Just for kicks:
Kings Defensive Grades 04/05
Peja -- Rng: C to B+; Avg: B -- ranges from just out there to quite good. Rarely has truly awful games anymore, and has stretches (quarters, halves) where he plays like an A player and locks somebody down. Solid one on one defender, but not a very good help defender -- no shotblocking at all, rotations are sometimes slow and tentative, does step in and get some steals on doubles.
Webb -- Rng: D- to B; Avg: C+ -- his nightly grade depends almost entirely upon his knee, and talking about an "average" game for Webb is a misnomer. Some nights he's severely restricted, some nights he's active and an effective interior defender. Not having the absolutely putrid rooted to one spot nights he had last year though -- even on bad nights normally finds a way to occasionally be disruptive. Still has the great hands, pokes a lot of balls away, but beginning to look like he will never be a significant shotblocker again, which is a major problem when you start alongside Brad Miller.
Miller -- Rng: D to B-; Avg: C -- have come to the unfortunate conclusion that Brad is a significant problem for us defensively. Even on his best nights is not an impact defender, and on his worst nights just gets worked. Lack of verticality means that players have absolutely no fear of going right at him, nor of driving the interior on us. Still works hard, and when he's at his most effective he gets scrappy and turns it into a war in there.
Christie -- Rng: C to A; Avg: B -- not consistently the defender he once was. Still has very effective nights, and has shut down major scorers several times this year. But also has nights he never used to have where he is totally irrelevant, and we might as well be guarding his opponent with one of our young guys. Steals are way way down, and that's a reflection of his diminished energy -- has good bursts, good games, but not bringing it every minute of every night the way he once did. Still overall a good defensive option at OG, but not enough of an impact on many nights to key our entire defense and dominate that side of the ball the way he once did.
Bibby -- Rng: F to C+; Avg: D+ -- of course a major defensive issue for us on many nights. Not as bad as JWill used to be, but combines below average quickness and athleticism with lack of focus. Results in a lot of average guys having big nights against us, and a lot of open threes around the perimeter. Also puts pressure on our shaky interior defense as Mike gets picked fairly easily and a lot of guys come driving down the lane. If there is a bright side its that he's shown an ability to step up at times and control even very good offensive PGs when he's in the right mood.
BJax -- Rng: C- to B+; Avg: B- -- not sure whether Bobby had lost a step, or whether he just was as distracted and erratic on defense as he has been at times on offense this year. But whatever the reason, there have been times this year where Bobby has been just flat out blown by by guys that you wouldn't think could do that to him. Overall still an effective physical defender on most nights who overwhelems just because of pure energy. But not getting many steals anymore, and his imapct is more often on offense/the glass/hustle than by swarmign on defense.
Songaila Rng: D+ to B; Avg: C+ -- effort defender, but without the physical skills to consistently make an impact. On his good nights, hustles and harasses, on his bad nights, looks slowfooted and undersized. Rotates on defense better than perhaps any player on the team except Christie. Absolutely no shotblocking at all though. Can't play the big man role and defend the interior because drivers just shoot it right over him with no fear of him blocking the shot at all.
Ostertag -- Rng: B- to A; Avg: B+ -- increasingly looking like he may have to be the guy who is our salvation on defense, if we are going to find one. Just so huge that he is a presence in there even when he's not playing well. Can also seriously disrupt the man he is guarding with his length. And when he's going well, is a game changer. On his bad nights, will make dumb fouls and move himself out of rebounding position trying to block too many shots. On his good nights, stands tall in the middle and effectively takes away the drive from the opposing team.
Barnes -- Rng: C- to B+; Avg: B- -- athletic player who works hard on the defensive side of the floor. Mistake prone on that side of the floor as he is on offense. Makes a lot of harassing hustle plays, but has shown that he can't seriously effect an elite offensive player with his defense.
Evans ( INC ) -- extremely encouraging night against Miami for Evans. Certainly has the athleticism to be a major league defender if he stays focused. Will have to see whether he can maintain focus and sustain that level night in and night out. Mature player, so bodes well.
Martin ( INC ) -- very little to go on since camp. At that time looked aggressive and willing to stick his nose in there, but also too weak to bang bodies with guys consistently.
Daniels ( INC ) -- also very little to go on. Seems to know what he's doing and pay attention on defense, but not an impact player at this point.
Adelman ( C ) -- a few years ago this same coach coached one of the best defensive teams in the league. So clearly his system can produce defense if the personnel is there. But its not this year, and Rick's response has been to try to create a more efficient offense to try to take away easy opportunities for the opposition. Really focuses on offensive skill when doling out playing time, but in former years in particular has always been concerend with trying to match up on defense during games as well (sometimes even perhaps too much so, allowing other teams to dictate our personnel). This year though, lack of depth has led to less ability to matchup. Has been slow to recognize not only the importance, but perhaps the necessity of major minutes for Tag as our only shotblocker, but seems to be coming around. On the one hand very hard to blame Rick for this team's lack of defense -- never been a coach alive who could turn the guys we currently have into a defensive powerhouse. But on the other hand has not been willing to try to experiment and help things out by mixing in zones, traps etc. to try to conceal our lack of man on man stoppers. Nonetheless, overall defense has not been horrible night in and night out. Problem is more that we can't get stops when we need to or squeeze teams to close games out.
