"I know Kev can play defense, because I've been there with him. He came back early, and everybody...

"I know Kev can play defense, because I've been there with him. He came back early, and everybody could see he was limping on the court. He couldn't even dunk. … He still had his 24 points. What do you expect from a guy like that? He still went out there to compete, and he still was hurt."

Francisco Garcia, quoted by Sam Amick

almost 3 years ago Tom Ziller 20 comments 0 recs |

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There’s interesting stuff from Udrih re: Natt’s offensive system in there.

by Tom Ziller on Apr 17, 2009 5:26 AM PDT reply actions

Recommend reading the whole thing

Lot’s of good stuff in there.

To me, Udrih comes across as a whiner. If the system didn’t allow him to have the ball very much (as he claims), then why did he have so many turnovers?

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Apr 17, 2009 5:55 AM PDT up reply actions

Check out Beno's stats

not really awful. 4.7 ast / 2.2 TO, a more than 2 to 1 ratio, better numbers than last year in that area (4.3/2.3)

The only stats that went down were his 3pt% and an accompanying total % slightly. He took fewer shots so points scored went down a bit as well. Almost identical season numbers to Mario Chalmers for Miami for example, who everyone is raving about.

I’m not really defending him as I don’t think he made his teammates better most of the time but hanging this terrible season on his shoulders seems a little harsh.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect
and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Apr 17, 2009 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions

2 to 1 assist ratio isn't that good

From Amick’s article:

Udrih, a career backup with San Antonio who signed a five-year, $32 million deal last summer, finished ranked 22nd among point guards in scoring (11 points per game), 23rd in assists (4.7 per game) and 29th in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.16) among point guards who averaged at least 27 minutes per game (he averaged 31.1).

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Apr 17, 2009 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions

Huh, whats the league average ratio?

can you find that? I always thought over 2/1 was considered pretty decent for someone who has the ball so much.
I’d mention again (still not defending his season or future) that the complete lack of plays at the rim and only a so-so job of ‘catching and shooting’ on this team did affect his numbers some.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect
and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Apr 17, 2009 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions

Stats

ESPN allows you to sort by Assist ratio. Take a look.

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Apr 17, 2009 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL @ Mike MIller having a better Ast ro TO ratio

That’s pretty telling.

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

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.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 17, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

He’s become a bit of a scapegoat, but there are two things I believe he has to do next season – if he wants to be considered part of the future of this team (or any team for that reason):

1) Make outside shots
2) Improve his leadership

I’m not as concerned about the assist-to-turnover ratio as most, as I’d like to see what his numbers look like with a competent coach running an actual offense. But for a backcourt player on a roster that Geoff Petrie has put together, you HAVE to make your outside shots. That’s one thing I wasn’t so worried about with Beno prior to the season starting, but it’s been a huge weakness.

And the fingerpointing needs to end, period. Take some responsibility, just say “I have to be better” and show your team you aren’t going to throw them under the bus when things are going badly. I really don’t think the rest of the players respect him, and that is something you have to have as a point guard.

Fix these couple of issues, and we may at least have our backup point guard of the future…and maybe more still.

by otis29 on Apr 17, 2009 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

I agree

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 Apr 17, 2009 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Well...

Chalmers was a rookie, who also happens to play a lot more defense than Beno. To put it another way – would you not take Chalmers in an instant over Beno?

by cabz on Apr 17, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions

the other thing to remember before we forget about this season is

he played really well in his last five games averaging over 6 dimes per game. Big if………….if he could average 6 dimes per game over a season he would been in very good company.

Also, let’s not forget how stubborn he was at the beginning of Natt’s tenure and how Natt punished him by reducing his minutes. It’s a player’s league but it took beno a long time to come to the conclusion that Natt wasn’t going to change and that he was going to have to adapt if he wanted his minutes back.

"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley

by Bluejohn on Apr 17, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

The last few games only matter

If you’re Ike Diogu. Didn’t you get the memo?

by otis29 on Apr 17, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

This article really makes you wonder

why they didn’t shut down Martin earlier. I understand that he’s a competitor, and wanted to come back as early as possible to mitigate the on-court disaster that he was watching. And it’s easy to see why the organization didn’t want to dump more frustration on the fans this way. But this season was lost in December. He should be a month further along in his recovery, IMO.

by furious.d on Apr 17, 2009 6:08 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah, it's a tough call

He’s in the 1st year of his big deal, and Cisco just inked his deal, and you have to admire their desire try and live up to that, but yeah, the front office should be the ones to protect the long term future of the franchise. Shutting him down after the all-star break probably would’ve been the right call.

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 Apr 17, 2009 6:12 AM PDT up reply actions

As bad as attendance was, shutting Martin down in December would have made it even worse.

I’m not surprised “management” wanted him out there.

by cabz on Apr 17, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions

Attn: KMart detracters-

If Cisco comments on Kev’s toughness and determination than you need to recognize. Word out. Peace.

With the fourth pick of the draft the kings select...

by kangsfan on Apr 17, 2009 7:46 AM PDT reply actions

I think most Kings fans realize Kevin was hurt.

I have not seen many people calling him out for effort.

Beno is dead to me I really do not even think of him, so his whiny comments in the paper were no surprise.

by mayfieldcol on Apr 17, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions

"You're dead to me Freddo"

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect
and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Apr 17, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Word up to the flippin yo-yo yo

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

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.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 17, 2009 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions