Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Isaiah Thomas: defensive player of the year
Malone calls out team for no defense
- Thread starter VF21
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Isaiah Thomas: defensive player of the year
HighFlyingMonkey
Starter
Well, the biggest issue is and will continue to be that we can't adequately defend the rim.
KingsFans.com will continue to blame Isaiah. Malone is apparently singling out Thornton. The truth is that the breakdowns are teamwide and because we just don't have the personnel to be an adequate defensive team, the breakdowns aren't likely to go away. We are trying to guard the most valuable real estate on the court with mediocre defenders and no amount of perimeter help will compensate for that.
KingsFans.com will continue to blame Isaiah. Malone is apparently singling out Thornton. The truth is that the breakdowns are teamwide and because we just don't have the personnel to be an adequate defensive team, the breakdowns aren't likely to go away. We are trying to guard the most valuable real estate on the court with mediocre defenders and no amount of perimeter help will compensate for that.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
I watched part of the interview before stupid LP cut out, per usual, and while I missed the part on MT I did hear him commenting on how Conley has torched us all three games we've faced them this year. Then it was back to that stupid LP music on the stats screen.
If Maone wants to start singling out players for poor defense, it's quite questionable to start with MT at this point in the season. Shopping IT isn't an excuse. We're shopping MT too.
If Maone wants to start singling out players for poor defense, it's quite questionable to start with MT at this point in the season. Shopping IT isn't an excuse. We're shopping MT too.
t-rex
Bench
I guess Coach Smart would have praised the team for their effort tonight. So there's that.
The philosophy is good. The players are either not capable of playing defense or have not bought in. Good news is PDA seems to have free rein to make changes. We have a big 2 not a big 3. Gay and Cousins.
The philosophy is good. The players are either not capable of playing defense or have not bought in. Good news is PDA seems to have free rein to make changes. We have a big 2 not a big 3. Gay and Cousins.
PrettyPinkJersey
Prospect
Denial? I believe he said, "A lot of it's on myself." Would you only find solace if he described his defense with more disgust?
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
One question is whether PDA and Malone are on the same page with this. He has managed to trade or let go every single King who could or even possibly could learn how to play defense in the last 6 months. ON PDA's watch we have lost Reke, Douglas,. Aldrich, James Johnson, Mbah a Moute and Salmons. Not great players, but all guys who understand the importance of defense.
P.S. IT is insecure and typically unwilling to truly admit any shortcomings because of it, but I didn't think his statement tonight was that outrageous comparatively. I do think you can read in the subtext that its somebody else's job, but at 5'9" I feel that even when he is putting in good defensive effort, guys have this tendency to shoot over him anyway, so there is some truth in it.
DeMoN
Bench
What? He just said alot of the blame is on him. What is he supposed to tell them?
I'm actually very impressed with the interview, the reporter asked a very direct question and IT was not defensive and agreed.
PurpleHaze
All-Star
And Coach Malone after previous loss to Memphis said same thing - Conley torched us BOTH games we've faced them this year. Lucky for Kings they don't play Memphis anymore this season.
t-rex
Bench
The coach was hired before the GM. I'm sure they get along but they may not be on the same page. Who is to say without a doubt PDA would have hired him given the choice?
The Hammer
All-Star
He only said it becuase a reporter directly asked him... even then he used the third person "the point guard" before finally saying "me"... and you could tell it pained him and he didn't mean it.
theclash4u5
Starter
I like coach Malone and I think he's the best coach we've had since Rick was here. However, if you keep calling players out for defense, and saying how you won't play them if they don't show any defensive effort, then don't play the same players the next game. Not that you really don't have much choice since you are stuck with the same players on the roster until changes are made, but it just seems like to me that eventually players are going to get sick of you calling them out in the media. I'm glad he called himself out on being a hypocrite on that, though.
DeMoN
Bench
Oh well blame Isaiah for not telling the entire world he sucks on defense. He was very responsible in his response considering your PR balance with fans, coach's and teammates.
The Hammer
All-Star
His body language said much more... it basically said the opposite of what his words were saying.
DeMoN
Bench
I believe Jimmer and IT were on his most of the game.
DeMoN
Bench
I'm not sure if we saw the same video. Because it was a very direct answer.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Here you go. Part of our problems IMO.
Dave Deuce Mason @DeuceMason22m
Last one from Isaiah: "I take the blame for a lot of that just because I feel like I'm the leader of this team, and it starts with me."
Dave Deuce Mason @DeuceMason22m
Last one from Isaiah: "I take the blame for a lot of that just because I feel like I'm the leader of this team, and it starts with me."
I think in this particular snippet, Malone was responding to a direct question about why MT was yanked. I'll know more tomorrow if my DVR records the post-game interview.
He put the blaming on himself, then pointed out that defense is a team thing and that they all have to improve.. but he basically just put most of the blame on himself. There's not much else you can ask..
Our entire team sucks defensively, and I don't think it's fair to single out one person. If IT's man gets passed him, do the big men step in and try to contest it? Our rations have been horrible. Many times where we play "help" defense and no one rotates over.. leaving a man wide open.
He's obviously disappointed in the lost tonight and he didn't expect the media to ask him a question about his defense..(I believe today was the first time they have.) which might explain his attitude and body language. I think we're looking way too deep into this than we should be. Everyone on the kings sucked on defense. The only players who didn't shoot at least .500 was Joe Johnson 1-3 and Mike Miller 5-11.
PrettyPinkJersey
Prospect
You are good. I'm sure a three-lettered Agency would love to have you analyzing suspect interviews for them.
I know I'm new to this board, but the hate on IT is unreal here. I'm not denying his defense is awful, but lets not twist his statements to confirm ones disdain for him as a player.
This is the stuff that irritates the crap out of me. He's the team leader that doesn't play a team style offense or put much effort on d.
This is the same excuse trotted out by IT fans all season: Basically he gets beaten consistently and gives up on plays but its the rest of the team's responsibility to cover his mistakes. That flies on the occasional defensive lapse but not a regular strategy.
I personally think Thornton is disappointed in the amount of touches he receives. His role gets smaller and smaller each year with the kings. Thornton plays the 2 in our starting lineup, but in actuality he's just a placeholder so there won't be double teams on IT and everyone else all the time. Imagine if your only role in the team was running around trying to get open, and when you do get open, you never get the ball. I think sometimes he just gives up on playing... I've observed this from previous games. I think Malone was upset by a particular thing Thornton did..not sure what.
How is it an excuse when it's true? Our bigs don't rotate for crap. Our guards also can't defend for crap.
Wait. Does that mean... we're both right? How is that possible!
The result is our lovely defense
DeMoN
Bench
How about some devil's advocate on that, maybe it show's he is commited to getting better.
The Hammer
All-Star
Yeah, I think we saw different videos, because he hemmed and hawed and gave a half hearted answer only when pressed DIRECTLY about a reporter if some of it fell to him. Even then, he started by saying, "it falls on the point guard"... but then he heard how ridiculous that sounded and reluctantly included the word "me"... just so he could make people think he believed it. It was about as fake an "owning up" as I've ever seen. Keep in mind he started the whole rant by calling out the team as a whole, when we all know he is one of our worst individual defenders. That in itself is seriously bothersome. You only earn the right to call out your team on something you are at least decent at and absolutely put forth supreme effort at.
Clear enough for you?
Has his defense improved in 3 seasons? Does he do a better job of looking for teammates instead of his own shot?
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