Kings @ Blazers (Pre-Season) Game Discussion
- Thread starter jcwkings
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Early on Ben was set up by Rondo where proceeded to miss a wide open three that HAS to be knocked down for our offensive system to work. It will basically be the Cuz/Gay ISO show entirely if no one in the starting lineup can make a consistent jumper besides Cuz. Thats why Beli needs to start, with Rondo/Gay having shaky jumpers everything will be clogged up. Sure Beli is a bad defender but he has the ability to make it up consistently on the other end whereas Ben does not. Perhaps if Rondo is healthy he can pick up the other teams playmaker and Beli can be hidden on their 3&D guy.
Ben still appears overwhelmed out there when he is in with the starters, his decision making is not any sharper and he still cant dribble without turning it over.
This stuff either needs to be fixed or he can take a seat because a team that has playoff aspirations and more importantly is on the clock with Cousins contract cannot have a liability out there with the starters.
Ben still appears overwhelmed out there when he is in with the starters, his decision making is not any sharper and he still cant dribble without turning it over.
This stuff either needs to be fixed or he can take a seat because a team that has playoff aspirations and more importantly is on the clock with Cousins contract cannot have a liability out there with the starters.
I'm really not clear on what you expect from Marco this year. Is he going to significantly improve on his career averages across the board? 9ppg career avg is going to increase to what in order to make him much more productive than Ben's 12 ppg last year? Shoots 37% from 3 vs. Ben's 36%. Does not rebound better, get more steals or play defense better than Ben right now or at any point in his career. What makes him different this year?
I'm very happy to have Marco and think he upgrades our team. But if Ben improves even slightly, he's the better overall player.
Marco is going to bring veteran play that will come into play at the end of games, which is when the Kings suffered most the last couple years. But he doesn't need to start in order to do that.
I'm very happy to have Marco and think he upgrades our team. But if Ben improves even slightly, he's the better overall player.
Marco is going to bring veteran play that will come into play at the end of games, which is when the Kings suffered most the last couple years. But he doesn't need to start in order to do that.
Ben needs to improve on his turnovers. He needs to make sure that he doesn't disappear from games when he's not scoring. Make his presence felt in other ways. Needs to improve his ball handling. I think Ben needs to take responsibility for getting himself involved in the offense if he's not getting his shot as much as he needs.
Yet he is still putting up average SG numbers with room to grow. If he doesn't realize his potential, then that is on him. But he's 22 and it remains to be seen.
I'll give WCS the same leeway because of his potential.
Yet he is still putting up average SG numbers with room to grow. If he doesn't realize his potential, then that is on him. But he's 22 and it remains to be seen.
I'll give WCS the same leeway because of his potential.
Last year, the Kings had a really effective starting five. Statistically, they were solid defensively and one of the top efficiency units on the offensive end. The bench was a train wreck. They couldn't score, couldn't defend, and the lack of a backup center meant that they couldn't rebound and close out the few defensive possessions that resulted in a missed shot.
I think this year they have the balance to put out a strong starting five with a competitive bench. Moving Bellinelli to the starting five MIGHT have a slight statistical improvement due to better spacing for Cousins, but it takes a creator and decent PnR shooter from the bench and puts him on the floor with two shot-hungry stars and a ball-pounding PG in Rondo. You're sacrificing significant bench firepower for a marginal increase in offensive effectiveness in the starting unit, and that's only looking at the offensive side of the court.
Ben is already a better defender than Marco, he shoots almost as well and is lightning in the fast break. Let Marco come off the bench where he can actually get shots up instead of making him play 3rd (or 4th, depending on Rondo) fiddle on offense with the starters.
I think this year they have the balance to put out a strong starting five with a competitive bench. Moving Bellinelli to the starting five MIGHT have a slight statistical improvement due to better spacing for Cousins, but it takes a creator and decent PnR shooter from the bench and puts him on the floor with two shot-hungry stars and a ball-pounding PG in Rondo. You're sacrificing significant bench firepower for a marginal increase in offensive effectiveness in the starting unit, and that's only looking at the offensive side of the court.
