Malone calls out team for no defense

[VF21]

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.

You're new to the board so your response to a comment is sarcasm and snark?

People here do not hate IT. I really ought to just store a paragraph to use in these cases. What we HATE is him playing hero ball and ignoring his fellow players.

.

 

[PurpleHaze]

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.

Exactly right. The key word from IT was "I' or "I'm the leader" - what arrogant ball hog nonsense. It could have been, I'm A leader not THE leader - but IT is King Napoleon!

 

[sdballer]

How is it an excuse when it's true? Our bigs don't rotate for poopoo. Our guards also can't defend for poopoo.

Wait. Does that mean... we're both right? How is that possible!

The result is our lovely defense

You're skirting the issue. Yes, we suck at defense all over the place. My point (which you clearly understand) is that it's silly to defend IT for not playing defense by arguing its just as big a responsibility of the rest of the team to consistently cover for his deficiency.

It's like saying it isn't just a guys fault for missing most of his shots because his teammates should rebound better.

 

[VF21]

If I were Thornton I would have a really hard time killing myself on defense when I knew I wasn't going to get the ball if I was open on the other end. I am not saying it is right but he has been shooting lights out, it has to be frustrating to not get any shots.

Strawman.

Marcus Thornton is receiving an obscene amount of money to play a freaking game. If he's not going to put forth an effort, even if it's not the role he thinks he should be playing, there are lots of young players out there who would gladly take his place.

 

[The Hammer]

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.

You do not have the right to proclaim yourself the leader and call out your team on an area where you are horrible at, and that mostly revolves around effort. It's like Dwight Howard speaking to the press and saying "Our team really needs to start hitting their free throws down the stretch. It's been costing us some games." Then only saying some of it is his fault when directly asked so by a reporter.

Does not compute.

 

[Tetsujin]

How about some devil's advocate on that, maybe it show's he is commited to getting better.

Except he's said similar things so many times before that it's nigh impossible to take him seriously.

 

[fanop]

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.

Too bad I'm not an IT fan.. I was actually banned from another kings site because I expressed how much I wanted Reke to play the 1 AGAIN and make IT our 6th man.. but the guys there weren't too fond of my idea because IT was in their eyes.. the best kings player everrr.

IT can't guard, our bigs can defend the paint, and the list goes on and on and on. I'm blaming IT for his defense, but I'm also blaming the bigs for not doing their job as well. When an offensive player attacks the rim, you except your bigs to try to stop them..any position, and player, you except that in the NBA. Ours just watches or commits stupid fouls and complains about them. I think the team does very well with man-man defense, but obviously other teams doesn't always play 1on1 and iso or post up. They have a real pg(what the kings don't have) who can run plays and sets(what the kings can't defend) and it all unfolds horribly for us.

 

[DeMoN]

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?

Why are you putting so much weight into a post game interview from a player? Do you really think after a tough game a player is going to speak their complete mind? Of course theres going to be smokescreens. I was impressed by what he said considering this. Would i be pleased if he came out and was totally honest? Of course. But that's not going to happen. He'd probably get in trouble if he did.

 

[DeMoN]

Has his defense improved in 3 seasons? Does he do a better job of looking for teammates instead of his own shot?

No, it really hasn't. Although with Cousins he does get away with it more often.

 

[Tetsujin]

Why are you putting so much weight into a post game interview from a player? Do you really think after a tough game a player is going to speak their complete mind? Of course theres going to be smokescreens. I was impressed by what he said considering this. Would i be pleased if he came out and was totally honest? Of course. But that's not going to happen. He'd probably get in trouble if he did.

Because a team would punish a player for acknowledging one of his deficiencies, right.

 

[The_Jamal]

You're skirting the issue. Yes, we suck at defense all over the place. My point (which you clearly understand) is that it's silly to defend IT for not playing defense by arguing its just as big a responsibility of the rest of the team to consistently cover for his deficiency.

It's like saying it isn't a guys fault for missing most of his shots because his teammates should rebound better.

Who's defending IT for not playing defense? I certainly am not.

