Where is our leader, our go-to guy?

[CruzDude]

For years that was CWebb. Now it is supposed to be Bibby. But in our losses it is glaring that we do not have the go-to guy, that one guy who put us back in the game night after night. Maybe it is defensive, getting offensive rebounds, sweeping the glass on the other end, swatting away a few shots (Skinner??)

Maybe it is offensive and defensive, getting rebounds, starting and finishing fast breaks, clogging up the middle, making tip ins (Bonzi, SAR, Chico??)

Maybe it is a pure scorer (not just a shooter but a scorer) who makes layups, pops in some 3's, hits the mid range jumper but every night in the 3rd and 4th quarter, particularily the 4th (Bibby, Peja, Bonzi???)

But in all our losses no one steps up consistently, or even for 2 or 3 games. Remember the role Bobby used to play and the 4th quarter minutes he got and why he got them? Or Jon Barry, or Jim Jackson?

Of course the Bench has to be there as well. Where is Corliss and Skinner? Is Jason Hart as good defensively as we think he is? Can't Bonzi pick up scoring when Hart is in?

My view of the bottom line: Get an energized Skinner in there more. Get the message to Bonzi to take charge. Same for SAR. Those 3 would make great Monsters of the Mid-Way.

 

[ForlornKing]

Skinner just needs to put in.....


That's it.



Not Really but...

 

[Folsom Al]

I'm burnt-out on this thopic ... but, I'll kindly contribute 2 more cents, making my Grand Total about $1,000.000.02

IMO - a go-to-guy is NOT gonna solve our Kings' problems.

Heart, passion, committment come to mind RIGHT AWAY ...

... but none of the above will come till DESIRE steps in

... and I'm still waiting

... my 2-cents

 

[Fillmoe]

philly

 

[16to93]

Look at Detroit. They have no go to guy. They do this really wierd thing called DEFENSE!!!!! Kings should try it.

 

[chelle]

It depends what you mean by a go-to guy. If it is an end game situation, I still believe it is Bibby. I felt that way when all the others were still here (even above Webb.) I agree with many of the other posts. A go-to guy is not the problem. Totally my opinion - Our needs are
1) Defensive Intensity
2) True team identity
3) Defensive Desire
4) Real team chemistry
5) Defensive Intensity
6) Bench and starter consistency
7) Defensive Desire


Did I remember to mention Defensive desire and intensity?

 

[Bricklayer]

Look at Detroit. They have no go to guy. They do this really wierd thing called DEFENSE!!!!! Kings should try it.

They do, however, have a huge leader in Big Ben. They know what they are about, and where to turn when things get tough.

The few spurts of leadership we have had have come from Bonzi elevating everybody with hustle. But goto guy? None. Theoretically we have enough good scorers that we should always be able to get a good matchup, but we have nobody we can just goto everytime against any opponent and let it be our bread and butter.

 

[VF21]

It depends what you mean by a go-to guy. If it is an end game situation, I still believe it is Bibby. I felt that way when all the others were still here (even above Webb.) I agree with many of the other posts. A go-to guy is not the problem. Totally my opinion - Our needs are
1) Defensive Intensity
2) True team identity
3) Defensive Desire
4) Real team chemistry
5) Defensive Intensity
6) Bench and starter consistency
7) Defensive Desire


Did I remember to mention Defensive desire and intensity?

You totally forgot the most important point, IMHO:

Defensive desire and intensity.

 

[love_them_kings]

philly

you beat me to it!

 

[John Galt]

It's Mike. He's come up just a hair short - he almost won (or pushed to OT) two games with late clutch flurries. He's still our "go-to" guy. If only he'd play 35 minutes of D per night...

For my money, Mike and Bonzi are the only two "keepers" we have. I wish Mike was a better defensive player - but I'm not ready to run him out of town over it. Every other player on the team is trade bait as far as I'm concerned.

