WCS willing to change roles?

At this point Willie should be the team 's leading rebounder. He should be playing some excellent defense every night. His offense comes and goes but that is not really how he made it to this League. If Willie can't pick up his rebounding and defense he is going to be selling hats full time.
Rebounding is certainly not what got him into the league either. He has never been a good rebounder.
 
Well sadly, I hate to break it to you, but Willie is leading the team in rebounding with 6.3 per game. He barely beats out Koufos at 6.2 a game and Randolph at 6.0 a game. So he is leading the team in rebounding, but I wouldn't be bragging about it.
But of course, we must control for possessions played to make sure everyone is on a level playing field. When you control for possessions played, he is 3rd (if you remove Sampson who has only played 13 min) at 12.2 REB per 100 possessions with Koufos leading the way with 16.1 REB per 100 possessions & Randolph in 2nd with 12.5 REB per 100 possessions.

For context, among players who have played at least 5 games this year, there are 76 players in the league who average more REB per 100 possessions than Cauley-Stein with the league leader at 23.5 (Jordan).
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
But of course, we must control for possessions played to make sure everyone is on a level playing field. When you control for possessions played, he is 3rd (if you remove Sampson who has only played 13 min) at 12.2 REB per 100 possessions with Koufos leading the way with 16.1 REB per 100 possessions & Randolph in 2nd with 12.5 REB per 100 possessions.

For context, among players who have played at least 5 games this year, there are 76 players in the league who average more REB per 100 possessions than Cauley-Stein with the league leader at 23.5 (Jordan).
Totally O/T - Did you ever consider applying for one of the analytical positions with the kings? You seem to have an intuitive grasp.
 
I agree with both the sentiment that Willy’s best path forward is to become an A- rebounder and allrightythen’s point that he’s never been particularly good at that.
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
I'd really like it if Joerger would experiment more with WCS guarding the power forward and even the small forward positions. He's obviously much more of a fast, quick, long kind of player than a player who can hold positions against strong centers. His reputation as a draftee was ability to guard all kind of positions, not his rebounding. As far as I'm concerned, if he's "exposed" out there on an island with these guys, all the better. It's accountability time for WCS.

I'm still holding out some hope for Papa, despite his current bench warming status. This team desperately needs "girth," as Joerger says, and who has more girth than Papa? It's a perfect situation for Papa, if he can just take advantage of it.
 
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I'd really like it if Joerger would experiment more with WCS guarding the power forward and even the small forward positions. He's obviously much more of a fast, quick, long kind of player than a player who can hold positions against strong centers. His reputation as a draftee was ability to guard all kind of positions, not his rebounding. As far as I'm concerned, if he's "exposed" out there on an island with these guys, all the better. It's accountability time for WCS.

I'm still holding out some hope for Papa, despite is current bench warming status. This team desperately needs "girth," as Joerger says, and who has more girth than Papa? It's a perfect situation for Papa, if he can just take advantage of it.
There are very few guys, that still play ISO ball at the PF/C position. Most of the offense out of those positions is created out of pick&rolls, where footspeed is much more important than strength on D.
With the offense shifting even more to the 3 point line, rebounds become more of a "who gets to the ball first" thing, than a static battle for position, where you succeed by dislodging your opponent. Willie's weight, muscle mass etc. is perfectly fine for a modern big. It's his motor, that is causing troubles. He needs to go 110% against guys like Adams to use his quickness advantage.
That's why I'm not a fan of bringing in Zbo as a "mentor" for Willie and the rest of our big kids. Zbo still plays like it's the year 2000.
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
Divac and Joerger need to have a little talk with WCS about life and maturity. Until WCS accepts his nature - a defensive specialist with a limited offensive talent - he's going to do little to help this team win. And he's going to do little in his basketball career. WCS seems to think that his talent is unlimited, that he has the shooting touch, the balance, and the footwork to be a very good two-way player in this league. He doesn't. It's time for him to come to grips with his limited skill set, deal with reality, and grow up. As a Kings' fan, his engaging in wishful-thinking fantasies about his unlimited potential is tiresome and laughable.
 
Divac and Joerger need to have a little talk with WCS about life and maturity. Until WCS accepts his nature - a defensive specialist with a limited offensive talent - he's going to do little to help this team win. And he's going to do little in his basketball career. WCS seems to think that his talent is unlimited, that he has the shooting touch, the balance, and the footwork to be a very good two-way player in this league. He doesn't. It's time for him to come to grips with his limited skill set, deal with reality, and grow up. As a Kings' fan, his engaging in wishful-thinking fantasies about his unlimited potential is tiresome and laughable.
It's fine for him to strive to be such and such, and I have nothing against him working towards it. I do take issue with how he is always blaming something else for his poor play rather than taking responsibility for it - Karl not giving him consistent minutes, having to play behind Cousins etc, all while he isn't even producing on a consistent basis. He should be looking to help the team as much as he can, regardless of what the role required of him is.
 
He seems destined to be, yet another player, that: (1) did not develop into a really good player under the Kings watch; (2) totally over hyped by the local media, who are often unable or unwilling to view the facts objectively; and (3) as such, over valued by fans.

