Willie Cauley-Stein

[KingsFanSince85]

This stuff about WCS guarding 5 positions is mythology. He can't guard a 1, a 2, or a 3. If he could, the defense of the Kings wouldn't be so putrid.

Talk about having absolutely no clue.

I agree with baja -- you must not be watching the games. If you are and still come to this conclusion, there's no helping you.

 

[Chubbs]

Hey guys. There's a block function.

I find it works great on certain people.

 

[Kingster]

My God. Anybody that thinks WCS is guarding or can guard wing players in this league is out of his mind. What are you watching? Are you watching Kentucky re-runs? Are you watching what you want to see rather than what is reality? Come on. Watch the games. Watch the NBA players score on WCS. Watch the guards not even twitch with fear when WCS is in their vicinity. Does anybody seriously think that NBA players are afraid of WCS on D? Come on. They don't "peak" at him when they go to the basket. They don't fear him in the least. They don't have in their scouting reports - don't drive the land - WCS is there! It's obvious he has a very moderate impact on D. What games has we won for this team with his D? What quarter has he won for this team with his D? Give him a few years, maybe he'll be an impact player. Not now.

On the positive side with WCS I am heartened by the fact that he appears to have a pretty good BBIQ. He makes good decisions for a rookie, and his hands are pretty darned good.

But on the negative side again, he certainly is no great - no, check that - he's no good NBA rebounder at this point. Just doesn't have the strength. Maybe with time he can contribute more in that area.

 

[Blob]

My God. Anybody that thinks WCS is guarding or can guard wing players in this league is out of his mind. What are you watching? Are you watching Kentucky re-runs? Are you watching what you want to see rather than what is reality? Come on. Watch the games. Watch the NBA players score on WCS. Watch the guards not even twitch with fear when WCS is in their vicinity. Does anybody seriously think that NBA players are afraid of WCS on D? Come on. They don't "peak" at him when they go to the basket. They don't fear him in the least. They don't have in their scouting reports - don't drive the land - WCS is there! It's obvious he has a very moderate impact on D. What games has we won for this team with his D? What quarter has he won for this team with his D? Give him a few years, maybe he'll be an impact player. Not now.

On the positive side with WCS I am heartened by the fact that he appears to have a pretty good BBIQ. He makes good decisions for a rookie, and his hands are pretty darned good.

But on the negative side again, he certainly is no great - no, check that - he's no good NBA rebounder at this point. Just doesn't have the strength. Maybe with time he can contribute more in that area.

I like to evaluate a player based on their activity level. And lately WCS activity level has been mediocre maybe poor. I think it was Coach Malone who would run a play for a non-scorer once to let them feel part of the action. Karl is not this type of coach but I think he should be.

Why should we not let the #6 pick in the NBA draft feel part of the offense? He has displayed a decent touch around the hoop. I think he would feel more inspired on both ends of the floor if we called a play early in the 1st quarter for him to catch in the post and throw up a flip shot.

At the same time I am slightly concerned about WCS mindset. Does he want to be great? How great of a player can you be when you don't have try to assert yourself as a scorer? With Boogie out should not his mindset change to look to put the ball in the basket? His passivity is palpable.

WCS needs a break out game and he needs to play tougher carving out position when the ball goes up. I see him waiting for the ball instead fighting for position.

Before the draft I wanted Mudiay 100%. Willie won me over because I like his personality and intelligence and defensive instincts. But now I would like him to be a little more forceful presence on the court. We don't need another Ben McLemore in terms of being a "nice guy" without that fierce competitive streak.

We need guys like Rondo and Boogie and Omri in terms of competitive spirit. Willie needs to decide if he wants to be part of this group. If he does he needs to bear more responsibility for performance instead of relaxing in the identity of a rookie .

 

[bajaden]

My God. Anybody that thinks WCS is guarding or can guard wing players in this league is out of his mind. What are you watching? Are you watching Kentucky re-runs? Are you watching what you want to see rather than what is reality? Come on. Watch the games. Watch the NBA players score on WCS. Watch the guards not even twitch with fear when WCS is in their vicinity. Does anybody seriously think that NBA players are afraid of WCS on D? Come on. They don't "peak" at him when they go to the basket. They don't fear him in the least. They don't have in their scouting reports - don't drive the land - WCS is there! It's obvious he has a very moderate impact on D. What games has we won for this team with his D? What quarter has he won for this team with his D? Give him a few years, maybe he'll be an impact player. Not now.

On the positive side with WCS I am heartened by the fact that he appears to have a pretty good BBIQ. He makes good decisions for a rookie, and his hands are pretty darned good.

But on the negative side again, he certainly is no great - no, check that - he's no good NBA rebounder at this point. Just doesn't have the strength. Maybe with time he can contribute more in that area.

