KF Kings Prediction Poll #8: How Will the Kings Do on Defense?

[Bricklayer]

Prediction Poll #8.

In the 6 seasons since Rick Adelman was given the boot for allegedly not coaching enough defense, the Kings have not finished above 20th in Opponent FG% (one of the top defensive indicators). Last year they finished dead last, 30th, for the second time in 4 years. Where do you think the Kings will rank defensively this year?

Kings Opp FG% through the years:
2012-13 ??
2011-12 .476 (30th)
2010-11 .478 (28th)
2009-10 .469 (20th)
2008-09 .483 (30th)
2007-08 .466 (22nd)
2006-07 .472 (26th)


Previous Polls
Poll #1: How Will Reke Do This Year?
Poll #2: TRob's Rookie Season
Poll #3: How Does Our PG Position Play Out
Poll #4: Marcus Thornton's Future Role
Poll #5: Will DMC Be an All Star This Year
Poll #6: Where will We Finish in the West This Year
Poll #7: Jimmer's Future in the League

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Not much room for optimism here. Barring new coaching, I don't think we're going to develop defensive schemes that suddenly turn the whole thing around, and we know that the personnel so far has been less than adequate defensively. I picked 25-27th, partially because I think being dead last (as opposed to bottom-5) is probably a bit of random chance, partially because I think there's at least hope for minor improvement. Cousins and Tyreke are a year older, so they may catch on defensively a bit, we can only hope that Hayes will be more effective this year than last, Robinson has got to be an improvement on Hickson's D, and Johnson was brought in specifically to play some perimeter D. Between all of those, I think we can hope to move up a few slots, but I still think the team will be pretty bad defensively.

 

[bajaden]

I voted 15th to 19th, mostly because I believe my fairy godmother is going to come down and wave a magic wand. Seriously, I have no idea. We have new players along with a full training camp and preseason games. I'm not sure who the defensive guru is on the Kings, if we indeed have one. But, if we do, maybe he can find a way to tighten up the ship a bit and perhaps even inspire some of the players to put an emphasis on playing defense. Defense has to start at the top. If the coaching staff doesn't push it, it won't happen. So we'll see!

 

[DesertFox]

JT, Cuz, and Hayes, and the addition of Trob, the bigs should at the very least stay the same, more likely they will show some improvement.

JJ should be a big improvement at forward, while the rest of the gaggle will probably hold steady, a little older but some continuity too. Voted for 25-27. but I could see them crack the top 20 if MT gets moved for another defending swingman.

If Brooks takes whatver time Jimmer had last year, it should be a wash (Jimmer was bad, but Brooks is pretty bad too). Tyreke, as always, will be the wildcard, he has all the same tools as Tony Allen, so the guard unit can be anything from below avg (like last year) to above avg.

So improvement at the forward spots, potential at guard.

 

[mac]

I voted 15th to 19th, mostly because I believe my fairy godmother is going to come down and wave a magic wand. Seriously, I have no idea. We have new players along with a full training camp and preseason games. I'm not sure who the defensive guru is on the Kings, if we indeed have one. But, if we do, maybe he can find a way to tighten up the ship a bit and perhaps even inspire some of the players to put an emphasis on playing defense. Defense has to start at the top. If the coaching staff doesn't push it, it won't happen. So we'll see!

I recall Smart saying (when we first hired him) that he was more of a defensive-minded coach than an offensive one. Hmm ... not sure if he was being serious.

 

[Kingster]

15-19, just because that's where they should be. Whether they get there or not is another question. If they don't get there it's because they play stupidly, or because they are lazy, or both, not because they don't have the talent. The stupidity last year was not just calling out screens or switching properly, but also stupid shot selection, which in turn caused easy fast break opportunities by the other team.

 

[Spike]

I think they should be a middle of the pack defensive team on athletic ability and talent alone, but the coaching needs to be there to get them there. A good half-court game plan suited to this team's offensive abilities will help allow for the team to successfully transition to defense. Running the kids to score a bunch of points won't.

They should be middle of the pack. They won't be.

 

[bajaden]

I think they should be a middle of the pack defensive team on athletic ability and talent alone, but the coaching needs to be there to get them there. A good half-court game plan suited to this team's offensive abilities will help allow for the team to successfully transition to defense. Running the kids to score a bunch of points won't.

They should be middle of the pack. They won't be.

Well if your going to run and gun, then you have to run and defend as well. The run and gun offense where quick shots are often taken, is a system thats prone to giving up easy points as well. You have to have defensive cheaters out there to stop the ball. Something we were absolutely terrible at last season. A lot of it comes down to having a coaching staff that emphasizes defense. Team defense is what wins games, and team defense is a system. No system, no defense, other than individual efforts. Just simple things like who you use to double and when. Making a big push on the pick and roll. Everyone has to know their role. It was common knowledge that the biggest compaint under Westphal, was that no one knew their role, or even if they had one. Hopefully Smart will correct that.