Petrie reiterates desire for Kings to play defense

[Rockmeister]

http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/story/13074134p-13919297c.html

Petrie reiterates desire for Kings to play defense

By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 6:14 pm PDT Thursday, June 16, 2005

Kings president of basketball operations Geoff Petrie was asked at his much-delayed state-of-the-team address Thursday whether his team was in a state of rebuilding.

"You can take any of the ‘Re' words that you want, and there's a ton of them - retool, remake, redo, renew," he said at the Kings practice facility.

How about rehash? Petrie offered little new and plenty of old about last season and what's to come in 2005-06. He said he'd talk about the possibility of an NBA lockout only if the pool of 20-plus media members "pony up to pay my $1 million fine from the league," for such talk. And of the slim possibility that new Lakers coach Phil Jackson was headed to Sacramento and where that left the feelings of current coach Rick Adelman.

"I don't think it's unusual (to look at the possibility of a new coach), and it's necessary, for everybody involved with a team and a franchise, when your season's over, to go through (and ask) how do we get better?" Petrie said.

"You do it with every facet of your organization whether you won 20 games or 60 games. If you're not thinking about how we can get better, then it's probably time to go. Sometimes things get beyond what they really are. But as far as I'm concerned, the rest of it belongs to the ages and we're moving forward."

Petrie did, however, reiterate what the Maloofs have said since the Kings lost to Seattle in the first round of the playoffs. They want defense to become a priority for next season. The Kings finished the regular season 26th out of 30 teams, allowing an average of 101.6 points per game and 106.6 in the playoffs.

"That's going to be a combination of personnel and emphasis," Petrie said. "Just like your offense is a team concept, your defense has to be a team concept as well. A lot of that has to start with each player's individual commitment to want to guard his own man."

He would also like to see the trio of guard Mike Bibby, forward Peja Stojakovic and center Brad Miller assume larger roles.

"It's going to be up to those people those players, along with the support of the rest of us, to rebuild the fabric of a different kind of team," Petrie said. "It won't be the same team as the team we've had over the past four or five years, so it's going to be important for those players to play better, to take a more active leadership roles within the team, both individually and collectively."

With the NBA draft approaching on June 28, Petrie said the Kings have tried out 35 players, and his list of potential foreign talent is more than 20 players long. The Kings pick 23rd in the first round and 53rd in the second.

"What you're really looking for is some player that -- in addition to what his stats tell you, what his play tells you - your instincts tell you that he's going to be an NBA player," Petrie said. "Our track record has been pretty good. We haven't drafted too many total failures, which is what you want to avoid."
Petrie also touched on the potential futures of free-agents-to-be Maurice Evans, Darius Songaila, and Cuttino Mobley. Mobley and Songaila have said they won't exercise their player options to return. Mobley would be an unrestricted free agent, and Songaila would be restricted. Evans has no options and will be a restricted free agent, so the Kings can match any offer from other teams and must decide before June 30 whether they want to make such offers.

Petrie wouldn't say whether he plans to make a run at those players or whether trading part of the Bibby-Stojakovic-Miller corps could be a possibility.

"If we find (a trade) that we thought would make us better, I don't think we would hesitate to do it," Petrie said. "I think they're our players until they're not our players. I don't want us to ever be involved in speculating about a players' future until we've sold him or decided what we're going to do with him."

 

[Variant]

Well, obviously we have to see how things pan out--who we pick up in the draft (unlikely they will make an impact this year) and who comes in via free agency or trade... but I just am not inspired to great levels of confidence by the idea that Brad, Peja and Mike are going to ever become anything more than adequate defenders. Which might be enough if we get in another couple fierce defensive types.

I just haven't seen that defensive tenacity in the other three's mentality ever. Maybe for short periods of time, but that's it. This is where a coaching change might make some difference, but in the end playing good defense is a decision and I'm just not so sure Brad, Peja and Mike will suddenly have the light switch flipped in their head and make that committment when they haven't before.

We'll see...

 

[4cwebb]

Agreed. The main problem with those three players that are the core of the current Kings' roster is that each of them are all below average athletes at their respective positions in the NBA, which certainly doesn't help in the defense department. Add that to the fact that only one of those guys is a big hustle guy (i.e., Miller), and it makes exceling at defense that much more difficult. To become a much better defensive team, Kings are going to need a player that can provide a shotblocking presence starting at the PF (read: not Kenny Thomas, who, although he hustles and will give you every ounce of energy he has, just doesn't have the size to be a true defensive presence as a PF when paired with BMiller), not to mention a lockdown perimeter defender with superior quickness at the SG position. That's a tall free agency and draft order for one year.

 

[Bricklayer]

Agreed. The main problem with those three players that are the core of the current Kings' roster is that each of them are all below average athletes at their respective positions in the NBA, which certainly doesn't help in the defense department. Add that to the fact that only one of those guys is a big hustle guy (i.e., Miller), and it makes exceling at defense that much more difficult. To become a much better defensive team, Kings are going to need a player that can provide a shotblocking presence starting at the PF (read: not Kenny Thomas, who, although he hustles and will give you every ounce of energy he has, just doesn't have the size to be a true defensive presence as a PF when paired with BMiller), not to mention a lockdown perimeter defender with superior quickness at the SG position. That's a tall free agency and draft order for one year.

