Loss That Means Everything and Nothing
by Ziller on Apr 2, 2009 6:19 AM PDT
in Recaps
36 comments
In a realist sense, no game means anything for the Kings. Whether the Kings end up as the worst or second-worst team in the league is more a matter of fate than results at this point -- teams win close games, and they lose close games. The Kings have been in several close games of late, and you figure Washington has a few left in them, too. It's not about quality at this point: the Kings and Wizards (and toss the Grizzlies in too) are all awful, almost equally awful. The largest share of ping pong balls will essentially be decided randomly, with an edge to Sacramento.
But this game served as much of a microcosm as Tuesday's loss to New Orleans. To wit:
* No defense. At all. Attempts at defense, sure, most notably in the form of Jason Thompson, Andres Nocioni, Francisco Garcia, and a couple times Kevin Martin. I mean, the Warriors scored 143 points on about 123 possessions. The overtime session and naturally high speed of the Golden State offense didn't inflate things much. BAD defense. I don't know who you replace to fix it -- Monta Ellis went ballistic, and Kelenna Azubuike was rather insane. The switch-on-every-pick strategy is a disaster; I love J.T., but I really don't enjoy watching him cover Ellis on the perimeter. BAD IDEA.
* The failure of small ball. A few defensive rebounds in the last half-quarter would have been helpful. Hawes, who finished the game with one foul, played 21 minutes. He had a couple of bad turnovers, he had trouble finishing in the lane inexplicably. But he's basically one of your three or four best players. STOP PLAYING INTO THE OPPONENT'S GAME PLAN! I mean Hell, the guy hit three threes (in three attempts) in the first half ...
* Borderline stupid late-game execution. The last two minutes of overtime ... I want to erase it from my memory forever.
* KEVIN F---ING MARTIN. Good God Almighty. Fifty points with a True Shooting percentage of 74%. Offense at the two-guard spot is ... not a problem.
-----
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Bad teams must keep short memories. But management needs to understand the problems here, as they pop up again and again, like demonic moles dodging every whack attempt. This hammer ain't working, bub. Time for another.
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Switching on every pick??
Why is that necessary at this point? If they are going to be playing bad defense anyways, shouldn’t they be doing it correctly??
by otis29 on Apr 2, 2009 6:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Not to harp on this one point..
But WHY sit Hawes for the entire 4th quarter and most of OT?
Guess when Ellis started driving to the bucket for easy points. Guess when we couldn’t buy a rebound. Guess when JT started committing bad fouls. Guess when the offense stopped moving the ball.
And WHY the sudden spike in minutes for McCants? It’s not like he is a great shooter or great defender. But suddenly here he is getting crucial minutes down the stretch in tight games.
I know that Nocioni was in foul trouble, but Hawes should have been on the floor. Nellie didn’t have the personnel available to guard both the young bigs. They could have been wreaking havoc inside instead of McCants, Beno and Nocioni trying to drive into the paint and getting stripped or blocked. Or just missing. Yeah, I’m lookin’ at you, Rashad.
Unless this Natt is doing this deliberately (losing close games) he’s a seriously bad bad bad bad bad head coach that apparently no amount of screaming at my television can fix.
Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.
by LeaguePassAddict on Apr 2, 2009 7:00 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs
SERIOUSLY!
why play McSelfish when you could have had two big guys out there dominating the boards!?
if Thompson could get 19 rebounds how many do you think Hawes could have had if he would have played over 21 minutes!?
by Brian5517209 on Apr 2, 2009 9:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Natt is done.
His game time decisions are beyond awful. No chance he’s back next year. So, for now, let’s just be content with him doing his ping pong ball magic. Our path to the number one pick goes straight through Coach Natt. Here’s to stupid decision after stupid decision, coach!!
by Kusian on Apr 2, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ditto
Kings rule! (They are royalty - right?)
by dalt99 on Apr 2, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah Kus
Except, unless Amick reports accurately, (and he may be wrong on this—but he’s pointing out that Natt is still in the mix), how many times does it take for Natt to prove he’s not really a NBA head coach?
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....
by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope you're right
The evidence is there.
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....
by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can't agree more
The only reason any team should ever play Nellie ball is if they are coached by Nellie himself. If you play into his hand it’ll bite you in the ass, kind of like the ‘07 Mavs. Spencer should’ve played meaningful minutes. He was having a decent game, but they had nothing to counter him with.
www.mancancook.net
by vfettke on Apr 2, 2009 7:10 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Grudge match?
