Hawes and JT$ Rookie game??

[=LarryLegend=]

Its way early, but i think Hawes and JTmoney should be in the rookie/sophomore game this year at the all stars.

Thompson avg 11.7pts 6.5rebs 1 ast while shooting 58%

Hawes 13pts 8rebs 1.4asts and 2.2blks while shooting 53fg% and 47 3pt%

if they keep this up, i am tired of no king going. atleast let hawes try the 3pt contest! lol

 

[Warhawk]

JT$????

Lame. What a horrible nickname. Ugh.

 

[Bricklayer]

They both look like locks at this point, but let's see what happens to Thompson's minutes in particular once everybody gets healthy. No more SF minutes to be had. Geoff -- clear some of this deadwood out of the way please!

 

[91sickness]

Petrie doesnt even need to necessarily move deadweight right away. THEUS needs to just start JT over Moore and things will be looking good!

 

[netseee]

Yes, I urge Theus to use JT as PF starter next game, no more Moore please

 

[kingsfan101]

They both look like locks at this point, but let's see what happens to Thompson's minutes in particular once everybody gets healthy. No more SF minutes to be had. Geoff -- clear some of this deadwood out of the way please!

One impact of the slow start by several other WC teams is that, even with a bad record, we might stay in the PO hunt for a while (unless we have another disastrous road trip, or teams like Dallas/SA start winning again on a consistent basis). With the attendance falling, owners and management might feel compelled to keep the vets around to have a relatively decent team on the floor.

It might be worse for the long term (even financially), but people often fail to see beyond the immediate (as thousands of people in the banking and real estate industry shall testify).

 

[Bricklayer]

Petrie doesnt even need to necessarily move deadweight right away. THEUS needs to just start JT over Moore and things will be looking good!

You want those kids playing 30+min every night. There is no way they can do that with all the vets clogging the machinery.

 

[Entity]

What does Moore give us that Thompson don't?

 

[Bricklayer]

What does Moore give us that Thompson don't?

At this point? Still the cohesive veteran roleplayer game. Always know where he's going to be, what he's going to do. Stays out of the way. JT is still figuring it out. That said, that stuff does not matter here. Its a rebuild folks. 33yr olds are not part of the picture, even if they were major contributors.

 

[Entity]

But with a player like Thompson who actually has a skill set (unlike Moore) As a franchise you don't want him playing that roleplayer stay out of the way game. get him involved and get on with the future. Right? I'd like to see JT's number called a little more other than just a pass to him as a bailout when nothing else is going. Especially when he has a speed or size advantage. If you do that then you may start getting some double teams coming at him. We all know what you can do out of that.

I know he tends to try and score every time. But if he feels as if he is part of the offense and may get the ball again he won't feel the need to try and score everytime.

 

[Gary]

What does Moore give us that Thompson don't?

Veteran leadership, and man on man D.

Other than that Thompson has him beat in every other category. I agree we should start Thompson over moore, but I don't think Moore should be phased out completely because as a roleplayer there are certain "roles" we could need him in.

 

[VF21]

Jason Thompson is definitely a huge part of the Kings future but I sure hope he can learn to shoot from the stripe. Having him out there in crunch time could be a real disadvantage if he doesn't. For that reason alone, having Moore around is still in the best interests of the team. Nothing disheartens a team more than losing a game but losing it at the line really sucks...

 

[bajaden]

Jason Thompson is definitely a huge part of the Kings future but I sure hope he can learn to shoot from the stripe. Having him out there in crunch time could be a real disadvantage if he doesn't. For that reason alone, having Moore around is still in the best interests of the team. Nothing disheartens a team more than losing a game but losing it at the line really sucks...

Shooting from the stripe is probably the easiest thing to fix. Also, lest people forget, Karl Malone was a terrible freethrow shooter when he came out of college. He also had no jump shot to speak of. Not comparing the two players, just the situation.

