New Orleans (7-9) @ Sacramento (7-8)

[RIPskaterdude]

Anyone else notice that Udoka has pretty much disappeared lately? In the last 5 games, he has 20 minutes TOTAL. And if it wasn't for him playing 17 minutes against the Knicks, it would be even worse. With Casspi/Noci/Greene taking up all the SF minutes, I really hope we make a trade before Martin/Garcia get back.

[pillwenney]

I'm still not happy about all the threes NOH took which were wide open. Also Nate was a horrible coach for Sergio, just like he is a terrible coach for Bayless.

Those didn't bother me much at all. It's not as if the team is loaded with 3-point threats as they're currently assembled. Posey is a good 3-point shooter, but not a great one (at least not until crunch time), Thornton appears to be pretty streaky, and Collison and Devin Brown are both pretty mediocre from 3. Let them shoot.

[perezident]

Anyone else notice that Udoka has pretty much disappeared lately? In the last 5 games, he has 20 minutes TOTAL. And if it wasn't for him playing 17 minutes against the Knicks, it would be even worse. With Casspi/Noci/Greene taking up all the SF minutes, I really hope we make a trade before Martin/Garcia get back.

Yeah because Casspi is doing the things he does even better -- not to mention Donte. I've always been saying this about Ime, even before he was here. Flat out, the guy cant shoot the rock and is basically terrible on the offense -- not as horrid as Mason, but at least he can make a shot. What Casspi and Donte are doing on the defensive end is really making Ime now just a veteran like KT who comes in and plays some EXPERIENCE D on guys who are schooling Donte and Casspi. It's all about the learning curve here for those two guys at the wings. This is exactly why and what I love about Paul Westphal. He understands the dynamics and the demographics of a team; especially a team like the kings.

As for the make a deal before Martin Cisco return part; well, I'd suggest moving all three of them. That is, Ime KT and Noc, to get a big man and a veteran role player and bring Ime back in after he's waived.

[pillwenney]

Ime is definitely a better shooter than he has shown so far. But I'm still happy to have him here. He's insurance more than anything at this point.

[Smills91]

Anyone else notice that Udoka has pretty much disappeared lately? In the last 5 games, he has 20 minutes TOTAL. And if it wasn't for him playing 17 minutes against the Knicks, it would be even worse. With Casspi/Noci/Greene taking up all the SF minutes, I really hope we make a trade before Martin/Garcia get back.

Yeah because Casspi is doing the things he does even better -- not to mention Donte. I've always been saying this about Ime, even before he was here. Flat out, the guy cant shoot the rock and is basically terrible on the offense -- not as horrid as Mason, but at least he can make a shot. What Casspi and Donte are doing on the defensive end is really making Ime now just a veteran like KT who comes in and plays some EXPERIENCE D on guys who are schooling Donte and Casspi. It's all about the learning curve here for those two guys at the wings. This is exactly why and what I love about Paul Westphal. He understands the dynamics and the demographics of a team; especially a team like the kings.

As for the make a deal before Martin Cisco return part; well, I'd suggest moving all three of them. That is, Ime KT and Noc, to get a big man and a veteran role player and bring Ime back in after he's waived.

Eh, Ime is great as a vet back-up insurance. I would LOVE to move KT for Okafor and Noc for expirings of any kind(or Nazr).

Just getting bigger and having depth up front is going to be beneficial to this roster. We're loaded with talent in the 1-3 spots when everyone is healthy.

[PDXKnight]

Don't worry, ya'll can count on Sergio to fail eventually. He was inconsistent as hell in Portland.

We dont need him to play great like this every night. Unlike you guys, we have Tyreke and Beno ahead of him at point guard...while you guys had, steve blake?

good point, but I can honestly say that I feel Sacramento is more talented than portland. I would trade rosters with Sacramento any day of the week. We just got killed by Memphis a few days ago, we have no future and might as well no have a coach considering how bad Nate is...

[Nicky Nix Nook]

Where there's a Roy, there's a way.

[pillwenney]

Don't worry, ya'll can count on Sergio to fail eventually. He was inconsistent as hell in Portland.

We dont need him to play great like this every night. Unlike you guys, we have Tyreke and Beno ahead of him at point guard...while you guys had, steve blake?

good point, but I can honestly say that I feel Sacramento is more talented than portland. I would trade rosters with Sacramento any day of the week. We just got killed by Memphis a few days ago, we have no future and might as well no have a coach considering how bad Nate is...

Join the club.

[PDXKnight]

Join the club.

