[Grades] Preseason Grades v. Blazers 10/15/12

[CruzDude]

Overall, grades about right for pre-season #2. Coach fiddling with lineups sure showed what combos work together better. The odd combo at start of third as an example. Unfortunately, once Cuz sits, the whole offensive game has to change as JT, while adequate, just doesnt pocess the physical tools.

But with JJ and MT and the basis of the triangle, Coachc may just be on to something. I think Jimmer is being pushed into PG duties as insurance if IT or Brooks get hurt. His dribbling and penetrating skills are a ways from being there in the NBA environment. But the forward situation may finally be resolved for the first time in many years.

Definite improvement on defense and in moving the ball on offense. Nowlets see if the remember on wednesday as they run up and down with thewarriors.

 

[ESP47]

JJ is slowly becoming my favorite player. I hope this is the way he always plays and he isn't just playing above his head. The guy hustles, plays D, is involved with the offense and looks like a team player to me. The reports before he came here talked a lot about his D and a lot about how he takes his share of stupid unselfish shots. After the first two games he definitely looks like a team player.

The whole offense looks 100 times better. Hardly any dribble, dribble, dribble, oh crap what now? Lots of ball movement, cutters and looking for the open man. Chuck Hayes looks like the Chuck Hayes we expected when we signed. Thomas and Brooks look like a good duo. Robinson will have some growing pains but he hustles and gets on the boards. I don't see us sniffing the playoffs but at least the on court product should look a lot better this year.

 

[gunks]

MT's quotes didn't come off as being angry he came off the bench. Rather that he's not used to it, which makes sense.

What I did find interesting and not in a good way was the Smart implied MT might be back starting tomorrow.

Doesnt surprise me.

 

[JB_kings]

Smart always seems to be chasing the match up advantages on offense. Wouldn't surprise me if we had to live with shifting lineups all season long. It's a shame too because I think he could put a starting 5 on the floor that could be a very good defensive team.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

can someone post the exact quotes from MT that you are referring to?

 

[bajaden]

can someone post the exact quotes from MT that you are referring to?

Here you go!

Following the Kings’ 117-100 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Thornton discussed how he adjusted to last night’s reserve role.

“I haven’t come off the bench in a long time,” the Kings guard told a scrum of reporters. “I had to keep myself in the game by standing up, cheering, getting my bones warmed up.

“It kind of didn’t work,” he continued. ”Because when I got in, I kind of fumbled the ball. But I knew as time went on, I was going to catch on and get my rhythm back, so you know it was all good.”

 

[Arkitect]

Here you go!

Following the Kings’ 117-100 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Thornton discussed how he adjusted to last night’s reserve role.

“I haven’t come off the bench in a long time,” the Kings guard told a scrum of reporters. “I had to keep myself in the game by standing up, cheering, getting my bones warmed up.

“It kind of didn’t work,” he continued. ”Because when I got in, I kind of fumbled the ball. But I knew as time went on, I was going to catch on and get my rhythm back, so you know it was all good.”

Clearly a malcontent.

While Thornton may not be ecstatic about coming off the bench, I think he will find that given time he will excel off the bench and help the team more in that role than if he is starting.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

ya i think he will enjoy being the go to guy for most of the time he is in the game. he has the potential to score more than his 18ppg last season in a 6th man roll this year

 

[jcwkings]

If the team is winning Thornton will have no reason not to accept the 6th man role. Terry, Harden, Ginobli all accept their role because they are on very good basketball teams. If the team is losing a lot, rightfully Thornton has the right to complain about coming off the bench, being the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team depending on who you ask.

 

[JB_kings]

If the team is winning Thornton will have no reason not to accept the 6th man role. Terry, Harden, Ginobli all accept their role because they are on very good basketball teams. If the team is losing a lot, rightfully Thornton has the right to complain about coming off the bench, being the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team depending on who you ask.

He also won't complain if he's in there at the end of games. And even if he does come off the bench, he will be in there at the end more often than not.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

i was really impressed with James Johnson! I watched alot of Raps games last year cuz im from Canada..And he was one of my fav players on that squad.. He does a little bit of everything.. Hes got great defensive instincts, especially his shot blocking.. I could see him being the glue that holds our team together this year. Very glad hes a King.

 

[Kingster]

JJ is slowly becoming my favorite player. I hope this is the way he always plays and he isn't just playing above his head. The guy hustles, plays D, is involved with the offense and looks like a team player to me. The reports before he came here talked a lot about his D and a lot about how he takes his share of stupid unselfish shots. After the first two games he definitely looks like a team player.

