Kings vs. Wolves: Minnesota Comes Limping Into Town
by HighTops on Nov 10, 2010 7:20 AM PST
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Print(Another HighTops banger. -- TZ)
The Timberwolves arrive in Sacramento with a 1-7 record. After falling to the Kings in the Wolves' season opener, Minnesota beat Milwaukee before going on to lose their next six games, five of which were on the road. But to be fair, considering their opponents (Memphis, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, Houston and the Lakers), it’s unlikely the Kings would have done much better.
Minnesota has the worst Offensive Efficiency in the NBA with 93.1 pts per 100 possessions and is being outscored by 17.6 points. The Wolves have the worst eFG% at 42.1 and the 7th-worst turnover rate. If it wasn’t for the fact that they have the 5th-best offensive rebound rate and are holding their opponents to the 3rd-worst ORR, scoring 97 ppg would be out of the question, and their opponent would be scoring more than their 114-ppg average.
So, are the Twolves that bad or has their competition just been that good?
Yes, to both, but probably more so the competition. Of the seven players who have taken double-digit attempts from three-point range, only Luke Ridnour (41.7%) and Sebastian Telfair (37.5%) are shooting above 33%. But in the team's earlier game against the Kings, Minny outscored the Kings both at the rim and from beyond the arc.
The Wolves were 8-18 from three-point range and of the seven players who took three-point attempts only Wayne Ellington and Wes Johnson shot below 50% eFG%. And, at the rim, the Wolves were 15-21 for 71.5%. With eight of nine players shooting better than 50% at the rim, only Beasley, who was 1-3, shot below 50%. Of course, the Kings were without Samuel Dalembert and Tyreke Evans, who will both be starting this time around. The Wolves will be without Ridnour, who is out with a strained hamstring. But overall, we haven’t shown that we are ready to take any team for granted.
It’s unlikely that the Kings will get to the free throw line 47 times, like they did in the first game. But they do need to attack the basket, which should create defensive problems for Darko Milicic, Nikola Pekovic and Kosta Koufos. Minny can be scored on, but the Kings should slow down the pace more to their style, which is around 95 possessions per game. They were around 105 in the last matchup. But this game is more than likely going to be won or lost on the glass. Minny scored 35 fast break points on 35 defensive rebounds and 13 turnovers. Their 2nd chance points off almost 18 offensive rebounds per game are making up for poor jump shooting.
Take our time in the half court and get high percentage shots. Send help to block out on Kevin Love and keep him off the glass as much as possible. Someone needs to get back as soon as we put up a shot to defend the fast break. Last time it was Carl Landry on the offensive glass, hopefully this time it will be Dalembert on the defensive glass, too.
So far, we’ve been playing from behind, and until that stops it’s difficult to pick a win margin, but a win it will be.
(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)
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Nice write up
I think this game is what the Kings need. In fact, these next 5 games could determine a lot from a confidence standpoint. Minny should be a win. Phoenix is beatable. I wish they’d trade Steve Nash to the Knicks already so he can be back with Amare and D’Antoni. Detroit should be another win as well as New Jersey two games later. The Knicks game in between should be a tough one. If the Kings win the three games they should and take one of the games against Phoenix or the Knicks that might help build some swagger going into games against the Hornets, Jazz, and Clippers. Let’s hope!
Nice write up, HT
"What the fuck did I do?" - McNulty
Yeah, it's hard to see us losing this game
but you know that Minny has a big red circle on the calendar around this one. Even putting aside the fact that we beat them in their home opener without Tyreke, I’m sure they look at the Kings as one of the few teams that they can consider “beatable”. In any case, even if Minny somehow comes out with their best effort of the season, we’d have to play pretty bad to lose to them at home, especially since Ridnour is out (who was their best player the first time we played). Also, I’m glad we have this guy:
"If you're going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the audience." -Geoff Petrie
by AnotherStupidSN on Nov 10, 2010 6:42 AM PST reply actions 7 recs
They played pretty well last night.
"We're not talking about me and Darko in the same sentence." - Chris Webber vs KAHN!
by caseycheesecake on Nov 10, 2010 7:49 AM PST up reply actions
And we have looked nothing but sluggish (bordering on disinterested) lately.
"The Kings have nothing to lose but their games."
Very nice write-up, HT.
Lots of good information, and solid sensibility about the T-wolves record, given the gauntlet of tough opponents they’ve had to run.
Ridnour looked like an all-star against us last time, I won’t miss seeing him out there.
And now, an endless litany of recycled Kahn/CWebb/Darko jokes. StR is a green website!
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen. And for a limited time, every third person who follows me on Twitter (andy_sims) gets a free ice cream cone.
Which I will eat.
Some day, our team will be good enough that I won't have to pick on the lesser teams to feel better about the season
Today is not that day.
"If you're going to lead the orchestra, you have to turn your back on the audience." -Geoff Petrie
by AnotherStupidSN on Nov 10, 2010 7:09 AM PST up reply actions 7 recs
I just might add that to my sig line, real nice job keeping it real
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
What - you think that the site would be better off if we just laid those old jokes to rest?
Good luck.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on Nov 10, 2010 7:44 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Nice preview HT
I’ll add. Second night of a back-to-back for Minny with Love putting up 23 and 24 in a loss to the [Redacted]. Go Kings!
in Vancouver, BC
Although we have played two teams on the second day of their back-to-back schedule recently
… and still lost to both.
"The Kings have nothing to lose but their games."
Gameplan
If I’m Westphal, my goal is to attack Kevin Love. Rambis has been annoyed by Love’s defensive effort, or lack thereof, resulting in stupidly limited playing time for Love. Get Rambis frustrated with Love’s defense, and get Rambis to play his best player for only half the game.
