Curse of the Suicidal Bat: Kings Chopped Down By Spurs 113-94
by Tom Ziller on Nov 1, 2009 8:35 AM PDT
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PrintAfter the death of The Bat, the Spurs outscored the Kings 84-68. You think that's some sort of coincidence?
Since I haven't been around to comment on any of the season's first three games, and since I'm still not quite fully back in the saddle, I will offer some assorted thoughts.
* You want to know why I'm digging Tyreke Evans? Well, sure, the first 42 minutes of Friday's game in New Orleans tops the list. But Sam Amick's quoted reaction from 'Reke after the Spurs nightmare is a pretty close second.
"We just go out there and try to play the game and not talk," Evans said afterward. "That's the most important thing. Offense will come for us, but if we don't talk on defense, (opponents) will get points on us any given night … It seemed like everybody was playing selfish."
Evans said he didn't feel as if he received enough defensive help.
"Once (Parker) gets out of that pick-and-roll, he starts to catch his speed and momentum, and it's tough to get back when Duncan is setting that screen," he said. "I just think if we would've talked … it would've been better."
Tyreke Evans, three games into his NBA career, is putting this team's long-held biggest defensive problem -- a lack of cohesion/communication -- on the table. He said the team was playing selfish ... on defense! Who's the last Kings guard to say something insightful about defense? Doug Christie? Oscar Robertson? Evans has identified a major, major problem that the last four coaches and two point guards have ignored. Let's hope Paul Westphal -- who in Amick's story is crediting the Spurs attack first and foremost instead of agreeing with 'Reke -- understands how hard it will be for anyone to stop anything without a better plan and better communication on defense.
* I'm not sure exactly why Jason Thompson went from 16 FGAs on Friday to six FGAs on Saturday -- maybe Tim Duncan and foul trouble have something to do with it -- but it has been really nice to see a Kings big contribute without scoring. As in 10 assists and zero turnovers over two games. As in 19 rebounds over two games.
* Meanwhile, I have no idea why Spencer Hawes is now effectively the third big man off the bench. Westphal went to Andres Nocioni in place of Desmond Mason, but then shuffled the backcourt to get Chapu at power forward. Then Jon Brockman was the next big in the game. Then Spencer Hawes got into the game. That pretty much blows the "foul trouble" excuse out of the water, and it makes me wish Westphal would be honest about why Hawes is coming off the bench. I do think it's an alright idea -- your best players don't need to start so long as they receive sufficient minutes and the players starting in place of them don't suck out loud. And the Kings starting five did just fine in N.O. and S.A. But again, either the reason behind Westphal's benching of Hawes is stupid or it's a cover for the real reason: to light a fire under Hawes. On both counts, it's been a bit of a failure, yes? Thompson has had foul trouble in two of three games, Hawes is only averaging 27 minutes a game and hasn't played particularly well. What does success even look like in this scenario?
* Omri Casspi, you're alright with me.
* Is this "go after the steal" a strategy? If so, someone ought to tell the broadcast crew. I'm with them -- it is leaving so many opportunities for the opponents to score easily. The Kings interior defense has little chance of recovering and making a play at the rim, and there are no wing defenders fast enough to fly around the court to prevent open threes after the breakdowns. It'd be one thing if the team -- and this has been almost entirely Evans and Kevin Martin -- had come up with a few. But every single one has seemingly turned into two the other way. If it is a strategy handed down from the staff, it needs to be reviewed. It's not working.
* We're better than the Clippers. Seriously.
* A major thanks to both section214 and Exhibit G for filling in. I'm still not up to my usual workload, so expect this week to be fairly slow. You'll still get previews and game threads, of course.
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welcome back TZ you were missed
as I said in my prematurely posted post game discussion: the Tyreke ankle roll is the big story. With what Tyreke brings to the floor, having to start Beno Udrih is a disappointing step backwards.Tyreke’s take charge style is a sharp contrast to Beno’s dribble-dribble-now what? offense. Defensively, an even larger drop.
Another aside about Tyreke: I like his flat demeanor. I am totally old Skool, but the chest thumping, arm pumping loud growling style so many players invoke is pleasantly absent. he is cool, calm and professional.
by betweentheeyes on Nov 1, 2009 8:54 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Cheap publicity stunt?
What are the odds the Spurs people let the bat loose on purpose as some sort of side show? The Mascot just happens to show up with a net and a batman suit. If the PETA people get wind of this they’ll be in deep do do.
Yeah
I thought about that, too. But would they really take that risk? The Batman costume seems like it could be a Halloween coincidence.
I could have seen the publicity stunt going on during a Timeout or Halftime
But, not like that. The Bat actually flew behind Martin (and he even said afterwards that he thought it was DeJuan Blair running behind him LOL), and that’s when it started.
Apparently there are a lot of bats in San Antonio for one reason or another.
