Kings are Afraid to Play Defense

[stojakapimp]

I know I've been pounding this O-Tag thing a lot lately, but I just can't get over how bad the kings are on defense. When Webber and Miller are both in the game, teams can drive whenever they want to and get easy baskets. In yesterdays game, we saw O-Tag come in and shut down their inside game (except for Shaq, but you can't stop that). So what happens when the game comes down to the wire? Kings ditch the defensive plan and rely on their offense to carry them. And as we saw, this didn't work.

So here's the dilemma. I obviously think that O-Tag needs more playing time. It'd be hard to justify starting O-Tag over Miller, but Kings have got to change something. Webber and Miller can be a good combo, but only on the offensive end. They have no defense. At least Miller will get down and dirty, but he's still surprisingly ineffective.

I feel that when O-Tag is in, Kings have the perfect balance of offense and defense. O-Tag certainly doesn't bring much offense to the team, but 4 out of 5 aint bad.

If the Kings don't improve their defense, they will have more games like last night's as well as an early exit from the playoffs.

 

[SacKings384]

If Brad was his normal self, he would have been much better... He would have hit those 2 wide open jumpers he had... And the Kings would have probably won the game...

 

[Heuge]

I know I've been pounding this O-Tag thing a lot lately, but I just can't get over how bad the kings are on defense. When Webber and Miller are both in the game, teams can drive whenever they want to and get easy baskets. In yesterdays game, we saw O-Tag come in and shut down their inside game (except for Shaq, but you can't stop that). So what happens when the game comes down to the wire? Kings ditch the defensive plan and rely on their offense to carry them. And as we saw, this didn't work.

So here's the dilemma. I obviously think that O-Tag needs more playing time. It'd be hard to justify starting O-Tag over Miller, but Kings have got to change something. Webber and Miller can be a good combo, but only on the offensive end. They have no defense. At least Miller will get down and dirty, but he's still surprisingly ineffective.

I feel that when O-Tag is in, Kings have the perfect balance of offense and defense. O-Tag certainly doesn't bring much offense to the team, but 4 out of 5 aint bad.

If the Kings don't improve their defense, they will have more games like last night's as well as an early exit from the playoffs.

I think your thread is improperly titled. Your post that accompanies it says more about changing Tag's role.

 

[stojakapimp]

I think your thread is improperly titled. Your post that accompanies it says more about changing Tag's role.

Well I mentioned that they were afraid to play defense last night so they relied on their offense and it didn't work. I could try to go through other games that had the same outcomes because of that problem but that would be time consuming.

The change in O-Tags role is an effect of them being afraid to play defense.

 

[Lamar_Odom]

The Kings are not afraid to play defense. Defense is about desire, determination, not fear.

 

[Bricklayer]

If I had to translate this thread the point might be that Rick is afriad to COMMIT to defense at the expense of offense?There might be some truth to that if that is the point. If the point is other...

 

[Andriod_KiNg]

We are afraid of beating good teams... this **** is getting frustrating...

 

[HndsmCelt]

The Kings are not palying much D, turning it on for spurts. In general things are looking up, rebounds are up, the Tag is proving to be a strong inside presence when he gets court time. The Kings are where they are in the standing beceause the are beating the teams they are supposed to and they will stay in the top 4 untill they bring their game together and play a more solid defence, and exicute smarter in tough spots. Last game was whthin their reach and yes there were several little things they could ahve done better to win. I belive in the Kings and I choose to belive they will contenue to adress their weakness.

 

[CruzDude]

Maybe the Kings can't play good defense. CWebb is very flat footed, has no lateral quickness at all and can barely jump. Even his dunks don't have much elevation. Brad is great on offense and can bang with the best of them but he too has no lateral quickness although he can jump a bit. (White men can't jump was not a misnomer) Tag is much better on defense and can put back and layup but has no real offense.

Who is left to close down the middle? Is it incorrect to say most teams are now routinely outscoring the Kings with points in the paint? You all are certainly pointing out why. But what do we do about it?

