Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
I know it's only three games but are the Kings kinda... good?
There are obvious problem areas with the team: defense and, Shump and JJ's breakout games not withstanding, the small forward position. But I have faith our defense will improve as all of our various young dudes get more comfortable playing basketball and we play teams that aren't the Pelicans and the team's been shifting towards three guard lineups as our base set up for a couple of seasons anyways.
Meanwhile, Fox looks to have taken a huge leap in his development, Buddy continues to be a deadly efficient scorer, Yogi and Bjeli make Vlade look like a genius for signing them for cheap in the offseason, Willie improves his earning potential, and Bagley looks like he's going to be an absolute monster for the next decade. The schedule makers did us absolutely no favors to start the season but it looks like the team has responded in kind.
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GRADES
Iman Shumpert (A) --30 min, 26 pts (9-13 fg, 4-7 3p, 4-5 ft), 3 rb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk
Well this certainly was a surprise. Often seen as a cap space filler to make the George Hill trade work and nothing else, Shumpert has not only found a spot in the Kings' rotation in this young season but has suddenly found himself as our starting small forward (for this game at least). Having missed almost an entire season due to injury, it's hard to tell how much of Shump's struggles in his first two games with the team was just rust and how much was just him being a chucker. For tonight at least, Iman kept the worst of his tendencies in check. We all know that Shumpert is one of the better defenders in the league but it's when his offensive output matches his defensive intensity that he becomes a true asset for the young Kings. Tonight, Shump was the dictionary definition of 3-and-D role-player guy, hitting from the perimeter, being a disruptor on defense, and being a vocal presence on a team full of young dudes and a Serbian guy. I'm obviously not expecting this level of game from the dude every night but if Shumpert can even provide half of what he did tonight at the SF position, it would certainly help us plug that considerable hole in our roster.
Nemanja Bjelica (B) --30 mins, 12 pts (5-6 fg, 2-2 3p), 5 rb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk
I know people were upset when Vlade failed to bring in any big fish during the offseason but Nemanja Bjelica has made more of an impact to the team than almost any big name signing to the team could have. Forced into a pure floor spacer role in Minnesota, the thirty year old Serbian forward has show more skill and talent in three games with the Kings than in the entirety of his two seasons under Tom Thibodeau's iron fist. While you'd never accuse Bjeli of being the most athletic player around, he uses his big body and high basketball IQ to see seams on the floor well and always seems to have a knack at making the right play at the right time. Against the Thunder, he did a little bit of everything, passing the ball to the tune of four assists, breaking up plays on defense (he's not amazing on that end but is capable of reading plays and causing turnovers). Now through three games, I haven't seem much to indicate that he can play small forward in our new high octane run'n'gun offense but, as a point forward at least, he's been solid gold money.
Willie Cauley-Stein (C) --22 min, 13 pts (6-11 fg, 1-2 ft), 7 rb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk
This was the first appearance of the old Willie we've seen through this whole young season. In the first half, Willie was just not good at all: getting beat up by Steven Adams, failing to make hustle plays, being a net negative on offense. Really, it was more of the same in the third quarter. Then, presumably sometime during the timeout break between the third and fourth quarters, a hero reminded Willie that his contract expires next summer and WC$ entered the building. While not entirely eliminating Adams' presence, Willie had himself a nice final stint in the game, pulling in six rebounds and have a series of nice offensive plays when the Thunder inexplicably left him open under the hoop to double Justin Jackson of all people. All in all, I liked how Willie bounced back after a slow start and if he keeps playing like he has to start the season he's going to get paid this summer.
