[Game] Kings @ Lakers - Sunday, March 24 - 6:30PT/9:30ET
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Did you pick up on Grant (and Doug) making little comments about DJs substitutions? Specifically about Bagley and why he was not put back in earlier? This makes me think this is directly from the FO, because we all know Grant is their mouthpiece and will push what the FO thinks. Just found it odd because he’s never critical of DJ
There have been direct and indirect criticisms of Joerger from Grant for quite a while now. I agree with you that Grant has been a mouthpiece of this organization for many years. Also, he has had a pretty close friendship with Vlade. Still, I wouldn't put money on the Joerger exit just yet. Vlade doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who is going to fire his coach without being very confident of being able to bring in a better coach as his replacement.
My overall impression of the Lakers-Kings game was of the Kings being somewhat puny and non-athletic compared to the Lakers. I hate to say that, but that's just what registered in my brain. Did anyone else have that impression? Other than Fox and Bagley and maybe Barnes, it seemed like everyone else was dwarfed by this injury-depleted Lakers team. I come away from the game thinking the Kings have to get longer and more athletic going forward.
Recently the Kings have had big trouble ending close games. They seem to lose most of the them. There is a certain lack of leadership on the floor. I would not blame Joerger. So who really is the leader of the Kings now? It is a hard question to answer. Fox or Buddy would be the obvious choices. Shumpert left a hole that is not that easy to fill. This is a bigger issue than most people probably believe.
Fox and Bagley are going to be the closers. They just are too green to consistently do that right now on a consistent basis, and I do believe that Joerger is "protecting" them somewhat from always being in those situations because they are so young. That's probably why we saw Bogs take a "closer" type shot at the end of the game with Fox in the corner. I've noticed recently that Fox is attempting to do a step back jumper. It hasn't worked all that well yet, but going forward I have a feeling it's going to be a go-to closer move.
Exactly. No question in terms of this season that the Kings were a better team with Iman Shumpert.
Chemistry and intangibles are things that none of the analytics experts will ever be able to quantify. The Kings upgraded with Barnes at the SF yet the team is playing worse. Barnes has much better stats than Shumpert yet the Kings team is playing worse.
Barnes is a far superior player to Shumpert offensively. Shumpert was playing like garbage offensively before the trade and his offense was so poor that it was starting to hurt the team. Barnes is about equal defensively to Shumpert but Barnes is much more versatile and can guard the bigger SF's and some PF's with his length. Barnes is also tremendous human being and does seem to show quiet leadership by example. Shumpert played with more passion and was better at "rallying the troops". Since his departure the Kings have lost their swagger. They don't play with that same edge and while other teams are ratcheting up their intensity down the stretch in an effort to make the playoffs.......the Kings seem to have lost some of that focus.
With all that said, I'd still rather take my chances with Harrison Barnes next season over Shumpert.
Chemistry and intangibles are things that none of the analytics experts will ever be able to quantify. The Kings upgraded with Barnes at the SF yet the team is playing worse. Barnes has much better stats than Shumpert yet the Kings team is playing worse.
Barnes is a far superior player to Shumpert offensively. Shumpert was playing like garbage offensively before the trade and his offense was so poor that it was starting to hurt the team. Barnes is about equal defensively to Shumpert but Barnes is much more versatile and can guard the bigger SF's and some PF's with his length. Barnes is also tremendous human being and does seem to show quiet leadership by example. Shumpert played with more passion and was better at "rallying the troops". Since his departure the Kings have lost their swagger. They don't play with that same edge and while other teams are ratcheting up their intensity down the stretch in an effort to make the playoffs.......the Kings seem to have lost some of that focus.
With all that said, I'd still rather take my chances with Harrison Barnes next season over Shumpert.
For me it's not Barnes vs. Shumpert.
Shump is what...6'5"? He's more of a defensive SG and occasional SF to me. Barnes is a two way SF with a bit of stretch 4 ability. I don't see how they can't both get playing time together.
He could've had Brewer's role right now. And that's not a knock on Brewer, he's fine. But ideally I would have preferred Shump taking those excess minutes.
Shump is what...6'5"? He's more of a defensive SG and occasional SF to me. Barnes is a two way SF with a bit of stretch 4 ability. I don't see how they can't both get playing time together.
He could've had Brewer's role right now. And that's not a knock on Brewer, he's fine. But ideally I would have preferred Shump taking those excess minutes.
I feel like Vlade keeps doing this thing where he trades vets away to contenders to earn good will. He did it with Temple, then Shump. Not that there's anything wrong with that. If Houston goes all the way this year I'll be happy for Shump.
But Vlade may have overestimated the youngsters a bit. They still need that training wheels presence on the bench. I'm down to bring Shump back next season (in a reduced role, he was horrible on court his last month here) for his vet presence, and if his team goes all the way and he gets another ring, I could see him being open to coming back at that!
But Vlade may have overestimated the youngsters a bit. They still need that training wheels presence on the bench. I'm down to bring Shump back next season (in a reduced role, he was horrible on court his last month here) for his vet presence, and if his team goes all the way and he gets another ring, I could see him being open to coming back at that!
I’m still unsure what to make of Barnes. He’s not a bad player, and has been playing some D, but he’s a guy who I don’t really notice on the court as much. Offensively he’s been better lately as well. All this to say I think he’s a glue guy you can have on the team if your loaded at other positions. But the contract for that type of guy won’t be near what he’s making now
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