Shoot-out at Arco
by Tom Ziller on Feb 23, 2009 10:26 PM PST
in Recaps
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PrintChris Paul won. Chris Paul always wins.
That fourth quarter turned out to be pretty exciting, with Paul's incessant easy jumpers and easier lobs to Tyson Chandler beating out Kevin Martin's hard-won jumpers and harder-won trips to the line. 27/13 for Paul, 32/5 for Martin.
If the Kings don't watch lots of tape on how to defend the Hornets' pick-and-oop play -- which N.O. executed to perfection at least four or five times -- then ... well, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if they don't watch lots of tape on it. That was Game 57, and there wasn't exactly a gang of rookies out there. Figure it out PLEASE.
But really, this is the difference between the Kings and everyone else: where other teams get easy buckets, Sacramento has to work HARD for every make. Further, other teams easy buckets are made easier against the defensively atrocious Kings, and their hard shots are made easy. There's a built-in degree of difficulty every time the Kings take the court, and it's enormous. And it creates plenty of opportunity for defeat.
Notes ...
* Rashad McCants had as many assists as FGAs. I'm not saying. I'm just saying.
* If the Kings would have won, Andres Nocioni might have found himself in possession of Sacramento's collective heart. His defense on David West down the stretch was both fiery and tough.
* Jason Thompson got called for one truly unbelievable foul (his third ... in the first quarter). He didn't mutter a syllable of complaint. (He also didn't play much after that. A shame, because he took it at West with 9/4 in 12 minutes.
* The defensive rebounding was awful in the first half, due (no doubt) to Thompson's foul trouble, which (for some reason) forced Natt into playing a littany of small forwards at the four. Only the starting line-up (replicated to open the third) had featured the traditional two bigs. New Orleans went only spot minutes without a true power forward on the floor. This is why rebounding was a problem.
* Regarding rebounding, Spencer Hawes did cover up the deficit in the second half. He finished with a game-high 14.
* At one point, the Kings had Bobby Jackson, McCants, Martin and Nocioni sharing the court with Cedric Simmons. The entire Sacramento metropolitan area does not have enough basketballs ...
* Oh yes, Simmons. He'll be making an appearance on Basketbawful on Tuesday. Six minutes with only a missed FGA to his name. Inauspicious start, man.
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This is a game we can build on.
But it was a better game than the Mavs game and hopefully, we’ll get even better by the next game.
Whoops all the content got lost. Here it is.
KMart bounced back after a 1-6 first quarter. I don’t know how clutch he was in the 4th quarter but tonight, he was pretty clutch. Noce had one of his better games and seems to be fitting in nicely. Hawes and Garcia made a bigger impact in the 2nd half and just need to be more consistent with the effort.JT needs to work on his defensive positioning and to avoid early foul trouble.
We need more production from Udrih, 5 pts and 2 assist plus 3 rebs is not good. Greene and BJax need to contribute too.
It's progress
Agreed, Pat. Nocioni sure looked like a nice pickup, all told, and I feel like if McCants hadn’t gotten fouled and thrown down that dunk in the first half, he might have gone off a bit.
Z’s right, those alley-oops were just ridiculous, but they were in this thing, and were fun to watch.
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
TZ was kinda tough on the guys.
I don’t know why Diogu didn’t get a few minutes or why we went soooo small most of the game. Heck Donte has some size, whats to lose?
Noce is a keeper based on this game, lots of effort that seemed contagious.
Why not try these lines a few times?
Cisco, KM, Noce, Diogu, Hawes.
Beno, KM, Donte, JT, Hawes
Nice job by Hawes tonight by the way, see – he made both my line-ups!
Why does he suddenly seem like the grownup between those two? Last few games anyway – he has been.
So imitate the action of the tiger!
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect,
Now set the teeth - and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
Natt will get to those rotations.
It’s just with 15 guys and only 5 position, there are about 225 possible combinations. So, it’s going to take some time to get to all of them.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
I wish I didn't have to work late tonight so I could have watched it
Sounds like it was a good effort from our guys, especially only losing by 7 to the Hornets with 7 new players. Nocioni seemed to do well. I’m also proud that JT didn’t complain, even if it was a horrible call.
All in all, if he hadn’t gotten into foul trouble, the Kings might have been able to pull out a win here. And it seems like Beno was totally outclassed, which is very understandable. It is Chris Paul of course. Good game to build on.
I predict a win against Charlotte.
Great Stuff
Loved the recap TZ. I completely agree.
When I saw McCants, Jackson, Martin and Nocioni on the floor together, I knew it was disaster. McCants and Jackson basically play the same role for the Kings. Bobby may be a tougher defender and Rashad may drive more but they both look to score when the ball is in their hands. They shouldn’t be on the floor together. Ever. I believe that the two assists that McCants DID have were both to Kevin Martin, so maybe those two have some instant chemistry. I saw Rashad especially, looking for Kev. That could bode well for him. Feed the star.
