[Game] Kings v. Wizards - 3/10/17 - 7:30PT/10:30ET

[gunks]

It's about finding a consistent, reliable starter median. Can it be done? I hope

I'm with you there. It seems that WCS follows up every huge game of his with a week or two worth of 6/3 nights. If he could settle down into a nice 12/8 groove I'd be pretty stoked.

Half the time I think he's legit, half the time I agree with those who've given up on him.

Then I recall the days when everyone knew it would take a big 3+ years to develop....

Those were the days before Cuz came along and was a double double machine out of the gates (who kept getting better) and spoiled all of us Kings fans.

3 years from now, who knows what WCS, Skal, and Big Papa will be. Since "the trade" I'm suddenly ok with being patient again.

 

[Glenn]

It's about finding a consistent, reliable starter median. Can it be done? I hope

WCS was drafted for his defensive abilities (my guess). It was thought he would be a great pairing with Boogie. His defense never has looked all that great but maybe as the years pass and as he learns the tendencies of the people he defends, he will get better. I doubt if offensive plays will be designed for him unless they are ally oops coming out of a time out. He doesn't have a post game. I hope his team mates will learn his tendencies and look for him for ally oops or take shots with a reasonable certainty Willie will be there for a put back. Put backs are hard to predict. of course. He will get garbage points and I hope he worries more about defense and rebounding. The points are gravy.

As to people wanting to give up on him at a certain set time, I hope that is a personal belief. As you are not GMs, it has little impact. When his contract is up and he hasn't become an all star or all defense, what should we do? Let him go? I don't think so. As the years pass, he will improve although I agree he is a disappointment. Even at his present level, he contributes. I expect more and doubt very much he will be as much a disappointment.

For those who judge a person's contributions by scanning the stat sheet after the game, you will not find Willie's contributions. Altered shots, tough man on man defense, and the all around mayhem he can cause are not tallied. No one knows how well a player will improve but he seems motivated.

 

[Glenn]

I'm with you there. It seems that WCS follows up every huge game of his with a week or two worth of 6/3 nights. If he could settle down into a nice 12/8 groove I'd be pretty stoked.

Half the time I think he's legit, half the time I agree with those who've given up on him.

Then I recall the days when everyone knew it would take a big 3+ years to develop....

Those were the days before Cuz came along and was a double double machine out of the gates (who kept getting better) and spoiled all of us Kings fans.

3 years from now, who knows what WCS, Skal, and Big Papa will be. Since "the trade" I'm suddenly ok with being patient again.

Exactly the stats I was thinking of.

 

[bajaden]

Willie had 20 points and 13 rebounds. He also had 3 assists and 1 steal. Not a bad game, but you know what, lets criticize him anyway, and ignore the fact that he's a very very good defender, which is the main reason he's on the floor. After Willie put up 29 pts in one game, the rest of the teams have been doing a better job of defending him in the pick and roll. In the first half, they cheated down into the lane, and made it tough on Willie. But when we started hitting a bunch of threes, they stopped cheating, and wa la, Willie had an easier time. Unfortunately, Hield had a more difficult time.

When Willie finally polishes his 15 to 18 foot jumper, it'll make things more difficult for defenses.

 

[Glenn]

Willie had 20 points and 13 rebounds. He also had 3 assists and 1 steal. Not a bad game, but you know what, lets criticize him anyway, and ignore the fact that he's a very very good defender, which is the main reason he's on the floor. After Willie put up 29 pts in one game, the rest of the teams have been doing a better job of defending him in the pick and roll. In the first half, they cheated down into the lane, and made it tough on Willie. But when we started hitting a bunch of threes, they stopped cheating, and wa la, Willie had an easier time. Unfortunately, Hield had a more difficult time.

When Willie finally polishes his 15 to 18 foot jumper, it'll make things more difficult for defenses.

Voila! We will defend him. I don't understand the quick triggered reactions.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

Willie had 20 points and 13 rebounds. He also had 3 assists and 1 steal. Not a bad game, but you know what, lets criticize him anyway, and ignore the fact that he's a very very good defender, which is the main reason he's on the floor.

Willie was pretty darn good tonight and one of the reasons the Kings still had a shot late in the game. What I didn't get was why they suddenly started going to Afflalo every posssession in OT.

 

[Siranthony]

I like this team. Yes we are losing. But we play well half the time against good competition. Give the rookies a year and a half from now. I think things will be looking up. The games are fun despite the losing.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I thought WCS played very well. I'm always concerned about his rebounding, but he showed effort and focus there tonight. Showed good awareness and made plays on defense, and played within himself on offense.

