[Game] Kings vs. Timberwolves 3/4/2023, 7p Pacific/10p Eastern
- Thread starter QWERTYLICIOUS
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As I pointed out during the game, this is a product of the typical NBA and collegiate defensive strategy, as it has developed the past ten years. Two weak side players line up alongside the lane, then swing out when the ball moves around to the other side of the court. Last night showed the significant limitations of this strategy against a team that can pass efficiently and quickly, or against a player like Luka Dončić, who can easily pass across court. There is just not enough time to recover and adequately defend the three without fouling in those circumstances.
it helps that everyone that was sorta slumping has pulled out of it (Monk, KVon, Black Falcon).
Brown need to use his defensive prowess to figure out how to jam teams up on D for chunks in each quarter instead of preaching 48 minutes cuz that ain’t happenin. Maybe a Kessler could be part of the solution since it appears he can still give you something on offense.
Brown need to use his defensive prowess to figure out how to jam teams up on D for chunks in each quarter instead of preaching 48 minutes cuz that ain’t happenin. Maybe a Kessler could be part of the solution since it appears he can still give you something on offense.
100% agree with you. Sabonis is such an awful defender and quite possibly the worst on our team, but we need him in the entire game because of what he brings on offense. Fox is a bad and lazy defender. He has no pride on that end unless it’s crunch minutes in the 4th. But those are already 2 guys who we need on the floor despite their bad defense…
Then you have the rest of the starters. KVon can’t defend a traffic cone… arguably worse than Buddy was. He’s lengthy, but he’s too slow against SGs, and too weak against SFs. Murray is also pretty bad in his own right. He tries really hard, but has clear physical limitations with being too slow and not strong enough. Barnes is probably our best defender in the starting lineup…… which isn’t saying much. I think his defense is solid all-around though.
The lineup of Fox-Huerter-Murray-Barnes-Sabonis has an offensive rating of 118.6 and a defensive rating of 116.0... which gives us barely a positive rating of only 2.5.
Compare that number to other team's most commonly used lineups here:https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?dir=D&sort=MIN
All the other top playoff teams have a much bigger net rating:
I think it's too late to change up our starting lineup, but maybe we need to see the lineup less during the games? Unless we go on a 4-game losing skid, I think all the starters are safe right now, but the only replaceable ones are Huerter and Murray. w
Then you have the rest of the starters. KVon can’t defend a traffic cone… arguably worse than Buddy was. He’s lengthy, but he’s too slow against SGs, and too weak against SFs. Murray is also pretty bad in his own right. He tries really hard, but has clear physical limitations with being too slow and not strong enough. Barnes is probably our best defender in the starting lineup…… which isn’t saying much. I think his defense is solid all-around though.
The lineup of Fox-Huerter-Murray-Barnes-Sabonis has an offensive rating of 118.6 and a defensive rating of 116.0... which gives us barely a positive rating of only 2.5.
Compare that number to other team's most commonly used lineups here:https://www.nba.com/stats/lineups/advanced?dir=D&sort=MIN
All the other top playoff teams have a much bigger net rating:
- Atlanta: 10.6
- Philly: 7.6
- Denver: 16.4
- New York: 8.6
- GS: 21.9
- Boston: 13.0
I think it's too late to change up our starting lineup, but maybe we need to see the lineup less during the games? Unless we go on a 4-game losing skid, I think all the starters are safe right now, but the only replaceable ones are Huerter and Murray. w
1 loss and some people are reacting like brainless people.
People not long ago were dreaming about getting somehow to the playoffs and to finish 16 years crappy period. But when team reached high place on the standings - same people now are dreaming about NBA rings, requirements to the team and players became so hyped and pushed to the limits, that it becomes sometimes hilarious to read ...
NBA champions becomes such teams, which core players play together for a longer period of time, when bonds and relations become strong. I want to remind that this Kings team is young and was quite significantly rebuilt. So let these current players learn to win and share joy, learn from mistakes when loosing ...
About some lineups with Sabonis, you can look here and see that best lineup is which was played only for 45 min :
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sabondo01/lineups/2023
P.S. to say that Sabonis is awful defender - means you do not watch games. Because if you would watch, you would see that ref ghost whistles are main reason why Sabonis has to play with less defense.
People not long ago were dreaming about getting somehow to the playoffs and to finish 16 years crappy period. But when team reached high place on the standings - same people now are dreaming about NBA rings, requirements to the team and players became so hyped and pushed to the limits, that it becomes sometimes hilarious to read ...
NBA champions becomes such teams, which core players play together for a longer period of time, when bonds and relations become strong. I want to remind that this Kings team is young and was quite significantly rebuilt. So let these current players learn to win and share joy, learn from mistakes when loosing ...
About some lineups with Sabonis, you can look here and see that best lineup is which was played only for 45 min :
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sabondo01/lineups/2023
P.S. to say that Sabonis is awful defender - means you do not watch games. Because if you would watch, you would see that ref ghost whistles are main reason why Sabonis has to play with less defense.
