If you don't see how Sabonis bringing the ball up and making a decision ( 9 out of 10 times a correct one) is a huge positive and probably the highest points per play sequence in the whole Kings offense then we must be watching different games... Most of his turnovers are not in transition but screens and charges
Yeah, this criticism is not based in reality. Not based on any stat or any film at all.
Sabonis rarely gets picked or in any trouble whatsoever pushing the ball up the court. No possession goes awry as a result of him bringing it up. If anything, the Kings offensively have the best result from Domas bringing the ball up. Many of his assists come from that.
I can only guess somebody is on principle bothered by a big man pushing the ball up the court but it’s simply not a problem for Sabonis and is a major strength in his game.
Sabonis is actually one of the few Kings players im fully comfortable with bringing the ball up the court. Even Monk is more prone to mishandle the ball or blow a possession dribbling the ball up the court than Domas.
Most of his turnovers are offensive fouls, getting stipped going up and the ball going off his knee on half court sets. On an average night it will be about 2-3 offensive fouls and him losing the ball going up for a shot. The offensive fouls need to be cut down. Dribbling the ball up not.
Even in his few high turnover games this season, none I can think of were a result of him mishandling the ball while bringing it up.
I’m actually a pretty sensitive guy to the ball being passed to the wrong guy on a fast break or not finding the guard bringing the ball up as well. A few games back Fox passed the ball to Sasha at around center court on a fast break and I knew before it got to Sasha that he would get picked. Domas wouldn’t have passed it to Sasha there. So decision making matters to the guy bringing it up too. Domas is the best playmaker on the team.
No problem with Sabonis doing it and based on results, nobody should have a problem with it. He can handle the ball and he best knows where to go with it out of probably anybody on the team.