Team Statistical Progress Part III

Bricklayer

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
On two earlier occasions this season I took a look at our teamwide stats, and how they had progressed over the season. This will be the third thread in that series but I intend to break out two mini eras at the beginning of the season (Westphal era) and just before the All Star break (Salmons out, IT in) so that there will be 5 mini-eras of 7 games (Westphal), 7games, 9games, 6games, and 4games (IT). Below are the links to the earlier two threads, and to the overall team stats thread started by funkykingston a few days ago:

Team Statistical Progress #1: http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?43665-A-Stat-Thread-Numbers-Thus-Far
Team Statistical Progress #2: http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?43927-Team-Statistical-Progress
forlornkingston's thread: http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/sho...lineup-looking-at-what-the-statistics-tell-us

Points For
Games 01-07: 92.0 NBA Rank: 25th
Games 08-14: 88.3 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: 94.3 NBA Rank: 17th
Games 24-29: 95.7 NBA Rank: 12th
Games 30-33: 105.6 NBA Rank: 1st

Points Against
Games 01-07: 102.4 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: 101.1 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: 101.3 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 24-29: 99.7 NBA Rank: 25th
Games 30-33: 108.5 NBA Rank: 30th

Point Differential
Games 01-07: -10.4 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 08-14: -12.8 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: -7.0 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 24-29: -4.0 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 30-33: -2.9 NBA Rank: 22nd

Home FG%
Games 01-07: .392 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: .401 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 15-23: .416 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 24-29: .410 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 30-33: .442 NBA Rank: 16th

Opponent FG%
Games 01-07: .485 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: .471 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 15-23: .458 NBA Rank: 26th
Games 24-29: .473 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 30-33: .464 NBA Rank: 26th

Home 3PT%
Games 01-07: .319 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 08-14: .197 NBA Rank: 30th no Marcus
Games 15-23: .350 NBA Rank: 14th)
Games 24-29: .358 NBA Rank: 10th
Games 30-33: .338 NBA Rank: 17th)

Home FT%
Games 01-07: .695 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 08-14: .785 NBA Rank: 4th
Games 15-23: .741 NBA Rank: 20th)
Games 24-29: .743 NBA Rank: 18th)
Games 30-33: .817 NBA Rank: 1st

Rebouding Differential
Games 01-07: -5.6 NBA Rank: 30th no JT, fighting with Cuz
Games 08-14: -0.3 NBA Rank: 19th)
Games 15-23: -1.1 NBA Rank: 21st
Games 24-29: -0.8 NBA Rank: 21st
Games 30-33: -1.8 NBA Rank: 22nd

Turnovers
Games 01-07: 14.3 NBA Rank: 9th
Games 08-14: 15.6 NBA Rank: 23rd
Games 15-23: 15.2 NBA Rank: 17th)
Games 24-29: 12.5 NBA Rank: 2nd
Games 30-33: 12.3 NBA Rank: 2nd

Assists
Games 01-07: 13.7 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: 15.4 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 15-23: 18.7 NBA Rank: 26th
Games 24-29: 18.3 NBA Rank: 27th
Games 30-33: 22.0 NBA Rank: 7th

Steals
Games 01-07: 8.4 NBA Rank: 9th
Games 08-14: 8.0 NBA Rank: 15th)
Games 15-23: 8.1 NBA Rank: 14th)
Games 24-29: 8.5 NBA Rank: 8th
Games 30-33: 7.5 NBA Rank: 21st

Blocks
Games 01-07: 4.6 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 08-14: 4.1 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: 3.7 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 24-29: 4.2 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 30-33: 6.0 NBA Rank: 3rd IT no doubt :)
 
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Bricklayer said:
On two earlier occasions this season I took a look at our teamwide stats, and how they had progressed over the season. This will be the third thread in that series but I intend to break out two mini eras at the beginning of the season (Westphal era) and just before the All Star break (Salmons out, IT in) so that there will be 5 mini-eras of 7 games (Westphal), 7games, 9games, 6games, and 4games (IT). Below are the links to the earlier two threads, and to the overall team stats thread started by funkykingston a few days ago:

Team Statistical Progress #1: http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?43665-A-Stat-Thread-Numbers-Thus-Far
Team Statistical Progress #2: http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?43927-Team-Statistical-Progress
forlornkingston's thread: http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/sho...lineup-looking-at-what-the-statistics-tell-us

