HndsmCelt
Hall of Famer
A little crash Davis in Bull Durham
[Game] [VSL Semi-Finals] Kings vs Raptors, 7/19/2025 1PM Pacific 4PM Eastern
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
Caccia
Starter
I tuned in for the fourth quarter and wondered what the heck was going on? The Kings did not score their first bucket until 7:22. Toronto's defense was as good as advertised. Fortunately, Isaac Jones came through in the end. The announcers made the point that putting four ballhandlers around him helped solve the pressure.
Still, 23 assists vs 19 turnovers is hardly great play. Let's hope they have some legs left for tomorrow night.
Still, 23 assists vs 19 turnovers is hardly great play. Let's hope they have some legs left for tomorrow night.
Hopefully Nique playing through foul trouble will leave him a little extra energy tomorrow. Also I don't think either of the two teams playing now is going to be as challenging as Toronto but I don't want to sell anyone short.
Jdbraver137
Bench
Man among boys. Glad he finally decided to take over.
reptilexcq2
Bench
Just as I predicted. Toronto is only good at defense, not offense. The next game is going to better for the Kings because those teams don't play anywhere near the type of defense that Toronto play.
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
I wanted to call out Carter. I think he played a very good floor game and did a number of things I was hoping to see. In many ways I thought it was his best game.
Really good to see!
Really good to see!
reptilexcq2
Bench
Honestly, I think he need to polish his game A LOT!!! He takes too many risk...attacking at the teeth of the defense is not the way to play the game. Gambling trying to steal while leaving his man open is not the way to play the game. If he want to be good, he needs to be selective and wait for his opportunity. All great players, they're all conscious of when to attack and when not to attack...they let the game come to them. Carter sometimes play like a one man wrecking train.
Also, Nique finally come down to Earth a little bit. It looks like he still have some work to do when playing under pressure, when playing against great defenders. Keegan Murray was like this in his first year...just pass the ball and refuse attack...playing passive. Second year is when he becomes stronger and change his game by being more aggressive. Nique will have to do the same.
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Jdbraver137
Bench
Max and Devin have to play to their strengths. IMO the FO failed because they tried to make players change.
Caccia
Starter
Interesting idea. Could you elaborate?
megapoxy
Starter
I don't know if it was mentioned during the game (saw only "all possessions" with delay, match was at 3am here) but Raptors caused 30+ turnovers to their opponents in the previous SL matches. We were doing well in the first 3 (had 10 if I am not mistaken) but messed up big time in the 4th and almost wrote history for the biggest choke of the summer league.
Carter isn't a point guard, no matter how much he tries, training with his father, only training and eating/sleeping what was that story that Mark Jones was telling some days ago... well it's not gonna happen. He should better work on his shot and the free throws better.
That was the first not so good match for Nique in Vegas, hopefully he will bounce back in the final, good for him that he is in the spotlight of the media (and not only Kings media), it's good that he doesn't take shots just to take shots, quite efficient, not trying to show off etc.
I liked Max's game, he's got nice moves near the basket, he wasn't bothered that much facing much more athletic guys under the rim.
Monster game by IJ he gets better and better every day in the tournament after a "slow" start.
Stevens is the definition of a point guard and I can see how he can help as a two-way, Mason Jones is mostly a scorer and that sometimes doesn't work that well at a higher level when not facing rookies/g-leaguers so Stevens ability as a play maker and his better defensive skills can be useful, the last part applies for Caldwell and Crawford as well. Not that it matters that much but having those 3 as "two ways" will impact the Stockton Kings that will not have a pure scorer (especially if Mason will leave the squad) coming from the "senior" club unless our current rookies will be helping from time to time.
Also this was something like Shead revenge game that could have been a member of the Kings if that trade that sent Sasha, Davion and himself hadn't happened that brought the (not so) amazing McDaniels in Sacramento (to open space for DDR).
Carter isn't a point guard, no matter how much he tries, training with his father, only training and eating/sleeping what was that story that Mark Jones was telling some days ago... well it's not gonna happen. He should better work on his shot and the free throws better.
That was the first not so good match for Nique in Vegas, hopefully he will bounce back in the final, good for him that he is in the spotlight of the media (and not only Kings media), it's good that he doesn't take shots just to take shots, quite efficient, not trying to show off etc.
I liked Max's game, he's got nice moves near the basket, he wasn't bothered that much facing much more athletic guys under the rim.
Monster game by IJ he gets better and better every day in the tournament after a "slow" start.
Stevens is the definition of a point guard and I can see how he can help as a two-way, Mason Jones is mostly a scorer and that sometimes doesn't work that well at a higher level when not facing rookies/g-leaguers so Stevens ability as a play maker and his better defensive skills can be useful, the last part applies for Caldwell and Crawford as well. Not that it matters that much but having those 3 as "two ways" will impact the Stockton Kings that will not have a pure scorer (especially if Mason will leave the squad) coming from the "senior" club unless our current rookies will be helping from time to time.
Also this was something like Shead revenge game that could have been a member of the Kings if that trade that sent Sasha, Davion and himself hadn't happened that brought the (not so) amazing McDaniels in Sacramento (to open space for DDR).
sono
Starter
While I agree, there were plays they could have made obvious choices well within their capabilities. Just Max is too willing; on the contrary, Devin is a bit ignorant.
Besides, they are not a finished product yet; player development is what would make them succeed in this league. Even occasional getting out of their comfort zone is fine for me.
Jdbraver137
Bench
They have a need at pg and wing. So instead of going out and getting effective ones, they took players like Carter, derozan, monk, and others and they played them out of position and role and hoped they would improve in a new role. But you can’t do that and win. They got to the nba and have been successful but now we force them into a role they are new at and expect them to do wonders. A
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
A it’s Summer League. You should be pushing yourself and growing your game.
Jdbraver137
Bench
Yes, but this is the nba. The most talented league in the world. Would you take an offensive lineman and work him out at QB in summer? No, of course not. Devin,monk, DDR all have strengths that helped them get to the nba. To stick them in a completely different role is not wise.
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
Devin has been one year in the NBA. If he wants a long career he is going to need to be able to be a primary ball handler.
This feels like a horrible comparison. American football may be the one team sport (or at least the one team sport in North America) that has multiple positions that are specialized to the point where the players literally "have one job." Depending on what league they're in, even relief pitchers have to also be able to hit (or at least have to be able to stand in the box with a bat in their hands). In 2025 there's nobody in the NBA that can get away with only being capable of doing one thing. Reasonable people seem to agree that Carter needs to work on improving his PG skills; what better time to do that than Summer League?
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
If he wants to a 30 mpg player he might have to be but the defense alone should keep him in the league in some capacity. This was another game where he turned off the one guy the Kings had to at the end. This game was a perfect example of what ball pressure in summer league can do. This was the first game where a lot of the Kings players were facing the ball pressure and doubles Carter had been all summer league and it looked about the same. Honestly, this is the time where guys are just going on instinct. Banged up, battered, tired. Just get the W and they did.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Just like in the Stockton run, Jones comes up big in the big moments. Good for him. Best bball story we've seen in a long time.
NewArena
All-Star
Period.
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