Kings... Regressing?

[BLNINJA #81]

I've had the opportunity to watch pretty much every game (xcept for 2 which LPBB botched) this year, and I must say I don't like what I'm seeing currently. It looks almost as if they are moving backwards at this point instead of improving.

I'm beginning to wonder if all the close losses have took its toll. The energy, lack of clutch and concentration looks terrible at the end of games. hopefully it's not a downward spiral trend towards what we were expecting at the beginning of this season..

 

[juicij36]

Yea, not to pretty lately.
I hope they get it together for a good showing vs. the Magic FRI. I'd hate to be embarassed again.
I've been going every YR since the '04 season (1 WK after they traded Webber). & they've lost every time.

 

[Bricklayer]

Yea, not to pretty lately.
I hope they get it together for a good showing vs. the Magic FRI. I'd hate to be embarassed again.
I've been going every YR since the '04 season (1 WK after they traded Webber). & they've lost every time.

Jeesh -- you picked a bad era to start going to Kings games in Orlando -- the year we lose our superstar big and they gained one.

 

[Luv4Kings]

I've had the opportunity to watch pretty much every game (xcept for 2 which LPBB botched) this year, and I must say I don't like what I'm seeing currently. It looks almost as if they are moving backwards at this point instead of improving.

I'm beginning to wonder if all the close losses have took its toll. The energy, lack of clutch and concentration looks terrible at the end of games. hopefully it's not a downward spiral trend towards what we were expecting at the beginning of this season..

This poor play started about 10 games ago and I'm seeing perhaps the rookie wall from Casspi and Evans. Hopefully they will get a second wind.

And let's remember, those early games we won were against really sucky teams. Although we played well against the Cavs and Lakers, I think we have to admit some of that was those teams looking past us a bit.

I'm still optimistic about the future. I think Evans will find that when he can't penetrate to the hoop, he will pass out more. Omri will get his shot back and be a force. JT's fouls are already down. There's a lot to be hopeful about.

 

[Uncia03]

This poor play started about 10 games ago and I'm seeing perhaps the rookie wall from Casspi and Evans. Hopefully they will get a second wind.

I really think that those close losses to the Cavs and Lakers really hurt this young team and they still haven't recovered. It's clear that they have not been as sharp over the last few games as they were when they were going toe-to-toe with those two elite teams.

I quoted this particular point, however, to address the rookie wall issue.

I think that there may be some of that going on. Casspi was radiating intensity when we were playing really good ball. It just looks as if he's lost a bit of that intensity, most likely due to fatigue. At the same time, he has just been missing a lot of open shots, and I'm not going to blame the rookie wall on that. I think he's just going through a bit of a shooting slump, and I expect that it'll correct itself soon enough.

In regards to Evans, if he has hit his rookie wall, then I think we're in good shape. His line tonight: 21 pnts(9/19), 6 boards, 7 assists, 2 turn-overs.
If that is what his rookie wall looks like, I'll take it every day.

That being said, his lack of aggression tonight, especially towards the end of the game could be due to fatigue in addition to the normal increase in defense and teams trying to take away his path to the bucket.

I don't have a good feeling regarding the rest of this road-trip. There just isn't much time for the team to get together and practice and attempt to work out some of the issues they are facing. So I'm not seeing many wins on this trip, but hopefully when the team gets back home they can spend some time trying to figure out the best way to make things work.

 

[AriesMar27]

at first we were beasting on losing teams. now we're losing to those same teams..... kinda hurting my preseason prediction of 33 wins... still possible but damn.

 

[DesertFox]

I felt like the team was playing over its head, and so an ugly stretch was expected. I was just hoping JT and Hawes wouldn't be affected as much as the rookies, and keep this team close to .400.
After the first week if someone told me 30 wins I'd laugh in their face. Now I'd almost be disappointed. (top 5-8 pick>>> 45 wins and no playoffs in the west)

 

[SacKings384]

Close losses build team character they said. Builds good team chemistry they said. It's how they learned they said. All lies. If they had won the Lakers and Cavs games I would argue that they would be hovering around or at .500.

 

[bajaden]

There's a lot of things going on right now. In the last two games I think the team chemistry took a little hit. Most noted by the outburst from Casspi. Did anyone bother to look at the expression on Greene's face during the Philly game while he was sitting on the bench. Not a happy camper, and thats to be expected. But I will say this. And I speak from experience. There's nothing worse for a competitor than to sit and watch when you know you can make a difference.

