[Game] Kings vs. Pelicans, 11/03/21 7pm Pacific, 10pm Eastern

We probably need to get Bagley or Metu 10 plus minutes a game during this stretch. Somebody else mentioned this, but Marvin has looked happier on the sideline than I ever remember seeing him. He has been more engaged with his teammates and the game itself (just my opinion) Awesome to see and hats off to him for staying positive through a tough situation. In some ways, there is no pressure anymore. The weight of his draft status has been lifted as he knows his time as a King is ending and a fresh start is on the horizon. Might be worth showcasing him a bit and see if he can be moved for anything at the deadline.
 
Harkless defense has been extremely important to start the year. It's plugged the giant hole that Bagley was in for most of last year. The numbers aren't there, sure and he's better suited as an 8-9 man, but he's the best option we got
I don't get this logic at all. He's just not passing the eye test for me. We've lost such close games where a few buckets could have ment the difference. And we don't look at the 1/4 guy and 5 in 32 min. It's not like he's a defensive anchor out there. He's solid sure, but not close to a game changer or even a changer at all. I don't even notice him out there until he misses a wide open 3
 
Fun, fun game. Looked like a hard-working team that likes to play with each other. I had to slap myself 10x in the first half because I liked Hield's play so much. He really looked like the 6th man energizer bunny out there with his defense and his, yes, ballhandling. :D
I just wanted to give some love to Alex Len. He got the better of his matchup with Jonas the Jerk, and I found that every bit as satisfying as the win itself. Well, almost.

With how well Len has played for us this season in his limited minutes, one has to wonder how many more games we might have won last season if McNair had resigned Len instead of signing Whiteside.
 
The Good: Fox played a nice efficient game
The Bad: Playing him from the corner is still hella stupid

the bad: this help defense trash is so stupid it gave a bunch of scrubs so many open threes
The good: the players started to figure out what the pelicans were doing on offense and slowed them down also we got a lot of blocks!

the trash: Holmes getting ejected was ridiculous I hate this league. The foul called on him was 100% horse sh**

the good: back to .500 for now….
 
I don't get this logic at all. He's just not passing the eye test for me. We've lost such close games where a few buckets could have ment the difference. And we don't look at the 1/4 guy and 5 in 32 min. It's not like he's a defensive anchor out there. He's solid sure, but not close to a game changer or even a changer at all. I don't even notice him out there until he misses a wide open 3
I think the point is that unfortunately, and I don't like to admit it, but we probably arent within a few buckets in those games if Bagley switches spots with Moe. Bagley is the more talented and capable player offensively, but he isnt always aware of what is happening on defense and that is too big of a chink in the armor of a team that is trying to play consistently good defense.
 
With how well Len has played for us this season in his limited minutes, one has to wonder how many more games we might have won last season if McNair had resigned Len instead of signing Whiteside.

based on what I’m seeing this season, looks like at least 3-5 more IMO. Also Thompson was really drilling the players on the sideline huddles but it didn’t really seem like they wanted to listen
 
I think the point is that unfortunately, and I don't like to admit it, but we probably arent within a few buckets in those games if Bagley switches spots with Moe. Bagley is the more talented and capable player offensively, but he isnt always aware of what is happening on defense and that is too big of a chink in the armor of a team that is trying to play consistently good defense.
But our def rating last year didn't go up or down with him off the court. If we got better defensively overall this year with all those other non defensive players, wouldn't it be fair to say, maybe he wasn't totally at fault and may be better too? If not agree with his agent, why didn't we just trade him when we had the chance?
 
But our def rating last year didn't go up or down with him off the court. If we got better defensively overall this year with all those other non defensive players, wouldn't it be fair to say, maybe he wasn't totally at fault and may be better too? If not agree with his agent, why didn't we just trade him when we had the chance?
Perhaps the coaching staff and FO have a difference of opinion about him?
 
