Here's why this team isn't doing so well!

[SacKingZZZ]

OK, after doing some thinking time I've come to the end all reason as to why this team sucks and it does indeed come down to style of play and strategy. Probably obvious for a few other here already. I've gone back through some of the blurbs in regards to this team and things players and Westphal have said in the past. Now some of it is going off memory do to gathering info from live interviews on TV and such, so if I make a mistake feel free to correct it.

I, as some others, made a bit of mistake when assuming or declaring that this team has no "identity" and/or doesn't know what they're doing. It's not completely accurate. They do indeed know what they're doing, it's just that it isn't working. Lets trek back to the beginning of last year. This team from day one has been predicated on one thing, allowing your best player/s to go to work and build from there, aka isolation play, not a bad idea by Westphal. Tyreke is a tremendous talent and with the right kind of team it's a style that can be effective but as always the questions of it's overall impact and long term effect are entirely questionable. After awhile teams did indeed "figure it out". They adjusted their defenses, packed the paint, etc. and we finished off the season much in the same way as we've started this one. The difference is we had the "fools gold" at the start of the year and the tremendous ISO play from Tyreke to draw from as major positives. The problem is it certainly appears as if that was indeed a mirage to some degree. The scrappy play that was there? It's actually still here. The scramble ball, the up and down moments, sloppy play, etc.? Still here. Problem is it's probably not going to transition into permanent winning basketball. Great things to see but it can't be the basis of a teams identity.

Now move on to this season. Picking up Carl Landry at the end of last season makes a lot of sense for the style of ball this team played and still plays for the most part. The main issue is that he's not a superstar type nor is this team built in a way to utilize two iso scoring options, let alone one taking less than 18-20 shots a game. Makes even less sense to go that route with a young talent like Cousins. While Demarcus is effective one on one, it's painful to see such a dynamic player squashed into a one dimensional threat at times. Carl Landry? He is that one dimensional threat, and while he's quite good at it it's very clear where his future is headed with this team. Westphal will come out time and time again and talk about the lack of ball movement and while that's a problem we have to delve into the root cause of why that is.

Lets go back to Ime Udokas comments. Wasn't easy to forget our "system" eh? Standing around, eh? Well, with an iso system based around a player like Tyreke that's actually what you kind of want. Get out of the way and wait for the ball, A.I. style. Well, the success rate so far isn't looking so hot. If you want to have success like that, you have to build the right kind of team for it, just like any style. If you want to play that style you most certainly can't play guys that don't spot shoot very well most of the minutes on the wing. Just doesn't make any sense and explains why this team struggles with shooting. Run down most of the clock and/or take early shots off of 2 passes or less (mostly less) without context and you're going to be a poor shooting team. It's also the reason it's either feast or famine with this team. Rather than create offensive opportunities they wait for it to come to them. It's also the reason as to why this team looks so much "better" when they run. It's their "system" duh! It's an unsustainable illusion because they're not even really running. They only run when the opportunity presents itself. Still, even running teams have to have a consistent offense and one based around ball movement and team play even more than any other. Look at the Suns in their heyday, terrific and tight half court offense with patience enough to wait for at least the open shot. A real running team attacks and sets the tempo for the entire game. You can't just be a running team when it's there. Identity crisis anyone?

Westphal has some right ideas about how to play, but this isn't the team to do it with. He's trying to sprinkle in the type of principles that can make a difference on an established unit. This team needs to focus on identifying who they are as players and then establishing the ground work. Taking advantages of opportunity can set a good team apart from a great team, but this team isn't there yet and the identity being established here has yielded very few wins in the entire year of 2010 from last season to this season. With that in mind Geoff Petrie loves MULTIDIMENSIONAL players, and we happen to have more than a few of them. Not only is it a detriment as team to play this way, but it's a detriment to them as individuals in their development. This team isn't just not listening, what's being told isn't working. Period, end of story. There have been ups lately in regards to a potential identity that can work, but it typically regresses back into the failed identity this team has had since Westphal took over. Even when this team is playing well we aren't racking up the assists for some reason. Well, it's not hard to figure out why, the style of play set forth really isn't condusive to racking up those assists. Just about any great team passes the ball because it signifies a patient offense and getting good shots. That's where this team needs to head but I seriously question the ability of the powers that be to get the ball rolling in that direction because it doesn't jive with everything we've seen, even most of the successes this team has had.