Also, welcome back TZ.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Let me clarify this (which I should have done before I hit post--but I digress)
The bat was flying behind Martin during a fast break.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Fan probably did it
Most likely it was a fan. I doubt an organization would run the risk or incur the liability involved in potential bites and rabies shots. Obviously the bat was not a native within the arena. Somebody released it.
I doubt the spurs did it
Either a fan brought it in or it just flew in through one of the entrances. Just one of those things that can happen. It is great to watch on you tube though.
Welcome back, TZ!
Well, time to start the playoff push, as we have the most favorable schedule in the NBA – more home games than anyone!
I had two wishes for this team this year – play hard and make the last two minutes of the game mean something. I think that they are 3 for 3 on the former, but 1 for 3 on the latter. Hopefully, like most NBA teams (especially the mediocre ones), we will see a much more competitive team on the home floor.
Your Sacramento Kings – undefeated in the month of November!
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Wish it were so, but
as I wrote in your exellent post forecasting the Kings record, they’re new to each other and new to the systems, and they can’t beat anybody on talent along. I hoped that by January they could start putting it together. But, after watching some of PW’s bizzare rotations, I seriously wonder if we will have a better winning percentage then last year by January.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
Impressed with the Spurs moves
Now I can see why the Spurs are seen to have made the best off season moves. Adding their new players just made this team serious competition for the Fakers. While I hate to see my team lose it is good to know that the LA Kobes (aka Fakers) have some competition in the West.
Well
this is going to be a long, long season.
"Are you tryin to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"
Tough way to start
but not the end of the world. I doubt anyone was expecting greatness to be taking place. My only hope is that there is growth and progress being made as time goes on.
Very interesting comments by Reke though. I cant recall many rookies saying anything like that. One of the big things I worried about this team was it didnt seem to have a natural leader on it, but I may have been very wrong. Too early to tell for sure but the signs are good.
0-3
Ya were 0-3, but we’ve played against 2 teams that are going to make the playoffs and 1 team, the Thunder, that might sneak into the 8 spot. Not to mention two teams home openers and having to play the Spurs the second night of a back to back. A tough barometer to see where we’re at. It sucks that we have to wait to have Garcia back until the all-star break, because he is such a huge upgrade in every aspect of the game over Mason. If we needed a stop on D having Tyreke, Garcia, Noc, Brok, and Thompson on the floor is a pretty good lineup!
Mason’s inability to shoot really lets defense’s sag off on him and clog the middle. Once Garcia comes back though we will have two deadly shooters on the outside for tyreke to kick out too. Too bad we have to wait until Feb :(
I guess rookies not know that their supposed to utter cliche's instead of the truth.
You only have to watch the first 3 minutes of the game. Duncan picked Tyreke, and May never moved. He didn’t show or even try to impede Parker, and Tyreke was helpless trying to catch up to Parker. And, the rest of the front line stood around and watched as Parket strolled to the basket. And, it wasn’t just once, it happened 2 or 3 times in the first 3 minutes.
Not that any of the bigs are that much better at defending the pick & whatever (pop, roll, stand). Maybe Hawes is the best of the bigs, but even he got caught flat footed trying to slow Parker down. The truth is the Kings don’t seem to understand how to defend picks or even to set them. On Offense the guards will more often than not run away from theit man who is setting the pick.
As for PW’s handling of Spencer, PW was on KHTK the other day and again stated that Spencer is not starting so the bench has some height. Believe it or not. But, than after the Spurs game, when someone asked about Spencer’s get numbers, PW paused for an exceptionally long time, and finally, stated that no one had a good game. So, unlike some of us, who put alot of importance on numbers, PW seems to have other priorities.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
regarding the pick&roll,
That is exactly what I was seeing. It didn’t matter who was out there. It was like the point guard and the big man were always playing opposite strategies. Usually, they were both staying with the guy that set the pick leaving wide open jumpers and easy penetration. Honestly, I would have been disappointed with that defense at the playground.
Zero TOs last 2 games for JT
That’s nice. That means none of the offensive fouls on the block, or traveling as he stumbles into a post move, that we saw so much of last season.
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
Oh, and welcome back TZ
If you are truly back this time.
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
by Kfan in Korea on Nov 1, 2009 2:21 PM PST up reply actions
JT is showing signs of improving
he seems more comfortable in the low post, although he’s not as efficent as he needs to be. But, hopefully that will come with game time experience. I like the new jump hook. It looks like his work with SAR is starting to pay off. I don’t know if it’s Truck or the fact that JT doesn’t have to compete with Spencer for Def Reb, but JT looks better on that end also. He’s boxing out better, too.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
Much more comfortable
He’s getting assists from there as well. Very good to see.
Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott
by Kfan in Korea on Nov 1, 2009 3:35 PM PST up reply actions
Those Spurs are a pretty good team ;)
We
Are not yet.
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
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