Game 25: Dubs @ Bulls Game Thread 12/7 '25

[Onus]

It was very professional but just seems to lack understanding. If JK "knows why he got sat" and in general understands what Kerr is begging for him to do, he does a great job of never showing it on the floor.

It's because he doesn't want to do it. It's just not in his nature. He'll do it for a few games but reverts back to who he is. Some players just don't want to change or can't change.

Yea I didn't mean a literal not understanding the mission. Just a disconnect on going out and doing it.

He has his own goals for his career and thinks there's only one way to achieve it. Doesn't seem like he's getting great advice and seems like he's dug in now. Whatever 38 days until jan 15th

[Onus]

Podz looks like a completely different player when he's taking and making 3s. He really needs to be a shooter first and then off of his threat of his shot then he can look to drive and play make. But the threat of his shot doesn't work if you're not taking 3s.

Seems like with his shooting motion he's always going to be a streak shooter. I hate his form

IDK it seems like it's getting quicker and more compact. I hate that he drifts so much. It can take awhile for some shooters to really hone in on their shot. But he has potential as a shooter, really just depends on how much better of a shooter he can become and how many he can get up. It's not like he's a bad shooter, just seems inconsistent with it.

[AirP.]

It's because he doesn't want to do it. It's just not in his nature. He'll do it for a few games but reverts back to who he is. Some players just don't want to change or can't change.

Yea I didn't mean a literal not understanding the mission. Just a disconnect on going out and doing it.

He has his own goals for his career and thinks there's only one way to achieve it. Doesn't seem like he's getting great advice and seems like he's dug in now. Whatever 38 days until jan 15th

Yes, the player he needs to be to be successful for the team (and maybe for any NBA team) and the way Kuminga wants to play aren't compatible. Although he started out playing the right way for the team this year, once he had a few bad games he started going back to his old ways. Although you can "force" yourself to do the right thing for a while, it's not easy to maintain that discipline. Kuminga needs to be honest with himself and his game (at this time) vs how he wants to play. Someone, maybe Butler needs to have a video created of all his bad moves and let him know, you can't be bad this often and expect to help a team.

Kuminga seems very robotic although he's a great leaper, strong, quick and fast but the lateral movement nor improvising aren't good which is why Kerr wants him to play like Shawn Marion (a very ugly but successful 3pt shot). When he isn't able to just attack the basket in nearly a straight line it will you get to see 3 equal percentage outcomes. He scores, sometimes in a spectacular way, sometimes he runs into a defender or sometimes he just loses control, and he ends up on the ground with the other team going the other way with the ball. Even shooting his 3pt shot, he looks very robotic, but it is somewhat successful.

Watch on YouTube

[EvanZ]

What Kerr loves most is guys who can make instantaneous decisions when they catch the ball. You either decide to finish a play or move the ball. There's really no time for exploration in Kerr's offense. Ball stopping is an anathema and it's what JK does a lot of the time. The only two guys he'll allow that from are Steph and Jimmy because he trusts they can finish plays.

[vvoland]

It's because he doesn't want to do it. It's just not in his nature. He'll do it for a few games but reverts back to who he is. Some players just don't want to change or can't change.

Yea I didn't mean a literal not understanding the mission. Just a disconnect on going out and doing it.

He has his own goals for his career and thinks there's only one way to achieve it. Doesn't seem like he's getting great advice and seems like he's dug in now. Whatever 38 days until jan 15th

I dunno, Kerr has been pretty open about what JK needs to do: rebounding, running the floor, taking better shots, etc.

In his last game, in 20 mins, JK had 7 boards, 3 assists, 1 TO. He was, however, 1-10 from the field and you could easily find fault with 2-4 of those shots. It's not like the offense was humming and he was just jacking it. The offense was anemic and he was forcing it a bit, but not exactly iso'ing while putting up long 2s early in the clock. In general, his shot selection has improved this season. He's passing more and shooting less and seems to have a particularly good rapport with Buddy, as a number of his assists go to Hield. Had buddy made more shots, JK's assists numbers would look much better.