Buddy Hield (B-) --23 min, 17 pts (), 5 rb, 2 ast
It's been a bit of an enigma of a start to the season for Buddy Hield. While he seems to have finally shaken off "looks like bad Marcus Thornton if he starts" disease, the Bahamian Buzzsaw has yet to really have an explosive quarter or series of plays, which maybe makes the fact he's averaging 17 points per game to start the year more encouraging. Against the Thunder, Buddy got in quick foul trouble and spent a lot of the first half watching the action from the bench. Buddy has proven to at least be a willing rebounder for his size and his strength (not his speed) and lethal stroke makes him a tough cover for the other team, which makes the fact he can score 17 points on a relative off night more than a good sign for the Kings franchise going forward. If he cuts down on dumb plays, even better.
De'Aaron Fox (A-) --41 min, 22 pt, 4 rb, 10 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk
After the anonymous scout on Sports Illustrated came out and talked about how his expectations regarding De'Aaron had dropped, I felt it was only natural that De'Aaron would respond by starting the season looking like a bigger haired version of John Wall. Between the poise, demonic speed, and newfound ability to simply just power his way into the paint, Fox has looked like an absolute star to start the year. De'Aaron struggled a bit in the first quarter against the Thunder competing against the sheer athletic force of will that is Russell Westbrook. But as the game wore on and Dave Joerger appeared to forget that he had other point guards on his roster, Swipa the Fox looked better and better, able to score when he needed to but mainly serving as the key cog that made our offense move. While it hasn't exactly translated more makes at this point, his outside shot looks better which only bodes well for his future.
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Harry Giles III (C) --16 mins, 8 pts, 6 rbs, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 blks
Marvin Bagley III (B-) --23 min, 13 pt, 7 rbs, 0 ast, 1 stl,
Yogi Ferrell (C) --19 min, 9 pt, 4 rb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk
Justin Jackson (B) --26 min, 11 pt (4-6 fg, 1-2 3p, 2-2 ft), 5 rb, 3 ast
Skal Labissiere (inc.) --2 min,
Saw a token several minutes in the first half, struggled to do anything and was then benched for the rest of the night in favor of out many other big men.
Ben McLemore (inc.) --2 min
Had a short stint. Was Ben.
There are obvious problem areas with the team: defense and, Shump and JJ's breakout games not withstanding, the small forward position. But I have faith our defense will improve as all of our various young dudes get more comfortable playing basketball and we play teams that aren't the Pelicans and the team's been shifting towards three guard lineups as our base set up for a couple of seasons anyways.
Meanwhile, Fox looks to have taken a huge leap in his development, Buddy continues to be a deadly efficient scorer, Yogi and Bjeli make Vlade look like a genius for signing them for cheap in the offseason, Willie improves his earning potential, and Bagley looks like he's going to be an absolute monster for the next decade. The schedule makers did us absolutely no favors to start the season but it looks like the team has responded in kind.
---
GRADES
Iman Shumpert (A) --30 min, 26 pts (9-13 fg, 4-7 3p, 4-5 ft), 3 rb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk
Well this certainly was a surprise. Often seen as a cap space filler to make the George Hill trade work and nothing else, Shumpert has not only found a spot in the Kings' rotation in this young season but has suddenly found himself as our starting small forward (for this game at least). Having missed almost an entire season due to injury, it's hard to tell how much of Shump's struggles in his first two games with the team was just rust and how much was just him being a chucker. For tonight at least, Iman kept the worst of his tendencies in check. We all know that Shumpert is one of the better defenders in the league but it's when his offensive output matches his defensive intensity that he becomes a true asset for the young Kings. Tonight, Shump was the dictionary definition of 3-and-D role-player guy, hitting from the perimeter, being a disruptor on defense, and being a vocal presence on a team full of young dudes and a Serbian guy. I'm obviously not expecting this level of game from the dude every night but if Shumpert can even provide half of what he did tonight at the SF position, it would certainly help us plug that considerable hole in our roster.