Points For
Games 01-07: 92.0 NBA Rank: 25th
Games 08-14: 88.3 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: 94.3 NBA Rank: 17th
Games 24-29: 95.7 NBA Rank: 12th
Games 30-33: 105.6 NBA Rank: 1st

Points Against
Games 01-07: 102.4 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: 101.1 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: 101.3 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 24-29: 99.7 NBA Rank: 25th
Games 30-33: 108.5 NBA Rank: 30th

Point Differential
Games 01-07: -10.4 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 08-14: -12.8 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: -7.0 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 24-29: -4.0 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 30-33: -2.9 NBA Rank: 22nd

Home FG%
Games 01-07: .392 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: .401 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 15-23: .416 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 24-29: .410 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 30-33: .442 NBA Rank: 16th

Opponent FG%
Games 01-07: .485 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: .471 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 15-23: .458 NBA Rank: 26th
Games 24-29: .473 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 30-33: .464 NBA Rank: 26th

Home 3PT%
Games 01-07: .319 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 08-14: .197 NBA Rank: 30th no Marcus
Games 15-23: .350 NBA Rank: 14th)
Games 24-29: .358 NBA Rank: 10th
Games 30-33: .338 NBA Rank: 17th)

Home FT%
Games 01-07: .695 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 08-14: .785 NBA Rank: 4th
Games 15-23: .741 NBA Rank: 20th)
Games 24-29: .743 NBA Rank: 18th)
Games 30-33: .817 NBA Rank: 1st

Rebouding Differential
Games 01-07: -5.6 NBA Rank: 30th no JT, fighting with Cuz
Games 08-14: -0.3 NBA Rank: 19th)
Games 15-23: -1.1 NBA Rank: 21st
Games 24-29: -0.8 NBA Rank: 21st
Games 30-33: -1.8 NBA Rank: 22nd

Turnovers
Games 01-07: 14.3 NBA Rank: 9th
Games 08-14: 15.6 NBA Rank: 23rd
Games 15-23: 15.2 NBA Rank: 17th)
Games 24-29: 12.5 NBA Rank: 2nd
Games 30-33: 12.3 NBA Rank: 2nd

Assists
Games 01-07: 13.7 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: 15.4 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 15-23: 18.7 NBA Rank: 26th
Games 24-29: 18.3 NBA Rank: 27th
Games 30-33: 22.0 NBA Rank: 7th

Steals
Games 01-07: 8.4 NBA Rank: 9th
Games 08-14: 8.0 NBA Rank: 15th)
Games 15-23: 8.1 NBA Rank: 14th)
Games 24-29: 8.5 NBA Rank: 8th
Games 30-33: 7.5 NBA Rank: 21st

Blocks
Games 01-07: 4.6 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 08-14: 4.1 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: 3.7 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 24-29: 4.2 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 30-33: 6.0 NBA Rank: 3rd IT no doubt :)
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If IT starts blocking shots, I'm just going to give up on life.
 
I like these kinda threads. The three guard lineup has clearly helped us offensively. Assists up, to's down. Scoring's up, we're shooting better, and point diff has greatly improved.

But over 108 pts per game? Crikey. We're getting burned big time. I'd think we could cut that down 4-5 pts just by inserting Donte into the starting lineup at sf, and improving the substitution patterns.

But more importantly, we can see the talent potential of what a Cousins/Reke/Thornton/IT core can do. Fix the defense with the correct roster moves and we've got something.
 
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Bricklayer said:
Blocks
Games 01-07: 4.6 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 08-14: 4.1 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: 3.7 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 24-29: 4.2 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 30-33: 6.0 NBA Rank: 3rd IT no doubt :)
Click to expand...
When my sons play Nerf Basketball in the hall, if it's not "Ibaka with the block!" it's "Isaih Thomas with his 15th block of the night!"

I tell them IT's not gonna be blocking anything, but they seem to think he's a master at it - maybe they're thinking team blocks....? :D
 
rainmaker said:
I like these kinda threads. The three guard lineup has clearly helped us offensively. Assists up, to's down. Scoring's up, we're shooting better, and point diff has greatly improved.