Ben is already a better defender than Marco, he shoots almost as well and is lightning in the fast break. Let Marco come off the bench where he can actually get shots up instead of making him play 3rd (or 4th, depending on Rondo) fiddle on offense with the starters.
That was so much fun watching Marco-Polo go to work out there, just like against Spain when he exploded at the 2nd half.
Well, pre-season, but it felt so good to get that comeback win, it's a pleasure to watch WCS play defense and just the amount of effort he's playing with, I wish he's going to improve his rebounding during the season, but then again, we have Kosta who's probably the one who's going to start.
I want to see Marco and Casspi playing together along with DC, WCS and Acy. Sheesh... talk about hige tempo game.
Well, pre-season, but it felt so good to get that comeback win, it's a pleasure to watch WCS play defense and just the amount of effort he's playing with, I wish he's going to improve his rebounding during the season, but then again, we have Kosta who's probably the one who's going to start.
I want to see Marco and Casspi playing together along with DC, WCS and Acy. Sheesh... talk about hige tempo game.
I think I'm in the start WCS camp simply for this reason. But Karl prefers to play vets.
Starting Cousins and 2K only works if your plan is to pound your smaller opponents in the paint ala Memphis. But if you start floating Cousins around the 3pt line, you've taken away any advantage you could've had.
Starting Cousins and 2K only works if your plan is to pound your smaller opponents in the paint ala Memphis. But if you start floating Cousins around the 3pt line, you've taken away any advantage you could've had.
I imagine we'll see different starting line-ups in the first few preseason games, so I'm waiting to see how each lineup rotation does before making proclamations.
I would like to see a Rondo/Marco backcourt, a WCS/Boogie combo, a Darren/McLemore combo, and a Boogie/Gay/Casspi frontline tried at some point.
I would like to see a Rondo/Marco backcourt, a WCS/Boogie combo, a Darren/McLemore combo, and a Boogie/Gay/Casspi frontline tried at some point.
Cousins is really good at the left elbow. Kosta is a scrapper with some touch around the rim, but he doesn't have nearly the polish on his offensive game as Gasol or Randolph. It's tough to run a Memphis style high-low game without two polished offensive bigs.
The problem is that WCS is also a non-factor on offense. He got his shots sent back a few times last night by mediocre rim protectors just because he doesn't have a feel for the game around the basket. His game is currently Deandre Jordan without the rebounding. If he can show me some of those mid-range jumpers we were hearing about in training camp, then maybe he is a better fit than Koufos.
The problem is that WCS is also a non-factor on offense. He got his shots sent back a few times last night by mediocre rim protectors just because he doesn't have a feel for the game around the basket. His game is currently Deandre Jordan without the rebounding. If he can show me some of those mid-range jumpers we were hearing about in training camp, then maybe he is a better fit than Koufos.
I didn't see the Cousins from last year- the unstoppable force inside that often demanded triple treams. I want to make that the norm, and I don't trust 2K or WCS to nail an outside shot... so I think the best option is Rudy at PF.
Hopefully this Cousins shooting 3's nonsense will stop. If we're going to start two centers we might as well start both our point guards too.
Honestly, I feel like we're missing a starting PF.
Other than that, very exciting to see us get the win!
Hopefully this Cousins shooting 3's nonsense will stop. If we're going to start two centers we might as well start both our point guards too.
Honestly, I feel like we're missing a starting PF.
Other than that, very exciting to see us get the win!
I don't want WCS. A lot of people who are asking for him completely ignore the offense.
His offense is worse than Kofus. Not a knock on Willie, but it's true. That starting unit had absolutely no floor space whatsoever.
We need to move Rudy to PF, but let WCS/Kofus start in case of a bad mismatch for Rudy.
We need to a promote a stretch SG/SF to the starting lineup. Someone who can at least knock down 3's and defend the opposing SF. I think that player can be James Anderson. He played really really solid D last night, and only had about 1-2 shot attempts. I wouldn't play him a ton, but I'd let him start in order to space the floor a lot more. You can't have Casspi start because that guy is indecisive as hell. He'll pass up a wide open 3 to drive in a lane full of defenders. I'm pretty sure he takes a few extra steps in the mix too. He's just best suited as the spark guy from the bench until he shows that he can improve his 3pt shooting.
