VSL Game 1 Thread - Kings vs. Pistons

RaY Z · Jul 10, 2009

I just said, that a couple of games through the season, then maybe yes it would be time to panic, but first game of summer league? I don't think so.....

We are only talking about one game of the summer league here. Nobody mentioned any preseason, or regular season games.

For me, ill wait till the first couple of games in the regular season to judge out kings.

kingsnation · Jul 10, 2009

Alacron said:

That only works if that's the reason. Thompson was outrebounded by everyone on our team except McNeal and Casspi.

Alacron · Jul 10, 2009

kingsnation said:

::shrug::

I guess after watching 82 games of NBA rebounding by Jason, one three-board performance in 21 minutes of a less-than-preseason game just doesn't register on the ol' concern-O-meter.
~~

Entity · Jul 10, 2009

Section 101 said:

Just curious. Had the kings won like 104 to 70 something and everybody was hyped up. Would you THEN come here and say its only summer league? I only ask because that is exactly what happened last year when Spencer and Jason looked good in the first game both scoring over 20 and jason almost getting a double double.

Everybody uses the "its only this" or "its only that" to fit their own agenda. Yeah we lost. Now the difference will be tomorrow. last year it was the same old same old. I want to see how the coaching staff responds and how the players respond to the loss and to the coaching staff. Summer league is alot more about that than it is about the final score.

ElRey · Jul 10, 2009

kingsnation said:

Please don't panic, people. Jason Thompson was a pretty good rebounder during the season. It's just the summer league...a step above pickup games IMO.

gunks · Jul 10, 2009

Honestly, "just summer league" or not...

...We are going to suck again next season. Now I dont think we're going to suck to the tune of 17 wins, but I do think we're going to be lucky to break 30.

The difference is that before we were sucking because we had lazy holdovers from the glory days. Now we're going to be sucking because we have a really really young team.

I'm going to be happy just to see the game to game improvement of our youngins honestly. I'm optimistic about the new coach. I think we're going to be wildly inconsistant but I also wont be surprised to see us beat a couple contending teams over the course of the year through sheer hustle and grit.

I love the new direction of the team (young and scrappy instead of old and lazy). We'll stink. But one more lotto pick, a decent FA pickup or two to round out the roster in 2010...We'll be back.

Regarding JT: I think he just needs to acclimate to playing next to another rebounder, thats kind of a copout excuse but honestly...Who on the Kings was going to compete with him for rebounds last season? He prides himself on that part of his game, has said one of his goals is to average a double double next season. I expect a bounce back game on the boards department tomorrow. The kid isnt going to suddenly turn into Mikki Moore.

kingsnation · Jul 10, 2009

ElRey said:

That wasn't panic. However, I do expect to see 100% effort out there, even in Summer League Game 1.

fnordius · Jul 10, 2009

Jespher said:

He was playing center under Coachie. Be glad he didn't attempt six three pointers.

Amory · Jul 10, 2009

ZOMG, I want grades for this game!

Please, bring the preseason soon!

Entity · Jul 10, 2009

archives still aren't up. so I stiiiiillllllllllll haven't seen the game yet. NBA.com where **** **** happens

Jespher · Jul 10, 2009

I wonder why Bryant didn't get any PT. I like his size and college numbers. Sounds like he just needs to get more mobile...

Entity · Jul 10, 2009

Jespher said:

With 5 games in 7 days. he will get his shot. look for Tyreke, Jason, Donte not to get much over 20 min in tomorrows game. at least thats how history has been. for instance Butler might not see the floor tomorrow.

VF21 · Jul 10, 2009

Section 101 said:

Hey, panic if you like. Run screaming into the street in despair that the Kings are doomed to finish out of the running for the championship because they looked like crap in the first summer league game of the year.

News break...We already know the Kings aren't going to be playoff contenders this year. I guess you must have missed the memo. As was asked above, if they looked terrific would you have started planning the parade?

