[Game] Kings v. Nuggets 10/30/13 Game Thread

[Hadlowe]

I really, really don't want to see the IT, Vasquez, Thornton, Outlaw, Hayes lineup ever again.

Both of our 2 guards stunk it up on offense, although none of McLemore's shots were bad shots. McLemore's going to be a good defensive player.

Outlaw is the better SF right now. Good effort on defense from him.

IT has to pass the damn ball on the break. He cost us four points with selfish play.

JT giveth, but mostly taketh away.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

That's ok, whatever height she is. She's good for this franchise. A very positive and fun gal

Oh, no question about that: she's very knowledgeable, and has good presence on-screen. Frankly, she's being wasted as a sideline reporter.

I was mostly lamenting the fact that our team is so damned small.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Pretty great game. Considering how many freaking open shots we missed, I'm extremely happy with the result. Cousins dominant throughout. GV helped him out the 1st half. IT the 2nd half. Ppat, Salmons, McLemore had great looks all night that they just could not hit.

Thought it was incredibly interesting to compare the difference in shot quality attempts between Thornton and McLemore. Thornton threw up contested junk most of the night while McLemore was getting great open looks, just missing them.

Ben makes his living playing off the ball, Thornton doesn't curl hard enough or fight through hard enough. Ben is like lightning when running to the other side. Watch him just run around on offense if you get the chance, the difference between the two is night and day. That's why I want Ben to start. It just meshes more. We played better when he was out there, even with him missing everything

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

We still have our team. We have an amazing owner and plenty of top notch support. The place was rocking again. We just beat a playoff team. Simply could not be any better.

Remember where we sat just 6 short months ago? That right, it could not be any better right now, regardless of any player's "shortcomings" after one game

 

[blackice]

Good game from start to finish. Not sure how Foye managed to be open at the end there myself, kind of head scratching. With that said, I liked seeing the ball going to Cousins on the last three attempts even though we went 0-3 but just goes to show you we will live and die with him making plays for us.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Oh, no question about that: she's very knowledgeable, and has good presence on-screen. Frankly, she's being wasted as a sideline reporter.

I was mostly lamenting the fact that our team is so damned small.

Vivek will make the most of her second chance with the Kings

 

[Hadlowe]

Ben makes his living playing off the ball, Thornton doesn't curl hard enough or fight through hard enough. Ben is like lightning when running to the other side. Watch him just run around on offense if you get the chance, the difference between the two is night and day. That's why I want Ben to start. It just meshes more. We played better when he was out there, even with him missing everything

I agree with everything you said here. I wasn't a big fan of the draft when it happened, but I am in awe of the way the kid moves on the court. I have only seen a handful of players who run so effortlessly at such high speed.

 

[The_Jamal]

The Kings win despite getting next to zero offensive from the SF, SG and PF spot. That's pretty nice. This win hangs on Cousins stepping up, Vasquez having his best scoring game since coming here, some bursts from IT and great defense.

I'd say so.

Cousins+GV+IT= 24-44. 63 points

Everyone else= 9-37. 27 points

 

[Arkitect]

Ben makes his living playing off the ball, Thornton doesn't curl hard enough or fight through hard enough. Ben is like lightning when running to the other side. Watch him just run around on offense if you get the chance, the difference between the two is night and day. That's why I want Ben to start. It just meshes more. We played better when he was out there, even with him missing everything

I have a feeling Thornton's days on the team are numbered. He does not look happy out there. Unfortunately we are probably going to unload him for 50 cents on the dollar.

 

[PurpleHaze]

That's ok, whatever height she is. She's good for this franchise. A very positive and fun gal

During Kayte's interview with Shaq he said it was great to be next to "6 foot 3 inch model Miss America-Sacramento" or something like that. 6'3" seems about right - as her "basketball height."

 

[swisshh]

I'd say so.

Cousins+GV+IT= 24-44. 63 points

Everyone else= 9-37. 27 points

I expect the PF and SG spot to be more productive in the future, but SF remains an eye sore.

 

[sdballer]

I'm going to chalk tonight's misses up to the extra energy and nerves in the building. We got guys open which was different from last year.

 

[Hadlowe]

I have a feeling Thornton's days on the team are numbered. He does not look happy out there. Unfortunately we are probably going to unload him for 50 cents on the dollar.

How can you tell? Thornton has bitchy resting face. He even scowls when he's happy.

