Offseason plan

[HighTopKicks]

I like Landry, but he's limited in how good he can be by his height. I have no doubt that he can be a consistant scorer and a decent rebounder. But he'll never be a shotblocker or a great man defender. Its hard to guard a 7 foot PF when your only 6'8.5" in shoes. Yeah I know there aren't that many 7 ft PF's in the league, but in truth, he gives away height to most of the PF's in the league. If we were to draft Cousins it gets interesting. Cousins is a center. And thats the only position I see him playing. Which is fine. You don't see Kaman playing PF for the Clips.

The question is, how does that affect the way the team looks at Hawes. With the way Thompson played at the center position at the end of the season, do you move him to center? And if so, what do you do with Hawes. Then again, he is younger than Thompson, so it might be to early to give up on him.

Here's my deal on Hawes. When we drafted Hawes we still had Miller and Salmons. The Kings really hadn't started their rebuild yet. Hawes at that time fit the type of center the Kings had an afinity for. A very similar player to Miller and Vlade in style of play. So he seemed at the time, the right fit.

Since then, the Kings have changed direction. They've tried to become a more physical and athletic team. They've started to put more emphasis on defense. Now how much success they've had at that so far, is up for debate. But I do think that they've aquired players that are more athletic and to a degree more Physical. When I think of athletic and physical, Hawes just doesn't spring to mind. My point being, that he doesn't seem like a good fit anymore. Not his fault, and I'm not sure he'll ever be the kind of center the Kings are now looking for.

Not wanting to get into the Hawes vs JT argument at this time, let's just agree that neither is a Playoff team starting center. But, there's still time for them to improve. So, I don't see the Kings moving either one no matter who we draft. And, until the Arena deal is written in stone, and the Maloofs know that they won't have to pay the $30M to move the team, I don't expect them to spend major money in free agency.

To me that means if we get Cousins, we still need Hawes and JT to backup Cousins and Landry. If we get Favor we need Hawes and JT to play center while Favor backs up Landry. And, if we get Wall or Turner, not only do we need Spencer and JT, but we'll probably have to add another big for backup.

I do disagree with Landry not being a good defender, he's still developing his game and isn't that bad now. You might be correct about his shot blocking ability, but down low in the paint Wade can block shots.

As far as Spencer goods, I'm not in total agreement that he was chosen because he fit some preconceived notion on how we wanted to play. Maybe if there was a big physical center in the draft and the Kings passed on him to take Spencer, then I might be able to agree. But, Hawes was the only center available and no one could have known what type of defensive center he would have turned into at his young age. Certainly because of his size and experience, he's not developed into a low post banger. But, to say that he can't play on a defensive minded team isn't fair. Utah plays pretty good D, and Spencer is as close to being like Okur than he is to any other center in the league.

 

[Superman]

You obviously like Ben Gordon, but to me he is just a smaller version of Kevin Martin. Of the two, I think Martin is a better player. We all saw how well he worked out with Tyreke this season. And I should point out that KMart doesn't hog the ball the way Gorden does. He was a black hole in Chicago. I didn't watch him much this season in Detroit, but have to wonder how much his game was hurt by not getting the ball nearly as much.

While I agree that Salmons was called a ballhog by some, it was more about him pounding the ball too long before making a decision. He was always a willing passer, but often waiting too long and was left with having to force up a shot.

I have absolutely no desire to see Ben Gordon or his contract on the Kings roster/payroll, but I have to disagree with the idea that Martin is a better player. Both of them do one thing: score. I think that Ben Gordon is better at it, and concordantly, the better player.

 

[bajaden]

Not wanting to get into the Hawes vs JT argument at this time, let's just agree that neither is a Playoff team starting center. But, there's still time for them to improve. So, I don't see the Kings moving either one no matter who we draft. And, until the Arena deal is written in stone, and the Maloofs know that they won't have to pay the $30M to move the team, I don't expect them to spend major money in free agency.

To me that means if we get Cousins, we still need Hawes and JT to backup Cousins and Landry. If we get Favor we need Hawes and JT to play center while Favor backs up Landry. And, if we get Wall or Turner, not only do we need Spencer and JT, but we'll probably have to add another big for backup.

I do disagree with Landry not being a good defender, he's still developing his game and isn't that bad now. You might be correct about his shot blocking ability, but down low in the paint Wade can block shots.