In head-to-head matchups vs. Monta since the 2007 Most Improved Player voting, Martin is now averaging 30 points/game on .632 TS%.
Then again, he is being guarded by Monta Ellis …
by jgurney on Apr 2, 2009 7:49 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
all offensive stats
don’t count when playing the Warriors
by Brian5517209 on Apr 2, 2009 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's funny because
it sure seemed like the big games of LeBron and Kobe against the Knicks counted, so I’d say this counts too. Besides Kings players don’t get the benefit of playing against the Kings defense.
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 2, 2009 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This IS a real problem
* No defense. At all. Attempts at defense, sure, ][ The switch-on-every-pick strategy is a disaster; I love J.T., but I really don’t enjoy watching him cover Ellis on the perimeter. BAD IDEA.
What to do? I think it requires both a lot of coaching And someone being exchanged, pick a position, for a player who thinks defense first – and hope it rubs off, becomes contagious.
Everyone knows that I think (unlike Peaches) that defense is built from the inside – out. But I’d be willing to accept just about anything that involves some D for next yr.
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 2, 2009 9:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
you could also make the case...
that defense begins with good ball pressure. Our ability to pressure the ball and fight through screens has been drastically diminished with the departures of Ron-Ron and Salmons. I like the idea of getting a guy like Darren Collison who plays killer defense at the PG position.
by misterbrister on Apr 2, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Watched the Madness Firsthand
My buddy hit me up in the morning yesterday with the proposition of going to the game last night and for $10 tickets how could I say no? Well I got my money’s worth due to the pace and offense on both sides but some very bad decisions were made down the stretch.
It perplexes me as well why Hawesome didn’t see the floor during the last 20 minutes of the game until Noc and JT had fouled out and the momentum was lost. He got beat a couple times by Ellis and other guards but it was the bad defensive switches that but our bigs in the wrong position NEARLY EVERY PLAY! Hawes was on fire from 3 and it really would have helped to stretch the floor late in the game. JT was hustling and fighting for rebounds but his shot wasn’t falling from the top of the key. Nocioni was far from feugo as well.
At the end of both regulation and overtime we cursed so loud when Beno put his head down and drove the line in typical Beno fashion. Luckily the shot at the end of the 4th fell but it was inexcusable that he didn’t look to Garcia or KMart on either play.
Now for the good. K Mart just dismantled them for 48+ minutes. Nearly ever time he handled the ball he either drew a foul or faked them out and got a pretty open shot. I’m youtubing to try and find the one spin move/drive he had that even got the warriors fans around me clapping. Garcia was also money, especially from downtown. I just want the ball in his hands every possession.
JT is a beast. He is fighting for his life under the boards and is never giving up. I really like the emotion I see out of him (and Hawes) particularly when they make mistakes. They know what they need to be doing, now they are just working on the execution. The exact development I’ve been wanting to see all year.
Last positive. Ping, Pong. Ping, Pong. I hate to acknowledge it but as the Kings fans were walking deflated out of Oracle Arena last night the only hope we had left was one loss closer to Griffin.
by Doubl3Dos3 on Apr 2, 2009 9:44 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Exactly...
Previous years when the Kings would lose it would suck. Now, who cares, at this point, a team like this winning, serves no purpose. We need Blake Griffin!
Member of play JT and Donte Greene 40 mins a game club.
by Sac King on Apr 2, 2009 10:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I care if we lose
I HATE losing. But a three man rotation of Hawes, Griffin and JT backing both of them up . . . . that could be very very good.
I’m still not sure about defensively…..
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 2, 2009 10:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup.
It still hurts to lose but it is a pretty good silver lining. The more I watch the young boys thrive and Beno suck the more torn I am though. The infinite debate…Do we go for the best young front line in the league or get a solid starting squad with a PG? I guess nothing would be better than Griffin AND Lawson.
by Doubl3Dos3 on Apr 2, 2009 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beno actually playing pretty well lately
(I’m not saying that will stick)
but averaging about 7-8 assists a game over the last 5-6 games. I understand the concern about lowering his head and going in that was pointed out, but more often he has been doing that and making some pretty good dishes after penetrating. Hey, we’d be criticising him if he didn’t occasionally look for his own shot too. He’s had (the whole team) such a bad season that only the negatives seem to stand out much.
