The Real Problem...

K

KingBen

Prospect
is the lockout. I know everyone is ticked off and wants to trade everyone and fire everyone, but the truth is the lockout is affecting most teams. Good basketball is not being played right now. I have seen some of the ugliest games of all time this year from every team in the NBA. The frequency of games is too much for players to handle, especially at first when there was such a short preseason.

Rookies are struggling mightily. All the shooting percentages are way down for rookies because they are being thrown to the wolves. Rubio is probably the one exception because he was playing professional ball in Spain.

Things may get worse before they get better, but they will get better. Sacramento has been playing the coaching carousel for so many years, that the key for them now is patience and consistency. Allow the players to gel, and work through these hard times.

I still think the Kings will make a run for the playoffs. It will still be a good season.
 
They just need to give 110% everytime. The talent and effort is there but it's not centered. I think they just need to build a chemistry effort towards winning.
 
The problem is that they dont play any structured offense. It looks like they just run down and play pick up ball at the gym. Westfails plan isn't working, time to scrap it and go with what works. PG brings down, kick to SF, inside to BIG and either cut/pass swing/open 3pnt or shoot in the post. Its not rocket science. That's why you see Isiah playing is because when he's in there he's telling them what to do, where to go and runs the offense. Tyreke gets in there and thinks, "Okay, I got the ball and you dont" you can fire the coach but until the players understand the positions and how to actually play in the system then it's never going to work.
 
That's definitely part of it. The younger teams are being hit dispoportianately hard by the lack of preaseason and practice time. Also, those teams that have had more turnover in their lineup are hit harder than teams with a lot of continuity. The Kings are the youngest team and they have a lot of new faces. It's definitely harder.

I heard an ESPN personality talking about how ugly this season would be in the NBA because of this issue. The fundamentals of the game, which are already poor, are going to be a lot worse because of little practice time. Also, you figure that after 20 games or so when teams become very tired because of 3x back to backs and the compressed schedule there will be even more sloppy play because of fatigue.
 
Kingster said:
That's definitely part of it. The younger teams are being hit dispoportianately hard by the lack of preaseason and practice time. Also, those teams that have had more turnover in their lineup are hit harder than teams with a lot of continuity. The Kings are the youngest team and they have a lot of new faces. It's definitely harder.

I heard an ESPN personality talking about how ugly this season would be in the NBA because of this issue. The fundamentals of the game, which are already poor, are going to be a lot worse because of little practice time. Also, you figure that after 20 games or so when teams become very tired because of 3x back to backs and the compressed schedule there will be even more sloppy play because of fatigue.
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Have you watched any Wolves games? They don't look out of sync, have a rookie running most of the offense and are a young team with a new coach. A real coach makes all the difference in the world. He also happens to be the last real coach of the Kings.
 
The lockout is a major problem and it will be a major, major problem for whoever replaces PW mid-season if they are an interim coach hoping to keep the job.

The lockout didn't cause personality issues with PW. The lockout hasn't caused the stupid rotations that were in effect the past two seasons and had us all scratching our heads. I could accept it when we were trying to figure out what we had. Not when it is on the verge of costing us our most talented player. Hopefully we don't have to go back and revisit Casspi who came onto the team looking like a fine player excited to be here and who was a wreck by the end of the second season and couldn't wait to get out. Other players drop vague hints that they don't like playing for the guy. People complain that Cousins is unprofessional for being outspoken but write off the hints as if they are nothing. Hello, those little hints are professionals being professional. The same way Phil Jackson would condescendingly compliment the refs.

PW has outlasted his usefulness and the lockout only compounds the situation. But it was not the cause.
 
It also makes me wonder if Westphal is partly responsible, money non withstanding, for Dalembert not wanting to play here. I didn't really give it much thought until recently. Of course, you could say that Thornton resigned here, but he's also a guard. Westy favors guards.
 
There are issues abound for the Kings, but most of it is caused by losing. Every

team has issues, but winning usually cures those issues. I am just saying the more you change things up the harder to be successful it will be. Rotations are rough, but that is why there is usually a preseason, and training to camp to get a good feel for your players and how they mesh. We didn't have that this year.

I still am wondering why Jimmer hasn't played the point guard position. He is one of the best offensive creators I have ever seen play in college. Every time they put him in he is an off guard. He needs the ball in his hands to create. BYU was a running team and their offense was fast, and quick. Jimmer was up and down the court quickly. That is not happening here. I still think if Jimmer plays point he will improve a ton. I think he averages 15 points a game and 7-10 assists if he can play point for 25 minutes a night.

They need to try this. It can't be worse off than what they are getting now out of their point guards.
 