Hopefully this town can eventually at least figure out the first part. Playing 9-11 players in platoons with wildly changing roles for a bad team seems more like a recipe to become the late 80s Clippers than a good environment for developing several non-blue chip prospects ... but that's just the last 30 years of the NBA, so perhaps the Kings have figure out basketball 4.0 and this will go swimmingly.
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
It's fine for him to strive to be such and such, and I have nothing against him working towards it. I do take issue with how he is always blaming something else for his poor play rather than taking responsibility for it - Karl not giving him consistent minutes, having to play behind Cousins etc, all while he isn't even producing on a consistent basis. He should be looking to help the team as much as he can, regardless of what the role required of him is.
Willie needs to identify and cultivate his particular talents in order to become a successful NBA player. If he spends most of his attention on what he can't do (offense), he'll never achieve what he can do (defense). He's trying to be a physicist when he only has the talent to be a good plumber. If he spends all his time on being something he's not - a physicist - he'll not only never become the physicist, he will never become the good plumber.
 
Willie needs to identify and cultivate his particular talents in order to become a successful NBA player. If he spends most of his attention on what he can't do (offense), he'll never achieve what he can do (defense). He's trying to be a physicist when he only has the talent to be a good plumber. If he spends all his time on being something he's not - a physicist - he'll not only never become the physicist, he will never become the good plumber.
He would just say that he would have been the next Einstein if we didn't hold him back by trying to make him a Mario brother.
 
He seems destined to be, yet another player, that: (1) did not develop into a really good player under the Kings watch; (2) totally over hyped by the local media, who are often unable or unwilling to view the facts objectively; and (3) as such, over valued by fans.

Hopefully this town can eventually at least figure out the first part. Playing 9-11 players in platoons with wildly changing roles for a bad team seems more like a recipe to become the late 80s Clippers than a good environment for developing several non-blue chip prospects ... but that's just the last 30 years of the NBA, so perhaps the Kings have figure out basketball 4.0 and this will go swimmingly.
I agree with #1. As for #2 & #3, I don't see signs of that. I don't see media nor fans supporting the dude. Maybe Vlade/Joerger will be stubborn but I don't think the media and fans are gonna regret if we trade him for a late #1 or early #2. There just isn't much to hope on. Maybe 10 more games to make sure he's the busto he appears to be.
 
Without a bias is he even better than guys like Bismack, Dedmond, Baynes, Javale? Guys who could be signed off the street, but we spent a hard earned 6th overall pick on him, I guess you can toss him in the Bust bucket along with all of the others. Maybe he goes to a team like the Celts/Spurs/Dubs where he will be forced to play a specific role and play hard or never play at all or we see him have success in China like some of our other top picks, either way its not looking like its going to happen here.
 

Larry89

Disgruntled Kings Fan
Low effort, bad defense, wants to develop his offense... but he has potential, the body and frame of Porzingis and also the same skills!


Willie have it all
 
I'm starting to feel that WCS may be mis-cast as a Center.

Seeing how mobile he is and he has some passing skills, he should be playing more Power Forward than Center. Seeing that Willie is not a banger down low, he seems to play better when he can run and defend the 4.

I actually likes the KK-WCS front court combo. KK bangs down low with the centers, while WCS chases the stretch 4 and plays help defense. Willie is starting to hit his 15 foot jumpers too.
 
I'm starting to feel that WCS may be mis-cast as a Center.

Seeing how mobile he is and he has some passing skills, he should be playing more Power Forward than Center. Seeing that Willie is not a banger down low, he seems to play better when he can run and defend the 4.

I actually likes the KK-WCS front court combo. KK bangs down low with the centers, while WCS chases the stretch 4 and plays help defense. Willie is starting to hit his 15 foot jumpers too.
Willie looked good as a Power Forward last night. I think he is as mobile as Blake and Draymond. He just played more free at the 4. I agree that may be the best role for him.

Speaking of banging, ZBo held Nurkic in check last night. Z did not do much else but he battled in the paint. It was an impressive display of strength on strength.
 
Nothing to do with positions. Willie finally used his natural athletic gifts and finally battled. Joerger send a message and benched him and it worked for now.

Just basic basketball, playing like an energy big and not coasting as usual.

Now lets see, if Willie keeps it up. Not the first time he shows flashes like this. To really make it in the league, he has to play with this kind of energy every night.
 
Joerger had the come to Jesus meeting with him. His problems are mostly mental and pyschological.
He has plenty of talent, but only uses it once in awhile. He takes most plays off. Last night he got with the program against Portland.
 
Nothing to do with positions. Willie finally used his natural athletic gifts and finally battled. Joerger send a message and benched him and it worked for now.

Just basic basketball, playing like an energy big and not coasting as usual.

Now lets see, if Willie keeps it up. Not the first time he shows flashes like this. To really make it in the league, he has to play with this kind of energy every night.
While Willie needs to keep that focus and energy level up during all games, I think that he tends to lose interest if his assignment is to just defend the paint and rebound. He is much more active and locked in, if he is chasing people down and staying active in his defensive assignment.

I think that role to keep him better engaged in the game is to defend the 4.

While most centers jobs is to bang down low and defend the paint and rebound, Willie is more of a I'll run you down and make it hard for you to score defender. That is why he does better against mobile bigs than he does against big clog the lane centers.
 
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