Offensive focus without Cousins and...

[lawlman91]

Edit - NOTE: This post is meant to discuss possible approaches the Kings can take on the floor without Cousins, NOT to rant about how bad the Kings are without Cousins -- that's for another thread. SacTownKid's answer is an example of what I'm hoping this thread will bring: it is analytic and answers the question with an in-game solution. Thanks for cooperating.

Hi guys,

When Cousins is out:

- How do you think we should run our offense?
- Why?

So far, it feels uneasy to have Cousins out. The Kings seem lose a part of their offensive identity (their defensive identity is another story) every time Cousins steps out of that floor. Based on recent games, here's the DeMarcus-less offensive weapons we have so far:

- Gay post up
- Gay 3pt shot
- McLemore 3pt shot
- Landry at mid-low range
- Casspi drives
- Collison mid-range
- Collison drives
- Williams 3pt shot (surprisingly and realistically!)

Another question: how do you think the second unit should run its offense?

My answer: Pick and pop using Casspi and Landry; that might be nice with Williams and Stauskas on the wings.

 

[SacTownKid]

I'm going beyond when Cousins is out, because this teams offense is far from perfect with him in as it is! Definite iso plays for Gay and Cousins, but the the iso should always have an option to hit someone for an open look on the outside or pass to a cutter when a double comes. Overall I think this team should absolutely run some of the classic Kings stuff as Vivek as brought up, you know some basic Triangle and Princeton like they used to. Cousins in a basic triple threat where he can pass out of scoring opportunities is ideal. They need to run more motion off of him both up high and down low. More back screens, etc. Less pick and roll. I have not been very impressed with this teams bigs in pick and roll and when the other teams just stuffs the paint the Kings typically end up taking a bad shot or turning it over. If they want to play pick and roll they need to let Cousins pop out on it, like Webber used to. He's not going to straight line his way to the hoop, and good thing for him he doesn't need to either. Another little play call they should try out is a back door lob from Cousins in the high post to Rudy Gay and/or Ben McLemore. That would completely invert teams defensively and if they sag off Cuz he'll make them pay with the drive or jumpshot. While this team is totally athletically challenged in the front court, it's the exact opposite in the back court. Make use of those springs and Cousins passing skills at the same time. You could even use JT like that, he can pass and even though he's been shy this year he can shoot too.

For the bench I think going to Carl Landry consistently is a good idea. That's what he's paid to do. Casspi has been good at creating havoc on both ends and he's been this teams most consistent glue guy with his dishing and cutting off the ball. I think the bench should be a spread offense based around the post game of Landry. Dump Sessions, he's not helping this team and put McCallum in there instead because besides Casspi he's the only other guy that knows how to be a role player. Landry in the post/high post, and cutters like Ray and Omri is a decent bench identity that can easily get you through until the big guns are back in.

 

[Glenn]

Here's hoping we have some consistency at the HC or all these ideas may take awhile to put into place.

 

[lawlman91]

Here's hoping we have some consistency at the HC or all these ideas may take awhile to put into place.

Yeah, cheers!

Just don't bring too much of that discussion in here; it'd be nice if the forum has a place to discuss strategy. It would be interesting to read, just like SacTownKid's post was!

 

[Glenn]

Yeah, cheers!

Just don't bring too much of that discussion in here; it'd be nice if the forum has a place to discuss strategy. It would be interesting to read, just like SacTownKid's post was!

The chatter that goes on here is very high level. Heck, now that IT is gone, I don't have anyone to be angry at.

 

[SacTownKid]

Sure, definite iso plays for Gay and Cousins, but the the iso should always have an option to hit someone for an open look on the outside or pass to a cutter when a double comes. Overall I think this team should absolutely run some of the classic Kings stuff as Vivek as brought up, you know some basic Triangle and Princeton like they used to. Cousins in a basic triple threat where he can pass out of scoring opportunities is ideal. They need to run more motion off of him both up high and down low. More back screens, etc. Less pick and roll. I have not been very impressed with this teams bigs in pick and roll and when the other teams just stuffs the paint the Kings typically end up taking a bad shot or turning it over. If they want to play pick and roll they need to let Cousins pop out on it, like Webber used to. He's not going to straight line his way to the hoop, and good thing for him he doesn't need to either. Another little play call they should try out is a back door lob from Cousins in the high post to Rudy Gay and/or Ben McLemore. That would completely invert teams defensively and if they sag off Cuz he'll make them pay with the drive or jumpshot. While this team is totally athletically challenged in the front court, it's the exact opposite in the back court. Make use of those springs and Cousins passing skills at the same time. You could even use JT like that, he can pass and even though he's been shy this year he can shoot too.

For the bench I think going to Carl Landry consistently is a good idea. That's what he's paid to do. Casspi has been good at creating havoc on both ends and he's been this teams most consistent glue guy with his dishing and cutting off the ball. I think the bench should be a spread offense based around the post game of Landry. Dump Sessions, he's not helping this team and put McCallum in there instead because besides Casspi he's the only other guy that knows how to be a role player. Landry in the post/high post, and cutters like Ray and Omri is a decent bench identity that can easily get you through until the big guns are back in.

Here's hoping we have some consistency at the HC or all these ideas may take awhile to put into place.

Oh, without a real HC this is all pipedream stuff! Maybe even if they get one. haha.

 

[Sac.Kings]

Simple answer really. There is no focus, with or without Cousins.

 

[FaStRmAn]

This team is a bad team without Cousins on the floor. They do not have enough talented players to absorb losing a borderline All Star caliber player and still compete. That has become abundantly clear. Without Cousins drawing all the attention on the offensive end, teams pack the middle and Gay becomes much less effective. The entire offensive becomes less effective. The entire team goes from competitive to CBA scrub roster. Until the talent level can be improved, a Cousins-less Kings is a lottery team.

Defensively they seem to suffer even more when Cousins is not on the floor. Rebounding disappears. Guards seem to be even less effective at stopping the dribble penetration. And teams dominate the paint. Cousins is a very good player, but his teammates are not very mentally tough and do not step up their game when he is out. They step back and regress. I think a good coach could fix this problem. Malone had them playing at a decent level without Cousins, but Corbin does not have any coaching ability whatsoever. The longer this team goes without a REAL NBA Caliber coach, the more this team will regress with regard to defensive intensity. As for the offense, there isn't one And Corbin isnt going to suddenly develop into some great coaching genius. They need a real coach REAL bad.

With Cousins they compete... Without him they are a Dumpster Fire...

 

[CruzDude]

Simple answer really. There is no focus, with or without Cousins.

Sad truth.