But over 108 pts per game? Crikey. We're getting burned big time. I'd think we could cut that down 4-5 pts just by inserting Donte into the starting lineup at sf, and improving the substitution patterns.

But more importantly, we can see the talent potential of what a Cousins/Reke/Thornton/IT core can do. Fix the defense with the correct roster moves and we've got something.
Click to expand...

I think the exhaustive analysis of other posters has pointed to the fact that the defense doesn't have to do with size or the non-Donte factor. It has to do with experience, lack of rotations, and lack of switching. I don't see that improved by inserting Donte into the lineup, at least not in a big way. If Donte started playing offense, then yes, at the margin, I'd put him in there. But with the Donte that we're seeing his marginal defensive improvement wouldn't make up for his lack of offensive production. We need to see better D out the lineup that we have. They can play sooo much better imo than they currently are showing us.
 
Interesting.

So games 24-29 we were better at some things, but not at others, than 30-33. So what you're saying is that there has been quantifiable progress.

I'm still not a fan of giving up 108 points per game, and I don't think that it's good for the economy by giving out free tacos every time we're on the road.(Unless of course the marketing strategy is to get people in the door to have them purchase additional items, in which case it might work, but I'd want to see the PowerPoint on that one. ;) )

The stats pretty much show what everyone knows - we suck at defense right now. We're not mediocre, not, "kinda ok", but we're flat out ****ty. How much of that is the three guard rotation? Not sure. I do know that you're not going to have an effective zone without serious athletes (and those with size, to boot.) I'd rather have someone have to rotate to help on Jimmer's/Thornton's player than have players essentially shoot over us. I don't know that IT is that much of a liability on defense, because he hustles and pesters. Ask Westbrook. It's (the zone) also probably why steals are down as well.

I definitely that I'm in the minority right now, but I'm not at all enamored by the fact that we're scoring a poopton more points if it comes at the cost of an additional 10 points per game by the opposition. Some of us are blinded by the fact that we're scoring a lot more, but defense is what wins out long term. I think rainmaker's on point with putting in Donte at SF. If IT is a long term solution at the PG spot (which he very well could be for this year anyway) we have to negate his shortness somewhere, and SF seems the most logical place to do it, with a player that's not going to gobble up many shots.
 
Kingster said:
I think the exhaustive analysis of other posters has pointed to the fact that the defense doesn't have to do with size or the non-Donte factor. It has to do with experience, lack of rotations, and lack of switching. I don't see that improved by inserting Donte into the lineup, at least not in a big way. If Donte started playing offense, then yes, at the margin, I'd put him in there. But with the Donte that we're seeing his marginal defensive improvement wouldn't make up for his lack of offensive production. We need to see better D out the lineup that we have. They can play sooo much better imo than they currently are showing us.
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Your under valuing Donte's production.

He is #24 in PER for small forwards at 14.08. A head of Caron Butler 13.95, Beasley 13.07, Korver 12.70, Prince 12.34, Hedo 12, Jefferson 11.88, GRANT HILL 11.47, Omri 10.89, Maggette 9.63.

He is #6 in PER on the Kings.

The biggest complaint people had with Donte was lack of rebounding. He's improved a lot getting rebounds in the paint not just long ones on the wing.

If he cut down on 3's and drove more his shooting % would go up more. And top it off playing with IT will increase his production even more getting out on the break.
 
I want Donte in the starting lineup, no doubt. I think he is settling nicely into his role, embracing it. However, what I see when looking at the OP (thanks Brick, always love your analysis) is that Smart has worked on fixing the offense but not yet the defense. I'm guessing it will come, but with a young team such as this that was getting blown out repeatedly it was best for their confidence to help them stay in games and give them a chance to be both competitive as well as sneak a couple dubs every now. I think the focus on defense by fans right now is overrated as what we need to do is put a competitive, exciting product on the floor to keep fans interested. Bottom line is defense wins championships, and we are not contending for championships right now so there is time and room to work on that end of the floor. We need to get our offense together THEN work on our defense, as Westfool left this team in shambles with no identity, no discipline, and no defined roles or plays for us to work with. There HAS been improvement, but come on now people, you have to crawl before you can walk.
 
Donte's problem in my book has always been motivation. Right now he is fighting for his professional career. He is certainly one of the first Kings to be mentioned when considering culling the herd at SF.
 
