Before I get into the point of this post, the Kings should have really thought about avoiding the Spurs at all costs since they have an inside game (offense and defense) and the Suns are limited in the paint. It's disappointing that we were one game away from that. Oh well, we're in hell now.
I don't want to make this a post ripping Adelman and the players. The Spurs have a better well rounded starting five and a much better bunch, so the Kings should be big underdogs. That means the starting five of the Kings have to play exceptional and we need to use a better strategy if we wish make this series interesting.
I'm not qualified to be a coach, but here's my take on what we should focus on ....
Who should guard Tony Parker? He's gonna go off on the Kings very often if we don't adjust the way we defended him tonight. Bibby's great, but everybody knows defense is not his thing, so he's totally outmatched against Parker. I think they should put Artest on him. I know they are different positions in all, but he's the only dominating defender we have who might be able to keep up with him and punish him when he gets the chance. Bonzi should guard Ginobili. That would leave Bibby to guard the much larger Bruce Bowen. Sure Bibby is too small, but Bowen's main offense is those corner threes, so why don't we give Bibby the easiest defensive assignment?
In the 2004 playoffs, after losing the first 2 games, the Lakers made the adjustment of having all their players clamp down on Parker in the paint. I don't think that's going to work as well this time because the Spurs have some good shooters now and Ginobili has improved his game a lot. It may sound dirty, the Kings have to knock him on his *** at least once. Artest has too much of that reputation, but maybe have Corliss do it when the bench comes in. We have no shotblockers, so this is the only thing we can do to make him hesitant to go into the paint. Ginobili is fearless, and so it will be hard to stop him. The only thing I can say is to concentrate on guarding his left side since that's usually the direction he drives to the basket.
The Kings have to improve their transition defense. Just run back to the other side, it doesn't matter if you're missing shots. Beyond transition defense, disrupting ball movement/limiting passes is the key. Hopefully by changing match-ups we can accomplish this.
Offensively, I think Adelman will get some improvements out of this group in Game 2. Bonzi turns the ball over a lot, so I think the ball should only be given to him when he's in good position in the paint or is open on the perimeter. Artest has to use his power to drive to the basket more. Bibby and Miller have to find a way to use their passing and pick and roll skills against the Spurs. As mentioned before, our starting five has to give us big numbers.
San Antonio's bench is full of talented vets. When the Spurs bench is in, maybe the Kings can try to run their offense so that it takes advantage of the quickness advantage Martin and Garcia have over Finley, Barry, and Van Excel.
Anyone else have ideas on how we should respond in Game 2?
I don't want to make this a post ripping Adelman and the players. The Spurs have a better well rounded starting five and a much better bunch, so the Kings should be big underdogs. That means the starting five of the Kings have to play exceptional and we need to use a better strategy if we wish make this series interesting.
I'm not qualified to be a coach, but here's my take on what we should focus on ....
Who should guard Tony Parker? He's gonna go off on the Kings very often if we don't adjust the way we defended him tonight. Bibby's great, but everybody knows defense is not his thing, so he's totally outmatched against Parker. I think they should put Artest on him. I know they are different positions in all, but he's the only dominating defender we have who might be able to keep up with him and punish him when he gets the chance. Bonzi should guard Ginobili. That would leave Bibby to guard the much larger Bruce Bowen. Sure Bibby is too small, but Bowen's main offense is those corner threes, so why don't we give Bibby the easiest defensive assignment?
In the 2004 playoffs, after losing the first 2 games, the Lakers made the adjustment of having all their players clamp down on Parker in the paint. I don't think that's going to work as well this time because the Spurs have some good shooters now and Ginobili has improved his game a lot. It may sound dirty, the Kings have to knock him on his *** at least once. Artest has too much of that reputation, but maybe have Corliss do it when the bench comes in. We have no shotblockers, so this is the only thing we can do to make him hesitant to go into the paint. Ginobili is fearless, and so it will be hard to stop him. The only thing I can say is to concentrate on guarding his left side since that's usually the direction he drives to the basket.
The Kings have to improve their transition defense. Just run back to the other side, it doesn't matter if you're missing shots. Beyond transition defense, disrupting ball movement/limiting passes is the key. Hopefully by changing match-ups we can accomplish this.
Offensively, I think Adelman will get some improvements out of this group in Game 2. Bonzi turns the ball over a lot, so I think the ball should only be given to him when he's in good position in the paint or is open on the perimeter. Artest has to use his power to drive to the basket more. Bibby and Miller have to find a way to use their passing and pick and roll skills against the Spurs. As mentioned before, our starting five has to give us big numbers.
San Antonio's bench is full of talented vets. When the Spurs bench is in, maybe the Kings can try to run their offense so that it takes advantage of the quickness advantage Martin and Garcia have over Finley, Barry, and Van Excel.
Anyone else have ideas on how we should respond in Game 2?
look on their face wondering where their help was... It's all about effort, believe it or not I still think these teams are evenly matched. But one came out with intensity, and one was the Kings... We'll see if a fire is lit under them in game 2. History has told us that Adelman has never really been able to fire his guys up, which has been my one main complaint about him, but maybe Artest can do something about it...