I don't get this logic at all. He's just not passing the eye test for me. We've lost such close games where a few buckets could have ment the difference. And we don't look at the 1/4 guy and 5 in 32 min. It's not like he's a defensive anchor out there. He's solid sure, but not close to a game changer or even a changer at all. I don't even notice him out there until he misses a wide open 3

Because. We've been over this a million times on this forum, but Bagley has been one of the most negative impact players in the NBA the last 3 seasons. Basically every stat known to man in basketball as well as just watching him play bears that out. He doesn't defend in the slightest: on-ball or off-ball. He's an inconsistent spacer at best, isn't efficient, hasn't built on his ability to draw free throw attempts as a rookie. Moe Harkless being "just ok" has been a massive improvement because we aren't actively overcoming the liability that Bagley has been on the floor.

This isn't to let Moe's offensive game off the hook. We need him to be a more consistent spacer, especially when Barnes starts to cool down and come back down to earth a little bit. But his defense and switchability has been a factor from us going from a historically bad defense, to just being "bad". You can't say otherwise if you claim to have been watching the games.
 
You're not wrong but way more often than not, Barnes' type of stat line is going to be more efficient than the one with more field goals and less free throws. Usually good free throw shooters won't shoot 20% from the line but they do have plenty of nights where they'll shoot a low percentage from the field.

It's why Harden's TS% is always high, despite his FG percentages looking average.

Definitely agree, Barnes is a pretty efficient player. But like you and others have said, we should be measuring that by TS rather than just FGA.
 
Also great to see Fox have a strong game. Took a bit of a back seat to Hali running the show, let the game come to him. Hit 2-3 3pa. This is the perfect role for him while he finds his way back.

Honestly if Fox just plays like this for the rest of the season (basically kinda non-invisble Harrison Barnes-esque good but still two tiers below all-star level), I have high hopes of making a good run at the playoffs (provided everyone else continues playing like how they've been playing).
 
Not to nitpick, but I never really understood why some people refer to scoring more on less field goal attempts as efficiency, when the bulk of free throws are going to come from getting fouled while attempting a shot. Efficiency should be measured by FG% or EFG% or something closer to those stats than just shot attempts. If player X scores 20 points on 10/10 layups, why should he be considered less efficient than player Y who scores 20 points on 1 layup and 18 FTs that he drew attempting 9 layups? Or let's say in this case, if Barnes happened to be 1-8 FG, but took 10 more attempts and got fouled on them leading to 20 free throws, would we still say that was efficient?

Because drawing free throws matters quite a bit. You not only potentially get really important players in foul troubles where they play under their minutes expectation, but free throws are the most efficient play type in basketball. An 80% FT shooter is getting you 1.6 points on average for that possession. I haven't looked at Synergy numbers in years since they went behind a paywall, but from what I remember is that most play-types hovered in like a 0.8-1.3 PPP range.

So like Barnes tonight was 1.8 PPP on his 5 trips to the line and drew 5 fouls on the other team. That's extremely valuable and pretty unlikely for him to best that efficiency with normal shots.
 
Davion is also playing really well on offense. I didn't realize he could get to the basket with such ease. He can get a pull-up jumper from midrange seemingly whenever he wants. Looks like a solid producer on offense, a mainstay on defense, and he's a rookie. McNair came up with another steal.
 
Davion is also playing really well on offense. I didn't realize he could get to the basket with such ease. He can get a pull-up jumper from midrange seemingly whenever he wants. Looks like a solid producer on offense, a mainstay on defense, and he's a rookie. McNair came up with another steal.

that Donovan Mitchell move he copied is legit
 
With the new rules we seem to have figured out how to get to the free throw line at least a decently average amount especially HB and Halliburton
 
With how well Len has played for us this season in his limited minutes, one has to wonder how many more games we might have won last season if McNair had resigned Len instead of signing Whiteside.

Yep. I never did understand why they let him go. I kept saying to people like a broken record that I wished they could get him back. McNair must have heard me.:)
 
With how well Len has played for us this season in his limited minutes, one has to wonder how many more games we might have won last season if McNair had resigned Len instead of signing Whiteside.

I forgot to mention, I did hear a radio interview over the summer with James Ham where he said he thought the Kings would have won five extra games last year if they had Len. I agree with that assessment.
 
Our first complete defensive game, on the second night of a back-to-back, and without that we would have lost to a very hungry team ready to rise.

I only seriously question the last part. I agree with everything else.

The Pels were 1-7 (worst record in the league) coming in and were minus their top 2 players.

The KINGS needed the W and I am super glad they got it, but their opponent is a bad team right now.