I'm also for starting Thompson, and putting him at his normal position. He might learn where he's suspossed to be on the floor a little quicker if he's just playing one position. Its been a good experience for him at the three though. I'll bet guarding any PF will look easier to him after trying to guard Grant Hill.

 

[Bricklayer]

Also, lest people forget, Karl Malone was a terrible freethrow shooter when he came out of college.

Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman & Kendrick Perkins (if he counts, which he probably should not) are STILL terrible FT shooters, yet they have started for the last 13 NBA champions in a row.

Now Jason may never be as good as any of those guys besides Perkins, and so his margin may be less -- you will put up with more warts from a major star. But I've mentioned before that this whole thing about big men needing to be good FT shooters pretty much flies completely in the face of history. Its great if they are. A nifty bonus. But its never been proven to be at all relevant to the W/L column. There will always be a third big back behind the starters, and if he can shoot FTs, great. But Jason has to get no higher than maybe 65% or so to move into acceptable big man range. 70% and he's as solid as most HOFs.

 

[PurpleHaze]

FREE THROW % Chris Webber v. Jason Thompson:

Webber:

College career ave: 52%

NBA career ave: 65% (First 6 yrs 54% - first year w/Kings 45%)

Thompson:

College career ave: 66%

NBA 1st yr after 10 games: 61.3% (leads team @ 58.3% FG)

 

[Prince_XY]

I love it when bricklayer, bajaden, and purplehaze ( etc. ) give their opinions. These guys are full of basketball knowledge and facts to back up what they are saying. They almost always make sense.

Coach Theus, let Thompson start NOW for the best interest of the team!

Thompson, Thompson, Thompson !

 

[HighTopKicks]

Tim Duncan, Shaquille O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Dennis Rodman & Kendrick Perkins (if he counts, which he probably should not) are STILL terrible FT shooters, yet they have started for the last 13 NBA champions in a row.

Now Jason may never be as good as any of those guys besides Perkins, and so his margin may be less -- you will put up with more warts from a major star. But I've mentioned before that this whole thing about big men needing to be good FT shooters pretty much flies completely in the face of history. Its great if they are. A nifty bonus. But its never been proven to be at all relevant to the W/L column. There will always be a third big back behind the starters, and if he can shoot FTs, great. But Jason has to get no higher than maybe 65% or so to move into acceptable big man range. 70% and he's as solid as most HOFs.

Good take. But, getting back to JT's game, he really needs to improve his defense before he can become a valueable starter. He doesn't have to be as good as Spenser who's progress has been exceptional, but he does need to improve his help defense when the guards get beat.

Learning to block shots around the rim, or at least made people alter their shots will make him a better duo with Miller than Moore does. Plus the wings won't have to cheat as much on the 3pt shooters, if JT can protect the lane.

Offensively, he's not very good at creating his own shot, but with improved defense and his boundless energy around the rim, he'll get the playing time he needs to develop his offensive skills.

 

[bajaden]

Good take. But, getting back to JT's game, he really needs to improve his defense before he can become a valueable starter. He doesn't have to be as good as Spenser who's progress has been exceptional, but he does need to improve his help defense when the guards get beat.

Learning to block shots around the rim, or at least made people alter their shots will make him a better duo with Miller than Moore does. Plus the wings won't have to cheat as much on the 3pt shooters, if JT can protect the lane.

Offensively, he's not very good at creating his own shot, but with improved defense and his boundless energy around the rim, he'll get the playing time he needs to develop his offensive skills.

The basic difference between Jason and Spencer right now, is that Jason is thinking and Spencer is doing. If you look back on Spencer a year ago, he looked a lot like Jason does today. Its amazing the difference a year can make.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

Thompson's defense needs major work, as the vets (Prince, Hill from the past couple of games) are just picking him apart, but it's clear he struggles with SF matchups--but at PF, he doesn't seem to be much better either--those blocks/steals numbers are quite paltry. However, he's definitely invested in the offensive end, and that's a great boon to him--a good start is key to earning minutes, even if he somehow hits the rookie wall which is considerable given his early high-speed play in the preseason. All that said, he's probably a rookie game lock--he's caught the eye of observers like the Thorpedo early this season, and he'll undoubtedly catch more as we have in some ways overachieved in this season with a 4-6 record so far.