Spike said:
It also makes me wonder if Westphal is partly responsible, money non withstanding, for Dalembert not wanting to play here. I didn't really give it much thought until recently. Of course, you could say that Thornton resigned here, but he's also a guard. Westy favors guards.
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Thornton was restricted. Kings would have matched another offer.
 
Kingsguy881 said:
Don't fool yourself. The real problem is Westphal.
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I watched Deron Williams run Jerry Sloan out of Utah. This is a players league. A coach can only do so much. Westphal has had altercations in the past with players, but all coaches do, but I still consider him one of the better coaches in the league. There is not much else out there. If you get rid of him you will get another coach that will be fired in 2-3 years. Let this season develop. It will work out.
 
Westphal = bad. But he isn't the only problem.

Cousins is an enormous problem. Thornton is an enormous problem too - check the way he is icing out Fredette right now and the fact that most of his shots are low percentage. He frowns whenever Jimmer comes in, and holds the ball an extra second every time to ensure Fredette can't get an open look. Salmons is an enormous problem - a mediocre talent and ices Thomas. Hayes is an enormous problem. Too short - no offensive threat at all. Tyreke is an enormous problem - spin moves to the basket in traffic are not the answer to the scoring problems. Hickson is serviceable at best, certainly not a high level NBA player. The most enormous problem of all is the squad seems to be filled with a bunch of players who are not currently in love with basketball.

In my opinion they should keep Thomas and Jimmer (both of whom seem to love the game) and discard the rest of the team like lousy tiles in a scrabble game.
 
I have to laugh at how many times Jimmer will back cut and be wide open and Thornton or Evans will not deliver the pass. If they would pass the ball on time and swing it consistently this team could be really good. Nobody knows where their shots are going to come from and that is affecting shooting percentages. Jimmer needs the ball in his hands. He is a creator on offense for not only himself but for others. In college he could recognize a defenses weakness and exploit it. The problem is he never brings the ball up. He would push the tempo at BYU, but now is always waiting on someone else so we can react and play. If they would just let him play point and bring the ball up he would thrive. He has already shown he can play. As bad as he has played he is still averaging 10pts a game and 3 assists, now image if he was bringing the ball up and could create. He would be at 15pts and 7 assists a game. I am sure of it.
 
KingBen said:
I watched Deron Williams run Jerry Sloan out of Utah. This is a players league. A coach can only do so much. Westphal has had altercations in the past with players, but all coaches do, but I still consider him one of the better coaches in the league. There is not much else out there. If you get rid of him you will get another coach that will be fired in 2-3 years. Let this season develop. It will work out.
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By what standard? To me that would mean he is a top 10 coach, I don't even think you can argue he is in the top 20. The fact that he was out of the league for the better part of a decade and his salary seem to indicate that. Is he coaching the team for pennies as a favor to the Maloofs?
 
I think he understands the game and if players will run his offense they will be successful. The problem is the rookies are trying to get the players to run the offense. Notice the ball movement when the offense is run. It is actually very fun to watch. I haven't seen it happen much but it has happened a few times and I was impressed. I remember the Westphal teams in Phoenix and they were a lot of fun to watch. Players can make or break a coach in the NBA. If they buy in coaches have success, if they don't the coaches will fail. Too many large ego's with players now days.
 
jpsls said:
It's funny because teams don't look bad when they're playing the kings.
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But haven't the teams that have blown us away done it primarily with the fast break? Certainly that is the easiest "offensive style" to learn. Most players have done it at all levels.
 
okay so much hate. Actually, I love the Kings and have since 1999 in a town that despises me for doing so.

I just hate to see the quit in the guys eyes. I'm very disappointed and it hurts to see such a bad brand of hoop compared to what they used to be. Reminds me of UCLA football (yes....I'm a fan there, too).
 
KingBen said:
I watched Deron Williams run Jerry Sloan out of Utah. This is a players league. A coach can only do so much. Westphal has had altercations in the past with players, but all coaches do, but I still consider him one of the better coaches in the league. There is not much else out there. If you get rid of him you will get another coach that will be fired in 2-3 years. Let this season develop. It will work out.
Click to expand...

Exactly why do you consider Westphal one of the better coaches in the league? Please address this question with facts, not wishful thinking!
 
Section 101 said:
Have you watched any Wolves games? They don't look out of sync, have a rookie running most of the offense and are a young team with a new coach. A real coach makes all the difference in the world. He also happens to be the last real coach of the Kings.
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No, I haven't seen any of the Wolves games. I'm looking forward to it, though.

As others have said, I'm not sure Rubio classifies as a "rookie". It is nice to have a good ballhandler, though. I wish we had one. They have talent on the Wolves. Love is a very nice player, a guy who has improved each year. It would be nice to have a young player on our team who has made that kind of improvement.
 
