[Game] Kings vs. Grizzlies, 12/26/2021 3pm Pacific 6pm Eastern
- Thread starter Tetsujin
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meh. Drafting for fit is always bad until you have a/potential top 15 player. The Kings for a large part of their existence have had a severe talent deficiency. Even if it doesn't fit right away, get the talent, figure out the fit later.
And in theory, Fox-Buddy-Barnes-Holmes should be an absolute stunning fit with complimentary skill sets. So why isn't it?
And in theory, Fox-Buddy-Barnes-Holmes should be an absolute stunning fit with complimentary skill sets. So why isn't it?
loll than the DMC supporters would be screaming to get rid of Fox because that would negatively impact Cousins per 36 numbers and that team would also be well below 500., than it would be back to blaming the coach and avoiding the obvious that the Kings pissed away all their money on two guys who don't win or make anyone else better as #1 and #2 options.
IMO a few issues -
1. Lack of versatile Shooting; this includes Fox, Holmes, and Buddy basically abandoning the midrange this season and last for whatever reason. That means closed lanes, and Buddy just not getting easy shots.
2. Not enough off ball action - again relating to never seeing that pindown action for Buddy we used to see, and Fox not being a good off-ball player
3. Poor screening on ball and off ball
4. Fox is a great driver, but not a great disher off of drives.
5. Defense/size. With Buddy being naturally weak you need Fox to be a stud defensively or Holmes to be a interior defensive presence, and you need guys to be able to rebound. Doesn't happen sadly.
1. Lack of versatile Shooting; this includes Fox, Holmes, and Buddy basically abandoning the midrange this season and last for whatever reason. That means closed lanes, and Buddy just not getting easy shots.
2. Not enough off ball action - again relating to never seeing that pindown action for Buddy we used to see, and Fox not being a good off-ball player
3. Poor screening on ball and off ball
4. Fox is a great driver, but not a great disher off of drives.
5. Defense/size. With Buddy being naturally weak you need Fox to be a stud defensively or Holmes to be a interior defensive presence, and you need guys to be able to rebound. Doesn't happen sadly.
MBIII has explosive and strong leaping ability, which makes him a good rebounder and shot blocker. Other than that, I wouldn’t consider him to be “an elite athlete”. His footwork is plodding and he can’t change direction with any kind of quickness or fluidity, which is a big hinderance for him on both ends of the floor - but especially on defense. He’s not particularly strong for his size, so he gets bested in match-ups involving physicality. His basketball IQ is average. His ceiling is probably as a role-player, but he definitely doesn’t have the right kind of skill set to stick around with the Kings with the direction they need to go.
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You cant run efficent pick n rolls in the modern Nba if you have your own non shootimg center sitting under the basket and Bagley rolling to the rim. And its because of Bagleys flaws that he needs a center playing besides him as he is a horrible defender as a center.
Thats the big problem with Bagley that has been said here ever since before he was drafted. If he isnt the only big setting screens, then what he is on offense? If you have a non shooting center then Bagley is a spot up shooter or a cutter. He isnt a post player because the post is clogged up and he is a horrible passer. Post ups are quite low efficent prosessions unless you are a good passer and an excellent finisher. Bagley is neither, could be a good finisher if he could use his off hand but he'll never become even an above average passer.
Thats the big problem with Bagley that has been said here ever since before he was drafted. If he isnt the only big setting screens, then what he is on offense? If you have a non shooting center then Bagley is a spot up shooter or a cutter. He isnt a post player because the post is clogged up and he is a horrible passer. Post ups are quite low efficent prosessions unless you are a good passer and an excellent finisher. Bagley is neither, could be a good finisher if he could use his off hand but he'll never become even an above average passer.
Pretty good interview there. This team isn't a tweak or two away from the playoffs.
I think teams come in and play loose against the Kings in the first half to see if they can put them away with an average amount of effort. When the Kings hang on, they put the clamps on to start the 3rd and it's game over from there. The fact that TD admits that they don't talk about 3rd quarters nearly enough when all the fans can see it plain as day is pretty telling.
Other teams scrubs look like they have higher bball IQs than our best players. These guys all look like one read quarterbacks to me. They'll try to run something and if it doesn't work, they just wing it from there. Other teams have layers to their plans. They read and react and know where to be. They find weaknesses and exploit them. They know when to cut and how to space. They don't find themselves covering that empty spot in the midrange between the guys in the paint and the guys beyond the arc like the Kings tend to do so often.
I think it's a mix of bad coaching and bad players. Like Fox said, everyone basically runs the same thing in the NBA so it's not like these guys were never taught how to play basketball. I just don't think they're very good at the mental aspect of the game and they certainly haven't had a coach in years that could overcome that.
I think teams come in and play loose against the Kings in the first half to see if they can put them away with an average amount of effort. When the Kings hang on, they put the clamps on to start the 3rd and it's game over from there. The fact that TD admits that they don't talk about 3rd quarters nearly enough when all the fans can see it plain as day is pretty telling.
Other teams scrubs look like they have higher bball IQs than our best players. These guys all look like one read quarterbacks to me. They'll try to run something and if it doesn't work, they just wing it from there. Other teams have layers to their plans. They read and react and know where to be. They find weaknesses and exploit them. They know when to cut and how to space. They don't find themselves covering that empty spot in the midrange between the guys in the paint and the guys beyond the arc like the Kings tend to do so often.
I think it's a mix of bad coaching and bad players. Like Fox said, everyone basically runs the same thing in the NBA so it's not like these guys were never taught how to play basketball. I just don't think they're very good at the mental aspect of the game and they certainly haven't had a coach in years that could overcome that.
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Buddy was the easiest target last night. There were two clear times when the ball fell into no-mans-land behind Adams and in front of Buddy. He just stood there and allowed Adams to gobble up the board. During the November games, Buddy was contributing 6 boards per game. Since then, his boards have halved. https://www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/2990984/buddy-hield
Fox was a bit harder to pinpoint. He looked like he was trying to be more inclusive on offense and he tried to be more physical with Morant until a screen came. He was helping more on defense prior to the latest covid bout. So it wasn't his play, in particular, but just how the team plays when he's on the floor. There is just simply less ball movement when Fox is on the floor. The Kings needed to move the ball last night, because Memphis was attacking pretty much every player that had the ball. You gotta abuse defenses, with quick passes, who close out and help that hard.
And, in general, this team doesn't work for each other on either side of the ball.
Fox was a bit harder to pinpoint. He looked like he was trying to be more inclusive on offense and he tried to be more physical with Morant until a screen came. He was helping more on defense prior to the latest covid bout. So it wasn't his play, in particular, but just how the team plays when he's on the floor. There is just simply less ball movement when Fox is on the floor. The Kings needed to move the ball last night, because Memphis was attacking pretty much every player that had the ball. You gotta abuse defenses, with quick passes, who close out and help that hard.
And, in general, this team doesn't work for each other on either side of the ball.
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