Nemanja Bjelica (B) --30 mins, 12 pts (5-6 fg, 2-2 3p), 5 rb, 4 ast, 3 stl, 1 blk
I know people were upset when Vlade failed to bring in any big fish during the offseason but Nemanja Bjelica has made more of an impact to the team than almost any big name signing to the team could have. Forced into a pure floor spacer role in Minnesota, the thirty year old Serbian forward has show more skill and talent in three games with the Kings than in the entirety of his two seasons under Tom Thibodeau's iron fist. While you'd never accuse Bjeli of being the most athletic player around, he uses his big body and high basketball IQ to see seams on the floor well and always seems to have a knack at making the right play at the right time. Against the Thunder, he did a little bit of everything, passing the ball to the tune of four assists, breaking up plays on defense (he's not amazing on that end but is capable of reading plays and causing turnovers). Now through three games, I haven't seem much to indicate that he can play small forward in our new high octane run'n'gun offense but, as a point forward at least, he's been solid gold money.
Willie Cauley-Stein (C) --22 min, 13 pts (6-11 fg, 1-2 ft), 7 rb, 2 ast, 1 stl, 0 blk
This was the first appearance of the old Willie we've seen through this whole young season. In the first half, Willie was just not good at all: getting beat up by Steven Adams, failing to make hustle plays, being a net negative on offense. Really, it was more of the same in the third quarter. Then, presumably sometime during the timeout break between the third and fourth quarters, a hero reminded Willie that his contract expires next summer and WC$ entered the building. While not entirely eliminating Adams' presence, Willie had himself a nice final stint in the game, pulling in six rebounds and have a series of nice offensive plays when the Thunder inexplicably left him open under the hoop to double Justin Jackson of all people. All in all, I liked how Willie bounced back after a slow start and if he keeps playing like he has to start the season he's going to get paid this summer.
Buddy Hield (B-) --23 min, 17 pts (), 5 rb, 2 ast
It's been a bit of an enigma of a start to the season for Buddy Hield. While he seems to have finally shaken off "looks like bad Marcus Thornton if he starts" disease, the Bahamian Buzzsaw has yet to really have an explosive quarter or series of plays, which maybe makes the fact he's averaging 17 points per game to start the year more encouraging. Against the Thunder, Buddy got in quick foul trouble and spent a lot of the first half watching the action from the bench. Buddy has proven to at least be a willing rebounder for his size and his strength (not his speed) and lethal stroke makes him a tough cover for the other team, which makes the fact he can score 17 points on a relative off night more than a good sign for the Kings franchise going forward. If he cuts down on dumb plays, even better.
De'Aaron Fox (A-) --41 min, 22 pt, 4 rb, 10 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk
After the anonymous scout on Sports Illustrated came out and talked about how his expectations regarding De'Aaron had dropped, I felt it was only natural that De'Aaron would respond by starting the season looking like a bigger haired version of John Wall. Between the poise, demonic speed, and newfound ability to simply just power his way into the paint, Fox has looked like an absolute star to start the year. De'Aaron struggled a bit in the first quarter against the Thunder competing against the sheer athletic force of will that is Russell Westbrook. But as the game wore on and Dave Joerger appeared to forget that he had other point guards on his roster, Swipa the Fox looked better and better, able to score when he needed to but mainly serving as the key cog that made our offense move. While it hasn't exactly translated more makes at this point, his outside shot looks better which only bodes well for his future.
-
Harry Giles III (C) --16 mins, 8 pts, 6 rbs, 2 ast, 1 stl, 2 blks
Marvin Bagley III (B-) --23 min, 13 pt, 7 rbs, 0 ast, 1 stl,
Yogi Ferrell (C) --19 min, 9 pt, 4 rb, 0 ast, 1 stl, 1 blk
Justin Jackson (B) --26 min, 11 pt (4-6 fg, 1-2 3p, 2-2 ft), 5 rb, 3 ast
Skal Labissiere (inc.) --2 min,
Saw a token several minutes in the first half, struggled to do anything and was then benched for the rest of the night in favor of out many other big men.
Ben McLemore (inc.) --2 min
Had a short stint. Was Ben.
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