There’s that warning to teams drafting high about picking for need rather than picking the best player, its burned a lot of teams historically.
Lets hope we get the #1, that’d be a good problem to have. Now if we get #2 or #3? Sharpen the knives, its going to be rough.
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 2, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Guess What?
Sunday it’s rematch time in Arco Arena against Golden State. How many minutes will Spencer play in that game I wonder?
Kings rule! (They are royalty - right?)
by dalt99 on Apr 2, 2009 10:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
25 is my guess.
Over/Under. What do you think?
by mayfieldcol on Apr 2, 2009 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Depends
Is that with 3 overtimes or 4?
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
by Exhibit G on Apr 2, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
my guess is 23-25 in 2 OT.
There can only be one Noce!
by NoceOne on Apr 2, 2009 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another game I haven't been able to watch due to work
But I looked at the box score and I must say that to me JT’s 19 boards are more impressive to me than K-Marts 50 (He’ll do that multiple times before his career is over).
But Hawes with 21 minutes is inexcusable. Natt keeps playing goddamn small ball and I’m sick to death of it. The other night against New Orleans, we had Noc as our Center for at least 10 combined game minutes. Was it a coincidence then that many of Nawlin’s points came in the paint during that stretch?
Natt needs to go. I don’t care where.
by Aykis16 on Apr 2, 2009 11:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
There were a Whole lotta shots thrown up for rebound opportunities
about 20 more for each team than is typical – but a nice line for JT, he took advantage of it.
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 2, 2009 12:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If JT was still in
And McCants had less possessions, the Kings would have won.
by CloudyEyes on Apr 2, 2009 12:45 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, I guess one positive is that we play pretty decent SNSB*
but that’s not we’re looking for from the Kings. At this point in the season, at almost any point in the season after Reggie was fired the wins haven’t mattered from a strategic perspective. As I’ve said before, it’s an been an Alice in Wonderland season where wins are losses and losses are wins (at least when it comes to collecting ping pong balls). Personally, I would have preferred the win but the loss really only disappointed me in that it kept the kids from savoring the win after playing so dang hard all game.
Another positive when looked at from a broad perspective is that as a team we have been playing hard recently and we haven’t seen the team mail it in as we have so often this season. Also, when we want to we can keep up with the uptempo teams if not necessarily beat them.
Nocs was clearly not on his game last night and like most of you I have no idea why Spence rode the pine for most of the game after starting the first quarter on fire from the 3 pt, line. in fact it was our 3 pt. shots that got us back in the game after it looked like it was going to be another game where we were going to be bringing ourselves back from a 20 pt, hole dug in the first quarter.
Another thing I don’t get is that Cisco and Nocs have been playing great ball lately, especially when they are on the floor together, last time not so much time together. McCants, go figure.
Beno played a good game last night, for Beno, in fact he has been playing well the last 3 games and since I’m positive he’s going to be back next season regardless of who we draft, I hope he can start it playing like he did last night. His end to end run for a layup late in the game was a classic and is symptomatic of what’s wrong with both teams. No D. None. Nada. Nil.
*Stupid Nellie Small Ball.
"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley
by Bluejohn on Apr 2, 2009 2:34 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
By the way
GREAT 50 pt GAME FOR SPEEEEEED!!!!
how ’bout some props?!
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 2, 2009 6:33 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Mad ups for K-Mart
The quietest 50 pointer ever – no muss, no fuss – show me the ring, job done.
Awesome display
by batso on Apr 2, 2009 9:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
When you got the goods you got the goods
And, Speed has got the goods.
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....
by pookeyguru on Apr 2, 2009 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Monkey on his back
It’s too bad Kmart didn’t make those last two shots, the open three from the corner that he short-armed and the drive into the lane that he turned into a one-handed fadeaway over Turiaf. He makes one of those, and we probably win. Also, I don’t know how many travels he had late in the game and in overtime, but again, cut those out and we probably get the job done.
Stats are great, but I am sure he’d prefer 10 points and a win. At least I hope so.
"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."
by coolcatreportdotcom on Apr 3, 2009 12:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah me too CC
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....
by pookeyguru on Apr 3, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It doesn't matter really now
But I love the Caddyshack reference. Wish I noticed it the first time I read the thing.
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....
by pookeyguru on Apr 7, 2009 6:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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