Sasha signed!!!

[Jones2006]

One aspect I don’t see people mentioning is essentially Brown in his rotations may just want to pair “new player” with experienced guy to help them learn system on court. Meaning pairing McGee w/ Sasha wouldn’t help either, and pairing Len w/ Lyles in preseason would be kinda pointless too cause they already know how to play together.

Its too early to assess who should be in the rotation imo.

 

[sono]

Agreed. I'm not very happy with that tweet. Before we even signed him, I've made comments about how Coach Brown should NOT be putting Sasha through his dumb mind games. Why are you trying to test him? He's not a 21-year-old college kid. He's a 28-year-old grown man who has been playing professional basketball for 12 years. You and the rest of the FO courted him for a whole year. Don't treat him like a young rookie who doesn't have his footing in a professional environment.

In the best case scenario, Mike Brown put it out there to the media in order to light a fire under Sasha (probably defensively) and show the team that he holds everyone accountable. Even in this scenario, I think it's a bit disrespectful to publicly imply that the Euroleague MVP needs to earn his rotation spot. Keep it for the locker room.

I also think it's laughable if anyone suggests that Mike Brown holds all of his players to the same standard. No one outside of Davion played plus defense last year... defense shouldn't suddenly become a reason to keep Sasha off the floor.

I hope we're missing more context from Brown where he mentions everyone on the team needs to earn their place. Knowing how the local media covers the Kings... I wouldn't be surprised if there was additional context not included.

Agree, even Fox says he's not subjected to traditional rookie duties, because he's been professional for over 10 years. Not only that I suspect he sees him as someone who can help them get over the hump in PO. Hopefully, Mike won't outsmart himself.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Not to dog Jason Anderson, but to dog Jason Anderson, do we have full context of the quote? Seems very "click-baity" to me.

Jason asked Mike if Sasha will be part of the rotation when the season starts and he says “that’s a great question, I don’t know if he will be or not. He just has to keep fighting his behind off and getting better every chance that he gets whether that’s in practice and shoot around and or the game”

 

[iowamcnabb]

Duece and Mo share clips from the last game on the defensive side

 

[Rain man]

Jason asked Mike if Sasha will be part of the rotation when the season starts and he says “that’s a great question, I don’t know if he will be or not. He just has to keep fighting his behind off and getting better every chance that he gets whether that’s in practice and shoot around and or the game”

He basically said the same for everyone on roster spots 6-15. Said there is a lot of fluidity between the second and third units. He also said he is tinkering and that Sasha and Duarte might switch for the next game.

Honestly, no one except Monk and Davion have a defined role off the bench yet.

if you listen to the whole statement, it is really a lot of “nothing to see here.”

 

[iowamcnabb]

if you listen to the whole statement, it is really a lot of “nothing to see here.”

I get what you are saying but we didn’t pay Sasha 20 plus million and recruit him for a year so that he could try to crack the second unit. I don’t think this is nothing. Right now, and things could change, Brown has decided to roll with McGee and that has put Sasha on the outside looking in for the second unit. I thought we signed Lyles to be the back up 5 but either we didn’t or McGee changed the calculus. Even if Sasha takes Duarte’s place his minutes will be less than they should be imo

 

[Caccia]

We'll have to see whether Coach Brown rolls out the starters for only 10-15 minutes again tonight. He has pretty definite 2nd and 3rd squads right now, but realistically, only 15-16 guys can make it into a preseason game. Everyone wants to see Vezenkov play more minutes.

 

[mrlaze]

I think its weird he said he didn't have a spot, instead of a "see where he fits" kind of response. There's no way he dosent get significant minutes. He was hesitant to come over so I hope they didn't promise him something then pull it back once he got here.

 

[dude12]

Brown is playing the “earn it game” because he thinks Sasha will respond well to it. Matter of time before he’s dialed into rotation, that I have no doubt

 

[SacTownKid]

I think its weird he said he didn't have a spot, instead of a "see where he fits" kind of response. There's no way he dosent get significant minutes. He was hesitant to come over so I hope they didn't promise him something then pull it back once he got here.

Especially being 28 years old, this isn't, nor should it be some kind of "process" with Sasha. A player like him getting acclimated to the NBA game should take all of about 10 games. If that considering the team he found himself on.

 

[Bfreeman]

I think it’s just part of the culture Mike Brown wants to create. No entitlement, no. 4 pick, gotta prove you’re good enough to start. He wants guys working to fit the system. There’s not way Duarte is above Sasha except maybe in defense and I think Sasha could get passable.