Heh, well let's just say that I'm on the 'Portland fan starting to freak out' club. In all honesty I'd have to say Portland is the better team, but nonetheless, Sacramento's improvement this season has been nothing short of spectacular. Your team, which was expected by many to finish last in the west, is a legitimate playoff contender. Granted, there's a lot of season left, but people are beginning to realize that the Kings are a force to be reckoned with. Tyreke Evans has been great so far and looks like a star already.

To prevent myself from going on any further, I'll finish by saying I LOVE Sacramento's direction as a team. I'm a little antsy as a Blazer fan due to our recent struggles, but I could see Sacramento as a legitimate threat in the west for the next 8 years along with Portland. Portland and Sacramento had to go through quite a few sub par years to finally get back to where we are now, but it looks like both of our teams may be perennial powers in the near future. Hopefully the Kings can continue to pull things together. Heck, I'd much rather see Sacramento or Portland win a title than LA or Boston.

[Smills91]

Where there's a Roy, there's a way.

I'm sure glad we have Tyreke Evans, 2009-2010 Rookie Of the Year.

[a-rod]

Paul Westphal is doing a great job, but after watching last night game, i dont think he is a true believer in the princeton offense...

Eddie Jordan would have been a perfect fit for this team, sadly he didn't accept the job offer..

[pillwenney]

Paul Westphal is doing a great job, but after watching last night game, i dont think he is a true believer in the princeton offense...

Eddie Jordan would have been a perfect fit for this team, sadly he didn't accept the job offer..

Why is that necessarily a bad thing? The Princeton isn't the end-all perfect offense. It has worked well for this franchise in the past, but that doesn't mean the franchise needs that offense to succeed.

Given what we've seen so far, I would quite easily prefer Westphal to Jordan.

[a-rod]

I think the princeton offense really is the right system for this team as it is currently constructed.

this team has the kind of players that will thrive in the princeton offense....

But that's just my opinion.

[pillwenney]

I think the princeton offense really is the right system for this team as it is currently constructed.

this team has the kind of players that will thrive in the princeton offense....

But that's just my opinion.

It could work to an extent, I just don't see it as the only option. Yeah Jason and Spencer are both nice passers and shooters, but both can play in the post as well. Tyreke is largely the antithesis of the Princeton. There are other perfectly viable options.

[Smills91]

I think the princeton offense really is the right system for this team as it is currently constructed.

this team has the kind of players that will thrive in the princeton offense....

But that's just my opinion.

It could work to an extent, I just don't see it as the only option. Yeah Jason and Spencer are both nice passers and shooters, but both can play in the post as well. Tyreke is largely the antithesis of the Princeton. There are other perfectly viable options.

Actually I'll nitpick here. Moving your bigs to the high post to create cutting lanes would actually be very beneficial for a player like 'Reke. But I know what you're saying. Passer/shooter/driver types are the prototypical 'Princeton' guys.

[KingInExile]

I think the princeton offense really is the right system for this team as it is currently constructed.

this team has the kind of players that will thrive in the princeton offense....

But that's just my opinion.

Well, we are rebuilding. IMO, that means that the guys not suited to PW's style need to go in favor of guys who do fit his style. And while the Princeton style is a very effective style, it hasn't been proven to be a style that wins championships in the NBA. The team would be better served to selectively use a few of the Princeton concepts, but focus on the traits that have proven more successful in the NBA.

[pillwenney]

I think the princeton offense really is the right system for this team as it is currently constructed.

this team has the kind of players that will thrive in the princeton offense....

But that's just my opinion.

It could work to an extent, I just don't see it as the only option. Yeah Jason and Spencer are both nice passers and shooters, but both can play in the post as well. Tyreke is largely the antithesis of the Princeton. There are other perfectly viable options.

Actually I'll nitpick here. Moving your bigs to the high post to create cutting lanes would actually be very beneficial for a player like 'Reke. But I know what you're saying. Passer/shooter/driver types are the prototypical 'Princeton' guys.

In the sense that spreading the floor makes driving easier, sure. But the bigger issue is one of who has the ball in their hands most of the time. With the Princeton system we're discussing, it would presumably be Spencer and Jason at the high post, running things. This moves the ball out Tyrekes hands, which really isn't ideal.

Well, we are rebuilding. IMO, that means that the guys not suited to PW's style need to go in favor of guys who do fit his style. And while the Princeton style is a very effective style, it hasn't been proven to be a style that wins championships in the NBA. The team would be better served to selectively use a few of the Princeton concepts, but focus on the traits that have proven more successful in the NBA.