As far as Spencer goods, I'm not in total agreement that he was chosen because he fit some preconceived notion on how we wanted to play. Maybe if there was a big physical center in the draft and the Kings passed on him to take Spencer, then I might be able to agree. But, Hawes was the only center available and no one could have known what type of defensive center he would have turned into at his young age. Certainly because of his size and experience, he's not developed into a low post banger. But, to say that he can't play on a defensive minded team isn't fair. Utah plays pretty good D, and Spencer is as close to being like Okur than he is to any other center in the league.

Hmmm, I don't think I said that Landry was a bad defender. I think I said he would never be a great man defender. And the reason I gave was because of his height. That of course is selective depending of course on who he's defending. There are many PF's in the league that he matches up with. But as i stated, I like Landry. I'm glad we don't have to face him anymore, because he always killed us.

For what its worth, I predicted that the Kings might pick Hawes before the draft, and I endorsed it. And the reason I endorsed it was because he fit the type of offense they had been running up to that point. Now its easy to say after the draft that they had no choice because he was all that was left. But if Petrie didn't think that Hawes would fit the Kings needs at that time, he would have drafted a different position.

But of course there's no way I can prove or disprove either scenario. I know some have said that Petrie wanted Noah and was disappointed when he wasn't there. I personally never read or heard anything to substantiate that, but it doesn't mean it wasn't true. Its water under the bridge at this point.

Now I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of Okur's. Frankly I'm tired of 7 footers standing out at the three point line instead of getting down and dirty. At the same time I've certainly yelled NO at my TV many times when I see Okur standing out there with no one near him. But I wouldn't call him a great defensive player.

I haven't given up on Hawes. I wanted the Kings to draft him because I thought he was very talented for a 19 year old kid. But I do need to see some consistency from him. Thats all a coach wants from any player. Consistency!! If all a player can give you is 12 points and 5 boards in 23 minutes, and he can do it night after night, then you have a solid role player and you know what your going to get from him. But when you have a player that gives you 18 and 10 one night and 6 and 2 the next, it drives you crazy. And thats been Hawes. He doesn't have to be great to be a solid contributer. He just has to be consistent, so you know what you have in him.

At the end of the season I started to see consistency in Thompson. Particularly in the area of rebounding. His fouls went down, and he made fewer mistakes on defense. And thats all well and good, but he has to pick up where he left off next year or its all for naught. This will be Thompsons third year and the third year is usually the breakout year for most players. And breakout doesn't mean he's suddenly a superstar, it means he starts putting up consistent numbers every night. I don't know what his goals are. But if it were me, I would want to either be the starting center or the starting PF. And thats what I would expect out of myself coming into camp. And if I couldn't accomplish that immediately, I'd bust my butt to win one of those jobs during the season. And if if couldn't, the I'd shoot for the 6th man award. Point being, I'd have high goals for myself.

 

[jthompson1]

Hmmm, I don't think I said that Landry was a bad defender. I think I said he would never be a great man defender. And the reason I gave was because of his height. That of course is selective depending of course on who he's defending. There are many PF's in the league that he matches up with. But as i stated, I like Landry. I'm glad we don't have to face him anymore, because he always killed us.

For what its worth, I predicted that the Kings might pick Hawes before the draft, and I endorsed it. And the reason I endorsed it was because he fit the type of offense they had been running up to that point. Now its easy to say after the draft that they had no choice because he was all that was left. But if Petrie didn't think that Hawes would fit the Kings needs at that time, he would have drafted a different position.

But of course there's no way I can prove or disprove either scenario. I know some have said that Petrie wanted Noah and was disappointed when he wasn't there. I personally never read or heard anything to substantiate that, but it doesn't mean it wasn't true. Its water under the bridge at this point.

Now I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of Okur's. Frankly I'm tired of 7 footers standing out at the three point line instead of getting down and dirty. At the same time I've certainly yelled NO at my TV many times when I see Okur standing out there with no one near him. But I wouldn't call him a great defensive player.

I haven't given up on Hawes. I wanted the Kings to draft him because I thought he was very talented for a 19 year old kid. But I do need to see some consistency from him. Thats all a coach wants from any player. Consistency!! If all a player can give you is 12 points and 5 boards in 23 minutes, and he can do it night after night, then you have a solid role player and you know what your going to get from him. But when you have a player that gives you 18 and 10 one night and 6 and 2 the next, it drives you crazy. And thats been Hawes. He doesn't have to be great to be a solid contributer. He just has to be consistent, so you know what you have in him.

