What can the #KardiacKings do to avoid these slow starts and big deficits?

[ockingsfan]

The #KardiacKings have made a bad habit of starting games slow and going down double digits before they wake up and make a furious comeback, sometimes too late, like last night.

My question is, what can the Kings do to start the game better and not put themselves in such big holes, which they need to climb out of almost every game.

I've included a poll and allowing up to 3 choices to help the Kings start games better.

What can the #KardiacKings do to avoid these slow starts and big deficits???

 

[John Galt]

Quick hook for Willie until Bagley is back - then start Bagley. Every time Willie stands there drooling while an opponent takes his lunch money, put in ANYBODY else.

 

[Sac.1989]

Vlade can make a trade to support the players making a push for a city that hasnt seen the post season in over a decade

 

[VF21]

My answer would be: none of the above. They're a work in progress. We need to see what happens when Bagley comes back.

 

[kb02]

Insert our most productive player on both sides of the court, who is playing with one hand, and is 19 years old. If anything, his absence and these deficits are showing just how valuable Bags is. Without him, the Kings are under .500 this year.

 

[Iced Espresso]

Actually play some dang defense and get EZ buckets on the break. Hit some early 3's.

None of the above has been happening lately.

 

[dgetch]

Insert our most productive player on both sides of the court, who is playing with one hand, and is 19 years old. If anything, his absence and these deficits are showing just how valuable Bags is. Without him, the Kings are under .500 this year.

Curious of a power forward that uses his off hand more than 10% of the time or do people just not like left handed players

 

[Livinthedream]

The Kings are a victim of their own style and pace right now. Teams score early and often due to the pace. Then when they get tired, the Kings still have energy and are able to mount a furious comeback. The fact that the Kings are not keeping up when both teams have fresh legs, AND don't have good games in back to backs when their legs are tired means that our pace is covering up for some of our deficiencies. Getting Bagley back will help, but we're probably still a player or two away from competing with the top teams in the West.

 

[Kingz19]

Serious answer

Fox should start attacking in the first 5 minutes. We need to start with some inside outside and get rhythm shots. Fox is our best hope of that...or even some Bjeli post ups can be an unexplored idea

 

[fnordius]

I have no answers, only a couple of questions.

Is the team really warmed up before games? First quarter shooting has been highly variable, so I have to wonder.

Is it always best to have your center playing like this, rather than focusing more on D?

 

[sergmatt]

Serious answer

Fox should start attacking in the first 5 minutes. We need to start with some inside outside and get rhythm shots. Fox is our best hope of that...or even some Bjeli post ups can be an unexplored idea

Correct. The entire team needs to start playing better defense in the first half especially in the first quarter.

Offensively Fox needs to change it up a little and start being more aggressive early especially when it's apparent in the first 3 minutes that his teammates are struggling and they're already falling behind. I understand what he is trying to do and get his teammates going to start the game. However he can't get stuck in this passive pattern where he just takes the 1st quarter off. At the very least you need to vary your approach from game to game to keep the opponents guessing as to what your plan is. Right now it's pretty obvious to opponents that Fox is passive in the first quarter.

He's going to figure all this out eventually anyway it's just a question of how soon. All the great players have to figure out early in their career exactly how/when they start to impact the game.

Finally it would also help if some of Fox's teammates would stop chucking long jumpers to start the game and try to get to the basket. Budd, Bjelica, and Shumpert are all capable of making back cuts to get to the rim.

 

[ppine]

They need to come out with some defensive intensity. They get behind when they don't play much defense. They get way behind when the offense is not hitting and the defense is not there.

We know the Kings can play defense. They have put together some great quarters this year. They are good finishing team in the fourth quarter, but they have to get close, say under a 10 point defecit to have a chance.

 

[Sactown ExPat]

Serious answer

Fox should start attacking in the first 5 minutes. We need to start with some inside outside and get rhythm shots. Fox is our best hope of that...or even some Bjeli post ups can be an unexplored idea

This is the correct and only answer. The team, and Fox in particular, needs to better understand the rythms of the game.

