It's Easy to Understand

by Tom Ziller on Apr 4, 2009 6:28 AM PDT in Recaps

The Kings beat Phoenix last week. They lost badly on Friday. As the Kings have the worst record in the league, and as the Suns are in playoff contention in a great Western Conference, this should not be particularly surprising.

Friday's loss, realistically, should be the norm. I mean, that the Kings held on for three quarters is a minor upset.

Mix in the lack of your best player, and ... this was no surprise.

Beno Udrih, for some reason, can't figure out why things went wrong.

"I really don't know what to say. ... I don't know how we can play three games good and then one game just play bad. I don't know. I really don't know. I don't know what to say, seriously."

Again, Kevin Martin didn't play Friday. He's the team best player by a wide margin. Set aside the TI-50. It's pretty easy to figure out the biggest reason for the team's demise.

But if you'd like another reason, I'll submit that (ahem) Beno Udrih himself is a big reason the Kings offense underperformed in Round 2.

Last week against Phoenix, Beno was aggressive, taking 10 FGAs and 5 FTAs in 32 minutes. Steve Nash ain't no cheese grater -- you can beat him like a drum, provided you have a pulse and two legs.

Friday night, Beno took five FGAs and two FTAs in 28 minutes. No pulse. No drum-beating.

You have to exploit mismatches in this league. Phoenix exploited Beno's bad defense, with Nash taking more shots than any other Sun. The Kings, instead, went straight at Phoenix's best defenders. Unfortunately, because Martin is injured, this is a necessity. With options limited, the Kings have rely on whoever has a pulse that given night, and whoever is feeling it. Francisco Garcia and Rashad McCants were feeling it. (Note: McCants is always feeling it.)

Why did the Kings play worse Friday than in the last three games? Beno wasn't aggressive. Martin is injured. Phoenix made their open threes, in part because Phoenix has a lot of good shooters and in part because the Sacramento defense is beyond disorganized. Maybe it's hard to see when you're right there in the trenches. Maybe Beno drank the Kool-Aid from three straight competitive games and assumed this team became good overnight.

This team did not become good overnight. There are serious defensive deficiencies from toe to top, the point guard vascillates between feisty on comatose, defensive rebounding is a major problem, about six of the top seven contributors have been largely inconsistent and the coach make adjustments as frequently as McCants makes passes. This isn't that difficult to understand.

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What's hard to understand

is all the defensive perimeter switching and sticking with that defensive philosophy after being burned repeatedly. It’s a difficult enough task for the Kings to beat other teams. Why Natt would constantly put his players in defensive miss-matches is beyond me.

I’d like to go back through the game and count how many of those Suns’ three pointers were scored over Shock or Hawes.

Frank Army

by BPaoliano on Apr 4, 2009 8:23 AM PDT reply actions

ever consider Natt is not a good coach

and that is why he allows his bigs to switch on screens then get burned or pick up fouls trying to guard a PG or SG

by Beagle12 on Apr 4, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Easy B

No killing today. Today is Saturday. Hopefully it’s sunny & nice in America’s armpit.

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 4, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Beno doesn't know what went wrong????

A thirty-five year old point guard ran past you repeatedly and either pulled up for an easy jumper while you ran by or kept going to the hoop for lay ups….all game long, until they pulled you for another mid-thirties guard with a broken face to guard the other guy. This is pretty simple Tasmanian Slovenian, you are what went wrong. If you let Nash run all over the floor he will kill you. What I’m really confused with is why Beno did ask how Mike Bibby, an equally pathetic defender, always seemed to have Nash’s number.

Hot dogs, get your hot dogs.

by jjham15 on Apr 4, 2009 8:29 AM PDT reply actions

encouraging

to see Shock and Hawes get double-doubles every night now it seems
if only McOffense would pass the ball…

by Brian5517209 on Apr 4, 2009 8:44 AM PDT reply actions

Agreed

I don’t expect to win. I just hope for progress from the bigs.

Spencer had a play last night where he flashed down low and then quicky turned and banked in a shot with the left hand. He’s starting to learn where he can get easy buckets. That made my night. (Sad but true). He’s getting better down low, learning the hard way what will get blocked and what won’t. In a couple of years, we will be very happy to have these two bigs working in the paint, but it will take time.

by R-Man on Apr 4, 2009 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Agreed

And, I liked the way JT put the ball on the floor and drove around Shaq, even if he couldn’t finish. Now, if he keeps working on that move and can do it against PF’s next year, we’ll have some major scorers down low.

"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom

by HighTops on Apr 4, 2009 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

It made mine too R-Man

That’s one thing I’ve loved about Spencer’s progression this season.

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 5, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions

Well written TZ

You’re kinda my idol, man.

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 4, 2009 11:11 AM PDT reply actions

couple of things

1 –

This team did not become good overnight. There are serious defensive deficiencies from toe to top, the point guard vascillates between feisty on comatose, defensive rebounding is a major problem, about six of the top seven contributors have been largely inconsistent and the coach make adjustments as frequently as McCants makes passes. This isn’t that difficult to understand.

2 – Ouch! The truth hurts and I hope never get on your bad side TZ – you undressed the Kings and threw ice water on their privates.

by betweentheeyes on Apr 4, 2009 11:49 AM PDT reply actions