Kings Defensive Grades 04/05
Peja -- Rng: C to B+; Avg: B -- ranges from just out there to quite good. Rarely has truly awful games anymore, and has stretches (quarters, halves) where he plays like an A player and locks somebody down. Solid one on one defender, but not a very good help defender -- no shotblocking at all, rotations are sometimes slow and tentative, does step in and get some steals on doubles.
Webb -- Rng: D- to B; Avg: C+ -- his nightly grade depends almost entirely upon his knee, and talking about an "average" game for Webb is a misnomer. Some nights he's severely restricted, some nights he's active and an effective interior defender. Not having the absolutely putrid rooted to one spot nights he had last year though -- even on bad nights normally finds a way to occasionally be disruptive. Still has the great hands, pokes a lot of balls away, but beginning to look like he will never be a significant shotblocker again, which is a major problem when you start alongside Brad Miller.
Miller -- Rng: D to B-; Avg: C -- have come to the unfortunate conclusion that Brad is a significant problem for us defensively. Even on his best nights is not an impact defender, and on his worst nights just gets worked. Lack of verticality means that players have absolutely no fear of going right at him, nor of driving the interior on us. Still works hard, and when he's at his most effective he gets scrappy and turns it into a war in there.
Christie -- Rng: C to A; Avg: B -- not consistently the defender he once was. Still has very effective nights, and has shut down major scorers several times this year. But also has nights he never used to have where he is totally irrelevant, and we might as well be guarding his opponent with one of our young guys. Steals are way way down, and that's a reflection of his diminished energy -- has good bursts, good games, but not bringing it every minute of every night the way he once did. Still overall a good defensive option at OG, but not enough of an impact on many nights to key our entire defense and dominate that side of the ball the way he once did.
Bibby -- Rng: F to C+; Avg: D+ -- of course a major defensive issue for us on many nights. Not as bad as JWill used to be, but combines below average quickness and athleticism with lack of focus. Results in a lot of average guys having big nights against us, and a lot of open threes around the perimeter. Also puts pressure on our shaky interior defense as Mike gets picked fairly easily and a lot of guys come driving down the lane. If there is a bright side its that he's shown an ability to step up at times and control even very good offensive PGs when he's in the right mood.
BJax -- Rng: C- to B+; Avg: B- -- not sure whether Bobby had lost a step, or whether he just was as distracted and erratic on defense as he has been at times on offense this year. But whatever the reason, there have been times this year where Bobby has been just flat out blown by by guys that you wouldn't think could do that to him. Overall still an effective physical defender on most nights who overwhelems just because of pure energy. But not getting many steals anymore, and his imapct is more often on offense/the glass/hustle than by swarmign on defense.
Songaila Rng: D+ to B; Avg: C+ -- effort defender, but without the physical skills to consistently make an impact. On his good nights, hustles and harasses, on his bad nights, looks slowfooted and undersized. Rotates on defense better than perhaps any player on the team except Christie. Absolutely no shotblocking at all though. Can't play the big man role and defend the interior because drivers just shoot it right over him with no fear of him blocking the shot at all.
Ostertag -- Rng: B- to A; Avg: B+ -- increasingly looking like he may have to be the guy who is our salvation on defense, if we are going to find one. Just so huge that he is a presence in there even when he's not playing well. Can also seriously disrupt the man he is guarding with his length. And when he's going well, is a game changer. On his bad nights, will make dumb fouls and move himself out of rebounding position trying to block too many shots. On his good nights, stands tall in the middle and effectively takes away the drive from the opposing team.
Barnes -- Rng: C- to B+; Avg: B- -- athletic player who works hard on the defensive side of the floor. Mistake prone on that side of the floor as he is on offense. Makes a lot of harassing hustle plays, but has shown that he can't seriously effect an elite offensive player with his defense.
Evans ( INC ) -- extremely encouraging night against Miami for Evans. Certainly has the athleticism to be a major league defender if he stays focused. Will have to see whether he can maintain focus and sustain that level night in and night out. Mature player, so bodes well.
Martin ( INC ) -- very little to go on since camp. At that time looked aggressive and willing to stick his nose in there, but also too weak to bang bodies with guys consistently.
Daniels ( INC ) -- also very little to go on. Seems to know what he's doing and pay attention on defense, but not an impact player at this point.
Adelman ( C ) -- a few years ago this same coach coached one of the best defensive teams in the league. So clearly his system can produce defense if the personnel is there. But its not this year, and Rick's response has been to try to create a more efficient offense to try to take away easy opportunities for the opposition. Really focuses on offensive skill when doling out playing time, but in former years in particular has always been concerend with trying to match up on defense during games as well (sometimes even perhaps too much so, allowing other teams to dictate our personnel). This year though, lack of depth has led to less ability to matchup. Has been slow to recognize not only the importance, but perhaps the necessity of major minutes for Tag as our only shotblocker, but seems to be coming around. On the one hand very hard to blame Rick for this team's lack of defense -- never been a coach alive who could turn the guys we currently have into a defensive powerhouse. But on the other hand has not been willing to try to experiment and help things out by mixing in zones, traps etc. to try to conceal our lack of man on man stoppers. Nonetheless, overall defense has not been horrible night in and night out. Problem is more that we can't get stops when we need to or squeeze teams to close games out.
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