I often think about Yogi Stewart his first year here before we (with OP Sucks help) shipped him elsewhere. He is quick, a major shot blocker, a rebounder and could score from 10-14 ft. Anyone else come to mind who might help? Adelman was dealt the hand he has to play with and what abilities they bring.

Other than Pedja and Mike who have we got that others would really want now? Miller maybe? but then we could never have Tag start, he has the poorest hands on the team. Arrrgggghhhhhhh......

 

[BigWaxer]

Good post HndsmCelt... I totally agree with all that. Overall things are looking pretty good, they are improving in area's and it is obvious they are working on things.

I don't suspect we will ever see this group of Kings be the Pistons on "D". When they play it they do play avg/gd team defense and have proven they can get stops.

They just need to put together a full game effort and I think we will be good. I would rather they peak in March and April then in December.

 

[shaka zulu]

IT is still early in the Season but overall the kings have improved there play on both ends of the floor,they are still getting adjusted to playing with Greg O especially Rick adleman I think there is still some trust issues with Adleman and O-Tag but this is a very natural process when a player and coach have never work together before. so it is still some feeling out each thang going on. But Like they were saying after the game it was a tough loss no one made any excuses which was great in my opinion because you usually get that from the Kings after a tough loss and with the way the officiating and everything was I didn't really hear any complaints from the squad.Chris webber really impressed me by saying they were a good team it was a Good game and there are more games left to be played,other times you hear him complain and point fingers,we must remember that playoff basketball is what counts and I see the mentality changing with the team they are tired of being a regular season team they are looking ahead and forgetting about the reg season accollades,winning games is important but the way the playoffs may look the homecourt advantage really won't be a factor.


Each team we be able to beat one another on the road,and with SUNS and SONICS you may have to question playoff experience. that will be an issue there and then the two teams the SPURS and T-WOLVES the KINGS match up pretty well with both teams. O-Tag I think will be a difference maker with the SPURS and the T-WOLVES will be us getting that monkey off our backs that series will be a battle of psychology so basically it will come down to who's will is strongest, the T-wolves seem to put us to sleep they have some type of trance thang when I see us play them it always seems like we should every game go up big on those guy's and you always think to yourselves that this game is over and we should win.But they seem to come out on top,it's real strange they put us to sleep ,and I think it's how they make us play defense,I have notice that the WOLVES more than any other team take advantage of our inabilty to play 48 minutes of defense,especially on the half court they pass the ball around at least 18-20 seconds every posession and when we think we have them jammed defensively they are at the last 5-7 seconds making an extra pass for a shot.It seems like we think we have them and at the last minute our defense looses focus and you hear Grant napear counting down there posession and and it seems like we have them jammed and some one gets a cheap basket,or an easy cheap garbage rebound that turns out to be costly I don't get it. .

But indeed O-Tag is a defensive presence I saw a few times were the kings gave baseline to their opponents and they had faith and confidence with O-Tag being there clogging up that basket and this is something I have never seen with the team doug gladly gave up the penetration knowing O-Tag was there that's a real good sign of presence around that basket.

But really the kings are getting their stuff together,and playoff basketball is what it's all about and Mo evans along with O-Tag will grtadually help us with those blemish points under that basket defensively and offensively.

 

[nAj jAn™]

Kings are not afraid, they just don't defend well...They are not good in defense(some players like Bibby)...That's all!

Its in the player!

Some players are great defenders, some are great in offense, some are great in both! But some just don't play defense at all. They try to defend but still, they want to, but they're just not good at it.... Its in the player! You know what I mean!

Bibby is a great shooter, as well as Pedja. They always practice shooting! And they're good at it. They also practice to defend an opponent! I think they're trying to be a good defender, but, they're just not as good as Christie. Maybe because they love to shoot. Christie, for me is a great shooter. And he always practice shooting! But he's a defense first type of player! He's a gifted athlete, he's gifted in defending! It's what he is..It's what his genes is..It's what his motto or goal is, To defend well! Its what his character is! Its what his type of playing basketball! DEFENSE!