I really think he has always been fool's gold. His best times in NOLA were when Paul was injured and he and Collison were running and gunning in a loose offense. Same thing here playing in Smart's unstructured offense. He has a ton of talent for scoring, but frustrates the hell out of me because I think he has the physical tools to play Wes Matthews level defense and just refuses to do so.

 

[Arkitect]

How can you tell? Thornton has bitchy resting face. He even scowls when he's happy.

I really think he has always been fool's gold. His best times in NOLA were when Paul was injured and he and Collison were running and gunning in a loose offense. Same thing here playing in Smart's unstructured offense. He has a ton of talent for scoring, but frustrates the hell out of me because I think he has the physical tools to play Wes Matthews level defense and just refuses to do so.

More the body language and lack of buy in this game and in the preseason. Nearly everyone else seems to be buying into what the team is doing besides him.

 

[Glenn]

I think McLemore will be starting sooner rather than later or at the least, getting a lot of minutes. He contributes on the defensive end more than I expected and sooner or later his shot swill fall on a regular basis. I don't know what is going on with MT as MT used to be a real spark plug for this team. Maybe he sense a changing of the guard. For a brief moment I thought Jimmer should be out there but my opinion is that you don't make changes quickly so that wouldn't be consistent with my own philosophy. Let's go a few more days with the same starters and see what happens.

 

[chasen4r1]

DMC... goodness gracious. Your franchise player everybody.

and for what it's worth... I really like IT as our bench player. So much energy and heart. I think Vasquez starting and IT backing him up is perfect. They are such different players and I love what each bring to the table.

Well done tonight Kings fans. It was so great to see/hear that Arco thunder again. I've missed it so much.

 

[sdballer]

I think McLemore will be starting sooner rather than later or at the least, getting a lot of minutes. He contributes on the defensive end more than I expected and sooner or later his shot swill fall on a regular basis. I don't know what is going on with MT as MT used to be a real spark plug for this team. Maybe he sense a changing of the guard. For a brief moment I thought Jimmer should be out there but my opinion is that you don't make changes quickly so that wouldn't be consistent with my own philosophy. Let's go a few more days with the same starters and see what happens.

Agree except I think people are mistaking effort for effectiveness on D. If you watch him, he has difficulty staying in front of his man, bites on every fake and is often trying to recover. I hope it will come in time but we're seeing teams attack him when he's on the court and I'd rather let him develop with less pressure.

 

[Arkitect]

Agree except I think people are mistaking effort for effectiveness on D. If you watch him, he has difficulty staying in front of his man, bites on every fake and is often trying to recover. I hope it will come in time but we're seeing teams attack him when he's on the court and I'd rather let him develop with less pressure.

I think defense is part effort, part experience, and part coaching. MCM has the effort and the team seems to have the coaching, the rest will come with time.

 

[Tetsujin]

Just got home from Sleep Train. Man what a night. My head is spinning, ears are ringing, and I'm pretty sure my vocal chords are shredded forever.

Long live the Kings.

 

[Cold]

Knowing Mike Malone, he loves running the offense thru bigs and he loves help defense. Ugly, but a win is a win. Great defensive effort tonight.

 

[///Mink]

Just got home from Sleep Train. Man what a night. My head is spinning, ears are ringing, and I'm pretty sure my vocal chords are shredded forever.

Long live the Kings.

Likewise, LLTK.

On my way in to the arena I was walking past the practice facility just as Mark Mastrov got out of an SUV. I shook his hand thanked him for all he'd done for us. He chatted with me for a bit and couldn't have been nicer. I love our new ownership group!!!

 

[TyFreak Evans]

A few observations from the night. First, and foremost, WHAT AN AMAZING ATMOSPHERE!!!!! Crowd was rocking all night long!!!! I don't know if anyone else had issues, or it was just me, but I could not hear a dang thing that was said by Moak and Jay Sean over that sound system....which is quite odd because in the past, the sound has been awesome during game nights, but tonight, I could barely hear Moak....anyone experience that same issue? Also, while the new scoreboard (which is probably a temporary one) looked awesome, it was ridiculously delayed (as has the old one in past seasons)...I think that needs to be fixed because it does lead to a lot of confusion within the crowd...

Now, to the play on the court...DEFENSE WAS AWESOME!!!! Loved the effort on the defensive end. Our offense needs some work, though...We take a lot of threes (Denver takes a lot more, lol)...But, man I loved that defense tonight!!!!!

 

[DesertFox]

MT doesn't have a place on this team, and I expect the FO to take care of it shortly. But I'll have to disagree on criticism on his effort tonight. He was active if ineffective on D, and he appeared to be playing within the offense, deferring to the PG's and Cuz.

