[Game] Kings @ Pistons 2/17/12

[mac]

Let me give you a little story.

At the game a few weeks ago during pre game I was reading my program. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a King doing a 360 reverse dunk. I looked up and thought nice dunk Donte. Except Donte was just now going up with the ball. Then I thought it might have been Honeycutt. Nope it was Evans. Head was up close to the rim on a 360 reverse dunk.

This is why it's disappointing that he doesn't go up strong and dunk more. It's not because he can't. It's because he chooses not too. Hang on the rim and risk a T if it's in traffic. Wait for it to clear before letting go.

Hmm that's an interesting insight, thanks for sharing! As for Evans' D ... I think he still needs to find the balance between being in a position to help (although frankly I feel he doesn't help much when he doubles. I haven't seen us run an effective double team with a big and Tyreke ever) and staying on his man. Personally I feel Smart should instruct the guys to only double team star post players, and have the guards/wings just stay on their man. Here's where we miss Daly the most IMO, because a shotblocker can come over to help in the paint, whereas running a small at the opposing big leaves guys open for 3s.

 

[BMiller52]

And to top it off Thornton is just as bad. Neither knows how to handle game situations.

When Thornton fumbled the break at the end he should have pull back out instead of throwing up and off balance layup with the defender in front of him.

Yeah to be honest I'm not sure if Thornton isn't more of a bench scoring 6th man than a starter. I wouldn't mind seeing him in the Jim Jackson role when he played here in 2003. But the thing is Thornton has made a lot of clutch shots. He doesn't always make good decisions, but I have a harder time getting on him for it because he's not supposed to be the decision maker. He's supposed to be a scoring 2 guard. That's what he does.

 

[Kingster]

here's the thing with his assists tonight. He was getting them in the offensive where it and jimmer were initiating it. Evans was getting a pass from them or a second pass then moving the ball when the defense rotated.

bingo!

 

[Kingster]

Hmm that's an interesting insight, thanks for sharing! As for Evans' D ... I think he still needs to find the balance between being in a position to help (although frankly I feel he doesn't help much when he doubles. I haven't seen us run an effective double team with a big and Tyreke ever) and staying on his man. Personally I feel Smart should instruct the guys to only double team star post players, and have the guards/wings just stay on their man. Here's where we miss Daly the most IMO, because a shotblocker can come over to help in the paint, whereas running a small at the opposing big leaves guys open for 3s.

Mac, I think you're being a little too generous. We all know that when you don't want to expend energy you hang around the paint as a "helper". That's what's going on here. He's putting out the energy on the offensive end to get the stats, but not at the defensive end where there are no stats. I don't see the defensive player I saw in his rookie year. The energy just isn't there. And I highly doubt it's because he's confused about the situation. When is the last time you saw him pressure the ball? And why do we see IT pressure the ball, but not Tyreke? Are there two sets of rules for our guards? The whole thing doesn't add up in favor of Tyreke.