In the bigger picture, the surprise is gone. Were not sneaking up on anyone anymore. Casspi may have been a secret weapon, but now teams are paying attention to him and his shots are become a little harder to get. Basicly almost all the teams in the league are saying that if you want to win, your going to have to beat us from the outside. They're clogging the middle to keep Tyreke out and that also makes it tougher for Hawes and Thompson, neither of which are dominant low post players at this time. That pretty much makes us a one dementional team. To open up the middle you have to hit shots from the outside, and were not doing it on a consistant basis. Instead were either missing shots from the outside or forcing the issue inside and throwing up wild shots or getting them blocked or turning the ball over in traffic.

In short, the league has adjusted to what we do as a team. If we can't adjust in turn, then were going to continue to lose, except on those rare nights when we shoot 50 plus percent from the outside.

Add to this that the young guys look a little tired. Probaby more emotionally than physically, after having their hearts ripped out in several games against some of the top teams. Having played the two games we probably had the best chance of winning on this road trip, I don't see it getting any easier.

 

[FaStRmAn]

I think the whole team was riding high with the new infusion of talent at the beginning of the year. Then Martin went down (AGAIN!) and the team sort of rallied around and Evans started showing everyone why he was selected so high in the draft. Since there are no natural leaders on this team, Evans took the reins and they won some games against a few sub par teams. Now we fast forward to where the Kings lose to the Fakers and the Cavs, and they really thought they had enough to win those games but they did not. The lack of a REAL center hurt them because their defense breaks down every time the other team's center gets the ball. So the blueprint as to how to beat the Kings is there for all to see. Double Evans and score in the paint against the worst defensive center in the league. We have no Starting center OR backup center.

Now we are losing to teams that we would have before had a chance but the NBA is a copycat league and even sub .500 teams watch tape. Since every team in the league has an advantage against the Kings at the center position (because Hawes isn't ready by a long shot to be a starter in the NBA), teams are learning to double Evans, and score over Hawes like a deer in the freeway. Adding Martin gives our offense a little more punch as he gets back into form, but does NOTHING to change the fact that we have NO REAL CENTER to guard the rim. No shot blockers. So the formula to beat the Kings is easy. Drive to the rim and double Evans.

Geoff Petrie needs to trade for a REAL center so that Hawes can go to the bench where he belongs, and allow our defense to be set to stop other teams, because we are losing the games on the defensive end not the offensive end. If you cant stop the other team from scoring, you have to either outscore the other team or lose. A REAL center that can play defense would change that. But that guy isn't on our roster. Bring in a real center. Not necessarily a scoring center but a defensive minded center, and they can turn things around quickly.Really, anything is an improvement over Hawes defensively at the center position. He just isn't strong enough to stop anyone.

 

[pshn80]

There's a lot of things going on right now. In the last two games I think the team chemistry took a little hit. Most noted by the outburst from Casspi. Did anyone bother to look at the expression on Greene's face during the Philly game while he was sitting on the bench. Not a happy camper, and thats to be expected. But I will say this. And I speak from experience. There's nothing worse for a competitor than to sit and watch when you know you can make a difference.

In the bigger picture, the surprise is gone. Were not sneaking up on anyone anymore. Casspi may have been a secret weapon, but now teams are paying attention to him and his shots are become a little harder to get. Basicly almost all the teams in the league are saying that if you want to win, your going to have to beat us from the outside. They're clogging the middle to keep Tyreke out and that also makes it tougher for Hawes and Thompson, neither of which are dominant low post players at this time. That pretty much makes us a one dementional team. To open up the middle you have to hit shots from the outside, and were not doing it on a consistant basis. Instead were either missing shots from the outside or forcing the issue inside and throwing up wild shots or getting them blocked or turning the ball over in traffic.

In short, the league has adjusted to what we do as a team. If we can't adjust in turn, then were going to continue to lose, except on those rare nights when we shoot 50 plus percent from the outside.

Add to this that the young guys look a little tired. Probaby more emotionally than physically, after having their hearts ripped out in several games against some of the top teams. Having played the two games we probably had the best chance of winning on this road trip, I don't see it getting any easier.

I agree with your analysis. Good job!