My Analysis on the Kings (thus far)

[tyrant]

welcome. welcome to the board and welcome to reality. this team is pretty good. but they sucked friday against dallas. blowing defensive assignments. everyone including the coach was confused. they dont know what they want to do. too much one on one. we have a great 3 guard trio and only martin is moving without the ball, cutting to the basket. salmons is providing som energy, but its crap if our starters cant keep us in the game. we were 8-5 before we came to texas. played the 2 best teams in the league. i expected a loss friday. but not in that fashion. we must rebound. get this team healthy and get them focused. like brick said. they must buy into whatever eric is trying to preach.

 

[Lamar_Odom]

they must buy into whatever eric is trying to preach.

Could it be that at first they were, but the players don't trust him? There could be some trouble brewing internally as Artest is now beginning to voice his unhappiness and frustration about his role. As the new poster stated, at least with Adelman, they were able to score. It seems they are confused now. Will Musselman actually be tough enough to bench Artest to prove a point? Or is he scared of his "franchise player?" Artesst on the other hand is really not a franchise player that he wants to be. He's no Kobe, or Melo. Plus, it doesn't appear that he worked hard enough during the off season to make a distinct improvement in his outside game that he should be taking charge especially late in the game. Who is the leader of this team? Is it Bibby or is it Artest? The Kings have a lot figure out, and it starts with their new coach who appears to be still feeling out his team after 15 games into the season. Fortunately for the Kings, there are lots of games to play to right the wrong. It will take a collective team effort to get it done. They have components to be a good team. The question is, do they have the coaching staff, the heart, the determination to rise to the challenge?

P.S.

Nice analysis, Motaman. Tiene mota?

 

[Cal-Kings]

That's a good analysis and I agree with some of it.

My concern is that Brad Miller should be starting now and the offense should go back to being run through Brad at least 70% of the time. Even Bibby plays better off Brad. Martin came to life when Brad got back to passing the ball. Brad will never be an Alonzo Morning center who blocks shots. Brad is more like Vlade and that's not a bad thing. He needs to be allowed to play like Vlade.

My other concern is that when we NEED a score in a game, WHY ON EARTH does Corliss have the ball in his hands?? And if it's not Corliss throwing up a brick or turning the ball over, it's Kenny Thomas. Jeez, these guys can contribute on defense but PLEASE keep them away from the ball when we MUST score! I'm sick of seeing Bibby, Miller and Martin on the floor and the ball not in their hands.

 

[Cal-Kings]

And what happened to Bibby? In the pre-season, he looked great. I remember Grant talking about how Bibby could have an MVP year (yeah, I know, it's Grant) and Bibby did play very well. He was actually playing good defense and shooting well.
Is it all that wrist injury? I thought that was done with. He's playing like the old Bibby now.

 

[bibbinator]

And what happened to Bibby? In the pre-season, he looked great. I remember Grant talking about how Bibby could have an MVP year (yeah, I know, it's Grant) and Bibby did play very well. He was actually playing good defense and shooting well.
Is it all that wrist injury? I thought that was done with. He's playing like the old Bibby now.

Bibby's hand was hurt pretty bad, and he didn't rest it all that much(at all?) I'd bet it's still a problem for him.

 

[Cal-Kings]

Bibby's hand was hurt pretty bad, and he didn't rest it all that much(at all?) I'd bet it's still a problem for him.

I hope that's it. But Jerry and Grant were saying it was fine now. Not that I would count on them knowing.

Bibby really did look great in pre-season.

 

[nbrans]

The New Coach Musselman: I'll flat out say it, I do not like our new coach thus far at all. I don't like the way he doesn't get certain players enough touches, doesn't stay cool late in games where the Kings go to total 1 on 1 basketball, and how the offense looks horrible at times. I was expecting a big defensive boost but I'm still waiting, teams are scoring 100+ night in night out on us, although the rebounding has improved. With Adelman, at least we would just outscore a team if our defense wasn't getting the job done. But now with Eric, the offense is basically a lot more 1 on 1 and not enough movement/passing.
Grade: C-

I've been a bit mystified by some of Musselman's in-game decisions, but I think it's a bit too early to judge the offense. It's much easier to institute a new defense, and overall I do think the new defensive scheme is an improvement. As I've said in another thread, it's a bit gimmicky and can be exploited by good jump shooting and good passing, but it does all you can ask of a defensive scheme - it masks the Kings weaknesses and exploits its strengths. So the early returns on the defense has, for me, been positive.