 

[Turgenev]

He looked pretty smooth in preseason game 1. Doesn't look like he will have great foot speed defending on the perimeter but he looks like he's got at least a decent amount of strength.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Before the game, Brown talked about his decision to start Vezenkov in light of his remarks a day earlier.

“The discussion was just the truth,” Brown said. “I think you asked me if Sasha is in the rotation right now. I don’t know. I think that’s a fair question, but I don’t know. I know Davion will be. I know Malik will be (and) Javale and Trey to start (the season). Will Sasha? I don’t know. We’ve played one preseason game.”

Vezenkov signed a three-year, $20 million contract with the Kings over the summer. The former Olympiacos star came to Sacramento as a three-time Greek League MVP and the reigning EuroLeague MVP. He scored 12 points in 11 minutes in his preseason debut against the Raptors on Sunday, showing off the world-class shooting abilities his coaches and teammates have raved about, but the Kings are asking him to be better defensively.

“I’m not the type of coach that’s just going to say, ‘OK, because he did this here, he’s going to come in and start or he’s going to get 30 minutes a game,’” Brown said. “You’ve got to let it play out. When we were trying to get him to come here, that was one of the discussions we had. I said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to earn it.’”

 

[iowamcnabb]

So there it is. Sasha will not be part of the top 9 at the beginning of the season. He will get his opportunity to force Mike to play him if he plays well

 

[Geoff]

So there it is. Sasha will not be part of the top 9 at the beginning of the season. He will get his opportunity to force Mike to play him if he plays well

And ain't nuthin' wrong wid dat.

 

[The_Jamal]

Oof. Not a good look giving Javale preferential treatment just because he's coached him before. So why does Sasha have to earn it, but Javale doesnt?

 

[SLAB]

Oof. Not a good look giving Javale preferential treatment just because he's coached him before. So why does Sasha have to earn it, but Javale doesnt?

Because one is an established vet presence whom you know exactly what you’re getting in a position we desperately needed to shore up as opposed to a wildcard rookie stretch-4 out of Europe.

 

[Shaqfuey]

Oof. Not a good look giving Javale preferential treatment just because he's coached him before. So why does Sasha have to earn it, but Javale doesnt?

Because Javale has NBA experience and can run Brown's schemes. Word is that Sasha has been making several defensive mistakes by pushing players the wrong direction. He's a smart guy and will pick it up. It may be "until he gets it" type situation.

 

[SacTownKid]

Oof. Not a good look giving Javale preferential treatment just because he's coached him before. So why does Sasha have to earn it, but Javale doesnt?

Exactly, lol. That's a bit hypocritical. Especially when so far, that pnr D that got McGee out of the rotation in Dallas is still pretty awful. Brown plays fav's, we know that. Cavs fans used to seethe about it, but Sasha is coming from a different league so it's somewhat understandable.

 

[SacTownKid]

Because Javale has NBA experience and can run Brown's schemes. Word is that Sasha has been making several defensive mistakes by pushing players the wrong direction. He's a smart guy and will pick it up. It may be "until he gets it" type situation.

Well, I saw McGee getting blown by left and right and it happens, he's at the end of his playing days. Remember, McGee as some bench size is his reality or should be. Maybe he does more, but it's like people think that a guy that got squeezed out in Dallas specifically for his shortcomings on defense isn't still a bit of a liability. Bigs with a lot more tread are getting squeezed for similar pnr defense, it is what it is. Throwing a lineup of Sasha, Lyles, and McGee out there and getting quicked to the rim is an eyeball issue. For those in control not seeing it and for the fans that have to see it lol.

 

[The_Jamal]

Because Javale has NBA experience and can run Brown's schemes. Word is that Sasha has been making several defensive mistakes by pushing players the wrong direction. He's a smart guy and will pick it up. It may be "until he gets it" type situation.

Wood literally blew past McGee like 4 times last night lol. He didn't even make a dribble move, he like did a jab step and McGee was sent to another dimension. Javale still looks like he can be an interior force with rim protection and rebounding, but good lord is all his lateral quickness gone. He's certainly someone who should not be defending quicker 5's like Wood when the minutes count.

 

[The_Jamal]

Because one is an established vet presence whom you know exactly what you’re getting in a position we desperately needed to shore up as opposed to a wildcard rookie stretch-4 out of Europe.