You're skirting the issue right back at me. It doesn't matter if IT is at point or not. Rondo could be at point. Still doesn't change the fact that our bigs suck at help defense. No one is saying that is the whole issue, which you seem to be insinuating. It's a combination. Bigs got to help better. Guards got to put more pressure on the perimeter. I view it as equally important in building a strong defense. Roy Hibbert doesn't look like a DPOY without Hill, Lance, and PG on the perimeter. MG probably doesn't win DPOY last year without Conley, Allen, and Prince on the perimeter.

 

[DeMoN]

Except he's said similar things so many times before that it's nigh impossible to take him seriously.

Eh, i just dont think one and a half years is a big sample size to throw him out of the window in that aspect. It's a tough league and you don't become a different player over night.

 

[The Hammer]

Why are you putting so much weight into a post game interview from a player? Do you really think after a tough game a player is going to speak their complete mind? Of course theres going to be smokescreens. I was impressed by what he said considering this. Would i be pleased if he came out and was totally honest? Of course. But that's not going to happen. He'd probably get in trouble if he did.

I literally can't understand what you are talking about. It's all gobbledygook!!!!!!!

The dude cannot admit his mistakes!!!!! A leader that does not make!

 

[Tetsujin]

Eh, i just dont think one and a half years is a big sample size to throw him out of the window in that aspect. It's a tough league and you don't become a different player over night.

One and a half years?

Does one of his years in the league plus a couple of years in college not count?

 

[DeMoN]

Because a team would punish a player for acknowledging one of his deficiencies, right.

Which he did. What i'm saying is that team's in a PR aspect don't like players showing their emotions on their sleeves to reporters. It brings adds more distractions.

 

[PurpleHaze]

I literally can't understand what you are talking about. It's all gobbledygook!!!!!!!

The dude cannot admit his mistakes!!!!! A leader that does not make!

Exactly right - unless you're a megalomaniac leader.

 

[Tetsujin]

Which he did. What i'm saying is that team's in a PR aspect don't like players showing their emotions on their sleeves to reporters. It brings adds more distractions.

Except that's not what you said at all.

 

[Tetsujin]

Exactly right - unless you're a megalomaniac leader.

Kim Jong Il once hit 18 holes-in-one in a row.

 

[DeMoN]

One and a half years?

Does one of his years in the league plus a couple of years in college not count?

Ha, because we had the personal in place to get him on the right track.

 

[DeMoN]

Except that's not what you said at all.

I was impressed with what he said giving the aspects i listed. That's my argument.

 

[Npliam]

Strawman.

Marcus Thornton is receiving an obscene amount of money to play a freaking game. If he's not going to put forth an effort, even if it's not the role he thinks he should be playing, there are lots of young players out there who would gladly take his place.

I am not sure you really understand what a strawman is.


I know it isn't right and I know that he should just work his tail off on both ends no matter how many shots he gets but players are people too. They have egos and feelings. A player like Thornton has averaged 20 points a game in a pretty efficient manner for a whole season and he can't get more than 2 shots in 17 minutes? How do you think DMC would react to only getting 2 shots in 17 minutes? Gay was pissed at IT a couple times and he got 16 shots.

Again, he should play hard and should give good effort on D but the point gaurd should pass the ball to the shooting guard occasionally and the young franchise center should always keep his cool and JT shouldn't argue every single call like someone just slapped his grandma. Players should do a lot of things but sometimes they don't .

 

[Rockmeister]

I don't understand why Malone is calling out just Thorton. There were other players that didn't play defense either.... like IT. Looks like IT gets a pass.

 

[Tetsujin]

Ha, because we had the personal in place to get him on the right track.

Regardless of personnel, IT has made absolutely no effort on the defensive end for the greater past of three years. In fact, you could make the argument that it's gotten worse as he's gotten more playing time. To expect him to develop into a defensive guy at the cost of his offensive production is just plain stupid and ignorant of the situation.

IT is a great scorer, probably one of the most explosive scoring guards in the league but over the past several months, just about every single one of his flaws and deficiencies is starting to come into blinding focus. It's hard to tell how good his court vision is because he's so damn selfish, he gives little to no effort on defense, and he, rather stupidly, seems to think he is the best player on the team and its bonafide leader.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Kim Jong Il once hit 18 holes-in-one in a row.