Kings rule! (They are royalty - right?)
Will the home floor once again make us proud? This may be a start
Team effort was there even though the defensive lapses were embarrassing. I give a gameball to Noci for demonstrating cojone power despite an overmatched Kings defense. KMart kept his head in the game – he has such confidence in his abilities he felt given enough time he would come through – and he did – with that spectacular 4th Quarter.
Cisco – has a little too much confidence in his game IMO, but again, can’t knock the effort. JT showed the ability to play through some adversity but 4 fouls in 12 mins means pine time. As for Beno – he is playing much better and the TO’s for him (2) and the rest of the team were a reasonable number (14). Two months ago TO’s were one of the dominant stories of every game (the other was 3 pt defense, which still needs improvement).
I see Natt getting rotationally creative – like Jackson Pollock – for the next 5-8 games until he settles down, and has some practices. Should be interesting watching Natt and Dunleavy duel it out @ ARCO this Friday. after watching Larry Brown on Wednesday.
jackson pollock similarities
Hopefully it doesn’t drive Natt to drinking like it did the Artiste.
by misterbrister on Feb 24, 2009 9:18 AM PST up reply actions
This
But really, this is the difference between the Kings and everyone else: where other teams get easy buckets, Sacramento has to work HARD for every make.
The Kings defense is terrible, no doubt. Spencer and Beno were getting abused by Paul and Chandler constantly – they just couldn’t seem to figure that play out.
But on offense, the Kings are still being hindered by Natt IMO. The team may run a set for the first five or six seconds, but then invariably the “play” falls apart and someone has to freelance to get a shot. I’d be happy to blame this on the addition of all the new players, but it was the same crap before these guys got here.
It’s a testament to the effort the Kings players put forth that they were even in the game in the fourth quarter.
Overall, I thought the team’s effort and intensity were excellent last night. I think a good coach would have gotten that team to victory.
Mambo King
Man I hope the "Malooves" are willing to spend some doh on the next coach.
It’s time now where this next coaching selection has to be the guy we want around for the next 5-6 years while we make our run at a title. Giving 1st timers a “shot” was fine over the last 2-3 seasons, but we’ve got a reasonable core at this point and it’s now time to start bringing it all together.
Another mistake on the coach this summer could set us back an extra year or two.
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 Feb 24, 2009 5:07 AM PST up reply actions
If you ask me, the biggest thing the players need is someone they can trust.
They need to feel like the coach knows what he’s talking about. Honestly, I don’t know if I see that with Natt.
m*****f***ing c***s***ing peanut butter and jelly!! f*** f*** f***!!!
And inherent in that trust, of course, is the fact that the coach actually does know what he's doing (which is really the most important thing)
m*****f***ing c***s***ing peanut butter and jelly!! f*** f*** f***!!!
Additionally
Last night was clear evidence that the NBA is still the worst officiated of the major American sports. What an inept crew we had…
Mambo King
Yeah, I second that.
There were some horrible calls on both teams – way too many of them.
With that said, they weren’t as bad as the average Pac-10 Basketball crew – those guys are definitely the worst group of refs going right now.
Befuddled
If Spence is going to “show” on the pick and roll then somebody has to rotate to Chandler. It wasn’t just Spence and Beno getting abused: it was the whole team and the f&^%*ing coaching staff. At least, make Paul choose a different option. As it was, the option was either alley oop for an easy bucket or a wide open free throw line shot. Very frustrating to watch.
Garcia may have been the biggest problem.
He was afraid to leave Posey open in the corner and rotated late (or not at all) every time they ran that play. After the first time or two, a few guys (I believe Hawes) said something to him but he continued to rotate slowly. Natt should have pulled him after the second time he failed to rotate – instead he was left out there down the stretch and continued to rotate slowly (if at all).
I agree
This team hasn’t the slightest clue about rotation currently…but at the very least they should have given Paul some different looks. Most likely, he would have found the right guy (because he’s that damn good), but hell – make him work for it a bit.
Mambo King
Absolutely
They should have tried to trap him near half court occassionally just to get the ball out of his hands. They also should have come with the occassional double team. Just show something different. To just let them casually stroll down and run the pick and roll nealry every time was tough to watch.
For the record, I’m not a Natt fan. His rotations stink, and he seems to have a difficult time with real time adjustments.
natt
is such a bad coach I hope they hire someone decent over the summer.
Hope
by Ultrakingsfan on Feb 24, 2009 9:37 AM PST up reply actions
Hard to call it a rotation when people are not rotating.