Offensive chemistry always takes much longer to develop. There's been too much one-on-one, but Musselman is not in the game telling Bibby and Artest to jack up shots. The players need to buy into the team concept, and when the ball moves, as it has only sporadically, this is still a team with some serious offensive firepower. Having Miller back and playing big minutes is going to help (assuming Musselman realizes this).

I think people are glamorizing how the offense looked last year under Adelman. To me it looked pretty ugly. Bibby as a #1 option shooting just over 40% was not pretty, he seemed to have a sequence of one good game and two off games, and the team really struggled to score at times. The Princeton was largely jettisoned so Bonzi, Artest and Shareef could operate on the low block. So let's not blame Musselman for the current ugliness -- what we're seeing is largely a continuation of last year's offense, perhaps with a bit more chucking thrown in for good measure.

The key is Musselman getting Bibby, Artest and Shareef especially to start moving the ball rather than looking for their own shot every time they touch the ball. He has to find a way to get them to play good offense. So far not so good, but I think you have to give him more than 15 games to spark a turnaround.

 

[Cal-Kings]

I've been a bit mystified by some of Musselman's in-game decisions, but I think it's a bit too early to judge the offense. It's much easier to institute a new defense, and overall I do think the new defensive scheme is an improvement. As I've said in another thread, it's a bit gimmicky and can be exploited by good jump shooting and good passing, but it does all you can ask of a defensive scheme - it masks the Kings weaknesses and exploits its strengths. So the early returns on the defense has, for me, been positive.

I agree. I think our defense is better and when I see it fail, it largely appears to be more effort than scheme. Or just plain lack of personnel. (No athletic shot blocker.) But on the whole, I think our defense can work adequately when the opposing team isn't just shooting 7/9 threes in one stinkin' quarter!

Offensive chemistry always takes much longer to develop. There's been too much one-on-one, but Musselman is not in the game telling Bibby and Artest to jack up shots. The players need to buy into the team concept, and when the ball moves, as it has only sporadically, this is still a team with some serious offensive firepower. Having Miller back and playing big minutes is going to help (assuming Musselman realizes this).

I think people are glamorizing how the offense looked last year under Adelman. To me it looked pretty ugly. Bibby as a #1 option shooting just over 40% was not pretty, he seemed to have a sequence of one good game and two off games, and the team really struggled to score at times. The Princeton was largely jettisoned so Bonzi, Artest and Shareef could operate on the low block. So let's not blame Musselman for the current ugliness -- what we're seeing is largely a continuation of last year's offense, perhaps with a bit more chucking thrown in for good measure.

I agree with this assessment. I like the change to some low block play because we have the personnel for it now. I'd hate to see it all the time and I hate to see it when we absolutely MUST score and we have Corliss down there. I think it's a nice change-up when our offense is running well, but it's not a "go-to" except in a game where SAR has a good match-up.

I still think our best offense is through Brad on the high post, or P&R with Bibby/Miller, and now it appears K-Mart can create a shot or get a foul when it's a must score possession.

The key is Musselman getting Bibby, Artest and Shareef especially to start moving the ball rather than looking for their own shot every time they touch the ball. He has to find a way to get them to play good offense. So far not so good, but I think you have to give him more than 17 games to spark a turnaround.

I agree here also.

 

[bibbinator]

Muss said you don't know what your team can do until you've played 40 games.

I like what he's doing right now. I want to see him try all kinds of combos and plays and not worry about maximizing wins just yet, he should be trying to maximize the team and that's what he's doing.

Don't pass judgement yet.

 

[VF21]

I hope that's it. But Jerry and Grant were saying it was fine now. Not that I would count on them knowing.

Bibby really did look great in pre-season.

I don't recall either of them saying Bibby is fine. He isn't. What they said was he isn't wearing the thumb wrap/brace thing any longer, but that could likely be because it's awkward and he can't really do much with it.

Bibby's thumb and wrist are the type of injuries that primarily need time to heal. He hasn't had that luxury. He's played through some of the stuff, and while the problems aren't as bad, I don't think they're completely healed.

Grant especially has a tendency to act as though he's privy to information about injuries, etc. that he simply knows nothing about. If you recall, he made some pretty damning comments about Bobby Jackson a couple of years ago that he had to apologize for.

My personal method of judging Bibby's condition is to simply watch his shot. When it starts doing what it's supposed to do, my feeling will be his thumb is finally healed.

Just my two cents...

 

[gunks]

I think that now that Miller is back to help run the offense, Muss should limit Bibby's minutes.

His wrist needs to get better ASAP, and the longer he keeps playing big minutes with it injured, the longer its going to take to get better.

I bet if he took those two weeks off to let it heal he wouldnt be shooting under 40% right now...But he didnt take those to weeks off so oh well.