Yeah I more or less agree. Every system has it's flaws, even with the perfect personnel. The main flaw with the Princeton as we know it is that it ultimately relies on bigs making jumpers. If you have great jump-shooting bigs, you're on your way to running a successful system (of course, you need several other things, but this is step one). If your bigs start missing their jumpers (or could never make them in the first place), then the guys guarding them drop back and suddenly your passing lanes are gone, and one of the great parts about the system (pulling out shotblockers) is suddenly no longer there. That's why a guy like....Bill Russel--though normally seen as a great passer--wouldn't be ideal for the system. The passing is useless if you're not making the shot.

The problem with all of this is that at the end of a 7-game series, and perhaps more prominently, at the end of a long season, guys' legs get tired, and a lot of guys start missing their jumpers. So when your system is more reliant on that (as opposed to post play--where the jump shooters are role players who have to use less energy), it makes things that much more difficult.

[a-rod]

I think the princeton offense really is the right system for this team as it is currently constructed.

this team has the kind of players that will thrive in the princeton offense....

But that's just my opinion.

Well, we are rebuilding. IMO, that means that the guys not suited to PW's style need to go in favor of guys who do fit his style. And while the Princeton style is a very effective style, it hasn't been proven to be a style that wins championships in the NBA. The team would be better served to selectively use a few of the Princeton concepts, but focus on the traits that have proven more successful in the NBA.

Because a real Princeton offense is impossible with a 24-second shot-clock, the original princeton offense is not well suited to the NBA, the NBA princeton offense is different than typically run princeton, It should really be called the Saramento Kings pro-style princeton. with that being said, in 2002 both the nets and kings used the princeton as their primary offense, and came close to winning the championship in 2002, the nets reached the finals, and we all know what happened to the kings( bad luck, bad officiating, injures, and a little bit of choking)...

Yeah I more or less agree. Every system has it's flaws, even with the perfect personnel. The main flaw with the Princeton as we know it is that it ultimately relies on bigs making jumpers. If you have great jump-shooting bigs, you're on your way to running a successful system (of course, you need several other things, but this is step one). If your bigs start missing their jumpers (or could never make them in the first place), then the guys guarding them drop back and suddenly your passing lanes are gone, and one of the great parts about the system (pulling out shotblockers) is suddenly no longer there. That's why a guy like....Bill Russel--though normally seen as a great passer--wouldn't be ideal for the system. The passing is useless if you're not making the shot.

The problem with all of this is that at the end of a 7-game series, and perhaps more prominently, at the end of a long season, guys' legs get tired, and a lot of guys start missing their jumpers. So when your system is more reliant on that (as opposed to post play--where the jump shooters are role players who have to use less energy), it makes things that much more difficult.

I know its really hard to run the The princeton If the outside shot isn't falling, but the princeton is read and react offense, the goal is to break a defense down because of lack of discipline. meaning just take what the defense is giving you, so you dont have to rely on the jump shot all the time.

I really think running The princeton consistently is going to help us especially on the road, when the team needs to focus and execute...

[pillwenney]

I think the princeton offense really is the right system for this team as it is currently constructed.

this team has the kind of players that will thrive in the princeton offense....

But that's just my opinion.

Well, we are rebuilding. IMO, that means that the guys not suited to PW's style need to go in favor of guys who do fit his style. And while the Princeton style is a very effective style, it hasn't been proven to be a style that wins championships in the NBA. The team would be better served to selectively use a few of the Princeton concepts, but focus on the traits that have proven more successful in the NBA.

Because a real Princeton offense is impossible with a 24-second shot-clock, the original princeton offense is not well suited to the NBA, the NBA princeton offense is different than typically run princeton, It should really be called the Saramento Kings pro-style princeton. with that being said, in 2002 both the nets and kings used the princeton as their primary offense, and came close to winning the championship in 2002, the nets reached the finals, and we all know what happened to the kings( bad luck, bad officiating, injures, and a little bit of choking)...

To be fair, the Nets version was vastly different from the Kings. I mean, obviously they weren't giving the ball to Jason Collins in the high post and having him make plays.

But anyway, we can look at the 02 team, but the fact remains that they didn't pull it out, so there still has yet to be a team that ran the system that has won. That's not to say the offense couldn't succeed--just that it's not as proven as some other options, and we certainly have the talent to run some other options as well.

[a-rod]

To be fair, the Nets version was vastly different from the Kings. I mean, obviously they weren't giving the ball to Jason Collins in the high post and having him make plays.

But anyway, we can look at the 02 team, but the fact remains that they didn't pull it out, so there still has yet to be a team that ran the system that has won. That's not to say the offense couldn't succeed--just that it's not as proven as some other options, and we certainly have the talent to run some other options as well.

Good point..