Currently the Kings are 27th in the league in assists per game, 26th in FG%, and 30th in 3 point shooting. Yet, we are 8th in rebounding (13th in differential) and 15th in blocked shots. When Westphal got here I don't think I remember him harping on anything more than getting better on the boards. Job accomplished for the most part! Too bad it's like having an arm and two hands without the rest of the body.

[RIPskaterdude]

You could have saved yourself some time and just posted this

[rpa]

Could have summed it up in just a few sentences.

This team's problem is that (under the current offensive system) it's very much a "draw and kick" kind of offense. Problem is (as you point out in the last paragraph) the Kings are flat out HORRIBLE outside shooters. Of our 4 bigs none can't hit the 3 consistently (this is true of nearly every team in the league but it needed to be on record). Of our 5 guards/wings (Tyreke, Casspi, Greene, Udrih, & Garcia) not one of them is a dead-eye shooter and, to be honest, if I'm an opposing coach I'd take my chances with those 5 guys shooting 3s all day long.

And therein really lies the problem. You can't play draw and kick if the guys you're kicking it to can't shoot. So either you need new guys or a new system.

And lastly some numbers:
Kings 3pt % in their 5 wins: 45.5% (30/66)
Kings 3pt % in their 20 losses: 28.9%

The median for team 3pt shooting is around 36%. So I went back and looked at our 20 losses and came away with this:

The Kings are 5-4 on the year when they shoot at an average or above level from the 3pt line. When they don't shoot at an average clip? I'm sure you did the math: 0-16

For all the "it's the defense" problems, etc. it really comes down to 1 thing: if the Kings aren't making their 3s then they're ALWAYS going to lose.

[SacKingZZZ]

Could have summed it up in just a few sentences.

This team's problem is that (under the current offensive system) it's very much a "draw and kick" kind of offense. Problem is (as you point out in the last paragraph) the Kings are flat out HORRIBLE outside shooters. Of our 4 bigs none can't hit the 3 consistently (this is true of nearly every team in the league but it needed to be on record). Of our 5 guards/wings (Tyreke, Casspi, Greene, Udrih, & Garcia) not one of them is a dead-eye shooter and, to be honest, if I'm an opposing coach I'd take my chances with those 5 guys shooting 3s all day long.

And therein really lies the problem. You can't play draw and kick if the guys you're kicking it to can't shoot. So either you need new guys or a new system.

And lastly some numbers:
Kings 3pt % in their 5 wins: 45.5% (30/66)
Kings 3pt % in their 20 losses: 28.9%

The median for team 3pt shooting is around 36%. So I went back and looked at our 20 losses and came away with this:

The Kings are 5-4 on the year when they shoot at an average or above level from the 3pt line. When they don't shoot at an average clip? I'm sure you did the math: 0-16

For all the "it's the defense" problems, etc. it really comes down to 1 thing: if the Kings aren't making their 3s then they're ALWAYS going to lose.

Figured I'd get most of the arguing out of the way. Any questions can be directed to the initial post.

[SacKingZZZ]

You could have saved yourself some time and just posted this

Still doesn't work for some around here.


Seriously Westphal isn't doing the right things with this roster, but it's only fair to him to acknowledge that the roster isn't the right one for him either. Petrie needs to pick a direction. Bring in some players that Westphal can use, or a bring on a coach that these players can succeed under. I think considering we aren't really getting all we can out of the two best players on the team it's probably obvious which is the easier decision to make.

[SacKingZZZ]

Could have summed it up in just a few sentences.

This team's problem is that (under the current offensive system) it's very much a "draw and kick" kind of offense. Problem is (as you point out in the last paragraph) the Kings are flat out HORRIBLE outside shooters. Of our 4 bigs none can't hit the 3 consistently (this is true of nearly every team in the league but it needed to be on record). Of our 5 guards/wings (Tyreke, Casspi, Greene, Udrih, & Garcia) not one of them is a dead-eye shooter and, to be honest, if I'm an opposing coach I'd take my chances with those 5 guys shooting 3s all day long.

And therein really lies the problem. You can't play draw and kick if the guys you're kicking it to can't shoot. So either you need new guys or a new system.

And lastly some numbers:
Kings 3pt % in their 5 wins: 45.5% (30/66)
Kings 3pt % in their 20 losses: 28.9%

The median for team 3pt shooting is around 36%. So I went back and looked at our 20 losses and came away with this:

The Kings are 5-4 on the year when they shoot at an average or above level from the 3pt line. When they don't shoot at an average clip? I'm sure you did the math: 0-16

For all the "it's the defense" problems, etc. it really comes down to 1 thing: if the Kings aren't making their 3s then they're ALWAYS going to lose.

