What Wins Basketball Games

[Kingster]

http://www.sfandllaw.com/CM/Articles/Articles10.asp

This article is highly informative. Given a little time, it would be interesting to convert the "absolute" stats that are available for the Kings and other teams into a "per possession" stat for turnovers, made shots, rebounds, and foul line attempts.

There are several points that stand out, but one in particular caught my eye: the underdog should use risky strategies. Among them, zone and small ball (my words). (I wonder if Smart has read this book?)

Anyway, very interesting stuff and, among other things, I thought it would provide a great deal of fodder for debate about shot blocking and the importance (or lack thereof) of height for defensive teams.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

 

[CruzDude]

Browsing the Kings stats on ESPN I see the PER or performance index column. The lowest (worst) number 5.2 is Travis Outlaw. The second worst? Salmons at 7.9 No surprise there.

The best PER's? Cousins, JT and Evans in that order!!! Followed by Marcus and Isaiah. 4 starters and Mighty Might off the bench. There is hope at the end of the tunnel after all.

 

[bajaden]

I don't see Mighty Mouse!!

 

[Section 101]

My first guess is the team that scores more points than its opponent wins basketball games.

 

[CruzDude]

Your right! It is now officially Mighty Might but showing the icon of mighty mouse.



From the Wikipedia site on Mighty Mouse: Mighty Mouse was also known for singing, "Here I come to save the day!" when flying into action. How tru that has been lately.

Oh yeah. What it takes to win ball games most of the time: team work, hustle, defense, bunch more assists that TO's, passing the ball, team work, defense.... oh yeah, said that.

 

[Posta Boy X]

Watching the Kings attempt to win basketball games makes me want to crush up a bunch of Hot Cheetos and smoke them in a pipe.

Seems like our Front Office keeps missing the point year after year.. Making mediocre off-season moves and expecting to turn into a contender is like deciding to kick your cocaine habit by stapling your nosetrills shut. Pure stupidity.

The whole roster is full of misfits who can't play together. It's always One-on-One basketball and most of the team doesn't like to share. Damn, you got 5 men on the court...a total of 10 balls...but it's the "basket"ball that noone wants to share

Why can't our Kings pass the ball to each other? I wonder how it looks when they get together to smoke a doobie. I bet there's no passing either.

I facepalm at least 20 times every game. Is that normal?

 

[Lafayette]

My first guess is the team that scores more points than its opponent wins basketball games.

I had the same thought, maybe we're wrong and don't know.

 

[MizzouKing]

I realize this is the NBA, but on the height issue, check out #5 Missouri at the NCAA level. They've obliterated a slew of much larger (and more highly regarded) teams despite their small size, complimenting their sharpshooting with a combination of speed and excellent defense. Bottom line is if you dribble the ball, a smaller faster defender can take it from you! In fact, the only team that has beaten them thus far (which may change this weekend) was the much larger K State, who crashed the boards and almost never put the ball on the floor.

Mizzou is also a great model of unselfish basketball, the best I've seen since the Sacramento Kings of old. They both embrace(d) the paradigm that it's more about getting your teammate a "great" shot, rather than getting yourself a "good" shot. What a difference that mentality would make for these Kings! Seems like we're heading in the right direction though. I'm pretty impressed with Smart thus far.

MizzouKing

 

[Larry David]

A well run franchise, great players, a team that plays well together, and a pretty good coach.

0-4. Some hope for a great player or two. But right now, 0-4.

 

[ppine]

It all starts with defense, and really ends there. Rebounding is also major. Offense will come around because that is what nearly all players, even professionals want to oncentrate on. The greatest challenge this season is the lack of practice time. It has been tough to keep players focused on defense with so many games crunched together and little practice time. It hurts a young team like the Kings the most. I Thomas is one of the ready rookies because his role is the same as it has been his whole life. He is one of the most fearless rookies I have ever seen in pro sports. I am proud to be a Husky.

 

[Lockehead]

Why can't our Kings pass the ball to each other? I wonder how it looks when they get together to smoke a doobie. I bet there's no passing either.
QUOTE]

Wow, lol.

Anyway, i think they have to fail before they will succeed. When things get rough they start to do their one on one thing. In the last game, that 1st quarter was actually pretty decent basketball. But when the gap between our higher scoring opponents and the Kings begin to widen, our young guys seem to panic and revert to a one on one, forget about team work, type of strategy. That's where it gets bad. They have to continue playing their team game. It might be ugly, but it'll teach them how to overcome their mistakes, and learn. That's the only way we're truely going to get better IMO. Who knows, maybe we're not as bad as we appear to be if we keep up this team game thing.

Oh yeah, more Cousins in the post pls.

edit: Cousins averaged 2.5 assists per game last season, he has 0.6 assists/game this season. That's over a 4:1 ratio.

 

[Posta Boy X]

Why can't our Kings pass the ball to each other? I wonder how it looks when they get together to smoke a doobie. I bet there's no passing either.
QUOTE]

Wow, lol.

Anyway, i think they have to fail before they will succeed. When things get rough they start to do their one on one thing. In the last game, that 1st quarter was actually pretty decent basketball. But when the gap between our higher scoring opponents and the Kings begin to widen, our young guys seem to panic and revert to a one on one, forget about team work, type of strategy. That's where it gets bad. They have to continue playing their team game. It might be ugly, but it'll teach them how to overcome their mistakes, and learn. That's the only way we're truely going to get better IMO. Who knows, maybe we're not as bad as we appear to be if we keep up this team game thing.

Oh yeah, more Cousins in the post pls.

Your posts are very accurate and your message is a powerful one. You are my favorite ninja on this forum, I like the way you roll