Preseason Game Thread

[SacKingZZZ]

I would literally lol if both Collison & Sessions loses their spots to McCallum.

gotdamn it since when I became that grumpy poster lol

McCallum is not good at P&R defending

But that fade away shoot...ur oh...

I always liked RMac. Dude is probably the only legit PG on roster. Sure, he can score but most of the times, he looks to run plays and passes when needed.

If they had McCallum and Stauskas out there at the same time big Cuz would be getting that 5 assists per game for sure. McCallums plays the game like a coaches son. He just flat knows the game. Shame he's 3rd in line on this squad for the next few years. He can contribute now.

[SacKingZZZ]

Three guards instead of DW !!!

Casspi has looked great this preseason, I can't see any reason he doesn't eat up all ten of those backup SF minutes per game.

[RedAlice]

I would literally lol if both Collison & Sessions loses their spots to McCallum.

gotdamn it since when I became that grumpy poster lol

McCallum is not good at P&R defending

But that fade away shoot...ur oh...

Depends on what you expect. PnR defending is always going to be mostly a team related defense since they ditched hand checking. Only super special types are going to be consistent PnR stoppers. It's why I was so high on drafting Smart, he has the chance to be one of those special guards that just knows how to avoid contact or fight his way through screens. McCallum does a decent job, but the real problem with this team is the help big. The pick and roll defense with McCallum at the end of the game was quite good. Solid help and recovery from the guard and big.

Ahh... I just didn't finish the replay that time

In fact McCallum just made less mistakes than Collison did.

And DW... You can just look at the 9:41 round on third quarter and figure out why DMC left Sacre open...

I hate that DW for Moute trade...

[RedAlice]

Three guards instead of DW !!!

Casspi has looked great this preseason, I can't see any reason he doesn't eat up all ten of those backup SF minutes per game.

Casspi looked like Peja last time this year. I honestly don't think Kings is a team to make him practical on court since HOU just couldn't...

[SmellingColors]

The thing is, even if McCallum isn't perfect, he brings energy and tenacity to the team. We need that. Plus, he's a future to invest in. I understand why we brought in Sessions with Collison, I just hope McCallum gets a shot to make the rotation. Also, McCallum has had to fight through so much more adversity to win a spot on the roster than McLemore and still gets relegated while McLemore starts.

[City of Trees]

Ray Vegas is hilarious. On the other hand I would actually support it because it was given to him by his peers and holds meaning. It wasn't something he made up for himself, which I think is so stupid.

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[Kings2013]

McLemore has been cleared to play.. I was kind of wishing Nik would get the opening nod with Ray getting minutes while Ben earned his spot after the inconsistent preseason. I think he's on a short leash with a lot of fans who won't put up with lack of serviceability

[SacKingZZZ]

McLemore is far from consistent the but the pattern of what is wrong, and why this keeps happening at certain positions with certain types of players is still largely organizational. When Ben gets the kind of looks a player of his ilk needs he all of a sudden shows promise. When he's asked to function in another role on both ends he all of a sudden looks bad. They shouldn't give up on him yet but at some point, just like with Thornton, maybe the fit is as much the problem as the player?

This is also why it's a little strange to say the goal is to win yet just in terms of polish and ability I'd say that Stauskas from day 1 gives you a better chance to win, and probably Reggie Evans at PF as well. At least they will consistently be what they are, as flawed or spectacular as that may be. McLemore and JT starting has to be in some way related to potential showcasing. I just can't see how preseason proved that those guys should be in the starting lineup. I thought JT had found a nice little niche as a backup C. He seemed to perform well there last year. Terrible spot to be in to justify his contract though so how can they not be tied together?

[RedAlice]

Can we just conclude that the Collison sign is a failure?

And I'm pretty sure Ben can't shoot partly because of Cousins.

Coach Malone is trying to make Cousins organize team offense. So far...not optimal...

[SactownHrtBrks8]

Can we just conclude that the Collison sign is a failure?

And I'm pretty sure Ben can't shoot partly because of Cousins.

Coach Malone is trying to make Cousins organize team offense. So far...not optimal...

It is preseason. We cannot conclude anything until the season starts. Sessions looks like a great signing though.

[Kings2013]

Can we just conclude that the Collison sign is a failure?

And I'm pretty sure Ben can't shoot partly because of Cousins.

Coach Malone is trying to make Cousins organize team offense. So far...not optimal...

I haven't had too much of a problem with Collison so far

While I respect SacKingZZZ opinion on Ben and his role I personally will hold Ben accountable for his struggles

[teerfour+40LG]

Can we just conclude that the Collison sign is a failure?
And I'm pretty sure Ben can't shoot partly because of Cousins.

