Kings v. Lakers preseason game (on location)

[CurseOfTheSalmons]

Tolliver is good.

 

[jcwkings]

Ben good defense on Clarkson. Afflalo looking good in the post.

 

[206Fan]

Tolliver's stroke is looking extremely smooth. Afflalo is cooking Calderon. WCS looks nice. Ben looks nice on defense. Interesting lineup.

 

[CurseOfTheSalmons]

Can we afford to cut Farmar?

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Damn, Afflalo, save some for the regular season.

 

[Iced Espresso]

My way too early happy take....

I think we just may be able to win a game or two this year if Cousins doesn't play.

 

[jcwkings]

Can we afford to cut Farmar?

This, serviceable PG that can hit an open three. This is where the three rookies is hurting us. Papa should have been stashed in Europe and brought over with Bogdan next season.

 

[206Fan]

Can we afford to cut Farmar?

The downside of the 3 raw 1st round draftees... 3 guys taking up a roster spot, but aren't going to play this year.

It'll be down to Farmer and McLemore for the final spot.

 

[Suicide King]

AT and 3

 

[funkykingston]

My way too early happy take....

I think we just may be able to win a game or two this year if Cousins doesn't play.

Just looking at the box score I was thinking the same thing. Joerger is a tactician and a quick study. He knew coming in that finding a way to win without Boogie (or to not let leads evaporate when he sits) was key.

It's the Lakers and it's preseason but it's nice to be encouraged by the early returns rather than discouraged.

And Vlade definitely may have made some sneaky good FA signings.

 

[jcwkings]

We are playing without Cousins, Lawson, Barnes, Casspi. Four of our top seven guys.

 

[funkykingston]

This, serviceable PG that can hit an open three. This is where the three rookies is hurting us. Papa should have been stashed in Europe and brought over with Bogdan next season.

The problem is that I don't think another season of 12 mpg against Greek League competition would have prepared him any further for the NBA. Better to get him over here learning the offense and hopefully getting in shape before a long stint in Reno. In my mind Papagiannis is occupying the Eric Moreland slot of emergency big. I think that slot would've been filled regardless rather than keeping 7 guards.

 

[CurseOfTheSalmons]

Rudy Gay is pretty much rebounding for Skal and Willie today.

 

[Henkel]

After the last season and a half it's really nice to see the offense moving at a reasonable pace. Were getting into our offense quickly, but were no longer crippled by a philosophy that mandated pushing the pace regardless of the situation.

 

[Iced Espresso]

That's what I'm talking about Collison to WCS, second of the night. Get a couple of those every night, makes it much easier to play him. Maybe we won't miss Rondo offensively as much as I was worried we could.

 

[funkykingston]

The downside of the 3 raw 1st round draftees... 3 guys taking up a roster spot, but aren't going to play this year.

It'll be down to Farmer and McLemore for the final spot.

I'm guessing Farmar was always Lawson insurance. Now that it looks like Lawson is back to his previous level there's no reason to keep Farmar. Temple does what he does while being bigger and a better defender. While their playing styles are different, DC and Ty have put up nearly identical numbers for their career. Collison then slightly better shooter, Lawson with more assists per game based on his drive and kick style. Two small, waterbug PGs really call out for a guy like Temple who brings a different dimension.

Farmar is what he is. There's still a chance Ben becomes more than what he currently is. For that reason alone I can't imagine the team cutting Ben to keep JF.

 

[Kingsfan23]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate the coaching change

Could be biggest swing in the league from Karl to Joerger

From going from a coach who was past expiration/underachieving to a coach who will get the most out of what talent we have

 

[Joshoua]

How does WCS explain leaving Russell open for a corner with when he's red hot and is there best player

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Just looking at the box score I was thinking the same thing. Joerger is a tactician and a quick study. He knew coming in that finding a way to win without Boogie (or to not let leads evaporate when he sits) was key.

If nothing else, Joerger looks like he might be the first coach we've had to show up with an offense that doesn't require Cousins to put up monster numbers for us to win.

 

[Kingsfan23]

I still question whether Arron/Rudy operate in some of the same general space with Cousins on the floor but both are good players and let's see it work

 

[jcwkings]

The team defense has been fantastic. Also shout out to Ben, he is digging down defensively on the Laker guards.

 

[Arkitect]

A couple of early takeaways: defensive intensity is encouraging and we may have enough talent/offensive plays to actually win some games without Cuz.

 

[funkykingston]

Rudy Gay is pretty much rebounding for Skal and Willie today.

It's a good thing Rudy and Omri are good rebounders at the SF spot when Trill and Skal are anemic rebounders at the PF spot.

 

[dude12]

Wish I could see the game but watching the box score is sweet.

 

[jcwkings]

I still question whether Arron/Rudy operate in some of the same general space with Cousins on the floor but both are good players and let's see it work

I think it surprisingly might work as a bully ball strategy. Afflalo is best post guard we have had here since Bonzi Wells.

 

[funkykingston]

I still question whether Arron/Rudy operate in some of the same general space with Cousins on the floor but both are good players and let's see it work

To an extent they do but that's why Joerger wants to get Boogie lots of looks at the high post. His jumper is good enough to create space to allow Afflalo & Gay postups or punish teams that double.

 

[206Fan]

I think it surprisingly might work as a bully ball strategy. Afflalo is best post guard we have had here since Bonzi Wells.

I really hope his preseason play translates to regular season. This is the Afflalo from Orlando. He's looking like his former self again.

 

[jcwkings]

A couple of early takeaways: defensive intensity is encouraging and we may have enough talent/offensive plays to actually win some games without Cuz.

Actually the key is the defense. Any NBA team that plays good defense has a fighting chance on any night. Us being deplorable on defense has only compounded our dependence on Cousins.

 

[206Fan]

Rudy Gay is pretty much rebounding for Skal and Willie today.

Skal and WCS are both supposedly 7ft tall. Neither can grab a rebound...even if it landed in their hands.

 

[funkykingston]

Actually the key is the defense. Any NBA team that plays good defense has a fighting chance on any night. Us being deplorable on defense has only compounded our dependence on Cousins.

Yep. Though 14 assists vs 7 turnovers is a great sign too.

If the Kings can hover around 30 assists with a 2:1 or better assist-to-turnover ratio and combine that with consistently good defense they win a lot of games.