Belinelli would be another interesting option, but he can't guard SFs.
Butler would be another interesting option, but I have doubts about his defense.
Ben can't guard SFs either.
All points to James Anderson if we want to spread the floor.
His offense is worse than Kofus. Not a knock on Willie, but it's true. That starting unit had absolutely no floor space whatsoever.
We need to move Rudy to PF, but let WCS/Kofus start in case of a bad mismatch for Rudy.
We need to a promote a stretch SG/SF to the starting lineup. Someone who can at least knock down 3's and defend the opposing SF. I think that player can be James Anderson. He played really really solid D last night, and only had about 1-2 shot attempts. I wouldn't play him a ton, but I'd let him start in order to space the floor a lot more. You can't have Casspi start because that guy is indecisive as hell. He'll pass up a wide open 3 to drive in a lane full of defenders. I'm pretty sure he takes a few extra steps in the mix too. He's just best suited as the spark guy from the bench until he shows that he can improve his 3pt shooting.
Belinelli would be another interesting option, but he can't guard SFs.
Butler would be another interesting option, but I have doubts about his defense.
Ben can't guard SFs either.
All points to James Anderson if we want to spread the floor.
I'm pretty sure that WCS could adequately fill the same role as Jordan on the Clippers.
The problem is that Rondo is a different creature than Paul on the pick and roll. Paul is a scoring threat anywhere in the half-court. You have to pick him up at the three point line, which means either you give Jordan a diving lane or you rotate to cover and leave a shooter open on the perimeter somewhere. Rondo's lack of a shot means he has to drive inside after the pick to be a scoring threat, which really means he needs a pick and pop big man to be really effective. Cousins is decent there. WCS is not (yet.)
The best option would be to implement a good motion offense that let WCS focus on screening Ben and Rudy off-ball while Rondo and Cousins play a two-man game. Let everyone play to their strengths.
The problem is that Rondo is a different creature than Paul on the pick and roll. Paul is a scoring threat anywhere in the half-court. You have to pick him up at the three point line, which means either you give Jordan a diving lane or you rotate to cover and leave a shooter open on the perimeter somewhere. Rondo's lack of a shot means he has to drive inside after the pick to be a scoring threat, which really means he needs a pick and pop big man to be really effective. Cousins is decent there. WCS is not (yet.)
The best option would be to implement a good motion offense that let WCS focus on screening Ben and Rudy off-ball while Rondo and Cousins play a two-man game. Let everyone play to their strengths.
Don't know where you got that from, but it doesn't take one preseason game to think that our PF spot might be a problem. Last night's game only highlights the problem. Just look at the roster- JT is no longer here! Rudy is a beast at SF and I would love to keep him there, but if it means we put Cousins back in his most effective spot, then I'd rather go small. The cost of this is then having a problem at SF b/c Casspi is not a starter.
I give the Cousins experiment a third of our season, and if it fails we should make one more trade to get a PF, then all will be right. Unfortunately, it will have to be WCS and that could end up ruining chemistry, especially since he is Kentucky blood.
I give the Cousins experiment a third of our season, and if it fails we should make one more trade to get a PF, then all will be right. Unfortunately, it will have to be WCS and that could end up ruining chemistry, especially since he is Kentucky blood.
The solution to our problem at PF is not to move a natural SF into the role. We're still a work in progress. We need to keep Cousins where he does best, Rudy where he does best, and we need to keep working on finding a legitimate 4 (if we don't already have one on the roster).
It's been one pre-season game. As much as I love to see people so excited about the Kings again, I don't like to see us falling back into the bad habit of suggesting we play good players out of position to solve a deficiency.
It's been one pre-season game. As much as I love to see people so excited about the Kings again, I don't like to see us falling back into the bad habit of suggesting we play good players out of position to solve a deficiency.