As bad as Natt is, the players certainly deserve a lot of blame too (at least those not rotating). If we can see from our seats/couches that someone should try to rotate in front of Chandler before he catches his fourth straight alley-oop then it should be even more obvious to Cisco. It wasn’t like it happened a few times at different points in the game, when he was guarding different players in different positions on the floor – so unless Natt told him to stay with Posey no matter way, that doesn’t say a lot for Garcia’s effort or basketball IQ.
I meant
his player rotations. But your point about defensive rotations stands. I should add, however, that Cisco’s effort is unquestionable. His decision-making is sometimes questionable, however. And, I’ll admit that I want to throw things at my TV when I see wide-open 3 pt shooters. However, in this case, I’ll take the 40% chance of somebody hitting an open three versus the 99.9% chance that Chandler will dunk off a perfectly thrown alley oop pass from The Pint Size Man of Steel.
Hmmmm..?
I wonder if Adleman was still the coach, would he have “found a way to win” this game?
Disclaimer: I am PRO-SACKINGS.
Perhaps
Rick’s a damn good coach. They would still be awful defensively, but there would be a coherent offensive strategy.
Mambo King
by otis29 on Feb 24, 2009 1:20 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Not going here
But I disagree.
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.....
I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....
The commies are winning Kusian
Jes sayin. :P
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.....
I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....
PKYGRU You disagree with....
which comment?
That Adleman is a good coach?
or
That the defense would still be bad?
or
Both?
or
That Jordin Sparks should not have won American Idol in Season 7 and it should have been Blake Lewis who hails from Bothel ,Washington of whom you are the rumored We Love Blake fan club president?
or
All of the Above?
Disclaimer: I am PRO-SACKINGS.
He doesn't want to get into 'water over the bridge'
Adelman is gone – lets move on.
(though he Would have won that! ……….shit – I went there)
So imitate the action of the tiger!
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect,
Now set the teeth - and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on Feb 24, 2009 10:25 PM PST up reply actions
A while ago (if you remember--which you probably don't)
Otis and I got into a large disagreement that stemmed from who was the better coach: Musselman and Adelman. Otis took Musselman.
I don’t know that the defense would be any worse under Adelman, but I think a better offense would minimize some of the defensive struggles.
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.....
I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....
How do we disagree here?
My point was that if Adelman had been the coach of the team this season, I think that Hornets game is quite possibly a W.
And I don’t recall the argument being whether Musselman was a better coach than Adelman. I thought the guy had potential (I was clearly wrong), and I understood why Kings management didn’t resign Adelman (and I still do).
Mambo King
Hmmmmm
Okay. Fair enough.
I agree this team would have a better chance to win with Rick as the head coach. (That is going to look worse & worse as the years go on unless this next head man actually does what Rick couldn’t and win a ring.)
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.....
I am the stone that builder refused..I am the visual...The inspiration..That made lady sing the blues....I'm the spark that makes your idea bright.....The same spark that lights the dark....So that you can know your left from your right...I am the ballot in your box....The bullet in your gun...The inner glow that lets you know...To call your brother son....The story that just begun...The promise of what's to come...And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won....
Fun game to watch
I wasn’t sure whether it was the right move to let Salmons and Miller go for cap space and what I thought was little in return. Watching the game with Nocioni in the lineup with Garcia was fun basketball to watch because those guys work their asses off. Kmart had another all star level game, and I am getting excited again about Hawes development. In each of the last two games I was blown away with low post moves and that hook shot he is diplaying is a thing of beauty. Mix in the 1st pick (hopefully) and a quality coach to get these guys on the same page, and their is much to be excited about in the next couple of years.
I
know it’s only game 2, but I love me some Nocioni.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
Last night I saw what I've been hoping to see
which is a bad team playing with heart and hustle. Shaggy and Cisco played well together and and I think Noc is going to fit in well on the team. Kevin came up big in the 4th quarter and we had a chance to win it. Kevin was playing flat in the first half and his shot (actually nobodies shot) wasn’t going in.
I think TZ was a little hard on the guys in today’s post though nothing he said was wrong. We were a bad team before the trades and a bad team we remain. We are not the only team who’s had trouble with the CP3 alley oop to Chandler and in Cisco’s defense when he did rotate away from Posey tn the corner to help in the post the guy made a 3. What are you going to do?
JT’s third foul was a lousy call but it was great to see him walk back to the bench without complaint. Jason has to learn not to foul as much and not to whine when he gets called for it and I feel a lot better when Natt has the opportunity to substitute Nocs in rather Mikki Moore. I don’t know why Natt left JT in after the 2nd foul but I hope that Jason starts riding the pine more when he makes stupid touch fouls and mouths off to the refs after every call.
"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley
CP3 was Not going to lose
and he’s one of those few guys who can back that up.
So imitate the action of the tiger!
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect,
Now set the teeth - and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on Feb 24, 2009 10:26 PM PST up reply actions
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