I will agree with you on some points. His rebounding has to improve, especially his offensive rebounding. I cut him some slack on defensive rebounding because many times he's out on the perimeter picking up someone else's man. Your right about his needing to get stronger as well. I think his rebounding will improve with added strength. I totally disagree on his ability to guard smaller players on the perimeter. Even if their able to get past him, their shots are still highly contested. He's a very good pursuit defender. In other words, he's quite capable of blocking shots from behind. Which is tricky in the NBA because many ref's tend to call a foul. Especially if your a rookie.

I will say this. Willie is best suited to playing along side another big man like Cousins or Koufos. His strength isn't solo at the center position, especially if he has little weakside help, which is the case when Gay is at the PF position. One of his strengths is running the floor, and so far, the Kings have done little to take advantage of it. Offensively his role seems to be, just stay out of the way. Which many times takes him out of position to rebound. Not an excuse though. He needs to attack the basket for follow up's when someone else takes a shot. He has some weaknesses, and what I find ironic is that your picking on something that's one of his strengths.

 

[KingsFanGER]

I will agree with you on some points. His rebounding has to improve, especially his offensive rebounding. I cut him some slack on defensive rebounding because many times he's out on the perimeter picking up someone else's man. Your right about his needing to get stronger as well. I think his rebounding will improve with added strength. I totally disagree on his ability to guard smaller players on the perimeter. Even if their able to get past him, their shots are still highly contested. He's a very good pursuit defender. In other words, he's quite capable of blocking shots from behind. Which is tricky in the NBA because many ref's tend to call a foul. Especially if your a rookie.

I will say this. Willie is best suited to playing along side another big man like Cousins or Koufos. His strength isn't solo at the center position, especially if he has little weakside help, which is the case when Gay is at the PF position. One of his strengths is running the floor, and so far, the Kings have done little to take advantage of it. Offensively his role seems to be, just stay out of the way. Which many times takes him out of position to rebound. Not an excuse though. He needs to attack the basket for follow up's when someone else takes a shot. He has some weaknesses, and what I find ironic is that your picking on something that's one of his strengths.

I think Willie is able to contain wing players and guards in the pick and roll and he is able to recover back to his man afterwards. And this is a great tool to utilize in todays NBA. He may be even quick enough to stay in front of some perimeter players or chase them down, but more often than not, he picks up a foul doing so.
Still Kingster is right - Willie doesn't contribute that much even on the defensive end right now. He is foul prone (I think a lot of these fouls are rookie calls, but I'm biased) and he certainly is no one any guard or wing is afraid of.
He is all potential so far. And most of us hoped he would be NBA ready on the defensive end and as a rebounder.
He is in a tough situation right now. And the Kings seem to be unable or even unwilling, when you watch how we freeze him out of the offense, to help him.
The dilemma is, that we absolutely need Willie to become a NBA player now, or this team is heading nowhere.
Potentially Willie is the one guy, that can make our defense work at an acceptable level.
But that's a lot of pressure on a rookie.

 

[randymoss1881]

This stuff about WCS guarding 5 positions is mythology. He can't guard a 1, a 2, or a 3. If he could, the defense of the Kings wouldn't be so putrid.

And lebron was never able to guard 1.4.5 even though he was said to be able to guard all 5 positions.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I think Willie is able to contain wing players and guards in the pick and roll and he is able to recover back to his man afterwards. And this is a great tool to utilize in todays NBA. He may be even quick enough to stay in front of some perimeter players or chase them down, but more often than not, he picks up a foul doing so.
Still Kingster is right - Willie doesn't contribute that much even on the defensive end right now. He is foul prone (I think a lot of these fouls are rookie calls, but I'm biased) and he certainly is no one any guard or wing is afraid of.
He is all potential so far. And most of us hoped he would be NBA ready on the defensive end and as a rebounder.
He is in a tough situation right now. And the Kings seem to be unable or even unwilling, when you watch how we freeze him out of the offense, to help him.
The dilemma is, that we absolutely need Willie to become a NBA player now, or this team is heading nowhere.
Potentially Willie is the one guy, that can make our defense work at an acceptable level.
But that's a lot of pressure on a rookie.

Being asked to play consistent defense and go after rebounds, is relatively "small pressure", as compared to the guy who is expected to shoot well from distance and/or handle the ball most of the time

 

[KingsFanGER]

Being asked to play consistent defense and go after rebounds, is relatively "small pressure", as compared to the guy who is expected to shoot well from distance and/or handle the ball most of the time

To become a team contending for a playoff spot I think Willie needs to be a defensive game changer. Holding his own on D and grab a few boards will not be enough.
He needs to elevate this team to a better defensive level, when he is on the floor.
And I think that's a lot to ask for.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

To become a team contending for a playoff spot I think Willie needs to be a defensive game changer. Holding his own on D and grab a few boards will not be enough.
He needs to elevate this team to a better defensive level, when he is on the floor.
And I think that's a lot to ask for.

He 'just' needs to bring great effort and use his physical skills the best he can. That example will contribute to elevating the team. It's very doable for him.

Were not expecting him to be Hakeem Olajuwon