At the end of the season I started to see consistency in Thompson. Particularly in the area of rebounding. His fouls went down, and he made fewer mistakes on defense. And thats all well and good, but he has to pick up where he left off next year or its all for naught. This will be Thompsons third year and the third year is usually the breakout year for most players. And breakout doesn't mean he's suddenly a superstar, it means he starts putting up consistent numbers every night. I don't know what his goals are. But if it were me, I would want to either be the starting center or the starting PF. And thats what I would expect out of myself coming into camp. And if I couldn't accomplish that immediately, I'd bust my butt to win one of those jobs during the season. And if if couldn't, the I'd shoot for the 6th man award. Point being, I'd have high goals for myself.

I agree with this 100 percent, I couldnt have said it better myslef. This is exactly how I feel.

 

[Telemachus]

I have absolutely no desire to see Ben Gordon or his contract on the Kings roster/payroll, but I have to disagree with the idea that Martin is a better player. Both of them do one thing: score. I think that Ben Gordon is better at it, and concordantly, the better player.

If you look at their career stats, I think they favor KMart as the better scorer. While many of their #s are almost the same, the big stat that stands out to me is FT attempts. Gordon takes 4.1/gm for his carerr, while KMart takes 6.5/gm for his. However, KMart has averaged 7.0/gm or better since his 2nd season. KMart has averaged 20pt or more the last 4 seasons, Gordon has done so only twice.

 

[Superman]

I haven't looked at the stats, so this might not even matter, but Kevin Martin was a starter, while Ben Gordon was mostly a 6th man. That might account for the difference in points per game, and it might also account for the difference in free throw attempts. No doubt that Martin is better at getting to the line, but that's partly because Ben Gordon is so good at creating his shot from the perimeter. He's money from 21 feet on a pull-up jumper, which is a shot that Kevin can't really rely on because of his unorthodox shooting motion. Besides, I don't think getting to the line is a true indicator of being a good scorer. It matters, but it's not a decider to me. I'd also say that Gordon finishes better at the rim. And didn't Gordon lead the league in 4th quarter points a couple years back?

This is all based on what I've seen from watching the two play. The stats might contradict my opinion, I don't know. But if you said to me "you need a player to score 35 points for you in tonight's game, and you have to choose between Kevin Martin and Ben Gordon, in equal minutes", I'm taking Ben Gordon.

 

[bajaden]

I haven't looked at the stats, so this might not even matter, but Kevin Martin was a starter, while Ben Gordon was mostly a 6th man. That might account for the difference in points per game, and it might also account for the difference in free throw attempts. No doubt that Martin is better at getting to the line, but that's partly because Ben Gordon is so good at creating his shot from the perimeter. He's money from 21 feet on a pull-up jumper, which is a shot that Kevin can't really rely on because of his unorthodox shooting motion. Besides, I don't think getting to the line is a true indicator of being a good scorer. It matters, but it's not a decider to me. I'd also say that Gordon finishes better at the rim. And didn't Gordon lead the league in 4th quarter points a couple years back?

This is all based on what I've seen from watching the two play. The stats might contradict my opinion, I don't know. But if you said to me "you need a player to score 35 points for you in tonight's game, and you have to choose between Kevin Martin and Ben Gordon, in equal minutes", I'm taking Ben Gordon.

I'd either toss a coin, or go with the one with the best haircut. Actually, I think you'd be fine with Martin. Just don't tell him you need him to do it.

 

[Kingster]

I'd either toss a coin, or go with the one with the best haircut. Actually, I think you'd be fine with Martin. Just don't tell him you need him to do it.

I don't know what it is about Martin. When he was on the Kings he looked like he didn't belong, estranged from the group. Now, with Houston, he doesn't look like he belongs. Very odd...

 

[rainmaker]

I tend to question how much Kev wants to win. It's one thing to say you want to win, it's another to put in the work required to win.

The reason I say that, is because the 2009-2010 version of Kev is a carbon copy of the 2006-2007 version, except worse at defense. I can't say Kev improved in any area over the past 4 season. If anything, he became less efficient, and his defense just continued to get worse. I don't consider any 20+ pt scorer efficient if the scoring stops at the end of the 3rd quarter, on a regular basis.