For the record I dont consider myself to be a draft nerd - I can still dunk a basketball n I can still dribble figure 8's an inch off the ground around my feet seemlessly. Some of these draft nerds look more suited for hot dog eating contests to me, I'll just leave it at that.
I was definitely high on Kessler Edwards, I'm not sure I'd use the word upside even though he was a young Sophomore, to me it was much more a matter of is he serviceable? n I thought he had a good shot. Best case would be something like Royce O'Neale. He's got a good frame, 6'11 wingspan, seems pretty tough he could hold his ground near the paint, so I was excited to see the Nets draft him because that meant they were gonna put him on the floor rookie year n see what he can do, he flamed out a bit there but certainly had some bright moments beforehand.
I recall being convinced that he had a chance to be a good NBA defender judging the quality of his blocks. I was convinced they were 'nba quality' blocks. Seemed to have some good slashes too, pretty soft touch around the rim
Don't think I've seen anyone shoot the ball quite like him. Right? what he does is not really a fluid motion its kind of herky-jerky, sorta leans forward, sorta kicks his feet out. We were never talking about some top pick in the draft so that stuff is inconsequential really. As long as the ball looks good coming out of his hand and it looks fine as it goes thru the hoop, thats what matters, n he passes that basic eyetest IMO.
He seemed like a smart respectful kid, has his ducks in a row, well grounded type of guy who will take a second to give you a thoughtful answer. selfless teammate, doesnt seem like some big ego guy. obviously no one knows what goes on behind closed doors, but I'd be shocked if we ever hear a bad word about this player in the media (lookin at you Ja Morant)
He used to be able to drop step for easy baskets in college so he had a sort of mix of the 3'n'd and some old school game, dont think that'll be much of what we see here but its good for like these frantic late clock situations we had him in the game last night of, if he gets his hands on an Oreb he'll spin and get a shot off with a soft touch n thats well within his comfort zone. N he's not overly explosive so that sorta stuff can help him in the paint.
I was definitely high on Kessler Edwards, I'm not sure I'd use the word upside even though he was a young Sophomore, to me it was much more a matter of is he serviceable? n I thought he had a good shot. Best case would be something like Royce O'Neale. He's got a good frame, 6'11 wingspan, seems pretty tough he could hold his ground near the paint, so I was excited to see the Nets draft him because that meant they were gonna put him on the floor rookie year n see what he can do, he flamed out a bit there but certainly had some bright moments beforehand.
I recall being convinced that he had a chance to be a good NBA defender judging the quality of his blocks. I was convinced they were 'nba quality' blocks. Seemed to have some good slashes too, pretty soft touch around the rim
Don't think I've seen anyone shoot the ball quite like him. Right? what he does is not really a fluid motion its kind of herky-jerky, sorta leans forward, sorta kicks his feet out. We were never talking about some top pick in the draft so that stuff is inconsequential really. As long as the ball looks good coming out of his hand and it looks fine as it goes thru the hoop, thats what matters, n he passes that basic eyetest IMO.
He seemed like a smart respectful kid, has his ducks in a row, well grounded type of guy who will take a second to give you a thoughtful answer. selfless teammate, doesnt seem like some big ego guy. obviously no one knows what goes on behind closed doors, but I'd be shocked if we ever hear a bad word about this player in the media (lookin at you Ja Morant)
He used to be able to drop step for easy baskets in college so he had a sort of mix of the 3'n'd and some old school game, dont think that'll be much of what we see here but its good for like these frantic late clock situations we had him in the game last night of, if he gets his hands on an Oreb he'll spin and get a shot off with a soft touch n thats well within his comfort zone. N he's not overly explosive so that sorta stuff can help him in the paint.
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the more I see these ratings the less I believe in them. Maybe a month ago, Zach Lowe said our starting 5 had the 4th best overall rating and now we are several games better record wise and we are supposed to believe there has been a huge drop off. Doesn’t add up. Not only that, but if our starting 5 is not getting it done then are we to believe the difference in winning and losing is Lyles, Mitchell, Monk and Metu? Only one of those guys has been good nearly the entire year. Monk had a 25 game stretch where he was shooting 35 percent from the field and Mitchell and Metu has certainly had their share of struggles.
Historically, Barnes, Sabonis and Huerter have all hovered between slighting below average to slightly above on defense if we want to use metrics.
If nothing else, I’d like the team to figure out how to play defense in the first quarter like we do in the clutch so we aren’t constantly digging ourselves out of a hole or relying on hot shooting to start the game.
Historically, Barnes, Sabonis and Huerter have all hovered between slighting below average to slightly above on defense if we want to use metrics.
If nothing else, I’d like the team to figure out how to play defense in the first quarter like we do in the clutch so we aren’t constantly digging ourselves out of a hole or relying on hot shooting to start the game.
Not responding to someone who calls me brainless. You sound a bit emotionally-driven- Status