We're still a young team with lots of hope, some potential and not much else at this point in time. Judging a team by how SOME of their players and a bunch of wannabe's look in summer league is like trying to collect a bet you've made on a game after the first quarter.

Andre87 · Jul 10, 2009

lol I know it's only Summer league and all but we had 2 guys with NBA experience one of whom was one of the best rookies last year, we had Tyreke and our 2 other draft picks and we still lose to Dejuan Summers and a bunch of scrubs

Entity · Jul 10, 2009

Andre87 said:

Used to be bumper stickers that said **** happens. Well it did. One thing to note. The Lakers won the NBA championship right? Well if you look back at December 9th 2008. Our 17 win Sacramento Kings beat the Lakers 113-101 without Kevin Martin. Does that mean the Lakers were actually worse than us?? No It means they won that day. the more talented team loses all the time nobody takes notice until its your team that loses.

SacTownGrantFan · Jul 10, 2009

2008 Summer League

Standings

Sacramento Kings 3-2
Awesome...

Los Angeles Lakers 2-4
Yay...

The futility of the summer league astounds me.

fnordius · Jul 10, 2009

Jespher said:

If you don't live within easy walking distance of Santa Clara U, like I do, you might want to google some videos of him. The highlights are okay, but you can also find several minutes of some ordinary games, so you can see typical play and get a realistic idea of what he brings.

He's very much the traditional center -- a huge guy who lives in the paint. #1 for reb/40 in the NCAA, #1 for EFF/40, #3 for PER, and he's a fine shotblocker. But he doesn't have much range, and isn't famous for his laser-like passes. You just let him own the paint, that's what he does.

Still, I have a hard time seeing him, or anyone much like him, fit into the usual Princeton scheme of things, so it's probably bad news for him that Coachie's running this team.

I hope he gets a chance.

VF21 · Jul 10, 2009

SacTownGrantFan said:

I have no problem with summer league itself. The thing that boggles my mind is the futility of trying to convince people of its relative unimportance in the grand scheme of things. Thanks for the reminder from last year.

Section 101 · Jul 10, 2009

SacTownGrantFan said:

Excatly the point. I would expect a team that has been drafting in the lottery to have a much better summer team than one who's been drafting at the end of the first round.

Beating up a on scrub means little, everyone pretty much agress. But not being able to beat up on or getting beat by the same scrub does mean alot.

Kings Faithful · Jul 10, 2009

I think the summer league is more of a way to judge potential then current skill if anything. And even if you don't perform well during the summer league I don't think it means you have no potential. Its a good way to see what kind of skills certain players may have away from the spotlight and pressure of an entire fanbase counting on YOU to win the game.

VF21 · Jul 10, 2009

Section 101 said:

If the team on the court in Las Vegas consisted solely of players who would actually be wearing Kings jerseys, you MIGHT have a point. But considering the number of players who will be in purple and aren't there AND the players who will have the words KINGS on their shirt for only four more games, there's just no real logic to your comments.

It's not that beating up on a scrub means little. It's that summer league means little - except for the chance it gives new players to begin the transition to the NBA and the opportunity the coaching staff gets to assess areas they think their new acquisitions need to work on.

Bottom line is that regardless of how the "Kings" do in Las Vegas, the team that steps on the court in Arco isn't going to be that good. Winning in Vegas won't change that; losing in Vegas won't change that. Only time and practice will make them into a team or anything remotely resembling one.

SacTownKid · Jul 10, 2009

Jespher said:

In all fairness, I've noticed throughout the years that rebounding really isn't a dominant part of most players summer league experience. I think one big reason is the amount of broken plays, bad shots, and turnovers.

RaY Z · Jul 10, 2009

Section 101 said:

We are in a rebuilding phase. Don't expect us to be winning a championship anytime soon. Patience is needed at this time.