Which is another issue as to what's been happening lately. Because they aren't consistent from down town looking for them as a second option has become less and less causing the guard penetrating to do all he can to get the basket even if the lane is shut off. Even on a night where we were "on" we only took 14 threes.

[Kingsforlife]

[The Beam King]

You could have saved yourself some time and just posted this

EH, easy copout and scapegoat.

The reason this team sucks is the lack of shooters. Spread the floor and that'll open things up for Tyreke. As much as we loathed Hawes and Nocioni last year, the thing those two did was space the floor for Tyreke. That's as much a problem as anything right now. I think it's really that simple. Shooting and lack of experience.

[SacKingZZZ]

EH, easy copout and scapegoat.

The reason this team sucks is the lack of shooters. Spread the floor and that'll open things up for Tyreke. As much as we loathed Hawes and Nocioni last year, the thing those two did was space the floor for Tyreke. That's as much a problem as anything right now. I think it's really that simple. Shooting and lack of experience.

We are actually spreading the floor pretty well lately, teams aren't buying it though. And last year is last year, we had more shooters and once teams figured us out what was our record anyway? We have good enough talent to not be this bad, not just in wins and losses but with struggling all the way around. We either don't have the right players for Westphal or the right coach for this team. It becomes more and more glaring every time this team shows flashes of establishing a more legit identity. When just about EVERY player on your team is struggling there is one common denominator. Scapegoat? Not so sure about that. Westphal was making progress on the road trip, it's looking like it may have just been a fleeting moment of what could be shining through the muck.

[SacKingZZZ]

Tyreke is categorized as trying to be too unselfish, we lose. Tyreke is categorized as being selfish, we lose. Tyreke is TOLD to be who he is (i.e. more selfish. ) and we lose. Maybe time to play more of a TEAM game. Starts with you coach.

[YC42Balla]

Any of these work for ya??

[RIPskaterdude]

Hey, those photos almost mirror our season!

[ADoaN17]

tl:dr

someone write a summary!

[SacKingZZZ]

That last one will get 'em up and down the court fast and into a quick shot for sure!! hahaha.

[SacKingZZZ]

Here's what Westphal said during his press conference. Almost off the charts coincidental (or just over obvious it was time to ask) that this was brought up the same night I posted this, but have at it.



For those that have asked "What are the Kings trying to do on offense?" here is what coach Paul Westphal said during the postgame press conference:

"Our identity is if we can get out in the open floor and get an early shot, a quick shot, off a miss or off a turnover we want to do that. We want to push the ball up the floor, we want to swing it from side-to-side. If there's a low post man we want to throw him the ball and run splits. We want to swing the ball from side to side if there's not a low post man. We want to give Tyreke (Evans) chances to slice and cut into the post more, come off pick and rolls. We want to space the floor. We want to hit the first open man and then run our sets. We have basic things that we can run depending on the way that our players are positioned. We have different keys. We need to read each other and read those keys. If the defense takes away one thing you go backdoor and try to go to the next option. That's the short answer."


Read more: http://blogs.sacbee.com/sports/kings/ar ... z18dZzFBSg


http://blogs.sacbee.com/sports/kings/archives/2010/12/westphal-explai.html

[ICMTM]

I took a vacation from the Kings because I've been too frustrated to watch. No team wins because they shoot threes. It's a bad idea. The Suns used to score in the paint so much because people respected their 3pt ability. It's basically why they have been able to win with mediocre big men. You had to respect their shooting. It's also why they weren't ever going to beat the Spurs.

In any event it seems a lot easier to just run an offense through big men. It's traditionally had better results, and with the right big men it's just an easier way to get the ball moving. We have two in Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins that have shown some ability to get this done. It needs to be leveraged to its max IMO. Until then we as a team are way to predictable. You see what's coming before tip off.

[tru6playa]

Well, I see another issue is the Kings' players set and receive screens half-hearted. If you set a lousy pick, the play is no more than running around in circles - it's easy to defend. I always see our players go wide around a screen, instead of brushing off the screener's outside shoulder. I also always see our screeners release from their screen before the defender even passes them.

[cdt3]

Sports are really like shootouts in the old west or military.