Spike said:
Interesting.

So games 24-29 we were better at some things, but not at others, than 30-33. So what you're saying is that there has been quantifiable progress.

I'm still not a fan of giving up 108 points per game, and I don't think that it's good for the economy by giving out free tacos every time we're on the road.(Unless of course the marketing strategy is to get people in the door to have them purchase additional items, in which case it might work, but I'd want to see the PowerPoint on that one. ;) )

The stats pretty much show what everyone knows - we suck at defense right now. We're not mediocre, not, "kinda ok", but we're flat out ****ty. How much of that is the three guard rotation? Not sure. I do know that you're not going to have an effective zone without serious athletes (and those with size, to boot.) I'd rather have someone have to rotate to help on Jimmer's/Thornton's player than have players essentially shoot over us. I don't know that IT is that much of a liability on defense, because he hustles and pesters. Ask Westbrook. It's (the zone) also probably why steals are down as well.

I definitely that I'm in the minority right now, but I'm not at all enamored by the fact that we're scoring a poopton more points if it comes at the cost of an additional 10 points per game by the opposition. Some of us are blinded by the fact that we're scoring a lot more, but defense is what wins out long term. I think rainmaker's on point with putting in Donte at SF. If IT is a long term solution at the PG spot (which he very well could be for this year anyway) we have to negate his shortness somewhere, and SF seems the most logical place to do it, with a player that's not going to gobble up many shots.
Click to expand...

I don't care what the actually defensive numbers are. Whether you give up 80 points a game or 120 the important stat here is point differential where they are getting better.
 
Section 101 said:
I don't care what the actually defensive numbers are. Whether you give up 80 points a game or 120 the important stat here is point differential where they are getting better.
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A difference of 1.1 doesn't seem statistically significant to me. There was a big bump down from the 15th - 29th game, however, and that is worth noticing.
 
Kingsguy881 said:
Bottom line is defense wins championships, and we are not contending for championships right now so there is time and room to work on that end of the floor. We need to get our offense together THEN work on our defense, as Westfool left this team in shambles with no identity, no discipline, and no defined roles or plays for us to work with. There HAS been improvement, but come on now people, you have to crawl before you can walk.
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When the shots aren't falling you can always hang your hat on defense. Always. That is why defense should be the primary focus, and that's what the identity should be built around. It's better to build it from defense, in both the short term and the long term even though offense looks prettier. That's where championship identities are forged.
 
Kingsguy881 said:
I want Donte in the starting lineup, no doubt. I think he is settling nicely into his role, embracing it. However, what I see when looking at the OP (thanks Brick, always love your analysis) is that Smart has worked on fixing the offense but not yet the defense. I'm guessing it will come, but with a young team such as this that was getting blown out repeatedly it was best for their confidence to help them stay in games and give them a chance to be both competitive as well as sneak a couple dubs every now. I think the focus on defense by fans right now is overrated as what we need to do is put a competitive, exciting product on the floor to keep fans interested. Bottom line is defense wins championships, and we are not contending for championships right now so there is time and room to work on that end of the floor. We need to get our offense together THEN work on our defense, as Westfool left this team in shambles with no identity, no discipline, and no defined roles or plays for us to work with. There HAS been improvement, but come on now people, you have to crawl before you can walk.
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Yes and No.

I think when working on a team in most sports basketball, football especially you start with offense. You need to score to will and frankly the more offense the more entertaining to watch which brings in more fans.

There was someone recently who a defensive player that said the defense wins championships things is false. Defense doesn't win anything offense does. Defense keeps you in the game to let the offense win.
 
At this point, and I mean until the end of this season, I hope the team is enjoyable and that may mean 120-110 games. I don't see it as a permanant goal but this has been a very odd year. A trade before the deadline is up could change this a great deal but the team constructed as it is might be better off putting up points and putting butts in the seats.

Now that I am back on the TWO Maloofs brothers' bandwagon, I want them to earn more money so we can move forward.
 
Section 101 said:
Your under valuing Donte's production.

He is #24 in PER for small forwards at 14.08. A head of Caron Butler 13.95, Beasley 13.07, Korver 12.70, Prince 12.34, Hedo 12, Jefferson 11.88, GRANT HILL 11.47, Omri 10.89, Maggette 9.63.