LA King Fan II said:
okay so much hate. Actually, I love the Kings and have since 1999 in a town that despises me for doing so.

I just hate to see the quit in the guys eyes. I'm very disappointed and it hurts to see such a bad brand of hoop compared to what they used to be. Reminds me of UCLA football (yes....I'm a fan there, too).
Click to expand...

Join the club with UCLA football. Painful. Add to that a Rams fan. Now you're talking absolute torture. I'm going to need Amnesty International to represent me...
 
Kingster said:
No, I haven't seen any of the Wolves games. I'm looking forward to it, though.

As others have said, I'm not sure Rubio classifies as a "rookie". It is nice to have a good ballhandler, though. I wish we had one. They have talent on the Wolves. Love is a very nice player, a guy who has improved each year. It would be nice to have a young player on our team who has made that kind of improvement.
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The Kings have a few good ballhandlers. You mean, you wish they had someone with good court vision. Learn the lingo bro, it'll only help you.
 
Kingsguy881 said:
The Kings have a few good ballhandlers. You mean, you wish they had someone with good court vision. Learn the lingo bro, it'll only help you.
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How about this bro: We need players who can do it all - pass, dribble, and make decisions on the court. What good does any one of those things get you if you don't have the other two, bro?
 
pshn80 said:
But haven't the teams that have blown us away done it primarily with the fast break? Certainly that is the easiest "offensive style" to learn. Most players have done it at all levels.
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Well, I don't think it really matters how. All that matters is that its happening to the Kings, and if its the easiest way to score, then why aren't the Kings doing it. The facts are, the Kings are almost the worst offensive team in the NBA and they are the worse defensive team in the NBA. At least at this early moment in the schedule. It the team is truely talented enough to make the playoffs, which is subjective at this point, then you have to put the blame somewhere. Sec 101 is right! I watched Minny play the other night, and you can tell the team is well coached. The Thunder is made up of mostly young players, and yet they're one of the top teams in the NBA.

So either the Kings just have lousy talent, or, that talent isn't being utilized properly. I think you know my opinion.
 
KingBen said:
I watched Deron Williams run Jerry Sloan out of Utah. This is a players league. A coach can only do so much. Westphal has had altercations in the past with players, but all coaches do, but I still consider him one of the better coaches in the league. There is not much else out there. If you get rid of him you will get another coach that will be fired in 2-3 years. Let this season develop. It will work out.
Click to expand...

Wrong. It's a coaches league. The good coaches get the best out of the talent they have on the team. Look at the Bulls. Del Negro didn't get it done with the same players that Tom T. inherited. The Bulls are much better now. There is already talk about Del Negro being replaced by the Clippers.

Adelman, Jackson, Sloan, Pop always get the best out of their teams. They play above their talent level never below.
 
bajaden said:
Exactly why do you consider Westphal one of the better coaches in the league? Please address this question with facts, not wishful thinking!
Click to expand...

,,,,Regular Season,Regular Season,Regular Season,Regular Season,Regular Season,Regular Season,Playoffs,Playoffs,Playoffs,Playoffs,
Season,Age,Lg,Tm,G,W,L,W-L%,W > .500,Finish,G,W,L,W-L%,Notes
1992-93,42,NBA,PHO,82,62,20,.756,21.0,1,24,13,11,.542,WC Champions
1993-94,43,NBA,PHO,82,56,26,.683,15.0,2,10,6,4,.600,
1994-95,44,NBA,PHO,82,59,23,.720,18.0,1,10,6,4,.600,
1995-96,45,NBA,PHO,33,14,19,.424,-2.5,4,,,,,
1998-99,48,NBA,SEA,50,25,25,.500,0.0,5,,,,,
1999-00,49,NBA,SEA,82,45,37,.549,4.0,4,5,2,3,.400,
2000-01,50,NBA,SEA,15,6,9,.400,-1.5,5,,,,,
2009-10,59,NBA,SAC,82,25,57,.305,-16.0,5,,,,,
2010-11,60,NBA,SAC,82,24,58,.293,-17.0,5,,,,,
2011-12,61,NBA,SAC,7,2,5,.286,-1.5,5,,,,,
Career,,NBA,,597,318,279,.533,19.5,,49,27,22,.551,

I just think that in the NBA he is one of the better coaches right now. I just think he has a group of players that have attitude problems: Thornton, Evans, and last but not least Cousins. Even Jerry Sloan, Pat Riley, or Phil Jackson couldn't be successful in that environment. Yet he has some rookies, and other players that are not as demanding and would be willing to work his offense. So I think he is letting the Kings fail playing one on one ball to show them that they can't win that way. The only way they are going to win is as a team. That is my thoughts.
 
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