Also, I want Price to get more time. He shows a lot of potential, and if he gets more confident and comfortable with increased PT he could be a good option for our next PG when Bibby's contract is up (player option this season, officially up next season - correct?). Of course that's assuming we dont resign Bibby.

 

[Cal-Kings]

I don't recall either of them saying Bibby is fine. He isn't. What they said was he isn't wearing the thumb wrap/brace thing any longer, but that could likely be because it's awkward and he can't really do much with it.

Bibby's thumb and wrist are the type of injuries that primarily need time to heal. He hasn't had that luxury. He's played through some of the stuff, and while the problems aren't as bad, I don't think they're completely healed.

Grant especially has a tendency to act as though he's privy to information about injuries, etc. that he simply knows nothing about. If you recall, he made some pretty damning comments about Bobby Jackson a couple of years ago that he had to apologize for.

My personal method of judging Bibby's condition is to simply watch his shot. When it starts doing what it's supposed to do, my feeling will be his thumb is finally healed.

Just my two cents...

I don't really remember exactly who said "Bibby is fine" so it might not even have been Grant.

But, you're right. He's obviously not fine.

And like I said, I always take Grant's comments with huge blocks of rock salt.

 

[Lamar_Odom]

It usually takes about a year to get acquainted with a new offensive scheme. Musselman is right on in focusing on defense first and scoring will take care of itself. How much losing can they take though, and how far they can get behind for the 8th and final spot? As of now, they are 9th, lagging the Warriors. There's plenty of time. Will the Kings have the kind of late season surge like they had last year when Artest first came to town?

 

[bibbinator]

I like the defense a lot.

It used to be that I assumed a score every time the opponent had possession. Now I'm not surprised to see stops.

 

[tyrant]

It usually takes about a year to get acquainted with a new offensive scheme. Musselman is right on in focusing on defense first and scoring will take care of itself. How much losing can they take though, and how far they can get behind for the 8th and final spot? As of now, they are 9th, lagging the Warriors. There's plenty of time. Will the Kings have the kind of late season surge like they had last year when Artest first came to town?

dallas sliced the kings defense like a cold block of cheddar. they couldnt do anything right. they tried zone and kept leaving the drive open. then they couldnt find perimeter shooters. devin george had a pair of 3-pointers 3 minutes off the bench. pathetic

 

[Jechtsphere]

On bibby, if we would of sat him out the first 5 games or so we'd be much better off...if it never has time to heal he'll be shooting this percent all year.

 

[Troy]

I like the defense a lot.

It used to be that I assumed a score every time the opponent had possession. Now I'm not surprised to see stops.

Yeah we really can and do clamp down on D for some spans of time. This takes a lot of effort, but you get a few stops and then score and you get back in the game or get a lead. It hurts to not win in SA, because we had them where we needed them, but it was a big improvement over the Dallas game...well somewhat, we have a big problem of leaving people wide open on the wings like Bowen for like 7 3's was it. Now that is just wrong, if Salmons, Cisco, KMart or someone was on him a bit more, we would have won. I know you have to guard Duncan and Parker, but Bowen consistently hits those shots and he really killed us. Otherwise we should have won by 10 or so against the Spurs at their home which would have been pretty impressive.

 

[mrtcereal]

While it's nice to be concerned with Bibby's wrist/hand and how it has been detrimental to our offense. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned how atrocious his defense is. By far he has been the worst defender, I'd even go so far to say that his defense cost us the last two games. I am tired of seeing him consistently leave his man to try and double down low only to leave his assignment wide open for a three. How many threes did Bowen make the other night and how many were wide open?

I really like Bibby as a player and I want him to do well, but his head just is not in the game right now. There is no way that we can consistently win games when our primary option is shooting 35% and allows his opponent 7-10 open looks a night.

 

[Bricklayer]

While it's nice to be concerned with Bibby's wrist/hand and how it has been detrimental to our offense. I'm surprised that no one has mentioned how atrocious his defense is. By far he has been the worst defender, I'd even go so far to say that his defense cost us the last two games. I am tired of seeing him consistently leave his man to try and double down low only to leave his assignment wide open for a three. How many threes did Bowen make the other night and how many were wide open?

I really like Bibby as a player and I want him to do well, but his head just is not in the game right now. There is no way that we can consistently win games when our primary option is shooting 35% and allows his opponent 7-10 open looks a night.

Mike's defense is a given -- we have won some 250+ games at a 60-70% clip over Mike's tenure in Sacto, and he's always been a defensive liability. The difference is be it injury or whatever, we aren't getting the rest of the package that has helped us win all those games.