A big lumbering C has very little value in today's NBA. Certain match-ups, sure, but Javale (or Len) should not be everyday 12+ MPG rotation players in today's league. We saw it last night; Javale got absolutely smoked in the PnR and couldn't stay in front of Christian Wood on 1on1 defense.

Unfortunately, Brown is a throw-back coach with regards to positions. He likes guys to be slotted in one spot and that's where they play. Doubt we get much Huerter at the 3, Lyles at the 5, Davion at the 2 etc. As much as some of us would like to see it

 

[iowamcnabb]

If Sasha is the player we hope he is the thought would be that he cracks the rotation sooner or later. He is a team first player so he won’t be pouting on the bench. And to be fair, his defense was pretty bad last night too. Still, high iq lights out shooters with grit can’t be glued to the bench or getting spot minutes. We have a tough 4 games to start the season (didn’t even look past that) so we have to be rolling right away.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

If Sasha is the player we hope he is the thought would be that he cracks the rotation sooner or later. He is a team first player so he won’t be pouting on the bench. And to be fair, his defense was pretty bad last night too.

Let's be fair, there aren't many defensive stalwarts on this team to begin with. Hell, the current rule set makes it difficult to play defense anyway. But, regardless, no player should be omitted because of defense because outside of a select few -- they all have the same deficiency.

This team largely has to rely upon outscoring their opponents. Yeah, that sounds dumb on the surface because you always have to outscore your opponent to win. But the KINGS need to do it focusing on their offensive strengths more so than hoping to overachieve defensively.

Of course they should work to improve the team defense and play it as best as they can -- but this team's fortunes still rely upon how well they can score it. For that reason Sasha has to be a big part of the equation.

 

[joemama]

Sasha bit on quite a few pump fakes on the perimeter. I thought he would stop flying past ppl yesterday bit he kept doing it.

 

[Shaqfuey]

Wood literally blew past McGee like 4 times last night lol. He didn't even make a dribble move, he like did a jab step and McGee was sent to another dimension. Javale still looks like he can be an interior force with rim protection and rebounding, but good lord is all his lateral quickness gone. He's certainly someone who should not be defending quicker 5's like Wood when the minutes count.

A big thing to consider is that it's not an either/or situation with Javale and Sasha. One is a center. One is a power forward. Ideally, they'd play minutes together where McGee would play the roll of rim protector and defensive rebounder (his strengths) and not trying to guard quicker "small ball 5s" away from the basket. Also, if Sasha is pushing his man toward the lane, we need a shot blocker that can defend.

I think it's a learning curve for all (including last year's guys) to adapt to these new pieces and expectations of the coach on the defensive end. It'll take more than a week's worth of practices and a few preseason games to sort out. All involved are smart and should be able to improve.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Now that we have had to see a bit of Sasha, how do y’all envision using him best on this system? I remember watching that Euro Basketball pod this summer and one concern he had about Sasha’s impact in the nba was that he thought teams might just prop him up in a corner and expect him to just hit threes. He’s not exactly doing that with us in limited action but how do we maximize his minutes?

 

[Capt. Factorial]

Now that we have had to see a bit of Sasha, how do y’all envision using him best on this system? I remember watching that Euro Basketball pod this summer and one concern he had about Sasha’s impact in the nba was that he thought teams might just prop him up in a corner and expect him to just hit threes. He’s not exactly doing that with us in limited action but how do we maximize his minutes?

I think it's a bit early to assess this. Clearly he's trying to integrate into the offense, but despite the fact that he would seem to fit into the system we run really well, I don't think we've seen anything close to a full integration yet. Players take time to learn to play together. A lot of the guys on this squad have been together for over a year - but have been with Sasha for a few weeks.

Let them learn how to play with each other for a few months, then revisit, is my suggestion on this one.

 

[Tetsujin]

I think it's a bit early to assess this. Clearly he's trying to integrate into the offense, but despite the fact that he would seem to fit into the system we run really well, I don't think we've seen anything close to a full integration yet. Players take time to learn to play together. A lot of the guys on this squad have been together for over a year - but have been with Sasha for a few weeks.

Let them learn how to play with each other for a few months, then revisit, is my suggestion on this one.

Mike Brown and the players have been pretty vocal about the guys deliberately not running the normal offense this preseason too. Once we start using our DHO package more in the season, Sasha might finally have a chance to take off

 

[NiNetNiNe]

He’s been in the game a lot of times with the second and third units, which tend to be more iso heavy. A lot of times he just standing in the corner waiting for a pass that doesn’t come. I think for him to succeed he will need to play off of Sabonis.