 

[Ozymandias]

Better defense from the 4 spot.

 

[The Hammer]

Better defense from the 4 spot.

Bingo. And that...

= Bagley... and him improving over time. And... simple maturity. We are a good team. Good teams don't give up 35 pts every first quarter, this will settle out. It's an odd quirk but we'll get over it.

 

[The Hammer]

This is the correct and only answer. The team, and Fox in particular, needs to better understand the rythms of the game.

Yes and the bigger point to that is Fox's game management in general, which he is learning, but there are like 8 different team-wide learning curves happening at once right now and Fox just learning what levers to pull when takes time. He's too smart and we're too smart as a team to have this be a persistent problem. It's a weakness other teams are exploiting right now, the equal and better tier teams that have been playing together longer and can drop right in to their execution and get us on our heels. Guarantee that gameplanning is happening by other teams.

 

[dude12]

Serious Answer

Sign and start Jimmer Fredette, put him at the 3.....better yet, put him at the 4 because it will open up the lane and stuff and reasons

 

[kb02]

Curious of a power forward that uses his off hand more than 10% of the time or do people just not like left handed players

Not just using it, balance. He’s left sided. Best example of this is when he goes for blocks. When the offensive player is on his right side, he’ll jump across his body to contest with his left.

He’ll never be a 50/50 player. Mike Bibby could never score with his left. Dudn’t pass much off of it either. Outside of Jrue Holiday, I don’t know of anyone else who is truly 50/50. Bags needs to be at 70/30, 65/35 to be a true generational beast (like 20/15/3 lines as his avg). His rebounding n blocking radius increases simply by him being able to grab boards with his positioning (yes, footwork is also left side dominant) n wiring to go after boards, swats, n easy scoop/dunks with his right.

IMO, balance is the most underrated aspect of a player’s skill set—across all sports. I’m coaching a competitive u10 youth soccer team this year and I’m planning to have a weak foot only practice day once a week.

 

[ppine]

The Kings came out fast last night against the Lakers. They got over 30 points. That is the good news. The bad news is they gave up more than that by not playing much defense.
DEFENSE in the early going is their Achilles Heel.

 

[Hoovtrain]

Play better

 

[Kangztillidie]

Those calling for Fox to be more aggressive...dude is seriously ailing with that off shoulder. You can see it in his jumpers, he doesnt have the extension on his shot right now that he had to start the season. We just need to get healthy. And start Bagley and play Giles more.

 

[lwc]

Do nothing. Give this team time to keep growing.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

I think defensive intensity to start games. The problem is we are short-handed and the rotation is cut down a player (or two, if Shumpert sits a back to back). Considering our crazy pace, I can see how difficult it is to be 100% locked in on defense all game. Wemiss Bagley real bad.

 

[DesertFox]

I hate to be the guy to talk about moving pieces, but eyes and stats show Bagley plays best next to Belly. No rush to move Willie, but between Koufos, and improving youngsters in Bagley, Giles, and Skal, the team should be able to patch something together at center.
Bagley, if anything, will bring energy.

There has to be an overpaid SF with a future first round pick out there for Vlade to take.

 

[sactowndog]

Better defense from the 4 spot.

Better play from the 4 spot when Bjelicia is out or guarding a slower center.

 

[MizzouKing]

I think Coach should tuck them into bed earlier the night before game day, read them their stories, and get them the f to sleep... then maybe it wouldnt take so long to wake up once the game starts! Maybe some wheaties or something the morning of.

 

[Livinthedream]

Not just using it, balance. He’s left sided.

This nailed it right here. Most players are significantly one hand dominant. What people are seeing with Bagley is that he favors not just his hand, but that whole side of his body. To take it a step further, he's probably heavily left eye dominant.

As a result of all of this, he doesn't square up to the basket or opponent. It makes him very unorthodox and difficult to guard. But it also limits some of his shot and defensive versatility.