You forgot the part about the big man having to be able to post up and be strong on the glass, and one or the other of them being a good passer as well to take the load off of Bibby/Miller. But outside of that, no prob.

 

[JB_kings]

I think Martin can be a very good defender at the SG spot. He won't get that opportunity unless he adds the the three point shot to his game. If it can put Mo Evans on the NBA map, it could turn Martin into a starting SG. Martin has the in between game and good enough handles to drive to the basket that Evans doesn't.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think Martin can be a very good defender at the SG spot. He won't get that opportunity unless he adds the the three point shot to his game. If it can put Mo Evans on the NBA map, it could turn Martin into a starting SG. Martin has the in between game and good enough handles to drive to the basket that Evans doesn't.

In time Kevin could be a good defender. Actually I think he already is a pretty good one. And so is Mo. Neither are great, but they are generally good solid players on defense with Kevin just having occasional breakdowns because of lack of experience or lack of strength.

But the problem is that if we are really going forward with a Peja/Bibby/Miller combo and still hope to be a good defesnive team, then the other guys can't just be good solid defenders who take care of their own man, they have to be GREAT impact type defenders who can cover up the weaknesses of others and inspire their teammates to go above and beyond. Big steal guys. Big block guys. And its a real reach to say that either Kevin or Mo will ever become that sort of impact defender.

 

[uolj]

One thing I got from watching the press conference is that even though Petrie and the Maloofs are talking about a core of Bibby, Stojakovic, Miller and Jackson, it is obvious that they aren't married to the idea of keeping all four of them, or even all three starters, no matter what. Even after Petrie said that those guys form the core that they want to build around, he later mentioned that all or part of that group, whoever was still around, would have to set the tone. This doesn't mean its likely that one or more will be traded soon, but I think it's almost as likely as Webber getting traded last summer was.

Basically, my point is that they haven't decided to keep all three big starters yet, they just consider them the current core and are planning on building the team around them unless they find better options.

 

[bigbadred00]

In time Kevin could be a good defender. Actually I think he already is a pretty good one. And so is Mo. Neither are great, but they are generally good solid players on defense with Kevin just having occasional breakdowns because of lack of experience or lack of strength.

But the problem is that if we are really going forward with a Peja/Bibby/Miller combo and still hope to be a good defesnive team, then the other guys can't just be good solid defenders who take care of their own man, they have to be GREAT impact type defenders who can cover up the weaknesses of others and inspire their teammates to go above and beyond. Big steal guys. Big block guys. And its a real reach to say that either Kevin or Mo will ever become that sort of impact defender.

So what your saying is we need Ron Artest / Bruce Bowen Type defender at the 2 and a Ben Wallace type defender at the 4. Easier said then done . While noone in the league is as good as Ben Wallace at defending the blocks, I hope Petrie can find someone who plays 75% at his level.

 

[Bricklayer]

So what your saying is we need Ron Artest / Bruce Bowen Type defender at the 2 and a Ben Wallace type defender at the 4. Easier said then done . While noone in the league is as good as Ben Wallace at defending the blocks, I hope Petrie can find someone who plays 75% at his level.

Something like that. Or closer to our own experience, someone like Doug in the backcourt to restore that Pg/Og/SF balance we had in our best years, and someone BETTER than Webber at PF, because unfortunately I think that Vlade had a bigger impact defensively than Brad with better shotblocking, quick hands, taking charges, flops, a little longer etc. So with Brad in there instead of Vlade the other guy has to be better than Webber was (was was no all-defensive team member, but was a significant shotblocker).

And of course all that does is get us back to somewhere where we once were, except with a defensive specialist in place of our former 25 and 10pf, so...geez.

 

[quick dog]

I offer my assessment here, and I am sure it is worth precisely what it costs.

I think Bibby may not have the quickness and agility to be a "great" defender. Maybe he does and I just don't see it. Can he improve much? I think so. Sometimes he stands around, and that would seem to be unacceptable under any circumstances.

I think Peja may have significant potential. He has improved greatly in the past few years. Would he have to undergo a brain transplant. He is basically a mellow person, not exactly like Ron Artest and other great defenders.

Can Brad improve? He seems to me to be non-athletic. He bangs around already, but seems to lack the speed and power of guys like Ben Wallace.

Ostertag, if he is even destined to be around anymore, would be much better if he simply came to camp in decent shape. He must have the training discipline of Vlade Divac. It is sad to see a man virtually waste a magnificient opportunity to be a real factor in the NBA by simply being lazy. Few people have such opportunities. His attitude is a little like the undisciplined person who refuses to stop smoking.

I think Mo Evans could become a "great" defender.

Songaila may already be performing at his best level. Perhaps the team-defense could improve significantly?

Fire away.