I have no idea what expect from this team, but there is no way you can predict how our team will be or how our team will perform this upcoming season with just one summer league game under our belt, as well as the fact that half our roster isn't playing in the summer league.

Sure we will have high expectations on our young kids like Tyreke and JT being bright spots on our team, potentially even future stars, but placing high expectations on a rebuilding team is never the way to go.

Sure I'd love the Kings to win a championship, or even at least make the playoffs this season, but we have no idea what's in store for the Kings this season. One step at a time buddy.

Im just excited for our youngins, and there is no way I'm going to hyperventilate, after an ordinary performance from them in 1 summerleague game.

Section 101 · Jul 11, 2009

VF21 said:

But that is excatly the problem. We had 1 starter from last year and potentially 2 starters this year against no starters. Add Greene as a rotation guy and now you got 3 of you 8-9 rotation guys losing to the other teams rookies and scrubs which many not even be in their rotation.

Hail the Crown · Jul 11, 2009

Section 101 said:

2008 Summer League
Milwaukee Bucks 4-1

The Bucks have been drafting consecutively in the lottery since 06-07 season - same as kings. They didn't get beat by the scrubs, but how much did that matter when it came to the real season. Nothing. They once again were in the lottery.

Lottery teams can have success in SL but fail in the real season - Bucks (SL'08 4-1)
Good teams can have success in SL and in the season- Nuggets (SL'08 4-1)
Good teams can have an awful SL and have a great season (Cavs SL'08 0-5)

My point being, judging W's and L's in SL is foolish. They aren't prognosticators as to how good or bad a team will be. We will know how much the Kings suck (or not) when they have their full team and begin playing in the season, when it matters.

Kings Faithful · Jul 11, 2009

RaY Z said:

I'm kind of clueless as what to expect as well... I want to say we are going to somewhat resemble the 17 win horror fest we witnessed last season, but you know what? We've fixed alot of problems (or attempted to) since the middle of last season and if we can accomplish the simple tasks of not turning the ball over and rebounding we instantly become at the very least a decent team... a tandem of K-Mart and Tyreke will wreak havoc on opposing defenses with their foul drawing capabilities. JT and Hawes improvement and the organizations commitment to their development is going to make them that much better. This may be a surprise to some people but I think a major factor in how our season winds up may rest on the shoulders of John Brockman. Right now rebounding (more specifically Defensive) still appears to be a major problem just by looking at our roster...unless John Brockman is as good as he looked in college, in scouting reports, and so far in the summer league. I cant wait for the season... these summer league games just make the wait that much harder! GRRR!

Section 101 · Jul 11, 2009

Hail the Crown said:

Once again your proving my point. The Kings should be winning these games with the higher draft picks. As you point out, the Bucks were 4-1 last year.

If the Kings cant beat the scrubs that the Bucks are then that translates to worse in the regular season than the Bucks.

Sptsjunkie · Jul 11, 2009

Section 101 said:

I wouldn't worry about Summer League too much in general, but especially not the first game. Some players are nervous or rusty. Every year there are flukes particularly in Game 1. Let's at least wait till game 2 before we start making any conclusions. Shoot, last year JT had a mediocre game 1 and Donte Greene scored 40 points. Needless to say the rest of the year went very differently for the two of them.

Andriod_KiNg · Jul 11, 2009

Section 101 said:

Once again your proving my point. The Kings should be winning these games with the higher draft picks. As you point out, the Bucks were 4-1 last year.

If the Kings cant beat the scrubs that the Bucks are then that translates to worse in the regular season than the Bucks.

What ?

SacTownGrantFan · Jul 11, 2009

Donte Greene dropped 40 points last summer league and had an overall average of 23 points per game.

Quincy Douby scored 36 against the Warriors and had an overall average of 22 points per game.

Besides, would guaranteed salary players such as Thompson and Evans really play hard enough so that they could get injured?

Be realistic here.

VSL Game 1 Thread - Kings vs. Pistons

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