No and no. Collison has been as advertised. I think Sessions is the one looking kind of underwhelming. He made a good first impression, but then we all noticed that he loves passing to Reggie Evans, he can't make any layups, and he can't defend.

Ben just can't shoot . . . or do anything.

[RedAlice]

Can we just conclude that the Collison sign is a failure?
And I'm pretty sure Ben can't shoot partly because of Cousins.

No and no. Collison has been as advertised. I think Sessions is the one looking kind of underwhelming. He made a good first impression, but then we all noticed that he loves passing to Reggie Evans, he can't make any layups, and he can't defend.

Ben just can't shoot . . . or do anything.

Quite obvious that Ben needs confidence to perform better.

I think Collison and Sessions were all not optimal... Just no match for Jeremy Lin in a single face-off ...

[SacKingZZZ]

Collison is a failure? Certainly not in the individual numbers game. Sessions has looked great because he's calling his own number and playing the same exact role as IT. I guess it's good if that's what they wanted IT back for anyway. Collison has been really solid in preseason, they both have in their own way.

Collison has averaged 12 ppg and 4 apg while shooting nearly 50% from the floor and is only taking 8 shots a game. That's the exactly type of player you want next to Gay and Cousins. Sessions numbers are around the same area. It's a solid combo but I'm not a huge fan of seeing the PG spot gobble up nearly 17 shots a game to be honest and if it does it better be as a floor spreader off the ball type. This team has two true SG types and those players are there to take shots, not watch.

[Kings2013]

Can we just conclude that the Collison sign is a failure?
And I'm pretty sure Ben can't shoot partly because of Cousins.

No and no. Collison has been as advertised. I think Sessions is the one looking kind of underwhelming. He made a good first impression, but then we all noticed that he loves passing to Reggie Evans, he can't make any layups, and he can't defend.

Ben just can't shoot . . . or do anything.

Quite obvious that Ben needs confidence to perform better.

I think Collison and Sessions were all not optimal... Just no match for Jeremy Lin in a single face-off ...

Bens play is his own responsibility.

I saw you were from China on another forum, is that why your bringing up Lin? No one cares about the Laker game, they have been solid for the most part

[RedAlice]

No and no. Collison has been as advertised. I think Sessions is the one looking kind of underwhelming. He made a good first impression, but then we all noticed that he loves passing to Reggie Evans, he can't make any layups, and he can't defend.

Ben just can't shoot . . . or do anything.

Quite obvious that Ben needs confidence to perform better.

I think Collison and Sessions were all not optimal... Just no match for Jeremy Lin in a single face-off ...

Bens play is his own responsibility.

I saw you were from China on another forum, is that why your bringing up Lin? No one cares about the Laker game, they have been solid for the most part

The point is, when your team is trailing, he tends to make awful lot of mistakes... Reason I don't question Stauskas? He may make mistakes, but he will try all efforts to make that up and the problem never became a consistent weak spot of the team. DW is the exact opposite as he tends to make the whole team pay for his faults all the time...

Speaking of Ben... in the game against LA, how many really GOOD passes did he get?

I mean, a good pass doesn't only mean those passes to the shooter in open or half-open, it also means that your shooter is prepared. I see two in the game. One from Cousins - Collison from behind the arc - Ben on right corner and he misses. Another is at the end of the game when Ray set a screen for him immediately after he went onto the court and Ben made it.

Remember those low post strait to weak side passes by Cousins? I have never seen a single shooter who could make that shot... I saw it once in the Blue vs White Team USA game and James Harden was the one behind the three point line. Guess what? He barely catches the ball and gave away a typical McLemore shot. After that I never saw him pass that way in team USA even once. Guess coach K didn't allow that...

[Kings2013]

Interesting from comments from Malone in the paper that DWill might be ahead of Omri in the rotation. I guess it just comes down to the fact that this still looks like a rebuilding year, Dwill is still younger with more upside potentially, and might be able to stretch the floor more (supposedly working on his shot this summer)

[SacKingZZZ]

Can we just conclude that the Collison sign is a failure?

And I'm pretty sure Ben can't shoot partly because of Cousins.

Coach Malone is trying to make Cousins organize team offense. So far...not optimal...

I haven't had too much of a problem with Collison so far

While I respect SacKingZZZ opinion on Ben and his role I personally will hold Ben accountable for his struggles

I will say this, I don't think you shouldn't hold Ben accountable, all I'm saying is don't ask a wrench to be a hammer. If you need a hammer, get one. Drafting offensive talent in the lotto and asking it to be a defensive role player or everything that it isn't is where the main issue lies and it will until that pattern of behavior from the ones making the decisions stops.