This isn't me picking on Kev. Objectively looking at him though, he hasn't improved, at anything. I can't figure out why. Some of Battiers quotes regarding Kev were interesting to, at the end of the season. He basically said he will have to work with Kev this summer, to ensure he "buys in" to what the rockets are all about. He said Houston is a team which outworks its opponents, and hustles and defends, for 48 minutes, and that Kev will have to work on those areas going into training camp.

I'm paraphrasing of course, but it doesn't seem battier is too impressed with Kevs effort level either. I'm just glad that chapter is closed from our perspective.

 

[bajaden]

I tend to question how much Kev wants to win. It's one thing to say you want to win, it's another to put in the work required to win.

The reason I say that, is because the 2009-2010 version of Kev is a carbon copy of the 2006-2007 version, except worse at defense. I can't say Kev improved in any area over the past 4 season. If anything, he became less efficient, and his defense just continued to get worse. I don't consider any 20+ pt scorer efficient if the scoring stops at the end of the 3rd quarter, on a regular basis.

This isn't me picking on Kev. Objectively looking at him though, he hasn't improved, at anything. I can't figure out why. Some of Battiers quotes regarding Kev were interesting to, at the end of the season. He basically said he will have to work with Kev this summer, to ensure he "buys in" to what the rockets are all about. He said Houston is a team which outworks its opponents, and hustles and defends, for 48 minutes, and that Kev will have to work on those areas going into training camp.

I'm paraphrasing of course, but it doesn't seem battier is too impressed with Kevs effort level either. I'm just glad that chapter is closed from our perspective.

I guess we could look at it from the perspective that we got more from Kevin than anyone thought we would when he was drafted. Becoming a 20 plus scorer has almost become a millstone around his neck, because it elevated him into the semi-star status. And unfortunately when you get to that status, more is expected of you. And its the "more" that he incapable of. Not really his fault. He is what he is, and he isn't any more the that. If a team expects more they're probably going to be disappointed. I wish Kevin well, and much success.

 

[King-Da-Yah]

Kev man will always be that young up and comer who made that game winning drive over Duncan what seems like ages ago, whoa wait, it kinda was ages ago! Crazy how time flies, that was the moment when I stood up and took notice of the kid. I don't know if anyone knows what I am rferring to but I am pretty sure it was a playoff game in 06.

Ahh the playoffs, how I miss the so. Baja do you remember that game when Kev had the Rekesque GW lay up (or was Rekes GW Kevinesque? Nah). over Duncan? And I have been waching some footage of this Jones kid, this guy can ball! Might not be there when we pick in rnd 2.

 

[bajaden]

Kev man will always be that young up and comer who made that game winning drive over Duncan what seems like ages ago, whoa wait, it kinda was ages ago! Crazy how time flies, that was the moment when I stood up and took notice of the kid. I don't know if anyone knows what I am rferring to but I am pretty sure it was a playoff game in 06.

Ahh the playoffs, how I miss the so. Baja do you remember that game when Kev had the Rekesque GW lay up (or was Rekes GW Kevinesque? Nah). over Duncan? And I have been waching some footage of this Jones kid, this guy can ball! Might not be there when we pick in rnd 2.

I don't think I missed a single playoff game. A lot of good memories. Had the privilege of going to a couple back in the day. I'll never forget the standing there when the Kings came out of the tunnel to warm up and the whole crowd stood up and started to roar, and they roared through the entire warmup period. They never quit roaring until after the tipoff and the Kings scored the first basket. I could barely talk the next day. The good old days...

Yeah I really like Jones. He has some holes in his game, but they're all fixable. What really impressed me was his defense. As I stated earlier. He reminded me of Bobby Jackson playing defense.

 

[King-Da-Yah]

Bobby j with more hops I think. He does really remind me of him on d though. How many games did you go to this past season? I went to the Nuggets game when Reke hit the game winning fadeaway. Second kings game to add to my resume (1st was a Kings vs. Dubs game during 08-09, one of the ONLY games they won!).

I also saw the Minny game on March 14th. That is an ugly, ugly team. I think Reke had 29 at the end of the third. There was a dude who yelled "go for 40 Tyreke" and then left the building seeing we were up 30 lol. I would love to shake hands with a KF poster at a game eventually, wish I could hit Vegas this year but I only get so much vacation, already got 3-11th off for Puerto Vallarta. Seeing the games live is great, and I love being one of the few people who actually know what they are watching.

