Omri Casspi Stars as Kings Nudge Cavs 107-104

He’s finally got the kind of frontcourt partners that allow him to come into the game with his ears pinned back, but he almost looks like he’s trying to find the flow.

I’d probably rather wait a few games before we start changing the starting lineups, but I like the idea too.

His set shot is vastly improved. Off the dribble? Not so much.

Props to you all. Love the title and the index as well

chasm.

Indeed.

I can be as critical as anybody, but I got to hand it to you, you seek out the negative like a old man with a metal detector finding bottle caps on a beach. A lot of looking and finding little of value.

First, you were harping about our ball movement in pre-season. Well, we were without Beno and Tyreke played 20 minutes or less. Not factored into your analysis. In 3 games, with those guys playing regular minutes we are averaging 108 points and 1.8 assists/TO. So those concerns are unfounded thus far.

Then, you slammed on Omri for one poor shooting night, and claiming favoritism by PW. How is not giving Omri one start in the preseason when Omri’s expressly stated goal was to earn the SF spot granting to him favoritism? Omri was never given a fair shake. But I commend PW for recognizing the err of his ways and correcting it expeditiously. The Omri Era has begun! Donte belongs on the bench waving a towel and counting his calories, not his minutes played.

Omri was pressing in NJ because for all he knows PW is going to yank him out again with his schizo decision making. Last night he settled down and we saw the real player Omri can be and will be. He has all the tools to be a star in the league which I have been saying since last year.

There are valid concerns about this team but Omri is the least of them. There is very little weakness to his game. His foot speed is tremendous, his mid range game is polished. His defensive anticipation is terrific. His mental approach is mature. And yet the Donte bandwagoners don’t seem to see it.

And Omri is not a good shooter. He is a great shooter. (Not based on last night 6 for 7, but based on his consistent shooting form and release, ability to focus, get to spots and set, and put misses aside and play the next play.) If Omri misses 5 in a row like he did in NJ, I want him to keep shooting. I cannot say that for anyone else on the roster, except Beno, Carl, and DMC.

Now you are bemoaning our defense. Well it has been bad, but guess what? Guys in the NBA are tough to guard! I am not sure what you are watching, because DMC and Carl and Darnell Jackson have done solid job on P&R.

Tyreke can do better, but he will always be challenged to fight through picks because he is so damn big, it is not as easy for him to slide through like quicker guards. And much of the time the idea on P&R defense is to dare to guard to shoot over the top, and keep him out of the lane. When Tyreke goes under the pick often that is the game plan. I think a lot of times when you are perceiving poor defense the Kings actually executed their defense strategy and the opponent just made the play.

Now our defense can improve. Defense usually occurs in spurts. And I think the Kings can and will put together better defensive spurts, like we saw start of 3rd quarter. And I think PW will toy with the idea of starting Sammy D soon to set a defensive tone for 48 minutes, thereby validating my pre-season Starting Five:

Hello, Carly

PW will get it right, he just as dial-up internet and forgot to bookmark this site on his web browser ;)

The plan looked like dribble down to ten and then figure something out.

Don’t remember which site, sorry. But it’s his reaction after he knocked that ball out of bounds late in the third. He did this little hand-over-face doubled-over dramatic thing that made me laugh. We need a GIF of that, too.