He is #6 in PER on the Kings.

The biggest complaint people had with Donte was lack of rebounding. He's improved a lot getting rebounds in the paint not just long ones on the wing.

If he cut down on 3's and drove more his shooting % would go up more. And top it off playing with IT will increase his production even more getting out on the break.
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As you infer in your post, his shooting his poor. That's the rub. He just hasn't shown that he can produce offensively. I'd like to see him in the lineup and have Thornton go to the bench, but he has to play better offense for that to happen. (For Donte, that means hitting outside shots; he's not a ballhandling 3). And like I said, this lineup isn't playing bad D because it is missing a defensive player in Donte. It's playing bad D because they haven't figured out how to defend as a team. Inserting Donte into the lineup isn't going switch the light bulb on for them; they are going to have to do that for themselves, whether he is in there or not.
 
Kingster said:
As you infer in your post, his shooting his poor. That's the rub. He just hasn't shown that he can produce offensively. I'd like to see him in the lineup and have Thornton go to the bench, but he has to play better offense for that to happen. (For Donte, that means hitting outside shots; he's not a ballhandling 3). And like I said, this lineup isn't playing bad D because it is missing a defensive player in Donte. It's playing bad D because they haven't figured out how to defend as a team. Inserting Donte into the lineup isn't going switch the light bulb on for them; they are going to have to do that for themselves, whether he is in there or not.
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Nobody's shooting is good. Perhaps if putting the right people in the right places actually happened, it would help the team wide disease. Not sure as I am not sure why everybody's shooting is down.
 
Bricklayer said:
Point Differential
Games 01-07: -10.4 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 08-14: -12.8 NBA Rank: 29th
Games 15-23: -7.0 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 24-29: -4.0 NBA Rank: 24th
Games 30-33: -2.9 NBA Rank: 22nd

Opponent FG%
Games 01-07: .485 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: .471 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 15-23: .458 NBA Rank: 26th
Games 24-29: .473 NBA Rank: 28th
Games 30-33: .464 NBA Rank: 26th

Turnovers
Games 01-07: 14.3 NBA Rank: 9th
Games 08-14: 15.6 NBA Rank: 23rd
Games 15-23: 15.2 NBA Rank: 17th)
Games 24-29: 12.5 NBA Rank: 2nd
Games 30-33: 12.3 NBA Rank: 2nd

Assists
Games 01-07: 13.7 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 08-14: 15.4 NBA Rank: 30th
Games 15-23: 18.7 NBA Rank: 26th
Games 24-29: 18.3 NBA Rank: 27th
Games 30-33: 22.0 NBA Rank: 7th
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Here's the stats I'm looking at. Wow what an improvement in A/TO Ratio! That is great to see and it looks like our guys are finally building some chemistry/camaraderie out there. Also glad to see our Point Differential has steadily decreased throughout the year, great sign! The one area which does need more improvement is that Opp FG%, it's gone through stretches and it will based on who you play..but I guess as long as our guys contest each shot and play hard that's the most you can ask for?
 
Spike said:
A difference of 1.1 doesn't seem statistically significant to me. There was a big bump down from the 15th - 29th game, however, and that is worth noticing.
Click to expand...

It's significant in that it is going in the right direction. And as any who took a first year economic class knows it's marginal leads average.
 
Kingster said:
As you infer in your post, his shooting his poor. That's the rub. He just hasn't shown that he can produce offensively. I'd like to see him in the lineup and have Thornton go to the bench, but he has to play better offense for that to happen. (For Donte, that means hitting outside shots; he's not a ballhandling 3). And like I said, this lineup isn't playing bad D because it is missing a defensive player in Donte. It's playing bad D because they haven't figured out how to defend as a team. Inserting Donte into the lineup isn't going switch the light bulb on for them; they are going to have to do that for themselves, whether he is in there or not.
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See I think just expecting him to hit outside shots is limiting him too much. He actually has a decent post game especially when he gets a smaller player on him. He does something that way too many big men don't do. Just turn and shoot the 10 footer over the guy. Don't rush and try and back them down.

He's not a bad driver to the basket. He's made some nice passes as well driving. No he's not a guy to dribble it around, but going to the basket off a pump fake or in the open he can do. He needs more 15ft in shots than 3 pointers right now.
 