 

[Aenadin]

Yeap i want the tommy gun to start firing NOW hmmm if he doesnt start then the "tommy gun" is the weapon of our bench mob

i havent seen him play much i want to know if he moves quick and how he fares on D

hawes on the other hand stat wise i see an improvement on defense but so any body care to share with me on how they play

 

[Mad D]

i havent seen him play much i want to know if he moves quick and how he fares on D

care to share with me on how they play

Thompson runs the floor very well and is very active around the basket when going for rebounds, often able to out jump his opponent for the ball (not a high leaper just a quick one). Right now he relies more on his athleticism than simply boxing out.

On the perimeter from the triple threat stance he usually blows past his defenders but sometimes rushes his move and when he gets to the basket he either simply doesn't finish or gets blocked. His first step does give his defender a disadvantage and he is able to get to the free-throw line where he still is improving (70+ percent his first few years in college but dipped to 58 percent in his senior year). He is better posting up, where he has calmed down since preseason. He has become more patient, using pump fakes and spin moves to finish his hook shots. Where he gets in trouble is when he tries to back down his defender 10 feet away from the basket or when he thinks about finishing the basket before the ball reaches his hands.

On defense he has made mistakes on small forwards. Trying to block shots on jump shooters and getting them on the elbow or wrist. He showed he was a quick learner after the Detroit game and tried to back off against Grant Hill but so far he has shown he won't be able to guard quick forwards (but he belongs in the post as a power forward). Generally the Kings were playing the zone so his match up was not during the entire game, only when he happened to be matched up. His defense against power forwards and centers is what you'd expect from a small school rookie against players just as big or bigger than him.


Hawes has been just as active if not more than Thompson. He has a wide variety of moves at the basket (crafty and patient). Needs to make sure he doesn't catch Sheedisease and stay more often in the post or elbow, he took 3 threes against the Suns and then 3 against the Pistons a few nights before (and made none). He has been the teams most consistent shot blocker as well as most consistent player. He has been attacking the basket off the ball hard, going for soaring offensive rebounding dunks at least once per game. He appears to be more explosive and active than he was his rookie year.

 

[bajaden]

Yeap i want the tommy gun to start firing NOW hmmm if he doesnt start then the "tommy gun" is the weapon of our bench mob

i havent seen him play much i want to know if he moves quick and how he fares on D

hawes on the other hand stat wise i see an improvement on defense but so any body care to share with me on how they play

Just my opinion. Hawes has been the most consistant player since the start of the season. I wouldn't say that he's flawless, but I would say that for the most part, he's had an impact on every game he's played. He's been doing what any coach would want a player to do. If one things not working, do something else. And thats what Hawes has been doing.

Thompson has been asked to play out of his normal position for the last two games. I thought he did a respectful job on Prince. He had a hard time with Hill. In fairness, he was guarding an all-star. Now, contrary to what some people have posted, he wasn't guarding these players all the time.

The Kings played a zone defense a lot of the time Thompson was on the floor. So every time Prince or Hill scored, it didn't mean that Thompson was guarding him. I know, I'm nic picking, but in a zone, you guard an area, not a player. Even in man to man, there are such things as switches when you get caught up in a screen, or one of your teammates does.

My point is, that you simply can't read the Bee, look at the stat sheet, see that Thompson was opposite Hill, and assume that he was responsible for every point that Hill scored. That said, he has a ways to go to be a decent to good defender. But I see progress, and thats all I'm looking for at this point.

 

[SacTownKid]

You want those kids playing 30+min every night. There is no way they can do that with all the vets clogging the machinery.

Unfortunately that is pretty much true. Although I think Miller would be OK with a reduced role. I'm not so sure about Mikki.

