biltalent
Starter
The Kings currently have a 13-18 record. The roster is the most talented Sacramento has had in years, but still they are underperforming. By using stats and watching film this little series tries to analyze what is wrong with the system they run. Of course, putting blame only on the coaching staff and the system doesn’t paint the whole picture, because the players have to be hold accountable, too.
And still, it seems like the system itself does not put the Kings in a position to win more games than they have.
In this first part I want to focus on the system the Kings have on defense. The second part, coming in a few days, will look at the offensive system.
I don’t claim my analysis to be complete but I hope you enjoy it and I’d love to hear your feedback.
The eye test and stats both tell the same story: The Sacramento Kings 2015/2016 are a poor defensive team. They currently are 28th in Opponent Points Per Game, 24th in Defensive Rating (Points allowed per 100 possesions) and 29th in 3-Point shots made against. By watching their games it always feels like the players are out of position, either gambling for steals or helplessly recovering to an open 3-Point shooter.
But what are the main problems that cause the nightly defensive breakdowns?
One important aspect is that the Kings are constantly over-helping on the inside and therefore leaving their man open on the perimeter.
The following sequence in the loss against Portland underpins that very good:
Meyers Leonard, guarded by Cousins, is doing a dribble-handoff with McCollum who is guarded by Casspi at the top of the arc. After receiving the ball, McCollum penetrates to the rim, which causes 3 Kings players to go to the ballhandler: Cousins, who leaves Leonard to stop McCollum, Casspi who follows McCollum and Belinelli who helps one pass away of Crabbe. As a result, Leonard and Crabbe are open, and Leonard, only shooting .287% on 3-Pointers, hits an easy open 3.
You can see this in the following picture, which is taken after the dribble-handoff.
Notice how Rondo and Mclemore on the other side are already in position to rotate to Leonard or Crabbe. But if even if they would get to them in time, both Leonard or Crabbe could just throw an easy pass to the open man in their corner, again resulting in an open 3.
This happens far often and is clearly by design. It’s not hard to find numerous instances of kings players over-helping on the inside and helping on pass away of capable 3-Point shooters. The numbers underline that point. The Kings are 29th in 3-Point shots taken and made against. They are not going to win many games giving up open 3-Pointer after open 3-Pointer.
A related issue is the way the kings defend the Pick and Roll, especially the corner Pick and roll. A common concept of good NBA defenses is to prevent middle penetration and “ice” the Pick and Roll. This is a very good strategy, especially when the rollman is not a good shooter, since no 3rd rotating defender is needed.
Here is a video of Coach Nick of Bballbreakdown who explains the principles of “ice”
Under George Karl, the Kings rarely use this concept. They allow way to much middle penetration on Pick and Rolls, even against non-stretch bigs like Plumlee.
Watch the following picture. Rondo is not performing “ice”, therefore allowing middle penetration by McCollum. McCollum blows by Cousins and scores.
Even if they would try to stop McCollum from scoring himself, they would need a third defender to rotate over, in this case Casspi or Collison. But if either of them stopped McCollum it would leave Aminu open under the basket or Crabbe open at the 3-Point line.
Again, they are not going to win many games giving up easy shots like that.
Overall, the defense is just too often out of position. They gamble a lot for steals to run fastbreaks. They don’t perform “ice” and have to rotate, leaving their own man open. They switch screens and give up mismatches. And even if the opponent misses, all of the switching and being out of position leads to easy offensive rebounds for the other team. We saw this against the Twolves and also last night against the Trailblazers at the end of the game. The Kings couldn’t get a lot of important defensive rebounds even if they got a stop.
It’s easy for the coaching staff to blame the players for not boxing out and not bringing enough energy. And to an extent they are right. But the system itself is flawed and doesn’t put the players in a position to be successful on the defensive end.
I’m not advocating to fire George Karl but the defensive philosophy has to change, either with him or without him as a head coach. Stay to your man and don’t help one pass away. Play “ice” on Pick and Rolls and give up long contested twos. Don’t switch and focus on getting defensive rebounds.