If he makes half of his shots, instead of making 1 of 10, i'm not sure he gets benched. He rebounded and passed the ball like he was asked and his defense was .. fine. Still got benched. In fact, he got DNP-CD'ed against a garbage opponent where he would be in a good position to succeed. Seeing TJD and Gui start the 2nd half or close out the game vs Cle had to be infuriating (gui - 5/14, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 TOs in the 45 mins before the chi start). Seeing Podz continue to get ~30 mins every night, regardless of his mistakes, must be even more frustrating. I can agree with Steve that JK's isn't a great fit for this style and roster. DNP-CD level of 'not a great fit'? No. Definitely not. That part - not figuring out a role he can succeed in is a coaching issue. Everything else is on JK.

I hope this isn't the last we see of JK in a dubs uniform, if only because of what we can get in Jan for him. My hope is that this week and next, when we have 3 games in 2 weeks, he can practice w/ a healthy roster and find a spot he can own. From the sounds of it, JK is a great kid, good teammate and the vets (dray and jimmy, specifically) like him. I still can't imagine that this team, starved for athleticism, rim pressure, and length can't use the one guy that has all 3 attributes and, only 6 weeks ago, looked like THE perfect fit.

[marthafokker]

Management needs to sit JK and his team down. Let him know to not shoot 3s or stupid fade aways and ISO plays. Just so he looks good for another team that still wants him.

From what I read, Sacto still wants him, but the restricted 1st might not be there any more, for Monk.

I say just do it and end this mess everyone but Management saw.

[Onus]

Yea I didn't mean a literal not understanding the mission. Just a disconnect on going out and doing it.

He has his own goals for his career and thinks there's only one way to achieve it. Doesn't seem like he's getting great advice and seems like he's dug in now. Whatever 38 days until jan 15th

I dunno, Kerr has been pretty open about what JK needs to do: rebounding, running the floor, taking better shots, etc.

In his last game, in 20 mins, JK had 7 boards, 3 assists, 1 TO. He was, however, 1-10 from the field and you could easily find fault with 2-4 of those shots. It's not like the offense was humming and he was just jacking it. The offense was anemic and he was forcing it a bit, but not exactly iso'ing while putting up long 2s early in the clock. In general, his shot selection has improved this season. He's passing more and shooting less and seems to have a particularly good rapport with Buddy, as a number of his assists go to Hield. Had buddy made more shots, JK's assists numbers would look much better.

If he makes half of his shots, instead of making 1 of 10, i'm not sure he gets benched. He rebounded and passed the ball like he was asked and his defense was .. fine. Still got benched. In fact, he got DNP-CD'ed against a garbage opponent where he would be in a good position to succeed. Seeing TJD and Gui start the 2nd half or close out the game vs Cle had to be infuriating (gui - 5/14, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 TOs in the 45 mins before the chi start). Seeing Podz continue to get ~30 mins every night, regardless of his mistakes, must be even more frustrating. I can agree with Steve that JK's isn't a great fit for this style and roster. DNP-CD level of 'not a great fit'? No. Definitely not. That part - not figuring out a role he can succeed in is a coaching issue. Everything else is on JK.

I hope this isn't the last we see of JK in a dubs uniform, if only because of what we can get in Jan for him. My hope is that this week and next, when we have 3 games in 2 weeks, he can practice w/ a healthy roster and find a spot he can own. From the sounds of it, JK is a great kid, good teammate and the vets (dray and jimmy, specifically) like him. I still can't imagine that this team, starved for athleticism, rim pressure, and length can't use the one guy that has all 3 attributes and, only 6 weeks ago, looked like THE perfect fit.

We're just not going to have any common ground on our evaluations of jk's play. So I'm just going to say this Chicago game was a beautiful win.

[marthafokker]

Just wanted JK traded so we know if JK or Kerr is the problem.