Testing. Testing 1,2...
Evans? Has anyone seen Tyreke Evans? More importantly, has anyone seen Tyreke's missing shot?
Aaah, I'm only kidding If you tuned in to the Philly game all excited, expecting a blowout win for the Kings you are not alone in your disappointment. Of course there is going to be a struggle, why should we have the audacity to believe otherwise?
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The struggle lies in an area over which the current edition of the Kings has very little control. Yes, yes the Kings were out of synch. Evans looked a little lost out there at times, but it takes more than practice - and it will take a total team effort - in order to figure out how to involve Martin most effectively. Our biggest problem is not having a star big to draw defenders out of the paint. If the other team packs it in and forces a bajillion turnovers, Kings lose. Evans controls the ball every possession, which is good; and against Philly he tried to create for himself, only to have our bigs fail at drawing out the Philly defenders - resulting in altered shots for Tyreke. I guess other teams know how to beat us: Ignore our bigs, double Martin early, and have their Center wait for Evans on the block while pretending to defend Hawes.
You know what's odd? Most of us thought Evans would fall off big time with Martin's return, but the players that were effected in the most adverse manner were Donte and Omri. Donte basically didn't see the floor (thanks Ime), and Casspi only takes six shots. It looks like Martin and Evans will each need roughly fifteen possessions a game to score twenty points a night. I'm not sure about how many possessions are in a typical game, but I don't think that sounds terribly unreasonable. A few more games along with some better play from the 3 and things will pick up, I hope.
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Let's run over Piksi's list of matchups:
Evans vs Igoudala - Iggy was a monster, don't let the box score fool you.
Dalambert vs Blockparty - Apparently he only needs to block 3. The rest he can just alter.
Kevin vs Tyreke or Kevin & Tyreke - The early results are not discouraging, keep your eyes peeled.
Thompson vs lack of brain and balls - He's baaa aaack. Off the bench though. Weird.
Holliday vs TDM - Didn't happen, but Williams...
Sixers vs 3pt shooting - Didn't happen either. Really, we beat ourselves.
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Awards:
TDM - I alluded to Williams but Dalembert deserves the award. He's looking better for us every time we play the '6ers.
LW-VC - Rodney Carney. D-league here he comes.
JHA - Udoka was our monkey wrench.
SAR - Metuselah - Spencer got stripped of too many rebounds by Dalembert.
RA&1 - Udrih looked like a slightly better version of Sergio. Not saying much.
WTF moment of the game - Who did Donte pee off to only get two minutes of PT?
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The Bullets are up next and they are in shambles following Gilbert's stupid gun play. If there was any such thing as an easy win on this road trip, this is the game. As I write this Antawn Jamison is trying his best to imitate prime Shaq, holding his team up with 32 pts and 18 rebs in OT at Chicago. Whatever the outcome there, the Wizards should be nice and tired for us.
Predictions:
Kings 103 Wizards 89
Pts: Martin 25, Jamison 19
Rebs: JT 10, Haywood 7
Asst: Evans 5, Foye 4
Blocks: Greene 2, Haywood 2
Probable starters:
Kings / Wizards
Evans / Foye: Get ready for the rebound performance Foye
Martin / Miller: no defense allowed
Casspi / Butler: Casspi does a good job on Butler and we easily win
JT / Jamison: Thompson, do it again
Hawes / Haywood: Great, another shot blocker. Draw him away Hawes.
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Our record is worse, but our future is certainly intriguing. If the Kings go directly to plane, rest up, and play with heart tomorrow we win.
GO KINGS!!!!
Evans? Has anyone seen Tyreke Evans? More importantly, has anyone seen Tyreke's missing shot?
Aaah, I'm only kidding If you tuned in to the Philly game all excited, expecting a blowout win for the Kings you are not alone in your disappointment. Of course there is going to be a struggle, why should we have the audacity to believe otherwise?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The struggle lies in an area over which the current edition of the Kings has very little control. Yes, yes the Kings were out of synch. Evans looked a little lost out there at times, but it takes more than practice - and it will take a total team effort - in order to figure out how to involve Martin most effectively. Our biggest problem is not having a star big to draw defenders out of the paint. If the other team packs it in and forces a bajillion turnovers, Kings lose. Evans controls the ball every possession, which is good; and against Philly he tried to create for himself, only to have our bigs fail at drawing out the Philly defenders - resulting in altered shots for Tyreke. I guess other teams know how to beat us: Ignore our bigs, double Martin early, and have their Center wait for Evans on the block while pretending to defend Hawes.
You know what's odd? Most of us thought Evans would fall off big time with Martin's return, but the players that were effected in the most adverse manner were Donte and Omri. Donte basically didn't see the floor (thanks Ime), and Casspi only takes six shots. It looks like Martin and Evans will each need roughly fifteen possessions a game to score twenty points a night. I'm not sure about how many possessions are in a typical game, but I don't think that sounds terribly unreasonable. A few more games along with some better play from the 3 and things will pick up, I hope.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let's run over Piksi's list of matchups:
Evans vs Igoudala - Iggy was a monster, don't let the box score fool you.
Dalambert vs Blockparty - Apparently he only needs to block 3. The rest he can just alter.
Kevin vs Tyreke or Kevin & Tyreke - The early results are not discouraging, keep your eyes peeled.
Thompson vs lack of brain and balls - He's baaa aaack. Off the bench though. Weird.
Holliday vs TDM - Didn't happen, but Williams...
Sixers vs 3pt shooting - Didn't happen either. Really, we beat ourselves.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Awards:
TDM - I alluded to Williams but Dalembert deserves the award. He's looking better for us every time we play the '6ers.
LW-VC - Rodney Carney. D-league here he comes.
JHA - Udoka was our monkey wrench.
SAR - Metuselah - Spencer got stripped of too many rebounds by Dalembert.
RA&1 - Udrih looked like a slightly better version of Sergio. Not saying much.
WTF moment of the game - Who did Donte pee off to only get two minutes of PT?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Bullets are up next and they are in shambles following Gilbert's stupid gun play. If there was any such thing as an easy win on this road trip, this is the game. As I write this Antawn Jamison is trying his best to imitate prime Shaq, holding his team up with 32 pts and 18 rebs in OT at Chicago. Whatever the outcome there, the Wizards should be nice and tired for us.
Predictions:
Kings 103 Wizards 89
Pts: Martin 25, Jamison 19
Rebs: JT 10, Haywood 7
Asst: Evans 5, Foye 4
Blocks: Greene 2, Haywood 2
Probable starters:
Kings / Wizards
Evans / Foye: Get ready for the rebound performance Foye
Martin / Miller: no defense allowed
Casspi / Butler: Casspi does a good job on Butler and we easily win
JT / Jamison: Thompson, do it again
Hawes / Haywood: Great, another shot blocker. Draw him away Hawes.
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Our record is worse, but our future is certainly intriguing. If the Kings go directly to plane, rest up, and play with heart tomorrow we win.
GO KINGS!!!!
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