 

[CruzDude]

In view of the Joe Maloof interview earlier this past week, and watching Mikki play this year (and last), there is nothing he brings that JT does not, least of all defense. Mikki does get a charge call a game....... but so what? He is a liability on both O and D. But Theus has made comments to the effect that vets get the call because they are vets and you just don't go around replacing them!! You don't? Why not if they are consistently outplayed by a rookie?

Coach Reggie is on a shorter leash right now and somehow has lost any game plan he talked about early on. The Kings are not running the past couple of games and seem to fall back into old, unenthusiastic half-court sets that is not playing to their strengths. Defending the perimeter is a coaching call. Hawes is showing better and better weak side defending that can cut down on layup drills by the other team.

Seems too that coach is trying new things each game..... not a good solution with such a young squad and not working very well either. Kings are 4-6 ten games in. Lets give coach 10 more games to get some stability and consistency. He has the players and the hardworking Spencer and JT for sure. Beno shows he belongs. Brad is doing what Brad does best, setting up plays and passing but needs more movement from the others.

Come on guys. Ten more games at 6-4 and we can all become believers.

 

[VF21]

Unfortunately that is pretty much true. Although I think Miller would be OK with a reduced role. I'm not so sure about Mikki.

Actually, I think MIkki Moore would be much less likely to have any kind of negative reaction to not starting. He's pretty much said so in interviews, I've watched him on the bench whenever he's shown AND I see him always cheering on the kids, greeting them enthusiastically when they come off the court, etc. He's always part of the huddle even when he's not in the lineup and he's honestly a much more stable person personalitywise than Brad ever could be IMHO.

Don't get me wrong. I really like Brad Miller and don't think his usefulness is at an end but I don't think he would slip into the supporting cast anywhere near as easily and gracefully as Mikki would.

 

[VF21]

Coach Reggie is on a shorter leash right now and somehow has lost any game plan he talked about early on. The Kings are not running the past couple of games and seem to fall back into old, unenthusiastic half-court sets that is not playing to their strengths. Defending the perimeter is a coaching call. Hawes is showing better and better weak side defending that can cut down on layup drills by the other team.

Seems too that coach is trying new things each game..... not a good solution with such a young squad and not working very well either. Kings are 4-6 ten games in. Lets give coach 10 more games to get some stability and consistency. He has the players and the hardworking Spencer and JT for sure. Beno shows he belongs. Brad is doing what Brad does best, setting up plays and passing but needs more movement from the others.

Come on guys. Ten more games at 6-4 and we can all become believers.

Reggie is constantly trying new things because two key cogs in the Kings machinery are sitting in street clothes right now. The whole offense has been built around the production of Kevin Martin. When he's not on the court AND our sparkplug Garcia is also missing, Theus is forced to play shift and pray basketball.

I think once our team is back at full strength we'll see a lot more cohesiveness and structure.

 

[Aenadin]

thanks for the insight guys... now if we only had a machine that can siphon and serve as a conduit of talents

share some post moves from hawes to thompson get some of thompsons athlethicism to hawes..

and drain what ever is left in KT lol

on the serious side im glad that the young ones are getting PT and are playing well.. hawes iMO could have a shot at Most improved player.... time to redeem us kings where we were robbed of it a few years back

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

JT$????

Lame. What a horrible nickname. Ugh.

Whenever I hear JT Money, I think of this guy.

Anybody who thinks that it's a good idea to have Thompson associated with that guy needs to be hit in the back of the head with a snow shovel.

 

[Mad D]

whenever I Hear Jt Money, I Think Of this Guy.

Anybody Who Thinks That It's A Good Idea To Have Thompson Associated With That Guy Needs To Be Hit In The Back Of The Head With A Snow Shovel.

Kt$

 

[VF21]

Okay, asinine nickname aside, I would LOVE to see both Hawes and Thompson at the rookie game this year in Phoenix. How often, though, is one team represented on both the rookie and sophomore squads?