Trade proposed: "The Worm" Dennis Rodman (hey, always known for his D) for "The Dear Leader" Isaiah Thomas. IT can promptly go on basketball diplomacy tour of the wonderful Hermit Kingdom.

 

[sdballer]

Regardless of personnel, IT has made absolutely no effort on the defensive end for the greater past of three years. In fact, you could make the argument that it's gotten worse as he's gotten more playing time. To expect him to develop into a defensive guy at the cost of his offensive production is just plain stupid and ignorant of the situation.

IT is a great scorer, probably one of the most explosive scoring guards in the league but over the past several months, just about every single one of his flaws and deficiencies is starting to come into blinding focus. It's hard to tell how good his court vision is because he's so damn selfish, he gives little to no effort on defense, and he, rather stupidly, seems to think he is the best player on the team and its bonafide leader.

Yeah but his teammates don't hit shots and they don't put out extra effort trying to stop his man.

 

[VF21]

And once again it becomes all about Thomas.

At this point, I don't care what the name on the back is. OUR DEFENSE SUCKS. Tonight was the straw that broke the camel's back for Malone. You could see it in his eyes. He doesn't care whether or not someone is a defensive player. He cares about seeing EFFORT and he made that abundantly clear. I think we might be on the verge of seeing some interesting lineups.

 

[VF21]

I don't understand why Malone is calling out just Thorton. There were other players that didn't play defense either.... like IT. Looks like IT gets a pass.

Like I said, Malone was responding to a direct question. The press didn't ask him about IT.

 

[DeMoN]

Regardless of personnel, IT has made absolutely no effort on the defensive end for the greater past of three years. In fact, you could make the argument that it's gotten worse as he's gotten more playing time. To expect him to develop into a defensive guy at the cost of his offensive production is just plain stupid and ignorant of the situation.

IT is a great scorer, probably one of the most explosive scoring guards in the league but over the past several months, just about every single one of his flaws and deficiencies is starting to come into blinding focus. It's hard to tell how good his court vision is because he's so damn selfish, he gives little to no effort on defense, and he, rather stupidly, seems to think he is the best player on the team and its bonafide leader.

I agree with you, i've actually been on the fence on giving up on him because we just get killed on by points guards, especially since its such a talent filled position right now. But can we attain parts, put in the right system to make up for that? Is IT worth doing that for? I'm leaning towards no right now, but i don't think the jurys out yet.

 

[fanop]

Which he did. What i'm saying is that team's in a PR aspect don't like players showing their emotions on their sleeves to reporters. It brings adds more distractions.

I agree with this. Reporters always want to ask provocative questions to get the best result. I'm a 9er fan, and I'm pretty sure Fox crossed their fingers that someone on that Seahawk's team would go ballistic(knowing that they're trash talkers) so they can feed off of it. They didn't expect it to happen at all, but it did with Sherman. Harbaugh and Kaep are low key guys who always answer their post-game questions very vague. Even one where they asked Kaep a ton of qs, even stupid ones, where he just replied yes and no the whole time. When being asked a specific question about a specific player about struggles(specifically the qb), they'll protect their qb and answer in we, as a team.

I think Malone needs to take a few notes from Harbaugh's post-games. Singling out just Thornton, no matter the q, is not right especially when there were other players worse than him.. IT sucked defensively, yet he played almost 40minutes again.

 

[The Hammer]

And once again it becomes all about Thomas.

At this point, I don't care what the name on the back is. OUR DEFENSE SUCKS. Tonight was the straw that broke the camel's back for Malone. You could see it in his eyes. He doesn't care whether or not someone is a defensive player. He cares about seeing EFFORT and he made that abundantly clear. I think we might be on the verge of seeing some interesting lineups.

The thing is Malone has to preserve his credibility with the fans, too. If at the end of the year the team has not improved defensively, like he said was a goal, but it was clearly because he was playing some guys who weren't trying, then that's on him. He's the one who has to face the public and let them know how and why he did what he did. By making his statements today, it gives him the aurhority, (presuming he makes some linup changes) to at the end of the year say "we did not improve on defense because we had trouble finding players that would put forth the effort." But then of course you've got to get rid of those players.