In Part II of “In the filmroom” series, I’m going to look at the offensive system they run. Hope you enjoyed it!
And still, it seems like the system itself does not put the Kings in a position to win more games than they have.
In this first part I want to focus on the system the Kings have on defense. The second part, coming in a few days, will look at the offensive system.
I don’t claim my analysis to be complete but I hope you enjoy it and I’d love to hear your feedback.
The eye test and stats both tell the same story: The Sacramento Kings 2015/2016 are a poor defensive team. They currently are 28th in Opponent Points Per Game, 24th in Defensive Rating (Points allowed per 100 possesions) and 29th in 3-Point shots made against. By watching their games it always feels like the players are out of position, either gambling for steals or helplessly recovering to an open 3-Point shooter.
But what are the main problems that cause the nightly defensive breakdowns?
One important aspect is that the Kings are constantly over-helping on the inside and therefore leaving their man open on the perimeter.
The following sequence in the loss against Portland underpins that very good:
Meyers Leonard, guarded by Cousins, is doing a dribble-handoff with McCollum who is guarded by Casspi at the top of the arc. After receiving the ball, McCollum penetrates to the rim, which causes 3 Kings players to go to the ballhandler: Cousins, who leaves Leonard to stop McCollum, Casspi who follows McCollum and Belinelli who helps one pass away of Crabbe. As a result, Leonard and Crabbe are open, and Leonard, only shooting .287% on 3-Pointers, hits an easy open 3.
You can see this in the following picture, which is taken after the dribble-handoff.
Notice how Rondo and Mclemore on the other side are already in position to rotate to Leonard or Crabbe. But if even if they would get to them in time, both Leonard or Crabbe could just throw an easy pass to the open man in their corner, again resulting in an open 3.
This happens far often and is clearly by design. It’s not hard to find numerous instances of kings players over-helping on the inside and helping on pass away of capable 3-Point shooters. The numbers underline that point. The Kings are 29th in 3-Point shots taken and made against. They are not going to win many games giving up open 3-Pointer after open 3-Pointer.
A related issue is the way the kings defend the Pick and Roll, especially the corner Pick and roll. A common concept of good NBA defenses is to prevent middle penetration and “ice” the Pick and Roll. This is a very good strategy, especially when the rollman is not a good shooter, since no 3rd rotating defender is needed.
Here is a video of Coach Nick of Bballbreakdown who explains the principles of “ice”
Under George Karl, the Kings rarely use this concept. They allow way to much middle penetration on Pick and Rolls, even against non-stretch bigs like Plumlee.
Watch the following picture. Rondo is not performing “ice”, therefore allowing middle penetration by McCollum. McCollum blows by Cousins and scores.
Even if they would try to stop McCollum from scoring himself, they would need a third defender to rotate over, in this case Casspi or Collison. But if either of them stopped McCollum it would leave Aminu open under the basket or Crabbe open at the 3-Point line.
Again, they are not going to win many games giving up easy shots like that.
Overall, the defense is just too often out of position. They gamble a lot for steals to run fastbreaks. They don’t perform “ice” and have to rotate, leaving their own man open. They switch screens and give up mismatches. And even if the opponent misses, all of the switching and being out of position leads to easy offensive rebounds for the other team. We saw this against the Twolves and also last night against the Trailblazers at the end of the game. The Kings couldn’t get a lot of important defensive rebounds even if they got a stop.
It’s easy for the coaching staff to blame the players for not boxing out and not bringing enough energy. And to an extent they are right. But the system itself is flawed and doesn’t put the players in a position to be successful on the defensive end.
I’m not advocating to fire George Karl but the defensive philosophy has to change, either with him or without him as a head coach. Stay to your man and don’t help one pass away. Play “ice” on Pick and Rolls and give up long contested twos. Don’t switch and focus on getting defensive rebounds.
In Part II of “In the filmroom” series, I’m going to look at the offensive system they run. Hope you enjoyed it!
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