On the other hand, Bibby or Pedja, they're a type of player who wants to shoot, likes to shoot, and just shoot more! They're born to shoot! They don't defend well because, I think they don't like to defend...I don't know! They're just a type of player who loves in the offensive end, and not very good in the defensive end.... They are a gifted athlete(well not so athletic but a great baskteball players), they are gifted in shooting! It's what they are...Its what their genes are...Its what their motto or goal are, to shoot well! Its what their character are! Its what their type of playing basketball! OFFENSE!

Defense can be taught, offense can also be taught, but its difficult! Teaching defense is just like teaching a right hander to write with his left hand! It can be done but takes time! Unless you want it to....

Well, Pedja is improving his defense, year by year! Let's hope all the Kings can be dedicated to defend well....One important thing about basketball is TEAM defense, and they must not be taught playing defense individually, they must be taught to played defense......AS A TEAM!!!!

Defend as a team, KINGS! as what you play basketball.... TEAM!!!


GO Kings!!

 

[VF21]

CWebb is very flat footed, has no lateral quickness at all and can barely jump. Even his dunks don't have much elevation. . .

That quite simply is NOT true. His dunks do have elevation and it's getting better all the time. In addition, it's been mentioned on SportsCenter and other national shows that his jumpers seem to have more lift than they've seen him have in several years.

The team has problems, sure. They have things they need to work on. They may get it all together and they may not.

I had a good friend (a Laker fan, but that's not really important) who was at the Wizards game. He was totally amazed by how good Webber looked and is STILL talking about it.

Are people really going to lose faith in the Kings in December? I have a poster up on my living room wall that ran in the Sacramento Bee on Nov. 2, 2004 ... It says "Our spirit will not be broken!" I think that says a lot. It's a shame it was signed by players - it looks like the fans are the ones who need a little spirit boost.

GO KINGS!!!

 

[slugking50]

Defense is also about talent and skill. Isn't it?! You have to have the athleticism to move your feet quickly from side to side, forward and backwards. No matter how much desire I have I wont be able to guard anybody. Mike Bibby just doesn't have good lateral movement. Nothing he can really do abiout it accept play as hard as he can. Most of our Kings dont have the athleticism to be good defenders. They have to use skill and smarts.

 

[AriesMar27]

its all bibby's fault that they los to the heat.... he left jones wide ****ing open, knowing damn well that he had been hittin his shots all night long. there is nothing else that you can say about the teams defense against the heat... there is no way that damon should have scored as much as he did, all wide open shots too....

 

[SacKings384]

Actually... That was Webbers rotation... Not Bibbys...

 

[love_them_kings]

That quite simply is NOT true. His dunks do have elevation and it's getting better all the time. In addition, it's been mentioned on SportsCenter and other national shows that his jumpers seem to have more lift than they've seen him have in several years.

The team has problems, sure. They have things they need to work on. They may get it all together and they may not.

I had a good friend (a Laker fan, but that's not really important) who was at the Wizards game. He was totally amazed by how good Webber looked and is STILL talking about it.

Are people really going to lose faith in the Kings in December? I have a poster up on my living room wall that ran in the Sacramento Bee on Nov. 2, 2004 ... It says "Our spirit will not be broken!" I think that says a lot. It's a shame it was signed by players - it looks like the fans are the ones who need a little spirit boost.

GO KINGS!!!

Agreed! Webber looks great! I am amazed at how much better he looks from last year, and based on the nature of his injury, I can honestly say that he looks much better than I imagined possible.

The Kings are going to do great. I have a lot of confidence in this team. Yes, there needs to be some adjustments, especially now that it looks like we'll be missing Bobby for a while, but I believe they will be made. And, we are winning the games we are supposed to, and that is something we have had problems with in the past.

Finally, the team defense does need to improve. I think that part of what is lacking is the incredible defense of Doug Christie. He still plays well, but his defense is not what it was last year. I suspect it's because he is still struggling with his foot ailment, or he may just be getting older. We will have to wait and see.