 

[Jerryaki]

just a question, given his size why do we and philly stick kenny thomas in the 4 instead of the 3 spot?

 

[Bricklayer]

just a question, given his size why do we and philly stick kenny thomas in the 4 instead of the 3 spot?

Yeah, he really is "3" sized. But I think its just because his game is mostly "4", and there would be questions with his ballhandling, shooting range, defense against quick swingmen types etc. I remain intrigued with the idea of KT as SF (kind of a poor man's Marion maybe), but I'm not at all sure it would be a success.

 

[bigbadred00]

his game which is close to the basket, favors the 4 over the 3. another thing is in philly this year he had Korver/Iggy in front of his for the 3 spot. And in the past he had Glen Robinson ahead of him. In Sacto, we have Peja. We tried Songalia at the 4, and honestly starting, he wasn't that effective and less effective than Kenny most of the time. Kenny is definitely undersized and if possibly I wish he could spurn Peja and our future 4 if that possibly happens, thing is his contract is way to big for us to do that.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

'To become a much better defensive team, Kings are going to need a player that can provide a shotblocking presence starting at the PF (read: not Kenny Thomas, who, although he hustles and will give you every ounce of energy he has, just doesn't have the size to be a true defensive presence as a PF when paired with BMiller'

Kenny should be at SF, and Peja should be at SG, in my opinion, and we should get some sort of bruising PF...Skinner is good, but not sure if he is the starting answer obviously. We need a guy who is more like a 10 and 10 sort of guy who can throw some elbows(legally or fourse*L*), and someone who can command the glass...easier said than done, but it may not come this year, but in the next couple of years, I know the situation will be addressed by Geoff.

 

[Alacron]

I think moving Miller from the Center spot to PF would help. As a center he is the last line of defense on the way to the hoop. He simply cannot rotate to guard the basket the way a center should. Slow-as-molasses Vlade did a better job. I am not saying -never- play Brad at center, but for the majority of his minutes on the floor let someone like Skinner or Ostertag man the 5 to offer a genuine shot-altering presence.

And from the article I learned that Evans is apparently a restricted free agent? I did not know that, but it's teriffic news. The Maloofs better match any offers that come in, that's an exception that does not count against our FA signing exceptions. We need that depth at the 2/3. I still say start Evans next year and concentrate on acquiring a standout big man.
~~

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I think moving Miller from the Center spot to PF would help. As a center he is the last line of defense on the way to the hoop. He simply cannot rotate to guard the basket the way a center should. Slow-as-molasses Vlade did a better job. I am not saying -never- play Brad at center, but for the majority of his minutes on the floor let someone like Skinner or Ostertag man the 5 to offer a genuine shot-altering presence.

And from the article I learned that Evans is apparently a restricted free agent? I did not know that, but it's teriffic news. The Maloofs better match any offers that come in, that's an exception that does not count against our FA signing exceptions. We need that depth at the 2/3. I still say start Evans next year and concentrate on acquiring a standout big man.
~~

Couldnt agree more about Evans, we HAVE to keep this guy, give him a couple million a year. As far as moving Miller to center...what about the center position then? I dont want Ostertag as our starting center...and not too confident about a 6-9 Skinner playing the middle, either. We need better option for the 5 I think.

 

[SacTownKid]

Yes, when I look at Miller I really see him in Webbers role as opposed to Vlade's. Putting him at the PF spot could be a good idea.

Then again he did say that he plans of hitting the wieghts and coming back ready to take the pounding.

 

[4cwebb]

Kenny should be at SF, and Peja should be at SG, in my opinion, and we should get some sort of bruising PF...Skinner is good, but not sure if he is the starting answer obviously. We need a guy who is more like a 10 and 10 sort of guy who can throw some elbows(legally or fourse*L*), and someone who can command the glass...easier said than done, but it may not come this year, but in the next couple of years, I know the situation will be addressed by Geoff.

I think this makes the Kings' perimeter defense significantly weaker than it already is. Peja does a good job of staying in front of SFs, but would be have trouble night in and night out chasing around guys that are just a little bit quicker than the average SF in the NBA, at least imho. Add to that the fact that Thomas is much more used to playing low on the blocks or against guys who are not as adept at handling the ball on the perimeter as the average SF in the NBA, and the Kings' bigs are going to be facing constant penetration and attacks on the rim with Bibby, Peja and KThomas getting beat off the dribble. I just don't see moving Peja to SG as the answer.

 

[funkykingston]

Kenny Thomas at the 3 would make things worse defensively but it would also kill the spacing on offense. Not to mention that Kenny's offense comes from either hitting open midrange jumpers or blowing past slower PFs. Moving him to SF would eliminate his quickness mismatch. If so, he'd have to try posting up more, which would REALLY clog up the lanes.

If Thomas can't be dealt (I don't think his trade value is going to get much higher until the last year of his deal) then I think his role really should be as a scorer/rebounder off the bench. Of course, getting a talented enough player to start at PF or C (moving Brad to the 4) isn't likely to happen through the draft or with the MLE.

But that's why Petrie gets the big bucks.