Who had a problem with Douby being on the court down the stretch in favor of Hawes?

This loss was particularly bad because San Antonio essentially ran out the NBDL All Star team with Tim Duncan. Without Parker and Ginobili, that’s a bad, bad team (and not in a good way). A few less mistakes, some better play calls at the end, a JT layup that drops here or there, and the Kings win this one.

The upcoming schedule is murderous. New Orleans, the Lakers and two games against Portland – the only realistic win is the home game against Portland. If the Kings manage to lose to Memphis, there’s a strong possibility of a 6 game losing streak and a new coach (which I think would be completely unjustified).

He has missed pretty much the entire season (including training camp.) How many players could be brought in under those circumstances and be asked to take the clutch final shot, not once, but two games in a row? Kobe? Sure. LeBron? Yep. Speed? Maybe. Depends how solid he looks. But Douby? The guy you didn’t even think was worth extending? What was Theus thinking? I’ve defended him a lot. And I’m still not voting for him to be fired—yet. But the fact that he put the winning shot in the hands of a guy who has been inconsistent at best, two straight games in a row, when he hasn’t even had a training camp, really is making me start thinking that Flip looks pretty dang good right about now. Either that, or somebody above (Maloofs?) is telling him to give unibrow more playing time.

I honestly think the kid could be a decent back-up two. But he is not, and will never be, the guy I want holding the ball with the game on the line—unless he’s shooting free throws.

Reggie, what were you thinking?!

He’s playing ok defense I suppose, but I don’t sense any confidence from him while he’s on the floor. He’s a nondescript player with a few physical talents, but I don’t see him being an effective NBA player anytime soon.

Why is Douby still being shoved down our throats? Let’s just call it a missed draft pick and move on.

i found it intersting that Theus drew up the same play as the game before for the win (when the game was tied). the spurs had douby covered this time, and we ended up with a decent look for Miller, but still seems a bit like a lack of imagination.

With KM and Cisco out there are NO ‘catch and shoot’ guys on this roster, Donte’ may eventually be one of those guys but…..

Yes, QD should have definately cut in closer or taken a step but -

What would you like?
Salmons? Yes, he had a great game – but his instinct is to put the ball on the floor – especially with a man in his face. Just a fact. Even when he does catch and shoot without putting down the ball, its always very deliberate. Shot clock violation waiting to happen.

Hawes you say? Hadn’t hit a jumper all night and also as a big man it takes him a tick to turn and square-up. Maaaay have been a better option? Probably should have been on the floor in any case.

Brad? Same problem as Hawes multipiled + had just airballed one.

Beno? I’d have liked it to seem like he wanted the ball and had Brad pass it in. That does leave you small on the floor but -

My summary:
Its nice to have a lot of guys who can create thier own shot, hell, you always see it in player evals ’Can’t create his own shot’.

However, too much of players wired like that give us what we’ve gotten the last few years, low assist totals and lack of ball movement in crunch time. Even KM tends to take the pass and defuse the assist chance by ‘creating’ off the dribble – unless its a play right to the hole.

Cisco is the only player on this roster who’s first instinct is to ‘shoot now’. Thats just not enough in this league, you gotta have some more quick score threats. Defending players are just too quick to rotate, at least on decent teams – and even mediocre ones if you give them a second or two.

QD is the only other player who has sooome of that instinct to shoot. We all know that he’s been inconsistant in his two years doing it – but that was truly all we have in a quick score situation.

This team is incomplete, even with KM and Cisco back, they desperately need another ‘catch and shoot’ option off the bench. Other tams watch tape, they know. There’s no one to set off alarm bells in a defense right now, force panic, mistakes.

SA as depleted as they were, had three guys on the floor late in the game that stand on the perimeter waiting to recieve the ball – and shoot.

I lobby once again that any trade of MM MUST bring us back the type of player we’re missing or short of. I don’t care if they’re down the bench most of the game, you’ve gotta have another ‘threat’ to just SCORE.

Do it GP, do it.

I just think the Suns & Spurs losses signify just how important Kevin & Cisco are to this team. Especially at this time.