The whole offense looks 100 times better. Hardly any dribble, dribble, dribble, oh crap what now? Lots of ball movement, cutters and looking for the open man. Chuck Hayes looks like the Chuck Hayes we expected when we signed. Thomas and Brooks look like a good duo. Robinson will have some growing pains but he hustles and gets on the boards. I don't see us sniffing the playoffs but at least the on court product should look a lot better this year.

If we have a lot more offensive movement and better defense, why not the playoffs?

 

[Npliam]

If we have a lot more offensive movement and better defense, why not the playoffs?

You guys really weren't that close last year and the general consensus is that the rest of the west is much better than it was last year.

 

[mac]

You guys really weren't that close last year and the general consensus is that the rest of the west is much better than it was last year.

And Derrick Favors is going to be the starting big man on the west all-star team.

 

[jcwkings]

You guys really weren't that close last year and the general consensus is that the rest of the west is much better than it was last year.

Its better, but no as much as one would think. Blazers will struggle, Mavs have regressed, Houston is young, Hornets are young. Phoenix is re-building post Nash. IMO we COULD be in the 7-8 mix with teams like Minnesota, Utah, Golden State(if they stay healthy). The teams that will make the playoffs for sure for me are

1. OKC
2. San Antonio
3. Lakers
4. Clippers
5. Denver
6. Memphis

after that any two of Dallas, Utah, Minnesota, Golden State, Sacramento maybe Houston could be in the mix. Portland and Phoenix are at the bottom this year imo

 

[Bricklayer]

Its better, but no as much as one would think. Blazers will struggle, Mavs have regressed, Houston is young, Hornets are young. Phoenix is re-building post Nash. IMO we COULD be in the 7-8 mix with teams like Minnesota, Utah, Golden State(if they stay healthy). The teams that will make the playoffs for sure for me are

1. OKC
2. San Antonio
3. Lakers
4. Clippers
5. Denver
6. Memphis

after that any two of Dallas, Utah, Minnesota, Golden State, Sacramento maybe Houston could be in the mix. Portland and Phoenix are at the bottom this year imo

New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix and Portland are essentially in full rebuild mode. Peeps tagging them to do much are probably just living in off their past successes. Minny, Golden State, and Utah should be in the scrum for #8, depending on the breaks, injuries etc. Which group we end up with is yet to be determined. Certainly we have as much raw talent as any of those teams. What has been lacking is focus, coaching, balance, maturity, chemistry etc.

Just line up our guys against those teams:

vs. Golden State
Cousins v. Lee
Thompson v. Bogut
Evans v. Curry
Thornton v. Thompson
Robinson v. Barnes
Brooks v. Jack
Hayes v. Landry
Johnson v. Jefferson
Thomas v Rush (er...not a great pairing)

we have an edge in as many of those matchups as we don't.

vs. Minny
Cousins v. Love
Thompson v. Pekovic
Robinson v. D.Williams
Johnson v. Kirilenko
Evans v. Roy
Thornton v. Ridnour
Thomas v. Rubio
Brooks v. Barea
Hayes v. Stiemsma
Salmons v. Budinger

vs. Utah
Cousins v. Jefferson
Thompson v. Milsap
Evans v. Hayward
Thomas v. Mo.Williams
Johnson v. Ma.Williams
Thornton v. Foye
Robinson v. Favors
Hayes v. Kanter
Brooks v. Watson
Salmons v. Burks

Now you can sort all those matchups out however you like as to who is better than who. But overall there is no huge gap there in TALENT. The gap has been in the intangibles. Maturity, coaching, balance, chemsitry etc. If we have corrected those things to some degree, we can play with all those teams.

 

[Bricklayer]

And to follow my last comment, Kevin Love just broke his hand and is out 6-8 weeks. Injuries will open the door for whichever team avoids them.

 

[Entity]

i just realized we play the lakers 3 times in preseason

 

[Section 101]

And to follow my last comment, Kevin Love just broke his hand and is out 6-8 weeks. Injuries will open the door for whichever team avoids them.

His Love hand is broken?

 

[Kings Faithful]

And to follow my last comment, Kevin Love just broke his hand and is out 6-8 weeks. Injuries will open the door for whichever team avoids them.

That sucks for them... things started looking real nice in Minnesota too...

 

[Capt. Factorial]

That sucks for them... things started looking real nice in Minnesota too...

If he's back in 8 weeks, that's early December, so he'll play most of the season. But that's still probably worth an extra loss or two (not counting possible rust/lingering injury issues when he comes back), and that could be enough to move them from fighting for the #7/8 slot to out of it.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

And to follow my last comment, Kevin Love just broke his hand and is out 6-8 weeks. Injuries will open the door for whichever team avoids them.

thats what i was just going to say. the Wolves slim chances to make the playoffs may be gone now. Rubio is already out as well