At this point, i think im gonna have to disagree with the folks saying we need to work on offense, then defense right now. We are such a young athletic team w/good fast break capabilities and i think often times our offense is sparked from good defense. When we get blocks, steals, etc., we seem to be easily able to convert on the other end. I think this team has a lot to work on but im not nearly as concerned about them on offense as i am on defense. show em how to defend and i think the offense will follow
 
This team doesn't need to work on defense as much as it needs to add elite defenders to the roster. A man in the middle and a wing that can disrupt the other offense is all it will take. Hayes and Salmons are not holding anything down. Anthony Davis and Batum this summer would do just fine :)

Until then I'm just happy to see our star guys get comfortable with each other, moving the ball, and getting higher % shots. I really could not care less if our points against goes up to 110 this year. This team as constructed will never be a good defensive team.
 
Section 101 said:
See I think just expecting him to hit outside shots is limiting him too much. He actually has a decent post game especially when he gets a smaller player on him. He does something that way too many big men don't do. Just turn and shoot the 10 footer over the guy. Don't rush and try and back them down.

He's not a bad driver to the basket. He's made some nice passes as well driving. No he's not a guy to dribble it around, but going to the basket off a pump fake or in the open he can do. He needs more 15ft in shots than 3 pointers right now.
Click to expand...

I agree with eveything you say. I think for his role on this team, though, his role needs to be fairly limited. Donte gets in trouble when he does too much with ball. He needs to have two-dribble rule.
 
Bricklayer,
Great job. Ii is very useful to see the progression in the stats. It kind of supports small ball, but shows that Smart is having an impact. On defense, I would rather have a smaller defender be able to get there on time and be shot over, than have a larger defender get there too late to do any good.
 
ppine said:
Bricklayer,
Great job. Ii is very useful to see the progression in the stats. It kind of supports small ball, but shows that Smart is having an impact.
Click to expand...
The progression supports small ball in the sense that you have more guards on the floor at the same time, so you should have fewer turnovers because the people with the ball (guards) will generally do a better job because they, by nature, are more experienced ball handlers.
On defense, I would rather have a smaller defender be able to get there on time and be shot over, than have a larger defender get there too late to do any good.
Click to expand...
You have to clarify this one for me. Neither result is a net positive.
 
Thanks for all that work Brick. It generally has felt to me like the team was improving and it is, in many areas. To me the most noticeable problem that has to be fixed for this team to be really competitive is the points against. We have been playing faster which means more possessions, though. But that ranking has to change and probably field goal percentage against.

I wonder which coach focuses on the team and individual defense?
 
Brickie illustrated the blunt facts of a poor first half yet showing some glimmer of progress near the end of the first half of the season up through the All Star Break. Using data gleaned from Kings Game Notes on 3/24 the following show the areas with the biggest meanings for offense and defense for this edition of the Kings.

Besides, some significant things have happened since the break: IT is now the starting PG, Tyreke has learned to pass off on drives, JT has gone up to a new level, Cuz is playing better now that many plays now start to go through him and Thornton, when hot, can carry the team.

So here is food for thought:

What a good offense has done for them:
When leading after 3 qtrs they are 10-2
When scoring 100+ points they are 11-9
When they shoot 30 or more FT they are 5-2

What a good defense does for the Kings:
When they hold opponents under 100 pts they are 12-8
When opponent shoots under .500 from field they are 15-16

But when defense is poor-bad......
When they allow opponents to score 100+ pts they are 5-23
When bench is outscored by opponent bench they are 11-18
When committing 15 or more TOs they are 6-18

OK, so what?
One item at least says that in order to lead at the end of the 3rd, they have to play very well in the 3rd to get the lead. That is now starting to happen. But all these tid-bits are interrelated. The the two biggest points are: be leading after 3 qtrs, and hold opponents under 100 points.

During March the Kings have lost 3 games by 3-pts and 1 game by a single point. So finishing a play and finishing a quarter successfully ( and not letting the opponent get the last points) become big items now. 18 games to go. Lets see if they are still learning and progressing one month from tomorrow, the last game of the season.
 
I am loving the great progress with assists per game. Better ball movement has lead to more assists and easier shots - not doubt related to better point production.

Now, if we can just figure out how to D-up and bring down the opponents FG% we might be on to something.
 
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