Very excited for next season, hope to go to at least 4 games, I have a broker connection too, but with the promos they give out these days you might as well go through the organization. I got a signed Landry ball at the minny game and 4 lower bowl tickets for cheap (they were all out of Reke balls). So do any of you frequent the games?

 

[Emma]

Very excited for next season, hope to go to at least 4 games, I have a broker connection too, but with the promos they give out these days you might as well go through the organization. I got a signed Landry ball at the minny game and 4 lower bowl tickets for cheap (they were all out of Reke balls). So do any of you frequent the games?

I usually go to about four a year. I was at their last game v. the Rockets and the price of the stuff they were giving away was greater than the cost of the tickets, which were promotional. Not to mention that I was flanked by fans who received autographed shoes (notably Evans's shoes). The new Arco crowd < the old crowd, even when it gets "excited." I don't think most of them know how to make Arco thunder, but we tried to get them to do it. That was the real charm of going to the game. Now I just go for the game, and the ability to lineup baseline before warmups.

I was watching the game at my friend's house slammin brews back when Kevin nailed that layup. We tipped over the coffee table in the living room jumping off the couch in celebration.

 

[Kingster]

I tend to question how much Kev wants to win. It's one thing to say you want to win, it's another to put in the work required to win.

The reason I say that, is because the 2009-2010 version of Kev is a carbon copy of the 2006-2007 version, except worse at defense. I can't say Kev improved in any area over the past 4 season. If anything, he became less efficient, and his defense just continued to get worse. I don't consider any 20+ pt scorer efficient if the scoring stops at the end of the 3rd quarter, on a regular basis.

This isn't me picking on Kev. Objectively looking at him though, he hasn't improved, at anything. I can't figure out why. Some of Battiers quotes regarding Kev were interesting to, at the end of the season. He basically said he will have to work with Kev this summer, to ensure he "buys in" to what the rockets are all about. He said Houston is a team which outworks its opponents, and hustles and defends, for 48 minutes, and that Kev will have to work on those areas going into training camp.

I'm paraphrasing of course, but it doesn't seem battier is too impressed with Kevs effort level either. I'm just glad that chapter is closed from our perspective.

That's very interesting stuff about Battier. I didn't know that and I have a very high respect for his opinion. He's a class act, a team player and one of, if not the best defenders in the league. For him to say that about Kevin speaks volumes.

We all know that Kevin works a lot on his game in the offseason. But it seems like his effort is all oriented around his game, not sacrificing for the team. It's like he's made an decision not to sell out in games because it's just not worth it to him. It will be very interesting to see if Battier does have a positive influence, or Kevin does his own thing and continues to be estranged from the group.

 

[King-Da-Yah]

I usually go to about four a year. I was at their last game v. the Rockets and the price of the stuff they were giving away was greater than the cost of the tickets, which were promotional. Not to mention that I was flanked by fans who received autographed shoes (notably Evans's shoes). The new Arco crowd < the old crowd, even when it gets "excited." I don't think most of them know how to make Arco thunder, but we tried to get them to do it. That was the real charm of going to the game. Now I just go for the game, and the ability to lineup baseline before warmups.

I was watching the game at my friend's house slammin brews back when Kevin nailed that layup. We tipped over the coffee table in the living room jumping off the couch in celebration.

Lmao, yah that was a phenominal game. I was visiting my Grandma and she gas been a Kings fan ever since (and a Martin fan). I had to explain to her recently why she does not recogonize any of the players nowadays, talk about a headache.

Ryan you should PM me when your going to a game and I will meet you at the baseline! I didn't know we could watch warm ups from the baseline like that, interesting!

 

[Emma]

Ryan you should PM me when your going to a game and I will meet you at the baseline! I didn't know we could watch warm ups from the baseline like that, interesting!

I will. Also, sorry for the ambiguity, but they escort you away just as warmups officially start. I meant to say that you could be baseline anytime before warmups officially start, affording you the opportunity to meet players if they choose to start warming up early. I have very briefly met players like Charles Barkley and Karl Malone (while they were still playing) in that fashion.