He took a couple terrible shots, but that was nothing vs the last 2 years. I think he's still feeling his way around, and will up his aggression and production just in time for the trade deadline.

More the body language and lack of buy in this game and in the preseason. Nearly everyone else seems to be buying into what the team is doing besides him.

 

[Cold]

Agree except I think people are mistaking effort for effectiveness on D. If you watch him, he has difficulty staying in front of his man, bites on every fake and is often trying to recover. I hope it will come in time but we're seeing teams attack him when he's on the court and I'd rather let him develop with less pressure.

I agree. McLemore will need to improve his footwork on defense. It looks awkward at times, but not because of physical limitations. He needs someone to teach him defense. An athlete like him has no excuses. I feel comfortable that within a season he will improve his defense drastically. The tools are there.

 

[Cold]

MT doesn't have a place on this team, and I expect the FO to take care of it shortly. But I'll have to disagree on criticism on his effort tonight. He was active if ineffective on D, and he appeared to be playing within the offense, deferring to the PG's and Cuz.

He took a couple terrible shots, but that was nothing vs the last 2 years. I think he's still feeling his way around, and will up his aggression and production just in time for the trade deadline.

Get rid of MT, Salmons, and Outlaw. Low IQ players need to go. Hayes isn't low IQ but he should go too. I know that sounds like a fire sale and some fans won't like that, but IMO for this team to take the next step, these guys need to go.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

Great game from Cousins and the point guards, fairly ugly game on offense for just about everyone else. Now the defense, I liked it. Great win to start off the season, up next, LAC.

 

[Hadlowe]

Great game from Cousins and the point guards, fairly ugly game on offense for just about everyone else. Now the defense, I liked it. Great win to start off the season, up next, LAC.

Clippers are going to come in angry after the embarrassing loss to the Lakers bench. DMC and Blake always get chippy anyway. First big test for Cousins 3.0 zen.

 

[Tetsujin]

Clippers are going to come in angry after the embarrassing loss to the Lakers bench. DMC and Blake always get chippy anyway. First big test for Cousins 3.0 zen.

They have a game against the Warriors tonight so that could either help their anger subside or fuel it exponentially pending results.

 

[SacKings384]

What a game last night. Haven't seen the arena so electric in ages.

1. Cousins looks like he is accepting his role as the main man, and he is playing IN CONTROL. There were a couple plays near the end where he forced it a bit much, but that's ok. You want your star to start learning in those situations.

2. Thornton looks absolutely lost out there. He doesn't seem to fit in any more, and that shot he took near the end of the game was absolutely painful. We need to trade him for a more reliable 2 if possible.

3. Thompson is going to need to adapt to Cousins being down on the block so much. Not that he is nearly even close to the same caliber of player, but his struggles resembled Pau's struggles last year with Howard around.

4. I like Grieves more than I thought I would. He seems to be a very calming influence out there. Something much needed.

 

[Padrino]

Get rid of MT, Salmons, and Outlaw. Low IQ players need to go. Hayes isn't low IQ but he should go too. I know that sounds like a fire sale and some fans won't like that, but IMO for this team to take the next step, these guys need to go.

hahaha, i can appreciate your sensitivity, but i don't think you're going to find much disagreement here at kf.com. in fact, i have difficulty imagining a single kings fan truly lamenting the loss of guys like salmons, outlaw, hayes, etc. even thornton is consensus trade bait around these parts...

i'm sure jimmer fans will poo-poo the kings whenever the organization decides to cut him loose, but that's a different story altogether. kings fans, generally speaking, are ready to move on from an era steeped in mediocre talent. hold onto DMC, mclemore, vasquez, thomas, and one of thompson/patterson, then bring on the fire sale, i say...

 

[Hadlowe]

hahaha, i can appreciate your sensitivity, but i don't think you're going to find much disagreement here at kf.com. in fact, i have difficulty imagining a single kings fan truly lamenting the loss of guys like salmons, outlaw, hayes, etc. even thornton is consensus trade bait around these parts...

i'm sure jimmer fans will poo-poo the kings whenever the organization decides to cut him loose, but that's a different story altogether. kings fans, generally speaking, are ready to move on from an era steeped in mediocre talent. hold onto DMC, mclemore, vasquez, thomas, and one of thompson/patterson, then bring on the fire sale, i say...

Speaking as an unqualified Jimmer fan, I think his skillset and the current Kings makeup are probably not a good fit. I like the new direction for the Kings, I just don't see how Jimmer can contribute to it.