THE SCOUTING REPORT

Here's HighTops:

I know it’s only been a week but for those who might have forgotten here’s a recap.

The Kings started the 4th down by 11 pts. With a line up of J.T., May, Donte, Cisco and Evans, the Kings made a run to get back in the game. With 7:22 left and the game tied 74-74, Paul Westphal substituted Hawes and Landry in for J.T. and May. Things went downhill after that. Evans had a lay-up blocked by Camby, Greene missed a 3, Evans missed a 3, we turned over the ball on a shot clock violation, Hawes missed a jump shot, then finally Cisco made a running hook at 4:39.  But Camby made a jumper and a tip-in, and Roy made a FT so the Kings were now down by 3, 79-76. Portland continued to score making another lay-up, a pull-up jumper, and 3 FTs. While for the Kings, Hawes and Landry had turnovers, Evans missed a lay-up, Cisco had a jumper blocked from behind by Camby, Evans had another lay-up blocked by Camby, Noc missed a 3pt shot, until mercifully with the game out of reach Evans hit a jumper with an ‘and 1’ to bring the final score to within 7 with 22 seconds left. The Kings, who closed the game with 2-for-12 shooting, had let this one get away.

"We played a really good team and had a chance to win in the last few minutes and came away dry," Westphal said. "Our poise down the stretch offensively left a lot to be desired.

"We didn't move the ball like we needed to, the last five minutes especially. We were standing around too much, fighting the shot clock too much. We had forced shots and it was not as smooth as it needs to be to get a win against a team like the Blazers."

With 2:45 left PW decided to look for more offense and substituted Noc and Beno for Hawes and Greene. The Blazers got 4 more defensive rebounds while the Kings didn’t get another rebound after that point. Neither Beno nor Noc scored and Camby was able to get his last 2 blocks. So, nothing was working for the Kings or for Westphal.    Evans was only able to get to the basket 1 time in the entire 4th quarter and that was at the 9-minute mark. The Kings guards could not penetrate the Blazers exterior defense. And couldn’t get the ball inside to our low post players except for one loose ball scrabble where Evans was able to get the ball to JT for a out of control lay-up at the 8:11 mark. 

Portland is only rated 13th in the NBA in Defensive Efficiency at 103.9 per 100 possessions, but in this game they had a 91.0 rating. So, while the Blazers defense on Tyreke and Beno was quite good, the 3-guard set with Tyreke, Beno and Cisco should have been able to do more. Our poor guard play had as much to do with our lack of scoring at the end of the 4th as Portland’s defense did. And at some point in the future, the Kings are going to have to find ways to get the front line involved in the offense without having Tyreke drive under the rim to do it.   

While the Blazers defense, especially in the 4th quarter, played a part in the final score, the play of the SFs had a big impact earlier in the game. Nicolas Batum and Martell Webster were 10 of 14 from the field and 5-5 at the rim.   While Donte, Noc and Omri were 2 of 14 from the field and 0-6 at the rim. Other than a target for one of Tyreke’s kick outs, the SF is the lost position in the Kings offense. Very few assisted baskets or set plays, leaves the SF’s to create on their own. Both Omri and Donte take about the same amount of shots from beyond the arc as at the rim, with similar eFG%. But the shots from 3 are almost 100% assisted while the shots at the rim are 60% assisted and a lot of those are from fast break opportunities. These are two of our most athletic players and we need to get them more good opportunities at the rim.

The Kings match up very well with Portland.  Tyreke and Beno put up similar numbers to Miller and Roy, although Portland’s backcourt certainly has more experience. The Kings guards were 14 of 29 from the field and 9 of 14 at the rim, and Portland’s duo were 12 of 25 from the field and 9 of 13 at the rim, although Roy and Miller did get 10 more FTAs. Aldridge scored 13pts/7rebs/4 assts to offset Landry’s 17pts/8rebs/0 assts. Even Spencer’s 7pts/9rebs/4assts and 2 blocks were similar to Camby’s 6pts/8rebs/2assts and 5 blocks. Omri and Donte’s shots weren’t there but will return. But unless the Kings guards learn to get the ball into the post and run the offense from the inside out, the Kings will always have a problem getting the offense going against great exterior defenses or good zones.

Hopefully, catching Portland on the second game of a back to back, and with some improved shooting by our SF’s, the Kings can hand the Trailblazers another challenge on their road to the playoffs.

THE KEY BATTLE

Since we know they'll play, let's go with Donte Greene and Omri Casspi vs. Nicolas Batum and Martell Webster. Batum will likely hang out around Evans for a while, which makes it imperative that Greene make Roy work on defense. On the other end, I suspect Greene will watch Roy quite a bit ... which means Evans needs to be ready to jump out on the kick-out (from Roy or Aldridge) to Batum. When the second lines come in, Casspi has to defend Webster better than he was defended the other night. Webster's too good to be left open.

STUNNING REALIZATION

Jon Brockman, this afternoon:

I enjoy breakfast so much I just made a breakfast sandwich for lunch... It is THAT good!

He later revealed the sandwich includes egg, bacon and pepper jack cheese. A truly championship worthy breakfast sandwich.

You know who else loves breakfast?

I knew there was a non-basketball reason I liked Jon Brockman so much.

BOLD PROCLAMATION

Brandon Roy will not score 40 points.

DETAILS

7 PM PT. Two gamers (7, 8:15) and a post-gamer (9:45).