 

[bajaden]

Bobby j with more hops I think. He does really remind me of him on d though. How many games did you go to this past season? I went to the Nuggets game when Reke hit the game winning fadeaway. Second kings game to add to my resume (1st was a Kings vs. Dubs game during 08-09, one of the ONLY games they won!).

I also saw the Minny game on March 14th. That is an ugly, ugly team. I think Reke had 29 at the end of the third. There was a dude who yelled "go for 40 Tyreke" and then left the building seeing we were up 30 lol. I would love to shake hands with a KF poster at a game eventually, wish I could hit Vegas this year but I only get so much vacation, already got 3-11th off for Puerto Vallarta. Seeing the games live is great, and I love being one of the few people who actually know what they are watching.

Very excited for next season, hope to go to at least 4 games, I have a broker connection too, but with the promos they give out these days you might as well go through the organization. I got a signed Landry ball at the minny game and 4 lower bowl tickets for cheap (they were all out of Reke balls). So do any of you frequent the games?

Well as you may have noticed, I live in Ensenada Mexico. It does make it just a wee bit dificult to go to games. I did go to one game, along with Cruzdude, and large group from the fourm. We all went to the Clipper game. I was a season ticket holder for many years going all the way back to the warehouse days. I still remember the noise meter hanging from center court. We always had a tailgate party for the first home game of the year. I remember the night in the skylight lounge when we celebrated Tim Roye's birthday. We all had Masks of his face on when he came out to do the post game show. A lot of good memiories.

 

[King-Da-Yah]

I felt a tear swelling up in my eye thinking about the glory days last night. And then this sudden urge to hit a punching bag when I thought of a certain game 6 from a while ago. I was a freshman, and I had the strangest feeling my boys were getting screwed out of the championship... Damn it.

 

[bajaden]

I felt a tear swelling up in my eye thinking about the glory days last night. And then this sudden urge to hit a punching bag when I thought of a certain game 6 from a while ago. I was a freshman, and I had the strangest feeling my boys were getting screwed out of the championship... Damn it.

Yeah well, I keep rewatching the movie Galdiator hoping that this time he doesn't die at the end. Never works. Damm!

 

[CaAllDay]

I haven't looked at the stats, so this might not even matter, but Kevin Martin was a starter, while Ben Gordon was mostly a 6th man. That might account for the difference in points per game, and it might also account for the difference in free throw attempts. No doubt that Martin is better at getting to the line, but that's partly because Ben Gordon is so good at creating his shot from the perimeter. He's money from 21 feet on a pull-up jumper, which is a shot that Kevin can't really rely on because of his unorthodox shooting motion. Besides, I don't think getting to the line is a true indicator of being a good scorer. It matters, but it's not a decider to me. I'd also say that Gordon finishes better at the rim. And didn't Gordon lead the league in 4th quarter points a couple years back?

This is all based on what I've seen from watching the two play. The stats might contradict my opinion, I don't know. But if you said to me "you need a player to score 35 points for you in tonight's game, and you have to choose between Kevin Martin and Ben Gordon, in equal minutes", I'm taking Ben Gordon.

wow @ least one other person thinks BG aint trash, my whole thought process was we only would be adding like 3 or 4 mill to are current budget to get him. BG is clutch, him and Tyreke backcourt i think would be deadly. K mart is @ best a number 3 option on a team, cant create his own shot, cant go to his left, cant shoot contested shots cause his hip shot, cant finish @ the rim, and is a bad defender.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I felt a tear swelling up in my eye thinking about the glory days last night. And then this sudden urge to hit a punching bag when I thought of a certain game 6 from a while ago. I was a freshman, and I had the strangest feeling my boys were getting screwed out of the championship... Damn it.

I was a junior in college (in LA no less, ugh). I remember watching the game in my room of my fraternity house while all the Lakers fans watched in a big room. I had a feeling something like that would happen and couldn't bring myself to watch with the group. I just remember that after the game, the Lakers fans were ashamed. No mocking. No bragging. None of the usual celebration. Everyone knew what they just saw and everyone was pretty somber.

 

[King-Da-Yah]

I was a junior in college (in LA no less, ugh). I remember watching the game in my room of my fraternity house while all the Lakers fans watched in a big room. I had a feeling something like that would happen and couldn't bring myself to watch with the group. I just remember that after the game, the Lakers fans were ashamed. No mocking. No bragging. None of the usual celebration. Everyone knew what they just saw and everyone was pretty somber.