Never forget, I'm an idiot.
Dude, don't get me started on Kevin Love
I could rant forever and ever. He’s average 17/13 in 28 minutes. That’s like 22/17 per 36 minutes. Dude is playing awesome basketball and he’s still in Rambis’ dog house? I understand his defense sucks. But his defense has always sucked. It makes no sense for him to be replaced by a “better defender” when that better defender won’t score or rebound as well.
"What the fuck did I do?" - McNulty
The two things I'd like to see addressed are perimeter defense and boxing out Kevin Love
I’m worried Love will absolutely destroy us with offensive rebounds if Landry defends him. I’d like to see if Dalembert can minimize Love. I’m not worried about Manna—Landry should be good enough to cover him until Jackson/Thompson comes in.
Dalembert is going to help Carl's game
Hopefully, Carl can move back to the left side where he played well, last season. And, get the ball closer to the basket than he did when he played with Cousins. Carl has averaged 5.7 attempts per game on long range 2’s and that’s not his game.
Pulling Love didn’t help Rambis last game, as Exhibit G pointed out above, but I don’t see that happening again. So, I don’t think it’s necessary to change our game, to take someone else out of theirs. Boxing out Love will be critical, so that Sammy can do his thing and control the defensive boards. But, if we take our time and take good shots, there will be fewer rebounds, so to me that’s the #1 goal.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
Agreed.
The Kings have too many of their own weaknesses that need to be addressed first. The first of which is perimeter defense.
IMHO we should, of course, try to box Kevin Love out, but shouldn’t double him too qearly or too often. Love can’t beat us by himself, and doubling him down low will again allow average perimeter players to beat us with wide open shots. Our rotating and closing out on shooters is just too slow.
I’m no coach but whenever one of our perimeter guys doubles down low, it seems like we are gambling on getting the steal/block. Unfortunately, however, whenever we roll snake-eyes, we get penalized three points.
Dally can handle Love, and DMC should be able to keep him from going too nuts. Let not let mediocre players beat us.
But hey, what do I know? I’m just a jerk with a keyboard.
"The Kings have nothing to lose but their games."
15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal. 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 blocks, and 1 steal.
Darko’s lines from his last two games against the Kings.
I predict JT will never breathe through his nose.
none of which were against our new starting center
Umm... I thought we were officially referring to Voison as the Chick Replacing Amick at the Paper? or CRAP, for short.
by sac_faithful on Nov 10, 2010 6:38 PM PST up reply actions
I only hope some things were learned
from bitchslapping that Memphis laid on them. That game ended with Sac looking like a confused mess.
I've said it before...
this is just the type of game that will go down to the wire. We need to play to our capabilities, not to the other teams level. Oh, and defending the perimeter and hitting free throws would help too!
Happy Birthday to me!
Purveyor of Bull Plop
Dear Kings,
Win by 20+ tonight. No more of this close shit. It’s not good for my health.
Love
Devoted Fan from freaking Connecticut.
by shlyank on Nov 10, 2010 11:40 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I looked on a map
But I couldn’t find Freaking. Is it near Hartford?
StR Token Female
by LeaguePassAddict on Nov 10, 2010 12:12 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Ok well we know Minnesota is failing on the PG front, Ridnour and Flynn are out leaving only Telfair, this bodes very well for us..We only really need to double up on Love when he is on the floor, and as long as whomever is on love pulls him away from the basket, Reke will be unstoppable basically. I really like this matchup for us, and think especially with the 2 injuries, we really should have this game pretty easy
Founder of team Omté Caspeen
Everyone needs to get off of Darko
He’s never played well under high expectations. It’s when people expect the least from him that they’re surprised by his incredibly mediocre game. This whole “he’s like a delicious sweet bread from God’s own bakery” thing is probably pretty tough on him. If only there were someone out there with the wisdom and the courage to help Darko. To give him liberty from this burden!
"What the fuck did I do?" - McNulty
Well we achieved 2 or my 3 key points
We held Love to only 1 offensive rebound. And the Kings held Minnesota to ZERO fast break points. The Twolves entered the game scoring an average of 96.9ppg and we only allowed them 98 pts even with Beasley scoring 42. Although we did allow them to shoot 47% from the field which is 8% higher than their average coming into the game.
So, obviously the Kings didn’t score as well as they had been averaging. They’ve only scored 91 against Memphis and 89 against the Twolves after averaging 107 in their first 5 games. And, while it’s easy to blame the turnovers, Four turnovers more than Minny and 5 more than Memphis, doesn’t account for the total point deficit.
We’re only averaging 44% from the field over the last 2 games. So, when you turnover the ball 39 times and only get 72 shot attempts in one game and 79 in the other, you can’t afford to shoot the few attempts you get at a below average rate. But, we did, and that’s why we lost. I think it’s safe to say that the 5 for 20 shooting of Carl, Tyreke, Garcia and JT is where we lost it. Although, missing 12 of 32 FT’s contributed too.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
The greatest impact player in NBA History - Tim Donaghy
That shooting makes me wanna vomit
Then again, it gives some hope as well. Tyreke’s only shot 20% or less twice last season, so it’ll be rare for him to shoot so poorly again.
"What the fuck did I do?" - McNulty
Same with Carl really
He’s super efficient so it shouldn’t be a problem in the future. JT’s scoring will be anyone’s guess
"What the fuck did I do?" - McNulty
Carl's efficient when he's near the basket
But he keeps shooting mid-range jumpers.
Dunking Dutchman
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