.......here we come!!!!

 

[Tetsujin]

we need to make a trade. we need a coach that doesnt play small ball. we need... we need something to change because losing to the warriors like this is embarrassing

Trade Keith Smart for Popovich

 

[steelevt]

Trade Keith Smart for Popovich

good thing the maloofs didn't jump the gun and pick up keith smart's option...oh wait

 

[pshn80]

This kind of game just saps it all of me, the players, coaches, GP, etc. I hope it does and I hope their reaction works.

 

[Fear the Putin]

fighter chicks it is!

Gina Carano, Ronda Rousey, Miesha Tate, Kyra Gracie

 

[IfAt1st]

Kings lost the game in the final 30 seconds of the 3rd quarter.

Here's the sequence of events that happened (no judgments, just the events):
* Warriors were defended VERY well, and they made a contested 3 pt shot as the clock was running out. Kings Down 7.
* Tyreke walks the ball up the floor, and proceeds to pound it like we've all seen him do a hundred times.
* DMC floats out past the 3 pt line and they miss on their weak-sauce "pick-n-roll" attempt.
* Tyreke doesn't get past anyone, and passes it to IT curling around the 3 pt line with 6 seconds left on the shotclock.
* IT desperately tries to create, loses the handle, Warriors get a fastbreak.
* Tyreke tries to catch up and smacks the layup shooter HARD right on the head. Flagrant foul.
* Warriors inbound the ball, with Tyreke standing next to DMC's man at the top of the key with 4 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
* Tyreke again went braindead for a second and didn't cover his man, leaving the 3 pt shooter open who made the 3. Kings down 11, and come out demoralized in the 4th.

Game over.

 

[IfAt1st]

At it's worst, most pessimistic dire concerns:

This game may be the beginning of the end for this team as constructed.
DMC was PISSED at the end of the 3rd, and there are signs that the team may be unraveling/fragmenting with many players not happy with their roles and probably the coaching.

Chuck Hayes, the guy brought in to lead with veteran presence, is laughing on the sidelines of BAD losses the last 3 times I've noticed. This should be an impossibility if things were going well.

 

[Section 101]

Trade Keith Smart for Popovich

You want another Nelson disciple?

 

[Padrino]

You want another Nelson disciple?

that's a major distortion of the truth. popovich served under larry brown for four seasons as an assistant coach in san antonio, where he got his nba coaching education. he had a brief stint as an assistant with the warriors after that, but i'd hardly call him a disciple of nelson, and his much more traditional rotations and defensively-oriented style of play says otherwise, as well...

 

[kingsnation]

This game may be the beginning of the end for this team as constructed.

I couldn't be happier if this was true. By this I mean keep your big 3 w/ IT and Jimmer, possibly Hassan and can the rest. Unfortunately, I don't believe it is.

 

[kingsnation]

You want another Nelson disciple?

No I think he wants a HOF coach who has won 4 NBA Titles.

 

[Kings Faithful]

I hope this embarrassment gets the winds of change blowing. Make a big move. And by big i don't mean trade Tyreke or try and get Dwight Howard... I mean lets be the team who receives the impact player for once, regardless of his contract.

 

[Padrino]

Yeah, some think Smarts deserves zero criticism for that.

Sick of going away from every advantage we have. We're not talented enough to have many advantages, so the ones we do have, use them for christ sake!

it is aggravating, isn't it? i am so annoyed with the fact that jason thompson starts every game, but only finishes with about 15 minutes in each of those games since the switch to smallball. he's a utility player with very moderate talent, and he's certainly a subpar defender at the PF position, but he's also steadied himself as a player. he's a consistent hustler, and, most importantly, he can rebound the goddamned ball...

there is something rather sick about this smallball fixation. if the maloofs hadn't already extended keith smart (on the cheap, because they're broke), i'd suggest that we were witnessing the kings' second case of self-sabotage from the head coaching position this season alone. paul westphal's read and react "offense" was a thorough and complete disaster. and smart's smallball lineups are, likewise, a thorough and complete disaster. do these guys want to ruin the kings? are they actively looking to stunt the growth of their most talented players? do they actually value their jobs?

i just don't get it. its beyond me. the solution is so ****ing simple. i'll even remove my preferences from the equation: you start any two of evans, thornton, and thomas at the guard positions. you start any of either donte greene, john salmons, or francisco garcia at the SF position. you start jason thompson at PF, and you play him anywhere from 25-30 minutes per game. and you very obviously start demarcus cousins at C, and run a significant number of plays designed specifically for him, especially against a shrimpy team like the warriors!!

 

[IfAt1st]

i just don't get it. its beyond me. the solution is so ****ing simple. i'll even remove my preferences from the equation: you start any two of evans, thornton, and thomas at the guard positions. you start any of either donte greene, john salmons, or francisco garcia at the SF position. you start jason thompson at PF, and you play him anywhere from 25-30 minutes per game. and you very obviously start demarcus cousins at C, and run a significant number of plays designed specifically for him, especially against a shrimpy team like the warriors!!

I'd co-sign this.

except...... Tyreke can't be the initiator of the offense.
We've seen enough of that FAIL for 2 1/4 seasons, + the OT in Denver and almost every time he pounds the ball at the end of quarters.

I share your bafflement that the Kings don't run more plays designed to give Demarcus good opportunities to score.
Seems absurdly obvious he needs more and better plays run for him.

 

[jcwkings]

This team is just constructed wrong, our three stars all need the ball in their hands to be effective, No one in our team is effective off the ball, Its the problem the Thunder have, except their stars are so good it doesn't even matter. Our "stars" are inconsitent and not nearly as good as Durant, Westbrook, Harden

 

[Spok22]

hopefully petrie does something by this thursday...