Wow powerful stuff man, thanks for sharing that. I am hoping things right themselves right now, watching my boys on the Thunder try to force a game 7. Durant needs to come alive!!!

 

[bajaden]

Great effort by the Thunder. Lost by one point and should have won when Kobe missed the last shot. Collison stood and watched instead of blocking out and let Gasol just walk, and I mean walk right in and put the ball back up and in for the win.

Its obvious that the Thunder need some size in the middle. Collison looked like a midget out there next to Gasol and Bynum. Still, Kudo's to the Thunder. Great effort!

 

[King-Da-Yah]

Really wanted a game 7, oh well, LA is going down though, mark my words.

Nick Collison... Your dead to me

 

[Sptsjunkie]

Great effort by the Thunder. Lost by one point and should have won when Kobe missed the last shot. Collison stood and watched instead of blocking out and let Gasol just walk, and I mean walk right in and put the ball back up and in for the win.

Its obvious that the Thunder need some size in the middle. Collison looked like a midget out there next to Gasol and Bynum. Still, Kudo's to the Thunder. Great effort!

I watched the play several times and I actually think Green was to blame. If you watch the replay, the Lakers loaded up on one side and the Thunder appear to have played a quasi-zone. Collison was ready to help if Kobe went to the hoop and was out of position to box out Gasol. Green on the other hand was standing in the key, not far enough over to help out on Kobe, and not looking to box anyone out. Gasol went right around him and grabbed the rebound. Collison's movement came with a purpose. Green served no purpose (one of my defensive pet peeves). Either get in position to help or watch the players on the opposite side of the court. Don't just stand in no man's land and do nothing.

 

[rainmaker]

I watched the play several times and I actually think Green was to blame. If you watch the replay, the Lakers loaded up on one side and the Thunder appear to have played a quasi-zone. Collison was ready to help if Kobe went to the hoop and was out of position to box out Gasol. Green on the other hand was standing in the key, not far enough over to help out on Kobe, and not looking to box anyone out. Gasol went right around him and grabbed the rebound. Collison's movement came with a purpose. Green served no purpose (one of my defensive pet peeves). Either get in position to help or watch the players on the opposite side of the court. Don't just stand in no man's land and do nothing.

I don't know. I thought Ibaka was the one to blame. I guess the blame could fall on more than one player, but Ibaka was right in front of the rim and didn't put a body on anyone. Gasol was literally right next to him, unchecked, and walked right in, right around Ibaka.

Still a fun series. This is something OKC has to go through. I think they'll get a 5 or 6 seed next year, and make it to the 2 nd round. When we finally get back to the playoffs, we are going to have some pretty tough losses, and painfull exits. All part of the process.

 

[Emma]

Great effort by the Thunder. Lost by one point and should have won when Kobe missed the last shot. Collison stood and watched instead of blocking out and let Gasol just walk, and I mean walk right in and put the ball back up and in for the win.

Its obvious that the Thunder need some size in the middle. Collison looked like a midget out there next to Gasol and Bynum. Still, Kudo's to the Thunder. Great effort!

Totally Scotty Brooks's fault. They should have finished that final possession of theirs with enough time left for a two for one. Dumb gamble against the defending champs.

 

[tonymixwell]

Gordon

No way. Too much money on his contract for his worth. I hope the Kings actively pursue Joe Johnson. That's if he decides to leave Atlanta. I think he and Tyreke are similar type players but I also think they would compliment each other. I see him possibly playing the role he did for the Suns. Who know's? The Hawks have something good going on, they might want to keep the core in tact.

 

[bajaden]

I don't know. I thought Ibaka was the one to blame. I guess the blame could fall on more than one player, but Ibaka was right in front of the rim and didn't put a body on anyone. Gasol was literally right next to him, unchecked, and walked right in, right around Ibaka.

Still a fun series. This is something OKC has to go through. I think they'll get a 5 or 6 seed next year, and make it to the 2 nd round. When we finally get back to the playoffs, we are going to have some pretty tough losses, and painfull exits. All part of the process.

I read this morning that Gasol was Ibaka's responsibility and he's the one that should have blocked Gasol from the basket. I went back and looked at it again, and have to agree with you. It was Ibaka that blew it. Damm shame.