Buddy was terrific in the first half but tough to watch in the second. His shot can be a thing of beauty--he made some of those corner 3s look like layups. His weaker handles and struggles to finish were exposed a bit in the second half, demonstrating that he has some ways to go if he's going to become a scorer and not just a shooter.

This wasn't the best game I'd seen from Skal. Would have liked to see him challenge offensive players more when he's defending the rim. Still, loved the athleticism he demonstrated on a couple of those dunks. Not every game will be two steps forward, but as long as that is the trend...

 

[206Fan]

WCS was drafted for his defensive abilities (my guess). It was thought he would be a great pairing with Boogie. His defense never has looked all that great but maybe as the years pass and as he learns the tendencies of the people he defends, he will get better. I doubt if offensive plays will be designed for him unless they are ally oops coming out of a time out. He doesn't have a post game. I hope his team mates will learn his tendencies and look for him for ally oops or take shots with a reasonable certainty Willie will be there for a put back. Put backs are hard to predict. of course. He will get garbage points and I hope he worries more about defense and rebounding. The points are gravy.

As to people wanting to give up on him at a certain set time, I hope that is a personal belief. As you are not GMs, it has little impact. When his contract is up and he hasn't become an all star or all defense, what should we do? Let him go? I don't think so. As the years pass, he will improve although I agree he is a disappointment. Even at his present level, he contributes. I expect more and doubt very much he will be as much a disappointment.

For those who judge a person's contributions by scanning the stat sheet after the game, you will not find Willie's contributions. Altered shots, tough man on man defense, and the all around mayhem he can cause are not tallied. No one knows how well a player will improve but he seems motivated.

I feel like Willie has been a big disappointment on defense. He was supposed to become a great rim protector in the NBA, but he hasn't become a shotblocker in the NBA. I really wouldn't mind if he decided to work with Whiteside or Jordan this off-season. If he can become an elite rim protector+good defense, he'll become our future PF/C.

I'd rather him focus on improving as a shot-blocker than expanding his offensive game. Elite shotblockers in the NBA are worth more than the Taj Gibsons. Even with all this being said, Willie played a good game. He just needs to add more consistency.

 

[John Galt]

I feel like Willie has been a big disappointment on defense. He was supposed to become a great rim protector in the NBA, but he hasn't become a shotblocker in the NBA. I really wouldn't mind if he decided to work with Whiteside or Jordan this off-season. If he can become an elite rim protector+good defense, he'll become our future PF/C.

I'd rather him focus on improving as a shot-blocker than expanding his offensive game. Elite shotblockers in the NBA are worth more than the Taj Gibsons. Even with all this being said, Willie played a good game. He just needs to add more consistency.

That's funny because from my seats last night I thought I saw at least two 'virtual' blocks where Willie dramatically altered the guy's layup attempt and made it into an airball, and I thought I saw a clear cut stuff near the Kings bench but it wasn't credited a BS so I don't know what happened there. I thought he was really good on def. But I didn't have the benefit of replays and commentary and from looking at the box score, I guess it was just a plain old run of the mill 20-13 night.

 

[ppine]

Live by the jump shot, die by the jump shot.
The new look Kings are remarkably soft in the middle of their defense. Every team they play exploits them.

 

[Spike]

Live by the jump shot, die by the jump shot.
The new look Kings are remarkably soft in the middle of their defense. Every team they play exploits them.

Not that remarkable, actually.

 

[ESP47]

This wasn't the best game I'd seen from Skal. Would have liked to see him challenge offensive players more when he's defending the rim. Still, loved the athleticism he demonstrated on a couple of those dunks. Not every game will be two steps forward, but as long as that is the trend...

I think he's working on things. Early on this year he was fouling guys a bunch by trying to play too much defense. I'm guessing the coaches told him to dial it back a bit so it seems to me like he's trying to find that happy medium of defending without doing too much to get the whistle blown.

 

[Glenn]

I feel like Willie has been a big disappointment on defense. He was supposed to become a great rim protector in the NBA, but he hasn't become a shotblocker in the NBA. I really wouldn't mind if he decided to work with Whiteside or Jordan this off-season. If he can become an elite rim protector+good defense, he'll become our future PF/C.

I'd rather him focus on improving as a shot-blocker than expanding his offensive game. Elite shotblockers in the NBA are worth more than the Taj Gibsons. Even with all this being said, Willie played a good game. He just needs to add more consistency.

I think we said the same thing but you used fewer words which is always a plus.