 

[HndsmCelt]

It's Mike. He's come up just a hair short - he almost won (or pushed to OT) two games with late clutch flurries. He's still our "go-to" guy. If only he'd play 35 minutes of D per night...

For my money, Mike and Bonzi are the only two "keepers" we have. I wish Mike was a better defensive player - but I'm not ready to run him out of town over it. Every other player on the team is trade bait as far as I'm concerned.

Nothing against Mike but any team that depends on it's Point Gaurd to carry them has serious problems.

 

[zeke04]

The leaders are Bibby, Peja and Miller.

They are all soft, lack defensive passion, commitment, and hussle.

And those are the things that define this team.

 

[John Galt]

Nothing against Mike but any team that depends on it's Point Gaurd to carry them has serious problems.

I agree with you 100 about that.

Don't agree with the other guy that Mike is soft. Slow yes, soft no.

 

[hoopsfan]

Nothing against Mike but any team that depends on it's Point Gaurd to carry them has serious problems.

It worked for the Showtime Lakers..although Magic was an exception. I guess Philly relies on Iverson, don't they? Guess that's why they haven't won the big one.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

philly

Ditto

 

[AriesMar27]

wow... we need hobbies cause this is getting old....

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

wow... we need hobbies cause this is getting old....

And being a Kings fan isnt enough of a 'hobby'??*L*

 

[CruzDude]

I agree with everyone about defense and intensity. But we have been hollaring for that for 3 years ever since Jon and JJ left. So far 16 games into the new season they have not shown any consistent intensity, even for more than a quarter or so in any game.

And defense, a quarter here a quarter there, a 1/2 game once or twice, is not going to solve the problem either.

The go-to guy I dream about is the one who gets us the 5, 6 or 8 points back and the next level intensity in the 4th quarter to get us in a position to win the game. How many times so far have we been 3-6 points down with 2-5 minutes to go then let the other team have a go-to guy do it to us. Then Kings seem to ease off as if they know they have no one to counter it in the end of a game.

Are the new players deferring to Bibby and Peja when maybe they should be taking charge????

 

[BigWaxer]

I think Bonzi is taking charge in his own way.... Would of loved to have him playing like he is now on our team a few years ago.

 

[CruzDude]

Tonights game against the Wolves. They played bad, shot poorly and still won. Kings had no defense, no rebounding, no hustle, no leader, no go-to guy. Wolves go-to guy, KG, had his lowest scoring night in years, due almost entirely to SAR's defense on him and they still won. Their go-to guys became Wally and Hudson.

The 4th quarter...... well, well, well. Corliss and Skinner, waddayouknow!!! Told ya so! They picked it up and tried to become the stimulators along with the rest of the bench and did a better job than the starters and played the entire quarter.

Still no answers. Something bigger is wrong, top to bottom on the team. Don't know what but something it not right. Adelman has been here, what 10 years now? His run and gun style is history, he doesn't have the shooters any more nor the core of players to carry it off.

How many cutters did you see tonight? How many back door plays? How many passes to guys making layups? Bibby is our point guard but is the leading scorer and has had 5 or fewer assists the past 4-5 games. Brad our point-center had 1 assist in 26 min and 0 points and SAR had no assists in 31 minutes and only 6 points. That left Bonzi: only 10 shots, 3 reb, 4 assists and 3 steals and a total of 9 points.

So my hopes for a go-to guy went out the Minnesota window tonight. My wife and I and the announcers (Satellite TV NBA) all agreed the fans had a right to boo tonight. Didn't seem to make a difference. No starters got excited, got pumped up. Poof! a wisp of emotional smoke, if there was any, quickly disappeared into the upper reaches of Arco Arena. For the first time in 7 years, there may be something to worry about.

 

[Kris Kros]

Where is our leader, our go-to guy?

Nada!!!

That's the main problem!!!

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

Man, I said the Webb trade was bad back when it happened, and I still say it now. Webb was our heart, our glue. We have nothing now...we're just a bunch of sticks on the ground with no one to help build anything with.