You need deep shooters to keep the paint open. When you have balance like the old Kings teams had you can have the paint open.

The old Kings could do whatever they wanted in the paint because Bibby/Peja/Christie/Martin/ BJax/Webber/Vlade/Miller were all able to hit jumpers.

Jumpers open the floor for everyone to attack the paint as well since defenders could not cheat and play the paint.

The KMart/Hawes/Nocioni trade for Landry/Dally has killed the jump shooting of this team, so the defenders are just crowding the lane. This started last year when Martin/Garcia were down last year. Everyone is just crowding the paint and baskets in the paint become much tighter near the basket.

Until the Kings move Landy/Dally for 2 more shooters this team will continue to have 4-5 defenders cheating into the paint. They need a starting PG/SG that can shoot (a young Bibby type) and a Noci like big man off the bench.

It works the same with Phil Jackson or Red Arbauch or Greg Popovich.

Outside shooting and balance keeps extra defenders out of the paint and makes baskets easier.

[pillwenney]

For me so much of it boils down to Tyreke--and the fact that so much of it boils down to Tyreke is a big part of the problem.

I do think Tyreke can and very possibly will be a future superstar, but he also had a situation pretty much catered to him last year. It was spread the floor and let Tyreke work. That was basically it. It was incredibly simple (which is why teams figured it out pretty quickly), but it worked better than what we have now in part because Spencer was basically a stretch 5. It was never a recipe for long term success though.

And like I've said elsewhere, part of the problem this year is that now things aren't entirely geared towards Tyreke. We have bigs that play in the post, and that doesn't stop Tyreke from trying to drive. So he's entering a much more congested lane. Also, he's not healthy, which wouldn't be such a huge deal if this team wasn't so reliant on him in the first place.

I think a lot of this starts with Tyreke and him learning to play off the ball. He has to realize that not having the ball in his hands can help him sometimes, just as it can help any player. And that doesn't start with the coaching staff. It starts with him. The coaching staff is a part of it, but Tyreke has to step forward and be the start of that movement.

As for the outside shooting, in terms of spreading the floor, it mostly boils down to two guys who aren't really helping matters right now--Beno and Donte. Tyreke is hurting our team's percentage, but that's mostly on bad shots in isolation. He certainly has a part in this too. But it certainly doesn't help that our main offensive options are starting with two wing players that are shooting 27% and 31% from 3--and not on tough, Steve Nash like 3's either. Wide open kickouts.

In terms of shooting and spacing the floor, if you play Tyreke with Cisco and Omri, that problem doesn't look nearly as bad.

Beno looked like a great fit next to Tyreke last year in part because he was such a better fit with Tyreke than with Kevin, but when you think about it, Tyreke would probably be best off with somebody that's a bigger outside threat. Beno is a better outside shooter than his current percentages indicate, but it's still not totally his game. When you break it down, Beno is essentially a scoring PG that makes moves to the basket. It doesn't always seem that way because he doesn't get to the rim that often, but that pull-up from 12-18 feet is essentially a long layup. And that's fine and it works generally for him as a player because he's basically automatic with that shot. But it doesn't help all that much in terms of spreading the floor.

So at the end of the day, what's the solution? Well many things are, and many of them are on Westphal to figure out. But a lot of it is that the team is overly reliant on a guy that isn't himself right now. Our savior is wounded, and the problem isn't that he's wounded, but that we treated any one player as our savior in the first place. And it especially hurts at the end of games because Tyreke doesn't have what it takes to finish games right now and Demarcus clearly isn't ready.

[SacKingZZZ]

I took a vacation from the Kings because I've been too frustrated to watch. No team wins because they shoot threes. It's a bad idea. The Suns used to score in the paint so much because people respected their 3pt ability. It's basically why they have been able to win with mediocre big men. You had to respect their shooting. It's also why they weren't ever going to beat the Spurs.

In any event it seems a lot easier to just run an offense through big men. It's traditionally had better results, and with the right big men it's just an easier way to get the ball moving. We have two in Jason Thompson and DeMarcus Cousins that have shown some ability to get this done. It needs to be leveraged to its max IMO. Until then we as a team are way to predictable. You see what's coming before tip off.

That's why it frustrates me to no end that the first words out of Westphals mouth is "quick shots". What? You have tremendous size at PG, PF, and C. Quick shots? Really!!!??? We should be pacing the game and trying to make other teams stop Reke w/o the ball and our bigs from passing it and scoring it.